Chapter Twelve: Mission Control.
Series: Three.
Episode: Extras: Post - The Lazarus Experiment.
"Right! Where should we go today? What's the plan, Martha Jones?" The Doctor asked exuberantly as he ran around the console.
"Me?" Martha asked in surprise. "I get to choose?"
Rose smiled encouragingly over at Martha.
"Beginner's choice."
"So all of time and space where do you want to start?"
Martha seemed to flounder for a moment. It was no easy feat to choose one place and one moment in all of universal history, especially when one lacked the knowledge of all of space. And her mind was stuck on just one place. But it was hardly exciting.
"The moon landing?"
"The moon landing?" The Doctor said incredulously. "We went to the moon, and you want to see someone else land on the moon on a shaky, low-quality camera?"
"I know we did! Which is why I thought of it. And that human colony we saw on New Earth, human exploration, it all starts at that moment in history. Come on that's got to be worth a look."
A grin stretched across the Doctor's lips.
"Couldn't have put it better myself." Launching into action, he began his dance around the console. "NASA headquarters, Washington, D.C, 20th July 1969."
They landed with the usual rattling thump that threatened to sweep their legs out from underneath them. The Doctor was the first to recover bounding towards the door seconds after they land, the shakes not having yet subsided. Rose recovered second, dusting herself off and reaching out a hand to help Martha up too.
She let the young doctor take the lead. This is her trip after all. She can barely hold back a grin as Martha hesitantly makes her way to the door. She felt like a proud mother seeing her child off to school and what an odd feeling that is.
Martha pulled open the door and stepped out after the Doctor, her mouth dropped open in awe as her gaze roved over the control room of Apollo Eleven. She distantly recognised the sound of Rose shutting the TARDIS doors behind her but thought little of it as she was captivated by the banks of controls and the screens that take up an entire wall.
She vaguely remembered when they were little that her brother Leo had briefly wanted to be an astronaut, no doubt he would have loved to see all of this.
Pulled from her thoughts by the cacophony of voices that filled the space as they prepared for a historical moment in time. One voice became more prominent than the rest, as a harried-looking man in glasses found his way in front of them.
"Who the hell are you? You don't have authori-"
"Special orders." The Doctor interrupted flashing the psychic paper.
The man seemed to pale a little as he gulped.
"Of course, apologies sir. As you were." He said before darting away from the trio in seeming embarrassment.
"What did you tell him? He couldn't seem to get away fast enough." Martha asked curiously, watching after the man.
The Doctor showed them the psychic paper.
"Special orders on request of President Nixon to personally oversee the landing of Apollo 11?" Martha read out loud.
"Which ones, Nixon?" Rose asked absentmindedly.
"Watergate." The Doctor sniffed in contempt.
"Ah, that one."
Rose's American political history was sketchy at best. She'd once been assigned America during the 20's to 30's as her coursework project at school, but that had been years ago. She'd hated learning about the political aspect necessary for the coursework and as such had never devoted additional time to learning about the other American presidents and what they were known for. They didn't spend much time in America as it were anyway.
Rose and the Doctor took two seats at the back further from the hubba bubba, allowing them to better view history in motion. While Martha chose to flit about taking in as much as she could. She got a few too many glances bordering on disgust before the man that had intercepted them upon arrival put them to right. The glare the Doctor shot everyone may have helped as well.
Rose was trying to pay attention, history was unfurling right in front of her eyes after all, but she was distracted by the odd pressure in her skull. It wasn't uncomfortable, it distantly reminded her of the sensation when you sit with your back against a closed door, then feel someone do the same on the other side. Becoming subconsciously aware of their presence even though you can't see them.
Oddly, the thought that there might be another TARDIS present drifted through her mind. A thought she quickly dismissed because surely the Doctor would know if that were the case. She shot him a quick look out of the corner of her eye but nothing about his disposition suggested he was concerned.
Nonetheless, it had Rose worried. It was a new and bizarre sensation and thus far every new and bizarre sensation had been linked to the TARDIS. Not only that, but they'd all been unpleasant to experience. This wasn't. It was just a gentle pressure that brought no pain or unpleasantness but was simply just there. It was throwing her through a loop. This wasn't what she'd come to expect of her new Bad Wolf sensations and she wasn't entirely sure how to process it.
