Rated T for safety reasons and language.
Disclaimer: The Doctor and his companies belongs to BBC. I'm just a girl who fell in love. Though, the Time Eaters are my babies. If you want to borrow them, ask nicely.
Thanks for the reviews(!): bored411, Sam, ItsJustMe-94, Akrylic, MDA, Lady Hummingbird, and drmsqnc
Trying to get into Ten's mind space is like trying to ride a tornado on a saddle in a spacesuit. Fucking difficult.
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"This free will business is a bit terrifying anyway. It's almost pleasanter to obey, and make the most of it."
~Ugo Betti
Unbeta'd: All mistakes are my own and I will fix them when you or I catch them :)
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The Next Doctor:
Soul Eater
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Trust but verify.
It seemed to be the quote of the day for the Doctor. He was wondering around the stable eyeing things, touching things, and possibly, smelling things. So, May was watching him in return: her pupils near slits, irises a smoldering cinnamon, expression wary. She was stationed by Dr. Who's side, just slightly angled in front of him, in order to protect him at any moment if necessary. She didn't trust the Doctor, just like he didn't trust her. May was sure he wouldn't intentionally hurt Dr. Who, but she didn't want to take any chances. Not while he kept giving her those looks every few seconds. He was scheming something, May was positive, and she would be ready for whatever he threw at her.
Though, she had to give him credit for saving her Doctor. When they came stumbling in the Doctor looked a little worse for wear: hair ruffled, a scratch on his cheek, and a sleeve torn at the seam. Dr. Who looked ready to keel over. His left arm was hanging limply at his side and his left leg was limping while the other one was dragged along. His head was bleeding, lips were crack, and his neck was turning an ugly purple.
May immediately burst into tears.
Together, she and Rosita, settled Dr. Who into a chair and began fussing frantically over him.
"All this luggage?" The Doctor inquired suddenly hovering over Jackson Lake's suitcases. "Whose is it?" He shot May a knowing look.
"Evidence." Dr. Who replied; his voice hoarse and thick. "P-p-p-property...Ja-Jackson L-Lake."
Rosita scolded him gently. "You mustn't talk, Doctor. Save your strength." She then gently pressed a rag folded over an icicle against his throat. Dr. Who winced, and Rosita's gaze went soft. "At least you won't be needin' stitches." Her fingers ran across his forehead.
May circled around Dr. Who eyeing his injuries. "His shoulder is out of place."
"Out of place?" The English woman questioned.
"Yes." May mumbled squatting down at his side. Her hands gently holding his limp arm. "Doctor Smith?" She turned her head towards the Doctor and stared.
He didn't get it.
"Doctor Smith?" The Doctor circled around the luggage, head lowered, eyes leveled, and stroking the leather. "Doctor Smith." His fingers coasted over the metal clasps. "Doctor!" He jumped straight into attention, hands in the air palms facing out, and "a hand caught in the cookie jar" expression.
May's left eye twitched. "Shoulder, Doctor." He gave her a blank stare. "Dislocated." A single brow was raised. May sighed and clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Can you fix his dislocated shoulder, Doctor Smith?"
"Oh!" Realization dawned on his face. "Yes! Of course. Of course." He fumbled a bit as he took May's spot by Dr. Who's side. The Doctor cradled his arm by the elbow and the wrist. "This is going to hurt but I'll go slow." Keeping Dr. Who's arm at a 90 degree angle, the Doctor pushed his elbow down then pressed it against his side. With a firm grip on the other's wrist he began moving the disjointed arm.
"Keep him still, please." He muttered to May without glancing at her. May maneuvered around until she was behind Dr. Who. She then reached around until she was hugging him. One arm over his disjointed shoulder, the other over his right arm, and grasping her own wrists. She pressed herself flush against his back and tightened her grip.
"Sorry, sir." May apologized. "Forgive my rudeness." Dr. Who hissed in pain in response while the Doctor side eyed her.
"So this Jackson Lake." The Doctor began as he pulled Dr. Who's arm backwards. May could see his shoulder joint moving. "He was the first one killed, yes?"
Dr. Who opened his mouth, but Rosita beat him to it. "Yes, sir. After his passin', the Cybermen became more active." Rosita paused and frown. "Are you really a doctor of medicine?"
"I'm a doctor of many things." The Doctor replied as he turned Dr. Who's wrist palm upward. He then began slowly twisting the other man's arm. "How did he die?"
"Don't know, sir." Rosita grabbed a whistling kettle and began pouring a cup of tea. "Never found the body."
The Doctor hummed as he gave one final push on Dr. Who's arm. The dislocated shoulder popped elegantly back into place causing Dr. Who to grunt in pain.
The Time Lord stood. "Let's see if Jackson Lake has any answers in his suitcases." May slowly released Dr. Who from her hug, and returned to his side.
"That's another man's property!" Rosita chided with a narrowed gaze.
May ignored the two's conversation. "Are you alright, Doctor?"
He nodded; face extremely pale.
"Well, a dead man's." The Doctor shrugged off Rosita's statement; easily flipping open an unlocked suitcase. He began digging around inside the suitcase throwing undergarments, pants, shirts, and socks off to the side. As he dug, he spoke to Rosita.
"How did you two meet, then?" The Doctor kept his focus on the luggage as he waited for her answer. "The Doctor?"
"He saved my life." She replied softly with a small smile in remembrance. "Late one night, by the Osterman's Wharf, this creature came out of the shadows. A man made of metal." She stopped and frowned deeply. "I thought I was goin' to die. And then, there he was." She nodded towards Dr. Who. "The Doctor." She then walked over to him and handed him the cup of tea. "Drink. It will help relax your throat."
Dr. Who took it gratefully.
"And May?" His glanced between the two women in interest; a single brow raised. "How did you meet her?"
May sighed barely restraining herself from rolling her eyes.
"Found her on the floor; right there." She pointed directly in front of him near Dr. Who's stable. "No idea how she arrived. She just...appeared. The Doctor said she had been displaced." A curious expression crossed her face. "I still don't know what that means."
Dr. Who took a sip of his tea and grimaced. "D-did I?"
"Shh! No talkin'." The English woman scolded. "And yes, you did."
Dr. Who seemed confused as he continued to sip his tea. The Doctor glanced at the trio with a look of contemplation. He tried to catch May's eyes, but she made sure to keep her focus completely on Dr. Who.
Soon enough, the Doctor shouted excitedly as he found something deep inside Jackson Lake's suitcase.
"Hey, now." He grinned. "Look." He raised his hand revealing a silver cylinder. "Jackson Lake had an infostamp." He shook the tube for emphasis.
Dr. Who's brows rose high in shock while Rosita seemed perplexed.
"Is that important?" Rosita questioned.
"Yes." The Doctor replied simply. "Doctor, may I see your Tardis? The answer to all this could quite possibly lie in there."
Dr. Who brightened significantly. His lips breaking into a grin despite the wounds. "Of c-course." He angled his head towards the taller woman. "Ma-May?"
"As you wish." May straightened and did a short nod towards the Time Lord. "Follow me, Doctor." Then she grabbed her thrown scarf, and wrapped it around her face.
As she walked away towards the opposite end of the barn, the Doctor quickly fell in step beside her. He was quiet as they exited, but as soon as they were out of ear shot, he leaned in close. Too close.
"So far everything you've said is true."
May leaned away and sighed. "Did you think I was lying?"
