Okay, another short chapter…but I've decided to write short chapters as that means I can update twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. Hopefully, the story should be finished before Christmas, but knowing my luck it will probably be around New Year most likely, so we'll see.
Enjoy!
Red Dragon
Chapter Seventeen
Planning Betrayal
The TARDIS had materialised inside a small hanger bay, that Bejani informed them was used for cargo deliveries. Stepping outside the blue box, Rose cast her gaze about, inspecting their surroundings. There were two doors leading out of the bay, and, with the others following her, headed over to the closest one.
Glancing at the palm reader on the wall beside it, Rose reached deep inside herself, pulling the power of the Bad Wolf to the core. Placing her hand on the reader, she waited, channelling the energy through it, willing it to open.
But nothing happened.
She couldn't get it open.
Running to the other door she tried the same technique, but received the same result.
They were stuck.
Consciousness slowly returned.
The Doctor shivered as his eyes opened. He tried to move his arms, but found himself chained. His wrists in manacles hanging from the ceiling, a chain round his neck, and ones securing his ankles. The only thing he wore were a pair of shorts. He was cold.
What had happened? He shook his head slowly, trying to remember…and then it hit him. Of course.
The Chamber.
That place.
Don't think about it, he told himself. You'll be better off that way.
He laid his head back against the hard wall, closing his eyes.
He was alone, completely, with no hope of escape. He swallowed. He could try one thing though.
The link.
The link between him and Rose had been dormant since his capture - the drugs had been preventing him from contacting Rose - but over the past few days he had felt them slowly wearing off. Whether or not Flynn had re-administered the drugs while he had been unconscious, he didn't know, so he had to try.
Maybe…
Just maybe he could get through…
"Hey, what's this?" Mickey crouched on the floor, digging his fingers into the floor, lifting up one of the metal panes. He licked his lips as he hauled it up, laying it carefully to the side. Underneath was a mechanism. A lever was situated at the option reading 'off'. Grasping hold of it, Mickey pulled it with all his might, moving it very slowly till it was pointing at 'on'.
He pressed a red button, securing the handle. Looking up at Rose, he said: "Try the door again."
He watched as Rose pressed her palm to the reader again. The door slid open slightly. A small gap. "It refuses to open anymore."
"Right," Mickey frowned, "Then it looks like we're going to have to find the rest of these mechanisms."
"And where would they be?" Rose asked, folding her arms across her chest. "You do realise we're running out of time."
"Not my fault you realise," Mickey countered. He glanced to Martha. "I saw a sort of yellowish gleam around the edges. I figured there must be something there. So I looked. If we look for colour alterations around the floor and wall panels, we might be able to change the settings and get the door open."
"It's the best plan we've got," Rose said. Turning to face them, her eyes shining red, she said: "Get to work!"
No one questioned her. They did not have the time to waste either.
It took a long time to find the right panels. Three of them were situated high up the right wall at different places. The only way to get to them was to stand on each other's shoulders. Bejani was always at the bottom, followed by Mickey and then Martha. If Rose was needed she would go at the top. Mickey shouted instructions to Martha to help her.
With the noise they are making I'm surprised we haven't been discovered yet, Rose thought, Pity. We really need the element of surprise.
We don't need them after this, the Bad Wolf answered.
How do you know that?
I can sense it. There are no barriers that we can't handle together. When the door is open, the time will be right to rid ourselves of them. They will only prevent what you want most.
Rose blinked. Part of her was still wondering if it was all true. Was the Bad Wolf telling the truth, or was it misleading her? She couldn't help but feel afraid. She knew she was doing the right thing - to some extent - but she didn't know how far she dare go.
Could she get rid of the Bad Wolf's influence on her when this was all done?
You can't get rid of me, the Bad Wolf was reading her thoughts, We are one. Together. If I die, you die to. Our joining means that we must die as one, or go insane without.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, but was really only one hour, they managed to locate all the switches that needed correcting. With each one being activated it made the door slide open further. They could've have slipped under the door at the half-way point, but Rose had decided against this. There was no telling what condition the Doctor might be in.
Taking the lead, Rose led the way out of the hanger bay and into the base All the while planning what she would do at the right time.
Betrayal is the sweetest thing…
Rose…..
Rose stopped walking; Mickey bumped right into her, sending her sprawling, but she did not react. Her face was white as the voice echoed inside her head over and over.
Rose…
Rose…
Rose…
It wasn't the Bad Wolf, but she could feel the anger that radiated from it. Almost knowingly, she called out attentively.
Doctor?
You can hear me? he asked.
Yeah…where are you?
Some lab…inside glass…he was being cut off.
STOP IT! she yelled at the Bad Wolf inside. It was trying to block him off. The link was strong, but it was weakening. His words were becoming distorted.
Don't….let…control…
And then his presence fled from her mind.
Her anger blossomed inside her mind, directing it to her other half…the Bad Wolf. WHY THE HECK DID YOU CUT HIM OFF?
It's for your own good. He fears your power. He doesn't want you to be more powerful then him. You are more then Rose Tyler with me. You are powerful. He wants that power for himself. You may find he is your real enemy. There may come a time when you'll have to destroy him in order to save yourself.
No…Rose replied, I could not bear to take his life.
Even at the cost of your own?
And yet, due to the conflicting emotions in her mind, Rose could discover no answer.
She heard me, the Doctor thought. He was slumped in exhaustion, tired from his efforts of trying to contact Rose. He knew he had gotten through, the only problem was the fact that the Bad Wolf had blocked him off. Still, there was a bit of hope that he could grasp onto. No matter how weak he was, no matter how bad he felt that it was his fault, the Doctor realised that Rose was still fighting against the hold the Wolf had on her. They had joined together, yes, but a part of Rose was refusing to accept that fact. It would only be a matter of time before she won…
Or lost.
Oh Rose…where did I go wrong?
He was falling into despair.
This was his fault.
And he could do nothing to stop it, save watch from a distance as Rose fell.
Even as he blacked out he spoke softly aloud.
"Oh, why didn't I tell her I loved her before?"
To Be Continued…
Please let me know what you think!
What do you think of the Bad Wolf and its motives? And what about Rose? Does she seem evil, but not without hope of redemption?
Next chapter entitled: as yet untitled - in which Rose goes even further in her quest to save the Doctor…coming soon , hopefully on Thursday!
Until next time,
Leila-Rose-Bell