SJ Fic: Taking in Strays Ch. 14 - Down the Rabbit Hole (Sarah Jane / Duplicate 10)
Disclaimer: It all belongs to the Beeb. I'm having fun with Sarah Jane and Handy today. Since Rose seemed to me like the type to decide something wasn't so good once she had it. Sorry to all those Rose fans out there.
Summary: When the human Doctor clone finds his way to her door, Sarah Jane finds she's opening her door to much more than the trouble she expects.
Rating: PG
Author Note: The chapters multiplied. There's actually one more after this one. Enjoy.
Once again, thank you to Spydurwebb for the masterful beta.
The book tumbled to the seat of the chair with a thud, and then it began to fade. "Oh no, you don't." Rani snatched it and was relieved when it seemed to solidify in her grasp. She could feel a tug at her subconscious, urging her to open the book. "Not on your life." She snarled at the thing and pelted out of the house and across the road to Sarah Jane's.
The hammering on the door had Sarah and Oliver bolting from their respective rooms and nearly crashing into each other. Because of his longer legs and willingness to skip steps, Oliver took the lead down the stairs and pulled the front door open. His eyes widened at the sight of Rani clutching the book to her chest with tears in her eyes. "It got my dad!"
"It's alright, Rani. Come inside." Sarah pulled her dressing gown tighter around her to block the chilly night air, and took hold of the teen's arm to guide her inside.
"After it took Dad, it started to disappear." Rani's tone was still panicked. "And it's trying to get me to read it. I can't put it down."
"Let's get up to the attic." Sarah started up the stairs with Rani and Oliver close behind.
As they reached the landing where their bedrooms were, Oliver spoke up. "I'm just going to put something on." He gestured at his bare legs, only clothed by his boxers.
Sarah smiled at him and nodded as she and Rani went the rest of the way up. "Mr. Smith, I need you." She called out as they entered the attic.
With his typical fanfare, the alien driven supercomputer appeared from the wall, "Yes, Sarah Jane."
Sarah held out her hands for the book that Rani clutched to her chest. "It'll be all right." She reassured the girl. Rani reluctantly handed the book over, looking somewhat panicked as Sarah set it down on the scanner plate.
No sooner had she set it down then the book started to fade again. "Oh no, you don't!" Oliver said as he came in, grabbing the book as it began to fade away. "You're staying right where you are. Mr. Smith, can you scan it with me touching it?"
"Of course," the supercomputer answered.
Sarah looked at Oliver questioningly and he shrugged, "I've seen technology like this before, transmatting itself when it's not in contact with a life form, but normally it's used like a homing device. A way not to lose something important, like the TARDIS homing in on the Doctor. It attaches itself and then follows its owner around like a puppy dog."
"So then is it trying to go back to its owner? Has someone purposefully gotten this book to take people?" Sarah Jane surmised.
"It's possible." Oliver frowned. "But why? Seems like an awfully random way of snatching people."
"It is a Venarax Living Story." Mr. Smith announced.
"Oh ho." Oliver looked at the book. "But they aren't a weapon." He looked towards Sarah and Rani. "They're like an interactive story that tailors itself to your mind. What you'd most enjoy doing, it creates the story in your head, harnesses your imagination." He looked at the book. "Though it could be used as a weapon I suppose."
"From the readings the book is emitting, I believe that it is malfunctioning," Mr. Smith advised the occupants of the attic.
"Yes!" Oliver picked the book up. "That makes complete sense. It's supposed to draw your imagination into its matrix; instead it's drawing you into it."
"But that would take a huge amount of memory wouldn't it?" Rani looked at the book in disbelief. "How can that much memory be attached to a book?"
Sarah and Oliver both spoke as one, "If it's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside." Identical smiles formed on their lips and their eyes met.
"So how do we get my dad out then?" Rani crossed her arms over her chest, a little annoyed. It was all well and good for them to flirt, but not with her dad's life hanging in the balance.
"Well, someone's going to have to go in after him. Them." Oliver looked down at the book.
"Go in?" Sarah looked at Oliver.
"Read the book, let themselves get pulled in." The tone of Oliver's voice told Sarah more than his words did.
"I'm going with you," Sarah said meeting his gaze.
Oliver shook his head at her. "Sarah, you should be here. I'm going to need you to be here to help get me out. You know that supercomputer of yours better than anyone."
"Do you remember what I told you?" Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. "You are just as vulnerable as any of us to the danger now, Oliver."
"I do." Oliver handed the book to Rani and stepped towards Sarah, looking down into her eyes. "The problem is as a Time Lord I was quite happy to have you follow me into whatever fool hardy situations that came up, but these human instincts are a bit of a bother."
"Then how do you think I feel?" Sarah Jane cocked her head and looked up at him in bemusement. "Both of us are going to go."
