They ran into the lab and Teresa ordered quickly: "Elliot, Mo, watch the security cameras and let us know if there's trouble." They nodded, and as they ran to the computers the Doctor ran in, locking the lab doors behind him.
Seeing the father and son already watching the screens, he sent a quick grin to Teresa before turning to Amy and ordering: "Amy, keep reminding me how much time I haven't got." He tossed the stopwatch he'd stolen from Ambrose to Amy, and Amy called: "Okay. Um, er, twelve minutes till drill impact."
"Doctor, Tony." Teresa called and he immediately walked over to the ill man, murmuring: "Tony Mack. Sweaty forehead, dilated pupils. What are you hiding?" The man opened his shirt to reveal the green veins crawling across his chest, coming from the sting on his neck.
Nasreen gasped: "Tony, what happened?" He looked at her sadly as the Doctor soniced the wound, and Tony murmured: "Alaya's sting. She said there's no cure. I'm dying, aren't I?" The Doctor quickly inputted his sonic's findings into the lab computer and his eyes widened as he read the results.
"You're not dying, you're mutating." He breathed and Tony asked: "How can I stop it?"
"Decontamination program." The Doctor said, thinking aloud. "Might work. Don't know. Malohkeh… where's Malohkeh?" He asked as he looked around, but he caught sight of Teresa's face and his own face fell even before she confirmed the truth.
"Restac killed him." She told the Doctor sadly, before looking at Eldane. "I'm sorry I couldn't save him." She told the Silurian leader sadly and he frowned in confusion. The Doctor just nodded grimly before he said firmly: "Eldane, can you run the program on Tony?"
Eldane nodded, and as they moved, Mo called: "Doctor, shedload of those creatures coming our way. We're surrounded in here." The others all turned in alarm while the Doctor rambled aloud: "So, question is, how we do stop the drill given we can't get there in time? Plus, also, how do we get out, given that we're surrounded?"
He turned to Teresa and she nodded. He then turned to Nasreen as he asked: "Nasreen, how do you feel about an energy pulse channelled up through the tunnels to the base of the drill?" She stared at him in disbelief as she asked: "To blow up my life's work?"
"Yes." The Doctor said bluntly, making Teresa wince. He added apologetically: "Sorry. No nice way of putting that." Nasreen straightened her back and said determinedly: "Right, well, you're going to have to do it before the drill hits the city, in er…" "Eleven minutes forty seconds." Amy supplied.
"Yes." The Doctor beamed as he moved to the controls. "Squeaky bum time." He winked at Teresa who smiled, when Nasreen pointed out: "Yes, but the explosion is going to cave in all the surrounding tunnels, so we have to be out and on the surface by then."
The Doctor made a face, as Rory added: "But we can't get past Restac's troops." Please Eldane… Teresa thought, and she almost sighed in relief as Eldane spoke up: "I can help with that." He walked out from where he'd been helping Tony as he told them: "Toxic Fumigation."
He walked over to the Doctor as he explained: "An emergency failsafe meant to protect my species from infection. A warning signal to occupy cryo-chambers. After that, citywide fumigation by toxic gas. Then the city shuts down."
The Doctor's face became grim and he began to pace thoughtfully. Teresa touched his arm, looking him in the eyes as Amy said to Eldane softly: "You could end up killing your own people."
"There is hope in the future." Teresa told the Doctor softly, and he looked at her thoughtfully as Eldane replied to Amy: "Only those foolish enough to follow Restac." The Doctor examined Teresa's eyes for a moment longer, before turning to Eldane and asking seriously: "Eldane, are you sure about this?"
Eldane told him firmly: "My priority is my race's survival. The Earth isn't ready for us to return yet." "No," the Doctor agreed and Amy interjected: "Ten minutes, Doctor."
He just continued as he looked at Eldane with determined eyes: "But maybe it should be. So, here's a deal. Everybody listening." He ordered as he walked into the centre of the room, adding: "Eldane, you activate shutdown. I'll amend the system, set your alarm for a thousand years time."
He addressed the humans in the room as he said firmly: "A thousand years to sort the planet out. To be ready. Pass it on. As legend, or prophesy, or religion, but somehow make it known. This planet is to be shared." His gaze fell on Elliot, the youngest and a hope for future generations. The boy replied determinedly: "Yeah. I get you."
He smiled at the Doctor, who grinned back and snapped his fingers at him happily. He turned back to the console as Amy warned: "Nine minutes, seven seconds." "Yes." The Doctor muttered as he ran about the controls. "Fluid controls, my favourite. Energy pulse. Timed, primed and set. Before we go, energy barricade. Need to cancel it out quickly."
