A/N: I'd like to thank kam666 for
placing this wacky tale on the alert list. All my reviewers are great
people: My Reflection and ck16 thanks for the input. I love hearing
your reactions and enjoy your questions and comments.
Noticed Johns is a pig-headed jerk yet? Sure
you have. The original shooting script and novel have him much more
of a one than the film. But remember, he's got guns so most folks
ignore his abrasive personality. Since I'm using Riddick's POV a
lot you get a slightly more 'jerk-ness' from the merc. (But hey,
he's a great villain. I love Johns. :-) )
Summary: The Doctor, reeling from the effects of the TimeWar as the last surviving Timelord, stumbles into a situation he cannot ignore when the TARDIS lands him inside a ship that is clearly in trouble. He finds himself caught in a web spun of the choices he's made in the past…
500 years in the future, something has prompted humanity to explode out from their home world. Some of those leaving Earth behind view the world as nearly a myth. Others know better. In fleeing Earth-that-Was humanity scattered to the stars across the galactic arm. Lets just imagine then that Blue Sun exists on the opposite side of this galactic arm from the rest of civilized space, and that one ship is taking a ghost run through the long route. Port of Departure: Eavesdown Docks, Persephone. Mixed Sino-Anglo culture. Port of Call: Tangiers-5. Darkside. Mixed Islamic-Anglo culture. Crew complement: Four. Passengers: Forty. Living 'Cargo': Two.
So what happens when a passenger by the name of Dr. Simon Tam and his cargo get on the wrong ship? And just how is this related to the TimeWar?
Doctor Who / Firefly / Riddick X-over.
Features Doctor 9, Pre-"Rose"; Simon and River Tam, Pre-"Serenity" Firefly episode 1 and the cast of Pitch Black…
Doctor Who and the Great Eclipse
Part Fifteen
Water
The settlement was an older construction, made of Aluminex pre-fab housing marked with Pö-Net, inc. stamped into them. Simon Tam frowned at the Tibetan symbols used to adorn some of the buildings alongside Chinese and English. "Looks like a Blue Sun Subsidiary built this."
"Is that what this is?" Fry asks as they move into the shadows cast by the buildings.
"Yes," Paris adds, "I remember Pö-Net, from when I was younger. They haven't been in business for over two decades."
"But what would Pö-Net have been doing so far out of Alliance space?" Simon wonders.
Paris looks back at the Tam scion, "Well, there for a few years the talk was that the two societies might benefit from linked trade routes. Non-sleeper, if possible. This planet sits someplace in the halfway point, doesn't it? They might have been trying to establish a colony here. It's habitable enough to not need a huge investment."
"It didn't take, whatever the goal was." Johns offered.
"It wasn't registered with the company or Sol-Track either. Could it have been a private venture?" Fry wonders.
"Why?"
"Well, the skiff isn't Blue Sun tech. It's New Oslo."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The Doctor was of course curious about this skiff. He had an odd feeling that there was something about it that the docking pilot had neglected to mention. Aside from the fact that it might take her months to rewire the thing even with expert help, that was. Once the sled was settled, he and Riddick along with Simon and River, headed out to the runway where the others had gathered. His first impression was that it was a beauty of hybrid human invention. Compact and spaceworthy. One of the more elegant yet rugged designs he'd seen over the years.
Then he realized that it might fit nine cryo-lockers into the thing, but that the pilot would have to stay awake unless the entire computer system of the crash ship had survived the impact. The last time he'd repaired a computer after a crash he'd messed up royally. He didn't want nor need a repeat performance on a larger scale, thank you very much.
And that there was the main problem; the skiff was tiny. There were eleven survivors, not counting himself, and room for ten if there were ten working cryo-lockers, and if the autopilot from the crash ship could be converted over to work on this smaller scale. The numbers just were not adding up here. It was painfully clear that even if the skiff saved most of them at least one person would be leaving with him on the TARDIS, if the Cryo-systems on the crash ship could be salvaged. If not, then he'd be taking half of the survivors or all of them and he wasn't quite sure how he would explain any of it to anyone, anyhow. His head really was throbbing.
