Here's the next one. And to MidKnightMoonglow99, apologies for that plot hole I inadvertently put in. Given it's been ages since that incident I won't bring it up in the story this far along. Not sure how I would fix it either but I am going to just ignore it. Might not be what you want and I apologize for that but because there's so much time between then and now there's no point in me trying to get it all figured out and change a bunch of stuff to fix it. If I'd realized it earlier, maybe but not now. Just assume the universe compensated and erased her previous self.
Trigger warning!: light gore warning, PTSD, coping mechanisms, trauma, dissection, etc.
I woke up again, mind foggy before remembering the coffin I'd been trapped in and jerking. My harsh breathing relaxed quickly at finding myself no longer in the cramped space but I frowned down at the restraints I was now in, holding me to a table of some kind.
"Great," I grumbled, dropping my head back in annoyance. "One death trap to another."
Least this one isn't so bad. The coffin was worse. I took a steadying breath, feeling other memories lurking below the surface but not present enough to cause me another panic attack. Once settled, I glanced around and spotted a man in a similar position beside me; separated by glass.
"Don't struggle," he cautioned me. "Close your eyes and don't struggle."
"Why?" I questioned, assuming he was someone else who'd been taken by the ground above. "What's going on? What do you know?"
I did test my restraints too only to realize something. I'm… numb? My body's not working the way it should.
"What's happened?" I asked him, seeing no one else to question. "What've they done? I'm not able to move much."
"Decontamination, they call it," he said before his voice grew tight. "They did it to me while I was conscious."
"Decontam?" I questioned, vaguely remembering the coffin and the gas that had been pumped in. "That would explain the gas but not why I'm struggling to move. They did what while you were awake?"
"Disected me," he choked out, glancing down at a pink scar that ran up his abdomen and I let out a heavy sigh.
"Of-fucking-course," I spat in annoyance, dropping my head back again and ignoring the odd look he sent me. "Can't go anywhere nice, can we? Were supposed to go to Rio and instead, I get dropped down into some goddamn alien experiment lab. Like I haven't had enough of that."
"He's coming," the man beside me warned, drawing my gaze to the person approaching in white lab gear. "I'm sorry. I wish I could help you."
"Name," I questioned, confusing him.
"W-What?"
"What's your name?" I asked again and he hesitated, glancing at the scientist approaching uneasily.
"M-Mo. Mo Northover."
"Fallon," I exchanged, turning my gaze back to the approaching alien. "Do me a favor, Mo, if you can stand it. You don't have to look but listen to me ramble for a bit, okay? I'm going to be a rather unhappy person in a minute and I need to distract myself from the many things I'm going to imagine doing to this guy and my idiot partner above ground."
He didn't answer as I glared at the scientist in front of me before he pulled down his white mask and I blinked in surprise.
"From the clothing, the human female appears to be of equal resistance to the cold as the male."
"Yeah, interesting observation," I drawled, still eyeing him and not the device he had in his hand. "Sorry, are you a lizard person?"
"Leave her alone!" Mo complained from the next chair. "You've got me!"
"Mo, hey, not to be rude but shut up for a minute," I scolded him, shooting him a look. "He's a scientist. This isn't about him torturing either of us. He's studying. He got his info on the male of the species and now he's checking on me, a female."
The scientist alien tilted his head curiously. "The female appears to be more observant than the male. An intelligence test later might be required."
"Oh, trust me, it varies person to person," I drawled back, ignoring the buzzing of fear and unease that was hovering on the edge of my mind as he brought the device closer to my abdomen. "Do you have a name?"
The device stopped short, having only cut through the fabric of my shirt as I caught his attention, as brief as it may be.
"I just figured calling you lizard man or doctor lizard might be a bit offensive," I offered poorly, mind spinning and mouth spitting out whatever came to mind. "I'm Fallon, by the way. You know, in case you'd rather discuss this instead of slicing me open to take a peek. Sexual dimorphism isn't actually as prevalent in us compared to other species."
"Malohkeh," he introduced before turning his gaze back to my abdomen. "Commencing dissection."
"Oh, boy," I muttered, drawing my gaze upward and being grateful that I couldn't feel whatever he was doing. "Right, well then, let the rambling begin. You don't mind if I chat do you, Malohkeh? Keeps me busy. I've got a lot of memories up here of some rather unpleasant things. It'd be nice to ignore them as best I can."
"If you wish," he answered, which was more than I was getting before as he continued and occasionally spoke into his recording device. "Upon first examination, everything is nearly identical to the male specimen. Scaring of the female is more prevalent possibly being a result of a difference in profession or occupation."
"Oh, that? Nah, I'm just a bit reckless, is all. Get dropped into troublesome situations. Waking up in the middle of an autopsy wasn't fun so you can understand why I'm not entirely thrilled by this," I said with a shudder because despite not looking I could tell something was very wrong. "And like I said, not much difference between us physically other than a few small things. Surely your people are similar? Do…" I lowered my gaze a bit, though pointedly resisting the disturbing mental urge to look at what his hands were doing inside my abdomen. "Do your people have a name? Again, trying to be polite."
"A few," he replied, pulling out something and idly weighing it. "Homo reptilia, Eocenes, Silurian."
"Homo reptilia?" I questioned, having to force my gaze away from what must have been a kidney he was weighing. "As in you're from Earth?"
"We have lived on Earth for millions of years," he informed me.
"You're not aliens then." I paused then, vaguely remembering someone who looked similar to the man examining me. "Are there more of you? Less underground and more upstairs?"
He stopped what he was doing, holding yet another organ in curiosity. "You've met another?"
"I think so. My memory's shit to be honest with you and that's not considering the fact that I am rambling to keep from focusing on the fact that you're holding my…" My brows furrowed. "Is that my appendix? Shod that. You can keep it. Ticking time bombs, really."
