Disclaimer: I don't in any way own the series Doctor Who . Those are the sole property of the BBC.
Return to Satellite 5 AU: "Bad Wolf", "The Parting of the Ways" and "Born Again".
Chapter Fifteen: Apart But Not Separate
Pavale and his female companion, heard the grinding whine of the TARDIS, prior to the time-space ship appearing in front of them. They briefly looked at each other still not quite believing that the blue box could be a spaceship, which held more than just a couple people comfortable.
The door opened and the Doctor came bursting out going directly to the controls where the two techs still stood. The three others, who exited the TARDIS after the Doctor, followed close behind.
"Did you miss us?" Jack asked.
"We need to turn the power on full for all transmissions." The Doctor ignored the Captain's flirting, ordering the technicians into action.
Pavale immediately accessed the programs and set the transmission up to full power. "Um, do you mind? Precisely what will that do?"
"Good question and don't mind. It'll stop the Daleks from transmatting on to the station. Did you get everything sorted?" For the most part the Doctor remained impressed by the man's grasp of the situation and that he stayed on board the station.
"Not so good, Earth suspend the station's license when we tried to warn them, they weren't happy that we'd stopped transmission of the programs." Pavale answered the Doctor last question first.
The Doctor had known it would be a long shot really. As usually the humans in charge were being thick, idiotic apes, not listening, hell bent on sticking to procedures. "So no ones mounting a defense, their unprepared for the slaughter. Cause that's precisely what it will be a slaughter."
Rose shivered into the Doctor's jacket, as she seen what only one, genetically changed though it had been, could do. The image of what thousands would do went beyond her scope. The blonde woman knew though that the Doctor had clearly see it and had on different planets during the Time War none were more devastating to him the his own. She swallowed back words of comfort for the Time Lord's pain.
The Doctor noticed that the Hindi woman, he'd been short with earlier stood next to the male tech. "What are you still doing here?" The Time Lord hadn't expected her to still be there, his gaze went back to Pavale irritatedly. "Didn't you evacuate everyone?"
The brown haired man winced, he had no desire to be on the blue eyed man's bad side. "Not everyone was able to leave. The Station lacked sufficient escape shuttles considering a normal emergency we would have been able to transmat people planet side."
"That privilege was revoked with the license or I would've been gone." The dark haired woman grumbled in ill constrained annoyance. "As it is there's roughly a hundred or so people still trapped here on Floor Zero."
People stood in huddled groups not understanding why the games were stopped. Most weren't about to complain as they just escaped being killed in some horrific torture. They knew nothing about the happenings on the top floor.
Rick had some knowledge of what the fuss pertain to, as everyone on the Station had been herded down to where the shuttles were. He'd been unlucky in that all the escape crafts had been gone by the time he'd arrived on Floor Zero. He speculated it had to be the crazed trio, they been running amok before they reached the ballroom, trying to recover his unwanted dance partner. The former dance contestant felt sure they were now holding the Station for ransom or something.
Rick grabbed ahold of the nearest guards that been unlucky enough to also be stuck on the station. "Listen there has to be another way to get back to Earth."
The guard pulled his arm away from the man dressed in pink and yellow dance outfit. "There isn't. All the shuttles are gone and the tranmats have been disabled. We're stuck here until Earth sends an investigative party up or the Station starts broadcasting the games again." Scorn dripped heavy in the security man's voice.
"How long will either of those things take?" Rick practically squeaked out, nervous about the two men in leather coming down to find him. He'd only danced with the blonde woman but one never knew what some psycho person would do.
The guard ignored him as walked away to help keep order in chaos that had descend on the Game Station.
On Floor five hundred, six people watched the transparent video feed of the Dalek fleet. The saucier's spun menacingly and began to glided effortlessly towards the station and the unsuspecting Earth.
The movement of the ships, unnerved Pavale causing the man to exclaim. "Oh Lord, they're starting."
The largest Dalek ship advanced steadily leading the smaller ships into battle. Inside the Emperor of Dalek's sent his divine troops into action guiding their movements like a puppet master.
"The Earth will be sanctified with fire and become our Eden. And from my temple the Daleks will spread across the universe to cleanse all, with my words of divinity." The one-eyed tentacled being preached in a manner reminiscent of an evangelist of the late 20th century.
The Dalek crafts increased in speed at their messiah's inspirational decree.
Back in the Game Station the Doctor wasted no time coming up with a dangerously insane plan of action. He raced away from the others, ripping out great armfuls of cables from the rows of empty desks.
The two techs and Lynda couldn't understand what the alien man was up to. Rose and Jack also did not know what the Time Lord had in mind but they were certain that the plan would get everyone out of harms way. Unfortunately the duo could surmise that whatever the Doctor's plan, it would certainly involve a degree of danger.
The Doctor continued running around gathering more cables, and a little breathless he boastfully gave his audience a clue as to his grand idea. "They made a huge mistake, colossal actually, the Dalek's plan has a big hole. They set it right up for me. Can you guess why? Well come on guess. No one... it's an easy one." He paused a moment looking at the five standing there with confusion on their faces. The Doctor shook his head sadly as no answers were forthcoming. "Right another hint. A large metal structure that sends out... transmissions, that I can change, double upon, calibrate... I get what?" He took more wires out and dropped in the aisleway, before glancing once more over at the small group.
