Unto the Universe
Chapter Fifty-Three: The Legend of the Sea Devils: Pirate Queen
By Lumendea
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any spinoff material, and I gain no income from this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.
AN: So… I wasn't a fan of the Legend of the Sea Devils. I felt it poorly used the elements of the literal Pirate Queen and the return of the Sea Devils. Too many unconnected characters and random plot points without a good central core. The Pirate Queen deserved better. So, this episode is another "reincarnation" rather than a rewrite. I'll take some of the original concepts and do my own with them. You all seemed to enjoy my "Saving Hitler" episode so let's see what I can do with this general premise.
….
The Doctor and Jack were both being cautious. Rose found it both sweet and annoying at the same time. Ever since leaving Earth, the Doctor had been very, very careful with where he took them. While Rose enjoyed the museums and large craft markets, she was beginning to feel restless. Whatever was coming was coming, and Rose hated both the knowledge of that and the way the Doctor was avoiding it.
But he was good at that. Even he would acknowledge that avoiding a personal problem was a talent of his. A global problem that threatened a planet, no problem, but an issue that was too close to home… that was to be ignored as long as possible.
Maybe that wasn't fair, but as the Doctor swanned out of their bedroom, Rose couldn't help but scowl after him. She knew he was worried about what would damage time, but she couldn't get him to talk with her about it. Rose was a literal Guardian of Time! She might not really have control over her abilities yet, but it still had to count for something.
"White!" Rose called. "Black! Can either of you hear me?"
Except there was no answer, and Rose didn't know how to reach them. The Black and the White Guardians had always just been there. Now, they weren't. And that seemed wrong to Rose. That seemed to be an issue and maybe a warning, but she couldn't be sure.
"Note to self," Rose grumbled as she pulled on her trainers. "Get those two mobiles. There's got to be a decent way of doing this job." A soft sigh escaped Rose, and the lights of the TARDIS flickered. "Yeah, it would help if I understood my job beyond helping to protect life and possibility in the universe. I know I've got an odd work history of babysitting, tech support, and holiday retail, but even I know that I should have asked for a job description."
The joke lightened Rose's mood a little. At least there were some benefits to it, such as being able to live out a long life with the Doctor and save Jack's life. Still, Rose did wish that she better understood her role. The lecture she'd gotten from the pair on Karn had been long on top of an already stressful day. Rose remembered about half of it, and Black had kept stressing that it would take time for her "metaphysical form" to fully integrate with her physical form. Whatever that meant. Tying her shoes, Rose tried to put her worries out of her mind. The Doctor was worrying enough for all of them.
"What's the plan for today?" Jack's voice asked as Rose approached the console room. "Rose is getting restless, and so are you."
"We need to be careful," the Doctor huffed.
"For a whole year?" Jack asked. "And that's a year on Earth. There's no telling how long it'll be to us. You can't stay this tense forever."
"Don't challenge me."
Rose felt Jack's sigh and hurried into the console room before blood could be shed. "Let's at least use the randomizer today," Rose begged. Both the Doctor and Jack looked at her. "I know you're both worried. I am too. Guardian of Time and Space, remember?" She tried and failed to smile. "But this tip-toeing around the issue isn't helping. There's always another threat." Moving over to the Doctor, Rose took his hand and laced their fingers together. "I don't want us this scared."
"Rose… for something to rip time like that…" the Doctor trailed off.
"Do you know what could have?" Rose asked.
"No. It's likely aftermath of the Time War." The Doctor swallowed. "It never stops, does it."
Rose didn't know how to answer that. It wasn't fair. She knew it wasn't fair, but neither of them could do anything. The Doctor sighed and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.
"Sorry, darling," he murmured. "Randomizer, you said?"
"Something new for all of us."
"You two are so sweet," Jack cooed.
Both Rose and the Doctor turned just enough to glare at him, but the 51st-century man just beamed back at them. Rolling his eyes, the Doctor released Rose and began to set the controls of the TARDIS. The ship lurched, and Rose laughed, grabbing hold of the console. An answering laugh from the Doctor made her smile widen. Then, after a quick trip through the Time Vortex, the TARDIS came to a shuddering stop.
