Note: When you come across this: "$%#&", your computer is not acting up, ffnet is not acting up, that's a character with a foul vocabulary that I want to 'keep clean' but still have swear. So I personally censored it...cause I think it's funnier that way. Normally I just avoid swearing in stuff like this, but for one chapter I thought this would be fun.
Chapter Sixteen
Walking through what was turning out to be the deserted corridors of Stormcage Prison Facility Rory was slowly becoming less self conscious about the fact that he was in his pajamas and more alarmed by the fact that he couldn't find any guards. From everything River and the Doctor had told him about Stormcage it was meant to be the most secure prison in the Universe, and yet here he was just wandering it through it unchallenged.
Turning the corner he came to a long row of cells with the doors open. It was obvious that inmates had been living in the cages at some point from the personal effects and unmade cots. However now all the cells were empty just like the hall. Rory paused when the alarm overhead suddenly cut out. He hadn't even really noticed how loud it was until it was off.
Feeling increasingly uneasy about wandering the eerily abandoned prison alone Rory decided that it was time to turn around. Turning around Rory yelped in surprise when he found himself looking down the wrong end of a pulse assault-riffle. While he had been walking down the hall the Stormcage guard had been sneaking up on him under the cover of the alarm sound. The muscular guard tensed and trained the weapon between Rory's eyes. Automatically welding his eyes shut in fearful anticipation Rory froze.
"Identify yourself!"
"Please don't shoot!" Rory exclaimed as he put his hands up. "I'm not a threat, I swea..."
"Identify yourself!" The guard barked. "Now, inmate!"
"I...uh...I'm not an inmate."
"Last warning: identify yourself!" The guard repeated charging the weapon with a high pitch whine.
"Wait, wait! I have this..." Rory risked opening his eyes and went to reach in his pocket.
"Don't move!"
"I'm just getting my ID."
"Slowly."
"Of course." Rory moved painfully slowly to retrieve the small leather wallet the Doctor had given him. He held up the psychic paper with a shaky hand for the armed man to read.
"Commissioner, Sir! I do apologize!" The guard brought his weapon down instantly. "I'll take you to the Warden at once, Sir."
"Oh, no, that's okay, no need. You can just tell me what's going on."
"No, Sir. Above my pay grade, Sir. This way."
"Great." Rory sighed.
The guard brought his weapon back up causing Rory to step back, but this time the guard was on watch to protect Rory from anyone who may try to attack. Rory followed him towards the center of Stormcage, trying to memorize the way so that he'd be able to find his way back to Amy. As they walked at a fast pace Rory noticed that they were taking a very twisting path through the prison.
"Uh...is this the fastest way to the Warden?"
"At the moment, Sir. We are taking the back route to the Warden. The main cell blocks are still unsecured, Sir. Fighting is over for the most part, but there are still a lot of fires and you never know when another fight will break out...if you'll pardon the pun."
"Pun?"
"We are here, Sir."
The guard used his key card to gain access to an automatic door and stood to the side. It took Rory a second to realize that he was expected to go on alone. Rory passed through the door and it closed behind him with a clang. Finding himself in the nerve center of Stormcage Rory had to use the psychic paper several more times to get through guards standing at heavy doors before he was ushered into the Warden's office.
The Warden looked up from his glass desk that doubled as an interactive computer screen and narrowed his steel blue eyes at Rory. The older man was not the typical 'fat cat' lording over the prison that Rory half expected. He was clearly ex-military of some description and although his hair had turned silver that seemed to be about the extent of his aging. Rory smiled sheepishly and held up the tiny leather wallet with its scrap of paper.
"Commissioner, I'm pleased as $%#& to see you took the call seriously and didn't take the time to get dressed."
"Yeah...so...what's going on?"
"The entire $%#&-ing population of Stormcage has escaped."
"I'm sorry...uh...did you say the *entire* population?"
"I did, Sir, and I don't just mean this compound...I'm afraid I mean the entire $%#&-ing prison planet."
"Planet?" Rory repeated in shock.
The Warden tapped on his glass desk and a blue hologram of the planet of Stormcage jumped to life above the surface. Rory hadn't been aware that the entire planet was a prison system. The Warden zoomed in on the central block where they were. The various compounds and the tunnels that connected them were drawn on the hologram in bright green with chunks in alarming red.
"I'm afraid so, Sir. I have *no* idea how it was orchestrated, but it was $%#&-ing flawless. It must have been an insi..."
"What...um...what about River?" Rory interrupted awkwardly.
"River? As in River Song? Are you $%#&-ing kidding me?"
"Uh...no?"
"River Song is the *least* of my concerns right now, and she should be the least of yours. That woman has waltzed in and out of here since her very first night behind bars. I've given up on even bothering trying to keep track of her. Publicly and on the record we would never admit that we can't keep her locked up, but the truth is she stays here only because for some deranged reason she wants to. She treats this place like her own personal hotel, we are no prison to that woman."
