The Broken Man

Part 2

Annabelle's POV

I was about to make a move against Yuri when Rhoda decided to get her own shot in. "My country's had enough of your kind you Sracka!" she shouted as she kicked him in the knee. I had hoped that would be enough to distract Yuri so mom and the Doctor could get away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Teddy's POV

I don't know what all had happened, but Joseph decided to stop. "Pausing for thought Joseph?" the Doctor asked. He then grabbed a phone line and sonic'ed it in half. "Take all the time you need."

We then grabbed the makeshift vine and I said "Well It's been fun." As Joseph started to move again. "But I think it's time we said…"DO SVIDANIYAA!" I shouted that last line as we swung towards the trees….and crashed into one hitting branches on the way down shouting "Ow at least three times before stopping just above ground hanging upside down.

"Look at that." The Doctor said. "All our favorite limbs attached. Textbook landing. By the time Joseph climbs down we'll be….."

"…..still here." I said as he landed on the ground hard, and in front of us. We got down quick and started running again.

"How does he keep his hat on?" the Doctor asked as we ran. Soon a van pulled up to us and the driver shouted "Oi! Need a lift?"

"Yes, please!" I shouted as the back door opened. "Get in fast!" the man in the doorway shouted. The Doctor said "We're very obliged!" as we climbed in fast. We didn't know who this guy was but he was getting us away from Joseph, whom we left in the dust.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Annabelle's POV

I saw Yuri regain his control over the Joseph thing for a few seconds ordering him to 'kill' but then he stopped. He whispered "So…not a greedy accountant after all Mr. Lake. Thanks to Joseph. I see you are something else entirely."

Turning to his henchmen he ordered "Handcuff these two and put them in the car." Rhoda shouted "PIG! FASCIST! COSSACK!" as she and Rory were being led away. Yuri then ordered "And gag the girl."

Amy, Rabbi Hoffman and I stayed hidden behind the graves. Amy whispered "They're carting them off! Saul, Annabelle, we have to follow them."

"Yes." Rabbi Hoffman said. "But what about the Doctor and that creature?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

And while Annabelle was with Amy and the Rabbi following Rory and Rhoda, the Doctor and I were interviewing a man we found we'd be seeing a lot of. Patrick Lake.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Teddy's POV

As we drove towards who knows where we were going we were being 'interviewed' by our rescuer. Especially in regards to the book. He was a dark skinned man with a British accent. Seemed like he was important to someone. "So, mind handing over that book?" he asked.

"That depends." The Doctor said. "Why are you interested in it?"

Our rescuer answered "I'm not. I'm interested in Yuri Azarov." I replied "Oh, good answer." as he continued to speak. "I watched your showdown in the cemetery. Unwise. Yuri's not a man who takes 'Nyet' for an answer."

"He wasn't so bad." The Doctor replied. "Joseph was the grumpy one."

"Yeah, we met." Our rescuer said as I kept wishing he would volunteer his name. "Bloke's got quite an attitude."

"Joseph isn't a 'bloke' at all." The Doctor said as we arrived at our destination. The man asked "What do you mean?"

"Let's talk inside." I said as we got out of the vehicle and took note of all the British flags around. I had a feeling I knew where we were. A guess proved right as another man came forward to greet us inside.

"Welcome to the British Embassy." our new greeter said offering his hand which we shook. "I'm Hugo Wilding. Delighted. Do forgive the hustle and bustle. Not our usual modus operandi, I assure you. Please take a seat. I'll ring for some tea."

We took our seats and the Doctor made note of our rescuer. "I'm the Doctor. This is my niece Teddy Duncan. Sorry, didn't catch your name…"

"Patrick Lake. Chartered accountant." Our rescuer answered. "Riiiight." The Doctor answered not sure he believed everything Patrick was saying.

"Every parent's dream." I said. "Next to medical doctor, lawyer, stock broker, anything to do with money." The Doctor then said" I hate money."

Hugo then began to speak. "Yuri Azarov is something of a hobby of ours Doctor. Perhaps you could explain why—" The Doctor then interrupted as I rolled my eyes. He may interrupt for a good reason, but people still hated to be interrupted.

