The adventure continues, and is about to take a turn. Our trio are getting close to uncovering the mystery behind the threat to Astaria. But what will they uncover? For all they know, someone believed to be dead might not be so dead after all. And that's one of the tricky things about traveling space and time. You never know what could happen next.
Unless you do. Because it's still time travel. Enjoy!
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'He's already left his rooms for the day,' Rose said, via the telepathic connection.
'I feel like he makes this too easy for us,' Deadpool added, giving a small giggle out loud as he and Rose watched the door to Morvilo's chambers.
Both heard the Doctor's response. 'And that's what makes me nervous. It's usually not supposed to be this easy. This is usually the part where Morvilo sneaks up on both of you to prevent you from entering his room. And trust me, I know from experience.'
'We don't doubt it,' Deadpool responded.
'Just please, both of you be careful in there. If anything goes wrong, just open the link again. And Rose, just because I have faith in you doesn't mean you should throw caution to the wind. Deadpool, please keep her from harm.'
Deadpool smiled. 'Don't worry, Doc. Anyone tries to get the jump on us, I'll get the jump on them right back.'
'That didn't make any sense.'
'You should've heard his story on the way here about how he got banned from the Tower of London.' Rose claimed.'It's such a messed up story, I can't repeat all of it. All you need to know, Doctor, is that the mess involved a chicken, duct tape, and a can of beans."
Deadpool laughed.
'You're right, I don't wanna know,' the Doctor added. 'Anyway, if either of you two run into trouble, reopen the link and warn me right away. Deadpool may have left Morvilo's rooms intact, but I wouldn't put it past a guard to notice something off.'
'That must be some crazy training the guards go through,' Deadpool added.
Exactly. Both of you, stay safe. We'll talk later.'
(In the bunkers…)
The link closed once again, allowing the Doctor to focus. Now that his investigation inside the viewing room was done, he had moved on to the hallways and adjacent rooms. One of the agreed on topics the group had discussed was where the supply of Doomsday serum might be located, and that was what the Doctor was looking for now.
"If I were a large supply of an unstable serum capable of causing planetary implosion, where would I be?"
He began checking the rooms. Some of the doors were locked, but that wasn't a problem. Sonic screwdriver, go!
(Meanwhile…)
"I might not have some fancy little magic wand for unlocking doors, but I DO have a bobby pin," Deadpool said, picking the lock. Soon enough, it opened.
"Ouila!"
Both walked into Morvilo's room, then headed over to the bookcase where the secret switch was. Deadpool smiled as he pulled the secret "book" revealing the passage to the hidden room.
"Now this is starting to feel very 'Mission: Impossible'," Rose said as they walked down the small corridor..
"Only without climbing through high windows."
Now they were in the secret room Deadpool had found the day before. "I take this side," Deadpool said, beginning to search the left side of the room, while Rose took the right.
"How long did Lyrsa say Morvilo usually spent on his duties?" Deadpool asked.
"Ten hours our time?"
"So we have ten hours to find out about Muscles and his role in destroying Astaria. Now we're talking."
They began to sift through all the papers and books, maintaining enough small talk to not drive Deadpool crazy. Well, crazier.
"So how are you enjoying the adventure so far?" Rose asked.
"It's a bit slower than I would like it to be right now, but it'll be worth it when it picks back up," Deadpool replied. "I gotta say, Rose, you seem very comfortable in this situation right now."
Rose shrugged. "You should've seen me when I first met the Doctor. If this were happening then, I would be scared out of my mind and not even want to step outside the TARDIS. As it is, it's just another day. But it's always worth every second of danger we're in."
Deadpool nodded. "I bet." He returned to the book he was currently holding. "Oh, hey. A journal. About time, I was searching for one the entire time yesterday and found nothing. At least, before I found this room. Now we can get this search rolling for real."
He flipped the book open to the first page and began to read.
"Entry 1: Success! That ridiculous king has done it! He has named me the Astarian Head of Royal Security! Now I get to vent out my frustrations on the guards who now serve under me, at least until I can begin. What a fool, Rodolphus is! He truly believes that fostering peace is what is currently leading us into our so-called 'golden age'. How can he possibly believe such a thing when his wife has led our armies to many great victories? Hopefully now, my influence will help lead Astaria to what it once was.
'Entry 2: My first day went swimmingly. I think I taught a few of the guards the true, glorious taste of battle. I wonder if a few might already be willing to take my side when the glorious moment comes."
Deadpool looked up. "Sounds like this guy could give Kratos a run for his money in terms of bloodlust."
(Meanwhile, in the bunkers…)
The Doctor, having no luck so far, chose the next door and unlocked it. Inside, he was startled to find two young Astarian core specialists making out. "Oh, blimey…"
One of them interrupted the kiss to look at their intruder. "Do you mind? We're a little busy here."
"Sorry! Wrong door."
"No kidding. Now get out!"
"Hey, don't blame me. It's your fault for shirking your duties."
Closing the door and leaving the couple to return to their make-out session, the Doctor looked at all of the other doors. He had been tracking the serum, but there seemed to be traces in most of the rooms, making the sonic's readings inconsistent. "Probably did that on purpose," he muttered bitterly. "Make it harder to track. Clever."
He sighed, leaning against the wall. "The source could be anywhere."
(In the secret room…)
"What else can you find in there?" Rose asked.
Deadpool, for once, said nothing as he flipped through the journal's pages. Finally, he found a good passage.
"Entry 52: Today is a sad day for Astaria. The battle against Lowin and his forces finally appears to have ended, with many casualties on both sides. Normally, I would revel in this beauty. But our great queen, Megara, has fallen. She was last seen alive, challenging Lowin himself to single combat. This challenge caused Lowin's army to cease focus, allowing the Astarians to emerge victorious. But what did the army find inside the cave afterwards, but the body of our beloved queen? And Lowin? Nowhere to be found. Our poor queen was wonderful. It's a shame she loved that peace-mongering lout. Why bother with an army when all you want is peace?"
"Does it say anything about who he might be working with?" Rose asked.
"Searching for that now," Deadpool replied.
He found an entry, and smiled, before tossing Rose the journal. "Your turn," he said.
Rose nodded, then began to read.
"Entry 70: I think I might have finally found the key to upending Rodolphus. I was acting as a chaperone today for that accursed princess' hunting trip. While we were out, a strange man appeared, his face obscured by the cloak he wore. He approached me and asked if we could speak in private. During our conversation, it was revealed he knew about my desire to overthrow the royal family, and offered to help. I was unsure of his intentions at first, but now I am certain he agrees with me."
Rose began flipping through the journal again. "The man he met must've been that partner," she explained. "I wonder if he ever learned his identity."
(In the bunkers…)
"What the hell do they keep down here?" the Doctor asked, having just stumbled into a room with various ticking clocks. He closed the door in a hurry, then continued.
Once again, he used the screwdriver, trying to hone in on the location of the serum stash. Suddenly, the sonic started beeping loudly. He had something. Following the sound, he ran to the door that was indicated, unlocked it, and walked inside.
The largest room yet, it appeared to be used as a store room, containing a multitude of large crates. The signal from the sonic went dead. Quickly, the Doctor began scanning each and every one of them, searching for the serum.
