𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧
𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧
𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟔, 𝟏𝟖𝟐𝟏

from the eyes of
— 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒 𝐉𝐀𝐃𝐄 —

"Why five days?" I finally questioned as Pollux and I strolled the outskirts of the nearby forest. "What made you take us five days in the past?"

It was too dangerous to go into town in fear of either one of us being spotted. Mostly Pollux as people would recognize him, and technically if it was five days prior, than an earlier version of him was already skipping around his house.

I did not need people to see my face and then inevitably recognize me when the past version of myself arrives with the Doctor and Amy in five days.

It was annoying but necessary—especially if we wanted to keep the established chain of events. By keeping the chain intact it would make it easier to simply take the place of past selves the moment they disappear on the dance floor during the ball in five days.

Pollux agreed that the best thing was to make a grand entrance of threatening his parents as soon as our past selves disappeared on the dance floor. The second they were gone we would barge in the building guns blazing.

I still wasn't sure what the fuck we were going to do about them. The Doctor surely wouldn't agree with assassination unless there was no other option—he would probably advocate for taking them to prison.

"It was the furthest I could go, we need time to find Atropha..." Pollux finally said, leading me deeper into the forest.

"Atropha?" I raised a brow, my eyes gleaming with suspicion.

"The love of my life..." Pollux told me passionately. "She was my best friend back in the Krystalline Empire, I thought I would never see her again... but she came to me a week ago. My parents found us reuniting outside and dragged me away from her by force. They had her taken to the Keep." His voice was hoarse, untamed anger twisting through every syllable toward the end.

"The Keep?" Another question spilled from my lips.

Pollux suddenly had his gaze fixed forward.

"The Keep is where my parents hold most things from our home planet that they brought with us. It's hidden in the cliffside of the ocean a few miles North of here..."

"So they are holding your beloved hostage there?"

"Not just hostage," He grimaced. "It's a labyrinth of underground tunnels—she is no doubt being chased by its guard."

"What the hell do your parents have guarding it?" I quickly questioned, figuring that given the importance of the items inside, the guard must be rather strong.

"It's a beast. A guardian bio-created by the Krystalline Empire to protect whatever is stored there. My parents not only bred one illegally but brought it with them when they fled."

"A beast?" I repeated a note of disbelief creeping into my voice. "You're going to have to be a little more specific."

"It's called a Dra'kon," Pollux admitted, his voice dropping lower as if speaking the name might summon it. "A bioweapon. Part machine, part creature, and entirely bred for destruction. Its body is sleek, metallic-skin scales that absorb energy attacks. It has claws sharp enough to rend steel and a tail that can crush bone like a twig. And if you think that's bad, it breathes fire too..."

"Oh, great," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "A fire-breathing monstrosity. That sounds exactly like what I want to tango with on what was supposed to be a quiet trip to Victorian London. Wait till the Doctor hears about this one... why do your have this thing as a guardian? I can't imagine anything on Earth is that much of threat to them..."

"Because they're paranoid," he said, bitterness dripping from his words. "They brought weapons, other memorabilia, and even their ship's core engine from the Krystalline Empire. The Keep houses it all. They wanted a failsafe in case they ever needed to defend themselves or leave this planet."

"And they thought it was a good idea to keep this Dra'kon around as their watchdog?" I asked incredulously.

This thing sounded like it was bound to break away and kill everyone eventually.

Pollux shook his head. "It's not just a watchdog. It doesn't take orders from anyone but itself. It's not something you can control—only avoid. Or, if you're unlucky enough, fight. My parents manage to control it because it's engineered to protect them and their valuables... I'm not even safe from it..."

I whistled low. "And they just tossed Atropha in there? For what—safe keeping? Or punishment?"

Pollux's lips pressed into a thin line. "Both, probably. They wanted her out of the way, somewhere they thought I couldn't reach her. Somewhere they know she's bound to die in. But they don't understand. I have to try." He stopped walking, his eyes locking with mine. "I can't leave her in there, Polaris. If there's even the slightest chance she's still alive, I have to get her out."

I studied him for a long moment, the conviction burning in his eyes, the tension in his shoulders. Pollux wasn't a fighter—not really—but he was prepared to do whatever it took to save her.

"Well, I've been looking for a decent adrenaline rush, and I am sure I have fought far worse in the Space Jam," I said with a smirk, nudging him. "Let's go dragon hunting."

