He couldn't wrap his head around this phenomenon. How did she get in the TARDIS? They were in orbit, how could it possibly happen? What was he missing? Women in wedding dresses do not just randomly appear on the TARDIS. He should ask who she was and how she got here. But his mind was reeling.
'What?' That was very sophisticated of him, that didn't show his brilliance, merely stupidity.
'Who are you?' She was angry, her tone was utter contempt at her situation, and she fixated her rage right on him. He took a step back and she took one forward.
'But…' She opened her mouth again and instantly he was silenced. This red head meant business, and she was intimidating. He had faced scores of aliens of all kinds and he was never truly terrified of them. But this woman, this human woman terrified him. He had forgotten how truly scary human women could be. What he didn't understand was why it continued to surprise him. Look at Rose's mother. She had slapped him. Even thinking about it brought a stinging sensation to his cheek, nine hundred years and it was a first for him.
'Where am I?' She took another step closer to him; she was making him really uneasy.
'What?' Again, this woman was taking the words right out of his mouth.
'What the hell is this place?!' She yelled at him, but he could sense her desperation that betrayed her otherwise angry exterior, she was scared and just as confused as he was.
He took a step forward, he needed to calm her down and get her side of the story. She was confused, and being in an alien ship was going to complicate the matter. He wished Rose was feeling better, she was human and she could articulate things better for the humans when he explained, rather rambled on, about certain things.
'What?' He asked stupidly. His thought process couldn't reform. So many other thoughts were going through his head. It was hard to make sense of everything that was going on.
She was staring at him, unmoving and rarely blinking. It was starting to unnerve him. He rubbed the back of his head. How to explain where she was, in a most delicate matter?
'Tell me where I am. I demand you tell me, right now, where am I?' Her voice was rising again and her cheeks were becoming red.
'Inside the TARDIS.' He replied simply, and noticed he had said it rather quietly.
'What?' He felt himself stare at her, didn't she get it? How could say it any differently? It was a pretty simple concept.
'The TARDIS.' He tried again, he kept his voice flat, and he needed to stop being intimidated by her.
'What?' Her voice was getting louder. She could wake up Rose, and he couldn't have her trying to get out of bed and wander out here. It could be dangerous for her. She needed rest.
'The TARDIS! He found himself now growing impatient with her lack of comprehension of their situation.
'The what?' She put her hands on her hips, she was always shouting. She hadn't stopped since she appeared on board.
'It's called the TARDIS!' He yelled back. He was growing so impatient. His lack of understanding of the situation was causing him to become irrational. He heard the TARDIS in his mind to quell his temper. He was getting close to the edge, driven by fear.
'That's not even a proper word. You're just saying things.' She retorted, but her voice was still loud. The TARDIS told him to quiet her down as well. She was loud and she would wake up Rose. She was doing her best to filter out the noise, but she admitted that sound did carry well.
He nodded, and mentally agreed she was right. And he touched the console, but he asked if she had any ideas as to what happened. She confessed she didn't, and he nodded again.
'Oi, what are you nodding at?'
'What? Me? Well…actually forget it. It's too complicated for you to understand.'
'Oh it's too complicated?' She rolled her eyes. 'Fine then, I'm leaving.'
He blinked, confused, and watched as she started to head for the door. But something caught her eye and she stopped. He followed her gaze and noticed that it had stopped on a jacket slung over the TARDIS. She rushed over and picked it up shaking it at him.
'How many other women have you abducted, huh? Acting all innocent, I'm not the first am I?'
He was taken back at her question. He truly didn't understand what she meant. Her accusing tone and fierce temper made him feel guilty for something that he didn't even do. Even the TARDIS was surprised; she wanted him to explain quickly, she wanted all the shouting to cease.
'That belongs to my friend. She's here, just down the hall.' He pointed over his shoulder, and the TARDIS illuminated the hall to emphasize his point.
'Why isn't she here then, huh?' She tossed the jacket back where it belonged. He looked down, unable to meet her intense gaze.
'She was hurt, so she's uh, just resting.'
'Oh that's brilliant. You kidnap women and you hurt them? You're too much, I'm getting out of here'
He started to speak but she held out her hand to silence him and he was quieted. She started down the ramp to the door, but he tried to stop her.
'Wait! Don't open that door!'
Too late, she did and all she did was stare, in complete shock and he guessed utter denial as well. He stood beside her. He was quiet for a while before he decided he should say something, anything, to break the tension.
'You're in space…outer space. And this, this is my…space ship.' His answer sounded meek. She turned to look at him.
