Chapter Two: Fifty Seven
At first glance the hallway looked like all the rest, long, high ceilinged and circular. But as they walked, the Doctor noticed glass windows, from floor to ceiling, inserted in regular places in the wall. As they approached one, the Doctor peered in.
It was a room mostly empty, except for one creature. It was a lizard like specimen, about the size of a small dog. The Doctor recognized it as a Flala, native to a planet many light years from his current position. And it was extinct in his current time frame. It sat in a corner, drinking out of a bowl of water, looking rather abandoned.
"What?" the doctor began to ask, but Jar'Keel cut him off.
"Patience, Doctor," said the creature. "All in good time."
They continued on throughout the room. There we're many more creatures in the glass rooms, some from thousands of years science their extinction, others thousands of years before they we're discovered. All looked scared, alone and abandoned.
"If you're trying to get me on your side, you're going about it the wrong way," said the Doctor. "Showing me a bunch of innocent creatures locked up in cages alone? What are you trying to do?"
"You shall see, Doctor," said Jar'Keel. "You shall see."
At last they reached the end of the hall. Unlike the others, the last glass room was dark. The Doctor got a sudden feeling of dread. A feeling that he should run, turn his back and flee. He fought it down however and stayed where he was.
"This, Doctor, is our experiment. This is our future… and yours," said Jar'Keel. And with those enigmatic words, he waved his hand over the glass.
The lights came on and the glass door split into four sections, much like the doors in the rest of the station. The room was plain and white, just like the others, but it featured a small hallway leading beyond the room.
Jar'Keel, waved his hand, ushering the Doctor forward.
The Doctor complied and led the way into the chamber. They followed the hallway a short distance until they came three a three pronged fork in the path.
"Take the left passage," said Jar'Keel. "He should be studying now."
He? Thought the doctor. Studying?
He took the left hallway and followed along until he reached his destination.
It was a massive room. All the walls we're lined with shelves, and on the shelves we're books. Books upon books upon books. There was a single desk against the wall. In it was a small figure that appeared to be reading a book and taking notes.
"Who is that?" the Doctor asked.
"I think he can introduce himself," said Jar'Keel. He clapped his hands once and the figure attempted to spin around in his chair.
"Fifty Seven," said Jar'Keel. "Come meet our guest."
Fifty seven walked up to the pair and proceeded to bow. As he did this, the Doctor sized him up.
He was a young boy, appearing to be somewhere around the ages of thirteen or fourteen. He had brown hair and brown eyes and had no truly defining features. He wore a robe that was the same silver-grey as Jar'Keel's, and the Doctor noticed that it had a hood. What confused him was the brown hair, why hadn't it been shaved like the others?
"Greetings, honored guest," said the boy as he bowed.
Instead of returning the bow, the Doctor stuck out his hand.
The boy pondered this for a moment before doing the same and shaking the Doctor's hand. "'The shaking of hands,'" the boy said, as if quoting something. "'It is a common way to greet many in the universe and originated on countless planets, prominent ones being Ralafax, Syrium and Earth.'"
"Well," said the Doctor smiling, "you sure know your history on strange topics. I'm the Doctor, pleasure to meet you Fifty Seven.'
"It is indeed a pleasure," said Fifty Seven. He said it out of formality, but the Doctor saw something in the deep brown eyes that hinted at a deeper meaning.
"Fifty Seven," said Jar'Keel, "please proceeded to your training quarters and begin your instruction. We shall join you in a moment."
"Yes, Jar'Keel," said Fifty Seven and bowed, which Jar'Keel returned. He began to bow to the Doctor, who cut him off with another handshake. The boy smiled and left the library.
Once they we're alone, Jar'Keel Spoke. "I sense you have many questions," he said. "Please, ask them."
"Ok," said the Doctor. "Where is the experiment?"
"That was it," said Jar'Keel.
"You're telling me," said the Doctor, "that little boy is your grand experiment?"
