Disclaimer: I don't own anything that I've written. Yep, that's right, I own not even one iota of the below work.
Summary: Able is an actual doctor, and so, so much more. We all know 'The Doctor' does have a pendent for running into impossible things - and if Able was anything, he was an impossible thing. (A twist on the usual OC and The Doctor formula has original ideas and later on, canon divergence. M/M)
Warnings: This is a Doctor Who fic, so I doubt any of the readers will turn down reading this just because it's slash. After all, we have the canon Jack Harkness. (Who deserves a warning all on his own.) Canon typical violence, language, and later on there will probably be more explicit sexual content.
Chapter Warnings: Extreme violence (Murder) and Cursing (Fuck, Ass, etc.)
Authour Note: So this was a particularly long chapter to write, but I'm more than happy with it. I have a HUGE change from what Rose does in cannon this chapter, which always is a good sign for stories like these I should think. This is only the beginning of Able's story, so if you feel for him now, just you wait my lovely readers.
I've been giving a bit of thought to what I want to do with the relationships. I'm kind of thinking that maybe it could be a threesome. I highly doubt Able would have a problem with that. (In fact, I know that he wouldn't.) I also suspect that The Doctor wouldn't have much of a problem with it either. Why do I think that? Probably because I think in the future, those sort of barriers have fallen. Jack Harkness is such a good example of this - and The Doctor isn't one to discriminate. So, having said that little plan, we have options. Not to say it will actually happen, as it might not, but if it does here are the options: Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness, The Master, and River Song, I should think. I thought about the inclusion of Clara, but I'm not a huge fan of her. Martha, I don't really like her all that much, but I could be persuaded.
As for the current shipping for season one, I plan to have Able kind of pinning after The Doctor, and using (Mutally I assure you) Jack as a way to deal with his, shall we say, cravings. The two will undoubtedly get along, as I'm sure I haven't spoiled for you considering Able's character.
Any who, those are some musings on the current direction of the story. If you have any ideas you can feel free to send them to me via review, PM, anything you want.
As for this long ass authour note, I feel pretty justified considering just how long the chapter itself is, I mean who wouldn't?
Chapter Two: The End of the World
...
"Aren't you glad you have me then?" Able snarked, but in a banter sort of way.
The Doctor gave an enthusiastic grin, "Yes, yes I am, The Able! You are simply fantastic, I can't believe I didn't think of that." A second later, they were back before Rose, The Doctor stuck his head out, repeated the fact the TARDIS did, in fact, travel in time, and a few seconds later, an equally as enthusiastic Rose was bordering the TARDIS.
"So, The Able, Rose Tyler, where to first?" Said the grinning Doctor, facing them with his back to the controls.
...
"I can easily say that it doesn't matter one bit for me." Able said, his grin still spread wide across his face.
Joining The Doctor was probably one of the best decisions Able had ever made, he could just feel it. For the first time in years, he was deviating from the same old things he did every day, and not only that, but this was completely off the rails! Something that few would ever, could ever, experience, and the ginger would be one of the few. Curiosity, excitement, awe, all of those feelings were running through the blue-eyed males mind.
"Forwards!" Rose claimed after a moment of thinking it over.
The Doctor just nodded, his own answering grin still on his lips, "How far?"
"Three seconds!" Able exclaimed, his eyes interested.
"... Three seconds?" The Doctor asked, both dangerously curious, and rather put out. Who gets on a time machine, then asks go to three seconds into the future.
Able practically bounced in place, "For comparison! Last time when the TARDIS moved, I had my ass handed to me, does it move different because time is in use? Will it be more turbulent, or, perhaps, is it easier. How does it move through time, does it go somewhere else, time travel, then use the 'teleport' to show back up in the area you want to be? Will three seconds be different from ten years, or a thousand?"
Rose promptly elbowed Able's side again, interrupting his rushing speech, "Ignore this nerd, 100 years?"
Able was in his own head once again, from what he knew about space and time, via the Rift, the TARDIS would have to 'teleport' to a Rift, then use the 'time travel' ability, then 'teleport' back to where the location the user wanted to be. That, however, was knowledge that came from time travel that wasn't involved with a TARDIS, anything could be different!
A few moments later, Able was on his ass again, staring at the ceiling in shock.
The Doctor had moved the TARDIS well the ginger was thinking, and clearly, Able hadn't braced himself properly.
"The Able doesn't seem to have the legs for this yet." The Doctor teased.
"Well then, The Doctor, perhaps you should become a better driver."
The Doctor ignored that comment, Able thought be probably heard it a few times, but before the ginger could inquire, The Doctor was speaking again, "Now, outside those doors, it's the twenty-second century, Earth, London. Honestly though, that's a bit boring, want to go a bit farther?"
Rose just shrugged and agreed, Able was already amazed enough, and kind of wanted to go outside and check, but didn't interrupt The Doctor as he twirled around his TARDIS. Able took this chance to sit up, but didn't bother standing up once again, there was only so many times Able could fall on his ass before his almost non-existent pride broke. A wobbly trip later, the TARDIS stilled.
"Several thousand years into the future and the New Roman Empire is in charge." The Doctor explained, giving Rose and Able an almost smug grin.
"Hmm... That certainly seems like a bit of a step back, and The Roman Empire of all things, I would have thought something more like, 'The Trump' Empire would be more likely." Able mused to himself, trying to figure just how the Roman's ended up returning. Especially considering they had what, one tiny little city at this point. Not even that, if you really thought about it. No one said,' I'm Roman! 'They say, 'I'm Italian!'
Rose however, just grinned at The Doctor, "You think you're so impressive."
Able's eyes snapped toward his blonde friend, because the ginger knew that tone, she was flirting! Able didn't think he could be happier, finally, FINALLY! His friend was drifting away from Mickey in a grand total of five minutes in The Doctor's presence. He'd certainly have to thank the man even more profoundly if he managed it.
"I am so impressive." The Doctor returned, an affronted expression coating his face.