"No." He disagreed. "But sometimes you're wrong."
"And sometimes so are you."
"Touche." Then he stuffed his hands in his pockets, and continued to walk beside her in a very Doctor-like fashion. Head held high, maddening grin, curious eyes beaming, and gait cocky. Yet, every so often, his body would slant to the side and he would brush against her.
That's new. She thought uncomfortably; eyes flickering towards him. Not very Doctor-like at all. He was a straightforward person: in his talk, in his walk, in his presence. The Doctor usually doesn't sway - he doesn't accidentally or casually touch shoulders. At least, Nine didn't. Maybe it's a Ten thing? Her mind suggested. He is more...more?
Assertive. Arrogant. Animated. A lot of other words that were less than kind.
Why was he touching her?! May tried to discretely distance herself from him, but like a gravitational pull, he followed. The usual short distance to the court yard seemed to stretch for miles. They passed by some neighbored buildings, then they entered an almost empty yard. As they turned, the Doctor stopped walking, but May continued on.
"It's a...?" He trailed off; amusement apparent in his voice. "...Balloon?!" May wasn't sure if his delight was a good or bad thing.
In the center of the quad a blue balloon stood. It swayed quietly with the night's wind. The height was taller than the surrounding buildings, and it's width spanned many feet. The balloon was fully erect and ready for travel.
"Tethered Aerial Release Developed In Style I believe is the acronym. The Tardis." The best Tardis of all of time. "Hello, gentlemen." A few men kneeling by the basket connected to the balloon jumped to their feet. They abruptly turned towards her, their faces covered in dirt, oil, and overall grime.
"Hello, Miss. Owens." One of the workers greeted stepping forward. The man was at least in his early twenties with brown hair, brown eyes, and dressed in the common man's clothes of the 1800s.
"Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful!" The Doctor laughed adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose. Glasses he had slipped on when she hadn't been playing attention. "Inflated by gas, yeah?" He leaned over the basket and peered up inside the balloon.
May nodded. "Yes, we're near the Mutton Street Gasworks." She then smiled kindly at the man standing before her. "How's it going, Jed? Is the ripped panel fixed?"
"Yes, miss." The young man replied with a large grin. A faint blush creeping up his cheeks. "Good as new it is. Me and the boys worked all day on it. Knew you wanted it done as quickly as possible." The men behind him nodded eagerly. "If it isn't too forward, miss. Might I say you look lovely this evening."
"Thank you?" May thanked confused. She was in a pair of pants, a ruffled t-shirt, and had a scarf over her face. What part of her was lovely? "How much do I owe you?"
Jed shook his head. "No charge. It was our pleasure."
May quirked an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Money isn't a problem."
"We're positive." Jed grinned then looked over his shoulder. "Right, boys?" The men behind him immediately agreed.
Before May could respond an arm wrapped itself around her shoulders. "Thanks for your help, but its best we go back inside now." The Doctor gave May's right shoulder a little shake. "You can go back to..." He gave a little dismiss wave with his free hand. "...whatever you were doing." He had a grin on his face, but it wasn't exactly friendly. It wasn't even on the same playing field as friendly. It was too much teeth, eyes too narrowed, but it wasn't exactly a snarl either.
Whatever it was infuriated May.
"Doctor!" She hissed under her breath. She tried to shrug off his arm, but he held on tight. "Don't be rude!"
Jed's face dropped as his eyes glanced between the Doctor, his hand, and May's irritated expression. "Right. Good night then, Miss. Owens." He shot the Doctor a suspicious look. "Sir."
May, not knowing what else to do, sputtered. "N-night, gentlemen." The men nodded and backed away before turning around towards their factory. With their backs facing them, May turned her head to glare up at the Doctor. "What are you doing!" She yelled more than questioned.
He had the nerve to look confused. "What?"
"You're...you're...!" She stuttered too angry and embarrassed to think clearly. "Impossible! Get off me!" May spun around and pushed the Doctor's front causing him to stumble back a couple steps. "What is with you?!"
"With me?"
"Yes, you!" May clenched her fists; her body began shaking. "You're impossible! I-Impossible!" She was repeating herself, but May didn't know what else to say. It was like the Doctor was bipolar. She understood that he was a Time Lord. Time Lords' regenerate. She understood that even though his body, face, and voice were different; underneath it all at a DNA level he was the same person. She gets that! But, but he...he...what is wrong with him? Her mind frantically screamed.
May's heart was beating so fast she thought it would burst out of her chest, but she couldn't stop talking. Words were gushing out of her mouth like a waterfall. "You used to look at me like you couldn't stand me. Like...like I was some sort of nuisance that wouldn't go away, but now...now..." She became tongued tied in her frustration. She raised her eyes and met the Time Lord's gaze. He was observing her with those big brown eyes showing some kind of emotion she was not used to seeing. At least, not in his eyes. "Why do you look at me like that?"
"Like what?" He questioned; slowly.
Like you care! Her mind supplied for her because her mouth wouldn't move. He was maybe a hundred years older, maybe more, maybe less - she didn't know! But Satellite Five was so long ago for him - a distant memory from the past. Yet, it was only just last week for her. She remembered every detail, every facial expression, every tone of voice Nine had given towards her. His anger, his hatred, was so palpable that if a second more had passed; May was sure she would've died just from fear alone. How could that Doctor be this Doctor? If there was one thing she knew for certain about the Doctor was that he could hold grudges. For years and years; even if the perpetrator had died and their bones were nothing but dust. His loathing would ensue.
"Impossible." She whispered not bothering to give him her answer. She remembered her first Doctor, Martha's Doctor; he had been ruthless. Sure, he hadn't sent her soul shattering glares nor spoke words that tore every fiber in her being to shreds. But he hadn't been kind either. He hadn't looked at her as if he was happy to see her. As if the entire world around him had brightened. As if he had been lost and she had found him. Nothing like the looks he had been giving her now.
Sure, there had been moments when the Doctor she knew would slip out. Always when he was angry at her about something, but so far those faces were few and far between. She could handle those moments because she was a veteran. She had scars and medals to show for it. This (smiley, touchy, affectionate, helpful, threatening to snog her) Doctor was a new level of weird.
And she didn't like it.
"May?" The Doctor called out; interrupting her nervous breakdown. He sounded worried and so caring that it almost broke May's skin out in hives.
"Never mind. Forget it." She said to him and to herself. It doesn't matter. He doesn't matter. She told herself. As long as her Doctor was safe and sound; thee Doctor could go to Hell with his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde facade.
His beautiful brown eyes softened, and his words were even softer. "May, what were you going to say?"
"It doesn't matter." She muttered; her voice firm.
She took a step back, but the Doctor took a step forward.
"I want to hear it." He insisted; now looking at her as if she was breaking his hearts. "Tell me."
"No." She replied with finality. Tired of talking, of being in this situation, May turned around; and began walking back towards the barn.
"May." He called out to her. Sounding concerned, and maybe, a bit desperate.
"No." She denied him refusing to turn around. "My master is waiting."
There was a long pause, and when the Doctor spoke again his voice had dropped an octave. "Master?"
"Yes." She replied without a second thought.
