A/N: I know it's been a long time, sorry about that. I haven't had a proper computer in months.
Chapter 17:
Samor watched as the blue box appeared in the corridor of the hospital, thanks to the superior hacking skills of one of his lowly ensigns. He watched the River Song woman exit from the craft, just as he knew that she would escape from the cell of his brig. No doubt she was going to warn the two other feeble humans that he was on his way. No matter, this would give the Doctor more "incentive" to hand over the boy.
When the wild-haired woman had departed, Samor called to Ensign Claib in a clipped tone, "Claib, you've got the comm."
"Yes, sir." The ensign replied with trepidation.
Samor tapped the vortex manipulator that Kotens had confiscated from the Doctor's wife. He knew from the readings of the coordinates that it was set to warp into the time space machine. In a flash of light he disappeared, re-appearing in front of the double doors of a large console room. The room was bathed in an orange light, while the moorings were of a turquoise color. Curling his lip at the garish colors, Samor made his way up to the control panels. The TARDIS seemed to groan under protest. Despite several sharp shocks to the intruder when he touched the control panel, Samor remained undaunted.
His work done, the captain stood. "It's all just leverage, dear." He said maliciously, and exited the TARDIS with his his mission accomplished.
The thrumming mechanical wheezing from the hallway caught Amy and Rory's attention. Both of them turned, their hearts in their throats. River Song stepped in, her face slightly pale and worried. Her expression confirmed their fears, she had to leave the Doctor behind in the Sycthe.
"How's Alex?" Their daughter began first.
At this, Amy smiled slightly, "See for yourself."
Her new little brother was sitting up, cheerfully eating a bowl of fruit. He grinned at her when he took his eyes of the puzzle he was playing with.
"The nurses hardly could believe it when he woke up and wanted to eat." Rory explained, "They believed it was a miracle." He beamed at River. The grin faded after a moment, "River, how is the Doctor?"
"He..Samor tortured him, and broke my wrist. The Doctor used some of his regeneration energy to heal it." River replied quietly, "One of the crew helped me escape the brig so I could warn you that they were coming. I'll leave the TARDIS here and teleport back to the Scythe. She will protect all of you once you..."
"River," Amy interrupted, "We can't let you fight by yourself."
"And we are going to protect each other." Rory replied with conviction.
"What can you do? You have to stay alive, at least for the boy, and for the Doctor. River argued, with a tone of concern drenched within her voice.
"You make us feel like we're not good enough. " Amy said sadly, not looking at her daughter.
River looked at them with a frown, "I didn't mean it that way. He-you are his best friends, he doesn't want either of in the crossfire. He wants to keep you safe. This isn't just about you, it's about what is best for all of us. I think the crew of the Sycthe is turning on Prince Samor after he hurt me and the Doctor, and killed one of his crew members that tried to stop him."
"Which crew member?" Amy asked hoarsely.
"Fodec," River replied with a tone of sadness, "He stepped in the way of a weapon, and saved us both."
A remorseful glance crossed her parents' face. Fodec and Kotens look of concern when the Doctor had been shot had affirmed that they were only following orders, and did not warrant violence.
"I need to go, I have to get back to the Doctor and Jack." River said finally, "I think there's a lot of dissent on board the Sycthe. I think the crew can stop Samor if we help. The Captain-Samor will try to bargain us as exchange for Alex, but we won't let that happen. You need to tell Hame that the quarantine shield must be raised. It should hold, But if not..." she paused, "you both will have no choice to take refuge in the TARDIS."
Amy and Rory nodded seriously, holding her hand for a moment. "Be careful River, and take care of the Doctor. And...come back"
At this, River smiled slightly, "Of course I will. Take care of each other, mother." She replied, turning towards the door.
Rabanda could only utter a short cry of alarm as the Doctor slumped limply to the cell block pavement. Immediately, the officer lowered the security bars and rushed in to kneel beside him. He rolled the Doctor onto his back and checked his pulse.
A load gasp behind Rabanda jump and whirl around as Jack thrashed back into life. It took a moment for the former Time Agent to re-orient himself, but then his attention was on the Doctor.
"Is he alright? What happened?" Jack called to the other man.
"I-I dunno," Rabanda managed to stammer an explanation, "Samor broke that River Song woman's wrist. There was- a golden light and he healed her. When the lady disappeared, he fainted."
