Chapter 9 - School Reunion | Part Two
Disposing of the body had been awkward, the silence was still thick, with everyone keeping their questions to themselves…for now.
After a quiet confirmation that they would meet in front of the school tomorrow, the group split off. The car ride to Sarah Jane's was silent, all three lost within their own thoughts.
When they finally arrived at her house, the Doctor offered to take K9 inside, and Sarah let him, watching after him as he went, with K trailing silently behind him.
Once inside she got some tea prepared, she didn't expect to be sleeping tonight, and she knew for certain the Doctor wasn't going to. K had already been directed to the guest room, and she hoped the child would get some sleep.
She found the Doctor in the living room looking through a magazine she had spread about the end table. He looked up at her entrance and took the tea gratefully.
"Thank you." He said setting it on the table, Sarah went over and sat in her armchair, holding her own tea, and letting it settle.
For a few moments neither said a word, the silence was only broken when the Doctor sighed, "sorry about that."
Sarah let a small smile grace her, "it's alright." She set her tea down, "though it does seem that things have gotten a lot more…lively since I was last with you."
At that he looked up, "it was lively when we were traveling."
She smiled again, "yes, but I don't think I recall incidents such as earlier occurring very often." The Doctor opened his mouth but then gave a slight nod of admission. Sarah watched as he picked up his tea taking a sip. "Though, I am afraid my curiosity cannot be dissuaded…who is he? Benedict? I can't imagine he is human." She said, and the Doctor puffed a laugh.
"You'd be surprised." Her eyebrows lifted and he let out a breath, "well, not really." He set the tea down and scratched the back of his neck, "I don't…really know fully what he is. All I know is that he is the same as the creature that powers the Tardis."
"Creature?" Sarah prompted, her brow furrowing.
The Doctor nodded, "yes, apparently, all this time the Tardis has been a sentient creature from a race that my people enslaved. She is Benedict's sister." Sarah blinked and sat there for a moment.
"The time-lords…they…"
"Yes…and this was even before the war." He scratched the back of his neck, "It's only been a little bit since Benedict has joined us…and the only reason he hasn't killed me…" he paused, and Sarah looked over at him.
"Doctor?"
"He…said something odd." He muttered, and she waited for him to continue, "when he was ranting…he said that he couldn't get justice for his people because he couldn't kill the remaining parts of the species that wronged them…" he trailed, and Sarah paused.
"But you said everyone died."
"I did…because they did." He slumped back in his seat, brow pinched.
Sarah stared at him a moment before pursing her lips, "and…he said that was your fault."
That pulled the Doctor from his thoughts as he looked over to her, he let out a breath. "Yes, he did."
"Why?"
"I think you know."
That made Sarah purse her lips so he sighed and continued, "the time war happened. It…it was really bad Sarah…there was no end to it. Creatures…monsters beyond human comprehension…sometimes beyond time-lord comprehension were there. It would have been the end of everything if even just one escaped." He clasped his hands together, intertwining his fingers. "I had to stop it. There was going to be no winner, just the annihilation of everything. It would have raged across the universe destroying everything in its path."
The words hung for a moment before Sarah swallowed, "so…you killed them all."
There was only a beat before the Doctor nodded ever so slightly. Sarah stole a breath, "Doctor." He didn't look up, "listen, you said there was no end to it, that it would have destroyed everything. You did the right thing." She said, her voice soft but earnest.
"…it was…everyone Sarah." He whispered, "there was…is…no one left."
"He shouldn't have shoved that into your face." She said firmly, but he sighed and closed his eyes.
"No, he was right. I want…I want…" he swallowed, "I don't know what I want."
Sarah gazed at him for a moment, she knew what he was going to say, but this was already a lot, she wasn't going to push him. She'd process all of this later.
"You said that Benedict was in the Time-war." She said, and his shoulders slumped with relief before he nodded.
"That's what he said, and I'm inclined to believe him. I don't know what…or who he was, if he was even of great note, but I know he was no friend to my people."
"Yes, I got that sense as well." She paused, "and the boy? How does he fit in all this?"
The Doctor let out a breath, "K-130…the last of the Kaled species."
"Kaled?"
"The Daleks, before they were Daleks." He rubbed his face, "I don't know too much about him, or what's going on there. He joined us just before we came to earth." He explained and Sarah let out a breath with a shake of her head.
"My, you have your hands full this time around, don't you?"
He let out a breath and gave a slight shrug of admission. For a moment there was silence.
