A/N: Ooooh I'm so bowled over that people remember! :D Honest, the Doctor's going completely through the physical and emotional wringer on this one as I attempt to take him places I've never gone before. If you're new to the series, this may surprise you and I invite you to enjoy, if you're not new, then that's really just par for the course, right? :P

Chapter 2: Orientation

Jack had never known the Doctor to be so uptight. For two hours they were sitting on a bench in the patient transport, and the Doctor just stayed still and poised, staring at the wall, utterly transfixed by seemingly nothing. When they finally docked he was already moving, not even waiting for Jack before he was out of the door and into the inbound area, the speed of which was quite a feat for a man using a crutch for a broken ankle.

Jack followed quickly, shadowing the distinctly lanky frame of the Time Lord past the desk, through the heaving crowd and out into the main area.

'Leah! Theo!' the Doctor called. 'Where are you!?'

Jack reached him, and joined in. 'Leah! Theo?'

'Daddy!' they heard Leah's voice from across the room, sounding a bit panicked.

The Doctor's head snapped to its direction as though he were a meerkat, narrowing his eyes to scan the crowd. 'Leah!?'

Through the clusters of people emerged one of the security guards, holding Leah and Theo's arms tightly. 'Excuse me, sir.'

Jack recognised the danger signs of a Time Lord immediately infuriated at someone manhandling his children. The Time Lord blanched slightly with his eyes fixed on the man's grip on Leah and Theo. 'Yes?' he asked tersely.

'Are these your children?'

'Yes, thanks,' he replied shortly, not even blinking.

'They caused a commotion in the boarding area and attempted to board the ship without going through processing, putting the entire vessel and our passengers at risk,' the man said. 'This is unacceptable behaviour, as I'm sure you'll understand.'

The Doctor suddenly snapped his eyes away from the man's hands on his children's arms and smiled at him in a very insincere manner. 'Oh, did they? I'm really sorry. It won't happen again.'

Jack looked at him and quickly rested a hand on the Time Lord's shoulder. He knew the Doctor well enough to know when he was trying not to implode.

'Thank you, sir,' the man said, and finally let go of the children and left.

They both immediately ran to the Doctor and Jack. 'We didn't do that on purpose, I promise!' Leah protested, hugging her daddy.

'Don't worry, I know you didn't. Tell me what happened,' the Doctor ordered, kissing her forehead and pulling back to gaze into her eyes, brushing back her hair from her face.

'We saw mummy.'

The Doctor's eyes widened. 'What? What did she do?'

'She tried to make us go with her. I said no, she told us you were lying and I still said no, but she wouldn't go away so I grabbed Theo and ran.'

The Doctor looked around the room, a little panicked. 'She didn't come on the ship with you, did she?'

'No, she was going out as we were going in,' she informed him.

The Doctor kissed her again. 'You did the right thing. Well done. I'm so proud of you.'

Leah beamed and kissed his cheek in return. 'I know!' she said boastfully. 'But she looked really tired. Why did she say you were lying and why are we running from her?'

Jack, holding Theo in his arms, looked at the Doctor, who hesitated.

'Will all patients and visitors please move through to begin the orientation hall,' a voice said from a PA system.

'Why was she here?' the Doctor asked Jack quietly in the lecture hall as they waited for everyone to take their seats. Leah and Theo were sitting next to him, busy squabbling over a bag of lollipops Jack had acquired for them to distract them from the thought of their mother. 'She's got no reason to be here.'

'Maybe she got hurt in the fire and needed treatment?' Jack suggested.

'Maybe,' the Doctor replied, sounding unconvinced.

'Or maybe it's cos she knew damn well that you'd have to come here after what happened, and that you'd have the kids with you.'

'Maybe.' He sighed. 'She's probably going to try and come back here.'

'Even if she did, she's got no chance of stealing Leah and Theo, this place is looking like a fortress,' Jack said. 'Leah and Theo can't get out except the way they came in and Pleaneas won't let that happen without one of us being there. They're totally protected here.'

'I guess,' the Doctor murmured. '... She told Leah and Theo I was lying.'

'Which is exactly why you need to tell Leah what's going on,' Jack replied. 'She wasn't there - she's not seen her mum in three months, she's got no idea what the real story is. In fact, none of us at Torchwood have. Just what you said. Of course we believe you, but like I said. You aren't Leah's only parent. Leah's loyalties are divided. Rose knows that. I think she'll play on it.'

