AN/ Hey again faithful readers, and here is part 2 of 4 for this story arc. The next 2 chapters will be The Almost People. I did promise to update more regularly so here I am. Uni does start next week, so updates may be slightly irregular for when I get a spare moment.
Anyway, getting to this chapter where Riana finds herself in a bit of hot water, by biting off more than she can chew. She finds out just why you shouldn't lie to the Doctor. Hehehe, I quite enjoyed writing that scene. Still things start to escalate and more of the truth about who Riana is and why she's important is revealed. Like always please feel free to leave a review if you have any questions or a comment about the story. I always welcome constructive criticism to help improve my writing.
Without further ado
R&R
jd009
Chapter 12: The Rebel Flesh – And Then There Were Two…
I knew this was bound to happen sooner or later; the locket had been surprisingly inactive today no major out of body experiences thank you very much. It was too bad that the record was now broken. While I was getting used to them, it was still very disorientating to be literally ripped out of one's body and just appear somewhere with no idea what was going to happen.
For example, as soon as I realised that Rory was probably in danger from the Ganger Jennifer, the locket had suddenly placed me square in what I could only presume was the washroom. It was a dimly lit room with vaguely rusted mirrors along one wall, and many stall doors along the other. I was standing behind a person who was leaning over a sink staring vacantly into the mirror. It took me but a minute to recognise that is was Jennifer. She was pale and had deep bags under her eyes, I looked over to my left when I heard a male voice speak; it was Rory.
"The Doctor's always saying don't wander off. First rule with him, actually. Don't wander off." Rory said from where he was standing on the stairs leading into the room.
"I just need a minute." Jennifer replied.
"Oh, yeah. Sure. Take all the time you need. I've got your back. You're fine." Rory said awkwardly.
I watched in horrid fascination as Jennifer's face morphed from pristine Human features to the conjoined fluid features of The Flesh. She gasped in horror as she slumped forward and a piece of Flesh goop fell from her into the basin.
"Er, Jennifer? What's up, Jennifer?" Rory said from where he had turned his back to give her some privacy. I knew even if I spoke, they wouldn't hear me. In fact, when I looked into the mirror where I expected to see my reflection, I saw Glory staring back at me watching the scene.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. Glory turned her eyes (glowing with the same golden light of the sun) onto my blue ones.
You must be careful with this one Red One, she will try to destroy them all. Glory said, being as helpfully as evasive as usual. When I next looked over to try and ask what she had meant she had vanished. That one was trouble mark my words.
I watched as Jennifer suddenly ran into one of the cubicles as the door slammed shut behind her. I could hear her panicked breathing and soft sobs.
"We er… we'd better get going. Everything okay in there, Jen?" Rory asked with concern. Just when I felt like things might be ok an unnaturally long fleshy hand burst through the cubicle door and punched Rory in the side of the jaw. Her hand kept going until it broke the mirror. Rory grunted and fell to the floor and Ganger Jennifer's hand retreated to its normal size and shape.
"Rory!" I cried out. I might not know this man yet, but he seemed like a descent sort and Amy thought fondly of him. (Which reminded me, I had to ask her about that.)
In the hands place from the hole, an even more repulsive sight came, in the form of Ganger Jennifer's elongated neck and head. It had taken on the unnatural conjoined features of the Flesh and growled as it slithered forward like a rattledin. Right at Rory.
"Just let us live!" Ganger Jennifer said. I was glad Rory had some sense as I had suspected earlier, he took one look at the creature and made a run for it. Entirely sensible in my opinion. Something both Amy and the Doctor could benefit from occasionally. But before I could do anything else, I felt the sensation of being thrown back into my body.
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I gave a startled gasp as I stumbled slightly, feeling twinges of pain racing behind my eyes and in my head. That one had been one of the most intense visions I had in a while. Almost as though the locket was being slightly temperamental. It was as though whatever was happening with the Flesh was affecting it in a very negative way. Perhaps this was why the Doctor hadn't wanted me here with them? The Doctor noticed my stumble and must have guessed that I had seen something as his eyes grew concerned.
"Should I even ask?" He said with raised brows. I looked between him and Amy with slight fear in my eyes.
"We need to hurry, he's in danger. Jennifer's Ganger tried to attack him, she unstable like Cleaves" I replied. The Doctor looked even more concerned. I ignored it though and turned to the Humans.
"Where is the washroom?" I asked.
"Why? Is something wrong, I can take you there if you like." Jimmy asked. I nodded as Jimmy quickly led the way out of the room and in the same direction that Rory and Ganger Jennifer had left earlier.
It appeared so much of this ancient monastery was the same, long dark corridors and winding stairs. Jimmy clearly knew where he was going, as he led us through the building to a corridor that had broken acid drums along the side and a nice puddle of quickly expanding fresh acid, blocking the path forward.
"Oh great! Grandfather, just what we needed. I did warn you that the acid was dangerous." I said to no one in particular. I knew I sounded slightly petulant, but my adrenalin was maxed out and I had a serious case of nerves going on and frustration that Rory was in danger and we couldn't get to him. Not to mention plenty of irritation with these people for not simply listening to the Doctor and myself in the first place.
"Explosion must've ruptured the acid feeds. We're going to need the acid suits." Jimmy said despondently.
