Doctor Who’s End Game - Varosha 3/8
Title: Doctor Who’s End Game - Varosha 3/8
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, The Doctor (10), OFC, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Benton
Parings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Neither Torchwood or Doctor Who are mine
Summary: The Rani wants revenge
Spoilers: None
Rating: PG-13
A/N: This is a sequel to Doctor Who’s Nightmares
Prologue here
‘No… no… no!’ Louise Ruth shouted. ‘He doesn’t die… if I’m looking after him he doesn’t die.’ Mustering as much strength as she had left in her she pushed Benton’s arm away and continued the compressions.
‘Nelly the elephant packed her trunk and said good buy to the circus. Off she went with a trumpity trump… Trump… trump… trump.’ After ten more minutes of compressions and inflations Louise Ruth’s body was about to give up, even if she wasn’t. In a blackened haze of incomprehension she felt no response from either of his hearts and his lungs only inflated when she breathed into them. ‘Nelly the elephant…’
Benton was about to try again and stop her when he heard the womp, womp, womp, of the helicopter’s rotor blades. In a blaze of light he saw the night sun illuminating the street before him. Waving the ‘mag’ light he looked up as the side door of the air ambulance opened.
‘UNIT One…this is Air ambulance one, call sign ‘Charley One,’ above and holding position.’ In the back ground Benton could still hear Louise Ruth’s rhythmatic chant as she compressed the Doctor’s heart, keeping his blood circulating and filling his lungs full of oxygen. How she kept going by herself Benton couldn’t understand but she did.
‘Roger that Charley One… patient is unconscious and not breathing… repeat, not breathing… do you copy?’ Benton said, his professionalism blotting out the emotion he was feeling.
‘We copy that UNIT One. We have UNIT top priority on this… understand the situation and will lower the basket now over.’ The disembodied voice came through the Sontaran communicator in a clear emotionless voice that was fully in control of the situation.
Looking up Benton noticed the basket being lowered onto his position and prepared himself to catch it. Swaying in the wind the edge of the basket struck the side of the SUV taking out the passenger side window. Benton made a grab for it and pulled it free.
‘Give me some slack Charley One over.’ Immediately the rope went slack and the basked hit the floor. Dragging it across to where Louise Ruth worked diligently, Benton unfastened the straps and pulled it towards the opposite side where Louise Ruth continued to compress his chest.
‘Give me a hand getting him on.’ Benton shouted over the noise of the helicopter’s rotor blades. The wind from the down draft sent her hair flying in all directions but that was the least of her worries. Taking hold of the Doctor, she lifted him onto his side as Benton slid the basket under him. While he fastened the straps, Louise Ruth continued her compressions and inflations, shouting over the thundering noise above her, more to focus her concentration than to be heard.
‘Nelly the elephant packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus. Off she went with a trumpity trump. Trump, trump, trump.’ Standing, Benton grabbed hold of Louise Ruth and almost dragged her off the Doctor.
‘You’ve kept him alive this long, you’ve done a great job. Only the paramedic with his shock paddles can start his heart now.’
Louise Ruth’s eyes lit up, shocking her out of her lethargy. Removing the stun gun Ianto had given her outside the Blue House pub, she charged it and, without saying a word, fired two darts into the Doctor’s chest. Immediately his body arched with the shock, fighting against the restraints and relaxed as the darts were retracted. Benton remained silent, knowing that Louise Ruth had to do all she could and anything less would be a failure on her part.
‘He’s in the basket Charley One take him up,’ Benton shouted into his wrist communication unit before Louise Ruth decided to use the other two sets of darts on the Doctor.
‘Roger that Charley one… stand clear.’ Unsteady on her feet, Louise Ruth staggered back into Benton’s arms and finally blacked out, tears falling freely down her face, as the stun gun fell to the ground.
***
Waking with a start Louise Ruth couldn’t understand where she was. Her head throbbed and her mouth was dry. Her tongue felt fat and filled most of her mouth. ‘How much did I have to drink last night?’ she thought to herself as she tried to move.
Then it hit her… the Doctor had died in her arms. She’d tried to revive him but he hadn’t come around. Sitting up, the pain in her head almost sent her back into unconsciousness. Looking around she realised that she was in a hospital bed and three men were looking down at her. As her vision cleared and the pain became more manageable she realised that they were talking to her. Slowly their voices became audible and understanding hit her like a truck.
‘The Doctor… how… I mean…’ Was all she managed to say before Ianto forced her to lie back down on the pillows.
‘The Doctor’s well, he’s in a coma… but thanks to you he’s still alive. You managed to start one of his hearts with the stun gun… quick thinking.’ Jack stood next to Ianto and smiled down at her.
‘You miss me… I know it’s the jaw line, isn’t it.’ Louise Ruth couldn’t help smiling. It was then that she realised she was wearing an oxygen mask. A sharp pain stung the back of her left hand and looking across she saw a man in a white coat remove a needle filled with blood.
‘Her oxygen count is fine now… she can remove the mask.’ Flipping the elastic straps from around her ears she pulled the mask off and looked around, her vision cleared as a third figure joined them.
‘It seems the Doctor was poisoned by the Rani in the Winter Gardens when she held him captive and, according to the Doctor’s notes, only the Rani has the antidote.’ Jack said, not sure how she would take the news. Louise Ruth sat up, pushing Jack and Ianto out of the way.
‘Then what are we waiting for. We’ve got to get to Cyprus as quickly as possible. Let’s allon-bastard-zee’ Standing she felt a slight draft across her back and suddenly knew that she was naked under the hospital robe. Sitting back on the bed she smiled, her cheeks flushing red.
‘Err… we’ll wait outside… if you’re sure you’re ok,’ Ianto said heading towards the door and dragging Jack with him.
‘I was only going to offer to help her dress.’
***
Two hours later found Louise Ruth sitting in the Hub of Torchwood Four drinking a triple shot Latté Ianto had prepared for her. The thick taste of coffee in her mouth, revitalising her body.
‘They’ve got a proper espresso machine, an old American one, very impressive,’ Ianto said with a smile as he took a sip from his cup.
Passing her a plate, Ianto added, ‘Cheese toasty?’ With a smile she took one and ate longingly. ‘I gave Jack his usual industrial strength coffee and he never batted an eyelid. Other things on his mind, I suppose,’ he added as he nibbled away at his toasted bread and cheese.
Looking across at Jack through the glass windows, Louise Ruth watched as he flirted with three women that seemed to be arguing with him and not reciprocating his advances. As usual he was dressed in a blue shirt, open at the neck, with a white t-shirt on view underneath. Gone was the elegance of the blue waistcoat and pocket watch he had sported the previous night. His trousers were held up by both a belt and braces, which she found strange. ‘One or the other would have done surely,’ she thought to herself as she watched him move.
