Chapter 15: Curse of the Black Spot
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.
A group of four pirates rowed the long boat back to their ship through still waters through dense fog. The ship was still as there was not enough wind to fill the sails though a small breeze blew the array of charms hanging like chimes.
The pirates climbed aboard and were greeted by another, who asked, "What's wrong?"
Another pirate replied grimly, "Man wounded."
Stunned, the first pirate looked at the wounded man even as he pointed to the aft of the ship. "Wake him."
The pirates were there, in the Captain's cabin, waiting on the Captain's decision. The first pirate said, "He slipped in the bilge water, Cap'n, and fell on to the rigger. His hand... I don't know if he'll survive."
The Captain turned around and looked at the wounded man's hand, where there was a small scratch on his finger. The Captain said, "You're a dead man, McGrath." He turned over McGrath's hand to reveal a black spot on his palm. "Same as all the others." They heard a hypnotic woman's voice singing. "She's here."
The first pirate said, "Oh, save our souls."
McGrath cried, "I've got to escape!" He ran from the cabin.
The first pirate called after him, "Don't go out there! McGrath! Don't listen for God's sake. The siren is a-calling."
The Captain locked the cabin door. He then took a pendant from his neck and wrapped the leather strap around the door handles. On one side of the pendant was a carved relief of a mermaid. The others heard McGrath's scream as the pendant slowly swung at the lock.
The other pirates came out on deck. There was no sign of McGrath, only his pistol. The Captain picked up the pistol. "Same as all the others. No sign of a struggle. No bones or blood."
The first pirate said, "We're shark bait, every single one of us. Stuck on the ocean, waiting until the wind changes."
There was a banging from one of the hatches. The Captain asked, "What's that?"
The first pirate said fearfully, "The creature, it's returned." The pirates approached cautiously, the Captain aimed the pistol.
The hatch burst open to reveal the Vixen, the Doctor, Rory and Amy. The Doctor said, "Yo ho ho! Or does nobody actually say that?"
The Captain was questioning the presence of strangers on his ship, not noticing the Vixen's sword since it had a perception filter. "We made no signal."
The Doctor said, "Our sensors picked you up. Ship in distress."
The Captain asked, "Sensors?"
The Vixen pinched the Doctor and said, "Yeah. OK. Problem word. Seventeenth century. My ship automatically, er…noticed-ish... that your ship was having some bother."
The Captain asked, "That big blue crate!?"
The Vixen grinned and snapped her fingers. Pirate 1 said, "Tis more magic, Captain Avery. They're spirits. How else would they have found their way below decks?"
The Vixen deadpanned, "Well, I want to say multidimensional engineering, but since you had a problem with sensors I won't go there. Look, I'm the Vixen, this is the Doctor, this is Amy, and Rory."
The Doctor said, "We're pirates, same as you. Arghhhhh!" He turned to look at the pirates behind them and when he turned around, Avery had a pistol aimed at his head. "Except for the gun thing. And the beardiness."
Avery said, "You're stowaways! Only explanation. Eight days, we've been stranded here. Becalmed. You must have stowed away before we sailed."
Pirate 1 asked, "What do we do with 'em?"
Avery replied, "Oh, I think they deserve our hospitality."
The Doctor was standing at the edge of a plank jutting over the side of the ship as the pirates laughed. The Doctor said, "I suppose that laughing like that is in the job description. 'Can you do the laugh?' Check. Grab yourself a parrot. Welcome aboard."
Avery said, "Stocks are low. Only one barrel of water remains. We don't need four more empty bellies to fill." He ordered, referring to the Vixen and Amy, "Take the doxies below to the galley. Set them to work. They won't need much feeding."
Two of the pirates "escorted" Amy and the Vixen to the stairs that led below-decks. The Vixen spoke to Amy, the Doctor and Rory telepathically (her powers were growing), "Don't freak out. Don't say anything. I have a plan." With that she closed her eyes and faded away into gold mist. The pirates didn't notice (Hey, I told you her powers were growing).
Amy swallowed and asked, "Rory, a little help?"
Rory was being restrained by another pirate. He said, "Hey, listen right. She's not a doxy."
Amy sighed, "I didn't mean just tell him off. Thanks anyway." The pirate forced her below.
Avery said to Rory and the Doctor, "If you're lucky you'll drown before the sharks can take a bite."
The Doctor said, "If this is just because I'm a captain too, you shouldn't feel threatened. Your ship is much bigger than mine. And I don't have the cool boots. Or a hat, even."
Avery aimed the pistol. "Time to go."
The Doctor asked nervously, "A bit more laughter, guys?" He motioned with his hand.
As Amy got up and looked around, she didn't see a small flash of gold light behind her. A hand reached out behind her and covered her mouth as Amy tried to scream. The Vixen shushed her, "Shhh." She nodded.
Amy asked, "Where did you go?"
The Vixen replied quietly, "I told you I had a plan." She looked towards a chest.
Amy looked behind her shoulder and asked, "What?" The Vixen nodded towards the chest. "Ohh." Amy opened the chest to find it filled with swords. She took one out as the Vixen unsheathed hers.
As Amy tested the feel of it in her hand, she saw a long coat and a tricorne hanging on a peg. The Vixen grinned.
The Doctor asked, biding his time, "Where are the rest of the crew? This is a big ship. Big for five of you. I s'pose the rest of them are hiding some place," He held his nose. "and they're going to jump out and shout "boo"."
Two female voices shouted, "Boo!"