"No, no, no. We haven't got time. Back, back, back!" The Doctor said irritated, as he suddenly pulled Amy away from the leak and ran back through the door we had just come from. I knew this day wasn't going to be any easier. What I still couldn't figure out was why the Doctor had intentionally come here in the first place. Jimmy took the lead again as he took us down another route to where the washroom was located. I recognised the scene I had witnessed in the vision as we entered the familiar washroom.
It was almost surreal looking at the scene from another angle. The rusted, broken mirrors, the hole in the cubical door and the Flesh goop still in the sink. The Doctor spun around as he looked for any sign of Rory or Jennifer – but I knew he wouldn't find any.
"Rory?" Amy called. I shook my head as I looked at her.
"He's not here, he left earlier. We probably just missed him." I said.
"Jennifer's a Ganger too?" Jimmy whispered. I knew he was afraid for the Human Jennifer as well.
"Yes." I answered him.
"Doctor, you said they wouldn't be violent." Amy said in disbelief at the chaos around us.
"But I did say they were scared and angry." The Doctor replied. He ran his hand through his hair in worry or perhaps it was frustration. He turned to me suddenly, as though looking for an answer to his problem. I felt flustered and slightly unsure of myself. I'd seen the Doctor do this once before on the spaceship, when he was trying to save Martha from being burnt to a crisp.
"Love, I need to know where they went?" He said at me expectantly. I froze.
"Huh?" I responded intelligently. The Doctor eyed me strangely, as if surprised that I didn't immediately know what to do.
"The Heart Riana, I need to know where Rory is now?" He elaborated. I still wasn't sure what he was getting at. I had minimal control over the locket it as it was. I could only tell him what I had seen in the vision. Not to mention that I had heard the locket referred to by that name before. The Heart.
"You know it doesn't work that way. This thing never does what it's told. All I can tell you is that Jennifer attacked him and then Rory ran off." I said. Now I knew the Doctor was suspicious again.
"Yes, you can. Concentrate on Rory and try to find him. It's vital – if we don't fix this then everything is ruined." He said insistently. I swallowed nervously. I had only done this once before, when the Doctor, Rose and myself were about to die – and even then, it had taken a lot of energy and concentration.
"Wow, no pressure then." I muttered to myself. But when I glanced up, I noticed even Amy was expecting me to be able to do it. Jimmy looked confused. He was staring at me in wariness, like an animal trapped in a corner ready to fight or flee.
"What do you mean everything is ruined? And how did she know about Jen being a Ganger, or for that matter how can she even find him when none of us no where they are? Not to mention what sort of strange powers she stopped Buzzer with before? And early technology, is what you said. You seem to know something about the Flesh." Jimmy ranted. I however was finding it extremely difficult to concentrate when being interrogated.
"Do you? Doctor?" Amy questioned.
"You're no weatherman and she's no acid expert. Why are you really here?" Jimmy said angrily in the Doctor's face. I'd had enough of it by then as I couldn't focus with all the yelling and hostility.
"Hey! If you don't mind, I'm trying to concentrate here. Can we please save the angry suspicious remarks until later!" I reminded them sharply. The Doctor had spun around to lean over the sink and stare into the mirror, but the comment did the trick as everyone fell silent.
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I focused as hard as I could, trying like last time to search for Rory's unique psychometric imprint. Everyone had one, wherever we walked, whatever we touched be it objects or people. It left an impression of that person. It was harder than it was last time, but I pushed through it as I sent my energy out. The locket seemed to want to fight it as whatever was happening here today, it didn't like it one iota. Still I could feel the familiar sensation of weightlessness that came with a vision. I was more tangible though now, as though I was solider than a regular vision.
Rory was frightened. He was hiding. I followed his… I wasn't sure what the correct word for it was… perhaps shadow, psychometric shadow. I followed his shadow down the corridors out of the building past the walls where Jennifer had found him and to the same acid leak we had encountered earlier.
He'd turned around. Couldn't get past. Still scared but concerned for her. For Jennifer. The young woman who was lost and alone and scared and hurt. He'd decided to follow her. He was confused. She couldn't be Jennifer? Yet she looked just like her. What should he do? Riana and the Doctor would know – they always knew.
Down corridors now, past a set of stairs into a room. She was just sitting there. Looking at a picture of little girl. Suddenly she spoke.
"When I was a little girl, I got lost on the moors, wandered off from the picnic. I can still feel how sore my toes got inside my red welly boots. And I imagined another little girl, just like me, in red wellies, and she was Jennifer too. Except she was a strong Jennifer, a tough Jennifer. She'd lead me home. My name is Jennifer Lucas. I am not a factory part. I had toast for my breakfast. I wrote a letter to my mum. And then you arrived. I noticed your eyes right off." She said as she turned to face him.
"Did you?" He said. Still scared and wary.
"Nice eyes. Kind." Jennifer said.
"Where is the real Jennifer?" Rory asked. The Ganger Jennifer grew angry as she stood up.
"I am Jennifer Lucas. I remember everything that happened in her entire life. Every birthday, every childhood illness. I feel everything she has ever felt and more. I'm not a monster! I am me. Me! Me! Me!" She said as for the first time, her face appeared completely human and tears started to fall from her eyes. I could only watch as Rory overcome with compassion for this being, came forward and hugged her as she cried.
"Why did they do this to us? Help me, Rory. Help me." Jennifer pleaded.
"Shush, shush." Rory said as he consoled her.
Little blue queen. It comes you must be prepared. Glory whispered as she appeared beside me.
"What comes? For once give me a straight answer!" I yelled.
