Chapter Text
End Game
A Doctor Who story
Chapter 1
The hardest part, they decided, would be finding their expert in the first place. They knew exactly who they wanted but tracking him would be nearly impossible, if he still could be reached at all. There was always the possibility he didn't exist anymore, but the Palpidron were desperate people, grasping at any chance of getting what they needed. After years of searching, they caught a whiff of the scent of their prey. His craft had been spotted on a planet in the home world's star system. An extraction team was hastily assembled and given their instructions: capture the Time Lord known as the Doctor.
************
Jothan pushed his hair out of his eyes, wishing again that he'd remembered an extra hair tie. The wind on Clovic Beta kept blowing it around to the point where he couldn't see. He stood on the beach waiting for the Doctor to return. They'd just finished helping a race of underwater dwellers fight against a virus that had been killing their precious kelp beds. The medic was about to turn away when he saw a fierce bubbling in the water about twenty feet out, and smiled as the Mevne sea pod appeared. The vehicle came to shore and out popped a grinning Doctor, clad in his usual leather jacket. Jothan moved back so the Doctor could step on dry sand, asking, “Any problems?”
“None,” the Time Lord responded cheerily. “We are free to go.”
Jothan reached out and took his lover by the hand. “What would the Universe do without you?”
“Probably implode within hours,” the Doctor replied absently. “I don't know about you, but I'm done with water for a time. Don't suppose I could talk you into visiting the Glass Desert of Vistid?”
Jothan shook his hair out of his eyes again. “Sounds interesting. What's so special about it?”
The Doctor was about to reply when there was a sudden shimmering around them and four creatures appeared out of nowhere. They were humanoid, but a muddy green color, with bulbous, wet eyes on the tops of their heads. They were also shorter than a normal human, perhaps four feet high. They had no hair and no discernible nose, but had webbing between their fingers. They also had what looked to be an impressive array of weapons pointed at the Doctor and his husband. One of the creatures stepped up and shouted, “Make no movement! You are being conscripted for the war effort.”
“Hello,” the Doctor replied, staying still. “I think you must be mistaken on who we are,” he observed. “I'm the—”
“We know you, Time Lord,” the creature snapped, the voice hollow and metallic-sounding. “There is no error. You will bring us victory against our enemies, the Davongans. You will now accompany us to the front.”
“What about my—” the Time Lord began, but there was a shimmering wave now surrounding them all, and the beach rippled and disappeared. At first there was blackness, but then there was a wash of bright color as they were transported through the Vortex. At last the colors faded into black again, and they were back in normal space.
The transmat dropped them off on a metal platform where a change of guards occurred, three switching places with the ones who had kidnapped them. There was not much to see, just grey walls and corridors. The Doctor and Jothan were quickly marched through the corridors and then into a small room with a high-powered scanner inside and empty boxes. A guard took Jothan firmly by the arm and pushed him to the floor, then started yanking at his clothing. Jothan pulled away, but the guard kept a firm grasp. Finally the Doctor murmured, “I think he wants your clothes off.”
Jothan gave one panicked glance at the Doctor, then slowly started to unlace his boots. In a minute or two he was naked except for his TARDIS key, a faint sheen of sweat on his body from the warm, humid room. The guard who seemed to be in charge grabbed at the chain around Jothan's neck. It didn't break. The guard pulled at it again, grunted, then threatened Jothan with the weapon. Jothan pulled the necklace over his head and handed it to the guard. All of Jothan's possessions were put in one of the empty boxes as he was hauled to his feet. The medic was pushed roughly through the scanner which gave a few beeps as an orange light went on. The young man was shoved to the floor by another guard who stood by him as the others turned their attention to the Doctor.
Completely unselfconsciously the Doctor removed his clothes and went through the scanner. He sat down by Jothan afterward, attempting to shield him a little from the guards. The Time Lord knew his husband would be very uncomfortable being so exposed. He glared at the guard nearest him and demanded, “What do you want with us?”
“You will bring us victory over those putrid, web-weaving Davongans,” someone answered from the door. “You will lead our forces with skill and speed until there is not a spider left in this galaxy.”
The person at the door had the same metallic voice the first guard had had. He had a sash over his chest with an array of pins and medals attached. The being spat a mouthpiece out of his mouth and made some odd sounds to its companions, using a long, thin tongue to communicate. He put the mouthpiece in again and told the Doctor, “I am Colonel Melleywon. If you cooperate with us you will be handsomely rewarded for your success. If you refuse, both you and your companion will suffer and you will still win the war for us in the end.”
The Doctor's eyes narrowed. “I don't take kindly to threats, especially not ones aimed at those I travel with. If you want my help to broker a peace—”
“There will be no peace,” the colonel retorted. “We want our enemies burned to embers, not thinking they are our equals. You will rid the Universe of their filth and be glad of the chance.”
“What makes you think I can win this war in the first place?” the Time Lord wanted to know.
Colonel Melleywon stared hard at the Doctor. “Everyone knows of you, the Oncoming Storm. You are ruthless, cunning, and most of all, willing to do anything to gain the victory. You went so far as to kill your own people to destroy the Daleks.”
“I refuse,” the Doctor spoke with finality. “I will not commit genocide.”
“You did once, you will do it again.” The colonel pulled out his mouthpiece again and spoke to the guards, his tongue slapping and wriggling in his mouth. Two guards put handcuffs on the Doctor while the third hauled Jothan to his feet. In a moment they were on the move. This time they were directed into what looked to be a medical center. Several more of the creatures were milling about, laying out instruments. The Doctor had the handcuffs removed and was tied to a hard metal chair. The colonel told the Time Lord, “You will be given a toxin known as chotoword. It will make you more ... amenable toward our demands. At the same time, your companion will be fitted with a neural inducer, allowing us to cause him great pain. You will then be sufficiently motivated to aid us.”
The Time Lord began to struggle, but it was no use. He was injected with a solution, then pushed into full view of the operation being performed on his husband, while Jothan was strapped face-down on the table. “What are you butchers doing?” the Time Lord protested. “Where are your gloves? What about masks? This isn't a sterile field—you'll expose him to Rassilon-only-knows what kind of bacteria. You aren't even using an anesthetic! You'll kill him!”