Dr. Who's injuries had May worried about leaving him. Of course she knew Rosita wouldn't let anything happen to him, but not being present was anxiety inducing. She wanted to make sure with her own eyes with her own hands that he was fine. May was mortified that she couldn't protect him. All because she had been weak. If she had pushed herself harder maybe chosen wiser decisions than perhaps this all could have been avoided. She should've stayed in bed like her Doctor and his companion had wanted. It doesn't matter now. What is done is done.
Now she had to rely on the Doctor much to her chagrin.
Her memories were spotted. May could not remember everything. It was like trying to remember what you did last weekend, or what you ate yesterday. You remember bits and pieces, but the whole picture is foggy. Sometimes you mesh things together. Sometimes you remember it wrong. So May only told the Doctor what she remembered clearly:
- Dr. Who was Jackson Lake.
- Jackson Lake had a family.
- His wife was killed and his son taken.
- His son was still alive.
- The Cybermen wanted to resurrect the CyberKing.
They always want to resurrect the CyberKing.
Images were a smudge of colors. Voices were a whisper behind a locked door. Despite her lack of recollection the Doctor took it all with a smile. Like he was happy. Like he was excited. Like he was proud.
Like he had won.
May still didn't know how to feel about that last part. Angry? Sad? Resigned? She guessed it didn't matter. Her Doctor was safe and that was all she cared about.
They returned to the stable faster than they had left. Something that was impossible since it was an equal distance; the same distance. Yet it still felt quicker. May was greeted by the sight of Rosita softly wiping Dr. Who's face clean with a wet terry cloth. She was doing the action with such gentleness and care that it seemed unconventional to the usual fiery brazen English woman. Dr. Who, who would usually fuss at the tender treatment, sat resigned in his seat. His eyes were closed and his mouth was curled into a frown. Though his posture was rigid, it looked as though he was trying to relax, but every time Rosita brushed over a cut or accidentally pushed down on a sore bruise; Dr. Who did a full body twitch.
Rosita was whispering soothing words at his side and May's heart warmed at the sight.
"We're back." She announced as she quickened her walk; eager to return to her Master's side. With large steps, May rounded Dr. Who's other side and knelt down.
He opened his eyes and looked down at her. Dr. Who opened his mouth to say something but hissed instead as Rosita ghosted over a significantly long cut along his cheek bone.
"How did it go?" The darker woman asked; glancing at May then up at the Doctor who sauntered back to the suitcases. "Find anythin'?
The Doctor dug his hands deep into an open suitcase before answering. "It was...enlightening to say the least." Then he glanced at the three with old sad eyes. Luckily, Rosita didn't know the Time Lord enough to understand the look. Unluckily, May did and it made her squirm uncomfortably.
Why? Why? Just why! Why did the Doctor always do this to her? Make her feel guilty for something she hasn't done. Make her regret everything and nothing.
There was a stretch of uncomfortable silence that May ignored, but Rosita could not.
"Well?" She snapped impatiently dipping the bloody rag in water. "Come on then. What did you find?" Dr. Who turned his head towards the Doctor, his eyes asking the very same question.
The Doctor stopped digging and set his hands on the leather edges. Then he bowed his head as if the information he carried was too heavy to keep holding up.
"The brain." He began while raising his head; staring up at the ceiling. "Is an amazing thing." He turned to look at them. "Did you know that most humans used to believe that they used only ten percent of their brain?" He then turned his attention back to the suitcases. "Which is ridiculous, why would you use only ten percent? If that is true, what's the point of having the rest of the brain? Why not have only ten percent?"
"Doctor?" May called out slowly in confusion. "What are you - ?"
"People think the heart holds the soul." He interrupted as he closed the suitcase he had been sifting through. "But it's the brain." He then picked up another and opened it. "The brain is what controls you, drives you. It is you." His hands dug deep in the suitcase. "Reasoning, creativity, memories. You can get a heart replacement, but you can't replace the brain." He stopped digging, and pulled something from the clothes. May couldn't see what it was because the Doctor still had it hidden. "The mind...is extraordinary."
The Doctor paused and stared hard at the object in his hand. His mouth set to a frown, eyebrows furrowed, and eyes incredibly sad. No one knew what to say.
Finally, the Doctor turned his head back towards them. "Someday in a time far away, and not so far from here, the Cybermen were fought. They were beaten. And they were sent into a howling wilderness called The Void." His gaze was intense and haunted. As if remembering alone reopened wounds not yet healed. "Locked inside forever more." He shook his head, clearing the ghosts haunting his mind. "But then a greater battle rose up, so great that everything inside the Void perished." His eyes narrowed making his brown irises almost seem black. "But, as the walls of the world weakened, the last of the Cybermen must have fallen through the dimensions. Back in time, to land here, and then they found you."
Rosita looked more confused than ever and her tone was laced with doubt. "From the future?" Dr. Who looked less doubtful and more intrigued.
"Wh-what happen..ugk!" He choked; his throat constricting. Dr. Who began coughing harshly. Making horrible gagging sounds as air fought it's way down his bruised throat and into his burning lungs.
"Doctor." May whispered softly; expression morphed with worry. She rubbed gentle circles on his back trying her best to comfort him.
Rosita gently touched his neck with her warm rag. "Is there anything you can do, Doctor?" She pleaded looking up at him.
"Only time can heal him." The Doctor stated regretfully. "But I can ease his pain." He released the object he had been holding and dug deep into his coat pockets. "I save these for emergencies." He pulled out a white bottle that was about as long as an index finger and round as a half dollar coin. "Rhevnoxodine. Like oxycodone, but without the addiction. Lasts 24hrs to." He popped one pill out and handed it to Rosita. "Cherry flavored." The English woman stared at the red pill in her hand with uncertainty. She turned her head towards May for support and confirmation. The taller woman shrugged. It couldn't hurt. She was pretty sure the Doctor didn't want to kill Dr. Who. He wasn't one to intentionally hurt someone. Unless that someone was her.
Rosita continued to frown even as she handed the pill to Dr. Who. He swallowed the pill graciously drinking tea to wash it down. When he pulled the cup back, and took a deep breath; May could immediately see the effects starting to work. His posture sagged, his muscles loosened, and the pain in his eyes dulled. With slow even breathes, Dr. Who raised his head and gave the Doctor a pointed stare. He wanted the Time Lord to continue.
The Doctor sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "At the same time, another man came to London. Mister Jackson Lake. Plenty of luggage, money in his pocket." The Doctor shook his head and shrugged. "Maybe coming to town for the winter season, I don't know." He gave the trio a sharp look. "But he found the Cybermen to. And just like you, exactly like you, he took hold of an infostamp."
"But he's dead. Jackson Lake is dead, sir." Rosita exclaimed; eyebrows furrowed. "The Cybermen murdered him."
"You said no body was ever found." He pointed out. "And you kept all his suitcases." He trained his gaze on Dr. Who. "You could never bring yourself to open them, could you?"
The man's mouth opened and closed as an expression of uncertainty crossed his face. The Doctor once again sighed; sounding tired and regretful.
"The mind is truly a great and powerful thing." He told them as he turned back towards the pile of suitcases. "It's called a fugue state. A fugue state is where the mind just runs away because it can't bear to look back." His gaze drifted over to May as he said this. Eyes drifted down her person as if looking at her for the first time. It was unsettling, so May pushed herself closer to her Master. His eyes immediately snapped to hers and held her there. For a few moments, it felt as though she were falling.