The Red Fire…
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I knew immediately that everything wasn't alright as I felt about a million times worse than I had before- even after falling off that building and having the Doctor land on me. It was like the day after exercising, that ache that took over your body until your muscles grew stronger. I stumbled again as I sagged against the cubical door trying to hold myself upright. The Doctor was there in a second supporting my form as he hauled me to my feet and looked me in the eyes. He was desperate I realised. Whatever he had planned wasn't going how he thought it should. A desperate Doctor wasn't ever a good thing. We were in real trouble this time.
"Well?" He asked me. I shook my head slightly to try and ease the ache building in my eyes.
"I saw him and Jennifer. I could feel how scared he was, it was so dark and there's acid leaking everywhere. But I don't know where he is. Just that he's with her and that it's somewhere in the building. I'm sorry Doctor I can't tell you anymore. But Doctor, I'm worried – somethings coming and we're all in danger." I whispered with fear. The Doctor's jaw clenched, as he spun around and ran his hands through his hair.
"I have to talk to them. I can fix this." He said with worry in his voice. Before he ran off, I caught his arm.
"You've known all along that this was going to happen, didn't you? That's why you brought us here. Doctor, please tell me what's going on." I asked him.
"Yes, I had an inkling. But I needed to know for sure. I promise I will tell you everything. But right now, I need to get to the TARDIS." He said as he dashed up the stairs. Amy followed him closely behind. Jimmy only looked at me uncertainly. I nodded my head towards where the others had gone waving him forward.
"Go! I'll catch up." I said to him.
"Wait. What's going on? Where's the real Jennifer?" He asked me. I shook my head, as I tried to not let the pain building up behind my eyes debilitate me.
"I don't know. We'll find her." I promised. He nodded before running off after the Doctor and Amy.
I would follow in a minute I just needed a second to clear my head. My body felt like an Ooska's chew toy and Glory wasn't helping with all the proverbial stretching she was doing within my mind. Looking into the mirror, I noticed that my face was slightly narrower than it had been a few weeks ago. My hair was the same blue it always was, only slightly mussed. My skin was pale, and I noticed that my blue eyes had a faint shimmer of gold-white beneath them. Something I wasn't sure I liked. The locket's eerie red light filled the room and highlighted my face like some sort of avenging demon.
"Why can't I ever just have a day where my life is not in perpetual danger?" I muttered to myself.
"Right, Riana, quit your whinging. There are people relying on you. Most especially the Doctor. There can be time for hysterical fear ridden breakdowns later. After everyone is safe and this mess is sorted out." I said to myself trying to get a hold of my fear.
"Be brave. That's what the Doctor would say – that's probably what he expects." With that last comment I turned and hurried to catch up with the others.
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"It is too dangerous out here with acid leaks." I heard the Doctor say as I caught up to the trio ahead of me. I noticed another pipe had broken and was spraying plumes of acid into the air. I sighed, I had tried to tell these people that the acid would be a problem and had they listened – no! Humans.
"We have to find Rory." Amy said urgently. I nodded.
"Yes. I'm going back to the TARDIS. Wait for me in the dining hall. I want us to keep together, okay. No more wandering off." The Doctor said sternly. He was probably right, but he was sort of being hypocritical with the wandering off himself. Typical though of him. He gave me a once over and a significant look. Which I suppose he assumed I knew what it meant – I didn't. But I could guess. Make sure that Amy was following his instructions and that she actually listened. Amy wasn't the sort of person to do that though.
"And what about Rory?" Amy asked. Seriously I had to ask her what her relationship was with Rory when I got time. I still felt about 20 pages behind everyone else today.
"He's safe, as far as I know and it will be easier to locate him and Jennifer with the TARDIS, Amy." I said going for what I hoped was a stern countenance. I wasn't sure she took it too seriously though. Rebellious to the end, which normally I would be completely fine with, being a troublemaker myself. But in this situation, the Doctor was right. Splitting up more would only mean more people hurt or killed from all the acid leaks, or the Gangers.
"Here we go. Distress flares." Jimmy said as he opened a box in the wall and pulled out a metal case.
"Exit?" The Doctor asked Jimmy.
"Keep going straight. Can't miss it. But you're never going to get your vehicle in here." Jimmy said in disbelief at the Doctor's audacity. He certainly had a lot to learn about telling the Doctor what was impossible.
"I'm a great parker. Riana, make sure Amy listens and doesn't wander off." He said as he ran off down the corridor. I rolled my eyes – apparently, we were back to being separated again. I really wish he would make up his mind.
"Sure, just leave me behind! Akhaten that man is difficult work sometimes." I yelled after him.
"We really need those acid suits. I've sent Buzzer and Dicken to get them." Jimmy said even as I turned around, I spotted Amy making her way back from where we came from. Really? Couldn't she ever listen. I really wished Rory was here – he was the sensible one.
"Where are you going? Didn't you hear what the Doctor said. It's dangerous and I'm not kidding around this time Amy. Something really dangerous is going on and I'm afraid that if we split up someone might die, and I can't protect you." I said to her seriously. Amy looked at me guiltily as though she didn't like disappointing me.
"I know and I'm sorry. But I need to find him Riana…he's my husband. You know what we've been through to get to this point. I ran from him so many times, but I can't do it again. Besides, I think the Doctor needs your help more than just keeping an eye on me. We both know he's up to something – he brought us here deliberately and we need to find out what it is." She said. My eyes widened hearing that piece of news. Her husband? Was that what she meant when she asked us if we had ever run away from something just because we could? It would certainly explain a lot of things.
