The Doctor woke with one thing on his mind, the scan. As he carefully tried to untangle his body from Sarah's, she awoke. "Good morning Doctor." she said, wiping the remnants of sleep from her eyes. "Do you think the scan has finished?" she asked as she swung her legs to the floor and climbed to her feet.
"Yea, I believe it probably has." the Doctor replied also climbing to his feet. Then without another word, he left the room in search of the readings. Shrugging her shoulders, Sarah followed him in silence to the lab.
As she entered the door, she found the Doctor already lost in thought as he read over the report that had apparently printed out as they slept. "Well, tell me there's good news." Sarah said determinedly with her hands on her hips, as she steeled herself for bad news.
Turning to face her, the Doctor looked glum. "It was definitely the Sontarans. The one that held her had a distinct DNA pattern. So…from everything I've been able to find out, it leads me to believe this Sontaran was one of the experimental birthers I told you about."
"So that's good, right?" Sarah asked, and when the Doctor bowed his head she continued, "Well, isn't it? The sample has to have a unique identifier, doesn't it?"
"Yes it has a unique identifier, but it's not as if I have a database of every Sontaran and where each and every one is." he said, aggravated by his own lack of control over the situation. He looked at Sarah and could see the disappointment in her eyes. He paced back and forth several times. "We're going to go to Victorian England, 1852 to be exact." he suddenly exclaimed as he decided to check with the only Sontaran he knew that could possible help him. He reached for Sarah's hand as he passed her and pulled her to the door. They walked in companionable silence on the trip to the console room.
When they reached the console room the Doctor began setting coordinates for their trip through time. Sarah walked around the console, pacing. "Why 1852?"
"Because that is currently where Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax are." he replied simply.
"And who are Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax when they're at home?" she asked confused.
"They are currently set up as a detective agency of sorts." The Doctor glanced up at Sarah and decided by the look on her face that she needed more of a detailed explanation. "Madame Vastra is a Silurian. Jenny is a human. They're married."
"In Victorian England?" Sarah exclaimed.
"Well, they don't exactly advertise it. For the population at large they see Jenny as Madame Vastra's maid."
"And a Silurian is able to walk freely among humans in Victorian England?" She circled the console again.
"Yes, she wears a veil. If anyone asks I believe she tells them she has a skin condition. You're going to wear a path out in the grating if you don't stop pacing." he said as he reached out and placed a hand on each of her arms to stop her. "Now if you'll sit down," he began as he led her to the jump seat and watched as she sat down, "I'll tell you the rest. As for Strax, he's a Sontaran."
"A Sontaran in Victorian London? How do they explain away that?" Sarah threw her hands up in the air.
"He plays the part of Madame Vastra's butler. Strax mostly wears a hat that slightly hides his head when he's out, but when cornered I assume there's some sort of birth defect story. If anyone ever has the nerve to ask that is. So, Strax is one of those experimental birthers and he may have contact with other experimental birthers. At least I hope he does. Anyway, we're going to see them."
The Tardis made a sudden lurch as she landed. "We're here?" Sarah asked.
"We're here." The Doctor grabbed Sarah's arm as she attempted to sail past him. "Whoa, where are you going?" he said looking her up and down?
"To see Madame Vastra. You don't think for one minute that I'm going to stay in the Tardis while you see her, do you?"
"No, I don't. What I do think is you're going to cause a riot if you don't change clothes. Now," he said physically turning her around to face the rear of the Tardis, "go to the wardrobe room and find some clothes."
"What about you?" she asked over her shoulder as she walked away.
"What about me? I look fantastic. This jumper fits in anywhere." he said as he looked down at himself.
"Right." Was all that he heard as she disappeared from sight.
Twenty minutes later, Sarah had returned wearing a dusty pink long dress with a multitude of buttons on the front as well as each sleeve. Her head was topped with a matching hat with feathers jutting from one side, her hair up into a bun. She had a dark burgundy cape tied around her shoulders. The Doctor looked her up and down appreciatively.
"Sorry I would have been dressed much sooner had it not been for all these buttons. It may take the jaws of life to get me out of this." Sarah finished with a sigh.
