Less than a month until I'm in England guys, I'm pumped! Now, this chapter is a relatively short one as Ella will be sitting out of most of the action, but there will be chapters were she has a bigger role soon. Enjoy!
After dropping Lynda off, the Doctor had gone back to London so Rose could pack some things and say goodbyes. Ella had been getting dressed while the Doctor flew the TARDIS to their destination.
When the Doctor, Rose and Ella exited the TARDIS, they discovered that they had materialised across the river from a massive city. Flying cars zoomed overhead while Rose looked dumbstruck.
"It's the year five billion and twenty three. We're in the galaxy M87, and this? This is New Earth," the Doctor said.
"That's just. That's just…" Rose trailed off, laughing in awe.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," Dad said, laughing a bit too.
"That's amazing. I'll never get used to this. Never. Different ground beneath my feet, different sky," Rose marvelled while jumping before stopping and sniffing the air. "What's that smell?"
"Apple grass," the Doctor said, happily.
"Apple grass," Rose repeated with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah," Ella muttered, not really in the headspace for being happy about grass.
"It's beautiful. Oh, I love this already. Can I just say, travelling with you, I love it," Rose started rambling.
"Me too. Come on," the Doctor said, grabbing Rose's arm and running off. Ella followed, going a bit slower since she didn't want to intrude much on Rose and her father's outing. When Ella caught up to the Doctor and Rose, they were relaxing on the Doctor's trench coat, looking at the city. Ella settled down on her own a few metres ahead of the Doctor and Rose.
"So, the year five billion, the sun expands, the Earth gets roasted," the Doctor explained, Rose listening raptly.
"That was our first trip!" Rose grinned.
"We had chips," the Doctor said. "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?" Rose asked.
"New New York," the Doctor said.
"Oh, come on," Rose scoffed.
"It is. It's the city of New New York. 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 York. What?" The Doctor explained before hearing Rose laugh.
"You're so different," Rose stated.
"New New Doctor," the Doctor said.
"Can we go and visit New New York, so good they named it twice?" Rose asked, standing up. She and the Doctor then headed over to Ella.
"Well, I thought we might go there first," the Doctor pointed at the hospital along the beach, not very far away. On their side of the river too.
"Why, what is it?" Rose asked.
"Some sort of hospital. Green moon on the side. That's the universal symbol for hospitals. I got this. A message on the psychic paper," the Doctor said, holding the psychic paper out for the girls to read. Ella and Rose peered at it and saw it said 'Ward 26 Please Come'. "Someone wants to see me."
"Hmm. And I thought we were just sight-seeing. Come on, then," Rose said. They all headed towards the hospital and when they entered, the Doctor shivered a bit.
"What?" Ella asked.
"I don't like hospitals," the Doctor said. Rose and Ella laughed.
"Bit rich coming from you," Ella stated with a small smile.
"I can't help it. I don't like hospitals. They give me the creeps," the Doctor said.
"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," the tannoy said.
"No shop. I like the little shop," the Doctor whined a bit. Before Rose and he made some small talk, Ella walking ahead toward the elevator.
Rose finally noticed the faces of the nursing staff in their nun-like wimples and habits.
"They're cats," Rose said, pointing at them.
"Now, don't stare. Think what you look like to them, all pink and yellow. That's where I'd put the shop. Right there," the Doctor said, pointing to a wall. He and Ella then walked into a lift.
"Ward 26, thanks!" The Doctor said.
"Hold on! Hold on!" Rose yelled.
"Oh, too late. We're going up," Ella said.
"It's all right, there's another lift," Rose said.
"Ward 26," the Doctor told her. "And watch out for the disinfectant."
"Watch out for what?" Rose asked loudly.
"The disinfectant!" The Doctor repeated.
"The what?" Rose asked again.
"The disin- Oh, you'll find out," the Doctor muttered.
"Commence stage one disinfection." The Doctor and Ella got drenched by a spray. Then dried by a blow-dryer. The father-daughter pair then reached the required floor and left the lift.
"Please report to reception."
