19
17/03/2020
Title: Wolf Whispers
Rating: T/M
Summary: All Charlotte 'Charlie' Banks wished for was her freedom and her prayers were answered in the form of a Doctor.
Pairing: Nine/Charlie (Slight)
Outfit: Outfits can be found on my Pinterest profile - (Click on the image to enlarge it)
Disclaimer: I own Charlie and any other OC characters. I do not own Doctor Who.
Wolf Whispers
Previously
"What do you think?" the Doctor asked her when the door closed behind them,
"Of Rose?" Charlie asked, getting a nod she continued, "I don't know, I've just met her, and I've only said a few words to her. Your choice," Charlie sat on the captain's chair
"You sure?" the Doctor asked just to make sure. He liked Charlie a lot, he could easily say in the last six months that they had been travelling together, she had become his best friend, and he didn't want to make her feel unwanted should he take on another companion.
"Yes," the red head nodded, "I know I'm still your favourite human," she winked getting a grin in return as the piloted the ship back to Rose and stuck his head out the door
"By the way, did I mention it also travels in time?" he called out to her before pulling his head back in and walking away from the door just as Rose ran inside.
Charlie grinned, she couldn't wait for the next adventure, especially now she was out of that chair and could leave the TARDIS.
Wolf Whispers
Charlie crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned her back on the railing behind her. She watched as Rose looked around in awe, she hadn't had the time to really take in what she stood in whilst the Autons were causing trouble.
"Right then," the Doctor clapped his handed excitedly making Charlie smile fondly, "Rose Tyler, you tell me. Where do you want to go? Backwards or forwards in time. It's your choice. What's it going to be?"
"I get to pick?" Rose asked hesitantly, she glanced between Charlie and the Doctor, and Charlie understood.
"It's your first time traveling with us," Charlie explained to the girl, "So you get to pick where you go for your first journey,"
Rose nodded before replying to the Doctor's question, "Forwards."
"How far?"
"One hundred years." The Doctor ran around the TARDIS for a few seconds before he stopped
"There you go. Step outside those doors, it's the twenty second century." He said smugly, he loved watching newbies react to time travel
"You're kidding," Rose gaped, she wasn't sure whether to believe him or not
"That's a bit boring, though." The Doctor shrugged, "Do you want to go further?"
"Fine by me." Rose smiled at the older man. Once again, the Doctor raced around the console,
"Ten thousand years in the future. Step outside, it's the year 12005, the new Roman Empire."
"You think you're so impressive." Rose smirked making Charlie laugh at the Doctor's face.
"I am so impressive." He pouted.
"You wish." Rose continued to smirk.
"Right then, you asked for it. I know exactly where to go. Hold on!" the TARDIS zoomed through the time vortex before it landed with a thud.
"Where are we? What's out there?" Rose rattled off
The Doctor said nothing, he just gestured with her hand for her to leave the TARDIS and see for herself,
"What is it?" Rose grinned as he gestured again to the door.
Slowly Rose made her way to the door, she opened the door and stepped out. She was followed by the Doctor and Charlie.
The trio stood in an empty beige room; the Doctor wandered over to a panel by the door a used his sonic on it making a large shutter drop down revealing a window showing the Earth. Both girls stared mesmerised. Rose because it was her first trip and she'd never seen such a view, and Charlie because the view was beautiful, and she'd never get tired of seeing it.
"You lot," the Doctor spoke as he joined the girls, sanding between them, "you spend all your time thinking about dying, like you're going to get killed by eggs or beef or global warming or asteroids. But you never take time to imagine the impossible, that maybe you survive. This is the year 5.5/apple/26. Five billion years in your future, and this is the day…" he checked his watch, "Hold on,"
They watched as the sun flared brightly and turned red.
"This is the day the Sun expands." The Doctor smiled, "Welcome to the end of the world." He missed the look for horror on Rose's face, but Charlie didn't and made a note to speak her alone. She loved the Doctor, but when it came to people's feelings, he wasn't very perceptive.
Wolf Whispers
The trio walked down a long corridor through the space station as an automated voice sounded from the overhead speakers.
"Shuttles five and six now docking." The computer said, "Guests are reminded that Platform One forbids the use of weapons, teleportation and religion. Earth Death is scheduled for 15:39. Followed by drinks in the Manchester Suite".
