Chapter Nine: The Tower Tales

The Doctor was smiling to himself as he worked his way through the security devices on the tower door. It was childish, really, how many locks and bolts and alien gadgets were stopping him from entering. He had a feeling Barson was just a little too paranoid, maybe a little bit too desperate.

But this wasn't the reason why the Doctor was smiling. He could hear Cara in the outside corridor, conjuring up her distraction. Of course, as a self-proclaimed genius, the Doctor could have easily prevented the guards from reaching the both of them. But this was Cara's first trip in the TARDIS. Everything he was doing was a test for her. He was sizing her up, finding her weaknesses, her strengths, seeing if she was cut out for life with him.

He was getting selfish in his old age. He'd just lost Donna, he'd given Rose away and Martha was better off without him. He confessed to Wilf that all he wanted, and needed, was to travel on his own. Just a few months later he was going back on his confession. Making the same mistakes. Or the same big mistake; falling in love with humans.

The Doctor was a wise man – no, he preferred intelligent, brilliant, perhaps even supernaturally wonderful opposed to wise – and he was smart enough to know that if someone makes the same mistake over and over, it's not really a mistake anymore. It's a flaw in your personality.

It seemed his biggest flaw was humans. No, he'd never call them mistakes.

He admitted, though, that Cara was holding out pretty well. She was intelligent, reckless and her mind was seemingly unimpressed with psychic paper. That was one thing the Doctor still hadn't had enough time to think about.

As a Time Lord, he could judge people within the first few minutes of talking to them; their personality, their flaws, their favourite colour – not everything, but most things. Cara Harvey was exactly what the Doctor needed right now. Someone who didn't know him that well, a fresh start and a new outlook to adventure.

Yes, the Doctor needed this. He needed her distraction.


The guards expected to see the scene they witnessed upon entering the corridor before the tower. The leader quickly tossed over the bin as the four other guards waited. He stared at the curtain, a puzzled expression on his gold face before catching a glimpse of a scrunched up piece of pink paper. His black eyes followed the trail that led over the sofa and into the corridor. He beckoned his men forward.

Cara sensed the men approaching. She tightened her grip on the curtain cloak and prepared herself to run. She tried not to think of possibility of one of them catching her. The Doctor was bound to be done by then.

"Up there!"

Without another thought, Cara ran with all her might. Clambering footsteps pounded against the marble floor as they followed her from behind. Cara's heart was beating out of control. She fastened her pace. Turned the next corner. She heard one of the guards shout 'split up!' What did that mean? Was there another way they could reach her?

Cara rounded the next corridor. With a little gasp she spotted an open room, the oak-coloured door swinging wide. She ran inside and locked the door, pulling off her curtain cloak and flinging it across the room. She sat on the ground and leaned against the wall to listen.

She heard the guards pass. Cara gave a sigh of relief. Just to be safe, however, she waited a few more minutes before stepping out again.

Cara shut the door behind her and turned around. One guard, on his own, was turning the corner in the direction she just came. Her eyes widened as nerves gripped her stomach. Act normal, she told herself, just act normal.

"Holt!"

Cara closed her eyes and internally kicked herself. Then she looked at the guard, pretending to smile. "What's up?" she asked, her voice slightly shaking.

The guard eyed her suspiciously. "State your intention here," he ordered.

"Me and my friend, we're visiting for a special conference," Cara explained, trying to think quickly. "But I've gotten lost. Could you tell me where…"

She trailed off and glanced at the room she had just come out of. A golden label said '293E.' Cara widened her smile in an attempt to look innocent, "… Room 290E is, please?"

The alien nodded and pointed down the corridor, towards the tower and towards the Doctor. "Just down there, missus. Sorry for the interruption," he answered politely.

Cara felt a rush of relief pour over her. She muttered her thanks and walked with her head down in the direction he had just pointed. It took all of her self control to stop her from running away from the situation. How she had gotten out of that, she had no clue but she hoped the Doctor would never make her do that again. She'd rather much watch him be brilliant and ingenious than running away from five alien guards.

Well, that's what she told herself.

Once she had finally made it back to the tower (after a small panic when she thought she was lost) Cara found the Doctor leaning against the open tower door, tapping his finger against his wrist impatiently, as if he was wearing a watch. On the ground lay the abandoned security devices Barson had created as a barrier. Cara gaped at the Doctor, quite impressed. She knew he would do it, but it was another thing all together when it was actually in front of her.