"He may lack height," said Jar'Keel, "but he is far from a 'boy', He is ninety four years old, going by your colander."
"He ages well," said the Doctor. "But in what way is he an experiment? And why does he wear your robes, but is not one of you? And why do you need me?"
"Those," said Jar'Keel," are questions that are better to be discovered than answered."
Before the Doctor could demand an answer, the other waved his arm in a way that meant 'follow me'.
They walked back to the fork in the hallway and this time to the right hand passage. As they walked, the Doctor tried to keep his mind from jumping to conclusions. Thankfully, he didn't have to try very long, as something of great interest was happening in front of him.
The room they stepped into was not as large as the library and not nearly as inviting. It was round and featured racks along the walls instead of shelves. The racks we're filled with weapons of all kinds. Swords, crossbows, daggers, knives, guns and other implements of death lined the walls. In the center of the room stood Fifty Seven.
Stood, however, may not be the right word. Fifty Seven was a whirlwind of action. He held no weapons of his own, but his opponent did. His opponent, an agile, robotic looking thing, wielded a spear. It was obviously a real one, and the robot was attempting to skewer the boy on every thrust. It didn't appear likely that he would succeed, however.
Fifty Seven was dodging left and right, rolling under high sweeps of the spear and leaping over low swipes. The robot surged forward suddenly, stabbing forward and then slashing upwards in an attempt to gut the boy.
The boy side stepped, grabbed the spear and used it to throw himself forward. His shoulder slammed into his foe, making him stagger. In a series of lighting fast movements, Fifty Seven grabbed the spear shaft near the blade and snapped it free of the rest of the spear with a sweep of his hand. He then ducked and twirled under his foe's swinging arms, appearing behind him. With one, deft strike, Fifty Seven buried the blade into the back of his opponents head.
The robot tumbled forward and hit the ground with a heavy thunk. The boy grabbed the spear and yanked it free from his foe's head. He then proceeded to take both ends of the spear and toss them in a hole in the wall, which the Doctor assumed was a trash can.
Suddenly, the robot twitched. Fifty Seven strode over to it and grabbed one of it's arms. The robot responded and the boy helped him up.
"Excellent match, Jar'Fifty Seven," said the robot in a synthesized tone.
"Same to you," said the boy. "You nearly had me there a few times."
The pair proceeded to analyze their battle and compare notes with each other. During this process the Doctor looked on in disbelief.
"That thing just tried to kill him and he's congratulating it?" the doctor said, astounded. "Not only that, but he's giving it tip's on how to beat him next time?"
"Yes, Fifty Seven is the most promising warrior yet. We've used the FT 2.0 model for many years, but Fifty Seven is the only one who has managed to survive every time," said Jar'Keel. "He has also formed somewhat of a bond with him, we're unsure of why, but we think it may have been the update to FT's programming.
Jar'Keel looked over at the Doctor. "Are you not impressed?" asked Jar'Keel. "A great warrior like yourself, I would have thought you would enjoy his victory."
"Enjoy it?" the doctor asked. "You nearly killed him! You we're trying to kill him!" The Doctors voice was filled with anger.
"Ah," said Jar'Keel. "There it is. There is the Doctor the legends speak of. Two hearts full of rage and destruction!"
"You're reading the wrong history books," retorted the Doctor. "But I still don't know why! Why did you bring me here? Why are you training that boy? Why did you have all those species? Why is all of this going on?"
As he was shouting, the Doctor had begun to feel a buzzing in his ear. As he finished, it had moved to the front of his skull. As it intensified, he began to lose feeling in his fingers and toes, like anesthesia. Then it crept up his legs and arms, making him fall to his knees. He was about to ask what was happening when he realized he couldn't move his mouth. As he fell face forward on the ground he could hear Jar'Keel in his head. The voice carried a knowing smirk.
All in good time, Time Lord, and you will have plenty of it from now on.
The Doctor lost consciousness with a knowing chuckle in his ears.