A/N: Those Jelly Babies went over well. How about more? One of the Doctor's favorite treats, going back to his second incarnation (Bet you didn't know that). So here's a bag for each of my reviewers and thanks to go with, for: My Reflection, OtherMeWriter.
Don't you mean 'a certain other Shepherd' and Abu? Yeah, they both do have some secrets, although Abu's are not quite as deep as Book's.
Jack get into trouble? Our little Jack? But of course. But it's not his fault, I swear. He actually listens to the Doctor and stays with River and Simon…

Summary: The Doctor, reeling from the effects of the TimeWar as the last surviving TimeLord, stumbled into a situation he could not ignore when the TARDIS landed him inside a ship that was clearly in trouble. After the rescue, he's left with eight survivors that he must somehow get to safety. But the situation is not as cut and dry as he might like. His people may be gone, but the stamp he's made on the universe is still there, and he finds himself caught in a web spun of the choices he's made in the past…

It's 2517. Something in history has prompted humanity to explode out from their home world. Could the events of 2164 be responsible? Was Earth a myth or was it real? In fleeing Earth-that-Was, humanity scattered to the stars across the galactic arm. Initial survey teams targeted likely planets and systems for habitation and not all of them ended up on the same side of the sector. Blue Sun exists on one side, separated by a patch of 'wild space' filled with exotic binary and triple star systems, from the rest of civilized space.

Few ships brave the route. But luck had it that one ship did. Risking a ghost run, the only contact that the two sides have, the Hunter-Gratzner crashed midway through the journey. Original Port of Departure: Eavesdown Docks, Persephone. Mixed Sino-Anglo culture. Original Port of Call: Tangiers-5. Darkside. Mixed Islamic-Anglo culture. Crew complement: Four. Passengers: Forty. Living 'Cargo': Two. Survivors: Eight plus One

So what happens to Dr. Simon Tam, his brilliant but damaged sister, a convicted murder by the name of Richard B. Riddick, and the other survivors from the crash of the Hunter-Gratzner at planet M-344/G-2 now that they are on their way home? They end up slightly out of their own Time, on a ship filled with living sculptures… And just how is this related to the TimeWar?

A Doctor Who / Firefly / Riddick crossover.

Features Doctor 9, Pre-"Rose"; Simon and River Tam, Pre-"Serenity" Firefly episode 1 and the survivors from Pitch Black: Carolyn Fry, William J. Johns, Imam Abu al'Walid, 'Jack B. Badd', Ali Abdullah, and Richard B. Riddick…

Doctor Who and the Ties that Bind.

Part Fourteen

Blood

River finds that walking among the mercs is a tiring experience. This is the first time she's been away from the Doctor and unable to get back to him. The first time she's been forced apart from the Storm. The blackened auras around her make her head hurt. Even at the crash site, when the Doctor and Rich were chained up she could go to him. Jack's scared. Oh so scared. Simon's walking next to her, trying to be calm, to be her rock, only he's air and it's hard for him to be so solid. William is towering over her and Carolyn, making a wall of flame as he tries to shield them from the attentions of these men who are a sort he knows all too well. She never thought that she'd welcome the intense heat of his aura. But he's different now, changed from what he used to be; he's a better man. Not necessarily a good one, but a better one. She knows that the docking pilot burns a little brighter because he's close. He could re-light her aura, help her live again, if she just lets him. But maybe she doesn't realize how much pain she's in because she is so close to death. Fire should never be banked into embers and ash for as long as her aura has been. Abu somehow has managed to get his prayer beads into one hand and is clicking them as they walk. His bright aura is cloudy, because he's troubled, and afraid but he won't admit it, and Ali is clinging to him like everything has been lost. Jack's tears are really getting to the Arabic boy. All Ali wants is to go home.

