A/N: Sorry for the late chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Edited: 1/2/2023

Elm walked out of her room with a towel around her neck. Her hair hung in loose wet curls, the sweat from running having been washed away. She left her complicated feelings in the shower and felt better for it. Having a full stomach helped as well. She made a mean omelet.

She grabbed an apple on her way through the kitchen before heading to the console room. The Doctor sat alone, tinkering with the TARDIS.

"Do you ever do anything else?" she questioned after taking a large bite of the apple. It was just the right balance between sweet and tart.

The Doctor didn't bother looking at her and continued to work. "Of course I do."

"Next you'll be telling me you sleep," Elm teased. Glancing around the room, she frowned. "Do you know where Rose and Adam went?"

"Something about a tour," the Doctor replied flippantly. "They've probably gone off to snog."

"Rose has always been a massive flirt," Elm sighed. "But she's young. She's allowed."

The Doctor grunted, though didn't respond.

Elm turned on her heel, humming as she went. She wandered back down the corridor aimlessly searching for her friend. After a minute of this, her hum turned into an off-key, whispered song. "Oh, where, oh where has my little Rose gone? Oh, where, oh where could she be?"

The key that hung against her chest warmed, making her pause to take it out of her shirt. It glowed ever so slightly with light.

"Curious," she murmured, lifting it to eye level. Taking a step forward made the key dim, so she took a step back instead. It brightened once more. Elm pressed a hand against a wall of the TARDIS. "Are you trying to tell me where they are?"

The key didn't respond, nor did the ship, but she followed the hot-cold directions of the object anyway. She'd made two right turns, then a left when she hit a dead end. A nondescript door lay before her.

"Alright, then," she muttered to herself before pushing it open.

The pool room.

"How deep does it go?" That was Adam's voice. He and Rose sat on the edge of the pool with their feet dipped into the water. Their backs were to her.

Elm approached, listening in on their conversation.

"I don't know, actually. Only just found it the other day," Rose responded.

Adam laughed. "You know this whole place is mad, right?"

"You get used to it," Elm chipped in.

Startled, Rose squeaked and slipped forward into the pool. Elm choked on a laugh when her friend resurfaced, makeup running and coughing on water. "Elm!"

"Oh god, I'm so sorry," Elm said between choked laughs.

"You don't sound it! Come help me out!"

Still giggling, Elm grasped one of Rose's hands. Adam, containing laughter as well, grabbed the blonde's other hand. Together they hauled her out of the water. Once out, Rose stared down at her dripping clothes with disdain.

"I'm soaked through," she complained. Ringing out her hair, she glared in her friend's direction. "I'll get you back for that."

Elm grinned cheekily. "I'd like to see you try."

Rose's glare softened as she sighed. "I suppose I needed to change anyways," she rang out some of her shirt. "Just didn't want to leave Adam with the Doctor. You'll keep him company while I'm gone, yeah?"

"Sure," Elm replied. "Then we can take him on his first trip."

Rose grinned and turned to Adam. "I'll be as quick as I can. Meet you in the console room?"

"Sure," the young man said with a nod.

Once Rose left the room, Elm turned to Adam. "How're you liking the TARDIS so far?"

"It's a lot to wrap my mind around," Adam replied. "It's a sort of pocket dimension, right?"

Elm tilted her head. "I don't know. That would make sense, but-" she paused when an idea suddenly came to her. "Why don't we ask the Doctor? He'll know." Grabbing Adam's hand, she tugged him out into the corridor and down the hall.

He winced but followed her lead. "I don't think the Doctor likes me much."

"He doesn't know you much," Elm corrected. They reached an intersection, and she picked a direction at random. "The Doctor's a tough nut to crack, but he's good at heart. Just be yourself, try your best, and he'll come around."

A loud bang rang out, followed by a long string of alien curses. Releasing Adam's hand, Elm rushed forward and around a corner into the console room. She looked around for the Doctor, but couldn't see him.

"Are you alright Doc?" she called.

"Fine," the man responded gruffly. A moment passed before his head popped up on the other side of the console. His eyes flicked to Adam as the young man caught up before returning to Elm. "I thought you were getting Rose?"

Elm made a vague gesture. "She took a dip in the pool and had to change, shouldn't take too long."

"Any reason you two are here, then?" he questioned, eyes once again moving to scrutinize Adam. "I thought I said no loitering."

Seeing an opportunity to ease the tension, Elm smiled. "Adam here has a question."

The Doctor lifted a skeptical brow. "Really?"

At the same moment, Adam sent the young woman a panicked look. "Really?"

"Yes," she responded to both of them before nudging the young man. "Go on. It's a good question."

"Right," Adam said. Taking a breath, he turned to the Doctor. "I was wondering, how did this place get to be bigger on the inside? My guess is it's another dimension, but Elm said you'd know for sure."