"Are you going to go after him?" She asked, and the Doctor sighed taking a sip of his tea.
"Probably. After this is over, I'll find and speak with him." He paused a moment, "you should get some sleep."
She gave him a smile, "so should you."
But neither went to bed. Instead, the rest of the night's conversation shifted between reminiscing and discussing what tomorrow would entail.
It was…nice.
To say the Doctor was surprised when he saw Benedict waiting in the parking lot would be an understatement.
However, he decided that he wouldn't make a big deal of it and instead just continue. Sarah followed him, along with K as he approached Benedict.
Rose and Mickey soon joined; they spared the entity apprehensive looks, but the Doctor instead pressed on.
"Rose, Sarah, and K, you go to the Maths room. Crack open those computers; I need to see the hardware inside." He fished into his coat and pulled out the sonic, "here, you might need this." He handed the sonic to Sarah. "Mickey," the man stood up straighter as the Doctor addressed him. "Surveillance. I want you outside." He said, and Mickey frowned.
"Just stand outside?" He asked as the others started heading to the school. Sarah turned back tossing her keys to Mickey who caught them easily.
"Here, take these you can keep K9 company." She said, and the Doctor glanced over his shoulder.
"Don't forget to leave the window open a crack." He called back, Mickey's brows furrowed.
"But he's metal!" He cried, only for the Doctor to face the school again.
"I didn't mean for him."
Rose easily fell in step with him, "what're you going to do?" She asked, and the Doctor stole a breath.
"It's time Benedict and I had a word with Mister Finch."
That earned a glance from Benedict who had once again resumed wearing his blindfold. However, he didn't respond.
"Where is he?" The Doctor asked as they watched the two women and K head off to the maths department.
Benedict glanced around a moment, "the swimming pool."
The Doctor gave a nod and headed off in that direction, Benedict paused a moment gazing at his back before following.
The walk to the gym was silent, neither party willing to be the first one to bring up the incident from the night before. Though the distance Benedict kept between them indicated that he sensed the tension.
When they finally arrived, they found Finch standing on the opposite side of the pool directly across from them. His eyes swept over them and hardened momentarily at the sight of Benedict.
"Who are you?" The Doctor said, his voice bouncing off the walls of the massive room.
"My name is Brother Lassa. And you?" The man answered smoothly.
"The Doctor, and you've already met Benedict." He paused, "since when did Krillitanes have wings?"
Finch stole a breath, "It's been our form for nearly ten generations now. Our ancestors invaded Bessan. The people there had some rather lovely wings. They made a million widows in one day. Just imagine." A smile pulled at his face. The Doctor, however, did not share the sentiment.
"And now you're shaped human."
The man gave a shrug, "a personal favorite, that's all."
"And the others?"
Finch paused a moment, "My remaining brothers remain bat form. What you see is a simple morphic illusion. Scratch the surface and the true Krillitane lies beneath." He paused and tilted his head, "and what of the Time Lords? I always thought of you as such a pompous race. Ancient, dusty senators, so frightened of change and chaos. And of course, they're all but extinct. Only you. The last." He said, the Doctor, however, didn't want to go into all that. He'd had enough conversations about his past recently.
"This plan of yours. What is it?" he asked, and Finch tilted his head back.
"You don't know."
"That's why I'm asking."
Finch smirked, "well, show me how clever you are. Work it out."
"If I don't like it, then it will stop." He said firmly, and Finch let out a breath.
"Fascinating. Your people were peaceful to the point of indolence. You seem to be something new. You consort with a violent beast whose thirst for blood overtake his mind." He said, and the Doctor heard Benedict scoff under his breath, he decidedly ignored it. "you have already thrown the first stone, would you declare war on us, Doctor?" He asked, an edge in his voice.
The Doctor couldn't help but sigh, "I'm so old now. I used to have so much mercy. You get one warning. That was it." He said firmly, he felt Benedict's gaze on him but he kept his fixed on Finch.
The Krillitane however just smiled, "despite your transgression, I too shall show mercy. We don't have to be foes, as soon, you will embrace us. The next time we meet, you will join with me. I promise you."
Sarah Jane was crouched before one of the cabinets, trying to get the sonic to work as Rose leant against one of the desks and K sat in one of the chairs swinging his legs. He had mentioned that this must've been the room because it was hurting his head. Rose promised they wouldn't be in here long.
"It's not working." The older woman huffed, and Rose sighed with a roll of her eyes as she came over.
"Give it to me." Sarah relented and handed it over as she stood, stepping back from the computer. Rose took her place and began to sonic the device.
