The Popstar from Hell

by skywardlink0897

For a while, Verosika had been on cruise control, Her day to day had become stale and uninteresting. but her life would take a turn for the better when a mad man with a blue box shows up at her front door.

3. Divine encounters

Waking up the next morning, Verosika found herself still dressed as she was last night, having been to exhausted to change before bed. Getting up, she made her way to bathroom to get a shower and change into some new clothes. As the hot water cascaded over her body, Verosika's mind started to clear. Memories of the previous night came back. The club, the dancing, the conversation... and that kiss. She closed her eyes for a moment, the memory of the Doctor's lips against hers making her pulse quicken. Shaking her head, she tried to focus on getting ready for the day.

After finishing her shower, Verosika wrapped a towel around herself and stepped out of the bathroom. The room was cool and refreshing, a stark contrast to the steam pouring its way out of the bathroom. She walked over to her suitcase, pulling out a fresh set of clothes. Deciding to keep it simple, she threw on a pair of white flared slacks, a black crop top with a complementary back leather jacket. Once Verosika was in her outfit for the day, she took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. She looked good, the outfit hugging her figure, accentuating her curves, yet comfortable enough to move around in.

She took a deep breath, trying to put on a neutral expression. She was looking forward to seeing the Doctor after having left their night on a kiss. Verosika ran a brush through her hair, mentally preparing herself for seeing the Doctor. But her mind couldn't help but linger on that kiss, the feel of his lips on hers, the way he froze, the surprise in his eyes. She wanted more. Her succubus nature wanted more. But she was determined to not let it take the lead. She could wait... for now.

Leaving her room the first thing she noticed was the Tardis missing from the middle of the living room. And on the dinner table was a plate of french toast and a card left for her by the Doctor. Curious, she grabbed the card, flipping it to read the contents.

"Good morning Verosika, I wish I could have been there this morning to say that in person but after taking the Xaphalis home I realized the Tardis's return system was bugged so I'm going to have to recalibrate it. I don't know when I'll be back but I'll make sure it's before this evening. Oh! Also Enjoy your breakfast. The note ended with a small "see you later" a doodle of a Tardis, and a phone number.

Verosika read the note over twice, each time feeling her heart soften just a little more. The fact that he even thought to leave her a note, let alone breakfast, was more endearing than she cared to admit. She chuckled at the doodle of the Tardis, finding it adorably dorky. Placing the card back on the table, she turned her attention to the food waiting for her. The french toast looked and smelled incredible.

Settling down at the table, Verosika took a bite of the french toast. It was perfect, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and just the right amount of sweetness from the powdered sugar dusted over it. She found herself savoring each bite, enjoying the flavors and textures. She could tell that the Doctor had put effort into making it, the thought only adding to her already growing affection for him. As she ate, Verosika couldn't shake off the thought of the Doctor alone in the Tardis, working on it. There was something charming about the image of him, tinkering away in that big blue box, probably grumbling under his breath as he worked.

After finishing her breakfast, Verosika sat back in her chair, a satisfied look on her face. The taste of the french toast still lingered on her lips. It was then that the realization set in, the Doctor might not be back until later that evening, which meant she would have most of the day to herself. Verosika considered her options, part of her wanted to just spend the day laying around doing nothing. But another part of her, the more restless part, itched for something to do. Conveniently, her phone began ringing, picking it up showed it to be Blitzø's newest ex, stolas calling.

Verosika's eyebrows shot up seeing Stolas's name on the screen. Normally, she would've sent the call straight to voicemail, but this was the Goetia Prince himself calling. It felt wrong to now answer. Quickly, she swiped to answer the call, bringing the phone to her ear. "Stolas?" she greeted, a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Ah, Verosika, darling," Stolas' voice came through the phone, his tone as elegant and princely as ever. "I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time?"

"No, no, I'm good," Verosika assured him, still slightly bewildered as to why he was calling her. "Is everything alright?"

"Oh, everything is splendid, my dear," Stolas replied, his tone as smooth as ever. "I was actually calling to ask if you would be willing and able to go have lunch with me at around noon, my treat!."

But before she could even think to pose the question of why, Stolas continued. "Since you had invited me to your little anti blitzø party, I figured I would return the favor. Also if I'm being frank, my lovely daughter Octavia loves music, you would be hard pressed to find a moment where she is not listening to something, but she is feeling a little down today, I figured it might cheer her up to meet a musician in person! Verosika was surprised by the invitation and the reason behind it. She wasn't particularly close with Stolas, but she didn't dislike him either. Plus, the idea of meeting his daughter was surprisingly appealing. She had heard about the Goetia prince's daughter, but had never met her before.

"Sure, I have nothing going on today, I would be happy to join the both of you for lunch. Where would you like to meet?"

"Splendid," Stolas said, clearly pleased with her answer. He rattled off the name of an upscale restaurant in the heart of the Envy ring, known for delicious food and an impressive selection of wines. "Ah, and please do wear something nice," he added. Verosika smiled, seeing no need to change from what she was already wearing. "Don't worry, I never need to be told to dress nicely," she replied, a hint of playful sass in her voice. "I'll be there." Stolas chuckled, clearly enjoying her banter. "Of course, I should have known better than to question your style," he said, his tone lighter than before. "Then I shall see you there in a couple of hours?"

"See you then," Verosika confirmed, a small smile lingering on her lips as she ended the call. She pocketed her phone, a thought occurring to her. Should she try to contact the Doctor and let him know where she was going? Putting in the number he left on the note, she sat there for a moment, waiting for him to pick up. As the phone rang, Verosika waited expectantly for the Doctor's voice to come through the line. The seconds ticked by, and just when she thought he might not answer, the other end picked up.

"I thought you would call me sooner or later" he sounded slightly winded and she could faintly hear the sound of metal clinking together in the background, hinting he was still working on the Tardis. Verosika couldn't suppress a small, satisfied smile at the sound of his voice. "Well, I had to give you some time to miss me," she teased, her tone light and playful.

The Doctor chuckled, "Oh, I missed you alright. Since the kiss last night" he replied, his tone carrying a flirtatious note.

Verosika's heart skipped a beat at his words. She didn't expect him to be so direct, but she wasn't complaining. She leaned back against the wall, the phone held close to her ear. "Is that so?" she said, her tone equally playful. She heard the sound of something clang in the background before the Doctor spoke again. "Yes, and it's been a real distraction while I'm trying to fix this old girl!"

Verosika couldn't help but smile at that idea. The thought of the Doctor, seemed so focused and unflappable, being distracted by the thought of her was a huge confidence boost. She could practically hear the smirk in his voice. "Oh really?" she purred. "Care to elaborate on that distraction?"

The Doctor chuckled, the sound deep and warm through the phone. "You'd like that wouldn't you?" he teased, his tone still flirtatious but now with a hint of feigned stubbornness. "Just know you're to blame for my inability to work on my ship at the moment" Verosika's smile widened. She loved this playful banter with him. It made her feel alive, something she hadn't felt in a while. "Oh, I'll take full responsibility for any and all distractions I may cause you in the future," she quipped, her voice sultry and suggestive.

The Doctor stopped what he was doing, his end of the line going quiet. After a few seconds he replied. "You're evil, you know that?" Verosika laughed out loud. He was far from the first person to call her that, but coming from the Doctor, it sounded like an affectionate nickname. "Ah, but you like it," she countered. Settling herself down she continued. "Anyway, I called to let you know that if I'm not here when you return, I'm at lunch with a acquaintance of mine, and if you want, you could even join us. I'm sure he'll enjoy meeting someone else with a uppity posh accent."

"Up-pff- posh?" The Doctor repeated, sounding both bemused and indignant. "I don't have an uppity posh accent!" Despite his protest, Verosika could practically hear the smile in his voice.

"Oh, you most certainly do!" Verosika replied, her tone lighthearted and playful. "That proper British aristocrat accent of yours, oh so posh and so proper." Sighing in response the Doctor asked. "Where are you meeting for lunch?" Verosika leaned back against the wall, her eyes tracing over the ceiling. She gave him the name of the restaurant, adding. "You're welcome to join if you finish fixing the Tardis before I'm done."

"I'm in a time machine, It could take me a whole week and I'll still be there on time." He said smugly. "Then why couldn't you have breakfast with me?" Verosika replied.

The Doctor paused, his smug demeanor from a moment ago quickly crumbling under her words. "I'll see you at lunch" was all the Doctor said before hanging up the call. Verosika shook her head, a fond smile on her face.

