Unto the Universe
Chapter Four: New Earth: Intensive Care
By Lumendea
…..
The Doctor wanted to talk to Jack privately, but with Rose between them, that wasn't possible. He could tell that the other man had noticed something was wrong. Rose had studied computers and understood logic systems, but the complexities of a security system so far into the future were beyond her scope of knowledge. And her wrist was bare. Her Star Knight sword was missing, and he didn't know how that could have happened.
They hadn't been separated for long, but something had happened. The Doctor grit his teeth as they reached a narrow walkway surrounded by softly glowing pods. Something had happened to Rose that he hadn't been there to prevent. What had he been thinking not immediately trying to find her? But he knew what he'd been thinking. Rose was capable, highly capable. He trusted her to look after herself more than he trusted Jack to do the same, though with Jack, there were other considerations.
Rose was moving wrong. Her stride was… more confident, wasn't the right word, but practiced. A smug smile hung on her lips when he glanced back at her. It was cold. It was wrong. There was caution in her eyes, but not worry. The Doctor wasn't sure what was wrong, but he knew something was wrong.
The Doctor stopped and pulled one open, revealing a frail and sickly man inside. Jack hissed softly at the sight of the boils, sores, and untended rashes. The man wore a simple hospital gown, but there was no sign of any other forms of comfort.
"That's disgusting," Rose gasped beside them. "What's wrong with him?"
"I'm sorry," the Doctor said softly to the man. Then he closed the door of the pod and moved to the next one.
"Doctor, what is going on?" Jack asked.
The next pod contained a young woman. She opened her eyes. They were green like the grass outside and stared at him. She wasn't in any better condition.
"What disease is that?" Rose asked him. Her tone was wrong, more fascinated than worry.
He glanced at her; she was eyeing the pod thoughtfully and critically. No worry and no empathy. Jack was eyeing the long lines of pods that stretched out before them. So many. The Doctor could feel the rage bubbling up inside of him.
"All of them," the Doctor growled. "Every single disease in the galaxy. They've been infected with everything."
"What about us? Are we safe?" Rose asked. It was the wrong question. It wasn't the question Rose would ask. Danger to herself was always far down on her list of concerns.
"The air's sterile. Just don't touch them," the Doctor answered as calmly as he could. He closed the door of the pod.
"How many patients are there?" Rose asked. She joined Jack in eyeing the pods.
"They're not patients," the Doctor managed.
"Lab rats," Jack spat out.
"They were born sick. They're meant to be sick. They exist to be sick," the Doctor snarled. "Jacks' right. They're lab rats. No wonder the Sisters have got a cure for everything. They've built the ultimate research laboratory. A human farm. Out of sight of the public, especially potential donors like Adam Tyler."
"Why don't they just die?" Rose asked. No rage, just curiosity. It was wrong
"They're the plague carriers," the Doctor said softly. "The last to go."
"It's for the greater cause," a voice said behind them.
They all turned, and the Doctor glared at the robed figure. It was one of the young nuns. He'd entertained a slight hope that the younger ones didn't know about this place. But here, it was shattered. A hope for at least some good gone, and they'd done something to Rose.
"Novice Hame, When you took your vows, did you agree to this?" the Doctor asked. "Did they warn you in advance or spring this on you later?"
"The Sisterhood has sworn to help."
"Through torture?" Jack demanded. "By murder?"
"But they're not real people. They're specially grown," the Novice answered. The Doctor's rage was burning, and he tightened his hands into fists. "They have no proper existence."
"What's the death toll? How many of these figments die every day? A thousand today, another thousand tomorrow? How many thousands? For how many years?" He advanced on the young sister, allowing himself to enjoy the flicker of fear in her eyes. "How many!"
"Mankind needed us," the Novice insisted as if he could be swayed. "They came to this planet with so many illnesses. We couldn't cope. We did try. We tried everything. We tried using clone-meat and bio-cattle, but the results were too slow, so the Sisterhood grew its own flesh. That's all they are. Flesh."
"These people are alive," the Doctor said. His voice was low and calm. This nun, this healer, had completely removed herself from seeing these people as living things.
"But think of those Humans out there, healthy and happy, because of us," she instead.
"And you believe that is an equal balance?" the Doctor asked. "That this suffering is made worthwhile by their ignorant health? If they live because of this, then life is worthless."
"But who are you to decide that?" the nun asked. She was backing up. Good, he wanted her to be a bit afraid. He wanted her to stop justifying this to him.