"Used to work first time in my day." Sarah said with a breath, and Rose huffed.
"Well, things were a lot simpler back then." That hung in the air for a moment, K stopped looking around and instead watched the two women in his company.
"Rose, can I give you a bit of advice?" Sarah asked finally, and Rose couldn't help but sigh.
"I've got a feeling you're about to." She muttered more then said, Sarah pressed on.
"I know how intense a relationship with the Doctor can be, and I don't want you to feel I'm intruding." She explained, only for Rose to stand and round on her.
"I don't feel threatened by you, if that's what you mean." Her eyes flickered over the woman, trying to discern intention.
"Right. Good." Sarah nodded, "because I'm not interested in picking up where we left off." She said, only for Rose to huff.
"No? With the big sad eyes and the robot dog? What else were you doing last night?" She challenged, "offering your place to the Doctor?"
"I was just saying how hard it was adjusting to life back on Earth." She said, "and all we did last night was speak about Benedict and the time war." Rose set her jaw before smirking.
"The thing is, when you two met they'd only just got rid of rationing. No wonder all that space stuff was a bit too much for you."
Sarah scoffed, "I had no problem with space stuff. I saw things you wouldn't believe."
"Try me." Rose said tilting her head back.
"Mummies."
Rose scoffed, "I've met ghosts."
"Robots. Lots of robots." Sarah countered.
"Slitheen, in Downing Street." She smirked.
"Daleks!" Sarah said, and K jolted where he sat.
"Met the Emperor." Rose said.
"Daleks?" K's voice cut in as Sarah opened her mouth, the two women froze slowly turning to face him.
"K…I…"
But K's brow furrowed, "the Doctor said the Daleks were all gone. He said I was the last."
"I…you are, I met the Daleks and the Emperor…before they were all gone." Rose explained, she probably shouldn't mention that it was her and the Tardis that had destroyed an entire armada of Daleks.
They were going to have to address that at some point…weren't they?
"Oh…" K said, "okay." He turned his attention to his wrapped hands, picking at the bandages. Rose pursed her lips before turning to Sarah who also pulled her attention from the boy.
For a moment both women stared at each other, and Rose sighed, "listen to us. It's like me and my mate Shareen. The only time we fell out was over a man, and we're arguing over the Doctor." Sarah tilted her head in admission, and Rose paused, "With you, did he do that thing where he'd explain something at like, ninety miles per hour, and you'd go, what? and he'd look at you like you'd just dribbled on your shirt?" she asked, and Sarah let out a laugh.
"All the time. Does he still stroke bits of the Tardis?" She asked, and Rose laughed.
"Yeah! Yeah, he does." Then she shook her head, "now it's twice as bad though! With Benedict around they both just coddle and argue over the treatment of the Tardis." She laughed, "honestly, they bicker like two angry cats. I swear they're about to start hissing and clawing at each other if I look away for too long!"
Sarah laughed in turn, and just as she did, said time-lord and entity entered the room.
"How's it going?" The Doctor asked, but the two of them turned to him and Benedict and let out another burst of laughter, now bent over and holding their stomachs. The Doctor frowned, "What? Listen, I need to find out what's programmed inside these." He said, but the women were reaching hysterics, "what?" They still didn't respond, "stop it!"
"I think your humans are broken." Benedict muttered.
When they both had finally calmed, they informed that they hadn't really been able to get into the computer, so the Doctor took back his sonic and began to work through the system itself.
"Benedict, keep an eye out, make sure we know where the Krillitanes are." He said, and Benedict grunted in return, but nothing more.
Rose, who was still a bit winded looked between the two men, Benedict was leaning against the desk arms crossed and the Doctor was at the computer trying to go through it. She glanced to Sarah who met her gaze and lifted both brows, her lips pressed together.
Tension ran like an undercurrent beneath them.
Without a word exchanged, the women split, Sarah going over to the Doctor and Rose stepping up next to Benedict. The entity didn't look at her, but she knew he knew she was there.
"I was surprised to see you here this morning." She ventured, her eyes sweeping the barren classroom. Tack holes and some residue sticky tape informed of a time when this had been a normal math room. But with the computers lining every desk well it hinted at the very stark contrast between then and now.
"I almost didn't." He said, and Rose blinked looking up at him, "but I was convinced otherwise."
For a moment the human paused, "by the Tardis?"
That hung in the air for another moment, "sure."
Rose couldn't help but watch him for, that felt…weird. Wrong somehow. He agreed…but she felt like…he didn't, not really.
