Unto the Universe
Chapter Three: New Earth: Adam
By Lumendea
…..
The room Adam found to talk in was more a supply closet than anything else. He searched the corners for a moment before nodding to himself and turning back to Jack and the Doctor. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers and sighed out loud.
"Short version, I keep tabs on Cassandra," Adam explained. "I received notice that she'd somehow escaped prison."
"How does a flap of skin escape prison?" the Doctor asked with narrowed eyes.
"Most of her fortune was seized in the aftermath of Platform One," Adam explained. "But it seems she had some funds left hidden away. She likely managed to hire some help by bribing one of the guards overseeing her security." He shrugged and sighed. "I don't think the guards understood how dangerous she was despite my efforts. I tracked her to New Earth and have reason to believe that she's in the hospital with at least some help nearby."
"Why here?" Jack asked. "Medical supplies?" He glanced at the Doctor. "This is the trampoline, right? Rose mentioned her."
"That's the one," the Doctor said. He looked back at Adam. "Why do you care so much?"
"She did try to kill me too," Adam pointed out. "And I was one of the last custodians of Earth; maybe that gives me a sense of responsibility when it comes to the last human." Sarcasm filled Adam's voice on the last two words. "But in any case, I came here and offered some extra funding as a cover to look for Cassandra. As for why here, I'm not sure beyond that this is supposed to be one of the best hospitals in the world, and she may be hoping to learn something useful here."
"Why call me?" the Doctor asked.
"Felt your TARDIS land," Adam offered. At the Doctor's surprised expression, Adam chuckled. "Don't panic, Doctor. That's not something you need to worry about with any frequency. Your TARDIS just causes a spark that Verlans can sense." Adam sighed. "I wish that this was just about Cassandra, but in checking out the hospital, I've noticed that something is wrong here."
"Wrong?" Jack pressed. "How so?"
"Their medical science is off," Adam said. "They have cures that no one else has, and when they share them, they can't provide any data on how they were developed. There are no labs here, Doctor. There are no medical research facilities on record."
"That is odd," the Doctor agreed slowly. "Are you sure?"
"Go and spend a few more minutes out there," Adam offered. He gestured at the door of the supply room. "You'll see what I mean. Feel free to say that you're with me and observing." Adam shook his head, looking very young all of a sudden. "And there's this feeling to the hospital. Something seems wrong. I wish I could pinpoint it for you, but I can't."
"How much do you trust him?" Jack asked the Doctor quietly. He kept his eyes on Adam, who sighed.
"That's a bit insulting, Jack," Adam said. But then he turned and headed for the door. "I'll try to stay in this ward, but the sisters might pressure me to move one. I'll keep an eye out for Cassandra, but please look at what is happening here. There is something wrong."
With that, Adam left the small room, leaving Jack and the Doctor frowning behind him. The Doctor could tell that Jack was shaken because he didn't even make a comment about them being in a small supply room. Before his companion could start cracking jokes, the Doctor headed out the door himself. He glanced back into the main room and found Adam speaking with one of the patients. As he moved closer, he heard Adam asking them about the quality of care and their experiences here. But the man's eyes were sharp, and the Doctor caught him glancing around the room.
"Doctor?" Jack asked.
"I'm going to look around. Keep your eyes open for any sign of a flap of skin in a frame," the Doctor said. "If she is here, then there are problems."
"Do you believe him?" Jack asked.
"Maybe. Not sure yet, but he may have a point."
"I'm calling Rose," Jack said. "To check-in."
"Good," the Doctor agreed. "Warn her about Cassandra. She'll understand the danger."
Nodding, Jack headed out of the room and leaned against the wall. There weren't many people coming and going. The Doctor left behind him and followed Adam, a curious expression on his face. Jack wasn't sure what was going on. Adam's plea for him not to flirt hinted at a possible relationship, but Jack didn't know the man, and Adam's plea hadn't sounded like he expected Jack to know him. Adam was definitely a time traveler of some sort, but who was he to them?
