realityshifted | θ 12 - Coup of the Zygons

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doctor who (d6) the tenth doctor

θ 12 - Coup of the Zygons

[This is it. The Doctor's recruited his friends and allies and currently, is fast at work running around the central console while he sets coordinates for the first of many locations. The ride is particularly bumpy, but thankfully for those unaccustomed to TARDIS travel, there are railings to hold onto, as well as a grated floor to cling to should anyone find themselves on the ground. (Hopefully not--but at least they'd be prepared in case things shift and the console room is perpendicular to it's original position.) All the while, the Doctor is shouting instructions as he has a lot to get through before he can let anyone out to their locations.]

Now, this batch of Zygons learnt from their predecessors and hid their ships much closer to populated areas so they could slip in and assimilate faster, thus speeding up their time-frame for the conversion of Earth to a more Zygon-friendly environment. So! They blocked off a few tunnels here and there after kidnapping a few key people who could help them hide their actions better, grew their semi-organic ship structure into the tunnels and whammo, a shelter for the many captive humans. [He pulls a face and wrenches down on a lever.] All right, never saying "whammo" again.

Anyway! [The TARDIS jerks again, but the Doctor is sure-footed as a mountain goat and only vaguely fumbles as he switches on yet another stabiliser which really doesn't do anything, but it's the thought that counts, right?] I'm going to try to get you all as close to the body-print machine tunnels as I can without setting off their sensors. Once you're in, make doubly sure you do not get caught. If any of you do and they take away your communications devices, then I won't have a way to know or help until it's too late. And don't let them touch you either; they could very well sting you if they're feeling up to it and, well, since you're in their ship, chances are very high that they will!

You'll know the body-print machines when you see people standing up with their hands up like they're about to be robbed. Each machine has four valve controllers, and to release each person--and yes, you've got to do it individually for every single person there or else you'll kill both the person and the Zygon linked to it--you need to gently massage and squeeze the ends of the two bottom levers. You'll see the person start to wake up, but they'll be a bit weak and disorientated for a couple minutes. Tell them you're there to help and that you need their help to get the others out. Then--well, you get the idea. The quicker you do so, the easier it'll be on you all. If you hear anyone coming, get them to hide back in their pods, and hide in one yourself. They don't exactly check to make sure they have too many extra.

Now that's the easy part. [The Doctor pauses to run to the opposite side of the console, and fiddles with a few other switches and dials. A moment later, the rocking in the TARDIS slows, the central column churning slower and slower but it doesn't stop yet. This gives him a chance to walk around freely now he's put the old girl into a holding pattern.] The harder part is getting the Zygons to leave their ship, make sure everyone gets out safely, and self-destruct their ship without getting yourselves hurt or drowned in the process. Thankfully, there are only so many Zygons per ship and they usually leave a couple behind to maintain the body-print machines and other systems, so you'll likely only have to lure them out of the control rooms. And since they don't exactly vary their ship designs, the control room should be near those machines in some way or another. Remember those four valve controllers? Hold up something hot like a match or lighter to it to induce a fire alarm. The Zygons should come out and leave it open for you lot to run in and lock the doors behind you. Just destroy the door controls of the door you just came through and that ought to do it. Once you're there, call me and I'll walk you through the next steps. Just be prepared to run when you do.

[And conveniently, that's when the TARDIS engines slow to a stop. He glances at it briefly, and then runs around to make sure everything is off and safe for disembarkation.]

All right, if any of you get in any kind of trouble or can't find what you're looking for, get a hold of me as soon as possible. And... [He trails off, putting on a small smile.] Good luck, and thank you.

[ooc: Time to stop the invasion! Information about Ten's plot can be found here if you missed it. Have any questions, drop me a line there!

For those already involved in the plot: I have four cities (NYC, Paris, Washington DC, and Tokyo, in addition to Birmingham for Oliver and Jamie) that the Doctor's going to drop people off to, and each city will have a comment to start that leg of the adventure. Tag into the city you want to visit! I strongly suggest no more than two people per city (and I'll be interacting with each thread as you need me as the Doctor or as any kind of narration you guys will need to get further along. If we get more people, I'll add more cities, but so far, it works out that everyone on the list will fit into these five, with one of you teaming up physically with the Doctor. (So if you want him, please say so! He'll just come back to that city if he's already left to drop others off.) Other than that, have fun! The Zygons sure will <3]

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Oi, I'll have you know my piloting skills are perfectly fine, thank you! I'd like to see you fly a Type-40 on your own. [He immediately wags a finger at him.] And that isn't an invitation.

