Chapter 12

The Doctor hit his sonic screwdriver again.

'Is that really going to help?' Amy asked.

She was sitting on one of the crates that The Strays used as chairs. Milo was doing the same next to her, the Doctor hovering over the pair of them.

'I don't know, it's not responding to anything,' the Doctor exclaimed. He stopped abusing the gadget for a moment to give it an affectionate rub. 'What did the mean lady do to you?'

'It's not like I hurt the thing, I just pressed the buttons a lot!' Amy rolled her eyes, then shook her head with a sigh. 'Boys and their toys...'

'Alright!' He flicked the screwdriver open. 'Let's try this again.'

Amy pulled her hair back with her hand, uncovering the collar on her neck while the Doctor flourished the sonic in front of her, switching it on.

For a moment there was a steady buzzing noise, but soon it began to falter and splutter, a spark shooting out from the collar. Amy squeaked.

'Ah,' said the Doctor thoughtfully. 'Well, that's something.'

Amy opened her eyes one at a time, as if the sonic might explode any moment.

'Um, it's still on me,' she said, giving the collar a tug.

'But it's not glowing any more,' said the Doctor pointedly.

'Oh, you're right.'

'Though I don't think this will be much good anymore.' The Doctor held up his trusty tool. 'I can't seem to get it back to the original settings... the TARDIS will just have to make me a new one.'

'Sorry.'

'Don't be. It's worth it to have you safe.'

Amy smiled warmly, then looked to Milo. 'So... how did you guys find me?'

'Rheia,' said Milo. 'She saw you. She told us where and then we were in a close enough vicinity to track you with your chip.'

Amy sighed with relief. 'So Rheia's OK? I kind of left her in a bad situation...'

'You mean you saw her?' Milo asked doubtfully.

'Yeah, at Lycan's house.'

The Doctor looked away, but Milo stared at her.

'She didn't tell you...' Amy shifted awkwardly, deciding whether to tell him or not. 'Well, uh, Rheia's kinda been selling out your lab's security codes. That's why you get so many break ins. Also how she knew where I was.'

The Doctor wasn't surprised. He had known something was going on with the Versutian. But it looked like nothing could have shocked Milo more.

'But she... that is her life's work.'

'Well, she was upset that Lycan took someone she hadn't studied yet. So it obviously means something to her. Plus, she did help me get out. She shot Lycan with a stun gun when he wouldn't give me back to the lab.'

Milo chuckled. 'That sounds more like Rheia.

'Alright!' A booming voice came towards them. 'Have you reacquainted with you friends enough? Can we get down to planning this mission?'

Trig walked straight up to Amy. She stiffly stood up to meet him, startled by his abrupt appearance.

'Sure.'

'Yes, why don't we,' said the Doctor. 'I'd quite like to hear this plan.'

'We'll get right to it then. Just as soon as he leaves.' Trig nodded to Milo.

The Doctor flailed his hands in disagreement. 'Now hold on, no need to be hasty.'

'He's making everyone nervous. We're here to avoid Versutians, not invite them in for tea.'

Milo scoffed. 'I have hardly been offered any tea...'

Trig's face contorted in anger as he went for Milo, but the Doctor caught him, holding him back.

'I want you out!' Trig screamed, angrily gesturing toward the door.

'Gladly,' replied the Versutian calmly. He proceeded to get to his feet, heading for the door.

'No, no this isn't how we leave things!' the Doctor protested, striding after him.

'It is fine Doctor. I feel uncomfortable, they obviously do, and I need to sort things out with Rheia anyway.'

'You're sure?' the Doctor asked, and Milo nodded. 'I can take you back then.'

'No need, public transportation is easy enough. Oh, but before I go.'

Milo produced a small holographic card.

'Contact information, in case you get in any more trouble. Though you seem to be capable of getting my attention anyway.'

'Thank you,' The Doctor said, taking the card and immediately handing it over his shoulder to Amy. She took a quick glance, then pocketed the tiny item.

The Doctor then covered Milo in a hug, to which he looked slightly taken aback. Amy giggled at the sight of Milo's arms remaining stiffly at his sides.

The Doctor firmly patted Milo's shoulders and released him. Milo straightened his coat, nodded to Amy, and at last took his leave.

'Finally!' exclaimed Trig, causing a frown to form on the Doctor's face.

'I don't appreciate racism,' the Doctor stated.

Trig didn't look offended by the statement. In fact, he seemed fairly indifferent to it.

'Maybe if you spent some time on this planet with a lower intelligence level you wouldn't mind it so much.'

The Doctor shrugged. 'Doubt it. But we could argue views until the cows come home, if there were any cows here. Are there any? Never mind, let's hear this plan.'

Trig explained about the collector. A man who gathered different species as well as fine artefacts for his exhibit which had the highest of security measures, apparently. The Doctor listened with his upmost attention, nodding thoughtfully. Until the bit about Amy came around.

'Absolutely not,' the Doctor said firmly.

Amy had been expecting the reaction, but she jumped to the offensive nevertheless.

'It's not your choice, Doctor.'

'I'm not going to let you put yourself at risk.'

'Again, not your choice! Plus there's barely any risk at all.'

'I can go instead of her.' The Doctor addressed Trig directly now. 'I resemble humans enough to be passed off as one.'

'Barely anyone knows what a human looks like,' Trig scoffed. 'It's her identification chip that will get her inside.'

'I can go undercover as a Versutian. I have a device that can make me look like them.'

Interest flashed across Trig's face, but Amy interceded before he had a chance to consider it.

'If you recall, that didn't work too well last time. How long is that supposed to last, anyway?'

