I tucked the guns into my belt, and turned around in time to witness Maldovar get beheaded by the headless monks.
With a strangled scream, I stumbled back, slamming into a wall behind me.
"The child," Vastra choked out. "At all cost, protect the child!"
I swallowed hard, before pulling the two guns back out, and joining the others. I unlocked the safety, and took aim. The others disappeared around me, and the only thing I could see were the monks I was firing at. The fighting seemed to last for ages, when I suddenly heard a blood curdling scream from Amy. It seemed that with that cry, we all fought harder than before, and soon, there were several monks lying around us.
With a gasp, I sat straight up, holding onto my pillow with a death grip. My eyes darted around, taking in my surroundings. I was on the couch, where I had fallen asleep an hour before. The TV was on, playing reruns of Full House. I placed my head in my hands, and tried to slow my heartbeat.
It's been the same dream each night. I would wake up screaming, and Mom and Dad would come running in waving baseball bats. They were considering taking me back to the therapist, but I refused. I hadn't gone to a shrink since I was little. Besides, these dreams were different from back then. This, I know happened. I knew exactly what was going on. I can't explain that I was kidnapped by an alien to a person holding a clipboard.
I hadn't even gone to school the past two days. My entire choir had seen me with two guns on me – how would they react?
I hadn't heard from the Doctor since then. Or anyone, really, except for Alexia, who I ignored. I convinced my parents – adoptive parents – that I was sick, so they left me alone for the most part, other than to check on me, bring me food, or to wake me up from the nightmares.
It was now Friday, and I was starting to doubt the Doctor. Where was he?
I thought I heard the TARDIS outside, but I ignored it – I had been hearing it ever since the Doctor dropped me off the other day. It wasn't until there was a knock at the door that I shut my TV off, and ran to the door, almost falling on my face. I picked up the two guns on my way out – I didn't want to run into anymore creepy dolls or headless monks.
I was wearing an outfit that the Doctor gave me – a pink corset halter top and black pants, much like the ones that Vastra and Jenny helped me pick out. I wore my black boots, simply because I loved them, and found them extremely comfortable.
I finally flung the door open, grinning. "Doctor!" I exclaimed, but took a step back at the man in front of me. He had a leather jacket and dark pants, and his hair was nearly black, and closely cut. Beside him was a girl around my age, with blonde hair and wearing a red and black top. Behind her, was a guy with dark hair and looked a few years older than me, and he looked amazed. "Oh," I rushed. "Hello."
The man's jaw dropped, and the girl looked surprised as well. "You again," the guy sighed, scratching his head. "You weren't kidding, were you?"
"I'm sorry…?" I trailed off, and glanced around. In the driveway, like it never left, was the TARDIS. I grinned at the sight, and pushed past the three strangers, and bounded towards it. "Hello," I chirped, lightly touching the wood.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing?" the guy asked, marching up behind me. "Don't touch my TARDIS! Just because I let you inside a few times doesn't mean-"
"Your TARDIS?" I asked. "No, this is the Doctor's TARDIS. And you are not him."
"What are you talking about?" the girl asked. "'Course it's him, who else would he be?"
"You're not the Doctor I know," I insisted. "How many Doctors are there?"
"One, just me," the guy insisted. "Last time I saw you, you were calm and knew almost everything. What happened?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Can anyone explain what's going on?" the guy asked, pulling his hair.
I smiled, and offered my hand. "I'm Lily," I introduced.
"We know that," the girl stated, ignoring my hand. "You introduced yourself a long time ago."
"What do you mean?" I asked, looking between the three. I turned back to the TARDIS, who still hadn't spoken. I placed my palm on the wood, and the sun caught my ring like fire. I studied it for a second, and then the Doctors words came back to me.
"Now, these two spaces here," he pointed at the two spaces on either side of the diamond, "are for when you meet other regenerations of me. Show me the ring, and I'll add the rest."
"Regenerations," I murmured, and spun around. I showed the man my ring, and he looked confused.
"What happened to it? Did you lose the other sapphires?" he asked, taking my hand.
"I never got them," I told him. "The Doctor said that when I met the different regenerations of him, he said that he would add the rest. If you're really the Doctor, you'll add the rest."
"What's regeneration?" the younger guy asked, and I shrugged.
"You expect me to just add a sapphire?" the guy asked. "I've only met you twice in my life."
"And if you're the Doctor, I've only met you twice as well," I snapped.
We glared at each other for a few moments, before he finally huffed. He reached into his pockets, and after a few moments, he pulled out a single sapphire. It was TARDIS blue, but had a cold feel to it. He placed the gem in its place, and then took out a stick with a blue tip and pressed a button. It buzzed like the sonic screwdriver, and I could hear the jewel lock into place.
I smiled at it, and nodded. "Alright, I believe you. Hello Doctor." I grinned, and before he could put his device away, I snatched it. "What's this?"
"It's my sonic screwdriver, obviously," he sighed, taking it back.
"No it's not," I laughed. "It's green."
"What are you talking about?" he snapped, and opened the door, motioning for the girl and boy to go in.
I ignored the Doctors question, and stepped in after them. I furrowed my eyebrows. "It's…"
"Bigger on the inside?" the Doctor finished. "You didn't seem surprised last time.
