The TARDIS seemed to lunge forward, causing Zana to fly back against the railing as she watched the Doctor rush around the control panel gleefully. Rose was laughing excitedly as she gripped onto the edge of the console. Zana took that as a good sign. It meant this was how this outrageous machine usually flew. As soon as the turbulence stopped, the Doctor and Rose dashed towards the doors and stepped out, leaving Zana no choice to follow. She closed the door behind her and her eyes widened at the sight before her. Flying cars, a beautiful river, and a rather impressive city.
"It's the year five billion and twenty-three. We're in the galaxy M87, and this? This is New Earth," the Doctor informed the two of them as they stared in awe.
"That's just...That's just..." Rose started to laugh, pushing her hair from her face.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," the Doctor grinned.
"This is a whole new planet!" Zana beamed, allowing her excitement to take over her. "I'm on a new world! Wow..."
"This is amazing...I'll never get used to this. Never!" Rose jumped up and down, smiling at Zana. "Different ground beneath my feet, different sky! What's that smell?"
Zana took a whiff of the air, and immediately noticed the sweet scent that filled it. If it was possible, her smile widened as she spun around, taking in as much as she possibly could. She couldn't quite believe that she was here. After all, she was just on Earth literally minutes before. Now, look at her! Both feet on New Earth, along with side Rose Tyler and the Doctor! Everything seemed so surreal!
"Apple grass," the Doctor reached down and plucked a few blades of it.
"Apple grass!" Rose repeated happily.
"Yeah, yeah," he nodded, a wide grin on his face.
"It's beautiful...Oh, I love this!" Rose looped her arm around the Doctor's, who smiled down at her adoringly. Zana looked on, watching them as they interacted. She wasn't quite sure what they were to each other, but she knew it wasn't any of her business anyway. "Can I just say, traveling with you, I love it."
"Me too," he laced their fingers together. "Come on!"
With that, they took off across the meadow, looking like a very happy couple. But that was probably the last thing on Zana's mind if she was completely honest.
"Is it really necessary to run?" she raised an eyebrow, following after them.
Rose and the Doctor had been lying down on the apple grass, laughing and talking with each other as they used the Doctor's trench coat as a blanket to sit on. Zana, on the other hand, was just walking around aimlessly, taking in as much of the landscape as she could. Things on New Earth just seemed so...amazing! Everything on New Earth looked so new, yet so familiar, and it fascinated her. Rose was definitely right. She did love this!
"So, the year five billion, the sun expands, the Earth gets roasted," the Doctor was telling Rose, loud enough that Zana could make out what he was saying all the way from where she was standing. She wasn't really surprised knowing that the Earth was roasted. After all, scientists have been talking about it for years.
"That was our first date," Rose replied.
So...they were a couple, then? Zana still hadn't worked it out.
"We had chips," the Doctor smiled softly at the blonde. "So anyway, planet gone, all rocks and dust, but the human race lives on, spread out across the stars. Soon as the Earth burns up, oh yeah, they get all nostalgic, big revival movement, but then find this place. Same size as the Earth, same air, same orbit. Lovely. Call goes out, the humans move in."
"What's the city called?"
"New New York," he told her.
Rose gave him an unbelieving look, "Oh, come on."
"It is! It's the city of New New York!" He laughed. "Strictly speaking, it's the fifteenth New York since the original, so that makes it New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York...What?"
"You're so different," Rose commented softly, looking over him.
He smiled, "New New Doctor!"
Zana was so invested in their conversation and the world around her, she didn't even notice the small, metal spider creeping its way towards her. It scanned the joyful teen, but it didn't seem satisfied with what it found, so it rushed right past her, towards Rose and the Doctor.
"Zana!" Rose called. Zana turned to see her and the Doctor standing up.
"Yeah?" She called back. "Is it time to go already?"
"Oh, no," Rose chuckled as Zana made their way towards the two. "We're just going to explore the city!"
Zana smiled widely, "Yes!"
"Well, I thought we might go there first," the Doctor informed, pointing to a large skyscraper off in the distance as he pulled on his coat.
"Why, what is it?" Zana glanced at him.