"Worth the wait, you look beautiful." he said as he held out his arm.
Sarah blushed as she took the Doctor's arm. "Let's go." she said quietly as the pair headed down the ramp. The Doctor opened the door and they stepped outside. They were parked in an alcove in an alleyway.
A cold wind blowing snow met the pair as they left the comfort of the Tardis. Sarah tightened her grip on the Doctor's arm as her high heeled multi buttoned boots made contact with the icy street. 'Victorian boots were not made for ice', Sarah thought as she carefully stepped on the uneven pavement. "Is it far?"
Going slowly so that Sarah wouldn't fall, he replied, "Just the next block over, not far." The Doctor heard Sarah's stomach growl. He smiled down at her. "Hungry?"
Embarrassed, Sarah replied, "Maybe a little. But it can wait till we get back to the Tardis."
The pair crossed the street. The snow had picked up in the short amount of time since leaving the Tardis, now closer to resembling the beginnings of a blizzard. Sarah was grateful as they finally approached a large red brick building. It looked to have three floors with a multitude of windows with curved tops. The Doctor lifted the large black knocker on the double set of doors that met them. After just a few seconds the door opened. Greeting the pair was a Sontaran dressed in a formal black suit, the type that butlers of the Victorian period wore. Looking the pair up and down he asked, "Yes, gentlemen?"
Sarah stifled a laugh. The Doctor said, "Strax it's me."
"We don't want any." he said as he started to close the door.
The Doctor reached out and put his hand forcibly against the door surprising Strax at the strength the Doctor was able to use in such a small action. "We're here to see Madame Vastra." Strax began to open his mouth but before he could speak the Doctor said, "Strax listen, I'm not sure if you've seen this regeneration before but it's me." He pointed at himself. "The Doctor. Now if you don't mind…"
Suddenly a woman in a long black maid's uniform joined them at the door. "Doctor?" she asked.
"Jenny, how nice to see you again. We'd like to see Madame Vastra."
"Of course. Please come in out of the cold." she said as she turned and motioned for them to follow her, her long skirt swirling behind her as she turned.
"Yes, this way Doctor," Strax said then added as he looked at Sarah, "and you too boy."
"Strax, I see you're still having a bit of trouble telling the sexes apart." the Doctor said as he squeezed Sarah's hand, leading her through the house as they followed Jenny.
"Hmph." was all Strax replied. "I'll let Madame Vastra know you're here." He then disappeared down the hallway and out of sight.
Jenny led them to a very ornate living room with a dark wooden mantle that took up most of one wall. There was a roaring fire in the massive fireplace for which the Doctor and Sarah were more than grateful for. "Jenny, I'd like to introduce you to Sarah Jane Smith."
"Hello, it's good to meet you." Sarah said as she shook Jenny's hand. "We're sorry to just barge in on you."
"Nonsense, the Doctor and any friends of the Doctor's are always welcome. Is this a pleasure trip Doctor or is there a problem?" Jenny asked suspiciously.
"When has the Doctor ever stopped by without a reason Jenny?" a tall, green skinned woman asked as she entered the room. She was dressed in an elegant dark green lace covered dress and wore high heeled shiny black boots.
"Madame Vastra how good to see you again. I'd like to introduce you to Miss. Sarah Jane Smith." the Doctor said as he made a half bow and reached his arm out to take Sarah's hand and pull her to his side.
"It's wonderful to meet you Madame Vastra." Sarah smiled sweetly.
The gesture of the Doctor reaching for Sarah was not lost on Vastra. This was something new, she thought. He'd come many times in many incarnations with a number of different companions and never had he been so intimate with any of them. He'd once spoken of a companion that the Time Lords had taken away from him, one that he'd loved. Could this be her? "Miss. Smith it's very nice to meet you."
"Please call me Sarah Jane." Sarah said, beginning to feel at ease with the Silurian.
"Sarah Jane it is then. Please call me Vastra. Now, please sit down and warm yourselves." she said as all in the room sat down. The Doctor and Sarah sat side by side on the settee while Vastra sat in a high backed red velvet chair with Jenny sitting on the arm. Jenny placed her arm around Vastra's shoulders. "Strax!" Vastra called loudly.
