With Fragile Promises (Doctor Who Fanfiction)

Chapter Eight: Explaining The Impossible

Chapter Eight: Explaining the Impossible

The Doctor listened as Joshua told him the short version of everything. Clara's arm was brushing against his own and he could tell from their close proximity how anxious she was.

"Rumours started going around that Pareux had new allies. Flown over from a different planet. Hartley was keeping cautious. She had look-outs in every town, just to make sure Pareux wasn't up to anything. He was, though, and he was very good at it this time. Simeon was his new ally, and with his greater intelligence Hartley never stood a chance." Joshua paused, his eyes drifting over to the lamplight. "She followed your orders from before, down to the very last detail. Just before she died, she started appointing people new roles. Me and my friend, we were her personal agents. We didn't realise how significant that role would be. In a rather dramatic turn of events, a small gang of Pareux's people terrorised our main camp – they stole everything that was important to us that day. Documents containing our deepest secrets, some even involving you, Doctor. Hartley was unarmed, just how she preferred, and protected the scrolls with her life. We were too late when we reached her. As I said before, that's when she mentioned you. My friend and I, we vowed to keep you safe, and to somehow find you. Without the documents we stood no chance. Her deputy, Vingols –"

The Doctor scoffed and interrupted. "Vingols! I knew Vingols. Impatient, impulsive and rebellious. I was always torn halfway between admiring him and hating him."

Joshua nodded, as if he was agreeing to the Doctor's feelings towards the man. "Vingols decided there was nothing else for it. Pareux had an army and they wouldn't hesitate to use force. So, we responded. We did just as Hartley asked – we were fighting to win back the scrolls."

The Doctor knew when he left Asterix XII that Vingols was the only person Hartley would see fit for the job. He approved, to a certain extent, because he knew deep down that if it ever came to it, Vingols wouldn't hesitate to fight back. The Doctor never thought, however, that the peace he set up would be destroyed so quickly.

Clara leaned into the Doctor, whispering in a barely audible mutter, "But why are the scrolls so important?"

The Doctor looked back up at Joshua, a new spark of curiosity raised by Clara's question. "Why are the documents so important, Joshua?"

Joshua glanced up at him, faint amusement shadowing his features.

"You helped us revolutionise our technology, Doctor. But Hartley listened to every word you said – in the early stages of the modern Renaissance, the transition between the new age of technology and standard living, you had to be careful who got their hands on the plans. Hartley recorded all the information you gave her and had plans to gradually change over from standard living to a technological environment. Otherwise, as technology increased, so would weapons. That was the last thing she wanted. All of these documents were signed by her, and, so future generations would know, she described how you helped with this revolution. Meaning, not only did our enemy have instructions that could be used against us, but they also had information on you. Two thoughts Hartley couldn't stand – not since you helped us on our way to freedom."

"And so what happened?"

There was a shift deep within Joshua. An inner turmoil bursting to escape, yet he did his best to keep it under wraps. He blinked a few times and one of his hands travelled across his stubble before resting on the side of his cheek.

"Pareux won with the help of Simeon. They killed every Revolutionite they could find. We split up into groups, small groups, hidden in each town. Monitoring the situation and reporting back to Vingols. But Vingols had other plans as well." There was a break. Joshua shuffled closer, as if he was telling a secret at a sleepover. "My friend and I were given special orders directly from Hartley and approved by Vingols. We were to become double agents inside Pareux's new government. Slowly build up a good reputation, report back to Vingols, until they let us into their darkest secrets so we could take them down from the inside. Only, things went wrong."