However, before she could press him further, the door opened a crack, Rose jolted before going over and holding the handle and preventing the child from further entering.
"No, no." She said to the children who now looked confused, "this classroom's out of bounds. You've all got to go to the South Hall. Off you go. South Hall!" She called after the children as they started to wander off, murmuring to each other. Once they were gone she shut the door and after locking it, turned back to find Benedict watching her.
"What?"
He hummed, "nothing." Then he went back to looking around. "The others have dropped their illusion. Whatever plan they have is being put into motion." He paused, "they just devoured the other staff."
"Shit." Rose hissed before going over to the Doctor. "We don't have much time. They just killed the other staff."
The Doctor, who now had wires looping around his shoulders and neck huffed a breath. "I can't shift it." He said, and Sarah frowned.
"I thought the sonic screwdriver could open anything!"
The Doctor huffed, and sat back on his heels, "anything except a deadlock seal." He scratched at his head, "there's got to be something inside here. What're they teaching those kids?" He asked, and Benedict looked back at him before huffing and coming over.
Everyone watched but he didn't say a word, he crouched down next to the Doctor, and removed his blindfold, the time-lord tensed but Benedict directed his attention to the computer system. His brow furrowed. Sarah stared wide eyed at his eyes and Rose did her best not to get fixated again.
"What do you see?" The Doctor finally asked, though his voice and posture were tense.
"This system has been extensively modified." He muttered, "the tech attached to it has been fused with human technology." His head tilted, his iris' nebulas shifting toward a bluer hue rather than the normal purple. "It's starting up a program."
"What program?" The Doctor asked, while Rose's attention was pulled to the computers as they began to hum with life. Her eyes fell to K who winced she took a step over to him.
"Why don't you go over to the door and keep an eye out? Make sure no one is coming." She offered and he looked up at her before nodding and heading over to the door, waiting by it.
"It's a decoder." Benedict said, just as the screens blinked on, they were illuminated by a green hue as unknown symbols began to flash on the screen before them.
"But what is it decoding?" Sarah asked as Benedict stood, putting his blindfold back on.
Symbols continued to flash on the screen rapidly, spinning and rotating as they did. As they rotated between the symbols, Benedict started to frown, and the Doctor's eyes widened.
"No. No, that can't be." He breathed.
"Dammit." Benedict hissed; fangs bared for a moment. Sarah and Rose looked at them.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Rose asked.
Mickey had been sitting in the car, contemplating where his life went array to lead him to this place, when by chance he glanced up, only to find a child banging on the double glass doors of the school. He jolted and got out of the car, quickly heading over.
The child said something, but the barrier of glass between them obscured what it was.
"What?" Mickey asked, taking a step closer. The child also stepped up and tried to speak through the split between the two doors.
"They've taken all the children!" He said, and Mickey's eyes widened, he tried for the doors but found they were locked.
"Shit." He hissed before looking up at the school, what happened to everyone inside? No, he needed to figure out something here.
"Wait there!" He said to the kid before running back to Sarah's car, once inside he turned to K9. But the bot was turned off, with a breath Mickey started pushing buttons.
"Come on, I need some help." He said before huffing and slamming his fist onto the bot's head. That, for some reason, started K9 up. His head lifted as the machinery began to hum.
"System restarting. All primary drives functioning." He announced and Mickey let out a breath.
"You're working! Okay, no time to explain. We need to get inside the school. Do you have like, I don't know, a lock picking device?"
"We are in a car." He said helpfully.
"Maybe a drill attachment?" Mickey asked.
"We are in a car."
The human huffed and slumped back in his seat, "fat lot of good you are." He grumbled.
"We are in a car." K9 repeated, and Mickey paused before straightening.
"Wait a second. We're in a car." He then leaned out of the car and looked to kid, "get back!" He shouted, and the boy tilted his head but took a few steps back.
"The Skasis Paradigm. They're trying to crack the Skasis Paradigm." The Doctor said, but Sarah frowned.
"The Skasis what?" She asked, but it was Benedict who spoke before the Doctor could.
"These fuckers are trying to become gods." He said with a scoff, the Doctor spared him a glance before turning back to the women.
"It's called the God maker. The universal theory. Crack that equation and you've got control of the building blocks of the universe. Time and space and matter, yours to control."
The explanation made Rose blink, "what, and the kids are like a giant computer?"
"Yes," the Doctor looked back at the computer. "And their learning power is being accelerated by the oil. That oil from the kitchens works as a, as a conducting agent. Makes the kids cleverer." He explained and Rose's brow furrowed.
