Sorry about the long delay. These next chapters were a bit difficult as I needed to make sure that I got them just right. I had such a struggle with them that I decided that I needed to step away from writing for a little bit to clear my mind and come back with a fresher perspective. Unfortunately, the intended brief time became several months thanks to life.

Okay, I'm giving a warning for this chapter. It gets a little graphic, thus the reason for the rating that I've given the story.

Chapter 16

Alex slept despite the pain, hunger, and thirst that he'd felt. It was an uneasy rest, however as his slumber was disturbed by nightmares not only of what he was currently enduring but also of his past. Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, Sea Devils and Silurians were just the start of the many adversaries that plagued his mind. But they weren't the only things that disturbed him. He had been a prisoner many times in the past, sometimes being tortured. He had even once been tortured by his own people while being suspected of assassinating the President of the High Council. But none of those compared to the images of his beloved Rose being tormented by all those who had done the same to him in the past.

He gasped as he awoke abruptly, sensing another person in his cell. Turning his head, he saw Jakobb leaning against the wall by the door, watching him.

"How long have you been there?" he questioned, noting how the dryness of his throat made his voice a little raspy.

The Human didn't answer but rather pushed himself off the wall and walked over to him. "My master has permitted me to provide you with food and water to help you regain some of your strength." He gestured to a small dining cart, drawing Alex's attention to the hereto unnoticed item. "After you've eaten, you will be escorted to a toilet to freshen yourself up." Without asking, Jakobb helped the Alex into a seated position before bringing the cart to him. He then uncovered the plate to reveal a simple meal of fruit, crackers, cheese, and cherote meat, all mild with no seasoning. "Eat what you wish but not too much. Your stomach is likely very sensitive."

"I know the risks of eating and drinking too much when dehydrated and slightly malnourished," Alex assured before taking a small sip of water and nibbling on a cracker.

Jakobb leaned against the nearest wall and watched Alex eat with great care. He thought back to when he first saw the hybrid bound and kneeling as the Imperial Chancellery Guard removed vials from pockets and boots. Even on his knees, there was dignity in his eyes. And yet there was also surprise. It wasn't from being caught, although that was there as well. Alex had stared directly at him, stunned by his presence, and exclaimed…

"Why did you call me Jack?" Jakobb suddenly asked, interrupting his meal. Gaining a surprised look, he clarified. "When we first met, you looked at me with recognition and called me Jack. I went by Jack for a few months a long time ago while on a mission for the Time Revolt. I haven't gone by that name for years and I certainly don't remember you being there at the time. I don't remember ever meeting you but you obviously know me. Who am I to you?"

Alex finished eating the bite of cheese he had taken and put the remainder on the plate. "It's a long story."

"Another long story. Why doesn't that surprise me? Tell it to me anyway."

The half-Gallifreyan took a breath. "I assume that you are familiar with the concept of parallel universes."

"Yes."

"Well, I'm not just from Earth. I'm from a parallel Earth and, on that parallel Earth, I knew you. You went by the name Captain Jack Harkness. He was once a member of the Time Agency, an organization that polices time. But they erased two years of his memories so he decided to leave the Time Agency and run cons. He tried to con a Time Lord, thinking that he was a Time Agent. That Time Lord was my father. They became close friends." Seeing the disbelief in the Human's eyes, he continued. "The Time Lords of my original universe weren't like those of this one. They didn't own slaves and they didn't rule over an empire. In fact, they really only cared about their own little part of the galaxy as long as time was intact on the cosmic scale of things. My father was one of the exceptions. He couldn't just stand around and watch injustice happen. He had to make a difference. He saw a good man in Jack Harkness."

"But what am I to you?"

Alex blinked for a moment before realizing that he hadn't explained that part. "Oh. I'm a biological metacrisis and I inherited my parents' memories, effectively making me both my mother and my father as well as my own person. Basically, in a sense, that means that I was friends with Jack Harkness who is the parallel universe version of you."

"Biological metacrisis?"

The Doctor exhaled slowly. "I'm not going into that area. It's complicated and, at the moment, I don't think it would be in my best interests to explain further."

Jakobb thought about what Alex had told him. "So, you think that you know me because you have memories of your father's friendship with a parallel universe version of me."

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"Let me make this very clear to you. I don't care if I look like someone you used to know. I'm not that man, no matter what our DNA says. You're not my friend and I'm not yours. I'm your tormentor, your interrogator. The only reason you got medical attention, food and water was so that you can last long enough for my master to learn where the Crown Prince is. Now, are you done eating?"

Alex nodded slightly in response, reflecting on Jakobb's answer.

The interrogator covered Alex's plate before pushing the cart out the door and to the side. He then went over to his prisoner and forced him to his feet. Escorting him out of the cell and down the hall, he allowed Alex to go to the toilet and freshen up before forcing him back to his cell.

