Chapter Two
There was a slight thud and judder. The TARDIS had landed. The Doctor carefully examined the displays of the TARDIS console. What they told him, he hadn't expected, then again, he didn't know what to expect.
"Outside is a complete pressure chamber. It was developed by early Vens guards for torture… but this one is so advanced and really, well, wow." The Doctor ran his hand through his hair. "I can open the doors and the TARDIS will protect us, but if we step out, the giamongouswow pressure will crush us in less than a second."
River, ever curious and needing confirmation, opened the door of the TARDIS. Outside was beyond pitch black, as if such vast matter had never received a ray of light in a long eternity. There was no sound. No movement. It was very tempting to go out and investigate just to ensure that there was nothing out there.
The Doctor, his eyes following River leaned on the opposite side of the TARDIS door. "Perhaps this is what the Time War has become. I guess it is for the better." He said softly, sweetly, questioningly. River, feeling very strange looked at him and tried to study his face.
But the Doctor was looking over River's shoulder, out of the TARDIS, instantly captivated. All of a sudden, outside the blue box were sickly white walls about six metres tall and half a dozen corridors turning off to other unseen passages and stopped by white walls at the end. There were factory lights that gave off terrible industrial light and a poisonous stench.
"A laboratory, a storehouse, what do you make of it?" asked River.
The Doctor took a deep breath, knowing he was going to have to do more talking. "I think it's a hospital. And I do believe we've made it back to the Time War."
Right on cue, there were voices and approaching shadows from the leftmost corridor. The voices were machiney and shrill. Daleks.
"The Time Lord who calls himself Doctor, do not attempt to escape. We have a hostage."
The Daleks turned the corner, coming into view of River and the Doctor. Strung with chains between the two Daleks standing astride was a woman (or perhaps a Time Lady) who was bound at the hands, ankles and waist. Despite her dishevelled shape, she had silky black hair and a demure figure that was very becoming. She looked at the Doctor; "Doctor?" she blinked incredulously. The Doctor, similarly surprised, stammered "N N Nurse?" She smiled, like an old friend remembering a secret joke.
However, the seriousness of the situation quickly changed the mood. With much intensity, the captive began screaming. "Turn back. Your memories were the key, they are makin" One of the Daleks cut her short by stuffing something into her mouth, rendering her unconscious.
The largest Dalek at the front, the one the Doctor recognised as Dalek Sec wheeled out a bit further. "It has been confirmed that the hostage has emotional value to the Time Lord. You will bend to our will. We must speak to your leaders."
The Doctor was baffled. Why did the Daleks want to parlez with the Time Lords? For Daleks, creatures that would hurt and kill without any qualms without any real motives apart from sadistic pleasure and the urge to destroy everything, talking before a conflict was against their nature.
The Doctor realised that he needed to change the dynamics of the verbal barrage around to understand more. "So," he articulated in that scattered, knowing voice of his, "if you needed to speak to my leaders, why would you come here, a hospital? In fact, this is a clearly marked place of sanctuary, you can't attack it, but," he added in a lower voice, "you are Daleks, but where are all the patients?"
"The patients are no concern of yours." Dalek Sec revealed little. "You must travel to your leaders without the aid of a time and matter transport device and bring them here within two hours. If you do this your life will be spared in the inevitable war that will ensue. If not, we will kill you and this hostage with utmost pain."
The Doctor, keeping his emotions in check, as if he had already lived through this scene, looked behind him, "What about my friends? They need to stay in the safety of my TARDIS."
Dalek Sec whined, "That is permissible for the two hours until you return."
River looked the Doctor in the eye and saw the command, get into the TARDIS. Asserting her authority, River squared up to the Daleks, "Fine, I will go and lock myself in the TARDIS. But you should know that it is now a place of sanctuary too, and any invasion would be breaking several intergalactic laws and will lead to prosecution." With that, River strode into the TARDIS and shut its blue door. But not before she covertly slipped her Pineapple ePad into the Doctor's pocket and heard a deeper authoritative male voice that was neither the Doctor nor a Dalek.
Upon returning into the heaving, hectic climate of the TARDIS, she messaged her epad , 'What is going on?' Within a few minutes, the Doctor replied. 'Phone me in 20. Will xplane.'