HOH back from the dead! Yes, I have returned from the dark recesses of my mind (one can enjoy the company of oneself for only so long)
I'm kidding, I am amazing company. Just ask any of my alter ego's. Except that one, no not you, behind you. No, your other behind. Yes, you. Stop hiding, you little sh-
Chapter 10: Revolt
That's not right. Why is the ceiling moving? Wait, was he being dragged?
The Doctor lifted his throbbing head up to look around him. Indeed, he was being dragged by the hem of his coat over the cold stone floor. Were they still in the castle? The walls and ceiling was stone as well, albeit cracked here and there. Underground? A basement? He heard the metallic clicking of a gate and his hearts stopped.
A prison. He could just as well wave goodbye to ever seeing the stars again. He's never getting out of this one.
He felt the hands by his neck suddenly jerk as he was thrown into the cell. He kept his body limp, rolling over the cold floor, hoping that the guards hadn't noticed that he was awake. The lock clicked in place and he waited a few seconds more, listening to the footsteps fading away before breathing a sigh of relief. They were leaving him alone for now.
Even though he was safe, if he could call it that, for the moment, he didn't stir. Eyes closed and cheek pressed against the floor, unmoving. The coldness slowly crept into his bones as the emptiness in him grew.
He was a fool for trusting her. That was usually one of his biggest problems. Trusting the wrong people. Was it because he tried seeing the good in others, or was he just an old fool. An idiot. Without his box. The emptiness gave way to something else. Something twisting inside his chest and making him even colder. Betrayal.
"Bring him back or I swear you will never step inside your TARDIS again."
"No."
"Do as you are told."
"No."
"Say it again so I know you mean it."
"No!"
"I'm not kidding, Doctor."
"Neither am I."
"I will do it!"
He frowned, remembering that volcano. The boiling lava, the TARDIS, locked. The keys. It was fake, sure, but what was said wasn't and he could feel that betrayal again. The hurt. The pain.
Everywhere he went there was pain. How much of that pain did he cause? How many times was he responsible for the death of those he was trying to save? All that pain.
And what do you do with all that pain?
You hold it tight.
Until it burns your hand.
He opened his eyes. He grunted, lifted himself off the floor and turned to the steel door.
"Not on my watch," he whispered. Standing in front of the door he realised he had no plan for getting out of here. There wasn't a lock he could pick this time. He placed his hands on the door. He had done it before, but that was a wooden door. How much different was a metal door? Closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against the metal and concentrated. His frown deepened as he tried reaching out with his mind.
Concentrating so hard, he almost missed the click the door made. He stood back, surprised that it had worked at all. Though his face fell when the door opened.
"Ah, I found you." Lioma said too cheerfully for his liking and started off down the hall. He remained inside the cell.
"Why did you come back for me?"
Lioma stopped, slowly turning to him. "Sorry?"
"Back there, you betrayed me," he stated with a calm, cold voice. Lioma wordlessly held out her hand. He frowned, seeing his sonic in her palm.
"I needed a distraction."
He snatched the sonic from her, examining it. "You could have let me in on your plan," he snapped.
"I needed to make it look convincing and, in all honesty, you don't look like a good actor." He glared at her. "Look, I'm sorry. But it was necessary. You said we'd need that, so let's get on with it then." She motioned for him to follow and, hesitantly, he did.
"Right, so the entrance for the tunnel we're looking for should be one level down," Lioma explained as she led the way.
The dull boom of an explosion echoed through the hall, the ground beneath their feet shaking ever so slightly. Another explosion went off, its sound drowned out by the wail of an alarm.
"And that would be the start of the revolution," she commented.
"So, once we find the tunnel entry, we can get the men inside the castle. While the guards are kept busy by those outside, Alton and the others can surprise them from the rear."
"What if you can't get the tunnel open?" Alton rubbed his chin. "We'd be stuck in the tunnels and the plan will fail."
The Doctor creased his brow. "I might be able to bypass the security, though it would be much easier with my sonic."
"Your what?"
"Sonic screwdriver. Neat little thing," he smiled. "It was taken from me when they captured me though."
"I think it might still be in the castle somewhere. Those bunch love their trinkets and trophies. I doubt they'll dispose of Time Lord technology." The Doctor stared at Lioma.