The men turned around to see Amy wearing the coat and the Vixen wearing the hat, swords pointed at Avery's throat. The Vixen said sweetly, "Throw the gun down. Captain." She glared, eyes glowing. Avery flinched and dropped the gun to the deck as Amy kicked it away. The Vixen said, "The rest of you, on your knees."
The Doctor asked, "Vixen? Amy? What are you doing?"
Amy replied, "Saving your life. OK with that, are you?"
Avery said fearfully, "Put down the sword. A sword could kill us all, girl."
The Vixen said, "Yep, thanks. That's actually why we're pointing them at you."
One of the pirates came at Amy with a wooden handle, surprising her and forcing her back from Avery. The pirate knocked Amy out and lay her on the deck, kicking the sword away.
When the Doctor and the Vixen tried to intercede, Avery pushed them back into the rigging. The Vixen somersaulted away and advanced on the pirates with her sword, making them back away gasping in fear. The Vixen smirked and showed off a little, swishing the sword through the air. The pirates took advantage and pushed forward again. The Vixen fought them off surprisingly fast.
One advanced on her with a rope, backing her into a corner. The Vixen climbed a rope then swung through the air on a piece of rigging, swinging her sword. Amy had awoken by now and the Vixen threw Amy her black sword as she passed before somersaulting through the air and landing on a barrel. Amy caught the sword and swung through the air on a piece of rigging like the Vixen had. She cut one of the pirates' hand as she passed before leaping and landing on a barrel next to the Vixen. The Doctor and Rory clapped weakly in awe.
Pirate 3 said, "You have killed me."
Amy and the Vixen rolled their eyes as Amy picked up her own sword and handed the black one back to the Vixen, which she sheathed. Amy said, "No way. It's just a cut." A black spot appeared on Pirate 3's hand.
The Vixen asked, "What kind of rubbish pirates are you? More like drama queens."
Avery said, "One drop, that's all it takes. One drop of blood and she will rise out of the ocean."
Amy scoffed, "Come on. I barely even scratched him. What are you all in such a huff about?"
Two of the pirated approached them and the girls swung out on the rope. The pirates stopped them and the sword flew from Amy's hand. The Doctor and Rory leapt to catch it, but both bumped into each other, the sword slicing their hands. A black spot appeared on one of their palms each.
The Doctor asked, "Vixen?"
Rory asked, "What's happening to us?"
Avery said, "She can smell the blood on your skin. She's marked you for death."
Rory and the Doctor asked in unison, "She?"
Avery replied, "A demon, out there in the ocean."
The Doctor said, trying to lighten the mood, "OK. Groovy. So not just pirates today. We've managed to bagsy a ship where there's a demon popping in."
The Vixen leapt down from the barrel and looked at the Doctor and Rory's hands. "Very efficient. I mean if something's going to kill you, it's nice that it drops you a note to remind you."
The Siren's song started again. Pirate 1 said, "Quickly now. Block out the sound." The others put their hands over their ears.
Rory asked, "What?"
Avery replied, "The creature. She charms all her victims with that song."
The Doctor said, "Oh, great, so put my fingers in my ears. That's your plan? Vixen, come on let's go, let's get back to the...back to the..." He and Rory started acting dopey and giggled.
Pirate 1 said, "The music. It's working on him. Look."
The Vixen stumbled over to the Vixen and almost stumbled but the Vixen pulled him up. He said giddily, "You are so beautiful." The Vixen rolled her eyes.
Rory said to Amy, "I love your get up. That's great. You should dress as a pirate more often. Cuddle me, shipmate."
Amy said to him as if addressing a child, "Rory, stop."
The Doctor asked, "Everything is totally brilliant isn't it? Look at these brilliant pirates. Look at their brilliant beards. I'd like a beard. I'm going to grow a beard."
Rory agreed, "Me too."
Amy and the Vixen said in unison, "You're really not."
Avery explained, "The music turns them into fools."
The Doctor, Rory and the other wounded pirate continued to act like they were drunk or high. Amy gasped, "Oh, my God." The Vixen followed her gaze. Off the starboard side of the ship, a section of the water glowed green.
Everyone watched and soon a woman rose from the water. She, too, glowed green. The wounded boys' jaws dropped at the sight of her. The Vixen and Amy grabbed their respective partners' arms and held them back as the Siren floated down to the deck.
Pirate 3 walked towards her and the others half-heartedly grabbed for him as they, too, were entranced. The Siren had her arm outstretched and Pirate 3 reached for her hand. Still held back by Amy and the Vixen, the Doctor and Rory reached for her.
As soon as Pirate 3's hand touched the Siren, his body was dispersed. Rory broke free of Amy while the Doctor struggled under the Vixen's freakishly strong grip. Rory breathed, "I have to touch her. Let me touch her."
Amy pushed her way past Rory and faced the Siren. "Sorry, but he is spoken for." The Siren hissed and turned red. She sent Amy flying backwards to land on the deck.
The Vixen left the Doctor and went to Amy, "Amy! Everybody into the hold." The pirates headed to the hold. Rory and the Doctor stood there, still entranced. The Vixen groaned and rolled her eyes again. "Doctor! Rory!" She made sure Amy was safe before grabbing the Doctor and Rory by their collars and dragging them to the hold.
"Hey!" The both yelped in unison.
The three of them made their way down into the hold, splashing through the gathered water. Amy asked, "What is that thing?"
Avery replied, "The legend. The siren. Many a merchant ship, laden with treasure has fallen prey to her. She's been hunting us ever since we were becalmed. Picking off the injured."
