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Post by River Song on Mar 14, 2012 21:19:59 GMT -5
[OOC: This thread continues from NLoT: You Can't Go Home Again] River, acting under the Master's order, caught the Doctor by the arm and triggered the vortex manipulator. There was a pop of inrushing air, and they vanished.With a sparking flash of artron energy, River and the Eleventh Doctor reappeared elsewhere on Gallifrey, though River wasn't exactly sure where they were... She was familiar with the language and history of this planet, but not necessarily its geography. River peered around, looking for trouble. But, she neither saw, nor heard anyone else. They seemed to be completely alone out here... "Doctor...? Where are we?" River asked, her eyes meeting him with a look of serious concern. The pair found themselves amidst rocky, volcanic looking mountains, surrounded by a thick fog. Off in the distance stood a tall tower - the only visible building for as far as the eye could see, which wasn't really all that far, considering the fog...  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2012 21:47:19 GMT -5
It all happened so fast. At first, he was helping The Master keep a door shut, then all of a sudden, they were going to make an escape, until The Archivist refused. In the confusion, River ended up taking off without The Archivist or The Master.
Of course, there was still the awful feeling that the Vortex Manipulator left as well, "Oh, I hate that stupid thing!" He clutched his head for a moment. Then shook it off, "What a pain."
"Doctor...? Where are we?" The Doctor blinked and stood up straight, looking around, "Oh," he recognized where they were, "Oh no. We're not safe here River." He looked to her and said, "We're in the Death Zone. We might even be playing the game right now."
The Game of Rassilon, not a very fun one either. The Doctor sighed, not looking forward to this, "That tower, up beyond the mist. That's the Dark Tower, or the Tomb of Rassilon. We're a long ways from the Capitol now." He rubbed his temples before saying, "What to do."
The Doctor began pacing, "We're not in a very safe place at all, then again. It may be safer than where The Master and The Archivist are."
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Post by River Song on Mar 15, 2012 3:52:06 GMT -5
River hadn't lost her vortex manipulator; however, when she looked at its screen to try to sort out where they might be, or if there were any other life signs nearby, it seemed to be working improperly - like it was losing power, or couldn't get a signal...
"Oh no. We're not safe here River." He looked to her and said, "We're in the Death Zone. We might even be playing the game right now."
River's face fell. She looked appropriately horrified, as River was familiar with this area of Gallifrey from her studies. The Death Zone was quite dangerous: many a Time Lord met their final end here, whether or not they were playing the Game of Rassilon.
"You don't mean... the Game of Rassilon?" River asked for clarification, though there couldn't have been any other 'game' that the Doctor was alluding to. There was only the one...
The Doctor sighed, not looking forward to this, "That tower, up beyond the mist. That's the Dark Tower, or the Tomb of Rassilon. We're a long ways from the Capitol now." He rubbed his temples before saying, "What to do..." The Doctor began pacing, "We're not in a very safe place at all, then again. It may be safer than where The Master and The Archivist are."
River sighed. She didn't want to admit it, but... there was nowhere else to go, save for the Tower. With an apologetic grimace, River said, "I think there's only one place to go from here, Doctor..." and she pointed at the Dark Tower. "There's supposed to be a transmat inside, right? We could use that to get out of the Death Zone..."
River was thankful, though... At least the Doctor hadn't gone off on her or tried to rip her a new one for having left the Master and the Archivist - his old Academy buddies - behind in his TARDIS... Left to the mercies of the Chancellery Guard and the Council.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 10:12:30 GMT -5
"You don't mean... the Game of Rassilon?"
While The Doctor loved to show off now and then, at a moment like this, it was perfectly fine with him that River almost always knew exactly what he was talking about. At times of such danger, River made sure not to bog him down with questions while he was trying to think. He always loved that brain of hers.
Now is not the time Doctor. Focus.
The last time The Doctor had played the Game of Rassilon, he'd had four of his incarnations playing simultaneously, and everyone had been successful. Now, the game may have changed, but The Doctor was confident that he and River could conquer it without much difficulty.
"I think there's only one place to go from here, Doctor..." and she pointed at the Dark Tower. "There's supposed to be a transmat inside, right? We could use that to get out of the Death Zone..."
"That's right, hidden in the wall of the tomb. Led to the Lord President's conference room, perhaps it's still there and still works, it's worth a shot." The Doctor had rationalized playing the game, not exactly the best sign for the day. Even worse, he was still thinking of what The Archivist had said to him before he and River had disappeared.
