A young woman lay on a bed in what seemed to be a high tech futuristic white medical room. The whole of the room was empty save the bed with the round scanner that had blue lights on it moving up and down her from her head to her feet. She wore a white spaghetti strapped gown that reached down to her knees.
She had waist length wavy hair in varying shades of brown, full pink lips, a button nose, she was '5,5', and her eyes were an icy blue that almost seemed to glow, a side effect of the experiments that had been done upon her over the years.
Silver lines like that of a computer chip formed along her spine and reached out over her back like a pair of cybernetic wings that at first glance looked like tattoos, but they were real threads of metal imbedded into her still soft alabaster skin, although her skin had almost a metallic shimmer to it.
Thin lines outlined her elbows, knees, ankles, wrists, hips, hands, and accented her arms, legs, neck, chest, and stomach. In the dark the lines glowed the colors of a blue opal, pulsing with energy. He face was left free of these lines and behind her neck was a silver circular port hole and over it was a barcode.
She had been here for a great deal of time or at least it felt like a great deal of time and they had run so many tests on her. The last thing she remembered was camping out in the Rocky's of Colorado. She had been hiking when there was a sharp sting in the back of her neck followed by unconsciousness.
They had her strapped down again when she woke up from the last drug induced coma they put her in so she couldn't move and were injecting some sort of blue liquid into her arm. It burned as it traveled through her veins and tears streamed from her eyes. She screamed as the pain increased then there was nothing. She went limp on the table having blacked out and then they started the operations, combing her organic systems with cybernetic. The operations were systematic, replacing parts of her one at a time.
There were three strange humanoid creatures in the room, their skin metallic in appearance although each had a different color. They shared the same eye color of gold and looked reptilian in appearance with scaled covering their bodies, long flexible tails, and three fingered clawed hands. They each wore white medical garbs with v shaped insignias on the upper arms of their lab coats.
"We'll remove her will and emotions next, that will complete our experiments." A blue one said, obviously the one in charge.
"Very good." A yellow one said as he motioned to a nearby guard. "Take her to her cell."
"Who knew out of all of these species it was a mere human that held the key to our enhancement studies." Blue commented.
"Yes, with the enhancements we made on her body we will be able to make armies of great strength that will last for millions of generations." A green one said. "All we need is more humans."
The guard did as he was told and carried her down a series of halls past other cells that contained the remains of past experiments, Stella was the only one left alive. The Lacerta were a race bent on conquering their system, but due to limited military personnel they had to look to outside their own limited population which brought about the kidnapping and experimentation of other species for their own benefit.
-0-
Stella jolted awake from a nightmare just to find herself still trapped in a real one. It had been at least a year since she was taken while out on a camping trip. It was just supposed to be a simple vacation to get away from it all, away from the condolences and the sadness of her loss, and away from the overwhelming loneliness despite being surrounded by people who 'cared'. She had to get away from it all and find some peace. It was going great to, she was coming to terms with it all, only for it all to end in disaster when kidnapped by the reptilian rainbow bunch.
She slowly sat up looking herself over, taking in the opal blue colored lines that covered her body showing through the white knee length quarter length sleeved dress that they had put her in and her skin was still covered in the lines that marked her as a cyborg.
She had come to terms more or less with her physical change over the months so she was able to take it in her stride now whenever she found a piece of herself changed. All that was left now was her mind, everything else had been enhanced cybernetically, the brain they were saving for last.
She walked over to a mirror that hung over a small sink in the stainless steel room taking in her almost glowing light blue eyes with pupils that focused more like a camera lens now, but at least her face was free of the lines. She looked over her slightly angular face, button nose, and full pink lips, noticing how they had not really changed how she had looked before, but had enhanced it, perfected it really.
She slammed her hands down on the sink ripping it out of the wall so that it crashed to the ground. This was not the first time she had wrecked a room and she had doubts that it would be her last for as long as she was a captive there.
"What the…?" Stella startled when alarms suddenly started to blare. Her head snapped from side to side searching for the source of the noise before realizing it was coming from outside her cell.
She ran over to the door and started to pound on it with the intention of getting someone's attention. Instead the door gained some dents. She eyed the door for a moment then thrust her hands between the crevice where the doors met and pulled them open after a little effort.
"Well that's interesting." She said as she looked down at her new hands, the latest replacement they had done to her.