Pirate 1 said, "Like a shark. A shark can smell blood."
The Vixen said, roughly letting the boys' collars go, "OK. Just like a shark. In a dress. And singing. And green. A green singing shark in an evening gown."
Avery said, "The ship is cursed."
The Vixen scoffed, "Yeah right. 'Cursed' is big with humans. Means bad things are happening but you can't be bothered to find an explanation."
Rory sighed, "She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
The Doctor nodded in agreement. "I know."
Amy said to both of them, "Actually I think you'll find she isn't. We have to leave. Right now."
Avery asked, "That thing of yours really is a ship?"
The Vixen said, "Well, it's not propelled by the wind."
Avery ordered. "Show me. Weigh anchor. Make it sail!" He pulled out his gun.
The Vixen sighed. "And the gun's back. You're big on the gun thing aren't you? I really don't like it with anyone but River."
Pirate 4 said, "Leave the cursed ones, Captain. The creature can have them."
Rory and the Doctor pleaded, "Yes, please."
Avery said, "We don't want the siren coming after us."
The pirates cried out and one lifted his leg from the water. There was something on it. Amy said, "It's a leech!"
The Vixen ordered, grabbing the Doctor and Rory's collars again, "Everyone out of the water!" Everyone climbed out of the water onto the crates.
Pirate 4 pulled the leech from his leg. "It's bitten me, I'm bleeding." The black spot appeared.
The Vixen said, "She wants blood. Why does she want blood?"
Amy asked, "What were you saying about leaving the cursed ones behind?"
The Vixen said, "It's OK. We're safe down here. No 'curse' is getting through three solid inches of timber."
The Siren appeared behind the Vixen and began to sing. The Vixen pushed the Doctor and Rory to Amy and turned to the siren. "Ah. Hello again."
Amy tried to hold back Rory and the Doctor like the Vixen did, from the collars. Pirate 4 walked forward and Avery & the Vixen shouted, "No! No! No!"
Pirate 4 touched the Siren's hand and disappeared. His hat fell to the floor. Everyone rushed from the hold, the Vixen pushing the Doctor and Rory from their collars, Pirate 4's hat in hand.
The Vixen bolted the door behind her, after shoving the Doctor and Rory in Amy's hands, who asked, "Safe?"
The Vixen said, "I have my good days and my bad days."
Avery asked, "How did she get in?"
The Vixen used her purple sonic on the hat. "The bilge water - she's using water like a portal, a door. She can materialise through a single drop. We need to go somewhere with no water."
Amy said sarcastically, "Well, thank God we're not in the middle of the ocean." The Vixen rolled her eyes and put the hat on Amy's head.
Rory asked, "Did you see her eyes?"
The Doctor sighed dreamily, "I know, like crystal pools."
The Vixen said, "You both are in enough trouble as it is."
Avery suddenly said, "The magazine!"
Amy asked, "What?"
The Vixen explained, "He means the armoury where the powder's stored."
Avery said, "It's dry as a bone."
Amy said, "Good let's go there."
Avery pulled out the gun. "I give the orders."
The Vixen asked, "Ha. Worried because I'm wearing a hat now?!" She headed for the magazine, dragging the Doctor behind her. "Nobody touch anything sharp!"
Amy growled, "Come on Rory." She pulled him by the arm.
In another section below-deck, Pirate 1 took out a ring of keys to open a locked door. Avery said, "Quickly, man."
Pirate 1 said, "The key, 'tis gone, Cap'n."
Avery asked, "How can it have gone?"
The Vixen said, pushing the door open, "Someone else had the same idea."
They entered the room cautiously, Amy pulling the Doctor and Rory. The room is empty. Avery ordered, "Barricade the door. Careful of that lantern! Every barrel is full of powder."
The Vixen murmured, "Who's been sleeping in my gun room?"
Avery heard a muffled coughing and removed the lid of one of the barrels. He reached a hand in a pulled out a young boy. "You fool. You fool, boy. What are you doing here?"
Pirate 1 asked, "Who is he?"
The Vixen asked, "What, he's not one of the crew?"
Avery said, "No. He's my son."
A few moments later, the boy was sitting on a bench, Avery next to him. Everyone else stood and looked on. Avery asked, "What in God's name possessed you, boy? Your mother will be searching for you." The boy looked down and Avery realized. "When?"
The boy replied, "Last winter. Fever. She told me all about you. How you were a Captain in the Navy. An honourable man, she said. How I would be proud to know you." He coughed. "I've come to join your crew."
Avery said, "I don't want you here."
The boy said, "You can't send me back. It's too late. We're a hundred miles from home."
Avery said, "It's dangerous here. There's a monster aboard. She leaves a mark on men's skin."
The boy asked, "The black spot?" He hesitantly showed the palm of his hand. There was a black spot. Avery grabbed his son's hand. The boy coughed.
A little later, Amy, the Vixen, the Doctor and Rory were sitting while the pirates stood around. Rory and the Doctor rubbed the spots on their palms.
Avery said, "There's nothing wrong with the boy. He has no scars."
The Vixen said, "Yep. Ignore my last theory."
Amy said, "She has her good days and her bad days."
The Vixen said, "It's not just blood. She's coming for all the sick and wounded. Like a hunter chooses the weakest animal."
Amy said, "OK, look. He's got a fever."