"Dra'kon," he corrected automatically, but a faint flicker of gratitude softened his features. "Although, it is quite similar to the mystical Earth creature..."

I was 99.9% sure that dragons don't exist on this planet in this universe.

"Whatever," I said with a shrug, brushing past him. "Lead the way, hero."

Pollux didn't hesitate. He moved deeper into the forest, the path narrowing as the trees grew denser around us.

The air began to smell of salt water and moisture—the sounds of the ocean hitting against a cliffside soon followed. Looking down, I eyed the grand and beautiful ballgown I was wearing precariously. Grand, beautiful, and tight. This was like the worst thing that one can walk into this situation wearing.

It was bound to slow me down.

The corset seemed to squeeze tighter at the thought.

Five days.

"How big are those caverns again?" I asked as we broke through the trees, spotting the cliff up ahead.

Pollux looked at me. "A few miles, and it runs deep..."

I slowly nodded before looking at him with dread. "And how long do you think it will take to locate Atropha, rescue her, and escape?"

Pollux gave me a similar look of dread. "Before I say this, don't forget the prize you receive out of this..."

The image of the scepter came to me. Arbiter relic number seven—Will was so close that I could taste it. Determination ate away at me at the thought.

"Thinking about it, now go on..." I motioned for him to continue, both of us coming to a stop at the edge of the cliff.

We were many feet above the cold waters that crashed against the cliff. A huge gaping hole was far below us, near the bottom of the cliff.

Pollux turned to me and said the answer that I was dreading. "Five days."

Fucking hell, this was going to be the longest five days of my existence.

▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂

𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧
𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧
𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟏, 𝟏𝟖𝟐𝟏
𝟓 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫...

"HOLY FUCK! HOLY FUCK! HOLY FUCK!"

It was my hollers echoing through the caverns as the damn dragon—yes, it's the same as a fucking dragon, once again swooped through breathing fire.

Five days motherfucking later, barely any sleep, stuck shitting in holes we dug, no food, licking the fresh waters that leaked from the walls and here we were. But at least Atropha was somehow still alive.

Speaking of which, Atropha was actually pretty badass, we'd become fast friends. Well, we kind of had to considering the situation we were all in.

By technicality, at this point, I had been with Pollux and Atropha longer than I had been with the Doctor and Amy!

Atropha released a battle cry as she came from the cavern's edge, holding a metallic gleaming spear in her right hand. She landed on the back of the beast, clutching tightly to it as it tried to fling her off with loud roars.

I jumped away as it breathed fire toward me, landing next to a more than disheveled-looking Pollux.

While perfection still became him with his natural Krystalline beauty—his fine suit was ripped. His coat was missing, his pants were torn heavily, and his hair was a mess.

His shoes were also missing.

Both of us were stained with dirt and dripping blood. Our own, each other's, and the beast's.

My dress was tatters, barely hanging on. Burn marks covered immense areas of my body as did it with Atropha and Pollux. My hair had long since fallen out of the beautiful ringlets, left in mattered waves—knotted back into a makeshift ponytail. The ends had even been burned off by the Dra'kon.

I had never been more grateful to myself for choosing to wear Converse to the ball, even if the shoes were now so beat they were barely staying on my feet. Anything else I could have worn would have been gone by now though.

"We need to help her!" I told Pollux, darting forward and picking up a glowing sword from the ground.

A sword strong enough to cut through the tough skin of the beast.

Pollux was right behind me, raising the machine-gun-like blaster and shooting it at the beast that Atropha was riding like a bull.

We had managed to break into one of the Ashworth vaults and steal some weaponry in the midst of hiding from the beast.

It was a much tougher beast than I had given it credit for. Especially considering it put me through five entire days of hell.

I didn't think of all the things I would miss, it would be the Doctor, Amelia, and the TARDIS.

I'd never let the Doctor live down how bad an idea Victorian London had turned out to be. Although—and not that I could tell him this part—it had actually been rather good seeing I was on the path to collecting artifact seven.

So long as we made it out of The fucking Keep.

I had been keeping mental count for how long we had been here, and if my math and time-tracking skills were correct (which it was) then we had thirty minutes to figure out a way to end this beast, get out of these caverns, and get to the Ball the second that Pollux and I's past selves would disappear from the waltz.

Atropha roared just as loudly as the beast as she was flung to the side, holding on by the claws of her fingertips.

