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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Jamie! [Oliver stops short when he rounds a corner to find Jamie there, and he smiles in relief at the sight of his unharmed friend. Jamie's statement isn't terribly comforting, though] Trapped? Over there? [he gestures toward the door, wincing] Okay, uh... [he turns to his flatmates] Look, the way out is just up ahead. You've gotta go past that door, but it's trapped, so go quick, okay?

[Gaz starts to protest, but Oliver shakes his head]

Jamie and I'll get out of here right after. But we've gotta trigger the self-destruct first, so you've gotta go now. Got it?

[the flatmates are not thrilled at this turn of events, and Gaz goes to protest again, but this time, Adam stops him. after pausing another moment to either wish good luck and tell--or in Gaz's case, order--them to be careful, the three reluctantly turn and run for the exit]

[with them gone, Oliver breathes a heavy sigh of relief and turns back to Jamie] So...back to the control room to set the self-destruct?

Edited 2013-11-02 15:57 (UTC)

[There's a small sigh of relief from Jamie as well once they're on their way. They'll be able to get out safely, and he knows that'll help Oliver some. Now all they've got to do is set the self-destruct and get out themselves, and he nods in agreement.]

Aye, let's go before that Zygon figures a way out of there. Come on.

[And he turns, heading back to the control room and hoping Oliver will follow.]

Right behind you! [Oliver hurries after Jamie, grateful for his long legs since the Scot is rather quick--or maybe he's just getting out of shape now that he's back to living at home]

[in any case, once they're in the control room, he fishes in his pocket for the box of matches provided by the Doctor] Okay, we set off the fire alarm and then the self-destruct. And...that'll be enough time for that one Zygon, too. Right? [he can't help sounding a little concerned. whatever they may have done, he isn't exactly thrilled at the idea of killing any of them]

[Well, Jamie has always been a fairly good runner - but really, he'd put a little extra speed on knowing time is of the essence here.]

Right, that's the plan.

[He hesitates a moment when Oliver mentions the Zygon, pursing his lips ever so slightly.]

Aye, well...that's hard to say. I don't know how long this self-destruct thing's supposed to take.

I bet the Doctor will know...

[he activates the watch communicator that the Doctor gave him so long ago, holding it up near his face to speak into it] Doctor, can you hear me? We're ready to set off the fire alarm and self-destruct, but Jamie trapped a Zygon in a room just outside the ship. Will it be all right there, or do we need to free it?

[By this point, the Doctor is still within Paris city limits, though he, Narvin, and their rescuees have all left the Zygon ship by now. He's just saying good-bye to the last person when he hears an incessant beeping from his pocket. It takes him a second to figure out why his pocket is beeping at him, but he figures it out and answers.]

Yes, I can hear you! Did you say you've got a Zygon trapped in a room? Which one? [He lets out a breath, running a hand through his hair while he thinks.] You know what? I've got an idea. I need to pick up Haygoth, and then I'll pick up our new friend. Set your watch for...[He glances at his own, and gives Oliver a time that's three minutes from now.] When that goes off, you and Jamie can set off the alarm and the self-destruct sequence as I told you to do as planned. Don't worry about the Zygon. The pair of you just remember to get your mates and run. Do you understand?

Aye.

[Good old Doctor. Jamie knew he'd have a plan - although he does also mention where the Zygon is, figuring that can't hurt things. Once he's done, though, he nods and moves to set his own watch.]

Three minutes...right. All set here. Oliver, what about ye?

[Oliver nods too, clearly relieved] Yeah, they're already on their way out. [he checks his watch] Three minutes it is. We'll meet you soon!

[still holding the box of matches, he watches the time tick by. once three minutes are up, he looks up at Jamie] All right. I'll set off the fire alarm, and you set the self-destruct after that. Okay? [he fumbles with the box, pulling out a match and preparing to strike it]

[He waits for the time to count down as well, impatiently looking at his watch as the three minutes seem to take forever to pass by. But instead of agreeing to the plan, once he sees Oliver fumble with the box, he reaches over to try and take it instead.]

Aye, but... Look, would it not be better the other way around? Ye were working with these machines earlier.

[And to his mind, Oliver might do better with setting off the self-destruct because of it.]

[Oliver is about to protest that opening the body-print machines wasn't quite the same as actually operating their main controls, but he glances at Jamie first. seeing his eager face, he realises that his friend has a point] Good idea. [so he passes the match and the box to Jamie] Just strike it against the side and hold it up to one of those...lever things. [he gestures at the rather fleshy levers on the now-empty body-print machines] And uh...I'll be ready with the self-destruct.

