Hi to anyone that decides to read this. It's my first fanfiction and also my first story to ever see the light of day, so please, if you choose to review try and go easy on me?


Chapter One: The End of the World

"Okay." I muttered to myself as I fiddled with the totally original , much better looking, Vortex Manipulator or Manny for short. "Here goes nothing." I twisted a dial and locked in a random date a couple million years ahead. I took a deep calming breath then slammed my finger on the 'Activate' button. The world dissappeared around me, a sliver of agonising pain ran through my back forcing a silent scream from my throat. It felt like an eternity but it flew by in seconds, the ground rose up and rammed into me, making my knees buckle, taking me to the floor.

"Well that was bloody brilliant." I helpfully informed myself. "Still have to work out the kinks." I started fiddling with the buttons and dials and other cool little things attached to Manny, trying to figure out when and where I was. But he didn't seem to want to be helpful, just popping up with random numbers and letters in all sorts of languages. "Stupid thing." And thats when it decided to die entirely. "Oh come on, I didn't mean it! I swear!" It gave a very rude beep as reply.I was very close to yelling at the bloody tempremental wrist watch. "I promise I didn't mean it. I was just frustrated."

He completely ignored me and no matter which button I pushed or dial I turned he was not going to answer. I flung my hands up in exasperation. "Fine then. Be that way. I'll find my own way back." I finally lifted my head and looked around. I was on some kind of ship, a touristy thing by the looks of all the rick folk, not to mention the fancy schmancy decore, and I was pretty sure I was a lot further ahead than I wanted to be.

I forced myself to stand and toddled over to the viewing window, rubbing my sore butt along the way and ignoring everyone else in the room, grateful I had landed in the far corner of the room away from prying eyes, and got an eye full of planet Earth. And it looked like it was about to be consumed by the sun. "Oh, this is turning into a fun day." I muttered sarcastically. Then I caught my reflection in the mirror. I looked like I had been sent through a carwash.

My unnaturally bright purple hair was in dissarray, tangled and sticking up in strange ways, only half of it still in the original bun. The black eyeliner that had originally been in a neat line under my green eyes was now smudged across my cheeks. My brown leather duster was hanging off one shoulder and was slightly askew. Thankfully the black singlet and dark wash jeans I had on under the coat were in good condition and my absolutely awesome Chuck Taylor All Star X-Hi's had barely a scuff on them. I was almost positive Manny did this on purpose, but at least he knew not to touch the shoes.

I wiped as much liner away as I could and redid my hair, making sure my fringe was in its proper place, swept to the side. I fixed my coat and took another look in the window and shrugged. It was as good as it was going to get.

I turned around to check out the other occupants of what I realised was an observation station. Most of them I didn't have any idea what they could be, but I did recognise a few of them. Tree's, and the fat blue guy in the chair was familiar but I couldn't remember his species, then finally I noticed the big face to the side of the room. I jumped and almost peed myself when I noticed he was staring at me. It wasn't like a scary glare or anything, more a look of disappoval. Oh goody, not only do I get chatised with a look from my parents, but now from a head in a jar, a GIANT head in a jar but still...

The second he, at least I think it was a he, was distractd by one of the things that looked like a giant bird, I turned and ducked behind the first thing I saw, which just so happened to be the only normal looking people in the room. The chick didn't seem to notice me but the guy certainly did. He threw a suprised look over his shoulder and one of his eyebrows rose. I flapped my hands at him, the universal sign for 'mind your own business and go back to what you were doing'.

He didn't look like he wanted to but was forced to when the blue guy approached. I didn't really pay attention to the conversation, more interested in trying to get my stupid little friend to turn back on, he really was annoying sometimes. But it did catch my attention when the blue guy spat into the girl's face. I backed up a bit and made sure it didn't hit me, not that I really had to worry, he was a really good shot. Right in her eye. Still gross though.

Once I was sure he wasn't going to spit again I went back to tinkering with Manny but gave up a few seconds later after I accepted he wasn't going to work until he wanted to. I heaved a sigh. "You know, just for that, I'm taking away your wi-fi privileges." I waited for some kind of reaction, even just a beep. Nothing happened. He was being stubborn. "You are so in trouble when we get out of here."

I dropped my arm back to my side, looking up when I heard an announcement. Not the actual words but it sounded important. I was only a couple inches shorter than the guy in front of me, making it so much easier to see over his shoulder and still stay out of almost all the aliens immediate line of sight, especially jarhead.

The big announcement must have had something to do with the flab of skin that just got wheeled into the room. It was literally a flab of skin with eyeballs and a mouth. I had no clue how it could be alive, let alone babble on like it was. I mean its brain was in a jar below 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 2000." Aaaand thats when I tuned out again. Completely useless crap, dribbling out of her mouth. Got enough of that from my mum.

That thought brought me up short. I couldn't think like that anymore. She was gone and she wasn't coming back. no matter what I did. Nothing could save her. Not me, not Dad.

I mentally slapped myself out of it. Can't be having those thoughts right now. I pulled myself together and flicked my hair out of eyes and decided to tune back into the skin's speech, as long as it kept me preoccupied I didn't care what she said.

