Post by Rory Williams on Jun 16, 2014 9:50:51 GMT -6
Rory stepped free of the shower system he had spent the last hour in. It seemed much more advanced than some of the devices Rory had seen. Its sleek design blended into the wall creating an encased environment which allowed the enhanced waters’ abilities to work its rejuvenating affects. Rory slowly dried off enjoying the mental relief brought on by the shower. He located his issued uniform along the steel bench. As he slipped on the charcoal grey cargo style pants he noticed the feel of the material was very unique. It slid across his skin with the swiftness of snake scales yet managed to provide enough cohesion with the skin as to eliminate chaffing. Rory only noticed this aspect because he was always never dressed to be chasing after The Doctor.
He was never meant to.
Rory quickly broke this realization, slipping on his slim fitting, black v-neck which was accompanied by a shoulder harness that allowed for adequate weapon utilization. He strapped the calf-holster around his left leg and slipped on his boots. After strapping the industrial nylon across the front, he noticed a slight elevation and a whirring made from below. It seemed his boots had automatically made some adjustments where Rory had come lacking. He didn’t mind. It was a nice change in fact.
He noticed a small black case that he did not remember having brought in with him that sat alongside a silver timepiece that was engraved with the honeycomb design with a pronounced “T” in the center. He slipped it on, the mechanical whirring becoming a standard sound he was growing use to. He hastily grabbed the small black container and bounded up the coiled stairs.
Jack was looking intensely at a large glass wall that stood adjacent to the desks. Blinking nodes indicating who-knows-what flashed away silently as Jack did his best to look busy.
“What are you doing?” Rory asked.
“Nothing. Ready for the grand tour?” Jack had spun to look at Rory with a flashing smile. He motioned for Rory to follow quickly.
“So you’ve seen the main work station here and you’ve seen the locker and shower. Your personal room is down the hall from there. Now! Let’s get on to the good stuff!” Jack said clapping his hands.
They reached the far wall where a mechanical lever switch was activated by Jack. The floor around them spewed steam as old fashioned hydraulics released them downward again.
“Why does nothing match around here?” Rory questioned.
“Oh a fashionista Mister Williams? Not fond of you outfit?”, Jack smarted off.
“No, I mean, why are the controls all different? Some are mechanical and some are touch screen?”
“Well, we haven’t gathered enough tech to fully upgrade the place so we do it as we go. Hey! You can help with that!”
“But I don’t know anything about electronics and door mechanisms and steamy showers.” Rory’s voiced lulled off reminiscing about the shower.
“Nice isn’t it? Didn’t happen to use the probe did you?” Jack grinned as the platform came to a hissing halt. Rory looked up to see where they had once stood was now a small box of light. 200 meters? 300? Rory had never been a good estimate of distance.
Rory stepped off the platform behind Jack onto a long open platform. Opposite of them stood glass columns that contained displays of guns. They ranged from classic WW1 memorabilia to more modern styles. The ones directly in front of them contained sleek guns that obviously foreign to this world.
Jack quickly popped open several cases and began handing Rory an assortment of items.
“Here you’ve got your standard Peacemaker.” Jack spun the old timey western pistol around handing it over to Rory as he grabbed the next.
“And then we have Ion Bonder. Won’t kill anything but will freeze them in place. Takes awhile to charge up so use sparingly.”
Jack quickly grabbed for the last item out and held it up. “This is a hand pulse. Push this red button and it releases an EMP. It is a one use item. It has to be recharged here each time.”
Jack noticed the small black box he had left for Rory. The inspection seal was still in tact so he knew he had not bothered to see what was inside. "And last but not least, the little black box at your side..." He motioned for Rory to open it.
Rory held it in his hand. The black glowed black as obsidian. It appeared to be a solid, hexagonal shape except for a small indention on the side. Rory ran his finger across, alerting the faintest beep and a decompressing hiss. The top swung back and there lay something so familiar.
Rory was flung back into flashbacks that, now, never really existed. The tinge of lightning, the screams, the explosions, and Her. She had saved him, once again, like she always had.
But all that was gone.
All that remained of that alternate time was this. This little sliver of black metal and plastic pressed together in a fashionable casing. Rory recognized it. It was his. His eyepiece from River's alternate ending. When he was a soldier and Amy his Captain. His commanding officer. Oh how she got a kick out of that.
"You remember what that is obviously." Rory nodded. "Thought you might need it so I went back and got it for you."
"You what?
Jack realized this was not the time nor place. Rory's emotions were far too high and could cause problems. The less he knew, the easier it would be to keep him in line.
"Oh now that is a story to tell over dinner!" Jack flashed that reassuring smile and moved on. "Onward!"
Rory hastily put everything away in it’s place on his holsters and followed Jack back to the platform.
“And down we go!”
Jack popped the lever and the slid down for several minutes until all natural light was gone and only the artificial glow of the yellow green lanterns remained. They stepped off the platform as it made its familiar hiss.
In front of them, stood a massive door with interwoven mechanical locks they turned the door into one giant master key. Jack activated a hand generated pump and continued until the door fully unlocked itself.
“This is where we keep the good ones.” Jack said will all seriousness as he led Rory into a dimly lit corridor. Again, lined with glass front cells. Some empty, some not. Rory felt the familiar uneasiness of his stomach returning once again.