Who Fiction

About this Series

2007-04-22T13:00:00.000Z

Contents page for the stories in this series.

New Companion, Old Earth

This story started from several places. Initially, the first conversation between the Doctor and Saskia in the first part of the prologue, came about as the result of a silly, slightly surreal conversation I had with someone on an online forum, in which I said that my brain was on another plane and it was going to Barcelona. I can't resist puns and word play, hence the plane/aeroplane joke - and I mentioned Barcelona because I hadn't long watched again the Children In Need mini-episode and "The Christmas Invasion" episode from season 2 of New Doctor Who.

The idea of my brain being able to do things separately from my body is an old one for me - on occasion I've been known to make the same joke that Saskia makes about keeping my brain in a jar by my bed. That's the influence of Roald Dahl's short story William and Mary which my GP told me about years ago when I was lamenting my (then) frequent attacks of migraine. I asked if he couldn't just take my brain out of my head to stop it aching - and he told me of this story, which I then tracked down in the collection Kiss, Kiss (because that's the kind of person I am !).

This story was also inspired by Mark Gatiss' season 1 episode "The Unquiet Dead" and by Susan Cooper's fantastic novel, King of Shadows, in that in both stories a character meets a writer whom they admire. That was the inspiration behind the meeting that the Doctor and Saskia have with the two literary figures who appear in Chapter 3 (though neither the Doctor nor Saskia is actually a fan of either of those writers !)

I used to watch Doctor Who when I was a child, although I was never a devoted fan - and in fact, when the new Russell T Davies series started, I was a bit sceptical about it. My brother taped "Rose" and "The End of the World" (featuring the 9th Doctor played by Christopher Eccleston) for me and I was completely unimpressed. I was expecting Rose to be a Buffy-esque character, and initially she's not. So I lost interest. But people (including my oh-so-persistent brother) kept telling me I should give it another chance, and after my sister got the season 1 boxset for Christmas 2005, I borrowed the DVDs and watched them - and to my surprise, I was hooked. I confess, I find Christopher Eccleston's Doctor a little too smug at times about how clever he is - and I am very conscious of Eccleston acting the role. David Tennant, on the other, is a lifelong fan and he *plays* the role, he inhabits it totally - which makes for a mostly more light-hearted Doctor - which also means that when he's steely, it has a bigger impact, I feel. And David Tennant so impressed me in the role of the Doctor that I started looking out for other films and shows he had done - so not only am I New Doctor Who fan, I'm also a David Tennant fan as well.

This story is dedicated to the team at BBC Wales, who've done such a good job of re-inventing "Doctor Who" for the 21st century, and to David Tennant, who inspired me to pick up my pen and seriously attempt to write fiction for the first time since I was 10. Thanks !

The Desert of Einfuhlung

This second "Doctor Who" story is a sequel to New Companion, Old Earth - the new story opens only a short time after the first one closed, and it sees the Doctor, Saskia and the Devron arrive on Saskia's homeworld of Einfuhlung.

The idea of the Lost City of Eupatoria out in the desert of Einfuhlung came from a very vague recollection I thought I had of reading a story some time ago, about some travellers in a desert area where the wind had sculpted rocks into formations that looked like a city; they then travelled through time and found it really was a city. Much asking around my fantasy-reading friends elicited a number of suggestions of what the story was, but none of them were actually a story I'd read ! So I gave up trying to find it and wrote my own...

I felt more confident about writing both the Doctor and Saskia in this second story, and I hope that shows. I think it's a stronger story than the first one, it's certainly darker (I think), especially the fourth chapter.

Oxford Ostinato

This third "Doctor Who" story is a sequel to the first two, and picks up the story shortly after Saskia and the Doctor left her home planet. The idea came from something I read in Paul Parsons' The Science of Doctor Who and it brings the Doctor and Saskia back to our Earth, a few years in the future from us. Ostinato is an Italian musical term. It means a short melody or pattern that is constantly repeated, usually in the same part at the same pitch.

Saskia's Trials

The idea for this fourth "Doctor Who" story came to me whilst I was in the middle of writing the third one. The basic idea unfolded in my head one night, just as I was going to bed, so I stopped to scribble it down as the synopsis to the story. The writing of it turned out even darker than I anticipated - so dark, in fact, that were this a TV episode it would be at least a certificate 15, so be warned! The story shows that actions have consequences, sometimes very unexpected consequences, and it links directly back to the events at the end of the second story, bringing Saskia and the Doctor back to her home planet.

The first draft of this story was written in four days flat, over the Easter weekend, making it the fastest piece of writing I've ever produced - but then the story had been burning in my brain for neary two weeks before I began writing.

Tenth Doctor Who Fiction Contents Page

2007-04-22T12:45:00.000Z

New Companion, Old Earth

Prologue - Part 1
Prologue - Part 2
Prologue - Part 3
Chapter 1 - Part 1
Chapter 1 - Part 2
Chapter 2 - Part 1
Chapter 2 - Part 2
Chapter 2 - Part 3
Chapter 3 - Part 1
Chapter 3 - Part 2
Chapter 4 - Part 1
Chapter 4 - Part 2
Chapter 4 - Part 3
Epilogue

The Desert of Einfuhlung

Chapter 1 - Part 1
Chapter 1 - Part 2
Chapter 1 - Part 3
Chapter 2 - Part 1
Chapter 2 - Part 2
Chapter 2 - Part 3
Chapter 3 - Part 1
Chapter 3 - Part 2
Chapter 4 - Part 1
Chapter 4 - Part 2
Chapter 4 - Part 3
Epilogue

Oxford Ostinato

Prologue - Part 1
Prologue - Part 2
Chapter 1 - Part 1
Chapter 1 - Part 2
Chapter 1 - Part 3
Chapter 2 - Part 1
Chapter 2 - Part 2
Chapter 2 - Part 3
Chapter 3 - Part 1
Chapter 3 - Part 2
Chapter 3 - Part 3
Chapter 4 - Part 1
Chapter 4 - Part 2
Epilogue

Saskia's Trials

Prologue & Chapter 1, Part 1
Chapter 1, Part 2
Chapter 1, Part 3
Chapter 2, Part 1
Chapter 2, Part 2
Chapter 3, Part 1
Chapter 3, Part 2
Chapter 3, Part 3
Chapter 3, Part 4
Chapter 3, Part 5
Chapter 4, Part 1
Chapter 4, Part 2
Chapter 4, Part 3
Chapter 4, Part 4
Epilogue

Saskia's Trials - Epilogue

2007-04-22T12:30:00.000Z

The following morning Saskia and the Doctor said goodbye to Dr Karg and Jeff, then the Doctor took the TARDIS into the Time Vortex. Saskia was seated on the Control Room bench watching as he checked their position. He finally finished checking the scanner screen then came to sit beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders. She leant against him companionably.
"What happens now?" she asked.
"Now, my lady, we do whatever you want to do until you feel fit enough to take another trip. We can watch movies, listen to music, read, sleep and eat in whatever combinations you choose."
"Reading sounds good right now," Saskia said thoughtfully.
"Then reading it is. Where would my lady like to read – in the library, in her room, in here?"
"In the den," Saskia answered.
"The den?" The Doctor frowned. "Does the TARDIS have a den?"
"You probably call it something else. It's the room with the home cinema system in it," Saskia said. "I thought 'den' sounded cosier than 'the home cinema'."
The Doctor nodded. "Then we'll read in the den. We can stop off at the library to get some books on the way there."
He stood up and offered Saskia his arm which she took gratefully. She had a tendency to have random dizzy spells as a result of her treatment at the hands of Oscar, so having an arm to hang on to was a necessity and comforting too. They went to the library and chose a book each, the Doctor tucking them both into his pockets, even though Saskia's choice was a hefty copy of the Complete Works of Shakespeare. He wanted to keep both his hands free since Dr Karg had warned them that Saskia might also suffer from blackouts.
In the den the Doctor settled himself on the left hand side of the leather sofa. "I thought you might want to stretch out," he said as Saskia sat next to him.
"If I stretch out properly I'll probably fall asleep," she said, swinging her legs up onto the sofa. She turned and leant her back against the Doctor's right shoulder. "Is that OK?" she asked.
"As long as you're comfortable," he answered. He put his right arm around her middle, the two books balanced on his hand. "Which one do you fancy first? Dickens or Shakespeare?"
"Shakespeare please." She took the book and opened it on her lap as he put Great Expectations on the sofa arm beside him.

"You know, I remembered that there's a line in The Tempest that I was thinking was suited to you and Rose," she said as she turned the pages, searching for the play she wanted to read.
"Oh?"
"Miranda says to Ferdinand, 'I would not wish any other companion in the world but you.' I thought it was apt for you two."
The Doctor was silent for a moment. "Saskia you don't have to keep comparing yourself to Rose or thinking of my relationship with her all the time. I loved Rose and I miss her enormously, I always will, but you are my companion now."
Saskia stopped turning the pages, puzzled by the note in his voice. "I know I am, but –"There is no but," the Doctor said firmly. "I've had dozens of companions over the years, but right now I only have one and that's you. Do you remember that when talked in Eupatoria, I told you I'd rather have you travelling with me than almost anyone else?"
"Yes." Saskia's voice was barely more than a whisper.
"And I reminded you of that exact conversation a few days ago, when were having a picnic in Oxford. I'm going to remind you of it again, and I'll tell you again what I told you then. I meant what I said. Rose has gone somewhere that I cannot follow her, so I have to travel without her. I could travel alone, but I prefer to travel with someone else. And this time, I chose you." He turned and put his other arm around her, hugging her. "It's you and me now, OK?"
Saskia nodded, unable to speak past the lump she suddenly had in her throat.
He turned the pages of the book in her lap for a few moments, then stopped. "Perhaps you know these lines from Hamlet Act I, Scene 3," he said pointing at the page.
Saskia looked at the lines at which he pointed.
"Read it out to me, please?"
She read aloud: "Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel."
"You'd better be prepared to have you soul grappled with hoops of steel," he told her.
She made a noise that was halfway between a laugh and a sob. "OK."
"You know, when you're feeling up to travelling again, we could go and see Shakespeare."
"Really?" asked Saskia.
"Really, really. But only if you want to."
"Yes please."
He smiled at the note of excitement in her voice.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 4 Part 4

2007-04-22T12:25:00.000Z

A couple of hours later, the Doctor turned up at the hospital to collect her. His tie was pulled askew and his hair stood up wildly, but he had a huge beaming grin on his face. Saskia couldn't help smiling at the sight of him. He dropped to his knees by her chair and reached out to hug her, but she put her hands on his arms, stopping him. He looked at her in surprise, his smile fading.
"I'm not quite up to hugs just yet," she said. "Especially your bone-crackers."
"Oh." He sounded more disappointed than Saskia had expected. "Are you up to coming home though?" he asked.
She nodded and got up carefully. The Doctor moved to put his arm around her, but she stopped him again. "Just lend me your arm, please," she said.
He held out his right arm and Saskia put her hand on it, then walked slowly and carefully out of the room. By the time they had reached the street, the Doctor was convinced something was seriously wrong and was wondering why she hadn't told him what it was. He knew she'd been given a muscle relaxant prior to being taken down for the surgery, but the nurses had assured him that it would have worn off by now.
"I'm going to call the TARDIS," he told her. "You can barely walk and you won't let me carry you." He pulled his Sonic Screwdriver out of his jacket pocket and activated the program. A few moments later the TARDIS materialised wheezily beside them, and he helped Saskia through the door and over to the bench. He flicked a couple of switches on the console, and sent them back to the usual spot near the Museum and Saskia's apartment.

"Tell me what's wrong, Saskia, please," he said quietly.
"I'll show you," she said. "But I need to lie down."
He nodded and helped her to her room. She lay down carefully on her bed, leaving space for him to sit beside her. She nodded and he reached out to her, placing his long cool fingers on either side of her head, then closed his eyes.
By the time she had finished showing the Doctor what had taken place at Wachter's home, she was sobbing silently. She opened her eyes and found the Doctor was crying too. He moved his hands from her face and clasped her hands tightly in his.
"Oh my love," he said quietly. He pulled out his handkerchief and gently dried her tears. "You get some sleep," he said. "I'm going to go and talk to Dr Karg. Wachter has to be dealt with, and it's better that the Council deals with him because if I find him, I'll kill him."
Saskia nodded, then closed her eyes. The Doctor waited until she was asleep, kissed her forehead, then went to have a stomp around the Control Room until he'd calmed down a little. He was horrified at what had happened to Saskia, and whilst he knew it was best that the Council deal with Wachter, he was seriously tempted to go and find him, so he could at least beat him senseless.
He asked the TARDIS to watch over Saskia, then let himself out and went to see Dr Karg, whom he knew would be waiting with Jeff for Saskia to get back from the hospital. He let himself into Saskia's apartment and both men looked surprised when they saw he was alone.
"Saskia's in the TARDIS, sleeping," he said, forestalling their questions. "She's still feeling rough from what's happened." He turned to Jeff. "Could you do me favour, and see if you can get some fresh fruit for us, please?"
Jeff nodded. "Of course." He went out and Dr Karg looked expectantly at the Doctor. "What is it?"
The Doctor told Dr Karg everything that had happened to Saskia. He couldn't sit still to talk and soon found himself pacing restlessly around the room. Dr Karg sat and listened in silence, a look of horror growing on his face.
"We shall have to report this to the Council," he said when the Doctor finally finished talking.
The Doctor stopped pacing and looked at Dr Karg. "You will have to report it," he said firmly. "I'm taking Saskia away in the morning. She needs time to heal and I'm not subjecting her to the experience of giving evidence again until she's feeling stronger. She's been through quite enough in the last two days."
"Very well," said Dr Karg. "But Wachter will not be tried without her evidence."
The Doctor waved a hand dismissively. "I can bring her back months or years from now from our point of view, and it would still only be tomorrow for you," he said. "She needs time to heal."
Dr Karg nodded. "Of course they might not find Wachter immediately anyway. If he's heard that Saskia was reprieved, he'll have gone into hiding."
The Doctor began patting at his pockets, then pulled out his mobile phone. "I'll give you the number of this and you can call me when they're ready to try him."
Dr Karg was making a note of the number when Jeff came back with a large paper sack full of fruit and a bunch of yellow flowers that looked quite like daffodils from Old Earth. The Doctor raised an eyebrow at him.
"They're Saskia's favourite flowers," Jeff said.
The Doctor nodded. "Thanks Jeff. We'll come and see you in the morning to say goodbye," he said, taking the fruit and flowers from Jeff, before hurrying out.

By the time the Doctor got back to the TARDIS, Saskia was in the throes of a nightmare, and he rushed to her room, hearing her screams. He soothed her and she went back to sleep. He remained sitting at her bedside, holding her hand. But she woke again an hour later suffering from another nightmare. After she woke the third time, he told her that he might be able to help.
"I've got a drug in the medical bay that I could give you to stop you dreaming," he said.
Saskia looked at his anxious face. "That might help in the short-term, but what about the long-term?" she asked.
The Doctor nodded. "You can't suppress the nightmares forever, it's true. They're your mind's way of dealing with what you've been through, which means they're a necessary part of your healing process."
"Then I guess neither one of us is going to get much sleep for a while." She tried to smile. "Try not to find any monsters we might need to run from, please."
"That's easily achieved," the Doctor assured her. "We'll just hang about inside the Time Vortex until you're ready to travel again."
"You'd do that?" Saskia asked.
"Of course," answered the Doctor, surprised that she felt it necessary to ask.
"Thank you."
"Do you want to try to get some more sleep?" he asked.
She sighed, then nodded. The Doctor looked at her thoughtfully, rubbing the back of his head.
"What is it," she asked, puzzled.
"There might be another way to help you to sleep better," he said, tugging at his earlobe. "Do you remember, when you were having trouble sleeping after the Devron attacked you, I read to you one night, and I gave you some mental images to go with the story?"
Saskia nodded.
"I could do that again – give you some mental images to encourage you to have pleasant dreams rather than nightmares." The Doctor saw her face brighten at his suggestion. "The only thing is, I'd have to touch you, or better still, hold you, to keep the images in your head for several hours." He spoke carefully, knowing she might hate the idea after what she'd been through.
She looked at his anxious face. "OK."
"You're sure?" he asked. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
"I trust you," she said simply.
"OK." He stood up and took off his Converse boots and his socks, then shrugged himself out of his jacket. He pulled off his tie and started to unbutton his shirt, then stopped. He looked at Saskia and raised one eyebrow. "Is it OK if I take my shirt off?" he asked.
She nodded and he finished unbuttoning it, leaving on his t-shirt and trousers. He put his clothes on her chair, then sat on the edge of the bed. Saskia moved across to the middle of her bed, then turned on her side, so that her back was to him. He lay down beside her, then turned onto his side. He put his arms around her middle, and pulled her back against his chest.
"OK?" he asked softly.
"Yes."
He closed his eyes and concentrated on providing her with a mental movie as she fell asleep. He lay quietly, marvelling at what an amazing thing it was to trust someone as much as she trusted him at this moment.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 4 Part 3

2007-04-22T12:20:00.000Z

Saskia made her mind as blank as possible, then unlocked the door and stepped out. There was a tray on a side table by the window, which she guessed was her promised breakfast. She tried not to look at Wachter, who was wearing a dark blue bathrobe and a very self-satisfied smirk. He gestured at the side table.
"Your breakfast my dear."
Saskia gave a small nod, then sat down to eat. There was a bowl of fruit salad, a plateful of buttered slices of fruit loaf, and a pot of tea. Wachter lay on the bed and watched her eat. She ignored him, and concentrated on the taste of the food and tea, eating slowly. She didn't want to eat it too quickly, in part because she thought she might be sick after her enforced fast, but also because she wanted to give herself as much time to enjoy her current freedom as possible, just in case her plan didn't work. She knew she wouldn't be able to forget this breakfast for a long time, and that she might never want to eat fruit loaf again if this didn't work as she hoped. Then she suddenly wondered if she'd even have the chance to try to forget this breakfast.
As she put down her empty tea cup, Wachter got up off the bed and Saskia got up from the chair. Wachter pulled open his bathrobe with a flourish and Saskia forced herself to smile as she stepped towards him, then she swiftly lifted her right foot, and kicked him on the side of the knee. As he fell with a moan of agony, she clasped her hands and chopped them down on the side of his neck, before diving in a roll across the bed. She pulled the door open and ran full pelt along the landing, then down the stairs. She paused for a moment to get her bearings, then raced down the passage towards the door that she knew led outside. Unfortunately for her Oscar stepped out of the lab and she crashed into him, sending them both flying. Saskia scrambled back to her feet and tried to jump over him, but he grabbed an ankle and pulled her back down to the floor with a crash that winded her. Oscar threw himself on top of her, pinning her to the floor, and yelled. The two guards who had brought her here the day before came racing out of another door and dragged her up from the floor.
Ten minutes later Saskia was again lying strapped to the bed in the lab and Wachter was glaring down at her. She glared back defiantly, even though she knew her failed escape meant that she was condemned to the worst that he and his horrible friend could think of to do to her.
"I'm seriously disappointed in you," Wachter said heavily. "I thought you were going to be sensible. Since you're not, I'm going to leave you in the very capable hands of Oscar. I'm sure he'll make you regret not co-operating with me." He turned and limped away, leaning on a cane.
Oscar moved into view, a malicious look on his face. "I don't like women," he said, "So I'm not going to do to you what Donnie planned to do. But I am going to hurt you."
Saskia tried to shrug, but couldn't manage it.
He attached the helmet to her head again and showed her the memories of Jeff and the Doctor being attacked by Jackson's thugs. Then he attached electrodes to her head and body. Saskia tried to struggle but he just backhanded her across the face, leaving her head ringing. She lay still again until he switched on the current and a charge of electricity jolted through her body. She screamed in agony and terror. He turned off the current and showed her the same memories again. The second time he turned on the current it felt even worse, which she hadn't believed was possible. After he turned off the current again, she lay panting and gasping, tears running uncontrollably down the sides of her face. He showed her the memories a third time, before turning on the current again. Mercifully she blacked out soon afterwards.

After breakfast, Dr Karg had insisted on taking Jeff and the Doctor out to his estate to have a look round and for some lunch until it was time for the Council to reconvene the court. The Doctor admitted, as they took the tram back into town, that it had been a good idea. He had actually managed not to spend the entire morning fretting about Saskia and the results of her tests. The three of them got off the tram in the Council Quarter and headed directly to the courthouse. They took the same seats as before and waited, increasingly impatiently in the case of the Doctor, for the Council members and Saskia to arrive. Finally the Council members filed in behind the President and took their seats. Then Saskia was led in; the Doctor immediately noticed that she was moving slowly, as if she was in pain, and he frowned in concern. He also noticed that the guard who was escorting her wasn't their friend John and wondered at the change.
The President banged his gavel on the arm of his chair. "This court is now in session," he said. He waited whilst everyone except Saskia was seated. "We have received the results of the tests carried out on Saskia Scolere, and we are ready to give sentence."
The Doctor found himself unconsciously holding his breath and exhaled slowly.
"We sentence the accused to ten years in exile on Abneigung, following corrective micro-laser surgery to neutralise her empathic and telepathic powers."
There was a moment of shocked silence, then the Doctor sprang to his feet. "NO!" he shouted, a look of horror on his face. "You can't! That's monstrous!" Jeff and Dr Karg tried to hold the Doctor back, then two guards closed in and hustled him, still protesting, from the room. Jeff and Dr Karg followed hurriedly.
Saskia hadn't fainted. She had known since that morning what sentence she would receive after her escape attempt had failed. She hoped her friends would calm the Doctor, and that he would soon find someone else to travel with him. The guards led her out of the chamber, took her quickly out of the building by the back door, then drove her to the hospital.
The Doctor was practically incandescent with fury as the guards dragged him into a side room, his face contorted with rage as he yelled at them. Then John appeared in the doorway. He saw the Doctor and made a beeline for him. He quickly explained that Wachter had taken Saskia away the previous day, not the Elders. "He knocked me out and I was unconscious in the hospital until half an hour ago. I had to insist they let me out so I could come straight over here to tell you."
"So those test results were probably rigged," the Doctor said.
John nodded.
"Right, I'm going to talk to the President. John, you're coming with me, so you can prove the truth of what I'm going to tell him. Jeff, Dr Karg, get over to the hospital and stop them from taking Saskia in for that surgery.
The four of them hurried off.

Saskia lay helpless and terrified on a bed in the brain surgery unit. They had injected her with a muscle relaxant earlier, just enough to ensure she couldn't resist them or simply get up and run away. Unfortunately the muscle relaxant didn't stop her from thinking and now she lay on the bed knowing that it was far too late for the Doctor to do or say anything to save her from this. When they finally let her go from here in a few days the Saskia he knew would be gone, wiped out by some very precise surgery.
She thought back to the moment, just a few days ago, when her life had suddenly been wrenched very firmly out of her control and wished she had taken Jeff's advice.
Just as the nurse was approaching with the anaesthetic, ready to knock her out for the surgery someone knocked hastily on the door, then hurried in and spoke rapidly to the surgeon.
"Nurse, we won't need that injection. It seems the young lady has been reprieved."
Saskia looked at him, expressions of hope and disbelief warring on her face. He pulled off the face mask he wore. "You'll need to wait a couple of hours or so for that muscle relaxant to wear off," he told her, "but after that you're free to go."
Saskia felt dizzy with relief. "Thank you."

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 4 Part 2

2007-04-22T12:15:00.000Z

Jeff and Dr Karg sympathetically watched the Doctor pacing around Saskia's apartment for half an hour before they also began to get fidgety and restless.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Jeff asked abruptly.
Dr Karg shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Jeff. We just have to wait for the Elders to complete the tests."
"I'm going for a walk," the Doctor said, letting himself out of the apartment. The other men heard him running down the stairs.
"Should we go after him?" asked Jeff uncertainly.
Dr Karg raised an eyebrow. "If he'd wanted our company, he'd have stayed."
"I'm just worried he might do something rash," Jeff said.
"The mood he's in, he might," answered Dr Karg. "But he's good at surviving and a lot more powerful than you seem to realise.
"Oh." Jeff digested that thoughtfully, then got up. "I'm going to make some tea. Do you want some?"
Dr Karg nodded. "Yes please."

The Doctor went to the TARDIS. If nothing else, she offered more space for his restless pacing than Saskia's apartment, and at least there were no carpets in the TARDIS for him to wear into holes. He unlocked the door and went inside, the TARDIS humming a greeting at him. He pulled off his overcoat and draped it over the railing, then wandered away down the corridors, letting his feet take him where they would. They led him to the kitchen, initially, so he made himself a mug of tea. He pulled his tie loose, then wandered off again, mug in hand.

Saskia forced herself to stop crying in the end as it wasn't really helping and also it was very uncomfortable to cry without being able to wipe her eyes. She gulped, sniffed, then blinked her tears away. Wachter moved into her line of vision.
"If you've finished, we'll get started," he said with a nasty smile. He nodded at someone Saskia couldn't see and she suddenly found herself watching Jeff going into his office, then two dark figures springing at him from the corridor. She knew this was Jeff's memory of the attack that was made on him by Jackson's thugs. She couldn't help feeling the same surge of anger that she had felt when he had first shown her his memory on the day he had been attacked.
"Seven point eight," said a voice behind Saskia, who wondered what the number meant.
"Next," said Wachter, watching Saskia's face closely.
She saw Dr Karg sitting at a table with Luca sitting opposite him, and the Doctor walking around the table to lean over him. "Saskia didn't make a fool out of you. You did that all by yourself," the Doctor said. She saw Luca cowering back in his chair as the Doctor shook a finger at him.
"One point three," said the same voice that had spoken before.
"Show her the next bit too," Wachter said.
Saskia saw the Doctor talking to Luca again. "You thought Jackson would make you rich, or powerful, or both, didn't you? And that Saskia would find you irresistible, but Saskia's not that shallow."
Luca answered. "I suppose you think she prefers a stuck-up ponce like you? Swanning around the place in your expensive clothes. Have you had her yet then?"
"Seven point six, and seven point six," the voice said.
Saskia suddenly realised that they were measuring her emotional responses to what she was seeing. Wachter grinned at her. "I knew you'd figure that out," he said. "We're measuring your levels of anger, disgust, desire." He nodded at whoever was behind her. "Next one."
This time Saskia saw the Doctor being ambushed by Jackson's thugs, one of whom struck him with a cudgel, cutting open his head. The other one kicked the Doctor in the ribs. Saskia's emotions surged as she watched the scene, even though she had seen it earlier that day when the Doctor was giving his evidence.
"Ten point zero."
Wachter chuckled. "I knew that would make our firecracker spit," he said.
Saskia felt a surge of anger and hatred for Wachter as he laughed at her.
"Ten point zero and ten point zero," said the owner of the unseen voice.
"You know, I'm glad I let Luca Leerling talk me into this," Wachter said, grinning at the look of rage that crossed Saskia's face. "Not only is he paying me handsomely, money I shall thoroughly enjoy spending, but I get to watch you, and that's a pleasure all by itself."
He reached out his left hand and put it on Saskia's knee, then slowly stroked it upwards.
"Ten point zero and zero point one," said the voice behind her, dispassionate as ever.
Wachter looked up. "Which way round?" he asked in a voice of chilly menace that caused Saskia to feel a sudden flare of fear.
"The first reading was anger, the second one was desire," answered the voice.
Wachter looked down at Saskia's white face. "I'm sure you can do better than that, my dear," he said, his voice and manner equally menacing, in spite of the endearment. "I'm going to give you a little time to think about it."
He nodded at the person behind Saskia, who switched off the machinery. They both went out leaving her strapped to the bed, naked and afraid of just what Wachter might do to her when he returned.

By the time Wachter returned an hour later, Saskia was shaking with cold as well as fear, and incredibly thirsty. Her arms and legs were sore as a result of her desperate attempts to pull them free of the straps that held her to the bed. She had been wondering if it was possible to kill someone using telepathy, because right now she felt like killing Wachter.
He looked her over and Saskia suddenly knew that he'd found another way of tormenting her. She shuddered because she couldn't think of anything that could be worse than what she'd already been imagining. There was a look of feverish excitement in Wachter's eyes that promised he'd thought of something far more enjoyable for himself, which was likely to be much worse for her.
"My colleague Oscar, who is a connoisseur of pleasurable experiences, has suggested a way of improving some of your scores, my dear."
Saskia felt sick with revulsion at the caressing way that Wachter spoke, and knew she definitely didn't want to know anything about Oscar or his pleasurable experiences.
"Therefore we're going to continue this in the morning. I would recommend that you use the intervening hours to consider your future. If you please me," his voice lingered on the word 'please', "then we'll return a favourable report to the Council. If, on the other hand," he reached out his left hand and grasped Saskia's throat in a choking grip, "you refuse to co-operate, we'll return an unfavourable report, and you will find yourself out on Abneigung, a mere shell of your former self." He let go of Saskia's throat and she wheezed, gasped and coughed, trying to get some air back into her lungs. "The choice is yours my dear."

The Doctor endured a restless night. He'd gone to the home cinema room to listen to some music, but that had reminded him too much of spending time there with Saskia, listening to Elgar's Cello Concerto. So he'd gone to the kitchen instead and rooted through the cupboards, fridge and freezer making mental shopping lists of things to buy on various planets the next time he was visiting. Maybe he'd take Saskia to Cardiff to get some more pizzas from his friend who owned a restaurant on the bay. After that he sat down with a banana and drew up half a dozen different menus for meals that he wanted Saskia to try. Then he fell to planning some trips that he thought she might enjoy if the TARDIS was prepared to co-operate. Finally he went to the library and pulled out the poetry book that Saskia had been reading a couple of days earlier. He found the poem called "Burnt Norton" and read it all the way through, then he read some more of T S Eliot's poems. He had enjoyed "The Journey of the Magi" and the Practical Cats poems, but thought "The Wasteland" was a bit rubbish, it was so long-winded. It was the latter poem that sent him to sleep in his chair, which had led to him having some disturbing dreams about torture and rape. He woke up in a cold sweat at one in the morning, wondering what had got into his unconscious mind to give him such horrible dreams. He picked up the poetry book from the floor where it had fallen when he'd jerked awake, then rubbed his hand across his face, deciding that he'd rather not sleep again. He put the book back on the shelf then went to his room for a shower. Half an hour later he was dressed and back in the kitchen. He made himself a cup of tea, then went to the Control Room. He sat on the bench, putting his feet up on the console and asked the TARDIS to play him some popular music from Old Earth's 1970s, knowing that he had no chance of falling asleep whilst that was playing. By seven o'clock he'd grown tired of that and went off to have breakfast with Dr Karg and Jeff, hoping they'd had a more restful night than he had.

By the time the Doctor was heading for breakfast, Saskia had passed through her fears and reached a state of desperate calm. She had decided that she would at least appear to co-operate with Wachter in the hope of catching him off guard and making an escape. She knew it was a dangerous plan, but it was all she had been able to come up with as she had lain cold, frightened and sleepless in the lab.
Wachter and his colleague came in a few minutes after seven, and Saskia noticed a swagger in Wachter's step. She knew he believed that she wouldn't be able to refuse whatever offer he made her.
"Well my dear, have you made up your mind whether or not to co-operate with me?"
Saskia managed a nod. She couldn't speak, her throat was too tight with fear and her mouth too dry.
"And are you going to co-operate?" asked Wachter.
She nodded again.
"Excellent!" He was practically rubbing his hands with glee. "Let's get you somewhere more comfortable," he said. He nodded to Oscar who removed the helmet device, then unfastened the straps from her arms and legs.
"Now then, I'm sure you're feeling a little rough, so we'll get you somewhere nice and warm, and give you a chance to pamper yourself a bit." He turned and picked up a thick green bathrobe, which Saskia gratefully wrapped around her shivering body. She managed not to flinch as Wachter took her arm and helped her off the bed. He led her out of the lab, along the passage, then up two flights of stairs, to a large bedroom luxuriously furnished in dark red and gold.
"This is my room," he told her. "And Oscar's, of course. Why don't you have a bath whilst Oscar gets you some breakfast, and then we'll be ready."
Saskia seized gratefully on the offer a bath, knowing it would make her warmer and give her some time to prepare herself mentally for what she was planning to do. She went through the door that Wachter had indicated and locked it behind her, then stared in astonishment at the size of the bathroom and the sunken bath that nearly filled it. She put the plug in the bath, turned on the hot tap, then picked up a glass from the shelf above the sink. She filled it with water, then drank it slowly, savouring the taste as if it was an expensive champagne, so parched was she. She checked the temperature of the bath water, then drank another half glass of water. She pulled off the bathrobe and lowered herself into the bath, savouring the warmth and comfort. She spent ten minutes just lying there, then topped it up with some more hot water and washed herself. She had just started drying herself with the most enormous towel she could ever remember seeing when she heard noises from the next room. When she realised what they meant, she picked up another towel to dry her hair and shut out the noises. By the time she had dressed and was combing her hair she could hear voices, then the bedroom door opened and closed. A few moments later someone knocked on the bathroom door.
"Are you ready my dear?" asked Wachter.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 4 Part 1

2007-04-22T12:10:00.000Z

John quietly opened the door of the room where he had led Saskia and the Doctor. He saw the Doctor was looking at him expectantly and nodded. The Doctor shook Saskia awake. She sat up stiffly and the Doctor gently rubbed the back of her neck for a moment. "OK?" he asked.
She nodded.
"The Council will be reconvening shortly," John said.
"Thanks John." The Doctor smiled at him.
Saskia had a look of resignation on her face as she stood up and stretched. "I think this prison uniform is the most uncomfortable thing I've had to wear since I was at school," she observed.
"It's certainly the least flattering clothing I've seen for some time," the Doctor answered, taking her hand as they went to the door.
Saskia stopped him by the door. "Before we go back, I just wanted to say thank you for everything. I've enjoyed travelling with you."
The Doctor looked at her in surprise. "Anyone would think that you believed our travelling days were over," he said. "Whatever sentence they give you, I'm not leaving here without you."
Saskia gave him a steady look. "You might not have a choice," she said, letting go of his hand and walking briskly out of the door, leaving him standing by the door, a look of surprise on his face. He swore under his breath, then followed John and Saskia back down the corridor to the trial room. He crossed the room to sit next to Jeff and Dr Karg as the Council members filed back in. The President banged the gavel on the arm of his chair, although everyone's attention was already focused on him.
"This court is now in session. We have reached a decision concerning the case of Saskia Scolere."
The Doctor found himself crossing his fingers and was annoyed with himself for being so foolish.
"We have decided that the accused must undergo testing to determine the extent of the effects of the telepathic alien’s attack on her personality and behaviour. We will sentence her on the basis of the results of these tests. To that end, this court is now in recess until one o'clock on Thursday." He banged the gavel on his chair arm again as several whispered conversations broke out around the room. The Doctor looked at Saskia who had sat down with a bump on hearing the President's announcement. John was hovering solicitously at her side. The Doctor turned to Dr Karg.
"Did you expect that?" he demanded.
Dr Karg shook his head. "I've never heard of them asking for such testing before," he said. "I presume that they felt that the evidence was insufficient to prove the matter one way or the other."
"So what happens now?" asked the Doctor, his frustration clear in his voice and his stance.
"I'm afraid we'll just have to spend the next day and a half waiting," answered Dr Karg, who sounded almost as frustrated as the Doctor.
"Who will do these tests?" asked the Doctor. "Not you?"
Dr Karg shook his head again. "They will ask some of the other Elders to do the tests, fearing I might be biased in Saskia's favour."
The Doctor turned away, intending to go and speak to Saskia, but she had already been led away. He growled in frustration, clutching at his hair until it stood up wildly.

Saskia was still feeling too surprised by the Council's decision to request that she be tested to notice anything until John abruptly stopped walking, their path down the corridor blocked by Captain Wachter.
"I'll take it from here, Centinela," he said, smirking at them both.
Saskia felt as if someone had emptied a large bucket of freezing water over her head.
John looked angry as he asked "Why?"
"Orders from the Council," answered Wachter smoothly, and Saskia knew that he'd found out that John had been bending the rules in her favour, and was planning to punish them both for it. She swallowed hard, determined not to speak until she must.
John looked from Wachter's smug expression to Saskia's fearful one, and decided that he wasn't going to hand her over that easily. "I'm coming with you," he said firmly.
"Are you refusing a direct order?" asked Wachter, a hint of gleeful malice in his voice.
John straightened his back and stood to attention. "Yes sir."
"Why?" asked Wachter, genuinely curious for a moment. "She's not worth losing your job over."
"I'm just doing what I think is right sir," John answered.
Wachter shook his head in disbelief. "I doubt you'll find it pays very well."
"Not everything is about money sir."
"Oh very true, Centinela, but money makes the world such a nicer place, and allows me to have some fun." He nodded to someone over Saskia's shoulder and she suddenly found herself in the grip of two strong pairs of hands. She bit back a cry as John looked around, surprised. Wachter's guards had shielded their thoughts so well that neither of them had realised anyone else was in the corridor with them.
John started towards her. "Don't," she called, seeing Wachter raise his arm, but she spoke too late, and could only watch helplessly as Wachter punched John, knocking him out cold. The next moment the two guards hustled her away and she found herself being half led, half dragged down the corridor. Wachter strode ahead of them, swaggering with the confidence of a man who had just got his own way and intended to continue getting his own way.
Saskia was bundled into the back of another black van and manacled to the seat. The two guards went around to the front of the van, one getting into the driver's seat, the other getting into the passenger seat, leaving her in the back with Wachter. She stared at the floor, biting the inside of her cheek yet again.
"I hear that Doctor friend of yours scared Luca shitless yesterday," Wachter said in a conversational tone. "Sadly he's not here to help or defend you this time."
Saskia wondered what Wachter was planning to do and if she'd know what he was doing to her if she went mad. Then she wondered if it was possible to go mad all at once, or if it only happened gradually over time. She was trying to distract herself from thinking about what he planned because thinking about it would make her throw up, and whilst she wouldn't care if she threw up over Wachter, she knew very well he would punish her for it.

The van stopped with a jerk and Saskia looked out of the window beside her, but all she could see was a stone wall. She had no idea where she was since she'd failed to keep a look out. The two guards got out of the van and came to unlock the back doors. Wachter got out and waited whilst they unfastened her manacles from the seat before attaching them to their own wrists. They led her through a door beside which the van had been parked and followed Wachter down a cold, damp, poorly-lit passage, then into a white-painted laboratory. The air in the lab was even colder than out in the passage and Saskia guessed that the air conditioning was on, although it wasn't warm enough outside for it to be necessary. The lab was also better lit than the passage, too well lit for Saskia's comfort as the overhead lights were almost blinding.
"Over there," Wachter said, pointing to a trolley bed not unlike the one to which she had been strapped in the basement of an Oxfordshire house two days ago. She cringed inwardly and wondered if anyone besides these three men knew where she was at this moment. The two guards dragged her across to the bed. Saskia knew she shouldn't try to resist them, because Wachter would delight in punishing her, but she couldn't stop herself from trying to hold back.
"Strip her and strap her down," ordered Wachter, a lascivious look on his face as he gave the order.
I'm not going to beg, I'm not going to beg, Saskia chanted to herself. She knew that begging would only give Wachter greater pleasure.
The two guards ripped the grey jumpsuit off her and tossed it aside. One pulled off her shoes and socks whilst the other pulled off her underwear. She began to shiver uncontrollably as they pushed her onto the trolley, then fastened straps to her legs and arms, pulling her legs and arms uncomfortably wide to do so. Then they attached to her head a metal helmet device that was similar to the one in the trial room. Saskia almost choked on the sobs that were threatening to burst out of her, her eyes screwed shut in fear and misery. There was a click and hum as some machinery was switched on.
"Right then bitch, let's see what you're really made of." Wachter's snarl by her ear made Saskia start in involuntary surprise. "Oh and if you're thinking of sending your Doctor friend an SOS, think again. This room is designed so that no telepathic thoughts can get in or out."
Saskia did cry then, unable to stop herself.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 3 Part 5

2007-04-22T12:05:00.000Z

When it came to his turn in the witness chair after the recess, the Doctor was relieved that he was finally able to do something to help Saskia. He was asked to show his memories of several of the same events as Saskia, then he had to go through his kidnapping by Jackson's men near the Museum. He was also asked for his memory of his conversation with Jackson about the Grimoire of Delmoro. He was less happy about being asked for his memory of Saskia's use of the psychic projection of himself, because it clearly demonstrated his anger at what Saskia had done, and his anger of then made him feel guilty now because Saskia was in such trouble.
When John unstrapped him an hour later from the witness chair he felt quite tired. He looked over at Saskia and saw that she still looked limp and grey with exhaustion from her own session in the witness chair. He wished fiercely that he could go to her, but he returned to his seat as the President called Doctor Karg forward.
The President called for a lunchbreak at one o'clock and the Doctor followed Jeff and Dr Karg out of the main chamber with a feeling of relief.
Saskia had to wait for everyone else to leave before John led her out to get some lunch, but she was so tired after her two hour session of relaying her memories that she could hardly eat. She was glad of John's silent support beside her and knew that the Doctor had wanted to be with her. She found that she was now hyper-aware of his thoughts and feelings – a side effect of being hooked up to the mental projector. After lunch she dragged herself back to the main chamber of the courthouse, feeling that what she really wanted to do was lie down somewhere and sleep for a long time. But she knew that wasn't going to be a possibility any time soon.

