Time Can Be Rewritten

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

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The Long Game

Rose scowled as she stormed into the console room, the Doctor bit back a smile as he asked lightly, "Regretting asking pretty boy along?"

He sniggered as she actually growled at him, she threw her arms up in frustration as she ranted, "He treat's me like I'm stupid!"

"You were the one who insisted he came!"

"Well, you don't have to be so smug about it." She grumbled, rolling her eyes as she settled down next to him where he was fiddling with something under the console. Rose looked at him, "You've never treated me like I'm just some blonde idiot."

"That's cos I only travel with the best." He said as though it was obvious, he smiled softly at her, "His opinion matters?"

"Nah," Rose sighed, "It's my own fault anyway, I thought since he helped save you, he deserved a trip, but he is so condescending!" She leaned back against the console, "It's so irritating, I swear he thinks he's impressing me with his so called 'knowledge'."

The Doctor snorted, "Don't worry, one trip and it's back home for pretty boy."

She gave him her tongue in tooth grin, "So, where're we going?"

"Up to you." He shrugged, "Your guest, your decision."

"The future," She grinned at him, "Definitely the future."

"Rose!" Adam exclaimed, wandering into the console room a moment later, "You disappeared, I swear this place is a maze!"

The Doctor raised his eyebrows at her, amused, "I may have snuck out while he was still talking…" He gave her another look and she reluctantly admitted, "And I may have asked the Tardis to lose him for me."

He snorted, pulling himself up from beneath the console, cutting Adam off before he could further provoke Rose, "Right then. Off we go!"

As the Tardis landed, Rose and the Doctor stepped out first, Adam hesitantly following behind them, his mouth hanging open as he took everything in, "Oh, my God!" Rose grinned and wrapped her arm around the Doctors, "Where are we?" Adam sounded faint as he looked around.

"It's 200,000, it's a spaceship…" The Doctor paused, "No, wait a minute, space station, and uh… let's try that gate over there."

Rose was practically skipping as she walked arm in arm with her Doctor. She looked down at the Earth in awe, she never got tired of views like this, the Doctor grinned down at her, never tired of her reactions. Adam held on to the railings for support as he made his way to Rose's other side, gaping at the view.

"This is the fourth great and bountiful human empire. And there it is. Planet Earth at its height. Covered with mega-cities, five moons – population 96 million. The hub of a galactic domain, stretching across a million planets, a million species – with mankind right in the middle."

As the Doctor finished explaining, Rose grabbed him and kissed him hard, neither noticing as Adam fainted with a girlish sigh, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she smiled into the kiss as she pulled away, "How do you make everything sound so…" Rose grinned her tongue in tooth grin, "Seductive."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Rose." He raised his eyebrows, his blue eyes alight with mischief as he said innocently, "I just keep getting mauled."

Rose slapped his chest, the offended look betrayed by the laughter in her eyes, "You're such an ass."

He just grinned at her before they both turned to see Adam on the floor, Rose rolled her eyes, "Better wake him up."

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"Come on, Adam, open your mind." The Doctor led them both through the space station, Rose snorted at the mental image of Adam's chip type 2. Adam looked offended for a moment before the Doctor added, "You're gonna like this fantastic period of history. The human race at its most intelligent – culture, art, politics. This era has got fine food, good manners-"

He was cut off rudely as a man shoved past them, "Out of the way!"

Floor 139 suddenly sprang to life around them as food stalls were set up. The Doctor looked utterly bemused as he turned around, Rose examined the fast food behind the cases and glanced at him, "Fine cuisine?"

He looked completely wrong-footed as he replied, "My watch must be wrong." He checked it, "No, it's fine… weird."

"That's what comes of showing off." Rose teased him, "Your history's not as good as you thought it was."

"My history's perfect."

She smirked at him, her tongue poking out between her teeth, "About as perfect as your driving."

"Are you ever gonna let that go?" The Doctor rolled his eyes at her.

Adam intervened, "They're all human. What about the million of planets? The millions of species? Where are they?"

"Good question." The Doctor looked genuinely surprised, "Actually, that IS a good question." He jovially put an arm around Adam's shoulder as Rose grinned at him, "Adam, me old mate, you must be starving."

