I sit patiently in the Med Bay; the Doctor's form rummaging through draws gathering different tools as I twist one of my rings around my finger. The Tardis's words and apparition melded to my brain as I think over her words, 'The Phoenix will rise.' this is getting creepy, how many times now has that name come up? And what the hell did she mean by becoming whole again. Was this about her weird visions? After all her mind is the only fragmented thing about her that she knows of. She keeps her musings to herself though, looking up when the Doctors leather clad torso enters her peripheral vision. He holds a small machine that looked weirdly like those machines that are used for laser hair removal, I scrunch my brows as I look suspiciously at the device.
"This is a dermal regenerator, it'll heal the dermis layer of your throat; reduce the pain and hopefully ease your talking." he explains holding the device up to my throat after I nod, I feel the thing buzz as he glides it over my skin the pain is already reducing. "I also have a salve for the severe bruising, it'll speed up your healing about 3 times its usual speed so the bruising should be gone by the next few days." I nod, still not trusting for the pain to not come back if I spoke. He gently picks up the salve taking some on his fingers gently massaging it between his own fingers before tilting my chin up with a gentle nudge under my chin, I blush at the motion thankful for my head tilted away from him as he focuses on massaging the salve into my skin. His calloused fingers were surprisingly gentle as they glide across my smooth once creamy skin. Once done I look back at him my head still craning up to see him as he rises to his full height. He looks down at me with a stormy look in his eyes, a look I don't think I have seen before. It causes a fire to spark in my stomach causing me to shift slightly, it was full of unbridled emotion. I blush heavily looking down at my hands as the intense eye-contact becomes too much.
"Putting yourself in Rose's place was incredible dangerous, and stupid." he chastises after a moment of silence. I roll my eyes, great a lecture. "But also incredibly brave." he adds almost sensing the edge of an argument and saving himself magnificently.
"I- I couldn't just stand by and watch my friend get hurt." I input knowing I didn't need to fight for my case but felt as though I should. Thankfully my throat only stings at the usage. A dull ache does begin to form though. "Thank you Doctor."
"You're welcome little Star." he fondly replies, my heart skips a beat at the pet name.
"Little Star?" I question a small grin on my face as his ears tint red.
"Well if Jack can call you little moon then I think I can call you little star." he protests. I giggle nodding my head.
"Yeah I have no problems with it but, I go by Luna hence, little moon. Why little star?"
"Did you know that there is a Double Giant Star in the Ursa Major constellation named the Alula Borealis and Australis, the two stars orbit one called the Mizar. It was the first twin star to be discovered by earth orbiting another star. 27 light years away from your home planet. The Alula Borealis is similar to the sun in its composition but is smaller, used to be a brown dwarf." he cuts off his own tangent looking down at me, I watch intrigued at how his brain worked. "So little star." he adds a small smile of his own gracing his lips.
"I love it. I never knew I shared a name with a star." I grin, "Could we see it?" I request looking back up at him.
He grins nodding happily down at me, he lifts his hand gently placing it against my cheek. I lean into it slightly, a small blush across my cheeks which he brushes with his thumb. My eyes flutter closed to their own accords, the exhaustion of the day weighing down on me.
"Come on Doctor we need to get Margaret back!" Jacks voice echoes down the corridors of the Tardis, the serene moment shattered as the Timelord moves his hand away.
"Come along little star. Let's get Margaret to a nursery."
~1~
Kyoto in the 14th century is beautiful, if only we had the opportunity to truly enjoy the scenery. Thanks to the Doctor we are all running for our lives from Samurai soldiers since our designated driver can't keep his trap shut. I sprint down the road, slightly lost but following Jack as we had been separated from Doc and Rose; hopefully he knows where he's going. As we turn another corner the sight of a blue box enters our field of vision, I let out a relieved laugh my legs pumping faster as our escape is near, the soldiers behind us continue their pursuit calling out to us. We quickly enter, the doors falling open as we run in; Doc and Rose already in waiting for us and without skipping a beat the Timelord is whizzing around the console taking us away and back to the vortex. I fall back against the jump seat my heart beating wildly as we all relax in relief. I am never letting that man do the talking ever again.
Just as I open my mouth a bright white light enters the control room, the Tardis shuddering more violently than normal.
"Doctor what the fuck." I exclaim, rushing to my feet.
"Alula? Alula-" but before anything else could be said the bright white filled my vision, and then dark.
~1~
"Ugh. What the fuck did Jack let me drink?" I groan, my head throbbing as my sight slowly comes back to me. I roll over expecting my pillows only for my cheek to greet cold concrete. "What.." I trail off my eyes focusing, suddenly a pair of hands are on my helping me up. I struggle, shrugging the foreign hands off me as a young man comes into my view it takes a second for my brain to catch up with him speaking.
"You're going to feel a bit off, the transmat beam scrambles your head." he explains, I nod looking around uncomfortably in hopes to see a familiar face. Only I'm greeted with an odd room, the wall is covered in weapons ranging from hunting knives to shot guns. There are 7 other people in the room other than myself, each geared with camouflaged clothing, combat boots, and weapons. The same get up is thrusted into my arms as I'm directed to a divider for me to change behind.