"Jeff Weiser, you are requested to show us your memories of the attack on yourself by Professor Jackson's men, Martin Gordon and Peter Philips. Will you comply?"
"I will."
Saskia watched as Jeff was strapped into the chair. She felt guilty about Jeff being dragged into this mess. It was bad enough that he'd been attacked because of her, she thought, without him having to relive it all over again for the Council.
When Luca was called on to share his memories, Saskia saw that there was less than usual of his customary swagger in his walk. She could clearly see the bruises that the Doctor's fingers had left on his throat the day before and she found that she couldn't really feel sorry for him. John had been reluctant to tell her exactly what Luca had said to provoke the Doctor into nearly strangling him, but she had insisted. Even as she had cringed at the crudity of Luca's question, she had felt grateful to the Doctor for 'defending her honour' as John called it. She didn't feel much satisfaction when Luca was asked for his memory of her arrival back at the Museum and she saw herself punching him, not when she knew that it was that punch that had led to her arrest and trial.

The President finally called for another recess at half past three, in order for the Council to consider the evidence they had been shown.
"We will reconvene at five o'clock," he announced, then banged his gavel on the arm of his chair.
The Doctor looked at Dr Karg, who nodded, knowing that the other man wanted to go to Saskia. He and Jeff watched as the Doctor made a beeline for her, his attention wholly focused on her as she sat near the witness chair. Saskia watched him homing in on her and tried to find a smile from somewhere, but she couldn't quite manage it. He knelt in front of her chair and wrapped her in a hug. She found she was clinging to him and despised herself for it, but she couldn't let go either.
John waited a few minutes, then spoke quietly to them both. "There's a room just down the corridor. Let me take you there for some peace and quiet whilst the Council is recess."
"Thanks John," the Doctor said as he got to his feet and pulled Saskia to hers. He wanted to carry her, she looked so drained, but he was keenly aware of watching eyes and judging thoughts, and was determined not to embarrass her. He slipped his arm around her and led her out of the central chamber and down the corridor. John opened the door and let them go inside. "If you want anything, I'll be out here," he told them. The Doctor nodded, then guided Saskia over to a sofa. He pushed her gently onto it, then sat down beside her, his arm around her and her head resting on his shoulder. Neither one of them spoke for several minutes.
"Doctor?"
"Saskia?"
"Do you mind thinking a bit more quietly, please?" she asked.
He frowned a moment, then realised the implications of what Saskia was asking. "You can hear my thoughts?" he asked.
"Yes. Everything, and I'm too tired to shut them out properly, so you'll have to shield them from me."
"I'm sorry," he said.
She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked up into his face. "It's not your fault," she said. "It's the device they use for the witness chair. It's an amplifier – that's how it works to show everyone the memories of a witness. But I was already extra-sensitive still from the Devron's attack, and this thing's just made me hyper-sensitive. Most Empathia automatically shield their thoughts to a certain degree anyway – we have to otherwise we'd all go mad. But you're not used to needing to do it and I'm picking up everything that's in your head, which is making my head much noisier."
The Doctor nodded his understanding and closed his eyes, concentrating. He felt some of the tension leave Saskia's body and knew he had succeeded. He opened his eyes and saw how tired she still looked.
"Go to sleep, if you want to. I'll be here."
She nodded and was asleep in moments.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 3 Part 4

2007-04-22T12:00:00.000Z

The three men made their way to the benches along the wall opposite the doors and took seats. The Doctor stretched out his long legs and crossed his ankles. His hands were in his trouser pockets and he looked quite at ease, but Jeff could sense an undercurrent of anxiety that gave the lie to his cheerful smiles. They watched and waited as various people filed into the chamber, most of them opting to sit near the doors.
Finally a group of self-important looking men and women filed in and seated themselves in the chairs opposite the screen. Then Luca was led in by a surly-looking guard whom the Doctor recognised from the group who had arrested Saskia the day before. John led Saskia in a few moments later. She gave the Doctor one swift, darting glance, to which he responded with a cheeky wink, then she dropped her gaze again. John nodded an acknowledgement to the Doctor, who was glad to see him with Saskia.
They watched as Saskia was led to stand in a spot near the helmet-topped chair. Then the President of the Council entered. He was six foot tall with white hair, although he moved vigorously. He wore a midnight blue robe edged in gold, which the Doctor thought looked ridiculously ostentatious. Everyone in the chamber got to their feet whilst the President picked up a small gavel that he banged three times on the arm of his chair.
"This court is in session," he announced in a ringing voice. He sat down, as did everyone else except Saskia and John. The Doctor could see that she was trembling slightly and her face was sheet-white.
Be strong, he told her telepathically. She glanced quickly across at him, but did not respond.
The President addressed her. "Saskia Scolere, you are here today to be tried in the matter of the deaths of Professor Jackson and five of his men on or about the 15th Secundus, in the Dasleere Viertel region. You understand that the charges are brought against you by Luca Leerling?"
"I do." The Doctor noticed that there was a microphone in front of Saskia; he doubted that anyone would have heard her response otherwise, her voice was so quiet.
"We have been advised by the Elder, Dr Karg, that at the time of the deaths of these men you were still suffering the after-effects of an attack by a telepathic being called the Devron. We have been told that its preternatural abilities left you with an unnaturally high level of rage, for which you are still being treated. Do you confirm or deny this advice?"
"I confirm it." Saskia's voice was slightly louder this time.
"We now require you to show us your memories of the attack of the Devron and its effects on you. Will you comply?"
"I will." Saskia sat down in the chair beside her and allowed John to strap her wrists and forearms to its arms, then her ankles and shins were strapped to its legs. The Doctor stirred angrily in his seat, but Dr Karg laid a restraining hand on his arm. "It's OK," he said quietly. "They're not to hurt her, just to hold her still whilst she is sharing her memories."

The Doctor glowered, but did not protest, watching as John adjusted the helmet device until it completely encased Saskia’s head. He flicked a switch on the back of the chair, then stepped back, close enough to reach Saskia if she needed assistance.
A white dot appeared in the centre of the screen, then a picture came into focus. The Doctor watched as he and Saskia galloped across the Oxfordshire countryside towards a distant barn. Even though he knew what was going to happen next, he couldn't help wincing when Saskia and her horse Charlie screamed as the Devron attacked them. Charlie bolted and Saskia was flung off his back. The screen went black and the Doctor knew that she had been knocked out.
The picture reformed and the Doctor saw himself and Saskia seated on the bench in the TARDIS Control Room, talking and eating fish and chips.
"I'm sorry," said the Doctor in Saskia's memory.
Saskia looked at him in surprise. "Why are you sorry?" she asked. "You weren't thinking it."
"No, but I brought you here, and I got you involved in this. I'm the one who exposed you to a telepathic being who's been seriously messing with your head," the Doctor answered, his annoyance and frustration obvious in his face and voice.
"And I'm the one who volunteered," snapped the Saskia in her memory. "You offered to take me back home and I said I'd stay with you."
"Yes, but you didn't know what you were signing up for," argued the Doctor.
"Well I knew it wasn't going to be a tea-party!" Saskia's annoyance was very clear as she stood up abruptly. "You don't have to mollycoddle me!" she shouted before she stormed out of the Control Room.

The picture faded as Saskia hurried down a corridor in the TARDIS, then returned to Saskia opening her eyes to look up at the Doctor who was sitting on her bed, bending forward to hold her head.
"Oh thank goodness!" exclaimed the Doctor on the screen.
"What happened?" asked Saskia, sounding bewildered. “And who hit you?"
"Well you did, actually," answered the Doctor as he straightened up and smiled in relief.
"I did?" asked Saskia. "Why did I hit you?"
"Well you weren’t really yourself," said the Doctor as he took Saskia's hands in his own. "That beastie came back and objected to – something I did."
"What did you do?" asked Saskia.
"Erm, well, I tried to deactivate that artefact. It's emitting Psionic waves and I wanted to stop it."
"And the beastie objected?" Saskia asked, clearly suspicious.
"Well I got a couple of shocks from it when I tried to deactivate it electronically," said the Doctor, "So I, uh, took a more direct approach."
"What did you do?" demanded Saskia on the screen.
"Hit it with a rather large hammer, which didn't really work." The Doctor jerked his hands away from Saskia’s as she sat bolt upright in bed. There was a look of intense anger on her face.
"You idiot!" she said scornfully. "Are you trying to get me killed?"
"I just saved your life!" the Doctor protested, standing up as Saskia got out of bed.
"My life wouldn't have needed saving if you hadn't decided to use brute force and ignorance." she answered pointedly.
Saskia stalked out of her room and along the TARDIS corridor as the Doctor hurried after her. "How was I to know it was linked directly to you?" he asked.
Saskia stopped dead, turned and glared at him until he stepped backwards from her. "After all I've been through in the past two days, you couldn't figure that out, Doctor?"

The screen went blank again, for a longer period this time, and the Doctor guessed that Saskia was finding the next relevant memory. He glanced around the room and saw that most people were watching fascinated. To him it felt very odd seeing bits of his life on a screen, as if someone had been filming him without his knowledge. He shifted uncomfortably. Then the screen came to life again, showing the appearance of the Devron, which caused some whispers and mutters from some of those present. He watched and listened as Saskia's memories of their conversation with the Devron and its subsequent attack on them both unfolded. He felt a little jolt of shock when he saw himself collapse onto the grass under the Devron's assault, but he felt proud of Saskia as she defended him from the Devron.
The President spent two hours requesting more of Saskia's different memories to be shown including, finally, her memory of her use of the psychic projection of the Doctor to mislead Jackson and his three men into touching the door of the Rock Palace so that they were thrown to their deaths.
After that the President called for a 15 minute recess. The Doctor was on his feet immediately, intending to go to Saskia who looked utterly exhausted, but Jeff and Dr Karg immediately stopped him.
"You can't Doctor. It's not permissible for witnesses to interact with the accused whilst the trial is still underway."
"The more I learn of your justice system, the less I like it," the Doctor said angrily. He shrugged himself free of their grasp and stalked blindly out of the room, Jeff and Dr Karg following more slowly.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 3 Part 3

2007-04-22T11:55:00.000Z

The Doctor's lasagne proved every bit as enjoyable as he'd promised and he made himself a mental note to make it for Saskia to try at the earliest opportunity. He wasn't going to consider the possibility that she wouldn't be leaving Einfuhlung with him just as soon as this trial was over.
Dr Karg insisted that he and Jeff would wash up, so the Doctor took a mug of tea out onto Saskia's balcony and tried not to remember how he and Saskia had sat there talking before their ill-fated trip to Eupatoria. He thought, instead, about Saskia crying in his arms. He had been able to read some of her thoughts as he held her and knew that some of the staff had treated her in such a way that she'd felt humiliated. He hadn't mentioned it to Dr Karg and he didn't intend to tell Saskia that he knew. She'd been embarrassed enough at letting him comfort her, although he didn't consider it shameful. Everyone needed simple comfort and warmth occasionally, and he'd always found it comforting to know that she understood his grief for Rose. He didn't know yet whether Dr Karg was right in his assessment that Saskia was falling in love with him, but he did know that the two of them shared a close bond as a result of their encounters with the Devron. He hated the thought of losing Saskia to a surgeon's micro-laser, because he would lose her, if a surgeon neutralised her empathic and telepathic powers. She wouldn't be his Saskia any more.
He sighed. He wondered why he hadn't suggested a nice trip to Florana, instead of coming back to Einfuhlung after their recent experiences in Oxford. He shook his head, then got to his feet, taking his mug into the kitchen. "I'm going to the TARDIS," he told Jeff and Dr Karg. "I'll see you both in the morning." He'd suggested that he go to the TARDIS overnight so that Dr Karg could stay at Saskia's apartment, instead of going back to his own home, then coming back into town early the next morning.
"Are you going to have breakfast with us?" Jeff asked.
The Doctor nodded. "See you in the morning."

The Doctor knew that he would sleep better in the TARDIS, if he slept anywhere. He unlocked the door and crossed the Control Room to the console. He ran a hand across the console in response to the TARDIS' greeting, then pulled off his overcoat and draped across the back of the bench. He sat down and put his feet up on the edge of the console, stretching his long legs to their fullest extent. He remembered that Saskia had teased him once about the fact that he had a coat stand inside the door of the TARDIS but rarely hung his coat on it. He wished she was here to tease him about it now. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift.
Doctor?
Startled he opened his eyes again, then realised that the voice he'd heard had been in his head, not his ears. He closed his eyes again. Saskia? he asked.
Yes.
How's it possible that you're talking to me telepathically now? You're farther away today than you were yesterday, when I was looking for you in Oxford.
There was a slight hint of amusement in Saskia's voice as she answered. Have you forgotten that we're in a city of telepaths? Anyway, you're linked to the TARDIS, sitting with your feet up on the console, and she's boosting your 'signal'. If you concentrate, you can see me, just as I can see you.
The Doctor concentrated obediently and saw Saskia sitting on the bed in her cell.
Hello, she said, half smiling at him.
He grinned back at her. Hello. How are you?
Feeling better than I did at four o'clock, she answered. Thank you.
What for?
This afternoon. For holding me, and for carrying me back to my cell.
The Doctor sensed her embarrassment as she spoke. Friends comfort one another, he told her.
I know. It's just – well I feel as you've had to comfort me an embarrassingly large number of times since we met.
Saskia, you've comforted me a lot too. It's good for you, being hugged – scientists proved that a very long time ago. Besides, I don't mind comforting you.
She looked down at her feet for a moment. I hear I have to thank you for, what was it John called it? 'Defending my honour' to Luca.
Oh that! The Doctor pulled at his ear and Saskia knew he was embarrassed. I'm afraid I got rather angry.
Saskia gave a small laugh. John said you nearly throttled Luca.
I did. But I'm not proud of that. I expect I'm one of his least favourite people now.
Well you're in good company, Saskia said. I'm definitely not one of his favourite people. Thinking about it, I don't believe he's ever forgiven me for turning him down when he asked me out six months ago.
You turned him down? the Doctor asked.
Saskia nodded.
Can I ask why? He's very good looking after all.
Too good looking for his own good, Saskia answered, then yawned. Oh, sorry.
That's OK. Don't wear yourself out talking to me. You'll need all your energy tomorrow.
I know. I just wanted to let you know that I'm OK, well, as OK as I can be, stuck in here.
I'm glad. Sleep well. Sweet dreams.
And you, Saskia answered, and then she was gone.
The Doctor opened his eyes, glad that he'd had the chance to talk to her and to reassure her at least a little. He took his feet off the console and got up. If he was going to sleep, he ought to find somewhere more comfortable to do it. He pulled off his tie, then shrugged out of his suit jacket, tossing it up onto his shoulder, as he wandered off down the corridor to the bedroom he rarely used.

Breakfast the following morning in Saskia’s apartment was a subdued affair, and neither Jeff or Dr Karg looked as if they had slept well.
"Where does the Council hold trials?" asked the Doctor as they went downstairs and out into the street.
"There’s a courthouse next to the Council debating chamber," answered Dr Karg.
"How many people are on the Council?"
"Twelve, not including the President, who always holds the deciding vote."
"Having an odd number makes sense," the Doctor commented.
Dr Karg nodded.
They made good time crossing the city as there were few Festival-goers out this early. The Doctor thought the three of them must make an odd sight, all dressed in suits, compared to the casual and colourful clothes worn by the Festival-goers. He had even done up his tie properly for once. He found himself wondering how well Saskia had slept. He’d been tempted to try to contact her telepathically this morning, but had decided against it reasoning that he had no idea whether she’d be sleeping, eating breakfast or otherwise occupied.
Dr Karg led them into a three-storey building that had a clock above the front doors and a statue of a bronze figure on the roof.
"That's Justice," whispered Jeff.
The Doctor bit back a silly comment about it looking like a statue. There were times when his sense of humour wasn't really appropriate.
Dr Karg crossed over to the reception desk and explained who they were. They were then led in turn through a body scanner. The Doctor had again left his Sonic Screwdriver in Saskia's apartment and hoped that he wouldn't regret not having it with him. The three men walked down a long corridor and into a large, high-ceilinged room. At one end was a throne-like chair with twelve smaller chairs ranged on either side of it. At the opposite end of the room to the chairs for the Council members there was a large screen fixed to the wall, and below it a single chair with a helmet-like device at the top. This was obviously the mental projector that Dr Karg had mentioned. Along the two side walls were rows of benches for the witnesses. In the middle of the floor was a large mosaic in blue and gold tiles that showed the same figure as the one on the roof. The Doctor saw that it was a female figure in a robe, wearing a blindfold over her eyes. In one hand she carried a short sword, and in the other was a set of old-fashioned pan balances that projected from a central pole. The figure was one he had seen used many times in Old Earth's cultures to represent Justice.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 3 Part 2

2007-04-22T11:50:00.000Z

The friendly guard opened the door quietly and saw Saskia asleep in the Doctor’s arms. He walked across the room and spoke quietly to the Doctor. “Let’s get her back to her cell,” he said. He and Dr Karg helped the Doctor to lever himself up out of the chair so that he did not have to disturb Saskia.
“All the other visitors have gone,” the guard said, “and everyone else is in their cells. I waited until the last moment to come and tell you that visiting hour was over.”
“You’re a good man, John,” said the Doctor quietly.
He shook his head. “Just doing my job,” he said.
“But with more compassion than some,” Dr Karg said.
Fortunately for the Doctor’s arms, it wasn’t too far from the visitor centre to Saskia’s cell, and they didn’t meet anyone on the way, which spared John the necessity of explaining why he was letting the Doctor carry Saskia back to her cell when he should have woken her and made her walk there.
John opened the door to Saskia’s cell and stood aside to allow the Doctor to carry her inside. He laid her gently on the bed, then carefully pulled off her shoes. She stirred and muttered in her sleep, but didn’t wake. The Doctor unfolded the blanket and tucked it around her, his long fingers moving swiftly and deftly. He stroked her hair from her face, then bent and kissed her forehead before joining John and Dr Karg in the corridor. John locked the door then led them out of the building.
“What time do they eat usually?” asked Dr Karg.
“Six thirty. But don’t worry, if Saskia’s still asleep by then, I’ll keep some food for her.”
“Thank you John.” The Doctor shook hands with him, as did Dr Karg.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” John said. “I’m escorting Saskia to her trial.” They nodded and he watched them walk away before he went back inside to watch over Saskia.

The Doctor wore a thoughtful look as the two men made their way back across the city to Saskia’s apartment. “Do you think she’ll be OK?” he asked Dr Karg as they took the lift up to the fourth floor.
“I hope so,” Dr Karg said. “But I just don’t know. This trial is going to be difficult for her. You and I will have to convince the Council that Saskia was still under the influence of the Devron’s attacks on her mind when Jackson and his men were killed.”
“But she was,” the Doctor said immediately.
“I know,” said Dr Karg. “We both know that, but the Council never saw the Devron and did not experience contact with it. Some of them will be inclined to be sceptical, and disinclined to give Saskia the benefit of the doubt. It also depends on how Luca conducts himself. You frightened him badly this afternoon, but he may have shrugged off his fright by tomorrow.”
“I wanted to throttle him,” the Doctor admitted, a little sheepishly.
“I know,” answered Dr Karg. “It’s just as well that you didn’t, though.”
The Doctor nodded, then yawned suddenly. “Oh, sorry,” he said.
“When did you last sleep?” asked Dr Karg.
The Doctor frowned, trying to remember. “Two days ago, I think. I don’t sleep as much as you humans.”
“Nevertheless, you should try to get some sleep tonight. You won’t do Saskia any favours if you’re not feeling one hundred percent.”
The Doctor nodded. The lift stopped and they stepped out. Dr Karg knocked on Saskia’s door and Jeff opened it immediately, as if he had been waiting just the other side. The door was only half open before he asked “How is she?” There was an anxious look in his grey eyes.
“She’s been better,” answered Dr Karg. “We left her sleeping.”
“Sleeping?” repeated Jeff in surprise. “But Saskia never sleeps during the day usually. Is she – “
“She’s OK, Jeff,” Dr Karg interrupted. “She’s not sick, just very tired out by a stressful experience.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Dr Karg smiled at him. “It’s OK. I know you’re fond of Saskia, and you’re worried about her, just as we are.”
Jeff nodded, blushing, and the Doctor wondered just how fond Jeff was of Saskia, but he didn’t ask.
"What are we going to do now?" asked Jeff.
"Wait. That's all any of us can do," answered Dr Karg.
"I'm going to make a cup of tea," said Jeff. "Do you want one?"
Both men nodded and the Doctor followed Jeff into the kitchen. "I'm not that hungry at the moment, but we should eat, so I'll make dinner."
"OK." Jeff made the tea, then left the Doctor preparing something called lasagne, which sound alien and exotic to Jeff. The Doctor had said it was Italian, which meant it was both exotic and alien, but he would probably enjoy it.

Saskia woke up feeling disoriented and uncertain of the time or where she was. She opened her eyes and discovered that what she had hoped was just a nightmare wasn't in fact a dream. She really was locked up in the detention unit in her home city. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes and wondered how she had got to her cell. The last thing she clearly remembered was the Doctor holding her in a room in the visitors' area. She put her shoes on and stood up, then wondered where she thought she could go. The door behind her opened and a guard came in carrying a tray of food. She could smell it and it made her realise that she was hungry. She looked down at the tray then up at the face of the man carrying it, surprised. She recognised the guard as the same man who had escorted her to the visitors' area earlier.
John put the tray down on the bed. "Hello."
"Hello."
"You've slept almost all the way through dinner, but I've brought you something," he said.
Saskia looked at him in bewilderment. "Thank you. And I'm not ungrateful, but why?"
"I promised your friend the Doctor that I would," he answered simply.
Saskia raised her eyebrows but didn't argue. "How did I get here?"
"The Doctor carried you," John said.
"Oh!" She sat down on the bed, and put the tray on her lap.
"The Doctor and Dr Karg felt you needed the sleep," John said as he went to the door. "Knock when you've finished." He went out as Saskia nodded, deciding that it didn't matter for the moment if she didn't understand. She lifted the cover off the bowl on the tray and found it full of stew. She ate hungrily, trying not to bolt it.
John knew he was breaking all sorts of rules by giving Saskia what others would regard as preferential treatment, but he didn't care. Saskia was the Doctor's friend, and the Doctor had saved his life on the day that the Rovians had attacked Valentia. He would do everything in his power for either one of them if it meant he could repay at least a little of that debt.
After ten minutes or so, Saskia knocked on her door and John unlocked it, taking the tray from her.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"John."
"Thank you, John. I appreciate what you did, but don't get into trouble on my account."
"I won't," he assured her. He shut the door and locked it again, before taking the tray back to the canteen.
Saskia went back to sit on her bed. She felt better for the food, her earlier sleep and John's kindness, although the latter unnerved her a little. After her encounters with Wachter and the woman doctor earlier, she hadn't expected kindness from anyone here. She wondered what the Doctor was doing and what he thought of the fact that she had apparently cried herself to sleep in his arms. She thought he must be getting fed up with her crying and needing his comfort; it certainly embarrassed her. Anyone would think I was three years old, not thirty, she thought crossly. She hardly dared to admit to herself that she enjoyed being held by him.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 3 Part 1

2007-04-22T11:45:00.000Z

The Doctor reached out and grabbed Luca by the throat, lifting him bodily off his feet. Dr Karg quickly got to his own feet and looked over at the guard, expecting him to intervene, but the guard remained standing by the door, apparently oblivious.
Luca was scrabbling with both hands at the Doctor's hand, his face turning purple and his eyes bulging from their sockets.
"Not such a pretty boy now, are you Luca?" the Doctor growled as Luca's feet sought to gain some purchase and take the weight of his body from his throat.
The Doctor let him hang there for a few more moments, then let go of his throat, dropping him carelessly onto the floor. "You're so far beneath Saskia, you little scumbag, you're not even worth my time." He shoved his hands back into his pockets, turned with a swirl of his long coat, and walked out of the door, which the guard had swiftly opened for him.
Dr Karg looked down at Luca, who was sprawled on the floor, massaging his throat and crying pathetically.
"You know," Dr Karg said thoughtfully, "I think the Doctor's right. You're not worth our time." He crossed the room and went out into the corridor where he found the Doctor leaning against the wall, wearing a shame-faced look.
"I shouldn't have done that," he said remorsefully when he saw Dr Karg.
Both men looked round when the guard cleared his throat meaningfully. "Actually sir, I'm glad that you did. He needed taking down a peg or two. He might be a bit more bearable now you've put the wind up him, so to speak."
The Doctor raised his eyebrows, whilst Dr Karg looked surprised.
"He's been so full of sh- himself since the Council sent him down. By rights, he should have got that two year exile, he deserved it. No one in here likes him, not even the Commander." The guard grinned suddenly. "The boys'll be glad to know you had him crying on the floor."
"Even so, you'd better take him to the infirmary before he goes back to his cell," Dr Karg said. "I doubt the Doctor's done any lasting physical damage, but I'd be neglecting my duties if I didn't advise you to get him checked by a medic."
The guard nodded. "I will. But let me show you to the room where you'll see Saskia." He led them down the corridor and showed them into another room. The Doctor was surprised to see that this room had a pleasant aspect: there was a carpet on the floor and the chairs looked comfortable. It was painted a nice shade of green. He looked at the guard in surprise, who grinned cheerfully, tapped the side of his nose, then went out.

Dr Karg sat down and watched the Doctor restlessly pacing around the room.
"I think Luca was deluding himself," Dr Karg observed after a few minutes.
"Hmm?" The Doctor looked up from the small bookcase which had caught his eye.
"Luca. He was deluding himself if he thought Saskia would be interested in him."
"Of course he was," the Doctor answered confidently. "Saskia's a smart young woman."
"That wasn't quite what I meant," Dr Karg said.
The Doctor look up again, something in Dr Karg's tone catching his attention. "What do you mean?" he asked, crossing the room to sit beside Dr Karg.
"About four years ago Saskia was in a relationship with a young man who worked with her at the Museum. It ended very badly and she was very hurt by the experience. You could say she swore off men after that, and just buried herself in her work. Even if she's now interested in having a relationship, she wouldn't be interested in Luca that way. He's far too conscious of his own good looks and, as you said, far too shallow."
The Doctor rubbed at the back of his head thoughtfully. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked finally.
"Saskia cares a great deal about you, that much was obvious to me the first time I met you. She's like a daughter to me and I care about her a great deal. I don't want to see her get hurt again."
The Doctor tugged at his earlobe. "But Saskia knows I love Rose with my whole being," he said.
Dr Karg nodded. "Of course she does. But love isn't logical, and it's not something that can be switched on and off."
The Doctor looked at Dr Karg in surprise. "You think Saskia loves me?" he asked.
"I think she's probably on the way to loving you. Don't tell me you don't know how she feels?"
"I knew she cared about me a great deal. She made that clear a couple of days ago, although I don't think she realised just how clear her feelings were to me. I asked her why she'd done what she did to Jackson and his men, and she made it clear that her concern for me was her sole motivation." The Doctor tugged at his ear again. "But I didn't think – " he paused, remembering the way Saskia had kissed him in thanks for their dinner at the Randolph in Oxford. "Hmm."

Before Dr Karg could say any more the door opened again and Saskia, dressed in a baggy grey jumpsuit which the Doctor noticed made her look paler than usual, came in escorted by the same guard who had escorted Luca. He nodded at both men, then went out, locking the door behind him. The three of them looked at each other for a moment, then both men got to their feet and moved towards Saskia. The Doctor hung back a little, allowing Dr Karg to hug Saskia first so that he could block his conversation with Dr Karg from his mind. Saskia turned from hugging Dr Karg and glanced swiftly at the Doctor's face. She had noticed he was hanging back a little and was unsure what it meant. He smiled at her suddenly, holding his arms out to her and she stepped into his embrace with a dizzying sense of relief.
"Are you OK?" the Doctor asked quietly as he held her tight.
"Apart from being here," she answered, determined that she wasn't going to complain to them.
The Doctor held Saskia as if he would never let go of her again, and Dr Karg couldn't help wondering if the other man knew yet just how much he cared for Saskia, even if he did love Rose with his whole being.
Dr Karg cleared his throat. "Saskia, did you know that Luca is being held here?"
The Doctor frowned at him over Saskia's head, wondering why he was bringing this up. Saskia pulled herself away from the Doctor and sat down in one of the chairs. He immediately sat down on the arm of the chair and put his arm around her shoulders.
"I didn't know," she answered, "although I should have guessed."
"He's inclined to be vindictive about you," Dr Karg said, which the Doctor considered was a vast understatement. "If you see him before the trial tomorrow, don't let him provoke you into doing or saying anything rash."
"OK."
"Have you seen Commander Posten yet?" asked Dr Karg.
Saskia nodded. "I saw her after lunch. It was she who told me that you were coming to see me this afternoon, although I didn't know you were coming too," she said, looking up at the Doctor's watchful face.
"You didn't suppose anything could keep me away, did you?" he asked.
Saskia shook her head. "No, but Commander Posten just said Dr Karg was bringing a colleague."
"Jeff sent his love and said to tell you that he was sorry he didn't come to see you too," Dr Karg told her.
Saskia half smiled. "There's no reason why he should have come," she said. "Is he OK?"
Dr Karg nodded. "He's fine, just anxious about your trial, like the rest of us."
Saskia looked up at the Doctor again. "It's a pity we can't go back and undo things," she said, a slight catch in her voice.
The Doctor tightened his grip on her shoulders. "If I could find a way to, without letting the Reapers loose, I would. No hesitation."
She nodded. She had known it wasn't possible, having read Rose's account of her own interference in her father's death.
Dr Karg spoke quietly. "Saskia, it's OK for you to cry, you know. We won't think any less of you, and you might feel better if you do."
"I – " Saskia tried to speak and found herself sobbing instead. She turned her face to the Doctor's chest, her right hand clutching convulsively at his shirt and jacket. The Doctor reached down and scooped her up from the chair, then sat down in it instead, cradling her in his arms, her head against his shoulder and her legs resting at a right angle across his own legs and over the left arm of the chair.
"It's OK," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "It's OK. Just let it all out."

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 2 Part 2

2007-04-22T11:40:00.000Z

At that moment her guard stopped beside a different door to the ones she'd seen before, and she suddenly realised that she had no idea where she was in relation to either her cell or the canteen. The guard led her through the door and Saskia realised that it had scanned her as she passed through, presumably to ensure that she wasn't carrying any weapons as she went in to see the Commander. The corridor on the other side of the door was lit with a soft yellow glow, and there was a carpet on the floor. A small side table held a vase of flowers that scented the air with a heady perfume. Saskia blinked in surprise, then realised that she must be in the Commander's personal quarters, and of course they would be more pleasant than the rest of the detention unit. There were five doors, two on either side of the corridor, with a fifth door at the far end. The guard led her towards this door and knocked.
"Come in," answered a muffled voice.
The guard opened the door and gestured to Saskia to precede him into the room. She went inside, straightening her back unconsciously and trying to project a friendly, co-operative manner. She got a surprise when she saw the Commander and found a tall, blonde-haired woman looking back at her. Saskia blinked twice, wondering why she hadn't known that Commander Posten was a woman. The truth was that she had never given the matter any thought: only a few Empathia ever had anything to do with the justice system on Einfuhlung.
"Sit down Ms Scolere," said Posten, her voice light and neutral.
Saskia obeyed, hoping her surprise hadn't been too obvious when she came in.
"Wait outside," Posten told the guard, who nodded and went out, quietly closing the door behind him.
Posten sat down behind the large mahogany-coloured desk which dominated the room. Saskia felt a momentary pang of envy – it was a beautiful desk, clearly a reproduction of an Old Earth design, judging by the intricate carving on the legs and around the feet.
"You understand why you're here, Ms Scolere?" asked Posten, interrupting Saskia's musings.
Saskia focused her attention on the woman behind the desk, who was watching her with a look of curiosity in her bright blue eyes.
"Yes Commander."
"Luca Leerling has accused you of killing Professor Jackson and five of his men at the site of the Lost City of Eupatoria in the Dasleere Viertel region."
Saskia nodded unhappily.
"Did you kill them?" asked Posten, her curiosity obvious in her voice as well as her look.
"No. They died as a result of trying to enter the Rock Palace; the Guardian there threw them through a crack in time when it sensed their desire for the Grimoire of Delmoro. The Guardian only allows those with a pure intent to enter the Rock Palace. Their greed killed them."
Posten looked at Saskia thoughtfully, her fingers steepled in front of her face, elbows resting on her desk. "I feel there's more to this matter than you are telling me," she said. "But all the facts will be revealed at your trial, which will begin at eight thirty tomorrow morning.
Saskia nodded numbly.
"You will be receiving one or more visitors later this afternoon," Posten said after a few moments.
Saskia looked up in surprise. "Visitors?" she asked, hardly daring to hope that she had heard correctly.
"Yes. Dr Karg, the Elder, contacted the Council and requested permission to visit you, which was granted. He said he has been treating you."
Saskia heard the unspoken question in Posten's voice, and guessed she was wondering why Dr Karg had been treating her. "Yes he has." She didn't volunteer any more and Posten didn't push her to explain.
"I believe Dr Karg is bringing a colleague with him. You will be taken to see them in the visitors' area at four o'clock."
Saskia nodded automatically, her mind suddenly focused and working furiously. She felt certain Dr Karg's colleague would be the Doctor; she knew that Dr Karg didn't work closely with anyone whom he would describe as a colleague, just a couple of assistants. She squashed her feeling of hope and excitement. It was better not to be too optimistic about her suspicion in case she was wrong.
Commander Posten stood up, indicating that the conversation was at an end. "Goodbye, Ms Scolere," she said.
Saskia got up too. "Goodbye Commander." She went out and followed her guard back to her cell.

Dr Karg and the Doctor left Saskia's apartment together at three o'clock. Dr Karg had warned the Doctor to leave behind any gadgets he might have that the guards would see as a potential weapon, so he had left his Sonic Screwdriver on Saskia's desk. Now he strode along the street, hands deep in his pockets, wondering why he felt so naked without it in the breast pocket of his jacket.
Dr Karg was watching the Festival-goers with an amused look and the Doctor envied him for a moment, he seemed very calm about the whole situation. The Doctor was feeling far from calm himself, and it was taking every ounce of self-restraint not to go running off to the detention unit so that he could see if Saskia was OK. Luckily for his self-control, it didn't take them long to reach the Council Quarter, and only a few minutes more to get to the detention unit.

Dr Karg showed his ID to the guards at the front gate and they were allowed to enter. The Doctor's raking glance took in the building and courtyard, and the surrounding metal spike-topped wall, and he suppressed a shudder at the thought of Saskia being here. They were led through a number of doors and along three corridors before finally being shown into a room in the visitors' area. The room was painted grey and was not very comfortable by anyone's standards. The chairs were the hard wooden sort that were painful to sit on for more than ten minutes, although the Doctor suspected that this was a deliberate ploy to discourage visitors from lingering. Dr Karg sat down at the table without appearing to notice the discomfort of the chairs, but the Doctor preferred to lean against the wall with his hands shoved into his pockets yet again.
When Luca was shown into the room he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of the Doctor lounging carelessly against the wall as if he owned the place. He turned to the guard and said clearly and viciously "I'm not talking to him! Take me back to my cell."
The guard looked him up and down, then folded his arms across his chest and spread his feet a little wider. His stance said as clearly as words that he wasn't going anywhere any time soon.
"Come and sit down please Luca." Dr Karg's voice was mild, yet quietly authoritative.
Luca sullenly obeyed, still glowering at the Doctor, who was glowering back at him just as fiercely.
"Thank you," said Dr Karg.
"Why are you here?" demanded Luca. "And why did you bring him?"
"We've come to see you about Saskia's trial," Dr Karg answered.
"Ha! Stupid bitch! I vowed I'd make her pay for making a fool out of me. I just didn't think it would be quite so soon." He looked over at the Doctor. "Thanks for bringing her back here. This trial will be the best entertainment I've ever had."
The Doctor straightened up and stepped away from the wall. "Saskia didn't make a fool out of you," he said, his voice full of quiet contempt. "You did that all by yourself." He walked around the table and leaned over Luca, who whimpered and cowered backwards in his chair as the Doctor shook a finger at him. "You thought Jackson would make you rich, or powerful, or both, didn't you? And that Saskia would find you irresistible. But Saskia's not that shallow."
"I suppose you think she prefers a stuck-up ponce like you? Swanning around the place in your expensive clothes?" Luca leered suddenly. "Have you had her yet, then?"

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 2 Part 1

2007-04-22T11:35:00.000Z

Dr Karg terminated the call to the Commander of the detention unit and went through to Saskia's kitchen where the Doctor was preparing a salad. Jeff suspected he was doing it more for something to do than because he actually wanted to eat, but Jeff knew that Dr Karg would insist that they needed to eat regularly. He'll probably tell us we won't help Saskia by starving ourselves, thought Jeff.
Both men looked up expectantly when Dr Karg walked in. He nodded. "We can see Saskia at four o'clock," he said. There was a sigh of relief from the other two.
"Do you mind if I don't come?" asked Jeff hesitantly.
The other two men looked at him, the Doctor in surprise, Dr Karg with compassion. "Of course not, Jeff, if you feel you'd rather not," said Dr Karg.
The Doctor shrugged and went back to the salad, a picture of a strong steel door in his mind to block his thoughts and feelings from them.

"We're also going to see Luca whilst we're there," Dr Karg told the Doctor, whose head snapped up so fast that Jeff was surprised he didn't give himself whiplash.
"That scum?" the Doctor spat furiously. "Why would we want to see him?"
"I thought it might be useful to see what frame of mind he's in," answered Dr Karg. "He'll be giving evidence against Saskia after all."
The Doctor glowered and began chopping vegetables with considerable savagery, causing Jeff to make a mental note never to get on the Doctor's wrong side.
"The trial will start tomorrow morning," Dr Karg said.
"Tomorrow?" asked the Doctor looking up again, knife poised.
Dr Karg nodded. "We don't believe in keeping people locked up for lengthy periods before a trial."
"Who will be defending Saskia? Can I do it?" the Doctor asked.
"Our justice system doesn't work like that," Dr Karg explained. "Everyone involved gives their evidence to the Council, who then decides on the guilt or innocence of the accused on the basis of that evidence."
"And how do we give evidence, is it different because you’re empathic?" asked to Doctor as he resumed chopping the vegetables, but with less ferocity.
"Each person is linked up to a sort of mental projector, I guess you'd call it, which replays their memories." Dr Karg frowned for a moment. "You know how a film projector worked on Old Earth?" he asked.
The Doctor nodded, his attention fully focused on Dr Karg again.
"Well the mental projector works a bit like that. It takes an individual's memories and replays them on a screen, like a film."
"Oh." The Doctor had a sudden recollection of his own trial on Gallifrey during his sixth incarnation. That had involved something similar, so far as he could judge from Dr Karg's description. He frowned thoughtfully as he finished chopping the salad vegetables, tossing them into a bowl. He began mixing up a dressing, remembering with a sudden pang the time when he had made a salad for himself and Saskia during their first trip to Oxford. He wondered what she was having for lunch and wished fiercely that she was here instead to tease him about his domesticity and his familiarity with her kitchen. He remembered their conversation less than two hours ago, when he'd teased her for being too serious, and how upset she had been. Me and my big mouth, he thought crossly. I shall have to try to make it up to her somehow.

Dr Karg broke in on his thoughts. "That looks good."
The Doctor looked down at the salad. "Yeah," he said, his tone bleak.
Jeff was slicing up a loaf of bread and piling the slices onto a plate. "What do you want to drink?" he asked as he finished his task.
"Fruit juice please," answered Dr Karg as Jeff opened the fridge door.
"Doctor?"
"Hmm? Oh, the same, thanks." He began to butter some bread, his manner abstracted. "Do you mind if I sit out on the balcony?" he asked Jeff.
"Of course not," Jeff answered. He watched as the Doctor put a plate of salad, a glass of juice, and a small plate of sliced bread onto a tray and took it through the sitting room, then sat down at the kitchen table himself. "He seems pretty upset," he observed as he helped himself to the salad.
Dr Karg nodded. "Yes. He gets very attached to those who travel with him, and it's not that long since he lost a companion to whom he was very close."
"Oh. Did she die?"
"No." Dr Karg began to butter some bread for himself.

The Doctor ate mechanically, his attention focused on his memories of the conversation he'd had with Saskia a few days ago. When they had discussed what she had done to Jackson and his men, it simply hadn't occurred to him that if he brought Saskia back home she would be punished for her actions, largely because he had thought they were only ones who knew what had happened out in Dasleere Viertel. He remembered Saskia punching Luca after they got back, and wished it was possible for him to go back in the TARDIS to change that moment. But he knew, only too well, the dangers of messing around with established events: look what had happened to Rose and his former self when she had saved her dad from that hit and run driver. Well, whatever happened as a result of this trial, he was utterly determined that Saskia would not have to undergo any corrective brain surgery. He'd spirit her away in the TARDIS first.

