When the TARDIS materialised it was in a large, darkened room. "Where are we?" Rose asked looking around after she and the Doctor stepped out of the box. It was a little difficult to see their surroundings as there were no lights on.
"Earth. Utah, North America. About half a mile underground", the Doctor replied.
"When exactly are we?" Rose questioned.
"2012", the Doctor answered.
"God, that's so close", the blonde remarked "So I should be about...26?"
Light flooded the place as the Doctor found the light switch and flicked it on.
"Blimey! It's a great big museum", Rose said seeing the display cases around them.
"An Alien Museum", the Doctor corrected walking past cases "Someone's got a hobby. They must have spent a fortune on this. Chunks of meteorite, moon dust...that's the milometer from the Roswell spaceship" he named them as he passes the cases.
Rose then noticed something familiar in one of the cases "That's a bit of Slitheen! That's a Slitheen's arm", she said "And it's...ugh... stuffed", she added with a disgusted look on her face.
"Ah! Look at you!" the Doctor said seeing something else in another case.
"What is it?" Rose asked looking at what appeared to be a robot head with handlebars on top.
"An old friend of mine...well, enemy. The stuff of nightmares reduced to an exhibit. I'm getting old", the Doctor replied.
"Is that where the signal's coming from?" Rose questioned nodding to the robot head.
"Nah, its stone dead. The signal's alive. Something's reaching out, calling for help" he places the tip of his finger on the glass. Immediately an alarm sounded and they're promptly surrounded by soldiers all pointing their guns at the pair.
"If someone's collecting aliens, that makes you Exhibit A", Rose said putting her hands up.
They were promptly escorted into an office by a ginger, curly haired woman named Diana Goddard. "What does it do?" Van Statten asked Adam who was showing him his latest purchase.
"Well, you see the tubes on the side? It must be to channel something. I think maybe fuel", Adam guessed.
"I really wouldn't hold it like that", the Doctor cut in seeing how Van Statten was holding the item in his hands.
"Shut it", Godard snapped.
"Really, though, that's wrong", the Doctor insisted.
"Is it dangerous?" Adam asked eyeing the item warily.
"No, it just looks silly", the Doctor replied reaching for the item. Several security personnel readied their weapons making him pause. Van Statten held up a hand, signalling the men to lower their weapons. He then handed the object to the Doctor. "You just need to be..." the Time Lord gently stroked the item and it made a pleasant noise "Delicate".
"It's a musical instrument", Van Statten commented.
"And it's a long way from home", the Time Lord added. Van Statten reached out and snatched it from him. He tried to replicate what the Doctor had done but all he managed to produce was some rather harsh sounds. "I did say delicate. It reacts to the smallest fingerprint. It needs precision", the Doctor said.
Van Statten changed his touch on the instrument and pleasant sounds "Very good. Quite the expert", the Doctor said.
"As are you", Van Statten said.
Much to the dismay of the Doctor, he carelessly tossed the instrument aside. "Who exactly are you?" Van Statten asked.
"I'm the Doctor. And who are you?" the Doctor asked with a new disdainful look in his eye.
"Like you don't know. We're hidden away with the most valuable collection of extra-terrestrial artefacts in the world, and you just stumbled in by mistake", Van Statten.
"Pretty much sums me up, yeah", the Doctor confirmed.
"The question is, how did you get in? 53 floors down, with your little cat burglar accomplices" the man looked at Rose "You're quite a collector yourself, she's rather pretty", Van Statten said eyeing the blonde.
"She's gonna smack you if you keep calling her 'she'", the blonde said glaring at Van Statten.
"Oh, she's English too!" Van Statten exclaimed looking at the Doctor. To Adam he said "Hey, little Lord Fauntleroy, got yourself a girlfriend".
"This is Mr Henry Van Statten", Adam told them pretending not to hear the man's comment.
"And who's he when he's at home?" Rose asked.
"Mister Van Statten owns the internet", Adam said.
"Don't be stupid. No one owns the internet", Rose retorted.
"And let's just keep the whole world thinking that way, right kids?" Van Statten said.
"So you're just about an expert in everything except the things in your museum. Anything you don't understand, you lock up", the Doctor said still glaring at the man slightly.
"And you claim greater knowledge?" Van Statten asked.
"I don't need to make claims, I know how good I am", the Doctor said.
"And yet, I captured you. Right next to the Cage. What were you doing down there?" Van Statten asked.
"You tell me", the Doctor said.
"The cage contains my only two living specimens", Van Statten explained.
"And what's are they?" the Doctor asked.
"Like you don't know"
"Show me", the Doctor challenged.
"You want to see them?"
