A Deal with the Devil (You know who you are)

[Alec Harrison]

Alec sat back in his chair in the Tardis, pulling his fedora over his eyes. He really needed sleep. What he really needed, he realized, was a bed.

He stood up, placing the black hat on a rack, and walked down the corridors he had worked so hard to memorize, down to his room.

The Timelord opened the door, not even bothering to turn the light on as he caved into the bed face first.

He hadn't even been asleep for seconds when he heard the voices.

Sidhe....
                    .......Goblins.....
....Fae...

The former Dark Lord sat bolt upright, his eyes as wide as dishes. He was sure Sisilaya would be delighted to know he dreamed of her species.

He was soon back asleep, and this time his dreams were all too vivid.

A girl, bound and gagged, thrown into a pit. Falling...falling...falling... Hands waiting, all too eager to tear away at her sanity.

"Aaah!" 

Alec knew all too well what had just happened. He had pictured what Sisi had told him. On her orders, the girl- part of the family of blood -had been thrown into an... Oblique? Alec couldn't remember what it was called. It would drive anyone insane after a few weeks,  maybe a month. Because out of the walls sprouted hands, hands that were pleased to see you lose your mind. He imagined what terror the girl had faced. The horrified screams no one could hear.

No one deserved that.

The Timelord had given up on sleep by the time he was in the console room. He had a bad memory, but he could remember the coordinates to the Goblin's castle. 

In a matter of minutes he burst out of his Tardis and was looking up at the top of the castle. It was truly amazing, that such clumsy creatures could create such a piece of architecture.

He decided to enter one of the smaller, out-of-the-way doors, sonicking it open to get through. 

Silent and solemn, he snuck through the building, feeling a gut weight that wouldn't go away. 

He could hear voices off in the distance, and he could just-

Alec's foot collided with a stone and sent it sailing across the room. Goblins rushed in, cornering him with pointed weapons.

He threw his hands up in defense.
"I'd like to speak with your king." he requested, looking at the Goblin's ugly faces managing not to grimace.

[The Master]

Jareth was, in a word, bored.

Let us consider this, from two different directions.

First, it would seem inconceivable that the King of The Goblins could be bored. Goblins are not precisely known for their calm behavior and their peaceable manners, after all. Where there are goblins, there is chaos. And yet, it was this very chaos that bored him. After all, when the "chaos" is as predictable as clockwork, can it really be called chaos with any real justification?

Jareth thought not.

Second, the Goblin King is bored. This is dangerous. The Goblin King is not inherently malevolent - he holds himself aloof from both the Summer and the Winter Courts (although some in both Courts say this is because neither will associate with him) - but he is a trickster. And he delights in giving mortals who call on his name exactly what they ask for.

This is frequently far, far worse than they would imagine.

And so, Jareth, the capricious trickster King of the Goblins, reclines on his throne juggling orbs made of dreamcrystal. He idly watches nameless colors and alien landscapes shift and move, appearing and disappearing with no reason or pattern. He studiously ignores the bickering and squabbling of his court.

A consistent image begins to take form in the orbs. A Being of Power, garbed for war and bearing an hourglass, approaching from a Hall cloaked in shadows. Jareth slows the dance of the orbs, observing closely. His boredom begins to slip away.

"My Lord King!" one of the goblins screams. It runs the distance between the entryway and the throne, waving its arms above its head. Halting some ten feet from the dais, it throws itself on the floor and grovels. "My Lord King!"

Jareth dismisses the orbs with a gesture, and fixes the goblin with a bored stare. "You may speak, Tood," he says, his voice cool and disinterested.

"One of the Lords of Time, my Lord King! One of the Lords of Time has come, seeking audience!"

A smile, thin as a blade, touches the too-perfect features of the King. "Indeed?"

"Yes, your dread Majesty!"

Jareth settles back in his throne, watching the goblin. "You would not deceive your king, I trust?" It had happened before. The consequences were often... educational. For the other goblins.

Tood whined and writhed before the King. "No!" it wailed, "Tood is faithful! Tood does not deceive!"

Jareth steepled his long, pale fingers, and said nothing. Tood held his breath. There was silence. And then, Tood began to whimper softly.

"Then, by all means Tood, show him in. I shall gladly grant an audience to one of the Lords of the Shining World."