He soniced the controls, removing the barrier as Eldane told them: "Fumigation pre-launching." "Thank you, Eldane." Teresa told him sincerely and he smiled at her. Rory interjected anxiously: "There's not much time for us to get from here to the surface, Doctor."
"Ah ha," the Doctor laughed lightly, "super-squeaky bum time. Get ready to run for your lives. Now." He ordered, but Eldane pointed out: "But the decontamination program on your friend hasn't started yet."
The Doctor paused, and they all turned to Tony sadly. But the old man just stood up and walked to the doorway as he said bravely: "Well, go. All of you, go." Ambrose protested: "No, we're not leaving you here." "Granddad." Elliot cried as he ran to hug his grandfather.
"Eight minutes ten seconds." Amy warned, and Teresa twisted her hands anxiously, wanting to press them to hurry but knowing it was important Tony said farewell to his family. So she watched quietly as Tony said to his grandson: "Now you look after your mum. You mustn't blame her. She only did what she thought was right."
Elliot's eyes saddened as he whispered: "I'm not going to see you again, am I?" "I'll be here," Tony touched his grandson's chest where his heart was, "always. I love you, boy." He hugged his grandson again as Ambrose watched, fighting tears.
Tony saw and he said to her firmly: "You be sure he gets home safe." "This is my fault." Ambrose cried, the tears finally breaking out as she took her son, and Tony replied lightly: "No, I can't go back up there. I'd be a freak show. The technology down here's my only hope."
Mo took his son as Ambrose sobbed and Tony hugged his daughter. "I love you, Dad." Ambrose cried into his shoulder, and Tony just gave her one last squeeze before he pushed her back to her family and ordered: "Go. Go."
Mo took his wife, as Tony turned to urge Nasreen to also leave. The Doctor shared a look with Eldane, and the Silurian leader pressed a button. The lights dimmed, casting dim green lights throughout the underground city as the intercom called: "Toxic fumigation initiated. Return to cryo-chambers."
Amy quickly checked the cameras and she called: "They're going. We're clear." The Doctor ordered: "Okay, everyone follow Nasreen. Look for a blue box." He reached the doors, unlocking them as he told them: "Get ready to run."
Teresa didn't follow, moving to Nasreen as she murmured: "Goodbye, Nasreen." The woman looked at the girl in surprise, wondering how she knew, but the blonde girl just smiled kindly. She squeezed Nasreen's hand as she told the older woman: "I really hope that you wake up to a better future. And with Tony."
Nasreen's eyes softened, and she hugged the girl. "Thank you, and for saving Tony earlier. It's why you got caught in the first place." Nasreen murmured and Teresa just smiled as she hugged the woman back.
"Terry?" The Doctor called urgently, and she broke away. Giving Nasreen a final, small smile, Teresa hurried out to the door as Amy and Rory ran after Mo and his family. She paused by Eldane, and they shared a look as the Doctor said found out about Nasreen not coming and said his farewells.
"Thank you, Eldane. I am truly sorry." Teresa told the Silurian, and he replied simply: "Not everyone is perfect. The frightened woman showed that, and Restac showed that. More similarities, don't you think?" Teresa smiled at the kind leader and surprised him as she hugged him.
"Goodbye, Eldane." She whispered as she let go, and he nodded. "Doctor! Terry!" Amy yelled impatiently, having run back for them. The Doctor hugged Nasreen before letting go. He and Teresa gave the people remaining behind one last look in farewell before they ran with Amy out into the tunnels.
"Come and look for us!" Nasreen called. They paused to look back and Doctor nodded as Teresa waved, before he grabbed Teresa's hand and Teresa grabbed Amy's as they began to run for their lives.
As they reached the gardens, Rory ran past them having come back to look for them. "Other way, idiot." Amy yelled as they ran and Rory skidded to a halt, turning to run after the trio as they ran through the city.
They ran past Mo and his family as well, the group not knowing where to go, and the Doctor yelled as he took the lead: "Come on!" "Quickly!" Teresa added and the family raced after them as the computer continued to call: "Toxic fumigation is about to commence. Immediate evacuation."
They reached the Tardis and the Doctor said rapidly: "No questions, just get in. And yes, I know, it's big." He unlocked the door as he ordered: "Ambrose, sickbay up the stairs, left, then left again, Get yourself fixed up."
The family ran in quickly as the Doctor told his companions: "Come on. Five minutes and counting…" He trailed off, and Teresa tensed, knowing what he would see.