The Doctor's shoulders loosened as he listened to the young man's question. "As much as it pains me to admit it, you're right. The TARDIS is dimensionally transcendental. The interior exists in a different dimension than the exterior."

"But how did you do that?" Adam pushed on. "It doesn't make sense."

"Of course it doesn't, it's way beyond you," the Doctor replied with a scoff.

"How do you know that? You haven't even tried explaining it!"

"Trust me, I know."

"But-"

"Right," Elm cut in. "No need to continue that discussion. Adam, if you're really curious, you could always check the library."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Like the TARDIS would let him access future information."

"What do you mean by that?" Elm questioned. "I thought the library was accessible to everyone."

"Oh, it is, but the TARDIS has safeguards in place to ensure that people only see books from their own time," the Doctor explained. "You, for example, wouldn't be able to see books published after 2005."

Elm scrunched up her eyebrows. "But that doesn't make any sense, I have seen-" She was cut off by the sudden voice of her friend.

"I'm here!" Rose ran into the console room, clothes fresh and hair dry. She looked at Adam with a smile. "Told you I wouldn't be long."

"If you didn't take a swim, you would've been faster," the Doctor pointed out.

Rose sent a playful glare Elm's way. "Is that what you told him? That I took a swim?"

"Now that Rose is here, can we go?" Adam cut in. He shifted from foot to foot as he continued. "I'm still not quite sure if I believe this place can travel in time and space."

Elm smiled at the change in topic. "Go on then, Doc, show him what your blue box can do."

Taking a step back, the Doctor pulled a few levers on the console. "Right. Luckily for you, Adam, I've already keyed in the coordinates. I've half a mind to take you to Pompeii after that comment." The center of the time ship lit up momentarily before dimming once again.

Before the Doctor could explain where they were, Rose grabbed his arm. "Let's go do… environment checks. Elm, you and Adam stay here, alright?"

Elm didn't get a chance to respond before they were out the door. "Huh."

"Is that… normal?" Adam questioned, staring at the doors with a mixture of anticipation and confusion.

She shrugged but didn't respond.

A moment later Rose re-entered, grabbed Adam, and pulled him out by his arm. Elm followed after.

"Oh my god," Adam gasped, and Elm had to agree. They were on some sort of spaceship. It reminded her of Platform 1 but wasn't nearly as clean and polished. 139 was painted onto the walls in large lettering.

"Don't worry," Rose said, peering around as well. "You'll get used to it."

Adam couldn't tear his eyes away from the futuristic furniture and art pieces surrounding them. "Where are we?"

Rose exchanged a look with the Doctor. "Good question. Judging by the, uh, architecture, I'd say we're around the year two hundred thousand. If you listen," Rose paused, allowing the noises of the ship to be heard.

"Engines," Elm chipped in. She turned to her friend and gave her a wink. "Right, Rose?"

The blonde grinned toothily and nodded. "We're on some sort of space station. It's a bit warm in here," she tugged at the collar of her jacket. "They could turn the heating down."

"Yeah, it is a bit stuffy," Elm agreed, taking off her coat and tossing it back into the TARDIS. This left her in a light sweater. "You'd think in an advanced spaceship they'd at least have A/C."

Rose shrugged and pointed at a nearby gate. "Let's try that gate! I've got a feeling." She led them across the room, through a security door, and up a few stairs to a viewing platform. Outside was planet Earth, just as beautiful as Elm remembered it. "It's… ah well, I'll let the Doctor describe it."

"The Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire," the alien man explained. "This is planet Earth at its height. Covered with mega-cities, five moons, population of ninety-six billion. The hub of a galactic domain stretching across a million planets, a million species. And here's mankind, right in the middle."

"Brilliant," Elm murmured. She glanced to her left to see how the newbie was taking it. He seemed to share her awe, though expressed it differently. He collapsed to the ground.

The Doctor sighed.

OoOoOoO

Adam came to within a minute, and the Doctor took over escorting the humans. They left the viewing platform in favor of a more spacious room. The alien man spoke to his companions as they walked. "This is a fantastic piece of history. The human race is at its most intelligent. This era has got fine food, good manners-"

A man rushed past them, shoving the Doctor as he went. "Out of the way!"

Floor 139 burst to life in an instant. Food stands opened, people entered, and the noise of life filled the room. Elm stayed close to her friends in an effort not to be run over, but couldn't help but stare at the closest food cart. They were advertising something called a-

"What's a Kronkburger?" she questioned, sniffing the air. "Just smells like fast food to me."

Rose scrunched up her nose. "Fine cuisine?"

"My watch must be wrong," the Doctor said. Frowning, he glanced down at said accessory before looking around again. "No, it's fine. Weird."

"Or maybe your history isn't as good as you thought," Rose teased.

The Doctor's frown deepened. "My history's perfect."

