The darkness was all encompassing, the harsh rock slicked with slime. Tracks led out from the rear to a tunnel, small mining carriages carrying raw minerals. The only light coming from the tunnel as dim electric lights eliminated the dark track, disappearing to a point in the distance. Great gouges, seeming to look as though a great-clawed animal had been scratching at it, marred the rock.
Great red eyes opened to the darkness, his heart a little lighter for his momentary freedom. The chains clanked and rattled across the stone as it moved. He stretched to get the pain out of his bones. He still felt weak after the Doctor had physically ripped his soul from his body. He knew the Doctor didn't know what he was doing, but it still hurt like hell. He looked up as they opened the entranceway to throw in some meat. He padded over his black claws clinking on the rock. The chains on his neck and hind legs restricted his movement. They had tied his wings to his body also the chains overlapping on his back to end in hooks that stuck into his hide. The metal which bound him, would change with him from beast to man. Their size moving with him. The chains that linked him to the cave wall stayed the same. But the collar around his neck, and those around his legs and arms would change their size like the chains that bound his wings. They would become like small chains and hooks at his rib cage, a metal collar to his neck and bracelets on his wrists. Always a reminder of whom now his life belonged to. But perhaps, not for much longer.
He looked round at the sound of movement, there came the warden and his master. The warden kept all in the mine in line. He was a cruel and malicious man, but he expected no less from a convicted murderer. This planet was a huge mining world, the ore they pulled from this place powering the drives of human and alien ships alike. The place was dangerous; especially here the raw ore was akin to radiation, unzipping the DNA of the unwary. There was a medication to give you immunity, but not all were given it. So the death toll was slow, painful and high.
"You are not yet digging my pet. Oversleep?" his master asked
"Forgive me my master, I do not….feel well" He bowed, his once shining gold scales now marred by the black dust and dirt. His scales also now a dull yellow from being hidden in the dark. He was a shadow of his former self, truth be told…he was broken. In his youth he would be slave to no one. Yes he followed Rassilon, but he was friend more than master, and only called lord, as was his station on Gallifrey. But now…a lot had brought him to this stage. Scars on his body hidden by the dirt, and scars of the mind.
Betrayal most destroying as blood put the scars upon his body. He tried to forget, but his master taunted him. He was not the last of his kind; there were two others who hunted him. They wanted his life, his soul and he was happy to hand it over. But not until his job was done.
"Aww the poor Sultarrvec in pain?" he turned to the warden, he was crawling towards him, fear plain in his eyes. But he knew he was safe with the master here. He poked the great beast earning a deep growl.
"Dumah! Leave my pet be. Now my Sultarrvec, you have made over quota so come to the surface. Aren't I kind to you?" his master asked, the gold finery glittering as the man looked at his claws. He was bipedal and human-ish, but that was as far as it went. He had clawed hands, his hair like tentacles making it look as though he had braids. They were white and shiny as he turned in the dim light. His eyes were black as were his lips. Teeth sharp as knives, two sticking out making him look like a vampire almost. He brought out from the fold of his suit a remote, pressing it the chains connected to the collar and feet unattached with a click, they recoiled to the wall like snakes, almost as if they were alive.
"Come now Sultarrvec, time to show them your still here" He was now in his human form, his body hidden in a black hooded robe. The Warden walked past his master attaching smaller chains to the collar and bracelets. He followed his master and the Warden from his cave.
The surface of the planet here was somewhat pleasant; on the other side of the planet it was dark and covered with smog. It was there they refined the ore into the fuel cells needed to power the great ships of the sky. But here it was almost pleasant. If you could ignore all the guns and wire fences that surrounded the place or in the hands of the numerous guards. He was led out towards the dark and dead tree. The trunk of the tree was thicker than a beer barrel. And thrust through its heart was a metal rod; at the end was a hoop to which his chains would be attached. As he was lead from the underground into the light he blinked at the glare. He saw the other miners and prisoners part and start to mumble. He could feel their fear of him as they whispered
"Look, it's the Sultarrvec""Stay away, it's a monster"
"Sultarrvec, destroyer of worlds" Arr yes, there was the meaning of his new name. Sultarrvec was said in the old tongue of this world. It literally translated as "Destroyer Of Worlds"
He sat down at the base of the tree, hands resting behind his head, just relishing the feeling of being outside. He opened one eye to see the orphans looking at him. They were the children who's parents died here or before their arrival. The killers and others often picked on them. No parents to keep an eye on them. When he came out he offered them a brief respite. He saw Mizariah looking at him, he nodded and she turned to the others. They came rushing over to the tree to eat their food, each nodding to him as they passed.
"Hi Mokie" Mizariah exclaimed as she slumped down beside him. She was the oldest of he orphans; at the age of 15 she kept an eye on the younger ones. There were 22 in total. All were afraid most of the time, never able to act as children. But here in the safe bubble of where his chain would reach, they could be children and play.
"Hey Mokie, you in there?" Mizariah proceeded to tap him on the head. Which earned her a deep growl, and a glare from his golden eyes. Mokie was a nickname she had given him. It was something to do with a cute monster. He just about tolerated it. "Sorry, you ok?"
"Old memories" he growled sadly.