"Let me out, I need to check his condition." Jack asked firmly.
Rabanda hesitated for a moment or two before nodding and lowering the security on Jack's cell. Both men rushed over to where the Doctor lay prone. After checking his condition, Jack looked up to Rabanda, "He's fine for the moment. Using that regeneration energy when he's weak made him pass out. Here, help me get him up on the bed. And no-that's not an advance."
The men lifted the Doctor onto the cot, while Jack gently tugged his bow-tie loose. At that moment, The Doctor's eyes flickered open.
"Hey-don't do that, it's my best feature. Bowties are cool." The Doctor grimaced.
"Are you all right?" Rabanda asked as he helped the Doctor who was trying to sit up.
"King of okay," The Doctor muttered, straightening his clothes.
"You need to lie down, Doctor." Jack affirmed.
"m'fine Jack." The Doctor muttered, struggling to stay upright, linking his arm around Jack's to stay standing, his bangs obscuring his eyes.
"Doctor, I don't understand why Samor is so..adamant about this child? We all have the power to predict the future, why is this child so important to the-to Samor's future?
The Doctor raised his head up to the ceiling trying to think but then started. "Of course!" He swayed for a moment and had to be steadied by Rabanda, "What if the fight Samor was to lose was against me all along. The child was brought to his attention and so was "disposed" of more or less along side his parents who protested?"
"But what about the King and Queen?" Rabanda inquired, "surely they would have stopped this!"
"He had this planned behind their backs, in secret corridors and what not. It would be easy enough for him to forge a letter of removal to peasants. Not all people on the planet are mind readers or even powerful."
"But this kid is?" Jack asked.
The Doctor shrugged, "even in advanced culture, family genetics aren't totally predictable."
"How are we going to defeat-" Rabanda began, but was cut off by the sound of a com in the side panel.
"Rabanda!" The sharp tone of Samor came over the intercom, "Bring our prisoners up to the bridge. I think there's something they should see."
The younger officer shot a look of apprehension towards the two men before leading them out of the brig.
"Ah, gentleman," Samor began smoothly when they had arrived at the main hub of the ship, "I'm glad you could join us. I think there is something you both need to witness." He pressed a button against the panel and the live feed of the TARDIS spinning out of control, hurtling to the planet much like it had it when he first regenerated.
"I believe that your wife has escaped onto your ship."
Inside the TARDIS, sparks flew from the control panel while the ship shuddered and spun out of control.
"What's the matter with you!" River shouted, as she pressed a few buttons in hopes of getting control. Pushing a lock of her curly hair from her face, River looked uo to see the planet below coming into view very fast. At this rate, she would crash.
The archeologist rushed around the panel, trying every sequence she knew to try. When nothing worked, River bit her lip, and braced herself against the monitor's arm. "I'm sorry, Doctor."
Her eyes flicked to the screen one last time and noted that the impact would be in ten seconds. Silently, she counted down, closing her eyes when she reached one.
The Doctor turned his head away when he heard the impact, while Jack gaped at the scene of the plummeting TARDIS that caused it to create a shallow crater. When he looked over to Samor, a sly grin was pasted on his face. The time agent could see the Doctor looking pale and livid.
"Confirmed, no life signs." One of the ensigns at the control panel reported back, while shooting a regretful glance towards the Doctor.
"How many casualties will you cause to bring me down, Doctor? Give me the child, and this will all stop."
"Why, so you can kill him like you just did River?" The Doctor snarled, "I really don't think so."
"Fine, then your little pets are next. Take them out of my sight!" Samor demanded, shooing them away.
As they were marched away back to their cells, Jack watched a single tear fall from the Doctor's eye. He didn't say anything, as he knew that there was nothing that could be said to one who was grieving. Jack knew this from over 200 years of experience.
The sound of sparks arching from the console panel caused River Song to open her eyes. She carefully brought herself to her knees, and gasped as a pain issued from her side. Broken rib River assumed. She gingerly put her hand to he now dislocated shoulder. "Thanks for protecting me, old girl." River whispered, looking up at the shattered glass from the Time rotor that was now scattered in small shards on the floor. She knew that the TARDIS would repair herself again, and with that knowledge firmly in hand, River pressed a few coordinates into her vortex manipulator. In a flash, River found herself in the room with her parents and new brother, where she promptly fainted.
TBC...