Disclaimer: See Chapter One!
Chapter Two
The Doctor and his companions were enjoying spending time with Duncan, Amanda, Richie, Natasha and the Barton Family. They enjoyed playing games and enjoying activities in the festival. Even Nathaniel won first prize at his age group's costume contest while Cooper won second prize at his age group's costume contest.
"If I was aware that this place had a costume contest," Tegan confessed, "I would have went to get me a costume."
"It was a short notice, Tegan." the Doctor told his Australian companion, "That we are here that is."
"I get that much." Tegan huffed in response. Natasha and Richie were showing public display of affection while waiting for Lila.
"Ewww, gross," Nathaniel stated.
"Come on now, Nate," Laura told her youngest son, "you might get into girls before you know it."
"I don't think so," Nathaniel crossed his arms.
Adric finished his slice of pizza that Lila had gotten for him.
"So, how did you like it?" Lila asked.
"I think it was pretty good." Adric answered, "I never knew what pizza was before coming here and I really like it."
"Welcome to the club!" Cooper exclaimed.
"We should go into groups to go to different activities." Lila suggested.
"I do not wanna leave Mommy." Nathaniel insisted, grasping Laura's arm.
"I will stay with Nate and do activities with him." Laura told the others, "What about the rest of you guys?"
"Can we go on the hay ride, Mom?" Cooper asked.
"Only if someone goes with you." Laura answered.
"Richie and I will go with you." Natasha chimed in before looking at Laura, "You know, just to be sure he is safe."
"That's fine with me," Richie smirked, "I need some fresh air."
"How about Nyssa and Tegan go with you guys as well?" the Doctor suggested.
"Great," Tegan groaned to Nyssa, "Just what I need. Dealing with hay on my skin."
"It does not sound like a bad idea though." Nyssa replied.
"That sounds like a good idea." Laura smiled, "What about the rest of you?"
"I will be at the cafeteria getting something to drink." Lila announced.
"Amanda and I will join you," Duncan told her.
"Yeah," Amanda nodded in agreement, "I am kinda thirsty myself."
"Can you get me and Nat a Coke?" Richie asked Duncan, "we'll want something to drink when we get back."
"Fine," Duncan sighed, annoyed.
"All right." Laura nodded, "Stay there until the rest of us get back. The Doctor, Nathaniel and I will be back at the Kiddie Golf."
"What about you, Adric?" the Doctor asked his young companion. Adric looked over to see a door glowing an eery shade of purple next to where the curtains were located.
"Adric?" the Doctor called.
"Shouldn't somebody go in that room with you?" Nyssa asked.
"Yeah," Duncan stepped forward, "Maybe I should..."
"I can take care of myself!" Adric insisted before going inside the glowing door, "I will meet with Lila at the cafeteria when I am done."
"If you say so." the Doctor sighed before everyone went to their destinations.
Duncan had a feeling something wasn't right, but he wasn't sure how he would bring it up to the others, so he decided to let it slide for the time being.
-The-Host-Remastered-
Adric looked to see a room that looked like a normal office for a Physical Education teacher. It had a desk, desktop computer, a few equipment and a couple of chairs. Next to the computer was another table. That attracted the Alzarian's attention as he was unaware that the crystal that was containing Aefriol's essence was under the desk.
"What is a second table doing here?" Adric asked aloud.
"Pardon me, sir." a voice called from behind. Adric was startled as he turned to see the woman behind him, "Sorry to have scared you, but I was wondering something."
"Um, sure." Adric quickly replied, "But first, what is your name?"
"Prumiva, my dear boy." the woman answered, "I am needing your help here carrying this desk to the corner of the room, if you please."
"Sure. I will be glad to help you."
Adric was unaware that he was being ensared by Prumiva into becoming the new host for her master Aefriol as he walked in front of the desk. Prumiva was at the opposite end of that table, appearing as she was going to lift the table with him.
Adric touched the end of the table and then the black essence of Aefriol went inside the young boy, entering through his mouth, nose and ears. He stumbled onto the wall close to him, groaning in pain.
"What...what is this?" Adric asked in pain.
"Why, my dear boy," Prumiva smiled an evil smile, "you are about to become the new host to my master Aefriol."
"What?!" Adric exclaimed in disbelief, "No! No, please!"
He then saw visions that were quite unpleasant. First he saw visions of many planets, including the planet Earth being conquered by the dark power. Then he saw a vision that were of him, but not really him. Evil and ruling over the many planets in the galaxy, then eventually the whole universe.
"No! Please!" Adric groaned in agony, "I do not want to be like that! Not me! Please, not me!"
"There is no use in fighting dearie." Prumiva cooed at the boy, "You would lose your mind, your sanity, if you even tried to fight Aefriol and his control over you."
Not too long after that, Adric eventually gave in and Aefriol completely taken over his body as he slowly rose up in his new body, his new vessel, his eyes glowing a vicious red in contrast to Adric's brown eyes.
"I am here," Aefriol declared, "at last! I shall begin my conquest over this universe. Well done, Prumiva."
"Thank you, master." Prumiva knelt before her master, "I have done my best."
"Now we shall begin." Aefriol cackled as Prumiva joined him.
"So," Aefriol asked Prumiva, "Were you able to get the artifacts?"
"I...I have been stranded on this planet for a long time since the exile master," Prumiva answered with a slight stutter, "I...I have not been able to."
"That does not matter." Aefriol replied, "I shall do it myself. I am sure that I will find a transport somewhere that will take me to where the Mystic Blade is..."