"Ah."
"So, respectfully Sir, forget about River Song, instead worry about the five thousand plus properly psychotic, maniacal, cruel, criminally insane, world destroying, and down right evil *scum* that just got released into the Universe all at once, and start figuring out how you're going to help us get them back in their cells, Commissioner, Sir."
"Of course...I...uh...I'll get right on that."
The Warden furrowed his silver brow and gave Rory a suspicious glare. Rory did his best to look like the confident part he was meant to be playing as 'Commissioner'. The Warden picked up a small metallic disk about the size of a quarter crown piece off his desk and offered it Rory. Taking the disk Rory inspected it, but wasn't sure what he was expected to do with the thin disk. The Warden stared at him coldly, Rory shifted his weight uncomfortably.
"Unless there is anything more you require, Sir, I have lots of $%#&-ing work to do." The Warden broke the silence that had fallen.
"Right. I'll just be off then."
"Keep in touch."
The tone in the Warden's voice suggested that he'd rather be bound and tossed into a mob of his own released inmates than ever be contacted by Rory again. Deciding against thanking the Warden for his time Rory just left as quickly and gracefully as he could manage. Finding his way back to the cell block that River called 'home' was not easy, but he did find his way eventually.
While Rory was away it looked to him like Amy and the Doctor had turned River's cell upside down and inside out as if doing a routine prison search for contraband. Having clearly searched every inch more than once they were both sitting on the cot, which was now torn open. The Doctor was just staring vacantly at the floor between his feet with his hand pressed against his injured shoulder. Amy was watching him silently with a concerned expression. When she looked up and saw Rory a look of relief fell over her as she jumped to her feet.
"Rory!" Amy came up and hugged him. "We were just thinking about coming to look for you."
"Thanks."
"What's the news, Rory?" The Doctor asked from his place on the cot, not sounding very interested.
"Not good."
"I didn't ever expect it to be good, but just how bad is it?"
Rory went over what he had learned about Stormcage now having a prisoner population of zero. Still sitting on the edge of River's bed the Doctor took his hand off his shoulder long enough to rub at his temple for a moment. The Doctor didn't have any more of a reaction to the news than that. Amy stood by Rory while they both watched the Doctor continue to stare at the floor. Rory felt that he had never seen the Doctor look quite as old as he did in this moment. The Doctor went to reach into his pocket with his left hand and flinched in pain as the Nova Diamond flickered through his shirt.
"Doctor?" Amy asked hesitantly.
"Yes, yes, I know, I know." The Doctor muttered.
Closing his eyes for a moment the Doctor opened them once more and forced himself to his feet. He stepped up to Amy and Rory and painted on a smile as best he could. Rory made sure that he was ready to catch the Doctor in case he suddenly collapsed. Looking at the way he was holding himself Rory wouldn't be surprised if that happened at any second.
"I'll take the disk." The Doctor said holding out his hand.
"The disk?" Rory asked confused having forgotten about it.
"I assume you talked to the Warden with the time you were gone, and he should have given you a disk."
"Oh, right. He did."
Rory fished the disk out of the pocket of his pajama bottoms and handed it over along with the psychic paper. The Doctor didn't bother inspecting the gifts, he just put them both in his breast pocket. Taking one last over his shoulder at River's cell the Doctor walked past Amy and Rory.
"Let's go you two." The Doctor sighed as he walked off.
"Is he okay?" Rory asked Amy in a whisper.
"He's declared war on himself...I guess."
"That a bit harsh, Amy. I mean he's always hard on himse..."
"No, I mean literally." Amy corrected.
"How is that even possible?"
"One of the disadvantage of being a Time Lord, Rory" The Doctor called back to the pair. "That and really good hearing."
Rory and Amy exchange a guilty look and hurried up to catch up to the Doctor. He brought them back to the spot where they had teleported into Stormcage and after a bit of searching he found where River hide the teleport trigger. Taken back to the cavern that was actually below the surface of Stormcage the Doctor headed directly back to the TARDIS. River was sitting on the dais floor waiting for them. She got to her feet and hurried over.
"Finally, I was starting to think about testing the Doctor's little theory about me not being able to leave the TARDIS to come looking for you."
"It's not a theory." The Doctor said as he walked past her and went directly to the console.
"Doctor?" River asked in concern. She looked to Amy and Rory, but they didn't help put her at ease. "Did you get the Crown?"
"No." The Doctor set the TARDIS into deep space. "It wasn't there."
"I left it right where I told you."
"Things have changed." The Doctor growled. "Everything has changed."
The Doctor stalked off the dais and disappeared through the archway that lead off into the twisted halls of the TARDIS. River didn't bother going to her parents for an explanation, she wanted one from the Doctor himself. She followed after him. He was quick and turned the corner ahead of her. River stopped short when she rounded the same corner and was confronted by an empty dead end hall way with no doors on either side for the Doctor to have gone into.
