The Dizzy Lantern Project

[tigerstriped86.livejournal.com]

Story Title: Sterile (Chap. 5)
Chapter Title:  The Dizzy Lantern Project
Author: tigerstriped86
Note: I'm also wondering how many weeks it's been now since I started this adventure with my muse?
Fandom: Doctor Who S4, No pairings (but set with Donna)

Summary: John Tripp is alive.  The Doctor finds this out the hard way.
Rating: M (Mature: Drug use, death, and British language from an American POV)
Prompt 99: Clamp
Disc.: I own John Tripp (as far as one can own ones own Mary Sue) and the rest belong to the world of DW and their lawyers.  Props go to my plot bunny guardian, Dan, and my muse, Blossom, for getting me to this point.  Now the real fun begins. The song in italics is "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse (which I don't own either, come to think of it).

History: John Tripp is my fanfiction alter ego.  If you remember a few prompts back ("hot seat"), I introduced John Tripp as the Doctor's choice for companion.  What I didn't tell you is that he was the companion before Rose.  My plans have unfolded and inbetween the meeting of the Doctor and their current adventure, John is mistaken for dead.  But you can't keep a good OC down for long.

Beginning: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4167188/1/All_Other_Players_Eliminated
First adventure: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4169364/1/Jungles_of_Tenaya
Start of Sterile (The Second Adventure): http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4247867/1/Sterile

“Welcome to Mirvodich, Donna!”

“And what's so special about this place, then?” Donna looked towards the door with a secondary air of trepidation and eagerness.

“The sun always shines here! Marvelous, rather ingenious power plant, if I do say so myself.”

“Why? Did you build it?” She remarked curtly as she opened the door. They stood for a second, stunned. They were indeed in the midst of a giant city, but it was midnight. The air was smoggy and the city seemed desolate. An invisible wind swung all around them.

“Ingenious power plant you said? Looks like someone's gone to the pub instead.”

“This doesn't make any sense.” The Doctor mumbled under his breath, as was usual when the status quo confused him slightly. “This era on Mirvodich is at the height of its industrial might and strength, all clean burning of course. The power grid never failed.”

“What's so special about this power grid of theirs?”

“I...well...it's complicated, all right?”

“You don't know?! Wait a minute. We're on a strange planet with a power outage and a secretive plant you know nothing about. That doesn't smack of holiday to you, does it?”

“No Donna, not quite.”

“Well, let's get on with it then. Because if I'm going to be sucked into another dream world then let's be done with it!”

“You could stay in the Tardis if you'd like!”

Donna was already a quarter of a mile ahead of the Doctor when he finally caught up. “There's no need to be angry. Look, we'll head over to the plant, fix whatever is wrong, and then do some shopping. They've got villages full of shops. Armegi, Priva, even some Huego Best for yours truly.”

“I knew you were vain! Those suits were too well-tailored.”

“Well, a Time Lord has to look his best. Elsewhise, why save the universe?”

They walked in silence until Donna breached the question of exactly where they were going.

“Dunno. I just hoped we'd bump into someone who'd know where the power plant was.”

“Bullocks to that. You were looking for Huego Best!”

“I was not...Hello.”

A young man with sandy blond hair moved quickly past them from a shadow. He was frantically walking about and possibly had just finished a long-winded narrative to himself. His jeans were tattered and his shoes well worn. His shirt was immaculate and his eyes were swollen red, but not from crying. The Doctor approached him carefully.

“Hello, there, son. Do you know the way to the power plant?”

He looked at the Doctor uncertainly and then swayed on the spot. Donna caught him.

“Hello. My name is Donna. What is yours?”

The boy jumped up, a piece of paper falling from his back pocket and he ran off screaming.

“Well. That was quite unusual. Even for his species. Very polite usually. Make great sales associates, though.”

“Doctor...” Donna held the piece of yellow paper in her hands, unfolding it and scanning it quickly, “it's a rock concert.”

