Chapter Three

The Doctor rode back towards the caves by himself after finding no one to help him. The llama creatures, which he learned were called Faruki, were swift which was good since he wanted to get back to the caves as quick as he could just in case they were alive and waiting for him.

He still held out a dim hope that they were alive. He couldn't believe they could be dead. Not after all that Imiko had done for them. To make them both Time Ladies and give them multiple regenerations so they could be with him for the centuries to come and they both die without even using one. If that was the case, why give them the blessing at all? Why allow them to be with him completely if they died after only a short time together? The Doctor swallowed hard thinking over what he should have done. The spider on the tree. Why did he keep on going after they saw it? Why didn't he run back to the TARDIS after seeing the web or feeling the raindrops? They would have gotten burned by the rain on the way back to the TARDIS but getting a little bit burned was better than dying. He squeezed his eyes shut when guilt flooded his mind. His wife and daughter had trusted him completely and he had let them down. He remembered telling Rain that he would never let any harm come to her, would protect her with every breath in his body and she believed it without a moment's hesitation. He was a fool to think that things would be different this time. That the universe would just let him live out his lifespan with his loving family by his side. His brother and everyone else who told him that this time things would be different, that for once the universe would be on his side and grant him the peace and joy he had always wanted, he was just as big a fool for believing that as they were for believing that things had changed.

As he headed towards the woods, the Doctor saw the TARDIS where he had left it. He cursed silently. He should have insisted on taking his own TARDIS when they came so he could just get into it and leave everyone behind. He had no desire to see the rest of his family now, not when something could happen to them too. Family life was apparently a part of Alan's future but not his. He was destined to roam the universe alone, never knowing true love or joy, only getting temporary fixes from companions who would also leave him in the end. For the first time since Rain had come into his life, he felt the darkness creeping back into his mind and this time he didn't care if it did consume him.

He hurried on into the forest and as he did, the small spark of hope that stubbornly refused to go out began to speak to him telling him that they could be unconscious somewhere in the cave, that the spiders might not have drained them right away, only put them somewhere for later. He reasoned that they probably knocked them out or paralyzed their victims in some way so they couldn't get free. It was a dim, desperate hope but he clung to it like a life preserver in a storm refusing to face the horrifying alternative.

He reached the cave and the Doctor jumped down off the beast and sprinted into the cave while he pulled his flashlight from his pocket. He gave no thought to any spiders around him; all he wanted was to see the truth, to see if they were alive or dead. He sprinted down the shaft, through the cavern and into the larger cavern. He paused and swallowed hard when he didn't see anything except the stream that they had looked at earlier and the shattered remains of his glasses near the wall. He looked around for a moment and then ran deeper into the cave in search of his family.

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Kida pushed aside the stone door and walked through the secret passageway down to the underground tunnels where her pets lived. She knew the Doctor was on his way to find his family and she needed to talk to the queen.

She hurried down a long shaft and through an underground passageway, holding a flaming torch out in front of her. After twenty minutes she finally reached the inner sanctum of the spider's lair. She saw smaller spiders scurrying two and fro but she took no notice of them and they didn't notice her either. She headed down another passageway until she reached their equivalent of a larder. Here were the cocooned remains of their victims, both animal and humanoid. She used the torch to look around. Some of the remains had been here for quite a while, exsanguinated and decaying but there were others who had been put into hibernation, kept in storage until the spiders were ready to feast on their blood. Those who were in hibernation were kept that way because the spiders injected a mild toxin into their bloodstream that kept them alive but unconscious and unmoving with all visible signs of life hidden to the naked eye. The toxin kept the heartbeats slowed down so that they beat only once per hour in order to keep them from suffocating in the cocoon prisons which was why she was going to go through with this plan of hers. She had to convince the Doctor that his family was truly dead so he would give up all hope of being reunited with them.

As she searched for their cocoons, she felt someone behind her and saw the spider queen, Sarina. Unlike the others, she was slightly larger because of her royal status. Her ruby eyes shone by the light of the torch as she came forward and began to speak with her telepathically.

Why are you here? Sarina thought.

I need the two you captured. The two women. Are they still alive? She thought back.

Yes.

Then let me have them for the moment. I must convince their husband and father that they are dead. Once he is convinced, I will return them to you.

They are ours. They are our meals now.

I know that, but I want their male for myself. He doesn't believe his females are dead and I want him to think that they are so he'll forget about them. He is searching the caves for them. I want you to take them and put them where he can find them. Then after he's believed that they are dead you can have them back.

Why can't we have him as well?

