Tales of a Time Lord
Chapter six
The Doctor's eyes widened. "No. Amy!" He very nearly threw the communicator at River and took off running, but was caught by his collar before he could take five steps.
"Doctor! Stop!" River commanded, though she'd already grabbed his collar. "You can't!"
The Doctor spun around. His eyes were like daggers piercing her soul and River flinched for a moment, but stood her ground. "I have to go! I have to help her!"
"But Doc-"
"They could be dead right now River and I'm not letting that happen!"
"Do-"
"River, let me go! I have t-"
The Doctor was cut off by a sharp slap across his face. "Would you just SHUT UP!"
The Doctor stared at River in shock. Seems this younger River who barely knew him wasn't just as well informed as the River he knew, but just as cheeky. And had the same he## of a right hook.
"Now, if it's one thing my future self warned me about, it was the Daleks." River said. "I know they kill everything that isn't Dalek, but did you hear any blasters?"
The Doctor made no reply.
"Exactly. For whatever reason, they haven't killed Rory and Amy yet. They may still be alive."
The Doctor's jaw clenched as his eyebrows furrowed into a frown.
"I know you're upset..." River said. "But right now we need to play it smart. Whatever they found, it's behind the generator. We have to find that. We can't go charging into things with Daleks about."
The Doctor was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Youre right." he said disdainfully, as if the words themselves tasted bitter. He hated this. Someone else being right about something as vital as this.
River nodded, then turned. "Charles, I know the way. You go quarentine that side of the generator's halls. No one gets in and nothing gets out." she said, taking complete command. "If you come across a red haired, Scottish girl and her husband, report immediately. Pretty boy, you're with me. We're going to see what's up with that generator."
The Doctor reluctantly followed. He couldn't help but smile. Usually he was the one in charge, but not now. And she had called him "pretty boy" here as well as the library. Looks like he needed to get used to it.
"Pretty boy, with me I said!" River called, already a ways away from the Doctor.
"Coming." he said, running to catch up with her.
The lights showed no signs of coming back on, but their torches were enough to guide them through the dark hallways.
"How do you know your way around here so well?" the Doctor asked.
River smirked. "When you have a boyfriend that works here who only has ten minute breaks...you learn the quickest routes to the secluded spots." she gave him a sly look and jelousy once again wormed through the Doctor. "There's one near the door we need..."
"Of course." the Doctor mumbled.
"What is it?" River asked, turning to the Doctor.
"Nothing." the Doctor said, trying to convince himself of his own lie. "Where's this door?"
River hesitated, knowing something was wrong. Still, she decided to let it alone. There were more important things to be done. "Right over here."
She turned down a dark cooridor, her torch lighting it. Near them was a door. She opened it, revealing a supply closet. The Doctor frowned.
"What's this? I thought you said this was the door we need."
"It is." River said simply. She went into the closet and moved a crate and a bucket and mop out of the way. This revealed a door reading "Out of Bounds." River smiled, seeing his suprised expression. "See? This door is right behind the generator. Not many people know about it. I've done snooping. Never know when something will come in handy."
The Doctor stared at her. She was brilliant. Not quite as brilliant as himself of course, but still bloody brilliant!
River smiled, turning the doorknob. "When you're done gaping at me, Doctor, we can have a look."
The Doctor realized his mouth had been open and snapped it shut. "Right. Of course. Better let me go first." he said, stepping forward and reaching for the doorknob.
But River stopped him simply by placing a finger on his chest. "Tsk tsk tsk, Doctor. You know the rules." she gave him a wink, turning the doorknob. "Ladies first."
With that, she carefully opened the door, turning her torch off. She was immediately bathed in a glow coming from the generator. Well, she was sure it WAS the generator, but she'd never seen it like THAT.
It still held it's basic shape, but a tank of some sort had been installed below what seemed to be some sort of head. Many robotic creatures that had the same sort of head wheeled around it. They were all different colors, but one lone white one was at what seemed to be some sort of computer. She assumed that to be the leader.
"Let me see." The Doctor whispered, pushing his cheek to River's to see what she was looking at. The sight made his blood run cold. "Oh that's very not good..." he said, shutting the door as quietly as he could, his mind racing.
River turned her torch back on, sencing something was indeed very wrong. "What is it? What's wrong?" she asked, not daring to let her voice go higher than a whisper.
The Doctor gave her a worried look that mixed with fear. Why always DALEKS? "They're bringing back their emporer."