A.N: Gak! Eruptions everywhere! Finally managed to get this finished- This is what I was trying to get into last chapter, but couldn't get it to work before… So hope this works well.
Muchos Grazias goes to…Joshwales, James Jago, freak and proud (Josie doesn't know about the prophecy yet… and only time will tell when she'll find out about it :P), Dory Shotgun (Sorry about the length-this one's my longest yet, got to 9 pages on my computer! And I'm a Sydneysider myself, and we've been getting some pretty hot days over here. As for instruments, I play flute, bassoon and sing officially. Unofficially, I can play any woodwind, brass I'm working on, and guitar is the only stringed instrument I can really manage. And so far I've gone pretty well in the exams I've got back.), Cadao, Kazzy (Always look on the bright side of life…), and Laseri (Telekinesis, at least how I perceive it is that any mind with telepathic or empathic abilities has the potential to extend the mental control to the physical world around them. And humans supposedly have a receptive ability for ESP, so the chances are that it would be possible. Hope that wasn't too confusing :oS).
Right, think I've dealt with everything, so hope you enjoy!
Thought of the week: Only dead fish go with the flow-Live your life with impact.
The Greatest Summer of All Time, Chapter 11.
Bittersweet Symphony
Grime covered his shirt, his feet leaden as he trudged up the hill towards his home. A deadened look rarely seen upon his visage darkened his eyes, a melancholic sorrow weighing down his soul.
Pausing momentarily, Jack perched upon a moss-covered outcropping. The sunrise stained the sky blood red, a haunting echo of the previous night's events. To the south the keep lay, its walls broken and smouldering, smoke drifting into the air. On the other side of the valley, plumes of smoke began their ascent to the heavens once more, the gruesome task of burning the dead resumed for another day. A lone eagle soared over the lake, skimming over the golden crested waves before emitting a mournful cry and taking to the skies once more.
Of all the times through history, his least favourite were plague zones. Something about the continual death and hopelessness quashed the life out of him, and he, quite frankly, hated it. At least the day before last they'd missed the plague by twelve months. Maybe after this, the Doctor would take them somewhere happier… maybe Taurus or Verve. After this, they'd all need it.
Wincing slightly as stiff muscles complained, he rose, beginning his trek up the hill once more.
Little did he know that someone was watching.
IOIOIOIOIOI
"Sir." The soldier growled, heavy armour clanking as his claws clicked along the cobblestones.
"What?" The silhouetted figure demanded, not looking away from the dancing flames, talons clicking maliciously against the armrest.
"I bring news of the attack, sir."
"I take it the Tempest was neutralised."
Shuffling anxiously, the soldier replied, "Well…"
A dry chuckle, teeming with spite echoed through the darkened room, "Now, don't tell me that a mere child has outwitted us, for you know I will be displeased."
Gulping in apprehension, he answered, "She destroyed the entire battalion, sir."
"WHAT?!" The figure snarled, abruptly vaulting out of the chair, sending it crashing to the ground, crossing the room to tower over the soldier, foul breath rolling over the soldier in nauseating waves.
Flinching from the fuming onslaught he continued, "This girl is no mere child - She mentally attacked them, sir! Most likely, she didn't even know what she was doing."
"That does not change the fact. Thrice now, she has challenged us, and thrice have we come out the worse for it. If we are to achieve our goals, she must be eliminated now. I will not tolerate any more faltering. Bring me Regent Mortimer."
Trying to quiet the unease in the pit of his stomachs, he bowed slightly, "As you wish, sir."
IOIOIOIOI
Jack stumbled into the control room to find the Doctor and Rose slumped against each other in the pilot's seat. At the sound of the door, they blearily opened their eyes.
"You guys look exhausted!" Jack commented, floundering over to crash on the floor next to them.
"We feel it." Rose replied.
Jack sighed, "So where are the kids?"
"Hopefully the four of them are getting some rest. They had a rough time of it." The Doctor said.
Jack looked up at them, "Four?"
Rose shrugged, "Senka's joined us. Helped to get Josie back when she passed out."
Eyebrows shooting up he stared at her, "Right. Tell me about it later. I'm going to bed-" He was interrupted by a knock at the door.
The trio instantly stood, staring surprisedly at each other.
