Chapter One
Rescue Me
"Oh for the love of Rassilon," the War Doctor moaned as the Sycorax beside him called out his wares to the inhabitants of Kyles. "I would think that I'm worth more than a few hundred credits."
"Silence slave," the Sycorax growled holding his hand as if to strike. But the War Doctor paid him no mind as he gazed around to his would be buyers. As it turned out he was the only one that this particular group of these relatively inexperienced Sycorax had in stock so selling him was a priority. The only issue they saw was he was too old for anything of worth. The War Doctor snorted at the thought. Old they said, if they knew his real age they would have been offering a lot more for his sale…and now that he thought about it that would be bad. Well good thing then they didn't know his age.
"Hey Yondu," a voice cut across the din of the crowd. "Check out that piece of work."
The voice belonged to a rather corpulent and older looking person with a scraggly beard that put his to shame who was pointing at him. Yondu as it turned out was Centuarian from the looks of him with a light blue complexion and a bald head that had a strip going down the center of it dressed in a red jacket with dark leathery pants. He's demeanor screamed no-nonsense and dangerous causing people to dance around him or avoid him entirely.
"Ain't he a scraggly one?" the man continued on gesturing to the War Doctor with a look of contempt. "Where'd you pick this one up, Syc? The dumpster?"
"Who's that?" A smaller voice piped up causing both men to glance back with surprise. It was then that the War Doctor saw their third companion who had cleverly hidden himself in the crowd. It was small boy no older than eight dressed in rather ratty looking clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed in a while. But he wasn't too focused on that but instead on the look which was one of undisguised curiosity.
"Boy!" Yondu barked. "I thought I told you to stay on the ship!"
"Horuz said it was fine," the boy answered smoothly causing the corpulent man to pale. "He said as long as I stay in sight it was okay."
"Did he?" Yondu's glare no settled on a very decidedly uncomfortable, now identified, Horuz who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else rather then at the receiving end. "I don't remember giving him permission to say that at all or authorized that."
"S-sorry Captain Yondu," the man blubbered looking like he wanted to flee. "It won't happen again."
"It better not!" Yondu growled ferociously. "Because if this boy goes missing anytime soon…" he trailed off opting instead to whistle softly as he pulled his coat away revealing a seemingly empty holster. As he increased the pitch of his whistling the War Doctor espied an arrow coming from the holster and hovering inches away from the now trembling man's face. "You get my drift?"
"Clearly," Horuz gulped.
"Interesting," the War Doctor said causing both men to turn their attention to him. "Pitch based guidance system? That's a new one."
"Who do think you are punk?" Yondu asked advancing towards him. This perhaps would have intimidated any other being but for the War Doctor this was merely a blasé affair. So he didn't even blink not even when Yondu was inches away from his face.
"No one," the War Doctor smiled at the man. "I don't have a name."
"You're full of crap," Yondu replied flatly. "Everyone's got one, even the runt here." He gestured to the now clearly interested child not taking his eyes off him. "So name, now."
"I told you," the War Doctor replied casually. "I don't have one, at least not anymore."
"Gentlemen," the Sycorax interrupted clearly trying to wrestle some control into the situation. Yondu snorted as he backed away from the War Doctor turning his gaze to the seller. "If you're interested in this specimen then I can offer you a good price for it."
"You're a slave?" The boy asked looking directly at him and looking startled at the thought. Clearly this boy hadn't been exposed to this kind of environment before. So who was this boy to Yondu? Was he a servant or a protégé? It was hard to tell at this point but there was definitely an aura of care going into him or at the very least protection. Still he was giving him a considering looks even as the boy continued to stare at him with wide eyes.
"Do the manacles give it away my child?" The War Doctors asked flippantly gesturing at his bonds getting back to the question and out his musings. "Oh dear me," he melodramatically grabbed his bandolier, one of the few things aside from his coat they'd allowed him keep, of course that was because he'd done some fast talking to make sure those didn't fall into their hands. "It seems I need to be more subtle about that. I was going for distressed traveler."
"More like a dead slave," Yondu smirked his eyes had an approving gleam to them. "How much are you asking for him?"
"I'm asking for 200 credits at the least."
"That's it?" The War Doctor gaped causing all to look at him. "Is that really all you can muster? Just a mere 200 credits is that all I'm worth?!"
"Can we have him?" The boy interrupted the argument looking eagerly at Captain Yondu. "I can take care of him."
"I am not a pet," the War Doctor huffed annoyed. "Nor am I going to be sold for a measly 200 credits if I have any say about it."
"Please Yondu?" The boy turned a rather good puppy dog expression at him ignoring Horuz scuff altogether. "I promise I won't leave the ship if you let me have him."
"He'll cost us more food and supplies," Yondu grunted gesturing to him. "What's make him worth it?"
"I can repair your ships," the War Doctor wheedled. He would have preferred escaping from the Sycorax but being bought by this lot was perhaps less of a hassle since they didn't seem to be too bad of characters. Who knows they might just let him go on his way… or at least give him a lift. "I'm very good at fixing things. I promise you, I can repair things like you wouldn't believe."
"Oh come on please, Yondu? I won't ask for anything else again, I promise."
"Yeah," Yondu snorted. "Likely story." He looked at the War Doctor again with a speculative glance. "Boy here wants you, but I don't trust you. How do I know you won't escape?"
"Where else am I to go?" The War Doctor shrugged being honest for once. "I don't have a ship or any sort way off of this rock. I have literally nothing but the clothes on my back."
"So it looks," Yondu agreed. He looked at the Time Lord once more before turning his gaze to the rather flustered slave owner. "200 that's what you said?"
"Yeah," the Sycorax said looking relieved that the conversation was heading back to familiar territory. "That's what I said."
"I'll give you 130."
"What?! That's less!"
"Shut up old man," Yondu barked. "You be quiet unless you want to stick around with this guy?"
"No thank you," the War Doctor retorted.
"Then shut up and let me bargain," Yondu said as he turned his gaze back to the clearly uncomfortable Sycorax. "What'd you say? He's not going for any higher."
"Fine," the Sycorax sighed. "Just get him out of here."
"Much obliged," Yondu smirked as he handed over the credits. Once the transaction was completed the seller unlocked his shackles. As he shook his wrists to get feeling back into them Yondu turned to the boy and said. "He's yours take care of him."
"Thank you Yondu," the boy smiled as he walked up to the now freed Time Lord. "I'm Peter Quill." He said holding out his hand.
Smiling the War Doctor took his hand and shook it. "Well met, young one."
"So do you really not have a name?" Peter asked as they began to walk off falling into step behind Horuz and Yondu.
"No," the War Doctor smiled sadly. "I gave it up."
"Oh," the boy looked thoughtful for a second before lighting up. "Then I'll call you Gramps!"
"Gramps?" The War Doctor raised an eyebrow. Peter looked down at the ground embarrassed and muttering something about he thought it sounded cool.
"I like it," he assured the boy. Peter's face immediately light up with joy at the answer.
"You do," he asked. "I thought cause…" He trailed off for a second before muttering. "You look like my grandfather."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah," Peter nodded.
"Well then my boy," the War Doctor said placing a hand upon his shoulder. "I accept it with good grace."
"BOY, OLD MAN, MOVE IT RIGHT NOW OR I AM LEAVING THE BOTH OF YOU BEHIND!"
"And it seems that Yondu calls," the War Doctor remarked. "Come along my boy, best not keep him waiting."
With that he ushered the boy behind the Captain and together they walked into the market. Thus did a new chapter of the War Doctor's life begin…