"There she is." A man in uniform said rushing over to Stella, who was more than relieved to see a human. "Don't worry ma'am, we're here to rescue you on behalf of the Face of Boe."
"Who?" Stella looked at the man in confusion, but he didn't answer, instead he typed some stuff into a vortex manipulator then grabbed her. Before she could react they were sucked into a blinding portal then deposited in a stately room in front of a big head in a glass tank. "And I thought my life couldn't get any more messed up."
"Welcome Stella Quinn, I am the Face of Boe." She heard a soft voice say in her head.
"Trippy." Stella muttered placing a hand to her head. "So you know my name, how?"
"I know it because I have met you, although you have not met me." Boe replied.
"You remind me of a smoking caterpillar I once read about." Stella commented and Boe chuckled. "Why did you save me?"
"Because, even if you do not believe me, you are my friend and one day I will be yours. I have been searching for you for a long time." Boe said gently. "I will help you with what you now are and I promise you that you will never have a dull moment, nor will you ever be alone again."
"You can promise that?" Stella asked cocking her head to the side.
"I can." Boe replied causing a slow smile to grow on her face. Deep down she knew that she would never return to her old life and that was fine by her now.
-0-
"You take me to all the best places." Stella commented as she stood beside the Face of Boe looking out over the Earth.
Stella had jaw length wavy light and dark brown hair with side swept bangs cut just above her vivid light blue eyes. She wore a dark blue lace high neck halter top sleeveless backless dress with a black sweet heart under top, a thick red belt, a flowing chiffon dark blue skirt that reached down to her fee barely brushing the ground, and a pair of red open toed flats. She also wore a pair of silver teardrop ruby earrings, a ruby pendant hanging from a long silver chain, and a cuff bracelet of silver entwining vines accented with sparkling ruby chips. Her cybertronic markings glowed softly along her visible skin, it had taken her some time to become confident enough to show them off, but Boe had helped her along.
"Only the best for you." He replied with a smirk.
"I'd call you a smart butt but…" Stella smiled making Boe laugh as they stood waiting to be announced in a hallway.
"We have in attendance the Doctor and Rose Tyler." The Steward called out. "Thank you. All staff to their positions." A lot of small people appear taking their places to wait on the guests. "Hurry, now, thank you. Quick as we can. Come along, come along. And now, might I introduce the next honored guest? Representing the Forest of Cheam, we have trees, namely, Jabe, Lute and Coffa."
An elegant bark-skinned woman enters with two larger male escorts, all of them looking as if they had stepped out of a story book.
"There will be an exchange of gifts representing peace. If you could keep the room circulating, thank you. Next, from the solicitors Jolco and Jolco, we have the Moxx of Balhoon. "
A blue alien, mostly head and body unlike the steward, sitting on a transport pod entered the room.
"And next, from Financial Family Seven, we have the Adherents of the Repeated Meme."
A group of black-robed bipeds come forward.
"The inventors of Hypo-slip Travel Systems, the brothers Hop Pyleen. Thank you."
Fur clad reptilians come in.
"Cal Spark Plug. Mister and Mrs. Pakoo. The Ambassadors from the City State of Binding Light."
"From the Silver Devastation, the sponsor of the main event, please welcome the Face of Boe and his escort Miss Stella Quinn."
"Looks like we're on old man." Stella said as they walked through the doorway. Stella walked from person to person giving and receiving gifts on behalf of herself and the Face of Boe.
"Miss Stella, hello." The man who was announced as the Doctor said cheerfully while shaking her hand enthusiastically as the nervous girl next to him managed a small nod coupled with a twitchy smile.
"Hello Doctor and Rose Tyler." Stella said with a bright smile and handed them each a gold bracelet engraved with a swirling star pattern as well as rainbow diamond chips. "May these be enduring signs of friendship and lasting peace."
"Oh they're gorgeous." Rose said as she slipped it onto her wrist. "Thank you."
"You're welcome Miss Tyler." Stella said with a smiled to the young girl.
"Oh, right, and I give you air from my lungs." The Doctor said breathing on her.
"Thank you." Stella said with a nod then reached into her pocket hidden in her dress and held something out to him.
"What's this?" He asked his brows furrowing as he held out his hand.
