[006]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies arrives lying on the ground somewhere in the middle of the Plane. she's breathing hard, looking rather horrified and a little pale. she quickly sits up, looking down at herself in apparent confusion. then she starts to pat herself down, as though checking for injuries] All right... No gunshot. Fine now, then. Sure.

[taking a deep breath, she pulls herself to her feet, still looking completely frazzled. after a moment's thought, she takes hold of the ID badge that hangs around her neck. pulling it out, she briskly runs the edge of it along the back of one her hands, creating a small cut. she winces but watches with apparent interest as the cut bleeds red] And not dead. [she breathes a sigh of relief] First thing that's gone right all day... [she replaces her ID card before looking around, her expression uncharacteristically uncertain. she still looks pale and out of breath, and she clearly has no idea what to do now] Maybe this is payback for pissing off Ray.

[ooc: Menzies is in the middle of major trouble back home! See my OOC post for details.]

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[feigns ignorance] Me?! I've been standing here the entire time? I should be asking you that, Frank! But! I think it's time for me to go. You know how it is, one megalomaniac here, another planet being invaded there...

[gives Frank a sudden, serious pointed look] But don't think I'm letting you off. I will be back--and you'll be wishing you'd went to a nicer planet.

[and the Doctor drops back to the Plane]

[grip_on_reality]

[the Doctor leaves before Frank has a chance to respond, and time stops in Manchester]

[back on the Plane, Menzies is lying on her back on the ground again--except this time, she left when she was on the verge of entering another mindscape. unfortunately, that's a process that's not meant to be interrupted. so currently she's staring up at the Plane's sky, breathing hard, her gaze unfocused and her mind not quite processing the world around her]

[bit_impossible]

[once back on the Plane, he hastily glances around and almost opens his mouth to call out for Menzies when he spots her not too far away from him. he runs to her and immediately drops to the ground to check her out] Patricia! [quickly scans her with his sonic screwdriver, frowning at what he sees] Come on, snap out of it!

[begins lightly tapping her cheek]

[grip_on_reality]

[she winces at that, turning her head away, and groans softly in pain as her mind starts to focus] Wh...what happened? [she blinks blearily for a second. then, seeing the Doctor over her, she gives him a look that very clearly asks "And what the hell are you doing?"] Doctor?

[bit_impossible]

[smiles weakly] Hello again. Don't sit up too quickly. You were almost pulled back into the mindscape.

[grip_on_reality]

The what? [she groans, reaching up a hand to rub her temple] Is that why I feel like I've been hit over the head?

[bit_impossible]

[that smile falls] Yes--and you'll go back to that exact thing when you go back, unfortunately and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

[his expression warms again, determination firing behind his eyes.] But I'm going to get you out of there. I'll need help, though.

[grip_on_reality]

[she just considers him for a moment, struggling to process what he means. not only does she have a headache, but she's finding that it's difficult to concentrate again] Okay, first? How about we stop for a minute and you explain what the hell is going on.

[slowly, she starts to pull herself to a sitting position, wincing as she does so]

[bit_impossible]

[tries to help her sit up] It'll take a bit to explain. You sure you want to hear it here?

[grip_on_reality]

[once she's sitting, she gives him a look] And where else did you think I'd want to hear it? [if you haven't noticed, Doctor, she's not exactly ready to walk anywhere at the moment. and you can't possibly think she's going back to that...thing]

[bit_impossible]

[he looks a bit sheepish as he sighs] Fine, but don't complain later that I didn't ask.

[he starts to explain to her about his encounter with the Zoanthrax, what happened to his old friend, Jo Jones (then, Grant), and how they ultimately stopped everything.] But...I don't think Frank is a Zoanthrax. Things were similar, yes, but he was different.

[grip_on_reality]

I won't.

[once he's explained, she stares at him for a moment. and then the surprise fades, and her expression becomes more unreadable] So... [she sighs. that isn't the news she was hoping for] What you're saying is I can't get myself out of that thing, and unless I want to end up in a coma, you need help to do it.

