A/N: This is based on "Bushwhacked". Praxis spectrum gas allergy references the 5th Doctor. Pax belongs to the Serenity movie and the Tam Sessions viral videos. I've just linked them together, is all.
Doctor Who and the Great Eclipse and Doctor Who and the Ties that Bind are the first two parts to this tale. If you've not read the other two stories then this one might not make sense to you. Go read them first, Ok?
Jelly Babies? Bananas? Mutant Plot Bunnies? :-D
Mirth513, OtherMeWriter, kahuffstix, thank you for the reviews. I know it's been far too long. Real Life is the pits sometimes. Plus I'm an established modder for Oblivion (Elder Scrolls 4) and sometimes that takes up blocks of time too. However, I've not stopped writing. The last chapter was a pain in the rear. It took a very long time to feel 'done' and sometimes I'm not certain it really is, even now. This chapter however... Sorta wrote itself.
AveaJene thank you for the favorite author/author alert.

Summary: The Doctor, the last surviving Time Lord, stumbled into a situation he could not ignore when his TARDIS landed him inside a ship that was clearly in trouble. But everything is not as cut and dry as he might like. His people may be gone, but the stamp he's made on the universe is still there, and he finds himself caught in a web spun of the choices he's made… And there's more than his personal existence at stake. Who has set him up to survive and why do the Elementals now control the Time Web? He must confront the ghosts of his past and gather what remains of his family if he is to have a future.

The ship Serenity becomes his home when he's forced into the long path. But even now forces move against him, working through a critical point of history. Humanity exists in 6 colonies, divided between the Allies of Gallifrey and the Allies of Skaro. Four of these Colonies fought in battles of the Time War (dubbed the Wailing Wars by those who remember). Could the Dalek invasion of Earth in 2164 be responsible for this divide within the human colonies? What impact does his leaving his granddaughter Susan behind on Earth at what proves to be a turning point in history have? The single Colony not involved in the War holds secrets vital to the Doctor's and the Universe's survival. He discovers that Susan's descendants retain a surprising level of Gallifreyan genes, even after eleven generations… And what about his actions that created the Tesh and Sevateam?

A Doctor Who / Firefly / Riddick crossover.

Features Doctor 9, companion Rose Tyler; The cast of Firefly; 'Jack B. Badd' and Richard B. Riddick…

Part Twenty-One

Looking-glass

He is, almost, thankful for these moments of being alone if only because the intense pain of it reminds him that he still is among the living. There are times when he doubts that he has survived that final doomsday weapon of the Time War, after all. Times when he's so – happy – that he wonders if he's not in truth dead already. He doesn't deserve the little graces of bliss he's gotten with all the blood that coats his hands. And yet he'll fight to keep and protect them until he's got nothing left to fight with. Saritha, Simeon, Jacob… they deserve nothing less from him. And then there's the miracle of life he carries. He doesn't deserve that either. Nor the devotion that Richard and Rose show him. He knows this. But they are his 'Verse. And he'll do whatever it takes to make sure they are safe. For the Doctor this little fact seems to drive him unlike no other. He is intensely aware of what he has lost forever, in ways that few can comprehend. And yet this contrast of his loss against the priceless things he's managed to regain makes him treasure life all the more. At least when it is not his own.

Indeed, his life has been nothing but agony for so long that he's become used to it. Walking now, with Kaylee Frye, to the cargo hold to defuse a bomb that could cripple the ship Serenity, he's tempted to plead with her to let him do the dangerous work. He knows though that neither her captain nor the first mate would ever allow that no matter how much they love the ship's mechanic. Instead he tries to transmit as much of his knowledge to the young woman so that she has a chance of survival. His low level tech talk seems to soak into her like she's a dry sponge. He's relieved to note that she nods to show her true understanding and then looks to him for even more. Uncharacteristically, the Time Lord finds himself placing his sonic screwdriver into her upper pocket and saying, "That should give us a second or two to rescue you, if need be."

The honey haired woman blinks at him, "You're giving me your sonic screwdriver?"

"It's just a loan. I expect to get it back," he says with a smirk that shows far more confidence than he really feels.

