1x02 "The End of the World"

I ran to the TARDIS console, smiling at the Doctor. The Doctor returned my smile, "Right then, Faline Marks - you tell me, where do you want to go? Backwards or forwards in time. What's it going to be?"

I paused thinking, remembering where and when the Doctor chooses to go to, and then said, "Forwards."

The Doctor pressed a few buttons on the TARDIS. "How far?" he asked as I walked over to the pilot seat and sat down, taking off my jacket.

I looked up slightly, pretending to think and then picked a random but even number, "One hundred years."

The Doctor pulled a lever and turned a knob. The engines lurched and then stopped after a few seconds. He nodded outside, "There you go, step outside those doors, it's the twenty-second century."

I shrugged with a smirk, "Sounds a bit boring, how about going further?"

The Doctor returned my smirk and started up the engines again. When they stopped, he looked at me. "Ten thousand years in the future. Step outside, it's the year 12005, the New Roman Empire."

I smirked and teasingly said, "You and your wonderful TARDIS think you're so impressive."

The Doctor looked shocked and said, "We ARE so impressive!"

"You wish!" I laughed.

The Doctor smirked, "Right then, you asked for it. I know exactly where to go." He revved up the engine, and pumped a lever furiously. "Hold on!" The TARDIS hurtled through the time vortex. With a pinging noise, the TARDIS stopped.

I jumped off the seat and rushed to the doors. I threw them open without saying a word to the Doctor and without him having a chance to speak. I found myself in some kind of wooden room. The Doctor followed me out and with his sonic screwdriver; the Doctor opened the shutters of an enormous window. We went down the stairs and find ourselves looking down on the planet Earth.

"You lot," the Doctor spoke. "You spend all your time thinking about dying. Like you're going to get killed by eggs or beef or global warming or asteroids. But you never take time to imagine the impossible. Maybe you survive. This is the year 5.5/apple/26. Five billion years in your future. This is the day... hold on..." I wasn't listening as much as he thought I was, not that I saw, I was too busy watching the burning sun. It always amazed me how much power could be put into something and how beautiful it looked. I could only hope that when I 'died' I went out with as much beauty as a sun. "This is the day the sun expands. Welcome to-"

I interrupted him, "Earth's End." The Doctor frowned slightly at me and I shrugged, "You took Rose here. I guess me coming with you has changed something, but you still brought me here so it cant have changed too much." I smiled, "This is amazing. I'm sure not many companions say this to you, but 'Thank you Doctor'."

-x-x-x-

A computerized voice loudly announced, "Shuttles 5 and 6 now docking. Guests are reminded that platform 1 forbids the use of weapons, teleportation and religion. Earth Death is scheduled for 15:39, followed by drinks in the Manchester Suite."

The Doctor and I were walking down a corridor when the voice spoke over the intercom. We had left the room quiet some time ago, to my upset. I wanted to just keep watching the sun, but then that was because I knew what was going to happen. I didn't want to change history, just me being here has already messed it up. I looked to the Doctor, "So, 'guests' as in other aliens, correct?"

"Yep," the Doctor said.

"And they're here too…" I let my sentence trail so the Doctor could fill it in.

The Doctor opened a door with his sonic screwdriver saying, "It's not really a spaceship. More like an observation deck. The great and the good are gathering to watch the planet burn."

"For fun?" I frowned as the Doctor nodded. "That sucks. But you come for the history right?" The Doctor smiled. "The sun expanding takes hundreds of years, right?"

"Millions," The Doctor corrected me. "But the planet's now property of the National Trust. They've been keeping it preserved. See down there?" He pointed out of the window at tiny glints of light orbiting the Earth. "Gravity satellite. That's holding back the sun."

I peered out of the window at Earth. "The planet looks the same as ever. I thought the continents shifted and things."

"They did, and the trust shifted them back. That's a classic Earth. But now the money's run out, nature takes over!"

"How long has it got?" I asked.

The Doctor looked at his watch, "About half an hour. And the planet gets roasted."

I frowned at him, "It's a little creepy how giddy you just sounded." I paused. "And everyone on Earth is gone correct?"

The Doctor nodded saying, "It's empty! They're all gone. All left." I continued to look at the window with a small frown. "What?" the Doctor asked.

I shrugged, "I suppose I just realized how small and insignificant I really am compared to the Earth dying, compared to everyone coming here."

"You aren't insignificant Faline," he told me. I smiled at the Doctor.

