The Curse of the Black Spot
TARDIS…
"I can't believe the Doctor found us a pirate ship." Asuna said.
"A pirate ship with a distress signal." Suguha said.
"It's a pirate ship with something dangerous." Shino said, her hand on her hip.
"What could be dangerous on a pirate ship?" Kazuto asked.
"A lot of things actually." Jared said, entering the console room. "Y'know, I was actually looking forward to this."
"Forward to encountering pirates?" Asuna asked.
"Yup."
"You're as naive as my cousin." Suguha said. "What will happen there?"
"It's a surprise." Jared said, smirking.
"Kirito already jinxed us." Asuna said. "We should check it out with the others."
On deck…
Captain Avery picks up his duelling piece, "Same as all the others. No sign of a struggle, no bones or blood."
"We're shark bait, every single one of us. Stuck on the ocean, waiting." Boatswain said.
"Until the wind changes." Avery said, while there is a thumping from below decks. "What's that?"
"It's the creature. It's returned."
The hatch to the hold bursts open.
"Yo ho ho! Or does nobody actually say that?" The Doctor asked.
Captain's cabin…
"We made no signal." Avery said.
"Our sensors picked you up. Ship in distress." The Doctor said.
"Sensors?"
"We're in the seventeenth century. Sensors haven't been invented yet." Suguha said, sadly.
"My ship automatically, er, noticed-ish that your ship was having some bother." The Doctor said.
"That big blue crate?" Avery asked.
"That is more magic, Captain Avery. They're spirits. How else would they have found their way below decks?" Boatswain asked.
"Well, er, I want to say multidimensional engineering, but since you had a problem with sensors, I won't go there. Look, I'm the Doctor. This is Amy, Rory, Jared, Kirito, Asuna, Sinon, and Leafa." The Doctor said.
"At least we're sailors. Like you guys. Or should I say pirates? Well, you guys are. We aren't. Ar…except we don't have guns. Or beards." Jared said, smiling.
"You're stowaways. Only explanation. Eight days, we've been stranded here, becalmed. You must have stowed away before we sailed." Avery said.
"Now what do we do with 'em?" Boatswain asked.
"Oh, I think they deserve our hospitality."
On deck…
The Doctor is being made to walk the plank, "I suppose that laughing like that is in the job description. Can you do the laugh? Check. Grab yourself a parrot. Welcome aboard."
"Stocks are low. Only one barrel of water remains. We don't need three more empty bellies to fill. Take the doxy below to the galley. Set her to work. She won't need much feeding." Avery said.
"Rory? A little help?" Amy asked.
"Kirito?" Asuna asked, looking at her fiancée.
Rory and Kazuto are being held by Dancer, an African born sailor.
"This didn't go exactly to plan." Suguha said.
"I know." Shino said.
"If you're lucky you'll drown before the sharks can take a bite." Avery said.
"If this is just because I'm a captain too, you know, you shouldn't feel threatened. Your ship is much bigger than mine. And I don't have the cool boots. Or a hat, even." The Doctor said.
"Time to go."
"A bit more laughter, guys?" The Doctor asked.
Amy, Asuna, and Suguha have gone to the hold and found a crate of cutlasses.
"Well, where's the rest of the crew?" Jared asked. "This is a big ship."
"It's a bit big for five of you." Shino said.
"I suppose the rest of them are hiding some place, and they're going to jump out and shout boo." The Doctor said.
"Boo!" Amy said, angrily.
Amy, Asuna, and Suguha have taken the time to don coats and tricorn hats.
"Throw the gun down." Suguha said, holding the sword.
Avery obeys.
Asuna kicks the gun away, "The rest of you, on your knees. No funny business."
"Girls, what are you doing?" Jared asked, looking between Amy, Asuna, and Suguha.
"Doctor, we're saving your life." Asuna said.
"Okay with that, are you?" Amy asked.
"Put down the swords. A sword could kill us all, girls." Avery said.
"Yeah, thanks. That is actually why we're pointing it at you."
The rest of the sailors start a sword fight with Amy, Asuna, and Suguha using wooden staves, while Avery holds on to the Doctor.
"They're dressed up as pirates." Shino said.
"Tell me something new." Kazuto said, sadly.
"I knew those three would do something like this." Jared said, happily.
However, the sailors are terrified of getting even the smallest cut from Amy, Asuna, and Suguha's blades.
Amy runs up some steps then swings across on a rope, slashing at the sailor holding Rory and Kazuto as she goes.
"You have killed me." Dancer said.
"She didn't kill you." Sinon said. "It was a cut."
The black spot appears on his palm.
"What kind of rubbish pirates are you?" Amy asked.
"One drop, that's all it takes. One drop of blood and she'll rise out of the ocean." Avery said.
"Come on, I barely even scratched him. What are you all in such a huff about?" Amy asked, making another swing with Asuna and are grabbed.
Amy and Asuna drop the cutlasses and Rory and Kirito grab for them, cutting themselves.