Because he is mine, Kida thought angrily. I am giving you his two females, don't get greedy or I'll deny you all of them.

The spider drew near to her.

You cannot deny us anything, little mammal. We are many and you are only one. We can be on you within seconds and you would join the others here in hibernation until we fed on you. Remember that, princess.

Kida seethed inwardly but said nothing. She needed her and her subject's cooperation and if it meant putting up with the spider queen's threats then she would do it.

Just do as I ask and put the females somewhere where the male will find them and then you will stay back. You will not attack him, is that understood?

Yes.

Good, now obey.

The spider queen summoned two of her subjects and Kida watched while they moved over to the far wall and pulled down two cocoons from the webbed up wall. They held them under their bodies with two of their legs while they used the others to walk out of the larder. The queen looked at Kida.

They will be put where the male will find them, she thought to her.

Good. Then hurry and do it so he can find them.

She watched as the spiders moved out of the larder and then she went back up the way she came to await the return of the Doctor and the huntsman.

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Rain felt her blood turn to ice. She was immobile in her cocoon but she could hear what was going on even if she couldn't speak or do anything else. They were close enough that she had managed to pick up on the telepathic conversation between Kida and the spider queen and her heart sank when she heard what they were planning to do. She and Jenny were going to be laid out in her husband's path and both of them would lay there helpless while he grieved over them. She was sure she wouldn't be able to communicate with him to tell him she was alive but she was going to try her best before something happened to them or to him. She felt the spiders taking her down from the wall and the fear rose within her as she dreaded what she would hear when her beloved found their seemingly dead bodies.

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The Doctor paused to get his bearings. He had been going down a dark passageway. The only light was coming from his flashlight. The crystal walls on either side of him helped make the light brighter and made it easier to see but he still shone his light up to the ceiling on occasion just in case spiders were about. He knew he had to stay alive long enough to reach his family. That hope was the one thing that was keeping him going right now.

He reached the end of the passageway and entered another large cavern. And there in the back of it he saw two human-sized cocoons. His throat went dry when he didn't see or hear any movement.

Rain! Jenny! He thought as he ran to them.

He fell to his knees before he began to pull the webbing off the first body's face. He let out a strangled cry when he saw his wife's face and pulled harder.

My love, it's me, it's Thete. Are you alright? He thought as he tore the webbing off her face.

He swallowed hard when there was no response. He frantically pulled at the webbing getting it away from their heads. Once both of their heads were free of the webbing, the Doctor put his fingers against Rain's neck feeling for a pulse. His hearts stopped when he couldn't detect any. He turned her head and his eyes misted over when he saw a puncture wound on the side of her throat. Shaking his head in disbelief, he lowered his face to hers and gently kissed her eyelids while he stroked her unresponsive mind. Then, he forced his leaden body to move to his daughter and checked her. He stroked her hair and put his hand on her cheek while he stared down at her, shattered and broken.

Forgive me, my Angels, I failed you both, he thought.

Numbly, he forced himself to move back to his wife. He tore open the cocoon with his hands and freed Rain from her prison. As he did it, he touched her gently while he quietly sent love into her unresponsive mind. Once he was done, he pulled the cocoon apart and carefully lifted her out. He held her in his arms mentally asking her for forgiveness as a single tear tracked down his face.

I won't let you stay here, my love, he thought to her. I'll take you back with me and give you and Jenny a proper funeral and cremation so you can be at rest. Please forgive me, Latara. I tried to free you both. I tried with all I had but I wasn't fast enough. I will never forgive myself for this. I only hope your death was quick and painless.

He stared down at her with quiet devotion and then gently laid her down on the ground beside the webbing before he moved to Jenny's cocoon.

While he was doing this, Rain was screaming inside her mind, willing her husband to hear her but something was blocking her from communicating with him. She couldn't speak, no matter how hard she tried to move her mouth or open her eyes or even move a finger. She screamed and screamed at him in her mind while she listened to him telling her he would never forgive himself for their supposed deaths. What really terrified her was when he told her he was going to cremate her and Jenny. Her beloved husband was unknowingly going to become her and her daughter's executioner and burn them both alive without having the slightest idea that they were both conscious and still with him. She couldn't feel her daughter's mind but she assumed she was probably screaming at him also while he held her and begged her forgiveness for failing her. Her hearts shattered into a million pieces hearing the despair in his voice and she frantically tried to think of something, anything she could do to get his attention and communicate with him.