"I suggest that you get some rest. You're going to need it," he warned before closing the door, leaving the hybrid alone once again.

Alex sighed slightly in frustration. Despite what Jakobb said, he knew he was getting through to the man. If only he could convince him that he could be a better man, one who isn't so focused on his own security that he ignored doing what was right or, at the very least, one who is willing to let him go. He hoped that would be soon. The longer he was away from the camp, the more people would succumb to the disease.

Laying down, he tried to relax, hoping to get the rest he so desperately needed but knowing that it would likely allude him.

On the other side of the planet, Nona wrote in Old High Gallifreyan on her pagt'horiol walls just as she did every day. Even as she did so, Rega entered, delivering her evening meal.

"Nona, I've brought you some food," he announced when he realized she hadn't noticed his entry.

The young Time Lord slowly turned to face him, an odd expression on her face that gave Rega pause. He'd known the seer long enough to know that she was about to impart some very important information, though the information was usually cryptic in nature.

"What is it?" he asked gently.

"The storm is about to pass but a tempest will arise," she answered.

"The weather is clear outside, Nona, and is likely to remain so for the next few days. What storm?"

"The Oncoming Storm. But a Tempest will arise and frighten the Wolf."

Rega nodded, accepting her words. He had no idea what Nona's words could mean but he wouldn't dismiss them. Instead, he took them to heart, deciding to try to discover their meaning at a later time. "Your meal, Nona," he offered again, placing the bowl of cherote stew by her side.

She accepted the meal with a smile and proceeded to eat as if she hadn't said a word to him.

Taking a breath, the Prince slowly left the pagt'horiol. He would bring Nona's words to Rose to see if she might have some kind of insight to add. In the meantime, he still had much to do that evening, including working on a pair of bracelets he'd promised to make.

It was only a couple of hours after Jakobb had provided the Doctor a meal when the door to his cell opened, bringing on feeling of dread. He didn't move or say a word, waiting to be yanked off his meager cot and forced out of the room. He wasn't in the least bit surprised when two male slaves did just that, though he did wonder where Jakobb was since he had been present the last three times he'd been removed from the cell.

Instead of being taken to the interrogation room, though, he was taken to the large laboratory he had seen when he first arrived. The slaves immediately stripped him of his clothes and placed him on an examination table before strapping him down to prevent him from moving more than a few inches. Then, without a word, they exited the room.

When it seemed to Alex that he would be left alone indefinitely, the door opened and the Keeper walked in.

"My apologies for my lack of attention. There were a few issues that needed to be resolved. I spoke with Lord Pateros at length and determined that he was not involved in your activities. He was quite willing to sign over all property rights concerning you over to me." Not getting a response, he took a breath before continuing. "You have been very stubborn with my servant Jakobb by refusing to tell him the information I want. You are quite a specimen to withstand his interrogation. Since he has failed me, I'm going to take over for the time being. He himself is being… corrected for his failure."

Alex closed his eyes at the statement, knowing that it meant Jakobb was being physically punished. Refocusing his thoughts to the present, he finally looked the Time Lord in the eyes. "I'm not going to tell you anything."

"Of course, you will," the Gallifreyan contradicted. "You already know what I want from you so I'm not going to bother asking. Instead, I'm going to do what I want with you until you decide that you would rather betray Rega than to endure another minute of punishment by my hand. Of course, for me, it'll be a pleasure to watch you break." He smiled as he noted the glare Alex gave him. "I hope you don't mind if I make sure that you are well-secured. Any movement more than a couple of inches could be severely detrimental," he commented as he acted on his words.

Alex had been concerned when he was strapped down without a stitch of clothing on, even more so when he found himself alone with the Keeper. But the Time Lord's statement raised his concern level to that of trepidation. "What are you going to do with me?" he asked, keeping his worry out of his voice.

The Gallifreyan assured that his prisoner was secure and pulled a trolley closer to the table, thus allowing Alex to see the array of surgical instruments. In an instant, Alex's trepidation turned into unadulterated fear.

"I'm going to examine you, Nere'i. I've been curious about you ever since my preliminary examination when I first brought you and your Human female friend to Gallifrey. The tests then showed you to be almost completely half-Human. I've never come across a Nere'i like you and I want to study your biology. Of course, to do a thorough study on the subject matter, I will have to examine your internal organs."

Alex closed his eyes tightly, trying desperately not to hyperventilate. It didn't take much to realize exactly what the Keeper had in mind. "I'm guessing you don't have anesthesia."

"Why should I waste anesthesia on a lower-class species? You will, however, be put on appropriate fluids to prevent dehydration, severe blood loss, and infection. You will also be given a strong stimulant to keep you awake. Can't have you passing out on me."

"Of course not," the hybrid whispered, unable to stop his voice from shaking this time.