"Ow! Argh!" Rory said.
"That hurts." Kirito said, looking down at his hand. "Forgot we're using real swords. And not virtual or augmented."
The black spot appears.
"Er, Doctor, what's happening to me and Kirito?" Rory asked.
"She can smell the blood on your skin. She's marked the both of you for death." Avery said, looking between Rory and Kazuto.
"She?" Suguha asked.
"A demon, out there in the ocean."
"Okay. That's awesome. We're not dealing with just pirates today!" Jared said, excitedly. "We're on a ship where a demon is full diving in. Literally."
"Very efficient. I mean, if something's going to kill you, it's nice that it drops you a note to remind you." The Doctor said.
The wordless singing starts.
"Quickly now, block out the sound." Boatswain said.
"What?" Kirito asked.
"The creature. She charms all her victims with that song." Avery said.
"Oh, great. So, me and Kazuto put our fingers in our ears, that's your plan?" Rory asked.
"Doctor, Jared, girls." Kazuto said, sadly. "Let's go back. Back to the…"
Rory, Kazuto, and Dancer start giggling.
"The music. It's working on them. Look." Boatswain said.
"You're gorgeous." Kazuto said, walking up to Asuna.
"What?" Asuna asked.
"That pirate outfit. It suits you. That black. Why not dress up as a pirate a lot more? Come on, Rory, let's hug."
Kazuto and Rory hugged with Dancer.
"Kazuto, stop it!" Suguha said, concerned for her cousin.
"Look at all of these pirates. Why don't we full dive into pirate themed worlds more often?" Kazuto asked.
"Us as pirates?" Shino asked. "It does have guns and swords. But traveling by ship…"
"The music turns them into fools." Avery said.
"Oh, my God." Amy said.
A bright light is rising up through the water.
"This is bad." Asuna said, looking at two of her best friends.
A female figure then flies up and gently lands on the deck.
"What is that?" Suguha asked.
Dancer goes towards her while Amy tries to hold Rory back.
"Girls, meet the Siren." Jared said, frowning. "Basically, she's…"
Suguha, Asuna, and Shino tried to hold Kazuto back. Jared clutched his head in pain.
"She's what?" Shino asked.
When Dancer touches her finger, he explodes in a cloud of soot.
"I can't remember." Jared said, sadly.
"Kazuto and I have to touch her. Let us touch her." Rory said.
"Sorry, but they are spoken for." Amy said.
"By us." Asuna said.
The Siren turns from white to angry red, and a blasts of energy throws Amy and Asuna backwards.
"Amy! Jared! Asuna! Everybody into the hold. Rory! Kirito! Sinon! Leafa! Come on!" The Doctor said.
The Doctor drags Rory away while Suguha and Shino drags Kazuto away.
"Hey! Wait!" Kazuto said, angrily.
(Jared's POV)
Hold…
There is bilge water a few inches deep in here.
"What is that thing?" Suguha asked.
"The legend. The siren. Many a merchant ship laden with treasure has fallen prey to her. She's been hunting us ever since we were becalmed, picking off the injured." Avery said.
"Like a shark. A shark can smell blood." Boatswain said.
"Okay, it's just like a shark." I said, grabbing Suguha's hand. "But in a dress. And it sings. Green too, which is your color, Leafa. Yours too, Sinon."
"We're dealing with a green singing shark in an evening gown." Shino said.
"The ship is cursed!" Asuna said, terrified. "You wanted us to be on a cursed ship?"
Asuna glared at me.
"Yeah, right. Cursed is big with humans. It means bad things are happening but you can't be bothered to find an explanation." The Doctor said.
"She's really hot." Kazuto said, happily. "I would defend her."
"Really?" Asuna asked. "You care about her more than us."
"Yeah."
"We have to leave right now." Amy said.
"That thing of yours really is a ship?" Avery asked.
"Well, it's not propelled by the wind." The Doctor said.
"Show me. Weigh anchor. Make it sail." Avery said, taking out his gun.
"And the gun's back. You're big on the gun thing, aren't you. Freud would say you're compensating. Ever met Freud? No? Comfy sofa."
"Leave the cursed ones, Captain. The creature can have them." De Florres said.
"Yes, please." Rory said.
"I want her." Kazuto said.
"No, I want her."
"We don't want the siren coming after us." Avery said.
Something latches onto Mulligan's bare leg.
"It's a leech!" Suguha said, terrified.
"Everyone out of the water!" I said, squeezing Suguha's hand. "It's not safe here."
"It's bitten me. I'm bleeding." De Florres said.
"She wants blood. Why does she want blood?" Asuna asked.
"What were you saying about leaving the cursed ones behind?" Shino asked, looking at De Florres.
"It's okay, we're safe down here. No curse is getting through three solid inches of timber." The Doctor said, while the Siren appears. "Oh! Ah. Hello again."
De Florres is drawn towards her.
"No! No! No!" I said with everyone else, at the same time.