"Well that certainly explains a few things…" I muttered to myself.
"Amy, I wouldn't." Jimmy added. But Amy, after a quick squeeze to my shoulder was already halfway down the corridor her torch illuminating her way.
"Nor would I. What can you do, eh? Riana take care of the Doctor, make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble and when he does. Pull his arse out won't you." She said as she winked and then ran off. There really was no stopping that girl. I liked that about her.
"At least wait for an acid suit." Jimmy said sullenly. He looked at me then, even as I started to back away from him, in the direction the Doctor had gone.
"Not you too. You're not going to wait for an acid suit, are you?" He said tiredly. I shook my head.
"No sorry. Look, just be safe ok. Hopefully we make it out of this in one piece – but to be honest I have a bad feeling about all this." I said. He let out a huff of irritated breath, but acknowledge my comment. I didn't waste anymore time as I ran off after the Doctor.
I found him, however not where I expected him to be, in the Flesh room. I felt a pulsing coming from the locket and it almost seemed to yank me forward as it pulled me to where the Doctor was. He was leaning over the bubbling vat of liquid that sang, with his sonic screwdriver. Scanning it I presumed. I stood there and watched him for a moment. I was still slightly angry and sad at how his 9th self-had treated me. And he was being so secretive.
I made my way forward to where he was standing. The singing grew louder as I approached, and my headache tripled. I knew the Flesh was interested in either the locket or me. I couldn't be entirely too sure.
"I thought I told you to make sure Amy didn't wander off." He spoke up suddenly. Turning to face me. I could only stare before my mind caught up with my body.
"You should know by now that I go where you go. Not to mention Amy was never going to listen, not when Rory is involved. I doubt there is anything that could separate those two. Besides I thought you were going to find the TARDIS?" I said. The Doctor put his screwdriver away as he approached me. I swallowed nervously. Normally, I wasn't someone to be easily intimidated, but something behind the Doctor's eyes spoke of a very old power that wasn't to be trifled with. He only stopped when he was a hairsbreadth away from my face – so close I could smell his breath.
"Yes, I suppose that love has that effect on people." He said softly. My breath halted slightly, and my heart sped up. I didn't know where he was going with this, I felt like I was standing on the edge of a chasm, lean too far and you fell to your doom.
"Why don't you want me near the Flesh and why did you bring us here?" I said instead of reading into the subtext of our conversation. He leaned even closer, so I had to pull my neck back to look at him.
"You know why its dangerous for you to be near the Flesh. If it can replicate exact living beings…" He trailed off evasively. It was like he was testing me for a reaction. I wasn't going to give it to him.
"Your being evasive. Can't you just answer my question – you promised you would. Doctor why are we here?" I demanded, standing my ground. He leaned so he whispered in my ear as he spoke – my very sensitive ear. Pleasant sensations shot down from my ear to my neck and straight to a lower part of my anatomy. I shuddered. Why did this man have such an effect on me?
"I needed to test the capabilities of the Flesh." He said slowly. I noticed that he was leaning closer to my ear as he spoke and was almost kissing it, with every second word brushing his lips against my lobe. It was probably one of the most erotic things I'd ever experienced – and it didn't even seem as though he was properly trying. How could this man be so mesmerising and yet so completely clueless?
"U-u-um…" I stuttered incoherently "T-test?" I asked.
"Mmm, yes test. I need to ascertain whether it can truly replicate living matter – including the soul. Just how truthful it is…" He trailed off as he had started to actually – I gulped; bite my ear gently.
"DOCTOR!" I gasped out. I knew I was walking a dangerous line, but this just seemed like I willingly chucked myself over the cliff into the chasm. Free falling into what, I had no idea.
He then made his way down my neck and slowly back up to my jaw. I automatically found my hands going to his chest to try and hold him off slightly. All the while he was kissing me gently as he whispered in between.
"Whether. It. Is. Capable. Of. Playing games. Or…Lying" He said as he finally made his way back to my face. Then before I could even respond he grabbed my face and kissed me. It was just like the first time and had my body in complete meltdown and unable to think rationally. Moving his mouth against mine taking advantage of my lack of resistance, he swept his tongue into my mouth. Now that woke me up, as I found myself responding before, I remembered that we had more important things to think of than snogging sessions.
As dazed as I was, I still managed to eventually break my mouth away from his and try and push him away. However, my efforts were thwarted when I realised, I had been outplayed. The Doctor had managed to grab my wrist and push my sleeve down, to expose the four charms I had upon my bracelet. Making it quite clear that that I had lied to him about my age. I froze in bewilderment.
"It's as I suspected than, you aren't the Riana you said you were. You lied." The Doctor said. I could only stare rebelliously at him.
"So, what if I did. You haven't been telling me the truth the whole day! Like why for instance you're in the Flesh room when we should be in the TARDIS searching for Rory. Instead your snogging my brains out!" I shouted defiantly.
"This isn't a game Riana! I had to be sure of which version you were it's important. Lives may be at stake." He said seriously. I scoffed. Did he think I didn't know that people could be in danger?
"I really don't see how my age plays into making sure no one dies. The Gangers are the issue here, not me Doctor. For your information, I didn't tell you when I was, because for me the last time I saw you, you spent most of the day hating me and told me I made you destroy your own planet. And maybe I just for once wanted to know what older versions of me had that I didn't!" I said somewhat irritated. The Doctor closed his eyes and sighed as though gathering his patience. When he opened them again, he was more collected than before.
