Games Part Four
Notes: The verse at the beginning is taken from Uh.yeah's fic One, Last Time. Told ya I'd use it! (winks)
Shangri-la-gypsy: Ahhh, back again my gypsy friend! Well, if it's different, that means I'm doing my job…I intend to bring originality and humour…it's like my mission statement. Anyway…
Uh.yeah: Some place happy? What would be the point in that? It's too much fun angering and upsetting you guys…aww, you know I'm only kidding. Don't worry. Thank you, thank you, I do try my best not to screw up their characters. I know, I'm really messing with you aren't I? It's like…she's alive, she's dead, oh no she's alive again…or is she? And I think I can squeeze in a little more 9Rose…thanks for the cookie factory. I feel very fat now, but happy.
Rhysy54: Heeeheee…well, it's only fun when people keep saying 'NOOOOO! Not Rose! Nooooooo!'. I do find that sadistically amusing.
Becsy Lexi: Lol, I love making you suffer…wow, so many cookies! Are you guys trying to fatten me up? It's all a big plan, isn't it? A conspiracy! Fatten Eevee up then…EAT HER! Aaaaahhhh!
Joshwales: Yes, I'm evil. Keep reading.
LilCosette: Lol, you remind me of a thing I once saw...'This ship can't sink!' 'I assure you, she can!' 'I have a child!' Anyway...I've been quoting that all day...never mind. More cookies! I swear you guys are part of a big conspiracy to fatten me up and eat me. I'm really sorry I couldn't let you beta this...it's not because I don't love you (because you know I do), and your betaing was excellent, but I would prefer not to have my work betad anymore. You were really brilliant, which is why I'm dedicating this story to you, but anything a beta said can be put in reviews...I prefer getting feedback that way, rather than having someone who knows what my fic is about before I post it. From now on I'm a lone ranger...free as the wind...that doesn't mean I won't beta yours though my dear. Smiles all round, k? And if you find mistakes you can fry mygently over a raging fire...And yes...Robbie is awesome...although I am not loving his new song. Sounds a bit like he couldn't be bothered with a proper backing track.
morph: Morphy, you know how funny you are, Your reviews leave me in metaphorical stitches...don't abandon me, ever! I think I'd die from disappointment.
Cloudhaven: Don't worry, Stella will be back. But...LEATHER!
YamiKITG: Hey, it's not my fault! I've told you people before, any bad aspects of a story are purely Crawdie's fault! He's the sadist, not me! Please come back...
Banshee: Yeah, I'll amputate some of her limbs or something...lol, I think this was inspired by the great and wonderful S Club 7. Long may they live on in my heart.
Masline: All will become clear! And thank you for reviewing!
Dr Azaria: Ooooh, a chapter for me? I mean, NO! NO BRIBES! But seriously...a whole chapter? I'm thinking about it...
Elionwy: I, the great Eevee, cannot be commanded! Of course, you kind got your way cos I am updating...but through my own free will! Ha ha! (I need to be a big Viking type person for that booming laugh to work, but you get my drift)
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My heart's still beating,
Though it could be broken in two.
My mind's still working,
But won't let me think things through.
"Rose!"
I can hear his voice so clearly, but I can't see…
For the second time in under an hour I can't remember what's just happened to me.
Am I blind?
Am I paralysed?
"What the hell is that?"
I hear a sort of…stomping noise. I think Jack's just trodden on something.
The red is lifting…
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"I can't believe the TARDIS shocked her like that," muttered the Doctor as he bent over Rose, trying to decide whether to move her or not. Jack was too busy treading on something to answer. He scuffed a red beetle, slightly squashed, towards the Doctor.
"This fell off her," he said. "Off her neck."
The Doctor pulled a face. Some of the insect's legs were still twitching. "Guess this is the 'bug'."
"Ha ha," said Jack dully. "Seriously, it was acting like an implant." The Doctor checked the back of Rose's neck. Sure enough, there were two deep puncture holes from the insect's pincers.
"We should get her to the med room, sort out those wounds," said the Doctor, looking puzzled. "Hmm. They're deep, but not bleeding."
"I'm guessing that's all part of our insect friend's trick," said Jack, gingerly picking up the beetle, using his other arm to help the Doctor hoist Rose to a standing position. "So, this is what was making the TARDIS go nasty."
"I doubt one tiny beetle could sufficiently control my ship," said the Doctor dismissively.
"Who says there's only one?" said Jack dryly.
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A wave of heat hit the Doctor's face as they struggled nearer the med room. He could here crackling, smell burning, see a flickering light.
His medicines, his precious medicines, his tools from Gallifrey…they were burning.
Smoke filled the corridor, thick black smoke, billowing into every corner until he could barely see. He could hear Jack shouting, but couldn't tell what he was saying over the sound of his own coughing. Together they turned and dragged Rose away.
"Jack? Jack, please…" The Doctor gazed back at the flames. Jack understood.
"You got a hose? A fire extinguisher?"
"Just around the corner," said the Doctor, his eyes stinging from the smoke.
"I'm on it."