The Vixen said, "The siren knows it." She sighed. "Humans. second-rate. Damage too easily. It's only a matter of time before everyone gets bruised." She had an idea. "My ship. It can sail us all away from here. You and me, we fetch it. Let's go." She stood up.
Avery pulled out his pistol and said, "You're not the Captain here, remember?"
The boy opened one of the barrels to reveal water. The Siren reached through with her arms. The Vixen forced the lid back on. Avery said, "The water's dangerous. That's how she gets through. One touch of her hand and you're a dead man!"
Pirate 1 said, panicking, "We're all cursed if we stay aboard!"
The Vixen snapped, "It's not a curse. Curse means game over. Curse means we're helpless. We are not helpless! Captain, what's our next move?"
Avery draped the pendant around the boy's neck and ordered, "Wait with the boy."
Pirate 1 said, "Captain we're all in danger here."
Avery said, "I said wait, and barricade the door after we've gone."
Amy asked the Vixen, "Sure you want to go?"
The Vixen said, "We have to get the Doctor, Rory and Toby away. She's out there now, licking her lips, boiling a saucepan, grating cheese."
Amy nodded. "OK, well remember, if you get an itch, don't scratch too hard."
The Vixen grinned feebly. "We've all got to gosome time." Amy, the Doctor and Rory exchanged a look, remembering what they saw in Utah. "There are worse ways than having your face snogged off by a dodgy mermaid." She patted Rory on the shoulder and kissed the Doctor on the cheek before saying to them, "Try not to die."
The Vixen and Avery stepped out of the room and Avery put his gun away. He asked, "D'you want to draw lots for who's in charge, then?"
The Vixen looked around, "Darkness. Demon. You can have first go." She patted Avery on the chest as they made their way back to the hold.
Avery slipped and nearly put his hand down on an exposed nail. The Vixen grabbed his hand just in time. "Nearly. Phew!"
The Vixen ran up to the console while Avery stood just inside the door. "By all the..." He walked slowly to the console.
The Vixen said, "Let me stop you there. Bigger on the inside. Don't mind, do you, if we just skip to the end of that moment? Oh, and sorry I lied by theway, when I said yours was bigger. Kitchen that way. Choice of bathrooms - there, there, there."
Toby sat on the floor, coughing. Amy looked at him. The Doctor asked, "What's wrong?"
Amy replied, "The most beautiful thing you've ever seen."
Rory and the Doctor groaned. Rory said, "Oh, tell me we didn't really say that."
Amy noticed the two pirates removing the barrels blocking the door. "What's going on?"
Pirate 1 said, "We're not staying here to mollycoddle the boy. The Captain's gone soft, it's time for us to leave."
The Vixen was typing on the console when Avery started pointing and touching controls. He asked, "What's this do?"
The Vixen said, pointing, "That does very very complicated. That does sophisticated, that does whoa, amazing, and that does whizz bang far too technical to explain!"
"Wheel?"
"Atom accelerator."
Avery said, "It steers the thing."
The Vixen replied, "No...Sort of...Yes."
Avery pointed, "Wheel. Telescope. Astrolabe. Compass." The Vixen looked at him in surprise. "A ship's a ship. Oh..."
Back in the magazine, Toby got up and snapped, "He told you to wait, you dog. He's your Captain, a Naval Officer. You're honour-bound to do as he tells you."
Pirate 1 asked, "'Honour-bound'? Do you know what kind of ship this is? Do you know what your father does?"
Amy put her arms about Toby's shoulders. "Don't listen to him, Toby."
Pirate 1 said, "We sail under the black flag. The Jolly Roger."
Toby growled, "Liar!" He lunged. "He's no wicked pirate!"
Pirate 1 asked, "Oh, you think so? I've seen your father gun down a thousand innocent men."
The Vixen said, "This is how the professionals do it." She set the TARDIS in motion. Its machinery groaned and went nowhere. "It's stuck. Not responding."
Avery asked, "Becalmed?"
The Vixen replied, "Mm-hm. Apparently. That's new. You had to gloat, didn't you?"
Avery said, "I'm not gloating."
The Vixen said, "I saw that look just now. 'Ha-ha her ship is rubbish'."
Avery shrugged, "True."
Pirate 1 said to Pirate 5, "Get what treasure you can I'll meet you in the row boat."
Toby came forward, a sword pointed at Pirate 1. "You're going to remain at your post."
Pirate 1 said, "I am not playing games with you boy, you put that down."
Toby said, "One more step and I'll use this, you blaggard."
Pirate 1 snapped, "You don't know how to fight with a cutlass, boy."
"Don't need to, do I?" Toby lunged forward and cut Pirate 1 on the hand.
"Ah!" Pirate 1 breathed heavily. "No..."
The Vixen checked the controls. "It can't get a lock on the plane."
Avery asked, "The what?"
The Vixen replied, "The space we travel in. The... ocean. Sort of ocean but not water. The TARDIS can't see. It's sulking because it thinks the space doesn't exist. Without a plane to lock onto we're not going anywhere."
Avery said, "I'm confused."
The Vixen muttered, "It's a big club. We should get T-shirts." Therewas an explosion and rumblings. "What's happening?"
Pirate 1 turned his palm over to reveal the spot and cussed, "You little swabber!"
The Doctor said, "Congratulations. Made it to the menu. Probably shouldn't go out there now."
Pirate 1 pulled out the pistol. "You scurvy ape."
Rory warned, "Don't shoot! The powder will blow and kill us all."
Pirate 2 took the key ring from Pirate 1's belt. "Mulligan, what are you doing?" Mulligan hesitated then left.