He glanced at the organ in his hand and turned back to me. "You're… not bothered?"
"Oh, I'm very bothered. It's just not the first time I've… seen the inside of a body. I've been a doctor and a scientist. So, I-I kinda get it. Just…" I grimaced. Not fully used to it being the inside of my own body. "See, humans have this code of ethics thing that kinda stop people from experimenting on creatures who can properly think? Is it think?" I paused brows furrowed. "There's specifics to it that I can't remember right now. Point is, we're rather against human experimentation unless certain trials are passed a-and even then, there's lots of people against animal testing if t-that's… you know, productive in convincing you to perhaps sew me back up and stop?"
He hesitated for a moment, which was enough to let me know that talking would help. I just had to keep doing it as he, unfortunately, went back to work.
"O-Okay, okay look," I pressed, already feeling sweat rolling down the back of my neck as the memories were starting to get louder.
"Keep going. We have to figure out why she's immortal."
"Victim has internal damage caused by—Oh my God! S-She's—"
"Hold her down! This might be our only chance!"
"C-Can I at least know what's going on? Why did you guys suddenly pop up now and start taking people?"
"Your weapon was attacking the oxygen pockets above our city," he answered as I dropped my head back against the seat, starting to feel a little dizzy.
Blood loss? But his hands are surprisingly clean. Or, well, not absolutely drenched. So, what? Just stress? I am being dissected. "You're talking about the drill," I noted, mind somehow latching onto this fact based on what little I knew from when I was above ground. "I don't think they meant to. I doubt they even knew you were here. You lot have been down here a while, right? Do you… Do you have defense systems of some kind? Stuff that hides your city from surveys?"
"Yes," he answered, brows furrowed in concentration as he kept digging around inside me.
Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Don't. "S-So how could they have known not to dig here if they didn't know you were here?"
"We marked the location with the appropriate flora to state that this location was off limits."
"Flora? The blue grass? Oh, god," I muttered, closing my eyes and wishing I could bring my hands up and rub at my face. "It's a misunderstanding. This whole thing is a mess. See, humans aren't the brightest. They saw that and thought it was interesting. They saw it as a-a 'dig here' sign, not a 'stay away' warning."
He didn't seem too bothered by that and then, my breath hitched; a pressure in my chest and I grimaced.
"D-Don't do that. Don't know w-what you're messing with but i-it's important. I-I can't… It's hard to breathe a-a bit and—" My chest felt tight and my head swam suddenly as that rapid heat beat in my ears seemed to abruptly jerk. "S-S-Stop. Stop!" I finally snapped and he glanced at me as I finally allowed some of that fear and unease to break through my nonchalant expression. "P-Please."
He slowly nodded and backed off, double-checking a few things and starting to close me up—I hope but I can't leave this here. This is all wrong.
"You seriously think we're attacking you?" I asked, focusing on my breathing a bit as my body struggled to cope with what he'd been doing. "There's like two people above ground. Maybe a small team to work the drill. We're not an invasion force. Hell, look at Mo. He's not exactly a warrior, right? He's no doctor or, or scientist. He's just a dude that helps run a drill. He's like a construction worker, not some big strapping warrior come to kill you all. I might be a little more likely but even I'm trying to talk, to negotiate right smack dab in the middle of my own dissection, right? B-Bit mad really but… that's me."
"Your people have taken one of ours hostage," he informed me and I took a long, shuddering breath and let it out with a sigh.
"Y-You have two of us a-and attacked them. They would retaliate just the same as you did here. B-But there's something I do know, whoever they took is safe. Safer than us here. I-I have a friend. My partner is above ground. He… He's a bit of a dunce but he wouldn't hurt any of your people. He's more likely to treat them t-to tea and biscuits."
He stepped away and wiped down anything remaining on my abdomen before stepping aside to sort through his things. He didn't look pleased though. He'd hardly made any more recordings when he worked, having just been listening to me and answering my questions. I'm getting through. Just a bit more.
"Malohkeh," I muttered, looking at him desperately. "Please. You have to see how ridiculous this is. You're a scientist. Do we seriously look like we've come here to hurt your people? Maybe another time, another place, sure but right now?"
He was quiet but put down the instruments he was cleaning softly.
"I just want to get back to my partner," I muttered. "Mo just wants to go see his family. We don't want to quarrel with your people. Hell, I'll even help get the hostage back. You can trade me for them. The Doctor—My partner would do anything to fix all this. Safely. For everyone. Please, just let me help."
Finally, he looked over at me, still uneasy but seemingly willing. "I would have to speak with Restac."
"Restac? Nice name," I breathed. "Are they friendly?"
"She's our military commander."
"Decidedly not friendly then."
"The hostage your… partner has is from the same gene chain," he added and it took a second for my mind to understand what that meant.
"Gene chain… gene chain… Oh, they're related! Close—Oh, that's even more not good. Even more of a reason to be unfriendly when I'm trying to offer a peace deal. Is Restac in charge?"
He shook his head. "No. We are of the same rank."
"Okay, so you want a companion for reassurance. Course, makes sense. I-I'll talk to Restac. Both of you, even. I'm sure we can work something out. The Doctor is probably more knowledgeable about the… the Silurian species so if we can contact him, on the surface, then we can make a deal."
He nodded, turning to go. "Then, I will go get her. I too, am not eager to see war."
"Malohkeh," I called out, stopping him as I offered a grimace of a smile. "T-Thank you… for listening."
Once again, he appeared surprised but bobbed his head before heading off and I let out a heavy sigh and a string of curses as I flexed one of my hands.
"Ooh, boy. What have we gotten ourselves into?"
