OBLIVION (6/?)
Title: Oblivion
Author: tenmartha4ever
Characters: Ten, Martha, OCs. Hints of 10/Martha
Rating: PG-13, for death
Spoilers: Series 3 episodes 42, Human Nature
Summary: Things, frankly, get out of hand.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who. I, unfortunately, do not.
Author Notes: Not too sure of this chapter. Might not make a lot of sense. And it is very long. Hopefully it isn't too bad.
Chapters 1-5 can be found here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3802652/1/Oblivion
The Doctor and Martha arrived with ample time of the day left to discuss the Shaman’s prophecy, who had originally told it to Kaza. The Chief listened intently to the Doctor’s words and he ensured that a scriber was present so that the prophetic words could be recorded.
Kaza leaned back thoughtfully, considering what he had learnt. “The words refer to you and Martha - I would have thought that the ‘light will shine in darkness’ would refer to you, Doctor, certainly not Miss Jones. The Shaman said that you were too dark to be the light?”
“I believe he is referring to my soul. I get the feeling that the Shaman is able to sense what a person’s soul feels like - and I know I’ve got a lot of darkness in me. It does appear on occasion.” A blank look came into his eyes as he remembered the punishments he had given the Family that had been hunting him - that had been dark for him. “But I wonder -”
“Wonder what?” asked Martha, watching him closely as he stood up and began to pace round the hut, hand on his chin as his mind whirled with distinct possibilities.
“When I was in that cave I sensed something watching us - and if the Shaman is able to sense darkness then - oh yes!” He ran a hand through his hair. “That should be impossible - unless he’s realised or coming to realise….would he really do that? What if he knew the same as me? Reversal? Deceive us? But not us?”
“Doctor!”
He spun round to see a befuddled Kaza and an angry Martha watching him. “What?”
Martha folded her arms and looked at him accusingly. “You’re rambling again.”
“Really?”
“You are,” she confirmed.
“Sorry,” he said, but his mind was still fast at work, turning over facts and wondering if the Shaman would really deceive the enemy when he hadn’t before? Or did the Prophecy truly mean that Martha was meant to be captured? Yet the Doctor knew something dark had been in the cave as well, listening to the Shaman’s words. The most obvious thing for the enemy to do was to come and take him since he posed the most threat and for some very strange feeling he thought that the Shaman had known that someone had been in the cave at the same time too and that he had deliberately changed their places in the Prophecy so that the right one of them was taken. Would the Shaman really do that? Did the Prophecy truly refer to Martha as the conqueror? She had the right qualities to make it be so and he believed in her.
“Are you going to leave us sitting in the dark or tell us what you have got worked out?” asked Martha, catching his eyes with her own.
“I’m still thinking - I’ve lost track now! Oh wait…”
And he resumed pacing.
“Does he do this often?” enquired Kaza.
Martha nodded. “He does it at least once a day. He tends to go off on a tangent.” They could both here him muttering to himself as he continued to mess up his hair with both of his hands. “He’ll come back to us in a minute.”
They waited a few more minutes and then the Doctor stopped pacing, swung round, a big grin was plastered over his face and he pulled Martha to her feet, crushing her in a vigorous hug.
“Oh it’s you, my wonderful Martha Jones!”
He let go of her and she took a deep breath.
“What’s me?”
“The Prophecy!” he cried, beaming like an utter loony.
She raised her eyebrows at him. “If you hadn’t noticed I am part of this prophecy anyway and you are too.”
“No, no, no! Not in the way you think! Not in the way we were told! It’s wrong - the prophecy is wrong - but is right as well!”
“Okay….” shrugged Martha looking back at Kaza to see a look of complete confusion on his face. Whatever the Doctor meant he wasn’t doing a very good job of making them realise what he was going on about. “Are you going to be talking any sense anytime soon?”
“Huh?” The Doctor looked very surprised that she still had no clue.
She had to elaborate. “You are not speaking any sense at all, how am I meant to understand what you mean?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
“It might be best if you all sit down, and you Doctor, explain to us what you mean,” suggested Kaza. “I’m only a simple being - I can’t read minds. You seem to be operating on the fact that Martha and I can.”
“But it is so obvious!” cried the Doctor incredulously.
“If it was wouldn’t we know what you meant without having to ask you to tone it down a bit?” pointed out Martha.
Kaza nodded, agreeing vigorously. “You have to admit, Doctor, it does make sense. And we are wasting time here.”
“Right, sorry. Sometimes I forget who I’m talking to,” admitted the Doctor, sheepishly.
Martha shook her head. “That’s alright. Apology accepted.” She couldn’t not forgive him.
“Now that’s sorted can we get back to what we were discussing?”
“Certainly, Chief,” the Doctor said thinking about saluting to Kaza but deciding not to. He rubbed his hands together and sat promptly down. “Now, in my view this Shaman is certainly unique. He can do things that not many people can. He is able to see into the future, speak to your ethereal gods and receive prophecies about how the world could be changed. Has he predicted many?”
“Yes,” replied Kaza. “For years he has spoken of those that would help us defeat what is keeping us in this state of anger, yet those he has spoken of have been taken by the enemy and broken, hurt badly enough so that they cannot live up to the prophecy.”
“Ah…I wonder then if he has learnt to change things round then preventing them from discovering the right people.” He noticed that Martha was looking at him, curiosity on her face and he wondered if she was catching on but he also noticed that Kaza was still staring at him oddly, as if he had just spoken a load of rubbish.
“What have you worked out?” he asked once more.
“I think I get his drift,” said Martha, frowning. “You said earlier that the prophecy was right and wrong at the same time - how can this be?”
Running a hand through his already messy hair, the Doctor leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees. “The Shaman went for the most difficult interpretation of the prophecy and not the simple one. Not the one that comes and hits you in the face. I think what he said was deliberate.”
“But why would he mess with our heads?” asked Martha. “There has to be a reason.”
“To makes sure that the right one of us stays free,”
Her eyes widened as she finally figured out his meaning. “You really think that?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Martha stood up. “He swapped our places, to deceive what?”
“The enemy,” stated the Doctor.