De Florres explodes, just leaving his hat behind.
Mess deck…
A hammock, sacks of food.
"Safe?" Amy asked.
"I have my good days and my bad days." The Doctor said.
"How did she get in?" Avery asked.
"Bilge water. She's using water like a portal, a door. She can materialise through a single drop. We need to go somewhere with no water."
"Well, thank God we're not in the middle of the ocean." Amy said, sarcastically.
"Did you see her eyes? Like crystal pools." Rory said.
"You are in enough trouble."
"The magazine." Avery said.
"What?" Amy asked.
"He meant the place where the gunpowder is stored. It's in the armory." Shino said.
"It's dry as a bone." Avery said.
"Good. Let's go there." The Doctor said.
"I give the orders."
"Ah. Worried because I'm wearing a hat now? Nobody touch anything sharp!"
"Come on, Rory." Amy said.
The Boatswain shuffles through his collection of keys.
"Quickly, man." Avery said.
"I can't find the key. Tis gone, Cap'n." Boatswain said.
"How can it have gone?"
The door is unlocked.
"Someone else had the same idea." The Doctor said.
Magazine…
"Barricade the door. Careful of that lantern. Every barrel is full of powder." Avery said.
"Who's been sleeping in my gun room?" The Doctor asked.
"I don't know." I said, shrugging my shoulders.
Someone coughs.
Avery opens a barrel and pulls out a boy, "You fool! You fool, boy. What are you doing here?"
"Who's he? Is he not one of the crew?" Asuna asked.
"No. He's my son. What in God's name possessed you, boy? Your mother will be searching for you. When?" Avery asked.
"Last winter. Fever. She told me all about you. How you were a Captain in the Navy. An honourable man, she said. How I'd be proud to know you. I've come to join your crew." Toby said.
"Is Kazuto staying here?" Suguha asked.
"No." I said, looking at Suguha. "If only we had a STL."
"You know about that?" Asuna asked.
"The black spot?" Toby asked.
Toby has one on his palm.
"I might have looked it up." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "I know you four was a part of a war recently."
Toby coughs again. Later.
"There's nothing wrong with the boy. He has no scars." Avery said.
"Yep. Ignore my last theory." The Doctor said.
"He has his good days and his bad days." Amy said.
"It's not just blood, she's coming for all the sick and wounded, like a hunter chooses the weakest animal."
"Okay, look, he's got a fever. The siren knows it."
"Humans. Second-rate. Damage too easily. It's only a matter of time before everyone gets bruised. My ship, it can sail us all away from here. You, me, Leafa, and Jared we fetch it. Let's go." The Doctor said.
"You're not the Captain here, remember." Avery said.
Toby opens a fresh-water barrel and the Siren's hand reaches out.
Asuna forces the lid back down, "Oh no you don't. You're not touching him."
"The water's dangerous. That's how she gets through. One touch of her hand and you're a dead man." Avery said, looking at Toby.
"We're all cursed if we stay aboard." Boatswain said.
"It's not a curse. Curse means game over. Curse means we're helpless. We are not helpless. Captain, what's our next move?" The Doctor asked.
"Will this work?" Shino asked.
"Positive." I said, smiling. "Alice was saved, right?"
"Yeah." Asuna said, sadly. "You know about that too?"
"Yes, I do."
"Sure you want to go?" Amy asked.
"We have to get Rory, Kirito, and Toby away. She's out there now, licking her lips, boiling a saucepan, grating cheese." The Doctor said.
"Suguha, come with us. Bring Kazuto. You've taken care of him when he was recovering from the SAO incident. You can do it again!" I said, excitedly.
"Right." Suguha said, grabbing Kazuto's hand.
"Okay. Well, remember, if you get an itch, don't scratch too hard." Amy said.
"We've all got to go some time. There are worse ways than having your face snogged off by a dodgy mermaid." The Doctor said.
Mess deck…
"Do you want to draw lots for who's in charge, then?" Avery asked.
"Darkness? Demon? You can have first go." The Doctor said.
Suguha stumbles and nearly puts her hand on a protruding nail head. I grabbed her arm and Kirito's coat just in time.
"Phew! That was a close one." Suguha said, looking at me. "Thanks."
(Open POV)
Tardis…
"By all the…" Avery said.
"Let me stop you there. Bigger on the inside. Don't mind, do you, if we just skip to the end of that moment?" The Doctor asked.
"Suguha, take Kazuto to the infirmary." Jared said, looking at Suguha.
Suguha walked away with Kazuto, "Okay."
"Oh, and sorry I lied, by the way, when I said yours was bigger. Kitchen that way. Choice of bathrooms there, there, there." The Doctor said.
Magazine…
"Can't believe Kirito said those things." Asuna said, looking at Shino.
"He didn't mean it." Shino said. "He's our reckless idiot, remember?"
"He did save us. Yeah. But I'm engaged to him."
"I know."
The Boatswain is unbarricading the door, "We're not staying here to mollycoddle the boy. The Captain's gone soft. It's time for us to leave."