Strax appeared momentarily at the door. "Yes?" he asked.
"Strax our guests are cold and hungry. Please bring them tea and sandwiches." She turned from Strax to the others. "Now what can I help you with Doctor?"
"Vastra it's not just you I came to see. I need to speak to Strax as well." the Doctor said as he glanced toward the door.
"I'll go hurry him up. Excuse me." Jenny said as she left the room hurriedly.
"Is this situation urgent?" Vastra asked the Doctor.
"Very." Sarah answered for him.
The Doctor, still clasping Sarah's hand in his said, "It very urgent. Sarah and I need to find something very important to us." He met Sarah's eyes. "We're hoping Strax has information that can help us."
"Of course Doctor, whatever you need. But how can Strax help you?"
Jenny entered holding a tray of sandwiches followed by Strax carrying a fine china tea set on a silver tray. Looking to Vastra she asked, "The table?"
"That would be lovely Jenny. Shall we?" she gestured to the far side of the room where a large dark round table took up a good portion of that part of the room. The group approached the table. The Doctor held Sarah's chair while she sat down and Vastra held Jenny's. Strax placed a china plate in front of each, setting the plate of sandwiches in the middle before sitting down himself. Vastra poured tea in each cup before passing them out. "Strax, I've asked you to join us because the Doctor needs all of our help."
All eyes were on the Doctor as he began his story. The Doctor recounted how the couple's baby had been stolen at birth, leaving out the more sensitive parts that might overly upset Sarah. He told them everything he had seen, the pertinent information anyway from Sarah's memory. The group listened intently asking questions where necessary. After an hour of back and forth questions and comments the Doctor asked, "Strax are you in contact with any of the other Sontaran birthers?"
Strax bowed his head and answered, "A few."
"Can we get in contact with them?" Sarah asked her voice full of hope.
"The two of you would set off too many alarms. They would never talk to you. They would talk to me. You will have to wait here while I go to them." he said as he pulled back from the table.
"Strax, you know how important this is, right?" the Doctor said, meeting Strax's eyes in what he hoped would come across to the Sontaran as a deathly serious glare. He didn't like depending on the Sontaran for information. Information at this point which he would like to literally wring out of the Sontarans that took the baby.
"I will speak to them. I know of General Ploket. He does not associate with the birthers, if he knows they are birthers. But there are a few birthers in his fleet that he is unaware of. One of them is one of his chief lieutenants. I will find him. I know that he frequents a fight club on the outskirts of the Metasaran Galaxy. He is disapproving of most of what General Ploket does."
"Then why doesn't he leave the fleet?" Sarah asked.
"He would be dishonored and probably hunted down and killed." Then knowing what the next question would be added, "I am being punished, my amends are to help the human race. The Doctor has helped several of the birther Sontarans in the past. I believe some would wish to return the favor. I will change and leave now." Strax bowed to Vastra and left the room.
"Don't worry, Strax will do his best. You can count on that." Vastra comforted the Doctor and Sarah. "It's getting late and it is snowing vigorously." she said glancing over their shoulders and out the window. "I insist, you will stay the night. We have no idea how long Strax will be gone. Jenny will you please see to our guests needs?" she asked as she reached over and placed her hand on top of Jenny's.
"Of course my dear." Jenny said, turning her hand in Vastra's and squeezing it. "Please follow me." she said rising from her seat.
"Thank you Vastra, Jenny for all your help." the Doctor said as he and Sarah stood.
"Yes, thank you both. We're so thankful for your help." Sarah added as the Doctor put his hand on her lower back and led her from the room.
As they reached the doorway Vastra said, "Doctor if I could see you a moment please."
The Doctor looked at Sarah and smiled. "I'll be right up. I promise." He reached down and placed a tender kiss on her lips, then in a whisper said, "Don't worry."
Jenny said, "Doctor your room will be on the third floor, second door on the right. This way Sarah Jane." She turned and headed toward the stairs. Sarah hesitated a second before following. She decided she would trust the Doctor to tell her anything important.