For a genius, he could be incredibly stupid sometimes. She tucked her phone back in her pocket and began to get ready to go out. She freshened up her makeup, made sure her hair was perfectly in place and slipped on a pair of glossy silver high heels. Once Verosika deemed herself presentable, she took a look at herself in the mirror and smiled. Satisfied, she headed for the door in search of something to keep her busy in the meantime.

Arriving at the restaurant Stolas had requested, it had only just occurred to her that the Doctor may not have a cellphone, she hasn't seen him with one, but she did recall seeing a rotary phone inside the Tardis, which would explain how he answered her call. She decided that she would buy the Doctor a phone so she could keep in touch no matter where he was. She would make sure to get one from Earth, they made them a lot better there.

Verosika entered the restaurant, glancing around briefly to find the table Stolas and his daughter Octavia was already waiting at. She could easily pick him out from the other patrons, given his towering height, colorful clothes, and presence alone. Making her way over, she caught his eye and noticed a small, excited smile on his face. "You made it, darling," he spoke in his usual elegant tone. "I must say you look lovely as always."

Verosika smiled, taking a seat across from him. She always found his elegance and charm to be almost...disconcerting. He was so different from the people she was usually around. "Why thank you, always flattering as ever," she teased lightly.

Stolas chuckled at her teasing, not taking any offense to her jab. He then gestured to the young girl sitting next to him, wearing an all black dress, with dark eye liner. "Verosika, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Octavia.". The young owl regarded her with a quiet and shy gaze, but gave a slight wave of greeting. Verosika smiled at the girl, her voice gentle. "Hello Octavia, it's very nice to meet you." She then looked back at Stolas, noting the subtle look of pride on his face as he glanced at his daughter. He clearly loved her very much.

As the waiter came to take their orders, Stolas took it upon himself to order for all of them. He ordered a fine, Envy ring red wine for the adults and for Octavia, a sweet, but small, glass of soda, which the girl took a liking to. She seemed to be enjoying the taste.

Once their drinks had been delivered, Stolas turned back to Verosika, his tone more casual now that their orders had been taken. "I must say, it was a stroke of luck on my part that you agreed to join us for lunch. I was looking for a way to cheer my daughter up and a meeting with a pop star seemed to be just what she needed." he chuckled lightly.

Based off of her clothing choices and demeanor, Verosika was sure that her music wasn't exactly to Octavia's tastes, but the thought was endearing nonetheless. Verosika noticed the irony of her music perhaps not being the young girl's taste but decided not to mention it. Instead, she turned her attention to Octavia. "So, Octavia, I heard you like music," she said, trying to gently engage the girl in conversation.

Octavia looked up from her soda, a glimmer of surprise in her eyes at being directly addressed. "Oh, yeah, I do," she replied softly, her voice quiet but clearly indicating her fondness for music. "Mostly punk, old school rock and a little bit of metal." Verosika resisted the temptation to chuckle, finding it amusing that Octavia's musical tastes didn't exactly align with the kind of music she makes, but she kept the thought to herself. "Ah, a girl after my own heart," she replied, her tone light and warm. "I personally love to perform a nice, fast paced, pop rock tune. But I'll take a good punk song any day of the week"

Octavia's eyes widened a bit, clearly surprised at the common ground between them. "Really?" she asked, her quiet voice now tinged with mild curiosity. She took a sip from her soda, as though processing this tidbit of information. "Well, you would be hard pressed to find a genre I didn't like. I write and perform pop-rock, but I love music in general." Verosika said whole heartedly.

Octavia nodded, her earlier surprise now replaced with mild interest. It seemed she didn't expect a pop star like Verosika to have such a broad range of musical taste. "That's... Cool," she said softly, pausing for a moment before adding, "So, what's your favorite song to perform?"

Verosika smiled, taking a small sip of her wine before answering. "Of my songs it would probably be, Over You. But of other artists songs it's either, Wolf in sheep's clothing or Everbody, by backstreet boys."

Octavia's face scrunched up slightly at the name of the latter song. Clearly, she couldn't help but judge a little at the boy band song. "Why that song?" she asked with a small edge of disbelief.

Verosika couldn't help but laugh lightly at Octavia's reaction. She knew that boy band music was not for everyone, especially to a girl of a younger generation, but she had a fondness for it. "Hey, don't knock it. It's a good song," she defended, a playful note in her voice. Stolas chuckled softly, his gaze moving from his daughter to Verosika. He could see that the two of them were finding some common ground, which pleased him. His daughter was so closed off these days, rarely going out of her room, and any attempt to spend time with her usually ended up in an argument. This was a pleasant change of pace.

Verosika continued to engage with Octavia, their conversation steering towards music. Despite their differences in taste, Octavia found it surprisingly easy to talk to the pop star, even managing to make her smile more than once. Stolas watched in silence, occasionally chiming in with a comment here and there, content to see them getting along.

As soon as the dishes were placed on the table, the smell of the food filled the air. The sight and aroma made their mouths water. Stolas looked over the food for a moment before turning back to Verosika. "This looks lovely," he said, his tone appreciative. He began to take a bite, his eyes closing briefly in pleasure.

Verosika agreed, saying. "I don't even know if this new guy I meet could make this" Stolas, who was in the process of taking a second bite paused, looking at her with surprise and curiosity. "Someone you met?" Stolas asked, his interest piqued, "And where would you have met this individual?" Verosika gave a light laugh before responding. "I am not kidding when I say, he showed up at my door a couple days ago!"

Stolas, who was sipping his wine, almost spat it out in shock, a small amount dribbling down his chin. He quickly placed his glass onto the table, a look of utter disbelief on his face as he grabbed a napkin to swipe the drink from his beak.

"He what?" he asked incredulously.

Verosika chuckled at his reaction, finding the shock on his face amusing. "I know right?" she said, her voice tinged with humor. "Just showed up at my hotel room." Wanting to respect the Doctor's desire to keep his alien origins secret, she paused for a moment to compose an explanation that doesn't involve going into his alien origins. "He was lost and asking for directions. I thought he was a crazed fan or stalker at first, but after some convincing, I helped him out in the end."

Stolas stared at her for a moment, his expression still one of disbelief, before he let out a deep sigh. "You just...let a stranger into your hotel room like that?." he said, his voice laced with a mixture of concern and amazement. Verosika smiled slyly. "Hey, I can take care of myself, you know that," she said, her tone light but her meaning true. "Besides, he was harmless, and quite the looker!."

Stolas raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference, but curiosity tugged at him. "A looker, you say?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "What exactly does he look like then? Describe him to me"

"Well you could get the chance to see him yourself. I hope you don't mind but I invited him to lunch." Verosika announced.

Stolas perked up at her suggestion, his interest piqued even further. "Oh, he's coming?" he asked, his eyes widening. Octavia looked up from her dish with a a tinge of disgust on her face. "Dad please, can you not while I'm trying to eat."

Verosika chuckled at Octavia's reaction. Being a girl and a teenager, the concept of a parent finding someone attractive must have disgusted her. She was looking forward to seeing the Doctor and Stolas in the same place. The two of them had very different personalities, and watching them interact would certainly be entertaining, if not comical.

Stolas chuckled at his daughter's rebuke, but he couldn't deny he was intrigued. By a strange man who appeared at Verosika's door. "Apologies, my owlette, I can't help but be a little curious about the man who made such a immediate impression on thee Verosika mayday" he said to Octavia, turning back to Verosika. "I'm looking foward to meeting him!"

"I'm sure you two will get along splendidly," Verosika said with a small smirk, taking a sip from her wine. The thought of the two men meeting was quite entertaining to her. Stolas, with his regal demeanor and the Doctor, with his eccentric charm, together in the same room. It was bound to create an interesting dynamic, to say the least.

In a moment without anyone noticing the surrounding restaurant was replaced with the interior of the Tardis. Not looking up from fiddling with the Tardis controls, the Doctor said to Verosika not yet realizing he accidentally nabbed Stolas and Octavia as well. "I hope you don't mind me picking you up like this. I figured sence I was already working on the Tardis I might as well add some features. Like a short range teleporter!"

Verosika found herself caught off guard by the Doctor's unexpected teleportation, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She could never quite predict what he would do next. Meanwhile, Stolas and Octavia were caught completely off guard by the sudden change of scenery. Stolas and Octavia looked around their new surroundings, feeling confused and bewildered. They were now standing inside an unfamiliar place. It appeared to be some sort of control room, but it was like nothing they had ever seen before.

"Doctor, if you wouldn't mind looking up for a moment!" Verosika said trying to get his attention The Doctor, still focused on the Tardis controls, replied without looking up, "What is it?"