“Are you saying that the Shaman lied?” questioned Kaza. Despite the fact that Martha had a vague idea what the Doctor was talking about, the Chief still did not understand what was going on nor did he realise what they were conversing about.
The Doctor turned to face him. “I think it be best if this was kept between Martha and I. Sorry.”
“For security reasons?” enquired Kaza.
The Doctor nodded. “If you don’t mind that is.”
“Not at all,” replied Kaza, sweeping away and out of their hut.
Martha folded her arms. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight: according to you, I am the one that ‘conquers all’ and you are the ‘light that shines in darkness’?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“But the Shaman lied to deceive the enemy so that this darkness that you can sense could be destroyed forever?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She frowned, biting her lip. “Thing is, Doctor, I am just a simple human. I’m not a Time Lord like you. What do I have that you don’t?”
The Doctor arched an eyebrow at her, clearly surprised. “You’re not just a ‘simple’ human, you proved that when we first met. I am positive that you can work everything out.”
Martha slumped down in the chair, staring up at him. “I just don’t want anything bad happening to you. I nearly lost you in 1913.”
The Doctor pulled her into a hug. “I’m not that easily killed, and at least this time we have the fortune to know that something bad is going to happen. We have time to prepare for it, however little time we do get I don’t know. We are considerably lucky to know this, Martha.”
She looked at him, her brown eyes boring into his. “When do you think they will come for you?”
He ruffled his hair. “Oh, most likely tonight, but I’m hoping tomorrow since it will give us a little extra time. Tomorrow is very unlikely. If I’m right, and I hope that I am that the Shaman has deceived the enemy into capturing me instead of you as the Shaman implied, they will want to make sure I can’t stop them. Even if the Shaman has got it right and I’m just looking into things too deeply I still believe you can help these people. You are a very unique human being, Martha Jones.”
“Thanks.” She lowered her eyes. A sudden though occurred to her. “If you are considered to be a threat to this enemy, isn’t there a big chance of them just killing you on sight? The other prophecies spoke of children not yet matured so it was easier for them to be caught but you are different. What makes you so sure that they just won’t kill you on sight?”
“It is a risk I’m going to have to take,” he replied. “I don’t like the thought of leaving you to sort this all out, but I know you can do it. If I’m right and you are truly the ‘conqueror’ of the prophecy you will have no trouble in working everything out. I don’t think they will kill me - they’ve taken all the other prophesised ones. If they do make a move to kill me - then I have no idea what we’ll do. I’m pretty sure they want me alive, if not we’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
The only thing Martha could do was hope that the Doctor was correct in his estimations. She was quite relieved that the Doctor believed in her to discover and end this situation on Maralus. Whatever she would have to do to work out the truth, Martha was not looking forward to the challenge while the Doctor was taken who knew where.
The only problem they had was to make his capture (if that was what the enemy was going to do) convincing. The next few days were not going to be easy, for either of them.
-00000-
Despite living on the other side of the mountains on the plains of what had once been the forest of Myrad and the close proximity of the Northerners, the Southerners had rarely come into contact with a Northerner. Just three hours of marching would bring them to the enemy encampment. Though there was a war going on between the two fractions, battles were barely fought. It was only when someone went missing that an attack was launched.
Tonight, however, was different.
Sister Aziel had come home, explaining that the Northerners had acquired a weapon that would enable them to wipe out the Southerners once and for all. It was imperative that this weapon be taken from them at all costs. They had been told that the weapon was a man who held immense power. She described him as a foreigner from another part of the world which the Southerners and Northerners were unable to reach.
She instructed them to bring the ‘foreigner’ back. They were to kill no one, if they could help it. Aziel assured them that her brother, Arrein, would accompany them and point out the man they required.
It was nearly four hours after midnight that the Southerners were approaching the Northern tribe. Very soon they would have the weapon that threatened their very existence.
-00000-
Martha had retied to bed, wrapping a straw blanket round her to keep her body warm. It was rather uncomfortable to say the least and it was not the ideal time to sleep either, especially as she knew something bad was going to occur within the next few hours. She rolled over onto her back, staring up at the hut’s ceiling.
She sighed in exasperation as sleep escaped her. Sitting up she focused on the Doctor’s bed on the other side of the hut but her heart began to pump quicker as her head her he was not there.
His bed was empty.
He wouldn’t leave the hut without telling her unless he had a very good reason to. She chewed on her lip, wondering whether she should go and find him. Flinging the straw cover off, Martha slipped on the plimsolls that were beside the bed and walked out of the hut into darkness, searching for the Doctor.
-00000-
He couldn’t sleep, especially when he wasn’t even tired. He stood leaning against a shoulder high, wooden wall, staring out into the plains of darkness. The only light from the moon had been obscured by the clouds above that according to his senses, seemed to be threatening rain. His hands were shoved in his suit pockets and he sighed audibly as he waited alone.
But I’m not alone, his mind told him as he became aware that someone was standing beside him. He turned his head to focus on Martha’s face. “You need to sleep.”
“Can’t,” she shrugged, leaning back against the wooden wall as well. “It is very hard to get to sleep when you are waiting for your friend to disappear. A warning would have been nice - so that I didn’t panic when I woke up.”
He looked down at his plimsolls. “Sorry.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I rarely sleep. Even when I have to I try to avoid it. Time Lords, unlike humans, do not need to rest. I wanted you to have a rest - keep your strength up.”
“There’s no other way?” she asked. “I have to remain free?”
“We’ve been over this - yes,” he sounded agitated. He shook his head. “Sorry. I’m fairly positive that this is what must be. I know I can rely on you - you are brilliant and wonderful. I could have got the interpretation of the Prophecy wrong but I’m pretty certain it means you not me to be the conqueror of this darkness. I have faith in you - I did when I became John Smith - I still do now.”
She smiled sadly. “I know - I just have this feeling that I will need your help.”
He reached into his inner pocket and produced the Sonic Screwdriver pressing it firmly into her slender fingers. “You’ll need it more then me.”
“But I don’t know how to use this!” replied Martha, attempting to hand it back to him, but he raised his hands in protest and she relented.