"No Riana, not from the Gangers, but from you. They're child's play in comparison. It's vital you understand this. We have these rules for a reason, particularly when it comes to you and me. If something happens in the wrong order – if you find out something before its time, all of history could unravel. Do you understand?" He said. I nodded glumly.
"This" said the Doctor as he gently touched the locket "is the most dangerous thing in the universe. It isn't a toy and I need to know I can trust you to follow the rules I told you when we first met. I know I was an arse to you and there is no excuse for that. But I was very young and angry back then and you are going to just have to trust that was only one part of my life." The Doctor said gently as he kissed the top of my head.
"Why did you kiss me?" I asked him. The Doctor only eyed me seriously, as though debating what he should say.
"Mostly to distract you. But I had to be sure. You and I are complicated Riana. Anymore I can't say as it would be a spoiler and as you just discovered, some things you aren't ready to know yet. They have to be lived, not told." He replied.
"Am I really that dangerous?" I asked hoping that all of my worst nightmares weren't about to come true.
"You are just Riana and will always be, my Riana. No matter what happens. You always have a choice. About what sort of person, you choose to be." He said.
"Who told you that?" I asked. The Doctor only smirked as he looked at me.
"You did." He said. My eyes widened. "Now, we need to go and get to the TARDIS and then sort all of this mess out. Amy has probably found Rory by now and will need rescuing as usual." He continued. I nodded breathing shakily. The Doctor held out his hand for mine and I took it gratefully as we left the bubbling Flesh behind. What we failed to see was the two sets of lips that rose to the surface and whispered; Trust us.
Our rescue effort however was hampered, when we reached where the TARDIS was, only to find it buried up to the bulb in acid. It was night already and the darkness around us gave the atmosphere an eerie feeling. I could only look on disbelievingly wondering how we were going to fix this mess.
"Oh. What are you doing down there?" The Doctor moaned dejectedly.
"Well so much for that plan, can we get her out?" I asked only to suddenly notice a hissing sound fill the air. Both the Doctor and I looked at one another before realising that the sound was coming from down below us. It was only a few seconds before I felt the acid eating into my shoes and at my feet. Our shoes were covered in them, the Doctor let an undignified yelp as he hopped on the spot and tried to remove his shoes.
I thankfully, had enough brains to remove myself from the acid puddle before quickly pulling off my brown boots. The Doctor took a bit longer to work it out until he spotted me safely away from the acid. Then he too was standing only in his socks. I could only look sadly at my boots; I had been seriously partial to them. Was even thinking about using them as replacement boots for my work ones I ruined.
"Clearly, we're not going to be able to find anyone with the TARDIS." The Doctor surmised helpfully.
"You think genius. Will the Old Girl be ok with all the acid?" I asked worriedly.
"She's survived a lot worse than simple acid. But we have bigger problems than that. We need to find the Gangers before the Humans do or everything will be for nothing." The Doctor said.
"I really liked those boots." I said non sequitur. The Doctor only stopped and looked at me strangely, like I'd grown a second head.
"You don't think we have slightly more important things to be worrying about than your vanity?" He asked. I huffed.
"Yes obviously, but I seriously liked them." I muttered. The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"I'll get you a new pair. Now c'mon, I think I might know where they are." He said as he grabbed my hand and lifted his torch to light the way ahead of us.
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"Why exactly do you believe that the Gangers will be in the Acid room?" I asked the Doctor as he dragged me along behind him.
"Firstly, because they have the acid suits, if I'm not mistaken and secondly, because it would be the last place the Humans would look with all the acid spillages around." He replied.
"And your plan is what exactly, hope they don't all elastically punch us when they see that we're not Gangers ourselves?" I queried.
"No, my hope is that they'll listen to reason. We haven't hurt any of them. They're just scared and confused, looking for answers." The Doctor said.
"Which we can give to them." I summarised. The Doctor nodded confirming my theory. I had to jump over many of the acid puddles as we made our way through the monastery, as walking around in only my socks wasn't exactly a great choice.
"Yes, but first we need to find them." He said as he lowered his voice as we entered the acid room.
However, it wasn't exactly effective when I spotted the fluid looking Flesh faces of the Gangers, standing there and staring at the Doctor and me. I gulped slightly as I elbowed the Doctor in the ribs to get his attention.
"Hello. How are you all getting on?" The Doctor said, as if not noticing the danger we were in.
"Why don't you tell us?" The Ganger that was Cleaves replied.
"Look the Doctor and I don't want to hurt you. We only want to help." I said cautiously.
"Well, we have two choices. The first is to tear each other apart. Not my favourite. The second is to knuckle down and work together." The Doctor added. I prayed to Akhaten they accepted, as this could very quickly turn into a blood bath.
"Very well, we'll play along for now. But any sign or trouble…" Ganger Cleaves trailed off.
"Which won't be an issue, will it Doctor?" I said.
"Not at all, now c'mon let's go and find everybody else and sort this out." He said as he led the Gangers and me out into the corridor.
"Now, I know it's hard for you to hold your fully human form. That's why you keep shifting between the Flesh stages but do try. It'll make the others less scared of you." The Doctor added helpfully. I could only hope this wasn't about to go to shit.
We made our way back to the dining room where we found Amy, Rory and all the Humans, as well as what I could only presume was the Ganger Jennifer.
