Doesn't Remind Me of Anything

Chapter Six: Keeping the Faith

Thanks MontyPythonFan, Sepikand Cassy for your reviews. Hope you continue to enjoy the story. Please read and review!


The light blinded the Doctor, the force of it throwing him backwards onto the floor and the screeches filled his ears making it impossible for him to think. He lay on the floor momentarily stunned like everyone else, he slowly opened his eyelids a crack and saw the robots falling down around him, red alarms were flashing and doors were opening – the Doctor turned to the screen to check on Rose, but it had turned off and shattered as had all of the power that controlled the ship. He could feel the ship shaking under him, the stabilisers had been deactivated and the ship could easily fall from the atmosphere. The Doctor didn't know how long he would have until it fell but he knew the blast would be huge, killing everyone on board – including him, he also knew he had to get to Rose. He slowly pulled himself to his feet and glanced around the room, there were dozens of doors that could each lead in a different direction – further away from Rose. He picked one close to Lucas' cage and started to feel his way to the door which he hoped would lead him to Rose though the blackness of the ship, for the emergency lights had not been activated yet. He turned to look at Luca, who was lying on his back – the astonishing illumination radiating out of his torso, this luminosity was accompanied by screeches as Luca released all the power within him. Bolts of lightning danced around the ship striking the metal and disabling it all. He was releasing the very essence of his being – his soul, and this was too much for the robots to bare, the signals he sent out destroyed their systems as well as those on the sip. This act was killing Luca but it was saving the world – and Rose, it was the plan they had discussed so cautiously earlier, Lucas' words rang in the Doctors head. I want to do something good, something wonderful – even if it kills me. It is better than being used to destroy lives; I must die for a cause! The Doctor understood what Luca had meant and what would have happened to him if the robots had kept him, this was the only reason the Doctor had allowed Luca to sacrifice himself in such a way.Luca managed to turn his head using the last ounces of strength in him to look at the Doctor. His heavy voice was becoming weaker and weaker as he whispered

'Save… her…'

'I don't know where she is!' the Doctor cried out to him as he made his way through the hell that had taken over the control room.

'Straight… ahead… second… door… to… the… left…' he managed to say whilst taking in jagged breaths between each word. The lines around his eyes were wrinkling in pain but he continued to stare at the Doctor.

'Thank you' the Doctor whispered, gazing at Luca – his eyes reflected the guilt he felt for his death. He didn't want it to happen this way, he really did wish there was some other way everything could be alright – but he knew there wasn't. He paused and opened his mouth but he was lost for words.

'This… is… how… I'd… rather… die' whispered Luca, the Doctors' smile portrayed all the thanks he wanted to tell Luca.

'Thank you, so much' his tone revealing all the admiration and thanks he wished to tell him

'Now… run!' he breathed out as his head shot back. The Doctor took one last glance at Luca and turned to disappear down a corridor as Luca writhed in pain. The light became brighter and the screams more intense as Luca released all the power within to destroy the robots, to shut down the computer systems – and hopefully – to give the Doctor a fighting chance. The final bolt of lightening left his body as it set his torso on fire destroying the magnificent brain that the robots had felt was so valuable to their ship. Luca died in a way he wanted to, he died courageously, for a cause, and he died happily knowing he was a hero.

The Doctor continued to race down corridors forever grateful to Luca for what he had done for them. Due to Luca overriding the system all the locks and codes had broken – as well as the robots – making is easier for the Doctor to find Rose. The pounding in his head and heart matched the pounding of his feet that echoed off of the metal floors, he had to pause for breath every now and then, but he was determined – more than ever – to keep going. He followed Lucas' instructions as he reached the door where be believed Rose was being held captive, he could feel the ground trembling beneath him as the ship battled to stay afloat in the air. He looked around him and froze, ahead of him were five armed robots – he squinted at them hoping to see if they were moving but they had all fallen forwards like abandoned rag dolls, their heads motionless and their weapons falling to the floor, their faces trapped in masks of terror. The Doctor grinned to himself and to Lucas' memory as he knelt down producing the sonic screwdriver. Just as he started to work on the lock he remembered that none of the locks were working so he stood up and kicked the door – effectively opening it. As soon as he saw Roses' limp body lying on the cold stone floor, the smile evaporated from the Doctors' mouth. The room was freezing cold but he couldn't take his eyes off of her – nor move from where he stood, he could feel the goose bumps crawling up his arms and the shivers that ran down his spine chilling his soul. No matter how cold it was or how terrible he felt he couldn't tear his eyes away from her.