"It's a defense mechanism. It digs; carves out the thing you don't want to remember, and locks it away. Far away. Deep into your unconscious mind." He turned, releasing her gaze, and reached for the object that laid in the suitcase. May sucked in a breath of air. Air that was much needed for her burning lungs. She had been unknowingly holding her breath the entire time. When he raised the object the trio could see that it was a picture frame.
"It leaves a hole inside you." He told them as he grasped the picture frame with both hands. His thumbs softly brushed the unseen picture. "The infostamps were a tool used by the mind in order to fill that hole."
He walked towards them slowly and extended the picture towards Dr. Who. The man raised his visibly shaking hands and gently took the delicate picture away from the Doctor. It was a painting of a man and a woman. The woman was tall and lithe. Her blonde hair was put up in a messy looking bun, but some of it was left to cascade down to her waist. Despite that it was a painting, May could see a certain sparkle in the painted blue eyes. The painter did a phenomenal job drawing her white dress that accentuate her curves and bloomed out at the hips like the cusp of a flower. Her sleeves looked like webbing as it trailed down her arms. The webbing continued well past the shoulders and crawled up her long neck. Besides the faint gold line of a ring around her finger, the only other jewelry spotted was around her throat. It was a simple looking choker connecting to a blue jewel that matched her eyes.
The man beside her wore a complimenting blue suit that matched both her eyes and her choker. Though the bride's smile was dainty and modest, the man looked as though he was barely restraining himself. The painter had drawn the man's smile closed lipped, but had his cheeks puffed and rounded. As if any second he would break out into the biggest grin.
That happily married man looked exactly like Dr. Who. No, he was Dr. Who.
"That man..." Rosita trailed off as she stared wide eyed at the picture. "You...that...? J-Jackson Lake is you, sir?" She sounded like she could scarcely believe it.
Dr...
No.
Jackson brushed the tips of his finger hesitantly over the painted woman. His expression shifted between confusion, pain, and despair.
"B-but..." His voice was hoarse as he spoke, but because of the pain pill, it was clearer. "I'm...the D-Doctor?"
"You became the Doctor because of the infostamp." The Doctor reached into his pocket again and pulled out the infostamp he had tucked away earlier. "Your mind, your soul, you were desperate to become someone else, anyone else, because Jackson Lake had lost so much."
The Doctor sat down on an unoccupied crate and angled the open end of the cylinder towards the barn wall. "The one you picked up was a book about one particular man."
As soon as the Doctor finished his sentence a projection of people appeared. All of the Doctor's previous faces from one through ten were shown. Like a movie reel they appeared, and each of them stared out of the projection. Eyes, all varies of ages, bore into the their very souls. As if they knew they were being recorded; being hunted. The projection continued to repeat the images; circling back from ten to one over and over again.
"The Cybermen's database." The Doctor spoke softly. His head was angled to the side in contemplation as he watched himself. Watched his other faces. "Stolen from the Daleks inside the Void I'd say, but it's everything you could want to know about the Doctor." May's eyes narrowed as she spotted a little blip happen between eight and nine. Entranced by it, May slid quietly near the Doctor. Kneeling on her hands and knees, she leaned in close. She glanced at the cylinder then to the images it was projecting. Had the Doctor done something? Had he hidden one of his faces? When she looked even closer it seemed the blip was also between ten and one.
The Doctor had erased his future faces. Why? Wasn't he curious?
Rosita gasped; covering her mouth in shock as the images kept scrolling to his current face. "That's you. You're the Doctor!"
He turned his gaze onto her.
"Time Lord, Tardis, enemy of the Cybermen." He announced solemnly before giving a tiny smirk. A smirk that cracked open the door to his gigantic ego. "The one and the only." The Doctor turned off the infostamp and placed it back inside his pocket. When he opened his mouth to continue, he froze, and his gaze was dragged downward. May was kneeling at his feet staring intensely at his pocket which now held the infostamp. She was barely holding back the urge to strip the man of his coat and dig into those bigger on the inside pockets. She wanted to inspect the cylinder, see the information that was stored inside it herself. She wanted to know what the Doctor had hidden from her.
Because of her distraction, she didn't notice the soft look the Doctor was giving her. She didn't notice his hand reaching out to touch her face. She didn't notice how his breath hitched as the tips of his fingers brushed the skin of her brow and over the metal of her eyebrow ring. She didn't notice, but Rosita did. The English woman's eyes went wide in surprise.
At his touch, May reared back as if she had been burned. She shot the Doctor a panic glare as she quickly crawled back to Jackson's side. Leaning over him as if trying to protect him from the Doctor's mere presence. Jackson, oblivious to everything around, turned into himself. He cradled his head with his hands, and his shoulders shook as he mourned his loss of identity. His loss of self.
"I am nothing but a lie." He mumbled in self loathing.
The Doctor's jaw dropped and he shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no, no, no." He moved and knelt before Jackson ignoring May's intense scowl. He angled his head down and tried to meet Jackson's eyes. "Infostamps are just facts and figures. The Doctor, the image of me, was just a band aid." At their blank expressions, he began to stutter trying to figure out a better description. "A-ah reflection. A painting!" The Doctor pointed at the picture still gripped in Jackson's hands. "It was just a cover up, it did nothing to your soul. All that bravery. Saving Rosita, defending London town, hmm?" The Doctor laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. "And the invention. Building a Tardis. That's all you."
Jackson raised his head and glowered. Body shaking with barely contained emotions. "My wife! What happened to her? I demand you tell me, sir! Where. Is. My. Wife?"
The Doctor pulled back his hand slowly, his expression softening. "What's her name?"
Jackson looked taken back as if he couldn't understand the question. There was a long pause as he furrowed his eyebrows trying grasp the fleeting memories in his mind.
"Caroline." He whispered slowly. His answer was soft, gentle, and full of sorrow. He already knew the answer to his own question.
A bell tolls in the heavy silence signifying the new day. Yet, because of the nature of the reveal, the ringing of the bell could also be considered as a death toll.
"Midnight." Rosita announced glancing up the ceiling. "Christmas Day." Immediately after her declaration the room came alive with a sharp shrill. The Doctor jumped to his feet in one swift motion and dug deep into his pockets. Pulling out the infostamp he pressed it to his ear and with his other hand activated his sonic. The shrill lowered in volume, but became even more persistent.
"What is it?" Rosita inquired anxiously. She also stood up. "What's that noise?"
"Activation." He answered almost in a yell. "A call to arms. The Cybermen are moving!" In panic he dropped the cylinder back into his pocket and headed towards the door in full sprint. Before he exited the door however, he stopped and turned around towards the trio.
His eyes immediately trained on her. "May?"
The tall woman blinked owlishly caught by surprise. "Y-yes?"
"Are you coming?"
The question threw her for a loop. What? Why? Why did he want her to come with him? Or more importantly, why should she want to? May didn't. She wanted to stay here with her master, and protect him.
Yet, why did she get the feeling that if she said as much it would physically wound him? His eyes seemed so big and vulnerable. Expression too hopeful. She almost didn't want to say no.
Almost.
"No." May replied firmly with her eyes caste downward. Though she was adamant about staying, she could not look him in the eyes as she said so. She wasn't brave enough yet. "I'll stay with..." She hesitated. What should she call him now? The word Master was at the tip of her tongue, it seemed appropriate, but at the same time - not. "Rosita, can you go with him?"
The darker skinned woman shot her a look of surprise. "What?"
