Gridlock - Doctor/Thirteen AU Version

[thedoctorwho]

[ooc: followed up from here]

"So, the future it is, then. How about a different planet as well?" he asks Thirteen, a bit of twinkle back in his eye.

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[numbered_doctor]

The question gets a bright smile from the Doctor's newest companion.

"A diferent planet? Really?"

[thedoctorwho]

"Why not? Earth's lovely, but how about some new ground under your feet?"

[numbered_doctor]

"Was there somewhere you had in mind, Doctor?"

[thedoctorwho]

He thinks for a moment, and then breaks out into a huge grin. "Oh, I think I might." He fiddles with some knobs and toggles some switches, and in almost no time flat, the TARDIS lands.

"So, roughly five billion years into your future, your sun expands and cooks the Earth. Earth itself has been abandoned for millenia, but after it's gone, huge wave of nostalgia, and the result... New Earth. Fifty thousand light years from the one they left behind. And outside that door is the city of New New York. Although, technically it's the fifteenth New York from the original, so it's New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York."

[numbered_doctor]

She listens intently to the Doctor's explanation before turning her attention to the TARDIS doors.

"Any place you plan on showing me here?"

[thedoctorwho]

The Doctor shakes his head. "Nothing in particular. I only saw a little bit last time I was here, so there's tons more to see."

He puts on his overcoat and heads for the door, opening it onto a pouring rain shower on a dingy, deserted street.

[numbered_doctor]

Thr rain causes Thirteen to draw her coat closer around herself, and she looks around curiously.

"Took a wrong turn at albuquerque, maybe?"

[thedoctorwho]

"Nah. Little bit of rain never hurt anyone. Let's get under some cover." He dashes off toward an awning on the lee side of the storm and shakes the water off his coat. There's a screen set into the wall under the awning, above what could be an ATM or similar console. "Now, let's have a look," the Doctor says, using the sonic screwdriver to activate the screen. There's only static at first, but a good thump to the top of the screen jolts it into some sort of news report.

"- and the driving should be clear and easy, with fifteen extra lanes open for the New New Jersey expressway." The image on the screen shifts to reveal the New New York above ground, a gorgeous city on the coast of a large river, with sleek flying vehicles zooming in the air.

[numbered_doctor]

The sight of the city on the screen draws an impressed noise from Thirteen as the news report continues.

"Looks lovely," she declares. "Can we go there?"

[thedoctorwho]

The Doctor wrinkles his nose. "Why'd you want to do that? Much more interesting down here in the under-city. It's nothing but cocktails and glitter and no substance up there. This is the real city. And, look, the rain's stopping. Better and better!"

[numbered_doctor]

She looks up as the last of the rain splutters to a stop, letting them fall on her face.

"Yes, well, I guess there's that. Now, where to?"

[thedoctorwho]

Before the Doctor can answer, one of the apparently closed kiosks pops open, and the man inside looks down at them, surprised. "Oh! How long have you been standing there? Want some Happy, do you

[numbered_doctor]

Thirteen's stuck relatively close to the Doctor with the sudden influx of activity, eye darting around curiously as the retailers hock their wares.

The woman who buys the "Forget", causes her to frown, especially with the sudden mood change, and she watches her leave.

"What was all that, then?"

[thedoctorwho]

"Moods. They're selling moods. Stimulation of certain neurotransmitters in your brain to create a specific emotional sensation." He does not sound impressed by this. In fact, he sounds downright angry about it.

Right about then, though, two figures in dark clothing jump out from behind Thirteen. The man wraps an arm around her neck, using the other to twist her arm behind her back. The woman, meanwhile, holds a gun on the Doctor.

"I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry!" the man says. "We just need three is all."

"No!" the Doctor screams. "Let her go! I am warning you. Whatever you need, I can help you -- we can help you -- but first you have to let her go!"

[numbered_doctor]

Thirteen, for her part, has much more colourful words to say than the Doctor. Cursing a blue streak, she fights against the man's grip as best as she can, gripping at what she can with the nails of her free arm, and raking the heels of her shoes against his shins.

"Let me go, you fucking lunatic!"

[thedoctorwho]

The man winces and cries out under the assault, but doesn't let go. He starts dragging Thirteen backward, and all the while, he and his companion continue to apologize for their actions.

The Doctor steps forward as they step back, maintaining the same distance, hands raised, but a look of hardened steel on his face as he repeats his command to let Thirteen go.