'Who are you?' She spoke so softly he was amazed.
'I'm the Doctor. You?'
'Donna.' That seemed like a very human, Earth like name. Only one way to be sure.
'Human?'
She scoffed, offended by his innocent question. 'Yeah, is that optional?'
'Well, it is for me.' He crossed his arms over his chest defensively.
'You're an alien?' She looked up at him; she was making him uncomfortable and bit self-conscious.
'Yeah…'
All she did was nod slowly, trying to take in all the information.
'It's freezing here, with the doors open.' She took a step back and turned around while he shut the door silently. He turned around and saw her looking around. She suddenly turned around suddenly.
'This has got to be the work of Nerys, it's got Nerys written all over it!' He gaped at her; she still refused to believe what was staring her so plainly in the face. That was humans though, even when faced with the undeniable truth their fear made them deny it. Because their funny, vacant little brains couldn't handle the infinite possibilities.
'Who the hell is Nerys?'
'Your best friend!' She yelled some more. He covered his ears.
'Blimey, you can shout,' He closed his eyes. Suddenly he thought of something and opened them quickly. 'Why are you dressed like that?' He thought it was an innocent question. But that only seemed to add fuel to the fire. She placed her hands on her hips once more.
'I'm going ten pin bowling. Why do you think dumbo! I was half way up the aisle! I've waited my whole life for this! It was seconds away! And then, then you drugged me or something!'
'I haven't done anything trust me. We're mid flight. I've done nothing.' He went to the console and starting to fiddle with the buttons. He needed to think of a plan first, and then he could figure out how a human being had locked themselves onto the TARDIS and appeared.
'I don't understand it, and I understand everything!' He was walking in circles around the console looking for various instruments. Something wasn't adding up, he was going to figure it out. He stopped and pulled out a variety of medical items.
'Get me to the…' He quieted her down and he stepped in front of her examining her with the selected medical instruments.
'There is no way a human being can lock itself onto the TARDIS and transport itself inside! It must be some atomic connection, disruption? Something in the temporal field? Something pulling you into the chronon shell! Maybe something macro-binding your DNA with the interior matrix! Maybe a genetic...'
His thought process was interrupted as she slapped him, hard across the face. He stumbled back in shock and put his hand to face. He was shocked. Why did human females keep slapping him?
'What was that for?' He rubbed his cheek a bit.
'Get me to the church!' She yelled at him and her anger made him back up and hastily agree. He wanted her off the TARDIS. He started flipping switches on the console once more.
'Fine! I don't want you here anyway! Where is this church?'
'Saint Mary's. Hayden Road, Cheswick, London, England, Earth, the solar system!' She was shaking with fury. He quickly imputed the coordinates.
'Hold on!' He gripped the console and he grinned as she did the same.
She stepped out in a back street, with buildings all around. She looked around and was confused. It was a blue box? His ship was a blue box? She peered in as he stepped out. Bigger on the inside?
'I said Saint Mary's! What sort of Martian are you?' She watched as he looked at the blue box and touched the side panel carefully, quietly muttering.
'Something isn't right with her. It's almost like she's…' He dashed inside and yelled 'Recalibrating!' She just stared at him. He was back at the center console still muttering. She took this time to carefully examine the box's exterior. How in the hell was this even possible? Walking around the box several times did nothing but deepen the mystery.
'Donna!' He called her name and she peeked inside again. But quickly she went back to her investigation.
Donna was vaguely aware that he was yelling things to her. Had she done anything, anything abnormal happen to her? It was going in her ear but she wasn't retaining anything. She continued to touch the wooden box. How did this even exist? She looked inside once more as he continued to ramble on about nothing. None of it made any sense. A man with a zipper on his forehead? What did that mean? Donna finally took a step back as the realization hit her with force. He really was an alien. Her hands flew to her mouth, and that really was his space ship. She abruptly turned on her heel and left. She must have caught his eye because he made a funny sound before shouting 'no' and ran after her.
Rose woke up slowly, her head felt heavy and there was a steady throb, she was vaguely aware that there was noise, a lot of noise. Shouting, but it was hard to tell if that was real or simply her imagination. She sat up carefully, she was in her room. What happened? She remembered the Void. Images flashed across her mind. The Doctor's face was horrified as she started to fall into the Void. That's right, her hand had slipped. But she didn't fall in, however she did remember that she hit the wall, very hard. It hurt, and her vision blacked the instant her head hit the wall. However, when she woke, she saw the Doctor's concerned face. After that her memories became intermittent. She couldn't stand, he had carried her to the TARDIS and that was all she could remember.