[After locking the TARDIS up nice and tight--and momentarily wishing his shoes weren't made of canvas--he slips his key deep into his pocket and turns to his current companion. Right at that point, however, the Doctor notices the change in Narvin's tone of voice--and then it hits him why. And he actually feels sorry for the coordinator. It's odd for him to think about a time when he hasn't felt that empty, gaping hole; the fact that he's gotten used to it is somewhat unsettling.]

Narvin... Do you really want to know?

[He whips his head around to fix the Doctor with an incredulous stare.]

Of course I want to know! Why do you think I came on this blasted mission of yours? I don't give a damn about the Zygons; I need to contact Gallifrey.

[He meets Narvin's stare, his look hardened and angry, and goodness, what he wouldn't give to not have this conversation though he knew it'd have to happen eventually...]

Well, you can't. I can't, no one can. Not now, not ever.

[Oh look, a handy door control for the tunnel's not that far away. Convenient for him to notice right then as he uses that as an excuse to start walking away from Narvin.]

[Narvin scurries after him.]

Why not? Where's it gone? [His voice becomes shrill.]

[He whirls right around.] You know what? I changed my mind. We're not going to do this right now. We're going to stop the Zygons, and then, maybe--just maybe!--I'll tell you about what happened in my reality. We don't know if we're from the same one, remember?

[Narvin curled his lip back in an expression that was part snarl, part sneer.]

Because I'm sure that your concern for the humans will distract you to the point of it being useless to try to get anything out of you, I'll assist you with the Zygons for now. [His voice was soft, with a slight hiss to his words.]

And afterwards you'll owe me an explanation. If you refuse to give it willingly, I'll simply have to resort to other methods. I'm sure you're familiar with the mind probe. [Not that he has access to one these days, but he's hoping that the Doctor doesn't know that.]

[The Doctor rolls his eyes and lets out a groan.] Oh, the mind probe! How could I forget that? [He doesn't sound the least bit scared; he isn't at all. He's been mind probed, mind drained, mind tickled, mind poked, and many other things over the years so a Gallifreyan mind probe is nothing to him. It'll probably tingle, but that's about it.] You'll get your explanation but you won't like it. You have between now and then to really--and I mean really--think about whether you want to hear about what's gone on in my reality.

Well! Now that we've got that out of the way... [He turns and steps closer to the Zygon door, pressing his ear to the door. He didn't see movement beyond it, but best to be certain. From the information he received from Hogarth and the UNIT Zygons, this branch should only have five members to worry about. More than likely, the majority of them are out and about preparing for their imminent invasion while the rest are left to man the ship and make sure their human hostages are kept nice and safe. He reckons there probably are two Zygons lurking about so it'll be relatively easy to avoid coming across them. It'll be the way out that'll be the challenge, but it's not like he hasn't done this before.]

All right, the coast is clear. [He reaches over to the door control, squishing and kneading it so the door slides open. Thankfully, he hasn't spoken too soon and the corridor before them is still empty.] This way.

[The body-print machine chamber should be directly ahead of them at the other end of the squidgy corridor, but two doors stand on either side of them and the Doctor isn't sure if they're empty or not, but if they move quick, he thinks that shouldn't be too much of a problem.]

Of course I want to know. [He snarls. Although something about the Doctor's tone gives him pause. He knows better than most that some secrets are better off being kept, it's just that he's the one used to keeping them, not being kept from him.

But for now he settles into silence and focuses on the mission. He draws his staser and holds it close, ready to aim, and creeps inside once the Doctor opens the door. He looks at the two open doorways between them and their target and contemplates whether it would be better to rush past and hope they escaped notice, or for him to try to shoot whomever might be inside and eliminate the threat.]

[Part of him is hoping Narvin lets it go and decides he doesn't want to know after all--but then again, this is Narvin. He won't get away with that so easily.

He shoots Narvin a look when he sees that staser, and just about tells him off for bringing one when he hears a noise in the room just to their right. The Doctor tenses; he can either dart past now and hope they aren't noticed on their way into the body-print machine room, or he can investigate the room and see if anyone is being held separately from the others.

Never one to leave a mystery unsolved, he gives a nod to Narvin (he figures he'll give the other Time Lord a moment's notice before he does this ~~and before any protesting can be made~~), and opens the door. It whirs open--and reveals a Zygon within, one who is too surprised to see two human-looking creatures before it to do anything for that moment.]

