"Right then Rose Tyler, you tell me, where do you want to go? Backwards or forwards in time. What's it going to be?"
"Forwards" She decided. The Doctor pressed a couple buttons and pointed to one beside Alex, which she pushed for him. In the few weeks she had been there she had managed to convince him to teach her how to fly the TARDIS. It would take a while but she was slowly learning what did what.
"How far?" He asked then.
"One hundred years" Rose said, picking a random number. Alex pulled the lever for him and he turned a knob to the side and the engines started up, moving only for a few seconds before they stopped and Alex moved the lever back. One hundred years really wasn't that far.
"There you go, step outside those doors" The Doctor announced.
"It's the twenty-second century" Alex finished proudly. The Doctor didn't seem to mind.
"You're kidding" Was all Rose said, staring blankly at the two.
"A bit boring though" Alex frowned
"Do you want to go further?" The Doctor offered.
"Fine by me!" Rose grinned, looking between the two. They both ginned back and Alex pulled the lever back, watching the Doctor spin the knob a bit further than last time. Rose held on to the bar of the console tightly, trying not to fall over but Alex had recently started becoming used to the shaking of travelling in the TARDIS. Especially when she only held on with one hand to be able to drive with him. The Doctor stopped and looked over at her and she replaced the lever to its original position. He looked at Rose then.
"Ten thousand years in the future. Step outside it's the year 12005"
"The New Roman Empire?" Alex asked, looking at him. He grinned and nodded.
"The very same"
"You two think you're so impressive" Rose teased.
"I AM so impressive" They retaliated in synch.
"You wish!" She smirked
"Right then, you asked for it!" The Doctor told her, pointing. "I know exactly where to go. Hold on!" The Doctor took over, moving around Alex to pull the switch himself and pumping a lever furiously as he spun the knob again. Alex was almost knocked over by the sudden lurch of the engines as they sped through the vortex faster than she ever had before. The Doctor happened to be reaching around her and steadied her with a hand on her waist as he did so.
All of a sudden everything stopped and Alex held tight to the console to avoid falling as they landed. The engines quieted and The Doctor stood up proudly, looking to Rose for her reaction of her first trip.
"Where are we?" Rose asked. The Doctor gestured to the doors. "What's out there?" Rose asked again, smiling excitedly now. The Doctor and Alex simply grinned in return and Alex copied his gesture to the doors. Rose ran to the doors and stepped out, looking around as Alex followed her out and The Doctor came last.
"Cool, outer space empty room" Alex joked and Rose laughed. Alex noticed The Doctor's grin at her joke as he moved to the other side of the room, heading down the stairs and started on some kind of control panel with his sonic screwdriver. Alex walked over to him and noticed the buttons on the panel. She moved the Doctor's hand and he frowned when she pressed what looked like the right button and the shutters opened.
"Can never go with the simple answer can you Doctor?" She grinned at him. He rolled his eyes and went to stand beside Rose who was looking out the window in shock. Alex stood on his other side, looking down at the Earth with an almost bittersweet smile on her face. This was amazing, this view, but Alex knew it was time for the Earth to go now. She also knew of all the troubles and losses they'd all have to face just to survive. But no one else could know. She could be the only one, and if she changed something, anything could happen. If she didn't, then innocent people died when she could've done something. She couldn't save anyone most likely, a person shouldn't be alive in the world that should've died, she might not be able to do anything. The only thing she could do was make sure she cleaned up any extra mess she caused.
"You lot. You spend all your time thinking about dying. Like you'll get killed by eggs or beef or global warming or asteroids. But you never take the time to imagine the impossible. Maybe you survive. This is the year 5.5/apple/26. Five billion years in your future. This is the day… hold on" He checked his watch and there was a sudden flare from the sun. Rose stared wide eyed but Alex simply watched, a little sadly. "This is the day the sun expands" He looked at Rose, then at Alex. "Welcome to the end of the world"
The three of them walked down a corridor, not speaking for a moment as a voice came over the speakers.
'Shuttles five and six now docking. Guests are reminded that platform 1 forbids the use of weapons, teleportation and religion' Alex snorted at the last one and The Doctor smiled. 'Earth death is scheduled for 15:39, followed by drinks in the Manchester suite'
"So when it says guests, does it mean people?" Rose asked when the announcement finished.