Adam glanced at the Doctor, "No, I'm just a bit time sick."

Rose snorted.

"Nah, you just need a bit of grub," He looked at a chef, "Oi, mate – how much is a kronk burger?"

"Two credits twenty, sweetheart. Now, join the queue."

The Doctor looked around, "Money, we need money," He walked over to the cashpoint, "Have to use a cashpoint." They both followed him, the Doctor held his sonic screwdriver to the machine and what looked like a metal strip fell out, he handed it to Adam. "There you go – pocket money. Don't spend it all on sweets."

Adam examined it bemused, "How does it work?"

He turned back around, "Go and find out! Stop nagging me! The thing is, Adam, time-travel's like visiting Paris. You can't just read the guidebook; you've got to throw yourself in. Eat the food, use the wrong verbs, get charged double and end up kissing complete strangers." Adam just stared at him with his brow furrowed, "… or is that just me? Stop asking questions, go on, do it!" He shooed Adam away.

Rose giggled as Adam turned hesitantly and walked into the crowd, "I better look after him for a bit… don't do anything fun without me and absolutely no kissing strangers!" She pointed at him sternly, the Doctor grinned back at her as she winked at him.

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Adam was sat at a crowded table as Rose walked over to him paper cup in hand, she offered it to him as she sat down, "Try this. It's called 'zaffic', it's nice, it's like a slush puppy."

"What flavour?"

She tried it, "Sort of, beef?"

"Oh, my God…" He whispered, completely overwhelmed, he shook his head, "It's like everything's gone. Home – family – everything."

Rose leaned on her hand as she considered, "This helps," She pulled out her mobile, "The Doctor gave it a bit of a top up. Who's back home? Your mum and dad?"

"Yeah."

She offered it over to him, "Phone 'em up."

Disbelief coloured his voice, "But that's one hundred and ninety-eye thousand years ago."

"Honestly, try it. Go on!" Rose desperately hoped she wasn't making a mistake.

He took it, "Is there a code for planet Earth?"

"Just dial!"

Adam dialled and his eyes widened as he reached answerphone, "It's on! Hi, it's me. I've sort of gone… travelling. I met these people, and we've gone travelling together. But, um… I'm fine, and I'll call you later. Love you, bye." Adam laughed gleefully as he hung up, "That is just-"

He was cut off as an alarm went off, everyone started to abandon the canteen. Rose looked around for the Doctor and Adam looked completely lost.

"Oi!" The Doctor shouted over to them, "Mutt and Jeff! Over here!"

Rose beamed at him, she turned to Adam, "Phone please," he looked hesitant but handed it over as they got up and headed over to the Doctor.

Suki and Cathica led the three of them through to a different room where they were joined by several others, they stood leaning against the railings at the side of the room as Cathica stood by the chair in the middle of the room and Suki joined the circle around the chair, cross legged.

"Now. Everybody behave. We have a management inspection." Cathica turned to where they were stood, "How do you want it? By the book?"

"Oh, right from scratch, thanks."

Rose wrapped her arms around the Doctors leaning into him as Cathica turned away, "Okay, so – ladies, gentlemen, multisex, undecided or robot – my name is Cathica Santini Kadainy. That's Cathica with a 'C', in case you want to write to Floor 500 praising me, and please… do…" She smiled at the Doctor who grinned, giving a non-committal jerk of his head, Rose bit back a smile.

"Now, please feel free to ask any questions. The process of news gathering must be open, honest, and be non-biased. That's company policy." She turned again to smile at the Doctor who nodded at her.

"Actually," Suki spoke up hesitantly, also smiling at the Doctor, "It's the law."

Cathica turned to the other woman irritated, "Yes, thank you, Suki. Okay, keep it calm… don't show off for the guests… here we go." She lay down in the chair, "And… engage safety."

The staff held their hands out over their hand pads. Each of the eight walls lit up as they did so. The three of them looked around as Cathica clicked her fingers, and opened the door in her forehead, revealing her brain.

The Doctor looked mildly disgusted as Adam leaned forwards trying to get a better look, Rose looked up at the Doctor as the staff placed their hands down on the pads and closed their eyes.

"And 3… 2… And spike." Cathica said before a blue light spiked down into her brain from the contraption above the chair.