The Doctor could feel the flames getting nearer. He picked Rose up as Jack ran past him with an extinguisher, starting a battle with the fire. He could spare no concern for him. He cradled Rose closer to him and moved as quickly as he could to his bedroom, which thankfully wasn't far. He laid her down gently then went back to the fire. Jack had made little progress.
"Haven't you got any sprinklers on this thing?" yelled the Captain over the sound of the extinguisher. His face was black with soot.
"They should have already been triggered!" shouted the Doctor. "Wait a sec!" He slammed his fist into a nearby panel and immediately got drenched by water streaming from the ceiling. Jack threw down the fire extinguisher and they both ran back to the Doctor's bedroom, where Rose was beginning to stir.
"Why the hell are you two so wet?" she muttered sluggishly. The Doctor rushed to her side while Jack stripped off his shirt (there it goes again!) to wring it out.
"Are you OK Rose?" asked the Doctor, ignoring her question.
"My neck feels like it's on fire," she complained, struggling to sit up. She touched the back of it and gasped, pulling her fingers away in horror. "What…what happened? God…I feel like one of those girls in vampire movies…" She gave a sort of half-laugh, but it turned out more like a sob.
The Doctor felt completely helpless.
"I'm sorry," he muttered. Rose smiled weakly.
"Not your fault," she said.
"I shouldn't've…" He swallowed. "Rose, what happened…when you fell. I'm so sorry."
"I was the one arguing," said Rose in a tired voice.
"Yeah but…" He glanced at Jack, who immediately moved into the en suite bathroom and shut the door. "I…I pushed you Rose. How can you forgive me for that?"
"Cos…nothing needs forgiving?" Rose looked completely baffled. "You didn't push me. I fell." He sat down heavily on the bed next to her, and opened his mouth to argue again. "No, I'm not having this. I'm not having you blaming yourself." He shut it again, looking embarrassed.
"Sorry," he said quickly.
"You're forgiven," said Rose slowly, as if she was talking to a child. She took hold of his chin and forced him to look at her. "Get it?" The Doctor grinned. "OK. What's the plan?"
"Jack, back in here," said the Doctor as he took command. Jack's head popped around the door.
"Finished your romantic moment now?" he teased. Rose blushed, but the Doctor pretended not to hear him.
"You still got that bug?" he asked.
"Sadly I dropped it whilst I was playing fireman," said Jack, coming to sit on the bed. "I can describe it. Big red beetle with huge pincers and creepy legs."
"That's helpful," said Rose sarcastically.
"That's very helpful," said the Doctor sincerely, getting a familiar gleam in his eye as he stood up. "That's incredibly helpful because Ican remember nowwhat they are! Remember the last planet we went to, how it was completely deserted?"
"I remember you promised us alcohol and there wasn't any," said Jack, winking at Rose.
"Right, these little blighters are responsible," said the Doctor, beginning to pace. "Venutian fire beetles, and about the smartest insects in the galaxy. They can infest anything, humans, machines, anything! The only thing they crave is death."
"Can't you get patches for that?" asked Rose, arching one eyebrow.
"Not legally," replied Jack. Rose wasn't quite sure whether to believe him or not.
"Hey, be serious! I'm unveiling their master plan here!" said the Doctor. "They'll do anything to get their way, which includes mind control. But as you've already seen, they're vulnerable. One stomp and they're gone."
"So how do we, y'know…draw them out? Tempt them?" asked Rose.
The Doctor and Jack glanced at each other. They both grinned at Rose. Her eyes widened.
"Oh no," she said. "No no no no…never."
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"If that beetle doesn't finish you off, I definitely will after this," said Rose determinedly as she sat in the control room.
"Oh come off it, you're loving this," said the Doctor. "Damsel in distress. I thought female humans liked that. Most of my other companions did it often enough."
"Playing bait? Oh yeah, really good fun," said Rose as the Doctor advanced on her with a pot of gloop. "And what the heck is that?"
"You don't wanna know Rose, trust me," said Jack, who was busily unscrewing air ducts and wall panels to allow the beetles to scamper on their merry way to exactly where they wanted them.
"What is it?" she demanded as the Doctor mercilessly smeared it on her face. "Hey! Get off!"
"Let's just say…" He exchanged glances with Jack. "The beetles will love you after this."
"I am going to brutally murder both of you," growled Rose.
"OK," said the Doctor carelessly. "Let's just get rid of the bugs first."
Sure enough, one by one, two beetles crawled out of the openings Jack had made in the TARDIS. They advanced on Rose as if enticed by her.
"Stomp on them now please," she said nervously. Jack did just that, with a lot more enthusiasm than was necessary.
But there was one left.
The TARDIS doors burst open. This probably wasn't good since they were currently drifting through the space between Topia and the Horsehead Nebula.
The Doctor and Jack, being close to the console, were able to grab hold of it.
Rose, being sat in the middle of the floor smeared in gloop, wasn't.
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Man, I'm really being nasty to Rose aren't I? But you all know I'm a sucker for happy endings…one more part to go.
This time leave…uhhh…fruit! Lovely fresh fruit for Eevee my friends, and ye shall have another chapter!
Eevee