The three Palpidron surgeons opened up Jothan's skull right where the spinal cord met the brain stem and fitted him with a small black box, ignoring the Doctor's rantings and Jothan's screams. The surgeons were efficient, but completely uncaring about their patient. Colonel Melleywon also observed, but shifted his attention to the Doctor several times as well. An unconscious Jothan was rushed out of the room by the guards once the operation was complete, the colonel leaving with them.
The Doctor struggled to release himself, and finally tipped the chair over so he was lying on the ground. He could feel the anger coursing through him; all he could think about was making those who had hurt his lover pay. As he squirmed on the floor the bonds began to loosen a bit. The medical team ignored him totally, cleaning up instruments and talking with one another. Bit by bit the Time Lord was able to work at the ropes until he was unbound. For a moment or two he lay completely still, trying to decide on a course of action. Then the rage boiled up inside of him so strongly he could not contain himself, and he attacked.
The medical personnel were caught totally off-guard by the Time Lord's assault. The first had his face smashed into the floor by the furious Doctor. The second one tried to use a scalpel to hold the Time Lord off but did not have the quickness or dexterity needed and was stabbed in the throat, greenish blood spurting everywhere. The third frog/man attempted to run but was caught before he reached the door. The Doctor dragged the surgeon over to the table of instruments, quickly choosing the largest of the laser scalpels. He severed the Palpidron's spinal cord with the tool, and dropped him to the floor. He looked around for another combatant and was disappointed when he couldn't find one. Then his rational mind took over as he observed the carnage.
He was vaguely surprised to find that he felt no remorse for his actions. He was a little perturbed that he hadn't left anyone in good enough shape to tell him where Jothan was, then remembered that the Palpidron couldn't speak English without a translation device. Just as well that he had disposed of them, then. If they couldn't lead him to his husband they were useless, and they certainly deserved to die after what they had done.
His mind focused on his companion. Jothan was somewhere nearby, and these alien barbarians had hurt him, planning on hurting him more. Neural inducers were cruel devices of torture, stimulating the pain receptors directly without causing any physical injury. The level of pain delivered could be adjusted anywhere from an annoying tingle to complete incapacitation. They also could be activated remotely if the victim was in range. The devices were vicious and prohibited in most of the star systems in this particular galaxy. The Doctor made a hasty plan. He would have to get to Jothan as soon as he could and remove the inducer. The next step would be to get to the TARDIS, which was still parked on Clovic Beta. After that, he would come back here and punish those who had been involved in this little scheme. Plans made, the Time Lord exited the operating room and headed down the hall hopefully toward his companion, the laser scalpel in his hand.
************
Colonel Melleywon walked briskly to the Communication Center, proud that the mission had been so flawlessly executed. The target had been acquired and it was only a matter of time before the Time Lord would submit to the Palpidron plan. The frog/man wiggled his tongue in his mouth in pleasure, seeing in his mind the Davongan home-world exploding in a massive fireball. He accepted a salute from one of his lieutenants as he stepped into the secure communication booth to contact the Palpidron home-world. He typed in a code, then slid his tongue into a slot to be recognized by the computer. A few minutes later he was in contact with High Command.
“All has gone perfectly,” he told General Prillit, the highest ranking person in the entire fleet. “The Time Lord has been captured and his companion has been fitted with the neural inducer. Soon we shall begin torture sessions. He will not allow that to go on for long.”
“Don't be so quick to turn to torture, Colonel. Give the Time Lord a few days away from his companion to soften him up. What of the chotoword? The first dose was administered?”
“Yes, sir. I did not stay to see if it was having the desired effect, but given what we know about the toxin, I'm sure it will help us. With his inhibitions reduced, his conscience dampened, and the care for his companion amplified he will be easier to sway. I also heard that it can strengthen anger responses as well so he will be properly motivated to wipe out the Davongans.”
“Keep me posted on your progress,” General Prillit ordered. “I expect the Doctor to be ready to perform when you make the big surge in Sector Nine. If that goes well we should have all the contested worlds well in hand within twelve months, and then we can start planning our move into Davongan territory. Remember to follow the Time Lord's directions scrupulously; he was a devastating opponent to the Daleks when it came to it.”
Colonel Melleywon saluted. “Understood, General Prillit. I will give an update after the Time Lord has had a few more doses of the toxin.”
The colonel left the communication booth and headed for the holding cell where the Doctor's companion was being housed. The two cadets snapped to attention at his approach. “Any problems?” he asked the higher-ranking guard.
“He hasn't recovered yet sir,” the guard replied, “but we've had no trouble with him.”
Colonel Melleywon frowned, wanting to begin the torture at once regardless of the general's orders. “He'll have to be conscious when we do our torture sessions; it will be a waste otherwise. Send a medic or two down here and see what they recommend; I want to start those sessions as soon as we can. No sense wasting time with those blood-sucking vermin of Davongans at our throats.”
“Colonel!” the guard responded.
As he was heading to his quarters the colonel remembered that he had left the Doctor in an operating room with only support staff in place. There was a big possibility that the medics would have finished their work and just left him there, which would be a horrible mistake. An unguarded Doctor could be very dangerous, especially considering the chotoword they were using. The alien was brilliant and was not yet fully under Palpidron control. He decided that the quickest way to remedy the situation was to go himself. He hurried to the operating room where the Doctor was, grabbing some guards he passed to make sure the Time Lord made no trouble.
The colonel entered the room and stared at the slaughter. Two of the medics were dead; a third was alive, but just, having suffered a skull fracture and serious facial injuries. Melleywon activated the base-wide alarm and called in more medics to treat the fallen surgeon. He then headed to the Command Hub and made an all-staff announcement. “The Time Lord has escaped. Repeat: The Time Lord has escaped. All guards to Station Three posts. The escapee is to be captured alive, repeat, alive. It is vital that he be found unharmed and delivered to me immediately. All support staff to Station Two posts, with all staff using communication setting peach. If you are a support staff and see the escapee, do not approach; radio for guards and note where he is heading. All shock troopers to the transmat platform; the Time Lord cannot be allowed to leave the base. This is not a drill.”
************
Jothan woke to hear strange noises and alarms coming from outside. He rolled over on his back and winced as the movement sent pain shooting down his neck. He lay still for a bit, then checked out his surroundings. He was alone and naked in an empty room, and there was no apparent door. His head and neck hurt terribly, but he seemed to be otherwise uninjured. He sat up slowly, trying to overcome the wave of dizziness that passed over him. He decided to wait a bit before he stood up.
