"She's going to choke." Donna yelled. "Doctor!"
"It won't open!" The Doctor yelled back.
I pulled out my weapon.
Wilf saw it first. He moved Donna to the side.
The weapon went off. The bullet tore through the glass, shattering it. With the barrel, I knocked the rest of the glass out of the way. The hole let out the gas so I could work in peace.
It felt nice to take in a deep breath.
But now it's time for an attack plan.
Donna and Wilf just stared as I used the barrel of the gun to knock away the rest of the glass. The Doctor came around just as I cleared it all out. Clear of glass, I was able to reach out to grab the hood of the car.
"Please, continue standing around." I told them. Once I got a good grip, I climbed out. "I got it!"
That seemed to get them back in action.
"I still can't believe you've got a gun." Donna noted.
I jumped out from the car. "Don't worry, I'm am- WHOA!" Course, that's when I fell back onto the driveway. Before anyone could help, I shot up to my feet. "-highly trained!"
Donna stared, shaking her head.
The smoke began to build up. I waved my arm, trying to clear the air around me. It wasn't working. Donna and her mother appeared- Sylvia showed up? When? Damn this bloody fog- to help Wilf. The elderly man coughed, fighting to breathe through it.
The Doctor held my arm. He held me upright. "Get inside the house. Just try and close off the doors and windows."
"Make sure the fresh air intake is off on the AC unit!" I added. "That air is not fresh!"
A car honked behind us. I looked over, trying to see in the fog. Ross waved from the open window.
"Doctor. Terra. This is all I could find that hasn't got ATMOS." Ross called out.
"Terra, you go." The Doctor instructed. I nodded, rushing to the cab. The Doctor ran behind me. "Donna, you coming?"
"Yeah." Donna answered.
Ross unlocked the car door. I moved m to sit down before hearing Sylvia shouting.
"Donna. Don't go. Look what happens every time that Doctor and girl appear." Sylvia pleaded. "Stay with us, please."
"You go, my darling." Wilf countered, encouraging as always.
I sat down, closing the door for Ross' sake.
"Dad!"
"Don't listen to her. You go with the Doctor and Terra. That's my girl." Wilf encouraged.
Donna hopped in the back with the Doctor. Ross put the car in drive. We were off.
"Bye." Wilf called out.
Ross drove us out of the neighborhood. I relaxed against the seat, taking deep breaths of somewhat clean air. Or air that wasn't already full of clone feed.
Now I can focus on saving Martha
She is stuck deep in the base attached to a mechanical transmitter to her clone. While the clone has her uses, she isn't Martha Jones.
She needs to be removed
But also it's Martha so can I do it effectively?
"Alright. Now, Terra-"
Can I do it with him at my back?
"-what we're you thinking!" The Doctor snapped.
"I wasn't." I replied.
"Exactly! Exactly you-" The Doctor paused. "...you admit it?"
"Yeah. I wasn't thinking, I was acting." I explained. "Wilf wanted the car moved, so I went to move the car. That's on me."
The Doctor stared at me. I smiled innocently.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing. Didn't expect you to agree." The Doctor admitted. He started explaining things to me, being somewhat patronizing as he spoke. He explained the dangers of constantly throwing oneself into, well, danger. It was entirely hypocritical so it was easy to tune out.
I smiled at him. Though I didn't like doing it, it needed to be done. The Doctor already had a preconception of me. Buying into that would get him off my back for the time being. The only thing of note would be keeping him off my back when it mattered most.
When it came time to save Martha.
The Doctor kept talking until Donna whacked his head. As I laughed at them bickering, my giggles and expression implying myself to be in the moment, I couldn't stay. My mind stayed with Martha. The scene of her capture played again and again. Instead of Donna and the Doctor's barbs, I heard Martha screaming. Donna's mocking sneer and the Doctor's offended face were replaced with Martha's wide eyes and the clone's cold gaze.
As we drove through the fog, I didn't see flashes of cars or trees. Or even that scene in The Mist (where today, I would have enough bullets to kill everyone in the car). Then again maybe- like in the movie- the military would come up from behind to wipe away the fog. Still. Better safe than sorry. Might as well just kill us all.
What was I thinking about again?
Oh right, Martha!
Maybe I would leave her as the sole survivor. She's really good at that. If I had died in the year, she would've managed just fine on her own. When I left her for a week, she made it to New Zealand just fine.
(The fog reminds me of the smoke over Japan-)
Martha could survive on her own. She just didn't have to. Today, it was my turn to save Martha Jones.
==MGCB==
The car pulled up to the factory. I'd melt myself mostly calm during the drive back. It would take a lot more time to keep myself from punching Clone Martha in the face.
The Doctor, Donna, and I climbed out of the car. The Doctor knocked on Ross' window. "Ross, look after yourself. Get inside the building."
"And remember, guns are useless against them." I reminded him before closing the passenger side door.
"Will do." Ross reached for his comm unit. "Greyhound Forty to Trap One. I have just returned the Doctor and Terra Johnson to base safe and sound. Over."
The car drove off. I watched him go. My words might not be enough to save his life. Sadly I had bigger priorities. Getting into breathable air was one thing.
Donna coughed, holding her throat. "The air is disgusting."
"It's not so bad for us." The Doctor replied. "Go on, get inside the TARDIS."
"She can't go in. We never gave her a key." I reminded him.
The Doctor paused. He turned to Donna, grinning wide. "That's right, we never gave you a key." He reached into his coat pocket to pull out a new key. We'd been meaning to give it to her after a lesson in flying the TARDIS. Clearly things got away from us. He handed it to me.
I pulled a small necklace chain from my dress pocket, adding the key. "Now it's jewelry!" Handing it to Donna, I made myself beam. "For easy reach."
Donna pulled it in, coughing again.
"Quite a big moment really." The Doctor cheered.
"Yeah, maybe we can get sentimental after the world's finished choking to death." Donna replied.
"That's smart."
"Good idea."
"You've got my number, yeah?" I asked her.
Donna held up her phone. "Well no but-"
I pressed my sonic against her phone, pressing the button. It buzzed. "There. Call me if you need it." The Doctor started running off. I chased after him.
"Where are you two going?" Donna asked, confused.
"WE'RE GONNA STOP A FIGHT!" I called back.
The Doctor and I kept running. Even through the fog, the occasional breeze let us spot our location. We got closer and closer to the Trap One trailer.
The Doctor used his sonic on the door. It opened to the small containment room. I could see the back of Martha's head, the white of her lab coat. I smiled widely in joy.
The fog faded. The door opened between. My smile dropped.
The smell hit me first.
Worse than the choking fog outside, this smell overwhelmed me. Imagine a wound with gangrene that was also vomiting. That's what this smell was like- or maybe that's just how I perceived it.
Clone smell.
The Doctor mentioned it in the show. I had no idea it would be this bad.
This is disgusting and wrong.
Fucking potatoes
"Right then, here we are." The Doctor announced as we walked inside. I breathed deep, making it look like I was just happy for cleaner air. In truth it was to narrow down the scent. "Good."
'Doctor. Do you smell it?'
'Yes. Do you know what it is?'
'I've worked with clones before but they've never smelled this bad.'
'Sontarans are big on cloning.' The Doctor explained. 'And of battle tactics, which is why I have a plan.'
'We do?' I asked.
'Yep. Here it goes.' The Doctor stepped up to Colonel Mace.
'Wait run it by me-' I asked.
The Doctor ignored me. "Whatever you do, Colonel Mace, do not engage the Sontarans in battle. There is nothing they like better than a war. Just leave this to us." The Doctor looked up at the screens.
I stepped over to Mace's other side. Another deep breath hit me with the clone smell again. I glared at the back of Martha's head.
"And what are you going to do?" Mace asked the Doctor.
