The Doctor's POV
The Doctor didn't know what to make of Sage Tran. She was a puzzle to him.
While he was unconscious, she had rambled on about anything and everything to him. It was nice listening to someone and not have to worry about anything.
For a while, he could just listen to Sage and pretend that Gallifrey wasn't gone. Pretend that his people didn't burn. Pretend that it wasn't his fault.
But then he woke up and she wasn't there, Gallifrey was still gone and his mind was so, so empty.
So he ran again, away from that terrible reality and found Sage in the kitchen, humming and in her own little world.
Sage looked so peaceful there and right, like that was where she belonged.
He had surprised her and he was surprised by the genuine smile that emerged from his lips at her reaction and responses.
Being around Sage was easy and it felt like she was meant to be with him. But the Doctor was broken and she didn't deserve to be burned by him, like Gallifrey had.
Then his loss of control, he refused to call it a panic attack, happened and she didn't look at him with pity or scared eyes. She knew what to do, helped him and gave him that soft smile and understanding look.
It terrified him that this small, young woman could understand him so well after only knowing each other for a few days.
He was going to drop her off right away after she woke up. Let her go back to those domestics with a boyfriend and a pet, back to her little, human life.
And then the new adventure came passing by and he jumped onto it, intent on taking care of it before dropping Sage off.
The TARDIS disagreed with him and reluctantly he asked her to go with him.
He had found her hunched over the sink, and he was hesitant to say anything, but he did.
Her first instinct was to hide behind a mask and the Doctor almost keeled over at the fact that this brilliant, fantastic young woman was so much like him.
It was an eerie feeling, finding an almost kindred spirit, especially in a human. The Doctor didn't know how to feel about that, especially with the TARDIS's hint of her being important in his personal future.
So he ran, away from his future, away from the loss of his planet, away from the unbearable emptiness in his mind, and far, far away from the woman with her bright, twinkling eyes and soft, understanding smile.
Sage's POV
Sage woke up, groaning and blinked in surprise when she woke up well rested.
"Well isn't that a Christmas miracle?" she murmured.
Sage rolled out of bed and grabbed her glasses. She took a quick shower before changing into her casual clothes of a pullover hoodie, jeans and chucks.
Grabbing a poptart for breakfast, because she was an adult dammit, she walked into the console room.
Sage saw the Doctor puttering around, not even noticing her. Sage plopped down onto the jump seat, waiting for the Doctor to notice her.
Several moments later the Doctor started in surprise at the sight of her. "Sage? I thought you left."
Sage raised an eyebrow, "Surprise, I stayed. Question is though where's Rose? You seemed pretty chummy with her, didn't you invite her?"
Sage hoped the bitterness and jealousy wasn't present in her tone. The Doctor didn't seem to notice as he sighed and hunched down.
"I did ask, but she said no." Sage didn't wilt at the Doctor's dejected tone, no, the Doctor forgetting about her didn't remind her of her family at all.
"Well were you nice when asking? Sometimes your tone can be a bit, well, rude. Ask again sometime and maybe she'll come running to you." Sage proposed, hiding her insecurities with a wide grin.
"I don't ask twice," the Doctor replied curtly.
"Well maybe you should this time, you seemed a bit hung up on her last time," she said, muttering the last part.
"Time, time… Time!" the Doctor exclaimed. "I didn't mention that it could travel through time!"
He started hopping around the console, happily muttering to himself. Sage smiled fondly as he did so, tilting her head.
She bit her lip, should she bring up the ignoring part? If she didn't she'll just go crazy with questions and maybe depressed, her anxiety might come into factor too.
If she did, she'll open a whole can of worms that might make things worse. If she didn't, it'll make the whole experience torture being put onto the sidelines again.
"Doctor-" she started, but the Doctor zipped to the door, opening it and sticking his head out.
Well, there goes her chance. She already used up all her courage for the next month and resigned herself to being put aside like always.
