Missing
The Racnoss Empress's screams echo above the roar of the draining Thames. Her scarlet face contorts in rage as she waves her front legs towards the Doctor. "You will die, doctor man. My children will be avenged!"
He stares past her, ignoring the river pouring over his face. His chest aches as if one of his hearts was trapped with Rose in that parallel world. For a moment, a voice echoes in his mind: Doctor, you can stop now. Ginger hair and a wedding gown…
He shakes his head. What was he seeing? Nothing.
One of the Empress's claws squeezed the Doctor's chest. He wiggled one arm out of her grasp and pulled the sonic screwdriver out of his pocket. But his fingers move too slowly. Her limbs begin to glow with teleportation. He slips from her glowing claw and lands heavily halfway up the first flight of stars. "Dead, doctor man…" The Empress hisses as she disappears.
The Doctor's vision wavers. Poison. Not strong enough to kill a Time Lord; not immediately fatal to humans. Under other circumstances, he would have returned to the TARDIS and waited it out. But his hearts are so weary, and the waters roar closer.
The waves pull him from the stairs, sweeping him towards the pit. Even his respiratory bypass system can't keep air in his lungs long enough. Darkness fills his vision as the edges tinge with gold.
No. Why should he let it happen again? Death has toyed with him enough. No more. The gold mist pauses. Last time, it had taken all his strength to will the regeneration. Now, he will use the same strength to deny it. It ends now.
Darkness fills his mind; he barely notices when his body is slammed against a row of pipes. The world can take care of itself now.