"Maybe we're just in a less fortunate area?" Elm suggested. "Though that doesn't explain why everyone's human."

Adam looked around curiously. "Right, where are all the aliens?"

"Good question. Very good question," the Doctor seemed almost surprised. "How about some food?"

"What?" Adam asked, confused at the sudden change in topic.

"I'd like to try one of those burgers," Elm said in a rush.

Grinning, the alien man approached the food cart. "Oi, mate, how much is a Kronkburger?"

"Two credits twenty, sweetheart," the chef responded in a patronizing voice. "Now join the queue."

The Doctor snapped his fingers. "Right, we need money. And for money, we need a cash point." He shoved his way through the crowds to a wall-mounted screen that resembled an ATM. Elm watched as he used his sonic on the device. A pen-sized metal strip was dispensed from the machine, which he handed to Adam. "There you go. Don't spend it all on sweets."

Adam examined the object in his hands. "How does it work?"

"Go find out!" the Doctor urged. "Thing is, Adam, time travel is a bit like visiting Paris. You've gotta throw yourself in. Eat strange food, speak incorrectly, kiss a few strangers." Rose laughed at Adam's confused expression. "Stop asking how and just go do!"

"C'mon then," Rose said. She linked her arm through Adam's and began tugging him away. "Let's go kiss a few strangers!"

Elm smiled as she watched her friend walk away. Once the blonde was out of sight, she turned toward the Doctor and her carefree attitude dropped. The alien man seemed troubled. "What's wrong?"

"Something's seriously off here," the Doctor replied. "My history isn't wrong, this place is."

"So we're going to investigate?" Elm said with a sigh. "But I really wanted to try some futuristic food."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "How about this? You help me figure out what's plaguing your species' future, and I'll take you somewhere special."

"Deal," Elm said quickly. "So, what's the plan?"

"The dumb tourist always works," the Doctor said with a shrug. "Come on." He pulled her away from the busy lunch area to the outskirts of the crowd. Two women made their way across the floor just ahead of them, and the Doctor made a B-line toward them. "Excuse me," he called, making them pause in their walk. He smiled at their puzzled expressions. "This is going to sound daft, but can you tell me where I am?"

"Floor 139," one of the women replied. Her dark hair was tightly braided and interwoven with beads. "Can't get any bigger, can it?"

"Floor 139, yeah, but what of?" the Doctor questioned.

Elm watched in amusement as the women exchanged glances. The one with beads in her hair gave Elm a pitying look. "Quite the bloke you've got there."

"You're on Satellite Five," the other woman said with a cheery smile. She had light brown hair that hung loosely to her shoulders.

"And what's that?" Elm questioned.

The first woman rolled her eyes. "Oh, you're made for each other. How can you get on board without knowing where you are?"

"Look at us, we're stupid," the Doctor said. He rolled on his toes before leaning back again, maintaining his pleasant smile. Elm matched his grin with one of her own.

The brunette gasped. "Oh, are you a test? A management test?"

"You've got me," the Doctor replied, pulling out his psychic paper. "Well done."

The two women inspected his 'credentials' for a moment, then the brunette nodded. "We've got to be versed in company promotion," she nudged her companion. "They warned us about this in basic training."

"Right then," the first woman said. She rolled her shoulders as she continued. "Ask your questions. If it gets me to Floor 500, I'll do anything."

The Doctor quirked a brow. "What happens on Floor 500?"

"The walls are made of gold," the woman replied. "You should know that."

Elm nodded. "Of course, just another test. Pretend we're completely oblivious."

The woman nodded and led them to a wall of screens. She cleared her throat before speaking. "Latest news… sandstorms on the new Venus archipelago. Two hundred dead. Glasgow water riots into their third day. Spacelane 37 closed because of sunspot activity. And over on the Bad Wolf channel, the Face of Boe has just announced he's pregnant."

Elm lit up at the familiar name, though was confused about the logistics.

The Doctor shrugged apathetically. "I get it. You broadcast the news."

"We are the news," the woman argued. "We write it, package it, and sell it."

Elm hummed in thought. "And how do you do that? What's the process?"

"I'd be happy to show you!" the woman exclaimed with false cheer. As she spoke, a loud buzzer sounded off. It must have been some sort of signal, as the occupants of the room promptly began packing up. The woman they were speaking to smiled wider. "Just in time. If you'd follow me."

The Doctor held up a finger. "Wait, let me call our associates." Turning around, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. "Oi! Mutt and Jeff! Over here!"

The thinning crowd made it possible to see Rose and Adam sitting at a table together. Rose perked up at the Doctor's call and hurried over. Adam followed closely after.

"Alright," the Doctor said, turning back to the women. "Now we're ready. Lead on."

OoOoOoO

The time travelers were led to a pristine white room filled with technology they couldn't identify. As they ascended to a raised platform, a few people streamed in. They sat in a circle around a raised chair in the center of the room. Elm leaned against a railing and watched with interest as the woman with braids took charge.

