A/N: Here is chapter 3. This story is un-betaed, if there are any mistakes or errors please let me know. Otherwise, leave any comments or criticisms; I love feedback. :) Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of its characters.
Update: I fixed the breaks between Freya's and the Doctor's sections. Sorry about all that.
They talked for the longest time, watching as the lights around the area turned out for the night. It had been such a long time for Freya; constantly being on the move made it difficult to get a moment's rest.
It was nice.
"So," Donna said, poking Freya in the shoulder, "did you have a job at one point or do you just wander around like a homeless person?"
Freya was so shocked by Donna's question that she started laughing. Wiping a stray tear from her eye, she nodded at Donna, but not before letting another little giggle slip out. "Wow, you are straight to the point."
Donna huffed. "Well, you don't seem like the type to stick with just one thing."
Freya blinked, confused by Donna's assessment; which, in all fairness, was pretty accurate. She really did not like being held down to one job. She liked her freedom; freedom to do anything at any point with no strings attached. Weeell maybe that wasn't completely true; a couple strings weren't too bad. She loved her family more than anything.
Smiling wistfully she said, "Yeah, I did. Have a job, that is. Worked at several places actually, but I never found anything that really…stuck. I mean, sometimes you stick with a job for a while but then, I guess, you just get bored. I loved the feel of a new place beneath my feet. New cultures, new people, a new sky. How could someone spend their life in just one place; the world is constantly changing. Tomorrow is gone before you even finish today."
Both Donna and Wilf gave her the most amazed looks.
"For someone so young, you are very wise." Wilf said, his eyes alight with wonder at this unusual young woman.
Freya turned her attention back to the stars, carefully thinking about her next words. Young? Hardly. She didn't know if what she had was wisdom or experience; it was possible that she was just jaded. Life was never easy for her or her mother. If anything, it was just a process of trial and error, but that's just life. Nothing came easy and you had to work for what you needed and even then the world could still come crashing down around you. It could rip all the happiness away in an instant.
Nothing was sacred, just temporary.
She frowned. "Well, wisdom is just experience, yeah? We all have that, just in different forms."
Donna smiled kindly. "Well said. Everyone wants to find their place in life. I guess it takes some of us a little longer to find it."
Freya could tell that Donna was someone who'd faced particular hardship just by the way she carried herself. She had so much to say and yet, no one would listen besides her granddad and a strange vagrant.
Freya understood that. She loved her mother more than anything else in her life, which really wasn't that much. And yet, there were things even her mother couldn't understand about her. Things that Freya tried so hard to explain, to understand, but it never worked. Her mother didn't see the universe the way she did; didn't see the timelines twisting or futures that would never happen.
She was alone in that regard.
Or maybe not. Maybe, if she found 'him,' maybe he could…help. Help her to understand what she couldn't. Why she saw the things she did. Helped her to understand why she heard others' thoughts and emotions all the time and if there was a way to make it easier. She wasn't expecting him to welcome her with open arms; after all, he had no idea that her mother had been pregnant when she last the Doctor. But maybe…no, now was not the time for sentimentalities. Her mother sent her here for a specific reason; a task that she was meant to accomplish. Maybe when they solve this, but until then she had her mission and she would see it through to the end.
Wilf yawned, trying to cover it so the other two wouldn't see.
"Alright gramps, I think it's time that you get some rest, otherwise mum'll be harping on you in the morning." Donna made to stand while Wilf grumbled about him 'being a grown man who did not need to babysat by his granddaughter' and 'Sylvia always harped on him.' Freya gathered her things together as well, checking her time jumper to see that it had charged up all the way while they were talking.
Donna watched her swing her bag on her shoulder after she tugged her jacket more closely around her. The older, but actually much younger, woman seemed at a loss for words, probably not sure how to say goodbye to Freya.
Taking pity on her, Freya gave her a warm grin. "Well, I feel quite a bit better and think it's time that I moved on. So much to do, so little time. Good luck with your new job at Health & Safety."