"-Ostrich egg. Legend said it had a wing span of 50 feet and blew fire from its nostrils." I couldn't catch myself in time to stop the laugh that erupted from me. It only lasted a second before I clamped my hand over my mouth and hid behind the guy again, but I had managed to grab the attention of half the room. Half the room did not include the flap of skin, so she kept going and everyone turned back to her, the man in front of me a few seconds behind the rest, giving himself time to send a funny look my way.

The instant his eyes were off me I stepped away from him and hid myself behind a giant black pillar instead and took one more shot at convincing Manny.

"If your good and take me home I'll extend your wi-fi and tv hours" No response. "Come on. You know you want to." I felt him start to power up. "Yes there you go. Free reign over the internet for 5 hours." The screen blinked on. "Come on, come on." And he let rip a noise that sounded remarkably like a raspberry then powered off again.

I stood there for a minute in shock, vaguely registering pop music had started up behind me, before I cracked.

"You cheeky little bugger. You are going to be dismantled when we get home." He chose not to comment, probably seeing through my empty threat. I couldn't get rid of him, he wasthe only way I had to travel and the little prick knew it. I flicked the annoying thing on my wrist and let my hand drop. I was stuck here until I found Dad. That could take forever. I fell back against the pillar and let my head droop.

Why did he always have to go disappearing on me just when I needed him, when he could actually be useful. I heaved another sigh. This was going to be interesting.

I stood straight again and popped my head around the pillar. I noticed that the two human looking people had scampered off somewhere, but more importantly the head in a jar was preoccupied. Yippee. I slid out of my hiding place and stalked towards the doors, walking like I had every right to be there. A few people tried to stop me but I acted haunty, turning my nose up at them and ignoring them. Just keep walking. That was the only thing going through my head.

I reached the doors and turned the corner. Once I was out of sight I ran. I didn't wanna be caught on here without an invite, I didn't know what they'd do. They could throw me out an airlock for all I know. I rounded a corner, hit something rather large and went arse over head. Luckily I landed on my butt instead of my head, unluckily I had already landed on my butt today and it was kinda tender.

"Owww." I moaned. I heard an answering groan and peeked out from under my bangs. There was a blue girl in front of me, nursing her head where she had obviously hit it on the ground. I sat up on my knees and half crawled, half slid over to her.

"I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" I didn't touch her, I didn't know if it was offensive to her, I just leant over her, trying to get a look at her head.

She groaned again, looked up at me and flinched back, scrambling to her feet, eyes never leaving me. I stood up with her.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, or run into you." She didn't reply, just continued to stare at me. Maybe I broke her. "Is your head okay?" I put my hand on my head to demonstrate.

"We need permission to talk, miss."

I blinked at that. Who needs permission to talk?

"Are you serious?" I looked at her in disbelief. She nodded. "Okay. Permission granted, I suppose." I said a bit awkwardly. I wasn't used to giving people permission to talk.

"Thank you." She tried to smile but it turned into a pained grimace.

"Are you alright?" I took a step towards her. When she didn't back away or start yelling at me, I took another step. "Can I see?" She flicked her head up at that. "I just want to see how bad it is." I held my hands in a non-threatening manner. She eyed me for a bit before nodding and pulling her hand away. "Thank you." I took the final step and reached up to her head.

"I'm going to have to take your hat off to get a good look." I looked to her for permission again, which she gave in the form of another nod. I carefully pulled off the hat, making sure I didn't hit the sensitive area, then did the same for the head covering. "Think you can hold these for just a minute."

"Yes, miss." She took them from my hands and looked at the ground. I started to study the rather bad looking bump on her head.

"What's your name? I can't keep calling you 'she' even if it is in my head." I saw her lip quirk slightly at that.

"My name is Rafello, miss."

"My name is not miss, it's Nik." I looked at her pointedly. "I am not a miss." I turned back to her wound and prodded it softly. Rofello winced. "Sorry." I finished my little inspection and stepped back from her. "It doesn't look like its too bad, but it might be tender for a while." Rafello nodded.

"Thank you." She put her headgear back on and started to go back to her work as I started to look through my pockets.

"Hang on." She turned back. "I think I have something that might help." I kept rifling through my coat. "I know I have some somewhere." I reached into my inner pocket and felt the small packet. "Yes. Found them." I pulled them out and tipped two tablets into my hand. I put my hand out to give to her, but pulled it back sharply when I remembered something. "Hold up. Where exactly are you from?" Rafello looked at me confused for a second.

"Krispalian, miss." I pointed my finger in her face making her jump slightly.

"I am not a miss. My name is Nik."

"Yes, miss." I gave her a look, finger still in her face. "Sorry... Nik" I dropped my hand.

"That's better." I put my hand out again. "I don't think this will have any adverse affects but it mght help with the headache that I'm sure your going to get." She didn't move. I gestured impatiently with my hand. "Come on. Take it." She hesitently raised her hand and I dropped the paracetamol tablets into her cupped palm. She looked at them strangely, then looked up at me.