The Steward hurried towards us breaking our little 'moment'. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

"Oh! That's nice, thanks," the Doctor said sarcastically.

"But how did you get in? This is a maximum hospitality zone. The guests have disembarked! They're on their way any second now!" The Steward said.

"That's me, I'm a guest, look! I've got an invitation!" He flashed the small leather wallet containing his psychic paper at the Steward. "Look, there you see? It's fine, see? The Doctor, plus one. I'm the Doctor," He motioned to me, "And this is Faline Marks. She's my plus one. That all right?"

"Well... obviously," the Steward said. The Doctor grinned. "Apologies, et cetera. If you're on-board, we'd better start. Enjoy." The Doctor nodded at him and pocketed the paper, seeing as I already knew what it was and that I couldn't see it. The steward now spoke through a microphone at the other end of the suite. "We have in attendance, the Doctor and Faline Marks. Thank you! All staff to their positions." He clapped his hands and a lot of little blue people, or rather the staff, started scurrying around. "Hurry now! Thank you, as quick as we can! Come along, come along! And now, might I introduce the next honored guest, representing the forest of Cheem, we have Trees. Namely, Jabe, Lute and Coffa." Jabe, Lute and Coffa walk through the doors as they opened for them. "There will be an exchange of gifts representing peace. If you can keep the room circulating, thank-you. Next, from the solicitors Jolco and Jolco, the Moxx of Balhoon." The Doctor smiled cheerily, as I just watched, amazed. Seeing all this on the television was one thing, but it real life it truly was amazing. "And next, from Financial Family Seven, we have the Adherents of the Repeated Mean." The Doctor chuckled at the look on my face. "The inventors of hyposlip travel systems, the brothers Hop Pyleen. Thank you!" Enter new aliens. "Cal 'Spark Plug'." Enter new aliens. "Mr. and Mrs. Pakoo." Enter new aliens. "The Ambassadors from the City State of Binding Light."

Jabe approached the Doctor. Either side of her, her companions are holding plant trays with little shoots in them. "The Gift of Peace." She took a cutting, handed it to the Doctor. "I bring you a cutting of my Grandfather."

"Thank you!" He transferred the cutting into my hands, oh great I get to be the caddy girl. "Yes, gifts... erm..." He cleared his throat and started feeling his jacket for something, finding nothing, he says- "I give you in return, air from my lungs." He blew gently onto Jabe's face, who closed her eyes briefly.

"How... intimate," Jabe said softly.

The Doctor returned flirtatiously, "There's more where that came from."

Jabe countered with, "I bet there is..."

I smiled weakly at Jabe, she truly was beautiful. Maybe, just maybe I could save her. Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes at the thought. That would be wonderful to have a purpose, to save Jabe even if I had to go in her place.

"Sponsor of the main event, please welcome the Face of Bo," the steward said. I straightened up at the name and smiled brightly. A huge head in an equally huge jar is wheeled through the doors. JACK! I practically bounced in my spot. I had to talk to him, I had to give his glass a hug, kiss, something. He may be known as the Face of Bo now but no matter what he was still Jack. My smile melted slightly, Jack is still alive. What happens to ensure he's still alive if Rose isn't here now?

The Moxx of Balhoon approached the Doctor and I. "The Moxx of Balhoon," the Doctor greeted.

"My felicitations on this historical happenstance. I give you the gift of bodily saliva," He spit at me, but I turned my head slightly causing the spit to hit my cheek rather than my eye like it was suppose to.

The Doctor laughed, "Thank you very much." I rubbed the spit off my cheek. Next, the Adherents of the Repeated Mean approach us. "Ah! The Adherents of the Repeated Mean. I bring you air from my lungs." He breathed heavily over them all.

One of the Adherents spoke, "A gift of peace in all good faith." He held out a large silver egg, which the Doctor took, threw up into the air, catches, and handed to me. I frowned looking at the gift and at them. Oh god, this was terrifying to hold something I knew to be so dangerous.

"And last but not least," the steward spoke, "Our very special guest. Ladies and Gentlemen, and Trees and Multiforms. Consider the Earth below. In memory of this dying world, we call forth The Last Human." The Doctor looked at me to see my reaction. The sliding doors open and what looks like a vertical trampoline made of human skin is wheeled through. It had eyes and a mouth, and wore lipstick. "The Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta Seventeen."