"A breath mint." Stella replied dropping it into his hand then turning on her heel walked back to the Face of Boe. She could hear Rose laughing and feel the Doctor's frown at her jibe. Boe had told her so many stories about him and he was quite interesting to say the least plus she could never resist a laugh.
"And last but not least, our very special guest. Ladies and gentlemen, and trees and multiforms, consider the Earth below. In memory of this dying world, we call forth the last Human. The Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta Seventeen." A face in a piece of thin skin stretched in a rectangular frame was wheeled in by two men hidden in top-to-toe hospital whites.
"Oh, now, don't stare. I know, I know it's shocking, isn't it? I've had my chin completely taken away and look at the difference. Look how thin I am. Thin and dainty. I don't look a day over two thousand." Cassandra said loftily. "Moisturize me. Moisturize me." One of her attendants uses a pump spray on the skin. "Truly, I am the last Human. My father was a Texan, my mother was from the Arctic Desert. They were born on the Earth and were the last to be buried in its soil. I have come to honor them and say goodbye. Oh, no tears, no tears. I'm sorry. But behold, I bring gifts. From Earth itself, the last remaining ostrich egg. Legend says it had a wingspan of fifty feet and blew fire from its nostrils. Or was that my third husband? Oh, no. Oh, don't laugh. I'll get laughter lines. And here, another rarity." A 50's juke box was wheeled in. "According to the archives, this was called an iPod. It stores classical music from humanity's greatest composers. Play on!"
One of the little attendants pressed a button, a 45 was selected and the strains of Tainted Love by Soft Cell rang out. Stella bit her lip as her hands clenched and un-clenched, her feet twitching forward.
"Don't." Boe said softly to Stella, stopping her.
"But she's so stupid." Stella said with a pained look.
"Let it go." Boe said.
"I never should have agreed to watch that movie with you." Stella grumbled.
"Refreshments will now be served. Earth Death in thirty minutes." The Steward said.
"Nibbles." Stella said with a smile as she made her plate then noticed Rose running out of the room. The Doctor went to follow her, but got intercepted.
"Doctor?" Jabe took a picture of him. "Thank you."
The Doctor shot her a confused look before going after Rose again. Stella walked up to Jabe as she consulted her camera, which twittered like a bird.
"Hello Jabe." Stella said smiling at her old friend.
"Greetings Stella." Jabe replied still looking at her device.
"Any reason for the photo ambush of the big eared man?" Stella asked, pooping the last of her nibbles into her mouth.
"He is familiar, but I know not from where." Jabe replied accepting the change in subject. "Identify species. Please identify species. Now stop it. Identify his race. Where's he from?"
"Interesting." Stella said as they read the results.
"You don't sound surprised." Jabe commented looking to Stella.
"That's because I'm not." Stella replied as Jabe looked at her in deep shock then suddenly the Station shook.
"Indubitably, this is the Bad Wolf scenario. I find the inherent laxity of the on-going multiverse." Moxx said to the others as the Doctor and Rose entered the room.
"That wasn't a gravity pocket. I know gravity pockets and they don't feel like that. What do you think, Jabe, Stella?" The Doctor questioned. "Listened to the engines. They've pitched up about thirty Hertz. That dodgy or what?"
"It's the sound of metal. It doesn't make any sense to me." Jabe replied.
"No, he's right, something is way off." Stella said with a concerned look.
"Where's the engine room?" The Doctor asked.
"I don't know, but the maintenance duct is just behind our guest suite, I could show you and your wife." Jabe said gesturing between the Doctor and Rose.
"She's not my wife." The Doctor said.
"Partner?" Jabe asked.
"No." The Doctor replied.
"Concubine?" Jabe asked.
"Nope." The Doctor shook his head.
"Prostitute?" Jabe asked.
"Whatever I am, it must be invisible." Rose scoffed. "Do you mind?"
"Jabe stop insulting Rose and just ask the Doctor on a date already." Stella rolled her eyes as Jabe blushed.
"Tell you what, you two go and pollinate. I'm going to catch up with family." Rose said looking to Cassandra. "Quick word with Michael Jackson."
"Don't start a fight." The Doctor called after her as she went over to the piece of skin then he offered Jabe his arm. "I'm all yours."
"And I want you home by midnight." Rose called out.