"Depends what you mean by people" The Doctor and Alex spoke at once. He wasn't even fazed by it but Rose frowned at the two.
"I mean people, what do you mean?"
"Aliens" The Doctor answered simply.
"Well if you think about the term aliens you can't really call anyone an alien" Alex began. "I mean to them we're the aliens so in that case every living creature in the universe are aliens, why not just call them living or something?" Alex shrugged. That had always bothered her since she was little.
"Hmm, makes sense" The Doctor nodded. Seems like he'd never thought of it that way.
"Well what are they doing on this spaceship?" Rose asked, making them turn back to her. "What's it all for?" They stopped at a door and The Doctor began to use the sonic on the control panel.
"Don't you dare" He said, turning to Alex. She simply grinned at him. "It's not really a spaceship" He said then, answering Rose's question. "More like an observation deck, the great and the good are gathering to watch the planet burn"
"What for?" Rose frowned.
"Fun"
The door opened and the three walked in.
"Mind you, when he says the great and the good what he means is the rich" Alex told Rose, remembering the line.
"Are you going to keep that up all day?" He asked, turning to Alex. Alex grinned, knowing the thought was in his head as she said it.
"For as long as you know me" Alex smirked. The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"But, hold on" Rose said, bringing their attention back to her. "This did this once on 'Newsround Extra', the sun expanding, that takes hundreds of years"
"Millions" Alex corrected.
"But the planet's now property of the National trust" The Doctor continued. Alex grinned at the way he jumped in to say it himself. "They've been keeping it preserved, see down there?" He pointed and Alex noticed a small flash from some piece of technology moving away from the sun and past the earth. There were many of them. "Gravity satellite" He explained. "Holding back the sun" Rose frowned out the window.
"But the planet looks the same as ever, I thought the continents shifted and things" She commented, looking over at the two.
"They did, and the trust shifted them back" The Doctor explained simply. "That's a classic Earth. But now the money's run out, nature takes over"
"How long's it got?" Rose asked, not taking her eyes off the Earth below. The Doctor looked down at his watch.
"About half an hour" He told her, looking back up. "Then the planet gets roasted"
"Is that why we're here?" Rose asked, looking up at the two then. "I mean is that what you do? Jump in at the last minute and save the Earth?"
"We're not saving it" The Doctor said evenly. "Time's up"
"But what about the people?" Rose asked, looking shocked.
"None left down there" Alex told her. "They've all gone. Humans are spread out across the galaxy by now, that planet's empty"
Rose looked back to the window.
"Just me and Alex then" She realised. Alex watched the Earth sadly. Everything has it's time and everything dies She reminded herself. She missed The Doctor watching her worriedly. He realised that she knew what was happening. The lines she stole from him made it twice as obvious. But although he knew her enough to know she loved a view like that, she looked sad.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the steward walking in and towards them until he spoke.
"Who the hell are you?" He demanded. The Doctor and the two girls spun around.
"Oh that's nice, thanks" The Doctor said sarcastically.
"But how did you get in?" The Blue alien rephrased. "This is a maximum hospitality zone! The guests have disembarked, they're on their way any second now!"
"That's me, I'm a guest" The Doctor said, not missing a beat. "Look! I've got an invitation" He pulled out the psychic paper and showed it to him. Alex smiled to herself. She really loved that thing. "Look, there you see? It's fine, see?"
"I think he sees" Alex muttered under her breath. The Doctor elbowed her to shut her up and she glared light-heartedly at him.
"The Doctor and two guests. That's Alexandria Collins and Rose Tyler. One, two, they're my two guests. That alright?"
"Well… obviously" The steward spoke, still seeming slightly uncertain but The Doctor grinned nonetheless. "Apologies, et cetera" He continued. "If you're on-board, we'd better start. Enjoy"
The steward turned, making his way across the room to the podium. The Doctor showed the paper to Rose.
"The paper's slightly psychic" He told her, knowing Alex would already know. "Shows them whatever I want them to see. Saves a lot of time" He turned to show it to Alex then but seemed surprised when she snatched it from his hands.
"I bloody love this thing" She muttered to herself, looking it over closely with a grin on her face. The paper was blank, she realised. I must just be really clever She thought to herself.
"It's blank" She said absently. The Doctor glanced at her.