"But that oil's on the chips. I've been eating them."
The Doctor raised an eyebrow at her, "what's fifty-nine times thirty five?"
Rose blinked, "two thousand and sixty-five." Her hands covered her mouth, "oh, my God."
Sarah shook her head.
"But why use children? Can't they use adults?" She asked, and the Doctor scratched the back of his neck.
"No, it's got to be children. The God maker needs imagination to crack it. They're not just using the children's brains to break the code, they're using their souls." He explained, and K jolted from where he stood looking back at them.
"The headmasters coming."
Not even a few moments later the door opened, K took several stumbling steps back, Finch spared him a look but then turned to the Doctor.
"Let the lesson begin. Think of it, Doctor. With the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the universe and improve it."
The Doctor scoffed at the proposal, "oh yeah? The whole of creation with the face of Mister Finch? Call me old-fashioned, but I like things as they are." He said, and Finch sighed.
"You act like such a radical, and yet all you want to do is preserve the old order? Think of the changes that could be made if this power was used for good."
"What, by someone like you?" He challenged him but Finch just gave him a smile.
"No, someone like you. The Paradigm gives us power, but you could give us wisdom. Become a God at my side. Imagine what you could do. Think of the civilizations you could save. Perganon, Assinta. Your own people, Doctor, standing tall. The Time Lords reborn." He said, and the Doctor froze, Benedict's hands however, curled into fists.
"Doctor, don't listen to him." Sarah said, but Finch just smiled at her.
"And you could be with him throughout eternity. Young, fresh, never wither, never age, never die. Their lives are so fleeting. So many goodbyes. How lonely you must be, Doctor. Join-"
He was cut off by a barking laugh, everyone froze and turned to look at Benedict, the entity was grinning.
"Bold of you to assume I would ever let something like that happen." He snapped, and Finch bristled.
"And who, the hell are you to be so brazen?" He demanded, and Benedict rolled his eyes.
"Like I would regard you with what I am." Then he turned to the Doctor, "I can see it on your face, snap out of it." He pointed to Finch, "he will betray you, regardless of whether you are involved or not, he wants power, control, he'll placate you but when he tires of you, he'll be rid of you and then where will we be?" He set his jaw, "the time-lords tried to play god, and remember how that worked out? Are you really going to be like them?"
The Doctor looked at him his brows furrowed, "but I can save everyone, I can save your people…my people." He said, and Benedict huffed.
"No. You can't, and even if you could, what are you going to take away their free will as well? You think all the time-lords will just sit back and chill at the concept of you being a god and able to control everything? This will do nothing but result in the total loss of free will, or a whole new nightmare of a reality. Stop thinking with your fucking hearts and use your head. No matter what comes of them cracking that code it will be nothing good."
The two watched each other for a few long moments. Before the Doctor nodded with a breath, "you're right." He rested his hands on the back of one of the desk chairs. Before grabbing it and chucking it at the large screen at the front of the room. Everyone but Benedict jolted. "Out!" He said and the women reacted first running for the door, Rose grabbed K's hand and pulled him out with her. However, Benedict grabbed the Doctor's arm.
The time-lord turned to him, "Benedict we have to go."
"We can't leave this program here." He said, and the Doctor blinked before looking at the computers and nodding.
"Find us when you're done." Benedict gave a nod before releasing the Doctor and crouching before the computer.
The Doctor headed for the door exchanging a glance with Finch before he left.
"You'll never get into that." Finch said smugly, and Benedict stole a breath before standing.
"You saw what I did to your brother. I know you did. And he was in an advanced form compared to mine. I don't want to get into more problems, so I'm choosing not to kill you. Walk away, or I'll change my mind." He said, and Finch examined him a moment before stealing a breath and going to the door.
"You won't get into it in time anyways." Then he left the room. Benedict stole a large breath, muttered a curse before getting back to work.
Mickey didn't know if Sarah Jane would be mad about the damage done to her car, but in the moment, he figured that the children in danger were of more importance.
At least, that's what he told himself as he plowed the vehicle through the front doors of the school.
The glass shattered, metal bent, and the car was most certainly damaged, but it accomplished what it needed to.
Shoving open the door, Mickey pushed himself out of the car and let out a cough at all the dust kicked up by the purposeful crash. "Come on!" He beckoned the wide-eyed child.
With the child following it didn't take long for Mickey to cross paths with everyone again.
"What's going on?" However, no one got the chance to answer, as the sound of screeching got them moving again.