Able so wanted to say that yes, the man was impressive. Because ARE YOU KIDDING ME! A time machine, the FUCKING NEW ROMAN EMPIRE! Instead, he remained quiet, and let his friend finish her little flirt, like the amazing wing-man that he was.
"You wish."
The Doctor seemed to take this as the challenge that it was, and his eyes narrowed, and his lips lifted in a competitive smirk, "Right then, don't say you didn't ask for it! I know exactly where to go, hold on! Especially you, The Able, only so many times you can fall before you get a permanent bruise."
"But, The Doctor, if it was you that gave me that bruise, I might not mind that much." Able teasingly protested, making sure to keep the tone friendly, not flirty, he wanted to keep his position as best wing-man after all.
The Doctor shot his ginger companion a little glare, but just started to do a now familiar swirl around the controls, and the TARDIS jerked around frantically, making Rose grab onto one of the columns around them. Had Able actually gotten up before, he likely would have fallen again.
The TARDIS stopped, and Able pushed himself up off the floor, "So, where are we?"
The man just grinned and gestured toward the doors.
Able wasted no time nearly jogging his way over to them, knowing that Rose was right behind him, and, almost in a state of awe, he opened the door. It was an open room of some sort, brightly coloured, in a style that the ginger hadn't seen before.
Then, he saw it
A large window, and a beautiful overview of the Earth. Without another thought, Able walked over to the Window and placed a hand on it, staring at the sight before him in a gentle sort of awe. It was beautiful, the ginger never thought he'd live to see such a sight, but there it was. The sight was so distracting, Able didn't even notice the other two coming up behind him.
"You stupid, amazing humans... You spend all of your time thinking about how the future you have is a train wreck, as though whatever will cause your extinction is around the corner. You worry over global warming, sickness, diseases, but you never seem to stop for just a second and imagine, that maybe you actually make it. This is the year 5.5/apple/26, five billion years in your future in a few seconds is the day that the sun expands. This is the end of your world." The Doctor explained, a gentle emotion displayed through him. What that emotion was, Able didn't know, but it was certainly there –
Able could feel something touching his mind again. The same knowing touch as before, and there wasn't anything the ginger could do to stop it.
The feeling lasted for just a second, maybe even shorter, but it was enough to spoil the precious moment.
...
...
...
"Doesn't it take hundreds of years for the Sun to expand?" Rose asked, remembering something vague from some of the documentaries that her best friend had forced her to go to a few times.
Able hummed in thought, "No, it takes billions of years, although strictly speaking, somewhere in the three billion year range, all of the water on Earth should have evaporated and Earth would be a desert waste land, no life would have lived that long on the planet, but there is still water on Earth, although you can tell it's receding now incredibly quickly."
"Quite right, The Able, the answer you are looking for is money. The planet has been in possession of The National Trust, they've been keeping it preserved. See down there, those are gravity satellites that were holding back the sun. Flip them off, and bye-bye Earth." The Doctor explained.
"I'm guessing it's become a bit like Yellowstone National Park - Just larger. People pay out their ass to see a protected property, to see nature as it was. Probably why all the continents are the same as well, adds some authenticity." Able mused, studying the Earth as the water evaporated into nothing as they watched the sun pulsate.
"Essentially, and when it stopped being profitable for The Nation Trust, they decided to get one last show out of it. The great and the good gathered in one place – Exclusively – So that they can be the ones to state 'I am one of the ones that watched it go.' Typical, because when I say the great and the good, I actually mean the rich." The Doctor finished, his tone matter of fact.
Able scrunched his nose, because honestly, that was history down there. You would think it was a bit more than just a profit, then again, it had been over five billion years. Maybe it was so old at this point, the planet was practically worthless. Assumptions make an ass out of you and me, after all. Still, Able couldn't help but feel a weird attachment, a sense of wrong, and he didn't like it.
A voice came on the loud speaker, "Shuttles five and six now docking. Guests are reminded that Platform One forbids the use of weapons, teleportation and religion. Earth death is scheduled for 15:39, followed by drinks in the Manchester suite."
The ginger tilted his head to the side as he thought of the message, "That's a bit weird, weapons, teleportation and religion of all things. I suppose having more than one religion in one place can be just as dangerous as a weapon in the hands of some..."
"That ain't right." Rose said, looking a bit upset now that Able had pointed it out, "People should be able to practice what they believe in."
The Doctor looked back and forth between his two new companions, and couldn't help but find himself overall impressed. Especially with Able, and all the weird time stuff that surrounded him, in addition to all the open-minded opinions and thought processes. Rose was every bit as wonderful though, always asking the right questions, pointing the right thing out, arguing for her morals and just genuinely being the best for of humans there was.
"Those people docking, are they people?" Rose asked, her voice coated with an innocent curiosity.
"Depends on what you mean by the word people I suppose." The Doctor said, almost flatly.
"I mean, just, people." Rose helplessly tried to clarify.
The Doctor nodded, but turned to face his ginger companion, who had fallen a bit silent as he watched the byplay, "What do you think, The Able?"
"About who will be coming this this little event?" Able clarified, but didn't wait for an answer, "I'd expect a whole bunch of different species. If humans survived this long, five billion years, I would guess we've become a bit like the cockroaches of the Universe. We mate like rabbits after all, so I'm guessing anyone that even slightly works with humans might have a stake in coming, and that could be anyone, or anything. I guess, in other words, I have absolutely no idea, but I'm dying of curiosity to find out."
When Able finished, he was bouncing on his toes, practically ready to dash off to explore the little station they were at. He caused him to miss the measured impressed look that The Doctor shot toward him, as he glanced around with a childlike excitement that seemed to only be growing.
"Cockroaches of the Universe?" The Doctor said, letting a snort escape him, "I don't think I've ever heard a more spot on explanation."
Able just gave The Doctor a grin, before turning toward Rose, "Lover, isn't this amazing? Oh man, I'm so glad I came... This is going to be the best thing ever..."
They started to walk after that, although Able could tell that Rose was slightly uncomfortable with the whole situation. Perhaps it was the culture shock that The Doctor had expected from her yesterday?
...
...
...