She doesn't blame him for that. She understands. It's what she wants too. Only her home isn't a place but a person with two hearts. River blinks back tears that threaten to overflow from her eyes. It won't help to cry. Grandfather told her to just play along, to keep everyone calm, and to remember that she's got the way to freedom. She must trust him. People are going to die here. She can sense it hovering over the mercs around them. But she can't sense it on those she's close to. This might be a good sign, or it might indicate that it's her time to go. She hopes not. There's much she wants to see, to do, to learn, and the Doctor needs her no matter how much he thinks otherwise. And now, just when his in the cusp of finding something he thought lost forever again, this white haired bitch threatens to rip it away.

The pain disappears in the flash of her anger. No. She won't let it happen. Even if she has to use her Academy 'training' to make sure everyone lives. Even if… She hopes Simon will forgive her for being turned into a killer, because she won't lose what she's gained now. Not when she's so close to being healed, happy, and River again.

They are ushered into another room. It's very large, this space. Open. The floor has funny patterns in it. The walls too. They have lights built into them. Long bars and maze-like knot work. The chamber is black, but for the white bars of light. She estimates that it's at least two and a half stories to the ceiling, maybe three or three and a half even, but it's hard to tell. There's a smell clinging to the surfaces, the space, the very air, -- like lots of things have died here and the faded blood can't be totally washed away anymore. The mercs are snickering like this is funny. Abu looks like he might faint, he pales so much. She guesses he knows what is going to happen. Maybe he's 'heard' of such places like he did about the nature of this ship.

It's clear that they are not being set free. She finds herself being slapped into a collar made of thick metal, attached to a cable in the ceiling, and raised up onto a sphere that is at least Johns' height. It's easy for her to keep her balance, but as she watches each of the others get the same treatment she worries about Simon, Ali, and Carolyn. Oh, Grandfather is going to be pissed off when he sees this.

Johns looks at the merc commander, "You bastard of a lying son of a bitch! You think this is funny, do you, cocksucker? You got no god-damn clue how deep your piss-filled grave is already, do you?" He spits and lands it in the man's eye. Lucky for the marshal he's up too high for the man to hit back. "Fuck you, you shit-eater. I'm thinking the prissy girl there can take you out," he indicates River who is across from him. The merc sputters but can't come up with a retort that is cutting enough to even try to say back. "Yeah, that's right, your fucking bluster and battle-wear is all looks and not experience. Pussy-faced Cunt."

Carolyn is looking at the redhead like she's never seen him before. How quickly he's crossed the line from one of them to one of us. She can't quite get her brain around it yet. But he's taunting someone whose side he would've been on before they met the Doctor, and there's no denying that he's trying to channel Riddick's bluster and calm and bad-ass-ness, right now. He's doing a fair job of it too. The commander, in face of the verbal abuse from a chained prisoner no less, orders the squad out.

"Wow." Jack says, "And you told me to watch my mouth?"

"I'm the fucking adult here, kid." Johns retorted to him.

"Yeah, thirty going on three, you are," the boy shot back at him.

Bill snickered at that, "It's twenty-nine, thank you very much."

And Carolyn thinks to herself that maybe Rich was right, pulling Bill out of the fire by his boot straps so many times. He's actually joking with Jack, and the boy needs that. He would have turned to Riddick for that kind of support before, or perhaps Shazza. If Bill can change that much, maybe there's hope for her too. She wobbles on her sphere, catches herself, swallows, and sighs. This is gonna be a very long wait.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

They reach the end of the hallway. It's been very gently sloping and curving. The door opens casting cool aqua toned light into the depths of the shadows. The entire group is thrown into harsh relief by it. The tables are wheeled into the lighted space revealing a large room; rather sterile and cleanly furnished with crisp modern lined pieces. In contrast to this are the scattered 'statues' made of humans. These are mounted in twisted shapes, single and in pairs or groups. In the center of the room is a multi-storied cone that seems made up of interconnected bodies. The light is more of a cyan color here, nearly overwhelming. The Doctor takes all this in and notices that every single one of the forms in this room is alive, suspended cruelly in a state of paralysis that keeps the mind functioning while the body is chemically frozen in time.

