𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙊𝙛 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 ✧ 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 Ⅱ [✓]

A Town Called Mercy Pt. 3

"No!" Jex yells, the Doctor pushes Jex along the street.

"Go on" the townsfolk follow Isaac to see the Doctor push Jex over the boundary "get over, and don't come back" the Doctor takes a gun from a man's holster and points it at Jex as he tries to return.

"Oh, my... Doctor!" {Y/N} shouts.

"You wouldn't" Jex replies.

"I genuinely don't know."

"Doctor. Doctor" Isaac says, Amy gets another gun and fires in the air.

"Let him come back, Doctor," Amy says.

"Or what? You won't shoot me, Amy."

"How do you know? Maybe I've changed. I mean, you've clearly been taking stupid lessons since I saw you last" her gun fires again "I didn't mean to do that" so Isaac fires to get everyone's attention.

"Everyone who isn't an American, drop your gun!"

"We can end this right now. We could save everyone right now" the Doctor says, {Y/N} steps forward.

"This is not how we roll, and you know it. What happened to you, Doctor? When did killing someone become an option?" she asks.

"Jex has to answer for his crimes."

"And what then? Are you going to hunt down everyone who's made a gun or a bullet or a bomb?"

"But they come back, don't you see? Every time we negotiate, we try to understand. Well, not today. No. Today, I honour the victims first. His, the Master's, the Dalek's, all the people who died because of our mercy!" the Doctor says coming face to face with {Y/N}, she looks at him.

"You see, this is what happens when you travel alone for too long. Well, listen to me, Doctor. We can't be like him. We have to be better than him" Amy says.

"Amelia Pond. Fine, fine. We think of something else. But frankly, I'm betting on the Gunslinger" the Doctor gives the gun back and holds out his hand" Jex, move over the line. Now" the Gunslinger is right behind him. Jex turns around.

"Make peace with your gods," the Gunslinger says.

"Kahler-Tech, isn't it? I remember all your names, even now. I'll never hurt anyone again. I'm even helping people here" Jex says.

"Last chance. Make peace with your gods."

"No!" Isaac pushes Jex out of the way and takes the Gunslinger's shot instead.

"Isaac. Isaac. Isaac. It's ok, it's ok. We can get you to Jex's surgery. He can save you" the Doctor says.

"Listen to me. You've got to stay. You've got to look after everyone" Isaac says.

"It won't come to that, Isaac," the Doctor says.

"Protect Jex. Protect my town. You're both good men. You just forget it sometimes" Isaac dies, handing on his Marshal's badge. The Doctor stands up and pins it on his jacket

"Take Jex to his cell. If anything happens to him, you'll have me to answer to" Jex is escorted away. The Doctor speaks to the Gunslinger "this has gone on long enough."

"You are right. You've got until noon tomorrow. Give him to me or I'll kill you all" the Gunslinger vanishes.

"Oh, my god. You're the Marshal" Amy says.

"Yeah. And you and {Y/N} are the Deputy's."

*Time skip*

It's now night and someone hammers on the door, {Y/N} looks up.

"Come in," the Doctor says.

"Marshal. Ma'ams. Fella. You need to come outside" the preacher says.

"Why, what's wrong?" the Doctor asks.

"Just come outside. And you should put that on" the preacher points to the gun belt, the Doctor puts it on and they all walk outside to see the townsfolk have gathered.

"What's going on?" the Doctor asks.

"He in there? Leave the keys and take a walk. By the time you get back, this'll all be done."

"I promised Isaac I'd protect him."

"Protecting him got Isaac dead. Tomorrow, it's going to be us all, dead."

"We thought Isaac was right to fight, but it's different now. We've got to say, all right we lost, and give that thing what it wants."

"What it wants is to kill our friend."

"We don't got any ill feeling towards the doc. We just thinking about our families. Hand him over and we all safe again."

"You know we can't do that" {Y/N} says.

"We got us a problem."

"Please don't do this," the Doctor says.

"Why, reckon you're quicker than me?"

"Oh, certainly not, but this? Lynch mobs? A town turning against itself? This is everything Isaac didn't want" the Doctor says, Walter draws his gun and cocks it "how old are you?"

"Nearly nineteen" the Doctor is slowly walking forward.

"That's eighteen, then. Too young to have fought in the war, so I'm guessing you've never shot anyone before, have you?"

"First time for everything."

"But that's how all this started. Jex turned someone into a weapon. Now that same story's going to make you a killer, too. Don't you see? Violence doesn't end violence, it extends it, and I don't think you want to do this. I don't think you want to become that man."

"There's kids here."

"We know, who we can save if you'll let us" {Y/N} says.

"He really worth the risk?"

"Don't know. But you are" Walter lowers his gun and walks away. The crowd disperses.

"Frightened people. Give me a Dalek any day" the Doctor says looking at {Y/N} who smiles slightly.

*Time skip*

The Doctor removes the gun belt, as {Y/N} walks in behind him.

"Fresh coffee, Marshal. For what it's worth, I know you're going to save us. Isaac made you Marshal for a reason, and if you're good enough for him, you're good enough for me. Reckon you should know that."

"Thank you," the Doctor says, Abraham continues to take his measurements "Oi. Get out of it" {Y/N} chuckles as Abraham leaves.

"Let me guess. The good folk of Mercy wanted me to take a little stroll into the desert. You could turn a blind eye. No one would blame you. You'd be a hero" Jex says.

"But we can't, can we. Because then Isaac's death would mean nothing. Just another casualty in your endless bloody war. Do you want us to hand you over? Is that what you want? Do you even know?" {Y/N} asks.

"You think I'm unaffected by what I did? That I don't hear them screaming every time I close my eyes? It would be so much simpler if I was just one thing, wouldn't it? The mad scientist who made that killing machine, or the physician who's dedicated his life to serving this town. The fact that I'm both bewilders you both."

"Oh, I know exactly what you are, and I see this reformation for what it really is. You committed an atrocity and chose this as your punishment. Don't get me wrong, good choice. Civilised hours, lots of adulation, nice weather, but, but justice doesn't work like that. You don't get to decide when and how your debt is paid!" the Doctor shouts.

"In my culture, we believe that when you die your spirit has to climb a mountain carrying the souls of everyone you wronged in your lifetime. Imagine the weight I will have to lift. The monsters I created, the people they killed. Isaac, he was my friend. Now his soul will be in my arms, too. Can you see now why I fear death? You want to hand me over. There's no shame in that. But you won't. We all carry our prisons with us. Mine is my past. Yours is your morality."

"We all carry our prisons with us. Ha!"

---

~Bread 🍞