((French Proposals: Part IV))
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
I was perched on a crate, still covered in filth when the sound of the TARDIS filled the air. Within seconds, Clave was scampering back onto my shoulders and I'd moved to the door, waiting impatiently for it to open. I didn't have to wait long; the Doctor appeared, eyes gleaming with concern that deepened when he saw my state of dress. "Long story," I said warily, nudging past him. "Don't. Ask."
"My Girl," the TARDIS purred in greeting. She sounded tired, but not enough to not be happy to see me. I patted the railing as I stepped onto the grated floor. "Welcome back."
"Feels good to be back," I murmured back before glancing at the Doctor. He had raised an eyebrow at me, and I raised my own at him, crossing my arms. "So," I drawled, pulling up my southern accent as best as I could. It had faded over time. "Care to explain, Doctor, why you left me to the mercy of those people?"
He winced as he said, "There was a guard outside your door. I was going to get the TARDIS, direct her into your room, but she wouldn't land again."
"So he picked me up," another voice called. I glanced up to see a woman leaning against the TARDIS console. She gave a friendly smile, waving. "Martha Jones, a friend and old companion of the Doctor's. I've heard quite a bit about you from the Doctor."
"Nice to meet you," I said, returning the smile. "I'd go over and shake your hand, but..." I waved at my clothes. "I need a shower. By the way," I jerked a thumb over my shoulder. "It's the prince, Doctor. He's allied with those automatons I mentioned. We need to deal with him. I knew there was something bad about him. You need to listen to me more often." I poked him in the chest and Clave grumbled his agreement.
"I didn't not agree with you," he protested, "I was simply giving him the benefit of the doubt."
"You won't when I tell you what those automatons were made of," I muttered. I shot him a look. "I'm going to go change and shower, and then I'll tell you what the heck is going on here." How sad is it that I know more than he does for once?
"Mind putting a bathroom in my room?" I muttered to the TARDIS. "I know you're tired, but I kinda need it..."
"Anything, my Girl," the TARDIS reassured as I made my away from the main control room. I grimaced as I popped my back, already forming bruises aching. Clave purred comfortingly in my ear.
I reached my room in no time, the sounds of Martha and the Doctor speaking to each other in hushed tones making me nervous. Martha seemed like an okay enough girl...but I really didn't want to b e kicked out of the TARDIS, replaced.
"My Thief would never leave you; I wouldn't let him."
"Thanks," I muttered, smiling at her reassurance. I loved the TARDIS. Why did she have to go and get sick? Why did I have to die? Well, the part was kind of the TARDIS's fault, but I wouldn't blame her for it, not anymore.
I grinned when I ducked into my room, discovering the bathroom that had appeared on the wall beside my desk. "Would you mind?" I asked as I closed the door and began to shed goop-covered clothing. The TARDIS simply purred her response, willing. After grabbing a towel, I headed into the bathroom, fully intending to shower.
By the time I'd come back into my room, my dirty clothes and bag was gone. "Magical police box," I accused. She merely made a sound of annoyance. She wasn't fond of her work being called 'magic'. Grinning, I quickly dressed in a simple T-shirt, pair of jeans, and flip-flops, grabbed a hair tie, and then giggled as I dried Clave off. He'd decided to get a bath, accidentally falling into the tub, and I was still laughing at him.
Finally done getting clean, I walked out, heading for the control room as I towel dried my hair. "So what are we going to do?" I demanded, gray eyes flicking to the Doctor as I set the towel on the captain's seat and set to work on braiding my mass of hair while I sat down. Clave crawled into my lap.
"Depends on what you found," he answered, sitting beside me. Martha moved to stand in front of us, leaning back against the control panel. "Tell us about the automatons you said you found."
Oh, no. This would be fun. Trying to avoid adding in the parts where bowtie man was was going to be difficult. Slowly, I explained and lied at the same time, "The automatons kinda found me while I was hanging out in a different place, waiting for you to call. I used my sonic keychain on them, and it made a weird noise..." I shuddered at the reminder of the noise. Clave rested his chin on my shoulder, long tail flicking gently against my wrist. "Anyways, they broke open and it appeared someone was using human organs in them." I stuck my tongue out in disgust. "The human organs were hooked up like they would be in a normal body, but in the automatons instead. And then I accidentally did something wrong and it all exploded all over me. So I was pretty much covered in human guts."
Okay, I wanted to vomit now. Just saying it like that made me want to cry.
The look on the Doctor's face made me grimace sympathetically for whoever was doing this. Specifically, the prince. Not that I wasn't happy that Prince Claude was going to get into some sort of trouble...I didn't like him. Sure he'd been polite, but he was still the guy I didn't trust compared to everyone else in this time period.
Martha piped up. "So...Cybermen?"