Like the rest of the Krystalline people—like the Ashworths—Atropha was stunning.

Her skin was a rich, deep, and dark shade that bordered on light black, a hue that seemed to drink in the faintest light and reflect it back with a subtle, radiant warmth. Her hair was cropped short; wild stark white curls framing her face and brushing just above her shoulders. Pastel freckles, scattered like stardust, dusted her skin, adding an ethereal quality to her beauty.

The immense contrast that her hair and skin had against each other was enchanting.

Her eyes were a striking contrast to the pale hues Pollux and I shared—deep, endless onyx that made her pupils nearly indistinguishable, giving her gaze an otherworldly intensity that seemed to pierce through everything it touched.

Her clothing, though tattered and worn, hinted at her resilience. She was clad in a torn golden spacesuit that clung tightly to her frame, its design both practical and elegant. On the right side of her chest, the letters "ል08" were scrawled in beautifully intricate script, marking her unmistakable ties to the Krystalline Empire. It was the official uniform of their people, a symbol of their legacy and pride, even in disrepair.

"Pollux, use your gifts!" Atropha commanded as she kicked her legs, desperately trying to kick herself back up onto its back.

She was fierce, especially for a mortal being.

Leaping the air was a battle cry of my own—the space sword of the Krystalline Empire raised, I slashed the beast across its cheek causing it to let out a furious cry.

"He's too strong!" Pollux cried out. "I can't focus!" He was holding his right hand out, desperately trying to do anything to slow down the beast.

"Do you need a fucking pep-talk? A speech?!" I screeched. "That's the Doctor's specialty, not mine! And he's not here right now—so just fucking do something!"

My words must have got under his skin enough as in the next second—Pollux held out his hand and released a wave of energy strong enough to knock back the dragon a few feet. It was strong enough to distract it long enough that I was able to bring the sword up.

With a leap, I used every ounce of my strength to use the large space blade and slice straight through the soft part of the beast's next. It's head came from its body, blood spurting everywhere and covering the three of us.

"Grab my hand!" I yelled at Atropha, her managing to grab my hand in the knick of time as I propelled us backward.

The beast's huge body fell backward, off a cliff, and even deeper into the cavern. Moments later we heard a massive thud as it hit the ground, echoing around.

Atropha and I had landed on top of Pollux, the man groaning at our combined weight—all three of us soaked in blood and sprawled on top of each other.

"We still need to kill your parents..." I wheezed, exhausted after five days stuck in here overcoming me. "And we have like twenty minutes to get to the fucking ball... and we're at least three miles away!"

"Let's hijack their ship..." Atropha grunted rolling over on her hands and knees. "And I call dibs on killing your parents... they are some of the biggest assholes in the galaxy for this!" She hissed, Pollux slowly nodding and patting her arm.

She had been here the longest. A whopping seven days—the first two which she had been here the beast all by herself. Desperately hiding as it tried to kill her. Pollux and I finally ran into her about a day after we entered the place, all three of us switching between fighting the beast, hiding from it, and trying to escape.

Unfortunately, it was next to impossible to leave the place without killing the beast as it guarded the entrance fiercely.

Not to mention, that thing couldn't be left on Earth alive. If it ever decided to leave the caverns the devastation it would cause to humanity would be incalculable.

"And then we use the ship to skip out on this planet afterward?" Pollux asked. "I've been wanting to travel for some time..."

"Sure, babe, sounds good to me..." Atropha coughed, being the first to stand up followed by me and Pollux. "Perhaps a wedding somewhere in Alpha Centuri?"

"Anywhere you want," Pollux groaned.

Atropha did not know the full story behind me—I explained to Pollux that he should keep his multiversal knowledge to himself, as anyone he told would be put at risk. He already felt bad enough about what his parents did to Atropha, so he chose not to involve her any more than he had to. Therefore, Atropha only knew me as PJ, the space human traveling with the last TimeLord in existence.

Or at least, she got the quick version of it seeing as she had been told while we were all running for our lives.

We scrambled through the dimly lit caverns, exhaustion weighing us down, but the urgency of the clock spurring us forward. Pollux led the way, his keen sense of direction navigating us toward the stash of supplies we'd hidden earlier in our fight for survival. Atropha trailed close behind, her breathing steady despite the ordeal she'd been through. I brought up the rear, my makeshift sword dragging behind me, its glowing edge flickering ominously.

