She was wearing one of The Doctor's old jackets, a green velvety thing from his eighth regeneration when she'd popped off. They just made it to the Tardis only to find her encased in an iceberg and the only way for them to get her out was to use both her sonic and The Doctor's sonic to reverse the HADS from the outside. She hoped it had worked because she'd disappeared in the middle of it.
"Well, good thing this jacket is insulated," Chris mused as she looked over the barren, icy planet, "I don't know why The Doctor had it in his other jacket's pocket but I'm eternally grateful."
"Do you always talk to yourself?" A familiar voice asked from behind her and Chris spun to see the Tenth Doctor standing next to a fur encased Donna.
"Oh, well," Chris said, scratching the back of her head in a very ten like manner, "I mean- Yeah, it happens."
Chris stepped towards them only for her foot to slip into a hole in the snow. She yelped as she slipped and winced as she landed hard on the snow, feeling something crack in her hand. She opened her eyes to see that her pinky was bent out of place and winced at it.
"That is… unfortunate," She said as she looked up at Donna and The Doctor who had rushed to her side to help her up.
"How did you manage that?" The Doctor asked, gingerly picking up Chris' hand to examine the damage, "not broken. Which is good. I can pop it back into place but it's gonna hurt. On three?"
Chris nodded and took in a deep breath as The Doctor started to count. She almost smacked him when he popped her pinky back into place on two instead of three but decided to put her focus on not passing out from the pain.
"You weren't kidding about the hurting thing, were you?" Chris gasped as she held her hand close to her body. She could see a bruise forming on her pinky and stuck the hand in the pocket, figuring it was best for her not to fixate on it. "So, where are we?"
"Don't know," The Doctor said with a shrug, "but that's the fun of time travel."
Chris nodded and turned to Donna, "and how are you, dearest Donna?"
"Swell," Donna said, stuffing her arms further into her sleeves, "cold though."
"It is a tad cold, isn't it," Chris said as she looked at the icy lands once more, "hang on a mo, do you hear singing?"
"Over there," The Doctor said, pointing to the ground where an Ood was partially covered in snow.
"Oh no," Chris said, running to the Ood and dropping to his side, ignoring the cold of the snow through the jacket. "I'm so sorry."
"What is it?" Donna asked when she and The Doctor had caught up.
"An Ood," The Doctor told Donna, watching Chris and the Ood sadly, "He's called an Ood."
Chris ignored them as Rain reached out to the Ood, wanting to be connected with the magnificent creatures but getting bounced back. She winced and brought a hand up to cover her eyes.
"Apologies," The Ood said, startling Chris, "But the Rain and the Cloud must be protected."
"What's he mean by that?" Donna asked The Doctor.
"What's your name?" The Doctor questioned, ignoring Donna for the moment as he joined Chris.
"Designated Ood Delta 50," The Ood replied, "the circle."
"Sh, sh," The Doctor said interrupting the Ood as he started to inspect it. "Oh, you've been shot."
"The Circle must be broken," The Ood said finally, "the Rain and the Cloud must be protected."
"What do you mean?" The Doctor asked urgently, trying to staunch the bleeding. Chris grabbed his hand and shook her head. She knew it was too late and they were just causing the Ood unneeded pain.
Chris flinched when the Ood sat up and grabbed the hand that she had injured earlier, expecting it to hurt a lot more than it did. He growled, his eyes glowing red, Chris watched slightly scared but not wanting to pull away. When Delta fifty released her he fell back to the ground, no longer breathing. Chris stared at her hand in wonder, seeing that the earlier bruising was gone.
"He's gone," Chris said, closing the Oods eyes and bowing her head for a moment.
"What do we do, do we bury him?" Donna asked looking from The Doctor to Chris.
"The snow'll take care of that," The Doctor said absently, watching Chris carefully.
He blinked when she was suddenly gone, taken in a white light that left spots in his eyes.
"Been awhile since this happened," Chris noted as she watched The Doctor and Donna join Solana's tour group from a balcony outside of the warehouse. She'd disappeared from the side of Delta fifty one only to appeared just outside the Ood's warehouse.
She wrapped her arms around her middle, watching Delta Fifty die had shaken something in her, leaving her drained.
What did he mean by that? Chris asked Rain, hoping the Time Lady would know, The Rain and The Cloud must be protected?
Well, I'm assuming he meant us, Rain replied, My name is technically The Rain, I think.
You think?
I- uh- don't exactly have all my memories, Rain said, shocking Chris who just stared blankly out at the warehouse, losing track of The Doctor and Donna.
Why is this the first I'm hearing about this?