"Now Hugo." The Doctor had said. "I'm sure we're going to get along famously. But let's start as we mean to go on. "You need to contact London immediately and request the details of file: D189/A45/K76."

"It's dated May 8th, 1945." I said. "And it's stamped Operation Blue Box."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As my uncle and I were talking to Patrick and Hugo. Annabelle, Amy and Saul were on the trail of Rory and Rhoda.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Annabelle's POV

We followed Yuri and company to their destination. Amy asked Rabbi Hoffman if he knew where they were. He answered "They're taking Rory and Rhoda into the Russian Embassy! Amy, Annabelle that is the most heavily guarded building in all of Prague!"

"Yeah?" Amy asked. "Looks like there's a party going on. I love me a party." I could tell Amy had an idea in her mind and I could guess what it was.

"I'll call mom. Tell her to have the fancy dress ready." I said as I dialed mom's number.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Teddy's POV

…"so there I was, trying to stop Monty from punching Patton into a plate of steamed dumplings when the big fella walked in.

"I remember." I said completing the Doctor's story. "'Doctor', he barked. 'If you won't win the blasted war for me, at least rescue the hors d'oeuvre." Patrick and Hugo were looking on amazed at the picture they were holding. One with the Doctor, Annabelle and me giving the peace sign with Winston Churchill. A sign the Doctor was giving now as I rolled my eyes. As I also did in the picture.

"Now, I know Winston left a permanent order that I, and my nieces, be given full security clearance for any post-war operations." The Doctor had said. "The question is…."

"Will our intrepid MI6 agents Hugo and Patrick make the necessary leap of imagination? Will they think the unthinkable?" I asked. The Doctor said "Let's see…" as Hugo and Patrick whispered.

"Come off it Hugo, this is nonsense! It's got to be faked." Patrick had said. Hugo seemed more open minded.

"I've heard so many whispered stories through the years…." Hugo had said. "Fairy tales and nightmares…. All of them linked together by a single word and two names….Doctor….Teddy Duncan…..and Annabelle Duncan." After thinking for a moment Hugo came to his decision. "Yes, it is nonsense Patrick. But I also believe it's true."

Patrick soon agreed saying "All right, but this is on your head." Just as Annabelle called. "Hello Sweetpea." I said. "What's…..? Oh…." I listened to her describe what happened to Rory and Rhoda and what Amy's plan was and I said "Okay, sit tight. We'll be there soon….Yes, I'll bring clothes." Afterwards we listened to Hugo and Patrick's briefing. It was only until they got to Yuri that things got interesting.

"…..'art dealer' Yuri Azarov has been running a KGB Network in Prague for twenty years." Patrick said. "But his power base is collapsing now. A democratic Czech government will throw him in prison."

"What's to stop him from jumping on the next train back to Mother Russia?" I asked.

"A frame." Hugo answered. "Patrick has been selling him minor information, building his trust. I've been photographing the meetings. We've set up a Swiss Bank account in his name.

"Ah so old Yuri will look like he's selling, not buying." The Doctor answered.

"Precisely." Hugo said. "When the current regime falls Azarov will have nowhere to run. Except to us." Patrick added "It's called Operation: Broken Man. We're going to bleed him dry." The Doctor and I sat unimpressed. We weren't up for spy games.

"Oh, you spy boys love your little games don't you?" the Doctor asked. "All those secret codenames and double crosses and invisible ink."

"Bad news I'm afraid." I then said. "There are bigger players in town tonight."

We then made ready to meet up with Amy, Annabelle and Rabbi Hoffman. Off to the side I noticed Patrick on the phone. From what I heard he was talking to his family.

"Sorry Heather, but I'll have to stay in the office tonight. The audit schedule needs to be ready first thing tomorrow." From the choice of words it sounded like he was talking to his wife. The words then changed and now it was a good bye to his daughter. "That's great pumpkin pie. Goodnight, love you lots."

As he hung up I said "Bet you've done that a lot Mr. Lake. Do you ever regret all the lies?"

"Not a one Miss Duncan." Patrick answered. "They protect them from the truth."

I kept an eye on Patrick Lake and thought to myself _Until they don't anymore._ I had a feeling the house of cards his lies were built on were about to fall leaving the ugly truth behind.

