Hey again!
Here's the second chapter for today. Enjoy! :)
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Chapter 9: Entangled Web
Well . . . unlike Donna had originally thought, the people of her wedding were not heartbroken in the least.
Every single one of her guests and family seemed rather happy and joyful, in fact. None showing the least bit of concern for the missing bride. All were hopping around reception room, having a good time dancing to the loud music and spinning around in the bright and colorful lights. Food and drinks being consumed merrily around in the crowded dance room. Banners hung up around in cheerful displays of what would have been a happy wedding. Everyone seemed completely unconcerned of Donna's absence. It actually made Wanda very angry with them all. She felt her temper flare up as her eye began to twitch and her hands tightening up into fists as she watched Lance and Nerys dance. And boy, if she felt angry, she was certain Donna was beyond furious. In fact, glancing at the woman next to her, Wanda could plainly see the fury building up in the ginger woman's eyes.
Eventually, the guests and family members began to realize the presence of the newly arrived trio. One by one, they stopped in their merriment to stare with wide eyes at a very enraged Donna. The bride stood there in the doorway of the room with her arms crossed and glaring heatedly at her fiancé and Nerys. Those two still completely unaware of her arrival as they laughed and dance. Though, after noticing everyone else around them had stopped dancing, they too turned around to face Donna, the Doctor, and Wanda. The music stopped abruptly, sending the room into an awkward silence.
"You had the reception without me?" Donna bit out at them all, her voice wavering slightly as she felt completely hurt by everyone's actions.
"Donna, what happened to you?" Lance asked immediately, trying to cover up his lack of interest in the woman's disappearance and safety. Both Donna and Wanda shot him a glare. Though, each one for a different reason.
"You had the reception without me," Donna snapped loudly at him. The Doctor stood there uncomfortably by everyone's gazing eyes, feeling awkward by the whole situation unfolding before them.
"Hello. I'm the Doctor, and this is Wanda," he spoke up to the room with an embarrassed smile. Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Wanda bummed his arm lightly, gaining his attention.
"Timing," Wanda muttered to him. The Doctor nodded slightly.
"Right, sorry," he mumbled back, realizing it was not the best time for introductions.
"They had the reception without me," Donna said angrily to them both.
"Yes, we gathered," the Doctor replied, wincing at the loud exclaiming of Donna.
"Well, it was all paid for. Why not?" Nerys retorted snidely.
"Thank you, Nerys," Donna snapped at the blonde woman. Nerys sneered in response to this. Donna glared at everyone around the room. "Where's Aleena? She's in charge of reception, and I know for certain that she wouldn't have let you all do this." At this point Donna's mother stepped up angrily towards her daughter.
"She ran off looking for you. And what else were we supposed to do?" Sylvia said crossly. "I got your silly little message in the end. 'I'm on Earth'? Very funny. But what the hell happened?"
This only sparked a barrage of comments and retorts flying from everyone as they all stepped around to face Donna closer. Donna herself looked on with wide eyes as everyone spoke at once, hitting her with so many questions she was unable to answer. Wanda felt ready to storm up in front of the woman as shield and tell them all off for overwhelming the bride with babbling. As well as for having the reception without the bride in the first place. But then suddenly Donna burst into sobs. Everyone hurriedly stopped talking as Lance hugged his fiancée. It made everyone forget their anger with the bride instantly. Over Lance's shoulder, while everyone clapped happily, Donna sent the two Time Lords a wink.
"Oh, she's good," Wanda said quietly to the Doctor. "I'll have to try that in the future." The Doctor chuckled, shaking his head lightly.
The two Time Lords moved over by the bar, leaning against the counter as the party started up once again. This time with the bride happily involved with the celebration. Wanda watched with a content smile as the bright and cheerful Donna danced with her fiancé. It sent a warm feeling through her, happily knowing this was a bright and wonderful moment for the ginger woman. If only it were not entangled within a web of lies. Oh, well, at least Donna will be receiving a real wedding later in her life. And with a real man who truly loved her.
Glancing at the Doctor beside her, Wanda saw how he smiled contently as well while staring at the dancing couples within the room. This made her wonder what exactly he was thinking during this moment. She remembered him recalling fond moments with him and Rose in the show. But now . . . she had no clue as to what the Time Lord was contemplating. Was it Rose? Maybe his first wife? Perhaps even past companions?
"What are you thinking?" she finally decided to ask him.
"Hmm?" he replied absently, pulling himself out of his thoughts. He glanced at her then back to the party at hand with a small grin growing on his face. "Oh, well, actually . . .," he rubbed his hand through his hair, "I was remembering the time we danced at the Yew-Tree Ball. Remember that?"
"Oh, yeah. Oh, my gosh, that's been ages," Wanda said fondly. "That party was a blast. And, if I remember correctly, someone kept stealing me away from other men for a dance." She bumped her hip against him, snickering away at his foxy grin. "You were so jealous."
"I wasn't jealous," the Doctor countered, giving a small pout and a grumble. "I just didn't like the way those men were talking to you. And they were horrid dancers. A-and they kept trying to wander their hands around you. And—."
"Jealous," Wanda said in a sing-song voice. She laughed as the Doctor huffed slightly. But he chuckled along with her after a second thought, realizing that he had indeed been rather . . . protective of her that night.
The Doctor stepped in front of her suddenly, holding at a hand to her. "Care to join me for a dance? This time without the interruptions of other men?" He wiggled his fingers slightly, giving her an eager grin.
Wanda tugged on the back of her hair, pondering over whether they should really dance or not. It was not that she did not wish to. In fact, she had been thinking the same thing while watching the other couples having such fun. But they might get side tracked and might not be able to keep Donna safe if they let dancing distract them. "I don't know if we have time for that. We still have to figure out H.C. Clements, and see about how Donna disappeared. That, and also the—."
"Oh, we'll worry about that later. For now, let's dance." The Doctor grabbed her hand, pulling her out onto the dance floor.
They weaved their way in between the throngs of guests, finding a nice spot for them to dance. The Doctor spun her around on the spot, holding her hands and merrily dipping her a few times. All the while, Wanda laughed away with delight, blissfully having a wonderful time simply enjoying the company of her Theta. Her husband. She smiled even brighter when thinking of this as their wedding dance of sorts. The Doctor returned the smile, staring lovingly into her eyes as he dipped her once more. Stroking her face softly, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear as they both smiled warmly at each other.
"I love you," he said quietly, though loud enough for Wanda to hear over the noisy music. He blinked, looking stunned on how easily those words slipped out of his mouth. Pulling Wanda up from the dipping motion, he ran a hand through his hair in embarrassment to this slip. Was that something he should say in such a public place? Did Wanda like being told that? "Ooh, sorry, that—that just sort slipped out. I hope that doesn't make you uncomfortable."