She pushed the covers off and swung her legs over the side of her bed. Rose pressed her hand to her head, it still hurt so much. Slowly she stood up and took a deep breath. She figured that the Doctor would be able to help her get her head sorted out. She carefully stepped forward and her legs gave out, she crumpled to the ground. Again she pressed her hands to her head. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing.
Rose heard an odd hum and opened her eyes carefully, the lights flickered and she smiled.
'Don't worry, I'll be okay,' Rose stood again slowly. Carefully she made her way to the door, which was automatically opened for her. 'Thank you. I'll be fine, the Doctor will help me. Is he in the console room?'
Rose frowned; it felt like she was trying to her more. She rubbed her temples. Gingerly she made her way down the hall, mindful of her step and keeping her right hand on the wall to help with her balance.
When she entered the room, she was surprised. It was empty. Where were they? She looked over at the door, and widened her eyes, as it seemed to stretch before her eyes, getting longer. She groaned, it hurt. Maybe she wouldn't go over to the door. She turned around, where could he be? It was becoming harder for her to keep her energy. She needed to get back to her room.
'Where is he? Is he even on board?' The lights in the hall blinked twice. What did she mean no? She fell down to her knees, her vision was doubling again. The humming sound surrounded her again and she smiled. Rose put her hand to the wall and gently petted the wall.
'First days are always the hardest, I swear I'll be okay.'
Rose looked up; there was a door in front of her. This wasn't her room. She picked herself up and after a few attempts; she walked carefully into the room.
'Oh…I see what you want me to do…' Rose smiled, 'You're still just as cheeky.'
Her sights were focused on only one thing, the bed. That impossibly comfortable bed. She sat down on it and felt her energy drain away. All she wanted to do was sleep. She lay down on her back and pulled the covers up. Instantly she drifted off.
'You had the reception, without me?' He could feel her hurt in her voice. He did think it was a bit awkward. How do you have a reception without the bride?
A man in a tux with a red vest suddenly stepped forward, he assumed this was Lance.
'Donna? What happened to you?'
'You had the reception without me?' She all but yelled it. He was starting to think that she didn't like to miss anything, and she enjoyed being the center of attention. But he did feel bad for her. Her wedding was ruined and so was her reception. Everyone looked stunned and wishing this awkward moment would end.
'Hello! I'm the Doctor.' She turned to look at him; obviously his plan to end the awkwardness wasn't appreciated.
'They had the reception without me!' And Donna was making it awkward again.
'Yes, I, I noticed,' He cleared his throat
The blonde woman standing beside Lance suddenly spoke, her tone was rather cold.
'Well it was already paid for, so why not?'
'Thank you, Nerys!' Ah so that was his best friend apparently.
Another woman had apparently stepped forward talking about a message that Donna had left her. Suddenly everyone was stepping forward and getting in her face about what had happened. Everyone speaking at once, the noise and the accusations must have broken her down. Donna turned to look at him and suddenly she started to cry. He felt bad, he did, but he didn't really know how to explain it. The alien Santas that were from Christmas a year ago had returned? He didn't believe they would buy that. Or that one had abducted Donna and he had to chase her down the motorway? Highly doubt they would believe that, if they did things may get violent.
Lance suddenly stepped forward and hugged her, and then everyone has started to applaud. Donna turned to face him and gave him a quick wink. He smiled, she was crafty. He liked her.
He had hung back as they had restarted the reception again. He wanted to go check on Rose. He'd already been away from her for too long. But he knew the TARDIS would keep her safe until he returned. The mystery surrounding Donna was eating away at him.
H.C Clemens. Interesting name. He slipped on his glasses and borrowed a mobile phone. Then he turned his back careful to ensure no one was watching, he pulled out the sonic screwdriver. He soniced the device quickly and watched as information was rapidly downloaded onto the phone. More information passed by on the screen before it settled on one word. Torchwood. Instantly he was angry. Why were they always involved? He thought back to Canary Warf, humans always poking at things when they should be left alone. He almost lost Rose because of this; he desperately wanted to go see her. But before he could form another thought he noticed a bloke with a camera filming.
He was lucky, he had filmed everything, there was Donna, and suddenly she disappeared in a yellow glow. It couldn't be. They had destroyed them, so very long ago. How were they still around?
'Huon particles haven't existed for billion of years. That's impossible, it's ancient…'
It suddenly hit him. He looked over at Donna, who was happily dancing with Lance. He looked at the ring; it can't be hid by bio damp! He dashed out and looked outside, those Santas had already found him. This was not good.