"I've got the TARDIS. I'm going to get on board their ship." The Doctor explained.
I walked over to the clone. Tapping her shoulder, I reminded myself to force a smile. The clone turned around to me. Even with the smell of her in my nose, the many other flaws glaring out at me, she still had Martha's face. I could never be angry at that face.
"Come on, we've got work to do." I reminded her.
Martha gave a sharp nod. The two of us walked to the Doctor. He led us out of the trailer.
We went back outside.
"I'm bringing Martha 2.0.' I explained.
'Yeah. It's a rush job too.' The Doctor noted. 'She has a lot of flaws that make her stand out.'
'She looks funny on the outside.' I replied. 'What happened to the flawless Martha?"
The Doctor stopped running. We reached the alleyway with the TARDIS. Or where we left the TARDIS. He turned to me, pausing to stare in confusion at me before concern filled his eyes. 'I need you to stay calm.'
'No.' I answered. 'Where is she?'
'The TARDIS is on the Sontaran ship.' The Doctor answered. 'I have a plan for that.'
'I don't care. Where is Martha?'
"But where's the TARDIS?" 'Martha' asked us.
The Doctor rushed into the alleyway. I glared at him. "Taste that, in the air. Yuck." He grimaced. "That sort of metal tang. Teleport exchange." He came back to my side.
"So. Where?" I asked him.
"The Sontarans." The Doctor answered. "They've taken it."
I narrowed my eyes, smiling too wide.
"I'm stuck on Earth like, like an ordinary person. Like a human. How rubbish is that?" The Doctor complained.
I cleared my throat, nodding at the clone.
The Doctor sighed. "Sorry, no offence, but come on."
"This isn't funny." I told him. The time for jokes can come later. Two of our friends are missing. Sure I knew the location of both but I am not having a good day. Some assurance from the Doctor would go a long way.
If he's not reacting to me, does that mean I'm overreacting? That I shouldn't be this scared, that I'm making a bigger deal of it?
Does he think that way? Does he think I'm making a mountain out of a molehill? Like he's never done that to me or Rose. Look at him right now complaining about being a normal human.
Me? I'm freaking out because Martha is unconscious with some fake wearing her face and memories, and Donna is hidden among the war happy Sontarans.
They've hurt Martha Jones.
I need a friend to help me from lashing out again
Why isn't he?
"So, Terra, what do we do?" 'Martha' asked.
I turned to her. Instead of glaring (like I wanted) I giggled and smiled. "Didn't I tell you?"
"No. Or else I wouldn't have asked." 'Martha' replied.
My expression dropped. Vacantly, I stared at the empty space where we left the TARDIS. "Outsiders can't get in the TARDIS anymore..."
Dark red lights
Mad laughter
"I'll hurt Martha Jones...I'll hurt Jack Harkness..."
"What?" 'Martha' asked.
I turned to her, staring vacantly at her too. Maybe not staring at her, more that I was staring through her. Her clone features stood out as I gazed. Still, I saw no realness in her eyes. Martha's clone looked at me like she pretended to like me, they stared at me like I was a threat that she needed to placate. Martha always looked at me like I was a child she needed to mind for the Doctor.
Does this Martha not know what I've done?
"I'm just wondering, have you phoned your family and Tom?" The Doctor asked.
"No. What for?" 'Martha' asked.
"You called last time." I reminded her in a monotone voice. "Remember, I picked up the phone. You sounded scared."
The clone blinked. The memory seemed to come to her. She smiled, rolling her eyes. "Right, yeah. I'll call them but, what about Donna? I mean, where's she?"
I smiled, giggling. 'She's in Martha's brain.'
'What? Oh, you mean the memories.'
"Oh, she's gone home." The Doctor explained. "She's not like you. She's not a soldier. Right. So. Avanti."
==MGCB==
The Doctor and I rushed inside the trailer. Now, the Doctor was in game mode and I was in panic mode. You never wanted to be on the other side of these things. The potatoes were in for a bad day.
"Change of plan." The Doctor announced. He rushed in.
"Good to have you fighting alongside us, Doctor and Terra." Mace cheered.
"I'm not fighting. Neither of us are fighting." The Doctor explained. "We're not-fighting, as in not hyphen fighting, got it? Now, does anyone know what this gas is yet?"
"We're working on it." 'Martha' answered.
A woman up ahead answered. "It's harmful, but not lethal until it reaches eighty percent density. We're having the first reports of deaths from the centre of Tokyo City." She reported.
"And who are you?" The Doctor asked.
Price saluted. "Captain Marion Price, sir."
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Oh, put your hand down. Don't salute."
Mace winced in sympathy for her. I walked to his side, looking at the results.
"Jodrell Bank's traced a signal, Doctor, Terra, coming from five thousand miles above the Earth. We're guessing that's what triggered the cars." Mace reported.
"The Sontaran ship." The Doctor reasoned.
"NATO has gone to Defcon One. We're preparing a strike." Mace explained.
"No." I gently pushed him away from the control panel. "No, no. You cannot do that."
"Why not?" Mace asked.
"Nuclear missiles won't even scratch the surface." The Doctor explained. "Let us talk to the Sontarans."
The Doctor pulled out his sonic. He pressed it to the panel in front of him.
Mace looked at us in confusion. "You're not authorized to speak on behalf of the Earth."
"We've got that authority. We earned that a long time ago." I pushed Mace back. The colonel went back, watching as I took his place. "Calling the Sontaran Command Ship. Under Jurisdiction Two of the Intergalactic Rules of Engagement. This is the Doctor and Terra Johnson."
On the main screen ahead, an image appeared. The Sontarans appeared. My head tilted, narrowing on the Sontarans visible.
All of you hurt Martha Jones
You did it on purpose
You picked her on purpose because she was useful to you
Oh you are not gonna like what I do to you
"Doctor, breathing your last?" Staal taunted.
"My God, they're like trolls." Mace remarked in horror.
"Yeah, loving the diplomacy, thanks." The Doctor started walking off to get a rolling chair. I skipped over to the seat beside. The soldier sitting there moved aside for me. I sat across the arms of the chair. "So, tell me, General Staal, since when did you lot become cowards?"
Staal reeled back. "How dare you!"
Mace gawked. "Oh, that's diplomacy?"
"We are very good at it!" I cheered.
"Doctor, you impugn my honor." Staal challenged.
The Doctor hummed. "Yeah, I'm really glad you didn't say belittle, because then I'd have a field day."
"I can work with impugn." I offered.
"Yeah?" The Doctor asked, grinning.
"Yeah." I grinned back. "But you're right about them being stupid cowards."
Only cowards would take my friends and run
Then again, it's also the smartest thing they've done
Actually no I take that back. They didn't run far enough. He
"Unbelievable!" Mace scoffed.
"Exactly!" The Doctor replied to me. Staal fumed at us. "Poison gas? That's the weapon of a coward and you know it. Staal, you could blast this planet out of the sky and yet you're sitting up above watching it die. Where's the fight in that? Where's the honor?" The Doctor leaned back in his seat. "Or are you lot planning something else, because this isn't normal Sontaran warfare. What are you lot up to?"
Staal bristled. He straightened his back. "A general would be unwise to reveal his strategy to the opposing forces."
The Doctor laughed. "Ah, the war's not going so well, then. Losing, are we?"
"Such a suggestion is impossible." Staal yelled.
"Which war, Doc Brown?" I asked him.
"The war between the Sontarans and the Rutans." The Doctor explained. "It's been raging, far out in the stars, for fifty thousand years. Fifty thousand years of bloodshed, and for what?"
"For victory!" Staal declared. Sontar-ha. Sontar-ha."
I raised my sonic, flipping the button. The screen showed off an episode of Teen Titans. I sat up in my chair, excited. "Oh! I love this episode!"
