A.N: Two reviews off 100, peeps!
Thanks go to: Joshwales (I think I might have mention that this is Post- PoTW earlier on…), Laseri (Right… To justify myself… John is the King's confidant, so thus friendly. Hope this chap pleases!), James Jago, werewolflemming, eeveekitty85 (Enjoy your something yummy!), Freak and Proud (My reason for choosing that name is not just coz it sounds cool, but if I tell you now, I be throwing away huge bits of plot-yes, I have a plot! And no, I'm a true blue Aussie mutt :oP.), Dory Shotgun (Good Luck!), AmyAmidala (Right, Doc regenerating is in the works (Third or fourth story in the series… Haven't really decided yet, but an idea came to me in the shower one morning when I was looking for the conditioner… Never found the conditioner, though… Scotts is the school that all four will be attending at the end of the summer. As Anita's parents are…conservative-i.e: Stuck up, there needs to be a reason behind the scholarship the Doc's giving her. Now as she has access to a Time Machine, History is obviously a logical choice, as what's a better way to study than first hand experience :oP?) And Kazzy.
This chappie is dedicated to the wonderful kindy class I was with for work experience, Coz I already miss you all!
May the Faucet Be With You!
Thought of the week: Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of the fire.
The Greatest Summer of All Time, Chapter 13.
Explosive.
By Starlite1
"What's with the pants?" Adrian demanded as Josie and Anita waltzed into the Control room dressed as pages.
Josie grinned, and Anita replied, "More comfortable. Not to mention that there's currently a hunt for a girl. Anyway, have you ever tried to fight in skirts?"
"What do you-?" Senka began, only to receive an annoyed poke in the ribs from Adrian.
"Well, at least we'll never have to know. About the skirts that is." He covered.
"Are we ready?" Lucy interjected, coming up behind her son, "After all, we have less than two hours to sundown, and it would be ill advised for us to be out after that time."
"Is Uncle Jack coming?" Josie asked.
"I hope so." Lucy replied, errantly straightening her son's shirt and flattening his hair, much to his displeasure, as she quickly added on, "Our trunks are rather heavy, and I'm unsure if we would be able to manage them alone."
"Did someone mention my name?" Jack asked suavely from behind her ear.
She rolled her eyes, turning around to pat him on the cheek, "Nice try, flyboy. Worthless, but nice."
Jack clutched his chest, "My poor wounded pride."
"Ah well, you can work it out by lifting our trunks." She parried, "Now, are we ready to-"
The great roaring of the time rotor interrupted her, as their world pitched heavily starboard.
IOIOIOI
The metallic taste of blood filled Edward's mouth as the world slowly swam into focus around him. Wincing slightly, he tried to clamber to his knees. Feeling a huge wave of nausea washing over him, he groaned, feeling the bile swelling up from his stomach. Weakly he rolled onto his back, inhaling deeply in an attempt to push back the queasiness in the pit of his stomach, and cursing himself for finding himself in this situation.
Eventually the world returned to normal, and the ground resumed its usual place. Muttering curses to whomever had done this to him, he surveyed his accommodation. The six by eight-foot cell was a far cry from his usual accommodation. Through the barred door, the flickering light of one of the pitch torches flittered through, barely enough illumination to make out his hand in front of his face, but hopefully enough to work by. Reaching into his shoe, he extracted a piece of wire from underneath the sole, and turned his attentions to the door.
IOIOIOIOIOI
"Hang on!" Jack called out to the rest of the party as he watched the ebb and flow of the temporal vortex. It was as though they were riding an enraged buffalo at the world championships, as they tried to keep their balance against the bucking floor. Grasping onto anything anchored down, they rode through the waves, gritting their teeth. There came one final shock, and silence.
"So where are we?" Josie finally grumbled whilst trying to dislodge the elbow in her stomach.
"No idea." Jack groaned from beneath Lucy.
Lucy inclined her head to him, "Do you want me to move?"
"As much as I wish I could say no, I'm loosing feeling in my legs." Jack replied sheepishly.
She shrugged, and proceeded to clamber herself once more into an upright position.
"Sure you couldn't have avoided the extra jab?" he griped, shooting her a glare.
"More importantly than that, where are we?" Josie interjected.
"No clue."
Adrian said, "We may as well find out. After all, there's no point sitting here on our
butts when we could be finding out."
Jack looked at him, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"It's either that or sit here and wait for something bad to happen."
"And what makes you think something bad will happen? Why go out?"
"Isn't it better to find danger than to be a sitting duck?" Adrian challenged.
His uncle blinked, "Good point. But be it on your own head if you end up with post-regenerative stress syndrome!"
"I'll take your word for it."
Quickly Jack glanced at the console, "Don't worry, at least the atmosphere out there is breathable. Also looks like we're only a few hours ahead of when we were before. Only thing I can't tell you is the where."
"Thanks for the head's up, Uncle Jack!" Josie said cheerfully.
With that, the entourage headed towards the doors, and out into the golden light in a small enclave. Off to the side ran a passage along the side of a battlement.
Jack quirked an eyebrow, "Well at least the sky's pretty."
