"Arcy," My father's voice fills my ears followed by his knuckles lightly knocking against the wooden frame of the door. "Arcy, you can't stay in there forever," He sighs.
"I can and I will," I mumble before shoveling more cookie dough into my mouth.
This is how the last few weeks have been: Dad trying to get me to leave my room, while I refuse.
Ever since Donna has left I was once again reminded by the fact that no one can ever truly stay with us forever. It'll be Dad and I for hundreds of years and then finally, one day Dad will leave me as well. I'll be all alone in this universe.
And that hit a nerve.
You would have thought that me being reminded of this unfortunate fact would make me go out and have more adventures and take advantage of the time I have left. But, no, that thought never truly passed my mind. Instead, I've been locked away in my room moping about and just taking up space.
"Please," He begs, "Just one trip, at least."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Pretty please."
"How many times do I have to say no?"
"What about Mars?"
"I'm listening."
I could practically hear the grin in his voice when he replied. "Get dressed. The TARDIS will have a suit ready for you."
I waited a moment for him to leave before finally standing and going towards my closet with a grin on my face. I pulled open the door to reveal an orange spacesuit next to a pair of black skinny jeans, a purple V-neck, and my leather jacket. I grabbed my cloths and ran into my bathroom to get ready for the adventure ahead of us.
I come into the console room a few minutes later with my helmet at my hip. My hair is pulled into a high pony tail and I look quite odd in the bright orange space suit.
"Didn't have anything in black?" I mumble as my father looks up at me with a grin on his face.
"Black suits are a safety hazard," Dad replies with a chuckle.
"Your face is a safety hazard." He shoots me a playful glare as he puts on his helmet. I return his look with a sarcastic smile as I copy his actions.
Soon enough, we're both out the front doors of the TARDIS and walking on the red dirt of Mars.
"Welcome to the red planet, Arcy," Dad tells me as the doors shut behind us.
I turn to him with a bright smile on my face. "Well, come on then!" I take off as fast as I can across the dry plains, though it's quite hard with no gravity.
"Oh, we're playing that game then," Dad's laugh fills my ears as he chases after me.
I stop, standing over a crater rim and down onto the Base with its five outlying domes and shuttle pad connected to the central dome by modular walkways.
"Oh, beautiful," I gasp as Dad comes up behind me.
"Right you are," Dad agrees. We stand in silence for a moment, taking in the view.
I jump when something jabs me in the back.
"Rotate slowly."
I do as told, not knowing what the hell just hit me. My father copies my actions and I have to fight back a laugh as I see it is just a little robot.
"You are under arrest for trespassing. Gadget gadget."
I adjust my jacket as I stand next to my father inside the Base. The small robot had led us here and we were immediately surrounded by people. I'm thankful we got to remove our suits though. Those things are nightmares in themselves.
I hear the click off a gun and look up to see one pointed to my head by a blonde woman. I look towards Dad with a worried look in my eyes. A hard glare appears on his face and the gun is moved to him.
"State your name, rank, and intention," She orders him.
"The Doctor. Doctor. Fun."
The gun is moved back to my head. "And you?"
"Arcy. Nurse. Fun." I answer her. Instantly a confused expression comes across both my father and I's faces. Why would I say Nurse? I haven't used that title in decades. When the Time War ended, I abandoned that name.
A dark-haired man runs in. "What the hell? It's a man. A man on Mars. And a teenager! How?"
"Well," I say, "when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much," I begin but my father cuts me off.
"Arcy," He warns and I stop, having to stifle a laugh.
"They were wearing these things. I have never seen anything like it." A woman says, holding up our suits.
"What did Mission Control say?" A man asks.
"They're out of range for ten hours with the solar flares."
"If we could cut the chat, everyone," The woman holding the gun says. My eyes stay on the gun still pointed towards my head.
"Actually, chat's second on my list, the first being gun pointed at my daughter's head. Which then puts her head second and chat third, I think. Gun, head, chat, yeah. I hate lists. But you could hurt someone with that thing. Just put it down," Dad rambles and I nod my head in agreement. I quite like my head.
"Oh, you'd like that."
I arch an eyebrow, "Can you find us someone who wouldn't?"
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because we give you our word. And forty million miles away from home, our word is all you've got," I tell the woman.
"Keep Gadget covering them," the woman orders a man with machinery strapped onto his arms. He's obviously the one controlling the stupid little robot.
"Gadget gadget."
"Oh right, so you control that thing. Auto-glove response," I say looking towards him.
"You got it. To the right," He says moving his hand to the right.
The robot moves to the right. "Gadget gadget."
"And to the left."
"It's a bit flimsy," Dad points out.
"Gadget gadget."
I looked from the robot to the man, "Does it have to keep saying that?"
"I think it's funny."
Dad and I speak simultaneously, "I hate funny robots."
"Excuse me, boss," A voice says through a coms system, "Computer log says we've got extra people on site. How's that possible?"
"Keep the Biodome closed," The blonde woman with the gun orders. "And when using open coms, you call me Captain." With that, she cuts off the woman.
"They can't be a World State flight, because we'd know about it. Therefore, they've got to be one of the independents, yeah? Was it the Branson inheritance lot? They've talked about a Mars shot for years," One of the men rambled.
"Right, yes, okay, you got me. So, I'm the Doctor and this is my daughter Arcy, and you are?"
"Oh, come on," The blonde woman scuffs, "We're the first off-world colonists in history. Everyone on planet Earth knows who we are."
My eyes widen in shock, "You're the first? The very first humans on Mars? Then this is," My sentence trails off as I look around the room.
"Bowie Base One," Dad and I speak together as our eyes meet.
