Beware the Calm

Flashcards

The Governor and an armed contingent of men were waiting for their return by the drawbridge of the castle, and as soon as the horse cantered over the wooden bridge, the armed men closed in behind them, guns trained back out into the darkness as they formed rank and ushered them back inside. Once everyone was in, the drawbridge was pulled back up and the portcullis dropped down, cutting off the only entrance into and out of the castle and securing it safely closed. But, for added security, a forcefield was then activated, and the entire castle was encased in a bubble of rippling, crackling blue energy.

Sliding carefully from the saddle into the Governor's waiting arms, Aeryn staggered unsteadily, but was quickly propped up again by her father, who was beside himself with worry. He fussed over her for several moments before she finally found her voice again and told him to leave her alone, much to the Doctor's amusement, after which she was smothered in a huge hug instead.

"Dad!" She snapped at last. "Will you listen to me? I'm fine! Nothing a quick bath won't fix! But you've got to sound an evacuation. Get everyone into the castle. Now!"

"What's going on?" the Governor frowned, though he was looking past Aeryn now, to the Doctor. Apparently having decided that the Doctor hadn't kidnapped his daughter at all, the Governor was now viewing him as her saviour, though he had yet to say as much. Knowing her father though, if the Doctor was waiting for a thank you, he'd have a very, very long wait. Her father wasn't the gratuitous kind, after all.

"There's a monster out there," the Doctor informed him now, standing proudly with his hands behind his back. "And I think you should do as your daughter says. IF anyone is still alive out there, bring them here. Will make it easier to keep a track of them. And hope that none of them are in fact the killer creature. Because that would be a little embarrassing."

"A monster?" Her father spluttered, unsure whether to laugh at the absurdity of it, in case this was all some big stupid joke, or actually take the Doctor and his word seriously.

"It's true, Dad," Aeryn told him quietly. "I saw it. It....it killed Captain Kyon."

The Governor gave her a sympathetic look, then kissed her on the forehead before wiping away the blood from her split lip with the pad of his thumb. "I'm sorry my love. Why don't you go and get yourself rested and recuperated, and I'll talk to the Doctor about what we can do?"

"Play nice," she warned with a hint of a smile, as she limped off, aided by Corporal Dale, a junior officer of her father's army. As soon as she was gone, the Governor walked over to the Doctor, looked him square in the eye, then puffed out his chest imperiously.

"I don't know what sort of game you're trying to play, Doctor, running off with my daughter and filling her head with delusions of monsters, but it stops now. Do you understand me? In the morning, I'm sending out a search team to round up Kyon and the rest of the cavalry, and I'll get the truth from them about what went on out there tonight. I've heard all about you from Kye and Darl so I know you're a trouble maker. I'm not stupid - "

The Doctor made a muffled snorting noise of amusement.

"You think that's funny?!" The Governor bristled.

"I think it's very funny. Because I think you're very stupid. But don't let me stop you. Carry on."

"How dare you! I want you out of here by morning, do you hear me?! You pack your things and you leave! And if I find out you've been within a hundred feet of my daughter, I'll kill you myself. Do I make myself clear?"

The Doctor wanted to argue back, but a voice in his mind chose that moment to speak up then. A very familiar voice, that belonged to a certain young woman.