NicoleR85: thanks!
HannahHPandDWfanJones: thanks. Glad you liked the twists.
"I'm sorry you're having to look after me on your birthday", Alyssa said to her mother as she came in with another cup of tea. She'd been feeling lousy the moment she got up which was strange as she had been feeling fine when the Doctor dropped her off the night before.
"You don't need to apologise Ali. These things happen", Sarah said understandingly.
"Wait mum I got you something", Alyssa said getting out of bed. She went to where she had hidden her mother's card and gift. Alyssa decided to give the flowers to her later. She handed the card and present to her mother before sitting back down on the bed.
Sarah sat perched on the bed and opened the wrapped gift. It was a pendant where a silver S hung from the chain. "I love it. Thank you sweetheart", Sarah said hugging her daughter.
"Your welcome mum", the 23 year old said. Sarah then left Alyssa to rest. I wonder what the Doctor is doing she thought as she sipped her tea probably getting in trouble knowing him.
A couple of hours later Alyssa dragged herself out of bed, changed out of her pj's and headed downstairs. "Hey honey feeling any better?" Sarah asked when Alyssa entered the living room. The young woman just flopped on the sofa next to her. "I take that as a no then", Sarah said "do you want any more tea?" she asked.
"Yes please", Alyssa replied. When Sarah left, Alyssa picked up the remote and started to flick through the channels. She jumped when fanfare started to play on a random channel a four bold words appeared on the screen.
Saxon Broadcast All Channels
"Britain, Britain, Britain. What extraordinary times we've had. Just a few years ago, this world was so small. And then they came, out of the unknown, falling from the skies. You've seen it happen", Mr Saxon said. Various clips were played as the man spoke. "Big Ben destroyed. A spaceship over London. All those ghosts and metal men. The Christmas star that came to kill. Time and time again, and the government told you nothing. Well, not me. Not Harold Saxon. Because my purpose here today is to tell you this. Citizens of Great Britain, I have been contacted. A message for humanity, from beyond the stars"
Alyssa's eyes widened when a couple of metal sphere's appeared on the screen. Sarah came in at that carrying to mugs of tea and stared at the screen. "People of the Earth. We come in peace. We bring great gifts. We bring technology and wisdom and protection. And all we ask in return is your friendship", one of the spheres said. Its voice sounded like a female.
"Ooo, sweet. And this species has identified itself", Mr Saxon said happily. Alyssa got a really bad feeling about those spheres. "They are called the Toclafane and tomorrow morning, they will appear. Not in secret, but to all of you. Diplomatic relations with a new species will begin"
"Sounds rather exciting doesn't it?" Sarah asked Alyssa as she handed her a mug of tea.
"Yeah exciting", Alyssa replied rather unenthusiastically.
She wasn't the only one who was uneasy about it. The Doctor was too. He sat in Martha's apartment watching it on the TV. "Tomorrow, we take our place in the universe. Every man, woman and child. Every teacher and chemist and lorry driver and farmer. Oh, I don't know, every medical student?"
The Doctor turned Martha's TV around to reveal some explosives. "Out!" he shouted. Jack, Martha and the Doctor quickly vacate Martha's small home just before it explodes. "All right?" the Doctor asked getting to his feet.
"Fine. Yeah, fine", Jack replied.
Martha didn't answer him as she was too busy dialling her family "Martha? What are you doing?" the Doctor asked.
"He knows about me. What about my family?" Martha questioned, extremely worried for them.
"Don't tell them anything", the Doctor said as he didn't know who would be listening in the conversation.
"I'll do what I like", Martha snapped holding her phone to her ear.
"Maybe you should call Ali. Make sure she's ok", Jack suggested. The Doctor agreed and rung Alyssa.
"Hey Doctor"
"Are you ok Ali?" the Time Lord asked as she didn't sound quite right on the phone.
"I'm ok", the red head replied.
"You sure? You don't sound it", the Doctor commented.