Sage sighed and put up her best mask and smiled. Rose came running in all smiles and settled by the console.
The Doctor smiled at Rose, heading back to the controls, "Right then, Rose Tyler, you tell me, where do you want to go? Backwards or forwards in time. What's it going to be?"
"Forwards." Rose said after a moment's deliberation. The Doctor pressed a few buttons, accepting her decision.
"How far?"
Rose floundered for a number before saying, "One hundred years."
The Doctor pulled a lever and turned a knob. The engines lurched and then stopped.
"There you go, step outside those doors, it's the twenty-second century." He said happily.
"You're kidding," Rose said, eyes wide in disbelief.
Sage smiled gently, she could see why the Doctor was so enamored with her. Her wide eyes and innocent air, the hint of spunk in her actions.
However being any sort of LGBT was looked down upon, Sage was forced to hide that part of herself and Sage hated all the discrimination in the world. Guys and girls were both hot, everyone was hot, why was loving both so wrong?
"That's a bit boring though, do you want to go further?" The Doctor continued, unaware of Sage's musings.
"Fine by me!" Sage tuned back into the other's conversation, pushing her thoughts away.
The Doctor started up the engines again. When they stopped, he looked at her.
"Ten thousand years in the future. Step outside, it's the year 12005, the New Roman Empire."
"I'd've thought Rome would've stayed dead," Sage said under her breath.
"You think you're so impressive," Rose said over her, teasingly.
The Doctor made an offended noise, "I am so impressive!"
"You wish!" Sage tried not to gag at the blatant flirting. After this, she was going home. She refused to be the third wheel in this story. Sage was a queen and deserved the universe. At least that was what she repeated to herself, desperately trying to believe her own words.
"Right then, you asked for it. I know exactly where to go." The Doctor revved up the engine, pumping a lever furiously.
"Hold on!" Sage automatically clung onto the railing as their ride jolted.
The TARDIS hurtled through the time vortex. With a pinging noise, the TARDIS stopped.
Sage frowned. Where was the wheezing? The TARDIS hummed innocently and Sage's eyes narrowed.
"Where are we?" Rose asked.
The Doctor gestured toward the doors, and Rose smiled excitedly.
"What's out there?" The Doctor gestured again. Sage couldn't help but roll her eyes, did he have to be so dramatic? Rose stepped outside the doors and the Doctor followed.
Sage made her way to follow the two, but the TARDIS stopped her.
"What do you need, dearest?" The TARDIS hummed an apology and an explanation.
"Don't apologize for your thief, it's his fault, not yours. Besides I'm used to this," she reassured.
The TARDIS hummed indignantly, protesting the Doctor's treatment of her.
"Dearest, it's alright. The Doctor has a thing for Rose, I'm not gonna get in the way of that. If they want to be together or whatever, I'll let them. Besides I'll be going home to my boring old life soon, and the Doctor'll forget all about me."
The TARDIS protested loudly at this. Sage sighed, "Dearest, you know he's enamored with Rose. It's likely he already forgot all about me. When I walk out right now, he won't be there because he's busy impressing Rose."
The TARDIS gave a defeated hum and Sage knew she was right. The twinge in her heart grew at the familiar abandonment.
"I'll be fine, dearest," Sage reassured.
The TARDIS grumbled in disagreement and Sage smiled at her fierce protectiveness.
"You can't just kidnap me," Sage said, amused.
The TARDIS whined like a petulant child.
Sage laughed, "Tell you what, you get me home on time, same day as when you found me, and I'll come when the Doctor next arrives at the end of the school year. Deal?"
"No sooner, I can't leave my kids." Sage said sternly. The TARDIS agreed reluctantly.
"Great!" Sage said brightly, "I'm gonna go catch up with those lovebirds now. Who knows what trouble they're in?"
The TARDIS stopped her again, "Oh c'mon what now?"
"What'd you mean I have to change? What's wrong with my jeans and hoodie?" she cried.