"Y-You're going to negotiate with them?" Mo piped up, drawing my tired gaze to his.
"I'm going to try, anyway. I don't know exactly what's happened up above ground but there's a big misunderstanding happening. Making a deal that benefits both sides is the only logical option."
"They dissected us!" He argued as I groaned in annoyance.
"Yeah, and I'm sure whoever is up above ground wanted to do the same with the Silurian they captured. What is it with humans and cutting open things they don't understand? Though it sounds like it's just an Earth thing. Wish people would talk more. Save everyone a hell of a lot of trouble." I turned my head to glance at him. "Look, Mo. You ever dissect a frog or squid or something in school? It's a teaching experience and that's all that just happened here. You should be glad that's all Malohkeh did. It's not the first time I've been cut open and let me tell you, this was the most pleasant experience of them all. Couldn't feel a thing, had a nice chat, learned some things. He could've knocked us out, I guess, but at least it was painless. If they wanted to torture us, they would have. If they wanted us dead, it would've been easy. So, if you want to get back up to whatever family is waiting for you, just accept the fact that you're going to have to bite your tongue and play nice, okay?"
He didn't look thrilled but begrudgingly nodded as footsteps approached and another Silurian stepped in with Malohkeh.
"You must be Restac," I greeted, offering a grimace of a smile. "I'd shake your hand except, you know. Still, nice to meet you. I'm Fallon. Come to beg for my release and the safe return of your companion."
She eyed me, cautious and disapproving. "Where is the rest of your invasion force?"
"Yeah, see, we're not invading," I tried to explain. "Like I told Malohkeh, the people up above saw the blue grass and thought it was telling them something was interesting here underground. They didn't understand your warning message. The drill was a complete accident and there are only a few people up there anyway. A family and my partner with his companions. That's it. Hardly a force of anything, really. I just wanted to try and help you get your friend back, is all. You get her back, then me and Mo over there get to return to our friends and family, and peace is restored."
"You claim to come in peace but you hold one of us hostage!"
"I mean, you kinda took Mo first, honestly. Then, rushed up to get more people. Them catching one of yours is kind of expected," I said, only for her to hiss at me with her teeth bared. "B-But, I'm positive your friend is fine. My partner—the Doctor—knows your people and wouldn't let any harm come to her. He's really stubborn in that aspect. Wouldn't carry a weapon if you begged him. Just send Mo up to show you're willing to negotiate a-and I'm sure we can work something out. Trade me and maybe the Doctor can offer you your companion and somewhere safe to stay less… underground?"
"I don't negotiate with apes. I'm going to send a clear message to those on the surface," she spat instead as a couple of masked Silurians with guns stepped forward and my gazee flickered between them, Malohkeh, and Restac in slight unease.
"A-And what might that be?"
"Your execution."
"Yeah, I was hoping for something better," I grumbled as I was released from the table and immediately grabbed by the guards.
I was a bit wobbly on my feet at first but got the hang of it as they restrained my arms behind me and started leading me through their cave system.
"Could you at least let Mo go?" I asked, earning a glare from the reptilian woman.
"No."
"Worth a shot," I muttered, eyeing the area. "Nice place though, all considered. Can I ask—Sorry, I don't know a lot about your people. Um, is there a reason you're all hiding down here? Other than the humans up above, of course."
Restac hissed in warning but Malohkeh was willing to speak up from behind me.
"Our astronomer predicted that there was a large planet mass heading for Earth. We built our homes underground and went into hibernation to avoid the inevitable destruction of the surface."
"Oh, smart choice," I noted, glancing over at him. "All of your people or just this group?"
"Everyone who heard," he explained. "Our tribe is one of many but depending on who was aware, it… it is possible we're the last ones left." He perked up a bit then. "But you mentioned seeing one of us on the surface, yes?"
Restac stopped at that, turning around in hope. "Others of our species have survived?"
"I… I'm not entirely sure. The Doctor would know more about that but um… it's, what? 2020? I swear I met someone in the Victorian Era. Nice enough, though that was some… two hundred, hundred-fifty years ago? Not sure if that helps."
"You're lying," she spat. "You apes have a far more limited life span."
"Yes, well, I'm a bit different in that aspect. You're welcome to believe what you like but she was doing well for herself. Had a wife, a job, a reputation. Pretty sure those Sherlock Holmes books might have been based on her." I stopped then, realizing something. "Oh, sorry. You wouldn't know them, would you?"
"Enough," she snapped. "My order still stands."
"Right, course," I muttered as we walked and Malohkeh hurried up from to stand alongside her. "Never mind the surprise you'll get later, I guess," I breathed out under my breath, not thrilled at the prospect of being executed.
Again.
We stepped into another room that was almost a glittering gold color with benches along the sides and a long table down the middle. I let out a whistle as Restac moved to the head of the table.
"Nice place."
"This is our court and our place of execution," she stated and I hummed.
"Still. Nice. I've seen far worse places to die. Least it's pretty."
"This is now a military tribunal. Go back to your laboratory, Malohkeh," Restac ordered and the two faced off, hissing at one another before he was nudged in the back by one of her soldiers.
"This isn't the way," he muttered but she didn't seem to care as he was led out and she eyed me.
"Prepare her for execution."
"Could I ask some questions while you tie me up?" I asked, allowing myself to be walked over to a column as they worked on chaining me to it. "Just a couple. My last words, if you'd like."
Restac hissed at me but didn't stop me so I figured why not.
"Is it quick?" I questioned, seeming to surprise her. "Not to act nonchalant about dying but I'm really tired of it. Hanging takes forever when it goes wrong. Drowning is slow, same with freezing. Burning is—"
"Burn with me."
"Burn the witch!"
"—Well, painful, as expected. So, just wanted to know if your execution method was quick, is all. Painless, preferred but death is rarely pain-free."
