The End Of The World Part I
"I'm giving her 20 seconds." The Doctor said once he was back at the consol.
A few moments later, Rose burst into the room, a smile plastered on her face as she closed the doors behind her.
Eliza, who's spirits has risen immensely, jumped up and greeted, "Welcome aboard!"
"Right then, Rose Tyler. Tell me, where would you like to go first?" The Doctor asked, throwing a glass ball in the air and catching it repeatedly. "Backwards or Forewords in time? Your choice."
"Forewords." Rose said confidently.
"Good answer." Eliza commented. "Not too keen on backwards, me."
The Doctor put the glass ball down and began flicking several buttons. The TARDIS dematerialized from the street, leaving Mickey flabbergasted.
"How far?" The Doctor asked.
"One hundred years."
Pressing one more switch, The TARDIS materialized. "There you go. Step outside, it's the 22nd century. But that's a bit boring, that. Do you wanna go a bit further?"
"Fine by me." Rose said with a smile as she accepted his challenge.
A few moments later, after pressing more buttons and pulling a lever, The Doctor flicked one more switch. "Ten thousand years in the future. Step outside, it's the year twelve thousand and five. The new Roman Empire."
"Yeah, and look how long that lasted." Eliza said as she looked through the TARDIS door window. "Hey! We're at Arkranth!"
"You think you're so impressive." Said Rose calmly.
"I am so impressive!" The Doctor replied defensively.
"You wish!"
"Fine then." The Doctor said as he began pressing buttons again. "You asked for it. I know exactly where to go." Pressing one more switch, he grabbed hold of the side railing and advised, "Hold on!"
The TARDIS swam through the Time Vortex, finally landing at her destination.
"Where are we?" Rose asked. The Doctor pointed towards the door, which Eliza had just gone through. "What's out there?" She asked excitedly. He focused his gaze more and she nodded her head a bit before she ran towards the door.
They were in some sort of room. The TARDIS was parked at the top of a small staircase, just handing off the edge. A little bit away, Eliza was staring out through the window, hands in her pockets. "Should of known you'd taker her here first."
Out through the window was an endless space, slap bang in the middle was Earth. The Doctor locked the TARDIS and stood behind Eliza and Rose.
"You lot." He said to Rose. "You spent all your time thinking about dying. Think that you're gunna get killed by eggs, or beef or asteroids. But you never take time to imagine the impossible. That maybe you survive."
The Doctor looked through the glass at the Earth and continued, "This is the year 5.5/apple/26. Five billion years in your future. And this is the day- Hold on." He looked down at his watch and then gestured at the planet. Now only noticing it, Rose watched as the sun, right about the planet, illuminated the dark space. "This is the day the sun expands."
Rose stared at the planet that was her, well, once was, home. "Welcome to the end of the world." The Doctor added.
"C'mon. Let's look about. I like nosin' about." Eliza said cheerfully as she walked through a door, the other two behind her, though Rose waited until they got round the corner take her eyes off Earth.
"Shuttles 5 and 6 are now docking. Guests are to be reminded that it is forbidden to use weapons, teleportation and religion. Earth death is scheduled for 15:39." Said a female voice over the tannoy.
"So, when it says 'guests', does that mean people?" Rose asked.
"Depends what you mean by 'people'." Eliza said as she looked into a room, which turned out to be a cupboard.
"I mean people. What do you mean?"
"Aliens." The Doctor replied.
"What are they doin' on board the ship?"
"Not really a ship," The Doctor started as he soniced a door open. "More like an observation deck. The great and the good are gathering to watch the planet burn. All for fun." The door opened and they entered a large room, a huge window viewing the Earth.
"Mind you, when he says 'the great and the good', he means the rich snobs who think they're Gods." Eliza added.
"Hold on, they did this once on News round Extra, 'bout the sun expanding. But that takes hundreds of years."
"Nah, takes millions." Eliza said
"But the planet is now the property of the National Trust. They've been keeping it preserved." He pointed towards the Earth, just seeing sound float around the Earth. "Gravity satellites, holding back the sun."
"But… the planet looks the same as ever, I thought the continents shifted and stuff like that." Rose said, remembering one particular Geography lesson where she was listening and watching for when Mr Phillip to turn round so she could fire spit balls at him through a straw.
"It did, but the Trust shifted them back. That's a classic Earth. But, now the money's ran out, nature takes over. Got about-" The Doctor looked at his watch and ended, "Half an hour, then the planet gets roasted."
"Like chicken!" Eliza chimed. Her face turning dead serious. "…I'm suddenly in the mood for chicken."
"Is that what were doin' here? I mean, is that what you do? Just jump in at the last minute and save the earth?"
"I'm not saving it." The Doctor said, a strange smile on his face. "Time's up."
"But what about the people?" Rose asked, horrified.
"No one down there. All gone." Eliza said.
"So… it's just me then?" Rose asked, and Eliza nodded slightly.
"Who the hell are you?!" Demanded a voice from behind. The trio turned round to face a blue faced man wearing a beige coloured robe.
