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Chapter 83 – Rose's Speech

The auditorium was packed. Several professors sat on the stage talking quietly to each other. Rose wasn't up there yet. Marines lined the stage. Quauhtin were on the stage behind the professors. Large television screens displayed Rose's picture with the words, "Nobel Prize Nominee, Rose Tyler."

The seats were all filled, and the excitement was contagious. Everyone was waiting for Rose to walk onto the stage. Everyone was excited to catch a glimpse of the famous, Rose Tyler.

Jack and Shakes stood in the very back of the auditorium, in the shadows. Rose wouldn't be able to see them from where she would stand on stage, even though they would be able to see everything going on. The Doctor and Jake popped and stood next to them.

Jack looked over at them and smiled, "Welcome back! I bet she's nervous."

The Doctor shook his head, "Nah, she's excited. I can tell. It's a bigger crowd than she thought would be here, though. I've had to reassure her."

Jack looked back at him, "She still doesn't want you here?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Nope! I'm not here. No one sees me."

Shakes looked back at him and smiled. "You look pretty present to me."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "I'm not missing this."

Jake shook his head. "Big risk here, Doc. No more sweet loving for you if you make that woman mad!"

The Doctor smiled, "Nah. She doesn't know I'm here."

Jack looked back at him, "Really? She can't tell?"

He shook his head, "No. I'm shielding that. She doesn't realize it."

Jack laughed, "Dirty pool, Old Man. Wow! She's going to kick your ass."

The Doctor laughed, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Newton's Third Law of Motion. I can see it now. Rose doesn't want me here as much as I want to be here."

They all applauded as Rose took the stage with the other professors and Dean of the school. The Dean walked to the podium and spoke briefly. He introduced Rose, then sat down.

Rose got up and walked to the podium while the audience applauded. She smiled as she looked over the auditorium.

The Doctor beamed in pride. "She's amazing."

Rose began, "Dean Nassau, news reporters, professors, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to thank Dean Nassau for the very kind invitation to be here with you today."

"When I was preparing to come speak to you all, of course my beloved gave me some encouragement, and advice. He's a brilliant scientist but, also a historian. He felt the need to tell me about Sir Issac Newton. "

"As we all know, Sir Issac Newton came up with many brilliant laws and was one of the most influential scientists of all time. But, what I had never heard, and according to him, was that Issac Newton was so wrapped up in his work that he rarely ate, slept, or even bathed. I wondered what on earth his point could be to such a declaration. I believe I asked him if he was trying to tell me I needed to bathe."

The crowd laughed.

Jack leaned over and said, "Good pick up line there, Lover Boy."

The Doctor rolled his eyes at him.

Rose chuckled, "But, no. He told me that because of Newton's appearance, people didn't want to come see him speak. He looked as if he was a carrier of the plague, which was raging during his time in Europe.

"So, having said that, I am extremely pleased as I look around this auditorium and see it so full. I assure you that I'm not carrying the plague, of course, but I will tell you that we, Newton and myself, both had something in common. When I was working on this theory, I don't believe I slept, or ate, or really did take care of myself much at all. I was so determined to figure this out, it was all I could think about."

"If you walk out of here today with a better understanding of physics, that's wonderful. We'll get to that in a moment. But, what I really hope is that you will all find something that you lose yourself in like I did. Like Sir Issac Newton did. Something that can hopefully help the world, or even just one person." "Something I've learned over the years is that every one person matters. There are no unimportant people. There is so much that needs to be done. And as Mahatma Gandhi said many years ago, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world."

Jack leaned over and whispered to the Doctor, "Gosh, she even sounds like you. Joined bleeding?"

The Doctor looked surprised, "I suppose. Wow!"

Rose continued, "I won't pretend that I worked on this project for the advancement of science. That wasn't it. It was for very, personal reasons which I would rather not discuss. But, like most great discoveries, you find the solution when you are looking for something else."

"Let's take the popular toy, the Slinkie, for example. In 1943, Richard James, a naval mechanical engineer stationed in Philadelphia, was developing springs that could support and stabilize sensitive instruments aboard ships in rough seas. James accidentally knocked one of the springs from a shelf, and watched as the spring "stepped" in a series of arcs to a stack of books, to a tabletop, and to the floor, where it re-coiled itself and stood upright. Thus, the Slinkie was born."

The Doctor leaned over and whispered to Jack. "Did you tell her about us doing that with him?"

Jack shook his head. "Nah. She got that one on her own. Wow! She's amazing! And she's not even got to the smart stuff, yet."

Shakes chuckled at the pair of them.

The Doctor suddenly felt a strong sense of fear coming from Genie. He uncrossed his arms and stood up straight. Jack noticed the concern on his face. "What happened?"

Jake heard the concern in Jack's voice. Shakes looked at the Doctor as he pulled out his phone and looked up Genie's GPS location.

The Doctor said quietly, "Shakes. Come with me. Something is wrong with Genie."

He looked up at Jack and Jake. "Stay here. It could be the beginning of something."

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The Doctor popped under a large wooden, dining table with a long tablecloth inside the Presidential Palace. Genie sat in front of them. She was crying, silently. As soon as she saw him, she threw her arms around his neck. The Doctor held her and popped them into the hallway one floor up.

He paced the hallway, holding her. "Little One, why are you so frightened? I'm here. Everything is alright. Daddy won't let anything hurt you."

She cried aloud, as she trembled in his arms.

Shakes walked up to them and rubbed her back. "What's the matter? What's happened?"

The Doctor shook his head. "I'm not sure, yet. Genie. Can you tell me what's wrong?"

Genie shook her head as she continued to cry.

The Doctor held her as he kissed her head and put his hand on her forehead. "Tell Daddy what's wrong. Tell me what happened in my mind. That way you won't have to say it, sweetheart. You are safe. Shakes and Daddy are here."

Genie continued to whimper as she held him.

The Doctor looked at Shakes, "Something has scared her. She's frightened."

Shakes rubbed her back, "What scared you?"

The Doctor heard her voice in his head. He looked shocked. "He's here! Dorian Ides is here! He's in with Harriet! In that room we were just in!"

Genie cried. "You said he was a monster. He's in there. Now!"

The Doctor kissed her forehead. "Sweetheart. You are safe. Stay here with Shakes. Daddy has to go….deal with the monster."

Genie held him tightly. "No, Daddy. It's a monster! Don't go!"

Shakes rubbed her back. "Genie. All monsters are scared of your Daddy. Stay with me. I won't let anything harm you. You know you can trust me."

The Doctor spoke to Genie. "My Sara Gene. You can tell Shakes and I are telling you the truth. I need to go deal with this monster. You are safe with Shakes. I'll be right back for you. I have to go help Nanna Jones."

Genie turned and let Shakes take her. He held her as she continued to cry. The Doctor looked at Shakes. "This never gets easier. Take her back to the flat, Shakes, and stay with her. Alert the guard to move everyone to the other side of the castle. Take Howie, Caroline, Tony and Jacob to the flat immediately. Quietly. I don't know what's going on yet. I need Sam to fall into the shadows, to keep everyone briefed. Don't take anyone off of Rose."

Shakes nodded his head. "Everything is being done now. Tony and Jacob are already at the flat now. Sam is in the room with Harriet. He says they are talking. There is no clear danger."

The Doctor straightened his tie. "Well, let's hope it stays that way. Take care of my Princess."

Genie continued to cry quietly as the Doctor kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you in a bit. Shakes will keep you safe."

He popped back downstairs.

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