"It'll give Zoë and I a second or two, you mean." The captain catches the Time Lord by the arm, "Jon, I want you to go to Inara's shuttle." Mal makes it an order. The Doctor is of a mind to argue but Reynolds is not backing down on this, "I mean it. Something happens to you and Rich lives through it the entire 'Verse will be in trouble. Go wait with 'Nara." There's something about the hands on his arms and the fact that he's looking Malcolm in the eyes that makes him go without protest.

"Just remember --"

"I know," Kaylee cuts him off with a smile, "just a loan. I'll give it right back." It wasn't what the Doctor meant, but it is enough to make him head up the stairs. Once he's out of sight the mechanic sighs in relief. She feels much steadier knowing he is safe. "Right then. I'm guessing it's gonna be connected over there." She points to a section on the floor and Mal begins lifting the cargo panels off. She and Zoë help him until there's enough space for her to slip into the sub-floor area between the inner and outer hulls.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

If someone a year ago had told Rose Tyler she'd be on a spaceship helping lower the bodies of settlers to the floor she would have told them to stop smokin' whatever they were smokin'. But then, a year ago she was happy in her 'beans on toast' life, working in a shop, thinking about getting married and having kids of her own in a few years time. That was before she'd met the Doctor, River, Simon, Richard and Jack. Both Simon and Richard were with her now, as the bodies of fifteen families came carefully down from their hanging position. The mood in the damaged ship's cargo area was somber. And Rose wasn't overly sure why at this moment she'd wanted to come.

Still, the blonde from the early twenty-first century had to admit that facing this was a good thing and that she was stronger for doing it. The horror was – how to make some sense of what she was seeing? Men, women – children – bled dry and hung like animals at the butcher's. It was like a movie prop sound stage setup for some creep show, so unreal it was. But this was real. It was her life now, and she was witnessing the aftermath of an attack by savages almost five hundred years into her own future. All these innocent people…

How would she feel if this happened in London to folks she knew? The shaky panic and overwhelming sense of grief that welled up in her at that thought was almost too much. What could make anyone do something like this? She stepped back and was surprised to find Richard's firm bronze arms holding her. He was a mixture of warm spices and faint honey and the soft cling of the Doctor's more mint and clove scent drifted off his clothes as a reminder of how close they were. She wanted to clutch at him and hide from this. Instead she forces her eyes to keep watch on what Simon and Book are doing as Jayne works the ropes down. "Can you even make any logic from this?" she whispers.

The broad man is a killer. This much she knows because River has told her of his darkness and his unique connection to death. But the young psychic has never used the word 'evil' to describe Rich. And even though Rose knows she should be just as scared of him as she is of these mysterious 'Reavers' she can't seem to find any fear when it comes to the man. His deep smooth voice makes her shiver inside as it washes over her, "Yes, and no. I know what possesses animals to hunt and kill, to survive. But I don't know how man can do such a thing in excess. I've seen it done. I've gotten my own hands red with it, but I'll never understand it. Sometimes, though, it's a matter of justice. A matter of war. Or just madness."

She wants to remind him that there is a difference, morally, between war and slaughter. Between survival and massacre. She has to hold onto that difference even if she can't define it. It's what makes her human, and she thinks it is something that even the Doctor, as alien as he is, understands. She's seen his mind and the ravages that war had wrought within, and she knows that this – what she is seeing now – is something that the Doctor would never allow himself to do. She's pretty sure Rich would draw the line there too.

Jayne pauses as Simon carefully moves some of the bodies into more respectful positions and then resumes lowering the last group to the floor. Book begins to cover the bodies as he recites prayers. Behind him Simon is scanning each individual so that the records of their deaths can be added to the system-wide database. At least their relatives will know what has happened to them. Rose curls her hands over one of Rich's. "You think Jon's scared that he could do this to other people if he gets too much of this Praxis stuff in his system?" She doesn't get an answer. But the twitch in Richard's hand makes her wonder if mentioning it was a bad idea.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

It only takes Kaylee a moment to slip into the Zen mindset that allows her to 'speak' with machines. She can feel the alien technology humming against her breast in her left shirt pocket. Like the Doctor, it fills her with warmth. So radiant and living, golden with the possibilities of the future, that little silver tube. It's as if Jon were with her flowing over her and protecting her. Silly notion, but it does make her feel safer. She doesn't even glance back at Zoë and Mal as she works her way into the rather tight fit in the chamber below the cargo bay.

