Void Walker's history is spelled out, and the purpose behind her visits to one particular Doctor. Offers are made, and hints to the future to come.

-0-

The journey was unusually smooth; in fact she was almost pulled there, to land in the wardrobe room of that universe's Tardis. Looking down at herself she recognized the outfit with a half-smile. It was just what she expected, the dark hoodie, jeans and trainers. This time she also wore the coat, his coat, over the hoodie. It was a bit much being big on her but it helped obscure what was written across the hoodie.

She made her way out of the wardrobe and towards the console room. The landing she ended up on was just above the console room. She could see them, but they wouldn't see her unless they looked up, and they were rather distracted for now. This was perfect, she could watch without influencing anything, so watch she did.

The regeneration energy was bright upon the Doctor, and equally strong was Rose Tyler's dismay. She didn't want her doctor regenerating into a new body, and he didn't want to either. Luckily there was a solution at hand, literally. However there was a surprise in store for Void Walker. When he directed the extra energy into the hand, she sensed that something went along with it. That small spark she had given him in that dark time, so he wouldn't feel alone. It passed from him, into the receptacle that was going to generate the meta-crisis.

She placed her forearms on the railing; lacing her fingers together she rested her chin on them as she thought it through. The pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place. It had been necessary for her to visit him so many times, not just for this universe, but for the one she was saving. She wasn't just helping him, she was helping guide and create a new Doctor for another universe. It all had a purpose, it all had a reason.

Sturdy in her stance, she stayed still as the events unfolded below her. She watched Donna get locked inside the Tardis, then the formation of the meta-crisis. Her perch even gave her the limited ability to watch outside, to see Donna become Doctor Donna and save the universe. A smile played on her lips as she saw their triumph. It was slightly sad at the necessary deaths of the Daleks. Not for them, but for what it meant for the Doctors.

They were towing the Earth home and celebrating their triumph together before she started to move. Now it was time for her to be seen. To make her move before either Doctor had time to brood and possibly make a rather stupid decision. She started down a spiral staircase and started to clap. Surprised the crowd below fell silent, staring at her wide eyed. Only two recognized her, even though they could not yet see her face. Her voice held warmth and approval. "Oh very well done, I didn't need to do anything; you managed it all on your own. You should be very proud of yourselves."

"You!" The others turned to look at the Doctor and then back to her as Pinstripes took a step towards her. "What are you doing here, why are you here." A scowl covered his face as he advanced. "We just saved the universe, isn't that enough?"

The blue suited Doctor wasn't scowling. He was watching her intently, his expression was otherwise unreadable."

She shrugged slightly. "I'm not here for anything bad; in fact I'm here to solve a problem that actually exists in an entirely different universe." Her voice was light, without any challenge.

The Doctor's response was to pull Rose behind him in an obviously protective gesture. "You can't have her. I don't care what it is, you can't have her." That caused her to stop short on the stairs, just a few steps from the bottom. Her response though, entirely caught him off guard. She snorted a laugh. Bafflement covered his face at that.

She seemed endlessly amused and reached up to grip the side of the hood that obscured most of her face. "Oh Doctor, I don't need her. I never needed her. I intend to make sure you don't make a stupid masochistic decision about her, but not to take her away. You never asked my name, never asked to see my face.

"In fact, I'm selfish enough, to help bring about some happier outcomes, just because I want to. You see this isn't the third time you have seen me, it's the fourth." At that she pulls back her hood amused at the varying reactions of shock. Her features while a bit different are very clearly like Rose's, with the different ears, slightly feral look, and the threads of metallic gold in her hair. "You see I have no need to take Rose anywhere. It would be rather, superfluous." She continues talking, still rather amused. "I am the Void Walker, not an older version of your Rose, but a person that has come from very far away."

She smirked, and out came that tongue touched smile as she watched their reactions. Pinstripes was gaping, Rose looked caught between amusement and shock. Blue suit, well he had taken a half step towards her, with a small smile starting. The other's responses ranged, and Jack spoke up. "Now that brings up all sorts of ideas." She laughed, "No Jack, I'm not going to snog you or anything else, so just stop right there." The bit of levity caused some relaxation, but they were still confused.

