Chapter Two: Stuck in the Mud

It didn't take too long for either the Doctor; or Lara Croft to come too, as the both came to their feet. Then as the two caught sight of each other; before the Doctor could even speak, the unknown Female assailants had quickly pulled a handgun to the doctor's face. Showing no fear; the Doctor watched as the unknown counterpart; circled him slowly; as she demanded in a threatening point of the gun to his face, with a rich-proper determined British tone, "Then just who are you, then?" As the Doctor shrugged the words from his throat; but not quite shaken, "I'm the Doctor," Then before he could finish; the woman drew closer jamming the gun to his throat, finger slightly on the trigger, while interjecting solemnly, "you'll be needing a Doctor, if you don't answer my questions." Then looking proactively threatening women's direction; slightly adding once more, "then who might you just be…" Forcefully jabbing the gun to the Addams apple; she retorted viciously, "I'm the one, asking the questions, but if you must know my names Lara Croft." "It's who I am," the Doctor adding painful tone, as he watched the Lady Lara Croft put away her guns. Lara Croft noted a sense of something had immediately gotten the man's attention as he started once more, as he started for the gold tablet at her feet as Laura fast-like reflexes slightly pushed it away," where'd you find that tablet?" Laura faintly stooped in front of the man; dressed in a simple suit and raddy brown leisure coat, as she retrieved the gold-tablet. The man stood his ground saying again, "Can I see it?"

Reluctant to the mans actions; this supposed; "Doctor," as she continued cradle-ling the tablet in one arm, as she responded suspiciously, "Why should I trust you, for all I know you might be the enemy." The Doctor paced away slowly to Lara's perspective; as the with the man rubbing his hands suddenly, and sticking them in his side-coat pockets, adding once more, "Bit cold, isn't it." "What's the temperature, -4 degrees;" Lara heard the man say evenly approaching her, making Lara nearly smirk, as she added cleverly, "Negitive -10 degrees;" she retorted felling the own sting to her own words. Keeping her guard up; Lara Croft felt like she could trust this man, as he carefully approached her motioning for the tablet, as she trusted handed the tablet over. Handing over the gold tablet; with the man pulling a pair of stylish brown framed glasses, as was retrieved a small metallic screwdriver from his inner coat pocket saying proactively, "Lets have a look see," as Laura studied the mans stature pretty thin-about her age, as the man clicked something and the small screwdriver mad a hover type noise looking like it was scanning the tablet, as the Doctor added once more,"…do you remember how you got here"

Lara Croft felt un-easy answering the question; but oddly felt to trust this man, while keeping her hand close to the firearms incase, "I was, looking for something." As the mysterious Doctor nodded in responds as if examining something on the tablet, responded curious; "for what, exactly?" "That's none of your concern, now is it;" Lara Croft briskly smirked in his direction, while stepping away letting the man do his work, as she added comfortly serious matter of tone , "If you must know…I was in search of something an artifact." Then the Doctor character answered curious tone, "humph! An archeologist, that's a new one." The doctor turned and continued to his work; as Lara shrugged off the comment and continued her sentence, "like I said…instead of finding the artifact I was in search of, I found that gold tablet." Then as Lara Croft met the man; his smirk responding smartly, "Well of course, its an fragment of the Time War between the Darleks and Time-Lords, but to get here of all places, is beyond me."

Lara drawing back on the comment; she retorted curiously, "Time-Lords, Darleks…just who are Mr. Doctor." As Lara Croft added swiftly towards the mans direction in a questionable tone, "You talk about some Time-War, that as far as I know doesn't exist." Slowly the Doctor; sadly met the womans direction, as he took a course of breaths, while removing his syndic glasses; into the pocket of his coat, saying in a more serious matter of tone, "It's a war I lived through, Mrs. Croft." Lara could feel the content for the mysterious doctor, as he added vainly, "Then what's a archeologist doing in a dangerous place like this, then." "I'm on a quest to find to find the Avalon pendant to find my mother," Lara added in a sadder tone toward his direction, remembering the previous events recently. Turning away; the doctor watched as the conflicted Lara Croft sadly ran her arms slowly glancing away to the ruin tomb's chamber. As the Doctor added metaphorically, "Well..I guess were both stuck in the Mud, then." He then caught the young woman's smile; as the Doctor joined in for the amusement, with laughter.

Laura Croft suddenly caught her guard was down; and meeting the mans gaze; she asked, "So…how'd you get down, here?" The doctor not phased by the question; almost responded immediately her direction, "the Tardis…or better yet my time-machine." "Time-Machine, have you lost your bloody mind; "Lara Croft firmly spoke in his direction, as he noted irritably, "T.A.R.D.I.S is a stands for Time, and Relative, Dimensions, in Space, or quit frankly, yes my time machine-so to speak." "Then where is it, Mr. Time Travler," Lara retorted sarcastically his direction, as he pointed in the direction near the corner of the chamber. " Making her way toward the darkly painted blue-box; or Police Box, formally used a millennia ago so to speak, as the Doctor responded enthusiastically, "It never stops amazing me." Stepping inside the box; he politely opened the wood framed door opening it to a much larger room filled with large alien machinery that was quit impressive, but intimidating at the same time to Laura Croft. "So you really are a…" before Lara could finish her sentence as she nervously began to step inside; while following the doctor followed behind her finishing her sentence, "Time-Lord, yes!"

