Fic: Alien Abduction. Chapter 4/5.
Nearly there. This chapter was... odd. I dunno. I always feel like I'm transcribing scenes that play out in my head, and I hope this one works for you. I tried my best... (Masterlist of 'verse here.)
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Interlude | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3
Summary: This story begins with abduction and ends with waffles. In between there's some adventuring and some heartache and a fair few truths are revealed.
Setting: 2023 (Alex is 16).
Characters: The Doctor (Tenth), the Master (Simm), Lucy, Jack, OCs (Alex, Matt, Josh)
Rating: PG-13.
Word count: 2300 words.
Chapter 4
Where did the wind come from, Josh wondered. Was it just displaced air? The box was quite substantial after all... And what exactly was that box? Some kind of teleport booth? Made with alien technology, but painted like a police box - weird.
His thoughts were cut off by the door opening, and once more it was Harold Saxon who stepped out first - although the difference was startling. Previously he had been armed, wrathful, coiled as a spring; this time he walked out with his arms outstretched, and a grin so wide it looked like his face might split. (Josh recognised it from old footage he’d seen. It had always given him the creeps.)
“Where is that son of mine?” Saxon asked and Alex stepped forward, looking as if he was going to his own execution.
“Come here, my Great One - my prince, born to rule the universe!”
Alex tried to hide his wincing, but didn’t quite succeed, and Josh for the first time truly understood how having no father at all could be a bonus.
He noticed that Alex’s uncle also exited the box, but he didn’t do anything except quietly close the door before leaning against it, face inscrutable as Harold Saxon closed the gap between himself and his reluctant son, sweeping him up in an exaggerated hug.
After a long moment Saxon slowly pulled away, his hands gripping Alex’s arms affectionately.
"Lord Seeker, it is a risk having children, you know. There's no telling how they'll turn out. You watch and you worry and you hope and then - suddenly - one day, all your dearest wished and dreams come true: the child has become everything you ever dreamed of!”
He stopped, trying to compose himself as his emotions were almost getting the better of him.
“Oh my son, not Rassilon himself could have done better. Whenever you want to start ruling the universe, just say the word, I'll be there."
Alex shifted as much as he could, clearly deeply uncomfortable, and yet obviously affected by his father’s praise.
"I don't want to rule the universe, you know that Dad."
Saxon shot the Doctor a swift glance over his shoulder, then winked at Alex.
"Oh of course not. But...”
The gleeful pride became overlaid with something darker and more disturbing as he studied Alex, eyes dark and full of shadows that made Josh shiver involuntarily.
“...tell me one thing. And be honest."
Leaning forward he whispered into Alex’s ear. Alex went completely still, and his father took a step back, studying him silently, until Alex finally nodded - a small, reluctant nod, but a definite yes.
Saxon’s face lit up once more, and the untamed joyful malice that shone out of his eyes suddenly made the ordeal on the spaceship somehow fade in significance.
“Knew it! Oh, I'm getting you something special, boy. Something magnificent! Something... spectacular. Just wait!"
Glancing at the Doctor again, he rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Although it looks like grumpy-pant there wants a word. Remember - you earned every gold star in my book."
Grinning widely he sauntered off, leaving Alex to face the man who was clearly much more like a normal parent... Studying him, Josh had a sudden, and very unwelcome, sense of deja vu - the look in the Doctor’s eyes had that exact same look of ‘You are just like your father after all - words cannot describe how disappointed I am in you’ that had been on Josh’s mother’s face when she’d last year discovered that he’d been sleeping around...
"Well you've certainly made your father very happy," the Doctor said lightly, hands in his pockets as he detached himself from the box, and Alex now looked like a kicked puppy. The Doctor however held up a hand, index finger raised, silencing him pre-emptively, obviously not in the least affected by puppy-ness.
"I only have one question: Why did you put a delay on the message?"
There was a moment's silence before Alex replied. A moment in which he avoided the Doctor’s eyes as hard as he could.
"I didn't want you to catch them."