She felt him put his arm around her and lift her from the floor and then he paused and did the same with his daughter. She cried inside her mind when she felt him gently put her head against her shoulder and give her a tender kiss. She could feel him sending love into her mind and stroking it the way he did when he made love to her and she nearly went mad screaming back at his mind that she was alive. She felt him walk away holding her close to him. She heard his ragged breathing and listened to the double pulse coming from his jugular vein. His hands were so strong and protective and she was glad that at least he was taking her and their daughter away from this horrible place even if he was going to kill them when he set fire to their bodies. She only hoped if that happened, he would never learn the truth about them being alive because she knew it would utterly destroy him. While he walked, she tried everything she could think of to clue him in to what was going on.

"Oh God, Brother," she heard him whisper. "I hope you can forgive me for this."

Rain gasped in her mind. Her brother! Could she reach them somehow and tell them to come and help? She could feel them very dimly in her mind which meant they were very far away, possibly backwards or forwards in time. She didn't know if she could reach them since she couldn't speak to her husband who was right beside her but she had to try. She concentrated and pulled her brother's mind to the forefront of her consciousness.

Bro, it's me, Rain. Help us! A large spider attacked us and I've been paralyzed along with Jenny and the Doctor's been tricked into thinking we're dead! Please come here and help us before he burns us alive on a funeral pyre!

She paused but she couldn't hear any answer or any acknowledgement that he heard her. She tried again but there was still no response. Frustrated, she tried to think of something else refusing to believe that all hope was lost.

If only my husband will wait and perhaps the venom the spider injected us with will wear off, she thought to herself. But how can I make him wait since I'm sure he'll want to get the cremation over and done with.

Then she got another idea. Perhaps the TARDIS would be able to hear her when no one else could. The ship was powerful and she was sure it could detect even the slightest sign of life from her and her daughter. She reached out to the TARDIS.

TARDIS, please help me. The Doctor thinks Jenny and I are dead. Please hear me and tell him we aren't. Please before he kills us for real.

For a moment there was no response and then she heard…

My beloved Rain, I have heard you and I will tell the Doctor that you and Jenny live.

Rain cried out with relief knowing that at last someone was going to get through to her husband and stop him before he did something he would regret.

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The Doctor reached the mouth of the cave and stepped outside with his wife and daughter in each of his arms. He began to make his way to the TARDIS.

Doctor.

The Doctor stopped short. He had heard the TARDIS calling his name. He concentrated on his ship.

Yes? He thought to her.

My beloved, your wife and daughter live. Do not hurt them.

The Doctor's eyes widened.

What? How? They have no pulse, no breath, no brain functions.

I don't know how to explain it, my beloved, but Rain contacted me and told me to tell you not to kill her and Jenny because they are still alive.

The Doctor looked at his wife desperately searching for any sign of life. He knelt down, laid her gently on the ground and cupped her cheeks.

"My love, if you can hear me, speak to me in my mind," he implored. "Let me hear you. Please, Latara, speak to me."

He waited but he couldn't hear anything.

Beloved, she's trying but something is preventing you from hearing her, the TARDIS thought to him.

Can you provide a link to her mind so I can hear her? He thought to her.

I will try. Hold on.

There was a moment's silence and then the Doctor heard something he thought he would never hear again.

Thete?

Latara! Yes, I'm here!

You can hear me! Oh love, I've been trying to reach you, she thought happily. I'm alive. We're both alive. Please don't burn us.

No, I won't, not now. Oh God, my love, it feels so good hearing your voice again.

Thete, she's behind it. The princess. She did this to get us out of the way. Somehow she can communicate with the spiders. I heard them speaking telepathically. She wanted you to find us so you'd think we were dead and then she would have you.

The Doctor seethed inwardly at that. He had a feeling she was behind it and hearing the truth from his wife made him angry beyond belief. The two people he loved more than anything had almost been lost to him because of her. He vowed he would stop her no matter what it took. He laid his wife and daughter down and kissed their cheeks.

"I'm so glad you got through to me, my Latara," he said to her. "I will find a way to cure you both, I swear it."

He picked them both up and slowly made his way through the woods towards the TARDIS.

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Sarina was resting in her den when suddenly two of her subjects came into the room.

What is it? She thought.

The food is gone, they thought to her. The females are gone.

What?

Sarina got up and quickly followed them to the cavern where they had left Rain and Jenny. Reaching it, she paused and saw the remains of the cocoons.

We've been betrayed, she thought to them. Gather up everyone you can find and find them before they escape. I will talk to the princess myself.

The spiders scurried away while Sarina called for Kida to come to her.

