Chapter 8
Cyber priests
Annabeth followed Henry through the tunnel to the point where it widened out. Jack was waiting with the others and helped Henry off the high ledge before he reached up for Annabeth, who for once willingly accepted his help. The doctor even let Jack help him down. Once stood together Henry took Annabeth's hand and squeezed it tight.
"Let's go." Annabeth instructed, leading the way with Henry. Jack followed on Henry's other side, Vastra, Jenny and Strax followed and the doctor brought up the rear with Clara, his hand in hers protectively. He was still scowling after Annabeth's leading figure. Clara had pulled out her mobile phone and had turned on its torch so they could see where they were going.
"Doctor? Are you alright?" Clara asked, concerned having never seen the doctor in this sort of mood- in any of his regenerations.
"Shes not like me... I can tell. She's her mother's daughter, always getting into trouble and expecting me to be there to save her. What about the boy? Who is he to her? Why would she protect him? What the hell happened to Jamie MacCrimmon?" The doctor was rambling to himself more than to Clara but she had to agree that his questions were valid one- even though she didn't remember Jamie. The doctor continued to ramble, never answering Clara, not that she minded- he'd just met his child. His daughter. He was allowed to ramble. She glanced up and found the rest of them waiting for the two of them to catch up. Annabeth crossed herself, as did Henry before she forced the wrought iron gate ahead of them open. It clattered against the stone wall on the other side.
Henry went first with Annabeth and the others followed, emerging into a crypt, obviously beneath the church. A sarcophagus lay to one side, three names etched on its side- "James McCrimmon", "Annabeth Aileen McCrimmon" and "Henry James McCrimmon". No dates were listed for Annabeth or Henry but James' ended "1746. Aged 30 years. Beloved and not forgotten." Annabeth glanced at it and placed her hand inside the half open casket and pulled out a Scottish dirk which she handed to Henry.
"Just in case, a leannan." She said quietly and he nodded. Then she turned away from it and continued up the stone steps ahead of them and to the iron grate above her head. She had tears in her eyes and she took a deep breath. The doctor read what she had seen before he pushed through the crowd to Annabeth.
"Is it true? What is written on that stone?" He demanded and Annabeth just looked at him with saddened eyes.
"Now you know." She said simply with a shrug and pushed open the iron grille with Henry's help. The doctor was stunned and took a few seconds before he followed her out of the crypt to reach back and help the others up. Once Jack was free of the crypt he moved to stand by Annabeth and slowly slipped her hand into his, squeezing her slender fingers gently. There was a sound and a Man walked into view dressed in a black cassock- a priest.
"Father!" Henry called to the man... But when he turned towards them Henry screamed and dived behind Jack and Annabeth growled angrily. The priests face was half metal and wiring.
"Now I've had enough. First you threaten me and then my family and now you murder my best friends! This is the final straw." Annabeth ran forward as the figure raised a gun which substituted for an arm and kicked the figure straight in the chest, causing the cyborg to fall backwards. It sparked and then lay still, red cyborg eye rolling in its head. Annabeth knelt beside it.
"You can tell your commander he should talk to me in person...I don't like being bullied into submission. It's not fair on anyone... Oh and don't you dare use my friends or family to get to me or he'll be sorry," then she pulled her dirk free and took it in two hands and placed it over the fleshy half of the creatures chest. "Forgive me, Father." Then she began muttering a Hail Mary under her breath, which Henry joined in with.
"Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. amen." The boy crossed himself as Annabeth plunged the dirk into the priests chest. There was a hissing before the lights in the cyborg went out. Annabeth rose, crossed herself and moved back to Henry, replacing the dirk in her boot.
"Come Henry, let's say goodbye to Jamie." Annabeth offered the boy her hand and he took it tenderly moving close to her as she took a deep breath. Henry took her elbow and met her eye. She tapped her vortex manipulator and paused.
"The truth, Dad. If Jack will follow..." With that she and Henry were gone. Everyone else grasped Jack and he followed her, the trail she left behind being read by his vortex manipulator. They too shimmered and disappeared as the bells peeled and daylight shone through the stain glass window above the altar. The Lords light shone upon the body of the holy father- and peace was restored. For now.