I just hoped the house didn't fall soon. Or tonight.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Stopping at the TARDIS we got some fancy dress. I got into a purple lace designer gown with sandals while the Doctor put on his tux. He even found a dress for Amy that belonged to….an old friend. More on that later.

The dress was for a party at the Russian Embassy Yuri was hosting. Russian military deciding what was happening in Czechoslovakia was an 'internal matter' with others complaining about rallies and dissidents everywhere. Yuri was trying to keep spirits up as he went to check on 'exciting discoveries' in the basement.

Exciting discoveries that were Rory and Rhoda. Rory moreso as he spoke fluent Czech with the help of the TARDIS and carried highly advanced technology. Namely his cellphone.

Yuri commented that Rory was a terrible liar, not a tourist, and not a professional spy at least. When Yuri asked what Rory was he answered "I used to be a plastic Roman. Those were the days."

Then we arrived.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Teddy's POV

Amy, the Doctor and I walked to the gate of the Russian Embassy. Amy ran the plan by us both. "Okay, here's the plan. We get inside. We find Rory and Rhoda. We free Rory and Rhoda. We get outside."

"Sounds simple enough." I said. But I had a feeling it wouldn't be so simple. The Doctor was more encouraging. "Brilliant! So do you like the period dress?"

"Actually….yeah!" Amy said taking in the red dress and pearls she wore along with her high heeled shoes. "I feel like I'm channeling Joan Collins! Who did this belong to?"

"A friend of ours from Soho." The Doctor said. Amy then asked "What was her name?"

I gave the answer. "Albert." Amy didn't have time to respond as we got to the gate and the Doctor flashed the psychic paper. "Ambassador Ottokar and his niece of Syldavia." The Doctor said.

"Plus one." Amy added. The guard said "Welcome Ambassador." and we soon found ourselves inside the embassy.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Annabelle's POV

I decided to sit in the van with Rabbi Hoffman and keep an eye on the two men my mom introduced as Hugo and Patrick. I also thought mom would need eyes in the back of her head in case things went wrong….as the sometimes often do.

Patrick was saying how he thought what the Doctor was doing was not the smart play over the earpiece mike. And a bit loud too. "Ow! Not so loud Patrick." The Doctor whispered back over his tux mike. "We need to establish why the book is so important to Yuri. I'd rather sound him out at a party than a cemetery. Stay tuned."

"Why are you letting him do this?" Patrick asked.

"Because," Hugo said. "Those fairy tales always end the same way. With the world still turning."

I smiled. It looked like Hugo got it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Teddy's POV

We didn't have long to wait before Yuri showed up. "Doctor!" he said as if greeting us like old friends. "What a pleasant surprise. And with your niece and beautiful companion also."

"Drop the charm offensive Dr. Evil." Amy said cutting to the chase. "You know why we're here."

"Your friends are well." Yuri said keeping the charm going, but also letting us know what he wanted. "I would be most happy to exchange them for 'The Sorrows of Prague'."

"You really want that book don't you?" I asked. The Doctor then said "Tell me about the book Yuri. What's in it?"

"Something better than this." Yuri then turned his attention to the people in the room looking at them with distain. "Look at them: bloodless men, cowards, so quick to surrender their power. They run from Afghanistan. They give up Poland and Hungary. That weakling Gorbachev sits in Moscow and watches the Berlin Wall fall. Should I stand and watch also? What do you think?"

"I think you are a man with a very big hole in his life." The Doctor said. "And they're always dangerous." I then asked "What are you trying to fill it with Yuri?"

"That would be telling Miss Duncan." Yuri answered. The Doctor looked around the room and saw an Ambassador nearby. "Then let's up the Ante." He said as he introduced himself. "Ambassador Golovkin! Lovely party, smashing nibbles. Thanks for the invite. I'm the Doctor."

"Oh, ah welcome." The Ambassador said.

"Hi, Ambassador. I'm Teddy Duncan." I then said offering my hand as I then said. "Tell me, did Yuri over there mention he's holding a Czech student and a British citizen hostage in your embassy?" That got his attention. In the background I could hear Patrick shouting "What does she think she's doing?" I also heard Rabbi Hoffman say "Taking the honest path."