"Doctor. Terra. I would seriously recommend that this dialogue is handled by official Earth representation." Mace requested.
The Doctor held up his sonic. "Do you mind?"
I rolled my eyes. "Okay."
The sonic went off.
The visual changed to Staal. He glared down at us, raging.
"Finished?" The Doctor asked.
"You will not be so quick to ridicule when you'll see our prize." Staal walked off screen. It shifted to a view of the TARDIS. "Behold. We are the first Sontarans in history to capture a TARDIS."
'Terra, have you figured out?' The Doctor asked.
'Who ya gonna call?!' I replied.
The Doctor leaned forward. "Well, as prizes go, that's noble. As they say in Latin, Donna nobis pacem."
I sat up on the arm rest. "Brrrring, brrrring."
"That's the sound of a phone." The Doctor explained. "Like that phone box. It contains a phone. A telephonic device for communication. Sort of symbolic. Like, if only we could communicate, you and I. Or you and Terra."
"My phone has funnier ringtones." I cheered. "That way I'll answer. I can get calls from anywhere."
"All you have communicated is your distress, Time Lords." Staal sneered.
"Big mistake though, showing it to me." The Doctor wagged his sonic at them. "Because I've got remote control."
"Cease transmission!" Staal shouted. The image vanished, replaced by the original image.
"Ah, well." The Doctor hummed.
"Ooh, that was fun." I climbed out from the chair, smoothing out my dress.
Holding out my hand, the Doctor grabbed it. I hauled him out of his seat. Him up I looked over at the Martha clone again.
She wasn't even looking at me.
Wow she's so realistic
"That achieved nothing." Mace snapped in frustration.
"Oh, you'd be surprised." The Doctor tapped my arm.
I looked away from Martha to tap my hip. My phone never left the pocket.
==MGCB==
Things got worse over the next hour. The fog outside got thicker and thicker. Various countries started sending in reports to UNIT about their death tolls rising. I bristled at each report coming in. It just reminded me that it was clone feed, and that Martha's clone was encouraging this.
Martha would be furious we weren't doing more. That always made her angry, me not doing as much as I could. Should I make her charge her phone, give her a super battery? Using it for Sontaran spy stuff would drain her battery. She needed that battery for the Messaline.
Would she appreciate it? Would she- would she even notice?
Martha wouldn't. She might get mad at me for it.
Or maybe she would like it...or maybe...I don't know. She got weird sometimes.
The Doctor walked over to the clone. She stood in front of a container full of the fog. I rushed to join them. As I'd done for the past hour, I smiled at Martha's clone like she was real.
It's not like the real Martha would ever know...
The clone pulled out a tablet. She showed us the results from it. A pie chart appeared on screen. It came with boring, none-fun colors. Why not give it a splash of pink, or of TARDIS blue? Why plain teal blue and business gray? Did UNIT have no sense of style?
"There's carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, but ten percent unidentified." The clone explained. "Some sort of artificial heavy element we can't trace. You ever seen anything like it?"
"It must be something the Sontarans invented." The Doctor plucked the tablet from her hands. He even plucked on the nerd glasses to 'help' him. "This isn't just poison. They need this gas for something else. What could that be?"
"Opposites." I replied before I could reconsider.
The Doctor looked down at me. "What?"
Ah...really thought he would catch that. I guess he just needs another push. "If it's not poisonous to them, then it's the opposite." I clarified.
The Doctor still looked confused. "What's the opposite of poison?"
Well this is the guy who asks where trees are in a library.
Ten's not the brightest bulb
Price spoke up. "Launch grid online and active."
The Doctor tensed up. He took off his glasses, glaring Colonel Mace's way.
"Positions, ladies and gentlemen, Defcon One initiatives in progress." Mace announced.
"What? I told you not to launch." The Doctor scolded.
"The gas is at sixty percent density." Mace warned us. "Eighty percent and people start dying, Doctor. We've got no choice."
"You have choices. They're just boring and require patience." I argued. "So you refuse."
Mace clenched his jaw, staring forward at the countdown.
"Launching in sixty-" Price began. "-fifty nine, fifty eight, fifty seven, fifty six. Worldwide nuclear grid now coordinating. Fifty four, fifty three."
I glanced at Martha's clone. She opened her phone, staring down at the screen.
"You're making a mistake, Colonel." The Doctor scolded him. "For once, I hope the Sontarans are ahead of you."
"North America, online. United Kingdom, online. France, online. India, online. Pakistan, online. China, online. North Korea, online." Price announced.
I glanced at Martha's clone. She typed in her phone. The screen had a heading 'launch' above two buttons: 'yes' and 'no'.
Don't launch these
If you have Martha Jones' memories, you saw exactly what she did.
You saw the nuclear weapon fields by Master statues in Russia and here in London
You remember them and I am begging you not to bring them back
"All systems locked and coordinated. Launching in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five-" Prive reported.
"God save us." Mace breathed.
"Four, three, two, one."
Martha pressed the button.
"Zero." Price finished.
Nothing happened.
I exhaled in relief.
"What is it?" Mace asked. "What happened? Did we launch? Well, did we?"
The Doctor glanced at me then at the clone. I nodded. Martha's clone tucked her phone away in her pocket.
"Negative, sir. The launch codes have been wiped, sir." Price reported. "It must be the Sontarans."
"Can we override it?" Mace asked.
"Trying it now, sir."
"Missiles wouldn't even dent that ship, so why are the Sontarans so keen to stop you?" The Doctor looked at me, and then the clone. "Any ideas?"
The clone scrunched up her face, frowning. "How should I know?"
I mimed an explosion.
A voice came over the speakers. My body locked in place. My hearts raced in my chest, beating like drums against my chest. Unbeknownst to me, my thumb began tapping a beat on my skirt.
"Enemy within. At arms." Ross warned. "Greyhound Forty declaring absolute emergency. Sontarans within factory grounds. East corridor, grid six."
I took a deep breath. Instead of clean air, I tasted clone smell again.
No Martha we lost Martha how could we lose Martha need to find Martha
"Absolute emergency." Mace ordered. "Declaring Code Red. All troops, Code Red."
"Get them out of there." The Doctor ordered, stern and commanding as ever.
Save Martha must protect Martha gotta help save Martha keep Martha from being upset
How? How do I do that?
I turned to my commanding officer to ask. "What should I do?"
The clone shrugged. "I don't know."
"Should I help?" I asked.
Martha shook her head. "Let's just stay back."
Orders accepted, Doctor Jones
"All troops, open fire." Mace ordered.
I took Mace's side. My hand touched his arm squeezing tight. The Colonel straightened his back.
"We can't, sir. Our guns won't work. I saw it before. Tell Terra and the Doctor it's that cordelaine signal. They're the only ones who can stop them."
"Retreat." I ordered.
"Trap One to all stations. Retreat." Mace repeated. "Order imperative. Immediate retreat."
"Yes sir." Ross replied.
I let go of Mace's arm. The Colonel stayed upright, though he stared ahead with a crinkle around his eyes.
The Doctor walked over to me. He glared at me, dragging me to the back of the room. 'What did you do?'
He's mad at me again. Nothing new here. He's just doing a worse job of hiding his disgust of me. Should I remind him, or let myself stew in it?
Why is he even mad? I didn't use a gun at all. Shouldn't he be proud of me?
'Nothing.' I replied, smiling cheerily. 'Why would I have done something?'
'Maybe next time wipe your nose before lying to me.' The Doctor scolded.
Reaching up, I touched my nose. No blood showed there. 'I didn't do anything.'
'Then why did you check?' The Doctor countered.
A clever counterpoint. He got me on that technicality. I really should have known better. A small use of my abilities like that wouldn't have a show of blood. That usually got reserved for the big guns.