"Compressed information, streaming into her. Reports from every city, every country, every planet, and they all get packaged inside her head. She becomes part of the software. Her brain IS the computer." The Doctor explained, still looking slightly disgusted.

Rose cocked her head to the side, "She couldn't remember all that though?"

"Nah, there's too much, her head would blow up." He began to walk around the room, his hand grasping Rose's as they circled the platform, "The brain's the processor. As soon as it closes, she forgets."

"So, what about all these people round the edge?"

"They've all got tiny little chips in their head, connecting them to her-" Rose knelt down next to one of them, "- and they transmit 600 channels. Every single fact in the empire beams out of this place." He led Rose back over to the railing, leaning against it, "Now, that's what I call power."

Adam joined them, still staring at Cathica blankly.

"You alright?" Rose asked, the Doctor turning to look at them both.

"I can see her brain."

Rose looked up at the Doctor, "But this technology… it can't be right, can it?"

"This technology, it's… it's amazing."

The Doctor stared at Cathica, "This technology's wrong."

"Trouble?" Rose asked him innocently, a smile playing over her lips.

He caught her eye, grinning down at her, "Oh, yeah."

Her tongue poked out between her teeth as she beamed at him, when there was a slight shuddering sound, and Suki twitched. Gasping, she lifted her hands off the pad as though she had been electrocuted, the other members of the staff were forced to lift their own hands as the lights in the walls turned off, the information no longer pouring into Cathica.

Suki rubbed her hands, breathing heavily as Cathica glared at her, "Come off it, Suki, I wasn't even halfway, what was that for?"

"Sorry," Suki apologised as Cathica stood, "Must've been a glitch."

A loudspeaker suddenly sounded out, a projection springing to life on the wall, "Promotion."

"This is it. Come on. God, make it me. Come on, say my name." Cathica started praying, "Say my name, say my name…"

"Promotion for… Suki Macrae Cantrell." The words flashed on the projection as Suki's mouth dropped open and Cathica looked gutted, "Please proceed to Floor 500."

Suki stood up, staring at the projection in shock, "I don't believe it, Floor 500…"

Cathica gaped at her, "How the hell did you manage that? I'm above you!"

"I don't know, I just applied on the off-chance…" She laughed happily, "And they've said yes!"

"That's so not fair, I've been applying to Floor 500 for three years!"

Rose looked at the Doctor, "What's Floor 500?"

"The walls are made of gold."

She frowned and rushed over to Suki, touching her arm lightly, "Suki, please don't go up there!"

Suki looked confused, "B-but I-"

"Something is wrong here, you were the only one to feel that 'glitch' and then, you get promoted, isn't that a little strange?" The Doctor approached them with a frown, "Something's weird here, Doctor."

"Cathica," The Doctor turned to the other woman, "When someone goes to Floor 500, do you see them again?"

She shook her head, "Once you go to Floor 500, you never come back."

Adam bumped into Rose as he wandered out of the room, overwhelmed.

"Back in a second, Doctor." He nodded, continuing to question the two women. Rose rushed out after Adam, "Hey! You alright?"

Adam turned back to look at her, "I'm a little freaked out, it's – it's everything, the door in the head-" he cut himself off, "I think I just need to cool down," he looked at her, smiling weakly, "Sort of acclimatise."

"How'd you mean?"

"Maybe, I could just go and sit on the observation deck? Would that be alright?" She nodded, she had her phone back and there was no way in hell she would offer him her key. Adam continued, "Soak it in, you know, pretend I'm a citizen of the year 200,000."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, no," He rushed out, "You stick with the Doctor. You'd rather be with him. It's gonna take a better man than me to get between you two. Anyway – I'll be on the deck."

"If it gets too much, just wait by the Tardis."

Adam nodded, an awkward smile on his face, "Alright, see you later then."

Rose frowned as he walked away, she had a bad feeling, she shrugged it off as she walked back over to the Doctor, he smiled at her as she leaned against the back of the chair. He turned back to Cathica and Suki, "But you've never been to another floor? Not even one floor down?"

"I went to Floor 16 when I first arrived, that's medical, that's when I got my head done, and the I – I came straight here. Satellite Five – you work, eat and sleep on the same floor. That's it, that's all." She eyed them suspiciously, "You're not management, are you."

