I own everything that has ever existed. Bow before me, peasants. ALL SHALL LOVE ME AND DESPAIR
.
"You know, this is quite depressing".
The two humans looked at him questioningly but he didn't notice. "Ah, it's hopeless, hopeless. You know there is no way out of this". He rested a hand on the machine and leaned forward slightly, eyes never leaving the screen. "Trust me, I know, I've studied, I've tried this. Against such an enemy there is no victory."
"Doctor-"
"I know. That is not really the point, is it? The Earth is doomed" he said gravelly. "And you know it. And you have to defend it because someone has to and nobody else will. And you fight, brave to the last, humanity's best, last defenses falling apart around you."
"Well-"
"And you might hold them back for a while", he interrupted. "For a long time maybe. Hundreds upon hundreds will fall at your hand, nameless, faceless, and you have to do it, you have to keep your finger on that trigger and not question, not wonder where that alien came from. Oh, he surely had a name, a family maybe. And was he really evil? What lies and threats might have led him here, so far away from his home? Would he not rather have stayed there in peace?"
"Look, I just-"
"Of course, you do not have the luxury of doubt or mercy. Because you know that every second might be your last, that cruel white the last thing you see. And you know that it will be in the end, that you are only delaying the inevitable. They will just keep coming, more and more, faster and faster and then you will die and along with you mankind's last hope".
"Doctor, there really is no need-"
"But come on, you are smarter than that. Deep down, you know: there never was any hope. And you ought to be commended. Because you won't be able to do that forever and you still try, try against impossible odds, you brave, indomitable human being, magnificent to the very end. Oh, there's a certain poetic beauty about this, 'guarding Thermopylae' and all that…"
"Doctor-"
"Ah, it's the way of the world, I suppose…Everything has to end sometime" he sighed. "'He who is brave is finally destroyed, to be no more than dust before the wind', like the poet says."
"Doctor!" His companion had finally lost all patience.
"What?"
"It is designed this way!"
"That doesn't make it unworthy of our admiration and sympathy!" he declared. "We too fight against the unyielding hands of Fate, against a cold and uncaring universe, to hold back the darkness if only for a day longer! We should acknowledge this doomed, desperate struggle, it is the least we can do!" he said patting the young human's shoulder sympathetically.
"Good God, it's only a game!"
"I know!"
"GA-ME!"
"So what?"
"You are not-you are not supposed to think about all this, you just enjoy yourself!"
"Not supposed to think?!" he repeated, aghast, indignation emanating from him like he had just been called a Dalek. "What do you take me for?!"
"Ah, you are hopeless! We are not coming to Arcade Corner ever again, come on!"
And the Doctor managed one last look at the valiant but very confused boy who was playing Space Invaders, before getting dragged away from the bright-colored machine by his exasperated companion.
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Me? Doing humour? Never say never, my friends.
This is purposefully vague, I didn't write it with any particular Doctor and companion in mind, that's why I put 1 and 13 as the selected characters, it could be any of them. Although I suppose you could rule some of them out, 3 and 9 for instance, are not prone to that much lyrical rambling.
Reviews are appreciated!