Rose caught up with the Doctor after a bit of effort, "where's Benedict?" She asked, and he spared her a glance.
"He's trying to disable the program." He said and she blinked.
"Won't they try and stop him?"
From behind Mickey scoffed, "based off last night, I think he'll be fine."
They rounded the corner and came to a halt as Finch walked toward them from the opposite end of the canteen. Hovering around and behind him were the bats.
"Are they my teachers?" Kenny breathed from where he stood, the Doctor winced.
"Yeah. Sorry."
The time-lord paused a moment to count how many Krillitanes were there. One had been killed by Benedict, so that left twelve…but only ten were present.
He must've sent some after Benedict.
"We need the Doctor alive. As for the others? You can feast." Finch said, and the Doctor was almost tempted to pull out one of Benedict's curse words as the Krillitanes dived for them.
The Doctor ushered Kenny under the table before joining him. The bats were dive bombing them and landing on the ground, intent upon dragging them out from under. The time-lord spared a glance around and found that everyone had also ducked under the tables.
But just then a laser went off, striking one of the Krillitanes and instantly felling them.
Everyone froze, the Doctor leaned out from under the table and spotted K9 the same time that Sarah did.
"K9!" She called, and the bot turned to her.
"I suggest you engage running mode, mistress." He said, and the Doctor got out from under the table.
"Come on!" He called, and after he reached the doors, he made sure everyone got through before turning to the robot.
"K9, hold them back!" He ordered, and the dog briefly turned to him.
"Affirmative, master. Maximum defense mode." He said, before the hum of his machinery grew louder and he started 360 rotating in place and firing at all the Krillitanes that surrounded him.
The Doctor nodded and shut the door, using his sonic to seal the lock before taking off after the others.
After he caught up with the group he let out a breath.
"It's the oil. Krillitane life forms can't handle the oil. That's it! They've changed their physiology so often, even their own oil is toxic to them. How much was there in the kitchens?" He asked, turning to Rose, she stole a breath.
"Barrels of it."
The Krillitanes began to batter at the door, ramming it with their bodies.
"Okay, we need to get to the kitchens." He turned to the man amongst them, "Mickey."
The man sighed, "what now, hold the coats?"
"Get all the children unplugged and out of the school." Mickey straightened in surprise before nodding, "now then, bats, bats, bats. How do we fight bats?" He wondered, only for Kenny to pause and go over to the fire alarm. He opened the compartment before setting it off.
A shrill ring started causing the Doctor to wince, but it made the Krillitanes stop banging on the door.
The group took the opportunity to head off.
Mickey headed for the math classrooms. He ran to the first one, only to stop at the sight of carnage…
And Benedict held his ears and crouched in the middle of the blood and bodies.
Mickey hesitated a moment, and debated moving on, he had a job to do, and Benedict seemed fine, he didn't really want to be around-
The alarm cut out, and Benedict slacked where he sat, Mickey took a small step back-
"The program is off, the children are in the other room confused." he said with a heavy breath, wiping his blood covered hands on his pants.
Mickey nodded with a thick swallow, "y…yeah, I'll…I'll go and do that." He stammered before taking off down the hallway once again.
He knew the Doctor often invited dangerous situations, and people but that man…was something else.
Once inside of the kitchens, and having retrieved K9 from the canteen, the Doctor held up his sonic and directed it toward one of the barrels, but there was no response.
"They've been deadlock sealed. Finch must've done that. I can't open them." He huffed, and just as he spoke Benedict walked in, his clothes stained with blood, his hands tinted red. For a moment they balked at him.
"Benedict are you-"
"I'm fine. Jackass Finch sent two flying freaks at me. The program is shut down, Mickey is getting the children." He explained, the Doctor paused but nodded.
"Right," he turned to the barrels, "we're gonna use this to get rid of the bats, they can't tolerate their own oil anymore." he said, keeping his gaze away from Benedict.
He could feel him watching him.
"So, we're gonna kill them." It wasn't a question.
"They left us with no choice." He said in response, there was a pause for several beats.
"I see." Then he went over to the barrels and examined them. The Doctor watched him. "I can try and brute force these open, but it might take a minute."
"The vats would not withstand a direct hit from my laser, but my batteries are failing." K9 said, pulling all attention to him. There was a beat before the Doctor nodded.
"Right. Everyone out the back door, Benedict?" He asked and the entity turned to him.
"What?"
