Broken - Chapter 2: Field Testing (2/7)
Title: Broken - Chapter 2: Field Testing (2/7)
Author: Persiflage_1
Characters/Pairings: Tenth Doctor/Martha, OCs
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Season 3 (Set in a post-S3 AU)
Summary: Travelling with the Doctor is always an adventure, but sometimes the adventures are not fun.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns "Doctor Who" and all that jazz…
Warning: There are going to be descriptions of torture.
Author Notes: This is going to be a lengthy story. It's a follow up to the Celebrating Martha's Birthday series and opens about 6 months after Martha agreed to travel with the Doctor again. The story will make use of flashbacks to describe Ten and Martha's adventures during those 6 months. The story is set on Meta Sigmafolio, the planet to which Ten offered to take Martha to see "a burst of starfire like oil on water" at the end of "The Last of the Time Lords" - so I've created some original characters and an alien culture for them.
Oh and I apologise for cheekily re-writing Brahm's Lullaby !
Chapter One: Smith and Jones Again
~~~~~~
Meta Sigmafolio, Day 5
Alaunus hurried into the Doctor's room shortly afterwards. He was the tallest Sigmafolion that Martha had met so far, actually taller than the Doctor, and he always had such an air of wisdom and serenity that she found herself naturally relaxing in his company. He bowed to her, then sat down beside her, knowing that she found it uncomfortable to have to look up at him since she was nearly a foot shorter than he.
"Krigare, Therma has told me that you wish to see the data recorded by the Cult?" His usually friendly face momentarily took on a darker look at the thought of those so-called scientists and what they had done to the Doctor.
Martha nodded. "It was Therma's suggestion. Stupidly, I hadn't even thought that it could help me to help the Doctor in his recovery."
"We were stupid together," Alaunus said quietly. "For I had not thought of it either. I will speak to the Bureau Chief immediately and request that we are given the data at once. I am certain he will not hesitate to accede to your request, especially since he and his team have much ground to recover as a result of this debacle."
"I hope no one will go too hard on them. It wasn't their fault that the Cult managed to keep everything they were doing so secret - even the TARDIS couldn't find the Doctor since their labs were so well shielded."
The Healer nodded. "You are a generous woman, Krigare."
Martha put a hand on his arm. "Please, would you mind calling me Martha? I am honoured that you find me worthy of being named a warrior, but it makes me uncomfortable - I don't feel very mighty at the moment." She tried to smile.
"Of course Martha. You know that we will all do whatever you ask of us. That any of our people could treat visitors to our planet in such a way, and in the name of science - " He broke off, distaste etched on his features.
"Thank you." She shook hands with him, then went back to sit beside the Doctor again as Therma collected up Martha's lunch things and took them out.
* * * * * *
The Doctor's mind drifted through a nightmare landscape of burnt and burning trees and grass and broken bodies. The burnt orange sky was filled with smoke and crowded with Dalek ships as harsh metallic voices screamed 'Exterminate' and agonised screams bounced around. Gallifrey was over-run with Daleks and almost everyone had been exterminated because he could not find the courage to destroy his planet and the Daleks. He wondered why he had survived when everyone else seemed to have been destroyed. Then he saw a young woman, not a native of Gallifrey, judging by her dark skin, hair and eyes, standing watching him a short distance away. He approached and saw that her eyes held sorrow and reproach. He wondered who she was - he felt he should know her name.
She looked up into his face. "You failed at your task, Theta. For this you will be punished."
Theta? Was that his name? He had a vague recollection of a young voice saying that name breathlessly in his ear, but he could not remember when or whose the voice was. He looked down into the brown eyes of the young woman and felt himself falling into their dark depths. He cried out in fear.
* * * * *
Martha jumped up from her chair, startled by the Doctor's cry. It was the first sound, apart from a few whimpers of pain, that he'd made since they'd brought him to the hospital from the Cult's laboratories the day before yesterday.
"Doctor?" She brushed his unruly hair from his forehead with a gentle hand, then bent over him. "Theta?" It felt odd, using his nickname in this situation - he'd told it to her one day when they were making love and until now she'd only ever used it in an intimate setting.
The Doctor moaned and tossed his head sideways, pulling away from her touch. Martha checked the monitors around his bed and saw that the ECG was recording more activity than before. He must be having a nightmare, she thought. She took his right hand in hers, then stroked her left hand across his forehead again, before beginning to sing softly.
Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight,
With lilies o'er spread is Theta's wee bed,
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed,
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed.
Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight,
Bright angels beside my darling abide,
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast,
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast.
