As they walked they began to see strange shapes on the horizon. Both Jack and the Doctor dismissed the shapes at first as more hills. As they got closer though they realized that it was another village. The strangely shaped mound was a crashed airship and around the airship were several clay homes as well as tents. In the center of the village was a large tower that stretched up into the sky. It had a light at the very top and was the beacon that they had noticed several miles back warning planes that it was there. Both of them were wary of the new village but they had no other choice than to approach it as they couldn't continue on their own anymore. Hades killed people who tried to survive without a village as there was no way to fend for yourself on the planet. As they walked forward, several men came out of the village to greet them.
"You've come close enough for now," one of the men said as they were still a short distance outside of the village. "I can see from your clothes you come from the Leader's camp. No one leaves his camp except on his orders. So tell me, strangers, why are you here?"
"We feared for the life of my lover and our child, so we chose to run rather than risk the leader's anger," Jack explained, deciding not to lie to the man.
"What did you do to anger him?" The man wondered.
"The Leader didn't approve of my being in the village due to rumors from the men of the caves. He finally agreed I could stay but wanted us to kill the baby when she was born to a mother who died during childbirth with a clubbed foot. We chose to go against his wishes and save her," Jack answered. He felt the Doctor trying to remain against him but his head briefly fell to Jack's shoulder. "We had trouble with the guards as we were leaving and he was stabbed with a knife coated in poison. We can't go back and we don't have enough supplies to keep going."
"We have room in the village and a doctor who can tend to his injury. We also have nursing mothers who would be able to feed the child. In order to live here, though, you have to be able to work and help provide for our people. Tell me what asset would you be if we allowed you to join our village?" The man wondered.
"He was the doctor in the previous village and I worked in their caves but we are willing to do anything that you ask to help keep the village running," Jack responded. The man nodded taking a step forward and holding out his hand.
"I'm Luke," the man told them. Jack shook his hand.
"I'm Jack, this is the Doctor and the baby is Carys," Jack responded. Luke motioned them to follow him.
"Welcome to Elysium," Luke announced as they entered the village.
The Doctor and Jack were led through the small village. It was more condensed than the previous place as tents were closer together. The Doctor really didn't care if they had to sleep in a tent as long as they were allowed to continue to live as a family and were provided food for Carys. He was too tired and sore to really pay attention to his surroundings though if he had been more aware he would have been fascinated by the airship. It was where Luke lived and was used as the central hub of the community. They were led right on it and down a few doors to the medical center. The medical center had the main waiting room and a young woman sitting behind a desk. She smiled at them as they entered.
"Welcome to Elysium," She greeted them. "If you take them into room two, I will send doctor Stenson in as soon as he is done with his current patient."
"Thank you, Amanda. While we wait we need milk for the infant and water for these two," Aldrich advised her.
"Milk won't be necessary. She has eaten quite recently and is perfectly content at the moment," Jack explained.
"Just water then," Luke told Amanda as he took to room two and opened the door. Inside was a medical bed with a metal frame. Jack took the Doctor over to it and helped him to lay down before he sat down on the chair in the room. Luke closed the door behind him as he stood in the room with them. He would leave once the doctor came in, but he didn't trust the newcomers to be left alone yet. A moment later there was a small knock and Amanda opened the door again. Jack had expected her to bring a bottle of water so he was surprised to see metal cups.
"You have cups here?" Jack questioned.
"We have all the resources here that we found aboard this ship plus the same rations that the village receives," Luke advised him. Jack made a face.
"Great more bread and water," Jack commented under his breath. Luke chuckled at him.
"You will also receive meat and fruit. Unlike the village, I don't control the rations in order to gain favors and keep power. Everyone is paid equally for their work and given additional resources for their children. You will be given currency and allowed to go to our small market to buy food for your family. If you want to live off of bread and water that is your choice but I advise that you also buy fruit occasionally," Luke chuckled. Jack stared at him for a moment. He wasn't sure if Luke was lying to them. He had seen the meat and fruit in the Leader's storage so he knew the rations came in, he just wasn't sure why Luke was more willing to share.
"We only got fruit or meat when the Leader was trying to bribe us into compliance" The Doctor stated sleepily from the bed.