"No, I'm not surprised by that." I glared, and faced the coral beams and grated floor. "It's… different."
"Different how?" the blonde asked, and my gaze snapped to her.
"Sorry, I still don't know your name," I said, walking over.
"Rose, Rose Tyler, and this is Adam," she told me, tilting her head. "When we last saw you, you knew everything about us. How come you don't anymore?"
"Hmm," I hummed. "When I first met the Doctor, the other day, he knew absolutely everything about me. Well, I assume he did. He said something about our timelines being all messed up. Apparently, we never meet in the right order."
"Crossed timelines?" the Doctor asked, closing the door and joining Rose and me. "That explains quite a bit then."
"Why didn't future me explain this already?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Believe me, I asked," the Doctor huffed, marching over to the consul. "You laughed in my face."
"I think I do that a lot, actually," I confessed, thinking back to Demons Run with a shudder. "So if you don't know me that well, how did you end up at my house?"
That was me, the TARDIS said, and I smiled.
"I was wondering when I would hear from you," I chuckled, leaning against a beam.
"What?" Adam asked, looking confused.
I want answers. All of us do.
"I want answers, too," I replied. "But I'm not getting them."
"Who are you talking to?" the Doctor asked, and I snapped my eyes up to look at him.
"The TARDIS," I answered. "She brought you guys here. Something about answers, that I don't have. All I know is that future you says 'hi'."
"Future him?" Rose inquired. "So you do know about the future?"
"I know what a Tenza is." I smiled, and folded my hands behind my back.
"A Tenza?" the Doctor asked, raising his eyebrows. "I haven't seen a Tenza for years."
"Well, I don't think I should say anything else on the matter… So, where are we off to this time?" I bounded over to the consul, grinning.
"You can't just come aboard and assume we're taking you somewhere," the Doctor said, looking grumpy.
"Well you seem to think that you can just show up and whisk me off to random places," I countered. "And I haven't gone to school since you popped up in the middle of choir. So don't expect any history lessons from me."
"You're still in school?" Rose asked, standing beside me. "How old are you?"
"Turning nineteen in September," I grinned. "My birthday fell late. And school lets out in three months... World War II," I snorted. "Don't expect that answer for a while."
"What are you talking about? No one brought up World War II." The Doctor finally started flipping switches, and I saw his eyes travel up to me a few times. "So, where to? Past or future?"
"How about Adam chooses," Rose smiled, putting a hand on the guys shoulder. He seemed a bit amazed at everything.
He stuttered a bit, and the Doctor rolled his eyes. "Future it is then." He whizzed around the consul, pressing buttons, and flipping switches.
"Your brakes are on again," I stated, spotting a green button.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, stopping to stare.
"Your brakes," I repeated. "And you're going too fast – you need to stabilize her." I didn't know how I knew this, but I did. It just sort of came to me. "A child of the TARDIS," I murmured.
"A child of the what?" the Doctor spluttered, and I snapped my head up.
"What? Sorry, nothing," I rushed.
"How do you know how to fly the TARDIS?" Rose asked.
"She doesn't," the Doctor glared. "She doesn't have a clue. There aren't any stabilizers, and the brakes are not on."
"Well I don't want to be thrown into the next galaxy, so I'm holding down the stabilizers," I snapped, holding down three blue buttons.
"If we end up in the year 300 because you, I'm leaving you there," the Doctor swore.
"Is he always like this?" I asked Rose, as she stared at us in amusement.
"Only since you showed up," she said.
"And when was that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"About a week or two ago." She shrugged, and I felt the TARDIS land.
"You, stay here," the Doctor ordered, pointing at poor Adam, who looked like he was going to faint. He then motioned for Rose to follow, so with a shrugged, I skipped out the door.
Once out the doors, the Doctor grinned. "So it's 200,000, it's a spaceship – no wait a minute, space station, and uh, go and try the gate over there – off you go," he said, and crossed his arms as he leaned against the TARDIS.
He thinks he's so smart, the TARDIS grumbled, and I giggled.
"200,000?" Rose asked.
"200,000," he repeated, and Rose opened the door.
"So what's this?" I asked. "Are you helping with the first date or something?"
"Or something," he sighed, as Adam walked out.
He froze as he came out of the door, and he stared in awe.
"Don't worry, you get used to it," Rose promised.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"Good question. Let's see," Rose pondered, as she looked around. "So, um… judging by the architecture, I'd say we're around the year 200,000. If you listen; engines. We're on some sort of space station. Yeah, definitely a space station."
"And it's hot," I grumbled, messing with my hair.
Rose nodded in agreement, and then her gaze traveled to the gate that the Doctor had pointed out. "Tell you what – let's try that gate, come on." She walked off, and Adam soon followed.
"You're kind of evil," I told the Doctor as he grinned after the blonde.
He nodded, and followed the young couple. We stayed a few steps back, and I could feel the Doctors eyes on me. "You said you were the child of the TARDIS?"
I bit my lip, and shrugged. "A. Not the, a. And it's a long story, something you'll have to find out in the future, I guess."
We stepped into what looked like an observatory room, and through a window, I could see Earth.