Sniveling and grovelling the goblin backed from the presence of the king, banging its head on the flagstones in a Fibonacci pattern.

Jareth smiled. This, at least, was not boredom.

[Alec Harrison]

One of the goblins had led him through the halls. When Alec reached what could be called a "throne room," he drew his foot up and violently thrust him out of the way. He gathered his hat up above his eyes and smiled, but above that was an intimidating glare.

He figured simply looking at him wouldn't do him any good, so he tilted his head to the side ever so slightly.
"I come with a request."

The Timelord stepped forward, with a look in his eyes that told Jareth he wasn't going to leave until he got what he wanted.
"You have a prisoner I'd like to have set free."

He assumed that the Goblin king- who had surprised him greatly by being anything but a Goblin -probably had many prisoners.
"Sisilaya dropped her by, oh, a week ago? Two? In some pit or such." he was doing his best at not seeming as unnerved as he was thinking about Sister of Mine's fate.

"You know, the Hunter? Looks about nine or ten?"

Alec sighed.
"I would like to bail her out. As she was- exactly, as she was -when she was dropped off."

It might've seemed like a ridiculous request, but Alec was riding on his status as a Time-Traveler and a Galifreyan. If only that would do the trick.

[The Master]

Jareth watched as the Time Lord entered his throne room, radiating the pride and arrogance of his civilization. They were all but extinct, and he still walked like universe was his to command.

Honestly? He was enjoying the spectacle.

"I come with a request."

"A request?" Jareth's voice dripped mock humility. "Who am I, that one of the great Lords of Time would make a request of me?"

The Timelord stepped forward, with a look in his eyes that told Jareth he wasn't going to leave until he got what he wanted. "You have a prisoner I'd like to have set free."

"A prisoner?" the Goblin King echoed in tones of exaggerated surprise, "You say I have a prisoner? And that you wish this prisoner set free? But who is this famous prisoner?"

"Sisilaya dropped her by, oh, a week ago? Two? In some pit or such." he was doing his best at not seeming as unnerved as he was thinking about Sister of Mine's fate.

"You know, the Hunter? Looks about nine or ten?"

"Aaaahh," Jareth breathed, "The prisoner I hold for My royal cousin, the Princess of the Hall of the Wind of Change?" He gave Alec a curious, probing look.

Alec sighed. "I would like to bail her out. As she was- exactly, as she was -when she was dropped off."

The Goblin King sighed, his voice dripping with regret. "Alas, I cannot accede to your request. Sister of Mine is not My prisoner - she is the prisoner of the Princess of the Hall of the Wind of Change, for some trespass against her. Before I could possibly release her, I would have to know it is My royal cousin's will to do so."

[Alec Harrison]

Alec bit his lip. Jareth was obviously not that impressed. He kept talking his cousin and some darned windy hall.

No. Sisilaya was not this freak's cousin. Though he could see a resemblence...

The Goblin King sighed, his voice dripping with regret. "Alas, I cannot accede to your request. Sister of Mine is not My prisoner - she is the prisoner of the Princess of the Hall of the Wind of Change, for some trespass against her. Before I could possibly release her, I would have to know it is My royal cousin's will to do so."

Well this was certainly a twist. He suddenly saw himself on his hands and knees begging Sisilaya. It wasn't particularly appealing...

"How would one go about doing this?" he already knew the answer.

"What I mean to say is, why bother your cousin with someone she would obviously not like to think of any longer?" he tried, convincingly in his own opinion, "For I wish only that we all go about our business, painlessly."

Alec wasn't skilled in getting what he wanted...but he could try.
"You might find yourself asking what you will receive. Name it, and it shall be done."

His stomache plummetted even as he said the words.
"My deed, for the girl."

[The Master]

Alec wasn't skilled in getting what he wanted...but he could try.
"You might find yourself asking what you will receive. Name it, and it shall be done."

His stomache plummetted even as he said the words.
"My deed, for the girl."

Jareth smiled regretfully. "You tempt me, Lord of the Everlasting Night. You tempt me. But, I may not foreswear myself - the Oubliette is containing Sister of Mine is the property of the Princess of the Hall of the Wind of Change, and it is hers to bind and loose as she sees fit."

He steepled his fingers. "If she sees fit to release Sister of Mine, then we may discuss deeds you may perform to allow her safe passage through my domain."

