Continuation from series 12, episode 10: The Timeless Children
The Doctor was afraid. She was deeply frightened and alone, locked away in a maximum security containment cell, forced into solitary confinement. "Life imprisonment," the Judoon guards had said. The cell was just about large enough to pace in, but it was badly lit. Two tiny barred windows were her only access to the outside world - not that there was much to see out there anyway. As far as she could tell, the prison was located on an asteroid, however she was too disoriented to determine the exact location.
Time to make a mental list of the positives. This regeneration had left her more optimistic than before, a fact that she had realised as early on as her fall to Earth all that time ago. Well, she was alive, so her crime couldn't have been too horrendous. She had a couple of custard creams in her pocket, that was handy. She had her sonic, but the advanced technology of such a high-security intergalactic prison meant that it wouldn't do much. It provided some light, at least. She was struggling to think of any more positives. Her fear and confusion attacked her ability to think clearly. The Doctor's thoughts raced and spiralled: How do I contact my friends? What year is it? What if I can't escape? Will my friends think I've abandoned them?
She sat down on the small platform in the centre of the cell. Even the Doctor had to admit that the situation looked more than a little bleak. She was also very tired. Tired from trying to stop the Master. Tired from all the impossible decisions she had had to make recently. And, she thought sadly, tired of looking after everyone. The platform in the centre of the cell was uncomfortable, but she settled into it. I've been in worse scrapes. I'll find a way out of this - for my friends and for everyone else who is dependent on me. She took some deep breaths, calming herself, attempting to slow her thoughts. Her whole being felt heavy, as if she carried the weight of the universe on her shoulders. She did, in a way.
The Judoon must have given her something to make her feel this way. Compliancy pharmaceuticals in the air system, perhaps. She shifted, lying face-up on the little platform. It was as if there was a magnet in her back, forcing her down, keeping her lying on the floor. Her limbs hung limply and heavily at her sides, as if all her muscles had been replaced with rubber. Everything ached and her head was fuzzy, her thoughts dazed. She drifted in and out of consciousness, her determination battling the chemicals the Judoon had given her. As she lay there in the dim cell, time became utterly meaningless. She turned her eyes to the window, watching the stars until her vision faded to black.
"You need to move back, my lovely." The voice was familiar, yet strangely meaningless. It definitely came from beyond the enormous, reinforced cell door, a mass of grey which allowed little hint of what was happening on the other side. The Doctor felt disconnected and lethargic, reality barely making any sense to her. She was sleepy and confused, and it took an immense effort just to lift her head from the floor. This simple action also caused her vision to blur - not a good sign, she thought.
"We don't have long, Doctor. You need to get away from the door, so I can get you out. This is for your own good, sweetie." That voice. Honey-sweet, lilting, and overly flirty. Even after all this time, the Doctor still recognised her. "River?" Her voice came out croaky and gravelly. Weak, she thought. I sound weak. And I need to prove that I'm not. She eased herself onto her elbows, groaning as her vision swam. She tried to focus, but shaped blurred into each other, the dim light adding to her confusion.
"Darling, you need to help yourself here. I only have enough micro-explosives for the one go and the hallucinogenic lipstick doesn't last long on the Judoon guards!" She was getting louder. Although the Doctor wished she could just return to the velvety haven offered to her by unconsciousness, she knew that she needed to act quickly.
She forced her body to work against itself. Planted her knees firmly on the floor, groaning as black spots fluttered across her vision. Whatever weakness had been forced on her, it would not win today. She pushed herself up, as quickly as her jelly-like muscles would allow. She backed up against the wall, almost collapsing with relief against it. "I'm ready, River," she croaked. "Get me out of here!" In her exhausted, confused state, she barely registered the smoke and noise of the small explosion. Ignoring the way in which her vision was tinged with black, she made her way carefully across, cringing as pain shot through her limbs.
River stepped calmly through the gaping hole she'd just created in the door. She acknowledged the Doctor's new appearance. "Well this is new," she drawled. "You know I have a thing for blondes!" She picked her way through the rubble and supported the Doctor with one hand, while she clutched her weapon in the other. "Now let's get you out - I brought the TARDIS up from the lower level storage facility for you." With River's help, the Doctor staggered slowly forwards until she made it onto the ship. She rested against the console, patting the surface affectionately. "Hello again friend," she said softly.
River navigated the ship expertly away from the containment facility. "I've set us on course for Earth, in 1801. It's a jump of several thousand galaxies, and if I've done my job correctly," she put the small lipstick tube in her pocket, "they won't realise you're gone until we're very far away."
"Thank you, River." The Doctor's voice was still a little croaky, but she could feel her strength returning slightly. She took out her sonic, tapped a few commands into the console, and sent an apologetic message to her friends. Having come across the Judoon, they would understand why she needed to stay away from them for a while. She couldn't put them at the risk of interrogation from the intergalactic police - there would be truly disastrous consequences if they were found to be lying.
"Don't thank me yet -if you don't mind, I'd like to check you're still in working order. Whatever the Judoon were putting into your system, it was extremely powerful."
The Doctor nodded obediently. She could imagine worse situations than her wife examining her and fussing over her! River checked all her vital signs, murmuring under her breath a little. "I think they gave you a heavy dose of muscle relaxants, and they definitely did something to slow down your hearts. The grogginess is partly because you're never at your best if you're stuck with your thoughts for too long, and also because they pump compliance drugs into the air system in the cell so they don't have to deal with too much violence." She shrugged. "You need a holiday - and I suggest this comes in the form of an extended date with me!" River grinned, as if very pleased with herself.