"What about me?" Rani scowled. "It's my dad in there. We should call Clyde."
"And then what Rani?" Sarah Jane sighed. "Then he would be arguing that he should come along as well. Call him, yes but you and he need to be here to help Mr. Smith pull Oliver and I out when the time comes."
"And how do we know when that will be if we aren't with you?" Rani looked from Oliver to Sarah Jane, expecting them to have an answer. "And do you even know if the story keeps going when it's not being read?"
Oliver shook his head. "I don't know."
"Mr. Smith, can you link up to the book, keep the story running once we're inside, and display it on the screen?" Sarah Jane asked as the ideas came to her.
"Brilliant," Oliver beamed at Sarah Jane.
"I will attempt to interface with the book," Mr. Smith replied.
"Rani, put the book on the scanner plate, but keep your hand on it. It's going to need a link with a life form, even if you're not reading it," Oliver said.
"All right." Rani set the book down but laid her hand on top. "If this works though, you two are going to have to read it."
"And you're going to have to be ready to pick the book up the instant it's got us." Oliver said evenly. "You have to keep the story going so we're not just stored."
"I've established a wireless link with the living story," Mr. Smith said. "However there is currently no story to display."
"Easy, Rani." Oliver held up his hand to allay the girl's fears. "That's our cue, Sarah." He took the book off the scanner and moved to the red leather couch, getting comfortable on it. "We probably need to be as close as we can." He positioned himself so that she could sit between his legs.
Sarah blushed but moved to take the place he'd made for her. "Maybe we should get changed into other clothing."
"I honestly don't think it will matter much, Sarah. It's unlikely that we'll be dressed there as we are here," he said in amusement.
"Right then," Sarah nodded as she settled down and felt his arms go around her with the book. She wiggled a bit back against him then leaned her head back against his chest.
"Comfortable are we?" Oliver looked at her in amusement.
"If I have to sit like this I may as well be." Sarah looked up at him with mischief in her gaze.
"Once you start reading, Sarah, keep reading or this isn't going to work." Oliver let his eyes drift to Rani, while she watched them and tried to be understanding of their playfulness.
Sarah got his message and smiled reassuringly at the girl. "We'll bring your father back, I promise. We need you to be ready to take the book so you'd best get over here as well." She nodded to a space on the floor near them, breaking the spell and making Oliver and her positions seem less intimate than they were.
"Right," Rani nodded. Her expression still conveyed her worry, but also her determination to help.
Entwining their hands together, Sarah and Oliver started to read. "Just listen, Sarah." Oliver murmured when he realized that Sarah was having difficulty with the words appearing on the page. "It was a place that had long since fallen into legend, yet to the two travellers they knew it was far more than a legend. They both had been here before, long ago, though neither of them were quite as they had been."
Rani listened as Oliver wove his tale and then Sarah's voice joined his. "One of them had lived here long ago, and when others of his kind had called, he'd left the other behind much to their mutual sorrow. Later, she had found herself there, called unbidden, only to be reunited with him for a short time and sent away once more."
"Oh," Rani's eyes widened as she watched the lines of nothingness run through her friends. It was the hardest thing she'd ever done, to just sit and do nothing. Why it was working so quickly she didn't know, but she knew she couldn't disturb them, even as their voices wove into one and then suddenly stopped.
Before the book could fall, Rani had it in her grasp. "Mr. Smith, do you still have the story?"
"Yes. Oliver and Sarah Jane are within the living story," Mr. Smith intoned. "I have a wireless link to the story. Displaying on screen."
Rani's eyes widened as she looked up, seeing Sarah Jane on the screen. "Is she in a tower, Mr. Smith? Like a princess in a fairy tale?" Rani couldn't suppress a giggle. "I'd never cast Sarah Jane as a princess."
"Indeed," Mr. Smith agreed solemnly in his monotone voice. "I would suggest that Oliver will hear about that on their return." Both the computer and Rani's attention were drawn to Sarah's drama being played out on the screen.
"And, of course, he's not here with me. I should have guessed that would be the case. Small favours, I'm not tied up. That would have been par for the course with our history as well. Just locked up in a tower." Sarah shook her head then patted herself down looking through her pockets for her sonic. "Well at least he didn't dress me like a bloody fairy princess in a tower."
She huffed in disgust as she realized it wasn't going to be as simple triggering the lock. "He could have made me a bit younger. I suppose I should be glad that he likes me like this though." She walked to the balcony of the tower, stepping out onto it and looking down. "Oh my." She closed her eyes and backed away from the edge. "He could have taken care of my vertigo, definitely not going to get out that way. All right, Sarah Jane, time to find a way out of here on your own."
It was a bit disconcerting for Rani, to be watching her friends playing out the drama on Mr. Smith's screen. "Clyde would," she paused. "Clyde is never going to forgive me if we don't call him."