Turning she focused on Donna. "Now, a bit of an explanation is in order, but after I fix Donna. Faster that is done, best possible result for the savior of the universes. " Donna frowned stepping towards her. "Fix what?" Regarding her gently she prompted the ginger. "Donna, there has never been a human meta-crisis before for good reason. The human brain is not equipped to handle the sheer power of a Time Lord's brain."

Lifting her eyebrows she waited to see if Donna could put the pieces together herself. Donna looked down her eyes flicking back and forth as she thought it over. Turning her horrified gaze back up at Void Walker she knew the answer. "It would cause a human brain to burn out, killing the human. "

There were noises of protest in the background as Void Walker nodded. "Can't something be done? I mean you keep going on how brilliant you are Doctor, can't you fix it?" Good old Jackie, never afraid to speak up.

Pinstripes answered first, his voice heavy and reluctant. "I can suppress it, take away her memories. She wouldn't remember, but she would be alive." Donna was horrified, "Don't even think about it Spaceboy! I don't want to forget me, I won't do it."

"But Donna.."

"Don't but Donna me, not going to happen!"

Blue suit interrupted before it could become more heated. "I think that she has another solution to offer, that is why she brought it up." He nodded to the Rose look-alike standing on the stairs. He still had that same small smile as he looked at her.

She gazed at him intently and then shifted her head to look down at Donna. "He's right, I do have an alternative. I'm actually a stronger telepath then the Doctor; I have to be to withstand what I am. I could take away the dangerous parts, but leave your memories intact." As Donna's face lights up, she cautions. "You won't be Doctor Donna, you will have a few more memories, but not access to all that knowledge or abilities."

Donna's face fell slightly at that, but then a look of determination that was familiar to many took its place. "Then do it, if I can't be Doctor Donna, I at least want to remember who I am." Void Walker smiled at her. "That, I can do."

Reaching her hands out, she paused looking at the overcoat whose sleeves were too long for her arms. She started to pull it off, careful to push down the sleeves of the black hoodie from where they had ridden up on her arms. As she does so, Blue Suit stepped up, reaching to take the coat from her. "That is for me, isn't it?"

She cocked her head at his presumption, but allows him to take it. "Perhaps, but don't put it on yet. You need to know what you are getting yourself into, before you accept what I have to offer." Pinstripes frowned, watching the two, but he doesn't make a move to interfere.

Freed of her burden, she turned to face Donna. Still a step up on the stairs, it was easy for her to reach out and place her fingertips on the temples of the other woman. Donna's eyes slid shut as Void Walker concentrated. A faint wisp of golden energy was drawn out, circling around Void Walker's hands and sinking into her skin. She closed her eyes as a faint golden shine peeked out from the edges of the hoodie and along the metallic strands in her hair.

Donna wobbled slightly, and immediately Void Walker opened her eyes, sliding her hands down to grip the ginger's shoulders. "Are you alright? What are you feeling?" Donna put a hand to her head. "Just a bit dizzy is all." Studying her Void Walker nodded. "No headache then?" Donna shook her head no. Stepping down she guided Donna towards the jump seat so she could sit down.

After she made sure Donna is settled, she turned towards Rose. "Now then, time for my next trick, and a bit of an explanation. Now normally I don't bother, but there is quite a bit going on right now so, rather than have to argue with you all," here her eyes rested purposefully on Pinstripes who just raises an eyebrow. "I'm going to give you the short version."

Pausing to decide where to start, she gave a quick shrug, and started on her story. "I belong to a universe that no long exists. I was the Rose Tyler of that universe, only in my universe, I fell into the Void." Pinstripes reached, and caught hold of his Rose's hand, pulling her close to him in reaction. "The only reason I survived, is because of Bad Wolf." Her gaze goes to Rose's, and both women give a slight smile. "It had started changing me, but not enough. My Doctor, the Tardis, and my best mate came for me. They tied their lives to mine, hoping to pull me out of the void. It didn't work out that way. Instead they chose to sacrifice themselves, so I might live. Through their sacrifice I essentially swallowed the heart of the Tardis, and for lack of a better word, evolved into an extremely strong version of Bad Wolf."