"Behave, everyone," she said to her subordinates. "We have a management inspection." She glanced toward the Doctor. "How do you want it? By the book?"

The Doctor nodded. "Right from scratch, thanks."

"Okay, so, ladies, gentlemen, multisex, undecided or robot, my name is Cathica Santini Kadainy," she looked toward the Doctor. "That's Cathica with a 'C', in case you want to write to Floor 500. Feel free to ask questions," she looked back at her subordinates. "Company policy states that the process of news gathering must be open, honest, and unbiased."

The brunette from before raised her hand. "Um, actually, it's the law that says that."

Cathica glared at the young woman. "Yes, thank you, Suki," she took a breath and sat down on the raised chair. "Keep it calm, no showing off and here we go." She laid back, and the other staff shifted to hold their hands out in front of them. "Engage safety," those holding their hands out placed them onto their stations, "and spike!"

The walls lit up as Cathica snapped her fingers. The action seemed to be a command of some sort, as her forehead opened up to reveal her brain. Elm watched wide-eyed as a blue light beamed directly into it.

"What's that?" Adam questioned, leaning against the wall for support.

"Compressed information," the Doctor replied. "Reports from everywhere are being packed inside her head and sent out. She wasn't kidding when she said they were the news."

"That's insane," Elm remarked. She walked down the ramp off of the viewing platform to get a closer look.

Rose looked at Cathica curiously. "If it all goes through her, she must be a genius."

"Nah, she can't remember it. There's just too much there," the Doctor said. He descended from the platform as well, circling Cathica opposite to Elm. Rose followed him. "The brain is just the processor. As soon as it closes, she forgets."

"But what about everyone else? What do they do?" Adam asked, gesturing to the other people in the room.

"They've all got tiny chips in their heads connecting them to her. Every fact in the empire beams out of here," the Doctor explained. As he spoke, he circled back around and up to the observation area. Elm followed.

"That's dangerous, though," she said with a frown. "If there's only one source of information, even if the law says they've got to be open and honest, how would anyone even know if there was bias? The whole world's perception of reality is in this Station's hands."

The Doctor nodded grimly. "That's what I call power."

Adam, who Elm had nearly forgotten about, gagged. He was pale and shaken. "I can see her brain."

"Do you want to go?" Rose questioned, placing a comforting hand on his back.

"No," he shook his head. "This tech is amazing."

"It's wrong."

Everyone turned toward the Doctor. The alien man looked like he was deep in thought and stared hard at Cathica.

"What do you mean?" Elm asked. "What's wrong?"

"This technology," the Doctor replied. "It's all wrong."

Rose grinned cheekily. "Trouble?"

"Oh yeah."

Without warning, one of the people on the outer circle flinched back from her station. It was Suki, and she rubbed her hands uncomfortably as everyone else was pulled out as well. Cathica glared at the girl.

"I wasn't even halfway. What was that for?"

Elm looked the young woman up and down. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Suki replied, though she looked perturbed. "Must've been a glitch."

Cathica groaned irritably and slid off her seat. "I'll have to do maintenance." She looked over toward the Doctor. "I hope this doesn't affect my promotion?"

He shifted, caught in his lie. "Well-"

A bright blue screen flickering to life on the far wall interrupted him. Large blocked text announced a promotion as overhead speakers said the same.

Cathica gasped and clasped her hands together. "Come on, this is it. Make it me. Say my name, say my name!"

Elm frowned as she stared at the enthused woman. After an unnecessarily long pause, a name flashed on the screen. The speaker spoke in tandem with the announcement. "Promotion for Suki Macrae Cantrell. Please proceed to Floor 500!"

Suki laughed. "Me? I don't believe it."

As she spoke, her colleagues rose and left the room, no doubt wanting a break. Cathica and Suki remained, however, as did the travelers.

"How the hell did you manage that?" Cathica burst. "I'm above you!"

A disbelieving smile worked its way onto Suki's face. "I don't know, I just applied on the off chance!"

Cathica sighed. "That's not fair, I've been applying for years."

"What's on Floor 500?" Rose questioned in a whisper.

"The walls are made of gold," the Doctor answered. He stared Suki down with inquisitive eyes.

Suki insisted that they all walk her to the elevator to send her off. The young woman practically skipped the whole way there, and Elm couldn't help but admire her cheer.

"I'm going to miss you Cathica," Suki said. A large smile seemed to be permanently fixed on her face. "And you two," she turned to the time travelers. "Thank you so much!"

The Doctor shrugged. "We didn't do anything."

"You're my lucky charm," she insisted. "Would it be too much to ask for a hug?"

"Nah," the Doctor replied, opening his arms. "I'll hug anyone."