'I had to save Ross. Did you not want that?'
'Yes! No- I mean-' The Doctor huffed. 'I don't want you hurting yourself.'
'Nothing happened.' I reminded him. 'Soldiers are leaving. Is what I did so wrong?'
'Well generally it's bad form to mind control someone into doing something.'
'He was gonna do it anyway. I just sped him up.'
'Still. You need to let them make their own choices. Or mistakes.'
'But Martha wanted it.'
The Doctor grimaced. 'You don't know-'
'Her clone told me to step back and do nothing. We know she has Martha's memories. Why would she tell me that obvious lie unless the Sontarans wanted her to?' I countered.
The Doctor blinked, face still in an uncomfortable frown. 'You-'
'Yeah?'
He sighed. 'It- You can't...fine. Most likely to keep the soldiers inside for a battle. Sontarans are eager for a fight.'
'But then why not make the factory go BOOM? It would be the easiest game of Capture the Flag ever seen.'
'Because...' The Doctor paused. '...Because...'
"They've taken the factory." Mace reported.
"Why?" The Doctor asked. He stayed with me, reaching up to scratch his head and ruffle his hair. "They don't need it. Why attack now? What are they up to? Times like this, I could do with the Brigadier. No offence."
"None taken." Mace replied. "Sir Alistair's a fine man, if not the best. Unfortunately, he's stranded in Peru."
"Can we go there next?" I asked, smiling.
The Doctor looked at me, expression serious. It shifted to concern. "Oh I don't want you meeting him."
I tilted my head.
"You two would get along too well." The Doctor excused.
"I wanna meet him more!" I giggled.
"Launch grid back online." Price announced.
Everyone looked up. Sure enough, the world map was back up. The locations of the nuclear weapons lit up in red dots. As soon as the screen appeared, it went black.
"They're inside the system, sir." Price reported. "It's coming from within UNIT itself."
"Trace it. Find out where it's coming from, and quickly." Mace ordered. "Gas levels?"
"Sixty six percent in major population areas, and rising." Price answered.
==MGCB==
After that whole debacle, we took Mace into a side room. He needed a minute to clear his head, to strategize. We stood in the room with him. The Doctor came to be a source of information. Me? I needed a quiet place to sit.
"Why are they defending the factory only after we were inside?" Mace asked us.
"Because they wanted UNIT here." The Doctor answered. "You gave them something they needed. Something now hidden inside the factory. Something precious."
"We've got to recover it." Mace stated.
You won't.
I will.
You lot just stay back and try not to kill her
"This cordolaine signal thing, how does it work?" Mace asked.
"It makes the bullets not go." I answered.
"It causes an expansion of the copper shell." The Doctor clarified.
Mace nodded. "Excellent. I'm on it." He rose from his chair, walking out of the tiny room. I stayed in my seat.
The Doctor chased after Mace. "For the billionth time, you can't fight Sontarans!" He shouted. He walked back into the war room, closing the door. "Do you have your phone?"
"Like I ever wouldn't." I pulled out my phone, sneering. "If you snatch it-"
"I won't. Just call her." The Doctor instructed.
I found her contact info. When I scanned her phone with my sonic, I added her number to my phone. It rang for only a second before Donna answered.
"Oh thank god!"
"Not a god, but I'll do." I replied. Clicking speakerphone, I let the Doctor listen in.
"What's happened? Where are you?" Donna asked.
"Still on Terrafirma." I told her. "Everything is being controlled down here. I mean, except our secret weapon."
"You got another gun in your bag?" Donna asked. "Did you leave it in here?"
Well yeah but the Doctor doesn't want me using it. "Well it got stolen by a Sontaran."
"I'm not stealing it back!"
"You don't need to. The weapon is you." I told her.
"Oh. Somehow that's not making me happy." Donna sighed. "Is the Doctor there? Can't he just zap me down to Earth with that remote thing?
"You know, I tried that." I replied to her. "The upgrade patch hasn't gone through yet."
"Really? That's brilliant. I should get one." The Doctor noted.
"You really should." I cheered. Back to the phone, I said "Donna, since you're already up there-"
"You're about to ask me something I'm not gonna like." Donna complained.
"He did it on purpose!" I pointed to the Doctor.
The Doctor frowned. "Oi! I only made them notice the TARDIS. The Sontarans moved her."
"Like that wasn't your plan!" I argued.
"Oi! You stupid space people. How do I get down?" Donna demanded.
We winced. I had an idea, see, but it was a crazy one. Wilder than what I did with Mace. To do it, I'd need a lot of help.
Idris.
TARDIS, can you hear me?
I need help.
"Yeah...you gotta go outside."
"But there's Sonteruns out there." Donna replied, voice wobbling in fear.
"Sontarans." I corrected. TARDIS help me out here. I can do it without you but I would like the support.
"But they'll all be on battle stations right now." The Doctor assured her. "They don't exactly walk about having coffee. We can talk you through it."
"But what if they find me?" Donna asked.
"I know, and we wouldn't ask, but there's nothing else we can do. The whole planet is choking, Donna." The Doctor pleaded.
Donna took a moment to reply. "What do you need me to do?"
"The Sontarans are inside the factory which means they've got a teleport link with the ship, but they'll have deadlocked it. I need you to reopen the link." The Doctor explained.
"But I can't even mend a fuse." Donna reminded us.
"Donna, you are the most important woman in all of creation, only you can do this." I took a deep breath, focusing my mind.
The TARDIS still sang in my head. She instantly saw my plan. The TARDIS complained. I insisted. She caved. All of it mostly in the tone of 'I'd rather you do it at home where I can watch you rather than go off and do it alone'. That was a smart move.
"Just in case, I've got your back." I assured her. "Like a voice in the back of your head."
Donna took a deep breath.
I exhaled.
All at once, it was like I could see through her eyes. The TARDIS connected us. Distantly, I knew that my body stood beside the Doctor with my phone in hand. My mind stood on the Sontaran ship. In my hand was Donna's phone.
She leaned against the TARDIS door, panicked. "There's a Sonterun. Sontaran."
"He's not seen you." I told her.
"How do you know?" The Doctor asked.
"She'd be dead." I replied. "His back is to you, yes?"
"Yes."
The Doctor pulled my hand closer. In my ear, I heard the scuffle. "Right, Donna, listen."
I focused my mind.
"On the back of his neck-"
From Donna's eyes, she saw the port. A tiny little peek out the door let her see it.
I focused on his head.
"-on his collar there's a sort of plug, like a hole."
I thought about what they did to Martha
"The Probic vent."
I squeezed.
"One blow to the Probic vent knocks 'em out." The Doctor explained.
Something caught. Impact was made. Something hindered my squeeze.
"But he's going to kill me." Donna pleaded.
"I'm sorry. I swear I'm so sorry, but you've got to try." The Doctor explained.
Donna's head turned away, looking down. It broke my connection to his helmet.
"Donna. Look forward." I instructed, fighting back a growl of frustration. "Just- look!"
"Terra what-"
"Just keep your eyes on him!" I ordered. Donna's eyes looked back up. I could feel his head again, feel the helmet covering it and the probic vent.
I pressed harder.
His people hurt Martha
I won't let them go for that
"Wait- what's he done?" Donna asked.
"What happened?" The Doctor asked.
One more- push-
Over the phone- right in front of me- in my ear- before my eyes- the Sontaran crumbled and crinkled. Imagine an empty soda can crunched against your head. That was this Sontaran.
Donna gasped.
So did I.
The TARDIS pulled me out. I stood back on Earth. My eyes could focus instead on the wood paneling across from me.
"Donna. What is it?" The Doctor asked.
"Moving on." I pulled the phone closer to me. "You're gonna wanna find the- what's it called- external junction feed to the teleport."
