PREDATOR AND PREY

Chapter Eleven

"Wow! Definitely not a holiday spot," Rory said as he stepped out of the TARDIS with the others.

The TARDIS had landed across the street from a seedy bar. Outside the bar, two rough, bulky men were engaged in an all out fistfight while several others cheered them on. The door to the bar was open and when they looked inside they noticed that no one inside was paying attention to the fight.

"So, I'm assuming this is a regular occurrence," Rory said, gesturing to the fight. "No one inside the pub seems to care."

"I'm sure everyone inside the pub has had their share of fistfights," the Doctor said. "They probably figure it's better to look the other way. So, Captain Jack, where do we go first?"

"I say we go inside and ask around," Jack said, pointing to the open door. "You wanna know where the black market is, the best place to start is the local dive."

"Lead the way, Captain Jack," the Doctor said.

"Ladies," Jack said, hooking his arms.

River and Rose threaded their arms through his and Rory took Amy's hand before walking across the street. Some of the men watching the fight wolf whistled at the women but they stopped when Jack glowered at them and turned their attention back to the fight. When Jack entered the pub, a few of the patrons stopped talking and stared at him while he walked to the bar with his friends. The bartender was leaning on the bar, staring at them with curiosity while they walked up. Jack put on an air of confidence.

"I'd like a Nova with ice," he said to the bartender.

The bartender reached under the bar and brought an empty mug up before walking to a shelf at the back of the bar and reaching for a green bottle of whiskey.

"My crew and me just got here," Jack said. "We're looking for a stabilizer for our space ship. Any idea where we might buy one?"

"Depends on what kind of stabilizer you need, mate," the bartender said as he poured the brown colored whiskey into the mug.

"A warpstar stabilizer, 1st class," the Doctor said.

"Ah, well, your best bet is to try to parts bazaar, mates," the bartender said, putting the mug in front of Jack.

"And where is that?" Jack said.

"Go out the door, go right and go down to the end of the street. Can't miss it, mate."

Jack thanked him, took his mug and they turned away from the bar.

"Ugh, I don't even like Novas, I just ordered something to get information from him," Jack said, looking at the drink with distaste before setting it down on an empty table.

They walked outside and stopped. The crowd was gone but one of the fighters was now lying dead in a pool of his own blood near the front door.

"Charming," the Doctor said.

"Um…can we take that as a sign we should find this part and get the hell out of here before we end up like him?" Rory said.

"Yes. Let's find this parts bizarre quickly," the Doctor said.

They turned right and walked down the street. While they walked, Amy gasped when someone suddenly seized her arm. She was spun around and she recoiled when she saw a drunken bald man with scars all over his face.

"Hey, pretty, fancy a night with me?" he said, leering at her.

"No, I don't. Now piss off!" Amy said.

She tried to back away but the man seized her arm and the drunken grin turned to a snarl.

"You're coming with me, missy!" he growled at her.

Amy was going to jerk her arm away when suddenly Rory came up fast beside her. The man grunted when Rory decked him in the face. The man staggered back and fell to the ground unconscious.

"She's my wife!" Rory said to the unconscious man.

"Wow, he's a lot tougher than he looks," Jack said to the Doctor.

"That's why I warned you about flirting with Amy," the Doctor said. "Come on, let's go on before that man or his friends take their revenge on us."

They quickly walked away from the man. About halfway up the street they noticed a lot of people grouped around a large tent and heard shouts from inside and outside it.

"The parts bizarre?" Rose said to Jack.

"I'm betting it is," Jack said.

"Let's just hope they have what we want," River said.

They got to the back of the crowd and tried to push their way to the entrance of the tent. A few people grudgingly stepped aside, a few others cursed at them and then got out of the way but when they were near the entrance one burly guy who had his black hair in a long black ponytail refused to let them pass.

"I was here first!" he growled at Jack.

"Step aside, buddy!" Jack growled back. "I wanna get through."

"Wait your turn!" the man growled back.

Jack was about to shove him aside when River suddenly lunged forward and seized the man by the crotch.

"Let us through or you'll get your balls ripped off your body," River snarled at him. "And if you think I'm bluffing, just keep on being belligerent and see if I'm joking or not."

Jack raised his eyebrow and looked at the Doctor. The Doctor tried to hide his smile. The man was about to strike River's face but he gasped when River tightened her hold on his crotch. Then suddenly, Rose ran around him and snatched his ponytail, jerking his head back.

"I don't think you hear her, mate. I believe my friend told you to get out of the bloody way," Rose growled.

Amy gleefully ran up and seized his face.

"So, if were you, I'd move before you have to deal with three angry women," Amy snarled at him.

The man looked at Jack. He shrugged.

"I'd do what they say if I were you, buddy," Jack said. "They look like they mean business."

They let go of the man when he indicated he was backing away. The three women stood shoulder to shoulder and glowered at the man while he sheepishly backed away into the crowd, his face red when several men around him began to laugh and make jokes about three women bossing him around. River turned to Jack.

"All clear," she said airily. "You can continue on your way."

"Doctor, I don't know where you found this woman, but she's definitely a keeper. Her and the ginger," Jack said.

He grinned at Rose.

"Course I already knew this one was a keeper," he said, pinching her cheek.

"Can we keep moving, Casanova, you can flirt later," the Doctor said.

Jack led the way to the entrance. The few remaining men quickly got out of their way, especially when River glared at them and flashed her long fingernails. When they reached the entrance, Jack checked inside to make sure the way was clear and then all of them entered the tent.

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