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 Sixteen: Apart But Not Separate
The lift doors opened on floor zero, two people emerged, Jack still brandishing a large gun and the blonde former contestant Lynda. The crowd watched, half wanting to know the goings on and the other just wanted a way to leave the station.
Jack nodded to Lynda signaling her to stay to one side as he strode to a large metal crated box in the middle of the room. The Captain with surprising agility jumped up unassisted, commanding everyone to pay attention.
"All right people. We have a situation. There is a massive fleet of Daleks converging on the Space station. We are the only Defense that the planet has. We need volunteers." The former time-agent hollered out in voice full of confident authority.
A cacophony of voices erupted as the blue-eyed man's words sunk in. "I don't believe it."
"He's one of the nutters."
"Maybe that's why Earth abandon us."
A piercing whistle rent the air shutting everyone up, they all looked over to where the sound had come from including Jack. His blue eyes opened wide in surprise then a small grin formed relaxing his features to its normal boyish charm. Lynda stood a little uncertain but with a expression of irritation. "Now's not the time for debt. Those things are on their way and we don't have much time left. So decided. You either stay here or help out which is it?"
Several people either motivated by the speeches or having nothing better to do than just stand around not doing anything, raised their hands. Jack smiled, and waved the seven volunteers forward. "Stand with Lynda, I be with you in a moment." The Captain counted himself lucky when he'd seen at least five of the people were from the stations security force. He wouldn't have to teach them how to fire a weapon or aim.
Again the crowd started talking all at once, some still seemed confused as to the matter at hand, while others grasped the facts but were in complete denial, and a small few we're overwhelmed by the whole ordeal sobbing and wailing. Jack exasperated shot his gun twice. The room fell silent once more, all noise ceased safe for a few sniffles.
"Alright one more time. Is anyone else going to volunteer?" The silence in the room seemed deafening in it's utter stillness. No one dared to move afraid that the blue eyed man would mistaken it for consent to join. When it appeared that no one else would, two more figures raised their hand timidly into the air.
Jack nodded and gestured them to the small assemble group who were brave enough to defend themselves. They were eleven in all not including the two techs.
"That's it no one else wants to defend themselves against the fleet of Daleks that are about to board. Come on we need everyone for a good defense." Jack scanned the crowd inwardly he sighed.
"Pff… Daleks. What're you going on about fairytales for! Everyone knows they vanished a millennia ago!" At Rick's ridicule another woman, with two tone hair, who'd been in the 'Ballroom X' studio with the obnoxious man, as he'd pushed and threatened his poor sick dance partner around before she'd unfortunately been disintegrated. She pushed forward out of the crowd.
"You should shut your trap. I'm sure he knows more than any of us." She stomped resolutely towards the small group of defenders.
Jack gave the woman a nodded before turning his attention back to those refusing to be of assistance. "Well… for those of you staying… Daleks should be heading up when they enter on 494. Just so you know I can't promise that they'll only target the top floor. My advice to you, don't give them a reason to venture down here. I'm sure you'll hear when the fighting begins… you know on that slim chance that I'm right about them… and you hear us dying… you better pray to whatever deity you hold dear that the Daleks don't find you." His gazed settled onto Rick with a hard icey glower, that spoke of remembered grievance.
Rick gulped at the look, the pretty faced man leveled at him, but stood resolutely with crowd that chose to stay behind.
The large remaining group huddle together silently in disbelieve and abject terror. A shiver went through the mass of humanity as Jack left one final note of warning. "Don't make the tiniest of noises."
He jumped down leading his tiny misfit band of protectors back to the lift. "Onward."
Jack steeled himself for the coming battle they only acquire ten but it was ten more than the original four. He other plans to buy the Doctor time would all depended the newest recruits. They were so screwed.
Rose sat in companionable silence across from the Doctor, she'd discarded the Time Lord's battered leather jacket since it kept on getting in the way. They were working steadily through the wires. Her stripping and he re-wiring all in an effort to make the Delta Wave a reality.
"Um… do you think…" Rose's voice trailed off, she bit her lip uncertainly, she didn't know if she really wanted an answer to her unspoken question.
The Doctor took a moment to see if his blonde companion would finish. When he sensed that she wouldn't he couldn't stop his own curiosity. "Rose?"