"At last!" The Doctor responded, "She's clever!"

Cathica paused, "Yeah, well, whatever it is, don't involve me. I don't know anything."

"Don't you even ask?" The Doctor questioned as Suki stared at them intently.

"Well, why WOULD I?" She asked incredulously.

Rose arched an eyebrow, "You're a journalist!"

"Why's all the crew human?"

"What's that got to do with anything?"

He rolled his eyes, "There's no aliens on board, why?"

"I don't know – no real reason, they're not banned or anything."

The Doctor looked around the room theatrically, "Then, where are they?"

Cathica looked stumped, "I suppose immigrations tightened up. It's had to, what, with all the threats."

"What threats?" Rose asked curiously.

"I don't know…" She looked lost, "All of them. Usual stuff. And the price of space warp doubled so that kept visitors away. Oh, and the government on Traffic Five's collapsed, so that lot stopped coming, you see, just… lots of little reasons, that's all."

"Adding up to one great big fact, and you didn't even notice."

"Doctor," Cathica looked offended, "I think if there was any kind of conspiracy, Satellite Five would have seen it. We see everything."

"We can see better." The Doctor said, "This society's the wrong shape. Even the technology."

"It's cutting edge!"

"It's backward! There's a great big door in your head! You should've chucked this out years ago."

Rose looked at her Doctor, "So what d'you thinks going on?"

"It's not just this space station, it's the whole attitude. It's the way people think. The great and bountiful human empires stunted. Something's holding it back."

"And how would you know?"

"Trust me. Humanity's been set back about 90 years – when did Satellite Five start broadcasting?"

"91 years ago." Suki's voice was faint as she replied, Cathica frowned, looking away.

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Cathica glanced around nervously as the Doctor worked, Rose and Suki watching over his shoulder.

"We're SO gonna get in trouble." She approached the Doctor, "You're not allowed to touch the mainframe, you're gonna get told off!"

The Doctor scowled, "Rose, tell her to button it."

Cathica went to protest again, Rose grinned, "Button it."

Suki bit back a smile and he chuckled as Cathica's mouth snapped shut indignantly. She scowled at the three of them and whispered urgently, "You can't just vandalise the place, someone's gonna notice!" The Doctor wrenched the door open, "This is nothing to do with me, I'm going back to work." She looked at Suki, "And if you have any sense you'll do the same."

She started to walk away, the Doctor didn't look up from where he was working, "Go on then! See ya!"

Suki and Rose shared a smile as Cathica turned back, "I can't just leave you, can I?"

"If you wanna be useful, get 'em to turn the heating down. It's boiling!" Rose complained, "What's wrong with this lace, can't they do something about it?"

Suki rolled her eyes, "We keep asking, nothing's been done."

"Something to do with the turbine." Cathica added.

"Something to do with the turbine." The Doctor mocked.

"Well, I don't know!"

"Exactly! I give up on you, Cathica. Now, Rose – look at Rose." Rose turned around, smiling, "Rose is asking the right kind of questions."

"Why thank you."

"Why is it so hot?"

Cathica threw her arms up, "One minute you're worried about the Empire and the next it's the central heating!"

"Well, never underestimate plumbing. Plumbing's very important." Cathica looked away exasperated as he proceeded to accidently snap a bunch of wires.

The Doctor turned the screen around to them as he finally hacked into the mainframe, "Here we go – Satellite Five. Pipes and plumbing. Look at the layout." He moved so they could see.

Cathica examined the screen closely, Suki and Rose behind her as she asked, looking bemused, "This is ridiculous. You've got access to the computer's core. You can look at the archive, the news, the stock exchange… and you're looking at pipes?"

"Look though," Suki stepped forwards, "Massive amounts of heat are being channelled down, the ventilation system is working flat out, cooling systems and ice filters everything, all the way from the top."

The Doctor grinned at her, "Floor 500. Something up there is generating tons and tons of heat."

"Well," Rose looked at him with her tongue in tooth grin, "I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm missing out on a party. It's all going on upstairs. Fancy a trip?"

Suki agreed with a smirk, "It would be rude to delay any longer."