For Zoë, this is like watching a daughter go into danger. She can only imagine now how her mother felt watching her head off to war at such a young age. This was the nature of life here, though. If you wanted to live on the edges at the fringe of civilization you had to be prepared to die at any time. She tightened her jaw and set her face. Not that anyone but Mal would notice the difference in her expression.

"It will be fine. Kaylee says she can do this. When has she been wrong?" Mal mumbles. He's struggling not to fidget or order her out of harms way too.

That is her fear. There's a first time for everything. What if this is Kaylee's?

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The Companion handles having a crowd in her space with her typical grace. River is emotionally exhausted and practically passes out before Jacob can even get her through the door. Inara sweeps the slight teen up and settles her on the bed. The young boy has spent rather a lot of time here already, but this is the first time he's come here without Jon. He glances around with interest at the decorations and pieces of her life. "It's hard to remember this is inside a ship. Every time I come here I forget that," he says.

The fire elemental smiles as she spreads a throw over Saritha, "That's the point, Jacob. I want people that come here to overlook that it is a shuttle."

The boy nods, "Good job of it." He doesn't mention that he knows by scent what she does here. The incense and perfume, soap and detergent can't erase the tang of semen he senses here. It's more instinct than anything else that makes him avoid the bed. He'll not insult her over her chosen profession. None of his business that.

Inara knows though that Jacob can feel and sense the built up energy in the place. The feel of all those she's been with here remains as a layered set of psychic impressions. She lights a candle and shifts some of the tokens on her altar. "Would you like to learn some brush calligraphy, Jacob? You have fine hands for it, I suspect you'd be natural at the art form."

"Yes, please, Jiao-yuan."

In spite of it all, the young lad chooses to show her respect. The dark-haired Companion smiles and sets out the necessary tools for the lesson. While she is doing so Jon arrives, wordlessly checks on his granddaughter, and settles on the couch. Jack looks him over and gets his hair rumpled for his trouble. The show of affection lifts Inara's heart. In a short time both teacher and student are absorbed in the play of brush and ink against paper as one demonstrates and the other mimics.

The Doctor closes his eyes and tries not to feel so helpless. If not for the parasite and his current condition he'd have insisted on being the one to handle the crisis. But Mal had been spot on. He needs to stay safe for Richard, if not for his own self. Verity gently brushes against his mind, easing his worry about Kaylee with the knowledge that she'll jump in if needed to save the young woman. He rests one hand over his own still flat stomach and looks at River. He needs to solve who hurt her before he gets to the point where he's unable to act on the knowledge. Time is running out.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

There was once a human here in this dark place where his intelligence sits. It's gone now, like all those that fell before. Left behind is a bloodthirsty thing with cunning and drive for experiencing and causing destruction. He surfaces from the depths of drug induced sleep to find himself still foggy. Heavy and unable to control his limbs. He needs. Oh so badly. The flame of violence burns within him and only those that know this can understand. Pain. Rend. Smash. Tear. The mental drugged haze weighs him down, "No," so careless to get caught, "no." And yet… there is fresh tender meat here. Sweet young meat. Hearty strong meat. Fights and battles and fury…

The smell of the place imprints on his mind. This will be his hunting grounds. His territory. There are others here that will respond to his need, transforming to be like him. He just must infect them. He fights the effects of the medicines as he recalls the silver flecked dark eyes and the deep blue ones he senses but has not seen. Both can be transformed like he was. He must reach them.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The small light from the screwdriver in her pocket seems to be more than enough to see by which is a good thing because she has to put the clippers in her mouth in order to work her way into where the cable is. The foreign invader stands out to her senses like a poisonous parasite, leeching life away from her precious Serenity. It thrums with a different vibration, cold like space, than the warmth of her familiar ship. Following this until it nearly blots out the feel of the ship, the engineer blinks as she comes face to face with the cable. And just as the Doctor suspected, the DC line is right there. One little snip and they will be home free. Pulling the clippers from her mouth she manages a slight smile before becoming serious again. If they are wrong about the pressure catch this will kill her.

