13 Novella 2

Underground

You wake the next morning to find your bed empty. Rolling over you can hear the shower in the en-suite.

You listen until it stops and Jenny emerges, towel wrapped around her torso, hair dripping to her collarbones.

"Morning, help yourself to the bathroom" she say twisting her hair into a turban with another towel.

Awkward as ever and blushing like a fool, you slide off the bed and go about your bathroom business, avoiding the shower. You come out in a towel and stand, wondering what to do next.

"I've put some clothes that might fit better on the bed" she says and you scoop them up.

She had picked out black Jeans and a clingy grey top that will show off your figure. You roll your eyes and retreat to the bathroom, discovering she has actually got everything for you.

You supposed it wouldn't be too hard for The Tardis to place some clothing items for you in her wardrobe. Dressed and ready, you step back into the bedroom.

Jenny is pulling on a 3/4 length brown coat with a belt. You pull out a black full length for yourself, ignoring the similarities in style. She holds out her hand invitingly and you don't hesitate to reach and hold it. You walk like this to the console room, fulfilled in your happy bubble.

"Sleep well?" Says Yaz in an innocent tone that tells you all too well your excursion didn't go unnoticed.

You blush and she smiles triumphantly.

Her aura is teasing yet reserved. Something in the way she looks at you tells you The Doctor filled her in on the details of your abilities after you left. It doesn't bother you, so long as Jenny was fine with it, and judging by her arms wrapped around your shoulders from behind, she was. You smile goofily, enjoying the safe contact and ignoring the nagging fear in the pit of your stomach.

The Doctor and Missy arrive together moments later, deep in discussion. You tense and The Doctor looks up.

"(Y/n) can I talk to you a second?" She says lightly and you nod, detaching yourself from a wary Jenny. She squeezes your hand comfortingly before letting you go, and you follow The Doctor back down a corridor until she turns and faces you.

"(Y/n), this is important" she say seriously. "I really hate to ask you, but I think you've picked it up already. Missy has had a... difficult past. She did some things but she is on the way to recovery. I trust her, but I need you to keep an eye out, and if anything changes, I need to know" she says looking you deep in the eyes.

"Well her thoughts are naturally quite alarming" you say and The Doctor smiles ruefully.

"Yes that's just her, but if anything changes, if it gets any worse, I need to know" she says urgently and you nod.

Her smile then turns into a smirk.

"So, how did you sleep last night?" She asks politely.

"Not you too" you mutter, turning away from her cheerful laughter and heading back to the console room where you stand next to Jenny.

She asks if you are alright with her eyes and you pause to listen. You nod reassuringly at Jenny as you take off, travelling then landing roughly.

"Still can't fly this thing then?" Comments Missy.

"Yes I can!" Says The Doctor indignantly.

"You left the hand break on" Missy adds as she opens the Tardis door. You hear a quiet lever switch and some incoherent muttering from the console.

You let Jenny go ahead then follow, stepping out onto ordinary Earth, the place where no one believes you to be alive. You hadn't even thought of that. You were clearly thousands of miles beneath the surface however so your tension eases.

"Which way?" Asks The Doctor to Missy, scanning the two tunnels ahead with her sonic.

"Left I think"

"You think?"

"Well have you got a better guess?"

The Doctor scowls and takes the left path after Missy. If you weren't so concentrated on listening out, you would have enjoyed the sight of The Doctor being rivalled by an equal.

You walk behind the group with Jenny, determinedly keeping your distance from Missy.

"I think it's around here somewhere...? Or maybe it was the right path?" Missy ponders then look at you.

"Human number one, any ideas?" You jump and Jenny tenses next to you.

"She has a name, and she is more than just her species." She growls.

"Whatever, the one with the mind voodoo, notice anything?"

Jenny opens her mouth angrily but you squeeze her hand to stop her.

"It's ok, she's got a point" you say then listen up as everyone goes silent. You are instantly assaulted with a man's perspective from the floor below you, talking to several others. It is foggy and unclear, but they look- well they look green.

"They're below us" you squint, looking up again.

"Oh useful isn't she" chirps Missy happily, moving again. Both Jenny and The Doctor scowl disapprovingly.

You walk for fifteen more minutes, conscious you are getting slowly lower before you stop.

"I've got a bad feeling about this" you say worriedly.

The group stop and turn, watching you shuffle on the spot. You hadn't heard any more thoughts from the green men, and you had no idea of their intentions.

"It's ok, not that far now" calls Missy from the front, reaching a large metal door. "In here I'd say" she adds, and The Doctor pulls out her sonic to open the doors.

They slide open without fuss and all five of you walk in. Then stop.

Fifteen or so lizard people stand around a table. A table decorated with lethal instruments and monitors. The Doctor turns to you as your legs nearly give out, the horrible thoughts in one of their heads bringing tears to your eyes. Jenny rocks you and you faintly hear an exchange.

"Seize them! But don't hurt the girl!" Someone bellows.

Going off the image of your own face in his mind, they mean you.

"Missy! You brought a girl with these kinds of abilities to a place of surgical experimentation!" Yells The Doctor in horror over that sounds of a scuffle.

"Get off me! Doctor help!" Yaz screams as she is roughly handled.

"I'll find you (Y/n), stay strong!" That's Jenny now, you can just make her out over the commotion as your friends and Missy are tackled and restrained.

The last thing you feel are strong arms on either side lifting you, the sudden crescendo of intensity and panic knocking you completely unconscious.