"Number one. Founded July 1st, 2058. Established Bowie Base One in the Gusev Crater. You've been here how long?" Dad turns to the blonde woman who I finally recognize as Adelaide. I remember an article I read about this mission.
"Seventeen months," She answers.
"2059. It's 2059, right now. Oh! My head is so stupid. You're Captain Adelaide Brooke. And Ed. You're Deputy Edward Gold. Tarak Ital, MD," Dad spins around in a circle as he recognizes people as I do the same.
"Nurse Yuri Kerenski," I grin, "Senior Technician Steffi Ehrlich. Junior Technician Roman Groom. Geologist Mia Bennett. You're only twenty seven years old."
All of these people. All of them. They die this year.
"As I said, Doctor, Arcy, everyone knows our names," Adelaide says.
"Oh, they'll never forget them. What's the date, today? What is it? Tell me the exact date," Dad asks her, almost frantic.
"November 21st, 2059."
Bowie Base destroyed. World in mourning. Nuclear blast crater - November 21 2059.
"Right. Okay, fine." My eyes lock on my father who runs a hand through his hair.
"Is there something wrong?" Steffi asks.
"What's so important about my age?" Mia asks me. I give her a sad look.
"We should go," Dad says, "we really should go. I'm sorry. I'm sorry with all of my hearts, but it's one of those very rare times when I've got no choice," he begins shaking all of their hands. "It's been an honor. Seriously, a very great honor to meet you all. The Martian pioneers." He shakes all their hands, except Roman who has the auto-gloves on, so he pats Gadget instead. "Oh, thank you. Ah."
"Gadget gadget."
He salutes Adelaide as I join his side. I hang my head, biting my lip as I take his hand in my own. These poor people. They're all amazing, brilliant and they all perish. Not even on their own planet.
"Thank you. There's the other two. Hold on. Margaret Cain and Andrew Stone," I suddenly remember the other two. They're gardeners. I raise my head as I look around, wondering where they are.
Ed grabs a walkie-talkie, "Maggie, if you want to meet the only new human being that you're going to see in the next five years, better come take a look."
My grip on my father's hand tightens as a roar comes over the speaker.
"What was that?" I ask slowly.
"Oh, we really should go," Dad mumbles running his free hand through his hair as he squeezes my hand in reassurance.
"This is Central. Biodome report immediately."
"Show me the Biodome," Adelaide orders.
Ed goes to the computer, "Internal cameras are down."
"Show me the exterior."
One by one the lights are going out in the biodome.
"I'm going over," Adelaide says, "Doctor, you and your daughter, with me."
Dad and I go over to Steffi to take our space suits from her. "Yeah, I'm sorry. Er, we'd love to help, but we're leaving right now."
"Take their spacesuits, lock them up," Adelaide orders. "This started as soon as you two arrived, so you're not going anywhere except with me."
I walk hand in hand with my father as we travel down the long tunnel with Adelaide and Tarak. I can't help this feeling that I have in my gut, telling me something horrible is going to happen.
"Gadget gadget."
Adelaide glances towards me, "What's so important about Mia's age? You said she's only twenty seven. Why does it matter? What did you mean? I mean, you couldn't be a day over fifteen."
"Oh, she just opens her mouth and words come out. They don't make much sense," Dad quickly covers for me. I sigh in relief, having no idea how to respond to her questions.
"Telling me," Tarak remarks.
"Thank you, Doctor."
"Any time, Doctor."
"Gadget gadget."
I stay as close as I can to my father all the way to the central dom. "Are you alright?" My father whispers to me, leaning down so that only I can hear.
I shake my head. "I've just- I've got this feeling." He nods, kissing my temple as he gives my hand a squeeze in an attempt to calm me down. He knows the last time I had one of these feelings, something horrible happened to him. It just scares me what might happen.
Gadget is relaying the scene back.
I look back to Gadget, "I hate robots. Did I say?"
"Yeah," Roman replies, "and he's not too fond of you. What's wrong with robots?"
"It's not the robots, it's the people. Dressing them up and giving them silly voices. Like you're reducing them," I explain to him.
Roman speaks, "Yeah. Friend of mine she made her domestic robot look like a dog."
"Ah well, dogs. That's different," Dad replies and I smile thinking about K9.
"But I adapted Gadget out of the worker drones," Roman tells us, "Those things are huge. They built this place when the shell was lowered down from orbit. They've got a strength capacity of fifteen tons."
Adelaide cuts him off, "The channel is open for essential communications only."
"Sorry," Roman apologizes, "Love those drones."
The three of us – well four if you count gadget – continues to walk in silence. In my boredom, I began to swing my father and I's arms back and forth.
He raises as eyebrow at our swinging hands. "Having fun there?"
I instantly let go of his hand and cross my arms over my chest in embarrassment, finding my shoes interesting. "Sorry, Dad," I mumble.
"No, you're fine," He replies. I look up at him and he grins, causing me to drop my arms to my sides. I look straight ahead, still a little embarrassed. I didn't notice Dad lagging behind a couple feet until it was too late.
I let out a high pitched squeal as I'm suddenly lifted from the ground. My hands find their way into my father's hair, trying to find something to grab onto. In a few short seconds, I'm now sitting on my father's shoulders. He holds tightly onto my legs to keep me from falling off. My hands rest on his head to help me balance whilst I wonder if this was the right time to be goofing off.
Dad tilts his head back to look at me with a grin plastered across his face.
"Having fun there?" I mock.
"Yes actually."
Tarak shakes his head at our antics a smile on his face; Adelaide looks at us disapprovingly, but doesn't comment on out behavior.
We – well – they continue to walk towards out destination. I can feel my father's ever step, each one bouncing me slightly.