"I don't believe in fear to control my village. I freely supply the meat, fruit, bread and any other food that comes through. I also allow all my people access to equal medical care," Luke explained.
"Why are you given medical supplies and the other village is made to suffer?" Jack asked.
"Again it is part of his control. You were the Doctor there. Did you ever once treat one of his guards or their families?" Luke wondered. The Doctor thought about it a moment before shaking his head. "Exactly. The men go to the Leader for painkillers, antibiotics, and better food. By remaining in his favor, you were treated better. If he only gave you bread and water, you must have upset him."
"I think that is an understatement," Jack answered. There was another knock at the door and Luke opened it. "Ah, Dustin you're right on time. I have to be getting back to work." Luke left and the doctor came in. He immediately went to Carys first as she was the smallest.
"When is the last time she ate?" He asked Jack as he pulled out a stethoscope. He placed it on her chest, listening to her heart and lungs. Both sounded good.
"About an hour ago," Jack responded. Despite being slightly small she was eating and growing well. Dustin examined her leg and made sure she was healthy. He was going to have to keep an eye on her, but she seemed to be stable overall. He then turned his attention to the Doctor. The Doctor was pale and trembling despite the warmth in the small room. Dustin examined his arm.
"These wounds are quite deep and infected. I am going to clean the wounds and the longer one should heal well on its own but we will need to continue to pack the other wound so that it heals from the inside out. We will have to look into meal tickets for you and your companion as I don't want you to do anything but rest until the infection has passed and you are going to make sure you keep your arm immobile. I am also going to give you a course of antibiotics to help your body fight the infection. Now before I begin is there anything you are allergic to?" Dustin inquired.
"Asprin," The Doctor answered immediately. "I can tell you if I am allergic to the medications you plan on using if I can see them." Dustin brought over three different vials and the Doctor confirmed they were alright to use.
"I am going to clean up your arm now. Do you want your friend to step out of the room while I do?" Dustin inquired.
"I'm not leaving his side," Jack argued.
"He can stay," The Doctor agreed. He reached out for Jack's hand and Jack took it. He held the Doctor's hand as the doctor cleaned the area with a thin antiseptic he had made. His grip tightened in pain as the doctor worked and he tried not to cry out in pain. His arm hurt even worse by the time the man was finished and he couldn't help the slight hatred he felt towards the man even if he knew it was necessary. He was given a couple of mild pain killers to help with the soreness and a course of antibiotics to take as well.
"Rest for a little while and I will be back to check on the two of you. In the meantime, I am going to have Amanda find out about your living accommodations," Dustin informed them.
"We would like a house together," Jack told him firmly.
"Of course," Dustin said as he left. As soon as they were alone, Jack moved so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed next to the Doctor. He stroked his hair back and leaned down to kiss him on the forehead.
"I don't trust this place," Jack whispered as he kissed the Doctor again.
"Me either," The Doctor replied. He leaned his head up so that he could kiss Jack on the lips. Jack kissed him back. "But we need to stay long enough to build up our supplies again before we can think of leaving."
"Not even healed from your last escape attempt and already planning another." He kissed the Doctor deeply for a moment. "It's no wonder I bloody love you."
"I love you too," The Doctor whispered. He leaned his head against Jack as his eyes drifted closed. He was still sound asleep when Dustin returned to check on them.
"I have housing arrangements nearby if you would like to follow me," Dustin advised Jack. Jack tenderly woke his lover and supported him as they were led to a small one-roomed clay house. Inside the home was a bed, a cot for Carys and a small table for dining. Jack put Carys in the cot as the Doctor stumbled to the bed. He curled up on it as Jack looked around the home. On the wall was a small door and opening it Jack found a couple of plates, cups and bowls as well as a small amount of food. He was pleased to see it wasn't just bread.
"Are you hungry?" He asked the Doctor.
"No," The Doctor replied, his eyes fluttering closed. He forced the back open. "Come to bed." Jack closed the door and went to bed. Pulling the blankets out of under the Doctor, he laid down behind him. He covered him before wrapping an arm over the Doctor. The Doctor snuggled back against Jack, drifting off to sleep once more. Jack was exhausted as well and reluctantly he allowed himself to go to sleep as well.