"No, not at all," Wanda replied softly, giving him a reassuring and touching smile. "I love you, too, sweetie." Leaning up, she gave him a quick peck on the lips.
The Doctor grinned briefly before staring curiously at her. "Do I say that often? I mean, in the future, do I tell you that regularly?"
"Quite often, yes."
"Well, then," he dipped her again, making her giggle joyfully, "I love you, Wanderer."
Wanda laughed as he pulled her back up and spun her around once more. "That was sudden. What brought this on?"
"Nothing. I just . . . it's something that should be said, is all. Especially after . . ." He trailed off, staring with uncertainty at her. The edginess from before could be seen passing over him as his hold on her loosened somewhat.
Wanda observed this, noting how he seemed suddenly uneasy around her. She stared at him with concern, beginning to worry about him even more. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." The Doctor cleared his throat, holding her close to him as they dance slowly around.
"Liar. You've been on edge around me since I've jumped here today. So, tell me, what is it?" She stared at him, seeing how he was not meeting her gaze.
Finally, the Doctor looked to her with a studying gaze. "Wanda, have you ever heard of someone called Alpha?"
Wanda stopped short in her dancing, making the Doctor stop as well. She stared nervously at him. Not from hearing that particular name. But from the strange spark of recognition that went through her. She felt something shift around within her mind behind one certain barrier. Something stirred up, raising its head with keen interest to listen to the Doctor.
"No," Wanda whispered. "No, I . . . don't think so." She grabbed the Doctor's hands, making them start dancing around again.
"Are you sure?" the Doctor asked, his eyes studying her reaction closely.
"Pretty sure, yeah," Wanda mumbled. The Doctor hummed, then stared off over her shoulder, seeming to drop the subject. For now, anyway.
She felt shifting behind the barrier settle back down, its head lowering to go back into its slumber. Staring off to nothing, the realization of why the Doctor was acting so edgy came to her. It had something to do with the mystery surrounding her. The strange unknown of her memories. And the Doctor never did like something he did not know. She hardly did either, at least, when it came to this dragging and tedious mystery to her. Then, she realized in a sharp twinge of guilt that she had just lied to him there. She had indeed heard of that name before on a few other occasions, but . . . she had always considered 'Alpha' a thing instead of a person of sorts. But the way the Doctor spoke of the name . . . it was as if Alpha was indeed a person.
Wanda stared at the injured hand of the Doctor's, furrowing her brows as she wondered if the cause of it might had been something to do with this 'Alpha' character. She would ask, but in the end, she knew the Doctor would never tell her. He kept his secrets very close. Sighing, she glanced at the Doctor's watch on the wrist of his uninjured hand. Their time was up. "Doctor, H.C. Clements is firm owned by the Torchwood Institute."
The Doctor blinked, then frowned heavily. "Is it?" He continued to move them around in a dance while he absently pondered over this information.
"Yep." Wanda glanced over at Donna who still danced with Lance. "And the reason why Donna was able to transport into the TARDIS was because of Huon particles."
"Huon particles?" The Doctor's brow arched high, completely bewildered by this. "That's impossible. That's . . . ancient. Huon energy doesn't exist anymore, not for billions of years. It's so old that . . ." He stopped their dancing abruptly, staring with wide eyes at the dancing Donna.
"That a bio-damper cannot hide the energy. And the robotic scavengers are already here." Wanda grabbed his hand, walking swiftly with him over to Donna. "Donna, they're here. The Santas, they've surrounded the building." The bride blinked at them in surprise at the urgent expression on the two Time Lord's faces.
"But you said I was safe," Donna responded as a fear welled up inside of her.
"The bio-damper doesn't work. We've got to get everyone out," the Doctor spoke in a rush. Donna gazed around in horror to the still happy dancing guests.
"Oh, my god. It's all my family," she breathed.
"Get everyone away from the Christmas trees," Wanda instructed the two. "They're deadly." The two nodded as the trio began to shout for everyone in the room to move away from the trees.
Both Donna and Wanda immediately went over to a group of children who stood around one of the trees, playing the ornaments. The two of them ushered the children away, pulling them to the middle of the dance floor. Everyone stared around in confusion to the Doctor and Donna's loud calls of alarm to the trees being dangerous. All sort of scooted together in the middle of the room. Sylvia rolled her eyes at the actions and words of panic from the Doctor.
"Oh, for God's sake. The man's an idiot," she said loudly. "What harm's a Christmas tree gonna—?"
The mother stopped speaking abruptly when seeing the ornaments starting to float away from the trees. All the red and green shining ornaments dancing around above their heads for a few moments. All the guests murmured in delight at the sight. This enjoyment was short lived when the first ornament attacked. It whizzed down straight at them, hitting the ground and exploded into a fiery ball. More and more of the deadly decorations followed in suit, causing everyone to scream in panic and terror. The room shook as the explosions crashed loudly. All of the guests ran and ducked, trying to get out of the way of the ornament's rain of destruction. Everything was being destroyed around them.
The Doctor and Wanda dodged around everyone and everything. One decoration exploded right next to them, sending them both flying over the DJ's sound desk. Peeking their heads over the desk when the explosions stopped, they saw the Santas had lined up in a row in the room. Every single one of them had their brass instruments pointed at the Time Lords, ready to kill. Both the Doctor and Wanda stood up, glaring at the robots.
"Oi, Santa!" the Doctor shouted. "Word of advice—if you're attacking someone with a sonic screwdriver."
"Don't let them near the sound system," Wanda finished, speaking this through the microphone.
The Doctor then jabbed his sonic into the deck system. The large speakers next to the desk shot out loud, ear-piercing pulses. All the humans in the room covered their ears from the pain of the noise. The whole building quaked as the pulses increased. The resulting harmonics caused the robots to shake and fall apart. All Santas collapsed to the ground, completely destroyed and now harmless. The Doctor pulled his sonic away, stopping the pulses. He went directly over to the Santas, grabbing the remote they had used for the trees.
"Look at that," noted the Doctor as he held the remote in one hand and robotic head in the other. "Remote control for the decorations. But there's a second remote control for the robots."
"They no longer have the freedom to be scavengers. Someone now has complete control over them," Wanda concluded, nodding as the Doctor showed her the glowing, rapid blinking lights on the exposed crack of the robot's head. She gazed at the damaged robots for a moment, she took in the sight of the damage done to them, feeling glad and satisfied that she and the Doctor had destroyed them. Good. Those damn robots deserved what they got. Glancing over, Wanda saw the Doctor take off with the remote and one of the robot's heads. Sighing heavily, she got up from her spot on the floor, jogging over to Donna, who was currently helping a few children up from the ground and checking for injuries. Wanda felt a brief flash of guilt for not immediately going over to the children in the first place. But then shrugged off her mistake. She knew they were fine, anyway. No harm done in not always thinking over other's safety.