"What am I supposed to do with them?"

"You swallow them." She looked thoughtful for a moment then, quick as a flash, brought her hand to her mouth and down they went. I stared her a bit stunned. "Well that's one way to do it, I suppose." She smiled at me. I gave her a small smile in return. "Look, I am really sorry about all this. I should have been watching where I was going."

"It's alright. Your not the first person to knock into me and I doubt you'll be the last, but so far you're the nicest."

I gave her another smile for that. "I'm still sorry." She beamed at me. "Okay. Well, I should let you get back to your work, don't want you getting into trouble." I started backing down the hallway. "It was nice meeting you, Rafello."

"Nice meeting you, Nik." I gave a little wave before turning around and continuing down the hallway.

She was a nice girl, a bit too pretty to be doing menial labour but that's the way life goes. My train of thought was interrupted by an announcement over the loud speakers.

"Would the owner of the blue box in Private Gallery 15 please report to the Stewards office immediately." That made me pause. A blue box. Couldn't be. That is way too coincidental. But then again it would explain the way Manny was behaving. He wanted to meet a real live TARDIS. It also explain why we ended up so far forward. I brought my hand up, glaring at the stupid machine.

"If seeing the TARDIS will get you to behave I guess I have no choice do I." Manny didn't respond. I let out an irritated huff and threw my arm down. "All I wanted to do was go forward a couple million years, but noooo. We had to go billions of years ahead because you wanted to see your crush." I ranted as I walked, hopefully in the right direction. It was the only direction I could go at this point so I just went with it. "Sometimes I think I should never have made you and just stuck with the old Manipulator. Even if it was a bumpier ride at least it did what it was told."

I stopped my tirade once we reached a door. I pressed the button, the door slid open and I poked my head in. No blue box, but the girl from the observation deck was sitting in there, legs dangling over the ledge. I have a feeling she won't be much help. I was about to duck back out when she started talking. I paused, assuming she was talking to me, there was no one else in the room.

"Hello." I turned back, about to answer when I noticed she wasn't looking at me, she was looking at a pot plant in her hand. "My name's Rose. That's a sort of plant." She said the last part a bit uncertainly. So would I if I was talking to a plant. Then again I don't talk to plants. "We might be related." I had to bite my knuckle to keep from laughing. Who does that? Obliviously this Rose did. I wonder if she was expecting an answer.

"I'm talking to a twig." She put the plant down. So glad she realised. I was about to walk in and introduce myself, if only to stop her from talking to another inanimate object, but my eyes were drawn to the little silver ball resting beside her. A little spider robot thingy was crawing out of it.

"What the hell is that?" I yelled. The Rose girl spun around.

"Who the hell are you?" I ignored her and watched the spider. It seemed to panick and fled up the nearest vent.

"Did you seriously not see that?" I looked at her increduously. She looked back confused. "It was right next to your hand, looked like it was going to take off a finger." She looked at me like I was insane. I threw my hands up in the air. "Fine don't believe me, but if that thing comes back don't say I didn't warn you."

"Who are you?" She may have thought I was nuts but that didn't mean she didn't want to know my name. She was raised right.

"Nik." Her eyebrow rose at that. "What?" I snapped. I wasn't having a very good day. Sue me. Her hands rose, palms out, in a gesture of peace.

"Nothing. I've just never heard of a girl with the name Nick before."

"It's not Nick, like N-I-C-K. It's Nik, like N-I-K. It's short for something else."

"Like what?"

"Like 'Nick-off'." I stated. She looked a bit offended at that. I rubbed my hand across my forehead, slightly weary. I sighed. "I'm sorry okay. I've had a bad day." My eyes flicked up at her snort.

"Join the club." She was smirking at me and I took that as an invitation to enter the room. I walked towards the ledge, fully expecting her the tell me to get out, but she just watched me, curiousity clear in her gaze. I plopped down beside her, noticing a shadow outside the door, it didn't seem threatening so I didn't mention it. Rose looked freaked out enough as it is. She positioned herself so she was facing me, one leg hanging off the edge, the other tucked underneath her and I mimicked her, making sure there was a good few feet between us. "So what's so bad about your day?"

"Well, I'm stranded here unless someone decides to take pity on me and take me with them and even then I'm still stranded."

"How are you still stranded?" Her head was tilted to the side, a questioning gaze sent my way.

"Well, you have to have a certain type of ship or certain equipment to get to where I'm from and unfortunately there's only three people in the universe that have either one of them and one of those people is me, but mine's gone on the fritz." I smacked my hand against Manny, causing Rose to jump and Manny to let out a high pitch beep. "Sorry. My watch is broken, just another thing to add to my bad day."

"Right. Okay." She looked a bit wary of me now but didn't look like she wanted to end the conversation.

"So what's so bad about your day?" I leaned back on my arms, waiting. She started out slowly.