Just then two guards came into the room with another of the frog/men. The guards hauled Jothan to his feet while the other creature checked the back of Jothan's neck and spoke to his compatriots. Jothan felt immediately ill; he tried to hold it back but failed. He turned his head to the side and threw up, his body shuddering. The guard who caught most of the vomit elbowed Jothan hard in the ribs, and then he was dragged away.
Jothan managed to control another wave of nausea as he was propelled down the corridors. Everyone seemed to be in a huge hurry; people were rushing here and there, many with weapons. He tried his best to count doors and turns, but soon gave it up. There was no way he'd be able to get back to the room where he had lost his clothes and other items. He closed his eyes and let the guards pull him along, his feet dragging. The aliens must be stronger than they looked, he reasoned. He was feeling too tired and too ill to even attempt walking.
At last Jothan was yanked into a room packed with equipment, with several technicians bustling around. Jothan was strapped in to a metal framework of crisscrossing bars. He was wheeled in front of a window which looked into another room. This room had a chair similar to the metal framework he was on, but nothing else. As he looked into the other room, two guards came in flanking the colonel who had spoken to Jothan and the Doctor earlier. The colonel snapped his mouthpiece in and demanded, “Tell us what the Time Lord will do.”
The medic lifted his head to stare at the colonel. “What do you mean? What's happened?”
“The Time Lord has escaped. You will tell us what he plans to do.”
Jothan shook his head. “Even if I knew what he had in mind—which I don't—I'd never tell you people. All I know is that he won't leave me to rot.”
“You do know what his likely course of action is, and you will tell us.”
The Colonel took a small device out of somewhere and turned a dial. Pain shot through Jothan from the top of his head to his toes. He felt as though his skin was crisping and his veins filled with acid. He cried out and shut his eyes tightly against the pain. Then suddenly, it was over.
“What will the Time Lord do?” the colonel repeated.
Jothan thought quickly. He had absolutely no idea what the Doctor might have in mind, but he reasoned it would be best to pick the least likely option and tell his captors; at least it would buy time. “He'll attempt to recruit your enemies to help him; no way he'd take on you goons alone. Probably he'll try to get to your communications equipment to send a message and give away your position.”
The plan was ridiculous, but the frog/man seemed to buy it. “You will remain here. Do not try to escape; I have use for you, but not enough to refrain from killing you if necessary.” The colonel popped out the mouthpiece and spoke to his guards, who left the other room. The frog/man readjusted the mouthpiece and asked, “You have been with the Time Lord long?”
There was no way Jothan was going to tell the truth on that question. “Only a month or two; we're just getting used to each other.”
“You're not worried he will abandon you?”
Jothan cursed under his breath. It might have been better to make the frog/men believe the Doctor would leave him behind. Still, they seemed to be a little familiar with his husband, so maybe he hadn't made a huge mistake. “He won't leave me behind. It may take a while, but he will come for me. When he does, I wouldn't want to be you.”
The colonel shook his head. “You had better hope he comes. If he does not, you will die.”
Jothan couldn't help but ask. “Why do you want me anyway? What did I ever do to you?”
“You are merely a pawn,” the frog/man replied, dismissing Jothan with a wave of his hand. “On your own you mean nothing, but as the Time Lord's current companion you are a tool we can use to pressure him into leading our forces against the Davongans.”
“Who are they, and why do you want them dead?” the medic wanted to know.
“Davongans are a race of sentient spiders infesting this sector of the galaxy. They are cunning and persistent, taking over world after world. But with the Time Lord on our side we will annihilate the web weavers and be the dominant power in the galaxy.”
“The Doctor won't help you, no matter what you try to do,” Jothan responded. “He wants nothing to do with war.”
“Your Time Lord friend led the most devastating war in the cosmos, and won. He made terrible sacrifices, paid a terrible price, but won. We intend to have the same results. With the Time Lord leading our forces, the Davongans won't have a chance.” The colonel spit out the mouthpiece and exited the room abruptly, leaving Jothan to wait.
************
The Doctor heard the alarm bells go off and immediately assumed his escape had been noticed. On the one hand he didn't care; nothing was going to stop him from getting to Jothan. On the other hand the Palpidron weren't likely to leave his lover undefended. The Doctor made a change of plan; he would get the TARDIS first, then rescue Jothan. It would mean leaving the medic with his captors, but the chances of both of them escaping without the ship were remote. The Time Lord heard footsteps coming close and slipped into the first door he came to. He looked around and almost shouted with joy at his luck: he was back in the room where they had been searched. All of his clothing and effects were still in the boxes they had been left in. The Doctor dressed hurriedly and got all of his things together, then went to the box of Jothan's belongings. He made sure to get the medic's TARDIS key and sonic screwdriver. He wished he could take the rest of Jothan's things, especially the clothes, but they would only slow him down. The Time Lord then paused, trying to think of the best way to get off the base. He could think of only two options: steal a ship or get back to the transmat. After considering for a bit he decided on stealing a ship; there were too many headaches involved in finding the transmat, setting it correctly, and then being able to use it. A ship would be more practical.
He exited the room and slipped out into the hallway. Thankfully, no one was around. He went up to the next turn in the hallway and peeked around the corner, darting back again when he saw a guard coming his direction. He was going to run for it, then stopped and waited. Why should he run? He was betting he would be equal to a single guard, and he might even be able to get a better weapon than the laser scalpel.
The guard turned the corner, goggled at the Doctor for a second, then fumbled for his weapon. The Doctor stabbed him in the forehead with the laser scalpel, catching the body as it went down. He secured the guard's weapon, a pulse rifle. It was set to incapacitate an enemy rather than kill. The Doctor smirked. Of course it was set on stun; the Palpidron wanted him alive to fight their stupid war. In that he had the advantage. He dragged the dead guard into the room where he had gotten his effects, then re-set the weapon to killing strength. He would have to find the hangar bay to get to a vehicle, so he looked around for a computer access panel to try and find a map. The Time Lord found an access panel after a few minutes and located the hangar bay three levels below his present position. Finding a maintenance duct nearby, he crawled in and began his descent. He wasn't afraid of a fight; he just didn't want to have to bother taking on too many enemies at once.
Upon reaching the hangar bay he stopped to reconnoiter. Several of the shuttles looked to be ready to launch, and there didn't appear to be any guards around. There were technicians and other supply personnel, but he doubted they posed much of a threat. Sneaking out of the maintenance duct, he chose a craft and strode across the hangar bay to get to it.