"What in hell just happened?" Stolas started in confusion with a hint of anger. Hearing the unfamiliar voice the Doctor head darted in Verosika's direction to see. The Doctor, suddenly realizing that he had picked up more than just Verosika, finally looked up to see Stolas and Octavia standing there with her. "Oh dear..." The Doctor said under his breath, his eyes widening in surprise. He had not intended to bring anyone other than Verosika, but it seemed he had accidentally teleported her companions as well.

Verosika, trying to alleviate the situation, spoke up with a small smile. "Yeah, we have a small situation here." Stolas, looking both bewildered and annoyed, directed his gaze toward them. "Situation? That's what you call being suddenly snatched away to some strange place without warning?", he questioned.

Octavia, taking in the otherworldly sight of the Tardis, was in awe and slightly nervous at the same time. The Doctor countered with. "Well why were the three of you right next to each other!"

"We were having lunch remember?" Verosika replied with a hint of teasing in her voice. "And it was going quite well until a certain someone appeared and whisked us away." Taking a pause for a breath, she continues. "Stolas, Octavia, this is my friend I was talking you about, The Doctor."

Stolas, his initial shock subsiding, regarded the Doctor with a more composed demeanor. He took a moment to observe this strange man in his peculiar setting. "The Doctor, you say?" he mused, crossing his arms. "Do you always steal people away so unannounced?"

The Doctor stared blankly in response for being reminded about the last time it happened. "If I had a nickel for every time I accidentally abducted someone, I would have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's strange it happened twice." Stolas raised an eyebrow, not sure if he should find the Doctor's statement funny or worrying. He then directed his attention to the Tardis, his natural curiosity taking over. "And where exactly are we?"

The Doctor, feeling more at ease now that the initial surprise had worn off, began fiddling with the control panel again. "This," he began, "Is my Tardis. Time And Relative Dimension In Space. It's a time traveling space ship."

Stolas, his curiosity piqued even further. "Time traveling?" he echoed, eyes widening at the idea. Even Octavia, who had been quietly observing, voiced her own question. "Time travel? That's possible?"

"Yes, and has been for a few years now. Humans are just pretty far behind in that department." Stolas and Octavia exchanged a glance, both clearly impressed by the concept. It was something they had heard stories about but never believed was possible. "Fascinating," Stolas said, eyes wandering along the various controls and screens around the Tardis. "To be able to travel through time..."

The Doctor nodded, his focus still on the control panel. "It's quite a remarkable piece of tech. Takes time getting used to though."

He glanced over at Verosika, who stood nearby with a small smile on her face. She seemed to be enjoying witnessing the interaction between the Doctor and the others. "I don't think even lucifer has access to such power! Are you an angel?" Stolas asked curiously with a hint of fear.

The Doctor can't help but laugh a little. An angel? Well, you're not the first one to ask me that, but if I'm to be honest, no, I'm not an angel. Stolas was a little surprised by The Doctor's response, having expected a more divine answer. "No, you're not an angel?" he echoed, "Then what are you?"

Octavia, who had been silently listening, was just as intrigued as her father was.

"Long answer. I'm a Time Lord, from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of kasterborous. Short one I'm a alien."

Stolas perked up at the mention of something to do with astronomy. "Kasterborous I have seen it before, I actually have a question about it. While I was studying it, there was a planet mentioned in my records that I couldn't find myself, do you know what happened?" He asked genuinely curious.

The Doctor paused for a second before responding. "Maybe I'll tell you another time" His tone a little darker than before. Stolas was disappointed, but feeling the sudden change in the Doctor's tone, decided not to press further on the subject. "Very well," he said, his disappointment clear but his curiosity momentarily quelled.

Verosika, sensing the shift in the conversation, decided to interject. "So! Doctor, where were you planning on taking me before you accidentally abducted Stolas and Octavia!"

"Yes, great question. I was planning on taking you to fifteen hundreds South America to see the mythical city of, El Dorado!" Stolas, his interest once again piqued, couldn't help but interject. "El Dorado? The city of gold?" Octavia also looked intrigued, the legendary city being something she had heard about in stories.

The Doctor frowned, and with a mocking tone said. "No, the one made of silver. Yes the city of gold!."

Verosika chuckled, her excitement returning at the thought of such an adventure. "Sounds fun."

"I took off already so I'll need to get this baby turned around." He paused for a second weighing in an idea he had. "Or, if your friends would like, they could come with us" Stolas and Octavia shared a surprised glance. The Doctor's offer was not what they were expecting. Stolas, after a moment of contemplation, spoke up. "Are you...sure it's all right? I mean, we don't want to impose on your plans with Verosika."

The Doctor shrugged in response. "It's up to you as long as you don't ask dumb questions and don't do or say anything to effect the time line to greatly." Stolas, still slightly unsure, looked at Octavia. His daughter gave a small nod. Even she was curious about seeing a place like El Dorado.

With a resigned smile, Stolas turned back to the Doctor. "Very well, we accept your invitation."

With a thud the Tardis landed. "Perfect." Grabing his coat and throwing it on he continued. "Because We're here!"

He started towards the door before sharply turning around to face the others. "Oh, also remember to use your human disguises. Just your appearance could drastically change human history!" Verosika, already in her human form, nodded, while Stolas and Octavia transformed themselves to look human. Stolas, now appearing as a man in his 30's, adjusted his suit, while Octavia, taking on the appearance of a young woman, looked down at herself, clearly fascinated by the transformation.

The Doctor, making sure they were all disguised, opened the Tardis doors. Bright sunlight flooded the Tardis, and a warm, tropical breeze drifted in. The landscape was lush and vibrant, the foliage dense and vibrant. The distant sound of exotic birdsong filled the air, and a faint scent of exotic spices hung in the humid air. Stolas and Octavia stepped out of the Tardis with wonder in their eyes. The world around them was different from anything they had seen in Hell. Stolas took a deep breath, savoring the different scent of the air, while Octavia looked around, trying to take in everything at once.

Verosika chuckled at the awe on Stolas and Octavia's faces. This was clearly a new experience for them. The Doctor, closing the Tardis door behind them, began leading the group into a clearing. "Come on, the city's not far from here"

As they walked, Stolas and Octavia could not help but take in their surroundings. The jungle was teeming with life, the sounds of insects and wildlife filling the air. They followed the Doctor, who seemed to know the way through the dense undergrowth.

After a short trek through the jungle, they arrived at the edge of a large clearing. And there, standing majestically in the center of the clearing, was the city of El Dorado. The city was surrounded by a great wall, and the buildings within shone as if they were indeed made of pure gold. "Ok so I'm going to spearhead the first contact, I'll go up ahead and introduce myself. Once the coast is clear i-

Before he could finish his sentence, the Doctor's arm was cut off from behind. Everyone immediately turned around to face the suprise enemy. Behind them was a native hunting party, who stumbled apon them on their return home. Without a second thought Stolas forwent his disguise, revealing his full demon form. To the surprise and fear of the locals. Raising a hand to strike the attackers down he was stopped by a hand grabing his leg. "Don't hurt them!" The Doctor yelled from below him.

The hunters stumbled backward, clearly terrified at the sight of Stolas' demon form. Their eyes widened in a mixture of fear and disbelief. The Doctor knew that revealing Stolas' true nature was not ideal. He had warned them not to do anything that would affect the timeline, but it was too late to undo the transformation now.

Verosika hurried to the Doctor's side, concerned about his injury. The Doctor's face was a mix of pain and annoyance, but he tried to downplay his injury. "I'm fine, I'm fine" he assured her, wincing slightly as he inspected his missing arm. "It's just a flesh wound."

"Your arm is fucking gone! I'd hardly call that a flesh wound!" She yells at him. The Doctor gave a small chuckle at Verosika's reaction. It was endearing how much she cared, though he'd wouldn't admit it just yet. "It'll grow back," he shrugged, as if losing a limb was a common occurrence. "Time Lord biology. It'll just take a couple of hours... Which we don't have right now, so I'll have to use a old trick I learned. His shoulder began to glow with a golden hue, the area around it warming up to an uncomfortable degree. "I would stand back if I were you" he said through gritted teeth.

Stolas and Octavia, watching the situation with growing concern, stepped back a couple of feet, unsure of what to expect. The golden glow intensified, and the Doctor's shoulder began to distort as bone started to grow from the stump. After bone came the muscle, blood vessels and sinews. All while a torrent of golden flames engulfed the surrounding area, some more concentrated bundles of raw energy pooling like liquid gold underneath his developing arm.

The process was quick but definitely not pleasant. The air was thick with heat and energy as the Doctor's arm reassembled itself. Octavia watched, her eyes wide, while Stolas watched with a mix of fascination and concern. Verosika, standing a little farther back, winced as she witnessed the Doctor's arm grow back.

