TARDIS, Powell Estate: 29th September, 2006
Aries rolled over with a groan, finding herself on a bed in what looked to be a medical room. She blinked a few times, trying to remember what happened as she slowly managed to sit up.
Easy there, a voice spoke in her mind, causing Aries to jump and look around, only to wince when her head flared in protest. There was a warm hum in her mind and the pain lessened into a dull throb. I'm sorry, my Wolf. I had intended to ease you into our link, but what Margret had done, I had to take drastic measures, the voice said quietly, almost sounding regretful.
Aries frowned before the memories came back to her, causing her eyes to widen, "Your the TARDIS," she said out loud before panic overtook her face, "What about the Doctor and the Slitheen?" she questioned as her heart began to beat faster, having know memory of what happened after passing out while talking with Jack.
The TARDIS didn't say anything, causing Aries to panic further until it was cut off by another flare of pain in her head. She groaned as she held it, wondering what was causing her headache as the TARDIS once again soothed her pain. "What's happening to me?" Aries asked once the pain had lessened again.
It is our link, the TARDIS told her, There is nothing wrong with you.
Aries furrowed her brows in concentration, wondering what the ship was talking about when her eyes widened in realisation. "It's you," she breathed as she felt another flare of pain, the TARDIS once again soothing it. Her surprise was sort lived, however, when she realised that the TARDIS was hurting and she was feeling it through their link, "What's wrong?" she asked, "What's happening?"
Instead of responding with words, the TARDIS showed her a view of the console room where Rose had a chain set in place on a part of the console, the rest of the chain led outside.
"What is she doing?!" Aries exclaimed as she got off the bed and headed towards the med bay door, swaying on unsteady legs as she walked, forcing herself to stay upright as she reached the door and leant against it to catch her breath.
She almost collapsed when another flare of pain shot through her head and she gritted her teeth as she ripped the door open and stepped outside.
Floor 500, Satellite Five: 200,100
The Doctor continued to try and build the Delta Wave, his hearts heavy at the thought of what he had just done.
The pain of sending Rose home was nothing to the pain of knowing that Aries was still unconscious in the TARDIS and that he never got to say goodbye. He paused at what he was doing for a second, realising that there were many things he never get to tell her. He shook his head, She's safer there, he thought to himself as he continued working.
"Rose, I've called up the internal laser codes. There could be a different number on every screen. Can you read them out to me?" Jack's voice came through the viewscreen.
"She's not here," the Doctor told him.
"Of all the times to take a leak," Jack groaned, "When she gets back, tell her to read me the codes."
The Doctor sighed, "She's not coming back," he told the man, his hearts aching at the thought of never seeing Aries again. He had barely left her side after she had collapsed after linking with his ship not only a week ago. He still had no idea how his Nesdra had been able to do what she had done, nor did he know how his ship had managed to speak through Aries.
Rose on the other hand had become unbearable to the point that he had sent her with Jack to Kyoto, Japan in 1336, just to give him some space. Her flirting had gotten to the point that even Jack had had enough of her, and that was saying something. He couldn't understand how she never realised he wasn't interested. The amount of times he'd turned her down or just told her that he wasn't interested never seemed to deter her.
"What do you mean?" Jack's voice cut through the Doctor's thoughts, "Where'd she go?"
The Doctor ground his teeth together, trying to banish the thought of what he had done to his Nesdra from his mind. "Just get on with you work," he told Jack.
"You took her home, didn't you?" Jack asked, not clarifying on who he was talking about.
The Doctor winced, "Yeah," he muttered.
"Did you ever tell her?" Jack asked.
Closing his eyes, the Doctor let out a sigh, trying to stop his emotions from overwhelming him. How many times had he wanted to tell Aries who she was to him, but he had never felt it to be right. He never wanted her to be with him because he told her that they were soulmates, he wanted her to be with him because she wanted to...but now she'd never know.