"How long's it got." Rose suddenly asked, rather solemnly as the three made their way toward, well, the humans didn't know as they were just following The Doctor.
"About half an hour before the planet gets roasted."
"Is that why we're here than? You going to jump in last minute and save the Earth?" She asked, almost hopefully.
"Too late." Able cut in, walking backwards for a few minutes so he could face Rose directly, "The water at this point has completely evaporated, and the trees and such are already dying. Even if he stopped and recompressed the sun, it's already gone too far. The atmosphere of the planet is completely ruined, the orbit is also off now, considering the gravitational pull of the sun has completely changed."
"The Able is right, even besides, even if I wanted to, everything dies at some point. Time's up for the Earth, there isn't anything left there anyway. Either it was taken off, or it's already dead or dying. Anything valuable is gone, any animals were taken away 'Noah Ark' style." The Doctor explained, normally he would have kept the answer more susinct and left out such details, but Able would just dig in and ask the questions, no point in avoiding it.
Rose looked almost devastated, "But, the history! Never mind the fact that even if they did take some species out, there would still be thousands, millions of life forms down there – "
"Like I said, it's too late. This is just one particular planets extinction event. This sort of thing happens everywhere in this Universe, Lover. Normally it wouldn't have even lasted this long, something to be thankful for." Able tried to reason to her emotions.
The ginger did think she was overreacting a bit, and once again thinking more with her heart than her mind – Yet he did admire Rosie's adherence to her views and morals. If Able had to guess, The Doctor agreed at least in part with the gingers way of thinking, as he did seem rather nonchalant about this entire experience.
"I guess it's just me and Able then..." Rose gave up, looking full of mourning.
Yes, she was too hung up on this, "Rosie, didn't you hear The Doctor? He said that humans survived, they are among the stars, maybe changed, maybe different, but there. We aren't alone, not even close." Able finished, trying to pull her way of thinking around.
Rose managed a smile, but not much more.
The Doctor looked likely to interject, but a blue skinned man rounded a corner and speed walked toward us, "Who the hell are you people?"
Able looked at 'him' with curiosity. Blue skin, an extremely vibrant blue, some darker markings on (His, an assumption, maybe 'his' race didn't have gender, for all Able knew) but otherwise extremely humanoid in appearance.
The Doctor seemed to take that particular greeting in stride, as if the blue skinned humanoid had given him the best compliment he'd ever gotten, "Oh, that's nice, thank you!"
"How did you get in here, this is a maximum hospitality zone which will contain high degree guests in only a few more seconds!" The being stated, their voice sounding completely bewildered, perhaps a bit panicked.
"That's me! I'm a guest, look here, I've got an invitation." The Doctor reached into his jacket and pulled out a wallet or some sort with a blank piece of paper inside, "It says right here, The Doctor, The Able, and this is our plus one, Rose Tyler."
"Oh dear, our apologies, please excuse us, if you are aboard, we had better start. Enjoy." The being said, their skin flushing a deeper blue as he scuttled off.
"The Doctor, how exactly does showing them a blank piece of paper accomplish anything?" Able asked.
"It looks blank to you?!" The Doctor exclaimed, looking rather excited, "That's simply brilliant, I mean, you are simply brilliant, The Able. The paper is slightly psychic you see, normally it just shows people whatever the user wants them to see. It saves a lot of time, but you see a blank sheet!"
"I must be incredibly talented then." Able claimed almost sarcastically, a bit put out by his inability to see what was on the paper. Seemed like such an interesting thing, he'd like to experience it.
"That's just it! You have to be remarkable to not see something on the paper, especially when it's in the hands of someone like me. Either you are incredibly smart, or you have some latent psychic abilities, perhaps." The Doctor exclaimed.
Able grinned, rather unabashed, but didn't say anything rather. Although he did wonder if it was his psychic abilities, or his intellectual ones that allowed him to see the blank. Either way, he did feel a little bit special now that The Doctor more thoroughly explained it – Not that he'd be letting him know that –
"Awwh, he's flattered. Doctor, did you know Able is an actual Doctor? Got one in Theoretical Physics – " Rose started to explain, before she was cut off.
"Lover, don't go giving away all my secrets, you'll take the mystery out of the relationship!" Able teasingly interrupted, but before the banter could continue, the other guests started arriving.
The familiar humanoid spoke, giving a little clap, "We have in our presence, The Doctor, The Able, and Rose Tyler, all staff to their positions!"
A bunch of short, blue, bustling humanoids rushed through the hall, standing at attention, going into the back. They wore black, helmets, all of which seemed to be made of a material that looked like a cross between latex and leather.
"Now, the next honoured guest, from the Forest of Cheem, we have trees namely Jabe, Lute, and Coffa."
Now they were impressive looking, Able thought to himself, his eyes especially straying toward Jabe. She was, simply put, incredibly good looking. Now, Able had no idea how a partnership with a tree would work, but he was more than willing to learn.
"There will be an exchange of gifts to represent peace, if we could keep the room circulating, thank you!"
The ginger didn't have anything on him to offer as a gift of peace, but considering how many cultures were going to be mixing here, he was sure his considerable mind could whip something up.
"Now, we have the Moxx of Balhoon. Followed by The Adherents of the Repeated Meme..." The list went on and on, more and more people entering the room, and Able honestly couldn't get enough. So many different types of people, they all had unique looks to them, different traits, and accomplishments attached to their names.
A few moments later, the tree which Able had been eyeing a bit made her way over, her voice regal as she was, "The Gift of Peace. I bring you a cutting of my Grandfather."
The Gift was a small plant growing in a pot of soil, it looked healthy and was clearly an intimate gift, which meant they would be expected to respond in kind. As the gift was given to The Doctor, he passed it down to Rose, and turned back toward the tree, "Yes, Gifts, I give you in return.. Air from my lungs."
The Doctor went on to take a breath, and gently blow it across Jabe's face.
Able could feel his lips twitching into a smirk, because that move, not so subtle, but extremely smooth.
"Such an intimate gift." She commented, a flirty grin on her lips.
Which, The Doctor returned, "There's more where that came from."