Saskia was sitting huddled on her bed, her mind numb with misery, when the door to her cell opened and a man appeared, a darker shape against the dim light.
"Lunchtime," he said.
Saskia felt like refusing to go to lunch, but knew that would be foolish. She needed to keep her physical strength up, even if her emotional strength was nearly zero. She go up and walked to the door, hoping that this guard wouldn't be another Wachter. She gave him a quick glance as she passed him and went out into the corridor, and saw a look of supreme indifference on his face.
The guard led her back down the short corridor, through the same heavily-barred and guarded door that she'd come through earlier, then turned right and took her down another corridor to a nondescript canteen. There were about twenty people in the canteen already, most of whom were eating, and nearly all of whom ignored Saskia as the guard waved her over to the serving counter. She picked up a tray, then accepted a bowl of vegetable soup and a plate of bread from the server. She looked around for a seat and saw a small empty table in the far corner. She made her way to it carefully, her eyes firmly fixed on the tray she carried.

Luca had seen Saskia being brought into the canteen and felt a savage joy at the sight of her white, miserable face. When the guard who had fetched him for lunch had told him that Saskia had been arrested and brought in, he had roared with laughter. He hadn't dared to hope that she and her interfering friend would come back to Einfuhlung so soon. Now he would have the chance to settle his scores with her: the way that Doctor fellow had called him a 'pretty boy' still rankled. Then there was the way Saskia had thrown him out of her apartment when they had rowed about the Doctor – and just when he'd thought that all his months of work in softening her up enough to make her his had been about to be repaid. But her worst crime, in Luca's eyes, had been that punch, after she had told him and Philip that Jackson was dead. No one had ever dared to hit him like that before, and the fact that she'd knocked him out, then just walked away made him as mad as a viper. He was really looking forward to her trial starting tomorrow. It would be the best entertainment he'd had since they'd locked him up here nearly a month ago.

Saskia was so wrapped up in her own misery that she was blocking out the thoughts and feelings of everyone around her, so she was unaware of Luca's presence as he watched her from across the canteen. She ate her lunch quickly, desperate to get back to her cell where she wouldn't need to maintain her composure. She carried her tray back to the serving counter, then approached the canteen door. The guard who had brought her down here was waiting for her, a bored look on his face.
"You're to go and see Commander Posten now," he told Saskia, who nodded, then followed where the guard led her. She felt as if she was moving on autopilot; she just couldn't get a handle on her thoughts and it was terrifying her. She was so used to her mind being a place of order and logic, and now it was a whirling maelstrom. Suddenly she remembered her mental fight with the Devron, which reminded her of the Doctor and sent her thoughts skidding off again in another direction. She wondered if she was going mad, and if she would know about it if she did.

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 1 Part 3

2007-04-22T11:30:00.000Z

The Doctor looked at the other two men, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "And what had they done, the last person to receive that sentence?"
Dr Karg looked thoughtful. "That was a murder case, too," he admitted uncomfortably.
The Doctor glared at him.
"Doctor, I understand that you're worried about Saskia, believe me, we all are, but if you go and remove her from the Council's jurisdiction, you will be forced to take her away and stay away permanently."
"I don't care!" the Doctor exclaimed, a desperate look on his face now.
"Maybe you don't, although I'm not sure I believe that, but how do you think Saskia will feel? You will be condemning her to a permanent exile for the rest of her natural life. She's only 30. We Empathia have an average life span of 120 years. Do you think she will thank you for having to spend the remaining three quarters of her lifetime exiled from her home?"
The Doctor's shoulders slumped in dejection. "No, probably not," he answered quietly. "She might even come to hate me."
Dr Karg nodded. "She might. I think it's better not to risk that outcome except as a very final resort."
"OK."
Dr Karg guided the Doctor back to the sofa, then looked over at Jeff who had been following the conversation anxiously.
"I'm going to contact the Council and see if we can arrange to see Saskia," Dr Karg said.
Jeff nodded. "Do you think they will?" he asked hopefully.
"If they don't, it won't be because I did not try to persuade them," answered Dr Karg.
Jeff nodded. "I'll go and make that tea," he said. The Doctor got up restlessly and followed Jeff out to the kitchen, leaving Dr Karg to make his call.

Saskia felt a kind of numb blankness as the security men shackled her wrists and led her out of her apartment, then down the stairs to their waiting van. Like all vehicles on Einfuhlung, it was environmentally-friendly, so it slid quietly through the streets of Valentia, its progress more silent than that of the brightly-dressed Festival-goers. The black van with blacked out windows was ignored by everyone - they couldn't see the six burly men and one woman who rode inside. One man drove, with another at his side to keep a close eye on the citizens who thronged the streets. The other four were in the back with Saskia, who was aware that their leader was watching her with curiosity. When she looked up, he smiled at her in a friendly manner and she stiffened instinctively, uncertain why he was looking friendly since she could not sense the emotions which he was shielding from her.
"Did you really kill six men?" he asked conversationally, his tone implying his disbelief.
"No." Saskia answered, who was already shielding her own thoughts and emotions in turn.
"I must admit, when I first saw you, I doubted that you had." He rubbed his hand thoughtfully across his chin. "And yet –" His tone was musing and Saskia found herself wishing he would shut up so she could gather her thoughts together. "There's a fiery spark in those green eyes of yours that suggests maybe you did do it," the leader said, watching Saskia's face carefully.
Saskia scowled but didn't answer. She shut her eyes and found herself wishing she could put her fingers in her ears, like a child who doesn't want to hear something.
The leader reached over and lifted Saskia's chin firmly in one strong hand, and her eyes snapped open.
"I like fiery women," he said, leering suggestively.
Saskia bit the inside of her cheek, determined not to give him the satisfaction of answering him back. He chuckled at the expression on her face and stroked her cheek, before letting go of her.
Saskia tried not to wince when she tasted blood in her mouth and concentrated even harder on shielding her thoughts and feelings.

The van pulled up outside a square building that was surrounded on all sides by a high wall topped with sharp metal spikes that curved inwards. The windows in the building were narrow and heavily barred. It wasn't a big building since few criminals were imprisoned on Einfuhlung – most were exiled to Abneigung, although crime was relatively rare anyway. Saskia had never been inside the detention unit, and had never expected to go inside it. She wondered miserably if it would be as horrible as she was anticipating. Then she wondered what the Doctor was doing now, and hoped it was nothing too rash.
The security man at the gate waved their driver through and they drove into a stark grey courtyard. The driver and his mate got out and walked to the back of the van, unlocking the doors. The leader gestured for the two men who were chained to Saskia to get out first, and she went with them, the manacles chafing her wrists. They followed their leader across the courtyard and into a white painted, blindingly-lit hallway that echoed with the sound of their heavy boots. The harsh glaring lights banished all the shadows and Saskia found herself wincing, before half closing her eyes.
"Captain Wachter reporting with the prisoner!" barked the leader to the man behind the desk at the far end of the hallway. Saskia wondered if shouting made him feel important; she could have sworn the man at the desk winced at Wachter's shout.
"Very well. I'll take her from here," said the man.
"Is that wise? She has been arrested for killing six men," Wachter said.
The man at the desk raised his eyebrows, disdainfully Saskia thought.
"The two men with her can bring her through," he said.
Wachter scowled but waved his men forward. He stepped in front of Saskia before they could lead her away. "I expect we'll meet again," he said in what she realised he thought was a threatening manner.
"Not if I see you first," Saskia retorted, finally goaded out of her silence.
His eyes widened in surprise and he drew his arm back as if to hit her, but the man from the desk intervened.
"That will do," he said sharply, looking first at Wachter then at Saskia.
Saskia lowered her eyes, regretting the fact that she had been provoked into answering. Just keep your mouth shut unless you have to speak, she told herself angrily.

They went through the door behind the desk and into a room which Saskia guessed was the infirmary. The two guards unfastened the manacles, then went outside as a hard-faced, short-haired woman came in. She nodded at the man from the desk, who also went out.
"Strip!" barked the woman.
"What?" asked Saskia, wondering if she had heard correctly.
"Are you deaf, or just stupid? I said strip."
Saskia obeyed, her hands trembling in sudden anxiety.
"Quickly, woman! I haven't got all day."
Saskia tried to hurry, terrified that this loud-voiced woman would forcibly strip her if necessary. She stood naked and shivering with apprehension rather than cold as the woman put on a pair of latex gloves. Saskia's eyes widened in surprise.
"What are you doing?" she asked, just managing not to stutter.
"Full body search!" barked the woman impatiently. "Lie on the couch."
Saskia turned and saw a couch against the wall. She sat down, then stretched out reluctantly. She forced her mind back to its blank numbness whilst the woman conducted the most thorough search of Saskia's body that was possible without surgery. Saskia began to tremble in humiliation and bit the inside of her cheek so that she wouldn't cry out or pull away from the woman's probing hands.
"Get up!" the woman said when she had finished, pulling the gloves off and dropping them into a bin. She picked up a bundle of grey clothing and thrust it at Saskia, who clutched it to her chest, her face still burning with shame and misery.
The woman gestured impatiently. "Get dressed then! I haven't got all day, you know."
Saskia dressed herself in the grey underwear and one piece jumpsuit, trying not to cry. The clothing was baggy in all the wrong places and made Saskia feel even more uncomfortable, which she hadn't believed was possible. She was given some shabby grey shoes which she put on whilst her own clothes were bundled up and put into a large paper sack that was labelled with her name, then shoved into a cupboard.

The woman opened the door, and Saskia's guards came in again. They manacled her wrists as before, then led her down a long corridor that was lined with doors on either side. Each door had a small, barred window in it and Saskia guessed this was to allow the guards to see into the cells. At the far end of the corridor they went through another door, this one heavily-barred and guarded, which led them into a much shorter corridor. There were only four doors on this corridor and Saskia immediately noticed that the lighting was more subdued in here. As she was pondering the significance of the dimmer lighting, the man leading them took out an electronic keycard and unlocked one of the four doors.
"You're in here," he said, gesturing into the room.
Saskia looked at him apprehensively. "What happens next?" she asked, hoping her voice wasn't shaking too much.
"Lunch. And after lunch you'll go before the Commander. Tomorrow morning your trial will begin."
"Oh." Saskia found she had nothing more to say and she simply waited whilst the two men unfastened the manacles around her wrists. She stepped into the room, blinking at the dim light inside. The door closed and was locked behind her. She remained standing just inside the door, waiting for her eyes to adjust. When they did she saw a plain wooden bunk with a pillow and a blanket lying at its head, and opposite that a rudimentary toilet. In the wall opposite the door was a small window with bars and some kind of fine metal mesh over it. Almost no light was getting into the room through the window, and the lightbulb overhead was at the lowest possible strength. Saskia shuddered slightly, then moved to sit on the bed. She picked up the pillow and hugged it tightly, willing herself not to cry. She remembered waking recently from a nightmare in the TARDIS and hugging a cushion until the Doctor had put his arms around her and comforted her. No! she told herself fiercely. Don't think of the Doctor or the TARDIS!

Saskia's Trials - Chapter 1 Part 2

2007-04-22T11:20:00.000Z

Jeff sat down opposite them. "The Council wants to arrest Saskia for the murder of Professor Jackson and his five men in Eupatoria a month ago." He looked thoroughly miserable.
"Five men?" the Doctor asked in surprise.
Jeff nodded.
"Why do they think Saskia is responsible?" asked the Doctor. "No one apart from us two came out of the desert alive."
"Luca told them," Jeff said. "He said he read it in Saskia's mind when she attacked him at the Museum. He and Philip were arrested, then tried a few days after your last visit. They were tried for their involvement in Jackson's attempt to steal 'a valuable cultural artefact'. And Luca was tried for inciting violence against an individual."
"You?" asked the Doctor.
"Me," confirmed Jeff.
"And?" asked the Doctor, sensing he wasn't going to like whatever else he was about to hear, whilst also wondering if Saskia was in shock.
"They were both found guilty. Philip was stripped of his role and given a heavy fine, but allowed to go free. Luca was sentenced to two years exile on Abneigung, but he plea bargained with the Council. He told them Saskia had killed Jackson and his five men, and they gave him a lighter sentence as a result: two years imprisonment here on Einfuhlung."
The Doctor frowned in thought. "Abneigung. That's where Jackson told me he was from."
Jeff nodded. "It's Einfuhlung's twin planet. It's a penal colony, mostly. Einfuhlung's criminals are sent into exile there, to help develop it into a wholly habitable planet. That's where they'll send Saskia if they find her guilty, which is why you two should get out of here whilst you still can."
The Doctor nodded his understanding. "Saskia?" he said gently.
She looked up at him, her face a picture of misery and despair. "Doctor?"
"Come on," he said. "Let's get back to the TARDIS." He stood up, then pulled Saskia to her feet, just as a thunderous knocking came at the door.
"Too late," whispered Jeff. "They must have been watching for you to arrive."

The Doctor cursed under his breath. "You'd better let them in," he told Jeff as an impatient voice shouted through the door.
"Open in the name of the High Council of Einfuhlung!"
Jeff hurried to open the door and half a dozen burly men entered Saskia's apartment. The leader was almost as tall as the Doctor, with very short hair and a very determined look on his face. He pulled out a wallet and showed them his ID.
"I'm here to arrest Saskia Scolere for the murder of Professor Jackson and his five companions in the Dasleere Viertel region on or about the 15th of Secundus," he said loudly.
The Doctor found himself wincing at the man's stentorian tones as Saskia stepped forward, white-faced and spoke in a surprisingly steady voice, steadier than the Doctor would have guessed she could manage.
"I am Saskia Scolere," she said.
The man nodded an acknowledgement having already recognised Saskia from the photos with which he'd been provided. "I've been authorised to take you in by force," he said. "That won't be necessary, will it?"
Saskia shook her head and crossed the room to stand near him and his men.
"Hang on!" the Doctor said.
She turned and looked at him. "It's OK," she said. She didn't flinch when two of the security men clasped a metal manacle around each of her wrists, setting a second manacle that was linked to the first by a short sturdy chain, onto their own wrist nearest to Saskia's.
The Doctor turned to Jeff as the men escorted her out. "Are we just going to let them take her?" he demanded angrily.
Jeff nodded unhappily. "I don't want to be arrested for trying to prevent them," he answered honestly.
The Doctor hurried to the door. "I'm going with them," he said.
Jeff rushed after him and grabbed his arm. "Don't," he begged. "Please don't. You'll only make things worse for Saskia. I'm going to call Dr Karg. He made me promise to let him know if this happened. We'll stand by Saskia, I promise, and do everything we can to help her, but we have to do this the legal way."
The Doctor shook Jeff's hand off his arm, then turned back into the apartment. "Call him, then," he growled. He slumped down onto the sofa, his mind in a turmoil of anger, disbelief and sorrow. He hadn't anticipated the possibility of Saskia being arrested and punished for what she had done to Jackson and his men, and it irked him that he hadn't thought of such an outcome.
He sat clutching his head and half listened to Jeff talking to Dr Karg as his thoughts churned through his head. He wondered what the three of them would be able to do to help Saskia, and began considering whether he could just take the TARDIS to wherever she was being held and simply take her away.

Jeff turned to look at Saskia's friend as he ended his call to Dr Karg. The Doctor had a fierce look on his face and Jeff could sense his anger and pain at what had happened. Jeff's empathic powers weren't as strong as Saskia's, but he could feel enough to know that this man cared deeply for her. He swallowed, then spoke. "Dr Karg is on his way into town," he told the Doctor. "He's asked that we wait until he arrives before we take any action."
The Doctor looked up at Jeff. "He'd better not be too long getting here, then."
"Do you want some tea?" asked Jeff, then winced, thinking he sounded like he was trying to play the good host. However, the Doctor looked pleased at the suggestion.
"I'd love some," he said, his face brightening a little from its hawk-like fierceness. He got up and followed Jeff into Saskia's kitchen, remembering the last time he had been in there.
"I haven't asked how you are," the Doctor observed.
"There hasn't exactly been an opportunity for social niceties," Jeff pointed out.
"True," acknowledged the Doctor. "Were you in the hospital for long?"
Jeff shook his head as he filled the kettle. "No, fortunately. They let me out again after a few days."
"Good." The Doctor dug in a pocket of his coat for a moment, then pulled out a banana. "Want one?" he asked.
Jeff shook his head. "No thanks." He sounded amused, the Doctor noticed, but he didn't ask why. He ate the banana absent-mindedly, his mind whirling around the problem of rescuing Saskia.
"Do you know where they've taken Saskia?" he asked as he dropped the banana skin into the recycling bin by the kitchen door.
"There's a detention unit in the Council Quarter of the city," Jeff answered.
"What's the security like?" asked the Doctor, trying to keep his voice casual.
Jeff looked at him sharply. "You can't break in," he insisted.
The Doctor cursed himself silently for forgetting that Jeff would be able to read his emotions almost as easily as Saskia. "I promise not to try it except as a last resort," he said.
"It would have to be the last resort," Jeff said. "Otherwise Saskia would just be in even more trouble."
The Doctor scowled but was interrupted by a knock at Saskia's front door before he could answer.
"That's Dr Karg," Jeff said. He hurried out of the kitchen and the Doctor followed him more slowly.

Jeff opened the door to the tall, grey-haired man whom the Doctor had met on his last visit to Einfuhlung. The Doctor approached him and shook hands. He noted that the other man looked a little older than he had a month ago, there were more lines around his eyes and mouth, although his green eyes still shone with wisdom.
"Doctor," he said, shaking hands. "I'm sorry we are meeting in such troubling circumstances."
"So am I," answered the Doctor. "Saskia and I were hoping to come and have our postponed lunch with you, but it looks like that won't be happening just yet."
Dr Karg shook his head sorrowfully. "I'm afraid not. And if the Council decides to give Saskia the harshest sentence possible, it won't happen at all."
The Doctor looked at him, open-mouthed in horror. "What? You don't mean they'll execute her?" he asked.
“No, no, we do not execute criminals on Einfuhlung, not even those found guilty of murder. And that's a rare crime here."
"What then?" demanded the Doctor. "What is the harshest possible sentence?" Jeff looked stricken, the Doctor noticed, and even Dr Karg looked grave.
"If she's found guilty, she will be exiled to Abneigung for a lengthy period after undergoing brain surgery," Dr Karg said.
"Brain surgery?" the Doctor whispered in disbelief.
Dr Karg nodded grimly. "The Council will authorise the use of corrective micro-laser surgery." He glanced at the Doctor who had sunk onto the sofa. "Corrective, in this case, means that they will neutralise those parts of the brain that give Saskia her strong empathic and telepathic powers."
"That's monstrous," the Doctor protested, a fierce look of anger on his face. He stood up again. "We've got to go and get her. I'll take the TARDIS. I should be able to locate Saskia easily with her aid." He moved towards the door, but Dr Karg intercepted him.
"Doctor, please calm down. I said that this was the harshest possible sentence that Saskia could be given. However, it's been several decades since such a sentence was last carried out."

Saskia's Trials - Prologue, Chapter 1 Part 1

2007-04-22T11:15:00.000Z

WARNING: This is a very dark story.

Prologue

Saskia lay helpless and terrified on a bed in the brain surgery unit. They had injected her with a muscle relaxant earlier, just enough to ensure she couldn't resist them or simply get up and run away. Unfortunately the muscle relaxant didn't stop her from thinking and now she lay on the bed knowing that it was far too late for the Doctor to do or say anything to save her from this. When they finally let her go from here in a few days the Saskia he knew would be gone, wiped out by some very precise surgery.

She thought back to the moment, just a few days ago, when her life had suddenly been wrenched very firmly out of her control and wished she had taken Jeff's advice. She and the Doctor had just come from a marvellous live performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto in London, back on old Earth. He had insisted on taking her to a performance after they had missed out on the concert in Oxford, and she had enjoyed every second of the evening's performance. They had decided to come to Einfuhlung for a few days of rest and relaxation, intending to catch up with Jeff and have their postponed lunch with Dr Karg. And that was when it had all gone spiralling horribly out of control until events had led her to this position, feeling helpless, terrified, very alone, and about to have radical brain surgery.

Chapter One

A few days earlier.

A blue Police Box materialised wheezily in a quiet side street in Valentia, Saskia's home city. Through the doors stepped a tall, skinny, brown-haired man dressed in a brown pinstripe suit, a shirt, a tie that wasn't properly done up, a long brown coat and a pair of beige Converse shoes. At his side was a slightly shorter, black-haired woman wearing navy trousers, a cream linen shirt, black leather boots and a long black overcoat. They looked about them for a moment then grinned hugely at each other.
"Come on then," the Doctor said, grabbing his Companion's hand in his own. "Let's go and wake Jeff."
"I doubt he'll be asleep," Saskia answered as they walked up the street hand in hand. "He's not quite the lark I am, but he doesn't usually lie in bed for half the morning, even during holidays."
"Is this a holiday period then?" the Doctor asked.
"Oh yes. We've arrived at the start of the week-long Spring Festival. There'll be a traditional fair set up down in the Leisure Quarter, and later in the week they'll have a big procession in which all the school children will take part."
"A fair?" asked the Doctor, his eyes brightening.
"Yes, you know the sort of thing. Noisy and/or frightening rides and electronic games, overpriced snack foods that invariably make young children throw up, and an amazing variety of ways to waste one's money."
The Doctor laughed loudly at her comments. "Saskia, you're so – serious," he gasped. "You sound like a disapproving old lady." He glanced sideways at her face and saw she wasn't amused by his teasing.
"I don't know what you mean," she said stiffly, letting go of his hand and walking away.
He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him, then put a long finger under her chin, lifting her face up to his. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm being rude again." His deep brown eyes gazed down into her bright green ones. "I just meant that you're nearly always very serious and adult in your approach to life. It's not a bad thing. It's just – different."
Saskia blinked, breaking their gaze. "You mean I'm not like Rose," she said.
"No you're not. Of course you're not. You're two very different people, and you're a decade older than Rose. You've had a decade's worth of extra life and experience than Rose. And you've certainly been working longer than she had when I met her. Working in an academic environment too, which is bound to give you a different outlook on life."
"Makes me boring and stuffy, you mean?" Saskia asked as she turned away and strode off up the street towards her apartment.

The Doctor hurried after her. "That's not exactly what I meant," he said, catching up with her and stopping her again. "I know you can have fun. I haven't forgotten our impromptu horse races the first time we were in Oxford. And I know you had fun at that concert we attended a few hours ago."
"Yes I did," Saskia said, her eyes brightening a little at the memory.
"There you are then," the Doctor said. "You just need to loosen up a little now and again, that's all." He looked at her face. "You should smile more often," he said quietly. "You've got such a lovely smile and it lights up your whole face, makes you look much younger."
Saskia darted a swift look up at the Doctor's face, then went back to staring at her boots. She swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat, then turned away, unable to speak. She knew she wasn't pretty and she'd never really cared about it. She had known from a very early age that she would be a scholar, and brains mattered far more than looks where scholarship was concerned. It was only in the last few days that she'd begun to think about the fact that she wasn't pretty. She thought of the moment, a couple of days ago, when the Doctor had seen her wearing an evening dress for the first time: he'd looked stunned but appreciative. Saskia scowled unseeingly at the street. There was no point in thinking about such things: it was a waste of her time and energy. She focused her attention on the city again and crossed the road towards the apartment building where she lived when she wasn't travelling through Time and Space with the man beside her. She went up the steps, the Doctor behind her, and tapped in the entry code on the keypad by the door. She pushed open the door and crossed the hall to the lift. They stepped inside and the Doctor broke the silence that lay between them.
"I'm sorry," he said, looking at Saskia's downcast face.
She looked up. "It's OK," she said. "You were right in what you said."
The Doctor shrugged. "But not very tactful," he pointed out. "I shouldn't have called you an old lady."
The lift doors pinged then opened, and the two stepped out onto the fourth floor.
"Maybe not, but it doesn't matter."
The Doctor didn't believe that Saskia thought it didn't matter, but he didn't contradict her. They had come to Einfuhlung for some rest and relaxation, not for a row. Perhaps they could go to the fair and have some fun, he thought hopefully.

Saskia knocked on the door to her apartment, deciding that it would be more discreet than just letting them in since Jeff wasn't expecting them. The door opened and a stocky young man dressed in a green t-shirt and blue casual trousers stood blinking in surprise at them. His surprise quickly turned to a look of consternation.
"Jeff?" said the Doctor, wondering why he looked so alarmed at seeing them.
"What is it?" Saskia demanded as Jeff reached out a hand and grabbed her wrist, before pulling her inside. The Doctor followed them.
"We were hoping you wouldn't come back for a few years at least," Jeff said.
The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "We?"
"Dr Karg and I. You two can't stay here – on Einfuhlung, I mean."
"Why not?" asked the Doctor, wondering why Saskia was looking so shocked. He suddenly realised that she must have read Jeff's emotions, maybe even his thoughts, when he'd grabbed her wrist, and wondered what was going on. He reached out and grasped Saskia's hand. "What is it?"
Saskia looked as if she might faint. "The Council," she said, "they want to arrest me."
"Arrest you? Why would they want to arrest you?" asked the Doctor, growing even more puzzled. He glanced from Saskia's sheet-white face to Jeff's unnaturally pale one. "Please would one of you explain why the Council wants to arrest Saskia?" he asked, frustration and alarm making his voice sharper than usual. He guided Saskia over to the sofa and pushed her to sit down, then sat down beside her, holding her hands in both of his own.

Oxford Ostinato - Epilogue

2007-04-15T12:20:00.000Z

In the end Saskia went to the library and picked up the poetry book she'd been reading a couple of days ago. But she couldn't concentrate on the words properly and she found herself wishing, momentarily, that she was at home in her apartment where she could put on some soothing music. She knew that she could go to the Control Room and listen to music via the console, but she hesitated. What she really wanted was to be on her own for a bit.

The TARDIS hummed at her so she reached out to touch the wall and found herself looking at a room she'd never seen before, a room that held a music centre and a home cinema system. Oh thank you, she said to the TARDIS. She took the book with her and went to her room to collect one of the few music recordings that she had brought from home. She made her way to the room the TARDIS directed her to, and went inside. It only took her a few minutes to figure out how to use the music system and she slipped the disc into the player, picked up the remote control, then settled herself with her book on the large leather sofa that was set against the back wall of the room.

The Doctor spent nearly an hour checking the TARDIS' systems before going to find Saskia. He assumed he'd find her in the library or her room, but she was in neither. Then the TARDIS hummed at him. In the cinema, is she? I suppose you told her where to find it? He knew he'd never mentioned its existence to Saskia, though he and Rose had used it a few times. He headed down the corridors, wondering if Saskia had found a good film to watch. He opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb her if she was engrossed, and realised that she was listening to some music instead. He put his head around the door and spotted Saskia lying full length on the sofa, her head on a cushion and her feet up on one of its arms.
"Saskia?"
She didn't stir, so he walked softly across the room and looked down at her sleeping face and the poetry book lying open beside her. The Doctor hesitated for a moment, then perched on the other arm of the sofa and picked up the book to see what she had been reading. He found it was open at a poem called 'Burnt Norton' and began to read:

Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past.
If all time is eternally present
All time is unredeemable.
What might have been is an abstraction
Remaining a perpetual possibility
Only in a world of speculation.
What might have been and what has been
Point to one end, which is always present.
Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage which we did not take
Towards the door we never opened
Into the rose-garden. My words echo
Thus, in your mind.

Interesting ideas, thought the Doctor as he put the book aside again. Then he closed his eyes and concentrated on the music, wondering what the piece was called, but feeling too comfortable to get up and look. He was drifting towards sleep himself when Saskia suddenly cried out in her sleep. His eyes snapped open and he looked down at her, guessing that she was having a nightmare. She cried out again and began to shake. He slipped off the arm of the sofa onto the seat beside her and touched her shoulder. "Saskia." He called her name softly, not wanting to startle her awake. She mumbled something indistinct and he brushed his right hand across her forehead. Saskia. Her eyes fluttered open then closed again. Saskia.
The third time he called her name, her eyes opened properly and she looked up to see the Doctor looking down at her, concern in his deep brown eyes. She frowned, momentarily puzzled about where she was.
"Hello," he said gently.
"Hello." She pulled herself upright and swung her legs round so that she was sitting up again.
"Are you OK?" the Doctor asked, still looking concerned.
She nodded.
"Nightmare?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Saskia shook her head. "I was dreaming about Jackson, that's all." She picked up the cushion beside her and hugged it absent-mindedly. The Doctor shifted across the sofa to sit beside her and put his arm round her shoulders. She put the cushion aside, then turned and put her head on his shoulder, glad of his comforting presence.

"What's the music?" the Doctor asked after a few minutes.
"It's the Elgar Cello Concerto," Saskia said.
"It's lovely. I can see why you like it so much." He paused thoughtfully. "You know we could try again to get to a live performance.”
“That would be nice," Saskia answered.
"Do you know of any that you'd have liked to have attended?"
"There are two – but one wasn't open to the public and I doubt that even your psychic paper could get us into that one."
"Oh?" The Doctor looked intrigued.
"It was a live recording by Jacqueline du Pre – that's the one that's playing now. It's the most celebrated recording of the 20th century. It features a full orchestra, the conductor and the soloist all in one recording session."
The Doctor frowned. "You may be right about that one – I don't think I could get us in. What's the other one?"
"In the early 21st century Julian Lloyd Webber did two live performances on the 150th anniversary of Elgar's birth. One was at Worcester Cathedral, and the other at the Royal Albert Hall in London," Saskia said.
"Two live performances on the same day?" asked the Doctor.
Saskia nodded. "He was flown from Worcester to London."
"Wow!" The Doctor rubbed the back of his head, thinking. "So which one do you want to go to?"
"The evening one in London." She smiled suddenly. "We'll have to put on our glad rags again," she said.
The Doctor smiled back. "Let's go for it then. I'll meet you in the Control Room shortly."
Saskia found herself talking to the TARDIS as she changed. I'd really like to go this concert, she said. Please can we get to London on June 2, 2007? The TARDIS hummed back at her and she smiled. Thanks.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 4 Part 2

2007-04-15T12:15:00.000Z

"So, I still have some unanswered questions," the Doctor said.
"Do you expect me to answer them?" Inglesham's tone was disbelieving.
"Yes I do," the Doctor answered calmly. "One person, no matter what their situation, cannot be allowed to get away with illegal experiments, particularly if the subjects have not given their permission. So I ask you again, why did you clone musicians?"
Inglesham gave the Doctor a considering look and Saskia sensed him deciding that he would answer the Doctor because he couldn't believe the Doctor could stop him.
"I wanted to see if it was possible to clone talented people so that the clones shared the same talents. I'm starting with musicians and artists, then I'll move on to mathematicians and scientists. So long as the clones have their talents, I'll know it's safe to clone a really talented man like myself."
"You're a very talented man," the Doctor agreed. "But that doesn't give you the right to do what you've done. So my next question is this – how did you do it, given humanity's cloning technology isn't advanced enough yet?"
"I used advanced technology designed by my own people, but built here, and the facility that my own people have for extracting and passing on genetic materials. The combination of the two allows me to create viable adult clones in just 24 hours." Inglesham's formerly icy tone had become slightly more animated, and both Saskia and the Doctor noticed that he sounded a little smug now. "I could give you a demonstration, if you like?"
"I wouldn't, thank you," the Doctor answered swiftly as he felt Saskia's mind recoil from Inglesham's in horror. He wants to clone me! she said, revolted.
I won't let him do that, I promise you! the Doctor answered. Aloud he asked, "Did you really think I would agree to a demonstration?"
"What makes you think you can stop me?" asked Inglesham. "There are only two of you, and your friend here is a little 'tied up', shall we say?"
Saskia flinched at his attempt at humour.
"Actually there are four of us," the Doctor answered. "You can come in now boys," he called, without dropping his gaze from Inglesham's face.
Saskia saw Steve and Martin walk into the basement and guessed that these were the other two clones Inglesham had created. Both men were glaring intently at Inglesham and she sensed their revulsion at what he had done to them.

Inglesham didn't look concerned by their appearance. "Stanley, Ned, deal with them," he snapped, stepping back towards the head of Saskia's bed. Both of his men rushed at the musicians as the Doctor sprang forward and used his Sonic Screwdriver to undo the straps that were holding Saskia to the bed. She immediately swung her legs around and stood up, then snatched Inglesham's cane from him. He started to fall and the Doctor shoved the hospital bed towards him so that he fell awkwardly onto it. Inglesham cried out in pain and both Saskia and the Doctor winced when they heard a bone snap.
His arm's broken, Saskia said.
He'll live for now, the Doctor answered. "Call your men off," he hissed at Inglesham as he and Saskia lifted him bodily up onto the bed and strapped him down.
"Never," Inglesham answered hoarsely.
"If you call them off, I'll help you," the Doctor said desperately.
Saskia looked over at the four men fighting in the middle of the room. The musicians were getting the worst of it, neither of them having any experience of fighting, as Ned and Stanley clearly did. As she watched Ned knocked Steve down and he crashed awkwardly against the wall. She heard another sickening snap of breaking bones.
"Doctor," she said urgently.
The Doctor looked up, saw that Steve was down, and noticed what Saskia had not, his neck was broken. "Steve's dead Saskia," he said quietly, then looked back at Inglesham. "Call them off. Don't have any more deaths on your hands."
Inglesham glared at him. "Why should I believe that you will help me?" he asked.
"Why shouldn’t you believe me?" countered the Doctor.
Saskia glanced over again at the fighting men. Martin had picked up a wooden chair and backed himself into a corner, clearly hoping to keep Ned and Stanley at bay.
The Doctor looked up again. "Come on," he said to Saskia. "Let's see if we can at least even the odds." He and Saskia rushed across the room together.
I'll take Ned, she said and launched herself at him. The Doctor barrelled into Stanley and both men were knocked aside from their attack on Martin.
"RUN!" yelled the Doctor and Martin needed no second bidding. He dropped the chair and raced out of the room. Saskia heard him running up the stairs as she picked herself up from the floor. The Doctor was already on his feet. He grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's get after him and get out of here. I want to get that lad to somewhere safe."
They ran upstairs together and came out into the main hallway.
"Where is he?" asked the Doctor.
"In a room at the back of the house on this floor," Saskia answered. "But there's someone with him."
The Doctor cursed briefly in Gallifreyan. "Inglesham's other man," he said. "I left him unconscious. He must have woken up." He ran towards the back of the house with Saskia close behind him.
"Someone's been knocked out," Saskia said, feeling the man's mind go dark, like seeing a candle that had been blown out. The Doctor rushed to the end of the corridor and threw open the door. He stopped just over the threshold and Saskia saw why. Martin was also dead, his body sprawled on the floor where Inglesham's man had throw him during their fight. Inglesham's man had a wild angry look in his eye that chilled Saskia. She grabbed the Doctor's hand. I don't think we can reason with him, she said.
Not for the moment, at least, the Doctor agreed. Let's get out of here and call the authorities in. They backed out of the room, then turned and ran to the front door. The Doctor pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver and unlocked it, then they ran outside and around the house. The Doctor pulled out his mobile phone and tossed it to Saskia.
"Ring 999 and ask for the police and an ambulance. I'll call the TARDIS." They ran on down the drive and out onto the road where they finally paused to catch their breath.
Saskia looked down at the phone, then punched the 9 button three times. She spoke to an operator and requested an ambulance and the police. "They want to know where to send them," she told the Doctor, who took the phone from her and spoke rapidly to the operator, describing the location of the house. As he finished speaking the TARDIS dematerialised wheezily behind him. Saskia walked over to the familiar Police Box and leant against the side, feeling weary and sick at what had happened to the two musicians.

The Doctor pocketed his mobile phone and the Sonic Screwdriver, then walked over to Saskia. He held out his arms and she hugged him, glad that he was there.
"What happens now?" she asked.
"You go and make some tea while I talk to the police. We'll get out of here just as soon as we can," he answered.
"Make sure you tell them about the body in the wood," Saskia said.
"What body?" asked the Doctor in surprise.
"That's what landed us in this situation," Saskia said, and explained how she had seen Stanley carrying a body into the woods whilst she was running alongside the river.
"That may have been the clone of Marie," the Doctor observed. "We know he created three clones, but we've only seen the two men."
Saskia looked at the Doctor in horror. "So all three of the clones are dead?" she asked bitterly.
The Doctor nodded grimly. Moments later they both heard the sound of sirens approaching. "Go and make that tea," he said.
"Do you want some?" Saskia asked as she unlocked the door of the TARDIS.
"I'll get some when I've finished talking to the police. I've no idea how long that will take."
She nodded and went inside. She decided to have a shower first and change out of her running clothes before making the tea. After her shower she took her clothes and towels to the laundry room and put them into the washing machine along with some things of the Doctor's that were sitting in a wicker basket. Then she went to the kitchen to make a mug of tea and ate a banana whilst she waited for the water to boil. She had just made a large mug of tea when the Doctor walked into the kitchen, his tie pulled askew and his hair sticking up wildly. Saskia wondered if he'd been clutching it in frustration.
"The water's only just boiled," she told him.
"Hmm? Oh, water. Yes thanks."
Saskia sensed that the Doctor was unhappy about something, but he was keeping his thoughts from her. "What is it?" she asked as he sat down with his own mug of tea.
"Inglesham's dead," he answered.
"How did he die?"
"The police think either Ned or Stanley killed him. And all three of his men have disappeared.
Saskia scowled at his news. "Did they find the body in the wood?" she asked.
"Yes, and it was the clone of Marie. She'd been given an overdose of barbiturate."
They sat silently for a few minutes, drinking their tea.
"What are we going to do now?" Saskia asked bleakly.
"We're going to find somewhere nice and quiet to spend a few days. Somewhere without monsters, if we can manage it, and that includes monstrous humanoids."
"That would be nice."
The Doctor noticed Saskia's wistful tone. "You should go and get some sleep," he told her. "What with two nightmares last night and a nightmarish morning as well, you must be exhausted."
Saskia nodded. "I will sleep, in a little while," she answered.
"Are you worried about having more nightmares?" he asked.
"A little," admitted Saskia. "I've been wondering whether that second nightmare I had was actually about the clone of Marie, rather than Marie herself."
"I don't suppose we'll find that out," the Doctor said thoughtfully.
"No. And there's no way, either, of knowing why I suddenly had a dream related to actual events," Saskia pointed out.
"Would Dr Karg know?"
"I don't know. He might, I suppose. There's only one way to find out for sure though."
"Shall we go to Einfuhlung for a few days, then?" asked the Doctor.
"Well you did say you wanted to go somewhere quiet. And we did promise to have lunch with Dr Karg again, which we haven't yet done."
"OK then. We'll got to Einfuhlung for some R&R." The Doctor looked pleased at the prospect. "I've got to go and do some maintenance checks on the TARDIS' systems," he said, getting to his feet.
"Do you want a hand?" Saskia asked.
The Doctor shook his head. "I'll come and find you when I've finished. Try to get some rest."
"OK." Saskia watched the Doctor go and thought that she ought to take his advice, but she remained sitting at the kitchen table for a while longer.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 4 Part 1

2007-04-15T12:10:00.000Z

The Doctor went to make himself a cup of tea once he and the TARDIS had finished analysing the data he had got from the dead cellist. He was half way to the kitchen when he realised that Saskia hadn't come back yet from her run and she had been gone at least an hour. He abandoned the idea of tea and went to the Control Room instead. He found that the scanner screen on the console was still showing the map of the local area that Saskia had been looking at earlier. He walked over to the doors and stuck his head outside, wondering if she was coming along the road. As he turned to go back inside, after failing to spot her, he caught a faint voice in the back of his mind.
Doctor?
Saskia? He strained his senses, but couldn't place her. He hurried over to the console and reached out again with the help of the TARDIS.
Saskia?
Doctor. Can you hear me? I've been locked up. Saskia's mental voice was faint and held an anxious note. The Doctor pulled on his overcoat and rushed out of the TARDIS, locking the door, then hurried along the road, pausing occasionally to listen again.
Saskia, I'm coming, but where are you?
Near the river, I think. Her voice was still faint, so the Doctor ran along the road then out onto the towpath. Saskia! Keep talking or I won't be able to find you.
I'm in a basement, she said. The same one that I saw in my nightmare.
I'm sorry, Saskia.
There are four men here. The boss is a bit odd. You shouldn't let the fact that he's nearly a cripple distract you from the fact he's also full of rage and hate. And seriously dangerous.
What's his name? asked the Doctor.
Inglesham.
The Doctor noticed that Saskia's voice sounded stronger. I must be getting closer to you, I can hear you more clearly now, he said.
I think they're going to come back and talk to me again in a few minutes, Saskia said. Although they're having a blazing row at the moment. She listened intently to the babble of voices upstairs. Oh!
What is it? the Doctor asked.
They're talking about Marie's death. It seems to have made the boss really mad.
The Doctor spotted a gate and ran across to it. He tried it and it swung open. He went through the gate quietly, knowing Saskia was somewhere nearby and not wanting to advertise his presence.
I'm nearby, he told her.
Good. They're coming back downstairs, so the sooner you get here, the better. I'm not keen on being strapped to this hospital bed for much longer.
What? Why didn't you tell me they'd done that to you? The Doctor moved quickly and quietly across the garden into which the gate had opened. He saw a house ahead of him. I've found the house. Are you sure all Inglesham's men are with you now?
I think so, Saskia answered.
OK. I'm going to let myself into the house now. Just hold on. The Doctor reached out and tried the door he had found. It was unlocked, so he eased it open and crept silently inside.

