The Runaway

The Gemini Archives Book 6
by Jill D'Entremont

Gemini Trilogy Part 1: Fearful of what she has become, Gemini pushes everyone away—including The Doctor—and runs into a strange mission with Cain the Kronolin. When Vance and Amaya go missing as well, James and The Doctor are pulled into the search. All along the way, everyone is forced up against their fears; it's only a matter of how each responds...

Originally written & illustrated September 2013
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Chapter 1

“Gemini, please...”

I looked down.  My desk was covered in a disheveled mess of scripts and sheet music.  It was more or less everything that had once been inside a drawer in my desk—now strewn across the top to make it look like I was busy.  “No, I can't.” I said at last.

Amaya pouted, leaning on the edge of the desk and eyeing the Sirius lobby from the door behind her.  “But you can't just lock yourself up in here,” she tried.

“You don't know what I did.” I said coldly.

“Because you won't tell me!” she said persistently.  “That's one of the things friends are supposed to do, right?  You listen to me; I listen to you.  And then we try to help each other!”

I sighed and pushed my glasses on my nose with my finger.  I still couldn’t make eye contact with her, and I once again felt ashamed of myself.  Amaya was a good friend.  She was from the moment I met her. I didn't need to shut her out, but I was not well.  I did not need to be let out yet. I was too afraid of what I was capable of; too afraid I would hurt her too.

“...I killed someone.” I admitted.  “Janavene didn’t just move on like we told you and the others; I went berserk and killed her.”  

As the words hung heavily in the silent air, I finally looked up and locked eyes with Amaya.  Her pale blue eyes were afraid, although she was trying hard to hide it.  She barely moved, and only swayed slightly with each breath.  I turned my eyes away.  “I'm not safe to be around.  Until I can... somehow control myself, I'm not safe.”

“But you can't just hide from everyone,” Amaya said gently, her voice on the verge of wavering.  “What about The Doctor? What about James? ...What about me?”

I grimaced.  “I can't risk hurting you.  I'd never forgive myself.”

“You won't!”

“Is that a premonition?”

She paused.  “No,”

I sat back in the chair and looked down.  “I can't, Amaya.” I said sadly.  “I can't right now.”

Now Amaya looked down.  “The Doctor is bringing me back to Fortus-Novis... Just for a little while.  I wish you would come with me.  It's going to be... hard to leave.”

She sounded sad.  I assumed it was because she had grown incredibly close to Vance on her visit.  I knew her parting would be just as hard on him. I would be surprised if Vance didn't think up some way to keep her here—or to go with her.

“...I just can't right now.” I declined softly.  “I’m sorry.”

There was an immeasurable amount of silence before Amaya finally spoke again.

“You shouldn't be alone.”

I didn't know if that was a vision or simply her warning to me.  Either way, I turned away and faced the cabinet at the back of my office.

It took her a moment, but Amaya finally turned and started back to the theater lobby solemnly.  She closed the door to my office and wandered slowly over to James' office.

He looked up, his glasses resting on his nose.  “Hello.” He said with a bit of a smile.

Amaya finally smiled.  “Hi... What are you up to?”

“W-working on some paperwork.” He said, glancing down.  His desk was covered in stacks of papers that he was finally catching up on.  Bills, records, reports, requests... just looking at it was enough to make Amaya glad she wasn’t on his side of the desk.  “What about you?”

Amaya looked back up.  “Oh, I was... well, The Doctor was going to bring me back to Fortis-Novus today...”

James sat up straighter.  “Not for—f-forever, though, right?”

“No, I’ll be back.  I just need to be an oracle again for a little while.” She idly touched the peacock feathers tied in her hair.

James gave a light chuckle.  “We’re all going back to work, it s-seems.”

Amaya wasn’t smiling as much.  “Yeah...”

James caught on quickly.  “What’s wrong?”

“Gemini won’t come.”

James’ mood darkened, and he didn’t reply.

“Will you come?”

It took him a moment of idly looking over his paperwork to frown and look back at her.  “I... I’ve got this paper—paperwork.”

Amaya sighed and turned back to the door sadly.  “All right.”

James set down his glasses and was around the desk a moment later, putting an arm around her.  “O—only because I know you’re coming back,” he said.  “And I really su—s-stink at good-byes.”

The oracle found her smile again and gave him a tight hug.  “I understand.  I will be back—and soon, I hope.”

“G-good.”  And with that, James found his way back behind his desk and slipped his glasses back on.

The happiness in Amaya’s step was admittedly forced as she turned and left James’ office, and she was almost dragging her feet by the time she opened the front door of the theater.

Vance was there waiting for her as she stepped outside, and from Amaya's expression, he got the gist of what was said.  “Neither of them are coming?”

“No.”

Vance rubbed his chin.  “I may not completely understand all this, but... I know Ace sometimes needs space.  And James is probably still getting over Janavene.  Ever since she left, he and Gemini both have been acting really weird...”

Amaya felt a pang in her chest.  “...Yeah.”

Vance waited to see if Amaya would say anything further, but when she remained quiet, he put his hand on her shoulder—albeit still somewhat awkwardly.  “How about we go for a walk; take the long way back to meet The Doctor.”

Amaya blushed, leaning in to Vance’s side.  “All right.”

They walked in an irregular pattern across the streets of Fortanya, purposefully taking their time to give themselves as long as they could together.  They talked idly, but the heaviness of their parting still weighed upon them.  Amaya knew she needed to return to her planet since she had a duty to perform, but she hated to leave The Tallelands.  There would be few friends back on Fortis-Novus to greet her; in fact, the only one she truly missed was her elebear, Gaja.  There were many more friends to miss in Fortanya—and not the least of which was Vance.  What made him so much different than everyone else she had met?

Vance also knew Amaya needed to continue on, but he hated to see her go.  He’d just as soon pack up and go with her—but he had too many ties in Fortanya to do so.  However, as they got closer to their final destination, dropping everything and going along with her enticed him.  His willingness to throw caution to the wind all because of a girl—as opposed to his usual abhorrence to change and spontaneity—was beginning to scare him.  Had Amaya really taken that strong of a hold on his senses?

Up ahead of them, a woman in a black cloak staggered in the street and fell to her knees.  The two immediately noticed and started towards her, with Amaya reaching her first.

“Ma’am, are you all right?” Amaya bent down beside her as Vance put his hand on Amaya’s back.

A hand shot from the cloak and gripped Amaya’s arm tightly.  On the wrist was a vortex manipulator.

“Lured like fish...” The figure said with a sneer.

And in a flash, the three of them were gone.

---

Chapter 2

I sat on the railing around the central control panel inside my TARDIS.  Aside from mindlessly twirling my hair, I was completely still on my perch.  I had so much on my mind that I couldn’t focus on any one thought.  I was brooding aimlessly about nothing.  I hated it, but I couldn’t make it stop.

Admitting my crime to Amaya had only been the start of my renewed agony.  I decided to try and record the latest of my archives into my TARDIS’ memory, and that only proved to reopen the old wounds that had scarcely begun healing in the first place.  I ended up screaming at my control panel and shutting it off in a huff, only to start tearing up as I hung on to the railing in a terribly emotional mess.

I dropped my hand into my lap and drooped my head forward, shifting my weight to stay balanced atop the railing.

A pattern of beeping suddenly broke my concentration.  It startled me, and I looked over to the control panel in shock.

“Gemini?” came a static-laden voice.

It was a moment later that I noticed a blue light flashing on the side of the control panel.  I carefully slid off the railing and noticed the source of the light and voice was the vortex manipulator I had received from Cain the Kronolin.  Sure enough, when the voice spoke again, his low, growling voice was apparent.

“Gemini, are you there?” the voice hissed through the manipulator.

Curiously, I stepped back to the control panel and picked up the device.  “Cain?” I replied, pressing a button and hoping he would hear me.

“Oh!” the voice returned from the static.  “There you are... I... I was concerned you didn't have this manipulator anymore... I suppose no one has told you these can be used for communication?”

Taken aback by the unexpected nature of the conversation, I paused before answering.  “No... but what’s up?”

There was a pause on Cain’s end.  “Well, I feel awkward, but I must ask for assistance...”

I felt a smirk on my lips.  The mighty Kronolin had grown much more humble to even think about asking assistance from a Time Lord.  “Of course; I told you before I would help you out if I could.  What do you need?”

“My mate is with child...”

“Oh!  Congratulations!” I said, genuinely happy for him.

“...But she is not doing well...”

My mood again dropped.  “Oh...”

“And I need something in particular to help her... Something from somewhere I cannot get to without a full-fledged time machine...” He growled a bit under his breath.  “Now, I understand if you cannot trust me, or if—”

“No, I'll be right there.  I'll help.  I want to help.”

I interrupted him to answer.  It surprised me at how quickly the words flew from my mouth; surprised at how quickly I had agreed.  And from the length of the pause before his unguarded answer, he had been surprised as well.

“...Thank you...” he admitted softly.

- - -

The Doctor peeked his head into the lobby of the Sirius Theater.  He let himself in when nothing happened, and he noticed the door to my office was closed.  He narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath before walking up to it.

“Gemini,” he called.

No answer.

Frowning, he gave a light knock.  “Gemini?” He spoke louder.

No answer.

He leaned his head against the door regretfully.  “Gem, please... please, don’t shut me out...”

When there was still no answer, he pulled the doorknob.  “I know you’re upset, but—”  He stopped.  I was not inside, and a quick scan of the room revealed my TARDIS was gone.  With wide eyes, he turned around quickly.

James had heard him and was already standing outside of his office on the other side of the lobby.

“Where’s your sister?” The Doctor asked him worriedly.

“Sh—is she not in there?” The look of worry spread quickly.

“No, and her TARDIS is gone,” The Doctor ran his hands through his hair.  “Oh, Gem...” he moaned under his breath.

“She... told Amaya she wasn’t going with you,” James tried.  “M-maybe she changed her m—mind?”

The Doctor was not so optimistic.  “She’s not well right now; I doubt she would go to this extent for a mere surprise...”  He suddenly stopped and looked up.  “Wait, speaking of Amaya, where is she?”

James shrugged, shaking his head.

“...Are you not coming with us either?” The Doctor eyed him.

Nervously, James looked aside.  “W...wasn’t planning on it.”  When The Doctor again started running his fingers through his hair, James continued.  “I h-ave a lot to do here.  I can’t—can’t keep putting it off.  Amaya will be back...”

The Doctor spun on his heels and started to the door.  “Fine, that’s fine...”  He stopped and turned back around.  “So where is she?”

“I don’t know; looking f-for you?”

“...Right.” He said, a harried expression on his face.

James frowned, crossing his arms.  With every passing day, The Doctor had grown more and more anxious and disheartened as he desperately tried to reconnect with me.  I was always locked away or refused to speak to him, and it was clearly wearing him down.  Now that I was gone and Amaya was not where he expected her to be, The Doctor was scarcely clinging to sanity.