"I've read all that stuff about you, Captain Adelaide. But one thing they never said. Was it worth it, the mission?" Dad asks her seriously, as if he didn't have his 104 year old daughter sitting on his shoulders.
"We've got excellent results from the soil analysis," Adelaide replies.
"No, but all of it. Because they say you sacrificed everything. Devoted your whole life to get here."
"It's been chaos back home. Forty long years. The climate, the ozone, the oil apocalypse. We almost reached extinction. Then to fly above that, to stand on a world with no smoke, where the only straight line is the sunlight? Yes. It's worth it."
"Ah. That's the Adelaide Brooke I always wanted to meet. The woman with starlight in her soul."
Adelaide looks forward, a confused expression coming across her face. I follow her line of sight to see a figure lying on the floor. "What's that?" She takes off running as I quickly hop off my father's shoulder. He and Tarak take off towards the figure as I regain my balance before running after them.
"It's Maggie," Adelaide states as I look down at the dark skinned woman lying on the floor.
"Don't touch her!" Dad orders.
"I know the procedure. Maggie, can you hear me? It's Tarak. Maggie? It's okay, she's still breathing. She's alive," Tarak grabs his com unit, "Yuri, I've got Margaret Cain, head trauma. I need a full medpack."
"I've got it. Medpack on its way."
A minute later, the sound of pounding feet approach us. Ed and Yuri arrive with a stretcher and a med pack.
"Don't touch her. Use the gloves," Dad tells them.
Tarak speaks, "Do what he says. Get her to Sickbay. Put her in isolation."
"We're going on to the Biodome," Adelaide announces, "Tarak, with me. Yuri can take care of her. Ed, go back. Gadget, stand guard. Keep an eye on this area."
"Gadget gadget."
Ed speaks up, "Captain, you're going to need me. Andy is the only other crew member out here, and if that wasn't an accident, then he's gone wild."
"You've deserted your post. Consider that an official warning. Now get back to work. Doctor, Arcy."
My hand finds my way into my father's as I watch the scene unfold.
I stay at my father's side, no longer paying attention to who's speaking, just absorbing all of the information.
"Captain, that sound we heard from the Biodome. I've run it through diagnostics. According to the computer, it's, it's Andy. It registers as the voice print of Andy Stone."
"Understood. Double check, thanks."
"Air pressure stabilized."
"Andrew? Andrew Stone? It's Captain Brooke. Andy, report. I need to see you. Where are you?"
I look around the room and realize I'm not a very big fan of the dark. I pull out my sonic screwdriver from my pocket and point it towards a computer terminal and the lights come back on.
"There you go," I say as I lower my screwdriver. Dad looks down at me with a proud expression on his face. I don't know why. It's not like it's such a big accomplishment to turn on some silly lights.
"What's that device?" Adelaide interrogates.
"Screwdriver," Dad replies as he pulls out his own, "I've got one too."
"Are you the Doctor or the janitor?"
"I don't know," I shrug, "Sounds like him. The maintenance man of the universe."
"You stay with me. Don't step out of my sight. Tarak, go to External Door South. Make sure it's intact."
"Yes, ma'am," Tarak says before rushing off.
"Quite an achievement," Dad points out as I lean against the computer terminal. "First flower on Mars in ten thousand years. And you're growing veg!"
"It's that lot. They're already planning Christmas dinner. Last year it was dehydrated protein, this year they want the real thing."
"Still, fair enough. Christmas."
"If we must."
I look up at the sound of the birds tweeting. "You've got birds!"
"It's part of the project, to keep the insect population down."
"Good sign," Dad nods.
"In what way?"
"Well, they're still alive," I smirk.
"Captain, good news," Yuri's voice comes through the coms, "It's Maggie. She's awake. She's back with us.
"What about Andy? We can't find him. Was he all right?"
"I don't know," Another voice drifts into my ears, "I just…"
"If you remember anything, let me know straight away."
Ed's voice fills my ears, "Yuri, does she know how she ended up in the tunnel?"
"And keep the coms clear," Adelaide orders. You know, I'm starting to not like her. Let the people speak. Gods. "Everything goes through me, got that?"
The three of us stand in silence until Yuri's voice fills our ears once again. His voice is panicked and I can only picture the look terror on his face.
"This is Sickbay. We have a situation. Maggie's condition has. I don't know. I don't know what it is. It's water, just pouring out."
"Yuri, calm down," Adelaide tells him, "Just tell me what's happened to her."
"The skin is sort of broken around the mouth. And she's exuding water, like she's drowning."
"Tarak, this area's unsafe," Adelaide calls out. "We're going back. Tarak? Tarak!"
"Where was he?" I ask worriedly. The three of us run off and I look to the left as my feet pound against the metal flooring. I skid to a stop as my eyes settle on something off.
"Dad!" I call out and he stops quickly turning back with Adelaide on his heels. "What do we do?" I ask my father. His hand finds its way into my own. He stands in front of me in a protective manor. I watch as Andy stands over Tarak, water pouring from both of them.
"Andy, just leave him alone," Dad tells him.
"Step away from him," Adelaide orders, raising her gun.
"We can help, I promise. We can help. Just leave that man alone," I speak up.
"I order you to stop. Stop, or I'll shoot."
"Andy," Dad speaks calmly as he tries to convince him to leave Tarak alone, "I'm asking you to take your hand away from him and listen to me."
I sigh in relief as Andy releases Tarak.
"There now, that's better, hmm? So, you must be Andy. Hello," Dad smiles as he holds up his free hand to wave a hello. Tarak looks towards us. He has been transformed, too. His has is cracked around the mouth and his eyes are a shade of light blue. Water pours from his mouth.