"You can't!" Cathica protested, "You need a key!"

"Keys are just codes, and I've got the codes right here." He gestured to the screen and tapped a few keys, "Here we go – override 215.9."

"How come it's giving you the code?" Cathica demanded.

The Doctor, Rose and Suki glanced up at the security camera as the Doctor answered softly, "Someone up there likes me."

He led them over to the lift, Suki and Rose following him in eagerly, Cathica stopped outside.

Rose gestured for Cathica to join them, "Come on, come with us!"

"No way!"

"Bye!" The Doctor waved happily.

Cathica clenched her jaw, "Well, don't mention my name. When you get in trouble, just don't involve me!" She stalked off.

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"Well," Rose said looking around curiously as they stepped out of the lift, "The walls aren't made of gold."

"You should go back downstairs." The Doctor stared at her, concerned.

She quirked an eyebrow, "And let you have all the fun? No chance."

Suki nodded, looking around at all the bodies, "I'm not going back either."

Rose shared a grin with the other woman as they walked further onto Floor 500, followed by the Doctor who rolled his eyes at the two stubborn women.

They entered the control room and the man turned to them, announcing gleefully, "You brought the liar with you!"

"Who're you?" Suki asked defensively.

He grinned back at her, "I'm the Editor."

"What's happening? There are bodies out there. What's going on?"

His smile widened, "While we're asking questions, would you please confirm your name."

The Editor snapped his fingers and a Suki appeared on the monitor, "My name is Suki Macrae Cantrell. I was born one nine nine apostrophe eight nine in the Independent Republic of Morocco."

"Liar."

"Hobbies include reading and archaeology. I'm not an expert or anything, I just like digging."

"Liar."

"I want to work for Satellite Five because my sister can't afford university, and the pay scheme is really good."

"Liar!" The Editor crowed, "Let's look at the facts, shall we?" An image of a woman in camouflage fatigues and brandishing a weapon appears on the monitor, "Ah, hidden behind a genetic graft, but that's still you. Eva Saint Julienne, last surviving member of the Freedom Fifteen. Hmm, self-declared anarchist, is that right?"

Suki grabbed a gun out of her bag, pointing it at the Editor, as she moved in front of Rose and the Doctor, "Who controls Satellite Five?"

"There's the truth!"

"The Freedom Foundation has been monitoring Satellite Five's transmissions. We have absolute proof that the facts are being manipulated. You are lying to the people."

"Oh, she's good." Rose muttered to the Doctor who squeezed her hand.

The Editor laughed, "Ooo, I love it, say it again!"

"This whole system is corrupt. Who do you represent?"

"I'm merely a humble slave. I answer to the Editor in Chief, but before I get into that!" He turned his gaze to Rose and the Doctor, completely unconcerned by Suki and her gun, "This is fascinating. Satellite Five contains every piece of information within the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. Birth certificates, shopping habits, bank statements," He smirked at Suki, "Even hidden anarchists, but YOU two… you don't exist!" The Editor laughed, "Not a trace! No birth – no job – not the slightest kiss. How can you walk through the world and not leave a single footprint?"

"Enough!" Suki shook herself out of her shock, and motioned to the people working away, "What have you done to them?!"

Rose tightened her grip on the Doctor's hand and grabbed his arm with her other hand, as she choked out, "They're dead."

Suki's eyes flickered over to them, "B-but they're working!"

The Doctor glared at the Editor, "They've all got chips in their head, and the chips keep going. Like puppets."

The Editor laughed gleefully, "Ohhh! You're full of information! But it's only fair we get some back because apparently, you're no one." He grinned as the Doctor nodded, "It's so rare not to know something. Who are you?"

"It doesn't matter, cos we're off." He pulled Rose back with him, motioning for Suki to follow them, as he said sarcastically, "Nice to meet you! Come on."

As Suki moved back to join them, three of the drones came up behind them and restrained the two of them, another grabbing the freedom fighter, knocking the gun from her hand.

The Editor persisted, "Tell me who you are!"

"Since that information's keeping us alive. I'm hardly gonna say, am I?" The Doctor sneered back.

"Well," He chuckled, "Perhaps my Editor in Chief can convince you otherwise."

