AN: Edited 06/9/2014. I know I'm breaking End of the World into more Chapters while Combining Rose into Less, but I figured I'd try and even them out a bit more, so sorry for any confusion.
EotW 3: Introductions and Chocolate
"We have in attendance The Doctor, Kira, and Rose Tyler." The Steward said. He was standing at a glass podium now with a spotlight shined on him. Though Kira had no clue where that spotlight came from. The Doctor gave the Steward a small wave as he continued talking. "Thank you. All staff to their positions. Hurry, now." The Steward ended his words with three quick claps, signaling the start of introductions. A small army of blue child like men in black suits with black motorcycle like helmets came into the room and started walking around to their designated positions with a high squeaky chatter. "Thank you. Quick as we can. Come along, come along." About six of the small staff walked out the door that The Doctor, Kira, and Rose walked into as two stood 'guard' at the door.
"And now might I introduce the next honored guest? Representing The Forest of Cheem, we have the Trees. Namely, Jabe, Lute, and Coffa." Just as the Steward finished the last name the door opened to reveal three humanoid trees, one dressed in a lovely orange dress and the other two in some sort of black body armor. "There will be an exchange of gifts representing peace. If you can keep the room circulating, thank you." Rose was stunned as she watched the Tree's enter the room and walk towards her and her friends. Kira was excited beyond words, her headache long forgotten as she waited to meet a new species.
"Next from the Solicitors Jolco and Jolco, we have The Moxx of Balhoon." This time a small blue man with a head just as big if not bigger than his body came in on a hover chair of sorts, using it like one would a wheel chair. Kira idly wondered if it was meant to be a wheel chair of sorts or if he was just using it as a status symbol like people on segways.
"And Next, from Financial Family Seven, we have the Adherents of the Repeated Meme." The Steward announced as five cloaked figures walked into the room. Kira wanted to glare at them, but knew it would be useless. They were nothing but robots, her glare would just worry the Doctor.
"The inventors of Hyposly Travel Systems, The Brothers Hop Pyleen; thank you." This time two reptilian like brothers walked in, though Kira couldn't really seen any family resemblance between them. They both had on long fur pelts on top of long dress like smocks with leather collars. The brother in the black smock was slightly taller than the one in the white smock and had a slightly older look to his face, though Kira could have been wrong.
"Cal 'Spark Plug.'" This time two aliens with robot like breathing masks on their faces walked in wearing cloaks with large hoods held up by wires in the fabric. One in all gold and the other in brown.
"Mr. and Mrs. Pakoo." Two bird like aliens walked in with long robes flowing behind them. The birds that made up their heads sorta looked like eagles or hawks of some sort.
"The Ambassadors from the City-State of Binding Light." Two tall and large headed aliens came in with small black eyes and six nostrils. The top of their heads were balkd with hair hanging down from the back like they were balding. The shorter of the two was dressed in a gold dress type jacket with long sleeves like you'd expect to see on a kamonio. He or she looked older than the other one and had long white hair. The taller of the two was wearing a brown ensemble similar to his or her partner with fitted sleeves and long curly brown hair.
Rose looked like she was becoming slightly overwhelmed by all these aliens while Kira was simply stunned and excited at the same time. She felt like jumping in place but couldn't bring herself to move. It was an odd if fitting feeling for the moment.
Introductions were finally over and the exchanging of gifts began. The Tree's, being the first to enter the room, approached the trio. Jabe came forward to speak to the Doctor, her fellow tree's standing behind her, the taller one holding a tray with potts in his hands. The potts held a small plant in each of them, little green leaves sprouting from only a few.
"The gift of peace. I bring you a cutting of my grandfather." Jabe spoke with an elegant tone to her voice, one that just oozed royalty and importance. She turned and picked up one of the potts off the tray, handing it to the Doctor with a small bow of her head. The Doctor bowed back and took the pot with gentle hands.
"Thank you." He said softly, handing the pot to Rose. Rose looked a bit lost, so Kira quietly moved behind the Doctor and tapped Rose on the shoulder.
