Jack:
The databank was a maze. Anna Lee and I moved cautiously around, careful of traps, looking for the drive labeled "three six nine one."
"So, your Doctor committed the murder in self-defense, that my Doctor is accused of," I said. "And he has been married to Nara for ten years while under the influence of the chameleon arch."
"Right," Anna Lee said as we climbed a ladder to another level.
"And the Doctor as Dal, was assigned to defend my Doctor."
"You catch on quick," she said irritably.
"It's a lot to unravel," I said.
She stopped for a second.
"I told you, your Doctor is with Nara," she said. "You can go to her, and get her as far away from this mess as possible."
"I'm not leaving without answers," I said. "So there are eighteen Doctors?"
"What are you, a paroto?" she asked as we pulled more drives. "At least eighteen Doctors. I'm inclined to believe there are even more we don't know of."
"To my knowledge there were only thirteen," I said. "I've been around the universe a bit. I thought I would know if there were more."
"The universe is rather large, in case you haven't noticed," she said. "My understanding is that many of the Doctors are in hiding. Some have discovered a life as a Timelord isn't worth living, so they willingly take the chameleon arch to live a relatively normal life."
"Can I ask you something else?" I said.
"Shoot," she said.
"Why are you so angry?"
She continued to check drives.
"Dillon was the only man I ever loved," she said. "I've traversed this universe backwards and forwards, and I haven't found anyone who has his spark. His zest for life. Finding out the Judoon want to punish the Doctor for the death of his murderer makes me want to set a planet on fire."
"I get it," I said.
"The drive should be one level up," she said after looking at one.
We climbed another ladder.
"So, you've spent two years looking for her," Anna Lee said. "Why?"
"Because my world needs her," I said. "He/she has been saving the earth as long as I can remember."
"My Doctor wasn't particularly interested in Earth," she said. "He liked exploring the ancient ruins of planets. Which is how he met Nara."
We began looking through the drives. After another ten minutes, we finally got a lead.
"It's within this block," she said.
She and I sorted through until we reached the middle.
"Got it," she said. "Now let's see what you have to say."
She pulled out a device that resembled an iPhone and plugged it into the drive. I settled beside her to get a closer look.
Anna Lee slowly scrolled through the data. Something caught my eye.
"Stop," I said.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Does that word look familiar to you?"
"It does but I can't place it," she said.
"That is the name of a Dalek," I said.
"Sek," she said. "He-it is listed as the identifier of the Doctor. Who instructed the Judoon to arrest the Doctor. This data was only added three years ago."
"Anna Lee," I said. "Would your Doctor have known anything special about the Daleks?"
"I don't think so," she said. "Why?"
"Maybe that's why they wanted Dal on the case," I said. "To get him to break the arch to reveal the data he might have found off Meer Telon."
She suddenly pulled out another device.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Acting on a bad hunch," she said.
"Care to elaborate a little?" I said.
"What do you know about Lankians?" she asked.
"They have purple hair and are on the verge of extinction," I said.
"The Lankians I've met are warrior-like," she said. "They value survival above everything. The women have strong maternal instincts, and will do anything to protect their kids. Oh…my…god."
Anna Lee stumbled.
I grabbed her arm to steady her.
"What is it?"
"I hacked Nara's phone. She's been in communication with this Dalek. She sent her kids to family across the galaxy."
"I don't understand," I said. "She framed my Doctor in hopes of entrapping her Doctor? This is too confusing."
"No," she said breathlessly. "Look at the texts."
I read them out loud.
"We gave you ten years. Time to give us the Doctor and his memories of Meer Telon's master plans."
There was a brand new one.
"Kill the female blonde. We only want your Doctor."
Anna Lee grabbed the device and raced ahead.
"We'll take my ship," she said. "I don't trust yours to get to the next moon."
"I could go to my Doctor and you could to yours," I said.
"I don't go to Judoon prison with even a half-arsed plan," she said. "Besides yours is in more immediate danger."
"Okay," I said.
She texted.
"I just told her not to move as I had information to save Dal."
We quickly climbed down ladders.
"Was this a long con?" I asked. "The murders, everything, just for children?"
"Timelord children," she said. "Sem has Timelord DNA. Ese doesn't, but Lankians value men more anyway."
Okay, her ship was in considerably better shape.
"You steal this?" I asked.
"I have friends," she said. "Friends who actually, owe ME."
"Must be nice," I said.
"I hope you're used to warp drive," Anna Lee said.
"I had a light lunch," I said.
She flipped a switch and I held on tight.
Warp drive was like having your head put in a blender, except less loud and more painful. I rarely used it for short trips. Focusing on the Doctor, I tried to breathe.
It was over in less than thirty seconds. We glided over a planned development. Anna Lee flipped the radar screen on. I saw a figure on the floor and then another one holding something against it.
Anna Lee shot the figure. The house exploded. She landed the vehicle in the street and we both jumped out.
"Doctor!" I shouted "DOCTOR!"
We moved through the wreckage. Neighbors peered out.
I saw movement by a cluster of broken masonry. I tossed aside a debris and Anna Lee helped me. The Doctor and this Nara person were together.
I felt the Doctor's neck for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there.
"Nara?" I asked.
"I didn't kill her," she said. "She's knocked out."
I turned the Doctor over. She moaned and opened her eyes.
"Jack?" she slurred.
"Despite my good looks, I'm not an angel," I said. "I'm real."
She tried to smile.
"Jack."
"Carry her while, I take Nara," Anna Lee said as she dragged Nara.
"Where are we going?" I asked as I picked up the Doctor.
We went into the backyard. She shot the lock off.
I realized what she was doing and helped. We threw the shelving away and Anna Lee used the Nara's finger to operate the scanner. The TARDIS appeared.
We threw open the doors. I dragged the Doctor in and Anna Lee dragged Nara in.
"I'm trying to understand why she dragged you into all this," I said.
"I check in regularly," I said. "Isn't there an Earth saying about keeping your friends and close and your enemies closer?"
"Right," he said.
I sat beside the Doctor. Her clothes were ripped, and dust covered her face. I gently rubbed my hand against her face. She smiled and then tears leaked down.
"I'm a mess," she whispered.
"I'm here Doctor," I said. "I won't let anyone hurt you."
Anna Lee began to flip switches.
"You know how to fly the TARDIS?" I said.
"I thought every companion did," she said.
An eerily familiar voice echoed through the TARDIS.
"We will get what we want. You cannot stop us! The revolution of the Daleks will commence!"
The Doctor suddenly lurched forward.
"I will not let you hurt them," she moaned. "I am not in my best form, but I will die before I stand down to you. Every being in this universe is in under MY protection. I might not look like much, but I'll fight with every breath to stop you!"
I caught her as she collapsed.
"Then you will die!"