Love was a confusing mess. The Doctor didn't know how to handle it, or at least he hadn't. He still considered himself married to River, but it was a complicated situation. Long ago, The Doctor had loved The Archivist, but after circumstances beyond their control, they were torn apart. He still loved her, but he'd moved on in his life. There was Sarah Jane Smith and Rose Tyler, but The Doctor was a loyal, faithful man. He'd pledged himself to River Song, who he did indeed love, and he would remain with her for the rest of her life.
The Doctor shook off the thoughts and said, "Right, we need to get to work. Come along River, we'd best make our way to the tower. The Master's been here before. Perhaps he'll know to come find us if the transmat no longer exists."
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Post by River Song on Mar 22, 2012 2:54:27 GMT -5
River nodded her approval of the Doctor's plan - though, she hoped that the Transmat within the Tower was, in fact, still there and in working order. It would make things so much easier! But, with their luck... it probably wouldn't be functional - if it was still there at all.
The going was slow and rocky. One slip on these rocks, and you could end up needing several stitches... This was tough terrain to say the least.
"Now... I am only vaguely familiar with the Game of Rassilon," River admitted. "I do not know the details - nor do I know how to get inside the Tower; however, if I recall correctly, there should be three entrances... somewhere?" she asked. The History books she'd gotten a hold of had been heavily censored as to the finer details of the Game. River only vaguely knew what to expect.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2012 3:08:05 GMT -5
"Now... I am only vaguely familiar with the Game of Rassilon." No surprise there, The Doctor and his friends were the only ones to ever complete the game and win, and he'd never told anyone outside of the council of Time Lords. He let River continue uninterrupted.
"I do not know the details - nor do I know how to get inside the Tower; however, if I recall correctly, there should be three entrances... somewhere?"
"You know what I love about your head River?" The Doctor started, apparently going into tangent. He stepped closer to her and said, "Underneath all this hair is a big sexy brain." He leaned in and placed a small kiss on his wife's forehead. Now wasn't exactly the time for games. However, it was a long trek, and The Doctor refused to spend the entire time brooding.
Spinning on his heels, he faced the tower and began the walk, "Three entrances, though technically only two are conventional. The first is the front door, the second is through the caverns below the tower, and the last one is going in through the roof. I don't know if the traps inside are the same, or if they've changed at all, however the real hard part is getting to the Tower at all."
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Post by River Song on Mar 28, 2012 2:05:27 GMT -5
"You know what I love about your head River?" The Doctor started, apparently going into tangent. He stepped closer to her and said, "Underneath all this hair is a big sexy brain." He leaned in and placed a small kiss on his wife's forehead.
River wasn't used to this... She wasn't used to the Doctor knowing and accepting her relationship to him - but, she was far from complaining. She could really get quite used to this; however, this wasn't the time nor the place. Instead, River gave him a dazzled smile in return.
For now, that would have to be enough.
"...I don't know if the traps inside are the same, or if they've changed at all, however the real hard part is getting to the Tower at all."
"Oh? And, why is that?" River asked. She didn't see anyone there to oppose them - nor anything, for that matter. The whole landscape just looked dead and abandoned... Unless of course, there was more going on than meets the eye.
River pulled out her scanner and started to perform a scan of the immediate area for lifeforms, just to make sure they were as alone as they seemed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2012 2:19:32 GMT -5
And while for the first ten miles, there weren't any lifeforms, The Doctor was quick to show what he was referring to, "I've done this four times over in one day. I've see every trick to this area. Watch." He stepped up onto the main path, watching his steps carefully, "One false move."
He stepped in the wrong spot, then quickly retracted his foot, a strike of lightning came hurtling down from the sky, "Boom. That's just the first path. On another, I'm sure there will be all sorts of foot soldiers of different enemy races. When I was here last, I had Daleks and Cybermen. Not to mention the Yeti down in the caves, and the Raston Warrior Robot guarding the cliff sides."
The Doctor smiled and said, "So in other words, goodies everywhere." He paced just a bit more, watching his step this time, "Let's see, high road has the perfect killing machine, low road has a Yeti. Middle road has lightning." He looked up and said, "Which sounds like the most fun to you?"
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Post by River Song on Apr 6, 2012 0:00:14 GMT -5
River pouted slightly as she weighed the three options. None of them sounded at all good...
"Let's avoid that lightning..." River said with distaste. "I dread to think what it might do to my hair," she added with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.