"I'm the Doctor," he said simply. "And yes, I decide that. I don't like this, so it is going to stop today."
Then Rose shifted forward, peering at the nun, not with disdain and barely restrained rage like she should have been, but calculation. Jack was close to her, watching her with worried and sharp eyes.
"Just to confirm," Rose said lightly. "None of the humans in the city actually know about this?"
"We thought it best not," Novice Hame replied. She almost seemed ashamed. Despite all the justifications, they knew better than to let the population know the cost.
"Fine, you keep them in ignorance and tell yourself that it is okay," the Doctor growled. "I can understand your twisted thought process. I can understand your vows. But I can't understand what you have done to Rose and why!"
"I don't know what you mean," Hame said.
"Like we're gonna believe that," Jack scoffed.
"I'm being very calm and patient, Novice Hame. You should be aware of that. And my patience is only holding because of how fragile the human brain is. Whatever you've done to Rose's head, I want it reversed now."
"We haven't done anything," Novice Hame said again. There was confusion in her eyes, but the Doctor didn't believe it.
"I'm perfectly fine," Rose insisted beside him. She was smiling at him softly as if that would reassure him. It didn't, it underscored how wrong her behaviour was.
"These people are dying, they are suffering, and Rose would care," the Doctor said, keeping his eyes on Novice Hame.
"And her bracelet is missing," Jack added softly. "That could only happen with telepathic interference."
"Oh, you two," Rose sighed. She twisted away when the Doctor started to reach for her. "You think you're so smart, don't you?"
The Doctor finally looked at Rose again. She looked the same, her hair was the right shade, and her clothing was what she'd left the TARDIS in, but her eyes were all wrong.
"What did they do?" he asked in a softer tone. "Rose?"
"I knew something was going on in this hospital, but I needed this body and your mind to find it out," Rose said, a matter of fact.
Then it all made sense. He hadn't considered Cassandra. Even with Adam's warning, even knowing she was in the hospital, he'd been focused on the nuns and their secret. Once they found this place, it had seemed likely that they were the ones. The Doctor swallowed back his self-loathing. It wouldn't help right now.
"Cassandra," the Doctor snarled.
"I take it that Adam Tyler warned you then," Cassandra scowled. She backed away, but not far. Her hand was moving for something. "But I have plans for this new body, and you, Doctor, won't hurt me." Cassandra twirled a strand of Rose's hair, smirking at him and Jack. "So, don't make threats." Pulling out her perfume, she began to raise it up onto to spasm. "Ah!"
"Rose- Cassandra," Jack called.
The Doctor took a step forward, but Cassandra brandished the perfume like a weapon. "Stay away from me, Doctor," Cassandra barked. "Or I'll infect your precious Rose."
"You won't hurt that body," the Doctor said. "Not while you're in it." He narrowed her eyes. "What did you do? What did you use? Psionic transfer is dangerous, Cassandra."
"Your lover is tucked away," Cassandra cooed. "But she'd not gone. While I prefer the notion of living my new life in a pure human, I could be convinced-"
The perfume fell from her hand, landing on the grate with a soft clink while Cassandra buckled over. Cassandra hissed, the sound desperate and pained, as she gripped her head. The Doctor narrowed his eyes, reaching towards her before hesitating. Torn between helping Rose's body and caution about a possible plan of Cassandra's warred within him.
"What is it?" he demanded, voice cold.
"There's something…" Cassandra gasped. "The girl…."
"What about her?" Jack asked urgently. "If you're hurting her-"
"Get out of her, Cassandra," the Doctor barked. "You're suppressing her to death."
"No skin is dead," Cassandra groaned. She scrambled to her feet, backing away. "I can't- I can't." She looked up at him and then Jack, eyes wild. "I'll take one of you. I'll let her go. I have to let her go. She's-"
"Doctor," Jack asked. "Is it Rose's telepathy training?"
"No," the Doctor admitted softly. "This is something else." He glanced back at the nun who was staring at Cassandra with a blend of horror and worry. "Did you do this?"
"I told you, we did nothing," the nun's voice was weaker now. Unsure and scared. "I-I need to find the Matron."
She hurried off. The Doctor knew it meant trouble, but Cassandra was in pain that could only mean something was wrong. If he was right about how Cassandra had done this, then this shouldn't be happening. Cassandra gripped a bundle of wires to her right, trying to stay upright, but her shaking pulled them loose. An alarm began to sound in the distance.
"Cassandra," the Doctor called. "What did you use? Did you use a psychograft? I might be able to help?"