Cassandra spoke saying, "Oh, now, don't stare. I know, I know it's shocking, isn't it? I've had my chin completely taken away and look at the difference! Look how thin I am." The Doctor laughed silently but heartily and looked at me, smiling as he saw my frown. "Thin and dainty! I don't look a day over two thousand. Moisturize me, moisturize me." One of the two men in white body suits who wheeled her in was holding a canister, which he sprayed onto Cassandra. "Truly, I am The Last Human." I crept closer for a better look. "My father was a Texan. My mother was from the Arctic Desert. They were born on the Earth and were the last to be buried in the soil." I walked around to the other side of Cassandra, to get a good view of her from all angels. She was completely flat. Cassandra continued, "I have come to honor them and..." she sniffled "...say goodbye. Oh, no tears." A bodyguard wiped her eyes. "No tears. I'm sorry. But behold! I bring gifts. From Earth itself - the last remaining ostrich egg." One of the staff came in and displayed the egg to the room. "Legend says it had a wingspan of 50 feet and blew fire from its nostrils." I rolled my eyes. "Or was that my third husband?" The Doctor laughed. I sighed heavily looking away from the flattened human, Cassandra wasn't classified as a human she was, to quote Rose, 'A Bitchy Trampoline'. "Who knows! Oh don't laugh. I'll get laughter lines!" She laughed and mumbled to herself for a few seconds. Behind her, a large jukebox was wheeled into the room. "And here, another rarity. According to the archives, this was called an iPod. It stores classical music from humanity's greatest composers. Play on!" Cassandra cried.

One of the staff presses a button and a record falls into place. The 'iPod' starts playing Tainted Love by Soft Cell. I'm slightly surprised that I remembered that after I looked it up when I didn't recognize the song after I had watched the show. The Doctor bopped around appreciatively.

The steward spoke out to them all, "Refreshments will now be served. Earth Death in 30 minutes."

I rolled my eyes after seeing the Doctor and walked to the Face of Bo with a smile. "Hello," I spoke to him.

The Face chuckled inside my head, well that answers the question on how in the hell he was going to answer me. "It seams that the Doctor's companion has come to see me." I tilted my head. "Hello Faline, how have you been since I last saw you?"

I shook my head, "I don't know. I haven't seen you yet, either way it would be a spoiler." The Face chuckled. "So you know who I am, clearly you know that I know who you are."

He smiled, "That I do." He then gave a small frown, "Promise me something."

I tilted my head, "What?"

The Face of Bo nodded towards the Doctor, "Take care of him Faline. You told me how he acted when Rose left, don't leave him like she would have."

I smiled, "I don't plan to and I'd like to think that when the time come's I'd know what to do."

Bo's face bobbed as he chuckled, "Yes you would."

"Faline," the Doctor called making me turn to him as he came towards us. "There you are, I wondered where you went." he then smiled to Bo. "Hello there." He looked between the two of us, "You know who he is?"

I smiled, "Of course, he's the Face of Bo. Someone as important as him can't be forgotten." The Doctor nodded slightly. "Can we go back to the observation room?" I asked.

The Doctor nodded and pulled me along back to the observation room, but Jabe stopped us. "Doctor?" She snapped a photo of us when we paused. "Thank you." The Doctor and I proceeded on. Hmm, I wonder what her little device would say about me. We walked to the viewing deck and I immediately rushed down the steps and sat on them, looking at the Earth.

The Doctor sat beside me, "What do you think, then?"

I smiled, "It's wonderful. I mean, I know that around you nothing can stay as perfect as it is now, but being here is like nothing that I've ever even dreamt of." We were quiet for a long moment before I asked, "Would it be rude of me to ask something about your home?"

The Doctor was quiet a long moment before saying, "It depends what you ask."

"I just want to know where your planet came into existence in regards to the Earth, like a generalized direction."

"Why would you want to know that?" he asked.

I shrugged looking at him, "It's another world, and I think that talking about something helps." I laughed slightly, "Listen to me, talking about something helps. How can I say that when I haven't even said anything about what happened to my family yet?"

The Doctor paused and pointed just past the sun, "It was that way. Far, far away."

I smiled, "And I'm sure that it was more beautiful than any other planet you've been to." He turned to me with a slight frown. "It doesn't matter if you've been to a planet called 'Beautiful Planet' just for it's beauty. Your home will always be beautiful to you." I immediately went into another topic, "So the TARDIS gets into my head and translates speech and writing right?"

"Yeah," the Doctor agreed.