"Some sort of hospital. Green moon on the side. That's the universal symbol for hospitals," he informed as he pulled out a small, leather wallet from his pocket and showed it to her and Rose, "I got this. A message on the psychic paper."
"How...how is it doing that?" Zana asked, seeing the words 'Ward 26. Please Come' flash on the white paper. "What's psychic paper?"
"Shows others what you want them to see," Rose told her with a small smile. "And apparently, it can receive messages as well."
"Someone wants to see me," the Doctor told the two of them.
"Hmm...And I thought we were just sight-seeing," Rose looped her arm around the Doctor's as a wide smile spread across her lips, "Come on, then. Let's go and buy some grapes!"
"...Bit rich coming from you," Rose commented as the small group entered the larger hospital. Zana's eyes scanned the lobby, feigning calmness. She was bursting with excitement and joy on the inside, which was a first, considering they were in a hospital.
"I can't help it. I don't like hospitals. They give me the creeps," the Doctor shook his head as Zana moved to walk beside him and Rose.
"The Pleasure Gardens will now take visitors carrying green or blue identification cards for the next fifteen minutes. Visitors are reminded that cuttings from the gardens are not permitted," a woman announced over the tannoy.
"Very smart. Not exactly NHS," Rose commented.
"No shop. I like the little shop," the Doctor said as they came to a stop.
"Why are people still getting sick?" Zana asked the Doctor curiously. "Surely humans have cured everything, yeah?"
"The human race moves on, but so do the viruses. It's an ongoing war," he answered, but Zana hardly heard him. Both of the women had just noticed what the nurses looked like. They were...well...
"They're cats!" Rose whispered, pointing at the one who had just walked past them.
"How are they cats?" Zana kept her eyes on the retreating form, trying to understand what was going on.
"Now, don't stare. Think what you look like to them, all pink and yellow and pink and brown, " he looked over the two of them before pointing over Rose's shoulder. "That's where I'd put the shop. Right there!"
Zana quickly followed him as he started towards the lifts. She was hoping he'd lead her to more cat nurses! Or better yet, some more aliens!
"Ward 26, thanks!" he said once they were standing inside the lift.
"Rose! Come on!" Zana called as the doors closed.
"Hold on! Hold on!" Rose exclaimed as she rushed towards the elevator, but she wasn't quick enough.
"Oh, too late. We're going up," the Doctor said.
"It's all right, there's another lift," Rose replied faintly.
"Ward 26," he informed. "And watch out for the disinfectant."
"Watch out for what?" Zana asked, just as Rose did.
"The disinfectant!"
"The what?" Rose asked loudly, obviously not able to hear him.
"The disin- Oh, you'll find out," he waved her off as the lift started ascending. Zana rested her hands in the pockets of her jacket, waiting for them to get to their floor, when suddenly-
"Commence stage one. Disinfection."
She let out a loud shout as the Doctor and her became drenched in some sort of liquid.
"Bloody hell!" she exclaimed, pushing her soaked hair from her eyes as the Doctor laughed. Just when she thought it was over, a white, powdery substance covered them. "What the hell is this?!"
The Doctor just laughed some more air a fast rush of air-filled the lift, drying them. Zana looked at him like he was insane, but after a second or so, she started cracking up as well. His laugh was infectious, she thought to herself. She rather liked it.
Soon, the lift came to a stop and the two stepped out, still laughing to themselves. Immediately, they were greeted by another cat nurse, which didn't really help Zana's laughing situation. She wasn't laughing to be rude, oh no, she was laughing from excitement.
"Welcome," the nurse greeted, and somehow, Zana managed to compose herself. She couldn't look at the Doctor, though, because it seemed that he was having just as much trouble keeping a straight face.
"Hello," the Doctor nodded as the nurse offered to lead them through the ward. They accepted, and they started walking. "Nice place. No shop, downstairs. I'd have a shop. Not a big one. Just a shop, so people can shop."
The nurse took off her veil, revealing her cat-like features. Zana tried not to stare, she really did. "The hospital is a place of healing."
"A shop does some people the world of good. Not me...Other people."
