Authors Note: Well I didn't get to where I hoped to be with this chapter but I think there are clues enough for you all to guess what our villain has been up too. Oooh and what price for Rose? Sorry for the long time between postings. Real life and kids keep me rather busy and spare time of late has been short.
End of Chapter Seven:
The Doctor's eyes were immediately drawn to the beautifully carved ebony desk in the centre of the room. His blood boiled as he recognised the man seated behind it.
"Henry Van Statten!"
"Welcome, Doctor, how nice to see you again."
CHAPTER EIGHT
The tension in the room was so thick one could practically cut it with a knife. Forcing himself to calm the Doctor spoke.
"Can't really say the same," he said roughly. "Thought you were on a street somewhere in San Diego or Seattle or..."
"Sacramento," finished Henry.
"Yeah, or some other place beginning with S or so Diana Goddard said."
The gleam in Henry's eyes grew brighter.
"And I thought you were smart, Doctor. Do you really think that I'd be brainless enough to allow my creations to be used on me?"
Darcia watched the Doctor's eyes darken with what she could only describe as contained fury.
"That's rich," he barked. "This coming from a man who refused to believe that his little 'pet' was a dangerous murderer of all life forms until it was too late. Where were your brains then, Van Statten?"
Henry gulped once but to his credit appeared to remain unimpressed. Ignoring the Doctor's outburst he turned his leering smile on Darcia.
"And, who are you? Seems like our Doctor has quite a fondness for blondes. Are you one of his little companions too? Can't be very satisfying having to share him with the formidable Rose Tyler."
The look Darcia gave him would have withered any other man's enthusiasm in a heartbeat but not so Henry Van Statten.
"I like a woman with spirit and if you travel with the Doctor then you've got to have gall. Even geniuses get lonely … perhaps I could interest you in …,"
"Whatever you're thinking you can just forget it," interrupted Darcia hotly. Turning to the Doctor she asked, "Who is this idiot?"
Smirking a little at Darcia's rejection of Henry, the Doctor replied. "This, Darcia, is Henry Van Statten. Rose and I met him a few months ago. He was collecting rare alien artefacts. Even tried to collect me since I am the last of my race. To cut a long story short he found the last remaining Dalek, a species that I consider to be my nemesis. They are murderers and think nothing of committing genocide, wiping out whole species because they believe they are the only race worth survival."
"But it was magnificent," broke in Henry. "The prize of my collection. Besides I helped you stop it."
Blood rushed to the Doctor's brain as the anger boiling so close to the surface raised its ugly head. He did not shout but the venom in his voice was poison to Van Statten's show of resistance.
"Even after all this time you still can't accept what you did. All those people died because you wouldn't listen to me. And don't think I'll ever forgive you for what nearly happened to Rose-"
"You were the one who left her down there, Doctor. Don't go hanging all the guilt on me," said Henry defensively.
"Do you think I don't know that?" said the Doctor, the fight momentarily leaving him. "I've had to live with the fact that I nearly lost Rose every moment since then. But you, Van Statten, you left me with no choice. I had to sacrifice her or more people would have died. Even after all of that, she was the one in the end who saved us."
The ice in his veins was back as he continued to berate the man before him.
"You and your collection are nothing compared to her. I'm not in favour of violence but had I realised that day that you did not get your memory wiped I assure you, you would have felt the full extent of my wrath."
Henry though scared witless did not break completely under the Doctor's cold, steely stare. What was past could not be changed but in the present he still had a card to play. Gathering what little courage he had left, Henry confronted his enemy, an evil smile on his face.
"Yes, well I'm sure you're very frightening, Doctor, but don't forget I still hold the ace, or should I say the new prize of my collection. One Rose Tyler."
At the mention of her name the Doctor almost lost the last vestiges of control. Hues of black and red ran behind his eyes and it was all he could do not to let loose his rage on the man before him. Regardless of whether it would make him appear weak, he grasped Darcia's hand, using her strength to back down from the madness. He could deal with Van Statten later. Right now he had to save Rose.
There was still an underlying threat in his voice when he spoke to Henry again.
"I'm getting Rose back and then shutting down this whole operation. Do you understand?"
Henry just laughed as he directed his next words to Darcia.
"Is he like this when you travel? Always trying to be in control even when he's not?" He did not wait for an answer; instead he focused his attention on the Doctor once more, the sparks of an approaching victory evident in his eyes.
"You think I care about this silly little auction business? This is my coup, Doctor, my triumph. This whole scheme has been executed just for you. As soon as we're done I'm gone."
A memory of a conversation with Griff flashed through the Doctor's mind.
I don't know who he is but he appears to know who you and Rose are.
Struggling to remain calm he questioned. "You can't have done this on your own, Van Statten. You're smart but not that smart. How did you know Rose and me would be here?"
Henry nodded as he spoke. "You're right, Doctor. I had help and if you play nice I might even tell you about it. As to getting you here … how could the well meaning Doctor turn away from slave trade rumours? The information was subtly planted though I admit not by me. My job was to capture Rose, knowing full well that you'd come looking though I admit-" he said in admiration, "-I am surprised at the whole total makeover. However did you accomplish that in such a short time?"
