This is how it ends:
Gallifrey falling, burning. A cloister bell tolls. Voices screaming so loud in his mind. The force of an exploding sun knocks him back. Doors slam shut. The Doctor bangs his head hard against the console and his ship is flung far into deep space. He will never see his planet again. The Doctor's last thought before he passes out is that he should die with them.
This is how it starts:
When he regains consciousness, his ears are still ringing. There is also a big empty hole in his memory, which might be quite funny if he could remember all the other times this has happened. Well, moving on to the next pressing question...
"Where am I?" he asks aloud. Shock must be keeping him calm.
He steps outside with a strange familiarity. It's a city he should know. Once more, he prods the blankness until a word surfaces. Just one word, and it isn't all that informative or helpful.
Earth.
)O(
Rose Tyler is unemployed. It isn't her fault, really; she didn't mouth off to her boss or come in late. It's just that the department store where she worked blew up. Luckily, Rose hadn't been there at the time. The shop was already closed, so no one else got hurt either.
A bloke from a military organization Rose has never heard of called UNIT wants to question her. She tells him exactly what she told the police; she doesn't know anything. Then he asks if she might have noticed any of the mannequins change position or move around.
"No, they haven't done nothing strange. They're plastic."
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ms Tyler," the man says. She is given some money as compensation and also to not go blabbing about all this. Rose reluctantly accepts the bribe, because she's got her mum to think about, but curiosity lingers. So many questions unanswered. What is UNIT? Why did the shop mysteriously explode and what could it possibly have to do with mannequins?
Rose is walking home from yet another unsuccessful job interview. Apparently they wanted someone more qualified, with a proper education and experience that she lacks. Passing by a cafe, she notices a man inspecting his reflection in the window, muttering to himself. He's probably mad, but Rose stops walking anyway.
"My eyes used to be softer. I'm sure of it," he is saying to no one in particular. "When did they become so hard? What have I seen? I can't remember..."
The man's dressed like he belongs in the Victorian era. His green velvet jacket and waistcoat look a bit ragged, burnt even. He must be mad to wear clothes like that.
"Hey, you all right?"
She touches his arm and he turns around sharply, like a panicked kitten. Oh, he's pretty. All that curly hair and...No, she has a boyfriend. Besides, this guy is clearly not right in the head.
"I know you," he says excitedly. "Or I will. Do you know who I am? No, I can see that you don't. That's okay. It hasn't happened yet."
"What hasn't?"
"No idea. But I suppose we've met now. It's difficult to see the timelines properly when my own past is a mystery to me."
She isn't certain why she doesn't walk away. Perhaps it's simple curiosity. "You mean you've got amnesia?"
"Yes, and I also seem to have déjà vu. What's your name?"
"I'm Rose."
"Rose..." he breathes her name as though it is sacred. "Yes! I'm remembering...or rather, I'm remembering the future. Oh, Rose Tyler, you will be a legend. Defender of the Earth and savior of every star, every world, every universe!"
"How do you know my last name?" she demands, eyes narrowed.
"I can see...ah, how to explain?" He starts fiddling with his pocket watch. "I'm not human. I'm a Time Lord. I can see the whole of time. But something's wrong. My head...it shouldn't be this quiet..."
Rose shakes her head, exasperated. "Right, sure. I dunno what's wrong with you, mate, but maybe you need a doctor or something. I gotta go."
"Doctor!" he exclaims, smiling. "That's who I am! That's what people call me. I'm the Doctor!"
"Yeah, good for you," she murmurs
"Please," his soft voice calls after her, suddenly so broken. "I have no idea why, but I feel more alone in the universe than ever before. You don't know me, Rose Tyler, but I think you might in time. For the sake of the future, please take me with you."