"You must be really clever" He responded, smiling almost proudly in a 'I-taught-her-everything-she-knows' kind of way. Alex smiled as she heard him use the same words she had been thinking.
"He's blue" Rose pointed out while Alex was distracted.
"Yeah" Was all the Doctor said.
"Okay…"
The steward spoke up then through the microphone at the podium, distracting Alex enough to let The Doctor snatch the paper back. Alex pouted at him and he laughed as they listened to the steward's speech.
"We have in attendance The Doctor, Alexandria Collins and Rose Tyler. Thank you! All staff to their positions" God it was weird to have your own name in lines you remember. All of a sudden many smaller blue people started scurrying around the place, finding their positions to be ready for the guests.
"Hurry now! Thank you, as quick as we can! Come along! Come along!" The steward urged to the smaller people. "And now, might I introduce our next honoured guest, representing the forest of Cheem, we have Trees. Namely, Jabe, Lute and Choffa"
The doors opened to show said Trees, who looked oddly humanoid despite being obviously made of wood and leaves. It had always looked to Alex personally like a sister and two older brothers, but the show never seemed that specific. She liked Jabe. A pang of guilt hit Alex's chest when she thought about how this would end for her. Perhaps one more life form than was meant to be would be alright? But the Doctor said when Rose saved her father that there was a man alive in the world who wasn't meant to be, and that was a huge problem. I guess we'll just have to see Alex thought to herself. She had made up her mind, set her resolve, no one was going to die that didn't have to.
The doors opened again and Alex realised she had zoned out from the steward's speaking and watched as the different aliens came in in their correct order, just as they were introduced. The first few she had missed the names for, but she did her best to listen attentively for the rest.
Jabe walked up to them a bit later, the two on either side of her carrying trays of small plants.
"The gift of peace" She announced, handing The Doctor one of the pots. "I bring you a cutting of my grandfather"
"Thank you!" The Doctor replied enthusiastically, taking the gift and handing to Rose. "Yes gifts… erm" He cleared his throat almost uncomfortably as he felt his jacket pockets for anything. Alex silently berated herself, knowing she could have found something in the TARDIS to offer. But now she had to watch the Doctor offering 'air from his lungs'. Like he was doing now…
"How… intimate" Jabe smiled.
"There's more where that came from" The Doctor replied flirtatiously.
"I bet there is"
Alex did her best to retain her composure but she wasn't sure if it was okay to laugh at this point. Attempting not to became ten times harder when she spotted the look on Rose's face. She, well, she had the sort of look on her face that should be expected of someone who has just witnessed their companion flirt with a tree.
"Sponsor of the main event, please welcome The Face of Boe" The steward announced, distracting Alex from The Doctor's flirting. She perked up instantly, smiling as The Face of Boe was brought in. She almost thought she saw him smile when he caught sight of her.
She watched as he took up a place in the corner by the window and surveyed the room. She didn't even notice the Moxx of Balhoon approach and when The Doctor offered air from his lungs and the Moxx spit in Rose's eye. She didn't see the Adherants of the repeated meme approaching or giving their gift either.
"Alex, catch" The Doctor caught her attention, tossing the silver egg into the air and Alex caught it effortlessly. He smiled at her and she smiled back, looking the egg over, knowing exactly what it was.
"And last but not least" The steward continued, having been continuing introductions the whole time. "Our very special guest. Ladies and gentlemen, Trees and multiforms. Consider the Earth below." Oh no "In memory of this dying world" Don't, just stop "We call forth the last human" Bloody hell
The doors opened and Cassandra, the last so called 'human' was wheeled through with her two servants. Alex missed the way The Doctor looked to see Rose's reaction, knowing Alex was already more accustomed to this sort of stuff. When he looked at Alex though his gaze lingered, watching the way she stood rigid and held the silver ball tightly in her left hand.
"The lady Cassandra O'Brien dot Delta seventeen"
"Oh now don't stare" Casandra, laughed, much to Alex's annoyance. The Doctor took note of how she clenched her jaw and reached out to take her hand on his side, which was hanging beside her. He felt her grip immediately tighten and gave her hand a gentle squeeze in reassurance. Alex's grip loosened slowly in his as she calmed.
"I know I know, it's shocking isn't it? I've had my chin completely taken away and look at the difference! Look how thin I am!"
"Five billion years and we still haven't changed a bit" Alex muttered under her breath. The Doctor laughed silently but Rose was simply staring at Casandra in amazement.