(Back in the secret room…)
"Entry 89: I am now certain that this is the man who will lead me to restoring my family to the Astarian throne. My family didn't earn our honors through peace, but through battle. We didn't deserve to be overthrown the way we were. Not when my lineage had the beautiful goal of expanding our reaches across the stars. So many galaxies, all bearing the Astarian banners. But we were overthrown, called tyrants. Peace and love will make us too soft. And hopefully, with this man's help, I can realize our dream again. He finally told me his identity today. I couldn't believe it at first, but it now makes all the sense in the universe. However, he asked that I never reveal it, even on here."
"Aww, what a copout," Deadpool complained. "The one name we needed, and he decided to hide it."
Rose looked through the rest of the journal. "Yeah, nothing." She put the journal in her jacket's inner pocket.
"Well, at least it's something," Deadpool said before they continued their search.
As they searched the room, Deadpool decided to get a certain question over with. "Hey Rose, does the Doctor hate me?"
Rose looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"When I found his previous incarnations and asked for their autographs, they clearly didn't want to even look at me. And ever since you guys found me on the TARDIS, he seems like he wants to chuck me out the TARDIS door, or into the core of this planet, any minute. Trust me, I didn't ask for any of this to happen. I wanted an adventure, but not the way I got it."
"I'm surprised you think he hates you."
"Yeah. I kinda don't like being hated. At all. One of my worst fears is being completely alone."
Rose nodded. "He actually doesn't hate you. He finds you certainly annoying, but trust me. If he hated you, you'd know it."
Deadpool shrugged. Rose did have a point. "At least the Doctor knows I exist. Who else can say that about their heroes?"
"Exactly."
"But isn't it like that? How you should never meet your heroes?"
"Yeah, that's how it usually works in movies and stuff."
Deadpool laughed sarcastically. "Apparently, in fanfiction too."
"What?"
"What?"
Rose shook her head. "Nevermind. But don't just assume the Doctor has it out for you. He's usually hard to get to know anyway. Right now, I think it's mostly shock that he's finally found someone who can keep up with his motor mouth. I don't think he even remembers the last time he came across his verbal match. Personally, I think he rather enjoys the prospect."
The mercenary laughed. "He would."
As they continued their search, Rose added, "Did you know he has a collection of his favorite Disney movies?"
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yep, he's a fan."
"Ha! Nice."
"And sometimes, at night, I'll catch him dancing to Michael Jackson. Even has his own fedora for times like that."
Deadpool laughed. "Well, that's not even the most remotely weird quirk about the Doctor that I've heard of."
"And if nothing else, he doesn't want you to get hurt anymore than he wants me or anyone he knows to get hurt also."
Deadpool smiled, and they continued the search once again.
(In the storage room…)
It had to have been the twentieth crate so far, and still no serum. Could the signal have been wrong? The Doctor shook off the idea. The sonic screwdriver was never wrong. Why else did he rely on it so much? No, the serum stash had to be in here. He moved to a crate in the far corner of the room and scanned it.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Success!
This time, he was sure he had it. With both hearts pounding, the Doctor unsealed the crate with the sonic and slowly opened the lid. Inside, there were several containers of the clear, viscous Doomsday serum. Carefully, he lifted one of the jars to study it.
"So how did you lot get in here?" he asked. He set the jar back down gently.
How DID the jars get in here? According to Lyrsa, Morvilo wasn't even allowed this far down. It had to be as she said. Someone else was working with Morvilo, likely the one pulling the strings on the entire operation. But who? Usually, the answer was staring right at him. That didn't seem the case this time around.
"Who could possibly be wanting to destroy Astaria, apart from Morvilo?"
Right now, the only possible answer seemed to be the core specialists. At least it was something.
(Meanwhile…)
"Deadpool, look!" Rose exclaimed.
The mercenary ran to Rose's side of the room, where she had found a small, locked safe. "What do you think might be in here?" she asked.
"Guess we'll find out," Deadpool said, pulling out the bobby pin. Soon, the lock clicked. "These people don't have the best locks."
Rose opened the lid, and inside were several small vials, all containing the Doomsday serum. "Go figure," Deadpool said. "Let's incriminate this guy even more."
"There's a note," Rose said, reading from a small piece of paper. "Imagine the devastation that can be cause with such an interesting substance, Morvilo. It will be time to enact our master plan soon. The planet of Astaria will fall, and as a survivor of the old regime, you shall rebuild their civilization in your own image. And my own revenge will be complete. I've waited fifteen years for this, and so have you. Let's not have another one pass before we find destiny."
"Well, he doesn't want much," Deadpool said.
He spotted a discolored area underneath the safe. Moving the safe out of the way, he spotted a trap door.
"Well that's not suspicious at all," he said.
"So Morvilo wants to kill the royal family, destroy the planet, and secure control over the survivors," Rose summed up. "But who's the other one? The one wanting revenge?"
Suddenly, a voice spoke up over them. "A question that you two will never find the answer for!"
Deadpool and Rose, both suddenly terrified, looked up.
It was Morvilo. Instantly, Deadpool pulled his twin katanas out in defense.
"Now how did you get in my rooms?" Morvilo asked. "I'm very curious as to how you made it in here, and why. Answer me, and I might JUST refrain from outright killing you."
After sharing a brief glance, Deadpool and Rose immediately took the first action they could think of.
(In the storage room…)
'Doctor, Morvilo's found us!'
'We're in his secret room, he's got us cornered!'
The Doctor raised his head in alarm. That was Rose and Deadpool.
'Are you both alright?' he asked.
'We'll be MORE alright the sooner you get up here!' Deadpool replied.
'I'll be right up. Both of you just sit tight.'
Without a second thought, the Doctor sprinted out of the storage room and down the hallway.
"I can't even go a day without being needed for something," he said to himself as he ran towards the elevator.
(In the secret room…)
"How long did you know we were in here?" Rose asked nervously.
Morvilo sneered. "I knew you were going to break in the moment I left for my duties today. After all, wasn't that what Deadpool did yesterday?"
"You knew I was in here?" Deadpool asked. "How?"
"You may have been careful not to leave a trace of disturbance, but your smell wasn't so easily hidden. It wasn't long before I realized I had an intruder." He looked around the room, which had been trash by Deadpool and Rose searching the area earlier. "And it seems you definitely didn't think to leave it clean this time. Oh well. Another idea for a task I can give the guards."
Rose gasped. "You force your guards to clean your room?"
"Why not? They take their orders directly from me."
"We know what you're up to, Morvilo," Deadpool said. "Overthrowing and killing the royal family-AND destroying their planet-just so you can rule the Astarians. Are you really that desperate for attention?"
"Silence, worm! Also, destroy the planet? What are you talking about?"
"Isn't that your goal?" Deadpool asked.
Morvilo grinned. "Clearly, you didn't read my journal thoroughly enough."
"Who's your secret partner?" Rose asked. "We know you have one."
Morvilo growled at her. "Of course, you two would get that far. But there is no way I'm saying. All you have to know is that he's the key to fulfilling my desires. My family is the one that should rule over these plebes. Not Rodolphus. He's too weak-minded to ever understand true glory."
