13 Novella 4

Eliminated

Looking around fearfully, you catch Missy's eye to your left, and The Doctor to your right. Yaz stands next to her, and Jenny next to Missy on your far left.

You notice the spots of lights you stand on are slightly curved, so are only mildly surprised when about twenty five more light up, all with a different being on them.

You say being because there is only one other human as far as you can see, everyone else is some variation of Alien. You swallow nervously.

The rules are simple. You will be asked a question, answer correctly and you shall proceed to the next round, answer incorrectly and you shall be eliminated. This will continue until a lone victor remains. Iche Venher Bastrodi.

You shiver again as one of the lights about ten spots away turns blue.

"According to the shadow proclamation's revised fifth amendment 9339 Domino, which species will no longer have a say in the universal justice system?"

The Alien- yellow and short with long brown hair -opens their mouth.

"The Slitheen" they reply nervously, and their light turns temporarily green before it moves on to the next.

You begin to panic, knowing full well you will have no idea of any answers if the questions continue in this manner.

You notice black floating balls with metallic eyes hovering and feel this may be televised. This doesn't help to calm your nerves, but now you don't dare try to talk.

Missy shakes her head at you, and you feel she knows you were about to move.

You are glad you don't, for someone barely five spaces to your left steps off and is shot by a gold beam from the ceiling and has disappeared in seconds.

The next shock comes when someone answers incorrectly and their light spot turns back to red. They too are shot by the beam.

They were deadly serious when they said eliminated.

Jenny is next and you hold your breath, but she answers her question confidently, as does Misssy.

Your white light turns blue and you hold your breath, feeling dizzy.

"Which of the seven laws was recently revoked by the Federal Judoon goveners after it lead to the unfortunate death of a senior officer?" The voice asks and you blink back tears. You have absolutely no idea, and you now what is about to happen.

That's when you are hit with an image from The Doctor, a single picture, with scruffy words written across like clouds in the sky.

The number three... third?... someone being shot... shot?.... and another word, vague and almost unreadable.... policy? Yes!

"Third shot policy" you say quickly and your light turns green. You can almost feel the relief of the others.

The Doctor answers her question while you try to understand the new ability to show you words in the pictures.

Yaz is asked a question and you feel your heart drop as you realise she is totally and utterly screwed... unless...

Answer?

You push the word into The Doctor's mind, hoping she was close enough and it was clear enough that she understood.

"The Boshane Peninsula" appears in your head in tense words, and you turn so Yaz is in your eyeline, but you aren't staring too obviously at her.

You recite the words over and over, feeling for her mind and latching on. She gives a little start then stutters.

"The- The Boshane Peninsula?" She says in a high pitched voice. Her light turns green.

You may just survive this yet.

The game goes on and people are slowly eliminated until barely ten are left. You really hope The Doctor is planning something, for they definitely said lone victor...

"I- I don't know" you hear, breaking you from your reverie, whipping round to see a pale Jenny. You search for The Doctor's mind and she gives you the answer, and you turn, ready to hand it to Jenny... but of course you can't.

Her mind is unreachable as ever, no matter how hard you strained.

In horror, you watch her floor light turn red, and scream inside your head as she is shot with the gold beam from the ceiling until she has disappeared.

Don't move! Hisses The Doctor in your head as you stand, tears flowing down your cheeks silently.

Get her back! You shout back in a picture, and you catch her expression as she reads the words in her mind.

I can't. We have to keep playing. I'm sorry (Y/n), but it may not be what it seems, They can't have... they can't have killed her. She replies quietly and you listen instead to your frantic heart beat.

Missy answers her question shakily and it's onto you.

2839-2939 coordinates Says The Doctor in your head.

You remain silent.

She repeats them but you ignore her.

Don't do this (Y/n)! Answer the question, we can't lose you too.

I have to find her you retort and you feel her tension in the next image.

What about Missy? What will she do? Come on
(Y/n)! She shouts, but before you can think your light turns red and you feel yourself get shot in the chest as your eyes close, only to open them moments later, finding yourself in a room with white walls, gasping slightly and feeling terribly warm.

"Well hello there, I don't mean to get you so hot and flustered..." says a familiar voice, and you turn on the spot to see a tall man with bracken hair and aged eyes, lines on his smiling face and wearing a long blue period military coat.

"J- Jack?" You say uncertainly and he nods, smile broadening.

"They never forget" he winks and you blush.

"What the hell happened? Where's Jenny?" You ask hurriedly and he smiles, stepping aside.

Something hits you like a cannon ball and you stumble as you take in the sweet vanilla scent of one of your girlfriends.

"Hiya love" she says, placing a kiss on your forehead.

"How did we get out?" You say, peeling gently away but still hugging Jenny to face Jack.

"Easy interception, simply teleported you instead of tuning you into a rotisserie chicken" he says and you roll your eyes.

"And the others?"

"They're all fine pet" replies Jenny, and you peek over her shoulder to see a shot of the previously eliminated aliens looking very confused.

"Incoming" says Jack, clicking his watch and Missy appears right next to you. She blinks as you throw yourself at her, where she giggles and hugs you gently.

"It's alright my love" she says and you feel tears brew ridiculously.

"I thought I'd lost you both" you snuffle and they hug you, surrounding you with warmth and love.

"Never."