Chapter 11

'Why would your sonic screwdriver be calling my MRM?'

'That is a very good question, to which the answer is, I don't know.'

The Doctor was pacing in their bubble in the cafe, which, given the limited space, really wasn't an opportune place to pace at all.

'Maybe Amy got the screwdriver back and was trying to get a message to me,' guessed the Doctor. 'But she doesn't even know you're with me...'

'Well, it was Rheia who called from the ID. Maybe she found the people who took Amy and got her back? Plus the screwdriver?'

'That could easily be found out if she'd answer her phone,' the Doctor growled.

'Her MRM appears to be malfunctioning,' Milo said as he lowered his own after trying her again. 'They are solar powered automatically and last for weeks in darkness. Plus, it would not be like her to let it run out.'

'Which suggests foul play...' the Doctor said thoughtfully and stopped pacing. 'Well, we don't know that for sure. But it would probably be best if we went back to the lab. If Amy was found by Rheia, that's where she would bring her, right?'

'I would think so.'

'Good good, then let's get on with it! Oh, and thank you for the meal.'

Milo looked at the Doctor's plate. 'You barely ate any of it.'

'Well I didn't like it, but it was still nice of you to buy it for me.'

'Er, your welcome, then.'

The Doctor clapped his hands together. 'C'mon! Let's get going.'

Excited and cautious faces appraised Amy and Patches, but their own only reflected bewilderment. No one spoke for a few moments and, sick of the stares, Amy decided to break the silence.

'So... you guys are a band?' she guessed.

'No!' answered Trig. 'We're a group of runaways, biggest in the city.'

Amy raised her eyebrows. 'And what do you do, exactly?'

'Well, we look out for each other!' Trig said gleefully. 'We were sick of forced into being menials for people who don't care about us. I'm sure you know, you seemed to be doing a runner yourselves. We ran away and became strays, but we found each other. Now we all work together to live. You two looked like you might want to be recruited.'

He spoke like a captain of some sort, which made Amy wonder if he was the leader of the group. But he also made it sound like a some kind of mission or a military operation.

'Oh, well no,' Amy answered abruptly. 'Er, I mean, thank you for getting us back there, but we're actually looking for someone.'

'So you aren't running away?' he said flatly. 'You two are looking for your master.'

Amy scowled. 'No. We're looking for a friend, not our master.'

'They're welcome here as well!' He paused. 'Unless you're talking about a Versutian. Any Versutian will always be your master, and you'll just be a slave or a pet to them. Doesn't matter if they call you companion, you're still beneath them,' Trig said, disdain evident in his voice.

'He's not Versutian. He's... well, he looks like me but he isn't human.'

A collective gasp came from the room.

'You're a human?' Trig asked sceptically.

Amy sighed. 'I know, it's shocking. Apparently I'm very rare, or something, so that's why there are people looking for us. Hence the running.'

A concerned-looking woman fought her way to the front of the group . She was a catkind, and the largest one there at that. Over her calico fur she was wearing what looked like a moo-moo.

'Could she be used to help Spike?' she whispered worriedly into Trig's ear, but Amy could still hear her.

'Who's Spike?' asked Patches curiously.

'He was... a younger member of the group,' Trig replied, looking down.

'He was taken by a collector.' the woman said, sniffing. 'I treated him like my own son, and I'll probably never see him again!'

She started to sob, leaning into Trig's chest.

'It's OK, Debby,' Trig consoled her.

'What can I do?' Amy asked.

'The collector only takes in rare species for his gallery and Spike is a Vinvocci.'

'And I take it that's rare?'

'Well, you don't normally see spiky green people walking around, do you?'

'I haven't actually seen too much at all. I just got here. And most of that time I've been locked away.'

'Oh... apologies. Well, catkind are probably the most common on planet. Then you've got the Tivoli and Ood, but they're pretty happy being servants, so they rarely revolt,' Trig explained.

Amy nodded. 'Ok... So what does this have to do with me?'

'He would let you in!' Debby exclaimed. 'He won't give any of us the time of day, but you.' Her open hands gestured up and down Amy. 'He would bring you inside in a heartbeat, being a human!'

'Then all you'd have to do is get us in, and we'll do the rest,' finished Trig.

Amy thought about this. She was sure it would probably be a little more dangerous than what they were implying, but could she really leave some poor child all alone?

Apparently, Trig took her hesitancy to answer as a no as the hope looked to be sucked out of him.

'Debby, we can't just let some poor girl do this for us. I'm sorry we asked.'

