Brave New World?
by PsiGen
Thanks so MUCH for all the reviews so far... me and Hobbit are getting BIG heads now! As a reward, have another chapter on us...
The wagon rattled to a stop finally, and Mickey opened one eye.
"Hey we've stopped!" He pointed out excitedly to the dozing Time Lord beside him. He shook his arm persistantly when he didn't get a response.
"Hey! HEY, DOCTOR"
For a second he thought something horrible had happened, and he'd been left alone in this place.
The Doctor let out something akin to a very low growl, and opened his eyes.
"Well done. Fantastic. Shaddup."
He mumbled, unconcernedly. He had had little sleep over the journey, trying to map out the way they were going, and more importantly the way back - and with little success.
"But this could be it! Our big chance!" Whispered Mickey excitedly.
"To do what exactly? Escape?" "Well yeah! Isn't that what you do?" Questioned Mickey "It has been known on occassion." Agreed the Doctor, stretching lazily.
"Well?" Said Mickey, wondering if this queasyiness and thrill of excitement was how Rose felt on her adventures with the eccentric Time Lord.
"Not on this occassion however." Clarified the Doctor and nodded at the scene now filtering through the open end of the wagon.
It depicted a huge camp, with tents and bustling people - mainly of the Cheetah variety - and humans, who clearly were at the bottom of the food chain on this planet. It was they who carried and fetched, for their cat masters. Some even wore collars.
Added to that, was the fact that the perimeter - what could be seen of it from their situation - was closely guarded and watched by Cheetah soldiers carrying rather severe looking clubs.
The Doctor's reluctance to cut and run for it became clear to Mickey. He sighed "We're not gonna get out of this are we?" He said quietly, in a little bit of shock
"We should at least wait for the cover of night." Surmised the Doctor, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder.
After all, Mickey really wasn't used to this kind of thing.
"Although at the moment, there is a more pressing question thats been bothering me." He admitted.
"What's that then?" Asked Mickey, wondering if and how the situation could possibly BE any worse than it already was.
"Why the VIP treatment?"
"What? THIS is VIP treatment! I'd hate to see what they do with everyone else!" Exclaimed Mickey, hotly.
"So would I." Agreed the Doctor, not acknowledging the intended sarcasm directed at him by the human.
All further talk was cut off however as the back of the wagon opened fully, and they were directed to walk outside. When they didn't immediately move, a whip cut the air - which the Doctor promptly caught and pulled out of their guard's hand.
Noting the disgruntled look of anger in the cat face, he snapped it and then chucked it back at him - a sure sign of defiance.
For a second Mickey thought they were gonna get punished for the agressive action, but surprisingly the Cheetah kept it's temper. Just. It gestured again.
Suddenly Mickey seemed hesitant, and the Doctor could understand that, so he stepped forward first.
"Don't think much of their package tours, then eh Mickey? Inflight catering was rubbish! See if we come again." He said, flippantly.
Trying very hard not to show just how scared he was feeling, Mickey just nodded and followed the Doctor out.
If THIS was how it felt like on adventures, Rose could keep them. All of them.
And the bloody Doctor.
At the flat, Rose was becoming more and more concerned, and finally Jackie Tyler could stand it no more.
"Look, go check the TARDIS or something!" She exclaimed, after Rose's millionth trip to the window.
"I DID. He's not there. An' he's not picking up his phone either." She replied. Then a thought occurred.
"Where's Mickey"
"Maybe they've run off together, somewhere, I dunno! GO LOOK!" Prodded Jackie. She had a date tonight and Rose's continued stopover was making a rain check a very real possibility.
"FINE! Come with?" She asked her mother plaintitively.
Jackie sighed.
"Fine. But only for an hour or so. Gotta look my best tonight"
"Why? What's happening tonight?" Asked her daughter, giving her a stare.
"Depends on how good I look." Replied Jackie, with a grin.
"Whatever." Said Rose, rolling her eyes as the two of them left the flat together.
They'd been stood outside the entrance to a particular tent, whilst their guard announced their prescence.
Taking the opportunity, Mickey leaned closer to the Doctor.
"What's with the cat masks?" He asked the Time Lord.
"They're not masks. Do what I tell you, when I tell you - this is very serious." Said the Doctor, firmly.
"Mickey"
"Wha - yeah, yeah - do what you say, when you say it. Gotcha." Said Mickey, still trying to get his head around the fact they weren't wearing masks.
"You. Enter." Said their guard coming over to the Doctor.
"Not without my companion." The Doctor stood his ground, but the guard wasn't about to be challenged a second time.
Three of it's colleagues came up, forming a semi circle about the pair, obviously intending to use force if it was called for.
"S'Okay Doctor. Go ahead. I'll stay out here... and get a sun tan." Said Mickey, trying very hard to be brave AND casual at the same time.
The Doctor gave him a long hard look.
"You sure Mickey?" He asked very quietly.
The boy nodded.
"Go on. S'not like you're gonna disappear or nuthing." He said.
"Good man. I won't be long. Oi YOU!" He addressed the guard and pointed at Mickey.
"Anything happens to him, happens to you." He said, in his hardest and most sincerest tone. The Cheetah actually took a step back at the Time Lord's expression, then covered it up by gesturing with his hand again for him to enter the tent.
"I won't be long." Repeated the Doctor, and then sauntered inside the tent.