"Good thing, Mr. Smith already rang me then." Clyde entered the attic. "You're horrible with keeping up." He looked at the screen. "Oy, the TARDIS. Very cool."
He was right, the TARDIS was materializing on a plateau of red grass with majestic purple mountains in the background. The door of the time machine swung open and a figure emerged from within. "That's not Oliver is it?" Rani looked at Clyde.
"No idea." He shook his head. "Sure doesn't look like him to me. That coat, that hat. And look at the size of that scarf? Isn't he going to trip on it?" He scowled at the screen then got closer to it, squinting. "It's his trainers though." He tapped the screen. "See."
"I'd thank you not to touch my screen, Clyde," Mr. Smith warned.
Oliver raised his head. "Now this brings back memories." He turned around. "This. This has to be Sarah Jane's doing though." He opened the coat to find his waistcoat then the peasant type shirt beneath. "She's going to give me a complex and heat exhaustion." Still he didn't bother to take off any of the layers. Instead he took in the landscape around him. "Oh," his eyes widened as he realised where he was. "I know this place. This is impossible." A grin crossed his lips. "Brilliant. Bloody brilliant." He bounced a bit on his heels. "Gallifrey!"
His eyes narrowed as he looked around. "Sarah!" He ducked his head into the TARDIS and looked around. "Sarah Jane?" He closed the door and walked around the outside of the time ship. "Did you wander off again? You always were bad for that." He waited for a moment until he determined that she wasn't going to answer him back and tried one more time. "And here I thought this would be the perfect chance to make out on the console." He called out expecting to hear her indignant scolding of him at that. "Guess you really aren't here." He paused as he thought about it and pulled an odd face. "Oh that's a good thing, you really don't need to know what I'm thinking when I'm watching you in those jeans of yours."
Walking a fair distance from the TARDIS, he stopped and turned slowly to get his bearings. "Citadel should be that way. Untempered Schism, that way. Mount Perdition that way. I'm a book and trying to make an adventure for the heroes so where do I put the damsel." He wrinkled his nose. "Sarah hears me say that and she'll hurt me." He turned in the direction of Mount Perdition. "The direction the villain is to be found in." He tossed the scarf around his neck in one more loop. "Oh, I hope I've got my sonic." Oliver sighed as he fished around in his pocket, "Oh, the old one."
"It is Oliver." Rani held the book to her chest as she moved closer to the screen. "Why is he dressed like a character from some weird panto?"
"No idea," Clyde shook his head to punctuate his point. "This is going to make some seriously cool artwork though."
Rani rolled her eyes at him. "You're going to have to answer to Sarah Jane when she catches you at that."
"It's not like I make 'em public," Clyde shrugged. "It was Luke that did it the last time." He pointed to the screen. "Look it's Sarah Jane again."
"This is pointless." Sarah stopped her search then scowled and looked back at the balcony realising it was her only option of escape. "Oliver." She called out. "Oliver!"
Almost as though answering her calls, a grappling hook flew over the edge of the balcony. "Oh you couldn't have picked a way down that wasn't going to set my teeth on edge could you?" She moved closer taking a deep breath to steel her.
That breath was lost explosively when she found herself nose to nose with a young brown haired woman dressed completely in animal skins, with a knife bound to her hip. "I was right; I'm getting much too old for this."
"You are the Doctor's woman?" The young woman was direct, Sarah Jane had to give her that. She also caused her to blush scarlet.
"Not exactly," Sarah found herself stammering. "I'm Oliver's woman. Sort of." Her nose wrinkled at that. "And I'm not comfortable with the idea that I'm anyone's anything. He's mine too."
The primitive girl seemed bemused by that. "You are definitely his mate. You are just like them. Romana said you would be human, like me." It was clear that she didn't agree.
"Now look here, I am as human as anyone." Sarah put her hands on her hips, glaring at the woman fiercely.
After a moment the young woman nodded. "I am Leela. I travelled with the Doctor after you."
"You knew me?" Sarah Jane perked up at that. "I mean he mentioned me?"
Leela looked at her strangely, clearly not understanding why it would be important. "Yes."
"Oh well then." Sarah realized she wouldn't get anything else of value from Leela. "So what's your plan to get me out of here?"
"The rope." Leela began to move back to the edge of the balcony.
"Oh no, you aren't getting me down that." Sarah stood and glared at the Doctor's other former companion.
"If you will not climb then I will carry you," Leela said as though it was obvious.
"No, that's not happening either." The set of Sarah's body clearly showed that she would be completely stubborn on this point.
"This is a tower on the property of Koschei's family estate." Leela's tone was matter of fact.
"And that's supposed to mean something to me?" Sarah looked at her curiously.
"The Doctor calls him the Master," Leela continued.