It was so quiet at this point in the Tardis you could practically hear each person breathing. The Doctor's eyes were wide. "But that's …." Pinstripes started, and then Blue Suit finished, "Impossible." That reaction made her laugh, while she kept her eyes on Rose's. "Nothing is impossible Doctors, there is only should, should not, and living with the consequences of your actions. You should know this by now."

Eyes on Rose, she started to slowly move towards her as she continued the story. Pinstripes kept his hand in Rose's, but didn't move between them. "Something like me wasn't meant to be, and it took time for me to fully grow into what I could do. I was out if it while it happened, and by the time I woke, my universe was in shreds, being absorbed into the void. I could have tried to go back and save my universe, but if I had done so, it would have possibly, probably, damaged or destroyed all universes that touch the void." Blue suit's breath catches, and he adds in a soft undertone, "Which would have been all of them." She gave a small nod, her eyes still on Rose, "Precisely."

By now she was right by the blonde, and she stopped, finishing her story. "The destruction still caused some damage across the universes, not all of them, but some. So, I worked out what I could do, and then traveled, tracking the ripples and doing what I could to correct them. Mostly, just a counter nudge is needed to set a path back in the right direction. I always give a choice, and I rarely need to visit a universe more than once, which brings us back to here, where I have visited you Doctors, four times now. I'll get into that more in a moment, but first, Rose."

Fearlessly, the other woman looked back at her, eyes steady. "This is about my trips through the void in search of the Doctor, and my Bad Wolf." A smile curves Void Walker's face as she answers Rose. "Smart girl, the human body not meant to traverse the Void unprotected. Once or twice, no big deal, but we both know you have been through it a lot more than once or twice, haven't you?"

Pinstripe's eyes widen and his voice is a soft question," Rose?"

She looked towards him, and then Blue Suit with a small smile. "Couldn't give up on finding you Doctor, the stars were going out. No way was I going to stop looking for you, and, I missed you." Whatever Pinstripes was going to say, died in his throat at her words. Instead he just pulled her into a tight hug.

When he let her go, they both looked at Void Walker, and Rose asked. "So Bad Wolf saved me?" She gave a small nod to Rose. "Yes, and changed you. Granted the change was already started, but it has probably started to accelerate. Really in all worlds that have a Rose Tyler and Bad Wolf, I try to make sure the changes are on track, and going smoothly. Partially I do this because if someone had been able to do that for me, my beloveds might not have died."

At that her hand goes to her right wrist, lightly rubbing over a marking in gold that peeked out from under the edge of her hoodie. Blue Suit's eyes fastened on the movement, but she didn't notice his look. A moment later she shifted reaching up towards Rose. "I'd like though to check quick to make sure you are okay. Is that alright?" There is a small smile as she asks, and Rose smiles back at her, "Yeah."

They both closed their eyes as she catches Rose's head in both hands. She spread her fingers, holding tight, her voice thoughtful. "Hmm, progressing nicely, already repairing any damage from the trips. Increased cellular regeneration and extreme slow down on cellular degradation."

"Which means what exactly?" Mickey demanded, but it was Martha that answered. "She'll heal faster, and age a lot slower." There is a bit of humor in Void Walker's voice, "Precisely."

Dropping her hands they both open their eyes regarding one another. "Your telepathic abilities are growing; you'll have to get the Doctor to teach you. You can die, but you are going to live for a very long time."

An inner prompt caused Void Walker to turn towards Jackie before she could start in. "It is not the Doctor's fault. Everything that has happened to Rose has happened by her choices. At any time she could have made a different choice, and she didn't. This is her life, her path. It might not be the one you would have chosen for her, but it is her choice. You can't blame him for that, however ….."

She turns and lightly smacks Pinstripes upside the head. "Oi! What was that for?!" The other people in the room snicker as she replies. "Oh don't be a baby; I didn't hit you that hard. That was for being a git. Now you know exactly why I said that. So stop being a prat, you deserve as much happiness as anyone, don't sabotage it." He scowled ruffling the back of his head then blushed slightly as Rose leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

She chuckled watching them. "There is an advantage with having so much experience with the various arch types of individuals. I have a pretty good idea what people are doing, and are likely to do. Not always, but most of the time I'm right."