"Come on, Donna. We better go after him," she said, grabbing onto the woman's hand and leading the bride out of the hall. They found him outside, sonicking the robotic head to trace a signal.
"There's someone behind this, directing the roboforms," he told them.
"But why is it me? What have I done?" asked Donna.
"If we find the controller, we'll find that out," the Doctor answered her. The sonic screwdriver increased its pulses, indicating the signal was coming from the sky. The Doctor ran off to see if he could keep a good hold on the signal.
"Isn't he going to check on my family?" Donna asked Wanda, frowning in disbelief to the man's lack of concern for those who had been injured. "He's a doctor, isn't he? Shouldn't he be helping them?"
"He's not that kind of a doctor," Wanda responded, frowning as she stared at the sky, trying to think over of what events were to come for the day. The ginger woman turned to Wanda, brows furrowing as she stared at the blonde.
"What kind of doctor is he, then, if he doesn't help people?" the woman questioned skeptically.
"He does help people," Wanda responded, looked at the woman, confused that Donna would think the Doctor was not helping. Was that not what both Time Lords were doing now?
"Clearly not if he doesn't even bother to check over people who've just been attacked by Christmas trees." Donna huffed, grabbing her dress, hitching it up as she turned to walk back over to the building. "You need to remind him to keep focused on what's more important. People's lives, or chasing mad robots." Donna walked over to her family, who had made their way outside as the paramedics arrived.
Wanda frowned as she stared at the dazed people, seeing the marks on them from the explosions. They all seemed fine to her. Sure, they were hurt, but . . . a few scruffs never killed anyone . . . Right? Hmm. Maybe she should be more concerned. She used to be in the past whenever someone got even the slightest cut on themselves. Though, in growing in the years of adventuring with the Doctor, injuries become the norm for her. Anything small like this moment was nothing in comparison of what could have happened and what has happened to others. So . . . it was okay to not feel too concerned at the moment, right? Wanda pondered over this, unsure of what to feel about her train of thought and lack of worriment for the people. Eventually, the Doctor ran back over to her, breaking her out of her stupor.
"I've lost the signal," he said quickly. Donna walked over with Lance, making the Doctor turn to her. "Donna, we've got to get to your office, H.C. Clements. I think that's where it all started." Next, he turned to Lance. "Lance—is it Lance? Lance, can you give me a lift?" The Doctor took off again, ready to get going.
"What?" Lance stuttered in disbelief. "I am not giving anyone a lift."
"Sorry, but you have no choice in the matter," Wanda replied, giving the man a smirk. Both her and Donna grabbed the protesting man and dragged him off.
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They arrived into the main offices of H.C. Clements. Donna and Lance stood by in bewilderment as the Doctor and Wanda tried getting the computers working for them. The Doctor rambled on in explanations to Donna about the locksmith-like company the woman worked for. As well as the Huon energy that she had been dosed with. Wanda did not pay much attention to what was being said, too distracted in getting the computer to work.
"Ha! Got it!" she exclaimed when the computer finally kicked on. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the Doctor holding up a mug with a pencil inside it. Donna was currently giving the Time Lord a disgruntled look. Wanda raised a brow at this. "Did he just call you a pencil in a cup?"
"Yep," Donna grumbled as the Doctor came up beside Wanda to stare at the computer screen. The Time Lady promptly gave him a light smack on the back of the head.
"You are so rude," she mumbled.
The Doctor sent her a cheeky grin. "Yeah, but you like rude."
Wanda winked at him. "You bet I do." They both chuckled lightly before turning their attention to the screen as the schematics of the building were shown.
"Look at this," the Doctor said, making everyone stare intently at the screen. "We're on the third floor. Underneath reception, there's a basement, yes?" He hopped away from the computer, going over to call a lift up. There came a small ding and the lift doors opened. Stepping inside, the Doctor pointed out to the call panel inside the lift. "Then how come, when you look on the lift, there's a button marked lower basement? There's a whole floor which doesn't exist on the official plans. So what's down there, then?"
"Are you telling me this building's got a secret floor?" Lance questioned the Doctor, giving a flabbergasted expression. To which Wanda knew was all fake. The man already knew quite well of the secret floor, and of what exactly was happening to Donna.
"No, I'm showing you this building's got a secret floor," countered the Doctor.
"It needs a key," Donna pointed out.
"I don't," replied the Doctor. He pointed his sonic at the level they needed, unlocking it so the lift would take them straight there. Putting away the sonic, the Doctor grabbed Wanda's hand, pulling her inside the lift as he gave a nod to the two humans standing outside the doorway. "Right, then. Thanks, you two. Wanda and I can handle this. See you later."
"No chance, Martian," scoffed Donna. "You two are the ones who keep saving my life. I ain't letting either of you out of my sight." She marched into the lift determinedly, standing firm next to them. Wanda gave the Doctor a grin.
"Guess we've got a new companion, Spaceman," she giggled.
"Huh . . . Spaceman? Oh, I like that," Donna grinned widely at Wanda. "I think I might just use that. Well, then, I'm sticking with you, Spaceman." She and Wanda laughed together. Donna then gave Lance, who still stood anxiously outside the lift, a stern gaze. "Lance."
"Maybe I should go to the police," the man suggested nervously, refusing to meet anyone's gaze as he backed up slightly.
"Inside," Donna demanded, pointing to the spot next to her. Lance reluctantly walked inside the lift, giving a very displeased expression. The Doctor promptly pushed the button, sending them down.
"To honour and obey," he mumbled to the man next to him.
"Tell me about it, mate," grumbled Lance.
"Oi," both Donna and Wanda grounded out. There was awkward silence all the way down until the lift finally dinged, opening its doors to let them out into a dark, concrete hallway. An eerie green light lit up the area, giving the place an unsettling feeling. Wanda breathed in the smell of stale water and felt the place to be very damp. But, of course, they were right under the Thames.
"Where are we?" Donna wondered aloud. All of them gazed around in curiosity to this question, wondering the same thing. Only Lance seemed unfazed by the place. Donna frowned, looking back at the Doctor as if he would know. "Well, what goes on down here?"
"Well, I'll tell you one thing. We are right underneath the Thames at the moment," Wanda told them. "Right below the Thames Flood Barrier."
"What, there's like a secret base hidden underneath a major London landmark?" Donna questioned, completely flabbergasted by this.