"So, when it says guests, does that mean people?" Rose questioned, looking between the two time-travellers
"Depends what you mean by people." The Doctor said
"She means Humans," Charlie cut in, "Sorry Rose, but I think we'll be the only humans onboard."
"Why'd you say that?" Rose frowned
"Well if this is the end of Earth like Doctor said," Charlie began, "Then no Human would want to watch their home blow up. So, my guess, is that the station is full of aliens," she took at a look at the décor, "Rich ones," she added. As she looked at the décor, she missed the proud smile the Doctor was shooting her.
"What are they doing on board this spaceship?" Rose continued to question as they turned a corner, "What's it all for?"
"It's not really a spaceship," the Doctor began to use his screwdriver on another wall panel, "More like an observation deck. Charlie got it right, take a look around you. Feels more like a rich person's home than a space station. The great and the good are gathering to watch the planet burn."
"What for?"
"Fun." Charlie and the Doctor exclaimed together grinning and entered another room with Rose following behind.
The room was large and quite empty with just a few display cases dotted about. There was a large window in front of them that continued to the ceiling giving an orbital view of space from wall to ceiling.
"Hold on. They did this once on Newsround Extra. The sun expanding, that takes hundreds of years." Rose smartly said.
"Millions," the Doctor corrected, "but the planet's now property of the National Trust. They've been keeping it preserved. See down there?" he pointed "Gravity satellites holding back the sun."
"Looks pretty much like it always has," Charlie mused as she looked at the Earth.
"She's right." Rose nodded, "The planet looks the same as ever. I thought the continents shifted and things."
"They did, and the Trust shifted them back." The Doctor told them, "That's a classic Earth. But now the money's run out, nature takes over,"
"How long's it got?"
"About half an hour and then the planet gets roasted." The Doctor grinned.
"Is that why we're here?" Rose asked hopefully "I mean, is that what you do? Jump in at the last minute and save the Earth?"
"I'm not saving it," he denied, "Time's up." Once again, he missed the horrified look from the blonde.
"But what about the people?" Rose exclaimed, scared for the Humans stuck on Earth.
"They're gone right?" Charlie interjected, "The humans I mean. They've left the Earth, ventured to other planets and started colonies?"
"Correct," the Doctor exclaimed, "Right again, Charlie. You're on fire today!" they laughed together.
"Just me then," Rose mumbled to herself, seemingly forgetting that Charlie was also human.
"Hey!" the trio turned to see a cobalt blue man running towards them, "Who the hell are you?"
"Oh, that's nice, thanks." The Doctor said sarcastically to the mans rude manners.
"But how did you get in?" the blue man asked confused as how three people were standing in the observation room without anyone knowing, "This is a maximum hospitality zone. The guests have disembarked. They're on their way any second now." He panicked
"That's me. I'm a guest." The Doctor held up his psychic paper to the man, "Look, I've got an invitation. Look. There, you see? It's fine, you see. The Doctor and partner plus one. I'm the Doctor, this is my partner Charlie Banks, and this is Rose Tyler. She's my plus one. Is that all right?"
"Well, obviously." The steward flustered slightly, "Apologies, et cetera. If you're on board, we'd better start. Enjoy." He said tonelessly causing Charlie to smirk at him.
"Someone hates his job," she whispered as the man turned and walked over to a lectern.
"The paper's slightly psychic." The Doctor told Rose who was staring in confusion as to why the Steward though they had an invitation, "It shows them whatever I want them to see. Saves a lot of time." He placed it back in his jacket pocket.
"He's blue." Rose stated the obvious.
"Really?" Charlie raised her eyebrows, "I thought he looked more purple, in my opinion- OW!" she glared at the Doctor who looked away from her gaze.
"Yeah." He told Rose who just nodded in acceptance.
"We have in attendance the Doctor and Charlotte Banks with their plus one Rose Tyler. Thank you. All staff to their positions." The Steward clapped and suddenly a bunch a small blue people appeared and started to roam around the room.
"Aww, they're so cute," Charlie cooed as one of them ran past her and Doctor.
"Hurry, now, thank you." The Steward droned on, "Quick as we can. Come along, come along." The tiny blue people ran into an elevator and the door closed, "And now, might I introduce the next honoured guest? Representing the Forest of Cheam, we have trees, namely, Jabe, Lute and Coffa." The door opened again, and three tree-like people stepped out.
