Okay guys. So here's a shot in the dark. I don't really see many crossovers with Doctor Who and Maximum Ride, although it is a fantastic idea. They flow well together. I will admit I haven't read any of the Patterson books in quite a while, so the timing may be a little off. I am aiming for it to be after the Flock runs from Anne and before Disney. With the Doctor, well, you'll see soon enough. Ciao!
Doctor's POV
"I'll show her," the man in the long, brown trench coat muttered angrily as he pulled a lever and flicked a switch. An eerie wobbly noise echoed around him, almost obscuring his muttered, "I don't need anyone- least of all her. I can manage well enough on my own."
He punched one final button. The engines revved to life, leaving Donna and her idiocy far behind him. Why had he wanted to be ginger again? Only a ginger human would ever be stubborn enough- scratch that, stupid enough- to give up the once-in-a-lifetime chance of traveling throughout all of time and space.
The wheezing of his old machine soothed him, calming his raging fury, but in its place was something far worse. Something he, the Doctor, had been running from for a long, long time.
"Please, just take me somewhere good, Old Girl." He needed to burrow into the excitement, curiosity, anticipation of an adventure. He craved the taste of danger, the mind-numbing adrenaline.
The Tardis shuddered as she landed, golden light flaring up her central column in a vivid display. But the Doctor didn't see it. He'd half-turned to call out for Rose, only to remember that Rose Tyler was no longer there.
Never again would he see her face light up with excitement, eyes wide with expectation and laugh sparkling with wonder. She'd finally gone somewhere he couldn't follow- a whole other universe.
The Doctor kicked his console testily, muttering oaths beneath his breath. Five billion languages and he still didn't quite have the capacity to express what he was feeling, what he always felt.
It was like, like he'd entered a vacuum forged of blood and sacrifice, and the absence of everything, everyone, was crushing him from the inside out because he'd been wrong after all. Or, maybe, it was more like he was staring up at a mudslide and all of the things he had pushed way up high on the mountain, so far away from him, were finally returning for retribution.
Whatever the case, the feeling tumbled into one looping thought, relentlessly pounding against his psyche; I am alone.
A surge of anger boiled in the back of his mind, belonging to the one being that had stuck with him through it all.
"Sorry, Old Girl." He stroked the console where he'd maimed her earlier, although he knew that wasn't what she was actually angry about.
In the process of apologizing, he somehow ended up on his knees, staring into the complex copper wiring beneath the console. There were a few bits that needed to be redone, he noted absently. And a few that were completely unnecessary. And a few that he definitely no longer knew the function of.
Maybe that is what I am. Unnecessary, overused, outdated wiring. Maybe it is finally time, after so many years; maybe I should…
"HELP!" the word invaded his mind with enough force to turn any lesser brain to mush. It hurt, hurt so very badly. It had been millennia since he had experienced such an invasion and he was entirely unprepared for it. The foreign entity's panic was like a bowling ball, hurtling straight through his defenses without a care in the world for the damage.
He blinked tears away as he struggled to wrestle the energy from the entity into a manageable space of his mind. He tried to be gentle, although this invader had been anything but. Whoever it was, whatever it was, they were clearly terrified and any unnecessary force would only scare them further.
Are you okay? He sent the thought tentatively down the psychic link. He knew it reached its destination only because of the painful withdraw that ensued. A grimace creased his rather young face as the retreat jarred a few other, far more tender parts of his mind. Head throbbing, he grabbed hold of the small link still wavering in his vision. "OW!" he cursed, pushing to his feet so he could pace angrily.
"A bloody brick wall! Who even uses those anymore? Rude!" He grabbed his head, slender fingers raking through what little hair they could. Still not as long as he wished it would be, but long didn't suit this face. "What do I know?" he smacked the side of his head because he couldn't- wouldn't- smack his machine again. "What. Do. I. Know?"
Not many people can invade my mind.
That was not the line of thought he wanted to pursue. Not right now.
But it kept coming back, niggling through the chaos that cluttered the squishy grey matter encased in his skull.
What if… What if they were…
"Not possible. It can't be possible. I was there. Everyone died. I would have felt it if…"
Despite his protestation, the little bit of light gleaming in his chest threatened to beat his hearts clear from it. He could shove that hope down, but, if he did, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to do what needed to be done.
He had to find them.
Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, there was someone out there- a child if he wasn't mistaken- that was extremely vulnerable and extremely scared.
And he didn't stand by- couldn't stand by (not when it was a child; not when it was anyone really, but especially, especially not a child).
The Doctor raced to his console, begging his machine to steer him where he wanted to go for once in this life. His long fingers pressed buttons, typed codes, gave the mechanics a whirl, and…
The humming of the Tardis made him beam up at his oldest living friend. Perhaps she was a bit reluctant, but his Old Girl was finally chugging into motion.
He couldn't back out now- not that he would have. The thought of running had been a mere blip in his mind, discarded the minute it was conceived. He would go, regardless of how much heartbreak it would cause when he was wrong (because how could he possibly be right?).
At least he'd help someone, anyone; at least he'd have purpose once more.
Because that was his purpose, wasn't it? He was the Doctor, and he would always save the day.
So this was a pretty short little blurb. I hope you all enjoyed. If there are any ideas, thoughts, comments I'd love to hear them.