Without moving a muscle the Doctor’s face abruptly changed, and when Alex looked up it was the Doctor who lowered his eyes.
Then he gently, almost apologetically, pulled Alex into a hug, and Josh thought that he heard a definitely wobble in his voice as he said:
“That's my boy."
And for the first time since they’d woken up on the Glattian ship Alex visibly relaxed, as he leaned into his uncle with a deep sigh.
"But," the Doctor continued, pulling back, "next time - have a little faith. I let them go - sent all their 'study subjects' home, of course, and reported them to the Shadow Proclamation - Glattis is going to be under very strict surveillance from now on. But I let them go."
Alex smiled then, bright and happy, and Josh noticed a small surprised noise from Jack, who was now standing shortly behind him. Ignoring him, the Doctor got a secretive look on his face.
"Did bring back a little souvenir though..."
With a flourish he pulled out a see-through bubble, within which was the weird little red spider thing. Alex's jaw dropped and then he excitedly reached out.
"The Rachnoss! Can I have it? Really? Thank you, Uncle, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
He hugged the Doctor vigorously, and then spun around, beaming.
"Look!"
Josh still thought that a pretty alien would be far more interesting, but Matt - always curious about biology - seemed to be impressed enough for both of them, before they were all momentarily distracted from their excitement by the Doctor clearing his throat.
"Remember that we might still have to destroy it - it’s only a temporary educational tool."
Alex nodded distractedly and then eagerly began to fill both Matt and Josh in on Rachnoss history and physiology. Josh sighed and half-turned to catch Jack’s eyes, and Jack winked at him. Hang on - what was it Alex had said about Jack being able to introduce him to pretty aliens?
A new world, a bigger, wider, more extraordinary world was beginning to unfold around him... He was standing in the elusive Torchwood, alien technology all around him, housed in what looked like Victorian architecture - excitement and adventure surely lay just around the corner. Josh smiled at Jack and thought that despite everything the night had been brilliant.
Then Saxon's voice cut through the happy excitement.
"I hate having to repeat myself... But vengeance really is best served hot!"
Turning to locate the voice, Josh, along with everyone else, saw that Saxon was standing by one of the Torchwood computers, the flickering glow making his eyes dance wickedly, as he with infinite relish and great care let his hand fall to press a key on the keyboard.
For a second everyone appeared frozen in place, and then the Doctor and Jack surged forward, pushing Saxon out of the way.
Jack started scanning the screen as the Doctor, desperate, yelled at Saxon, nearly shaking him.
“What did you do? Master - what did you do?”
Taking his eyes off the unfolding drama Josh turned his head, and saw that Alex hadn’t moved at all, seemingly caught between bitterness and resignation.
“Told you so,” he finally said, so quietly that Josh wasn’t sure if he was just talking to himself. Before he could ask, his attention was caught by Jack, who had by now managed to unlock whatever secrets the computer held.
"How the hell did you use that weapon? The codes are changed daily!"
Saxon sneered, disdainful and condescending.
"Minister of Defence? I created the whole system. Plus those codes are so simplistic a child of three could work them out!"
"But - how did the Glattians get back into Earth’s orbit?" the Doctor asked, furious and confused, and Saxon smiled superiorly.
"Overrode and programmed their navigation while you were busy telling them off."
The Doctor’s jaw dropped, as Matt turned to Alex.
“What just happened?”
Alex, tiredly, dragged a hand across his face.
"Torchwood has... weapons. Alien weapons, adapted to protect the planet. Some of them powerful enough to blast spaceships out of the sky. Can’t believe none of us thought of that..."
His voice trailed off as he refocussed on the escalating argument in front of them, and Josh began to feel pinpricks on unease as the reality of the situation hit him, Alex’s words ringing in his ears...
’You don’t understand. These guys stole me, and my dad... God, you have no idea. He’s going to slaughter them...’
He’d thought his friend’s desperation somewhat... bizarre at the time, given their situation, but seeing it all happen just the way Alex had said it would...
Swallowing, he studied Saxon who was now speaking, coldly furious.