"I came here with a bloke, a completely random bloke, I don't know a thing about him and I just left my family and my boyfriend and my home all so I could go on an adventure with him." She was really getting into it now. Her voice had changed from a whisper to an almost shout. "Now I think I might have made a mistake. The first place he takes me is to watch my planet be destroyed, to meet aliens whose idea of a good time is watching a planet explode and, and, I have to watch him flirt with a tree!"

"He seriously flirted with a tree?" I tried to imagine that and it sorta squeaked me out a bit. Then another thought hit me. I sat up. "Hang on." I paused for dramatic effect. "Did she flirt back?"

"Yes!" She yelled. "And I had to watch, and then I got spat on by a small, fat, blue alien and then that, that, that... thing came out and claimed it was a human."

"Which one? I wasn't really paying attention."

"That piece of skin in the metal square." She looked absolutely disgusted.

"Ah. The one that mistook an ostrich for a dragon?" She smirked at that. "I mean you gotta think. If they're wrong about something like that, what else are they spreading round the universe about Earth." I pointed at her. "Something to think about." She gave me a funny look. "What?" She shook her head.

"Nothing. Nothing." She lapsed into silence, gazing out the window. I never really liked silences. Too quiet. I looked around the room for a minute, hoping to find something to occupy myself with. That's when I remembered the shadow. I peeked to make sure it was still there. Yup. I looked around the room a bit more before I turned back to Rose and leaned forward.

"Oi." I whispered. I didn't want to catch the stalker's attention. Rose looked at me, eyebrow raised. "There's someone spying on us." Her eyes went wide and I hooked my thumb in the doors direction. Rose glanced over and I saw recognision in her eyes but it was quickly overtaken by irritation.

"Oi!" She yelled so loud I almost fell over the edge. I caught myself in time and plugged my right ear with my finger and wriggled it round, hoping to get my hearing back and only mildly successful. I couldn't hear anything thanks to the ringing in my head.

"You know maybe next time you should yell louder!" I knew I screamed but I didn't care. I cupped my hands over my ears and stood up, ignoring Rose's dirty look, I informed her of my current condition. "I think you made my ears bleed." And with that as my goodbye I stomped over to the door, swerved around the person walking into the room, not even looking up, and made a dash for the hallway.

They could figure their issues out by themselves.

I made sure I was I good distance away before sliding to ground, back against the wall. I lifted my hands away from my ears, praying that my hearing had returned, but alas twas not to be. So my solution was block the nose, close my mouth and blow. My ears popped and returned to normal, thank whoever. I slumped down, I didn't really want to get up. It was to much trouble. But I knew I couldn't stay here forever, someone was bound to find me if I stayed in one place too long. I used the wall as support and heaved myself to my feet. Just in time to be knocked flat on my arse by the shudder that ran through the station. Again I landed on my butt. It was going to be black and blue tomorrow. If I managed to survive today. My luck so far, the ship will probably crash into the Earth and we'll all die.

"Honoured guests may be reassured that gravity pockets may cause slight turbulence. Thanking you." Was announced.

"Bullshit." I muttered. "Gravity pockets don't do that." I heaved myself up again. Quickly this time in case there was another shudder. Luckily there wasn't and I got to remain on my feet. "Right. Might as well make sure we don't blow up while I'm here." I trudged back up the hallway, watching my feet as I walked. Which is something I should probably know by now is a bad idea.

And it was proved once again when I walked into someones chest. A very hard chest. It hurt. And I would have ended up on my arse again if two strong arms hadn't wrapped around my waist and pulled me up. Into his chest.

"So are you finally going to introduce yourself?" I opened my eyes hearing the strange northern accent and came face-to-face with the man I had originally hidden behind.

"That depends on who's asking." I shot back. I wasn't telling just anyone my name. I mean I know I told Rose but that was mostly because she was feeling down and we bonded as 'Bad Day Buddies'. I winced mentally at the name. God, I'm so dorky inside my head.

"I asked first." Was his witty comeback.

"I asked second."

"First comes before second."

"Doesn't mean I have to answer. Why don't you answer and get this whole thing out of the way."

"Oh please." We both twisted our heads to find the source of the voice. Rose. "Can you stop the flirting and get a move on."

"I was not flirting!" I replied instantly. The guy remained silent. Rose just gave me a look, switching from my face to my arms a couple times, encouraging me to look down. Which I did. Which made me realise my position. I was pressed up against his chest, my waist encircled by his arms and my hands had somehow ended up on his biceps.

I pulled away as fast as I could and he let me go, which meant he got to keep his nuggets another day.

I brushed myself down and looked to Rose's impatient expression.

"Well, are we moving or not?" They needed no more encouragement, they both spun around, heading back towards the main guest hall. It wasn't the most talkative walk. The guy up front kept muttering to himself and Rose was trying to listen in. I stayed to the back and made random observations about the decore. Luckily it wasn't long walk, I think I got on Rose nerves a bit. She was throwing me the hairy eyeball over her shoulder by the time we got to the reception hall or whatever you want to call it. And the moment what's-his-face crossed over the doorway he started announcing his idea's to anyone who was near.

"That wasn't a gravity pocket, I know gravity pockets and they don't feel like that."