Sarah Jane swallowed, remembering what she'd learned about Harry Saxon and everything else she knew about the Master. "I don't suppose there's any choice then."
"No." Leela moved to the rope.
"Right then." Sarah took a deep breath. "You go down first and I'll follow."
Leela's gaze narrowed. "I should carry you."
"No, that's not necessary." Sarah shooed Leela ahead of her. "I'll manage. Hand over hand. Trust me; I'm more afraid of the Master than I am of my vertigo. Death is a very good motivator."
A short nod from the primitive woman, then Sarah watched as she slid over the balcony rail making it look easy.
"The things I manage to get myself into." Sarah walked to the edge of the balcony and took hold of the rope then eased herself over the edge, making certain not to look down as she wound her legs around the rope. "Definitely too old for this."
Keeping her eyes fixed forward, Sarah started her descent and choked down her fear. "This or the Master," she muttered to herself as the rope seemed to be never ending.
"You are about a foot from the ground, Miss Smith," an elegant yet bemused voice quipped. "I think it's fairly safe for you to let go of your stranglehold on Leela's rope."
"Oh." She looked down and saw the ground as close as the newcomer had said, "Right then." She let go and let herself drop the rest of the way then brushed herself off. There was something about the voice that just screamed Time Lord. Or Time Lady she supposed, if they preferred. She turned resolutely and was faced with a woman not very much taller than herself with long dark hair.
"Sarah Jane Smith." Sarah stuck out her hand and raised her chin, not willing to be stared down by anyone even a Time Lord.
Arching her brow as she looked down at Sarah Jane's hand, her expression became decidedly put upon. "Romanadvoratrelundar, Lady President of the High Council of Time Lords." She pronounced as she finally conceded to taking Sarah's hand. It was obvious that the Time Lady was testing her so Sarah Jane kept her expression neutral. "But you may call me Romana." It was equally obvious that Romana didn't think Sarah could pronounce her Gallifreyan name.
Sarah wasn't certain she was wrong. Just what she needed, an arrogant Time Lady with a name as difficult to say as Raxacoricofallapatorius "Very pleased to make your acquaintance," she paused and gathered her wits then made her best try. "Lady Romanadvoratrelundar." She looked almost as surprised as Romana did when she succeeded admirably. "Well that was easier than Raxacali… Raxak… Oh."
"Raxacoricofallapatorius?" Romana asked curiously. "Have you had some trouble with the Slitheen?"
"More than some." Sarah sighed, relieved that she had scored some points with the haughty Gallifreyan.
"Ah well, I should have expected. No one who willingly travels with the Doctor could possibly stay out of trouble." Romana smiled slightly. "You really are welcome to call me Romana. As the Doctor once pointed out, by the time you would have called out my full name if there were trouble, it would be far too late."
At that Sarah nodded. "Thank you and I'm afraid he's right. Do you know where Oli…" She stopped herself and sighed. It seemed the book had picked up on Oliver's residual desire to still be Gallifreyan. To hold onto his past. "Where the Doctor is?"
"No, but the sensors at the Citadel registered a new human on Gallifrey, so it was obvious he had arrived with a companion. I sent the distress call to recall him to Gallifrey myself," Romana explained. "Unfortunately, the Master has subverted my place on the Council at the moment, and our hiding place has been compromised."
"So you…" Sarah started only to be cut off by a familiar voice.
"Scans indicate the Master's forces are approaching on this area, Mistresses." K-9's ears swivelled.
"K-9!" Sarah exclaimed and knelt down to say hello to her friend.
"Mistress Romana? Mistress Leela?" K-9 addressed the other two women.
Sarah shrank back, a little stunned that this K-9 didn't recognize her. "K-9?"
"Ah, so you're the one he gave the Mk-3 to," Romana nodded. "K-9, this is Sarah. She is the Doctor's wife, you will treat her as you would Leela or I."
"I'm not," Sarah started then sighed, knowing it would be useless. "This is obviously mostly Oliver's doing," she grumbled under her breath.
"Affirmative, Mistress." K-9 moved to face Sarah again. "Greetings Mistress Sarah."
Sarah couldn't help but give a soft smile. "Hello K-9". She stroked his head affectionately now noticing the differences, most notably the collar.
"We do not have time for this," Leela hissed. "We must move."
"I'm afraid Leela is correct." Romana looked upwards, further up Mount Perdition, "But running away would be expected. If we move deeper into the Master's territory, perhaps we will confuse him."
"Oliver… The Doctor will be looking for me here. He'll work out that the Master is the one that's most likely to have," she paused knowing she'd never actually been taken; it was just where they'd gotten to in their story, "Taken me."
"The Doctor is like a bad penny," Romana voiced her opinion. "He'll turn up."
Sarah opened her mouth and then shut it when Leela gave a discreet shake of her head. "This way." The primitive pointed in the direction that would take them up the mountainside.
