Chapter 11
They walked out of the café smiling and laughing the doctor seeming genuinely cheerful.
"So Lori…what did you think" He asked smiling.
"That was interesting" She replied, "I'd never tried a Prickly Jerbu."
"I'd think not…they only grow on Nebulara" He said, "Humans don't taste them for another 3000 years in your time".
She let out a light laugh she could barely believe they were on another planet much less this far into the future.
"This is simply amazing," She said smiling "I never would have thought…well honestly I'd have never thought I'd end up outside…much less on another planet."
"Oh stick with me you'll go to more," He stated with a nod
"Why doesn't that surprise me" She with a laugh as they walked into the shopping district.
"Oh wow…" She said softly looking around "So many shops…"
"Tourist planet" He said "Why wouldn't they have shops…even the port has one of those little shops…oh now those are fun."
She let out a light laugh shaking her head as she watched the changing expressions on the Doctors face. He was an odd man but in a wonderfully charming way.
"So Lori…" He said looking at her "Why don't we do some shopping…we've got unlimited credits and plenty of time?"
"That sounds fun…" She said with a smile "You sure you want to give a girl like me access to unlimited credits."
"I'd be more than happy to" He stated "But you're carrying half."
"Deal…if I get the lighter half" She said with a wink "Just kidding"
"Good…I told I'm not nearly as young as you" He replied.
They both chuckled and went to the first shop a small souvenir shop and she looked in the window display.
"Oh my…look at that…" She said indicating a small statuette carved out of a brilliant blue stone "Is that made out of Serpentrallax scale?"
"Yes…they did say it made nice trinkets" He said "I can see why…there aren't many materials that look like that…all of which are more expensive than firing at one until you get the scales".
"Yes but wouldn't they rather not risk the danger" She asked "Or at least charge more?"
"Why would they…they get enough visitors in the tourist season to meet the requirement" He stated, "Though there are the stories."
"Stories…what do you mean?" She asked him.
"Just fanciful tales…ones spread by the rivals" He answered, "To dissuade visitors…spreading rumors that they'll be snatched up and sold as slaves."
"That's horrible…" She said softly "That's…"
"Well…there've been rumors…" He said, "After I freed the Ood many people lost a lot of free labour…so it's possible…but I doubt that happens here…there've been no disappearances."
"The Ood?" She questioned.
"Oh yes…nice creatures…their bald with tentacles coming out of their mouths…but friendly…very friendly" He explained "Make a lovely cup of tea too…but they only do it if you ask nicely…or pay for it."
"I knew you were kind," She told him "I'm glad I trusted you…still do."
"Good" He replied, "I'd hate to think you stayed out of obligation."
She smiled and they walked into the small store to have a look around.
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Unnoticed by them an older man watched from another store a smirk twisting across his lips.
"Larson…they're going into the souvenir shop," Will said into an earpiece "Do you want me to go in?"
"No" The reply was short "Wait until they go into a clothes shop or something…a place you can talk to him alone."
"Alright" Will breathed, "I'll keep watch then."
He walked towards the most popular clothes boutique to wait for the Doctor and his friend. They were ready if the Doctor refused to sell her but he wondered what they would do, wiping his memory would work, but he really was not sure.
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Lori and the Doctor walked out of the souvenir shop empty handed but laughing there really was not any need for the buy anything. However, the doctor had decided to come back later on his own and buy something that Lori had admired.
"How about we visit the clothes shop" He suggested, "You must want your own wardrobe."
"True…alright you can buy me clothes," She said with a smile "Watch it I might get used to having someone buy me things."
She had added the last part as a joke making him laugh this was nice something he was more than happy to keep going.
"Alright…ah here we are," He said as they stopped in front of a large store "Best Boutique in the galaxy…you'll find styles from all over…old and new."
"Amazing" She said "But it looks so small."
"So does the TARDIS" He replied.
He led her inside listening to her gasp audibly at the sheer amount of clothes and stifled a laugh.
"Well then go have a look around Lori," He said "Dressing rooms are over there…I'll be hovering if you need anything…including a man's opinion."
She nodded and vanished into the store to look for clothes while he wandered over to the seating near the dressing area. He caught the eye of a few men holding purses and gave them a sympathetic smile before sitting down himself.