Tardis…
"What's this do?" Avery asked.
"That does very, very complicated. That does sophisticated. That does whoa, amazing, And that does whizz, bang, far too technical to explain!" The Doctor said, happily.
"Wheel?" Avery asked.
"Atom accelerator."
"It steers the thing."
"No. Sort of. Yes."
"Wheel. Telescope. Astrolabe. Compass. A ship's a ship." Avery said, pointing to different parts of the TARDIS console.
"Yup. That's how I managed to fly the TARDIS." Jared said, leaning against the TARDIS console.
"Oh." The Doctor said, sadly.
Magazine…
"He told you to wait, you dog. He's your Captain, a Naval Officer. You're honour-bound to do as he tells you." Toby said.
"Honour-bound? Do you know what kind of ship this is? Do you know what your father does?" Boatswain asked.
"Don't listen to him, Toby." Asuna said, sadly.
"We sail under the black flag. The Jolly Roger."
"Liar! He's no wicked pirate!" Toby said, angrily.
"Oh, you think so? I have seen your father gun down a thousand innocent men." Boatswain said.
Tardis…
"This is how the professionals do it.�� The Doctor said, when the time rotor stutters.
"Yeah. Professionals. More like an amateur."
"Oi! Er, it's stuck. Not responding."
"Becalmed?" Avery asked.
"Mmm hmm. Yeah, apparently. That's new. You had to gloat, didn't you?"
"I'm not gloating."
"You are gloating!" Jared said, laughing a lot. "Captain Avery feels obsolete."
"I saw that look just now. Ha, ha, his ship is rubbish." The Doctor said.
"True." Avery said.
Magazine…
"Get what treasure you can. I'll meet you in the row boat." Boatswain said.
Toby grabs Asuna's cutlass, "You're going to remain at your post."
"I am not playing games with you, boy. You put that down."
"One more step and I'll use this, you blaggard." Toby said.
"You don't know how to fight with a cutlass, boy."
"Don't need to, do I." Toby said.
"No…" Asuna said, frowning.
Tony cuts the Boatswain's hand.
"No…" Boatswain said.
Tardis…
"It can't get a lock on the plane." The Doctor said.
"The what?" Avery asked.
"It's the space we travel in. The time vortex. Well, the ocean." Jared said, sitting on the stairs. "It's not really the ocean, since there's no water."
"The Tardis can't see. It's sulking because it thinks the space doesn't exist. Without a plane to lock onto we're not going anywhere." The Doctor said.
"I'm confused." Avery said, sadly.
"Yeah, well, it's a big club. We should get T-shirts." The Doctor said.
Jolt, grind.
"The hell's going on?" Jared asked. "What's happening?"
Jared clutched his head in pain.
Magazine…
"You little swabber!" Boatswain said, angrily.
"Congratulations. You made it to the menu. Probably shouldn't go out there now." Amy said.
"You scurvy ape!"
"Don't shoot. The powder will blow and kill us all." Shino said.
Mulligan takes the keys from the Boatswain's belt.
"Kirito…" Asuna said, praying.
"Mulligan, what are you doing?" Boatswain asked.
Mulligan leaves.
"No honour among pirates." Amy said.
The Boatswain puts down his pistol and starts rebuilding the barricade.
Tardis…
"Okay, she's had her little sulk. Now she's heading for the full-on screaming tantrum." The Doctor said.
"Can you fix it?" Jared asked.
"Argh! The parametric engines are jammed. Orthogonal vector's gone. I'm almost out of ideas."
"Almost?"
"Well, we could try stroking her and singing her a song."
"A song? Will that actually help, Raggedy Man?"
"Hard to say. Never has before."
"Happy, nyappy. Death, death, de-death!"
"Now is not the time for a Kirika Akatsuki song!" The Doctor said, flicking switches on the TARDIS console. "I've lost control of her. She's about to dematerialise. We could end up anywhere!"
"That sounds bad!" Avery said.
"Yes, it is! Out! Out now! Abandon ship! Abandon ship!"
They run out as things start going Bang!
Hold…
"Crap!" Jared said, looking around the place.
Not your usual dematerialisation.
"Okay, okay, okay. Tardis runs off on its own. And with Kirito and Leafa inside. At least they're safe and sound. That's a bit of a new one. Bang goes our only hope of getting Rory and Toby out of here." The Doctor said.
"Not much of a Captain without a ship, are you?" Avery asked.
Mess deck…
Mulligan pulls two pistols on his captain. He has a jewelled gold crown around his wrist.
"Mulligan, what are you doing? This is mutiny." Avery said.
"She doesn't want me. She only wants Toby and the scrawny looking fellow." Mulligan said.
"He has the last of the supplies. We need to go after him!" Jared said, looking at Avery.
"Never mind the damned supplies. What about my treasure?" Avery asked.
Mulligan shoots at them.
"Don't get injured. Don't get injured." The Doctor said.