Amy said, "No honour among pirates." Pirate 1 lowered his gun and began to pile the barrels back in front of the door.
The Vixen frantically worked the controls. "OK. She's had her little sulk. Now she's heading for the full-on screaming tantrum."
Avery asked, "Can you fix it?"
The Vixen said, "The parametric engines are jammed. Orthogonal vector's gone. I'm almost out of ideas."
"Almost?"
The Vixen replied, "Well, we could try stroking her and singing her a song."
Avery asked, "Will that help?"
The Vixen replied, "Hard to say, never has before." She flipped a switch in the hopes of regaining control but it didn't work. The TARDIS rocked around. "Argh! I've lost control of her, she's about to dematerialise we could end up anywhere!"
Avery said, "That sounds bad."
The Vixen said, "Yes, it is! Out! Now! Abandon ship! Abandon ship!" She grabbed Avery and pushed him out the door as the console began to explode, shooting sparks.
The Vixen and Avery ran out of the TARDIS and as far from her as possible in the cramped space. They turned around to see the TARDIS enveloped in a green light as it disappeared. The Vixen muttered, "OK, OK, OK. TARDIS runs off on its own. That's a bit of a new one. Bang goes our only hope of getting them out of here."
Avery asked, "Not much of a Captain without a ship, are you?" The Vixen and Avery headed back to the magazine and were stopped by Mulligan who held two pistols on them. He also carried treasure, a crown around his arm. "Mulligan? What are you doing? This is mutiny."
Mulligan said, "She doesn't want me. She only wants Toby, the fellow in the bow tie and the scrawny looking fellow." He ran off.
The Vixen said, "He's got the last of the supplies. We should go after him."
Avery said, "Never mind the damned supplies. What about my treasure?" He and the Vixen followed Mulligan, who fired but they took cover.
The Vixen muttered, "Don't get injured. Don't get injured."
They chased Mulligan back to the hold. He locked the door behind him. Using a flint, he lit a fire in a small hand-held paddle. He dropped it when the flames burnt his hand. Avery called through the door, "Come out of there you mutinous dog!"
Mulligan burnt his hand and dropped the paddle, leaving him in darkness. "Ow!"
As the Vixen was using her sonic on the lock, they heard the Siren singing. The Vixen and Avery began checking each other for injury. They looked to the door and saw green light through the cracks. The Vixen whispered, "She's inside."
Avery said, "She's come for Mulligan."
Mulligan screamed and the Vixen finally opened the door. They entered the room and found it empty.
The Vixen scanned the room with her sonic as Avery grabbed the crown. "No water in here. How did she take him? You said she uses water like a door. That's how she enters a room."
The Vixen looked at the highly-polished crown in realization. She stammered, "I was wrong. Please ignore all my theories up to this point."
Avery asked, "What, again!?"
The Vixen said, "We're all in danger. The water's not how she's getting in. When we were down in the hold, think what happened. You, me, the Doctor, Amy, Rory, leeches."
Avery said, "She sprang from the water."
The Vixen said, "Yes, only when it grew still! Still water. Nature's mirror."
Avery asked, "So... You mean?"
"Yes. Not water... Reflection. The siren legend. The curse."
Avery said, "You said curses weren't real."
The Vixen went on, "Folklore springs from truth. She attacks ships filled with treasure. Where else do you get a perfect reflection?"
Avery said, "Polished metal."
"Hmm." The Vixen put the crown away in a bag as Avery automatically reached for the pendant.
It was not there, but with Toby. Avery said, "We must warn them."
Toby was now using a cloth to polish the metal. The Vixen and Avery hurried back to the magazine. They reached the door. The Vixen called, "Doctor! Amy! Open the door!"
Avery ordered, "Toby open the door!" Inside, the Doctor, Amy and Rory removed the barrels. "Toby!"
The Vixen snapped, "Open the door!"
"Toby!"
The Doctor, Amy and Rory opened the door and the Vixen pushed her way through, grabbed the pendant from Toby and began breathing heavily on it to fog the surface. The Doctor, Amy and Rory just stared at her. She gave a thumbs-up and Avery relaxed. The Vixen then ran out the door, unsheathing her sword.
Using the hilt of her sword, the Vixen began to smash the small panes of glass that made up the aft window. She said, "We've got to destroy every reflection. Gold, silver, glass. She could spring from any of them." She smashed a mirror as Avery stared. "Oh, yeah, yeah, I know I know. Very bad luck to break it. But look at it this way, there's a stroppy homicidal mermaid trying to kill us all."
Avery asked, "How much worse can things get?"
The Vixen nodded, "Yep." She looked at the treasure. "Help me lug this lot out."
Avery asked, "Where are we taking it?"
The Vixen replied, "The ocean."
"No. No! This is the treasure of the Mogul of India."
The Vixen snarled, eyes glowing, "Oh, good. For a moment there I thought it was yours."
Avery stopped her, "Vixen, wait. Must we do this?"
The Vixen replied, "Any reflection, any mirror, and the siren will attack. We have to protect Rory and Toby. We have to protect the Doctor, I won't lose him again. Go and get the crown from the storeroom." Avery left and the Vixen began to throw the treasure out the broken window.
Back in the magazine, the Doctor asked incredulously, "Just wait?"
The Vixen replied, "Not my most dynamic plan, I realise."
Amy asked, "TARDIS?"
The Vixen said, "It's been towed."
The Doctor, Rory and Amy asked in unison, "What!?"