It was something new. And new usually meant dangerous.
Trying to distract herself she cast her gaze about the room, noting all the flurrying scientists and engineers. She was just considering making some excuse about feeling sick in order to escape to the TARDIS when her eyes were drawn back to an odd figure standing in the control room doorway.
A tall humanoid figure in a black pinstripe suit with a bulbous head and cavernous eyes stood in the doorway. Rose tilted her head as she observed the clearly extraterrestrial creature. Absently she noted that the dual pressure in her skull had shifted to a trill of warning.
Was the TARDIS worried about this creature?
So caught up in her thoughts she missed the moon landing. Only brought back to the present by the cacophony of cheering. Startled and disorientated, she pasted on a smile as if she hadn't just missed a fundamental milestone for the human race because she was distracted by her symbiotic bond to a telepathic multidimensional time machine.
But hadn't there been something else that had captured her attention?, she briefly wondered to herself. But when she cast her mind back she drew up a blank.
Martha came bounding up to them with a wide grin, like a toddler on a sugar high, further distracting Rose.
"That was amazing! It's so weird to think that forty years ago we landed on the moon when it feels like I did that just the other day."
"You're an astronaut, Martha Jones." The Doctor grinned as he stood, "But don't tell them that, wouldn't want to wound their pride. Humans. You lot get very competitive about being the first."
"I don't think it's just a human thing," Rose commented, pulling herself from her chair, she'd heard the Doctor boast about the Timelords being the first to discover time travel a time or two before, after all.
But the Doctor wasn't listening, seemingly lost in thought. It made her think back to her earlier assumption that the Doctor would know if there was another TARDIS present. Timelords should be able to sense that kind of thing, right? After all, he'd once told her that he'd be able to telepathically sense another Timelord if they still existed. Surely that applied to the TARDIS' too? And even then if there was another TARDIS, a Timelord would surely be needed to pilot it.
Rose was starting to confuse herself with all these mental loops that she was doing. She couldn't seem to think straight these days, always circulating and twisting. It was beginning to drive her mad.
Though her conversation with Martha the other day had been clarifying, the venting hadn't cleared her mind quite as she'd hoped. Perhaps she could convince the Doctor to take them to a resort planet next?
"Right who's hungry? Surely we can find a good diner around here somewhere, they must be everywhere. Though I suspect they'll be quite full on a day like today." The Doctor absently mused largely to himself as he danced around the console, no longer lost in thought it would seem.
"Does it have to be in 1969?" Martha asked cautiously, "It's just I think I could do without the racial judgment when I'm eating."
"Of course it doesn't." Rose tried to reassure, placing a hand on her shoulder as the two of them joined the Doctor in the TARDIS, "Right, Doctor?"
"Of course not. Food's not great in this time period anyway. And if you want an American style burger with a view then I know a much better place anyway."
Martha breathed a sigh of relief at that.
She'd tried to not let it bother, just enjoy the historic moment unfolding before her, but she couldn't stand another second of the sixties. This period of American history was famous for a lot more than just the moon landing after all.
She took a seat on the jumpseat, prepared for the Doctor's usual brand of reckless driving, only to be pleasantly surprised when she wasn't thrown from her seat. Maybe she was getting the hang of this?
"Welcome to Santori Deluxe X, pleasure planet dedicated to traditional cuisine throughout time and cultures. Magnol's is famous for its classic American dining, Georgian styled architecture and view of the Kuiper asteroid belt." The Doctor told them, already shrugging into his coat as he made for the door.
"Hold on, Georgian architecture?" Martha questioned.
"Yeah, history gets a bit confused when it comes to architecture it all seems to bleed into one as humans tend to take inspiration from past eras and give it a modern spin. Lots of non-native species make that mistake. You lot included."
Rose and Martha looked at each other with a raised brow, struggling to hold back a laugh at the Doctor's pompous tone.
After taking a moment to gather their composure, it occurred to the duo that they'd left the Doctor prattling outside on his own. Grabbing their coats they headed out the door to join him.
"Wow." Martha was the first to exclaim.
"It's beautiful." Rose agreed.