"Could I ever turn it off?" I asked. "Just to hear what the language they speak sounds like. I mean, I've seen you talk to those rhino looking aliens from the Shadow Proclamation and not speak English. So is it possible?"

The Doctor shook his head, "No. I have no control over that, the TARDIS does. I doubt that it's going to just turn on and off."

I nodded, "Okay. Another question, are you speaking English or another language?"

The Doctor laughed, "English."

A computerized voice then spoke, "Earth Death in 20 minutes. Earth Death in 20 minutes."

After a few moments, I pulled my phone out. "I remember this bit from when I watched the show," I handed the Doctor my phone, "Fix it?"

"Tell you what..." He took the phone from me. "With a little bit of jiggery pokery..." He took the back off the phone.

I smirked, "Is that a technical term, 'jiggery pokery'?"

The Doctor smirked, "Yeah, I came first in jiggery pokery. What about you?"

"Nah, failed hullabaloo," I said.

"Oooh," the Doctor fit in a new battery and handed the phone back to me. "There you go."

I took it with a smile. "Good, later I'll program the TARDIS phone number in here. And then later we can get you a cell phone to fit into your jacket pockets that are bigger on the inside."

"What would I need a phone for?" he asked.

I smiled, "You never know Doctor. For all I know your going to loose me on some big adventure. If that happens I want to be able to call you and yell at you."

The Doctor chuckled as the ship shuddered. The Doctor and I looked rather pleased and curious. "That's not supposed to happen..." The Doctor grabbed my hand, pulling me along the hallway into the main room they had been in before. The guests were completely oblivious to the commotion, chatting to each other.

The Moxx of Balhoon was talking to the Face of Bo, saying, "...this is the Bad Wolf scenario..." while the Doctor and I entered. I was the only one to hear what the Moxx of Balhoon had said. How is 'Bad Wolf' going to come into play? No Faline! Mind on the situation at hand!

"That wasn't a gravity pocket. I know gravity pockets and they don't feel like that," The Doctor fiddled with the control panel next to the door. Jabe approached us. "What do you think, Jabe?" he asked her. "Listened to the engines - they pitched up about 30 hertz, is that dodgy or what?"

Jabe said, "It's the sound of metal, it doesn't make any sense to me."

"Where's the engine room?" he asked.

"I don't know..." Jabe said. "But there's a maintenance duct just behind my suite. I could show you. And..." she gestured me. "...your wife."

The Doctor looked at me and said, "She's not my wife."

"Partner?"

"No."

"Concubine?"

"Nope."

Jabe looked at me more closely. "Prostitute..."

I glared at her, "Alight fine whatever. You two just leave. It's not like one can be any of those things when they've never been in a relationship before." The Doctor looked a little reluctant to leave me alone, "Don't worry. I'm going to go insult Cassandra and then spend some nice time with the Face of Bo. You two go and have fun with your little adventure."

"Don't start a fight," he told me.

I laughed, "Doctor you have no idea."

The Doctor watched me for half a second before offering an arm to Jabe, "I'm all yours."

"Now don't do anything I wouldn't do Doctor!" I yelled to him. He turned and grinned at me.

The computerized voice called out, "Earth Death in 15 minutes. Earth Death in 15 minutes."

I turned and began to walk to Cassandra, who was away from her minions. She was looking out the window. As I approached she began to talk like I wanted to actually hear what she had to say, "Soon, the sun will blossom into a red giant, and my home will die. That's where I used to live, when I was a little boy. Down there. Mummy and Daddy had a little house built into the side of the Los Angeles Crevice." She sighed. "I had such fun." I was silent and she continued, "They say Mankind has touched every star in the sky," at that I instinctively looked out at the stars in the sky.

"So, you're NOT the last human." I said, not that she could be considered human.

"I am the last PURE human. The others... mingled." A disgusted look crossed her face. "Oh, they call themselves 'New Humans' and 'Proto-humans' and 'Digi-humans' even 'Human-ish' but you know what I call them?" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Mongrels."

I rolled my eyes, "Right, and you stayed behind."

"I kept myself pure," Cassandra said like she was happy with herself, like it was something that made her special.

I then asked the question that had been on, more than likely, everyone's mind, "How many operations have you had?"

Cassandra seamed proud as she said, "708. Next week, its 709, I'm having my blood bleached. Is that why you wanted a word? You could be flatter, my dear. You've got a little bit of a chin poking out."

"I'd rather die," I said.