They hugged for just a moment before separating. Elm stepped forward to get a hug as well. As she did, Rose and Adam broke off from the group.

"Congratulations," she said to the young woman. "And good luck up there!"

"Thank you!"

An announcement came over the speakers as they spoke. "Staff are reminded that the 16-40 break session has been shortened by ten minutes. Thank you."

"Oh, I've got to go," Suki gasped. "I can't keep them waiting! Cathica, say goodbye to Steve for me?" She stepped into the elevator, a bag slung over her shoulder. "Bye!"

The doors closed and Cathica scoffed. "Good riddance."

"You talk like you'll never see her again," the Doctor remarked. "She's only going upstairs."

"We won't see her again. Once you go to Floor 500, you never come back," she replied offhandedly. Turning on her heel, she made her way back to the broadcasting room.

The Doctor and Elm exchanged a concerned look before following her. Rose joined them soon after, sans Adam.

"You've never seen anyone from Floor 500?" Elm prodded.

"No, they never come down this far," she glanced at them. "Bet you have, though. Management is on what, 488 or so?"

Neither confirming nor denying, the Doctor pressed on. "Have you ever been up there?"

"I can't," she replied with a grumpy look. "Only people who've been chosen can go." Once back at her station, she picked up a clipboard and gestured toward the door. "Look, can we give it a rest? I've only got twenty minutes for maintenance, and you're obviously not going to promote me."

The Doctor ignored her request and sat down on the broadcast chair. Both Elm and Rose stood behind him, leaning against it. "You've never been to another floor, though? Not even one down?"

Cathica sighed as she checked Suki's old station. "I went to Floor 16 when I first arrived. That's medical. Then I came straight here. Satellite Five, you work, eat and sleep on the same floor," she said as if reciting a slogan of some kind. Pausing mid-step, she turned toward the Doctor. "Everyone knows that. You're-you're not management, are you?"

"At last, she's clever," the Doctor replied with a smirk.

"Whatever it is you're doing, don't involve me," the woman insisted, heading to another station. "I don't know anything."

"You're a journalist, right?" Elm questioned. "Aren't you the least bit curious about what's going on? Something is very obviously wrong here."

"For example," the Doctor cut in. "Answer me this, why's the crew all human?"

Cathica paused. "What?"

"There are no aliens on board, why?" the Doctor reiterated.

"I don't know, they're not banned or anything," the woman replied after a moment of thought.

"Where are they, then?" Rose asked.

Cathica shrugged. "I suppose immigration's tightened up, with all the threats."

"What threats?"

"I don't know the usual stuff," she said shortly. "And the price of space warp has doubled. Oh, and Chavic Five's government collapsed. Just…" she made a vague gesture. "Lots of little reasons, that's all."

"Adding up to the one great big fact," the Doctor snapped. "And you didn't even notice."

"You're so used to it that you don't even question it anymore," Elm said with a hum. Looking Cathica over, she asked. "How long has it been since you've seen a different species? Must've been a while if you're this apathetic toward the problem."

"Look, if there was some kind of conspiracy, Satellite Five would've seen it," the woman insisted. "We see everything."

The Doctor scoffed. "I can see better, and this society is the wrong shape. Even the technology is backward."

"It's cutting edge!"

"There's a great big door in your head!" the Doctor exclaimed. "You lot should've chucked that out years ago. The Great and Bountiful Human Empire has been stunted, set back about ninety years." He turned toward Cathica. "When did Satellite Five start broadcasting?"

Even the skeptical woman looked stunned as she answered him. "Ninety-one years ago."

OoOoOoO

The Doctor insisted on being led to the mainframe, and Cathica complied. Elm felt sorry for the woman. Everything she believed in was being turned on its head. She seemed to snap out of her shock when the Doctor opened the computer's cover, though.

"You're not allowed to actually touch it!" she exclaimed. "You're going to get us in trouble!"

"Rose, tell her to button it," the Doctor replied. He opened yet another hatch, which revealed numerous wires and a small screen.

Rose was busy helping the alien man sort out the wires, so Elm turned to the woman instead. "We'll be fine. No one's noticed us yet."

"You're vandalizing the place!" Cathica argued. "Even if they don't get you now, they will eventually!"

Figuring Cathica was going to freak out no matter what she said, Elm turned back to the Doctor. "What're you doing?"

"Gaining access to the mainframe so we can see what's going on here," he replied as he pulled out a bunch of wires. After soldering a few with his sonic, he glanced at his companion. "Any theories yet?"

"Based purely on past experience, alien invaders are usually the answer," Elm responded. She tapped her fingers on her leg as she thought about the situation at hand. "Then again, though, it could just be some guy who rose to the top or something along those lines. Whoever it is, they've got control of the media and have been manipulating everyone from the shadows." She glanced at the still-ranting Cathica before continuing. "That means they probably don't care about recognition, just power."