Then, Jabe turned toward Able with an expectant look, and in a fit of brilliance, he grasped the perfect idea, reached up to his head, and pulled out three strands of hair before handing them over, "My DNA, as a show of trust, considering my rare genetics on my planet." And time.
The tree grasped the strands, apparently rather happy to accept the gift, "Truly a gift of trust."
The tree didn't turn to Rose, instead just walked away toward some of the other guests. Apparently, that was the sight The Doctor gave the tree when he passed the gift to Rose, as though Rose was something more like a 'plus one' than the equal he presented Able as. Which made this experience much more fun for Able.
Especially considering the view he got as the trees walked away, perhaps his eyes drifted a little bit lower than socially acceptable in his time line, but who could blame him?
"Great thinking, The Able." The Doctor praised, and the ginger also got an impressed look from Rose.
Able couldn't withhold a chuckle, "My Gift was almost as intimate as yours, The Doctor."
The man had the grace to look a bit embarrassed – and what was that – a hint of jealousy from his best friend? Not to mention, the blonde looked truly overwhelmed. Not that he could blame her, inside he was bouncing around like a child on a sugar high himself, but compartmentalization helped him out in that regard.
The Face of Boa was announced, and wasn't that an impressive sight, it took him away from thinking of his best friend, but Rose knew him, surely she wouldn't mind, because the Face... Was amazing. Huge even, a head that was human sized, in a jar of sorts.
His observations were cut short, as the Moxx of Balhoon rolled over.
"Ah, the Moxx of Balhoon." The Doctor stated.
The little roller, a lighter blue than the other humanoid they'd met spoke up in a surprising tone, "My facilitation upon this historical happenstance I give you the gift of bodily saliva."
He then promptly spat on Able's face.
Able gave the Moxx an enthusiastic grin, and pulled out a few of his hairs, "I give you the gift of rare DNA. Thank you for your gift, it was a pleasure."
"He just... spat on you." Rose stated in shock, watching as the Moxx rolled away to the next guest. The Doctor nearly gave a snicker at her reaction. Able didn't even bother to wipe it off, it only landed on his cheek after all, and it was a gift.
"That was awesome." Able said, his eyes sparkling, and just, the whole thing was unbelievable, Rose's reactions weren't enough to bring him down. The blonde wasn't as open minded as he was, and Able knew he couldn't change that, but he could just accept it and move on.
Next came the Adherence of the Repeated Meme, The Doctor and Able both gave their respective gifts, and The Doctor handed the orb over to the still overwhelmed Rose.
Wait a second, the Adherence of the Repeated Meme? That sounded like the sort of beings that would be religious, perhaps the reason religion had been banned in this instance? Able mused, but didn't bother thinking about it too hard. Instead, he resolved to himself to just enjoy it, deeper thought could wait, The Doctor made it rather clear they were going to be his companions. Questions and theories could wait.
The ginger just wanted to live this.
The announcer spoke again, "Finally, in memory of this dying world, we call forth the Last Human. The Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta Seventeen."
Able fancied himself rather open minded, but when he thought of the evolution of human kind, this wasn't what he had expected. Lady Cassandra was literally a piece of skin with extremely large, visible veins running through her, and finally a face. Two people were following her, wheeling her skin out, they seemed to be wearing some sort of protective suit.
Rose started to step closer to Cassandra, a mix of fascinated and disgusted. The Doctor on the other hand, seemed to find the situation – Especially Rose's reactions – Utterly hilarious.
"Truly, I don't look a day over 2000, you don't need to stare." The Lady flattered herself, "I am the last human, my father was a Texan, and my mother was from the Arctic Desert. They were born on that planet below, some of the last to be cremated on the Earth, I have come to honour them and say goodbye. To do so, I have brought gifts, from the Earth itself, the last remaining ostrich egg."
The egg was brought out, "Legends says it had a wingspan of 50 feet and blew fire from its nostrils – Or, was that my third husband."
Zing, Able thought, unable to keep the small amused smile from his lips.
"Oh no! Don't make me laugh, I'll get laughter lines. Here, is another rare item. According to the archives I've collected, this was called an iPod. It stores classical music from humanities greatest composers. Go on, play it."
The song that came on wasn't something that Able recognized, but it had a nice beat to it, something that you could dance too. The Doctor apparently agreed, because he wasted no time bobbing his head along, "Nice moves, bet you get all the partners with that one."
"How'd you know?" The Doctor asked, giving a look of exaggerated shock once more.
The song must have been too fitting for the moment, because the overburdened Rose took off in a light jog, her emotions clearly at the boiling point. Able wasted no time running after her, unknown to him, The Doctor was also following.
...
...
...
Able found Rose staring out the window at a devastated planet Earth, and it was a sad sight to behold. He did share Rose's horrified fascination, although not to the same extent. The Earth was brown, nothing green, blue, no clouds, just a ball of brown, which was slowly turning deeper, likely because of the repeated pulsations of the sun rays charring it.
"You don't seem to be taking this very well, Lover." Able announced his presence as he saddled up to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Rose pushed her head into her best friends neck, taking in the comfort for a moment, "It's just... Overwhelming. We are watching the destruction of our planet with... Just... A bunch of aliens."
"I don't know if this will help or not, but think for just a moment, that to them, you're the one that is the alien. All of those species went through what you are feeling right now, and they all came out the other side and created something fantastic."
Rose smiled a little bit, Able could feel it, "You did get spit on."
"I know! Amazing right?!" Able exclaimed, pulling away from Rose and just grinning at her, "This opportunity will likely never come to someone else in our time frame, we are special, and it's just, I mean, I'm one of the people chosen. The odds are several billion against two, and I was one of the two. I just can't stop thinking about how lucky I am, and getting to see all these cultures, the people who are famous in this era, the advancements that have been made – "
"Alright nerd, I get it." Rose teased, having calmed herself significantly enough, and jokingly picked up the clipping they received, "Hello, I'm Rose, that's a sort of plant, we have something in common."