Cassandra tried to convince her, "Honestly, it doesn't hurt—"

"No, I mean it. I'd rather die. I'm happy with how I look for once in my life; I am not turning myself into something that probably can't even feel. You, Cassandra, are nothing more than a 'bitchy trampoline'." I moved to stand in front of her. "And I hope you remember that."

"Oh well. What do you know."

"I was born on that planet. And so was my mum, and so was my dad and that makes me officially the last human being in this room, 'cause you're not human. You've had it all nipped and tucked and flattened till there's nothing left. Anything human has been thrown away. You're just skin, Cassandra. Lipstick and skin. Nice chat." I walked off. I planned to make my way to see the Face of Bo. The Adherents of the Repeated Mean were coming from the other end of the hall. I smiled at them, but the front one struck me across the head knocking me unconscious.

-x-x-x-

I groaned in pain as I slowly began to wake up, Britney Spears' 'Toxic' blasting though the speakers. God, why couldn't Cassandra play something better than this crap? I find it odd that I hate her earlier songs but I don't mind the ones she sang after going ape shit. I opened my blue eyes to see I was back in the observation room. "Well shit," I muttered to myself. I pulled my weak body into a stand. My attention turned to the door as I tried to open it. I did anything I could think of, walking back and forth, trying to pry it open, I even used voice commands.

The computerized voice began to speak the words I was dreading. "Sunfilter descending. Sunfilter descending." I spun around to see the very tip of the glass shine with light as the Sunfilter descends.

I turned back to the door and began slamming my hands against it, "Let me out!"

"Sunfilter descending," the voice chanted.

"Let me out! Let me out!" I screamed hoping that someone would hear me and be able to get me out.

I heard the Doctor's voice through the door as he asked, "Anyone in there?"

"Doctor!" I yelled.

I could practically hear the Doctor roll his eyes as he said, "Oh, well, it would be you."

"Complain later!" I growled. "Just open the damn door! Please Doctor!"

"Hold on! Give us two ticks!"

My eyes traveled around the whole room. Everywhere the light touched it burned.

The computerized voice continued to say, "Sunfilter descending. Sunfilter descending," before switching over to saying, "Sunfilter rising. Sunfilter rising," as it did just that. I sighed in relief, but that relief was short lived as the computerized voice switched over again. "Sunfilter rising... Sunfilter descending."

"This is just what we need," I could barely hear the Doctor. "The computer's getting clever."

I slammed my hand against the door. "Doctor, please! Open the door!"

"Hang on!" he told me. The light was slowly moving down the wall, getting too close for comfort. I rushed down the stairs and flattened myself against the floor. The only thing I could think of to protect myself.

"Sunfilter descending. Sunfilter descending." The computerized voice said before suddenly changing to, "Sunfilter rising. Sunfilter rising."

"Faline!" the Doctor's voice called as the doors opened. I lay still looking at the floor. "Faline, are you alright?"

I sat up, pushing my hair out of my face. "The door opened," I whispered.

"What?" he asked.

"The door opened, why did it open?" I looked him in the eye saying, "The lock melted." Turning I looked past Jabe and at the doors. "So why'd it op-" I quickly turned to Jabe and jumped up. "I know why." I turned to the Doctor and said, "We have to get to the main room. Call everyone there, workers, guests. Everyone."

"Faline," the Doctor said. "Calm down."

I smiled at him, "Can't stop because of little hiccups Doctor. If we did that then we would have died in London."

The Doctor smiled at me, "Brilliant you are."

I returned his smile with one of my own as the computerized voice called, "Earth Death in 5 minutes."

-x-x-x-

Jabe stood looking down at the same hand held computer she used to scan us, "The metal machine confirms. The spider devices have infiltrated the whole of platform one."

Cassandra's eyes widened. "How's that possible? Our private rooms are protected by a code wall. Moisturize me, moisturize me." Her minions sprayed her down. I rolled my eyes from my place beside the Face of Bo. When I had entered her practically commanded me to come stand beside him. I wasn't going to turn him down. The Doctor took the destabilized spider out of Jabe's hand.

"Summon the Steward!" the Moxx of Balhoon said.

Jabe frowned saying, "I'm afraid the Steward is dead."

There was a general gasp in shock. Immediately the Moxx of Balhoon asked, "Who killed him?"

Cassandra then began to speak, "This whole event was sponsored by the Face of Bo! He invited us!" I stood protectively in front of the Face of Bo as he shook his head. There was no way that she was going to be aloud to do anything involving him, not if I had a say in it. "Talk to the face! Talk to the face!"