"Oh, I know. Unheard of," the Doctor responded sarcastically as his mind thought of the Canary Wharf building.
"Do you think Mr. Clements knows about this place?" asked Donna.
"The mysterious H.C. Clements?" the Doctor pondered. "Well, I think he's part of it." Gazing down one way of the damp and murky hallway, he spotted something of interest. "Oh, look—transport." Grinning, he walked over to the vehicles.
Minutes later, all four of them were cruising down the long passage on Segways. The Doctor was grinning away like mad. Wanda bounced lightly on hers like an excited child, giggling away. Donna, glancing at the Time Lords, burst out in a fit of laughter to the sight of them all on the small transport. The Doctor and Wanda both joined her, laughing away merrily. Lance glanced at the lot of them, mentally deeming them all bonkers.
They finally reached the main laboratory, with large equipment scattered around the room. Most of the room held chemicals bubbling away in a variety of different tube sizes ranging from gigantic to tiny.
"Ooh, look at this," the Doctor said upon the sight of the large laboratory. "Stunning!" They walked around the different tables and vats of chemicals. Both Lance and Donna gazed on with stunned expressions.
"What does it do?" asked Donna. The Doctor came up to some particular equipment, gazing on with wonder.
"Particle extrusion," he mumbled to himself. "Hold on." He bounced over to another set of vats and tubes, tapping on the glass of the device. "Brilliant. They've been manufacturing Huon particles. In case my people got rid of Huons, they unraveled the atomic structure."
"Your people?" questioned Lance, staring at the Doctor in suspicion. "Who are they? What company do you represent?"
"Oh, I'm a freelancer," the Doctor answered casually. He gazed around, studying the different lab equipment. "But this lot are rebuilding them. They've been using the river! Extruding them through a flat hydrogen base till they got the end result—Huon particles in liquid form." He pulled away a small tube from a machine filled with said Huon particles. He held it up for them all to see. Donna stared at the liquid container with uncertainty.
"And that's what's inside me?" she asked. The Doctor held the container close to her. The particles within began to glow with a golden hue. Donna herself started to glow with the same light. She stared, wide eyed and completely alarmed by the sight of her glowing body. "Oh, my god."
"Genius," the Doctor remarked. "Because of these particles are inert. They need something living to catalyze inside, and that's you. Saturate the body and then . . ." Blinking for a second, his own eyes went wide with realization as it suddenly dawned on him how exactly Donna had arrived in the TARDIS. He grinned with excitement in figuring out the mystery.
"Ha! The wedding! Yes! You're getting married! That's it!" he exclaimed in delight, spinning and moving about like an excited child. His mouth became a motor as he rambled on rapidly in escaladed enthusiasm. "Best day of your life, walking down the aisle—oh, your body's a battleground. There's a chemical war inside! Adrenaline, acetylcholine—'wham!' go the endorphins. Oh, you're cooking. Yeah, you're like a walking oven, a pressure cooker, a microwave, all churning away. The particles reach boiling point—shazam!" Donna slapped him, bringing him to an abrupt end in his rushed rambling.
He stumbled back, looking disgruntled by the hit as the woman glared at him. "What did I do this time?"
"Are you enjoying this?" Donna retorted angrily, frustrated that he would find her life at stake so amusing and exciting. As well as other lives that had been placed on the line earlier at the reception.
"Yeah . . . he sort of gets carried away sometimes. Don't mind him, really," Wanda said, rubbing a hand at the back of her head as she gave Donna a sheepish smile. She sent the Doctor a stern look. He frowned, realizing he probably should have been more sympathetic for Donna's situation. The bride sighed heavily.
"Right. Just tell me. These particles . . . are they dangerous? Am I safe?" Donna questioned the Doctor carefully.
"Yes," the Doctor answered immediately. Though, looking into his eyes, one could tell of his deep worry for the ginger woman. Wanda sighed, shaking her head.
"Doctor, tell her the truth," she said softly. Hesitating for a moment, the Doctor gazed down at Donna, seeing the fearful expression on her face. The lies left him as he stared sadly at the woman.
"Huon particles . . . they're deadly," he told her gravely. Donna let out a shaky breath, looking ready to breakdown in alarm. He hurriedly placed a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder. "I'll sort it out, Donna. Whatever's been done to you, I'll reverse it." Wanda moved over to Donna, giving the woman a comforting hug.
"Don't worry. We'll fix this," she reassured the woman. She pulled back, smiling warmly. "I promise, you'll be fine." Suddenly, loud hissing could be heard echoing around the room. From the sound of it, the noise was being broadcasted from an intercom.
"Ooh, you can promise nothing," hissed out a woman's voice. The massive wall of the laboratory next to them rose up, revealing a whole other section of room. It was a vast room, with a canopy of webs on the ceiling. A bottomless pit in the centre of the room, lay only a few feet in front of them. Lining along the wall on catwalks were the robotic scavengers from before. They all faced the group below menacingly, aiming weapons pointedly at them. In some corners of the room, Wanda could see some drainage tunnels from the Thames leading into the room. Old sewer systems from her guesses.
"I have waited so long . . . hibernating at the edge of the universe . . . until the secret heart was uncovered and called out to waken," continued the hissing woman's voice. Wanda immediately placed herself in front of Donna, glaring at the robots to dare make a move to hurt the companion. Donna breathed out in fear, holding onto Wanda's arm in alarm at the sight. The Doctor remained calm as he began formulating a plan of action. He strolled up to the edge of the endless pit, glancing down at it.
"Someone's been digging," he remarked lightly, gazing down to see nothing more than darkness in the never-ending concrete abyss. "Oh, very Torchwood. Drilled by laser." His voice echoed down the hole as he spoke. "How far down does it go?"
"Down and down, all the way to the centre of the Earth," answered the hissing voice. The Doctor gave a skeptical glance up to where the woman's hissing voice echoed around.
"Really?" he questioned. "Seriously, what for?" Donna went to step up to suggest an answer to the Time Lord, but Wanda held the woman back, shaking her head.
"No, Donna. There are no dinosaurs at the centre of the Earth," she said. Wanda gave a light smile when thinking of dinosaurs, remembering a particular event for the future to come for the Doctor and companions. "Though, dinosaurs on a spaceship, now that's a whole other story."
"Right," the Doctor mumbled, shaking his head to what Wanda had said. Dinosaurs on a spaceship? Impossible. Staring up to where he guessed the woman speaking to them was watching them, he raised his voice loudly. "Only a madman talks to thin air, and trust me, you don't want to make me mad. Where are you?"
"High in the sky," the hissing woman stated proudly. "Floating so high on Christmas night." The Doctor narrowed his eyes with his brows furrowing greatly.