“I thought you would say that. This might help.” The Doctor reached into his pocket again and pulled out a crunched up piece of paper which he handed to Martha. She unscrewed the paper. In the dim light that was visible, she could just make out the scrawny handwriting of the Doctor. He had listed down various settings of the Sonic that she might prove useful to her during his absence.
“I know you have no idea how to use the Sonic at the moment but I thought it might be useful if I gave you some settings that you might require.”
“That is very thoughtful of you, Mr Smith,” mused Martha.
“It would be a bit silly of me not to give you something that could help you with this especially since we have been forewarned of what is going to occur.”
“That is fortunate then,” she laughed.
He smiled at her lightly. “I’m always prepared.”
“I think I can believe that,” she smirked, remembering a few times when he hadn’t been prepared. On those occasions they would have to run for their lives until he came up with a good plan that would enable to escape alive and save the people or planet that was being threatened.
“Good.”
“You’d better come back alive,” she demanded, though she was careful to say that in a light-hearted tone.
He grinned at her. “Oh, I will. I definitely won’t be leaving you here on this planet.” He debated whether to mention regeneration to her - just as a precaution. He had attempted to warn her of it when he had been possessed by the living sun but she had been far more concerned in his survival then worrying about dealing with another him. He was about to speak when he felt her hand grip him hard on the forearm.
“Doctor,” her voice was filled with fear. “Something is coming towards the village.” She pointed into the distance and his eyes swivelled round to rest upon the unmistakable glow of flaming torches, steadily heading their way.
“Back to the village!” he yelled, grabbing her hand and pulling her back in the boundaries of the Northern Tribe.
-00000-
“Listen up!” Arrein called over his shoulder to the Southerners that followed him as they marched ever closer to the Northern tribe. He had witnessed the man they sought run back into the comfort of the village. “That man we saw flee into the tribe is the one we must bring back alive! Understand?”
There was a chorus of shouts and Brother Arrein smiled as he thought of the bloodshed that would follow. Unlike his sister, Arrein had instructed his men to kill anyone that opposed them and also to kill a child. It wasn’t because he was going against his sister’s orders it was due to the fact that it was custom for death to be a part of any attack made on their enemies. Every time an innocent life had been taken and tonight would be no different.
He fingered the potion tucked away in his pocket, remembering the words his sister had told him before he had departed with the warriors.
It is essential that the potion is administered otherwise our master will not be able to easily convert him.
-00000-
Panic erupted throughout the tribe as Chief Kaza instructed the women and children to flee to the back of the camp. The mothers grabbed their sons and daughters hands as their offspring attempting to protest against such an injustice. Martha forced herself to swallow the revulsion that rose in her throat as she heard screeching children demand to have a chance to shed the blood of the enemy. Kaza’s words were far more empowering and he forced the young ones under the age of fourteen to follow their mothers to safety.
The Doctor stood watching impassively from the side realising that he couldn’t prevent this battle from occurring. He had already made it clear that he wouldn’t fight, despite Kaza protesting against his decision.
Martha had seen the confusion in the Chief’s face. He was still under the assumption that the Doctor was the ‘one’ and not herself, as the Doctor believed. “We don’t have to work by Prophecy, do we?”
It was a question that had been bugging her since the Shaman had claimed it was about them.
“No, we don’t,” The Doctor replied. “Unfortunately we are going to have to. The darkness certainly is. Even without the intervention of the prophecy, I think it would have still tried to take me out. I can sense the darkness, and it can sense me. It knows I’m a danger to it. You would have been left alone regardless, no matter how much we both don’t want this to happen.”
Martha sighed, dreading the coming minutes.
Whether she liked it or not - they would be separated tonight and the Doctor would suffer while she tried to solve the puzzle that surrounded the tribes of Maralus.
-00000-
“Forward!” His shout reverberated over the heads of the soldiers as they ran forward clutching wooden bats, daggers holstered in their belts and the other hand brandishing a burning torch each. Arrein kept his eyes focused entirely upon the Northern warriors standing in their way - preventing them from gaining access to the village. He held his own dagger in hand - though it was longer then the standard one issued to the warriors if his clan.
The surge of Southerners thrust themselves against the ranks of Northerners engaging them in the brutality of war, each side attempting to take as many lives as possible by thrusting their weapons into that fatal place. The first victim was a boy of sixteen - the youngest recruit for the Southerners - but the child had done his duty. They were taught from a very early age that dying in war was the most glorious way to go.
Arrein could feel his master’s strength flowing into him as anger consumed him - his hatred for the Northerners intensified as he thought over the thousands of deaths they had caused. With significant ease he threw an enemy to the side, pushed away a wooden bat that had been descending towards his head and twisted another Northerner’s arm as the warrior made a move to stab him. Quick as a flash Arrein snapped the man’s neck, throwing his body to the earth.
Within the first crucial minutes of the battle, many Northerners had suffered a grisly fate, but only six Southerners had been harmed.
The Northern ranks were crumbling apart and they began to flee back into the tribe. Arrein followed ordering his warriors to concentrate on finding their prize and to take the life of a child.
-00000-
“I wasn’t expecting them to order the death of an innocent child,” said the Doctor as he heard the instructions the enemy had issued as they entered the camp.
“Is there anyway to stop it?” asked Martha, her heart beating fast.
He shook his head, his face white. “No, but it doesn’t mean we can’t try.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on!”
“Where are we going?” She ran along beside him, taking a risky glance over her shoulder. They were being pursued by at least seven of the attacking warriors. The huts of the village were being burned as the Southerners moved into the village.
They rounded a hut, took another turn and stopped. Martha leaned back against the hut, panting slightly. She really ought to have got used to all the running by now.
The Doctor, once again, reached into his pocket and pulled out his TARDIS key. “You can give this back to me later.”
Martha’s eyes bulged and she took it, clutching the key tight into her right hand. “But…”
He overrode her. “I don’t have much time - but you need to keep both keys safe. If you succeed in this task and I’m still a prisoner, the enemy will do anything to survive. If they discover that I have a space-ship that would be their means of escape. As long as I don’t have the key they cannot force me to let them into the TARDIS.”