"You're mad," she scoffed and I shrugged, making my chains rattle.
"Jury's out. Need a therapist to confirm but they're hard to come by. Um, other question? Do I at least get to see my partner before you execute me? You can contact them, can't you? The humans and him up above ground. Not to sound needy but he's better at this sort of thing than I am."
"Enough," she spat, silencing me as the guards lined up and aimed their weapons, before she stepped back to the head of the table and a greenish hologram appeared. "Who is the ape leader?"
"Oh, hello!" The Doctor chirped, looking rather pleased. "Been wondering when we'd hear from you."
"Do you understand who we are?" She questioned, eyes sharp.
"Yup! Got it all worked out. You're Silurians! Better yet, you look rather like Alaya. You and she, what is it, same genetic source? You must be worried but don't be. She's safe."
"We have ape hostages," Restac informed him and his smile fell.
"We're aware and one of them is rather close to me. I do hope they're unharmed." His smile returned then, the view of the screen having expanded to show me. "Ah, Fallon! Still in one piece then?"
"Sort of," I complained. "Very much not pleased though, I'll have you know. There's a rather large misunderstanding going on with the drill thing. Oh, and Mo is totally fine, by the way. Might need some therapy but who doesn't these days."
"Oh, thank god," someone breathed in the background as the Doctor grinned.
"Excellent! We know about the drill debacle as well. Apologies for that. The people here didn't exactly know you were down there," he explained. "Now, let's negotiate, shall we? Our friends, my partner, for Alaya and perhaps even safe passage to restoring peace between your species and humanity."
Restac hissed. "Show me Alaya. Show me, and release her immediately unharmed, or we kill your friends. Starting with your precious partner."
I rolled my eyes. "If I die again, Doctor, we're really going to need to start up a counter or something."
"You're not going to die, Fallon. Look, I'll show you Alaya but I don't want anyone harmed, understand? I'm trying to give you an equal trade here and I'm a man of my word, but if you harm them, there will be problems for everyone."
"Don't threaten me, ape," Restac snapped. "Show me Alaya."
He sighed but the screen was shifted and carried down some stairs into a cellar of some kind where a similar reptilian woman was chained in the shadows. Restac let out a breath of relief as Alaya turned to face the screen, looking equally happy to see her companion.
"Restac."
"Alaya, we will bring you home."
The screen turned away then, back to the Doctor as he moved them back upstairs.
"Right. We've both seen the hostages are safe, now let's discuss this."
"Return Alaya this instant and we will release a hostage," Restac offered but the Doctor shook his head.
"No, see you have three hostages. We want them all returned and in exchange, I'll give back Alaya but I want to negotiate to prevent further misunderstandings like this happening again."
"A hostage for a hostage," Restac argued. "We will not negotiate with apes any further than that."
"That's not really fair though," I countered, earning a hiss from Restac as she whipped around toward me. "They didn't touch a hair—scale? On Alaya but you went and had Mo and I dissected. They deserve compensation for that!"
"Dissected!" The Doctor shouted in shock as I glared at him.
"Yeah, thanks for that, by the way! Oh, let's have a nice vacation in Rio. Just kidding, here! Let me drop you in a hole to have some Homo reptilian poke around your insides for science!"
"Enough!" Restac shouted again, making me huff. "We will release two hostages for Alaya then. That is all."
"Two? But which ones?" Someone worried about in the background. "What about Elliot?"
"Just give me a minute to think, Ambrose," the Doctor scolded, rubbing at his forehead. "What can I offer you for all three? There has to be something. As it is, we have to work out what will happen when you all wake up. The entire surface is fully populated with humans. There will have to be negotiations regarding peace and how to share the planet."
Restac bristled angrily. "We will not share the planet! The apes have no claim to it!"
"They kind of do, actually. In any case, I can help you broker peace between species. You can accept that because otherwise, they will fight back."
"Release Alaya, now, or no deal with be given to anyone," Restac said as the Doctor sighed heavily.
"Fine. Fine! But I want the exchange entirely peaceful. No one moves on either end. We will have her at the door of the church and you will send up the hostages. No guards, no guns. We release her, you release them and they trade positions. Is that acceptable?"
"I agree to your terms," she said, not sounding pleased as she turned to one of the guards. "Release the male and the young one." She turned back toward the screen where the doctor was staring back coldly in understanding. "The female stays."
"Lucky me," I grumbled, letting out a huff as we waited for the return of Alaya.
It didn't take long, thankfully, for Alaya to walk in; she and Restac sharing relieved looks and a muttered conversation before the Doctor interrupted from the hologram screen.
"Hostages have been exchanged, now what do we need to do to get Fallon and stop this from happening again?"
Restac turned to eye me, a hiss echoing through the room before she smirked and turned back to the screen. "Negotiations are over. She will be executed as a message for the human race."
"No, no! Restac, we don't need to do this!" The Doctor shouted, the worry evident in his voice as I tipped my head back with a sigh.
"Aim!"
The guards lifted their weapons as the Doctor continued to shout.
"Don't do this! Stop!"
"Fire!"
"Stop!" Someone shouted as I braced for the inevitable pain to ripple through me, but thankfully no shots came as the regally dressed reptilian stepped into the room with Malohkeh. "You want to start a war while the rest of us sleep, Restac?"
"The apes are attacking us," she argued.
"You're our protector, not our commander, Restac. Unchain her," he ordered and the guards looked to Restac for answers.
"I do not recognize your authority at this time, Eldane."
"Well, then, you must shoot me," he said and she hissed in annoyance, shooting me a look before storming over to Malohkeh.
"You woke him to undermine me."
"We're not monsters. And neither are they," Malohkeh argued.