She wasn't sure that she believed in angels, but the lullaby had been one of her Gran's favourites and the words came to mind naturally. It seemed to have soothed the Doctor, though, which was her aim, as his brain activity had settled back to the usual levels which indicated his nightmare had passed. She bent and kissed his forehead, then sat back down beside the bed, his hand still clasped in hers. Perhaps talking to him again about what they had been doing would keep the nightmares at bay.
"Remember when we spent three days building a Sonic Screwdriver for me?" she asked.
Five and a half months ago, Earth standard time
Martha sat hunched over a workbench in the TARDIS science lab, a frown of concentration on her face as she carefully manipulated the tools that the Doctor had given her. He sat beside her, watching intently. Finally she sat back with a sigh and rolled her shoulders to ease her muscles. The Doctor rubbed his left hand across her shoulder blades and picked up the long slender object she'd been working on from the bench. He peered at it, then pulled a second magnifying lens down in front of his glasses. "I think that's done it," he said softly.
"Really?" asked Martha, hardly daring to hope he was right.
"Only one way to find out for sure, Doctor Jones," he answered, handing the object back to her with a flourish before pulling the magnifying lenses off his glasses. "Try it and see."
He grinned at her encouragingly and she took her newly built Sonic Screwdriver from him with a feeling of excitement mixed with trepidation. The Doctor set a candlestick in front of her, then fixed a candle firmly in it. He nudged her right shoulder with his left. "Go on then."
She manipulated the settings on the body of the screwdriver, then pointed the business end at the candle, which lit. "Yes!" she cried triumphantly.
The Doctor grinned, then offered her a lump of rock from one of the TARDIS gardens and she twiddled the settings again, then etched an M onto the rock. Another twiddle allowed her to carve the rock in two.
An hour later Martha had tested almost every setting on her Sonic and the top of the workbench was littered with objects which she had cut up, mended, carved, turned on and off, and set on fire.
"Just one last thing to try," the Doctor said, smiling at her.
She managed a tired smile back. "What's that?"
"A locked door." He crossed the lab and locked the door, then stepped back. Martha eased herself off the stool, thinking longingly of a bath and several hours sleep. They had worked constantly, stopping only for food and sleep, for the last three days building the Sonic Screwdriver, and Martha wondered briefly if she would have jumped so eagerly at the Doctor's offer to build her a Sonic had she known in advance how exhausting it would be.
She approached the door, twiddled the settings, then pointed it at the lock. It gave a satisfying click and Martha grinned at the Doctor with relief. He pulled her into a tight hug.
"Congratulations Doctor Jones. You're the first human to own a fully functional Sonic Screwdriver."
"Thank you."
"Right then, let's get some rest and then we can go out and field test it." He pocketed his glasses, then opened the door. "Bed for you."
"Aren't you going to get some rest too?" asked Martha, surprised.
He nodded. "I'll just tidy up here first, then I'll join you."
"OK." She set off for their room, wondering where the Doctor would take her to field test her Sonic. She glanced down at it in her hand. It was slightly longer than the Doctor's because he'd made it more slender for her smaller fingers. She hadn't imagined, when he'd suggested building one, that it would be so complicated, but then she'd no previous experience of building hi-tech gadgets.
Once in their room, Martha decided a bath could wait until she'd had some sleep as she suspected that if she took one now she would just fall asleep in there, so she undressed and slid beneath the covers. By the time the Doctor had cleared up the lab and reached their room, she was sound asleep, her Sonic lying on top of the bedside locker. He undressed quickly, then got into bed with her, snuggling up close and wrapping his arms around her. She mumbled something, but didn't wake and he kissed the back of her neck softly. He was very proud of the way she'd mastered her Sonic so fast and she'd done a good job of building it with him - the tool lying on top of the locker was as much her work as it was his.
Several hours of sleep, a bath and a meal later, they were walking out of the TARDIS doors to field test Martha's Sonic. "Where are we?" asked Martha as the Doctor locked the TARDIS.
"Fais Minor, an Earth-like planet with fairly advanced technology."
She looked up and down the side street where they had arrived. "Nice. No pollution," she said, tipping her head back and looking up at the clear sky, one hand shading her eyes.
"No, they abandoned fossil fuels a long time ago. Shall we Doctor Jones?" He crooked his elbow and offered her his arm and Martha hooked her arm through his, smiling at the fond look he was giving her. They wandered the city together, stopping every now and again so that Martha could scan things and build up the database in her Sonic. They were in a formal garden, studying the plants, when two soldiers approached them.
"ID?" said the tallest of the two.
The Doctor flashed them both a grin, squeezed Martha's shoulder and straightened up. "Hello gents." He fished his physic paper out of the pocket of his blue suit and showed it to the soldier.
"What's this?" barked the soldier.
"My ID," answered the Doctor with a shrug.
"This is the not the state-issued ID."
"Well no, it's not, but then we're visitors, not locals."