"We've got to go," I announce and pull my father with me away from the beings.
The chase is on.
Our feet pound against the cold metal flooring as the adrenaline pumps through my veins. My eyes settle on the airlock just a few feet away. I turn my head to see Tarak and Andy right on our heels. I let out a yelp of surprise, not having expected them to be so fast.
The three of us reach the airlock and quickly enter, sealing the door behind us.
"Set the seals on maximum!" Dad barks out the order. Andy fires a jet of water at the door and I jump back in surprise.
"Captain, we need you back here," A voice comes through the coms.
"Just tell me that Maggie is contained. Can you confirm, Ed?" Adelaide asks.
"Confirmed. She's locked in."
"Keep surveillance till I get back," She orders, "and close down all water supplies. All pipes and outlets. Don't consume anything. Have you got that, everyone? That's an order. Don't drink the water. Don't even touch it. Not one drop."
"Can you talk? Human beings are sixty percent water," I speak, "which makes them the perfect host."
"What for?"
"We don't know," Dad replies, "We never will. Because we've got to go. Whatever's started here, Arcy and I can't see it to the end. We can't."
"You know," I chuckle nervously, "I finally get what you mean." Dad looks down, giving me a confused look, "Curse of the Time Lords. Not fun."
"Could have told you that."
"You have," I remind, "on many occasions."
I just back as Andy and Tarak start gushing water at the airlock seals.
"This thing's airtight, yeah?" Dad asks.
"And therefore watertight," Adelaide replies.
"It depends how clever the water is," I say. I jump again when there's a large bang. The water must have gotten into the system.
"They're fusing the system."
"Abandon ship!" We run out into the walkway. Andy and Tarak get through the airlock and chase us.
My eyes settle on Gadget after we enter the tunnel. I was about to pull out my sonic screwdriver but Dad beats me to it. He fiddles with his screwdriver before sonicing Gadget.
"Doctor, we haven't got time," Adelaide says in a rush to keep moving.
"They can run faster than us. We need a lift," He tells her.
"Gadget gadget." I quickly step onto the platform on the back of Gadget, before Dad stands behind me with his hands on the controls.
"Get on behind me."
"That thing goes at two miles an hour."
"Not any more. Trust me," Dad tells her. She climbs onto Gadget, behind my father.
"Gadget gadget."
"Gadget gadget," I grin.
Flames come out of Gadget's exhaust. Gadget zooms off leaving burning tire marks. I quickly grab hold of the bar in front of me as I am sent back into my father's chest. He doesn't move, having expected my sudden movement. Thanks inertia.
"The Central Dome airlocks have got Hardinger seals. There's no way they can get in," Adelaide tells us.
"Come on. Come on," Dad mutters.
"Gadget gadget."
"Come on. Come on."
"I thought you hated robots," Adelaide says confused as she holds onto my father for dear life.
"I do," Dad and I speak simultaneously. I grin to myself when we get Gadget into the airlock just before Andy and Tarak arrive.
"We're safe. It's hermetically sealed. They can't get in."
"Water is patient, Adelaide," I tell the woman, "Water just waits. It wears down the clifftops, the mountains, the whole of the world. Water always wins. Come on."
We take off running into the central dome.
"Biodome Tunnel is out of bounds. Andy and Tarak are infected," Adelaide announces into the coms unit. "Repeat, infected. Make no contact. And if they make the slightest move, tell me. I'm going to the Medical Dome."
The three of us take off down a tunnel.
"Blimey, it's a distance. You could do with bikes in this place," I comment, my feet aching from all this running.
"Every pound in weight equals three tons of fuel," Adelaide says.
Dad scrunches up his nose, "Yeah, I know. But bikes."
We enter the sick bay.
"Has that door got a Hardinger seal?" Adelaide asks Ed.
"No, just basic."
"Then the moment she heads for the door, we evacuate. Got that?"
"Pulse is low. Electrical activity in the brain seems to be going haywire."
"Can she speak?" I ask.
"Don't know," Yuri replies, "She was talking before we noticed the change, but…"
"Maggie, can you hear me?" Adelaide asks her, "Do you know who I am? Your commanding officer, Captain Adelaide Brooke. Can you tell me what happened?"
I stand in front of the glass, looking in on the woman. Dad comes up behind me, his hands on my shoulders. I've taken advantage of this moment of rest. My breathing is heavy and I could use with a glass of water. Gods know that won't be happening any time soon.
"Hoorghwall in schtochman ahn warrellinsh och fortabellan iin hoorgwahn," Dad speaks from behind me. Maggie's head turns to look at him as if she recognized it.
"What language is that?" Ed asks.
I answer him. "Ancient North Martian."
"Don't be ridiculous," Adelaide scuffs.
"It's like she recognized it," Ed states.
"And her eyes are different. They're clear, like she's closer to human," Dad says.
"Not close enough for me," Ed says.
"Where do you get your water from?" I ask Adelaide.
"The ice field. That's why we chose the crater. We're on top of an underground glacier."
"Tons of water. Marvelous," Dad replies running a hand through his hair.
"But every single drop is filtered. It's screened. It's safe."
"Looks like it. Totally," I say pointing towards Maggie. "Because that's safe."
"If something was frozen down there," Ed says, "A viral life form held in the ice for all those years."
"Look at her mouth," Dad says bending down to my height as if he's speaking to me and not the other people in the room, "All blackened, like there's some sort of fission. This thing, whatever it is, doesn't just hide in water, it creates water. Tell me what you want."
"She was looking at the screen. At Earth. She wanted Earth. A world full of water," Yuri explains to us.