“Don't suppose you fancy going?”

“Only if it'll explain what in the devil was wrong with that boy.”

“Shall we then, Ms. Noble?” The Doctor offered his arm gallantly. And she accepted, biting her tongue on the remarks boiling in her brain.

The amphitheater where the concert was being held was large and well-lit. It was strange, almost like a beacon or the aurora Borealis. There were no seats, only thin rugs over concrete. The gathering was large, bodies stood waiting, mostly shirtless men, possibly early twenties. They were all young and strangely silent. They waited, looking at the stage hopefully.

The Doctor and Donna stood at the edge of the crowd and the Doctor tapped on the shoulder of the man standing in front of him.

“Excuse me, hello, but what kind of music does the Dizzy Lantern Project play exactly?”

“Only the best kind. But only if you have the right ears to listen.” The dark-haired man held out his hand, filled with five orange pills. Donna pushed his hand away.

“Don't think we need those, love. Or you, I'd wager.”

The young man shrugged and brought the hand to his mouth, swigging a bit of his bottled water along with them.

“Doctor, I don't like this.”

“Neither do I. Look over at that shirtless man.”

“They're all shirtless, Doctor!”

“But that's the head city engineer, Donna. He's wearing a key around his neck.”

“No wonder the lights are out. These kids are all drugged!”

“Yes, I know. But what could have...”

There was a silent cue, and the crowd sat in one large wave. Donna and the Doctor moved farther from the edge of the crowd, the Doctor resting his back against a large stone pillar and trying to think of a way of getting through the crowd to the engineer. He assumed that, in this state, taking the key would be no issue.

Somewhere, music began to play. The keyboard began to swell forth and there was a man on stage. He wore a silver mask and played an upper harmony. The stage was still dark, no spotlight shown on him. His shadow was the only indication that anyone had even arrived.

The drums began next. One set and then another, on either side of the stage. They bounced off of each other and the harmony of the piano. The crashing sound had a tempo that made Donna shiver. But the Doctor did not move, just stood rather transfixed. He was thinking, his fingers moving across his lips.

Two guitars started, one bass and another electric. The orchestra was almost complete, building to something. The drums were in a frenzy, the keyboard humming along on its own. There was something familiar, something frightening, nearly menacing to the tune. The Doctor could not place it, something which disconcerted him immensely.

A light appeared. A small green pinprick, and the students all arose at once. Some swayed and some hummed, but all were virtually silent. Hands moved into other hands. Donna was offered more pills and pushed them away again, with a slightly nervous smile. The green point began to grow and swirl. Four lasers moved and intertwined in circles. The sound of mechanical gears assaulted the Doctor. His shadow lifted onto the stage.

No one's gonna take me alive

The time has come to make things right

You and I must fight for our right

You and I must fight to survive

His voice was somewhat high-pitched, but not unpleasant. It held this calming quality that off-set the ravaging pounding of the drums and the bass guitar. A few of the more outspoken audience began to jump in rhythm to the beat. There was still no light. He just stood there. He was a man, slim, with long hair, wearing some sort of coat. Donna watched the Doctor squint in his direction.

No one's gonna take me alive

The time has come to make things right

You and I must fight for our right

You and I must fight to survive

The other members of the band began to harmonize with him, singing as one. Some in the crowd were moaning and others were chanting. The darkness was lifted all at once. The Doctor staggered backwards, gripping the column and shaking his head. His face began to turn very white and he muttered beneath his breath. It was very clear that he was afraid.

“Doctor, what is it?”

The red hair flashed in the spotlight. He was wearing a dark coat with trim made of different flowers. His jeans were tattered and his combat boots scuffed. He was bare-chested, save for four concentric metal rings where his heart and lungs probably should have been. Half of his face seemed to be made metal. But he crooned the microphone as if he were human. His eyes never met the Doctor.