"What is going on? Where am I?" I question, but am ignored. The only response I get is to change. I frown but concede, after all I'm significantly out numbered. The almost military gear fitted well, and I quickly return to the group of people. The group consisted of three women and four men, I slowly began nicknames for each of them based on their appearance. The men consisted of Nerd, Steroids, Accountant, and John Doe; each due to the fact that the guy with glasses who looked about my age and was secluded from the group fit the name, the man whose muscles were the size of my head, the man who had a very prickish sense about him and perfect hair and the dude that helped me up. John Doe was the only one I was interested in knowing his real name. The women on the other hand were harder, GI Jane, a woman who looked like she could kill me with her pinky; Preppy, a girl about my age who had her hair in a high ponytail and ribbon; and Old Lady, quite self explanatory. "Do you guys know what's going on?" I ask, looking over as they each grab weapons. GI Jane turns holding a hunting knife out to me,
"The transmat beam is making your head fuzzy it'll clear up soon." she states, before grabbing a shotgun off the wall and a box of cartridges. I nod, taking the knife and attaching it to my belt. Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something, or someone. I frown watching these people closely, why do we need weapons and where the hell am I.
"Final call! Everyone in positions! Prep the Droids." a man calls out, I look over to see a large film camera and lights which I must've missed in my previous disorientation.
Slowly, a pair of droids roll through the doors; their arms not arms but a gun and knife. I instinctively take a step back.
"Okay and rolling!" the man calls out. My eyes grow wide as the Droids activate, their electronic eyes glowing red.
"Welcome to The Hunted." my eyes grow wide. What? "Where we are the hunters and you are the prey." I look around my eyes wide as fear slowly trickles down my spine.
"What's going on?" I beg John Doe, he looks down at me with a weird look.
"You've been chosen." he replies as if it answered all my questions. I pull a face, I guess I'll just find out.
The droids continue talking, a prize for whoever makes it to a certain check point first. Apparently a couple obstacle courses and the droids chasing us are in between us and that reward. After a few moments I realise that this is a game show, a weird game show but still a game show. The Droids red eyes are fixed on us as we all are lined up in front of a large door that looks like a garage door, it slides open a lot like star wars and the Droids behind us start whirring.
"On the count, The Chase will begin. One. Two." they pause for dramatic effect, "Three, Hunt!"
Time seemed to move slowly as I watch the Accountant, Preppy and GI Jane tear out of the room; only Nerd and Steroids don't, Steroids turns to the teenager a regular revolver in his hands as he shoots him. The boy doesn't even cry out as his body hits the floor, a blood splatter on the wall. I let out a choked gasp, he just killed him. Like actually killed him. Only the even weirder part is that the boy's body disappears in a white bolt, his remains turning to dust. I unfreeze as the man turns to me, Old Lady and John Doe. Only for the Old Lady next to me to disintegrate. I turn in horror as one Droids arm is pointed in our direction, its gun smoking slightly like an old western movie. This causes me to sprint off, my legs never moving faster as I shoot out of the 'garage' room and into what looks like a forest. I skid under trees and over roots; sprinting away with a new speed as my gasps come out short. What the fuck.
~1~
I eventually remember everything, the Doctor, Rose and Jack the Tardis. Kyoto in 1336 and the Slitheen. And the reality of my situation causes my blood to go cold, it may only be myself here and I'm going to have to either rely on the Doctor finding me on time or win this game. I quickly found a large enough tree for me to hide in, I quickly scramble up the branches finding a thick enough branch that was high up but good enough that I can rest on. I lean my back against the trunk, relaxing slightly. I need to make it to the check point, the quicker I get there the quicker this game is over. I reach into the many pockets of the jacket that they gave me only to now realise that my name is stitched into the front of it. ALULA stares up at me as I furrow my brow. How, that means I'm meant to be here but I can't be. Deciding that my name on my clothes was the least of my worries I dig out a map, the 'garage' and checkpoint represented as two buildings. There are three different paths that are marked that the 'players' can take, all the while the Droids are chasing after us so we can't stop which is what I'm doing right now. With my break done and a new mindset I clamber down the tree and head off in the middle paths route direction.
If the beginning consists of at least two people getting killed I dread to think what these obstacles are going to do. I make my way my senses on high alert as I make sure no one tries to take me out of the competition early, who would have though this is what I'd be doing.
"I swear I saw her go this way." I hear a jumbled whisper, I quickly scurry to a bush crouching down and hiding. One good thing is that with the Doctor you learn pretty quickly how to be quiet. "Maybe she went down the other route." a gruff voice responds, through the bush I watch as Steroids and John Doe walk down the 'path' John Doe with a machete in his hand and Steroids a gun that looks a lot like a hunting gun. What the fuck. I breathe lowly, keeping my breaths slow and small as my heart thumps away. The pair walk past continuing down the path nattering away like old pals. Once I can't hear them I rise, sticking to the shrubbery as I creep after them; I can use them as test dummies on the path and obstacles I decide.