"Alright, we'll give you an hour. Hopefully you'll have the entrance open then."
"Did you see my TARDIS?"
Lioma felt around in the dark room, glancing quickly at the Doctor. "Sorry what?"
"Big blue box? Did you see it when you went looking for my sonic?" It felt good to have his sonic back in his hand, all he needed now was his TARDIS. He moved his sonic over the floor, enjoying the whirring sound it made.
"Uh, yeah." She waited for him to say something, but he remained silent. "I'll, take you to it once we- "
"Found it," he said casually. Lioma walked over to him. "Told you it's a neat little thing," he held up his sonic and grinned at her.
"Great," she crouched next to him and traced the indistinct grooves of the hatch in the floor. "How do we open it?"
The Doctor slid his hands over the cover, muttering softly to himself. His hand stopped at a spot, and he pointed his sonic at it. The blue light lit up the grey metal, and seconds later the hatch slid down and to the side, revealing the dark tunnel.
A light flickered on at the bottom, shining into their eyes. They stood, watching as Alton climbed up and out of the tunnel, the others following him one by one.
"We were beginning to think you weren't going to show," Alton smirked at them.
The first thing they noticed as they made their way up to the fight was the smoke and dust. Barely noticeable at first, now it hung thick, impairing their vision. The second, was that the inside of the palace resembled a war zone. Crumbled stone and concrete littered the floor, broken glass and dust covering it all. The shouts and sounds of gunfire could be heard clearly now, the alarm having gone silent a while ago as the power went out, emergency lights at their feet showing the way.
"I'll be with you shortly, Alton."
"Where are you going?" He frowned questioningly.
"I need to take care of something," Lioma whispered. Alton remained quiet, then gave a short nod.
The Doctor raised his brow as Lioma turned to him, Alton and the others disappearing through the smoke and dust.
"Come on." Keeping low, she led him back the way they came. The smoke cleared and it became quieter the further away from the battle they went. They passed the hall to the lower levels, following a new path now. "It should be up ahead," she said rounding a corner. Before he could follow she pushed him back and crouched, placing a finger over her lips.
Slowly, she peeked around the corner. The guards she had seen were gone. She motioned for the Doctor to follow her, quickly running halfway down the hall and entering a large open room.
"As promised, Doctor." They went to the back of the room, passing all sorts of trophies and trinkets and stopped in front of a big blue box.
"My TARDIS," he whispered, placing a hand against the wood.
"Thank you, Doctor. For your help."
He didn't respond, still focusing on his TARDIS. Oh, how he had missed his box. His fingers traced the handle before closing around it. "I suppose I should thank you as well," he said curtly and turned only to find the emptiness stare back at him.
Lioma hurried down the corridor, trying not think about leaving him behind. Again. The first time was bad enough, she didn't want to go through it again. But she had kept her promise, she had helped him to find his TARDIS again. Hopefully he would just get in and fly off to his next adventure. It won't be the first time he leaves in the middle of something. He already did his part, there was nothing left for him here.
The smoke filled her nostrils and brought her back to the present. This fight was still not over. She slowed down, careful of what could be waiting right in front of her, obscured by the dust and smoke. It didn't help that the emergency lights had gone out as well, the only light the soft orange glow of a fire somewhere.
She passed the point where she had last seen Alton and the others, following a trail of debris barely visible through the smoke. She kept low, feeling the irritation in her lungs and coughed. Hearing shouts she changed course, following the sounds of struggle and blasters firing. She coughed again. The smoke was very thick now, forming a dense blanket and spreading the orange glow all around her.
The others were close, their muffled shouts somewhere just up ahead. She pressed on, careful of all the debris at her feet. She could hear Alton's voice more clearly now so, where was he? Another coughing fit made her stop, leaning against the wall for support. Was it the lack of oxygen, or was she hearing…?
Her head snapped up. The rumbling grew louder before the ceiling gave way with a groan and a crack, weakened by the fire eating away at it from above.
WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE oh wait it's you. I promise the final chapter will be out only next month wait what
KIDDING
It's more of an epilogue.
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nah it's the final chapter and I'll try to have it up by next week... *laughs in German*