Emily Rose

Chapter 9: Hello, Cardiff

By Kate Carter

A/N: I apologize for any gaffes, I've only seen the first episode of "Torchwood"

I spent the night reading, which I found to be rather curious, but I just wasn't sleepy, for some reason. It was almost like the few hours of sleep I'd been getting every day were enough. I didn't understand it, but I hadn't understood most things lately, so I just ignored it.

Promptly at eight, Martha showed up to take me to Cardiff. I'd gotten onto the Internet and discovered that Cardiff was the capital of Wales, had been since 1955, was originally a Roman settlement, was the second largest media center in Britain, and, most strikingly to me, was the birthplace of Roald Dahl. Seriously. Roald Dahl. He only wrote some of my favorite books ever, like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "James and the Giant Peach," and "Matilda" (although the movie didn't do that one justice. But then, when do movies ever do a book justice? With the exception of "The Princess Diaries" but I liked that partially because they set it in San Francisco, and I was one of the extras. It rocked. Although the version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with Johnny Depp was pretty good. Seriously, they took the song lyrics straight from the book! And I'm rambling, aren't I?).

During the drive, we made a lot of small talk, and she told me a few details about the Doctor. Turned out she'd traveled with him too. It really didn't surprise me. She told me about meeting Shakespeare, of visiting New New York and old New York, and of being trapped in 1969. Her eyes darkened as she mentioned the Year That Never Was, and she didn't say much about it before changing the subject.

At that point, we'd finally made it to Cardiff, and after a few more minutes negotiating the streets (to Roald Dahl Plass, I was thrilled to notice), Martha found a place to park. She told me to follow her and took off down the street. I followed closely, so that I wouldn't lose her.

And then she vanished.

I stopped, confused and uncertain. All the sudden, the upper half of Martha reappeared. "Come on," she said, beckoning. I came obediently.

Suddenly, Martha was in front of me, whole again, and I gaped at her. "But what – why don't those people -" I stuttered, trying to form a coherent sentence. Martha smiled. "They don't notice it because they don't really want to notice it. And if any did, well, they just don't believe it," she explained. "After all, would you believe seeing someone vanish in front of you?"

I shook my head slightly, then rethought it. "Well, not up until last week," I said. At that point, the ground began to drop. "Whoa!" I clutched at Martha, but she only laughed and pointed downward. I stared in shock at the large underground cavern. I was on some sort of elevator riding down into it.

And then, WHOOSH! I stared in shock at the large creature that had just flown past me. "Pt-pt-pterodactyl!" I finally managed to get out.

At this point, we'd hit the bottom, and a man came towards us. He was probably in his early 40s, wearing a long navy blue coat, and, what I noticed most, he had an American accent. "Don't mind him, he likes to play games with people," the man said, giving a casual wave at the pterodactyl. He glanced me over. To be honest, it made me somewhat uncomfortable. "Why, hell-o," he said. I eyed him warily.

"Lay off, Jack," said Martha in a warning tone.

"I was just saying hello," the man – Jack – said in a mock-defensive voice. "Really, Martha, you're as bad as our mutual friend."

"Yes, well, he's the reason I'm here. Jack Harkness, meet Emily Rose Thompson," she said, stressing my middle name slightly. "She's looking for the Doctor."

"Really?" This time, Jack's gaze was more clinical. "And why is that?"

"Because she regenerated a week ago," Martha said flatly.

"What?!" Jack looked at me with interest. "How many hearts do you have?"

I looked at him, slightly confused. "Well, ever since last week, I've had two," I said.

"Ah." Jack looked at Martha. "I'm supposing you want to check out the new toy?"

"Yes, please, if you don't mind. I wanted to verify it before I called him," Martha said.

"Great. Right this way." Jack led us into a section set up like a small medical lab. "Have fun, I'll be in my office when you're done," he said. Martha pointed to the cot that was located in there. "Sit up on there," she ordered. I complied, thinking how coincidental it was that this was the second doctor I had helping me find the Doctor.

She scanned me with a very alien-looking device. She then looked at the computer screen with interest. I guess the results she was looking for popped up, because she finally nodded her head slightly and said to herself, "Thought so."

Then she turned to me. "Emily, the test I just ran confirmed it. You're part Time Lord."

"All right," I said warily, looking at her. "What's that mean?"

Martha sighed, and came and sat beside me. "To be honest, I don't know," she said. "To the best of my knowledge, there's only one Time Lord left in the universe, and that's the Doctor. I have a theory, but I'd rather not say anything."

"Does it have to do with this Rose person?" I asked.

Martha's eyebrow shot up. "How did you-?" she began.

"I overheard you and Sarah Jane talking. I'm sorry, I couldn't help it," I apologized, feeling about five years old again. Martha smiled slightly.

"It might," she said. "It might explain a lot, actually. But I don't think I'm the one to tell you, if my theory's right. And if it's wrong, well, I'd just as soon forget about it." Martha sighed and stared off into space for a moment. "I think it's time for me to make a phone call," she said eventually.