"Kind of. Try more advanced physically but not mentally Cybermen," I replied. I narrowed my eyes, memories of being trapped in a metal casing for a while filling my mind. Shuddering, I tossed my braid over my shoulder and hugged Clave to me. He nipped gently at my cheek in a comforting sort of way.
"So we beat them how?"
"Oh, the automatons are done for," I said with a dry smile. "It's Prince Claude we have to deal with." The Doctor was watching me suspiciously, but I pretended not to notice in favor of continuing. "So what do we do about him? I'm not sure how he is involved, but he is. And before you ask," I added when the Doctor opened his mouth to demand an answer, "One of the more intelligent automatons mentioned his name."
Okay, lying definitely sucks.
The TARDIS hummed, a flash lighting up the screen before settling on a scan she'd done. The Doctor grinned, leaping to his feet. "She's already gotten a scan covered. Brilliant!" He strode over and peered intently at the screen for a moment before whipping around. "He's been giving the supplies to the creator. The TARDIS said there was another person..."
Damn! Bowtie man was going to cover that...wasn't he? "Don't worry about it," I reassured, "I think they killed him before they went wild." That seemed like a safe enough idea. I mean, people's creations always killed their creators in the movies...
"Then let's go question this guy," Martha said firmly. "Doesn't sound too bad."
"Gerald won't be happy."
The Doctor grimaced and muttered, "I won't be coming back here for a while."
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
I ducked out of the TARDIS with a moment of hesitation, warning the Doctor, "I'm going to kill you if I get trapped here again, got it? I don't like being held prisoner." Mind you, the king and queen had a good reason as to why I wouldn't ever be able to stay...and we were kind of about to go off on the prince, heir to the throne...
"The plan is to not get captured," Martha agreed. I liked her; the girl had some attitude and most of the time, it was hilarious.
The Doctor pouted. "I don't always get us into trouble," he protested as he locked the door behind us.
"Sure, whatever let's you sleep at night," I teased, then rested my hand against the locked door. "Make sure you wait for us, and that includes me, even if he's trying to leave. Okay?" I whispered as Clave patiently dug his talons into my shoulder to keep from falling off.
"I would never abandon you, my Girl," she replied honestly.
I smiled, ignoring the strange look Martha shot me as I pulled back and started towards the castle. Looks like the guards had gone off and didn't bother us. Strange. They'd been on us as soon as we'd arrived last time... The Doctor was just as worried as I was. His eyes narrowed. "Stick close, something's happened."
"Clave," I murmured, "Go see if you can find anyone and bring them here."
He purred in response and dropped from my shoulders, racing off without another sound. It was only seconds that he returned, hissing furiously with something in his mouth. He dropped it at the Doctor's feet, then scampered up onto my shoulders, quivering and pressing his cheek against mine with a whimper. "What is it?" I asked.
The Doctor looked furious, nodding at the object at his feet.
A hand.
Too much. I cursed, whipping my head around and looking away. "So nobody's alive in there. Wonderful. Does that mean the queen and King Gerald are dead, too? Prince Claude?"
"I'm not sure about the prince," the Doctor answered slowly. "But I'm going to bet that the king and queen are no longer among the living." He started forward, pulling the sonic screwdriver out of his pocket. "Keep close," he repeated.
I had no wish to not stick close. And Martha didn't either, apparently, as she stuck within inches of me as we made our way through the castle. Where it had been full of life hours before, it was now silent and lifeless, almost like a haunted place that would be in a movie or in a book. "Doctor," I said uneasily, "What are we-"
I was cut off by a shriek. The Doctor darted forward without a word, Martha scrambling after them. I moved to follow, but Clave slipped from my shoulders and went in another direction at a sprint, all four legs keeping him out of my reach as I cursed and chased after him. "Clave! Clave, get back here this instant!"
My pet didn't listen, and I blinked when the heavy deep brown plating along his spine rose, almost like a dog raising its hackles. He hissed and skidded a stop, baring his small teeth. I raised my gaze, and then cursed under my breath.
Damn Clave! He'd led me straight into the largest man I'd ever seen!
The man glared at me, towering at least six feet above me. His eyes were furious, broad shoulders wider than my waist on both sides and every bit of him was pure muscle. Rather than backing off, Clave hissed, glaring up at him. "Clave," I rasped fearfully, reaching for my sonic keychain. Not that it would do anything...
A glint caught my eye and as the massive man stepped closer, I grimaced.
He wasn't a man. It was an automaton. A massive automaton with human skin stretched unnaturally around the metal frame and I could hear the creaking of metal joints as it lunged. I leaped back and Clave gave a furious screech, scampering back. Unable to avoid him, I tripped over Clave with a shriek and cursed at him, pointing the sonic keychain.
The noise was worse this time. It rang loudly through the room we were in and Clave wailed, twisting to slam his talons and feet over his nonexistent ears. I felt a sense of guilt past my own pain. He'd only been trying to help.