'Donna!' He ran back to her and she looked at him with confusion. 'They've found you, you aren't safe. We need to get everyone out!'
'But you said I was safe,' She had fear in her voice now.
'The bio damp doesn't work, we need to get everyone out.'
He ran for a back door he saw with Donna following him, but there were two Sanatas. Damn. He went to another door by a set up table, but they both stopped. Two more. One of the pulled out a gold coloured controller. What was that going to do…oh no.
'Christmas trees…'
'What about them?'
'They kill!' He ran over to the rest of the partygoers 'Get away from the trees!'
Donna started shouting at the rest of the guests as he tried to figure out a plan on how to stop the inevitable. He started helping Donna round up a few stragglers when the woman who spoke to Donna about the mobile message came forward.
'The man's an idiot. What harm is a Christmas Tre…oh'
He turned to look and see Christmas ornaments that had suddenly come to life and were…dancing? Everyone was mesmerized. This was not good, those Christmas ornaments almost certainly had another purpose.
Without warning, they started exploding. Then everyone started running, sheer panic gripped the wedding guests, as they were unsure of what to do. So they ran, screamed and panicked. He rolled his eyes. So typical of humans.
He narrowly missed getting hit by an ornament that exploded and set him across the floor near the sound table. He looked at Donna who was scared. He had to save her. Then it hit him. Oh, he was so brilliant! He looked over the table and stood slowly. There they were. Perfect, all together. This was going to be easy.
'Oi! Santa! Word of advice! If you're attacking a man with a sonic screwdriver, don't let him near the sound system.'
He inserted the sonic device into an outlet meant for the speakers and turned it on to full blast. It made a high pitched sonic squeal and everything started to vibrate, guests covered their ears and the Santas began to shake. Their masks fell off to reveal an android like creature and mechanisms started to fall off of them. A little more power and they were on the ground, motionless.
He raced over to them and began to examine them, he heard Donna over his shoulder and he picked up the golden controller. Next, the head. There was always more to it. It's never simple.
'What are they?'
'Look a remote control for the decorations!' He gestured to the controller, getting more excited. 'But there's a second remote control for the robots.' He turned the head over in his hands trying to think. He was trying to drown out her babbling. Didn't she see? Didn't she get it? Bigger picture, she was always missing it, he placed the head to his ear.
'Its still got a signal!' He announced happily and he took off running.
Donna joined him outside as he was trying to sonic the robo-form's head. Someone was controlling them. Donna had asked why it was her, what had she done and why was she so special. He suddenly looked at his sonic screwdriver, he understood.
'Oh, it's up there,' He pointed the sonic at the sky. 'Yup, there it is.' He announced.
He looked at Donna who was trying to understand what was going on. She was suddenly joined by Lance.
'We need to get to your workplace. I'm fairly certain; actually I am certain, that it originated from there. Lance! Lance, was it? I need a lift.'
When they arrived, all he wanted to do was get to a computer. This entire company was a front.
'It was purchased twenty three years ago by Torchwood.' The name tasted like ash in his mouth.
'Who are they?'
'They were responsible for the battle at Canary Warf.' That brought back terrible images, Rose falling, Rose hitting the wall, Rose's blood. He shook his head. Donna didn't know what he was talking about, Spain? Spain was affected too. Oh Donna, bigger picture. She kept on missing it.
'Someone came, came and started doing some extra work.' He was frustrated by the computer he was using so he jumped to another one.
'But what do they want with me?' She was pleading for answers. Well, she wasn't going to like it.
'You've some how been doused with Huon energy. And that's a very big problem. Because that type of energy hasn't existed since the Dark Times. The only place you could even find a remnant of a Huon particle is in the heart of the TARDIS.'
He stared at her vacant look, so he tried another approach and grabbed a mug and a pencil. And tried to explain it that way.
'I'm a pencil in a mug?'
'Yes you are. 4H, sums you up perfectly!'
He was going over building plans when he noticed something odd. Lance was trying to explain that he didn't know anything, but he was only vaguely listening. There was another floor. He started running towards the lift. It wasn't marked. How weird. He wasn't listening to anything they were saying. He was trying to think of a plan. And about Rose. He'd been away for so long now. He was trying to get the knot out of his stomach that had been forming over the past while. Thinking about the robo-forms wasn't the only thing on his mind. Ever since he almost lost Rose to the Void something had happened to him. Something had altered his feelings about her. Something about their relationship had changed.
'You mean this building has a secret floor?'
He snapped out of his thoughts. These feelings for Rose were not going to work themselves out and they were making him feel uncomfortable.