“I’ll come,” James submitted at last.  “I’ll help you find her... b—both of them.”

The weary face of The Doctor met him with a look that silently thanked him.  The two of them started out to the street, and James was sure to lock the theater doors behind them.

- - -

James entered the TARDIS did not initially see The Doctor.  He was about to call him when the Time Lord ran in from another room and skidded on his heels.

“Oi—there you are!  You’re so quiet I never hear you come in.  What did you find out?”

“N—no one’s seen Vance or Amaya since this morning.” James reported, “And Ed is—is not happy.”

The Doctor frowned and turned to the console.  “Of course he’s not happy; his brother is missing.  Add that the Oracle of Pavo is also missing—and if she is not returned, an entire planet will not be happy.”

“He’s off to s-search the town.  If they’re still here—he will find them.”

“I don’t doubt that... but I also doubt they’re still in town.”  The Doctor was plugging away at his computer.  “I can track Amaya because her alien status helps her stand out, and...” he paused as data appeared on his screen, “...I still have no reading of her in this area.”

James came over to the control panel.  “Can you—n-not just track where she went?”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.  Unfortunately, she seems to have vanished...”

The tall young man had been walking around the control panel, but he paused.  “V—v... vanished,” he muttered in thought.  His dark eyes flashed ahead and stared at The Doctor.  “Vanished from that place, or from this time?”

The Doctor’s expression faded dramatically.  “Oh no...”

“It w-wasn’t Gemini,” James added quickly.

“No, her TARDIS left this planet from the theater and did not return.” The Doctor picked back up.  “I managed to get a lock on her a moment ago, but it’s gone and moved itself again.  And it wasn’t anywhere near Fortis-Novus.”

James eyed the screen as pulses continued to be sent out in hopes of finding Amaya or my TARDIS.  But as each pulse went by without incident, the thoughts in James’ head grew clearer.

“I know who has the m-means to time-travel.” He said.

Curious, The Doctor looked up.

“The Kronolins and Hydra.”

“And you think one of them could have taken Amaya and Vance?” The Doctor said dimly.

“W-what do you think?”

The Doctor took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.  “I think I’m afraid to think you’re right.”

“So what do we need to do?”

Still breathing deeply as the thoughts processed in his head, The Doctor eyed James and noted the look of strength and determination on his face.  “We follow your lead, Mr. Harley.”  

James nodded solemnly and looked back to the screen.  “We’ll g-go to Kronon.”

“Kronon it is.” The Doctor affirmed, and once he had entered in the coordinates, the blue TARDIS was off to the planet of the Kronolins.

---

Chapter 3

The silver TARDIS shone as it hummed through translucency, and it materialized inside the dark, cluttered den of a Kronolin.  Somehow, it landed without disrupting anything, and when the door opened, the warm glow from inside the TARDIS spread across the stone floor.  It was considerably brighter than the luminaries that were scattered around the room, but their seemingly random placement provided a consistent light source.

I stepped out slowly, hoping I had calculated my position correctly. I had trusted in Cain’s coordinates, knowing—and hoping, to an extent—that I was not being led into a trap.  The bit of anxiety I felt in that moment was washed away when Cain emerged from the hallway.

“Hi,” I said with a light smile.

He eyed me oddly for a moment before a genuine smile came to his lips.  “I still can’t believe you’re here.”

“I told you when you gave me the manipulator I would at least try to come return it to you,” I held up the vortex manipulator in my hand.

He waved it off.  “That one is yours.  We have our own again.”

I took a few steps forward and happened to kick an empty jar.  It rattled across the stone floor, and I quickly apologized.

From the rooms behind Cain, however, I could hear a low, yet, feminine call.  “You didn’t clean the den, did you!  She will think we’re slobs!”

Cain closed his eyes.  “Even in her condition, she will not stop...” he growled under his breath.  He then added in a forced tone, “I apologize for the mess in our den.  I haven’t been able to focus on cleanliness lately.”

I smirked and crossed my arms.  “It’s all right, trust me.”  I eyed him.  “How is she?”

The tall Kronolin seemed to shrink a bit, dropping his defenses almost immediately.  “...Not well.” He breathed in a sigh, “It is hard already for our kind to rear children...  I thought for sure Lucia was strong enough to overcome, but she is fading...”

His choice of words struck me with an intensity I was not expecting to feel.

“All options available on our planet have been exhausted.  The most skilled medical doctors are unable to provide for her.  In their hands, I will lose my child... and I fear Lucia too...”

I shook my head.  “We can’t let that happen.”

“What are you doing?  Bring her here!”

Cain’s ears drew back as his wife called again.  “We are coming.” He replied.  He sent me a silent glance that I quickly understood.

“Sounds like she’s still fighting to me,” I tried to smile.

“She will not stop fighting.” Cain replied, already starting down the corridor.

“...It’s more of a question of how long she can stay strong...” I muttered cryptically.

Cain glanced at me out the corner of his eye.  His ears had perked with curiosity, but he held his tongue as we entered Lucia’s chamber.

It was just as dim as the rest of the house, with luminaries again dotted throughout the room.  I looked into the cloth wrapping of one of them to find it was not a flame, but a stone glowing with a soft, warm light.  My eyes soon found their way to the heavy wooden bed at the back of the room.  Short, round columns framed the bed at each corner, and in the center, amid a gathering of blankets, lay Cain’s mate, Lucia.  She was not as noticeably pregnant as I was expecting, but it was apparent that she was expecting nonetheless.

“Gemini,” she said sincerely, “It warms me to know you came to our aid.  You truly do not know how much this means to us.”

“It’s nothing,” I replied.  “I need to pay you back for the help you both gave me.”

“Did you offer her water?  Food?” she directed at Cain.

His ears drew back again.  “Not yet...”

Her feline-like face grimaced.  “Gemini, I apologize for my mate’s behavior.  He doesn’t clean when we are expecting a guest and now he doesn’t treat you as a guest!”

“Lucia,” he growled weakly.

“It’s fine—I’m all right.  Thank you, though,” I looked between the two of them, holding up my hands.

The expectant mother shifted uncomfortably, and her once stern face had fallen slightly from weakness.  Cain was at her side a moment later to help her adjust the pillows and blankets around her, and once she had been repositioned, the sly grin returned to her face.  “You are showing her your weaker side, you know.”

“As are you,” Cain replied, his eyes narrow.

“She is a female.  She knows females are strong even when we are weak.”

Lucia may have been hoping for a reaction from me, but I had wandered off into my own thoughts again.  She simply brought a hand to Cain’s arm and grinned.

“...Although love makes us strong.”

I returned to the conversation at her words.  I watched as Lucia and Cain locked eyes and smiled at each other.  The love they held between them, despite their being so different from me in culture and appearance, was no different from love between anyone else.  It was humbling, and also saddening when I remembered the love I had been trying so hard to push away.

“What can I do to help?” I said carefully, though purposefully interrupting the moment.

Cain and Lucia turned to me, and Lucia gently diverted the question to her husband.  “He will tell you,” she said, much weaker.  “I’m happy you’re here, but I must rest...”  She raised the palm of her hand and carefully pressed it against her stomach.  Cain cupped his hand around hers for a moment, and then he turned and started towards me.

“That’s as alert as I have seen her in days,” he said quietly as we returned to the den.  “Aside from calls of what I should be doing, she can do nothing but rest anymore...”

“Rest is good,” I commented.

“Rest is no longer working.” Replied the Kronolin, “She feels pain even when she isn’t moving.  It doesn’t stop.”

“So what is it I need to do?”

Cain sat roughly on a chair near the wall, his tail brushing against the floor idly.  “There is a creature on another planet that is rumored to have the most unique genetic code in known space.  It was created in an experiment by crossing strands of multiple variants of DNA, and it became an incredibly adaptive being as a result.  It is known as The Sphinx.”

“The Sphinx,” I repeated.  “What does she look like?”

His yellow eyes blinked behind the metal mask.  “She is rumored to be a blood red in color, with a feline body, and a face that resembles a human female—though some claim she has the legs of a horse and the body of a cheetah.”

“Interesting,” I mused.

“My thoughts are, because she is so adaptive...” he trailed off for a moment, his ears flicking atop his head.  “...That perhaps... she can be used to help Lucia.”

I had glanced in the direction of Lucia’s room when he had paused, and I turned back to him.  “I see,” I said, although I still didn’t understand.  “So we need to find The Sphinx,” I said after a moment.  “Where does she live?”

“A planet called Fortis-Novus near the—”

“You’re kidding,” I interrupted.  “I’ve been there before,”

He paused.  “Really?”

“I have a... friend there,” I finished the sentence a lot less boldly than how I had began.

Cain noticed and carefully continued.  “I assume you didn’t see The Sphinx while you were there?”

“No.”  My thoughts were running away with me again, and my eyes had drifted aside.

“...Is everything all right?”

I looked up.  “Yes.” I answered too simply.

The Kronolin’s yellow eyes watched my every move as I swayed uncomfortably on my feet.  I finally shrugged and looked aside, the heat of nervousness at my neck.

Cain was quelled for the time being.  “If you don’t need anything to eat or drink, I will tell Lucia we are leaving.  A friend will be here soon to stay with her.  I can’t let them see you or this TARDIS.  No other Kronolins must know you are helping us...”

“I understand.  I’m... ready when you are.” I said, watching as he turned and left the room.  I let out a deep sigh when he reached Lucia’s chamber, and I removed my glasses to rub my eyes.  His inquisition, no matter how brief, was enough to remind me that everything was not all right.  The pangs of fear at the back of my thoughts returned.  I shouldn’t have come here.  I was doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t do—I was putting someone else in danger, and there was more than one life on the line.  What if something were to happen... what if I hurt Cain?  It was taking everything in him to trust me and ask me for help... what if I lost it and broke every bit of trust I had worked so hard to earn?

Cain emerged, looking at me expectantly.

I looked back at him, putting on a much more lively expression.  “Ready?”

“If you are.” Cain replied simply.

“Come on in,” I gestured to my TARDIS, and I entered through the silver door before him.  

- - -

Vance slowly opened his eyes, cringing at the harsh light that shone down upon him.  He squinted and continued to gaze blankly into the light, and he finally focused enough to see he was behind a row of bars.

His heart racing, he struggled to his hands and knees.  Immediately he went though his mind to remember what had happened, and it was then that his eyes found Amaya at the opposite end of the cell.

The young oracle had been sitting on her feet, a solemn expression on her face.  She seemed to be in a sort of trance, but when Vance climbed onto his feet, she gasped and worriedly ran to him.

“Amaya!” Vance cried, and soon she had wrapped her arms around him tightly.  He held her with everything he had, relieved simply from knowing she was with him.

“Are you all right?” She asked, stepping back.

“Are you?”

“I’m fine, but I was worried about you...” She grasped his hands.  “You blacked out from the time-travelling...”

Vance frowned.  “Time-travel?  Wait—so—where are we? When are we?”