'No, no, I'm glad you asked.' Amy smiled as best she could, looking at all the dirty faces. 'I'll do it.'

No sooner had she finished her sentence than the chubby catkind came up to her and squeezed her in a hug.

'Oh, thank you so much!'

'You're... welcome,' Amy managed through the embrace. The moment after she was put down there was a tug on her arm. Patches was looking up at her.

'What if you get caught? I don't want to lose you, too.'

His bulging eyes were threatening tears at any moment, and Amy felt her heart break. He'd lost so much. She knelt down, hugging him tight.

'I'll be back, don't you worry,' she said as she squeezed him. 'Then we're going to find the Doctor, or he's going to find us, and we're going to go home.'

But Amy wasn't sure if she was trying to convince Patches, or herself.

Rheia ran straight into her office in the facility from her hover where her stationary communication unit was, so she could use it to call Milo.

She entered her messy room, papers and hologram files everywhere and went straight to the corner where the phone was.

'Rheia?' answered a voice.

'Yes, Milo you answered! Look, I know I said I did not want to help you two find Amy, but I saw her!'

'Rheia, where are you?' asked Milo.

'Um, in my office at the lab. But anyway, I saw her near-'

Rheia was interrupted by a strange noise that sounded like it was coming from the room. She whipped herself around, eyes widening at the sight.

Vworp, vworp, vworp.

Something was materialising into the middle of the room, fading in and out as it made the obnoxious sound. Papers were flying everywhere, and Rheia's hair flung into her face.

Eventually, what stood in front of her was a large blue box.

Out stepped the Doctor, followed by Milo. Rheia stood with her mouth gaping open and the communicator in her hand.

'Did you just teleport?' she asked.

'Yes, basically,' said the Doctor, but then he frowned. 'Other than all the basic principles of a teleport. You know what, it's really nothing like a teleport.'

Rheia merely stared at him, perplexed.

'But that doesn't really matter right now.' The Doctor said.

'How about you finish telling us about Amy?' Milo suggested.

'Ok... I saw her leaving... er, I mean, she is probably near Starlight Street. Where I saw her, of course.' Rheia nodded firmly.

'When did you see her?' The Doctor asked.

'Maybe an hour ago? I saw her running, but I lost her.' She gulped, then took a deep breath. 'Milo, I need to tell you something...'

'Tell me after we find Amy. If she has not gotten too far, my MRM should be able to pick up the chip I gave her.'

While Milo set his device, the Doctor watched Rheia's eyes close, as if she were in pain. Whatever she wasn't telling Milo was a big deal. Normally in the situation the Doctor would try to persuade them to talk, but Milo was right: Amy was the priority. So, possibly against his better judgement, the Doctor kept quiet.

They took the TARDIS to Starlight Street, which lived up to its name. Not that there were actually stars there, but it was very bright. Advertisements and decorations filled the area, as well as a bunch of people.

'This way,' Milo said.

The Doctor trailed rather grumpily after him, not used to being the one to follow. He wasn't used to not having the gadget either. He sighed, longing for his absent sonic screwdriver.

They walked a couple blocks until they came to the back of what looked like an old building.

'My MRM says she is inside there.'

The Doctor looked up at the ratty building.

'Maybe she's hiding in there,' the Doctor suggested hopefully. He didn't want to think it was the hideout of the people who had stolen her.

The Doctor reached his hand out for the door. Jiggling the handle, the old thing moved quite a lot but refused to open.

'Locked. Screwdriver would be nice right about now...'

'Hey, maybe we can break open the windows with that!'

Milo pointed to a cluster of rubbish bins.

'Worth a shot, I suppose. Hopefully no one lives around here...'

They walked over to the rubbish. The Doctor picked up a bin and was about to throw it, stopping only when he heard a commotion behind him.

He turned around abruptly. Milo was no where in sight.

He braced himself, but before he knew it the world went dark as something was placed over his head.

'Who are you? What are you doing!?' he shouted as many hands grabbed him, pulling him about. He felt his hands being tied behind his back.

Hearing a creaking noise he assumed the old door was unlocked and opened, and he was soon pushed inside. Someone removed the hood they'd use to disorient him, but the room was still pitch black.

'Well, that's not very helpful.'

'Doctor?' Milo's voice.

'Yes, right here. Are you alright?'

'Fine,' Milo answered, his voice strained.

'Be quiet!' hissed a voice. 'What were you two doing snooping about? We saw you were about to break in.'

