The Best
They were quickly locked up by the zombies in large cuffs. Their hands were quickly locked into them and they were forced to stand because they were connected to a mess of tubes. Amy wriggled her hands around but couldn't find any weaknesses. Giving up, she followed the Doctor's example and glared at the creepy man.
"If we create a climate of fear, then it's easy to keep the borders closed. It's just a matter of emphasis. The right word in the right broadcast repeated often enough can destabilize an economy, invent an enemy…change a vote…"
"So, all the people on Earth are like slaves?" Rose asked rhetorically.
"That's sick!" Chase hissed.
"Well, now, those are interesting points." The man grinned and Amy felt the urge to kick him. "Is a slave a slave if he doesn't know he's enslaved?"
"Yes!" the Doctor and Amy yelled simultaneously. The man visibly sagged in disappointment.
"I was hoping for a philosophical debate. Is that all I'm going to get? 'Yes'?"
"Yes." The Doctor repeated.
"I'd knock you out too, but I'm a little tied up." Amy said conversationally, showing him her manacled arms.
"Aren't you just full of fire?" the man preened and Amy glowered at him.
"Come anywhere near me and I'll burn you." She threatened. The man howled with laughter.
"She's strong too!" he grinned flirtatiously at her. "Not to mention gorgeous."
"I'm married." Amy smiled thinly at him. "Back off."
"You're not fun." The man pouted and Amy rolled her eyes. "Neither are you, Doctor."
"Let me out of these manacles. You'll find out how much fun I am."
"Oh, he's tough isn't he?" the man didn't sound very impressed. "Come on, isn't it a great system? You've got to admire it, just a little bit."
"It's hard to admire something so sick." Chase growled. The man barely glanced at him.
"You can't hide something on this scale on this scale," Rose argued. "Somebody must've noticed!"
"From time to time, someone, yes." The man huffed. "But the computer system allows me to see inside their brain. I can see the smallest doubt…and crush it." He balled his hand into a fist for emphasis. Amy glared at him but couldn't help the shiver of fear that wormed its way into her stomach.
"And they just carry on, living their life. Strutting about downstairs and all over the surface of the Earth like they're so individual when of course, they're not." Amy was starting to grow tired of the man's spiel. "They're just cattle. In that respect, the Jagrafess hasn't changed a thing."
"You're human." Amy pointed out. "That makes you cattle as well."
"Simply being human doesn't pay very well." The man sneered.
"You're doing all this for money?" Chase asked incredulously.
"You'd be surprised by how many people actually do." Amy rolled her eyes.
"But you couldn't have done this all on your own." Rose protested.
"No! I represent a consortium of banks. They prefer a long-term investment. Also, the Jagrafess needed a little hand to um…install himself."
"No wonder, a creature that size, what's its life span?" the Doctor asked curiously.
"Three thousand years."
"What happens when those three thousand years runs out?" Amy asked. "What happens to the human race?"
The man chuckled and shrugged. "Not my problem."
"That's one hell of a metabolism generating all that heat." The Doctor hummed. "That's why Satellite Five's so hot. You pump it out of the creature, channel it downstairs, Jagrafess stays cool, stays alive. Satellite Five's one great big life support system."
"Yes, yes." Frosty snapped impatiently. "But that's why you're so dangerous. Knowledge is power but you remain unknown."
Amy cried out when electricity shot out of the manacles and coursed through her body. Her limbs convulsed, her muscles cramped and the sharp pain of an oncoming premonition hit her. Closing her eyes, she found herself in a large room of some kind. She looked up and almost jumped out of her skin when a man was staring at her sadistically. The indecipherable whispering grew louder.
Her eyes snapped open and she found herself back on Floor 500.
"Leave them alone!" the Doctor cried out frantically. "I'm the Doctor, that's Rose Tyler, Amy Pond and Chase Jackson. We're nothing, we're just wandering."
"Tell me who you are!" Frosty insisted.
"Are you deaf or something?" Amy growled. "He just did! We're nobody of importance!"