'Rose' was the Doctor's tortured whisper. He slowly walked over to her and knelt down next to her. He shook her gently, being careful not to harm her as he tried to awaken her.

'Rose?' he asked, this time a bit more forcefully. He put his hand under her head to pull her closer to him but instead his hand fell into a pool of warm, sticky blood. He pulled his hand back to gaze at it and then he saw the pool of blood that lay around her head like a halo. Her eyes were shut and her skin was pale, there was a cold sweat on her brow and he could feel the deep shivers that were running through her soul. She looked so young and innocent, like an angel – a delicately frail angel. He went to tug his jacket off to wrap around her but then he saw it in his mind – him ripping it off and throwing it on the Tardis floor. He cursed himself for being so careless and knew there was nothing else we could do but pull her into his lap and hold her close hoping to warm her with the heat from his own body. It was in moments like this that he remembered how delicately fragile humans were, how delicately fragile Rose was. At times he forgot this and thought she was almost as strong as he was – it was just that she was so strong in every other aspect he had just assumed this to be the same. He gently stroked her cheek as he held her to him praying that she would be alright.

Rose felt the stabbing pain in her head first, and then she noticed that darkness was fading out again and was being replaced by red. She couldn't move: her body had gone stiff she could barely remember where she was – who she was, all she knew was that the cold stones were no longer pressed against her back, sleepily she rolled onto her side and started to snuggle against the Doctor.

'Rose?' she heard the Doctor whisper, she could hear the anguish in his voice. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up into his. His eyes held hers for a moment and she could see the cloud of fear and hopelessness that veiled his eyes, he stared that way at her for a few moments then he pushed the fear back and only worry shone in his eyes.

'I knew you'd come for me' she whispered, rasping, shocked by how weak and feeble her voice sounded. Her skin felt clammy and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest – it seemed that with every breathe she took it weakened. She tried to sit up in his arms but dizziness took over her head as she fell back into his lap. He looked down into her eyes and leant his forehead against her own; his eyes were full of sorrow as he gazed into hers which were starting to fade.

'I'm sorry.' he whispered 'I'm so sorry'

Rose smiled up at him and tenderly caressed his face, cupping his cheek she looked up at him with all the truth of her words in her eyes.

'I trust you. I trust you more than anyone else in the universe – never forget that' she whispered before she let out a whimper and accepted the darkness that had been attempting to claim her.

He gazed down at her thinking, this is the second time I've almost lost her – the second time I have failed in my duty to protect her – the second time I have failed her since I gained a new face. How can she say that she trusts me? I don't even trust myself anymore. She was right, in the beginning - when she doubted me – she was right, she should have run and hidden herself away from me. She was always too good for me, too good for this life, too good for this world.

The Doctor rubbed his face with his hands as he contemplated what to do next, she trusted him – that was all that mattered. He watched her sleeping for a while and knew he had to move her, the robots would be awakening soon and he needed the easiest getaway as possible. He carefully picked her up and started to carry her out of the room ignoring the dull ache in his arms and legs from the previous excitement of the day. She was so light and delicate, he felt like he was carrying a china doll. He set off down the corridors at a brisk pace carefully navigating through the passageways hoping he could trust his memory to lead them back safely. When he finally reached the control room his customary grin had started to return to his face knowing how much closer they were to returning to the Tardis and to normality, well what was normal for them. He stepped into the room and turned to look around for a method of transport, yes a teleport or escape pod or something he thought, he turned again surveying the room and then he froze. The robots remained on the floor all of them - except for one, this robot was twice the height of the others and instead of being made entirely of metal it was built of metal and human remains. Its' face was half metal that joined onto twisted flesh, he had one human eye remaining and a handful of hairs scattered over its' scalp. The Doctor stopped unsure what to do, whether he should he continue or stop and argue, eyeing the monster and Rose he knew he couldn't take any more chances. The Doctor glared at this monster, his eyes dark and dangerous. His voice emitted the coldest vibes of hell

'Get out of my way' the Doctor commanded. The creature started to make its' way towards the Doctor who was very conscious of the fact that he still had Rose in his arms.