"This is it," Pollux announced, coming to a halt at a hollowed-out crevice in the cavern wall. He knelt down, pulling aside a jagged slab of stone to reveal the stash of items: ration packs, a box of crystalline cartridges for the blasters, and a glowing silver orb about the size of a softball.

Atropha grabbed the orb first, her fingers curling around it protectively. "Emergency power source," she explained to me. "It'll keep the ship running if things ever go sideways."

I nodded, though, at this point, I wasn't sure what "sideways" even meant anymore.

"Grab what you can carry," Pollux instructed us. "We're cutting it close, and we don't have time to come back. Once my parents fall we're blowing off this planet."

Atropha grinned at him. "Next stop: everywhere..." She reached out, linking her hand with his and intertwining their fingers.

They shared a little smile—their beautiful eyes twinkling as they gazed at each other with all the love and excitement in the universe.

I looked away, momentarily feeling as though I was intruding on a rather personal moment.

Longing ate away inside me, not jealousy, but longing for what the two of them share.

Love like that was rare.

Within moments, we'd gathered the essentials. Atropha slung the cartridges over her shoulder, Pollux secured the rations into a small satchel, and I clutched a glowing canister of fuel for the ship.

We bolted toward the exit of the cavern, the air growing cooler and saltier as we neared the outside. When we finally emerged into the open, at the cavern's entrance, the sight of the Ashworth family ship was a relief.

The ship sat nestled in a hidden alcove near the cliffside, partially camouflaged by jagged rock formations. It was a classic Krystalline design—sleek, metallic, and unmistakably alien. Shaped like a flying saucer, its exterior gleamed under the moonlight, its surface etched with intricate patterns that seemed to ripple like water under the faint glow of its energy core.

Sensing an Ashworth in its presence, a ramp extended from the underside, inviting us in like a doorway to freedom.

We rushed aboard, the interior starkly different from the sprawling wonder of the TARDIS.

This was practical and utilitarian—every inch was designed for function over flair. The main room was compact but livable, resembling a cross between a small futuristic home and an RV. There was a kitchenette to one side, a seating area with built-in benches, and a control panel dominating the far end of the space.

Pollux immediately took the pilot's chair, his fingers flying over the controls with practiced ease. Atropha hovered behind him, her sharp gaze scanning the readouts and occasionally barking out adjustments.

They moved together like a machine, the perfect duo.

"I better receive an invitation to your wedding..." I told them with a heavy breath.

Atropha turned her head and made eye contact with me—her grin bright and features lighting up.

"Oh, you will!" She confirmed.

Pollux piped up from where he was next to her. "After this, I'd might even like you to officiate our marriage!"

"Done deal..." I flashed a thumbs-up. "I received my certification long ago and far away..."

Neither of them questioned my words.

I collapsed onto one of the back benches, finally letting myself exhale. My head leaned back against the wall as I stared at the ceiling, the soft hum of the ship's power core vibrating through the floor. For a moment, I allowed myself to exist simply, watching Pollux and Atropha move in sync like two parts of a well-oiled machine.

"You've done this before," I muttered, mostly to myself, but they heard.

"Of course we have," Atropha shot back, not even looking at me as she adjusted one of the ship's dials. "The Empire trains us for this kind of thing from birth. You think we're just pretty faces?"

Pollux smirked but didn't comment, his focus remaining on the controls as the ship began to rise. A low hum filled the cabin, followed by a gentle lurch as we lifted off the ground.

"Strap in," Pollux warned, and I hurriedly fumbled with the harness on my seat.

The ship soared upward, breaking free from the cliffside and into the open air. Pollux tilted the controls, angling us toward the Ashworth manor. As we approached, the glittering lights of the ball came into view, the manor glowing like a beacon against the dark countryside.

Pollux brought the ship down low, its imposing silhouette casting a long shadow over the partygoers outside. The moment the landing gear deployed and the ramp extended, chaos erupted.

I wondered briefly if this instance was where the classic human interpretation of alien spaceships being a "flying saucer" came from.

People screamed, some dropping their drinks as they scrambled away from the ship in panic. A few brave—or foolish—souls stayed rooted in place, staring up at the alien vessel with wide eyes.

"We're here," Pollux announced as he powered down the ship.

"Yeah," I muttered, unbuckling my harness and standing up on unsteady legs. "Let's make this one hell of an entrance."