"The Sisters of Plentitude take a lifelong vow to help, and to mend," she informed as Zana caught sight of a large man. She looked on in confusion, trying to decipher just what exactly was happening to him. His skin was grey in color, and it seemed he had much difficulty moving.
"Excuse me! Members of the public may only gaze upon the Duke of Manhattan with written permission from the Senate of New New York!" the man's assistant, a very posh blonde lady, exclaimed, making Zana step back and apologize.
"That's Petrifold Regression, right?" the Doctor asked the man.
"I'm dying, sir. A lifetime of charity and abstinence, and it ends like this," the man seemed annoyed, amusing Zana. She never knew of anyone being annoyed with dying. Afraid? Yeah. But annoyed?
"Any statements made by the Duke of Manhattan may not be made public without official clearance," his assistant informed professionally. Zana rolled her eyes.
"Frau Clovis! I'm so weak," the man reached for her, and she immediately went to him.
"Sister Jatt! A little privacy, please!" she glared at the Doctor and Zana.
Sister Jatt nodded, leading the two away from Duke of Manhattan and his assistant, "He'll be up and about in no time."
"I doubt it. Petrifold Regression? He's turning to stone. There won't be a cure for oh, a thousand years?" The Doctor scratched head. "He might be up and about, but only as a statue."
"How is that even a disease?" Zana asked, looking around at all the different patients. There was a man, red from head to toe, suspended in air, along with a man covered in white from head to toe as well. But Zana's eyes landed on something rather...strange. Sitting off, away from the others, there was a large head. In a glass container. She studied it, trying to figure out what it could possibly be.
"Have faith in the Sisterhood. But is there no one here you recognize? It's rather unusual to visit without knowing the patient," Sister Jatt asked of the Doctor.
"No, I think I've found him," he smiled, following Zana's gaze to find his old friend.
"Novice Hame, if I can leave these people in your care?" Sister Jatt asked of the younger cat creature, who Zana smiled at.
"Oh, I think my friend got lost. Rose Tyler," the Doctor informed as Jatt turned to leave. "Could you ask at reception?"
"Certainly, sir," she nodded before walking off.
"I'm afraid the Face of Boe's asleep. That's all he tends to do these days. Are you his friends, or...?" Novice Hame asked softly.
"We met just the once on Platform One," the Doctor told her.
"And this is the first time I've met him," Zana informed quietly, watching the sleeping figure. "What's wrong with him?"
"I'm so sorry. I thought you knew," she replied softly. "The Face of Boe is dying."
"Of what?" Zana frowned.
"Old age. The one thing we can't cure...He's thousands of years old. Some people say millions, although that's impossible," she chuckled lightly.
"Oh, I don't know. I like impossible," the Doctor smiled at her before crouching down in front of the Face of Boe. "I'm here...I look a bit different, but it's me, it's the Doctor."
"Who is he?" Zana bent down beside him. "Is he really that old?"
The Doctor looked at her, "I haven't got a clue...he's a mystery to me."
"Is he good?"
"He's harmless," he rested his hand against the glass, watching as the Face of Boe stirred in his sleep.
Zana looked over the Doctor and let out a small sigh. She honestly didn't know what to think of him yet. One minute, he's saving the world, the next he's bringing down governments, then the next he's laughing on New Earth without a care in the universe. Zana won't lie. She was certainly intrigued by him...but she didn't know just how much she wanted to learn about him. He could be the best man she's ever met, or even possibly her worst nightmare. Maybe both...
"Hope, harmony, and health. Hope, harmony, and health," a woman over the tannoy was saying as Zana sat down in front of the Face of Boe. The Doctor had gone to get himself something to drink, but she was fine with that. She was perfectly content sitting with Boe. She was watching him as he stirred in his sleep, pondering what could possibly be on the ancient being's mind. He must have seen so much in his life. Wars, discoveries, civilizations being created and destroyed...She was willing to bet that he had some amazing stories.
"That's very kind. There's no need," Novice Hame's voice made her turn around.
"You're the one working," the Doctor smiled as he handed her a cup of water. Zana accepted the cup he offered her and smiled as she took a drink.
"There's not much to do, just maintain his smoke. And I suppose I'm company. I can hear him singing, sometimes, in my mind. Such ancient songs..." Novice Hame said softly.