Amaya’s pale blue eyes turned aside as she leaned against Vance.  “Somewhere that is not good...”

“But—someone’s gotta know where we are—The Doctor or—or Ace—right?” he persisted.  When she didn’t answer, Vance raised his hand to the side of her face.  “...What are we going to do?”

Her eyes remained distant as a pained look filled her face.  “The snake will strike at the heel to gain the mind’s attention...”

Vance’s eyes darted outside the cell.  Beyond the outer bars, a figure was returning.  He winced as he heard her chuckle, and he could only hope that somehow he and Amaya could be saved from the oncoming danger.

---

Chapter 4

I landed my TARDIS in a large, open field of tall grass.  I was surprised when I stepped out and the Chameleon Circuit had not altered its appearance, but I wasn’t particularly concerned.  The people of Fortis-Novus were not frightened by time-travel, and I could only hope that they would remember me should something arise.

Cain stepped out of the TARDIS after me, eyeing his surroundings guardedly.  He stayed close, even as I turned back around to close the door.  His yellow eyes stayed glued on me as I fished out the Seal of Rassilon pendant from the collar of my shirt and locked the door.

I was adjusting the scarf around my neck as Cain looked on.  “So this is it?”

“Yep.” I replied.  “The town of Pavo is over that hill up there.”

“The Sphinx will not be in a town.  She hid herself away after the human scientists left the planet.”

“So you know the story about this planet, too, huh.” I crossed my arms against the chilled breeze.

“That’s the whole reason the Sphinx exists,” Cain explained.  “She was created on this planet.”

“That explains her odd genetics.”  I looked at him as he gazed into the trees.  “So, how exactly can she help Lu—”

Cain’s ears perked up and his stance lowered.  He was crouching into defense mode.

I took a step back against the TARDIS.  “What is it?”

“We’re surrounded...” he growled, his teeth bared.

I grew tense, fumbling for the sonic screwdriver in my back pocket.   I had scarcely drawn it before the figures rose from the tall grass.  My eyes grew wide.  A group of Dalkon warriors had formed a circle around the TARDIS.

“Wait!” I called, stepping away from the TARDIS with my hands raised.  “I’m—I’m a friend!”

Spears were immediately pointed at the two of us, and Cain growled at me. “I’m assuming you have a better plan than that?”

“I know Feidal!” I tried again.  “Please, can I speak to her?”

The warriors immediately turned their heads as one of the warriors stepped around from the other side of the TARDIS.  The tall, golden Dalkon looked down her beak at me with squinted eyes.

“...I’m Gemini,” I muttered beneath her cold stare.

Her gaze remained unchanged.  “And you did not bring James?”

I immediately relaxed.  I forgot how unbelievably tense she was.  “No... sorry.” I smiled faintly.

The Dalkon also relaxed and smiled wide, scooping me into a very tight hug against her chest.  “You have returned!” her beak clicked as she laughed.  Her eyes then glanced aside, and I was released shortly after.  “...And you bring friend?”

“This is Cain,” I introduced the still slightly bewildered Kronolin as the rest of the Dalkons stood down.  “Cain, this is Feidal.”

Cain cleared his throat and nodded as Feidal dipped her head.  “Yes,” he mumbled.

“Pleasure is mine.” Her feathers ruffled as she grinned.

“We’re actually here because we’re looking for someone,” I said, stepping between them as Feidal continued to eye Cain.

“Who?  Pavo?” The Dalkon asked.

“No,” I began, “A creature called—”

“I prefer to speak in private about this matter,” Cain interrupted, glancing aside at the Dalkon warriors that still surrounded us—albeit with fairly befuddled expressions.

“Understandable.” Feidal waved to her brethren, and they quickly dashed into the tall grass away from us.  “You may return to my nest for the night.  Eat, drink, and rest.”

“Oh, it’s... I mean, we appreciate the offer,” I backpedaled unsuccessfully.

“I insist.  We hold quiet celebration for the return of Time Lord who help bring peace to our land.”

Cain glanced at me.  I shrugged.

Feidal merely chuckled and started off after the others.  I pocketed the sonic screwdriver and turned to Cain.  “Well?”

“Evening is drawing near,” the Kronolin said plainly.  “We will begin the search tomorrow—as long as you bring us back to Kronon as quickly as you can.”

“Of course.”  I wanted to point out that the TARDIS was a time machine, but I felt that would sound too sarcastic.

With that, Cain nodded his head toward Feidal, silently asking me to go first.  I didn’t blame him, but I still had to smirk that he was intimidated by an alien bird-human.  He caught the smirk and snarled quietly with his ears flat against his head.

- - -

The dim atmosphere of Kronon gave way to a blue phone box with a flashing light on its top.  Its image pulsed as it phased in, and soon, its whirring ceased as it sat upon the dusty ground.

“Well, we’re here.” The Doctor said, despite the redundancy of the statement.

“Sc—scan the area for either of them.” James said, scarcely waiting for The Doctor to finish.

The Doctor quietly did as he was told, and he sent out a signal.  The monitor above their heads showed the circular pattern of the scans, but after what seemed like an agonizingly long amount of time, the scans picked up no sign of Amaya or Gemini.

The Time Lord shook his head, glancing at James.  The elder brother’s face had slipped a bit of disappointment, but the look of determination came back rather quickly.

“All right... th-then we... we try Ember.”

“Oh boy...” The Doctor narrowed his eyes at the screen, “I had really hopped we wouldn’t have to go back there...”

“They have to be there.” James glanced at him.  “Who else w-would go out of their way to—to take Amaya?  Hydra knows about her.  S-she’s even threatened her before.”

“And how much do you want to bet she did this to lure Gemini back to her?”

James frowned.  “As... as much as I hate to s-say it, I hope Gemini is not there.”

“I do too... she’s in such a volatile state right now...” The Doctor’s thoughts drifted long enough for James to nudge him back to the present moment.  With a troubled nod, The Doctor started up his TARDIS and prepared to leave Kronon for the planet Ember.

- - -

The high branches of trees had become silhouettes against a star-studded sky.  The night air had grown so crisp and clear that it seemed as if I could see entire galaxies from my position on the ground.  It was humbling to see just how much there was out there, and wonder how much of it I had already touched since meeting The Doctor.  My gloomy nature was pretty good about reminding me how much I missed him, and, deep down, how afraid I was.

Cain sat next to me, looking on with a fairly amorphous expression.  Every time I glanced at him, I couldn’t tell exactly what he was thinking or how he was feeling.  Of course, he probably thought the same of me.  Neither of us had said much of anything after the initial greeting by Feidal’s father and the other elders of the tribe.  We each had our own worries to occupy our minds.

Feidal finally returned to us with the food she had prepared.  She climbed into her “nest”—a shallow earthen crater lined with woven reeds, sticks, and linen—and handed us two bowls full of roasted vegetables.  It smelled delicious, although I shuddered to find roasted locusts among the slices of potatoes and carrots.

“Please eat!  I shall draw water for you to drink.” She said to us, notably proud of her meal.

“Thank you, this looks great.” I smiled politely as I began to wonder how I would dispose of the insects without offending her.

Unblinkingly, she nodded.  “You especially. You do not seem well.  Food will help.”

I had to frown a bit, but she simply got back up and started off to get water.  When she had disappeared into the foliage and underbrush, I leaned closer to Cain.  “Hey, would you like some more... bugs?”

On cue, he crunched through a large locust and began chewing.  “What’s the matter?” he swallowed and smirked at me.  “Time Lords don’t eat insects?”

“I can’t speak for all of us, but I sure don’t,” I winced as he reached into my bowl to pick them out.

The vortex manipulator on Cain’s arm began to sound.  He looked at it curiously, finished removing the locusts from my bowl, and he stood up to take the call.  

“Sergeant Cain.” He announced, taking a few steps away.

“Cain, you need to get to base, now.” The voice from the manipulator came harshly.

His brows lowered.  “...What is it this time?”

“No time to explain—make sure Lucia’s safe and get down here.”

The Kronolin took a deep breath.  “I’m... I’m not on Kronon at the moment.”

“Not on Kronon??” the voice cracked with its intensity.  “Where are you??”

Cain’s ears laid back on his head.  “I’ll discuss it in more detail later; I have something I need to do...”

“I have something you need to do, too!  A Time Lord’s ship has been reported on Kronon!  The General wants every soldier on alert or at base!”

If his skin had been visible, Cain’s face would have been paler than a sheet.  “...A Time Lord’s ship?”

“The TARDIS belonging to The Doctor, to be exact!”

Cain’s eyes flashed with realization.  He bared his teeth and glanced in my direction.

I had originally been just as stunned as he was, but when Cain’s yellow eyes narrowed, I swallowed and shrunk back.  This was not going to be good.

The Kronolin on the other end sneered, “And you left your wife here alone in her condition??”

“Hang on a minute,” he growled, flipping the leather cover shut before his contact could speak.  He then stormed closer to me with his hair bristling.  “Are you still allies with The Doctor??”

“Yes,” I said carefully.

“Does he know where you are right now??” He almost spit the words through his pointed teeth.

Pangs of worry shot through me.  “...No,” I finally admitted.

The hair on Cain’s neck was still standing on end.  “Because I can tell you he’s looking for you on Kronon—I thought you understood how dangerous this is with you involved!  If the others knew I was in allegiance with a Time Lord—with you—Arrggggh!” He roared again and turned his head away.

I brought a hand to my neck and looked down.  “I’m sorry, I—I didn’t think he was going to come looking for me!” I tried.

He pointed a claw in my direction.  “I knew something was wrong!  I knew you were hiding something!  You’re going to ruin everything—what happened??  What aren’t you telling me??”

Feidal had appeared at the edge of the nest and was looking at us with shock.  Cain loomed over me with his muscles tight and his hair bristling.  I remained seated, half-hunched over, barely a foot away from his bared teeth.

“I ran.” I said, feeling myself on the verge of tears.  “I ran away.”

The Kronolin was breathing hard, but his rage seemed to be cooling.  He snarled as he backed away to reopen his communication link to Kronon.  “What will you have me do?” he asked quickly.

There was a pause before his fellow solider could speak.  “Well, you’ve lucked out again.” The voice spoke calmly.  “The TARDIS has left the planet.  No threats were made... the door didn’t even open.  Someone mentioned a scan went out, but no traces of radiation have been detected.  If he was looking for something, he didn’t find it.”

Cain’s entire body could finally relax.  “...Good.” Was all he could say.

“You got very lucky I didn’t have to explain to the General you’re off on another planet.”

“I understand.”

“...But you’d still better get your ass back to Kronon before something else happens.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

The link was then closed.  Cain drew his paw across it and shut the device tightly.  He turned his golden eyes to me once again.

“I’m not the only one who got lucky.”

I didn’t speak.  I could only breathe in staggered breaths as I fought back the urge to start bawling.