He encountered little resistance; as he had expected, the creatures here weren't proper guards. He gunned down anyone that got in his way, and eventually the creatures figured out it was in their best interests to lay low. He got aboard the long-range shuttle and completed a brief pre-flight check, then took off. Calling up a navigational chart took seconds, and the Doctor soon found Clovic Beta, the planet he and Jothan had been kidnapped from. He laid in a course for the planet, then mentally prepared himself for another fight once he got there. The Palpidron did not have the technology necessary to harm the TARDIS, but that didn't mean they couldn't have moved it or set an ambush. He also took a minute to take in some of his latest actions. He tried to drum up some real guilt but found he couldn't; the monsters he was dealing with had proved they were deserving of nothing but contempt. He felt a bit uncomfortable about using a pulse rifle on unarmed civilians, but again couldn't produce any real feeling of guilt or shame. They weren't exactly enemies, but they would have captured him in a heartbeat, and then those in charge would have hurt Jothan. That thought did bring up some guilty feelings. He had to abandon his husband to the hands of barbaric animals. The first thing he would do once he got Jothan back and apologized would be to make sure everyone who had a hand in hurting his lover got back what they delivered. He thought of Jothan locked in a cell somewhere, naked and cold and unhappy. He almost wept thinking of it, but then the rage within him resurfaced. He would find the medic and make sure those responsible for his distress were given justice. He would get Jothan back, take care of the Palpidron, and then they would go back to their lives. Turning the engines up to full speed, the Time Lord headed for Clovic Beta.
**********
Colonel Melleywon did not go down to the hangar bay personally. He should have, but found he didn't have the stomach for it. Five ship techs had died, the Time Lord was gone, and it was all his fault. Eight deaths in all; all attributable to his carelessness. He would not shirk his responsibility; it had been his duty, and he had failed. Had he lived centuries before he would have been expected to perform ritual suicide, but that was during a kinder age. One thing was certain; he had to alert High Command at once. He made contact with General Prillit and wasted no time. “The target has escaped after killing eight individuals. We are tracking the shuttle he stole, and it appears he's heading back to the acquisition point, presumably for his ship. It will take him a few hours to get there ...”
General Prillit sighed heavily. “How did he manage to get off the base in the first place?”
Melleywon stood a little straighter. “I failed to post a guard with him after we fitted his companion with the nerve inducer. He killed two medics, severely injured another, then killed a guard and stole his weapon. After that he made it to the hangar bay and took out five ship techs.”
“We must re-acquire the target as soon as possible—he may return of his own accord as we still have his companion ... I suppose you've lost him as well?”
“No, General. He's currently in the Interrogation Room, awaiting the return of the Time Lord.”
The top military commander sighed again. “So you're going to let that alien sit there unguarded, with his own chance to escape? Didn't you learn anything? Put that creature in the brig immediately. His security should now be your sole focus. Protect him, Melleywon, as you would protect your own life. You can look forward to a court-martial after this is over, but if you can get the target back and on our side, I may be able to overlook the worst of it. Don't lose that alien, Colonel. Don't even dare.”
“I will not fail again, General Prillit.” Melleywon gave a perfect salute.
“See that you don't.” The communication was cut off.
Colonel Melleywon gave orders that the alien was to be placed in a maximum security cell, usually reserved for traitors and prisoners known to be deadly. He then had a brilliant idea. Using the transmat, he sent a platoon of soldiers to the acquisition point and took the Time Lord's craft. He tried transmatting it to the base several times with no success; it just wouldn't move. Then he had another idea. He had the Time Lord's ship carried into a large supply crate and then transmatted the crate. The craft was then in Palpidron control. As an added measure he attached a small tracking device to the vehicle, one not easily found. Pleased with himself, he put the Time Lord ship back on the beach in the supply crate and waited for its owner to arrive.
In three hours the stolen shuttle was found on Clovic Beta. Colonel Melleywon waited with the platoon, ready at any moment for the Time Lord to try and reclaim his property. The beach was patrolled constantly. It was foolproof, the colonel told himself. There weren't even any cities on the planet except underwater dwellers with little technology; the land was completely empty. The Time Lord would be seen coming from miles away, even if he had an army of Davongans on his side. The man would be outnumbered and outgunned. It was the perfect plan.
It was, until the wall of water fully ten feet high hit the beach with more strength behind it than a fleet of interceptors. The whole beach was swept away in the torrent, except for the crate. The colonel and a handful of men survived by being in it when the tidal wave struck. When the water receded, a small water craft popped up close to the remains of the beach and the Time Lord stepped out on the shore. Colonel Melleywon and his men had the element of surprise, as well as the craft itself, and there was no struggle. The Time Lord was taken back into custody, well respected by the guards and the colonel himself. This time there would be no mistakes. Thirty-five men had died, but that was nothing compared to what would die if the Davongans were not defeated. Mellywon gave the man a dose of chotoword immediately, then locked him down.
************
The Doctor fumed as he sat in his cell. He should have taken the Mevne up on their offer to launch their own assault on the beach as well as cause the tidal wave. He hadn't wanted the Mevne to die on his behalf though, so he went and fell into the trap he had felt certain he could avoid. He made a promise then and there that he would take the help he was offered next time—if there was a next time it was offered. Now he was a prisoner again and would have to start over. The only good thing about it was that the TARDIS was now close by rather than several parsecs away.
He was also starting to get a bit concerned. He hadn't seen anyone in over three days; a probe of some kind came out of the wall and gave him an injection every twelve hours. He tried to fight it off the one time, but did not succeed. Other than that, he was completely alone. He had less need for food and water than a human would, but even he would die of dehydration eventually. He wondered what they were waiting for if they needed him so badly for their stupid little war. It also made him concerned about how Jothan was being treated. He knew he would find out sooner or later, probably by watching his husband be tortured, but for now the silence was deafening—and worrying.
************
Colonel Melleywon paced as he waited for his communication to High Command to go through. He had been worried the last time he had spoken to General Prillit; now he was positively terrified. Facing a court-martial would be bad enough, but if he lost his people the entire war ...
General Prillit looked annoyed as he came on screen. “What is it, Melleywon? Do you have the Time Lord yet?”