"Oh, that's nice. Thanks." The Doctor remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"But how did you get in?" The man question. "This is a maximum hospitality zone. The guests have disembarked, they're on their way any seconds now and-"
"Don't get your knickers in a twist." Eliza said, eying the man up and down.
"Yeah. Anyway, that's me. I'm a guest, look." The Doctor said. He held up a piece of paper to the mans face. "See? The Doctor, plus two. I'm the Doctor, this is Rose Tyler, and Eliza. They're my plus two. That alight?"
The man stayed quiet for a few seconds, his yellow eyes shifting from each of the three in front of him. "Well, obviously. My apologies." He said. "If you're on board, we'd better start. Enjoy." He walked off, leaving the three to their business.
"The papers slightly physic. Makes them see what ever I want them to see." The Doctor said, showing her the paper. He put it into his back pocket. "Saves a lot of time."
"He… erm… he's blue." Rose stuttered.
"Yeah." The Doctor nodded.
"Just pretend that you're in a spin off series of the Simpson's, it'll make you feel better." Eliza suggested.
"Okay…" Rose said as the man, now taking his role as the host, said over the tannoy, "We have in attendance The Doctor, Rose Tyler and Eliza. Thank you. Now, all staff to your positions."
The host clapped his hands and several of small men appeared from the hall, all clad in black helmets, black suit and their skin as blue as the host himself. They stood around the walls of the room, some standing by a large door.
"I feel like we're in munchkin land." Eliza said in delight as she watched the little blue men.
"And now, may I introduce, the next honoured guests, representing The Forest of Cheam, we have trees, namely, Jabe, Lute and Coffa."
The doors opened and three figures came into the room. In front was a woman, wearing a light orange dress, the two men behind her wearing dark robes.
"There will be an exchange of gifts of peace in a few moments." The host said. "If you can keep the room circulating, thank you. Next, from the solicitors Joclo and Joclo, we have Moxx of Balhoon." A very alien looking man in a transport pod came into the room. He, too, was blue, but mostle head and torso.
"Next, from Financial Family sever, we have the Adherents of the Repeated Meme." A group of cloaked people walked into the room, shuffling closely together.
"The inventors of hypo-slip travel systems, the brothers Hop and Pyleen. Thank you."
The tree's the woman followed by the two men, one of which was carrying a tray of plants, walked up to the trio. "A gift of peace." Said Jabe. She took one of the plants and handed it to the Doctor. "I bring you a cutting of my Grand-Father."
"Thank-you." The Doctor said dramatically. He handed the plant to Rose. "Now, gifts… gifts…" He searched his pocket and then came to a conclusion. "I give you air from my lungs." He breathed gently on Jabe as she breathed the air in. Rose and Eliza exchanged glances, Eliza with a smirk smacked on her face.
"How… intimate." Jabe replied. At this, Eliza walked and stood behind Rose, leaning her forehead on her shoulder so she couldn't watch anymore.
"There's more where that came from." The Doctor said cheerfully.
"I bet there is." Jabe replied cheekily. She walked off, the two following behind her. Eliza came from behind Rose and pushed the Doctor slightly.
"From the Silver Devastation, the main sponsor of our event, please welcome, The Face of Boe." The host announced. The doors opened and Eliza turned very serious. The small men pushed in a large glass container, carrying an old mans face. The tank was filled with water, a few bubbles rising from the man's mouth. The Face of Boe looked directly at Eliza, her returning the gaze, and did a sort of nod.
"The Moxx of Balhoon." The Doctor greeted, drawing back Eliza's attention.
I'll talk to him later. Eliza thought. She got the same feeling about the Face of Boe she did with Rose. Some sort of familiar sense.
"My facilitations on this historical happenstance. I bring you the gift of bodily saliva's." Moxx said. He turned to Rose and spat, catching her straight in the eye.
"Thank you very much." The Doctor said as he stifled back a laugh. Eliza however wasn't doing so well. Her face had gone red from laughing, and Rose just looked at her. 'I'm sorry', Eliza tried to mouth, but failed terrifically. Rose wiped some of the spit from her eye and flicked it towards Eliza.
"The Adherence of the Repeated Meme!" The Doctor greeted. "I bring you air from my lungs." He breathed out heavily, trying to cover all of the group.
"A gift of peace, in all good faith." Said the man in front. He held out his claw-like hand and presented a round metal ball. The Doctor took it gladly and chucked it to Rose.
"And, ladies and Gentlemen, our very special guest. May I introduce the last human. The Lady Cassandra O' 17." The doors opened and nothing could have prepared Rose for what she saw. Two men in white suit came out, wheeling in a metal frame. In the middle of this frame, stretched out from all sides, was a layer of skin, in the middle some lips, a small nose and two eyes. Below this skin was a container similar to what the Face of Boe was in, but considerably smaller. In this container was a human brain.
"Oh now, don't stare." Said Lady Cassandra. "I know, I know, it's shocking, isn't it? I've had my chid completely taken away, and would you look at the difference? Look how thin I am! Thin and Dainty! I don't look a day over two thousand!" Her eyes went as far as she could to the man on her left as she muttered, "Moisturize me, moisturize me!"