"Captain, With me," Ed requests. Adelaide and Ed turn their backs on Maggie and walk away. I lean against the wall next to my father as I listen in on the two's conversation.
"I'm sorry, but it's an unknown infection and it's spreading. That demands Action Procedure One."
"Do you think I don't know that?"
"I think you need reminding."
"Yeah."
"Well, at least I'm good for something."
"Now and again."
"That's almost a compliment. Things must be serious."
"Sorry, sorry, but, Action One, that means evacuation, yeah?" Dad says and I smirk, knowing I wasn't the only one listening in on the two's conversation.
"We're going home," Adelaide says before grabbing her coms unit, "This is Captain Brooke. I'm declaring Action One. Repeat to all crewmembers, this is Action One with immediate effect. Evacuate the base. Steffi, what's your estimate on shuttle viability?"
"It's a nine month flight. It'll take us at least three hours to load up everything we need," The woman's voice comes through.
"You've got twenty minutes. And give me a report on Andy and Tarak."
"Still in the Biodome tunnel. They're just standing there, like they're waiting."
"Keep an eye on them. And make that twenty minutes fifteen. Ed, line up the shuttle. Go straight to ignition status."
"Doing it now."
Yuri speaks up, "But what about Maggie?"
"She stays behind. We've got no way to contain her on board. Close this place down. I want the power directed to the shuttle."
"Of course, the only problem is," dad begins to point out the fact that any of them could be infected, but Adelaide interrupts him.
"Thank you, Doctor. Your spacesuits will be returned. And good luck to you two."
"The problem is, this thing is clever," My father continues, "It didn't infect the birds or the insects in the biodome, it chose the humans. You were chosen. And I told you, Adelaide, water can wait. Tarak changed straight away, but when Maggie was infected it stayed hidden inside her, no doubt so it could infiltrate the Central Dome. Which means," He trails off.
"Any one of us could already be infected," Adelaide realizes, "We've all been drinking the same water."
"And if you take that back to Earth, one drop. Just one drop," I say.
"But we're only presuming infection. If we can find out how this thing got through. When it got through. Yuri, continue with Action One. I'm going to inspect the ice field." She says before walking away.
Dad and I lean against the wall, both of us hitting our heads against the wall in an attempt to get this stupid thought out of our heads.
"Right. we should leave. Finally, we should leave, I say before biting my lip.
"You're right, Arcy. No point in us seeing the ice field," he replies. "No point at all."
"No," I agree, hitting my head on the wall again. Dad and I look at each other before pushing off from against the wall, chasing off after the Captain.
"Adelaide!"
Dad grabs hold of my hand in an attempt to keep me in stride with him, but it just slows him down. "God you've got short legs," He states and I give him an annoyed look. "Up we go," He says as he moves so that he's in front of me. I quickly hop onto his back, wrapping my legs around his torso as I hug his shoulders.
In about a minute, we catch up with Adelaide.
"All I'm saying is, bikes. Little foldaway bikes. Don't weigh a thing," Dad tells her as I slide off his back, "Unlike her. You way a ton, you know that?"
"Thanks, Dad. Just what every girl wants to hear."
He cringes, realizing his words. "Yeah, sorry. Not gunna live that down am I?'
"Nope," I reply, popping the 'p.'
We finally reach the water extraction module and I lean against the railing as I look down at the glacier.
"They tell legends of Mars from long ago, of a fine and noble race who built an empire out of snow. The Ice Warriors," Dad tells Adelaide.
"Oh, they're nice," I note.
"I haven't got time for stories, "Adelaide responds.
"Perhaps they found something down there," I comment. "Used their might and their wisdom to freeze it. But, hey, what do I know? I'm only 104." Adelaide stops and looks at me confused before shaking her head.
"Doctor, we need to find any sort of change in the water process. We've got to date the infection," She says and Dad goes over to her at the computer.
"Doctor this, Doctor that," I mock quietly, annoyed, "When will someone ask for my help?"
Dad doesn't take his eyes off the computer, "Heard that."
"Sorry," I mumble as I come up on his side.
"Access denied," The computer says.
"You don't look like cowards," Adelaide says and I give her a confused look, "but all you've wanted to do is leave. You know so much about us."
"Well, you're famous," I remind her.
"But, it's like you know more."
"This moment, this precise moment in time, it's like. I mean, it's only a theory, what do I know, but I think certain moments in time are fixed," Dad explains to her, "Tiny, precious moments. Everything else is in flux, anything can happen, but those certain moments, they have to stand. This base on Mars with you, Adelaide Brooke, this is one vital moment. What happens here must always happen."
"Which is what?"
"I don't know," he lies, "I think something wonderful happens. Something that started fifty years ago, isn't that right?"
"I've never told anyone that."
"You told your daughter," I speak, "And maybe one day she tells the story to her daughter. The day the Earth was stolen and moved across the universe. And you…"
"I saw the Daleks. We looked up. The sky had changed. Everyone was running and screaming. And my father took hold of me. Locked me in the attic. He went looking for my mother, promised he'd come back. I never saw him again. Nor my mother. They were never found. But out on the streets, there was panic and burning. I went to the window, and there, in the sky, I saw it, Doctor. And it saw me. It stared at me. It looked right into me. And then it simply went away. I knew, that night, I knew I would follow it."
"But not for revenge," I raise an eyebrow.
"What would be the point of that?" She asks me, causing a bright smile to appear on my face.
"That's what makes you remarkable," dad explains, "And that's how you create history."
"What do you mean?"
"Imagine it, Adelaide, if you began a journey that takes the human race all the way out to the stars. It begins with you, and then your granddaughter, you inspire her, so that in thirty years Susie Fontana Brooke is the pilot of the first light speed ship to Proxima Centauri. And then everywhere, with her children, and her children's children forging the way. To the Dragon Star, the Celestial Belt of the Winter Queen, the Map of the Watersnake Wormholes."