"Adric!"
The two evil beings looked at each other before looking on in dismay.
Aefriol snarled at the voice, "That voice. I recognize that essence. It is the Doctor!"
"That time lord is the reason that we are in this exile along with the rest of our cult that was killed." Prumiva stated, "Including my love Daerian. What will we do about him?"
"Adric!"
"We will take care of the Doctor," Aefriol instructed, "in the meantime you wait for me. I will send you a telepathic message to let you know where. I will also obtain a beautiful female to be my queen as I rule this universe while I find a transport back to Mylithos where the Mystic blade is located."
"What about your conquest starting on Earth?"
"Adric!"
"A new change of plan. My conquest will start on Mylithos just as it was supposed to a long time ago. Now go! Before the Doctor finds you!"
"Yes of course, master."
With that, Prumiva vanished from sight.
"Adric!"
Aefriol changed his voice to Adric's voice and formed his sinister red eyes to Adric's innocent brown eyes, "I am over here, Doctor!"
The Doctor spotted "Adric" close by as Richie, Nyssa, Tegan and Natasha were with him and Duncan, Amanda, Laura, Nathaniel, Lila and Cooper were not too far behind them.
"Where were you?" the Doctor asked the being he believed was still his young companion as he was unaware what happened to him, "You said that you would meet Lila at the cafeteria after you got done visiting that room next to the curtains."
"I lost track of the time." Aefriol lied, "I do apologize."
"It is not a big deal." Lila insisted, "Besides, I can name numerous times that Cooper and I lost track of time ourselves."
"Yeah." Richie added, "All that matters is that Adric is safe and nothing has happened to him, right Doc?"
"You are right you know," the Doctor replied, "and kindly refrain from calling me Doc!"
Natasha snickered in response.
"You do not like to be called that?" Cooper asked.
"I am the Doctor," the Doctor bluntly answered, "and none of you here in this area are Bugs Bunny!"
"That sounds fair," Aefriol replied before noticing Tegan tending to her arms, "What happened to you?"
"My arm got scratched by that hay," Tegan answered, "I swear, this is the last time that I am ever gonna go on a hay ride and I mean it!"
"Hay can do that to you," Natasha chided.
"Not to mention," Nyssa stated, "some of the children were spitting during that hay ride."
"Which was very disgusting!" Tegan exclaimed in anger and disgust.
"It was Pre K and younger grade school kids that did all that gross spitting," Richie replied.
"You weren't the one getting all the hits from those children!" Tegan exclaimed.
"It is raining a bit now." Nyssa announced, "so I assume that they are going to call off the hay ride and the rest of the outdoor activities at the festival."
"I think that we should be heading back home." Laura suggested, "Doctor, you and your friends are more than welcome to stay with us for tonight. We have plenty of room at our house."
"I am up for it." Natasha replied, "Thanks Laura."
"I am as well," Richie nodded in agreement.
"That sounds great," Amanda grinned.
"Joe is not expecting us back until tomorrow night," Duncan stated, "so, I guess we can stay the night."
"Excuse us a moment," the Doctor told the group before he, Nyssa, Tegan and Aefriol grouped together.
"Well," the Doctor asked, "What do you guys think?"
"Well..." Nyssa began.
"I think it is a great idea, Doctor." Aefriol answered, "it will give us some time to rest. It is a great idea."
"That is what I was about to say." Tegan scoffed in annoyance.
"Well," Nyssa stated, "Adric is not wrong. We do need to take some time off considering our encounter with the Mara recently, among other things."
Aefriol eyed Nyssa, admiring not only her beauty but her intelligence that he could sense as well. She would make the perfect queen for his universal domination. Next, he would have to isolate her from the Doctor as well as the others to snare her into his trap.
"We will be glad to spend the night with you, Mrs. Barton." the Doctor told Laura.
"That is great." Laura replied, "We should be heading home then. My van has enough room for all of you."
"That is great to hear." Tegan replied, "In fact, the best news I heard all evening."
"I agree," Duncan nodded in agreement, "Let's get out of here."
The Highlander looked over at Aefriol with concern and some suspicion, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," Aefriol nodded, "I'm fine."
-The-Host-Remastered-
Adric gasped as his eyes snapped open as he found himself in a dark room. He had no idea where he was as the evil being Aefriol has taken over his body. He slowly rose up and looked around his surroundings, trying to come to terms of what was going on.
"Is anybody there?" Adric asked as his voice echoed in the background, "Hello? Doctor? Doctor, are you there? Nyssa? Tegan? Anyone?"
He heard growling in the background. The black ground slowly turned to a purplish ember color, where faceless beings with long fingers that looked like claws slowly emerged. Adric looked at another section to see the Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Natasha along with the Barton Family and it looked as if they were leaving the school.
"Doctor!" Adric called for his friends, "Doctor! I can see you! Doctor? Tegan! Nyssa! Can you guys hear me! Doctor!"
The beings began to come closer to the Alzarian as they were chanting, "Feel our power. Be in us. Feel us. Be in us. Conform to us."
"No! Help me!" Adric cried out in fear as the faceless beings came closer to him, "Please! Somebody help me! Doctor!"
The young boy was unaware that the Doctor had heard him, albeit in his mind. At first, the Doctor thought it was only his imagination because he saw "Adric" before him but as Adric's voice was shouting in the Time Lord's mind, the Doctor began to suspect that something was not right with Adric and he would be in for a surprise to find out what that would be.