"Don't worry, I'll be chaperoning this little get together, he'll be home on time and with what honor he has left intact." Stella said with a smirk as she walked with the Doctor and Jabe.
"Oi." The Doctor shot her a look.
"Earth Death in fifteen minutes. Earth Death in fifteen minutes."
-0-
"Who's in charge of Platform One? Is there a Captain or what?" The Doctor questioned them as they made their way through the maintenance duct.
"There's just the Steward and the staff." Stella replied.
"All the rest is controlled by the metal mind." Jabe added.
"You mean the computer? But who controls that?" The Doctor asked.
"The Corporation." Stella said.
"They move Platform One from one artistic event to another." Jabe explained.
"But there's no one from the Corporation on board." The Doctor said.
"They're not needed. This facility is purely automatic. It's the height of the Alpha class. Nothing can go wrong." Jabe said confidently.
"Unsinkable?" The Doctor said.
"If you like." Jabe nodded. "The nautical metaphor is appropriate."
"You're telling me. I was on board another ship once. They said that was unsinkable. I ended up clinging to an iceberg. It wasn't half cold." The Doctor said shivering slightly. "So, what you're saying is, if we get in trouble there's no one to help us out?"
"I'm afraid not." Jabe shook her head.
"Fantastic." The Doctor replied.
"I don't understand. In what way is that fantastic?" Jabe asked.
"Sarcasm Jabe." Stella said patting Jabe on her shoulder looking to movement to her left, but seeing nothing.
"Oh, right." Jabe nodded in understanding.
"So tell me, Jabe, what's a tree like you doing in a place like this?" The Doctor asked.
"Respect for the Earth." Jabe said.
"Oh, come on. Everyone on this platform's worth zillions." The Doctor scoffed.
"Well, perhaps it's a case of having to be seen at the right occasions." Jade replied reluctantly.
"In case your share prices drop? I know you lot. You've got massive forests everywhere, roots everywhere, and there's always money in land." The Doctor said.
"All the same, we respect the Earth as family. So many species evolved from that planet. Mankind is only one. I'm another. My ancestors were transplanted from the planet down below, and I'm a direct descendant of the tropical rainforest." Jabe told him. "Stella herself of past earth."
The Doctor paused in what he was doing and looked to Stella with a raised eyebrow as she was glaring at Jabe.
"Past earth?" The Doctor echoed. "The earth hasn't been habitable for centuries, how past are we talking?"
"Oh, um…I want to say around 2014 more or less." Stella said thoughtfully then shrugged. "It's a long story."
"Long life." The Doctor said.
"Tell me about it." Stella rolled her eyes letting out an annoyed noise.
"To long even for a cyborg." The Doctor said.
"Yeah well I time hop." Stella said, not surprised he noticed what she was right away, as she held up her arm revealing a Time Vortex Manipulator. "The Face of Boe programmed it for me so that whenever it blinks I press this button and it takes me to a point in his time stream where he thinks I need to be."
"Do you ever go anywhere else with it?" The Doctor questioned.
"Nope, Boe said it'd be too dangerous and I trust him." Stella replied rocking on her heels. "Last thing I want to do is a butterfly effect."
"Butterfly effect?" Jabe looked to her.
"Step on a butterfly in the past and somehow you were never born." Stella replied. "Kind of an extreme, but it still rings true."
"Excuse me." The Doctor said moving past her to scan a door panel marked Welcome to Platform One. Then it flashed Guide of Platform One Do You Need Assistance. A keypad labelled Maintenance log in appeared, then Access was denied.
"And what about your ancestry, Doctor? Perhaps you could tell a story or two. Perhaps a man only enjoys trouble when there's nothing else left. I scanned you earlier. The metal machine had trouble identifying your species. It refused to admit your existence. And even when it named you, I wouldn't believe it. But it was right. I know where you're from. Forgive me for intruding, but it's remarkable that you even exist. I just wanted to say how sorry I am." Jabe puts her hand on his arm, and the Doctor puts his hand over hers.
"As am I, the loss of family is never an easy thing to bear." Stella said empathetically taking his free hand and giving it a gentle squeeze before letting it go as tears threated to spill from his eyes. He shook off his sadness getting the door open and they stepped into the room that ran the whole depth of the Platform. The Doctor Stella and Jabe were by a catwalk that ran through a series of large fans.