Because it's not actually that important.
Not important? Chris protested, What the hell does that mean?
Look, right now you need to get to The Doctor and Donna. Rain said, we can talk about my shortcomings later.
Fine, but we will be having a discussion, young lady.
Rain laughed, startling Chris, I'm at least three hundred years older than you.
So young by Time Lord standards, Chris teased as she made her way to the stairs and down to ground level. She was about to follow the Time Lord and his companion just as an alarm started sounding.
The Ood! Chris said, suddenly remembering what was going to happen. She took off at a sprint away from the warehouse and to where she could hear men running. Is my psychic paper in my backpack?
We don't have time for that! Rain protested The Ood is around the corner, hurry!
Chris listened and pushed herself faster, catching up with the armed men and making it past them, seeing as she wasn't weighed down by heavy armor.
"Oh, poor guy," Chris said, watching the Ood cower against the barrels, "don't worry, The Doctor and I are on this."
"Who are you?" a voice demanded from behind her, she turned to see that the guards had arrived, the one who had spoken was a black man that was obviously in a higher position than the other two.
"Oh, hello," Chris greeted cheerfully, she took off her bag and reached into the small front pocket where she remembered putting her psychic paper after an adventure involving the planet Kilger and their version of the secret service. "Sorry, just a mo." She pulled out the psychic paper and showed it to the man, "Chris Wesley, Representing the Noble Corporation PLC Limited, Intergalactic."
"Number one Ood expert?" The man asked skeptically.
"Ah yes, a bit of an understatement, really," Chris said, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly, "I'm actually the only true Ood expert."
The Ood behind her began to growl at them and Chris rolled her eyes when the men pointed their guns at it. She turned to the Ood in concern, knowing what was happening to it and yet being powerless to stop it.
"It's alright, friend," Chris whispered to the Ood, "we'll get this straightened out."
"Mister Halpen? This is a bit more than red-eye, sir," the first guard spoke, "This is something new. It's rabid, sir."
"Haplen, that's his name," Chris muttered before addressing the guards, "What are your names? I dislike operating without names."
"Kess, Ma'am," The first guard introduced, "these are Thom and Kevin."
The guards nodded as they were introduced and Chris smiled.
"Ah, sturdy names for sturdy men," She grinned, "now stop pointing your guns at the Ood. You're scaring him."
"Scaring 'him'?" Kess asked.
"It's scaring us," Kevin said, his voice shaking.
"He," Chris corrected pointedly, "has no control over his actions, you do. Guns down!"
The men finally obeyed and lowered their guns while Chris turned back to the Ood. She squatted in front of it. For a while, Chris had blocked out the emotions of other, or Rain had blocked them for her. But recently Chris had been experimenting with it, seeing what exactly she could sense and what she could do with it.
The Ood in front of her was a mixture of emotions, scared, angry, hurt. Chris smiled gently at the Ood, she tried projecting feelings of calm onto it but she could feel the emotions bounce back and frowned.
"The Rain and The Cloud must be protected," The Ood growled, making Chris frown.
"Protected from what?" Chris asked, only for the Ood to repeat his previous statement.
"Ma'am, I'd advise you to step away," Kess said, eyeing the Ood warily.
"I'd advise you to shut up," Chris snapped, "He's not going to hurt me."
"How would you know?" Kess demanded, lifting his gun slightly as the Ood started to growl louder.
"Because I'm not the one pointing a gun at him," Chris said as she turned to glare at the man, "have you not learned how to listen? I said guns down."
Chris smiled again when Kess lowered his gun. She turned to the Ood and said gently, "let's get you to Ryder, yeah?"
The men watched in awe as the Ood stood. Chris blinked as well, she hadn't expected the Ood to actually listen to her. She smiled at the Ood and stood next to it, raising an eyebrow pointedly at Kess.
"Lead the way, officer," Chris said when Kess didn't automatically respond.
"I'd now like to point out a new innovation from Ood Operations," Solana said from next to the Ood, "We've introduced a variety package with the Ood translator ball. You can now have the standard setting. How are you today, Ood?"
"I'm perfectly well, thank you," The Ood responded.
"Or perhaps after a stressful day, a little something for the gentlemen," Solana smirked, moving to the next Ood. She was a little disgusted by this, honestly, but she needed the job and it wasn't her position to question the company, "And how are you, Ood?"
"All the better for seeing you," The second Ood responded in a husky female voice.
"And the comedy classic option. Ood, you dropped something."
"D'oh," The Ood said, imitating the classic cartoon character Homer Simpson. Solana smiled as the group around her laughed.