A voice floats up from below, "Set them down and leave." It is Junner.

The mercs tilt the table upright and click the controls to eject the prisoners from the devices. Not willing to face the pair even with the overwhelming advantage in numbers they keep the tables between themselves and their charges. Neither man moves until the door behind them closes. They are up on a landing. The restraints from the tables leave them in stiffened chains, on both their ankles and wrists. Rich dares a glance at Thete then pops his neck. What is it?

They're alive. Every one of them. Suspended. What is it about Humans that makes them turn even the most innocent of technologies into torture devices?

The ex-ranger has no answer for that. He makes a variation on his 'poker face' that the Doctor reads as 'don't have a fucking clue' before walking forward down the glowing steps. Just a pace behind him follows Thete. What makes him freeze at the base of the stairs is the realization of how many souls are caught here. Something around several hundred, at least. They adorn the walls as three-dimensional 'paintings' and are scattered about as both statues and bases for tables. Some have light tubes twisted around them, and others are on glowing pedestals. There's balancing triads, caught in twisted acts that are frozen in impossible vivid detail. Men and women, individual and together, each placed in inhumanly twisted and oftentimes sexually suggestive fashion. It's vulgar and demeaning. No wonder the Doctor looked they way he did.

Ahead of them, in the center of a clear space, stands the Kubla Kahn's Second in Command. He's waiting rather patiently, really. Of course, Junner likely spends enough time here to be immune to the horror of this place. Instead of urging them forward, the dark haired man just looks their direction and waits. There's no place else for them to go but forward, really. Richard lets the anger and hate simmer inside his breast as he approaches the tall white-coated man's location. As he and the Doctor get closer, Junner indicates for them to move past him. The Time Lord fixes the man with a deadly look, as Riddick's eyes land on a figure that is positioned in such a way that every muscle is corded and hard. It looks very uncomfortable and makes parts of his body twinge in sympathy. The fella must have a bad case of 'blue balls' with how – erect – he is, was all. He's arched over, just barely balanced by his fingers of one hand, while the other looks positioned to be clutched and held onto. He face is just as twisted; looking like it's caught up in a silent scream.

Junner is watching this closely. This particular form is here at his request, and Antonia scoffed at his suggestion that this one individual was the cause for the Doctor's presence here on her ship. But both the bronze skinned knife fighter and the slightly taller pale man behind him are riveted on the form of the Furyan. It's just as he expected. Now he has cause to wonder who exactly has been playing who here.

The ex-ranger steps around to the side, letting the Doctor see the plaque at the twisted male form's feet. It reads Killer of men FURYA. He makes a humming sound as he studies the face, noting that the man's eyes are clear and alert and watching him.

Touch me.

Rich blinks. He leans in closer, Was that you?

Touch me.

Beside him the Doctor reaches past and curls a hand over the man's cheek. The frozen figure's facial expression changes from a silent scream to peaceful wonder. Riddick glances at Junner and notices that them black haired man is almost glaring at the change. Of course the ex-ranger knows exactly how much and how intense a single touch from the Time Lord can mean. Surprisingly enough he's not feeling that possessive sensation that grips him when Johns flirts with Thete. But this is not sexual, but spiritual. The Furyan's eyes slowly close. The Doctor slides his hand off the man's face, and just as he goes to pull his fingers out of reach the man extends his tongue and licks the length of the long pale hand, from wrist to fingertip. It almost seems like now that the Furyan is holding himself here, no longer suspended. Like he could move any time he wanted. His face reforms the silent scream.

Fire for Honey, Set me Free, Red Guardian I do Your Will, For Peace you Bring me…

Riddick catches Thete's wrist. The Time Lord seems stronger, like some exchange has been made here under the noses of everyone between two very powerful individuals without anyone realizing until after the deal was done. He wants to know what exactly has transpired, "What the hell -- "

Let it pass Amadak.