Saskia looked up as Inglesham and his men entered the basement. Stan came to stand by the head of the bed, the man whom she had seen with him in her nightmare stood at its foot, and Inglesham slowly made his way across the room to stand near the head of the bed. The fourth man remained standing by the door, but looking into the room. Saskia quickly relayed the positions of the four men to the Doctor as Inglesham looked down at Saskia.
"What do you know of the death of the cellist last night?" he asked her.
"It was a sudden and unexpected death, yet she didn't have any symptoms of heart disease," Saskia answered. "What do you know of it?"
"That is no business of yours," Inglesham said coldly.
"I can't say that I agree with you," Saskia said.
"It does not matter whether or not you agree. The matter is no concern of yours, and once I have found out what you know, I will dispose of you."
"Oh I wouldn't do that, if I were you," said a voice from the doorway, causing Saskia a surge of relief that the Doctor had arrived.
Inglesham looked across at the tall, wiry man who stood in the doorway. He saw the man was wearing a blue pinstripe suit with a dark tie and a pale blue shirt, a long brown coat and beige coloured boots. He seemed to dominate the entire room, somehow.
The Doctor focused his gaze solely on the face of the man who was standing over Saskia. The man wore a look of burning rage and hatred, the intensity of which the Doctor had not seen on anyone's face for many years.
"You must be this doctor in whom this young woman has so much faith."
"That's me. Hello." The Doctor grinned cheerily and waved at the men standing around Saskia. He winked at Saskia, who smiled back, cheered by his irreverence. She knew Inglesham found it irritating and didn't hesitate to tell the Doctor so telepathically, knowing he would try to use it to keep Inglesham off-balance.
Inglesham frowned. "Where's my other man?" he asked abruptly.
"Just taking a nap, he was feeling a bit sleepy," the Doctor answered as he sauntered casually into the room, his hands in his trouser pockets. "My turn to ask a question. What did you do to Marie Roberts, cellist with the City of Oxford Orchestra?"
"What business is it of yours?" asked Inglesham, his tone icy again.
"She died of a heart attack last night, which she shouldn't have had since her heart was quite healthy. So what did you and your men do to her that caused her to have a heart attack? We know she was here."
"She helped me a little experiment I've been making," answered Inglesham. "Her death was an unfortunate side effect."
"An unfortunate side effect?" queried the Doctor, his previously cheerful tone now as icy as Inglesham's. "You really don't care, do you?"
"You are mistaken Doctor. I care that she is dead since I cannot repeat my experiment."
Saskia knew then that Inglesham had just lost any concessions the Doctor might have made for him. The Doctor's eyebrows had shot up and a look of disdain settled on his face. "And what is this experiment of yours?" he asked, his voice dangerously soft.

Inglesham shrugged. "I see no reason not to tell you. You have no power or authority to stop me. I am creating human clones."
A look of surprise and disbelief settled on both Saskia's and the Doctor's faces. "Impossible!" exclaimed the Doctor. "Humanity doesn't succeed in creating viable human clones for decades yet."
Inglesham frowned. "How could you know that?"
"I'm a Time Lord," answered the Doctor. "I know all about the future development of humanity. So who, or what, are you, if you've succeeded in cloning humans?"
"I am a Malquet from Ceritin."
"How did you get here?" asked the Doctor.
"I was travelling across this galaxy when my ship was caught in a plasma storm and knocked to Earth, several years ago. My stasis chamber was damaged, which resulted in my ageing process being accelerated unnaturally."
"So you've been experimenting in the hope of creating a new, younger and healthier version of yourself?" the Doctor said, with a look of understanding.
"Yes."
"But why did you clone a musician? Was she the only one you've created?" asked the Doctor.
"No. I've created two more."
"Steve and Martin," Saskia interrupted. "The clarinettist and the violinist who went missing for 24 hours."
"How do you know that?" demanded Inglesham, his expression darkening.
"Oh we talked to them last night, after Marie died," said the Doctor. "We were told they were all friends, so we spoke to them. They told us they had lost 24 hours of their lives. I suppose your man over there abducted them?" The Doctor nodded at the man at the foot of the bed where Saskia still lay strapped. The Doctor flicked her a glance. He knew she was desperate to be free, but she knew as well as he did that they had to find out as much as they could about what had happened to the musicians.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 3 Part 3

2007-04-15T12:05:00.000Z

Stan swore colourfully for a few moments, giving vent to his disbelief at this strange young woman, and his annoyance at what he had done, not to mention what he suspected would happen as a result of this encounter. He glared down at Saskia's unconscious form.
"Oh great!" he exclaimed softly. "Now I've got two bodies on my hands!" He hunkered down beside Saskia and checked her pulse. He didn't quite know whether to be sorry or glad when he found that she was still alive. He hesitated, too, over what he should do. He couldn't leave her here to wake up, that much was certain. But he also knew his master would be furious at this development. He picked Saskia up with a few grunts. She was tall and well muscled, making her awkward to carry for someone who was short and stocky. He managed to move her to the spot where he had left the dead woman he had brought into the woods. He unwound the sheet and carried the body into a small hut to which only he had the key. He then went back to Saskia, wrapped her in the sheet and slung her up over his shoulder. He hurried to the edge of the wood and stood silently listening for a few moments, then hastened back along the towpath and through the garden gate. He moved as fast as he could manage, silently cursing this young woman for her interference.
Stan got Saskia into the kitchen and dumped her unceremoniously into a chair, pulling off the sheet. He paused to catch his breath and rub his aching back. What was he supposed to do with her, he wondered. He scowled, then picked her up again and carried her downstairs to the basement where he strapped her onto another trolley bed. He stomped back upstairs, paused by the kitchen door, then went on upstairs to his master's room. He knocked more tentatively than usual, then went inside when summoned.
"Sir."
Mr Inglesham looked up, frowning, from his place by his desk. "Stanley?"
"We – uh – we have a bit of a difficult situation, sir," he said.
"Explain."
"I took the body out to the woods, to dispose of it and was seen by a young woman. She was running on the towpath and she – uh – she followed me into the woods." Stan stopped speaking when he saw the dark look that had settled on his master's face.
"Stanley, why do I suspect that you did not do the obvious thing, and dispose of this young woman?"
Stan swallowed convulsively. "Uh – well – she surprised me," he said, realising how lame this sounded even as he said it.
"And?" Mr Inglesham's tone was icy.
"She said she'd stop me if I was doing something wrong."
"By herself? A young woman who was out running and, therefore, presumably not armed in anyway, proposed to stop you – and you let her?" His tone was savage now.
"Sir." Stan was quaking with fear inside, but trying not to show it.
"Where is this remarkable young woman? I should like to meet her."
"In the basement sir."
"You have severely displeased me today, Stanley, and if my operation is delayed by your actions, you will pay heavily."
"Sir." Stan's tone was miserable. He opened the door and waited whilst his master pulled himself stiffly from his chair and, leaning heavily on a silver-headed cane, made his way painfully across the room. They made their way downstairs, Mr Inglesham pausing often to catch his breath.
"Go downstairs and wait," Mr Inglesham snapped suddenly.
"Sir." Stan hurried downstairs to the basement, glad to get out of his master's way. He glanced over at the young woman and saw she was still unconscious. She began to stir just as Mr Inglesham entered the room. Stan moved aside to allow Mr Inglesham to see her clearly.

Saskia woke slowly, feeling groggy, and suffering from a thumping headache. She tried to lift a hand to her head to see if she had a lump there, and found she could not move her arms. She turned her head stiffly and found a stranger looking back at her. Saskia took in the short grey hair, dark striped suit, crisp white shirt, the pale beige silk scarf draped around his neck, and the claw-like hands resting atop a silver-headed cane.
"You must be the boss," she said, more calmly than she felt.
"I am. And you, young woman, are trouble I do not need."
Saskia was chilled by the icy tone in his voice. It reminded her of ancient stonework.
"Oh, and we've only just met!" she exclaimed. "Don't you think you're being a little hasty in your assessment of me?"
"Do you think facetiousness is appropriate?" Mr Inglesham asked with a snarl.
Saskia shrugged, but didn't answer, concentrating instead of reading his emotions. Not that it was a difficult task: black hatred and cold, merciless anger were practically streaming off him. Saskia felt as if she was drowning and blinked twice in an effort to break free.
"So what happens next?" she asked, hoping her voice didn't sound as shaky to him as it did to her own ears.
"You tell me what you're doing here and on the basis of that I decide how best to – " he paused a moment, deliberately Saskia knew, " - dispose of you."
"I came to Oxford to attend a concert at the Sheldonian Theatre last night." Saskia was acting obtuse deliberately, she wanted to see what she could find out about this man and what he was doing in this house which she had now recognised from her nightmare, just as she recognised Stan as one of the two men she had seen in that dream. She had to keep the boss talking in order to find out as much information as possible so that she and the Doctor could find out why Marie had died. These thoughts raced through her mind as Mr Inglesham watched her, a considering look on his face and a sense of surprise and disbelief overlying his anger and hatred. She realised that he wasn't used to dealing with people who talked back to him or had their own ideas about things.
"Why did you follow Stanley into the woods?"
Saskia shrugged again. "Curiosity mostly," she answered. "I could see he was carrying something heavy, but the way he looked at me and the way he moved were what really caught my attention. He looked like he was up to no good."
"So you followed him, a young woman on her own, followed a strange man whom she believed to be up to no good, into a wood?" There was a note of disbelief in his voice now.
"Yes," Saskia answered simply.
"And yet you don't look stupid. Why did you do it?"
"Saskia shrugged again, knowing he found the habit irritating and hoping to keep him off-balance. "To stop him." Her tone implied this was the obvious answer.
"How? Stanley said you mentioned someone else, a doctor. Doctor who?"
"Just 'the Doctor'," Saskia said.
"And where is this doctor?"
"Out looking for me, by now," Saskia answered.
"But he won't know where to find you," Mr Inglesham observed. "After all, you do not know where you are."
"I may not know our exact location, but it's safe to assume we're not that far from the woods where I met your man. He wouldn't have wanted to carry me very far, and not enough time has passed since we met for him to have taken me any distance in a car." Saskia knew that she had impressed him and would have been amused, if her situation hadn't been so serious, that such a man could be impressed by a little deductive reasoning. "It doesn’t matter where I am, though. The Doctor will find me, and when he does, he'll want to talk to you both, especially your man, to find out what you both know about the sudden death last night of a perfectly healthy woman."
"What woman?" asked Mr Inglesham.
"Last night?" asked Stan simultaneously.
"A cellist named Marie died at the Sheldonian Theatre last night in mysterious circumstances," Saskia said, trying to read two reactions at once. Stanley's was the easiest – he was feeling considerable surprise and some fear too. Mr Inglesham's feelings were more opaque, but a strong feeling of cold anger was uppermost in his mind. He looked at Stanley, a look of cold rage that burned even more intensely than most people's hot anger.
"Outside!" The man's curt tone promised pain, Saskia realised, and felt a momentary pang of pity for the hapless Stanley. Upstairs a door banged, and the voices and boots of two people could be heard entering the house. Stanley and his master went out, the one moving swiftly, the other moving painfully slowly. She wondered what crippled him, and what drove him. The rage and hatred he felt were very intense, but what fuelled them?
She closed her eyes and reached out for the Doctor, wondering if she could find him or if he could sense her when she was still taking Dr Karg's drugs.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 3 Part 2

2007-04-15T12:00:00.000Z

Stan, Ned and Kevin met for a late breakfast, all of them feeling the effects of their disturbed night, although Kevin had suffered the least of them, having slept through most of the uproar. Stan had a grim look and even Ned looked concerned at the thought of what the boss might do when he heard about the events of the previous night.
"Kevin, take the guys some breakfast," said Stan curtly.
Kevin looked mulish but obeyed. He had just enough sense to know better than to argue when Stan was in such a mood. He put mugs, bowls of cereal and a plate of sliced bread onto a tray, then added milk, sugar, marmalade, butter and finally a large pot of tea. He carried it carefully out of the room. Ned immediately turned to Stan and asked the question he had been wanting to ask for the past half hour.
"What are you going to tell the boss?"
"Everything," Stan answered shortly.
"But – "
"Ned, if I don't and he finds out later that I didn't – well let's just say it'd be more than my life's worth not to tell him everything now."
Ned swallowed, then nodded. "Do you want me to come up with you to see him?"
Stan shook his head. "Go and see if our other guest is awake yet and if she wants some breakfast."
"OK."
Stan knew that Ned was secretly relieved not to face Mr Inglesham. He scowled, then went out into the hallway. He met Kevin coming back from taking breakfast to the musicians and told him to stay in the kitchen until he got back.
"Can't I – " he began.
"No," Stan said, cutting him off. "Just go and wait in the kitchen, will you?"
Kevin scowled at Stan's departing back, then slouched sulkily into the kitchen to wait.
Stan went upstairs to his master's room and knocked on the door.
"Come."
Stan went inside, then stood stiffly at attention by the door.
"Sir."
His master, who was dressed in his usual impeccable clothes, making Stan feel rather dishevelled by comparison, looked up from his desk.
"Stanley. What have you to report this morning?" His voice was colder than usual, making him sound ancient.
"Our third guest had an epileptic seizure in the early hours of the morning," Stan said, trying not to flinch from his master's gaze.
"An epileptic seizure? How is this possible? We tested her thoroughly and the potential for such an affliction would have shown up in the tests."
"I don't know sir. I've checked all the test results and there was definitely nothing on them to indicate such a possibility."
"So the seizure is the result of the process which she underwent?" asked Mr Inglesham.
"I believe so, sir, though I'm not an expert in such matters." Stan waited for the inevitable order from his master whom he knew would tolerate no imperfections in his guests.
"Then get rid of her. Ned must go and fetch the cellist from town, and we will start again."
"Sir." Stanley's tone was neutral and expressionless, but he was not happy with this order, even though he had anticipated it. He went downstairs and back into the kitchen where Ned was waiting with Kevin. Ned caught his eye and saw a grim look there. He turned to Kevin.
"Go and bring the van round to the back door," he said.
Kevin looked surprised, but for once he didn't object or ask questions. He went out the back door, taking the van's keys from a nail by the door as he passed.
Ned looked at Stan's grim expression again. "What is it?" he asked.
"You're to go and fetch the cellist again," Stan answered.
"Oh." Ned looked unhappy. "We're doing it again then?" he asked.
Stan nodded. "Yes. Take Kevin with you, but keep a close eye on him. Don't let him talk to anyone, OK?"
Ned nodded. "OK," he said, his tone and manner quietly resigned. Stan went out and along the passageway, then down to the basement. He opened the door quietly and saw the woman on the trolley was asleep. Somehow that didn't make what he had to do any easier. He picked up a needle and the small bottle he'd used the day before to help her to sleep, but this time he used a bigger dose. He carefully injected the sleeping woman and waited until the regular rise and fall of her chest ceased. He would have to be quick if he was going to get her into the woods without being seen. He knew that the towpath alongside the river was often busy even this early in the morning, with dog walkers, runners and cyclists, not to mention rowers out on the river itself. He fetched a large sheet and wrapped it around the dead woman's body, then slung it over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. He went upstairs, through the kitchen and outside. He staggered slightly under the dead weight, but managed to keep his feet. He walked across the back garden, through the trees that screened the house from the river, and let himself out through the garden gate. He stole a quick glance at his watch, then swallowed a couple of times before setting off along the towpath, moving as quickly as he could manage whilst still carrying a dead body. He made it to the edge of the woods without seeing anyone except a distant runner in a white top and dark trousers who was moving towards him at a steady, ground-eating pace. He ducked in amongst the trees and moved a little distance away from the path, before laying down his burden, desperate to catch his breath for a few minutes before he completed his task. As he stood there, he listened and heard the regular footfalls of the runner approaching the edge of the woods. He found himself involuntarily holding his breath. A few moments later he let it out again with a yelp of surprise when a quiet voice spoke to him.
"What are you doing?"

Saskia was enjoying her run. She had done some warm up exercises first, well aware of the dangers of pulled muscles or torn ligaments if she tried to run when her body hadn't properly warmed up. Then she had set off along the towpath, enjoying the rhythm of her running, the warm Spring air and the early morning quiet. Initially she hadn't taken much notice of the distant figure who had emerged onto the towpath ahead of her, but as she got closer she could see that whoever it was had a large heavy object over one shoulder. And as she got closer still, she saw the figure looking at her, then move into the woods that lay ahead on the left hand side of the path. Something about the way he, she was close enough now to see it was a man, moved and ducked into the woods caught her attention, then she'd caught a faint sense of guilt and fear from him, and she hadn't hesitated to follow him into the woods.
She saw the figure ahead of her stop and put down his burden. "What are you doing?" she asked quietly, startling the man into a yelp of surprise. She saw he was short and stocky, with a shaven head and a scar across his right cheek. She also sensed his feelings of fear and guilt shifting into annoyance, and realised two things in quick succession: that she should have hesitated before following a strange man into a wood, and that this man was dangerous. However, it was too late to get away because he was aware that she knew he was up to no good – the very fact that she'd followed him told him that much. She found herself briefly wishing she hadn't picked up the Doctor's habit of incaution – and wondered, at the same time, when it had happened.
The two of them looked at each other for a long moment, the man seeing a tall, dark-haired woman with bright green eyes and a watchful manner that indicated he wasn't going to be able to bluff his way out of this situation. He wondered why she had followed him into the wood, a young woman on her own. Was it bravery or foolhardiness?
"What's it to you?" Stan asked.
Saskia shrugged. "It depends on whether or not you're doing something wrong. If you're up to no good, then it matters to me that you stop. If you're just disposing of your garden waste, then I'll be on my way."
Stan gave a short, mirthless laugh. "You think you could stop me if I'm up to no good?"
Saskia nodded.
"You and whose army?" he asked.
"No army. Just me and the Doctor," Saskia answered calmly.
"Doctor who?" asked Stan, puzzled by her confident manner.
"Just 'the Doctor'," Saskia answered.
"And where is this doctor of yours?" Stan asked sarcastically.
"Right now he's in Plantation Road."
"Which is far enough away for him not to be a threat to me, or much use to you," Stan pointed out, a grimly triumphant smile on his face.
"That depends," Saskia answered, trying to calm and keep him talking until she could find out what was going on.
"On what?" Stan asked impatiently.
"Speed mostly. The speed of reflexes, yours and mine, and how fast you can run. You see, the very fact that you're still talking to me instead of telling me to get lost or mind my own business, tells me that you're up to no good. As does the tension in your muscles and the fact that you're breathing no less rapidly now, even though you've put down that object you were carrying."
Stan looked at Saskia open-mouthed. "Who the hell are you, Sherlock bloody Holmes?" he demanded even as Saskia whirled around and sprang away from him, hoping that his surprise would give her enough of an advantage to get away.
A few moments later she was proved wrong when Stan threw himself bodily at her in a rugby tackle that sent her crashing into a tree, knocking her out.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 3 Part 1

2007-04-15T11:55:00.000Z

Showered and dressed in a change of clothing, Saskia and the Doctor sat at the kitchen table, eating breakfast and discussing their plan of action.
"First we'll go and see the coroner, Dr Price," the Doctor said, before taking another mouthful of his banana.
Saskia swallowed her cereal. "And where will we find Dr Price?" she asked, knowing the Doctor would have the answer.
"At the hospital in Headington," the Doctor answered.
"Headington? I know that name from somewhere," Saskia frowned as she turned the name over in her mind. "Oh! It's the suburb of Oxford where both Tolkien and Lewis lived in the 20th century." She grinned in triumph at remembering this fact.
The Doctor grinned back at her, then dropped his banana skin into the recycling unit. "Exactly. We'll take the TARDIS up to Headington to the hospital, see Dr Price and scan Marie's body." A sombre look settled on both their faces at the mention of the cellist's name. "Second, we'll find the pub on Plantation Road where Steve and Martin met the man with dark shabby clothes, and see if anyone can ID him, then find him and ask him what he knows about their disappearances, and what he knows about Marie's disappearance, or her body being strapped to a hospital trolley." The Doctor's tone promised trouble for someone if he didn't like the answers to his questions.
Saskia shivered a little at the memory of her two nightmares and the Doctor touched her shoulder. "OK?" he asked, his brown eyes full of concern.
She nodded and managed a half smile. "Do we have a third stage to this plan?"
The Doctor nodded, his look steely again. "We find out who's doing what to these musicians and we stop them." He stood up and they cleared away their breakfast things, Saskia washing up and the Doctor drying and putting things away. Saskia smiled inwardly at the thought that he'd make someone a good husband at least as far as cooking and tidying up was concerned.
"All set then?" the Doctor asked, breaking into her thoughts.
"Yes."
"Let's go then." The Doctor strode out of the kitchen and down the corridors to the Control Room, Saskia at his side.

Though he was slightly reluctant to admit it, the Doctor was glad that the TARDIS had accepted Saskia as his co-pilot after their trip to Eupatoria a couple of days ago, because it meant that he didn't have to do quite so much manic rushing around the console when piloting the TARDIS. In fact, the two of them engaged in what he thought of as a dance, weaving backwards and forwards around the console, pulling levers, turning dials and pressing buttons, and since they were linked telepathically via the TARDIS, there was none of the shouting of 'No, not that one, that one!', accompanied by wild pointing that had been necessary when Rose was trying to help him. He swallowed that thought hastily, annoyed that he was being disloyal to both Rose and Saskia.
It's not disloyalty to me to miss Rose. Saskia said quietly into his mind.
The Doctor looked up with a start of guilt and saw Saskia looking sadly at him.
"Saskia, I –" he said aloud.
"It's OK. You forgot I'd know what you were thinking. If you'd rather that I didn't be your co-pilot, I won't be offended," she said.
"No!" the Doctor said, his tone sharper than he'd intended. "No," he repeated more softly. He walked around the console to stand beside her. "You're right, I did forget that you would know what I'm thinking - I'm not yet used to being telepathically linked to anyone else whilst piloting the TARDIS. But I'll get used to it and it will be a nice change not to have to run around shouting like someone demented." He reached out and clasped both her shoulders. "I miss Rose enormously, but I'm very glad to have you here. Never forget or doubt that for one second." He smiled at her, and she smiled back, then hugged him fiercely. He moved away and resumed his position at the console. He gave her a nod and they began their dance to pilot the TARDIS from central Oxford to the edge of Headington. A few moments later the TARDIS rematerialised with its customary wheezing noise, then the Doctor and Saskia stepped through her doors into a hospital corridor.
"Where are we?" Saskia asked quietly.
The Doctor glanced along the corridor in both directions. "I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "Let's find out." He set off along the corridor, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his familiar blue pinstripe trousers, his long coat billowing around his legs as he strode along. By unspoken consent, they each kept an eye on the doors on their side of the corridor, looking for a sign by which to get their bearings. It was Saskia who spotted Dr Price's nameplate on a dark brown door.
"Doctor."
The Doctor crossed the corridor, then knocked on the door. There was no answer, so he pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver and aimed it at the lock. The Sonic Screwdriver buzzed, a beam of blue glowing light arcing out and into the lock, which then clicked open. The Doctor opened the door quietly, then reached inside for the light switch. He glanced into the room, then looked at Saskia. "It doesn't look like Dr Price is here yet," he said. "Can you stay here and keep an eye out, whilst I look around?"
Saskia nodded and the Doctor quickly stepped inside the office and crossed to a large desk where he began checking the paperwork. A few moments later, he came back out and locked the door again.
"Come on. If we're quick we can get Marie's body to the TARDIS before anyone notices anything."
Saskia followed the Doctor along the corridor to another door. The Doctor used the Sonic Screwdriver again to unlock the door, then went inside. Saskia heard him quietly opening a metal door and glanced inside the room in time to see him pulling out a long metal table on which lay a shrouded body. He lifted the cover and glanced down at the face, which Saskia was too far away to see, then covered it again. He looked up and caught Saskia's eye, then beckoned her into the room.
"Give me a hand?" he asked quietly.
Between them they got the cellist's body onto a trolley and out into the corridor. The Doctor paused to relock the door, then they guided the trolley up the corridor to the TARDIS. Saskia unlocked the door, then opened them both to their fullest extent. They pushed the trolley inside and down the corridors to the medical bay. Saskia suppressed a small shudder. She had spent far more time than she liked in this room.

The Doctor grasped the end of the bed that was already in the medical bay. "Let's move this, rather than lifting her on and off the trolley," he said. "It will save a little time."
Saskia took the other end of the bed and they lifted it over to the far wall, away from the scanners and other medical equipment.
"Can you go and keep watch by the TARDIS doors for me, please?" the Doctor asked. "You'll be aware of anyone approaching long before they come into view."
"Of course." Saskia went back up the corridors and crossed the Control Room to lean against the door frame. As far as she could tell, there was no one on this level apart from them.
About forty minutes later the TARDIS hummed at her and Saskia went back to the medical bay. "All finished?" she asked the Doctor quietly as he buttoned up the sleeves of his pale blue shirt, then pulled on his suit jacket.
"Yes. Let's get her back as quick as we can."
They wheeled the trolley back along the corridor and the Doctor unlocked the door again. They got the cellist's body back in place and the Doctor was just relocking the door when Saskia sensed someone on their floor. She grabbed the Doctor's wrist and spoke telepathically. Someone's coming.
The Doctor nodded once, then they ran silently up the corridor to the TARDIS. They hurried inside, closing the doors quietly, and crossed to the console. "Let's get out of here," the Doctor said. Saskia nodded and they dematerialised the TARDIS out of the hospital corridor.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Plantation Road, I hope. We'll wait there for the pub to open, and I can analyse the data from the TARDIS scanners. We'll see if we can find out why Marie died, then try to ID our mystery man."
"I might go for a run whilst you're analysing that data," Saskia said. "I could do with the exercise and I'm not going to be any use to you with the data analysis."
"OK."
The TARDIS rematerialised and the Doctor checked the scanner screen to see if they had landed in Plantation Road. Fortunately they had arrived opposite the pub.
"Right, I'm going to the medical bay to get started on that data. See you later," the Doctor said.
Saskia nodded, then pulled the scanner screen around the central column to where she stood, and called up a local map so she could decide where she wanted to go for her run. She saw they were near a large open space called Port Meadow, which looked perfect for the purpose. She could even run alongside the river on the towpath. Ten minutes later, dressed in a white t-shirt, black casual trousers and running shoes, Saskia let herself out of the TARDIS, locked the door, put her key back around her neck on its chain, then headed off towards Port Meadow.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 2 Part 3

2007-04-15T11:50:00.000Z

The Doctor watched Saskia walk away, a look of surprise and bemusement on his face. He wasn't quite sure what to make of her just at the moment. Then he shook his head, as if to clear it, and turned to the TARDIS console. He wanted to run an analysis on the readings he'd taken from Marie before she died. It wasn't much data, but it was something to be going on with until he had the chance to use the more sensitive TARDIS scanners to take some readings. He hoped the coroner would be less hostile than the paramedics had been. Then he remembered that he needed to check where he would find Dr Price the following day. He ran a quick search, then turned to downloading and analysing the readings from his Sonic Screwdriver.

Saskia undressed, then pulled on her favourite pyjamas before crawling into bed. She felt that a week's sleep would be very welcome, never mind a few hours. She found herself sleepily wondering how she'd dared to kiss the Doctor. Perhaps it was because this evening was the first time since she'd met him that he'd seemed genuinely happy. Before she could give the matter any more thought she had fallen asleep.

A few hours later she woke in a panic from a nightmare in which an alien entity had been trying to steal her mind. She sat bolt upright in bed and looked around the room, checking that she was really alone. She sat with her arms wrapped around her knees for a few minutes, then decided she didn't want to try to sleep again just in case she went back into the same nightmare. She picked up her dressing gown from the chair beside her bed, and pulled it on, then padded out of her room, her bare feet noiseless in the quiet corridors.
When Saskia opened the kitchen door a few minutes later, she was surprised to find the Doctor seated at the table, a book open in front of him and a mug of tea by his right hand. He was wearing his glasses, his bow tie was hanging loose around his neck, and his hair was sticking up wildly.
"Hello," he said. "I didn't expect to see you for a good few hours yet."
"I had a nightmare," Saskia said as she sat down beside him. "I don't want to go back to sleep again just yet in case I just have the same nightmare again."
"A nightmare? What was it about?" the Doctor asked curiously.
"An alien entity was trying to steal my mind. I was strapped onto a hospital trolley in a brightly lit basement. It wasn't a hospital, though." She shivered suddenly. "It was rather horrible, actually."
The Doctor got up and pulled off his tuxedo jacket. "Here, put this on. I'll make you some herbal tea to help you sleep." He gave her the jacket, then opened a cupboard for a mug and some teabags.
Saskia pulled off her dressing gown, pulled on his jacket which smelled of fresh air and cinnamon for some reason, then put on her dressing gown again. She wished she had put something on her feet as they suddenly felt cold, which seemed odd since she had often walked around the TARDIS barefoot before and never had cold feet. She crossed her right ankle over her left leg and began rubbing her foot, trying to warm it up.

The Doctor turned around and saw Saskia rubbing her foot. He raised his eyebrows.
"My feet are cold," Saskia explained. "Although I don't know why. They've never felt cold before when I've walked barefoot around the TARDIS."
"Hmm. That's odd." The Doctor pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver, then hunkered down beside Saskia's chair. "May I?" he asked, gesturing at Saskia's foot.
She stretched out her leg and he cradled her foot in one hand whilst scanning it with his Sonic Screwdriver. "Other one," he said, putting her foot down.
Saskia offered him her other foot and he scanned that too.
"Hmm. Your feet do seem to be several degrees cooler than your legs. How strange." He put away his Sonic Screwdriver then began rubbing Saskia's foot vigorously. "I hope you're not ticklish," he said suddenly.
Saskia raised her eyebrows. "Ticklish?"
"A lot of people are very ticklish on their feet," the Doctor explained.
"Oh. Well I've no idea, no one's ever tried tickling my feet."
"What never?" asked the Doctor in surprise.
"Not that I can recall."
Before the Doctor could answer, the kettle switched itself off, and he put Saskia's foot back on the floor, then got up to make her tea. He put the mug on the table beside her. "It's Camomile and Honey," he told her. "It should help you to sleep."
"Thanks."
"Are you feet still cold?" he asked.
Saskia nodded. The Doctor pulled his chair away from the table, positioned it in front of her and sat down. He patted his knees. "Put them up here," he said.
Saskia lifted her feet up and the Doctor began rubbing her feet vigorously again, one after the other, whilst Saskia slowly drank her tea. She realised she was starting to feel sleepy again, probably because she was warmer, she thought drowsily.
"Saskia."
"Mmm." Saskia realised her eyes were closed and opened them reluctantly.
"Come on, back to bed with you. If you fall asleep there, you'll feel uncomfortable quite quickly."
"Mmm." Saskia felt the Doctor lift her feet from his knees and forced her eyes open again. "Sorry," she said, then yawned hugely, her eyes closing again. She heard the scrape of the Doctor's chair as he got up and knew she should move too, but her body felt too heavy.
"Come on." The Doctor spoke in her ear. He pulled her to her feet, then hooked her right arm around his shoulders, before picking her up. He carried her out of the kitchen and back to her room. He sat her on her bed, pulling off her dressing gown and his jacket. Saskia opened her eyes and looked up at him sleepily. "Thank you."
"No problem. Lie down then."
Saskia obeyed, and the Doctor pulled the bedding up over her. He kissed her forehead. "Sleep well," he said, then turned out the light and left her to sleep. He was a bit surprised that the tea he had given her had proved so effective, and wondered why. He dismissed the thought for another day and went back to the kitchen to wash up their mugs, before taking his book back to the library, where he settled down to read in his favourite chair.

About three hours later he was jolted out of a light doze by the sound of screaming. He leapt out of the chair, shot across the room and through the door, before running down the corridor to Saskia's room. He flung open the door and flicked on the light. Saskia was lying absolutely rigid on the bed, her arms at her sides. He hurried across the room, grabbed her shoulders and attempted to pull her upright. He was appalled when he discovered that he couldn't move her.
"Saskia!" The Doctor wondered if she was having some sort of brain seizure and pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver. A quick scan showed that she was still asleep and dreaming. He pocketed his Sonic Screwdriver and sat down beside her on the bed. He placed two long fingers behind her ears, and two in front on her temples, closed his eyes and reached into her mind.

At first Saskia's nightmare was just a confused impression of noise: a woman was screaming, and a man was yelling at someone else, who was shouting back at him. The second person rushed to the side of the man who was trying to give an injection to the woman as she lay strapped helplessly to a hospital trolley. The second person, a man the Doctor now realised, was trying to stop the woman from screaming. As the first man moved his arm, the Doctor caught a glimpse of the woman's face and realised with a sense of shock that he recognised it. He'd been looking at her face just a few hours ago, after failing to save her from a heart attack.
The Doctor dragged his gaze away and looked for Saskia, finding her huddled in a corner, staring at the scene that was unfolding in her dream. The Doctor reached out to her and pulled her away. Come on Saskia, come back with me. Saskia! Come with me! The Doctor felt a surge of relief when she turned to him and he was able to pull them both out of her nightmare.
He opened his eyes and saw Saskia's green ones looking up at him, a look of fear in their depths. He took his hands from her head, then pulled her into a tight hug, feeling her shaking with fright.
"It's OK, Saskia, it's OK," he murmured softly.
She clung to him tightly, trying not to cry or whimper. Like the Doctor, she had recognised the woman in her dream as Marie, the cellist who had died just a few hours ago. She had no idea what the dream meant, but she had been terrified by Marie's sense of fear and helplessness. She realised now that her earlier nightmare had only been a prelude to this one. She couldn't work out why she was dreaming about Marie, or what had happened to her. Why had those men strapped Marie to a trolley? And what did they know about the disappearances of Martin and Steve?
Saskia's shudders subsided and she loosened her tight grip on the Doctor, and looked at him, to find his warm brown eyes looking anxiously back at her.
"Are you OK?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Was that the same woman you saw in your earlier nightmare?" the Doctor asked.
"Yes, although I didn't see her face before, so I didn't realise it was Marie the cellist."
"I wonder why you're dreaming about her now, when she's dead?" The Doctor sounded thoughtful and curious.
"And what did those men do to her?" Saskia asked. "One of them is the same chap who was talking to Steve and Martin in the pub on Monday night. I recognised him from Martin's memory."
"Which man was the one they met?"
"The one giving the injection," Saskia answered.
"It's definitely the same man?" asked the Doctor.
"Yes, unless he's got a twin brother."
"We'll have to go to the pub and see if anyone can recognise his description, tell us who he is. I want to know what he's up to, and who he's working with or for." The Doctor's tone was fierce, his face hard with anger.

"I'm going to have a shower and get dressed," Saskia said. "I don't know what time it is, but I really don't want to try to sleep again. Two nightmares in one night is more than enough."
"It's five in the morning," the Doctor said, standing up and stretching languidly.
"Then I'm definitely getting up," Saskia said.
"OK. I think I'll go and have a shower too. I'll see you in the kitchen in a bit."
Saskia nodded her agreement, then turned to pick up her dressing gown as the Doctor went out. She wondered if a shower would make up for her disturbed sleep. Probably not, she decided, but it might make her feel a bit better.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 2 Part 2

2007-04-15T11:45:00.000Z

Saskia looked out into the corridor after him and nodded to Mr Rogers, who was waiting in the corridor again. He went away to fetch the clarinettist, and Saskia leant against the wall, her eyes closed in exhaustion.
The Doctor put his hand on her shoulder. "OK?" he asked softly.
She opened her eyes and looked up at his concerned face. "Tired. More than tired, actually," she answered.
"We'll head for the TARDIS as soon as we've spoken to Steve," the Doctor promised her.
She nodded, then pulled herself away from the wall as the door opened and a young man entered the room. He was a few inches taller than Martin, and looked several years older, although that may have been the effect of his beard. He looked more relaxed than Martin.
The Doctor introduced himself and Saskia, then explained what they wanted to know. "We understand from Martin that you and he went for a drink on Monday evening?" the Doctor said, carefully not mentioning the fact that Martin hadn't actually told them this.
"Yeah we did, but there's nothing unusual in that. It's not as if we had a concert until Wednesday."
Saskia noticed that Steve suddenly seemed more wary, almost defensive, now and wondered why. She glanced at the Doctor and saw from the expression in his eyes that he had also noticed Steve's wariness.
"That's OK. We just wondered what you could tell us about your missing 24 hours," the Doctor said.
Steve shrugged. "Nothing. I remember leaving the pub with Martin and the chap that we'd been talking to in there, then nothing until the next evening."
"Are you prone to losing 24 hours of your life?" Saskia asked curiously.
"No. The only other time it's happened was when I was in my teens and I had the flu. I slept for 24 hours straight."
"But you weren't ill this time?" Saskia asked.
Steve shook his head. "No. I felt a bit odd on Tuesday evening, sort of dizzy and disoriented, but I put that down to the fact I hadn't eaten for 24 hours, once I knew that's how much time had passed."
"And did you tell anyone what had happened?" the Doctor asked.
"Only Julie, Marie and Martin. We'd arranged to go the cinema together on Tuesday evening and the two girls were trying to get hold of us when we didn't show up as arranged."
"This chap you met in the pub, was he a local do you think?" asked the Doctor.
Steve shrugged. "I guess. He didn't have a particularly noticeable accent, not that he said a lot."
"What did he look like?" asked Saskia.
"About 35, 40. Five foot nine, I guess. Very short black hair. And wearing dark clothes that were neat, but worn, like he'd had them a few years."
"Fat, thin, in the middle?" Saskia asked.
"Bulky, but it was muscle, not fat, like he worked out regularly," Steve said.
"OK, thanks. Where can we contact you, if we need to?" asked the Doctor.
"I'll give you my mobile number," Steve said.
The Doctor nodded and pulled a slim silver object from his jacket pocket. As he flipped it open Saskia realised it was a mobile phone, something she'd never seen before. Steve recited his number and the Doctor tapped it into the phone.
"What about Martin's and Julie's numbers?" the Doctor asked. "I forgot to ask them."
Steve recited two more numbers. "Is that it?" he asked. "Can I go now?"
"Yes thanks," answered the Doctor.

Saskia opened the door and watched him go down the corridor before crossing over to the sofa and slumping down onto it. The Doctor perched on its arm, next to her.
"What I can't understand is how calm they are about losing 24 hours of their life. If that happened to you and no one could tell you why, wouldn't you be at least a little concerned?" he asked.
"I'd be very worried," Saskia said. "Possibly even panicking."
"Exactly." He rubbed the back of his head absent-mindedly.
"Perhaps they were drugged and the drugs were tranquillisers?" Saskia suggested, eyes closed and head leaning back against the sofa. The Doctor looked down at her pale face and the dark shadows under her eyes.
"Come on," he said, standing up briskly. "Time my lady was in her bed before she turns into a pumpkin."
Saskia opened one eye and squinted up at him. "Servant girl, surely?" she asked with a tired smile.
"Depends which version of the fairy tale you know," the Doctor answered with a grin. He held out both his hands and when Saskia grasped them, pulled her to her feet.
"Where did you leave your carriage?" she asked, stifling a yawn as they walked out into the corridor.
"Near a riverbank," the Doctor answered.
Saskia stopped dead in her tracks. "I'm sorry, Doctor, but I simply cannot walk back there tonight. I'll be asleep on my feet before much longer."
"No need," the Doctor answered, slipping her arm through his own. "I shall summon my carriage." He patted his breast pocket where Saskia knew he usually kept his Sonic Screwdriver.
"Oh good," she murmured, allowing him to lead her out of the building. She blinked in surprise when the cold night air hit her face.
"Come on," the Doctor said. "We'll just go around the corner and find a quiet spot for the TARDIS to materialise in."
Saskia went where she was led, stumbling slightly in her weariness. They stopped by a sign that indicated they were in Brasenose Lane. The Doctor pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver and activated the remote control program. Moments later the TARDIS dematerialised with its familiar wheeze, and the Doctor guided Saskia inside.
"Go on," he said, patting her on the shoulder. "Bed."
She took a step away from him, then stopped and turned back to him again. "Thank you," she said. "I enjoyed the first part of the evening."
"Good." The Doctor smiled at her, brown eyes alight with pleasure. Saskia took another step towards him, then reached out and hugged him. She was relieved when he wrapped his arms around her in return. She looked up at his face, then stood on tiptoes to kiss him, before pulling away and heading out of the Control Room.