Feidal’s bird-like quickness had her standing between the two of us moments later.  “What happened?  Why yelling and roaring??”

“It’s resolved now.” Cain said, much of his hair still ruffled around his neck.

The Dalkon looked at me to see if I would affirm the statement, but I remained still and downcast.  She ruffled her own feathers and sat next to me.  “You say you run?” she asked me softly.  “Run from who?”

I shook my head slightly, refusing to answer.

“But where are friends?  Where is help?”

“I don’t have help right now.” I finally spoke.

Cain sat down roughly a few feet from us, picking up his bowl and going back to his food quietly.

The Dalkon’s beak clicked.  “Why are you being no help?”

Cain shot her a glance.  “Gemini is here to help me,” he said plainly.  “I wasn’t aware she needed help until just now.”

“Cain, if you want, I can bring you back.  We can forget all this and not cause you any more trouble...” I muttered softly.

“No...” he paused, holding a locust in his claws.  “We’ve come this far.  The crisis has been averted.  We will get what we came for and go.”  He eyed me but was met instead by the dark eyes of Feidal.  Frowning, he huffed and added, “I’m sorry for my outburst.  I do not like to be caught off guard.  You... you have done nothing wrong.”

I nodded softly, thought I was questioning the statement in my own head.

Feidal picked up the bowl of food I had dropped and set it back in my lap.  She then scooted over to better center herself between me and Cain.  “Who do you search for?”

“The Sphinx.” The Kronolin said.

Feidal’s eyes widened.  “...For what purpose do you search for her?”

“My own reasons.”

“His mate is with child, and she needs her help.”

Cain’s brows lowered again, but he remained silent.

It was clear Feidal also didn’t understand how the Sphinx and Cain’s wife could be connected, but she shrugged it off.  “I know where she resides.  In cave on edge of Dalkon territory.  At dawn I may show you.”

I glanced at Cain, and when I saw that he was acting too proud to answer, I gave a weak smile to Feidal instead.  “Thank you,”

“I can help.” She said proudly.  “Now you eat food.  Now!”

“I am...” I replied.

Feidal then noticed all of the locusts were missing from my bowl.  “Ah!  You enjoy locust?” her beak clicked happily.

“Ah... um...”

“She gave them to me.  She does not eat insects.”

Feidal was not offended in the least.  “I understand.  I will no longer offer them to you.”

This time Cain had spoken when I attempted to withhold information.  We both exchanged glances, silently noting that we were even again.

---

Chapter 5

The sun had scarcely risen as we made our way across the Dalkon plains to the northern edge of their territory.  The village of the Pavo and everything I was familiar with was far behind us.  I had only the motley gathering of Cain and Feidal at my sides and the hope that I would be able to get through this without further incident.  

I crossed my arms and bundled up against the brisk morning air.  “Have you seen the Sphinx before?” I asked Feidal, hoping to break the silence.

“Once, only.” She replied.  “A pastime is exploring our land.  I came out this far only once and saw her at mouth of cave.”  She glanced at Cain.  “And you desire her help?”

Cain did not look at either of us.  “Yes.” He said simply.

“You think she will help you?”

“Yes.”

Feidal seemed annoyed that he was refusing to divulge more information, so she huffed and turned back to me.  “Gemini... how is James?”

I smiled a bit.  “He’s doing all right; he’ll probably be upset that he didn’t get to visit you with me.”

Feidal straightened up a bit and smiled.  “You must tell him I wish to say hello.”

“I will.”

“What of The Doctor?”

Cain’s ears perked up a bit.

“He’s all right, too.”

“But something has happened between you?” Feidal eyed me.

My face flushed.  “It’s a long story.”

“And the end is you running away?”  The Dalkon turned her avian face away.  “I do not know your plan, but I do know a lot of running will make you tired.”

I sighed, realizing I would not be able to escape the topic.  “I just needed some time...” I submitted.

“Aren’t you a Time Lord?  You should have all the time you need.” Cain added, a faint trace of sarcasm on his voice.

“You would think,” I shot him a narrow glance, “but since I’m also human it doesn’t always work that way.”

Feidal lifted her arms to stretch them behind her head.  “I am sorry to hear of your oracle friend, by the way.”

I nearly stopped walking, not only surprised at how she so seamlessly changed topics, but also from what she had changed it to.  “...Wait, what?”

She looked at me cryptically.  “You did not hear of oracle’s disappearance?”

“All she did was come to visit James and I on our home world!”

“Ah, and she does not return.  It makes sense, then.”

I lowered my brows skeptically.  “...What do you mean?”

“Pavo assume she is dead,” Feidal said, “All Pavo and many Dalkon mourned for her.”

“But—but she’s coming back,” I had slowed my pace so much that both Cain and Feidal stopped walking ahead of me.  “I just saw her, they were coming back...”

Feidal put her hand on my shoulder to stop me from moving further.  “I am sorry,” she said, her usual serious expression now full of concern, “A new oracle was born a short time ago.”

I was breathing hard.  This couldn’t be happening.  I had just seen Amaya, and The Doctor, Vance, and James were supposed to be bringing her back to her people.  I was then hit with the realization that if The Doctor’s TARDIS was spotted on Kronon, perhaps something else had happened once I had left.  Maybe he put the trip on hold to look for me.  But still—he wasn’t supposed to let any time lapse between when she left with us and when she was returned.  No one else should have noticed she was gone—yet Amaya said herself that when a new oracle was born, it was a sign that she would not be alive for much longer.  I shook my head and crossed my arms against the cold—and the weight of news.

Cain had glanced at Feidal, somewhat annoyed that she had caused our trek to stop.  He waited quietly, however, until I could regain some sort of grip on myself to start walking again.

I felt even more trapped than I had been before.  Should I turn back now and return to my friends?  Or should I keep trekking on to finish the task at hand deal with all of it later?  Maybe by then I would be stronger... but I could also be weaker.  Maybe this was no longer my concern.  I winced, feeling completely useless once again.

“We near cave.” Feidal spoke simply, turning our attention back to the task at hand.

I glanced forward and saw a steep dropoff—so steep that I didn’t see the cave she was referring too.  It wasn’t until we reached the edge of the precipice that I was able to see anything at all.   I carefully looked over, and far below a steep decline full of bits of fallen rock and broken earth laid the mouth of the cave.

“There,” Feidal pointed.  “Cave of the Sphinx.”

“That’s kind of a long way down...” I muttered.

“Climbing down is easy enough,” Cain commented with an air of superiority.  

“No, rocks are too loose for climbing.  You must slide down earth to reach cave,” Feidal added matter-of-factly.

“Sliding down among that mess?” Cain exclaimed.  

Feidal crossed her arms.  “Why, you afraid?”

“But how will we get back out if we can’t climb?” I wasn’t going to admit I was fearful myself.

“We will find a way.”

I looked at Feidal incredulously.  She seemed so calm; she always seemed calm.  This was something new to her, and yet she showed no fear.  Even Cain was looking warily over the edge, wondering if the task would be worth it.

“...How are you not afraid?” I finally asked.

Feidal did not speak for a moment, and when she did, she didn’t remove her eyes from the mouth of the cave below us.  “When Dalkon are afraid, it is custom that we cry out. We cry out at fear. We cry out so that fear thinks we are not afraid... even if we are.”  She paused, looking at me from the corner of her eye.  “You afraid, Gemini?”

She couldn’t have been more right.  There were so many reasons for me to be afraid; the least of which being a dark cave at the bottom of a cliff.  “...Yes.” I murmured.

“Then cry out!” Feidal raised a fist.  “Cry out at fear... even if what you fear is not in cave.”

Shocked, I looked up at her.  She retained her stolid expression and rolled her head towards the cave, beckoning me to begin.  “...Ahhhh!” I grit my teeth and let out a rather pained growl.

“Louder!!” Feidal exclaimed.  “BREEEEEEE!!”

Her piercing cry in my ear, I clenched my fists and shut my eyes.  “AHHH!!”

Feidal’s brown eyes flashed at the Kronolin.  “Cain!”

The Kronolin’s hair was bristling as he put forth a mighty roar.

“Ahh! Listen to that!” Feidal was laughing.  She shot another cry into the air, not wanting to be outdone.

I yelled again and again, letting every inch of my being cry out against every bit of my fears.  Between the bestial roars and falcon-like cries of my companions, we were filling the desolate area with the sounds of courage.

“NOW!!” Feidal suddenly yelled, and she leapt over the side of the precipice.

Purposely not giving ourselves time to think it through, Cain and I jumped off after her.  My boots hit the steep slope and slid through the loose rocks as I tried to maintain my balance.  Cain had flipped himself around to have both his arms and legs digging into the rocks, and just ahead of us, Feidal adeptly reached the bottom on both feet before the momentum sent her staggering into the darkness of the cave.  Cain skidded to a stop shortly after, gripping the ground with his claws, and I slipped backwards and fell to my back as I came to a stop.  Looking up at the slope we had just conquered—albeit upside-down—was almost humbling to see.  I had showed my fears that I was not afraid.

---

Chapter 6

A hand gripped one of the steel bars that separated Vance and Amaya from their captor.  A three-headed snake pendant glittered beneath a grin.

“Good to see you’ve awakened,” Hydra said, her calm voice proving everything was completely under her control, “though I will admit I didn’t exactly care.”

“Who are you—why did you bring us here??” Vance began immediately, fear causing him to tremble as he held Amaya close to him.

Hydra glanced at her.  “Why don’t you ask your oracle friend you’re clinging so tightly to?”

The young oracle in his arms remained silent, but her eyes were locked on Hydra’s face.

Vance frowned, trying to look angry.  “I demand to know!!”

“Oh! Well...” Hydra’s hand reached into her jacket and removed a red-tipped sonic screwdriver.  She pointed the device at Amaya and grinned.  “If you won’t ask her, I will.”

The device was activated.  The pulsing red glow beamed into the cell, and at once, Amaya began to wince.

Vance, unaffected by the frequency, tried his hardest to shield Amaya from the light as he swept her closer to the back wall.  “Stop it!  What are you doing??” He tried.

“The snake will strike at the heel,” Amaya began to mutter.  “The snake—Hydra... the Time Lord...”

The sonic was deactivated.  “Works for me.” Hydra grinned.

Vance was in shock, holding the equally stunned Amaya in his arms.  When he looked up at Hydra again, she could only chuckle at his fear.

“You know what Time Lords are, don’t you, human?” Hydra stepped closer to the bars.  “Or did your friends neglect to tell you the truth?”

“Ace—Gemini... she’s one too,” Amaya whimpered to him.

“Ace is?” Vance straightened up.  “But—how—”

“Long story, lover-boy.” Hydra interrupted.  “And unfortunately, you’re not exactly part of it.  You’re just good for a bargaining chip.”

“Bargaining—no!”

