-1Title: The Outcasts
Author: MYBIGBLUEBOX
Series: Doctor Who
Rating: K+
Genre: Romance/ General
Spoilers: Some spoilers for Doomsday and very, very subtle spoiler for The Age of Steel ( I know the episodes are ages old, sorry folks!)
Characters: Doctor (Tenth), Rose Tyler and Martha Jones
Disclaimer: God knows how many times you've all read these disclaimers but I'm going to say it all again just coz. I don't own these characters or the story line this fanfic is based on. They belong to our lord and master 'The BBC' ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Summary: After Doomsday Rose goes to work for Torchwood. The Doctor and Martha struggle to get her back to their world but when everything seems to be going to plan a fatal mistake leads to disaster, and the Doctor must fight to keep his companion and love alive
Dedications: For everyone who has ever read anything I've ever written and given their support and constructive criticism.
Warnings: May contain a little bad language further along in the story.
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The Doctor and Rose sat together on the "driver's seat," watching the control panel light up every now and again. Turning to look at her lover, Rose tried to guess what he was thinking. As per-usual it proved a fruitless endeavour, his face remaining as emotionless and serious as it always was. Rose looked down at her hands as she blurted out what was on her mind.
'Doctor, what's happening?' He looked at her, tired and drained. Seeing her anxious face made him realise how little he'd actually told her about their situation. Taking her hand in his, he pulled her up and led her to the TARDIS' control panel.
'You remember that the TARDIS is a living thing right?' Rose nodded, not quite sure where this was going.
'Well she has a memory, like all living creatures do, and she can see everything that goes on in here , in the entire universe actually. All we have to do is tap into her memory bank and away we go.'
'So, why haven't you done it yet?' Rose asked, a little confused; the sooner they found out what was going on, the sooner they could solve the problem.
'I don't want to hurt her. She was so frightened, Rose. I don't want to damage her mind.' Rose nodded, understanding his concern for his precious ship.
'What are we going to do then?' The Doctor shrugged.
'Nothing we can do…until she lets us know she's ready, that is. Hopefully it shouldn't take too long; the TARIDS can sort herself out pretty quickly. Made to be strong and durable-you need that in time travel.' Sitting back down heavily, the Doctor folded his arms across his chest, resigning himself to the wait. Rose reached out a hand and stroked the TARDIS who hummed back and nudged her mind. Through the cheerful sing-song humming sound Rose could still feel the undercurrents of the machine's fear.
'It's alright now,' Rose soothed, 'It's alright.'
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Martha sat in the basement of a tall wooden hut. The structure shook in the harsh desert winds that blew on the outskirts of Madion. Still, Martha did not move, immobile under the control of her captors. The heavy, deep purple curtain that separated Martha from the rest of the hut was moved aside as the leader of the group entered the room and approached her. The leader stood and watched his prisoner as he reached out and touched her hair, smoothing it in his gloved fingers. She was the prettiest creature he had ever laid eyes on; maybe once their dream had been realised she would consent to be his. Though her consent was only a small matter; after all, he still had his box She was nothing, a doll for him to control. Placing two fingers to her perfect mouth, he moved them across her lips, restoring to her the power of speech. Spluttering, Martha glanced upward at the entity before her. When he moved his fingers across her cheek and down her neck, Martha tried to lift her arm, her insides churning at his touch. She was horrified when she found her arm useless. Trying again and failing once more, Martha deemed herself incapacitated. Glaring at her captor, she fixed him with an unrelenting stare.
'My dear, you seem agitated. Perhaps you would be a little more grateful if we tossed you back out into the desert to rot.' Fear began to pump in her veins, but still she glared at this thing before her.
'Who are you?' She spat, not in the mood for civilities.
'We are simply know as The Outsiders. We were Madions once, living their futile existence day after day. Now we roam the outskirts of Madion, exiled from the city itself.' The alien stood in front of her, still hooded and cloaked in it's blinding white robe, unwilling to show itself in its true form.
'We have wandered this desolate plain for nearly twenty years. We rose to greatness from under the feet of the Madions. We are descended from their bloodline, but have now set ourselves apart from their race of sin. We have the true power of speech to preach our life of goodness to the universe. We have faces no Madion has ever seen or spoken of before in their life. Now we rise out of the dust and are given new life. In the eyes of our god we are righteous!' Martha's mind worked overtime to figure out what she had just been told. Anger boiled through her as the time vortex surged through her veins.