"Not here." He whispered and Teresa turned to also see the w-shaped crack in the wall, a blinding white light shining through it. The Doctor muttered in horror: "Not now. It's getting wider."
"The crack on my bedroom wall." Amy said fearfully, and the Doctor muttered as he approached the crack slowly: "And the Byzantium. All through the universe, rips in the continuum. Some sort of space-time cataclysm. An explosion, maybe. Big enough to put cracks in the universe. But… what?" He breathed in wonder.
Teresa tensed while Amy told him urgently: "Four minutes fifty. We have to go." The Doctor snapped: "The Angels laughed when I didn't know. Prisoner Zero knew. I bet Terry knows." Amy glanced at her friend, who just shifted uncomfortably. The Doctor went on: "Everybody knows except me."
"Doctor, just leave it." Amy begged, but he ignored her as he murmured: "But where there's an explosion, there's shrapnel." He pulled out a red handkerchief and moved even closer to the crack. Rory shouted in alarm: "Doctor, you can't put your hand in there."
He turned back and asked lightly: "Why not?" "Terry, stop him!" Amy cried, but Teresa shook her head. He needed to see this. The Doctor wrapped the handkerchief around his hand and stuck it into the crack. He cried out in pain, making Amy and Rory flinch, but Teresa held them back.
The Doctor suddenly blinked and he called: "I've got something." "What is it?" Amy demanded, and the Doctor wrenched himself free from the crack. He pulled the smoking thing with him in his hand and stared at it in a mix of shock and horror.
"I don't know." He told them, and Teresa breathed deeply at the lie. She then glanced to the side as she heard a heavy gasp. Rory did the same and he called warningly: "Doctor?" The Doctor and Amy turned to also see Restac crawling in, dragging her dying body and a gun with her.
Amy muttered anxiously: "She was there when the gas started. She must have been poisoned." "You." Restac snarled as she looked at the Doctor. The Doctor said quietly, trying to stay calm: "Okay, get in the Tardis, all of you."
He reached into his jacket pocket as Teresa tensed and Restac snarled: "You did this." She raised her weapon and Teresa grabbed Amy as Rory yelled: "Doctor!" He pushed the Doctor aside, getting hit by the blast and Amy screamed: "Rory!"
Restac died as Teresa let Amy go to rush to Rory's side as he cried in pain. The Doctor and Teresa joined her, the former asking urgently: "Rory, can you hear me?" He soniced the man, but there was nothing he could do and Rory opened his eyes as he murmured: "I don't understand."
"Shush." Amy hushed him, touching his face gently. "Don't talk." She turned to the Doctor and Teresa as she asked desperately: "Terry, Doctor, is he okay? We have to get him onto the Tardis." "We were on the hill." Rory murmured and Amy turned back to him tearfully.
"I can't die here." Rory whispered, and Amy's heart broke as she whispered sorrowfully: "Don't say that. Terry, please tell me he'll be all right." Teresa didn't say anything, as Rory said softly to Amy: "You're so beautiful."
Amy began to choke a little, trembling as Rory closed his eyes and murmured: "I'm sorry." He let out his final breath, and Amy gasped. She begged, not taking her eyes off of the man she loved: "Doctor, Terry, help him."
Neither said anything, but the Doctor glanced over to see the light from the crack beginning to touch Rory's feet and his whole body went cold. He said quickly: "Terry, Amy, move away from the light. If it touches you, you'll be wiped from history."
Neither girl moved, Teresa moving to wrap an arm around the ginger as Amy began to sob quietly. The Doctor said softly: "Amy, move away now." "No. I am not leaving him." Amy retorted angrily as she stared down at Rory's empty face. She begged: "We have to help him."
Teresa squeezed her shoulders as the Doctor bent to the girls and said urgently: "The light's already around him. We can't help him." "I am not leaving him." Amy argued and the Doctor replied shortly: "We have to." "No!" Amy screamed as the Doctor and Teresa grabbed her by the shoulders.
"I'm sorry." The Doctor said as he hauled her up, and Teresa's eyes were filled with unshed tears as she helped the Doctor drag Amy towards the Tardis, even as Amy screamed: "Get off me!" "I'm sorry." The Doctor and Teresa repeated continously and Amy shouted: "Get off me. No!"
They shoved the protesting girl into the Tardis, quickly following. Teresa grabbed the hysterical redhead as the Doctor quickly soniced the doors locked. She held her sobbing friend as the Doctor headed to the console, trying to soothe her as Amy cried: "No! Let me out. Please let me out. I need to get to Rory."