"Thin and dainty!" Cassandra went on. "I don't look a day over two thousand. Moisturise me, moisturise me" She ordered quieter to her servants. One moved to spray her from some kind of canister beside her.
"Truly, I am the last human"
Alex's grip tightened again. Rose started forward slowly, moving around Cassandra to get a better look as she continued to prattle on.
"My father was a Texan, my mother was born in the Arctic desert. They were born on the earth and were the last to be buried in its soil. I have come to honour them and… *Sniff* say goodbye. Oh, no tears" She went on, beginning to tear up as one of her servants stepped forward, wiping her eyes. "But behold! I bring gifts from Earth. The last remaining ostrich egg" A member off staff stepped forward with a large egg, showing it around as Cassandra spoke.
"Legend says it had a wingspan of fifty feet and blew fire from its nostrils. Or was that my third husband?" The Doctor laughed, glancing to his side to see that despite how much she disliked Cassandra, Alex actually managed a smile as she rolled her eyes.
"Who knows! Oh don't laugh I'll get laughter lines" Cassandra laughed a little, mumbling uncomfortably to herself. Alex rolled her eyes, letting out a quiet sigh.
"And here, another rarity" Cassandra continued. The men behind her wheeled in a large jukebox. Alex tilted her head slightly and her eyes widened. That thing would be a rarity, it was pretty damn rare in her time around five billion years ago. How'd they even find that? Alex thought to herself. "According to the records this was called an 'ipod'" Cassandra told everyone. Alex snorted quietly, leaning in to The Doctor as she whispered.
"Does this happen a lot? I mean you've probably seen most of human history, how much of it is Chinese whispers?"
"Just about all of it" He whispered back. Alex laughed quietly again and The Doctor smiled down at her.
In their conversation they missed Cassandra talking about 'humanity's greatest composers' but stopped just in time to hear 'Tainted Love' begin to play and The Doctor bobbed around on the intro, smiling at the sound. Alex laughed as she watched him and he continued to grin as he looked down at her.
This one does an awful lot of grinning.
"Refreshments will now be served. Earth death in thirty minutes" The steward announced.
"Refreshments" Alex repeated, looking up at The Doctor. "Alcohol?" She asked innocently. The Doctor frowned at her but couldn't help the bemused expression crossing his face at how she somehow managed to make the question so very innocent.
"Really? I didn't think you'd be one to drink" Was all he said. Alex couldn't help but notice the way he looked between her eyes, as if searching for an answer inside. Alex shrugged.
"Well not much but sometimes my family..." Her smile faded as she paused in her speech, thinking. "Never mind" She shook her head. The Doctor opened his mouth to reply but Alex nodded towards Rose then, cutting him off. "Might want to look into that" She told him as they watched Rose turn and run from the room.
"Oh" The Doctor said quietly, concern etched onto his features. Little did Alex know, a majority of that concern was still for her. The Doctor knew already of course that Alex was both very selfless and very stubborn, whether he liked it or not he couldn't talk to her until they were sure Rose was okay.
"Alright, I'll go talk to her" He told Alex, turning to face her fully. "Don't start a fight, don't wander off and don't… get kidnapped" He finished. Alex raised an eyebrow. He'd basically just summed up everything she'd been doing between sightseeing the past few weeks.
"No promises" She responded, but a smile rose to the surface. He, knowing her so well, knew she'd still try her best. He rolled his eyes as he left, a smile playing on his lips also as he followed Rose to the door. Alex watched him a moment, seeing him stop as Jabe called out to him, letting her scan him with her device. She nodded her thanks and The Doctor glanced back at Alex, taking note of her knowing smile as he turned and continued once again to the door.
Alex glanced around once he had gone, the room was filled with many different species and but Alex couldn't see any she recognised. Until of course her eyes settled on The Face of Boe in the corner. Alex smiled to herself as she ventured over.
'Hello, fledgling' A voice sounded in her head. Alex smiled, albeit a little bemusedly.
"I'm not that young am I?" She asked, laughing slightly.
'It is your first time seeing me, is it not?' He responded. Alex laughed again.
"Well you got me there. It's good to see you" She told him honestly.
'It's good to see you. How long has it been for you?'
"A few weeks give or take since I got here" She told him, giving a small shrug. There was a moment of silence.