"Dude, he's a man who just wants peace," Deadpool retorted. "Honestly, I wish we had more people like that where we're from. But we don't. We're usually screwed. And right now, even the biggest scumbag on Earth couldn't hold a candle to you."
Morvilo growled, then pulled out his sword. "Watch what you say, I can cut you down right now."
Just then, he looked at Rose. "But maybe there are other targets I can go after, that can do the Doctor more harm if I strike at."
"Wait, what?" Rose asked.
"You heard what I said," Morvilo told her as he swung his sword, about to strike.
TONG!
Deadpool's own sword knocked Morvilo's away before it could hit its target. Deadpool moved in front of Rose, one of his swords pointed at Morvilo.
"I don't think so," he said. "Rose is someone I might be able to consider a friend, and I already made a promise to protect her. And I don't go back on promises like that."
"Right now, I'm inclined to believe him," Rose pointed out, moving out of the way.
"You just dug your own grave, fool," Morvilo growled at Deadpool. He swung his sword again, which Deadpool successfully parried. Suddenly, the two were in a full sword fight.
"You don't seem so powerful," Deadpool claimed. "Not when I have weapons on my side. This is the guy who beat me up when we first arrived on this planet? Talk about a letdown."
This only served to agitate Morvilo further. He made to strike again, but Rose threw a vase on him. It bounced off his muscles and shattered against the wall. He turned to face the distraction, but Deadpool capitalized on it by kicking him in the back, so he staggered.
"Rose, get out of here," Deadpool pleaded. "Go find the Doctor!"
Knowing she would only likely get in the way, Rose nodded. "I'll be back for you," she said as she ran out of the room, then out of Morvilo's quarters and into the hallway.
Deadpool smiled. "She's an absolute force of a woman. The Doctor's lucky to have her by his side."
"Can you say the same?" Morvilo taunted.
"Whether he's on my side or not, I don't care right now. All I care about is teaching you a lesson."
"Good luck with that."
Their swords clashed again in crazed fury. Deadpool understood now why Morvilo was the royal family's head guard. This guy seemed to practically breathe combat, especially now that he had his sword and was facing a deadly opponent. The mercenary had to put in a lot of effort just to match him. He had to give Morvilo credit, for he was certainly giving him a run for his money right now.
(In the hallways…)
Rose was already at the other end of the palace, running as fast as she could. She began to turn the corner leading to the elevators when she bumped into a familiar figure, knocking both backwards. She looked up, and smiled.
"Doctor!"
The two hugged. "Are you alright?' the Doctor asked.
"I'm fine, but Deadpool might not be. He's currently fighting Morvilo."
"Wait, what? Is he really that reckless?"
"No! Well, yes, but he mainly did it so I could get out of there."
The Doctor nodded, his face showing surprise. "Okay, that does change the perspective a little bit."
"Right? Now let's go, we have to go back for him!"
"Lead the way!"
(Meanwhile…)
"You know, I sometimes wished as a kid I would have muscles as big as those," Deadpool said, in the middle of a sword struggle with Morvilo. "But really, why would I want that? They usually get in the way, and probably make things very uncomfortable when you're trying to sleep at night. Seriously, dude. I think it's time to lay off the weightlifting and stick to cardio."
"Do you ever shut up?" Morvilo asked as he pushed Deadpool back and kicked him.
The mercenary shrugged, already recovered. "Back home, I'm known as the Merc with the Mouth. I didn't earn my reputation by keeping my mouth shut. I never go into battle without being ready to talk up a storm, and I'm not about to start today!"
The two continued fighting for what seemed like a long time. Deadpool was starting to struggle a little bit. He may be superhuman, but Morvilo was even stronger than that. He'd have to be to justify the muscles. Arnold Scwarzenegger be damned.
Even after all that effort, Morvilo didn't look like he had broken a sweat. Deadpool had been in situations like this before, but after seeing Yusei fighting "Jack the Ripper", and then Namora, he had to sympathize. This kind of thing wasn't for the faint of heart.
Neither was working with a Time Lord to stop a planet-destroying plot.
"What's wrong?" Morvilo asked, mockingly. "Can't seem to make a dent? Am I just too much? There's still time to surrender. I might even show you a slight amount of mercy."
Deadpool kept his swords pointed right at the guard. "Sure, I'll surrender. When I'm good and dead!"
"I was hoping you would say that," Morvilo said, striking again.
Deadpool parried, then made to twist around and hopefully catch Morvilo by surprise. However, he ended up the one caught by surprise when Morvilo's blade cut into his left hand, forcing him to cry out and drop his sword.
"How about that?" Morvilo asked. "Disarmed. How disappointing."
Deadpool took a look at his hand. The blade had cut through his gloven into his skin, and all the way to his hand bones. Luckily, the cut was already closing. The mercenary smiled as he picked his sword up off the floor.
"Clearly, you don't know what also makes me famous where I'm from," Deadpool explained. "Why else do I bounce back from stuff? You see, I have a special power that allows me to heal almost instantly from most attacks. You can cut me down into a bunch of pieces, even shred me like paper, and I'll be good as new in a day. Anything you have to say to that, Morvilo?"
However, he then noticed that Morvilo was grinning. "What are you smiling about?" Deadpool asked.
"Oh, you'll find out."
Now it was Deadpool's turn to get frustrated. This was compounded by his vision suddenly becoming slightly blurry. Ignoring it, the two men continued the battle.
After a few more seconds, however, Deadpool began to notice that something was wrong. His attacks seemed a bit more sluggish, while Morvilo appeared to only be getting faster. What's more, a wide enough sword swing nearly knocked him off his feet.
He looked back at his hand. The cut was gone, but the skin where it sat was now a pale green. "What did you do to me?" Deadpool asked.
Morvilo brandished his sword. "Just a special poison. Very potent, and quite deadly. Just a coat on my sword every morning. Some people who get a mere scratch from this weapon die in two seconds."
"Weren't you listening to a word I said about my healing factor?" Deadpool asked. "This thing works on poison too."
"But what if there's a poison so strong that not even your healing factor can keep up?" Morvilo asked with a sneer. "Don't think there isn't one in this entire universe capable of such a feat. And that wasn't some mere scratch either. I cut you to the bone. Where do you think that leads? I think I know for certain."
Uh on. If Morvilo was telling the truth, then Deadpool was in serious danger. He began to feel disoriented. He tried to shake his head to clear it, but it stayed. What's more, he began to notice he was breathing heavily.
"I say you only have a few minutes left," Morvilo taunted. "Let's see how you do on your last legs." He began to laugh loudly.
Deadpool's knees buckled, and he dropped his swords next to him. Everything seemed to slow down. But he was still aware of Morvilo and his bragging.
"And when I'm done with you, I'm coming for the Doctor and Rose next. Or maybe I could search for those friends of yours back on Earth."
The mercenary looked up in shock. How did he know about his friends back on Earth?
"Surprised? I have all the info I need on you, thanks to my partner in crime. So how about it? First you, then the Doctor and Rose, Cable, Wolverine, Yusei, Julie, I can go on. You dared cross me, and for that, they will all face my wrath. Nothing will stop me on my quest for glory, nor my comrade's quest for revenge." Morvilo burst into laughter.