She banged against the doors, before sliding against them as Teresa gripped her shoulders tightly, the tears beginning to fall down her own cheeks. Amy whirled on her, demanding: "What'll happen to him? Tell me, what's going to happen to Rory."
Teresa looked at her sadly as she said softly: "You already know, Amy." The redhead sobbed: "That light. If his body's absorbed, I'll forget him. He'll never have existed." She clutched Teresa's arms as she begged: "You can't let that happen! Terry, please!"
Teresa could only hold her friend, when suddenly they heard the Doctor pull a lever on the console. Amy whipped her head to him and she demanded: "What are you doing?" The Tardis began to wheeze and Amy shoved Teresa away, running to the console.
"Doctor, no!" She begged, grabbing him and trying to stop him as she fought against him. "No!" But it was too late as the Tardis disappeared and Teresa glanced at the Tardis screen to see Rory's body almost gone as it was surrounded by the light.
Amy was still screaming: "No!" as Teresa walked over slowly and the Doctor grabbed Amy, trying to stop her from punching randomly on the console. Amy begged him as she cried: "Doctor, we can't just leave him there."
The Doctor ordered urgently: "Keep him in your mind. Don't forget him. If you forget him, you'll lose him forever." Amy argued as she cried: "When we were on the Byzantium, I still remembered the Clerics because I am a time traveller now, you said."
Her voice broke as she shouted the words, still sobbing as she pounded on the Doctor's chest. Teresa took the girl into her arms instead, hugging her softly as she told her friend quietly: "It will affect you this time."
Amy cried into Teresa's shoulder as the Doctor explained: "They weren't part of your world. This is different. This is your own history changing." He pleaded with the girl, and Amy screamed at him: "Don't tell me it's going to be okay. You have to make it okay."
She sobbed hysterically as Teresa soothed her and the Doctor hugged them both in his arms, all of them falling to the ground as he pleaded: "It's going to be hard, but you can do it, Amy. Tell me about Rory, eh? Fantastic Rory. Funny Rory. Gorgeous Rory. Amy, listen to me. Do exactly as I say. Amy, please. Keep concentrating. You can do this."
"I can't." She sobbed, and the Doctor pleaded: "You can. You can do it. I can't help you unless you do." "Terry, do I forget him?" Amy asked, and Teresa hesitated. The Doctor's eyes had filled with tears as well now as Amy cried, begging Teresa: "Please, please, promise me that I remember him!"
"I can't." Teresa whispered and Amy cracked. She screamed at the blonde: "You knew! You knew and you let him! Why didn't you save him!" The Doctor hurriedly shushed the hysterical redhead as Teresa's eyes saddened infinitely.
"Amy, come on, that's not fair." "The Doctor chided and he held Amy's head as he pleaded: "Now remember, Pond. We can still save his memory. Come on, Amy. Please." Amy just continued to cry, and Teresa whispered: "Amy, Amy, you won't remember this but I promise you now, Rory will come back to you one day."
"How can you promise me that when he's gone." Amy whimpered, already sounding lost, and Teresa gripped her hands as she knew Amy was losing Rory. "Amy, I'm sorry, but trust me. He will come back to you, he'll always be there somewhere in your mind. And I'm so sorry I couldn't stop this."
The whole Tardis jolted as they landed, throwing all of them to the floor. The Doctor raised his head to see Rory's red ring box, having fallen from the console where Rory had left it earlier that day after safely tucking Amy's engagement ring inside.
He stared at it as Amy and Teresa sat up, and his hearts became heavy as Amy asked lightly: "What were you saying?" He turned to Amy, a little horrified at the confused expression on her face. Amy was looking puzzled, staring at the stunned Doctor and the distraught Teresa, but she was distracted as Mo called, coming into the console room with his family: "I have seen some things today, but this is beyond mad."
Amy checked the stopwatch and said urgently: "Doctor. Five seconds till it all goes up." The three got up quickly, and they ran out of the Tardis, Mo and his family following, just in time to see the drill explode in the distance.
The Doctor was still in shock, and Teresa stared at him sadly. "I'm sorry I couldn't save him." She said sadly and he shook his head as he glanced at her. "You said he comes back. What did you mean by that?" He asked and Teresa gave him a sad smile.
"Spoilers." She breathed and he bowed his head. The blue light appeared around Teresa again, and she called to him quickly: "Doctor, don't blame yourself. It'll turn out right in the end- you'll see."
He smiled sadly at her, nodding as he whispered: "Bye, my angel, until you see me again in my past or future." She nodded and waved sadly as she disappeared. She hated that she'd left him alone, but she knew he'd understand one day and that he'd be okay. He didn't need her there to help him through. Right?