‘Jack’s trying to get them to agree to use their Trans-mat beam to send us to Cyprus.’ Ianto said and took a mouthful of coffee to wash down the cheese and toast and relaxed. ‘They don’t mind him using it but they’re not too sure about sending the Doctor, in a coma or not.’
Louise took hold of Ianto’s hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘Thanks Ianto… for the toasty, coffee and… everything.’ Ianto smiled swallowing the last of his cheese toasty and taking another mouthful of coffee to wash it down. Slowly he sipped the hot liquid through the foam that covered the top, as if thinking to himself.
‘I’m not sure I should thank you though.’ Louise Ruth looked at his questioningly. ‘Jack’s been singing that damn song all day.’
‘What song?’ she asked as memories of the previous night came flooding back to her.
‘Banned from bloody Argo… it’s driving me up the wall.’ Louise smiled remembering all the twenty pence pieces she’d fed into the Jukebox.
Nodding towards the three women Ianto held onto the table top as a tremor rippled through the building. ‘They’ve been lost for a while in the rift. It’s a bit unstable around here. All they know of the Doctor is what was laid down in the Torchwood histories long before they were born. They figure he’s an enemy and must be treated as such.’
Louise Ruth let go of Ianto’s hand when she saw Jack approach, a smile spreading across his face as he sang to himself. The lyrics of ‘Banned from Argo,’ whispered under his breath.
‘They weren’t going to let us but when I told them I was going to be their new boss they seemed to relinquish… I don’t know why.’ Ianto smiled, knowing what was coming next. ‘It’s the jaw line I’m sure… and the cheek bones.’ Louise Ruth smiled and gestured towards the three women with her cardboard cup.
‘Could be, Jack, or… the excess pheromones you seem to give off during times like this.’
Ianto smiled, ‘Yes but he is cute isn’t he?’ Louse Ruth nodded, her mouth full of coffee.
Swallowing she managed to reply, ‘As a box of kittens, as a box filled with hairy arsed kittens.’ Jack liked that. He’d never been likened to a box of kittens before, hairy arsed or not.
‘Well… the Brigadier flew out to Cyprus to liaise with the UN detachment surrounding Varosha last night… so we have a man on the ground preparing the way for us. Benton and a couple of UNIT men are bringing the Doctor over in the anti gravity casket and as soon as they turn up we’re off.’ Ianto passed Jack a carton of coffee and he accepted it gratefully.
‘Oh Jack…’ one of the women approached from the glass office waving in their direction. Ianto frowned as Jack looked up.
‘First name terms already.’ Ianto said not disguising the tone in his voice. Jack turned his back on Ianto and reaching behind him took Ianto’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
‘Torchwood 2, Scotland’s been on… one ‘Mad’ Jock McEwen.’ Jack smiled remembering old Mad Jock and the times they’d had together when he had been young.
‘What does the old coyote want?’ Jack asked as he drank deeply from his carton. Before he received an answer he felt a hand from behind him grab hold of his backside. Spraying out the hot liquid, from his mouth and nose, he coughed and spluttered as he moved away from Ianto.
‘He said if you don’t find somewhere for that bloody pterodactyl he’ll get rid of it for you. In the words of Mad Jock himself, it’s shitting all over the place and we’re running oot of sheep.’ Jack smiled at her attempt at a Scottish accent, as he wiped his face with a handkerchief Ianto passed him. Giving him a stern look Jack backed away from him.
‘Tell him to send it here… don’t worry Myfanwy’s hub trained,’ Jack added with a disarming smile when he noticed a look of horror cross her face.
Sitting at a desk, Jack lifted the phone from its cradle and tapped in a number. Ianto was just about to comment when Jack held up his hand, ‘Security visa 45895 Harkness,’ Jack looked at Ianto, with a smile, holding a hand over the phone as he spoke, ‘She’ll be ok, I believe there’s a seagull problem here we can help with.’
‘She likes fish… not sure if they measure up around here though, and besides Welsh cod…’ Jack held up his hand a second time to silence Ianto.
‘Prime Minister… fine… and how is your lovely wife today… I thought she would have forgotten about that by now. Apologise again for me… just a slip of the tongue… err… so to speak…. Anyway… it looked fine to me.’
A grating noise caught their attention from behind them as the entrance to the hub rolled to one side. Benton walked in closely followed by two UNIT soldiers carrying a casket between them. Louise Ruth immediately stood; walking towards the casket she had a look of concern on her face.
‘Is he in there?’ she asked Benton, who nodded, a look of sadness still showing on his face.
‘In a self induced coma… we think,’ Benton added, not wanting to make eye contact with her. He remembered the way he’d tried to convince Louise Ruth to give up on the Doctor. Luckily she hadn’t listened to him.
‘Will he be ok in this box… err casket? It looks like a coffin… I mean, how does he breathe?’ Benton smiled, realising that she was more shaken up than he was. ‘He’ll be alright… as far as I know. He built this thing himself out of part of the TARDIS.’
Louise Ruth pondered this new information for a moment, wondering which part he’d used. Anticipating the question Benton continued as the two UNIT soldiers led the casket inside and lay it down. ‘Nyssa, one of his previous companions, built it from one of the rooms… the Zero Room, so I’m told. The Doctor told me that it’s cut off from all outside influences. Gives it a calming, restful atmosphere apparently’ Benton lent closer to Louise Ruth and whispered as if what he was about to say was so absurd that he felt embarrassed relating it to her. ‘According to the Brig’ normal laws of the universe don’t apply inside it… that’s why it floats.’ Louise Ruth smiled, not sure if he was telling the truth or not.
‘Right team… we’ve got approval to use UN forces and search for the Rani inside Varosha. We go in ten minutes.’ Jack said as he headed off towards the trans-mat beam closely followed by Ianto and two of the women. Louise Ruth looked across at the two soldiers.
‘This is Sergeant Henderson and Private First Class Ashton… they’ll be coming with us.’ Benton announced. Louise Ruth extended her hand,
‘Louise Ruth, a pleasure.’ One at a time they took her hand.
‘Hi, Steve Henderson… you can call me Steve.’ The second UNIT soldier took her hand and shook it.
‘Heard a lot about you… my name’s Stephen as well, but it’s spelled differently from the sergeant… People just call me PH.’
PH, Louise Ruth realised, was the joker in the pack. His eyes told her that he was serious about very little, probably due to what he had seen while working for UNIT. She nodded to them and stood back as they carried the casket towards the tans-mat area. Because of its anti gravity capabilities, the casket floated in the air. All Steve and PH had to do was guide it in the direction they wanted it to go.
Carrying her coffee with her, Louise Ruth followed, not sure what to expect.
