staircasetotheclouds | (no subject)

[This sort of thing wasn't exactly new, all sorts of species being forced into slavery. Oswin's seen it loads of times when they were out, and every time, they've been able to put a stop to it.

She would've thought it'd be the same here, some distant planet where it was humans, her own species, being kept locked up and stored away in farms. It was really only one little faction on the whole planet, renegades that weren't technically breaking any laws but weren't exactly doing the right thing either. Nothing too different from the norm, but it still made Oswin faintly sick, to see anyone treated like this.

All four of them, Oswin, Jenny, Nina and the Doctor, had been poking around where they didn't belong, as per usual, trying to find out more information about this place, something that'd help them maybe. Unfortunately, that'd been cut short, and before Oswin could grab the Doctor's hand and let him pull her under a closing door, she'd been grabbed, captured and taken away to one of their farms.

That was three days ago.

And three days was a long enough time for them to figure out that Oswin Oswald was not going down without a fight. No matter what they'd done, no matter how hard they'd tried to break her, nothing had worked. She still fought and bit and did everything she could to evade whatever it was they wanted to do with her, be it making her a pet or...something worse. She'd heard more than enough whispers of a breeding program that was said to calm even the strongest spirits.

For now, though, they've got her out in one of the pastures. There's a thin layer of snow on the ground, and Oswin shivers faintly in the plain gray dress they've given her for clothes. At least she's got something though, she's seen humans with little to nothing. For the breeding program, she figures. At the moment, she's huddled up under a tree, trying to spot some fault in the high, chain-link electrified fence, anything she can use to escape.

Because she will escape. There's no doubt about that, it's just a matter of waiting. Which is something Oswin isn't good at, unfortunately.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

makingsouffles

How the hell've all of you got a plan if he's got no idea what you're doing?

[Without thinking, she reaches out, her hand hovering over the bruise on Jenny's cheek. Not that she's any better, if anything Oswin's even worse. Her face is covered in cuts and bruises, but at least she managed to give just as many as she took. One of the guards still had a black eye from where she managed to whack him one.]

From:

jennomaly

I've got his sonic. [She looks very proud of herself at that before glancing back at the guards again. She knows she must look a bit suspicious, hovering near this girl, and turns so they're shoulder to shoulder rather than facing each other.]

Just... don't worry, I'll get us out of here soon.

From:

makingsouffles

Right. Not worrying. I'll work on that.

[She glances around again, still shivering faintly in the chill. After a moment, she murmurs under her breath.] Guards'll be changing shifts soon, we'll get about two minutes alone. Think that's enough time?

From:

jennomaly

[Jenny pauses to think for a moment before nodding.] Should work, yeah. At least give us a head start. Think you can run alright?

From:

makingsouffles

Shouldn't be too hard. [Her legs are mostly unharmed, save for a few bruises. Her captors had wanted to keep her in fairly good condition, so the damage is mostly around her chest and stomach, places they could cover up with clothing.]

The TARDIS isn't all that far away, yeah?

From:

jennomaly

[Jenny hesitates.] Well...they'll definitely notice we're gone, we'll put it that way.

But I've got the sonic, and we can call her to us.

From:

makingsouffles

Mmm. Well. Not like we've never run from anything before. [Her lips quirk briefly into something of a smirk.

It fades after a moment though, and she nods.] It'll take time for them to catch up, at least.

From:

jennomaly

It'll be enough time, Oswin. [Her voice is firm.] We'll get out of here, I promise.

From:

makingsouffles

Right.

[She straightens, wincing faintly at the pain in her ribs. That'll have to be taken care of once they're safe. If they get that far.

The guards at the corners all turn, beginning to walk back into the massive building beside the pastures.]

From:

jennomaly

[Jenny looks up and over at them.] Is it time?

From:

makingsouffles

Just about. [Oswin watches, still and unnaturally quiet as the last guard trails into the building and the door shuts behind him.]

