Chapter Eleven
"Why didn't anyone tell me there was food…"
Jack sat down grumbling as he clutched a small bowl of soup in one hand. The shouting had awakened him, and now that everyone was calmed down, the man was wolfing down his meager helping. The Doctor ignored him as he once again scooped Noble in his arms; hugging tightly to the woman he had long missed. There was still a piece left in him after the dealing left with Dalek Kahn, and they had been forced to go their separate ways afterward. The most painful part….Donna had to give up any knowledge of the Doctor or her adventures with him in order to survive. A Timelord mind in a human was impossible…and if she accessed it….her mind would burn with all the knowledge that had been transferred. But here she was…alive and well…and remembered everything. Throwing back a shock of his hair, the Doctor nearly stuttered with happiness. "How..you can't remember…it's…"
"Impossible? Seems this little time jolt is the source o' that. No thanks to these "Gallifreyans" and their lot. Seems there's a dimensional shell that's protecting me mind for now…" Donna's eyes sparkled as she disengaged herself from her friend, looking over to an exaughsted Jack. "Oh, you brought hot stuff…least it's a better sight that you… By the way, Jack…we have something of yours." The Doctor grinned as Noble insulted him playfully. He had missed her… Harkness looked up from his meal, his green eyes wide as a piece of the liquid dribbled down his chin. Wiping it roughly, he sat his dish down and stood. "And what would that be? Laser cannon I hope.." Taking the other man by the arm, she began to escort them all to another shack like structure that lay down one of the alley way paths. Chattering as she went, both the Doctor and Martha strayed behind.
"Is this ….good? That she can remember you?" Martha whispered quietly, keeping an attentive eye on their leader. The Doctor's smile faded as the question was asked him, and his brows steeped as he went into severe thought. "All honesty…no. It means that the universe has a pocket-verse in it now. It's shielding her mind from the true power of its intelligence. Somehow..." Martha looked up at him, her brows knit together as she struggled to understand. Recognizing the expression, he clarified without prompt. "Means that there is a window to another universe that has been created. It shouldn't be able to exist…but somehow it's here…and so are we. This universe has been searched for…crafted. But I don't understand why." The Doctor's voice trailed off as they halted in front of the makeshift, rusted door. Donna was enamored with Jack, but even so, she became quiet as she opened the door. Martha leaned in, the one question finally asked that she had been wondering the entire time. "Who is Balfus then eh? And why was Dawn called the Executioner…" As they entered the room, The Doctor shook his head. "Balfusis not known to me…though he should. As for the name she was called by…it must be a mistake. He Executioner is only a Gallifreyan legend…oh my…"
The troop became hushed as they entered the building, Jack himself audibly gasping. There upon a sagging cot lay…..Gwen.
Her face looked sunken and sallow, the darkness about her open eyes contrasting a great deal. Even though her almond orbs were open, no life stirred behind them, nor did she move to greet them as they entered. Harkness broke free from Donna's grasp, a choked cry escaping from his throat. Kneeling beside the woman, fresh tears began to stream down his chiseled cheeks. "Gwen…oh my God, Gwen…Doctor is she alright?" Retrieving the Screwdriver from his pocket, the machine whined in a blue scan, the entire group deathly quiet and eager for results. The Doctor's face became hard as he put the tool away, a darkness creeping in on his eyes. "She's catatonic…There is nothing we can do for her other than keep her comfortable. Donna, how did you find her like this?" Noble quietly answered as Jack laid his head on Gwen's palm, his body silently shuddering with sorrow. "About six months ago…she was shivering in the same field that the Council guards found you in. We brought her back, cleaned her up….but there's been no response other than being awake of asleep. She doesn't talk…she'll walk if someone helps her..It's like the lights are on but no one is in the flat."
The Doctor shook his head at the news, sighing through his nose. "Temporal coma. It's when the body travels through but the mind can't handle the time shift…" Martha went to Jack, rubbing her shoulder gently. Her eyes looked at the pair pleadingly, even though they all knew….nothing could be done. The Doctor cleared his throat, an awkward feeling passing into him. "Martha…go check on our other guest please. We need to give Jack some time…Donna…you said six months? I need to see your base and records. We may be able to find a way to fix this…somehow…"
Slowly each of them exited the room, leaving Captain Jack Harkness to mourn over the loss of Gwen Cooper….again.
….