'No, I'm showing you it has a secret floor.'
'But it needs a key!' Donna said
'I don't,' he replied simply and soniced the button. He heard the ting and just smiled. He thanked them for their help, but he was good. He didn't need anyone else getting hurt on his account. But Donna wasn't having any of it. She called him Martian…again? And because he had saved her life, she was sticking with him. So she joined him and forced Lance as well. He found this amusing. Their marriage would be fun.
Eerie green light poured into the lift and there were long corridors on either side. The mystery deepened.
He'd never ridden a segway before, weird. They weren't what he was expecting. Oh well, at least he tried it. But Donna laughed and laughed. It was the first time she seemed a bit at ease, and it made him laugh too.
He spotted the door he was looking for and hopped off. When he opened it he noticed a ladder and started to climb up it, when thought of something. He turned to Donna and Lance and told them both not to wander away, hopefully, unlike Rose, they would listen. There he was thinking about Rose again, what had gotten into him?
When he finally reached the top he was surprised to see the Thames. That meant that the Thames were directly beneath him. Oh, that was interesting…
Donna seemed to think it was impossible, but well, here it was. He went onward to explore this place when he stumbled upon a lab. Now this was the interesting part. He liked labs. And this one was once in a lifetime.
'What does it do?'
'Brilliant, so brilliant. They've been manufacturing Huon particles. My people got rid of them, bit unstable they are. And they've been using the river to manufacture them.'
He wandered to another device and picked up a cylinder. Donna followed him, obviously confused.
'Liquid Huon particles…' He tilted the cylinder and they started to glow.
'That's what's inside me?' She made a sound of surprise as she, too, started to glow. He started to explain how that was possible when it hit him. How could he be so stupid, oh this was brilliant, and he was so, so brilliant!
'Ahh! The wedding! That's right, you're getting married! That's it! Best day of your life, walking down the aisle... Oh, you're body's a battleground, there's a chemical war inside! Adrenaline, acetocholine, Wham go the endorphins! You're cooking! Yeah! You're like a walking oven, a press cooker, a microwave, all churning away; the buttons reach boiling point and Shazzam!...'
Donna slapped him again and he stumbled back. Why did this keep happening? Twice in one day, by the same woman. This is what happened when he didn't have Rose around to give him her little looks. Or call his name and mouth the word rude at him. He was rubbish without her.
'Are you enjoying this?' He almost answered yes, than remembered that might not be a good idea. She might do worse to him the next time. Better not risk it.
Donna asked a very vaild question. Was she safe? Should he lie, or tell the truth? He went with the best answer.
'Yes,' He nodded his head. He should lie, that's the best. Humans liked that, didn't they?
But it was her look telling him that she didn't believe him. He was lying through his teeth.
'If your lot got rid of them, why did they do that?' She countered and crossed her arms.
He couldn't deny it. She knew he was lying and he looked away as he replied to her answer. 'Because they were deadly,' Her look pained him. 'I will fix it, I swear. Whatever's been done to you, I'll reverse it. I nearly lost someone today, I won't experience that again.'
A voiced appeared out of the air and he started looking around trying to pinpoint it. Suddenly the wall in front them began to lift up. The voice continued as the wall was lifted higher and in the middle of the new room was a huge circle. Above, on ledges, stood more of the robo-forms. All pointing guns at them. He hated guns. He took a step in and looked at the circle, it went all the way down, further than his eyes could see. What were they looking for?
'Well, someone's been digging. How far down does it go?' He asked as he stared into the darkness.
'Down and down,' the voice taunted. 'To the center of the earth.'
Oh Donna, she just wasn't helping with her explanations. But that was okay, because that voice was starting to annoy him.
'Only a madman talks to thin air. And trust me, you don't want to make me mad. Where are you?'
'High in the sky! Floating so high on Christmas night.'
'I didn't come all this way to talk on the intercom! Come on! Let's have a look at you!'
Oh the voice didn't like that, demanding who was he, he who had such power. His revelation of his name didn't do much, not as much as he hoped it would have. But nonetheless, it did made the voice become real. And when it did appear, it was impossible. How did they survive?
'You're a Racnoss…' Even saying it made him feel weird. How did this make sense, there were not any left? That was the Empress of the Racnoss, so where were the others? She complimented his mind, as she should because it was a very sharp mind.
He looked at Donna who seemed, expressionless. He quickly told her that the Racnoss came from the Dark Times. Merciless they were, devouring plants. They were omnivores, carnivores. Capable of utter destruction. Donna was horrified, even as the Empress simply stated that Racnoss were born starving. And then he was able to solve one mystery. The mystery involving H.C Clemens.