The woman was beautiful, her bark-skin a chestnut brown and she was accompanied by two larger male escorts.
"There will be an exchange of gifts representing peace." The Steward continued,
"Do we have gifts?" Charlie muttered to her friend who shrugged. Charlie started to think of anything they could use as 'gifts'.
"If you could keep the room circulating, thank you." The Steward called, "Next, from the solicitors Jolco and Jolco, we have the Moxx of Balhoon."
Another blue alien, although a lighter shade than the others, entered the room. It had a large head and it used a transport pod to move around.
"And next, from Financial Family Seven, we have the Adherents of the Repeated Meme." A group wearing black robes stepped out.
The group of trees stepped in front of the trio; Jade stepped forward holding a plant pot.
"The Gift of Peace. I bring you a cutting of my Grandfather." She said kindly and past the pot to the Doctor who then passed it to Rose.
"Thank you." He smiled at the tree-woman, "Yes, gifts." he frowned and looked at Charlie who shrugged. She couldn't think of anything for a gift "Er, I give you in return air from my lungs." He leaned forward and breathed gently on Jabe who closed her eyes.
"How intimate." She said breathlessly.
"There's more where that came from." The Doctor flirted gaining a strange look from Rose and a giggle from Charlie.
"I bet there is." Jabe flirted back, she then moved off.
"I hope your breath didn't smell," Charlie grinned amused.
"Shut up," the Doctor half-glared at his redheaded friend.
"From the Silver Devastation, the sponsor of the main event, please welcome the Face of Boe."
Rose's eyes widened even more if that was possible, as a large glass case barely made it through the doorway. It contained a giant humanoid head with straggly hair and squinting eyes.
The light blue alien on the transport pod stopped in front of the trio.
"The Moxx of Balhoon," the Doctor greeted.
"My felicitations on this historical happenstance." The Moxx said, "I give you the gift of bodily saliva." The Moxx then spat saliva into Rose's eye making her flinch in surprise and disgust, Charlie covered her mouth in shock and glanced between the Moxx and Rose.
"Thank you very much." The Doctor grinned, neglecting to notice Rose's disgust and Charlie's shock.
"You okay?" Charlie whispered, touching the blonde's elbow.
"Not really," Rose said as she wiped the spit away.
"Ah! The Adherents of the Repeated Meme. I bring you air from my lungs." The Doctor breathed all over the group, they then held out a silver metal ball
"A gift of peace in all good faith." The Adherents spoke before they moved away from the three time-travellers
"And last but not least, our very special guest." The Steward spoke up once again, "Ladies and gentlemen, and trees and multiforms, consider the Earth below. In memory of this dying world, we call forth the last Human. The Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta Seventeen." The doors opened, and the human girls watched in utter disgust and shock at what entered the room.
Two men dressed in hospital whites, wheeled in a rectangular frame. On the frame there was a thin stretched piece of skin with a face.
"Oh, now, don't stare." The skin spoke snootily, the Doctor turned to the girls to see their reaction and laughed at their horrified expressions, "I know, I know it's shocking, isn't it? I've had my chin completely taken away and look at the difference. Look how thin I am. Thin and dainty. I don't look a day over two thousand. Moisturise me. Moisturise me." One of her attendants lifted a pump spray and sprayed some-kind of liquid on Cassandra.
Rose broke away from Charlie and The Doctor who watched her concerned as she slowly walked around the 'last-human'.
"Truly, I am the last Human. My father was a Texan, my mother was from the Arctic Desert. They were born on the Earth and were the last to be buried in its soil. I have come to honour them and say goodbye. Oh, no tears, no tears. I'm sorry. But behold, I bring gifts. From Earth itself, the last remaining ostrich egg." Charlie cooed again as another little blue person held out an os Legend says it had a wingspan of fifty feet and blew fire from its nostrils. Or was that my third husband?" the Doctor laughed at the joker whilst Charlie looked unimpressed, "Oh, no. Oh, don't laugh. I'll get laughter lines. And here, another rarity."
Rose now stood behind Cassandra and saw just how see-through she was. She stepped back as a 50s jukebox was wheeled in.