"All that for only five additional credits," She informed the crowd, "The details are in your brochures. Now, there's plenty more food and drink, so don't hold back."
As Solana left the room The Doctor and Donna stepped up to her podium. The Doctor started typing, wanting to see what he could find on the podiums computer.
"Ah, got it," The Doctor said as the screen in front of them changed to show the planet they were currently on, "The Ood Sphere, I've been to this solar system before. Years ago. Ages. Close to the planet Sense-Sphere. Let's widen out. The year 4126. That is the Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire."
" 4126? It's 4126," Donna asked, shocked, "I'm in 4126."
"It's good, isn't it?" The Doctor grinned, always happy to show Donna the universe he and Chris loved so much.
"What's the Earth like now?"
"Bit full," The Doctor said as the screen shifted to show four different galaxies, red lines connecting them, "But you see, the Empire stretches out across three galaxies."
"It's weird," Donna said, "I mean, it's brilliant, but. Back home, the papers and the telly, they keep saying we haven't got long to live. Global warming, flooding, all the bees disappearing."
"Yeah," The Doctor said, "That thing about the bees is odd."
"But look at us," Donna gestured at the screen, "We're everywhere. Is that good or bad, though? I mean, are we like explorers? Or more like a virus?"
"Sometimes I wonder," The Doctor said, agreeing with Donna's line of questioning.
"What are the red dots?"
"Ood distribution centers," The Doctor explained.
"Across three galaxies? Don't the Ood get a say in this?" Donna questioned sharply before going over to the first Ood, "Er, sorry, but. Hello. Tell me, are you all like this?"
"I do not understand, Miss," the Ood responded.
"Why do you say miss?" Donna asked, offended, "Do I look single?"
"Back to the point," The Doctor said
"Yeah," Donna agreed sheepishly, "What I mean is, are there any free Ood? Are there Ood running wild somewhere, like wildebeest."
"All Ood are born to serve." The Ood informed the redhead, "Otherwise, we would die."
"But you can't have started like that," Donna protested, "Before the humans, what were you like?"
"The circle," The Ood started.
"What do you mean?" The Doctor demanded, his interest piqued even more, "What circle?"
"The Cloud and The Rain must be protected." The Ood said as Solana walked back in, getting
everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Solana called, "All Ood to hospitality stations, please."
"I've had enough of the schmoozing," The Doctor grinned at Donna, holding up a map, "Do you fancy going off the beaten track?"
"Now, if I can introduce you," Solana continued in the background but the two ignored her.
"Rough guide to the Ood Sphere?" Donna grinned, "Works for me."
Chris glared at Kess once more as he snapped his whip at the Ood that had fallen.
"Oi," she yelled, grabbing the whip from Kess, "they feel pain, you idiot."
"No they-" Kess started to argue but he shut up when Chris glared at him.
"Yes, they do!" She snapped, "they're alive, they feel pain. Stop treating them like slaves!"
"But they are-"
"If you finish that sentence I will use this on you so you can see how it feels," Chris said, she smiled thinly when Kess stopped talking.
Chris huffed and walked to the front of the group. She glanced up to see The Doctor and Donna on the catwalk and who waved to her. She broke off from the group and jogged up the steps to the catwalk before throwing her arms around The Doctor, surprising the Time Lord and Donna.
"Sorry," Chris muttered as she buried her face in The Doctor's chest, "this is so hard to watch."
"Last time I met the Ood, I never thought," The Doctor murmured after a moment, rubbing Chris' back, "I never asked."
"That's not like you," Donna noted, placing a comforting hand on Chris' shoulder, the other woman shifted to give Donna a grateful look.
"I was busy," The Doctor protested, "So busy I couldn't save them. I had to let the Ood die. I reckon I owe them one."
Chris shook her head and sniffed, "not your fault." she told The Doctor who squeezed her shoulders before letting her step away.
"That looks like the boss," Donna said pointing to a balding old man on the floor of the warehouse.
"Oh, I already don't like him," Chris muttered, "never have, never will."
The Doctor looked at Chris who was glaring at the man before grabbing her hand and squeezing. She glanced at him with a small smile before leading the way down the steps.
"Let's get this over with, I hate to see the Ood suffering," Chris told the two of them as she led them to Ood cargo. She'd taken a peek at a map earlier and figured it wouldn't hurt to speed things up a little.
"Ood export," The Doctor said once they were in the room, "You see? Lifts up the containers, takes them to the rocket sheds, ready to be flown out all over the three galaxies."
"What, you mean, these containers are full of?" Donna questioned, horrified.