"It's nothin'." Rose shrugged concentrating on carefully but swiftly stripped another batch of wires the Doctor required.
"You were in the middle of a question Rose. So, what was it?" The Doctor softly demanded, his mind preoccupied with a million thoughts, but very very few that followed a happy ending.
"Well, a thought just popped into my head is all. It's just… I know you can't but the thing is…" Rose lifted a hand she gestured over to the TARDIS. "You have a time machine. You could go back and I don't know give them a warning."
The former shop girl shook her head at her own idiocy. "Never mind it's a stupid idea. Probably cause reapers or something."
The Doctor didn't see it as stupid but ill thought out, he put it down more towards Rose's compassionate nature. "Yeah, something like that. It just that once the TARDIS lands and we walk out of her, we're apart of history. Stuck really watching as events unfold."
"Yeah, I knew it would be some sort of Time travel rule." She sighed picking up another group of wires.
The Doctor contemplated top of her blonde head a second before continuing the discussion. "Though the TARDIS can do something… We could just take off… Go to, I don't know Fwendochi III they have super Flutterby season. This lot would just become history."
"That's nice an all, but that's not you to go swanning off when there's trouble or timelines being mucked with." Rose said smiling as she thought that the Time Lord seemed to be joking with her.
The Doctor's blue eyes drew her brown ones with their intense stare. "Maybe. but that wouldn't stop you from asking."
Rose's brow furrowed with the thought. She didn't know what the Doctor meant, she chose not to respond.
The Doctor could see that he'd confused Rose with his statement. He smiled affectionately at her, "You never consider that option, did you Rose Tyler?"
"Yeah I could've, but wouldn't cause I'm too good! We're both are." Rose grinned widely at him teasingly and confidently in that truth.
The Doctor smiled back, his gaze reflecting all his suppressed admiration and love. He knew that Rose, indeed was good… too good for the likes of him, a broken soldier. The computer system chimed breaking the tender moment.
"It's started. The Delta Wave is gaining power. Now time to see when it'll be ready." The Time Lord sprang up at the alert and raced over. He slided into the seat and began to tape keys. His blue eyes scanned over the readings.
Rose quickly followed on the Doctor's heels. She tried reading the monitor but the information didn't make any sense. She watched the alien man and saw when the Time Lord's body language tensed and the bleak look came over his face. "It's not good is it?"
The Doctor swallowed hanging his head down between his knees. His mind raced, he couldn't tell her the truth. It was bad… no worse that than that even. He rubbed his hands over his face towards that back of his head.
Rose reached out hand placing it on the Doctor's shoulder for support. "So, how bad could it really be? You'll be able to work with it, yeah."
"You, Rose Tyler are a bona fide Genius, you are!" He bounded out of the chair turning towards Rose.
Rose smiled up at him from his compliment. Much to her surprise the Doctor's lips connected with hers. The kiss though brief, sent a shiver of pleasure through out Rose's body. The sensation had also felt very familiar, she didn't have long to contemplate it however, as the Doctor sped off.
The Doctor had known in that moment it would be the last time, he'd be able to fully express his feelings for the blonde woman. Now he needed to keep her distracted. "Oh this will be good. All we have to do is take the TARDIS, cross my old timeline… Fantastic! It'll work."
The Doctor rushed through the police box door, heading straight for the console. He flicked a few switches and turned a knob. The Time Lord pulled Rose over to him, as she'd followed him up the ramp. "Alright. I need you to hold this lever down until I say otherwise."
Rose smiled giddily at the alien man's upbeat manner, she felt only a small amount of trepidation. "What's this all gonna do?"
The Doctor glided over to the computer monitor. "That takes care of the buffers. Not to worry I quite clever… actually I'm better than just clever, Genius me. This will either save the world or tear it in two."
Rose laughed still holding down the lever he'd stationed her in front of. "Still so impressive. Well I don't much care for the second choice. Prefer the first go for that one would ya."
"I am so impressive. I like the first one too." Slapping his hands together, he grinned broadly at his blonde companion. The Doctor's inner turmoil settled deeply into his mind, the momentary pain he'd feel, might also be felt by the Time tots, those possible consequences of his actions almost had him backing out. In the end all four of the most important individuals in his life would be safe, that single goal decided the Doctor's course. "Just keep holding that. I've got to go out and power up the Game Station for this to work."
