A Town Called Mercy

Alyssa jumped fairly soon after that. While Rose was packing to continue traveling with them. She looked around and saw that she was in the next Tardis. She put her head into her hands and groaned. "Alyssa?" she heard the Eleventh's Doctor voice say.

"Will it ever get easier?" Alyssa muttered under her breath. As her jumping was finally getting old. After everything that had just happened with the Tenth Doctor she had wanted to spend some more time with him.

"Ally?" The Doctor said, as he gently took her hands away from her face, and looked at her "where did you come from?" "Satellite Five, Christmas Dinner with the Tyler's." Alyssa said, and the Doctor broke into a grin before he kissed her. He pulled away and danced around the console piloting it. Alyssa glanced around and noticed a certain redhead and her husband or boyfriend wasn't there. "Doc?" Alyssa muttered

"Yes?" "Where are Amy and Rory?"

"Home right now, do you want to go to the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico?"

"Yes. Amy would love it." Alyssa said, before she walked over to the scanner and typed something in. her face fell as she looked at the date. "Oh." Alyssa said,

"Alyssa what is it?" the Doctor asked, "its my birthday," Alyssa said, and the Doctor's face fell as he looked at her in shock "I'm turning 951 today." and she didn't notice the tension drain out of the Doctor's body. Before he danced around the console again. "Well lets go pick up the ponds!" The Doctor said, before he rushed out of the Tardis, soon reentering with the Ponds. "So where are we going this time?" Amy said,

"Well it's Alyssa's birthday so im in a festive mood. How about the Day of the Dead Festival?" "Sounds fun." Amy said, before she turned to Alyssa "Happy Birthday." "Thanks." Alyssa said, as she helped the Doctor pilot the Tardis.

They soon were standing in front of a sign. "Doctor Dear we got the flight wrong." Alyssa said as she was about to turn back to go to the Tardis. The Doctor quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her back to his side.

"Mercy. Eighty one residents." The Doctor read from the signs.

"Look at this. It's a load of stones and lumps of wood. What is it?" Amy asked "Just a load of stones and lumps of wood. There isn't usually anything hidden in those." Alyssa said, as the Doctor walked over and scanned them. "Alyssa's right." The Doctor said, before he stepped over the line and started into the city.

"The sign does say Keep Out." Rory said, "I see Keep Out signs as suggestions more than actual orders, like Dry Clean only." The Doctor said,

"Doctor dear, I love your curiosity but do you really think there is something in there? " Alyssa said

"Yes there could be," The Doctor said poking her nose playfully. Alyssa reaching up and slapping it away. "Come on Ally, lets go take a look." he said smiling at her,

"Doctor..." Alyssa said, as he tried to poke her nose again her slapping his hand away once more. "Come on, Ally, where is that sense of adventure I love." The Doctor said, and held a hand out to her, she let out a sigh before she reached out and took his hand and stepped over the barrier. Amy and Rory following the two. Alyssa frowned when she saw a light pole. before looking around the town before it sparked,

"That's not right." The Doctor said, as he brought out his sonic and scanned it.

"It's a street lamp." Rory said, "An street lamp that is ten years too early." Alyssa muttered,

"It's only a few years out." Rory said,

"That's what you said when you left your phone charger in Henry the Eighth's en-suite." The Doctor said, before they continued forward again.

"Doctor, er" Amy said, as she walked over to them

"Anachronistic electricity, Keep Out signs, aggressive stares. Has someone been peeking at my Christmas list?" he said before he turned to Alyssa. "what is your opinion now."

"something's wrong and well it wouldn't be right to just leave it alone." Alyssa muttered, making the Doctor smile at her, as he held out his arm to her which she took.

"Doctor." Amy said again before they continued walking. They entered the Saloon and everyone stopped what they were doing and turned and looked at them. As the Doctor turned to the bartender.

Doctor, this doesn't seem right Alyssa telepathically said to the Doctor. glancing at the people behind them as she racked her head for the episode.

"Tea. But the strong stuff. Leave the bag in." The Doctor said,

"What're you doing here, son?" the bartender said,

"Sir, might I enquire who you is?" a black man said from behind them making the Doctor turn to him.

"Of course. I'm the Doctor. This is" The Doctor said, before everyone stood up. "No need to stand. You see that? Manners. Oh, thank you."

Doctor this really doesn't feel right. Alyssa called again, but no response came as man came up and measured the Doctor.