She touches the foreign cable and closes her eyes, willing the cobbled machine to speak to her. They don't have to like on another for this to work. The trap is a hostile as a machine can be. But slowly she convinces it to yield and reveal itself to her. Pressure catch – right there where the Doctor pointed. She opens her eyes and glances at the cable again before smiling. It's gonna be OK. She can do this.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

He knows. He knows how to reach them. How to drive them mad. He knows. Laughter fills the med bay. Insane laughter. He brushes off the fog from the drugs and mentally reaches out to the shattered and broken bridge. If he can get her the others will follow.

There. He feels her. So open. So ready. He can crack her wide, make her crazed and wild. He thrust his psyche into the soft open mind that is unable to guard itself.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Verity feels the brush of the violent mental spike as it sweeps past her and psychically moves to block it just a fraction of an instant too late.

Inara feels a chill that makes her lift her head up from her instruction of Jacob just slightly before the screeching scream fills her shuttle. The dark-haired teen is wide-awake and the Time Lord nearly leaps to her side as she arches off the bed in an attempt to fight off her invisible aggressor. Jacob catches the Companion before she can move to assist. "Better to not get in the way. River can do real damage." The older woman looks over at him but can think of nothing to say.

The Doctor catches Saritha and pins her before she can start attacking anyone. She screams and struggles until his mind forces out the intruder. Then she clings and sobs. So much rage and she can't deal with it alone. Jon is unaware however, following the foreign mind back to the source. No one gets away with assaulting his family unscathed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

He has gotten the attention of one. But the rebuff is harsh and swift. Not only is he thrust back into his mortal shell but the other mind washes into it with him like a tidal wave. It's a devastating assault on his madness. There's little to heal and no sanity left to save however. And the Storm is unwilling or unable to snuff out his life light. This leaves him no course but the physical one. If he cannot convert them mentally he must infect them. But first he needs to push the smothering force of this other mind. Pain does not work. The need for death, to rend and tear flesh, to kill and fight however seems to make it draw back. He's unaware of the physical toll the mental battle is drawing though until his convulsions land him hard on the floor.

The spikes of pain shoot like energizing lines of current through him. More. He must have more to break from the drugged fog and the pressure of the Storm. He thrashes about hitting metallic posts, table supports, mobile trays, cabinets… in the process he knocks the tray of surgical implements over on top of him. The various blades add to the symphony of his physical need for violence. Finally the other mind pulls back, leaving him alone with the dark maelstrom of his violent thoughts. Then he sees a long, sharp, shiny blade. Compelled by the shape and metallic color, he reaches for it…

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Mal is not praying. He's not. He might be making a deal with the devil, though. Honestly, there is no God on his boat. But if Kaylee pulls this off he'll buy her any gorram thing she wants. Please pull this off… He'll ignore the implications of what it all means and give into the desire to help Jon. Please. Please… He'll let Zoë and Wash start a family and even provide the crib. Hell, he'll convince Wash that he's OK with it and that it's safe enough if it makes Zoë happy. Please, little Kaylee… He'll tell 'Nara he loves her. Oh, please…

Zoë is watching her captain and wondering what he's thinking. She's not seen him act like this in a long time. But she trusts Kaylee's ability and Jon's knowledge. And if they are wrong, she'll be dead and it won't matter. Zoë reaches over and puts an hand on Mal's arm, "It'll work out, just you see."

"It had better. I don't think I could find another engineer with the know how of our Kaylee."

Down under the floor, the honey-haired mechanic steadies her hand and carefully clips the tubing that makes up the DC line. Dark, viscous, hydraulic fluid oozes out from it, still burn-cold from space. After a moment she can sense the cables recoiling from Serenity. She waits until the sensation of the invader is totally gone and then puts a now-grubby hand on the ship proper and smiles, "There you go, Girl. All fixed."

She then begins working her way back out of the floor. She's just pulling her legs out when Jayne comes in from the other ship hauling one of the loads of cargo. Jayne frowns at her as she moves to slide the floor plates back into place, "What's going on?"