"What is it about apes you love so much, hm?"
"While you slept, they've evolved. I've seen it for myself."
"We used to hunt apes for sport. When we came underground, they bred and polluted this planet."
"Shush now, Restac," Eldane said, stopping her argument for now. "Go and play soldiers. I'll let you know if I need you."
"You'll need me, then we'll see. Alaya, let's go."
The two stepped out with the guards as Malohkeh approached and unchained me.
"Apologies," he muttered, glancing slightly over his shoulder. "Restac has always been a bit… brash."
"Humans might have done the same thing," I offered with a small shrug, rubbing my raw wrists. "I'm just glad nothing happened to any of the hostages on either side. Things might have been more complicated if they did. Ah, best get back to the Doctor then. He'll have a right fit if he thinks I'm dead again."
Malohkeh blinked. "Again?"
"Yeah, remember how I said I'm a bit different from humans?" I grimaced a bit, shifting uneasily since my body felt a little off still after the dissection. "Let's just say that Restac wouldn't have been happy if she'd killed me and I popped right back up again. It's really unpleasant."
"You can't die?"
"Oh, I can," I argued, lightly frowning down at my ruined shirt and begrudgingly pulling my coat closed for decency. "Just over and over again, which isn't fun. Genetic quirk, if you must know. Just…" I shot him a small frown. "Don't get any ideas. I've been tested on enough for a lifetime, thanks."
"Fallon! Fallon!" The Doctor shouted and I rolled my eyes in annoyance, moving past Malohkeh so he could see me again on screen.
"Shut up, would you? I've got a right headache and your screaming isn't helping."
"You're alive! Did they—"
"No, but I don't think this mess is going to be an easy fix. Restac was sort of shooed off by a, uh… leader, I guess."
Eldane smiled politely and stepped into frame. "My apologies for our military commander. There are only so many of us awakened at a time such as this. However, I do not wish to start an avoidable war. I feel our people and yours have experienced enough of that for some time."
The Doctor relaxed, visibly relieved. "Yes. Yes, most definitely. There's quite a bit that needs to be discussed."
"That there is. I will send up transport if you'd like. Face-to-face is always for the best."
"Yes. Yes! That'd be perfect."
Eldane nodded and I sighed heavily, bringing a hand up to my head and dropping onto the bench at the long table in the center of the room. Malohkeh was still eyeing me and I gave him a tired look before lightly waving at him.
"Go on. Ask away."
He smiled, hands pressing together in front of him eagerly. "When you say a genetic quirk, what is it exactly that prevents you from dying? How do you return to life? What if it was a gruesome death or one where you were not fully whole? Ah—" He cut himself short, realizing how that must sound. "Sorry. I didn't mean…"
"It's fine. I appreciate brutal honesty and like I said, I've been a scientist. I'll answer whatever you want so long as there's no more playing with my insides."
He chuckled awkwardly as I smiled and chuckled a little myself and we sat down to discuss my immortality.
The Doctor was more than eager to see Fallon again and his Tardis—who had decided to fall down into the Silurian tunnels before he could even consider using her to fetch his missing partner. A tingle went up his spine, still unused to thinking that way about Fallon but it sent a warm bit of joy through him which only improved when he and the others made it to the courtroom where Fallon was waiting. He smiled upon seeing her chatting amicably with one of the Silurians before the leader of the group stood to greet them.
"Welcome. You must be the Doctor. I am Eldane."
The Doctor grinned, taking his offered hand and shaking it vigorously. "Yes! Oh, yes. Lovely to meet you. This is Amy and Rory Pond, say hello, Ponds," he urged, making them offer small awkward waves. "And this is Nasreen and Mack."
Nasreen was smiling, rather excited to meet the creatures though Mack was more hesitant and looking a bit pale. The Doctor leaned past Eldane though, smiling over at Fallon who caught his look and raised a brow.
"Making friends, are we, Fallon?"
"If you could call discussing the finer details of my immortality with the man who dissected me 'making friends,' sure."
The Doctor's smile fell, gaze hardening before Fallon rolled her eyes and got up. She cut off his view of the man and lightly placed a hand on the Doctor's cheek, kissing his other cheek to pull his eyes away from the nervous Silurian.
"Behave. He's actually very nice and it was the most pleasant dissection I've ever had."
The Doctor wrinkled his nose. "I hate that. Don't say that."
"Then, stop glaring at him like you're going to dissect him next. He's a scientist. You'll like him."
The Doctor didn't look convinced, gaze flicking down toward her buttoned-up coat in concern before she lightly took his hand and tugged him over to the table.
"Now, I got you this far. Discuss peace, please. I'd rather not have this happen again in the future. Knowing my luck and the Doctor's driving, we'll walk right back into it."
"Rude," the Doctor huffed but led her to sit again and moved to the head of the table to get things going. "I'd say you've got a fair bit to talk about."
"How so?" Eldane asked, curious himself as to what had been going on while he'd been hibernating.
"You both want the planet. You both have a genuine claim to it."
"Are you authorized to negotiate on behalf of humanity?"
"Me? No. But they are," he said, pointing at the group of humans sitting across from Eldane.
"What?" Nasreen questioned as Amy stared at him in shocked disbelief.
"No, we're not."
"Course you are. Amy and Rory Pond, Nasreen Chaudhry, and Tony Mack speaking for the planet? Humanity couldn't have better ambassadors. Though I suppose you have a claim too, Fallon, given you've been on Earth the longest."
Fallon waved a hand in front of her face. "No, no. Don't drag me into this. I could care less who the planet goes to so long as I'm not dissected again.
"You heard her," the Doctor chirped, giving Amy and Rory a smug grin. "Come on, who has more fun than us?"