The man, who was holding some sort of sprayer, sprayed water over her. "Truly, I am the last human." Rose stepped away from The Doctor and Eliza and went to look at the back of Cassandra. Nothing, just a flat sheet of skin.
"My father was a Texan. My mother was from the Arctic Desert. They were born on Earth, and they were the last to be buried in its soil. I have come to honour them and to say good-bye." Her voice began to crack slightly as she mumbled to herself, "No tears… no tears…"
The doors behind her opened, and she cleared her throat. "But behold! I bring gifts from Earth itself! The last remaining Ostrich egg." One of the small blue men walked in, holding an egg in his hands. "Legend says it had a wing-span of fifty feet, and blew fire from its nostrils… or was that my third husband?" She chuckled merrily as Eliza nudged The Doctor's shoulder. "I didn't know you married her."
The doors opened again before her could reply and two of the men can out, wheeling an old juke box into the room. "And here; another rarity. According to the archives, this was called an 'Ipod'. It stores music from humanities greatest composers. Play on!"
One of the small men pressed a button and the music of 'Tainted Love' filled the room. Instantly, Eliza grabbed the Doctor's hands and started to dance, himself letting her get away with it for a few moments.
"Refreshments will now be served. Earth death in thirty minutes." Said the host. He stepped down from the podium and mingled.
Rose, on the other hand, didn't feel that well. She left the room, The Doctor noticing. As Eliza walked/danced around the room, he went to follow Rose.
Before he reached the door, Jabe walked up to him, holding a strange device in her hands. "Doctor."
He turned, and the device sent out a green light, as if scanning him. "Thank you."
The Doctor frowned, but continued towards the door. Jabe went about her own business, and Eliza continued to wonder around the room. When the song ended, she found that the Doctor and Rose had left. She sighed and decided to wait for them. Walking over to the window, she watched as the sun on top of the planet spread slowly down to the surface.
"Ahem." Said a female voice from behind her. She was a little startled as the voice was… normal sounding. Eliza turned round to see a tall figure. She was wearing a black coat, like the one she had in the TARDIS. Only this one didn't reach the floor. Instead, this one came to the woman's mid-leg as the coat was lifted over her heavily pregnant belly. The only thing that put her off a little was that the woman was hooded. Normally, she would be able to see a small section of someone's face or strands of her hair, but it was like the woman had no face at all. It was just black under the hood.
"Oh, hello!" Eliza greeted. She stuck her hand out. "Eliza." The woman shook Eliza's hand hesitantly. "Oh, congratulations!" Eliza said, gesturing the woman's stomach.
"Thank you." The woman replied. Her voice was very gentle, but also firm, with a lot of knowledge behind it. "Um… gifts of peace." Only now noticing them, the woman wore, around the coat and across her chest, a sword strap. She undid it and then took on the second gift, a shield from her back.
"For me?" Eliza asked. The woman nodded and held them out for Eliza to take.
The first thing Eliza noticed was the light blue bird slapped in the middle, its wing spread out. On one side of the bird was a red lion on its hind-leg's, paws curled and ready to strike. On the other side was a dog with brown and white fur, also on his hind-leg's and looking as if it was howling. The background was blue, with a silver outline. The sword had a black handle and the hilt was golden. Grasping the sword, she released it from the sheath, letting a ring run through the hall. The blade was silver, black, small writing running up to the tip, none of it she could understand, but could recognise.
"Thank you very much…" Eliza said as she looked at the sword. She put it back in the sheath. "But I don't have anything for you- Hello?" The woman who had given her the items was no longer there, she was staring at utter space.
Well that was creepy. Eliza thought. She tightened the strap on the sword, putting it over her chest the way the woman had, and linked the shield to one of the holders the sheath had, bringing back her free hands.
Deciding that they'd had enough time, Eliza went for the door, only to be stopped by two people. "Excuse me, Eliza was it?" Asked Jabe. She flashed the device at Eliza, the same way she had done the Doctor. Without saying anything, Jabe looked at the device and walked away.
Heading for the door again, Eliza was stopped this time by a voice… in her head.
"Ha!" Laughed the voice. "You look just like I remember you."
"I knew it! I knew travelling with the Doctor was gunna send me barmy!" Eliza thought.
"No, no. Come here, child." Eliza followed the voice to the Face of Boe, who greeted her with a strange smile.
"It's good to see you again, Eliza." Said the Face of Boe.
"We've met before?"
"Not yet, but we will do soon enough." The Face of Boe replied. "It is strange, seeing you again, but a pleasure, none the less."
"A pleasure meeting you as well." Eliza said. "So! Go on, you can give me a few spoilers."
The Face of Boe laughed telepathically. "And the same persistence as always. But I'm afraid, my dear, that I can give you no hints."
"I hope you're more fun next time we meet." Eliza said in mock grumpiness. "Anyways, nice to meet you."
"Likewise." The Face of Boe said in farewell as Eliza went through the door.
Jabe, who was trying to find Eliza's species the way she had done the Doctor's. "Don't do this again. Her species, is it the same as his?"
"Species: unidentifiable." The device reported back.