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The Doctor stopped on the outskirts of the forest when he noticed something. He had sensed his wife stirring in his mind. He laid them down and began to stroke her cheek. He smiled when he noticed her brow furrowing and her eyes moving underneath their lids. He smiled. He had forgotten about their physiology and their ability to get rid of toxins faster than normal humans. He breathed a sigh of relief knowing that meant he would have detected signs of life from them long before he put them on their funeral pyres.

Thete?

The Doctor smiled when she heard Rain's voice in his mind without the assistance of the TARDIS. It was faint but he could hear her clearly.

I'm here, he thought.

I'm trying to wake up but my eyes won't open, she thought as her brow furrowed.

Just relax, Rain. I'll look after you and Jenny until you recover. We're almost to the TARDIS now and…

Dad?

He paused and grinned when he heard his daughter's voice in his mind.

I'm here, Angel, nice to have you back.

I'm trying to wake up too, I can hear mum now.

I can hear you too, sweetheart, I'm so glad you're alright.

I'm glad you're alright too, mum.

You two hold on and we'll be in the TARDIS in a min…

He trailed off when he heard a sound behind him. He turned to see several spiders coming through the woods towards them. The Doctor quickly stepped in front of his loved ones and whipped out his sonic screwdriver. He noticed one of them was larger than the others and guessed that it was the queen. He looked back at his wife and daughter.

Just relax, my loves, I'll have this sorted out in a minute, he thought to them.

You can speak with others using your mind?

The Doctor turned his head when he heard someone else's voice inside his mind. He noticed the largest spider coming forward.

Did you speak to me? He thought to her.

Yes.

Are you the queen of the spiders?

Yes.

My name is the Doctor. I request a temporary hold on the attack so that I may speak to you personally.

You may speak.

Thank you, the Doctor thought. I want to beg you to let my family go and let us go in peace.

Why should we do that?

Because I love them and if you insist on attacking them, be warned that I will fight with every ounce of strength in my body to stop you.

You are nothing but a mere human. You cannot hope to stand against us.

On the contrary, I'm not a human and I'm more than a match for you and your subjects, Queenie. I was caught unawares once but it won't happen again and by the way…you owe me a pair of glasses.

These females were promised to us by Princess Kida. They are ours.

No, they aren't because I say they're not and my word counts more than a spoiled brat of a princess's does. Just what do you get out of this arrangement anyway besides all you can eat? I mean, has to be a catch, right? What do you have to do to get these victims?

I provide Kida and her castle with protection.

And how exactly did you come to be on this planet in the first place? Spiders aren't native here.

Kida's ancestors brought us here from the Callium Galaxy long ago so our ancestors could provide protection.

Protection from who? I thought Tarantan was a peaceful planet. Who do you need protection from?

Kida's ancestors began to attack the planets nearby so when the retaliated, they brought our ancestors here to protect the castle and eat any of the captured invaders.

I see, and is the planet still at war with the rest of the planets?

No, peace was finally achieved about a century ago.

So, you're basically just stuck here guarding a castle that doesn't need guarding and eating helpless men and women because…Kida likes being in control of you lot? Makes her feel powerful having a spider army?

Perhaps. Her parents do not deal with us. They don't like us. She's the only one that talks with us. We communicate telepathically with her.

Parents? Where are her parents and why aren't they keeping an eye on their bratty little kid?

Her parents are currently off planet attending an interplanetary conference.

I see, so when the parent's away the brat will play, is that it? Well, I'm sorry; Queenie, but you aren't getting my family. I don't care if she did promise them to ya. They're with me and I will rip you limb from limb if you put one spindly leg on them.

They were promised to us.

Well, tough, she doesn't speak for me or my family and I say you're not getting them. Now, you wanna battle me, I'll be more than happy to oblige you but I warn ya, I'm nothing to sneeze at…if you lot can sneeze. But I'm warning you; don't mess with me and the ones I love because I will make all of you suffer.

Brother?

The Doctor frowned when he suddenly heard Alan's faint voice in his head.

Brother, are you alright?

He reached out to him.

Yes, I'm fine.

Well, Rain just contacted me and told me what's been happening. Do you need our help?

He glanced at his wife and saw her eyes were now half open. He looked over at the spider.

I don't want to disturb your holiday, the Doctor thought to him.

Sod that. I'd rather cut our holiday short and help you than have my family end up eaten by giant spiders. So do you need our help?

Yes. Please come and look after Rain and Jenny and help protect them.

We're on our way. We'll lock onto your TARDIS. Just keep the spiders occupied until we can get there.

Alright, I'll be waiting.

He turned his attention back to the queen.

Well, well, seems that the rest of my family is now coming to help me out which means more trouble for you, I'm afraid, he thought to her.

You cannot defeat us. You and your family and friends are ours.