"When and where are we?" Jack asked. He leaned around Rose to look at the scanner.
"Earth, 1822," the Doctor answered. His relief was visible, and Rose gave him a soft smile. There was the beginning of a smile on his face. "Wonder what the TARDIS found."
"Yeah, figured she'd be avoiding Earth," Jack murmured, casting a look up at the central console. "At least it isn't Rose's era."
"I won't take offence at that this time," Rose sighed. She really wished that Jack hadn't pointed that out. Rose glanced towards the doors. "Anything more specific on the where than just Earth?"
"Asia. The South China Sea," the Doctor added. "Haven't been in this neck of the woods in a long time. Let's have a look."
The Doctor sauntered past them while Rose was assuring herself that the South China Sea probably meant that they'd landed on an island. Jack chuckled at the Doctor and followed him, with Rose hurrying after them. She glanced down at her jeans and t-shirt. The TARDIS hadn't directed her towards anything special today… though that had been before they threw the randomizer. Still, the ship always knew where they'd end up, so it was probably okay.
It wasn't an island they stepped out onto. Instead, they were in a small, dark space. In fact, Rose and Jack were stuck standing in the doorway of the TARDIS because the space was too small for them to join the Doctor. Rose could already smell the ocean. The scent filled the space and had seeped into the wood around them. The Doctor huffed and grumbled as he shifted in the dark.
"Ah, here's the door."
He opened it, and low light entered the space, revealing crates stacked tightly around the TARDIS. Jack and Rose hurried after the Doctor as he walked out of the storage nook. Beneath their feet, the floor was wood, and Rose immediately became aware of it shifting under them.
"Doctor," Jack said. "This is a ship."
"Seems so." A manic grin filled the Doctor's face. "Been a long time since I landed on a ship!" He snagged Rose's hand and pulled her closer as they crept forward. "The South China Sea, 1822. The ship could belong to nearly anyone! There's the Chinese navy, such as it is, the British and the Portuguese!"
They left the dark area, probably under the upper deck and stepped out into the sunlight, letting them see the whole of the ship properly. Large fan-like sails were fixed to three masts that loomed above them. Two of the masts were on the main body of the boat, and the third was located at the rear of the ship. The sails were red in colour and glowed in the light of the sun, making Rose smile in glee. The ship was at least 120 feet long, and the wood was treated with polish and paint.
"A Chinese junk," the Doctor said. "A few years old for 1822, but in good condition. Well cared for."
"Not sure about calling it junk then," Rose chuckled.
"The word junk refers to a variety of types of Chinese ships," the Doctor added quickly. "High poop deck and overhanging stem, little or no keel, high pole masts, and a deep rudder."
Then the crew spotted them. Everyone froze, and two men leaned toward them, giving Rose a good look at them in the light of the sun. They all seemed to be Chinese in origin, and most were dressed in practical trousers and traditional-looking jackets. There didn't seem to be uniform, though, and a few were dressed in nicer-looking outfits that shimmered like silk.
"Hello," the Doctor greeted with his usual energy. "I'm the Doctor, this is Rose, and this is Jack." He nodded at each of them in turn. "Sorry to alarm you." He began to turn and look around the ship. "Ah… out to sea. Not really an easy way to explain this, is there?"
"No." Jack huffed, sounding ready to start laughing or fighting.
"Europeans," one of the ship's men murmured.
"But they speak Cantonese," another hissed.
"We're not with any of the navies," the Doctor said quickly. He held up his hands. "Just a misunderstanding, I'm afraid. We mean no harm."
"The captain will decide that!"
Those words made the crew they could see nod and relax. Rose wasn't sure how to take that. They clearly had faith in their captain to sort this out. She dropped her right arm, ready to summon her sword just in case things took a bad turn and noted Jack's ready stance on the other side of the Doctor. There was a rush of voices on the far end of the ship as more of the crew gathered. Then they parted to allow another person through.