She nodded, realising the importance of what he was trusting her with. “I promise.”
He touched her cheek, brushing his slim fingers down against her tender skin. She shivered and he smiled in sadness. “Well, here goes.”
And then he was gone, running past her, towards the foray of Northerners and Southerners. She touched her still tingling cheek and wondered briefly if there was something between them after all.
-00000-
Arrein had been quite surprised that the man they sought hadn’t fought in the main battle and he hadn’t expected him to appear right in front of him as he thought that.
That was very convenient - too convenient in fact.
Then the man disappeared again.
Arrein cursed, realising that he hadn’t got a good look at him. He would be easy to find though, considering that his clothes were not the standard for his people. Arrein continued to move forward with ease, He eyes caught a shade of a dark brown suit and he realised that this was the man he sought.
The man had hold of a child who was yelling and struggling to get at the enemies attacking her home. Arrein signalled to two of his warriors, indicating that he wanted that child killed.
What better way was there to break to the man’s spirit by making it his fault that a child had died?
-00000-
The Doctor attempted to keep hold of the girl that was struggling in his grip, determined to fight. When he had joined the fray of fighting - without any form of defence - he had seen the small child rush past him shouting words of anger and death. She must have somehow escaped from her mother. He judged her to be just over six years old. Around him lay the bodies of Northerners and a few Southerners.
“Come on,” he said, even as the girl kicked out at him.
“Must….fight….hurt…them!” she spluttered in anger. “Killed dad!”
“Oh no! I am taking you away from here!” He wasn’t going to let a child die.
Despite her protests he managed to haul her away from the main dangers that the battle presented. But then he saw them: three, rather fierce Southerners were heading his way. It was evident that they had death on their mind and he considered the possibility that he was about to say good-bye to his tenth body. He pushed the child behind him, yelling for Martha who appeared round the corner holding a wooden bat. Obviously she had been attacked once he had left her and she had taken the advantage of an abandoned weapon to defend herself.
He shoved the child - still yelling furiously - towards Martha. “Get her to safety!” he instructed, turning back to face the enemy rapidly approaching him.
As Martha ran off dragging the child with her, the Doctor froze as he heard one of the Southerners speak: “Kill the child.”
This would have been a good time to use the Sonic, the Doctor thought, briefly wondering why he had given it to Martha so quickly. Without even thinking he turned and ran in the direction she had fled, pursued by the three Southerners.
He rounded one of the huts that were not yet burning and side-stepped quickly into the entrance. He pursuers ran past and he leaned out, running his fingers through his hair. He had to stop them from reaching the girl and Martha.
He prepared himself for the inevitable.
-00000-
The girl, the Doctor had instructed her to keep safe was quite a handful. She continued to screech and squirm while Martha tugged her along, hoping to get the girl to safety - hopefully in the arms of her mother. The girl deliberately stabbed her heels into the earth, hindering their progress.
Then Martha fell to the ground having tripped over a rock that she hadn’t seen due to the darkness. The girl slipped from he grasp and promptly attacked the three Southerners that had been pursuing them. Martha scrambled to her feet, but even as she did so she witnessed the Doctor grabbing one of the Southerners back.
But he was too late.
The girl’s momentum had brought her straight onto the blade of a knife. The girl was dead, her blood dripping to the ground. The Southerner that had killed her slowly pulled the knife from the child’s body, relishing the kill.
Martha felt instantly nauseous. She stumbled back, bile rising in her throat, ignoring the fact that the Doctor was being attacked by the Southerners.
Her head was telling her to help him but she couldn’t bring herself to. Her eyes remained focused upon the child. The Doctor had charged her with keeping the girl safe and she had failed.
She was numb from shock and she could only watch as one of the Southerners lashed out at the Doctor, sending him backwards. He went reeling to the ground, collapsing completely. His attackers lunged at him, preventing him from gaining his feet.
The last thing Martha Jones saw before darkness consumed her was one of the Southerners forcing something down the Doctor’s throat.
-00000-
He struggled restlessly in the grasp of the Southerners. One of them grabbed his chin, holding his head still, even as another wrenched his arms behind his back and tying them together with thick rope. One pulled out a bottle of black liquid and attempted to administer it to him. He refused, stubbornly keeping his mouth closed.
Then, the other Southerner that had been keeping an eye on their surroundings punched him right in the stomach. The Doctor couldn’t stop opening his mouth as he took in a gulp of air. At the same time he felt the liquid being poured into his mouth. He attempted to spit it out but couldn’t. He had to swallow the vile liquid as his airways were cut off. He coughed and spluttered as they hauled him to his feet.
“Now, move,” the one that had killed the girl told him.
He had no choice but he made it difficult for them. He pulled away even as they tried to lead him out of the war zone.
“We can’t move him if he continues to struggle,” he heard one whisper.
“Then we do this,” the one on the right said.
The last thing he felt, before darkness descended, was a sharp blow to the head and then he crumpled to the ground.
-00000-
“Martha! Miss Jones!”
Martha groaned as consciousness returned. She found herself on the floor inside a wooden hut, a blanket positioned over her body.
“Uh…”
“Are you okay?”
“I feel like I’ve got a thousand needles pounding into my head all at once,” she said, wincing as she became familiar with the thumps of a headache. She focused upon Kaza who looked concerned for her welfare. “Is everyone alright?”
The Chief shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. We suffered many casualties. A child was killed. And…I’m afraid that your friend is missing. We cannot find his body anywhere.”
Martha swallowed. “I know.”
“How?” the Chief asked.
“I was there when he was taken,” she answered.
“He was taken?”
She nodded, realising the full extent of what she was left with. “They took him. I saw them murder a child and then take him - they poured something down his throat.”
Kaza sat down beside her, crossing his legs. “Then it has happened again. The one that is meant to help us has been taken by the enemy. This war cannot end.”
“Yes it can. I will make sure of that,” she said, pushing herself up into a sitting position. “I promise you, Kaza, that I will solve this.”
There was such determination in her eyes that Kaza just had to believe her. He only hoped that he wasn’t putting his faith into her for nothing.