Beside him, looking on in nearly stunned silence, Paris Olgivie finally managed, "I mean, usually I can appreciate antiques, but, uh..." before words once again fail him. The Time Lord glances over at the fellow as Riddick ambles past with Jack on his heels. The ex-ranger walks a circuit around the skiff with a critical eye. Jack stops at the ramp where Carolyn is using the override to get the door open. She and Abu have settled the power cell down on the ramp behind her.
Johns circles around from the other side, "Little ratty-assed."
And while it is true that time or something has torn the wings quite badly, it's just a cosmetic thing, really. While the skiff might need them repaired to take off, the wings will burn away before it reaches space. "Nothing we can't repair." Fry says as she turns her attention to the power cell.
"We will get the pump replaced on the moisture recovery unit," Imam announces as he steers his two elder boys away from the skiff. The sooner they get the water flowing the better their chances will be.
"How about we start with a 10 gig converter? Or would you suggest a 5?" Fry asks as she starts tugging the cell up the ramp rather unsuccessfully.
The Doctor walks forward to give her a hand and says, "Start with a 5, you are less likely to blow systems that way."
The blonde nods, "-- so long as some of the electrical adapts." Even a fraction will save them weeks of time.
Simon steps in to assist as well, while Paris makes a face. "Not a star-jumper," he says.
"Doesn't need to be. Use this to get back to the Sol-Track Shipping Lanes, stick out a thumb. Bound get picked up." Riddick shrugs, "Ain't that right, Captain?"
Fry looks up with curiosity, but not fear, to Riddick then over at Johns.'How did he know that?' she wonders. Johns isn't giving away any clues. The cell is almost in place, "Thanks for the help. Either of you know how to rewire?"
Simon shakes his head, the Doctor nods, Riddick steps forward like he knows how as well but Johns blocks him. The merc doesn't want to lose total control of the situation and he does not like the fact that the docking pilot seems unafraid of the killer. "Whoa, whoa… Why don't you check those containers over there for me? See what we got to patch wings with."
Riddick gives the redhead a blank look and a shrug. He can find out what is going on later with the skiff. He makes a show of looking in the crates and barrels as he makes his way to where the older pilgrims and Imam are doing their own repairs. At least they accept his help, even if it's just lifting and holding the pump so that they can make the final connections, without question.
Paris has enlisted the children, Jack, Ali, and River, to help him clean up the cafeteria. They are dusting and decorating while he is taking inventory of what it here. Simon enters and sets to helping as he is not much more than in the way over at the skiff. The two boys finish dusting the area they've been assigned and slip away from Paris while he's not looking. River giggles when the art dealer realizes that two of his 'helpers' have fled and then offers to complete the task he wanted done, which consists of re-hanging some holiday decorations to make the place look a little more festive.
The two boys spot some places to explore; one is a playroom that occupies them for a period of time. Another is a child's bedroom. Ali and Jack come up with a plan that will get Jack a new adult to take care of him…
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Back in the skiff, the Doctor and Fry manage to get the correct converter hooked up without causing the entire system to short circuit, and begin to carefully turn on systems to see what is drawing power from the 20gig cell. Johns hangs about near the ramp, out of the way but watching. A surprising number of lights are twinkling throughout the skiff's controls. "The backup computer and emergency systems look like they are more resilient than life support or engine controls," says the brown-haired man.
"Okay, that should buy us a sys-check, at least. What else do you think we'll need?"
The Time Lord looks at her, "The autopilot and navigation systems, ten cryo-lockers and full cryo system support with enough cryo-drugs to last six months, engine and thruster control, and at least 150gigs of power."
"How many cells would that be?" Johns asks.
Carolyn frowns slightly at the Doctor's logic. She can understand it, because the skiff won't have any internal life support aside from the Cryo-lockers once the rewire happens. But she hates cryosleep. "Seven more. The Hunter-Gratzner has 20gig cells. With this one, we have to have eight to launch. "
"35kilos each, huh?"