"Easy way of finding out," the Doctor said. "Someone bought a little pet on board." He showed us the all the reactivated spider. "Let's send him back to Master." He placed the spider down on the floor. The spider scuttled along to Cassandra and looked up at her. Cassandra looked shifty for a moment, but the spider moved on to the feet of the Adherents of the Repeated Mean.

"The Adherents of the Repeated Mean. J'accuse!" Cassandra said.

I rolled my eyes, "Shut up."

The Doctor looked at me for a moment before saying, "That's all very well, and really kind of obvious, but if you stop and think about it..." The Doctor walked towards the Adherents of the Repeated Mean. One of them tried to strike him, but the Doctor caught its arm and ripped it off. "A Repeated Mean is just an idea. And that's all they are. An idea." He ripped a wire out of the arm and all of the Adherents of the Repeated Mean crumbled into a bundle of black cloaks. Everyone gasped. Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Remote controlled Droids. Nice little cover for the real troublemaker. Go on, Jimbo!" He nudged the spider with his foot. "Go home!" The spider ambled back over to Cassandra.

Cassandra glared and said, "I bet you were the school swot and never got kissed." The Face of Bo chuckled behind me and I nudged his casing with my foot as the Doctor raised his eyebrows. "At arms!" Cassandra growled. The two bodyguards with canisters on either side of her rose their canisters.

The Doctor mockingly asked, "What are you going to do, moisturize me?"

"With acid. Oh, too late anyway. My spiders have control of the mainframe. Oh, you all carried them as gifts, tax free, past every code wall. I'm not just as pretty face."

"Sabotaging a ship while you're still inside it? How stupid's that?"

If she still had shoulders I'm sure Cassandra would have shrugged. "I'd hoped to manufacture a hostage situation with myself as one of the victims. The compensation would have been enormous."

The Doctor gave a slight glare as he said, "Five billion years and it still comes down to money."

"Do you think it's cheap, looking like this? Flatness costs a fortune. I am The Last Human, Doctor. Me. Not that freaky little kid of yours." My glare darkened.

"Arrest her!" the Moxx of Balhoun cried.

Cassandra glared at him, "Oh, shut it, pixie. I've still got my final option."

The computerized voice cut through her speech, "Earth Death in 3 minutes."

Cassandra smiled, "And here it comes. You're just as useful dead, all of you. I have shares in your rival companies and they'll triple in price as soon as you're dead. My spiders are primed and ready to destroy the safety systems. How did that old Earth song go? "Burn, baby, burn.""

"Then you'll burn with us," Jabe said.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I know the use of teleportation is strictly forbidden, but... I'm such a naughty thing. Spiders - activate." There were a series of explosions around the ship and my body shook. The Face of Bo made a soft shhing noise and I turned to give him a smile in thanks for comforting me. "Force fields gone with the planet about to explode. At least it'll be quick. Just like my fifth husband." She giggled. "Oh, shame on me. Buh-bye, darlings! Buh-bye, my darlings..." She and her bodyguards teleported out.

The computerized voice called, "Heat levels rising."

"Reset the computer!" the Moxx of Balhoun cried.

Jabe slightly shook her head, "Only the Steward would know how."

"No," the Doctor said. "We can do it by hand. There must be a system restore switch. Jabe, come on."

"Faline," the Face of Bo said causing me to turn to him. "Why do you think you're here?"

The Doctor and Jabe made to leave the room when I called out to them after thinking about what the Face of Bo said for a spilt second, "No."

"Faline," the Doctor said turning to me. "Now isn't the-"

"But it is Doctor," I told him as I ran over. I then spoke to him in a low voice. "The computer said that heat levels were rising, in here. Imagine how it would be for Jabe if you went down there with her. She's basically made of wood, isn't she?" The Doctor looked back at Jabe my eyes too went to her. "Please Doctor. I'd like to believe that this is why the door opened after the lock melted. Maybe this is why I'm here. I know about fixed points Doctor. I also know that this isn't one of them."

The Doctor was silent a moment before turning to Jabe and saying, "Change of plans. You stay here and Faline will come with me."

Jabe frowned, "Why?"

I quickly answered, "I can see the future. It doesn't involve you being down there. Just stay here Jabe, please."

Jabe looked at me for a long moment before nodding. "Alright," she said. "Be safe."