"Hey there…" He looked over seeing a man who looked to be in his late 30s.
"Hello" The doctor replied "You waiting on a lady?"
"Nah…actually I want to talk to you about something" The man answered "I'm Will."
"Oh…I'm the doctor," He said with a nod.
"Yes I know…Larson told me about ya" Will replied, "I've noticed that young lady you've been traveling with."
"What about her" The doctor asked his eyes narrowing.
"Is she a slave?" Will asked.
"No…" The doctor said, "She's my friend…so I suggest you choose your words carefully."
He did not like the way the conversation was turning but he would not say anything unless the man said something wrong.
"Oh well…then you wouldn't want to sell her" Will said with a shrug "Oh well…"
"No I wouldn't…" The doctor snarled.
"Then we'll have to do it the hard way" Will said with a soft smirk.
The doctor shot up glaring down at the man before rushing into the store Will following him. He saw the gun being drawn from his coat and ducked behind a rack of clothes. That man was making a big mistake and he would learn that lesson.
"Lori…" He said to himself "I have to find her…before they do."
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Lori was examining a rack of blouses when she felt a hand grip her shoulder.
"Doctor…what…" She turned around coming face to face with Larson "Larson…what's wrong?"
He looked down at her smirking and she immediately knew something was wrong.
"You're coming with us" He said, "I suggest coming quietly…or your friend will suffer."
Anger surged in her body and she let out a feral sounding growl.
"If you've touched him you'll suffer," She snarled, "You've no idea who you're dealing with."
He just chuckled and moved to punch her not wanting to damage her too much. She twisted out of his grip her knife coming out of her pocket.
"What are you after" She demanded as he just laughed.
"Oh…slaves…you see economy is slow…" He said advancing on her "Have to make up for bad tourist seasons."
"Like hell" She said angrily backing away "I'm not some weak little girl anymore…I can fight."
She did not want to; she did not think the Doctor would be okay with her killing someone or even wounding them. Larson nodded and she whirled around slashing her blade across the arm of a man trying to grab her.
"Idiot" She growled rushing forward leaping over him, "I'm not sticking around."
She ran her eyes scanning for the Doctor they had to leave now Larson was thundering behind her as she ducked into clothing racks. Hopefully she would lose him but she doubted it there were always better ways to travel. If she did not get away if she did not find the Doctor then she knew something bad would happen.
"LORI" She heard the Doctor shout followed by the sound of a gunshot.
It was at that moment that people began rushing out of the store and she went with them. Her eyes scanned for signs of the familiar brown coat but she felt something snag her hair and yank backwards. She let out a cry of pain as she was pulled against someone and growled feeling another hand wander across her stomach.
"Now stay quiet pretty thing" The man whispered harshly "And nothing bad will happen."
She did not say anything instead brought her dagger up stabbing the arm at her waist and rushing forward. Pain coursed down her head as she felt a nice chunk of her hair get ripped out but that was a small price to pay. She gripped the clothing rack in front of her and leapt over it at least if she was caught she could say she put up a good fight.
"Doctor" She breathed, "Call for me again…please…"
She ducked into a clothing rack and came out ramming right into something solid tumbling to the ground.
"Lori" She looked down relief washing over her face.
"Doctor" She said relieved.
He noticed the blood on her clothes and looked concerned.
"Are you alright…did you get hurt" He asked.
"Fine…it was theirs," She said showing her bloodied knife "Just wounded…"
He nodded pulling her up with him glancing around trying to find an escape route.
"Larson is in on it…he wants slaves," She told him.
"I know…" He replied gripping her hand, "We'll deal with that once you're safe."
She nodded as he began running she would not hesitate to go with him fear coursing through her veins. There was no way she would let herself become a slave she would rather die but she did not think that was an option with them.
"THERE" She heard the shout whipping her head around in time to see Will pointing a gun at them.
"Look out" She screamed shoving the doctor away.
The bullet ripped into her shoulder making her scream in pain and she saw rage in the Doctor's eyes. She fell against him groaning in pain hearing Larson shout at Will for shooting her.
"They're distracted…let's go" She breathed through gritted teeth.
