Welcome to another installment! I've been trying to update for the past two days but wouldn't let me. Thank you for all the reviews so far! Enjoy this chapter!

Red Dragon

Chapter Fourteen

Research Cells

"How are we going to get in there?" Mickey asked as they peered over the sand dune at the facility at the bottom of it. An electric fence surrounded it and they could see creatures patrolling the perimeter. The only entrance was guarded by two people, dressed in armour and holding heavy guns at the ready.

"The only way possible," Rose answered. "Fighting." There was a hint of pleasure in her voice. In an instant she bounded down the sand-dune, ignoring the fact that she had exposed herself to the facility. Rose skidded to a halt beside the electric fence. As Mickey and Martha followed, each holding their own weapons, Rose reached out her hand, placing it on the electric fence. She didn't know how she did it but a shield was erected around her, protecting her from the damage of electrocution.

The fence began to melt in the heat of her hand until she had made a hole big enough for her and her companions to step through. She swung her fist as the creatures patrolling the perimeter charged. Her right hook impacted upon the skull of one creature, smashing the bone completely. It fell to the sand, dead.

Swinging round quickly she put all her energy into a well aimed kick that sent another flying through the air, it's spine shattering as it hit the hard wall of the base. By the time that was done, Mickey and Martha were beside their weapons raised. Together they picked off the remaining creatures.

Once that was done, Rose led the way towards the guarded entrance. The two people still stood there, watching their approach. However they stepped up, preventing access as they closed in on the door.

The left hand one held up a hand. "Stop. You are not authorised to enter."

"Really?" Rose cocked an eyebrow. Her hand shot instantly, grasping hold of the guard's wrist. In fluid motion she snapped it, her eyes alight with red. "If you want this to happen to you all over then please stand in our way. If not…" she trailed off leaving the sentence unfinished.

The guard was muttering under his breath, his eyes alight with pain. Reluctantly, the other stepped aside and allowed them to pass.

"I knew you'd see it my way." Rose stated as she walked past. "Now, Mickey get these doors open for us."

Mickey was about to oblige but the remaining uninjured guard hurried over, submitting the code to get into the base. Rose nodded at the guard before, with a sweep of a hand, sent him flying into the air. He hit the electric fence. Sparks travelled up his armour; he was shaking and smoking…and then he fell, falling limp to the earth.

Rose smiled. "We're not going to have any trouble from you, are we?" she asked the injured guard.

He shook his head and bolted away.

Again, Rose smiled. Why does it feel so wrong? she asked.

Is Flynn an idiot? Mickey wondered. Carefully making their way through the facility, he had expected to fight, but so far no one had come out to meet them. Or is Derol Flynn so confident that no one would dare cross him? He shook his head.

Rose walked ahead, her head darting from side to side as they came to corridors, checking to see if they were clear. Her eyes were alight with red - they had not returned to normal after her demonstration outside.

"This way." Rose signalled for him and Martha to follow her down a set of stairs. At the bottom they found themselves in a white corridor leading to double doors with the words 'RESEARCH CELLS' imprinted upon them. They sprinted towards it, Mickey checking every few seconds to ensure no one was following them. He began to feel like they were being led into a trap.

Stopping in front of the door Mickey watched as Rose walked over to it, resting her palms on the steel door. A look of utter concentration came over her face. Her lips were slightly moving, as if she was talking to someone not there. Mickey traded a glance with Martha and saw a look of fear spread across her face as he watched.

Burning.

Melting.

Rose's hands were glowing. The door was being burned and it was melting too.

This isn't Rose. She's changing before our eyes.

Soon there was a gap big enough for them to squeeze through. They stepped through. They found themselves in a control room, with one big difference. No one was there. The machines were operating automatically.

Rose crossed to the nearest console and Mickey watched as she tapped controls. How does she know what she is doing is right? he wondered. Must be the Bad Wolf. Whatever it is, it's making her seem less and less like the Rose we know.

He felt Martha tug at his arm, and he glanced at her. "What?" he whispered.

"Over there." She pointed with her eyes.

To the side of them, Mickey could see a screen and it was flashing something. He moved closer and he read the words: MESSAGE INCOMING. DEROL FLYNN.

"Rose." Mickey said.

"I'm busy."

Mickey chose to ignore this and stepped up to Rose, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned quickly.

"Didn't you hear I am busy!" she yelled. Red eyes glowed.

Swallowing back his fear Mickey pointed to the screen. "I think you should see this."

Rose's eyes flicked to the screen and then back right into Mickey's eyes. He shivered as he felt her stare at him without blinking. He looked away trying to break contact. Finally she pushed past him and walked over to the screen.