The Doctor came back into the sitting room finding that Vastra had moved back in front of the fire. He sat down on the settee across from Vastra. He looked down at his feet before meeting her eyes. "Do you really think he'll find anything out?"
"I believe he will do his very best. But you must prepare yourself…and Sarah Jane for the worst."
"She's lived through so much of the worst, thanks to my people as well as a good number of others I'm finding. I'm not going to take the one hope she has away from her, not yet anyway. We'll see what Strax has to say."
"How do you know General Ploket? The whole story, not the abridged version." Vastra asked as she steepled her fingers.
The Doctor began filling in the parts that he'd left out in his previous telling of his last adventure. He told her about the other Sarah and the feelings she had brought out. He told her of the possibilities he saw when he looked at the other Doctor and the relationship he had with his Sarah. He told her of disappointing Rose and the way that she left. Lastly, he told her of his hopes of reuniting the family he never knew he had.
"Well, that certainly is a lot of information. Have you processed it all yet?" she asked her oldest friend.
"I'm trying to. Sarah's probably worried that I'm getting bad news; I should get back to her. Thank you again Vastra for the help, lodging and everything." he said as he rose and took her hand and kissed the back before bowing and leaving her.
"Sleep well Doctor." she said to his retreating form.
"You too Vastra, you too." The Doctor walked up the stairs, his feet suddenly feeling leaden.
Strax teleported to the planet Dantar in the Mutter's Spiral at the outermost edge of the Metasaran Galaxy. This was his third stop in search of the small band of birthers. This was the club he had told the Doctor about. He'd hoped to speak to them separately to not bring attention to himself. But he was unable to find them separately at their individual bunkers and decided they would more than likely be here together. Strax looked up at the sign on the bar, The Pagadom and sighed. In most Sontaran establishments he was shunned because of his punishment. Here, he would be more accepted. Still, everyone knew of his disgrace and that was disheartening to Strax. He squared his shoulders and entered the club.
All around him were Sontarans. Some were talking with their arms flaying in great animation. Some were talking quietly, their heads together in obvious conspiracy. As he entered most looked up and bowed their heads before going back to their conversations. In the back right of the club was a large cage with weapons from various civilizations hanging from its walls. Strax walked up to the bar and attracted the barkeeper's attention. "I'm looking for Traang. Is he here?"
The barkeeper looked him up and down and smirked, as much as a Sontaran could smirk anyway. With a nod of his head he indicated the back left of the club. Strax walked in the direction the barkeeper had indicated but found no tables or patrons in that section. There was only a door. Strax looked back at the bar to find the barkeeper looking at him. He nodded his head toward the door. Strax approached it and slowly opened it.
He entered to find a group of three Sontarans gathered around a table. The table and chairs were the only furnishings in the small room. It was dark, lit only by a single dim light. He recognized Traang in the group.
With a single nod of his head to the others, Traang dismissed the others. "Strax, you haven't shown your face here since…"
"Yes, I am aware Traang. Are you still assigned to General Ploket?"
Traang pushed his chest out. "I am assigned to no one!" he replied angrily and smashed his hand on the table top.
"Drop the attitude Traang. I am aware that you hate Ploket. Remember we were raised together. We aged hearing of tales of the great Ploket. How he rose as he did making the mistakes he made, I will never know. You should be in charge of him!" Strax said. He decided that to throw in a few compliments that happened to be true at Traang wouldn't hurt the situation any.
"I remember our years together as well. I hold no animosity toward you Strax. You are right about Ploket. His mistakes were many. They still are."
"What do you mean still are?" Strax asked. He could tell by the tankards on the table as well as the look in Traang's eyes that he had had quite a few drinks. This could work in his favor.
"Still making foolish mistakes and still working under the Sontaran High Command's radar." he all but slurred.
"What has he done now?" Strax asked.
"He dragged me into something, something unnecessary." He slammed his hand down again before picking up his tankard and draining it.
"I'm sure he did not give you a choice." Strax stated. Could this be it? Could this be the information he was looking for?