"But I don't need a new suit." The Doctor said,

"I'm the undertaker, sir." The man said, and both the Doctor and Alyssa looked at him in shock.

"I got a question. Is you an alien?" A young man asked,

"Well, er, bit personal. It's all relative, isn't it? I mean, I think you're the aliens, but in this context, yes. Yes, I suppose I am." The Doctor said, before the group of people grabbed him and hoisted him in the air, and left the Saloon. "Let him go!" Alyssa called out, her hand going for her gun. as two men grabbed her arms and followed the others

"Guys!" The Doctor called out.

"LET HIM GO!" Alyssa yelled, as she noticed they were dragging Amy and Rory out to.

"Doctor! Put him down!" Amy called out,

"Don't think we won't kill you." The Bartender said,

"Leave him alone!" Rory said,

"Rory, everything is completely under control. Guys, guys, guys." The Doctor started before he threw him out of town. Alyssa shrugging the arms off her before she took a step forward to rush after him "you don't want to do that, Ma'am." one of the people who had grabbed her said, and grabbed her again. "Why not?" Alyssa said, turning back to the Doctor. who got up and put a hand on his back

"Ow." he said, before he turned around and a bunch of people rose their guns at him. Causing the Doctor to raise his hands.

"He's coming. Oh God, he's coming." the black man said, as a figure appeared in the distance. as it started towards them.

"Preacher, say something." The young man said,

"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." The preacher said, as the Doctor turned around as the figure was getting closer also using a device that made him jump closer. As Alyssa frowned as she finally realized this was not an episode. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done." before a gun shot rang out. and everyone turned around to face a man.

"You, bow tie. Get back across that line." The man said, walking forward stopping by the young man, as he revealed a marshal badge. "Now." and the Doctor stepped back over the man as the figure was close enough to reveal a cyborg. before it vanished,

"Isaac, he said he was a doctor. An alien doctor." The young man said,

"That a reason to hand him to his death?" Issac said, who was the marshal.

"Isaac, it could be him." the young man said,

"You know it ain't." Issac said, before he turned around and walked off nodding at Alyssa as he passed her

"Ma'am." Issac said before he did the same to Amy. As the men holding Alyssa dropped her arms. as the Doctor walked past her, Amy and Rory followed. "I really don't know, I don't know.... That's a new feeling." Alyssa said, before she smiled, She didn't know the episode. she never seen anything like this. And whatever that meant made her feel giddy inside. "Ally!" she heard the Doctor yell, before she turned around and rushed after the three. as they went into the Marshal's office.

"What was that outside?" The Doctor said,

"The Gunslinger. Showed up three weeks back. We've been prisoners ever since. See that border line stretching round the town? Woke up one morning, there it was. Nothing gets past it, in or out. No supply wagons, no reinforcements. Pretty soon the whole town's going to starve to death." Issac said,

"But he let us in." Rory said,

"You ain't carrying any food. Just three more mouths to feed. We'll all die even sooner now." "Why is it holding you prisoner?" Alyssa asked, and Issac looked down,

"What happens if someone crosses the line?" The Doctor said, and Issac threw him a hat and a gunshot hole was in the middle of it.

"Ah, well, he wasn't a very good shot, then." The Doctor said,

"He was aiming for the hat." Issac said,

"He shoots people's hats?" The Doctor said, "Warning shot isn't it?" Alyssa asked, and Issac nodded,

"Ah, no, yes. I see. Hmm." The Doctor said,

"Back to my original question why is he holding you prisoner does he want something from you?" Alyssa asked,

"Says he wants us to give him the alien doctor." Issac said,

"But that's you. Why would he want to kill you? Unless he's met you." Amy asked "Amy, there is more then one Alien Doctor. even alien planets Amy, have Doctors. Yes the Doctor is called the Doctor but does it automatically mean anyone looking for an alien doctor is looking for him?" Alyssa said, "Thank you." The Doctor said,

"Also how could he know that we'd be here?" Rory said, before he whispered to the Doctor and Alyssa "We didn't even know we'd be here."

"We were aiming for Mexico. The Doctor was taking us to see the Day of the Dead Festival." Amy said louder talking to Issac.