"Please?" May pleaded.
Rosita glanced between the three gauging their expressions. Jackson just nodded, May looked hopeful, and the Doctor's face went blank. He hadn't removed his gaze from the taller woman who refused to glance in his direction.
"Alright." She conceded and stood. Rosita exited the barn first while the Doctor lingered in the door way. With one last longing gaze towards May he reluctantly left. She sighed and her muscles relaxed. May suddenly felt exhausted and slightly light headed.
"Would you like more tea, sir?" She asked with a smile. He was silent, but she didn't mind. Standing up, May rounded to his other side and grabbed his empty cup. As she grabbed the kettle, May began thinking about what to do next. The Doctor would defeat the Cybermen via hot air balloon. The Cybermen would be destroyed in the Time Vortex. The Doctor knew about Jackson Lake's son, so he would not be left behind as they implode. Then what? What should she do afterward?
Should she leave? Should she stay? One thing was for certain, May wasn't going any where near the Tardis.
"Was it a game?" Jackson whispered hoarsely interrupting May's thoughts.
She set the kettle back down and cradled the steaming tea cup in her hands. "What game?"
He shot her a look. It was dark, angry, and it made her blood run cold. "Were you making fun of me, ma'am?"
"D-Do...I mean sir, I don't under - ?"
"Was it all a game to you!" He shouted but it came out scratchy and broken. "Calling me Doctor? Calling me friend?"
May's mouth went dry and her words choked her. WHAT?! Her mind screened in panic. Her Master...her Master! Was mad at her! Why? Why?! What did she do? What mistake had she made? How could she fix it?
"Please." She grovelled; falling to her knees. "I didn't...I would never disrespect you." The tea cup fell from her grasp and spilled onto the floor. She pressed her forehead against the ground, and her hands spread evenly apart beside her head. She posed very similar to the dogeza bow. "And if I have, I offer up my sincerest apology."
Jackson was silent as he stared at the female bowing before him. His expression was still cold and hard, but his brown eyes softened just a little bit.
"Did you know that I was not the Doctor?" He whispered harshly almost hissing. "This entire time?"
May's nails curled into the floorboard. She let out a shaky breath and squeezed her eyes shut in apprehension. She didn't want to answer him. She was terrified of his reaction. He would hate her.
But he asked her a question and she was honor bound to answer him.
"Ye..." She swallowed thickly, but her mouth was so dry she nearly choked. "Yes." She finally finished in a whisper. The long uncomfortable silence that followed was nearly unbearable for May. The air was thick with despair and anger, and his eyes burrowed its way into her soul.
"You were playing me for a fool then."
"No!" May shouted lifting her head. "No, I didn't...I wasn't! I would never!"
"So you were humoring me then?" Jackson accused; pointing a finger at her - shaking. "The poor man who lost his memories. The man with a mistaken identity. The fool of a man."
"Never! Never, sir!" She began to shake uncontrollably. Her body, her very soul was breaking. "To me; to me, sir - you were very much the Doctor!"
"I was a lie!"
"You weren't to me!" May's tears stung and blinded her sight. "You deserved every bit of that title." She crawled forward on her hands and knees. "You don't understand what that means to me."
It was taking everything in her not to break. His anger, his accusations, were peeling her skin off layer by layer. She wanted to cry. To beg. To scream. She had to get back in his good graces. She had to get him to forgive her! If not...if not then..then she could die! He would kill her. The masters were not patient. The masters were never understanding. They did not pity. The masters only acknowledged numbers, facts, progress, and fear.
"Keep your head held high, soldier. Eyes straight. Keep still. Do not show any emotion. You are a tool and tools do not cry when being made of use."
Everything inside May went cold. A wave of emptiness came from her heart and drowned her body in its icy waters. She felt calm. Calmer than she had ever been since arriving in this universe. She wasn't scared anymore. Such emotions were useless. She didn't think. A tool had no need for thoughts.
It was, it is, it will always be the mission - exterminate.
May slowly sat up.
"What would you have me do?" She asked softly; body stiff. Her face showed no emotion. It was as if her body had turned to stone. She was all hard edges, fine lines, and carved muscles.
Inside her, on the dirty floor, a small wooden box shook. The sounds of rattling chains could be heard echoing in her soul like a bad omen.
"Do?" Her Master questioned. His jaw was set, nostrils flared, face flushed - he was infuriated. Yet his eyes revealed his despair and anguish.
"Yes." May nodded standing up. "Give me an order."
Master let out a sigh that nearly mirrored a groan. "May I -." He ran one shaky hand through his hair while his other caressed his face. "I don't want - ." He fell silent and May waited patiently. Palms flat against her side, her shoulders squared, and eyes empty. She would do whatever was asked of her. Anything.
The clasp of the box flipped up, and the lid creaked open like a mouth waiting to exhale.
"I..." He hesitated; hands folded in front of his face. "I just..." His head was bowed and his body was shaking. "Just please. Please, find him. Find my son." He sounded like a dying man giving his last request.
May sucked in air sharply as the order branded itself upon her skin.
The box fell open and white wisps of dust rose like a ghost from the distant past. Inside, cushioned in velvety darkness, was a circular badge. It was a simple thing. An outer ring, and an inner ring. The badge was yellow except between six parallel lines (similar to a loading dial in a video game) which were filled in by a brilliant colored blue.
It was a badge signifying rank - a sergeant. A soldier in the Dalek army. A Time Eater.
A slave.
May nodded confirming her orders. "As you command...master."
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Master? Is that what she said?
Master? Oh, she said it alright. Loud and clear.
Master?! This was bad. Bad, bad, bad.
Could today get any worse?
"What is your relationship with May?"
Ah, of course a nosy human asking their nosy questions would be the cherry on top.
"Relationship?" He asked feigning confusion. "She's just a friend. A mate." Mate. His hearts squeezed excitedly in his chest and his spine shivered with pleasure. Down boy. The Doctor scolded himself fighting the blush rising from his neck. "Um, a chap. Comrade. Companion. Assistant." I need to stop now or I'm going to run out of synonyms. "Amigo. Home...girl?" He internally winced at that last one. The Doctor just didn't know when to shut his gob. I should have just stopped at friend.
Rosita's unimpressed gaze raked over him. "Uh huh."
"Can we save the chit chat for later and focus please?" The Doctor grumbled keeping his gaze straight ahead. "We have an evil plot to sabotage."
"Were you two lovers?"
The Doctor stumbled as his hearts lurched in his chest. "L-L-Lo-?" What! "What?! No! We're not-! She, I, we - never!"
Never say never.
Oh, do shut up!
"Ah, she's just a friend. A very old friend." He pushed; perhaps a little too hard. He sounded like he was trying to convince her of something he didn't believe in himself.
"Hmm." She acknowledge, lips pulled down into a frown. "I don't believe you."
The Doctor sighed, but didn't say anything. Humans, ugh. The Doctor picked up his pace and tried to put some distance between him and the nosy human.
But she just lifted up her skirt a bit, and trotted on after him.
"She doesn't like you, you know."
The Doctor swallowed down the bitter taste in his mouth. "Yes, I know." Oh boy did he know.
"But you." She quirked an eyebrow up at him, and gave a knowing (and annoying) little smirk. "You love her."
..
Huh? What? Did she say something? He wasn't paying attention. He doesn't like to partake in meaningless boring chit chat. There were just so many more interesting things to talk about, like, those children being led on a midnight stroll through the dark streets of London.