"And who's that?"

"D-doctor?" He looked at her and followed her gaze up.

The Editor beamed at them, "It may interest you to know that this is NOT the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. It's merely a place where humans happen to live." The creature spoke angrily, the Editor winced, "Yeah – sorry. It's a place where humans are ALLOWED to live by kind permission of my client."

"What is that?" Suki asked, her voice trembling.

"That," The Editor laughed, "Is your boss!"

"That thing's in change of Satellite Five?"

"That 'thing' – as you put it – is in charge of the human race." He smirked at them, "For almost a hundred years, mankind has been shaped and guided, his knowledge and ambition strictly controlled by its broadcast news. Edited by my superior – your master – and humanities guiding light – the mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe." The Jagrafess roared, the Editor grinned, "I call him Max."

The Doctor smiled sarcastically and nodded.

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The drones restrained the Doctor and Rose with manacles and pulled Suki into the centre of the room.

"No!" Rose shouted, as the Jagrafess proceeded to kill her, she felt numb as Suki was put to work with the other drones, she snarled at the Editor, "You didn't have to kill her!"

The Doctor looked at her, concerned as the Tardis wrapped around her mind attempting to comfort her Wolf.

The Editor ignored Rose, "If we create a climate of fear… then it's easy to keep the borders closed. It's just a matter of emphasis. The right word in the right broadcast repeated often enough can destabilize an economy… invest an enemy… change a bote…"

Rose glared at him, disgust and anger clear in her voice, "All the people on Earth are what? Slaves?"

"Well, now," He turned to her then, "There's an interesting point. Is a slave a slave if he doesn't know he's enslaved?"

"Yes." They both replied in unison.

"Oh," The Editor said, disappointed, "I was hoping for a philosophical debate. Is that all I'm going to get? 'Yes'?"

They glared at him, "Yes."

He laughed, "You're no fun."

"Let me out of these manacles – you'll find out how much fun I am." The Doctor shot back.

"Oh, he's tough isn't he." He mocked to Rose, "But, come on. Isn't it a great system? You've got to admire it, just a little bit."

"But Suki noticed!" Rose interjected, "Others must have!"

"From time to time, like your little friend." He grinned, "That's why she was promoted! The computer chip system allows me to see inside their brains. I can see the smallest doubt – and crush it." The Editor continued, oblivious as Cathica entered Floor 500, "And then they just carry on, living their life. Strutting about downstairs and all over the surface of the Earth like they're SO individual," He mocked, "When of course, they're not. They're just cattle. In that respect, the Jagrafess hasn't changed a thing."

Rose shot back, "What about you? You're human!"

"Yeah, well," He sneered at her, "Simply being human doesn't pay very well."

"So, it all comes down to money?" She asks incredulously as he rolled his eyes at her, she added, "You can't have done this on your own!"

"No!" The Editor admitted, "I represent a consortium of banks. Money prefers a long-term investment. Also, the Jagrafess needed a hand to um… install himself."

The Doctor interjected, "No wonder, a creature that size." Cathica's eyes widened as she spotted the Jagrafess on the ceiling. "What's his life span?"

"Three thousand years."

"That's one hell of a metabolism generating all that heat. That's why Satellite Five's so hot. You pump it all out of the creature, channel it downstairs – Jagrafess stays cool – stays alive. Satellite Five's one great big life support system."

"But THAT'S why you're so dangerous. Knowledge is power, but you remain unknown." He clicked his fingers, and the manacles sent an electric shock through the Doctor and Rose, "Who are you?"

Rose cried out and the Doctor grimaced as he indicated to her, "Leave her alone. I'm the Doctor, she's Rose Tyler, we're nothing, we're just wandering."

"Tell me who you are!"

"I just said!"

"Yeah, but who do you work for? Who sent you? Who knows about us? Who exactly -?" He cut himself off, a smile coming to his lips, Rose closed her eyes as the Doctor looked at the Editor questioningly, he said smugly, "Time Lord."

"What?" The Doctor's voice was confused.

"Oh, yes!" The Editor shouted joyfully, "The last of the Time Lords in his travelling machine. Oh, with his little human girl from long ago…" He touched Rose's face gently, she jerked her head away, glaring at him.