‘So there she was lying next to me in bed…’ PH said as he walked, carrying on a dialogue he must have started long before he reached the Hub.
‘So why exactly have you been boring me for the last twenty minutes with this story?’
PH smiled, ‘She was a one armer… so I quickly dressed and legged-it out the front door.’ Sergeant Henderson stopped, bringing the casket to a halt.
‘What the hell is a one armer?’ PH smiled, then turning to his sergeant he continued his explanation.
‘A one armer is a girl you wake up with resting on your arm that’s so ugly you would rather chew your arm off than have to wake her.’
‘A one armer…?’ Henderson asked.
‘Not to be confused with a two armer.’ PH added with a smile.
‘And that is…?’ Henderson asked, regretting the words as soon as they’d left his mouth.
‘Now, with your two armer, you would chew the other arm off just in case it ever happened again.’ Henderson continued walking trying not to make eye contact with PH.
The tans-mat area looked, to Louise Ruth, like a shower area from a municipal swimming pool. Eight to ten men could stand abreast and there would still be enough room for the casket.
Jack had gone back to arguing with the two women while Ianto dragged a box filled with equipment onto the tiled floor. The two Stevens guided the casket onto the area and waited patiently for the talking to finish.
Standing next to Ianto, Louise Ruth watched as Jack approached them still shaking his head.
‘Everything all right Jack?’ Ianto asked as he stood next to them. Jack nodded.
‘Yes… nothing they can’t handle. They’re going to set us down outside the UN base in Famagusta.’ Ianto nodded as the tiled area they were standing on began to glow.
‘What was all the arguing about?’ Louise Ruth asked as she looked out at the three women, who all had a strange look on their faces.
‘Oh… nothing really… It’s just that… they’ve never used the trans-mat with humans before.’ He gave a nervous laugh, ‘…only cargo.’ All the people, including the two soldiers turned to look at Jack as their image seemed to wobble then fade. Louise Ruth and Ianto’s voices reverberated nervously against the tiled walls as she disappeared into the ether.
And we're banned from Argo every one, banned from Argo just for having a little fun…
***
The Brigadier’s convoy was ready to move out as soon as Jack and the others arrived. Pacing up and down, his swagger stick under one arm, he kept looking a this watch then back at the area in front of him where they should have appeared two hours previous. Famagusta had been hot during the day but the cool night breeze had stopped him from sweating and relaxed him to the extent that he could move about without soaking yet another shirt.
‘Brigadier…’ a voice from behind him shouted as a UN soldier ran towards him.
‘What is it man… speak up.’ He said in his usual authoritarian voice.
‘Torchwood Four said they should have materialised before now. The Brigadier looked at the soldier almost incensed.
‘I know that you idiot, that’s why I’m standing here.’
‘Yes sir… sorry sir… but the scanners report that they have materialised… sir… just, not here.’ The Brigadier almost grabbed hold of the soldier and shook him.
‘Where man… where have they materialised?’ Without speaking the soldier pointed over the twelve foot wire fence, a frightened look on his face.
‘They’ve materialised in the centre of town… in Varosha… near The Argo hotel. It’s located near to the end of JFK Boulevard looking across towards Protaras and Fig Tree Bay.’ The Brigadier shook his head and headed off towards the communications room.
‘Well… they’re in. If they need our help I’m sure Sergeant Benton will give us a call.’ Looking across at one of his subordinates, the Brigadier waved his swagger stick. The other man oozed menace from every pore of his being. Just the sort of man he needed.
‘You there… I want you to put together a team of six men… can’t spare any more I’m afraid… and prep yourselves for a deep penetration mission. I want a feasibility study on my desk in an hour. If they need to get out quick I want to know that I have a plan to do just that.’ The sergeant nodded and came to attention. ‘Well don’t just stand there man, have to it.’
Turning towards a well ribboned soldier behind him, the Brigadier pointed his swagger stick. ‘You there… are you my adjutant?’ The soldier was in fact a major and had been with UNIT for five years but knew the Brigadier’s reputation and decided to skip over the niceties.
‘Sir… anything you need just ask.’ The Brigadier liked the man from the outset. He knew he was a major when he had asked him but needed to know if he was a desk major or a man that got things done. It seemed he was the latter.
‘Jolly good major… now make sure I have a desk for that chap to put his feasibility report on.’
***
Sergeant Benton was too busy throwing up to call anyone. He had materialized next to what was left of Private First Class Stephen Ashton. His body had been separated into two halves and scattered across street. Hiding in one of the buildings, still feeling nauseous, Benton looked on as two creatures he couldn’t identify tore at his remains fighting amongst themselves for what appeared to be the best bits. They looked like a cross between a large man-sized eagle and a Rottweiler.
‘Poor PH,’ Benton said as he moved through the building trying to find a way out that bypassed the creatures so he could check on the others. Moving as quickly and as silently as he could he was conscious that he could use the cloaking device but remembered that in doing so it would also deplete the energy weapon. Of the two, he preferred fire power to stealth.
Reaching the rear of the building he vaulted through a glass-less window landing on a concrete pavement that seemed to stretch out into the darkness. Not sure what lay beyond he decided to hug the wall and check what was nearest to the building before trying to venture outward.
***
Jack hit the ground hard; his right shoulder joint took most of the impact, fracturing as he fell. He probably would have made it unscathed if Sergeant Henderson hadn’t fallen, crashing into him and slamming him into the ground. Laughing, Steven extended his right hand hoping to lift Jack to his feet.
‘Worst trans-mat I’ve ever experienced but at least the fall was soft.’ As Jack took hold of him with his good arm, a loud noise screamed out into the night and Sergeant Henderson’s hand was snatched out of his own. The UNIT soldier was carried up into the darkness without uttering a single sound.
Rolling to his right Jack jumped to his feet and ran for the protection of the nearest building. Without street lights everything was bathed in moon light which was as deserving as it was inaccurate. Not sure where he was going, Jack ran headlong into Benton knocking his friend to the ground.
Before Jack realised what was happening Benton had fired his wrist gun, which slammed into his exposed chest. Jack was thrown backward through a windowless building and landed on the bonnet of a dust covered vehicle where he slid to the floor and lay still.
Benton realised too late that it had been Jack that he had shot and mentally thanked God that it hadn’t been one of the others.
‘A thought controlled weapon cuts down on physically drawing and firing a weapon, but was a bugger,’ Benton thought, ‘when someone scares the shit out of you.’
Following Jack through the window he dropped down next to his lifeless body as two eagle-dogs ran passed in their frantic search for blood. A beeping noise emanated from Jack’s Vortex manipulator causing Benton to throw his weight across Jack’s arm to muffle the sound in case anything outside heard.