The TARDIS tutted, "Are you fucking- Fine, I'll humour you, but no bloody dresses and heels. I've had enough of those when I was younger."
An excited hum and Sage sighed in acceptance, walking back to her room and discarded the poptart wrapper along the way.
A few minutes later, Sage was dressed in a plaid light-blue skirt, TARDIS blue long sleeve shirt and a forest green jacket. Her beanie was gone and her ponytail was traded for a neat and simple updo.
She still kept her Converse though, something she had to fight the TARDIS for.
"I look ridiculous," Sage stated, pushing her glasses up by the bridge, "Can I go now?"
The TARDIS waved her off with a hum and she gladly stepped out of the TARDIS. She was near a door and walked close to it.
"Now if I was a wandering Time Lord, where would I be?" Sage wondered aloud.
"In the thick of all the trouble of course!"
"Who the hell are you?" Sage spun around. A blue man in robes hurried over her.
Hiding her panic with a blasé mask, Sage raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me, I don't appreciate your tone," she said, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Important as you seem to be, you must still treat others with respect," she said primly.
The man floundered, "Well this is a maximum hospitality zone! And you're not on the guest list, so how did you sneak on?"
"Did you check the list before you've accused me? Or even asked my name so that you could make sure that I was a stowaway? Or is it policy to accuse people willy-nilly?" Sage asked.
The man was saved from answering by a deep, telepathic chuckle, "Oh, your majesty. Still as silver tongued as I remember."
"You and I both know that I'd never lose my silver tongue, old friend," she said, playing along.
Sage turned around and was greeted by a huge head in a huge jar. She was dwarfed and astonished at the size, but she easily hid her surprise.
"Of course, why ever would I think otherwise? Steward, welcome her royal majesty Queen Sage of Sáng Tạo, and my plus one." Sage's lip twitched at the correct pronunciation of creation in Vietnamese, but otherwise stayed passive.
"Ah right yes of course," the steward tried to save face. "Enjoy your stay here, your majesty. I won't accuse you of anything again."
"Make sure you don't," Sage said graciously.
The steward scurried away and Sage walked toward the face, "Do I know you?"
"Not yet in your present time, Queenie. Though it has been far too long since I've seen you so young," the face replied.
Sage nodded in understanding, "Time travel, makes meetings all skewed. I get it. Though mind telling me your name? Can't just call you big, old face, can I?"
"No I suppose not. Here they call me the Face of Boe."
Sage raised an eyebrow, "And what do they call you at home?"
Boe's large eyes held a sparkle of amusement, "Spoilers, shall we say. Come walk with me towards observation deck, we shall talk along the way."
The two went towards the deck, Sage immediately began pestering him with questions, "When do I meet you? Before or after you were a giant head? How did I meet you? Was it with the Doctor? How much can you tell me? And what's your real name?"
Boe chuckled, "Soon, before, an adventure, yes, not much, and spoilers. Still curious as ever."
"The day I stop being curious is the day time runs out," Sage quipped back.
"Back to the questions, how in the world did you manage to change into a giant head? Or were you born like that?" she asked bluntly.
"Spoilers, my dear. Though I suppose you could call me a jack of all trades," Boe chuckled as if sharing an inside joke, and Sage was left to ponder what he meant the rest of the walk.
When Boe was wheeled into the room, the same steward from before announced them, "Sponsor of the main event, please welcome the Face of Boe and his plus one, Queen Sage."
Sage understood now why the TARDIS made her dress up as all the aliens walked in haughtily and she scowled, "Cheeky old girl."
Boe chuckled, "The TARDIS interfered again, I see?"
"She did, of course she did. Didn't want me to be embarrassed by all the rich snobs," she said darkly.
"Oh don't be like that, Queenie. You know she means well."
"Yeah, I do," Sage muttered, petulant.
Sage sighed and looked around before spotting the Doctor and Rose together.