To be continued
Author: tenmartha4ever
Characters: Ten, Martha, OCs. Hints of 10/Martha
Rating: PG-13, for death
Spoilers: Series 3 episodes 42, Human Nature
Summary: Things, frankly, get out of hand.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who. I, unfortunately, do not.
Author Notes: Not too sure of this chapter. Might not make a lot of sense. And it is very long. Hopefully it isn't too bad.
Chapters 1-5 can be found here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3802652/1/Oblivion
The Doctor and Martha arrived with ample time of the day left to discuss the Shaman’s prophecy, who had originally told it to Kaza. The Chief listened intently to the Doctor’s words and he ensured that a scriber was present so that the prophetic words could be recorded.
Kaza leaned back thoughtfully, considering what he had learnt. “The words refer to you and Martha - I would have thought that the ‘light will shine in darkness’ would refer to you, Doctor, certainly not Miss Jones. The Shaman said that you were too dark to be the light?”
“I believe he is referring to my soul. I get the feeling that the Shaman is able to sense what a person’s soul feels like - and I know I’ve got a lot of darkness in me. It does appear on occasion.” A blank look came into his eyes as he remembered the punishments he had given the Family that had been hunting him - that had been dark for him. “But I wonder -”
“Wonder what?” asked Martha, watching him closely as he stood up and began to pace round the hut, hand on his chin as his mind whirled with distinct possibilities.
“When I was in that cave I sensed something watching us - and if the Shaman is able to sense darkness then - oh yes!” He ran a hand through his hair. “That should be impossible - unless he’s realised or coming to realise….would he really do that? What if he knew the same as me? Reversal? Deceive us? But not us?”
“Doctor!”
He spun round to see a befuddled Kaza and an angry Martha watching him. “What?”
Martha folded her arms and looked at him accusingly. “You’re rambling again.”
“Really?”
“You are,” she confirmed.
“Sorry,” he said, but his mind was still fast at work, turning over facts and wondering if the Shaman would really deceive the enemy when he hadn’t before? Or did the Prophecy truly mean that Martha was meant to be captured? Yet the Doctor knew something dark had been in the cave as well, listening to the Shaman’s words. The most obvious thing for the enemy to do was to come and take him since he posed the most threat and for some very strange feeling he thought that the Shaman had known that someone had been in the cave at the same time too and that he had deliberately changed their places in the Prophecy so that the right one of them was taken. Would the Shaman really do that? Did the Prophecy truly refer to Martha as the conqueror? She had the right qualities to make it be so and he believed in her.
“Are you going to leave us sitting in the dark or tell us what you have got worked out?” asked Martha, catching his eyes with her own.
“I’m still thinking - I’ve lost track now! Oh wait…”
And he resumed pacing.
“Does he do this often?” enquired Kaza.
Martha nodded. “He does it at least once a day. He tends to go off on a tangent.” They could both here him muttering to himself as he continued to mess up his hair with both of his hands. “He’ll come back to us in a minute.”
They waited a few more minutes and then the Doctor stopped pacing, swung round, a big grin was plastered over his face and he pulled Martha to her feet, crushing her in a vigorous hug.
“Oh it’s you, my wonderful Martha Jones!”
He let go of her and she took a deep breath.
“What’s me?”
“The Prophecy!” he cried, beaming like an utter loony.
She raised her eyebrows at him. “If you hadn’t noticed I am part of this prophecy anyway and you are too.”
“No, no, no! Not in the way you think! Not in the way we were told! It’s wrong - the prophecy is wrong - but is right as well!”
“Okay….” shrugged Martha looking back at Kaza to see a look of complete confusion on his face. Whatever the Doctor meant he wasn’t doing a very good job of making them realise what he was going on about. “Are you going to be talking any sense anytime soon?”
“Huh?” The Doctor looked very surprised that she still had no clue.
She had to elaborate. “You are not speaking any sense at all, how am I meant to understand what you mean?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
“It might be best if you all sit down, and you Doctor, explain to us what you mean,” suggested Kaza. “I’m only a simple being - I can’t read minds. You seem to be operating on the fact that Martha and I can.”
“But it is so obvious!” cried the Doctor incredulously.
“If it was wouldn’t we know what you meant without having to ask you to tone it down a bit?” pointed out Martha.
Kaza nodded, agreeing vigorously. “You have to admit, Doctor, it does make sense. And we are wasting time here.”
“Right, sorry. Sometimes I forget who I’m talking to,” admitted the Doctor, sheepishly.
Martha shook her head. “That’s alright. Apology accepted.” She couldn’t not forgive him.
“Now that’s sorted can we get back to what we were discussing?”
“Certainly, Chief,” the Doctor said thinking about saluting to Kaza but deciding not to. He rubbed his hands together and sat promptly down. “Now, in my view this Shaman is certainly unique. He can do things that not many people can. He is able to see into the future, speak to your ethereal gods and receive prophecies about how the world could be changed. Has he predicted many?”
“Yes,” replied Kaza. “For years he has spoken of those that would help us defeat what is keeping us in this state of anger, yet those he has spoken of have been taken by the enemy and broken, hurt badly enough so that they cannot live up to the prophecy.”
“Ah…I wonder then if he has learnt to change things round then preventing them from discovering the right people.” He noticed that Martha was looking at him, curiosity on her face and he wondered if she was catching on but he also noticed that Kaza was still staring at him oddly, as if he had just spoken a load of rubbish.
“What have you worked out?” he asked once more.
“I think I get his drift,” said Martha, frowning. “You said earlier that the prophecy was right and wrong at the same time - how can this be?”
Running a hand through his already messy hair, the Doctor leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees. “The Shaman went for the most difficult interpretation of the prophecy and not the simple one. Not the one that comes and hits you in the face. I think what he said was deliberate.”
“But why would he mess with our heads?” asked Martha. “There has to be a reason.”
“To makes sure that the right one of us stays free,”
Her eyes widened as she finally figured out his meaning. “You really think that?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Martha stood up. “He swapped our places, to deceive what?”
“The enemy,” stated the Doctor.