Jack's face went from puzzled confusion to complete dawning comprehension. "No way!"
"You go to the top of the class!" The Doctor's mouth spread into a wide manic grin.
Jack still wasn't certain that the Doctor hadn't gone completely mad. "You're not joking. You want to create a Delta Wave?"
The Doctor grinned impossible even wider in his excitement. "Oh yeah a Delta Wave!"
Rose smiled hesitantly as she got caught up in the Doctor enthusiasm, but felt the worries that the Captain seemed to silently express. "So, for those who don't speak tech. A Delta Wave's what?"
"It's a pulse of Van Cassadyne energy. If you're in the path of the Delta Wave, your brain becomes fried... Nothing survives." Jack didn't know if he should be impressed or terrified. He'd never seen the Time Lord so in a panic. He hid it well but the Captain could see through the wall of distraction the alien man employed when a situation seemed to get the better of him.
The Doctor continued to frantically work on his desperate plan. "Oh, yeah and with a station this big the wave would be gigantic!"
Rose couldn't shake the feeling that the Doctor was leaving something out, but his expression seemed so sure and confident that she brushed aside those doubts.
At Rose's reflective hesitation Lynda injected her own encouragement. "That's great!"
Taken aback at the pig-tailed woman's enthusiasm, Rose reigned in the desire to turn around and give her a patten Tyler slap. She took a cleansing breath, trying to dispel the jealousy that had erupted out of nowhere from her. What was her problem she never been so violent towards another... well with the exception of Cassandra, and even she'd felt some compassion towards the trampoline in the end.
The Doctor went to and fro, when strong conflicting emotions not his own washed over him. He took a second, but kept on moving. The Time Lord ignored the feelings, there were more important things than his human companion's jealousy, though he felt bit gratified and abashed since Rose didn't know that he could feel her emotions. It wasn't that he purposefully hid the fact from her, since it had been a new development now that he'd become aware of the trio growing in her womb. "There's only one problem, size, the wave and building. Lucky for you lot I'm clever so it should take... um... three days. And the fleet will be here when?"
Pavale looked over his monitor, as he tapped a few keys and the estimated time appeared. "Twenty-two minutes." He stuttered out.
The Doctor could feel the dread beginning to fill the room, but there... a lone spark of hope three small presences, which made him work much faster even as he grinned widely at the small group to relieve their tension.
Even at such a great distance from the Earth, the Dalek Fleet swiftly and inexplicably swept towards the large satellite, which now remained as the lone obstacle, to the planet below.
While the Doctor worked on making the Delta Wave faster than the required three days. Jack utilized the stations systems to give the structure some defenses against the coming attack. "Well they can't blow us away now. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that the force field will be able to keep them from getting onto the station." The Captain sighed as he relayed the news to the gathered group.
The tech, Pavale still had a look of concern on his face. "But don't you think that they have figured out the Doctor's plan?"
"I'm sure they have. But the only chance they have of stopping him, is to get on board and reaching this floor." Jack pointed to the diagram of the space station. "Since the extrapolator is working. I can rig it to cover floors 500 down to 495. Now, when the Daleks get on board they won't have a direct point to get to the Doctor, they'll have to fight the rest of the way up from 493."
Jack almost smiled at the cute confused expression on the male tech's face. "Um, fighting. Where are you going to get fighters from?" Pavale questioned.
Jack's face lit with a big grin, his blue eyes traveled over the small assemble around him. "Well, Mr. Devitch that would be us."
"Exactly, how are we to fight? There can't be that many weapons on board?" Pavale said foolishly.
Rose couldn't believe the man said such a thing. The station was full of death rooms, killing robots and androids. "You're joking right."
Jack laughed just catching on to what Rose had brilliantly implied. He add that into his plan of defense. "That's good Rose. We'll use them too but for us we'll get the guns from the guards. The bullets are bastic... that should be powerful enough to blast through the Daleks tough metal shell."
"What's Blondie's brilliant idea and what do you mean should? On top of that, how much of a deterrent do you think five people will be?" The Hindi woman asked with angry disdain.
Lynda just watched unsure what she could contribute. It really appeared that they only had a small margin to survive. 'As the saying goes you only live once better to make the most of it.' Lynda didn't think she'd done so good with that not like the Doctor, Jack and Rose but she would make her stand along with everyone else.
The Doctor, still working feverishly, could hear the group and Jack's plan to make the Time Lord's scheme to have a chance of working. The Doctor had to think fast however to be sure that Rose wasn't apart of being in the line of fire. "Aww... Rose gonna need your help. This will go much faster with you stripping these wires bare for me."
Rose gave the Captain an apologetic smile and patted him on the arm before rushing over to join the alien man in his endeavors. Inside, the blonde woman couldn't help but preen that the Doctor had requested her help over the others... especially Lynda. Rose knew it was petty... she really did but didn't care.
"Well, great now we're down to four." The female tech huffed annoyed.