"Who are you and where are you from?" asked the first soldier, whilst the second took out a small data pad and began tapping at the keys.
"I'm the Doctor and this is Martha Jones. She - "
"The Doctor?" interrupted the first soldier.
The Doctor gave Martha an 'everyone's heard of me' look, then nodded. "That's me," he said cheerfully.
"The Time Lord?" asked the second soldier.
The Doctor nodded again. "Yes, hello." He waved at the second soldier, who glared at him. Martha stood up and stepped up to the Doctor's side, her right hand sliding her Sonic into her jeans pocket.
The first soldier stepped forward. "You are under arrest."
"What?" chorused Martha and the Doctor in surprise. "What for?" asked the Time Lord, as the soldier produced some hi-tech handcuffs.
"Crimes against the State," he answered, turning the Doctor around and handcuffing him.
"What crimes against the State?" demanded Martha. "We've only been here an hour, sight-seeing."
"Previous crimes against the State," clarified the soldier reluctantly.
"Previous - ? You didn’t say you'd been here before," Martha whispered as she followed the Doctor and the soldiers towards the gates.
The Doctor shrugged. "That was ages ago," he said a little impatiently.
"Yeah? Seems like someone's got a very long memory."
The soldiers stopped at the gates, and the Doctor and Martha stopped too. "Your presence will not be required," the first soldier told Martha. "You have broken no laws."
"Hang on, if you think I'm letting you drag the Doctor off to who knows where - "
"It's OK, Martha," the Doctor interrupted. "I'm sure this will all be sorted out quite quickly and then we'll be off."
Martha frowned at him suspiciously, then saw the direction of his glance towards the pocket where her Sonic was hidden. "Fine. I'll see you later then." She watched as the three of them set off down the street, then pulled out her Sonic and activated its tracking device. The Doctor had programmed it so that it could find him and the TARDIS. She set off down the street after the group, forcing herself not to hurry as she didn't want to draw unwanted attention to herself.
Fortunately the group didn't go far and she found herself at the entrance to an alleyway opposite the Courthouse into which the Doctor was taken. "Nice of them to label it," she muttered as she looked up and down the street. Spotting what looked like the equivalent of an internet café, she crossed the road and went inside. A sign on the wall informed her that use of the terminals was free for the first half hour, but a cup of coffee would cost her 250 FM$. I'll manage without the coffee, she decided, sliding into an empty chair in the corner and starting a search for public records archives. Ten minutes later she still hadn't found anything relevant and was scowling at the screen in frustration.
Only one thing for it, she thought. With a quick glance around to ensure that no one was watching her, she pulled out her Sonic and twiddled the settings to the hacking mode, then watched the computer screen as the Sonic searched through the information until it found what she wanted. Martha read through the data rapidly and with a growing sense of puzzlement. As far as she could tell, the Doctor had done nothing worse than expose a corrupt government on Fais Minor. Unfortunately this had led to a collapse in the economy, as many of those in government had been committing fraud and embezzlement on a massive scale. The economic collapse had led to panic-buying, looting and rioting, stopping just short of outright civil war. Still, all that was hardly the Doctor's fault.
She left the café and went back across the street, wondering what to do next. The direct approach was probably best, she decided, and headed across the street to the Courthouse. She squared her shoulders, straightened her back, lifted her chin, then marched inside.
"I'm looking for my friend," she told the young clerk. "He was brought in here a while ago."
"Yes ma'am. Who is your friend?"
"The Doctor."
The clerk's fingers remained poised expectantly over the keyboard. "Oh."
"Oh what?" asked Martha, trying to quell her nervousness.
"He's already been sent to trial," answered the clerk looking as nervous as Martha felt.
"What?" She looked at him in disbelief.
"I'm afraid it's true ma'am. The trial started ten minutes ago."
"How is that possible?" asked Martha.
"The case against your friend has long been prepared - they wanted to be ready in case he ever showed up here again."
"Where's the trial happening?"
"Downstairs, in the basement, but I can't get you in, I'm afraid." He looked very regretful.
"Can't you sneak me in?" asked Martha quietly.
The clerk shook his head. "The electronic security system on the Court room would detect your non-native status - and it can't be disabled," he added as Martha opened her mouth to ask. "Someone tried it last week and was severely burned."
She scowled in frustration. "How long will the Court be sitting today?"
"The trial should be over in an hour."
"The whole thing?" she asked, thinking she must have misunderstood.
The clerk nodded. "Justice is swift on Fais Minor, ma'am."
"No kidding," whispered Martha.
"If you want to wait, I'll get you some coffee," offered the young man.
"Thank you."
"Take a seat," he said, pointing to some comfortable chairs nearby as he got up to fetch some coffee.