"I'm fine. Not quite feeling 100% but you don't have to worry. It's probably a 24hr bug thing", Alyssa assured him "did you see those Toclafane things on TV?"
"Yeah I did. Listen Ali I want you and your mother to stay at home. Don't go anywhere", the Doctor told her seriously.
"Is it the Toclafane?" Alyssa questioned.
The Doctor nodded "Yes. Please promise me you'll stay indoors"
Alyssa sighed "I promise".
"See you later Ali", the Doctor said.
"See you later Spaceman"
"You didn't tell her about the bomb", Jack said after the Doctor hung up.
"If I had she wouldn't have stayed at home", the Time Lord told him "At least this way I know Ali is safe".
"Everything alright sweetheart?" Sarah asked noticing that Alyssa had come off the phone.
"Yep. That was just John. He wanted to wish you a happy birthday", the empath said.
"Well that's nice of him", the older woman commented. As the Doctor told her to stay at home Alyssa suggested a movie marathon with Pizza. "You sure you'll be able to manage pizza?" Sarah asked when it got around dinner time.
"Pretty sure I can manage a couple of slices", Alyssa replied. So Sarah ordered a pizza for them to share. They continued with the Harry Potter Marathon after the pizza came. Throughout the marathon, Sarah noticed that Alyssa seemed distracted.
"Ali are you sure everything is ok?" Sarah asked as her daughter headed up to bed.
"Yeah mum everything is fine", Alyssa assured her. As she was about to swap her clothes for her pj's there was a flash of light. Alyssa stared at the woman who'd just appeared in her room. She looked like the curly haired woman who took hers and Ben's picture in Paris. Before she could say anything, the woman spoke.
"Ali I don't have time to explain so just trust me ok?"
"Trust you? I don't even know you", Alyssa stated.
The woman smiled "oh you will", she said reaching out and taking hold of her wrist. The woman then pressed a button on her vortex manipulator and they both vanished. Alyssa groaned when they reappeared. "You'll get used to it", the woman assured her.
"God I hope not", Alyssa said "Where are we?"
"On board the Valiant", the curly haired woman replied.
"And why did you bring me here?" Alyssa questioned. She'd been enjoying the day with her mother, celebrating her birthday. Why did this woman bring her here?
"So you can destroy the paradox machine", the woman said "it's the reason you're not feeling very well", she added.
"And how do I find it?" Alyssa pressed.
"It's pretty easy. Just listen"
Alyssa raised a brow "just listen?"
"Yep. But you better find it quickly. There's only 10 minutes before it is turned on. Good luck"
Alyssa shielded her eyes as the woman disappeared in a flash of light. "I guess I better go find that paradox machine", she said to herself before running down the corridor. It wasn't easy to run as the sick feeling she had was worse than it was at home.
Alyssa stopped in a corridor when she heard something. It was similar to the singing she heard in that 'head game'. However, it didn't sound right. Alyssa wasted no time following it. It led her to the TARDIS! She gasped when she saw what the blue box looked like when she stepped in. Alyssa pushed aside any ill feeling she had as she walked around the console. "Ok how do I get you back to your normal self-Sexy?" she asked. Much to her surprise she didn't get an answer. "Guess I'll have to figure it out on my own"
The red head stood in front of the console considering it. Wonder if my powers would work? She mused. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and raised her hand. Alyssa eventually heard something shake but didn't get too excited as she didn't want to lose focus. However, her concentration was broken when she heard two or more people running towards the TARDIS. Thinking quickly, she darted around the console to a corridor which led to the rest of the ship. Alyssa leant against the wall hoping that whoever it was didn't come her way. She tensed when the people came into the TARDIS.
When she heard Jack's voice however, she relaxed. "What the hell's he done?" the man asked. Alyssa stepped out from where she hid.
"She's been turned into a paradox machine", she said surprising the Doctor, Martha and Jack.
