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Chapter 34 - Vesuos Attack

The Doctor walked back through the control room where Tony Tyler and Pete sat. He pat Pete's shoulder. Pete stood up and gave him the seat.

"I'm going to stretch my legs." Pete said as walked away.

The Doctor sat down in Pete's seat and clicked a few buttons. "So, they are following us."

Tony nodded, "I believe they are. Timon had me turn a few degrees and they matched it."

He groaned. "Vesuos, most likely." He looked back at Tony just in time to catch him take a deep breath. "You alright?"

Tony shook his head. "I'm fine, John."

The Doctor knew he was thinking about the time before when they were taken by the Vesuos. He was frightened, but trying not to show it. After all, for Tony, that had only been a week ago.

The Doctor clicked a few buttons, "Yes. Timon agrees that we're being followed. They are tracking us on the ship there. I'm not certain what sort of ship that is behind us, though."

"If it's a Vesuos, they will want Soli."

"Yeah, but how would they know he's with us?" He looked at Tony's face. "We've purposely not used any communications to keep them from knowing he's….damn it. I think I know." He leaned back in the doorway, "Soli. Come here a bit."

A ding displayed a message in front of Tony. "Timon feels they will attack at this location."

The Doctor looked over at the screen. "Makes sense. We'll be ready for them."

"Or, we could just ….divert the course…"

"At this point, we can't divert away from them. And, if we want answers, we have to have someone to ask."

Tony groaned. "I don't like it."

The Doctor turned his head again and shouted, "So-!"

Soli appeared in the doorway laughing at the Doctor. "I'm just here."

The Doctor turned his chair around. Using his screwdriver, he scanned the little boy.

"What are you looking for, John?" Soli asked.

"A tracker. That's the only explanation." The Doctor told him.

Soli looked confused. "What is that?"

"It would be very small." Tony told him. "A bit of something under your skin that tells people where you are."

"Yeah, but you have to have the number of it in order to search for it. It wouldn't have worked through the dome on the island." The Doctor added.

Soli rubbed the top of his ear. "Could it be here?"

The Doctor scanned Soli's ear. Sure enough, there just under the skin, was a tiny tracker. The Doctor groaned. "That's how they know where he is."

Soli looked frightened. "I'm sorry, John. I didn't know that's what it was-"

The Doctor took Soli's hand. "It's alright. We're going to fix this. I won't let them take you."

Soli's frightened face nodded just as Rose walked up behind him. She had gotten dressed into a pair of jeans and a jumper. She put her hands on Soli's shoulders. "And I finally found my jeans."

The Doctor looked up at her. "Good, I need you to help me find a knife."

"A knife?" Rose asked in shock.

Tony shook his head. "You're not going to cut that out of his-"

The Doctor pointed forcefully at Tony to hush him. "Jarvis. Is there a suit onboard?"

Jarvis replied. "Yes, Doctor Smith. It is currently in the cargo hold. Shall I warm it up for you?"

"Yes! Oh, good. That's a relief."

Rose looked down at Soli's frightened face. He was trying hard not to cry, but tears still ran down his cheeks. "What is going on?"

The Doctor started to walk out of the door. "I need a knife, or something sharp. Stay right here, and I'll be back."

Rose sat down in the chair the Doctor just got out of. Soli turned to her and she saw his face. She wrapped her arms around him. "Soli. It's alright."

Soli started to cry. He was so frightened. Tony looked back at the little boy, "John found a tracker in his ear. He's going to cut it out."

"The hell he is!" Rose insisted.

Tony pointed at the screen next to him. "We have someone following us. We feel they are coming for Soli."

Rose pulled Soli into her lap and held the sobbing little boy tighter in her arms. She understood why the Doctor wanted to cut it out of the child's ear, but couldn't imagine him doing it. Not to this little boy who had already been through so much.

"I will not let him do that, Soli." Rose whispered to the little boy.