An hour later she was feeling awash with coffee and anxiety as the clerk commented, "Here they come."
Several pompous looking men and women appeared at the end of the corridor opposite where Martha waited. She forced herself to sit still, though she was desperate to jump up and grab someone to insist they tell her their decision.
The foremost man placed a fat folder on the clerk's desk, nodded condescendingly at Martha, then led the others out. The clerk immediately picked up the folder and looked at the sheet of paper pinned to the front. His face paled.
"What is it?" asked Martha instantly.
"He's been found guilty."
"Sentence?"
"Execution."
She sat down abruptly.
"I'm sorry." The clerk hurried to her side. "I can take you to see him, but it'll have to be a brief visit and a guard will remain with you."
She nodded, feeling numb with disbelief. "Thank you."
He led her along the corridor, then down two flights of stairs. The basement cells were poorly lit and cold, and she shivered with apprehension as well as cold. The clerk handed her over to the guard, patted her shoulder, then left. The guard was a short, grumpy-looking middle-aged male who seemed reluctant to let her in to see the Doctor, but she gave him her iciest stare and he grudgingly unlocked the door and pulled it open. Martha noted that it didn't creak or squeak and as she passed through, she took hold of it to judge its weight.
The Doctor was chained to the far wall and looked very disgruntled until he saw Martha. "Hello." He grinned toothily at her and she had to restrain herself from rushing at him in relief.
"Hello." She crossed the cell and standing up on tiptoes, kissed him chastely on the lips, her hands on his chest to steady herself since he couldn't hold her. "I'm getting you out of here," she said softly in his ear.
"Just promise me you'll be careful?" He looked at her in concern and she nodded.
"I promise."
"Don't stay now, come back after dark."
She nodded again, then put her arms around him in a fierce hug before walking away. She made herself leave without looking back, she didn't want to see the worry on his face.
Martha returned to the TARDIS to get something to eat, knowing it would be at least four hours before it was completely dark. She ate in the Control Room, one hand brushing over the console every few minutes, trying to reassure herself and the TARDIS that she would get the Doctor back alive and unregenerated. The ship gave her a hum filled with confidence and love, and she felt tears prickle her eyes. After she'd eaten and cleared up, she went to her room and changed into her black combat trousers, boots and jacket which she'd worn during the Year she'd spent walking the Earth. She went to the medlab and collected a couple of items, then slid them and her Sonic Screwdriver into her pocket. She tied back her hair, then returned to the Control Room, curling up on the Captain's chair to rest, if not sleep.
Finally it grew dark and Martha let herself out of the TARDIS, patting the door softly as she locked it, then headed back to the Courthouse. She had used the TARDIS computer to find a plan of the Courthouse, including the security system, and she knew there was a fire door at the rear of the building. She hoped this would mean she would only have to deal with the guard outside the Doctor's cell. She slipped down the street, moving quietly with practised ease. I didn't think I'd need my Toclafane avoidance skills again so soon, she thought as she edged around the side of the Courthouse and crossed to the fire door. She pulled out her Sonic and changed the settings to disable the security system, then unlocked the door with a soft snick. She eased the door open slowly and gently in case it creaked, but it was silent. She slipped inside and used the light of her Sonic to look for something with which to prop open the door, knowing it would save time later. She spotted a sturdy looking box and lifted it across to the door, jamming it open, then crept down the corridor. She moved cautiously, listening intently and hearing only silence. She turned into the corridor that led to the Doctor's cell and saw the guard standing outside the door, his back towards her. She stepped up behind him and jabbed him in the back of the neck with a tiny hypodermic full of sedative that she'd prepared earlier. She caught hold of his jacket and lowered him to the floor, allowing the wall to take his weight since he was heavier than she was. When he was sprawled against the wall, she unlocked the door to the Doctor's cell and sidled in.
"Martha," he said softly. "Everything OK?" She nodded and hurried across to him. "I'm very glad to see you," he told her.
"Yeah, well, you can kiss me later," she answered as she released his wrist.
"Oh I intend to, and a lot more besides," he said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before she bent to release the shackles on his ankles. She gave him a brief smile, then hurried back to the door and peered out into the corridor.
"Come on." She waved him out of the door and he looked down at the guard.
"Your work?" he asked softly.
She nodded. "Just sleeping." She led the way to the fire door, moving quickly and quietly. The Doctor watched her and realised with a pang that she must have learnt to move so stealthily whilst she'd been wandering the Earth during the Master's rule.
Much more than a kiss, he thought as he followed her silently and swiftly out of the door and up the street.
They got back to the TARDIS without incident and the Doctor immediately sprang up the ramp to the Console and started the dematerialisation process. Martha followed more slowly, suddenly weary now that her adrenaline rush had subsided.
The Doctor pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you for saving my life again," he said, then kissed her.