"All good points," the Doctor replied.

"You're all mad," Cathica burst. "I'm going back to work." Despite her words, the woman hesitated.

"Go on, then," the Doctor replied in a cheery voice. He glanced at his other companion next. "How about you, Rose, any ideas?"

"I can hardly think with how bloody hot it is!" Rose exclaimed, wiping a hand across her forehead.

"Got any explanation for that, Cathica?" the Doctor questioned the woman who had yet to leave.

"I don't know," she muttered. "We keep asking. Something to do with the turbine."

"Something to do with the turbine," the Doctor parroted with a patronizing tone.

She glared at the man. "Well, I don't know!"

"Exactly. Some journalist you are. Look at Rose and Elm. They're thinking, asking questions, theorizing. You're just stagnant," the Doctor ranted. Elm and Rose exchanged a small smile at the Doctor's compliment. He wasn't one to flatter. "And you know, Rose, that is a good point. Why is it so hot?"

Cathica scoffed. "One minute you're going on about empires, now you're talking about the plumbing."

Ignoring the irritated woman, the Doctor straightened the touchscreen monitor. Using his sonic, he was able to pull up the schematics of the plumbing. He grinned.

"Would you look at that?"

Cathica gasped and grabbed the screen away from him. "You've got access to the computer's core! You could look at the archive, the news, the stock exchange, and you're looking at the pipes?"

"There's something wrong," the Doctor responded.

The woman looked over the schematics and shrugged. "I suppose it is a bit odd."

"Why?" Rose cut in. "What is it?"

Elm examined the screen while Cathica explained. "The ventilation system is working to channel massive amounts of heat down."

The Doctor smirked triumphantly. "All the way from the top. Floor 500."

"Could it be the engines?" Elm suggested.

Cathica shook her head. "No, those on Floors 1 through 3."

"Well, whatever it is, I feel like I'm missing a party," Rose said. "Fancy a trip?"

"You can't!" Cathica insisted. "You'd need a key."

"Keys are just codes, and it's giving me one right now. Override 215.9," the Doctor read off the monitor. "Someone up there must like me."

Elm frowned and ran a hand through her hair. "This smells like a trap."

"Let's not leave them waiting too long then, eh?" the Doctor replied with a manic grin.

The elevator stood open, almost waiting for them when they got to it. The time travelers entered without hesitation. Cathica, meanwhile, stared at them incredulously.

Rose gestured the woman forward. "Come with us!"

"No way!" she said. "And don't mention my name when you get into trouble either. Keep me out of this." Turning around, she rushed away, leaving the trio alone.

The Doctor looked down at his companions. "That's her gone, and Adam's given up. Looks like it's just us three."

"Yeah," Rose replied with a tongue and cheek smile.

"Good company at least," Elm added, looping her arm with Rose's.

The alien man gave the girls a fond smile before entering the override code. The doors to the lift closed immediately, and the metal box began rising at a rapid pace. It took mere minutes for it to go up several hundred floors.

Then the doors opened, and the three stepped out.

"Well, the walls aren't made of gold," the Doctor observed.

They most definitely were not. Contrasting with the temperature downstairs, Floor 500 was freezing. It was so cold, in fact, that frost covered nearly every surface. The floor was abandoned and in ruins. Goosebumps rose on Elm's arms, and she mentally wished she'd kept her coat.

"You two should go back," the Doctor said after a moment.

Rose scoffed and walked around the man. "Tough."

Elm followed after her friend, ignoring the annoyed look the Doctor was giving them.

He sighed. "Well at least stay behind me, then."

Neither girl argued as the Doctor led them around. The floor grew worse the further they proceeded, with the bodies of the long-dead sitting in old, torn chairs. The sounds of computers drew the three onward and up a little ramp into a control room of sorts. People sat at terminals that lined the walls, but none moved. A man stood in the center of them, with his back to the time travelers. Everything about him was pale, from his hair to his skin. Elm shivered when he turned around. His grin was snakelike.

"This is fascinating," he began, voice lit with excitement. "Satellite Five contains every bit of information within the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. Birth certificates, shopping habits, and bank statements. You three don't exist. No birth, no job, nothing. How can you walk through the world and not leave a single footprint?"

Before any more could be said, Rose gasped and lurched forward. Elm felt her stomach turn when she saw why. Sitting at one of the terminals was Suki, and the lively girl was completely unresponsive.

"Suki?" Rose called. She approached the girl and nudged her. "Hello? Can you hear me?" When Suki continued to be silent, Rose turned to the unfamiliar man. "What have you done to her?"

"She's dead," the Doctor spoke up. He looked around the room with disgust. "All of them are. Those chips in their heads are controlling them like puppets."

The stranger gasped in delight. "Oh, you're full of information, aren't you? But it's only fair we get some back, it's rare not to know something. So, who are you?"