Colonel Melleywon could not keep his voice from shaking. “We re-acquired the target three days ago; lost another thirty-five soldiers doing it, but there's another problem. The Time Lord's companion ... he's sick. The medics think he might be dying. They're doing their best, but ...”
“If that alien dies you will go down in history as the idiot who lost us the most crucial war we have ever faced. Can't you manage to get even one thing right, Colonel? What's wrong with the alien? What did you fools do to it?”
Melleywon stammered as he explained, “The Time Lord ... he said something about a sterile field ... bacteria ...”
General Prillit's voice was controlled and colder than vacuum as he announced, “This is what you are to do. You will take the Time Lord to the alien and provide him with all the medical equipment you have. You will provide him with all the personnel he requires, all the medicines he could want ... all of whatever he asks for. You will also see to it that he is guarded within an inch of his life. Once the alien is well you can go back to using it as a lever to move the Time Lord to our will but for now all that is suspended. The Time Lord knows his companion. Use his knowledge. Also, lower the dose of chotoword for now; we need him as clear-minded as possible without losing control.”
“Understood, sir.”
“One more thing, Melleywon. If we do ever get through this and gain victory, I will make it my personal mission to completely ruin your life. You will be held responsible for the deaths of forty-three of your fellow soldiers, be completely stripped of rank, dishonorably discharged, and hopefully die of shame. Am I quite clear?”
“Yes, General.”
General Prillit waggled his tongue at Melleywon insultingly, then cut the transmission.
The colonel took a few moments to get himself together, then started implementing the plan. He had the medics set up a care center with everything the Time Lord might want in the way of equipment. He had the transmat team standing by with access to the best hospital supply station in the system. He had the alien washed and brought up to the care center. Finally he went to go get the Time Lord himself.
The man jumped to his feet as the colonel entered the room, but quickly composed himself. “Took you long enough, didn't it? Don't suppose you could supply me with something as basic as, say, water? Will you—”
Colonel Melleywon held up a hand, and the Time Lord shut his mouth.
“We have run into a ... situation,” the colonel confessed. “Your companion is quite ill. We are giving you the chance to save his life. Anything you ask for will be yours. You will be watched at every instant, so do not take advantage of the situation.”
The Time Lord did not speak at first. At last he said in a choked whisper, “Take me to him.”
Colonel Melleywon led the Time Lord to the care center. He said nothing as the man ran over to his companion and kissed him on the forehead. The Time Lord then began barking out orders at an incredible rate. He wanted blood samples taken and scans to be done. He wanted cool water and fever reducers and painkillers and would it hurt to give him a sheet so his companion wasn't lying there in the altogether? The man demanded and directed and pretty soon all the staff had something to do regarding the alien and his care. Then the complaints began. The cot for the alien wasn't soft enough, the water wasn't cold enough, the sheet wasn't long enough, the blood samplers weren't compatible with his blood ...
At last the Time Lord turned to the colonel and told him flatly, “Half the stuff you have here isn't going to do me a bit of good. I need to get aboard my ship and get things from there as well as get my other belongings, the ones that were taken when we were captured. I know you aren't about to let me take Jothan there or anything like that, but I have to get my equipment or he won't make it. I warned you he would pick up some bacteria ...”
“I'm not about to let you in your ship,” the colonel argued.
“If Jothan's going to survive I need a proper medical scanner, proper blood analyzing equipment, proper medications ... all things I have, on my ship. If you don't trust me you can come as well, bring however many guards you want ... they can help carry. I suppose you understand what's going to happen if he dies ...”
“You will probably be more uncooperative than you already are, I'm sure ...”
The Time Lord stopped abruptly, staring down at Melleywon. “If Jothan dies your base, this planet, and your entire race will be nothing but ash and cinders, let alone what I'll do to you personally. Understand?”
Colonel Melleywon turned brown and took an involuntary step backward. “I understand,” he said finally. He now knew why this being was called “The Oncoming Storm”.
In the end he did accompany the Time Lord into his craft. It was an amazing experience, so it was too bad he was in no state to truly appreciate it. The man took several loads of medical equipment out and started a fresh round of tests. He had the alien's bed carried out and placed in the middle of the care center, saying his companion would get better rest. He even went so far as to give the alien clothing, but not before it was thoroughly searched. At last the Time Lord shut the door of his craft, saying, “That's all I need ... for now.”
Colonel Melleywon watched the Time Lord closely over the next few hours, but it certainly seemed that he was not taking advantage of the liberties he had been given. He was in motion continually, checking test results or just pacing, and let no one but himself near the alien unless it was absolutely necessary. At one point he left to use the bathroom giving everyone strict orders not to touch anything, not to do anything big or small, routine or otherwise, until he returned with the guards. He was back within three minutes and glared at everyone like a female over her eggs until he was satisfied that no one had done anything to hurt his companion. He explained that the alien had developed a brain infection after the “deplorable treatment” he had received when the neural inducer was implanted. It rather surprised the colonel that the Time Lord did not try to remove the device, but received his answer when one of the medics timidly asked him the question. “It's too late,” the medic was told curtly. “If I do it now he won't survive.”
The days dragged by. The Time Lord spent his time by his companion's side, clearly disturbed by his friend's unresponsiveness and surly because of the chotoword injections. When he wasn't scanning, analyzing, or ordering people around he was now sitting on the bed, sometimes stroking the alien's hair, sometimes rubbing his back. The man spoke less and less as the time passed, but sometimes the Colonel felt he could almost feel the Time Lord's hatred toward himself and the other staff. The sick alien just lay like a lump. The colonel couldn't see what the Time Lord saw in such a frail creature, but he wasn't stupid enough to ask. In fact, he didn't speak to the Time Lord at all.
On the ninth day Colonel Melleywon contacted High Command to give them another update. “No change in the alien's condition as of yet. The Time Lord barely speaks anymore, he just looks ... I think he truly hates us all.”
“I am hardly surprised,” General Prillit said crisply. “Given the debacle this has turned into, don't be surprised if I offer your head to the Time Lord as an act of appeasement. You have utterly failed at this mission. I would take over myself, but I'm needed here to coordinate the attacks on some of the colony worlds in Sector Three. For now, your orders are to maintain. Hold on to what we have and pray to the gods the alien makes some progress soon.”
“Understood, sir.” Melleywon closed the connection.
