I don't have much to say...
it's late, it's 1:00 in the morning and I wanted to finish translating the chapter into English and post it before going to bed.
Did you know that when you drink coffee at starbucks (like frappucino) it's it's about 10 to 25 spoonfuls of sugar you drink? even if you ordered something simple with no frills added.
That's way too much compared to the recommended daily dose (which is 25g). I learned that from watching a documentary on starbucks.
Also i'm watching a series on prime video, "the man in the high castle". a uchrony, i love this series. i recommend it. and if you don't have prime video... well you have the book (that came out long before the series)
Before, waking up used to mean getting up for school. It was my alarm clock that rang, an alarm on my phone with the Gallifrey theme that I chose. Now, I was awake thanks to the Tardis which used to slowly turn on the lights while playing rather soft and joyful music. In both cases, I would wake up alone in my bed before I got up approximately 30 minutes later. What can I say... I was a sleepy head as far as sleep was concerned.
Today I woke up in a very pleasant way. It was the first time I woke up in the Doctor's arms - or in someone's arms at all - although we were still in the observatory. It took me a while to wake up and I vaguely noticed that our legs were intertwined; what I did notice, however, was the Doctor enveloping all my senses, his smell, his warmth, his fingers gently caressing my back.
I felt his lips touch my neck in several little kisses and when I let a little moan of sleep escape from my mouth, his lips moved against my skin to form a smile.
"Look who's finally awake." The Doctor whispers tenderly with a low voice; his breath caressing my neck warmly.
"How long I have been sleeping?", I asked in a hoarse voice.
"Five hours, maybe six. I'm not really sure, I slept too."
"A Time Lord who has lost track of time? Ironic, isn't it? " I chuckled quietly.
"Oi, no mocking." he said as he finally laid down to kiss me.
I smiled in the kiss as I raised and slid my arms around his neck. His hands rested against my neck and my jaw to raise my head and deepen the kiss. After a few minutes we parted for air, our eyes staring at each other.
"What shall we do now? "I asked quietly, wide awake.
The Doctor inhaled as he sat up on the couch. I did the same. His lips curled in a pout of reflection and I could see him thinking about so many things. His eyes fixed on me as he started to smile.
"Well, we could go to one of the richest alien markets in terms of products and crafts, and that existed long before the creation of the Earth."
I think for a few seconds before nodding slightly.
"That sounds interesting, are we going to buy some things there?"
"I don't see why we wouldn't. " he said, sliding his arms around me again, kissing my neck again.
I slowly bent my head to the side to give him better access as I sighed in pleasure. The Doctor kept kissing my neck until I made him stop.
"We're never going to go if you keep going," I explained to him as he made a lovely pout.0
And to prove my point, the TARDIS dropped the rest of our stuff out of nowhere, so we could go to this alien market. The Doctor uttered a falsely annoyed sigh as he said the two women in his life were turning against him, which made me laugh.
We got up to get dressed properly. The Doctor had just finished tying his shoes as I styled my hair with my fingers and tied my hair up with a rubber band and placed the pins to hold the most rebellious strands that had slipped out of the rubber band. And we went to the console room so that we could get to the place where we were supposed to go.
The Doctor pointed out buttons and levers to press and pull as we circled the console of the Tardis as it passed through space and through the Time Vortex. Landing was rough as usual but instead of me flying away as I was used to, the Doctor grabbed me and dragged me against his solid chest. We laughed like young children and I kissed him quickly before turning to the doors with curiosity and excitement. I stood up and walked down the few steps to get to the doors. I put one hand on the handle and opened the door and walked out, followed by the Doctor putting on his coat.
The market was so alive and so full. There were hundreds and hundreds of stands, occupied by so many different species and so ancient to the human race. It was amazing!
"This is Vectra in the Xiao galaxy, a neutral zone that serves as a market for many species. " introduces the Doctor by making a gesture towards the market.
"Neutral zone?"