"What do you think?" The Doctor asked darkly. He looked over at Chris to see a blank look on the woman's face and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze when she blinked at him.
"Sorry," Chris apologized, shaking her head, "let's keep moving."
"Oh, it stinks," Donna said once The Doctor had gotten one of the large shipping containers open, "How many of them do you think there are in each one?"
"One-hundred and twenty-four," Chris answered, wrapping her arms around her middle, "there are one-hundred and twenty-four Ood in this container."
"A great big empire built on slavery," Donna muttered, disgusted by the behavior of the humans that were benefitting from this.
"It's not so different from your time," The Doctor pointed out.
"Oi," Donna said, offended, "I haven't got slaves."
"Who do you think made your clothes?" The Doctor questioned, raising a brow.
"Is that why you travel round with a human at your side?" Donna demanded, "It's not so you can show them the wonders of the universe, it's so you can take cheap shots?"
"Sorry," The Doctor replied contritely
"Don't, Spaceman," Donna said before turning to the Ood, "I don't understand, the door is open, why don't you just run away?"
"For what reason?" One of the Ood asked.
"You could be free."
"I do not understand the concept," The Ood tilted his head to the side.
"What is it with that Persil ball?" Donna asked, "I mean, they're not born with it, are they? Why do they have to be all plugged in?"
"Ood, tell me," The Doctor said, "Does the circle mean anything to you?"
"The circle must be broken," All the Ood replied, "The Cloud and The Rain must be protected."
"Oh, that is creepy," Donna said, glancing at Chris to see that the other woman was shaking. Donna went over to her and wrapped the girl in a hug, smiling a little when she leaned into it.
"But what is it?" The Doctor questioned, "What is the circle? What do you mean by The Cloud and The Rain?"
"The circle must be broken," All of the Ood Replied, "The Cloud and The Rain must be protected."
"Why?" The Doctor asked.
"So that we can sing," The Ood said together, "so that the Drought can end."
The Doctor was about to ask another question when an alarm sounded throughout the warehouse.
"Oh, that's us," The Doctor noted before grabbing Chris' hand and breaking into a run, almost dragging the shaking girl behind him.
You okay? The Doctor asked Chris as they ran.
I'll be fine, Rain replied for Chris who was trying to shake off her fear.
She pulled The Doctor to a stop suddenly before calling for Donna to stop as well.
"Donna, wait," Chris called, the woman stopped and turned back to Chris who was just standing there, looking at a door.
"Take us to your leader," Chris said with a grin before the guards who had entered could even do anything. "Tell Mr. Halpen and Dr. Ryder that if they want to survive they are going to need our help."
The guards looked at each other hesitantly before Chris snapped at them.
"I am not a happy woman right now. In fact, I am a very very angry woman right now. And I am also capable of rendering every single one of you incapable of working for the rest of your lives, now move it!"
Donna stared at Chris in shock while The Doctor looked worried for the woman as she started to fiddle with the ring that she always wore on her thumb. He knew her well enough by now to know that she was not thinking her best right now.
"Chris," The Doctor said firmly, grabbing the woman's arm and pulling her to him.
"No," Chris snapped, before hissing at The Doctor, "I know what I'm doing, trust me."
"I do," The Doctor insisted, "but not while you're like this."
"Like what?" Chris whispered sharply.
"Angry," The Doctor said, "you don't think clearly while you're angry."
Chris smiled thinly at The Doctor, "I'm beyond angry, Doctor, I'm furious. Now let go."
She pulled away from The Doctor who watched her in concern as she indicated for the guards to lead the way. She didn't look back at The Doctor as she asked Rain to tell him why she was angry.
These people have taken an innocent species, a kind species, my friends, and have enslaved them for profit. I was angry when humans did this to humans. But now I'm pissed, Doctor. No one deserves to be treated the way these people are treating the Ood.
I understand, Chris. I agree. The Doctor responded heatedly, But you need to calm down.
Oh, so you can get angry all the time, but as soon as I get angry it's a bad thing?
I'm not saying that! The Doctor replied, catching up with Chris.
"Chris, please, just-" The Doctor took a breath "please just listen to me."
"Okay," Chris said, stopping to look at The Doctor as he continued.
"You've been there for me so many times when I've been angry. So many. You've saved me from myself more times than I can count. Please, let me help you." The Doctor pleaded.
"If you want to help me then you need to help the Ood," Chris said, her eyes softening. "The circle must be broken."
"Alright," The Doctor breathed, "alright."
He turned to the guards, "Take us to your leader."
A/N: I got one word for you guys: College. I hope you enjoy the update! We're gonna learn some more about The Rain in the next chapter!