"I didn't come all this way to talk on the intercom!" he shouted. "Come on, let's have a look at you!"
"Who are you, with such command?"
"I'm the Doctor!"
There came another hiss. "Prepare your best medicines, Doctor man, for you will be sick at heart."
There was a beam of light as massive body appeared on the other side of the pit. A gigantic, red, female spider-humanoid, with long and massive legs and body, and a head shaped as a crown with black, beady eyes all through her face. All tied up with sharp fangs to which caused her to hiss with every breath.
"Racnoss," the Doctor breathed in disbelief. "But that's impossible . . . you're one of the Racnoss."
"Empress of the Racnoss, to be precise," Wanda told him. Only she was not surprised or frightened by the sudden sight of the enormous spider-woman as the other two next to her were. She merely gazed at the Empress evenly, making certain to keep an eye on the robotic scavengers as well in case any decided to make a move earlier than they were supposed.
"If you're the Empress, where's the rest of the Racnoss?" questioned the Doctor, keeping his own eyes leveled and hard as he stared at the Empress. "Or . . . are you the only one?"
"Such sharp minds," hissed the Empress, starting at the two Time Lords with glaring suspicion.
"That's it—the last of your kind," concluded the Doctor with a nod, glad to know that they were only up against one Racnoss. Any more than that and they would most likely be in deep trouble. Not that one Racnoss was not trouble enough already. Seeing the confused look of Donna, the Doctor quickly explained to the woman, "The Racnoss come from the dark times, billions of years ago. Billions. They were carnivores—omnivores. They devoured whole planets."
"Racnoss are born starving. Is that our fault?" retorted the Empress, hissing loudly at them.
"They ate people?" questioned Donna, trying to make sure she understood the situation. Wanda nudged the Doctor slightly, pointing up to the canopy of web on the ceiling. He glanced up, wincing somewhat at the sight within the entangled web.
"H.C. Clements, did he wear those—those, um, black-and-white shoes?" he asked Donna. With a nod from the woman, he pointed up to where they had seen the body of H.C. Clements. The said black-and-white shoes sticking out from the web. Donna gave a gasp of horror.
"Mmm, my Christmas dinner," laughed the Empress. The Doctor shot the spider-humanoid a sharp glare.
"You shouldn't even exist," he retorted. "Way back in history, the Fledgling Empires went to war against the Racnoss. They were wiped out."
"Except for me," the Empress replied smugly. Far behind her, both Donna and Wanda spotted a sneaking Lance. The man had run back along the tunnels earlier without anyone noticing towards the Empress. The two females watched him inching closer to the Empress with an axe in hand. Donna stepped forward, ready to distract the Empress from the nearing man.
"But that's what I've got inside me, that Huon energy thing," she spoke loudly. The Empress turned her head slightly when hearing a noise behind her. Donna narrowed her eyes. "Oi! Look at me, lady. I'm talking." The Empress kept her firm attention on the bride as Donna kept talking. "Where do I fit in? How come I get all stacked up with these Huon particles? Look at me, you! Look me in the eye and tell me!"
"The bride is so feisty," the Empress hissed.
"Yes, I am," Donna retorted, keeping a close eye on Lance who was almost right behind the Empress now. "And I don't know what you are, you big . . . thing. But a spider's just a spider, and an axe is an axe. Now do it!" The Empress snarled and hissed as she turned to see Lance right beside her, raising the axe high in the air to strike. There was a brief pause, then the two began to laugh manically. Lance let go of the axe, tossing it aside as he continued to laugh.
"That was a good one," he laughed, pointing at the Empress with a wide grin. "Your face."
"Lance is funny," the Empress said to the trio, highly amused by what the man had done.
"What?" Donna asked, completely dumbfounded by what had just occurred. Wanda sighed heavily, gently rubbing the bride's shoulder sympathetically. The Doctor leaned closer to Donna, looking at her in pity.
"I'm sorry," he whispered quietly.
"Sorry for what?" Donna questioned, looking between the two Time Lord who kept gazing sadly at her. No . . . no, it could not be. She could not believe it. Looking at Lance quickly, Donna hoped with all her might it was not true. "Lance, don't be so stupid! Get her!"
"God, she's thick," Lance replied snidely, giving the bride a nasty sneer. "Months, I've had to put up with her. Months. A woman who can't even point to Germany on a map."
Donna stared at him in disbelief. The man she loved . . . he was . . . "I don't understand."
"How did you meet him?" the Doctor questioned her quietly, trying to help her see the truth.
"In the office," she answered.
The Doctor nodded. "He made you coffee."
Donna only blinked in response. "What?"
"It was in the coffee," Wanda spoke quietly. "The liquid Huon particles were laced within the coffee. Had to be done in a period over six months. Lance did that, for six months. Slowly turning you into a key. But at the same time, gradually poisoning you."
Donna let out a shaky breath as she felt her heart breaking. When seeing the tears springing up in the red head's eyes, Wanda gave the woman a hug, wishing to comfort her. The Doctor looked over to Lance and the Empress, glaring at them.
"It was all there in the job title—the Head of Human Resources," he grounded out.
"This time, it's personnel," Lance retorted smugly, looking rather proud for what he had done to Donna. He and the Empress chuckled darkly.
"But . . . we were getting married," Donna said weakly, her eyes tearing up as she stared heartbroken at her now ex-fiancé.
"Well, I couldn't risk you running off. I had to say yes," Lance responded with a slight shrug. Then, he let out a wave of hateful and spiteful words, seeming to what to get all of his hatred for Donna off of his chest. "And then I was stuck with a woman who thinks the height of excitement is a new flavor pringle. Oh, I had to sit there and listen to all that yap, yap, yap. 'Ooh, Brad and Angelina! Is Posh pregnant? 'X-Factor,' Atkins diet, Feng shui, spilt ends, text me, text me, text me.' Dear god, the never-ending fountain of fat—."
"You know, I'm gonna have to stop you right there," Wanda said loudly, holding up her hand towards him to halt him in his rant. Though, it was not the gesture which stopped him speaking. It was the piercing gaze of the Time Lady, with a dark flash of anger in her eyes.
The entire time of the man speaking, Wanda felt her temper flare up to a bursting, boiling point. Her eye twitched rapidly and her fist was shaking, turning white from being clenched do tightly. She had half a mind to stomp over to him and punch him right now.
"You. You are the most pathetic, worthless man," Wanda growled, jabbing her finger harshly in his direction as she glared hatefully at him. "How dare you speak to Donna that way?! You don't deserve to marry a wonderful and amazing woman like her! The most you deserve is a big, fat, ugly, vile spider. Oh, and look, you already have one lined up for you!" She jabbed her finger at the Empress, making the Racnoss hiss at her. "You've made the biggest mistake in your life for thinking you could hurt Donna. 'Cause I've got news for you, bucko. Donna Noble is the most important woman in the universe, and even more important than that, she's a companion. And when you mess with one of our companions, well, then, you're in a world of hurt."