"A neutral zone is a more or less large place where only peace is a law. Inter-species conflicts are forbidden there at the risk of being arrested by the Shadow Proclamation. Several armies of different species have vowed to peace and have volunteered on Vectra as guardians of order on this planet, so Vectra is under surveillance and protection unlike many neutral zones. " He explains as we walked calmly towards the market.
"that's very impressive! This must have taken a lot of effort and restraint for most nations, right?"
"Indeed. Now, may I escort you to the peaceful market of Vectra?" suggested the Doctor as he reached out his hand at me.
A hand I graciously take. And the Doctor's fingers slipped between mine with a disconcerting ease.
We have resumed our walk and entered the market. My sense of smell picked up the scent of spices and hot food as I discovered new colours and my ears buzzed with talk of other species who haggled happily, vacant to their normal lives.
The Doctor made me taste several fruits and dishes with indescribable tastes and strange shapes and colours. I enjoyed this addition to my palette of taste and sensation. One of the fruits that made a big impression on me was Llyöhga, which was an electric blue, a shape reminiscent of a devil's fruit, the size of an apple and the weight of an apricot, and a taste reminiscent of praline and chocolate. As a lover of these two foods, it was only natural that I should love this fruit. The Doctor bought some - about 2kg - and placed the bag containing the fruit in one of his coat pockets, that was bigger on the inside.
We passed by a lot of stands, selling clothes, decorative and functional items, reading materials in the form of books, parchment and prints, art and so much more. Each stand seemed to be unique, none of the stands looked like any other, either in its merchandise or in its merchants. The few stands that made the Doctor grind his teeth were the ones selling weapons; it was with surprise that I recognized one of the species selling weapons at his stand. A Sycorax. But even so, we didn't linger there.
My attention was drawn to an art stand. Well, art supplies, to be precise. I was curious to know the techniques to make art before the creation of the Earth and the evolution of the human race up to its mastery of certain art techniques; this stand offered two techniques that interested me a lot and that I would like to learn.
The first was a technique coming from the planet Diaghilev, a planet where the people had psychic abilities to make their art animated, as if it were alive. While talking with the Diaghilevan merchant, I discovered that some of their paintings could speak but that this required an incredible psychic capacity and that their technique required a minimum of psychic control; which unfortunately I didn't possess because I was simply human - even if my biology differed slightly from that of this world according to the Doctor - and my brain did not have certain psychic attributes.
The second technique was the one that caught most of my attention. It was when I looked at a scene that I immediately knew where this technique came from. The Doctor, who had left my side to go to a specific stand and had recommended that I not move until he returned, would have reacted to the sight of the painting I was observing right now. The painting was in 3d. The only painting, I knew that was also in 3d was "Gallifrey Falls No More" which represented the fall of Arcadia during the Time War. This painting had been created by a stasis cube, which was currently on sale with instructions on how to use it. There were two of them.
I was carefully touching the smooth surface of the stasis cube next to me with my fingertips when the merchant asked me.
"So dear girl, are you interested in the stasis cube?"
"How did you get them?"
"Ah! It's been in my family for five generations. My ancestor knew an artist from the planet Gallifrey. I hear that this world is now lost in flames. I think these are the last stasis cubes in the universe. It's a shame... all that knowledge lost forever. "sighs the merchant. "These people should be mourned too, I doubt there will ever be a people as great as Gallifrey's again. "
"My friend is from Gallifrey..." I confessed as I looked at the 3d painting again.
"Really?! "exclaimed the merchant, honestly surprised. "I thought they were extinct!"
"He's the last one. " I explained with sadness.
"I sympathize for your friend, to be the last of his kind is the last thing you would wish."
"Thank you."
Our conversation turned into an awkward silence, and I continued to stare at the painting while the merchant diaghilevan suddenly appeared awkward.
"You know what?" said the merchant again. "I'll give you a price if you're interested. The two cubes will be at the price of one for you and your friend. What do you think?"
"I'd have to ask him when he's coming back, he's the one with the money. But that sounds good to me."
The merchant nodded with a sad smile before he turned to a new customer. I took a stasis cube in my hand for a closer look. The cube seemed to be made of glass, but the bluish glow that appeared from certain angles and in the light proved to me that it was not a regular glass. It was made on Gallifrey, one should expect much more from such a small object with a simple and banal appearance.