The Vixen winced, "Sorry. We might be stuck here for a while. Pity, I wanted to visit Jenny, see how he's doing."
Rory asked, "So you're saying that we should all just wait here below?"
Avery said, "The sea is still calm, like a mirror. If you go out on deck she'll rise up and attack you."
The Vixen said, "It's OK. The calm won't last forever. When the wind picks up we'll all set sail."
Avery ordered, "Until it does, you have to hide down here."
Later… Amy and Rory were asleep on the floor. The Vixen and the Doctor were sitting together, the Vixen leaning on the Doctor's chest. They both played with each other's hands, bored. The Doctor slowly fell asleep and the Vixen kissed his hand and got up, going out to the deck.
Avery went to sit beside Toby. "I'm sorry about your mother. You miss her a lot."
Toby said, "Three years. No word from you."
Avery started, "Toby..."
Toby said, "You promised her. You promised you'd come home. And she believed you would, right up until the day she died. What made you do it? What made you... turn pirate?"
Avery just said, "Get some sleep now."
The Vixen was looking up at the stars when Avery joined her. The Vixen said, "It's not one star it's two." She pointed. "The dog star. Sirius. Binary system."
Avery said, "I use it to navigate the ocean."
The Vixen smiled, "I've travelled far, like you. Space can be very lonely. The greatest adventure is having someone share it with you."
Avery said, "If we get out of this I'll take him back to England. He can't stay with me. I'm not the father he needs."
The Vixen asked, "Who are you, Henry Avery? Respected naval officer, wife and child at home. How did you end up here, wandering the oceans with a band of rogues?"
Avery said, "I've set my course now. Nothing I can do to alter it."
The Vixen murmured, "People stared at it for centuries and never knew. Things can suddenly change, when you're least expecting." She nodded at Avery and left.
The Vixen was standing quietly in the middle of the Captain's cabin. Amy entered behind her. "Vixen?"
"Sssh."
Amy asked, "What can you see?"
The Vixen whispered, "Feels like something's out there, staring straight at me." There was a crash of thunder and the ship rocked about. The Vixen grinned. "Man the sails!" She ran from the room.
It was raining hard. Avery and the Doctor held the rigging. Amy and Rory rushed topside. Avery ordered, "To the rigging, you dogs! Let go the sails. Avast ye!" Amy and Rory headed for the ropes holding the mainsail while Avery and the Doctor worked on the foresail. The Vixen was at the wheel. Avery ordered, "Put the bunt into the slack of the clews."
Amy said, "I swear he's making half this stuff up."
Rory muttered, "What we really need is some sort of phrase book."
Avery called, "Toby! Find my coat. My compass is inside it, boy." Toby went below. "Heave ho you bilge rats."
Rory said, "'Rats' was all I could hear."
Toby came back with Avery's coat and the crown rolled out along the deck. Everyone froze and all they could do was watch. Toby looked at his father, hurt by the proof that he was a pirate. The Siren reached through the reflection on the crown and shot into the air above the ship. She sang and floated down to the deck, her hand reaching out for Toby.
Avery said, "Don't let her take you!" Enthralled, Toby walked closer, his hand out. "No!" Toby touched the Siren and disappeared with a scream. "No!"
Amy held back Rory and the Doctor as they tried to reach the Siren. The Vixen crept behind her and threw the crown into the sea. The Siren disappeared. Avery said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
The Vixen strode up to him and grabbed his collar. She growled, eyes glowing blue like lightning in the rain. "You couldn't give up the gold could you? That's why you turned pirate! Your commission, your wife, your son. Just how much is that treasure worth to you?"
At that moment, the main yardarm swung around and knocked Rory into the churning water. The Vixen and Amy yelled, "Rory!" They ran to the side.
Amy said, "I can't see him. Vixen, I'm going in!" She prepared to jump.
The Vixen held her wrist and said, "He's drowning. You go in after him you'll drown too. There's only one thing that can save him now."
Amy pulled her wrist away and asked, "What are you talking about?"
The Vixen said, "The siren. The siren, she wants him. We have to release her." She headed for the water barrel.
"Vixen, no."
The Vixen removed the lid and released the Siren. "He's drowning. Go find him!" The Siren dove into the water.
Amy asked, "What did you do?"
The Vixen said, "If he stays in there he'll die."
"She'll destroy him."
The Vixen said, "That thing isn't just some ravenous hunter! It's intelligent. We can reason with it. And maybe, just maybe, they're still alive somewhere. We have to follow."
Avery asked, "Are you mad?"
The Vixen said, "If we ever want to see them again, we have to let the siren take us. We'll prick our fingers. All agreed?" She held out a fist. "Yeah?"
Avery nodded, "Aye."
"Aye."
The Doctor put his hand on the Vixen's fist. "Aye."
"Aye!" The Vixen pricked their fingers and the black spot appeared. The Siren appeared and sang to them. They each reached out to her. There was a flash of light.
The four woke up on the floor. Amy asked, "Where are we?"
The Vixen said, "We haven't moved. We're in exactly the same place as before." They looked out the window and saw the pirate ship.
Avery said, "We're on a ghost ship."
The Doctor said, "No, it's real. Space ship trapped in a temporal rift."
Amy asked, "How can two ships be in the same place?"
The Vixen explained, "Not the same. Two planes, two worlds, two cars parked in the same space. There are lots of different universes nested inside each other. Now and again they collide and you can step from one to the other."
Amy said, "OK, I think I understand."
