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.
Showing posts with label Saskia's Trials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saskia's Trials. Show all posts
22 April 2007
Saskia's Trials - Chapter 4 Part 4
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.
"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
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."
"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
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.
"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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
“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
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."
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
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?"
"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
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.
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
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!
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!
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