Once the process finished, the Doctor finally felt like he could breathe, taking a moment to catch his breath. The hunting party after seeing all they had witnessed gell to their knees and began begging for forgiveness, believing them to be Gods after what they had witnessed. The Doctor, getting to his feet and rolling his now newly grown arm, looked down at the hunting party with a disappointment at what they had to see. There was no turning back now. For the safety of his companions and the indigenous people, at the moment, they were gods.

Stolas, Octavia, and Verosika looked between themselves and the Doctor, not quite sure how to handle the situation. While the Doctor had dealt with such circumstances before, this was new territory for the other three.

"Be not afraid, for you have been forgiven. Please rise and be greatful for the gift of seeing another day." The Doctor proclaimed in the best divine voice he had. The hunting party, surprised by the Doctor's words, slowly rose to their feet, their heads still bowed in fear and awe. They were clearly overwhelmed by the presence of these assumed gods.

"We mean you no harm or bring messages of despair. we are gods from a far off land, traveling to visit and explore new worlds." The hunting party's leader, having regained his bearings, stepped forward and addressed the group. "Great gods," he began, his voice shaking, "We welcome you to our city and offer you our humble hospitality. We are honored by your visit."

The Doctor smiled warmly, playing the part of a benevolent god. "Your hospitality is much appreciated," he replied. "We come in peace, we are simply here to explore your city and bask in its beauty." He paused for a second before an idea came to his head. With a smile he continued. " Now if you would be so gracious. Take us to you leader!" The Doctor turned to his companions with a childish grin. "I've always wanted to say that!" Stolas, Verosika, and Octavia all chuckled at the Doctor's enthusiasm. Even in their own nervousness and uncertainty, they couldn't resist laughing a little at the Doctor's genuine excitement.

The hunting party's leader nodded and bowed his head once more. "Of course, great gods. Please follow me." With that, he led them into the city, the other hunters keeping a safe distance from them.

Looking in the direction of Verosika and Octavia the Doctor spoke. "You can lose the disguises sence our cover is past being blown." Verosika and Octavia, not needing to be told twice, dropped their disguises. Verosika, looking more herself again, shook her hair out and sighed in relief. Octavia, now looking like a young Goetia princess again, looked around at the city, her curiosity piqued. The hunting party glanced back, their eyes widening at the sight of Verosika and Octavia in their true forms, but they didn't dare comment, fearing the wrath of these gods.

As the group made their way through the city, they received many curious stares and whispers from the locals. Word had quickly spread about the arrival of gods, and soon a small crowd had gathered behind them, following them like a parade. The Doctor, noticing the growing crowd, couldn't help but feel a little amused yet responsible at the same time. He knew they had to maintain the charade, for the sake of everyone involved, but it was difficult not to feel a bit of a thrill from it all.

The city they walked through was truly breathtaking, even the stone buildings were a marvel to look at. The streets were lined with lush vegetation, and exotic birdsong filled the air. It was a place of unparalleled beauty, a testament to the civilization that had built it. The crowd behind them grew larger and larger with each passing moment, and before long, the group had made it to the city's main square, where a large temple stood. It was a massive structure seemingly made of pure gold, its columns and walls covered in intricate carvings and etchings.

Pulling out his sonic screwdriver the crowd around them flinched, the Doctor paid them no mind as he scanned the bricks. As the sonic screwdriver whirred and glowed, the Doctor's eyes widened. "Incredible," he murmured. "These bricks aren't just plated. They're solid gold. Every single one." The members of the hunting party, who had been following them, looked at the sonic screwdriver with a mix of fear and awe. For them, this was a device beyond their understanding, a divine tool wielded by their newfound gods.

The Doctor, satisfied with the scans, put away his sonic screwdriver and turned to the hunting party's leader. "Impressive," he said, his tone reverent. "The craftsmanship and resources that must have gone into constructing this magnificent city..." The hunting party's leader, clearly in awe of this divine being, bowed deeply. "Great god, our ancestors were blessed by the gods to found this city, they bestowed the gold upon us to build a place of worship and celebration."

The talk amongst the crowd was silenced as presumably the chief, flanked by his advisors and priests, slowly descended the steps of the temple. His face showed a mixture of joy and respect at the sight of the Doctor and his companions.

"Greetings, mighty gods," the chief began, his voice carrying a sense of both veneration and nervousness. "We are honored by your presence, our city has not seen a visit from the gods in many generations. What may be the purpose of this unexpected visit!" The Doctor, stepping forward, took charge. "Greetings, Chief," he replied, exuding a sense of confidence and authority. "We are gods of a far off land, and heard word of this magnificent testament to your peoples skill and dedication. we have come to admire the beauty of your city, and perhaps to learn more about your people."

The chief nodded, a mixture of pride and astonishment on his face. "Your words are most kind, great gods." The chief, clearly honored by this divine acknowledgement, looked back at his people, who were watching silently. "But we can't give glory to only ourselves. All of this would be impossible without the Generous gifts of gold by our gods!" The Doctor and his companions listened, their curiosity piqued. "These gifts of gold, Chief, can you tell us more?" The Doctor asked, his voice betraying a hint of the true Doctor within.

The chief nodded. his demeanor becoming more relaxed, his kindness showing through. "Indeed, oh great ones." Many centuries ago, our people were but simple farmers. But one night a star fell from the heavans shining brighter than every other celestial body in the sky! It hit the ground with a great impact. When our ancestors went to investigate they found the gods, injured inside a great ship of obsidian metal. Over the course of a moon cycle, they were nursed back to health. In gratitude for our ancestors aid, they formed gold out of the very mud around us, providing us with the resources to let our people flourish and grow."

The Doctor's eyes lit up at the chief's story. The description of the falling star and the ship of iron, coupled with the mention of the gods creating gold, sparked his curiosity. He tried to maintain his composure, not wanting to give too much away about his true identity. "A most fascinating tale," he replied. "You speak of...a ship made of obsidian metal?"

The chief nodded, his eyes gleaming with pride as he continued his account. "Yes, great one, a vessel unlike any seen by our people. It was made of a dark, unyielding metal that shimmered even in the depths of night. It was a marvel to behold."

The Doctor exchanged a glance with Stolas and the others, silently conveying their shared intrigue. This account confirmed his suspicions. A ship made of metal, in a time period where the people had no knowledge of such things. It sounded like alien technology. But the Doctor was reluctant to jump to conclusions, he needed more information.

"And these...Gods, the beings inside the ship," the Doctor continued, his voice measured. "Can you describe them in further detail? Their appearance, what they were like?"

The chief thought for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he remembered the tales passed down from generation to generation. "They were unlike anything we had ever seen. Taller than the tallest man, with a commanding presence that filled the room. Their skin, like the metal of their ship, was a dull grey, reflecting the light in a way that made them almost glow. Their eyes, like the heavens themselves, sparkled and shone with an otherworldly light."

Nodding in reaction, the Doctor responds. "This is truly a lore to behold, if you would be so hospitable as to let me and my fellow gods stay for the upcoming night to allow us to rest from our long and tiring journey" The chief, clearly honored by the request, quickly nodded. "Of course, oh mighty ones! We would be honored to host you for the night. We shall prepare the finest quarters, fit for beings of your stature." The Doctor smiled, he felt a pang of guilt for deceiving these people, but he knew the importance of maintaining the illusion until they discovered more about this mystery. "You are most generous, Chief. We shall accept your offer with gratitude."

The chief, visibly pleased with the response, clapped his hands, and several of his men quickly dispersed, presumably to prepare the accommodation. "Our people will do everything in its power to make your stay comfortable. I shall arrange a feast in your honor!"

"We would be most pleased to attend" the Doctor said with a little nod of respect.

The chief nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Excellent," he said, a smile on his face. "We shall begin the preparations immediately. Please do not hesitate to ask for anything you might need during your stay. We are honored to host such divine beings." With that the peoples dispersed, back to their work for the day or preparing for the visiting "gods".

The Doctor and his companions found themselves alone on the temple square. They exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by the story of the metal space ship and its occupants.

"Well," the Doctor began, his voice hushed. "What do we make of all that?" Stolas spoke up, his face reflecting the same curiosity as the Doctor. "It's quite fascinating. The story of gods, the falling star and creation of gold...it's all rather extraordinary." Verosika, meanwhile, was contemplating the story in a more practical manner. "And that ship. A craft made of metal they had no knowledge of? It sounds like alien technology to me."

