The Companion Connection

By Lumendea

Chapter Twenty-Nine: School Reunion: The Skasis Paradigm

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the spinoff material and I gain no income off of this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

….

Two cars swung into the Deffry Vale High School lot in the morning just as the school opened its doors. Rose glanced at the Doctor who had a dark hard look on his face. She recognised that look from her first meeting with this incarnation of the Doctor. and his previous incarnation. Donna and Sarah Jane exchanged a quick look with each other as they moved towards the school.

"Donna and Sarah, go to the maths department and crack open the computers. I need to see the hardware inside. Here, you might need this," the Doctor said. He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and handed it to Sarah Jane. "Better take K-9 with you," he said, glancing down at the dog.

"Into a school?" Donna asked.

"His systems are all working so he can help you," the Doctor said.

"Just say that he is part of a new robotics program," Rose suggested.

"Sharon and Shareen," the Doctor continued without any reaction to Rose's statement. "Surveillance, use your mobiles if anything unusual happens."

"Do you even have a phone?" Sharon asked.

"Call Rose, she'll be with me," the Doctor replied calmly before he started walking towards the school again.

"Be careful," Rose said quickly to Sharon and Shareen. "You have UNIT's number, right?"

"Yes," Shareen replied. "We'll sound the alarm if needed," she promised.

"Good," Rose said, hugging them both quickly. "Good luck," she called to Donna and Sarah Jane before she chased after the Doctor.

Rose stayed near the Doctor, but the tension radiating off of him kept her silent. His eyes kept checking the children that were passing them by. Then he suddenly leaned over a rail and stared down several floors. Rose glanced down to see a tall, smartly dressed man that she recognised as Mister Finch from Sarah Jane's description. She took a step back from the rail and out of the way of the Doctor and the children rushing to class. Mister Finch turned away from the Doctor and continued down the hall. Rose felt the Doctor slip his hand into hers and they continued up the stairs.

The Doctor did a quick round of the school, checking for anything else strange and never releasing Rose's hand, but not saying anything. Something was bothering him, Rose realised; something about them, something about her. Still, she didn't ask him what it was, deciding that it could wait until the Krillitanes were dealt with. They walked down to the school swimming pool and Rose saw Mister Finch waiting for them, standing on the opposite side of the pool.

"Wait here," the Doctor said as he walked forward towards Finch. Rose frowned but slipped her hand into her pocket where her new sonic pen was. The Doctor walked calmly along the pool, hands in the pocket of his trench coat. "Who are you?" The Doctor questioned Finch.

"My name is Brother Lassa. And you?"

"The Doctor. Since when did Krillitanes have wings?"

"It's been our form for nearly ten generations, now. Our ancestors invaded Bessan. The people there had some rather lovely wings. They made a million widows in one day, just imagine."

"And now you're shaped human," the Doctor observed.

"A personal favourite, that's all," Mister Finch replied with a small smile.

"And the others?"

"My brothers remain bat form. What you see is a simple morphic illusion. Scratch the surface and the true Krillitane lies beneath."

Rose blinked as they both started walking along the pool to the far side almost at the same time. She watched the Doctor carefully.

"And what of the Time Lords?" Finch asked. "I always thought of you as such a pompous race. Ancient, dusty senators, so frightened of change and... chaos. And of course - they're all but extinct. Only you. The last," Mister Finch observed with a light tone that made Rose wince.

"This plan of yours - what is it?" The Doctor asked.

Mister Finch's glee seemed to increase. He moved even closer to the Doctor. "You don't know."

"That's why I'm asking," the Doctor said simply. Rose barely heard the Doctor's answer as the two came face to face.

"Well, show me how clever you are. Work it out."

"If I don't like it... then it will stop."

"Fascinating. Your people were peaceful to the point of indolence. You seem to be something new. Would you declare war on us, Doctor?" Finch asked with a tone much lighter than ever Rose could have managed when faced with the Doctor's anger.

"I'm so old, now. I used to have so much mercy," the Doctor said so quietly that Rose nearly missed it, even with the echo qualities of the room. "You get one warning. That was it."

