A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter 7 Stress Test
Jack stood in the doorway leading to a launch pad for the landspeeder they would be taking to get to the location of the Cyberman. He stared out into the vast hallway, his eyes focusing on two people in particular, as Obi-Wan walked up beside him.
"Is there a problem with your friends?" Jack shrugged.
"They've been fighting off and on ever since Rose came back. You see, Rose was trapped in a parallel universe for a while. Through means you probably wouldn't understand and I don't fully understand myself, the Doctor managed to get her back. According to Rose, there was something important the Doctor tried to tell her before he lost contact with her, but didn't, and has made no move to try again. From what I can tell, the Doctor has also been going out of his way to keep Rose out of danger." Jack explained as the yelling came to a close. The Doctor stomped past shortly thereafter, Rose not far behind.
"Guess I'm staying here." Rose said as she stood next to Jack. Jack shook his head in response and walked toward the landspeeder, but not before waving. Rose watched from the doorway as Jack, the Doctor, and Obi-Wan boarded the speeder.
Rose barely realized someone was standing next to her as the speeder took off. Rose turned to see who was standing next to her, making eye-contact with Anakin.
"What are you doing here? I thought you would have gone with your master."
"It doesn't take four people to get information and you need a Jedi with you when you aren't in public areas of the temple; I volunteered." Rose nodded.
"So, any interesting places 'round here?" Anakin smiled.
"I think I know of a few places you might like to see."
The Doctor, Jack, and Obi-Wan stood in front of a long hallway.
"The Cyberman should be in the room at the end of this hall." Obi-Wan said as they started walking.
"What happened with you and Rose back at the Temple?" Jack asked, the Doctor scowling at him.
"I don't want to talk about it, Jack."
"Then I'll talk and you can listen." Jack took the Doctor's silence to mean that he could continue.
"Look, I know it's none of my business what happens between you and Rose." The Doctor scoffed.
"That hasn't stopped you before." Jack sighed.
"My point is you can't keep her at arms length like you've been doing. You also can't keep trying to protect her from every little threat that comes her way." The Doctor remained silent as they got closer to the end of the hallway.
"Fine, don't listen. You're pushing her away and she'll probably find someone else if things don't change."
The door opened as the Doctor formulated a plan. The room looked to be used for medical purposes before its current occupant arrived. The Cyberman lay on a metal table, its legs and arms bound by metal restraints. Jack stepped into the room, the door sliding shut as the Doctor circled the table. The Cyberman's head turned to follow the Doctor's movements.
"You are the Doctor." it said as the Doctor stopped at the foot of the table.
"You're right. You want to know something that's wrong?" The Doctor paused on the off-chance that the Cyberman would answer.
The Doctor continued."You in this universe! Why are you here anyhow?"
"We could not stay in the Void. We used what was trapped with us to build a way out. We ended up in this universe instead of the one we were in previously, however."
"You're the one causing the wormholes." Obi-Wan said in realization.
"Correct."
"How many Cybermen are in this universe?" Silence settled as the Doctor waited for an answer.
"Enough to convert several worlds." the Cyberman replied, the Doctor going wide-eyed.
He turned to Obi-Wan and said,"The Cybermen have to be found. You're universe is at stake."
"I'll talk to the counsel about this." Obi-Wan said before the sound of breaking metal filled the room. The Doctor turned around in time to see the leg-restraints give way and the Cyberman get up.
"You will be deleted!" it shouted, electrifying its hand. Obi-Wan took his lightsaber off his belt and ignited it, opposed to the idea of being deleted. The Cyberman walked forward intent on carrying out its threat. One swing of the lightsaber separated the Cyberman from its arm. It didn't give up, though, still coming towards Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan lunged forward, running the Cyberman through, causing it to fall to the floor.
"We are coming." it said, before going still.
Obi-Wan turned to the Doctor as he turned off his lightsaber and said,"And we'll have to be ready."
"Ok Anakin, you've given me the grand tour. What was it you wanted to show me in the first place?" Anakin frowned in mock puzzlement.
"Are you complaining?"
"No. Don't get me wrong, the room of a thousand fountains was pretty spectacular. It's just that you started talking about this place a while ago, then proceeded to show me every other part of the Temple practically." Anakin walked up to the large door they were standing in front of.
"I thought about bringing you here in the first place, but decided to save the best for last." Anakin explained with a smile as he opened the door leading to the Temple menagerie.
Jack walked through the halls of the Temple in search of Rose. He, the Doctor, and Obi-Wan had just returned to the Temple and Jack wanted to fill Rose in on what had happened. He walked to the end of the hallway, coming to a large door marked 'menagerie'. Jack opened the door with ease, finding it was lighter than it looked, and stepped inside.
A myriad of sounds met his ears as various animals chirped, growled and squawked inside the massive vegetation-covered room. Jack followed the path that lead into the forest-like area as he wondered how long it would take to find Rose.
After walking for several minutes he came to an intersection in the path. He was about to start deciding which direction to go in when he saw two figures up ahead. Jack picked up his pace, only to slow down when he realized that Rose and Anakin were kissing. Jack slowly backed down the path as he realized he could only say one thing.
"Called it." He whispered.
