TTV Series Episode 3: When in Rome

Agrippina entered the small room, with a coin in her hand. She sat down on a stone, and stared at the woman across from her.

“I have money,” she said, passing the coin to the woman.
“Thank you,” the woman replied. “My name is Madame Rene. Now, where would you like to begin?”

The Doctor smiled at Crystal and leant back in his chair. She grinned back, and ran her fingers along the console.

“Where would you like to go?” he asked.
“The past,” she replied. “I’d love to see the Titanic or something…”
“Seriously, if I go there any more times, it’ll be Reaper heaven,” the Doctor chuckled.
“I’ve got no idea what you’re on about,” Crystal sighed. “Fine. Let’s go to Rome! I’ve seen all these films and stuff about it. And nobody will recognise me as dead there.”
“That’s more like it!” the Doctor beamed. “I love a bit of old Rome!”

He dived from his seat and set the controls.

“I can’t see much about you,” Madame Rene frowned. “But your son…”
“What?” Agrippina asked.
“He will become Emperor,” Madame Rene announced. “And he will kill you.”
“Let him kill me,” Agrippina said. “Provided he becomes Emperor.”

***

It was 59 AD, and Agrippina was preparing to board the boat. It had been many years since her encounter with Madame Rene, and she’d almost forgotten what they’d talked about. Her servant Acerronia Polla joined her beside the boat.

“This is going to be such fun,” she sighed. “I love Rome.”
“I only hope my son will be replaced soon,” Agrippina said. “Rubellius Plautus will make a much better Emperor than my son Nero.”
“Here comes Crepereius Gallus,” Acerronia pointed. “We’ll be able to set off soon.”

Agrippina’s thoughts were still on Emperor Nero, until the sound of the universe ripped through the air.

“What is that?” she muttered.

She stepped on to the boat to investigate the noise, and came face to face with a large, blue box.

“Hello,” the Doctor beamed, stepping out of the TARDIS. “Come on Crystal, I’ve already met someone!”
“You’ve just stepped out of the TARDIS!” Crystal muttered, following him. “Christ you can pull fast. She’s a bit old.”
“And she’s brought a friend!” the Doctor smiled, pointing to Acerronia, who followed Agrippina onto the boat.
“Crepereius is here,” she announced. “If you’d like to get seated Agrippina.”

The Doctor frowned, as Crystal shut the TARDIS door and followed Agrippina to her seat. Crepereius stepped onto the boat, and it began to sail.

“Woah, we’re moving!” Crystal said, nearly falling out her seat. “Doctor, we’re on a boat!”
“What year is this?” the Doctor asked Acerronia, following her to a seat.
“59,” Acerronia smiled.
“That’s so weird,” Crystal laughed. “I’m used to 2010, not 59. I mean, that’s just two numbers! That’s so strange!”
“You get used to it,” the Doctor shrugged. “Hang on, 59? And we’re on a boat with Agrippina, the Younger?”
“No, the Older,” Agrippina said sarcastically. “Of course I’m the Younger, have you seen the Older?”
“The oarsmen have wished you a pleasant journey,” Crepereius said, sitting next to Agrippina.
“Oh I bet they have,” the Doctor frowned. “Crystal, we’ve got to go, now.”

He stood up, and dragged Crystal from her seat.

“What do you mean?” she hissed.
“This boat is designed to collapse,” the Doctor replied. “It’s a trap, by Agrippina’s son, Nero.”
“Emperor Nero?” Crystal gasped. “That bloke who fiddled himself?”
“He didn’t fiddle himself!” the Doctor sighed. “Don’t you learn anything in History? Oh never mind, yes, Nero, the very same. We’ve got to go.”
“We should warn her!” Crystal cried.

Agrippina heard Crystal’s cries, and left her seat to confront the Doctor.

“What are you talking about?” she demanded to know. “I demand to know!”
“The boat, it’s a…” the Doctor began to explain.

Before he could finish, there was a crash, and the canopy above Agrippina’s seat collapsed, crushing Crepereius. Acerronia screamed; falling backwards as the others hit the floor.

“What the actual hell?” Crystal moaned.

The Doctor ran over to where Crepereius was seated, and sighed. Agrippina looked up from the floor, but the Doctor shook his head.