"Ha! Her? Important? I haven't met anyone more worthless in my life," Lance laughed cruelly. Wanda felt her eye twitch as she saw red.
"Oh, I am so gonna hurt you!" she yelled. She made a move to storm over to him, but the Doctor held her back by keeping a firm grip on her arm.
"Easy there," he mumbled in her ear. She huffed, but let herself calm down all the same. Man, this temper of hers was a very hard thing to control. Especially since she was not used to having one.
They're pissing me off. she spoke to the Doctor's mind, gritting her teeth harshly as she watched Lance and the Empress laugh cruelly once more. Wanda even heard Donna give a small hiccup sob, making the Time Lady only wishing to defend her friend and avenge the woman's broken heart.
Yeah. I know. They're doing the same to me. the Doctor replied evenly, giving his own heated glare to the other two across the pit. You know, I'm starting to think your Third self inherited my Ninth's temper. She heard him chuckled lightly at this. She could not help but smile and give a mental chuckle as well.
The Empress and Lance began to speak. Something about Donna, or the Empress wondering who exactly the two Time Lords really were. Neither one of them was paying much attention.
Doctor, if you reverse the particles' activity in that vial, you can call the TARDIS to us. Wanda explained to him quickly in what the vial he had picked up could do. The same one he had been showing to them all earlier. You won't get any answers from either of them, so might as well travel back in time and see what's buried under the Earth.
Already on it. The Doctor smiled at her, pulling out the small vial that he had placed into his pocket earlier. Their attention was gained as the Empress began to order loudly her robotic scavengers to arm themselves.
"Kill the chattering little Doctor man and his annoying partner," the Empress commanded her small army. All the robots immediately aim their guns, ready to fire.
"Don't you hurt them!" Donna shouted, hurriedly placing herself directly in front of the two Time Lords.
"No, no, Donna. It's all right," the Doctor said calmly.
"No, I won't let them!" Donna cried in a panic to the robots ready to kill the Time Lords. The Empress gave a cry to fire just as the Doctor activated the vial in his hand, making the TARDIS materialize around the trio. They could hear the gunfire just outside of the ship as the Doctor rushed up to the console.
"Off we go," he said cheerfully. The engine revved up as the Doctor sent them off, directing them to a certain time in space. He smiled over to Donna. "Oh, do you know what you said before, about a time machine—well, I lied. And now we're going to use it. We need to find out what the Empress of the Racnoss is digging up. If something's buried at the planet's core, then it must've been there since the beginning. That's just brilliant. Molto bene! I've always wanted to see this. We're going further back than I've ever been before. Isn't that just—."
"Doctor," Wanda spoke up firmly, making him stop abruptly in his rambling excitement. He looked up, blinking with surprise at the sight of a crying Donna and the Time Lady gently comforting the bride. Wanda shook her head sadly to the Time Lord, then turned her attention to the sobbing Donna. Softly giving kind hushes and rocking the woman in a warm hug.
"There, there. I'm so sorry," Wanda whispered to the bride. She held the crying Donna close, rubbing gentle circles on the woman's back for comfort. "Here, let's go sit down. Okay?" She steered Donna over to the pilot chair, setting her down. Scooting next to her, Wanda continued to rub soothing circles on the woman's back as Donna sobbed through her wrenching heart.
The Doctor stood awkwardly by the console, unsure of what to do or say. He decided on remaining focused on the task ahead and steer the TARDIS through the Vortex. Wanda was always better at doing the comforting and making sure everyone was all right in the end anyway.
"We've arrived," the Doctor told them after the ship came to a halt. He looked over to the two females, seeing how Donna had stopped crying now. Now, she simply stared down sorrowfully to the ground. He gazed down in concern at the ginger woman. "Want to see?"
"It'll cheer you up," Wanda said softly, rubbing Donna's arm kindly. "Gazing to the stars always cheers me up when I'm down. It might do the same for you, too, in some ways."
"I suppose," Donna mumbled gloomily.
The Doctor looked to the scanner at first, but seeing how the image was too small, he walked over to the TARDIS doors and opened them up. Holding onto Donna's hand, Wanda led her over to the doorway for the beautiful sight outside the ship. The stars twinkled in the dark space through the clouds of floating dust and rocks. The young Sun shone brightly around, sending waves of light to the still lifeless expanse before them. Everything around shone of new life and light, appearing so young and free.
"We've gone back four point six billion years," the Doctor told them as they all gazed on in awe at the breathtaking sight. "There's no solar system, not yet. Only dust and rocks and gas." He pointed upwards to the young shining Sun. "That's the Sun over there, brand-new, just beginning to burn."
"It's so . . . beautiful," Wanda breathed.
"Yeah. It really is," the Doctor agreed, smiling brightly at the Time Lady. She smiled back, holding onto his hand and affectionately threading their fingers together.
"Where's the Earth?" Donna asked them, searching around the sky for the sight she expected to see.
"All around us . . . in the dust," the Doctor explained, pointing around to the floating rocks and particles in front of them. Donna glanced at them, then stared back out into the space beyond, feeling tiny and small compared to the expanse before her.
"Puts the wedding in perspective," she mumbled quietly. "We're just so . . . tiny."
"No, but that's what you do," countered the Doctor, staring off distantly with a fond smile on. "The human race—making sense out of the chaos. Marking it out with . . . weddings and Christmas and calendars. This whole process is beautiful, but only if it's being observed." Donna was quiet for a moment while she thought this over, continuing to watch the gentle floating rocks and dust.
"So, I came out of all this?" she questioned.
"Yep," Wanda replied, bouncing lightly on her feet as she beamed. "Isn't it just amazing how that works? Out of all the cosmos of the entire universe, each of us gets the slightest and briefest chance to be born, to be created, and brought into life. And then, we can make that life into whatever we wish it to be. We can live a simple story, or make the most amazing and brilliant one. It's all up to us to decide." She beamed at Donna as the woman gave a small smile in return.
"I think that's the Isle of Wight," Donna joked, pointing to a rather large rock that floated past the TARDIS. They all chuckled. Donna smiled, letting out a breath as she was actually starting to feel better. Not completely better, no. That would take some time. But . . . these people, next to her now, they really knew what to say to bring someone's spirits up.
"Eventually, gravity takes hold," the Doctor spoke up, going back into explaining like a teacher of sorts. "Say, one big rock, heavier than the others, starts to pull other rocks towards it. All the dust and gas and elements get pulled in, everything, piling in until you get—."
