Surprisingly there was no resistance as the surface of the apparent rock shimmered away upon making contact with the stick; however when he tried to remove the stick once more he found it stuck fast within the meteorites surface as it became solid once more. Raising an eyebrow in surprise he turned to Rose, leaving the stick embedded. He stepped back offering her the opportunity to take a closer look. Smiling she brushed a stray hair from her face and cautiously reached out to touch it. Upon her touch the meteorite shimmered once more and the stick slid further inside, when she tried to remove it however she met the same fate as the Doctor finding it encased in the false rock.
'Okay...' she backed up puzzled. 'What is it? Some kind of shield?'
'Bit of a rubbish shield.' The Doctor said doubtfully. 'Could be some kind of defense mechanism, absorbing anything that attacks it?' He sat down on a rock running his hand through his messy brown hair thoughtfully. Rose perched next to him, letting him think, appreciating the warmth of the sun as it dried her soaking wet clothes. Comfortingly she took hold of his hand. The Doctor smiled turning to her once more.
'Want to help me test a theory?' he asked suddenly. The question was rhetorical though because he knew as always what her answer would be. 'I need a bigger stick!' he grinned.
After several minute scrambling around the shoreline the Doctor heard a call from Rose who stood triumphant with the large branch of an oak. The Doctor bounded over to her a big grin plastered on his face.
'Brilliant!' he gave her a warm hug. 'Right then.'
'Sorry, what is this for?' Rose looked up from his embrace with a questioning but fond stare. He grinned and let her go, picking up the branch and stabbing it into the meteorite impostor. It went all the way through and burst out the other side and for a minute that was it. The Doctor turned to Rose with a shrug but then there was a burst, a bright shining light. The Doctor grabbed hold of Rose's hand dragging her away from the explosion and diving to the ground. The light explosion soon faded but that was all it was. Picking himself up he apologized to Rose and helped her up.
'Sorry, I thought it was going to be bigger than that.' Rose laughed brushing down her damp clothes as best she could but the sand stuck fast and she soon gave up. Looking to the Doctor she saw he was staring at something it was then she noticed their observer. He wore a suit much like the Doctor in fact he came closer it was almost identical. He wasn't overly tall and other than wearing the Doctor's suit he looked quite normal. Beaming at them he came over thanking them repeatedly. The Doctor raised an eyebrow in confusion. This is certainly not what he was expecting.
Rose however was trying not to laugh. It wasn't often the Doctor was wrong but she found it difficult to believe that the man standing before them was any kind ancient dangerous being but then again there was normally a seed of truth to all legends so she watched him carefully whilst also making sure to keep an eye on the Doctor's reactions too.
'Thank you for letting me out.' The man said again.
'Who are you?' The Doctor asked.
'Oh sorry how rude of me, let me introduce myself, hang on you must be freezing.' The man said noticing their dirty soggy clothes. With a spiral flourish he raised his hand and in a flash of light Rose and the Doctor found themselves standing in the warm TARDIS interior with the strange man still with them. 'I'm Q.'
The Doctor brushed aside his surprise and protectively put himself in front of Rose who stood with her mouth wide open finding it difficult to believe that they were actually in the TARDIS. She hadn't even taken in the fact that she was now clean and dry.
'Sorry I wanted to find a place you would be comfortable.' Q apologized to the startled Rose.
'Q why are you here.' The Doctor asked abruptly. Rose looked to the Doctor and he gave her a look as if to say, I'll explain later. 'I've heard of your kind messing with time and causing havoc, no regard of consequence.' He said sternly. Q thought for a moment.
'The Doctor, correct?' To which the Doctor nodded tightly. 'I think you have made us out to be worse than we are.' he said, though he didn't seem to care. 'No matter.' he continued. 'That is not why am here, I am here to say goodbye. So when someone asks you about me, and they will, would you tell them I said, you know I've had three hundred years to think of appropriate last words, I wanted something memorable, you know, quotable.' he said distracted. 'Anyway would you tell them I said, I die not for myself but for you.' He looked at them proudly. 'I know, I know enigmatic, provocative... well this is it, the end of me!' He made the same flourishing gesture as before and in a flash of light the Doctor vanished.
Author's Note: I couldn't resist the crossover if you don't watch Voyager it's fine I'll explain stuff in the story as it goes, if you do then you'll understand that I couldn't not! :D
Hope you like it! :D