The Doctor and Ella are escorted by a veiled nurse. "Nice place. No shop, downstairs. I'd have a shop. Not a big one. Just a shop, so people can shop." The nurse removed her veil.
"The hospital is a place of healing," the cat nurse said.
"A shop does some people the world of good. Not me. Other people," the Doctor said. Ella rolled her eyes at her father's antics.
"The Sisters of Plentitude take a lifelong vow to help, and to mend." We passed an open cubicle that a man turning to stone was occupying. The blonde woman with him approached us, looking a little miffed.
"Excuse me! Members of the public may only gaze upon the Duke of Manhattan with written permission from the Senate of New New York," she said, making Ella raise her eyebrows and the woman's rudeness.
"That's Petrifold Regression, right?" The Doctor asked him.
"I'm dying, sir. A lifetime of charity and abstinence, and it ends like this," the Duke said sadly.
"Any statements made by the Duke of Manhattan may not be made public without official clearance," the blonde said.
"Frau Clovis! I'm so weak," the Duke said.
"Sister Jatt. A little privacy, please," Clovis snapped. So that was the cat's name.
"He'll be up and about in no time," Sister Jatt assured us.
"I doubt it. Petrifold Regression? He's turning to stone. There won't be a cure for oh, a thousand years? He might be up and about, but only as a statue," Ella stated, running a hand through her hair.
"Have faith in the Sisterhood. But is there no one here you recognise? It's rather unusual to visit without knowing the patient," Jatt asked.
"No, I think I've found him," the Doctor said, looking at the end of the ward. Ella followed his gaze and saw the Face of Boe, looking the same as he did when they last saw him.
"Novice Hame, if I can leave this gentleman and his daughter in your care?" Jatt asked.
"Oh, I think my friend got lost. Rose Tyler. Could you ask at reception?" Ella asked Sister Jatt.
"Certainly, ma'am," she said. Jatt then left.
"I'm afraid the Face of Boe's asleep. That's all he tends to do these days. Are you a friend, or…?" Novice Hame asked.
"We met just the once on Platform One. What's wrong with him?" The Doctor asked.
"I'm so sorry. I thought you knew. The Face of Boe is dying," Hame said sadly.
"Of what?" The Doctor asked before Ella could.
"Old age. The one thing we can't cure. He's thousands of years old. Some people say millions, although that's impossible," Hame said.
"Oh, I don't know. I like impossible. I'm here. I look a bit different, but it's me, It's the Doctor," the Doctor said gently, kneeling in front of the tank. After a few minutes, the Doctor left to get a drink. Ella stayed behind with the Face of Boe.
"Hope, harmony and health. Hope, harmony and health." The Doctor brought Hame a cup of water.
"That's very kind. There's no need," Hame said modestly.
"You're the one working," Ella reasoned.
"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," Hame explained fondly.
"Are we the only visitors?" Ella asked.
"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," Hame said.
"What does that mean?" The Doctor asked.
"It's just a story."
"Tell me the rest."
"It's said he'll talk to a wanderer and his daughter. To the man and woman without a home. The lonely God and Goddess," Hame told us. The Doctor then walked up to a phone and called Rose.
"Rose, where are you?" There was some talking from the other side. "Where've you been? How long does it take to get to Ward 26?" Some more talking on the other side. "You'll never guess. I'm with the Face of Boe." More talking. "I'd better go. See you in a minute." The Doctor had obviously spotted something and had hung up. He then summoned Ella over to him and lead her over to the Duke of Manhatten.
"Didn't think I was going to make it. It's that man and woman again! He's my good luck charm. Come in. Don't be shy!" The Duke welcomed.
"Any friendship expressed by the Duke of Manhattan does not constitute a form of legal contract," Clovis said with a smile.
"Winch me up. Up! Look at me. No sign of infection," the Duke said. Ella was staring at him in complete and utter shock.
"Champagne, sir? Ma'am?" a waiter asked. Ella took a glass and started drinking, finishing the drink seconds later.
"No, thanks. You had Petrifold Regression, right?" The Doctor asked.
"That being the operative word. Past tense. Completely cured," the Duke said.