It seems that she had survived the war, gone into hiding until now. Donna was all of a sudden fired up. Then he saw why. He didn't think it would work, but he gave him a shot. He really liked Donna now, she was so feisty, commanded attention from others. How many humans could say that?
Lance stopped in his tracks, stupid humans, letting their fear control them. But then he laughed, and the Empress laughed. That wasn't good…
He didn't move, just simply stared. It was Donna he was more worried about. She didn't understand any of it. He turned into her and apologized.
But she didn't comprehend the situation. He listened as that sad excuse for a human berated her. But she wasn't hearing it. She was too busy with trying to figure out why Lance had done this to her. And he looked down to the floor for a brief moment, unable to look at Donna whose heartbreak was so clearly painted across her face.
Lance explained that it was his job to douse her with the liquid Huon particles and he had done so by making her coffee, everyday, for six months. The Doctor looked at Donna as she started to tear up, she honestly loved that man. And he simply used her, because he didn't want her to run off. And then he started on a tangent, calling out all of Donna's faults. He felt terrible for her. Especially after she told Lance she loved him. All he did was say that's what made it easy. That despicable man. Toying with the greatest emotion any species can experience. Love.
Unable to take anymore for Lance, the Doctor tried to shift the subject again so Donna would not be the center of attention anymore.
Great, now everyone thinks he's from Mars, not that there was anything wrong with that. It was just that Donna needed to listen just a bit more when he was speaking.
'What's down here?' He asked and pointed to the circle.
The Empress and Lance laughed at the thought, assuming they would answer his questions. Instead she told the gunners to take aim.
The Doctor tried to explain why that wouldn't work, but she didn't listen. All she told him was they weren't going to hit Donna. No, of course they wouldn't, she was still too valuable to them. Well, he'd change that.
It took a long time, but he was finally to shut the Empress and Lance up long enough to explain that by reversing the Huon particles activated in Donna, then his ship would come to him. Oh, he was so brilliant.
Right, they had to go back in time to find out what they were digging for, since they weren't going to be of any help. Why did they always have to choose the hard way?
The TARDIS materialised around them and he heard the shots from the gunners bounce of his ship as he input the coordinates, all the way back in time before the Earth's creation. The Doctor looked up, someone was being awfully quiet.
He looked over at her, she was so quiet, and she was crying. Truly, he felt so sorry for what she had just been through. She was a good person and she didn't deserve that.
He stole a quick glance down the hall. Rose. Was she okay? The TARDIS told him quickly that she was okay, nothing much had changed. But told him to hurry up, she would need him when she woke up. He smiled when she told him that she was, as far as a ship went, terrible company. Rose always smiled at the TARDIS because she felt like she was having a one sided conversation with his ship.
Donna had sat in the chair, and he quietly peek over to see her, he was such rubbish at dealing with crying females, so he completely avoided the question as to why they were upset. It was better to leave it.
'We've arrived. Want to see?'
'I suppose.' But she made no effort to get up. He played with the scanner and shrugged, heading down the ramp to the door.
'Your way is better, come on.'
Quietly she got up to follow him, muttering about how she wanted her bed. Humans not as resilient as they said they were. Then he remembered why she wasn't, and was quiet. Good time not to be rude. Rose would have been a great source of comfort to Donna. She was going to be mad she missed this adventure.
'Donna Noble, welcome to the creation of the Earth.' He opened the doors and her jaw dropped at the infinite beauty around them.
They had gone back 4.6 billion years, he explained that it was all gases and rocks, but soon that would change, soon the Earth would be created.
She was saddened again by Lance's comment about how insignificant they were, just a speck of dirt in the grand plan.
'But that's what the human race does Donna,' He nudged her back. 'You make sense out of chaos.' He smiled to show he was sincere, but she only offered a halfhearted one. He rambled on a bit more before she finally spoke.
'I came out of all this?'
'Brilliant, isn't it?' That's the human race, they were so fascinating. But something was coming out of the dust in space. A ship. It was the Racnoss, it seemed that this would be the answer they were looking for.
They became the first rock; they were the center of the Earth, that's what the Empress was digging for. They could be in a bit of trouble then. As if on cue, the TARDIS began to rock violently and he shut the doors. This wasn't good. The Empress cut another key, particles fighting particles. They were being pulled back.
