The Most Toys Remix

[empirical_data]

Who: Data | The Fifth Doctor | Peri Brown
What: Data meets the ancestor of the curator from "Dalek", a Mr. Kevin van Statten, who wants both Data and the TARDIS for his collection and will stop at nothing to possess them.
When: After their adventure in San Francisco.
Warnings and Notes: Related to stuff in infinitychamber, and a redo of the TNG episode The Most

Comments

[5th_doctor]

"Don't go anywhere without me, okay?" Peri disappeared for her bedroom and more decent attire, while the Doctor continued to examine the environment outside the TARDIS. Thoughtfully tapping his finger upon his chin, he studied the readings scrolling up the console screen

[empirical_data]

Rather than fully changing, he simply pulled off the coat and kravat to his Victorian attire, and left them beside the console for the moment. "Doctor, you should be proud she is permitted to dress herself at all. I have encountered cultures where women have been forbidden this simple privilege." Again, rambling as they started to exit the TARDIS, though the words trailed off as they entered the vast room

[5th_doctor]

The Doctor moved slowly, returning the seashell to its place in the box, all the while making sure the man and the woman saw his hands at all times. Though the man didn't raise his weapon, it was plain that he'd know exactly how to use it.

"Doctor?" Peri had slipped between him and Data, protected from the two strangers, who didn't seem very friendly. "W-we didn't mean to," she told them. "Stop by uninvited, I mean. It sort of just...happens."

"We weren't entirely sure that this place was inhabited," added the Doctor, exuding the utmost politeness. "And if you'd allow us, we'll simply be on our way." He gestured vaguely towards the TARDIS. "Terribly sorry to be a bother."

[empirical_data]

"N-no..." The woman said after a moment, raising her hand tentatively. "You're the Doctor? Correct?" Though strangely enough, she kept glancing toward Data, who stared at them dryly for the moment despite any apprehension he was feeling

[5th_doctor]

He seemed to not be paying attention to the woman's words, his eyes drawn to a specific object displayed in a glass case and sitting right beyond her left shoulder: a helmet.

"Yes, I can...certainly see how my reputation may have preceded me in some respect," he said carefully. "I'll have a look at that air pump, if you don't mind? It's the least I could do after, um, dropping in without a by your leave, eh?"

Peri, however, wasn't buying it for a moment. She tugged on Data's sleeve. "Something about this doesn't feel right," she whispered.

"Nonsense," said the Doctor. "What's the harm in staying for a while? And we do need to dock the ship somewhere safe to facilitate repairs. But first things first. How long has it been since the circulation system began to malfunction?"

[empirical_data]

He wanted to agree with Peri, but found himself unable to speak it outright. Instead, mouth opening to do so, slackjawed, and then shutting tight. Instead, he put his hand around her shoulders in a silent gesture of support. He would recommend she stayed at the TARDIS, but after San Francisco he doubted very sincerely that she would be willing to.

"We've noticed it within the past hour. Please come with me." Victoria had almost hoped they would stay back with the TARDIS, but instead Data moved to follow her. Desire to help overwhelming his caution for the moment. A whole group of guards were waiting for them to get out of the collection proper, waiting to spring and snatch the blue box and place it in a confined area.

Van Stattan himself was making his way down to near the air regulators, noting the path that the android and the girl were taking. And noting the protective gesture of the android to her. Something he could exploit later.

[5th_doctor]

Nope, Peri was not about to stay behind while the Doctor and Data wandered off without her. Sure, the TARDIS was a safe place, but she really didn't like the look of those guards. It didn't help matters that the Doctor tended to give everyone they met the benefit of the doubt. It only tended to land them in the worst trouble

[empirical_data]

"I'm sure you will." Though despite herself she had an honest soul, and her own gaze slid to Data for that remark. She couldn't be entirely sure about the other two. She didn't even know if he'd have use for the Doctor once he had the ship and the android. The Doctor's resourcefulness was legendary; he wouldn't want the competition for his intelligence lurking around

[5th_doctor]

"At the very least, your employer requires a slightly more knowledgeable curator for his collection." The Doctor slowed to examine an object stuck beneath yet another glass display. He circled the pillar once, then tapped on the glass before leaning towards the woman. "That's upside down."

Peri stared at the artifact, thinking the thing resembled a Rubik's Cube made of stone, all of its sides the same colored granite. It didn't seem like it had a right side up.

"How large of a facility is this? What's the approximate number of items in this collection?"