'I'm sorry' Alex nodded, suddenly holding back tears as she thought again of everything she had left behind. Everything she never knew she had until now. She thought of something new every day. She suddenly felt a comforting presence, like a calmness wrap around her and smiled, looking up at The Face of Boe. She knew it had to be something to do with him.
'And The Doctor?'
"What about him?" Alex asked, genuinely confused by the question.
'How has he been treating you?'
Alex shrugged. "Great I guess. I mean he's been keeping away from the topic as much as I have since the first day" She thought about that for a moment, keeping quiet before another thought struck her. "See, you meet us for the first time later, with Rose and The Doctor still in this regeneration –thank god for your piece of space junk by the way – but you've seen The Doctor since then" She paused and The Face of Boe- Jack- said nothing. He knew what she was talking about then. "Utopia. Was I there?" She asked hesitantly, she felt like she didn't want to know the answer, but another part of her felt like she had to. Jack said nothing, watching her silently for a moment.
'Would the owner of the blue box in private gallery fifteen please report to the steward's office immediately. Guests are reminded that the use of all teleportation devices is strictly forbidden under Peace Treaty 5.4/cup/16. Thank You'
The voice that came over the loudspeaker was not the automated female voice. In fact the steward's voice that everyone heard was quite the opposite.
'You'd better go find him'
Alex just stood there another moment, watching him and he did the same. She nodded eventually.
"Alright" Was all she said, turning her back on him and walking away. She loved Jack, she really did, and she understood why he couldn't tell her, but she wanted to know. Spoilers She thought to herself, beginning to search the ship for The Doctor and Rose Tyler.
'Earth death in twenty-five minutes. Earth death in twenty-five minutes'
Alex tossed the silver ball from hand to hand before she felt in shift under her palms. She stopped walking, looking down at it as she held it on both her flat, opened hands. The ball slid open and a metal spider came crawling out, stopping on her hands and scanning them before looking up. It seemed to watch her curiously as it scanned her face and she smiled. These things were actually kind of cute.
"Hello" She said in a friendly tone. "My name's Alex. I like you" She continued, not really thinking about what she was saying. What else was there to say? "What about you? Any name?" She asked. The spider simply stared at her. Alex watched it, quickly becoming fond. "You know" She said in a softer voice. "You don't have to listen to her. That mean lady. You can stay with me, and I'll look after you" She frowned then. "Do you need looking after? I mean, you wouldn't need to eat or anything" The spider's red eye flashed for a second and Alex laughed, realising that was it blinking at her. It was really kind of cute now.
"I'll look after you mate. But you'll need a name then" Alex thought to herself. A name for a metal spider. She thought through names of metals before tuning to names of spiders. Finding nothing good there, she searched her mind for a name in general. She sighed, moving her hands so that she kept the spider in one and took the opened sphere in the other, placing it in the pocket inside her jacket. She was surprised when she felt it shift as she placed it carefully away. The whole thing opened like the first half of it had earlier and she was left with a nearly flat curved piece of metal. It might be useful later.
The spider watched her move, not making any attempts to escape and simply observing the human before it. Alex smiled at it, the opened sphere safely in her pocket.
"Look at you" She told it softly, stroking the metal affectionately. The creature moved into her hand and Alex laughed slightly. "I knew you could be peaceful didn't I?" She thought of something then, knowing suddenly what she would call her new pet.
"Amity" She said, smiling. "Your name can be Amity, yeah?" The spider seemed happy with the choice, whirling around on her palm a couple times before doing what looked almost like nodding. Alex laughed. "Alright then Amity, you can stay with me" The creature did just that, climbing up her arm and around her back before settling on her opposite shoulder. Alex smiled at it before continuing her search for the two she had been looking to find in the first place. It wasn't long until she heard a familiar voice, one that didn't sound too happy.
"No! You were too busy thinking up cheap shots about the Deep South! Who are you then, Doctor? What are you called? What sort of alien are you?"
"Not good" Alex muttered, picking up speed as she followed the voice.
"From what planet?"
She heard Rose's question but not The Doctor's quiet answer before it. Until his next shouted response. This was not good.
"Well it's not as if you'd know where it is!"
"Where are you from!?"
"What does it matter?!"
"Tell me who you are!"