"Good. Cos it's not like that at all. But if that helps."
"Thanks."
The Doctor said, "All the reflections have suddenly become gateways." He picked up a piece of metal from the floor and threw it through the window. It passed through and landed on the deck. "Ever look in a mirror and think you're seeing a whole other world? Well, this time it's not an illusion."
They heard a low beeping and began to explore. Amy said, "The signal."
"Yes."
Amy asked, "The distress call?"
The Vixen nodded, "Uh-huh." They climbed the stairs that led to the rest of the ship.
Amy asked, "There was a second ship here all the time."
They heard the Siren and the Vixen said, "And the siren is on board." She unlocked the door and it slid open to reveal the desiccated body ofpteradon-like alien. Avery pulled out his gun but the Vixen pushed it away. "Dead." She walked past it followed by Amy and Avery.
On the bridge, they saw another alien still at the controls. The Vixen walked up to it. The view from the observation window was that of Avery's cabin. Amy said, "You were right, there was something staring at us the whole time. How long has this ship been marooned here?"
Avery said, "Long enough for the Captain to have run out of grog."
Amy said, "I don't understand. If this is the captain, then what's the siren?"
The Vixen replied, "Same as us. A stowaway." She used her sonic to scan the body.
Amy asked, "She killed it?"
The Vixen checked the readings. "Human bacteria."
"What?"
The Vixen explained, "A virus, from our planet. Airborne, travelling through the portal." She put away her sonic. "That's what killed it. Didn't get its jabs." She leant on the panel right next to some slime. She quickly pulled her hand away. "Urghhh! Look."
Amy asked, "What is it?"
The Vixen replied, "Sneeze! Alien bogies." She shook her hand, trying to get the slime off. She wiped it on Amy's coat as she walked past and out the room.
They entered a room and the Vixen and the Doctor immediately began to scan with their sonics. Suspended from the ceiling were beds on which people were lying unconscious. They had breathing tubes attached to their throats. Avery said, "McGrath! He's one of my men."
Amy said, "He's still breathing." The Vixen and the Doctor found what looked like rectangular "discs" holding information.
Avery said, "My entire crew is here. Toby!" He ran to his son.
Amy saw Rory. "Rory!" She ran to her husband.
The Vixen and the Doctor cried out gleefully, "The TARDIS!" They ran to the TARDIS and practically hugged it.
Avery said, "We have to get them out of here."
The Vixen said, "Wait!" She scanned Toby. "His fever's gone." She went to Rory.
Amy said, "He looks so well."
The Doctor came over and said, "She's keeping him alive. His brain is still active but all its cellular activity is suspended."
The Vixen said, turning over Rory's palm to show the spot. "It's not a curse. It's a tissue sample." She held up one of the "discs". "Why get samples of people you are about to kill?"
Amy said, "Help me get him up."
The Vixen and the Doctor reached around to undo the tube. An alarm sounded and the Siren sang. The Vixen hissed, "She's coming." The four of them hid. The Siren arrived and approached Rory who was now awake. He tried to jerk away from her but calmed down as she continued to sing. The Vixen muttered, "Anaesthetic."
Avery asked, "What?"
The Vixen replied, "The music. The song. So she anaesthetises people and then puts their bodies in stasis."
The Siren moved to Toby, her hand resting just above him. Avery stepped out from hiding, gun out. The Doctor whispered, "Avery." He shouted, "No!"
Avery fired at the Siren. She turned on him, red and angry. She hissed and advanced on Avery.
The Vixen ran to another part of the room to draw her attention. The Vixen sneezed and the Siren stopped advancing on Avery and turned to the Vixen, fire between her hands.
The Vixen stepped back, "Whoa. Fire! That's new. What does fire do? Burn? Yes. Destroy? What else? Sterilise! I sneezed. I've brought germs in. Doctor!" The Doctor threw a handkerchief and the Vixen caught it. She blew her nose then threw the cloth to the floor. The Siren shot flames at the handkerchief, destroying it.
With the distraction, Amy went to Rory. The Siren moved slowly towards Amy. The Doctor said, "Amy, stop. Don't interfere. Don't touch him."
The Vixen said, "Anaesthetic, tissue sample, screen, sterile working conditions. Ignore all my previous theories!"
Amy snapped, "Yeah, well we stopped paying attention a while back."
The Vixen said, "She's not a killer at all. She's a doctor!"
Amy stepped back from Rory's bed and the Siren resumed her green glow. The Doctor said, "This is an automated sick bay. It's teleporting everyone on board. The crew are dead and so the sick bay has had nothing to do. It's been looking after humanity whilst it's been idle. Look at her. A virtual doctor! Able to sterilise a whole room."
Amy said, "Able to burn your face off."
The Vixen said, "She's just an interface. Seeped through the join between the planes. Broadcast in our world. Protean circuitry means she can change her form. And become a human doctor for humans. Oh, sister you are good!"
Amy reached for Rory again and the Siren turned red and hissed until Amy backed away. Avery stood by Toby. He said, "She won't let us take them."
The Vixen said, "She's keeping them alive but she doesn't know how to heal them."
Amy snapped, "I'm his wife for God's sake! Why can't I touch him?"
The Vixen said, "Tell her, Amy. Show her your ring." She grabbed Amy's left hand. "She may be virtual but she's intelligent. You can't do anything without her consent. Come on!" She looked into the Siren's eyes. "Sophisticated girl like you, that must be somewhere in your core program."
Amy said, "Look. He's very ill! OK, I just want to look after him. Why won't you let me near my husband!?"