'Oh, five, six hours...' he trailed off, eyes looking anywhere but Amy's. 'Possibly minutes.'

'Doctor!'

'Alright, I lost the directions so I'm not exactly sure. But it could work!'

'No.'

'We can use the TARDIS, take her right inside...'

'We're going for stealth Doctor, not giant blue box.'

'I could-'

'Doctor.' Amy clasped his hands in her own, putting a stop to his rambling and pacing. 'I'm doing this and I'm going to be fine. Besides, if anything does happen you can swoop in and get me like you always love to do. Don't deny it, I know you love to be the hero.'

The Doctor stared hard into her face.

'Fine,' he said begrudgingly, gently rubbing her hands. He felt the coarse wrapping around the one and frowned. 'I should fix your fingers; the sonic should do the trick.'

Amy quickly recoiled, drawing her hands to her chest.

'Don't even think about it until you get some non-malfunctioning equipment.

The Doctor sighed, but nodded. There was no denying his trusty screwdriver had seen better days.

Trig cleared his throat. 'So... we're going through with the plan?'

The Doctor and Amy looked to each other, then nodded in confirmation to Trig.

He smirked eagerly. 'Then let's get started.'

Perfect.

This was the word Virgil Callidus would use to describe his day. He would probably even go so far as to say it described his life. He was, after all, filthy rich.

But today had gone extraordinarily well. He had gotten new clients, or as he like to call them, suckers, to donate to his gallery he had convinced most of the world was for charity. Not to mention, brand new species for his games.

Pouring himself a glass of vintage wine he sat in his sitting room and listened to the calming grunts and pacing of his rare pets. As much as he cared for his artefacts, the crown jewels of his exhibit was the livestock, and he took comfort in hearing them stirring downstairs.

He was just about to watch his nightly television when a soft beeping emitted from his monitor. The floating screen zoomed forward, flashing with the words 'UNAUTHORIZED VISITOR, DOOR A.'

'Oh, what is this...' he moaned, pressing a finger to the screen.

A blue tinted image of the front door of his gallery appeared. Standing there was a girl in strange clothes, beating on the door and trying to peer inside the small window.

'Hello?' Her voice burst through the monitor's speaker in a loud crackle. 'Is anyone there? I could use some help!'

He almost thought she was a Versutian, due to the tint of the screen. But with closer examination, Virgil realised she was too short and her head was a bit off compared to the rest of her. If that wasn't enough, the collar enveloping her neck confirmed her inferior status.

Virgil pressed another button on the touch screen and leant his mouth close to the device.

'This is private property. Leave now or I will call the authorities to remove you,' he told her simply.

The girl looked around herself with alarm, trying to find the source of the noise. But the little pest didn't leave. Was she so stupid she didn't realise he wasn't out there?

'Girl! Yes you, I am talking to you. Leave the area,' he told her firmly. He was not going to come down from his apartment just to set straight some lost pet.

Hugging herself nervously, she seemed to finally find the camera and spoke directly into it.

'Please sir, I don't know where my handler went and I'm really scared! He said that since I'm human people may want to steal me.'

'Human? You are a true human?'

'Yes! But don't tell anyone, please. Sir.'

The stupidity of the creature standing outside truly astounded Virgil, and he leant back on his chair to give him a moment to comprehend. She must have been the least intelligent speakie he had ever met.

But with another look, Virgil realised that perhaps he was the one being foolish. How had he not recognised her? It was Lycan's human, she even still had the wrapping on her hand from the last time Virgil had seen her. Lycan, the fool, had let her slip through his grasp already.

Virgil grinned. If Lycan couldn't hold on to her, he may as well have her. He was going to buy her after the games anyhow.

'I will help you. I am opening the door. Come inside but do not touch anything, I will be down in a moment.'

The girl grinned up at him. 'Thank you! Sir.'

With a swipe of his hand on the monitor the door swung open, and he watched her leave the security camera footage as she walked into his gallery.

'Right...' he grumbled, taking one last sip before setting down his cup on the table next to him and making his way downstairs.

The girl was examining one of his items: a sculpture from the temple of the old god on the planet Akhaten.

Virgil couldn't recall the name she'd told him she had, but her pale skin and orange hair were unmistakable up close. Even the dots on her face added to her obscurity.

'Who's Grandfather?' she asked, touching the glass case the sculpture was encased in.

'No matter to you. What matters is that that is an 12000-year-old statue, so you should not touch it.'

It took her a moment, but she eventually lowered her hand. When she finally looked up at him, she gasped.

'It's you!' she said. At first he though she sounded almost scared, she sighed with relief after a moment. It must have just been shock. 'You can take me back to Lycan.'

Virgil cocked his head to the side. 'I am actually shocked you would want that.'

She shrugged. 'I have no where else to go.'

Virgil brushed his long blonde hair behind him and offered a hand to her.

'Did Lycan change your name yet?'

'Nope, still Amy,' she answered as she took his hand. He started leading her toward the back, where the rest of the specimen were, passing up the art as they went.

He was admiring his own collection when her hand came over his mouth, smothering him with a cloth. But it was barely for a second, as he was able to quickly rip her arm away from him. He nearly caused her to fall from the force.

'How dare you?' he told her, her wrist firmly in his grasp, realising from the wrapped arm that was what she had just assaulted him with. 'You think you can suffocate me, kill me, just like that?'

'No,' she smirked, and he could feel his grip loosening. 'But I expect to be able to drug you.'

Virgil wasn't holding on to her anymore. In fact, he wasn't even standing. Laying on the ground, he glared up as the human looked down on him.

'Not so clever now, eh?'