"I could have told you that." I decided to let him know. He ignored me and started fiddling with a information screen attached to the wall.

"What do think, Jage?" He turned around and started talking to the Tree standing next to Rose. "Listen to the engines, pitched up about thirty hertz. That dodgy or what?" Jage just looked confused.

"It is the sound of metal, it doesn't make any sense to me." I scoffed quietly though I'm pretty sure he heard me, judging by the look he sent my way.

"Where's the engine room?" Talking to Jage again.

"I don't know. But the maintenance duct is just behind our guest suite, I could show you. And your wife?" I giggled at that.

"She's not my wife."

"Partner."

"No."

"Concubine." She just kept asking didn't she. I was glad that she hadn't really noticed me, half blocked from view by Rose, and every time Jage looked my way I looked around like I was admiring the room and had absolutely nothing to do with the man she was trying so hopelessly to flirt with.

"Nope."

"Prostitute." Oh, she really was trying hard wasn't she. I personally hoped Rose gave her a smack.

"Whatever I am, it must be invisible. Do ya mind?" Go Rose! Stand up for yourself. "Tell you what. You two go and pollinate, I'm gonna catch up with family. Quick word with Michael Jackson." She pointed towards the supposed 'last human'.

"Don't start a fight."

I gagged as I watched him offer his arm to Jage.

"I'm all yours." He told her. She seemed pleased.

"Oh that is so wrong in so many ways." I shuddered. I got filthy looks from both him and Jage. I shrugged. "Just my honest opinion."

They walked out the door arm in arm, but not without Rose having the final word.

"I want you home by midnight." He just threw a smile over his shoulder, which disappeared at my parting shot.

"And make sure you use protection." He didn't bother to reply and disappeared around the corner. A smirk graced my lips as I turned to Rose. She was smiling slightly and shaking her head. "What?" I asked all innocent.

"Nothing." She turned away from me and started towards the only other 'pure' human in the room. I caught up to her and flung an arm around her shoulders.

"So." She glanced up at me. "What are we talking about with road kill over there?" She scoffed and pushed my arm off. "Well you're no fun." I spun on the spot and almost sprinted over to the screen the guy was playing with before. Just because he couldn't get anything out of it doesn't mean I couldn't.

I studied the words showing. Platform One. I ran my finger down it, accessing the main network but of course it wouldn't allow me access to the stations system and operations.

"Right." I reached into the pocket of my jeans and pulled out a small silver rectangle with two blank buttons on it. I pushed the top button and a small laser blade shot out the top. I looked over my shoulders, making certain that no one was watching, and stabbed the blade into the wall right under the panel. It cut through the metal like it was butter.

I cut a rectangle into the wall and popped it out, leaving the wires exposed.

"Now let's see if I can do this." I pressed the top button on the laser knife causing the blade to disappear and shoved it back in my pocket. I cracked my knuckles, preparing myself and extended two fingers into the hole and snagged an orange and a green wire. I pulled a small pair of scissors out of another pocket and snipped the two. I held the scissors between my teeth as I pulled back the rubber/plastic or whatever futuristic thing it was that replaced it, and slowly connected the two.

I cursed as the screen went black, but didn't panick. I seperated the wires and tried again.

There was a small spark that had me flinching backwards, but the screen came back to life, this time with access to the mainframe. Am I genius or what? I mentally patted myself on the back and dropped the scissors back in my pocket. I made sure the wires were tightly woven together, so as they wouldn't come apart, and stuffed them back into the wall. Now to get down to the fun stuff.

I swept through the last few commands entered into the computer, only wasting seconds on that and moving quickly onto the main engines. That guy was right when he said the engines sounded strange. The computer instantly warned me of bugs in the system. Well, that was interesting. I started to run a systems check, but was distracted by Rose storming out the door. I almost went straight after her but paused long enough to pull the wires back out and rip them apart. No time to be delicate and I didn't want just anyone playing around in the station's system. I tucked them back into the wall, slipped the cut out into its proper place and was out the door as Rose disappeared around a corner.

I charged after her, but hesitated slightly when I heard a 'thunk'. I peeked around the wall and saw the hooded fellas, I think their name was Meme or something, dragging her unconscious body down the hallway. At least I really hoped she was only unconscious, I hate to think of the other option. I shook myelf out of it and followed behind the would be kidnappers, only creeping down a hallway once I was positive they had turned a corner.

They didn't go very far, dumping her in a viewing area that looked remarkably like the one we were in earlier. Hell, it could be the same one, I had no idea. I watched them close the door and push a few buttons, locking down the room. And then of course they started marching towards me. But Lady Fortune actually helped me out for once today, providing a nice empty suite right across the hall from me. I literally dived for it, landing hard and scrambling up, just in time to close the door before they walked got within my range of sight.

I pressed my ear up against the door, listening to their footsteps fade. Once I heard the hiss of the reception hall's door shutting behind them I darted out off the room and ran to the viewing room's door. I tried the controls, but of course they were command locked. I slammed my fist against the steel door.

"Rose! Rose, can you hear me?" I smashed my fist against it a few more times but got no response.

