IN THE SHADOW OF SAXON
Chapter Seven The Doctor walked with his companions while they searched for David. His eyes darted around, nervously scanning the skies for any sign of the Toclafane but so far there were no further sightings. The fact that they were out searching for David made his hearts beat rapidly as he ran through several scenarios of what might happen if David were captured with each of the scenarios ending badly. "Doctor," Amy finally said, looking over her shoulder at him. "I had a thought. Can the Master do something to bring back David's memories?" "He might be able to," the Doctor said. "He has my previous self's TARDIS. He converted it into the paradox machine but there is a chance the chameleon arch could still be functioning. That is, if he figures out what happened to David and he might. But he might not need any assistance since David's memories are fighting to come back on their own. Blast. We shoulda jumped back in the TARDIS the moment we figured out our location. Leave it to me to muck up my own time line, even when I'm not trying to." "And if something happens to change your time line," Rory said. "That could mean that your regeneration never happens?" The Doctor stopped and considered that. The others stopped and gathered around him. "Yes, that is a possibility," he said, running his hand through his hair. "If the Master doesn't die on the Valiant and escapes, my future would change and I could end up not fighting him and if that happens…the other him goes on living and there's no more me, at least not for the foreseeable future. It could change everything…including meeting you," he said to Amy and Rory. "But if that happens, would it be that Earthshattering?" Amy said. "You could still meet me, just as your tenth self." "But if the future changes and I don't regenerate, then the future will change and I won't remember our meeting," the Doctor said. "Now perhaps there is a possibility that the time lines will compensate for it and I end up crashing in your garden anyway but then again…" "And if you don't meet us…" Rory said. "Then there's no Big Bang Two and the universe is destroyed?" "It's conceivable," the Doctor said. "The time lines could compensate for that as well but I'd rather not risk it if at all possible, which means we have to get ourselves out of this mess with as little disruption to the time line as we can which means we can't defeat the Master if he has David, we can only escape from him and get back to our TARDIS." "Great, just great," Rose said with a heaving sigh. "As if things weren't complicated enough…" "Nah, just like old times, Rose," the Doctor said, patting her on the shoulder. "We've faced worse challenges than this. Everyone just remain calm and…" He shut up and everyone ducked into the shadows when the Doctor happened to catch sight of a lone Toclafane flying through the skies above them. They watched while several people around them caught sight of it and yelled to each other while they pointed it out. "What's that?" one man said to his female companion. "Looks like a flying basketball." "Who knows?" the woman said with a shrug. "Probably some new hi-tech toy some kid's trying out. Seems like they keep coming out with new toys every other day now." "Yeah, you're right. Probably costs an arm and a leg as well," the man said. "I'm sure James will want one for Christmas." "Well, at least they don't know what it is," Rory said. "Yet," the Doctor said. "In a couple of days they won't be so amused by them." "I was alive in 1997," Amy said while she watched it flying around. "If those things attacked and killed one third of the population, I wonder if…" "Yeah, me too," Rory said when she trailed off. "Who knows but I really don't fancy waiting around and watching you lot die along with everyone else," the Doctor said. "That thing doesn't seem to recognize…" He stiffened when the Toclafane suddenly zoomed down and hovered in front of him. "You are the Doctor man," the ball said in a female voice. "We have been searching for you." The Doctor felt Rose's hand on his arm and he noticed that Amy and Rory were trying to put themselves between him and the flying sphere. The Doctor told them to stay still and he quickly squeezed Rose's hand before he stepped forward. By now, several people were standing nearby, staring at the ball in silence. A young girl ran towards the ball, trying to touch it but Amy quickly intercepted her and urged her back while the girl groaned and whined about wanting to touch it. "I am the Doctor," the Doctor said to the Toclafane. "But I am not the correct Doctor. I am from the future and I don't pose a threat to your master." "Mister Master ordered us to find the Doctor man and we have found you. You will come with me or be destroyed," the sphere said. "I will come if you and your friends leave my companions alone. They are not a threat to you," the Doctor said. "The Mister Master will decide if we leave them alone," the sphere said. "But you will follow me." "Can I say goodbye to my friends?" the Doctor said. The ball hovered for a moment in silence and the Doctor wondered if it was thinking. Finally, the ball flew up into the air and hovered about thirty feet above him while the crowd laughed and pointed at it. "I s'pose that means yes," the Doctor said softly while his companions gathered around him. "Let us go with you," Rose said, putting her hand on his left arm. "No," the Doctor said, shaking his head. "I need you lot to continue to search for David. I'll stall for time while I'm up on the Valiant and try to convince the Master that I'm the only Doctor here. David can't fall into his hands, especially if he does have the capability to bring back his memories. My clone is unhinged and the last thing we need is the Master and him working together. Don't worry, I know the layout of the Valiant and I can escape from it. Just take advantage of my sacrifice and get David to the safety of the TARDIS. Under no circumstances are you to let David be captured by him, is that clear?" They nodded and the Doctor smiled and hugged Rose and Amy. He put his hand on Rory's shoulder. "Keep watch over them, Lone Centurion," he said to Rory. Rory straightened up proudly and smiled as he nodded at that. The Doctor patted him on the shoulder and looked up at the Toclafane, beckoning to it. He stepped away from his companions while the Toclafane flew down. It stopped at eye level. "Lead the way," the Doctor said to it. "Don't try any tricks," the Toclafane said. "Wouldn't dream of it," the Doctor said airily. The crowd applauded as the Toclafane glided through the air and the Doctor followed along behind it. His companions stepped out of the shadows and watched while the Doctor put his hands in his trouser pockets and calmly followed the sphere. While they walked, people stopped and stared at them as they walked by. A few children laughed and pointed at the silly man and his magic ball but the Doctor ignored them as he let the Toclafane lead him away. "So now we find David before those things find him first," Rory said to Rose and Amy. "And where do you suggest we start looking?" Amy said to him. "He could be anywhere by now." "No, not anywhere," Rose said. "He's right here." They looked where Rose was pointing and saw David walking towards them. Amy hurried towards David, pushing through the people that were still lingering around them. "Where have you been?" Amy yelled at him. "We've been looking everywhere for ya!" "I was on the London Eye," David said with a shrug. "No one else wanted to ride so I took the liberty of riding it myself. The queue wasn't very long so I decided to do it because I figured it wouldn't take very long. I'm sorry if I caused any worry, I'm fine." Rory and Rose walked up to him and David repeated his apologies. All three forgave him and David looked around. "Where's the Doctor?" David said. "He…went to visit an old friend," Rose said as calmly as she could. "He asked us to wait for him on the TARDIS." "Yeah, he said it would be awhile," Amy said, grateful Rose had come up with a credible excuse. "He wanted us to go ahead and get inside the safety of the TARDIS so there wouldn't be any risk of disrupting the time lines." "Fair enough," David said with a shrug. "Let's get going then." He fell in behind all of them as they turned and headed back towards the TARDIS.
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