Tony sighed, "It needs to get out of his ear-"

"There's other ways!"

"He would put him to sleep."

Rose shook her head and held Soli tighter. "I will not allow it. Absolutely not!"

Soli turned and held onto Rose's neck tightly as he continued to sob.

Tony looked back at her. "You know, back home….you would be able to do that."

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen you do it. Just….imagine that it's in your hands, and it appears. It's the damnest thing."

Rose kissed Soli's head. "Show me where it is, Soli."

He whimpered as he touched the top of his ear.

Rose rolled the top of his ear through her fingertips.

Soli pleaded, "Please, don't hurt me."

Tony reached over pat the little boy's shoulder. "Shhh…..Soli. Rose won't hurt you. Not ever."

Rose felt a small piece of metal in her hands. She looked at it in shock. "Is this it?"

Tony held out his hand and smiled. "John! Rose took it out!"

Soli quickly grabbed his ear. It was as if nothing had ever been there. "How did you do that?"

She smiled at him. "I told you, I wouldn't hurt you."

The little boy's eyes became huge as he looked at Rose. He whispered, "Is it magic?"

Tony laughed under his breath. "Amazing magic, Soli."

Rose smiled back at her little brother. "Thanks, Tony."

"Everyone needs encouragement from time to time."

The Doctor came back into the control room. Tony handed him the tracker. "And one tracker."

"How did you do this?"

Tony pointed at Rose. "Rose took it out."

"And it didn't hurt!" Soli smiled at him.

The Doctor looked impressed and knelt down in front of Soli. "Brilliant! Soli, let me see your bracelet."

"What? Why?" Soli asked as he held his wrist out.

The Doctor shook his head. "It's really alright. I'm going to make mine think it's yours."

Rose watched as he clicked a few things on his own bracelet. Satisfied, he bopped Soli on the end of the nose with his finger. "And now anyone tracking you, thinks I am you."

Soli shook his head. "But, that's not safe-"

The Doctor shook his head. "Don't worry about me. Imagine their surprise! Skinny lad, turned into a skinny man!"

Soli smiled. "Primus John-"

He continued to kneel in front of the little boy. "That's right. I'm Primus. Your Primus, smallest Quauthin Warrior."

Soli looked at his face. "What do you need me to do?"

"Would you please go tell Chiron to prepare the pod?"

"Of course!" The little boy agreed and ran off.

The Doctor held the tracker in his fist as he stood up and looked at Rose. "Rose. Things are going to get a bit, bumpy here. But, everything is going to be okay."

She looked frightened at him. "What do you mean, bumpy?"

Right on queue, the unmistakable sound of something hitting the hull of the ship was heard above their heads. Tony pressed a few buttons. "And we're being fired on. A bit before where Timon thought."

"Full stop. Send Timon our position." The Doctor told him. "Chiron!"

"Yes, Primus!" They heard his squeaky voice.

"Put Rose and Soli in the pod with you and Pete. Tony and I will remain."

Chiron yelled back, "Yes, sir!"

Rose wasn't happy about the situation at all. "A pod? An escape pod?"

Another blast bounced across the hull.

Rose shook her head. "You're mad if you think I'm leaving-"

The Doctor held both of her hands in his and pulled her just outside of the doorway. "Please. Don't do this right now. I need you to get in that pod and trust that everything will be alright."

"They are shooting at us!"

"They are shooting at me. You are leaving."

"There's another pod-"

"Not in a ship this small."

Tears filled her eyes. "How could you be alright?"

He lifted his eyebrows at her. "Rose. You're going to have to trust me. You've seen the future and you know I'm there-"

"Maybe because I drag your butt-"

The Doctor continued to look in her eyes. "Rose Tyler. I need you to stay with Soli, and take him back to Tony. Keep him calm. This is the only way."

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "There has to be another way."

He kissed her hand. "Go to the pod. Please do this for me. I promise, I won't ask you to do anything ever again-"

"Really doubt that!" Rose told him as she crossed her arms.