"Yes," Cassandra admitted. Tears were glittering in her eyes. "Help me. Help me, and I'll let her go." She stumbled back, grabbing at more wires that were pulled out of the wall when her legs crumbled beneath her. The Doctor rushed closer. "Just stop this!"
"Okay, the psychograft was used recently, so you should be able to transfer yourself to other bodies," the Doctor said. "You can use mine."
"No," Jack interrupted. "Use mine." When the Doctor looked to Jack, his companion's face was dark and serious. "We'll need your brain to figure this mess out."
"Fine," Cassandra said. "It's been a while since I was male, but I suppose it will do briefly." She flipped her hair and inhaled slowly, preparing herself for the transfer.
But then, a scream ripped from Rose's mouth, nearly a howl, and the Doctor could do nothing to stop it. He grabbed Rose's arms, all too aware that it was Cassandra but needing to try and help her. Then Rose's eyes snapped open, and the Doctor thought he saw a golden shine. Cassandra shook her head and tilted it back. He waited, expecting the telltale shimmer of a transfer, but nothing came.
"Get out of her, Cassandra," he ordered.
"I can't- I'm trying!" Cassandra started to cry, large tears rolling down her cheeks. "I just want to live! I just want to live! I'm a beautiful creature! I didn't belong in a cell!"
"We need to check the machine she used," the Doctor said. He reached towards Cassandra. "There has to be something wrong with it!" He tried to lift Cassandra, but she dead weight, and the spasms were back. "Jack!"
"I don't know what to look for!" Jack shouted.
Cassandra's fingers dug into his coat when the Doctor started to move. Her head was bowed, and she was shaking in pain and fear. "No!" she moaned. "No, no, no! I can't-" She looked up at him, her eyes shining and frantic. "Don't let it kill me!"
"What is happening, Cassandra?" the Doctor demanded. "Is it a telepathic battle?"
That didn't make sense. He knew those machines. They were meant to override the telepathic centers so that people couldn't defend themselves—one more reason they were outlawed. And Rose's bracelet was missing, a clear sign that her telepathic connection to it had been overwhelmed. But he didn't know what else it could be.
"No," Cassandra groaned. The spasms were worse. "No. No. Chip! Chip, help me!"
The Doctor gripped her head, preparing to try and connect telepathically. It was a long shot, but if he could force Cassandra's transference, then they could buy time. But as he tilted Rose's head, he froze. Those familiar brown eyes were glowing gold. The Doctor gasped, alarm and terror flooding his body. He knew those eyes. They had looked at him on the Game Station, and now, impossibly, they were back. The crying stopped. Cassandra stopped moving.
"Doctor?" Jack called. His voice was near frantic. The Doctor could relate. "What's… shit, what is that?"
Jack hadn't seen the Bad Wolf. He'd been dead. The Doctor stared at the glowing eyes, trying to understand what was happening. Then Cassandra convulsed and screamed. This wasn't the soft gasps and sobs of before; this was a wrenching scream that echoed through the laboratory. Cassandra slumped forward, collapsing against the Doctor.
"Rose?" the Doctor asked. "Rose, darling, can you hear me?"
"Rose?" Jack called. She didn't respond. The alarms were sounding. "Doctor, the nuns have to be on their way. Let's get her out of here."
"What have you done?" a desperate and pained voice screamed. A small pale figure was rushing towards them. He looked at Rose in the Doctor's arms and wailed.
"Your mistress?" Jack's eyes narrowed. "You serve Cassandra?"
"Yes, I serve my lady. What has happened?" Chip glared at Jack. "What did you do?"
"Doctor?" Rose whispered, shifting in his arms. "What is…" She opened her eyes, and the Doctor exhaled in relief. They looked normal. "Cassandra! She was downstairs. She was going to hurt you and Jack, infect you. I pushed back and-" Rose caught sight of Chip over the Doctor's shoulder and tensed. "That man was helping her!"
"Where is my mistress?" Chip asked. His eyes were wide and desperate. "Where is my lady?"
"Calm down," Jack said. "Just, calm down."
"No! You- you killed her!" Chip looked, Rose. "The Rose child should not be here! My mistress is-" He looked at the pods around them. "I heard, I heard what my mistress said. I was listening in. I shall avenge my mistress!"
Chip lunged around Jack, reaching for a nearby lever. Jack caught his arm, but Chip wiggled free for a moment which was all he needed. The Doctor's eyes widened as Chip pulled the lever and the pods around them swung open just as a pair of nuns appeared in the entryway.