There are tinkles of thin glass settling on stone from behind them. Both the Doctor and Riddick look that direction to see their hostess paused in a doorway, a glass of deep red liquid settled on a sculptural table near her elbow. Neither notices that the Furyan is also fixed on the woman. She raises her chin as she looks at them. Junner takes advantage of their distraction to quickly jab both men in the neck, causing them to crumple to their knees from the white-hot flash of agony that shoots through them. It's a good thing he can use each hand independently. Something about causing these two pain makes him giddy with glee. He can't quite keep the emotion off his face and it comes through in a twisted grin.

Beside the ex-ranger, Thete groans. He sounds like he's in a lot more pain then he should be. The bronze-complexioned man narrows his eyes behind his goggles, "All right. Now you have my attention."

Chillingsworth tilts her head as she watches Ka Faraq Gatri cope with the implanted explosive. She's heard that the Skaro-based technology would weaken him. It seems as if it is working that way.

"Not your attention I was after, but the Doctor seems a little dazed at the moment."

Richard puts a hand up in the small wound in his neck and feels a small, hard, metallic octopus-like shape spread out under his skin. He immediately thinks of the Shrill. He growls, "Bad move."

"A necessary precaution." She walks closer and indicates for Junner to lift the Doctor to his feet and hold him. That done, she tilts the man's face up and looks into his cloudy blue eyes. A shame really. He's so striking. He'd be a lovely addition to the collection, if she had the time to develop a variation of the Cryo that would keep his mind from altering time on the ship. But she doesn't know enough about how his brain works to even begin work on such a thing. Beside her, the Doctor's – lover? Champion? – is not even breathing as he watches her touch what he sees as his. She wonders if she could get away with fucking the pale man while his jealous companion watches. She smirks at the thought then looks down at the goggled face that is watching her. "Possessive, aren't we?"

"He's a cover story, a way to avoid going back to slam, that's all."

She shakes her head, "Liar." She leans in and licks the shell of one pale ear, extending her tongue as suggestively as possible, before tugging his earlobe with her teeth.

Amadak?

I'm here, Thete. She knows. I'm not sure how, but she knows she's got me by the balls.

Just play along, please. I need – time – to fight this.

OK. You can fight it?

Of course I can. Just lead her along. Let her think she's winning.

"Stop touching him," Richard growls out.

She laughs as she pulls away leaving a deeply colored spot on the Time Lord's earlobe, "See, I know you better than you know yourself."

"Now ain't the time."

She reached down and curled a finger under his chin, "How right you are. Let me explain. You see, should you attempt anything uncivilized—killing me, for instance—I detonate the explosive charges Junner's just implanted… and sleep very well tonight. Not just yours, but the one in your lover's neck as well. Now I've heard that his kind can recover from that, but it would be interesting to see if you could. Somehow I doubt it."

"We're not lovers."

She rolled her green eyes at his stubborn insistence and guided him to his feet. "Walk with me."

It wasn't like he had much of a choice, really, with Junner dragging the Doctor along. He didn't like that the black haired man was touching the Time Lord either, for that matter. Now he had to wonder exactly why they were there, and what reason Chillingsworth had for showing them this room. "You're not putting us on a pedestal," he says as he's guided further into the room.

She glances back at Junner. She can tell that he dislikes the idea of these two joining her toy collection as much as the bronze-skinned man does. Jealous, much? Yes. But she loves it, making him want her like this, no matter what she does to him, he comes back for more, striving to please her so much harder than anyone else does. "No," Antonia answers Riddick. "Of course not." The con is waiting for the other shoe to drop and she makes him wait for it. "It comes to my attention that the Doctor can't be held under Cryo-suspension. He'd break out of it with laughable ease because of his superior biology. He's a Time Lord, after all."

"And me?"