"The Delta Wave," Jack said, realising that the Doctor wasn't going to answer, "Is it every going to be ready?"
"Tell him the truth, Doctor," another voice cut through as another screen flickered on and the Emperor of the Daleks appeared, "There is every possibility the Delta Wave could be complete, but no possibility of refining it. The Delta Wave must kill every living thing in its path, with no distinction between human and Dalek. All things will die by your hand."
The Doctor barely paused in his work as he set his jaw, knowing the Emperor was right.
"Doctor, the range of this transmission covers the entire Earth," Jack told him.
"You would destroy Daleks and humans together," the Emperor said, "If I am God, the creator of all things, then what does that make you, Doctor?" he asked.
"There are colonies out there," the Doctor spoke up, "The Human Race would survive in some shape of form, but you're the only Daleks in existence. The whole universe is in danger if I let you live," he stood up and moved to the viewscreens and looked to Jack, "Do you see it Jack? That's the decision I've got to make for every living thing. Die as a human or live as a Dalek. What would you do?"
"You sent her home. She's safe. Keep working," Jack told him, his voice never wavering.
The Doctor nodded and went back to his work, knowing that even if it was his time to die, his Nesdra was safe. It was possibly the only thought that kept him going, knowing that if Aries had known about their bond and had decided to go through with it, it wasn't only him that would be dying. Nesdra or not, if this was his time to die, the Doctor was grateful Aries didn't know. He couldn't live with himself if they had started the bond and she was to die because of his decision.
"But he will exterminate you!" the Emperor exclaimed.
"Never doubted him," Jack said with a grin, "Never will."
The Doctor frowned as he turned back to the Emperor, something bothering him since he had arrived here. "Now, you tell me, God of the Daleks, because there's one thing I never worked out. The words 'Bad Wolf', spread across time and space, everywhere, drawing me in. How'd you manage that?" he asked.
"I did nothing," the Emperor stated.
The Doctor scoffed, "Oh, come on, there's no secrets now, you worship."
"They are not part of my design," the Emperor told him, "This is the Truth of God."
The Doctor frowned as he looked up to the Bad Wolf corporation sign on the wall.
If they didn't do it, then who did? he thought.
TARDIS, Powell Estate: 29th September, 2006
The moment Aries stepped through the med bay door, she found herself in the console room.
"Keep going!" Rose shouted to Mickey who was outside in a large yellow vehicle that had the chain attached to it.
"What are you doing?!" Aries shouted, her voice echoing around the room, startling everyone and causing Mickey to stop driving the vehicle.
Rose turned to Aries with a glare, "Trying to get back to the Doctor," she sneered, "Better than what you've been doing."
Aries frowned as Mickey jumped out of the drivers seat and ran into the TARDIS, telling Jackie to stay outside. "Aries," Mickey said with a smile as he noticed the red head, but it was gone a moment later when he turned to Rose, "Why didn't you tell us she was here? She can help."
Rose frowned at Mickey, "How's she supposed to help us. She's been unconscious for a week," she shot back.
Aries blinked at that, really confused as to what was happening before making her way over to the console and undoing the chain that was attached to it.
"A week?!" Mickey exclaimed, "Why didn't you say anything?" he asked Rose angrily.
Rose ignored him, however, when she noticed what Aries was doing. "No!" she shouted, rushing over to Aries to stop her, only to run into a wall of red and gold magic.
Aries turned to Rose, her face angry as her eyes swirled, "What you are doing is idiotic and completely disrespectful. This ship is alive and you're actions are causing her harm and I won't stand for it."
Mickey watched on gobsmacked as Rose beat against the wall of pure magic. He had seen her do something once before, but nothing like this.
"What are you doing?!" Rose shouted as Aries turned away and back to the console, "I need to save the Doctor!"
"Shut it!" Aries ordered, causing Rose's mouth to drop open in shock and pause at her attempt to get through Aries wall. Aries laid her hand upon the console and closed her eyes. Show me, she thought, wanting to know what had happened since she had fallen unconscious.