"Ali what are you doing here?" the Doctor asked "I thought I told you to stay at home".
"I didn't exactly plan to leave this. This lady appeared in my room and brought here. She told me that I had to destroy the paradox machine which I was trying to do before you turned up", Alyssa explained.
"You think you can?" the Doctor asked.
"Well the curly haired lady wouldn't have brought me here if I couldn't"
"You ok Firefly?" Jack asked noticing that she was pale.
"Not really. This machine is the reason I'm not feeling well" the Doctor gave her a concerned look "but I'll be fine once we shut this thing off".
"Don't do it yet", he said to her.
"Why shouldn't she do it Doctor? We can stop this now", Jack said confused.
"We've got to get the Master first. Knowing him, he'd have a back-up plan", the Doctor said.
"The Master?" Alyssa asked.
"Mr Saxon", Jack explained.
Hm seems like there's a bit I've missed out on. "It's all well and good you saying you've got to get the Master but do you have a plan on how to do that?" Alyssa asked.
"Yep" The Doctor then proceeded to tell them the plan.
While Alyssa waited with the Paradox machine, the Doctor, Martha and Jack made their way to the flight deck. They crept around the room to get as close as they could to the Master. The other Time Lord is currently sitting down listening to President Winters give his speech. "And I ask you now, I ask of the human race, to join with me in welcoming our friends. I give you the Toclafane"
Four Toclafane appear and the President continues "My name is Arthur Coleman Winters, President Elect of the United States of America, and designated representative of the United Nations. I welcome you to the planet Earth and its associated moon"
"You're not the Master", a male sphere said
"We like the Mister Master", a female sphere added.
"We don't like you", the second male sphere put in.
"I can be master, if you so wish. I will accept mastery over you, if that is God's will", President Winters said not understanding what they meant.
"Man is stupid", the second male sphere said.
"Master is our friend"
"Where's my Master, pretty please?" the female sphere asked. At those words the Master stood up.
"Oh, all right then. It's me. Ta da! Sorry, sorry, I have this effect. People just get obsessed. Is it the smile? Is it the aftershave? Is it the capacity to laugh at myself? I don't know. It's crazy", he said.
"Saxon, what are you talking about?" President Winters asked completely confused.
"I'm taking control, Uncle Sam, starting with you", the Master replied "Kill him", he ordered the Toclafane. One of the four shoots President Winters and chaos erupts in the room as the other invited guests tried to escape.
The Doctor then took his chance to get his key around the Master's neck but he was stopped by two guards. "We meet at last, Doctor. Oh, ho. I love saying that", the Master said gleefully.
"Stop it! Stop it now!" the Doctor ordered.
"As if a perception filter's going to work on me. And look, it's the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one's which", the Master said looking at where Jack and Martha where standing. "If I'm not mistaken there's someone missing. Someone you care deeply for. A certain red head"
The Doctor didn't say anything. He couldn't afford to give away that Alyssa was on board too. "Maybe I should pay her a little visit. See if I can't persuade her that she chose the wrong Time Lord"
Jack then chose the time to rush forward and the Master shot him with his laser screwdriver. "Laser screwdriver. Who'd have sonic? And the good thing is, he's not dead for long. I get to kill him again!"
The Doctor tried to talk to him, to get him to stop but the other Time Lord's response was to use the laser screwdriver on him. Martha watches this angrily but there wasn't anything she could do. Thank god Ali isn't here to see thing she thought knowing that the red head would've gone ballistic over what the Master had done. She crawled over to the Doctor when the Master had stopped using the screwdriver on him. "Aw, she's a would-be doctor", the Master said with fake sympathy as Martha helped the now aged Doctor sit up.
Then the door slid open and Clive, Tish and Francine are brought in, escorted by guards. "I'm sorry", Francine says. She only wanted to protect her daughter from the Doctor. She had no idea who Saxon really was until it was too late.