She couldn't believe she had been so stupid. She had known exactly what Adam had done last time and still she had invited him along.

"You don't know what you're talking about." The Doctor denied.

"Time travel."

"Someone's been telling you lies."

"Young master Adam Mitchell?" He snapped his fingers, a projection of Adam writhing with pain and shouting as information flowed into his head appeared in the air.

"I'm so sorry, Doctor." Rose said sadly as she stared at the stupid boy on the screen.

She could feel the rage radiating off him as he glared at the projection, "What the hell's he done? What the hell's he gone and done?" He glanced at her then, his anger fading slightly at her guilt, "They're reading his mind. He's telling them everything!"

"And through him, I know everything about you." The Editor gloated, "Every piece of information in his head is now mine. And you have infinite knowledge, Doctor. The Human Empire is tiny compared to what you've seen in your T-A-R-D-I-S – TARDIS."

"You'll never get your hands on it. I'll die first!"

"Die all you like. I don't need you. I've got the key." He smirked, reaching forward and revealing the key around Rose's neck. She flinched back but he held firmly onto the chain, "Today, WE are the headlines. We can rewrite history. We could prevent mankind from ever developing."

"And no one's gonna stop you. Because you've bred a human race that doesn't bother to ask questions," The Doctor's voice was bitter, "Stupid little slaves, believing every lie. They'll just trot right into the slaughterhouse if they're told it's made of gold."

An alarm went off, "What's happening?" The Editor turned, confused, "Some's disengaged the safety." He snapped his fingers and a projection of Cathica appeared, information flowing into her brain. "Who's that?!"

"It's Cathica!" Rose beamed at the projection.

The Doctor grinned widely, "And she's thinking. She's using what she knows!"

The Editor turned to Suki's corpse, "Terminate her access!"

"Everything I told her about Satellite Five – the pipes – the filters – she's reversing it! Look at that," He nodded to where the icicles were melting, "It's getting hot."

The Editor shouted desperately, "I said terminate!" He frantically placed his hands over Suki's, "Burn out her mind!"

They watched Cathica on the projection, "Oh, no you don't. You should have promoted me YEARS back!"

All the screens exploded with sparks and the drones fell lifeless to the floor, her manacles coming undone. The Editor attempted to sit the corpses up again as the Doctor laughed, Rose grinning at the sound, "She's venting the heat up here. The Jagrafess needs to stay cool and now it's sitting on top of a volcano!"

The Jagrafess roared violently as the Editor attempted to placate it. Rose tucked her Tardis key away underneath her shirt and went over to the Doctor, searching his pockets for the sonic screwdriver and undoing his manacles.

He pulled his hands away from the manacles as he was released and said to the Editor, "Oi, mate – wanna bank on a certainty? Massive heat in a massive body. Massive band!" He grabbed Rose's hand as lumps of flesh started to fall from the Jagrafess, "See you in the headlines!" The Doctor shouted over his shoulder as he dragged Rose out of the room with him.

They ran across Floor 500 hand in hand as they avoided the huge lumps of snow and ice falling from the ceiling. They entered the room where Cathica was and the Doctor clicked his fingers, grinning down at her.

OoOoOoOo

The Doctor and Rose were sat at a table in the canteen with Cathica as the Doctor said, "We're just gonna go. I hate tidying up. Too many questions. You'll manage."

Cathica rolled her eyes, "You'll have to stay and explain it – no one's gonna believe me."

"Oh, they might start believing a lot of things now. The Human Race should accelerate. All back to normal."

She nodded, then she eyed Adam who was loitering by the Tardis, "What about your friend?"

"He's not our friend." Rose cut in, scowling at him as the Doctor grabbed her hand and stroked his thumb over the back gently. They got to their feet, and she smiled at Cathica, "Thanks."

The older woman smiled back as they headed over to the Tardis and Adam.

As they reached him, Adam said, "I'm alright now. Much better." Hesitantly he held out Rose's mobile, "I've got your phone."

She snatched it out of his hand, handing it over to the Doctor who looked at her utterly confused before a resounding smack echoed around Floor 139. Even the Doctor winced as Adam stumbled back clutching his face. Rose glowered at him, taking her phone back as she stalked into the Tardis.