'You think Rose will try to turn them against me?'

'I hate to say it Doc, but Rose knows you better than anyone else in the universe. Better than the Master, even. If anyone knows how to play you and defeat you, it's her. If she's as bad as you say she is, she'll happily use your kids to do it.'

The Doctor sighed, running his hand through his hair and making it all stand on end. '... I can't believe this is happening.'

'Like I said, let's just fix your arm and then deal with it later,' Jack stated for what felt like the 56th time.

'Excuse me,' someone said from in front of them. They looked up, and saw a heavily pregnant jarginian woman standing by the seat that the Doctor had propped his feet onto.

'Oh, sorry,' the Doctor said quickly, taking his feet off.

She smiled. 'Thank you,' she said, and took the seat just as the lights lowered as the orientation began. The large screen at the front of the room lit up with images, and a female voice came through on the speakers.

'Welcome to Pleaneas, to all patients and visitors,' the voice said. 'This presentation will give you an idea of what you should expect to happen during your time with us. After this presentation, each patient will be assigned a time for an initial assessment, where your condition will be properly diagnosed, and treatment options will be discussed. Once you have selected the treatment option you feel is right for you, you will then be scheduled in as soon as possible for it to begin, including any necessary pharmaceuticals or surgical procedures.

'All patients have been assigned living quarters, with comprehensive facilities for family and friends to join you on your journey with us. Many of whom I see are with us already. Hello, and welcome. If visitors have any questions in regards to the operations of Pleaneas or treatments for patients, you have level four access to the terminals situated in convenient locations around the facility, and also a small information database in your infowatches. We would request however, that visitors limit themselves to level four areas only. This includes any necessary clinical areas for accompanying patients, restaurants, recreational facilities, and the botanical gardens.'

Images of a beautiful botanical garden appeared on the screen, filled with all manner of strange and wonderful-looking alien plants. The image then changed to one of a very colourful, fun, and extremely extensive play area complete with ball pits, roller coasters, and soft play areas.

'For young children visiting us, we have an extremely large indoor and outdoor play facility as well as daily educational services in our Children's Area, which is staffed with extra security through all hours of the day. If parents or guardians have any queries about the facility, or would like to discuss educational needs such as learning programmes, please speak with our main desk, located in the foyer outside of this hall.'

Leah tapped her dad on the shoulder insistently. 'Can we go there?' she asked keenly.

'Of course,' the Doctor replied.

'Alongside our Children's Area, we also have additional facilities regarding religion, community areas, and vocational classes and academic lectures on a regular basis. We also have a large play park for all you grown-up kids!'

Everyone laughed. The Doctor tapped Jack on the shoulder. 'Can we go there?'

Jack grinned.

'And now, I will introduce myself.'

Almost immediately, a highly-detailed and perfect hologram of a female humanoid with an all-white outfit and a kind smile suddenly appeared on stage to the left of the screen, causing several people to gasp in surprise.

'Hello,' the hologram said in a voice as clear as crystal, the same voice that had been on the speakers. 'I am Panacea. I am a fully interactive supercomputer with extremely advanced artificial intelligence. I use what we call adaptive and predictive learning, where I am able to learn and analyse behaviour, symptoms, and species-specific biofunctions to develop optimal rehabilitation programs for patients. I am programmed with every known physical and mental condition in the universe, and I am able to identify new conditions by analysing patients at a psychiatric, pathogenic, and genetic level. I am very pleased to meet you. I will be carrying out your diagnosis and treatment. I look forward to accompanying you on the journey to health.'

Panacea disappeared in a blip, and the screen lit up again.

'Thank you for your attention. I would once again like to welcome you to Pleaneas. Please enjoy your stay with us.'

The screen darkened and the lights went up again. The crowd around them cheered as though someone had just won an Oscar. Immediately a thousand infowatches started beeping, and the Doctor checked his.

'First consultation in twenty minutes,' the Doctor said. 'Room number 5564-G.'

'They really don't hang around, do they?' Jack mused.

'Can we go to the play park? Please?' Leah asked.

The Doctor immediately felt his insides tighten up.

It's totally safe, so stop worryin', his subconscious told him in Rose's voice.

'... Okay,' the Doctor agreed, 'but I want you at our room in an hour.'