Ambassador Golovkin turned to Yuri in shock and disbelief. "Is…is this a joke?"

"Oh no, Ambassador." Yuri said still all smiles. "Miss Duncan is quite correct. My men are holding them in the cellar. Would you care to see for yourself?" Before long we were all heading down into the cellar. Rory and Rhoda sat tied to chairs, but other than that none the worse for wear.

"Hey, stupidface." Amy said to Rory. "How have they been treating you and Rhoda?"

"Not bad." Rory answered. "No rubber hoses or truth serum yet." Ambassador Glovkin however was horrified. "Azarov, have you lost your mind? To do this here. At such a sensitive time. I've tolerated your excesses in the past but you have gone too far."

Glovkin then ordered his guards to arrest Yuri, but Yuri wasn't the least bit bothered. In fact he just took out a cigar and lit it. Now I was worried. He had something up his sleeve. A something that revealed itself on the bulletin board behind us.

"Who is this, Yuri Azarov?" a red square asked behind us. A red square with eyes and a mouth connected together crackling with energy (why do they have to crackle?). "His name is unimportant comrade." Yuri answered. "I brought him here for you."

"His mind buurrns with rage." The creature said. "It is…DELICIOUSSS…"

Ambassador Glovkin tried to keep his composure. "Do you think you can distract me with cheap tricks, you lunatic?" The Doctor tried to warn him away. "Ah, not sure that is a trick, Ambassador."

"Yeah." I added. "You might want to calm down. Count to ten. Back away."

"I taste raw fury." The creature said coming out of the wall. A creature that was square, red, and thin like paper. "It is so sweeeeet…." Yuri stood next to it like it was a friend. "Times change, ambassador." Yuri said. "The world moves on. The little man must step aside or be crushed under foot."

Ambassador Glovkin soon was losing his anger as the creature advanced. "Wh-what is this?" The Doctor shouted for us to get back. And hurry. Glovkin however was too close to the creature as it passed through him…..devouring him as he did.

As Ambassador Glovkin screamed Yuri gloated. "You were a constant irritant Glovkin, but you always provided an excellent dinner." With that Yuri laughed as what remained of Ambassador Glovkin was a burning skeleton. The creature then turned to the guards who drew out their pistols and fired at the creature. The guns had no effect.

"And fear….I had forgotten human fear." The creature said. The Doctor then shouted "No! Don't try to fight it. Just run!

"Rich and succulent." The creature said as it ate a guard. The Doctor and I pulled out our sonics and released Rory and Rhoda. "Wow!" Rhoda said. The Doctor just said "Time to go!" looking for us to get out of the cellar. Rory gave a punch to one of his captors saying "See you later 'Tovarisch'!" as he punched him.

"Leaving so soon Doctor, Miss Duncan?" Yuri gloated as the creature ate the Ambassador's other guard. "We'll keep in touch Yuri." The Doctor said as we ran. Once we were outside the cellar Amy and Rory closed the doors. "What are you doing?" the Doctor asked.

"Locking up the bad guys and the monster, if it's okay with you." Amy answered. "Nice idea." I said just as the creature passed through the door seam. "But it won't work!"

"Give me your fear." The creature said halfway through the door seam. "I NEEED MORE FEEEEAR!" We then started running down the hallway with the creature turning so we could see its face coming after us in pursuit.

"What is it?" Amy asked.

"Something that only exists in two dimensions." The Doctor said. I continued the explanation. "It can slide between the atoms of a wall, but it'll have difficulty navigating physical space: we should be able to outrun it!"

Just as I said it Joseph was blocking our way out. "Assuming of course, nobody blocks the exit." I said. Amy added "Oh, not you again."

We had Joseph in front of us and a red two dimensional energy creature behind us shouting "YOU ARE MIIINE LITTLE FLESHLIIINGS!" The Doctor said "Right! We need a clever plan."

Under his breath he said "Anybody got a spare one I can borrow?"

END OF PART 2

Author's note: Halfway through. More to come soon. And a series character will be making their presence felt next chapter. They won't be seen or involved directly but they will be providing a helping hand so to speak.

Expect me when you see me.

John

P.S. Rich, thanks for making that line addition in the last chapter you did. You won't be disappointed when Hunters arrives, which is two parts away.