[that said, he turns to the equally-fleshy main controls, frowning down at them as he tries to remember exactly what the Doctor said to do with them. he has to get this right--his flatmates and Birmingham itself are counting on him]

Aye.

[Even if they're not the same sort of controls, Oliver at least has a better chance of coming across the right way of getting them to work. Better than Jamie, who would only be blundering his way through without any clue at all whatsoever. He takes the match and holds it against the side of the box for a second or two longer to give Oliver that chance to remember, then strikes it across the side in one smooth motion, causing a flame to burst to life.]

Alright, here goes.

[And he raises his hand with the burning match, holding it up to the lever thing Oliver had pointed out earlier, keeping it as steady as he can while he looks over to see if his friend's got the self-destruct sequence going.]

[Oliver reaches for a lever and stops himself] No, like this... [he reaches forward again, so busy concentrating that he doesn't even think about the unpleasantness of the controls he's operating. he turns two dial-like bits of flesh before stepping back, nodding] There! That should do--oh! [he cries out in surprise as the keening siren of the fire alarm begins to sound. but he turns to his friend with a triumphant smile even as he puts his hands over his ears] Nice one! Let's get out of here!

[Jamie's clamped his hands over his ears and well, and nods before raising his voice in order to reply.]

Aye, lets!

[He's not about to hesitate, either, making for the exit as they'd planned, confident Oliver will be right behind him.]

[Oliver is definitely right behind him, running hard. he's ready to see this ship gone--and his home safe again]

[Since they don't have to worry about the Zygon, Jamie puts all his energy into running. The sooner they're clear of the building the better - and it's not long at all until he finds himself outside. But he doesn't stop there, running a bit further before chancing a glance over his shoulder.]

How much further do ye think we need to go?

[breathlessly, he calls:] Keep running until it blows or we find the Doctor! [because he figures it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to explosions--particularly given his history]

[ooc: Jchan, you can jump in with the TARDIS!]

[Finally, after Narvin and him have had many words, and after he's picked up his old Zygon friend, the Doctor first materialises the TARDIS around the trapped Zygon, stuffing him in a room with Haygoth before he turns up around Oliver's flatmates as well as his two friends. Though he did tell them how to set things so the ship won't explode, there was the very real danger that they may not be far enough away to avoid any of the ill effects of the implosion. And since he was in the area anyway, he figures why not? Lets the TARDIS stretch her feet, so to speak, doing impressive manoeuvres like this.]

Hullo, someone call for a pick-up? [He grins, continuing his run about the center console.]

[Of course, the sudden change of scenery may be too much for those not accustomed to such things and Oliver's flatmates standing just near the doors to the TARDIS are extremely confused. They've been through a lot, so it's understandable.]

All right, everyone, hang on! [He pulls a lever and the dematerialisation process easily starts up again. It's easier to keep things going than to allow time for questions. Besides, the implosion is due to begin in three seconds anyway, but thankfully, the TARDIS is gone by the time it goes off!]

Just another minute and I'll have you lot back home. I suggest a big supper, a shower, and plenty of sleep. Everything will be better in the morning. [He smiles at them all, then yanks back on a different lever than before, the TARDIS shuddering and shimmying before it stops and the glowing green column slowly stops pumping. He jogs to the entrance, slipping past Gaz and the others to open the door for them. Outside is the hallway just around the corner from their flat. The TARDIS only just fits in there, so hopefully no one else needs to get by!]

So long, nice to meet you again, or finally, whichever happened first. I feel like I've known you lot for years. [He pats Sam on the back as they all leave, but he turns his attention to Oliver and Jamie, his expression turning to one of relief.]

Thank you. I've got a few things to do before I'm done here, but I'll see the pair of you on the Plane, yeah? [The Doctor throws his arms open wide, enveloping them both in a quick, but warm, hug.] Take care until then! [Unfortunately, he doesn't give them too much time to respond--really, he's got a lot to do--and he ushers them out of the TARDIS, then shuts the doors so he can set off. The Zygons need a visit from their old warlord, and he still has to think of a planet to direct them all to.]

[ooc: and that's it from Ten! I'm good with ending the thread here. Thank you, you two <3]

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θ 12 - Coup of the Zygons

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