"It's what I do," she answered.
Author: Persiflage_1
Characters/Pairings: Tenth Doctor/Martha, OCs
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Season 3 (Set in a post-S3 AU)
Summary: Travelling with the Doctor is always an adventure, but sometimes the adventures are not fun.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns "Doctor Who" and all that jazz…
Warning: There are going to be descriptions of torture.
Author Notes: This is going to be a lengthy story. It's a follow up to the Celebrating Martha's Birthday series and opens about 6 months after Martha agreed to travel with the Doctor again. The story will make use of flashbacks to describe Ten and Martha's adventures during those 6 months. The story is set on Meta Sigmafolio, the planet to which Ten offered to take Martha to see "a burst of starfire like oil on water" at the end of "The Last of the Time Lords" - so I've created some original characters and an alien culture for them.
Oh and I apologise for cheekily re-writing Brahm's Lullaby !
Chapter One: Smith and Jones Again
~~~~~~
Meta Sigmafolio, Day 5
Alaunus hurried into the Doctor's room shortly afterwards. He was the tallest Sigmafolion that Martha had met so far, actually taller than the Doctor, and he always had such an air of wisdom and serenity that she found herself naturally relaxing in his company. He bowed to her, then sat down beside her, knowing that she found it uncomfortable to have to look up at him since she was nearly a foot shorter than he.
"Krigare, Therma has told me that you wish to see the data recorded by the Cult?" His usually friendly face momentarily took on a darker look at the thought of those so-called scientists and what they had done to the Doctor.
Martha nodded. "It was Therma's suggestion. Stupidly, I hadn't even thought that it could help me to help the Doctor in his recovery."
"We were stupid together," Alaunus said quietly. "For I had not thought of it either. I will speak to the Bureau Chief immediately and request that we are given the data at once. I am certain he will not hesitate to accede to your request, especially since he and his team have much ground to recover as a result of this debacle."
"I hope no one will go too hard on them. It wasn't their fault that the Cult managed to keep everything they were doing so secret - even the TARDIS couldn't find the Doctor since their labs were so well shielded."
The Healer nodded. "You are a generous woman, Krigare."
Martha put a hand on his arm. "Please, would you mind calling me Martha? I am honoured that you find me worthy of being named a warrior, but it makes me uncomfortable - I don't feel very mighty at the moment." She tried to smile.
"Of course Martha. You know that we will all do whatever you ask of us. That any of our people could treat visitors to our planet in such a way, and in the name of science - " He broke off, distaste etched on his features.
"Thank you." She shook hands with him, then went back to sit beside the Doctor again as Therma collected up Martha's lunch things and took them out.
* * * * * *
The Doctor's mind drifted through a nightmare landscape of burnt and burning trees and grass and broken bodies. The burnt orange sky was filled with smoke and crowded with Dalek ships as harsh metallic voices screamed 'Exterminate' and agonised screams bounced around. Gallifrey was over-run with Daleks and almost everyone had been exterminated because he could not find the courage to destroy his planet and the Daleks. He wondered why he had survived when everyone else seemed to have been destroyed. Then he saw a young woman, not a native of Gallifrey, judging by her dark skin, hair and eyes, standing watching him a short distance away. He approached and saw that her eyes held sorrow and reproach. He wondered who she was - he felt he should know her name.
She looked up into his face. "You failed at your task, Theta. For this you will be punished."
Theta? Was that his name? He had a vague recollection of a young voice saying that name breathlessly in his ear, but he could not remember when or whose the voice was. He looked down into the brown eyes of the young woman and felt himself falling into their dark depths. He cried out in fear.
* * * * *
Martha jumped up from her chair, startled by the Doctor's cry. It was the first sound, apart from a few whimpers of pain, that he'd made since they'd brought him to the hospital from the Cult's laboratories the day before yesterday.
"Doctor?" She brushed his unruly hair from his forehead with a gentle hand, then bent over him. "Theta?" It felt odd, using his nickname in this situation - he'd told it to her one day when they were making love and until now she'd only ever used it in an intimate setting.
The Doctor moaned and tossed his head sideways, pulling away from her touch. Martha checked the monitors around his bed and saw that the ECG was recording more activity than before. He must be having a nightmare, she thought. She took his right hand in hers, then stroked her left hand across his forehead again, before beginning to sing softly.
Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight,
With lilies o'er spread is Theta's wee bed,
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed,
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed.
Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight,
Bright angels beside my darling abide,
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast,
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast.
She wasn't sure that she believed in angels, but the lullaby had been one of her Gran's favourites and the words came to mind naturally. It seemed to have soothed the Doctor, though, which was her aim, as his brain activity had settled back to the usual levels which indicated his nightmare had passed. She bent and kissed his forehead, then sat back down beside the bed, his hand still clasped in hers. Perhaps talking to him again about what they had been doing would keep the nightmares at bay.