"That's weird." Rose commented nonchalantly.
The Doctor shrugged, "Is anybody going to answer that?"
Quickly, Jack marched to the door, prizing it open slight, and glancing around the corner, "Lucy?" He questioned in shock,
She smiled slightly, "You wouldn't have happened to have seen my son, would you?"
From behind him, the Doctor spoke, "He's fast asleep at the moment. Not surprising considering they just lived through the real-life version of Helm's Deep."
"Lived being the operative word." Lucy commented dryly.
Rose gazed at the other woman steadily, "You're not from this time."
"Correct."
The Doctor interjected, "Considering you have yet to panic about the dimensions of the room, I'd place you post first contact."
She nodded, "It was 2430 when I was abducted. As for the room, it's too beautiful to worry about the mere problem of the dimensions."
Huge grins broke out across both Jack and the Doctor's features. Together they turned to Rose and begged, "Can we keep her?"
IOIOIOIOI
Soon thereafter, the four were seated in the kitchen, mugs of tea firmly in hand, Tim-Tams heaped onto a plate in front of them.
Delightedly, Lucy dunked one of the chocolaty delicacies into her drink, a blissful look passing over her face as she bit into it.
"I've missed this." She commented, her hands clasping the cup, "And I suppose I owe you all an explanation."
"Well, I wouldn't mind knowing how you ended up here." The Doctor said.
Lucy pursed her lips, "I've told Jack a bit of this, but I suppose there are still a few blanks that need filling.
"I grew up on earth, in Tuscany as a matter of fact. My father was one of the first... aliens to come on the University exchange programs. My mother showed him around, and things went from there."
Jack raised an eyebrow, "So you're only half human?"
"And half Yinoran. Regardless, my mixed heritage allowed me to gain a scholarship to study both Yino and Human medicine. I loved the city- the apartment I shared with one of my colleges come friend became a haven, and it was close to the Yinoran embassy where I worked with their chief medic during the mornings, then walked to the University for the afternoon. When I was a week off beginning my internship, Kash and I went to our favourite bar, and someone slipped me something. From there I remember a few indistinct flashes, and a voice saying something about reporting back to the 'time agency', whatever that is-"
Jack's face paled, "Time agency? Oh no…"
Puzzled, Lucy sent a stare to Rose.
"Jack was once a time agent. That was until they stole two entire years of his memory…" Rose informed her.
"Oh… well, I know that whomever it was wasn't human." Lucy supplied helpfully.
"How?" Jack demanded hoarsely.
Lucy gazed at him, trying to show her truthfulness merely through the power of her gaze, "Senka was the result, and his physiology is a mix of at least three different genetic structures. Neither humans nor Yinos have a sixteenth rib, or shoulder blades that are fused with a secondary support bone. Nothing visible that would be picked out as extraordinary, but enough so that I could easily determine that he's not fully human. Also gave him quite an edge with a blade."
The Doctor pursed his lips, "The question is what will happen next."
Jack turned to look at him, "What do you mean?"
"A few things." He began, "Firstly, do you want to stay here, go home or somewhere else. Secondly, there's the stubbornness of the TARDIS. She's brought us here for some reason, and we'll have to see it out. Then of course there's that prophecy you dug out of the Library, Jack."
Jack stared at him dumfoundedly, "That was legit?"
"Hang about!" Lucy interjected, "Prophecies exist?"
The Doctor smiled slightly, "Yeah. Just shows you shouldn't disregard the word of supposed raving lunatics. They're usually the result of something that directly affects the flow of history, time loops, or time travellers such as ourselves creating ripples. People who are more inclined to ESP can pick the waves up, and they're written down, then voila! You see the event which echoed actually happening, of course foreshadowed by the echo."
"Just try not to think of time as being a straight line, and it'll start to make sense." Rose reassured her.
"Right. And as to what you said before, about what Senka and I wish to do, I think I'll ask him first." Lucy concluded, draining the last bit of tea from her cup.
The Doctor nodded, "Very well. Now, might I suggest that we get some sleep, after all, twenty four hours going non-stop does nothing for one's beauty."
"Like you can speak, big ears." Rose teased, tongue poking out of the side of her mouth.
He pretended to look offended, "Oi! You don't exactly look like a bunch of roses at the moment, my dearest."