Able was about to burst into laughing, when he caught something moving out the corner of his eye, something that came out of the gift they'd received from the Adherents of the Repeated Meme. Able could feel a bolt of apprehension run through him, and proceeded to pretend that he hadn't seen it at all. Eyeing it out of the corner of his eye, but otherwise just giving Rosie a little smile.
The ginger almost acted when it seemed like it was about to do something to Rose, but before he could, The Doctor's arriving voice scared it off.
"Rose, The Able, are you in there?" Before either could answer though, the door opened and The Doctor rushed in.
He sat himself down opposite to where Rose and Able were sitting next to each other, "What did you think then?"
"It's amazing, I think this might be the best day of my life." Able said, his voice softening as the extent of his awe showed itself, "Jabe especially, she's one good looking tree."
Rose gave her usual response, and dug her elbow into Able's side, "You pig! She's a tree for god's sake."
"A good looking tree that I would be more than willing to experiment on inter-species relations with." Able retorted, although he was being completely honest.
The Doctor ran a marveling look across Able's face, "You are a special one, The Able. If nothing else, I'd say you were born in the wrong century. Mindset like that, I bet you'd love the 51st. Maybe we'll take a trip their soon, I'm sure you'll find lots of like minded humans and species to, how did you phrase it, experiment on inter-species relations with."
Able could feel interest flash through his eyes, but Rose ended up blurting out her feelings, "Their just so... Alien, the aliens are so alien, you look at them, and they are just so... Alien."
"Good thing I didn't take you to the deep south." The Doctor commented, making fun of Rose a bit, but he probably deserved that, considering Rose's borderline offensive comment.
The ginger could feel his distaste for the word Alien growing the more it was said in his presence. He didn't want to rub Rose wrong when she was clearly having acceptance issues, so he didn't mention it, instead making a different comment, "Heard there's tons of aliens of the human sort there."
There was a pause as the room went quiet.
"Where are you from?" Rose suddenly asked.
The Doctor looked away from his companions for a few moments, and looked at the charring Earth, "All over the place."
"They all speak English." Rose realized, her head tilted in thought.
Good old Rose, always pointing out interesting little facts. Able thought to himself, only now realizing what she said was true. It seemed rather impossible for all those different species to have the same language as humans – In fact – It seemed a bit silly for humans to have English as their main language still. Languages evolved, and it had been five billion years.
The doctor just laid down and propped his head on his hand, "No, you hear English. It's a gift from the TARDIS, she puts a telepathic field in your head, then she translates for you."
That... It explained so much, and honestly Able wasn't sure how to feel about it. To him, the idea of something just randomly going inside his mind, rummaging around, was practically akin to rape, and why wouldn't it be? Yet, The Doctor seemed rather nonchalant about it – Which meant something like this clearly wasn't a big deal to him. Perhaps it was normal among his people? The ginger fought the urge to lash out, stayed quietly contemplative, even as Rose did the opposite.
"It's inside our brains? Your machine went inside our brains, changes our minds, and you didn't even ask?" Rose spoke, her disgust plain to hear.
"I didn't think about it like that..." The Doctor spoke, looking rather confused.
That essentially settled that – Something like this was probably not important in The Doctor's culture. An accident, if even that, barely even a small oversight on The Doctor's part. Plus, not at least Able knew just what the being touching his mind had been, and that was better than a mystery.
"Lover... I don't think what happened is considered rude in The Doctor's culture. Maybe we should just let it go. If anything, it's probably the equivalent of someone coming up and groping your arse real quick – It doesn't really matter, if anything it came out better for us." Able reasoned out.
The Doctor shot him a grateful glance, although it was still quite clear that he didn't understand the problem, he seemed adapt enough about dealing with other species to just accept the insult he made, apologize (ish) and then move on.
Rose however, was not in the mood for calming down. Perhaps it had been the day she had, overwhelming as it had been, "Who are you Doctor? What are you called? What sort of alien are you?"
"Rosie... Calm down a bit, no need for all this." Able cautioned, seeing The Doctor get more and more tense as she continued, the man sitting up instead of the previous relaxed position.
"I'm just The Doctor." He answered.
"From what planet?" She persisted.
His face screwed up in what might have been pain, "Well, it's not as if you'll know where it is."
"He's got a point, Lover. Just leave it alone, what does it matter where someone comes from. It's who they are that matters."
"Able just... Stop! He's taken us half way across the universe and we don't know a think about him." Rose hissed out, before turning back to The Doctor, "Where are you from?"
"What does it matter! The Able even agrees with me."
"I'm not talking to him, I'm talking to you! Just tell us who you are!" Rose exclaimed, throwing her hands up, getting fed up.
"This is who I am, right here, right now! Nothing else matters, you humans, you put too much stalk in the past! I'm the me that's here, that's it!" The Doctor eventually yelled back, finally losing his patience with his blonde companion.
"Yeah but I'm here now as well cause you brought me here so just tell me!"
"SHUT UP!" Able shouted, glaring at the both of them with a surprising amount of scathing, "I don't like arguing, especially not about something as utterly stupid as what species The Doctor is. Rose, stop being close minded, what does his species matter? It's who he is as a person that matters."
The Doctor managed to look smug for half a tick before the angry red-head turned toward him, "You, The Doctor, should not have risen to the bait. Sure, you have every right not to tell her, but you don't get to be angry at her because she wants to know, especially in this situation. You're the more mature of us, you should be expected to act that way."
Able was still boiling angry and he knew why. Rare as it was, when he got angry, the mood stuck with him for a long time, until he found some sort of release for it.
Outwardly, he forced himself to be more controlled. Inwardly, he was a mass of red hot anger.
At least, both Rose and The Doctor had shut up about their stupid argument. In fact, Rose had turned over toward The Doctor and apologized, which The Doctor accepted, and asked to see Rose's phone, but before she could hand it over, the entire ship started to shake wildly.
Able, who had been standing when the shaking started, was surprised to find himself still on his feet when it stopped. Had he been in a better mood, he likely would have cheered aloud for himself, as it was, he still kind of wanted to kill something.