We had seconds before our past selves disappeared, I was willing to bet the golden glow had just started encasing them as they danced.

Pollux and I from five days—well, five days ago from my point of view that is.

My heart went out to my past self.

Good luck bitch, you have five days of hell ahead of you.

Atropha proceeded to take the machine-gun blaster in her grasp, cocking it.

"I'm right behind you two, just loading it..." She nodded and proceeded to fuel the weapon with a glowing white liquid.

"Well, looks like you can give your parents some last words..." I told Pollux as we made our way from the ship and down the ramp.

People who had been in the yard were long gone, some still gaping in shock. One man even passed out as Pollux and I passed by.

Not that I blamed him, we were both soaked in blood—my dress was tattered, the corset long since broken and the sleeves gone. Bloody footprints were left on the ground from the Converse as we passed.

Pollux was clenching his fist, a wild gleam in his eye. It was the look of someone who had been wronged much by someone they trusted, the look of someone about to get their sweet revenge.

He held out his arm for me, and I linked my own through it as we strolled toward the entrance. People gasped and cries could be heard within, and through the windows, a bright golden light started shining.

I kicked the double doors open, and both of us strolled in.

No one noticed our entrance considering what we walked in on.

We were met with the sight of a bright light encasing two figures on the dance floor.

Pollux and I, from the past.

"PJ!" The Doctor cried, surging forward with his hand outstretched just as my previous self and Pollux disappeared.

Good luck, bitch.

People were yelling in shock, and his parents looked enraged as they stared at the now empty dance floor.

"Where is my son?!" Mrs. Ashworth cried out a moment afterward.

The Doctor's mouth had fallen agape, his eyes looking every which way on the dance floor.

"PJ..." He cried out again, quieter but I caught it through the sudden stillness of the people.

His green eyes were wide and wavering, staring at the space I'd disappeared at almost heartbrokenly. Amelia looked equally as shocked and frightened, grabbing the Doctor by his sleeve.

"Doctor, where'd they go?!" She frantically shook him.

"I don't—I don't know?" The Doctor was floundering, quickly pulling out his sonic screwdriver. "But I will figure it out, and I am going to get her back." He sounded angrier than I thought he would, his voice so stern it surprised me.

He briefly looked at Amy, almost as though scared she would disappear on the spot too.

Whispers broke out and scared gazes looked around.

Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth were fuming.

Mrs. Ashworth turned toward the nearest servant.

"Search the grounds!" She barked, her voice no longer warm and charming. "My son is to be found immediately! Pollux must be located!" She shrieked, gaining the Doctor's attention.

He narrowed his eyes at her, obviously now knowing there was something 1000% off about the couple.

"Don't bother! I am right here!" Pollux called loudly, causing nearly every head to turn to look as we walked forward.

Gasps and screams echoed about at the state of us. Blood dripped from the edges of my dress and onto the floor, and I had no doubt there was a slightly crazed look into both our eyes from the complete hell we had suffered the last five days.

No rest, little water, and no food along with fighting for your life would do that to you.

Pollux stepped forward, standing in front of me by a few inches—fury in his eyes as he regarded his parents.

"Pollux, what is the meaning of this!" Mrs. Ashworth barked, beginning to walk down the steps.

"PJ..." The Doctor started to walk toward me frantically.

I looked at him, holding out a hand and shaking my head. He stopped in his tracks.

"Doctor, it's been a hell of a week... I'll explain in just a moment, but he needs to take of this..." I jerked my head in the direction of Pollux. "Just know that I will never allow you to take me to Victorian London again unless you give me the best reason in the world..." My right eye twitched.

The Doctor looked positively appalled at my state, his mouth agape as he took in my blood-soaked form. Thousands of questions formed behind his eyes, questions that I could feel his mind making up theories to.

Amy was wearing a similar face.

Slowly, I turned away from them, looking back to the furious Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth.

"Who is she then? A replacement for that idiot?" Mrs. Ashworth hissed.

Pollux snarled. "How dare you? You throw the love of my life in with your bio-weapon! All but trying to sentence her to a painful death: alone and in the dark! You abuse me, use me all my life! You get us kicked off our home!" He cried, voice breaking. "Well, I am done—NO MORE!"

The words were familiar, something in me switched.

No more.

Something in the Doctor flickered, a familiarity within the depths of his old eyes. Those words meant something to him.

No more...