"He just- he just broke down!"
"Wow. What a flaw in his helmet's structure. Find the teleport panel." I insisted.
"His head just- it exploded!"
"Donna! We don't have time. There could be others." I cautioned. The TARDIS wouldn't let me do that a second time, not so soon. Donna needed to keep moving before another Sontaran could see.
"Terra." The Doctor spoke up.
I glanced at him. He held up a handkerchief. He pointed to his own face with it. I took the cloth, bringing it to my face. When I pulled back, blood stained it. "Ah, thanks." Pressing it to my nose, I cleared away the blood.
The Doctor didn't look happy. Annoyance covered his face, lips curled in a disgruntled frown while brown eyes stared sharply into mine.
"What?" I asked.
"Okay. Okay." Donna audibly swallowed. As I couldn't see her side anymore, her movement came just from verbal cues. "That eternal, thing. What- what's it look like?"
The Doctor kept glaring at me. I answered for him. "A circle with a big T and a little line through it. Or two F's back to back."
"Oh. Well, there's a door." Donna replied.
"Check beside it." I offered.
"Yeah there's a weird...switch thing. But it's Sontaran shaped, you need three fingers." Donna replied.
"I am Three and so are you." I reminded her.
"Sorry?" Donna asked.
I glanced at the Doctor. He braced himself, leaning forward to the phone. "You've got three fingers." The Doctor reminded her.
"Oh, yeah." Donna replied, having a little laugh at herself. "I'm through."
"Oh, you are brilliant, you are." The Doctors praised.
"Knew you could do it! Never doubted." I encouraged, giving Donna a clap.
"Shut up." Donna huffed in annoyance. "Right. T with a line through it."
"Just remember to stay in the shadows, and don't be seen!" I cheered.
"We've got to go." The Doctor told her. "Keep the line open."
I ended the call. Looking outside the glass room, I saw Mace coming back inside. When I tried to leave, the Doctor blocked my path.
"That was not okay." The Doctor scolded.
My head tilted, curious. "The TARDIS thought it was okay."
"I don't. What you did, that's not right. I thought you learned better that you can't do these things!"
You think you can do these things but you CAN'T, Nemo!
"Donna wanted help-"
"That is not the point." The Doctor scolded. "You're ignored me for ages now and I'm not having it. Normally I wouldn't be so angry but this is twice today that you've done this!"
"Normally, Morgan, I wouldn't be so angry with you, but this is the third time this month! It's September and you're already behind in all your classes." Mr Spencer's voice boomed painfully in my head.
I froze.
"You put yourself in that car-"
"Your English teacher says you never talk in class-"
"-you took away Mace's choice-"
"-your history teacher says you never pay attention-"
"-and now this!"
"-and your Spanish teacher said you've only done 5%-"
I took a deep breath, fighting down any of my feelings. All of my feelings. The slightest hint of emotion needed to die now. There wasn't any time for me to overreact to this four year old memory slamming into my mind. There's no need for it.
"It has to stop." The Doctor ordered.
"You need to stop forgetting these things."
"I'm sorry. I'll try-"
"No."
"No more trying." Mr Spencer snapped coldly.
"It needs to stop, and it needs to stop now." The Doctor warned.
"No more trying, no more zoning out in class, no more forgetting. Got it?"
"Y-yes sir." I nodded, biting my cheek. Damn. I showed an emotion. Fuck. "S-sorry. I'm sorry."
The Doctor opened his mouth to scold me again. Grimacing, I looked down at There was no Darcy here this time to give emotional support. The Martha outside was a fake, a cloned fake that only wanted to bring about war. Donna was too busy trying to stay alive- too scared for her own life to help me with mine.
I'm on my own.
Nobody is here to save me. Just me.
My fingers started tapping on my sides.
"Terra?" The Doctor asked, voice softer suddenly.
"Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's home from work we go-" Hearts pounding, I pushed past the Doctor. He stumbled back as I did. I whistled a four drum beat. "Heigh ho, heigh ho, heigh ho, heigh ho."
Mace walked away from the soldier he was speaking with. He grabbed a gas mask. "Counter attack." He warned.
"Sh-show us." I ordered him. Taking the mask from his hand, I slipped it over my head. "Outside."
Without waiting for the Doctor or the Martha clone, I walked out of the large trailer.
Even surrounded by toxic clone feed gas, with Mr Spencer's words exhorting and merging with the Doctor's, breathing outside came easier.
==MGCB==
'Heigh-Ho' still played in my mind as I stood amongst the fog. My hearts beat painfully, pushing against my chest with sharp pin pricks. Every breath hurts. Maybe I was crying. Maybe I'd just hurt so much that crying wouldn't change anything. The wetness on my face could just be mist from my exhales, there were plenty of them.
Whatever. It's fine. I'm fine.
I'm leaving soon anyway. A few more months, and I'll be gone. A whole new world to explore without aliens or time travel to worry about. Just me and werewolves, doing werewolf teenage girl problems. I can hold out that long.
It's humiliating too. Did I react too much? Did the Doctor notice, think I was weak? There's a migraine building in my head- made worse by my rushed breathing and the attack on that Sontaran.
Maybe that's what the wetness was- more blood leaking from my nose. It wouldn't surprise me either way. It could even be both.
Mace brought me over a crate outside. The Doctor ran behind me with the clone at his side. I pointedly ignored them. The Doctor didn't need my replies or reaction anymore, and the clone would just be mean.
Martha was still out there
If I remember the show well enough, we would get her back soon
Yeah
We would
...she's gonna be mad at me too
"Latest firing stock. What do you think, Doctor and Terra?"
"Are you my mummy?" The Doctor asked.
The funniest damn joke I have ever heard in my life
And I don't wanna laugh at it
"If you could concentrate..." Mace scolded. "Bullets with a rad-steel coating. No copper surface. Should overcome the cordolaine signal."
I nodded, unable to speak.
Just get over it.
Like Mr Spencer said, I gotta be better. I can't keep moping around.
Criers get slapped
Martha needs me better
"But the Sontarans have got lasers." The Doctor countered. "You can't even see in this fog. The night vision doesn't work."
"Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for your lack of faith." Mace replied.
I breathed in deep. "Do you find it disturbing?" I asked, forcing a laugh.
"No. In fact, I'm not listening." Mace pulled off his gas mask.
He stepped away from us, looking at the gathered troops. The fog barely cleared away to make them visible.
The Doctor stepped closer to me. I stepped further from him.
"Attention, all troops." Mace announced. The soldiers stood at attention, awaiting orders. "The Sontarans might think of us as primitive, as does every passing species with an axe to grind."
The Doctor's mind reached out for mine. I let him knock, not replying at all. Not to push away or to welcome. Let him knock. I won't answer.
"They make a mockery of our weapons, our soldiers, our ideals. But no more." Mace ordered. "From this point on, it stops. From this point on, the people of Earth fight back, and we show them. We show the warriors of Sontar what the human race can do. Trap One to Hawk Major. Go, go, go."
A giant whir went off overhead. I looked up, peering through the gas mask lenses. As the whir went, the air cleared up to allow better sight. The thing in the sky didn't make me feel any better.
"It's working. The area's clearing. Engines to maximum." Mace informed us.
"It's the Valiant." The Doctor realized.
I grabbed the clone's hand. As I stared up at the ship, as the fans whirred to clear the fog away, my hand tightened more and more on hers.
Save Martha
Keep Martha safe
Can't forget must not forget gotta remember-
The clone pulled her hand away from mine. I reminded myself she wasn't the proper Martha. It still stung.
"UNIT Carrier Ship Valiant reporting for duty, Doctor and Terra. With engines strong enough to clear away the fog." Mace informed us with delight.