The Doctor nodded in agreement. "It's a strong possibility. The descriptions of the "gods" themselves reminds me of a race of alien alchemists called the Catalystians, who suprise surprise, are most notably famous for their knowledge on the creation of gold."

Octavia, having been mostly silent so far, finally voiced her thoughts. "But why come here? To a seemingly random jungle in South America of all places?" The Doctor quickly responded. "The chief said they were injured. They didn't mean to land here, they crashed."

Stolas nodded, a look of understanding on his face. "And the people took them in, nursed them back to health. In return, they blessed the city with the gifts of gold." The Doctor pondered this for a moment. "There could be an alien ship hidden somewhere in this land."

Verosika crossed her arms and gave a little smirk to the Doctor. "You just want to running around looking for a crashed ship. Is that what your getting at?"

"Guilty as charged." He admitted. "Can't pass up the opportunity to explore, especially when there's potentially alien technology nearby." Stolas chuckled, clearly entertained by the Doctor's enthusiasm. He looked to Verosika. "Is every adventure with him like this?" she responds. "from the little bit i know him, yes"

The Doctor, not wanting to be left out of the conversation, playfully retorted. "Oh come on, you wouldn't have it any other way."

Octavia rolled her eyes. "Anyway, now what? Do we just wait and enjoy the hospitality of these people while you go off and play Indiana Jones?"

in an exasperated tone he replied. "I'll be back before dinner starts, i suggest the rest of you go and enjoy the new experience, talk with people, try something new. just don't say anything to drastic, stay within character" Stolas chuckled, amused by the Doctor's plan. "Alright then, Doctor Jones, off you go." Verosika smirked, watching the Doctor stride off with purpose.

The Doctor, with a determined look on his face, left the square and vanished into the city, leaving the other three behind. Octavia displayed a look of clear unease at the idea of their one and only way of returning home venturing into the jungles of South America on his own. "he'll be ok, he's been doing this sort of thing for two thousand years." Verosika said matter of factly.

"wait what?" Octavia and Stolas said in unison in reaction to the Doctors age.

It was now evening. The Doctor had turned up nothing, no trace of a ship anywhere. either in the city or the surrounding jungle. He had decided to return to the city center to regroup with his companions and enjoy the night.

As he returned to the city square, the Doctor found the place alive with activity. Several fires had been lit, the warm glow of their flames casting dancing shadows on the buildings. The smell of sweet smoke and roasting meat filled the air. The Doctor looked around for any sign of Stolas, Verosika or Octavia as others around him took part in festivities.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before he spotted the three. They were standing near one of the larger fires, deep in conversation. The Doctor made his way over to them, noting the various people who gave him a reverent bow as he passed. As the Doctor joined the group, Stolas glanced at him. "Any luck?" He asked.

"I couldn't find anything, inside or out of the city." now standing amongst his friends he continues. "If they didn't take it with them when they left, the people may very well have scraped it for the metal"

Octavia nodded, echoing the Doctor's thought. "I don't think it would be impossible for ancient civilizations to strip and repurpose anything they don't understand. It could be an altar or a piece of a building by now." The Doctor snaps his fingers. "Octavia you are brilliant, how could I be so stupid!" he says

Octavia, taken aback by the sudden compliment, chuckled slightly. "Me? Brilliant? Why's that?" she asked, now intrigued.

"The temple, I never checked the temple" He said while slapping his head in disbelief over his oversight. The group fell silent, processing the Doctor's statement. The temple was the most conspicuous structure in the entire city. It seemed so obvious now. Verosika was the first react, her voice a mix of teasing and mockery. "The temple? The one made out of solid gold. It never accord to you to check it?"

The Doctor looked unfazed and countered with a combative tone. "In hindsight yes it should have been the first place i looked but it doesn't matter now! I'll ask the chief for permission to enter the temple after dinner has ended then we'll all go take a look inside" Stolas, feeling much more relaxed than earlier, put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder. "For the time being, let's enjoy the festivities, hm?"

The chief walks up to them with a smile on his face. "I hope our divine guests have felt themselves at home" Stolas, smiled warmly at the chief. "Indeed, Chief, your hospitality has been most gracious. Your people are kind and welcoming." The chief nodded, clearly pleased with the compliment. "We are honored to have you amongst us. Now, the feast shall soon begin. But before we continue it occurred to me that I never asked you of your names if you would be so kind as to bestow them!"

Stolas exchanged a look with the Doctor and the others. They had not yet considered a way to address themselves. The Doctor quickly put on a charming smile and spoke up. "Of course, Chief. I am the Doctor, lord of time.

Stolas introduced himself next, his regal bearing evident. "I am Stolas, prince of the Ars Goetias, and watcher of the stars."

Verosika, not wanting to be left out, chimed in with a playful smirk. "And I am Verosika of Mayday, goddess of music, lust and war."

Octavia, feeling a little out of place amidst her companions, nervously introduced herself. "Um, I'm Octavia... daughter of Stolas."

The chief nodded, his eyes wide with respect and awe at the introductions. "Truly it is an honor to host beings of such esteemed stature! Your names shall be remembered for generations!" The chief ushered them towards the central fire, where rows of tables and benches had been set up. "Please, take your seats. The feast shall begin shortly!"

The Doctor, Stolas, Verosika, and Octavia, along with several members of the chief's court, took their places at a large table near the center fire. Around them, the sound of laughter and conversation rose to a crescendo as the people of the city came together to celebrate.

Plates of steaming food were brought out, filling the air with the mouthwatering aroma of roasted meat and sweet, spiced sauces. Servants poured generous helpings of pulque into clay cups, the liquid gleaming in the firelight.

The food was a delicious mix of game meats and various local fruits and vegetables, all slow-cooked over open fires. The drinks were refreshing and potent, their sweet and zingy taste offset by the viscus texture and strong bite of alcohol.

The crowd was becoming rowdy as the alcohol loosened tongues and spirits. Verosika was in the middle of a lively discussion with a group of nearby men, laughing heartily at some joke. Stolas was deep in conversation with the chief on the other side of the table.

The Doctor, for the most part, sat back and observed. His gaze drifted around the crowd, noting the laughter, the music, the dances that had sprung up around the fires. It was a scene of joyous celebration, yet his mind was elsewhere, still stuck on undiscovered spacecraft. He glanced over at Octavia, noticing she seemed a bit nervous. She was picking at her food, her eyes darting around the crowd. The Doctor leaned over to her. "Are you alright?" he asked her quietly.

Octavia look at him, a little surprised by The question. "Oh, I'm fine. Just a little overwhelmed, I suppose. This is all a bit much for me."

"Yeah, it's a lot to take in, I'm sure today's been a lot. But if it means anything, I've seen the reactions of a lot of different people throughout my years of traveling, and if I'm being honest you have handled it better than most while being one of the youngest"

Octavia chuckled softly, a little more at ease knowing she wasn't the only one feeling a little out of her depth. "Thanks, Doctor. I guess I'm just not used to people reacting to me so...deferentially, I'm not used to people bowing and calling me somthing I'm not."

"Well, you shouldn't underestimate yourself, Octavia. In many ways, you are far more remarkable than most of the aliens I meet. And that is including legitimate gods" the Doctor replied, giving her a reassuring smile.

Octavia couldn't help but smile at the compliment. "I don't think the others back home would agree." she said, a note of bittersweetness in her voice. "I'm considered quite a...a disappointment."

The Doctor picked up on the tone, recognizing that there was more to the statement than she let on. "Why do you say that?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Octavia fidgeted with her cup, her eyes downcast. "I'm not like the rest of my family. I don't care about being a Ars Goetia, about the prestige. They're all so serious and ambitious, and I just...I just want to do my own thing. Make my own choices, you know?"

The Doctor nodded in understanding. "Ah, I see. They expect you to live up to their expectations, to be like them, But you want to live your own life, be your own person.

He paused for a moment, thinking. "I know how you feel... My people were very serious about not interfering with the universe around us. Not to do anything that could affect the course of history. But there was so much of creation to explore, and I wanted to see it all."

Octavia perked up, feeling a little comforted by the Doctor's words. "Exactly! It's like they expect me to be a certain way, to be serious and focused on being a princess. But there's more to life than that, you know?"

"You're absolutely right, there is. Life is about more than just meeting people's expectations. It's about experiencing, learning, exploring... And, to be honest, sometimes you have to break a few rules to do that." The Doctor smiled, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. Octavia chuckled, a little amused by the suggestion of rule-breaking. "I guess you're talking from experience, Doctor?"