[Alec Harrison]

Jareth smiled regretfully. "You tempt me, Lord of the Everlasting Night. You tempt me. But, I may not foreswear myself - the Oubliette is containing Sister of Mine is the property of the Princess of the Hall of the Wind of Change, and it is hers to bind and loose as she sees fit."

Alec sighed, tight-lipped, and narrowed his eyes.
"You call me that, though you are an agent of the darkness yourself, are you not? I was so much like you, sitting on a throne, so many years ago."

"But my kingdom, if you will, fell to war, and now my species, my life, everything I cared for, is destroyed." he delivered a threatening glare to the Goblin King, "I'd hate to see the same thing happen to you."

"However, if you refuse to see eye to eye with me, I shall offer you another deal." he threw up two fingers, "Two deeds. This, surely, is worth the girl and the space she takes up, is it not?"

Alec was ready to bring it to three, or even four. He wasn't sure why, something was empowering him, driving him forward.

[The Master]

Alec sighed, tight-lipped, and narrowed his eyes.
"You call me that, though you are an agent of the darkness yourself, are you not?"

Jareth leaned back in his throne, peering over his steepled fingers. "What is darkness without light? How would you know light, without darkness. But I am no being's agent save my own."

"I was so much like you, sitting on a throne, so many years ago."

"But my kingdom, if you will, fell to war, and now my species, my life, everything I cared for, is destroyed." he delivered a threatening glare to the Goblin King, "I'd hate to see the same thing happen to you."

Jareth lifted an elegantly-sculpted eyebrow, but said nothing.

"However, if you refuse to see eye to eye with me, I shall offer you another deal." he threw up two fingers, "Two deeds. This, surely, is worth the girl and the space she takes up, is it not?"

The Goblin King sighed. "You speak the truth. Though it wounds me, I fear I must accept." He smiled. "The first deed I shall claim, then, is a simple matter. I ask you to fetch me a few simple things: three apples, the skin of a pig, a spear, a chariot with two horses, seven pigs, a hound, and, finally, a cooking-spit."

A pause. "Bring me these simple things, and Sister of Mine is yours."

[Alec Harrison]

The Goblin King sighed. "You speak the truth. Though it wounds me, I fear I must accept." He smiled. "The first deed I shall claim, then, is a simple matter. I ask you to fetch me a few simple things: three apples, the skin of a pig, a spear, a chariot with two horses, seven pigs, a hound, and, finally, a cooking-spit."

A pause. "Bring me these simple things, and Sister of Mine is yours."

Alec nodded. This seemed fairly simple. Mostly.
"Fair enough." he turned.

He pointed at the nearest Goblin as he left.
"Notify her, if possible. A Lord of Time is coming for her." he figured she would need all the hope she could get, despite the message that a Timelord was 'coming for you' was enough to terrify most beings.

He wasn't sure how an Obliette worked, as he had never seen one. The message might not even have gotten through. He wouldn't know.
--------

Alec was smiling by the time he reached his Tardis. That had gone well, right? Be had thought so. Still, he would need help. And he would always jump at an excuse to use his iPhone.

"Marie?" he said, dialing in her number, "Sorry Phantom, I may need your help....again."

[The Phantom]

Maria was sitting in her Tardis, reading some magazine a girl in working at Voltair's market had suggested. She didn't understand it, and to be honest she really didn't need the latest fashion style for the 41st century.

She tossed the magazine onto her Tardis console with a shrug, then stretched her arms back against her chair as she gave a bored yawn. Maria looked about the control room, feeling more then a little bit alone.

"Now what?" She asked herself, only to hear the Adam's Family chorus being played.

The Phantom jumped out of her seat, and immediately looked for her phone. Finally finding it in her seat, as it rang again. She didn't even bother looking to see who it was who was calling her as she pressed talk and put the phone up to her ear.

"Hello?" Maria answered, hearing a familiar voice.

"Sorry Phantom, I may need your help....again."

"Alec?" She asked happily. "How are you doing? And I prefer Maria, you know that."

Maria was glad that her boredom just seemed to fly out into the time vortex as she waited to hear what she had to do.

[Alec Harrison]

Alec smiled, hearing Maria's voice in her second incarnation again.
"I know, I know, sorry."

