Time and the Trickster
By Lumendea
Chapter Forty-Nine: Tale of Two Time Lords: Questions Only
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the spinoff material and I gain no income off of this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.
AN: This chapter has undergone some minor changes as I have retconned my original plan to use the War Doctor. Instead due to the many problems that I have with Day of the Doctor and other episodes that followed I came going to join the ranks of those who favour the Eighth Doctor as the one who fought in the war. There are no plot changes to the episode, but some of the dialogue has changed.
…..
The Tenth Doctor stared down at Rose's mobile that one of the medical technicians had returned to him, apologising that it had been found on the table next to Rose. If she'd had it with her… no, it was doubtful that such a carefully planned kidnapping could have been achieved by someone stupid enough to leave the phone with her. He ran his thumb over it, studying it with a look of great concentration in hopes of an idea springing forth from his clever mind. The Tenth Doctor was aware of his Ninth form watching him and despite not remembering any of this, had a strong sense of the earlier man's emotions.
"Doctor," Matthews called, causing him to turn and look at her. Across the room, at one of the scanners, his earlier self did the same. "The warning you gave was timely. Our team has just called in from the site and they are all alight, but the building was wired with enough explosives to take out the entire block. They found the radiated equipment piled up."
"Smart," the Ninth Doctor grunted, displeasure clear on his face. "I hate it when they're smart."
"We agree on that at least," the Tenth Doctor muttered, slipping Rose's phone into his pocket with a thoughtful expression. Looking at his earlier self, he frowned, "Wonder why you blocked these memories?"
"Timelines probably," the Ninth Doctor offered with a shrug, but without looking at his future self. "Multiple versions of us gets messy and better not to know."
"You're still in the mourning stage," the Tenth Doctor observed with a nod.
"Aren't you?" the Ninth Doctor asked, snapping his blue eyes to his future self.
"No," the Tenth Doctor answered with a small sigh, "I think about it from time to time, but I don't let it consume my life. It's hard to believe I know, but someday you'll be able to look back on all of it and not want to…" He made a gesture with his hand and looked uncomfortable as Matthews looked at them in confusion. "You know."
"You're right, that is hard to believe," the Ninth Doctor answered with a frown. "Let's focus on finding this Black Sun."
Suddenly, a wind rushed through the small room and a wheezing noise echoed in the space making both Doctors straighten sharply and turn. Just ahead of them, the outline of the TARDIS appeared, but a brighter blue than theirs had been years.
"Oh no," the Ninth Doctor muttered.
"This can't be good," the Tenth Doctor groaned as the TARDIS finished materialising.
"Doctor?" Matthews questioned with a glance at the two men who were both staring at the blue box.
In one smooth movement, both reached into their pockets and pulled out nearly identical sonic screwdrivers.
"Well," the Tenth Doctor offered, "We may have an answer as to why I don't remember this."
"Bloody hell," the Ninth Doctor growled just as the TARDIS doors opened and a man younger than the two Doctors present stepped out with flyaway brown hair, green eyes and wearing a tweed jacket with suspenders stepped out with a wide grin.
"Hello boys," the new man greeted. "Fancy meeting you two here."
"Please tell me you're a companion," the Tenth Doctor remarked glancing the younger man over.
"Why are we regenerating so young?!" the Ninth Doctor demanded. "Damn pretty boys," he added with a shake of his head.
"Young and pretty, that's me," the Eleventh Doctor agreed, rubbing his hands together, before looking over at the Tenth. "Still rude, but not ginger. Sorry to disappoint. But shall we focus on something else, something or rather someone far more important: Rose Tyler."
….
Groaning, Rose forced her eyes to stay open and struggled to keep her mind clear. The Silver Lord watched her with a small smile and tossed her sonic pen into the air, catching it easily in his right hand. Blinking, Rose fought back the haze beginning to settle over her sense which only made the Silver Lord chuckle.
"Come along Rose," he told her. "Don't fight it. I promise that it won't help."
She bit her lip, trying to jolt herself back to full consciousness while glaring at the Silver Lord. The look which would have sent almost any human stumbling backwards only had the effect of making him smile.