'Ah yes, so sorry about that. Didn't mean to disturb the peace, we were just looking for someone and thought she may be here.'

There was pause. Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room, definitely farther away than the one currently speaking to him.

'Who turned out the lights again? You people have got to stop with that, not all of us have cat eyes you know!'

'Amy...' the Doctor whispered in realisation. 'Amy! Over here!'

'Doctor? What... Ok, someone seriously needs to get the lights!'

The lights slowly flickered on.

Just a few metres away the Doctor saw Amy, her eyes wide with shock until she smiled with relief and disbelief. She bolted towards him, ramming into his chest and flung her arms around him.

'I knew you'd find me.'

She pulled away, arms on his shoulders.

'Well, to be honest there was a little bit of doubting...'

The Doctor made a tutting noise. 'Never doubt the man, Pond!'

'Alright, I won't... as long as you promise never to refer to yourself as that again. Ever.'

'Agreed.'

Milo cleared his through next to them, and they turned to look at him.

'Ah yes, this is Milo!' the Doctor introduced.

'We have, uh, already met,' Milo said, and Amy raised an eyebrow. 'I was actually bringing attention to our current situation.' He showed them his hands, wriggling his fingers.

'Oh!' Amy exclaimed, as if she just noticed the bindings.

'I take it you know them?' Trig asked.

'Yup. I would trust this guy with my life, and I have.' Amy frowned. 'Maybe I should stop doing that...'

'Hey! I always get around to rescuing you.'

'Well, look who's in trouble now, buster.'

'Can we get these off, now?' asked Milo impatiently, which Trig obviously didn't care for, his narrowing to look even more catlike.

'I don't take orders from Versutians. But if Amy vouches for you...'

'I vouch for the Doctor.' Amy shot a finger to point at him.

'And I vouch for Milo.' The Doctor nodded toward the Versutian.

'Then I guess I vouch for Milo too!'

'Ok, ok, enough with the vouching,' Trig said as he brought out a small knife and cut both of them from the ropes.

'Thank you,' the Versutian said, rubbing his wrists.

'Doesn't feel so good, does it?' Amy sneered, crossing her arms.

Milo opened his mouth to answer, but the Doctor stepped between them.

'Amy, play nice. I never would have found you if it weren't for him.'

'You do remember he is the reason we're in this mess, don't you?'

'I thought you said you vouched for him,' Trig hissed, holding his knife near Milo, who quickly raised his hands in surrender.

'Yes, she does,' the Doctor said sternly, moving from between Milo and Amy to blocking off Trig. 'I mean, he did capture us but he just works for a lab. He doesn't abuse anyone. And then he helped me! I think he's earned a second chance.'

Trig stared defiantly for a moment, then nodded as he lowered the knife.

'So,' the Doctor took Trig's hand and shook it vigorously, 'thank you for helping Amy Mr...'

'Trig,' he finished. 'Just Trig.'

'Ah yes, I don't like being a 'mister' either. Of course that's mostly because Mr Doctor sounds a bit ridiculous.'

'So that means you're just... the Doctor?'

'Yes! Exactly!' The Doctor nudged Amy with his elbow. 'See he gets it. Lovely necklace by the way, Amy-

'It's not a necklace...'

'- and this is Milo.'

Milo smiled at Trig. 'So what are all you Speakies doing here? Do you not have owners?'

No one answered. Trig merely stared at him with disgust filled eyes.

'Right then...' the Doctor filled the silence. 'We'll just be off. Thanks again! Happy trails, and what not.'

The Doctor's arms wrapped around his two companions and began to walk out the door, but Amy shrugged out from under him.

'I can't leave yet, Doctor. I promised I'd help them.'

He cocked his head to the side. 'Help with what?'

'Amy!' a voice shouted as a grey blur rushed toward them. The small catkind stood up on two feet when he reached them. 'Were you going to leave without me?'

'No, of course not!'

The Doctor grinned. 'Who's this?' He knelt down to look him in the eyes, but he shied behind Amy. 'Hello there.'

She nudged him forwards. 'Go on, this is my friend the Doctor. He won't bite! Well he did bite me once but that was a special circumstance; needed to be done.'

'What's your name?' the Doctor asked.

'Patches,' he said quietly.

'That's a lovely name, good to meet you.' He held out a hand.

Patches hesitated, then took the Doctor's hand.

'So, are you going to help The Strays get Spike?'

Amy smiled encouragingly, nodding.

'Of course I will. I'm the Doctor, here to help.'