Pretty much said it all in the summary. Thought giving the Alternate's their own stories might get them 'out' there.
So apologies as always if you've read these first two chaps, if not or you want to re-read...
Enjoy!
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Somewhere in the Nile at the edge of the desert. A young boy and his mule zigzag along the bottom of sun scorched dunes. The mule and the boy finally reached a camp. A few tents; dwarfed by a huge temple door, jutting out of the sand. Unnatural, but somehow belonging. The camp is deserted, except for some kids by the temple entrance; holding large mirrors, reflecting light into the structure. The young boy, Omar, left his mule in the shade. He seized two goatskins from the animals back and headed inside the temple.
The young boy; made his way, uneasily, down a pillared corridor that opened into a vast room. Where a younger archeologist, River Song, stood on a small wooden ladder in front of a wall, across the open space. A young man was beside her, Rory, a student doing an internship. He had a large sketchpad in his hands.
Behind them is Aziz, whose job is to hold the last mirror which shone light into the expansive room. River is explaining her findings to Rory. "..When the three planets are in eclipse…" The woman's fingers traced across the wall. It was covered with symbols and strange hieroglyphs. "The black hole, like a door is open. Evil comes, sowing terror and chaos. See? The snake, Rory. The Ultimate Evil. Make sure you get the snake!" She pointed emphatically to the glyph, shown coming through a door between the three planets in eclipse. Rory's hand sketched the snake quickly. He was a natural artist.
"And when is this door opening snake act, supposed to occur?" Rory inquired with an arched brow.
The Professor's fingers touched the signs, as she calculated, muttering to herself. "Every five thousand years." River crowed with confidence.
"So I have some time…" Rory joked, as he reached for another pencil.
Omar was standing at the entrance to the chamber with the water bag, entranced by the sight. A hand fell on his shoulder. The young boy turned to a young priest in a rough milled black cannock. "I will take it to them my son." John Smith told Omar, softly. Startled but obedient, the boy gave the water bag to the Priest. "Go with the Goddess… be safe from Evil." John made the sign of the Cross on the boy's forehead, dismissing him. As soon as Omar is gone, the Priest turned a worried eye to River, who was back to work translating and Rory is dutifully sketching what she told him to.
River is musing out loud. "…Then arrange the elements of life against the Terror just so." Her fingers ran on. "Water…fire… earth, air…four elements around the fifth…" Her fingers fall on the one element that has a human shape, surrounded by all the others. Unseen, Smith opened the water skin and began to pour a vial of powder in. He hated that he had to do this, but it must be done. They know too much already.
Aziz started falling asleep, as was all too usual. The mirror fell as a result, and the light failed. "Aziz! Light!" River barked with a sigh. The boy struggled to stay awake. Standing up a little straighter. The mirror was lifted up and she started talking again. "…In which all the history of the Universe resides. All the strength...all the hope to protect us from Evil."
"Amen." John added stepping forward.
River turned to the Priest, who was pouring water into a tin cup from the skin. She smiled brightly at him. "Father John! It's the most extraordinary thing… The greatest find in history. Can you imagine the implications?"
"Only too well..." John sighed and added. "Here you must be parched." He handed the cup to River. She took it and had it almost to her lips when…
"I mean look. It's like a battle plan!" In her excitement Professor Song did not drink from her cup, much to Smith's chagrin. "Here the Good. Here the Evil." River points to the Five Elements. "A weapon against it. Amazing! I am going to be famous!" She cheered.
"Then let us toast to your fame! Here Rory." The Priest exclaimed handing the young man a cup. Hoping the new tact worked. "Drink!"
"To fame… salud." She again raised the cup, and then... Professor Song gasped in horror. "We cannot toast with water… Rory! In my sack… The Grappa!" John watched, disconsolate, as River tossed away her water.
~BtP~
Rory however, had finished his own cup before running off into the tunnel. Outside, a monstrous linear shadow, disturbed the kid's game and gradually darkened the temple entrance. Rory is looking for the Grappa in Professor Song's bag. He discovered a machine pistol first, then a sound suddenly grabbed his attention. The young man leaned toward the corridor and saw part of a spaceship appear. Rory was paralyzed in his fear, he pressed himself against the wall, in the shadows, terrified, but sketching away like mad, as large shadowed figures lumbered past him. He began to blink, feeling the effects of the Priest's potion...