"Yes, but who do you work for? Who sent you? Who knows about us? Who exactly-" Frosty froze, staring at the ceiling. Amy shared a nervous glance with the Doctor.
"What are you doing?" Chase asked.
"What is he doing?" Rose asked.
"I don't know." The Doctor admitted.
Frosty looked at them with a cruel smile. "Time Lord."
Amy froze. A confused Chase glanced at her nervously.
"What?" The Doctor squawked. Amy's mind whirled. He couldn't have possibly got the information. They didn't have chips in their heads.
Frosty grinned. "Oh yes! The last of the Time Lords in his travelling machine. Oh, with his little human friends from so long ago." He stroked Amy's cheek. Amy tore her head away and he grinned salaciously at her.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" The Doctor hissed.
"Time travel." Frosty gasped, mystified.
"Someone's been telling you lies!" The Doctor growled in an attempt to regain the situation.
"Young master Adam Mitchell?" Frosty snapped his fingers and a holographic projection appeared.
"What the hell!" Chase exclaimed.
"Oh my god, his head!" Rose gasped.
"What the hell's he done? What the hell's he gone and done? They're reading his mind. He's telling them everything." The Doctor yelped.
"He's gone and got a brain door!" Amy gasped but then she paused. "Hang on, we never told him about the Doctor being the last of the Time Lords…so how does he know?" she noticed Rose fidgeting awkwardly in the corner. "Rose, why?"
"It's doesn't matter!" Frosty grinned. "Through him, I know everything about you. Every piece of information in his head is now mine. And you have infinite knowledge Doctor. The Human Empire is tiny compared to what you've seen in your T-A-R-D-I-S, TARDIS."
"You'll never get your hands on it, I'll die first!" The Doctor swore, the vitriol dripping from his voice.
Frosty shrugged. "Die all you like, I don't need you. I've got the key."
"Rose…" Amy said warningly. Rose flinched. They watched in horror as the key from Adam's pocket was pulled out and held above him in suspended animation.
"You and your boyfriends!" The Doctor sighed with disappointment.
"Today, we are the headlines. We can rewrite history. We could prevent mankind from ever developing!"
"But that mean you'll have never existed!" Chase protested. Frosty just winked at him.
"And no one's going to stop you!" The Doctor yelled. "Because you've bred a human race that doesn't bother to ask questions. Stupid little slaves believing every lie. They'll just trot right into the slaughterhouse if they're told it's made of gold."
Amy frowned at his words. Looking at him, she noticed he wasn't even looking at Frosty. Following his gaze, her eyes travelled down and her breath hitched. Cathica was looking back at them. Her face steeled and she walked off determinedly.
"And now, I think you've lived long enough." Frosty said malevolently.
Before he could do anything, an alarm started blaring and Amy cheered internally.
"What's happening?" Frosty demanded, stalking over to a zombie. "Someone's disengaged the safety." He muttered.
"And that's bad, is it?" Chase grinned. On the projection, the information stopped flowing into Adam's head and the TADIS key dropped to the ground.
Frosty snapped his fingers and a new image replaced Adam. "Who's that?!"
"It's Cathica!" Rose grinned. The cornrow girl was in the brain room they had passed earlier. She was seated in the chair and a stream of information flowed into her head.
"And she's thinking," The Doctor said proudly. "She's using what she knows!"
Frosty grew impatient and turned to zombie Suki. "Terminate her access!"
"Everything I told her about Satellite Five- the pipes, the filters, she's reversing it! Look at that…"
"Plumbing is very important." Amy quoted with a grin. Frosty grew desperate and tried to burn out Cathica's mind, but the screens started to spark and the zombies slumped over. Amy let out a triumphant cry when her manacles snapped open.
All around them, the ice and icicles started to melt as the room was flooded with heat. The Jagrafess snarled and squirmed above them.
