Chapter Text
“Rory Arthur Williams, you have been found guilty of murder in the first degree of Amy Jessica Williams. You have been sentenced to life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole.”
Rory stood completely motionless, his face blank, the way it had been since the moment he’d been arrested. His lawyer sighed closing the file and sliding it into his briefcase, he hadn’t expected to win.
“Rory,” Brian whispered to his son, anguished at recent events, “Tell me what happened, tell me why you did this.”
Silence was all Brian received as the bailiff arrived to take Rory to prison, and soon Brian was left with his son’s lawyer.
“I’m sorry, Mr Williams,” the other man said softly.
With that he left the courtroom and Brian was alone once more.
Pulling out his phone, Brian wondered why he couldn’t get a hold of anyone. The Doctor hadn’t answered the many messages he’d left for him. He understood that the message may not reach the Time Lord at the right time, but even then, surely he had to have received one at least.
What was worse was the fact his other son hadn’t been in touch either, which made no sense because Michael and Rory saw or spoke to one another at least once a week.
He’d expected Michael to appear at some point, but there was no sign of him, and every message Brian had left went unanswered.
Putting his phone away, Brian sadly left the court managing to avoid the press who were waiting outside wanting their story.
Rory sat in the police car staring out the window as he was transferred back to the prison. He felt nothing, hadn’t in weeks and didn’t care about anything.
He was aware of what he’d done.
He knew Amy was dead by his hand, and he remembered seeing her on the ground covered in blood as he stood over her with his sword held in his hand while their sons cried in the nursery.
Logically he knew he should care.
They’d grown up together and his memories told him he’d loved her, they had two children together. Rory just didn’t feel anything towards her.
The trial had been rushed forward for some reason, not that he really cared but it meant in just over a month it was over, and he was going to prison for the rest of his life.
The car stopped and the door opened.
Hampered by the cuffs around his wrists and ankles Rory slid out the seat and waited as the officers checked in. He trudged behind them as they made their way to the cell that would be his home from now on.
To his bemusement they stopped and moved him into an office where a woman stood. She had dark brown hair, and dark eyes but other than that was bland, his eyes slid off her as though he wasn’t supposed to remember anything about her.
“Mr Williams,” she said, he couldn’t place an accent as the words felt like they were simply reaching his brain bypassing his ears, “I did not have high hopes for you, but you proved me wrong in so many ways.”
Rory felt he should ask questions, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. The apathy that had surrounded him for the past few weeks continued to dominate and Rory simply stared at her.
“Anyway,” the woman continued, “As you have proven yourself suitable then we will move you onto phase two. I’m afraid that cosy cell you were expecting for the rest of your life is not your destination,” she turned to the man standing behind Rory, “Remove the shackles and give him his weapon.”
Rory watched as he was released, part of him knew he should run that whatever was happening was very bad, but he didn’t move. Instead he took the knife he was handed, turning it to study the blade.
“I was at one point going give you the sword you used on your wife,” the woman continued amused, “Honestly didn’t expect that. I would love to know where you got that from, but I can’t give you something different from the other subjects.”
Walking over to the wall she opened a panel that Rory hadn’t noticed before and pressed a button. A bright green swirl of energy appeared on the wall in front of Rory, who watched it with detached interest. A hand rested on his shoulder, and he was shoved forward into the portal.
Rory stumbled out of the green glow into a dank dull room, the air was thick with acrid smoke. He could feel other people close to him and his grip tightened on the knife he’d been given.
He knew whoever was nearby were coming after him and, despite the apathy he’d felt for months, Rory knew he had to survive.
The first attack came swiftly, and Rory easily dodged, stabbing the moment he got an opening. Several more men came at him, and Rory fought back with a ferocity he hadn’t experienced in a thousand years.
Blood covered his hands and face as Rory moved through the bodies of the men who’d attacked him. They were all dead, and their weapons lay on the ground. Rory checked each man, finding two daggers that he felt were adequate before finding a sword. It had good balance and was sharp enough for the moment, but he would need to sharpen it properly soon. Continuing to search the bodies he found a cloak that had no holes and was free of blood before taking the sheath for his new sword off one of the men close to his size.
Armed properly, Rory began to move further away from where he’d arrived here. Looking around he realised his attackers were camped out only a few feet away from the portal he’d come through. Likely either to try to escape or simply to kill any newcomers. He searched the camp finding some food and a little water in a canteen, throwing them in a pack that was sitting there.
Reaching the entrance of what seemed to be a cave, Rory wrapped the cloak around himself, pulling the hood up to cover his head he slowly started out to discover where he was.
The world around him was cool, bathed in a strange orange hue through a light fog. It was only about five minutes after he left the cave when he was attacked again. Rory spun out the way, instantly drawing his sword. The man facing him snarled and attacked Rory with a cry. Rory blocked the attack before slamming his sword through the other man’s heart.
Pulling the sword free, Rory checked the man for more supplies, part of his mind questioned what he was doing but once again he was filled with apathy and simply ensured he had what he needed to survive.
Rory knew being out in the open was dangerous and he had to find shelter.
Looking across what little horizon he could see, Rory spotted another cave entrance which was close. He took all he needed from the other man and started towards what he hoped would be refuge.
Heading towards what might be his accommodation for the night, Rory met no one else. Either there was no one else in this area or the fact he had dispatched all who had crossed him so far meant people were staying away for now.