Stan was relieved when he heard Kevin let himself back into the house, banging the back door shut, as he always did. He went upstairs and into the kitchen, glancing up at the clock to see that it was ten o'clock. "How drunk are you?" he asked.
Kevin looked at him owlishly. " 'm not drunk," he said.
"Prove it." Stan grabbed his arm and pulled him out into the passage that led to the stairs and the basement. "Walk along there."
He watched closely as Kevin walked reasonably steadily along the corridor. "Good enough," he said. "Our third guest is now conscious, though currently she's asleep. You're going to watch her for me until Ned relieves you, and I'm going to bed."
Kevin groaned softly "Aw Stan, you know I 'ate that job," he said.
Stan looked at him scornfully. "Do you want to go and tell my master that?" he asked.
Kevin gulped. "Nah. I'll go downstairs." He shuffled off along the corridor and Stan made himself comfortable on a camp bed in the corner of the kitchen. He'd ask Ned to relieve Kevin around two o'clock, then he could go to his own room. He closed his eyes, glad that he'd long ago mastered the habit of sleeping lightly. About an hour later Ned let himself into the house, far more quietly than Kevin had done, but Stan was awake immediately. He reached out and turned on the small lamp beside the bed and Ned blinked in the sudden light.
"Ned, can you relieve Kevin at two? He's downstairs watching our third guest."
Ned nodded.
"Good man. Lock that door, will you? I'm going to bed." He went out, leaving Ned to lock up.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 2 Part 1

2007-04-15T11:40:00.000Z

The Doctor quickly outlined his concerns to Mr Rogers and asked if they could talk to those musicians who had been close to the cellist.
"Marie was friendliest with Martin the Principal Violinist, Steve the clarinettist, and Julie the flautist," Mr Rogers said.
"We'll talk to them first then – but not in there," the Doctor said, jerking his thumb at the room where Marie had died.
Mr Rogers nodded and led them into a smaller room next door. "I'll go and fetch the others," he said.
"We'll see them one at a time, Julie first," the Doctor said. He sat down on the sofa and Saskia sat next to him, wishing the evening had turned out differently.
"Listen, I don't want to seem like I'm taking advantage of your natural abilities, nor do I want to make you feel uncomfortable, but if you get the chance to read anyone's mind, will you do so, for the sake of helping me to find out what's going on?"
Saskia swallowed a slight feeling of distaste and nodded. The Doctor held her hand for a moment. "I know you usually ask people's permission before reading their thoughts, but I don't want to get caught up in long explanations of how you can read their thoughts, or what we're doing here."
Saskia nodded again. "I understand," she said.
He squeezed her fingers. "Thanks."

The door opened and Mr Rogers ushered in a small, blonde-haired woman. Her eyes were red from crying, but otherwise she had an attractive face. The Doctor got up, shook hands with her, and introduced himself and Saskia, before leading her to the seat he had vacated.
"Can you tell us something about Marie?" he asked gently.
Julie nodded, then started to cry again. Saskia pulled a handful of tissues from a box on the nearby table and gave them to Julie, then put her arm around the other woman's shoulders. She skimmed lightly through Julie's thoughts and memories, her own mind no more than a feathery touch on Julie's. Saskia concentrated carefully on ensuring that Julie was unaware of her presence, shutting out the Doctor's voice asking questions, and Julie's answers. After ten minutes she pulled her mind away from Julie's and focused on the Doctor's voice again, using it to anchor herself back in her own mind.
"Has anyone reported these disappearances to the authorities?" the Doctor asked.
Julie shook her head. "The police only file a Missing Person's report if someone is gone for more than a few days, and since they all came back within 24 hours, and unharmed apart from amnesia, no one thought to worry too much."
The Doctor gave her a disbelieving look. "Three musicians disappear for 24 hours at a time, then come back with no recollection of where they've been, and no one thought it was worth worrying about?" he asked incredulously.
Julie shrugged. "Everyone's been stressed lately – our schedule is at its busiest for the next four months. I think we all assumed that Steve and Martin had been on a bender and were just too embarrassed to admit to it."
The Doctor's eyebrows shot up. "And Marie?" he asked.
Julie looked slightly ashamed. "She split up with her long-term partner last month. I – I thought that maybe she'd found a new man but didn't want to say anything yet." She blushed furiously.

Saskia cast a glance at the Doctor, who was gaping at the flautist in patent disbelief. She glowered at him, then patted Julie's arm. "Thank you for talking to us," she said. "I'm truly sorry about your friend's death." She got up and Julie stood up too, following Saskia to the door. Saskia saw Mr Rogers outside. "Give us five minutes before we see Martin?" she asked. He nodded and Saskia shut the door, then turned to the Doctor who was pacing backwards and forwards across the room. He looked up at Saskia.
"Humans!" he exclaimed. "Your capacity for self-delusion never ceases to amaze me!"
Saskia shrugged. "I think it's hardwired in to us," she said. "Anyway, what do we make of the fact that three musicians from one orchestra have gone missing for 24 hours, and come back with no recollection of where they've been?"
"To be honest, I don't know what to make of it," the Doctor said, frustration in both his voice and his body language.
"Then let's talk to the two men and see what I can find out from them," Saskia suggested, "though it may be harder with them."
"Why?"
"They might not want a strange woman putting her arm around them, assuming that it's even necessary for me to do so," Saskia answered, giving him a look that said it should be obvious.
"Oh yes, I see what you mean," the Doctor said. "Well, do the best that you can please."
Saskia nodded as the door opened and Mr Rogers ushered in the violinist. Martin was in his early twenties, though he looked younger. Saskia thought he looked tired, especially around the eyes, but he didn't seem obviously upset about Marie's death.
The Doctor introduced himself and Saskia, but before he could ask any questions, Martin spoke.
"Are you the police?" he asked, not moving from the spot inside the door where he had stopped after being shown in to the room.
"No," answered the Doctor.
"Then why should I answer your questions?" asked the young man in a belligerent tone.
"Because someone whom we were told was a friend of yours has just died in mysterious circumstances," the Doctor said, a sharp note of disbelief in his voice.
Saskia sensed that he couldn't quite believe that Martin wasn't prepared to talk to them. "Martin, we just want to find out why Marie died, and if you can answer a few questions that will help us to do so," she said.
"I thought she had a heart-attack?" he asked, clearly still suspicious of them.
"She did," answered the Doctor, "but as far as I can tell, she wasn't suffering from heart disease, so there was no obvious reason for her to have a heart attack."

Martin looked from the Doctor to Saskia, who tried to smile encouragingly at him. The Doctor was losing patience, Saskia could tell. Martin half turned towards the door, and Saskia reached out, grabbing his hand. "Would it really hurt to answer a couple of questions?" she asked persuasively.
He hesitated and Saskia flicked a glance at the Doctor, who moved to stand on the other side of the violinist. Before Martin could ask what was happening, the Doctor reached out and touched his temple. As he fell, Saskia and the Doctor caught him between them and got him over to the sofa.
"What is it with this lot?" the Doctor grumbled in exasperation.
"No idea," Saskia answered. "Are you going to talk to him or shall I just read his thoughts?"
The Doctor looked at her. "Can you read his thoughts? It would be the quickest way to get some answers."
Saskia sat down beside the violinist and took his hands in her own. She closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to sort through the rather confused images in Martin's mind. She let go of his hands a few minutes later and opened her eyes to see the Doctor hunkered beside her, looking hopeful.
She frowned. "Something odd happened to him. He and Steve went to a pub on Monday evening for a couple of drinks. They met a man there who bought them some drinks and listened to them talking about music and their life in the orchestra. Martin remembers that he and Steve left the pub with this man, and then he woke up in his digs on Tuesday evening, but he has no memory of what happened during the 24 hours between leaving the pub and waking up."
"How much did he drink?" asked the Doctor.
"Only two glasses of red wine."
The Doctor frowned. "Well that was hardly a drinking binge. What was this man like, the one they met at the pub?"
"In his late thirties or early forties. Very short black hair, dark clothes that looked a bit shabby. He was solidly built, but it was muscle, not fat that made him bulky. According to Martin's recollection of him this man didn't say a lot."
"Hmm. That's not a lot to go on. Which pub did they go to?"
"The Gardener's Arms, on Plantation Road," Saskia answered.
"Let's wake him up then, so we can talk to the clarinettist. I just hope he's more co-operative," the Doctor said.
"So do I," Saskia said wearily.
They got the violinist over to the door again, and Saskia watched as the Doctor touched his temple, waking him up again.
"What?" Martin asked, looking a little bemused.
"I was just saying that we wouldn't keep you any longer, but if you change your mind about talking to us, we'd be very interested in hearing from you," the Doctor said as he opened the door.
"Right." The violinist went out.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 1 Part 3

2007-04-15T11:35:00.000Z

Stan went back downstairs to the kitchen and a few moments later Ned let himself in through the back door.
"OK?" he asked as he filled the kettle, then took a plastic bottle of milk from the fridge.
"Yep." Ned was a taciturn man, a few years younger than Stan. He was solidly built, but it was all muscle that made up his bulk. He also kept his ginger hair very short, and his dark clothes were tidy but a little shabby.
"Go and have a look to see if our other guest is awake yet downstairs, will you?" Stan asked. "Then I'll fix us a meal."
Ned nodded and went out down the long passageway that ended in a staircase that led into the basement. He opened the heavy oak door quietly and looked over at the hospital trolley, then flicked on the overhead fluorescent lights. The figure lying on the trolley was almost as still as death, only the slight rise and fall of the sheet over her chest showing that she was actually alive. He could see that the woman's eyes were closed. He turned the lights off again and went back to the kitchen. He had no interest in the dark-haired woman who was strapped to the trolley, beyond the interest that was required of him by his master.
He went back to the kitchen where a mug of tea was waiting for him. Stan was busy frying eggs and bacon. Ned sat down at the table and drank some of his tea, before pulling a loaf of bread on a board towards him. He began cutting thick slices from it, which he buttered and piled onto a plate.
"I presume she's still sleeping then?" Stan asked as he lifted the eggs and bacon from the pan onto two more plates.
"Yep."
Stan served up chips and baked beans as well, then they settled down to their meal in silence.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 1 Part 2

2007-04-15T11:30:00.001Z

It wasn't long before the limo pulled up outside the Randolph Hotel, which Saskia remembered seeing on their last visit to Oxford. She couldn't help glancing back across the road at the Ashmolean Museum as she waited for the Doctor to get out of the car first. He caught the direction of her glance and clasped her hand in his, then got out. She followed him and they went inside the restaurant where various members of staff immediately began fussing around them. Saskia found herself wondering who the Doctor had told them he was since she was sure he hadn't used his real name. She gave a mental shrug and followed the Doctor and the maitre d' to their table.
The Doctor looked at the menu, then at Saskia, who was looking slightly dazed. "What do you fancy to eat?" he asked.
Saskia focused her attention on the menu. "I have no idea," she said, closing it after a few moments. "You choose." She looked around the restaurant, taking in the display of the coats of arms of the various colleges that made up the University of Oxford, the plush red velvet curtains, the chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, and found herself wondering if she would wake up in a minute and find she was just dreaming all this. It certainly beats Rose's chips after the end of the world! she thought, trying not to feel smug.

The Doctor's voice broke in on her thoughts. "So, what can you tell me about the music we're going to hear?"
Saskia explained that Elgar had been considered one of England's finest composers and he had written the Cello Concerto in 1919, not long after the end of the First World War of Earth's twentieth century. She explained it was intended to be a lament for the world that had been lost during the War that had changed Europe forever.
"Have you heard it played live before?" the Doctor asked after she had finished explaining its structure and themes.
"No. I've got a couple of recordings of it, one of which I brought with me from home, but I've never heard it played live."
"Then the concert will be a treat," the Doctor said, looking pleased.
"Oh yes," Saskia agreed, her green eyes shining with excitement.
They finished their meal soon afterwards and Saskia was surprised to discover an hour had passed. "How are we getting to the Theatre?" she asked as they went outside.
"Walking, it's not far from here."
"OK."
The Doctor offered her his arm again, and she took it, secretly amused that he was being so gentlemanly. She wondered if it was because he was anticipating monsters later and wanted to make the most of the evening before they arrived. Then she decided that she wouldn't ask him as she didn't want to embarrass him when the evening had been perfect so far.

Stan let himself into the large ground floor room at the back of the house. It had been a dining room once upon a time, but now it was home to two musicians, the guests of his master. The two men looked up from tuning their instruments. The violinist was in his early twenties, but looked younger. The clarinettist was in his late twenties, but looked older because of the beard he wore.
"Dinner," Stan said, setting down the tray on the table.
"Thanks."
"Thank you."
They laid aside their instruments and crossed to the table.
"How's it going?" Stan asked them.
"Fine. We'll be ready for the concert," answered the clarinettist.
"Good. My master will be delighted to hear that." He let himself back out of the room, locking the door behind him, and went upstairs to his master's room. He knocked on the door and a low voice answered.
"Come in."
Stan went in. As usual the room was dimly lit, the curtains pulled tight across the windows that overlooked the garden, and only a low power bulb in the lamp on the desk. Stan wondered, not for the first time, how his master could see to work, but he knew better than to ask.
"Sir."
His master looked up from his desk. He was a tall man with short steel grey hair, dressed in a black pinstripe suit, a dark tie and a crisp white shirt with shining cufflinks. He met Stan's gaze over a pair of gold framed, half moon reading glasses. He wore shiny black leather shoes with pointed toes, and a pale beige silk scarf was flung negligently around his neck and shoulders.
"Stanley?" His voice rasped as if he rarely spoke and his skin was pale from lack of natural light.
"Ned's taken the cellist in to town," Stan said, standing stiffly at attention.
"And has our third guest awoken yet?"
"No sir."
"Inform me the moment she does."
"Sir." Stan nodded and turned away, letting himself out of the room quietly. Sometimes he couldn't help wondering what went on in his master's head, given the ideas he came up with, but Stan knew he would never dare to ask – it was more than his life was worth.

When Saskia and the Doctor got to the Sheldonian Theatre, she found herself gazing in awe at the magnificent Wren building. The main theatre was circular inside and the front part of the building was also circular outside, but the back was rectangular. Saskia tore her gaze away from the gargoyles that topped the wall in front of the building and looked at the Doctor. He was grinning indulgently at her, like he'd just given a child a magnificent treat. Which, from his point view, he had since she was only 30 and he was over 900 years old. She swallowed that thought hastily.
"OK?" he asked softly, seeing a fleeting look of sadness cross her face.
She nodded emphatically. "Perfect."
He patted her hand where it lay on his arm, and led her up the steps into the Theatre's courtyard and then into the Theatre itself. He showed his psychic paper to the man who was checking tickets at the door, and the man immediately summoned a colleague. The second man led them to their reserved seats in the centre of the Lower Gallery. Stone columns supported both the Lower and Upper Galleries, but the centre of the round theatre was free of pillars, making it possible for the largest number of the thousand-strong audience to see the orchestra as it performed. A brass railing ran across the front of the two galleries, ensuring that no one could fall to the floor below. Saskia was gazing around in appreciation of the magnificence and age of their surroundings when she glanced up, then gasped. "Doctor," she said in a hushed voice.
The Doctor followed her gaze and saw the painted ceiling above them. "Very nice," he murmured. "Not quite the Sistine Chapel, but still very nice."
Just as Saskia was wishing they had seats in the Upper Gallery so that she could have a closer view of the ceiling, a voice spoke in an agitated tone behind them.
"Excuse me. Am I right in thinking you are Doctor John Smith?"
Saskia looked round, wondering who the voice might be addressing, and saw a man looking at the Doctor.
"That's me," he answered cheerfully, his Scottish lilt suddenly very noticeable.
"I'm sorry to disturb you sir, but I wondered if you would come backstage with me. Our cellist has been taken ill and I was told you were a doctor and could assist."
Saskia suppressed a moan as the Doctor immediately got to his feet. She slipped her hand into his and spoke to him telepathically. I'm coming too, she said.
OK. He sensed there was no point in urging Saskia to stay and enjoy the music, particularly when she was so interested in hearing the cellist perform.

They made their way along the gallery to the nearest door, apologising to the other concert goers. The man led them down the narrow spiral staircase, then into the backstage area of the Theatre. Saskia felt concerned as she sensed a great deal of anxiety, and even fear, from the man who was guiding them. Dosed up on Dr Karg's drugs, she couldn't clearly read the man's thoughts, but she got enough to know that something was going on. She fervently hoped it wasn't monsters.

Oxford Ostinato - Chapter 1 Part 1

2007-04-15T11:30:00.000Z

Kevin watched the strangers disappear across the grass with little curiosity. He wasn't paid to be curious, just observant. He turned back towards the house that was hidden amongst the trees, looking forward to his shift ending and a break from the boredom of being stuck out in the Oxfordshire countryside. When he'd accepted this job in London the previous week, he'd thought it would be easy money, and so far it was, but he hadn't anticipated the sheer boredom of his 'babysitting' role. He hoped it would all be over soon so that he could take his earnings and go away for a week or two. Maybe he'd go to Manchester or Glasgow. Somewhere lively with lots of people was definitely necessary.

Once back at the TARDIS, the Doctor asked Saskia to put their picnic things away whilst he looked to see what concerts were being performed in or near the city.
"I promised you a treat," he said, "and you shall have it. Nothing is going to stop us."
Saskia rolled her eyes. "Well you've totally jinxed us now," she said. "I thought you knew better than that!"
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Oh ye of little faith," he said, pretending to be hurt, but secretly wondering if she was right. He suddenly remembered chastising Ida for saying 'No turning back' when they were investigating the interior of the planet that orbited a black hole. He saw that Saskia was looking at him expectantly and sighed. "OK. I shouldn't have said that. If we get monsters instead of music, I promise I'll make it up to you as it'll be my fault entirely."
Saskia grinned at him. "Deal." She went off to the kitchen with the picnic hamper.
The Doctor watched her go, relieved by her smile. He'd been worried that his big speech just now might have soured their friendship since it was still so new. He pulled off his overcoat, draping it over the back of the bench, then pulled out his dark framed glasses and put them on. He used the TARDIS to check local events listings in an effort to find a concert that Saskia would enjoy.

Kevin walked through the evergreen trees that surrounded his current, and very temporary he hoped, home and let himself into the kitchen through the back door.
"All clear?" asked the kitchen's other occupant, a short, stocky man in his forties with a shaven head and a scar across his right cheek.
"Yeah. There was a couple across the river, had a picnic, but they've buggered off again now," answered Kevin.
"Did they see you?"
Kevin looked disgusted. "Course not! I ain't no amateur, you know! They 'ad no clue I was there."
"All right, keep your hair on." Stan offered him a mug of black tea.
"Ta." Kevin took the mug and sat down heavily at the table. " 'Ow much longer d'you reckon we'll be 'ere?" he asked, after drinking noisily.
"Week maybe," Stan answered, scratching his cheek.
"A week? Geez I 'ope not!" Kevin scowled. "It's so bloody borin'!"
"Well find something to do with yourself," Stan advised.
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Read a book or something." Stan scowled at him, annoyance reddening his face so that the scar stood out lividly. "You can read?"
"Cheeky bastid!" Kevin exclaimed. "Course I can read. I went to school an' all!"
"Well then." Stan stood up. "I'd better go and feed our guests," he said and picked up a covered tray from the table.
"See ya later then," Kevin said. He finished his tea, then let himself out of the house again and set off around it, then down the long, tree-lined drive to the distant gate.
He'd go to the pub and have a couple of pints and some food before he headed into town for some fun.

When Saskia walked into the Control Room after disposing of their picnic things, she found the Doctor sitting on the bench, with his feet up on the console. He was munching on a banana.
"Hello," he said with a big grin. "I've found three concerts for you. It's your decision as to which one we go to."
Saskia sat down beside him. "Go on then."
"The Oxford Chamber Orchestra are doing the Overture to Mozart's Magic Flute, Sibelius' En Saga and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6. Or Oxford Philomusica are doing Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Finally, the City of Oxford Orchestra are doing Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte, Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony and Elgar's Cello Concerto."
Saskia frowned. "They're all doing a concert tonight? Surely that's bad planning?"
"Actually no," the Doctor answered. "The concerts are on different nights this week, but – " he gestured around the Control Room " – Time Machine."
Saskia raised an eyebrow but didn't say what she was thinking. She had no desire to insult either the TARDIS or the Doctor by questioning their ability to arrive back in Oxford on the right date. "Well, I like the sound of the concert featuring Elgar and Beethoven," she said.
"Fantastic!" The Doctor beamed at her. "That one's actually on tonight. Go and get your glad rags on, and we'll go for a meal first."
"Glad rags?" Saskia asked quizzically.
The Doctor nodded. "We're going to do this properly, so we'll dress up."
Saskia shrugged. "OK. I'll go and see what clothes I brought with me that qualify as 'glad rags'."
"If you haven't got anything suitable, there's bound to be something in the TARDIS wardrobe," he told her.

Saskia went to her room, wondering what the Doctor would wear. She'd only ever seen him wearing his blue pinstripe suit so far, with a variety of different coloured shirts and ties. Half an hour later she walked into the Control Room again to find the Doctor waiting for her. He was wearing a white tuxedo with a dark blue bow tie and looked positively dashing. He'd even tidied his hair, although Saskia couldn't help wondering how long it would stay tidy, giving his habit of ruffling it. She met his eyes and was amused to see he looked quite stunned at her own appearance. She couldn't resist doing a little twirl on the spot, so that her dark blue evening dress, the colour of which matched his bow tie she was pleased to note, swirled around her.
"Wow! You look – wow!" the Doctor said, still looking stunned.
"Thank you, kind sir."
He suddenly executed a flawless bow, then offered her his arm. "Would my lady care to accompany me?" he asked, grinning.
She grinned back and made a half curtsey before accepting his arm. They went back outside and Saskia suddenly thought to ask "Where is this concert?"
"In town, at the Sheldonian Theatre," the Doctor answered.
"And where are we going to eat?"
"I've reserved a table at the Randolph Hotel's restaurant," he said.
"I trust we're not walking there?" Saskia asked.
"We are not. I've also arranged for a car to pick us up."
Saskia found that she was impressed that he seemed to have thought of everything. She wondered if he was going out of his way to make it a pleasant evening just in case they did get monsters. Then she saw the long white limo that was waiting for them on the road, and found herself staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
The Doctor opened the back door with a flourish. "After you my lady."
Saskia pulled herself together and got into the car. "Have you gone entirely mad?" she asked the Doctor.
"No I don't think so," he answered, a big goofy grin on his face showing his delight at the surprise he'd given her. "Don't you like your surprise?"
"I do, but I'm completely astonished. If we do get monsters, I may just forgive you anyway," she answered, grinning back at him.
"I hope we don't get any monsters," he said seriously.
"Me too!"

Oxford Ostinato - Prologue Part 2

2007-04-15T11:20:00.000Z

"Besides, I'd be dishonest if I didn't admit that having a telepathic Companion has the potential to be very useful."
"Even if I frighten you?" Saskia asked.
"Yes." He gave her a steady look. "I've done some pretty ruthless things myself, in the past. Things that I later wished I had done differently, but what's done is done. Despite the fact I have a time machine, I can't go back and change things, any more than you can."
"Do you wish we could?" Saskia asked.
"Could what?"
"Go back and change what I did?" She stared down at the glass in her hand.
The Doctor reached out and took the glass from her, setting it down carefully. Then he took both her hands in his own. "Saskia, I have to give you an honest answer, and the honest answer is that I wish you'd told me what you were planning to do. I'd have looked for a different way to use the psychic projection you created. Something that would have allowed us to get the Grimoire to safety before we handed Jackson and his men over to the Council, for them to be dealt with according to your people's system of justice." He looked thoughtfully at Saskia's downcast face. "Let's eat, then we'll talk," he suggested.
She nodded agreement and they ate quietly. The Doctor slightly regretted that their conversation had turned so serious and spoilt the mood he'd been aiming for. He'd wanted to give Saskia a treat to make up for the past few days. But he was also aware that they hadn't really discussed what she had done to Jackson, nor why she had done it, and he knew it was something they needed to talk about, and sooner was better than later.

The Doctor repacked their picnic hamper, then stretched out on his back, his head resting on his coat, his eyes closed. Saskia wondered if he was planning to take a nap, but then he spoke.
"Can you show me, or tell me, what you were thinking and feeling that led you to create the psychic projection, and what followed on from that?"
"Yes," Saskia answered, then stretched out beside the Doctor. She took his left hand in her right one, closed her eyes and led him through her memories. He didn't speak, just watched and listened as Saskia's memories unfolded. Afterwards he was silent for several minutes, his thoughts opaque to Saskia, partly because she had been blocking his thoughts in order to show him her memories, but also because he had been shielding his thoughts as well.
"I didn't realise you knew Jeff that well," he said, finally breaking the silence.
"I worked with him a few times, going through old documents," Saskia answered. "We weren't as close as I was to Luca, but I counted Jeff a friend, so I was angry at what Jackson's thugs did to him."
"And to me," the Doctor said neutrally.
"Yes!" Saskia's tone was more forceful.
"I've been knocked about before," he said.
"I know! I was there when the Devron attacked you," she answered, her voice sharp with annoyance now. She sat up abruptly.
The Doctor sat up too, folding his legs up until he was sitting cross-legged. "Yes, and you rescued my mind from the Devron at considerable risk to you own, for which I am very grateful. But my point was that if I'm very badly injured, I can regenerate. You mustn't let concern for me dictate a course of action to you, especially if that action is going to lead you to go against your nature. You told me a few days ago, before we came to Earth the first time, that violence amongst the Empathia is rare. Yet in the last few days you've been responsible for the deaths of four men, not to mention knocking out Luca."
Saskia opening her mouth to retort, but the Doctor held up his hands.
"I know. Luca got off rather lightly, given the fact that he sent Jackson's thugs after Jeff. I also know that your mind has been infected with the rage of the Devron from its attempts to take the TARDIS from us. The last few days have been very intense and you've had to deal with a lot. Not all of what you've done is your fault. But your mental powers have become immensely strong and they can be dangerous to you, and to those around you. I'm not condemning you for what you did to Jackson and his men, but I am asking you to talk to me, another time. Using the psychic projection was a genius idea, but tell me what you're planning next time. Don't keep me in the dark, please, but trust me and I will trust you."

Saskia stared blindly at the patterned picnic rug. She didn't know what to say. She had felt guilty about what she had done to Jackson and his men almost as soon as she had done it. She knew the Doctor's comments were justified, but she felt hurt at the thought that he might not trust her. She looked up and met the Doctor's dark eyes. "Do you want me to go home?" she asked, swallowing a lump in her throat.
"No. I told you, not very many hours ago, that I would rather travel with you than almost anyone else. I meant that. All I want you to do is talk to me and trust me with your powers. Will you promise me that?"
She nodded.
"Thank you." He stood up, then offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her to her feet. "This wasn't quite the treat I planned," he said ruefully. "Let's see if I can make it up to you."
She nodded again and the Doctor saw she was close to tears. "Come here," he said, and pulled her into a hug. He held her for some time, rubbing her back between her shoulder blades. He felt rather than heard her sobs, and when they had subsided, he pulled away from her a little, his hands on her shoulders. "Come on, let's go back to the TARDIS for a bit." He picked up and refolded the picnic rug before shrugging himself into his suit jacket. He retrieved his coat and tie, shoving the latter into his jacket pocket. Then he picked up the picnic rug and hamper. They headed back to the TARDIS, unaware that they were being watched from the far bank of the river.

Oxford Ostinato - Prologue Part 1

2007-04-15T11:15:00.000Z

The Doctor looked up from the screen at which he'd been peering and grinned at the young woman beside him.
"What's the grin for?" Saskia asked, readily grinning back at him.
"I've just figured out how to repay you," he answered, his grin turning smug.
"Repay me for what?"
"For your gift for my unbirthday. We're going on a picnic, then to a concert."
"What sort of concert?" Saskia asked cautiously, aware that their tastes in music were rather different.
"Classical music," he answered. "It wouldn't be much of a treat if I took you to hear Elvis or someone, would it?"
"I probably wouldn't enjoy it quite as much," Saskia said tactfully.
"Trust me, you'll enjoy this one." He beamed widely. "But first, the picnic."
"So where are we going for this treat?"
"That'd be telling," the Doctor answered, long fingers dancing across the TARDIS controls.
"You can give me a clue, can't you?" She nudged his shoulder with her own. "Can't you?"
He grinned even more widely at her wheedling. "Uh-uh." He shook a finger at her, pretending to peer sternly at her over his dark-framed glasses. "If you ask too many more questions, we won't go."
Saskia pulled a face, then grinned mischievously and placed both hands flat on the console. The Doctor spotted what she was doing and snatched her hands up.
"Oh no you don't!" he said. "Asking the TARDIS is cheating. Come on." Still holding her wrists, he pulled her away from the console. She started to laugh and went where he led, which was to the kitchen. He managed to keep hold of her wrists with one hand, whilst removing and pocketing his glasses.
"OK, I surrender," she said, breathless with laughter. "I promise, I won't ask the TARDIS."
"Really?"
"Really, really," she assured him.
"Good." He let go of her wrists and she sat down at the kitchen table. "Right. Let's have some tea. Then we'll pack a picnic."

He made the tea, then began rummaging in the cupboards and the fridge. Saskia watched his spare frame moving energetically about the kitchen, musing on the fact that the Doctor seemed far more at home in a kitchen than she ever did. Which was interesting given he'd spent nearly all his life wandering through Time and Space, and had only settled down once, during the period when he'd been exiled to Earth during his third incarnation. Whereas she had been settled down for a dozen years and still relied on other people: friends, neighbours, or the nearest takeaway, to cook for her.

Finally the Doctor was satisfied that he had assembled everything necessary for their picnic. He folded the large picnic blanket on top of the wickerwork picnic hamper, that Saskia had seen once before. She flinched a little at the memory of that picnic. It hadn't even been a week ago, but the events of the past few days had been so intense that it felt like much longer. The Doctor caught sight of Saskia's abstracted gaze and guessed what she was thinking about. He sat down beside her and put his hands over hers.
"OK?" he asked, squeezing her fingers.
She nodded. "I will be, once this picnic is under way."
"Good." He stood up fluidly and picked up the hamper. "Would my lady care to step this way?" He gestured to the door.
Saskia smiled at him and got up, following him back to the Control Room. The Doctor put the picnic hamper on the bench and checked the TARDIS scanner. The next moment she dematerialised with a small bump. The Doctor picked up the hamper and the blanket, then offered Saskia his free arm. She smiled again and slipped her right arm through his left one. Opening the TARDIS doors, they stepped out into bright sunshine, with a blue sky above and green grass underfoot.

"Oh," said the Doctor quietly.
Saskia looked at him curiously. He sounded disappointed. "What is it?" she asked.
"I don't think this is New Earth," he answered. He put down the picnic hamper and plucked a blade of grass. He sniffed it, then bit the end off. "Definitely not apple grass," he said, shaking his head.
"So where are we then?" asked Saskia.
"I think this is Old Earth."
"Oh! When?"
"21st century, I think."
"So long as it's not the early 20th century," Saskia said.
The Doctor gave her a quick glance. "Definitely not," he said emphatically. He cast a sweeping glance across the landscape, then inhaled sharply. "Too many petrol fumes," he said.
"Are we going to have the picnic here then?" Saskia asked.
"Is that OK ?"
Saskia shrugged. "I don't mind."
"Let's try over there, then," the Doctor said, pointing towards a small group of trees. "On the riverbank." He picked up the hamper again, then held out his free hand to Saskia. She took it gratefully, aware that he knew she wasn't entirely comfortable about being back on Earth. She decided not to think about their previous visit and to concentrate instead on enjoying their picnic.

The Doctor picked a spot at the edge of the shade cast by the trees and spread out the picnic blanket. He and Saskia both took off their overcoats, folding them neatly and placing them on the edge of the blanket. The Doctor knelt down and opened the picnic hamper.
"Hang on," Saskia said. She put her left hand on his right shoulder, reached out and deftly pulled undone the already loose knot of his tie, which she then pulled from his neck. She tossed it on top of his coat, then stepped behind him and lifted his suit jacket upwards from his shoulders. "Off," she said, in a rather commanding tone.
The Doctor lifted one eyebrow at her, but didn't resist when she pulled off his jacket.
"Happy now?" he asked quizzically.
"Yes thank you," she answered, folding his jacket neatly and putting it on top of his coat and tie.
"What was that all about?"
"I refuse to have a second picnic with you when you're wearing a suit and tie. It looks silly, especially on such a warm day.
The Doctor shook his head. "As my lady wishes," he said smiling.
Saskia poked his shoulder. "Are you going to keep calling me your 'lady'?" she asked.
"Don't you like it?"
"It sounds rather formal, that's all," she answered.
"Then it suits you. You're quite a formal person. You don't often use slang or colloquialisms, and you're always dressed fairly formally too." He smiled at her. "Do you mind?"
"I suppose I don't," Saskia answered, returning his smile.
He finished unpacking the picnic hamper.

"You do know we're in Oxford, don't you?" Saskia asked as he poured out a glass of apple juice for her.
He stopped pouring and looked up, startled. "Are we?"
Saskia nodded. "There's a chap on the other side of the river who was just wishing he was in London still, instead of Oxford."
The Doctor glanced across the river, but didn't see anyone there. He looked back at Saskia. She could read his thoughts far more clearly than those of any stranger and answered the question he hadn't voiced.
"I've taken a couple of my pills, but it's going to take a day or two for them to be fully effective at blocking out other people's thoughts, particularly if there are only a few people in the area."
The Doctor finished filling her glass, then passed it to her. "OK." He picked up a second glass. "Do you think your telepathic powers will start to weaken, now the Devron is dead?"
"I really don't know," Saskia answered, sounding frustrated. "Since nothing like this has ever happened to anyone before, your guess on this would probably be just as accurate as mine. Only time will tell." She rubbed her temples absently.
"What did Dr Karg say, when you spoke to him before we left?"
"He suggested that I take a double dose of the pills twice a day for a week, then halve the dose for a week, then halve it again for a third week.
"And then presumably stop taking them altogether?" the Doctor asked.
"Yes, if I feel that my telepathic powers are manageable."
"Well I hope for your sake that they become more manageable," the Doctor observed.
"What if they don't, though?" Saskia asked.
"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it," the Doctor answered firmly. He took her free hand in his own. "I'm not going to take you back home because of this. If, at any point, you want to go back home, we can go, but I'm not going to abandon you." He squeezed her fingers. "We've already been through too much together for me consider that an option."
"Thank you."

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Epilogue

2007-03-06T09:00:00.000Z

As they sat on the bench in the TARDIS Control Room a little while later, Saskia offered the Doctor a small gift-wrapped package.
"What's this?" he asked with a smile, turning it over and over in his hands.
"It's an unbirthday present," Saskia answered.
He glanced up. "An unbirthday present?"
"Well I don't know when your birthday is, and since you're always whizzing back and forth to the past and the future, who knows what the date is in here anyway? So I decided to designate today as your unbirthday and this is your present."
He gave her one of his dazzlingly wide-eyed smiles that always reminded her of a small boy. "Thank you," he said. "Can I open it?"
Saskia raised her eyebrows. "I believe that is the point of a gift," she answered with a smile.
She'd expected him to rip the paper off willy-nilly, but he surprised her by removing it carefully and methodically. Inside the package there was a dark coloured wooden picture frame, and in the frame, written in a flowing script, was a poem. He glanced up to see Saskia watching him intently.

"It's for you and Rose," she said. "The poem is a famous one from the Second World War era of Old Earth. It was allegedly given to a young female spy before she went to France, for her to memorise and use as a 'code poem' for encrypting and decrypting messages. I came across the poem a couple of years ago and it stuck in my head, as almost everything does. I wrote it out for you. The frame is one that Dr Karg made for me a few years ago. I know he wouldn't mind me giving it to you."
The Doctor looked down at the poem, then up at Saskia. "Will you read it to me?" he asked.
She nodded and quietly recited the poem aloud to him:

"The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours.

The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause.

For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours."

He looked at her, his dark eyes shining with unshed tears. "It's perfect," he whispered, then put his arms around her. She held him for some time as he sobbed, finally letting himself express his grief at losing Rose. When he eventually stopped crying, Saskia gently kissed his forehead, and he straightened up. "Let's find somewhere quiet to spend a few days relaxing," he said.
She nodded and they began to fiddle with the TARDIS controls, working as a team.

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 4, Part 3

2007-03-06T08:45:00.000Z

The Doctor was surprised when Saskia grabbed his hand and pulled him down towards the ground, just as a mighty thunderclap resounded around the courtyard. Four abruptly cut off screams followed as the four men were thrown across the courtyard and through the archway.

Saskia leant back against the wall, her face grey and her eyes dull with exhaustion.
The Doctor knelt beside her, gripping her shoulders. "What did you do?" he demanded furiously. He shook her in his anger and fright. She reached up and gripped his wrists, but didn't try to pull his hands away.
"Psychic projection," she whispered.
"What?"
"I created a psychic projection of you, to fool them into thinking you knew how to get into the palace without anyone getting hurt. But because it wasn't really you, and because they were greedy, the Guardian threw them out."
"You killed them!" the Doctor protested.
Saskia looked at him defiantly. "Their greed killed them," she answered.
"But they wouldn't have approached the doors again if you – if I – hadn't encouraged them."
"They would have eventually. Jackson would have made each of them try the doors in turn. Then he would have forced you to take him inside. This was the only way to stop him and to protect the Grimoire."
The Doctor gave her an unfathomable look, then got to his feet. "I'm going to put the Grimoire back," he said flatly.
Saskia nodded. "I'll wait for you out there," she said, gesturing at the archway.

The Doctor turned away without answering. As he headed back to the central chamber of the palace, his emotions and thoughts were in turmoil at what had happened. He hadn't suspected Saskia could be so utterly ruthless. He thought of Rose and the way she had stood up to his previous self over the lone Dalek they'd found. Then he remembered how she had destroyed the Daleks at Satellite 5. Was Saskia really so different from Rose? And if she was, could he accept it? As he replaced the Grimoire in its hollow, the Doctor remembered his previous self ordering Mickey to fire a missile at Downing Street, wiping out all but one of the Slitheen. Then he remembered his own destruction of the Krillitane.
He made his way back out of the palace and across the courtyard in a thoughtful mood. As he stepped out of the archway he saw Saskia waiting for him, leaning against the TARDIS. He stopped dead, his mouth hanging open yet again. He snapped it shut, opened it again to speak, then shut it again, unsure which question to ask first.
"We'd better go inside," he said finally. He walked across the sand to the TARDIS and pulled out his key. He didn't speak to or even look at Saskia as he went inside and headed for the console. The TARDIS hummed a friendly greeting at him. He stroked a hand across the console, then turned to look at Saskia, who was leaning against the TARDIS doors, giving him a look that combined fear and misery.

"I need a cup of tea," he said abruptly. "Come and explain everything that's happened since I left you with Jeff.
Saskia pushed herself away from the TARDIS doors and trailed after him to the kitchen. She found him filling the kettle.
"Sit down," he said, his manner still abrupt. He began getting out the mugs and other things necessary for making tea.
Saskia slid into a chair, folded her arms on the table, and rested her head on them.
The Doctor made the tea in silence, his emotions in turmoil yet again, and his head full of questions. He badly wanted to shout and rant, his sense of confusion and frustration were so strong, but he restrained himself. He made the tea and placed one mug in front of Saskia. He sat down on the opposite side of the table and folded his arms across his chest.
Saskia looked up and he saw her gulp when she caught sight of his face. She clasped the mug of tea in both hands, then began to explain how she had waited with Jeff for the Doctor to return with the TARDIS until she realised that she couldn't sense the Doctor, but she could still sense the TARDIS. She told him how she had called the paramedics, then gone to the TARDIS, who had shown her the Doctor being ambushed.
"She showed me that you were being taken to Eupatoria, and as I was wondering how to get here to find you, she brought me here," Saskia said, her eyes still fixed on the mug she clutched.
"Go on." The Doctor's voice was harsh.
"We arrived here before you, but we landed a few miles away from where Jackson set up camp. I waited, then trekked across the dunes until I found the camp. I was able to find your mind even though I couldn't sense the minds of Jackson or his men. They're not native Empathians, so they aren't empathic nor very sensitive to telepathy. That's how they were able to jump Jeff and you." Saskia glanced up at the Doctor, whose face was impassive, then went back to staring at her empty mug.
She explained that she had realised that she could overhear Jackson's conversation with him, and that she could see "through" the Doctor's eyes. She had gone back to the TARDIS as soon as they had all gone through the archway, and brought the TARDIS to Jackson's camp, determined to intervene.

"How did you know where the Grimoire was?" the Doctor asked.
"After you went to fetch the TARDIS, I telepathically linked with Jeff. I wanted to see if I recognised his attackers. When Jackson mentioned Delmoro to you, I realised I knew everything that Jeff did about the Grimoire. He'd passed on his memories to me, without either of us being aware of it."
"You said that's what the Devron's race does," the Doctor said suddenly. "They pass on their memories to their descendants."
Saskia nodded. "Yes they do. It seems that the Devron passed on a lot more than just its increased telepathic powers when I was fighting with it."
"Including an ability to create psychic projections of people."
"Yes, that too," Saskia answered wearily.
"I need to think about this," The Doctor said, getting to his feet. "You should go and get some rest. We'll talk again later." He strode out of the kitchen towards the Control Room.