"Are we the only visitors?" Zana asked her without taking her eyes off of Boe.
"The rest of Boe-kind became extinct long ago. He's the only one left. Legend says that the Face of Boe has watched the universe grow old. There's all sorts of superstitions around him. One story says that just before his death, the Face of Boe will impart his great secret, that he will speak those words only to one like himself."
"What does that mean?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow.
"It's just a story," she shook her head.
"Tell us the rest."
She thought for a second, "It's said he'll talk to a wanderer. To the man without a home. The lonely god."
"Bit pretentious," Zana commented, earning a look from the Doctor, but of course she didn't see. Her eyes were locked on the Face of Boe.
"Doctor?" Zana called as she stood up. Her legs had gone to sleep, so she decided to get her blood circulating again.
"Hmm?" he up from his conversation with Hame.
"Where's Rose? Shouldn't she be here by now?" she walked over to the two, brushing the dust from her jeans. Not that she even had to, this hospital was spotless.
"Good question..." he thought for a moment. "Novice Hame, would you happen to have a telephone I could borrow?"
"Of course," she nodded politely. "Just around the corner. You can't miss it."
"Thank you," Zana smiled before making her way over to it, with the Doctor close behind. Just as she reached for the white phone, the Doctor grabbed it and dialed Rose's number. He gave Zana a cheeky smile as he pressed it to his ear. "Very funny."
"Where've you been?" He asked as Rose answered. "How long does it take to get to Ward 26?"
"I'm on my way, governor," Rose replied. "I shall proceed up the apples and pear."
"You'll never guess! Zana and I are with the Face of Boe!" the Doctor smiled widely. "Remember him?"
Zana frowned at Rose's laugh. It sounded forced. "Of course I do...that big old...boe race."
"I'd better go. See you in a minute..." the Doctor said as he hung up the phone. Zana noticed him staring at something, and followed his gaze to see him looking at the Duke of Manhattan, who was laughing and smiling away. As the two of them walked closer, she noticed that his skin had returned to normal.
"Didn't think I was going to make it!" The Duke laughed. "It's that couple again! They're my good luck charm. Come in! Don't be shy!"
"Any friendship expressed by the Duke of Manhattan does not constitute a form of a legal contract," his assistant informed immediately.
"Winch me up. Up!" The Duke ordered, and she pressed a button on her remote, lifting his head up so he could see better. "Look at me. No sign of infection."
"Champagne, sir? Ma'am?" A waiter walked up to the Doctor and Zana as they stood there, bewildered.
"No, thanks," the Doctor waved him off before looking back at the Duke. "You had Petrifold Regression, right?"
"That being the operative word. Past tense. Completely cured!"
"But that's impossible."
"Primitive species would accuse us of magic, but it's merely the tender application of science," another cat nurse stepped up to the group, making Zana jump a bit. She hadn't seen her.
"How on Earth did you cure him?" the Doctor asked the nurse.
"How on New Earth, you might say."
"What's in that solution?"
"A simple remedy."
"Then tell me what it is."
"I'm sorry. Patient confidentiality. I don't believe we've met. My name is Matron Casp."
"I'm Zana Kline. Hello," she nodded, feeling like she ought to join in.
"I'm the Doctor," he gave her a smile.
"I think you'll find that we're the doctors here," Casp gave him a look.
"Matron Casp, you're needed in Intensive Care," Sister Jatt interrupted, walking up to them.
"If you would excuse me," Casp gave them a smile before following Jatt.
"Why do I have the feeling something is going on here?" Zana whispered to the Doctor as he watched the two nurses walk away. She didn't like the way the Doctor had said that the Duke being cured was impossible. Surely he knew what he was talking about, right? After all, he is a doctor. Well, at least she thought he was.
"Because I think something is," he took in a deep breath before looking down at her. "Everything is just...too advanced."
"How is that possible?" she looked up and for a split second, their eyes locked onto each other. All her thoughts seemed to vanish from her head as she looked into his eyes, which she could only describe as...ancient. They were a lovely chestnut color, but she didn't pay any mind to that. She could tell, just by his eyes, that he was much older than he looked.