Now! [She hisses, making a break for the fence. It's a little slower going than usual, but Oswin manages well enough. There'll be plenty of time for rest once she's back in the TARDIS.]

From:

jennomaly

[Jenny whips out the Doctor's screwdriver from inside her shirt, giving the fence a good sonic to turn off the electricity for the time being. Sprinting after Oswin, she keeps it held tight in her hand.]

Over the fence, go!

From:

makingsouffles

[Don't have to tell her twice. Oswin scrambles up the fence, glad she's at least strong enough to pull herself up without too much difficulty. It hurts, yeah, but she can deal with it if it means they'll both be safe.

The next shift of guards has already started exiting the building nearby, but they haven't caught sight of them just yet.]

From:

jennomaly

[Jenny is right at her heels, climbing up the fence with no small amount of grace. She moves like a dancer, elegant and light, and that's helping today. She throws herself off the top of the fence once she sees the guards approaching and something pops painfully in her knee. Jenny crumples, but only for a moment before twisting around and sonicking the fence, reactivating the electric current.]

There's a forest, just to the left of us. We can lose them in the trees.

From:

makingsouffles

[Oswin on the other hand, must look a hell of a lot clumsier, trying to climb in a manner that won't agitate her injuries even more than necessary. Dropping down, she bites back a cry of pain, screwing her face up for just a moment while Jenny's still on the ground.]

Got it! [She's off and running for the trees without hesitation, trying to cover as much open ground as possible. They're still a little ways off, and they'll be much easier to catch out in the open.]

From:

jennomaly

[Jenny smiles grimly and pushes herself to her feet, taking off after Oswin with a bit of a limp. There's a shout from the complex; they've been spotted.

She grasps Oswin's hand loosely in hers, not wanting to lose her.]

Nearly there...

From:

makingsouffles

Keep going! [She definitely heard that shout, which means the guards will be on them any minute now.

Gripping Jenny's hand a little more tightly, Oswin pulls her along, focusing on the trees rather than the pain in her chest or the fact that the harsh ground is cutting up her bare feet. Probably better to focus on those later, once they're not in danger of being captured.]

From:

jennomaly

[It seems like forever before they finally reach the safety of the trees. Jenny lets out a sigh and slows but doesn't stop running completely.]

Hang on...the TARDIS has moved. [She slows to a walk, frowning.]

From:

makingsouffles

Call her here, then.

[Oswin glances over her shoulder, trying to see if their persuaders have gotten any close. They're still on the stretch of open land as far as she can see, but that's no reason to stop moving.]

From:

jennomaly

Why has she moved? [Jenny frowns, confused, but Oswin's comment is acknowledged with a nod and she raises the sonic screwdriver, pointing it to the sky and activating it.]

From:

makingsouffles

I dunno, maybe your dad tried to get closer or something. [Her tone is laced with tension as she glances around yet again, trying to catch her breath. They might need to run again, if the TARDIS doesn't show up in time and Oswin's been on her guard for too long to let it down until they're definitely safe.

She shivers faintly, wringing her hands to try and get some warmth into them.]

From:

jennomaly

Yeah, maybe...

[Her tone is thoughtful and a bit worried, but she squeezes Oswin's hand tightly.]

Let's keep moving. She'll find us.

From:

makingsouffles

Right. Yeah.

[She tries for a faint smile, despite the fact that her body aches in protest as she follows after Jenny.

There's silence between them for a long moment.] ...they can't have anything powerful enough to actually stop her. [There's not a lot that can actually stop the TARDIS from materializing somewhere, definitely not anything a civilization like this could get their hands on...right?]

From:

jennomaly

No, of course not.

[She's definitely limping, favoring the knee that she did something to after jumping off the fence, but she doesn't let the pain get to her. She has to get Oswin home safe first.]

We'd know by now if they had. Maybe Dad's just running some tests on her?