Tony stepped out of the Control Room and took Rose's hand. "I've got her, John. I know how to launch this pod. They are ringing you anyway."

Rose shook her fist at Tony. "Don't you even think about-"

She suddenly went limp. The Doctor took his hand off of her neck and shook his head. "And she's really going to be cross about that when she wakes up. Get her to the pod, Tony."

Rose was carried away by her brother before she even knew what had happened.

The Doctor stepped back into the Control Room and sighed as he looked over the screens. That last shot had disabled the craft. They were not going to be going anywhere….anytime soon. He took a deep breath and pressed a button on the screen. A dark haired, very pale man that he recognized immediately as the Vesuos him and Lewis had fought, appeared on the screen.

"And we meet again."

The Vesuos narrowed his eyes at him. "I've come for the boy."

"Yeah. About that. I want to know why."

"There is a grand price on him."

The Doctor looked impressed. "Oh, I see. Who's paying?"

"What do you care?"

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Just curious. I'd like to know where he's going. I'm rather fond of the kid."

"So, you have him?"

"Yeah. He's here."

"Your ship is disabled-"

"Yeah, I was just noticing that."

"Life support won't last much longer. It is better for you to send him to me so he can live."

"My thoughts, too. I'll send him right over to you. But, I want to know who is paying."

"It is a matter of silence."

"You're going to blow me up as soon as you have him, so what's the danger in telling me? I already know that the Florosi that stole the List from Torchwood ended up on Venniz-Beal."

The Vesuos looked impressed. "Where did you get that information?"

"Primus Lewis told me. So, who is on Venniz-Beal that wants a Khrele?"

"So, you can take him to sell yourself?"

The Doctor shook his head. "No. I'm not in the dealing of children. I find it…..repulsive."

The Vesuos grinned. "I find it profitable."

Tony came back into the Control Room and sat down next to the Doctor. He nodded his head and whispered, "Sorted."

The Doctor looked back at the screen, "You know what else you might find profitable?"

"What's that?"

"Shipping sweets. There is an unbelievable shortage of sweets on this side of the galaxy."

Tony laughed under his breath.

The Vesuos looked confused and turned to look at another Vesuos that was with him. The Doctor took the opportunity to mute the transmission and quickly ask Tony. "They are secure?"

Tony nodded, "What's the plan here?"

The Doctor smiled.

The Vesuos returned to the screen. "We're not sure what you're speaking about! Enough talk!"

Tony grabbed the Doctor's hand and looked at the screen in shock. The red line that showed it was muted, still appeared on the screen. "What is it? Is that-"

Tony became furious. "That's him. I know that voice."

"Enough talking!" The Vesuos pressed a button forcefully and moments later, they heard the sound of the ship taking fire again. "Send the boy to me!"

The Doctor sighed, "We can't talk about this-"

"NO! Talk is over! Send him now!"

"Well, I need some time to put him in a craft-"

"You have four minutes!" The Vesuos demanded and ended the transmission.

The Doctor turned to Tony. It was clear he was frightened and angry.

"That's who took you-"

Tony grit his teeth. "I know that voice, John. That's him. That's the…."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Tony. You're safe. It's not going to happen again. Alright?"

"Alright."

"Okay. Did the pod get off?" The Doctor asked.

Tony took a deep breath. "Yes. The cloak worked beautifully. Chiron is piloting it towards the path where we came-"

"Lewis has guys on an intercept course. They will have them shortly." He told them as he got out of the seat.

Tony looked up at him. The Doctor couldn't help but think of the child version of Tony Tyler as this young man looked up at him, "Please tell me you have an excellent plan-"

The Doctor smiled, "Oh, my little brother! Have I ever let you down?"

"Phhh….well…."

"Don't answer that! Make sure your bracelet it at its highest setting for the personal shielding." He yelled as he left the control room.

Tony sighed.

