Devastation
When the TARDIS materializes on a deserted planet, the Doctor seeks to understand what has happened to the previously life filled world. When they come across the planet's executioner, they are thrust into nightmares made real. Escape may not be possible...
From Episode One:
With a tired wheeze, he stopped running. He stood and caught his breath before a door which looked like every other door he'd seen. The thing which made this door special was the noise coming from behind it. A gentle sobbing originated behind this door. The Doctor reached out and pulled the door open.
The interior of the room was exactly like all the rooms the Doctor had been in, with one exception : the young lady curled up in the corner sobbing. At the sound of the door opening, she visibly cringed, her sobs grew louder, and she tried to push herself deeper in the corner, as if it provided some protection. Her clothes were tattered, her hair wild. Patches of skin showed here and there through the remnants of her clothing. Much of that skin was bruised or bloodied, displaying signs of cruel, sadistic violence. The Doctor's hearts began to ache in sympathetic pain. He stepped into the little room. "I'm not here to harm you," said he simply. Nothing else sprang to mind.
His words had a profound effect on the young lady. Her sobs choked off briefly. She turned to look at him. Her beautiful face displayed further signs of brutality. An eye was blackened and almost swollen shut. A cheek was badly bruised. A trickle of blood from her mouth mingled with the streams of tears from her eyes. A glint of recognition and slight hope flashed in her good eye. "Doctor?" she gasped between sobs.
A look of horror pasted itself on the Doctor's face. He gasped as he took in her pain and identified her. "Harriet? My dear, what has happened to you?" She began sobbing full force again. She popped up and wrapped her injured arms around the Time Lord, seeking comfort. Gently, he returned the gesture, trying not to bother her existing wounds further. As he comforted her, he mumbled "What have they done to you my dear?"
After a few minutes, she began to relax. Her crying slowly became controllable again and she was soon able to speak. "You don't know how good it feels to see you," she informed, still holding tight to him as if she feared he would fade away were her grip to lessen.
"I think I've a clue," he replied, trying to get her to brighten up a little. "Do you have any idea what's going on Harriet? Like where we are or who did this to you?"
"He's horrible," she answered. "I don't know his name, but he's horrible!" She began to lose control again and she sobbed again briefly. In between her cries, she choked "He killed them, he killed them all!"
The Doctor tried to sound as soothing as possible, trying his best to calm her down. "Who did he kill?"
"Bob. Brian. Deb. Dorothy. Julie." Her tears were almost drenching his coat.
A chill tickled down the Doctor's spine. "Julie's dead?" he questioned aloud, a note of horror in his voice.
"He kidnapped us all." She choked loudly. "I'm the last one."
The colour drained from the Doctor's face as his hearts beat faster and Harriet continued. "He made us watch as he tortured and killed the others. Julie... she... he did to..." Again, Harriet found herself unable to speak, overwhelmed by her intense emotion.
"It'll be okay." he lied, trying to calm her down. "I'll think of something." He sounded good, but he looked as horrified as he felt.