"Now then," she turns to face Blue Suit, who has taken the opportunity to move towards her. "My turn right?" Her expression goes serious, "Yes, your turn. "

All eyes are on them as they stared at each other; she is studying his face, looking for something. Whatever she saw it must be enough, as she took a deep breath and started. "You are the reason I am here, you have been the reason I have been coming here all along, though I didn't know it at the time. There is a universe in danger of being ripped apart. Their Doctor is gone, and getting him back would only cause more damage. Yet, everything I read says the Doctor is needed if that universe is to be saved. I don't know why, I just know it is necessary. If you will allow me, I will give you the full story. Sometimes words are not enough.

She gestured towards his head with one hand, indicating wanting to tell him telepathically. When he nodded she reached, gently spreading her fingertips across his temple. Images, thoughts and feelings speed from her to him. She showed him everything she had experienced so far in that universe, her fears, her concerns, her worries. He is shown the paths of life as she saw them, and the grave danger they are in.

Almost instinctively he reached up and brushed his fingertips over her temple. They both gasp as suddenly the information exchange goes even deeper. She jerked back, breaking the connection, just as a ripple of light traced across her body starting from her right hand. It died down as she stared at him wide eyed. "Well that was unexpected."

She is somewhat reassured by the fact he seemed as unsettled as she is, even if he tried to hide it. Clearing his throat he looks down at the coat he still holds. "So, I just need to put this on?" Void Walker placed a hand on the coat, stopping him from putting it on right away. "Wearing it on means you are willing to help. It means you are willing to bind to that universe, and take on its problems as your own. I can make no promises as to what will happen. We all may die, we all might live. I honestly don't know."

The wide maniacal grin flashed across his face. "Wellllll, a challenge, I do love a good challenge. Plus I'm brilliant, I'm sure I can come up with a solution. " There was a snort of laughter behind them and someone made a comment about his ego, but the pair was locked in careful evaluation of each other and ignored it. She took her hand off the coat, and he deliberately shrugged it on. A smile twitched on her lips at his action.

He gave her a cheeky smile back. "Now then, shall we go?"

Her eyebrows went up, and she deliberately looked at the rest of the people in the room. "After you say goodbye, even if we succeed, you will not be coming back here." He's quick to correct her. "When we succeed, after all you do have me on the job now." Then his expression went carefully blank. "They don't need me to say goodbye. They have him after all, they don't need me."

There is a small noise of protest from the group, and she holds a hand up, her expression stern. "This isn't for them, it is for you. Yes, you are both the same man, same memories. But you need to say goodbye to them, trust me on this. There are parallels of them, but it isn't the same. They are a bit different and they haven't had the same experiences. Say goodbye to them, say goodbye to her. Trust the multi-universe traveler here. Sometimes you have to say goodbye before you can say hello. End one thing, so you can start another. "

Gently she pushed him towards them, and he slowly stepped off. She watched with a small smile as he said his goodbyes. When he took Rose to the side, Pinstripes walked over to her, tugging on his ear. "So this is goodbye then, you won't be coming back."

She turned to look at him, her expression serene. "I won't be coming back." Releasing his ear he smiled slightly. "You still owe me a banana, but I guess I'll let you make it up to the other me. Thank you by the way." His voice was quiet, "You did help me, and you always gave me hope." She smiled, and they find themselves in a tight hug.

When he released her, she found Jackie Tyler at her elbow studying her. "Well, you are still a Rose, so, be careful. Look after that idiot; if they really are the same man, you are going to have your hands full." There was an indignant "Oi!" From Pinstripes, while both women laughed. Jackie suddenly seizes her in a big hug. Void Walker hesitated, and then hugged Jackie back hard. They hold there for a moment. Her voice is small as she thanked Jackie.

Finally they let go and Blue Suit is at her side. "Ready now, thank you." His voice was quiet, but his expression was calm. Not the mask, but actual calm, and a bit of peace. With a nod she cautioned. "This is going to hurt." He shrugged and grinned, reaching out a hand wiggling his fingers. She took them with a smile. His smile was wide, and his eyes were bright with excitement as he stated, "Allons y!"

Tipping her head back in a laugh, she started to glow bright. The others in the console room shade their eyes as she becomes a creature of pure light, moving forward to wrap around him. There is a flash, and there is a golden light shaped like a wolf with a storm cloud rolling around inside it. She tipped her head back giving a long howl, then leapt, and vanished into a ripple of air.