The Keeper ignored his quiet statement and finished the necessary preparations, insuring that the necessary IVs were in place. Once he was certain that his subject was appropriately ready, he proceeded to thoroughly clean and disinfect Alex's chest and abdomen. A moment later, he picked up his spatial laser scalpel and made his first incision.

The spatial laser scalpel was an amazing medical instrument. In expert hands, it could cut flesh with great precision and at the correct depth, thus avoiding damage to a patient's internal organs. It also temporarily cauterized the incision, thus reducing the chances of hemorrhaging during surgery. None of these facts were of comfort to Alex, though, as he experienced agony like he'd never felt before. He struggled desperately to escape from the blade slicing him open but found that his bonds were indeed well-placed. He felt his muscles loosen across his chest as his skin gave way to the attack and his insides were revealed to his new owner.

The Keeper continued his work, unfazed by the torture he was inflicting on his victim. He cracked open the ribcage, bringing on a louder howl while he pulled it apart to examine what was beneath.

"You have a respiratory bypass system," he commented, intrigued as he lifted a scanner to make a more thorough assessment. "We'll have to see how well that works later." He looked on Alex's features, noting the latter had stopped screaming but was still in severe pain, as evidenced by the tears coming from his eyes and the strained whimpers he couldn't stop. Giving a cruel smile, he continued. "Your heart is a bit more muscular than the average Nere'i but not unusually so. You have a very strong set of lungs. Again, not unusual. You probably would have survived the Zone quite well as long as you found food and shelter. Superior digestive system. Based on what I'm seeing, you're a pretty average Nere'i. We'll just make sure, shall we?"

Alex bit his lip to stop himself from crying out from his words, hoping that the Time Lord would soon end the torment. He desperately wanted to escape to the oblivion of unconsciousness but the stimulant running through his veins prevented his wish from coming to fulfillment.

Slowly and with great precision, the Keeper studied every organ in his subject's body, ignoring the whimpers and occasional cries of pain. Tiny samples were taken from each organ and carefully placed in small vials for later examination.

"Well, your biology is certainly a little better than the average Nere'i," the Gallifreyan commented as he insured that all of his specimen's organs were returned where he had found them. "I'm not seeing any indication that you are capable of regenerating. That is most fortunate. The last Nere'i who had somehow inherited that ability didn't live long after regenerating. The human side of his physiology couldn't withstand it. It wasn't a pretty sight, to say the least." He paused for a moment, consideration on his features. "I'd love to examine the details of your internal organs. I'm sure that they are most fascinating. But I doubt that you would survive the process and the samples and scans that I've taken will suffice quite well in giving me those details."

He again regarded Alex's pained and desperate expression, realizing that his slave was on the verge of a mental breakdown. If he didn't end his examinations immediately, the Time Lord would likely drive the hybrid to complete insanity. He couldn't let that happen. He still needed the location of Rega's encampment.

With great care, he replaced Alex's ribcage, knitting each bone carefully. He again smiled cruelly when Alex screamed as he worked to close him up, insuring that each muscle and nerve was properly reattached and the skin was mended together. When he was done, the only indication that he had done anything to the half-Gallifreyan was three long scars: one along his collarbone, one down the length of his torso, and one that ran from one hip to the other.

When he was certain that the Keeper had finished with his twisted operation, Alex glared up at him, a mass of emotions in his watery eyes and shaking form. He didn't think he could hate someone so intensely until that moment. But he also knew that, at the moment, the Time Lord was his only chance at any semblance of release from the agony he was in.

"Please," he begged, his voice so raw that the word came out as a breath. "Mercy."

"Will you tell me what I want to know?"

Alex opened his mouth for a moment to comply but then stopped, forcing himself to remember the great cost obeying the Keeper's demand would inflict. Closing his eyes, he swallowed tightly, knowing his answer would bring him more pain. Unable to speak, he slowly shook his head, tears trailing down his temples.

The Keeper looked on his latest acquisition with a hint of admiration. "You are truly remarkable. I've known Time Lords with less strength of will. It's no wonder that Jakobb couldn't break you." He leaned forward so that his lips were close to Alex's ear. "But I will." Standing erect once again, he pushed the trolley to the side. "Since you will not be able to heal properly without rest, I will grant your request. You will sleep for several hours and have orders to rest for at least a day. Interrogations will continue once you are healthy enough."

Alex sighed slightly. At least it was something, even if it wasn't what he really wanted; he really wanted to be released so that he could return to the camp unhindered. A minute later, he felt the sting of a needle going into his arm as the Keeper injected him with a sedative. Then, without a word, the latter left him alone in the laboratory once again, still strapped to the examination table. The half-Gallifreyan only cared that some of the pain he was in started to fade as his mind became hazy and he drifted off to sleep.