With a sigh, Sarah looked up the path and resigned herself, only hoping that Oliver would turn out to have better luck than she had so far.
Summary: When the human Doctor clone finds his way to her door, Sarah Jane finds she's opening her door to much more than the trouble she expects.
Rating: PG
Author Note: The chapters multiplied. There's actually one more after this one. Enjoy.
Once again, thank you to Spydurwebb for the masterful beta.
The book tumbled to the seat of the chair with a thud, and then it began to fade. "Oh no, you don't." Rani snatched it and was relieved when it seemed to solidify in her grasp. She could feel a tug at her subconscious, urging her to open the book. "Not on your life." She snarled at the thing and pelted out of the house and across the road to Sarah Jane's.
The hammering on the door had Sarah and Oliver bolting from their respective rooms and nearly crashing into each other. Because of his longer legs and willingness to skip steps, Oliver took the lead down the stairs and pulled the front door open. His eyes widened at the sight of Rani clutching the book to her chest with tears in her eyes. "It got my dad!"
"It's alright, Rani. Come inside." Sarah pulled her dressing gown tighter around her to block the chilly night air, and took hold of the teen's arm to guide her inside.
"After it took Dad, it started to disappear." Rani's tone was still panicked. "And it's trying to get me to read it. I can't put it down."
"Let's get up to the attic." Sarah started up the stairs with Rani and Oliver close behind.
As they reached the landing where their bedrooms were, Oliver spoke up. "I'm just going to put something on." He gestured at his bare legs, only clothed by his boxers.
Sarah smiled at him and nodded as she and Rani went the rest of the way up. "Mr. Smith, I need you." She called out as they entered the attic.
With his typical fanfare, the alien driven supercomputer appeared from the wall, "Yes, Sarah Jane."
Sarah held out her hands for the book that Rani clutched to her chest. "It'll be all right." She reassured the girl. Rani reluctantly handed the book over, looking somewhat panicked as Sarah set it down on the scanner plate.
No sooner had she set it down then the book started to fade again. "Oh no, you don't!" Oliver said as he came in, grabbing the book as it began to fade away. "You're staying right where you are. Mr. Smith, can you scan it with me touching it?"
"Of course," the supercomputer answered.
Sarah looked at Oliver questioningly and he shrugged, "I've seen technology like this before, transmatting itself when it's not in contact with a life form, but normally it's used like a homing device. A way not to lose something important, like the TARDIS homing in on the Doctor. It attaches itself and then follows its owner around like a puppy dog."
"So then is it trying to go back to its owner? Has someone purposefully gotten this book to take people?" Sarah Jane surmised.
"It's possible." Oliver frowned. "But why? Seems like an awfully random way of snatching people."
"It is a Venarax Living Story." Mr. Smith announced.
"Oh ho." Oliver looked at the book. "But they aren't a weapon." He looked towards Sarah and Rani. "They're like an interactive story that tailors itself to your mind. What you'd most enjoy doing, it creates the story in your head, harnesses your imagination." He looked at the book. "Though it could be used as a weapon I suppose."
"From the readings the book is emitting, I believe that it is malfunctioning," Mr. Smith advised the occupants of the attic.
"Yes!" Oliver picked the book up. "That makes complete sense. It's supposed to draw your imagination into its matrix; instead it's drawing you into it."
"But that would take a huge amount of memory wouldn't it?" Rani looked at the book in disbelief. "How can that much memory be attached to a book?"
Sarah and Oliver both spoke as one, "If it's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside." Identical smiles formed on their lips and their eyes met.
"So how do we get my dad out then?" Rani crossed her arms over her chest, a little annoyed. It was all well and good for them to flirt, but not with her dad's life hanging in the balance.
"Well, someone's going to have to go in after him. Them." Oliver looked down at the book.
"Go in?" Sarah looked at Oliver.
"Read the book, let themselves get pulled in." The tone of Oliver's voice told Sarah more than his words did.
"I'm going with you," Sarah said meeting his gaze.
Oliver shook his head at her. "Sarah, you should be here. I'm going to need you to be here to help get me out. You know that supercomputer of yours better than anyone."
"Do you remember what I told you?" Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. "You are just as vulnerable as any of us to the danger now, Oliver."
"I do." Oliver handed the book to Rani and stepped towards Sarah, looking down into her eyes. "The problem is as a Time Lord I was quite happy to have you follow me into whatever fool hardy situations that came up, but these human instincts are a bit of a bother."
"Then how do you think I feel?" Sarah Jane cocked her head and looked up at him in bemusement. "Both of us are going to go."
"What about me?" Rani scowled. "It's my dad in there. We should call Clyde."
"And then what Rani?" Sarah Jane sighed. "Then he would be arguing that he should come along as well. Call him, yes but you and he need to be here to help Mr. Smith pull Oliver and I out when the time comes."