"Here we go," Rose grinned. "And this is-" She paused, as she gazed at the planet. "I'll let the Doctor describe it."
"The Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire," he stated. "And there it is – planet Earth, at its height. Covered with megacities, five moons, population 96 billion. The hub of a galactic domain, stretching across a million planets, a million species. With mankind right in the middle."
"Wow," I gasped. "I'm actually seeing Earth. I'm in space."
Adam fainted behind us, but we didn't turn.
"He's your boyfriend," the Doctor sneered.
"Not anymore," Rose sighed, shaking her head.
I laughed, finally turning to see the poor guy on the ground. I lightly kicked him, trying to get him to wake up. Rose kneeled down and slapped him a few times, until he finally came to.
"So how come whenever I first met you, you didn't take me to a place like this?" I asked, facing the Doctor.
"Maybe I didn't think you were worth the time," he said, still looking forward.
"Ouch," I laughed. "You're definitely a change, aren't you?"
He glared for a moment before sighing. "You can't blame me," he defended himself. "You suddenly pop up out of nowhere, calling Rose and me weird names, like you've known us all your life. And you just… know so many things. Things a human shouldn't know." He paused, staring at me. "But that's the thing – you aren't human. You're part Time Lord. How?"
"I really can't say," I told him. "You told me not to. Your rules, not mine."
We stared at each other for a moment, before he sighed, and turned around to face the now awake Adam. "Have a nice nap?" he asked, smirking. "Come on, let's go."
We made it out of the observatory room, and made our way into a giant, empty room.
"Come on, Adam. Open your mind," the Doctor urged. "You're gonna like this fantastic period of history. The human race at its most intelligent. Culture, art, politics, this era has got fine food, good manners-"
"Out of the way!" a man shouted, shoulder checking me.
I glared, and stuck my foot out, making him trip. "You were saying?" I scowled, as a mass of people came out of nowhere.
A vendor opened up shop, and a flock of people swarmed up to him, demanding food.
"Fine cuisine?" Rose asked, staring at the menu of greasy foods.
"My watch must be wrong," the Doctor said, checking his wrist. "No, it's fine. That's weird."
"That's what comes with showing off," Rose smirked. "Your history's not as good as you thought it was."
"My history's perfect," the Doctor snapped, staring around and looking confused.
I snorted, and shared a look with Rose. "Obviously not," I whispered to her, and we grinned.
"They're all human, what about the millions of planets, the millions of species, where are they?" Adam asked, looking around.
"Good question…," the Doctor trailed. "Actually, that is a good question. Adam, me old mate, you must be starving." The Doctor wrapped his arm around Adams shoulder, and I raised my eyebrow.
"No, just a bit time sick," he sighed.
"No, you just need a bit of grub," the Doctor assured. He then turned to the vender, and smiled. "Oi, mate – how much is a Cronk Burger?"
"Two credits twenty, sweetheart," the vender sighed, looking annoyed. "Now, join the queue."
The Doctor nodded. "Money – we need money." He marched away, digging through his pockets. "Let's use a cashpoint."
He stopped at a machine, and pulled out his sonic. Glancing around, he held the screwdriver to the screen, and a little bar like thing plopped out.
"Here you go," he grinned, giving the bar to Adam. "Pocket money. Don't spend it all on sweets."
I looked up, examining everything around me, and when I came back to focus, I saw the Doctor had started to walk away.
"How does it work?" Adam called.
"Go and find out, stop nagging me," the Doctor whined. "The thing is, Adam, time travel's like visiting Paris. You can't just read the guide book; you've got to throw yourself in. Eat the food, use the wrong verbs, get charged double and end up kissing complete strangers. Or is that just me?"
I laughed at this, remembering when the Doctor first barged into my life.
The Doctor shook his head as if to clear it. "Stop asking questions. Go on, do it. Off you go, then. You're fist date."
Rose looked back, trying not to laugh. "You're going to get a smacked, you are," she chuckled, before walking away.
"So what am I supposed to do?" I asked. I was used to the Doctor taking my hand all the time, and leading me to places without anyone else. This Doctor was different. He seemed to want to stay away.
"Do whatever, I suppose," he said, leaning against a wall. "What do you usually do?"
I paused, and shrugged. "Get dragged around by you," I told him. "You're possessive."
He raised his eyebrows, before rolling his eyes. "Alright then… guess you're sticking with me. Maybe you'll answer some of my questions."
"No promises," I smirked, and skipped alongside of him.
"Where you from?" he asked.
I glanced up at him. "Illinois, the United States," I said.
"Illinois? That's boring, isn't it?" The Doctor scanned the nearby area, but didn't look satisfied by the results.
I shrugged. "Home of Popeye: the Sailor Man."
"Yeah, but that's just a show on telly," he rolled his eyes.
"Well it's something," I snapped.
Two women walked by, and the Doctor stopped them. "Uh, this is going to sound daft, but can you tell me where I am?" he asked.
"Floor 139," the taller of the two answered. She had dark skin, and her hair was in nice, sophisticated braids. "Could they write it any bigger?"
"Floor 139?" I repeated, staring at the numbers on the wall. "Of what, exactly?"