Would you like me to hold it? Her eyes seemed to ask as she glanced between the pot and Rose. Rose looked from the pot to Kira and gave a small nod of her head, handing it to Kira with a small smile and a mouthed 'Thanks.' Kira moved back to her spot on the Doctor's right side with the pot held firmly in her hands, a small smile on her face as she looked down at it. It was amazing to think that this little twig was cut from a real living and sentient humanoid. She looked up from the plant to find the Doctor searching his pockets for some sort of gift to give the Trees. She tapped his shoulder and handed him the pot as she looked inside the small bag on her belt for something to give. With a small Ah-Ha! she pulled out a bag of candy she had stashed away for when she might crave something sweet and handed it to the Doctor with a smile on her face. The Doctor handed Rose the pot again as he took the bag from Kira with a grateful smile on his face.
"I give you, candy from earth. It's a sweet treat often eaten by children made from sugars and artificial flavoring. Though this specific candy is chocolate meaning it's made from cocoa powder, sugar, and some preservatives." He explained, handing a small chocolate candy to Jabe. Kira gave a small e-hem, drawing the Trees, and the Doctors, attention to her.
"Actually, it's homemade chocolate so it's got cocoa powder, some coconut extract, milk, and a hint of cinnamon in it." She explained, grabbing the bag from the Doctor and taking out two more chocolates. "And Doctor, you forgot to give some to Lute and Coffa." She scolded him, handing a piece to the two tree's behind Jabe with a smile. The Doctor just gave Kira a slightly stunned look as Jabe unwrapped the chocolate and took a bite, a surprised look on her face. Luke and Coffa who were standing behind her did the same, though the one holding the potts had to maneuver them to one hand.
"How dilicious. Tell me, you made these yourself child?" She asked, regarding Kira with a look of slight admiration. Kira blushed slightly with a large and embarrassed smile on her face, happy that someone liked her candy.
"Um, yes. I like to make sweets when I've got the chance, but I'm not that good at it yet. Ah, and I'm not really a 'child'. I'm Seventeen, and I've only got a few days left until I'm officially considered an adult by my cultures customs." She explained with a slight pout on her face. She couldn't quite understand why everyone thought she was younger than she really was. It was quite annoying.
"Ah, I see. I'm sorry for any offence you might have taken, I suppose you are already a young adult aren't you." She corrected herself with a small smile. Kira gave Jabe a smile of her own as she let out a small giggle at the shocked look of delight on Lute and Coffa's face as they ate the candy and gave her their own little nods of thanks and assurance that they liked the treat. Kira smiled and waved at the three as they moved on too stand at their own spot and wait for the gift exchange to continue.
The Doctor turned to Kira, momentarily ignoring the Moxx as he hovered in front of them. "You can cook?" He asked, a surprised tone in his voice. Kira just giggled and shook her head.
"Nope. I can't cook yet, though I want to learn how to. In fact, the last time I tried to cook I made a tasteless breakfast burrito. It was odd, it wasn't bad, it just had no taste at all!" She tried to suppress her laugh at the Doctor's confused face.
"What was that then, you can obviously make good candies." He argued, trying to understand it all.
"Well that's not cooking is it? I can bake, and I can make candies and any other dessert. Oh! And pancakes, I make good pancakes, but I can't cook." She explained, turning to the Moxx of Balhoon with a business smile on her face. She was about to speak when the Steward spoke up again. Apparently introductions were far from over.
"And Next, I introduce our friend from the Silver Devastation, the sponsor of the main event, please welcome the Face of Boe." The Steward introduced. A large cylindrical tank with a brass border on the bottom was pushed into the room. Inside the tank was a large face shrouded in some sort of smoke. Kira's face lit up like a Christmas tree at the sight of the face and she tried to suppress a squeal. The Face of Boe glanced around the room, his eyes darting back and forth until they landed on Kira. The Face smiled and winked at the girl before getting pushed away.
"The Moxx of Balhoon." The Doctor greeted, trying to put everyone back on track.
"My felicitations upon this historical happenstance." The Moxx greeted in his high pitched voice. "I bring you the gift of bodily salivas." The Moxx said as he spit, hitting Rose square in the eye. Kira tried to hold in her giggle as the Doctor turned to The Moxx with an amused smile on his face.
"Thank you very much." He said as Kira handed him a chocolate.
"This is a chocolate made from an old earth recipe." Kira said as she handed it to him. It wasn't really a lie, she was on earth when she made it, and it was a long time ago. "It's something you eat."