"If you no longer need me here, I'll locate the sandcat that Imam referred to and see if I can get it running," the Doctor said
Carolyn nodded.
As the Time Lord stood Johns added, "And if you need an extra hand, since you seem to work with him well, tap --" He peers out and around, "Um, Where's Riddick?"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The Doctor was far more interested in where the children were, actually. Riddick, he knew, wouldn't just walk into something blindly that he couldn't handle. The missing Jack and Ali however were another story. The town is truly a ghost town, the Time Lord can see, once he starts walking it. He's told Johns not to worry himself, that he'll find the ex-ranger and keep an eye on him, if only to keep the merc away from Riddick in an effort to prolong the redhead's life.
He pauses and narrows his eyes as he spots the plastic yellow flash of swim goggles sitting atop a shaved, but small, head. Jack. He begins to trail the children, who are, he figures, trailing the bronze figure ahead of them. The brown-haired man passes long dry hanging gardens, tossed and twisted outdoor furniture made of sturdy wrought iron, and discarded toys, tools, and other signs of daily life while plexi crunches underfoot. All the while he's got his eye on Jack and Ali who think they are sneaking unseen.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The final bit of the pump finally sets into place and the solar power panels begin feeding it energy. Hassan, Suleiman, and Paris all wait eagerly for the water to flow from the open tap. They watch as the first drop slowly, oh so slowly squeezes it's way into the clear feeding tube and down to the spigot.
The first drop of water. Life. It wets the metal fount and forms a bead of moisture. The two young men fight for it. Then another forms, and another… soon there's a steady trickle that threatens to become a wasteful flow. The waiting crowd cheers it on before Paris realizes that it is going to nothing but the dry earth below. "My turn! My turn!" he begins catching the water in containers.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The Doctor slips around to the side, out of sight, as the ex-ranger investigates the signs around him. The taller of the two men figures he can ask what has been uncovered later, and is more intent on keeping an eye on the two smaller foolish forms hunched across the way.
It's the toy robot that Riddick uncovers from in front of the door warbling to life that distracts the Time Lord from his watch, " -- to all intruders. I am the guardian of this land. I will protect my masters at all cost. Death to all intruders -- ." He frowns at the disruption and has to scan to relocate the children. Pesky creatures. The sounds of the doors rattling sends the Doctor out of his hiding place and toward the back of the large sturdy building. His ears, far more sensitive than human ears, pick up the ultrasound chatter and flutter of wings that the shaking caused. Now, where are those kids?
He hears the marshal let out a piercing whistle, "Missin' the party. C'mon, boy." He slaps his thigh with his hand.
The Doctor moves past the next stack of crates and spots who he's been looking for kneeling down in front of a opening in the wall. The Time Lord quickly lays his hands on the collars of two, very in trouble, young lads. "No sneaking into buildings you don't belong in," he says pulling them to their feet and giving them both a shake. He then, fast as lightning, changes his grip from their clothes to their earlobes. There's a stereo yelp from the children.
Riddick pokes his head around the corner, grins like the devil at the trio, motions with his head and echoes Johns, "Missin' the party. C'mon."
"Hey, let'go" says Jack as he's brought up beside the man he's remade himself up to look like, "Ouch! That hurts."
Ali just takes the punishment quietly after the first protest and finds the Doctor merely holding him by the back of the neck after a few moments.
"Makin' it worse with the protests, Jack," Richard tells the boy.
"But it's not fair!"
"Life rarely is, young man. Do stupid things and you'll be treated like you are stupid," the Doctor tells him.
Riddick takes Jack's arm and the Doctor releases his ear. The ex-ranger kneels down to the boy's level, "Listen Jack, and listen good. If you want to survive this you need to take it serious. Don't go asking for protection if you're gonna throw it away." The boy swallows and nods.
