Doctor Who_ Lungbarrow - Marc Platt [113]
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When they reached the room, they found Chris hauling a shape out of a wel set in the floor.
'Not more companions,' he said when he saw them. His voice had a Scottish burr. 'Sometimes you're more trouble than you're worth. Al right, just stay together, do as you're told and try not to al need rescuing at once.'
He deposited the shape at their feet. 'Beaten up by my own Cousins,' he continued.
The shape had a hat on. It was the Doctor, more bruised than ever. 'Only my dignity,' he whispered unconvincingly.
Chris seemed to lose interest. He wandered away and sat in a corner.
The Doctor flinched when they touched him. 'I only wanted to be part of the Family,' he said. 'I went through al the correct procedures. Gene weaving, birth trauma, education, acne. . . obviously it wasn't enough.'
'We could leave in the TARDIS,' said Dorothée.
'No! No one goes near my ship.'
He was very apprehensive when he recognized Romana. 'What's she doing here?' he said in Leela's ear. 'Doesn't she have a planet to run?'
'I've come to help,' said Romana.
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'It is true,' said Leela.
'Any more of you outside?' he called. 'It's getting like the Last Rites or a wake.'
'Doctor,' Romana said sternly.
He sighed. 'You've done very well, Madam President. The future is so important.'
'And the past?' she said.
'Oh, the past. The past is dead and buried. I'll never know now.' A look of despair thundered across his face. 'And the future? I couldn't see beyond my seventh regeneration. The original Eighth Man Bound. Perhaps I have no future to see...'
His eyes closed.
'He's working himself into a premorphic trauma,' said Romana across him. 'Unless we do something drastic, he may deny himself regeneration.'
Dorothée leant forward. 'Doctor, if you're not part of the Family - '
'No,' interrupted Leela. 'You cannot ask him that.'
'I'm me now,' he whispered. 'What good is that...?'
'But who were you?' said Dorothée.
The Doctor's words were drifting away. 'Too many thoughts. Can't think any more... Sorry.'
'He's hardly breathing,' said Leela.
There was a movement at the door. A woman with short brown hair was leaning weakly against the frame. She wore a plain white shift and was dragging a rust-coloured dress behind her. 'If he's to live, we must unlock his mind.'
She walked unsteadily into the room.
Dorothée stared at her. 'Who are you?'
The woman held up the dress. 'His Cousin,' she said.
Leela scrambled up. 'Innocet? What happened? Have you regenerated? You must rest.'
The woman nodded wearily. She was shorter and her face ful er than the old Innocet. 'Don't be concerned for me.
We must help him.'
'Romanadvoratrelundar,' said Romana, awkwardly offering a hand. 'Please come and sit down. Are you sure you're up to this?'
Innocet closed her eyes. 'The more support, the better. Now, please sit in a circle.'
They sat and linked hands, circling the Doctor.
Innocet took a deep breath and began muttering to herself.
Behind them, Chris clutched his head. ' I am the Doctor. I am. I am. I am!' He pulled off his boot and threw it across the room.
The companions glanced warily from one to another.
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Innocet's head went back. Her eyes were white, the colour of looking inward.
'Why did you leave us?' Her voice resonated through her fingers, into their heads, making the circle one. 'Where have you been? Who are you?'
'Vultures!' shouted the Doctor. His body arched as if something was being torn out of him. He slumped back and lay stil .
'Can't catch me,' whispered Chris.
Innocet shuddered and sat back. The circle was broken.
'He's gone,' she said, her voice trembling. 'There's nothing. His mind is dark. I was too late.'
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Chapter Thirty
The Abysm
Three two one, three two one,
A wreath of roses lay.
Rassilon's dead and Omega's lost,
The other one's gone away.
Three to wonder and bide their time,
They'l al come back one day.
Transcribed from hieroglyphics in the Domdaniel Caverns on Strava.
***
Romana brought two fists down on the Doctor's chest, but his inert body