Oh I wouldn't be sure of that.

He grinned when he heard the TARDIS and glanced over his shoulder to see it materializing.

In fact, here comes my backup right now, he thought to her.

The door opened and Alan stepped out with the others.

"Doctor?" Alan called.

"Over here!" he yelled back.

He turned his head and kept watch on the spiders while Alan and the others ran up.

"Oh God," Rose said as she and the other women knelt beside Rain and Jenny.

Alan walked up to his brother and stood beside him.

"Apparently, the whole holiday went a bit sour," he said to him.

"Yup, just a bit."

Alan glanced behind him and saw the others were picking up Rain and Jenny and carrying them back to the TARDIS. The queen saw it too and started after them. Both brothers whipped out their sonic screwdrivers and aimed them at her head.

"I wouldn't go after them if I were you," Alan growled at her.

We will not be denied our food. You will die along with the others for stealing what's ours, she thought to them.

Both brothers tensed their bodies ready to fight her and her subjects as they began to move towards them. The Doctor glanced back and saw that their sisters had gotten Rain and Jenny into the TARDIS and he breathed a sigh of relief knowing they were safe. He turned his head back around and prepared to fight to the death with his brother. The spiders began to advance towards them.

"Hell of a spot to have a holiday, Brother," Alan said.

"Yeah. Well, the spiders were a bit of a surprise," the Doctor replied.

They prepared to fight back while the queen rushed towards them.

Suddenly to their shock, she stopped. The brothers glanced at each other and then watched, confused, while the queen turned back and her and her subjects disappeared back into the woods.

"What'd you do?" Alan asked him.

"I didn't do anything," the Doctor said, shrugging.

"Well, why'd they suddenly turn tail and run?"

"Not sure but the princess is able to communicate telepathically with them. Maybe she summoned them," the Doctor speculated.

"Unless this is a bluff and they're circling around so they can get behind us."

"Well in that case we better get back to the TARDIS where we'll be safe," the Doctor said.

Alan nodded and followed him into the TARDIS.

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A relived smile spread over the Doctor's face when he walked into his med bay and saw his wife and daughter both lying in bed staring at him quietly while they were surrounded by their sisters.

"They still can't speak yet," Donna said. "But they have their eyes open."

He knelt down beside them and gazed at them while they smiled back.

You just had to spoil my heroic moment and call for our brother, didn't you, Latara? The Doctor thought to her.

She raised her eyebrow.

I'm sorry I spoiled your heroic moment but I figured Bro could help.

Yeah, well the spiders just turned and ran away from us back to the caves so neither one of us got to be heroic.

Why, Dad? Jenny thought.

Dunno, but I have a feeling little miss bratty butt called them back. Probably wondering what's taking them so long or maybe she discovered you weren't there anymore.

"Is there anything you want us to do?" Mingxia asked.

"Just keep an eye on them for me while I go sort out the princess," he said to them. "It shouldn't take them too long to snap out of this but I'd really like you lot to be here with them when they fully recover. Just in case."

They nodded. He shot them an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry you got called back from wherever it is you were," he said.

"It's alright, we were just relaxing on a beach on Antillies Minor," Awinita said. "Actually, Bro was about to come and check on you anyway because he felt your mind go out for awhile and then he couldn't feel Rain and Jen for the longest time. He wondered if something was wrong but then you all came back in and he figured you were doing something private between each other."

"Until Rain got a hold of us and confirmed his suspicions," Rose said. "Then he got back here just as quickly as he could which I guess is a good thing since you were about to become those spiders' dinner."

"Nah, I had everything under control. Actually, I found out some interesting things about them."

"Such as?" Donna said.

He told them what he had learned.

"So this woman has control of these huge spiders?" Awinita said. "Isn't that a bit Harry Potterish? The gigantic spiders with their enormous spider leader that talks to people?"]

The Doctor shrugged.

"Wouldn't be the first gigantic spider I've come up against," he said.

He gave Donna a pointed look and she nodded.

"You mean that Racnoss thing?" Rose said.

He nodded.

"And Metabilis Three, I encountered them there as well," he said.

"So, are we gonna drown them as well?" Donna asked.

"You got a hose or a shovel so we can divert a river into the cave?" the Doctor asked her.

"Just a suggestion," Donna shrugged.

Alan entered the room.

"So, Brother, what do you wanna do?" he asked him.

"We have to do something about the princess so she doesn't do this to any more innocent people," the Doctor said.

"What do you have in mind?"

He stared at his brother and then a grin spread over his face.

"Oh, I think I just got a brilliant idea, Te'lesau," he said.