The Doctor took my hand and began to pull me through the halls to get to the maintenance corridors. As we ran the computerized voice continued to give us warnings, "Earth Death in 2 minutes. Earth Death in 2 minutes." Not too long after we also heard, "Heat levels - critical. Heat levels - critical."

The Doctor pulled me into the ventilation chamber. "Oh." The Doctor said. "And guess where the switch is." Large fans separated us from our goal, the large switch that would save all of our lives.

"Heat levels - rising. Heat levels – rising," the computer cried. I could tell they were thank you very much. It was getting harder and harder for me to breath. Heat was never something I could take well. The Doctor pulled down the lever to our right and the fans slowed down. "External temperature - 5 thousand degrees." As soon as the Doctor let go of the lever, the fans started to speed up again.

I smiled at the Doctor and nudged him aside, ignoring the burning metal as I pushed the handle down. The fans slowed down. "Go Doctor," I told him. "Save us all." He grinned at me, I could practically see in his eyes why I didn't want Jabe to be down here. Why it killed me in the first place that she was down here with the Doctor.

"Heat levels - rising. Heat levels – rising," the computerized voice called. The Doctor rushed forward to the first fan. "Heat levels - hazardous. Heat levels – hazardous." The Doctor dodged the first fan and ran underneath it. He looked anxiously up at the next one. I looked worriedly between the Doctor and my burning hands. It stung to keep my hands on the bar, but I knew that I couldn't even move my hands or else the lever would move and the Doctor would be killed. I looked up and met eyes with the Doctor. I gave him a, what I believed to be, reassuring smile. "Heat levels - critical. Heat levels - critical." The Doctor dodged under the second fan. The Doctor made it to the third fan before I realized my hands began to slip slightly. I looked down only to see my hands literally burning, and I've been burnt before. Its not the best experience to go through, especially on something as delicate as hands. I looked at the Doctor. Please hurry. "Planet explodes in 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4..." The Doctor stepped calmly through the last fan. He then made a mad dash to the switch, pulling it down.

"Raise shields!" the Doctor yelled. Clearly we didn't die, so the Doctor began to make his way back. I was able to let go of the lever when he reached our side. He smiled at me. "Brilliant Faline."

I gave a slight smile, trying to ignore the pain in my hands. When I pried them away from the metal, skin began to peal off in layers. "Ya Doctor," I said and I pulled my hands to my chest.

The Doctor looked at my hands and frowned, seeing the brightened pink appendages covered in blisters and torn skin. "Your hands…"

"Ya," I nodded. "You have something on the TARDIS to help after we deal with everyone upstairs right? Please say you do because my hands kill right now."

The Doctor took my wrist rather than my hand and pulled me back upstairs to the observation gallery. All the aliens are sitting around, wounded or dead. Instantly my eyes searched the room for Jabe and I saw her with her companions, the wooden alien trying to rehydrate. I glanced at the Doctor's sturn face when he let go of my wrist. "You all right?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm full of ideas, I'm bristling with them. Idea number one - teleportation through five thousand degrees needs some kind of feed. Idea number two - this feed must be hidden nearby." The Doctor strode over to the ostrich egg, broke it open and the teleportation feed fell out. He picked it up. "Idea number three - if you're as clever as me, then a teleportation feed can be reversed." He twisted the feed.

Cassandra appeared before them, apparently in the middle of gloating. "Ah, you should have seen their little alien faces." She noticed her new surroundings. "Oh."

"The Last Human," the Doctor said.

A flustered Cassandra spoke, "So. You passed my little test. Bravo. This makes you eligible to join the er... the human club."

I glared at the human, "People have died, Cassandra. You murdered them."

"That depends on your definition of 'people'. And that's enough of a technicality to keep your lawyers dizzy for centuries." Cassandra said. "Take me to court then, Doctor! And watch me smile, and cry, and flutter..."

"And creak?" the Doctor asked pointing out the noise that Cassandra had yet to realize.

Cassandra sounded surprised as she asked, "And what?"

"Creak! You're creaking."

Cassandra's skin was tightening. Her eyes were becoming bloodshot and she was getting whiter and whiter.

Cassandra panicked, "What? Ah! Ah! I'm drying out! Oh, sweet heavens! Moisturize me! Moisturize me! Where are my surgeons? My lovely boys! It's too hot!" She began to get covered in red blotches similar to my hands.

"You raised the temperature," the Doctor pointed out.