Adam didn't even try to excuse his behaviour gaping after her in shock as the Doctor roughly shoved him in after her. The atmosphere in the console room was tense as Adam stood awkwardly to the side, a red hand imprinted on his face. Rose sat quietly in the captain's chair fiddling with her sleeves and the Doctor silently flew the Tardis.

When they arrived, the Doctor steered Adam out, Rose following close behind.

Adam laughed happily, "It's my house! I'm home! Oh, my God, I'm home!" The Doctor glared at him, Rose looking at her feet as Adam continued, "Blimey. I thought you were gonna chuck me out of an airlock."

"Is there something else you wanna tell me?" The Doctor cut him off.

"No. Um…" Adam shifted uncomfortably, "What do you mean?"

The Doctor walked over to the telephone and picked it up, "The archive of Satellite Five. One second of that message could've changed the world." He pointed the sonic screwdriver at it, blowing it up as Adam stared helplessly, "That's it, then. See ya." He walked back over to the Tardis, gently placing his arm around Rose.

"How do you mean, 'see ya'?"

Rose rolled her eyes, "As in 'goodbye'."

Adam scowled at her, "But… what about me? You can't just go, I've got my head – I've got a chip type two, my head opens."

"What, like this?" The Doctor clicked his fingers.

Adam clicked his own, "Don't."

"Don't do what?" He clicked his fingers again.

"Stop it!"

Rose intervened, "Alright now, Doctor, that's enough. Stop it."

The Doctor backed down as Adam turned to her, "Thank you."

She arched an eyebrow and clicked her fingers.

"Oi!"

The Doctor smirked as Rose sniggered, "Couldn't resist."

Adam closed it again, as the Doctor glared at him, "The whole of history could've changed because of you."

"I just wanted to help."

"How was stealing my phone to record the archive of Satellite Five, helping?" Rose asked incredulously, "For that matter how was getting a door in your head and blabbing everything you knew about me and the Doctor, helping?"

Adam scowled, looking away.

"Well, I can see I overestimated your intelligence." Rose quipped, sighing as she added, "I asked you to come because I thought you wanted to see the stars, but you're exactly like Van Statten, just wanting a profit."

The Doctor nodded, "You were helping yourself."

"And – I'm sorry." Adam tried desperately, "I've said I'm sorry, and I am, I really am – but you can't just leave me like this."

"Why not? We didn't make you get a door in your head," Rose shot back, "In fact the Doctor outright said the technology was wrong."

"As Rose says," He agreed, "And if you show your head to anyone, they'll dissect you in seconds. You'll have to live a very quiet life. Keep out of trouble. Be average. Unseen. Good luck." He opened the Tardis door.

Adam pleaded, "But I want to come with you!"

"I only take the best, I've got Rose."

"How is she better than me?!"

The Doctor glowered at him, Adam backed away meekly, "If you have to ask, you really are a stupid ape."

He entered the Tardis without looking back, Rose went to follow when Adam pleaded again, "Rose, take me with you!"

She arched an eyebrow at him, not bothering to answer as she firmly shut the door behind her. She leaned back against it, watching the Doctor silently as he worked, flying them away from Adam and into the time vortex. He broke the silence, "Are you gonna stand there all day?"

She walked over to him and pressed against his back, pressing her hands to his chest, feeling his hearts beat steadily, she muttered quietly into his leather clad back, "Sorry."

"You said that before," The Doctor turned in her arms, guiding her head to rest against him, the soothing beat of his hearts relaxing her as he asked, "Why are you apologising?"

She hesitated for a moment, closing her eyes she said, "I asked you to bring Adam, I thought," Her voice broke a little, "I thought, with a chance he could be better than Van Statten, that he would see the beauty of the universe, not just what it could do for him."

"Oh, Rose," He sighed, tightening his arms around her, "Not everyone is like you," He kissed the top of her head, resting his cheek there as he continued, "He made his own choices – the wrong choices yes – but they were his, how can that be your fault?"

She shifted, making him pull away slightly as he cupped her cheek and tilted her head up to gently press his lips to hers. All her doubts and guilt faded away as she deepened the kiss, pulling him firmly against her. The Tardis hummed happily in their minds.