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Meanwhile, in the escape pod, Chiron pressed several buttons to pilot them back along the path they had taken. It was a tiny, circular pod with only one round window at the end.

Soli sat next to Pete, and Rose lay on the bench next to them. Pete held his daughter as she slept.

Pete Tyler pointed out of the window that Chiron was sitting behind, watching the planet move slowly by. "Now, how is it that we were able to detach from the ship and not be seen?"

Chiron grinned and answered in his squeaky voice. "There is a cloaking device on this pod. Highly unusual, but extremely effective."

Pete smiled and tossed Soli's hair. "I bet that's Poltious and Stark's work."

Soli smiled at Pete.

Chiron pointed at Soli. "Mr. Stark says to tell you to keep your bracelet on at the highest setting. He says, 'Don't get too sparky?' I'm not sure what he means."

Soli looked surprised. "You can speak to my Tony?"

Chiron nodded, "Primus Lewis is speaking to him. He's worried about you. They have sent someone to pick us up. We will connect with them shortly."

Soli smiled back at Pete. "He's coming to save us!"

"I think he likes you, kid." Pete told him.

"What else does he say?" Soli asked.

Chiron listened. "He says, 'Remember that you are brave. You might have to be very brave at this point. Space is vast and very frightening. But, I'll find you. We'll be together, very soon. You are safe.'"

Soli nodded, "Tell him that I am unhurt. I am safe. I will aid my brother Quauhtin to bring Pete and Rose home."

Chiron smiled proudly, "He says he is most proud of you."

Rose began to stir.

Pete held her as she sat up and looked around. "Sweetheart-"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As soon as she realized where she was, she threw her hands up, "I don't even believe that man!"

"What's wrong then, dear?" Pete asked.

She looked up at him. "He sent me away. Again! Why would he-"

"Darling, he's keeping you safe."

"But, what about him?! I told him to let me stay and he just….goes and does what he wants anyway! This is the exact, same thing…..ugh!" Rose knew she had to control her temper, but she was furious. How could he had done this to her?

Pete took her hand in his. "Sweetheart. It's-"

"Don't. Dad. Just. I really can't think about this right now." She insisted. "How long have we been gone?"

Pete shook his head. "Not very long."

She asked Chiron, "Can you take us back?"

Chiron shook his head. "I'm sorry. The controls are already on an intercept course with another ship."

Rose grit her teeth. "Damn it."

Pete didn't have to sense her emotions to know she was furious. "Okay." He told her and kissed her hand. "I'm your father, and if I need to help you….I don't know….kick John's ass. I'll do it."

Rose tried not to laugh at Pete's words. "Dad-"

"I mean it. He's made you cross. So, I'm cross. If I need to-"

"You don't." She laughed under her breath.

He sighed. "Damn. Well, he probably needs it."

Rose smiled and met Pete's eyes.

"He'll be alright, Rose."

Rose covered her mouth and willed the tears not to start. Pete quickly took her in his arms and held her tightly. He whispered in her ear. "Rose, he'll be alright. Shhh."

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The Doctor came back into the Control Room and sat beside of Tony Tyler. Tony had calmed down, and had moved the ship.

"That's a perfect angle to fire at them-" The Doctor noticed.

"Yeah. Well, they've fired on us-"

The Doctor pointed at Tony. "Ah! This has to be done…..carefully."

"Shit." Tony grumbled. "I've already plotted a shot….if…you."

The Doctor nodded. "I see that. Stand by."

Tony groaned. "Stand by."

The Doctor clicked a button and the Vesuos appeared on the screen. "You're time is up-"

"Primus John." The Doctor told him as he pressed a few buttons.

The Vesuos grinned. "A Primus. Brilliant. I'm about to shoot a Primus-"

"And his brother! Just so you know." The Doctor added.

"And his brother, out of the sky."

"Well, technically, we're not in a sky. This is just space. It's not even outer space. Just…inner space. Right, Tony?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, John."