He pulled out his phone and called Rose's phone, keeping his eyes open and scanning the hallway. No one was paying any attention to him. Jack watched one of the nuns gracefully stride by, a calm expression on their face as he mulled over Adam's words. He frowned; it was taking Rose some time to answer her phone, but then finally, the call connected.
…..
Cassandra brought the phone to her ear. At least this technology was fairly familiar to her. Communication devices almost always returned to the same basic size and shape for humans. Oh, there had been eras with implants, but hacking made them too dangerous. Sometimes, the personal devices grew too large with features and then were pushed back to a small size for convenience. This one was the most primitive she'd ever seen, but she knew how to make it work.
"Hello?"
"Rose, this is Jack. Where are you? Are you okay?"
Rose's memory stirred. Not much, but just enough for Cassandra to pluck the information. She could feel a faint hum in her brain and frowned. It was vaguely familiar, a bit like the psionic restraints that she'd been close to in the past. Cassandra nudged at the memory and got only a vague hint of a memory. Rose and the Doctor had been practicing something in a white room. It didn't make sense to Cassandra, and she couldn't understand why she wasn't able to access more of the memory.
"Rose, are you okay?" the man asked again.
"Ah yes," Cassandra replied. Chip smiled at her as she struggled to replicate Rose's accent. It wasn't quite old cockney, but it wasn't as refined as her own. That thought caused another stir of memory, but it quickly vanished behind some sort of fog. "Sorry, Jack darling, a bit distracted. Got turned around."
"Normally, I'd like the darling," Jack sighed on the other end. "We're still up in Ward 26, but there is an Adam Tyler here. The Doctor indicated that you both met him."
Nothing stirred in the memory. In fact, at that name, the fog became thicker and heavier. The memories were withdrawing from Cassandra. But thankfully, she remembered that man. That horrible man who had taken her into custody. Had he talked with the Doctor and Rose? She thought he must have.
"Yes," she said carefully. "What about him? Why is he here?"
"He said that Cassandra is here. He's looking for her. You should meet up with us. Adam Tyler seems to think she had help."
"Adam Tyler," Cassandra almost growled. "I got a bit turned around, but I'll be up to join you."
"Okay, see you soon. Don't get lost again."
Cassandra exhaled as the call ended. How was it so stressful just talking to some of Rose's friends. She didn't remember this man Jack from Platform One. So he was new, and she knew nothing about him.
"Mistress?" Chip asked.
"That blasted Adam Tyler is here looking for me," Cassandra said. Then she scowled at the lift doors. "Why is he here? Does he have nothing better to do than hunt for me? It's ridiculous, and now he's alerted the Doctor that I'm here!"
"Perhaps Mistress should stay here," Chip offered. "Or we could leave the hospital. Find a new hiding spot."
"No," Cassandra said. "These nuns have secrets, Chip. And I can use that. I'll not allow Adam Tyler or the Doctor to force me back on the run." She tossed her hair, enjoying the feeling of having long hair once again, even if the color wasn't the proper shade of gold. Her hair had been superior. The silly human girl had some split ends that she hadn't attended to. "Perfume." She held out her hand, and Chip dutifully handed her the bottle, which she tucked into Rose's bag. "Why does the girl wear such high neck shirts," Cassandra sighed. "You stay out of sight, Chip. You're my secret weapon."
Her dear servant beamed at her when she said that. Cassandra would miss him. Chip was nearing the end of his life, and she needed resources quickly if she was going to regain a secure position. She looked different now. Once she had the information she needed, she would blackmail the nuns and slip away. This planet might be a vegetable patch, but Cassandra could make use of the people here. Rose might not meet her standards yet, but all the flaws could be fixed. Cassandra just needed to be patient.
She entered the lift, tossing her hair over her shoulder and straightening up. Judging from how the body reacted, Rose was lack with proper posture. Cassandra scoffed and watched the indicators of the lift as it rose. Bracing herself, she suffered through a round of disinfectant, almost laughing at the sudden burst of sensation. She'd forgotten that. Chip's stroking kept some of the distress at bay, not that she ever would have admitted such weakness, but this was different. Cassandra moved the fingers of Rose's hand against the jeans that Rose was wearing. It was glorious, and Cassandra smiled. Even breathing had a fresh excitement to it that she'd forgotten.