She grinned wryly, "I'm sure there's a compliment in there somewhere. Still, we're off. Jack, can you please find Lucy a room-and I don't mean yours."
He threw off a mock-salute, "Yes, Ma'am!"
IOIOIOI
She awoke suddenly, her chest heaving, tatters of memories fading away as her breathing returned to normal. Sitting up, she winced slightly as her head pounded, noticing the tangled mess of sheets. With a groan, she heaved herself upright, and padded to the bathroom, spattering her face with icy water to wash away the final vestiges of the nightmare.
Knowing that it would be a while before she could return to dreamland, she returned to her room, contemplating sitting down with Harry Potter, to find Anita sitting in one of the chairs by the fire.
"Couldn't sleep?" She inquired.
Anita shrugged, "Not really. Then again, I'm not surprised, considering what we've been through in the past couple of days. I heard you crashing around, so I thought I'd find some company."
For a while they simply sat in silence, watching the fire crackle away merrily in the hearth. Then there came a knock at the door.
"Yeah?" Josie called. The two boys walked into the room, Senka glancing around nervously.
"You guys are up as well, I take it?" Adrian stated, coming to sit next to Anita's legs.
Josie shrugged, "Yeah. Nightmares."
"Nice to know we're all in the same boat."
Looking over to the door, Anita noticed Senka looking nervously about.
"You all right?" She asked.
He looked at her, his cheeks flushing red, "A gentleman is not supposed to enter a lady's chambers."
Josie looked at him thoughtfully, "For starters, I'm not a lady. Secondly, I give you my permission to enter."
Still slightly cautious, he joined the others on the floor.
"Right, don't suppose anybody would be hiding any marshmallows?" Josie entreated, a mischievous smile creeping over her face.
Adrian buried his head in his hands, "Oh no! She wants the smoars! Run for cover!"
Senka stared at him curiously, "And why would we do that?"
"Exactly! Why would we do that?" Josie demanded.
Anita rolled her eyes, "Do you remember when we went camping last summer, and Jack introduced us to smoars?"
"The greatest thing the Americans have ever come up with!" She proclaimed.
Adrian rolled his eyes, "Yes, and you ended up going on a sugar high."
"Your point?"
"Argh!" He moaned in exasperation.
"Come on! Senka's never had them before, and everyone should be entitled to have smoars at least once in their lives!" she begged.
"They sound… interesting…" Senka supplied helpfully.
Adrian looked over to Anita, "Should we risk it?"
Anita scrunched up her face in contemplation, "She does have a point- everyone should be entitled to smoars at least once in their lives, and they would serve as a wonderful introduction point for Senka into the wild and wonderful world of junk food."
"Yes!!!" Josie triumphantly exclaimed.
"But," Adrian added, "Be it on your own head if you end up spending half the night-or is it day? - Puking you guts out in front of the toilet bowl."
She nodded eagerly, "Message received and understood, Sir!"
He shook his head, "I can't believe I'm agreeing to this… I think I saw the marshmallows in the second cupboard on the right, fourth shelf. The Mars bars should be right next to them."
"Coming, Anita?" she asked, bolting up, grabbing her cohort by the hand and nearly dislocating her arm before sprinting out of the room in search of the sugary delicacies.
IOIOIOIOI
Josie was perched precariously atop a chair, straining to reach into the back of the cupboard whilst Anita looked on fretfully.
"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" She asked worriedly, attempting to stabilise the chair as much as possible, "After all, we've already found two bags of marshmallows, three bags of Mars bars, half a kilo of the Party mix and jersey caramels-do we really need twisties?"
"Look, if we're going to introduce Senka to junk food, we're going to do it properly, understand?" came her muffled reply.
Anita shrugged in exasperation, "Fine. It's your neck. Just don't come crying to me if you break something."
Josie turned around to stare at her pointedly, "Well, do you have a better suggestion?"
"What about what you did before?" Anita finally suggested, folding her arms across her chest.
Josie's eyes widened, "You're kidding."
"No."
With a resigned sigh, she hopped off the chair, swinging her legs slightly, "I'm not…I don't…it's complicated."
"Josie, you've got a gift, and what you did today wasn't just amazing- it saved people's lives." Anita told her stubbornly.