"From the looks of things," Martha explained, "this message came from off-world, meaning that the Doctor nor Flynn are here."

"I didn't ask for your opinion." Rose snapped.

Mickey bit his lip. "Do you think you can access the message."

"Easy." Rose replied.

Stepping closer Mickey approached Rose, looking over her shoulder as her fingers ran over the keyboard. They were a blur. He could barely see where they touched down upon. This is not right. If Rose was truly fighting for her soul she wouldn't be acting like this.

Glancing at Mickey, Rose tossed him a smirk before pressing enter. "Looks like I no longer need your considerable talents."

Mickey raised an eyebrow, but refused to be baited.

Rose turned back to the screen and stepped aside a little so Mickey and Martha could see as the message from Flynn played forth.

"Comrades, my latest experiment is going well. I thought it might be prudent to send the results through. Unfortunately, a certain Horus Dekla-Merzadar decided to interfere and nearly killed my specimen. If I had not intervened then he would be dead."

The 'he' Derol was speaking of, was probably the Doctor.

The message continued. "I have no news to report but I have included video footage of what Horus Dekla-Merzadar did to my subject while he was in his care. I did not think any harm would come to him. Unfortunately I was wrong. Thankfully he hasn't been harmed too much. And, do ensure the footage is sent to the appropriate authority."

The message abruptly ended. Then something flashed onto the screen. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE VIDEO FOOTAGE?

Rose clicked 'yes'.

By the time the video recording had finished, Rose felt anger boiling inside her, consuming her. What they had seen was not something Rose had expected to view. They had seen the Doctor trapped in a small tube being injected with stuff that was giving him adverse reactions. With each passing experiment he looked sicker and close to death. Despite the fact that Derol Flynn had intervened, Rose felt nothing towards the humanoid. It was his fault that the Doctor had been put in that position in the first place.

And she hungered for revenge.

"Master Flynn." The servant bowed, dropping its gaze to the floor as he stopped in front of Derol.

"Yes." Derol stated.

The servant raised it's head but continued to stare at the floor. "We have a message from your home on Leora. It appears the place has been destroyed."

"WHAT?" Derol roared. He rarely let his emotions get the better of him.

"The whole facility was destroyed. Only one survived. A guard. He told me a blonde human with two black humans came to the facility, attacked them, destroying the defences and getting inside. About an hour later the place exploded. The humans survived unscathed. The girl's hands were glowing. It was unnatural."

"So the research cells are gone? All of them?"

"I'm afraid so." The servant replied.

"Damn them. How do they know?" Derol began to pace. "The only good thing about where I am is that it is not listed anywhere. They have no hope of tracking their friend. Still, I'm going to have to be more careful." He turned to face the servant. "Go. Leave me."

Bowing once more, the servant left the room, leaving Derol to contemplate his thoughts.

"Good morning." The voice was surprisingly gentle.

The Doctor groaned as he woke, sitting up from his position on the floor of his 'glass' cage. This was the first time he had ever been in the place unbound. Still he felt awful and his head ached considerably.

"You should count yourself lucky I intervened when I did." Derol said as the Doctor set unnerving and fever-burned eyes upon him.

"Should I?" the Doctor managed to ask.

"If it wasn't for me you'd be dead by now."

The Doctor snorted. "It'll be better for me if I was."

"Would it?"

"Yes."

He saw with some satisfaction that Derol had straightened stiffly. After a minute's silence his captor spoke again. "I thought it would be prudent to inform you of the location of your companions."

"What?" the Doctor asked.

"Your friends have just destroyed my home on Leora. The blonde one, had glowing hands. That's not normal for humans, is it not?"

No, he thought. What's happening to you Rose? The Doctor hung his head. He had tried his best to warn Rose of the dangers the Bad Wolf posed but she was failing to fight it. He felt tears well in his eyes and he had to bow his head to prevent Derol from seeing it.

He heard the sound of the door shutting.

Oh Rose…I'm losing her. And I can't do anything to help her.

Little by little the Doctor felt despair build within him. Rose was falling, but he was already gone. Oh, he was still alive, but his heart was lost. He could do nothing.

It shouldn't have been this way…

That was his last thought as darkness claimed him.

To Be Continued….

Now does this count as an evil cliff-hanger? Because if it does, I'm sorry!

Next chapter is entitled: The Long and Winding Road in which Rose is evil (again), Martha gets in trouble and someone makes a reappearance! In the process of being written. Not sure when this will be up. I've practically given up on trying to get ahead of myself so we'll just see if I can get a chapter out every week.

Until next time,

Leila-Rose-Bell