Amy got up then, heading for him in unease. "Is this what happens, in the future? The planet gets shared? Is that what we need to do?"
"Uh, what are you talking about?" Nasreen questioned.
"Oh, Nasreen, sorry. Probably worth mentioning at this stage, Amy, Rory, Fallon and I travel in time a bit."
"Anything else?"
Fallon raised a hand. "I'm immortal."
Nasreen stared at her in shock as the Doctor continued.
"And there are fixed points through time where things must always stay the way they are. This is not one of them. This is an opportunity. A temporal tipping point. Whatever happens today, will change future events, create its own timeline, its own reality. The future pivots around you, here, now. So do good, for humanity, and for Earth."
"Right. No pressure there, then," Amy complained as Nasreen hesitated.
"We can't share the planet. Nobody on the surface is going to go for this idea. It is just too big a leap."
"Come on. Be extraordinary."
Nasreen grumbled at him but gave in and joined Amy at the table.
"But they're lizard people," Mack argued.
"Silurians," the Fallon corrected. "And trust me when I say you lot are already sharing the planet with other alien species without even knowing it. What's one more?"
"See?" The Doctor chirped, pleased with himself. "Okay. Bringing things to order. The first meeting of representatives of the human race and Homo Reptilia is now in session. Ha! Never said that before. That's fab. Carry on. Oh, you know, humans and their predecessors shooting the breeze. Never thought I'd see it."
Fallon rolled her eyes with a sigh, getting up and grabbing his arm. "I'm just going to remove him for a bit or you'll never get anywhere."
The Doctor pouted but allowed himself to be pulled out and into the hall where Fallon stopped, running a hand through her hair and taking a heavy breath that was cut short with a grimace. Immediately, the Doctor was on alert, squeezing her hand in concern as he remembered the fact that she'd been dissected and could be in pain.
"Are you alright? Should I go get something?"
"No, no. I'm fine. Body's just… adjusting," she grumbled. "It's not the first time I've had people messing about in there. Probably just phantom pain. Or, not pain, exactly. Just feels like they're still there."
He hated the thought and immediately felt a hint of guilt. "I'm sorry. I should've made contact with them sooner. I should've—"
Fallon shot him an annoyed look as she covered his mouth. He knew what the look meant even without her saying anything and he lightly sighed as she lowered her hand. He reached around her and pulled her close, feeling her stiffen before relaxing as he rested his head on the back of her shoulder; interlocking his fingers over her stomach where he knew the scar from the dissection lay.
"I just… I don't want you to have to go through something like that. Not ever."
Fallon hummed as well, leaning back into him a bit. "You and I both know there's always a chance. That, and neither of us would do well trying to hide away from it all and live a boring normal life."
He tightened his hold slightly at the mere idea of such a thing. "We'd have to buy a house."
"And pay a mortgage," Fallon teased with a smile, enticing a groan from him before she lightly patted his hands on her stomach. "Come on. We should head back."
He tightened his hold, not wanting to leave just yet and she rolled her eyes.
"They're going to get suspicious if we stay too long."
"Let them," he murmured, lifting his head off her shoulder to kiss her cheek. "They can think what they want."
"Over nine hundred years and you still act like a horny teenager?" She joked, shooting him a look as he pouted.
"I can be mature," he argued, earning a small snort of disbelief from her before he let her pull away; keeping hold of her hand. "I'll only go as fast as you're comfortable, Fallon."
She paused but nodded, knowing that she wasn't aware of how fast or slow she wanted to go with their relationship herself. The Doctor knew this and knew she had her past trauma she needed to deal with as well, and was willing to wait as long as she needed. He didn't want to push her into leaving, so he would let her make the first moves. And for now, she's uncomfortable doing things for too long. We can work on it. He squeezed her hand as they headed back to find negotiations going rather well.
"Not bad for a first session. More similarities than differences," he noted, getting smiles all around before there were the sounds of several footsteps heading their way.
Fallon went stiff, tugging the Doctor back toward the table as the room filled with Silurian soldiers; all armed and ready as they surrounded the group.
"What is the meaning of this?" Eldane demanded to know before Alaya and Restac stepped in themselves, eyes sharp.
"Military people," Fallon grumbled quietly. "Always looking for a fight."
Restac hissed at her angrily. "Alaya was told that the drill is to resume in fifteen minutes and you want us to trust these apes?"
"What?" Nasreen gasped, looking at Mack who eyed the table in front of them uneasily.
"What choice did I have? They had Elliot."
The Doctor though, turned to Amy. "I thought I told you to watch them!"
"I did! Sort of," she muttered, looking uneasy herself now. "They must've been covering for each other or something."
"They weren't around when the screen cut out," Rory noted and the Doctor groaned, having been too distracted by his concern for Fallon at the time to have noticed anything either.
"This is our planet," Restac hissed, gesturing for her guards. "Execute them!"
Weapons went off and Fallon cursed, grabbing the Doctor and pulling him back away from the weapons as he dug through his coat and shouted.
"Back to the lab! Run!" He pulled out his sonic, using it to ruin their guns. "This is a deadly weapon! Stay back!"
"Doctor!" Fallon snapped, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him after the others who'd already started running.
"Take everyone to the lab. I'll cover you," the Doctor ordered Amy and Rory, giving Fallon a glance. "You too."
"No way in hell," she huffed as he cracked a small smile before pulling the sonic out again and holding it up as Restac, Alaya, and the other guards rushed around the corner.
"Ah, ah, Stop right there or I'll use my very deadly weapon again. One warning, that's all you get. If there can be no deal, you go back into hibernation. All of you, now. This ends here."
"No," Restac snarled. "It only ends with our victory."
"Like I said, one warning."