Run you clever boy and remember-
The Doctor took off his gas mask. He barked with laughter, taking in clear air as he did so. "Whoa, that's brilliant."
"Getting a taste for it, Doctor?" Mace joked.
The Doctor quickly schooled his expression. "No, not at all. Not me."
"Valiant, fire at will." Mace ordered.
It fired lasers. I jumped back, running back into the factory.
"Terra!" The Doctor called out.
I ignored him.
MARTHA!
==MGCB==
My sonic buzzed. The pink light guiding me through the halls.
"Terra!" The Doctor called out, rushing after me.
"Shouldn't we follow the Colonel?" 'Martha' asked.
"No. Terra!" The Doctor called out again.
"Heigh ho Heigh ho it's home from work I go-" I sang loud enough to be over him. "Heigh ho Heigh ho-"
"Oh it's just like old times." The Doctor told 'Martha'. "Terra slow-"
"HEIGH HO HEIGH HO ITS HOME FROM WORK I GO!" I shouted, running faster.
The long corridors lit up as I ran. My sonic buzzed louder and louder. This was the most high stakes game of hot-n-cold I've ever played.
"What is she doing?" 'Martha' asked.
"Alien technology!" The Doctor shouted. "Our sonics picked it up."
I took another turn. She was close...oh so close.
"Wait!" The Doctor yelled.
I yelled out instead of whistling.
The Doctor caught up with me. He grabbed my arm, pulling me back from my sprint. I punched his chest.
"Let go of me!" I yelled.
The Doctor did so. "Wait, wait. I know what you're feeling-"
"No you don't!"
"But we need to stay calm." The Doctor told me. I tried to tell- punch- get away get away get away- "She needs you calm."
He's right
Fuck dammit he's right
She always wanted me to have a calmer head
"Is that what you are now? Just another American with guns?"
She wouldn't want me charging in all fucking crazy.
She wanted me better than that
"Are we good?" The Doctor asked.
Swallowing, I forced a nod.
The Doctor held up his sonic. The blue light buzzed loudly as he aimed it down the hall. I raised my own sonic, listening to it buzz.
'Martha' stood behind us. She watched it all, constantly looking back the way we came. Her nerves were more obvious the closer we got to the secret lab below. As is common for spies, they don't want to be discovered.
Pity that she tried spying around me
Or else the Sontarans might've won
"No Sontarans down here. They can't resist a battle." The Doctor nodded his head up the hall. "Here we go."
He started walking. I waited for the clone to catch up to join him.
"We should head back." 'Martha' suggested.
"Have we ever?" I asked her blankly. At her concerned face, forcing a smile.
The Doctor found the locked room. Anticipation bubbled up inside of me. Martha would be happy to see the Doctor for sure...what about me?
The door opened. The Doctor and I ran inside.
Across the room, tied to a gurney, laid a sleeping Martha Jones. If not for the helmet covered in interconnected wires, you would think that sleep was peaceful.
"Martha!" I gasped, running over to her side.
"Oh, Martha." The Doctor joined my side. "I'm so sorry." He checked her pulse. "Still alive."
'Martha' pulled out a gun.
I whirled back, reaching for mine.
"Am we supposed to be impressed?" The Doctor snarked.
"Thought you were a faster draw." 'Martha' taunted me.
I legit cannot hold a gun to Martha Jones
"If I drew, you'd already be dead." I warned her.
'Martha' continued, unfazed. "Wish you carried a gun now, Doctor?"
"Not at all." The Doctor replied.
"I've been stopping the nuclear launch all this time." The clone revealed.
"We noticed." I replied, fingers still itching for a gun.
"Doing exactly what we wanted. We needed to stop the missiles, just as much as the Sontarans. We're not having Earth start an interstellar war." The Doctor praised. "You're a triple agent."
The clone's hand twitched on her gun. "When did you know?"
"The whole time." I answered. "Martha- Clone Martha, you got her wrong."
"How?" The clone asked. Not that it mattered, she would be dead soon. Definitely not in enough time to give the Sontarans my acting critiques.
"I spent an entire year at her side." I replied. "Nobody knows her better than me. Your iris contraction was too small, your hair is too thin at the temple. Do I even need to bring up the 'clone smell' all over you? You've got this great big glittery sign, saying YOU AREN'T MARTHA JONES!"
I stormed up to her, narrowing my eyes. Even in knowing she was fake, that she wasn't my Martha, seeing her hold a gun did something to me. The feeling didn't change even when the gun pointed at my face. If anything that feeling was stronger.
But I also knew it was wrong. Martha hated me but she would never hold a gun to my face.
The Doctor looked up from Martha's prone position. I held up my hand at him. There wasn't a need to worry. I wouldn't do anything violent.
Yet.
"Which means you picked the wrong place to stand." I stated. "You know that, don't you? You have her memories bouncing around in your head. It's not perfect, but you can see them."
Clone Martha's hand tightened on the gun. Her aim never wavered but that look in her eyes did.
"They need Martha alive which if I'm being honest is the only reason I haven't burned this building to the ground." I warned.
"No you wouldn't." Clone Martha replied. "Not with so many innocent people here."
I stepped forward. "Look at the past year and tell me that again."
Clone Martha did watch me. Her eyes focused, narrowed and unwavering. However as she stared, her eyes widened. Whatever memories she picked, whichever ones popped up first, they did the job. Clone Martha lowered the gun. The look in her eyes reminded me of Martha's after New York.
Yay.
Now every Martha hates me.
Whatever
It's fine
I turned on my heels, walking away from her. The Doctor watched me in silence.
Martha looked peaceful on the slab. Quiet, serene, like she was having the best dream.
I lifted the helmet off her head. Martha gasped. A thud noise came from behind. That clone barely mattered. Martha's panicked face was all I could see. The Doctor kicked away the clone's gun.
"Martha- Martha! It's okie dokie. You're okay." I assured her. Martha continued panicking. To help, I pulled her from the slab into a hug. "I got you, I got you."
Martha panted. "There was this thing, Terra, this alien, with this head." She rambled, panicked.
"A potato head-" My phone went off. I pulled it out, throwing it back. "-yes we saw."
"Oh! Blimey, we're busy." The Doctor opened my phone. He threw his coat at me. I caught it on my arm. "Got it?"
I helped Martha climb out of the slab. She looked at her clone, horrified. All I could do was let her hug me.
"Take off the covering." The Doctor instructed Donna. He walked over to a nearby teleport Ood. Ah- right. How long had that been there, again? "All the blue switches inside flick them up like a fuse box, and that should get the teleport working."
"Oh, my God." Martha gasped. "That's me."
"Sorta. Not quite." I assured her. "It's a Sontaran clone."
"They told me." Martha cut me off. "They said- oh my god. They told me." Martha turned to me. "What did I do?"
"Nothing. She saved us, again and again- stopped the nuclear launches. Just like you would've." I explained. "We need you to save us again. There's gas outside, a thick fog with a substance we can't place. She knows."
Martha looked over her herself. Her dark brown eyes were wide, lips trembling.
I understood her pain. Darcy had my face, more often than not. "You should go."
Martha shook her head.
"She doesn't trust the Doctor." I explained. "And you've never liked me. You're the only one she'll tell."
Martha turned to me, only more confused. "What did you say?"
"Go to her. Please?" I asked.
Martha's mouth opened and closed. "You- you said I-"
"Need to talk to your clone, yes. She should still have your memories-"
"No but what you said about-"
"I don't know about your family. I didn't think they would appreciate me calling." I admitted. "She has your phone, besides."
Martha shook her head. "Terra-" She stopped herself, looking towards the clone. She pulled herself to her feet. I gave her the Doctor's coat. She pulled it on, kneeling at her clone's side.
The clone flinched back from Martha. "Don't touch me."
"It's not my fault." Martha reminded her clone. "The Sontarans created you, but you had all my memories."