'So you're heretics?' Before Martha could even take a breath, a fist lashed out and struck her across the face. Unable to move her head to take the force of the blow, bone crunched under her attackers fist as her nose snapped.
'Those words are blasphemy! Our beliefs are virtuous! No one can deny us; we are almighty!' Martha shook as his rage-fuelled words left her reeling.
'If you are so almighty then why don't you show your face?' She could hardly believe herself. Daring to speak to this terrifying creature, let alone question it. Reaching up, the Outsider grabbed his hood and pulled it off. Underneath, there was a face so out of proportion that it might have been funny if it wasn't so terrifying to behold. The mouth was lopsided, drooping slightly at the right side. The ears, which were small and rolled in on themselves, sat high on the head about three fingers inches away from where they should be. His eyes. large and gleaming, were a little too far apart to be deemed normal. Darting from side to side, the completely jet black irises gave off a hint of insanity. The shaven head showed scarring, deep and raw, running from the forehead to as far back as Martha could see and branching off to the temples. Horrified, Martha almost couldn't bare to look at him.
'What happened to you?' She whispered.
'Our founding father discovered a way to give us a face, using advanced genetics. Our brain was modified and our new faces took shape. It was painful, long, and agonizing to endure, but through our suffering, we are rewarded with life like no other has experienced it.' Martha tried her hardest to keep her gaze directed into the Outsider's eyes, all the while trying desperately to remain calm.
'Seems to me that you've got everything under control. What do you need me for?' Reaching forward, the Outsider tapped the top of her head lightly.
'We need the power contained within you.' Swallowing hard, Martha forced herself to speak.
'What are you going to do to me?' The Outsider removed his hand and cupped her chin. Martha's stomach churned, and she shuddered, desperate to rid herself of the contact. A loud voice echoed from outside the cramped room. The Outsider whirled around, his cloak billowing around him. Shrieking reached Martha's ears, and terror began to build inside her. The Outsider turned to her, hand outstretched.
'No! Please don't!' As the Outsider approached her, the human knew what he was about to do to her. He pressed his fingers to her mouth, drawing them back together. Martha fell silent once again. Once more becoming a motionless figure, eyes vacant and staring ahead, blind to everything except darkness. The Outsider ran for the cloth that separated them from the rest of the world. Soon their existence would be known to all. Soon they would have what they desired.
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The Tardis nudged the Doctor's mind, bringing him out of his musings and back to the present. His shoulder was significantly heavier than it had been when he'd last checked. Looking down, he found the source of this new found weight. Gently moving Rose's sleeping form off of his left side, he lowered her onto the spot he'd just vacated. The doctor pressed a light kiss to her forehead before shrugging off his overcoat and laying it over her. Loosening his tie, he moved over to the control panel. His hands made quick work of the levers and buttons as he accessed the TARDIS' memory banks. Cursing a little louder than he intended when he couldn't get the machine to open up for him, the Doctor leant heavily on the control panel.
Upon hearing his exclamation of anger, Rose opened her eyes gingerly, making sure they were not under attack before sitting up and rubbing her stiff back.
'What going on?' Standing to join the Doctor, she touched a hand to his shoulder and squeezed lightly.
'I can't get her to open up for me. It's strange, she called me, I know she's ready for this but I can't seem to get in there.' Rose set a hand on the control panel.
'Maybe you need to try being a bit more gentle with her.' Rose stroked her hand down the control panel, coincidentally the same place she had ripped the TARDIS open to get back to the Doctor, when he'd been trapped on satellite 5. The TARDIS hummed loudly and allowed her memories to flow through Rose, reaching for the Doctor's hand she took it and placed it next to hers so that he could see the memories the TARDIS held deep in her mind.
Scattered images of Galifery, an older looking Doctor with family and friends. At the council, on Earth after his exile from his home planet. The first companions, the second, third. Rose and nine, Rose's mind whirled as she was filled with leather jackets, big ears, huge grins and 'fantastic'. She was dimly aware of the Doctor taking her hand in his, squeezing slightly. Onward to the space station, her eyes burning gold, the kiss they shared. The Doctor changing, donning a new face and happier disposition. New images of memories they held as well as the ancient machine. The wire, the Ood, running for their lives, her hand in his, running on into the future. Canary Wharf, the battle, Rose screaming, gone, empty. Martha, the Master, Jack. Until suddenly the flashing images slowed and played like a film inside their heads.
