Prologue
Tardis
Somewhere in Space and Time
The Doctor sat in front of the controls of the Tardis, staring straight ahead. Alone once again, the Doctor had no idea where to go and did not care. It seemed that he was destined to continue his existence alone. Oh, he had companions, but they were human, frail and eventually destined to leave him. He longed for a companion of his own blood.
But the last great time war had wiped them out. The Doctor remembered standing at the door of the Tardis and watching his home planet burn. The burnt orange sky was deep red as flames consumed everything living. He had tried to get back in time to save his wife, daughter and friends, but they were all gone.
For years afterward, the Doctor wandered simply existing until he met his first companion, Asha. She reminded him of his beloved deceased wife. The Doctor and Asha spent several months together, and the Doctor even considering becoming human to stay with her. Yet an upsurge of the Dalek had forced him to leave her and to keep her safe he never returned. That pattern would continue for the next thirty years--find a companion, show her the universe and leave her when it became too dangerous. Asha, Sarah Jane, Rose, Martha and Donna had all been the Doctor's companions and he had lost all of them. Eventually, he came to expect it, but he never got use to it.
"I am always alone" thought the Doctor, staring into the empty spaces around him.
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep
Coming back to the present, the Doctor saw that he had an incoming transmission. Hitting the enter button on his keyboard, the Doctor reeled back in shockâIt was the face of Boe. For a moment, his heart swelled with joy. The Doctor was thrilled to see that big old face.
"Boe." he cried out, genuinely overjoyed. "How can it be?!"
The last time the Doctor saw his old friend, the Face of Boe had given his life to save millions trapped in the undercity of New New York. The Doctor was always grateful to Boe for saving Martha since it was the Doctor's fault that she was nearly killed. He later learned that the Face of Boe was his old friend, Captain Jack Harkness. Thanks to Rose, Captain Jack became immortal and through the centuries his form evolved. It is ironic, the Doctor thought looking into the Face of Boe, that Captain Jack Harkness would evolve into the thing he always valued most: his face.
The powers of the universe, the Doctor thought, had a great sense of humor.
"My old friend," said the Face of Boe, "I can only evolve; I can never die."
"So what is your latest evolution?" asked the Doctor with a cheeky grin.
"Something called Cyberspace" replied Boe. "I can transmit to any computer through it."
For a moment, the computer screen crackled and lost focus. The Doctor felt his hearts literally stop at the loss of contact, but Boe soon came back into focus.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, Doctor." Said Boe.
"Really?" asked the Doctor in surprise. "Why me?"
"She needs you." replied the Face of Boe.
The pronoun she immediately caught the Doctor's attention. "Is it Rose?" he asked.
"No." replied the Face of Boe. "she is doing quite well.
The Doctor had to admit to himself that bit of news stung. Of all his companions since Asha, he had been the most emotionally attached to Rose. Losing her had been painful and not even the love of Martha or the affectionate companionship of Donna had completely dulled the ache of that loss. Yet, she had returned to him in a different form and although there were hints of the old Rose, she had become a different person.
The Doctor supposed everyone changed at one point or another.
Still, the Face of Boe had not given him the name of the woman who needed his help. The Doctor knew it had to be a former companion, so he began to reel off a list of names.
"Asha?" asked the Doctor.
"No." said the Face of Boe. "She is dead."
Again, the Doctor felt his hearts stop beating. Asha was dead. He had nearly become human for her and she was gone. He remembered their last meeting. The Daleks were set to invade earth and the Doctor knew he was the only one who could defeat them. Asha had begged him not to leave, saying that there was something important he needed to know, but he had left her without a backwards glance and had never returned. He always told himself it was to keep her safe, but he also knew that it was to keep himself from losing someone else he loved.
"Sarah Jane?" asked the Doctor.
"No." said the Face of Boe. "She is a mother now."
The Doctor was thrilled to hear that. Sarah Jane was a wonderful companion and although he had not loved her in return, he admired her and missed her companionship for many years after she was gone. He was glad to hear that she was a mother. He always knew that she would be smashingly good at being a mother.
"Martha?" asked the Doctor.
"No." said the Face of Boe. "She is a doctor and engaged to be married."
The Doctor again found himself thrilled to hear that another companion had found happiness. He had wanted to return Martha's love, but could not let go of the memory of Rose. Still, the Doctor knew that he owed Martha so much. She had saved his life countless times, all she got in return was unrequited love and her family destroyed. The Doctor was not surprised when she left him. In some ways, he felt that he deserved it. The Doctor could only hope to pay her back one day.
But right now, he was anxious to find out the woman's name.
"Well," he demanded rather loudly. "Who is she?"
"Her name is Emily." said the Face of Boe. "She has been looking for you these many long years."
The Doctor felt puzzled. His mind shifted through 900 years of memories, but he could not find a single recollection of a woman named Emily.
The Face of Boe shifted and appeared to be staring directly at the Doctor. "Emily is your daughter."
The Doctor froze. "That is not possible."
"Doctor" began the Face of Boe.
"My daughter is dead." replied the Doctor with a little more bite than he intended. The Doctor swallowed hard and remembered his little girl. She was the light of his life. She loved hearing stories of her father's travels. Every time, the Doctor returned home; his daughter would curl up in his arms as he recounted stories of his adventures. He had planned to train her to be a timelord when she grew up. The Doctor felt his jaw tighten at the memory. Staring into the screen, the Doctor felt himself get angry at the Face of Boe. His promises of companionship to the Doctor were beginning to fray on the Doctor's nerves.
"Why do you do this to me?" demanded the Doctor.
"Doctor . . ." began the Face of Boe.
"No." the Doctor thundered. "No more."
"Doctor" responded Boe. "Her mother is Asha."
The Doctor's mouth dropped open. Asha had been pregnant when he abandoned her. He had left behind his child and her mother. Guilt and shame washed over him. That was why Asha had begged him not to leave her, but left her he had as his obsession with destroying the Daleks stronger than ever.
"Doctor" said the Face of Boe. "She needs you." "They are coming for her."
"Who?" demanded the Doctor. "Who is coming for my daughter?"
"Everyone." Said the Face of Boe. "Your enemies cannot defeat you, so they will go after her."
The Doctor remained silent for a moment, then asked, "How did they know about her?"
"She is looking for you." responded the Face of Boe.
The Doctor set his jaw. "Where can I find her?"