Approaching them was the blue one in the chair. What was his name, Moxx of Balhoon? Yeah, that was it.
She stifled a giggle as he spat directly into Rose's left eye. The Doctor didn't hide his full grin.
After more boring formalities, the steward took the microphone again and said, "Last but not least, our very special guest. Ladies, gentlemen, Trees and multiforms, consider the Earth below. In memory of this dying world, we call forth the last human."
The Doctor looked at Rose to see her reaction, and Sage looked curiously over at the doors.
The sliding doors opened and what looked like a vertical trampoline made of human skin was wheeled through. It had eyes and a mouth covered in lipstick.
"The Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta Seventeen." the steward said with a hand flourish.
"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."
"Wow," Sage said, "No words."
"First time for everything, my dear," Boe said.
Sage narrowed her eyes at the face, "Are you saying I talk too much?"
"If the shoe fits."
"I'm able to kick you with it," she retorted.
Boe only laughed in response.
"Thin and dainty! I don't look a day over two thousand. Moisturize me, moisturize me," Cassandra continued and Sage tuned out her conversation, watching 'the last human' instead.
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."
"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," Sage's brow furrowed at her almost careless tone and listened intently to Cassandra speak.
"I have come to honour them and," Cassandra offered a fake sniffle. "Say goodbye. Oh, no tears," Her bodyguard wiped her eyes.
"No tears. I'm sorry. But behold!" she cried. "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," and Sage cringed at the inaccuracy.
"Or was that my third husband?" Cassandra joked. "Who knows! Oh don't laugh. I'll get laughter lines!"
Behind her, a large jukebox is wheeled into the room. Sage raised her eyebrows dubiously.
"And here, another rarity. According to the archives, this was called an iPod. It stores classical music from humanity's greatest composers."
"Play on!" One of the staff pressed a button and a record fell into place. The 'iPod' started playing 'Tainted Love' by Soft Cell.
Sage winced, "'Tainted Love' are you fucking kidding me?" The Face of Boe laughed.
"Refreshments will now be served. Earth Death in 30 minutes," the steward said.
Sage looked over to see Rose with a lost, overwhelmed expression on her face, and rushed away from the gallery. Concerned, she made her way to follow her but the Doctor already started.
On his way the tree woman stopped to take a picture of him, "Doctor? Thank you." The Doctor chased after Rose.
The woman walked in the opposite direction and Sage followed her. She absently heard the Adherents of the Repeated Meme offering the steward a silver egg.
"A gift of peace in all good faith."
"No, you're very kind, but I'm just the Steward."
Sage reached the woman, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," she started. "You must be one of the ambassadors from the City State of Binding Light, yes?"
The woman turned around, the bulky camera in her hand, and looked shamed faced.
"Yes! Yes, I apologize, your majesty. I'd curtsy but my hands are full at the moment. I'm ambassador Jabe," she said, apologetic.
"Nothing to apologize for," Sage said graciously, "I see you're curious about our unique guest."
"Yes, he's rather fascinating. I don't think he's actually a guest here," she admitted.
Sage laughed, "He's not, not in any way, if you like I can tell you a bit about him."
"That would be nice, my machin seemed to have malfunctioned; it refuses to tell me where he's from."
"The Doctor is a special case, he's the last of his kind," Sage started slowly.
She stopped, carefully choosing her next words, "He had to make one of the worst decisions in his life to save the universe."
Jabe's eyes widened and Sage nodded grimly, "I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, the Time War."
"How is that possible? I thought that was a myth!" she cried in awe.
"I'm afraid not." The ship shuddered and Sage frowned.
"That's odd," Sage muttered.
Sage looked at Jabe, "If you'll excuse me," she nodded in farewell and walked out of the gallery.
"Honoured guests may be reassured that gravity pockets may cause slight turbulence, thank you." the steward's voice boomed out.
Sage wandered the corridors and reached a door that said, 'Steward'.