"I told you Doctor - no one lays a finger on my boy, and lives. That is final."
Tilting his head, a frosty, challenging smile touched Saxon's mouth.
"So, what are you going to do? Lock me up with the Family of Blood?"
He held out his hands, mockingly, as the Doctor stared back silently.
"Who's the Family of Blood?" Alex cut in, his quiet voice shattering the mutual glaring, and the two men - no, the two aliens - turned their heads, the Doctor’s expression unreadable.
“No one important,” he finally said, but the smirk on Saxon’s face gave lie to the words.
“Oh Doctor. Afraid that the boy is going to rattle that cupboard of yours and all the skeletons will come tumbling out?”
“Don’t-” the Doctor started, and Saxon laughed.
“Please, give him some credit - I’m sure he’s perfectly well aware that if we started comparing our records on genocide you’d be way ahead...”
The Doctor’s glare was pure fury, but - he didn’t retaliate.
For a second Josh felt like he couldn’t breathe, as the words with one fatal stroke flipped the whole night’s events upside down.
'Tell me young Seeker, is it true was said of the Timelords? That they had the power of gods?’
'Don’t know about the power of gods... Although from your point of view I suppose that’s not entirely inaccurate.'
He watched Saxon raise a smug eyebrow at the silenced Doctor, eyes trailing over the others dismissively.
“Well if you’re not going to do anything...”
The power of gods... The power to destroy a ship with a single keystroke. The power to - what? Alex’s words, that he had so recently scoffed at, came back to him once more.
‘When I was born my father ruled the world and was just about to unleash war on the whole universe...’
‘No wonder he never told us’, Josh thought to himself. ‘He must how this will affect us. Affect me...’
Saxon shrugged and turned away from the Doctor, and Josh instinctively moved away from the path he might take. Alex’s father, however, didn’t even notice, instead making a point of catching Jack’s eyes.
“Funny thing, but murder always makes me incredibly thirsty. But I’m sure you remember that?”
He laughed, and Josh saw Jack swallow involuntarily. Saxon continued unaffected.
“I don't suppose that brave little teaboy of yours is here? Or is it too early? Well, I guess I'll make do with whatever you can rustle up."
Jack bristled. "Newsflash Master: Truce over. And I have a sudden overwhelming urge to lock you up with the weevils."
Saxon looked over his shoulder at the Doctor.
"He's terribly rude, you know. Can we go now? Leave him behind here for a century or two? It worked very nicely last time."
The Doctor seemed to have regained his equilibrium by now, and his voice was low and dangerous when he started speaking.
"Master..."
Alex was watching the scene with a deep weariness, before turning to Matt and Josh.
"Welcome to my life. Arguments daily at 10, 3 and 7, death-threats around midnight."
He sighed, and then turned the Rachnoss over in his hands.
"Still... there are... upsides, I suppose...”
Josh didn’t say anything, not yet knowing how to voice the absolute dread the word ‘genocide’ had woken in him. His grandmother still had her Kindertransport manila tag, and his family history consisted of a tree where all branches save one had been cut off...
All he wanted was to leave this place and the scary aliens. (He’d known Alex’s uncle most of his life. He didn’t know how to ever look at him again.) He wanted solace. He wanted to lose himself in someone’s (anyone's) arms, for soothing kisses to chase away unbidden, frightening truths. He wanted... He wanted things he couldn't have right now.
Then Alex - and Josh really didn’t know how to deal with Alex right now - smiled a swift, barely-there smile.
“I promised I’d explain, didn’t I? Well let me show you something that’ll explain almost everything, without me having to say a word.”
Oblivious to the shouting match going on around them, he walked over to the blue police box, Matt and Josh trailing after him.
"This is the only piece left of Gallifrey, the long gone home of the Timelords. It's a TARDIS, which stands for ‘Time And Relative Dimension In Space’."
Josh frowned, grateful for the diversion. "Relative Dimension?"
“Relative Dimension,” Alex repeated and opened the door. “Go on, have a look, and you’ll see why I’m worth dying for.”