"You look different," Rose managed, fighting the itching that seemed to be spreading over her body.
"Naturally," the Silver Lord replied with a mild shrug, setting the sonic pen down on the table next to him alongside a long empty syringe that worried Rose as she wondered just what had been in it. "I'm a being of energy, I don't have a physical form that you can understand. I've told you before that I have to take new bodies from time to time." He leaned against the table, looking completely calm. "This body belongs to a very successful man who rose in the ranks of the Black Sun. He was just the sort of person that I needed, ideally placed for me to take over Black Sun."
"Then you're their leader," Rose sought to verify.
"Yes I am," the Silver Lord chuckled, "Mind you, they don't properly understand that I'm not human. Of course, I turn my full mental powers on those I send out on missions, have to make sure that they don't betray me."
Rose glared him but didn't speak. "I took over, let's see six months ago and I've been encouraging the troops to be a bit more aggressive."
"What for?" Rose questioned, "What does Black Sun do?"
"Supplies the Black Market," the Silver Lord answered calmly. "Someone has to. But that's not my goal," he added, trying his full attention back to Rose and observing with interest.
"Then what is?" Rose asked, trying to remain calm at the expression on his face.
"You'll find out," the Silver Lord answered. "Black Sun is just a convenient tool for now, but I'll be vacating this body once we're done here."
"What about this man?" Rose asked, a spark of concern flashing in her eyes.
The Silver Lord laughed, tossing his head back. "Oh Rose Tyler, you really are too adorable. This man is a murderer, he's killed plenty of people in the past to get the technology that he wanted from crash sites when civilians got there first. He's manipulative, abusive to his wife and children while carrying on with one of his female agents." The Silver Lord grinned, "Not that I blame him, that woman has got legs."
Deciding against replying, Rose tried to focus on taking in what she could see of the room. There wasn't much to see, she was facing a plain white wall that was slightly textured, but could have been anywhere. The floor was poured cement, possibly an office building or unfinished basement. Of course, it could also be a small room in a warehouse. There was nothing on the walls or the floor to give her any clues and she realised with a start that the Silver Lord had stopped talking and was watching her.
"Learn anything?" he teased with a smile that sent a shiver through Rose's body, but barely showed due to her legs, head and arms being clamped into place. Again, Rose did not respond, leading to the Silver Lord sighing and making a show out of looking down at his watch. "Just another minute or so."
"What?" Rose asked, "Truth serum or something?"
"Rose," the Silver Lord replied, raising an eyebrow, "I'm a being of pure energy that can possess human beings and see everything in their minds, do you really think I'd use something as simple as a truth serum?"
Tensing, Rose's mouth went dry and she gripped the armrests of the chair tightly while trying to hide her sudden rush of fear. "Are you going to possess me?" She asked as bravely as she could, lifting her chin as much as the chair would allow.
The Silver didn't answer, forcing Rose to wait in the horrible silence of the room for his answer. "No," he finally told her, "I can't take your body over I'm afraid, Artron energy doesn't agree with my hybrid nature. Condensing my energy form into your Artron energy soaked flesh would do damage."
Rose filed that away, feeling both relief that he wasn't going to take over her body, but also fear as to why else he would bother to kidnap her from Section 13's base. "Where are the Donovans?" Rose demanded. "Have you harmed them?"
"Harmed no… but they are being studied by a few of Black Sun's scientists. It's not everyday that a human-alien hybrid is born. Well, not for few more centuries anyway."
Walking slowly, the Silver Lord moved out of Rose's range of vision and on instinct, her breathing slowed as she tried to listen for his footsteps behind her. He moved slowly and deliberately, allowing each step to be heard clearly by Rose which only increased her fear. Clutching at the armrests, Rose fought back the elevation of fear to terror, unwilling to lose her ability to think.
"What do you know about Torchwood's Black Spot project?" the Silver Lord asked and Rose's head ached at the sound of his smooth tones.
"I've only heard it mentioned," Rose answered before she could stop herself. She gasped and bit her lip, but the pain in her head grew stronger. "It's Hartman's pet project."