A loud gasping sound came from Jack as his hand clenched between Benton’s legs. Benton gave a muffled grunt and rolled off Jack holding himself as he tried to stop from shouting in pain.
‘Benton,’ Jack said with a smile, ‘I didn’t know you cared.’ Flipping the leather cover from the top of his Vortex manipulator, Jack looked at the readings. ‘Strong alien presence… no shit Sherlock,’ Jack said then looking across at Benton smiled. ‘Very nice… we should get together sometime and check out your bruises.’
***
Ianto staggered about dazed and confused. With temporary amnesia he didn’t know where he was or what he was supposed to do, but he did know it had something to do with the rift. He hadn’t lost all his memories; most things were clear. He wasn’t too sure about the box that he’d found lying next to him but knew that it must be important.
Dragging it into the doorway of a door-less building Ianto walked across the street hoping to find a taxi to take him back to Millennium Plaza and the Hub. His ear piece seemed to be missing so he couldn’t contact Tosh. Jack must be still out here, probably with Owen. Perhaps they were looking for him… he couldn’t remember. Gwen, the new girl, would still be at the Hub, learning the ropes. She’d fit in, Ianto knew.
What he hopped was that they didn’t decide to wander around and find Lisa while he was out. He’d protected the area as best he could but one day someone would find her he had no doubt about that. He just hopped he could explain it away without getting fired… or killed After all, bringing a live Cyberman into the Hub must be a sack-able offence.
Wiping the blood from his forehead he walked across the grass strewn road towards a building opposite. There was a noise coming from inside and he hopped it was someone that could call a taxi for him.
Touching his hand to his forehead he felt the bump that was giving him a headache and the wet sticky feeling of blood that had congealed there. Taking out his handkerchief he dabbed at his head trying to clean as much blood away as he could. After all he didn’t want to scare anyone.
Reaching the building he had heard noises coming from he realised that something wasn’t quite right. Grass sticking up from the road and pavements wasn’t too shocking but the windowless buildings were something to think about.
‘Air’s warm… doesn’t feel like Cardiff.’ Tripping slightly on a tuft of grass Ianto dropped the handkerchief. Bending in the darkness, he reached out for it just as an eagled beast with the body of a dog, swooped down on him, claws extended. He felt the alien hands grasping at his back tearing into his tailored suit and renting it in two. Falling, the jacket was ripped from his back, throwing him forward onto the sandy, grass-strewn street.
***
Louise Ruth was lost. Walking down the centre of the street she noticed lights in the houses on her right with people moving around inside. Having lost the rest of the team wasn’t her main concern. If she was supposed to be in a ghost town called Varosha, then this wasn’t it. She came quickly to the conclusion that the trans-mat had scattered them over a wide area.
‘Noting to worry about Louise Ruth… all you have to do is find the others and Fanny’s your aunt.’
A dog barked on her left as the owner hushed it and dragged it back into the house. She then realised that if she was looking for a ghost town then following anywhere that was inhabited would lead her away from where she wanted to be. Turning she looked into the darkness and managed to make out the outline of a building opposite. Walking towards it she was immediately brought up short by a heavy barbed wire fence that blocked her advance.
Following the fence for a hundred yards she managed to make out a sign in the darkness. Removing her almost empty yellow Clipper lighter from her shoulder bag she rolled the wheel. The flame illuminated the sign sending shivers down her spine.
The sign was red with a cartoon of a man holding a rifle in the top half. Below it followed a series of words in a variety of languages, Greek and Turkish, Louise Ruth guessed. The only language she did recognise was English. This stated that beyond the barbed wire lay the Forbidden Zone.
Taking her thumb off the lighter, the flame flickered and began to die. She thrust the empty lighter back into her bag and strode off down the fence line looking for a way to enter. Either she would find a likely place, she calculated, or she would be picked up by the Turkish or UN forces and be able to contact the Brigadier.
An animal growled and screamed on the other side of the fence as she questioned herself on the need to enter.
Looking around she was filled with frustration. ‘It was as if there was a party going on and she hadn’t been invited,’ she thought angrily. Lashing out she kicked the side of a wooden fence topped with barbed wire and had to step backward when the rotten wood splintered and cracked.
The options were now obvious… wait for daylight and find the Brigadier or… enter through the broken fence. A voice screamed out in the night then was abruptly cut short, making her mind up for her. She was going in and no one or nothing was going to stop her. The Doctor’s life depended on it.
Bending forward she pushed through the broken plants and immediately tripped rolling forward down the side of a concrete building. Thrusting a hand into the depths of her shoulder bag she managed to fish out her mobile phone. With a cheeky grin she hit the speed dial for her sister.
‘Louise… Dad’s really upset. You missed Father’s Day… again.’ Louise Ruth rolled here eyes, as if she had nothing better to do.
‘Laura I need your help, can you ‘google’, Varosha for me and find a church.’ Louise Ruth heard a sigh on the other end of the line.
‘Only if you ring Dad,’ Louise Ruth shook her head, holding the phone away from her mouth she said,
‘Unbelievable,’ then added so Laura could hear her, ‘Yes… no problem… now Varosha in Cyprus… how far away from the beach is the church?’ The line went quiet but Louise Ruth could still hear the tapping of a keyboard in the background.
‘I’ve got a sat view of the town on Wikimapia… err… looks deserted… ah… there’s a church not far from the beach called Stavros Church. The beach and some hotels are directly to the East… why… are you doing something for University?’ Louise Ruth smiled, if only she knew.
‘Yes just looking at an abandoned town… trying to write an essay on it.’ She could hear Laura breathing on the other end of the phone and wished she was at home safe and sound.
‘I’ll see you later then, and invite this new bloke round… I bet Dad would love to meet him.’
‘I bet he would… see you.’ Louise Ruth clipped the phone closed. ‘So would I just about now.’
Checking the built in compass on her phone she looked out into the blackness declaring it the east and prepared to move out. Hugging the side of the building she waited as a Turkish army vehicle, lights blazing and wheels skidding shot passed.
She was just about to stand up when she noticed something following them just as fast. Wings beat loudly in the night air as the giant creature swooped passed her position hunting for the soldiers that had recently fled passed her. In their wake three Ogrons walked clumsily brandishing weapons, either following the winged creature or the Turkish soldiers.
‘Welcome to the bastard Twilight Zone,’ Louise Ruth said with a shiver. They were here somewhere. They were all here and all she had to do was stay alive long enough for her to find them… get the formula to save the Doctor off the Rani… kill the Rani and get out of Dodge in one piece. ‘And after that I’ll stop the war in Afghanistan and irrigate the Sahara making vast new lands cultivatable.’ She smiled to herself singing under her breath to stop herself from being frightened. ‘Banned from Argo every one, banned from Argo just for having a little fun...’