The Doctor had a grin though, not just any grin, but the same borderline manic grin that he'd had just before facing the Consciousness when they were back on Earth, "Take it that shaking is not meant to be happening then?"
"Nope."
"Gonna do something about it?" Able stated, more than asked.
The grin he got back was incredibly telling, "Come on then, The Able, Rose Tyler, time to solve the mystery of the Gravity Pocket that isn't. After all, I know gravity pockets, they certainly don't feel like that."
They all started to leave the room, Able still fighting a tight muzzle on his emotional state, not wanting to blow up, doubly as much now that he'd be a hypocrite for it.
...
...
...
They had walked all the way back to the main hallway, The Doctor pulling out his sonic screwdriver and running it up and down against a panel as he spoke, "Yes, definitely not a gravity pocket, but what is it do you reckon? What do you think Jabe? Listen to those engines, they've pitched up about thirty hertz, that dodgy or what?"
"Most commercial microwaves operate at 2450 MHz." Able commented, his tone rather flat, "You think a fluctuation of 30 hertz, comparable to a large ship like this, really makes that much of a difference?"
The Doctor blinked in shock down at Able, who was about a head shorter than him, slightly confused as to the tone. Able had been completely nice, fair, and open-minded thus far, but what he'd just said was borderline rude for the first time. Somewhat embarrassing to even inwardly admit, but The Doctor had no idea what he could have done to entice such an attitude from the male who was, just ten minutes ago, walking around like an awe-filled, hyper-active child.
"Personally, I can't understand the language of machines." Jabe commented, looking a little put out herself at the way Able was acting, considering how friendly he'd been before.
"Best go check out the engine room..." The Doctor mumbled to himself.
"Although I know nothing about machines, I know that the maintenance duct is just behind our guest suite. I could show you and your wife." Jabe commented, looking specifically at Rose.
"No, she's not my wife." The Doctor calmly denied, unknowing of the eruption that would soon be Mount Rosemore.
"Partner?"
"Nope."
"Concubine."
"Certainly not."
"A prostitute, perhaps?" Jabe asked, inwardly getting amusement out of watching Rose get more angry with each suggestion.
"Whatever I am, it must be invisible. Do you mind?" Rose sneered, letting her sassy side loose, "Tell you what, you two go and pollinate. I'm going to go have a quick word with Michael Jackson over there."
"I'm interested in the pollination, can I join?" Able asked, because surely working out his frustration via pollination would be incredibly effective.
"You're coming with me!" Rose said, grabbing Able's arm, "I need the emotional support of my best friend when I go meet the 'Last Human' otherwise..."
"Don't go starting a fight." The Doctor said to Rose, turning toward Able and in a soft voice said, "Watch out for that 'Lover' of yours, The Able, she's a mite bit of trouble, that one."
Able managed a feeble, quickly fading smile. Especially when Rose looked offended by the idea of getting into a fight. The Doctor and Jabe made their way to the engine room, Rose calling after them, "I want you home by midnight!"
...
...
...
"The sun will blossom into a red giant, and my home will die. That's where I used to live when I was a little boy, down there. Mommy and pappy had a little house build into the side of the Los Angeles ridge." Cassandra said as Rose and Able stood next to her, and her roller.
"Like I've said many times at this point, the Earth is already technically dead at this point." Able said under his breath, making sure it was loud enough for Cassandra to hear though. If nothing else, it would be nice to take out his frustrations on someone that he wouldn't regret doing it too later.
"What happened to everyone else, the human race, where did it go?" Rose asked.
"They say mankind has touched every star in the sky."
"So you're not the last human." Rose stated, looking confused.
"I am the last pure human." Cassandra clarified, a note of pride in her voice, "The others... Mingled. They call themselves new-humans, pro-humans, digi-humans, and even humanish! You know what I call them? Mongrels."
"You know what I call you? Moronic." Able spat, finally losing it completely and just letting the anger out, "What you're talking about is progress. It's the evolution of human kind! You either change or you die out, and humans changed. You, the last pure human, are dying out. That's progress for you, leaving those lesser beings behind. Anyone that can't understand simple science such as this, in the year 5.5/apple/26, is even less than anything you claim is a mongrel."
With one last dirty look, Able walked away from Cassandra, but not before purposely hitting her wheels and making her spin around like crazy.
The last thing he heard from the now two people he'd left was Rose saying, "How many surgeries have you had?"
Well, now that the anger was a good deal out of his system, although nowhere near completely, Able could find it in himself to at least try and enjoy the experience once again. Instead, Able ventured closer to the Face of Boa, who seemed like a rather interesting sort.
"Hello, The Able, I am the Face of Boa." Able heard in his head, his eyes widened and he turned around to face the presence he felt just sort of sitting on the very edge of his mind. It seemed as though he was going to have to get used to the little intrusions in the place that used to be only his own and The Rifts.
"Hello, Face of Boa, nice to meet you. Hey, this might seem a little weird, but could I ask about your biology." Able just outright inquired, slightly rude, but then he still wasn't in the best of moods.
"Certainly, did you know that Boakind can become pregnant? I certainly didn't! What a surprise that was, you see, I was the first of my kind. Not anymore, but when I had sex with a member of a telepathic race called the – "
The Face of Boa went on, being a rather interesting conversationalist, and talking about the intricacies of the pregnancy that they had been through. It appeared that The Face of Boa was actually a male, at least gender wise, despite his ability to get pregnant. Perhaps Able should have expected than particular eventuality, considering it was five billion years in the future.
That point just kept being driven home.
The conversation had become so intriguing, that Able hadn't even noticed Rose leave. He also didn't notice Toxic playing off of the 'iPad' which was perhaps a blessing.
Jabe came back without The Doctor a few moments later however, carrying with her a familiar looking spider device. She was scanning it, before announcing, "The metal device confirms, the devices have infiltrated the whole of Platform One."
Several gasps of shock where heard, and Able turned toward the Face of Boa, "Think we should get out of here, Jack?"
He only just been told that Face of Boa was a political name before this whole ruckus started, and Able was more than willing to do anything to help his new friend get himself to safety. This however, didn't seem to be much of an option as another pause, The Doctor also burst into the room.