"Should we take a look around?" Lucy inquired.
"Might be a good idea." Anita replied, glancing around.
With a nod Jack said, "All right, Just let me lock up. Last thing we need is some kind of evil hitchhiker. We've had way too many of them…. We'll have to tell you some of those stories one of these days…"
Key securely pocketed, they cautiously advanced along the side of the imposing fortification, diminutive against the imposing structure looming above them. Gravel crunched beneath their feet, the uneven surface causing them to stumble as they trod onward.
Several minutes passed, without the consanguinity encountering another living creature. Deep shadows enveloped the passageway as the last dying rays of the sun fell away. A palpable tension built in the air as they continued on their way.
"I would've thought we'd have met someone by now…" Jack commented idly.
"HALT!" A voice shouted from behind them.
Lucy glared at Jack, "You just had to say something didn't you?"
Jack threw her his trademark flyboy grin, "Yep." He replied, grabbing her hand, "RUN!"
IOIOIOIOI
Rose was trying to repair the damage their sudden movement had caused to the coat of nail lacquer she had been in the middle of applying, with little success. Her mind kept straying to the children, and what had become of them.
Frustration finally overcame her, and regardless of the streak of pearly polish covering her hand, she stood from the sofa, and went off in search of her husband.
The TARDIS warped the corridors for her, and she soon found herself standing outside the Control room. As usual, his feet were hanging out from beneath the metal grilling, a jumbled menagerie of tools beside him, and the occasional muffled curse emanating from the tangled circuitry.
Sitting down beside his feet, she idly picked up a spanner-like object, languidly fingering the object as she listened to the sounds that filled the control room.
"Could you please pass me that, Rose?" came her husband's muffled voice.
Not even questioning how he knew she was there, she mutely handed him the object, returning to her half-hearted musings.
Another curse, a few raps and a triumphant exclamation later, he emerged, wiping off his greasy hands.
"You all right?" He asked, pulling himself up to sit across from her.
She shrugged, "Just wondering if they're all right."
"Jack's an adult." The Doctor reasoned, "And Lucy can keep him in line regardless."
"I just wish there was something we could do…" she mumbled.
Pausing slightly, he delved into the depths of his jacket, pulling out a sightly rumpled piece of paper, "It's from the TARDIS."
It simply said:
They have to do it alone.
Rose nodded, her shoulders slumping. The Doctor looked over at her, his face crumpled in concentration. He quickly heaved himself up, moving to one of the control panels, muttering to himself, "Not that one… You know the one I'm after…"
She looked at him in confusion, until the first notes of a piano came through the speakers.
He turned to her, "My dearest wife, May I have this dance?"
A brilliant smile broke over her face, as she took the proffered hand, "I'd be honoured."
He pulled her gently into his embrace, and she contentedly melted into the familiar embrace of her husband. The mellow voice of Billie Holiday echoed through the room, as she began to sing:
You must remember this,
A kiss is just a kiss,
A sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamentals still apply
As time goes by…
Together the swayed, their bodies melding seamlessly as the melody wound around their hearts, The dance one that was only theirs and spanned all of eternity…
And when two lovers woo
They still say I love you
On that you can rely
As time goes by…
Gently he dipped her over his leg, softly kissing her lips, loving how her eyes shone brightly even in the dim light of the Control room.
It's still the same old story,
A fight for love and Glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers,
As Time goes by…
As Time goes by…
As the last notes fell away, Jackie smiled from the door, as her son-in law enfolded her daughter in his arms, watching as something indescribable passed between them.
"We'll all be right, won't we?"
He placed a kiss on her forehead, "I hope so."
IOIOIOIOI
"GET YOUR SLIMY HANDS OFF ME!" Josie screamed, kicking at the two guards escorting her. Valiantly she struggled against them, all to no avail. The pair manhandled her into a dinghy cell, throwing her down on the rancid straw covering the ground.
"LET ME OUT!" She shouted at their retreating figure, all to no avail, "Damnit." She muttered, turning around to survey the room she was in.
Her eyes fell upon the man leaning against the wall, "You won't find a way out. I've been trying for at least three hours. It won't budge."
"It's something to do, at least." She grumbled, turning her attentions to the door again.
The man looked at her, "There are more productive things to do."
"Such as…" She began in agitation.
He shrugged, "You could just talk to me."
"Seriously? You certain you've tried everything?" She demanded suspiciously.
He looked straight at her through the gloom, "Indeed. I am a personage of action. I strongly dislike remaining stationary."
She smiled grimly, "I know the feeling."
"Perchance might I know your name, sir?" He asked curiously.
Josie laughed, "I'm no man. My name is Josephine Tyler, although most people call me Josie."
His eyes widened, "A lady dressed as a man?"
"Better than being killed." She replied, slumping down to the ground, "Sorry, But I don't know your name, sir."
"I am Edward the Second." He stated, standing slightly taller.
Josie quirked an eyebrow, "As in the King of England."
"I see my reputation precedes me." He chuckled.