"Ah, the Adherents of the Repeated Meme." The Doctor greeted as the group of cloaked figures walked up to them, their hands folded in front of them and large gold necklaces hanging from their necks. "I bring you chocolates from earth." He said, holding his hand out for Kira to give them to him so he could give them to the Adherents of the Repeated Meme. She quickly handed him five, one for each of the cloaked figures and gave the figures a tight smile.
"A gift of peace in all good faith." The lead Adherent said in an odd gravely voice, holding out a sliver ball for the Doctor to take. The Doctor tossed the silver ball into the air, catching it and then handing it back to Rose, who looked quite stunned at the ease he had when dealing with all these aliens.
"And Last but not least, our very special guest." The Stewart began the last introduction. "Ladies and Gentlemen and Trees and Multiforms, Consider the Earth below. In memory of this dying world, we call forth the last human." He continued as he was instructed, no doubt Cassandra told him to overstate her entrance.
Kira rolled her eyes as everyone else seemed to watch on in wonder. So dramatic. She thought to herself. Cassandra is such the drama queen.
"The Lady Cassandra O' 17." The Steward introduced with a dramatic tone in his voice, trying to stress the importance of the 'Lady' that just got wheeled into the room. Kira cringed as she saw Cassandra. Her skin stretched tight and her veins pulsating and visible in the thin layer of flesh. Her eyes were heavy with makeup and her lips were stretched into a thin red line. All together she looked like something you'd expect to see on a Hunter's prize game wall, not on an observation deck as a 'honored guest'. All except her brain, which was sitting in a cylindrical tube filled with blue liquid that was attached to the base of the frame holding her together.
"Oh, now, don't stare." She said, barely out of the door and already talking. The Doctor couldn't help but laugh at the 'woman' that got wheeled into the room glancing at Rose and Kira to see their reactions to Cassandra. "I know, I know. It's shocking, isn't it? I've had my chin completely taken away, and look at the difference." The Doctor was still laughing at Cassandra, not even attempting to hide his amusement at the situation as Rose stared at the skin with shock written across her face. "Look how thin I am. Thin and dainty. I don't look a day over 2,000." Kira snorted at that. She didn't quite understand why people obsessed over how thin they were. She especially couldn't understand Cassandras obsession with it. "Moisturize me, moisturize me." Cassandra instructed the scientists at her side. The one on her right brought up a spray gun of sorts and sprayed her with it.
"Truly, I am the last human. My father was a Texan. My mother was from the Arctic Desert." Cassandra started, giving everyone her life story though no one asked for it. Rose took that moment to slowly walk around Cassandra, seeing just how flat the 'woman' truly was. The Doctor looked towards Kira, his eyes clearly asking why she wasn't acting like Rose. Kira just shrugged her shoulders in answer. "They were born on the Earth, and they were the last to be buried in its soil. I have come to honor them." Cassandra's voice became laced with sadness as she brought tears to her eyes. Kira had not doubt she was crying to gain attention, but something in her, some stupid hope that Cassandra was better than she acted told her that she truly cared for her family. "And say goodby. Oh no tears, no tears." Cassandra cried as the scientist on her left dabbed her face with a tissue. It was obviously staged.
"I'm sorry. But, behold. I bring gifts. From earth itself, the last remaining ostrich egg." Just as Cassandra said this one of the staff members walked into the room holding a large egg. It was obvious it wasn't an ostrich egg, at least, not one from Kira's time. The little blue man showed the ostrich egg around as everyone in the room, excluding the three time travelers, 'ohhed' and 'ahhed' at it. "Legend says it had a wingspan of 50 feet and blew fire from its nostrils. Or was that my third Husband?" The Doctor actually chuckled at that, causing Kira to chuckle as well. All the sadness that was in Cassandra's tone before gone. Replaced with an over dramatic emphasis and jokes. "Oh no, oh don't laugh. I'll get laughter lines. Oh! Stop. Oh! Ahem, have mercy."
Two of the little blue staff members walked out of the door, wheeling a large junk box into the room. "And here, another rarity. According to the Archives this was called an iPod." Cassandra introduced the junk box, causing Kira to wonder just where these 'Archives' got their information. "It stores classical music from Humanity's greatest composers. Play on." One of the little blue staff members clicked a button, starting the junk box. Suddenly 'Tainted Love' by Soft Cell started playing, filling the room with the 'classic music from one of the Earths best composers.'