"But that's impossible," Ella said.
"Primitive species would accuse us of magic, but it's merely the tender application of science," a different nurse cat said.
"How on Earth did you cure him?" The Doctor asked.
"How on New Earth, you might say," cat nurse said.
"What's in that solution?" Ella asked.
"A simple remedy."
"Then tell me what it is," the Doctor said.
"I'm sorry. Patient confidentiality. I don't believe we've met. My name is Matron Casp."
"I'm the Doctor."
"And I'm Ella."
"I think you'll find that we're the doctors here," Matron Casp said, a little coldly.
"Matron Casp, you're needed in Intensive Care," Sister Jatt said.
"If you would excuse me," Matron Casp said. The Doctor walked off and Ella went to sit by the Face of Boe. Ella was sitting against the wall, her eyes closed.
"Ambient temperature stands at fourteen degrees. This temperature is designed to promote healing and well-being." Ella opened her eyes moments later to see Rose snogging the Doctor and Ella's eyes widened comically. The Doctor looked shocked after the kiss broke off but shook his head and left the room.
"Everyone's so bloody happy," Ella grumbled.
"What's troubling you?" Ella heard a voice say in her head and she startled slightly, hitting her head on the wall. Ella rubbed her head as she looked around and saw the Face of Boe looking at her expectantly.
"Let's see. My boyfriend is dead. My father wouldn't let me give him a proper burial. What else? Oh yeah, and my Dad regenerated and everyone around me can't sop being happy," Ella said bitterly.
"Sounds like you need comfort from someone who is not your Dad."
"I guess so. But if Jack miraculously turns up alive and well, I'll have a field day. First thing I'll do is tell him I love him," Ella said. "I was going to on the GameStation, but he was dead before I could. Worst thing is he said he would try to not die."
"When I was younger, I lost my love. I found her, though. She figured out I was alive and came to find me. I ended up finding her instead, clinging onto her ride. One of the best days of my long life."
"I hope that same thing happens to me. But I saw Jack's dead body. I know that he can't come back. Although, some people at UNIT said they thought the name was familiar. By the way, UNIT means…"
"Unified Intelligence Taskforce. I know."
"Oh. So when are you from?" Ella asked.
"A long time ago. Back on Old Earth in its early days."
"Wow, I'll try and see if I can find you." The Face of Boe laughed.
"This building is under quarantine," the tannoy said. Ella rolled her eyes.
"Dad's done something, I bet," Ella said. The Face of Boe seemed to agree. Shutters slammed down across the doors and windows.
"Repeat, this building is under quarantine. No one may leave the premises. Repeat, no one may leave the premises."
A few minutes later, Frau Clovis scream echoed around the floor before she ran into the Ward and sealed the doors.
"Maximum quarantine. Divert all shuttles." All of us had stopped barricading the door since the sick people had left. Only moments later, Frau Clovis lunged at the Doctor and Rose with a metal stand.
"We're safe! We're safe! We're safe! We're clean! We're clean! Look, look," the Doctor said.
"Show me your skin," Clovis ordered.
"Look, clean. Look, if we'd been touched, we'd be dead. So how's it going up here? What's the status?" The Doctor asked. Ella stood and went up to him and slapped him before storming off.
"There's nothing but silence from the other wards. I think we're the only ones left. And I've been trying to override the quarantine. If I can trip a signal over to New New York, they can send a private executive squad," Clovis said.
"You can't do that. If they forced entry, they'd break quarantine," the Doctor warned.
"I am not dying in here."
"We can't let a single particle of disease get out. There is ten million people in that city. They'd all be at risk. Now, turn that off!" The Doctor yelled.
"Not if it gets me out."
"All right, fine. So I have to stop you lot as well. Suits me. Cassandra, Novice Hame, everyone! Excuse me, your Grace. Get me intravenous solutions for every single disease. Move it!" The Doctor ordered. "Ella come on!"
Ella groaned before doing as she was told. Everyone grabbed drip bags while the Doctor collected a long piece of heavy silk rope and started hanging them on his body.
