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Chapter 57 – Tony in Trouble

The night wore on. It was the strangest thing Rose had ever been to in her life. Everyone was drunk, making large business deals, partnerships were formed and alliances were made. The Doctor had sat at the table as Rose enjoyed a dessert and gave her feet a rest. She watched him speak to someone for 20 minutes in a strange language. Once they finished, they shook hands and the man bowed to Rose before he left.

"Wow. Very interesting." The Doctor told her as he drank some more wine.

She fed him a bite of her dessert, "I didn't catch anything of that."

He nodded his head. "Right. Sorry. He is a scientist who wants to work at the lab that is being built. He's doing some research regarding the plague already. Interesting theory."

Rose smiled at his excitement. "Do you know him?"

He looked back at her seriously. "I know of him. His idea needs to have a close eye on it."

She fed him another bite of the dessert.

He looked at her curiously, "How did you know?"

She smiled at him. "We should dance some more."

He returned her smile. "So, we're not talking about it?"

"No. Not at the moment."

He nodded his head. "Okay. A discussion for later, then."

"You said a ship had been purchased."

He grabbed a fork and ate some of her dessert with her. "Yes."

She smiled, "Can I ask….?"

"Tuwo Wenck thought we needed a bigger ship. He had worked that into the deal for me to accept his offer. I told him I was happy with the one we have currently. But, I wanted a second one for this purpose. He didn't question it."

She smiled proudly at him. "The Negotiator."

He chuckled. "It's hardly a negotiation when someone agrees to something so easily. I probably could have asked for a fleet."

"Now you have something to aspire to."

He nodded. "Indeed."

Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Lots of laughter surrounded the room. There wasn't one person with a tear in their eye.

The orchestra had picked up the tempo of the music they played. Many people were dancing. The Doctor loosened his tie and finished drinking his wine.

Rose looked over at him and put her hand on his thigh. He didn't look back at her. He seemed to looking around the room.

She teased him. "There are no bow ties. I've been looking for you."

He rolled his eyes and looked back at her. "Thank you, but that's not what I was looking for. Has Tony disappeared again?"

She giggled, "It would appear so."

He sighed, "I hope he knows what he is doing. How's your feet? In heels?"

"This dress demanded them. Don't start."

He rubbed his face and looked her up and down again as they sat. "Oh, I'm not. You are stunning."

She sat down her wine glass. "Still can't kiss me."

He groaned and crossed his arms. "This is intolerable."

She smiled and rubbed his thigh.

"That's not helping at all." He complained.

"Shall I stop?" She teased him.

"No." He looked back at her as his face broke into a smile.

She teased him, "I've not forgotten my promise."

He closed his eyes and exhaled. He looked her up and down again. "Oh wow."

His bracelet lit up. He looked at it and groaned.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked.

He stood up and took her hand. "Oh, nothing. My phone finally went dead. I didn't charge it. Let's dance some more."

She smiled and took his hand.

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She was dancing again with the Doctor to a slow song the orchestra played. His tie hung loosely around his neck. Her head swam from the wine they had been drinking that night. She could feel how absentminded he was. He held her close as they swayed to the music.

"This is the strangest thing I've ever seen in my life." She told him quietly.

He looked around and then looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"This is a funeral."

"This is a Feast of the Fallen. The mourning period was from the moment we found them, until the Feast began. It's the way their culture is. They would find people crying and cut flowers very odd."

Rose held him as they continued to dance. "I'm so glad I have you to walk me through this stuff."

"A lot of cultures find this odd. But, everyone knows it will be a hell of a party."

Jack walked over to them. "May I cut in? Lance needs to see you about something Primus Sir."

He smiled at her. "Is that alright, Rose?"

She smiled back at him. "Of course. I had already promised Jack a dance, anyway."

He pat Jack on the back. "Take care of her."

"You bet." Jack told him as they started to dance.

The Doctor walked over to Lance who stood with Summus and Poltious. Legate stood with them. "Hey, what's up?"

Lance glanced back at Rose. "Now would be an excellent time to throw up those shields. Rose doesn't need to know this."

The Doctor held his head in his hands. It swam from the wine. "Alright. What's going on?"

Legate put his hands on his hips. "Tony is missing. We've looked everywhere."

The Doctor waved his hand. "He's with that brunette. You saw how they were looking at one another."

Legate shook his head. "No. Not that Tony. Little Tony. Tony Tyler is missing."

The Doctor's stomach sank. "Alright. I'm sober. Fill me in."

All of the men quickly left the room together. Legate informed him. "The children were all in the playroom together. I was there keeping an eye out with them. I looked up, and he was just…gone."

"Could someone have transported him out?"

Legate shook his head. "No. The room is protected by signal scramblers."

The Doctor sighed, "His sister is like this. She's bad to wander off."

Summus reminded him, "You have a GPS in his arm. You can find him."

"My damn phone is dead. I'll have to take it to the ship to charge it."

"We could track him with the ship's sensors. GPS is a basic thing." Poltious pointed out.

The Doctor nodded his head. "Right. That would work. Get Timon on that."

Lance agreed. "He's powering up the ship now. He'll need his numbers."

Logan joined them in the hallway. "Everything alright?"

Legate looked back at his friend. "Has it been noticed that we are gone?"

"Just by me. Why aren't you with the children?"

The Doctor continued, "Right. Lance. Go find Stark. Tell him I need him to help with the search. If he's managed to get outside of the castle, his suit will be extremely helpful."

Lance ran off. "I'll get him."

The Doctor sighed. "This is very 'Tyler.' Rose used to do this to me all of the time."

Summus mumbled, "Rose wasn't six years old."

"Are the rest of the children secure?"

Legate nodded his head. "Yes. They don't know anything is going on. The Royal Guard have been searching, but haven't turned up anything."

"How long has he been missing?"

Legate closed his eyes and sighed, "Two hours."

The Doctor exploded. "Two hours! He's a toddler! Do you have any idea where he could have wandered off to in two hours!?"

Legate nodded his head. "You're right. I should have told you before. This is my fault. I take full respon-"

"Fuck, let's just find him. We'll sort you out later." He pointed at Logan. "You go back to the Queen so our absence isn't noticed."

Logan shook his head. "She's talking to a line of royalty and will be for a while. I'm more use to you here. Tony Tyler is missing. Is that it?"

They all walked together to a place where the Doctor knew he could transport them to the ship. He took out the remote trigger and they all disappeared.

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Lance walked quickly down the hallway. He spotted Talus talking to three handmaidens. "Talus. Have you seen Tony?"

Talus pointed, "That Tony there, or the shorter version?"

Lance turned around and spotted Tony walking towards him with his arm around Ress. They were both laughing.

"Cheers, Talus."

Talus shook his head. "It's what I do. Easiest request all night."

"Tony!" Lance called as he ran over to meet him.

Tony looked up at him. "What's up? Insisting on the card game? No means no, man."

Lance shook his head. "John asked me to find you. He needs your help."

Tony looked back at Ress. "I'm sorry. You'll have to excuse me. I'll try to see you later tonight."

Ress nodded her head as Tony walked away with Lance. "What's going on?"

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