I lay the stasis cube down as I felt a presence behind me. I was about to turn around to see the Doctor who finally returned, but a sharp pain suddenly developed in my neck, so big arms grabbed me as my whole body was about to fall on the ground, drawn by gravity; a hand landed on my mouth muffling the scream I might have uttered. I heard the merchant shouting at the one standing behind me, who was taking me away.
It definitely wasn't the Doctor... I thought before I went unconscious.
After leaving Alvia at an art stand, the Doctor quickly went to another stand that he hoped hadn't disappeared since the last time he came here. He remembered coming here with his granddaughter and his first companions, Ian and Barbara; and there he discovered a jeweller who knew some of the Gallifreyan jewellery craft.
To his delight, the stand hadn't disappeared although the jeweller has aged since then. He had his head resting against his hand, like he was resting.
"Hello," greeted the Doctor lightly.
The merchant winked with his warm, soft little eyes, wrinkled by time.
"Good afternoon, young man, what can I do for you?"
The doctor smiled slightly to the description given by the old craftsman.
"I came here a... Ooh... Now... a very, very long time ago. I see you've mastered some technique in Gallifreyan jewellery. " continued the Doctor, fiddling his earlobe.
The craftsman looked at him with interest and curiosity before the realization could be read on his face, as well as his astonishment.
"You are a Time Lord..." he breathed, blinking as if he thought it was a dream.
"The last..." admitted the Doctor darkly.
"It is a true miracle that you are still alive after that horrible, monstrous Time War against the Daleks. "
The Doctor mumbled, looking away from the craftsman, muttering words that might have sounded more like "more a punishment than a miracle". The craftsman gave the Doctor a kindly smile, which made the already wrinkled face of the ancient creature even more wrinkly.
"We're not here to mourn the past," reprimanded the merchant. "You're here for a commission, aren't you?"
"Yes. That's right," said the Doctor as he came to his senses and emotions. "Would you be able to make this design with the material in question?" asked the Doctor as he took a piece of paper from the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
The craftsman took the piece of paper and unfolded it before he observes, reads and analyses it. He blinked, wrinkled his eyes, then grunted and slid the corrective and vision glasses into his eye sockets. He nodded in satisfaction and turned his attention back to the piece of paper. After a few minutes, the merchant spoke.
"I am indeed able to do this commission. Although it will take me some time. I do possess the material you have placed here. " he pointed to the middle of the doctor's drawing on the piece of paper. "At home. It will take time for me to go to my atelier on my home planet."
"How long will it takes? " asked the Doctor.
The jeweller rubbed his chin in full reflection.
"I'm going back to Takodana at the end of the month, the time it takes me to go back to my workshop plus the time it takes to make it... Mmm... I'd say in 3 months and half a moon it'll be good. Is that okay with you, Time Lord?"
"The Doctor. " he corrects. "That sounds perfect. Do I pay in advance? »
"Half now and the rest when you come for the necklace."
The Doctor nodded and searched in his pockets for money while the jeweller put the piece of paper in a file where it was written in his language " Commission ". The Doctor paid and then said goodbye to the merchant and returned to the stand where he had left Alvia. On the way back, he thought about where and when he could give her the necklace he had commissioned; he thought of several places in time and space, on Earth or not, that would please her and be appropriate for the gift.
Although any place would please Alvia... thought the Doctor. As long as it's not too hot...
It wasn't far from the stand where Alvia was. And as he looked for the redhead among the crowd a panic grew in his chest. He walked faster to the stand and felt both his hearts painfully twisting in anxiety. It didn't help him when the art supply merchant, panicked as ever, told him that he had seen her being taken away by two evil-looking people. A Krögann and a Kaïrikhy.
The Doctor thanked the merchant abruptly before he headed for what was the surveillance post in the area, where several armed alien races were busy with several different tasks. One of the few unoccupied ones turned his attention to the dark looking Doctor.
"My friend was taken by a Krögann and a Kaïrikhy, it was a merchant who identified them."