"You've got a brother, sister, mother and father." The clone recalled, voice going drowsy.
"If you don't help me, they're going to die." Martha pleaded.
Her own dark brown eyes stared back at her. "You love them."
"Yes. Remember that?" Martha asked.
"The gas." The Doctor called from the teleport. "Tell us about the gas."
"They were getting there!" I scolded him.
"They're the enemy." The clone hissed.
"Then tell me." Martha begged. "It's not just poison, what's it for?" The clone turned her head. "Martha, please!"
The clone looked up over Martha. I bowed my head, stepping further back.
"Caesofine concentrate." The clone weakly answered. She leaned more on the support beam beside her, crumbling. "It's one part of Bosteen, two parts Probic five."
"The opposite of poison!" The Doctor smacked himself in the head. Martha and I looked up at him. "I should've guessed then. It's clonefeed!"
"I got it right?" I faked a look of confusion.
"What's clonefeed?" Martha asked.
"Like amniotic fluid for Sontarans. That's why they're not invading. They're converting the atmosphere, changing the planet into a clone world. Earth becomes a great big hatchery." The Doctor explained. "Because the Sontarans are clones, that's how they reproduce. Give them a planet this big, they'll create billions of new soldiers. The gas isn't poison, it's food."
The clone choked. I looked away, walking to the teleport pod. Even if she was a clone, I couldn't watch Martha die.
"My heart. It's getting slower." The clone whimpered.
"There's nothing I can do." Martha told us.
I held out my hand. The Doctor gave me back my phone.
"In your mind, you've got so many plans." The clone recalled. "There's so much that you want to do."
"And I will." Martha promised. "Never do tomorrow what you can do today, my mum says, because-"
"Because you never know how long you've got." The clone finished. "Martha Jones. All that life."
I squeezed tight to my phone. Raising it to my ear, I listened to Donna work. "Hey there, Donna. How's it coming?" My sonic came out from my pocket, aimed at the teleport pod.
"Terra! The blue switches are done but they've found me."
The sonic went off.
Donna appeared in a blue/pink flash. She stumbled out from the teleport, pulling me in her arms for a hug.
The Doctor pushed around us, leaning in to the teleport pod.
"Have I ever told you how much I hate you both?" Donna asked, laughing from the rush of adrenaline.
"Oh all the time." I laughed with her.
Martha was back
Donna was back
Soon the TARDIS would be too
Everything's coming up us
"Now to bring the TARDIS down." The Doctor told us. His sonic buzzed. "Right, now. Martha, you coming?"
Martha walked up to my side. She held up her phone. "What about this nuclear launch thing?"
"Just keep pressing N. We want to keep those missiles on the ground." The Doctor instructed.
"Here." I pressed my sonic on her phone. "Quick boost for the battery. Spyware drains it like you wouldn't believe."
"Thanks." Martha replied. She pressed the button to turn off the nuclear launch.
"There's two of them." Donna gawked.
"Well yeah they made a clone." I told Donna.
"Yeah, long story." The Doctor added. "Here we go. The old team, back together." He grinned. "Well, the new team."
Donna didn't like being led back into the teleport pod. "We're not going back on that ship!"
"Why would we?" I asked her.
The Doctor agreed. "No, no, no. No. I needed to get the teleport working so that we could get to-"
The teleport flashed. We arrived at the Rattigan Academy. Across the room stood the boy himself.
"Here. The Rattigan Academy, owned by-"
I rushed forward. Rattigan leveled a gun at our faces.
"Don't tell anyone what I did. It wasn't my fault the Sontarans lied to me, they-" He flinched, raising his arms to protect his face.
I dropped, swinging my leg out. Rattigan fell on his back. Disoriented, the gun came out of his grip. I picked it up, tucking it away in my Bag.
Rising to my feet, I dusted my hands off. "That is why you can't afford me."
The Doctor clicked his tongue. He walked around the both of us. "If I see one more gun."
"You know, that coat sort of works." Donna told Martha.
"I feel like a kid in my dad's clothes." Martha replied. She and Donna walked around us.
"Oh well, if you're calling him dad, you're definitely getting over him." Donna cheered.
Rattigan stayed flat on his back, lip remaking. I reached my hand out to him. He narrowed his eyes, hateful.
"If I wanted you dead, I would've killed you without blinking." I told him for assurance. To help, I added a wide smile. "The Sontarans would've wanted me too- pity I would've killed them first."
Rattigan swallowed. Still, his arm came up. I pulled him to his feet.
"I know a place that could use it. Ever heard of the Mr Copper Foundation? They would love you over there."
==MGCB==
'That part goes here-'
'No but it fits better here-'
'Right, right, but what about the-'
'-handled by this bit-'
'-quick work of the sonic has it working-'
'-what about this?'
'Oh! That goes- huh-'
'Maybe that-'
'Brilliant!'
The Doctor and I rushed around the Academy lab. The three humans watched us work in confused silence. For the past few minutes, the Doctor and I spoke in our heads. It confused Rattigan to no end.
"They aren't saying anything." Rattigan pointed out.
"They talk telepathically." Martha explained.
"It's weird. They'll be like this for ages before they realize we're out here."
"They do it to you?" Martha asked. "Does it annoy you?"
"Sometimes." Donna replied. "It's better than them arguing."
"Them? Argue?" Martha asked.
"Lately." Donna answered.
A component fell from my hands. Luckily I caught it before it hit the ground.
The Doctor placed the large device on a separate table. I lifted a long clear tube full of the necessary parts inside.
"So, like we said. It's not poison to Sontarans, it's the opposite!" I cheered.
"Clonefeed." The Doctor lifted a long metal tube over the device. He slid it in place. I grabbed another component, adding it. "That's why the Sontarans had to stop the missiles. They were holding back. Because caesofine gas is volatile, that's why they had to use you to stop the nuclear attack. Ground to air engagement could spark off the whole thing."
"What, like set fire to the atmosphere?" Martha asked.
I mimed an explosion.
"Exactly. They need all the gas intact to breed their clone army." The Doctor narrowed his eyes at Rattigan. "And all the time we had Luke here in his dream factory. Planning a little trip, were we?"
"They promised me a new world." Rattigan excused.
"They were liars." I turned a switch on the device. It lit up bright red. "But you still put in the work. So we have- a reverse boom!"
"What?" Donna asked.
"He built equipment, ready to terraform El Mondo Luko so that humans could live there and breathe the air with this." The Doctor lifted up the convertir. I grabbed the cords. "An atmospheric converter!"
We ran outside. The humans rushed to keep up.
Outside, the fog built up. It wasn't much easier to breathe out here than at the factory. Rattigan must have installed air purifiers around the place.
"That's London." Donna gasped. "You can't even see it. My family's in there."
"Give is a minute-" I flipped a switch on the converter.
The Doctor turned a dial. "If we can get this on the right setting-"
"Doctor, Terra, hold on. You said the atmosphere would ignite." Martha pointed out.
"It's in reverse, you'll be okie dokie, artichokie!" I promised. Hopping to my feet, I held up a controller.
The Doctor stood up. He rushed to my side, nodding.
I pushed the button.
The atmospheric converter blasted out. It flew up-up-up into the sky. It flew so high that we couldn't even see the flames from the engine anymore.
Right when someone would suspect we'd failed, we felt the boom. Over the course of a minute we watched the fog burn. The air combusted above us. A sky on fire- someone with artistic skill might actually make it look really cool.
Darcy- when we first watched this episode- said it reminded her of Sauron's eye. I feel Saur-ry for that guy.
The Doctor whispered pleas under his breath. I braced myself, reminding myself everything ended up okay.
The fire continued to burn. The heat could be felt as much as on a sunny day. All at once, it went poof. As a wave of fire had come, so did a wave of fresh air.