"I...I uh...I'm not sure yet," he cleared his throat. "But I think we should figure it out."
"Yeah..." Zana shook her head, snapping out of her trance-like state.
What the hell had just happened?
"Ambient temperature stands at fourteen degrees. This temperature is designed to promote healing and well-being," Zana muttered along with the woman over the tannoy, having heard it multiple times in the past five minutes alone. She was watching the Doctor look around each cubicle, inspecting all the different patients as Rose wandered into the ward. Zana didn't take notice of how her walk had changed, or how her shirt was just a tad lower than before. All she cared about was that she was okay.
"Rose! Hey!" Zana smiled, walking over to the confused looking woman. "What took you so long?"
"Ran into a wee bit of trouble," Rose gave her an exaggerated smile, but Zana didn't seem to notice. It seemed like Rose was always smiling at her.
"There you are! Come and look at this patient!" The Doctor rushed over to the two women and grabbed Rose's arm, pulling her over to the red patient Zana was examining earlier. Zana followed them, wanting to learn what was wrong with the poor man. "Marconi's Disease. Should take years to recover. Two days. I've never seen anything like it! They've invented a cell washing cascade. It's amazing. Their medical science is way advanced. And this one," he leads them over to the man who was a bright white from head to toe. "Pallidome Pancrosis. Kills you in ten minutes, and he's fine," he smiled at the man before leaning down to whisper to Rose. "I need to find a terminal. I've got to see how they do this," Zana followed as they started to walk off. "Because if they've got the best medicine in the world, then why is it such a secret?"
"I can't Adam and Eve it," Rose stopped and looked around, making Zana raise an eyebrow. Something was off.
"What's...what's...what's with the voice?" the Doctor asked, having noticed as well.
"Oh, I don't know. Just larking about. New Earth, new me..."
"Well, I can talk. New New Doctor," he smiled at her.
"Mmm, aren't you just..." Rose's eyes traveled over him before she grabbed him and pressed their lips together in a long, hard kiss. Zana watched in shock, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Hell, maybe nothing was wrong. Maybe the Doctor and Rose just randomly snogged in the middle of adventures. She didn't know.
"T-T-Terminal's this way..." Rose breathed as they pulled apart. Zana looked between them, seeing that both of them seemed pretty shocked. Guessing they didn't randomly kiss, then. "Phew..." Rose let out a puff of air as she started to walk ahead of the Doctor and Zana.
"Yep, still got it," the Doctor ran a hand through his hair before following after her.
"Okay then. Don't know what to think of that," Zana muttered, walking after them. She caught up with them at the computer terminal. The Doctor was scanning the computer with the...oh, what was it? Sonic...sonic screwdriver!
"Nope, nothing odd," he commented as he looking over the computer screen. "Surgery, post-op, nano-dentistry. No sign of a shop. They should have a shop."
Rose stepped forward, "No, it's missing something else. When I was downstairs, those Nurse Cat Nuns were talking about Intensive Care. Where is it?"
"You're right. Well done," he gave her a look.
"Why would they hide a whole department? It's got to be there somewhere. Search the sub-frame."
"What if the sub-frame's locked?"
"Try the installation protocol," she told him as though he was daft.
"Yeah. Of course. Sorry. Hold on..." he held the sonic screwdriver to the computer screen. Zana jumped back a bit when the wall slid down, revealing a corridor. The Doctor looked at her and chuckled as they started walking, "Intensive Care. Certainly looks intensive."
Rose was leading the Doctor and Zana down a flight of stairs, paying no mind to either of them. Zana was starting to worry about her, but she knew it was probably nothing. After all, she didn't know Rose all that well. For all she knew, it could be normal for her to act like this.
But she doubted it.
The Doctor stopped walking and moved to a green door, one of the hundreds that were in view. Zana watched as he pressed the screwdriver to a switch and flashed it, and instantly regretted doing so as he moved forward to open the door. She gasped and placed a hand over her mouth, stepping back. Sitting inside the small cubicle was a man, who seemed to be suffering from a horrendous disease.