I studied the door, mentally calualating the amount of force needed to open it against the time it would take to hack into the mainframe. Hacking it was. I grabbed the laser knife again, clicked it open and jammed it in behind the metal panel covering the wires. It wasn't exactly the most graceful way to go about it, but I was in a bit of a hurry, I didn't think they were just going to leave her to her own devices in there. I ripped the panel off and dropped to my knees, I dropped the laser not really caring where it landed so long as it didn't hit me and studied the interior.

It didn't look that complicated. I shoved my hand to the back and pulled at a couple of the more important looking wires, disconnecting them from the mainframe, and pulled them forwards.

"Well, here goes nothing." I sparked them against each other, hoping to trick the computer into restoring its original commands. All that did was make a big spark. "Oh, goody." I disconnected them and dropped the smaller wire. At this point I was just playing eeny-miny-mo. I snatched another wire, this one yellow, and connected that one. Again a spark. Along with a blaring announcement from the computer.

"Sun filter descending. Sun filter descending."

"Please tell me I didn't do that." I muttered as I reached up and started searching the screen for answers. It didn't take long to find the command was sent from somewhere else. I released a breath I hadn't realised I was holding and went back to the wires.

"Let me out! Let me out!" Rose was banging on the door and screaming. I almost electricuted myself. "Let me out! Let me out!"

"Rose! Calm down!" I yelled through the door. "Screaming is not helping the situation!"

"Nik! Is that you?! Help me! Get me out of here!"

"I'm getting there, just give me a few seconds!" I grabbed one of the main power cords, ripped it from the screen and connected it to a smaller wire, one not made to handle so much electricity at once, maybe cause it to short circuit and give us a few more seconds.

"Get me out! Let me out!" Rose was still banging away at the door, but paused when the sun filter stopped. It wasn't rising or descending, the computer was just stalled for a minute. "Nik! Did you stop it?! Can you get me out?!"

"You'll have to give me a minute. I can only do so much at a time." I reconnected the power cord as best I could and pushed all the wires to the side in an attempt to look at the back. "There should be a chip or something that controls this stupid thing." I mumbled. I spotted it and was about to do something clever with it, when Rose's bloke came running down towards me.

"What are you doing?" He demanded.

"What does it look like?" I snapped at him.

"Destroying the door controls."

"Oh well excuse me for wanting Rose not to die!" That gave him pause.

"Rose is in there?"

"Yep. And the sun filter has decided to descend." His head whipped away from the door and fiocused on me. "I managed to stall it but it won't stay there forever and the door doesn't want to open."

"Move." I was pushed to the side so he could get at the controls. He pulled out a sonic screwdriver and pointed it at the screen. After a few seconds he had results.

"Sun filter rising. Sun filter rising."

"Rose! Are you alright?!" he yelled.

"Yeah I'm fine. But can you open the door?" Rose yelled back.

"Ye-" He was cut off by the computer.

"Sun filter descending. Sun filter descending."

"That's just what we need. The computer's getting clever." He dropped down to work with the wires.

"Stop mucking about!" Rose screamed.

"I'm not mucking about. It's fighting back." He replied. I gave a sigh.

"Give me that." I snatched his screwdriver and pushed him away. I swept the wires to the side and pushed the screwdriver towards the back, towards the command chip or whatever it was. I pushed the sonic's button and prayed it worked.

"Sun filter descending. Sun filter descending."

"Come on. Come on." I whispered.

"Sun filter descending. Sun filter rising. Sun filter rising."

"Yes." I pulled the screwdriver out and threw it back to him. He was looking at me strangely. "What?" He snapped out of it and tried to open the door.

"The whole thing's jammed." He informed Rose. "I can't open the doors. Stay there, don't move."

"Where am I going to go? Ipswich?" He didn't bother to reply and ran off.

I stood up and dusted myself off.

"Oi! Rose!" I waited for a response.

"What?" she snapped. She had a good reason, stuck inside a room where you could get burnt to a crisp in seconds.

"Do you want out?"

"The Doctor said it was jammed." I smirked.

"Well I'll just have to unjam it or cut through it as the case may be." I picked my laser knife of the ground and clicked the lower button repeatedly, making the blade longer and longer until it reached about a metre. "Rose! I'm gonna need you to stand back."

"Why? What you gonna do?"

"Just back up please!" I listened to her move, making sure she was a safe distance away and thrust the blade with as much force as I could muster. There was a bit of resistance but it went through easily enough. I forced the blade down, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be, until it hit the floor, using my foot to push it the last few inches. I yanked it out and stabbed it back in at the top, this time going horizontal and then down again when I deemed it wide enough. I kicked the slab of metal in and watched it drop to the floor inside the room before I poked my head through. Rose was up against the wall on my left.

"Come on then. You said you wanted out." She scrambled towards me. I pulled back so she had room to crawl through and, once she was in arms reach, helped pull her the rest of the way. She collapsed against the wall in relief, heaving a sigh.