"The Earth," both Donna and Wanda finished for him.
"But the question is . . . what was that first rock?" mumbled the Doctor, observing the passing rocks around them closely.
Just then, they heard a rocket engine coming up from the large clouds of dust. It slowed down until it came to a complete stop in the sea of rocks floating around. The ship itself appeared to be a massive, seven pointed, star-shaped rock, floating around within the ocean dust and gas. The Doctor hopped over to the console, beginning to scan the Racnoss ship as it activated its gravity field, bringing in all the dust and rocks around it. The ship surrounded itself into a gigantic shell, starting the creation of the Earth.
The TARDIS suddenly rocked violently, pulling them back to 2006. Wanda snapped her fingers, closing the doors as they hurtled through the Vortex. Donna and Wanda both stumbled over to the console as the Doctor struggled to keep the TARDIS where they had been. But it seemed like a lost battle as the ship just continued to rock wildly, and flying straight back to the underground lab at H.C. Clements.
"What the hell's it doing?" Donna asked, holding onto the console as the ship shook roughly about.
"Remember that little trick of mine? Particles pulling particles. Well, it works in reverse, and they're pulling us back!" the Doctor explained hurriedly as he tried to keep them from being pulled directly back into the lair of the Empress.
"Well, can't you stop it?" asked Donna, sounding fearful for being brought back to the Empress. "Hasn't it got a hand brake? Can't you reverse or warp or beam or something?"
"Backseat driver," the Doctor muttered as he worked furiously to stop the TARDIS.
"Doctor, use the extrapolator," Wanda said quickly.
"Right! I forgot I had that," the Doctor responded. He stumbled over, grabbing the surfboard device and slammed it on the console. The lights flicked all across the device's surface as he plugged it into the TARDIS and whacked it with the mallet, making it so they could arrive somewhere other than the Empress's lair. The TARDIS came to a halting stop, indicating they had landed.
"We're about two hundred yards to the right," the Doctor told them as they rushed out of the TARDIS. They had arrived back into one of the long hallways of the secret underground facility. The Doctor turned and ran to a large metal door which led up to the Thames Flood Barrier. He pulled out his stethoscope, listening to the door.
"But what do we do?" Donna asked, staring at the Doctor while feeling high anxiety coursing through her.
"I don't know," the Doctor replied, shrugging slightly.
"We tend to make it up as we go along," Wanda explained, giving a grin to the woman.
"But I still don't understand. I'm full of particles, but what for?" Donna questioned quickly.
"There's a Racnoss web at the centre of the Earth, but my people unravelled their power source," the Doctor explained hurriedly as he continued to investigate the door in front of him. Donna and Wanda were continuing to listen to him as he rambled on. Then, suddenly, and quite out of nowhere (at least for Wanda), both females were grabbed and dragged off by the Empress's robotic henchmen.
Wanda could only blink in astonishment as the robots held a hand over her mouth and lift her body up as they walked her off with Donna. Why the heck was she being captured as well? They only needed Donna for her Huon particles. Perhaps the Empress still held some resentment for Wanda calling her a 'vile, ugly spider'? Maybe it was to even make Wanda as extra food for the Racnoss? Most likely it was simply payback from the Empress. The ginger woman next to her fought wildly, trying to get her captors to let her go. But it was no use as the robots pulled them back into the laboratory. In a matter for seconds, the Empress had them entangled within her web on the ceiling. She hissed with victory at the sight of them all within her grasp.
"I hate you," Donna growled at Lance next to her.
"Ditto on that," Wanda grumbled. Lance rolled his eyes in response, deciding not to response to the two angry females.
"My golden couple. Together at last—your awful wedded life," hissed the Empress. She laughed at her own humour. "Tell me, do you want to be released?"
"Yes!" Donna and Lance yelled together. Wanda simply nodded slightly, staring fearful down to the pit below. Damn her fear of heights.
"You're supposed to say 'I do,'" the Empress retorted. All of them stared down in annoyance to the Racnoss.
"I do," Lance grumbled, looking revolted by saying this.
"I do," barked Donna at the spider-humanoid.
"I don't," cackled the Empress, amused greatly by her joke. Wanda groaned, wishing she could pull her hands out of the web around her so that she may pinch the bridge of her nose in aggravation.
"Congratulations. I think that was the worst joke I have ever heard," Wanda grumbled loudly at the Racnoss. The Empress glared at her, insulted by this remark while the Time Layd merely stared back in exasperation while shaking her head. "No, seriously, that was the best joke you could come up with? If you're gonna villain you need to villain right. Why not 'til death do you part'? Or how about 'speak now or forever hold your peace'? Or better yet—."
"Oi, Wanda. Not. Helping," Donna spoke up, halting the Time Lady's words.
"Right, sorry. It's just, I'd really rather not be up here at the moment," Wanda apologized in embarrassment to her ramble on what jokes the Racnoss could have told.
The Empress hissed at them angrily for rambling on uselessly, and merely continued on with her plans. Wanda watched as the Huon particles were activated in both Donna and Lance. The golden glowing energy shot from the two of them, straight down into the pit below.
Wanda half listened as the Empress went on with cheers of victory as the sleeping Racnoss below were awakened. Closing her eyes tightly, Wanda merely concentration on not paying attention to the frightening height that she was currently at. She snapped her eyes back open again as Donna shouted next to her and Lance screamed in horror as he was cut from the web and sent down into the pit as food for the Racnoss below. Wanda winced, feeling pity for the man. Sure, he was vile and wicked, but no one deserved that kind of fate. She then gulped, feeling her stomach clench as she knew most likely she was next on the menu.
Wanda blinked as the Empress turned her attention away from killing off the other two still caught in the web. Instead, the Racnoss hissed at the seemingly robotic figure wearing a dark hooded robe climbing up the stairway to the catwalk above.
"You might as well unmask, my clever little Doctor man," the Empress spat out. Unmasking quickly and pulling off the robe, the Doctor frowned slightly at having been caught.
"Oh, well. Nice try," he muttered as he tossed the disguise aside. He whipped out his sonic to the web canopy above. "I've got you, Donna." The woman screamed as the webbing around her ripped, leaving her only gripping onto a large piece of it which she swung straight to the Doctor. The Time Lord held his arms out for the woman, but he missed by a mile as Donna swung underneath him instead and hit the metal staircase roughly. The woman fell back on the concrete floor, glaring up at him. The Doctor stared down with embarrassment. "Oh. Sorry."
"Thanks for nothing," Donna grumbled angrily. The Doctor cleared his throat, as he hurriedly did the same for Wanda, wanting to get her down before the Empress suddenly decided to make the Time Lady a meal.
