Telk watched the sleeping stranger. Little enough news from the outside filtered into the pit, but the arrival of the two newcomers was unusual enough to have the prison guards whispering. Before long, every prisoner, from highest to lowest rank knew of the outsiders and their attempted escape. When the guards had brought the stranger in, there was an almost reverent silence from the prisoners, no one had ever come so close to escaping from Malik. Telk did what he could for the stranger's head injury, but without clean water and bandages he held little hope that the wound would not become infected.
Two hours had passed since the stranger's arrival. Telk was reluctant to wake him, he had hoped the man would come around on his own. But Malik would be coming to inspect them soon, and the guards would not tolerate a sleeping prisoner then. He gently shook the stranger's shoulders. The man groaned softly but would not waken. Telk shook him once more, this time a little more forcefully.
"No..." the Doctor murmured "leave me you stupid girl... get away from here" then his eyes snapped open "Alison!" he shouted.
"Shhhh" Telk put a trembling webbed hand to the Doctor's mouth "no noise" he whispered. He waved a hand in the direction of two guards standing at the mouth of the cave.
"Where am I?" the Doctor groaned. He looked around the dimly lit area, seven other prisoners sat on a damp cave floor, most with their eyes downcast, but a few gazing at him with interest. He pressed his hand to the back of his head. "I was hit..." he pulled back his hand to find small flakes of dried blood on his fingertips "but Alison... did she get away?"
Telk bowed his head "The guards spoke of this, she also was struck" he said softly "they left her on the open plane."
A look of shock registered on the Doctor's features "How long?"
"Two hours."
"I've got to find her." he started to stand, only to hear the dull clinking of iron on his ankles. He looked down to find himself chained to Telk.
"It's no use trying to break them," Telk insisted "and Malik will be coming soon."
"More than likely to renegotiate our contract" the Doctor said bitterly.
"Stand!" one of the guards shouted. Reluctantly each prisoner began to rise. One by one they shuffled their way to the cave entrance, the guards close behind them. They moved into a huge open cavern. In the distance the Doctor could see other openings in the earthen walls through which prisoners were being ushered. The entire area was a complex of tunnels, some natural, made smooth by centuries of erosion, others roughly carved from the surrounding walls. The prisoners were marched out into the center of the main cavern. Then from one of the dimly lit tunnels Malik emerged followed by Stron. The Doctor felt a sharp shove between his shoulder blades as the guard behind him knocked him to his knees. A second guard placed a heavy hand on the Doctor's shoulder, holding him firmly as Malik approached.
"So Doctor, how are you enjoying the pit?"
The Doctor smiled "I can truly say that this is the worst holiday I've ever been on. I tried complaining about the conditions to the concierge, but he just can't be bothered to do anything about it."
Malik laughed heartily. He leaned forward, placing a hand on the Doctor's free shoulder, then landed a fierce blow to his stomach.
"I'm not even going to question you today" said Malik as he straightened once more "Do you know why?"
"I have a feeling you're going to tell me" the Doctor gasped as he regained his breath.
"Because your friend is out there right now... freezing to death in the wasteland and I want your thoughts to be on her tonight" Malik shrugged "and then perhaps after a couple of days here" he looked around at the crushing darkness of the caverns "you may feel like talking to me."
"He'll tell you nothing" said Stron "I know his kind, we should kill him now."
Malik turned on Stron "I have broken a Toroth prince," he snarled "this one should hardly prove a challenge."
"So you'll let him live" Stron said calmly "just as you plan to let the Toroth live, and all for the sake of this technology. We have a weapon that..."
"I have a weapon," Malik interupted "and I will use it as I please, you would do well to remember that." He looked around the cavern but his eyes were unfocused, his mind in some far away place. "In the end we will bring the Toroth to their knees," he said softly "they will serve us."
"But why share the city at all" said Stron "when we could take it for ourselves."
"Are you questioning my judgment in this matter?" Malik asked pointedly.
Stron grew quiet, his lips hardening into a tight grimace "No sir."
Malik smiled "I thought not." He looked Stron up and down appraisingly "You talents have served me well Stron, but there are many who would have your place... remember that." He turned from Stron and headed out one of the cavern openings.
"The way he talks to you" said the Doctor weakly "I don't know how you put up with it."
Stron's head turned sharply toward the Doctor, for a moment he looked as though he would strike him down. Then he smiled "Malik will fulfill his purpose" he said "just as I will fulfill mine."
"After this weapon of his is used I suppose."
Stron's eyes narrowed. "That's enough!" Stron shouted. "Take him back to the cave," he turned to call out to the rest of the guards "Take them all back!"
Immediately the prisoners were herded back to their cells. The guard holding the Doctor's shoulder hoisted him to his feet and he too was paraded through the cavern.
"Oh and Doctor," said Stron. The guard holding him stopped so that Stron could speak to him, but the Doctor didn't turn to face him. "I wouldn't worry too much about the girl," he paused to let his words sink in "many things live in the wasteland. If she survived the blow, she wont have long to feel the cold."
Alison awoke to the sound of a howling wind. She opened her eyes. The light was nearly gone. One of her arms lay draped on the ground in front of her face, and though she could see the wind moving the hairs on her skin, she couldn't feel it. She moved her fingers in the dust. They obeyed slowly as if made of hardening clay.
"Doctor" she whispered, but her lips could hardly form the word. She pressed her hands into the ground to push herself up and a wave of dizziness swept over her. Her eyes closed again.
She analyzed the situation in her mind. She knew she had to get moving soon, to raise her body temperature. Getting started would be the problem, she'd been unconscious too long. If she could just get moving she might be able to make her way to the Tardis. Then, with the Master's help, she could start searching for the Doctor. With determination she tried to push herself up once more. Then a shadow flickered over her face. She opened her eyes, but there was no one standing above her. She strained her eyes to look upward. Far above her, circling in the sky, was a large black bird. It's shadow fell over her again as it made a descending curve.
"I'm not dead yet!" Alison spat into the cold ground.
With added conviction she pushed herself upward and rolled stiffly unto her back. The bird continued to circle ever closer, but as it approached it seemed to grow larger. Finally it dropped down beside her, and stood over her an imposing six feet.
"Hallucinating" muttered Alison "must be..."
The bird took a tentative step toward her. It tipped it's head inquisitively. A toughened ridge of skin encircled each of it's piercing yellow eyes.
"My father has sent me for you." it said, and Alison closed her eyes once more.