I wondered what they meant to that old TimeLord. What weighed down on his kind soul?

His eyes suddenly met mine again and I was quickly looking away, turning a steely gaze back to the Ashworths.

People were smart, already running away and leaving the manor as though the devil itself was on its heels.

"And what will you do about it, boy?" Mr. Ashworth came forward, his face twisted in a sneer.

The Doctor cut in, raising his sonic toward the couple. "Don't either of you move another step!" He demanded harshly.

"And who are you?" Mrs. Ashworth scoffed. "A galactic police officer?"

The Doctor gave her a ghost of a smile, a near-dangerous twinkle bursting forth from his eyes.

"Oh trust me—I'm worse..." He sighed, voice quieter but steady. "It sounds like you've treated your son quite horribly..." The Doctor tilted his head, face eerily blank. "What did they to you, my dearest?" He asked me softly, turning and allowing his gaze to once again drink in my firm. "Tell me the truth..."

I was surprised by the conviction on the Doctor's face, a deadly emotion threatening to bubble up and over the surface.

This was new—and I wondered what the Doctor might do if I chose to tell him that these people had hurt me in any way.

Technically, they hadn't, their damn beast had.

The Doctor was eyeing the various burns and injuries on my body before he repeated himself—his voice shaking with untapped outrage.

"PJ," He snapped. "I asked you a question and I expect an honest answer. What did they do to you?"

"Nothing," I hastily answered. "At least, not directly—I assisted Pollux in rescuing someone very dear to him from their damn beast. Hence the burns and various other bruising..." I winced with a laugh. "However, I'm sure you'll be interested to know they broke countless moral laws and bred a beast of destruction..." I tittered, turning to them with mock apologetic eyes. "A beast that I did need to kill... sorry about that..." It was more than obvious the apology was anything but genuine.

I could feel the Doctor still staring at me, his eyes nearly burning holes in the side of my head.

Pollux turned to the Doctor at that moment. "You're the Oncoming Storm, the most feared being in all the cosmos... she said you stop people like them!" He thrust a pale hand toward his parents who now looked confused, sharing glances as they regarded the Doctor. "Perhaps I should tell you a little about them. They are intergalactic criminals, exiled from our planet for running one of the biggest underground trafficking syndicates in our world. Children, men, women, animals—anything!" He snarled. "Ripped from their homes and sold as slaves! All thanks to them!"

Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth did not look apologetic.

"And they used me—and they want to continue to use me to take over this world!"

The Doctor slowly nodded his head, a pondering look in his eyes. "Well..." He murmured, voice hoarse and nearly hushed. "Definitely can't have that, can we? I see it now between you all—the Krystalline Empire? Fugitives?" He questioned out loud.

He looked at me and I nodded in confirmation.

Mrs. Ashworth rolled her eyes, her hands placed on her hips. "You rescued that foolish girl you claim to love..." She sounded angry, addressing her son. "And this bitch," She jerked a finger at me. "...Killed our guard?!"

Pollux stomped his foot and roared loudly. "HER NAME IS ATROPHA! AND YOU SENT HER INTO THE KEEP LIKE SHE WAS NOTHING!"

"SHE IS NOTHING!" Mrs. Ashworth screamed right back. "AND YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A DISAPPOINTMENT—I SHOULD HAVE SENT YOU TO DIE WITH HER!"

Amy gasped out loud and Pollux took a step back, his eyebrows scrunching in surprise. There was a flicker of hurt in his gaze—and he had to look away from the woman with a deep breath.

The Doctor's gaze flickered: something deeper than anger... resentment maybe? It brewed in him like a storm.

He took a step forward, eyes clouded with darkness.

There was a shift of movement behind me.

I wasted no time, pushing Pollux to the side and darting out of the way as Atropha marched forward.

"Get down!" I called to Amy and the Doctor.

Atropha's heavy weaponry was held tightly and fire burned angrily through her being.

She roared and fired the machine-blaster, consistent shots of light leaving it and hitting her target perfectly.

Mrs. Ashworth's face was frozen in shock as she was hit with multiple rays of deadly energy pulses. The woman fell to the ground within seconds as her husband went next to her.

Blood leaked from the corners of their mouths as well as their eyes—dead gazes blank and unseeing.

The Doctor moved to cover Amy protectively as she was right next to him, but Atropha was only hitting the two people she wanted dead. Finally, after what felt like a century, she stopped firing noticing the couple was now more than dead.