After a while the pair in front come to a long ravine, the gap between this side and the other too long to jump. An obstacle course consisting of swinging spiked rams and unstable bridges fills the gap. Whoever came up with this was either a Jumanji or Indiana Jones fan. A whole genre that the Doctor introduced me to whilst we were watching movies. I watch as the pair make their way across, leaping across three pillars like hop scotch and landing on a tilting plate that resembled a seesaw. I cringe turning away as Steroids slips, his shout searing into my brain and a crunch that I don't think I'll ever forget enters the clearing. With John Doe in the middle of the ravine gap I safely come out of my hiding spot, looking down to the bottom of the gap, only there is no mangled body, nothing at the bottom that I could see resembled a pancaked man. Did he disintegrate as well? I look up to see John Doe further down the obstacle course and with new courage I leap. I jump landing on the first pillar using my momentum to continue onto the second then the third. I pause looking at the seesaw, I steel myself. Taking a big breath I jump, my feet slipping slightly and I crouch down holding onto the sides of it as it tips under my weight. Once settled I walk slowly up the incline, reaching the middle I take three cautious steps forwards my arm out either side of me as it tilts forwards at the change of mass. I quickly make it to the end only to look at the next one and see it far too high for me. A platform that had the swinging things I needed to dodge, that one is all about timing but from where I am I can't reach it. It's too high. Damn it why wasn't I watching John Doe do it.
I walk back to the other end of the seesaw, watching at the end opposing me rises to the height needed for me to reach the next platform. Knowing what I needed to do, I step forwards preparing myself to sprint. Another good thing about space travel with a Timelord. You can run bloody fast. I sprint, passing the centre and climbing the incline with impressive speed if I can say. Just as the seesaw shifts beneath me I use my momentum to launch myself up and forwards, only I jumped too early and the platform is too far away. I reach out just about grabbing the ledge, hanging off of it as a grunt escapes my lips as my shoulders pull at the motion. I let out a relieved gasp, I made it. I swing one leg up using that to hoist myself up onto the platform. Thankfully the swinging rams of death were the easiest part, all about timing as I make it to the final obstacle a swinging bridge. John Doe was long since onto the other side and was watching me closely, a smirk on his face. I huff glaring at the man, as I step onto the bridge. Suddenly it starts swinging, back and forth. Even when swinging closer to the other side the gap was too large to simply step off. Timing was going to be everything as well as a good jump.
I let the bridge swing twice getting the rhythm, and as it hits its furthest away point I start running. The bridge swinging towards the other side. I reach the end and leap.
A loud grunt leaving me as I reach the ground, I collapse to the ground my knees buckling as I land. The breath is knocked out of me at my impact and I gasp rolling over to slowly rise. My eyes snapping over to John Doe who slowly claps his machete tucked under his arm.
"Well done. That was amazing." he states, his eyes no longer calm but cold and calculating. I glare, hauling myself and instinctively resting my hand on the hunting knife I was given. He follows the motion eyes tensing. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Oh yeah." I taunt tilting my head watching as he swings the machete.
"Yeah"
He lunges at me, a small yelp escapes me as I dive to the side. But he recovers quickly slashing at my open back catching the left side of it. I cry out spinning, the knife now in my hands as I lash out at him, catching his arm deeply. He hisses a weird grin on his face. He leaps at me, his arms holding the machete over his head as he aims to slash it down on me. With moves I didn't know I had I quickly slash his open torso, my legs moving of their own accords and taking his legs out from underneath him. He winces, a hand pressed tightly over his now bleeding torso. I just fucking sliced and diced him. I take a few steps back, the man in no condition to chase, only a buzzing noise fills the air; we both look to the side of the ravine we came from, a Droid hovering over it with its gun aimed on us. I take multiple steps back now, my chest heaving.
"No don't leave me. They'll kill me." John Doe cries out, I shake my head tears of my own filling my eyes. I quickly turn tail and run, flinching as a robotic voice calls out.
"Gotcha." a light flashes and the man shouts out.
"You killed me." before silence. I gasp out a choked breath, my feet racing following the path quickly. My knife clenched tightly in my trembling hand. I shake violently as I suddenly reach a building similar to the 'garage'. I scramble inside, a large button sits on the opposite end of the warehouse looking room. Preppy suddenly appears next to me, shaking herself as we meet gazes. Our eyes snap back to the button and we race off. I scramble, halfway there as we both sprint for our lives; only I'm paused by a familiar face on the right corner of the room, the door open and the Doctor stood shouting my name. My feet slow, in shock detouring towards him.
"Doctor!" I shout out in relief, Rose and Jack stood behind him. I head in his direction my feet faltering when the familiar buzzing of the Droid fills my brain. I spin, the Droid at the mouth of the room, time seems to slow as my head spins over to the button. Preppy's hand on it. My hair stands on edge as I slowly turn to the Doctor, the gap between us far to big even with him running at me.
"Gotcha!" I hear and the now familiar light fills the room. I meet the Doctors eyes tears rolling down my cheeks as I watch him shout out my name.
"NO! ALULA!"
A searing pain fills me and then nothing.