The doctor nodded not hesitating when he swept her up in his arms rushing for the exit. A crowd of people was still streaming out the door and he ducked into them. His worry for Lori was the only thing keeping him from retaliating against Larson. There was no hesitation as he ran down the street ducking into alleys and shadows. His only concern right now was getting Lori to the TARDIS before she succumbed to blood loss.
"I'm sorry," She whimpered.
He shook his head glancing around a corner before sprinting towards the hotel's garage. There was no need to apologize it was not her fault, those men were sick their evil was their fault not their victims. He ran through the vehicles ducking out sight as he noticed people patrolling before the TARDIS came into view.
"Oh god…they've surrounded her," He breathed looking down at Lori.
Her blood had poured from the wound staining her clothes and his as well and she looked pale. If he did not get her help, she would more than likely die if Jack were here he would have been able to help.
"It's just me," He said shaking his head "Come on…we're going direct."
He broke out of his cover running towards the TARDIS hearing the men shout he was praying for a miracle. The TARDIS was granting them it seemed as the door swung open for him letting him rush inside before it slammed. The first sight to greet him was the Medical room and he heaved a sigh of relief setting Lori down on the bed and shucking his coat.
"You'll be alright…" He breathed turning towards the medical equipment "I'll get this bullet out of you…don't worry."
He didn't want to he knew it would hurt her so much but he had no choice as he helped her remove her coat and gently cut away part of her top.
"Hurry…or I'll do it myself," She said glancing at him "Get it out…"
He nodded and he grabbed the tool even with future medical equipment it would hurt like hell. Trying to move as gently as possible, he dug into the wound making her groan in pain as he removed the bullet. Once it was out, he set the item down on the table before quickly cleaning and bandaging the wound tightly halfway thankful the bullet had not gone through.
"I'm sorry…I don't have anything…there's nothing made for Elves" He said softly "I can't use Nanogens…they haven't been used on an elf…"
"It's okay Doctor…I'm fine…I should heal" She said looking at him "I've felt worse than this…"
The fear that had coursed through her when they threatened him, when the gun had been leveled on him. That was ten times worse than the bullet she had taken for him she gripped her hand to make sure he was there that she had not just passed out.
"Lori…I'm so sorry," He said softly and she saw the guilt in his eyes.
"Don't…not your fault" She said with a soft smile.
"You're right…" He said "But I know whose it is…and I'm not going to let them get away."
She shivered seeing the rage in his eyes the storm rolling in and she wondered what he was planning.
"Rest" He said softly "I'll come back and check on you…but you don't need to strain yourself…"
"Don't…" She gripped his hand to stop him "Don't…don't do anything you'll regret."
"I won't…" He said his voice calm but she could feel his rage "I won't regret it…they won't get away with hurting you…with selling slaves."
He released her hand and walked towards the door glancing back at how pale she looked and bit his bottom lip.
"I'll bring you something to eat later…" He said softly "Keep your strength up."
She nodded with a weak smile as she lay back looking up at the ceiling afraid for the people outside. They were cruel but something told her that the Doctor could be even crueler than those men could.
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He walked up to the console quickly typing something in using the buttons and flicked some levers as the screen popped to life. Larson's face greeted him and he let himself smile despite the disgust he felt at that man.
"Oh hello Doctor" Larson said "Didn't expect you to call me…how'd your friend."
"Cut the crap Larson," He said angrily "I'm here to give you a fair warning…just like all the others."
"Really Doctor and why should I take it" Larson asked.
"Because if you don't I'll destroy you," The doctor snarled, "You're going to stop…no more slaves…nothing…no…you're going turn yourself in".
"And if I don't Doctor" Larson asked his lips twisted into a cocky grin.
"You obviously haven't heard of me…I've been called many things The Oncoming Storm…the Destroyer of Worlds" The doctor stated watching Larson's face fall "I'm the Doctor…the last of the Time Lords…you hurt someone I care about…so you're in worst position in the universe…I'm being kind…you don't want to test me."
"A Time Lord…" Larson said with a laugh "If that's true that makes you the last…that's good…that's really good…you'll fetch a great price…"
The connection faded out leaving the doctor in silence his breathing heavy as rage screamed through every fiber in his being. A low rumble shook the TARDIS, he shook his head Larson had made his bed, and he was going to lie in it.