"Must've been a hell of a party," she sneered.
"You're on satellite five," the shorter one rushed. She had auburn hair, and seemed nervous.
"What's satellite five?" the Doctor asked.
"Come on, how could you get on board without knowing where you are?" the taller one asked.
"Look at him, he's stupid," I stated, pointing at the Doctor who looked offended.
"Hang on, wait a minute – are you a test?" the short one asked. "Some sort of management test kind of thing?"
The Doctor nodded, pulling out his psychic paper. "You got me. Well done. You're too clever for me."
"We were warned about this in basic training," the girl continued. "All workers have to be versed in company promotion."
"Right," the taller one stated, looking interested. "Fire away, ask your questions. If it gets me to Floor 500, I'll do anything."
"What's Floor 500?" I asked, and received a nudge from the Doctor.
"The walls are made of gold," she stated, looking at me like I was stupid. "And you should know, Miss Management." She batted her eyelashes. "So, this is what we do – latest news, sandstorms on the new Venus archipelago, 200 dead. Glasgow water riots into their third day. Spacelane 77 closed by sunspot activity. And over on the Bad Wolf Channel, The Face of Boe has just announced he's pregnant."
"I get it – you broadcast the news," the Doctor sighed.
"We are the news," the girl scoffed. "We're the journalists. We write it, package it, and sell it. Six hundred channels, all come out of Satellite Five, broadcasting everywhere. Nothing happens in the whole Human Empire without it going through us."
"Busy days," I sighed.
An alarm of some sort went off, and the Doctor went to get Rose and Adam while I waited with the two ladies. When they came back, I introduced them to the women, and then we were led to one of the broadcasting rooms.
"Now, everyone behave," the woman ordered. "We have a management inspection. How do you want it – do you want it by the book?"
"Oh, right from scratch, thanks," the Doctor grinned.
"Okay, so, ladies, gentlemen, multi-sex, undecided, or robot – my name is Cathica Santini Khadeni." She turned to us, and smiled. "That's Cathica with a 'C', in case you want to write to Floor 500 praising me, and please do. Now, please feel free to ask any questions, the process of news gathering must be open, honest, and beyond bias. That's company policy."
"Actually," the second lady from earlier piped up, "um, it's the law."
"Yes, thank you, Suki." Cathica glared. "Okay, keep it calm, don't show off for the guests… Here we go." Cathica sat down in her chair and leaned back. "And engage safety."
Immediately, everyone stuck out their hands, and placed them on the pads in front of them. Lights came on all around the room, and I jumped at the sudden brightness.
Cathica snapped her fingers, and her forehead opened up to reveal her brain. I gaped in amazement, and felt like I could faint, like Adam.
"And three… two… and spike." A stream of light made its way to Cathica's head, flowing into her brain.
"Compressed information streaming into her," the Doctor explained. "Reports from every city, every country, every planet, and they all get packaged inside her head. She becomes part of the software – her brains the computer."
"If it all goes through her, she must be like a genius," Rose commented.
"No," I said softly. "It's like that new Indiana Jones movie that came out a while back. If all that information stuck in her head, her brain would explode. Just like-"
"Oi," the Doctor interrupted. "Don't spoil the movie. They're from 2005, that movie doesn't come out until 2008."
I rolled my eyes. "Sorry then," I huffed.
"But you are right. She wouldn't remember any of it," the Doctor stated, walking around to get a better look. "The brains the processor; soon as it closes, she forgets."
"So, what about all these people 'round the edge?" Rose asked, pointing to the motionless people.
"They've all got tiny little chips in their head," the Doctor said, "connecting them to her and they transmit 600 channels. Every single fact in the empire beams out to this place. Now that's what I call power."
"You alright there, Adam?" I smirked, leaning against the rail.
"I can see her brain," he stuttered.
"Do you wanna get out?" Rose asked, coming up beside me.
"No, no," Adam rushed. "This technology it's – it's amazing."
"This technology's wrong," the Doctor stated, staring off into space.
"Trouble?" Rose asked knowingly.
"Oh, yeah." He grinned, and Rose looked excited.
"More trouble," I sighed. "Great."
Everything suddenly went dark, and the light stream stopped in its place. Cathica sat up as if she just woke up from a dream, and looked peeved.
"Come off it, Suki, I wasn't even halfway," she complained. "What was that for?"
"Sorry," Suki apologized. "Must've been a glitch."
There was the sound of an electronic doorbell, and a mechanical voice came on over the intercom.
"Promotion," it said, and a blue screen appeared on the wall.
Cathica started to pray, and jump and down.
"Promotion for," the voice drawled, "Suki Macrae Cantrell. Please proceed to Floor 500.
"I don't believe it," Suki gasped. "Floor 500."
"How the hell did you manage that?" Cathica asked, looking upset. "I'm above you!"
"I don't know, I just applied on the off-chance," Suki said. "And they said yes!"
"So not fair," Cathica carried on. "I've been applying to Floor 500 for three years."
"What's Floor 500?" Rose asked.
"The walls are made of gold," the Doctor and I said in sync.
}*{
"Cathica, I'm gonna miss you," Suki cried, giving Cathica a hug. "Floor 500, thank you." She grinned at the Doctor.