Saskia got up slowly and went to her room. She lay down on her bed and sobbed for some time, convinced that the Doctor would not let her travel with him again. Eventually she fell asleep. When she woke up several hours later, she found the Doctor sitting beside her bed. She sat up.
"Better?" he asked softly.
She nodded, surprised that he was there, and equally surprised by his softer manner. He moved to perch on the edge of her bed, and held out his arms to her wordlessly. She leaned into his hug. He kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry about earlier," he said.
"It's OK," Saskia answered, her voice muffled because her face was pressed against his chest. She moved her head and rested it on his left shoulder. "You were shocked."
"And angry. And frightened," he said.
Saskia lifted her head to look at his face. "Frightened?"
He nodded. "Your new – abilities – frightened me rather. As did you ruthlessness towards Jackson and his men. Your actions reminded me too much of some of my own actions over the years, and it was painful. And I didn't know you had it in you to be that ruthless."
"Oh."
"But I'll learn to live with that, with you, if you still want to travel with me, that is."
"Do you want me to? I thought you had gone off the idea a bit."
The Doctor cupped her face in his hands and stared into her green eyes. "I'd rather have you than almost anyone else," he said.
"Thank you."

"We should go and see Jeff," the Doctor said.
"And Luca," Saskia said.
"Luca? Why him?"
"He's the only other person who knew we were interested in Jackson. I think he told Jackson we were at the Museum, and that's why Jackson's thugs attacked Jeff. And kidnapped you. Luca must have known we'd see the papers about Jeff's research and that we'd want to talk to Jeff himself."
The Doctor nodded. "Then we'll go and see them both." He got up.
"I'm just going to get changed," Saskia said.
He turned at the door. "Not fond of desert gear?" he asked, grinning.
"Not really!" she answered. He went out and she changed back into her usual linen shirt and black trousers.

The TARDIS dematerialised in the same side street near the Museum as before. Saskia stepped out through the doors and the Doctor followed.
"Is it too early?" he asked. "I've lost track of time."
Saskia shook her head. "It's 8 am. Luca will be in the office by now."
They went down the street to the Museum and Saskia let them into the corridor that led to her office. They walked down it quietly, then she grasped the Doctor's hand.
"Luca is in Philip's office," she said.
"Do you want to speak to him on his own?"
"No. Philip needs to know what sort of man he has working for him," she answered.
They paused outside the door to Philip's office.
"Any word yet?" Philip asked.
"None," answered Luca. "It'll probably take them a while to find the Grimoire, then they have to get back here – that's a three hour flight. I'll only start to worry if we haven't heard from them by tonight."
Saskia exchanged a swift look with the Doctor, then threw open the door.
"It's too late to worry," she snarled.
Both men looked up in surprise at her abrupt entrance.
"Saskia! I was just saying to Philip – "
"I know what you were just saying Luca, I heard. And I repeat, it's too late to worry. Jackson's dead, and so are his men. The Grimoire is safe in the rock palace still. And you are in very deep trouble. Both of you."
The Doctor suddenly found himself very glad that Saskia was on his side. He glared at the two men, both of them looked very silly with their mouths hanging open in surprise.

"Why?" Saskia asked. "Why did you send Jackson's thugs after Jeff?"
"Why do you think?" Luca asked, contempt in his face and voice. "I didn't want him blabbing to you."
"Luckily for you, Jackson's thugs didn't kill him, so I was able to find out what had happened. Which means I'm not going to kill you."
Luca got to his feet. "You?" he sneered. "You wouldn't dare – "
Saskia snapped a punch at him with her right hand, and sent him crashing to the floor. Philip suddenly reached for his videophone, but the Doctor was quicker. He pointed his Sonic Screwdriver at the videophone and it popped loudly, then began to smoke.
"You're both history," Saskia said. She turned to the Doctor. "We should tie them up, then I'll call the Council."
The Doctor looked at the two men. "Ring the Council from your office," he said. "I'll keep an eye on them."
Saskia nodded, then went next door to her own office.
"You're lucky I'm here," the Doctor told Philip. "You've made a real enemy of Saskia."

Saskia came back into the office. "They're on the way," she said. "I called the Museum's security staff too. As soon as they get here, we'll get going. I can't stand to spend one more minute with scum like this. I never knew you were so greedy."
The Doctor saw Philip wince at Saskia's contemptuous words. There was a knock at the door and Saskia opened it, speaking to the men outside. They came into the office, and Saskia went out into the corridor, the Doctor close behind. "Let's go and see Jeff," he said.
Saskia nodded. She walked a few paces up the corridor, then turned to the Doctor.
"Am I as bad as them?" she asked miserably.
The Doctor looked at her in puzzlement. "Of course not," he answered. "Why would you think that?"
"Because I resorted to anger and violence," she said.
The Doctor pulled her into a hug. "You did what was necessary, but no more. I know you could have seriously hurt Luca, if you'd tried, but you didn't. So don't beat yourself up over it." He rubbed her back. "Come on, let's go and see Jeff, then we'll go and look for somewhere quiet to spend a few days."
"OK." Saskia brushed away her unshed tears, and they left the Museum hand in hand.

They didn’t stay long at the hospital. Jeff seemed quite surprised to hear that Luca and Philip had been indirectly responsible for the beating he'd received, and was subdued when Saskia told him that Jackson and his thugs were dead. She suggested that he move into her apartment once he was out of hospital, so he could keep an eye on it for her.
"Are you sure?" he asked in surprise.
"Quite sure. It's much nicer than the lodgings you've been staying in. And I want to know that someone I trust is looking after it for me. I'll let Mrs Ponder know you'll be staying there. She'll probably want to mother you."
Jeff smiled faintly. "That might be nice."
"Take care of yourself, then. I'll be back at some point, I promise." She leant forward and kissed him.
Jeff looked dazed as they left.

"I notice you didn't tell him how Jackson and his thugs died," the Doctor said as they headed to Saskia's apartment so that she could pick up a few things.
"He didn't need to know," she answered. "He doesn't need that on his conscience, not when it's already on mine."
They took the lift up to Saskia's apartment and the Doctor stood out on the balcony as Saskia packed a bag, and wrote a note for Mrs Ponder. Then she rang Dr Karg and put off their lunch date, giving him a brief explanation of events. She joined the Doctor on the balcony, slipping her arm through his.
"I just spoke to Dr Karg."
The Doctor looked down at her, sensing that she was sad about something. "What is it?"
"The Devron is dead."
He blinked. "Did he say how it died?"
She nodded. "It broke into the pharmacy last night and took an overdose. Dr Karg thinks it knew that its mind was breaking down."
"Even though it caused us a lot of trouble, I wouldn't have wished that on it," the Doctor said.
"Nor me."
They stood in silence for a few minutes.
"Ready?" he asked.
She nodded. "As long as you're sure you want me to come with you?"
"I want you," the Doctor answered.

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 4, Part 2

2007-03-06T08:30:00.000Z

The Doctor could vaguely feel her embarrassment at intruding on his thoughts. He swallowed hard, wondering if she could also sense his emotions at this distance.
"Yes I can," she answered his thought. "I'm very sorry, Doctor. But I didn't choose this, and once we're out of this, I promise, I'll be taking Dr Karg's pills in large doses."
The Doctor swallowed again. "Let's just worry about getting out of this situation alive, shall we?" He felt Saskia's gratitude that he wanted to concentrate on the immediate situation. "How are we going to play this? I don't want Jackson getting his hands on that Grimoire."
"You're not the only one! If he does get it and use it, Einfuhlung will be in far more danger than it ever was from the Rovians. The only way to stop him is if you can get to it and remove it first. But you'd have to get past the Guardian, and only someone who doesn't want it for themselves can do that."
The Doctor half smiled. "That shouldn't be a problem," he said. "I've no desire for it."
"Good. But you need to get into the central chamber, preferably without anyone else seeing you. I think you should wait until dusk, then try to enter the palace." Saskia said.
"Do you know where the central chamber is?" asked the Doctor. "I mean, this place is huge, I don't want to waste time wandering through lots of corridors."
"You'll have no trouble finding it," Saskia answered. "That hum of power you felt at the doors will lead you straight to the Grimoire."
"How do you know all this?" the Doctor asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
"From Jeff."
"He told you about his research?" the Doctor asked, once again sensing that Saskia was holding something back.
"In a manner of speaking," she answered evasively.

Before he could push her for a more detailed answer, there was a loud crack like a thunderclap and a scream. The Doctor spun around just in time to see Jones being hurled across the courtyard and through the archway.
"What happened?" yelled the Doctor, racing across the courtyard. He had barely reached the archway when Jackson's thugs barrelled into him. "What are you doing?" he yelled, picking himself up again. The thugs grabbed his arms, holding him back from going through the archway. Jackson sauntered over. "No point going after him, Doctor," he said casually. "He's dead."
"How can you know that?" the Doctor demanded, straining to pull himself free. "He might only be injured."
"Either way, he's no use to me." Jackson turned away and headed towards the flight of steps.
"He's right Doctor," Saskia said quietly. "Jones is dead." The Doctor stopped struggling against his captors. They let go of his arms and followed Jackson. The Doctor slumped against the rock wall beside the arch, then sank down to sit on the ground, his head on his arms which he rested on his knees.
"He's really dead?" the Doctor asked.
"I'm sorry Doctor." There was a note of fear or awe in Saskia's voice.
"What aren't you telling me?" the Doctor asked quietly.
"When Mr Jones was thrown through the Crack in Time, he was aged instantly. Only his skeleton is left."
The Doctor swallowed hard twice. "Are you OK?" he asked Saskia after a moment.
"Yes," she answered.
The Doctor sensed she was unhappy with what she had just witnessed. "How am I going to get inside the palace, if that's what happens to anyone who tries?" he asked.
"Purity of intent," Saskia answered.
"Perhaps I'd better do this sooner rather than later," he said.
"Not if you want to get away without Jackson getting the Grimoire," she answered.

The Doctor was about to argue with her when a second thunderclap followed by a scream echoed around the courtyard. His head snapped up in disbelief as another body was sent flying across the courtyard and through the archway. He leapt to his feet and sprinted across to Jackson.
"Have you gone completely mad?" he yelled, his face contorted with fury, as he reached Jackson.
Jackson gave him an indifferent look. "I want to look inside," he answered, clearly believing that this was sufficient justification for his actions.
"Have you considered the possibility that you might not be able to get inside?" the Doctor asked, a steely look in his eyes.
"I'll find a way," Jackson replied. He nodded at Gordon and the other thug. "Gordon, Philips, get a meal going."
They hurried off to the camp.
"And you, Doctor, bend that mighty mind of yours to finding a way inside, or I might just get bored and kill you out of hand."
"And what good will that achieve?" asked the Doctor.
Jackson gave him a contemptuous look. "None, but then I'm not interested in good, as you know." He walked away, and his other men followed, leaving the Doctor to sink down onto the bottom step.

"Saskia?"
"I'm here," she answered.
"How much longer until I can get inside?"
"About five minutes. Wait for them to lose interest in you."
The Doctor waited, listening to the men talking noisily about the meal they were preparing. As he waited the sky darkened further, a couple of stars shining faintly.
"Doctor."
"I'm ready." He stood up and dusted the sand off his trousers.
"Once you've got the Grimoire, bring it to the archway. I'll be waiting for you there, and then we can deal with Jackson and his men."
"OK." The Doctor turned and walked up the steps to the doors.
"Remember, purity of intent," Saskia said softly.
The Doctor nodded to himself and placed his hands on the doors. He felt again that strange humming. He swallowed hard and concentrated on the idea of keeping the Grimoire from Jackson. He pushed at the doors, which swung open silently. The Doctor stepped over the threshold, then paused. Saskia had been right about the fact that he would know where to go, he thought. He walked forward, taking apparently random turnings through the corridors until he reached the central chamber. He opened the door and stopped on the threshold, surprise and disbelief arresting his steps.
"That is incredible," Saskia said quietly.
The Doctor started. "You can see this?"
"As clearly as you can," she answered.
"Once we're away from this, you and I are going to have a talk," the Doctor said firmly.
"A long talk," Saskia agreed.
He pulled his attention back to the task in hard, looking at the stele in front of him.
"What do you know about this?" the Doctor asked Saskia.
"Only the rumours that Jeff discovered. He found an account from about a thousand years ago, that referred to a stele, or stone slab, about fifty feet high, that was to be found at the heart of the Rock Palace of Eupatoria. The carvings on it are supposed to be an account of the building of the Rock Palace."
"And where's the Grimoire?"
"There's a hollow space at the base of the stele, at the back. The Grimoire is inside it," Saskia answered.

The Doctor walked into the room, then around the stele. He wanted to stop and examine the carvings, but he was afraid Jackson and the others would notice his absence.
"They're eating at the moment," Saskia told him. "But the sooner you bring the Grimoire to me and we get it out of their reach, the better."
"I know." The Doctor saw the hollow space Saskia had described and knelt down in front of it.
"Gently. Remember, purity of intent."
The Doctor stopped as he was about to reach out for the Grimoire. "What?"
"The Guardian's still active," Saskia said. "If it believes that you don't want the Grimoire for yourself, you'll be able to remove it without harm."
The Doctor rubbed his suddenly sweaty palms on his trousers, then reached out, thinking only of getting the Grimoire to safety. He picked it up, then waited. Nothing happened, so he shuffled backwards a little on his knees, then stood up. He looked down at the heavy, dark-coloured book, then walked out of the chamber. He hurried back through the corridors of the palace and down the steps. He glanced across at the camp, but not one seemed to have missed him yet.
"That's because they don't care about anyone except themselves," Saskia observed with contempt.
"Right now, I'm glad of that," answered the Doctor as he crossed the courtyard. He started when Saskia stepped out of the shadows. He'd got so used to talking to her telepathically, that seeing her standing there was slightly odd.
He put the book down and reached out to hug her. Saskia hugged him back tightly.
"Ow!" The Doctor winced as a stab of pain shot through his ribs.
"Sorry," Saskia said softly.
"It's OK. I think one of those thugs kicked me in the ribs when I was unconscious."
"I wouldn't be surprised," Saskia answered.
"So what happens next?" asked the Doctor.
"We make Jackson pay," she answered.
The Doctor was surprised by the note of steel in her voice. "How?"

"Watch." Saskia pointed across the courtyard and the Doctor was astonished to see himself standing at the top of the flight of steps. He looked at Saskia's face and saw she was gazing fixedly at the figure on the steps. He swallowed half a dozen questions, sensing her utter concentration, unwilling to break it.
"Jackson!" The Doctor's voice rang across the courtyard from the figure on the steps.
Jackson and his men came crowding out of a tent at the Doctor's shout.
"What?"
"If you want to retrieve the Grimoire, you'd better come with me," the other Doctor answered.
Jackson hurried across the courtyard and up the steps, his men close behind.
"Stand beside me," the other Doctor ordered, "and when I say, push the doors open."
The four men ranged themselves on either side of the other Doctor.
"Push!"

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 4, Part 1

2007-03-06T08:15:00.000Z

Consciousness came back to the Doctor in a crashing moment of light, noise and pain. He winced under the onslaught, trying desperately to process all the sensations at once. The noise was a man shouting, a familiar voice that seemed to believe anything less than a bellow was a sign of weakness: Jackson. The pain resolved itself into a sharp knife-like stabbing in the ribs and a throbbing ache in his head. The light seemed incredibly bright even through his closed eyes. He struggled to open his eyes, finally prying one free of whatever had gummed them shut. Cautiously he raised his right hand to his head and brushed his fingers over his eyes. He put his fingers in his mouth and tasted blood – his own. He moistened his fingers and rubbed at his right eye, just managing to free it of the dried blood that encrusted it as the bellowing voice stopped.

"You're awake then," said Jackson a few moments later.
"I wasn't exactly asleep," the Doctor pointed out acidly. He squinted up at Jackson, who was standing over him as he lay on the ground. The Doctor realised he was lying on sand and that the bright light was the desert sun. "Had a change of schedule, did we?" he asked, and was pleased to see that Jackson seemed affronted by the calm manner in which he was reacting to the situation.
"Yes we did," Jackson answered. "I've finally found what I've been searching for the last three years."
"Presumably that's something other than the fabled Lost City of Eupatoria, then?"
"Something much better," Jackson answered, a look of greed on his face.
"Which is what, exactly?"
"The Grimoire of Delmoro."
"And who's he, when he's at home?" the Doctor asked.
"I wouldn't expect an ignoramus like you to have heard of Delmoro," Jackson snarled.
"Oi! Be fair," the Doctor protested. "I've barely been on your planet for three days."
Jackson looked contemptuous. "This is not my planet!"
"Isn't it? Then which is your planet?" asked the Doctor in surprise.
"I'm from Abneigung," Jackson answered.
"Never heard of it, I'm afraid." The Doctor eased himself into a sitting position as he spoke. "So where is it?"
"It's a backwater of a planet. Einfuhlung's 'twin' planet," Jackson answered, still contemptuous. "Only it's the weaker twin. Very little of it is habitable. The early attempts at terra-forming went wrong." He scowled. "Anyway, it doesn't matter where I come from, I'll be staying here, once you help me get what we came for."
"Ah yes, the Grimoire. I presume you're going to sell it and make yourself a fortune?"
"Sell it? Are you mad, man? I'm going to use it!"
The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "To do what, exactly?"
"To make me rich and powerful. Richer and more powerful than anyone has ever been."

The Doctor ruffled his hair, looking thoughtful. "Somehow I get the feeling that you're not going to use your riches and power to help anyone except yourself."
Jackson snorted. "Only a weakling would think that's what power and money are for."
The Doctor didn't try to hide his contempt at Jackson's words. "And where do I fit into your masterplan?" he asked, as nonchalantly as he could.
"We need you to guide us to the Grimoire," Jackson answered. "Only a Time Lord can get us through the Crack in Time."
"I'll give you a crackin' time in a minute," the Doctor muttered under his breath. "I've no idea what you're talking about," he said aloud.
Jackson nodded to someone behind the Doctor, who found himself hauled to his feet. He guessed it was one of the two thugs who'd jumped him near the TARDIS. He remembered Jeff then, and hoped that Saskia hadn't waited too long to get Jeff some medical help when he hadn't returned with the TARDIS. He wondered if she thought he'd abandoned her and broken his promise to return. All these thoughts flashed through his mind as Jackson's thug shoved him forwards. His eyes flickered over his surroundings, trying to take in everything at once. They seemed to be at a makeshift campsite. Ahead of them rose a towering wall of rock, carved by centuries of wind-borne sand into a fantastic cityscape. The Doctor suspected that more than sand and wind had carved the rock, but what or who else was responsible, he couldn't guess. The towers, arches, battlements, and other architectural features were too regular to be the work of nature alone. He wondered if Jackson knew its history.

The thug behind him gave him another shove as Jackson walked away. The Doctor winced, his muscles cramped from what he suspected had been several hours of unconsciousness since he'd been ambushed. He wished Saskia was with him. He couldn't sense Jackson or his thug at all. He wasn't sure how they were able to mask themselves telepathically, but he felt sure Saskia would have been able to sense them, her telepathic powers had become so strong.
Jackson stopped in front of a narrow archway. "It's through here," he said with a gesture. "If you cross through, we'll be able to follow you."
"And if I refuse?" the Doctor asked.
"Put it this way Doctor, you're going through that archway one way or another. Either you walk through of your own free will, or Gordon here will beat you senseless and toss you through. I don't care which."
"You'll never get away with this, you know," the Doctor said conversationally. "Because I will find a way of stopping you."
He turned to look at the archway, ignoring Jackson's snort of contempt and the angry glare from Gordon. He closed his eyes, the better to concentrate, and walked forward slowly and carefully. As he reached the archway itself, he sensed something alien in the rock, but he couldn't identify it. He moved forward again, eyes still closed, concentrating on his other senses.

After a few minutes, he sensed a change in the light and air, and opened his eyes. He felt his jaw drop in sheer astonishment at the view before him. Shuffling footsteps behind him told him that Jackson and his group of men had come through the archway, but he didn't turn his head.
Before him was the most intricately wrought rock palace. A towering edifice at least three hundred feet high, and about two hundred feet long. If the cityscape he'd just seen was not wholly natural, then this palace definitely wasn't. Someone or something intelligent was responsible for such exquisitely detailed carving. The Doctor felt as if he could stand and gaze for an hour and still not take in all the details before him.
Jackson stopped beside him. "Right you lot!" he bellowed, causing the Doctor to wince. "Get searching! If you find the Grimoire, shout, and no one, I repeat NO ONE, is to touch it!" He turned to the Doctor. "And you," he said, gesturing at the palace, "you can look in there."
The Doctor gave him an ironic half bow, then walked away, glad not to be in Jackson's immediate vicinity for now.
He walked across to the flight of steps that led up to two massive doors at the entrance to the palace. There must have been fifty or sixty of them, he reflected, wondering how many hundreds of hours had gone into creating the palace. Who had designed and built it? He paused at the foot of the stairs. He had the strangest feeling that someone was watching him, but when he looked around, he could only see the half dozen men who had come with him. He saw Jackson berating his obsequious little PA, Jones. Gordon and the other thug who'd ambushed him were near an ornate fountain on the west side of the courtyard, and the other two men were near the eastern corner of the palace. The Doctor tugged at his right earlobe, wondering why he felt watched. Then he shrugged and sauntered up the flight of steps to the doors. He pulled his left hand out of his pocket and placed both hands, palms flat, on the doors. They seemed, to his senses, to be humming with power, and he suddenly knew that he didn't want to be the one who tried to open them. He shoved his hands back into his trouser pockets and had half turned to go back down the steps, when he suddenly caught the whisper of a voice calling his name. He turned his head back again, straining to hear it, then got a double shock as he realised that the voice was Saskia's and that she was talking to him telepathically. He stood stock still.

"Saskia?"
"Doctor! Thank goodness you can hear me at last! I've been trying to reach you for the last ten minutes." Her voice sounded strained, but he could also hear suppressed excitement in it too.
"It's good to hear you! But where are you?" he asked, not troubling to hide his relief at hearing her, or his bafflement at her telepathic presence.
"At Jackson's camp, looking at the rock wall you disappeared through a short while ago," she answered.
"How ever did you get here?" The Doctor was consumed with curiosity, not least because he could sense that Saskia was holding back something. He had a mental image of a locked door, much like he'd seen in Madame de Pompadour's mind when he'd been reading it. He clearly remembered telling her to think of a locked door if there was anything she didn't want him to know.
"Never mind that now," Saskia answered. "Can you get somewhere out of the main courtyard, where you're not in anyone's line of sight?"
The Doctor swallowed a host of questions that sprang to mind, the first of which was a demand to know how Saskia knew he was in a courtyard if she was at Jackson's camp, and looked around carefully. "I don't think I can, at the moment," he answered.
"OK. We'll just have to wait for an opportune moment then," Saskia said.
"For what?" the Doctor asked, feeling slightly frustrated by her cryptic manner.
Before Saskia could answer, Gordon gave a triumphant shout and the rest of Jackson's party ran across the courtyard to the fountain. The Doctor approached more slowly. Everyone was staring at a figure on the centrepiece of the fountain. It was a humanoid figure and it was holding a large stone book. Jackson smacked Gordon across the back of the head, sending him stumbling away.

"Of course that's not it, you idiot!" he yelled. He turned to the Doctor. "Did you find anything?" he demanded.
"Nope, sorry." The Doctor grinned with a cheerfulness he didn't feel. Even though he was relieved to know that Saskia was nearby, he had no idea how she was going to help, and he was slightly worried by the thought that she was holding out on him. He trusted her 100%, but apparently she didn't reciprocate his trust in her, otherwise why wasn't she telling him everything? How could she have reached Eupatoria, and so quickly? He was fairly sure he'd only been unconscious for three or four hours. Another thought struck him. How had Saskia known he was here in Eupatoria? He scowled at his feet, annoyed at having so many unanswered questions.
Jackson's voice broke in on his thoughts. "Make camp," he snarled at Gordon and the other thug. They hastened to obey, rushing over to the stack of tents and packs that they had brought through the archway with them.
The Doctor wandered to the far side of the fountain, eyeing the central figure.
"Doctor." Saskia's voice was as soft as before.
"Saskia?"
"The Grimoire of Delmoro is in the central chamber of the rock palace."
The Doctor just managed to stop himself from gaping like an idiot. "How do you know what we're looking for?" he asked in astonishment.
"I – overheard – what Jackson told you earlier," she answered.
Something about the way she paused at the word 'overheard' caught the Doctor's attention. "What do you mean, overheard?" he asked, trying to rein in his suspicion.
"I've been eavesdropping on you telepathically since you woke up," Saskia answered. "I'm sorry I didn't ask your permission – I didn't even realise what I was doing at first, and then I couldn't get through to you."

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 3, Part 2

2007-03-06T08:00:00.000Z

The Doctor followed her back out of the Museum, where they discovered that the rain had stopped, as Saskia had predicted.
"By the way, I think you should have this." The Doctor held out his hand. On his palm lay a silver key.
Saskia looked at the key, then up at the Doctor. "Why?"
"Because you might need to get into the TARDIS when I'm not around, and I'm not 100% certain she'll let you in without me, even though she likes you."
"Oh." Saskia took the ordinary-looking key from the Doctor's hand, with a slight feeling of disbelief, even unreality. "Thank you," she said and pocketed it.
The Doctor gave her one of his dazzling grins. "No problem. Come on, let's go and find our disgruntled young friend." He strode off up the street, past the TARDIS and out onto the main road. Saskia caught up with him and pointed along the street. "The Academy is that one," she said.
The Doctor saw an eight storey building that managed to look imposing despite being surrounded by far newer buildings.
"It doesn't look very big," the Doctor commented.
"It's bigger on the inside," Saskia answered with a grin to rival the Doctor's.
"Really?" he asked, wide-eyed.
"Not really," she answered. "Although it does have two floors underground. It just covers a lot more ground behind that rather narrow frontage. "
"I'm disappointed it's not bigger on the inside," he said.
They walked swiftly up the street and reached the building Saskia had indicated. The Doctor followed her up the steps to the wide entrance doors, where she entered a number on the keypad. She walked over to a computer terminal on the wall and pressed some buttons, which displayed a class schedule.
"Hmm. It doesn't look like he's teaching today, so let's try his office."
The Doctor followed Saskia over to the lift. "Which floor is he on?"
"The fifth. If he's not in his office, we'll try the library."
"You – ah – can't pick out his mind, then?" the Doctor asked hesitantly.
"Not with so many people here," Saskia answered. "If it was early or late in the day and there were fewer people around, I could have done it as soon as we walked in. But there are probably around 3000 people in here now."
The Doctor nodded. "OK."

The lift chimed and they stepped out into a quiet corridor lined with office doors. "This way," Saskia said and set off. The Doctor followed her slowly; he had a strange niggling feeling that someone was trying to send him a message telepathically. He frowned, trying to pinpoint its source. He shook his head as if to shake off the feeling.
"Doctor, are you OK?" Saskia asked, looking at him anxiously. Since they had been linked telepathically so often in the last few days Saskia could pick up his thoughts and feelings more clearly than anyone else's amidst the cacophony of the 3000 people in the area.
He nodded, then tugged at his ear. "Yeah, I just had the feeling someone was trying to give me a message," he answered.
"Who was it?"
"I've no idea," the Doctor answered. "I couldn't make that out. Come on, let's see if your friend's in, shall we?"
"He's in," Saskia answered, then knocked on the door.
"Come in," answered a husky voice.
Saskia frowned slightly, but pushed open the door and went into Jeff's office, the Doctor close behind. They both blinked a little in the gloom. Jeff hadn't bothered to turn on the lights and the window was curtained. They squinted at the figure who was in the corner of the room. Saskia turned and reached for the light switch.
"Don't, please," Jeff said, his voice still husky.
"Jeff?" Saskia stepped forward a few paces, then stopped abruptly. She swore softly under her breath as she caught sight of his face.
The Doctor brushed past her and knelt down beside Jeff's chair. "Put that light on," he said, nodding at the desk lamp, as he pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver.
Saskia clicked the light on and winced when she saw the bruising and lacerations on Jeff's face and neck.
"Who did this?" the Doctor demanded harshly as he used his Sonic Screwdriver to scan Jeff's face and neck.
"I don't know," Jeff answered. "I couldn't see them clearly. They were wearing hoods and scarves over their faces." He gasped as the Doctor gently touched his right cheekbone.
"I think that's cracked," he said. "We should get him into the TARDIS. I can heal his injuries quickly with her help."
"Can you walk?" Saskia asked, suddenly noticing way Jeff was sprawled in the chair.
"No," he answered. "They broke my left ankle and my right knee."
"What are we going to do?" Saskia asked the Doctor.
"I'm going to go and fetch the TARDIS here. It's quicker than trying to carry him between us. Once he's healed and rested, we can talk to him." The Doctor got to his feet. "Stay with him, I won't be long."
Saskia hesitated then nodded.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise." The Doctor clasped her hands in his own, then hurried out.

"Where's he going?" Jeff asked, sounding puzzled as well as exhausted.
"He'll be back shortly," she said. She knelt down in the spot the Doctor had just vacated and took Jeff's hands in her own. "Can you show me what happened to you?" she asked.
He looked at her, frowning. "Show you?"
"Telepathically."
"I'll try." He closed his eyes and Saskia did the same, reaching into his mind and concentrating. She tried not to think about how easy this had become in the last few days. She saw Jeff unlocking his office door and caught a glimpse of the clock on his desk before two dark figures sprang at him from the corridor, knocking him into the room. Both were tall, powerfully-built men, who wore dark clothes, including hooded tops. And as Jeff had said, they had dark coloured scarves wound across their faces. Saskia caught a brief glimpse of blue eyes, but no more than that as they set about beating Jeff in a systematic manner. She winced when she heard the crack of his bones, and swallowed her revulsion when one of them lashed out at Jeff's face with a riding crop, lacerating his cheek and no doubt cracking it in the process, if the Doctor's diagnosis was correct.
She felt certain that whoever these men were, they weren't native Empathians. Jeff's recollection stopped abruptly and she realised they'd knocked him out. She opened her eyes and saw that he looked faint now. She glanced at the clock on his desk. The Doctor had been gone at least ten minutes, hopefully he would be back shortly. She wondered if the TARDIS would fit into the corridor outside. She glanced at the clock again, beginning to feel nervous about the situation.
"Come on Doctor," she muttered under breath. "Hurry up, please." She strained her ears for the familiar noise of the TARDIS dematerialising nearby, but could only hear Jeff's raspy breathing.

She closed her eyes and centred herself, then reached out for the Doctor's mind. She opened her eyes in panic as she discovered she couldn't sense the Doctor at all, but she could sense the TARDIS still down by the Museum.
She stood up and keyed in a number on Jeff's videophone. A young woman answered and Saskia requested emergency medical assistance.
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," the young woman said impassively.
"Someone has been badly injured," Saskia responded. "He's got broken bones, bruising, lacerations, and I suspect at least one fractured rib."
"I'm sending a team immediately," the operator said. "Please state your location."
"Office 555, the fifth floor of the Academy." Saskia glanced at the clock again. The Doctor had been gone at least twenty minutes now, but where was he?
"Someone will be with you shortly," the operator said, then terminated the call. Moments later Saskia heard the sound of sirens overhead. She glanced down at Jeff and saw he'd blacked out. She wondered what she should do. If she went with Jeff, would she risk losing the chance of tracing the Doctor's whereabouts? On the other hand, she felt guilty at the thought of abandoning Jeff when he was in such a state, and she suspected it was her fault.
The sound of running footsteps distracted her and she hurried to the door.
"In here," she called to the two paramedics who were hurrying down the corridor.
They pushed past her into the room and began examining Jeff in an efficient manner. They quickly strapped him onto a stretcher, and the older of the two women began to wheel it out of the office, whilst the younger woman approached Saskia. "Are you coming with us" she asked.
"No. I need to go and tell his boss what's happened. I'll come to the hospital as soon as I can," Saskia answered.
"He'll be in the trauma unit, when you do arrive," the paramedic told her.

Saskia nodded mechanically and watched them go. "Sorry Jeff," she whispered as she hurried out of the room, and ran down the corridor. She ignored the lift and raced down the five flights of stairs to the ground floor. By the time she ran out into the street she could hear the air ambulance heading towards the hospital which was on the outskirts of the city. She sprinted along the street, ignoring the looks of surprise from passers-by. She practically flew down the side street where the TARDIS was parked, and skidded to a stop at the doors. She dragged the key out of her pocket, grateful that the Doctor had given it to her this morning. She dived through the door and over to the Console. The TARDIS hummed an anxious note at her.
"Where is he?" she asked, flicking switches and pressing buttons beside the scanner. The screen swirled green for a few seconds before the picture settled.
Saskia looked at it in disbelief. "In a flier? Where's he going?" She thought for a few moments, then she saw Jackson in the background. "Eupatoria," she whispered in dismay. The TARDIS hummed again and Saskia realised she was trying to convey something to her. She put both palms flat on the Console, closed her eyes and reached out to the heart of the TARDIS. She remained quite still, communing with the TARDIS for a few minutes and saw that the Doctor had been ambushed by the same two thugs who had attacked Jeff. They had knocked the Doctor out and carried him off. But who they were or why they had kidnapped him the TARDIS could not tell Saskia.
She scowled, eyes closed still. There didn't seem to be any point in going to see Jeff at the hospital. He'd probably be in the trauma unit for a few hours at least, and in the meantime, anything could be happening to the Doctor. She wondered what was the quickest way to get to Eupatoria. She could hire a flier and a pilot, but it would take her time to find someone who knew where the Lost City was located, and then another two or three hours to fly down there.

Suddenly the TARDIS' background hum changed and the next moment Saskia felt the floor lurch under her feet. Her eyes snapped open and she looked up at the Time Rotor, rising and falling inside its transparent column.
"No," she whispered in disbelief. But there could be no doubt about it. The TARDIS was flying without the Doctor. She closed her gaping mouth with a snap, then closed her eyes again, reaching out for the TARDIS once more. She wondered how it was possible for anyone other than a Time Lord, other than the Doctor himself, to fly the TARDIS. She knew from the Doctor that Rose had had to break into the heart of the TARDIS and look into the Vortex in order to get the TARDIS back to Satellite 5 to rescue the Doctor from the Daleks. That was why he had regenerated into his current persona.
The answer she got from the TARDIS made Saskia feel weak. Her increased telepathic powers, combined with her strong empathic link to the Doctor and to the TARDIS, were enough for her to recognise Saskia as a pilot. She wondered what the Doctor would make of this information, if she ever got the chance to tell him. She knew he was rather jealous of the TARDIS. Right now, though, there was no point in worrying about his reaction until she'd found him.

She opened her eyes as the TARDIS dematerialised with a gentle bump. She immediately checked the scanner and found herself gazing at an astonishing view. Sand dunes, around two to three hundred feet in height, rose haphazardly ahead of the TARDIS. Each dune was a slightly different shape, but they all had an impossibly steep south face where the sand fell away below the summit of the dune in an unbroken wall. On either side of the steep southern face there stretched sharp-edged ridges that swept downwards in sinuous curves. Behind were alternating troughs and ridges that became smaller and more complex the further away they got from the face of the dune. The lower slopes at the back of the dunes were firm, rising and falling in gentler, undulating trenches and troughs. The colours were a positive rainbow: cream and orange, silver and gold, grey and yellow, white and deep red, or pink and dark brown.
Saskia simply stood and stared for a few minutes, mesmerised by the way the wind was shifting across the dunes, separating the lighter grains, which were always a different colour, from the heavier ones.
The TARDIS hummed softly and she pulled her gaze from the scanner, pressing her hands flat against the Console again. Together they searched for their Doctor, and finally the TARDIS located a spot where he seemed to be, but neither of them could sense him clearly.
There was nothing for it, Saskia knew, she would have to go and look for him herself. She hurried off to the wardrobe area to find some clothing that was suitable for travelling across a desert.

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 3, Part 1

2007-03-06T07:45:00.000Z

Saskia woke slowly, feeling pleasantly relaxed for the first time since she had met the Doctor.
The Doctor! Her eyes snapped open and met his deep brown ones looking down at her face. He smiled gently just as she realised that she really was lying next to the Doctor in her own bed.
He pressed a long finger against her lips and she raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"Good morning. Don’t say anything for a moment."
"he blinked, wondering what was on his mind.
"Thank you." He removed his finger.
"For what?" she asked, puzzled by his behaviour.
"For not expressing embarrassment because we’re in your bed. You’ve slept deeply for several hours, something you clearly needed to do, and I suspect you wouldn't have slept so well if I hadn't been here to hold you."
"Did you sleep?" she asked curiously.
"A little, but I rested, which was the more important thing," he answered.
She nodded.
"Breakfast?" he asked.
"Shower first, I think," Saskia answered and rolled onto her back, stretching her muscles.
"You have a shower, I'll get breakfast," the Doctor said, getting up from the bed and putting on his Converse shoes. "Fruit salad, as usual?" he asked at the door.
She nodded, then got out of bed, still feeling slightly puzzled by the Doctor’s relaxed manner. Had he made a habit of resting with Rose, she wondered, knowing that she would never dare to ask. She thought about it as she did her usual stretching exercises and went to take a shower. If she concentrated, she could search his memories, which were still clear in her head from their telepathic experiences, but she decided to forget it for now. She headed towards the bathroom, hearing music playing in the kitchen. She wondered if the Doctor would feel the urge to retune her radio from its usual classical music station in search of the kind of music he preferred.

Twenty minutes later, showered and dressed, she walked into her kitchen, determined to only worry about the mysteries she needed to solve. The Doctor was leaning against the counter by the sink, eating a banana. On the table was a bowl of mixed fruit and nuts, a plate holding two slices of wholemeal bread, and a pot of her favourite yoghurt and honey topping. Two mugs were standing beside the singing kettle. She smiled at the Doctor.
"What's amusing you?" he asked, smiling back at her.
"This is very domestic," she said, gesturing around the kitchen.
"And?"
"You seem to have found your way around my kitchen very easily," she answered.
He shrugged, but she saw a certain smugness in his grin. She didn't comment however, choosing to sit down and begin her breakfast instead.
"What’s the plan of attack, then?" she asked as she waited for her bread to toast.
"I thought we could spend some time this morning in finding out as much as possible about our Professor Jackson."
She nodded. "OK. We can start online, but we might need to go to the Museum at some point. They've got an extensive permanent exhibition there, a record of his various exploratory expeditions."
"Good. We can drop by your office whilst we're there," the Doctor said.
Saskia looked up at him in surprise. "Why?"
"So I can apologise to Luca," he answered, as if it was obvious.
"Oh, OK."
"He may be a pretty boy, but he didn't deserve to get caught up in our friction," the Doctor said.
Saskia grinned. "He hates being called a pretty boy," she said.
"I'm not surprised," the Doctor answered, smiling back.
Saskia gathered up her breakfast things and put them in the dishwasher, with the dinner things from the night before, then turned it on.
"Come on," she said, heading into the main room to her desk. She turned on her computer and offered the Doctor a chair. He sat down, put on his glasses and watched as Saskia began searching for information about Professor Jackson online. The printer was soon churring quietly, printing off information, which the Doctor quickly read.
"This looks like all the standard sort of stuff," he observed, after he finished reading the last page.
"I know. Do you want to try the Museum? Luca might know more actually, since he did a lot of the work putting it together."
"Then let's go and talk to Luca," the Doctor said.

They got their coats and went downstairs, both grimacing slightly at the rain that was falling. Saskia looked across the city. "I don't think this will last long," she said, pointing at the horizon where a break in the clouds was visible.
"Probably not," the Doctor said. "Come on, let’s go see your man."
"He’s not my man," Saskia said.
The Doctor raised his eyebrows at her emphatic response. "He's more your man, than mine. How long have you worked with him?"
"Three years now. He's a nice guy."
"I daresay he is. I hope so, anyway, since I need to apologise to him."
"He's less likely to hit you than I am, at any rate," Saskia said, half smiling at him.
"Good! I don’t enjoy getting slapped – and why is it always women who slap me?" he asked rhetorically.
"Perhaps you should only travel with men in future?" suggested Saskia.
"Knowing my luck, they’d start slapping me too," the Doctor answered.
They passed the TARDIS, which somehow managed to look innocuous even though it clearly didn’t belong in the street where it stood. Saskia gave it a pat as they passed and murmured something which the Doctor couldn’t hear.
"What was that all about?" he asked as they approached the Museum.
Saskia looked slightly embarrassed. "Just saying hello and telling her we'd come and see her soon," she answered.
"Mmm." The Doctor was surprised as most of his Companions had never bothered to talk to the TARDIS, even when they knew she was sentient. Of course, most of his Companions hadn’t been empathic.
They went up the steps and took a right turn through the entrance hall to a discreet door.
"We're through here," Saskia said, entering a code on the keypad by the door. "Behind the scenes at the Museum." She opened the door with a small flourish and gestured to the Doctor to precede her.
"Thank you my lady," he said with a grin.
She half bowed to him, then led the way down the corridor. "Luca's in Philip's office," she said.
The Doctor quirked an eyebrow at her. "Oh?"
"I can sense their thoughts," she said, answering his unspoken question. "As well as yours."
"Oh!" The Doctor looked thoughtful. "I hope that's not going to become a problem," he said.
Saskia shook her head. "I've got the capsules in my pocket," she assured him.
"Have you taken any more since last night?"
"Not yet," she said.
"OK."