"Yes, um…I'm trying sir but- I don't know how she did it. It's impossible! A member of staff with an idea-" the Jagrafess roared and Amy reached into the coat pocket and pulled out the sonic screwdriver. She fiddled around with it and glared at him.
"When we get out of this, you are working on a bloody psychic interface!" Amy hissed. She finally found the right setting and zapped Rose's manacles open. When she finished with hers, she turned to Chase and the Doctor's and unlocked them.
"We really should get out of here." Chase warned.
"Good point!" The Doctor said cheerily. "Oi mate! Wanna bank on a certainty? Massive heat in a massive body, massive bang!"
The lump of flesh fell of the Jagrafess and it roared in pain. Amy grabbed the Doctor's arm and dragged him with her.
"See you in the headlines!"
"Not the time for cheesy one liners." Amy hissed. "We have to get Cathica!"
The Doctor nodded and led the way to the Brain Room. When they arrived, information was still streaming through Cathica's head. The Doctor snapped his fingers and the door closed with a snap. The woman looked at them with a smile. The Doctor smiled proudly.
After the whole ordeal, Amy was sitting in the canteen, sipping a beef Slush Puppie. The Doctor was advising Cathica about the things she needed to do to restore humanity to its height while Rose and Chase were quietly talking about the day's events.
People were helping each other stand and pick things up. The explosion had apparently affected all of Satellite Five and not just floor 500.
"You'll have to stay to explain it." Cathica said worriedly. "No one's going to believe me!"
"Oh, they might start believing a lot of things a lot of things now. The human race should accelerate. All back to normal." The Doctor explained.
"You'll be fine." Amy reassured with a smile. The woman smiled back.
"What about your friend?" Cathica asked, eyeing Adam who was standing by the TARDIS nervously.
The Doctor's eyes darkened. "He's not my friend." He stood up and stalked towards Adam. Rose jumped up and followed him awkwardly. Amy and Chase shared a nervous glance before following them. They arrived just in time to see the Doctor forcefully shove Adam into the TARDIS.
The Doctor quickly and wordlessly landed the TARDIS and dragged Adam outside. The rest quickly clambered out.
"It's my house! I'm home! Oh my god, I'm home!" Adam laughed with relief. He turned around and took a visible step back when he saw the Doctor's stormy expression. "Blimey! I thought you were gonna chuck me out of an airlock."
"It was three against one." Amy said casually as she inspected her fingernails. She smirked when Adam's eyes bugged out.
"Is there something else you wanted to tell me?" the Doctor asked Adam. The boy started fidgeting nervously.
"No. Um…what do you mean?" Amy rolled her eyes. He was worse at lying than she was.
The Doctor walked over to the telephone and picked it up. "The archive of Satellite Five, one second of that message could've changed the world."
Amy narrowed her eyes and the boy flushed. The Doctor pulled out the sonic and pointed it at the telephone. The phone sparked and Adam visibly flinched.
"That's it then." The Doctor said cheerfully. "See ya!"
"How do you mean, 'see ya'?" Adam turned to them before they could step into the TARDIS.
"As in 'goodbye,'" The Doctor clarified with a dark smile.
"You didn't really think you were going to be allowed to come back, did you?" Amy looked at the boy incredulously. Adam gave them his best goldfish impression.
"You can't just go. I've got it in my head- I've got a chip type two. My head opens!"
"What like this?" The Doctor asked cheekily before snapping his fingers. Adam's head opened.
"Don't!" he glared before clicking his fingers.
Chase hesitantly clicked his fingers and grinned when Adam's head opened again.
"Stop it!" he huffed and snapped his fingers again. Amy smirked.
"Stop what?" she snapped her fingers and the boy's head opened up for the third time.
"Stop!" Adam cried out indignantly, snapping his fingers again.
"Alright!" Rose moved in front of the two parties. "That's enough you three. Stop it." The three backed away reluctantly.
"Thank you." Adam sighed. Rose looked at him silently and then snapped her fingers.
"Oi!" Adam snapped exasperatedly and Rose giggled.