'Not until you return what is mine' the creature bellowed.

'Yours?' the Doctor replied his voice reaching the same volume as the creatures but his was darker – fuelled by emotions.

'Rose is not yours. You have no right to her.' the Doctor yelled at it, his voice exceedingly powerful. The robot seemed amused by the Doctors words.

'Your human attachments amuse me.' the creature told him his voice laced with disdain. 'But never fear, you will find a new human to latch onto once this one is dead' these words stung the Doctor deeply as he knew they were true. No – not entirely true, he couln't imagine another human in existence that was as unique as Rose – his Rose, and no-one, no-one could take her away from him. The creature watched his reaction knowing that his words were hitting home, this provoked an arrogant smile.

'You will not take her from me' he commanded, believing in his words as he said them.

'I am the Doctor and I order you to allow us to leave' the creature turned to laugh in the Doctors' face.

'So you're the "Doctor"?' He exclaimed, his voice mocking him.

'Well I am Divad – the leader of the Vyborg race – and using my authority I demand that you give me the girl.'

Roses' eyes opened momentarily to absorb her surroundings; she saw the Doctor, Stavishm, a sea of robots littering the floor and a huge one that gazed at her provocatively - seeming very interested in her. All of this confused Rose who was scared by this monster, scared by the helplessness that she felt as she lolled in the Doctors' arms, her eyes took one last sweeping gaze around the room and then they rolled back into her head – this only worried the Doctor more. If he didn't do something now – he would run out of opportunities. His eyes glanced around the room frantically searching for something he could use to defeat Divad; he could feel the ship shaking and swerving through space struggle to remain airborne. He glanced up and saw Stavishm slowly standing up behind Divad, his silver plates had turned black in the electrical force field – he watched as Stavishm slowly limped towards an emergency escape pod. He quietly worked through the codes – for the electricity was regenerating as were the codes, locks, and robots - trying to open the doors, the Doctor knew he needed to keep Divad talking if this plan was going to succeed – luckily the Doctor was good at talking.

'Why do you need Rose?' the Doctor began to question Divad, he also started to notice the aching in his arms from holding her for such a long time.

'I am dying, Doctor. Unless you can save me I will require more than medical skills' he slowly informed the Doctor as though he was deciding how much to tell him. The Doctor raised his eyebrows quizzically.

'The last of my human parts, as you may see, are all nearly dead' the Doctor surveyed his body and the last patches of skin were dried out, slowly rotting away. Divad smiled triumphantly as he told the Doctor of his genius.

'I have built a master machine, a machine that will allow me to live forever. This machine requires a brain above human levels and blood that contains energy to power my being forever. I have found both of these, dear Doctor. You have destroyed my brain but you… yes; you will suffice my needs as will your lady friend. Soon you will both be part of the greatest machine ever known to man'. David laughed evilly causing the Doctor to become even more infuriated, whilst Divad had been bragging the Doctor had slowly been walking towards the escape pod, making Divad think he was pacing nervously – well he was, but he had a destination. However much he wanted to stay and argue with Divad, to stay and fight him, he knew he had to get Rose to safety and off of this ship; Stavishm had entered the pod and was ready to take off as soon as the Doctor was.

'I'm afraid I cannot be a part of that.' the Doctor informed him. He gave him a quick smile

'Anyway I don't think my hair would suit you' he joked trying to apply his usual wit to the situation that certainly was not laughable. The Doctor jumped back into the escape pod as the doors slammed shut. Stavishm hit the release button and the lights within started to flash, a warning alarm beeped letting them know they were about to be released from the ship. Divads' yell echoed throughout the ship and the escaped pod, the Doctor took one last glance at him and hit the confirm button and carefully placed Rose on the floor as they began to fall from the sky.


Next Chapter: The Doctor pulled Rose down to the floor and sheltered her body with his own as they prepared for the impact that was inevitable. The force was like a nuclear bomb going off; a mushroom cloud decorated the sky where the objects had collided. Rose and the Doctor bounced up and down entrapped in metal, clinging on to each other the entire time. Stavishm clung onto the metal as did Rose and the Doctor, all of them hung with their legs flailing in the air.

Please Review! Thanks for reading!