“Bargaining, yes!” Hydra chuckled.  “I’ve already tried going straight for her.  I’ve even tried an intricate plot on another planet!”  She eyed Amaya, who knew exactly what she was talking about.  When the oracle scowled, Hydra crossed her arms and leaned against the bars.  “But then I thought, what better way to catch that half-blooded Time Lord than to go straight to her friends!  And what better friend to capture than the Oracle of Pavo...”

Vance was already turning Amaya away to shield her.  “You won’t hurt her!!”

“I won’t be trying to hurt her,” Hydra said, eyeing the door as someone entered the room, “But it may happen regardless...”

A shirtless, muscular young man joined Hydra’s side by the bars.  His olive-brown skin caught the ambient lighting around them, as did the blue streaks in his dark hair.  His eyes seemed dark as well, but the irises glimmered an ocean blue.  Just above his hip was a tattoo of a shark.

“Mano, I may need your help separating them.” She said, leaning ever so slightly in his direction.

“My pleasure,” he replied with a smile.

Mano unlocked the bars and was inside the cell before Vance could figure out what to do, and with a swift grasp, Mano had Vance by the arm.

“Stop it, don’t hurt him!” Amaya started, clutching onto Vance in an attempt to keep him close to her.  When this didn’t work, she released Vance and began struggling against Mano herself.  The tall young man sneered as he tried to keep both wriggling parties at bay, but knew he would have the upper hand once Hydra stepped in.

The red light glared once again, and Amaya immediately released Mano as she clutched at her head.

“No—stop!” Vance tried before being pushed against the wall by Mano.

The lady Time Lord deactivated the device and held it upright.  “I feel it’s only right to get a few readings of my own while I have you under my care.” She explained.

Now on her hands and knees, Amaya grit her teeth and glared at Hydra as sharply as she could.  “I will never tell you anything!!” she cried.

“You already have...you just have to be coaxed...”

The sonic blared again, and Amaya tensed up.  Vance cried out something inaudible, but Mano held him firm.  He met Hydra’s eyes, and then the Time Lord turned back to her prey.

“Give me a prophecy.”

“N.... n—no...” Amaya’s head drooped against her chest, her hands clenched into fists in her lap.

“Anything you may know...” The sonic screwdriver continued to buzz incessantly.

Amaya had been shaking her head, but her eyes suddenly grew cold and distant.  Despite her best efforts, she could no longer control her gift of foresight.

“The shark’s lover must fall... fall before rising...”

Mano shot Hydra a wary glance.  Hydra was unable to hide the redness of her face, but she was quick to shake it off and change the topic.  “Tell me about Gemini.”

Amaya’s head raised only slightly.  “T... the raven is caged behind steel... the raven fights behind the bars...”

“Amaya, stop!!” Vance shouted, only to be jabbed in the side as Mano tried to control him.

Hydra was grinning like a snake.  “Good... tell me more...”

“She is lost... wandering in darknesss... The c-curtain is torn down the middle... Ahh!” She shrieked, wrapping her hands against her chest.

“Keep going!”

Amaya was clearly in anguish, though her half-conscious state was unable to fight back.  She began to shudder as her voice grew short and weak.  “The war is coming—time will stop—blood runs together—” Her voice was cut off as she went limp for a brief moment, but she caught herself before she hit the ground.  “A chapel in a vineyard... he stands behind colored light... she runs in white linen on the arm of her guardian angel...”  She whimpered, rolling her head back as her pupils dilated.  “...The bell tolls at the passing of days... the walls of stone will ache...”

Hydra’s fists were clenched.  “Keep going!!”

“Hydra,” Mano warned, loosening his grip on Vance.

Amaya cried out, shuddering and swaying against the mental torture.  “Shattered glass—the Sentinels' return—The Doctor’s wife—The Doctor’s daughter—”

“Hydra!!”

The terrible red buzzing ceased.  Amaya went limp.  Vance dove to catch her as Mano released him.

The oracle convulsed slightly, her eyes wide and distant.  A light trail of blood began to drip from her nose, and her breathing had been staggered into short bursts.

Shutting out the words Vance began sputtering, Hydra turned away from the cell.  And odd expression played on her lips, her mind in deep thought as the oracle’s words sunk in.  

Her thoughts were quickly distracted when the mechanical movements of her robots reached her ears.  She turned to the doorway to watch as four robots entered the room; two walking along side a scowling Doctor while the other two accompanied James.

“Well!  What a surprise!” Hydra exclaimed with a hint of sarcasm.  She paused, waiting for another couple of robots to enter, but when they didn’t, her expression slipped slightly.  “...Actually, this is a surprise...  There’s one less of you than I was expecting.”

The Doctor remained still, almost growling as he looked up at Hydra under furrowed brows.

James, on the other hand, had made eye contact with Vance, and the two exchanged similar pained glances.  Hydra stepped in between them.

“Where is my half-blooded friend?”

“Not here.” The Doctor said simply, his expression and posture unchanging.

Hydra let out a short laugh.  “Now this really is surprising... And you don’t know where she is... I can tell from the expression the human has on his face.”

“You have two people who are under my protection.” The Doctor ignored her sentiments.  “We are here for their safe return.”

Hydra grinned.  “Wasn’t Gemini under your protection?  And how’s that working out for you?”

“You captured them to get to Gemini and you’re getting me instead—how’s this working out for you??” The Doctor snarled.

“It could be a trick.” Mano piped in, pulling his arm around Hydra cautiously.  “I bet she sent them in as a distraction.”

The Doctor made a face, watching Mano carefully.  “...I know you.” He said simply.

Mano didn’t reply, but his face paled slightly.

“...Only you were half-shark.”

“How do you know about that??” Hydra shot quickly as Mano’s dark eyes narrowed.

The Doctor remained unmoved.  “We’ve met before.” He paused, looking Hydra in the eyes.  “So how did you get the means to hop dimensions?”

Hydra defensively grabbed Mano by the arm and half-pulled him behind her.  “That doesn’t concern you!”

“Ah... So you have taken him as a lover.” The Doctor spoke matter-of-factly.   He smirked when her expression dimmed to slight outrage and Mano’s face went blank.  “Hydra with a boyfriend... won't this be interesting.”

“And the Doctor has a girlfriend.  Sounds dangerous.” Hydra tried to recover.

“Oh, it could be.”

“Looks more like a weakness.” Hydra motioned to Vance and Amaya.

“No...” The Doctor straightened up as his eyes grew narrow, “Because if you’re trying to hurt Gemini by hurting her friends, I will be angry.  And if you hurt Gemini, you won’t even begin to comprehend my rage.”

Hydra had taken on a similar stance.  “I think I know a Time Lord’s rage.”

The elder Time Lord let out a short laugh.  “Has all this been your rage?  No... Chasing after Gemini has not been rage, that's just been vengeance.  My rage...” The Doctor grit his teeth.  “Planets explode and stars die...”

Hydra huffed.  “You're bragging about your rage... You're the one who destroyed Gallifrey and the rest of the Time Lords.  Tell me, Doctor, how does that make you feel?”

The anger between Doctor and Hydra escalated as they glared at one another, almost unblinkingly.  It wasn’t until Amaya made a loud gasp that the tension and their gazes were briefly averted.

“Doctor—help us!!” Vance cried, cradling the ailing oracle in his lap.

The Doctor glanced at Hydra for a brief moment before making his move.  With a well-placed kick, he knocked the robot off balance and broke his arm free.  He grabbed his sonic screwdriver with his free hand and deactivated the other robot with a short sonic burst at its head.

What he wasn’t expecting, however, was the strength found in Mano.  A swift jab to his stomach sent The Doctor plummeting to the floor.  James, however, had his back.  Using the firm grips of the two robots holding his arms, he brought both legs from the ground and kicked Mano hard in the stomach.  Mano was only somewhat shaken as he leapt back up and lunged at James.

Hydra activated her sonic screwdriver, and The Doctor ceased any attempt he had been making to get back up when the jarring sound reached his ears.  When she looked back at James, she was stunned to see a robot clattering towards her.  She dove aside as the robot crashed into the bars of the cell, losing the grip on her sonic.  The Doctor dove at her and knocked it aside, causing it to roll into the cell beside Vance and Amaya.  Hydra growled and kicked him in the side.

James had tackled Mano, and the two were now struggling on the ground.  Mano landed a punch to James’ jaw, but James had grabbed the broken robot’s arm and swung back with it.  The metal collided with Mano’s head, and the young man was knocked aside.

“Mano!” Hydra cried, noticing the act from across the room.  The Doctor used her distraction to grasp her around the neck and thrust her against the wall.

“What was that you were saying about weakness?” he asked, his lip bloodied from their skirmish.

Hydra bared her teeth, but did not speak.

“If you try to hurt these people again, I will not be afraid to knock you down another regeneration.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Hydra spat.  “Besides,” a weak grin returned, “I know an even better way to get to your girlfriend...”

The Doctor scowled.

“Unless you still don’t know where she is...”

The elder Time Lord shoved Hydra into the wall again.  “Tell me Hydra—what are you really after?  Or do you simply plan to chase after the Time Lord inside Gemini for the rest of your lives??”

“And what’s wrong with that?” Hydra choked out, continuing to grin.

“I’ve seen first hand what Rovenna can do unbridled—and she was never like that when I knew her!  It was you!  You corrupted her!”  He grit his teeth.  “And it’s destroying Gemini!!”

“Corrupted?? You never really knew Rovenna, did you...”  Hydra took in a breath and stretched out her neck as The Doctor let his grasp slip a bit.  “Rovenna was one of my best friends... and you want to know why?” The smile returned.  “She was exactly like me... going through space and time and leaving chaos in our wake.  It was fun.”  

The Doctor’s eyes narrowed, but when he noticed the shift in expressions on Hydra’s face, he further loosened his grip on the renegade Time Lord.

“But then she met some group of humans that called themselves ORBIT, or something—those damn humans changed her.  She got worse than I ever was.  She was taking advantage of her Time Lord abilities and getting us both into trouble... And on that day she betrayed me—All that mess about her not being able to save me?  She didn’t care that I was left behind.  Deep down she only cared about herself.  She thought being on the side of humans would be better for her in the long run, so she left me to die...”  

She sneered at The Doctor.  “Humans... she got her obsession from you, you know.  So if you really want someone to blame about her corruption...”  She leaned forward and hissed the words, “why not blame yourself?”

The furrowed brows raised.  Hydra pressed the button she was looking for.  Drawing her hands together, she shoved The Doctor away from her, activated her vortex manipulator, and disappeared.

The Doctor came back and hit the empty wall.  Frustrated, he thrust his clenched fists at the ground with a short roar.

James kicked Mano aside, breathing hard.  The muscular young man, realizing Hydra was gone, quickly activated his own vortex manipulator after shooting James a disgusted expression.

The Doctor took a deep breath and wiped his hair away from his eyes.  He stepped over to James to help him up and then walked over to the cell.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with her,” Vance was muttering as the Doctor quickly unlocked the cell with his sonic screwdriver, “but she’s hurting.”