In all of her past exploits, Lara Croft had never experienced anything close to this strange and creepy atmosphere of large machinery and unknown technology. This coming from a person who fought off mummies curses, escaped compound lock-up, attacked by wild-beast etc. The room had a weird of aura; of utter loneliness and sadness, as the arithmetic hum of the Tardis. All Lara wanted from that moment was to go-home, as she made her way beside the Doctor fiddling with the computer tech, as she began in a sad demand, "I…wanna go home," It seemed to surprise the same woman he nearly got gunned down by, actually had a kindred spirit, as he pulled up the last diagnostic check responding happily to assist Mrs. Croft, "Right…where do you live?"

As Lara Croft lost train of thought memorized by the utter track of the ship; Laura only responded quickly, "Croft Manor, Surrey;" punching in the coordinates to the ships main computer, the doctor sorta glad from the over-whelming questions, as he typed the last key as the ship quickly buzzed to life. Laura blinked in astonishment as the whizzing noise of the ships; Laura approached the Doctor Side, saying curiously, "so…you travel through time no-friends?" The doctor slightly stopped tapping the keys; but immediately continued typing the keys ignoring the question from Lara, reminiscing about his previous…companions. Especially; Donna Nobel and Rose Tyler, not to mention Martha and a few others from over the years. It been a stir getting over each one, and now preferred not to involve anymore innocent lives on his travels. As the screen flashed immediately, the Doctor lead Mrs. Lady Croft toward the door, while the Tardis finished materializing the reaming bits into the previously seen alleyway. As the two stood at the door; Lara Croft uncomfortable to the mysterious stranger she'd just met, saying aloud, "well…its been fun, but I guess this is goodbye." Taking a step forward; as he assured it was safe, by opening the door to the outside world and found himself dumb founded, to the point of worrying Laura to eventually follow behind him.

(18 Century; France, Alleyway)

Just as confused as him; Laura worried began in a serious-moderate tone, "Doctor…where are we?" Gazing Lara the Doctor gazing uncomfortably her direction, taking a gander around the Tardis, while saying once more catching view of the Bastille in the uncomfortable distant. While uncomfortably in a worried mattered tone; Lara Croft began once more in the doctors direction, "Doctor?" The Doctor responding in a final note "looks like 18 centaury France." Rather annoyed by that answer; her cool stern voice retorted rashly his direction, "I didn't ask to take a vacation to the 18 centaury France for the weekend, I asked for the 21st Centaury Surrey, Doctor!" "Must be a glitch in the system, well might as well take a look around…why it fixes itself," the Doctor implied surly in Lara's direction. Rubbing her temples annoyingly his direction; while implying impatiently, "isn't there anything you could do to fix it?" "Notta thing…better let her cool off, shes been through a lot." As Lara watched the Doctor pat the siding of the blue Police Box, as he secured the doors, and Lara pointing out aggressively his direction extending a finger in his ways, "Your…Tardis! Better come through, or I wont be the most pleasant person to be with." With all his travels; The Doctor had never been more un-comfortable in his life, especially by any companion.

Making there way onto the streets of eighteenth centaury France; both Lara Croft and the Doctor found there way onto the ruin abbey of scattered ruins, that indicated acts of war. As an outer wall decorated beautifully etched font read on a wall; but the words shown proof reading in large stylish font, "Vive la Republique " Making there way onto large ruins of a court yard; an caption of abandon French town house could be seen. Looked to being worn by the fabric of time, so reluctantly decided to investigate as the two of them cautiously made their way into the courtyard. The debray of a large structure that once stood proudly layed in scattered ruins. Both having nothing to say or speak; so the two of them eventually made their way onto the courtyard, where an old antique fountain could be seen surrounded by hand-layed creed colored stones to match. As the trinkle of water pumped, its way into the stone fountain, with the captivating found standing bushes that strongly stood a maze of sort at one point, now laid all about the cobble walkway. Making there way further toward the house; as Laura and the Doctor found a way inside the partially ruined structure.

Eventually the two made their way further into the structure; both Lara and the Doctor though through his exploits hardly got lost. With Lara Croft leading the way; the doctor right behind her. The inside was slightly damp and cold; but better than the way the outside looked, slightly elegant and decorated. Both had passed various portraits of familiar men and woman of old, some familiar and others not accurately remembered. As the two neared the top of the stairs, both Lara and the Doctor found a corridor at the top of the stairs a large window that met two doors that cut to the right and left at the top of the stairs. Then someone a in the mist of the room; turning toward the open windows bathing the room in grim-sunlight, as the two of them made their way into the elegantly decorated room, marble floors, fireplace and the sight of elegant shawls on funny looking woven couches. With it; Lara Croft began to make her toward the mysterious woman wearing a funny powered wig, and a elegantly murky-blue dress and pearls around her neck. Motioning not to go, the Doctor found the allusive Lara Croft step into the room, as both the Doctor and Laura entered the room simultaneously.