"Oh look! People! Love people." The Doctor shouted; perhaps a bit too jovially. "Always a good distraction people. Let talk to them - the people." Then he took off in a sprint down the alleyway leaving Rosita. The English woman huffed making a rude noise through her nose before she hiked up her skirt more and ran on after him.
As the duo exited the alleyway, they stopped just as the procession of children went past them.
"What is it? What's happenin'?" Rosita's eyes were wide in panic as she watched the children. Every one of them had expressions of confusions and fear. "That's Mister Cole." She pointed at an older white haired man in front leading. "He's Master of the Hazel Street Workhouse. Maybe he's takin' them to prayers?" As she said this, Rosita had a look on her face that revealed she didn't quite believe those words herself.
"Oh, nothing as holy as that." The Doctor started sprinting towards Mister Cole with a look of seriousness, worry, and slight - excitement.
"Can you hear me? Hello? No?" Walking by his side, the Doctor ducked his head down analyzing the elderly man's face at a better angle. "Mister Cole, you seem to have something in your ear."
Interesting. Interesting. Very interesting.
A partial conversion. Bit outdated, he mused. From a broken branch of the Cyberman, perhaps? The Doctor reached inside his breast pocket to grasp his sonic screwdriver.
"Now, this might hurt a bit, but if I can just..." As he pointed at the conversion earpieces, a low threatening growl stopped him cold. Cybershades (fascinating) a group of them began to slink out of the shadows revealing themselves.
"Ah. They're on guard." He slowly pulled back from the man and returned his sonic to his breast pocket. "Can't risk a fight. Not with the children."
"But where are they goin'?" Rosita asked frantically as she returned to his side.
"They all need a good whipping, if you ask me." Interrupted the annoying human (Ted, Fed, Red) as he came sauntering over from the crowd. "There's tons of them." (Jake, Jeremy, José) bit into a cut of stale bread. His eyes narrowed at the Doctor before sweeping over to Rosita. "I've just seen another lot coming down from the Ingleby Workhouse down Broadback Lane."
The Doctor gritted his teeth. "Where's that?" Go away. Go away. Go away, irritating person.
Rosita hiked up her skirt and turned around. "This way!"
The Doctor jumped after the woman, eager to leave the man behind, but (Ethan, Hank, Remefunopolis) just turned his head and called after them. Apparently needing to have the last word.
"Oi! What's your relationship with Miss. Owens?"
The Doctor let out a curse underneath his breath which Rosita heard, but politely ignored.
May. May. His May.
Always such a trouble-maker. The Doctor's stomach rolled with unease and jealousy. The Time Eaters' enchantment, their aura of seduction, was strong as ever. The killer part about it all was that his May didn't even realize it was happening. She was absolutely oblivious:
Of their thoughts.
Of their stares.
Of their advances.
It was maddening. Completely maddening.
"Doctor, look at 'em all." Rosita exclaimed pointing to the procession of more children being lead into the night. "They're all from the Workhouses. What are they goin' to do with them?"
The Doctor narrowed his eyes. "Nothing good, I can tell you that."
Now was not the time to be daydreaming. He needed to focus.
"Where are they going?" He muttered to himself; eyebrows furrowed. So they sleuthed back into the adjacent alleyway intent on following the parade. Deeper into the lower streets of London they all went till all the workhouse children merged into one.
But what for? Why would the Cybermen need children? And why didn't May tell him about this?
No, no. He couldn't blame her for this.
She had been so good today. It must have taken a lot of courage for her to finally tell him. To break her stubborn (infuriating) silence. The young May had always been a skittish creature. A bundle of insecurities and fear.
It was sad. So pathetic that it reminded him of how Mickey used to be way back when with...
Anyway, May's foreknowledge could only extend so far. She wasn't omniscient. So the Doctor would work with what she had given him. Though, if he were to be honest, the Doctor felt she could have given him a little more to work with. It wasn't a lot to go on, he would have preferred a detailed map really, but baby steps. If all these years travelling with May had taught him anything it was patience.
May seeming loved to test him.
"That's the door to the sluice." Rosita pointed; breaking the Doctor out of his thoughts once again. They had stopped and hid behind a cement pillar which supported the bridge above their heads. Together they watched the children one by one enter through the large hellish-looking doors. "All the sewage runs through there, straight into the Thames."
Brilliant. That's hygienic. Bless 19th century England.
"Yeah, that's too well guarded." He muttered mostly to himself as he watched the scene with narrowed eyes. Cybermen guarding the entrance, and Cybershades were on reconnaissance.
Why wasn't this ever easy?
"We'll have to find another way in."
They backed away from the scene quietly as they could. When the pair turned around to run back in the direction they had come, they were stopped abruptly by a pair of Cybermen.
"Whoa!" The Doctor shouted sliding to a stop. "That's cheating, sneaking up! Do you have your legs on silent?" Despite the surprise, the Time Lord's mind was already working overtime on finding an escape route for him and Rosita. And if need be, only Rosita.
Head back? No, too many Cybers. Plus the children.
Adjacent alleyway? Too risky. Cybermen maybe slow, but their aim is spot on.
Direct attack? Even more risky. If I was alone then maybe I...
Sonic? Disrupt the nerve conduit causing the inner wiring to short circuit. Fry the cerebellum relay. Would give us about a 90 second head start before they're repaired. 113 if we're lucky and the programs are obsolete.
Tardis? Oh, if it were only that easy.
Bluff? ...
Eh, why not. Hasn't killed me yet.
But before the Doctor could even open his gob, a woman in red walked in front of the two Cybermen. She was a proper looking lady. Hair black as night shaped in a very polished romantic tuck with dark brown eyes that seemed almost black in the poorly lit backstreet. Her pretty painted face expressed amusement, and her head angled upward in an air of superiority.
The Time Lord's hearts jumped in surprise and panic. Another human? At a time like this?
What bad luck he is having.
"So, what do we have here?" The woman smirked cheekily. Seemingly unawares of the imminent danger that was presented behind her.
"Listen." Shit. Shit. Shit. "Just walk towards me slowly." He motioned her towards him. "Don't let them touch you."
The woman was silent for a moment as she stared at him; computing his words. Then, her eyes crinkled as she smiled and chuckled softly.
"Oh, but they wouldn't hurt me, my fine boys." The woman in red told him fondly; nearly cooing. "They are my knights in shining armour, quite literally."
"Even if they've converted you, that's not a Cyber speech pattern." The Doctor remarked slowly and carefully. He didn't have a good feeling about this. "You've still got free will. I'm telling you, step away." Please, please step away. Come on, just give me one...
"There's been no conversion, sir." His hearts plummeted to the pit of his stomach. Damn it. "No one's ever been able to change my mind." Her words were clear and direct. Her facial expression was pleasant yet smug. "The Cybermen offered me the one thing I wanted." She cocked her head slightly to the left as her amused gaze drifted between him and Rosita. "Liberation."
Damn it.
A Cyberunit was incapable of replicating these reactions. She had to be wholly human. A human working with the Cybermen.
Her act screamed upper class. Yet it was just as that - an act.
Her Victorian red dress, the snow boots, the black leather gloves, and even the jewelry she wore were all new. She had never owned such things before. The woman could try cover it up with paint and cloth, but her penury past was forever seared onto her skin.