The Doctor chuckled in response. "Oh absolutely. Sometimes, breaking the rules leads to the best adventures." He said, with a dopey grin. However his face became serious noticing something out of yhe corner of his eye. "Speaking of rules, I think Verosika is breaking several right now" Octavia looked in the direction the Doctor was gesturing and saw Verosika, surrounded by a group of men who were hanging on to her every word. They were all clearly drunk, laughing loudly and attempting to get as close to Verosika as possible.

The Doctor looked at her with askance, watching as Verosika appeared to be lapping up the attention. "I have to wonder if she's getting into the whole "goddess of lust" act."

Octavia observed as well, noting the way Verosika basked in the attention. She shrugged, a hint of a knowing look on her face. "I mean, she is a succubus. It's kind of her thing"

"Yes. But if she keeps this up it could bring unwanted attention" The Doctor muttered, noticing one of the men attempt to put an arm around Verosika's waist. At that, Octavia raised an eyebrow. "Maybe we should do something." she suggested, clearly as uncomfortable as the Doctor was. "Agreed." the Doctor nodded, standing up and straightening his jacket. As the Doctor took a step forward, Verosika suddenly spoke up, her voice loud and clear. "Your romantic advances are quite flattering, truly. But I am already courted to the Doctor."

The men in the group were crestfallen, But understood they stand no chance against a god. Some men groaned in disappointment, others looked a bit annoyed, but they all seemed to back off. The Doctor, who had been frozen on the spot, was now staring at Verosika with a mixture of surprise and slight embarrassment. Verosika turned and gave a teasing look to the Doctor.

The Doctor cleared his throat, still a touch thrown off balance by the unexpected declaration from Verosika. "Well, that's... certainly one way to handle it."

"What's the matter, Doctor? Feeling a little flustered?" Verosika teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.

The Doctor tried to maintain his calm exterior, but it was clear he was struggling. "Me? Flustered? Not at all. I was just... caught off guard, that's all."

"Caught off guard by what? Me claiming you as mine? Or the fact that I'm getting more attention than you?" Verosika asked with a smirk, clearly enjoying her little game. The Doctor rolled his eyes, half-heartedly trying to maintain his facade of indifference. "Ha-ha, very funny. I assure you, I was more surprised that you would go to such lengths just to shut down some drunken admirers."

"Oh, come now, Doctor." Verosika said, stepping closer with a coy smile. "You're not really that offended that I called you mine, are you?" The Doctor's composure was wavering visibly now, but he tried to maintain his usual nonchalance. "No, of course not. I just... it's just a bit unexpected, that's all. We are just... getting to know each other still, right?" Verosika chuckled, enjoying the Doctor's struggle to maintain his cool demeanor. "You're cute when you're flustered, you know that?" she teased. "But if it's any consolation, those guys weren't to my standards anyway."

The Doctor, still a little flustered but regaining his composure, chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks. I'm honored." he said sarcastically. "And what exactly are 'your standards', if you don't mind me asking?" Verosika pretended to think for a moment before replying with a flirty smile. "Well, for starters, they need to have a bit more charm and wit than the average drunk idiot."

The Doctor couldn't help but smirk at her comment. "Ah, of course. Charm and wit. Luckily for you, I've got those in spades".

Verosika chuckled, clearly amused by the Doctor's response. "Oh, really? Is that right? You'll have to prove it to me one day, Doctor."

The Doctor leaned in a little closer, his smirk growing a bit bolder. "Oh, I will." He paused for a moment while he grabbed his drink. "Once I find a woman befitting my standards" He teased back.

Verosika's eyes widened for a moment, taken aback by the Doctor's unexpected quip. But then, a sly smile spread across her face. "Ooh, Doctor. I would swear you were an imp if i didn't know better"

The Doctor smirked back at her, his confidence growing with each banter. "What can I say, I've picked up a few things over the centuries." He took a sip of his drink, then added with a mischievous look, "Including a few 'charming' moves that would even leave a succubus blushing."

Verosika, never one to back down from a challenge, leaning in closer. "Oh, really?" she purred, her voice low and sultry. "I'd love to see you put those moves to the test sometime, Doctor." The Doctor chuckled darkly, enjoying himself immensely. "Careful, Verosika. You might be biting off more than you can chew." Verosika bites her lip in response before responding. "We'll see about that"

It was now late at night, the celebrations had ended and the people were long asleep. The Doctor and friends were making their way up the golden temple stairs to inspect the room at the top of the temple, still adamant on finding what remains of the crashed ship.

Stolas, Octavia, and Verosika followed the Doctor up the stairs, all of them yawning softly as the lateness of the hour began to catch up with them. The flickering torches that normally light the steps had long burnt out leaving only the moon as their light source.

The Doctor reached the top of the steps first and immediately began to inspect the room. The others followed suit, each of them taking a moment to look around. The room was spacious, if not a bit bare, with only a few sets of unlight torches placed on the far wall with murals decorating it. The Doctor, however, was focused on getting to work. He quickly pulled out his sonic screwdriver and began scanning the walls, running it over the walls as he muttered to himself.

Stolas and the others watched the Doctor with interest as he worked. Despite their fatigue, the curiosity kept them from nodding off. Verosika, still riding the high from their earlier banter, sauntered over to the Doctor. "Find anything yet, Doctor?" she asked with sleep etched into her voice.

The Doctor muttered something unintelligible under his breath in return, glued to every inch of the wall, sure something must have been inside or behind it. Octavia however paid closer attention to what the mural was depicting.

Octavia's eyes scanned the intricate paintings covering the mural. The artwork seemed to depict a series of events, each scene flowing together to tell a story. The first panel showed a vast landscape that seemed to be a jungle on Earth, the next depicted the spaceship crashing into the planet nearby a small village, third was the aliens being aided by the kind locals with them praising the extraterrestrials as gods among men and them in return giving blessings of gold. To Octavia's curiosity, It never portrays them as having left.

Finishing his scans of the walls, the sonic screwdriver gives a few beeping sounds before he turns to the others. "I'm not getting anything," he said with a slight frustrated look. "No secret compartments, no hidden doors, no ship parts." The Doctor took a step back, scratching his chin, the others waiting with baited breath.

Octavia, having studied the murals closely, stepped forward, her voice laced with curiosity. "Maybe we should take a look at the murals. They seem to depict the story of when the ship first arrived here." The Doctor's gaze snapped towards the mural, immediately intrigued. "Why didn't I think of that?" he mumbled, heading over to take a closer look. Stolas and Verosika followed suit.

The Doctor, Stolas, and Verosika stood next to Octavia in front of the mural, their eyes raking over the painted scenes. The Doctor spoke up first. "Unless it's someplace else the mural makes no mention of them ever leaving the planet"

Stolas, who had also been closely inspecting the paintings, nodded in agreement. "Yes, it seems the mural only depicts their arrival but not their departure."

Verosika, who had been curiously eyeing the images, spoke up. "Maybe they never left? Perhaps they were stranded here... or chose to stay."

"Can't say for sure for now. But for the meantime, my curiosity is satiated" turning to make his way out of the temple the Doctor was blinded by a bright white light. The sudden burst of light startled the Doctor, who quickly shielded his eyes from its intensity. Stolas, Octavia, and Verosika also winced at the brightness, caught off guard by the unexpected light.

As the light subsided, the Doctor slowly lowered his arm, his eyes adjusting to the change. However, his eyes widened in surprise as his vision cleared. Before them, three angels stood side by side. The expressions of the flanking angels were stolid as they flew in place. The one in the middle however looked at the Doctor with disappointment.

Everyone except the Doctor were terrified. It was the first time seeing an angel, let alone being approached by one. But for the Doctor he looked more annoyed than anything. "What do you lot want!"The center angel, who seemed to be the one in charge, gazed at the Doctor with a mix of annoyance and concern as she spoke. "You seem to have taken up some... interesting companions since you last visited Earth" She stated, her voice clear and commanding.

"Yeah, what about it?" He responded back, afraid for his new hell born companions.

The angel paused, her eyes flickering to Stolas and Verosika, before turning back to the Doctor. "While I understand your desire to explore and interact with life outside of your usual environment" her voice hardened a bit on the second part "you should know better than to bring Hell born outside the confines of Hell itself".

The Doctor, not cowering even a little, frowned and crossed his arms. "Exactly how are they any different than any of the other companions I've had over my lifetime?"The angel raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with the Doctor's attempt at defiance. "Oh, I don't know, perhaps the fact that these particular companions are, well, from Hell?" She gestured to Stolas Octavia and Verosika. "You are playing with the fire by bringing them here."