There was a loud scream of pain and Sage could smell burnt flesh, "I'm so sorry." Outside the room, a spider escaped through an air vent.
Sage's eyes narrowed at the little robot, "Sabotage," she said with realization.
"Earth Death in 15 minutes. Earth Death in 15 minutes," a computerized voice said.
"Well, you don't have to sound so happy about it," Sage said up to the ceiling as smoke escaped from underneath the door.
No One's POV
"Who's in charge of Platform One? Is there a captain or what?" The Doctor asked as he and Jabe made their way toward the maintenance corridor.
"There's just the steward and the staff. All the rest is controlled by the metal man," Jabe replied.
"You mean the computer? But who controls that?" he asked incredulously.
"The Corporation. They move Platform One from one artistic event to another."
"But there's no one from the corporation on board," the Doctor pointed out.
"They're not needed. This facility is purely automatic. It's the height of the alpha class. Nothing can go wrong,"
"Unsinkable?" The Doctor said, his lips twisted in small amusement.
"If you like, the nautical metaphor is appropriate," Jabe answered, not comprehending the joke.
"You're telling me. I was on board another ship once. They said that was unsinkable... I ended up clinging to an iceberg, it wasn't half cold."
The Doctor shook his head and went back on topic, "So, what you're saying is, if we get in trouble there's no one to help us out?
"I'm afraid not," Jabe said with a small frown.
"Fantastic," he said with a grin and started walking again.
"I don't understand," Jabe started, rushing after him. "In what way is that fantastic?" Behind them, a spider crept out of its hiding place.
The Doctor and Jabe made their way down the corridor, the low ceiling forcing them to stoop slightly.
The Doctor didn't answer, changing the topic, "So, tell me, Jabe. What's a tree like you doing in a place like this?"
"Respect for the Earth," she answered automatically.
"Oh, come on," the Doctor scoffed. "Everyone on this platform's worth zillions."
"Well... perhaps it's a case of having to be seen at the right occasions."
"In case your share prices drop?" he asked, tone full of disdain. "I know you lot, especially that queen. You've got massive forests everywhere, roots everywhere, and there's always money in land."
"All the same. You respect the Earth as family. So many species evolved from that planet. Mankind is only one. I'm another. My ancestors were transplanted from the planet down below. And I'm a direct descendant of the tropical rainforest." she finished proudly.
The Doctor looked impressed. He then pointed to a control panel.
"Excuse me," He retrieved his sonic screwdriver and started poking the screen with it.
"And what about your ancestry, Doctor?" Jabe asked as she watched him work.
"Perhaps you could tell a story or two. Perhaps a man only enjoys trouble when there's nothing else left," she trailed off.
"I scanned you earlier. The metal machine had trouble identifying your species, refused to admit your existence." The Doctor pretended to be concentrating on the scan, but a flicker of emotion passed across his face.
"And when Queen Sage named you, I almost wouldn't believe it. But she was right," The Doctor stopped his scanning. Deep sadness was reflected in his eyes. Jabe's tone was hushed, awed.
"I know where you're from. Forgive me for intruding, I just want to say… how sorry I am," she said with pity in her eyes.
Jabe put a comforting hand on his arm. His eyes were filled with tears. He placed his hand over hers, and a tear fell down his cheek. He quickly averted his eyes, hiding from the pitying look, finished the scan and he and Jabe went through a door.
The Doctor and Jabe found themselves in the ventilation chamber. Huge fans circulated the air. The Doctor looked down at Jabe.
"Is it me, or is it a bit nippy?" he quipped.
"Fair do's, though, that's a great bit of air conditioning. Sort of, nice and old fashioned. Bet they call it 'retro'." he scanned another control panel with his sonic screwdriver.
"Gotcha," he said triumphantly. The panel fell off and a spider scuttled out and scurried across the floor and up the wall. The Doctor and Jabe watched it.
"What the hell's that?"
"Is it part of the 'retro'?"