"I need you to help me arrange the barrels. Everyone else out." He said, and after a moment they nodded. K, Rose, and Sarah left through the back door leaving K9 and Benedict.
The two aliens began to grab ahold of the barrels and arrange them in a line so if one blew the others would quickly follow suit.
"Capacity for only one shot, Master. For maximum impact, I must be stationed directly beside the vat." K9 said as they finished setting up the barrels. The Doctor turned to him blinking.
"But you'll be trapped inside." He paused and turned to Benedict, "can you-"
"I can only transport one thing at a time, and while I can do others aside from myself, I have to be in the same space as them, without barriers." He said before the Doctor could ask.
The time-lord glanced at the door and walls of the kitchen, there were no windows. He then turned back to K9.
"I can't let you do that." He said, but K9 rolled closer.
"No alternative possible, Master." He said, and the Doctor crouched down, his hearts heavy.
"Goodbye, old friend." He said putting a hand atop his head. He felt Benedict watching him, but his attention was on K9.
"Goodbye, Master." The bot said, and the Doctor let a ghost of a smile pull at his face.
"You're good dog." He knew it didn't matter, but he still pet the top of his head, unable to keep himself from smiling as he saw his antenna tail wag.
"Affirmative."
With a nod, the Doctor stood and turned to Benedict, the entity said not a word, just exited through the backdoor, the Doctor followed before turning around and sealing the door with a deep breath.
"Where's K9?" Sarah asked as she came up next to him. He turned to the others, not directly facing her.
"We need to run." Rose and K nodded, but Sarah stepped closer.
"Where is he? What have you done!" She demanded, he instead grabbed her hand and pulled her along, despite her realized horror she still followed.
Inside the kitchen Finch and the other Krillitanes entered.
"When you find him, eat him if you must, but bring me his brain." Finch said before spotting K9. "The little dog with a nasty bite. Not so powerful now, are you?" He asked, only for K9 to turn his laser to the barrels. Once fired, it had just enough power to break through the metal exterior and reach the oil inside. The first barrel exploded, quickly followed by the others. Oil sprayed everywhere, harmlessly hitting K9 but burning the Krillitanes. The burst from the laser had also triggered a fire that was spreading very quickly.
Mickey had ushered all the children out of the school and into the yard, "Come on, guys! Let's go, let's go! Run!" He called, and the children followed, scattering into the front yard.
Back where the Krillitanes were burning, Finch snarled at K9 from where he lay sizzling from the oil.
"You're a bad dog!" He shouted at him, and K9 rotated to face him.
"Affirmative."
Then the school exploded.
Outside the children turned to watch their school explode in a ball of flames.
"Yes!" Kenny shouted and after he spoke the rest of the children began to cheer loudly.
Melissa went over to him, "Did you have something to do with it?" She asked and Kenny blinked, turning to her.
"Yeah, I did."
Melissa gasped at the admission, she turned to the other children, "oh my God. Kenny blew up the school! It was Kenny!" She said, and the other children began to cheer and shout his name, crowding around and congratulating him.
A bit away from the group however, things weren't so cheery. Sarah watched the explosion with wide eyes, the Doctor seeing this approached her.
"I'm sorry." He said, his voice soft.
Sarah glanced at him and sniffed trying to compose herself, "it's all right. He was just a daft metal dog. It's fine, really." Her voice broke at the end as the tears forced themselves out, the Doctor easily embraced her, holding her as the woman cried.
The others watched silently.
The Tardis had teleported out of the school in the nick of time, and it had taken Benedict to track it down to a park. Sarah had wanted a moment to herself, so she'd gone to collect her car while the others went back to it.
Benedict let out a breath as he entered the blue box, K trailed behind Rose and Mickey as they entered, and finally the Doctor as he closed the doors behind him.
"Sarah will be here in a minute." The time-lord said, and the others nodded looking worn out. The Doctor paused before stealing a breath and turning to Benedict, "I'd like to speak with you later."
"I'm sure you do." He responded dryly, "I'm going to go get cleaned up." With that he headed off and the Doctor pursed his lips before turning and opening the Tardis again, just to find Sarah there. He offered her a smile.
"Cup of tea?" He asked, and she smiled, before joining him inside.
Once she stepped in, she looked around with wide eyes, "you've redecorated."
The Doctor leant up against the railing, "do you like it?" He asked, and she turned to him.
"Oh, I, I do. Yeah. I preferred it as it was, but er, yeah. It'll do." She said, he couldn't help but pout slightly.
"I love it." Rose said, hopping over to join them. Sarah turned to her at her approach.