"I didn't do anything," he insisted.
"Well, you're my lucky charm," she gushed.
"Alright," he shrugged. "I'll hug anyone."
They embraced, and Suki was giggling. She then turned to me, and grabbed my hand giving it a tight squeeze.
"Oh my god, I've got to go. I can't keep them waiting," she exclaimed. "I'm sorry!" She ran away, calling over her shoulder, and gripping tight to her bag. When she stepped into the elevator, she looked back, grinning. "Say goodbye to Steve for me! Bye!"
When the doors closed, Cathica dropped her smile. "Good riddance," she muttered.
"You're talking like you'll never see her again," the Doctor said with his arms crossed. "She's only going upstairs.
"We won't," Cathica stated. "Once you go to Floor 500, you never come back."
I shared a look with Rose, and bit my lip. Adam had already left to clear his head, and none of us were really missing him.
"Have you ever been up there?" the Doctor asked, as we walked around the big room with all the venders.
"Can't – you need a key for the lift, and you only get a key with promotion," Cathica told us, sounding annoyed. "No one gets to 500 except for the chosen few."
"Sounds fun," I grinned.
The Doctor decided he wanted another look at the broadcast room, but wouldn't tell Rose or me why.
"Look, they only give us twenty minutes maintenance; can't you give it a rest?" Cathica asked, as we stepped in.
"But you've never been to another floor," the Doctor pressed, "not even one floor down." He sat down in the center chair, and made himself comfortable. Rose and I leaned against the chair, and I crossed my arms.
"I went to Floor 16 when I first arrived," Cathica stated. "That's medical, that's where I got my head done, and then I – I came straight here. Satellite Five – you work, eat, and sleep on the same floor – and that's it, that's all."
We stared at her in bewilderment.
"You're not from management, are you?" she asked.
"At last, she's clever," the Doctor scoffed.
She blinked a couple of times. "Yeah, well, whatever it is, don't involve me, I don't know anything."
"Don't you ever ask?" the Doctor asked.
"Well, why would I?" Cathica asked.
"You're a journalist." The Doctor suddenly looked down, looking interesting in the arm of the chair. "Why's all the crew human?"
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"There's no aliens onboard – why?" the Doctor asked.
"I don't know, no real reason," Cathica sighed. "They're not banned or anything.
"Then where are they?" he repeated.
After a pause, she finally shook her head. "I suppose migration's tightened up. It's had to, what with all the threats."
"What threats?"
"I don't know – all of them," she stuttered. "Usual stuff. And the price of space warp doubled, so that kept the visitors away. Oh, and the government on Traffic Five's collapsed, so that lot stopped coming, you see." She furrowed her eyebrows. "Just lots of little reasons, that's all."
"Adding up to one great bit fact and you didn't even notice," the Doctor stated.
"Doctor, I think if there was any kind of conspiracy, Satellite Five would have seen it," Cathica said, looking more determined.
"I can see better. This society's the wrong shape, even the technology."
"It's cutting edge-"
"It's backwards!" the Doctor interrupted. "There's a great big door in your head. You should've chucked this out years ago."
"So what do you think's going on?" Rose asked.
"It's not just this space station, it's the whole attitude. It's the way people think," he explained. "The Great and Bountiful Human Empire stunted – something's holding it back."
"And how would you know?" Cathica challenged.
"Trust me," he told her. "Humanity's been set back about ninety years. When did Satellite Five start broadcasting?"
"Ninety-one years ago," she said, looking as if she was grasping everything.
I smiled. "I don't know about you guys," I started, "but I think I'm ready for my promotion." I grinned, and grabbed Rose's hand, pulling her out of the room with the Doctor and Cathica right behind us.
"You can't just barge in and act like you control everything," the Doctor called, chasing after us.
"You do," I laughed, stopping next to an electric box.
The Doctor skidded to a stop beside us, and pulled out his sonic. "That's different," he insisted. "I know what I'm doing." He opened up the box and sonicked the screen to get information.
"Just like you know how to fly the TARDIS?" I teased, smirking.
"Oi! I do know how to fly her!"
"You fly her with her brakes on!" I hissed. "You didn't know about the stabilizers. Shall I go on?"
He glared while Rose laughed at him.
"We're so gonna get in trouble," Cathica muttered, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "You're not allowed to touch the mainframe, we'll get told off."
"Rose, tell her to button it," the Doctor sighed.
"You can't just vandalize the place, someone's gonna notice," she insisted.
"Just like they noticed everything else?" I snickered.
When the screens sparked, Cathica jumped back, and put her hands down in defeat. "This is nothing to do with me. I'm going back to work."
"Go on then," the Doctor called, not even looking up. "See ya."
She made it five steps, before turning back. "I can't just leave you, can I?"
"If you want to be useful, get them to turn the heating down," Rose snapped. "It's boiling. What's wrong with this place, can't they do something about it?"
"I don't know, we keep asking," Cathica sighed. "Something to do with the turbine."
"'Something to do with the turbine,'" the Doctor mocked.
"Well, I don't know!" she exclaimed.
"Exactly, I give up on you, Cathica," the Doctor stated. "Now, Rose – look at Rose. Rose is asking the right kind of questions. Why is it so hot?"