The lift doors opened, and Cassandra stared out at the floor. The Doctor and another man, likely this Jack, were standing nearby and talking. Cassandra wasn't sure about this. Getting too close to the Doctor seemed dangerous, but… well, she remembered how capably he'd unraveled her plan on Platform One. If she could point him in the right direction then just stand back, ready to reap the rewards, everything would be fine. While she couldn't access all of the girl's memories, she had some surface knowledge, and she'd observed them before.
A jolt of pain made Cassandra blink and furrow her brow. That had really hurt. She hissed his pain, but the sound was enough to draw the Doctor's attention. Worry filled those hated features. How had he not done something about those ears!?
"Rose, you alright?" the Doctor asked.
He sounded so damn concerned that Cassandra wanted to snap at him. Still, she managed to give him a slight smile.
"Bit of a headache," she said, trying to let the tongue form the words as it wanted. "I'm fine." Taking a deep breath, she stepped closer to the Doctor, crossing her arms across her chest. "What have you found?"
"Adam wasn't wrong," the Doctor said softly. He nodded towards a nearby patient. "Most of these people have diseases that there shouldn't be a cure for yet. Something has accelerated their medical science by centuries if not more." His blue eyes were sharp, and Cassandra considered that she might understand what Rose saw in him, even if he was an alien.
"I hate to ask this, but with how far in the future we are, can you really be sure?" Jack asked, leaning towards them.
Future. Cassandra frowned. The memories of Rose stirred but pushed back when she tried to access the surface memory. And how the Doctor spoke of what science should be was strange. What secrets did this man have? If only they were as valuable as the secrets the cats likely had.
"I'm sure," the Doctor said. "I know on the surface this is a good thing, but you know that a push forward like that doesn't just happen. Not without a major driving force behind it. I need to find a terminal. I've got to make sure that there isn't anything deadly behind this."
"Rose," Jack called. "You're being quiet. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," Cassandra answered, feeling impatient rise in her chest. "Really. Just a bit of headache. Could be the lights." She gestured up at them and pointed down the hall. "I saw a terminal this way; come on."
She hurried off heart pounding. Did they need to be so aware? She could feel their eyes on them. At least it was easy to say that she had a headache. Her head was throbbing, and Cassandra was beginning to plan on a medical check from the nuns in addition to the money. If something had gone wrong with the transfer, then she needed to know.
The Doctor scanned the terminal and rapidly checked through the menus. Cassandra allowed herself a moment to marvel at the speed of his mind. It was a pity that she wasn't willing to roleplay his precious Rose for too long as he could certainly be useful.
"Nothing stands out as odd," the Doctor said. "Surgery, post-op, nano-dentistry."
"No, it's missing something else," Cassandra insisted. "When I was downstairs, those Nurse Cat Nuns were talking about Intensive Care. Where is it?"
"You're right," the Doctor said. He glanced her way but didn't smile. "Well done."
"Why would they hide a whole department? It's got to be there somewhere," Cassandra insisted. "Search the sub-frame."
"What if the sub-frames locked?" the Doctor asked calmly.
"Try the installation protocol," Cassandra offered. They were close to something. She could almost taste the money.
"Good thought." The Doctor used the sonic screwdriver on the terminal, and Cassandra watched the technology with interest. It was a bit odd, but it worked quickly. The terminal flashed, and the wall beside them slid down to reveal a corridor.
"It certainly looks intensive," Jack said with a hint of unease.
Cassandra just smiled. Perfect, a hidden department. This was exactly what she needed. The Doctor headed for the opening, giving her one last glance that dropped to her wrist. He said nothing, but Cassandra thought she saw a flicker of worry in his eyes. Jack motioned her to follow, placing her in the middle. Smiling at him, Cassandra followed the Doctor down the corridor, already making plans of how to deal with the pair when she had what she needed.