"Mexico's two hundred miles due south." Issac said,

"Well, that's what happens when people get toast crumbs on the console. Anyway, I think it's about time we met him, don't you?" The Doctor said,

"Who?" Issac said,

"That young man outside said the Doctor could be the alien doctor, but you said he wasn't so you know who it actually is." Alyssa said,

"Two alien doctors. We're like buses. Resident eighty one, I presume, so beloved by the townsfolk he warranted an alteration to the sign. Probably because he rigged up these electrics, and I'm guessing he's in here, because if half the town suddenly wanted to throw me to my death, this is where I'd want to be." The Doctor added,

"I don't know what you" Issac started but he was interrupted by a man throwing a blanket off his face.

"Isaac, I think the time for subterfuge has passed. Good afternoon. My name is Kahler-Jex. I'm the doctor." Jex said,

Issac unlocked the cell Jex was in,and the Doctor started shaking Jez's hand.

"The Kahler. I love the Kahler. They're one of the most ingenious races in the galaxy. Seriously, they could build a spaceship out of Tupperware and moss." The Doctor said,

"All right love." Alyssa said, Looking at the Doctor he sat down, before turning to Jex "How did you get here?"

"My craft crashed about a mile or so out of town. I would have died if Isaac and the others hadn't pulled me from the wreckage." Jex said,

"And you stayed, as their doctor." The Doctor said,

"On my world I was a surgeon, so it seemed logical. And it gave me an opportunity to repay my debt to them." Jex said,

"Listen to him. Talking like it was nothing. Tell them about the cholera." Issac said,

"Now, Isaac, I'm sure our guests are" Jex said, before he was interrupted by Jax.

"Two years after he arrived, there was an outbreak of cholera. Thanks to the doc here, not a single person died."

"A minor infection we'd found a treatment for centuries ago." Jex said,

'No, no, what, what do you call them? The electrics?" Issac said,

"Using my ship as a generator, I was able to rig up some rudimentary heating and lighting for the town." Jex said, "all of this sounds wonderful, but there's a big question. Why does the Gunslinger want you?" Alyssa said,

"It don't matter." Issac said, "yes it does, if he did something horrible, most people don't want another to kill another person for no reason. If we knew why..."

"America's the land of second chances. We called this town Mercy for a reason. Others, some round here, don't feel that way." "And they have a right to feel that way. Issac, especially like you say they will starve due to the gunslinger. you are a marshal you should understand the want for justice better than anyone. As you are one of those people supposed to uphold that. I want to know why he wants you. because as far as I can see it Issac. It's his life over the town folks, and if I was in this situation one death to save more.. is more important. But not if he is completely innocent and the gunslinger just wants him dead. I need to know why he wants you Jex, we can help you. "

"Im not going to hand him over regardless of the reason" Issac said,

"Now, Isaac, we've discussed this." Jex said,

"People whose lives you've saved are suddenly saying we should hand you over." Issac said,

"They're scared, that's all. You can hardly blame them." Issac said,

"Them being scared scares me. War only ended five years back. That old violence is still under the surface. We give up Doc Jex, then we hand the keys of the town over to chaos." Issac said, and Alyssa shook her head looking at the Doctor.

"Did you try to repair your craft? Surely someone with your skills" The Doctor said,

"It really was very badly damaged." Jex said, as the Doctor tapped the desk and stood up.

"We evacuate the town. Our ship's just over the hills, room for everyone. I'll pop out, bring it back here, Robert's your uncle." The Doctor said, "Really? Simple as that. No crazy schemes, no negotiations." Amy said,

"I've matured. I'm twelve hundred years old now. Plus I don't want to miss The Archers." the Doctor said, before he picked up the stetson and walked over to the door, and opened it.

"Oh, so you're not even a tiny bit curious?" Amy said, "I certainly am." Alyssa said, looking at Jex, something wasn't sitting well with her in this whole situation.

"Why would I be curious? It's a mysterious space cowboy assassin. Curious? Of course I'm not curious." The Doctor said, and that finally made Alyssa look at him, she knew he was lying. "Doctor.." Alyssa said, unsure, but he walked out of the house,

"Son?" Issac called out, and the Doctor popped back in. "You've still got to get past the Gunslinger. How you going to do that?" Issac said,

"With a little sleight of hand." the Doctor said before he walked out.

"he's lying about not being curious" Alyssa said, "Ally!" The Doctor yelled, making Alyssa shake her head before she followed after him "So what sleight of hand?" She questioned and he grinned at her before Amy and Rory exited the building before he smiled at Rory. "Oh you have got to be kidding." She muttered, as he knew exactly what he was thinking.

