Unto the Universe

Chapter Forty-Five: Vampires of Venice: Last of Saturnyne

By Lumendea

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any spinoff material, and I gain no income from this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

AN: So yes, Isabella lives. This is a more well-oiled Team TARDIS with Rose and Jack being much more experienced than Amy or Rory were in the original. Not to mention Rose is basically always armed and I just couldn't see her risking leaving Isabella behind. She's too protective. Thanks for all the great feedback on the rewrite thus far.

….

Guido brought them safely to the docks where the TARDIS was tucked away with no signs of any of the aliens. The Doctor woke Rose with a gentle call of her name and shook her awake gently. She woke quickly as the sounds of the city broke through her lingering exhaustion. Blinking, Rose looked around at the dock and then took stock of the people in their boat. Jack chuckled at her and smiled while she quickly got her mind organized.

The Doctor helped Rose out of the boat, mindful that she was still in the chemise that the school had given her and hurried her towards the TARDIS with Isabella. They only received a couple of curious glances. People had their own lives to worry about. The Doctor smiled in amusement. The human race. In the future, everyone would assume that this lot were ready with torches at all times, but just like their modern descendants, they usually had better things to do.

"Remember, Guido, we're here to help." The Doctor pulled out his key and put it into the TARDIS. "Don't panic."

He could tell that his words were worrying the man. Fair enough that, the Doctor decided. He unlocked the TARDIS and gently pushed Rose and Isabella inside. He stepped in after them with Guido coming in behind him. He trusted Jack to keep watch for trouble until they were all inside.

"You can take the cape off," Rose said gently to Isabella.

The girl pulled it back, finally allowing herself to see something other than her feet. The Doctor grinned as Isabella studied the grating under the feet with a quizzical look before slipping past her to check the scanner. She gasped softly when she looked up to see the full scope of the room. Then he looked to Guido who was gaping at the room they were in.

"This place…" Guido gasped and slowly turned, looking up at the domed ceiling. "But it is just a box. It's bigger on the inside." Jack laughed and Rose smiled at the statement. Even the Doctor paused in his escort of Isabella to chuckle. "What manner of man are you?"

"A man who can help your daughter," the Doctor said. He turned her attention to Isabella. "I know that this is probably strange and frightening given what you've been through, but I want to help your daughter."

"Can- can you undo what they did to her?" Guido asked desperately. He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind Isabella's ear. She turned and gave her father a tender look. "I'm here. You're safe, my child. I will never let them take you again. I'm sorry."

"It... it's not your fault," Isabella replied. Her tone and words were those of someone who had become afraid to speak still. The Doctor's anger bubbled at that. "You didn't know. No one did."

"Come with me," the Doctor said. He held his hand out to Isabella. "I need to check some things to know what they did to you. I won't harm you, I promise, but I need to learn some information before I decide what to do next."

There was a lot to do, and the Doctor knew it. The aliens, whatever they were, knew they were onto them. He had some suspicions and needed information from Rose. She'd been too exhausted to talk during the boat ride over, but she was alert now and he knew his precious girl. She would have noticed a lot of useful information.

Thankfully, Isabella took his hand and cooperated with him once they were in the medical bay. Everything was new to her and she was clearly uneasy, but the young woman lay down on the scanner without argument. The Doctor was grateful that this model allowed Guido to hold his daughter's hand. All the strange lights and sounds were completely alien to the pair of them and their willingness to trust him humbled the Doctor.

He had the results of the scan in minutes. The changes were dramatic and obvious, which was something at least. The Doctor had no doubt that Calvierri was already planning something to get Isabella back or kill them all. Once he knew more, maybe he could parlay and sort out of solution for all of them. After all, converting women only was an odd choice, and his mind was already spinning with theories as he studied the readouts. At least, he knew from the scans what they were now.

"Can you help her?" Rose asked.

"Maybe," the Doctor answered. "Likely. She's had alien DNA grafted into her, but she's not too far along. Her core genetic structure is still human. What was the condition of the others? Did anyone else seem self-aware like Isabella?"

"No. They're definitely further along," Rose said sadly. "Is it too late for them?"