Donna gave her strange look, almost as though she were seeing someone else. "You, sometimes when you talk you sound like…" She didn't finish her sentence.
Freya was puzzled. "Sound like what?"
Shaking her head a bit, Donna just smiled. "Nothing, you just reminded me of someone there for moment. Anyway, um…if you don't have anywhere to go, I mean you look like you've been through hell and back…"
"Thanks." Freya snorted.
"Cheeky." Donna said, good-naturedly. "Well, if you don't have anywhere to stay tonight, our couch is open." Wilf nodded in agreement.
To say that she was touched would be an understatement. These two strangers, well not so much anymore, were kind enough to offer her a place to stay for the night and yet they barely knew her. Her mouth opened and closed for a few seconds before clearing her throat around the swell of emotion. "Oh, um well, that's, that's very, um…I have to…ugh…" Freya really didn't know what to say.
Donna and Wilf looked a bit crestfallen at her obvious attempts to kindly reject their offer. "Unless you have to get going, that is." Donna said.
Freya nodded, offering them a small smile. "I'm afraid so. There's so much I need to do and not much time to do it, but…" she paused for a moment, "thank you. I…I haven't had anyone ask me something like that since, well I really can't remember the last time. It means more than you know."
Wilf grinned and nodded. "If there's ever a time you need somewhere to rest again, I'll be up here, with an extra blanket. It's not much, but there's a place for you here."
Freya gave them the brightest smile that she hadn't used in such a long time. One that was eerily reminiscent of her mother's, with a tongue poking just past her teeth and a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
It was nice to have someone worry about her; someone to offer her refuge if she needed it. "Thank you." she said, from the bottom of her heart.
She waved goodbye to them both and carefully made her way back down the hill. Freya wasn't too far from Cardiff, definitely a lot closer now than she was in America. One quick trip with her time jumper should do it, so long as it held out. She found an alleyway not too far from where she left Wilf and Donna, though by now they were already gone. Pulling out her time jumper, she punched in the coordinates, waited a few seconds, and then activated it.
Freya felt the pull of the time jumper yanking her into the Time Vortex, but she couldn't see anything because her eyes were closed. She could sense that she was almost to her destination when an electric shock shot up her arm from the time jumper.
No. No no no no!
It was shorting out!
She felt like she was being torn in two. Every other sensation faded away as searing pain tore through her.
Oh god, she was going to die!
She couldn't fail! Not now, not when everything hung in the balance! Not when she needed to save her mother—
And then it all stopped. She hit the ground hard, not knowing where or when she was. Her eyesight was dimming fast as her consciousness faded. She tore the time jumper from her wrist as it continued to spark and emit a loud squealing noise. One last jolt of electricity and it went dead. Not a few seconds later, Freya collapsed on the ground in an unconscious heap.
The Doctor felt a brush of something at the back of his mind. He had been feeling it for a while now, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. It was small and weak; childlike. Only the strongest emotions came through. He had been analyzing the Adipose pill when he felt it again.
He'd felt it two days ago. There was happiness. Joy. Warmth. All these pleasant feelings that made him smile, even if he didn't who or what it was coming from. He should be worried.
But this time it was different; it felt panicked and in pain.
And then it was gone, as if it had never been.
He was worried now. He shouldn't be feeling anything in the TARDIS; she should be blocking out most external signals.
Whatever was causing this was strong enough to break through the TARDIS' shields, which was impossible. That could only happen if the TARDIS allowed it.
His mind was so absorbed in that spark of pain that his respiratory bypass kicked in. The Doctor took a deep breath as he came back to himself. That was strange.
He pondered over the little situation that he found himself in. There was no explanation as to why he was able to feel something so raw; that's what it was, a pure feeling. Like a child telepath, not used to shielding. Or, possibly a telepath that did not have strong shields. He was confused as to what or who it could be.
Well, he would deal with that problem later; right now he needed to focus on the Adipose situation. He was getting strange emissions from the building that Adipose Industries was using and the readings from the pill set him on edge. Something was going on and he was going to find out what.
Of course, all this would be a lot more enjoyable and helpful if he had someone to share it with.