“Are you saying that the Shaman lied?” questioned Kaza. Despite the fact that Martha had a vague idea what the Doctor was talking about, the Chief still did not understand what was going on nor did he realise what they were conversing about.
The Doctor turned to face him. “I think it be best if this was kept between Martha and I. Sorry.”
“For security reasons?” enquired Kaza.
The Doctor nodded. “If you don’t mind that is.”
“Not at all,” replied Kaza, sweeping away and out of their hut.
Martha folded her arms. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight: according to you, I am the one that ‘conquers all’ and you are the ‘light that shines in darkness’?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“But the Shaman lied to deceive the enemy so that this darkness that you can sense could be destroyed forever?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She frowned, biting her lip. “Thing is, Doctor, I am just a simple human. I’m not a Time Lord like you. What do I have that you don’t?”
The Doctor arched an eyebrow at her, clearly surprised. “You’re not just a ‘simple’ human, you proved that when we first met. I am positive that you can work everything out.”
Martha slumped down in the chair, staring up at him. “I just don’t want anything bad happening to you. I nearly lost you in 1913.”
The Doctor pulled her into a hug. “I’m not that easily killed, and at least this time we have the fortune to know that something bad is going to happen. We have time to prepare for it, however little time we do get I don’t know. We are considerably lucky to know this, Martha.”
She looked at him, her brown eyes boring into his. “When do you think they will come for you?”
He ruffled his hair. “Oh, most likely tonight, but I’m hoping tomorrow since it will give us a little extra time. Tomorrow is very unlikely. If I’m right, and I hope that I am that the Shaman has deceived the enemy into capturing me instead of you as the Shaman implied, they will want to make sure I can’t stop them. Even if the Shaman has got it right and I’m just looking into things too deeply I still believe you can help these people. You are a very unique human being, Martha Jones.”
“Thanks.” She lowered her eyes. A sudden though occurred to her. “If you are considered to be a threat to this enemy, isn’t there a big chance of them just killing you on sight? The other prophecies spoke of children not yet matured so it was easier for them to be caught but you are different. What makes you so sure that they just won’t kill you on sight?”
“It is a risk I’m going to have to take,” he replied. “I don’t like the thought of leaving you to sort this all out, but I know you can do it. If I’m right and you are truly the ‘conqueror’ of the prophecy you will have no trouble in working everything out. I don’t think they will kill me - they’ve taken all the other prophesised ones. If they do make a move to kill me - then I have no idea what we’ll do. I’m pretty sure they want me alive, if not we’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
The only thing Martha could do was hope that the Doctor was correct in his estimations. She was quite relieved that the Doctor believed in her to discover and end this situation on Maralus. Whatever she would have to do to work out the truth, Martha was not looking forward to the challenge while the Doctor was taken who knew where.
The only problem they had was to make his capture (if that was what the enemy was going to do) convincing. The next few days were not going to be easy, for either of them.
-00000-
Despite living on the other side of the mountains on the plains of what had once been the forest of Myrad and the close proximity of the Northerners, the Southerners had rarely come into contact with a Northerner. Just three hours of marching would bring them to the enemy encampment. Though there was a war going on between the two fractions, battles were barely fought. It was only when someone went missing that an attack was launched.
Tonight, however, was different.
Sister Aziel had come home, explaining that the Northerners had acquired a weapon that would enable them to wipe out the Southerners once and for all. It was imperative that this weapon be taken from them at all costs. They had been told that the weapon was a man who held immense power. She described him as a foreigner from another part of the world which the Southerners and Northerners were unable to reach.
She instructed them to bring the ‘foreigner’ back. They were to kill no one, if they could help it. Aziel assured them that her brother, Arrein, would accompany them and point out the man they required.
It was nearly four hours after midnight that the Southerners were approaching the Northern tribe. Very soon they would have the weapon that threatened their very existence.
-00000-
Martha had retied to bed, wrapping a straw blanket round her to keep her body warm. It was rather uncomfortable to say the least and it was not the ideal time to sleep either, especially as she knew something bad was going to occur within the next few hours. She rolled over onto her back, staring up at the hut’s ceiling.
She sighed in exasperation as sleep escaped her. Sitting up she focused on the Doctor’s bed on the other side of the hut but her heart began to pump quicker as her head her he was not there.
His bed was empty.
He wouldn’t leave the hut without telling her unless he had a very good reason to. She chewed on her lip, wondering whether she should go and find him. Flinging the straw cover off, Martha slipped on the plimsolls that were beside the bed and walked out of the hut into darkness, searching for the Doctor.
-00000-
He couldn’t sleep, especially when he wasn’t even tired. He stood leaning against a shoulder high, wooden wall, staring out into the plains of darkness. The only light from the moon had been obscured by the clouds above that according to his senses, seemed to be threatening rain. His hands were shoved in his suit pockets and he sighed audibly as he waited alone.
But I’m not alone, his mind told him as he became aware that someone was standing beside him. He turned his head to focus on Martha’s face. “You need to sleep.”
“Can’t,” she shrugged, leaning back against the wooden wall as well. “It is very hard to get to sleep when you are waiting for your friend to disappear. A warning would have been nice - so that I didn’t panic when I woke up.”
He looked down at his plimsolls. “Sorry.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I rarely sleep. Even when I have to I try to avoid it. Time Lords, unlike humans, do not need to rest. I wanted you to have a rest - keep your strength up.”
“There’s no other way?” she asked. “I have to remain free?”
“We’ve been over this - yes,” he sounded agitated. He shook his head. “Sorry. I’m fairly positive that this is what must be. I know I can rely on you - you are brilliant and wonderful. I could have got the interpretation of the Prophecy wrong but I’m pretty certain it means you not me to be the conqueror of this darkness. I have faith in you - I did when I became John Smith - I still do now.”
She smiled sadly. “I know - I just have this feeling that I will need your help.”
He reached into his inner pocket and produced the Sonic Screwdriver pressing it firmly into her slender fingers. “You’ll need it more then me.”
“But I don’t know how to use this!” replied Martha, attempting to hand it back to him, but he raised his hands in protest and she relented.