It was a Chinese woman that Rose estimated to be in her forties with dark hair that had hints of grey pulled back into a tight bun. She was dressed in a red silk robe over trousers and solid-looking boots. Around her waist was a thick belt with a sword in a scabbard lashed to it. Her dark eyes swept over their trio, and Rose had a distinct feeling that they'd been measured up. What the woman's conclusion was, Rose didn't know.
Then thunder rolled across the sky. All the sailors tensed, and Rose looked up to see dark clouds billowing overhead. She frowned. That was fast. Her mum had dated a sailor for a bit, but Rose wasn't sure this was what he'd been talking about when he said storms came in quickly.
"We haven't time for this," the woman snapped. She eyed them suspiciously. "Lock them up for now. I'll deal with this later. Man your posts!" Most of the sailors moved off, running across the deck while a few lingered to take them into custody.
"Wait," the Doctor called. He was looking up into the sky. "That storm isn't right! Something is wrong!" Pulling out the sonic screwdriver, the Doctor held it up, and it flashed with blue light, but the familiar whirl was lost in the winds.
"Captain?" one of the men asked.
"Captain?" Rose repeated in surprise.
That got her a look of reproach from the woman. "I am Captain Zheng Yi Sao," she snapped. "What do you know of the storm? How did you get on my ship?"
"Ah, that's a bit difficult to explain," the Doctor said. Captain Zheng Yi Sao didn't like his answer and narrowed her eyes.
"You chose the wrong ship to stow away on. I have no time for games today."
"Zheng Yi Sao," the Doctor whispered with no small amount of excitement in his voice. "Also known as Shih Yang, Ching Shih and the Pirate Queen. Former leader of the Pirate Confederation. Retired"
"Be impressed later," Jack said. He was eying the crew as several drew swords and approached them. "We have more pressing concerns!"
Summoning her sword, Rose stepped forward and caught only a flicker of surprise in the faces of the sailors as she forced away a blade that was too close for comfort.
"I don't want to fight," Rose said quickly but clearly. Thunder rumbled overhead, and the sailors nervously looked around but did not break formation. "There's something else, isn't there. Something you're afraid of out here." She did her best to appear as nonthreatening as possible.
"Enough," Zheng Yi Sao hissed. She drew the sword from her hip, and the men drew back.
"Captain, the storm…." One of the sailors murmured. "There isn't much time."
"I know!" Zheng Yi Sao stepped forward and raised her sword towards the Doctor. "Give me a reason I shouldn't just kill you now."
Rose moved, shifting in front of the Doctor and glaring at Zheng Yi Sao. The older woman smirked. Then she lunged at Rose. Blades collided. Rose focused on parrying the attacks and ignored the temptation to make the sword cut through Zheng Yi Sao's blade. The rocking of the ship was unfamiliar, and Rose stayed on the defence, countering strike after strike.
"You fight very well," Ching Shih said. She was smiling, a vicious but pleased sort of smile. "It's rare a fellow woman crosses blades with me."
"I return the compliment." Rose felt her own smile forming. The older woman was studying her, and Rose took a chance. "We aren't here to cause trouble. I swear it on my blade." The pirate queen raised an eyebrow at the words. "I doubt there's anything else we both respect enough to trust an oath on."
That drew a laugh from Zheng Yi Sao. "I like you," she declared. Backing up, she gave Rose a bit more space though she did not lower her sword. "But you still haven't answered my question on how you boarded my ship."
"That was an accident," Rose said. "I can't really explain it. We were…"
The Doctor was grateful for the pause and stepped up beside Rose. Pirates weren't usually his cup of tea, but the readings on the sonic worried him. Worried him a great deal. Rose glanced his way, and he saw her relax as she silently agreed to let him take over. Jack lingered at their backs, and he knew the man was watching the crew and their swords.
"Captain Zheng Yi Sao, I apologize for the trouble," the Doctor said respectfully. "I'm the Doctor, this is Rose, and that's Jack. We don't mean you or your crew any harm. We were following the strange weather," the Doctor said. He gestured at the storm blowing in. "The storm. We had trouble and climbed aboard your ship. Didn't mean to cause a fuss, didn't have many options."