It took him about an hour to reach the cave, and Rory found wood to build a fire as well as what appeared to be a small pool of fresh water inside. Setting himself in the most defensible position, he hunted through the pack he’d taken from the last man who had attacked him. He found a canteen with some water, food, and some sophisticated equipment than Rory wouldn't have guessed would be here.
Checking everything he discovered he had a shield generator which took only a few minutes of tinkering to get working. With the shield up, Rory continued checking the final few pockets of the pack finding a whetstone. Getting settled, Rory began to sharpen his weapons as he watched the light fade outside the cave.
“Bring up the details on subject 1894,” Edrea stated, turning to the first of her assistants, Henri sitting at the main console.
He tapped a few controls, the screen jumped to life and her most recent test subject appeared on it sitting in a cave sharpening a sword.
“He made it past the first test easily,” Edrea noted, “I did not predict that but then 1894 has consistently been a surprise in all aspects of this experiment.”
Henri nodded, “Considering his background, he should be in the infirmary already, but he has made it to phase two well before any previous subject has.”
Edrea frowned, “It looks as though you truly cannot judge a book by its cover.”
Making a few notes, Edrea moved on to the other subjects she had in the arena. She had to provide an update of her progress so far on how the subjects had been conditioned to her benefactor that evening. He wanted an army, but an army that would not question his commands or run away from certain death but who could also ensure they survived no matter what.
Her former employers had a technique for putting subjects under control that worked but there was always a percentage who could break the conditioning, not to mention if the subject fought against it then it caused immense pain which could irreparably damage the soldier.
Her new technique was so much better and once she managed to refine it then she would have a product to sell to warlords all over time and space.
Returning her attention back to her most recent subject, Edrea frowned. There was something odd about him. From his file he shouldn’t have made it past the first test of the arena so easily.
The thing that had surprised her was that he had used a sword to kill his wife. The initial phase of the experiment was usually done by hand or a knife from the kitchen, she’d had no idea he owned a sword.
“Ma’am,” the assistant whose name she hadn’t learned yet called, “You have a visitor.”
Edrea frowned annoyed, her client was overbearing, but surely he could wait a few hours? She stalled as she saw the man who appeared behind the young woman, “Captain Bartholomew Arden.” She waved the girl away and closed the door so they could speak in private, “I did not know you survived the explosion.”
“My ship was badly damaged, Doctor Harmon,” Arden explained, “It took time to repair it and round up those still loyal. We have been repairing the Vanishing Point so that we can rebuild the Time Masters once more.”
“With you in charge?”
Arden smirked, “Druce chose me as his direct successor. And I intend to follow in his footsteps. Which is why I want you to return to your former position.”
Edrea mused for a moment, “I have a contract.”
“Which will mean nothing once we return to the Vanishing Point,” Arden replied.
“And my experiment?”
Arden nodded, “Returning to your former position as head of research, you can do whatever you want.”
Edrea smiled, this would give her greater resources and nodded.
“I need all the subjects,” she told him, “The research I have done will help us in the future for conditioning to ensure we never have to worry about any type of rebellion ever again.”
“My ship is waiting,” Arden replied.
Edrea activated the sedatives within her subjects so they would be easy to transport. Gathering everything she mused just how much she would be able to do with her proper resources once more.
The Vanishing Point no longer sat dead.
Edrea smiled to see the ships moving around it once again, although it was clear that it wasn’t up to full capacity yet, the Time Masters were definitely back.
She supervised her subjects being transferred from the ship to her lab. She didn’t like stopping an experiment in the middle of it, but the arena would need to be remade here.
“Is everything to your liking?” Arden asked as he walked into the lab.
Edrea nodded, “However I need to restart my experiment as soon as possible.”
“We have your specifications,” Arden noted, “And it is being put together as we speak.”
“Excellent.”
“What exactly is your experiment?” Arden asked thoughtfully.
Edrea frowned in surprise he was asking but replied, “The technique used formerly to reprogramme those who needed it was harsh, violent. Ripping at the memories and mind that meant the subject would fight against it. This caused a great deal of pain and that in turn meant they would fight harder which would lead to brain damage. My experiment is a slower conditioning but with a higher success rate.”
Arden stared at her, “Really.”
“Subject 556,” Edrea stated, “He was a Landscape Gardener, married for fifteen years, did numerous works for charity and looked after his ailing mother.” She paused before continuing, “After my conditioning, he stabbed his husband in the chest with a rake then made his mother her dinner. He unfortunately did not last well in the arena, but it shows you what I have done.”
Nodding Arden mused, “It is impressive but not helpful if the subject is not able to survive further.”
“Subject 1894, registered nurse, his colleagues all have nothing but praise for him, married to his childhood sweetheart, father of twins,” Edrea explained, “After my conditioning, he killed his wife with a sword.”
“A sword?”
Edrea nodded, “I had no idea he owned anything like that. However, he entered the arena just before you contacted me and within his first few hours, removed all challenges with ease and managed to hole up in a cave. He even set up the shield just by playing about with the generator for a few minutes.”
Arden gave an impressed nod, “They are interesting results,” he said, “But you forget one thing, doctor.”
“Which us?” Edrea demanded annoyed.
Snapping his fingers, he alerted the guards who dragged in a woman, dropping her onto the floor.
Arden grabbed a fistful of her hair forcing her to look at him showing the bruises and cuts across her face, “For traitors like Captain Baxter here,” he snarled, “We want them to feel the pain.”