"There we go. Safe and-" I was cut off by the station shaking. "What the fuck was that?" I decided standing probably wasn't the best option right now and plonked down beside Rose. "This day just keeps getting better and better." I told her. She wasn't listening. She was a bit too freaked out. I grabbed her hand and brought her attention to me. "Rose. We are going to be okay. Okay?" She nodded at me and closed her eyes, blocking as much out as she could.

I leaned my head back against the wall and just stared at the ceiling, tuning out the noise and humming slightly. The station shook around us and I could hear the window behind us cracking. I felt Rose tighten her grip on my hand and I squeezed back, reassuring her in that tiny way that she wasn't alone.

I'm not sure how much time passed, could have been minutes or hours, but I was snapped out of my trance-like state by the computer.

"Exo-glass repaired. Exo-glass repaired." I turned to Rose and smiled.

"See. We're okay." she gave me a slightly shaky smile in return. "Right." I untangled our hands and stood up, holding my hand out to Rose. "Shall we go find the rest of them?" She nodded and latched onto my hand. I hauled her up and led the way back to the main hall.

What met us there was devastation. Many were hurt and one had obviously got burnt up by the sun's rays, nothing left of him but his automated chair. Rose and I wandered in to the center of the room and just stood there, watching. All this death and what came of it? Lives cut short and other's traumitised, all for one person's gain.

I was interupted in my musings by Rose's friend walking throught the door. He didn't acknowledge her and walked past to talk to the Trees. It was obvious he told them something they didn't want to hear. They just broke down and he turned away, a hard look on his face. Rose stepped forward.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." he stalked forward, talking all the while. "I'm full of idea's, I'm bristling with 'em." He stopped walking. "Idea number one: teleportation through 5000 degrees needs some kind of feed." I could have told him that. "Idea number two..." He stalked towards a pedestal holding a large egg. "...this feed must be hidden nearby." He broke the egg and a small silver device fell out. He picked it up and walked to the center of the room again. "Idea number three: if you're as clever as me then a teleportation feed can be reversed." What he didn't mention was you didn't really have to be all that smart to actually figure out how to do that.

But he twisted the device and the flat chick popped up, and she didn't look like she was expecting to be back here.

"The last human." He said it like it was an insult.

"So, you passed my little test, bravo. This makes you eligible to join the um-th-th-the human club." Yeah, cause that's totally believable. I rolled my eyes.

"People have died Cassandra." So that was her name. "You murdered them."

"That depends on your definition of people." Uppity and psychotic. What a mix. "And that's enough of a technicality to keep your lawyers dizzy for centuries. Take me to court then, Doctor, and watch me smile and cry and flutter-" He cut in.

"And creak?"

"And what?" She looked rather alarmed.

"Creak? You're creaking." I glanced at his face, he looked a little pleased about that. I turned back to Cassandra as the creaking intensified, now audible to all.

"What?" Her skin began to crack. "Ah, I'm drying out. Oh, good heavens. Moisturize me! Moisturize me!" She looked terrified, not that I blame her. She said something else that I didn't quite catch. "It's too hot!" Her voice grated on my ears.

"You raised the temperature."He stated.

"Have pity." He didn't even blink. Rose walked forward and stood beside him. "Moisturize me! Oh. Oh, Doctor."

Rose looked up at him and pleaded. "Help her." His face didn't change, still rock hard.

"Everything has its time and everything dies." He watched impassive as Cassandra grew drier and drier. It was a bit deturbing to watch actually.

"I'm too young!" she yelled. And finally the dryness became too much and she exploded. I jumped to the side to dodge a few pieces of her that came my way. I flicked my head up as I heard someone walking towards me. His eyes showed no remorse, only anger and rage. I stepped away from him and watched as he rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.

After that all the guests were evacuated and the place was cleaned up by the little blue people, leaving just me and Rose. I leaned back against one of the pillars to the right of Rose while she gazed out the window at the destroyed planet. She looked really depressed, so I decided to take her mind of it a little.

"Hey Rose." She twisted her head round to look at me. "What's your friends name?"

"The Doctor." She stated.

"No I mean his actual name." She looked a bit confused.

"His name is just the Doctor."

"What sort of name is th-" No way. Couldn't be him. I stood up straight and took a step towards her. "Does he travel around in a big blue box?" SHe looked really suprised at that.

"Yeah." She turned to face me fully. "But how did you know that?" I ran my hands down my face.

"Oh shit." I heard Rose walk towards me.

"Are you alright?" I pulled my hands away from my face.

"Sorry yeah. Just stress built up over the day." I spotted the Doctor coming through the door. " I'm just gonna go for a bit of a walk." I stalked to the door, dodging the Doctor along the way. I stood outside the door, trying really hard not to listen in on their little moment. I hummed to myself, hands in my pockets and leaned against the wall, allowing my head to droop to my chest.

My head snapped up when footsteps came towards me. Rose and the Doctor walked out of the door hand in hand, stopping short when they spotted me.

"Hi." I pulled one of my hands from my pockets and gave a little wave. They both stared at me. One in puzzlement and the other in suspision. I pulled away from the wall. "Um,okay." I took a deep breath. "Look I was just wondering if you might be willing to give me a lift?" The Doctor raised his eyebrow.