"Is it me, or is it a bit nippy?" The Doctor asked.
"I'm fine." Stella said.
"You also have inner workings that allow your temperature to remain the same." Jabe joked.
"True, but I can still overheat." Stella nodded.
"Fair do's, though, that's a great bit of air conditioning. Sort of nice and old fashioned. Bet they call it retro." The Doctor said as he scanned a panel. "Gotcha." He pulled it off and spider scuttled out and up the wall. "What the hell's that?"
"Is it part of the retro?" Jabe asked.
"I don't think so." Stella said.
"Hold on." The Doctor aimed his screwdriver at the spider, then Jabe lassoes it.
"Hey, nice liana." The Doctor commented.
"Thank you. We're not supposed to show them in public." Jabe said with a blush.
"Rebel Jabe, I knew it was only a matter of time before I rubbed off on you." Stella smirked at Jabe who rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anybody." The Doctor said as he looked over the spider bot. "Now then, who's been bringing their pets on board?"
"What does it do?" Jabe asked.
"Sabotage." Stella said as she looked over the machine as well.
'Earth Death in ten minutes.'
"And the temperature's about to rocket." The Doctor said and raced down the corridor with the girls in tow. "Come on."
'Earth Death in ten minutes.'
Smoke from the Stewards room filled the corridor and the glare of the sun is coming through the small glass panel in the door. The little assistants were gathered around the door trying to figure out what had happened.
"Hold on. Get back." The Doctor soniced on another small panel.
'Sun filter rising. Sun filter rising.'
"Is the Steward in there?!" Jabe asked in shock.
"He was in there." Stella said grimly.
"You can smell him." The Doctor said looking over the panel. "Hold on, there's another sun filter programmed to descend."
"It's in gallery fifteen and I bet there's someone in there to." Stella said as she and the Doctor ran off.
-0-
"There." Stella said as they skidded to a stop in front of the gallery. The Doctor sat to work on the panel.
'Sun filter descending.'
"Anyone in there?" The Doctor called out as he worked.
"Let me out!" Rose yelled.
"Oh, well, it would be you." The Doctor scoffed, but Rhea could see his fear.
"Open the door!" Rose yelled.
"Hold on. Give us two ticks." The Doctor replied working faster.
"Rose listen to me, go to the lowest point in that room and lay down as flat as you can on the ground ok?" Stella called out through the door.
"Ok." Rose replied and they could hear her moving away from the door.
"Stay there until we get the door open, do not move an inch." Stella told her.
'Sun filter descending. Sun filter descending.'
"I almost got it." The Doctor said as he worked. "There!"
'Sun filter rising. Sun filter rising. Sun filter descending.'
"Just what we need." The Doctor ground out. "The computer's getting clever."
"Stop mucking about!" Rose yelled.
"I'm not mucking about. It's fighting back." The Doctor yelled back.
"Well looks like you need some back up." Stella said as she started to work the panel along with the Doctor.
"Open the door!" Rose yelled.
"I know!" The Doctor yelled back as the glare moved down the door.
"The lock's melted!" Rose screamed.
"Of course it has." Stella ground out.
"Sun filter descending. Sun filter Descending. Sun filter rising. Sun filter rising."
"The whole thing's jammed." The Doctor snapped. "I can't open the doors. Stay there! Don't move!"
"Where am I going to go, Ipswich?" Rose snapped sarcastically.
'Earth Death in five minutes.'
-0-
"The metal machine confirms. The spider devices have infiltrated the whole of Platform One." Jabe told the others in the main observatory room.
"How's that possible? Our private rooms are protected by a code wall. Moisturize me, moisturize me." Cassandra said as her attendants took care of her.
"Summon the Steward." Moxx said.
"I'm afraid the Steward is dead." Jabe told them.
"Who killed him?" Moxx demanded.
"This whole event was sponsored by the Face of Boe. He invited us. Talk to the Face. Talk to the Face." Cassandra accused Boe.
"Oi, cram it pancake. Boe would never do anything like this." Stella growled at Cassandra.
"Easy way of finding out." The Doctor said holding up the spider bot. "Someone bought their little pet on board. Let's send him back to master."
The Doctor put down the spider that Jabe was scanning, and it scuttled off to Cassandra and scans her, then goes to the black gowned group.
"The Adherents of the Repeated Meme. J'accuse!" Cassandra said dramatically.