"That's disgusting," Rose commented, unfazed. "What's wrong with him?"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." the Doctor said softly before closing the door and moving onto the next. Zana closed her eyes once she saw that a woman, who was also infected, was sitting inside, obviously in pain.
"What disease is that?" Zana asked him quietly.
"All of them. Every single disease in the galaxy. They've been infected with everything," he answered her with a serious tone, making her open her eyes. He seemed...upset. Possibly more upset than she was at the moment.
"What about us? Are we safe?" Rose asked him quickly.
"The air's sterile. Just don't touch them," he informed as he closed the door.
"How many patients are there like this, Doctor?" Zana turned and looked at all the green doors that were organized at multiple levels.
"They're not patients," he joined her at the railing, clearly angry.
"But they're sick," Rose frowned.
"They were born sick. They're meant to be sick. They exist to be sick. Lab rats! No wonder the Sisters have got a cure for everything. They've built the ultimate research laboratory. A human farm," he spat, disgusted.
"Why don't they just die?" Rose pondered as they started to make their way back to the ward.
"Plague carriers. The last to go," the Doctor stopped and looked over the doors once more. Zana completely understood by he was upset this time because she was upset as well. She knew those cat nurses were just way too good to be true.
"It's for the greater cause," the familiar voice of Novice Hame made the Doctor and Zana turn towards her.
"Novice Hame," the Doctor stepped towards her. "When you took your vows, did you agree to this?"
"The Sisterhood has sworn to help," Hame walked closer to them.
"What, by killing?!" He shouted, making Zana step back. She already knew she didn't like it when he was cross.
"But they're not real people. They're specially grown. They have no proper existence," Hame tried to argue.
"What's the turnover, hmm? Thousand a day? Thousand the next? Thousand the next? How many thousands? For how many years? How many?!" the Doctor's voice grew louder with every question.
"Mankind needed us. 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!"
"But think of those Humans out there, healthy and happy, because of us."
"If they live because of this, then life is worthless!"
"But who are you to decide that?" She questioned.
"I'm the Doctor," he moved even closer to her. "And if you don't like it, if you want to take it to a higher authority, then there isn't one. It stops with me."
Rose moved forward as well, pushing Zana to the side a bit to get past her, making her frown. "Just to confirm. None of the humans in the city actually know about this?"
"We thought it best not," Hame shook her head.
"Hold on. I can understand the bodies. I can understand your vows. One thing I can't understand. What have you done to Rose?" the Doctor asked suddenly, the anger evident in his tone.
"I don't know what you mean," Hame frowned, confused.
"And I'm being very, very calm. You want to be aware of that. Very, very calm. And the only reason I'm being so very, very calm is that the brain is a delicate thing. Whatever you've done to Rose's head, I want it reversed!"
"We haven't done anything!"
"Doctor, I think she's telling the truth," Zana spoke up, seeing how affected by this he was becoming. Nothing good came out of him being angry.
"I'm perfectly fine," Rose spoke up, rolling her eyes.
"These people are dying, and Rose would care," the Doctor turned towards the blonde.
"Oh, all right, clever clogs. Smartypants..." she tugged on his silk tie, which was tucked into his jacket, using it to pull him closer to her. "Lady-killer..."
"What's happened to you?" he frowned, his anger turning into concern.
"I knew something was going on in this hospital, but I needed this body and your mind to find it out."
"Who are you?" he demanded.
She leaned in closer and whispered into the Time Lord's ear, "The last human."
"Cassandra?" he moved back quickly, bumping into Zana in the process. She wasn't paying any mind, though. She was too worried about her friend.
"Wake up and smell the perfume!" Rose smiled before spraying an unknown substance into the Doctor's face. Zana just managed to catch his head before it hit the hard ground.
"What the hell is going on?" Zana demanded of Cassandra, knowing that it couldn't possibly be her friend who had done this.
"Oh, darling, I would love to tell you. But you just aren't worth my time," Cassandra gave Zana a smile before spraying her in the face as well, sending the brunette into unconsciousness.
A/N: Chapter 3, huh? Hmm...I hope I'm doing okay. I know we haven't learned much about Zana just yet, but we will coming up soon! I can promise you that! :)