"Hmmm," the Silver Lord intoned behind her, "The loss of their files to the Bad Wolf virus was an inconvenience. I had hoped that you had some information on it." He paused and leaned against the back of the chair, making Rose tense. "No matter, next question: what is your favourite colour?"
"Turquoise," Rose answered with a look of confusion.
"What is your favourite food?"
"Chips," Rose told him, growing more confused and still unable to stop herself from answering.
"What is your favourite book?"
"The Lord of the Rings trilogy," Rose answered, her confusion growing as she heard the scratching of a pen on paper.
"What is your favourite movie?"
"It's a tie between the original Time Machine and Back to the Future."
"What is your favourite song?"
"To Make You Feel My Love," Rose replied.
"Gee, I wonder if that has significance to your relationship with the Doctor," the Silver Lord remarked with an oddly cheerful tone before there was the scratch of a pen again.
Rose clutched harder at the chair's armrests, a new sense of dread creeping over her at the line of questioning. He moved beyond the easy favourites and turned to questioning her emotions about events in her life and her opinions on politics and public issues. For some reason unknown to her, the Silver Lord was creating a full profile on her personality which only made Rose wish harder for the Doctor to arrive.
…..
The Eleventh Doctor rolled his eyes as his two previous forms carefully stepped into his TARDIS, each of them watching him with concern. Despite the tension, he couldn't help but smile and try to enjoy the rarity of meeting his other selves. Rose would be laughing at them all and he was both glad and sad that she wasn't here.
"You've redecorated," the Tenth Doctor observed before frowning and adding, "I don't like it."
"Yes, well my ship!" the Eleventh Doctor replied indigently. "Besides we should be grateful that we aren't confusing the Old Girl!"
"You shouldn't be here," the Ninth Doctor insisted, taking a quick look around at the bright and metal TARDIS. "Too many of us in one spot is dangerous."
"Not to mention confusing," the Tenth Doctor added, rubbing his forehead. "I've already got a headache coming on."
"Oh come on we had five of us in one place and time before we managed just fine!" the Eleventh Doctor insisted as he hands flew through the air. "This isn't so bad. Not really," he added with a wide grin as he moved between the two other incarnations of himself. He tossed his arms over their shoulders.
"I'd say someone shoot me," the Ninth Doctor growled, glaring fiercely at his future selves as he shrugged off the Eleventh Doctor. "But then I'd regenerate into you."
"Let's focus on getting Rose away from the Silver Lord," the Tenth Doctor added with a dark hint in his voice.
"Right fine then," the Eleventh Doctor almost pouted as he bounced away from them. "Well this is going to be a bit easy and difficult at the same time," he offered as his hands moved about.
"Are you able to talk without flapping your hands around?!" the Ninth Doctor demanded, crossing his arms and glaring at the Eleventh Doctor.
"Wow, we were moody then weren't we?" the Eleventh Doctor asked, looking at the Tenth. "It's a wonder Rose ever agreed to marry us."
"What?" the Ninth Doctor gaped with wide eyes. "Rose as in Rose Tyler?"
"That's the one," the Eleventh Doctor answered, tossing his sonic in the arm and catching it with a grin. "But really, time to focus on getting her away from the Silver Lord."
"The Silver Lord," the Tenth Doctor repeated with a deep frown, "He's behind this."
"He has a rather unpleasant plan for Rose, mind you one of the more creative ways I've ever seen anyone try to stop the hero, but definitely better if we can get her back."
"If we get her back will that stop his plan?" the Tenth Doctor demanded, rushing up next to his future self. "Stop whatever the Silver Lord has planned for Rose?"
"No," the Eleventh Doctor answered slowly, his smiled fading, "No it won't, but it will help her have a fighting chance."
"That's no good enough," the Ninth Doctor informed the Eleventh, stepping closer to the older two versions of himself.
"This is her fight," the Eleventh Doctor told them both before his smile returned. "But we can do our best to stack the deck. Cheat a little. Time Lord tricks, that sort of thing."