"The Toclafane. What are they? Who are they?" the Doctor asked breathing heavily.
"Doctor, if I told you the truth, your hearts would break", the Master replied.
"Is it time? Is it ready?" a male Toclafane asked.
"Is the machine singing?" a female Toclafane also asked.
"Two minutes past. So, Earthings. Basically, er, end of the world. Here come the drums!"
The second the paradox machine activated, Alyssa felt an agonising pain go through her body. She screamed clutching her head as she fell to her knees. "I'm sorry Doctor", Alyssa whispered before succumbing to the pain.
Months had passed since the Paradox machine had been turned on. Months of the Doctor worrying about Alyssa's wellbeing. It wasn't long after it the machine had been turned on that the Master was informed of Alyssa's presence on board the Valiant. She'd apparently slipped into a coma and it didn't look like she was going to wake up soon. The Master had regularly questioned the Doctor as to why the girl was in that condition. He was aware of Alyssa's abilities and knew that she would be a good asset to have on his side. The Doctor had told him repeatedly that it was the Paradox Machine that was causing it but the Master wouldn't listen to him.
Then one day instead of the usual questioning, the Master told the Doctor that Alyssa had finally woken up. He sat the elderly Doctor in his wheelchair and parked it by the long wooden table. The Master then went and to get Alyssa to bring her to the flight deck. The Doctor could tell right away that Alyssa wasn't herself. She was extremely pale and she had to rely heavily on the Master for support. The Master sat her down in a chair next to the Doctor. "Ali", the Doctor said making the girl frown.
"Do I know you?" she asked quietly.
"This is the Doctor Alyssa", the Master replied "Don't you remember him?"
The Doctor's hearts sank when Alyssa shook her head. "Can I go back to my room now?"
"Of course my dear" the Master said helping her up. Just before they left the room, Alyssa heard three words. Three words that stirred something in the back of her mind.
"My brilliant Ali"
"Master? Why have you brought me here?" Alyssa asked he took her to the flight deck.
"I wanted the pleasure of your company", the Master replied. Alyssa looks over at the Doctor, gives him a small smile as the Master sat her down in the chair. That was enough to let the Doctor know she'd remembered who he was. It had taken a long time for her to recover her memories as she was in constant pain from the Paradox machine. In fact it was thanks to the Doctor that she remembered at all. Those three words months ago that jogged something in her mind. Then it was all down to patience and the Doctor's subtle hints in their very brief conversations.
Of course she couldn't tell the Doctor that she was recalling her memories as the Master was always present. So that small smile she gave him was the first sign he'd received that she had remembered. Alyssa quickly drops her expression, leaving her face blank so that the Master wouldn't suspect anything.
"Ali do you know, I remember the days when the Doctor, oh, that famous Doctor, was waging a Time War, battling Sea Devils and Axons. He sealed the rift at the Medusa Cascade single handed. And look at him now. Stealing screwdrivers", the Master said to Alyssa "How did he ever come to this? Oh yeah, me".
"What do you think would be a fitting punishment my dear?" the Master asked Alyssa. She just shrugged in response.
"Oh I know! Torturing you" with that he shot Alyssa with his laser screwdriver making her scream.
"Stop this. Please", the Doctor pleaded as the woman writhed around in agony. The Master just ignored him and shot Alyssa again. She screamed again, this time falling off the chair as her entire body shook. "Do what you want to me but please let her go", the Doctor begged. It was killing him to watch the woman he loved be tortured in front of him and there was nothing he could do.
"Say my name", the Master demanded as he shot Alyssa again.
"Master", the Doctor whispered, tears in his eyes "please". The Master looked at the Doctor and lowered his laser screw driver.
"Take her away", he said to one on the guards who nodded. He grabbed the woman's arms and dragged her off as she could barely stand. The Doctor watched them go, with a pained look on his face.