Able pretended whatever Cassandra said never happened.
The Doctor took the little spider, just as the Moxx spoke, "Summon the Steward."
"I'm afraid the Steward is dead." Jabe spoke, looking genuinely regretful.
The Moxx of Balhoon spoke up again, "Who killed him?"
This time, there was no ignoring what Cassandra said, "The whole event was sponsored by the Face of Boa! He invited us! Talk to the face. Talk to the face!"
Able practically stalked forward to the piece of skin, "You piece of paper! It was probably you, look at the one that is throwing accusations and defenses around like it's fucking candy. Never mind all the insults – You admitted to me that everyone here is a mongrel to you because they weren't purely human."
The Doctor spoke up, making Able turn his back to Cassandra and look toward him, "Easy way of finding out." He dropped the spider onto the floor, turning it on, "Someone brought these little pets on board, let's send him back to his master."
The little robot scuttled toward the Adherents of the Repeated Meme, which, Able sort of regretted not figuring out for himself. Blinded by anger, he forgot having seen one of the little bots coming out of the Adherents peace gift.
"Well that's all sort of obvious." The Doctor thought aloud, "But when you stop to think about it..."
One of the Meme's attached The Doctor, and he rather brutally ripped it's arm off and took something out, a power core perhaps, and all of them fell to the floor. This, much to Able's delight, brought the most suspect person in the room back around to being Cassandra, considering the little robot looked around ready to go to her before settling on the Meme's.
Sure enough, The Doctor kicked the little bot back into action and it stopped right in front of Cassandra. Also, right next to Able, and before Able could do anything about that Cassandra spoke, "I bet you were the school swat and never got kissed."
"Take the hostage, and at arms boys!" She declaimed, and Able was grabbed by one of the hazmat suit men, something pushed against his neck. He gulped deeply, before going shock still.
The Doctor did not look like a happy camper at the moment, "What are you going to do, moisturize us?"
"With acid."
Able tensed more, but fought his body to stay completely still and as pliant as possible. Acid right against one of the most important vein's in his body, never mind just how important, you know, his neck was, well nothing was pleasant about it.
The Doctor had rage swimming in his eyes, and The Face of Boa was actually quite similar.
"Let him go..." The Face of Boa rumbled, much to the shock of everyone in the room.
Cassandra just smirked, "So you do speak, not that it will do any good. I hadn't planned on taking a hostage, but look at how well it's working out. After all, this one did pay me such an insult early, said I was obsolete, said that those proto-human mongrels were better than me. Ha! Look at him now!"
"So what, you take a hostage and stay inside of a ship that you sabotaged, starting to see like The Able was correct about just how much lesser you are then the other species of human." The Doctor jibbed, his eyes not leaving Able's.
"Originally I'd hoped to manufacture a hostage situation with myself as a victim, but the backup plan will have to work. After all, flatness costs a fortune, and even though I am the last human, I still need to make a living."
"Arrest her!" Moxx shouted, looking rather panicked at the moment. The happy memory of the Moxx spitting on the ginger seemed rather distant now.
"Right, like I said, I still have my final option. So, here it is, you're all just as useful dead. I've placed shares in your rival companies and they'll triple when you die. Since my spiders are ready to destroy all the life support systems, well, time for you to burn, baby, burn.
"You'll simply burn with us." Jabe glared at her.
"I'm so sorry, I know that teleportation is strictly forbidden, but I'm such a naughty thing. Look on the bright side Doctor, I'm taking this little imbecile with me, at least he'll die a better death than you. Spiders, activate!" The whole ship rumbled beneath their feet, "At least it'll be quick for you, just like my fifth husband. Any who~ Shame on me, bye-bye my darlings."
The area around Able seemed to shimmer as he was teleported, "ABLE!" The ginger heard The Doctor shout, before he was gone from Platform One.
...
...
...
Teleportation was actually something that look longer than one would expect. It took a good minute, at least, it seemed that way. Able quickly figured out that when they reappeared, he'd have his best shot at getting out of this alive. He'd have to take out of the hazmat guys and grab their acid, or something along those lines. Perhaps even hiding behind Cassandra was a good way of doing it, the plan would depend on his orientation when they got there but –
No more time for thought, they appeared, and Able shook himself lose of the grip the hazmat had on him, quickly grabbing the man by the face and slamming it into the wall, grabbing the acid can from his slackened fingers.
Able quickly took a look around, and noticed he was about to get sprayed by the other hazmat, instead Able pointed his own sprayer at the conscious hazmat and sprayed it before he got the chance to do the same.
Somewhere inside of him, Able sort of expected it all to be a bluff, that what was in the canisters was just water, but it wasn't. The second the spray hit the hazmat, he started to disintegrate, leaving half covered flash and bone, the scream that erupted form the hazmat...
It was something that Able knew he'd remember for the rest of his life.
Also something he knew not to concentrate on right now.
He turned toward Cassandra, who watched it all in shock, and pointed the dispenser toward her.
"W-wait a minute now darling, I didn't mean anything by it." Cassandra begged, her voice clearly filled with panic as she looked around.
Able just gave a hollow sort of chuckle, "This started out as a good day for me Cassandra. I got to meet other races, I was filled with a childlike joy I'd never felt before, and now look at what you've done. You just said you killed my only friend, my only attachment to this world. Let's be clear, if Rose Tyler hasn't survived this ordeal, I'm going to kill you. Wow, that's something I never thought I'd hear myself say."
Then again, was it really so surprising? Rose Tyler was his only friend, other than the Rift, which was more of a parent – one that Able was no longer connected to, nor could be connected to again in this time, because the Earth just blew up.
He had nothing.
When humans had nothing, they got desperate. Especially when their own lives where on the line.
Cassandra just stayed quiet, seeming to understand that her best move was to simply not anger me farther.
One moment later, he could feel the now familiar feeling of teleportation take him. The second that he rematerialized, he hit the deck and quickly looked around to make sure he wasn't in some sort of trap. To his relief, he was back aboard Platform One. His tense demeanor didn't abate though, instead he frantically searched the faces before him, noting The Doctor, The Face of Boa, and -
"Rosie!"