They promised to give her more than just liberation. They had offered her power. And to the Cybermen, what would they consider to be the highest form of power?
"Who are you?" Rosita questioned suddenly, eyeing the red woman.
The woman's dark eyes zeroed in on Rosita.
"You can be quiet." She commanded with her nose upturned. "I doubt he paid you to talk." At her insulting implication, Rosita's eyes widened before they narrowed. She snarled while clenching fists in rage. As she took a step forward, the Doctor stopped her by grasping her elbow. The red woman seemed undisturbed by the reaction. Instead, she blatantly ignored Rosita and returned her attention back to the Doctor.
"More importantly, who are you, sir; with such intimate knowledge of my companions."
Rosita wouldn't budge as the Doctor tried to pull her back. So, with his hand still gripping her arm, he took two steps forward so he was now standing directly in front of her.
"I'm the Doctor."
The Cybermen stepped forward, stopping by the woman's sides like proper guards.
"Incorrect." A Cyberman disagreed. "You do not correspond to our image of the Doctor."
Ouch. How rude of them to forget about me.
"Yeah, but that's because your database got corrupted." The Doctor grimaced; rolling his head back and forth in contemplation. "Oh!" His eyes lit up as he remembered the cylinder still tucked away in his pocket. "Look, look, look. Check this." He shook the tube for emphasis. "The Doctor's infostamp."
He then tossed the infostamp towards the Cyberman who caught it with ease.
"Plug it in." The Doctor stuck his hands inside his pant's pockets and rocked back on his heels. "Go on." He urged. "Download."
"The core has been damaged." The Cyberman informed him after a quick inspection. "This infostamp would damage Cyberunits."
"Oh, well." The Doctor shrugged; rolling his eyes. "Nice try." I'm never that lucky.
There was a moment of silence as the Cyberman studied the cylinder. Then it raised it's head and declared:
"Core repaired. Download."
A small outlet on it's chest revealed itself, and the Cyberman immediately plugged the infostamp in. The next few seconds pasted in tense silence as the Cybercollective absorbed the new information that was being downloaded.
After a brief pause where the Cyberman removed the infostamp, it raised it's head and pointedly stared at the Doctor.
"You are the Doctor."
The Time Lord raised a hand and wiggled his fingers in greeting. "Hello."
"You will be deleted." The Cybermen proclaimed together raising their arms - weapon poised.
Maybe being forgotten wasn't so bad after all.
"No wait, wait!" He stepped backwards, pushing Rosita away. "Oh, let me die happy." He pleaded; eyes narrowed. "Tell me, what do you need those children for?"
The woman in red raised a brow. "What are children ever needed for? They're a workforce."
"But for what?"
"Very soon now, the whole Empire will see." Her gaze drifted upward to the city of London above them. "And they will bow down in worship."
"And it's all been timed for Christmas Day." The Doctor added slowly with a hard frown. "Was that your idea, Miss-?"
"Hartigan." The red woman answered pleasantly. "And yes. The perfect day for a birth, with a new message for the people." She gave a smug smile. "Only this time, it won't be the words of a man."
"The birth of what?" Even as he asked this, the Doctor already knew the answer. May's predictions had been very clear.
The Cyberking. They always wanted to resurrect the Cyberking.
He just wanted confirmation.
"A birth, and a death." She told him calmly. "Namely, yours." Hartigan raised her brows and nodded her head. "Thank you, Doctor. I'm glad to have been part of your very last conversation." She then addressed her Cybermen companions. "Now, delete them."
"Delete." The Cybermen declared; confirming their orders. As the pair of Cyberunits stepped forward, the Doctor and Rosita took a step backwards.
Not good. Not good. Must run. Running is a good solid plan, but where to run too? Think. Think, Doctor, think! Before he could think of another thought, a shot of blinding blue light struck the Cybermen. The pair shook and stumbled as their inner circuits began to overload. The heat from the beam fried the Cybermen inside out causing them to drop to the ground dead.
The Doctor's eyes widened in alarm at the same time Rosita clutched his arm, equally surprised. The two women and the Doctor turned to see May walking out of the shadows with an infostamp in one hand, and the other digging inside an open satchel.
"May!" Shouted Rosita with joy and confusion. "What are you-?" Her words floundered as May brushed past her not saying a word in response. The Doctor's wide eyes narrowed as he took in his female companion. Something's wrong. He thought worriedly. May appeared the same physically: tall, long legs, generous curves, hair that was not just brown but different shades of the color.
Chocolate, mocha, russet, caramel, copper, tortilla, umber, cinnamon - he could go on for hours. Picking each strand of hair and naming its color.
May was dressed the same, except she had taken the time to put on her sneakers, and put on Jackson Lake's marigold colored overcoat. She also seemed well enough: no cuts, burns, bruises, or sickness. She had color to her cheeks, and her movements seemed strong and driven. Her beautiful face was uncovered revealing her many studs and rings. With the scarf gone, it no longer gave the image of mystery. It unveiled her full lips, adorable dimpled chin, slightly tilted ears, button nose, and high aristocratic eyebrows. Everything about her was perfect, including her extraordinary eyes that were the color of...of...
Gold.
Ah, hell.
Mercy Hartigan had just opened her mouth to scream when May came upon her. With a strength only a Time Eater could produce, May slammed the Victorian woman against a wall. With a hand wrapped around her throat and a pistol pressed against her forehead, May leaned in close.
"The next words coming out of you mouth better be answers to my questions." May told Hartigan lowly; her voice cold and empty. "Anything else would result in unpleasant consequences." Her gripped tighten. Fingernails dug themselves deep into the pale flesh of the human causing Mercy to choke. "For you."
"W-why you...!" Mercy Hartigan snarled, face contorting, destroying her image of a perfect Victorian Lady.
Mary's grip tightened causing her to gasp desperately for breath. "Shhhh, consequences remember?" May whispered softly; expression calm and serene. "Now, tell me, where is my Master's son?"
Mercy could only let out a garble in response. Unable to speak due to May's powerful grip and the lack of oxygen. The Time Eater wasn't even giving the woman a chance to answer her questions. May was going to kill her simply because she could.
The Doctor needed to interfere before it was too late.
"Let go, May." He commanded in a serious tone; eyes dark. He had appeared beside May with stealth that had taken years of practice and patience to achieve. His sudden appearance caused May's eyes to widen a fraction as his hands gripped her wrists. With unimaginable strength coming from the feeble-looking matchstick man; the Doctor began to peel her hands off Mercy.
May fought him, she did her best to, but she was still very weak compared to the older Time Lord. It was something he was grateful for because if she had been at her full strength, he would've had a fight on his hands. He would have won, he was confident in that aspect, but it would've wounded his hearts if he had to harm his May.
"What a-are you doing?" She hissed trying to break away from him; her fingers clamping down on Mercy's throat. May's nails dug into her flesh assuredly causing marks that would take days to heal. "We have to find the children!"
"But not like this." The Doctor told her firmly. "Never like this."
May gritted her teeth, her nose upturned in a snarl. "Y-you can't...I must...enemies must be e-exterminated."
The Doctor's hearts stuttered in his chest in agony. His May. His poor poor May. Satellite Five must have affected her mental state more than he had previously theorized. Protocols that had to have been buried deep within herself were leaking out. With her mind at war with itself, May had no way of stopping the chains that were slowly constricting her. If her Will continued to weaken, and her soul slipped further into the shadows; the Doctor wasn't sure he could save her. The Daleks' influence was not only psychological, but molecular as well. Defying one's nature is not an easy task.