"What?" Rory asked "The sleight of hand he mentioned was a diversion and I think he intends for you to be that diversion." Alyssa said, and the Doctor grinned at her. Indicating that she was right.

After some convincing of Rory to do the diversion he changed into Jex's clothes and went out with Issac to draw the Gunslingers fire. Alyssa and the Doctor walked through the town and found the Preacher tying up a horse. "Can we borrow your horse, please? It's official Marshal business." The Doctor said, and the preacher stopped tying him up and handed the reins over to the Doctor

"He's called Joshua. It's from the Bible. It means the Deliverer." The Preacher said as the Doctor looked at Alyssa and back at the horse, trying to tell her to get on.

"No, he isn't. I speak horse. He's called Susan, and he wants you to respect his life choices. Climb on Alyssa." The Doctor said, "Is there another horse we can borrow?" Alyssa asked,

"Unfortunately not." The Preacher said, and Alyssa let out a sigh before she got on the horse and situated herself behind the saddle. Before the Doctor also climbed up onto the horse and Alyssa instantly wrapped her arms around him. Tightening her hold as they started galloping out of the town.

they rode across the desert before the Doctor pulled on the reins to stop the horse. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." the Doctor yelled bringing Susan to a stop, Susan whinnying in protest "Yes, I know we're in a hurry." The Doctor said, the Doctor dismounted, handing the reigns to Alyssa. "I just want to check something out." He said looking at Alyssa, before susan whinnied in disapproval

"Two ticks. There's something niggling me. Yes, yes, it could be important." the doctor said, before Susan whinnied again. Alyssa letting out a slight chuckle as she made the horse circle "Oi, don't swear." he said before he started rummaging in the dirt before he brought up a wire. that led two ways towards the town and away from. As the Doctor went back to Alyssa to mount the horse again "So tell me honestly how bad is this?" he asked

" I don't know, I never seen this before" She said as she handed the reigns back to the Doctor. "not even from the show?" "No, kind of exciting though new adventures." Alyssa said smiling at him as he finally got situated and lead the horse alongside the wire. before they came across something covered by a tarp. The Doctor dismounted and helped Alyssa dismount before saying, as they walked over to the tarp

"what do you think that means, this isn't the first time you didn't know what was going on" he said

"You mean this happened before?" she asked, and the doctor winced, and didn't answer. "maybe it's us catching up to a specific event. River did tell us that I was eventually going to stop jumping. Maybe these are the events leading up to it?"

"Maybe." the Doctor said in an uncertain tone, before he grabbed the tarp and pulled it off of the object the spaceship.

"didn't Jax say it was very damaged? Too damaged to repair it?" Alyssa said

"good point Alyssa, where is the damage" He said, before he started climbing on it and jumping on it. "Doctor dear use your sonic." "Right." He said before bringing his sonic out and soniced the spaceship and an Alarmed blared "Okay not such a good idea." Alyssa muttered. as she climbed on the spaceship as a hatch opened, they both jumped inside the ship, which was quite a tight fit as it was an only one person aircraft.

"Security breach. You have ten seconds to enter the pass code." the ship's automated voice said, and the doctor started waving his screwdriver around. "Or this vehicle will self-destruct. Thank you for choosing Abarakas Security software. Incinerating intruders for three centuries. Nine, eight, seven."

Doctor." Alyssa said in an uneasy tone. before he pointed his Sonic screwdriver at the countdown and it stopped

"Self-destruct overridden"

"This is an awful lot of security for a titchy spacecraft." the Doctor said,

"Unless there's a reason for the security" Alyssa said, the Doctor made a sound of agreement

"Awaiting command."

"Tell me everything you can about the Gunslinger." The doctor said

"File not found. Please choose from Technical Specifications, Flight Recorder, Personal Files, Maps and Charts."

"Like that was going to work" Alyssa said in a teasing voice

"You try then." The doctor said, and Alyssa smiled at him and looked at the computer

"Personal files of Doctor Kahler-Jex." She said, and the screen flashed to life. Reading: Experimental Cyborg Program Military Science Unit.

"Names of deceased subjects can be found on the drop down menu." Jex's voice said as a video started playing and the pairs faces dropped as the file played and screams played. While a list of names scrolled down.