Leah beamed, taking her little brother's hand, squeezing past the Doctor and Jack and running out the hall.

The Doctor and Jack located a lift, which seemed to already know where they wanted to go, closing the door and moving almost immediately.

'Welcome, Doctor and Jack,' Panacea's voice suddenly said from nowhere. 'I am aware you have an initial assessment booked in ten minutes, so I am taking you to the assessment area. Please state if this is not the area you would like to go.'

'Nope, that's fine,' the Doctor said, looking up at a tiny speaker in the corner of the room.

'On exiting the lift, you will find your assessment room the first on the left.'

'Thanks.'

'You are welcome. Please speak to me if you need anymore information. If not, please enjoy the ride. Your journey will be an estimated further 56 seconds.'

Mood music began to play as information screens whirled around in the walls, showing the layout of Pleaneas, and even a rolling newsreel for universal current events. There was a strange shrieking noise coming from above them.

'What's that noise?' Jack wondered, looking up. 'Doesn't sound good.'

'Sounds like there's a water tank on top,' the Doctor replied. 'They must be using water as fuel.'

'Really flash, this place, isn't it?' Jack mused.

The Doctor made a noise of affirmation.

Jack looked at him. 'Still never heard of Panacea, right?'

'Nope.'

Exactly 67 seconds later, the Doctor and Jack entered the assessment room, where Panacea was sitting waiting for them.

'Good morning, Doctor and Jack,' she greeted warmly. 'Thank you for being on time. Please take a seat.'

They did, both looking around the room with interest. It was very plain, with charts, a bookshelf, and a computer, looking a little bit like a GP's office on Earth, just with a few advanced technology extras including a complicated-looking microchip and a metal arm on the desk. Panacea was standing behind, looking as calm and reassuring as always.

'This session is an initial assessment of your condition, and I will be able to provide you with a selection of treatments that we can progress with,' she explained. 'Please be assured that all information, including genetic profiles and condition information is kept in the strictest confidence. Are you happy to proceed?'

'Yep,' the Doctor confirmed.

'From your initial scan at our docking station, I can detect that you have severe nerve damage in your left arm, which has rendered it immobile. You also have a trimalleolar fracture to your right ankle that has already been realigned, and partial damage and healing to the chest cavity and lungs. I must state before I offer treatment options that your biology is unusual,' Panacea noted. 'I am afraid my predictions for your healing pattern may be only close approximations.'

'That's okay,' the Doctor assured her, 'I'm used to that.'

'Repairing the damage to your ankle, chest and lungs will be a simple process, involving a few hours in one of our humanoid bone and tissue regeneration chambers,' she explained. 'I do not anticipate any problems in fixing these issues, which, after treatment, should be fully healed within three days to 100 percent function.'

'Wow,' Jack muttered.

'However, the damage to your left arm is slightly more complex. There are two possible treatment methods with the highest success rates for humanoids. Option one, we could attempt a course of physical and neural therapy with nerve reprogramming. That is where you would take up residence in the clinic for three months, and I would craft a program tailored to you with the aim of helping you regain mobility in your arm. This usually carried a 86 percent success rate of regaining full mobility. Or, as a second treatment option, we could fit you with one of our new exotronics.'

'What's that?' Jack asked.

'A tailored mobility aid for the arm.' She indicated the strange metal arm on the desk.

The Doctor leaned forward and picked it up. It was a kind of sleek and lightweight metal shell, obviously designed to be affixed over his arm. 'An exoskeleton?'

'Yes. It will link into your nervous system and allow your impulses to control the exotronic and move your arm using your brain's signals. I must warn you, however, it is still in an experimental stage, and results can vary from person to person,' she said. 'Our best-responding patients find they almost have complete mobility, but some people find their limb can become very hard to control.'

'How do you attach it?' the Doctor wondered.

'You would undergo invasive surgery to fuse the exotronic to your arm with bone melding, and we link it directly into your nervous system. After which, you would carry out a series of familiarisation sessions, where we will concentrate on your control over the exotronic.'

'What's the success rate?' Jack asked.

'According to my databases, we have never had an exotronic fitted to your species before, and I have no statistical data on its potential success,' Panacea replied. 'I am afraid I cannot supply this information.'

'So, therapy or an exoskeleton,' Jack stated, looking at the Doctor who was still examining the exotronic.