"Do you want to wait in my office and I’ll get Luca?"
"Are you sparing my blushes," the Doctor asked quizzically.
"Actually, I was thinking about the necessity of being discreet," Saskia answered. “We don’t know what’s going on or who we can trust, after all.”
"True. OK then." The Doctor followed Saskia into a large room that was predictably almost entirely filled with bookshelves. In the centre of the room were two large, functional desks that faced each other.
"Have a seat," Saskia said, pointing at the tidiest desk. "I'll be back in a minute."
The Doctor chose to wander around the room first, peering at the bookshelves. Then he approached the desks. Luca's had a friendly sprawl of books and paperwork spread across it, plus two snack bars and an empty mug. In stark contrast, Saskia's desk was aggressively tidy. There were two filing trays on the left side, the top one of which was empty, and the bottom one of which contained one envelope file. Although the Doctor knew that Saskia had been with him for the past week and a half, he suspected that her desk was always very tidy, given the extreme tidiness of her apartment.
The door behind him opened and he turned to see Luca following Saskia into the office. Luca's eyes widened in surprise and the Doctor guessed that Saskia hadn't told Luca that he would be there. He stepped forward and held out his hand.
"I owe you an apology," he said. "I shouldn't have snapped at you yesterday." He smiled and Luca smiled back as he shook the Doctor’s hand.
"I'll forgive you,” he said, "But only because Saskia likes you. So what are you doing here, Saskia? Philip said you'd be off work for a few more days."
"We wanted to ask you about the Jackson exhibition," Saskia answered.
"What do you want to know?" Luca asked as he perched on his desk.
"What information did you turn up that you didn't use in the exhibition?" she asked.
Luca shrugged. "Not a lot. If you want to look at it, it's down in the Archive Room."

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 2, Part 3

2007-03-06T07:30:00.001Z

He turned and looked down at her. She had tucked her legs up underneath herself and looked quite comfortable, and a good deal more relaxed than she had earlier. He sat down beside her, stretching out his own longer legs.
"So tell me what’s going on," she prompted, drinking some of her tea.
"Have you heard of Professor Jackson?" he asked.
"Of course. He's the archaeologist and explorer who went off about three months ago to Dasleere Viertel, intending to search for the fabled Lost City of Eupatoria."
"Well he found it and he's come back."
Saskia raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
"After our conversation this afternoon, when you invited me to dinner, I went for a walk and there was a poster outside the Museum advertising a lecture he was giving. I went to the lecture, then I talked to the Professor afterwards. He's invited me to go and see the Lost City when he heads back there in a few days."
Saskia looked at him in surprise. "I didn't know you were interested in archaeology," she said.
"I'm not hugely interested in it," he answered.
"Then why did you go to the lecture?" she asked curiously.
"I felt I should," he answered. "When I was looking at the poster, I felt a compulsion to go to the lecture. I didn't really register it at the time, but later this evening, when you asked me to leave, I felt the same kind of compulsion. After I thought about it, I realised the two things were connected."
"Oh." Saskia blushed when the Doctor mentioned she had asked him to leave. He reached out carefully and touched her arm.
"It's not your fault," he told her. "Whoever is compelling us is quite capable of making both of us behave out of character." He hesitated and then went on. "I think they started influencing us this afternoon when we were leaving Dr Karg."
She looked at him quickly and saw his own face had flushed pink. "You mean when you – hurried off?" she asked.
He looked at her steadily. "When I stormed off like a child, yes."
She moved her arm and found his hand. "I guess someone did a real number on us," she said.
He nodded. "They really did. They amplified my slight feeling of guilt out of all proportion, and they also manipulated your feeling of irritation at the Devron, building it up until you were completely furious." He squeezed her fingers.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
"It's not your fault, so don't apologise."
"But I hit you!" Saskia protested.
"Yes, but not for the first time," he pointed out. "And on both occasions, you weren't really yourself."
"So what are we going to do?" Saskia asked after a moment.
"I think we should try to find out more about our Professor Jackson, and we should also see if we can locate whomever has been manipulating us. I suspect the two are connected, even if they're not the same person."
"OK."
"We'll start in the morning,” the Doctor said, getting to his feet. Saskia stood up too, stretched, then turned hesitantly towards the Doctor. He looked at her expectantly and was slightly surprised when she stepped closer and put her arms around him. She did it carefully, as if she thought he might push her away. He returned her hug, pulling her close and holding her tight.
"We’ll be OK," he said. "We can figure this out, between us."

"Stay with me?" she asked quietly.
He pulled away from her slightly so that he could look at her face. "If you want me to," he answered.
She nodded, then led him inside, his hand clasped in hers. They went to her room and he waited by the door, his back turned, whilst she changed into her pyjamas. She got into bed then said, "You can come in."
She lay in the middle of the big bed. He pulled off his tie and his suit jacket, draping them over the back of the chair, then turned to sit down.
"Doctor?"
He looked up at the hesitant note in Saskia's voice.
"Will you hold me, please?" she asked quietly.
He nodded, then bent to remove his shoes. He was wondering if this was a wise or sensible thing to do, but he carefully didn't let any doubt show in his face as he sat down on the bed, then stretched out beside Saskia. She shuffled back across the bed to his side, putting her head on his right shoulder, and draping her right arm across his waist.
"Is this OK?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered, and put his right arm loosely across her waist. He threaded the fingers of his left hand through the fingers of her right. He lay still, listening to Saskia's breathing slow and deepen as she fell asleep. He swallowed several times, blinking back his tears, thinking of Rose.

For some reason that he couldn't explain, the Doctor felt a little disloyal for thinking of Rose whilst Saskia lay beside him. He scowled into the darkness. How could he be feeling disloyal to Saskia, they weren't lovers, and he knew that Saskia knew very well that his heart belonged to Rose. He sighed softly, wondering if he could shut up his busy brain. Then he wondered if Saskia could still sense his thoughts and feelings, even though she was asleep. Why hadn't he asked her before he agreed to do this? Abruptly he remembered the inhibiting drug he'd persuaded her to take earlier. Hopefully it was working by now, so even if she would normally have known what he was thinking whilst she was sleeping, she wouldn't know tonight. He sighed again, more heavily, and Saskia shifted slightly. He realised that if he didn't stop his brain from running in circles like a hamster on a wheel, he would probably wake her up, and he knew she needed to sleep. She'd been through so much in the past four days, and it was all his fault, getting her caught up in the chaos of his existence. He tightened his arms around her protectively. He had half a mind to persuade her not to travel with him again once this was all over. It wasn't fair to her.

Finally he decided that he needed to distract himself or his brain would never stop buzzing in circles. He began to mentally recite Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. By the time he had reached Puck's closing remarks So, good night unto you all/Give me your hands, if we be friends,/And Robin shall restore amends, he was relaxed enough to fall into a light doze for a few hours. He never slept much anyway, he'd sleep enough when he was dead, but he did need to rest at least a little.

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 2, Part 2

2007-03-06T07:15:00.000Z

The Doctor followed Jones out of the room. "Is he always that rude?" he asked curiously.
Jones looked shocked at the question. "Oh no, sir. It's just that he's been very busy since we found the Lost City, and it was a very tiring trip, too."
"Hmm." The Doctor didn't comment further, but he couldn't help wondering if he'd done the right thing in accepting Jackson's offer to visit the Lost City.
Once out in the street again, the Doctor walked back to Saskia's apartment building. He arrived just as an elderly woman was struggling up the steps carrying several bags of shopping.
"Allow me," he said and took several of the bags from her.
"Oh thank you, young man," she answered, smiling up at him. He grinned but didn't bother telling her that he was far from being young. He watched her enter the door code on the keypad, automatically memorising the number. He followed her inside.
"Which floor?" he asked, as they got into the lift together.
"Fourth."
"The same floor as my friend Saskia," he told her.
"Oh do you know Saskia?" she asked. "Such a charming and friendly young woman. I can't understand why she's still single." She chattered on and the Doctor listened with half an ear. He had just remembered his earlier, less than friendly, parting with Saskia. He wondered if she was still mad at him, and if she would be mad at him for turning up now.

He carried the shopping bags over to Saskia's neighbour's door, then used the buzzer on Saskia's door. It opened almost immediately and the Doctor found himself face to face with an impossibly good looking young man, about five years younger than Saskia. He was blond and looked athletic, in spite of the tailored clothes he wore.
"Hello. You must be Luca, I'm the Doctor," he said brightly, shaking the young man's hand and walking into the apartment as if he had every right to be there.
"Who is it, Luca?" called Saskia.
"Someone for you," answered Luca, a little uncertainly.
Saskia walked into the room, stopping dead on the threshold when she saw the Doctor standing in the middle of the room, a big smile on his face.
"What do you want?" she asked abruptly.
"To talk to you," he answered, more calmly than he would have thought he could manage.
"Well now is not a good time."
"Yeah, well, this can't wait, I'm afraid," he said.
"It will have to," Saskia answered, and turned away from him.
He shot across the room and caught her by the elbow.
"Hey!" Luca shouted. "She said she didn't want to talk to you!"
"Oh, go and play on the tramway, pretty boy!" the Doctor snapped. He turned back to Saskia, who slapped him forcefully across the cheek.
"Ow!" He put up his free hand to touch his stinging cheek.
"Don't you dare talk to my friends like that," she snarled, wrenching her arm free of his grasp.
"We need to talk," he insisted firmly.
"No, you need to apologise to Luca, then get out. I don't owe you anything and you certainly don't own me!" she snarled.
He blinked at her. "I've never thought that I owned you," he protested, puzzled by her choice of words. "What's got into you?"
"What's got into me?" she gasped. "I'm not the one barging in here uninvited and behaving like a spoilt brat! Now get out!"
He backed away. Saskia's anger was blazing as hot as the Devron's had done.
"Go on! GET OUT!" she yelled.

The Doctor fled. Back inside the TARDIS he stomped angrily around the Control Room for some time, muttering curses under his breath, hands shoved deep in his pockets. When he finally stopped stomping around, he slumped onto the bench, feeling exhausted and dejected.
He'd been sitting there for half an hour when he suddenly realised something. When Saskia had yelled at him to get out, he'd felt a telepathic compulsion to go. And he'd felt the same sort of compulsion when he was standing outside the Museum, looking at the poster advertising the Jackson's lecture. He frowned, wondering who had been using telepathy on him to make him go to the lecture. And how had they done it? He ought to go and talk to Saskia to find out if she had been aware of the fact she had compelled him to go. He winced mentally at the thought of going back to see her again tonight, but he really needed to know the answer, especially if he was going to accompany Jackson to see the Lost City. He sighed heavily and got to his feet.
The Doctor let himself into Saskia's apartment building and headed upstairs, hoping that Luca had gone home. He knocked on her door, rather than using the door buzzer.

Saskia was about to go to bed. After the Doctor had left, Luca had begun making disparaging comments about him, and she had lost her temper and thrown him out too, although she hadn't actually slapped him. She had sat brooding for some time, wondering what had got into her. She'd never intentionally hit anyone before. Finally she realised that she was getting a headache and decided to go to bed. When the knock came on her door, Saskia assumed it was old Mrs Ponder from across the hall, and she opened the door without checking the entrycam. The Doctor stood on the other side of the door, four angry red marks across his cheek where she had slapped him earlier, and a pleading look on his face.
"What do you want?" she asked wearily.
"Can I come in? We really do need to talk."
"I'm about to go to bed," she answered. "Come back in the morning." She shut the door in his face, trying not to think about how she'd felt when he'd done the same thing to her earlier. She had only taken a few steps away from the door when she heard it open behind her. She whirled around in time to see the Doctor pocketing his Sonic Screwdriver.
"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded furiously.
"I told you, we need to talk, and tomorrow might be too late."
She hesitated and he stepped over to her side, putting one hand on her temple and the other on her shoulder.
"What - ?" Saskia felt herself falling and blackness descending on her mind. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was the Doctor's voice.
"I'm so sorry, Saskia."

Saskia opened her eyes slowly, wondering where she was.
"Hello."
She turned her head and saw the Doctor sitting on a chair beside her bed.
"Doctor?" She frowned, trying to remember what had happened.
"I'm sorry, Saskia. I had to – um – knock you out." The Doctor's expression was carefully neutral.
"You knocked me out?" she asked in confusion.
He nodded, sympathy flaring in his dark eyes.
"Why?"
"I really needed to talk to you and you wouldn't listen."
"Oh! I – uh – I remember." She looked away from his intent gaze, embarrassed by her earlier anger, then remembered that she'd slapped his face. Her gaze snapped back to his face.
"It's OK," he assured her. "No lasting damage."
"Good," she answered weakly, wondering how he could be so calm. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked, pulling herself up into a sitting position.
"We're being manipulated. Someone's pulling our strings, making us dance to their tune."
She looked at him. "Is there any chance you could decrypt that a bit?" she asked carefully.
"Yes, sorry." He ruffled his hair and Saskia suddenly noticed he looked exhausted.
"How long is it since you arrived back here?" she asked abruptly.
"A couple of hours," he answered apologetically.
"You know, since I met you, I've lost quite a few hours of my life. And I seem to keep waking up with you sitting at my bedside."
He looked down at his hands sheepishly. "Sorry."
"Oh don't keep apologising, Doctor!"

He looked up sharply at her tone and she covered her mouth with her hand. "What's going on, Doctor?"
"I'll explain. But I want to you ask you to do me a favour first."
She raised an eyebrow at his serious tone. "What favour?"
"The drug that Dr Karg gave you, how fast does it work?"
"It takes about half an hour, I believe."
"Would you mind taking one or two, please?"
"Why?" asked Saskia.
"I think whoever is manipulating us is doing so telepathically. I'd quite like to be able to talk to you without you being under their influence," he answered carefully.
She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded. "OK. They're in my – oh!" She broke off as the Doctor held out her bag. She took it from him and he reached down beside the chair to pick up a glass of water. She pulled out the package Dr Karg had given her and took out a bottle of capsules. She glanced at the label on the box, then shook out two into her hand. She threw them into the back of her mouth, took the glass of water from the Doctor and drank half of it in two big gulps.
"Do you mind if I make a cup of tea?" asked the Doctor.
Saskia shook her head. "You can make me one too," she answered. "I'll be through in a few minutes."

The Doctor nodded and went out. Saskia pushed the blanket off herself. "Oh well, at least he didn't undress me this time," she thought, feeling relieved and embarrassed at once. She decided she might be able to think better if she felt more comfortable and quickly changed out of her now-rumpled clothes into an old pair of casual trousers and a baggy T-shirt. She went through to the kitchen. The Doctor looked up from stirring the tea to give her a tentative smile.
"Hello."
"Hello yourself," she answered.
"Do you know, that's the first casual clothing I've seen you wearing," he commented.
"Mmm." She took one of the mugs of tea from the kitchen counter and headed back into the main room. "Let’s sit out on the balcony," she said.
"OK." The Doctor followed her out onto the balcony and leant against the railing, looking out over the city. Saskia settled onto the big upholstered bench.
"Would you mind sitting down?" she asked politely. "I'll get a crick in my neck if I have to keep looking up at you."

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 2, Part 1

2007-03-06T07:00:00.000Z

The Doctor stood just inside the library door, his forehead resting against it. Why had he just turned down Saskia's offer of dinner, he wondered.

Jealousy. He was jealous that someone else was going to be cooking for her, after ten days of being her personal chef.

What was there to be jealous of, though, when she had told him that she didn't have a man in her life. Besides, he still wanted to be with Rose. He pulled away from the door and opened it, then went to the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea. As he waited for the kettle to boil, he thought about his earlier behaviour and wondered at what point he'd started behaving like a moody teenager rather than a 900 year old Time Lord.

He turned the kettle back off, tea unmade. He ought to go and apologise to Saskia, at the very least. Only yesterday he'd been gratefully thinking about the closeness of the bond they were developing, and now he was doing his best to destroy it. Did he really want that? He couldn't love Saskia as he loved Rose, but Saskia was special to him now, he knew that. She'd entered his mind to save him from the Devron, and his previous selves had helped her to do it. Snapping at her and acting like an adolescent was hardly the best way to repay her. He knew she had risked losing her own mind in order to save his, and the fact that she probably hadn’t realised just how big a risk she was taking, didn't make it any less significant.

He hurried out of the kitchen and up to the Control Room. He picked up his coat from where he'd tossed it across a railing earlier, and checked the local time: just after 4.30 pm. He paused in the middle of pulling on his coat. He ought to take her a peace offering and there was still time to find a local shop selling something suitable. He pulled his coat on properly and headed outside. He made a point of locking the TARDIS door this time, then headed down the side street towards the Museum. He recalled seeing a nice gift shop not far from the Museum the last time he'd been here. He walked briskly towards the Museum and was about to pass it when a poster caught his eye.

TODAY ONLY

Explorer and Archaeologist, Professor Jackson, will lecture on his recent trip to the fabled Lost City of Eupatoria in the Dasleere Viertel region.

The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "The Lost City of Eupatoria?" he muttered. "Presumably someone has found it again!" He went up the steps of the Museum to find an elderly man in a grey suit sitting behind a desk in the foyer.
"Yes sir?" The man looked at him expectantly.
"Today's talk by Professor Jackson, what time does it start?" asked the Doctor.
"In ten minutes, sir," the man answered.
"Do I need a ticket?"
"Yes sir."
"Oh!" The Doctor patted briefly at his pockets. Money! Why was he always so vague about money, he wondered crossly. He looked at the expectant face of the man before him and shrugged nonchalantly. "Some other time," he said and walked across the foyer to look at a display case as a party of four young people, presumably students, arrived and requested tickets. He sidled down the corridor whilst the man was busy, following the sound of excited chattering. Fishing in his coat pocket, he found his psychic paper and grinned suddenly. He allowed the students to catch up with him, then followed them down the corridor to a large lecture theatre. He briefly flashed his psychic paper at the elderly woman who was checking the tickets, but not collecting them, he was relieved to see. The lecture room was vast and packed almost full. The Doctor looked around for a seat, convinced he would have to stand, then he spotted a spare seat in the raked tiers at the back of the theatre. He wormed his way through the chattering groups of people who were still standing, suddenly grateful for the fact that his new body was wiry and supple. He reached the seat and sank into it with a small sigh of relief.

"Smooth moves," said the young man beside him, with a grin.
"Thanks," the Doctor answered, surprised but pleased at the compliment. Before they could get into a proper conversation, a sudden silence rippled to the back of the theatre from the stage at the front. The Doctor looked up at the stage and saw a man, dressed in desert clothing, walk briskly onto the stage. The man was in his mid-fifties, with steel grey hair, a weather-beaten face, and a military bearing. Suddenly the Doctor regretted Saskia's absence. She could have told him more about the Professor, whom he suddenly realised was striking a pose on the stage. The Doctor frowned, baffled by the man's manner, until he spotted a small cluster of people in the centre of the lecture theatre, who were apparently recording the Professor's lecture.
"He always does that." A quiet voice broke in on his thoughts and he looked at the young man beside him, surprised at the note of contempt in his voice. The young man glanced up at the Doctor's intent expression. "The Professor makes a lot of money selling his lectures to an eager public," he explained.
"Well exploration can be an expensive business," the Doctor answered mildly.
The young man scowled, but before he could reply, a booming voice rolled around the lecture theatre.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Professor Jackson." Most of the audience immediately erupted into enthusiastic applause. The Doctor noticed that the Professor made no effort to discourage the applause, he simply stood and waited, a smug look on his face. The Doctor felt the young man beside him stiffen with dislike. He wondered why the young man was there, if he disliked the Professor so much. Before he could ask, however, the Professor began his lecture.

It was, the Doctor had to concede, a slick performance, as well as a fascinating talk. The Lost City of Eupatoria had, in fact, only just been rediscovered by the Professor and his small team of archaeologists. Empathians had long believed that there was a city out in the desert region known as the Dasleere Viertel, which the Doctor knew meant "The Empty Quarter" in German, an old Earth language. The Professor's film show, maps and drawings showed an awesome cityscape, apparently well preserved despite its age. The Doctor found himself wishing he could see it for himself, and wondering whether Saskia would like to see it. Saskia ! The Doctor suddenly remembered that he had been going to see her, to apologise for his earlier behaviour. He frowned, wondering why he had decided to come to the lecture instead. It wasn't like him to get distracted that easily. He looked up at the stage and suddenly found the Professor staring very intently, apparently at him. He blinked, then glanced at the young man beside him, who was glaring angrily at the Professor. The Doctor heard the Professor thanking the audience for attending his lecture, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He wondered why the Professor had been staring at him so intently, then shook himself mentally. He really should go and see Saskia to apologise. He got to his feet with the rest of the audience, but before he could move he found an obsequious man beside his elbow.
"Excuse me, sir. The Professor would like a word with you."
"With me?" the Doctor asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yes sir. You are the Doctor, are you not?"
The Doctor smiled widely. "Indeed I am."
"Then would you come with me please?"
The Doctor turned to say goodbye to the young man who had been sitting beside him, but discovered that he had already left.
"Sir?" The obsequious man was looking back at the Doctor impatiently.
"Oh well," thought the Doctor. "I guess I won't find out why he disliked Professor Jackson so much."

The Doctor followed the man out of the crowded lecture theatre, then down a corridor to an anteroom. The man knocked on the door, then ushered the Doctor inside.
"I got him, sir," he said breathlessly.
"Good! Don't stay!" Jackson answered brusquely.
The Doctor frowned slightly at Jackson's tone.
"So you are the Doctor? The man who single-handedly saved Einfuhlung from a bunch of marauding aliens?"
"That's me," the Doctor answered cheerily. "Although, technically, it wasn't single-handed."
"Well you didn't have an army, did you?" asked Jackson with a frown.
"Nope, just my own two arms." The Doctor knew his cheery manner was irritating Jackson, but he didn't intend to modify his tone. There was something slightly off about the man before him, but he couldn't quite work out what it was yet. He was hoping that if he irritated Jackson enough, without actually being outright rude, he might have the chance to work out what was going on. He was surveying the room as he talked, thinking furiously, and wishing yet again that Saskia was here to help him.
"Yes well, I didn't really ask you here to talk about those insolent Rovians," Jackson said abruptly.
"No? Then why did you ask me here?" asked the Doctor curiously.
"I thought that whilst you were back on Einfuhlung, you might like to visit the Lost City with me."
The Doctor looked at the Professor in surprise. "I thought you'd only just got back from there?"
The Professor nodded. "I have, but I'm going back again in a few days. There's still a lot of work to be done at the site, and frankly, I'm not sure my junior assistants are up to the task. I thought you might like to come with me."
"That's a generous offer," said the Doctor, pulling distractedly at his earlobe. "When do you leave?"
"In three or four days. I've got to sort out some more funding first and replace some equipment we lost in a sandstorm."
"OK then," the Doctor answered brightly.
"Excellent! Here is my card. My hotel number is on the back. Call me in three days and I'll let you know when exactly we're leaving."
The Doctor took the card and put it into his breast pocket.
Jackson immediately bellowed, "JONES!"
The anteroom door opened and the obsequious man stuck his head around it. "Sir?"
"See the Doctor out, man!"

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 1, Part 3

2007-03-06T06:45:00.000Z

The Doctor stirred in his seat. "What are we going to do about the Devron?" he asked. "It seems fairly clear to me that it doesn't trust me one bit, and I'm not entirely sure it trusts Saskia either." He gave her an apologetic look.
"Not only that, but it clearly enjoys manipulating people's emotions," Saskia said.
"I think the Devron should remain here and I will do my best to win its trust," answered Dr Karg. "Why don't you come and see me again in a couple of days and you can tell me whether your telepathic powers are still increasing when you're no longer in close proximity to the Devron."
Saskia nodded.
"Doctor, you would be welcome too," Dr Karg said.
The Doctor smiled happily. "Thank you."
"Let's go and talk to the Devron, then," said Dr Karg.
"Before we do, there something I think you should know." Both men noticed a reluctant note in Saskia's voice, whilst Dr Karg could sense a reluctance to speak warring with her anxiety about holding back potentially important information.
"What is it, Saskia?" the Doctor asked.
"When I was fighting with the Devron mentally I found out a bit about it. No one's ever taught it how to shield its mind," she explained, "so I got flickers of information and images from it." She looked away from them both in embarrassment. The Doctor reached out and clasped her hand.
"It's OK. I know you well enough by now to know that you'd never deliberately rifle through someone's memories and experiences."
Dr Karg nodded agreement with the Doctor's words. "He's right. Just tell us what you think we should know if we are to help the Devron."
Saskia's squeezed the Doctor's hand, then took a deep breath before explaining that she had learned that the Devron's people had found a way to pass on their personal memories and experiences to another individual before they died. This meant, she said, that any one individual could have the memories of hundreds of individuals stored in its own memory.

The Doctor look curious and intrigued by her revelation, but Dr Karg seemed as horrified as Saskia. "How do they stop themselves from going mad?" he asked in wonder.
"I'm not sure that they do," Saskia answered.
Both men looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean?" asked Dr Karg, a breath ahead of the Doctor.
"You know how angry it always seemed when we encountered it?" Saskia asked the Doctor, who nodded ruefully. "Well I think its mind was breaking down under the pressure of its ancestors' memories, combined with the telepathic stress of the heightened international tensions on Earth. I think we removed it from Earth not a moment too soon. But I'm not sure whether we removed it too late."
Dr Karg patted her arm. "Only time will tell," he said. "But you can be sure I will do all that I can to help it." He stood up, and Saskia and the Doctor stood too. "Let's find our visitor."
"You did the right thing, telling us about the Devron," the Doctor told Saskia quietly as they followed Dr Karg out of his study. She bit her bottom lip, then nodded once, but the Doctor could sense she wasn't completely convinced. He squeezed her hand in his own.

They followed Dr Karg along the corridor and into the central part of the house where they found the Devron and Dr Karg's assistant waiting in a large, sunlit sitting room. Saskia immediately noticed that the Devron looked less sulky than it had and wondered if that meant that it would be willing to accept Dr Karg's help. It gave her a sharp look and she flinched as she realised that it had read her thoughts. She waited by the door with the Doctor as Dr Karg approached the Devron and spoke to it silently. The Doctor could sense that Saskia was anxious about the Devron and he briefly put an arm around her shoulders. She gave him a quick smile, then turned her attention to Dr Karg as he approached them.
"The Devron has agreed to remain here for the time being," he told them.
Saskia gave a sigh of relief.
"Would you two like to look around here before you head back to the city?"
She turned to the Doctor. "Doctor?"
"Another time, thank you," he answered. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"Thank you for coming to see me, both of you. Saskia I'll go and get that item I promised you."
"Thank you." She walked over to the Devron and the Doctor followed her.
"I am glad that you have agreed to stay and work with Dr Karg," she told it.
It looked at her for a long moment and Saskia could feel that it was trying to read her mind. She returned its gaze steadily, keeping all her emotions firmly masked. Finally it dropped its gaze.
"Goodbye," it said, then turned its back on them both.
The Doctor shrugged at Saskia's look. "Goodbye," he said, then took her arm and led her out of the room.

They found Dr Karg waiting for them by the front door and followed him outside at his gesture. He handed Saskia a small package which she slipped into her bag.
"I've given you a three month supply," he told her.
She looked at him in surprise. "Why so much?"
"Well I thought it best to err on the side of caution. You might need to increase the standard dose if your telepathic abilities continue to increase. Also I thought you might find yourself unable to get back to see me should something urgent arise." He smiled at the Doctor, who smiled back.
"I won't go looking for trouble," he assured Dr Karg.
"Perhaps not, but you have admitted that trouble has a habit of finding you, and if Saskia is going to remain as your Companion, I would rather she had the help she might need." He hugged Saskia, then shook hands with the Doctor. "Come and see me in two days," he said. "Come for lunch again."
"Thank you, we will." Saskia turned to leave, then turned back. "I almost forgot," she said and fished in her pocket, pulling out the artefact that she and the Doctor had discovered in Oxford. "You might want to get one of your techies to look at this."
"What is it?" asked Dr Karg, looking at the small device that lay in the palm of her hand.
"A very powerful transmitter and receiver. It broadcasts Psionic waves, and I think it also amplifies telepathic abilities. The Devron built it. Be careful about activating it."
Dr Karg looked at it thoughtfully. "I'll bear your warning in mind," he said. "I think I won't tell the Devron that I have it, at least not yet."
Saskia nodded. "We'll see you in two days, then" she said, then set off down the drive towards the gates.

The Doctor sketched a farewell then caught Saskia up in a few strides. "Now there's a thoroughly decent bloke," he said.
Saskia grinned at him and he grinned back. "Are you sure you don't just hanker after his library?" she asked teasingly.
He poked her shoulder. "You're getting cheeky," he said, pretending to be stern. He grabbed her hand and began to swing her arm backwards and forwards. Saskia's smiled broadened.
"What?" he asked, catching sight of her face.
"The last time anyone did that with me, I was six," she said.
"Oh. Sorry." He stopped swinging their arms, then suddenly pulled his hand free of hers and shoved it into his trouser pocket.
"I wasn't complaining," Saskia protested.
"I know," he answered shortly, then lengthened his stride and walked rapidly away from her.
She stopped abruptly and closed her eyes, sorting through the feelings she had got from the Doctor, even though she had been doing her best to block them out of her mind in case he felt she was intruding.

Guilt. He felt guilty that he had been enjoying her company, because she wasn't Rose.

Sighing, she shook her head then followed the Doctor down the drive and out to the tram stop. He was standing at the stop, with his hands thrust into his trouser pockets, rocking from his heels to the balls of his feet and back again as if he had been waiting there for several hours instead of just a few minutes. She stepped to his side, but before she could speak to him a tram arrived. She got on first, since she had their tickets, and made her way to a free pair of seats, but she wasn't very surprised when the Doctor took a seat near the driver instead of joining her. She watched him, wondering if he was always going to be so moody.

When the tram stopped in the centre of town, the Doctor was up and leaping off before it had barely stopped moving, earning a reprimanding "Oi!" from the driver, which he ignored. He didn't stop or look back as he headed towards the Museum and the spot where they had left the TARDIS. Saskia got off the tram, watching his tall figure striding away and wondered whether or not to go after him. She decided she wanted to go home first. If he wanted her, he knew where to find her. She let herself into her apartment and checked her messages. She smiled when she saw there was one from Luca. She keyed in his work number, knowing he would still be in their shared office.

"Saskia! Thank the gods!" Luca's good humoured face broke into a relieved smile when he saw her.
"Hello Luca. Did you miss me?"
"We all did," he answered. "Where are you?"
"At home, now. I've just got back from seeing Dr Karg."
"Are you OK?" he asked anxiously.
She nodded. "I'm mostly just tired," she answered truthfully.
"Can I come and see you? Tonight?"
Saskia bit her lip indecisively. "Yes, why not?" she said finally. "What time are you finishing work?" She checked the clock on the videophone display.
"About 5," Luca answered. "I'll come straight to you. I'll cook you dinner and you can tell me all about your adventures."
"That will be nice," she said.
"See you in about an hour, then." He blew her a kiss then terminated the call.
She thought about that kiss as she went through to the kitchen. There had been a time when they had first started working together, when she had thought she and Luca might end up as a couple, but it hadn't happened. She scribbled a quick shopping list, knowing that if she didn't go and get some groceries, he'd only get melodramatic with her about her lack of interest in food. She went downstairs to the street entrance and wondered what the Doctor was doing. Since she had to pass the TARDIS on her way to the store, she decided to call in on the way back to see if he wanted to come and have dinner with her and Luca.

When she walked down the side street near the Museum she was relieved to see the TARDIS was still there. She didn't think the Doctor would just leave without saying goodbye, but she wasn't positive about it. She pushed the door with her elbow, since her arms were holding a box of groceries. She half expected the door to be locked, but it wasn't, so she went inside. A quick glance around the Control Room confirmed what her other senses were telling her, that the Doctor was elsewhere. She put the box down by the door and walked over to the Console.
"Hello," she said, smoothing a hand across it. "Where's the Doctor?"
The TARDIS hummed softly at her, then showed her an image of the library. "Thank you."
She made her way down the corridors to the familiar room, then knocked on the door and waited.
The Doctor opened the door slowly and Saskia could feel his reluctance to do so even before she saw it in his face.
"Hello. I wondered if you wanted to come and have dinner with me?"
"I thought you didn't cook?" he asked.
"I don't."
"Are you inviting me to dinner so that I'll cook for you then?"
Saskia shook her head. "No. My colleague from the Museum, Luca, is coming over to catch up on my news and he'll cook."
"I don't think so, thank you." The Doctor's voice was stiffly courteous.
"Please yourself then," Saskia said, suddenly annoyed at his moodiness.
He flinched at her tone, opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again.
"What?" she demanded aggressively.
"Enjoy your meal," he said indifferently, then shut the door in her face.
She just managed to stop herself from flinging the door open and storming into the library after him. She glared at the door furiously, then turned and stalked back to the Control Room. She snatched up the box of groceries and hurried out the TARDIS, slamming the door behind her.

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 1, Part 2

2007-03-06T06:30:00.000Z

They only had to wait a few minutes for a tram to arrive. For most of the half hour journey the Doctor plied Saskia with questions about the city, its design and its transport systems. The Devron asked a few questions, but it was mostly quiet. Saskia kept a tight rein on her thoughts regarding the Devron. Although it had been quiet and reasonably docile since she had offered to bring it to her home planet, she knew that it was still angry about what had happened on Earth and she felt that it would only be a matter of time before matters came to a head. She sincerely hoped that Dr Karg would be able to help it.

The tram dropped them off near the gates of an estate on the outskirts of the city. Saskia used the keypad at the entrance to alert Dr Karg of their arrival and they were quickly admitted. A short drive led up to an imposing house built in the 19th century Old Earth style known as the Italianate. Even the Doctor seemed impressed, judging by his uncharacteristic silence. Dr Karg opened the door to them.
"Enter and be welcome," he said courteously.
Saskia stepped inside first and shook hands with him before introducing her companions. Dr Karg was an imposing figure, easily as tall as the Doctor, and wearing a cream linen suit that was in stark contrast to his sun-tanned skin. He had grey hair and green eyes which held an expression of great wisdom.
"Come through," he said, leading them to a small dining room where a heavily laden table implied he was expecting them to eat heartily.
He seated the Devron on his left and Saskia on his right, with the Doctor at the head of the table. "Please help yourselves," he invited and began filling their glasses with iced water.
For a few minutes no one spoke, except to make the usual courtesies of passing food to each other, as they concentrated on their food.
"Who is to begin your tale?" asked Dr Karg.
Saskia looked at the Doctor, who nodded and smiled at her, so she explained as quickly and succinctly as possible her meeting with the Doctor, their trip to Earth and their encounter with the Devron. In spite of her brevity, it still took some time to tell the tale. Dr Karg listened intently, without interruptions, then invited the Devron to tell them about itself.
"We will not speak of ourselves to outsiders," it said stiffly.
Dr Karg raised his eyebrows. "Then how am I to help you?" he asked.
The Devron shrugged. Saskia did her best to stifle her irritation with it. "I invited you to come here so that my people could help you," she reminded it. "Why did you accept that offer if you don't intend to tell us anything?"
"We thought that you would kill us if we did not agree."
Dr Karg's eyebrows rose even higher. "Saskia would never do that!" he exclaimed.
"He might," the Devron said, pointing at the Doctor. "He killed his own people."
"Is that true?" Dr Karg asked in disbelief.
"Yes," the Doctor answered. Saskia could hear the grief in his voice and see the pain in his dark brown eyes. She reached out and put her hand on his arm.

"There's something here I don't understand," Dr Karg said heavily. "I've known Saskia almost all her life and I know very well that she would not trust the Doctor as I can feel she so clearly does, without good reason."
The Doctor shot Saskia a grateful look at Dr Karg's words and put his hand over hers. "Thank you."
She squeezed his fingers.
"Dr Karg, my story is a long and difficult one, but I will tell it as succinctly as possible," he said.
Dr Karg nodded at him, eyes alight with curiosity. The Devron shifted in its chair, drawing everyone's attention back to it. "We do not wish to listen to this," it said emphatically.
Saskia bit back an annoyed retort and was irritated with herself when she saw that the Devron was aware of her annoyance. The Doctor squeezed her fingers which still lay under his hand.
"It's OK," he told her. "Don't let it upset you."
Dr Karg looked from the Devron to Saskia and the Doctor. "Very well," he said and rang a bell. A young man came into the dining room. "Will you take the Devron to the guest wing, please, and remain there until we come for you?"
The young man nodded and waited impassively whilst the Devron slipped down from its chair. "We thank you for your hospitality," it said stiffly, before following the young man out.
"If you've both finished eating, we can adjourn to my study," Dr Karg said. The Doctor and Saskia nodded their agreement, getting up to follow him out of the room and down a long, panelled hallway into a book-lined room at the back of the house.

Saskia sat down on a large, comfortable sofa, watching whilst the Doctor roamed around the room, peering at the bookshelves.
"This is an impressive collection," he told Dr Karg enthusiastically.
"Thank you, Doctor." Dr Karg smiled in genuine pleasure at the Doctor's enthusiasm. "Shall we begin?" he asked.
The Doctor nodded, then crossed the room to sit beside Saskia. She could feel the tension in his arm as it brushed against hers and she also felt the turmoil of emotions in his mind. She knew that he had yet to forgive himself for his role in the destruction of Gallifrey and the Time Lords, and that talking about it was going to be very painful.
He took a deep breath which he let out slowly, as he centred his mind, then explained as dispassionately as possible the origins of the Time War, and how he had come to destroy his home and his people. Saskia and Dr Karg listened attentively, without interrupting. When he finished speaking over an hour later, Saskia sensed that he seemed more relaxed and even a little relieved to have told his story.

Dr Karg spoke finally. "Thank you for sharing this story with us," he said. "I know that was a difficult thing for you to undertake."
The Doctor inclined his head. "Thank you for listening," he answered. "Both of you." He clasped Saskia's hand in his own.
"You two seem to have formed a very close bond in a very short space of time," Dr Karg observed. "What haven't you told me yet?"
Saskia didn't need to look at the Doctor to be aware of his willingness for her to tell Dr Karg more about their experiences, so she explained how the Devron had knocked the Doctor unconscious and how she had entered the Doctor's mind to save him.
"Can you show me your memory of this?" Dr Karg asked.
"Yes." She turned to the Doctor. "I think you should see this too," she said.
He nodded, a look of curiosity in his eyes. Dr Karg moved his chair in front of them and reached out his left hand to Saskia, who took it in her right hand. The Doctor still had a firm grasp on her left hand.
He looked at Dr Karg. "Shall we - ?" he asked and waggled his free hand.
Dr Karg nodded. "The images will be clearer for all of us, if we are all physically linked." He took the Doctor's left hand in his own right hand, so that they made a triangle, then closed his eyes. The Doctor noticed that Saskia had already closed her eyes, so he closed his own eyes and concentrated.
Saskia focused on her memory of entering the Doctor's mind, carefully unfolding the experience for the two of them as if she was playing back a film. Once her mental film had finished, they sat back in silence. Dr Karg steepled his fingers against his lips before speaking.

"In 80 years of assisting Empathians to control their empathic skills, I've never known anything like that," he said thoughtfully. "And you said that your telepathic skills are growing stronger?"
Saskia nodded. "I can read anyone's thoughts now unless I actively block out their minds."
"Hmm. And you say that your race is only mildly telepathic, Doctor?"
"As a rule yes. Although I've never met anyone from the Devron's race before, I suspect that its innate powers are stronger than Saskia's, even though she told me that she is very strongly gifted amongst your people. I think that the Devron's own skills are amplifying Saskia's, but whether it's only a temporary change, or a permanent one, I couldn't guess."
"Nor I," answered Dr Karg.
"Then I suppose we'll just have to wait and see," Saskia said in a pragmatic tone.
"You know that if it becomes too hard for you to block out other people's thoughts, I can give you something for it," Dr Karg said.
"A suppressant?" asked the Doctor.
"An inhibiting drug, yes," answered Dr Karg. "Very young children who are strongly gifted, like Saskia, sometimes take it at night to allow them to sleep and rest. We work with them to teach them how to block the minds of others naturally and they can usually stop taking the inhibitor once they reach puberty."
"Did you take it, as a child?" the Doctor asked curiously.
Saskia shook her head. "My grandmother taught me the necessary mental disciplines at a very early age, so it was never necessary."
"I'll fill out a prescription for you," Dr Karg said.
Saskia opened her mouth to say that she wouldn't need it, but then left the words unsaid. "OK."
"You may not want it now, but you might find it necessary later on if your powers continue to increase," he pointed out.
"I know," she answered.

The Desert of Einfuhlung - Chapter 1, Part 1

2007-03-06T06:15:00.000Z

The TARDIS landed with a gentle bump, rousing her three passengers from their different reveries.
"Where have we landed, Doctor?" Saskia asked, glancing over at the tall, wiry man, who was looking at a screen on the console in front of him.
"Near the Museum where you work," he answered. "I thought that was the easiest place."
Saskia nodded. "I suggest we go to my apartment and I'll contact Dr Karg to find out how soon he can see us." She turned to the short humanoid beside her. "Is this acceptable to you?" she asked the Devron telepathically.
"We are in your hands," it answered.
Saskia nodded again, then pulled on her coat. "Come on then," she said.

