Chapter Nine. Then the Next Day Comes
Natasha woke up as the TV was playing Sirius XM and the song that was playing was the acoustic version of A ha's "Take On Me" that can be heard on the movie Deadpool 2.
"Man." Natasha groaned, "What a sentimental way to wake up in the morning."
"Good morning, Auntie Natasha." Lila cheered as she arrived at the room.
"Hey Lila. You okay?"
"Yeah. No. Not really."
"You miss your dad?"
Lila sadly nodded.
"I miss him too. Even with all the time that has passed, not a day goes by that I do not think of him. Sometimes I wonder if I could have done things differently back on Vormir. I only wonder."
"Do not blame yourself. Dad sacrificed himself for all of us. Even if you were to have done it, the sacrifice would still be sad."
"You have a good point there."
"Ever since then, Mom and Gram would not allow us to follow in Dad's footsteps in being an Avenger after hearing about Dad's death."
"It is probably for the best. Your mom and grams just want you and your brothers to be safe."
"You are probably right there."
"I am definitely right there."
Natasha could not help but to wonder that there was something more to Lila's statement than what she was letting on. Whatever the case may be, she surely was not telling him what was wrong. Natasha could tell that Lila was currently unhappy for some reason that she was not addressing.
Tegan looked as Nyssa stood up stretching from her bed. The Aussie couldn't help but to notice that the Trakenite's hair was darker than it was before, but that wasn't what was on her mind.
"Nyssa," Tegan stated, "There is something that has happened."
"Oh really?" Nyssa chided, obviously not letting her friend know what was going on.
"It's Adric." Tegan told her, "He...he is not himself."
"What makes you think that Tegan?"
"Well, he told me himself through some sort of projection where ever he was at." Tegan explained, "Adric is possessed by some evil being. We have to warn the Doctor because there is no telling what the being in Adric's body will do!"
"Tegan," Nyssa replied, "You are imagining things. Adric is fine. He was just tired of hearing you complain, that is all."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Well, you do complain a lot and Adric was sick of it. I know I am sick of hearing you complain. How do you think we feel about a person whining and complaining about themselves, wanting to go home and complain when they do not get to that location."
"Well excuse me for living!"
Tegan then stormed off. Nyssa rolled her eyes. Then, Aefriol walked into the room.
"Is everything alright, love?" Nyssa asked.
"I was only checking on what was going on." Aefriol answered, "I sensed that something seemed suspicious here."
"About that. Tegan kept going on about you Adric being possessed and that we should warn the Doctor about it."
"You do not think that she knows?"
"She mentioned something about Adric projecting himself."
"Impossible." Aefriol said to himself, "I thought the Dead Zone would have destroyed him by now. No matter."
Then he turned to face Nyssa, "We should make sure that she does not spread word to the Doctor! We are not about to let her, that Time Lord or anyone else spoil our plans."
Nyssa nodded, "I understand."
The two joined hands and headed to the kitchen to meet with Natasha, Laura, Lila, Nathaniel, Cooper, Tegan and the Doctor.
"I am making breakfast. You hungry?" Laura asked.
"No thank you." Aefriol kindly answered, "I think we should be heading off."
"So soon?" the Doctor asked, "Adric, what is going on?"
"There is more going on than you think." Tegan stated.
"What she means is," Nyssa answered for Aefriol, "Adric is still a bit shaken from a horrible dream that he had last night. Something about his brother he told me."
"So I see." the Doctor nodded, "I notice that sometimes you lack an appetite when you have those kind of dreams."
Nyssa nodded at Aefriol and the being nodded, as he realized that was a good way to cover up for what had really happened.
"We had breakfast though." Natasha stated, "Laura, we thank you for letting us spend the night, but we really should be going."
"Are you sure?" Laura asked.
"More sure than you know."
Laura brought the Doctor, Tegan, Aefriol, Nyssa, Natasha and Lila, who insisted on going with them for this ride, headed back to the school where the TARDIS was.
Prumiva, meet us at the school. We will be there momentarily.
I shall be there right away, Master Aefriol.
The group arrived at the school where Aefriol was able to convince the Doctor to hand him the key to the TARDIS so that he and Nyssa could go inside.
"Doctor, I do not think you should've done that." Tegan stated.
"Why is that, Tegan?" the Doctor replied, "Adric and Nyssa just wanted to go ahead and enter the TARDIS."
Aefriol and Nyssa were in front of the TARDIS as they met up with Prumiva.
"You are here, master!" Prumiva exclaimed, "I am so happy! So, who is this beautiful young lady that will be your new queen?"
"Prumiva," Aefriol introduced Nyssa to his servant, "This is Nyssa of Traken. One of such beauty."
"Indeed."
"Shall I get ready for the time?" Nyssa asked.
"Go on." Aefriol answered. Nyssa unlocked the door to the TARDIS and went inside. Aefriol and Prumiva joined her seconds later. They were unaware that another stowaway was coming on board as well, that being Lila Barton.
"Hide where the Doctor or that Aussie will not see you." Aefriol told Prumiva, "I will take things from here."
"Yes, master." Prumiva answered before vanishing.
Aefriol was setting the coordinates for Mylithos as he was setting his plan into full swing. He finished in time for the Doctor, Natasha and Tegan to arrive.
"What are you doing?" Tegan demanded.
"You should not worry about what I am doing." Aefriol replied, "I was only setting up coordinates for our next location. I think we are in need of what the Doctor calls a holiday."
"I can agree on that." Natasha replied.
"Well," the Doctor replied as the doors to the TARDIS closed, "where ever you have decided to take us, I think it might just be a good idea to have a holiday myself."
The TARDIS dematerialized and was on its way to the planet Mylithos.
"Where is Nyssa?" the Doctor asked.
"She is at her quarters." Aefriol answered, "She will join us shortly."
"Okay then."
The group was startled hearing a noise. Natasha moved some boxes that were nearby and was surprised to see Lila as she had stowaway at the TARDIS.
"Lila?!" Natasha exclaimed.