"According to the archives, this was called an iPod." 'Wrong' Charlie coughed, ignoring the Doctor's look, "It stores classical music from humanity's greatest composers. Play on!" one of the small attendants pressed a button and 'Tainted Love' started to play loudly. The Doctor grinned and began to bounce around on the spot, enjoying the music.
"Refreshments will now be served. Earth Death in thirty minutes." The Steward called to everyone.
Charlie looked away from the Doctor and looked for Rose. She found her staring at all the Aliens before she took off like a bullet,
"Rose!" Charlie chased after her. The Doctor followed, but he got intercepted by Jabe,
"Doctor?" she stopped him and took a scan of him causing a flash of light "Thank you." The Doctor ran out to find the girls.
Wolf Whispers
Charlie stood behind Rose, the two girls watching the red sun through a window.
"Sorry for running off," the blonde apologised, feeling embarrassed at how she acted.
"Please," Charlie scoffed, "The first time I went through something like this, I was kidnapped by humans who were obsessed with making humanity superior. They kidnapped me for years before the Doctor found me. I mean they weren't aliens but still," she shrugged, missing Rose's look, "You're doing fine." She assured Rose, "Anyway could've been worse, you could've fainted," the girls giggled as a woman, the race as the Steward, entered the room.
"Sorry. Are we allowed to be in here?" Rose asked the woman, but received silence as the blue-skinned woman stared at her.
"You have permission to speak," Charlie told the woman who breathed and thanked her.
"Permission?" Rose asked offended on the woman's behalf.
"Unfortunately, on some ships the staff are not allowed to speak to guests, therefore they need verbal permission to speak," Charlie explained, she remembered the first time she was in the same situation. She had to rein in her temper with the Doctor's help.
"She's right I'm afraid," the woman spoke, "And, no, you're not in the way. Guests are allowed anywhere."
"Okay." Rose smiled, the woman walked to a wall panel and unlocked it "What's your name?"
"Raffalo." The blue-skinned woman smiled at the human girls.
"Pretty name for a pretty woman," Charlie winked, enjoying the purple blush that appeared on Raffalo's cheeks.
"Thank you, miss," a shy smile joined the purple blush, "I won't be long, I've just got to carry out some maintenance. There's a tiny little glitch in the Face of Boe's suite. There must be something blocking the system. He's not getting any hot water."
"So, you're a plumber?" Rose asked taking in the blue overalls and baseball cap.
"Rose, I'm going for a look around, will you be okay?" Charlie asked, "The Doctor is probably looking for you,"
"Okay," Rose nodded, she would just avoid any other aliens until the Doctor found her.
Charlie smiled at the blonde and left the room.
Wolf Whispers
Charlie wandered around the other guests talking with them, (though she avoided the human trampoline). She had just finished speaking with Jabe and her escorts when she felt someone in her head.
"Charlotte Banks," the voice said, "It's been a long time since I've seen you,"
Charlie looked about her to find the voice when she stopped in front of the Face of Boe's tank.
"Hi…?" she squinted trying to determine if it was him or not.
"Hello, Charlie," Boe's eyes opened slightly as she somewhat smiled at her.
"I don't know you, do I?" Charlie was very confused, she had never met him in her life, but he said it had been a long time.
"Not yet you don't, but you will." He replied.
"When will I meet you?" Charlie asked.
"Soon. You should find the Doctor. It was good to see you again, Little sister," Boe's eyes closed as he seemingly fell asleep.
"Sister?" the red head muttered.
Charlie shrugged and moved away just as the station shook and shuddered. Looking around her, she saw the fear on the other guests faces along with the staff – meaning that it wasn't supposed to happen. She narrowed her eyes and decided to search for the Steward.
She ran though the hallways shouting for the blue-skinned man, until she came to a door with 'Steward' on the outside
"Hello!? Is anyone in there?" she called as she banged her fist against the door
"Help me!" the Steward shouted back terrified, "The door wont open and the sun filter is failing!"
Charlie's eyes widened, she gripped the door and she slowly pried the door open using her hands. Once the gap was big enough, she shoved her body into the gap and further widened it with her legs
"Quick!" she shouted at the Steward who stared at her in shock. her voice broke him out of his still state, and he lunged for the door, squeezing himself through the gap the young woman had made.
Once he was safe, Charlie threw herself away from the door which slammed shut since her body was no longer keeping it open. Charlie landed on the floor beside the Steward just as a loud crash came from the Steward's office and smoke seeped through the bottom of the door.