"That's all very well, and really kind of obvious, but if you stop and think about it." The Doctor goes over to the Adherants and heir leader tried to hit him, so he pulled off its arm.
"A Repeated Meme is just an idea. And that's all they are, an idea." The Doctor said. He pulled one of the wires dangling from the arm, and the Adherants all collapse.
"Remote controlled Droids. Nice little cover for the real troublemaker." The Doctor said.
"So here are the puppets where is the puppet master?" Stella said then gave the spider bot a small nudge.
"Go on, Jimbo. Go home." The Doctor urged.
The spider bot turned and it returned to Cassandra.
"I bet you were the school swots and never got kissed." Cassandra sneered. "At arms!"
Her attendants raised their spray guns.
"What are you going to do, moisturize us?" The Doctor scoffed sharing a laugh with Stella.
"With acid." Cassandra said.
"Well that might actually work." Stella said scratching the back of her head, then looked indignant. "And I'll have you know I've kissed and been kissed plenty of times."
"Oh, you're too late, anyway. My spiders have control of the mainframe. Oh, you all carried them as gifts, tax free, past every code wall. I'm not just as pretty face." Cassandra said with a snooty smile.
"Sabotaging a ship while you're still inside it? How stupid's that?" The Doctor questioned.
"I'd hoped to manufacture a hostage situation with myself as one of the victims. The compensation would have been enormous." Cassandra said.
"Five billion years and it still comes down to money." The Doctor said with a dark look.
"Do you think it's cheap, looking like this? Flatness costs a fortune. I am the last human, Doctor. Me. Not that freaky little kid of yours or that blender next to you." Cassandra sneered.
"Arrest her, the infidel…" Moxx ordered.
"Oh, shut it, pixie. I've still got my final option." Cassandra said.
'Earth Death in three minutes.'
"And here it comes. You're just as useful dead, all of you. I have shares in your rival companies and they'll triple in price as soon as you're dead." Cassandra said smugly. "My spiders are primed and ready to destroy the safety systems. How did that old Earth song go? Burn, baby, burn."
"Then you'll burn with us." Jabe said.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I know the use of teleportation is strictly forbidden, but I'm such a naughty thing. Spiders, activate." Cassandra said and then there was a series of explosions through the Platform.
"Forcefields gone with the planet about to explode. At least it'll be quick. Just like my fifth husband. Oh, shame on me." Casandra gloated.
'Safety systems failing.'
"Bye, bye, darlings. Bye, bye, my darlings." Cassandra and her attendants beam out.
'Heat levels rising.'
"Reset the computer." Moxx ordered.
"Only the Steward would know how." Jabe said.
"No. We can do it by hand." Stella said and the Doctor nodded.
"Right, there must be a system restore switch. Jabe, Stella come on. You lot, just chill." The Doctor said as he and the girls ran out of the room.
'Heat rising. Earth Death in two minutes. Earth Death in two minutes. Heat levels critical. Heat levels critical.' The computer went on and on as they ran down to the engine room.
"Oh. And guess where the switch is." The Doctor said as he spotted it on the other side of the turning razor sharp fans.
'Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising.'
The Doctor pulled a breaker lever and the fans slowed a little, but it reset as soon as he let go of it.
'External temperature five thousand degrees.'
Jabe pulled the breaker and held it down.
"You can't. The heat's going to vent through this place." The Doctor said.
"I know." Jabe replied.
"Jabe, you're made of wood." The Doctor said.
"But luckily I'm not. Jabe go back to the observation deck, I'll hold it down." Stella said taking the leaver from her.
"But you'll overheat and…" Jabe tried.
"Probably get heat sick, but I'll live where as you wouldn't now go." Stella said sternly and Jabe nodded turning and leaving the room.
'Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising.'
"I'll be as quick as I can." The Doctor said.
"Sounds good, try not to get diced up." Stella said as the Doctor started through the fans making it through the first one.
'Heat levels critical. Heat levels critical.'
The Doctor looks back at Stella who was sweating profusely as she clung to the lever, her inner working trying to keep her cool, but slowly failing. He turned back to the fan and then times his run past the second fan.
'Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising. Planet explodes in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five.
The Doctor walks past the last fan dashes for the reset breaker just as Stella collapses on the ground, her systems on the verge of shutting down.