The cold empty corridors of the TARDIS where stretched out before them, the only sound was the old machine humming softly to herself. Down deep through the TARDIS they ventured until they turned into the Med Bay. Where Martha lay, cold and unmoving, dead. The deathly silence crawled into every corner of their minds as they gazed at the lost girl, lost to life, found in death.
Just as they began to think that the wrong memory had found it's way into their minds, a gust of wind blew through the corridors and circled around the room. Blinding white light shrouded Martha; an unholy glow of life renewed. A groaning ran through the ship as the light entered Martha's body, lighting her up from within.
As the couple watched, Martha's hands moved across her legs, curling as the muscles reanimated themselves. Gasping, Martha sat up, groaning to herself. Setting first one foot on the floor, then the other, she tried to stand before falling heavily onto the floor in defeat. Using the table as support, Martha pulled herself up. Without warning her eyes widened, her mouth opening wide as she screamed in pain. Clutching her head, Martha bent double as the Time Vortex began to use up her brain.
Rose and the Doctor watched helplessly as Martha cried in agony. Unable to move, unable to save her, they stayed by as silent watchers. The Time Vortex was strong, eating her mind with its power. Falling to the floor, Martha whimpered and sobbed, still clutching her aching skull. Unnoticed by the onlookers, the wall to the right of them glowed white as a lady shrouded in deep blue robes materialized through the solid wall. Her bare feet made no sound on the TARDIS' floor.
The Doctor turned his head sharply as the beautiful woman caught his attention. Rose also looked up. Neither of them needed to be told who this was. It was the TARDIS incarnated, real, in all of her Time Lord glory.
She approached Martha and knelt before her writhing form. Placing a hand beneath her chin, she lifted Martha's face to gaze into her eyes. The TARDIS' curled, dark brown hair fell about her face as she smiled kindly at Martha. Placing two fingers, one on each side of Martha's head, to her temples, TARDIS closed her eyes and concentrated. Martha stopped her pained movements; all the crying, clutching her head, writhing in pain. TARDIS stood, her work completed and held out a hand to Martha and helped her to stand. With one last emotionless look, Martha turned her back on the TARDIS and walked unsteadily off down the corridors.
Rose and the Doctor stood together, amazed at what they had just seen transpire before their eyes. As the TARDIS turned to them, and alarmed Rose stepped back, but the Doctor placed a hand on her arm, never taking his eyes from the TARDIS' beautiful humanoid form.
'Why have you done this?' The Doctor stared pointedly at TARDIS, his rage barely contained in his words.
'She needs to be kept alive for all our sakes; she will save you, save us, save the universe from a fate that, if it comes to pass, will be the end of all things.' TARDIS looked straight back into the Doctor's face, her sweet voice not hiding her authority and wisdom.
'I could have prevented it, whatever it was. I could have stopped it. You have no right to do this to her!' TARDIS gazed calmly into the Doctor's stricken face, sadness etched in her beautiful features.
'You could not foresee this, nor could you prevent it. Only Martha Jones can stop what is coming. You must understand; this is the only way. I protect life; she will be safe, we will all be safe now that she is here.' The Doctor looked into TARDIS' eyes and saw that she spoke the truth. Swallowing his anger, he composed himself.
'Will she stay like this forever? Will she be like Jack?' TARDIS walked towards her Doctor and took his face in her hands. He felt her pale, delicate skin on his face. Her green eyes met his, and he saw the regret there.
'I do not know. I can see all, but the Time Vortex is deep and uncertain. It makes it's own decisions over who stays and who will leave this life. I can not help you there.' Letting her hands fall, TARDIS stepped back from her companions as the psychic connection began to fade. A sudden urgency took hold of the Doctor, his unanswered question now burning in his mouth.
'Wait! What is it? What's coming?!' He asked too late, the two time travellers were thrown back into reality, the question left unanswered.
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Rose rubbed her back for the second time that day. She sat up on the hard floor of the TARDIS, watching the Doctor pace around the console. Using the chair to help herself up, she went over to the Doctor and took his hand, making him stop and face her.
'Okay first question, why was the TARDIS human?' The Doctor kept working his eyes transfixed on the screen in front of him.