"One minute, you're worried about the empire, and the next minute, it's the central heating," Cathica groaned.
"Well, never underestimate plumbing," he insisted. "Plumbing's very important." He pulled on some wire, and accidently pulling them out of the wall. "Here we go," he grinned, spinning the screen to face us. "Satellite Five, pipes and plumbing. Look at the layout."
"This is ridiculous," Cathica murmured. "You've got access to the computer's core. You could look at the archive, the news, the stock exchange – and you're looking at pipes?"
"But there's something wrong," the Doctor pointed out.
"I suppose," she agreed, turning back to the screen.
"What is it?" I asked, stepping closer.
"The ventilation system," Cathica said, slightly turning. "Cooling ducts, ice filters, all working flat out. Channeling massive amounts of heat down."
"All the way from the top."
"Floor 500," Rose stated.
"Something up there is generating tons and tons of heat," the Doctor nodded.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I feel like we're missing a party," Rose smiled. "It's all going on upstairs. Fancy a trip?"
"You can't, you need a key," Cathica insisted.
"Keys are just codes, and I've got the codes right here," the Doctor pointed out. "Here we go – override 215.9."
"How come it's giving you the code?" Cathica asked.
"Someone up there likes me."
"I've always wanted a promotion," I grinned. "Let's go see those walls of gold."
We walked to the elevator, with Cathica cautiously following behind. When we stepped in, she froze.
"Come on, come with us," Rose called.
"No way." She shook her head, and glanced around.
" Bye!" the Doctor called, before closing the door.
"Well don't mention my name," she called. "When you get in trouble, just don't involve me."
"That's her gone," the Doctor grinned as the doors slammed. "Adams given up. Looks like it's just us three."
We grinned, and I could feel the elevator rising.
"So, how am I doing so far?" I asked, leaning against the wall. "I haven't freaked out. Haven't passed out. I haven't even pulled out the plasma guns."
"You've never freaked out before," Rose said. "Well, except for when we went to-"
"Rose," the Doctor interrupted, shaking his head. "We can't say anything about what's happed in the past, because it's still in her future. Just like she can't tell us what's happened to her."
"That's not fair," I huffed.
"You're rules," he shrugged.
"No they aren't. They're yours," I said.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened.
"The walls are not made of gold," the Doctor sighed, looking around.
Everything was covered in frost, and I could see my breath.
"You should go back downstairs," he suggested, but Rose and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
"Tough," she shrugged, and walked past him.
"I'm used to you dragging me everywhere," I said, stepping up next to him. "It's different, you telling me to go away." Then I smiled before following Rose.
We wandered around for a bit, before finding a control room with six people sat in chairs, and a pale, blonde man standing behind them. Without turning, the man sighed.
"I started without you," he chuckled, and finally turned to face us. "This is fascinating. Satellite Five contains every piece of information within the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire – birth certificates, shopping habits, bank statements. But you three – you don't exist." He chuckled again. "There's not a trace – no birth, no job. Not the slightest kiss. How can you walk through the world and not leave a single footprint?"
"Suki!" Rose suddenly exclaimed, and my eyes darted to the auburn haired girl sitting at a computer screen. "Hello? Can you hear me? Suki! What have you done to her?"
"I think she's dead," the Doctor stated.
"But she's working," I noticed.
"They've all got chips in their head, and the chips keep going, like puppets." The Doctor crossed his arms.
"Oh!" the strange man exclaimed. "You're full of information. But it's only fair we get some information back, because apparently, you're no one." He chuckled. "It's so rare not to know something. Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter, 'cause we're off," the Doctor told him, and my eyes snapped up. "Nice to meet you. Come on."
He turned to leave, but two of the men sitting at the computers stood up and grabbed him. Suki gripped Rose's arm, and another man locked my hands together behind my back.
"Tell me who you are," the man insisted.
"Since that information's keeping us alive, I'm hardly gonna say, am I?" the Doctor asked, struggling.
I felt the guy who was holding me take my guns away. "Hey!" I shouted, trying to yank free.
The blonde man took my guns, and fumbled with them. "Well, perhaps my editor-in-chief can convince you otherwise.
"And who's that?"
The man looked over his shoulder, almost like he was afraid of being overheard. "It may interest you to know that this is not the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. In fact, it's not actually human at all. It's merely a place humans happen to live."
Something snarled above me, and I froze, looking up.
The man put his hand to his ear, and he nodded. "Sorry. It's a place where humans are allowed to live, by kind permission of my client." He then snapped, and pointed upwards, showing the thing I had already spotted.
It was a mass of slime and goop, with no eyes, but a clear shape of a head, and long, pointed teeth. It snapped and roared, and I tried harder to break free.
"What is that?" Rose asked.
"You mean that thing's in charge of Satellite Five?" the Doctor asked.
"That 'thing' as you put it, is in charge of the human race," the man corrected. "For almost a hundred years, mankind has been shaped and guided. His knowledge and ambition strictly controlled by its broadcast news, edited by my superior, your master, and humanity's guiding light – the mighty Jagrafess of the holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe." He grinned. "I call him 'Max.'"