He used his sonic again, sparking out the final weapons, and hurried into the lab with Fallon, locking the doors. "Right. Malohkeh, keep your eyes on that screen. Let me know if we get company. Amy, keep reminding me how much time I haven't got," he said tossing her a watch that was counting down.
"Okay. Um, uh, twelve minutes till drill impact."
"Tony Mack. Sweaty forehead, dilated pupils. What are you hiding?" He asked, flicking him lightly on the forehead before he pulled open his shirt to reveal green veins creeping across his chest.
"Tony," Nasreen breathed. "What happened?"
"Alaya's sting. She said there's no cure. I'm dying, aren't I?"
"You're not dying, you're mutating," the Doctor corrected.
"How can I stop it?"
"Malohkeh?"
The Silurian perked up, heading over himself and having a look. "Decontamination program might help."
"Doctor," Fallon called out, having taken over Malohkeh's job as he helped get Mack set up in the chamber he'd need. "There's a lot of them heading our way."
"So, question is, how we do stop the drill given we can't get there in time? Plus, also, how do we get out, given that we're surrounded?" The Doctor questioned, thinking up an idea and looking at the woman beside him. "Nasreen, how do you feel about an energy pulse channeled up through the tunnels to the base of the drill?"
"To blow up my life's work?"
"Yes. Sorry. No nice way of putting that."
"Right, well, you're going to have to do it before the drill hits the city, in uh…"
"Eleven minutes forty seconds," Amy chimed.
"Yes, squeaky bum time."
"Don't say that," Fallon chided the Doctor as Nasreen pointed out another issue.
"Yes, but the explosion is going to cave in all the surrounding tunnels, so we have to be out and on the surface by then."
"But we can't get past Restac's troops," Rory added.
"I can help with that," Eldane spoke up, eyes sad. "Toxic Fumigation. An emergency failsafe meant to protect my species from infection. A warning signal to occupy cryo-chambers. After that, citywide fumigation by toxic gas. Then the city shuts down."
"You could end up killing your own people," Amy breathed and he nodded solemnly.
"Only those foolish enough to follow Restac."
Even the Doctor was uneasy about it. The situation rang too familiar to what he himself had to do.
"Eldane, are you sure about this?"
"My priority is my race's survival. The Earth isn't ready for us to return yet and we aren't ready either."
"No."
"Ten minutes, Doctor," Amy called out before the Doctor continued.
"But maybe it should be. So, here's a deal. Everybody listening. Eldane, you activate shutdown. I'll amend the system, set your alarm for a thousand year's time. A thousand years to sort the planet out. To be ready. Pass it on. As legend, or prophesy, or religion, but somehow make it known. This planet is to be shared. I'll send a message up to Elliot too. I'm sure he'd be happy to help with that."
"Nine minutes, seven seconds."
"Yes. Fluid controls, my favorite," the Doctor sang as he got things set up. "Energy pulse. Timed, primed, and set. Before we go, energy barricade. Need to cancel it out quickly."
"Fumigation pre-launching," Eldane informed as Rory came over with a hint of unease.
"There's not much time for us to get from here to the surface, Doctor."
"Get ready to run for your lives," he said with a grin. "Now—"
"But the decontamination program on your friend hasn't started yet," Malohkeh informed him and Mack spoke up.
"All of you can go. Just let my family know."
"Tony," Nasreen murmured as the Doctor nodded and Eldane started up the fumigation.
"They're going," Fallon announced, eyeing the screens. "Halls are clear."
"Okay, everyone follow Nasreen. Look for a blue box. Get ready to run," the Doctor said, giving Eldane one more look. "I'm sorry."
He nodded in understanding. "I thought for a moment, our race and the humans…"
"Yeah, me too."
"Doctor, we've got less than six minutes," Amy added and Fallon reached out, giving Malohkeh a pat on the shoulder.
"I live a long life, Malohkeh. Next time we see each other, do keep the dissecting to a minimum."
The Silurian smiled and turned, hugging her and pulling back; hands on her arms.
"Take care of yourself, Fallon. You and your partner."
She nodded with a fond smile before hurrying out only to see Nasreen talking with the Doctor. She wanted to stay with Tony and the Doctor hesitated but eventually let her as Amy hurried back and rushed them along. Rory rushed by them as Amy got him running in the right direction again. The Doctor got the Tardis doors opened, taking his watch back from Amy.
"Five minutes and counting," he announced, turning and losing his smile at the sight of a large crack in the wall across the way. "Not here. Not now. It's getting wider."
"The crack on my bedroom wall," Amy breathed, recognizing it as well as Fallon frowned.
"And like the one back on the ship with the angels."
"All through the universe, rips in the continuum," the Doctor murmured, kneeling close to it. "Some sort of space-time cataclysm. An explosion, maybe. Big enough to put cracks in the universe. But what?"
"Four minutes fifty. We have to go," Amy warned him but he wasn't listening.
"The Angels laughed when I didn't know. Prisoner Zero knew. Everybody knows except me."
"That's great, Doctor," Fallon said shortly, reaching out and grabbing his shoulder lightly. "You can spend plenty of time trying to work it out later."
"But where there's an explosion, there's shrapnel," he said, pulling out a rag and heading for the crack.
"Doctor!" Fallon snapped as Rory tried to stop him too.
"Doctor, you can't put your hand in there."
"Why not?" He said with a smug grin, reaching in with a cry of pain. "I've got something."
"What is it?" Amy asked as he tumbled away from the crack, getting grabbed by Fallon as he eyed it.
"I don't know."
"Doctor?" Rory called out uneasily as someone crawled into view.
It was Restac with one last weapon.
"She was there when the gas started," Amy realized. "She must have been poisoned."
"You," the Silurian snarled. "You did this."