I pick up where he left off, "One day a Brooke will even fall in love with a Tandonian prince, that's the start of a whole new species. But everything starts with you, Adelaide. From fifty years ago to right here, today. Imagine."
"Who are you? Why are you telling me this? Doctor, Arcy, why tell me?"
"As consolation," Dad says.
The maintenance log pops up on screen.
"Andy Stone. He logged on yesterday."
Andy pops up on the screen, "Maintenance log, twenty one twenty, November 2059. Number three water filter's bust. And guess what? The spares they sent don't fit. What a surprise. Over and out."
"A filter! One tiny little filter and then the Flood."
"But that means the infection arrived today, and the water's only cycled out of the biodome after a week. The rest of us can't be infected. We can leave," She speaks into her coms, "Ed, we're clean. How are we doing?"
"Shuttle's active. Stage one. I haven't got time to convey the protein packs. If you want food you're going to have to carry it by hand. Start loading, right now."
"You were right, Doctor," She says.
"What about?"
"Bikes!"
We reach the central dome and Adelaide gives Dad and I our space suits.
"Now get to your ship. I'm saving my people, you save yourselves. I know what this moment is. It's the moment we escape. Now get out."
"Everyone, stay focused," Ed says.
"I'll swap them round. Roman, what about you?"
"Protein packs thirty to thirty six."
"Hurry up, Roman."
"Ditch the central containers. We don't need them."
"Units forty one, forty two and forty three."
"Unit forty one is here."
"Roman, try to condense the oxygen membranes. We can lose ten pounds. Faster, come on! Ed, how's the fuel jets?"
"Cooling down in about thirty seconds."
"Captain, we've got all the hard drives."
We hear a banging noise.
"What the hell's that noise? Mia, you lot, shut up."
"It's the module sensors. Exterior twelve. The cameras are down, but there's pressure on top of the module. Two signals right above us."
"That means they're on the roof?"
"How did they get inside the Dome?"
"They used the maintenance shafts."
"The shaft's open and they haven't got spacesuits."
"They breathe water."
"But they'd freeze.
"They've got that internal fission."
"But we're safe, they can't get through, can they? Can they?"
The roof creaks.
"This place is airtight."
"Can it get through? Ed, can it get through?"
"I don't know! Water itself isn't motile, but it has some sort of persistence."
"Everyone, listen to me. That's ten feet of steel-combination up there. We need all the protein packs or we're going to starve. Now keep working. Roman, watch the ceiling. Ed, get to the shuttle. Fire it up."
"I can carry more than this lot, Captain."
"That's an order!"
"Captain."
I stand there, side by side with my father, watching the chaos unfold. I remember how history recorded Bowie Base One. I remember how they recorded the final days of their lives and I can't help but be thankful they didn't know the whole truth.
Finally, we turn and leave.
We enter the air lock and Dad goes to the computer to unlock the door.
"Access denied. Access denied."
Adelaide's voice comes through the speakers, "Tell me what happens."
"I don't know," Dad replies expressionlessly as I hang my head.
"Yes, you do," She replies, "Now tell me."
"You should be with the others," I tell her.
"Tell me! I could ramp up the pressure in that airlock and crush you," She threatens.
"Except you won't," I reply, raising my head. "You could have shot Andy Stone, but you didn't."
"I loved you for that," Dad speaks up, "Imagine, imagine you knew something. Imagine you found yourself somewhere. I don't know, Pompeii. Imagine you were in Pompeii."
My breath hitches in my throat as the memories come piling back at me.
"What the hell's that got to do with it?"
"And you tried to save them," he continues, "But in doing so, you make it happen. Anything I do just makes it happen."
"Captain, we need you right now," Steffi's voice comes through.
"I'm still here."
"You're taking Action One. There are four more standard action procedures. And Action Five is?"
"Detonation."
I smile sadly, "The final option. The nuclear device at the heart of the Central Dome. Today, on the twenty first of November 2059, Captain Brooke activates that device, taking the base and all her crew members with her. No one ever knows why. But you were saving Earth. That's what inspires your granddaughter. She takes your people out into the galaxy because you die on Mars. You die today. She flies out there like she's trying to meet you."
"I won't die. I will not."
I chuckle, "Sure you will. Death's inevitable. But your death creates the future."
"Help me. Why won't you both help? If you know all of this, why can't you change it?"
"We can't."
"Why can't you find a way? You could tell me, I don't know," She trails off.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. Sometimes I can, sometimes I do. Most times I can save someone, or anyone. But not you. You wondered all your life why that Dalek spared you. I think it knew. Your death is fixed in time for ever. And that's right."
"You'll die here too."
"No," I reply shortly.
"What's going to save you?"
"Captain Adelaide Brooke."
I hear Adelaide sigh before she releases the airlock.
"Damn you."
My footprints trail behind me as I walk side by side with my father towards the TARDIS. The shuttle's engine has started up and our silhouettes appear on the ground behind us. We continue to walk in silence, unable to speak of today's actions and future events.
Suddenly, the shuttle explodes, causing me to stumble over my own feet. Dad and I face each other with wide eyes. But I take notice of how his eyes glaze over soon after we make eye contact. It's as if he's remembering something.
He turns around and heads back to Bowie Station One.
"What the hell are you doing?" I shout out him. "Rule number one! Okay, not rule number one, Rule number… I don't know! Fixed points Dad! Fixed points! Hate to break it to you, but they have to die! It's not an option! Their deaths shape history. If they survive the whole of the human race may cease to exist for all we know. Now, come on, we need to get to the TARDIS before this place goes up in flames!"