Later…
"Tomorrow, they launch. We're opening up a rift in the Braccatolian space. They won't see us coming. It kind of scary", the Master said to the Doctor who was now a bird cage. To send Martha a message, the Master used his laser screwdriver to age the Doctor hundreds of more years so he now looked like a small Gollum like creature with large eyes.
"Then stop"
"Once the Empire is established, and there's a new Gallifrey in the heavens, maybe then it stops. The drumming. The never ending drumbeat. Ever since I was a child. I looked into the vortex. That's when it chose me. The drumming, the call to war. Can't you hear it? Listen, it's there now. Right now. Tell me you can hear it, Doctor. Tell me"
"It's only you", the Doctor replied.
"Good", the Master said happy. A Toclafane entered the room. It spoke with a female voice.
"Tomorrow, the war. Tomorrow we rise, never to fall"
"You see? I'm doing it for them. You should be grateful. After all, you love them so very, very much", the Master said to the Doctor. "I took Lucy to Utopia. A Time Lord and his human companion. I took her to see the stars. Isn't that right, sweetheart?"
"Trillions of years into the future, to the end of the universe", Lucy said.
"Tell him what you saw"
"Dying. Everything dying. The whole of creation was falling apart, and I thought, there's no point. No point to anything. Not ever", the blonde woman explained.
"And it's all your fault", the Master said looking at the Doctor with obvious hate. "You should have seen it, Doctor. Furnaces burning. The last of humanity screaming at the dark. All that human invention that had sustained them across the eons. It all turned inwards. They cannibalised themselves"
"We made ourselves so pretty", the female Toclafane added.
"Regressing into children. But it didn't work. The universe was collapsing around them. My masterpiece, Doctor. A living Tardis, strong enough to hold the paradox in place, allowing the past and the future to collide in infinite majesty"
"But you're changing history. Not just Earth, the entire universe"
"I'm a Time Lord. I have that right", the Master retorted and with that he led his wife out of the room.
Next morning Alyssa was brought back to the flight deck, well it was more like she was dragged in by two guards. She was brought over to Jack and practically shoved into his arms. He immediately put his arms around her to keep her upright. "Jack", she whispered just about managing to look up at him. She was so tired.
"Hey Firefly. Fancy seeing you here", he said trying to make light of the situation. Truth be told he was very worried about her, she looked worse than he did. It made him angry to think what the Master had done to make her look like that.
"Yeah" Alyssa said, her voice barely audible. Jack almost dropped her when she suddenly went limp. He glanced down at the woman to see she'd passed out. From his cage, the Doctor looked at Alyssa extremely worried. He knew that the Master's torture had only made her condition worse and it was only a matter of time before her body gives up. He hoped that she would hold on long enough for his plan to work.
Moments later Martha was escorted in by a guard. She was brought in front of the Master and forced onto her knees. "At zero, to mark this day, the child Martha Jones, will die. My first blood", the Master said to everyone "Any last words?" he asked and Martha didn't reply. He continued talking about how Martha was such as disappointment. He was cut off by said woman laughing.
"What. What's so funny?"
"A gun", Martha replied smiling.
"What about it?"
"A gun in four parts?"
"Yes, and I destroyed it"
"A gun in four parts scattered across the world? I mean, come on, did you really believe that?"
"What do you mean?" the Master asked still not understanding.
"As if I would ask her to kill", the Doctor said.
"Oh well, it doesn't matter. I've got her exactly where I want her"
"But I knew what Professor Docherty would do. The Resistance knew about her son. I told her about the gun, so she'd get me here at the right time"
"Oh, but you're still going to die"
"Don't you want to know what I was doing, travelling the world?" Martha asked.
"Tell me"
"I told a story, that's all. No weapons, just words. I did just what the Doctor said. I went across the continents all on my own. And everywhere I went, I found the people, and I told them my story. I told them about the Doctor. And I told them to pass it on, to spread the word so that everyone would know about the Doctor"
"Faith and hope? Is that all?"