"I don't think so. Hold on," he pointed the screwdriver at the spider. However, Jabe fired something up at the spider, disabling it. It fell neatly into the Doctor's hand.
"Hey!" the Doctor smiled, "Nice liana!"
"Thank you!" She smiled shyly, "We're not supposed to show them in public."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anybody," he reassured and turned his attention to the spider. "Now then. Who's been bringing the pets on board?"
"What does it do?" Jabe asked, examining it curiously.
"Sabotage," the Doctor said curtly.
"Earth Death in 10 minutes," the computer's voice droned.
"And the temperature's about to rocket," he said, alarmed. "Come on."
The two hurried from the chamber and back to the gallery, not noticing Sage running into the chamber minutes after them.
The Doctor and Jabe hurried along, the corridor was filled with smoke and the staff were coughing squeaky, little coughs.
"Come on! Get back!" he urged and moved his sonic screwdriver over another control panel.
"Sunfilter rising. Sunfilter rising," the computer said.
"Was the Steward in there?!" Jabe cried in shock.
"You can smell him," he said darkly. "Hold on, there's another sun filter program to descend," he raced off, leaving Jabe to confront the others alone.
"Earth Death in 5 minutes."
Jabe entered the gallery, holding a small device, "The metal machine confirms. The spider devices have infiltrated the whole of platform one."
"How's that possible? Our private rooms are protected by a code wall. Moisturize me, moisturize me," Cassandra said, distressed.
The Doctor walked in and took the destabilized spider out of Jabe's hand.
"Summon the Steward!" the Moxx of Balhoon squeaked.
"I'm afraid the steward is dead," Jabe said, grimly. There was a loud gasp from the guests.
"Who killed him?" The Moxx of Balhoon asked.
"This whole event was sponsored by the Face of Boe! He invited us!" Cassandra accused. The Face of Boe shook his head, a small look of concern and shock on his large face. "Talk to the face! Talk to the face!"
"Easy way of finding out." The Doctor commented, fiddling with the spider.
"Someone brought a little pet on board." He brandished the spider. "Let's send him back to his master."
The Doctor placed the spider down on the floor. The spider scuttled along to Cassandra and looked up at her. Cassandra shifted in discomfort for a moment, but the spider moved on to the feet of the Adherents of the Repeated Meme.
"The Adherents of the Repeated Meme. J'accuse!" Cassandra said loudly.
"That's all very well, and really kind of obvious, but if you stop and think about it…" the Doctor said, walking towards them.
The Adherents of the Repeated Meme tried to strike him, but he caught its arm and ripped it off.
"A Repeated Meme is just an idea," he continued easily. "And that's all they are. An idea."
He ripped a wire out of the arm and all of the Adherents of the Repeated Meme crumpled into a bundle of black cloaks. There was another loud gasp from everyone. Cassandra rolled her eyes.
"Remote controlled Droids. Nice little cover for the real troublemaker. Go on, Jimbo!" He nudged spider with his foot. "Go home!"
The spider ambled back over to Cassandra.
"I bet you were the school swot and never got kissed," Cassandra said, giving up her ruse. The Doctor raised his eyebrows.
"At arms!" and her two bodyguards with canisters on either side of her raised their canisters.
"What are you going to do, moisturize me?" The Doctor mocked.
"With acid," she said gleefully. "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?" he criticized.
"I'd hoped to manufacture a hostage situation with myself as one of the victims. The compensation would have been enormous," she explained.
"Five billion years and it still comes down to money," tone dripping with disgust.
"Do you think it's cheap, looking like this? Flatness costs a fortune," she replied. "I am The Last Human, Doctor. Me. Not that freaky little kid of yours."
"Arrest her!" the Moxx of Balhoon cried.
"Oh, shut it, pixie," Cassandra snapped. "I've still got my final option."
"Earth Death in 3 minutes."
"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…" she said, faux apologetically.
"I'm such a naughty thing. Spiders, activate." There were loud explosions heard from around the ship.