The Doctor sat beside her bed in the med bay, reading a book but also keeping and eye on her.
Jack walked into the med bay, handing the Doctor a cup of tea. He watched him for a moment before shaking his head and left, leaving the Doctor to watch over his Nesdra.
"You two are going to Japan," the Doctor told Jack and Rose as he piloted the TARDIS.
Rose was standing just outside the med bay door, glaring at Aries as once again, the Doctor refused to leave her side.
A blinding white light enveloped Rose, the Doctor and Jack. When it dimmed and vanished, they were gone.
The Doctor piloted the TARDIS as a force field held back any attack that the Dalek fleet shot at it.
"Rose, Captain, this is the Emperor of the Daleks," the Doctor introduced as they were surrounded by a fleet of Daleks.
Jack shot at a Dalek and destroyed it as Rose ducked after the TARDIS materialised around her and the Dalek.
"They're insane," the Doctor stated.
"A Delta Wave!" the Doctor exclaimed with a grin.
"See you in hell," Jack said with a grin before leaving the Doctor and Rose alone.
"Rose Tyler, you're a genius! We can do it. If I use the TARDIS to cross my old timeline. Yes!" the Doctor exclaimed as he rushed inside the TARDIS, a rather bewildered Rose following.
The TARDIS door closed and the Doctor raised his sonic at it. "I'm sorry Aries," he muttered before activating his sonic and sending the TARDIS away.
Aries gasped as she stumbled away from the console, her eyes watering as she looked at the rotor. She couldn't believe it. He had sent them away to save them, and she would have never known. She knew that Rose would never had told her what happened. Swallowing heavily, Aries stepped back towards the console and rested a hand on it again, ignoring Rose and Mickey arguing behind her. "Please," she whispered, "There must be something we can do."
The TARDIS hummed soothingly, Do you trust me, my Wolf? the ship asked her.
Aries swallowed again as she stared at the time rotor. Can I trust you to save the man I've come to care for? Aries thought to the TARDIS, receiving a warm hum in her mind. Aries smiled slightly as she blinked back her tears, "Always," she said.
The TARDIS console clicked open and Aries was engulfed in a golden light as the Heart of the TARDIS passed through her.
"Aries!" Mickey called as he rushed to her as she stumbled, missing the light entering Rose's eyes as the TARDIS doors slam shut, leaving a screaming Jackie behind as the ship dematerialized.
Floor 500, Satellite Five: 200,100
"Doctor, you've got about twenty seconds maximum!" Jack shouted before the sound of a machine gun being fired before it was empty. Jack then pulled out a pistol and fired it until it was also empty.
"Exterminate!" a Dalek said as it approached Jack.
"I kinda figured that," Jack said before the Dalek fired its laser, the blast throwing Jack into the lift.
"It's ready!" the Doctor exclaimed, holding a switch just as Daleks enter the room from all sides, "You really want to think about this, because if I activate the signal, every living creature dies."
"I am immortal," the Emperor stated in defiance.
"Do you want to put that to the test?" the Doctor asked threatening.
"I want to see you become like me," the Emperor said, "Hail the Doctor, the Great Exterminator."
"I'll do it!" the Doctor threatened, holding the switch tighter.
"Then prove yourself, Doctor. What are you, coward or killer?" the Emperor questioned.
The Doctor's shoulders fell as he released the switch. "Coward. Any day," he said, knowing that he couldn't do it.
"Mankind will be harvested because of your weakness," the Emperor told him.
"And what about me?" the Doctor asked, "Am I becoming one of your angels?"
"You are the heathen. You will be exterminated, the Emperor told him.
The Doctor opened his mouth to say something, when something caught his eye. He looked on in confusion as the sign on the wall seemed to flicker and change, leaving it to now read Eternal Wolf Corporation. He blinked, but it was gone when he opened his eyes, leaving Bad Wolf Corporation to remain. He had no time to think about it as the sound of the TARDIS materialising sounded throughout the room.