Store room…
"Come out of there, you mutinous dog!" Avery said, nearby.
Mulligan lights a flame, then drops it when it burns his fingers.
Mess deck…
Siren song. The Doctor, Avery, and Jared check themselves for injury. Then a light glows under the door to the hold.
"She's inside." Jared said, sadly.
"She's come for Mulligan." Avery said.
"Argh!" Mulligan said, nearby.
Store room…
"No water in here. How did she take him? You said she uses water like a door, that's how she enters a room." Avery said, picking up the crown.
"I was wrong. Please ignore all my theories up to this point." The Doctor said.
"Really? Again?" Jared asked. "Why are your theories off?"
"We're all in danger. The water's not how she's getting in. When we were down in the hold, think what happened. You, me, Avery, Amy, Rory, Kirito, Asuna, Leafa, Sinon, leeches." The Doctor said, looking at Jared.
"So what? She came out of the water." Jared said, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, only when it grew still. Still water. Nature's mirror."
"So, you mean…" Avery said.
"Yes. Not water, reflection." The Doctor said.
"Like what? A phone?" Jared asked. "Or a tablet? When you have a camera facing you."
"Exactly like that." The Doctor said.
Toby has a medallion his father has given him, of a mermaid. A nice shiny medallion, which he starts polishing.
"That siren legend. The curse." The Doctor said.
"You said curses weren't real." Avery said.
"Folklore springs from truth. She attacks ships filled with treasure. Where else do you get a perfect reflection?"
"Polished metal."
"Hmm." The Doctor said, hiding the crown under a piece of clothing.
"We must warn them."
Magazine…
"Amy! Asuna! Sinon! Open the door!" Jared said, nearby.
"Toby, open the door! Toby!" Avery said, nearby.
"Open the door." The Doctor said, nearby.
"Toby!"
The Doctor grabs the medallion and breaths on it to cloud the reflection.
Captain's cabin…
The Doctor uses the butt of a musket to break the glass windows, "We've got to destroy every reflection. Gold, silver, glass, she could spring from any of them."
"Isn't that bad luck?" Jared asked. "Breaking all that glass?"
"Oh, yes, yes, I know, I know. But look at it this way. There's a stroppy homicidal mermaid trying to kill all."
"Doctor, what could possibly go wrong? If we let this thing run rampant around this ship."
"Yep. Help me lug this lot out." The Doctor said, moving a crate.
"Where are we taking it?" Avery asked.
"The ocean."
"No! No. This is the treasure of the Mogul of India."
"Oh, good. For a moment there I thought it was yours."
"No, no. Doctor, wait. Must we do this?"
"Any reflection, any mirror, and the siren will attack. We have to protect Rory and Toby. Go and get the crown from the storeroom." The Doctor said, while he starts throwing Avery's gold out of the broken windows.
(Jared's POV)
Magazine…
"So, what, we wait?" Shino asked.
"It's not the best plan. I know." I said, crossing my arms. "More of the Doctor's fault, really. He had to go to the distress signal."
"Where's the TARDIS?" Asuna asked.
"It's been towed. Along with Kirito and Leafa." The Doctor said.
"What? Kirito…"
"Sorry. We might be stuck here for a while."
"So you're saying that we should all just wait here below?" Rory asked.
"The sea is still calm, like a mirror. If you go out on deck she'll rise up and attack you." Avery said.
"It's okay. The calm won't last forever. When the wind picks up we'll all set sail." The Doctor said.
"Until it does, you have to hide down here."
Kirito and Asuna's home…
Asuna, Sinon, and I are having cups of tea.
"What do we do now?" Sinon asked, looking at me. "Got any bright ideas?"
"No." I said, drinking my tea. "I don't. I don't know how to beat the Siren. Hell, I can't even remember what it is."
"It's okay." Asuna said, walking up to me to make me feel better. "What do you remember?"
"I know that Kirito and Rory will be okay. I can feel it."
Magazine…
"It's fine. The two of you are doing fine. Just stay calm." Eye Patch Lady said, nearby.
Amy and I open our eyes just in time to see an apparent hatch in the side of the ship slide shut on the face of the mysterious woman.
On deck…
"It's not one star, it's two. The Dog star, Sirius. Binary system." The Doctor said.
"I use it to navigate the ocean." Avery said.
"The Doctor and I have traveled far. I'm from a universe where all this. Seeing space and time. It was a story to me." I said, smiling. "Traveling through it. Time and space. It can be very lonely. I hate being alone. The greatest adventure of seeing it all. It's by having someone to share it with you."
"If we get out of this I'll take him back to England. He can't stay with me. I'm not the father he needs." Avery said.
"Who are you, Henry Avery? Respected naval officer, wife and child at home. How did you end up here, wandering the oceans with a band of rogues?" The Doctor asked.
"I've set my course now. Nothing I can do to alter it."
"People stared at it for centuries and never knew. Things can suddenly change, when you're least expecting."