The mixture of pride and bitterness in his voice didn’t go unnoticed, and Josh, with a cautious nod, stepped over the threshold and into... impossibility.
Chapter 5.
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Interlude | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3
Summary: This story begins with abduction and ends with waffles. In between there's some adventuring and some heartache and a fair few truths are revealed.
Setting: 2023 (Alex is 16).
Characters: The Doctor (Tenth), the Master (Simm), Lucy, Jack, OCs (Alex, Matt, Josh)
Rating: PG-13.
Word count: 2300 words.
Chapter 4
Where did the wind come from, Josh wondered. Was it just displaced air? The box was quite substantial after all... And what exactly was that box? Some kind of teleport booth? Made with alien technology, but painted like a police box - weird.
His thoughts were cut off by the door opening, and once more it was Harold Saxon who stepped out first - although the difference was startling. Previously he had been armed, wrathful, coiled as a spring; this time he walked out with his arms outstretched, and a grin so wide it looked like his face might split. (Josh recognised it from old footage he’d seen. It had always given him the creeps.)
“Where is that son of mine?” Saxon asked and Alex stepped forward, looking as if he was going to his own execution.
“Come here, my Great One - my prince, born to rule the universe!”
Alex tried to hide his wincing, but didn’t quite succeed, and Josh for the first time truly understood how having no father at all could be a bonus.
He noticed that Alex’s uncle also exited the box, but he didn’t do anything except quietly close the door before leaning against it, face inscrutable as Harold Saxon closed the gap between himself and his reluctant son, sweeping him up in an exaggerated hug.
After a long moment Saxon slowly pulled away, his hands gripping Alex’s arms affectionately.
"Lord Seeker, it is a risk having children, you know. There's no telling how they'll turn out. You watch and you worry and you hope and then - suddenly - one day, all your dearest wished and dreams come true: the child has become everything you ever dreamed of!”
He stopped, trying to compose himself as his emotions were almost getting the better of him.
“Oh my son, not Rassilon himself could have done better. Whenever you want to start ruling the universe, just say the word, I'll be there."
Alex shifted as much as he could, clearly deeply uncomfortable, and yet obviously affected by his father’s praise.
"I don't want to rule the universe, you know that Dad."
Saxon shot the Doctor a swift glance over his shoulder, then winked at Alex.
"Oh of course not. But...”
The gleeful pride became overlaid with something darker and more disturbing as he studied Alex, eyes dark and full of shadows that made Josh shiver involuntarily.
“...tell me one thing. And be honest."
Leaning forward he whispered into Alex’s ear. Alex went completely still, and his father took a step back, studying him silently, until Alex finally nodded - a small, reluctant nod, but a definite yes.
Saxon’s face lit up once more, and the untamed joyful malice that shone out of his eyes suddenly made the ordeal on the spaceship somehow fade in significance.
“Knew it! Oh, I'm getting you something special, boy. Something magnificent! Something... spectacular. Just wait!"
Glancing at the Doctor again, he rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Although it looks like grumpy-pant there wants a word. Remember - you earned every gold star in my book."
Grinning widely he sauntered off, leaving Alex to face the man who was clearly much more like a normal parent... Studying him, Josh had a sudden, and very unwelcome, sense of deja vu - the look in the Doctor’s eyes had that exact same look of ‘You are just like your father after all - words cannot describe how disappointed I am in you’ that had been on Josh’s mother’s face when she’d last year discovered that he’d been sleeping around...
"Well you've certainly made your father very happy," the Doctor said lightly, hands in his pockets as he detached himself from the box, and Alex now looked like a kicked puppy. The Doctor however held up a hand, index finger raised, silencing him pre-emptively, obviously not in the least affected by puppy-ness.
"I only have one question: Why did you put a delay on the message?"
There was a moment's silence before Alex replied. A moment in which he avoided the Doctor’s eyes as hard as he could.
"I didn't want you to catch them."
Without moving a muscle the Doctor’s face abruptly changed, and when Alex looked up it was the Doctor who lowered his eyes.