"And how do we know when that will be if we aren't with you?" Rani looked from Oliver to Sarah Jane, expecting them to have an answer. "And do you even know if the story keeps going when it's not being read?"
Oliver shook his head. "I don't know."
"Mr. Smith, can you link up to the book, keep the story running once we're inside, and display it on the screen?" Sarah Jane asked as the ideas came to her.
"Brilliant," Oliver beamed at Sarah Jane.
"I will attempt to interface with the book," Mr. Smith replied.
"Rani, put the book on the scanner plate, but keep your hand on it. It's going to need a link with a life form, even if you're not reading it," Oliver said.
"All right." Rani set the book down but laid her hand on top. "If this works though, you two are going to have to read it."
"And you're going to have to be ready to pick the book up the instant it's got us." Oliver said evenly. "You have to keep the story going so we're not just stored."
"I've established a wireless link with the living story," Mr. Smith said. "However there is currently no story to display."
"Easy, Rani." Oliver held up his hand to allay the girl's fears. "That's our cue, Sarah." He took the book off the scanner and moved to the red leather couch, getting comfortable on it. "We probably need to be as close as we can." He positioned himself so that she could sit between his legs.
Sarah blushed but moved to take the place he'd made for her. "Maybe we should get changed into other clothing."
"I honestly don't think it will matter much, Sarah. It's unlikely that we'll be dressed there as we are here," he said in amusement.
"Right then," Sarah nodded as she settled down and felt his arms go around her with the book. She wiggled a bit back against him then leaned her head back against his chest.
"Comfortable are we?" Oliver looked at her in amusement.
"If I have to sit like this I may as well be." Sarah looked up at him with mischief in her gaze.
"Once you start reading, Sarah, keep reading or this isn't going to work." Oliver let his eyes drift to Rani, while she watched them and tried to be understanding of their playfulness.
Sarah got his message and smiled reassuringly at the girl. "We'll bring your father back, I promise. We need you to be ready to take the book so you'd best get over here as well." She nodded to a space on the floor near them, breaking the spell and making Oliver and her positions seem less intimate than they were.
"Right," Rani nodded. Her expression still conveyed her worry, but also her determination to help.
Entwining their hands together, Sarah and Oliver started to read. "Just listen, Sarah." Oliver murmured when he realized that Sarah was having difficulty with the words appearing on the page. "It was a place that had long since fallen into legend, yet to the two travellers they knew it was far more than a legend. They both had been here before, long ago, though neither of them were quite as they had been."
Rani listened as Oliver wove his tale and then Sarah's voice joined his. "One of them had lived here long ago, and when others of his kind had called, he'd left the other behind much to their mutual sorrow. Later, she had found herself there, called unbidden, only to be reunited with him for a short time and sent away once more."
"Oh," Rani's eyes widened as she watched the lines of nothingness run through her friends. It was the hardest thing she'd ever done, to just sit and do nothing. Why it was working so quickly she didn't know, but she knew she couldn't disturb them, even as their voices wove into one and then suddenly stopped.
Before the book could fall, Rani had it in her grasp. "Mr. Smith, do you still have the story?"
"Yes. Oliver and Sarah Jane are within the living story," Mr. Smith intoned. "I have a wireless link to the story. Displaying on screen."
Rani's eyes widened as she looked up, seeing Sarah Jane on the screen. "Is she in a tower, Mr. Smith? Like a princess in a fairy tale?" Rani couldn't suppress a giggle. "I'd never cast Sarah Jane as a princess."
"Indeed," Mr. Smith agreed solemnly in his monotone voice. "I would suggest that Oliver will hear about that on their return." Both the computer and Rani's attention were drawn to Sarah's drama being played out on the screen.
"And, of course, he's not here with me. I should have guessed that would be the case. Small favours, I'm not tied up. That would have been par for the course with our history as well. Just locked up in a tower." Sarah shook her head then patted herself down looking through her pockets for her sonic. "Well at least he didn't dress me like a bloody fairy princess in a tower."
She huffed in disgust as she realized it wasn't going to be as simple triggering the lock. "He could have made me a bit younger. I suppose I should be glad that he likes me like this though." She walked to the balcony of the tower, stepping out onto it and looking down. "Oh my." She closed her eyes and backed away from the edge. "He could have taken care of my vertigo, definitely not going to get out that way. All right, Sarah Jane, time to find a way out of here on your own."
It was a bit disconcerting for Rani, to be watching her friends playing out the drama on Mr. Smith's screen. "Clyde would," she paused. "Clyde is never going to forgive me if we don't call him."
"Good thing, Mr. Smith already rang me then." Clyde entered the attic. "You're horrible with keeping up." He looked at the screen. "Oy, the TARDIS. Very cool."