"Sorry, couldn't resist." Amy laughed along with the girl as Adam closed his head again.
"The whole of history could've changed because of you." The Doctor said angrily.
"I just wanted to help!" Adam protested. Amy smirk turned into a sad smile when she remembered who Adam was. The memory was hazy but she remembered the bitter old man who had kidnapped the Doctor's companion in an act of revenge against him. She hated the way the cracks messed with her memories sometimes. They would withhold information from her until the very last moment and there would be nothing she could do about it.
"I'm sorry!" Adam cried out at something the Doctor said. "I've said I'm sorry, and I am. I really am but you can't just leave me like this!"
"Yes I can. 'Cos if you ever show your head to anyone, they'll dissect you in seconds. You'll have to live a very quiet life. Keep out of trouble, be average. Unseen. Good luck." With that, the Doctor opened the TARDIS door.
"But I wanna come with you!" Adam protested.
"I only take the best." The Doctor told him. "I've got these three." With that, he walked into the TARDIS. Amy grinned and followed him inside, closely followed by Chase. The Time Lord turned to the teenage boy with a raised eyebrow.
"That is, if you want to stay."
"Do you want me to go?" Chase asked nervously, glancing at Amy worriedly. Amy smiled at him while Rose quickly walked in and placed a comforting hand on Chase's arm. The Doctor scoffed.
"Of course not. We all want you to stay! The question is, do you?"
Chase smiled boyishly. "I'd like to stay, if that's okay."
The Doctor nodded curtly but Amy could see his smile as he started the dematerialisation process. When it was complete, he turned to Chase with a grin.
"Well then, Chase Jackson, welcome aboard the TARDIS."
"It's going to be great having someone my age to talk to." Rose sighed. "I mean, these two are great, but they're both really old."
"Oi!" The Doctor and Amy cried out simultaneously. Rose poked her tongue between her teeth and Chase smiled sheepishly. Amy's frown broke into a smile. It seemed Rose and Chase had become fast friends in the short period of time they spent together.
"I won't have any of that," the Doctor said warningly, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Go on Rose, give him the grand tour. You're good at that."
Rose playfully rolled her eyes and led Chase through the door. Amy gave the Doctor a knowing look before walking away.
Amy was sitting in the library working on her book when Rose walked in. Amy dropped her pen and smiled at her.
"Hey." Rose greeted with a smile, dropping down next to her and pulling a cushion to her chest. "The TARDIS seems to have taken a liking to Chase."
Amy patted the table fondly. "Aw, you just love us strays, don't you?"
The TARDIS gurgled in response and Amy chuckled. She turned her attention back to the blonde teenager.
"So what can I do for you, Rose?"
"Do you reckon the Doctor's mad with me?" Rose asked nervously. "You know, for suggesting we bring Adam and all."
"No, he's not mad at you." Amy smiled. "The only one he's mad at is Adam, I promise."
Rose smiled childishly extending her pinky. "Pinky promise?"
Amy laughed but conceded to Rose's game. "Pinky promise." She said, entwining her pinky with hers. Rose smiled but it soon morphed into a yawn.
"Right, I am knackered." She sighed. "Today's been one hell of a day. See you later!"
Amy waved at her before returning to her work. When she felt the couch sag she sighed.
"I told you I'd let you see when I was finished, Doctor."
"Not even one sneak peek?" the Doctor asked. Amy shook her head vehemently. "Ok, fine, I'll wait. Humans, you're so obnoxious."
Amy scoffed. "You can talk." She turned to look at him and smiled softly. "I should start a business."
"What business?" he asked.
"Getting paid for everybody who comes to ask me for advice or to answer a question."
"What makes you think I've come for advice or for an answered question?"
"I know you." Amy said sincerely. "I know the way you think, the way you operate. It took me a while to get to grips with this regeneration but I think I've got it down."
The Doctor nodded but didn't push the subject. "Do you think Rose is mad at me for banishing Adam?"