"Where's Jen? What have you done with her?" The Human Buzzer demanded of Jennifer.
"I haven't seen her, I swear. But look, I'm her. I'm just like her. I'm real." The Ganger Jennifer said desperately.
"You're a copy. You're just pretending to be like her." Human Jimmy said angrily.
"Rory, we don't really know anything about them yet." Amy said.
"Well, I know that she's afraid and she needs our help." Rory said defensively.
"Jimmy, Buzzer. Come on, you guys. We've worked together for two years." Ganger Jennifer tried to reason, but none of them were having a bar of it.
"I worked with Jennifer Lucas, not you." Buzzer said.
"Okay, let's not do anything at all…" Amy started to say as the Doctor, and I walked in.
"Until the Doctor and Riana get here." They both finished at the same time.
"Hello." The Doctor said pleasantly. I waved at Amy and Rory happy to see they were both unhurt.
"This is…" Human Jimmy started.
"You're telling me." Ganger Jimmy finished wryly. All the Gangers and Humans stood facing one another staring in awe and much confusion.
"All right, Doctor and Riana, you've brought us together. Now what?" Ganger Cleaves said.
"Before we do anything, I have one very important question. Has anybody got a pair of shoes I could borrow? Size ten. Although I should warn you, I have very wide feet." The Doctor said. I rolled my eyes at his statement. But realised that I should also probably acquire some new shoes if I didn't want to walk around all night in wet socks with acid leaks around.
"Seconding that, can I also get a pair of shoes? Not sure what size exactly but preferably a woman's size as I've lost mine." I said. Almost all the people in the room stared at us strangely. Before Jimmy, nodded and went over to retrieve a pair for the Doctor and strangely enough Cleaves got one for me. They were a bit small but would do the job for the immediate future.
The Doctor informed me they were called cowboy boots, or in my case cowgirl. They came up to just below my knees and were a light tan colour with embroidered flowers on the sides. I kind of liked them even if I had absolutely no idea what a cow was.
"Thanks" I told her.
"It's fine. Probably suit you more than me to be honest." She said dryly.
The Doctor gathered us around him as he sat on the edge of the table. I went over and stood next to him.
"The Flesh was never merely moss. These are not copies. The storm has hardwired them. They are becoming people." The Doctor explained.
"The Flesh has the capacity to store what my people call Preciousness. Living memories and emotions. The Gangers, are capable as the Doctor and I first explained of having a soul." I added.
"They have souls?" Human Jimmy asked.
"Rubbish!" Dicken refuted. Even as he sneezed.
"Bless you. We were all jelly once. Little jelly eggs sitting in goop." The Doctor said. I only turned to stare at him strangely, not knowing what point he was trying to make.
"How exactly does that prove our point?" I said shaking my head.
"Yeah, thanks. Too much information." Amy muttered.
"We are not talking about an accident that needs to be mopped up. We are talking about sacred life. Do you understand?" The Doctor asked and when they all nodded continued. "Good."
"The TARDIS is currently trapped in an acid pool, but once the Doctor and I can get her out we can get everybody off the island and back to safety. That includes both Humans and Gangers." I said emphasising my last point so there was no misunderstanding.
"I can probably try and telekinetically lift her up, although with all this acid around it might be difficult." I added. Many of them only stared at me in disbelief.
"That's the spirit, how does that all sound then?" The Doctor said excitedly.
"Can I make it home for Adam's birthday?" Human Jimmy asked. I realised he was speaking about his son.
"What about me? He's my son too." Ganger Jimmy said demandingly.
"You? You really think that?" Human Jimmy said.
"I feel it." Ganger Jimmy replied.
"Oh, so you were there when he was born, were you?" Human Jimmy said angrily.
"Yeah. I drank about eight pints of tea, then they told me I had a wee boy and I just burst out laughing. No idea why. I miss home, as much as you." Ganger Jimmy said. I realised than this whole situation rested on a knife's edge.
"Hey, hey. There's no need for any kind of zeem'al, we can work this out." I said trying to be diplomatic – something I wasn't naturally gifted at myself.
"Zeem what?" Human Jimmy asked.
"Look, I'm not going to lie to you. It's a right old mess, this. But as you might say up North, oh well, I'll just go to't foot of stairs. Eee by by gum. Or not." The Doctor butted in. I could only stare at him in incomprehension. What in Akhaten's name did he just say?
"Good. Right. First step is we get everyone together, then get everyone safe. Then, get everyone out of here." He continued as though oblivious to the puzzlement on everyone's faces. Sometimes this man was a right old idiot.
"Kaluskalu, don't do that again…ever." I said as I elbowed him in the ribs. He only looked slightly sheepish.
"But we're still missing Jennifer and Cleaves." Amy said. I nodded realising she was right. The Human Jennifer and Cleaves were still out there somewhere.
"I'll go and look for them." Human Jimmy said.
"I'll give you a hand, if you like. Cover more ground." Ganger Jimmy said. I smiled at the progress we were making. The Humans were finally starting to see that the Flesh was just as alive as any other lifeform in this room. Maybe everything would be alright.
"Yeah, okay. Thanks." Human Jimmy smiled at his Ganger. The moment was broken however when the Human Cleaves walked in with a weapon in her hand.
"This circus has gone on long enough." She declared. I sighed; this woman was really an idiot.
"Oh, great. You see, that is just so typically me." The Ganger Cleaves said sardonically. I spun to look at Human Cleaves and subtly prepared to act if anything happened.