Captain's cabin…
"Doctor? Jared? Asuna" Amy asked.
"Quiet." Asuna said, holding a cutlass.
"What can the three of you see?" Amy asked.
"Feels like something's out there, staring straight at us." The Doctor said.
"It's a storm." Asuna said, her eyes widening. "This is bad."
Lightning! Thunder!
"Yup, it is. Lightning Flash. Man the sails!" I said, happily.
On deck...
"It's sure pouring hard." Shino said.
The rain is lashing down.
"To the rigging, you dogs! Let go the sails. Avast ye! Put the bunt into the slack of the clews." Avery said.
"I really don't get all the pirate talk." Asuna said, sadly.
Amy, Rory, Asuna, and Shino pull on the sheets.
"I swear he's making half this stuff up." Amy said.
"Well, we're going to need some kind of phrase book." Rory said.
I'm at the wheel, trying to turn her bow on to the storm, "I've always wanted to do this! Now I feel like Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Toby! Find my coat. My compass is inside it, boy. Heave ho, you bilge rats." Avery said.
"Rats was all I could hear." Rory said.
Toby returns with the coat, and the crown falls out and rolls along the deck.
"Are you sure you can handle this?" Shino asked.
The Siren comes out of the crown and flies up into the rigging, then descends again to the deck.
"Positive." I said, looking over at Sinon. "It's like driving a go cart."
"Don't let her take you!" Avery said, while Toby reaches out to the Siren. "No!" Toby is gone in a puff of smoke. "No!" The Doctor throws the crown overboard, and the Siren disappears. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"You couldn't give up the gold, could you. That's why you turned pirate. Your commission, your wife, your son. Just how much is that treasure worth to you, man?" The Doctor asked.
A loose spar knocks Rory and Shino overboard.
"Rory! Rory!" Amy said, angrily.
"Sinon!" I said, running away from the wheel. "Sinon! Damn it."
I looked down into the water trying to find a bit of Sinon in there with no luck whatsoever.
"I can't see Rory. And Jared can't see Sinon."
"Doctor? Asuna? Amy and I are going into the water to save them." I said, grabbing Amy's hand. "Kirito, he saved Sinon from Death Gun. I have to save her from this."
"They're drowning. They're drowning! The two of you go in after Rory and Sinon, you'll drown too. There's only one thing that can save them now." The Doctor said, angrily.
"What are you talking about?" Asuna asked.
"The Siren. The Siren, she wants Rory and Sinon. We have to release her." The Doctor said.
"Doctor, no." Amy said.
The Doctor opens a fresh water barrel and the Siren zooms out, "They're drowning. Go and find them!"
The Siren dives into the sea.
"What did you do?" Asuna asked.
"If they stay in there they'll die." The Doctor said.
"But she'll destroy them!" I said, angrily. "She was gonna kill Kirito! He's Asuna's boyfriend. And Rory is Amy's wife. For crying out loud!"
"That thing isn't just a ravenous hunter. It's intelligent. We can reason with it. And maybe, just maybe, they're still alive somewhere. We have to follow." The Doctor said.
"Are you mad?" Avery asked.
"If we ever want to see them again, we have to let the Siren take us. We'll prick our fingers. All agreed? Yeah?"
"Aye."
"Aye." Amy said.
"Aye." Asuna said.
"Aye." I said, sadly.
"Aye." The Doctor said, drawing blood from each of us.
The black spot appears on our palms and the Siren appears. There is a flash of bright light.
Spaceship…
We wake up on a metal floor.
"Where are we?" Asuna asked.
"We haven't moved at all." I said, smiling. "We're in the same place as before."
We look through a window onto the deck of the ship.
"We're on a ghost ship." Avery said.
"Nope, it's real. A space ship trapped inside a temporal rift." I said, grabbing Asuna's hand.
"How can two ships be in the same place?" Amy asked.
"They're not in the same place. Y'know how the Seed works? We went full diving before with Asuna and the others. A couple of times. To go to honeymoon destinations with you and Rory. There's two planes, two worlds. Two cars packed into the same server. ALFheim Online and Gun Gale Online. Same source code. There's a lot of virtual reality worlds packed next to each other. Now and again, they collide. Thanks to the help of transferring your account over."
"Okay, I think I understand."
"Good, because it's not like that at all. But if that helps." The Doctor said.
"Thanks."
"All the reflections have suddenly become gateways." The Doctor said, throwing a piece of metal at the window. It goes through and lands on the deck. "Ever look in a mirror and think you're seeing a whole other world? Well, this time it's not an illusion."
Beep, beep.
"The signal." Amy said.
"Yes." The Doctor said.
"The distress call." Asuna said, sadly.
"Uh huh."
"There was a second ship here all the time." Amy said.
"And the Siren is on board." I said, opening a door to reveal an alien skeleton. "Now I remember why I was worried for a second there. I forgot her true motive."
Its spacesuit says D.I.H.S
"Dead." The Doctor said.