"Yes." The Doctor nodded sadly, giving Rose an apologetic look. "Isabella is possible, but any further than her… human bodies just aren't built to withstand that kind of species change. Surviving it one way is impressive, but trying to go back…"

"Yeah." Rose exhaled. "They were…" She shook her head. "Well, you saw them. Creepy is putting it lightly."

"Already connected to a hive mind," the Doctor agreed. "We can't disconnect them."

"There were bodies in the cellar," Rose said softly. "Just piled in a trunk. They were completely mummified. Calvierri said that they drain the young women and replace it with their blood."

"Not everyone would survive the process." The Doctor shook his head. "Species changes are rough. Anytime you make serious changes to a person's body there are risks." He swallowed and shifted uncomfortably.

"Doctor?"

"Before you became the Gold Guardian… I was looking at options to safely extend your life," the Doctor admitted. "Minor grafting was one of the options. Your DNA was strong enough that it was safe for you, but that was a much more controlled-"

Rose stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "It's sweet that you were looking, Doctor. I like knowing you were thinking about us long term." She leaned against his shoulder. "I want to always be here with you."

The Doctor swallowed. Those words were so sweet. He wanted to believe them so badly, wanted to trust that Rose would always want to be here, but… Everyone left in the end. He'd left Susan behind, but only because he knew that she was ready to leave and holding back due to loyalty. Ian and Barbara had risked travelling in a capsule on their own to get home and away from him. Victoria had stayed out of her own time to settle down into a peaceful life completely unlike that on the TARDIS. Jo had left him to get married to a man she'd only just met. Sarah Jane had decided it was time to leave just as he was summoned back to Gallifrey. Tegan had run, Nyssa had left to work on a plague ship, and Turlough had rushed home when his exile was lifted. Mel had found someone else to travel with. Ace had gone to the Time Lord Academy even if thankfully she'd been removed from Gallifrey and the War before the end and now didn't remember all of that. They all left him in the end even if he understood that they needed to do what was best for them. He cared enough to want that for them, but… he hated the wound it always left. And Rose would be the one that would hurt the most.

He pushed those thoughts away. There was time to worry about how long Rose would stay with him at night when he was awake but she was asleep. That was the best time to be afraid because at least then he could hold her close and commit her breathing to memory. Right now, he had a young woman in need of genetic surgery.

"Alright, Isabella," the Doctor said, returning to the young woman. Rose drew back and offered Isabella a smile. "I can fix this. I just need to you go to sleep." He reached for a mask. "When you wake up, you'll be completely human again."

The young woman nodded. She was still overwhelmed and hurting, but she was already looking better with the support of her father. Isabella stayed still as he gently lowered the mask and let the vaporized drugs do their work. Her eyes slid shut and the Doctor went to work. The TARDIS didn't have the best genetic tools, he wasn't the Rani, but it was enough for what he needed today.

….

Three hours later, Isabella was waking, and the Doctor was grinning at the latest scan. "Human," the Doctor announced. "She's human again. She's got a bit of vitamin D deficiency at the moment, but she's going to be just fine."

"You're sure?" Guido asked. The man was still gripping the sleeping Isabella's hand. She was beginning to wake and Guido didn't seem to know where to focus his attention. "Truly?"

"I'm sure."

"Being an actual medical doctor today." Jack was grinning from the chair he had claimed in the corner of the room. "So that's Isabella saved. Rose, did you learn anything in the school?"

"Not as much as I would have liked," Rose admitted. "They're definitely converting the girls they take into the school, though not everyone survives." She shook her head. "But Calvierri did say some interesting things there at the end."

"Such as?" the Doctor pressed.

"She said that the women are connected in a hive mind and she is the queen of the prior generation. Actually, she seemed to like the idea of making me the next queen." Rose shuddered. "And she said that there are ten thousand husbands waiting in the water."

"Ten thousand husbands," the Doctor repeated.

"Yeah, needless to say, I declined that proposal," Rose joked. The Doctor hated the rage and jealousy that filled his chest for a moment. "And I hit a device on her hip, pretty sure it was a perception filter and it stopped working for a second so I got a look at her. She's the same size as a human, bit bigger maybe, and looks a lot like a purple lobster."

"Ah." The Doctor's eyes widened with recognition. "That makes sense."

"You know what they are?" Guido asked.

"Pretty sure."