We were put in weird handcuff like things, and as much as I tried, I couldn't even twist my wrists around.
"If we create a climate of fear, then it's easy to keep the border closed," the man explained. "It's just a matter of emphasis. The right word in the right broadcast repeated often enough can destabilize an economy, invent an enemy, change a vote."
"So all the people on Earth are, like, slaves," Rose concluded.
"Well, now, there's an interesting point," the man shrugged. "Is a slave a slave if he doesn't know he's enslaved?"
"Yes," I stated, nodding.
"Oh, I was hoping for a philosophical debate," the man pouted. "Is that all I'm going to get, 'yes'?
"Yes," the Doctor said, raising his eyebrows.
The man laughed. "You're no fun."
"Let me out of these manacles, you'll find out how much fun I am," the Doctor threatened.
"Oh, he's tough, isn't he?" the man chuckled. "But, come on, isn't it a great system? You've got to admire it – just a little bit."
"You can't hide something on this scale," Rose thought aloud. "Somebody must've noticed."
"From time to time, someone yes, but the computer chip system allows me to see inside their brains," he shrugged. "I can see the smallest doubt and crush it. And then they just carry on, living the life – strutting about downstairs and all over the surface of the Earth like they're so individual, when, of course, they're not – they're just cattle. In that respect, the Jagrafess hasn't changed a thing."
"What about you?" I asked. "You're not a Jagrafess. You're human."
"Yeah, well, simply being human doesn't pay very well," he said.
"But you couldn't have done this all on your own," Rose pointed out.
"No," the man laughed. "I represent a consortium of banks. Money prefers a long-term investment. Also, the Jagrafess needed a little help to, um – install himself."
"No wonder, creature that big," the Doctor commented, looking up. "What's his life span?"
"Three thousand years," the guy answered.
"That's one hell of a metabolism generating all that heat. That's why Satellite Five's so hot." The Doctor looked away from the massive beast. "You pump it out of the creature, channel it downstairs – Jagrafess stays cool, stays alive. Satellite Five is one great big life support system."
"But that's why you're so dangerous," the man pointed out. "Knowledge is power, but you remain unknown." He chuckled, before snapping his fingers.
The cuffs sent a shock through our wrists, and I cried out in pain.
"Who are you?" the man demanded.
"Leave them alone," the Doctor ordered, motioning to Rose and me. "I'm the Doctor, the blonde is Rose Tyler, and Miss Frizz is Lily Sikes."
"Hey!" I shouted, glaring at him.
He ignored me, and continued. "We're nothing, we're… just wandering."
"Tell me who you are," the man repeated.
"I just said."
"Yeah, but who do you work for, who sent you?" he pressed. "Who knows about us? Who, exactly?" He suddenly stopped, and grinned. "Time Lord," he stated.
"What?" the Doctor asked, and I froze, staring at him.
"Oh, yes! The last of the Time Lords and his traveling machine," the guy continued. "Oh, with his little human girls from long ago." He gently touched Rose's face, and she flinched back.
"Don't know what you're talking about," the Doctor rushed.
"Time travel," he growled, playing with the ends of my hair.
"Someone's been telling you lies," the Doctor insisted.
"Young master Adam Mitchell," the guy smiled. He snapped his fingers, and a video of Adam lying on a chair popped up. He was screaming as a stream of light ran from his head.
"Oh my god – his head," Rose observed.
"What the hell's he done?" the Doctor asked. "What the hell's he gone and done? They're reading his mind. He's telling them everything."
"Well why the hell did you tell him everything?" I asked.
"Why the hell didn't you stop us?" he shouted back.
The blonde guy grinned. "And through him, I know everything about you. Every piece of information in his head is now mine. And you have infinite knowledge, Doctor. The human empire is tiny compared to what you've seen in your T-A-R-D-I-S – TARDIS."
"Well, you'll never get your hands on it – I'll die first," the Doctor snapped.
"Die all you like," the guy shrugged. "I don't need you – I've got the key."
On the screen, a key was pulled out of Adam's pocket. My eyes widened.
"You and your boyfriends," the Doctor scolded Rose.
"It's not like you could fly it anyway," I told him. "Big, complicated machine like her – it would take you a century just to figure out how to turn the lights on."
"But you, Dear, know exactly everything about it," he smiled, and walked towards me. "A child of the TARDIS. You could fly the machine anywhere you'd like, and anywhere we would like if we used the right methods. Today, we are the headlines. We can rewrite history. We can prevent mankind from ever developing."
"And no one's gonna stop you. Because you've bred a human race which doesn't bother to ask questions, stupid little slaves. Believing every lie." The Doctor carried on, while the blonde man continued to play with my hair.
I glared, but didn't flinch back.
"They'll just trot right into the slaughterhouse if they're told it's made of gold."
I glanced at him in confusion. What was he doing?
Alarms started to sound, and the man left me, looking at all the computer screens, trying to find out what was going on. "Someone's disengaged the safety." He snapped his fingers, and the screen changed to show Cathica sitting on a chair, with the light stream.
"It's Cathica," Rose stated, smiling.
"And she's thinking," the Doctor added with a grin. "She's using what she knows. Everything I told her about Satellite Five – the pipes, the filters – she's reversing it. Look at that, it's getting hot."