Then he gently, almost apologetically, pulled Alex into a hug, and Josh thought that he heard a definitely wobble in his voice as he said:
“That's my boy."
And for the first time since they’d woken up on the Glattian ship Alex visibly relaxed, as he leaned into his uncle with a deep sigh.
"But," the Doctor continued, pulling back, "next time - have a little faith. I let them go - sent all their 'study subjects' home, of course, and reported them to the Shadow Proclamation - Glattis is going to be under very strict surveillance from now on. But I let them go."
Alex smiled then, bright and happy, and Josh noticed a small surprised noise from Jack, who was now standing shortly behind him. Ignoring him, the Doctor got a secretive look on his face.
"Did bring back a little souvenir though..."
With a flourish he pulled out a see-through bubble, within which was the weird little red spider thing. Alex's jaw dropped and then he excitedly reached out.
"The Rachnoss! Can I have it? Really? Thank you, Uncle, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
He hugged the Doctor vigorously, and then spun around, beaming.
"Look!"
Josh still thought that a pretty alien would be far more interesting, but Matt - always curious about biology - seemed to be impressed enough for both of them, before they were all momentarily distracted from their excitement by the Doctor clearing his throat.
"Remember that we might still have to destroy it - it’s only a temporary educational tool."
Alex nodded distractedly and then eagerly began to fill both Matt and Josh in on Rachnoss history and physiology. Josh sighed and half-turned to catch Jack’s eyes, and Jack winked at him. Hang on - what was it Alex had said about Jack being able to introduce him to pretty aliens?
A new world, a bigger, wider, more extraordinary world was beginning to unfold around him... He was standing in the elusive Torchwood, alien technology all around him, housed in what looked like Victorian architecture - excitement and adventure surely lay just around the corner. Josh smiled at Jack and thought that despite everything the night had been brilliant.
Then Saxon's voice cut through the happy excitement.
"I hate having to repeat myself... But vengeance really is best served hot!"
Turning to locate the voice, Josh, along with everyone else, saw that Saxon was standing by one of the Torchwood computers, the flickering glow making his eyes dance wickedly, as he with infinite relish and great care let his hand fall to press a key on the keyboard.
For a second everyone appeared frozen in place, and then the Doctor and Jack surged forward, pushing Saxon out of the way.
Jack started scanning the screen as the Doctor, desperate, yelled at Saxon, nearly shaking him.
“What did you do? Master - what did you do?”
Taking his eyes off the unfolding drama Josh turned his head, and saw that Alex hadn’t moved at all, seemingly caught between bitterness and resignation.
“Told you so,” he finally said, so quietly that Josh wasn’t sure if he was just talking to himself. Before he could ask, his attention was caught by Jack, who had by now managed to unlock whatever secrets the computer held.
"How the hell did you use that weapon? The codes are changed daily!"
Saxon sneered, disdainful and condescending.
"Minister of Defence? I created the whole system. Plus those codes are so simplistic a child of three could work them out!"
"But - how did the Glattians get back into Earth’s orbit?" the Doctor asked, furious and confused, and Saxon smiled superiorly.
"Overrode and programmed their navigation while you were busy telling them off."
The Doctor’s jaw dropped, as Matt turned to Alex.
“What just happened?”
Alex, tiredly, dragged a hand across his face.
"Torchwood has... weapons. Alien weapons, adapted to protect the planet. Some of them powerful enough to blast spaceships out of the sky. Can’t believe none of us thought of that..."
His voice trailed off as he refocussed on the escalating argument in front of them, and Josh began to feel pinpricks on unease as the reality of the situation hit him, Alex’s words ringing in his ears...
’You don’t understand. These guys stole me, and my dad... God, you have no idea. He’s going to slaughter them...’
He’d thought his friend’s desperation somewhat... bizarre at the time, given their situation, but seeing it all happen just the way Alex had said it would...
Swallowing, he studied Saxon who was now speaking, coldly furious.
"I told you Doctor - no one lays a finger on my boy, and lives. That is final."
Tilting his head, a frosty, challenging smile touched Saxon's mouth.