"Then we must destroy them!" Guido cried.

"No," the Doctor snapped. He stepped closer to Guido. "Those girls did not choose their fate any more than your daughter did." Guido flinched at that. "We arrived in time to save her from that fate. Be grateful for that and have compassion for those we couldn't save."

"But they are demons, we cannot let them roam the city."

"They won't," the Doctor promised. He took a step back. "Now that I know what they are, I can find them a new home. Someplace well suited to them without anyone for them to hurt. I will not condemn a race to death today, no matter the arguments you make. You have your daughter and she still has her father. Be grateful for that miracle."

"What's your plan, Doctor?" Jack asked.

"I need to speak with Calvierri and make her my offer. Ideally, we resolve this without anyone else getting hurt."

Thankfully, Rose and Jack nodded their understanding. The Doctor hated the way Guido grumbled. He understood. He'd almost lost Isabella and there were families that had lost their daughters. But there was no saving those young women, their conversions were too complete.

"What happens to Isabella and me now?" Guido asked.

"She needs some rest. Not much, but some sleep," the Doctor said. "You can wait here until I return. Or if you have a friend you can trust, you can go there. I wouldn't go to your home yet though."

With that, the Doctor turned to Rose and gently kissed her forehead. "I need to give them a chance, Rose."

"I know," she answered. "I'll stay with Isabella and Guido, but at least take Jack with you to make sure that you get out okay."

Jack stepped forward, his expression stern and serious. The Doctor almost smiled. He'd really done well with companions this time around. Well, partner and companion.

….

In the light of day all, it took to get into the main hall of Calvierri's mansion was a flick of the psychic paper. The guards saw no threat. The Doctor doubted they had any idea what had happened in the early hours of the morning. Jack stayed close to the door while the Doctor cross the room to study the grand chair. More of a throne in truth.

"Doctor," Jack said lowly.

The Doctor turned as Calvierri entered the room and slumped into the throne. She stopped immediately upon seeing him, her eyes jumping between him and Jack as she sized them up. Jack was closer to her and the Doctor decided to make it clear which of them was more dangerous.

"Long way from Saturnyne, aren't you, Sister of the Water?"

"Ah, let me guess. The owner of the psychic paper." Calvierri stepped a little closer to him. "I'm unsure if you are a refugee like me or something else, like the Star Knight girl."

"Her name is Rose," the Doctor said. "And I'm the Doctor. We both want information, so, I'll make you a deal. An answer for an answer."

"That is acceptable." Calvierri was giving him a charming smile and moving closer, leaving Jack at her back. Good, she thought, he was the bigger threat. The Doctor relaxed a little.

"You're using a perception filter to blend in here on Earth. It manipulates the brainwaves of the person looking at you, but it's imperfect. The first time a person sees one of your kind, the brain doesn't know what its supposed to see and thus leaves it blank. That's why your ladies didn't have reflections in the mirror.

"That was not a question."

"Why can we see your teeth, then?"

"Self-preservation overrides the mirage," Calvierri laughed. "The subconscious perceives the threat and tries to alert the conscious brain."

"Interesting," the Doctor said. "Your question?"

"Where are you from?

"Gallifrey," the Doctor answered. The word was ash in his mouth, but he managed to name his homeworld without immediately collapsing.

Calvierri's eyes widened. She knew of his kind then. "You should be in a museum. Or in a mausoleum."

"Why are you here?" the Doctor asked.

"Saturnyne was hit with waves of temporal distortions during the Last Great Time War." True pain-filled Calvierri's eyes and she paced nervously. "It changed us and our world. At first… we had hopes of surviving, but then…" She swallowed. "A rift opened a tear in time and space. Creatures of shadow, neverweres, escaped into our world and transformed our people. Then the rift changed and we heard screaming. It wasn't safe, but we took the risk and passed through the rift to this world. We found an ocean like that of Saturnyne, but our homeworld was lost."

"I'm sorry," the Doctor said. "The universe lost many planets in that war."

"Then you understand." Calvierri's eyes brightened. "I was the only female to survive long enough to make it to Earth. The waters are full of my sons. I can make this city a haven for my kind."