The guard, who did not seem to be completely focused yet, stiffened at the Doctor's words.
"I'll be right back! " replied the guard before he rushed into the office of someone else who was in a higher rank.
The Doctor, with his fists clenched on the guard's desk, could hear:
" Lieutenant, we've got another missing person; We've got a description, this time! "
The guard then returned, followed by the lieutenant of that area. The lieutenant was a humanoid with a body covered by protective official clothing and a carapaced-up head, he was imposing in size and his small, cold blue eyes gave him a cold and strict appearance.
"I am Lieutenant Skryiek," he introduced himself. "I heard that your friend has been kidnapped. Is that correct?"
The Doctor introduced himself in turn and explained everything that had just happened without forgetting the slightest detail. Lieutenant Skryiek invited the Doctor into his office to continue this discussion without any disturbance.
"So, you're telling me, that it was apparently a Krögann and a Kaïrikhy who kidnapped your friend... Alvia, right?"
" Yes, that's right."
The lieutenant got into a deep reflection that made the Doctor nervous.
"There's clearly something going on with that look on your face," said the Doctor. "Tell me what's going on, I can help."
"It's not just something that's happening on Vectra, on other neutral zones as well." hesitated the lieutenant.
"Tell me." insists the Doctor.
"I think we are dealing with a huge trafficking network; until now it was only a theory, we had only identified one of the three races that could be mentioned in some reports. But if what you're telling me is true, it's three races with traditions of slavery that have managed to come together and form a network. »
"Who is the third race?" the Doctor asked, frowning.
"The Sycorax."
Waking up was particularly hard and unpleasant. My head was spinning and pounding, my stomach was twisting as the sadly familiar feeling of nausea set in, and my mouth was so dry that I felt like I was sleeping with my mouth open during a bad cold.
As soon as I opened and blinked several times I became aware of my surroundings. It was cold, dark and damp. I was in a small cage, arranged with other small cages that also contained people. These people all seemed to have collapsed in despair and seemed to have abandoned. I didn't understand their reactions, I didn't understand this place or what I was doing here.
I sat down, vigorously rubbing my covered arms for warmth. It was so cold that I was steaming every time I breathed. I looked around me suspiciously, tensing at every loud sound, every rattle against the cages that held me and all those people, every sob that burst and muffled.
This dangerous calm that burdened us all didn't last, and the sound of a metal door opening and slamming against a wall echoed as footsteps echoed over the metal floor and an incomprehensible conversation became louder and louder. Some of the people locked in the cages curled up, trying to make themselves smaller than their bodies, turning their faces to the floor to escape a gaze. And what gaze? The gaze of a group of four people.
They were armed, could abuse their power at any time against one of us. One of them wore an outfit that looked scientific with a sort of tablet on it where he wrote some things down, he had a humanoid shape and looked vaguely like the cliché of an alien on Earth; gray skin, larger head, big black and shiny eyes, long fingers... Two of them were imposing, one had two pairs of arms, deep purple skin with a mocking and evil look, while the other had a hunchbacked body covered by an armour, nevertheless his face remained uncovered and I could see that it was covered by thick, sturdy, colourful scales, his eyes were like those of a predatory animal. The last one wore a more flowing outfit with a cape, his head stretched backwards was covered with a mask made of bone, only the eye slits remained red.
The last one was the only race I recognized, he was a Sycorax. Now I could see why I was in a cage...
They talked among themselves, always moving forward and sometimes stopping in front of a cage until they reached mine. I didn't make any noise, I didn't move and just stared at them darkly. I don't know if it was bravery or fear, but if it could keep me alive until I was back by the Doctor's side again...
My attitude seemed to fascinate the group and the clichéd-looking alien tapped his tablet more quickly as he looked at me quite often. The Sycorax spoke and the two alien brutes opened my cage; the one with four arms grabbed me and pulled me painfully towards them and as soon as I stepped out of the cage my arms and shoulders were grabbed by both pairs of arms in a strong, unbreakable grip. My heart pounded even harder as my breathing also increased, I nervously watched the Sycorax and the other alien tapping on its tablet.