On shaky legs, Deadpool stood up. His swords lay uselessly by his side, but he still had his fists. "Yeah, I think I've had just about enough of your laughter for one day," he seethed. "Poison me all you like. But you're not hurting my friends!"
And with all the strength he could muster, he began punching Morvilo as hard as he could, over and over. A strange, otherworldly scream seemed to come out of nowhere. It was about halfway before Deadpool realized the scream was coming from him.
When he stopped, Morvilo was laying on the floor, unconscious. Deadpool looked down at him, still panting. Unfortunately, he knew Morvilo would likely survive. But he had at least shown him not to mess with him or his newfound friends so easily.
But right now, he had other things to worry about. He staggered out of Morvilo's quarters and into the hallway.
How he managed to make it that far was a feat in and of itself. By this point, he could barely see straight. He lost count of how many times he nearly bumped into the wall.
"Guys? Julie? Yusei? Snake Eyes? Leo? Lammy? Rose? Doctor? Where are you? Somebody…help me…"
He looked around, panicking. All of this, this was all wrong.
Just then, he briefly registered the sound of two familiar British voices calling his name.
"There he is!"
"Deadpool!"
The mercenary collapsed, only vaguely aware of being caught in someone's arms before he touched the ground, then laid down gently.
"Deadpool? Deadpool, stay with us!"
"Deadpool, please."
Even breathing hurt at this point. All Deadpool could see were the two figures hovering over him; one with blonde hair, the other with dark hair. He could also hear a faint beeping sound, around where his hand was; the hand that had been wounded earlier.
"Poisoned…blade…," was all he could mutter.
The dark-haired figure seemed to nod; Deadpool could only vaguely remember who he was. Some kind of doctor?
"Just stay with us, Deadpool. You're going to be alright. Rose, keep him still."
Another few sensations Deadpool couldn't make sense of. Was his mask being taken off? Wait, was somebody holding his head? What was that stuff that was currently being poured into his mouth?
'What…what's going on? I don't…I don't even…know anymore…'
…
(Somewhere hidden…)
The man hidden in shadow paced across the floor. The cloak still obscured him, but one could tell standing next to him that he was anxious. This turn of events was not something he had foreseen.
"This could be bad. They're starting to connect the dots, they know where my stash of Doomsday serum is, and now Morvilo's in trouble, up to his elbows. And Deadpool…he managed to take down the Head of Royal Security while poisoned. He's more a problem than I thought. But my main concern must still be the Doctor. If he could find the stash that quickly, the rest of the puzzle might just end up falling on his lap."
"I think it's time to move on to Phase 2 of the plan. A small price to pay to ensure that my revenge comes swiftly."
He looked at the map of Astaria. And revenge WAS coming. When it did, Rodolphus wouldn't know what hit him.
(Later…)
Deadpool was walking through a black void. "Hello?" he called out. "Anybody home?"
He looked around. Everything he saw was an endless void and fog. "Great. I get poisoned, I have absolutely no idea if I'm even alive or not, and they didn't even give me a friend to talk to in dreamland. Bad enough I hate being alone, but did they have to capitalize on that?" He was shivering; this was his worst nightmare realized.
"Well, guess it's time to try and entertain myself for all eternity, or until I wake up," Deadpool said. "Whichever comes first."
He sat down and got into the fetal position. "Here we go. Just me. All alone…"
That's how he sat, for what felt like an eternity, until…
"Now what made you think you were ever alone?"
The mercenary looked up, hopeful. "Who's there?"
Out from the void, in front of Deadpool, came the Eleventh Doctor; the one he had met that night in the alleyway.
Deadpool sighed. "You know, you could've been a bit less cryptic when we met."
"First of all, you can't blame me for that," the Doctor said. "Seriously, you can't. This is just a dream, and the Doctor standing before you only exists in said dream."
"Yeah, that doesn't do me any favors," Deadpool responded. "But as long as I have the chance, I do have some questions."
"Like what?"
"Am I dead? Or dying?"
The Doctor laughed. "Don't worry, you'll survive. Poison's poison. Never anything major."
"Speak for yourself, you can deal with certain poisons by being kissed."
"Oh, God. Did you have to remind me of that? Of all the possible shocks Donna could've thought of…"
Deadpool laughed. "That's one of my favorite episodes," he admitted, then looked at the Doctor again. "Your previous self, the one I've been doing this adventure with. If I'm not dying, I'm gonna guess he saved me?"
"Pretty much."
Deadpool nodded. "Cool. Do I need to thank you as well? I mean, you ARE him in the future."
"Again, I only exist inside this dream. Seems like a bit of wasted gratitude, if you ask me."
Suddenly, Deadpool began to hear a faint voice coming from seemingly outside the void.
"I think he's moving…"
"Is that what you meant by 'pay it forward'?" Deadpool asked. "I now owe him, but I can't pay it back and must not find someone else to pay it to?"
The Doctor shook his head. "Actually, no. In fact, my past self already considers you even at the moment."
Deadpool looked at him, surprised. "Then who am I paying it forward to? Heck, who am I paying it forward FROM?"
"Can you hear me? Deadpool?"
"I can't give you all the answers. If I reveal them before you're ready, it could alter and damage the timeline."
Deadpool sighed. "Stupid timeline."
"Blimey, I know! But your adventure has been going splendidly so far, and don't worry. Getting knocked down with poison won't confine you to a sickbed for the rest of it. You will be up and about quickly, with still some vital roles to play."
Deadpool nodded. "That's all you can tell me, isn't it?"
"Yep."
"Deadpool? I never thought I would say this, but please talk to us."
"As much as I would like us to continue the chat, I've been hearing a bunch of stuff from outside the void, so I'm pretty sure I'm about to wake up," Deadpool said, looking up. "But it was great talking to you again, if just as cryptic."
The Eleventh Doctor smiled. "Now go forth and continue your adventure. But be warned, the worst is yet to come."
With that, he vanished.
"Wait, what?" Deadpool asked. "What's the worst? Hello?"
Suddenly, he felt the ground disappearing beneath his feet, and he fell into the void. He kept falling…falling…falling…
…
He was starting to stir.
"Wait, I think he's coming around."
Aww, but Deadpool didn't want to get up. It was too early. But the voices persisted, though they were a bit too hazy for him to remember right off the bat.
"Deadpool? Deadpool, it's us."
"Come on. Focus."
"Deadpool, can you hear me?"
The voices were becoming clearer. Rose…Lyrsa…the Doctor…
'Wait…the Tenth Doctor!'
Deadpool snapped his eyes open to the sight of the three aforementioned people hovering over them, their faces all flushed with relief.
"Alright, I'm up, I'm up!" he groaned, trying to sit up. "You guys are really impatient." However, he gave another groan as he held his head in pain.
"Easy," the Doctor told him. "Take it slow."
The pain subsided, and Deadpool looked around. "Where am I?"
"The palace infirmary," Lyrsa answered.
The mercenary looked around. Yep, it definitely looked like an infirmary. Hospital beds like the one he was laying on now, medicine counters, curtains, the works. He was still wearing his suit, but the mask was gone; he spotted it sitting next to him on the table. Remembering where Morvilo's sword got him, he removed his glove to check his hand. Sure enough, it looked as scarred as it usually did, just like the rest of his body. And the gross discoloration was gone.