Pollux looked at his love from his place on the floor with wide eyes.

I breathed deeply, not wanting to get up but forcing myself to slowly stand from where I had been crouched.

God, I fucking hurt.

Atropha blew a fallen piece of curly hair out of her face, scowling at the dead bodies.

She grumbled loudly to the dead Mrs. Ashworth. "Now who's the dead one, bitch?"

▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂

A small while later and after playing catch-up with the Doctor and Amy, all five of us stood outside the Ashworth spaceship.

The flying saucer was big, gleaming under the moonlight. Amelia was laughing while examining it, speaking in hushed excited whispers with the Doctor and Atropha as she showed them the different things to it.

"The TARDIS is amazing, but this is—this looks like it's straight out of a movie, Doctor!" Amy giggled almost childishly.

The Doctor was rather excited as well, the man never one to turn down examining new technologies. He added his own few words in every so often.

I watched from a few feet away with a small tired smile.

After answering countless questions and assuring the Doctor over a hundred times that I was fine and could wait a few minutes to return to the TARDIS for him to treat my burns.

Even as I told him that I was fully capable of treating my own burns, he insisted that I should have help. And he wouldn't take no for an answer.

The Doctor was incredibly inquisitive when Pollux revealed his telekinesis abilities, he thought it was especially impressive when Pollux explained he used the residual energy in the air from the TARDIS to throw him and me back in time by five days.

However, the Doctor was annoyed that Pollux took me instead of him.

In the Doctor's mind, he felt that this was far too dangerous for a companion to take on alone, and yet I could not imagine the alien in tweed fighting off that damn beast with a sword.

The Doctor probably would have tried to sonic it and got his head bitten off in response.

Pollux lied to the Doctor—well, not explicitly. He moreso left things out.

AKA, Pollux did not mention that it was a mixture of residual energy from the TARDIS and the scepter that gave him enough power to fling us back in time. He made it sound as if it was only from the TARDIS.

Therefore, the Doctor was aware of virtually nothing to do with the scepter.

Pollux lied and said that he only picked me because he had the opportunity to dance with me. He claimed that he had thought a companion of the Doctor's was good enough, words the Doctor desperately tried not to crash out at.

The Doctor then told Pollux rather firmly that when it comes to feats as dangerous as that, one should never take one of his companions in place of him. If there was one thing the Doctor hated, it was when his companions were put in unnecessary danger.

I had hit the Doctor in the back of the head after he said that.

"I am an intern, not a companion, this is what I do!"

The Doctor only grumbled in response as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Here," Pollux suddenly came up from behind me, emerging from the manor.

He had been inside for the past few minutes, cleaning it out of all the alien items and tech they had stored away.

Atropha and Pollux did not plan on coming back to this planet ever again. The Earth was now a rather sore place for the couple—something that made the Doctor and Amy rather sad as the Doctor loved this planet and Amy was a native to it.

But they understood.

I turned around, taking the scepter from Pollux as he handed it to me.

The Arbiter of Will—its artifact. Power thrummed from it in waves. I stared at it with wonder in my eyes, holding it tightly.

A masterpiece of craftsmanship, radiating an aura that made it impossible to mistake for anything ordinary. The metal was cool to the touch, but it felt alive—pulsing faintly, as though it had a heartbeat of its own.

The shaft was made of a sleek, obsidian-like material that shimmered with faint streaks of gold and silver, swirling like liquid starlight. Intricate engravings spiraled up its length, written in a language I didn't recognize but instinctively understood as ancient and unyielding. The patterns seemed to shift slightly under my gaze, like they were reacting to my thoughts.

At the top of the scepter sat a crystalline orb, suspended within a crown-like framework of jagged metal prongs. The orb glowed softly with a light that defied color, constantly shifting between hues of blue, green, and violet. It gave the impression of holding a fragment of the universe itself, a tiny, encapsulated nebula that seemed impossibly deep. Inside the orb, sparks of white light flickered occasionally, like stars being born and dying in the span of seconds.

As I held the scepter, I felt its power thrumming in waves, resonating with something deep inside me. It wasn't just a weapon—it was a tool of judgment, one that carried the weight of justice and responsibility. The longer I held it, the more I felt its presence pressing into my mind, as if testing my resolve, my worth.

"The Arbiter of Will," Pollux said softly, his voice carrying a reverence I rarely heard from him. "It's... attuning to you."