"Remember when we spent three days building a Sonic Screwdriver for me?" she asked.
Five and a half months ago, Earth standard time
Martha sat hunched over a workbench in the TARDIS science lab, a frown of concentration on her face as she carefully manipulated the tools that the Doctor had given her. He sat beside her, watching intently. Finally she sat back with a sigh and rolled her shoulders to ease her muscles. The Doctor rubbed his left hand across her shoulder blades and picked up the long slender object she'd been working on from the bench. He peered at it, then pulled a second magnifying lens down in front of his glasses. "I think that's done it," he said softly.
"Really?" asked Martha, hardly daring to hope he was right.
"Only one way to find out for sure, Doctor Jones," he answered, handing the object back to her with a flourish before pulling the magnifying lenses off his glasses. "Try it and see."
He grinned at her encouragingly and she took her newly built Sonic Screwdriver from him with a feeling of excitement mixed with trepidation. The Doctor set a candlestick in front of her, then fixed a candle firmly in it. He nudged her right shoulder with his left. "Go on then."
She manipulated the settings on the body of the screwdriver, then pointed the business end at the candle, which lit. "Yes!" she cried triumphantly.
The Doctor grinned, then offered her a lump of rock from one of the TARDIS gardens and she twiddled the settings again, then etched an M onto the rock. Another twiddle allowed her to carve the rock in two.
An hour later Martha had tested almost every setting on her Sonic and the top of the workbench was littered with objects which she had cut up, mended, carved, turned on and off, and set on fire.
"Just one last thing to try," the Doctor said, smiling at her.
She managed a tired smile back. "What's that?"
"A locked door." He crossed the lab and locked the door, then stepped back. Martha eased herself off the stool, thinking longingly of a bath and several hours sleep. They had worked constantly, stopping only for food and sleep, for the last three days building the Sonic Screwdriver, and Martha wondered briefly if she would have jumped so eagerly at the Doctor's offer to build her a Sonic had she known in advance how exhausting it would be.
She approached the door, twiddled the settings, then pointed it at the lock. It gave a satisfying click and Martha grinned at the Doctor with relief. He pulled her into a tight hug.
"Congratulations Doctor Jones. You're the first human to own a fully functional Sonic Screwdriver."
"Thank you."
"Right then, let's get some rest and then we can go out and field test it." He pocketed his glasses, then opened the door. "Bed for you."
"Aren't you going to get some rest too?" asked Martha, surprised.
He nodded. "I'll just tidy up here first, then I'll join you."
"OK." She set off for their room, wondering where the Doctor would take her to field test her Sonic. She glanced down at it in her hand. It was slightly longer than the Doctor's because he'd made it more slender for her smaller fingers. She hadn't imagined, when he'd suggested building one, that it would be so complicated, but then she'd no previous experience of building hi-tech gadgets.
Once in their room, Martha decided a bath could wait until she'd had some sleep as she suspected that if she took one now she would just fall asleep in there, so she undressed and slid beneath the covers. By the time the Doctor had cleared up the lab and reached their room, she was sound asleep, her Sonic lying on top of the bedside locker. He undressed quickly, then got into bed with her, snuggling up close and wrapping his arms around her. She mumbled something, but didn't wake and he kissed the back of her neck softly. He was very proud of the way she'd mastered her Sonic so fast and she'd done a good job of building it with him - the tool lying on top of the locker was as much her work as it was his.
Several hours of sleep, a bath and a meal later, they were walking out of the TARDIS doors to field test Martha's Sonic. "Where are we?" asked Martha as the Doctor locked the TARDIS.
"Fais Minor, an Earth-like planet with fairly advanced technology."
She looked up and down the side street where they had arrived. "Nice. No pollution," she said, tipping her head back and looking up at the clear sky, one hand shading her eyes.
"No, they abandoned fossil fuels a long time ago. Shall we Doctor Jones?" He crooked his elbow and offered her his arm and Martha hooked her arm through his, smiling at the fond look he was giving her. They wandered the city together, stopping every now and again so that Martha could scan things and build up the database in her Sonic. They were in a formal garden, studying the plants, when two soldiers approached them.
"ID?" said the tallest of the two.
The Doctor flashed them both a grin, squeezed Martha's shoulder and straightened up. "Hello gents." He fished his physic paper out of the pocket of his blue suit and showed it to the soldier.
"What's this?" barked the soldier.
"My ID," answered the Doctor with a shrug.
"This is the not the state-issued ID."
"Well no, it's not, but then we're visitors, not locals."
"Who are you and where are you from?" asked the first soldier, whilst the second took out a small data pad and began tapping at the keys.