The Doctor turned back to Rose and started walking towards her while Mister Finch said, "But we're not even enemies. Soon... you will embrace us." The Doctor fixed his eyes on Rose and did not turn back to Finch, even as the alien added, "The next time we meet, you will join with me. I promise you."

Rose frowned at the knowing smile on Finch's face as he examined her for a moment and then turned to walk towards another exit. The Doctor reached her and took her hand before he turned to watch Finch leave the room. Rose noted the suspicious look on his face and furrows of worry. Rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand, Rose tried to offer her support.

"Creepy man," Rose said softly. When the Doctor didn't reply to that, Rose added, "We should go find Donna and Sarah Jane. They may have some information for us."

He nodded and they quickly walked to the maths department. It didn't take long to find where Donna and Sarah Jane were working. It was filled with rows of computers with a large screen on the far side of the wall. Donna was sitting in one of the chairs and flipping through a magazine while she spoke with Sarah Jane. Judging by the sounds of K-9's speech, he was giving Sarah Jane instructions on how to access the insides of the computer.

"Find anything?" Rose asked.

"Not yet," Sarah Jane said as she sat up. "I can't get it open."

"Master, inability of sonic screwdriver to open computer indicates deadlock seal," K-9 said as he rolled forward.

Rose opened her mouth to ask what a deadlock seal was when the loudspeaker suddenly sounded throughout the school. "All pupils to class immediately. And would all members of staff congregate in the staff room."

The sudden sound of feet made Rose turn back to the door quickly. As the Doctor moved to speak with K-9 and retrieve his sonic screwdriver, she moved to the doorway to keep the children from entering, "I'm sorry students, but this room is undergoing maintenance. Please report to the South Hall for your class. That's right, South Hall."

Rose returned to the Doctor to find him trying to open one of the computer hall's routers with no luck. "This is deadlock sealed as well! What're they teaching those kids?"

All the computers suddenly lit up throughout the room, each screen showing a series of coding unlike anything Rose had ever seen before in glowing green. "You wanted the program - there it is."

"Some sort of code," the Doctor breathed as he gazed at the large main screen which was flashing several sections of the code.

Rose gasped in surprise as her mobile suddenly rang. Quickly, she stepped back from the Doctor and checked the caller. Seeing that it was Shareen, Rose quickly answered. "Rose!" Shareen's voice said with relief, "The school just locked down. Every door just swung shut and the main door won't open!" There was a banging sound on the other end. "There's a kid trying to get out!"

"No," the Doctor said softly, but his expression caught Rose's attention. "It can't be."

"Shareen, do what you can! This isn't good and we need a way out!"

"Alright," Shareen replied. "But I'm making you pay for the bodywork!"

Rose hung up the phone before she took in Shareen's statement. Turning her attention to the stunned Doctor, Rose heard him say, "No... no, they can't be..."

"Doctor," Rose called to him. "They've put the school into lockdown. No one can get out. Sharon and Shareen are working on it."

"Uh Donna, Sarah go down and help them. We need to get the children out," the Doctor said, seemingly without paying attention.

Rose glanced at the other two in confusion. Donna clearly wanted to say something, but Sarah Jane touched her arm. "We need to get the children out," Sarah Jane said. She patted K-9 on the head. "Come on."

"I'll be back Spaceman," Donna snapped. Then giving the Doctor one more searching look, she followed Sarah Jane out the door.

…..

Outside the school, Shareen shouted for Kenny to get away from the door. "Come on Sharon," she snapped. "Back to the car!"

"What? Why?" Sharon asked, but then she blinked and glanced back at the door. "Oh no, you can't be serious!"

"I am, unfortunately!" Shareen said as she pulled out the keys to her new car. "And I'm going to kill Rose for this."

Sharon followed Shareen and pulled out her own phone as Shareen unlocked the car. "And I'll get UNIT's number ready to dial."

…..

"The Skasis Paradigm," the Doctor said, anger creeping into his voice with every word. "They're trying to crack the Skasis Paradigm."

"The Skasis what?" Rose asked. "I need a bit more than that Doctor."

"The... God-maker. The universal theory. Crack that equation and you've got control of the building blocks of the universe. Time and space and matter, yours to control."

"And the children are the computer," Rose hissed. "Just like with Horath; enough knowledge to work, but also imagination driving the cracking of the code."