“John Tripp. Come on.” The Doctor took Donna's hand and they made their way around the outcropping of his followers as the show continued. He quoted someone who believed censorship was the opium of the masses. He quoted Marx and then Bishop TD Jakes. His followers listened, enraptured. He brought two very leggy blondes forward from the audience and set them as back-up. They cried as if on cue when he hugged them.

The Doctor stopped and offered Donna a hand as she climbed up the stairs to the backstage. There was no security to stop them. The Doctor's face was set on John momentarily. His heart swelled with anger, pity, curiosity, and an absent dread. This was clearly not right. John brought up a young man to the stage and they talked for a few moments until he was invited back to the dressing room. He blushed and there were plenty of whistles as he shook his head in affirmation. John lead him away.

“This is our chance.”

“Our chance for what?”

“To catch him.”

“Doctor, who is he?”

“John Tripp.”

“That bloody well tells me nothing.” The Doctor stopped mid-step and looked at Donna with a tone of unexpected sincerity.

“He's the reason I had to stop to refuel in London. He's the reason I met Rose. He traveled with me once and I thought he was dead.”

“Oh.”

The Doctor pounded at his dressing room door backstage, releasing his fury into it. He had so many questions, each more upsetting than the last. There were definite sounds coming from behind the door, but there was no pretense of anyone actually coming to open it.

“John! Open the door! It's the Doctor!”

“I'll only be a moment!” The breathing was staggered as John answered from inside.

“Oh, bloody hell. I'm not waiting around for your brand of tact.” Donna issued an order in a much louder voice. “Young man, you open this door and tell us what you've done to this city or I will break it down.”

There was a series of groans from inside the door and then John answered that he would in fact open the door. The Doctor's lip curled as he heard the sound of zipping jeans and the the door swung open unceremoniously. The young man from the stage earlier was sitting on the couch and sweating. Various pills lay scattered about different surfaces, but the room had a feeling of immaculate cleaning.

John perched himself on his vanity desk and crossed his legs. “What can I do for you, Doctor?”

“You can tell me how you survived Atlantis. I had no readings from my screwdriver. None whatsoever.”

“I didn't survive.”

Donna stood at the doorway, just behind the Doctor. “But you are bloody well standing here in front of us, aren't you?! That's quite a trick then!”

John rolled his eyes and then looked toward the young man with dark hair on the couch. “You'd best go, Robert. I'll give you a ring tomorrow.”

The young man grunted and John helped him toward the door. He began to stumble as he walked, but maintained his balance with the help of the wall.

“What have you done to this city?!”

“Would you relax, Doctor? I haven't done anything but given the people of this very stressed planet exactly what they need. A holiday.”

“A soma induced holiday?!”

“Correct. As always. Well, almost always. So, you're the new companion, then? And what's your name?”

“Donna Noble.”

“Well, Ms. Noble. Would you like to know a secret?” John folded his arms and stared at her. She shook her head. “Have him take you home. This man is nothing but trouble. He got me enslaved and killed all in the same week.”

“It's not my fault you couldn't keep up with my running.”

“No. I suppose you are right.” John sighed. “So, let me guess, you think some thing's gone wrong here because it's not like when you last left it.”

“What else should we think?!”

“That maybe you, dear Doctor, need to lighten up.” John proceeded to light something that looked like a cigarette.

“What happened to you?”

“I crawled out of the wreckage of Maris Industries, Doctor, and watched you leave after approximately five seconds of waving that screwdriver of yours around. And then I waited. I waited for the Earth to rebuild itself and then I left.”

“But how?” John just smiled. “The only way you could have left is if you...oh my God.” The Doctor's face fell and his eyes grew wide.

“That's right. This silver isn't a mask. The drawback of Tenaya's ring is that it fused with me. I'm made of Cyber metal. It keeps me alive.”

“It's changing you, isn't it?”

“Maybe this is how I always was.”

“But...this place...all these people...”