The Doctor knelt down and scanned Amaya briefly.  “She’s in a state of shock... mental shock.”

“Hydra kept using her device like that,” Vance pointed to The Doctor’s sonic.  “I think she used it to make Amaya give prophecies,”

“Hydra augmented her sonic in such a way that it’s almost immobilizing to another Time Lord,” The Doctor carefully looked into Amaya’s dilated eyes.  “I wouldn’t be surprised if it interferes with Amaya’s oracle consciousness as well... drawing out her visions...”

“She talked about you,” Vance said.

The Doctor paused.

“You and ...Gemini.”

The Doctor stood up quickly.  “James, do you have my vortex manipulator?”

James blinked.  “N-no, I—”

“Good, because I have it.” The Doctor rolled up his sleeve and unlatched the leather device from his forearm.  “Take this and get these two to safety.  Take them wherever you need to.  Just keep them safe; I know you can.”

James looked at the manipulator in his hands.  “...Right.”

“I’ll find you as soon as I find Gemini.  Whatever you do, do not leave them.”  With that, The Doctor started out of the cell.

“D-Doctor,” James stood up.

The Doctor slowed and turned his head slightly towards him.

“...Be careful.”

He didn’t say anything in reply, but the slightest of smiles found his lips.  He then walked away, leaving only the distant sound of the TARDIS whirring in the bleak, misty air of the planet Ember.

---

Chapter 7

Three figures walked through the darkness of the Sphinx’s cave, moving further and further from the cave’s entrance.  Dust-covered, yet still filled with adrenaline, we walked slowly with wide eyes to try and take in as much light as we could.  Cain’s stature was hunched over as he kept his keen eyes near the ground to detect movement.  Feidal stood straight, her eyes wide and on alert.  I remained between them, armed with my sonic screwdriver and its faint blue light.

A gust of wind came up from behind us, funneling through the cavern with a droning sound.

“Wind is moving; there must be another opening to cave.” Feidal commented.

“Perhaps that way will be easier to get out from,” Cain said half-grumblingly, “We will have a hard time climbing back up the rubble we came down.”

“I’m trying not to think about it,” I muttered.  

The passage continued ahead, but bends and irregularity in the rock face began making the path too narrow for our current formation.  With a nod, Cain motioned for me to keep walking.  I frowned; being the light-bearer would give me the unfortunate task of going first.  I cleared my throat and stepped forward.

Our once straight passage was growing increasingly more winding and narrow.  We came around one circular turn in our route and faintest sound of dripping could be heard.

“Water could be sign of life,” Feidal was beginning to walk quicker towards the sound.

“Natural light would be the best sign,” Cain replied.  Suddenly he came to an abrupt halt. “Gemini—here!”

I stopped and pointed the screwdriver towards him.  He was watching the ground, his ears perked up on high alert.  An almost transparent salamander-like creature was barely a foot away.  The creature looked at him before two sets of long, webbed wings lifted from its back and it puttered into the darkness.

“Sign of life could be even better sign.” Feidal’s brows raised.

Cain muttered under his breath and started walking again.  I turned and pointed the light back forward.

Two wide eyes in front of me caught the blue light.

I shrieked and jerked backward as the eyes scurried away from us.  The reading I inadvertently received from the creature was like a burst of information—close to twenty different entities all at once.

“The Sphinx!” I shouted—scarcely heard as Cain shot forward after it.  Feidal attempted to stop him, but he had bolted too quickly.  She instead grabbed me by the arm, and we ran after him, noticing that light was beginning to return.  Cain’s larger form was having a much harder time slipping through the winding passageways, but he managed to stay ahead of us as he raced after The Sphinx with an almost predatory stature.  Moments before I gave up trying to keep my sonic screwdriver out for light, I picked up another reading from The Sphinx—just as varied as the first—but I sensed a great deal of fear.  We would have to stop chasing her if we ever wanted to gain her trust.

“Stop running!” I called to Cain, “You’re scaring her!”

Cain lunged through the passage and found his claws scraping across the rock face.  In this brief moment Feidal threw herself at him and pulled him down in a rather impressive headlock.

“Stop it!!” Cain roared, arching his back and clutching at her arms.

Feidal struggled against him.  “You stop!  Running will not work!”

I skirted around the mass of fur and feathers and noticed we had come to a high-ceilinged cavern with a hole in the ceiling for light and ventilation.  A very small stream had been trickling alongside the passage we had just run down, and it collected into a pool at the center of the cavern.  The cavern was covered in moist ground, and a few leafy plants and algae were growing along the ground and walls.

And then, I saw her.  Perched high on an outcropping of rocks, the scarlet-red humanoid called The Sphinx was crouched down in defense.  Her legs below her knees frayed into white fur, ending in hooves.  A long, fox-like tail was raised from the ground, and two pointed ears sat atop a mass of white hair on her head.  Her arms were thin and covered in spots, and her face was white and dotted with a black, deer-like nose.  Perhaps what was most unexpected about her was the dusty, gray tunic she wore; apparently, she was human enough to feel the need for clothing.

“That is her...” Feidal said softly, standing at my side with her eyes also locked on the creature.

I remained still, watching The Sphinx’s head dart to focus on the grumbling Kronolin behind me.  I raised a hand to quiet him, and Feidal make sure he noticed by jabbing him in the side.

Cain bared his teeth at her and then turned his head towards the rock.  His expression immediately changed.

We stood in silence; only the gentle trickling of the stream nearby and the occasional wisping of wind from the opening in the ceiling came to our ears.  Cain was the first to speak again, albeit much quieter than his usual tone.

“How do you propose we get her down?”

The Sphinx’s ears twitched.

I eyed him.  “Not like that.”  I pocketed my sonic screwdriver and took a step forward.  The Sphinx didn’t move.

“We won’t hurt you.” I said softly, noticing her light eyes followed my every step.   We both tensed up as the sound of scuffling of feet echoed behind me.

“Stay back,” I said, hearing Feidal squawk a similar order to Cain.

“We came here so I could find the creature!” Cain hissed back.

The Dalkon’s crested brow was arched in annoyance.  “And you find her!  Now be patient!”

I rolled my eyes and looked forward again.  “I’m sorry... You probably don’t get many visitors, but I promise we won’t hurt you.”

The Sphinx’s guard was lowering.  Her stature was relaxing, and her curiosity was growing.  Sure enough, she began a slow, guarded climb down, stopping on a lower ledge just above my eyeline.  Her tail was still stiff with caution, but when her eyes locked onto mine, I could feel a sense of trust.

I raised a hand slowly.  In return, she raised her hand.  I brought it closer to her, and she grasped at it.  Her hand was much smaller than mine; in fact, she herself was more petite than she had originally appeared—except for her muscular legs.

“Hello,” I said gently.

The Sphinx did not speak.  Her mouth opened, but not a single sound emerged.  She was focused intently on my hand, rubbing her padded fingers around mine.  Her mouth twisted in various expressions, and only after a moment did she return her gaze to my face.

Her ears flattened against her head, and I could scarcely move before Cain’s heavy hands grasped her by the neck and chest.

“Cain—what are you doing?!” I shouted, reeling backwards to avoid being clocked by The Sphinx’s hooves as Cain pulled her from the ledge.

The silent creature kicked and writhed as Cain wrestled her to the ground and pulled a length of rope from his belt.  He then began wrapping the rope around her powerful legs.  “I am capturing her.” He said in a gruff, matter-of-fact tone.

“Capturing??”

Cain grit his teeth as The Sphinx pulled hard against his grip.  “What did you think we were going to do with her??”

“I—” I stopped.  I had never been sure what Cain had planned; I had simply assumed it would not involve violence.

“You should not hurt her!” Feidal was finally nearby, although she seemed too stunned to get much closer.

“You two don’t understand this, do you.” Cain growled, The Sphinx in his arms finally ceasing her struggling as he wrapped the last bit of rope around her wrists.  “I need The Sphinx because of her adaptive genetics.  Her blood will be given to Lucia to help her stabilize to be able to carry our child.”

“You—you take her blood??  Why you not say sooner??” Feidal squawked.

“I—she was trusting me—I told her we wouldn’t hurt her—” I tried.

“What does she know.” Cain grasped The Sphinx by the neck as he stood up.

I could feel rage building in my chest.  “She’s not some mindless creature, she’s part human too!!”

Cain’s ears flicked and his narrow eyes glared at me.  Behind him, Feidal was still wavering on what she needed to do in this situation.  I stood with my fists clenched.

“I told you when we began I needed your help.  You spoke nothing but willingness.”  Cain remained firm.  “This is a risk and a struggle for both of us, and I appreciate every bit of your help, but I will not have you stop me when the deed is to be done.  Do you understand?”

I squinted my eyes against his demeaning tone and breathed hard.

Feidal shifted on her feet.  “You are willing to sacrifice this ...unique creation?”

Cain stood, holding the limp Sphinx under his arm.  “I would do anything to save my mate.”

Feidal was silenced.  She looked away and scowled at the ground.

I was just as outraged as she was, but as much as I wanted to yell and beat Cain down about it, I couldn’t.  I didn’t want his wife and unborn child to die, yet I didn’t want The Sphinx to die either.  I cringed at the complexity of the situation.

“I trust you will lead us back out of the cave so we can complete this mission?” Cain’s gruff voice returned after a moment.

Without a word or glance in his direction, I pulled out my sonic screwdriver and started back into the passage.  Feidal was quick to follow me, and Cain adjusted The Sphinx under his arm and carried her after us.  We followed my blue light through the cave in complete silence until the light from the entrance could be seen up ahead.  

I pocketed my screwdriver when we stepped out into the daylight and glanced back at Cain.  He glanced at me before turning his eyes to the high cliff above us.

“Why, hello down there.” A man was standing at the ledge, holding a hand to his forehead to block the light from above.  “You know, you have perfect timing; I didn’t think I’d find anyone out here.”

Shocked, all three of us immediately grew tense, and even The Sphinx had turned her eyes upward.

The lanky man wore a navy waistcoat with a gray shirt and slacks.  A sword and some sort of gun were strapped to his belt, and when he drew his hand away from his forehead, I could see dark brown wavy hair on his head.  “I’m looking for the Time Lord called Gemini...” The man spoke again casually and brushed his hand on his coat sleeve.  “Have you seen her?”

My face went pale.  I didn’t recognize the voice or what I could see of his face, but there were far too many signs that this would not be a friendly encounter.  The man did not look like someone from Pavo, and when he turned around to quiet someone, I realized he was not alone.  

“There is no one by that name here.” Feidal spoke up, lying on my behalf.  I shook my head along with her, hoping they would take the bait.

The man leaned back a bit.  “But I found her time-machine not far from here... Are you certain?”  There was something about the tone of his voice that was grating on my nerves.  It was so suave; so sure of itself.

The hair on Cain’s neck was bristling with a similar abhorrence, although much of it could have been that this was yet another setback in our return to Kronon.  “No!” he barked.  “She is not here.”