Cassandra cried out in a terrified, pathetic voice, "Have pity! Moisturize me! Oh, Doctor!"

The Doctor's didn't turn away as he said, "Everything has its time and everything dies." I however couldn't watch Cassandra die, no matter how coldhearted she was. I turned away, pressing my face into the Doctor's arm with my fingers, being only pink and slightly painful, wrapping around his own.

Cassandra cried out as she shriveled up, "I'm... too... young!" She exploded. The Doctor looked completely cold and not remotely fazed. He left the room pulling me with him.

The Doctor finally stopped in one of the abandoned corridors. He held my hands up and flipped them over, palm side facing upwards. I watched as he pulled out the sonic screwdriver and began to scan my hands. The dull green light actually felt soothing on my hands, like he was rubbing cold aloe on mild sunburn. I smiled at the Doctor, "Thank you," I told him. "And I'm sorry that I practically used you as a shield against Cassandra's death. I just couldn't watch even though I knew it was coming."

The Doctor nodded, "It's fine Faline. There's nothing to be sorry about, and seeing as it was partially my fault for your hands there is nothing to be thankful for. I'm fixing my mistake."

I smiled and joked, "The Doctor doesn't make mistakes." My expression turned serious, "And my hands burning was my own fault. Don't worry about it."

I smiled and then nodded back the way they came, "Come on. I want to see how the Face of Bo is doing before he leaves."

The Doctor rolled his eyes as they walked back down the hall, with me following. "I don't see what he's so important for."

I laughed and said, "When you know who the Face of Bo is, and then you'll understand my need to know how he's doing."

I was able to catch up with the Face of Bo on his way out, the Doctor stayed back so our conversation could be private. "Hey," I said catching his attention. "How are you doing?"

He gave me a small smile, "I could be better." He paused seeing my burnt hands. "Come closer." I did as he asked. "Show me your hands." I went up to his encasement and showed him my hands. "What happened?"

"It's an occupational hazard when traveling with the Doctor," I said. "Every companion ends up hurt. But it's worth it compared to all the good you can do for the little sacrifices."

The Face of Bo smiled with a slight nod, "You never change."

I laughed, "Is that good or bad?" The Face of Bo chuckled. I glanced back to the Doctor only to see him nod his head towards where the TARDIS resided. "I have to go now," I told him. "But until next time okay?"

He gave a chuckle, "Of course." His attendants led him out and I retuned to the Doctor.

The Doctor led me to the TARDIS and brought me inside. "Sit," he told me as he went around the console looking for something. I sat down in the pilot seat and waited for him. The Doctor returned with a vile of green liquid. "This will heal the burns you have until its nothing more than a mild sunburn." He poured it on my hands and brought my hands together, making me rub the green liquid all over my hands. The green turned clear and then completely disappeared into my skin. I watched, as the pink turned to a lighter shade and the skin stich together again.

"Thank you Doctor," I said.

The Doctor smiled at me a moment, "There's somewhere I want to take you."

I nodded, "Sure thing."

The TARDIS rattled and shook as it traveled through time and space. Finally it stopped and I stepped out of the TARDIS looking at all the crowds and seeing them in a new light.

A Big Issue Seller called out, "Big issue!"

"You think it'll last forever," the Doctor told me. "People, and cars and concrete. But it won't. One day, it's all gone. Even the sky." The two of us looked at the sky. After a moment the Doctor continued, "Our planet's gone." I turned to look at him. This is the first time he's mentioned his home to me, even though I knew I let him continue. I held his hand as he continued, "It's dead. It burned like the Earth. It's just rocks and dust. Before it's time. There was a war." He paused. "I'm a Time Lord. I'm the last of the Time Lords. They're all gone. I'm the only survivor." He paused again. "I'm left travelling on my own because there's no one else."

"There's me..." I told him with a smile

"You've seen how dangerous it is. Do you want to go home?" he asked.

I looked at them for a few seconds. "I don't know. I want..." I sniffed the air. "Oh! Can you smell French fries? No. Chips?"

He laughed, "Yeah. Yeah!" the Doctor said.

"I want chips," I stated.

The Doctor smiled, "Me too."

I smiled, "Right then, before you get me back in that box, chips it is, and you can pay."

"No money." The Doctor said.

I laughed, "What sort of date are you? Come on then, chips are on me." He smiled at me, delighted. "We've only got five billion years before the stores close..."

We walked down the street together laughing, the Doctor and I holding hands.

END