"Good," the Tenth Doctor agreed, his expression deadly serious. "How do we find Rose? The Silver Lord has shielded everything on her. My TARDIS couldn't detect the ring, her key or the sonic pen."
"Well there is something he hasn't shielded," the Eleventh Doctor informed them with a wide smile. "Rose Tyler's DNA signature."
"It would take centuries to calculate that kind of search on a planet full of humans," the Ninth Doctor huffed, "On any other world it might be possible, but on Earth, we couldn't get an exact match."
But the Eleventh Doctor just smiled and looked over at the Tenth Doctor, "For the sake of timelines, I need you to wait outside for a bit."
"What?" the Tenth Doctor demanded.
"Well what I'm about to do is a little bit of a cheat, a brilliant one that I inherited from you, but since you don't actually create it I need you step outside." When the Tenth Doctor made a move to argue, the Eleventh Doctor frowned at him and said, "Rose." With a small huff and glance at his two counterparts, the Tenth Doctor moved to the door and vanished outside. "Right, that was awkward," the Eleventh Doctor muttered before pulling out his own screwdriver with a gleaming green diode. "Now you using a strand of Rose's hair you can start a calculation to find her and implant it to the sonic's software and it will run for the time it needs."
The Ninth Doctor stared at the Eleventh Doctor and pulled out his sonic slowly, looking at it with new consideration. Meanwhile, the Eleventh Doctor darted over to his younger counterpart and located a long strand of blonde hair on his jumper. "Here's a sample for you," the Eleventh Doctor informed him. "Mind you there's no shortage around here."
The Ninth Doctor opened his mouth to start asking a question before he shook his head slightly and scanned the hair. He pressed a seemingly random pattern of settings in the sonic and raised it to his ear. "Calculation started," he said with a hint of awe.
"Calculation complete," the Eleventh Doctor announced, holding up his own sonic. Turning to the main TARDIS controls he slid his sonic screwdriver into a small hole and pressed a button. "And we have a trace!" He half danced to the doorway and opened it. "Come along sandshoes!" he called, "Time to go."
The Tenth Doctor reentered the TARDIS with a scowl and exchanged a look with his Ninth self as he set the coordinates in the controls. Joining his earlier incarnation, the Tenth Doctor studied the Eleventh as he moved around the controls.
"I don't think I like him," the Tenth Doctor observed.
"I don't like either of you," the Ninth Doctor replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "And I think it's a good thing that I won't remember this."
"Right," the Tenth Doctor chuckled with a smile. "You're still in denial about Rose Tyler."
"What could have possibly possessed you to become involved with a human? And such a young one at that?" the Ninth Doctor asked angrily as the TARDIS dematerialized.
"I'm not the one who did," the Tenth Doctor told him, giving him a small smile. "You could say that I inherited that relationship."
"What?!"
"Oh yes," the Tenth Doctor replied with a growing smile. "Can't blame this one on me, it started with you."
"If you two are done gossiping," the Eleventh Doctor called. "I've sent Matthews the coordinates so we should have just enough time to grab Rose and the Donovans before troops swarm the place." The Eleventh Doctor hit another switch and muttered under his breath, "And on some levels, it started with our Eighth body… well or maybe Seventh, but you'll learn about that down the timeline."
…
Rose's throat was beginning to ache from talking and the tightness of the clasp around her neck, but the Silver Lord kept asking questions and pacing behind her. The questions had been going on what seemed forever with the Silver Lord demanding information about her favourite dates with the Doctor and sexual history with him. It was only stubbornness that kept her from crying as the sense of violation became stronger and stronger. Oddly, it was the subject of his questions: the Doctor that gave Rose some additional strength. Suddenly the line of questioning stopped. Despite her best effort, Rose tensed up when the Silver Lord stepped up behind her and placed his hands on either side of her head.
"That's all I need," he told her in a gentle tone, "But don't fight me. This is going to hurt a bit, but it is necessary, sweetie."
Rose's mouth opened in a silent scream as a rush of pressure against her head nearly caused her to black out. She was aware only of a sickening sensation spreading throughout her mind, clouding what small remaining senses she still had. Then everything went black and Rose welcomed it.
