(2) Two Doctors, two destinies.....

[the_cosmic_hobo]

Continued from here.The Doctor crawled out of the rude tent, emitted a gaping yawn, and stretched his aching limbs. Some kind soul had left him a bucket of water; he dipped his finger in, snatching it out in shock at the burning cold. There was nothing for it, though. With a grimace at the impending discomfort, he slapped a bit at his unruly hair,

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[victorias_voice]

Victoria ran frantically for the TARDIS. Shouts rang out behind her as Jamie and the Brigadier engaged the attacking forces, but she had to keep going; she had to reach the Doctor. If anyone could help them, he could.

Something snagged her jacket from the side. She ripped free, glancing over her shoulder at the wicked pike that had almost pinned her to the ground. A warrior bore down on her; the scaly head of its mount bobbed like a bird's, its powerful beak wide open. With a terrified scream, she dodged between its legs; the momentum carried it well past her, and she threw herself forward -- there was no time to stop now.

The TARDIS doors were closed. She pounded on them, half-crying, then turned and pressed herself against the battered blue wood, eyes wide with fear as the Brigadier fell and the pike-men surrounded her.

The doors opened. She tumbled backwards, heard startled exclamations and the click of the doors closing again. Swallowing convulsively, she looked up to see who had caught her, and found herself staring into a stranger's eyes.

[saliorben]

Ben! Who is she?!" Polly asked, large brown eyes wide as she hurriedly pulled the lever and closed the TARDIS doors.

"How should I know, Duchess?" Ben snapped looking down at the pretty dark-haired girl he was helping over to the Louis the XIV chair in front of the counsel. For the last hour they had been wandering around the TARDIS looking for the Doctor. Their explorations finally lead them to the control room, when they heard a pounding on the doors. "It's all right, Miss.,” he said, helping the girl to sit. He strayed a glance to Polly, who had joined his side.

[victorias_voice]

Victoria stared at the husky red-haired sailor and the pretty blonde girl.

"I'm -- I'm Victoria Waterfield," she said meekly. "But who are you? And what are you doing in the TARDIS?"

[theduchesspolly]

Polly Wright smiled gently at the girl. She couldn't have been more than 17.
"I'm Polly, this is Ben. It's all right, you safe here." She looked around the counsel room. "I know this place is a bit overwhelming, but nothing is going to hurt you here. "

[saliorben]

Ben blinked, gaze wide and surprised. "Wait just one minute, Miss did yer just say, TARDIS? You know what this ship is? How?" He looked at Polly, who nodded. Both of them fixed the girl with curiosity.

[victorias_voice]

"Well, how do you know what it is?" Victoria demanded indignantly. "I've been traveling with the Doctor for two years now -- I ought to know what it is!"

She froze in sudden fear. "This is the Doctor's ship, isn't it? It must be, Jamie was out there. But he didn't recognize me, and now he's out there with those, those.... oh, can't we help him?"

[saliorben]

'Two years?" Ben asked, curious. He glanced at Polly, brow raised. "The Duchess and I've been wiv the Doctor for about a year now, Never heard him mention your name, lov."

[theduchesspolly]

Polly took the girl's hand in her own. "I'm afraid it is, Victoria...We only just picked up Jamie, from the Highlands." Her brow wrinkled, could it be, this girl knew Jamie from the future. "Ben, see if you can help Jamie..." Polly told the young man, who nodded and dashed to the door. "Victoria, what does your Doctor look like?"

[victorias_voice]

"But Jamie was already traveling with the Doctor when I... oh! The time must be wrong!" Victoria nodded, trying to work it out. "But what do you mean, what does he look like? He's the same as always -- about so high, black hair -- oh no. If I've been sent back before I met the Doctor, he won't recognize me either, will he?"

Tears pricked at her eyes. The TARDIS was all the home she had -- but this wasn't her TARDIS, not really. Not wanting Polly to see her cry, she turned toward the viewscreen... and shrieked in fright.

"Oh, Polly, look!"

The fight had ended as quickly as it had begun. Ben and Jamie were being led away in chains.

"We've got to do something! But what will we do?"

[theduchesspolly]

Alarmed, Polly watched her two friends as they were dragged away, and crossed over to the coat stand. She removed her coat and purse, and glanced at Victoria. "One of these days, I'd like to materialize on a nice sunny patch with a beach, were we can take a holiday. Well, we can't let them get into to much trouble. We'll follow, at a distance." She said, feeling a little weary of trouble. "Sound like a good idea to you?"

[the_cosmic_hobo]

The timeline continues here!