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! 4/8
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, The Doctor (10), OFC, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Benton
Parings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Neither Torchwood or Doctor Who are mine
Summary: The Rani wants revenge
Spoilers: None
Rating: PG-13
A/N: This is a sequel to Doctor Who’s Nightmares
Prologue here
‘No… no… no!’ Louise Ruth shouted. ‘He doesn’t die… if I’m looking after him he doesn’t die.’ Mustering as much strength as she had left in her she pushed Benton’s arm away and continued the compressions.
‘Nelly the elephant packed her trunk and said good buy to the circus. Off she went with a trumpity trump… Trump… trump… trump.’ After ten more minutes of compressions and inflations Louise Ruth’s body was about to give up, even if she wasn’t. In a blackened haze of incomprehension she felt no response from either of his hearts and his lungs only inflated when she breathed into them. ‘Nelly the elephant…’
Benton was about to try again and stop her when he heard the womp, womp, womp, of the helicopter’s rotor blades. In a blaze of light he saw the night sun illuminating the street before him. Waving the ‘mag’ light he looked up as the side door of the air ambulance opened.
‘UNIT One…this is Air ambulance one, call sign ‘Charley One,’ above and holding position.’ In the back ground Benton could still hear Louise Ruth’s rhythmatic chant as she compressed the Doctor’s heart, keeping his blood circulating and filling his lungs full of oxygen. How she kept going by herself Benton couldn’t understand but she did.
‘Roger that Charley One… patient is unconscious and not breathing… repeat, not breathing… do you copy?’ Benton said, his professionalism blotting out the emotion he was feeling.
‘We copy that UNIT One. We have UNIT top priority on this… understand the situation and will lower the basket now over.’ The disembodied voice came through the Sontaran communicator in a clear emotionless voice that was fully in control of the situation.
Looking up Benton noticed the basket being lowered onto his position and prepared himself to catch it. Swaying in the wind the edge of the basket struck the side of the SUV taking out the passenger side window. Benton made a grab for it and pulled it free.
‘Give me some slack Charley One over.’ Immediately the rope went slack and the basked hit the floor. Dragging it across to where Louise Ruth worked diligently, Benton unfastened the straps and pulled it towards the opposite side where Louise Ruth continued to compress his chest.
‘Give me a hand getting him on.’ Benton shouted over the noise of the helicopter’s rotor blades. The wind from the down draft sent her hair flying in all directions but that was the least of her worries. Taking hold of the Doctor, she lifted him onto his side as Benton slid the basket under him. While he fastened the straps, Louise Ruth continued her compressions and inflations, shouting over the thundering noise above her, more to focus her concentration than to be heard.
‘Nelly the elephant packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus. Off she went with a trumpity trump. Trump, trump, trump.’ Standing, Benton grabbed hold of Louise Ruth and almost dragged her off the Doctor.
‘You’ve kept him alive this long, you’ve done a great job. Only the paramedic with his shock paddles can start his heart now.’
Louise Ruth’s eyes lit up, shocking her out of her lethargy. Removing the stun gun Ianto had given her outside the Blue House pub, she charged it and, without saying a word, fired two darts into the Doctor’s chest. Immediately his body arched with the shock, fighting against the restraints and relaxed as the darts were retracted. Benton remained silent, knowing that Louise Ruth had to do all she could and anything less would be a failure on her part.
‘He’s in the basket Charley One take him up,’ Benton shouted into his wrist communication unit before Louise Ruth decided to use the other two sets of darts on the Doctor.
‘Roger that Charley one… stand clear.’ Unsteady on her feet, Louise Ruth staggered back into Benton’s arms and finally blacked out, tears falling freely down her face, as the stun gun fell to the ground.
***
Waking with a start Louise Ruth couldn’t understand where she was. Her head throbbed and her mouth was dry. Her tongue felt fat and filled most of her mouth. ‘How much did I have to drink last night?’ she thought to herself as she tried to move.
Then it hit her… the Doctor had died in her arms. She’d tried to revive him but he hadn’t come around. Sitting up, the pain in her head almost sent her back into unconsciousness. Looking around she realised that she was in a hospital bed and three men were looking down at her. As her vision cleared and the pain became more manageable she realised that they were talking to her. Slowly their voices became audible and understanding hit her like a truck.
‘The Doctor… how… I mean…’ Was all she managed to say before Ianto forced her to lie back down on the pillows.
‘The Doctor’s well, he’s in a coma… but thanks to you he’s still alive. You managed to start one of his hearts with the stun gun… quick thinking.’ Jack stood next to Ianto and smiled down at her.
‘You miss me… I know it’s the jaw line, isn’t it.’ Louise Ruth couldn’t help smiling. It was then that she realised she was wearing an oxygen mask. A sharp pain stung the back of her left hand and looking across she saw a man in a white coat remove a needle filled with blood.
‘Her oxygen count is fine now… she can remove the mask.’ Flipping the elastic straps from around her ears she pulled the mask off and looked around, her vision cleared as a third figure joined them.
‘It seems the Doctor was poisoned by the Rani in the Winter Gardens when she held him captive and, according to the Doctor’s notes, only the Rani has the antidote.’ Jack said, not sure how she would take the news. Louise Ruth sat up, pushing Jack and Ianto out of the way.
‘Then what are we waiting for. We’ve got to get to Cyprus as quickly as possible. Let’s allon-bastard-zee’ Standing she felt a slight draft across her back and suddenly knew that she was naked under the hospital robe. Sitting back on the bed she smiled, her cheeks flushing red.
‘Err… we’ll wait outside… if you’re sure you’re ok,’ Ianto said heading towards the door and dragging Jack with him.
‘I was only going to offer to help her dress.’
***
Two hours later found Louise Ruth sitting in the Hub of Torchwood Four drinking a triple shot Latté Ianto had prepared for her. The thick taste of coffee in her mouth, revitalising her body.
‘They’ve got a proper espresso machine, an old American one, very impressive,’ Ianto said with a smile as he took a sip from his cup.
Passing her a plate, Ianto added, ‘Cheese toasty?’ With a smile she took one and ate longingly. ‘I gave Jack his usual industrial strength coffee and he never batted an eyelid. Other things on his mind, I suppose,’ he added as he nibbled away at his toasted bread and cheese.
Looking across at Jack through the glass windows, Louise Ruth watched as he flirted with three women that seemed to be arguing with him and not reciprocating his advances. As usual he was dressed in a blue shirt, open at the neck, with a white t-shirt on view underneath. Gone was the elegance of the blue waistcoat and pocket watch he had sported the previous night. His trousers were held up by both a belt and braces, which she found strange. ‘One or the other would have done surely,’ she thought to herself as she watched him move.