"Shall we aim to go in through the cellar, then?" River asked. "I mean, I really don't like the sound of 'the perfect killing machine' - I can't imagine our odds would be relatively close to 'good'..." River rationalized, deciding that she'd much rather face off with a Yeti (or two... or a few...), rather than the 'perfect' killing machine. She could handle Yeti...
At least, River hoped she could.
"Would that be the low road, then?" River asked, unnecessarily asking the Doctor to clarify something that she already understood - some might call it 'flirting'.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2012 0:13:20 GMT -5
Keeping things lighthearted was usually The Doctor's job, so it was actually a bit of a refreshing change to have River take his spot. When he'd first played the game, The Doctor had been cautious enough, assuming nothing had changed between this Gallifrey and his own, they were in grave danger.
To be honest, he figured this was the element that suited his times with River Song best. Flirting in the face of grave danger.
"Yes, the low road indeed. A cramped cavern and large monster wandering about, what could possibly go wrong? You know, besides the possibility of wandering troops of Cybermen." The Doctor's answer was serious. That was their go-around, River would flirt, he would flirt, she'd try again and then The Doctor would bring things back to serious discussion.
The Doctor turned toward the tower, smiling at the slight nostalgia, "Well then, off to see the wizard, Doctor Song?"
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Post by River Song on Apr 8, 2012 2:37:10 GMT -5
"Yes, the low road indeed. A cramped cavern and large monster wandering about, what could possibly go wrong? You know, besides the possibility of wandering troops of Cybermen."
River took a deep breath and nodded her understanding. No matter which way they went to get to the Tower, they were in for a very, very tough journey - and no amount of joking around or flirting was going to change that.
"Well then, off to see the wizard, Doctor Song?"
With a smug smile that grew into a smirk, River wryly replied, "I suppose we must... Though, I'm not sure I see a yellow-brick road, Sweetie. Wouldn't mind one, though - especially if it showed us the one, safe path through this mess..."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2012 14:10:36 GMT -5
"I suppose we must... Though, I'm not sure I see a yellow-brick road, Sweetie. Wouldn't mind one, though - especially if it showed us the one, safe path through this mess..."
The Doctor chuckled a bit, "The safe path isn't our style at all." The two had begun walking, leaving the initial tar path, headed for the concrete one about a mile to the side. The walk was long, but the two had each other to keep themselves entertained.
Headed through the fields, The Doctor took just a moment to reflect on all the danger they'd gotten by already, as well as what was ahead of them. One thing was for sure, they needed to regroup, get to his TARDIS and begin to plan again.
The Doctor was never a fan of being in the passenger seat, rather than the driver.
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Post by River Song on Apr 10, 2012 15:31:07 GMT -5
"The safe path isn't our style at all."
"It isn't, is it?" River asked rhetorically, grinning as they continued on through the fields, towards the concrete path and the caves, beyond. "And you know, I wouldn't have it any other way - besides, 'safe' is boring," River extrapolated, using her expert logic.
As she flirted, River was also being mindful of their surroundings. She kept an eye out for anything suspicious or dangerous... any sudden movements... any oncoming force... But so far, their path had been clear.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2012 17:05:07 GMT -5
The road was long, not winding or confusing, just incredibly long. The tomb sat on top of the massive cliff top. The Doctor continued to explain how they'd climb to the top.
"River," The Doctor started warily, "Do you get the feeling that you're being followed sometimes?" The Doctor's had it in the back of his head for awhile now. He knew that Time Lord guards from the Capitol were likely tailing them, however, he hadn't expected the group to be after them so fast.
The sound of vehicles were coming in from the distance. Suddenly, The Doctor grabbed River's wrist and yelled, "Run!" The pair ran off, coming up on a hill, the perfect place to hide until their tail lost their trail.
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Post by River Song on Apr 11, 2012 21:58:02 GMT -5
"Why, yes - quite often, actually..." River replied nonchalantly. "That's why I usually carry a gun - why do you ask?" The words were barely out of her mouth before she understood that the Doctor had really been saying that right now was one of those times - the sound of vehicles approaching heralded a new arrival, coming right for them.
The Doctor grabbed a hold of River's wrist and yelled for them to run. And run, they did, taking cover on the backside of a hill. Hopefully, they hadn't been seen...
"Who is it, do you think?" River hastily whispered from their hiding spot. "Who else could possibly be out here?"
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