CAPTIVITY

Chapter Three

Yup, same old thing. The march to the secret headquarters at the point of a blaster bit. Then it's down into the bowels of his hidden lair to be reunited with Rose and then listen while the egomaniac tells me his evil plan and how he will kill her if I don't obey.

I've done this same routine so much; I practically know the individual steps by heart.

We walk out into the snowy wastelands of Winter, going to what I assume is lizard kitty's hideout. Out here, the wind is extremely cold. Without the protection of the booths, it blows right into my face and I blink furiously trying to see where we're going.

"How much further?" I call out.

"Not far now, Time Lord. I promise you'll see Rose shortly."

"Good because my eyeballs are starting to freeze over."

I notice the snow is starting to swirl faster and faster now. Even though it is technically the summer season on Winter, it still is common for blizzards to start without warning. The coat I'm wearing is insulated, but I didn't bring a hat, scarf or gloves and I'm starting to feel the effects of the cold on my face and hands.

We trudge on and on and I'm beginning to think he's just leading me out here to die. It's almost whiteout conditions now and it's hard to know where we're going or if there's even anything out here.

Suddenly, my foot sinks into a deep snowdrift and with a yell, I stumble and fall face forward into the snow. I lift my head up, shake it and wipe the snow off my face while I struggle to get my footing again. I feel the blaster in my back.

"Get up!" Tarsus says.

"I'm trying!" I yell back.

"Get up or I'll kill you now and Rose dies!"

For the love of God, can't the man see I'm trying to get up as fast as I can? I don't enjoy lying here in an enormous snowdrift, freezing while I flounder around like a fish. Looking back I yell at him to help me up if he wants me to move. Tarsus hesitates a moment, then shifting the blaster to his other hand, he reaches out and grabs my wrist. Grunting, he pulls and I finally find enough of a footing to be able to stand back up. He immediately points the blaster at my head while I calmly dust the snow off my suit and coat.

"Get moving!" he yells.

"You're really pushy, anyone ever tell you that?"

I gasp when Tarsus fires a warning shot at my feet.

"I said, get moving!"

"Where?" I yell, pointing ahead of me. "I can barely see my hand in front of my face now. How much further do we have to go because I have a feeling you'll be pulling me out of snowdrifts quite frequently from here on out."

"It's not far now. Now go!"

Throwing up my hands, I walk as fast as I dare in the raging snowstorm. I think of Rose and hope she isn't outside in all this. Because if I find he's left her out in the snow to die, there'll be hell to pay.

I press on, stumbling through the snowdrifts trying not to fall down. There are a couple of times when I almost do, but I manage to keep myself upright.

Finally, I feel Tarsus grab my arm and jerk it indicating I should stop. I stand there now completely wet and cold and miserable while Tarsus reaches into a slit on his bodysuit and brings out a small flat metal device. He presses a button on it and I see a bright light flash in front of me. When it fades, I see a huge metal spaceship through the swirling flakes.

"Walk!" he commands.

Gritting my teeth, I walk towards the spaceship. I take comfort in the fact that Rose is probably inside out of the cold. However, that doesn't mean something isn't happening to her and people like Tarsus aren't known to be men of their word.

He grabs hold of my arm again just before we reach the ship and nearly jerks it out of my socket. I look back and notice the evil grin on his face and know that he deliberately did that just to be cruel. Sighing, I put my hands in my pockets trying to keep them warm while Tarsus activates the door. A large panel slides open and a ramp slowly slides out. Once it stops, Tarsus again puts the blaster in my back and I trudge up into the ship.

I sigh with relief when I finally feel warm air hitting my skin. At least Rose was warm and safe from the blizzard even if she wasn't safe from whatever diabolic scheme this nutter dreamed up. Tarsus walks in front of me and aims the blaster at my hearts. He stands there saying nothing. Wonderful, I suppose he's waiting on me to panic and beg him to tell me where Rose is at. Well, if that's the case, he has a long wait. Still, I can't afford to just stand here and wait for him to speak, not when Rose is in danger. I brace myself for the taunting and jeers.

"Where is she? Where is Rose?"

There it is, the "I know something you don't" smile that every villain gets when they have Rose, know I'm at their mercy and decide to play a little game before I get to see her.

"You'll see her in due time," he purrs.

"No, I want to see her now. Cut the crap and take me to her."

He's amused by my attempt to control the situation. Every megalomaniac is. They think it's funny that someone thinks enough of themselves to steal their thunder. That and the fact I'm getting angry and losing my temper. That's also another ego booster for them. They like that they are able to make the high and mighty Time Lord lose control of his emotions. However, what most of them don't realize is making me lose control is a very stupid and dangerous thing to do. But, unfortunately, possessing common sense isn't a requirement for being a villain.

"What's wrong, Doctor? Scared your pet might be lying in a pool of her own blood by now?"

I clench my fists while my temper slowly starts to reach the boiling point.

"You better hope she isn't, by God," I snarl at him. "Because if she is, if she's in any kind of pain or distress or harm, you will feel the full fury of the Oncoming Storm and I guarantee you won't like it."

Yup, Mister Thickface decides to keep pressing his luck.

"Does she mean something to you?" he asks, sweetly. "Is she your lover? Is that why you're so desperate to make sure she's alive and unharmed?"

I say nothing, not wanting to endanger Rose further if I tell him I love her. But, just because I don't say it doesn't mean he can't assume it.

"Aaaah, how sweet. You're in love. And here, I thought it was said your race looked down on other species and had nothing to do with them. Apparently, the legends were true when they said you were unique among your kind. You, the great and glorious Doctor, champion of time and space, care for one insignificant girl. So, tell me, Doctor. What species is she? Is she one of those backward humans that have spread out all over the universe like a viral infection? Is she one of those semi-intelligent primates that loves to think it's the most superior thing in all creation and does what it pleases without regard for the rights of others? Is this who you have given your hearts to? A barely functioning ape?"

That did it. I advance towards him with murder in my eyes, no longer caring that he has a blaster leveled at me.

"I have heard enough!" I say, barely managing to keep myself under control. "I want to see Rose and I want to see her now! You will take me to her or I will show you who the semi-intelligent one really is!"

I stare at him with eyes ablaze daring him to disobey. No…make that hoping he'll disobey, so I have good cause to beat him senseless.

Tarsus regards me calmly, which makes me think he's extremely brave or extremely thick. Evidently, his spies haven't told him everything about me since he seems unaware he is in over his head here. But, just when I'm about to throttle him, the idiot laughs in my face and points over my shoulder with the blaster.

"Fine, you want to see your little Rose, I'll take you there. Turn and walk."

Finally, we're getting somewhere. I resist the urge to wrestle the blaster away from him. He may have a remote control or some means of activating a device to harm Rose if I resist. Better to see her and know she is safe before trying something. Keeping my wits about me, I turn and walk forward, praying that Rose is alright.

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