Alyssa opened up the hatch above them and looked around and saw the gunslinger pointing a gun at her. She instantly ducked back inside and the Doctor immediately popped out "Don't shoot, don't shoot, don't shoot. I know who you are, and who Jex is, too." The Doctor said, the gunslinger powered down his weapon. Alyssa hesitantly popped her head out of the ship. "Now, what I don't understand is why you haven't just walked into town and killed him."

"Doctor." Alyssa said a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"People will get in the way." The gunslinger said,

"You want justice, you deserve justice, but this isn't the way. We can put him on trial" the Doctor said, causing the gunslinger to power up his gun and point it at the two.

"When he starts killing your people, you can use your justice." the Gunslinger said,

"No more warning shots. I'll kill the next person to step over that line. Make sure it's Jex." He said before he turned around and left.

The two entered the Marshall's Office and saw that Amy, Rory and Issac talking to Kahler-Jex.

"He's lying. Every word, every thing he says, it's all lies." The Doctor said as he walked forward until he was face to face with Jex, Alyssa stood by the door glaring at Jex "This man is a murderer." "I am a scientist." Jex said, making Alyssa scoff. "Sit down. Sit down!" The Doctor yelled and Jex fearfully sat in the chair behind him "Tell them what you are." "What am I? A war hero." "You are no War hero." Alyssa said, the glare intenstifing. "Okay, somebody want to tell me what is going on?" Issac said, "The Gunslinger is a Cyborg." The Doctor said, "A what?" Issac said, "Half man, half machine. A weapon. Jex built it. He and his team took volunteers, told them they'd been selected for special training, then experimented on them, fused their bodies with weaponry, and programmed them to kill." Alyssa said, finally walking further into the office. "Okay. Why? Why would you do that, Doc?"

"We'd been at war for nine years. A war that had already decimated half of our planet. Our task was to bring peace, and we did. We built an army that routed the enemy and ended the war in less than a week. Do you want me to repent, to beg forgiveness for saving millions of lives?" "And how many died screaming on the operating table before you had found your advantage?" The Doctor asked,

"War is another world. You cannot apply the politics of peace to what I did. To what any of us did."

"We can absolutely hold you accountable for the lives you ruined. Thats what the gunslinger is doing." Alyssa said, Making Jex finally looking at her seeing the glare in her eyes. he almost cowered as he saw golden fury in them. "What happened then? How come you're here?" Rory asked "When the war ended we had the Cyborgs decommissioned, but one of them must have got its circuitry damaged in battle. It went offline and began hunting down the team that created it until just two of us were left. We fled, and our ships crashed here." Jex said, the Doctor turned and walked away. Rory looking at him opening his mouth to say something before looking at Alyssa who had crossed her arm leaned against a wall and closed her eye obvious deep in thought, before he turned to Amy and Issac. "what do we do with Jex?" Rory asked the two"What do we do with him?" Issac said, "Yeah. I mean, he's a war criminal." Rory said, "No, he's the guy that saved the town from cholera, the guy that gave us heat and light."

"Mountains of good will never ever make up for the harm he caused. the only true thing that would is letting his victims have justice. however it may be..." Alyssa muttered under her breath, but the three heard what she said, and Amy's face turned shocked. "Look, Jex may be a criminal and yeah, kind of creepy" Amy said, "And still in the room" Jex said, "But I think we should put aside what he did and find another solution." Amy said, "Another solution? It's him or us." "When did we start letting people get executed? Did I miss a memo? Doctor, Alyssa tell him.""Hmm? Yes. I don't know. Whatever Amy said."

"It wouldn't be him or us Rory," Alyssa said suprising even herself "It's been weeks since the gunslinger came and he hasn't harmed anyone truly in this town." Alyssa finished, "Looking at you, Doctor, is like looking into a mirror, almost. There's rage there, like me. Guilt, like me. Solitude. Everything but the nerve to do what needs to be done. Thank the gods my people weren't relying on you to save them." Jex said, and Alyssa turned to the Doctor seeing rage break across him

"Doctor." Alyssa said, almost moving in front of him as he marched over to Jex"No. No, but these people are." He said grabbing Jex and pulled him out of his seat and started pushing him, "Out! Out! Out!" he said as he pushed him out of the office. Issac following him, Rory stopping Amy at the door "Oh, you're really letting him do this?" Amy asked "save us all? Yeah, I really am." Rory said and Amy looked at Alyssa as Rory left.