"I'm the Doctor and this is Martha Jones. She - "
"The Doctor?" interrupted the first soldier.
The Doctor gave Martha an 'everyone's heard of me' look, then nodded. "That's me," he said cheerfully.
"The Time Lord?" asked the second soldier.
The Doctor nodded again. "Yes, hello." He waved at the second soldier, who glared at him. Martha stood up and stepped up to the Doctor's side, her right hand sliding her Sonic into her jeans pocket.
The first soldier stepped forward. "You are under arrest."
"What?" chorused Martha and the Doctor in surprise. "What for?" asked the Time Lord, as the soldier produced some hi-tech handcuffs.
"Crimes against the State," he answered, turning the Doctor around and handcuffing him.
"What crimes against the State?" demanded Martha. "We've only been here an hour, sight-seeing."
"Previous crimes against the State," clarified the soldier reluctantly.
"Previous - ? You didn’t say you'd been here before," Martha whispered as she followed the Doctor and the soldiers towards the gates.
The Doctor shrugged. "That was ages ago," he said a little impatiently.
"Yeah? Seems like someone's got a very long memory."
The soldiers stopped at the gates, and the Doctor and Martha stopped too. "Your presence will not be required," the first soldier told Martha. "You have broken no laws."
"Hang on, if you think I'm letting you drag the Doctor off to who knows where - "
"It's OK, Martha," the Doctor interrupted. "I'm sure this will all be sorted out quite quickly and then we'll be off."
Martha frowned at him suspiciously, then saw the direction of his glance towards the pocket where her Sonic was hidden. "Fine. I'll see you later then." She watched as the three of them set off down the street, then pulled out her Sonic and activated its tracking device. The Doctor had programmed it so that it could find him and the TARDIS. She set off down the street after the group, forcing herself not to hurry as she didn't want to draw unwanted attention to herself.
Fortunately the group didn't go far and she found herself at the entrance to an alleyway opposite the Courthouse into which the Doctor was taken. "Nice of them to label it," she muttered as she looked up and down the street. Spotting what looked like the equivalent of an internet café, she crossed the road and went inside. A sign on the wall informed her that use of the terminals was free for the first half hour, but a cup of coffee would cost her 250 FM$. I'll manage without the coffee, she decided, sliding into an empty chair in the corner and starting a search for public records archives. Ten minutes later she still hadn't found anything relevant and was scowling at the screen in frustration.
Only one thing for it, she thought. With a quick glance around to ensure that no one was watching her, she pulled out her Sonic and twiddled the settings to the hacking mode, then watched the computer screen as the Sonic searched through the information until it found what she wanted. Martha read through the data rapidly and with a growing sense of puzzlement. As far as she could tell, the Doctor had done nothing worse than expose a corrupt government on Fais Minor. Unfortunately this had led to a collapse in the economy, as many of those in government had been committing fraud and embezzlement on a massive scale. The economic collapse had led to panic-buying, looting and rioting, stopping just short of outright civil war. Still, all that was hardly the Doctor's fault.
She left the café and went back across the street, wondering what to do next. The direct approach was probably best, she decided, and headed across the street to the Courthouse. She squared her shoulders, straightened her back, lifted her chin, then marched inside.
"I'm looking for my friend," she told the young clerk. "He was brought in here a while ago."
"Yes ma'am. Who is your friend?"
"The Doctor."
The clerk's fingers remained poised expectantly over the keyboard. "Oh."
"Oh what?" asked Martha, trying to quell her nervousness.
"He's already been sent to trial," answered the clerk looking as nervous as Martha felt.
"What?" She looked at him in disbelief.
"I'm afraid it's true ma'am. The trial started ten minutes ago."
"How is that possible?" asked Martha.
"The case against your friend has long been prepared - they wanted to be ready in case he ever showed up here again."
"Where's the trial happening?"
"Downstairs, in the basement, but I can't get you in, I'm afraid." He looked very regretful.
"Can't you sneak me in?" asked Martha quietly.
The clerk shook his head. "The electronic security system on the Court room would detect your non-native status - and it can't be disabled," he added as Martha opened her mouth to ask. "Someone tried it last week and was severely burned."
She scowled in frustration. "How long will the Court be sitting today?"
"The trial should be over in an hour."
"The whole thing?" she asked, thinking she must have misunderstood.
The clerk nodded. "Justice is swift on Fais Minor, ma'am."
"No kidding," whispered Martha.
"If you want to wait, I'll get you some coffee," offered the young man.
"Thank you."
"Take a seat," he said, pointing to some comfortable chairs nearby as he got up to fetch some coffee.
An hour later she was feeling awash with coffee and anxiety as the clerk commented, "Here they come."