"Charlie!"
The redhead turned her head from her place on the floor to see the Doctor running towards her along with Jabe
"Doctor!" Charlie leapt to her feet, the Doctor wrapped his arms around her as Jabe helped the Steward to his feet.
"Where's Rose?" Charlie questioned, once the Doctor let her go.
"She went to speak to Cassandra," The Doctor explained, smirking at Charlie's look of disgust, "What happened here?"
"A gift given to me by The Adherents of the Repeated Meme, one of those metal balls, it opened whilst sitting on my desk. The 4-legged metal robot then pressed a button on my computer causing the sun filter to descend. I would have died if not for Ms Banks." The steward looked gratefully at Charlie.
"I'm glad I could get to you in time," Charlie smiled at the Steward, "What your name?"
"Lokil," the Steward smiled.
"Lokil," she hummed, "Nice name," she flirted causing a purple blush on the blue-skinned man, and the Doctor to huff.
Suddenly the room was filled with the small blue people as the hallway slowly filled with smoke from the Steward's office.
"Hold on. Get back." The Doctor shooed the little people away from the door and used the sonic on the small panel.
"Sun filter rising. Sun filter rising." The Computer from the room said.
"Hold on," the Doctor frowned at the panel, scanning it some more, "there's another sun filter programmed to descend." he said before he ran off with the three others following closely behind.
Wolf Whispers
"Jabe, Lokil," the Doctor spoke as they approached another door, "Head back to the guests and keep them calm. Watch the ones where metal spiders came from, carefully but don't approach them."
"Not really spiders, since they only have four legs," Charlie muttered, ignoring the Doctor's "not the time" glance. Jabe and Lokil nodded and ran off.
"Sun filter descending." The computer spoke over the speakers as the Doctor fiddled with the door panel.
"Anyone in there?" he shouted through the door.
"Let me out!" they heard a familiar voice cried frightened.
"Rose!?" Charlie exclaimed shocked.
"Oh, well, it would be you." The Doctor groaned, getting a glare from Charlie.
"Open the door!" Rose called, banging against the door.
"Move!" Charlie shoved the Doctor out the way and attempted to pry the door open like she did with the Steward's office door.
"Why…is…it…not…opening!?" Charlie grunted as she panted heavily whilst pulling and pushing the door.
The Doctor scanned the door panel again, "It looks like the station is fighting back. Its triple locked the door,"
Charlie gave a big sigh and let go of the door, "Great! So, what we gonna do?"
"Sun filter descending. Sun filter descending." Charlie glared at the ceiling as the Doctor continued to fiddle with the panel, trying to open the door.
"Sun filter rising. Sun filter rising." Charlie and the Doctor shared a smile, but it didn't last long as the sun filter began descending once again.
"Just what we need." The Doctor rolled his eyes, "The computer's getting clever."
"Stop mucking about!" Rose yelled, severely irritated.
"We're not mucking about. It's fighting back." The Doctor yelled back.
"Open the door!" Rose screamed.
"'Open the door'? now why didn't I think of that!?" Charlie yelled loudly, getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over again.
"The lock's melted!" Rose shouted.
"Sun filter descending. Sun filter descending." The sun's glare now covered the whole door on the other side, making Rose hide on a lower level, "Sun filter rising. Sun filter rising."
Charlie tried once again to open the door and failed so the Doctor tried as well.
"The whole thing's jammed. I can't open the doors. Stay there!" he yelled and grabbed Charlie's hand, the two of them ran off.
"Earth Death in five minutes."
Wolf Whispers
The duo entered the Observation gallery and heard Jabe speak
"The metal machine confirms, the spider devices have infiltrated the whole of Platform One." The female tree told the other guests, the Doctor grabbed the spider from her as he and Charlie stopped beside her and Lokil.
"How's that possible?" Charlie cringed as Cassandra spoke "Our private rooms are protected by a code wall. Moisturise me, moisturise me."
"I have tried to contact others for help, but the systems are no longer responding," Lokil told the guests as they looked at him for help since he was the Steward
"This whole event was sponsored by the Face of Boe. He invited us. Talk to the Face. Talk to the Face." Cassandra demanded as Boe shook his head.