"Blimey, you can smell the testosterone", Rose muttered under her breath.
"Goddard, inform the Cage we're heading down" he then turned his attention to Adam "You, English. Look after the girl" to the Doctor he said "You, Doctor with no name...come and see my pets" with that Van Statten walked towards the lift.
~...~
As Van Statten led the Doctor to the heavy door of the Cage, he felt something in his mind. It was small but nonetheless it was there. It was as if one of Van Statten's 'pets' was trying to mentally reach out to him. Perhaps this was signal that the TARDIS had picked up and had subsequently brought them to the museum. Either way there were two living beings that needed his help. And help them he shall.
"We've tried everything", Van Statten stated stopping outside the heavy door of the Cage "The creature has shielded itself but there's definite signs of life inside". He turned, entered a code in the panel next to the door and it slid open.
"Inside?" the Doctor frowned "Inside what?"
"Welcome back, sir", Simmons said stepping out, wearing a protective suit "I've had to take the power down. The Metaltron is resting".
"Metaltron?" the Doctor asked brow raised. He'd seen and heard of a lot of things but never Metaltron. It sounded made up.
"Thought of it myself", Van Statten said proudly "Good, isn't it? Although I'd much prefer to find out it's real name. If you're able to do that Doctor, I'll let you see the other one".
Simmons turned to the Doctor "Here, you'd better put these on…." he held out a pair of thick protective gloves "The last guy that touched it burst into flames".
"I won't touch it then", the Doctor said not taking the gloves from Simmons.
"Go ahead, Doctor" Van Statten gestured at the doors "Impress me". He stepped back as the Doctor entered the Cage. "Don't open that door until we get a result", Van Statten quietly said to a guard as they turned their attention to the monitor in order to keep an eye on what was going on in the Cage.
"Sir, I think I should check in on the other one", Simmons spoke up gaining his boss' attention "see if she's a bit more talkative today".
"That's a good idea", Van Statten agreed "just don't be too rough, if the Doctor is successful with Metaltron, I want him to take a crack at the girl". Simmons nodded and walked off, heading for Freya's cell.
Freya felt more excited than usual but she had a very good reason. There was another of her kind nearby! He or she must've heard my plea! She thought happily. The Time Lady sat up straight, eyes fixed on the door, a smile on her face…the first one in quite some time. And just like that her happiness vanished when the door opened to reveal…Simmons.
"Do we feel like talking today then?" he asked walking in, closing the door behind him. Freya stayed silent, praying that the Time Lord/Lady would appear soon. "No?" Simmons asked before striking her across the face. Freya's eyes pricked with tears from the force of the slap but she kept her mouth clamped shut so she didn't cry out. "Speak girl!" he ordered, hitting her again. Freya still refused to speak though her face was hurting. Please walk in…please walk in… she silently pleaded casting a quick glance at the door.
Simmons stepped back staring at the Time Lady. She stared back at him, silent though he could see the pain in her brown eyes. He didn't care though, he just wanted her to talk. "Fine", he gritted out "maybe the Doctor will have better luck once he's done with the Metaltron".
Freya's eyes widened and she let out a small gasp. The only other of her kind was locked in with a Dalek?! How could they!
Simmons smirked at her reaction. It seemed he may have found a way…or more specifically a reason to speak. "Oh yes, he's in there right now…and he won't be coming out until he's gotten what we needed from the creature. Unless the Metaltron kills him first…"
Freya's hearts seized up at this. She'd thought that she was the last of her kind for 50 years… but now the Doctor has shown up…she wasn't alone anymore. So she couldn't let the Doctor die! She couldn't let him fall victim to the Dalek! If speaking would save his life, then she had to do it.
She swallowed several times to try and remove the dryness from her mouth, due to lack of water. "Pl-eas-e", Freya managed to get out in Gallifreyan, her voice barely a whisper.
"I'm sorry my dear, I cannot understand you", Simmons said "I don't know what language you were speaking but I need you to speak English".
The Time Lady swallowed again. "P-lea-se", Freya repeated in English this time. She didn't think that talking after so long would prove to be a challenge but there it was. And she wasn't at all surprised that the first thing she said came out in Gallifreyan. It was her native language after all.
"Hm…let me think", Simmons said and actually pretended to think about it before he said "I'm sorry my dear, I can't do that. The boss wants him to stay in there until we get a result" Freya dropped her head, tears starting to form. Simmons put a hand under her chin and forced her head up "But I thank you for talking. I look forward to having proper conversations with you" he touched her cheek and Freya jerked her head away. She kept her head turned away even as Simmons left the room, shutting the door behind him. It was only then did she look at the door, tears now rolling down her face.