WARNING!: Major character death. It takes place off scene but it is there. There is a solution in the offing. Nothing is impossible, it is just a matter of living with the consequences.
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It was like swimming against the tide. Something did not want to let her reach the Doctor and Rose, and she didn't know why. She had her suspicions, but what could possibly slow down, let alone block off a being that could convert itself to pure energy? What could manipulate the life paths of people? Even she could only nudge things along, not outright change things. Well that wasn't entirely true. She had caused a major change in Jack's path, but that was with him actively choosing, and her direct interference in his life. She couldn't see any direct interference with the Doctor and Rose, so that left indirect or actual manipulation of the path lines. But the only people that could do that were …
She suddenly stopped dead, horror filling her as a harsh realization hit. Diving off the pathways into normal space, she stopped on a small deserted planet so she could concentrate fully on the paths of this world. It also meant she needed to take the strongest of her forms to see the lines the most clearly. It was then, the fact she was now far from human, was most evident. She may be able to change her shape, but, there must be balance, always balance.
Starlight reflected on her metallic skin as she stretched the paths out in front of her for proper viewing. The light here was indirect, but it mattered not to these eyes. The pathways of the universe in all their colors shone brightly for her. Glowing Gallifreyan words that covered her body cast a soft light on the barren landscape. Lifting up a "hand" one talon-claw traced a certain line all the way back to the Time War. There, the interference was there. They had seen what the Doctor would do, and in an act of revenge stripped him of the ability to regenerate. The regeneration after the Time War would be his last. Because the Time War was Time Locked, she shouldn't change it. Not when changing it meant reopening the war, and ripping the universe apart.
Trembling she traced the path forward, to Satellite Five. There, they had done something very different. Instead of regeneration, the two who had already been close, just bonded their lives together. Their lives had become linked, and they were burning, together. That was why they had left Jack there, and she had missed it. She hadn't been ready to face their joined paths, so she had just concentrated on getting Jack in the right place. This was her fault. She couldn't undo this, without undoing Jack's path, which would cause more ripping in a fragile universe.
Remorse filled her as she traced their paths forward one last time. There, they knew they were dying, and with their last act, saved a world. They gave their last, to help others. She couldn't save them, but she could try to save their Tardis.
She dismissed the glowing path-lines and the air rippled around her. Now that she was only going to where they had, died, she had no difficulty finding and going to them. She slipped through the fold in space and time and arrived a short distance away.
It was a primitive world by some standards; the locals had a custom of burning their dead on a funeral pyre. They were honoring their saviors with this rite, both together on the same pyre. The fire blazed brightly against the night sky. The locals had sung their funeral songs, and given a few offerings to be burn in the pyre with them. In respect, the fire was the only light in this village, all else was cast in darkness. So they in the distance, they could quite clearly see her coming.
Her form strode closer, shining like a glittering golden star in the night. She approached like a thing of legend. That was exactly what they whispered among themselves, the legends that were told on many a world, somehow woven into the fabric of this universe. The stories of the Golden Goddess, the Star Child, it was the story of the Big Bad Wolf. They spoke of a defender, a champion, of a wolf woman who only appeared in times of need.
When she reached the pyre a hush fell over the crowd. They dared not approach, but those that dared look at her closely swore later that golden tears slid down her face. She tipped her muzzle to the sky and sang her grief to the stars. The natives shivered, and some wove their songs with the wolf's howl that filled the air. This song, that rang strong, and reached far on this dark night.
Most of the listeners shared in her grief, for the strangers that gave so their world might live. Some listened in wonder, and for years tried to duplicate the song. One set of ears though, oh they heard the song and they smiled. It wasn't a nice smile, but one filled with darkness and madness. That smile listened to the song of grief, and laughed.
***-0-***
Torchwood 3 in Cardiff was normally a small location, with just enough staff to monitor the Rift activity. However right now it was a hot bed of activity, filled with extra agents and equipment. Something had gone seriously wrong with the Rift. Humans from various eras where popping up all over the place. Holding cells were filled and the staff had their hands full trying to cope.
The fact that the Director himself was there just underscored how serious the situation was getting. There were a lot of legends surrounding the Director. Some said he was the exact same man that had built the organization under Queen Victoria. But that was just a story, which would be impossible. Still no one argued that his knowledge was extensive.
He could charm just about anyone, including most alien species that ended up on Earth either via by accident or purpose. The Director had even forged a good working relationship with UNIT. Those two organizations could have been very hostile and territorial with one another. Yet somehow he had managed to keep them on friendly terms. He gave everyone a chance; it was up to you what choice you made. If you made the wrong choice, well what happened after that that was on you.
