Chapter 8
A few days later, once the Doctor wrote enough to fill an entire library, Dorian's friends, Alistair and Juno arrived. They seemed to come out of some serious business because when they arrived Alistair had a large and nasty wound on his upper left arm that was poorly wrapped. "A client thought of this as a proper form of payment. Juno took care of him though and got what we deserved." Alistair said. Juno just smiled and nodded proudly. Corin insisted that since he was there already he should let her take a look at it and bandage it properly. Alistair tried to refuse, though Dorian and Juno eventually convinced him, and an hour later with is arm stitched closed and given some antibiotics to prevent infection, the three were ready to discuss business.
"Well Doctor" Alistair said. "What is it that I can do for you? The bounty hunter asked.
"Well if Dorian already hadn't mentioned it to you, I was captured a little over a month ago. Because of that I haven't been around my TARDIS in quite a while. Ever since then I haven't felt anything from her except the first night I was here." The time lord said.
"So you want us to find your TARDIS?" Alistair asked quizzically.
"Yes, being without her for a little bit, but I can't be without her for too long. Its making the healing process much worse for me." The Doctor stated.
"What exactly is this separation causing you?" Alistair said.
"Well because I'm a time lord, we usually heal faster than humans or other races would. Injuries like the ones I have usually take about three weeks to heal. Though I've been here almost a month and there has been little improvement in my condition." The Doctor explained.
"Where was the last place you saw it?" the bounty hunter asked.
"It's a her!" the Doctor insisted.
"Excuse me?" Alistair said. Juno gestured her arm toward her belt which held a large knife.
"Juno! Don't you dare." Dorian threatened.
The Doctor seeing the tension building up in the room intervened "Mr. Alistair, I did not mean any ill will in my statement. I was just insisting that my TARDIS is not an it, it's a her. She's a sentient machine." The time lord said.
"I see. So where did you last see her" Alistair asked.
"Well, last I remember, prior to being captured I was on the outskirts of the Tomaqui forests. I was going to see an old friend."
Juno's eyes widened, though Alistair spared her no glance and continued with the Doctor. "What side of the forest were you on exactly?"
"I believe the eastern side because I was by the ocean." The Doctor said.
"Is there anything else you guys need to know?" Dorian intervened.
"Nothing really, but we are going to need to discuss payment." Alistair said.
"What price do you have in mind?" the Doctor asked.
"Don't worry about it Doctor, I talked with some of my superiors, they'd be willing to pay it all kind of as a down payment for your services later on." Dorian interrupted.
"I see" the Doctor said.
"Well, I assume there will be no problems covering the cost then if the Carpathian monarchy is willing to cover it all." Alistair said.
"What is it going to cost?" Dorian asked.
"Well, we're going to have to cover supplies and fuel for our ship, I don't have an exact number yet, but I assume it'll be about ten thousand orand." Alistair said.
"Done, when do you want the money?" Dorian asked.
"Well I'd like a down payment of twenty-five hundred orand to cover the travel expenses. Though I'll give you a few days to have your bosses to send the money to you."
The Doctor and Alistair agreed on the verbal contract and shook on it. The bounty hunters said that they'd be back in a few days to collect the money. The bounty hunters were then off to do other things. The Doctor then asked "So what was up with Juno?"
"What do you mean?" Dorian asked
"Well she was very protective, though that's not abnormal for a bounty hunter, the thing that seemed off was when I mentioned the Tomaqui forest" The Doctor said.
"All I know is that she was born around there, I think she was a part of one of the tribes there until something happened. Not sure if it was war or plague or something even worse, but after that she met Alistair and been business partners ever since." Dorian explained
"Oh bad memories, huh? Why was she so quiet then?" The Doctor asked.
"I'm not exactly sure, but that's just how she is, I mean she does talk, but only when necessary."
"Well I'm going to sleep now these drugs they give me are strong even for me. The Doctor said
"Okay, I'll just be outside if you need me." Dorian said
The two said good night, but Dorian knew it wasn't the drugs or the Doctors injuries that made the Doctor so tired. And the Doctor knew that he was in for another night of torment.