"And where exactly are you wanting to go?" He asked. I thought about it. I had been meaning to go looking for Dad but I think he can wait another day. I just wanted to sleep after all this mess.

"Think you can take me to Earth?"

"Earth was just destroyed." He pointed out.

"I don't mean that Earth." I gestured to the destroyed planet. "I meant back to Earth in 2005." Rose looked at me in disbelief.

"What, you're from the past?" She was looking me up and down.

"Well, yes and no."

"But you have purple hair."

"I changed my hair at the cellular level, so it never fades." I patted my hair a bit self-consiously. "I was bored of the normal colours." I flicked my eyes in the Doctor's direction. He was staring at me so intently it felt like he was looking into my soul. I gulped audibly and turned back to Rose, a lot safer option.

"Really? How does that work?" Oh, right she's still going on about the hair.

"It's very complicated and hard to do. I can't really explain it." I looked over the Doctor's shoulder to ask him the next bit, still a bit wary of the stare. "So, can you drop me off or not? Cause if not I really have to find some way to wake Manny up and that could take days." I put my hands behind my back and flicked the infernal thing. There was a silence after my last statement, neither of them sure what I was talking about, but only lasted seconds before Rose chimed in.

"Can we give her a lift Doctor?" The Doctor shifted his focus to her.

"Do you really want to?" He asked her. She nodded. "Right. Come on then." He made a follow me gesture and took off.

I was silent the few minutes it took to find the TARDIS, but the second it came into view I was off like a shot, in the door and at the console before you could blink.

"Oh, she is beautiful." I ran my hands lightly across all the buttons and levers in reverence. I felt a small purr travel through my fingers at the compliment, causing a smile to rise to my lips. I lifted Manny up, holding my arm below my chin. "Are you happy now? After all that you put me through." His screen lit up and he gave a cheerful beep. "You know if you just asked nicely I would have brought you here, but noooo, you had to dump me in the middle of a fucking space station that almost exploded!" Manny gave an apologetic trill.

"Who are you talking to?" I spun around and faced the Doctor, and boy, did he look suspicious. Rose had wandered off somewhere, I assume to wash off some of the sweat. I know I would kill for a shower right now.

"What do you mean? I wasn't talking to anyone." I tried to act relaxed, leaning against the TARDIS, hiding my hands behind me. His expression didn't change and he stalked towards me until he was so close ours noses almost touched.

"Who are you?" I tried to lean away from him but he followed me. I was almost bent backwards 90 degrees. "And how did you get here?" There was anger flashing in his eyes.

"I'm nobody. I must have walked through a rift in time and got stranded on that space station." I slowly brought my left hand over to Manny, entering a random location and the year 2005 and locking it in, ready to activate at any time. And he actually obeyed for once, sensing the danger I could be in if the Doctor snapped.

"If you're nobody, how do you know about rifts? And you knew what my screwdriver was. And you knew I had a time machine." He grabbed my shoulders in a firm grip and leaned closer, our noses barely scraping against each other. "So I'm going to ask again. Who are you?" I stared straight into his eyes, his beautiful blue-green eyes. So full of mistrust and anger and pain. I had heard so many stories about him from Mum and Dad but none of them really explained how truly lonely he was.

I lifted my hands and cupped his face gently, trying to convey reassurance and empathy through my eyes. His eyes went wide with surprise, obviously not expecting that.

"Who are you?" he whispered. I gave him a sad smile and put a hand to Manny and pushed the activate button, leaving the Doctor confused I'm sure.

The trip back wasn't anywhere near as rough as the first one, felt like I was being buffeting by a stronge wind rather than thrown around in a cyclone. I cracked my neck and surveyed my surroundings. It looked like I had landed in London, so it was the right city at the very least.

I looked down to Manny. "When are we?" A date flashed on the screen. "February 20th, 2006. Not too bad." I looked around. "Now I just have to find out if my place is still vacant." I didn't have any money on me so I had to trudge across London in search of my flat and to make everything so much better, it started to rain half way there.

Luckily my apartment was still the way I left it, thanks to the friendship I had with the old landlady. Most of the residents were scared stiff of the old biddy, and for good reason, but once you go past all that she was really a sweetheart.

Fisrst thing I did was take a nice, long, hot shower, washing away the sweat and dirt and a little bit of Cassandra I found stuck in my bun. Freaked me out a little bit. I scrubbed myself until I was pink after that and washed my hair a good four times, every time thinking I saw another bit in the strands. After about an hour I stepped out and changed into a daggy pair of track pants and a shirt three times too big for me and put Manny back in his secure case without his wi-fi, which he chucked a hissy fit over.

Then I fell into bed, thinking of sleeping for a week. Of course I didn't make it that far and woke up the next morning and forced myself to go out and find a job, I was running low on cash. I got a job at the local supermarket, not the most glamourous job but I didn't really want a big paying job, too much hassle. And my life continued like that for a while, especially with Manny refusing to take me anywhere.

Then, of course, a spaceship crashed into Big Ben.