"No, wait! I'm not ready!" Wanda cried out as the webbing around her broke. She gripped onto the one strand with all her might as it swung her to the Doctor. Fortunately, the Doctor had better aim and angling when it came to Wanda, making her swing closer to him. Unfortunately, he still missed in catching her. Wanda slammed into the railing in front of him instead, and ended up clinging to the metal siding.
"Oops, sorry," the Doctor said, pulling her up next to him. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, shaking from the experience.
"Never again," she gulped. "I. Hate. Heights. So much." She pulled back, grinning to him. "Though, I must say, nice aim there, sweetie." The Doctor gave a foxy grin in response. He then turned his attention to the Empress, glaring darkly to the spider-humanoid. Wanda did the same, her eyes darkening as she stared the Empress down, knowing what was coming next with no feeling of regret of what would happen for the crimes committed today. Those who destroyed, who were guilty of such vile natures, would be punished. Would always be punished. And Wanda only felt pride in knowing the Doctor and her would always be the ones there to make absolutely certain justice would be severed.
"Empress of the Racnoss, I give you one last chance," he spoke with a voice filled with authority. "I can find you a planet. I can find you and your children a place in the universe to coexist. Take that offer and end this now."
"These men are so funny," hissed the Empress gleefully. Amused in the thought of the Doctor having the idea he could stop her.
"What's your answer?" the Doctor grounded out, keeping his gaze steady on the Empress.
"Oh, I'm afraid I have to decline," laughed the Empress.
The Doctor stared gravely at her, shaking his head solemnly. "Then what happens next is your own doing."
The Empress stopped laughing abruptly, glaring at him. "I'll show you what happens next. At arms!" The robotic henchmen around her aimed their weapons on her command, pointing the deadly guns straight at the two Time Lords. Just as the robots were about to fire, they suddenly shut off. Going limp, all were no useless to the Empress. Donna and the Empress stared at the Time Lord in disbelief as he pulled out the remote for controlling the robots.
The Empress dismissed this. "Roboforms are not necessary. My children may feast on Martian flesh."
"Oh, but I'm not from Mars," the Doctor said evenly.
The Racnoss stared at him skeptically. "Then where?"
"My home planet is far away and long since gone. But its name lives on." The Doctor stared the Empress down, his gaze darkening even more. "Gallifrey."
This made the Empress snarl and roar with rage upon the name of the planet. "They murdered the Racnoss!"
The Doctor remained calm and unflinching. Unremorseful for what was about to occur. "I warned you. You did this." He pulled out a few red ornaments from the deadly Christmas trees, holding them out in the air. Next to him, going unnoticed by those around, Wanda's eyes flashed a brief white light that seemed so dark in nature.
The Empress started to the weapons in hand with horrified eyes. "No! No! Don't!"
The Doctor threw the ornaments into the air, making them float around as he pulled out more from his pockets to toss them up as well. Steering them all with the remote in hand, he made the decorations zoom through the drainage tunnels Wanda noticed from before. The whole place shook as the decorations exploded, causing massive holes from the tunnels to pour water straight to the room and down into the pit. Fire erupted around from the other few ornaments exploding around the laboratory chemicals. The Empress screamed and cried in horror as fire and water whipped around her. The whole room began to fill up, and water from the Thames cascaded upon them all, drenching them. Both Time Lords stared on, unblinking at the sight. That is . . . until the cries from the Empress were finally heard clearly for Wanda over the chaos before them.
"Noooo! My children!" sobbed the Empress in absolute heartbreak. "Aaah! My children! My children!" The Racnoss continued to wail in despair as her millions of children were drowned in right front of her in the pit. Wanda shook as she continued to listen to the wails of the Empress. The heart wrenching sobs of a mother losing her children. The way the Empress stood there, quaking in horror, reaching out a long spider arm in desperation towards the pit, and then . . . Wanda heard the millions of cries gurgling in the water from the pit. Young cries of pain and . . . suffering . . . dying cries.
Wanda stumbled back from the side of the railing, leaning against a section of the stairs behind her as she stared on in horror at the sight. She felt as though someone punched her in the gut as the realization hit her. They were . . . they were children. Oh, god, they were children. Yes, bloodthirsty and ravenous children that would have killed all humans on Earth. But that was more on their mother's command than anything. Wanda shakily placed a hand over her mouth, feeling sick to her stomach as she realized earlier she had watched on with no remorse. No pity. Just as the Doctor was doing now, simply staring on with cold indifference. She had gone along with the deaths of these Racnoss because . . . quite frankly, she had become so used to the deaths. So used to having to make the hard decisions when it came to saving the lives of millions of others. And this . . . this had to be done. But still . . . they were just children. She felt ready to sob along with the Empress to the loss of the children's lives.
He was only a child! And you killed him!
Wanda gasped as her head pounded away in pain. An angry and vengeful voice ringing out like a distant memory in her mind. What was that?
"Doctor! You can stop now!" yelled Donna. Both Time Lords blinked out of their stupor. The Doctor glanced down at Donna, then looked back to the Empress. His eyes mixed with remorse and horror when finally seeing the wailing mother Racnoss. He shook slightly as he felt the stabbing in his hearts when he realized what he had done . . . again. He turned, seeing Wanda staring off in dismay at the sight. His hearts twisted even more, realizing what the dying children meant to her.
"Wanda, come on," he said, grabbing the Time Lady's arm and pulling her along. "Donna! You, too!"
The woman did not need to be told twice. They all ran up the stairway together, climbing up to the top quickly before the rising waters killed them all. They heard the Empress yell out for transport from her ship which hovered above London. They climbed up a ladder to the Thames Flood Barrier. They reached the top just as the armies' tanks began to fire their missiles at the Empress's ship in the sky. The loud explosions and crashes could be heard as the star-shaped ship was destroyed, along with the Empress herself. They stood on the flood barrier, soaking wet, and seeing the last remains of the ship leaving the sky. The Doctor and Donna began to laugh as they felt glee in surviving this night.
Wanda, however, remained silent as she stared around at the drained Thames. She wanted to be cheerful and happy in celebration with the others at the 'victory' of sorts. Happy to still being alive and saving the Earth. Even at the funny sight of the drained river around them. But all she could do was listen to the echo wails of the Empress in her mind. The sobs which seemed to match similar heartbroken cries in a resonant memory.
XxXxXxXx
Dang. :( Well, onto the next one I suppose. Hope you all enjoyed the second chapter of the day. Let me know if you did in a review, or especially let me know if there was anything I could have done better. I always, always need feedback to keep up with what all of you wish to see in the story.