They exchanged words again that I still don't understand. I was too far away from the Tardis and the translation didn't reach me anymore, I was completely lost... I didn't speak their language, I only knew one insult in Sycorax - well, I suppose it was an insult, since the Doctor used it in his sword fighting on Christmas Day - but it would cause me more trouble than good.
The hunchback with the scales growled and I was dragged out of the room with this hostile group. They dragged me to a sort of examination room where I was tied up and my top was removed, along with my stocking and shoes, leaving me in my underwear. My body stiffened instinctively as the thought of being... the thought of being used against my will came into my mind. To my biggest relief, it seemed that this wasn't going to happen.
But what happened was not the most pleasant either. My wrists were tied above my head, leaving me no way to hide my breasts covered by my bra. The gray-skinned being stood next to a machine and activated it. Suddenly I compared my situation with that of the Doctor at Van Statten's museum, and from the appearance of the machine I had never been so right. It activated, scanning my body with an agonizingly painful red beam.
I could do nothing but scream, screaming in pain at every analysis performed, with no way to save myself. All I could do was cry in pain and clench my teeth, praying the Doctor to find me as quickly as possible while the ray that was analysing my body was torturing me at the same time.
Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor... I kept repeating in my mind, like a prayer, hoping that I could be found yet. Oh, fuck, fuck, it hurts, it hurts so bad, make it stop, please, Doctor, find me, find me, find me...! DOCTOR!
I couldn't say how long I was in that torture chamber. Too long. Long enough for my body to go into frequent spasms from the pain created by the scan beam over and over again. I had been thrown in my cage, with my clothes on but without my shoes. I dressed slowly because of the pain and the shaking, but quickly enough so that the cold wouldn't attack my body too quickly. I could understand the others who were locked up like me, why they made themselves as small as possible and fled from the gaze of the Four. I had seen their looks during my analysis/torture, they liked it. They enjoyed every scream, every cry, every whimper, every complaint I could make.
And the brief break I had was short-lived. The grey creature returned, accompanied by the hunchback. They exchanged a few words and the imposing being grabbed me to the edge of the cage by the clothes while the other grabbed my neck with his long pale fingers, his other hand held an object with a short needle which he plunged directly into the soft flesh of my neck. I tense myself to this sharp pain before falling unconscious again. A tear rolled down my cheek to the cold floor.
In a huge dark gray auditorium there were several technologically and militarily powerful races, all of them sitting and murmuring with each other, causing a nameless hubbub until three people entered the room, causing a sudden silence and a redress from certain races. Although in this trio only two persons caused the silence; the third person entered through one of the back doors of the auditorium.
Among the two persons who caused the peace was Lieutenant Skryiek, who accompanied another member of his species who was much bigger and older. It could be seen that this one was very high up in the hierarchy. The older one walked to a platform and a display stand. On this display was a typographic hologram presenting the man as Field Marshal Klöorvgus, ambassador of the Tluriens on the planet Pälaven. He stared at the crowd for a few moments before finally starting to speak.
"Dear compatriots, dear allies and guardians and member of parliament of the Neutral Zone and Non-Neutral Zones. Thank you for being here in such numbers and for being here on such short time. This is a serious time. "said Klöorvgus in a loud and deep voice. "About two weeks ago we made a horrific discovery about a massive and illegal trafficking network. It was operating in the Neutral and Non-Neutral zones!"
The silence of the auditorium broke as all those who were present muttered with outrage. The marshal waited for everyone to calm down before continuing to speak.
"Unfortunately, we found out too late and more than thousands of citizens of different species were captured, abducted and sold as slaves. Until now we weren't sure, but we do have concrete proof! We have proof that this network was created and maintained by three different races! " revealed Klöorvgus as the pictures of the three races were projected on the wall behind him.
Each race was photographed, each picture showed a different crime. Kidnapping, sequestration, auctions... So many pictures that made the third person in the back of the auditorium more and more furious. The Doctor's jaw tensed tightly as he stared unblinkingly at the pictures projected continuously behind the old Tluriens. The Doctor tried not to think about what Alvia would be going through.
