(Inspired by Douglas B. Killings. Specifically, 'Vendetta'...) 'Bad day?' Sam looked up at Adric, who'd just brought her a mug of cocoa. 'You _might_ say that... Ever been ritually sacrificed? After pointing out the feathers in the High Priest's headdress came from an endangered species?' Adric winced. 'Ouch...' 'That's not the worst part...' Sam continued. 'The worst part was the celebratory feast afterwards, with the Doctor as guest of honour. And guess what was on the menu?' Adric had a nasty feeling he knew what was coming. 'You?' 'Yep.' Sam knocked back the cocoa. And spat out the drink. 'Oohhh... Ooooh. Burn't toun'e.... Perfec'. Jus' perfect...' 'That makes... how many dead-fics so far?' Adric asked rhetorically. 'Dunno. Los' count after first thirty...' Adric sat down. 'Listen. Take some advice from someone who's been there...' --- Fitz gave Sam a suspicious sideways glance. Okay, he could understand that maybe charity collection methods had changed since the '60s. And maybe people really _would_ sponsor totally lunatic ideas. What he _couldn't_ understand was... 'Sam?' 'Mm-hmm?' Fitz took another look at the list of authors he'd been handed. 'Sam... You're _sure_ this is for charity?' 'Yep. Absolutely. Freedom of speech for fanfic writers...' Sam batted big blue eyes at him. 'Gets the big, mean ol' corporations off their backs...' 'Only...' Fitz continued. '...If I remember right, this guy here... Wasn't he the one who wrote that ritual sacrifice, a week back?' 'Pure chance.' Sam assured him. 'Don't worry 'bout it. We get five pounds for every author we get. Ten if it's David McIntee. Twenty for Lawrence Miles. And it _is_ in a good cause...' 'Lawrence Miles, huh...? Hello? Mr. Smith?' 'Yeah?' SPPPPLAAATTTT!!!! 'Hey!! That's my hard drive!!' Sam beamed at him. 'Hiya!' SPPPPLLLLAATTTTT!!! The fanfic author wiped the custard pie off his face. 'You... You....' Sam wagged her finger at him. 'Ah, ah... It's for _charity_, remember...' Fitz gave Sam a sideways look. 'You're _sure_ they said "sponsored pie-throwing"?' 'Absolutely,' Sam reassured him. 'Now come on. We've got another twenty to do to make the sponsorship...' Inwardly, Sam smirked. Adric's lessons in revenge had been _very_ helpful. And the best part of it was... ...it really _was_ in a good cause. --- Author notes: Adric does it his way, Sam does it hers... :) Story notes: Sam takes lessons in revenge from an old hand at the game... Disclaimer: The characters here belong unto the Beeb...