The Doctor and The Professor REVISED EDITION

Prologue

The sound of the water dripping from the ceiling echoed through the passageway. Torch light licked at the walls casting eerie shadows. A man and a panicked young woman picked their way over rocks and other detrius in the pursuit of the their goal. The mans charge's whimpers spurring him on.

"Papa where are we going?" she said meekly.

"Not far now my child." He said through gritted teeth as she stumbled causing them to stop while she brushed herself down.

"Papa I'm scared. Why were those men chasing us?"

This time he didn't reply but only pulled her along faster. 

Talok was a broken man. The leader of the clan Baer'Sonne reduced to an angry drunk. The man they all came to for counsel and guidance unable to form a coherent sentence.

 She was all he had left. Her mother had passed during child birth; for months he hated his own child. This new life had taken the place of the woman whom he had given his heart. He refused to tend to her, leaving that to the matrons of the clan. Then one day he heard her crying and refusing to stop. In his drunken stupour he stumbled to her nursery. He found a young girl named Caeren  trying to placate the child but to no avail. Talok covered his ears and bellowed at the girl to make the noise stop. She grimaced and then simply pushed his child into his arms and left. Talok was stunned. He knew nothing of caring for babes. He stood imobolised with a screaming bundle of arms and legs. For the first time since her birth her father looked into the eyes of his wife and realised that she would never be truly dead while her daughter was alive,

A sound behind stopped them in their tracks.

"They have found the entrance! We must be quick."

He broke into a run pulling the near frantic girl behind him. She tried her best not to fall on the uneven ground beneath them; blocking out the sound of the oncoming footsteps.

The frantic pair rounded the last corner to be faced with a heavy metal door. Talok let go of his daughter's hand she was shaking; he placed his palm on the reader. The door gave an audible hiss and swung inward. He smiled reassuringly and guided her through.

The room beyond was full to bursting with gadgets, computers and other things she didn't recognise. Talok checked the door was sealed and disappeared further into the workshop. After a few minutes he came back to collect her and found she had slunk to the floor; shivering and with her arms around her knees.

"We are safe in here now." He soothed as he knelt in front of her.

"Papa who are they? Why are we running from them?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Always Papa." She breathed as she lifted her tearstained face to him.

Talok thought his heart would break. As he stood he felt the universe on his shoulders. His child looked to him with innocence in her eyes, they had lost so much and now they would lose....... What he was about to do would change both their lives for ever.

"Come with me?" he said softly holding out his hand.

Hand in hand they went further into the strange room. She could hear noises up ahead; Talok gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. He pulled back some tarpaulin and took them both through. On the other side was more machinery and a large wooden door. He let go of her hand and went to the instruments. The door seemed to lead to nowhere. Standing there waiting to be opened; but to where. She circled it with interest. It was panels were ornately carved; tracing the carvings she felt it hum beneath her hand.

"Where have you been? I was starting to think you weren't coming?"

The new voice startled her and she ran to her father.

"Ran into a little trouble on the way in." Talok said turning to see the young man who had entered.

"Trouble what kind of trouble?" Marteus' hand went to his side and his weapon.

"Nothing we should be worried about now."

"Papa?"

"It's ok, this is my associate Marteus." Talok said putting a reassuring arm around his daughters shoulder.

Marteus stood stoically looking to the older man waiting for more information. When none came he looked at the young woman who stood trembling at his side. This was his charge. She was a waif of a thing, skinny and afraid. Why her? He shook his head and walked over to the bench to check his belongings.

Talok was finishing the calculations when there was an explosion. The strangers had managed to breech the outer door and were coming through. Marteus looked worriedly at him and grabbed his bag.

"Papa what's going on?"

Talok ignored her and frantically pressed the button to start the process. A loud humming suddenly filled the air and the door slowly opened.

"Papa please they are coming."

He sighed and turned to Marteus and nodded.

"I'm sorry so so sorry." Talok choked as the tears he had been holding back came forth in earnest.

"I don't understand?" she cried as Marteus took hold of her arm and started to pull her towards the door.

A shot narrowly missed as two guards came to a halt in front of them.

Marteus looked at Talok for their next move, he bowed his head and closed his eyes. Marteus took a deep breath and pulled the girl the rest of the way to the door. She screamed as another shot hit its mark; it being her father. The rest of her screams and tears swallowed by the portal beyond the door.

Shouting she could hear someone shouting. Her stomach was churning and her head was pounding. Weakly she raised her head and opened her eyes a crack. She could make out the shapes of three figures. They seemed to be fighting. Suddenly there was one figure the others seemed to have disappeared. She closed her eyes and lowered her head. Someone shoved at her shoulder.

"Can you stand?"

She tried to reply but only a croak came out. The person cursed and she felt herself being rolled onto her back and strong arms lifting her up. She couldn't fight back her strength was gone. All she could do was curl herself into the warm chest and hope that death would come swiftly.