The automaton's jaw gaped for a moment. And then it dropped, oozing oil and other...things around its body. Gasping for air, I dropped the keychain, wincing at the pain in my ears. When I touched a finger to one, it came away bloody. Wonderful. So I was no half-deaf. This would be fun. Forcing myself to stagger to my feet, I scooped up Clave and my sonic keychain. I could barely hear myself out of my left ear as I choked out, "Alright, Clave. We need to find everyone else since you got ourselves separated from the Doctor."
He shot me a look.
"Yeah, yeah, we might've been in more trouble without you," I rasped. But where did they go? I really needed to stop running off...
I set Clave down. "Lead the way," I told him. "Take us to where Martha and the Doctor are. That prince knows about me being the Successor. If he tells them, we're screwed."
Clave nodded, darting off, and I ran after him, sonic keychain in hand. The Doctor was going to kill me for running off again, but right now, my biggest concern was my secret being spilled. If he found out, I'd be abandoned and there'd be nothing I could do about it. Sure, the TARDIS wouldn't leave without me, but it didn't mean the Doctor couldn't physically drag me out kicking and screaming.
Silently pleading with whatever gods might exist, she slid to a stop as they reached the throne room. Martha and the Doctor stood in front of the throne, where Prince Claude sat smirking, the bodies of his parents littering the floor behind him. I hurried to scoop up Clave and let him on my shoulder as Claude drawled, "As if I wouldn't take advantage of something that would let me take over sooner. All I did was have the man killed and take over his operation. All it required was bodies." He waved around him. "And that many bodies isn't hard to come across if you're a king."
"If your people lose belief in you," the Doctor was trying to convince him otherwise, "Then they will overwhelm you and take you down, Claude. Think this through; there's no need for this."
Prince Claude ignored his words, instead shifting his gaze over to me upon hearing Clave hiss. "Ah, if it isn't the Successor."
Yep. I'm screwed.
I raised my chin proudly. "Nice to know that even you've heard of me." Why was everyone so scared of the Successor? I was going to die to become the TARDIS. Then again, if I didn't, everything would die. The universe would collapse on itself...and that wasn't such a bad looking thing right now. I propped a hand on my hip, forcing myself not to look scared as the Doctor paid close attention to what we were saying. He was trying to figure it out. "Stop and maybe we'll let you stay king. You still have a chance to change your ways, Claude."
I should've known it wouldn't be that easy. He stood, crossing his arms, eyes gleaming coldly. "Maybe you'll let me stay king? I think you'll leave right now and let me do as I wish, Successor, if you wish to keep your secret just that."
Oh, this couldn't be happening!
Clave snarled loudly, furious as he glared at Claude from my shoulders. Forcing my voice not to quiver and not looking at the Doctor, I retorted, "I don't have a single clue as to what you're talking about. Now back off and give up. You've lost your chance."
"Ali," the Doctor said warningly, "What does he mean secret?" He spoke slowly, and I knew immediately that any chance of him not finding out was gone. He'd pester me about it even if Claude didn't reveal it.
Which he full intended to do now that the Doctor had spoken up. "You mean you don't know, Doctor?" he sneered. "The Doctor doesn't know what he keeps as a companion?"
"Watch it," I snarled, "I'm not a thing, I'm a person." Slowly, I set Clave on the ground and, understanding my wishes, Clave disappeared off to the side of the room, creeping around it with a slow pace.
Ignoring me and Clave, Claude continued. "I'm surprised. She should know by now, that's what I've been told. or was told, before I killed the thing that came up with the idea for the automatons." He grinned. "I can't believe a mere human knows more about the Successor than the Doctor." He turned his gaze on Martha. "How 'bout you, sweetheart? You know anything about the Successor?"
"Stop it," I snapped. "Stop it right now."
But he simply grinned. "The Successor," he said loudly, standing and rocking back on his heels. I glanced at Clave; he was half way round the room, eyes locked on Claude. "Is someone that no alien wants but every alien and creature in the universe needs." He shot me a malicious smile. My face had drained of any and all blood in it. "You see, Doctor, your TARDIS is dying." His smile grew at the shock that appeared on the Doctor's face. "So she chose a replacement. Miss Alissa Levine here is that replacement. Soon enough, when the TARDIS is dead, she'll die and take it's place."
It was out. My secret was revealed. The Doctor whipped around to stare at me, his eyes narrowed yet hopeful that Claude was lying. But that hope faded when he saw my expression.
Claude wasn't lying.
The Doctor knew. I was a gonner now.
Clave took his chance and snarled, launching from the shadows and tearing with his talons and teeth at Claude's shoulders and back. Claude screamed in surprise, crashing to the ground, and Martha gasped. "Stop him!" she cried, darting forward.