It was no longer General Prillit that had Melleywon disturbed. Prillit could only ruin his career. The real fear he felt was toward the Time Lord. He had never been a timid man, but there was something about the man's growing silence that unnerved him. He desperately wished he had never been given this assignment, but as he had he would have to endure. He went back to his quarters, hoping the alien would show signs of improvement before the Time Lord got really angry.
************
Jothan sighed, turning over in his bed. He had been having a lovely dream, one where the Doctor was staying with him night after night. He snuggled closer to the Time Lord, feeling his cool hands on his back. He was about to go back to sleep when he felt the Doctor move, then heard him say in a surprised voice, “Jothan? You're awake?”
Jothan sat up and looked at the Time Lord. He tried to speak, but his throat was dry and the words ... the words weren't coming. He tried again, but could only manage, “D-D-D-Dog-der?”
“Jothan? What's wrong?”
He attempted to form the words he wanted, but they just weren't coming. He tried and tried, finally coming up with, “No ... n-n-n-no speak good ... D-D-Dog-der, help ... please ...”
The Time Lord was instantly on his feet. “Just stay calm, Love. I'll figure out what's going on. You lie quiet. There's no reason for you to be concerned ...”
His husband brought over a scanner which Jothan recognized as one from the TARDIS. The Doctor used it, then sat back down on the bed, not speaking. Jothan felt nervous; something must be seriously wrong. “Dog-der? Why ... why no speak good? Whad ...”
The Doctor didn't answer at first; he just reached for Jothan's hand and stroked it. Finally he told his lover, “The infection ... it's done some damage to your brain. You should recover with time and proper care, but for now ...”
Jothan could see that the Doctor was horribly upset, so he sat up and gave him a strong hug. “No worry,” he told him, trying to sound cheerful. “Jothan ... bedder soon ... ged b-b-bedder ...”
“It's their fault,” the Doctor said blackly. “These barbarians ... it's all their fault.”
“Jothan ged bedder. Dog-der no sss-sad ...”
The Doctor pulled away from Jothan's embrace, standing again. “I'm going to do a full-body scan. I want to make sure ...”
He was going to carry Jothan over, but the medic held up a hand. “Jothan ... wand walk ...”
The Time Lord looked doubtful, but helped him to stand. It took all he had, but he was able to totter over to the scanner and lie down. He lay still as the machine ran its test, then sat up slowly as the Doctor checked the results. “Looks like nothing else is seriously wrong. You'll have to get your strength back, of course ... you've been ill for over a week.”
The medic accepted the Time Lord's help to get back across the room. The frog/men all tried to look busy, but he knew they were watching their every move. It made Jothan very uncomfortable. He pulled the Doctor close and whispered, “Men ... b-b-bad men ssss-sdare ... n-n-no like ...”
“Pay no attention to them, Love. They don't matter.” His tone was pure frost.
Jothan felt a little shiver when the Doctor told him that. Usually the Time Lord tried to see the best in everyone, even their enemies, but now ... He hugged his lover again, telling him, “Jothan ged bedder. D-Dog-der no worry. Dog-der ... wadder? Jothan wand wadder ...”
“I'll get you some. Right now you should rest.”
Jothan came over and watched as the Doctor rummaged around in a box from the TARDIS, looking for a water bottle. Just then the colonel came into the room. The frog/man took one look at Jothan and popped in his translator. “You have recovered?”
“Hardly,” the Doctor spat back. “He's weak, dehydrated, he has a brain injury—”
The colonel motioned to the guards. “He walks, he talks. That is all that is required.”
The Doctor flew over to the medic and stood in front of him, shielding him from the soldiers. “If you do this ...”
“You have forgotten yourself for long enough,” Colonel Melleywon stated flatly. “We are the ones in control. You are going to do what we tell you and fight our war. Then you can tend to your precious companion all you desire.” He then stared directly at the Doctor who stared back, not giving any ground.
More guards stepped forward, all of them heavily armed. The Doctor didn't seem to care; he was in a full rage. “You will not touch him. You putrid, paltry excuses of flesh are not about to take him away from me.”
Colonel Melleywon told the Doctor, “Stand aside or we will put out his eyes.” He spit out the translator and waggled his tongue at the Time Lord in some sort of display of dominance.
Jothan moved out from behind the Time Lord, hoping the Doctor wouldn't interfere. He stumbled as he took a step forward, and the colonel said, “You three—take the alien to the Interrogation Room and set him up for a session. The rest of you make sure the Time Lord does not interfere. If he moves, shoot the alien in both eyes with your sidearm.”
Jothan realized that he could now understand the frog/man's words. He wondered if the Time Lord had realized it as well, but he doubted it. He had never seen the Doctor this angry, not when he was bitten by the Ellryl, not when he was facing down the Dalek, not ever. He managed to catch the Doctor's eye as he was hustled away and gave his head a little shake. The Doctor gave him one loving glance, then stared balefully at the colonel. Then Jothan was out the door and traveling down the corridors again.
************
The Doctor watched the Palpidron slime carry off his lover. There was nothing he could do to stop it or make it better. He knew that if he kept thinking about it he would snap completely, so he looked around the room, his gaze finally settling on the bed. He then said carefully, “I would like to be allowed to return all this to my ship. Then I will go with you to discuss your plans.”
Colonel Melleywon gazed at him for a minute, then waved his hand in dismissal. “As you say. You had better be quick about it; we have a war to run. And no tricks; I meant what I said about your companion's eyes.”
The frog/man spat out the mouthpiece and told his guards, “Help the Time Lord return his belongings to his craft. While you work, notice as much as you can about the ship itself, especially any weapons it might have, or how it flies. If he makes any move to escape disable him and let me know.”
The Time Lord moved all the equipment and furnishings back to the TARDIS with the help of the guards. He had hoped that the task would cool his anger, but it ended up having little effect. He would make them regret it, he promised himself. Every blow, every mistreatment, every pinprick they gave Jothan would be catalogued and paid for, preferably with blood. He had not felt this way about any living being since the Battle of Arcadia, and he didn't care. The best course of action would be to play along at first, and then his true feelings could be dealt with. Now was not the time or place for anger. That would have to come later.
As the frog/men put Jothan's bed back in his room, the Doctor realized for the first time that he could understand the Palpidrons' speech. He had not noticed before, but it made perfect sense; they were now in range of the TARDIS, and her translation circuits were working just as they should. He thought about how this new advantage could work to his favor, but came up with nothing. It might come into play at some point, but for now it was useless information. The frog/men weren't talking about anything important, just commenting on how heavy the bed was and what they planned to do once they were off-duty for the shift.