Rose watched as the Doctor ran full tilt out of the TARDIS. She hoped that he'd be quick as her arms felt like lead weights. The blonde woman heard the unmistakable click of the door closing.
The Doctor stopped some distance away from the TARDIS. Reluctantly, he turned sadly gazing one last time at his beautiful time-space ship, his face firmed with determination.
The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver, setting it he raised and pointed the device towards the TARDIS. The remote started the time-space ship's engines.
Rose shifted keeping the lever down. An uneasy feeling began to creep down her spine. Rose tried to put it down to the ultra-dangerous circumstances.
Rose jolted as the ship's rotor started to rise and fall, as the great engines began to whir and whine with power. She turned to the doors shouting out to the Doctor. "Doctor, the ship's moving. Can I let go now? Doctor, what's happening?"
The Doctor ignored Rose's cries. In all his years of traveling and seeing companions come and go, he'd never been so heartbroken. He steeled himself keeping the sonic screwdriver fixed on the TARDIS.
His terrific ship could at times, all the time really, have a mind of her own. He had to be sure that she wouldn't override the program. The setting on the sonic wouldn't allow the TARDIS to deviate.
As the time rotor continued to flash and move rhythmically up and down, Rose strained to hear the Doctor's reply. When none came she released the lever, sprinting down the ramp to the double doors. The niggling feeling of apprehension she'd had bloomed into all encompassing panic, especially when the doors stayed closed no matter how hard she pushed or pulled. "Come on let me out! Doctor! Doctor, what'd you do? "
Rose leaned the side of her head on the door trying desperately listening for anything. She started pounding on the door, in an effort to gain the Doctor's attention.
Outside the TARDIS, the Doctor could see the ship beginning to dematerialize. He let himself hear Rose's voice but not the words. The Time Lord didn't want to risk his resolve melting over his companion's temper or pleading.
The thumping coming from inside the TARDIS told the Doctor all he needed to know of Rose Tyler's displeasure. The time-space ship had almost completely vanished when his keen hearing at last, deciphered Rose's finally words, " Doctor, you can't do this! You need me! Doctor?!"
The Doctor's hand fell to his side, sonic screwdriver loosely held. He sucked in a breath releasing it slowly, he evaded the urge to breakdown. The Time Lord's countenance were etched with all his nine hundred plus years, tired and sad he turned back to his work. He would bury himself in making the Delta Wave work.
The kaleidoscope of color and electric energy of the Time Vortex buffeted the blue police box as it sped towards the pre-programmed coordinates set by the Doctor.
Rose stifled tears that wanted to fall. The insides of her fists were turning red and raw as she continued beating on the TARDIS' door. The blonde woman stopped abruptly as she heard the change in the time-space ship's hum, up next to the console a light flickered and a life size image of the Doctor appeared.
"Emergency Programme One activated. Rose, if you're seeing this message, you need to stay calm because it's important." The Doctor's image shimmered as the alien man looked as if he were talking straight into a camera.
Rose watched perplexed, dread settled over her, unsure what the recorded Doctor would say.
"This programme is a last resort. It's for when there is mortal danger. The lethal kind, I'm on death's door or half way there, and escape impossible." The Doctor's image remained impassive only relaying the facts.
Rose involuntarily rushed up the ramp screaming at the hologram. "No!"
The Doctor's image wavered as he smiled deprecatingly. "That's fine. Maybe it's better this way. Really, hope it's good though. It would be depressing if it was something stupid that finished me."
Rose stopped just at the top of the ramp, her brown eyes opened wide at the Doctor's joking about his own death. It was just like him to make a crack even with something so dire.
"You see. I promised your mum, I'd take care of you. I'm not chancing her finding some way to reach me in the beyond to slap me. So, that's where the TARDIS is takin' you. Back to Jackie Tyler." The Doctor grimaced at the thought of Rose's mum.
"That's not happening. Since when do you listen to my mum?" The blonde woman cried to the unmoved recording.
The Doctor's face took on a haughty look when he spoke again. "I can just see you now, putting up a bit of a conniption… typical Rose Tyler. Just goes to show that you didn't listen to the first part. You need to stay calm and pay attention. Now, Emergency Programme One is taking the TARDIS away and she won't be coming back. This means that the enemy is such that they can not be allowed to gain possession of her. In the end, when you're back, you need to let the Old Girl die."