"They are under my care and supervision, if something were to happen I would take full reasonability"

The angel chuckled darkly. "Responsibility? If you were truly responsible you wouldn't have brought them here in the first place. You know the rules and you chose to disregard them just for curiosity sake" The angel's gaze hardened even more. "The rules are clear, Doctor. No beings or objects from Hell are allowed to leave the confines of Hell unless given special permission. You should know better than anyone given you were one of the ambassadors for the Timelords."

The Doctor couldn't help but scoff at her comment. "Yes, I'm well aware of the rules. But rules can be, and sometimes should be, challenged. Besides, these three are no threat."

The angel crossed her arms, clearly not amused by the Doctor's audacity. "No threat? They were born from Hell, their very existence is a threat. They are the literal embodiment of sin, temptation, and vice. And you brought them here as if they were tourists."

"Even so, they are still living, breathing creatures just as you are" He said with conviction. "They deserve to see the universe just as much as anyone else"

The angel's expression softened a bit at the Doctor's words, but her stance remained firm. "Perhaps you are right, and I won't deny their right to experience life outside of Hell. But you know the consequences, Doctor. Do not be fooled, your companions are still bound by their nature, their very existence is a constant struggle against their own inner darkness"

Stolas, Verosika, and Octavia stood there, not uttering a word, feeling the tension in the air. The Doctor, however, took a step forward, his eyes locked with the angel's. "I am well aware of their natures, but I also know that they are more than what they are born as. They have the capacity to grow and change, just like anyone else. I have faith in them."

The angel sighed, her gaze softening further. "Your faith is misguided, Doctor. Their natures are as fundamental to them as the stars in the sky. They may be able to change and grow, but they will never be able to escape the shadows of their past"

"Why not. I've been doing that for a while now" He countered. The angel looked at the Doctor with a mixture of frustration and sympathy. "You're comparing apples and oranges, Doctor. You may have your own struggles but you're fundamentally different from them. You're a Timelord, they are demons. The gap between you is vast."

"I think you would find the distance to be closer than you would be comfortable with"

He walked right up to her standing only a few inches apart. The other two angels recoiled in fear while the leading one stood her ground. He continues. "You should know better than any other species in the universe that my priority will always be the safety of every living creature on this planet. and that I have handled worse than a few demons in the process."

The angel's expression changed again, now a mixture of irritation and curiosity. She studied the Doctor closely, her eyes narrowing as she considered his words. "And what if they turn on you when it's to their benefit?"

"Then may god help them" He said calmly with a terrifying firmness. The angel held the Doctor's gaze, searching for any hint of doubt or bluff in his eyes. But the Doctor's expression remained steadfast, his words unwavering. Finally, she chuckled, a hint of begrudging respect in her voice. "You're either brave or foolish, Doctor."

"I like to think of myself as having a little of both" He quipped. The angel chuckled again, shaking her head slightly as she stepped back. "Very well, Doctor. You've made your point. But do know that I'll be watching your… companions, closely"

The Doctor nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'd expect no less"

The angel's expression darkened slightly as she continued. "And Doctor, for the record. If anything does go wrong... I won't hesitate to do what must be done"

"I trust my friends to not let it come to that" He said with sincerity. The angel tilted her head, studying the Doctor again before sighing in resignation. "For your sake and theirs, I hope you're right"

She then turned to Stolas, Octavia, and Verosika, fixating them with a sharp gaze.

"As for you three. Behave yourselves. I will be watching" Stolas, Octavia and Verosika nodded, still clearly intimidated by the angel's presence.

The angel then turned back to the Doctor, her gaze softening slightly. "Keep an eye on them" She said with a hint of warning before she and the other angels suddenly disappeared in another burst of light.

"OH! Sorry i have one thing to ask of you"

The lead angel reappeared."What is it?" She inquired, crossing her arms over her chest. "Tell Sera I said hi!" He told the angel with a half smile. The angels let out a small sigh, a hint of annoyance in her tone. "Very well, I will pass on your greeting" With that, she vanished once more, leaving the Doctor, Stolas, Octavia, and Verosika alone in the now dark room.

Stolas, Octavia, and Verosika let out collective sighs of relief at the angels' departure, the tension dropping from their shoulders. The Doctor, meanwhile, chuckled faintly, a small smirk on his face."Well, that could have gone much worse all things considered" He commented, turning to the trio.

Stolas nodded, his feathers still slightly ruffled. "Indeed, Doctor. I must say you have more courage than sense, standing up to an angel like that" Octavia chimed in, a small hint of admiration in her voice. "Yeah, you were actually kind of badass, Doctor" Verosika smirked, seeming to have relaxed a bit more than the others. "Yeah, not going to lie it was kind of hot to watch you put that stuck-up angel in their place"

The Doctor chuckled at Verosika's comment. Clearing his throat, trying to change the subject. "Right, well, let's not push our luck. I think it's a good time to turn in for the night" He said, heading towards the stairs, the others following alongside him. The group made their way down from the golden temple, the cool night air greeting them outside. They walked back towards the Tardis. Questions swirling around in his companions' heads.

At the bottom of the stairs to their surprise was the chief, waiting for them. The Doctor raised an eyebrow as he saw the chief waiting for at the bottom of the steps. "Chief, what are you still doing upthislate?" The chief stepped out of the shadows, eyes fixated on the Doctor, his expression portraying a hint of sadness. "Leaving us so soon?"

The Doctor was a bit surprised by the chief's knowing tone, but he covered it with a casual smile. "Well, as it turns out we have some important business to attend to back home, so as much as we would love to stay for even a day more, we must leave"

The chief stared at the Doctor, his eyes narrowing slightly before he nodded slowly. "Important business, hmm... You know. sometimes you find a new culture, intentionally or not. And fall so deeply in love with it that you end up forgoing a return home to stay with the people you love." The chief's face became earnest. "I wish you all joy in your lives moving forward!"The Doctor's was a bit taken back by the chiefs' honest words. He smiled softly, touched by the chiefs' genuine sentiments. "Thank you, chief. We all appreciate your warm send-off." He said, his voice a bit softer than usual.

The chief bowed his head in acknowledgment, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "And remember, you are always welcome here, should you ever return. This is just a pause in our friendship, not its end." The Doctor nodded, a feeling of respect and admiration for the chief welling up inside of him."I will remember that. Thank you, chief, for all of your kindness and hospitality" He said with a sense of finality in his voice, preparing to say their final farewells.

The chief stepped aside, motioning for the group to pass. "Of course, my friends. You will be missed" The group bid the chief farewell, the Doctor shaking his hand firmly, before continuing to the Tardis.

The chief watched as the group reached the Tardis, the time machine's blue outline illuminated by the dim light of the moon. Stolas turned, giving one last farewell wave before stepping on board. The others followed suit. The chief watched them all go aboard before the Tardis door closed with a soft whir, and the time machine slowly faded away into the night, leaving the chief alone in the now silent temple grounds.

Within the Tardis, the Doctor began working at the control console, the soft hum of the ship filling the air. Stolas, Octavia, and Verosika watched him silently, still in awe of the events that had just transpired.

After a few moments of silence, Stolas spoke up, his voice soft. "Doctor, may I ask you something?" The Doctor didn't look up from the controls as he answered, "Yes, of course, Stolas. What is it?"

Stolas paused for a moment, searching for the right phrasing. "Earlier, when you stood your ground against the angel... I couldn't help but be taken aback by your bravery. It seemed as if you were not even the slightest bit intimidated by their presence"

He answered. "Like she had said, I was the Timelord to Heaven ambassador for a while, I have lots of experience conversing with angels way more powerful than those three that approached us."

While Verosika was interested in the Doctor's history with Heaven. She couldn't get the thought of getting her hand on him out of her head.

Stolas nodded thoughtfully, "I have to admit, the sight of you standing up to her was quite impressive and attractive if you don't mind me saying?"

The Doctor, although focused on the controls, was aware of their eyes on him. He chuckled faintly, "I'm flattered, honestly. But it wasn't that big a deal" He said, trying to downplay the situation.

Stolas raised an eyebrow, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "Not a big deal? You stood up to an angel, one of the most powerful beings in creation. Most people would rather take a bullet than even being in the same room as one, let alone talking back to them."

"No kidding," Verosika chipped in "I've heard enough stories about angels to not ever want to come close to one, but you just looked at them like it was nothing. Kind of a turn on if you ask me." she said, her eyes still fixed on the Doctor's every move

The Doctor chuckled again, a little flustered by Verosika's comment. He could sense her gaze on him, making it a little harder to concentrate but he tried to maintain his composure. "You're all giving me too much credit," he said, a hint of modesty in his voice. "The whole thing was pretty low stakes. She was mostly there to give us a warning." Octavia folded her arms. "You still had the guts to tell her off. While the rest of us couldn't even speak. Again, Badass!"