At last everything was back aboard the ship, except the Doctor's leather jacket. The Time Lord came out of his craft and was not surprised to find Colonel Melleywon waiting for him. The frog/man motioned to one of the guards, saying, “Have a medic administer the full dose of chotoword. Then put the Time Lord in a maximum security cell, after two of you search him thoroughly for anything. If he has weapons, scraps of paper, if he has micro-fleas, I expect you to find them and remove them. I want him stripped down to the bone. Oh, and leave your weapons outside the cell; I don't want him getting one and you should be more than able to control him without. If you're not, I'll reassign you to cleaning the hangar bays with your tongues.”
The guard snapped a salute, then took the Doctor by the arm. He momentarily considered making them carry him, but remembered the colonel's threat and cooperated. He didn't want these stunted slugs to do so much as look at his husband. The medic injected him with whatever drug they were using, and the guards pushed him to the door. He walked quietly enough to the cell and endured a humiliating, very intrusive search of his person, more like a rape than a search. Once the guards were satisfied they opened the door of the cell. The room was literally empty; there were four walls and a floor. The Time Lord was pushed into the room and the door closed.
The Doctor sat cross-legged on the floor and decided to attempt meditation to calm his thoughts. He tried for forty minutes then gave it up; he just couldn't get centered. He lay flat on his back in the middle of the room, trying not to think of what they might be doing to Jothan. He couldn't help it; all he could think of was that horrible colonel shooting Jothan in the eyes or putting him in agony. He suddenly burst into tears, unable to control his emotions. What could he do? He didn't want to fight anyone's war like some mercenary for hire, but what choice did he have? If he refused the Palpidron would hurt Jothan and might even kill him, and if that happened ...
The Time Lord sobbed for exactly eleven minutes and eighteen seconds, then forced himself to stop. This wasn't helping anything. He had to think, had to plan what he should do. Presumably they would take him out of the cell at some point, and he would have to be ready, would need to have something in mind. The harder he tried to think, the more his mind focused on his lover and what the foul Palpidron might be doing to him. Finally exhaustion took over and he fell asleep.
************
Colonel Melleywon waited four hours before he called for the guards to bring the Time Lord to the Interrogation Room. He hadn't wanted to waste that much time, but General Prillit had been adamant that the torture not be started too early. Besides, he did not expect the Time Lord to give in very easily, especially not in the first session. This was mostly to provide a show of force and, if he admitted it to himself, to punish the man for his earlier defiance. Melleywon was not normally a cruel person, but he relished the idea of making the Time Lord suffer.
The guards arrived with their prisoner. He was pleased to see they had taken no chances; the Time Lord had thick wrist and ankle shackles on and was naked. “Any trouble?” he asked.
“None, sir,” the soldier replied, as he secured the Doctor to the metal chair.
Suddenly the Time Lord spoke, his voice trembling. “You don't need to do this. If you stop now and leave Jothan alone I promise I will cooperate. Just don't ... don't hurt him, please ...”
“I don't believe you, Time Lord. You will witness the power we have over you and your companion. Then we will talk about the war effort.” The colonel took a device out of his uniform and pointed it at the glass. “The session will begin.”
Colonel Melleywon left the room an hour later in the best mood he had been in for quite a while. As he had expected the Time Lord did not make a sound after his first plea for mercy. The alien companion had held out on screaming longer than he would have supposed, but he broke about forty minutes in and Melleywon was glad. He decided he would do one more session just to show who was in control, and then he would start to question the Time Lord on the best course of action to take against the Davongan filth. He thought of heading to his quarters, then decided to inform High Command first. He went to the Communication Center and within minutes was updating General Prillit. “The alien woke today. I started the torture sessions accordingly.”
The general frowned. “Already? Was the alien healthy enough for such a venture?”
Melleywon shrugged. “He was walking and talking, so ...”
“Don't do another session until he's had a chance to recover properly,” the general ordered. “You'll get better results that way. What was the Time Lord's reaction?”
“I had him begging for mercy before the session even started,” the colonel said smugly.
“You what?!? Are you telling me that the Time Lord offered his services before you began the torture and you did it anyway?”
Melleywon tried to explain. “I didn't trust—”
The general cut him off, his tongue writhing in his mouth. “In my years of service I've had people under me that were stupid, insubordinate, full of themselves, and flat out incompetent, but of all of them you have proved yourself to be the absolute worst. Do you even have two neurons firing up there in your worthless skull? We had just what we wanted—the Time Lord's cooperation—and you botched it! As of this moment you are relieved of command and demoted to Cadet First Class. Tell your XO I want to see him and that you are to be confined to quarters until I can get there myself and see what I can salvage of this operation. You may very well have cost us this war, Cadet Melleywon, all so you could get a few stings in at the one person we needed cooperation from the most. I can't even kill you, because I might need you as a peace offering! Now get out of my sight and send me your replacement. I will be there in sixteen hours.”
Melleywon retreated, praying to the gods that he would not be given to the Time Lord.
************
Captain Prizdeth came out of the secure transmission booth in a hurry, several things on his mind. The first duty he had was to secure the former colonel and have him escorted to his quarters, keeping him well guarded. The general had been very clear on what would happen to the captain personally if Melleywon ended up dead. The second order of business was to ascertain the condition of the alien. He waited for the medic's report and was dismayed to find that the creature was unconscious again. He told the specialist, “Nurse him back to health, quickly. General Prillit wants him in top condition when he arrives. Get him a cot to sleep on and make sure he has regular food and water. Treat him well and above all, don't antagonize him. We need him as much as we need the Time Lord.”
Next the captain decided to speak with the Time Lord himself. He knew it was a dangerous risk, but somebody would have to hand out the first olive branch and the general had been most insistent that someone inform the Time Lord that Melleywon was no longer in charge. Prizdeth was very worried he might not survive the encounter, but he was prepared to die for his planet if it meant his people could secure victory against the Davongans.
He reached the cell and told the guards, “I am now in command. Let me in to see the Time Lord but don't interfere, no matter what happens. If I am killed just leave the door shut until General Prillit arrives and tell Captain Ooshander she is to take over in my place.” Once he had given his instructions he said a quick prayer to the gods and stepped into the cell.