“I thought you would say that. This might help.” The Doctor reached into his pocket again and pulled out a crunched up piece of paper which he handed to Martha. She unscrewed the paper. In the dim light that was visible, she could just make out the scrawny handwriting of the Doctor. He had listed down various settings of the Sonic that she might prove useful to her during his absence.
“I know you have no idea how to use the Sonic at the moment but I thought it might be useful if I gave you some settings that you might require.”
“That is very thoughtful of you, Mr Smith,” mused Martha.
“It would be a bit silly of me not to give you something that could help you with this especially since we have been forewarned of what is going to occur.”
“That is fortunate then,” she laughed.
He smiled at her lightly. “I’m always prepared.”
“I think I can believe that,” she smirked, remembering a few times when he hadn’t been prepared. On those occasions they would have to run for their lives until he came up with a good plan that would enable to escape alive and save the people or planet that was being threatened.
“Good.”
“You’d better come back alive,” she demanded, though she was careful to say that in a light-hearted tone.
He grinned at her. “Oh, I will. I definitely won’t be leaving you here on this planet.” He debated whether to mention regeneration to her - just as a precaution. He had attempted to warn her of it when he had been possessed by the living sun but she had been far more concerned in his survival then worrying about dealing with another him. He was about to speak when he felt her hand grip him hard on the forearm.
“Doctor,” her voice was filled with fear. “Something is coming towards the village.” She pointed into the distance and his eyes swivelled round to rest upon the unmistakable glow of flaming torches, steadily heading their way.
“Back to the village!” he yelled, grabbing her hand and pulling her back in the boundaries of the Northern Tribe.
-00000-
“Listen up!” Arrein called over his shoulder to the Southerners that followed him as they marched ever closer to the Northern tribe. He had witnessed the man they sought run back into the comfort of the village. “That man we saw flee into the tribe is the one we must bring back alive! Understand?”
There was a chorus of shouts and Brother Arrein smiled as he thought of the bloodshed that would follow. Unlike his sister, Arrein had instructed his men to kill anyone that opposed them and also to kill a child. It wasn’t because he was going against his sister’s orders it was due to the fact that it was custom for death to be a part of any attack made on their enemies. Every time an innocent life had been taken and tonight would be no different.
He fingered the potion tucked away in his pocket, remembering the words his sister had told him before he had departed with the warriors.
It is essential that the potion is administered otherwise our master will not be able to easily convert him.
-00000-
Panic erupted throughout the tribe as Chief Kaza instructed the women and children to flee to the back of the camp. The mothers grabbed their sons and daughters hands as their offspring attempting to protest against such an injustice. Martha forced herself to swallow the revulsion that rose in her throat as she heard screeching children demand to have a chance to shed the blood of the enemy. Kaza’s words were far more empowering and he forced the young ones under the age of fourteen to follow their mothers to safety.
The Doctor stood watching impassively from the side realising that he couldn’t prevent this battle from occurring. He had already made it clear that he wouldn’t fight, despite Kaza protesting against his decision.
Martha had seen the confusion in the Chief’s face. He was still under the assumption that the Doctor was the ‘one’ and not herself, as the Doctor believed. “We don’t have to work by Prophecy, do we?”
It was a question that had been bugging her since the Shaman had claimed it was about them.
“No, we don’t,” The Doctor replied. “Unfortunately we are going to have to. The darkness certainly is. Even without the intervention of the prophecy, I think it would have still tried to take me out. I can sense the darkness, and it can sense me. It knows I’m a danger to it. You would have been left alone regardless, no matter how much we both don’t want this to happen.”
Martha sighed, dreading the coming minutes.
Whether she liked it or not - they would be separated tonight and the Doctor would suffer while she tried to solve the puzzle that surrounded the tribes of Maralus.
-00000-
“Forward!” His shout reverberated over the heads of the soldiers as they ran forward clutching wooden bats, daggers holstered in their belts and the other hand brandishing a burning torch each. Arrein kept his eyes focused entirely upon the Northern warriors standing in their way - preventing them from gaining access to the village. He held his own dagger in hand - though it was longer then the standard one issued to the warriors if his clan.
The surge of Southerners thrust themselves against the ranks of Northerners engaging them in the brutality of war, each side attempting to take as many lives as possible by thrusting their weapons into that fatal place. The first victim was a boy of sixteen - the youngest recruit for the Southerners - but the child had done his duty. They were taught from a very early age that dying in war was the most glorious way to go.
Arrein could feel his master’s strength flowing into him as anger consumed him - his hatred for the Northerners intensified as he thought over the thousands of deaths they had caused. With significant ease he threw an enemy to the side, pushed away a wooden bat that had been descending towards his head and twisted another Northerner’s arm as the warrior made a move to stab him. Quick as a flash Arrein snapped the man’s neck, throwing his body to the earth.
Within the first crucial minutes of the battle, many Northerners had suffered a grisly fate, but only six Southerners had been harmed.
The Northern ranks were crumbling apart and they began to flee back into the tribe. Arrein followed ordering his warriors to concentrate on finding their prize and to take the life of a child.
-00000-
“I wasn’t expecting them to order the death of an innocent child,” said the Doctor as he heard the instructions the enemy had issued as they entered the camp.
“Is there anyway to stop it?” asked Martha, her heart beating fast.
He shook his head, his face white. “No, but it doesn’t mean we can’t try.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on!”
“Where are we going?” She ran along beside him, taking a risky glance over her shoulder. They were being pursued by at least seven of the attacking warriors. The huts of the village were being burned as the Southerners moved into the village.
They rounded a hut, took another turn and stopped. Martha leaned back against the hut, panting slightly. She really ought to have got used to all the running by now.
The Doctor, once again, reached into his pocket and pulled out his TARDIS key. “You can give this back to me later.”
Martha’s eyes bulged and she took it, clutching the key tight into her right hand. “But…”
He overrode her. “I don’t have much time - but you need to keep both keys safe. If you succeed in this task and I’m still a prisoner, the enemy will do anything to survive. If they discover that I have a space-ship that would be their means of escape. As long as I don’t have the key they cannot force me to let them into the TARDIS.”