I tightened my grip on the shaft and tilted it slightly, the orb casting a faint, ethereal glow on the ground. For a moment, it felt as though the universe paused, waiting for what I might do next. The sheer potential in the artifact was dizzying, and yet it felt right—like it belonged in my hands.

Looking away, I nodded to Pollux thankfully.

"Thank you..." I whispered to him.

"No, thank you," He reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. "Polaris Jade." He said my name quietly, far too soft for anyone else to hear.

"Oi—is that the artifact from your parents?" Amy jumped over to us with the Doctor and Atropha right behind her. "Can I hold it?"

I was hesitant, but it would be incredibly suspicious to the Doctor if I said 'no'. This was not necessarily harmful upon being held, and without prior knowledge of the multiverse, it was nearly impossible to guess what it was, let alone use as a weapon.

One needed to have great power themselves to be able to wield any Arbiter artifact.

"Sure," I shrugged, giving it to Amy. "It's Pollux's gift to me, you like?"

She nodded, turning it every which way as she looked. Her hands ran up and down its length.

"Ooh, smooth..." She playfully waggled her brows.

The Doctor frowned, taking it from Amy after she was done examining it.

"What was this again?" He asked crisply.

Pollux answered before I did, saving me from a meek explanation.

"A family heirloom, just a scepter that one of my mother's ancestors created from a rare Krystalline jewel or something... it's just a fancy decoration. Considering my parents; however, I really don't want that heirloom anymore, too many memories..." The blond man sighed.

My lips quirked. "And I will happily take it off your hands! Imagine how this will look in my room, Doctor!" I piped. "Thanks!"

The Doctor looked between Pollux and me for a second too long before slowly nodding his head. There was no reason for him to not believe the explanation, especially after he scanned it with his sonic.

"100% Krystalline-Zanthium... harmless and beautiful..." He clicked his tongue as he read the readings.

Obviously, one of the most powerful objects in the universe would not be so easily distinguishable. The Doctor would have had to have the TARDIS itself scan it for hours before even the smallest portion of its true nature was revealed.

Thankfully, he now has no reason to have the TARDIS scan it.

With one last long look at the scepter, the Doctor handed it back to me.

I happily took it, holding it a bit too tightly as though afraid object number seven would turn to ash.

Two more to go.

"I do expect invitations to your wedding. Doctor, you gave them the number to the TARDIS, right?" I asked the TimeLord who nodded.

"Of course, I did... call us anytime!" The Doctor smiled at them, standing rather close to me. "You two are a lovely couple by the way—I am sure you'll both have so much fun with the wonders of the galaxy!" He flapped his hands, a knowing smile on his lips. "Call us anytime and maybe we can grab lunch, yeah?" He suggested.

"Oh! I know of a great food moon!" Atropha said excitedly, leaning against Pollux.

All three of us were still soaked in blood and dirt.

"Sounds like a plan!" The Doctor nodded, all of us saying our last goodbyes as the couple made their way inside their ship.

"Next stop?" We heard Atropha ask Pollux as they went up the ramp.

"Everywhere!" Pollux cheered right back, their hands intertwined.

I watched them go with a smile as did Amy and the Doctor.

Looking next to me, I was surprised to see the Doctor momentarily look at me with an oddly soft look. I quickly looked away—still aware of close he was standing.

Almost protectively.

Oh, affectionate and protective TimeLord.

We stood waving them goodbye as the spaceship slowly rose into the air, an amazing and iridescent glow overcoming it as it started spinning—preparing to make the jump into hyperspace.

Its engine core fizzled to life, a series of bright colors that resembled a rainbow crackling underneath it. It spun faster and faster and faster, teetering back and forth in the air. Amy was gasping in wonder having never seen anything like it.

I could nearly imagine Pollux piloting as Atropha stood behind him watchfully.

With that the spaceship suddenly shot off, leaving nothing more than a streak of light as it went soaring through the air—up and far out of sight.

The three of us were left standing in silence for a few moments.

"I believe it is time to go... we can try another ball a different time, Pond..." The Doctor said, flinching at the look I gave him.

"I'm not coming..." I deadpanned.

"Perhaps we can talk about it?"

"No!"

We were mostly quiet apart from the small bickering as we made our way back to the TARDIS.

Not as outwardly flashy as the flying saucer, but more spectacular in every way.