'What's the quickest?' the Doctor asked Panacea.

'The therapy would take three months minimum. The exotronic would take an estimated two weeks, including the familiarisation sessions - of course, the length of this depends on your response.'

The Doctor didn't hesitate. 'I want the exotronic.'

'You sure?' Jack asked. 'I know we haven't got much time, but maybe you should just take the hit and go for the therapy.'

The Doctor shook his head. 'I can't be here for three months minimum, there's no time. Rose will be dead in six if I don't do something. I'll just have to take the risk.'

'You'll have to have invasive surgery.'

'I know,' the Doctor replied. 'But I don't have the time to wait.' He looked at Panacea and nodded. 'I'll take the exotronic.'

'Very well,' Panacea said. 'I will book you in for the bone and tissue regeneration treatment session immediately, and surgery tomorrow. This surgery will be an initial fitting of the exotronic. In the meantime, I will examine your biological scans and make recommendations to our award winning surgical team on the best way to fit it.'

The Doctor nodded and held up the exotronic. 'Mind if I take this to check how it's put together?'

'Of course you can,' Panacea said, smiling. 'If you decide you would prefer therapy, please speak with the main desk in the foyer or contact me through your infowatch or any terminal in the clinic.'

'I will, thanks,' the Doctor assured her.

'Now for your mental health condition.'

'Which one?' the Doctor asked, blasé.

'You have extremely low serotonin levels, indicative of depression. You also have high anxiety levels, and the retrieval pattern in your brain suggests you also have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.'

'Sounds about right,' the Doctor agreed.

'Having accessed your memories via your initial scan, I believe I have identified the direct cause of a large portion of these problems. It seems that many of your issues stem from an incident in your childhood, where ...'

The Doctor frowned. 'Hold on,' he interrupted, hand in the air. 'Rather not.'

'Do you wish to skip the mental rehabilitation part of treatment?' Panacea asked.

'Yes, please. Thanks.'

'Very well,' Panacea said. 'I will schedule you in for your treatments and you will receive the appointment times via your infowatch.' She turned to Jack. 'Hello, Jack. Are you happy to proceed with our consultation?'

Jack smiled and shook his head. 'Don't worry. I'm not a patient.'

'I'm sorry, my databases have registered you as a patient,' Panacea replied. 'From your initial scan, I can identify that you are, in effect, immortal, with a condition that involves spontaneous and continuous cell regeneration related to extremely elevated levels of artron energy in your biosystems. Would you not like to be treated for this condition?'

Both the Doctor and Jack stilled, shocked, looking at each other.

'Wait, you can fix my immortality?' Jack asked in disbelief, leaning forward in his chair.

'I believe so. Of course, the treatment I have developed has been generated by my artificial intelligence systems and has never been performed before.'

'How can you fix chronobiological issues?' the Doctor asked, leaning forward too.

'We have experimental technology involving a small program in its research phase with gene therapy,' Panacea replied. 'I believe I can construct a program which will cure you with a high potential success rate using the equipment and theoretical procedures we have developed.'

Jack fell silent, stunned. He looked at the Doctor, who was gazing at him. He then looked back at Panacea. 'Can I, er, take a raincheck on that and get back to you?'

Panacea smiled. 'Of course.'

They left the assessment room and headed back to the lift in silence. They entered, and the Doctor ordered the lift to take them to their living quarters.

Ten seconds later, Jack finally found some words to say. 'Can you believe that?'

'Honestly? I'm not sure I can,' the Doctor muttered, staring at the map of Pleaneas on the wall.

Jack frowned. 'What're you saying?'

The Doctor shrugged, and looked at him. 'I just haven't seen this kind of medical technology Gallifrey existed,' he said. 'It's extremely advanced and takes millions of years to get right.'

'So?'

'So either Panacea is extremely ahead of her time and possibly the greatest medical computer ever created which for some reason doesn't exist in a hundred years, or something really strange is going on here.'

'Let me guess. Never heard of an exotronic either?'

'Nope,' the Doctor muttered, looking at the exotronic he was still holding. 'This isn't anything I've ever seen.'

They fell silent as the mood music played and the lift continued.

'So what are you going to do?' the Doctor wondered.

Jack paused. 'I ... dunno. What d'you think?'

The Doctor paused. 'I think you need to really think about this.'

'I think I do too.'