All he had wanted was a simple visit to the market, taking advantage of his attention to a stand to make an order that he would quickly retrieve thanks to the Tardis, then take him to a beautiful and peaceful place that he had discovered by chance one day and offer him the necklace he had made; pass it around his pale neck, feel his chest burn with a soft, pleasant warmth as his hearts beat faster as she gave him a smile so full of joy that he could have died and regenerated instantly.
But no... Alvia had been taken from him and he couldn't do anything but feel helpless. He, the last Time Lord, survivor of the Last Great Time War, helpless when the woman he loved had been kidnapped to be sold to a man with a corrupted and perverted desire.
"We must put an end to and dismantle this infamous network to the last Sycorax, to the last Krögann, to the last Kaïrikhy!" roars Klöorvgus fervently as he pounds his fists against the display, after a long speech describing the network and explaining a plan to end it. "Are you with me?!"
The auditorium, which had formerly been almost silent, became a veritable cacophony as each race present applauded, whistled, shouted, and howled with approval. Each race present, with or without opponents in the same room, united in common purpose to dismantle this vast network of three slave races. They were not foolish to think that the trafficking would stop in its entirety, but this hope and this will to reduce it to the lowest possible level motivated all of them to put aside their possible grudges to free their peoples who had been captured and needed help so badly.
For the Doctor, this alliance, despite the military aspect, proved to him the kindness and compassion that every living being had in them.
To say that changing cages was good news would be a lie. My cage was actually bigger, the place where I was stored was brighter and more pleasant - as pleasant as possible given that I was locked up - and it was a bit warmer. My cage, which had been really small, was now bigger, was the size of a room and the barriers that had been made of metal were replaced by thick glass with holes to let me breathe. I really felt like I was in a Torchwood cage or Hannibal Lecter's cage.
My cage was more luxurious with a thin mattress added. But this comfort did not come out of the benevolence of a good heart; every day I was observed by the Grey creature and the Sycorax accompanied by two or three other creatures that changed every day, although some of them came back from time to time. When they came, I would sit on the mattress with my arms around my legs bent and my chin on my knees as I silently stared at the group, never flinching for a second.
I had once tried to rebel, to test my limits; I paid very dearly for it. I had been taken for new tests that lasted longer and hurt so much more than the first time; after that I have been thrown on the mattress, trembling frenetically while I couldn't move a single finger without suffering again.
And finally, the day came when my lifestyle changed again. The alien quartet came back and dragged me out of the glass cage and put a metal necklace around my neck. And from the nasty smiles I could only guess that it wasn't just a necklace. They chained my wrists and legs and linked them with strong, unbreakable chains with my strength alone. Despite the clothes on my body, the chains made me look like a real slave. The illustrations of black slave eras that I studied in my history books came to my mind as I was dragged into a ship and space to arrive at a dark place where there were definitely illegal auctions.
In that room there were several non-humans in chains like me, buyers and sellers, and heavily armed guards. The buyers all looked rich and mafia-like, dangerous, and had their hands full of crime, corruption, and murder. The commissioner in charge of the auction caught the attention of the sellers, speaking in a language that I still couldn't understand, while one of the Four brutally pushed me to move forward. The Four gave me to a person who worked here, who also brutally pulled me towards the other chained people who were considered like merchandise.
We were taken to a show stage where the buyers looked at us with curiosity, greed and so many other emotions that was clearly not positive for us. Next to me was a humanoid with ash-coloured skin, pointed ears, silvery eyes and intricately woven white hair. He looked like a dark elf.
A buyer with a perverted eye approached me, ogling my curves. He grabbed one of my feet to touch my skin, caressing it as if it was silk. A shiver of disgust came up my spine as I made a disgusted frown and stared at him. When he suddenly decided to lick my ankle, I did nothing more than remove my foot and send it towards his head as hard as I could. The kick made him fall heavily to the ground, drawing all eyes to me, including the other prisoners. This drew the wrath of many, and while the one I hit was screaming what I thought were insults, I took two punches, one in the face and one in the stomach, plus another kick in the stomach as I fell to the ground - you know the expression, never two without three -. My breath stopped as the pain came up in my stomach.
