XANA's evil plot is revealed! MUAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Chapter 7: Bargain

"Didn't you say we'd have to face a few monsters to get the TARDIS back?" asked Rose, after the three had been walking through Carthage for about a minute and a half.

"Yes," said Aelita, "And I haven't seen one so far."

"Isn't that a bit odd?" asked Rose.

"XANA likes to set traps for us," said Jeremie, "I'm not picking anything up so far. Just be careful. And take advantage of the time you have, before the countdown ends."

"And that's three minutes, yeah?" asked Rose.

Aelita nodded. "That's how long it lasts. But we only have about one minute left."

"Great," said Rose, "We've only got that long to find the key."

Rose had learned a little about Lyoko and Carthage as they'd been walking. She knew that if they didn't find the key before the countdown ended, then the sector would rearrange itself, meaning that they'd likely need to start all over.

Or they would lose sight of the ground beneath their feet, and they'd fall into the Digital Sea.

And die.

But there was one thing Rose still didn't understand.

"If XANA's trying to set a trap…" Rose pondered, "Then how do we know we're not walking right into it?"

Everyone stopped walking, and no one answered.

"He hid the TARDIS somewhere and he hasn't fought back since we started looking for it. Shouldn't that mean he wants us to find it? Doctor, you've got the key… Is all this part of XANA's big plan to get it from you?"

"An excellent observation, Rose Tyler," said a deep, booming voice from nowhere, startling the three of them.

"What was that?" Rose asked, not recognizing the voice as Jeremie's.

"XANA…" Aelita answered.

The Doctor stared up into the sky, as though he were looking at XANA face-to-face.

"What is it you want?" the Doctor asked, using the very same tone of voice that he would always use when facing an enemy. It was so authoritative, without a hint of fear.

"You companion has already made it clear," said XANA.

"Then just how do you plan on getting the key?" asked the Doctor.

"Simple… I have put together a bargain."

"How do you know I'm going to accept it?"

"You shall see…" said XANA slyly. With those words, the sector started to shift and alter itself, forcing the warriors to run back and forth, away from walls that were closing in on them and towards solid ground. And just when it was about to end, another platform rose up above them.

Right on top of it was the TARDIS.

The Doctor's eyes grew wide, and he sped over to it immediately. But as soon as he was within an arm's length of its vicinity, a Guardian appeared around it, holding him back.

"Insurance," XANA pointed out, "To keep you from trying anything clever. Clearly if I allow you to enter your ship, you'll simply take it and leave. Only the key can penetrate the Guardian. Now give it to me."

"Or what?" the Doctor demanded, "You said you've got a bargain for me!"

XANA didn't respond. Instead he moved one last platform… Right underneath Rose.

She screamed, and fell out sight in an instant.

"ROSE!" the Doctor shouted, reaching for her, but all too late.

"Not to worry," said XANA, "She'll be fine, so long as you do as I say."

"How?" the Doctor scowled, "How can she? She fell into the Digital Sea! You KILLED HER!"

"Are you sure?" XANA asked, "You don't know that she's really dead. And you may have a chance of knowing if you give me the key."

"You expect me to believe that you're not going to leave her down there once you've got the TARDIS?"

"I never lie. It's in my programming."

"How do I know that when you're the one who told me? Oh, you've only made it easier…"

"How is that?"

"Because now, XANA, now that you've given me a reason to fight back, there is NOTHING that can stop me!"

"Is that so?" XANA asked, "Nothing can stop you… Not even this?"

Just then, the Scyphozoa emerged in front of the Doctor. And there, paralyzed in its clutches, was Rose.

"Now," said XANA, "I'm only going to say this one more time. Give me the key."

The Doctor stared on in desperation. This was what had nearly killed Aelita before. Now it had Rose. It was holding her over the edge. He couldn't shoot it, or else she would die. For the first time in his life… He didn't know what to do.

"Time is running out…" XANA chuckled, "Make your decision… Time Lord."

Neeeeeeooooooow… dun-du-dun-dun-du-dun-dun-du-dun-dun-du-dun… *credits*

My diabolical plan is coming together quite nicely… If any of you follow my other stories, then you already know I am EVIL.

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