"And their learning power is being accelerated by the oil! That oil from the kitchens; it works as a- as a... conducting agent. Makes the kids cleverer." The Doctor explained as he paced the room. "But they're not just using the children's brains to break the code... they're using their souls."

Rose tensed as she saw Mister Finch enter the room and then the alien calmly said, "Let the lesson begin." When the Doctor turned to face him, Finch walked towards them slowly his eyes intense on the Doctor. "Think of it, Doctor. With the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the universe and improve it."

"Oh yeah? The whole of creation with the face of Mister Finch." The Doctor answered, "Call me old-fashioned, but I like things as they are."

"You act like such a radical, and yet all you want to do is preserve the old order. Think of the changes that could be made if this power was used for good," Finch remarked, sounding mystified by the notion.

"What, by someone like you?" The Doctor asked, scepticism in his voice.

"No," Finch breathed, "someone like you." The Doctor fell silent in surprise and Rose moved closer to him, catching a glimpse of his face. "The Paradigm gives us power, but you could give us wisdom. Become a God. At my side. Imagine what you could do. Think of the civilisations you could save. Perganon, Assinta... your own people, Doctor. Standing tall. The Time Lords... reborn."

"Doctor, don't listen to him," Rose said.

Rose tensed as Mister Finch moved around the Doctor and turned his attention to her, "But imagine it." Mister Finch said smoothly. "You could be with him always. No timelines, no struggles on Earth. Just the life he wants with you." Finch looked back to the Doctor and smiled. "Their lives are so fleeting. So many goodbyes. How lonely you must be, Doctor. Join us."

"I could save everyone..." the Doctor said; his tone hurting Rose's heart.

"Yes," Finch replied.

"I could stop the war..." the Doctor whispered. Then his eyes settled on Rose. "I could prevent our separation," he said. "It wouldn't have to happen this way."

"Life exactly as you wish, Doctor," Finch said with a note of triumph.

"Don't you dare," Rose hissed as anger flooded through her. Her response surprised the Doctor. "Struggles, pain and doubts shape us all. They make us grow and learn." Rose paused and gave a soft humourless laugh. "Sometimes even more than all the good things in life." Rose swallowed, "So don't you dare take that away from the universe… or me."

"Rose-"

"Don't you dare," Rose repeated firmly. "As much as you might wish to, you know better than this. You're not god material Doctor and you know it."

The Doctor stared at her for a moment, grit his teeth, and then grabbed a chair from the nearest computer. Throwing it into the screen, the Doctor lunged forward and grabbed Rose's hand. Then he shouted, "Run!"

They reached the bottom of the stairs in time to meet all the others, along with one of the students. Behind them were the now familiar screeches of the Krillitanes chasing after them. Rose risked a glance back over her shoulder and saw the bat-like creatures climbing the walls and gliding down the narrow corridor after them. They rushed into the canteen and the Doctor ran to a large door on the opposite side. Before he could use the sonic screwdriver, Mister Finch entered the room, followed by the Krillitanes in their bat forms.

"Are they my teachers?" the boy asked Donna.

"Yes," Donna replied. "Uh, sorry… I think."

"Leave the Doctor alive." Finch commanded, "As for the others... you can feast."

Rose summoned her sword forth as one of the Krillitanes swooped down at her, slicing its wing. She didn't bother to watch it collapse to the floor as another gave a horrible cry and dove towards her. Rose dropped and rolled to the side to avoid it before sweeping her sword in an arc near the Krillitane. Rose growled as the Krillitane flew out of her range, but then it was promptly shot by a laser beam. Blinking in surprise, Rose spun to see K-9 in the doorway. The little robot dog had finally caught up with them.

"K-9!" Sarah Jane cried out in relief.

"Suggest you engage running mode, mistress," the robot calmly replied as it fired at another Krillitane.

"Come on!" the Doctor shouted as he gave Shareen a hand up. "K-9, hold them back!"

"Affirmative, master. Maximum defence mode!"

They heard the fight continue behind them as they ran through another corridor. The Doctor suddenly halted and swung open a laboratory door. "In here." He used the sonic screwdriver on the lock as soon as everyone was through. The Doctor leaned against the main desk, his face thoughtful. Rose leaned against the wall by the door; her sword at the ready as the others sat down.