Donna was yelling at him to do something, anything to stop this madness. But nothing could be done. But then he had it. The Extrapolator! Ha! He was having a really good day. Well, now he was…
Rose opened her eyes slowly; there was an awful lot of shaking going on. What was the Doctor doing? Or was she still imagining it? She went to sit up but heard the TARDIS around her, humming. She dimmed the lights further and Rose felt another migraine coming on.
She hoped that these would stop soon, they hurt so much. She carefully laid down again and it wasn't long before she was asleep.
They were in the corridors of the building again, not far, but far enough. So he started running, saving the Earth was becoming his full time job. He stopped in front of a door and started examining it. Donna caught up with him and was still full of questions.
'But I still don't understand, I'm full of particles, but what for?'
'There was a Racnoss web at the center of the Earth, but my people unraveled their power source. Because Huon particles ceased to exist and the Racnoss were stuck, so they just stayed in hibernation for billions of years, frozen, dead, caput! So you're the new key, brand new particles, living particles, and they need you to open it. And you have never been so quiet!' So he turned around, because it unnerved him. But Donna was gone.
The Doctor just made an odd noise to vent his frustrations as he looked right and left but saw no sign of Donna. He soniced the door and opened only to find a robo-form. This would do indeed. Quietly he disabled the robo-form with his sonic and slipped on the disguise, now he had to find Donna. All while hatching a plan quickly, putting it into place and smiling at his own genius.
Carefully he moved up the stairs, trying his best to remain out of sight. Then it made sense, those were her children, more Racnoss waiting to be freed. They would be hungry; this planet would be perfect in the sense that it had more than enough people for them to devour. Not if he had anything to say about it.
'None shall stop me, so you might as well take off the disguise my clever little doctor man.'
Ah, he'd been discovered, she was pretty smart. He saw Donna up in the web and went to his pocket to retrieve the sonic screwdriver. That'd set her free.
'I've got you Donna!'
'I'm gonna fall!' she cried as the web began to loosen.
'No you're not! You're gonna swing, I've got you!'
The web was freed and she hung on for dear life, as she slowly got closer. But he miscalculated and ended up a whole level beneath him. She fell and he heard a pipe as it clattered to the ground. He peered over the edge and she was laying on her back staring up at him.
'Oh! Sorry…'
'Thanks for nothing!'
The Empressed laughed, she actually found him amusing. Well it was time to end this. He would do what he did best. Save the Earth.
'Empress of the Racnoss, I give you one last chance. I can find you a planet; I can find you and your children a place in the universe to coexist. Take that offer and end this now.' There would be no second chances, without knowing it, the rage was building silently.
'These men are so funny!'
'What's your answer?' He didn't like her attitude. And he already knew her choice. It was going to be the last mistake she ever made.
She scoffed at his question. 'I'm afraid I will have to decline.'
It suddenly poured out of him, the stress from earlier in the day, almost losing Rose, his emotions that he hadn't dealt with, meeting Donna, the mystery of her, the Racnoss and what she was unleashing. It broke him down in end, and all he could see were storm clouds.
'Then what happens next is your own doing.'
'I'll show you what happens next!' She taunted and turned to the gunners. 'At arms! Take aim!
'Relax.' He smiled; the gunners were disabled and became useless. Donna looked around confused.
'What did you do?'
'Guess what I've got Donna! Pockets!' He pulled out the gold controller and waved it a bit.
'How did that fit in there?' She was surprised.
'They're bigger on the inside!'
'Robo-forms are not necessary. My children may feast on Martian flesh.'
'Oh, but I'm not from Mars.' Not that there was anything wrong with that. He gripped the railing tight in his fists.
'Then, where?'
'My home planet is far away and long since gone. But its name lives on. Gallifrey,' He said the last word proudly. The anger still poured out of him. 'I warned you. You did this.' He held out the Christmas ornaments and flung them into the air.
The Doctor pushed a button on the controller, activated them and they exploded, right where he directed them. He was going to flood this place; the Thames was going to be helpful after all. He ignored the Empresses screams, how she watched on as the water continued to drive itself down the drilling hole, without mercy. Drowning the Racnoss children, killing every last one. And he just watched. Emotionless. This was her punishment for not taking his offer.
Donna watched horrified as the Empress screamed, how the Doctor was so different now, not caring that he was committing murder.
'Doctor! You can stop now!' Donna called up to him, horrified at his sudden indifference.
He looked down at her, her voice, it pleaded with him to stop. He did, because she asked. Just as Rose would have, she too, pulled him back from the edge. It took him a minuet to realise what he had just done. And what he had done as the Oncoming Storm. There was such ferocity in his actions. That sometimes, they scared him too.
'Donna!' He called her and she came running up the stairs, he moving things out of their way.