That's why May was so god damn special. That's why he had to help her.
"May, May, look at me." He pleaded lowly leaning in close. She ignored him; eyes still burning bright as she glared at Mercy whose face was turning an ugly shade of purple. "May, look at me." At his authoritative tone of voice, May stiffened. Slowly, she turned to meet his eyes.
"You're not a soldier. Not any more." He declared; urging her to remember that fact. "The Daleks -." Her eyes widened as the name left his lips. "They do not control you. You're free. You're safe." The Doctor felt her tremble under his grip and he watched as the gold in her eyes slowly faded to a milky brown.
"I-?"
"SH-SHADES! SHADES!" Cried Mercy startling the two. While May had been distracted by the Doctor, her grip had unconsciously loosened. This gave the red woman a chance to breathe in the much needed air. Then, despite her burning lungs and buzzing head, Mercy had used the much needed air to scream for her companions.
The Doctor didn't know whether to curse his luck or shout praises to whatever God that had been watching. The Cybers were now coming, they had to run, and he was taking May with him.
"Come on!" He shouted urgently. "Run!" The Doctor pulled the still stunned May away from Mercy and dragged her with him into the adjacent alleyway. He made sure his hand gripped hers tightly as they ran. He didn't want to lose her now that he finally had her again. Distracted by his many thoughts, the Doctor vaguely recalled that Rosita had been left behind.
He felt marginally guilty for leaving the human, but as always, May's well-being came first and foremost. Besides, the sounds of cursing and heavy footfalls told him that Rosita was right on their tail.
What a mess. He thought resisting the urge to rub his temples. The looming threat of the Cyberking. May's fragile mental state. How are you going to get yourself out of this one, Doctor?
Hell if he knew. So, for the moment, the Doctor pushed the questions aside; and instead focused on out running the Cybershades. He was sure that the answers would come to him in time.
They always did.
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Ugh, "to" and "too". Fucking hell. I always get those two mixed up. I need to go back through and fix my horrible mistakes. "Too" is to express "much" or "more" (god, I didn't want to wikipedia that bullshit to explain it to you guys. I just wanted to say this in my own way. How i think. Am I dumb?) Too old. Too soft. Too great. Then there is "to" and "to" is...fuck...i don't know. To is a word that helps make a sentence sound better! Fuck I don't know. I just understand "too" and "to" are different. I guess as long as I have "too" down, I'll be okay. Damn, I suck at explaining. Google that bullshit if you want to understand "too" and "to" better. I did.
I'm good at English. I am. I also want to be a great writer. I want my novels to be made into movies kind of great! Next JK Rowling, Tolkien, fucking Stephenie Meyer~! I have written stories ever since I learned how to write. (You should see some of my old stuff from when I was five. It's adorable and horrible LOL) I started an account on here when I was in sixth or seventh grade. One of my first stories that I remember having written was a Sasuke and (oc) Naruto younger sister story. I was SO proud! And excited to have people read it. And do you know what happened?
I got burned.
A douche bag of a reader TORE my story apart. I was like twelve or thirteen at the time. New to writing and excited to share my thoughts. This reader commented on my story and flamed me HARD! My character was a mary sue, the plot was dumb, I was a sheep, no creativity, blah, blah, blah.
Those words stung. I cried then deleted the story. That's why when I read a story (a story that I KNOW someone young and new has written) I always always say something supportive and nice! I do not flame or bring down a writer. I want them to get better, not tear them down to the root. I hope many people feel this way to. I know there will always be assholes out there no matter what. There are trolls. Negative nellys. Fucktards.
I refuse to be one of them.
Well, enough about me. What do you think of this chapter? Like how I switched to the Doctor at the end? His brain is hard to get into - so spastic. The Time Eater badge was kinda hard to come up with. I was thinking chains and a collar but that is so common. So expected. The badge is based off the Dalek's eyestalk - the lens. Remember how it's a brilliant blue. The blue represents the Dalek influence. May was a Dalek slave/warrior and the badge signifies that. Chains and collars weren't what were used to control her. It was small, simple, and just as horrifying. It was rank that showed what she had done.
Collars and chains don't change, but badges, her badges - they change. They get darker. Fuller. It showed what she has done to deserve such...honors.
So, I noticed I had made a mistake, and I don't know if I want to change it because I like the picture I drew; figurative speaking of course. Jackson's wife Caroline in the original episode had dark hair not blonde, but I pictured her in my mind's eye always having blonde hair. Should I change it? Since it is canon and all. I'm conflicted because I want to follow the plot as close as possible while adding my own twists and turns yet...I really like what I wrote. I'm quite proud of it even. Opinions?
Well, as usual, please review! I love reading your thoughts! It brightens my day considerably.
Best wishes,
Kait
P.S.
Ten wasn't OOC right? That was one thing I was really worried about because he/she is a canon character and not my creation. I understand my character because she is mine, but the Doctor...we will never really understand what is going on in his/her head. In my opinion anyway.
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bored411: Thank you for your review. Things are about to get even crazier, I promise you that lol Indeed, the Doctor helps her some what, but many other people help too :3 Lots of hearts to hearts. Get ready for the feels.
Sam: HI! I haven't seen you review in the long ass time~ Thanks for staying with me! This story is fun to write, and I've got a lot of ideas. It just hard to write them all down. Thanks for review!
ItsJustMe-94: Hahaha that scene was real fun to write. I was blushing the entire time. Trying to figure out ways to make it seem sensual and filled with sexual tension (on the Doctor's side mostly) May's blatant ignorance on the Doctor's..ugh situation was hilarious to write. The madness will continue for at least a little while. Eventually she will go back to Rose Ten but it will be a little bit before then. I can't wait to write more adventures with post Journey's End Doctor. Thanks for you review.
Akrylic: Thanks! I tried to make this story unique. I like time-line hopping stories. It find them more interesting then straight episode to episode stories. They have a spin to it. But those stories now-a-days are so over done. So, I wrote something different :3 thank you for liking my story so much. I feel giddy when people say that.
MDA: Yay! You came back to me lol woot woot In all honesty, I wouldn't have minded if they went further either, but since it's still early it would have been suuuuuper weird. I'm not good at writing sex(ual) scenes, so I second guess myself a lot and I rewrite and rewrite the scenes. Still feels off, but eh I did my best. I just love me some jealous Doctor. Green is good color on him lol Thank you for your review!
Lady Hummingbird: Don't worry. Soon things will settle down for May. She'll have a break from this situation and will be able to relax. At least for a little bit. So no worries! Ten is really childish and so spastic. He was a hard character to get into, so I hope I did alright. Rosita is a fun character to write. I think if she had become the Doctor's companion she would have kept him straight, but she is a great companion to Jackson's too. Keeps him in line. In the episode they didn't really put the spot light on her character because of Jackson, but I could see her personality being like my interpretation. They could have done more with her. I liked her a lot. I honestly had to google what EEUU was because I had anyone ask me that lol So yes, I live there lol Would you like to private message each other so I can answer all you questions? I wouldn't mind.
drmsqn: Thanks! I tried to write something original and never done before. I think I did a pretty good job even though it's taken sometime to get this far. Life is such a distraction. Hope you'll stick with me for a while.