"No, because I gave them an instruction, just as the Doctor said", Martha stood up "I told them that if everyone thinks of one word, at one specific time"
"Nothing will happen. Is that your weapon? Prayer?"
"Right across the world, in word, just one thought at one moment but with fifteen satellites"
"What?"
"The Archangel Network", Jack said shifting his hold on Alyssa who'd yet to regain consciousness.
"A telepathic field binding the whole human race together, with all of them, every single person on Earth, thinking the same thing at the same time. And that word is Doctor"
The clock hits zero and the Doctor and his cage starts to glow. "Stop it. No, no, no, no, you don't"
Around the room people started to chant "Doctor". Alyssa tiredly opened her eyes to see people chanting the Doctor's name. As everyone chanted, she could hear numerous voices in her mind echoing the same word over and over. She added her own voice to the chant, whispering the Doctor's name.
"I've had a whole year to tune myself into the psychic network and integrate with its matrices", the Doctor said his appearance still getting younger.
"I order you to stop!" the Master shouted but everyone ignored him.
"The one thing you can't do. Stop them thinking. Tell me the human race is degenerate now, when they can do this"
Martha stopped chanting and runs to give her family a group hug. The Master fires his laser screwdriver at the Doctor but it doesn't hit him as there was still golden force field around him. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry"
"Then I'll kill the one you love", the Master said determined to make the Doctor suffer even more. Jack turned away using his body to shield the woman but he needn't have done as the Doctor made the Master's screwdriver fly out of his hand.
The Master dropped to the floor and curled up in a ball and the Doctor puts his arms around him. "I forgive you", the Doctor said to him.
"My children", the Master said.
"Captain, the paradox machine!" the Doctor ordered realising that the Master has ordered all the Toclafane back.
"I'll help", Alyssa said quietly.
"Ali you can barely stand"
"So?" Alyssa said.
"Ok fine", Jack said rather reluctantly. If he didn't take her along she'd probably try to get there by herself and end up passing out along the way. He gathered the woman up in his arms and ran out of the room, two guards following.
Jack stopped when he saw three Toclafane guarding the TARDIS. "Put me down Jack", Alyssa said and he complied keeping his hands on her shoulders to keep her upright.
"You sure you can do this?"
"Yes", Alyssa replied raising her hands and used her powers to pull them away from the blue box, smashing them against the walls "come on", she said moving forward out of his grip. Jack quickly moved with her giving her support. When they entered the TARDIS Alyssa cried out in pain, her legs giving way. If Jack wasn't holding her up, she would've fallen.
"I'm getting you out of here", Jack said and tried to lead her back out the door.
"No", she gasped "save her. Save her"
"Ali!" Jack exclaimed as she passed out once more. He laid her gently on the console room floor and hurried out snatching a gun from one of the guards. Jack ran back in the TARDIS and emptied the clip at the Paradox machine. There is a big bang just before it turns off. Then the entire ship begins to shake.
"Jack", Alyssa whispered. He hurried over and knelt by her. Jack watched as she just manages to get her charm bracelet off "give this to the Doctor", she said holding it up "to remember me"
"He won't need that to remember you. He'll have you"
"No…he…won't…." Alyssa managed to say before her eyes fluttered shut.
"Ali? Ali!"
The woman didn't respond. Jack put two fingers to her neck to check her pulse and found a very weak one. He stood up and ran out of the TARDIS.
It was a pretty tense in the TARDIS for the next few days while the Doctor, Jack and Martha waited for Alyssa to wake. Thankfully the Doctor had managed to get her stable but she was still very weak. "How's he doing?" Jack asked Martha who was currently making tea.
"The same. He hasn't moved from her side", she replied "Ali's got to pull through. I don't think the Doctor could handle it if he'd lost her".
"I know", Jack agreed.