'Transport me!' The Doctor looked over his shoulder as the Empress narrowly escaped the fires and was back on the safety of her ship.
'What about the Empress?' Donna asked as they were climbing the ladder out from beneath the Thames.
'She's used up all the Huon particles, she's defenseless!'
Just as he opened the hatch, he saw the Empress's ship being obliterated by the tanks. She brought this on herself.
And oops, he had drained the Thames…
She stepped out of the TARDIS rather quietly. Just as she had been on the trip over. He assumed she was just processing everything. One final scan of the Sonic Screwdriver cleared her. There were no Huon particles left.
She hated Christmas, he remembered. But who could hate it if it snowed? He watched her smile and he was brought back to the Christmas last year. As Rose clung to his arm, watching the Sycorax ship ash fall to the sky. Mm, not so romantic. But he still remembered her smile up until he told her what the 'snow' was. So close, he could go and check on her.
But he invited Donna to come with him, he liked her. He thought Rose would as well. But she declined. She wanted to see more of Earth, not the universe. His way of life was too dangerous, she saw that today. And it wasn't for her. Because it was dangerous, she told him. He had stood there, while those creatures were dying. Doing nothing. And it frightened her. Because in that short instant, he had become a stranger to her. Someone so vastly different than who she had first met. And he looked down, embarrassed. Being the Oncoming Storm alienated him from people whom he had grown fond of.
She admitted she was scared of him. He didn't like humans being scared of him. He felt really awkward then, but Donna played it off and invited him to dinner.
He couldn't. He had to go and check on Rose. She nodded, slowly and smiled a bit. He shut the door and she called out for him again. She was so loud.
'Promise me, Doctor, that you will hold on to your friend. And don't you ever lose her, or drive her away.'
'I will, I promise. But why do think I need to hold on to her?'
'Because I think you need someone to stop you. You can be dangerous, especially if you're left on your own.'
'Yeah,' He nodded, she was right. He shut the door again and started to depart when she called his name again.
'Blimey, what is it now?'
'Your friend, what's her name?'
Suddenly, once again, the emotions of potentially losing Rose hit him hard. 'Her name is Rose.' His voice shook.
'You hold on to her. Your Rose.'
'I will.' He nodded and he shut the door. He went to the console and just had her take off before he let the TARDIS just orbit once again.
He was heading down the hall to find her and check on her quietly. He approached her room, but it was empty. His eyes widened, and he felt a bit of fear. What if she had gotten up and collapsed somewhere, and she hit her head.
'You told me she was safe! Why did you lie to me?!'
The TARDIS impatiently told him she was safe and to look behind him. He did and he saw his door there. That wasn't there a moment ago, so he opened it and went in. He breathed a massive sigh of relief as he saw Rose asleep in his bed. He shut the door as he went in and took off his jacket. He quietly draped it around a chair by his desk. He took off his shoes and finally the dress shirt. The white shirt underneath was still a bit damp.
'Doctor?'
He spun around quickly to see Rose sitting up in bed. She looked much better, still a bit pale. He rushed over and sat on the bed. He cupped her face and she smiled as his thumb brushed over her cheek.
'Worried you a bit, did I?'
'A bit? Try a lot.'
'I'm sorry, I am.'
He kissed her head, overjoyed that she was here with him now.
'You're wet! Did you go for a swim?'
'Something like that…'
'Sounds like story. You have an adventure without me, Doctor?' She gave him one of her brilliant smiles.
'Unintentional, I promise,' He smiled as she motioned him to sit in the bed with her. She rubbed her head. 'Are you all right?'
'Hurts sometimes, just a dull ache, sometimes a migraine.'
'It'll pass, eventually,' He looked at her and felt so guilty. He felt her press her forehead against his own and enjoyed how close her face was.
'Please don't feel guilty, it happened. We need to move on, yeah?'
He didn't move, but closed his eyes and sigh. 'You're right…'
She pulled away first and she pointed to a spot beside her on the bed. He obliged and got comfortable again. She positioned herself against his side and he let his arm fall around her. She pulled herself in closer. Everything, at this moment was right. So right.
'Now, about that adventure you had without me…'
'You'll never believe it! A woman appeared! Out of no where, on the TARDIS! And, oh Rose, she was so very mad!'
Hi everyone!
I hope you like my rendition of The Runaway Bride. I tried to keep it similar, with my little changes. I hope you enjoy Rose in it. I figured she'd need a bit of rest. I hope I've gotten the characters right at the end.
Please review if you think changes should be made or helpful criticisms.
Thank you for reading!