The Doctor shook his head and gestured for his companions to come back to him. "It doesn't matter, because we're off. Nice to meet you."

Taking a step forward, Elm was about to take Rose's hand when suddenly her arm was grabbed. One of the puppets was gripping her with a vice-like grip. She felt her breath hitch when she saw that both Rose and the Doctor were restrained as well.

"Tell me who you are," the man tried again, speaking slower.

The Doctor scoffed. "Since that information is keeping us alive, I'm hardly going to say, am I?" His gaze flicked to the girls before returning to the man.

"Well," their captor said, drawing out the word. "Perhaps my Editor in Chief can convince you otherwise."

The Doctor leaned toward him. "And who's that?"

"It may interest you to know that this is not the 'Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire'," he began with a laugh. "In fact, it's not human at all. This empire is merely a place where humans happen to live." Elm jumped when a vicious snarl echoed in the room. The man frowned. "Yes, sorry. It's a place where humans are allowed to live, by the kind permission of my client." He snapped his fingers and pointed upwards.

A creature loomed above them, and Elm felt her throat go dry. It was massive, with slimy-looking skin and one large mouth filled with pointed teeth. It snapped at them, unable to do much as it was stuck to the ceiling. As far as Elm could tell, it had no limbs.

"What is that?" Rose squeaked.

The Doctor stared at the creature with wide eyes. "You mean that thing is in charge of Satellite Five?"

"That thing," the man frowned. "As you put it, is in charge of the human race. For nearly a hundred years, he's guided mankind, controlled them, through the news. While I do assist him, as is my job as the Editor, he has been humanity's guiding light. The Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe," the Editor grinned. "I call him Max. Back to my question, I have just the thing to motivate some answers." He pressed a few keys on one of the terminals, and manacles lowered from the ceiling. The time travelers put up a fight but were ultimately restrained side by side in the cuffs. The Editor seemed almost amused at their struggle. "You'd be surprised how much use those things get. The system is almost perfect, but there are a few dissenters now and then."

"You've got humanity isolated from the rest of the universe," Elm said, testing her restraints. "How?"

He shrugged. "Create a climate of fear, and it's easy to keep the borders closed. It's just a matter of emphasis. The right word repeated often enough can do brilliant things. Destabilize an economy, invent an enemy, change a vote."

Rose glared. "So all the people on Earth are slaves?"

"Well, now, there's an interesting point," the Editor began. "Is a slave a slave if he doesn't know he's enslaved?"

"Yes," the Doctor answered shortly.

The pale man frowned. "I was hoping for a philosophical debate. Is that all you're going to say? Yes?"

"Yes."

"You're no fun," the Editor complained.

"You want fun?" the Doctor growled. "Let me out of these manacles, you'll find out how fun I am."

"Oh! He's tough, isn't he?" the Editor laughed mockingly. "But come on, isn't it a great system? You've got to admire it, just a little bit."

"About as much as I admire Stalin," Elm snapped.

"With something as big as this, someone's got to have noticed," Rose objected. "You've already said you've had dissenters."

"From time to time," he hummed. "But the chip system allows me to see inside their brains. Even the smallest doubt can be detected and crushed. Then they carry on, strutting around like they're individuals. They're not, of course. They're just cattle. In that respect, the Jagrafess hasn't changed a thing."

Elm opened her mouth to respond but shut it when she noticed something. On a security camera monitor behind the Editor was Cathica, slowly sneaking around. She had to withhold a grin.

"But you're human," Rose argued. "Not a Jagra-whatever."

"Being human doesn't pay very well," he replied.

"It always comes down to that, doesn't it?" Elm snapped, twisting her wrists in their bindings. She had to bite back the panic that being restrained gave her. "You'd really enslave a whole species of people, stunt their growth, for more money?"

"It makes the world go 'round, as the old saying goes," the man answered with a hum. "I represent a consortium of banks. The Jagrafess is a long-term investment."

There was a beat of silence, and then the Doctor spoke. "What's its lifespan?"

"Three thousand years."

"That's one hell of a metabolism to generate all that heat," the Doctor said. He looked at his companions. "That's why Satellite Five is so hot, he pumps it out of the Jargrafess and channels it downstairs. This whole place is one great big life support system."

Elm glanced up at the creature above them. "What happens if that system gets shut down?"

"Boom."

"And that," the Editor interrupted. "Is why you're so dangerous. Knowledge is power, and you are an unknown. So I'll ask again, who are you?"

When the Doctor didn't immediately respond, the Editor sighed and snapped his fingers. Elm's breath was stolen from her as electricity surged through her body. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Rose and the Doctor being treated the same. She wanted to scream, to shout, but found she couldn't move. Then, all at once, it stopped. Elm panted from the pain.

As they fought to get their composure back, the Editor continued badgering them. "Who are you? Tell me, or next time the voltage is higher."