[empirical_data]

"Huh...." she said idly, thinking... something close to the same thing as Peri. Then moving on. "This is actually a planet formerly part of the Sontaran Empire. There are underground facilities like these throughout the galaxy, as a last ditch effort to preserve many cultures." She continued leading them on to the air pump room

[5th_doctor]

The Doctor noticed Data dallying behind, but his attempt to turn back and see where the android had got to was stopped by the male guard accompanying them.

"Please, I only want to make sure my friend is safe."

"We're underneath miles of concrete, sir. It's the safest place on the seven planets in this damn system."

"And this is how cultures are preserved? By locking them away from sight? It seems rather counterproductive to me. What about you, Peri?"

"This place needs a gift shop. That'll bring the crowds in," said Peri, roundly unimpressed.

"You, girl. Get your friend," barked the guard.

"My name's Peri. Not 'girl'. And if you ever want to get with one of those 'girls' ever again, I suggest you drop the holier-than-thou attitude. Lighten up a little, okay?" She tracked Data down to the gathering of crates, and she immediately got the shivers. Those things were as big as people. Could probably hold a body easily

[empirical_data]

"I'm... afraid I only work for Mr. Van Stattan," Victoria admitted to the Doctor. "I have no idea what the intent for this collection is, just that the Van Stattans have been accumulating these for generations, once Henry Van Stattan the III regained his father's financial empire."

That tickling at the back of Data's head was still bothering him, and unfortunately while he was hearing Peri as she joined him, he still needed to pry open a second crate.

"I am sorry, Peri. I don't believe one of them has been completely deactivated." One of them was left unexplained until he'd shoved aside another batch of protective plastic bubbles, revealing another somber mechanical face. This one still intact, and like the last idly staring up. Skin was a pale silver, expression fixed and not formed from pliable material as Data's was

[5th_doctor]

The Doctor's only acknowledgment of the woman's words was a thoughtful hum. Accumulation of wealth, status, and the cultures of thousands of planets brought and sold at auction to the highest bidder. Though, he supposed, not everyone had the luxury of traveling to visit these worlds. That was why museums existed, after all.

Still...there was something about storing these articles miles underground which grated the Doctor.

...now where did Peri get to?

Peri drew her hand to cover her mouth, which had opened in astonishment. The silver sheen to the face, the hair. She knew it resembled Data somewhat, but--

--but it also brought to mind still-fresh memories of Kamelion, of a silver-skinned Harold Foster, and the Master.

"Um..." she brought out the communicator she'd taken when she went on that dinner date with Jack London. "Looking for this? And, I'm not sure, Data, but I think we should stick together. The Doctor's not going to check on those air pumps if he knows you're back at the TARDIS. He'll want to go back too. So c'mon,

[empirical_data]

"Looking for its mate, actually. I left it in my coat pocket." The gentle tug at his arm though was enough to finally draw him away from the crates, because he knew her to be right. The more quickly they got this over with, the more quickly they could return, and Data could help finish the matter twice as fast

[5th_doctor]

"...and your coat's back at the TARDIS. Oh." She kept her hand on Data's arm for awhile, gaining strength from his presence, as the Doctor was otherwise occupied with the woman and her 'friend'.

The Doctor tilted his head up to take in the size of the room, which gave some suggestion of how large the facility had to be. "First thing's first," he said, eyes never leaving the rows of turbines stilled from some unknown reason. "Show me what powers this place, if you don't mind? Time to put a bit of deductive reasoning to work. We must check and make sure that there's still energy to make those turbines spin."

Peri watched as Data nearly touched the Doctor at his back, then there was that hesitance, that second-guessing. Maybe it wasn't the right time, but she would've welcomed a hug right now.

The Doctor probably would think it annoying and unhelpful. Peri edged close to Data anyway. Not being truly technically minded, she'd have little to do to help with repairs. So, ideally, she'd have been the one most likely to stay in the TARDIS.

[empirical_data]

When she roamed close enough, she did get a squeeze around the shoulders.

"It's over this way." She wasn't guiding him to the actual power outlet though. This was their back-up. Something that they wouldn't mind losing. She opened the door to the way of that engine, with every intention of trapping him in there when she could. Knowing her employer would finish the job as soon as he could.

"Mr. Data, is it? Is that what they were calling you?"

Data turned away from where the Doctor had been led, out of their immediate sight. Though the appearance of the man was very similar to that of another man that he knew. As was the way that he held his energy weapon.

A guard snatched Peri with a heavy gloved hand around her mouth before she could make a sound, and Van Stattan fired, leaving Data to fall stiffly to the floor.