Jack and Ash found themselves in another cell. For a moment they had considered making a run for it, but the weaponry that seemed to be on every part of the fighters persuaded them that they wouldn't get far.
Their hopes of escape were dampened further when they saw the size of the cruiser that swallowed them; this church wasn't a church, it was an army.
They'd had glimpses of soldiers and civilians, but whether they were in uniform or not, they all had the same symbol emblazoned on their clothing; twin suns rising above a mountain.
Jack had frowned at that. Why did it look familiar?"
They had been left alone, but they could hear the sounds of other prisoners. After what seemed hours, the cell door opened and a man entered with two soldiers.
The man was humanoid, a faint blue tinge to his skin. He was dressed in what looked like silk robes, once again adorned with that symbol. But this person also had it tattooed on his forehead, and he had a superior look about him.
He looked the two of them over and then said, "What were you doing in the flight path of the Messiah?"
Jack had to think quickly.
"We want to join the Messiah."
The man didn't react to that with any surprise.
"All who want to follow the Messiah are welcome."
Ash spoke then, "We were hoping to speak to the Messiah."
The man scowled, "Only the most faithful speak directly to the Messiah."
"Oh," Jack said. "But we are faithful."
The man's eyes narrowed.
"You are heathens and are unproven in your faith."
"How do we prove our faith?" Ash asked.
"You must fight in the name of the Messiah."
"Like gladiators"," Jack said.
The man shook his head, "Such games are for entertainment and punishment. You must prove your faith in battle."
"So we stay here until then?"
"The Messiah is leading us against those that have wronged him. The Valacian Empire will fall, and you will prove your faith."
They were left alone then, but neither were happy.
"I don't want to kill anyone," Ash said.
"He never said kill, just prove your faith. At least we know the Messiah's is a man. The Valacian's are a tough nut to crack. Wonder what they did to piss this guy off?"
The Doctor seethed in quiet anger as he felt the assault craft decelerate. The Master had wanted to bypass the Valacian Empire, but he was having none of it. He wanted his revenge; it sang to him, it was hot in his blood. He'd argued with the Master, because he wanted to lead the 'faithful' personally, and the Master had forbidden it…well, he'd tried.
Now he was dressed in full battle armour, his elite guard behind him. Footsteps made him turn, as the Master and Seska appeared, similarly dressed.
"If you're going to do this, then we'll do it together. We can watch each other's backs," the Master said through their bond.
"Fine, but I want to take the Emperor myself," he replied.
"Agreed, but Eresh'ala, take care," the Master said and sent a wave of affection through the bond.
"Always," he replied, returning the affection.
"We are approaching the lower atmosphere, Messiah," one of his elite guard said.
He looked at the Master, who inclined his head.
"Begin the bombardment and take us in," he ordered.
He felt the small drop as the assault craft dropped into the lower atmosphere. The desire for revenge started to burn through his blood again, as his craft and dozens like it brought hell to the Valacians.
The noise of the bombs as they exploded were deafening. Jack flinched as one exploded a few buildings away. He couldn't think about the people that may have died or were dying. He was trying to stay with Ash, and make it look like he was enthusiastic in his fighting.
He had no doubt that even here, someone was watching.
He threw himself behind a ruined wall as weapons fire traced across the ground.
"I've never seen some of these weapons, and what the hell are those flying things!?" Ash yelled over the gunfire.
As he spoke, one of then flashed over, heading for the enemy line. Jack knew exactly what it was going to do, it was picking of individual soldiers like snipers. But they weren't the worst, that was the wasp like machines that did what wasps did, and soldiers died from some unknown toxin.
Better keep up," he said.
The frontline was moving rapidly; the Valacians were being overrun.
The unit Jack and Ash had been assigned to were re-grouping in a small square, when the cry went up.
"To the Palace, the Messiah hunts the Emperor!"
The Jack and Ash were running, two soldiers amongst thousands.
Soldiers were everywhere, some had formed a man-made arena and others were standing on walls, or any vantage point they could find.
Jack and Ash managed to find part of a ruined building and looked out of what was left of an upstairs window.
Inside the makeshift arena there was a group of civilians, all kneeling on the ground, and there were women and children amongst them. It must be the royal family.
A roar went up and soldiers on the other side began to part. A man in torn clothing was being dragged by another man in battle armour. The man was thrown into the middle of the arena, and Jack could see he'd been beaten.
The armoured figure started walking round the wall of soldiers, and the chant of "Messiah" filled the air. Jack could tell by the way the figure moved, that this Messiah was a warrior.
The figure walked into the centre and the chant of Messiah began to swell. The figure reached up; he was going to take his helmet off.
Jack wasn't sure what sort of man was going to be underneath; some harsh-looking individual no doubt.
But when the helmet came off it revealed a ghost…it couldn't be…he was dead.
The Messiah was the Doctor!