"I never reveal my age or the name of my plastic surgeon," muttered the Doctor.
Henry shrugged. "Well no matter because it really didn't help you any once Miss Tyler gave the game away. I rather think she wouldn't just kiss anyone so of course I knew it was you, no matter the disguise. Still it matters little to me what you look like. It won't affect the terms of sale or the price."
"So what are you asking for Rose?" questioned the Doctor impatiently. "I want her back and this farce had gone on long enough. How much do you want?"
Henry regarded him with interest for some time before answering. "You're really prepared to pay me to get Rose back?"
"He's already told you that or are you deaf?" jumped in Darcia furiously.
"Hush, Darcia," soothed the Doctor before answering Henry himself. "Yes, I'd give anything to rescue my friend."
An evil laugh lifted from Henry's throat. "Friend, such a trite word for Rose. Seems to me that there's a bit more than friendship going on between you two."
"That's none of your business," snapped the Doctor.
"Oh no, that's where you're quite wrong, Doctor. This is very much my business. You see we don't want your money for Rose."
"We?" queried the Doctor as he tried hard not to let his confusion show.
"That's right, we," repeated Henry. "Money is not the price here Doctor. We want something infinitely more precious and given your feelings for Miss Tyler I suspect you'll be willing to pay it," he finished smugly.
"Well since the other option is Rose being hurt I don't really have much choice do I? So come on then, out with it. I have lots of stuff more valuable than money right here in my pockets or is it technology you want. Might need a bit more time to round up that sort of thing but …"
Whatever he was going to say next disappeared as Henry opened up a desk drawer and withdrew from it a medium sized box. The Doctor's face paled and he shook slightly as he took in the concentric circles and glyphs carved into the item.
"Where did you get this?" he asked at length, his words shaking with emotion.
Henry was enjoying the fearful look on the Doctor's face. Not many men would have the power to make this being tremble.
"Tell me Doctor, since you were so good with that musical instrument back in Utah. What do you think this is?"
It took minutes for the Doctor to meet Henry's eyes.
"I … I don't know but it's from my home planet of Gallifrey," he finally admitted.
"Did I hear right," shouted Henry. "The great Time Lord doesn't know everything. Well let me enlighten you, Doctor. This box is a storage facility and has only one use."
"And what's that?"
"It strips and stores one future regeneration from a Time Lord. That, Doctor is the price you have to pay to get Rose back!"
The shock hit the Doctor so hard his knees nearly buckled beneath him.
"You're mad," he yelled. "Totally and utterly mad."
"Oh, no, Doctor. I'm not mad," remarked Henry with a sneer. "Just very well informed. You see I've done a lot of research since I last met you and with the help of … well let's say a colleague I am well aware of the Time Lord's aversion to dying. Quite the neat trick this regeneration business."
The Doctor tried to plead his case. "But you can't take away one of my lives. I don't know what that will do to me. Regeneration is hard enough; especially if you're forced to change, and believe me I've been there, but to be stripped of a life, a life I've yet to live … it's unprecedented. There must be some other way?"
His words however fell on deaf ears.
"You said you'd do anything Doctor. Does Rose Tyler mean so little to you? Come on Doctor. It's one of your remaining lives for her. From all I hear it's a bargain considering you have two or three more left."
The Doctor sat down in the nearest chair, the pressure of the moment overwhelming him. Immediately Darcia was by his side placing her hand on his arm in a gesture of comfort. The look she gave him however was of complete confusion.
"Doctor, what's going on? What's he talking about. This regeneration; I don't understand."
He looked up at her, sadness in his eyes because he knew he should not answer her questions.
"I … it's a long story, Darcia. I know you're curious but now is not the time to discuss this. Everything will be fine," he lied, hoping that she would take the hint and discontinue this line of questioning. He should have known better.
"I'm not stupid," she replied harshly. "I saw the way you reacted, Doctor. Whatever this regeneration thing is, you're afraid of what this man is asking of you. I don't want to be the one accountable to Rose if something goes wrong."
The Doctor closed his eyes and sighed loudly.
"Darcia, I haven't even told Rose what regeneration is. If anyone deserves to know first, it's her but this process is a bit different. Time Lords don't die. If I'm hurt badly enough every cell in my body changes and I become a different person. Sort of how you can change your features with your gift except my change is permanent or at least until the next time I regenerate."
"But …"
"Just listen, okay! Regeneration can be a bit of a dodgy process but that's not what's going to happen here. From what I understand this piece of technology won't make me regenerate. Instead it's going to strip away one of my remaining lives and store it." He paused for a moment to beckon Darcia closer before speaking again in a much lower tone. "Once you lift the illusion, I'll still look like I did this morning."
Darcia however was still not satisfied. "But you don't know if there will be any side effects to this do you?"
"No. I've never heard of it being done before yet that box is Time Lord technology. I have to trust that it won't injure or kill me."
"So, she's worth it then?"
The Doctor showed no hesitation before giving her an answer.
"I wish it didn't have to be like this but yes, Rose is worth losing a life for."