He doesn't answer, nor turn to face me. His pace never slows, only increases. I groan, shaking my head as I quickly run after him.
I rush into Bowie Station One and look around to see those who are left in a state of panic. The station seems to be falling apart. I slip off my helmet just as Dad takes over the situation.
"Dad! We need to leave! Come on," I beg off him, dropping my helmet and grabbing his hand in an attempt to drag him back with me. He yanks his hand away and I fall back onto the floor. I look up at him in surprise. He hasn't even noticed I fell.
"Mia, take this sealant, fix that leak. Yuri, open emergency oxygen. Adelaide, don't just sit there. That's better. The Dome's still got integrity! It's ten feet of steel-combination, made in Liverpool. Magnificent workmanship," Dad rambles as I struggle to stand up.
"It can't be stopped," Adelaide says, "Don't die with us."
"She's right! Let's go," I order whilst attempt to grab his hand once again. "Daddy, please!"
"No," He answers flatly, once again pulling himself from my grasp, "because someone told me just recently. They said I was going to die. They said he will knock four times, and I think I know what that means, and it doesn't mean right here, right now, because I don't hear anyone knocking, do you?"
I stare up at my father with pure terror on my face. "D-dad, stop it. Y-you're scaring me."
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
My head snaps towards the bulkhead door.
"Three knocks is all you're getting," He shouts. He electrifies the bulkhead. "Water and electricity, bad mix. Now then, what else have we got?"
"But there's no way to fight them."
"Heat! They use water, so we can use heat. Works against the Ice Warriors, works against the Flood. Ramp up the environment controls and steam them."
Adelaide speaks up, "But you said we die. For the future, for the human race."
"Yes, because there are laws. There are Laws of Time. Someone just needs a reminder," I reply, my eyes locking onto my father. "Now come on. We're leaving!" I go towards him, but he moves past me, shoving me out of his way. I yelp and fall backwards to the floor.
I look up to see a look in his eyes that I haven't seen in many years.
Rage.
Pure rage.
He's never looked at me that way. No matter the situation, he's looked at me with pure love.
He kneels down in front of me.
"Once upon a time there were people in charge of those laws, but they died. They all died. Do you know who that leaves, Arcadia? Do you?" He practically growls.
I try to crawl away from him, but I'm stuck between him and the wall. I shake my head no as my hands begin to tremble. I don't dare to speak, knowing my voice would shake.
"You and me. It's just us," He stands up looking down at me. "Me! It's taken me all these years to realize the Laws of Time are mine, and they will obey me!"
Something crashes, causing ruble to fall to the floor and flames to ignite. Machines spark and alarms blare through the station.
"Environment controls are down," Adelaide announces, "Sorry, Doctor, it looks like history's got other ideas."
"I'm not beaten yet. I'll go outside, find the heat regulator," He says stopping when he looks down at his helmet. The front of which is smashed. I look towards mine, hopping to make a quick getaway back to the TARDIS. "Not beaten. Not beaten! You've got spacesuits in the next section." But water is pouring through the ceiling. "We're not just fighting the Flood, we're fighting time itself. And I'm going to win!"
"Dad! Just stop it!" I cry. "Daddy please!"
"You know what, Arcadia! Grow up, you're such a child. It surprises me that you don't understand what's going on," He says. I can feel my hearts shatter at his words, "Well, actually it doesn't. You're just like your mother, you know that. You're weak, unintelligent, a waste of-"
I fight back to urge to cry, "Shut up!" I scream at him, jumping to my feet as I cut off his sentence. "Don't speak of her in vain. You loved her! I know you do so stop it! All of this! Right now! I know perfectly well what's going on. And what's going on is that you've gone mad. You can't just change things like this!"
Yuri is at a computer, "Something is happening to the glacier."
He doesn't reply to me, just goes back to the situation at hand. He turns his back to me and I make a break for it. I grab my helmet, quickly pulling it on. I run towards the airlock, quick to make my get away.
"Think-a think-a think-a think. What have we got? Not enough oxygen. Protein packs, useless. Glacier, glacier mints, minty, Monty, molto bene, bunny, bonny, bish bash bosh. Argh. The room, the room, look at the room. Section F. What's in Section F? Anyone!"
"Nothing. It's just storage," I hear Yuri reply.
"Storing what?"
"I don't know. Er, the weather spikes, the robots, the atom clamps."
"Atom clamps. Atom clamps? Who needs atom clamps? I love a funny robot," He opens section F to reveal Gadget.
"Gadget gadget."
"Arcadia!" Dad calls out to me and I stop half way out of the airlock. "Don't move another inch." I freeze where I am and turn around to see Gadget. "I already know you're going back to the TARDIS. Now, get on."
"Gadget gadget."
Hesitantly, I hop up onto the back of Gadget and hold on tightly. I let out a high pitched scream as it takes off faster than it has before.
"Gadget gadget."
It heads straight towards the TARDIS and we get there in a matter of seconds. I reach towards my throat to grab my key and curse when I realize I'd have to take off my helmet to get it.
I watch as Gadget raises his arm. It's holding something.
A TARDIS Key.
"Oh brilliant," I take the key from his hand and quickly unlock the door, running inside with Gadget in tow. I rush around the console, setting the coordinates for inside the station. I take notice of how Gadget is helping. Dad must be controlling him.
"Gadget gadget."
The TARDIS materializes inside the station and the doors fly open. Dad rushes in and I tense when I see Yuri, Mia and Adelaide run in as well.
The Tardis materializes on a snow covered Georgian street. Dad leads Adelaide, Mia, Yuri and Gadget out. Slowly, but surely, I follow.
