Domination: Volume Four

Episode Four: The Vengeance of History (Part 2)

Featuring the Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Lauren Dunbar, the Alternate 4th Doctor and Ellie Finch

Behind them, a version of the TARDIS materialised. It wasn't the Doctor's TARDIS but it still resembled a police box. Out of it stepped a bald man dressed in a zip-up hoodie and a tie and a young blonde woman.
"Who are they?" Rose asked.
"Hello there, I heard you needed some help. I'm the Doctor and this is my friend Ellie." the Other Doctor said with a smile, "Apparently the universe is about to end so we'd better get a move on. Shall we save reality?"
"I don't remember being you. When on Earth do I get a dress sense like that?" the Doctor wondered, indicating the hoodie and tie which the Other Doctor was wearing.
"I'm from another universe which I accidentally let burn but I'm fixing the problems which you miss here." the Other Doctor explained, "Now come on you three, get in my TARDIS. I've located the timeline of the Dark Lord's gateway so all we need to do is stop it from opening and reality should be stable."
The Doctor, Rose and Lauren shared an amazed look and entered the TARDIS, before the TARDIS dematerialised.

The TARDIS rematerialised on the same planet where the Dark Lord was operating his gateway, but at a much earlier point in time. The portal was still there but the Dark Lord had not arrived.
"What do we do then, Doctor?" the Doctor asked the Other Doctor, "There's two of us so this plan has to be fantastic."
"I have an idea of how to erase the portal from existence but it has a cost." the Other Doctor said grimly, "We need to convert the portal into pure energy and put it into someone. That dark energy would be used up eating the host and we can all get on with our lives."
The Doctor stared grimly at the Other Doctor and nodded. The two Doctors then set about constructing the conversion equipment.

Lauren had decided to stand in front of the portal and looked into it, thinking to herself. Her travels with the Doctor had taken her to so many wonderful places and she had loved that. In fact, she wouldn't have missed it for the world. Because the Doctor was a brilliant and remarkable man.
"You alright?" Rose asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"Yeah. I just know that I'm going to be the one who has to absorb the energy." Lauren replied, a tear dribbling down her cheek.
"No, you won't. There'll be another way. We didn't see your skeleton, Lauren. You might get out of this alive."
"Oh, don't try and say that. The Doctor needs someone like you by his side. I was just supposed to help him find you. I'm your temporary replacement and now my time is up."
Lauren burst into tears and hugged Rose, hard.
"Promise me one thing, Rose." she demanded, in between wails and tears, "Be there for the Doctor. He needs you."
"I'll do that."

The construction process was now complete and Rose and Lauren stood by the two Doctors and Ellie, observing the portal conversion equipment.
"Now we come to the hard bit." the Other Doctor admitted, "Who's going to be the host?"
"Me." Lauren said, "Those two are needed. I'm not. Not any more."
"Lauren, no." the Doctor said, reaching a hand out to Lauren, who had connected herself up into the absorption equipment, "You don't have to do this. We could just put it into the TARDIS."
"And damage a time machine. That would cause too much damage. This is the only way, Doctor. You and I both know that." the Other Doctor said, activating the equipment.
"Goodbye, Doctor. I'll miss you." Lauren said, a few seconds before she screamed in pain and was burnt to death.

The Doctor and Rose stood by Lauren's grave. They had brought the skeleton to Earth and had given her a proper funeral. They had invited all the people from UNIT, except the Doctor's past self, and Lauren's parents. The funeral had been a good one and now everyone had left apart from the Doctor and Rose.
"We won't forget her, will we Doctor?" Rose asked, "Whatever we do now, we do it in her name."
"Yeah. We'll do what we do in her name. She was a true friend and the universe will be a darker place without her." the Doctor said, "Come on Rose. We'd better go."
The two of them walked back to the TARDIS and left, scattering leaves on the gravestone.

THE END