Several pompous looking men and women appeared at the end of the corridor opposite where Martha waited. She forced herself to sit still, though she was desperate to jump up and grab someone to insist they tell her their decision.
The foremost man placed a fat folder on the clerk's desk, nodded condescendingly at Martha, then led the others out. The clerk immediately picked up the folder and looked at the sheet of paper pinned to the front. His face paled.
"What is it?" asked Martha instantly.
"He's been found guilty."
"Sentence?"
"Execution."
She sat down abruptly.
"I'm sorry." The clerk hurried to her side. "I can take you to see him, but it'll have to be a brief visit and a guard will remain with you."
She nodded, feeling numb with disbelief. "Thank you."
He led her along the corridor, then down two flights of stairs. The basement cells were poorly lit and cold, and she shivered with apprehension as well as cold. The clerk handed her over to the guard, patted her shoulder, then left. The guard was a short, grumpy-looking middle-aged male who seemed reluctant to let her in to see the Doctor, but she gave him her iciest stare and he grudgingly unlocked the door and pulled it open. Martha noted that it didn't creak or squeak and as she passed through, she took hold of it to judge its weight.
The Doctor was chained to the far wall and looked very disgruntled until he saw Martha. "Hello." He grinned toothily at her and she had to restrain herself from rushing at him in relief.
"Hello." She crossed the cell and standing up on tiptoes, kissed him chastely on the lips, her hands on his chest to steady herself since he couldn't hold her. "I'm getting you out of here," she said softly in his ear.
"Just promise me you'll be careful?" He looked at her in concern and she nodded.
"I promise."
"Don't stay now, come back after dark."
She nodded again, then put her arms around him in a fierce hug before walking away. She made herself leave without looking back, she didn't want to see the worry on his face.
Martha returned to the TARDIS to get something to eat, knowing it would be at least four hours before it was completely dark. She ate in the Control Room, one hand brushing over the console every few minutes, trying to reassure herself and the TARDIS that she would get the Doctor back alive and unregenerated. The ship gave her a hum filled with confidence and love, and she felt tears prickle her eyes. After she'd eaten and cleared up, she went to her room and changed into her black combat trousers, boots and jacket which she'd worn during the Year she'd spent walking the Earth. She went to the medlab and collected a couple of items, then slid them and her Sonic Screwdriver into her pocket. She tied back her hair, then returned to the Control Room, curling up on the Captain's chair to rest, if not sleep.
Finally it grew dark and Martha let herself out of the TARDIS, patting the door softly as she locked it, then headed back to the Courthouse. She had used the TARDIS computer to find a plan of the Courthouse, including the security system, and she knew there was a fire door at the rear of the building. She hoped this would mean she would only have to deal with the guard outside the Doctor's cell. She slipped down the street, moving quietly with practised ease. I didn't think I'd need my Toclafane avoidance skills again so soon, she thought as she edged around the side of the Courthouse and crossed to the fire door. She pulled out her Sonic and changed the settings to disable the security system, then unlocked the door with a soft snick. She eased the door open slowly and gently in case it creaked, but it was silent. She slipped inside and used the light of her Sonic to look for something with which to prop open the door, knowing it would save time later. She spotted a sturdy looking box and lifted it across to the door, jamming it open, then crept down the corridor. She moved cautiously, listening intently and hearing only silence. She turned into the corridor that led to the Doctor's cell and saw the guard standing outside the door, his back towards her. She stepped up behind him and jabbed him in the back of the neck with a tiny hypodermic full of sedative that she'd prepared earlier. She caught hold of his jacket and lowered him to the floor, allowing the wall to take his weight since he was heavier than she was. When he was sprawled against the wall, she unlocked the door to the Doctor's cell and sidled in.
"Martha," he said softly. "Everything OK?" She nodded and hurried across to him. "I'm very glad to see you," he told her.
"Yeah, well, you can kiss me later," she answered as she released his wrist.
"Oh I intend to, and a lot more besides," he said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before she bent to release the shackles on his ankles. She gave him a brief smile, then hurried back to the door and peered out into the corridor.
"Come on." She waved him out of the door and he looked down at the guard.
"Your work?" he asked softly.
She nodded. "Just sleeping." She led the way to the fire door, moving quickly and quietly. The Doctor watched her and realised with a pang that she must have learnt to move so stealthily whilst she'd been wandering the Earth during the Master's rule.
Much more than a kiss, he thought as he followed her silently and swiftly out of the door and up the street.
They got back to the TARDIS without incident and the Doctor immediately sprang up the ramp to the Console and started the dematerialisation process. Martha followed more slowly, suddenly weary now that her adrenaline rush had subsided.
The Doctor pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you for saving my life again," he said, then kissed her.
"It's what I do," she answered.