Mal bends to help her, "Well, I'd have to say, right at this particular moment, not a thing. Right?"

"Not a gorram thing," Kaylee agrees. The danger is past now and there's no reason to dwell on it. "I need to take something to Inara." Mal gives her a nod as Zoë steps in to help him finish putting things in place. Kaylee heads off to the Companion's shuttle.

Jayne grumbles, "Looked like a thing to me."

Richard, Rose, Book and Simon all come in with cases of freight just in time to hear Mal state, "Thought we might have had a situation, but it looks to be taken care of." He and Rich share a look, "Jon is with Inara." The bronze skinned man heads off that direction with Rose and Simon close behind. "Let's get that merchandise put away," Mal orders. Jayne stares at him and then slowly begins taking a panel off so they can store the loot.

Book steps up, "And the survivor?"

"Ain't one. But that kid we brought aboard is too dangerous to move, so we'll have to take him someplace were we can get help with it. Don't try to let him out of the med bay, Shepherd."

"You have my word, Captain."

Mal focuses on the man in gray. "I'll hold you to that." He then moves to the coms, "Everyone's home Wash, let's go." The pilot unlocks the air docks and sets Serenity to a gentle drift away from the derelict. When there's no boom he lets out the breath he's been holding for what seems like forever. He's going to have to buy Kaylee a block of fine cheese. Or some real flour. He looks back to his wife as she enters the cockpit. Zoë smiles at him.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The crowd in Inara's shuttle moves back to the main catwalk, including the Companion herself. Kaylee hands back the sonic screwdriver, "Bet you could make it so that it makes a good cuppa."

Jon laughs. Behind him Rich is watching Saritha and Rose as they navigate the stairs. Simeon says, "But wouldn't that be overkill?"

Jacob retorts, "With all the tea dad drinks? I doubt it."

The Doctor snorts at the boy, "I don't drink that much."

"You do. Your eyes are turning brown you drink so much of it!" Jack teases. Even 'Nara has to laugh at the ribbing going on. They reach the cargo bay floor in a bubble of happy noise. Rose and River move off to the bedrooms. The boy turns to the Companion, "Thank you for showing me how to do those Chinese characters. I'll try to practice."

She smiles, "You are more than welcome to come back to my shuttle for more lessons, Jacob. I could even teach you how to paint if you want."

"I will. I'm honored," He gives her a deferential half bow and then moves to follow Jon and Rich into the mess hall.

Inara turns to Simon who is paused, looking toward the med bay. The aura readings from that area are surprisingly calm. Before she can open her mouth to ask him what is wrong the proximity alarm blares. Jayne panics, "Oh no, no-no-no, don't you say that. It's the Reavers. It's the gorram Reavers come back!"

Somehow Mal doesn't think he'd be that lucky. But one never knows. "Get that stuff stored."

"Like it's going to matter!" Jayne shouts.

Mal is half a second away from knocking the hired gun for a loop, "Just do it! Richard, can you come help Jayne down here?" He is already heading up the stairs when Rich starts down them.

"Sure, no problem," the ex-ranger says as they pass one another. Mal spares him a nod and a pat as he moves in a rush towards the bridge. Richard takes a hop over the side for the last half of the flight and begins putting the cargo away. Jayne jumps in to not be shown up.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Mal finds the Doctor in the cockpit when he arrives. There's a pop as the communications are overridden by a powerful signal. "Firefly class transport, you are ordered to release control of your helm," like most military communications this one is monotone and male. Coming up on them at a rapid clip is one of the Alliance's floating city style cruisers. There's no point in running here. There's no way they could escape.

Mal deflates, "Looks like civilization finally caught up with us."

They need a plan, quick. Wash says, "When I play back our scans I detect faint life signs, Sir. We did rescue someone, and a hamster, so we have reason to have made port. We can say the cargo we took was for the survivor…"

Mal glances at Jon who is looking very pale. "You are my crew, Jon. I'll do everything I can to protect you and yours. Don't you worry. Let them take the helm, Wash. You've come up with a half decent plan."

Wash blinks; "Thank you, Mal."

"Just don't let it go to your head." With that, the captain heads back out to the cargo hold.