The Doctor chuckled at Octavia's assessment, appreciating her straightforwardness. "I suppose you could put it that way" He admitted, a touch of pride in his voice. Stolas smiled, clearly impressed. "I've got to say, Doctor, you continue to surprise me. Each time I think I've seen the full breadth of your character, you find a new way to exceed my expectations."

The Doctor shrugged. "I've been around for a long time. You learn a thing or two about handling difficult situations. Plus..." he paused, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "I do have a thing for showing off sometimes" Verosika, now feeling a little more comfortable, leaned against the console, her eyes fixed on the Doctor. "Oh? Showing off, huh? In that case, feel free to show off a bit more" She said with a suggestive tone.

The Doctor chuckled a little, trying to maintain his focus on the controls he was mindlessly fiddling with to make look like he was busy. But he was aware of her eyes on him. He glanced at her, a hint of amusement in his. "Don't encourage me" He retorted, his voice a little deeper than usual, betraying his own growing attraction to her.

Verosika, enjoying the slight reaction from his response, leaned closer, a smirk on her face. "Why not? You know you like the attention" Octavia, sensing the flirty atmosphere, rolled her eyes, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You two are insufferable" she said before going off to explore the Tardis a bit, her curiosity getting the best of her. Stolas watched the interaction between the Doctor and Verosika and chuckled quietly to himself before excusing himself to join Octavia, giving the two a minute. The Doctor, now alone with Verosika, turned to face her fully, a playful glint in his eyes.

"You really are trouble, you know that?" He said, his voice dropping a bit lower. Despite his efforts to keep his composer, the growing attraction between them was becoming harder to ignore. Verosika's smirk widened as she closed the distance between them. "Maybe." She replied, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper.

She placed a hand on his chest, feeling the heat of his skin through his shirt, "But you like trouble, don't you, Doctor?"

The Doctor's pulse quickened as she touched his chest. Her closeness and the scent of her perfume was making it difficult to think straight. He placed his hand over hers, his voice gravelly "I might have a weakness for it." He admitted, his eyes locked on hers. Verosika's smile grew as she moved even closer to him, her body now inches away from his. "Good." She whispered, her breath hot against his skin. "Because darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream."

The Doctor's heart was racing now. Her words, her touch, everything was driving him wild. "I think I need to be careful around you" He said, trying to keep his voice steady. But his words only seemed to egg her on as she leaned in even closer, her lips brushing against his ear. "Why be careful when you could just let go?"

The Doctor felt a shiver run down his spine as her lips touched his ear. His control was slipping, and he couldn't find any reason to hold back. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him, her lips finding his in an intense kiss.

He didn't resist, melting into her embrace as his lips met hers. Her hands tangled in his hair as she deepened the kiss. The past couple days of flirtation and longing had finally culminated in this moment, and neither of them were holding back now. The Tardis was filled with a palpable heat, the air thick with desire.

The Doctor backed her up against the control console. The kiss was growing more intense with each second, the outside world faded from their awareness. All that existed in that moment was the two of them, tangled together in a whirlwind of desire and passion.

The need to breathe eventually forced them to break the kiss, their foreheads touching as they gasped for air. Their hearts racing, both of them still reeling from the intensity of the moment.

The Doctor, his mind slightly clouded with lust, managed to find his voice. "You're a dangerous woman" He said, unable to keep the huskiness out of his voice.

Verosika, her breath ragged, a sly smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You have no idea." She replied, her fingers tracing a path down the side of his face, "But you're no saint yourself, Doctor."

The Doctor chuckled, the truth in her statement making him smirk. "Touché." He agreed, his hands roaming across her body, unable to resist the pull of her. "But then, saints are overrated, don't you think?"

Verosika leaned into his touch, her eyes half-lidded with desire. "I couldn't agree more." She purred, her hands moving to the buttons on his shirt, undoing them one by one. "I always did prefer the bad boys, anyway."

"Um... I'm sorry to bother you two." Stolas interjected. "But I think we're home now, but the door is still locked. We would have left you two alone but" he pulls on the locked doors to the Tardis proving his point, "We can't leave." Both the Doctor and Verosika jumped, suddenly remembering they weren't alone. They quickly untangled themselves, the Doctor quickly rebuttoning his shirt. Stolas's voice snapped them out of their momentary lapse back into reality. The Doctor and Verosika, both slightly flustered, hastily untangled themselves. The Doctor quickly buttoned his shirt as Verosika smoothed down her hair and clothes, the moment of passion interrupted.

The Doctor cleared his throat, trying to seem nonchalant. "Right, right" He said, his voice a bit rougher than usual. "One moment" he said before pushing a lever beside Verosika unlocking the doors with a click. As the door opened Octavia and Stolas stood a few feet away, both looking like they were having trouble holding back their smirks.

The Doctor cleared his throat again, trying to regain composure and look less like he'd just been caught making out against the control panel. He shot a glance at Octavia and Stolas, slightly embarrassed at being caught. "The door's unlocked now. You can leave!" He said still flustered.

Stolas and Octavia shared a glance, both holding back chuckles. Stolas gave the Doctor and Verosika a knowing grin, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "We'll just..head on out then." Octavia was holding back a laugh, "Have fun you two!"

Verosika rolled her eyes, her cheeks still a bit pink. "Can it, Octavia" She replied, trying to sounding annoyed.

The Doctor sighed in defeat, knowing there was no point in denying what they'd just walked in on. "Right, just go." He said, his voice filled with irritation. Stolas and Octavia finally gave in, their amusement bubbling up in the form of laughs. "We're going, we're going" Stolas chuckled, guiding Octavia out the door. Octavia, still grinning, called back teasingly, "Try not to break the ship you two!" Verosika responded with a rude hand gesture, earning another laugh from Octavia and Stolas as they finally exited the Tardis.

With Octavia and Stolas gone, the Doctor and Verosika were left alone once again, the Tardis feeling strangely quiet without the others. The Doctor leaned back against the console, rubbing a hand over his face, while Verosika watched him, a sly smile on her face. "Well, that was embarrassing." The Doctor stated, still somewhat abashed.

Verosika crossed her arms, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Oh, come on, darling. There's no need to be embarrassed. It's not like they caught us in a more compromising position."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow at her statement, a mix of amusement and disbelief in his voice. "Oh really? And just what would you consider 'more compromising' than being pushed up against the control console making out like we were just about to-" He stopped himself, a bit of redness creeping into his cheeks.

Verosika, loving how easily she could make him blush, stepped closer to him, her voice dropping low. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe something like being up on the console with my legs wrapped around you-" before she was interrupted by the Doctor. "Okay, okay, point taken!" The Doctor said, hastily cutting her off. The mental image her words conjured didn't help his attempt to remain composed. He adjusted his tie in an effort to distract himself.

Verosika smirked, enjoying getting a rise out of him. She leaned closer, her hands now resting on his chest. "I'm just saying, darling, that was tame, all things considered" She said, her voice sultry.

The Doctor couldn't help but feel her closeness and her touch stirring up the same desire that had led them into that compromising position in the first place. Her lips on his, the taste of her skin, the little sounds she made when he- He shook his head, trying to clear his mind.

"You're a tease" He muttered, his voice a bit strained. His hands found her hips, pulling her closer against him.

Verosika's smirk widened as his hands tightened on her hips, pulling her even closer. "And you love it" She whispered, her voice husky. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his denying him a kiss. He would have to take the insinuative.

The Doctor's breath hitched at the feel of her lips near his. He should not give her the satisfaction of making him beg, he thought. But the desire for her was becoming too strong to ignore, and he was quickly losing any sense of self-control. With a strangled groan, he gave in, grabbing her face and pulling her close, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.

Verosika's satisfied smirk was swallowed by the kiss, replaced by a soft gasp. Her hands gripped his shirt, pulling him even closer. He had given in, and she relished in the victory. The kiss quickly grew more intense, heated by the day's build up of tension. Verosika's tongue traced along his, tasting him as she pressed herself against him, the contact sending jolts of pleasure through her.

She broke the kiss, looking up at him with heavy lidded eyes, her voice a breathless whisper, "Bedroom. Now."

(This chapter took a lot longer to write than I planned on.

So for some context while I have it listed as the tenth Doctor and am basing what i write around his run. There are things I love about 9, 11 and 12 that I can't help but include.

Once again thank you to everyone for reading, and again please feel free to let me know if there are any critiques you have on my writing, and especially tell me if any text seems out of place or is wonky so u can go back and fix it, I have never posted on FanFiction before so I'm still getting used to it.

Thank you and have a good rest of you day/night.)