Amy let out a loud, short laugh. The Doctor furrowed his eyebrows.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, nothing." She waved it off, bringing her laughter under control. "No, she's not mad at you. She's mad at Adam for what he did and I think she's happy you brought Chase on board. I am too."
"The boy's your own companion." The Doctor mused.
Amy pulled a face. "He's not my companion!"
"Yes, he is."
Amy paused.
"Nah, he isn't. I prefer the term 'friend'." She turned to the Doctor. "Can I ask for a favour, Doctor?"
Adam clutched his mother's hand tightly. Her condition was getting worse and the doctors didn't know if they could save her. A lone tear escaped from his eye. He had wanted to help his mother, to cure her of her illness, but the Doctor destroyed his plans.
It wasn't fair. If he had the ability to time travel, why didn't he let him explain himself so he could get medicine for his mother?
"Adam, honey, don't cry." His mother commanded him weakly. Adam wiped his eyes and smiled at her, squeezing her hand.
A familiar wheezing noise filled the air and Adam held his breath. Turning around, he watched as the TARDIS materialised in his mother's bedroom. The Doctor stepped out without sparing him a glance. Amy walked out and gave him a bittersweet smile.
"Who are you?" his mother asked with the hints of fear in her voice.
"I'm the Doctor." He replied curtly, pulling up a chair and sitting next to her. "I'm sorry for what you're going through, I really am, but there's nothing I can do."
"Why not?" Adam roared, jumping out of his chair. Tears leaked out of his eyes as he glared at the Doctor. "Why can't you cure her?"
The Doctor didn't say anything. He just gave him a long, hard look that silenced him. It was then that he spoke.
"History records that your mother dies at this time. It's a fixed point, I'm sorry, but there's no way I can cure her." He explained.
"I don't understand." Adam stuttered.
"You don't have to." The Doctor replied. "Just know that I can't cure your mother without damaging time and space and I'm not going to do that even for Rose, let alone you!"
"Then why are you here?" Adam squeaked. The Doctor smiled a small, genuine smile.
"Because I'm not letting you go through this alone."
A few silent seconds passed. Adam nodded slowly. He and the Doctor were far from friends and he knew that he would never be able to step onto the magnificent TARDIS again but at least they had come to an understanding.
"How did you know?" Adam asked. The Doctor gestured over to the silent ginger. She waved clownishly.
"Okay…how did you know?"
"Spoilers." The woman smiled enigmatically at him. Adam shrugged, taking his mother's weak hand in his. The room was silent as they watched Mrs Mitchell take her last few breaths. Adam stayed by her side even when the sound of the universe echoed around the room. He didn't look back.
Maybe the Doctor wasn't so evil after all.
"Thank you." Amy said to the Doctor. He smiled at her.
"Well, I owe you for how I treated you." He said, avoiding her gaze. Amy smirked.
"You better believe it!"
"Why'd you ask me? To help his mother, I mean." He asked when Amy turned around to leave for her bedroom. Amy turned around and gave him a smile.
"I wanted to avoid you getting your heart broken eleven times." She said before walking away.
The Doctor watched her go with a fond smile. "Amy Pond, you are absolutely fantastic." He said softly under his breath. He turned towards the monitor. It was time to start searching for her lost husband again.
A/N: Posted early because I'm out of town! A few things to talk about:
This is the last of the pre-written chapters. I've finished a chapter of Father's Day and working on another Meanwhile in the TARDIS.
Thank you guys for responding to Chase! It makes me happy you like my OC!
The events Amy is remembering is the comic strip Prisoners of Time which featured Adam's death. That was pretty much rewritten now that Amy and the Doctor helped Adam get over his animosity enough to not take the Master's offer. The talk of cracks is just my personal opinion that the cracks messed around with Amy's memories at a bigger scale. She may remember things, but they can easily take away or withhold things from her temporarily.
Alone in Uncharted Territory has 50+ follows! Thank you all, seriously. I've created a new cover image as a form of thanks. I hope you all stick around!