"No." Alyssa said before Amy had a chance to ask her the same question. Amy let out a small smile before the two rushed out after the group following the Doctor until he pushed Jex over the town's line.

"Get over, and don't come back." The Doctor said, before he took a gun from a man and pointed it at Jex as he tried to pass over the line again "You wouldn't.""I genuinely don't know." The doctor said as Alyssa looked around before finding exactly what she was looking for a normal gun "Doctor. Doctor." Issac said, as Alyssa grabbed the gun and fired it into the air. She pointed it at the Doctor "Let him come back, Doctor." Alyssa said

"Or what? You won't shoot me, love" He said

"Don't test me Doctor." Alyssa said "you should know better then anyone why I would be on the gunslingers side. But this isn't the way" Alyssa called out to him in his mind making his gaze soften just a tiny bit. Knowing she was talking about what happened to her with the time lords. " killing people has never been our way. Doctor what happened to you?" She said out loud as she lowered her gun."We can end this right now. We could save everyone right now." The doctor said marching up to her. " Not by killing! Never by killing! What happened to you, Doctor? When did killing someone become an option?" "Jex has to answer for his crimes."

"You are not judge jury and executioner!" Alyssa said jabbing his finger into his chest "are you going to after every person in this galaxy that made a weapon?" "But they keep coming back, don't you see? Every time I negotiate, I 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 my mercy!" The doctor yelled, and Alyssa's face soften.

" Mercy doesn't make you weak Doctor. Mercy isn't the reason those people died. It's because of people like him!" She said pointing at Jex, "Mercy is what makes you better then them. We can't be like him Doc, we have to be better than him." "Alyssa Smith. Fine, fine. We think of something else. But frankly, I'm betting on the Gunslinger." The doctor said, and Alyssa walked past him towards Jex.

"Jex, move over the line. Now." She said as she focused on something behind him. The gunslinger walking towards them disappearing periodically before he reappeared closer. Till he was right behind Jex who turned around to face him. " Make peace with your gods." He said "Kahler-Tek, isn't it? I remember all your names, even now. I'll never hurt anyone again. I'm even helping people here."" Last chance. Make peace with your gods." He just repeats " No!" Issac yelled as he pushed jex out of the way taking the shot from the gunslinger

"No!" Alyssa yelled as she grabbed Issac as he fell to the ground. The Doctor joining her by him. "Isaac. Isaac. Isaac. It's okay, it's okay. We can get you to Jex's surgery. He can save you." The Doctor said, and Issac looked at the two "Listen to me. You two got to stay. You've got to look after everyone." Isaac said, "It won't come to that, Isaac." Alyssa said, "Protect Jex. Protect my town. You're both good men. You just forget it sometimes." Issac said looking at the Doctor. As he took off the marshals badge and handed it to the Doctor before he died. Alyssa and the Doctor standing up, the Doctor putting the badge on his jacket. "Take Jex to his cell. If anything happens to him, you'll have us to answer to." Alyssa said, and the Doctor nodded in agreement and the men took Jex to the Marshal's office. Alyssa turned to the Gunslinger.

"This has gone on long enough." Alyssa said "You are right. You've got until noon tomorrow. Give him to me or I'll kill you all.""If you kill all the people here you won't be better then him you'll be worse innocent blood would be on your hands Think on that." Alyssa said as the gunslinger vanished. "Oh, my god. You're the Marshal." Amy said to the Doctor, "Yeah. And Alyssa's my Deputy." The Doctor said,

"Yeah the Deputy that you are going to let handle the rest of this situation." Alyssa said, crossing her arms at the Doctor. " I don't trust you not to give Jex to the Gunslinger."

"Ally." The Doctor said,

"No doc, I meant what I said, I understand the gunslinger better then anyone here." Alyssa said, picking the hat off his his head putting it on her own before turning around and heading back to the office not giving him a chance to respond. The Doctor watching her go."is that the first time she's ever done something like that?" Amy asked

"No why would you think that Amy?"

"Because you have the she's so hot when she does that face on."

"This is my normal face." The doctor said his eyes still not leaving Alyssa

"Sure it is Doctor sure it is." Amy said patting the doctor on the back before she followed after Alyssa. The Doctor let out a small smile before He followed her.

Alyssa sat at a desk in the Marshal's office racking her brain to figure out a way to prevent the town from being killed. She put her head in her hands as somebody started hammering on the door. She looked up as the Doctor opened the door.