Before Lara or the Doctor could say anything; the mysterious woman spoke firm tone, "state your business, or I shall be forced to call the guards." Coming to a sudden halt; the Doctor responded in a excited exclaimed tone, "No one of importance, Mrs. Antoinette." As Laura began in a surprised manner, "your kidding, wow! And I thought I seen it all," Laura exclaimed impressively, as the Doctor began introduction pointing at each one of them; as he said their name, "This is Lara, and I'm the Doctor." The woman gracefully moved to the window; as she sadly introduced herself, in a strong tone, "Maria Antoinette Josepha Johanna von Habsburg-Lorthringren," she replied over looking the soon to be more massive city of France. As Laura caught view of the barely constructed Eiffel 'Tower of Paris, and little houses was like the books she's seen. As Mara Antonette began softly toward the two gazing upon the fair city of Paris, adding in a sadder tone, "Its good to greet the both of you, even though I might not ever make your acutance again, sadly." Both Laura Croft and the Doctor met the saddenss of the woman, as she commended once more, "with my husband and myself to soon be, executed soon enough." Doctor could tell the sorta confusion; on Laura's face as she spoke those harsh words, then took a moment to reminisce his choice of words.

As Laura spoke curiously; in the direction of Maria Antoinette, "but, why? The fair woman answer before the doctor spoke before her, "For the Crimes brought onto the people of France…" With the esteem of her, sadden sigh; Maria Antoinette begin softly, while turning to meet the two strangely dressed visitors, "I fear, you best leave…for the guards may come to have my head soon." "But…theres no reason you cant come with us," Lara Croft swiftly answered her direction, as the Doctor genially pulled her to theside out of Maria Antoinette range, "Lara…we can't interfere with moments of fixed periods of history." Refusing to listen; Maria Antoinette approaching their direction, as Lara began to negatively stammer lightly, while shaking her head, "No! We can't just…" As the doctor began to make some sense to Lara it was Maria Antoinette, that gently reached for her arm a soon to be dead ghost, began to stress, "please…may you leave me to dye, and enjoy my final remaining moments alone, or I'll be forced to call for the guards if you do not leave." Then the regret of Maria Antoinette; was stressing the plea once more into an amenable whisper of tears, as she took her place at the window and shouted aloud, "GUARDS! I need your assistance…." Then taking Lara by the hand; as he lead her away, the Doctor shouting aloud, "RUN!!"

It was coming out of the room; nearly dragging Lara out of the room, while Laura shouted aloud, "Doctor…we gotta help her." Just as the Doctor about to explain to her; the situations as the two came down the stairs a group of men dressed in red outfits holding muskets; as the Doctor drug Lara up the stairs and into the corridor opposite direction of Maria Antoinette personal chambers. Then just as the stray bullets busted the upper corridor window, in the process of pulling both of them out of danger, as the sound of exploding glass rang out. Cutting into the hall it wasn't long, for the group of guards to give chase, while both Laura and the Doctor raced through the halls, and a large window only stood in their way. As the Doctor pointed toward the window; as Laura was an few steps ahead, as she fired two rounds into the window shattering the glass. As the Doctor rang out in momentum; as the two of them flew from the upper window, as he rang out, "hope it's a soft landing," Then the two found themselves plummeting into a big pile of hay, as the two raced out of the stack and back toward the Tardis…

It was nightfall before the two of them made it back to the Tardis; as Laura Croft sat comfortably in a nearby seat, as she watch the Doctor remerge through a grate of an secret draw for something. It been a rough few hours of rest, or what was to be rest for either of them. Then as the Doctor held some red-binding of a book; as he flipped it open reading as he went, "July 21, 1793; both King Luis XVI & his wife Maria Antoinette were both beheaded." Closing the book shut; and lying it on the console; it was then the Doctor began on a curious note, "you know…the guillotine was invented by Joseph Guillotine in 1798." "NO! I didn't…" Lara looking away in sad-like tone, locking her arms around her legs, as she began once more, "shouldn't you stop this from happening, or something…no one deserves to die like that, no matter what crime." "This is a set time-based period, it's gonna happen, even if we somehow stopped it, or wined up be-headed ourselves," The Doctor voiced out. "Ya! Isn't it also your job, to intervene," Lara replied in effortof full fury as she said once more, "don't, you dare walk away from me."

It was that moment….The Doctor saw something determination like so many few of his companions, as he began to walk to the controls it was when Lara continued once more, "and how do you know the difference, huh! If you wont do something I will, I'll break into Bastille myself if I have too"Marching toward the Tardis doors; as the Doctor raced after Laura, imputing once more, "Wait! Lara…you don't know what your getting yourself into…" "Well…its best if we break in before nightfall," Lara smirked admirably his direction, as the Doctor retorted once more, "something tells me, you've done something like this before, just what kind of archeologist are you." It was that moment; that Lara cocked an eyebrow; responding admirably his way, "You could say a pretty good one, especially an art gallery recently." Thinking light on the moment; Lara Croft happily smiled saying proudly to herself, "like putty in a girlz hand, hehehe!" Grinning happily toward the doctor, as they began to plan out their mission.