"I will make you a deal," the Doctor said in a low voice. Anger bubbled under his skin as she smiled, but he found himself understanding her position. At least a little. "I will take your sons and the converted girls to a water world. A world where they can build a new civilization without displacing or destroying any native sentient species."

"They?" Calvierri repeated smoothly. "And what of me, Doctor?"

"You've seeded a level five planet," the Doctor reminded her. "You will go to the Shadow Proclamation to answer for that violation, but your species will be saved." He met her gaze firmly. "It's a good deal."

"I did what was necessary."

"Those girls will never be human again," the Doctor insisted. "They will never see their families again. Never escape the hive mind state they now exist in. You robbed them and you must answer for that."

"Robbed them?" she scoffed. "Of what? Lives as property to men? Limited independence and political power? Servitude?"

"And what did you do them?" the Doctor snapped. "Rewrote them completely without any consent to be mates to your sons regardless of their wishes. And the very power and position you wield over this city proves it wouldn't have been impossible for them to achieve the same. Now they can never even try. You violated clear galactic law, Calvierri." The Doctor exhaled. "But I am still prepared to help you save your species. It's the most merciful offer you'll receive from me."

"I need more females," she insisted coldly. "I have ten thousand husbands waiting for them."

"The conversion process has a high likelihood of killing. How many have died?" She didn't answer him and the Doctor shook his head, pushing down the simmering rage. "Saturnyns don't need a one-to-one ratio. Not even close, not with the number of eggs you lay at once. I know how your species works. You can rebuild a diverse population with only three females and you have six. You won't get any more. Take the deal."

"My sons will still need me. And the females need the guidance of my mind. I will not leave them."

"Even if it saves them?"

"I have already saved them," Calvierri sneered. She stepped back and eyed him with a considering look. "This planet suits us. Why should we leave? There is plenty of food for my children."

"Yes, another crime on you," the Doctor said. "How many sailors, swimmers, and innocents have your sons devoured?"

"They need to eat."

"Take my offer, Calvierri."

"It's one city."

"It won't be one city," the Doctor said. "You know that. Your children are already killing anything in the waters of the lagoon. It will spread and the humans will discover you and fight. There will be no peace for your species here."

"I will consider it," Calvierri said slowly.

"One hour," the Doctor replied. "I'll be back in one hour."

"Mother!"

Her son stormed into the room, hissing at the Doctor as his teeth appeared. But his mother held up a hand, gesturing for him to be silent. Nodding to Calvierri, the Doctor turned to the front door.

"See you in an hour." He strode past her to the door. Jack fell into step beside him as they walked out into the sunshine.

"Think she'll take the deal?" Jack asked.

"I hope so," the Doctor groaned. "Rassilon, I hope so." This was a species left damaged by the Time War, almost extinct, but they could still salvage something.

"So, we wait for an hour?" Jack asked doubtfully.

"Calvierri isn't a fool, but she is desperate. I want to avoid backing her into a corner as much as possible. They came here with enough technology for perception filters and to establish a base of power. I don't want to make assumptions on what else they might have."

"Fair." They walked across the bridge away from the palace. "But it's that son of hers that has me most concerned. I don't like the look of him."

….

Calvierri inhaled slowly as the guards closed the door behind the strangers. The Doctor was dangerous. She'd heard whispers of him before when the Time War had raged and the waves had battered her homeworld. But, the offer of a whole planet, a fresh world without needing to be concerned about humans was tempting.

"Mother," Francesco hissed. "Don't tell me you're considering his offer!"

"That girl was dangerous, Francesco! He is dangerous and that other man with him is an unknown factor who might be just as dangerous." She touched her son's cheek and gave him a small smile. "My priority is protecting you and your brother's future. I would have liked a few more females, but… it is enough. And the offer of a fresh world is tempting."

"But he would take you away from us! We need you! You said it yourself!"

"Francesco, I have an hour." Calvierri stepped back and turned away from him. "I will think on the offer. Do not despair, whatever I choose, I choose to save our species." Suddenly, her appearance flickered, startling Carlo as he entered the room.

"Mother?" Francesco gasped. "What's wrong with your perception filter?"

"That Star Knight girl damaged it more than I thought," Calvierri growled. "I need to think. "She spun and left the room, leaving Francesco to turn towards the throne with an angry expression.