"Gah!" I groaned, holding my stomach, giving them dark glances. "FUCK YOU ALL! "I swore as I spit a drop of blood on the side.
I took new hits; one to the belly and one to the face. I was sounded as they lifted me up violently before sticking something against my mouth. It was a kind of muzzle which as soon as it came into contact with my skin activated and wrapped itself around my head to block me in any movement to speak. All I had left was my angry, vengeful looks at them as they pushed me back into place.
The alien I had hit finally disappeared into the crowd and after a quarter of an hour I and the other prisoners were taken backstage as the auction started and the guards took us one by one to sell to the highest bidder.
My face was pounding in pain, and so was my stomach. The alien that looked like a dark elf was by my side again, and he looked at me curiously since my revolt. Waiting for my turn, I prayed again for the Doctor to come suddenly to save me. For I would rather die than be a slave for the rest of my life; who knows which perverse psychopath would eventually buy me. So, then I looked at all the guards and their weapons...
Nearly 20 prisoners had been sold before me. Between each person who disappeared from the backstage more than thirty minutes went by and I dreaded with anguish about the future arrival of my turn. I closed my eyes to forget about this place, swallowing with difficulty and concentrating on something other than the hammer blows resounding at each sale.
Screams resounded, I assumed it was a buyer who had also been attacked. But more screams were added and piled up as shots were fired at the mix. Most of the guards who watched us went away to see what was going on while the others stayed for us, raising their weapons a bit to warn us of what might happen to us if we tried something. The shooting continued until suddenly soldiers came in, stopping the guards holding us prisoners. The soldiers who weren't busy embarking the slavers took the opportunity to free us one by one. It was my turn, my ankles and wrists were freed first, and then I was freed from my muzzle and the collar around my neck.
I rubbed my wrists distractedly as I shared confused looks with the other ex-prisoners. We didn't speak the same language, but we understood each other with just one look. The soldiers gathered us together before leading us to the big auction hall. Bodies were lying on the floor and many people were arrested and taken away. I walked slowly, looking around, confused but curious at the same time. I looked all around me until, finally, I saw him. After all this time. The Doctor.
There he was, in his brown suit and long beige coat, with his hands in his pockets. He was chatting with a high-ranking officer, sometimes nodding his head.
I took a few steps towards him, leaving the group and being called out by a soldier, which caught the attention of the Doctor and the high-ranking officer.
"Doctor! "I exclaimed with a sob of joy in my voice.
The Doctor looked at me like a divine apparition, speechless and amazed. I took another step and the Doctor regained his mind, moving forward too. This scene might appear to be one of those romantic clichés of cinema; the lovers running to join each other, one with tears in his eyes - me, actually - before holding each other in an embrace so strong that it looked as if we were trying to fuse together. His arms curled up behind my back, bringing me as close to his body as possible while I slid my arms around his shoulders and neck, a hand even reaching into his hair. We kissed in a single kiss that lasted long.
"Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor..." I muttered endlessly in his neck, as I felt sobs rise up in my chest until I trembled and finally cried.
"I found you. Rassilon, I finally found you. Oh, Alvia..."
"Is it her, Doctor? The one you were looking for? " asked the high-ranking officer behind the Doctor.
"Yes, that's her. It's Alvia," replied the Doctor, turning around slightly but not letting me go. "Thank you Major Skryiek, for everything. Thank you for everything."
"Go home, Doctor. You both need it." advised Major Skryiek.
The Doctor gestured his head slightly and broke the embrace before slipping an arm behind my back and leading me away from the auction house. It was extremely relieving to make the reverse path, free and unchained. We walked out of the Auction House and away from this hellish place to walk to the Tardis. Eventually the Doctor carried me because he realised that I had lost my shoes - long lost and probably never to be found - and he took me to the Tardis. The path was silent, I laid my head against his chest and felt his hearts beating quietly.