He took a deep breath, preparing his words gently.
"Have you ever been on a treasure hunt? I'm on one. It's really....it's a whopper. I was wondering if I could your help?"

The Timelord held back his motivations carefully. The Family of Blood were infamous, and going to such lengths to help one didn't make since, especially for a survivor of the shining world.

And one could question his morals. Did such a horrible being deserve less than an Oubliette?
"I'm helping a friend out, it'd be great if you could give me a hand. What do you say?"

[The Master]

There was a knock at the TARDIS door. Outside stood a goblin in a tattered tuxedo, proffering a scroll. "My Lord!" he squeaked. "His Dread Majesty, Jareth Rex, bids me present this to you!"

The goblin handed over the scroll tube then held out his hand, coughing loudly.

To My Noble Guest,
Alec, Lord of the Hall of Night,
Dark Lord of Time and Space,
Greetings,

I fear that I was remiss in a few minor points, when I described the tasks that you agreed to perform. There are certain specific items that I require.

The three apples must be the Golden Apples of Tsha-Kryn, which are found growing from the peak of the Krynoid rootstock. The Golden Apples are essential to the genetic diversity of the Krynoid lifeform, and the rootstock will not let you have them.

The skin of a pig must be the Ebon Hide of Jackson, Lord of the Minyans of Minyos. It is capable of curing any illness, healing any wound, repairing any genetic defect. Jackson requires it to reestablish the racebank of his people, and he will not let you have it.

The spear is a spear forged of validium, and guarantees to the wielder victory in any contest or conflict. It is in the possession of Führer Adolph Hitler and guarded by his Teutonic Knights, and they will not let you have it.

The chariot with two horses is the Zeitdrakkar of the Dread Emperor clad in Sable and Jet, ruler of the Empire of Tsan Chan in the 50th Century. It is his most prized possession, allowing him to rule the entire temporal span of his empire, and he will not let you have it.

The seven pigs are the possessions of King Asal of the Golden Pillars, Warlord of the Thirteen Suns in the 63rd millennium. They may be slain and eaten nightly, only to regenerate their flesh from their undamaged bones, and he will not let you have them.

The hound is the half-sidhe regen-inf soldier Cú Ċulainn, now dwelling in Ireland in the 4th century. He is a warrior without peer, never defeated in combat, and he will not go with you.

The cooking spit? I nice aluminum one, at least 6 feet in length, would like me well.

In anticipation of your successful completion of these minor tasks, I remain

Jareth,
King of the Goblin Realm,
Tsar of the Bog of Eternal Stench,
Master of the Underground,
The Labyrinth

[The Phantom]

"I know, I know, sorry." Alec apologized.

"It's alright, so what are you up to?" Maria asked curiously.

"Have you ever been on a treasure hunt? I'm on one. It's really....it's a whopper. I was wondering if I could your help?" He asked with what sounded like a sigh.

" Treasure hunt, lucky.." Maria pouted slightly as she was reminded of how little she had to do at that moment.

"I'm helping a friend out, it'd be great if you could give me a hand. What do you say?"

"Sure. Just tell me what you need." She answered, trying but not succeeding, in hiding her excitement.

[The Second Doctor]

"Sure. Just tell me what you need." The Phantom answered.

"It's actually very simple really, just a few minor-"

There was a knock at the door.
"My Lord!" he squeaked. "His Dread Majesty, Jareth Rex, bids me present this to you!"

"Sorry Marie, the uglies are here. Give me a second or two..."
He clutched the scroll from the fancily-dressed goblin. He was astounded by these ridiculous tasks, and questioned himself. He pictured the helping hands, and snapped out of it quickly.
"Tell him, "What if I ask very nicely?" and tell her that I will either set her free, or die trying." he used his rustiest skills of physic telepathy and attempted to put an image if Sister of Mine on the Goblin's mind.

He shut the doors in the little alien's face, picking his phone back up.
"This will be harder than previously expected."

[The Phantom]

"It's actually very simple really, just a few minor-" Alec stopped talking suddenly.

"Alec?" Maria asked wondering if the connection got cut off.

"Sorry Marie, the uglies are here. Give me a second or two..."

"Alright, take your time." she said with a giggle as she began humming to herself to pass the time. She stopped humming when she heard Alec's voice again.

"This will be harder than previously expected." She heard him say.

"What do you mean?" Maria asked, her tone was curious as always.