"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…" With that she and her bodyguards teleported out.
"Heat levels rising." The computer informed.
"Reset the computer!"
Jabe shook her head, "Only the steward would know how."
"No. We can do it by hand," the Doctor replied. "There must be a system restore switch. Jabe, come on," and they left the room.
The Doctor called back to the crowd over his shoulder, "You lot - just chill!
"Earth Death in 2 minutes. Earth Death in 2 minutes."
Jabe and the Doctor ran back through the maintenance corridor.
The Doctor and Jabe entered the ventilation chamber. They were surprised to see a familiar green jacket tied around a brick which was weighing a lever down.
The giant fans from earlier were slowly spinning and a familiar figure were jumping through them.
"Heat levels - rising. Heat levels, rising."
"Bloody hell, I know you fucking asshole! I'm trying to stop it!" Sage yelled.
"Sage? What the hell are you doing?!" the Doctor cried.
Sage spun around in front of the last fan, and saw Jabe and the Doctor on the other side of the fans.
"What do you think, Doctor Oblivious?!" she said with a large grin. "Saving the rich and famous!"
"You could die!"
"So?"
She squinted, "Is that Jabe? The heat's ventilating in here! She'll die, get out of here, Jabe!" Sage turned back around, knowing the Doctor would back her up.
The Doctor looked down at Jabe, "She's right, get out of here. Hide behind the pillars, get everyone to do so."
Jabe nodded, hesitating before she squeezed his arm, "Be safe and protect her."
The Doctor nodded and Jabe left hurriedly.
He untied the jacket, dropped it and kept the lever down, watching his companion in concern.
Sage leapt through the last fan, tumbling over to the other side. She jumped up, "Success!" she crowed.
Sage hurriedly pulled the lever down. "Heat levels, lowering. Heat levels, lowering," the computer's voice said.
"Fuck yeah!" she cried before making her way to the Doctor.
"C'mon," she said when she reached the Doctor. "Let's go get that saboteur, I bet you have some ideas on how."
The Doctor smiled before frowning, "That was a reckless decision you made."
Sage smiled cynically, "Didn't you know, I'm all about reckless decisions. Helped you didn't I, that first day we met."
The Doctor smiled, "Yeah, I suppose so."
He took her hand and led her toward the gallery. Inside all the guests were alive, shaken and injured but alive.
Sage spotted Jabe huddled with her other ambassadors, let go of his hand and sped toward her.
Rose came up to him, "You alright?" she asked, concerned.
He looked down at her grimly, "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," Sage was already at the egg and tossed it to him. He caught it, 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, in the middle of gloating.
"Ah, you should have seen their little alien faces," she laughed. She noticed her new surroundings. "Oh."
"The Last Human," the Doctor said with disgust.
"So. You passed my little test," she floundered with words. "Bravo. This makes you eligible to join the er... the human club."
"Someone died, Cassandra. You murdered him."
"That depends on your definition of 'people'," she said haughtily. "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…."
"And creak?" he said with a dark smile.
"And what?" she asked, taken aback.
"Creak! You're creaking."
Cassandra's skin was tightening. Her eyes were becoming bloodshot and she was getting whiter and whiter.
"What? Ah! Ah! I'm drying out! Oh, sweet heavens!" she cried, panicked.
"Moisturize me! Moisturize me! Where are my surgeons? My lovely boys! It's too hot!" Soon she was covered in red blotches.
"You raised the temperature. Sage and I managed to get it down, but it's still hot enough for you to burn."
"Have pity! Moisturize me! Oh, Doctor!" she sounded terrified and pathetic.
"Help her," Rose said in a small voice.
The Doctor didn't look at her, "Everything has its time and everything dies."
"I'm sorry it had to come to this, Cassandra," Sage said, remorseful.
"I'm… too… young!" Cassandra cried in fear and she exploded. The Doctor looked completely cold and not remotely fazed. He left the room.