When we stood in front of the Tardis, the Doctor didn't need to drop me off and open the doors with his key, because they opened by themselves. We walked in, and as soon as I stepped on the cold metal fence of the console room those doors closed again. The Doctor put down his coat and wrapped his arms firmly around me again. I wept with relief, my tears wetting his white shirt as he comforted me as he knew how to do so well.
After a long time in his arms, crying and being consoled, I broke free from his embrace.
"Can you tell me... what happened to you? " asked the Doctor softly, like I was going to run away at the slightest loud noise.
"No..." I replied with a weak voice. "But I can show you."
The Doctor's eyes widened at the suggestion.
"Are... are you sure?" stammered the Doctor.
I nodded to confirm. The Doctor swallowed silently before he placed his hands on my face and his fingers against my temples. I closed my eyes as I felt the pulp of his fingers caressing my skin and tried to relax as much as possible and drop my mental defences to let the Doctor access my memories.
The Doctor's ancient and imposing but gentle consciousness met mine, wrapped itself around my mind to comfort me, and after a few moments I brought all my memories to the surface until my kidnapping. The Doctor watched helplessly as my person was abducted, locked in a cage that was too small, analysed/tortured, changed cages, observed like an animal, taken to an auction and beaten and muzzled. And he trembled with fury.
The justice they'll face is too good for what they did to you... he whispers darkly in my mind.
Their condemnation will be the perfect punishment for them. You don't have to interfere, you don't have the right to interfere. I disagree with the concern of the Doctor doing something dangerous and stupid. It's over now. I'm free thanks to you. Thousands of people are free thanks to you and thousands will always be free thanks to you.
The doctor slowly withdrew from my mind and once he was gone I put my mental defences back in place before opening my eyes to meet the doctor's gaze. He was angry at the slavers, afraid of himself and in adoration towards me.
He slid his hands gently towards the areas of my face that had been bruised, his thumbs gently caressing the skin without pressing, as this might hurt me. I closed my eyes to the sweet comfort the Doctor offered before I felt warmth from his hands and perceived more light through my eyelids. I suddenly reopened my eyes and could see his hands shining with gold, as if he was regenerating. I grabbed both of his wrists to stop him, wanting to tell him not to waste his regenerative energy on me; but his resolute look made me realise that I couldn't convince him to do otherwise. So, my face was healed by his care, and he asked me if I was in pain anywhere else. Knowing that I couldn't lie to him because he would surely see it now or later I indicated my belly to him and he put a palm against my belly hidden by my shirt. Gradually all pain evaporated until I felt nothing.
He raised his hand towards my face and his hands slipped towards my jaw to gently raise my head, he put a soft kiss on my forehead before sticking his to mine. His eyes showed all the love and tenderness he felt for me.
"Thank you…"
He kissed me, and I kissed him back until I finally got away from the Doctor. The cold of the room's fence had finally numbed my bare feet and I desperately wanted to take a bath and change my clothes and underwear. The only time I could be cleaned was when a bucket of blue liquid was thrown at me and it disappeared a few minutes later; I must have been cleaned of some dirt but the feeling of being unclean still persisted. So, I informed the Doctor before I slipped down the corridor and went to my room and never saw him again that night.
Sexy had certainly read my thoughts, because a hot bath had been run and a sweet smell of jasmine and tea was coming out of it. I got rid of all my clothes - emptying the pockets - before throwing them into a dirty laundry bin and taking refuge into the hot water. I shivered and sighed with pleasure when I felt my body warmed by the water and felt my muscles slowly relax.
I cleaned and cared by moisturizing my body and getting out of the bath only when my fingers became wrinkled by the water. I wrapped a soft, fluffy and big towel around my body before I dried my hair wildly and brushed it. Once I removed all the moisture from my skin, I dressed in an old red graphic Deadpool T-shirt and black night pants before heading to the kitchen where I made myself a hearty sandwich with butter, Spanish deli meats and cheese and a cup of tea.
I went to bed immediately after I fed. Sleep took over me from the moment I laid my head on the pillow. I hoped I wouldn't have a nightmare after all I'd been through...