Didn't matter.
He'd carry on just like he'd always done. Just like after losing Martha and Jack and Sarah Jane and Ro—
Best not to think about that now.
He set out his plans for infiltrating the building again tomorrow and finding out just what was going on within Adipose Industries.
She was having a dream again and she was strangely aware of this. That's a first. At least, she thinks she's dreaming.
She could be dead; bugger.
It was hard to tell where she was; only that it seemed vaguely familiar. Things started to come back into focus when she realized that she was standing, or was it sitting, in their old apartment on Rogemtotes Alpha. Her and her mum lived here when Freya was working as a mechanic at Forseta, the ship port that her mum docked out of. It was still pretty small at the time, after all it was only a little moon revolving around an inhospitable planet that she could not pronounce the name of.
She could see her mum attempting to cook in the kitchen, which is usually when Freya stepped in just in case. It wouldn't help to get kicked out of another place because of Rose's bad cooking. This was different though, not only was her mother cooking, but she was cooking rather well. Odd, very odd.
"Mum." Freya asked quietly. "Are you making something? Or, really, why are you making something?"
Her mother turned around to face her, but it wasn't her mother, not really. It was her mother's face except for her eyes, which were glowing a bright gold.
"Hello, cub. Are you hungry? I thought you might want something to eat, not that any of this is actually substantial, but it's the thought that counts."
Freya stared at the stranger wearing her mother's face. "Wha…who are you?"
The doppelganger smiled. "I am your mother and yet not. I am the past, present, and future of all that is, was, or ever could be. I'm here because you are in danger, cub, but I believe you already know that. Your mental shields have been virtually eradicated; it is of the utmost importance that you find Time's Champion quickly. He is the only one who can help you."
She didn't know how to react, at all. "Why did you call me 'cub'?" After her first encounter with 'them,' Freya only remembered bits and pieces before her mother whisked them out of there using her own powers.
"I know; that was our doing." Her mother spoke again, this time taking on that warm familiar 'you silly girl' look she always gave Freya as a child. "You were never aware of what we were capable of, your mother and I."
"What?" Freya was completely lost. "Who was what?"
"There are no secrets here, cub. Since your shields were decimated after that first encounter, we have been providing some for you, but it's not enough. They are closing in and you need to be ready. Don't worry too much about your mother, we are always protecting her." Rose's doppelganger, if that's what Freya could call her, set aside whatever she was making and carefully walked up to her, taking her hands. "Freya, you will need to keep your wits. The biggest hurdle you will face may be the Doctor. Our pilot is unusually stubborn sometimes, but so are you. You both need to overcome yourselves if you are ever going to beat 'them.' Do you understand?"
Eyes wide, Freya just gaped like a fish for a few moments. "Not really, no. Who are you and why are you telling me this?"
A frustrated expression covered the doppelganger's face. "I am all that is, was, and ever cou—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got that part, but who are you to me?" Beating around the bush wasn't Freya's style; in fact, she was blunt to a fault. She often got in trouble with her teachers that way.
"In human terms, I am Mother. Yours and yet not. I created myself. In time you will understand, as your mother did. I am here to help, just as my wolf wanted. Understand, cub?" The doppelganger took Freya's face in her hands and looked her right in the eye.
"Y…yeah. I think I kind of get it now. My mother was the 'wolf,' hence why I'm the 'cub'. I'm guessing you are attached to my mum's power in some way, judging by the eyes glowing thingy," Freya gestured, hands flailing a bit, "and the Doctor and I are going to fight like hell. I think I've got it. Although, it still doesn't make sense as to why I'm here and not, well, dead, seeing as my time jumper just sort of crapped out on me. Are you certain I'm not dead? I mean, I could be just lying in ditch somewhere and people will find this random body with all these strange clothes and unusual artifacts—"
"The babbling," Rose's doppelganger interrupted her, a smile crossing her face, "at least you two will have that in common. Now you must go, cub. You have much to do, but do not worry too much. Of course that will be a bit difficult for you because you won't remember this conversation, but still, our wolf is protected and working just as hard as you. Be strong, young one."