Sage's POV
"Shuttles 4 and 6 departing. This unit now closing down for maintenance." The computer said.
Rose had followed after the Doctor and Sage slipped away, bidding farewell to the Face of Boe and Jabe, to the TARDIS.
Sage caressed the TARDIS lock and smiled when she let her in.
"Dearest, I suppose we won't see each other in a while. Just wanted to let you know that you're amazing and the Doctor should appreciate you more," she said.
The TARDIS gave a mournful hum, and she quirked a small smile.
"Sorry that sounded like I was about to off myself. Right stop sounding sad Sage." she reprimanded hersel.
Sage walked into the halls and grabbed her bag, sitting on the bed.
"The Doctor's gonna comfort Rose for a while, judging by how upset she was, and take her back to our time. When he does, can you change the coordinates a little to the day after we met?" Sage asked.
"I'll slip out after them."
The TARDIS agreed reluctantly, and Sage smiled, "Thanks dearest, you're the best."
Moments later, Sage felt the TARDIS move and stood up, walking toward the door.
Pausing by the doorway of her room, she bit her lip. Taking out a piece of paper, she scribbled a note to the Doctor. She walked back to the bed, leaving it folded up on it.
She walked out to the console room. Nobody was there. There was a small sense of relief that she didn't have to confront anyone, but sadness that she couldn't say goodbye to the Doctor.
Sage looked up at the ceiling, "This is the right time, right? Day after we met?" she said, teasingly.
The TARDIS hummed offended and Sage giggled.
"Kidding, only kidding babe. Well, see you, and don't worry I remember our deal."
She walked down to the door, gave a small kiss before slipping out, immediately losing herself in the crowd.
The Doctor's POV
After chips with Rose, the Doctor stood over the console, fiddling with wires.
Rose had left to go to bed, and he was alone.
That adventure was bit cathartic, having someone else experience the burning of their own planet. The Doctor supposed it was harsh to do so, but he just wanted someone else to know what it felt like too.
Exposing Rose to that might not have been the best first adventure, and he slightly regretted it.
But his wounds were so fresh, he needed that kindred spirit. And Rose showed it, offering that comfort in the end.
But she didn't really understand the blinding loss in his hearts and mind. Sage did, somehow, but he was rather blinded by Rose.
There was a lot of regret that he ignored her so much on those last two adventures, when he finally did realize that he had ignored her.
The Doctor hadn't even realized she was gone until she was jumping between fans, so focused on Rose.
The Doctor was amazed by Sage's bravery, eagerness to help and her quick thinking with her jacket and brick.
Though where she had gotten the brick was the question.
The Doctor stopped fiddling with the console, intent to ask her.
He walked toward her room and was surprised by the open door.
He strode in and the room was clean and neat, as if no one lived there at all.
There was a small piece of paper folded on the bed and the Doctor scooped it up, opening it.
'Dear Doctor,
I don't know when you'll read this, maybe it'll be a couple of adventures later. I thought it'd be kind to leave a note. Though I-' There were words scribbled out.
'So you know where I'd gone. I decided to go back to my boring human life. You aren't alone anymore, keep Rose with you, yeah? It's not good for you to be alone. Come visit if you want, you know where to find me after all those embarrassing stories I told you. Be fantastic.
Kind regards,
S.T.'
The Doctor read it twice more to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating before tucking the note back into his pocket, feeling more lost than he had before.
I don't know about this chapter guys. I had so much writer's block with this. I think I erased it seven times before this appeared, and I'm still not quite satisfied. There isn't much Rose in it and then I realized that Rose probably won't be featured much in the first season, I'll be focusing more on Sage and the Doctor. Please don't yell hate at me, you signed up for this. To answer unanswered questions, Sage is bisexual and might be a bit forward for her time, but whatever. As always, thank you for reading, constructive criticism is welcome and all mistakes are mine. Doctor Who doesn't belong to me.