The man shook his head, crossing his arms.  “Pity.  Your loyalties are commendable, but I know the young woman in your midst is the one we seek.”  He glanced at me.  “If you would offer yourself up, there won’t be any trouble.”

“I can’t do that.  I have a mission to complete.” I replied as firmly as I could.

“Again, commendable; but I did not come all this way to return empty handed.”

I scowled, unsure of what to do.

Cain crouched down ever so slightly.  “Both of you get close to me.” He hissed under his breath.  “I will try to bring us all back to the TARDIS with my manipulator.”

“There’s too many of us for one manipulator,” I darted my eyes in his direction.

“You take Gemini and go,” Feidal replied, not removing her eyes from the men at the top of the cliff.  “I will be fine.  I can call Dalkon warriors for help.”

I met her eyes, and with a simple nod of her beak, I inched closer to Cain.

“Gemini?” The man called almost musically.  “We need an answer.  Will you come quietly, or will we have to use force?”

Taking Cain’s arm, I turned back to the man.  “You can use whatever you want, because you’re headed back empty-handed.”

Cain flipped open the vortex manipulator and the mouth of the cave flashed a brilliant blue.

“Fire!!” The man yelled.

A jolt of pain shot through me in the split second before we disappeared.

---

Chapter 8

The Doctor supported himself by grasping the TARDIS’ control panel.  Looking into the blank monitor above his head, he frowned and pushed himself away.

“It’s too quiet to think straight!” He exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair.  “All the years of time travel and today the silence is deafening!!  Somebody, talk to me!”

James flickered into existence a few feet from the control panel.

“Ah... James!” The Doctor smiled, relieved.

James flickered again and, in a rather emotionless voice, said, “I am not James, I am a voice interface.”

The Doctor was frowning again.  “You don’t sound anything like James.  He has a stammer.”

“I am not James, I am a voice interface.” The image of James said again.

“All right, fine!” The Doctor leaned onto his control panel again and shot a glance at the voice interface projection.  “So if you were looking for Gemini, where would you start?”

James did not speak for a moment, as if calculating an answer.  At last, he began. “Somewhere she has been.”

The Time Lord turned to the computer screen.  “Aha... of course... Gem wouldn’t choose somewhere she’s never been to; she’s already scared enough...” His mouth twisted in thought.  “I’ve traveled with her a great deal... but what if she’s gone places without me?”

“Somewhere you have been.”

He turned to James.  “Somewhere I’ve been?  I’ve been all over the universe—all over time!  Come on, James!”

“I am not James, I am a voice interface.”

The Doctor growled and leaned his head against the screen.

“Somewhere you have been with her.” James added plainly.

Now The Doctor looked up.  “With her… where did we go first—Baltimore!!  Baltimore, United States!” He dove at the control panel and flipped a switch, entering data as a map appeared on the screen over his head.  When he looked up with expectation, the screen flashed, but showed nothing aside from the map.

“…No… not Baltimore.  Of course not Baltimore,” He thumbed his chin, “Raven stayed there a lot.  She would be too afraid to go back there, unless she went further ahead...”  His expression again twisted in thought.  “Wait... Fortis-Novus... but I’d checked there earlier,”

“Check there again.”

The Doctor shot a glance at James.  Skeptically, he adjusted his coordinates and began to scan the area.  At once, a beeping like sonar began to emanate from the map.

“There!!” The Doctor exclaimed.  “Oh James, you are wonderful!!”

“I am not James, I am a—”

“Lock on—Follow that TARDIS!!” The Doctor interrupted, flipping switches and throwing levers with passion.

The voice interface disappeared and The Doctor’s TARDIS began to whir and pulse, racing towards the place where my TARDIS had been located.

The Doctor was breathing heavier; apprehension, yet also relief, filled his eyes.  “Come on, Gemini... stop running so I can catch you...”

- - -

I immediately fell to my knees as our feet touched down outside of my TARDIS.  Crying out from the excruciating pain, I clutched at my upper arm and leaned forward.

“Gemini—” Cain seemed surprised, pulling my hand away from my arm.  His ears laid back against his head when he noticed the blood running from a puncture wound.  “They shot you??”

I moaned, shocked to see my hand covered in blood.   We didn’t have guns in Fortanya, and the pain was unlike anything I had felt.  My arm could have been torn off for all I felt.

Cain glanced behind us.  A small aircraft with the insignia ‘ORBIT’ was parked not too far from us, and Cain didn’t want to risk someone else seeing us.  He grit his teeth, propped The Sphinx over his shoulder, and grabbed me as carefully, yet as firmly, as he could to get me to my feet.

“Come on—open the TARDIS, we must leave before they find us!”

“My arm is killing me,” I wimpered, staggering forward as Cain directed the way to the door.

“We must get inside and then I’ll help you.” Cain glanced behind again when he thought he heard a pulsing sound.  “Quickly!” He urged.

I fumbled with my bloody hand to grab the Seal of Rassilon pendant around my neck, and I pressed it into the TARDIS door.  With a click, it opened and I nearly fell inside as Cain pulled us in.  He kicked the door closed behind me and set The Sphinx down near the ramp before running back to me.

I had fallen into a heap on the ground, fighting hard to stay remotely conscious as echoes began to swim into my brain.  

I’ve got to admit, I was surprised at how long you’ve kept me silent.  Thankfully that can change now.

No... no, go away.  You can’t do this now.  I won’t let you!

Bloody weakling.  If you can’t handle one shot in the arm, you deserve to lose a regeneration.

“Go away!!” I yelled aloud.

Cain staggered back.

I was seething, breathing hard from the pain and the inner fight I was forced to wage.  Blood was running down my arm.  I had grown too weak.  She was much too strong.

My eyes began to glow with a golden energy.  I grit my teeth, fighting the power surging through my head as the pain throbbed through my body.  

Stop fighting!  I’m trying to heal us!

No! I won’t let you!

So you’d rather bleed to death??

I’m not giving you another foothold!  I won’t give in to you!

“Gemini—let me help—”

“I don’t need help from a beast like you!!” My voice cried as the golden eyes flashed at him.

He scowled at the words, but his confusion was outweighing his anger.

I then let out a sharp yell and fell forward again.  I clutched my arm, feeling the energy taking over.  Rovenna’s regenerative energy—it was coming forth to fix me—altering my DNA further and giving her an even stronger hold of my being.

“No!!” I screamed.  “Stop it—you won’t—can’t—Get out of my head!!”

You won’t be half of what you are without me!  How would you expect to fly my TARDIS?

“I don’t care—I don’t need it!”

You’d give up all that power??

“I’d give anything to get you out of my head!!”

...Oh, we’ll see about that one.

I arched my back and the golden energy wisped from my eyes and disappeared.  I was breathing hard, and I slumped back forward until my hands rested upon the metal TARDIS floor.

It took me a moment to realize what had happened.  I turned my eyes up to Cain as he sat back, watching me hesitantly.  “...I stopped her.” The whisper was barely audible.   “I stopped her... she was going to heal me.   I wouldn’t let her... I don’t want her—don’t need her...” I winced, remembering the shot in my arm.  “Oww...” I moaned softly, letting my head droop.

Cain hesitantly caught me and propped me up against his chest.  He then proceeded to tear away my shirt sleeve.  He leaned down to inspect my arm, but he stopped before his claws touched the open wound.  Frowning a moment, he let his ears droop back against his head and used his teeth to pull the bullet from my arm.

I breathed in sharply as he pulled back and dropped the metal shard to the ground.  His instincts kicked in further as he cleaned my wound with his tongue, and then he picked back up the bit of sleeve from the ground and tied it around my arm as a tourniquet.  

He sat back on his haunches once the deed was complete.  He wiped his chin almost embarrassedly.  “...I didn’t want to risk harming you with my claws.  Kronolins can sometimes have a virus we’re immune to on our claws, but I don’t know if part-humans are immune...”

“...We’re not,” I whimpered.  “Thank you...”

Nothing was said for a moment.  I pressed my hand against the makeshift bandage and noticed the pain was no longer throbbing as much as it had been.  I looked up at Cain, and was met with a peculiar expression.

“I’ve... I’ve had trouble controlling my Time Lord side.” I admitted slowly.  

It was apparent by Cain’s expression that he was already aware.  “I’d be more surprised if you weren’t having trouble,” Cain said.  “All records we have of human-Time Lord metacrises have always ended... badly.”

I bit my lip.  “You know about all this.  How do I go back to normal?”

Cain tilted his head.  “Normal?  As in... removing the Time Lord consciousness?”

“Yes,” I urged.  “I’m tired or this.  I’ve hurt people and—and I’m tired.  The Doctor will never say how.  I know he knows, but...” I trailed off.  Cain’s expression had drifted again.  “...What?”

“To reverse a metacrisis, your mind has to be wiped.”

A pang of weakness shot through my body, but it was not from my arm.  “...Wiped??  All—all of it??”

“Everything starting just before you merged with the Time Lord,” Cain said uncomfortably.  “Your mind can have no memories leading back or else it will be thrown into an unstable state.”

My breaths were short, and my voice was trembling.  “Everything... but that would mean... oh no—I would forget The Doctor!!”  I looked up into Cain’s yellow eyes.  “I would forget The Doctor!!”  I clutched at my head with my good arm and closed my eyes.  “No... that’s why he would never say... that’s why he was always upset—I—I would have to forget him!”

I was on the verge of tears.  The Doctor’s mantra of staying strong—trying so desperately to keep me from losing control... it was so he wouldn’t lose me... so I wouldn’t lose him.  Cain’s ears were still back against his head as I looked up at him again.  “And—and you, and Feidal, and Amaya—oh Amaya!” I covered my mouth.  “What if something happened to Amaya and—and I didn’t even tell her goodbye!”

“Gemini, if...” Cain’s yellow eyes scanned the floor as he tried to find the words.  “If there’s anyone who can persevere... it’s... it’s you.”

I squinted my eyes shut as a tear rolled onto my cheek.  “I can’t win... what am I supposed to do...?”

Cain straightened up, glancing at the still-tied Sphinx near the control panel.  “Take it one day at a time.  One step at a time.”  He cleared his throat and softly added, “...Getting us out of here would be a good first step.”

I sat myself up.  “Oh!”  Scrambling back to my feet I nearly fell from dizziness before Cain again caught me and straightened me back up.  I dove up to the control panel and stared at it blankly.  The once mindless task was no longer mindless.  I was no longer receiving any help from Rovenna.

“And...?” Cain nervously shifted on his paws.

“And I’m doing this with a human’s brain...” I looked up at the screen and began to navigate my way to the last place we had come from.  Sure enough, I was able to plot the course back to that time and place.  A smile finally spread to my lips.  I could do this.

I pulled a lever and we were pulsing back to the planet Kronon.  I took a deep breath and let my head drop.  I did it, for now... but I had to keep going.  Now, more than ever, I had to maintain control.  My life with The Doctor depended on it.  