'That was the TARDIS' soul. She can show herself in a 'human' form if she thinks it's necessary. It's just her mind though, like a hologram.' Rose nodded and asked her second question.
'When the TARDIS did that… thing… to Martha.' She gestured to her temples, showing the Doctor what she meant. "What was that?"
'It's called a mental perception band. It basically means that the power of the Time Vortex is being held in her mind securely so that it can't take over her body and 'burn her up' so to speak.' When he saw that Rose was still confused, the Doctor sighed and ran a hand through his hair, trying to think of a simpler explanation.
'Erm, well think of it like this. The TARDIS is 'monitoring'-no, hang on… 'controlling' the Time Vortex's power with the band. It's like the Time Vortex has done something naughty, and the TARDIS has arrested it and put it behind bars until further notice. Got it?' Rose nodded, as usual her mind was working over time to keep up with his incessant babbling.
Sitting down heavily on the sofa that lived by the control panel and pulling her legs up underneath her, Rose pondered his explanation.
'So what now?' She asked, almost wary of his answer, knowing that whatever they were going to be facing in the future would not be pleasant. A dark feeling settled itself in the pit of her stomach and refused to budge. Oblivious to Rose's unease, the Doctor talked her through his plan.
'Well, first off we've got to find Martha. I'd say that's priority number one, wouldn't you? Might be a bit tricky though. I know what your going to say; if the TARDIS is monitoring the Time Vortex in Martha, why don't we just use the TARDIS? Nice idea there, but the TARDIS only implanted the barrier. She's not consciously controlling the Vortex. I suppose we could do a 'power track' on her…that's a scan that looks for unnatural power through out the universe, by the way. If I set it to the highest power frequency range it should pick up Martha in a jiffy! After that… never thought that far ahead, I'm making it up as I go along, so we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, eh? I guess we just wait it out and make our decisions when we're in the 'throws of the moment,' as it where. Sound good to you?' Turning around, he grinned at Rose, and she half suspected that he knew that she didn't remember what his first sentence had been, but she wasn't about to let him think he'd got one up on her.
'Sounds like a plan.' Standing, she crossed over to him and watched him type some outlandish symbols into the TARDIS' computer. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she could almost feel her mind melt as she watched him work. Sometimes she really did feel like a dumb ape.
'Doctor?' She called him softly, her voice hinting at the slight embarrassment she felt. The Doctor grinned secretly to himself.
'Yes, Rose?'
'What are we doing again?'
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Martha was cold, still seeing darkness all around her. She listened to the Time Vortex sing to her. The pain had stopped now, her mind accustomed to the vast power contained within it. All Martha could feel now was an odd stretched feeling. The smell of smoke hit her senses from the outside world that she couldn't quite perceive trapped in this immobile shell. The need to know what was going on was burning within her. She felt powerless, unable to see or hear what was going on around her, unable to help herself.
Time passed slowly, the minutes achingly long, stretching into eternity, until suddenly the hazy blackness that had shrouded her consciousness lifted and harsh reality was thrust back upon her. The room she sat in was still in the same condition it had been when she'd last seen it. Martha had expected something different. Still unable to speak or move at her own will, Martha resigned herself to wait until her controllers allowed her to move.
An Outside moved into her restricted field of vision and moved her into a standing position. He limped considerably when he walked, a little blood visible from underneath his robes, staining the white cloth red. He used the black box to move Martha forwards. She obeyed, totally in his control. Once she exited her solitary room, she gazed fixedly at the destruction around her, her mind working overtime to cope with the inability to show her horror.
The land before her had been destroyed. Remains of houses still smouldered and holy banners, torn from their masts, lay trodden into the mud. Only about half of the original group of Outsiders that had found her in the desert stood before her.
12 aliens and one human girl set off along the deserted plains of Madion. Unsure of their destination, Martha continued to walk onwards, unable to stop herself from putting one foot in front of the other, regardless of exhaustion or thirst. The Outsiders stared ahead, oblivious to Martha's pain, the excitement of achieving their goal growing with each passing moment. A new age was upon them; the age of enlightenment would be bestowed upon all things.
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Hey there! Did you miss me? I'm so sorry it took so long to update but I've had sooo many essays to write it's unreal! Good old A level yay… Anyway I hope you enjoyed this new chapter, if you did please review. If you didn't… well you can review anyway constructive criticism is always warmly received. Thanks for reading!