"We all have those from time to time"
"Time….yes." he looked to the sky, only to be blocked off as a child fell from the tree into his lap "OOF!"
He looked down at the small boy in his lap; he could feel the child quivering in fear under his golden gaze.
"Timmy! What are you doing?" Mizariah gasped as she pulled the 4 year old from his lap.
"Sorry..m.m..Mr Mokie. I was just playing" the young one stammered. He just growled and looked back to the sky. Mizariah sat beside him, not afraid of whom he was. They stayed like that for a time, eating the food given, actually having some fruit. An apple, he smiled, an apple a day keeps the Doctor away.
They all looked over as a small child's scream caught their attention. He looked over to see the young one in the grip of a man, a savage grip. He did not recognize this one as the child of 4 kicked and screamed in the mans grasp. Must be a new inmate. He rose to his feet with a sigh. Mizariah had run forward to try and help the little one.
"Leave her alone!" Mizariah shouted, running up to kick the man in the shin, he cried out in pain then backhanded Mizariah so she fell at his feet, lip cut and bleeding. Then he turned back to the little on in his grasp. What he didn't realize was he was in the range of the Sultarvec's chains. So he walked forward without a sound, others shrank back as the darkness came to him. He stood behind the man, and then grasped his arms, pulling them away from the child with little effort. The man screamed at him. So he spun him round to face his golden eyes.
"Let me go alien filth!"
"No, don't think I will" he closed his hand round the man's throat.
"What are you?" fear now in the man's eyes.
"The Sultarrvec" with that he broke the mans neck, letting the body fall to the floor he walked past Mizariah and sat back at his tree as if nothing had happened.
Mizariah looked at him a moment, she had almost forgotten that his name was well earned. He could be a cold killer when he wanted to be. It saddened her, for she had a feeling he was not always like this. That he had been kind and treasured each life…but now? She had no illusion what happened. He was the killer; if you miss behaved up here you were sent down to the Sultarrvec's cave and eaten. None had returned intact. She remembered the first time she came here. And Bob's daughter had been sent to the Sultarrvec. What was returned was a mangled wreck of a body. Ripped to shreds, chewed, her face contorted in pain. Then she had seen him for herself, one of the pervs had tripped her, making her spill her only food for the day. Then tried to touch her. The next instant the man had been ripped off her, his back broken with a scream. Then she had been gathered up in his arms, and said the words that would become his name to her
"Mokie?" he had snorted but made no comment. Taken her over to his tree and then given her all his food to. After that she had not seen him often. He was not allowed out that much, only when the planet owner was pleased.
The owner of the planet was a creature called a Danoktor. They had been a savage race, this planet was once theirs. From what she knew the planet owner, which they had to call master, was a rich member of his kind and bought the planet. His real name was Melchia. His second in command now was a human killer called Dumah. He ran the mining, the master only coming down from time to time. Mokie was the master's pet, and had to do his bidding. He was also the digger; she had not seen his other form, but others who had pushed the mine cars full of ore. They told of a great beast with red eyes in the dark. The oldest had seen him in the sunlight in his form, they told of the terror. They seemed so afraid that none dared to doubt it. She had asked Mokie what he looked like. He had just said nothing. Shaking his head at some of the stories she recounted.
All too soon it was time to go back to work, the orphans stepped back as the warden came out and took Mokie's chains off the tree and lead him away. All the children waved, saying "Bye Mokie" he walked past them giving no sign, just looking at the sky. But Mizariah caught his eye; saw the fear of the dark.
"Till next time little one" then he was gone into the mineshaft.
The warden returned to the master after he placed the Sultarrvec back to his place, making the chains in the walls snake out to reattach themselves. The Master was sat in his lavish office, one of his pleasure slaves at his knee as he checked the computer read out.
"The pet is back in his cage master"
"Good, think it will be time for my pets medicine soon. He's getting a little too strong"
"Sure master. When shall we give it to him?"
"A couple of days yet." He tapped on the projected interface, showing numbers and sales projection. "Profit is up, my pet is digging well"
"So you not going to tell them where to find him?" Dumah asked, making himself comfortable.
"Of course not, they want to kill my pet. They have given me the means to keep him in line. I only need to tell them if my pet gets out of line and is of no more use to me."
"But what they say? Do you believe them?"
"What? That he is a traitor, and destroyed his world? Oh yes. Can you not smell the death on him; he has billions to his name. I know what he is. He is one of the last Guardians. The other two looking for him were the rest of his race. That makes 3 of them left. And you know me. I am a collector of rare things," he began to laugh deeply at his power over his little pet. Nothing could fix the broken spirit of this guardian, hunted by his own flesh and blood. Hiding from the universe.
KITG: there you go, another chapter for you. Hope you like. This might seem a bit dark. But I want to show how Tormented the Guardian has become. Right more Doctor and Rose next chap….wonder what he will say when he wakes up?
Doctor: Mmm, warm feet
KITG: What?
Doctor: well my feet are warm
Rose: only cause I've been sleeping on them at the end of the bed!
KITG: Rolls eyes Don't start. Here have some Chocolate. (Passes chocolate to Rose)
Rose/Doctor: (Starts fighting over the Chocolate) BANG!
KITG: (Looks over the end of the bed) You two ok down there?
Doctor/Rose: ow (rubbing their heads)