"What was on that blade, anyway?" he asked.
"Turns out, Doomsday serum," the Doctor told him. "That stuff is capable of tearing apart a planet. Imagine what it could do to a person."
Deadpool nodded, still looking at his hand. "And my healing factor couldn't do anything to it?"
Lyrsa shook her head. "Probably just slowed it down."
Deadpool smirked. "Well, I THINK I'm alive."
"You must be if you're already joking like it," Lyrsa added.
"I'd ask 'who' and 'how', but I think I can already guess," Deadpool said before turning his head to the Doctor. "Well, the 'who' part, anyway. No pun intended."
"Please, you were waiting for the opportunity to use that pun the moment we arrived on this planet," the Doctor claimed, smiling.
"Guilty."
The Doctor laughed. "At least you're honest. Now, to answer the 'how' part, the first thing I did when Rose and I found you in the hallway was administer a short-term antidote, one that temporarily locked the poison into place within your body. Then we brought you here, and that's where I really got to work. And believe me, it wasn't pleasant, and it WAS a little risky. All I had to do was transfer the poison to myself. I didn't do all of it, because I don't think I'm willing to regenerate out of this face just yet. And it had to be a very precise amount for both our sakes. Just enough to where your healing factor did the rest of the work healing your body, while I used my own physiology to expel it from my own."
"Please tell me it involved ginger beer and anchovies," Deadpool said hopefully.
"Why would it-?
"Nevermind. How long was I out?"
"About three hours," Rose replied.
He nodded, then gasped.
"Wait, Morvilo! Lyrsa, you have to tell your father about him immediately, he's after the royal family. That's why he's doing all this."
He tried to stand up, but another flash of pain overtook him, and Rose coaxed him back onto the bed.
"Deadpool, you really need to relax," Rose pleaded. "You're not fully recovered yet. Besides, we've already talked to Rodolphus. After we showed him the proof, he immediately had Morvilo arrested."
"Funny enough, he was just as out of it as you were," the Doctor claimed. "What did you do to him?"
This was the question Deadpool had been waiting to hear. "Made him realize who I am, that's what," he said, and with satisfaction, recounted the fight between Morvilo and himself.
Once he was done talking, he took in the faces of the three people sitting beside him, their faces in awe. He had to admit, this was pretty satisfying too.
"No one has ever even had the nerve to stand against Morvilo physically, let alone actually knock him down," Lyrsa said. "And while poisoned, no less. Deadpool, you are certainly a force. How did you do it?"
The mercenary shrugged. "He threatened my friends, and I told him not to do that. Well, I told him in my own way. I don't know how Morvilo found out about my friends on Earth, but I'm not gonna let him or his silent partner get anywhere near them, even if I get poisoned again."
"Well, Morvilo's behind bars and awaiting trial," Rose told him. "But we're not done yet. We HAVE to find that secret partner. The Doctor found a stash of the Doomsday serum in the dungeons earlier, so whoever Morvilo's been working with MUST have access to the core. Once we find him, we might be able to stop him."
"I don't think anyone has thrown any of the Doomsday serum into the core since we arrived," the Doctor said. "The core might actually be starting to shrink again. Our arrival must've thrown a wrench into their plans."
"Then we catch him before he can continue that plan," Lyrsa said. "We can't let that prophecy come to pass."
Rose nodded. "So we have to start asking people with access to the core," she said. "We can start right away."
"Yeah, right away for you guys," Deadpool said, rubbing his head to stave off another wave of pain.
"You won't have long to recover," Lyrsa reassured him. "Thanks to your healing abilities and the Doctor's earlier administrations, you'll likely be good to go in just a couple of hours."
"Cool. I'm not used to having a 'recovery period', obviously. And when I need one, I usually hate it."
Rose laughed. "We still have time today to get a few answers from the core specialists."
"And I have to go talk to my father and let him know Deadpool's awake," Lyrsa added.
The Doctor looked at Deadpool, then back to the women. "You two go on. I'll catch up."
The women nodded and left the infirmary, leaving the Doctor and Deadpool.
"I think one of the nurses put a bowl of soup on the table while we're talking," the Doctor said, trying to find something to talk about.
Deadpool nodded, grabbed the bowl, and began eating. "Hard to believe we missed this," he said.
'Crap! Did I HAVE to wait for my first one-on-one conversation with the Tenth Doctor until right after he saved my life? It's like how we met, only this time, I'm also the hot dog getting stepped on.'
"You're being unusually silent right now," the Doctor told Deadpool.
"Speak for yourself. At least I have an excuse. This soup isn't gonna eat itself."
They remained in silence for a bit, the only sounds being Deadpool's soup slurping.
Finally bored with said silence, Deadpool put the bowl down. "Alright, we need to get some serious talking done, because this is dangerously out of character for both of us."
The Doctor gave a small laugh. "Really? I was convinced going five minutes without something to say would make your head explode. Yes, even while you were unconscious."
"Nah, I've come back from my head being blown off before."
"Why am I not surprised?"
Deadpool sighed. "Well, might as well get the elephant out of the room. What gives?"
The Doctor looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean, Doctor. You saved my life. How come?"
The Doctor shrugged. "It's what I do. Someone on my side needs help, I'll do what I can to give them that help."
"Still, seems an odd thing to do from someone who threatened ,when we first met, to 'sonic me into oblivion'."
"Well, you WERE in the TARDIS without a clear explanation."
"Yeah, I still don't know why it let me in. I've been trying to wrap my head around it the whole time this has been going on."
"Join the club."
Deadpool sighed. "Hey, Doctor, can I ask you something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Do you hate me?"
That was definitely not the question the Doctor was expecting. "What makes you think I do?"
"A number of things," Deadpool said. "I practically break into the TARDIS, I destroy your hot dog, and then I ACTUALLY break the TARDIS. And ever since we got on this planet, I kinda feel you've been treating me like that annoying tagalong cousin, or the guy that trips when we're running from something. Rose told me not to worry about it, that it was just you. But still, I worry. And yes, even after you saved me, I worry. Why bother if you hate me?"
The Doctor sat back down in the chair next to Deadpool's bed. "Believe it or not, Deadpool, I don't hate you. Are you still the most annoying person I've ever met? Absolutely. And that is saying something. But you're also one of the few people I've met who can match me blow for blow in a battle of funny remarks and quips. That's also saying something. And it's actually quite refreshing.
"Besides, Rose told me how the main reason you fought Morvilo in the first place was so she could escape. How can I hate someone willing to protect my friend like that? And moreover, how can I let someone die knowing they protected my friend. As far I can tell, Deadpool, you and I are even."
Deadpool nodded. "Still, thank you." That wasn't just for saving him, but for cheering him up completely.
"Anytime."
They both sat in silence, before the Doctor exclaimed, "Wait, it was that easy talking about it?!"
"I know, right?' Deadpool asked, returning to his soup. "See? It really does pay hanging out with a chatterbox like me. I make other people more willing to talk with my presence."
"And are most of those people shouting 'Shut up, Deadpool'?"
"Hey, it's a start."
"Some start."