The Doctor chuckled, "I have the boy and I'm sending him to you…..now."

The Vesuos grinned. "Good."

The Doctor nodded at Tony. "You can send your package, Tony."

Tony looked surprised, "Yeah?"

The Doctor leaned back and pressed a button behind him. "Oh yes." The door slid shut with a loud hiss and the room glowed in red lights.

Tony looked confused as he pressed the fire button. Nothing happened that he could see. "Okay. What are you-"

The Vesuos on the screen became very happy. "Ah, yes. I see it."

The Doctor nodded. "Yes. He's on his way to you. Skinny kid. You can read the pod and see it's him in there."

Tony saw Tony Stark's suit floating slowly in front of them up to the Vesuos ship. The Doctor ended the transmission.

"You put the tracker in the suit?" Tony asked.

The Doctor winked at him. "Jarvis. Launch the suit and blow it."

Jarvis replied. "Yes, sir."

The suit came to life outside and flew towards the Vesuos' ship. They collided and exploded in a brilliant ball of fire and white light.

Immediately a beeping sound began in the Control Room.

"We're too close to it." Tony told the Doctor. Just as he said that, a large piece of the ship crashed into theirs. The sound of metal coming apart behind the door was loud. The ship shook violently.

The Doctor saw the monitor show that the ship they were in was now in two pieces. "This isn't going to stay together long."

"Will the Control Room stay together?" Tony asked.

"Let me see your bracelet." The Doctor insisted. Tony put his wrist in the Doctor's hand as he quickly typed something on the display that appeared on Tony's arm. Tony could hear the sound of the metal bending and coming apart behind the door. Alarms were sounding everywhere. The ship was coming apart. Smoke was beginning to come through the crack that had appeared in the door.

Then suddenly, Tony felt himself began to fade away. He quickly looked up and saw that he was being transported. He quickly grabbed the Doctor's shoulder as the interior of another ship came into view. It was dark inside of that one, with a blue light illuminating it.

Then a familiar voice laughed. "Well, hell it is Tony Tyler! You haven't changed a bit. Well, maybe gotten a bit taller."

Tony looked up and saw Legate at the controls. He exhaled in relief and lay back on the floor where had been transported. "Damn it, Legate. Can you leave shit to the last minute next time?"

Legate nodded, "And he still swears. Good to know."

The Doctor laughed, pat Tony's leg and got up to sit next to Legate at the controls. "So good to see you, Legate. I owe you one!"

"Ah, we're not going to start keeping score, John. I've been warned about that." Legate teased.

Tony still hadn't recovered from his near death experience. He lay on the floor and groaned. "John. I'm going to need a minute."

The Doctor grinned, "Take a few, brother. Are we cloaked, Legate?"

Legate smiled, "Yep! But, there's nothing left of the other ship. He was able to get a transmission off just as you sent Tony's suit to him."

The Doctor looked at the screen and smiled. "He transmitted he had Soli. And now the buyer thinks Soli has died. Brilliant."

Legate pointed at the screen. "I'll have a trace where that went in just a bit. It has to arrive first."

The Doctor laughed, "Oh, I love it when a plan comes together!"

Legate grinned as he pressed a few buttons and returned them to light speed. "Feeling better yet, Tony?"

Tony sat up. "How the hell can you trace a transmission? Are you just….sitting out here waiting for us to fire?"

Legate looked back at Tony Tyler and smiled. "Isn't that what a pirate does? Legate told me you lot are still on about that."

Tony sat up and leaned on his hands. "What else did he tell you?"

Legate laughed under his breath. "Classified information, mate. Wow, is all I can say. I never saw that coming."

The Doctor smiled, "How is Genie? Is he still keeping an eye on her?"

Legate looked back at the Doctor and bit his lip. "Yes, well….the older version. He says she's sleeping peacefully. Her temperature feels normal."

"Oh." The Doctor looked relieved. "He must be right there with her then. Good man."