Regardless of how busy it was, the employees were still highly trained operatives. They never let their guard down, or the Director would be demanding an answer as to why. So when a large blue police box wheezed into existence in the middle of the Hub, it was noticed. Almost immediately it was surrounded by guards. They had weapons, but, none of them were drawn. Instead they were prepared, warily waiting for what would happen next. Before any of them could think to try the door, there was a shout. Rapid footsteps coming down the stairs revealed the dark hair and blue eyes of the Director.
Jack Harkness had been waiting for this day for a very long time. He wasn't sure why she had never fully explained what was going to happen to him. She had however promised she would send the Doctor and Rose to him as soon as she could. So maybe as soon as she could wasn't as soon as he had hoped, it didn't matter. The Tardis was here now and he could finally be reunited with his friends.
As he approached the Tardis, he realized something was very wrong. The lights were dim, and it was if waves of sadness were pouring off the box. No one else seemed to notice, which was odd, but he could feel it. He waved back the other agents and approached it himself. The door opened easily under his touch and he stepped inside the darkened console room.
There in the jump seat sat an exhausted looking Void Walker. It was more than just exhaustion that weighed her down. She looked so utterly defeated, almost broken. Slowly he approached her, his heart hammering in his chest. Whatever this was, it wasn't good. "Beautiful? What's wrong, what happened?"
She finally looked up at him, with dull eyes. It made his breath catch, the spark that normally was there was gone. She closed her eyes her hands balling up into fists. Her voice cracked as she answered him. "Jack, I failed. I tried, but I couldn't fix it. I… " Her voice trailed off unable to finish.
He was horribly afraid he knew what the answer was going to be, but he had to ask. Not that he wanted to, but he asked anyways in a hoarse tone. "Fix what?"
She unclenched her hands and her arms hung listlessly at her sides as she tried to answer him. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I couldn't save them. No matter what I did, I couldn't save them. Every, single, damn, thing, I tried, would have destroyed everything. " Jack inhales, and the only sound in the room is his ragged breathing.
Curling in on herself she sways a bit in the seat, and Jack finds himself moving forward, wrapping his arms around her. She stiffens and then her arms encircle him in a crushing hug. In the doorway one Gwen Cooper takes a look inside and then waves the rest of the operatives away. The pair in the console room are oblivious, grieving together. After a while she starts to talk, slowly, explaining in halting breaths what had happened. The fact that the Doctor should have regenerated after Satellite Five, but didn't. She spoke of their binding, their burning, and their final act to save a world.
Finally she picked up her head, some urgency strengthening her voice. "Jack, whatever is causing the disruption in the universe, wanted them dead so they couldn't fix it. It doesn't make any sense." Her voice starts to go up in a wail." All the pathways to a solution show the Doctor and Rose Tyler, all of them. They are getting harder for me to read, but they are still there!"
Trying to calm her, he rocked slightly rubbing her back even as he struggled to deal with his own heart break. "What could do that; make their lines fuzzy to you? Could their paths have been swapped with someone else?" She froze and whipped her head up to stare at him. "Oh, I'm so thick!"
Jumping off the seat and out of his arms she paced back and forth, thinking out loud. "You are right Jack, and I didn't see it because I was so focused on saving them. There is a solution and the lines are fuzzy because they are the lines of people very similar to them. Your line is woven into the solution as well."
She stopped and studied his face as he looked back at her. "You are going to fill in for Rose aren't you? I almost thought you were a future Rose, but you are just different enough that I knew you weren't. So what happens next?"
Flicking her gaze out the door, she then looked back to him as she spoke. "The Tardis is dying; I need to get her a new pilot fast. You are going to stay here and keep an eye on things. I know we have an actual enemy now, so they might stop trying to hide their efforts."
Rocking back on his heels Jack considered. "We have been getting strange readings from the Rift here in Cardiff. Someone could do a lot of damage manipulating the Rift." Eyes wide she looked up at Jack, "oh you're good, brilliant even. Get your people working on that, and I'll go fetch us someone that can help." Here she hesitated, "Jack, he's probably not going to look like your Doctor, but he will be a Doctor, just a parallel version of him."
Jack nodded slowly, it had been very long time since had seen his beloved friends. He had held hope in his heart, but with each year slipping by and no sign of them returning it became a bit dimmer. He realized that he might not be able to travel with them again. The time to grieve, and he would grieve, would be later. Now, was the time to make the most of what they did have. "Right, see you soon then Beautiful, we have work to do."
She watched him leave the Tardis, before moving up to the wardrobe room. There was something there she needed, and then she could go. Carefully going through the racks, she searched until she found it. It took her a moment to move after she found it. So many memories, so many possibilities, and now it was going to come down to asking a man with trust and commitment issues, for a leap of faith.
She gathered up the coat in her arms and turned to go. It was time for another trip across the void, one last trip to see a certain Doctor. Or should she say, a certain Doctor and his double.