"You were chasing the storm?" Zheng Yi Sao asked suspiciously. Her grip tightened around her sword, but she stayed calm. Good. They needed the intelligence of this woman and whatever she knew. 1822, she wasn't a pirate anymore. There had to be some reason that she'd mustered a crew and sailed out here. "What do you know of it? Who sent you?"
"No one sent us," the Doctor answered. "We were just passing through."
"Passing through the South China Sea?" Zheng Yi Sao repeated doubtfully. "We've seen no ships."
"Well, it isn't the domain of the Pirate Queen any longer," the Doctor said.
"Oh, I don't know," Rose said. She eyed Zheng Yi Sao. "Seems to still very much be her domain."
"I may not have my great fleet," Zheng Yi Sao said with a definite glare at him but a small smirk in Rose's direction. "But those on this ship are more than a match for whatever awaits us."
"I'm not sure about that," the Doctor said. He grimaced when the Pirate Queen's eyes narrowed. "I mean no disrespect, but there are powerful and dangerous things under the waves."
"Of that, I am well aware, Doctor." She studied them both, and the Doctor could see the calculations running behind her eyes. "But what do you know? What compelled you to seek out this storm? Were you sent? I can tell that you are not agents of the East India Company or merchants."
"You're right on that front," the Doctor said.
"And you have seen things," Zheng Yi Sao added. She took another step towards them. "Things in the waters, I believe. Do you know what we are facing?"
"I think I might." The Doctor studied Zheng Yi Sao. "I get the feeling that you do as well."
"Maybe." Zheng Yi Sao swallowed, a glimmer of fear on her face. "There are things under the water, Doctor. Secret stories that no one wants to tell. When you live by the will of the sea as long as I have, you see and hear things that no man has an explanation for."
"Such as creatures that walk on two legs but live in the waters?"
"Indeed."
The Doctor allowed himself a small sigh. He'd really hoped that he was wrong. It was odd how often he wanted to be wrong.
"Doctor?" Jack called softly. "Do you know what it is?"
"Sonic picked up distinctive technology patterns," he answered.
"You scanned for tech?" Rose was grinning despite the situation. Then she sobered. "What is it?"
"Aquatic Silurians," the Doctor replied. He turned his attention back to Zheng Yi Sao. "Better known as the-"
"Sea Devils," Zheng Yi Sao finished with a sneer. "You do know them then." She brought her sword up threateningly. "You will tell me everything you know." Zheng Yi Sao's dark eyes were sharp as she observed his reaction. "You have the air of a worried man with much experience. These Sea Devils are familiar to you."
"My encounters with them have rarely ended well. They are intelligent and very capable." The Doctor hesitated for a moment. "It's best not to engage them if you have any choice."
"There may not be a choice."
"What's been happening?"
Zheng Yi Sao hesitated. That, more than anything, worried the Doctor. This woman had been critical to organizing one of the largest naval fleets, full stop, in the Asian continent in her time and had run it better than many militaries. Her being concerned about sounding crazy was not a good sign. She looked up at the sky. The dark clouds were swirling over the waters, but instead of the familiar flashes of lightning, there was an eerie green glow along with them.
"There have been rumours for years," she explained. "Strange creatures of the sea that were similar to men that occasionally boarded ships or were seen just below the surface, studying the sailors. But over the last few years that I sailed with my fleet, we had two close encounters with these creatures. They boarded two of my ships, though they were quickly repelled." Her eyes cast up to the sky. "The weather before we saw them was stormy, not unlike today. Those storms were sudden, too fast, even for the sea."
"Storms roll in fast on the ocean."
"You don't know these waters as I do. Like my crews do. We know the song of the sea, the way it smells and moves. These storms are not right."
"You're right," the Doctor agreed. He eyed her sword and the drawn blades around them. "So… what now? Do you let us help, or are we walking the plank?"
"Doctor," Rose groaned.
They didn't have a chance for the captain to answer. Loud crashes from the sides of the junk made everyone jump, and the Doctor whirled around to find a strange green light shining up around the ship from the seas below. He groaned. He really hated being right sometimes.