"Shut up before a poke a hole in you," Charlie snarled, she felt rather protective of the large face she had just met. Perhaps it was that he called her little sister and he apparently has known her a long time.
"Easy way of finding out." The Doctor spoke up, "Someone bought their little pet on board. Let's send him back to master," he put the spider down and it scuttled towards Cassandra and looked up at her before it moved towards the group wearing black robes.
"The Adherents of the Repeated Meme," Cassandra gasped loudly, "J'accuse!"
"That's all very well," The Doctor began, and gave Charlie a nod, "and really kind of obvious, but if you stop and think about it,"
Charlie moved over the Adherants, their leader raised an in an attempt to harm her, but Charlie grabbed her arm and ripped it off revealing robotics.
"A Repeated Meme is just an idea." The Doctor started.
"And that's all they are, an idea." Charlie finished as she pulled a wire that was dangling from the severed arm, suddenly all the robed figured collapsed.
"Remote controlled Droids." Charlie glared, "Nice cover for the real troublemaker. Go on, little one." She nudged the spider with her heeled boots, "Go home." Everyone watched as the spider wandered back over to Cassandra and stayed there, looking up at his master.
"I bet you were the school swot and never got kissed." Cassandra snarled at Charlie who smirked and wiggled her fingers mockingly, "At arms!" her two attendants raised their spray guns.
"What are you going to do, moisturise me? I'd like to see you try," Charlie admired her red nails as she spoke.
"With acid." Cassandra smirked, but it faltered at Charlie's unimpressed look, "Oh, you're too late, anyway. My spiders have control of the mainframe. Oh, you all carried them as gifts, tax free, past every code wall. I'm not just as pretty face."
"And you're not even that!" Charlie spat, her smirk still firmly in place.
"Sabotaging a ship while you're still inside it?" The Doctor scoffed, "How stupid's that?"
"I'd hoped to manufacture a hostage situation with myself as one of the victims. The compensation would have been enormous." Cassandra said mournfully.
"Five billion years and it still comes down to money." Charlie said in disgust, the Doctor nodding in agreement.
"Do you think it's cheap, looking like this? Flatness costs a fortune. I am the last human, Doctor. Me. Not those freaky little kids of yours." Cassandra sent a harsh look towards the redhead.
"Arrest her, the infidel!" the Moxx demanded.
"Oh, shut it, pixie. I've still got my final option." The flab of skin spoke.
"Earth Death in three minutes."
"And here it comes. You're just as useful dead, all of you. I have shares in your rival companies and they'll triple in price as soon as you're dead. My spiders are primed and ready to destroy the safety systems. How did that old Earth song go? Burn, baby, burn." Cassandra smirked.
"Then you'll burn with us." Lokil spat.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I know the use of teleportation is strictly forbidden, but I'm such a naughty thing. Spiders, activate." A series of explosions rattled through the platform, "Forcefields gone with the planet about to explode. At least it'll be quick. Just like my fifth husband. Oh, shame on me." Cassandra laughed as the other guests panicked.
"Safety systems failing."
"Bye, bye, darlings. Bye, bye!" there was a beam of light and Cassandra along with her attendants were gone.
"Heat levels rising."
"Reset the computer." The Moxx said.
"I already told you, the systems aren't responding," Lokil rolled his eyes.
"We can do it by hand." The Doctor said determinedly, "There must be a system restore switch."
"There is, but you will need someone to stop the fans while you cross the bridge. Only problem is, whomever is stopping the fans, will be badly burnt as the switch will overheat," Lokil warned.
"I'll do it," Charlie walked towards the Doctor, seeing him about to refuse, Charlie cut him off, "I'll heal fast, and Jabe can't do it she'll die since she's made of wood and anyone will have extreme burns for the rest of their lives. I'll heal in a few hours."
"Okay," The Doctor nodded, he knew she was right. She was the best choice, but that didn't mean he had to like it, "Charlie come on! You lot, just chill," he instructed the guests and Lokil as he and Charlie raced from the room.
"Heat rising."
Wolf Whispers
"Earth Death in two minutes. Earth Death in two minutes."
Charlie and the Doctor entered the engine room.
"Heat levels critical."
"Oh. And guess where the switch is." The Doctor groaned making Charlie laugh.
The switch was on the other side of razor-sharp spinning fans.
"Lokil did warn you," Charlie shrugged at the Doctor's look.
"Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising."
The Doctor pulls a lever and the fans slowed a little, but it reset as soon as he let go of it.
"External temperature five thousand degrees."
Charlie walked over the lever, she removed her leather jacket and wrapped it around her hands just for extra protection even though she knew it would burn through quickly.
"I still don't feel right about this," The Doctor looked sadly at his best friend.
"I know," Charlie smiled back, "But I don't see anyone else here, do you? Hop to it Time Lord!" she winked and shared another smile with her male companion.
"Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising. Heat levels hazardous."
The first fan slowed enough for the Doctor to stepped past it. The heat increased making sweat appear on Charlie's brow and she started to pant.
"Heat levels critical. Heat levels critical."
The Doctor looked back at Charlie, seeing her struggle and shake as the heat increased even more, even from where he was standing, he could see the sweat seeping onto her scarlet red roll neck top.
He sighed, he had to finish this quickly so he could get back to her. He watched the fan in front of him and timed his next step just before he crossed another fan, only one left.
"Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising."
Charlie screamed as the heat burned through her jacket and attacked her hands. She could feel them blister, she could feel her body trying to mend the damage to her hands but the damage just kept coming rendering her regeneration useless. The pain in her hands was too much for her to handle. Her hands slipped off the lever causing the fans to speed up drastically to the point they were blurring.
"Charlie!" The Doctor cried out, seeing his redhead friend fall to the floor in pain. He turned back to the only fan left.
"Planet explodes in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five-"
The Doctor closed his eyes and stepped past the last fan.
"Four."
He opened his eyes, once he realised, he was safe he dashed for the reset breaker.
"Raise shields!" he yelled as he pulled down the lever.
"One. Exoglass repair. Exoglass repair. Exoglass repair."
The Doctor looked behind him to see the fans had slowed all the way down, allowing the Time Lord safe passage back across the bridge. He ran back to Charlie and helped her from the floor, Charlie had tears running down her face, ruining her eye makeup and leaving her with panda eyes. She turned her hands over and let her friend see the damage the heat had done.
The Doctor sucked air in through his teeth as he gazed at her red blistered skin. Parts of her skin had actually slid off showing the pulsing tissue that lay behind it. He should have refused. He never should have let her do that.
"I'll heal," Charlie said firmly, seeing the look of self-loathing on his face.
"I shouldn't have-"
"No!" Charlie said firmly, "This was MY choice. I'll heal in an hour or two hours. I'm okay," Charlie smiled at the Doctor and used the back of her hands to wipe her eyes, smearing her makeup even more, "Stars, I bet I look a mess!" she scoffed.
"No, you look beautiful," The Doctor smiled at the natural blush covering Charlie's cheeks, "Come on, we better get Rose and check on everyone," Charlie nodded and looked sorrowfully towards her favourite leather jacket that lay in tatters on the floor as the two friends left the room.
Wolf Whispers
The duo entered the Observation Gallery once again and took a look around them. They noticed the Moxx's transportation pod was empty and slightly smoking, and Jabe and one of her escorts looked saddened with smoking remains beside them. Charlie and Doctor shared a look of sorrow and approached Jabe and her escort,
"I'm sorry," The Doctor whispered, getting a nod of thanks in return from the mourning trees. Charlie looked up and saw Rose without her hoodie and her hair a tangled mess, enter the room looking around her them,
"Rose!" Charlie waved her over, mindful of her hands.
"You alright?" Rose asked as she stepped in front of her fellow time-travellers, "Oh my god!" Rose gasped when she saw Charlie's hands, she looked up at the older girl in shock and disgust, Charlie gave the blonde a pained smile as the Doctor answered her question.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said angrily as he took in the other guests, most of them hurt in some way and a few of them sadly missing, "I'm full of ideas, I'm bristling with them. Idea number one, teleportation through five thousand degrees needs some kind of feed." The human girls along with the remaining guests watched as he rattled off ideas, "Idea number two, this feed must be hidden nearby." He smashed open the 'last remaining ostrich egg' at Cassandra brought with her and removed a small device from the shell, "Idea number three, if you're as clever as me, then a teleportation feed can be reversed."
"Oh, you should have seen their little alien faces." Everyone watched as Cassandra was beamed back onto the station. The skin looked about her, realising the trouble she was in, gathered by the harsh glares she was receiving "Oh."