The Doctor was surprised to hear a note of reluctance in her voice. He had expected her to be full of eagerness now that they were back on her home planet, especially after all she had been through in the last three days. He followed her and the Devron out into the street, locking the TARDIS doors behind them. He took a deep breath of Einfuhlung's air, his eyes closed in appreciation, his hands shoved into the pockets of his blue pinstripe suit.
"Are you coming Doctor?" Saskia called as she realised he wasn't right behind her.
"Sorry, yes. Just savouring your native air," he answered with a grin.
"Well you can do that from the balcony of my apartment, if you like," she told him.
He followed his companions down the side street where the TARDIS was parked, easily catching up with them with his long stride.
"Whereabouts do you live?" he asked Saskia.
"Up there," she said, pointing across the street at a six storey building.
The Doctor looked up at the building which he realised was only a few minutes walk away from the Museum. "That's handy for the office."
"We don't believe in long commutes here," Saskia answered. "it's environmentally and economically unfriendly."
The Doctor nodded his understanding. "So which floor are you on?"
"The fourth." They crossed the street and Saskia led the way up the steps, entering a code on the keypad beside the door, which swung open to admit them into a bright, well-lit hallway. Saskia crossed over to the lifts and they were quickly taken up to the fourth floor. They found themselves in another well-lit hallway, off which opened just two doors, one on each side. Saskia walked over to the right hand door and let them in via another code on the keypad.

She pushed the door open with one hand and gestured inside with the other. "Welcome to my home."
The Doctor walked inside, hands in his pockets yet again, and looked around at the large room. It was painted in a pale blue, but most of the wall space was taken up with shelves of books, music recordings and films. At the far side of the room, two large French windows led out onto a balcony.
"May I?" the Doctor asked, gesturing at the balcony.
"Help yourself," Saskia answered, turning to the Devron, who remained on the threshold. "You can come in," she told it. "You are welcome here."
The Devron raised its grey eyes to her face. "Truly you are strong," it said.
Saskia raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?" she asked.
"We tried to kill you, yet you do not seek to punish us, but to help us."
"I told you before, I tried to kill you too. As far as I am concerned, that makes us equals. If you deserve punishment, then so do I."
"Fantastic!"
Saskia looked round at the Doctor's enthusiastic exclamation. He stuck his head back inside the room. "This view is fantastic," he said. He beckoned to the Devron. "Come and see."
It looked at Saskia, who nodded encouragement. "I'm going to call Dr Karg's office," she said.

Leaving them to admire the view, she walked over to her videophone. A light on it was blinking rapidly, indicating that she had several message waiting. She scowled a little, then decided they would have to wait for the moment. Too many explanations would be necessary after her ten day absence. Instead, she keyed in the number for Dr Karg's office and was pleased when he picked up the call himself.
"Saskia!" Dr Karg's face lit up with a smile of pleasure when he saw her. "I heard you'd gone missing after the failed invasion by the Rovians. I'm glad to see you."
"I've been away, Dr Karg. It's rather a long story, but I'd like to come and see you, if that's possible. There are some things I want to discuss with you, and a couple of people I want you to meet."
"Professionally?" he asked curiously.
"Yes please."
"Well you're in luck. I've got a free afternoon. Come at midday and we can have some lunch, then talk."
"Thank you," Saskia answered gratefully. "See you later."
Dr Karg nodded, then ended the call.

Saskia looked round to see the Devron and the Doctor coming back into the room. "Dr Karg can see us at midday. He'll give us some lunch as well." She looked at the Devron. "Do you eat the same things as humans?" she asked.
It nodded. "We prefer fish and vegetables."
"OK."
"What are we going to do for the next couple of hours?" asked the Doctor.
"Well I need to check my messages and speak to my boss, at least," Saskia answered, looking concerned.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" the Doctor asked the Devron, who shrugged, then nodded.
"Right. We'll need about half an hour to get to Dr Karg's office, so don't be too late in getting back – and try not to get into any trouble whilst you're out," she said, looking meaningfully at the Doctor, who assumed an innocent air.
"I can't imagine what you mean," he answered, trying to sound hurt.
Saskia just gave him a look, without commenting. He grinned at her and she watched them leave, before keying in the code to retrieve her messages. Three were from her boss, who looked and sounded increasingly harassed in each one. The other two were from her friend and fellow archivist, Luca. She sighed, then keyed in the number for her boss.
"Saskia! Where on Einfuhlung have you been the last ten days?" he demanded.
"Hello Philip. I haven't been on Einfuhlung, actually," she answered.
He looked at her in astonishment. "What?"
She explained quickly and concisely what had happened, although she left out any references to the Devron.
"Well! I'm glad that you're OK, but when are you coming back to work?"
"Not for a few more days," she answered. "I'm sorry, Philip, but there are a few things I need to sort out, matters arising from my 'trip'."
"This Doctor chap, is he with you?" Philip asked curiously.
"He came back with me, yes."
"Is he one of the 'matters arising', as you put it?"
"Yes. We had an experience that we want to discuss with Dr Karg."
Philip looked at her in surprise. "Dr Karg? Are you sure that you're OK?" he asked anxiously.
"I'm quite well, thank you. We just need to talk."

Philip nodded. "OK then. Listen, you haven't had any time off yet this year, why don't we record this as part of your annual leave? Take another four days off, to make it up to two weeks, and I'll see you in five days time."
Saskia nodded gratefully. "Thanks Philip. Is Luca in today?"
"He's down in the vaults."
"Will you tell him that I'm back and that I'll call him later, please?"
"Of course! He'll be as relieved as I am to hear that you're back. We've both been worried sick about you."
"Thanks. I'll speak to you soon." Saskia ended the call, then went to fetch her mail from the box beside the door. Finding nothing urgent, she dropped it onto the coffee table, then walked over to her desk and turned on her portable computer. She checked her electronic messages and found half a dozen from Luca and two from Philip. The rest were all related to the professional discussion groups that she used online. She flicked through them quickly, sent notes to a handful of people, then put her group subscriptions on hold. She was still in two minds about continuing to travel with the Doctor, but she knew that the next few days would be busy enough, without trying to keep up with the discussion groups. She looked at her watch: 11 o' clock. She walked through to the kitchen and checked the contents of her fridge. She removed a handful of items that were past their best and dropped them into the recycling bin. Then she decided to shower and change before the Doctor and the Devron returned.

When the downstairs door buzzer sounded twenty minutes later, Saskia was feeling somewhat better. She checked the door camera, then buzzed the door release button to let them in. The Doctor practically burst into the room and Saskia was reminded once again of an eager puppy.
"Hello. Good walk?"
"Yes thanks," the Doctor answered, grinning enthusiastically. "This city is fantastic!"
"I'm glad that you like it," Saskia said.
"The city is designed well," the Devron volunteered.
Saskia smiled at it. "I'm glad you think so. Are we ready to go, then?"
They both nodded, so she picked up a small bag and slipped it onto her shoulder, before leading them downstairs.
"I like the trams," the Doctor said. "Very neat."
"That's good because we're taking a tram to Dr Karg's office."

New Companion, Old Earth - Epilogue

2007-02-20T14:00:00.000Z

On a fine February day two men sat talking in a room in Magdalen College, Oxford.
"You know, Tollers," said the younger man, breaking the silence. "I've been thinking about that couple we met the other night."
His friend looked at him, eyes bright with curiosity. "I've been waiting for you to mention them, Jack."
"Do you think they really were time-travellers?" Jack asked.
"I do," answered Tollers. "There was something about them that made me believe them. But you saw their ship. Why are you doubting them?"
Jack shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe because it seems like something out of a story, something that Wells might write."
Tollers nodded. "We might write such stories ourselves," he pointed out.
Jack's face brightened. "So we might. I'll toss you for it. Heads, you write a space travel story, tails you write a time travel one."
He pulled out a coin and flicked it into the air.
"Tails," called Tollers, his voice firm and clear for once.
Jack caught the coin and looked down. He began to laugh. "You win," he said, showing him the coin on his palm, and Tolkien joined in his friend's laughter.

New Companion, Old Earth - Chapter Four - Part 3

2007-02-20T13:55:00.000Z

"Sit down," he said, then began opening cupboard doors. Finally he opened the door to the freezer and pulled something out.
"Pizza," he said. "Ever had it?"
Saskia shook her head. "What is it?"
"It's an Italian dish. A large round base of dough with a tomato based sauce covering it, and then toppings of cheese and vegetables or meat are added to suit the taste of the consumer."
Saskia shrugged. "It sounds OK."
"Good. What topping do you want? We've got either ham and pineapple or tuna and sweetcorn," he said, peering at the hand-written labels.
"Tuna," Saskia answered. "Did you make them yourself?"
"Hmm? Oh, no. I picked them up from an Italian chef I know."
"In Italy?" Saskia asked curiously.
"No, Cardiff actually," the Doctor answered with a small smile.

He put the pizza on a round tin, then pushed it into the oven that Saskia had never investigated. He pressed a couple of buttons and the device sprang into life.
"You've got a microwave in here?" Saskia asked in surprise.
"Actually it's a 25th century pizza oven," the Doctor answered. "It works like a microwave, but the food tastes much better."
He began rummaging in the fridge and pulled out various salad ingredients. Saskia watched in amusement as he prepared the various vegetables before tossing them into a bowl. He glanced up and caught her expression.
"Surprised?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow and grinning at her.
"A bit," she answered, smiling back.
"I'm multi-talented," he said, before popping a piece of celery into his mouth.
"And so modest too," she retorted with a grin.
He swallowed. "No point in false modesty," he answered. "When you've been around as long as I have, you pick up most skills."
"True. Why celery?" she asked.
The Doctor looked puzzled. "It's frequently used in salads," he answered.
"No, I meant why did you wear a stick of celery in your lapel? One of your previous incarnations had it pinned to his jacket."
The Doctor paused in astonishment as he was about to pour a salad dressing into a bowl. "How on earth did you know that?" he asked bemused.
"I saw you – him – when I was in your mind," Saskia answered.
The Doctor's eyes widened in surprise. Before he could respond, the pizza oven began to chime, indicating that the pizza was ready to eat. He poured out the salad dressing, then took the pizza out of the oven. Saskia put plates, cutlery and glasses on the table, and the Doctor got a jug of ice water from the fridge.

Saskia wondered nervously if he was angry with her, though she could only sense his surprise. He cut the pizza into slices, then spoke finally. "Help yourself," he said. "Then explain what happened."
She did as he asked, talking between mouthfuls of food. He listened intently, without interrupting once, eating mechanically.
When she had finished speaking, he looked at her thoughtfully. "Do your people make a habit of wandering through others' minds like that?" he asked carefully.
She shook her head. "I've never heard or read of anyone doing anything like that. Not even those who work as counsellors. They might access a particular memory with an individual in order to help them understand an event, but what I did was completely different."
The Doctor was about to answer when the TARDIS hummed a different note. "The Devron is regaining consciousness," he said, standing up. Saskia got up too. "You don't have to come," he told her.
"Yes I do. After what I did, I have to come."
"Come on then," he said, holding out his hand. She took it gratefully and they went to the medical bay.

They only had to wait a few minutes before the Devron woke up. Immediately it began to strain against the straps that held it to the bed. It opened its eyes and Saskia flinched when she saw the intense hate in the glare it directed at her.
"Let us go!" it demanded, voice rising to a scream that reminded the Doctor of the Daleks.
"If I let you go, will you sit quietly and talk with us?" the Doctor asked.
The Devron turned its baleful look on the Doctor. "Time Lord, I thought you were dead," it answered bitterly.
"Oh it takes a good deal more than that to kill me," he answered, with more cheeriness than Saskia would have believed possible. "Now, are you going to be reasonable? If you're not, I'll just sedate you until we can find somewhere to drop you off."
"Where are you taking us?" it demanded furiously.
"Nowhere yet. We're still on Earth," the Doctor answered. "Where do you want to go? Home?"
"We cannot go home. We were exiled for life."
"We could take you home to my planet," Saskia offered, surprising herself almost as much as she surprised the Doctor, who glanced at her quickly.
"Why?" asked the Devron. "We tried to kill you!"
"And I thought I had killed you," she answered. "Yet here we both are – I just think my people could help you."

The Doctor and Saskia waited, watching the Devron's face. The Doctor was being very careful not to betray his thoughts to Saskia. He had sensed her longing to go home again and he didn't want her to know how reluctant he felt at the prospect of taking her back. This was no time to be selfish, after all she had been through.
"Very well," the Devron said, breaking in on the Doctor's thoughts. "We accept your offer. We wish to sleep now."
The Doctor nodded and moved forward to undo the restraints. As he was unfastening the chest restraint, the Devron's hand shot out and grasped the Doctor's wrist in a vice-like grip. "If you trick us, we will kill you both," it said harshly.
The Doctor look down into its face. "We will be there in a few hours," he said evenly, and turned to undo the leg straps.
"I'm going to go and get some sleep too," Saskia said aloud.
The Doctor nodded without looking up. "I'll be in the Control Room", he said.
Saskia went out and he turned back to the Devron. "Do you want some food?" he asked.
"No – thank you. Just sleep."
The Doctor nodded again. "I'll come and get you once we arrive," he said, then left.

Saskia undressed slowly, feeling exhausted by the day's events. She hadn't missed the Doctor's look of dismay when she had suggested taking the Devron home, and she felt guilty for wanting to go back after all they had been through together. But it was precisely because of what they had been through that she wanted to go back home. She felt desperate for some peace and quiet. She also wanted to talk to Dr Karg. He was an Elder and the wisest person she knew. If anyone could help her to make sense of what had happened today, he would be the person to do it. She crawled into her bed and fell asleep instantly.

The Doctor sat on the Control Room bench, feet propped up on the console. His eyes were closed, but he wasn't asleep. He was wondering whether Saskia would be accompanying him once he was ready to travel again, or whether she would go back to her old job. He was also wondering how long he would be able to make himself wait around for her in case she did want to go on travelling with him. He had sworn, after losing Rose, not to have another companion, but it seemed he couldn't stop himself from picking them up. He knew he would never love anyone as much as Rose, but there was no denying the fact that he had a bond with Saskia now. It was unlike anything he had ever had with anyone except Romana, and he had never imagined that he could have such a bond with someone who wasn't from Gallifrey. Opening his eyes, he got up and flicked a couple of switches on the console. Immediately music began to play, echoing quietly around the Control Room. It was a jazz piece, as melancholy as his mood. He went back to his seat on the bench and closed his eyes, trying not to think of anything at all.

When Saskia walked into the Control Room a couple of hours later, the TARDIS was still playing random jazz tracks and the Doctor was still sitting on the bench. He opened his eyes as she approached.
"I didn't realise you had a radio in here," she said.
"I haven't," he answered. "The TARDIS stores music broadcasts that she picks up wherever we go, and I just play it back whenever I feel like it. This is stuff she's stored over the last two days."
"Oh! What's this piece, then?"
"Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. The track's called 'Riffin at the Ritz'."
"Very – snazzy," Saskia observed.
"I can turn it off, if you don't like it," the Doctor said as the piece ended.
"No, that's OK. I've just never heard anything like it." She sat down beside him on the bench. "Doctor –"
"Don't say it."
Saskia raised an eyebrow at his interruption. "Say what?" she asked, frowning in puzzlement.
"That you're not going to be travelling with me again. Please don't tell me that now. Wait a few days before you make a decision."
Saskia was startled by the pleading note in his voice.
"Actually, I wasn't going to say anything like that," she said. "I've no idea whether I'll be travelling with you again or not."
"Oh." The Doctor looked away and she knew he was embarrassed because he had been pleading with her.
She reached out and took his hand in hers. "This has been fairly intense and traumatic for both of us. I was going to ask you to come with me to see Dr Karg, one of our Elders. I'd like to talk to him about what happened today when I was in your mind, and I'd like you to come with me when I go to see him."
"I can do that," he answered. "Even if I can't do anything else for you, I can at least do that." He got to his feet. "We'll be arriving soon. I'm going to fetch the Devron."
Saskia watched him go, puzzling over his comment about not being able to do anything else for her. She suddenly realised that the TARDIS was still playing jazz tracks when a voice began to sing:

I've flown around the world in a plane,
I've settled revolutions in Spain,
And the North Pole I've charted,
Still I can't get started with you.

She sat listening to the rest of the song, wondering what the Doctor wanted to do for her.

New Companion, Old Earth - Chapter Four - Part 2

2007-02-20T13:50:00.000Z

He lay sprawled on the grass and she felt fear clutching at her heart and her guts. She knelt beside him and took both his hands in her own. She reached into his mind.
"Doctor?" Saskia reached out again to the TARDIS and was relieved to feel her respond. Drawing on the strength of the TARDIS, she reached out again for the Doctor. She could dimly sense that someone was there, then she gasped in surprise as she realised that it was all nine of his previous regenerations that she could sense in his mind.

"Doctor," Saskia called. "It's Saskia. Come back to me, Doctor, please come back. I don't want to be stuck here." She sensed that the other nine Doctors were somehow shielding and protecting 'her' Doctor, and that they were waiting for her to do something. She looked at the nearest figure. He was an old, white haired man with a stoop and a walking stick. Somehow she knew, without being told, that this was the Doctor's first incarnation. Next to him was a much younger looking man with dark hair and, incongruously, a recorder sticking out of his coat pocket. The third incarnation was taller with silver hair, but he looked vigorous. He was wearing a velvet jacket and a large bow tie. Saskia blinked a little in surprise, then moved on to the fourth incarnation. He had wildly curly brown hair and wore a long, multi-coloured scarf and a hat. He actually looked quite jovial and when she smiled tentatively at him, his eyes twinkled at her. The fifth incarnation was a surprise as he was by far the youngest of them. He was blond and wore a cricket outfit with, bizarrely, a celery stick in the lapel of his jacket. Saskia made a mental note to ask about the celery, if she ever got the chance. The sixth incarnation's hair wasn't quite as curly as the fourth's and she flinched slightly at the very direct look he gave her. The seventh incarnation wasn't so tall as her and he was wearing a trilby on his dark hair. She noticed he carried an umbrella with a handle shaped like a question mark. The eighth incarnation was young, although not as young as the fifth. He was a dark haired Byronesque figure in a velvet jacket. When she reached the ninth incarnation she stopped, knowing that he was the first Doctor Rose had encountered. He was kneeling beside the prone figure of 'her' Doctor, wearing a battered leather jacket with a jumper and jeans. Despite his casual dress, he had a dark expression and his eyes were full of pain. He looked at her and she wondered if he considered her inadequate for the task facing her.

She knelt beside him and looked down at the face of the Doctor's tenth incarnation. His eyes were screwed tight shut in pain, and his breath hissed through his teeth. Somehow he looked blurred, as if he was fading out of existence. She reached out towards him, wondering if she would be able to touch him. This experience was unlike anything she had ever had before and she was unable to recall ever hearing or reading of such an experience amongst her people. She took a deep breath, then placed her right hand on the Doctor's forehead and took his right hand in her left one.
"Doctor," she called. Then she reached out mentally to the TARDIS again and felt her respond. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on her memories of this Doctor. She recalled his puppy-like exuberance and eagerness for adventure, his beaming grin, the wide-eyed innocent look he occasionally adopted, the clever way his fingers manipulated his tools when he was repairing the TARDIS. She thought of the sound of his laughter, uproarious and infectious, and the lilt in his voice when he spoke in a Scottish accent. She pictured him tugging at his earlobe, and rubbing the back of his head in an absent-minded manner when he was thinking. She recalled his long purposeful stride and the familiar way he sat on a horse. Finally she remembered the grief and sadness he felt whenever he thought of Rose.
She became aware that the ninth incarnation was standing beside her, hands tightly gripping her shoulders, and then she realised that the other eight incarnations were lending her their strength through her link to the TARDIS. She opened her eyes and looked down at the face of the man before her, whom she was beginning to admire more than anyone else she had ever known.

"Doctor," she called, more strongly this time. "Come back, now."
His eyes fluttered, then opened. He looked disorientated and she squeezed his fingers.
"Hello," she said.
He ran his tongue over his dry lips. "Hello," he answered hoarsely.
"Welcome back." Saskia became aware that she was alone with him, that his previous selves had disappeared as he had opened his eyes. She decided that she would have to wait until another time to work out what had just happened. She physically opened her eyes this time and saw that the Doctor was conscious, although he looked dazed.

"What just happened?" he asked, his voice hoarse and dry.
"I honestly don't know," Saskia answered. "Worry about it later. Can you move?"
"I think so." She helped him to sit up, then got up herself, rubbing her sore knees and wondering how long she had been kneeling there.
"Let's get into the TARDIS," she said, and carefully helped the Doctor to his feet, grateful that she was fit and that he was so skinny. She hooked his left arm around her neck, then pushed her right shoulder under his left arm, to support his weight. She guided him over to the TARDIS who hummed as they went through the door. She led him over to the bench and helped him to sit down.
"Stay there," she said, rather unnecessarily. She hurried out and returned a few moments later carrying a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate. She opened the bottle of water and gave it to the Doctor.
"Don't drink it too fast," she warned.
He took the bottle from her, but his hands were shaking so much he couldn't lift it to his mouth. Saskia swallowed an exclamation of concern and sat down beside him. She took the bottle from him and held it to his mouth, carefully pouring only a small amount into his mouth. He swallowed it painfully. After a few more mouthfuls, she put the bottle aside and broke off a chunk of chocolate.
"Eat this," she said. "You need the energy."
He took it from her and ate it obediently. She watched him in worried silence.
"What happened to the Devron," he asked after he had finished the chocolate.
She shuddered and looked away. "I think I killed it," she answered after a few moments. She was deeply ashamed at what she had done. In Empathian society violence was very rare; to a race that felt every creature's pain, to deliberately cause pain to another creature was a taboo, and she had violated that taboo without a moment's hesitation. If she had killed the Devron, she would have to live with her guilt for the rest of her life. She swallowed hard, unshed tears burning her eyes.

The Doctor put his arm around her shoulders and she knew that he understood at least part of her feelings of guilt and shame. Slowly she looked round at him and saw that her feelings were mirrored in his eyes and face.
"Let's go and see, shall we?" he asked quietly.
She bit her lip, then nodded. He gently kissed her forehead, then stood up carefully.
"Are you OK?" she asked quickly, as she stood up too.
"I feel like someone hit me over the head with a brick wall, but I'll live," he answered, then held out his hand, which she took.
Hand in hand they went outside and looked around. Saskia was startled to realise that it was past midday, judging by the position of the sun.
"There," the Doctor said, pointing to where the Devron lay sprawled on the grass.
They approached cautiously, then knelt down on either side of it. The Doctor reached out carefully and felt for a pulse in its neck.
"It's alive," he said, looking up in time to see a look of relief cross Saskia's face.
"Thank goodness!" she exclaimed fervently.
"I don't think we should leave it lying here," the Doctor said, looking down at it thoughtfully. "Let's take it into the TARDIS and we'll see whether we can talk to it sensibly once it wakes up."
"OK."
"I think you'll have to help me carry it, though," he said, looking cross for a moment.

Saskia bent and picked up its legs, whilst the Doctor took it under the arms. Moving slowly they carried it into the TARDIS.
"Medical bay," the Doctor said tersely once they were inside. They laid it on the bed in the medical bay and the Doctor looked down at it for a few minutes, tugging at his earlobe.
"I think we'd better restrain it," he said finally. "I don't want it to wake up and go berserk when it finds itself here."
"How long do you think it will be unconscious?" Saskia asked anxiously.
"I've no idea," admitted the Doctor. "I don't know anything of its physiology, or anything about what you did to it when you knocked it unconscious." He glanced at her as he finished fastening to the restraining straps and caught the mixture of guilt and shame on her face. He stepped around the end of the bed and put his hands on her shoulders. She looked down at her feet.
"Look at me, Saskia." He waited until she lifted her face. "You mustn't feel guilty at what you did. You were in a no-win situation. If you hadn't stopped it, there's every chance it would have killed us both for the sake of the TARDIS. You did what you had to do."
She bit her bottom lip, and tried to speak, but found herself crying instead.
"It's OK." The Doctor put his arms round her and hugged her whilst she sobbed on his shoulder for several minutes. When she stopped crying, he pulled out his handkerchief and she dried her tears.
"Come on. Let's go and get something to eat. We'll both feel better with some food inside us."
"Shouldn't one of us stay here with the Devron in case it wakes up?" she asked.
"No," he answered firmly. "The TARDIS will let me know as soon as it starts to regain consciousness. Come and eat." He guided her out of the medical bay and led her to the kitchen.

New Companion, Old Earth - Chapter Four - Part 1

2007-02-20T13:45:00.000Z

When Saskia woke up next, the Doctor was still beside her bed, and the book was open in his lap, but his eyes were closed. He opened them the next instant and gave her a big grin.
"Hello."
"Hello." Saskia sat up. "Have you been there all night?" she asked frowning.
"Yes. I wanted to keep an eye on you, to make sure the beastie didn't come back to bother you as you needed to have a good night's sleep if we're going to tackle it today."
"And do you know how we're going to tackle it?" she asked, still frowning.
"I thought we'd track it down – and then negotiate with it."
"And how are we going to track it down?"
"I'm hoping that you'll be able to do that since it's built a strong link with you."
Saskia's frown deepened. "This is going to be an interesting day," she said finally. "I'd better get dressed."
"I'm going to get some breakfast then."
Saskia watched the Doctor leave, still frowning. She wished that she shared his blithe confidence that this was going to be so easy. The rage of this creature was immense, terrifying even, if she was honest. Somehow she had never expected her people's natural talents would be a liability to her. She was beginning to consider asking the Doctor to take her back home again once this was over, assuming she survived.

She tried to shake off her uneasiness as she dressed, practising the technique for clearing her mind. She headed for the kitchen, thinking only about eating breakfast, convinced that if she thought about anything else, she would feel too sick to eat. She found the Doctor in the kitchen making a cup of tea.
"I didn't know what you wanted to eat," he said, "so I didn't get you anything."
"Neither do I," confessed Saskia. She opened a cupboard and took out a bowl, looking at the boxes of cereal that Rose had left behind. She closed the cupboard again and went to the fridge. The Doctor drank his tea as he watched her assemble a bowl of fruit salad.
"Banana?" she asked and offered him one. He grinned and took it from her. "Always take a banana to a party," she observed. "If nothing else, it's a conversation starter."
His grin widened. "Or you can use it to make banana daiquiris."
Saskia grimaced, then sat down. "Aren't you eating?" she asked.
"I had some toast whilst you were dressing," he said blandly.
She raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment, concentrating on eating instead.

About ten minutes later they headed to the Console Room and the Doctor programmed the co-ordinates that would take them back to Worminghall.
"There's still a strong energy signature around there," he explained, "so that's as good a place as any to start looking for the beastie."
Saskia nodded, tight-lipped, from her seat on the bench. The TARDIS took off and the Doctor sat down next to her.
"I know this going to be tough on you," he said, "but I'll do everything I can to help you and protect you. The TARDIS will be lending you her strength as well."
She nodded again, convinced that if she opened her mouth to speak, she would throw up. The Doctor put an arm around her and gave her a hug, before getting up to check the controls. A few moments later the Time rotor slowed and then stopped.
Saskia got up and pulled on her coat, then followed the Doctor outside. He fished in his pocket and pulled out the artefact.
"I don't know if this will be any use," he said, holding it out."
She took it, then shrugged. "Only one way to find out," she answered.
The Doctor took her hand as she placed the device against her forehead and concentrated. She could feel him giving her his support, then she sensed the TARDIS too, lending her strength. The device reactivated itself and Saskia staggered slightly as it did so.
"OK?" the Doctor asked.
"Yes."

They waited in silence for a few minutes then Saskia sensed the presence of the beastie, becoming aware of it before it became aware of her. The Doctor squeezed her fingers and she knew that he was aware of it too.
She reached out with her thoughts, offering peace and calm, and sensed its surprise at her mental touch. She waited for its rage to erupt, wondering if she had astonished it into calmness. Moments later she knew this task wasn't going to be that easy after all as she felt its rage beginning to build. She swallowed twice, then reached out again even as it lashed back at her. She felt herself stagger, then realised that the Doctor was pulling her arm, getting her to sit down so that she wouldn't fall down under its onslaught.
"We can help you," she said. "We don't mean you any harm."
Another roar of anger and a stronger mental blow answered her words, and she felt grateful that she was sitting down.
"What do you want?" she asked in anguish. "Tell us what you want!"
"Saskia!" The Doctor's voice was urgent, so she briefly gave her attention to him and saw that he was looking at a figure who was approaching them. The humanoid was about 4 foot 6 inches tall, with mottled dark red skin. There were dark blue feathers in a star pattern on its head, rather than hair or fur. It wore a dark blue loin cloth, but nothing else.
"What is it?" she asked in surprise, hardly able to believe that this was the creature whose rage had nearly killed her. Before the Doctor could answer, however, the creature spoke into her head.
"We are the Devron."
"We?" she asked. "There are more of you?"
"We are many in one," it answered.
Saskia glanced at the Doctor, puzzled, and he shrugged. "Multiple personalities, perhaps?" he suggested, then flinched slightly as the Devron focused its attention on him. The full force of its rage was akin to standing near an inferno.
"Time Lord," the Devron grated, acknowledging the Doctor.
"That's me," answered the Doctor, although with rather less than his usual cheeriness.
"You are responsible for us being here."
"Me?" He sounded genuinely baffled by the Devron's assertion. "How?"
"Your Time War with the Daleks trapped us here," it answered.
Saskia sensed the Doctor's pain and sadness at the Devron's answer. "What were you doing here?" he asked, his voice sounding harsher than usual.
"We were exiled, cast adrift. When the Time War erupted we were thrown to Earth, but our timeship was damaged. We could not escape this planet. Only move through its history. Now we cannot move forward, and to go back is pointless. We are stuck at this point in history until we can find another timeship to take us away. We created a device to summon any passing timeship to us, so we could escape."

Saskia looked at the Doctor, who just shrugged.
"Why are you trapped at this point in time, though?" she asked.
"We do not know," answered the Devron.
"Don't lie to us!" Saskia said sharply. "If you want to leave here, if you want our help, then tell us the truth."
The Devron scowled, obviously unhappy that she had known it was lying. "This one is getting stronger," it said, then looked at the Doctor. "You were easier to manipulate."
The Doctor looked at it, puzzled. "You manipulated me?" he asked, suppressed anger in his voice.
"Tried to deactivate our summoning device," the Devron said, looking gleeful.
Comprehension dawned on the Doctor. "That was your doing? I suppose you were trying to overpower Saskia, intending to blackmail me into helping you?"
"Yes."
Saskia sensed the Doctor's anger, and that the Devron was pleased at his anger. "You still didn't answer my question. Why are you trapped here? Answer me or we will not help you," she insisted.
"The War," it answered reluctantly.
"The Time War?" asked the Doctor.
The Devron scowled at him. "Earth Wars, 1936, 1939," it clarified.
"What? Oh!" Saskia looked at the Doctor as she realised the implications of what the Devron was saying. "I think its emotions are feeding off the build up to the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War – all that increased international tension. Perhaps the Devron has never been taught how to shield its mind from others' emotions."
"We do not want your pity! We want only to escape. You will give us the timeship." Both Saskia and the Doctor flinched at its screams.
"We cannot give you the TARDIS," the Doctor said firmly. "But we can take you away from Earth."

"NO!" The Devron lashed out again and Saskia sensed that it was targeting her link with the Doctor, but she was unsure which one of them it wanted to hurt the most. Then it struck out again, repeated blows raining down on the Doctor's links to her and to the TARDIS.
"NO!" she yelled at it, mentally. "If you hurt the Doctor we'll all be stuck here. No one else can fly the TARDIS, not me, and definitely not you."
She sensed that the Doctor's link to her was weakening and she panicked; in that moment of panic she lashed out at the Devron herself, trying to protect the Doctor. The Devron reeled back from her blow, but did not lessen its onslaught against the Doctor. Saskia reached out directly to the TARDIS and used the TARDIS' strength to boost her own as she lashed out at the Devron again. The Devron immediately turned its full attention to her and Saskia found herself wrestling with it in a furious mental struggle. It was like trying to wrestle with an eel in the middle of a whirlpool. The Devron kept slipping from her grasp, its rage roaring chaotically through her head. She tried to find a firm place to stand mentally, then the TARDIS sent her another surge of strength. It was just enough and she lashed out harder than ever. The Devron collapsed into unconsciousness. Feeling relieved but far from triumphant, she turned her attention from it just as the Doctor also lost consciousness.
"Doctor?" she cried aloud.

New Companion, Old Earth - Chapter Three - Part 2

2007-02-16T19:30:00.000Z

"Where are we going?" he asked as they stepped out of the TARDIS doors.
"I thought we might go to the pub," she answered. "Since we know the beastie will be recovering itself, let’s go and test how strong my telepathic powers have become."
"Are you sure you're up to that?" enquired the Doctor mildly.
"Yes," Saskia answered. "Besides, it's not far to go back to the TARDIS if I'm not."
"OK." The Doctor followed her down the alleyway in which the TARDIS stood and into the crowded, noisy pub. "You find a seat, I'll get some drinks," he said into her ear.
She nodded and moved towards a small table she could see at the back of the room that appeared to be the only free one available. She winced slightly at the level of noise both inside and outside her head.
The Doctor appeared shortly afterwards carrying two glasses. "Here you are," he said, setting them down on the table.
"What is it?" Saskia asked, eyeing the fizzing orange liquid. "Not a banana daiquiri?"
The Doctor grinned. "Not this time. It's a St Clements – a mixture of orange juice and lemonade."
Saskia took a cautious sip. "It's a bit sweet," she commented, wrinkling her nose, then took a bigger mouthful. "I think I'll pass next time."
The Doctor smiled. "I didn't think you'd want anything alcoholic," he explained.
"I really wouldn't!"
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"It's very noisy in here," she answered. "In my head too. I don't think we should stay long."
The Doctor nodded. "Can you distinguish any individual thoughts, or is it just a vast cacophony?"
"If I concentrate on a particular voice, I can pick out the speaker's thoughts," she answered. "There’s a gentleman by the window whose mind is on the meal he had earlier."
"Anyone else?"
"Well there's a gentleman in the private room behind us who’s talking to some friends. He's thinking about a book he wrote that's going to be published soon. Oh!"
The Doctor raised an eyebrow at Saskia's exclamation. "What is it?"
"I know who he is," she answered, sounding animated.
"So who is it?"
"J. R. R. Tolkien. He changed the face of fantasy fiction as a genre of English literature and became famous worldwide." She grinned suddenly.
"Are you going to go all fan-girly on me?" the Doctor asked, quizzically.
"I couldn't, even if I wanted to – The Hobbit won't be out until next year, The Lord of the Rings isn't even written yet, and The Silmarillion doesn't appear until after his death, late in the century."
"So you're not a fan of his?" the Doctor asked, noting that 'even if I wanted to' comment.
"Not really. His fiction is interesting to me from a linguistic point of view, but fiction isn't really my thing. His scholarly papers are more interesting."
"Don't you read any fiction then?" asked the Doctor.
"Not much. In fact, I’ve never read much outside of working hours because I spend 90% of my working day reading. I like a bit of poetry now and again, but that's about it. I prefer doing crosswords or playing word games."
"What about chess?"
Saskia shook her head. "There's no point an empath playing a game like that," she pointed out.
"Oh. That’s true." The Doctor looked nonplussed for a moment.

"Anyway," Saskia said, “Who are you to talk of people being fannish? What about when your former self met Dickens and claimed to be his 'number one fan'?"
"That was him. I don't mind reading a Dickens novel now and again, but I'm not as big a fan as he was."
"You know, your regeneration thing is a bit weird." Saskia commented.
"Thanks." The Doctor looked rueful for a moment.
"Sorry," she said quickly. "I don't meant to be rude, but isn't it weird that you've got all the memories of your former selves, but each regeneration has a different personality and different tastes, as well as having a different body?"
"It seems quite normal to me."
"Yes I suppose it does. Sorry, I didn't meant to offend you." Saskia wished that she hadn’t mentioned it.
"I'm not offended," the Doctor answered.
Saskia didn’t believe him, but she didn’t argue the point. She was starting to get a headache and was just about to suggest to the Doctor that they leave, when the door to the private room behind them opened and several men came out. As one was shrugging himself into his coat, it swung wildly and knocked Saskia’s unfinished drink straight into her lap.
"Oh!" she gasped.
The man immediately began apologising for his clumsiness, whilst his friend offered her a spotless white handkerchief to mop up the worst of the liquid. The Doctor handed over his handkerchief too, and Saskia managed to soak up most of it. She stood up, holding the two handkerchiefs in a ball in her hand.
"Shall we go?" asked the Doctor.
She nodded and, accompanied by the two men, they made their way outside.

"I say, I'm awfully sorry," said the clumsy man for the seventh or eighth time.
"It's alright," Saskia answered automatically. "I'll live."
"I do hope your clothes aren't ruined," said his friend.
"I expect they'll come clean," she answered vaguely. Now they were outside she realised that she recognised the second man's voice from earlier.
"I'm Jack, by the way," said the first man. "and this is my friend Tollers."
Saskia shook their proffered hands. "Professor Tolkien, your handkerchief," she said, offering it to him.
He looked at her in surprise. "Do I know you?" he asked.
"No sir, but I’m familiar with some of your work."
"Oh." He took his handkerchief, then mumbled something inaudible.
"Can we offer you a lift home?" Jack asked brightly. "To make up for your inconvenience."
"No, thank you," answered the Doctor. "We're staying close by."
"Then let us walk you back to your accommodation," Jack said, and no amount of demurrals from the Doctor would persuade him not to accompany them. They set off along the alleyway and the Doctor was surprised when Saskia slipped her hand through his arm, until she touched the back of his hand and spoke into his mind.
"That's C S Lewis," she said. "Tolkien's great friend. He's going to write a science fiction trilogy shortly, about a man who journeys to Mars in a capsule. I think he’ll cope with seeing the TARDIS."
"I hope you're right," the Doctor answered. "Otherwise we may find ourselves in very hot water."
"They both seem fairly relaxed and cheerful, not drunk, just convivial," Saskia said. "I think we’ll be OK."

A few minutes later the four of them could see the TARDIS.
"I say Tollers, I didn’t know there was a police call box in Oxford," said Jack in some surprise. "Odd place to put it, don’t you think?"
Tolkien looked at the call box and then at their two companions. "Is this your accommodation?" he asked.
Jack looked at him in surprise.
"Yes," answered the Doctor simply. "Would you care to see?" He unlocked the door and Saskia walked inside, looking over her shoulder at the men outside. The Doctor made a courteous gesture, inviting them inside.
Jack stepped inside, then stopped in surprise when he saw the size of the Control Room. Tolkien followed him more slowly.
"But – that's impossible!" stammered Jack. "It's bigger on the inside."
"Yes it is," Saskia replied calmly.
"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio -" muttered Tolkien.
"Than are dreamt of in your philosophy," Saskia finished.
He looked at her. "You're a scholar?" he asked.
"Yes I am."
"We're not local, though," the Doctor interjected.
"I didn’t imagine you were," answered Tolkien wryly, watching his friend examining the console. "Who are you?"
"I'm the Doctor, and this is my friend Saskia."
"Saskia Scolere," she amplified.
Tolkien's eyes widened. "But that's an Old English word," he said.
"Yes it is. My ancestors came from this world."
"You’re time-travellers?" asked Jack, suddenly joining the conversation.
"Yes we are," answered the Doctor.
"And are you human?" asked Tolkien.
"I'm not, Saskia is. I'm a Time Lord."
"Why are you here?" Jack asked.
"There's an alien of some sort roaming around your world. It's been here, near Oxford, quite recently. We're trying to track it down and find out what it wants, and stop it or send it back home," the Doctor answered.
"Are we in any danger?" asked Tolkien, and Saskia remembered that he had four young children and a wife at home.
"Not so far," answered the Doctor.
"Then we shall leave you to it. Come on Jack." Tolkien caught his friend by the arm and urged him towards the doors. "Goodnight to you both," he said.
"Goodnight," called Jack cheerily. "Thanks for showing us your spaceship."

The Doctor went over to the doors and watched them go down the alleyway.
"I hope they'll be OK," he said.
Saskia gave a little laugh. "They will be," she said confidently.
"How do you know?" the Doctor asked curiously.
"I've just remembered that it's around this time that the two of them decide that Lewis will write a space-travel story and Tolkien will write a time-travel one."
"Oh. Oh! Didn't you say Lewis wrote a trilogy about a man going to Mars?" he asked in concern.
"Indeed he does. It was fairly popular. But don't worry, we're not in it."
"What about Tolkien's story?"
"It was never finished," Saskia answered, a little sadly. "He started two but never finished either one." She smiled at the Doctor. "English literature knows nothing of us."

She walked over to the bench and sat down heavily.
"You're tired," the Doctor said. "You should go and get some sleep."
"Will you read to me again?" she asked. "Keep the nightmares at bay?"
He nodded, and they set off down the corridor together. "I'll go and get a book," he said.
"Bring The Hobbit, if you've got a copy," she said.
He nodded and carried on towards the library whilst Saskia went into her room. A few minutes later he knocked on her door.
"Come in."
He walked over to the chair beside Saskia's bed, carrying a small book. Sitting down he pulled out his glasses, put them on and opened the book.
"In a hole in the ground there live a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole..."
Saskia smiled, closed her eyes and fell asleep to the sound of his voice, reading aloud.