She was right where she had been left, soundly still and looking rather…asleep. Martha moved to the other side of the room, her dark eyes watching the woman who had somehow caused all of this… Gritting her teeth, Jones swallowed back anger. Her home was gone, and now she was stuck here…alone…well…sort of. Thoughts trailed to her mother, and tears sprang into her eyes as a result. The rage boiled up again, this time spilling out in words. "It's your entire fault you know. Just because your planet was destroyed doesn't mean you can do the same to mine." As Martha heard the words falling from her mouth, they seemed foreign, alien. They were foolish anger and blame being placed without knowledge, and she knew it within her rational mind. All her friends, her mother, her sister…her fiancé, they were gone now. But this woman lying before her was still her patient, and if she had nothing left…she was still a doctor. The thought struck her as she turned to look out the glassless window. That's probably how the Doctor felt…
"I miss my planet too, Martha. And Earth, it became my home during the last thirty years after all." The clear voice came from behind, and Martha whirled. Dawn was still reclined, but sitting up against the wall. Her violet eyes were intensely staring at the other woman, their pigment seemingly swirling like a galaxy's epicenter. Martha felt small when she looked at the newly reborn timelordess, a hushed sense of something bigger entering her soul. "Do you remember that? Where you came from…" Dawn smoothed out the back of her hair, nodding at last in confirmation. A haunted look swept across her face, darkening about her eyes. "It was….beautiful. The sky like pressed gold that looked down upon the shining citadel. An everlasting race of peace and harmony that looked down and watched the rest of the universe as it grew…We were sworn to never interfere. But that oath is all but a lie…" Martha's fingernails bit into her palms, curiosity knowing in her mind. The Doctor had spoken of Gallifrey…but only in passing. This woman remembered…and could give her a glimpse into the world of immortals…
"A lie? Seems to me your kind were legend until the Doctor came 'round…" Dawn smiled like a mother does a child, her eyes gentle but full of an older wisdom. "My kind worked like shadows in sunlight. Only seen by those who knew were to look for us, Martha. There is a reason my name is myth even in Gallifreyan standards….We are the assassins of our people." Jones stiffened, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. The Doctor had said that they were a people who could never interfere in the time lines. This woman was now telling her….that he was wrong. "What you mean by that? The Doctor said that you were peaceful …until the Daleks came." Dawn flinched at the name, her lips drawing back into thin lines. The look seemed almost ashamed, but relieved, as if someone who had carried a great secret and was now free to tell it. "The majority…but for balance to be, there always has to be strife. To preserve life, we killed. To keep peace, we in sighted wars…It was a vicious cycle proven by a secret sect of the Time Council to keep the universe in stability. And by that my true name was marred, turned into none other than that of the Executioner…"
"So you really are the Murderer of Stars…"
The voice came out hoarse and whispered, causing both the engrossed women to look towards the doorway. The Doctor sidestepped into the room, a fury burning into his orbs. Martha nearly wished she could hide from his glare, its intensity burning hot like a bright sun. Dawn rose her face up to meet the gaze fearlessly, her own staying eerily calm in the wake of such rage. "So sayeth the Approaching Storm. Really, Doctor, you shouldn't be the one to point the proverbial gun." The man looked as if he had swallowed something hard, his neck muscles flinching and expanding in a sign of anger. Dawn merely cocked her head to the side, almost bemused and curious. "You really don't know why I'm here, do you…" The Doctor stepped closer to the bed, his face merely inches from hers. She could feel the righteous heat of antagonism radiating from him, and she reveled in it. "If you plan on doing any harm to me or my friends, I swear to you…you will be shown why I received such a name…" Scoffing lightly as she pushed him backwards with her index finger, the woman seemed amused beyond words. "Don't be daft….but honestly…I'm surprised you can't remember…must be a side effect of your tenth regeneration…sad really considering you were the reason why I was imprisoned as a human…" At this the Doctor's eyes became wide, his lips quivering at he stuttered. "What do you mean it was my faul.."
"Incoming transmission from the surface! It's from Balfus himself…..Come quickly…!"
Donna's voice rang out from outside, prompting Martha and Dawn to dart out quickly. Dawn moved slowly, realizing her clothing, now that it was ripped and torn, was going to be a problem. Grabbing the bloodstained coat, she threw the article about herself to keep modesty. Leaning over Donna's shoulder, a small group watched a miniature computer screen that had been salvaged and hooked up to provide entertainment for the younger children. The familiar, golden headdress flashed prominently into view, despite the static that fizzled in and out.
"By law of the Time Council of Gallifrey Orbius Five. The fugitive known as the Doctor, Martha Jones, Jack Harkness, and one who is called the Executioner are hereby under warrant for arrest. Anyone found harboring such criminals will be punished by death. Anyone who brings me any one of them shall be heavily rewarded…..they can be brought dead, or alive. But most heftily shall be for the Doctor's head. Today we mark the unveiling of the new Display Maker, and shall be used forth with upon some of the cohorts found in conspiracy with said criminals."
The camera's view panned out, showing several humans strapped into a replica of the machine that they had disabled a day beforehand. Except this time…metal helmets seemed to be strapped to the prisoners' heads. Martha lept forward, grabbing the edge of the screen, her voice cracking. "We don't know those people! I've never seen them before in my life…he's killing innocent humans!" The Doctor looked as if he was nauseous, his eyes becoming glassed over as the scene unfolded. The people wailed as the machine was turned on, a sickening sound of crunching and crushing filtering over the sound wave. As their eye sockets exploded, everyone turned away….everyone but the Doctor. As the view panned out to Balfus once more, he started. Within the burly man's grasp was a small woman, her blue eyes full of tears and panic. Long, unbrushed hair cascaded down her rattily clad back, the smudges of dirt and sorrow staining her cheeks. Balfus was holding the female by the hair, a sadistic grin across his mouth. It was as if he was staring directly into the Doctor's soul when he spoke. "Every day that passes without the Doctor returning for his punishment, a new group of your 'cohorts' shall be executed. Last of all shall be Gazora of Gallifrey, for conspiracy to timeweave against the Council. Every day more blood will be spilt until you debt is paid…will her blood be the ending price for your freedom, Doctor?"
As the transmission ended, Donna looked up at her friend. The Doctor looked to be made of stone, his face emotionless and rigid. Swallowing hard, she finally broke the silence. "Who was that woman?" Nothing came from the Doctor as he turned. Walking in the direction of the Tardis, the stolid man said nothing. Donna bounded up, both Martha and Dawn in tow. Dawn stayed as silent as the Doctor, her eyes focused on him in an empathetic manner. "Wow there, spaceman. Who was she….you aren't going all 'I'm saving the world and leaving you to tob the knish. Who was she…tell us or so help me…" At this he whirled, his face contorting in severity. Donna backed away, but only just barely.
"She is my dead kin's wife, Donna. And she is the only family in the universe I have left…"