Not about to be put off by such a simple disappearing act River started with the right side of the short hallway and started to feel along the wall. As she suspected when she got to the far wall of the 'dead end' her hand passed through the wall as though it was just a mirage. River stepped through the wall and into the plain room beyond.
Clearly not expecting company the Doctor was sitting in the far corner with his hand pressed against his shoulder. His breath hissed across his teeth as he panted in pain. With his eyes closed he rested his head against the wall and moaned quietly. River wished that she could take on the burden of his pain for him. Although he had been doing well hiding it for the most part, River knew the persistent injury was taking a devastating toll on his ability to function mentally as well as physically.
"Doctor..."
"Oy!" The Doctor exclaimed as he jolted in surprise. "River! How..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"How did you get in here?" The Doctor snarled. "I changed the setting to keep everyone out."
"I'm guessing you changed the settings to keep 'humans' out, and I'm not really human."
The Doctor rolled his eyes at his mistake. He took his hand away from his shoulder now that he had an audience.
"Is this a Zero Room?" River asked impressed. "Does it help you?"
"Not the way it should." The Doctor said sourly.
River walked across the room, the unusual gravity keeping her a few inches above the floor. The Doctor tried to get to his feet as she approached but failed. When River came and sat in front of him he just stared at her for a moment. She reached out to touch his cheek, but he pulled away slightly to let her know that any contact was unwelcome at this time.
"River, please..."
"I'm sorry you are in such pain, my Love, but you can't just hide away in here like a wounded animal. We need t..."
"I'm not hiding." The Doctor snapped.
"Then what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to make a very difficult decision."
"Why do you insist on doing it alone?"
"Because I already know what your opinion on the matter will be." The Doctor replied simply.
"Why don't you ask me my opinion anyway?" River asked gently. "You might even be surprised by my answer. Just talking it out may be useful."
The Doctor stared at River in bitter silence. He looked like he might never speak or even move ever again. He had become a breathing statue. River sighed sadly at seeing him shut down. It wasn't like him to be silent. He never answered any question he didn't want to, but usually he avoided topics he didn't like by launching into ones that he did. It worried her that he lacked the strength to even try to divert her attention with worthless words.
"I'm just trying to help. You know that." River said rather than asked.
"I know."
"Then let me."
"Fine." The Doctor gave in. "I'm trying to decide if I should risk attempting to kill myself or if it would be safer to simply imprison myself in this tiny dull room for the rest of eternity."
"Wha..." River started in shock.
"I'm heavily leaning towards imprisonment," the Doctor continued calmly "even though that thought terrifies me far more than death, but at least then I'll have the peace of mind that he can never get out, a luxury that suicide would not afford me since I'd have no way of ever knowing if I get it wrong and just end up causing him to be unleashed."
"Doctor, stop, please, what are you talking about?" River asked suddenly overwhelmed with information after the stoney silence. "Who is the 'he' in all of this?"
"The Valeyard."
"Who is the Valeyard?"
"Apparently I am."
"I don't understand."
"He is my future, River, the most dangerous adversary I've ever faced. He has been setting traps for me, he has been visiting you these past few months, he's the one who has the other version of you right now. The Valeyard is the next regeneration and he is ripping apart time and space right now in his madness. I never used to believe the Master when he told me that *I* was the one who would become the Valeyard, but now I have proof."
The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. He handed the page to River who took it automatically. She was still trying to process everything he had just said. Opening the note River's eye was instantly drawn to the large symbol at the bottom. Bringing her attention away from the symbol she read the Old High Gallifreyan at the top in what she instantly recognized as being the Doctor's handwriting:
'The Declaration of War below is just a formality, Doctor, we both know you already lost.'
"Now you see my dilemma, River." The Doctor sighed. "I am at war with myself in a battle that I can not win."
"You can't just believe him that you lose, Doctor, it could be a trick."
"River, if I had won the war the Valeyard would never exist to write the note."
"History can be rewritten, particularly the futu..."
"Yes it can, but the smart thing to do, is to beat my future by simply ensuring that I never have one." The Doctor hissed angrily. "Which is why I am going to lock myself in here with no chance of escape, I will stop him and the damage he's already done, including splitting you and unleashing all of Stormcage."
"Of course you are, that's so *you*, Doctor. Of course you would sacrifice yourself to save the Universe from 'yourself'." River suddenly chuckled. "Which is exactly why the Valeyard wrote you this note."
"What?"
"Isn't it obvious?" River teased. "He would have to know that this is how you'd react. The Valeyard left you this note because he *wants* you to lock yourself in here. Somehow that gets him what he wants."
"I didn't think of that...why didn't I think of that?"
"Because when you go to War with yourself it takes an outside opinion to gain any kind of advantage."
"Lucky for me I have you." The Doctor smiled. "Unfortunately, of course, so does he."
"I'm willing to bet on myself on this one, because I have The Doctor and she just has The Valeyard."
"He is me."
"No he isn't, Sweetie, not by a long shot."