"The last human." The Doctor spat disgusted at the 'thing' in front of him.
"So, you passed my little test." Cassandra tried to talk herself out of trouble by playing innocent, "Bravo. This makes you eligible to join, er, the Human Club."
"You're disgusting! You call yourself human, Please!" Charlie scoffed, "There's nothing remotely human about you, you're just skin! That's all, everything human about has been cosmetically removed!" Charlie snarled hatefully.
"People have died, Cassandra." The Doctor said stone-faced, "You murdered them."
"It depends on your definition of people," Cassandra said flippantly, "and that's enough of a technicality to keep your lawyers dizzy for centuries. Take me to court, then, Doctor, and watch me smile and cry and flutter,"
"And creak?" Charlie smirked.
"And what?" the bitchy trampoline froze.
"Creak. You're creaking. Karma's a bitch isn't it?" Charlie grinned happily as she watched Cassandra panic.
"What? Ah! I'm drying out! Oh, sweet heavens. Moisturise me, moisturise me! Where are my surgeons? My lovely boys! It's too hot!"
"You raised the temperature." The Doctor pointed out, not lifting a finger to help her.
"Have pity! Moisturise me! Oh, oh, Doctor. I'm sorry. I'll do anything." Cassandra cried.
"Help her." Rose whispered, she was torn between wanting this to happen after everything she did and all the people she killed, but at the same time she didn't want to watch her die.
"She made her bed, Rose," Charlie told her quietly, "Now she has to lie in it. Like I said, Karma's a bitch."
"Everything has its time, and everything dies." The Doctor agreed as they watched Cassandra cry just before she exploded, sending parts of her everywhere – luckily Charlie ducked, or she would have gotten a face full of skin.
Wolf Whispers
"Shuttles four and six departing. This unit now closing down for maintenance."
Some time later, Charlie, Rose and the Doctor all stood looking at the asteroids that were once Earth. Whilst waiting for the rescue shuttles, Charlie's hands had somewhat healed, they would still need another hour at least, but most of the skin had grew back, although it was rather transparent looking which was normal – it would gradually grow darker, to match her skin tone in a matter of days.
"The end of the Earth." Rose said softly, "It's gone. We were too busy saving ourselves. No one saw it go. All those years, all that history, and no one was even looking. It's just-" she cut herself off tearfully, Charlie nudged her gently with her shoulder, giving the blonde a smile.
"Come with me." The Doctor gently guided Rose into the TARDIS, Charlie was just about to leave when a voice called her name.
"Ms Banks!" she turned and saw the Face of Boe and Lokil, their shuttle waiting on them.
"Lokil, Mr Boe," she smiled at the two of them.
"I just wanted to say again, how grateful I am that you saved me today. I would have died were not for your actions," Lokil smiled thankfully.
"Again, it was no problem. Must have been fate I got there in time," Charlie stepped towards him and gave him a hug which shocked him, "It was nice to meet you, Lokil,"
"You as well, Ms Banks,"
"Charlie, please,"
"Charlie then," Lokil nodded at the young woman and left for the shuttle.
"I don't suppose you'll tell me when I'm going to meet my big brother?" Charlie asked Boe playfully.
"Sadly, I cannot. All I can tell you, is that it will be relatively soon. I look forward to meeting you for the first time,"
"Oh well, it'll give me something to look forward too," she smirked.
"Charlie, come on!"
Charlie turned to see the Doctor poking his head out the TARDIS, she held up two fingers and looked back towards the tank.
"Goodbye little sister," Boe said.
"See ya soon!" she winked and patted his tank before they both turned and entered their ships.
Once on the TARDIS she turned to the Doctor,
"I'm going to shower," she said, "After all the sweating I was doing, I desperately need one, not to mention my makeup is now completely smudged." She walked upstairs and into the hallway before poking her head back out, "If your going out, get chips, will you? There money in my bag on the seat," she winked and left the two to talk.
She could sense they both had some tension between them that needed sorting out, she really should stop leaving the Doctor alone with people, he always seems to get into a fight about something.
Regarding Rose, Charlie hoped she would stay. It would be nice, having some female company onboard. Someone to talk girly things with.
Oh well, she supposed it was up to the Doctor now. She just hoped he manged to convince her to stay.
27/03/2020