Chapter 6: Prometheus Bound
Rose clung tightly to Captain Jack. She couldn't believe she was going to lose him again, so soon. He gave her a final squeeze and kissed the top of her head. "See you in the next lifetime, kid."
With a wink, he left her, and headed back towards his ship. The hangar's dome ceiling opened. Light from Skaro's setting suns streamed inside. The sky above was bright with clouds in every shade of pink, red, and orange. He turned back to her one last time and waved. Holding back her tears, she blew him a kiss as he got inside. The door shut behind him with a clang. Slowly the ship rose, hovering above the ground for a moment. Then it shot up into the sky and disappeared.
Just then, Telvar zoomed down the ramp into the hangar, with the Doctor following at a run. "We're too late," he panted, surveying the empty bay and the sky above.
Telvar said nothing, but plugged its plunger into a nearby mainframe socket, monitoring the launch.
Rose hardly noticed them. She walked to the center of the bay, where Jack's ship had been just moments before, and gazed up at the sky. She knew what was coming. The worst part was waiting for it.
The wind seemed to change; it had been a gentle breeze when the dome ceiling had first opened. Now it was blowing hard--straight up. A black shape like an ink blot appeared suddenly and expanded, high in the sky. In an instant, it had turned the sunset's blood-red clouds black. Pieces of it began to rain down, leaving streams of darkness across the sky in their wake, like a firework in reverse. The blackness soon covered the sky, blotting out what remained of the failing evening light. Several seconds later, a rumbling noise vibrated the floor, like a low scream.
A faraway voice called, "Strangelets! Telvar, shut the dome!" The intensity of the vibration grew stronger. It knocked her off her feet. Someone caught her and guided her away, off the floor of the bay. The dome ceiling closed. The vibration began to fade. Only a terrible stillness remained.
"CA-TA-STROPH-IC DARK EN-ER-GY DRIVE MAL-FUNC-TION CON-FIRMED. IT IS O-VER. WE WILL DE-VEL-OP GRA-VI-TON THE-O-RY."
Slowly, Rose became aware that someone was holding her. The Time Lord's arms were around her; her head was against his chest. "I'm sorry," he said, gently. "You were fond of him, weren't you?"
"He did it on purpose," she whispered. "He blew it up. He sacrificed himself. Said it was the only way to stop the Dark Energy drive..."
"Poor Jack. If only I could have..." She felt his chest rise and fall as he sighed heavily. "Rose, I know you want to stay here, I know you want to mourn him, but we have to leave here immediately."
She looked up at him in confusion. "Why?"
"Because I've...look, I'll explain later. I need to disappear for a while." He took her hand. "Come on. We have to go." Too shocked to argue, Rose followed.
They made a brief farewell to Telvar, then hurried out of the Kaled city. At the exit, however, their path was blocked--by the enormous Thal. He had a bandage on his head, but appeared to be largely recovered.
"Not you again!" snapped the Doctor impatiently. "I don't have time for this. Let us pass!"
The Thal dropped to one knee. "You bested me in combat. I am in your service."
"I didn't best you, she did," said the Doctor, nodding at Rose. "She dropped a rock on your head."
"I was defeated by...a woman?" The Thal looked aghast.
"Yes," said the Doctor. "I told you she was modern."
"And the Doctor saved your life," said Rose. "The rock would have killed you, but he insisted the Kaleds take care of you. Now please, get out of the way." They pressed past him and ran outside.
The Thal's voice echoed plaintively after them, "A life-debt unpaid...and the shame...beaten by a woman...I cannot return to my tribe...oh, bitter fate…"
A little while later, as the light failed, they found the thicket of trees where they had landed. The Doctor exclaimed in frustration, "It's the same problem as always! You can't find something invisible in the dark!"
"It's got to be here somewhere," said Rose, feeling around with her hands. "We'll find it. While we're looking, maybe you can tell me why we're running away?"
The Doctor opened his mouth to reply; but just then a Kaled glided up to them. "Is that you, Telvar?" asked the Doctor. "What's the matter?"
"THE SHIP WAS NOT DES-TROYED" said Telvar in an agitated voice.
"The ship," said Rose, hope rising in her chest. "The Dark Energy ship? Jack's ship? He's alive? Tell me he's safe!"
"THE EX-PLO-SION WAS A DE-COY. THE SHIP IS HEAD-ING TO EARTH."
"What? Heading to Earth? You mean--he stole it?" gasped the Doctor.
"He stole it?" echoed Rose. "No, you're wrong. Jack's a hero. He wouldn't steal anything. He blew it up on purpose, said it was the only way. He said…he promised me..."
"NONE OF OUR RE-MAIN-ING SHIPS ARE FAST E-NOUGH TO O-VER-TAKE HIM."
"Don't worry, Telvar, we can catch him up in the TARDIS," said the Doctor.
Rose, slowly realising the depths of Jack's betrayal and perfidy, was trembling. "He lied to me," she hissed. Her fingers balled into fists. "We'll catch him all right...and when we do..."
"Hell hath no fury like..." Rose shot him a warning look. The Doctor coughed. "Anyway...don't worry, Telvar, we'll get your ship back. Er...once we actually find the TARDIS, that is."
"It's here," said Rose, knocking on something invisible.
Once inside the TARDIS, the Doctor set about tracking the Dark Energy ship. "Shouldn't be too difficult...yes, it's leaving a most distinctive energy signature. Aha! Child's play." The Doctor flipped a large lever, and the TARDIS came to life, dematerialising with its usual scream. "We'll be there in no time--Rose, don't look like that, you're scaring me. Poor Jack, he won't know what's hit him--hopefully not another rock, ha ha--"
The TARDIS jerked suddenly and changed direction. "No!" said the Doctor. "No, no, no, no, NO!" He began frantically flipping levers, twisting dials, and punching buttons. Several moments later, the TARDIS materialised and landed. The Doctor slowly stepped away from the console, and stared at the door.
The door handle began to jiggle.
"Doctor, what's happening?" asked Rose. "Tell me what's going on."
He didn't answer. She followed his gaze to the door. The handle kept moving.
She suddenly felt very cold. "Doctor, you said no one could get into the TARDIS. You--he said that the assembled hordes of Ghengis Khan couldn't get in."
Still he didn't answer her. His face grew pale.
Despite her best efforts, fear set in. She began to breathe hard. "Doctor, something's getting in, isn't it? What is it? Answer me!"
Abruptly, he turned to face her. She knew the look; she'd seen it in the Restaurant--his blue eyes glittered like polished steel. In an even tone, he said, "Rose, no matter what happens, I want you to promise me something."
"All right," she breathed.
"Don't go after me. You must find Jack. You have to stop that ship from reaching Earth. That is the most important thing you can possibly do. Promise me, Rose!"
She started to reply, but just then the TARDIS doors burst open. Three Gallifreyan guards entered. Following them was a small man with a pinched, rat-like face. His dark eyes shone with malevolent glee.
"Doctor, you are under arrest for highest treason," he said, in a calm, bureaucratic voice. Rose recognised it immediately; this was the same person the Doctor had been speaking to prior to their landing on Skaro.
"No!" she cried. "He hasn't done anything! You can't--"
They took no notice of her. The guards seized the Doctor and manacled him. As he was marched away, the Doctor called over his shoulder to her, "Rose, remember! Promise me!"
And then they were gone.
Rose was left standing, alone on an alien planet, in the middle of a TARDIS she couldn't operate, charged with a task she had no idea how to do.
END PART I