Legate nodded his head. "Yep. He's just there. He says that Sam put a portable bio reader on her-"

The Doctor looked impressed and pulled out his phone. "Oh. I can see her vitals-"

"But, she took it off." Legate told him.

"Ugh. Why the hell did she do that?" The Doctor complained.

Legate smiled, "Ummm…. hang on, he's telling me. Right, he said it was annoying her skin."

The Doctor groaned and put his phone back in his pocket. "Damn, kids. Probably was. I hate to wear them myself. Did they go back to the island?"

"They are both on your ship. Lewis is meeting us."

"How long until then?"

"Well that storm will force us around. I could take you lot to Plentitude instead. That's what Lewis is suggesting. You would be there faster than we could get to him."

The Doctor sighed. "Yeah, let's do that. Lewis is sending guys out to get Rose. I can be finished on Plentitude and they can pick us up."

"How far is that?" Tony asked.

"I'll have you there in a little over an hour." Legate clicked some more buttons and the ship made a fast loop to turn around.

The Doctor nodded his head. "Perfect. Cheers, Legate."

"Don't mention it. Lucky I was on my way home. Legate the First-"

Tony laughed, "Legate the First? We've got to come up with something better than that."

The Doctor crossed his arms and sat back in the chair. "Old Legate? Young Legate?"

Legate laughed, "No way."

"Le? And Gate?" Tony suggested.

The Doctor laughed as Legate shook his head. "That's worse!"

Tony lay back on the floor and rubbed his face. "What a day…"

Legate looked curiously at the Doctor. "Both Genie's are ill?"

"Yes. Well, the younger version has a cold. But, the older version is recovering from Sluyahiri."

"You don't recover from that. You always have it." Legate told him.

"That's why Legate the Second is watching her so closely."

Legate chuckled. "So, I'm the first. I'm beginning to warm up to that."

"Sounds, rather….royal."

"Phhhh….." Legate rolled his eyes.

Tony snapped his fingers and rose up. "I've got it! Tattoo'ed Legate and Legate!"

Legate sighed, "You told him about that?"

The Doctor laughed, "I didn't mention it!"

"The other Legate has a tattoo on his wrist." Tony told him.

"Oh." Legate nodded. "Huh. Oh, he says of a lighthouse. Oh, to hide a cell key. Interesting. A cell key? That's pretty cool."

The Doctor rolled his eyes, sat back and closed his eyes. "You damn pirates. Yes, he has a cell key."

Legate looked impressed. "Hell yeah! I've only just heard about one of those yesterday. I totally need one!"

The Doctor didn't open his eyes and shook his head. "Like you need a hole in the head-"

"John! Seriously! Poltious and I have been talking about it-"

Tony laughed, "Both of the pirates."

Legate laughed. "Oh yes. I can think of at least…..seven times when I would have used one."

Tony pointed at his friend. "I know, personally, of about ten times. Just, us together."

Legate turned in the chair and laughed at Tony. "Oh, I bet you do. Maybe you should get one!"

"Huh. I haven't thought about it."

"I know of a guy on Plentitude, that probably has them."

Tony nodded his head. "I'm in. Sure! John?"

The Doctor didn't move. He had fallen asleep where he sat.

Tony shook his head. "Just like Sammy. Geez."

Legate pressed a button in the indention of the wall and a two small cups of blue liquid appeared. He handed one to Tony.

"John's sleeping to avoid the misses." Legate told Tony quietly.

Tony sipped the blue liquid and coughed. "Rose awake already?"

"What did he do?"

Tony groaned, "Pushed her into a sleep so she would get into the pod."

"Ohh…..yeah. Chiron says she is….proper cross." Legate told him.

Tony chuckled and sipped his drink. "It's amazing."

"What's that?" Legate asked as he put his empty glass back on the indention in the wall.

"Everyone is….exactly the same. Different time. Different place. Same sort of stuff happening."

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