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

[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?

From:

makingsouffles

D'you think he would, if he knows we're both out here?

[Oswin looks up at the cloudy sky, frowning faintly.]

From:

jennomaly

I'm sure it's nothing.

[There's a low rumble of voices nearby and Jenny shoves Oswin back behind a tree.] Shhh!

From:

makingsouffles

[Oswin does her best to muffle the cry of pain she lets out as she's shoved, pressing herself up against the tree and shutting her eyes tightly.

Please let them just pass by...

From:

jennomaly

[Jenny gives her a quick apologetic glance, mouthing "sorry" at her and crouching down beside her. She swallows as the voices draw nearer.

If worse comes to worse, she knows she can at least put up enough of a fight to keep the guards distracted long enough for Oswin to run. Silently, she presses the sonic into Oswin's hands and readies herself mentally.]

From:

makingsouffles

[Her eyes open once the sonic's in her hand and immediately, Oswin looks over at Jenny. At first, her gaze is questioning, but after just a second, her eyes widen.

She shakes her head vigorously. Oswin's not leaving without you, Jenny.]

From:

jennomaly

[Jenny nods furiously in response to that and glances out from behind their tree. The guards are getting closer.

She takes a deep breath, and is about to fling herself out at them, when a familiar and distinct noise draws her attention.

The TARDIS.

She materializes around them, their forest surroundings flickering into the interior of the time machine.]

From:

makingsouffles

[And Oswin's just about to grab her and put a stop to it, but when that sound starts up she nearly melts with relief.

Looking up once they're properly inside, she smirks faintly.] Brilliant timing.

From:

jennomaly

Oh, thank god.

[Jenny just lets herself sort of...slump over, sprawling out on the console floor gratefully.]

That was a little too close for comfort.

From:

makingsouffles

Story of our lives, yeah? [Oswin sinks heavily down into the nearby jumpseat, resting a hand on her stomach and wincing faintly. She's going to need seeing to, but right now, just resting sounds good.]

Your leg alright?

From:

jennomaly

[She laughs breathlessly and nods.] True enough.

[There's a glance down at her knee and Jenny shrugs.] I don't think it's anything too serious. How are you holding up?

From:

makingsouffles

Good. [The last thing the Doctor needs is both of them injured. He'd probably worry himself into regenerating.

Idly, she runs her hand over her middle, trying to access the damage.] Should be fine. Just a bit banged up's all. [And a little sleep-deprived. And hungry. But it's nothing she's never been before or hasn't been the past few days, really.]