"Doctor or Riana, tell it to shut up!" Human Cleaves demanded.
"You don't think your overreacting to something you have no idea about." I said angrily at her. The Doctor gripped my arm to keep me from doing anything rash.
"No I'm not, I'm protecting us from them." She replied.
"Cleaves, no. No, no." The Doctor said frantically placing himself in front of everyone else.
"Circuit probe. Fires about ooo, forty thousand volts? Would kill any one of us, so I guess she'll work on Gangers just the same." She replied. I'd really had it with her now.
"Are you really that dense?" I said in incredulity. "They are alive and are not objects, but people and what your talking about is murder!" I said.
"It's interesting you refer to them as it, but you call a glorified cattle prod a she." The Doctor observed as he moved closer to her. I also shadowed him. I noticed Rory protecting Jennifer and the others tensing up.
"When the real people are safely off this island, then I'll happily talk philosophy over a pint with you, Doctor, Riana." Human Cleaves responded.
"What are you going to do to them?" Amy said.
"Sorry. They're monsters. Mistakes. They have to be destroyed." Human Cleaves said, although I didn't detect a lot of remorse from her.
"They are not! Think about what your doing, please. You will regret this for the rest of your life if you don't stop and think." I urged. The Doctor was nearly upon her now as he reached out his hand for the probe.
"Give me the probe, Cleaves." The Doctor said.
"We always have to take charge, don't we, Miranda. Even when we don't really know what the hell is going on." The Ganger Cleaves said mockingly. I tensed waiting for something to happen. However, what I didn't expect or anticipate was one of the Buzzer's to rush Cleaves and for her to zap him with the probe. It was too late for me to do anything as he fell to the ground dead.
I instinctively yanked the probe out of her hand to make sure she wouldn't kill anyone else. The Doctor rushed over to Buzzer's body followed by Amy, to check him for any life signs.
"Argh! He's dead!" The Doctor cried.
"We call it decommissioned. What are you?" She said looking at me. I only glared at her noticing that Ganger Jennifer flinched from my presence.
"You stopped his heart. He had a heart. Aorta, valves, a real Human heart. And you stopped it!" The Doctor shouted angrily.
"You murdered him." I added.
"Jen?" Rory said as I noticed Jennifer had gone to where the other Gangers stood and was glaring at us in fear. Her eyes had changed back to the silver colour of the Flesh.
"What happened to Buzzer will happen to all of us if we trust you." She cried out.
"Wait, wait, just wait." The Doctor tried to reason, but I knew it was too late.
"No!" Rory cried as they took one look at me and the others and all fled out of the room.
"Wait! Look at what you have done, Cleaves." The Doctor demanded.
"If it's war, then it's war. You don't get it, Doctor, Riana. How can you? It's us and them now. Us and them." She said looking around the room at the other Humans.
"Us and them." Dicken said.
"Us and them." Jimmy sighed.
"No! Don't do this." I begged of them. But they weren't listening.
I yelled angrily as I telekinetically threw the probe at the wall and watched it break into hundreds of pieces. All of them looked at me in fear. I then went forward and froze Human Cleaves so she couldn't move.
"Why shouldn't I just squeeze the life out of you right now? It would be practically what you deserve after all your idiocy today, not to mention being a murderer." I threatened. I watched as the Doctor sprang forward to try and stop me. I knew my eyes must be shining like Glory's. There was fear there in her eyes as she seemed to realize that she was in danger.
The Doctor's hand on my arm made me freeze as I came back to myself from my anger.
"No Riana let her go. I know she killed him, but revenge isn't the way. This isn't you. We can fix this, but we need everyone to remain alive, Ok?" He said softly towards me. I slowly let the field go as she stumbled backwards from me.
"You're no acid expert, in fact I don't even think your Human." Human Cleaves said. But she shut up when the Doctor glared at her.
After that, the tension died down somewhat as Amy and Rory went over to Ganger Buzzer's body to cover it respectfully. The other Humans stood around talking strategy as the Doctor led me over to the table and sat me down.
"I'm fine Doctor, you can stop hovering over me like my mother." I said. But I knew the Doctor was concerned.
"You let your anger get the best of you again, Riana. What have I told you about that before?" He said. I looked away guiltily.
"Look I said I was sorry." I said sullenly.
"But you aren't, are you?" The Doctor said calling me out.
"She murdered him, Doctor. She could kill again. Now she's turned the others into an army out for blood." I explained. I was slightly regretful that I'd let my anger get the best of me, I probably wouldn't have hurt her too much. But I wanted her scared.
"I know, but we have to be better than them. You know that. We don't walk away from those that need our help – even if they are acting like idiots." He explained gently. I sighed knowing that I had acted irrationally, but it was the killer headache that I had. That throbbed behind my eyes and made thinking hard. It was like something was squeezing my head and the pulsing of the locket wasn't helping either. Something was wrong, I just knew it and it wasn't the Flesh.
"I know and I am sorry, I'll try to control it more. I am really sorry for lying earlier as well too. I shouldn't have done that I know. But I was just so sick of always being compared or blamed for something I wasn't." I said vulnerably. The Doctor kissed my forehead as he stood up.
"I was unfair to you as well. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you when you didn't understand. But I was so angry back then and I didn't like being wrong. I hope you know that I do trust you, more than anything Riana." The Doctor said. Some part of my heart that had been hurt by the last Doctor's words eased slightly.
"Even when I act childish and angry?" I questioned.