“He’s dead.”
“But, they were trying to kill Agrippina!” Crystal cried. “Hadn’t we better get out of here?”
“It’s too late,” the Doctor replied. “I don’t remember what happened here, but I’m pretty sure History doesn’t tell the story of the Doctor and his dead friend arriving and the canopy crushing the wrong person!”
“Doctor, the oarsmen are coming!” Agrippina said, climbing to her feet. “I demand that you get me out of here.”
“I’ll demand you in a minute!” the Doctor warned. “Come on!”

He led the way along the boat, grabbing Agrippina by the arm and hauling her along. Crystal began to follow, before she remembered Acerronia, and doubled back.

“Acerronia, are you all right?” she asked, leaning over her. “We’ve got to get out of here; the oarsmen are coming to kill Agrippina.”
“I’m fine,” Acerronia replied, climbing out of the wreckage.

As Crystal led the way, Acerronia screamed, and pointed at the oarsmen who were running towards them.

“Run!”

The Doctor led Agrippina to where the TARDIS had been. He frowned at the empty space, and wondered where it had gone.

“What are you looking for?” Agrippina asked.
“My ship,” the Doctor explained. “Ah, there she is! All the way down there!”

He ran to the other side of the ship, and pointed to a large crack in the boat. Bobbing in the water was the blue box Agrippina had seen earlier.

“That’s down there!” Agrippina sighed.
“You’re gonna have to climb, come on,” he urged. “Crystal, hurry up, it’s getting dark! And I dunno how long before the boat sinks!”

He ran back to the other side of the boat as Agrippina began to climb down the wreckage. Crystal came legging it around the corner, almost slamming in to the Doctor. Acerronia was following her, out of breath. As the Doctor began to lead them to the TARDIS, there was a crash, and they fell through the floor.

“The boat’s collapsing!” Crystal screamed.
“You’ve gotta let go when I say when!” the Doctor yelled. “We need to swim to the TARDIS!”

Crystal held on to the side of the boat, bits of wood flying everywhere around her. She looked sideways at Acerronia, who was managing to climb up and out of the wreckage. She eventually managed to pull herself out, and turned back to Crystal.

“Take my hand!” she cried, leaning down.
“Go without us,” Crystal said. “We’ve got the TARDIS – we’ll take Agrippina home.”

Acerronia nodded, and ran off. There was a crash somewhere to the right, and the oarsmen thundered along the ship.

“Agrippina!” one of them roared.
“Check down there,” another one said.
“Doctor! They’re gonna look down here and see us!” Crystal hissed.
“Keep waiting,” the Doctor ordered. “Remember, when I say when.”

One of the oarsmen stepped over to the hole, but a cry from across the boat made him stop.

“Halt!” Acerronia cried. “I am Agrippina!”

Crystal gasped as the oarsmen began to run at Acerronia. There was a cracking of bone, and a splash. The Doctor saw Crystal’s horrified expression, and decided it was time.

“When!” he yelled, letting go of the wood.

Crystal screamed, and let go. The two of them fell through the wreckage, and into the water. Agrippina cried out to them from where she was sat on the TARDIS. Swimming over to her, the Doctor pulled out the TARDIS key and opened the door.

“Step inside,” he gestured to Agrippina.

***

Emperor Nero sat on his throne, and growled as Fabius and Helena scurried over to him.

“Your Emperorness, I’m afraid to tell you, your mother survived,” Fabius said quietly.
“How did that happen?” Nero roared.
“She swam back to the shore,” Helena smiled.
“That’s not a good thing!” Fabius whispered.
“Oh,” Helena frowned.
“Go and deal with her,” Nero snapped. “Chalk it up as suicide – tell the public she was plotting to kill me or something. Away!”

He waved his hand, and Fabius hurried away, before returning and dragging Helena with him.

***

Agrippina waved as the TARDIS departed, and returned to her house. She sadly thought of Acerronia and Crepereius, and how they’d died. There was a crash, and the door to her house burst open. She stepped backwards, startled, and saw Fabius and Helena run into the room, carrying a knife.

“Nero must really want me dead,” she observed.
“I’m afraid he does,” Helena said with sympathy. “Still, can’t be helped.”
“Don’t talk to her!” Fabius hissed.
“Sorry,” Helena replied.

Fabius raised the knife, and advanced on Agrippina.

“Smite my womb,” Agrippina snarled. “Destroy the part of me that ever created so abominable a son!”

And with a small sigh, Fabius did.

The End