"Okay, get in the Tardis then, all of you," the Doctor warned, drawing his sonic but she didn't point the weapon at him. Restac pointed it at Fallon and right as the woman went to spit out a curse at her rotten luck, she was pushed.
"Fallon!"
Her eyes went wide as Rory took the full hit of the blast as Amy screamed his name and rushed to his side. Fallon was staring at him in shocked disbelief as he clutched at his chest with cries of pain.
"Rory, can you hear me?" The Doctor questioned, knelt at his side as well and sonicking him.
"I don't understand," Rory questioned as Amy shushed him.
"Shush. Don't talk. Doctor, is he okay? We have to get him onto the Tardis."
"We were on the hill," Rory continued. "I can't die here."
"Don't say that," Amy murmured.
"You're so beautiful. I'm sorry."
His body went slack then as Amy's eyes welled up with tears.
"Doctor, help him," she demanded but his gaze drifted to the tendrils of light that had reached Rory's ankles from the crack.
"Amy, move away from the light. If it touches you, you'll be wiped from history. Amy, move away now," he ordered, but she didn't move.
"No. I am not leaving him. We have to help him!" She snapped as the Doctor came up behind her and grabbed her shoulders.
"The light's already around him. We can't help him."
"I am not leaving him."
"We have to."
"No!"
"I'm sorry."
"Get off me!"
"I'm sorry," the Doctor repeated as he pulled her into the Tardis, pushing her away from the doors and locking them behind them.
His eyes met Fallon's then as she stared at Amy pounding away on the doors, and he wished he had the few seconds to tell her this wasn't her fault but he needed to get the Tardis out of there. If the light touched his ship, there would be far worse consequences.
"Let me out. Please let me out. I need to get to Rory." She moved to a screen showing the light racing out for Rory outside. "That light. If his body's absorbed, I'll forget him. He'll never have existed. You can't let that happen."
He took a steadying breath before pulling the final lever to send them off, making her head for him.
"What are you doing? Doctor, no! No! No! No!" She screamed, getting grabbed by Fallon to stop her from hitting the controls and she fought hard against the woman. "This is your fault! That should've been you! You can't even die anyway! You should've been hit, not him!"
"Amy enough!" The Doctor snapped, pulling her away from Fallon and trying to get her to focus. "Keep him in your mind. Don't forget him. If you forget him, you'll lose him forever."
"When we were on the Byzantium, I still remembered the Clerics because I am a time traveler now, you said—"
"They weren't part of your world," the Doctor argued, tears clogging his throat as well as he took her face in his hands and begged her to remember Rory because he wasn't sure what he'd do if she didn't. "This is different. This is your own history changing."
"Don't tell me it's going to be okay. You have to make it okay," Amy demanded.
"It's going to be hard, but you can do it, Amy." he kissed the top of her head, leading her to the jumpseat as he spoke to her frantically, wanting to help her keep her memories of the man she loved. "Tell me about Rory, huh? Fantastic Rory. Funny Rory. Gorgeous Rory. Amy, listen to me. Do exactly as I say. Amy, please. Keep concentrating. You can do this."
"I can't," she breathed then, calming down significantly as she struggled to keep hold of those memories slipping through her fingers like grains of sand.
"You can. You can do it. I can't help you unless you do. Come on. We can still save his memory. Come on, Amy. Please," the Doctor begged, seeing it in her face.
She was losing him.
"Come on, Amy, come on. Amy, please. Don't let anything distract you. Remember Rory. Keep remembering. Rory's only alive in your memory. You must keep hold of him. Don't let anything distract you. Rory still lives in your mind."
The Tardis jerked to a stop then, throwing them to the ground as Fallon caught herself on the railing nearby. A little red box tumbled off the Tardis console, drawing the Doctor's gaze before Amy popped up; all traces of grief gone.
"What were you saying?"
They were gone, the Doctor realized. All memories Amy had of Rory were gone.
"Doctor, five seconds until it all goes up," Amy informed him and he hurried out of the doors of the Tardis just in time for him and Amy to watch the drill explode and collapse.
"All Nasreen's work just erased," Amy hummed as Fallon slowly emerged from the Tardis.
"Yes. Yes, it's a shame, isn't it?" The Doctor murmured. "Could you do me a favor and go let Elliot and the others know what they need to do for the future? The emergence of the Silurian race and peace in a thousand years to come."
"Sure thing. What will you be doing?" She asked, seeing his gaze shift to Fallon and Amy cracked a smirk, elbowing him. "Ah, gotcha. You get 'em, tiger."
She bounded off across the graveyard to go find the family as Fallon stepped up beside him somberly.
"She doesn't remember… does she?"
"No," the Doctor murmured and she pulled a hand through her hair.
"It's my fault. If I'd been paying attention—"
"No," the Doctor said firmly, grabbing her by the arms and drawing her uneasy gaze to him. "No. He chose to be heroic. A-An idiot of a hero but he chose to save you one more death and if you had been the one to fall…" His throat grew tight. "Fallon, I don't know what I would have done."
"I don't even belong in this universe," she breathed.
"But you have made an impact. Every second of every day you are here, you are influencing this universe like you wouldn't believe, and being here with me is… it's everything. And yes, perhaps this is just me being selfish but just this once… just this one time, I want to hold tightly to something and never let it go. Doesn't the universe owe me that much?"
Her expression crumbled slightly, showing a hint of the raw emotions she always tried to keep under wraps. "I-I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he said quietly, pulling her toward him as they held each other tight. "There was nothing we could have done. All we can do now is keep her happy and hope she remembers, and none of that is on you." He pulled away and softly kissed her, brushing a thumb over her cheeks. "We'll do it together. Nice quiet trips. No dissections."
Her lip twitched up lightly at the tease, though it fell quickly as she nodded and leaned into his hand.
"Together."