"Kenny," Sharon asked the boy, "Are you alright?" He nodded a moment later, but the Doctor ignored them as he stared up at the ceiling.

"It's the oil. Krillitane life forms can't handle the oil! That's it!" the Doctor suddenly shouted. "They've changed their physiology so often, even their own oil is toxic to them. How much was there in the kitchens?"

"Barrels," Donna answered. "Four at last count."

Sudden screeching from outside made everyone jump and Rose stepped away from the wall as the Krillitanes began to claw their way through the door. Rose moved her sword up to a defensive position and did not take her eyes off the door as it shook. If they got through, she might be able to get another one of them as they entered the room.

"Okay, we need to get to the kitchens," the Doctor said taking charge again, "Sharon and Shareen, get the children unplugged and out of the school." The Doctor frowned, "Now then; bats, bats, bats, how do we fight bats?"

Kenny didn't hesitate and strode over to the fire alarm. The boy hit it quickly with his elbow setting off the high pitched alarm. The screeching outside the door turned to wails of pain and the Doctor grinned at Kenny. Quickly unsealing the door, the Doctor moved into the hallways, weaving around the Krillitanes that were flinching in distress. Rose stayed close to the Doctor, noticing Sharon and Shareen break off from the main group. The fire alarm quieted a moment later as they ran down the hall. Ahead of them, K-9 suddenly rolled out into the corridor. He was covered in scrapes and scratches with part of his access panel torn open.

"Master!" K-9 greeted as he moved to join the Doctor.

"Come on, boy! Good boy."

Rose followed the Doctor into the kitchen and moved out of the way of Donna as she rushed to pull the barrels of oil away from the wall. The Doctor tried using his sonic screwdriver on one of the barrels, but it didn't work.

"They've been deadlock sealed!" He tried another barrel, "Finch must've done that. I can't open them."

Rose pulled out the sonic pen, "Would this be able to?"

"No," the Doctor replied quickly, but then he stopped and grabbed it. "If I can code it to this deadlock seal then it will work." The Doctor grinned as he used his own sonic screwdriver to start coding Rose's sonic pen. "Oh Donna," the Doctor said cheerfully. "We're going to need some buckets." Donna quickly started to grab buckets from the cleaning area and handed them around. "As soon as the oil hits them we aren't going to have much time to get away. Sarah, get the back door open. We're going to run fast."

The first barrel opened with a soft pop and the Doctor cheered in triumph. Pocketing his sonic screwdriver he moved to the next barrel as Donna started filling the buckets and handing them around. Rose glanced towards the door and then turned to Kenny. "You should head outside Kenny," Rose said gently. "We'll finish this."

"Good idea," Sarah Jane said quickly. "K-9, take Kenny outside and stay with him."

Rose's phone chirped and she pulled it out to find a simple text message from Sharon. "The kids are all outside," she announced quickly. Slipping her phone back into her pocket, she accepted a bucket of Krillitane oil from Donna. "I am getting the sonic pen back, right?"

The Doctor didn't answer as the door suddenly swung open and the Krillitanes marched inside, now in their human forms. Rose braced herself and the moment their eyes widened at the sight of the open barrels, the Doctor shouted, "Now!"

Everyone swung their buckets forward, sending the oil spraying all over the Krillitanes. Rose dropped the bucket as the Krillitanes started wailing and screaming. Sarah Jane was just ahead of her as they all rushed out the door. Behind them, the Doctor sealed the back door as soon as everyone was out. "Keep running," the Doctor shouted.

They joined the throng of students just in time to turn around and see the large explosion. Windows all down the front of the building shattered and the students began to cheer. Rose hugged Sharon and Shareen quickly before turning to hug the Doctor.

"Aliens and schools are not a good mix," Rose said with a laugh as she pulled away from the Doctor. "Still, not a bad day."

"Nope," the Doctor said to her before he turned to inspect K-9. "I guess the Krillitanes didn't like you firing on them."

"Negative, Master," K-9 replied.

"Well then," the Doctor looked up at Sarah Jane. "Seems I need to do some repairs before I go." Sarah Jane grinned in response.