The Siren held out her left hand and a ring of light appeared around it. The Doctor came over and explained, "Consent form. Sign it. Put your hand in the light. Rory's sick. You have to take full responsibility."
Amy put her hand through the ring and the Siren disappeared. The Vixen, Amy and the Doctor rushed to free Rory. Amy turned off the power and Rory jerked and gasped. The Vixen said, "He can't breathe, turn it back on."
Amy turned it back on. "What do we do? I can't just leave him here."
Avery said, "He'll die if you take him out."
Amy stroked Rory's face and murmured, "Rory? Wake up."
Rory asked, "Where am I?"
The Doctor replied, "You're in a hospital. If you leave you might die."
Amy said, "But if you don't you'll have to stay forever."
Rory started, "You're saying that if I don't get up now…"
Amy finished, "You can never leave."
The Vixen said, "The siren will keep you safe."
Rory asked, "And if I come with you?"
The Doctor replied, "Drowning, on the point of death."
"I'm a nurse."
Amy asked, "What?"
Rory replied, "I can teach you how to save me."
Amy stopped him, "Hold on."
Rory went on, "I was drowning. You just have to resuscitate me."
"Just?"
Rory replied, "You've seen them do it loads of times in films. CPR. The kiss of life."
Amy said, "Rory, this isn't a film, ok. What if I do it wrong?"
"You won't."
Amy asked, "OK, what if you don't come back to life? What if...?"
Rory said, "I trust you."
Amy asked, referring to the Doctor and the Vixen, "What about them? I mean why do I have to be the one? Why do I have to save you?"
Rory replied, "Because I know you'll never give up." Amy nodded.
The Vixen walked over to Avery and said, "We have to send this ship back into space. Imagine if the siren got ashore. She would have to process every injured human."
Avery asked, "What about Toby?"
The Vixen replied sadly, "I'm sorry. Typhoid fever. Once he returns it's only a matter of time."
Avery asked, "What if I stay with him? Here. The siren will look after him. I can't go back to England. And what home does he have now, if not with me?"
The Vixen asked, "Do you think you can sail this thing?"
Avery drew a shaky breath then said, "Just point me to the atom accelerator." The Vixen smiled and patted Avery on the back before going back to the Doctor, Amy and Rory.
Rory said, "I know you can do this. Of course if you muck it up I am going to be really cross. And dead."
Amy said, "I'll see you in a minute." She looked at the Vixen and the Doctor who nodded and the three of them hurried to unhook Rory from the life support. He gasped for air. Together, the Vixen, the Doctor and Amy carried him to the TARDIS.
They set Rory on the floor just inside the door and Amy started CPR. The Doctor muttered, "Come on, come on Rory. Not here. Not this way. Not today."
Amy said, "He trusted me, he trusted me to save him."
The Vixen urged, "You still can. You can still do this. He believes in you. Come on, Amy. Come on!"
Amy pressed harder on the compressions. "Please, please, please wake up, wake up, wake up." Amy sobbed and the Vixen scooted behind her, wrapping her arms around her, the Doctor held both of them in his arms.
Rory suddenly started to sputter and cough up water. The Vixen and the Doctor smiled and stood and looked down at the couple in amazement. Rory said, "Amy. Amy, you did it, you did it!" He hugged her as she sobbed. The Vixen and the Doctor laughed and hugged each other.
Amy and Rory headed up the stairs from the console as the Doctor went to take a shower. Amy said, "I thought I was an excellent pirate."
Rory said, "I thought you were an excellent nurse."
"Easy tiger." Amy turned to look at the Vixen. "Goodnight, Vixen."
The Vixen replied distractedly, "Goodnight, Amelia."
Amy noted, "You only call me Amelia when you're worrying about me."
The Vixen flashed a grin. "I always worry about you."
Amy flashed on the Vixen's death. "Mutual."
The Vixen rolled her eyes. "Go to bed, Ponds."
The Doctor came up behind them in a black set of starry pyjamas. He whispered to Amy, "You can't tell her. It's her future." The trio looked at the Vixen as she fiddled with the monitor.
Amy murmured, "I know." The couple went upstairs as the Doctor continued down.
The Vixen looked at the monitor. The TARDIS was still confused over Amy's pregnancy scan. The Vixen sighed, "Oh, Amelia." The Doctor reached the bottom and the Vixen hid the pregnancy scan.
The Doctor put his arms around the Vixen and kissed the side of her head as she sighed again. "Okay, Nixei. Out with it. What's bothering you?"
The Vixen leaned back into the Doctor and replied, "What are you talking about? Nothing's bothering me, Theta."
The Doctor scoffed, "I've been engaged to you for 500 years and known and loved you for 300 years more than that. You can't fool me."
The Vixen smirked as she said, "It's Amy. She's Amy Pond but at the same time, she… just isn't." She turned around and rested her head on the Doctor's shoulder. "Hey." The Doctor hummed. "Remember when you proposed?"
The Doctor groaned. "I was a nervous wreck that day."
The Vixen laughed. "I know. You jumped like 6 feet into the air when I said yes." She turned serious. "Theta, we've been engaged for 500 years, when are we ever gonna get married?"
The Doctor replied, "I don't know." He paused and then said, "We could get married in Vegas, I'd still feel the same about you."
The Vixen chuckled, "You're a hopeless romantic."
The Doctor murmured, "Well at least I'm hopelessly in love." He spun the Vixen around and kissed her, making her giggle softly.
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