"But those…things…"
"Were hell bent on destroying everything. If you hadn't done what you did, things would have been much worse. You've got this absolutely amazing talent, Josie, and it's something that you shouldn't freak out about simply because the first time you used it was to save a whole lot of people who wouldn't have stood a chance if it hadn't been for you."
Her sky-blue eyes filled with tears, "How do you know how to make me feel better?"
"I'm only telling you the truth."
With a smile, she stood up, looking to the cupboard, focusing on bringing the Twisties to her. Instantly a cascade of groceries rained down upon the pair's heads.
"Whoops…"
IOIOIOIOI
For the second consecutive night, the Doctor found himself bolting upright. He looked wildly around the room in bewilderment, squinting in the dim light.
"What'smatter?" Rose grumbled, eyeing her husband.
He blinked, "I think I just had a cupboard of groceries dropped on my head…"
"Ouch." Rose commented, sitting up and leaning against the headboard.
"Think it hurt Josie more than me." The Doctor commented brazenly.
She blinked at him, "Are you telling me that our daughter just pulled apart half the kitchen?"
"Nope."
"Well that's good."
"Only felt like one cupboard."
"O-kay, and you know this…how?"
He grinned maniacally at her, "Telekinetic echo."
"Kids." She said with a sigh.
"Yep."
"So what are we going to do about it?"
He shrugged, reclining back into the pillows, "No clue. My head hurts too much to think about it now."
"Do you want me to kiss it better?"
He gave her a wounded puppy look, "Oi!"
"Oh fine. We'll think about it in the morning-or afternoon-or whatever it will end up being." She yielded, slipping beneath the linen sheets.
His arms curled around her, holding her tightly against his chest in his warm embrace,
"Still wouldn't mind that kiss though." He whispered, placing his lips tenderly on her forehead.
IOIOIOIOI
"What took you two so long?" Adrian demanded, "We're slowly dying of starvation here!"
Anita rolled her eyes, "Keep your knickers on. We gatherers have returned, laden with provisions, Which is more than can be said for you lot."
He snorted, "For your information, we were discussing the philosophical aspects of poplar culture in relation to our relative time frames."
"Honestly…" Josie sighed, "If Senka is going to learn about the queer ways of the twenty–first century, then we will do it properly. That means copious amount of unhealthy, sugary foods with little to no nutritional value. Understood?"
"Fine." Adrian doubtfully agreed, "Now what are we going to use for skewers?"
"How about these?" Senka suggested, holding up one of the fire pokers.
"Should do quite nicely." Anita said with a grin. Fetching the numerous packages of salvaged sweets, she quickly selected the mini mars bars and the marshmallows, ripping them open and deftly squishing them onto the pointed weapon.
"Now the idea is to brown it, but not burn it." She explained, swinging the delicacies into the flames. Within half a minute, the stick was flaming.
"Not," Josie patronised, "Like that."
Regardless of the regular pyrotechnical displays, the packets of lollies soon dwindled down, leaving the four giggling masses on the floor.
"Y'know, this is better than water fights in the summer!" Senka exclaimed.
Josie snorted, "You're right about that one."
"I've apologised about the water bomb at least a dozen times, Jose!" Adrian grumbled.
She simply rolled her eyes, "It still doesn't change the fact that-"
"Please can we not get into this again?" Anita complained.
Adrian paused in consideration, staring up at the star-spangled ceiling above, "Yeah. Suppose you're right, especially after what we've been through."
Suddenly the giddy cheerfulness evaporated.
"We have a word for the ones who fight beside us." Senka stated reflectively, in an attempt to lift the melancholic blanket that threatened to smother them.
"And that would be…?" Adrian began.
"Friends."
They all sat up, a glint of excitement in their eyes.
"Four comradeers." Adrian began, placing his hand in the middle of the circle.
"Travelling together through time-"Anita cited, adding her hand.
"And Space!" Josie added in excitedly, her pale nail polish gleaming in the light of the fire.
"Four friends!" Senka concluded, sealing it with his hand.
IOIOIOIOIOI
A.N: End a bit cheesy? Please review and tell me! Constructive criticism is loved, and flames (In honour of Anita's inferno) shall be used to make smoars!!!