"Come in." The Doctor said, and the preacher came outside. "Marshal." He said to the Doctor before looking at Alyssa "Ma'am." Alyssa nodded at him as he turned to Amy "Ma'am." He stopped for a second before looking at Rory. "Fella. You need to come outside." "Why, what's wrong?" The Doctor asked, as Alyssa stood up. "Just come outside." The Preacher said, and the rest of the group stood up and the Preacher noticed the gun belt on the hook by the door. "And you should put that on."

The Five walked out to see a group of people standing arond waiting for them.

"What's going on?" The Doctor asked, "He in there? Leave the keys and take a walk. By the time you get back, this'll all be done." The obvious leader said,

"Oh you have got to be kidding." Alyssa said, under her breath as she stared at the group. "I promised Isaac I'd protect him." The Doctor said, "Protecting him got Isaac dead. Tomorrow, it's going to be us all, dead." The man"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." Another man said, "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." The leader said

"We can't do that." Alyssa said, "We got us a problem." The leader said, a revealing his gun, the Doctor doing the same. "Please don't do this." the Doctor said, "Why, reckon you're quicker than me?" The leader said, "Oh, certainly not, but this? Lynch mobs? A town turning against itself? This is everything Isaac didn't want." the Doctor said, and the leader pulled out the gun and cocked it. Alyssa approached the Doctor."How old are you?" She asked the man "Nearly nineteen." he said and she slowly started walking toward him.

"So still 18 then." Alyssa said, "Too young to have fought in the war, so I'm guessing you've never shot anyone before, have you?" She said looking at the gun"First time for everything."

"True, but thats how it starts, the cycle of Jex and the gunslinger. Jex turned someone into a weapon. I know sort of how that feels. The only thing that pulling the trigger does is make you a killer. Not that different from Jex. Violence doesn't end violence it almost always extends it. I can see it in your eyes you don't want this. You don't want to become that man." Alyssa said, "There's kids here." He said,

"We know, who we can save if you'll let us." Alyssa said, "He really worth the risk?" The boy asked, "I don't know but you are." Alyssa said, and the kid lowered his gun, and the town people dispearsed. And Alyssa closed her eyes as the plan finally clicked into place.

"Ally." The Doctor said, "Do you have a plan?"

"Yes." she said, before she turned to the doctor and buried her head in his chest, who instantly wrapped his arms around her.

"Frightened people. Give me a Dalek any day." She muttered and the Doctor made a sound of agreement. Alyssa broke away from him and walked back inside the marshals office the Doctor following.

"Fresh coffee, Marshal." The undertaker Abraham said, holding a cup of coffee out for the Doctor. "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." He said, "Thank you." The Doctor said, before Abraham started measuring him again"Oi. Get out of it." The Doctor said, befor Abraham left. "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." "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 me to hand you over? Is that what you want? Do you even know?" The Doctor said, "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." Jex said, and Alyssa bursted out in laughter. Shocking both men as they looked at her concerned, the laughing stopped but only the Doctor could see the rage behind her eyes. "Doc go take a walk." She said, as she looked at Jex. "Ally." The Doctor said, "Go take a walk." Alyssa just repeated, and she took the gun off her hip and held it out to him, she didn't trust herself at that present moment not to take it out and shoot him. "Take this with you." She said, and the Doctor took the gun carefully from her before leaving"You are in know way remorseful or care at all about what you did to Tex." She said turning to Jex.

"I am." "No you are not." Alyssa marching up to the cell doors. "If you were you would've walked across those lines the MOMENT Tex appeared here. You would've let yourself face the justice for what you did MONTHS ago if you were remorseful about it. Sure you helped this town. I will give you that, you might not be a completely terrible for that. But anyone who would only use that too judge your character would be a FOOL." Alyssa said, as Jex backed away from the bars seeing the raging golden dust in her eyes. "Because helping a few lives never, NEVER will ever make it up for the lives you ruined. You just discontinued the cyborgs after they finished your war? You didn't just affect the cyborgs you affected their families. And when they finished your war you didn't give them the thanks for doing so, you tossed them out like they were garbage.""I hit a nerve didn't I?" Jex said a coy smile spreading on his face. Which only angered Alyssa further.