The Captain couldn't blame, the Doctor for wanting Rose close after going through losing her to a killer robot, then being in the range of killing plungers of the Daleks. He would've stayed to as he could be just as much help to the Doctor, as he'd the knowledge in which could be of use but the same could be said about marshalling the defensives. "Enough! Get in the lift! I'll explain the rest of the plan on the way to floor zero. And the lift controls isolate them."
The two tech's straighten as if stung. They hurried off to do the Ex-time agent's bidding. Lynda trailed right behind them but then rushed over to where the Doctor and Rose were working.
At the bubbly blonde's approach the Doctor stood knowing that the human woman would need some sort of reassurance even if it seemed contrived.
"Hmm... Doctor I guess this is it. I kinda hoped I'd get to see the inside of your blue box again. Yeah well, I ah... I'm grateful and thanks. Oh, and I'll try not to let you down." Lynda flushed embarrassed at how ill-at-ease she felt with the blue eyed man who had fallen literally into her life.
The Doctor grimaced a little fluster by the girl's words. The Time Lord didn't know how it happened that he seemed to attract people, who wanted to impress him. "Okay, you never know you just might. And thank you Lynda with a 'Y'."
The Doctor and Lynda would have hugged but the action didn't feel natural, so they shook hands, laughing at their awkwardness. The Doctor suppressed once again the overwhelming queasiness that being so close to the bubbly blonde woman caused.
Rose tamped down on the green eyed monster that insisted on creeping up on her. She hunched her shoulders, sitting amidst a bunch of wires, into the leather jacket, as she surreptitiously observed the duo. Rose's stomach lurched with renewed nausea that she had to swallow back the urge to retch.
A prick of pain had Rose glancing back at the wire she'd just stripped, a bead of blood bloomed on her index finger. The blonde woman in reflex she popped the appendage into her mouth.
"Don't do that!" The rough northern voice came from above. The Doctor had returned to her side, kneeling down he gently took her injured finger. "The human mouth is loaded with germs. Not to mention all the bacteria from the wire casings you're by now ingesting." The alien man lectured as he examined wound before taking his sonic screwdriver to fix the tiny cut.
Lynda gazed wistfully at the couple, for anyone could see the two belonged together. She turned putting aside any foolish ideas she may have conjured regarding the Doctor. As she past Jack, to join the others, he squeezed her hand in commiseration. She smiled briefly, and quickened her step.
"Well, It's been a blast." Jack joked, strolling towards the pair. The Doctor and Rose stood immediately meeting the 51st century man.
The Doctor smiled at the other man's cheeky levity to keep the veneer that they weren't facing the biggest adversary they'd ever come against.
"Anyway, I don't reckon we'll get around to the three way now. So, I'll say my goodbyes now." The Captain said solemnly, he gazed at the two most important people in his life. They had changed him, becoming his only family.
Rose sniffed back tears that threatened to fall, she went to the former con man, embracing him in a heartfelt hug, she couldn't stand to see the blue eyed man so serious and defeated. "Don't say things like that. You know we've faced worst odds and the Doctor's always sorted it. This time no different."
Jack Harkness marveled that even now, Rosie continued to be encouraging so positive. He envied her total belief in the Doctor. Jack knew however hard the Time Lord tried, sometimes there were events that even the Doctor couldn't talk or smart his way out of.
"Rosie, sweet Rosie." He placed his hands on her pale cheeks drawing her to him, briefly he touched foreheads as he held her warm amber gaze. "You are a miracle and are worth all the pain and sorrow in the universe. You are worth fighting for." He bent down grazing his lips over hers soft lush ones knowing he never get another chance.
Jack pulled back and quickly, before letting either of them sucom to tears, turning to the Doctor. He grinned broadly at the alien man expression it was half-way between amusement and exasperation. "I should hate you. You know."
Just like with Rose, the Captain took the Doctor's face between his hands. "You made me braver than I ever thought I could be. Right this second I wish I could just run away." He pressed his lips against the other man's. He drew back, then tugged them both into a fierce hug. Jack tore away, yearning with all his might that things would turn out alright, but doubt clawed at him.
Abruptly he left dashing towards the lift doors and the fate that awaited him. He looked back, "See ya in Hell." The Captain saluted half joking before the lift doors closed.
The Doctor and Rose stood watching as the four went to defend against the oncoming fleet. Rose gaze shifted up to the Doctor. Worry was etched into her face. "Doctor, Jack's gonna be alright..?" She desperately wanted to believe that they would all come through mostly unscathed.
The Doctor didn't want to lie to Rose, but their chances weren't good. His gaze traveled over her youthful human face and couldn't say anything.
Rose face grew more concerned with the Doctor's lack of response. "He'll be fine right? Doctor?"
The Time Lord went back to fixing the wiring. He need to concentrate his energies into creating the Delta Wave if they were going to have any chance even as it would once again consign him to being a mass murder of an entire species. It was of little consequence against the thought of Rose Tyler perishing by army of pepper potts.
Rose looked from the lift doors back to the alien man she trusted with her life. She straighten, determination in every line of her body, she wouldn't be a hindrance. Rose hurriedly returned back to her position, grabbing the knife to begin stripping more wires for the Doctor.
TBC...