For the first time today, I could properly breathe.
"They're geniuses." Rattigan gawked.
"Just brilliant!" Martha praised.
"Not quite." I replied. "We made them mad."
The Doctor lifted up the conveyor. "Now we're in trouble." He led us all back inside.
==MGCB==
He made a point of blocking me from entering the teleport pod.
'But-'
The Doctor pushed me out of his head. "Terra, thank you for everything."
"Don't you dare-"
"I mean it, really. Thank you. Donna, Martha, you too." The Doctor rambled on, connecting the converter to the teleport. "Oh so many times. Luke, do something clever with your life."
"Not allowed. Not allowed!" I scolded him. "You can't- no."
"You're saying goodbye." Donna realized.
"Sontarans are never defeated." The Doctor explained to the humans. "They'll be getting ready for war. And, well, you know, I've recalibrated this for Sontaran air, so-"
"You're going to ignite them." Martha finished. The Doctor didn't deny it.
"You'll kill yourself." Donna added. The Doctor didn't deny it.
"You said you wouldn't make me the last." I reminded him.
The Doctor turned his head to me. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Then why leave?" I snapped. "Is it because of earlier? I'm sorry about that!"
"It's not because of you. If I had more time-" He stopped himself. "I can't."
"Yes you can! Put it on a delay. It can have a timer! Just send them off like the Sycorax. Or anything else!"
The Doctor shook his head. "I can't."
"Why not?" Donna asked.
"I've got to give them a choice." He pressed the teleport button.
No
No not today
Not today of all fucking days
I took a deep breath.
He won't do that to me today
The TARDIS sent a warning song. I stepped into the teleport, grabbing the wires and pressing buttons.
They had their chance and wasted it
"What are you doing?" Martha asked.
"Not using a gun." I replied, twisting a wire in place. "Remember? You always hated when I did that."
"That's not what I meant!" Martha replied. "What are you planning?"
I answered with a wide smile.
"Terra no-" Donna begged. M
The teleport activated. Suddenly I knelt in the Sontaran ship. Their chant echoed.
The Sontarans all watched me in confusion.
I raised my arm, pointing right at Staal. No gun in reach.
"All you know is chasing one war after another,
Never seeming to cease.
So I curse any Sontaran on this ship (or of the fallen, their brother),
To know only safety and peace."
==MGCB==
The Doctor panted as he got his footing. He tried to think about what just happened. He had the signal in his hand, what changed? Who-
He checked the faces. Donna- check. Dread built in his stomach. Martha- check. His hearts raced. Rattigan- check. That made him furious.
Terra was gone.
Only one person is mad enough to follow me
"No." The Doctor pulled himself forward. Donna already started crying. Martha stared at the teleport with shock and fear. "She didn't."
Martha could only nod.
The Doctor clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth. That...that sentimental idiot. What had she been thinking? He didn't deserve it. Between the two of them, she deserved the chance to live her life.
He knelt on the ground. She was barely two centuries, and he was old. After all he took, did he not get a chance to give? He wanted her safe. What does she go and do? Die. Saving his life. It wasn't fair.
The teleport went off.
Something landed on his back. The Doctor could feel her presence again. The familiar feel of her mind reaching out to his.
"Terra what were you- TERRA!"
Terra couldn't answer back, or even look up at the Doctor with a smug smile. Instead blood fell from her nose, mouth, and ears.
As the Doctor moved Terra to the ground, feeling for a pulse or to check if she was breathing, he felt it. A strong, psychic pulse coming down from the sky. The Doctor knew instantly Terra did it.
==MGCB==
Up in the sky, a ship of Sontarans self-destructed. While many speculated what caused it, the Rutans didn't much care but they would like to know who to thank. Many other species asked if the Doctor or Terra planted a device or a virus. A few knew the truth.
The Sontarans- it seemed- liked that nobody could tell. It made the truth much easier to swallow. A Sontaran would never accept a life of peace. Ever.
==MGCB==
Donna walked back in the TARDIS. She wiped tears from her cheeks, taking deep breaths to get herself back to normal.
The Doctor and Martha stood in the console room. They smiled, sympathetic of her whirlwind feelings.
"How were they?" Martha asked.
Donna checked on her family. Martha did the same, calling them. Donna just needed to see her granddad's face. The daft old man hugged her tight, and her mum gave her the cold shoulder. Donna expected as much.
"Oh, same old stuff. They're fine." Donna replied.
Martha nodded. Maybe she understood Donna wasn't telling the whole truth. She warned Donna of the price her family could pay. While many could take this chance to leave, nobody would blame her if she did, Donna knew she would always regret it. Her grandad did too.
Besides, Donna clearly couldn't ever leave this lot on their own again. They went mad.
"Where did Rattigan run off to?" Donna asked.
"Well see-" A voice said from above. Donna looked up, seeing Terra sitting up in her usual spot. "-somebody gave him this advice. Do something clever. So he's gonna."
"Not something with cars, I hope." Donna commented.
"Oh we should be so lucky." The Doctor remarked.
Terra giggled. Color came to her cheeks. She started to climb down from the ledge. The Doctor rushed below, holding out his arms to balance her. Terra- instead of kicking him back like Donna suspect- let them stay.
"You're looking better." Donna told Terra.
The Time Lady nodded her head. "Feel better too!"
"She'll have a right headache for the next day or so. Lucky for us Rattigan had so many supplies in his lab." The Doctor put his hand on Terra's head, peering at it like he could see her brain through the ginger curls. "As long as she doesn't do that again, she'll be fine."
"And 'that' was...?" Martha asked.
"Nothing." The Doctor replied.
"Just made the Sontarans peace out." Terra answered. She frowned, a haunted look falling over her eyes. "Not that it changed anything."
Donna felt for the poor girl. She may be over a hundred years old, but Donna only saw a lost teenager. She saw herself standing there- a younger Donna Noble, losing another boyfriend or failing another class or losing another job.
Her mum's voice bounced in her head then too. Every time Donna's mum said something that made Donna feel worse. Even her words earlier made Donna feel like a teenager.
"I think it changed a lot." Donna offered. It didn't feel like enough.
Terra smiled though.
Donna turned to the other human there. "So, you going to come with us? We're not exactly short of space."
"Oh, I have missed all this, but, you know." Martha leaned in, meeting Donna's eyes. "I'm good here, back at home. And I'm better for having been away." She held up her hand, showing off the ring. "Besides, someone needs me."
Donna glanced at Terra and the Doctor. The Doctor let go of her. Terra walked away, hiding her face from Donna's prying eyes. The Doctor smiled proudly at Martha before looking towards Terra with concern.
"Never mind the universe, I've got a great big world of my own now." Martha walked to the door.
It slammed shut.
The motor went running.
Donna panicked. She grabbed the console as the TARDIS started flying wildly.
"What? What?" The Doctor yelped.
"Doctor, Terra, don't you dare!" Martha shouted.
Terra shook her head. Or maybe all the shaking just made it look that way. "I didn't do it!"
"Nonono we didn't touch anything!" The Doctor shouted. "We didn't touch anything. We're in flight. It's not us."
"Where are we going?" Donna called out.
"The TARDIS decided!" Terra replied. "Maybe. We don't know!"
Donna held tighter to the console. The TARDIS veered to the side, shifting and rolling about.
"Doctor, Terra, just listen to me." Martha shouted. "You take me home. Take me home right now!"
==MGCB==
AN: So...I finished it. Some stuff has happened. It's a lot, I know, I threw so much at you here. Leave a comment talking about it. Or yelling at me. Or asking questions. Or just anything at all- it lets me know you guys are still reading.
But next time...oh next time...I am so looking forward to it.
Thanks to yukicarr for favoriting and following