~BtP~
Back in the other room, River kept reading over the inscription. "…This perfect person… this perfect being. I do not understand this. Perfect?" She snorted, no such thing right? "Where is that boy?" River wondered out loud, adding. "Rory!" She shouted. Then Professor Song; again, read from the wall. "And this divine Light they talk about. What is Divine light?" At that moment, the reflection from Aziz's mirror dropped again, the light failed. "Aziz light!" She barked without even turning, a sigh on her lips. In a flash the room is flooded with luminosity. "Much better, thank you Aziz…" The Archeologist went back to her work. "This is the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen…" She marveled, grinning to herself. Then River turned around, and is stunned speechless to find herself face to face with two Gallifreyan warriors. A dozen others filled the hall, manning the source of the light, large floating, and luminous globes. A Time Lord is leading his fellow 'troops' and the Priest bowed in subjugation.
The being stopped in front of John, who was still on his knees, face to the ground. "My Lord... She was about to discover everything, but I had the situation under control." Smith stammered, hoping to appease his alien 'Master'.
River meanwhile, is in a panic. "Who are you?" She demanded, sounding more scared than anything.
The Timelord held out his hand to the Priest. "What did I do wrong?" John wondered, fearfully.
"Servant, you and the thousand guards before you... You have done your work well, but we have to recover the elements." The alien being promised. He added in an explanation as John looked scared. "War will soon engulf your planet. We must keep them safe." The Time Lord then went over to the wall and appeared to be looking for a lock. He found it and used his metallic looking finger, which was more intricate than a key to a safe. The Lord turned his hand, activating a mechanism that opened the wall.
"Unbelievable!" River exclaimed.
The Timelord turned around, as if he was just remembering she was there. He crooked a finger and another one of the Gallifreyan warriors, waved his hand which, somehow, put Professor Song to sleep. The being in charge; then headed down the hallway, revealed by the opening and he was followed by his men. The Priest slipped in behind them. The Lord walked slowly; into a vast room. The ceiling was very high, pyramid-shaped. In each corner of the room; four vessels contain four rectangular twelve-inch stones, the four elements. In the middle, an opaque sarcophagus rested on an altar. The Time Lord stopped and contemplated it a moment.
"The Fifth Element..." John whispered to himself in awe. It was the first time he'd actually seen this room. He always knew the perfect being was there. 'Resting' till it was needed to save the world. He wondered if it was aware while it waited. But, that would be insane, not to mention cruel and he did not believe that of his 'Masters'.
"Take them and put them in a safe place." The Lord ordered and his men scrambled to carry it out. Well as much as their bulky armor, would allow them to scramble.
The Time Lord opened a case and his men proceeded to put the four, precious stones in it. They did so, one by one as the Priest watched on somberly. "Will the elements be gone now forever from this place?" John asked feeling sad, but understanding why they must be taken.
"When mankind comes to its senses. We will return." The Lord offered.
"Knowing mankind as I do, that could take centuries!"
"Time is of no importance, only life is important."
The Priest nodded and lowered his eyes, he knew better than to question the Lord. A Gallifreyan warrior put the fourth element in the case, before the Time Lord shut it and looked knowingly at his loyal servant. "When evil returns, so shall we." He promised, in an almost kind tone.
"We will be ready, my Lord." Smith assured, he was sure he'd be in a different regeneration by then, but still. He would not fail them.
Rory suddenly staggered into the room, brandishing the found gun. When he tripped, and the weapon accidently went off. The young man empties the clip in a panic and the Gallifreyan warrior carrying the case, crumpled to the ground. The wall had immediately began to close when Rory had started firing wildly, unable to control the powerful kicking gun.
"No! Don't!" John rushed the young man, in a panic. Hoping to end the needless bloodshed.
Rory, upon seeing the Priest coming for him, backed up. Causing him to stumble over a bag on the floor and knock himself out. Smith fell to the ground, seriously wounded, as is his lord. The other warriors were in a panic. "Hurry, My Lord! The wall's closing!" One such warrior begged as the wall continued to close and sand poured in from everywhere. The vast room filling up like an hourglass.
"A mission is a mission, Savoia. You'll learn that." The Time Lord picked up the case of stones and started to move, even knowing he wouldn't make it. He'd finally reached the wall, but he couldn't get through. His armor was too bulky, and the opening too small. Somehow, he managed to get his arm and the case through. "My apologies to General Kroi and my wife…" The lord stated sadly; just before the wall closed, crushing his arm.
The Lieutenant of the warriors, scooped up the case from the floor and started to run through the huge piles of sand. John was already starting to regen as he staggered after. The Gallifreyan boarded the ship, carrying the case reverently. The huge vessel's main hatch closed after him and it lifted off, speeding away. A gigantic shooting star flashed above the pyramids as the Alien ship passed in front of them and then headed for the stars. Its background; a star-spattered cosmos.
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Tell me whatcha think!
HEART Y'ALLS