~med bay~
The Doctor shifted in his seat holding Alyssa's hand "please wake up Ali", he said quietly "I can't lose you too. You're the only thing I've got left so please, please wake up"
The woman didn't reply. Didn't even move. She just laid there, eyes closed. The Doctor rubbed his face his free hand and closed his eyes. He frowned when he thought heard a voice whispering his name. Doctor! The voice said loudly making him jump.
"Sexy?"
Hello
"I couldn't hear you before only Ali could. Why can I hear you now?"
Ali's psychic abilities allowed her to hear me. It's taking a bit more effort to talk to you. You may have a bit of a headache afterward.
"It's worth it if I can talk to you. So why are you talking to me now?"
I care for Alyssa as much as you do and I don't want to lose her either. There is a way you can save her.
"There is? Tell me", the Doctor said. If the TARDIS had a way he was willing to do it to save Alyssa.
I must warn you there is a chance this won't work. It could make it worse.
"Sexy, I love Ali. I can't lose her. If there is a chance your way can save her, I'm taking it"
Very well. Take Ali to the console room and place her on the floor near to the panel where my heart is the TARDIS instructed. The Doctor nodded and unhooked Alyssa from the machines. He then picked her up and carried her out of the med bay.
"Doctor what are you doing?" Jack asked as he passed them with the red haired woman in his arms.
"Saving her", he replied walking down the corridor towards the console room.
"Saving her? How?" Martha asked as they followed him. The Doctor didn't answer her and kept going. He gently laid her down on the grilled floor where the TARDIS told him to.
"Now what Sexy?" he asked.
I'm going to use my heart to heal her. Like I said before this may make her condition worse are you sure?
"I'm sure"
Stand back the TARDIS instructed before opening the panel that contained her heart. The Doctor ushered both Martha and Jack back.
"Doctor whats happening?" Martha asked as wisps of golden energy drifted out of the console and into Alyssa.
"She's saving Ali"
"Can the heart of the TARDIS do that?" Jack asked.
"She said she can", he replied. The trio watched as Alyssa's body started to glow with a soft gold light. Martha and Jack had to turn away when the light grew brighter. Eventually even the Doctor had to shield his eyes. He could only hope that going by what was happening, the TARDIS's method was working. The Doctor lowered his hand when the light started to fade. Martha and Jack turned back in time to see the golden energy leave Alyssa's body via her mouth. It floated up and back into the heart of the TARDIS. When the panel closed, the Doctor went over to Alyssa. "Ali?" he said gently touching her cheek. His face broke out in a smile when she stirred under his touch.
"Doctor", she murmured opening her eyes. Jack and Martha came over and knelt down beside her. "Jack I'm sorry about that thing earlier. I really thought I was…"
"It's ok Ali. Don't worry about it", Jack said quickly interrupting her.
"How are you feeling?" Martha asked.
"Better. Much better actually", Alyssa replied slowly sitting up with the Doctor helping her "good to see Sexy back normal".
"Come on. Let's get you checked out", the Doctor said standing up and held out his hands. Alyssa took them and the Time Lord helped her to her feet. He had to carry the woman to the med bay when her legs gave out.
"How long before you get the results from the scans?" Alyssa asked the Doctor. He had told her what had happened the past few days and what the TARDIS did to save her. Alyssa was really grateful to the ship for doing that.
"It shouldn't be too long"
"Good. Could you help me to my room? I'd really like to have a shower. I must look like a zombie"
"No you don't. You look lovely Ali"
"Liar", Alyssa said standing up. The Doctor put his arm around her waist to support her as they headed to her room. "I won't be long. Shall I meet you in the med bay?"
"Yes", he replied leaving the room. Alyssa grabbed some clean clothes and entered the bathroom. She took her time having a shower, enjoying the hot water on her skin. After being in there a while, Alyssa got out and changed into her clean clothes. She then headed back to the med bay where she found the Doctor staring at the results on a screen.
"So what's the verdict?" she asked making the Doctor jump as he hadn't noticed she was there.
