//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: The Gate of the City // Story: Time Bubbles // by Janicethelight //------------------------------// The Doctor’s mind worked in overdrive.  He bucked the two raccoons off him easily now that they were distracted by the launch.  He grabbed the bubble launcher and the anti-gravity field from the raccoons around him. He shot the bubble first with his hoof, before using his mouth to shoot the anti-gravity beam. Derpy arched hundreds of yards away before she and Procione found themselves inside a bubble.  Derpy looked over to see ants standing where she knew the doctor was. They started their descent when a beam went around the bubble.  For a moment the bubble seemed to stop mid-air before it continued to fall. The Doctor watched in horror as the bubble fell after only a moment, grabbing the raccoon who had made the anti-gravity gun.  “Tell me there’s a way that she is still alive.” His eyes froze the poor raccoon in his tracks, feeling like all warmth had been sucked out, and one false move would spell his death. “Th-there’s a chance, y-yes…”. He managed, every raccoon staying back from sheer instinct now, “I-in..in my field tests...the objects...the objects become weightless a few feet from...from the ground, slowing...slowing to a stop….but, I’ve never tried from th...this height before….it’s more likely-“ The Doctor let him go, and the raccoon ran as fast as his legs could carry him.  His blizzardy glare turned to Forsker and the concave, “now listen here. I am going to go and save my friend, and the young raccoon that stood up for her, and you lot are going to help me.” “Oh please, Doctor.  We are an entire nation and there is only one you.  We have your ship, and your little trinket of a sonic device has been obliterated.”  One member scoffed, “you hold no power over us.” “Oh, you underestimate me, sir.  I’m the Doctor. I’m a timelord from the planet Gallifrey!  I go through time and space, and I protect those that need protecting!  You and your world may be far away from the tiny planet, but I also know that time lords are known all over, and I am the reason why they disappeared for so long, trapped in a pocket dimension!” He waited a moment for the realization to hit them, as it always did.  Instead of the fear or amazement, he had grown used to, the raccoons all started laughing. “Time Lord he says!”  One nudged another, “put his whole world in a dimensional pocket.  Travels through time and space in his tiny spaceship.” The Doctor couldn’t help the confusion that sunk into him.  It was possible, of course, for some to never have heard of the Time Lords before, but he didn’t expect that from such a scientifically advanced race.  He shook his head, deciding to explore the reason for that after finding Derpy. The concave continued to laugh, and the Doctor used the opportunity to grab Forsker, and run.  They stopped laughing a few moments later, attempting to follow. The Doctor watched for anything he could use to get to Derpy faster. Forsker dared not try to run from the grasp of the pony.  He had seen eyes of Raccoons who would do anything to see their inventions succeed, and the Doctor mirrored that look precisely. Other raccoons stayed far from his wrath, their instincts taking over.  “No screwdriver, Tardis going who knows where and a companion I can not trust. Still, I’ve faced harder challenges...just hold tight, Derpy...I’m coming to save you.” ******************************************************** The Doctor kept his eyes out for anything he could use as they went ever closer to the edge of the city.  He noted Forsker’s growing nervousness as the city became smaller behind them. The further away they were, the more dangerous the experiments the raccoons were trying.  Near the edge of the city. The Doctor stopped when he saw raccoons with needles. One was given a shot of some kind. From the corner of his eye, he realized Another was being carted out in a cage, foaming at the mouth with a crazed look in her eyes.  “What are they doing?” Forsker looked over to the same study, before starting back at the Doctor, “my best theory is that they are trying to find a cure for rabies.” “Rabies?” “Terrible disease, causes even the most intelligent raccoon to be even more Deranged than the Imbuka.” “So If they’re curing rabies...why are they carrying out test subjects?” “Well, they’re giving them rabies first.” “They...are...giving...them rabies…” “Well, of course.  Rabies isn’t extremely common, and only studying unintentional victims impedes our progress.” “Do they know they’re getting rabies?” “I don’t know. I presume so. I’m not part of their group. It doesn’t matter.” “It doesn’t matter?!  Raccoons, like you, are being given a disease which causes them to lose their minds and then die, and you don’t think it matters?  You lot call Derpy’s world barbaric, and then ask questions like that?!” “It is not barbaric! A life spent to further our knowledge is a life unwasted! Do not make the mistake of assuming that we hold test subjects in any low regard. In fact, we revere them. Those who donate their lives to advance us forward; their sacrifices are not forgotten. And in knowing that, they die proudly!” The Doctor sighed, a gate coming closer into view.  By the gate there was a sign: you are now leaving Rahsla’ Tunah.  Forsker stopped short. “This is where we part, Doctor.” “No.  It’s not...I need someone who knows the land.” “No raccoon in their right mind would go past the city gate willingly.” “Says the one who shrugs off things like living creatures flung into the air to fall and die, or their people have given diseases without their knowledge.” “They were both for the greater good of science.  Going out there is worse than any death, and the odds of finding Derpy in the forest are so minute--” “I don’t care about the good of science or the odds.  Derpy is my friend and I will find her, and you will help me unless you want to see the kind of wrath I’m fully capable of...” Forsker shot him a look, “I’ll admit that you caught us off guard before, Doctor, but I doubt some creature of your build could really hurt any raccoon.” “Oh, really?”  The Doctor’s eyes sharpened as he circled around Forsker, “let me tell you something about me. I have destroyed battle fleets in seconds, I have extinguished entire species. Entire armies have been sent to destroy me and they fell before me. I am the Doctor, and that is someone who you don’t want to cross.  So, Forsker, I will say this once more, and only once more. Derpy is my companion. I told myself I wouldn’t take on another companion. I’ve lost too many as it was, but I took her anyway. How could I not when she was sitting there, crying, feeling unimportant--”. There was a moment of sadness in his eyes before they sharpened again, “and then you lot throw her deep into a world she doesn’t know!  I won’t lose her. I refuse to lose anyone else! And the stars help anyone who tries to take her away from me because I have lived a very very long time. I have learned what it means to have mercy, but I have also realized that mercy only goes so far. Keep those things in mind and realize the only reason I haven’t gone away from my mercy is because she could still be out there and alive and scared and I will stop at nothing to find her.  Do you understand me, Forsker? Absolutely nothing. Now, knowing that, can you really afford to leave me to my own devices?” “You could be bluffing.”  Forsker shook. “Ah yes, true, I could. Be. Bluffing.  But, tell me this Forsker…”. He stared deeply into Forsker’s frightened eyes, whispering, “Do these eyes look like they belong to someone who is bluffing?”