"Just part of the 'Deadpool Experience'. Literally more people have told me to 'shut up' than the entire population of Belgium."
"Yes, and I'm one of them."
"You think I ever listened to them, Doc?"
"Oh, my God. Why didn't I just let you die of poison?"
Deadpool laughed. "Because you care."
"Shut up."
(Later…)
The investigation continued. Rose and the Doctor went around the palace, looking for the core specialists. The mission: find out if any of them or someone else might be Morvilo's secret partner. Deadpool, once he was finally back in top form, eventually joined in (wearing his mask again), and the three would ask each specialist one at a time. Their only issue at the moment was locking down their approach.
"Why do I have to be 'bad cop'?" Deadpool complained.
"Because honestly, you look the part," the Doctor replied.
"Says the guy who looks like Phoenix Wright."
(Author's Note: I dare you to look at pictures of Phoenix Wright and the Tenth Doctor side by side. Tell me I'm wrong.)
Rose shook her head. "Is this how it feels to be the third wheel?" she asked.
"Funny, I kinda felt that way when we stepped out of the TARDIS," Deadpool muttered.
The Doctor ignored this as he turned to face the core specialist the trio was currently talking to, one of the two whom the Doctor had caught making out earlier.
"What gives you three any right to ask me about all this?" he asked. "Last I checked, you were guests. NOT investigators."
Rose held back a laugh. "Weren't you in the throne room when the King gave us an audience and asked us to help?"
"Besides, what gives YOU any right to have a little snogging session in the bunkers?" the Doctor asked.
Deadpool laughed. "That deserves a slow clap," he said as he clapped his hands.
"Thank you, Deadpool. Now let me focus." The Doctor turned to the specialist again. "Alright, what do you know about the Doomsday serum and Morvilo's secret partner?"
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't know anything," the specialist said. "To be honest, I had never even heard of the Doomsday serum until you brought it up to me."
"Are you sure you didn't hear about it?" Deadpool asked, shining a flashlight on the poor man's face.
"Alright, what are you doing?" the Doctor asked.
"You wanted me to be the bad cop," Deadpool explained before Rose pulled him away.
"Well, do you know who might be wanting to help Morvilo target the royal family?"
The specialist shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't. There's hardly a single person living in this palace right now who isn't upfront about nearly everything. And likely the only one who was so secretive is currently locked up in the palace dungeons right now, awaiting trial. I hope Morvilo gets everything that's coming to him."
Deadpool raised his hand. "For what it's worth, I beat him senseless after he poisoned me with his sword and threatened my friends."
"Good for you. Should've gone further."
"I know."
The Doctor looked at both of them. "Can we focus?" he asked. Just like before when Deadpool was let into the TARDIS, the Doctor had been using his sonic screwdriver to decipher truth from lie. After a few scans on the specialist, he nodded and looked grimly at the others.
"He's telling the truth too," he told the others.
Rose sighed. "I think he was the last core specialist. And none of them are involved in this."
"But they were the only ones who can get into the core," Deadpool said. "And none of them are even remotely involved in this? There's no way that's possible. I'll rip out my vocal cords before I believe that."
"Wouldn't they heal back up anyway?" Rose asked.
"It's the thought of losing the ability to speak that makes it scary," Deadpool told her.
The Doctor shook his head. "We're missing something. But I don't know what."
Just when it seemed they were almost at the truth, the trio seemed to be back to the drawing board.
(That night…)
The dungeon guards were at least kind enough to give Morvilo medicine for his injuries. Sure enough, the swelling and soreness had already disappeared almost completely. It was a shame he couldn't check how he looked; there weren't any mirrors inside his prison cell.
For the millionth time, he cursed that wisecracking, crazy mercenary clad in red. Deadpool, was it? As far as Morvilo was concerned, he was responsible for this. He was to blame for his current predicament, having lost the foolish King's favor and unceremoniously thrown into the dungeons.
His fury only increased when he heard about the Doctor, Rose, and Deadpool asking the core specialist team questions. And he asked himself the same question over and over. How did Deadpool survive? The Doomsday serum could kill anyone in the universe with just a superficial scratch. There was no way that supposed "healing factor" was enough to withstand that poison.
Unless Deadpool had help. Now that Morvilo could think of it, the Doctor was a Time Lord. He probably used some of the benefits to keep Deadpool alive. He knew he should've gone after him first back in the forest the other day.
'Not enjoying yourself?'
Morvilo sighed. 'What do you want?"
'Should you really be so sour when we're so close to victory?'
'In case you haven't noticed, I'm in a dungeon cell. Where's the victory in that?' Morvilo hated having to wear the stupid telepathy device, but right now, it was useful. No guards could hear his words.
A laugh echoed in his mind. 'Do you truly have so little faith in me, after all we've accomplished together?'
'What are you talking about?'
'Look outside your window.'
Grumbling, Morvilo stood up and walked over to his window. Looking up, he noticed that the clouds were red.
'Red clouds?'
'That's the signal, the one that lets you know Plan B is ready to be activated.'
'Plan B? That's the plan where-'
'Where we could potentially kill millions, maybe billions, of Astarians. But those three are standing in our way. As long as the Doctor, the human girl, and that wretched mercenary are here, our normal plan will never come to fruition. If you want to become King of the Astarian people, sacrifices must be made. You know this. You live and breathe war.'
'Indeed I do.'
'Then you know what to do. There WILL be survivors. And you will lead those survivors to a new Astarian golden age, one of glorious conquest. The choice is yours.'
Morvilo smiled. The man was right. It was war. And in war, sacrifices had to be made.
'Let's do it.'
(The next morning…)
Deadpool was repeatedly banging his head on the wall of Lyrsa's sitting room in frustration.
"Of all times, this is when we run out of ideas," he moaned. "Morvilo in jail, the core shrinking back down, we're about to win. Why does that stupid silent partner who nobody knows about have to ruin everything?"
"That's enough," the Doctor warned. "This isn't helping anyone."
"It's giving me something to do."
Rose asked, "But Morvilo's in the dungeons. With him gone and the core shrinking, won't that secret partner have no way to continue the plan?"
"It's not that simple," Lyrsa reminded her. "This partner definitely has access to the core. Morvilo didn't. That partner could continue on their own if they wanted."
"She's right," the Doctor said. "We can't leave anything to chance here. We have to find that silent partner, or the prophecy will likely come to pass."
"Well, who else is allowed access to the core?" Rose asked Lyrsa.
Deadpool mainly listened, his head still on the wall, as the other three bickered. Things must really be grim if even the Doctor had apparently lost the plot. He sighed, currently trying his best not to scream at the other three.
'Come on, Deadpool. You can do this. The answer's in there somewhere. You just need to use that head of yours. Anything new will work. Hell, try and think like the Doctor. You might not be some mega genius like him. But still, try. Think like the Doctor. Think like the Doctor. Think like the Doctor. Think, think, think."
"Nobody else," Lyrsa claimed. "Just our team, trained to not only work down there, but also survive down there should the worst happen. Even the Doctor has to be escorted by those same specialists when he's down there. The bunkers may seem protected, but because they're so close to the core, every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of everyone in the palace."