"No," the Doctor burst. "Leave them alone. I'm the Doctor. They're Rose Tyler and Elm Smith. We're nothing, no one."

"That didn't answer my question," the Editor snapped. "Who do you work for? Who sent you? Who else knows? Who exactly-" he paused, eyes growing wide. He stood stock still for a moment before smiling like the cat who caught the canary. "Time Lord."

Elm jolted like she had been shocked again. "What?"

"What?" the Doctor asked at the same time.

"Oh, yes," the Editor laughed. "The last of the Time Lords in his traveling machine." He patted Rose's cheek before twisting one of Elm's curls. Her skin crawled. "And his little human girls from so long ago."

The Doctor gritted his teeth. "Someone's been telling you lies."

"Young Adam Mitchell?" the Editor questioned, snapping his fingers once more. The monitor at the end of the room showed Adam, strapped down to one of the broadcasting chairs. His skull was open, and he seemed frozen in place.

Rose gasped. "Oh my god, his head."

"What the hell has he done?" the Doctor demanded. "What the hell has he gone and done? They're reading his mind, he's telling them everything!"

"And through him, I know everything about you. Every piece of information in his head is now mine. And he's nothing compared to you, Doctor. The Empire is tiny compared to what you've seen in your," he paused and finished coyly. "T-A-R-D-I-S."

The Doctor jerked in his restraints. "You'll never get your hands on it. I'll die first!"

"Die all you want," the Editor shrugged. "I don't need you. Adam has the key, and I have Adam."

"Which one of you-" the Doctor looked down at his companions and into Rose's guilty face. He rolled his eyes. "You and your boyfriends!"

The Editor cackled. "Today, we are the headlines. We can rewrite history. We could prevent mankind from developing at all! Time is in our control!"

The Doctor glanced at the monitors behind the man, as did Elm. Cathica was listening in and sounded horrified at what she was hearing. "And no one will stop you, because you've bred a human race that doesn't ask questions. They'll believe every lie, trot right into the slaughterhouse if they're told it's made of gold." As the Doctor ranted, Elm watched Cathica straighten and move out of sight.

"Of course they will," the Editor replied with a triumphant grin. "That's all they ever do. I-" He was interrupted by an alarm. The terminals behind him flashed red, and he hastily turned to see what was wrong. "What was that?"

The large monitor switched from viewing Adam to Cathica. She was sitting in a broadcast chair, a stream of light beaming into her head.

"Yes!" Elm cheered.

"She's thinking for herself," the Doctor said with a broad grin. "She's using what she knows about the pipes, the filters, and reversing it!"

The Editor grew more and more panicked as the terminals around him began sparking. The temperature began rising in the room as frost and snow melted.

Rose's manacles short-circuited, followed shortly by Elm's and the Doctor's. They quickly got away from the restraints and left the control room. The Doctor paused momentarily to say something else to the Editor, but the girls wasted no time in getting to Cathica.

While the beam of light was gone, her head was still open and she was unresponsive.

Elm stared down at her sadly. "Is she-" she was cut off by an explosion. It shook the whole room, including a panicking Rose. The blonde had to hold onto the wall to keep steady.

"What was that?!"

The Doctor entered and answered. "The Jargrafess." He snapped his fingers and Cathica's head closed on command. She came to within moments, and the Doctor gave her a large smile. "Good work."

OoOoOoO

"We can't stay." The time travelers plus Cathica had taken the elevator back to Floor 139. Everyone was in a panic, trying to figure out what was going on and what to do. The Doctor stood with his hands in his pockets. "Too many questions. You'll manage on your own."

"You can't leave," Cathica insisted. "No one's going to believe this."

"They'll start believing now. The human race should be back on track," the Doctor replied with a soft smile.

Elm patted the woman on the back. "With all that's happened, they'll need a good journalist to cover the story. I think you've just been promoted."

Cathica let out a laugh. "I guess so." Her smile faded as she looked past them. "What about your friend?"

The three turned around and there, by the TARDIS, was Adam. The young man was looking around nervously.

"He's not my friend," the Doctor growled, storming off toward the offender. Rose followed shortly to mediate.

Elm turned back to Cathica with an apologetic smile. "I guess we're leaving now. It was really nice to meet you." She stepped forward to hug the woman. "Good luck."

"You too," she replied as they separated. "With whatever it is you do."

The young woman smiled gratefully before heading back to the TARDIS. The time ship was like a breath of fresh air, and she rubbed one of the coral struts when she got to the console. The key around her neck warmed.

The Doctor navigated without a word and was soon dragging Adam out the door. Uninterested in that drama, Elm instead headed further into the TARDIS. She was all sweaty. Again.

E/N: Thank you so much for reading! If you liked the chapter, I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Comment Response:

sam: Thank you so much. Your comment was a huge motivator for me. I hope you're right!