"Even then." The Doctor replied. Turning around to face the room he surveyed the scene.
"The most fortified and defendable room in the monastery." He asked. I had an inkling where he was going with this. When Cleaves failed to respond he restated his request. I stood up, even as Cleaves and the others eyed me with distrust.
"The chapel." She replied.
"Thank you." He said.
"Only one-way in. Stone walls two feet thick." She added helpfully. I could tell the Doctor was still angry with her. Even though he disagreed with my reaction, I knew he shared my sentiment.
"You've crossed one hell of a line, Cleaves. You've killed one of them. They're coming back, in a big way." He said gravely. Cleaves only looked stubbornly back at both of us, refusing to cower.
With that, the Humans gathered everything they could, and we left the dining hall to seek refuge in the chapel. The acid leaks had only gotten worse and the lack of light or power wasn't helping either. Rory periodically stopped to call out for the Human Jennifer, I knew he was still worried about her. Although I feared it may prove to be futile in the long run, there was just something off about Ganger Jennifer as Glory had warned me.
"What about the flares?" Human Jimmy questioned, as the Doctor led everyone into the chapel.
"We'll worry about the flares when we're locked inside." He replied as he ushered them in one by one. He turned then to face Amy, Rory and me.
"Rory, Pond, Riana, c'mon" He said beckoning us. Rory however backed away when we heard a distant scream fill the air. I looked up when I realised what he was planning to do. I was half debating whether or not I should telekinetically drag his butt inside, or let him go. I knew he would hate me for doing so.
"Let him go." Glory whispered in my head. I clutched it slightly in pain. The headache had tripled, and it was almost blinding me, tears had started to form in my eyes.
"Rory, come on." Amy encouraged.
"Jen's out there. She's out there and she's on her own." Rory replied.
"Well, if she's got any sense, then she's hiding. Rory!" The Doctor shouted as he looked behind at the approaching acid suit clad Gangers.
"I can't leave her out there!" Rory said.
"Doctor c'mon, he's made up his mind." I said urgently. I knew the Doctor was looking at me strangely.
"Trust me." I pleaded with him. Somehow the Doctor did, as he only called out once more for Rory to return.
"I know you both understand that." Rory said looking towards me and the Doctor. I nodded once to show I did understand. He looked relieved.
"Get in here. Get in here!" Amy yelled after him, but I had already grabbed her arm and dragged her inside the room. Catching one last glance of Rory, as he ducked down another passage out of the Gangers way. The Doctor shut the door behind us barricading us in the chapel.
"There they are." Ganger Cleaves declared.
"Rory! Riana let me go." Amy yelled.
"Hey, I'm sorry but if you stay out there, they'll kill you." I explained. She looked at me angrily.
"He's my husband." She said.
"I know, but you're just going to have to trust me when I say that he will be fine." I said. She looked at me for a second but nodded obligingly.
"Amy, they are not after him, they're after us." The Doctor added.
"Why? Why?" Two voices said suddenly filling the air. Everyone froze as the Doctor looked up into the dark shadowed corner where they had come from. There was an enormous pulse from the locket, and I looked down to see that it was shining a brilliant red. My heart rate increased, and a sick feeling began in my stomach, something was coming.
"Show yourselves!" The Doctor demanded. Yet the others had already started to build a barricade out of the barrels and drums they found within the room. I stood there feeling a strange sense of recognition from inside the darkness.
"Doctor! Riana!" Amy said fearfully.
"Pass me the barrel." Human Cleaves said.
"We need something heavy. Anything you can find." Human Dicken added. The thudding on the door increased as the Gangers tried to force their way in.
"This is insane. We're fighting ourselves." Human Jimmy said, leaning against the barricade. The Doctor meanwhile approached the corner of the room, I followed slowly behind.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"Yes. Yes, it's insane, and it's about to get even more insanerer. Is that a word? Show yourselves, right now!" He yelled. Everyone froze and I groaned as my head suddenly exploded. I sank to ground and Amy ran to help me.
"Doctor, Riana's not well, we are trapped in here and Rory's out there with them. Hello? We can't get to the TARDIS and we can't even leave the island." She said. The Doctor however was ignoring her in favour of staring into the darkness. I looked up when an identical voice filled the air.
"Correct in every respect, Pond. It's frightening, unexpected, frankly a total, utter splattering mess on the carpet, but I am certain, one hundred percent certain, that we can work this out. What do you think love?" It was the Doctor's voice coming from an identical Ganger version of him. But what was even more troubling, being when an equally familiar woman's voice replied.
"Oh, I have little doubt of that Kaluskalu. We've always been quite good at fixing messes. Not to mention most of them you start, but that's half the fun I always say." My voice said. I looked up to see a woman wearing a grey knee length dress with white patterned edging and brown ankle length boots. She had long blue hair and a stubborn chin, with mischievous silver eyes that shone with intelligence behind them. Around her neck hung a gold and red locket that shone with a strange demon like red colour and on her wrist was a silver charm bracelet. Except her features were the fluidic conjoined form of the Flesh.
"Trust us, we're the Doctor and the Azure Queen." They both said at the same time. I could only stare in horror.
Next Chapter: The Almost People – You, Me and Her
Akheet Terms
Rattledin - A carnivorous reptile.
Ooska – The Equivalent to a dog.
Zeem'al – Trouble worth the gods.
Kaluskalu – A ridiculous idiot. (Riana's affectionate name for the 11th Doctor)