"Where've you been? Think we have all day? Think this is just a holiday?" the Doctor asked in a shrill voice.

Cara smirked, "I guess that is all the thanks I'm going to get."

He gestured for Cara to lead the way. She stepped through the tower door and into the darkness beyond. As the Doctor locked the door behind them, Cara didn't dare start to climb the stairs. She feared what hidden traps lay in her wake. So, it was quite to her surprise when the Doctor leaped up the first to steps, staring at her as if she was stupid.

"What's wrong? Have we forgotten something?" he asked innocently.

"How do you know there isn't any further security?" Cara asked.

The Doctor raised his eyebrows, "I'm a good judge of character, Cara. I can tell that Barson, whoever he may be, is arrogant enough to believe no one would have gotten through that door. Well, he was right to a certain extent. He obviously wasn't expecting me. He would've needed a much bigger door."

Cara laughed before reluctantly placing a foot on the first step. The Doctor offered her his hand again. She accepted, gratefully. Cara knew by this point, of course, that he wasn't just offering comfort or moral support when he held her hand; he also gained familiarity from it. The gesture seemed to remind him he wasn't lonely.

When they reached the top, a dark open room met their vision. The room was large, but quite plain. A bathroom led into the right, a set of drawers pushed against the further wall and a small modest bed in the corner. Atop of the bed lay a slumped shape, covers pulled tight and body steadily rising and falling with someone breathing. The Doctor flicked a light switch, spilling a yellow light over the room. A rumbled snort of disapproval came from the bed.

"I thought I told you to leave me alone, Barson," he snarled.

"Good thing I'm not Barson," answered the Doctor.

Foxin Vladimir immediately sat up. He had fluffy grey hair sticking up from his head, and a round friendly face. His skin was golden just like the other Imaginarium's but similar to Barson, he had a printed black tattoo on his forehead. Cara guessed the tattoo must be a symbol of authority, almost like a crown.

"Doctor!" exclaimed Vladimir in utter shock. "Oh my – how did you get up here? Barson told me it was impossible!"

"Oh, come on Vlad! You know me better than that," the Doctor teased as he walked over to him. He checked the man over, seeing if he was alright. Cara kept back, feeling a little intrusive.

"But where's that lovely girl you had with you last time?" asked Vladimir, his eyes lingering on Cara. "I do have to say, though Doctor, you do have an eye for pretty girls."

Cara blushed and smiled in return. The Doctor glanced round at her and winked before answering, "Oh, she's fine Vladimir. I'm sure she sends her best wishes. This is Cara, by the way."

He nodded in a way that was long and meaningful, to which Cara nodded back, a little embarrassed. She always found exchanging pleasantries with someone she'd only met, more than a bit awkward. The Doctor saved her just in time, his tone shifting to threateningly serious. "Tell me what's happened, Vlad. How did Barson replace you?" he asked.

Vlad grimaced, "Not much to tell, Doctor. Just a normal conspiracy. Barson was working behind the scenes, gaining support, promising my workers a better life. He started saying Imaginarium had magical qualities no other planet had. Instead of using it as a holiday planet, we should use it for war, economy, and military advancements. Make a fortune from planets million of miles away for wars we don't know the meaning of. He guaranteed money to anyone who would help him. I was overthrown. Locked up here. Unable to kill me because I am the creator of Imaginarium. I can help him with his work when the time comes. I'd rather he killed me."

Cara felt a wave of sympathy wash over her. The Doctor was right about Foxin Vladimir. He really did care about people. The Doctor gently touched Vladimir's shoulder, saying with all the determination he had, "I won't let that happen, Vlad. All the years I've known you, I've never let you down. Besides, even if I didn't stop Barson, the Shadow Proclamation would as soon as they found out about this."

Vladimir nodded. "I'd much rather have you," he admitted.

The Doctor turned to Cara, a gleeful smile on his face. "Are you ready to save another planet, Cara?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Cara answered with renewed excitement.

It was just at that moment everyone in the room noticed footsteps coming up the tower stairs. Cara swallowed, her eyes wide as she looked at the Doctor. Vladimir sat back down on his bed, a defeated expression on his face. The Doctor walked in front of Cara, almost defensively. He showed no trace of emotion as three guards walked into the room, forming a human shield to cover the long-haired man in the middle.

It was Oval Barson.

"Thank goodness for hidden cameras!" Barson exclaimed, opening his arms as if to embrace them all. "Otherwise you two could've meddled in my business. And that's a very dangerous position to be in."