"Yes, but there has to be that weak link," the Doctor reasoned. "Something we haven't thought about yet. A chink in the armor, if you will. Think, Lyrsa. Is there no one else who could get into the lower levels?"
Lyrsa shrugged. "Believe me, I've thought about it over and over."
"Maybe a guard might've helped them gain access somehow?" Rose asked. "Or a high ranking official? Morvilo could have had the influence to set up clearance for the partner, given his position. Maybe the partner's just an officer in the army, and Morvilo helped him get in."
"It's possible, but Morvilo likely would not have had that privilege," Lyrsa continued. "We used to let high-ranking officers down there. But no such officer has been let down there in fifteen years!"
Across the room, Deadpool raised his head. 'Wait, something about what she just said… Oh, my God!'
"Wait, Lyrsa! What was that just now?"
"What was what?"
"You just said…wait…"
"What?" Rose asked.
Deadpool laughed. "Did I actually just figure it out before the Doctor did?"
"Figure out what?" the Doctor asked.
The mercenary now seemed elated. "Hold on, I need to savor this feeling. I might never have it again.
"Deadpool?" Lyrsa asked.
"I mean, this is once-in-a-lifetime. I think even the most legendary of companions doesn't experience this too often."
"Uh, Deadpool?" the Doctor asked.
"Is this how you feel all the time, Doctor? Aside from right now, obviously."
"Deadpool, could you please-?" Lyrsa tried to ask.
"This is one of the most unexpected moments of my life. I'm feeling ecstatic, this is like a dream come true-"
"DEADPOOL!" the other three shouted in unison.
The sudden outburst made Deadpool jump. "What?"
"Now, please!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"Oh, alright. Killjoy. Noww, about what Lyrsa said earlier. No one from the military has been down there in how long?"
"Fifteen years," Lyrsa replied.
Deadpool nodded. "And what happened fifteen years ago? I think that's the key here. What major event happened fifteen years ago that led to the bunkers being sealed off to the military?"
Lyrsa thought for a moment. "Lowin and his coup. He was high enough in rank to enter with permission. But when was caught, my father declared stricter security in the bunkers."
"And why? Also, did you say they never found Lowin's body after the battle?"
"Yes."
Deadpool nodded again. "Exactly."
Suddenly, the Doctor's eyes widened. He had just come to the same realization as Deadpool. "Oh, my God. How did I not see this sooner? Either I'm going senile in old age, or Deadpool's the smartest man in the universe. And I really hope it's senility.
"Anyway, Lyrsa, did they remove security clearance with the remaining military after the coup failed?"
"Yes."
"Well, I think they missed one."
Lyrsa looked at him, confused. "So you think Lowin's alive?"
"Not only that," Deadpool continued. "You said they removed all security clearances. But did they ever do the same for Lowin?"
The princess shook her head. "We all believed him to be dead. We didn't think it was necessary."
"But then if he wasn't dead," the Doctor continued, "then that means he can still reach the bunkers, and do whatever he wants to the core from there."
"He must've been the hooded figure Morvilo mentioned in the journal," Rose explained. "The silent partner."
"But then how did he get into the palace?" Lyrsa asked.
Rose gasped. "There was a set of keys inside Morvilo's secret room, as well as a trap door. That trap door must lead to a passage out of the palace, and the keys are to unlock them. That's how Lowin's able to get in and out."
"But are we sure this is what Lowin wants to do?" the Doctor asked. "Destroy the planet?"
Deadpool shrugged. "I don't know, but there is a way we can find out." He looked at the princess. "Lyrsa, can you tell us what Lowin was trying to do in the core?"
The princess nodded. "But it's probably best if I show you. And I know how."
She looked at the Doctor.
"You can look into other people's minds," she explained. "I permit you to look inside my memories to the day of the core."
The Doctor nodded, before looking at Deadpool and Rose. "Do you two still have the mind link devices Lyrsa gave us?"
"Yeah," Deadpool said.
"Then I think we're all going to be able to look into her memories if that's the case. If it's alright with Lyrsa, that is."
Lyrsa smiled. "Don't worry about it. It means you will all get to see the truth."
Deadpool laughed in joy. "Seriously? The Doctor's letting us look into someone else's memories. I should've brought a checklist, this is too awesome."
"Alright, Deadpool. It's another dream come true. I get that. Rose, are you willing to do this?"
Rose nodded. "This is new, maybe even for you. I'm ready to get this over with."
"Then you two, find a spot in the room and stay there. Await my instructions."
Deadpool and Rose chose different spots to stand on either end of the room. They both nodded, indicating they were ready. The Doctor moved to the couch to sit opposite Lyrsa.
"When I give the word, I need you three to close your eyes," the Doctor explained. "Keep still, and let your minds go blank. That means you, Deadpool. This is the first time I've ever done this with anyone else being able to look into another's mind with me, so I don't know what might happen."
"Shut up and listen, got it," Deadpool summed up.
The Doctor nodded, flexing his fingers a little. "Then let's do this. Everybody, close your eyes."
Everyone did what the Doctor said and closed their eyes while he placed his hands on either side of Lyrsa's head. The group waited in silence.
Then…
…
"Take me to the bunkers," Rodolphus ordered the nearby guard. "He's in there somewhere."
He was followed by his wife, Megara, who wore a battle dress lined in armor. In her arms was her infant child, Nereena. Lyrsa was following her.
"How did he get his hands on the Doomsday serum?" Rodolphus asked his wife.
"The guards told me they just arrested a dealer just outside the palace," Megara answered. "Apparently, they had been making secret deals with our culprit for months now."
"And now the culprit wants to trigger the prophecy and cause our core to collapse?"
"It seems so. Don't worry, I have sent the guards and some of my men down to the lower levels ahead of time. They might already have him caught."
Rodolphus smiled. "Always thinking ahead."
Behind them, Lyrsa was barely able to keep up with her parents. She had no idea what they were talking about. All she knew was that something exciting was happening.
"But are you sure it's a good idea to have Lyrsa here with us?" Megara asked.
"Believe me, dear. There is nothing I want more than to shield my daughters from the horrors of the world. But Lyrsa is to be Queen one day. I'm afraid she will have to learn sooner or later."
He looked at the guards. "You're taking her down to the core. Please, keep hold of her."
Megara handed Nereena to another guard. "Take her back to her rooms," she ordered. Soon, the King, Queen, and heir were all in the elevator with their guards, heading down into the lowest level of the bunker system.
Upon reaching the bottom, a core specialist approached the royal entourage. "They caught him," she said.
The King and Queen both nodded and followed, reaching the control/viewing room, where the guards had surrounded a man with white hair, and wearing the uniform of an Astarian military officer.
"Lowin?" the Queen asked, shocked. "How can this be? You've served us loyally for years."
"Don't make me laugh, wench," Lowin growled, struggling against the guards. "I serve Astaria, and nothing else. No ONE else. And if you don't want to expand your horizons beyond this planet, then you're forcing my hand."
The guard stepped forward. "We can confirm vials of Doomsday were on his person when we searched him."
"What of it? I wasn't planning on outright destroying the planet. I just wanted to make you see that if you don't wish to expand, someone with a vision will."
The King glared at Lowin. "Foolish people like you are the reason I want peace. Guards, take him away."