"You could say that yeah you did." Alyssa said, "I know what it's like to be a experiment. To be taken from my home so a scientist like yourself and put through painful experiments so my people could get a weapon to win a probable war. I can't fully be with the people I love because of it. Tex is most likely in the same boat.As a vicitm, the best person here who understands Tex your actions have proved to me in know way that you are trying to make up for the lives you ruined. You are only trying to save your own skin. Justice doesn't work like that by the way. You do not get to decide when and how your debt is paid." Alyssa said finally walking away from the door.

"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?"Jex said, and Alyssa ran a hand down her face as he was proving her right. Fear of death, rather then remorse. "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."

"Morality a prison Ha! We all carry our prisons with us Ha!" Alyssa said, The next morning Alyssa and the Doctor were in town waiting for the Gunslinger to come into town. The clock behind them struck 12 and the chimes started, as the gunslinger stepped over the town line. Alyssa looked up as the Gunslinger stepped in front of them, and pointed his gun at them only for both of them to turn on their sonic devices to short circut Tex's aiming system. The glass around them shattered as the two ran off. While Rory and other people ran around with the same mark Jex had on his face in an effor to confuse Tex. The Doctor and Alyssa ran into the Saloon so the Doctor could get the marking painted on his face. Before screams sounded from the church.

"No." Alyssa muttered, before the Doctor and her ran out and saw Jex standing in the town

"Go! Just Go! We can't save them if your here!" Alyssa yelled, as they ran for a hiding place hearing the screaming from the church stop without the sound of the gun firing. Alyssa closed her eyes for a second before watching the Doctor from her hiding spot run behind a house only for Tex to see him. He slowly approached the Doctor and powered up his gun causing Alyssa to run out "Stop!" She yelled "Where is he?" Tex said, as the Doctor stood up

"He's gone." Alyssa said," Away from here. Look up. Any second now you'll see the vapour trail of his ship." Alyssa said, "This is their home, not the backdrop for your revenge. Lookup, go after him, take this battle away from" The Doctor said,"Kahler-Tek." Jex said from his ship, "Kahler-Tek."

"Jex. Coward. Where are you?" Tek said, "I'm in my ship." Jex said

"What are you doing? Just go!" Alyssa said, She had hoped that Tex would follow Jex away from the town and off the planet. "Where are you from? Where on Kahler?" Jex asked, and Alyssa blinked in shock,

"Now? You're asking him this now?" The Doctor said, "Gabriah." Tex said,

"I know it. It's beautiful there. When this is over, will you go back?" Jex said, "How can I? I am a monster now." Tek said,

"So am I." Jex said,

"Just go! Finish this!" The Doctor said, "I'll find you. If I have to tear this universe apart, I will find you." Tek said,

"I don't doubt that. You'll chase me to another planet And another race will be caught in the cross-fire." Jek said,

"Face me! Face me!"No. You've killed enough. I'm ending the war for you, too." Jex said, "Count down to self-destruct resumed." They heard the ships voice say. "What's going on?" The Doctor said as a countdown from 10 started, "The count down. What's going on? Jex!" "Thank you, Alyssa. I have to face the souls of those I've wronged. Perhaps they will be kind." Jex said,"Three, two, one, zero." The automatic voice said before an explosion was heard as his ship blue up. "In the end, he saved your soul." Alyssa said looking at Tex

"He behaved with honour at the end. Maybe more than me." Tex said in agreement. "We could take you back to your world. You could help with the reconstruction." The Doctor offered, as Tex started walking away."I will walk into the desert and self-destruct. I'm a creature of war. I have no role to play during peace." Tex said

"Except maybe to protect it." Alyssa said, which stopped Tex, and she walked over to him, and held her hand out to the Tex, "he took your life from you all those years ago, Kahler Tex." Tex took her hand "Maybe it's time you take your life back, you harmed these people enough maybe it's time you protect them. Maybe it's time we both leave our demons in our past. I understand you Kahler Tex, better then you may think." she said offering a small sad smile to him.

Kahler Tex in the end did agree to watch over Mercy and they left Mercy behind with a protecting they both believed would last generations. Alyssa sat on the Tardis floor her legs dingling out in front of her as she stared at the stars.

"Ally?" the Doctor said, as he sat down next to her putting an arm around her shoulder. And pulling her to his chest. No complaint coming from Alyssa.

"If by some miraculous way Doc, we are ever able to go back to Gallifrey, Never let me go on a revenge mission like Kahler Tex did."

"I don't think you'll ever have to worry about that, Alyssa" he said before he kissed her head.