I couldn't bring myself to command Clave to stop, my gaze locked with the Doctor's. The conversation I could see him planning would not end well, not at all. I bit my lip, finally tearing my gaze from his, tears threatening to appear. No, I couldn't cry. Not this time. The Doctor finally knew, and the TARDIS would know what to do with this.
Silence fell over the room as Clave returned to my side, talons and mouth dripping blood. I didn't notice, staring numbly as the blood soaked the shoulders of my shirt, and Martha's cry told me that Claude was dead. I felt bad for not feeling a single sense of guilt about it.
Reassuring, Clave gently licked my cheek, and I grimaced as I wiped away the smear of blood he left. He'd only been protecting us, I reminded myself, it was my fault for not stopping him. Quivering, I leaned my head against Clave's.
"Ali," the Doctor began. I flinched at the angry tone of his voice. The anger towards Claude had been redirected towards me. I wanted to cry again. Where was River, or even Jack when you needed him? "Was he telling the truth?"
"Yes," I choked out, biting my lip. "He wasn't lying." I forced myself to square my shoulders. "I'm the Successor of the TARDIS. And eventually, I'll take over the police box." I forced myself to meet his gaze again. "And it has to happen. I am a set point in time. If you don't let it happen, Doctor, the universe collapses."
The Doctor shoved a hand through his crazed hair and my voice cracked as I said, "I didn't want to tell you. I didn't want...I'm sorry." What else could I say? "I'm sorry," I repeated, biting my lip.
Martha must have sensed the tension in the air because finally she stood and said, "We should leave. Someone's bound to show up soon and we need to get out of here."
The Doctor's only response was a stiff nod, and then turned away. I dropped my head, mind blank.
He hated me. I was going to die for someone who hated me.
Then again...
It was my own fault.
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
The second I stepped into the TARDIS, I headed for my room without a backwards glance. Not that anyone tried to stop me. I closed the door, then locked it before letting myself drop to the ground. While I pulled my knees up to my chest and rested my chin on them, Clave began to clean the blood off of him. I curled a lip in disgust, but pretended not to notice.
"My Girl," the TARDIS purred, but I cut her off furiously.
"He hates me because of you," I spat, and the TARDIS fell silent. "You made me this stupid Successor, and he found out." I glared at nothing, my hands clenching into fists against my thighs. "It's all your fault."
She simply gave a hurt sound, a sad hum, then fell silent.
I sat like that for a few moments. Silent, doing nothing. But then I reached up to feel around on my bed, snorting when I felt my sketchbook and other possessions there. Grabbing my phone, the sketchbook, and a pencil, I shifted to rest on my stomach, flipping the book open and dialing a number before beginning to draw.
"Hello?"
I gave a slightly shaky smile at the sound of his voice. "Drevan," I murmured in greeting. "Long time, no talk, huh?"
"Ali! You're alive!" he cheered. For now, I added silently to myself. "Where have you been? Are you alright?"
I continued to sketch out Dany's head, longing for the familiar sensation of the saddle rocking beneath me while Dany galloped and Tex tried to keep up with a horse. "I'm fine. I'm in France a few centuries behind you and my pet just killed someone who was being a jerk, but you know. Perfectly fine."
Drevan gave a sympathetic hum, his voice gentle as he replied, "That sucks. Dany here misses you. Tex, too. I've practically moved in to your place."
I snorted. "You can if you want. Someone needs to be there to take care of all the animals. You're practically family anyways." Homesickness struck me. I wanted to go home, to Texas without having to witness the death of my family.
We continued to talk, me pretending to ignore the feeling of the TARDIS moving twice and Drevan simply filling me in on what had happened as Clave curled up on my back while I drew Dany. At one point, I questioned about Catie, and he simply answered that she'd moved out of state not too long ago, intent on helping out with some parade floats.
It seemed like only minutes later that there was a knock on the door. Swallowing, I bid Drevan a farewell, promising him I'd visit soon. I pulled out my sonic keychain, then pointed it at the door so that it unlocked. I'd probably be losing this soon, knowing the Doctor.
Time to face the music.
Clave licked my cheek to comfort me again. And just like last time, I didn't feel very comforted.
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
A/N: So...crazy chapter. |D The Doctor discovered the big "secret" though it really wasn't a secret, he just didn't know. Clave killed someone. Not sure how that happened. . XD Thanks to reviewers and hope you enjoyed! Also! I have a poll up, if you'd be willing to look. ;)
Guest: Guess you'll have to read and find out! ;) I'm glad you like it!
Maren the fangirl: If you thought that was an evil ending, how 'bout this one? lol XD I'm happy you liked it!
MaybeALittleBroken: Still want Clave? XD You are welcome to the couch if you can get my dog off of it... XD
BrainStormer: Only one person truly knows what will happen. You shall have to wait and see however. XD