Chapter 9: The enemy within

"Ooo. Ah. I see. Oh, now that's very interesting." These were a few of the repeated phrases that were spoken by the doctor, as he looked through the microscope; twisting its knobs and changing the image. All the while Robin sits own her own next to the time-lord, shutting off the world around her, concentrating on Baltazar's view instead, arms crossed and hands free. However, her concentration is always polluted but the Doctor's consta- "Yawowza!"

"Aaahhhh." She let out an annoyed sigh. "Doctor, I need you to be quiet if I am to concentrate on this, and if you're gonna continue to distract me, I will have to be forced to silence you myself."

The Doctor pulled himself up from the microscope with a disappointed expression plastered over his face. "Threatening? Seriously? I thought you were better than that."

"Sorry if I ruined your image of me, but I am a pirate after all; besides, I did have to take drastic measures when I was young." Robin plainly said. The Doctor let out a small giggle, laying his elbow and scratching the top of his head on the table as he went back to use the microscope. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, it's just that, you remind me so much of my wife." The Doctor smirked as he reminisced.

"You're married?" Robin's curiosity grew, as her brow furrowed with her eyes still shut. "I never figured you for a taken man, or that I even remind them of their wife. Well, what is it about me that you relate to your wife?"

"Well, for starters, you're both archaeologists." The Doctor answered. "You both have a tenacity to kill slash wound your enemies; and you've both lost something very dear to you. Am I right?"

The doctor looked away from his work just to see the reaction on her face. Robin held onto her composure, not letting out any emotion for the Doctor to notice, but felt the futility of trying to hide it from him. "You certainly are perceptive; aren't you Doctor?"

"Of course." The Doctor smugly answered. "After all, it's like what you said before. A person can never hide their sadness in their eyes."

"Hm…" The raven-haired lady quietly said. She was restraining herself from speaking, as if she wished to tell the Doctor her woes, but felt as if she shouldn't. Yet, then again, there was this certain trust that Doctor had alongside him. "…When I was a child, about 8, there was a buster-call; a kind of military attack that can be issued by the marines. It wiped away my entire island straight off the map; never to be heard of again. All of my family, my friends, my home. They're all gone now."

The Doctor can feel a great deal of pain as she continued to talk, the stressing of her voice, the hidden anger in her tone; these were all to familiar. "When the Marines found out that I was still alive, they place a bounty on my head. So, I lived my life on the run; from being a stowaway on an ordinary ship, to escaping mobs and pirates that were after my bounty. They even gave me a nickname: The devil child. Nico Robin. Creating an excuse as to why a bounty was placed on me."

"I…I'm sorry." The Doctor could only say that, feeling speechless after hearing such a horrible past from someone; and also somewhat relatable.

"There's no need to say apologise." Robin eased the Doctor's worries of comfort, as her tone soon seemed calmer. "If it hadn't been for my troubles of my past, I wouldn't have ever met up with my friends now."

"…hm… Consolation; I guess that's a good way to put it." The Doctor muttered to himself. There came a welcoming silence; having so much to tell. The Doctor let a small smirk escape, having a feeling of gladness for his friend. "Back to business I suppose. How is it going on Baltazar?"

"I'm not sure; Baltazar seems to just be walking around." She0 answered, furrowing her eyes for focus. "I'll need to have a better look."

With Baltazar…

The space pirate walked the metallic hallways of his underground lair; passing by doors that lead to chambers holding vials of chemicals, complex machinery , and rows upon rows of still Haemovores; standing in formation of military fashion, with nary a movement in them. However, throughout all the rooms he passed, there was one room that he was heading for. It was at the end of the hallway, far away from any rooms near it; alone in the dark as no light was there to shine upon it. Baltazar stood right in front of the door, and opened right before him, as if it as sentient.

The room itself was barely visible; much like the hallway itself, being under a veil of shadows. The only light you could see came from the mask of Baltazar. The pirate stood near the entrance of the chamber; looking at his surroundings making sure no living being was here. After his search of the room, he continued on, and reached the centre of the room, where a circular machine was found; with a control panel where he was walking up to. Baltazar walked up to the structure; there he pressed a few buttons on the machine, activating it. A beam of light shot up from its centre, where a lone cloaked figure stood there.

His stance was solid, with his presence striking fear into Baltazar, as he tries to keep a calm head. His face was hidden away by his hood, and the only visible thing you could see from his body was one lone gauntlet; a silver gauntlet that looked larger for any normal sized had. It seemed to have an old texture to it, looking much older than anything in this word.

"You wanted to see me?" Baltazar asked.

"A progress report, pirate." The cloaked man's tone annoyed Baltazar, but instead of a retort, he surprisingly kept his composure; reluctant though it seemed.

"Of course sir; how silly of me." Baltazar answered. "Well, the progress on the Gene-splicers is going well. As of now, we have procured at least 67% of the Splicers that reside on this planet. We've hit a slight snag with the project, but we are fully prepared of the situation."

"A snag?" The figure inquired.

"An unexpected element has landed on the island. It appears to be a pirate ship; this has caused us to accelerate our plans." Baltazar explained. "They appear to be more powerful than your average human. Even some are hybrids."

"I hope these humans didn't give you too much trouble."

"There were a few casualties, but all has been dealt with." The space-pirate answered.

"Good." The figure seemed pleased to hear the news. "And what of the time-lord, and his TARDIS?"

"We have the time-lord working with us, allowing progress to move forward faster towards phase 2; while his companions are locked away along with the pirate crew." He replied. "The other part of the plan has succeeded; we have the item that you wanted."

The figure remained silent for a moment, making Baltazar tense in the moment. "… Watch the crew carefully. I worry that they are more problematic than they seem."

"Sir I assure you, the crew is just a bunch of pirates." As Baltazar proclaimed, a Haemovore burst into the room.

"Baltazar, the prisoners have escaped from their cells." The creature exclaimed. The space-pirate turned immediately, and with no hesitation, shot the Haemovore with a blast from his mechanical claw. He was clearly outraged by the news, along with having his master hearing it.

"You forget Baltazar." The figure attracted Baltazar's attention. "They are a bunch of pirates; that are joined by the Doctor's companions."

"I will get them sir." Baltazar replied with determination in his tone.

"Make sure you do." The figure said. "Or I will regret saving you from that prison."

The hologram switched off, allowing Baltazar to storm out the door, clenching his fist in anger.