"Isn't anyone going to thank me?" Dad raises an eyebrow. I roll my eyes, before looking at the snow covered ground whilst leaning against the doors of the TARDIS
Gadget shuts down.
"He's lost his signal. Doesn't know where he is."
"That's my house," Adelaide says in shock.
"Don't you get it? This is the twenty first of November 2059. It's the same day on Earth. And it's snowing. I love snow," He grins.
"What is that thing? It's bigger. I mean, it's bigger on the inside. Who the hell are you?" She rambles in fear before running away.
"Look after her, "Adelaide order Yuri.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yuri runs after Mia.
"You saved us," Adelaide says turning towards Dad.
"Just think though. Your daughter, and your daughter's daughter, you can see them again. Family reunion."
"But I'm supposed to be dead," She replies.
"She's right," I mumble.
"Not anymore."
"But Susie, my granddaughter. The person she's supposed to become might never exist now."
"Once again," I speak up, "She's right."
"Nah! Captain Adelaide can inspire her face to face. Different details, but the story's the same," Dad replies and I shoot him a glare.
"You can't know that," I shoot.
"And if my family changes, the whole of history could change. The future of the human race. No-one should have that much power," Adelaide says.
"You're just full of correct answers today, aren't you Adelaide," I say.
"Tough," Dad replies flatly.
"You should have left them there."
"Adelaide, I've done this sort of thing before. In small ways, saved some little people, but never someone as important as you. Oh, I'm good."
"Little people? What, like Mia and Yuri? Who decides they're so unimportant? You?"
"For a long time now, I thought I was just a survivor, but I'm not," Dad says. "I'm the winner. That's who I am. The Time Lord Victorious."
"And there's no one to stop you. Not even your own daughter," Adelaide says glaring up at him. I turn my back to them, opening the TARDIS door.
"No."
"This is wrong, Doctor. I don't care who you are. The Time Lord Victorious is wrong."
"That's for me to decide," I hand my head as the words leave his mouth. I enter the TARDIS, not wanting to hear one more word of this. I don't know what he's thinking anymore.
I run past the controls and rush straight towards the hallway. My feet pound against the flooring. I skip to a stop in front of my bedroom door. It slide open and I rush inside. The shuts behind me. I lean back against it, sliding to the floor.
You know what, Arcadia! Grow up!
His harsh words from earlier rush back to me. Tears cascade down my face like water falls.
You're such a child.
A sob escapes my lips as I pull my kneels to my chest.
It surprises me that you don't understand what's going on.
I wrap my arms around my legs as I rest my head between my needs. My whole body shakes as I sob.
Well, actually it doesn't. You're just like your mother, you know that.
How could he say such cruel things?
You're weak, unintelligent, a waist of-
There's a quick knock on my door.
"Arcy."
My head snaps up at the sound of his voice. It's soft and I can tell by the way he says my name he's seeking forgiveness.
"No!" I yell, "Go away!"
I crawl away from the door as if he's some sort of beast. I stumble as I rise to my feet, moving towards my bed.
"Arcy, please," He begs, "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry. I don't know what got into me."
"I SAID GO AWAY!"
"Please," He begs of me, "I didn't mean any of it. You know it didn't."
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
I can hear him fiddle with his sonic screwdriver right before the door opens. He stands in my doorway, looking at the ground.
"GO AWAY!" I scream, grabbing a book off my nightstand in the process, flinging it at him. The hardback collides with his chest, causing him to step back, shocked at the sudden impact.
"I probably disserve that."
"FUCK YEAH! YOU DO!"
"Stop screaming."
"Oh, I'm stop scream," I growl, completely pissed off. He looks up at me and our eyes lock, "You're the one that just altered history. You're the one that mentioned Mum. You're the one that insulted me." He breaks eye contact at the mention of his rant. "Yeah, that's right. Apparently I'm weak, unintelligent. I didn't let you finish your sentence but I'm sure it would have ended with something along the lines of waist of life. Am I right?" I rant, screaming my head off at him.
He doesn't reply. He only looks up, locking eyes with me. The look of rage he had before has vanished and it wouldn't surprise me if that same look is now upon my own face. He looks down at me with regret.
Regret for the words spoken.
He takes a few steps towards and I don't dare back away. He slowly wraps his arms around my torso, hugging me to his chest.
I don't return the favor.
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah, well sorry doesn't cut it."
He presses a kiss to the top of my head. "You aren't weak. You're one of the strongest people I've met. You've been through a hell of a lot for being 104. And one thing is for sure, you're not a waist of life. You're the perfect example of it." He pulls away from me, kneeling down in front of me as he takes my hands in his own. "I was a complete idiot today and you proved to me that they've got it all wrong."
"Who?" I say confused.
"The Time Lords," He answers and my brow furrows, "When you were born, there was a prophecy written. The prophecy said the Genius' Daughter will save the final family."
I raise an eyebrow, "Getting cocky now are we? Assuming you're the genius."
He shakes his head, "That's not the point."
"Anyway, what the hell is that even supposed to mean?"
"Honestly, I don't know. And I don't like not knowing."
"Great," I mumble.
"Anyway, back to the point. It shouldn't have said the Genius' daughter. It should have said the Genius Daughter."
I shake my head and smile. "You totally just made that up didn't you," I chuckle.
He tilts his head to the side, "Well…"
I laugh, "You did!"
"It sort of just popped in my head. Didn't want to just say you're smart."
"Weirdo."
Well,. Please don't be afraid to favorite this story and go ahead and follow it if you wish. I greatly appreciate hearing y'alls feed back so please leave a review below. Until next time!
-Holmesinthetardis