Rose gaped horrified not wanting to believe what the Doctor said. Really, he wanted her to just let the TARDIS die. His magnificent time-space ship, he expected her to just leave the blue police box to sit unused, decaying for centuries.
The Doctor voice continued on instructing Rose on how to go about letting a sentient ship die. "Don't open her. Let her remain where she lands. She'll not be noticed. She'll just be an odd relic left over on a street corner. Eventually, time will pass as history does and she'll be buried. Rose if you do want to remember me." The Doctor paused and turned as if he'd known where she would be standing, his blue eyes were filled with all the love he felt. "Do one thing. Have an amazing life. I know you can, Rose. Have an absolutely amazingly fantastic life."
As Rose's gaze held the image of the Doctor, quiet tears slide down her cheeks. The projection began fading, then the spot now void of the alien man's presence seemed hollow without his compelling aura. The blonde woman drew in a sobbing breath, before crying out. "No, Doctor. How could you do this to me?!"
Anger started to overshadow Rose's disbelieve and in a few outraged strides she once again shouted out her fury to the only being there. "How could he?!"
"You need to take me back! Come on go back!" Rose pressed buttons, flipped switches, pushed and pulled levers in an a uncoordinated effort to get the TARDIS to obey. She raced around the console trying all the controls she could see. The Rose's face altered vividly to one of misery as the thoughts of helplessness and despair at not being able to change the TARDIS's direction.
The column pillar at the center of the console slowed, giving the initial indication that the TARDIS had reached her destination. Soon the wheezing and shaking came to a jarring end, confirming that they had left the Time Vortex and landed.
Apprehensive at first Rose stood staring at the time-space ship's tube-like pillar. She stepped away and with a burst of speed fled back down the ramp to the doors. The blonde woman surged out onto… the alley on the Powell Estates. The spot the Doctor always used when Rose would visit her mum.
'It's all here. The same runned down block. Oh, Doctor how could ya?' Rose thought as she stumbled, turning to sprint back inside the trans-dimensional ship. Her mind refused to consider that she wouldn't be able to return.
Again Rose dashed frantically around the console pushing, pressing, flicking and pulling at the controls and she even went so far as to kick a side panel, which caused her to have to do a in elegant hop skip as she continued to go from one side to the other. "Please, we need to go back! Why didn't the Doctor teach me how to fly you? Help me, he needs me… us!"
The TARDIS stayed, she couldn't alter what was to come. She remained quiet in her own anguish. She so wanted to help both her thief pilot and his blonde ethereal partner. Alas, she could only await for the right decisions to be made.
Mickey Smith had been heading home from an outing with the boys from the rec center. He shook his head and wondered if he'd been that rebellious and so disdainfully of anything involving culture at that age.
The familiar grinding of powerful engines of the Doctor's blue time-space ship filled the air. He took off in a dead run, and as he rounded the corner he saw the 1950's police public call box, a slim figure stood leaning against the side. The person gave Mickey pause for a second as at first he had recognized Rose. The outfit was ridiculous for the time of year, she'd freeze to death, but the utter look of defeat and sadness wasn't something he associated with his former girlfriend.
Mickey ran all the hard to meet up with Rose. "Hey, you can hear the Doctor's ship all the way from Clifton's Parade, there's no mistaken a noise like that'." He tried to joke as he approached the slumped form of his best mate. The look of tears streaming down the blonde woman's face had his heart lurching uncomfortable.
"Babe, What's the matter?" Mickey Smith hadn't seen Rose so distressed since the incident with Jimmy Stone, though truth was she seemed even worse than that time.
Rose looked up at her former boyfriend but always best mate from childhood. Her brown eyes held an impression of sheer devastation. She couldn't speak, her throat constricted with sobbs. She stepped to him collapsing into his arms for comfort. The pain encompassed her whole being as to be oblivious to everything else.
It was the still calm before all hell broke out. The Doctor remained the lone person on floor five hundred. He worked diligently connecting wires and stripping those that Rose hadn't gotten to. The Time Lord's mind raced through timelines, all were in flux, but he didn't see Rose anymore. He reminded himself that it was a good thing, her being so far away that the happenings on the Game Station wouldn't affect her or the time tot's she carried.