‘Jack’s trying to get them to agree to use their Trans-mat beam to send us to Cyprus.’ Ianto said and took a mouthful of coffee to wash down the cheese and toast and relaxed. ‘They don’t mind him using it but they’re not too sure about sending the Doctor, in a coma or not.’
Louise took hold of Ianto’s hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘Thanks Ianto… for the toasty, coffee and… everything.’ Ianto smiled swallowing the last of his cheese toasty and taking another mouthful of coffee to wash it down. Slowly he sipped the hot liquid through the foam that covered the top, as if thinking to himself.
‘I’m not sure I should thank you though.’ Louise Ruth looked at his questioningly. ‘Jack’s been singing that damn song all day.’
‘What song?’ she asked as memories of the previous night came flooding back to her.
‘Banned from bloody Argo… it’s driving me up the wall.’ Louise smiled remembering all the twenty pence pieces she’d fed into the Jukebox.
Nodding towards the three women Ianto held onto the table top as a tremor rippled through the building. ‘They’ve been lost for a while in the rift. It’s a bit unstable around here. All they know of the Doctor is what was laid down in the Torchwood histories long before they were born. They figure he’s an enemy and must be treated as such.’
Louise Ruth let go of Ianto’s hand when she saw Jack approach, a smile spreading across his face as he sang to himself. The lyrics of ‘Banned from Argo,’ whispered under his breath.
‘They weren’t going to let us but when I told them I was going to be their new boss they seemed to relinquish… I don’t know why.’ Ianto smiled, knowing what was coming next. ‘It’s the jaw line I’m sure… and the cheek bones.’ Louise Ruth smiled and gestured towards the three women with her cardboard cup.
‘Could be, Jack, or… the excess pheromones you seem to give off during times like this.’
Ianto smiled, ‘Yes but he is cute isn’t he?’ Louse Ruth nodded, her mouth full of coffee.
Swallowing she managed to reply, ‘As a box of kittens, as a box filled with hairy arsed kittens.’ Jack liked that. He’d never been likened to a box of kittens before, hairy arsed or not.
‘Well… the Brigadier flew out to Cyprus to liaise with the UN detachment surrounding Varosha last night… so we have a man on the ground preparing the way for us. Benton and a couple of UNIT men are bringing the Doctor over in the anti gravity casket and as soon as they turn up we’re off.’ Ianto passed Jack a carton of coffee and he accepted it gratefully.
‘Oh Jack…’ one of the women approached from the glass office waving in their direction. Ianto frowned as Jack looked up.
‘First name terms already.’ Ianto said not disguising the tone in his voice. Jack turned his back on Ianto and reaching behind him took Ianto’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
‘Torchwood 2, Scotland’s been on… one ‘Mad’ Jock McEwen.’ Jack smiled remembering old Mad Jock and the times they’d had together when he had been young.
‘What does the old coyote want?’ Jack asked as he drank deeply from his carton. Before he received an answer he felt a hand from behind him grab hold of his backside. Spraying out the hot liquid, from his mouth and nose, he coughed and spluttered as he moved away from Ianto.
‘He said if you don’t find somewhere for that bloody pterodactyl he’ll get rid of it for you. In the words of Mad Jock himself, it’s shitting all over the place and we’re running oot of sheep.’ Jack smiled at her attempt at a Scottish accent, as he wiped his face with a handkerchief Ianto passed him. Giving him a stern look Jack backed away from him.
‘Tell him to send it here… don’t worry Myfanwy’s hub trained,’ Jack added with a disarming smile when he noticed a look of horror cross her face.
Sitting at a desk, Jack lifted the phone from its cradle and tapped in a number. Ianto was just about to comment when Jack held up his hand, ‘Security visa 45895 Harkness,’ Jack looked at Ianto, with a smile, holding a hand over the phone as he spoke, ‘She’ll be ok, I believe there’s a seagull problem here we can help with.’
‘She likes fish… not sure if they measure up around here though, and besides Welsh cod…’ Jack held up his hand a second time to silence Ianto.
‘Prime Minister… fine… and how is your lovely wife today… I thought she would have forgotten about that by now. Apologise again for me… just a slip of the tongue… err… so to speak…. Anyway… it looked fine to me.’
A grating noise caught their attention from behind them as the entrance to the hub rolled to one side. Benton walked in closely followed by two UNIT soldiers carrying a casket between them. Louise Ruth immediately stood; walking towards the casket she had a look of concern on her face.
‘Is he in there?’ she asked Benton, who nodded, a look of sadness still showing on his face.
‘In a self induced coma… we think,’ Benton added, not wanting to make eye contact with her. He remembered the way he’d tried to convince Louise Ruth to give up on the Doctor. Luckily she hadn’t listened to him.
‘Will he be ok in this box… err casket? It looks like a coffin… I mean, how does he breathe?’ Benton smiled, realising that she was more shaken up than he was. ‘He’ll be alright… as far as I know. He built this thing himself out of part of the TARDIS.’
Louise Ruth pondered this new information for a moment, wondering which part he’d used. Anticipating the question Benton continued as the two UNIT soldiers led the casket inside and lay it down. ‘Nyssa, one of his previous companions, built it from one of the rooms… the Zero Room, so I’m told. The Doctor told me that it’s cut off from all outside influences. Gives it a calming, restful atmosphere apparently’ Benton lent closer to Louise Ruth and whispered as if what he was about to say was so absurd that he felt embarrassed relating it to her. ‘According to the Brig’ normal laws of the universe don’t apply inside it… that’s why it floats.’ Louise Ruth smiled, not sure if he was telling the truth or not.
‘Right team… we’ve got approval to use UN forces and search for the Rani inside Varosha. We go in ten minutes.’ Jack said as he headed off towards the trans-mat beam closely followed by Ianto and two of the women. Louise Ruth looked across at the two soldiers.
‘This is Sergeant Henderson and Private First Class Ashton… they’ll be coming with us.’ Benton announced. Louise Ruth extended her hand,
‘Louise Ruth, a pleasure.’ One at a time they took her hand.
‘Hi, Steve Henderson… you can call me Steve.’ The second UNIT soldier took her hand and shook it.
‘Heard a lot about you… my name’s Stephen as well, but it’s spelled differently from the sergeant… People just call me PH.’
PH, Louise Ruth realised, was the joker in the pack. His eyes told her that he was serious about very little, probably due to what he had seen while working for UNIT. She nodded to them and stood back as they carried the casket towards the tans-mat area. Because of its anti gravity capabilities, the casket floated in the air. All Steve and PH had to do was guide it in the direction they wanted it to go.
Carrying her coffee with her, Louise Ruth followed, not sure what to expect.