Alex flinched at that one, realising how much it sounded like the guy on floor five-hundred whose name she couldn't remember. The Doctor never dealt well with questions like these. He had a reason not to of course. Alex reached the door where she heard their voices coming from and it slid open soundlessly.
"This is who I am, right here right now, alright?" The Doctor shouted angrily, making Alex freeze in her place. Neither of the room's current occupants seemed to notice her. "All that counts is here and now, and this is me!"
"Yeah, and I'm here too because you brought me here, so just tell me!" Rose retaliated in a shout.
"Rose" Alex spoke up, her voice, even but loud, startling Rose. She stared at her in disbelief. Alex had never shouted or anything of the like since she'd known her. Of course, she hadn't known her long, but she hadn't ever yelled. That plus the intenseness of the stare from a girl who always seemed upbeat and happy.
'Earth death in twenty minutes. Earth death in twenty minutes'
The Doctor, stood, walking quickly down the stairs in the middle of the room and stopping at the window. He kept his back to the two and Rose glanced at him before looking back to Alex. Her gaze softened immensely and all of a sudden she was the kind and caring girl Rose was coming to know. She gave a small incline of her head in answer to her unasked question. Rose didn't respond but stood and slowly and carefully approached The Doctor, standing uncomfortably a foot or so behind him.
Alex stayed beside the now closed door as she watched the two. She had a hope that she had somehow helped in the reconciliation that was going on she knew it would have happened anyway. Alex rarely made a difference like that, although she tried.
"Alright" Rose began hesitantly, her voice significantly softer than before. "As my mate Shareen says, don't argue with the designated driver" Alex smiled at that, knowing although she couldn't see, that The Doctor smiled too.
"Can't exactly call for a taxi" Rose continued, taking out her mobile. "We're out of range, just a bit" She joked. Alex smiled, but not all at the joke, as she watched The Doctor turn back to Rose.
"Tell you what" He began, taking Rose's phone from her hands. He took the back off and took something else from his pocket. "With a little bit of jiggery pokery"
"Is that a technical term, 'jiggery pokery'?" Rose asked. Alex could hear the smile in her voice.
"Yeah, I came first in jiggery pokery, what about you?"
"Nah I failed hullabaloo" Rose responded in a similar joking manner.
"Ooh" He muttered and Alex laughed as he handed Rose her phone back. "There you go" Rose looked at the phone and back at him. Coupled with a nod from him she opened her phone and dialled. The Doctor turned as her phone rang and looked back at Alex. Alex's heart skipped a beat as happened every time her name was included or someone, mostly him, looked at her. After weeks of attempting to adjust she still found herself almost forgetting she wasn't watching this on a tv. The way she often stood back didn't help, but she had always preferred watching from a distance.
"Your turn" He told her, holding out his hand.
"What?" She raised an eyebrow. The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"What do you think? I know you must have a mobile, you're from past 2005 sometime you said, no one your age past 2005 wouldn't have a phone. Now give it here" He summed up, the last part with a more joking manner. Alex laughed at that, walking down the wider parts of the descending floor instead of the stairs and stopped on the last one, digging in her pocket and handing her phone down to him. He took the back off and fiddled with it a moment before handing it back.
"Ready to go" He smiled.
"Now I just need someone to call" Alex joked. The Doctor stopped and frowned, as if realising his mistake. "It's fine" She said before he had the chance to apologise. "I'm all ready for anything now. And this way Rose and I can communicate if ever we get separated"
The Doctor smiled and Alex smiled back at him.
"Who's this then?" He asked, noticing the metal creature on Alex's shoulder.
"I found him" She told The Doctor, not really a lie. "He's got no one, can I keep him?" She looked to him, blue eyes shining with hope and The Doctor couldn't help but give in.
"Alright then, but I've nothing to do with it" He relented. "But it causes any trouble, its gone, agreed?"
"Agreed" She grinned. She took the creature from her shoulder then, holding it out for The Doctor to take, which he did. The spider rested in his cupped hands, scanning him and watching him curiously. "Say hello to Amity" Alex told him. The Doctor smiled down at the creature.
"Hello Amity" He relented. Amity blinked its light in what was almost a greeting before it turned and jumped from his hands back to Alex. It clung to her clothing and crawled back up effortlessly to perch on her shoulder.
Alex looked passed him then, towards Rose and the window and The Doctor followed her gaze. He turned fully so that he was beside her as she sat on the small level above where he stood.