“Have been keeping me alive! I came here and all these men were stressed out and all the women were so bloody complacent. Never think for yourself, never a moment alone. It's always help him or her. You should have seen the cigarette plant before I got here. I saved this place. Without you, might I add.”

“You didn't save anything!”

John strolled up to the Doctor's face. “Prove it.”

“This is all the proof I need.” The Doctor held the sonic screwdriver up to John's chest and John backed away.

“Are you going to unscrew me, Doctor? Go ahead and try it. An explosion that destroyed an entire city couldn't destroy me.” His eyes were blank, slightly amused.

“I will.”

“Then stop talking about here. Here! I'll make it easier for you.” John raised his arms above his head, exposing the core of metal where his heart once was. “Fire, Doctor, I dare you.”

The Doctor gulped and did just that. At first, there seemed to be no reaction. John stood there, frozen, his face unchanging and unreadable. But then he fell and began gasping for breath. The Doctor moved to his side.

“I'm sorry, John. If I'd only known. I'm so sorry.” Donna stood at the door, mouth agape but barely breathing. The Doctor's face fell deep and sad.

“Doctor?” John's voice changed from confident to very scared. “Doctor, you found me. You saved me again. I wasn't much trouble, was I? All that wreckage to comb through...” He clamped onto the Doctor's arm lying over his chest gratefully.

“No, no trouble at all.” The Doctor gave a half-hearted smile.

“Why, why am I so cold, Doctor? I, this place...” John turned his head. “This looks like a dressing room, Doctor. What, what have I done?”

“Nothing. You've done nothing wrong.”

“You're lying.”

“You may have drugged an entire planet.” The Doctor winced as he said it.

“Oh, fabulous.” John sighed. “Then I'm a threat to you now.” The words hung limply in the air, a final statement, a pronouncement.

“No, none at all. I fixed you. I used the screwdriver.” The Doctor smiled weakly and John smiled back.

“Then finish the job.”

“You can't ask me to do that.”

“Doctor, I'm a half Cyber. I'm a threat to you. I can't...I don't want to be...”

“No, no. We don't start crying now. Because you bloody start and then I'll bloody start...”

John began to laugh at the thought, his breath struggling. “I think my internal systems are failing.”

“I can fix you.”

“I don't want to be fixed. Just look at me.” The Doctor didn't give him a second glance.

“I am looking.”

“Andie and I found your war room, Doctor. I always knew you were sentimental.”

“What do you mean?” John just smiled, remembering the graveyard, knowing that maybe a part of him could end up there, among the assistants and generals.

“Never mind. Just...did Tenaya take it well?”

“She doesn't know. I released Andie back without you and then left again.”

“Coward...just joking.” John closed his eyes momentarily. “Finish the job, Doctor. I'm no used to anyone now.”

“Don't say that!”

“But it's true. Just look at me!”

“We'll get you back to the Tardis. We'll send you to Jack at Torchwood! He can fix you!”

“He can study me, you mean! Until some terrorist group finds me and abuses me, brainwashes me?! Finish the job, Doctor! I don't want to be a threat to you! You've got so much more to worry about!”

“What, what do I have to worry about that's more important than you?”

“Rose.”

“Rose?!”

John reached for the screwdriver and it magnetized to his skin. The Doctor's hand moved away as if John was burning. In a moment, the room turned various shades of white and yellow. The Doctor put his arm over his eyes to shield them and turned away slightly. He looked back and John was gone.

“What do you mean, Rose?!”

“What happened, Doctor?”

He stood and looked toward Donna. “I, I don't know. But I'd suggest we leave. The next few days on this planet aren't going to be pleasant with them detoxifying.”

“But what about John?”

“We'll...we'll meet again, maybe. I don't know what my screwdriver did, but he's not a threat.”

“He drugged an entire planet!”

“He's not a threat.”

“I hope you're right.”

“I'm the Doctor. I'm always right.”