The Time Lord was lying on the floor, eyes closed. He didn't move when the door was opened and Prizdeth entered the room, but the captain knew the creature could strike at any moment. “I am Captain Prizdeth, and I'm here to let you know that Colonel Melleywon has been relieved of command. In a few hours General Prillit will arrive and take over the operation. I want ... I apologize for what was done to your companion; we never meant ...”
The man still didn't move.
Captain Prizdeth then made an executive decision, hoping to placate the man they needed. “I'm willing to put you and the alien together for a while, at least until his health improves. We don't know how to care for him as well as you do.”
Now the Time Lord sat up. Prizdeth looked him in the eye but turned away nearly at once. He thought he had never seen such a look of loathing on a creature's face before. Prizdeth went to the door and rapped twice. The guards came in and placed the Time Lord in full restraints again. They then went to where the alien was being held.
Two of the medics were just about to lift the alien to a cot when they came in. The Time Lord hurried up to one of them and tried to grab the tech by the arm. “Don't you butchers touch him!” he spat savagely.
One of the guards stepped up with his weapon but Prizdeth waved him back. “Let him be. And you,” he motioned to the other guard, “release him from the restraints.”
Once the restraints were off the Time Lord gently slid the alien onto the cot. Without looking at any of them the man said, “He'll need a blanket. He gets cold without a blanket.”
Captain Prizdeth said quietly, “We will bring you one shortly. Is there anything else you need right now?”
The Time Lord still wouldn't look at them. “Water, and food.”
“Both will be provided.” The captain motioned to his staff, and they all left the room.
************
Jothan was unconscious when the Doctor arrived in the cell where he was held. Two of the Palpidron were just about to pick the medic up. The Time Lord intervened in the only way he could; he rushed at them as quickly as possible, yelling, “Don't you butchers touch him!”
They stopped, looking fearful. Good. They should be afraid, every one of them. He didn't even feel bad about it. One of the guards took off his restraints and let them fall to the floor. As soon as he was released the Time Lord gently lifted his lover to the cot. He felt Jothan's cool skin and told them, “He'll need a blanket. He gets cold without a blanket.”
The new one in charge said he would get one, and asked what else they would need. The Doctor saw that there were no provisions and replied, “Water, and food.”
The new leader said it would be provided, and then all of the frog/men left the room. The Doctor didn't care whether they stayed or not; he had more important things to be worrying about. His husband didn't seem to be in distress, but wouldn't wake. He wasn't sure when they last had given him food or, more importantly, water. The Doctor had tried to keep Jothan hydrated through intravenous fluids while he was ill, but that could only do so much.
He then noticed that the fools had left the restraints in the room. He snatched them up and shoved them as far under the cot as he could, hoping no one would notice. There was nothing else to do but wait. He sat crossed-legged by Jothan's side and tried again to meditate.
In about fifteen minutes someone came with two blankets, a crate of water bottles, and what looked to be food. The Doctor checked it over, then sighed. It was doubtful Jothan would want to eat it, which meant the Time Lord might have to force him. That was the last thing in the world the older man wanted. What he wouldn't do to have his jacket back; he was sure he could find something for Jothan to eat in his practically endless pockets. He set the food aside, tucked Jothan in, and waited.
The younger man woke after two hours, thirty-seven minutes, and nine seconds. The Time Lord had been gently rubbing his companion's back when he started to stir. The Doctor stopped and told Jothan quietly, “There's plenty of water if you're thirsty.”
The young man rolled over then sat up slowly and looked at the Time Lord. “Please wadder,” he croaked.
The Doctor handed him a bottle. “Drink it slowly, Love. Small sips at first. You haven't had anything in your stomach for a long while.”
Jothan started out all right, but then he began gulping the water down in great mouthfuls. The Doctor had to grab the bottle out of his hands to get him to stop. “You'll make yourself sick, Jothan! Slow down; it's not going anywhere.”
Jothan looked angry at first, but then his expression softened to one of affection. “Dog-der love Jothan. D-D-Dog-der care. More wadder?”
“Not now, Love. Let that settle first. Are you warm enough?”
“Yes, Jothan have ... have ... have warmies.” The younger man looked very frustrated.
The Doctor tried to calm his husband. “Don't focus on what you can't say, Love. Just do your best to express yourself however you have to. You can always use your—”
“No say!” Jothan warned. “And nod work now, cannod.”
“You're right,” the Doctor replied, ashamed of himself. He knew better than to point out possible advantages to their enemies, and telepathy could give them a great advantage indeed. He put the water bottle down next to the cot.
“Jothan wand eed. Dog-der have ... have eed?”
The Time Lord picked up a container of food. “Here's some for you to try.”
Jothan took a small taste then pushed the box away. “Nasss-dy. No wand.”
“You need food Jothan, even if it is unpleasant. You have to get your strength back; you haven't had anything solid in a long while. I'll let you try everything to see what works the best, but like it or not you will eat something.”
The medic muttered under his breath, then sighed. “Jothan ... Jothan dry Dog-der dry.”
“We both will try.” The Time Lord picked up another box.
Jothan was right; the food was vile, and the Time Lord didn't want to know what any of it was. Still he made himself eat it, for Jothan's sake. Jothan would take a bite then wash it down with the water, so the older man knew his companion would be re-hydrated soon. When the meal was finished the medic gave a sigh of relief. “Eed all gone. Wand ... w-w-w-wand ... w-w-wand nide-nide.”
“You're sleepy?” the Doctor asked. “You want to go to sleep?”
The medic nodded. “Yes.” He lay back down in the bed.
The Time Lord tucked his lover in, then sat down as close to the cot as he could, stroking Jothan's hair. He wondered if he could get his husband a proper bath at some point. He dismissed that from his mind with a quick shake of his head. Bathing could wait. They had to escape from this room, find the TARDIS, and most importantly, have revenge on the cruel, disgusting amphibians that were currently holding them captive. The Doctor felt his anger returning. They didn't just want him to fight their petty war; the colonel's torture of Jothan proved that. They wanted a slave, something the Time Lord flat out refused to be. If they really only wanted him as a military expert they never would have hurt his lover.
The Doctor balled his hands into fists. He was not a religious person, but had he been a believer he would have been begging his deity to annihilate the Palpidron and have their atoms blown through the cosmos. Seeing as he could not call on a god, he made a vow that he would do it himself.
************