"No! I'm fine!" Rose reassured her mother through the phone "On top of the world" Alex and the Doctor laughed as she grinned back at them. Rose lowered her phone from her ear then, looking at it in amazement.
"You think that's amazing wait until you see the bill" The Doctor joked.
"That was five billion years ago. So she's dead now. Five billion years later my mum's dead"
"Bundle of laughs you are" The Doctor commented.
"Ooh, you're a cheery one" Alex said at the same time, thinking of the Eleventh Doctor's reaction to the same kind of comment. Why did they always go for the 'everyone I know is dead'?
The whole platform suddenly shook around them and Alex looked around as did the other two occupants of the room.
"That's not supposed to happen…" The Doctor.
"That's curious" Alex.
Rose remained silent, looking between the two a little concerned.
The three of them left the room to venture down the halls once again. As Alex passed Rose Amity decided he wanted to meet the one person he hadn't scanned yet and jumped from her shoulder to land on Rose. She let out a cry of surprise, attempting to shake him off.
"No, he's fine, he won't hurt you" Alex assured her. Rose stopped trying to swat him away but still stared at him with wide eyes as he scanned her with his little red light. "His name's Amity" Alex smiled at her, Rose having missed it the first time while she was on the phone. "That's how he greets people, gets to know you"
"Uh, hi Amity" Rose said to him, holding her arm with him out away from her. She seemed calmer but still didn't lose her tenseness as she watched him. He blinked to her before jumping back to Alex like he had done from The Doctor.
'Honoured guests may be reassured that gravity pockets may cause slight turbulence, thank you' The steward announced from the loudspeakers.
"Gravity pockets" Alex muttered under her breath, not convinced. The Doctor frowned to himself also as they stepped into the main room again.
"That wasn't a gravity pocket" The Doctor told them, fiddling with the control panel. "I know gravity pockets and they don't feel like that" Jabe walked up beside them as he spoke and The Doctor turned to her. "What do you think Jabe? Listen to the engines, they pitched up about 30 hertz, that dodgy or what?"
"It's the sound of metal, it doesn't make any sense to me" She responded.
"Where's the engine room?" He asked her. Alex frowned, elbowing him in the ribs. He glanced down at her frowning. "What?"
"Not everyone really cares to know stuff like that, you're just weird" She told him. He frowned at her again.
"But the maintenance duct is just behind our guests suite" Jabe spoke up, giving The Doctor an opportunity to smile smugly at her. "I could show you and…" She looked at Alex for a moment. "Your wife" Alex's mouth fell open and she felt her cheeks heat up.
"She's not my wife" The Doctor answered quickly. Alex managed to compose herself, but it just went downhill from there.
"Partner"
"No"
"Concubine?"
"No" She would have to ask him about that one later.
Jabe stared at her for another moment.
"Prostitute…"
Alex's mouth fell open in shock for the second time in moments, incredibly offended.
"Whatever she is, it must be invisible" Rose spoke up, moving forward as she hadn't been noticed yet. "Do you mind?" She stepped forward and took Alex's hand then. "Tell you what, you two go and pollinate, we're going to catch up with family. Quick word with Michael Jackson" She began to lead the way over to Cassandra and Alex simply followed, still holding her hand.
"Don't start a fight" The Doctor called to them, glancing at Alex as he repeated what he'd said earlier. He then turned and offered his arm to Jabe. "I'm all yours" He told her. Alex wasn't sure why that simple few seconds that she'd seen so many times hurt, but she composed herself, hiding the feeling away.
"And I want you home by midnight" Alex called out to him as he left. He grinned back at her before the doors closed.
'Earth death in fifteen minutes. Earth death in fifteen minutes'
Alex stared at the closed doors for a minute, shocked by herself.
"You alright?" Rose asked, trying to get her attention. Alex looked over at her and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah I am" She told her, before remembering something. "And thanks, for that, speaking up for me. I'm sorry about yelling at you earlier" Rose simply nodded.
"That's alright, I crossed a line that I didn't know was there and you did. You did the right thing. And as for speaking up for you, well that's what you do for friends" She smiled. Alex found herself smiling back. "Come on" She told her then, gesturing over to the human trampoline. "Michael Jackson?"
"Michael Jackson" Alex agreed, smiling with her friend.