She nodded, realising the importance of what he was trusting her with. “I promise.”
He touched her cheek, brushing his slim fingers down against her tender skin. She shivered and he smiled in sadness. “Well, here goes.”
And then he was gone, running past her, towards the foray of Northerners and Southerners. She touched her still tingling cheek and wondered briefly if there was something between them after all.
-00000-
Arrein had been quite surprised that the man they sought hadn’t fought in the main battle and he hadn’t expected him to appear right in front of him as he thought that.
That was very convenient - too convenient in fact.
Then the man disappeared again.
Arrein cursed, realising that he hadn’t got a good look at him. He would be easy to find though, considering that his clothes were not the standard for his people. Arrein continued to move forward with ease, He eyes caught a shade of a dark brown suit and he realised that this was the man he sought.
The man had hold of a child who was yelling and struggling to get at the enemies attacking her home. Arrein signalled to two of his warriors, indicating that he wanted that child killed.
What better way was there to break to the man’s spirit by making it his fault that a child had died?
-00000-
The Doctor attempted to keep hold of the girl that was struggling in his grip, determined to fight. When he had joined the fray of fighting - without any form of defence - he had seen the small child rush past him shouting words of anger and death. She must have somehow escaped from her mother. He judged her to be just over six years old. Around him lay the bodies of Northerners and a few Southerners.
“Come on,” he said, even as the girl kicked out at him.
“Must….fight….hurt…them!” she spluttered in anger. “Killed dad!”
“Oh no! I am taking you away from here!” He wasn’t going to let a child die.
Despite her protests he managed to haul her away from the main dangers that the battle presented. But then he saw them: three, rather fierce Southerners were heading his way. It was evident that they had death on their mind and he considered the possibility that he was about to say good-bye to his tenth body. He pushed the child behind him, yelling for Martha who appeared round the corner holding a wooden bat. Obviously she had been attacked once he had left her and she had taken the advantage of an abandoned weapon to defend herself.
He shoved the child - still yelling furiously - towards Martha. “Get her to safety!” he instructed, turning back to face the enemy rapidly approaching him.
As Martha ran off dragging the child with her, the Doctor froze as he heard one of the Southerners speak: “Kill the child.”
This would have been a good time to use the Sonic, the Doctor thought, briefly wondering why he had given it to Martha so quickly. Without even thinking he turned and ran in the direction she had fled, pursued by the three Southerners.
He rounded one of the huts that were not yet burning and side-stepped quickly into the entrance. He pursuers ran past and he leaned out, running his fingers through his hair. He had to stop them from reaching the girl and Martha.
He prepared himself for the inevitable.
-00000-
The girl, the Doctor had instructed her to keep safe was quite a handful. She continued to screech and squirm while Martha tugged her along, hoping to get the girl to safety - hopefully in the arms of her mother. The girl deliberately stabbed her heels into the earth, hindering their progress.
Then Martha fell to the ground having tripped over a rock that she hadn’t seen due to the darkness. The girl slipped from he grasp and promptly attacked the three Southerners that had been pursuing them. Martha scrambled to her feet, but even as she did so she witnessed the Doctor grabbing one of the Southerners back.
But he was too late.
The girl’s momentum had brought her straight onto the blade of a knife. The girl was dead, her blood dripping to the ground. The Southerner that had killed her slowly pulled the knife from the child’s body, relishing the kill.
Martha felt instantly nauseous. She stumbled back, bile rising in her throat, ignoring the fact that the Doctor was being attacked by the Southerners.
Her head was telling her to help him but she couldn’t bring herself to. Her eyes remained focused upon the child. The Doctor had charged her with keeping the girl safe and she had failed.
She was numb from shock and she could only watch as one of the Southerners lashed out at the Doctor, sending him backwards. He went reeling to the ground, collapsing completely. His attackers lunged at him, preventing him from gaining his feet.
The last thing Martha Jones saw before darkness consumed her was one of the Southerners forcing something down the Doctor’s throat.
-00000-
He struggled restlessly in the grasp of the Southerners. One of them grabbed his chin, holding his head still, even as another wrenched his arms behind his back and tying them together with thick rope. One pulled out a bottle of black liquid and attempted to administer it to him. He refused, stubbornly keeping his mouth closed.
Then, the other Southerner that had been keeping an eye on their surroundings punched him right in the stomach. The Doctor couldn’t stop opening his mouth as he took in a gulp of air. At the same time he felt the liquid being poured into his mouth. He attempted to spit it out but couldn’t. He had to swallow the vile liquid as his airways were cut off. He coughed and spluttered as they hauled him to his feet.
“Now, move,” the one that had killed the girl told him.
He had no choice but he made it difficult for them. He pulled away even as they tried to lead him out of the war zone.
“We can’t move him if he continues to struggle,” he heard one whisper.
“Then we do this,” the one on the right said.
The last thing he felt, before darkness descended, was a sharp blow to the head and then he crumpled to the ground.
-00000-
“Martha! Miss Jones!”
Martha groaned as consciousness returned. She found herself on the floor inside a wooden hut, a blanket positioned over her body.
“Uh…”
“Are you okay?”
“I feel like I’ve got a thousand needles pounding into my head all at once,” she said, wincing as she became familiar with the thumps of a headache. She focused upon Kaza who looked concerned for her welfare. “Is everyone alright?”
The Chief shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. We suffered many casualties. A child was killed. And…I’m afraid that your friend is missing. We cannot find his body anywhere.”
Martha swallowed. “I know.”
“How?” the Chief asked.
“I was there when he was taken,” she answered.
“He was taken?”
She nodded, realising the full extent of what she was left with. “They took him. I saw them murder a child and then take him - they poured something down his throat.”
Kaza sat down beside her, crossing his legs. “Then it has happened again. The one that is meant to help us has been taken by the enemy. This war cannot end.”
“Yes it can. I will make sure of that,” she said, pushing herself up into a sitting position. “I promise you, Kaza, that I will solve this.”
There was such determination in her eyes that Kaza just had to believe her. He only hoped that he wasn’t putting his faith into her for nothing.
To be continued