"Alert!" a Dalek screeched, "TARDIS materialising!"
"You will not escape!" the Emperor shouted.
The TARDIS doors open and Rose stepped out, silhouetted in a blinding golden light. Energy tendrils snaking outwards.
The Doctor looked at Rose in horror as he stumbled backwards away from the energy. "What've you done?" he asked.
Rose looked to the Doctor, "The Eternal Wolf looked into the TARDIS and the TARDIS looked into her but chose me so she could keep her safe," she told him, her voice sounding flat and her accent gone.
The Doctor glanced at the corporation sign again before refocusing on Rose as he realised there was only one person the TARDIS had called Wolf. "Aries looked into the Time Vortex," he breathed, falling to his knees as he shook his head, "No ones meant to see that," he stated as he looked up to Rose, knowing that Aries had still been unconscious when he'd seen her last, "What did you do?"
"This is the Abomination!" the Emperor shouted.
"Exterminate!" a Dalek shouted as it fired its laser at Rose.
Rose raised her hand, stopping the beam, "I am the Bad Wolf," she said as the beam shot back to the Dalek and destroying it, "I create myself. I take the words," she waved her hand and the words Bad Wolf disappeared from the corporation sign and appeared before her, "I scatter them in time and space," another wave of her hand and the words disappear, "A message to lead myself here."
"Rose, you've got to stop this," the Doctor shouted, his hearts clenching at the thought that this could have been Aries, that his Nesdra could have been standing where Rose stood, "You've got to stop this now. You've got the entire vortex running through your head. Your going to burn."
"I want you safe," Rose said as she looked to him, "My Doctor."
"I'm not yours!" the Doctor exclaimed, cutting her off, "You're my companion, nothing more," he told her, trying to get it through to her that that was all she was. That she would never be even close to what Aries was to him. That he didn't want her like he wanted Aries.
A scowl appeared on Rose's face before it was gone and she turned to the screen where the Emperor was showing, "Protected from the false god."
If the situation wasn't so dire, the Doctor would have shouted at her in his frustration, wondering how she could be so determined with something that'll never happen.
"You cannot hurt me. I am immortal," the Emperor declared.
"You are tiny. I can see the whole of time and space. Every single atom of your existence, and I divide them," Rose said as she waved her hand, the golden energy passing over a Dalek and it disintegrated, leaving nothing but dust behind, "Everything must come to dust. All things. Everything dies. The Time War ends," she continued as the energy swept over the rest of the Daleks, leaving piles of dust.
"I will not die. I cannot die!" the Emperor cried before the spaceship disappeared in a golden wave.
"Rose, you've done it," the Doctor said, rather horrified at what he had just seen, "Now stop. Just let go."
"How can I let go of this? I bring life," Rose asked as she waved her hand again.
The Doctor grimaced as he felt a shift in the air as down on the floor below, Jack took a deep breath of air.
"But this is wrong!" the Doctor told her, "You can't control life and death," he exclaimed as he stood up and approached his companion.
"But I can," Rose said, "The sun and the moon, the day and the night," tears started falling from her eyes, "But why do they hurt."
The Doctor was about to say something when he noticed movement behind Rose in the TARDIS. His eyes widened in shock when he noticed Mickey trying to lead Aries to the jump seat as she sagged against him. The Doctor swallowed as he looked back to Rose, knowing what he was about to do would kill him, but he needed to make sure his Nesdra was okay and he couldn't let his companion die.
Placing his fingers on each side of Rose's face, he looks deeply into her eyes as the energy started transferring to him. He didn't break eye contact until he was certain that the vortex had left her. The moment it did, Rose fainted but he was quick to catch her. He looked back into the TARDIS, seeing Aries had finally made it over to the jump seat with Mickey's help. He exhaled the energy back into the TARDIS as the console clicked open.
When it had closed, he carried Rose inside.