Lowin continued to struggle as the guards dragged him. Lyrsa watched from behind her mother…
…
The vision ended, and the group opened their eyes. They were back in Lyrsa's sitting room. The Doctor took his hands off her head, and the group sat in silence.
Of course, it was eventually Deadpool who broke the silence. "Oh, crapbaskets."
"What?' the Doctor asked, confused.
"Take the word 'crap', add 'baskets' in the end. Works in the same context. Don't worry, I got it from an Internet thing."
The Doctor nodded. "In that case, yeah. Crapbaskets."
"So Lowin doesn't even WANT to destroy the planet?" Rose asked. "He just seemed desperate to me."
"Whatever state he was in, it seems he thinks he can try again," Lyrsa told everyone. "We have to let my father know about this now."
Deadpool nodded, then jumped up in excitement. "We did it. We actually solved it."
The Doctor smiled. "You solved it first. I'd call you a genius, except I think doing so would mean insulting myself. And I don't like doing that."
The mercenary smiled. "Nah, I'm not a genius. I'm just a psycho who watches way too much Doctor Who and feels no shame in it."
"Alright, you two. I appreciate the camaraderie, but we need to go talk to Rodolphus."
(Later…)
After taking a few moments to make sure they had their entire case straight, the group headed as fast as they could to the throne room. Outside the door, they met the two guards on duty.
"State your business," one of the guards said.
"By order of the princess, open this door," Lyrsa ordered. "Our guests have acquired the evidence and solution to the prophecy crisis."
The guard looked at her. "Really?" he asked.
Deadpool nodded. "Yep, we totally went all Sherlock Holmes on this case. This planet doesn't have to implode. How awesome is that?"
Suddenly, the guard broke out a big smile, stepped forward, and hugged Lyrsa, Deadpool, the Doctor, and Rose each tightly. "That is fantastic!" he asked. "We'll forever be grateful for your help. But before you go in, remember we don't allow weapons inside the throne room."
Deadpool groaned, but obliged as he handed the guard his weapons.
"There we are. Now go right in."
The doors opened, and for the second time, the trio found themselves bowing in Rodolphus' presence. As they bowed, the Doctor suddenly noticed a shadow moving past the guards standing at attention.
"I must confess, I was already aware of my own daughter's efforts to uncover the plot," Rodolphus explained. "I DID try to ask her to stay away for her sake."
Lyrsa bowed her head. "Forgive me, Father. All I wanted was to help."
The King smiled. "Like mother, like daughter." Lyrsa smiled back, relieved. "Now, tell me what you have uncovered."
"Well, you already know about Morvilo's role in all this," Deadpool explained. "Speaking of which, I hope part of his sentence is paying me compensation for trying to kill me. But now it's time for the main part. Doctor, you have the floor."
"You're too kind. But anyway, after Morvilo was arrested, we immediately sought out his anonymous partner in the plot against your family and the planet. We thought it was the specialists, at first. But they were all innocent, as we discovered when we asked them all. We were quite stumped, until we realized a former enemy of yours wasn't quite as dead as you thought he might be. Rose, your turn."
"Lyrsa allowed us to look into her memories via linking her mind with the Doctor, and Deadpool and I being allowed to see it thanks to the mind link devices she gave us. We watched her memory of the culprit being imprisoned for attempting the same plot several years ago. In addition, we remembered the keys and trap door that were inside Morvilo's room, and figured out that this was how the culprit got in and out of the palace. Deadpool, will you do the honor of finishing?"
As Deadpool talked, the Doctor noticed the shadow again. He blinked, and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Though he could've swore there were only twenty guards lined up beside the carpet.
He counted twenty-one.
"We humbly ask that you begin the search for this guy as soon as possible," Deadpool told the King. "And I would be happy to join the manhunt, if you let me. I have a few grievances of my own against this guy, starting with the fact that he killed the queen and Lyrsa's mom. And given Lyrsa's really growing on me as a friend, I would be happy to get revenge for her-"
"Get to the point," Rose whispered, before looking at the Doctor. "Is everything alright?"
"No. I think we're in trouble."
Deadpool continued, "For you see, the true mastermind behind the core expansion plot, the one who aided Morvilo…"
As he talked, the Doctor noticed something coming out from the extra guard's pocket. And now that he saw it, this guard was quite a bit burlier than the others…
"...and overall one of the biggest jerks I've ever met, is none other than-"
"EVERYBODY DOWN!"
Startled, everyone did what the Doctor yelled to do and ducked. The King barely dodged a laser shot aimed directly at him. Looking up, the trio saw the odd guard step forward, holding the laser gun. He took off his helmet and grinned evilly, pointing the gun at the trio.
"Morvilo?" Deadpool asked in surprise.
"You were expecting someone else?" Morvilo asked.
Then a few of the guards broke rank and surrounded the trio, their guns pointed right at them.
"What are those little toys going to do to me when I have this?" the Doctor asked, intending to pull out the sonic screwdriver and disable the guns. However, to his horror, the sonic didn't appear anywhere in his coat.
He sighed. "That guard pickpocketed me earlier when he hugged me, didn't he?"
The guard from earlier, currently pointing his gun at the Doctor's head, nodded and mouthed, "Sorry".
By this point, a few guards had now surrounded Rodolphus, Lyrsa, and Nereena. "Everyone, put your hands up," Morvilo barked. All the captives could do was obey.
Suddenly, the throne room door opened to a familiar man performing a slow clap. "Bravo, everyone," he said. "The Astarian royal family, AND the Doctor. Drinks are on me when we leave this soon-to-be waste heap of a planet."
"I'm guessing you're Lowin?" Deadpool asked.
"In the flesh."
"Yeah, that part's not gonna be true when I come after you," Deadpool threatened. "You're not gonna coerce the King into giving in if that's what you want. Can you even call yourself an Astarian?"
Lowin sighed. "Alright, two things. First, it's already too late."
"What do you mean?" Rose asked.
"I mean I've already had the entire stash of Doomsday thrown into the core."
Rodolphus gasped in horror. "I had the guards remove that after we were informed of its location."
"Yeah, I don't think you asked the right guards," Lowin pointed out. "Not when a few of them currently have their weapons pointed at you. And second, I'm actually not Astarian."
"What do you mean?" Lyrsa asked.
"I mean I'm actually part of a species that's been manipulating different civilizations to further our goals for years. You can just call me a Torfarrite."
The Doctor looked up. "Torfarrite? Uh oh."
He suddenly morphed, shedding his Astarian disguise to reveal his true form, a bald, gray man with white, pupil-less eyes. He moved to stand next to Morvilo, both grinning sadistically.
The Doctor sighed. "Oh, crapbaskets."
"And NOW I get to be a bad influence on you too," Deadpool said, amused, before the glares of everyone around him told him to be quiet.
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Only in a fanfiction will you ever get to find the Doctor saying "crapbaskets".
There was a lot to unpack in this chapter, and I hope it didn't disappoint. We're getting closer to our finale, and believe me, there's still more to come. But whatever happens, be warned. In most Doctor Who stories, at least one person is dead by the end.
Just be sure to read and review, fave and follow, and check out my other stories. I'll see you guys again soon.
TheMasterKat out!