"My, you are sharp," she studies him, "You're strictly for my private collection."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Harley had a feeling that this was a crap assignment. What gave her the feeling was having to revive this particular man. Now, the Boss knew that this man and she didn't get on. Something from past experience, that knowledge was. So why revive his ass now? There were hundreds of other mercs on this boat. She pauses and looks again at the orders. No denying it. She was being told to revive the last person in space that she ever wanted to see. Ever. Like 'see you in hell' ever. Her stomach rolled in protest, just seeing the man's image. God, he was nasty.

She wiped her gloved hand down her green and gray environ-suit clad leg. Just thinking about him being awake gives her cold sweat. But there's no way around it. What the Boss wants, the Boss gets. She says 'die'; you die. She says 'work with your mother-fucking, baby-raping older half-brother'; you work with him. No matter what he's done. Harley swallowed back bile. She'd rather suck Junner off then do this. Shit, she'd go back right now and fuck Carver, if she could get outta doing this, and she hated Carver with a cold passion. The gray-eyed woman paused again in her walk down the dark multi-story hall. She closes her eyes and swallows. Just a few more steps and she'd see the bastard again.

Fuck. Just do this. He don't give a rat's ass about how you or anyone else in the 'Verse feels about him. All he cares about is the money. Bottom line. He'd sell out anyone for a few UD's. If Chillingsworth wanted the untrustworthy bastard awake, she'd wake 'im up. Then she'd just have to figure out how to keep from killing him. Clearing the last bit of distance Harley signals the sequence to de-ice the demon of her childhood. A confirmation request, "revive: Toombs?" pops up on her handheld control. Could she just press 'No' and say there was a malfunction? Right. Her finger depresses the 'Yes' button.

Around her, the room comes to life as the system locates and retrieves the proper tube. It's too much to hope for that he'd have died while on ice. And of course she can't poison him by increasing the dosage of the revival gas either. Someplace between his resting place and the delousing chamber in front of her, Toombs is given his wake up call. Not that it improves the scruffy, wild haired, cigar chomping bastard. There's a pause as the tube is lined up before he's ejected from it, rather naked, into the glass walled sealed room in front of her. God, that's something she could have lived without ever seeing again! Eew. Yuck. He didn't even have the decency of wearing underwear.

Even though Toombs is groggy still, hitting the floor and crumbling to his knees with a grunt, the sight of this woman in front of him pings him right awake. Oh, yeah. Harley's become a fine woman. He leaps at the glass, letting her see that everything is fully functional. He presses into the hard cold surface as he stares at her figure, which even through the suit is ample enough to get more than a slight rise out of him, "Miss me, honey doll?"

The lunge he made at the surface between them caused her to fall back like he was an attack dog. Her heart is pounding in her chest. She can't cry. She can't. Appearing weak will invite him to go right back to his old habits, and she doesn't have anyone larger or meaner in her bed right now to keep him out of it. Why can't she just be sucking Junner off right now? It would be far less of a threat to her sanity, for sure. Without warning she hits the command to delouse him.

He doesn't even pitch a cough. "Mmm. Fresh as a daisy," Toombs makes a show of 'showering' and crudely fondling himself in the white mist. "You know you want some, honey bun."

Harley turns away, suppressing her desire to gag. The only way to stop him is to distract him. Her eyes land on the packet of his gear. His gun. That will stop him from the suggestions and the reminders and the crap. She's never gonna be able to sleep again. Keeping her eyes hard, and looking him right in the face to show that she's grown up in more ways than one, she calmly opens the chute door and lifts up the packet. His eyes land on the gun, just like she thought they would. She wiggles the packet by the corner. He lets go of his cock and waits. Harley shakes her head and put the gear into the slot. Closing the door she says, "Suit up and report. Must be something big, them taking you off ice after what you pulled."

He drops back to his knees and grabs the packet as it slides into the chamber. Digging at it to rip the seal he says, "Sister, I certainly aim to find out." He finally gets the packet open and pulls his gun out of it, fixed on it like it's an old lover. For all Harley knows, it might be.