The monitor came to life and the image appeared of Captain Jack Harkness, his voice full of strain chipperness. "Rosie, I've retrieved the internal laser codes. All the monitors should have a different number on each. I need you to read them off."
The Doctor steeled himself for the coming conversation. "Jack, she's gone."
"What? Now's not the time for a bathroom break. Okay, Doc as soon as she's back, have her get me those codes!" The Captain's tone held an urgency to it.
"I mean gone as in left." The Doctor called back trying very hard not to yell at the 51st century man. It wasn't his fault after all that Rose couldn't be there to help out. The alien man gave himself a mental shake he'd done the right thing and if Jack knew the whole of it he would agree with him.
Jack paused gathering the courage to ask his next question. "Doctor, where did Rose go?"
"Leave it. Get on with…" The Doctor trailed off as the unfairness finally caught up to him. His was a Time Lord, the last Time Lord but now he wouldn't be, and he couldn't even be there for them. The universe persisted in being one cosmic joke against him, giving him knowledge of a possible life then denying him it.
"Doctor, she's back home, isn't she." His words were more of a statement than a question. Jack couldn't help but be glad knowing she wouldn't die, he'd already lived through it once.
The Doctor said nothing letting the man come to his own conclusion. He didn't have to know that it had been against her will.
"So is the... Delta Wave gonna be ready?" The Captain knew that in all likelyhood that they were screwed and the very reason the Doctor took Rose home.
"Doctor will you tell him the truth? Or will you run away as you so often do?"
The Emperor's snide questions stabbed to close that the Doctor hunched his shoulders and continued to work.
"I will tell the Doctor's loyal dog. The Delta Wave can be completed but not to the extent that it will be a precision weapon. If used it will kill every living thing Human and Dalek. It is the Time War once again. The Doctor, the Destroyer of Worlds, all will die by your hands the Planet below will be red with blood."
The Dalek Emperor reveled in the telling of such unpleasant circumstances for his enemy.
Once again the Doctor made no response as the guilt he felt weighed heavy on his mind and soul.
Jack hadn't known what he would hear, but that wasn't it, the worst possible scenario. "The transmitter's range encompasses all the Earth, Doc."
"I have created live from death. You choose just death. Destroying all, who is the real evil here? Doctor."
The Emperor crowed as he delighted in the Doctor's tortured pain.
The Doctor finally broke his silence, "The Human Race will survive, you always do. You lot have already gone out and colonized. Humans will last beyond this time but the Daleks, the last of them are here. If I let them live there won't be anywhere safe in entire universe for anyone."
The Doctor's haggard face darken with grisly resolve, turned to face his friend image. "These are the choices I have to make. Jack, it's let the Human race die never knowing the horror, or letting them stay alive to be turned into one of them... a Dalek. You see the options, Jack." The Time Lord blue eyes pleaded with the Captain to understand. "If you had the choice, what would it be?"
"Doc, Rose is safe back home. You need to keep working." Jack's voice remained optimistic in his conviction.
The Emperor's tone weighed heavy with incredulity. "You will let him destroy the planet and yourself!"
Jack grinned confidently. "Oh I don't know. The Doc always has a trick up his sleeve."
The Doctor grinned back buoyed by his companions belief. He leapt to his feet, and strode across the room to the screen. There were still answers the Time Lord need and the Emperor of Dalek's had them. "All right, here's the thing I haven't quite worked in my mind. Explain to me, 'Creator of all Daleks'. What the 'Bad Wolf' words, are for? You tossed all about time and space to get me here. How did you do that, eh?"
"Those words are not mine! They mean nothing!" The Emperor stated without interest.
The Doctor's northern accent dripped with skepticism when he spoke next. "Still wanting to keep secrets. There isn't any need so come on your worship."
Though the Emperor Dalek had no interest in the Doctor's question he became angry that the Time Lord implied, he would lie. "They belong not to the God of Dalek's!"
The Doctor simply stared at the image on the screen. Finding it hard to believe that the Emperor Dalek was indeed telling the truth.
"This is the absolute word of the Divine Power!"
The God Emperor stated in complete honesty.
The Doctor raised his eyes away, and gazed on the words write in big bold letters 'Bad Wolf Corporation'. The fact that the Emperor had no knowledge of the words or their meaning had a shiver of foreboding go through his body.
TBC...