‘So there she was lying next to me in bed…’ PH said as he walked, carrying on a dialogue he must have started long before he reached the Hub.
‘So why exactly have you been boring me for the last twenty minutes with this story?’
PH smiled, ‘She was a one armer… so I quickly dressed and legged-it out the front door.’ Sergeant Henderson stopped, bringing the casket to a halt.
‘What the hell is a one armer?’ PH smiled, then turning to his sergeant he continued his explanation.
‘A one armer is a girl you wake up with resting on your arm that’s so ugly you would rather chew your arm off than have to wake her.’
‘A one armer…?’ Henderson asked.
‘Not to be confused with a two armer.’ PH added with a smile.
‘And that is…?’ Henderson asked, regretting the words as soon as they’d left his mouth.
‘Now, with your two armer, you would chew the other arm off just in case it ever happened again.’ Henderson continued walking trying not to make eye contact with PH.
The tans-mat area looked, to Louise Ruth, like a shower area from a municipal swimming pool. Eight to ten men could stand abreast and there would still be enough room for the casket.
Jack had gone back to arguing with the two women while Ianto dragged a box filled with equipment onto the tiled floor. The two Stevens guided the casket onto the area and waited patiently for the talking to finish.
Standing next to Ianto, Louise Ruth watched as Jack approached them still shaking his head.
‘Everything all right Jack?’ Ianto asked as he stood next to them. Jack nodded.
‘Yes… nothing they can’t handle. They’re going to set us down outside the UN base in Famagusta.’ Ianto nodded as the tiled area they were standing on began to glow.
‘What was all the arguing about?’ Louise Ruth asked as she looked out at the three women, who all had a strange look on their faces.
‘Oh… nothing really… It’s just that… they’ve never used the trans-mat with humans before.’ He gave a nervous laugh, ‘…only cargo.’ All the people, including the two soldiers turned to look at Jack as their image seemed to wobble then fade. Louise Ruth and Ianto’s voices reverberated nervously against the tiled walls as she disappeared into the ether.
And we're banned from Argo every one, banned from Argo just for having a little fun…
***
The Brigadier’s convoy was ready to move out as soon as Jack and the others arrived. Pacing up and down, his swagger stick under one arm, he kept looking a this watch then back at the area in front of him where they should have appeared two hours previous. Famagusta had been hot during the day but the cool night breeze had stopped him from sweating and relaxed him to the extent that he could move about without soaking yet another shirt.
‘Brigadier…’ a voice from behind him shouted as a UN soldier ran towards him.
‘What is it man… speak up.’ He said in his usual authoritarian voice.
‘Torchwood Four said they should have materialised before now. The Brigadier looked at the soldier almost incensed.
‘I know that you idiot, that’s why I’m standing here.’
‘Yes sir… sorry sir… but the scanners report that they have materialised… sir… just, not here.’ The Brigadier almost grabbed hold of the soldier and shook him.
‘Where man… where have they materialised?’ Without speaking the soldier pointed over the twelve foot wire fence, a frightened look on his face.
‘They’ve materialised in the centre of town… in Varosha… near The Argo hotel. It’s located near to the end of JFK Boulevard looking across towards Protaras and Fig Tree Bay.’ The Brigadier shook his head and headed off towards the communications room.
‘Well… they’re in. If they need our help I’m sure Sergeant Benton will give us a call.’ Looking across at one of his subordinates, the Brigadier waved his swagger stick. The other man oozed menace from every pore of his being. Just the sort of man he needed.
‘You there… I want you to put together a team of six men… can’t spare any more I’m afraid… and prep yourselves for a deep penetration mission. I want a feasibility study on my desk in an hour. If they need to get out quick I want to know that I have a plan to do just that.’ The sergeant nodded and came to attention. ‘Well don’t just stand there man, have to it.’
Turning towards a well ribboned soldier behind him, the Brigadier pointed his swagger stick. ‘You there… are you my adjutant?’ The soldier was in fact a major and had been with UNIT for five years but knew the Brigadier’s reputation and decided to skip over the niceties.
‘Sir… anything you need just ask.’ The Brigadier liked the man from the outset. He knew he was a major when he had asked him but needed to know if he was a desk major or a man that got things done. It seemed he was the latter.
‘Jolly good major… now make sure I have a desk for that chap to put his feasibility report on.’
***
Sergeant Benton was too busy throwing up to call anyone. He had materialized next to what was left of Private First Class Stephen Ashton. His body had been separated into two halves and scattered across street. Hiding in one of the buildings, still feeling nauseous, Benton looked on as two creatures he couldn’t identify tore at his remains fighting amongst themselves for what appeared to be the best bits. They looked like a cross between a large man-sized eagle and a Rottweiler.
‘Poor PH,’ Benton said as he moved through the building trying to find a way out that bypassed the creatures so he could check on the others. Moving as quickly and as silently as he could he was conscious that he could use the cloaking device but remembered that in doing so it would also deplete the energy weapon. Of the two, he preferred fire power to stealth.
Reaching the rear of the building he vaulted through a glass-less window landing on a concrete pavement that seemed to stretch out into the darkness. Not sure what lay beyond he decided to hug the wall and check what was nearest to the building before trying to venture outward.
***
Jack hit the ground hard; his right shoulder joint took most of the impact, fracturing as he fell. He probably would have made it unscathed if Sergeant Henderson hadn’t fallen, crashing into him and slamming him into the ground. Laughing, Steven extended his right hand hoping to lift Jack to his feet.
‘Worst trans-mat I’ve ever experienced but at least the fall was soft.’ As Jack took hold of him with his good arm, a loud noise screamed out into the night and Sergeant Henderson’s hand was snatched out of his own. The UNIT soldier was carried up into the darkness without uttering a single sound.
Rolling to his right Jack jumped to his feet and ran for the protection of the nearest building. Without street lights everything was bathed in moon light which was as deserving as it was inaccurate. Not sure where he was going, Jack ran headlong into Benton knocking his friend to the ground.
Before Jack realised what was happening Benton had fired his wrist gun, which slammed into his exposed chest. Jack was thrown backward through a windowless building and landed on the bonnet of a dust covered vehicle where he slid to the floor and lay still.
Benton realised too late that it had been Jack that he had shot and mentally thanked God that it hadn’t been one of the others.
‘A thought controlled weapon cuts down on physically drawing and firing a weapon, but was a bugger,’ Benton thought, ‘when someone scares the shit out of you.’
Following Jack through the window he dropped down next to his lifeless body as two eagle-dogs ran passed in their frantic search for blood. A beeping noise emanated from Jack’s Vortex manipulator causing Benton to throw his weight across Jack’s arm to muffle the sound in case anything outside heard.