"How's that? Will that do?" The Doctor asked Rose. The two then left and Ella rested in the corner, behind the Face of Boe.
"Seal the door!" Clovis yelled a few minutes later, obviously spotting sick people. A little later, the quarantine had been formally lifted and the Doctor is soaked head to toe with disinfectant.
"This is the NNYPD. Please step away from the shuttles," Ella heard a man yell.
"All staff will present themselves to the officers for immediate arrest. I repeat, immediate arrest. All new life forms will be catalogued and taken into care. All visitors to the hospital will be required to make a statement to the NNYPD." Ella was still with the Face of Boe when the Doctor and Rose finally arrived.
"You were supposed to be dying," the Doctor said.
"There are better things to do today. Dying can wait."
"Oh, I hate telepathy. Just what I need, a head full of big face," Rose said with that weird voice.
"Shh!" The Doctor snapped.
"I have grown tired with the universe, Doctor, but you have taught me to look at it anew. Plus my wife is at home still waiting for me to come back."
"There are legends, you know, saying that you're millions of years old," the Doctor said.
"There are? That would be impossible."
"You liar. You told me you were from the early days of Old Earth not one hour ago," Ella teased with bright eyes.
"Wouldn't it just. I got the impression there was something you wanted to tell me and Ella."
"A great secret."
"So the legend says."
"It can wait."
"Oh, does it have to?" The Doctor whined, making Ella giggle.
"We shall meet again, Doctor, for the third time, for the last time, and the truth shall be told. Until that day…" The Face of Boe then beamed away.
"That is enigmatic. That, that is, that is textbook enigmatic. And now for you," the Doctor said, turning to Rose.
"But everything's happy. Everything's fine. Can't you just leave me?" Rose asked.
"You've lived long enough. Leave that body and end it, Cassandra," the Doctor said.
"Cassandra?!" Ella exclaimed. Rose-Cassandra and the Doctor looking to the pink haired Gallifreyan.
"Yes, Cassandra," the Doctor confirmed.
"I don't want to die," Cassandra said, crying.
"No one does," the Doctor told her.
"Help me."
"I can't."
"Mistress!" A man yelled, running into the Ward. He looked like a walking drawing board.
"Oh, you're alive."
"I kept myself safe for you, mistress."
"A body. And not just that, a volunteer."
"Don't you dare. He's got a life of his own."
"But I worship the mistress. I welcome her."
"You can't, Cassandra, you…" The Doctor trailed off as a pink energy flowed out of Rose and into the walking drawing board. Ross collapsed but the Doctor caught her.
"Oh! You all right? Whoa! Okay?" He asked as Rose gained her balance.
"Yeah. Hello!" Rose said, a bit dazed.
"Hello. Welcome back," the Doctor said, grinning at Rose.
"Oh, sweet Lord. I'm a walking doodle," Cassandra said, drawing their attention back to her.
"You can't stay in there. I'm sorry, Cassandra, but that's not fair. I can take you to the city. They can build you a skin tank and you can stand trial for what you've done," Ella said.
"Well, that would be rather dramatic. Possibly my finest hour, and certainly my finest hat, but I'm afraid we don't have time. Poor little Chip is only a half-life, and he's been through so much. His heart is racing so. He's failing. I don't think he's going to last…" Cassandra said, then falling to her knees. Or rather, Chip's knees.
"Are you all right?" The Doctor asked, kneeling down to Cassandra's level.
"I'm fine. I'm dying, but that's fine," Cassandra said.
"I can take you to the city," the Doctor said.
"No, you won't. Everything's new on this planet. There's no place for Chip and me anymore. You're right, Doctor. It's time to die, and that's good," Cassandra conceded.
"Come on. There's one last thing I can do," the Doctor said. He and Rose helped Chip to the TARDIS.
Ella originally stayed behind while Cassandra went to tell herself she was beautiful, but she caved and watched, being brought to tears and walking back into the TARDIS where she gripped onto the console and cried. Rose walked in and as soon as she heard Ella, she walked up behind her and hugged her tightly, and that was all Ella needed. Comfort.