Chapter 34

"Don't worry, I have a plan to escape."

"We've been here for ages. We've all wanted to escape with no success. Even if we could free our necks, I believe we're too weak to run away now."

"Not all of you. The ones who are strong enough can help you get to the kitchen. You can get more energy there," the Doctor pointed out, her voice a bit breathier than usual.

The rebound person-he said his name was Anthony?-looked at her like she was insane. "The kitchen will be crawling with our enemies."

"It won't. They're planning an attack soon. That should leave their base conveniently empty."

And it had better happen soon, or the Doctor was going to be one of the tired people. They set her to work moving rocks away to expand the tunnels. The man she was talking to was one of the people creating more rocks by chipping into the wall. The Doctor might be accomplished in many things, but moving boulders wasn't one of them. It was taking a toll on even her. And if she slowed enough for the restraining bolt to go off, well, she probably wouldn't die, but it would cause a regeneration. She'd avoid that at the best of times, and this was a particularly bad time.

Anthony slowed, just barely. "They're going to attack us again? Well, I would like to help."

"And that's what we're going to do," the Doctor said.

They were going to help by creating peace, but the Doctor wasn't going to point that out yet. He had just agreed with her. She wasn't giving him enough specifics he could change his mind.

"So, you have a way out?"

The Doctor nodded. "I have a special item that will break these restraining bolts."

She thought of her sonic screwdriver currently hidden in one of her shoes. She knew it was still there. She kept stepping on it as they moved. The challenge was not accidently activating it before they were ready.

Anthony looked skeptical. "I think I'll believe it when I see it."

The restraining bolt on his neck glowed warningly, and he picked up the pace.

"You'll see it soon," the Doctor assured him. "Hopefully," she added, her voice far more strained as she picked up a rock.

Sure enough, a few moments later they were in luck. There weren't many people guarding them, no doubt because the restrainers did most of the work, but two bird people slowly patrolled the quarry area. A third person wandered in and began whispering to one of them, both casting fervent glances at the prisoners. Then, after that conspicuous conversation, all three left.

"Now?" the man groaned. He was pale and sweating, arms trembling slightly.

"In a second," the Doctor panted. "In case it was a set up."

The Doctor would've liked to wait longer than she did, but they both really needed to be free. Making sure she kept moving rocks with one hand, or by kicking them, she took out her screwdriver and released herself.

"Ah. Much better." She then freed the man. "Now. Let's get out of here."

They quickly freed everyone else in the quarry area, and made their way to the kitchen, entering the hall that you both walked in and it moved you forward of its own accord. It was a good thing the Doctor understood the technology, because most of the people here had no idea how to get it started in the right direction. But even with the hall helping, many people were too tired to move on their own. The Doctor was helping someone, practically giving them a piggyback ride, which was far more contact than she'd like, but she'd do it if she absolutely had to. She wasn't normally a fan of sleep, but it was starting to seem like a really good idea. Still, at least she was only carrying one person. The man next to her was gripping two people, one leaning on each shoulder.

Then, when they reached the kitchen in the main part of the base, there was a new problem. There were more prisoners there, being forced to work. And there was a huge man still guarding them there. He seemed to be some sort of albatross person.

As soon as they opened the door, he spun and shot the first person in.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice you don't belong here?" he asked.

This was bad. Everyone was tired, and even if the ones with energy did act against him, they were at a disadvantage. They might not die, considering they already had, but getting shot would still be unpleasant. And if they weren't out of here by the time the other bird people got back, they'd just be imprisoned again.