[Narvin throws the Doctor a glare for making the decision to open the door without consulting him. But once he sees the Zygon, he forgets his irritation with the Doctor and raises his staser to fire.]

[The Zygon regains its wits a moment later and lets out a raspy cry.] Intruders! [It knows how important it is to keep the mission going, especially at such a crucial stage. These humans can't be allowed to stop them! It starts to charge at Narvin and the Doctor.]

[And meanwhile, the Doctor's eyes widen before he immediately takes a step back and puts out a hand to pull Narvin back as well.]

[Narvin's staser shot goes wide as the Doctor pulls him back out of the doorway.]

Oh, wonderful. So much for the element of surprise. And now he's still alive to raise the alarm further. And I don't suppose you're willing to consider a strategic retreat.

[If he died protecting a bunch of humans, he was going to be very irate.]

[That weapon isn't at all familiar to this Zygon and it flinches even before Narvin shoots--and thanks to that and the Doctor's action, it avoids getting shot. Not that it's grateful to still be breathing; it's just angrier now.]

[The Doctor'll never admit it, but Narvin's right about losing the element of surprise--but then again, it's better that they weren't caught off-guard in turn.] Why when I can do this! [He hits the door controls as he replies, the door sliding down just as the Zygon was about to reach them again. It hits the door somewhat hard and bounces back in a daze while the Doctor removes his sonic screwdriver from his pocket and overloads the lock, burning the organic knobs.] That should keep him busy for a while!

[He practically bounces away as he turns and bursts into a run to reach the other end of the hall.]

What...? How...? [He looks back and forth from the Doctor to the door and back again. Perplexed and trying very hard not to be impressed, because he refuses to be impressed with a renegade. But he has to ask.]

I've never seen that setting on a sonic screwdriver before. [He says as he belatedly runs after the Doctor.]

[The Doctor grins anyway, proud of his trusty ol' sonic.] Nor would you have done. This sonic screwdriver is one of a kind! At my last count, there were over 2000--wait, or was it 3000?--different functions, and overloading the electrical circuits in a semi-organic door control just so happens to be one of them!

[He slips it back into his pocket as he opens the door leading into the body-print machine chamber. No Zygons are about, but there are a good six humans stuck within different machines. Glancing back behind him at the room where the Zygon is yelling and banging on the door, he figures they have a few minutes before help arrives or the door just breaks apart. Either way, they've got to hurry.]

I'll take this half and you get that lot. [He runs to the fourth person down and starts to massage the lever.]

I'm not one of your human pets, Doctor; I don't have to take orders from you. [But he runs to where the Doctor directed anyway. It would be mad to rebel now, in the middle of a Zygon stronghold. But he has to at least put up a verbal protest.]

[He throws Narvin a look.] I'll have you know those "pets" are some of the greatest people I've ever met. I'd sooner trust them with my life than anyone else in the universe.

[The first person the Doctor releases begins to stir during all this, her body growing slack until the hood slides up and she blinks blearily at him.] Hi there, no time to explain. We're here to help you, but we need you to help some others first. [Confused, the woman just nods and follows him out of the body-print machine as he quickly instructs her on how to release her fellow captive before he moves to his next one.]

[Narvin watches from the corner of his eye while the Doctor frees the human and recruits her help. He opens the pod to free his first human.]

Be quiet and listen. Open those pods and-- [He was interrupted as the frightened human slapped him across the face.]

You ungrateful-- Doctor! [Narvin called out.] This one is panicking. Come over here and do...whatever it is that you do that makes the humans trust you.

Edited (added a word) 2013-10-16 07:54 (UTC)

[The Doctor literally finishes his explanation when he hears the slap and Narvin crying out for him. Knowing they can't afford to lose any more time, he jogs over, and smiles charmingly over Narvin's shoulder--well, it's more like over Narvin's head since he is that much taller--at the human the other Time Lord has tried to assist.] Sorry, don't mind him, he doesn't get out much; can't even be bothered to change out of his nightgown! We're here to help you. From what, well, it's all a bit complicated and there'll be time for explanations and more slapping later, but you've got to trust us if you want to make it out of here.

[Reluctantly, the woman nods and slowly puts down her hand that she had had ready to fend them both off.]