Able scrambled up, leaving the acid sprayer, and engulfed his traumatized friend into a hug. Which one of them was more traumatized right now, Able wondered, maybe when we get back to Earth we can visit a little psychologist and have a bit of a competition...
Anything around him didn't really matter, all that mattered was Rose, in his arms, alive and okay, and suddenly guilt. A crushing sort of guilt and brokenness filled him, and it felt to Able as though he'd never be whole again.
All it took was five minutes of pressure, and he killed a few people and completely shattered.
Rose was crying in his arms, her body shaking in tandem with the sobbing noises. Able wanted to know what happened with her, but knew better than to ask. Instead, he ran his hand through her messed hair, not trying to shush her, but just comfort her through the emotions. He couldn't break down himself until after he was sure Rose was okay – Maybe then he'd shed a tear or two for the first time himself.
"Anyway, you can go ahead and take me to court, Doctor, and you and your little brats can simply watch me smile my way out of doing much more than giving them a few credits."
"You're creaking." The Doctor said, his tone dark and menacing.
Able suddenly turned his head slightly to the side, if only to see what The Doctor was talking about, his curiousity wouldn't allow for less.
"Creak. You're creaking."
Rose's sobs ended and she pulled away slightly to look at Cassandra
"Ah! I'm drying out! Oh, sweet heavens. Moisturize me, moisturize me! Where are my surgeons? My lovely boys, it's getting too hot!" Cassandra screamed as her body turn brown, perhaps a bit of karma, for making them miss Earth Death.
"You were the one that raised the temperature." The Doctor commented, his eyes still dark as he glared at the dying skin, "Maybe if you hadn't taken my companion I might have had a small sliver of mercy left, but I'm not really feeling it. Besides, everything has a time, everything dies."
"Help her." Rose spoke, looking horrified.
"No, no no no no no, The Doctor wouldn't, couldn't help her, could he? Look at what she did, what she did was horrible, unforgivable, she made me..." Able muttered internally, forcing himself to keep his mouth closed as to not burst into hysterics aloud.
"He would not do such a thing, The Doctor, he cares far too much for his companions to allow such a thing to go by forgiven." Able heard Jack say as their minds made contact once again.
Instead of speaking aloud, Able just spoke in his mind to Jack, "What I did... I had to right?"
"I know that you wouldn't have, if you had another choice." Jack spoke, his confidence not falling short at all.
Able pushed a feeling toward Jack, all the gratefulness that he could muster, because the ginger was sure he couldn't bring himself to actually show it on his face at the moment.
"Everything has a time and everything dies." The Doctor spoke to Rose, no guilt even touching those steely eyes.
The blue midgets from before started to pile in, clearing things up, making sure that Jack's tank was cleaned off. They then started to escort a number of the living guests off and toward their ship. The comforting feeling of Jack's mind was gone about an hour later, and the broken fractures of Able's mind started to show themselves a bit once again. Able made sure to stay close to Rose, not wanting it to get worse.
She stared out at the now destroyed Earth with sort of empty eyes.
"The end of the Earth, it's gone, and we were too busy saving ourselves so no one saw it go." Rose said, her voice shaking.
The Doctor was standing next to them as Rose spoke those words, looking out into the distance himself.
"All those years, all that history, and no one was even looking... It's just..."
The Doctor offered both his companions a hand, "Come with me."
Able took it without a thought, and he felt something in his mind, a sort sort of presence, maybe questioning, comforting, and just sort of there. Nothing the ginger had felt before, but he'd venture a guess to say it was The Doctor. The blue-eyed male brushed against the presence, ignoring the sense of surprise he got, and just basked in it as though he was a cat.
They got into the TARDIS, but all Able payed attention to was the feeling of comfort, until The Doctor's hand left his, and the feeling faded.
A few seconds later, they were home.
Able rushed out, his mind frantically searching around until – Yes – There they were. His mind connected to The Rift with an almost relieved sob, the unrestrained, beautiful comfort and feeling of belonging flooded Able, and the bustling streets, the baby crying, the life... It was perfect, it was home, it was safe... Everything that happened was in the future, it hadn't happened yet.
His overwhelming feelings were broken by The Doctor, "You'll think it'll last forever, people, cares, concrete, and it won't. One day it'll be gone, just like my planet. It'd dead, burn like the Earth, jut rocks and dust far before it's time. There was a war... A time war, and we lost. I'm the last of my species, the last of the Time Lords – Traveling with human companions because there is no one left."
He turned to face both of his still traumatized companions, "So, you know how dangerous it is... Do you want to go home?"
"You think one had experience in a universe full of infinite possibilities would make me stop? I'm much smarter than that." Able tried to joke, but it seemed to be a bit soon.
The Doctor smiled as if it was the best thing he ever heard.
"Can you smell chips?" Rose suddenly asked
"Now that I think about it, yeah."
"I want chips."
"Me too." The Doctor agreed, and Able sort of nodded along.
"You're paying, Time Lord." Rose declared as they started to walk toward the shop. The Doctor just shrugged.
"I haven't got any money."
"You can go back in time and win the lottery." Able reasoned, slightly confused as to how a time traveler of all beings had no money, "Whatever, seems I'm the only person with a job here, so chips are on me. A nice relaxing meal is nice after all the adrenaline."
And the smell of people burning, the sight of a half decimated body, and the feeling of guilt, horrible crushing guilt at what he'd done.
His lover and his Doctor both just nodded along, and Able knew he'd heal. Just like with all things, it would take time, but he was a time-traveler now, so he had plenty of it. The Rift seemed to be in agreement, of her happy hum was anything to go by.
R&R
So, realistically speaking, I feel like I would have reacted pretty much the same in Able's situation. How about you guys? He's a bit traumatized now, honestly both Rose and Able will be staying that way for more than the last 5 minutes of the episode - I MEAN REALLY! She almost died, by the sun engulfing the Earth, that has to leave a mark. The show fell short there, I'll try not to.