"Wait, what do you mean by 'I won't remember this.' Hey, wait, what's going on?! Everything is getting all weird and, and, and…" Everything faded around Freya as she slipped from the dream.
Freya's first feeling was nausea. She felt so sick; it was as if she just spent the entire night gargling down several bottles of Hypervodka. The next thing she felt was the throbbing pain in her head.
Well, on the bright side, she wasn't dead.
The down side was that she felt like she was dying.
As soon as she made a new one, Freya was going to destroy her old time jumper with a hammer. Or a baseball bat. Or both.
A sharp pain alerted her to her left arm, which looked unusually swollen. She was suddenly hit with a wave of vertigo and it only served to make the nausea worse. Hauling herself off what she realized to be a bed of some kind, Freya started dry heaving over the side of it. She hadn't eaten for a while so there wasn't anything coming up except a little stomach acid, but she swallowed to keep it down. Her eyes stung at the vile taste in the back of her throat.
She was in a cell with stone walls on three sides and a clear panel with holes on the fourth side. She guessed that was a plus; at least they didn't want her to suffocate to death.
Not good; she'd been captured. Oh well, not much for it now, she would just have to escape.
Sitting up, Freya leaned against the wall of the cell, letting the stone cool her fevered skin. Her body was still healing from the time jumper's malfunction and, by the feel of it, it probably tore apart a good chunk of her left arm. She noticed that her injury had been expertly bandaged, which she found unusual. Excruciating pain wracked her body whenever she tried to move her damaged arm so she left in lying in her lap to prevent herself from jarring it.
She sat in that cell for who knows how long; well, normally she would if her time sense wasn't obscured by pain and the disorienting effects of her healing process. That was one gift from her biological father that she was genuinely grateful for.
The sound of feet drew her attention to the door at the end of the hallway outside of her cell. Squinting, Freya saw a small, feminine figure walking towards her. The woman stopped just outside her cell and Freya got a good look at her.
She was of average height with dark hair, but Freya was having trouble focusing on much more than that. The woman just stared at her for moment before speaking. "Hello, might I ask who you are?"
Throat dry, Freya spoke at strongly as she could. "A traveler." In situations similar to this she learned that keeping her identity as obscure as possible was usually the best option. If she needed to, she would reveal who she was at a later time.
The woman's body language gave Freya the impression that she was chagrinned about Freya's flippant response.
"You were badly injured when we found you; can you tell me what happened?" Her question was sincere.
Carefully deliberating her next words, Freya opted for a vague explanation of the truth. "My tech malfunctioned; it was only a prototype so it's really a miracle that it lasted as long as it did. I was aiming for Cardiff, but I really have no idea if I made it. Where am I?"
The woman kept her expression neutral. "Cardiff. What is it that you're here for?"
Freya was quiet for several moments. "I'm hoping to find someone. I need his help."
A soft look covered the woman's face as she said, "What's his name? I might be able to contact him."
"I doubt it. He doesn't exactly have a permanent address in the area; he's a traveler like me."
She watched as suspicion crossed the other woman's expression. "What kind of help are you looking for then?"
"You're nosy." Freya was growing agitated by the interrogation. "Asking me all these questions and I don't even know where exactly in Cardiff I am or who you even are. Not only that, but you put me in a holding cell even though I'm injured; talk about rude." She arched an eyebrow at the woman.
Sheepishly, the woman was actually flustered a bit by Freya's response. "Well, you had alien technology on you so we didn't know if you were a threat or not."
Freya huffed a bit. "It's not really alien technology considering that I made it and I'm human." It didn't matter to her where her blood came from, Freya would always identify as human.
"Human? At the rate that your wound was healing, we had no idea what you were."
Freya did not like this woman's tone. "I was raised as one; no amount of alien DNA will change that." she said in a slightly harsh tone.
"Well, that remains to be seen. Until we are certain that you aren't a threat, you will be staying in there. And to answer your earlier questions; my name is Gwen and you're at Torchwood."