[bit_impossible]

[gives her a serious look] Unfortunately, Patricia, yes. You will do.

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods, swallowing back her feelings for the moment. after all, getting upset about the situation won't do a thing to make it better] All right. What sort of help do you need?

[bit_impossible]

I'll need people you know, people you're familiar with the most--and most importantly, people who are not from your reality. And yes, you and I are from the same universe, but our realities are never merged to start with. Besides, if I went back to your reality, I'd only turn up right where you are now, with our mate, Frank. It's got to be people from here that you can bring there with you. You can't spend your life here forever. [smiles wryly] You'd run out of people to arrest.

[grip_on_reality]

[she smirks back at him] I wasn't planning on it. I wouldn't want to get bored!

Right, I'll talk to some people. Just what have you got in mind?

[bit_impossible]

After everyone is here, you'll bring us back to your reality. You're the only one who can bring us there. I'll need someone to distract Frank, and someone to dismantle or incapacitate his robot friend, but they've got to be careful that the controls aren't damaged in any way. If they are, I might not be able to bring you out of the mindscape. If we do this wrong, you could fall into a coma for the rest of your life. Whomever you get to help me with this must know that fact.

[grip_on_reality]

[well, that certainly makes the situation sound dire. she swallows hard] Got it. How do I contact you after I've found them?

[bit_impossible]

I'll come back here, so don't worry about me. I need to nip back to the TARDIS for something, but then I'll be around. I won't go far.

[his expression darkens a bit] But Patricia, there is one thing you ought to know. When I said Frank was different, I meant it. He isn't interested in learning about self-sacrifice like Rowe did. He wants to take over the Earth and use any security measures he can gain knowledge of to do it. He won't be as easy to deal with.

[grip_on_reality]

[she gapes at him. even with all the shocking information she's received so far, that's still impressive] That's what he's after!? He just wants to see how the police might react? Fantastic!

[so, unlike Rowe, there's little chance of talking him down from his course of action. she's at least relieved that the Doctor's desire to bring other people in implies that he won't try to pull a self-sacrifice switch when he gets there, but she does wonder if he really has this plan worked out]

Then good job I know people who are good at dealing with stuff like that.

[bit_impossible]

Well, I highly doubt he gain knowledge of how to take down the Earth's defences with just one detective, but yes. It could inspire him to aim higher and higher until he reaches someone in other organisations that could be very, very bad.

[raises an eyebrow] Who are you thinking of, anyway?

[grip_on_reality]

[sharply] You do know that he's in Manchester right now, and what he's seen from me probably can do a fair job of showing him how to cause all sorts of trouble there?

[she shakes her head. it depends on who she can find--and who would be willing. not to mention who she's willing to ask, considering how dangerous the situation is] Ah, I'll let you know when I've talked to 'em. We'll meet you later, 'round this spot.

[bit_impossible]

[makes an non-committal type of noise as he answers] In Manchester, yes, but that doesn't speak for the entire United Kingdom or even the Earth, does it?

[ah, he had a feeling he wouldn't get a straight answer from her] But you will be asking others, right?

[grip_on_reality]

So, what, you don't mind if he has Manchester, then? [her tone is sharp. don't argue scale with her, Doctor. she knows the Earth is probably safe for now, but that doesn't mean the situation isn't still dangerous--for more than just her]

No, I just said I would for the hell of it. [sorry, but you were asking for that sarcasm]

[on the bright side, the headache is fading by now--which is good considering she can't go looking for friends on the Plane if she stays where she is on the ground] Give me a hand up, would you?

[bit_impossible]

[his face darkens] Ohhhh, I do mind, Patricia. I mind that he has a single person, and I mind it even more that he has a friend.

[his expression softens despite her sarcasm] Easy does it. [helps her up probably more than she wants]