"Hey, you what's forty-seven times three hundred and sixty-nine?" She asked and Rose hummed.
"No idea. It's gone now. The oil's faded." She admitted, and Sarah smiled.
"But you're still clever. More than a match for him." She said with a soft tone, Rose smiled in return.
"You and me both." She looked to the time-lord, "Doctor?"
He straightened and then rubbed the back of his neck. "Er, we're about to head off, but you could come with us." He offered, but she gave a sad smile.
"No. I can't do this anymore. Besides, I've got a much bigger adventure ahead. Time, I stopped waiting for you and found a life of my own." She said determinately. The Doctor gave her a soft smile.
"Can I come?" Mickey asked suddenly, pulling all attention to him. Including K, who sat in the captain's chair watching them all. Mickey blinked and turned to Sarah, "no, not with you, I mean with you." He looked to the Doctor and Rose, stealing a breath. "Because I'm not the tin dog, and I want to see what's out there."
The Doctor pulled a bit of a face, grimacing at the idea, but Sarah elbowed him, "oh, go on, Doctor. Sarah Jane Smith, a Mickey Smith. You need a Smith on board." She said and the Doctor sighed.
"Okay then, I could do with a laugh." He relented, and Mickey grinned before it faded as he turned to Rose, her face anything but pleasant.
"Rose, is that okay?" He asked, and she let out a breath, arms crossed.
"No, great. Why not?" However, that earned Mickey no jubilation, he just rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
Sarah let out a breath sensing the tension, "well, I'd better go." She said, and headed for the door, but Rose stepped over as the Doctor exited first.
"What do I do? Do I stay with him?" she asked, voice soft. Sarah smiled at her and gently took her hand.
"Yes. Some things are worth getting your heart broken for. Find me, if you need to, one day. Find me." She encouraged, and Rose nodded. Sarah gave her one last smile before stepping out.
Once outside, she found the Doctor gazing around the park, she paused for a moment and looked at him before a ghost of a smile eclipsed her face. "It's daft, but I haven't ever thanked you for that time. And like I said, I wouldn't have missed it for the world." She said and he turned to face her.
"Something to tell the grandkids." She gave a wistful smile.
"Oh, I think it'll be someone else's grandkids now."
He blinked before giving a slight wince, "right. Yes, sorry. I didn't get a chance to ask. You haven't...? There hasn't been anyone? You know." He relented, unable to find a way to ask. She gave a knowing smile.
"Well, there was this one guy. I travelled with him for a while, but he was a tough act to follow." He smiled, and she stole a breath, "goodbye, Doctor."
But he shook his head, "oh, it's not goodbye." But Sarah stepped closer.
"Do say it. Please. This time. Say it." She begged, and he hesitated for a moment before letting out a breath.
"Goodbye, my Sarah Jane." Then he pulled her into a big hug, lifting her off her feet. For a moment they stayed like that, before he finally released her, gave one last smile before entering the Tardis again.
Sarah stole a breath and turned, she heard the Tardis dematerialize behind her and tried to resist, but she couldn't help herself and turned-
"K9!?" She gasped, the robot dog sat where the Tardis once was, and he rolled up to her in greeting.
"Mistress." He said and she crouched down as he approached.
"But you were blown up. How did he…?"
"The Master rebuilt me. My systems are much improved with new undetectable hyperlink facilities." He explained, though Sarah couldn't help but ponder when this happened, considering it had only been a few hours earlier that it had happened.
"Oh, he replaced you with a brand-new model." She said instead, and the bot whirred.
"Affirmative."
Sarah gave a wistful smile, "yeah, he does that. Come on, you. Home. We've got work to do." She said standing, and the bot's tail wagged in response.
"Affirmative."
And that's the end of School reunion, honestly I had planned for it to only be one chapter, but it kinda escaped my control. So it was split, the next chapter will be a shorter one, but a break between episodes. I hope y'all are liking things so far, my friend and I have lots of plans for this fic, and again, I want to reiterate a warning, there will be canon deviations, purely due to additional characters present. Some will be smaller, others larger in scale, but yeah. I like to keep things interesting for both me and you, so that means that not everything in each episode will be a one for one.
What do y'all think of Benedict? Of K-130? Or even my interpretations of pre-existing characters? What do you think the Doctor is suspicious about? Do you think it was unfounded? Or that Benedict is keeping more secrets then he is letting on? If you think he's still hiding stuff, what do you think it is? I'd love to hear your thoughts and theories!
Anyways, thanks again for reading! 3