'Four.'
"Raise shields!" The Doctor ordered.
'One.'
A forcefield enveloped Platform One as the Earth started to boil, then exploded.
'Exoglass repair. Exoglass repair. Exoglass repair. Exoglass repair.'
In the engine rooms, the fans have slowed right down for the Doctor to run back easily to Stella. He kneeled down next to her setting her up.
"Stella? Stella can you hear me?" The Doctor shook her lightly causing her eyes to flutter open.
"Did we explode?" Stella asked weakly.
"Nope." The Doctor smiled.
"Yay!" Stella cheered weakly. "Mind carrying me back to the observation deck, I can't feel my legs."
"I think I can manage." The Doctor said lifting her up and exiting the engine room and walked to the observation deck where he is immediately beset upon by Jabe and Boe.
"She'll be fine, just needs to cool down." The Doctor said as he sat her on the ground so she was leaning against the face of Boe's tank.
"You owe me ice-cream." Stella glared at Boe who nodded with a laugh.
"Anything you want little star." Boe promised as Jabe grabbed some ice water giving it to her and Stella kicked it back chugging it down.
"Thank you Jabe." Stella said gratefully.
"You are welcome." Jabe replied handing her another drink.
"You all right?" Rose asked as the Doctor walked over to her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm full of ideas, I'm bristling with them. Idea number one, teleportation through five thousand degrees needs some kind of feed. Idea number two, this feed must be hidden nearby." The Doctor said bristling at all of the death and Stella's near death. The Doctor smashed open the alleged ostrich egg to reveal a small device. "Idea number three, if you're as clever as me, then a teleportation feed can be reversed."
"Oh, you should have seen their little alien faces." Cassandra said as she was beamed back in. "Oh."
"The last human." The Doctor said darkly.
"So, you passed my little test. Bravo. This makes you eligible to join, er, the Human Club." Cassandra floundered.
"People have died, Cassandra." Stella said as she stood up using Boe to support herself as she glared darkly at Casandra. "You murdered them."
"It depends on your definition of people, and that's enough of a technicality to keep your lawyers dizzy for centuries." Cassandra waved her off. "Take me to court, then, Doctor, and watch me smile and cry and flutter…"
"And creak?" The Doctor questioned.
"And what?" Cassandra slowly started to dry out cracks forming all around her.
"Creak. You're creaking." The Doctor said.
"What? Ah! I'm drying out!" Cassandra gasped. "Oh, sweet heavens. Moisturize me, moisturize me! Where are my surgeons? My lovely boys! It's too hot!"
"You raised the temperature." The Doctor said.
"Have pity! Moisturize me! Oh, oh, Doctor. I'm sorry. Stella, I'll do anything." Cassandra begged.
"Help her." Rose urged the Doctor.
"There is nothing to be done." Stella said shaking her head.
"Everything has its time and everything dies." The Doctor said.
"I'm too young!" Cassandra cried then splat, she was no more.
-0-
'Shuttles four and six departing. This unit is now closing down for maintenance.'
Stella walked into the Observation deck to find only Rose and the Doctor were left, looking at the asteroids that were once the Earth as they float past the red giant Sun.
"Well that was quite the adventure." Stella said as she walked up to them. "Do you have these escapades often?"
"This is only my second one, I think he lives for them." Rose gestured to the Doctor.
"Not intentionally, it just happens." The Doctor defended himself.
"Well whoever the two of you are and whatever you do have fun and try to stay safe." Stella said hugging them both. "I hope to meet you both again someday."
"Me to." Rose smiled.
"It was nice to meet you and thanks for the help." The Doctor nodded.
"Anytime. Now if you'll excuse me, Boe owes me ice cream." Stella said then turned to board the shuttle with Boe. "I really do hope to see them again someday."
"You will little star." Boe said using his term of endearment for her.
"And you know this how?" Stella asked, but Boe only smirked. "I hate it when you go al cryptic on me." Rhea raised up her arm so she could work her manipulator. "I'll see you later, I wanted to go check out Rimbrant."
"What about the ice-cream?" Boe asked in amusement.
"I'll be back before you know it, then we'll get ice-cream." Stella said as she typed into her manipulator.
"Stay safe." Boe said softly.
"Never." Stella smiled with a wink before she flashed away.