"Oh um you're fine", the Doctor replied. Alyssa raised a brow at his lie.
"You're lying. You found something on the scans"
"I did"
"And?"
"You better sit down", the Doctor said and Alyssa did so. "The scans show that there is still some Time Vortex inside of you" Alyssa's eyes widened at that.
"Is that bad?"
"Normally it would be but your body seems to be able to cope with it"
"That's good. It is good right?"
"Very"
"Well I suppose we better tell Martha and Jack the good news", Alyssa said hopping off the bed. She left the med bay to head to the console room. The Doctor didn't follow her straight away, he looked over the results one last time. He had a feeling that the TARDIS had done more than just saving her. It was safe to say that Martha and Jack were happy that Alyssa had a clean bill of health.
~Roald Dahl Plass~
"Time was, every single one of these people knew your name. Now they've all forgotten you", Martha said as she, Jack, the Doctor and Alyssa watched people walking around minding their own business.
"Good", the Doctor said. He was happy that no one save Alyssa, Martha, Jack and a handful of other humans knew who he was.
"Back to work"
"I really don't mind, though. Come with me"
"I had plenty of time to think that past year, the year that never was, and I kept thinking about that team of mine. Like you said, Doctor, responsibility"
"Defending the Earth. Can't argue with that" the Doctor made to shake his hand but exposed his vortex manipulator.
"Hey, I need that!"
"I can't have you walking around with a time travelling teleport", the Doctor said using his sonic on the device "You could go anywhere, twice. The second time to apologise"
"And what about me? Can you fix that? Will I ever be able to die?"
"Nothing I can do. You're an impossible thing, Jack"
Jack laughs at that "Been called that before" he starts to leave but turns back and salutes "Sir. Ma'am. Firefly" Jack turned to leave again and stops "But I keep wondering. What about aging? Because I can't die but I keep getting older. The odd little grey hair, you know? What happens if I live for a million years?"
"I really don't know"
"Okay, vanity", Jack said chuckling "Sorry. Yeah, can't help it. Used to be a poster boy when I was a kid living on the Boeshane Peninsula. Tiny little place. I was the first one ever to be signed up for the Time Agency. They were so proud of me. The Face of Boe, they called me" Martha and the Doctor looked stunned at that. Alyssa just smiled as she'd know he was the Face of Boe since meeting him on New New Earth "Hmm. I'll see you"
The trio watched the former Time Agent walk away. "It can't be", Martha said staring after the man.
"No. Definitely not. No"
"Actually it definitely is. Jack is the Face of Boe", Alyssa confirmed with a smile on her face.
"You've known for some time haven't you?" the Doctor asked.
"Maybe", Alyssa said still smiling and headed off back to the TARDIS.
Later…
"Right then, off we go. The open road. There is a burst of starfire right now over the coast of Meta Sigmafolio. Oh, the sky is like oil on water. Fancy a look? Or back in time. We could…I don't know, Charles the Second? Henry the Eighth. I know. What about Agatha Christie? I'd love to meet Agatha Christie. I bet she's brilliant", the Doctor rambled which made Alyssa smile. She'd definitely missed that.
"Doctor, Ali I'm sorry but I can't. I've got people to look after. They saw half the planet slaughtered and they're devastated. I can't leave them"
"I understand Martha. I'd do the same if it was my mother", Alyssa said hugging the woman. Martha then embraced the Doctor.
"Before I forget Ali has given me your number so if your phone rings and it's me, you better come running"
"Don't worry Martha. I'll make sure he does"
The Doctor and Alyssa watched Martha walk out of the TARDIS. Without saying a word Alyssa hugged the Doctor. The Time Lord closed his eyes and relaxed in the warmth of her embrace. "Please don't go Ali", he whispered feeling tears built up behind his eye lids. Now that the Master was gone, he was the only one of his kind left. The last Time Lord and he didn't want to be alone.
"I'm not going anywhere"