Josie blushed furiously, " I suppose I should bow or curtsy or something…"
He waved a hand airily, "Nonsense. There's barely enough room in here as it is."
"If you say so." She replied, lapsing into silence.
Edward glanced across at her, "So…why are you here?"
Shrugging, she replied, "Just a bunch of evil creatures with bad breath on my tail. You?"
"My paternal Uncle is trying to reft the throne from me." He said nonchalantly, "Or at least as best as I can gather. He has been my Regent since my father…died."
"Ouch." she winced, "So you're not in collaboration with any eight limbed demon-looking creatures?"
He gawked at her, "Only a simpleton would dare conspire with such a Draconian devil as you describe!"
"Well, that puts you off the list…" Josie muttered, "But puts Regent…"
"Mortimer." He supplied helpfully.
"Thanks, Puts Regent Mortimer at the top." She concluded.
"What brings you to make such a conclusion?" He inquired.
She sighed, "My friend's keep was attacked in the very early hours of this morning. Before they struck, they demanded surrender of the Tempest, whatever that is, in the name of the king."
He paused mindfully, "I have heard stories of the Tempest among the villagers, always spoken of in speculative whispers… However I give you my word that I would never seek to do harm to my own people, especially without grounds upon which to do so." He cursed under his breath,
Josie folded her arms across her chest, "So…Basically, we have to save England from total chaos, usurp the throne from a deranged uncle, get rid of an army of –what was the term you used? - Draconian devils? - And get through it alive?"
"It certainty sounds as good a plan as any. Yet I detect one flaw…" he began.
"And that would be?"
He grinned, "We need to be out of here to do it.?"
IOIOIOIOI
Cotton candy filled Adrian's head as the dim moonlight filtered through his eyelids. Dazedly, he pushed back the stuffed feeling in his head, opening his eyes to reveal a small cell. He winced as he sat up, the world reeling around him.
"Great…" He muttered, "Forty eight hours and I'm already in gaol!"
"You're awake!" Senka murmured from the other side of the room, relief spreading over his face, as he quickly glanced down to the figure layed across his lap.
"Not that I wanted to take a nap…" Adrian began, noticing the limp form. His face went ashen, "Anita…" In an instant he was next to them, grasping her hand and feeling for a pulse.
Senka sighed, "She's been out since we were thrown in here. I've done what I could…"
Adrian grimaced distractedly, "Thanks. Josie?"
"Heard her screaming, so she's alive. As for Mother and Jack, Neither sight nor sound."
Suddenly, an incoherent mumbling interrupted their conversation.
"Anita!" Adrian exclaimed, engulfing her in a bone-crushing hug.
"Oof! S'no need to choke me to death…" she grumbled, "I only feel like I've been hit by a road train…"
"You're alive!" Adrian sighed.
She gagged, "Not for much longer…"
"Sorry!" He muttered apologetically.
"You're forgiven. So what do we do now?" She demanded, weakly sitting up with assistance from both boys.
"Escape?"
"Sounds like a plan."
"Wonder if Josie's come up with that yet?" Senka commented drily.
IOIOIOIOI
How could I have been so stupid! Jack thought to himself as he paced back and forth across the tiny cell he presently occupied. Not only was barely large enough to pass as a broom cupboard, but it stank!
He was weaponless, and more importantly, alone. Not to mention he was hungry, and in need of something caffeinated or alcoholic. Or both. Nothing around which passed as a lock pick, and as far as he could tell, he was the one unlucky enough to be shoved into the cell with the padlock outside the door in reach only to a gorilla.
The dilemma of being alone was one that had slightly more implication. If the combined Tyler heirachy didn't completely kill him, he would be lucky. To come away with all appendages in tact would take a miracle. He had heard the demanding shouts of someone earlier, so at the very least he had hope they may still be alive. Whether or not they were together was another matter entirely.
Frustration welled up inside him, and his head collided with the brick wall once, twice, thrice…
Suppressing a moan, he slid down the wall into the putrid bedding that currently constituted the entirety of his possessions. Desperately he wished for something to happen.
Suddenly a gut-wrenching scream reft through the air.
IOIOIOIOI
Anita and Adrian looked up from where they were attempting to pick locks as the scream reverberated around their cell. Soon a second, younger and terrified shriek joined the first.
IOIOIOIOI
"KATHRINE!" Edward shouted, racing to the bars, fear in his wide eyes, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER?"
A malicious laugh mingled in the air, cold and carrying as the shriek crescendoed to echo into all whom heard it.
"Stand back." Josie stated, her eyes flashing dangerously.
Edward turned, his mouth opened to retaliate, yet the words died on his lips.
"Stand back." She repeated. The winds began to pick up around her, the air began sizzling with electricity.
He obeyed.
A dangerous look came into her eyes, the sense of impending doom growing until it was palpable.
The door exploded into a million shards.
As did the wall.
IOIOIOIOIOI
A.N: Squee! Sugar High! I'm TWO reviews off 100, do you think we could get to 110 before I post the next chapter? If you've read, REVIEW! I LOVE hearing what you have to say, and it helps me HEAPS! Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, but flames will be used for blow-torching locks :oP….