I looked up over the rim of my glasses.  “We’re almost there.”

---

Chapter 9

Vance held Amaya in his arms, gazing through his thick glasses at the cloud-covered sky.  He let out a breath and glanced over at James.  The young man stood in a sort of stance, gazing out into the dense forest capped off with a high rock wall.  The vortex manipulator on his wrist still glowed a faint blue.

“Where are we?” Vance asked, stepping closer to James.

“The Tallelands.” James said simply, still gazing out at the trees.

“This?” Vance glanced at a small stream nearby, dividing the mountain crater through its middle.  “We must be hundreds of miles from Fortanya...”

James looked down, noticing the shadow of a fellow time-traveller standing at the edge of the forest.  “S-something like that.”

Amaya’s faint blue eyes opened.  “The sentinel is rising...”

“Shh,” Vance held her closer to his chest.  He caught a glimpse of the figure stepping out of the shadow, and he guardedly watched as the man started towards them.

“Ph—Phoenix,” James began.  “Th—this was the safest place I—p—place I—”

“It’s all right.” Phoenix calmed him.  The dusty purple-gray cloak brushed against the long grass near the edge of the stream.  “I’m assuming things are not as well as they should be.”

James shook his head.  “Gemini is lost, The Doctor is-s trying to find her, and m—my friend Amaya is hurt.”

“Gemini—lost,” Phoenix started to walk across the stepping stones.  “Mentally or physically?”

James lowered his brows.  “H-how do you know about that?”

“The Doctor has told me about her struggle.  She is strong, but I fear for her just as he does.”  Phoenix stepped up to Vance and Amaya.  “What’s wrong with this one?”  

“M-mental shock,” James explained.  “She’s an—an oracle.”

“She was pushed too far... she won’t snap out of it,” Vance added worriedly.

Phoenix nodded, taking Amaya from Vance and propping her against his shoulder.  “I see.  Perhaps resting her mind will help; in fact, I think you all could use some rest.  Come with me.  You all are safe here.”

Vance looked at James.  “Thank you,” he sighed gratefully.

They started into the woods, and Phoenix slowed for James to walk along side him.

“So The Doctor has not yet connected with your sister?”

James shook his head.  “She was too distant... p-p—pushed everyone away.”

Phoenix also shook his head.  “He must get to her before—”

“The scattered will come together on the sentinel’s watch...”

Phoenix slowed, glancing down at Amaya.

Vance slid between James and Phoenix to reach the dazed oracle.  He winced as she moaned softly.  “Please say you can make this stop...” He gently pressed his hand against her forehead, but her eyes remained distant.

James turned away from Phoenix and the others.  He rubbed the bridge of his nose in thought, closing his eyes.  He was feeling powerless, but he had a job to do.  No matter what, he had to protect Vance and Amaya.

He took a deep breath and turned around.  “Come on, let’s get her comfortable.” He said boldly, motioning Phoenix to follow him.

Phoenix smiled.  “The Sentinel...” he repeated Amaya’s words softly.  He started after James, and Vance, visibly bewildered, followed.

- - -

The Doctor pushed open the door to his TARDIS and was greeted immediately by a huge gust of wind.  He threw up his arms against the scattering of grass, rocks, and dust being thrown into his face, and he had to gaze through squinted eyes to find the cause of the unexpected maelstrom.

Ahead of him, a jet-sized spaceship was beginning to lift off from the ground, and he could scarcely make out the insignia “ORBIT” on its side.  He let down his arms and stepped out of the TARDIS as the intensity of the wind began to weaken.

“’ORBIT,’” He read aloud, his mind clicking back to the words Hydra had spilled to him about Rovenna.  He frowned, feeling a pang of worry.

Almost as quickly, he heard a great rustling among the tall grass—too great to still be the jet’s exhaust.  He adjusted his eyes forward just as the golden glimmer of a troupe of Dalkon warriors raced towards him.  He backpedalled to lean against the TARDIS as they broke formation to go around him.

“Doctor!” Feidal called, a few of her Dalkon companions coming to a stop beside her while the others continued past.

“Feidal,” The Doctor replied, gasping her hand.  “What’s going on here??”

“Vile men are leaving this planet thanks to Dalkon warriors!” she proclaimed boldly.  “They wound many of us, but Dalkon warriors always stand tall against fear.”

It was only then that The Doctor noticed Feidal’s arm was bleeding from a grazed gunshot.  Before he could find any part of a sentence to reply with, The Dalkon continued.

“You do not bring James either??”

The Doctor blinked.  “No... wait... ‘either’...” He straightened up.  “You have seen Gemini!”

“I have.”  Feidal’s strong expression softened.

“Where is she?”

The Dalkon nodded to her companions, and they took the hint and turned away to rejoin their group.  “...She is not here.”

The Doctor closed his eyes and made a few expressions with his mouth before dropping his head.  “...Of course.”

“She goes to bring friend home.  Cain; large male,” she added when The Doctor’s expression showed confusion, “He has mane and metal mask,”

“...A Kronolin?” The Time Lord said incredulously.

“She goes to his planet.”  She paused, adding gently, “She runs.”

The Doctor bowed his head.  “And it’s difficult to catch up to her.”

Feidal looked down her beak at The Doctor.  “But she needs you.”

“I need her... more than anything, more than any time—I need her.” He shook his head sadly.

“You go!” Feidal gave him a shove.  “Find her!”

“I’ve been trying to,” The Doctor staggered a bit to regain his balance.  He had to duck as the Dalkon tried to push him again.

“You keep going!  She is runaway!  She runs, you run!”

“I’m running.” The Doctor said, an odd mixture of fear and half-determination in his voice.

“Go!”

“I’m going!”

“BREEEEE!” The Dalkon screeched triumphantly.

“AHHH!” The Doctor shrieked and fell against his TARDIS in shock.  “What was that all about??”

“Doctor can have no fear!” Feidal shouted.  “Cry out at fear and find Gemini!”  

“ALL RIGHT!!” The Doctor yelled.  “I’m crying—I’m going—I’m running—I will find her!”

“Go!!”

On Feidal’s final word The Doctor turned on his heels and shoved his way inside his TARDIS.  He turned back only for a moment to meet the dark eyes of the Dalkon warrior, and he smiled when he closed the door to her determined cries she belted into the clearing air.

---

Chapter 10

I welcomed the interruption from my silence as Cain opened the door to the TARDIS and peeked in.  I almost didn’t recognize him without the metal faceplate I had always seen him with.  His face was much more like a lion’s, and much more expressive, when you could see all of it.  

When he didn’t come any closer, I got up in anticipation.  “So...?”

Cain didn’t speak at first, and I slowed to a stop a few feet before him.  And then, a very faint smile came to his lips.  “Both are well.”

I let out a relieved breath.  “Both of them?”

“Lucia is already improving by leaps and bounds; her pain is fading, and her body is strengthening.  She will be able to carry our child until it is the proper time for birthing.”

“Oh that’s great...” I breathed another sigh.  “And The Sphinx?”

“I think... I think she understood what was going to happen.  She submitted herself into a comatose-state just as I was taking her blood, so despite her vital signs slowing, she is alive and seems to be recovering.”  

“Adapting to keep herself alive,” I commented with a small smile.

Cain glanced aside.  “...I am glad of that.  I... did not wish ill upon her.  I wanted to help Lucia, and I was blinded by the want.  I hope that she can forgive me when she wakes.”

“I think she will.”  I smiled wide and nodded with approval.  “This is great, Cain.  I’m so happy for you and Lucia.  You are going to make amazing parents.”

The usually steady Kronolin buckled under the weight of his newfound bashfulness.  “I hope so.” He managed to say with a grin.

I chuckled, nodding at him.  “You’ll have to keep me posted on everyone.  I want to meet your son or daughter.”

As soon as I said these words, a pang of worry hit my stomach.  I wanted to return to meet his new baby, but time felt so uncertain to me now.  All of a sudden, my timeline seemed finite; if I couldn’t keep a strong hold over my Time Lord side, everything would be lost.  It would all be swept away from my memory like a great ocean wave.  Every grain of sand, every day I lived, every being I met, and everyone I loved would be carried away from me.

“You will.” Cain said after a moment.  When my eyes again drifted back to his, he reached out his hand and held my shoulder firmly.  “You are a very strong human.  I have seen it myself.  I have also seen your determination, your kindness, and your desire to do what is right and help others.”

I half-shook my head and turned my eyes away.

“All I say is true,” Cain released my shoulder.  “You will survive this.  Your love and acceptance for your friends is stronger than the Time Lord consciousness within you.”  His fur ruffled a bit as he tilted his head.  “If you can accept me as a friend, then I know you are strong.”

I pressed my lips together in an appreciative smile.  “Thank you.”  Surprising myself,
I reached out and hugged the gruff Kronolin.  I was more surprised that Cain hugged me back, albeit fairly awkwardly.  His strong arms made for a tight hug, and when he released me a moment later, he embarrassedly cleared his throat.

“...Don’t tell Lucia I did that.”

“I won’t blow your cover.” I grinned.

Cain smiled and turned to the door.  I stayed behind as he opened it and paused in the doorway.  “I will alert you when The Sphinx awakens so you may return her to her home.”

“Sounds good.”

“And I will, of course, alert you when our child is born.”

“You’d better.”

He wavered in the doorway, smiling.  “Gemma,” he said after a moment.  “If we have a girl and Lucia agrees, we shall name our daughter Gemma.”

I paused.  “Cain,” I tried, but I could only laugh quietly as the Kronolin took his leave.  The redness in his face was much more apparent without the mask.

- - -

Button after button, lever after lever, and I had finally begun to make progress at my control panel.  Shutting out my Time Lord consciousness left more than a few holes in my whole time-travelling gig, and I knew I’d have to give it up as soon as I got back to The Doctor in Fortanya—but I had to actually get back to The Doctor in Fortanya first.

It helped that I had been there recently, and that was ultimately how I could program the coordinates.  Relieved to see the familiar map on screen, I reached down to pull the lever and get moving.

But something stopped me.  For some reason, I felt like I was being called.  I glanced over at my black jacket hanging on the railing nearby, and I reached into the pocket.  The Doctor’s psychic paper was still in my pocket from my trip to London a while back.  I frowned, opening it.  My brows lowered immediately.

Within a mass of scribbled lines and fractal-patterns, a message was barely visible.

The lightning in the sky... As it passed me flying by... from the thunder, and the storm...

Coordinates flashed on the screen above the control panel.

United States.  Baltimore, Maryland.  Year 1849 A.D., Anno Domini, local time. Date, 30 September.

My eyes narrowed.  Was this the Time Lord equivalent of being paged?  Glancing back at the psychic paper, I could sense a great urgency within the message.   I set down the paper, looking back to the screen with a short, yet determined sigh.

“Looks like I’m headed to Baltimore...”

---

Keep Reading! Book 7 - The Clever Detective >>