"So, what are you going to do? Lock me up with the Family of Blood?"
He held out his hands, mockingly, as the Doctor stared back silently.
"Who's the Family of Blood?" Alex cut in, his quiet voice shattering the mutual glaring, and the two men - no, the two aliens - turned their heads, the Doctor’s expression unreadable.
“No one important,” he finally said, but the smirk on Saxon’s face gave lie to the words.
“Oh Doctor. Afraid that the boy is going to rattle that cupboard of yours and all the skeletons will come tumbling out?”
“Don’t-” the Doctor started, and Saxon laughed.
“Please, give him some credit - I’m sure he’s perfectly well aware that if we started comparing our records on genocide you’d be way ahead...”
The Doctor’s glare was pure fury, but - he didn’t retaliate.
For a second Josh felt like he couldn’t breathe, as the words with one fatal stroke flipped the whole night’s events upside down.
'Tell me young Seeker, is it true was said of the Timelords? That they had the power of gods?’
'Don’t know about the power of gods... Although from your point of view I suppose that’s not entirely inaccurate.'
He watched Saxon raise a smug eyebrow at the silenced Doctor, eyes trailing over the others dismissively.
“Well if you’re not going to do anything...”
The power of gods... The power to destroy a ship with a single keystroke. The power to - what? Alex’s words, that he had so recently scoffed at, came back to him once more.
‘When I was born my father ruled the world and was just about to unleash war on the whole universe...’
‘No wonder he never told us’, Josh thought to himself. ‘He must how this will affect us. Affect me...’
Saxon shrugged and turned away from the Doctor, and Josh instinctively moved away from the path he might take. Alex’s father, however, didn’t even notice, instead making a point of catching Jack’s eyes.
“Funny thing, but murder always makes me incredibly thirsty. But I’m sure you remember that?”
He laughed, and Josh saw Jack swallow involuntarily. Saxon continued unaffected.
“I don't suppose that brave little teaboy of yours is here? Or is it too early? Well, I guess I'll make do with whatever you can rustle up."
Jack bristled. "Newsflash Master: Truce over. And I have a sudden overwhelming urge to lock you up with the weevils."
Saxon looked over his shoulder at the Doctor.
"He's terribly rude, you know. Can we go now? Leave him behind here for a century or two? It worked very nicely last time."
The Doctor seemed to have regained his equilibrium by now, and his voice was low and dangerous when he started speaking.
"Master..."
Alex was watching the scene with a deep weariness, before turning to Matt and Josh.
"Welcome to my life. Arguments daily at 10, 3 and 7, death-threats around midnight."
He sighed, and then turned the Rachnoss over in his hands.
"Still... there are... upsides, I suppose...”
Josh didn’t say anything, not yet knowing how to voice the absolute dread the word ‘genocide’ had woken in him. His grandmother still had her Kindertransport manila tag, and his family history consisted of a tree where all branches save one had been cut off...
All he wanted was to leave this place and the scary aliens. (He’d known Alex’s uncle most of his life. He didn’t know how to ever look at him again.) He wanted solace. He wanted to lose himself in someone’s (anyone's) arms, for soothing kisses to chase away unbidden, frightening truths. He wanted... He wanted things he couldn't have right now.
Then Alex - and Josh really didn’t know how to deal with Alex right now - smiled a swift, barely-there smile.
“I promised I’d explain, didn’t I? Well let me show you something that’ll explain almost everything, without me having to say a word.”
Oblivious to the shouting match going on around them, he walked over to the blue police box, Matt and Josh trailing after him.
"This is the only piece left of Gallifrey, the long gone home of the Timelords. It's a TARDIS, which stands for ‘Time And Relative Dimension In Space’."
Josh frowned, grateful for the diversion. "Relative Dimension?"
“Relative Dimension,” Alex repeated and opened the door. “Go on, have a look, and you’ll see why I’m worth dying for.”
The mixture of pride and bitterness in his voice didn’t go unnoticed, and Josh, with a cautious nod, stepped over the threshold and into... impossibility.
Chapter 5.