A loud gasping sound came from Jack as his hand clenched between Benton’s legs. Benton gave a muffled grunt and rolled off Jack holding himself as he tried to stop from shouting in pain.
‘Benton,’ Jack said with a smile, ‘I didn’t know you cared.’ Flipping the leather cover from the top of his Vortex manipulator, Jack looked at the readings. ‘Strong alien presence… no shit Sherlock,’ Jack said then looking across at Benton smiled. ‘Very nice… we should get together sometime and check out your bruises.’
***
Ianto staggered about dazed and confused. With temporary amnesia he didn’t know where he was or what he was supposed to do, but he did know it had something to do with the rift. He hadn’t lost all his memories; most things were clear. He wasn’t too sure about the box that he’d found lying next to him but knew that it must be important.
Dragging it into the doorway of a door-less building Ianto walked across the street hoping to find a taxi to take him back to Millennium Plaza and the Hub. His ear piece seemed to be missing so he couldn’t contact Tosh. Jack must be still out here, probably with Owen. Perhaps they were looking for him… he couldn’t remember. Gwen, the new girl, would still be at the Hub, learning the ropes. She’d fit in, Ianto knew.
What he hopped was that they didn’t decide to wander around and find Lisa while he was out. He’d protected the area as best he could but one day someone would find her he had no doubt about that. He just hopped he could explain it away without getting fired… or killed After all, bringing a live Cyberman into the Hub must be a sack-able offence.
Wiping the blood from his forehead he walked across the grass strewn road towards a building opposite. There was a noise coming from inside and he hopped it was someone that could call a taxi for him.
Touching his hand to his forehead he felt the bump that was giving him a headache and the wet sticky feeling of blood that had congealed there. Taking out his handkerchief he dabbed at his head trying to clean as much blood away as he could. After all he didn’t want to scare anyone.
Reaching the building he had heard noises coming from he realised that something wasn’t quite right. Grass sticking up from the road and pavements wasn’t too shocking but the windowless buildings were something to think about.
‘Air’s warm… doesn’t feel like Cardiff.’ Tripping slightly on a tuft of grass Ianto dropped the handkerchief. Bending in the darkness, he reached out for it just as an eagled beast with the body of a dog, swooped down on him, claws extended. He felt the alien hands grasping at his back tearing into his tailored suit and renting it in two. Falling, the jacket was ripped from his back, throwing him forward onto the sandy, grass-strewn street.
***
Louise Ruth was lost. Walking down the centre of the street she noticed lights in the houses on her right with people moving around inside. Having lost the rest of the team wasn’t her main concern. If she was supposed to be in a ghost town called Varosha, then this wasn’t it. She came quickly to the conclusion that the trans-mat had scattered them over a wide area.
‘Noting to worry about Louise Ruth… all you have to do is find the others and Fanny’s your aunt.’
A dog barked on her left as the owner hushed it and dragged it back into the house. She then realised that if she was looking for a ghost town then following anywhere that was inhabited would lead her away from where she wanted to be. Turning she looked into the darkness and managed to make out the outline of a building opposite. Walking towards it she was immediately brought up short by a heavy barbed wire fence that blocked her advance.
Following the fence for a hundred yards she managed to make out a sign in the darkness. Removing her almost empty yellow Clipper lighter from her shoulder bag she rolled the wheel. The flame illuminated the sign sending shivers down her spine.
The sign was red with a cartoon of a man holding a rifle in the top half. Below it followed a series of words in a variety of languages, Greek and Turkish, Louise Ruth guessed. The only language she did recognise was English. This stated that beyond the barbed wire lay the Forbidden Zone.
Taking her thumb off the lighter, the flame flickered and began to die. She thrust the empty lighter back into her bag and strode off down the fence line looking for a way to enter. Either she would find a likely place, she calculated, or she would be picked up by the Turkish or UN forces and be able to contact the Brigadier.
An animal growled and screamed on the other side of the fence as she questioned herself on the need to enter.
Looking around she was filled with frustration. ‘It was as if there was a party going on and she hadn’t been invited,’ she thought angrily. Lashing out she kicked the side of a wooden fence topped with barbed wire and had to step backward when the rotten wood splintered and cracked.
The options were now obvious… wait for daylight and find the Brigadier or… enter through the broken fence. A voice screamed out in the night then was abruptly cut short, making her mind up for her. She was going in and no one or nothing was going to stop her. The Doctor’s life depended on it.
Bending forward she pushed through the broken plants and immediately tripped rolling forward down the side of a concrete building. Thrusting a hand into the depths of her shoulder bag she managed to fish out her mobile phone. With a cheeky grin she hit the speed dial for her sister.
‘Louise… Dad’s really upset. You missed Father’s Day… again.’ Louise Ruth rolled here eyes, as if she had nothing better to do.
‘Laura I need your help, can you ‘google’, Varosha for me and find a church.’ Louise Ruth heard a sigh on the other end of the line.
‘Only if you ring Dad,’ Louise Ruth shook her head, holding the phone away from her mouth she said,
‘Unbelievable,’ then added so Laura could hear her, ‘Yes… no problem… now Varosha in Cyprus… how far away from the beach is the church?’ The line went quiet but Louise Ruth could still hear the tapping of a keyboard in the background.
‘I’ve got a sat view of the town on Wikimapia… err… looks deserted… ah… there’s a church not far from the beach called Stavros Church. The beach and some hotels are directly to the East… why… are you doing something for University?’ Louise Ruth smiled, if only she knew.
‘Yes just looking at an abandoned town… trying to write an essay on it.’ She could hear Laura breathing on the other end of the phone and wished she was at home safe and sound.
‘I’ll see you later then, and invite this new bloke round… I bet Dad would love to meet him.’
‘I bet he would… see you.’ Louise Ruth clipped the phone closed. ‘So would I just about now.’
Checking the built in compass on her phone she looked out into the blackness declaring it the east and prepared to move out. Hugging the side of the building she waited as a Turkish army vehicle, lights blazing and wheels skidding shot passed.
She was just about to stand up when she noticed something following them just as fast. Wings beat loudly in the night air as the giant creature swooped passed her position hunting for the soldiers that had recently fled passed her. In their wake three Ogrons walked clumsily brandishing weapons, either following the winged creature or the Turkish soldiers.
‘Welcome to the bastard Twilight Zone,’ Louise Ruth said with a shiver. They were here somewhere. They were all here and all she had to do was stay alive long enough for her to find them… get the formula to save the Doctor off the Rani… kill the Rani and get out of Dodge in one piece. ‘And after that I’ll stop the war in Afghanistan and irrigate the Sahara making vast new lands cultivatable.’ She smiled to herself singing under her breath to stop herself from being frightened. ‘Banned from Argo every one, banned from Argo just for having a little fun...’
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! 4/8