Bridge…
"Oh my god…" Asuna said, grabbing my hand.
More skeletal crew.
"I'm sorry." I said, frowning. "I'm so sorry."
"You were right. There was something staring at us the whole time. How long has this ship been marooned here?" Amy asked.
"Long enough for the Captain to have run out of grog." Avery said.
"I don't understand. If this is the Captain, then what's the Siren?"
"She's the same as us." I said, as Asuna squeezed my hand. "She was a stowaway."
"Did she kill it?" Asuna asked.
"I think it was human bacteria that did."
"What?"
"A virus from our planet. Airborne, travelling through the portal. That's what killed it. Didn't get its jabs. Urgh. Look." The Doctor said, while he has put his hand in some gunk.
"What is it?" Amy asked.
"Sneeze! Alien bogies."
He wipes his hand on the sleeve of Amy's pirate coat.
Sickbay…
Lots of people lying on beds floating in midair, and connected by a tube to the ceiling. Suguha is overlooking Kazuto's body. And nearby was Shino's body.
"Asuna!" Suguha said, looking over at Asuna. "The Siren, she…"
"Sinon." I said, running up to Shino's body. I noticed Kirito's electrode necklace on her body. "I'm sorry…"
"What do we do?" Asuna asked.
"Rory!" Amy said, running up to Rory.
"The Tardis!" The Doctor said, pulling the curtains away to reveal the TARDIS.
"We have to get them out of here." Suguha said.
"Wait. His fever's gone." The Doctor said, looking at Toby.
"He looks so well." Amy said.
"She's keeping him alive. His brain is still active, but all its cellular activity is suspended. It's not a curse, it's a tissue sample. Why get samples of people you are about to kill?"
"Help me get him up."
Rory and Kazuto begin to wake. Beep, beep.
"She's coming." The Doctor said.
"Asuna, Kazuto felt you nearby." Suguha said, sadly. "You have to hide."
They hide behind a bank of monitors except Suguha. The Siren floats in, singing her wordless song, and goes to Rory and Kazuto. They calm down and sleep again.
"I think it was an anaesthetic." I said, looking at Asuna.
"What?" Asuna asked.
"The music, the songs. She anaesthetizes people. And she puts their body into stasis."
"So, it's like how we fully dive into virtual worlds."
"Yup."
The Siren goes to Toby. Avery steps out, gun ready.
"Avery, no!" Suguha said, worried.
Avery shoots, and the Siren turns red. She advances on Avery, then the Doctor sneezes. The Siren heads for him instead.
"Fire. That's new. What does fire do? Burn? Yes. Destroy? What else? Sterilise! I sneezed. I've brought germs in." The Doctor said.
The Doctor blows his nose and throws the handkerchief on the floor. The Siren blasts the offending article. Amy runs to Rory and Asuna runs to Kazuto.
"Amy, Asuna, stop. Don't interfere. Don't touch them." I said, looking between Amy and Asuna. "Really! Don't!"
"Anaesthetic, tissue sample, screen, sterile working conditions. Ignore all my previous theories!" The Doctor said, angrily.
"Yeah? Well, we stopped paying attention a while back." Amy said, scoffing.
"She's not a killer at all, she's a doctor!" I said, walking over to Suguha. "I really forgot until now."
Amy and Asuna stop fiddling with Rory and Kirito's life support and the Siren returns to green.
"This is an automated infirmary." Suguha said, as I grabbed her hand. "It's been teleporting people on board."
"The crew are dead, and so the sick bay has had nothing to do. It's been looking after humanity whilst it's been idle." The Doctor said.
"Just look at her." I said, looking at the Siren. "She's a virtual medical doctor. And she was able to sterilize an entire room."
"Able to burn your face off." Amy said, annoyed.
"She's just an interface, seeped through the join between the planes, broadcast in our world. Protean circuitry means she can change her form, and become a human doctor for humans. Oh, sister, you are good." The Doctor said.
"She won't let us take them." Avery said.
"She's keeping them alive, but she doesn't know how to heal them."
"I'm Rory's wife, for God's sake." Amy said.
"And I'm Kirito's boyfriend." Asuna said, letting out tears. "Why can't we touch them?"
"Amy, Asuna, show them your rings. She's virtual and intelligent." Suguha said.
"She's like Yui!" I said, tossing out a device out of my pocket. It loaded up something augmented reality, and Yui is now floating in the room. "Man, I'm smart."
"Mommy!" Yui said, floating towards Asuna. "Where's Daddy?"
"Over there." Asuna said.
Yui then floated towards Kazuto who's unconscious, "I think we can't do anything without her consent. Leafa, you told her, you're his cousin?"
"Yeah." Suguha said, nodding her head.
"Sinon's here too." I said, walking over to Shino's unconscious body.
"Come on. We're both complicated. We're artificial intelligence." Yui said, floating above her father. "You have to know that he's my daddy."
Yui looked over at the Siren.