The con stands, runs his hand over Jack's shaved head and then propels him into the room where the Imam's voice rings out in prayer, "...and for this, our gift of drink, we give thanks in the name of our Prophet, Muhammad, peace be upon him, and to his father, Allah the Compassionate and the Merciful."
Jack heads to the table where the water is, and the Doctor hands Ali off to Abu with the warning, "He went looking for trouble and almost found his death."
Abu gives Ali a stern look and a frown. "I won't no more," the boy says, "I promise."
Paris at that point says, "Well, look who won the look-alike contest," when his eyes fall on Jack.
"Shut it, you pig-faced -- " but Jack stops short when he realizes that everyone can understand his words. "My hair was nasty. No water. So I shaved. Big deal." The boy downs a swallow of water.
The pilgrims finish filling the first round of goblets and Johns goes to hand Riddick the last one poured. The Doctor takes the sediment filled glass out of the marshal's hand as he walks past him, forcing them to give the con a cleaner glass. The two men, long standing enemies that they are, glare at each other over the water until Simon gives Richard a glass plucked from the table. "Thank you, Doc," the goggled man says. He drinks as he follows the Doctor's path around the room.
The Time Lord is scanning papers and pictures, shuffling through charts and other bits of data and ignoring his glass entirely where he's set it on the windowsill. Riddick looks over the other man's shoulder at the information curious to find that the strange characters he sees morph into those he can read.
"Perhaps we should toast our hosts. Who were these people, anyway? Miners? Free settlers?" asks Paris.
"Geologists. Advance party, according to this. They had a ten-year contract to scout and locate resources for use by Blue Sun, Pö-Net, and New Oslo corporations. If the resource threshold were found high enough then there would have been a joint colony and space port built here." The Doctor says as he holds up a sheaf of thick papers.
Fry has been rifling through stuff on the other side of the room, noticing emergency rations that would feed twenty-five to thirty people for a good two years or so still stacked inside spoil proof containers. "Nice of them to leave so much of their stuff here." She turned away from the cabinets and walked to the table. Rubbing her nose, Carolyn put the goblet down and Johns refilled it, "So, why'd they leave their ship?"
An uneasy silence settles on the room. Simon looks around and notices River isn't there. He ducks into the side room that looks like an office, filled to overflowing with papers and charts and pictures. But no River.
Johns scoffs at the docking pilot, "It's just a skiff. One use. Disposable, really. You said so yourself, Carolyn."
"Like an emergency life-raft, right?" Jack asks.
Paris nods, "Sure. I imagine after the contract was up that a real drop-ship picked them up and took them off-planet."
The bronze-skinned man finds himself staring into the intense bright eyes of the alien and realizing that he and the Doctor share a deducted truth. He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow. "These people – They didn't leave," Riddick says.
The Doctor just gives him a curt nod before adding, "Look around you. There's eight years worth of data here." He gestures with his hands full of paper. "This is what they were sent for. If nothing else, all of this should have gone with them."
"What are you saying?" Carolyn said, leaning over the table toward him.
It's Riddick's turn to scoff. But Simon's the one to speak up as he comes back into the room; "They are all dead, aren't they? Whatever it was that killed Zeke and Shazza killed them."
"Come on, cut the crap." Johns says standing up. "Maybe all the data was stored on a drive, and the crew had weight limits."
"And they left behind their clothes, still on the line? Personal photos, toys, wedding bands scattered on their dressers?" The ex-ranger retorts.
Johns got red in the face, "You don't know."
"I know you don't un-crate your emergency ship unless there's a fucking emergency."
"Fuckin' Right!" Jack exclaims.
"Watch your mouth," Johns spins on the boy.
Carolyn steps in before Johns and Riddick launch at each other's throats, "So what happened? Where are they, then?"
"Anyone know where River is?" Simon asks.
The Doctor takes off for the door, flying through the room, papers scattering across the floor as he drops them. Riddick looks at Fry, "The coring room?" Simon spins and follows the tall pale man out in a run.