I turned my head to see that the icicles on the ceiling were starting to melt at a rapid pace. Everything started to spark and flare and the people at the desk collapsed. Rose's handcuffs undid themselves, and she rushed to grab the Doctors sonic.
"She's venting the heat up here," the Doctor explained, as Rose undid his chains. "The Jagrafess needs to stay cool, and now it's sitting on top of a volcano." He laughed as he finally broke out of his chains. He took the sonic from Rose, and rushed over to me.
"I'm so slapping you for that Miss Frizz comment," I growled, as I was able to move away from my prison.
"Later," he stated, rolling his eyes.
I rushed over to the blonde man, and hit him upside the head, before taking my pistols back. "These things saved mine and my mother's life," I growled. "You are not taking these away."
I felt the Doctor grab my hand, and I was suddenly being pulled out of the room. We easily found Cathica, and the Doctor snapped his fingers to stop the information flow. When she opened her eyes, I helped her to her feet, and we cautiously made our way back downstairs.
When the elevator doors opened, we saw a huge mess, with people stumbling around.
"We're just gonna go," the Doctor told us. "I hate tidying up. Too many questions; you'll manage."
"You'll have to stay and explain it. No one's gonna believe me," Cathica insisted.
"Oh, they might start believing a lot of things now," the Doctor assured. "The human race should accelerate, all back to normal."
"What about your friend?" she asked, motioning to Adam, who was standing next to the TARDIS.
"He's not my friend," the Doctor stated.
I stayed where I was as the Doctor marched up to the poor guy. Rose and I shared a look before chasing after him.
Adam kept saying things, but the Doctor just grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him inside.
The trip was silent – I didn't even bring up the brakes or stabilizers. When the trembling stopped, the Doctor pushed Adam out the door.
"It's my house," Adam gasped, looking around. "I'm home."
I stepped out behind Rose, and looked around at the modern sitting room.
"Blimey, I thought you were gonna chuck me out of an airlock," he joked.
"Is there something else you wanna tell me?" the Doctor asked.
"No, um – what do you mean?" Adam rushed.
The Doctor went over to a phone and picked it up. "The archive of Satellite Five; one second of that message could've changed the world." He slammed it back down, and pointed the sonic screwdriver at it. In seconds, it blew up, and Rose and I jumped back. "That's it, then. See ya."
"How do you mean, 'see ya'?" Adam asked.
"As in goodbye."
"But what about me?" he asked. "You can't just go, I've got my head – I've got a chip type two – my head opens."
"That sucks," I stated, and snapped my fingers.
Immediately, his head opened up to show his brain.
"Don't," he growled, and snapped his fingers so that his head closed.
"Don't do what?" the Doctor asked innocently, and snapped his own fingers.
Adams head opened again. "Stop it!" he demanded, snapping his fingers.
"All right now, Doctor, Lily, that's enough. Stop it," Rose ordered.
"Thank you," Adam smiled, bur Rose just snapped her fingers.
"Oi," he protested, and Rose laughed.
"Sorry, just couldn't resist," she giggled.
Adam snapped his fingers once more.
"The whole of history could've changed because of you," the Doctor stated.
"I just wanted to help," Adam insisted.
"You were helping yourself," the Doctor corrected.
"And… I'm sorry, and I've said I'm sorry," Adam said. "And I am, I really am but – you can't just leave me like this."
"Yes, I can, because if you show that head to anyone, they'll dissect you in seconds," the Doctor stated. "You'll have to live a very quiet life – keep out of trouble. Be average, unseen – good luck." He opened the TARDIS door, and started to walk in.
"But I want to come with you," Adam called.
"I only take the best," the Doctor shrugged. "I've got Rose, and sometimes Lily."
"I'm still going to slap him," I whispered to Rose, before walking in after the alien man.
A moment later, Rose stepped in also.
"Alright, where to next?" the Doctor asked, grinning.
I was amazed at his mood swing. "Home," I told him. "Like you said: one trip at a time for me. I'm about like Adam, I suppose. I can't handle this on a daily bases."
"You're really gonna go?" Rose asked.
I nodded. "According to the Doctor, I have a lot of big days heading my way. Besides, my parents are with future him – and he's not as responsible." I smirked. "I'm your 'voice of reason' as you put it. I have a job to do."
"You're parents are with future him?" Rose repeated, looking panicky. "Where am I?"
I shrugged. "Probably around there somewhere," I sighed. "The first time I met him, he had a TARDIS full of people. The next time, nowhere to be found."
"You're giving things away," the Doctor stated, glancing up at me as he landed the TARDIS.
I smiled. "Guess so." I gave Rose a hug, but hesitated when I get to the Doctor. Finally, I just wrapped my arms around his torso for a second, before pulling away. "Don't think you're getting away with the Frizz thing. I'll just get you back next time I see you."
With a final wave, I bounded out of the TARDIS. I watched as it disappeared from my driveway, before sighing and stepping into my house.
The clock read four o'clock, which meant my dad would be walking through the door any second. Exhausted, I made myself a bowl of cereal, and plopped onto the couch.
The only thing going through my mind was thoughts of the Doctor.