"I'm his girlfriend." Asuna said, looking down at her engagement ring. "That must be somewhere in your core program."
"Look, he's very ill, okay? I just want to look after him. Why won't you let me near my husband?" Amy asked, looking down at Rory.
"I have to help out Sinon!" I said, looking down at Shino's body. "I caused this to happen. I want to save her. Please! Let me!"
The Siren held out her hand, and three circles of light appeared around it.
"Consent form. Sign it. Put your hand in the light. Rory, Kirito, and Sinon are sick. The three of you have to take full responsibility." The Doctor said.
Amy, Asuna, and I do so, and the Siren disappears.
Amy turns off Rory's life support.
"He can't breathe. Turn it back on." Suguha said, walking over to Amy.
"What do we do? I can't just leave him here." Amy said, letting out tears.
"He'll die if you take him out." Avery said.
"Kirito! Wake up!" Asuna said, crying over Kirito.
"Asuna?" Kirito asked, opening his eyes. "Where am I?"
"You're in a hospital." Suguha said. "Your hand was cut, remember?"
"Yeah. It can heal."
"Sinon." I said, running over to Shino's body and turning off her life support. "I'm sorry."
"What happened?" Shino asked, opening her eyes. "Where am I?"
"You're in a hospital. You drowned, and you're at the verge of death."
"Sinon, if you leave the hospital, you die." Yui said, floating above Shino.
��What if we come with you?" Kirito asked.
"You'll die." Suguha said.
"I know you can save me." Shino said, looking up at me. "You're able to do it."
"How?" I asked.
"CPR. Resuscitate me."
"You want me to kiss you?"
"You have no choice. You rebooted the universe with the Doctor. You saved the Seed. You helped save virtual reality."
"I know. I can't let you die now."
"Kirito's hand can heal. Do CPR on me. When we get into the TARDIS." Shino said.
"Okay." I said, smiling. "I will. I'll save you. Like Kirito did from Death Gun."
"Let's do this." Kazuto said. "Let's get out of here, you guys."
"Right." Suguha, Asuna, and Shino said, at the same time.
"Okay, Daddy." Yui said, happily.
"I know what to do." I said, picking up the object in the room, and Yui disappeared. "I will save you, Sinon."
"We have to send this ship back into space. Imagine if the Siren got ashore. She would have to process every injured human." The Doctor said.
"What about Toby?" Avery asked.
"I'm sorry. Typhoid fever. Once he returns it's only a matter of time." The Doctor said, sadly.
"What if I stay with him, here. The Siren will look after him. I can't go back to England. And what home does he have now, if not with me?"
"Do you think you can sail this thing?"
"Just point me to the atom accelerator."
"I know you can do this. Of course, if you muck it up I am going to be really cross. And dead." Rory said, looking at Amy.
"I'll see you in a minute." Amy said.
The Doctor rips off Rory's restraints. I ripped off Shino's restraints. Asuna helped remove Kazuto's restraints. The Doctor and Amy get Rory off the bed as Suguha and I get Shino off the bed. We carried Rory and Shino into the TARDIS with Kazuto and Asuna behind us.
Tardis…
Amy and I start CPR, Amy doing it on Rory, and I'm doing it on Shino, the two of us are doing 1 breath to 5 chest compressions.
"Come on. Come on, Rory, Sinon. Not here. Not this way. Not today." The Doctor said.
"He trusted me. He trusted me to save him." Amy said, sadly.
"Same with Sinon! She told me the same thing!" I said, still doing CPR on Shino.
"You still can. Amy. Jared. You can still do this. They believe in you." Suguha said, looking down at Shino.
"Come on, Amy, Jared. Come on!" Asuna said, determined.
"Please, please, please wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Come on. Come on." Amy said, sadly.
But finally even Amy and I give up.
"Damn it." I said, standing up. "It didn't work."
After a few moments, Rory and Shino start coughing up water.
"Amy. Amy, you did it. You did it!" Rory said, happily.
"You did it, Jared." Shino said, smiling. "You saved me like Kirito."
"You did." Kazuto said, leaning against the TARDIS console. "It was a close call."
Later, Captain Avery has control of the spaceship, with Toby as his co-pilot, still attached to his life support mechanism. The rest of his crew come to watch as they fly between the stars.
Kirito and Asuna's home…
"Pirates." Asuna said, sitting on the couch. "I almost lost Kirito thanks to you. You're as much of a reckless idiot like he is."
"I know." I said, sipping a cup of tea. "So, what are we gonna do now?"
"We should relax." Leafa said.
"Relax?"
"We had a long day." Sinon said.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Kirito asked.
"I don't." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Not really."
"You sure?" Asuna asked.
"Positive."
I got a message on my user interface and it was from the TARDIS.
"Where do you have to go?" Yui asked, floating in front of me.
"I have to go." I said, logging off.
Kirito and Asuna loaded up the screens where they're trying to find me across the universe. Yui, Sinon, and Leafa went over to them to see what to do next.