Traang lifted the pitcher that was in front of him on the table and sloppily poured its contents into the tankard, spilling some. He raised the tankard to his thin lips and drank. "I don't dare protest his actions. If he found out I was a birther…that would be that. All I can hope is that his stupidity gets him killed. I could arrange that you know." His words were more slurred now.
"Why not do it then?" Strax inquired. It seemed simple to him.
"Because what he did…he did not do alone. If he were to find out…it may be the end to a great many Sontarans. And while I would never turn away from a battle…he has helped several of our kind. I did not see the purpose in what we did. There was no honor in it."
"Ploket has helped?" Traang shook his head no. "Who are you speaking of?" Strax tried.
Looking around to convince himself that they were alone, he quietly said, "The Doctor." He took another drink and continued, "But the thing that Ploket does not know would get me killed just as easily as…"
"What did you do Traang?" When Traang looked blankly at him, he added, "Traang you know anything you tell me will never be told to the Sontaran High Command."
Traang sighed and took another drink. "I couldn't do as he asked. To kill is what we live for. But to kill something that can not hurt…anything…it makes no sense." He took another drink.
Strax could see his window of opportunity for getting information from Traang closing and closing quickly. "What did he make you do?"
"He wanted to make the Doctor pay. But what is the point if the Doctor never finds out? It made no sense, what he did." He realized his thoughts were becoming incoherent. "I did what I did and I don't regret it."
"But what did you do?" Strax tried again.
"Ploket ordered us to go to Earth and get the Doctor's daughter." he slurred. Why did there seem to be two of Strax?
"The Doctor doesn't have a daughter." Strax said, playing along.
"He did…does."
"Does?" Strax asked.
"Does…just not in this reality."
"What did you do?" Strax asked as he leaned forward, unwilling to miss a single word of Traang's confession.
"Ploket had tried to arrange the Doctor's death with the help of the Master once before…and failed. He was outraged. He followed the Doctor's timeline with the help of a soothsayer…a soothsayer he killed afterwards. She told him of a daughter that the Doctor didn't know about, a daughter that would supposedly end our race. So he…acquired…three psychomorph devices and we went to the Doctor's consort. His timing was excellent, I'll give him that." He picked up the tankard and drained it again. Strax waited for him to continue.
"We transmatted there and using the psychommmmorrph devices…" His words were slurring badly now. "We took the Doctor's progeny right after it was hatched. His consort tried to stop us but we were too quick. We transmatted back to Ploket's private ship and he ordered me to take the ship to the co co co coordinates to the rift in space he had used in his last crusade to kill the Doctor. I took the ship there but it was the wrong co co coordinate. He had the coordinates wrong. Stupid Sontaran! Once he told me the corrrrrect one, he told me to transmat the pro pro progeny into space there. He turned and left the room and so did Raafl."
"Raafl?" Strax asked.
"He follows Ploket around like a Ground Speel. The rift was still open, the Time Lords had not clo clo closed it yet." He belched loudly. "I saw no honor in killing this small thing. So I sent a probe into the rift in space and scanned the Earth for the Time Lord that he had said was there. I transmatted it down to th th the coordinates from the pr pr probe. I put it on a Un Un Unit base." He laughed lightly, which was all he was capable of in his deteriorating condition. "Ploket or that fool Raafl never knew. It does not matter. The Doctor or Ploket will never find out. I know you won't tell Pl…" Before he could finish his sentence he collapsed on the floor.
Strax looked around the room and could see a back door. He decided that would be the best way to leave. With any luck no one would remember his arrival and he was fairly sure as he looked back at Traang spread out on the floor, Traang wouldn't remember his participation either. Strax left through the door and walked around the building. As he reached the front he heard a loud uproar taking place inside. He peered around the front of the building and cautiously looked through the grated window.
He saw General Ploket and several of his lieutenants walking through the bar with blasters drawn. Everyone in the bar cleared a wide path for the group. He knew what was about to happen. He hated it for his longtime friend but knew he could do nothing. If Ploket knew, this would affect the timetable to retrieve the Doctor's daughter. They didn't have a moment to spare. Strax programmed the transmat device on his wrist for 1852 Earth and touched the button. In a flash he was gone.
Author's Note: Six chapters to go. As always reviews are greatly appreciated.