He was right, the TARDIS was materializing on a plateau of red grass with majestic purple mountains in the background. The door of the time machine swung open and a figure emerged from within. "That's not Oliver is it?" Rani looked at Clyde.
"No idea." He shook his head. "Sure doesn't look like him to me. That coat, that hat. And look at the size of that scarf? Isn't he going to trip on it?" He scowled at the screen then got closer to it, squinting. "It's his trainers though." He tapped the screen. "See."
"I'd thank you not to touch my screen, Clyde," Mr. Smith warned.
Oliver raised his head. "Now this brings back memories." He turned around. "This. This has to be Sarah Jane's doing though." He opened the coat to find his waistcoat then the peasant type shirt beneath. "She's going to give me a complex and heat exhaustion." Still he didn't bother to take off any of the layers. Instead he took in the landscape around him. "Oh," his eyes widened as he realised where he was. "I know this place. This is impossible." A grin crossed his lips. "Brilliant. Bloody brilliant." He bounced a bit on his heels. "Gallifrey!"
His eyes narrowed as he looked around. "Sarah!" He ducked his head into the TARDIS and looked around. "Sarah Jane?" He closed the door and walked around the outside of the time ship. "Did you wander off again? You always were bad for that." He waited for a moment until he determined that she wasn't going to answer him back and tried one more time. "And here I thought this would be the perfect chance to make out on the console." He called out expecting to hear her indignant scolding of him at that. "Guess you really aren't here." He paused as he thought about it and pulled an odd face. "Oh that's a good thing, you really don't need to know what I'm thinking when I'm watching you in those jeans of yours."
Walking a fair distance from the TARDIS, he stopped and turned slowly to get his bearings. "Citadel should be that way. Untempered Schism, that way. Mount Perdition that way. I'm a book and trying to make an adventure for the heroes so where do I put the damsel." He wrinkled his nose. "Sarah hears me say that and she'll hurt me." He turned in the direction of Mount Perdition. "The direction the villain is to be found in." He tossed the scarf around his neck in one more loop. "Oh, I hope I've got my sonic." Oliver sighed as he fished around in his pocket, "Oh, the old one."
"It is Oliver." Rani held the book to her chest as she moved closer to the screen. "Why is he dressed like a character from some weird panto?"
"No idea," Clyde shook his head to punctuate his point. "This is going to make some seriously cool artwork though."
Rani rolled her eyes at him. "You're going to have to answer to Sarah Jane when she catches you at that."
"It's not like I make 'em public," Clyde shrugged. "It was Luke that did it the last time." He pointed to the screen. "Look it's Sarah Jane again."
"This is pointless." Sarah stopped her search then scowled and looked back at the balcony realising it was her only option of escape. "Oliver." She called out. "Oliver!"
Almost as though answering her calls, a grappling hook flew over the edge of the balcony. "Oh you couldn't have picked a way down that wasn't going to set my teeth on edge could you?" She moved closer taking a deep breath to steel her.
That breath was lost explosively when she found herself nose to nose with a young brown haired woman dressed completely in animal skins, with a knife bound to her hip. "I was right; I'm getting much too old for this."
"You are the Doctor's woman?" The young woman was direct, Sarah Jane had to give her that. She also caused her to blush scarlet.
"Not exactly," Sarah found herself stammering. "I'm Oliver's woman. Sort of." Her nose wrinkled at that. "And I'm not comfortable with the idea that I'm anyone's anything. He's mine too."
The primitive girl seemed bemused by that. "You are definitely his mate. You are just like them. Romana said you would be human, like me." It was clear that she didn't agree.
"Now look here, I am as human as anyone." Sarah put her hands on her hips, glaring at the woman fiercely.
After a moment the young woman nodded. "I am Leela. I travelled with the Doctor after you."
"You knew me?" Sarah Jane perked up at that. "I mean he mentioned me?"
Leela looked at her strangely, clearly not understanding why it would be important. "Yes."
"Oh well then." Sarah realized she wouldn't get anything else of value from Leela. "So what's your plan to get me out of here?"
"The rope." Leela began to move back to the edge of the balcony.
"Oh no, you aren't getting me down that." Sarah stood and glared at the Doctor's other former companion.
"If you will not climb then I will carry you," Leela said as though it was obvious.
"No, that's not happening either." The set of Sarah's body clearly showed that she would be completely stubborn on this point.
"This is a tower on the property of Koschei's family estate." Leela's tone was matter of fact.
"And that's supposed to mean something to me?" Sarah looked at her curiously.
"The Doctor calls him the Master," Leela continued.
Sarah Jane swallowed, remembering what she'd learned about Harry Saxon and everything else she knew about the Master. "I don't suppose there's any choice then."
"No." Leela moved to the rope.