The planet was paved with smooth, dark yellow stones that from the lack of obvious seams made it appear as though it had been carved from one singular sheet of rock. The sky was littered with big gleaming stars that looked almost close enough to touch if it weren't for the clamouring building that shattered said illusion of proximity, each in a different and unique architectural style. The street was filled with the aroma of a dozen different cuisines, each more curious than the next.
Rose thought she spotted a large ice blue hut, reminiscent of the ones she'd seen on Krevaar, in the distance but couldn't be sure.
There were a variety of different species roaming the streets, some completely unfamiliar to Rose, she itched for her sketchpad at that moment to capture their likeness on paper. It'd make it easier to read up on them later in the library. As she was accustomed to doing after being caught off guard by the Sycorax that Christmas when the Doctor had been comatose.
But she didn't have it to hand or the time presently, so she'd just have to hope she could capture them in her mind's eye.
She wished she'd remembered to pick up her camera...
After a moment's gawking she registered the tugging on her arm and looked down to see Martha trying to get her attention. Apparently, the Doctor had started to wander off without them and was already a considerable distance ahead.
With a quick apology to Martha for her distracted nature, they chased after the Doctor, who'd already made it to Magnol's. They took a moment to stare at the odd attempt at Georgian architecture before making their way inside to eat.
The interior was a strange mix between a Hollywood Western saloon and a fifties diner with its dim faux gas lamp lighting and vinyl booths, it made for an interesting environment but not one that Rose immediately disliked.
They were seated fairly quickly at a table with large floor to ceiling windows, that didn't quite fit with any of the eras they were imitating, on the second floor that gave them the perfect view of the asteroid belt. Apparently, the Doctor was well known by the owner, for reasons that Rose couldn't quite catch.
The menu was exactly what Rose would have expected from a fifties diner except for a few odd dishes here and there that the Doctor insisted were patron favourites. But whatever Quafflemeat was, Rose didn't want to find out.
They gave their orders to a puce coloured humanoid with six three-fingered arms. The Doctor ordered a swindonal sandwich with a banana flavoured root beer, Rose an old new york style hot dog with soda float and Martha a traditional cheeseburger with a strawberry milkshake. Neither girl fancying braving the unfamiliar foods this time.
As they waited for their food the Doctor told them a little more about the planet's and the restaurant's history. As well as describing the asteroids and constellations they could see from the window. Rose tried not to stare too much from her seat opposite the Doctor as he spoke, but she'd never found anyone's voice quite so captivating, a trait which had remained unchanged even after regeneration.
At one point, Martha had nudged her with a knowing smile and Rose knew she had failed in her endeavour leading to a furious blush to coat her cheeks, one that wasn't quite hidden by her makeup. The Doctor had questioned her as to her health, worried that she was coming down with a fever and was left dumbstruck when the travelling med student burst out laughing at his query.
Rose attempted to fumble out an excuse but thankfully was saved further mortification by the arrival of their food, she quickly took a bite to prevent her from having to explain herself which just seemed to baffle the Doctor further.
Thankfully, Martha eventually took pity. And with a roll of her eyes, she reassured him that Rose was fine, to stop being such a worrywart and to eat his weird looking sandwich. Which he did without further delay.
The rest of the meal passed by uneventfully, the asteroid belt providing a beautiful background for the meal. Just as the Doctor had promised.
After what must have been a couple of hours, they finally dragged themselves back to the TARDIS. The Doctor piloting them into the vortex before they each dispersed for the evening, Martha to her room to study, Rose to the library for some extracurricular research and the Doctor to his workshop to work on some gadget he'd picked up on their last bazaar trip.
The calming evening had pushed all thoughts of the odd sensation she'd experienced at the NASA headquarters out of her mind to be forgotten for many years.
A/N: Apologies wifi has been abhorrent lately and its exam season at uni so this chapter is more rushed than I'd like. Anyway, let me know your thoughts in the comments. See ya next chapter :)
Comments:
Ace of Spies:
There really is no consistency when it comes to my upload schedule 😂 That is so sweet! Honestly I got a lil teary eyed the first time I read that, Rose is one of my favourite characters of pretty much any media of consumed so that means a lot. In regards to the TARDIS and Martha, the TARDIS has got its own agenda and is going to manipulate the circumstances to fit it. But Martha is definitely trustworthy.