IT WAS 20,000 YEARS AGO TODAY

Chapter Thirty Seven

By the time they got back down the stairs, the pyramid was quiet. They had heard random sounds on their communicators, orders to move their friends and the other humans into a ship and they rushed downstairs, fearing an evacuation. The Diablon who had been lying under the stairs was gone now and Rose led the others through the complex, searching for any sign of humans, Diablons or their friends and family members. Their spirits sank when they searched most of the pyramid and found it empty. Rose called to their missing comrades but there was no answer. They kept on searching, hoping that the Diablons might have left them behind. They tried every door that was unlocked since no one had a screwdriver but every room was empty. Then they tried on door, opened it and gasped when they saw Pepa lying in a lab table barely alive. They ran to him and John Smith felt his pulse and checked him over.

"He's alive but only just, I think we need to get him back to the ship and get him stabilized before the Diablons come back," he said to the others, "I don't think anyone else is in here. I have a feeling they took the rest of the humans so we couldn't get them and they took the Doctor and Jeremy because they're Time Lords. We need to get out of here and get airborne and think of a plan. Can you lot carry him and I'll see if I can gather a few medical supplies.

John gathered him into his arms while John Smith rummaged through the cupboards and drawers, gathering a few things onto a plastic tray. When the tray was filled, they hurried back to the ship. When they were in the ship, John Smith instructed John to lay him on the floor while he hurried and got the ship airborne. Once they were in the air and in orbit around Earth, John Smith put it on autopilot and went to tend to his friend. By that time, Paul had returned with Tia and they were watching silently, Paul sighing angrily while Tia munched on some biscuits that he had found in the storage room. Rose assisted him while the others watched. Amy glanced over at their captives who were glaring at them from their force field prisons. She walked over to them.

"Okay, where would they go if they evacuated Pepperland?" she asked Nanth.

Nanth and the others laughed.

"What makes you think I'll tell you?" he said.

"You better tell me or I'll shock you," Amy said, hoping she sounded menacing.

"I'm not scared of you, puny human," Nanth sneered. "You're not the Time Lord and I doubt you even know how to torture us. If our people evacuated with the remaining humans and your friends then all I have to say is too bad, you're not getting any information from us."

"Just wait, you'll be sorry," Amy said.

She turned, ignoring the laughter and taunts from the Diablon while she walked back to John Smith and Rose. By now, Pepa was starting to recover and he looked more alive. Amy knelt down beside them.

"Was he poisoned?" she asked them.

"No, just basically beaten to within an inch of his life," John Smith said. "I managed to give him some medicine, pain killers and I also managed to stop the loss of blood and…SHUT IT! YOU MAY NOT RESPECT AMY BUT I'M A TIME LORD AND YOU WILL RESPECT ME!" he screamed at the Diablons who were still taunting them. "UNLIKE AMY, I DO KNOW WHERE THE SHOCK BUTTON IS AND I WON'T HESITATE TO USE IT ON YOU LOT IF YOU DON'T BUTTON IT!"

The Diablons fell silent and glowered at him while he grinned at Amy.

"See, someone still has authority around here," he said to her. "Right, I think he'll live. He just needs rest. I'll take him down to the sleeping quarters. In the meantime, we need to come up with a plan."

"I have a thought," Paul said, coming forward.

"Yes?" John Smith said.

"Well, first off, can you take this ship back to your TARDIS?"

"I think so. I think I can go into the database and figure out the coordinates of our universe. We really should have Pepa in the TARDIS. The med bay there is more advance and can heal him faster, not to mention it would offer us and the humans more protection."

"Well, I was thinking that since we got Rose and Jeremy, perhaps there's a way we can go get Donna and Jack? We'll need more people now to help us and if Donna's a good a fighter as Rose, she'll come in handy, not to mention an immortal man."

"Can you restore Donna?" Rose asked John Smith.

"I can't, but perhaps he can," John Smith replied, nodding at Pepa. "It'll be a tricky situation, trying to lure Donna back without triggering premature memories. The Doctor did put a failsafe measure in mind that will keep her from dying but still…I don't think she'll go without a fight and she's very stubborn and she'll beat the everlovin' snot outta ya if you give her the chance."

"What about Martha then? Can we get her as well?" Rose said. "And Sarah Jane?"

John Smith thought for a moment.

"Jack isn't on Earth anymore. At least I don't think so. The Doctor located him on a bar on Draxus Minor. Don't know if he frequents that place but we can try it. If he isn't there, the barkeep might know where he's at. Martha…Martha might be harder to track down, although I can try speaking to Francine. She was at UNIT and then she married Mickey and went freelance with him."

"Mickey and Martha?" Rose said amused.

"Yup. Mickey Boy is officially wearin' a ball and chain now. Sarah…Sarah might help us. I'm sure she's still at home. Perhaps she can bring her son and his friends. They're wonderful kids and just as good a fighter as she is."

Pepa groaned and they looked at him as he slowly opened his eyes.

"What happened?" he said when he saw John Smith.

"Well, we found you near death and the Diablon have evacuated Pepperland with the rest of the humans and the Doctor's team. We need to get back to the TARDIS in our original universe. Do you happen to know the coordinates?"

"They should be in the ship's computer. I used to travel back and forth when I first started gathering up the Neanderthals," he said weakly. "But what are you going to do?"

John Smith explained their plan and told him that once they were over into the other universe, he could land the TARDIS on top of the ship and take it inside her.

"What? The TARDIS can fit around this ship?" Rose said.

"Yes, it is bigger on the inside, you know. The Doctor once landed on the Concorde and took it inside the ship."

"Are you serious? He had the bleedin' Concorde inside the TARDIS?" she said.

"Yes, why is that so hard to believe? He landed around you, didn't he?"

"Yeah, but I'm not the Concorde."

"Still, it's the same concept," John Smith said. "We land on the ship and that way we have it with us for the trip back to this universe. Once we get back to prehistoric Earth, I can separate the TARDIS from this ship and then pilot the TARDIS inside it so the ship will carry her back across to Pepperland. Now I have a question, I have a friend that needs your help…"

He explained to him about Donna and the need to repair her mind. Pepa considered it for a moment.

"I might be able to restore her, although she might lose her Time Lord knowledge," he said.

"That's fine. She's brilliant as it is, she doesn't need a Time Lord mind," he said. "If I can get back to the TARDIS, I can fix your body further and get you back on your feet."

"Well then, help me to the co-pilot chair and I'll show you how to operate the dimensional jump."

John Smith nodded. He and Rose got Pepa to his feet and helped them to his chair while the others went to the sleeping quarters to prepare for the dimensional jump.

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