Kira giggled as the Doctor started dancing to the beat and decided to join him. It was crazy, and they were in a room full of aliens, but when else would she get the chance to dance with the Doctor? She danced around the room, singing along with the song as she moved. She wasn't much of a singer, and she hated singing around strangers, but she couldn't really bring herself to care at the moment. The Doctor watched with a smile on his face, bobbing his head to the music. He'd barely noticed Rose leave, and decided to go and follow her and make sure everything was alright. Kira didn't even notice the Doctor leave until he was long gone. With a sigh she made her way over to The Face of Boe and sat down in front of him, a large smile on her face as she gasped for breath. All that dancing really wore her out.
"Hello handsome!" She greeted, one of the small blue staff members made his way towards her and offered her some odd green and pink drink. She took it with a big smile and gave him one of her chocolates in thanks. The staff member seemed surprised by it, but took the chocolate anyway, a large smile on his face.
-Do you even know what that is?- A kind baritone voice asked her in her mind. She smiled at The Face of Boe, instantly knowing it was him.
"Not a clue, but it looks pretty and it smells like cinnamon apples, so I think I'll like it." She said, taking a sip of it. The face of Boe sighed in her mind seemingly accepting that she'd be this way.
- I should warn you, it will make you lose your inhibitions. - He said, a serious tone in his voice. Kira tilted her head, curious and slightly worried.
"It's not alcohol is it?" She asked, her tone serious. She vowed to never drink, considering the long history of alcoholism in her family.
- I would never allow you to drink something with alcohol in it princess. I know how much you'd hate me if i did. No, it's hardly alcohol, it doesn't affect your blood or you're brain. It merely makes acting on your thoughts easier. - He explained, in a kind and sure tone. Kira gave a sigh of relief, and drank more of the drink. She'd liked the taste of it well enough, it sort of tasted like grape bubblegum. She was about to ask The Face of Boe a question when someone cleared their throat behind her. She turned around to find Jabe and her two tree acquaintances standing behind her, an odd device in Jabe's hand. If Kira remembered correctly, that was the scanner Jabe used to find out the Doctor's race.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you Ma'am. But I was wondering if you knew where you're companion was?" Jabe asked, a slightly nervous look on her face. One of the Tree men behind her tapped Jabe on the shoulder and whispered something in her ear. "Ah, yes I forgot. Lute and Coffa were wondering if you'd had anymore of those delightful 'cho-co-lates' to spare. They have become quite obsessed with them." She asked for her colleagues, who seemed slightly embarrassed by their request. With a wide smile Kira stood up from her spot on the floor and brushed her shorts to get any dirt that might have stuck to them off. She opened up the bag on her belt and began fishing around for more of her chocolate stash, reaching her hand in further then it should have gone in such a small bag.
The trio of Trees watched on with wide, and slightly amused eyes as Kira searched for the candy, her tongue sticking out just a bit as she concentrated. She had most of her arm in her bag when she let out a small 'Ah-ha!' of victory, pulling out a small clear bag filled with the chocolates. She handed the bag to the taller of the two Tree men with a smile on her face.
"Here you go, if you want more after you're done with that feel free to ask me, I've got plenty." Lute and Coffa seemed happy with that and with smiles of their own they walked away, leaving a trail of candy wrappers behind them. Kira then turned to Jabe, who looked happy with her colleagues smiles. "Are they your brothers?" She asked Jabe. Jabe smiled and gave a small nod.
"They do not share the same lineage I do, but they have been with me since I was a mere sapling. Taking care of me as any true brother would. We have a bond greater than most siblings could hope for." Jabe had a far away look in her eye, something that struck a chord with Kira. Kira wondered if her own siblings missed her, and if they were worried. She quickly shook those thoughts out of her head. Now was not the time.
"I'm happy that you have such a wonderful bond." Kira said with a bright smile. She quickly bent down to pick her drink up off the floor before someone kicked it and started walking off towards the direction she thought the Doctor might be in. Jabe watched her leave having forgotten the reason she sought the girl out in the first place until the girl was already out of sight. With a heavy sigh Jabe went about searching for the Doctor in the mass of aliens, hoping to find him soon. She just had so many questions.