Brilliant! Now, Narvin, explain to the nice woman as kindly as you can how she can help you free the others. That's all you need to do: be friendly. [With a clap on Narvin's shoulder, the Doctor bounces away to free another person on his side of the body-print machine chambers.]

[He glared at the Doctor when he described the noble uniform robes of the Celestial Intervention Agency as a nightgown. A nightgown!]

Friendly? Doctor, I don't do friendly.

[But he's already gone.]

Right.

[He tries to smile at the human woman. It's a tight, thin-lipped smile and doesn't look at all trustworthy.]

Watch me do the next pod, then begin with the others. And watch carefully. I don't want to have to repeat myself as I go because you weren't keeping up.

[And he turned to the next trapped human. He was sure the woman muttered something about wishing she could slap him again, but no slap came so he dismissed it from his mind and focused on getting this finished so they could get out of here and back to safety.]

[The Doctor knows very well that Narvin can't do friendly; it's why he said it to begin with. Still, he keeps an ear out in case anyone else decides to have a go at the other Time Lord, as well as to hear the Coordinator's attempts with the manner. It'll be a good thing to laugh about later.]

[A moment later, he's got his final person free, the befuddled man joining the others as they try to explain to him that things are weird and they just need to get out of there first before they get a proper explanation (which they'll never get but they don't know that yet.) Before they can ask any questions, he dashes away, past Narvin and his own charges, until he's at the door to the hallway. He can still hear the angry Zygon banging at the door and muttering things about Time Lords, but it doesn't sound like it'll be getting away any time soon.]

Right, once everyone's all free, you lot will follow the nice man in the pyjamas out of here. [He turns his gaze to Narvin, the look in his eyes almost daring him to start an argument now over his word choice for the Time Lord's attire.] Bring them back to the TARDIS. I'll catch you up. [Note he doesn't say anything about bringing them inside the TARDIS. He may act foolish, but he knows better than to leave his key in the hands of another Time Lord.]

[Narvin grits his teeth, aching to argue about every word out of the Doctor's mouth, from "nice" to "pyjamas." But now was not the time.]

I'll need a key to let the humans in. It would be safer for them inside.

[It was worth a try.]

[He waves a hand dismissively, knowing full well just how much he's annoying the other Time Lord.] Nah, don't worry about that. I'll be right behind you, as I said.

[He moves away from the hall, turning instead to another door in the body-print machine chamber. It's there he has to go to now, but not with everyone else still there.] Well? Go on! Get out of here!

You'd better be. If I die because you didn't trust me... [He'd have no one to blame but himself for the lack of trust. But that wouldn't stop him from blaming the Doctor anyway.

He turns to the people milling about, nervous and confused.]

Come on, humans, follow me.

[He decides not to comment about the fact that Narvin can simply regenerate or he'll bring the Time Lord back to the Plane to die there and come back. It isn't ideal, but at least he'd live.]

[The humans gladly follow the man in the peculiar nightie. Some want to ask about the banging noises and threats, but figure it's best to just keep moving or else.]

[The Doctor, in the meantime, as loathe as he is to repeat something his younger self had done, takes out his sonic screwdriver to set off a fire alarm once he's certain Narvin and his new human friends have enough time to get close to the door leading into the Paris catacombs. Quickly, he ducks under the hood of one of the machines and waits while he hears the Zygon in the other room come out to evacuate. It starts calling for its friend, and there's a muffled reply from down the hall. Seeing as there aren't any shouts about humans being free, he takes that to mean they've gotten to safety. Unfortunately, now he can't go that way himself. Ducking back out into the room, he peers down the hall just as the second Zygon busts the first one out.]

Oi, over here!

[He waves then dashes into the control room the second he sees the Zygons acknowledge his presence with a shout. With very little time to lose, he immediately goes over to a specific panel, massages a couple knobs in just the right way--and sets the self-destruct sequence to go off, and breaks the knobs off after. He hopes he told the ship to implode instead of explode, but the two Zygons appear at the doorway just then and launch towards him. Luckily, he's much faster and agile than the pair of them, so he simply ducks and weaves beneath their swinging limbs and bolts for the hallway.]

Out of the way! [He shouts so the people can part and allow him access to the TARDIS door. The key's already in his hand as he nearly slams into his ship and throws the key into the lock.]

All right, in, in, in!!! [He shouts a bit louder so they can hear him above the alarm, motioning frantically for them to move. He knows how much time is left and the seconds are ticking by quick.]

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