"Right then." Sarah took a deep breath. "You go down first and I'll follow."
Leela's gaze narrowed. "I should carry you."
"No, that's not necessary." Sarah shooed Leela ahead of her. "I'll manage. Hand over hand. Trust me; I'm more afraid of the Master than I am of my vertigo. Death is a very good motivator."
A short nod from the primitive woman, then Sarah watched as she slid over the balcony rail making it look easy.
"The things I manage to get myself into." Sarah walked to the edge of the balcony and took hold of the rope then eased herself over the edge, making certain not to look down as she wound her legs around the rope. "Definitely too old for this."
Keeping her eyes fixed forward, Sarah started her descent and choked down her fear. "This or the Master," she muttered to herself as the rope seemed to be never ending.
"You are about a foot from the ground, Miss Smith," an elegant yet bemused voice quipped. "I think it's fairly safe for you to let go of your stranglehold on Leela's rope."
"Oh." She looked down and saw the ground as close as the newcomer had said, "Right then." She let go and let herself drop the rest of the way then brushed herself off. There was something about the voice that just screamed Time Lord. Or Time Lady she supposed, if they preferred. She turned resolutely and was faced with a woman not very much taller than herself with long dark hair.
"Sarah Jane Smith." Sarah stuck out her hand and raised her chin, not willing to be stared down by anyone even a Time Lord.
Arching her brow as she looked down at Sarah Jane's hand, her expression became decidedly put upon. "Romanadvoratrelundar, Lady President of the High Council of Time Lords." She pronounced as she finally conceded to taking Sarah's hand. It was obvious that the Time Lady was testing her so Sarah Jane kept her expression neutral. "But you may call me Romana." It was equally obvious that Romana didn't think Sarah could pronounce her Gallifreyan name.
Sarah wasn't certain she was wrong. Just what she needed, an arrogant Time Lady with a name as difficult to say as Raxacoricofallapatorius "Very pleased to make your acquaintance," she paused and gathered her wits then made her best try. "Lady Romanadvoratrelundar." She looked almost as surprised as Romana did when she succeeded admirably. "Well that was easier than Raxacali… Raxak… Oh."
"Raxacoricofallapatorius?" Romana asked curiously. "Have you had some trouble with the Slitheen?"
"More than some." Sarah sighed, relieved that she had scored some points with the haughty Gallifreyan.
"Ah well, I should have expected. No one who willingly travels with the Doctor could possibly stay out of trouble." Romana smiled slightly. "You really are welcome to call me Romana. As the Doctor once pointed out, by the time you would have called out my full name if there were trouble, it would be far too late."
At that Sarah nodded. "Thank you and I'm afraid he's right. Do you know where Oli…" She stopped herself and sighed. It seemed the book had picked up on Oliver's residual desire to still be Gallifreyan. To hold onto his past. "Where the Doctor is?"
"No, but the sensors at the Citadel registered a new human on Gallifrey, so it was obvious he had arrived with a companion. I sent the distress call to recall him to Gallifrey myself," Romana explained. "Unfortunately, the Master has subverted my place on the Council at the moment, and our hiding place has been compromised."
"So you…" Sarah started only to be cut off by a familiar voice.
"Scans indicate the Master's forces are approaching on this area, Mistresses." K-9's ears swivelled.
"K-9!" Sarah exclaimed and knelt down to say hello to her friend.
"Mistress Romana? Mistress Leela?" K-9 addressed the other two women.
Sarah shrank back, a little stunned that this K-9 didn't recognize her. "K-9?"
"Ah, so you're the one he gave the Mk-3 to," Romana nodded. "K-9, this is Sarah. She is the Doctor's wife, you will treat her as you would Leela or I."
"I'm not," Sarah started then sighed, knowing it would be useless. "This is obviously mostly Oliver's doing," she grumbled under her breath.
"Affirmative, Mistress." K-9 moved to face Sarah again. "Greetings Mistress Sarah."
Sarah couldn't help but give a soft smile. "Hello K-9". She stroked his head affectionately now noticing the differences, most notably the collar.
"We do not have time for this," Leela hissed. "We must move."
"I'm afraid Leela is correct." Romana looked upwards, further up Mount Perdition, "But running away would be expected. If we move deeper into the Master's territory, perhaps we will confuse him."
"Oliver… The Doctor will be looking for me here. He'll work out that the Master is the one that's most likely to have," she paused knowing she'd never actually been taken; it was just where they'd gotten to in their story, "Taken me."
"The Doctor is like a bad penny," Romana voiced her opinion. "He'll turn up."
Sarah opened her mouth and then shut it when Leela gave a discreet shake of her head. "This way." The primitive pointed in the direction that would take them up the mountainside.
With a sigh, Sarah looked up the path and resigned herself, only hoping that Oliver would turn out to have better luck than she had so far.