DISCLAIMER: Doctor Who is not mine.

"Where are we? What's out there?"

The Doctor grinned knowingly, leaving the console and opening the door for Rose to exit. Outside of that door, he knew, was the end of the world. The Earth was evacuated, the citizens leaving unnecessary items behind to burn with their dead and their history as they went to go on and start a new life elsewhere in the universe. Down below them was the preserved planet, the shields keeping it from destruction at its last, final moments, unable to prevent the Sun's inevitable expansion and consumption to the home of what used to be billions of human beings and other animals.

Put simply, the planet was on its deathbed. Rose didn't quite know that yet. It was really something exciting to see.

"You lot, you spend all your time thinking about dying, like you're going to get killed by eggs or beef or global warming or asteroids." He waved his hand. "But you never take the time to imagine the impossible, that maybe you survive. This...this is the year five point five slash apple slash twenty-six. Five billion years in your future, and this is the day the Sun expands." The Sun flares and turns a brilliant red. He nodded toward it. "Welcome to the end of the world."

He leads her along from Gallery 15 to the observation gallery, where people of all species were gathered and chatting amongst themselves. Outside of the observation deck, the planet was displayed, a perfect view of its demise.

"What are they doing on board this spaceship?" Rose asked, frowning. She was getting her head around it all. Aliens were people, he had said. Well, if you considered them in the definition of the word. "What's it all for?"

"It's not really a spaceship, more like an observation deck. The great and the good are gathering to watch the planet burn," he explained, motioning to everyone gathered.

"What for?"

"Fun." He shrugged. "Mind you, when I said the great and the good, what I mean is, the rich." He listened to Rose ramble, answering her questions like it was second nature. He knew the dialogue. He knew the answers she would want. Right now, he himself was distracted. Lady Cassandra, the Last Human, would make an appearance today. He could stop that easily now. The deaths that would happen could be stopped. All of what happened was preventable, now that he knew what was going to happen on Earth's last day. He smiled a bit as he saw a glance of the bark woman, Jabe. She would not burn.

"Who the hell are you?"

He startled from his thoughts, looking at the steward. Ah. Right. He could deal with him easily.

"I'm a guest. Look, I've got an invitation." He took his psychic paper out quickly. "You see? The Doctor plus one. I'm the Doctor, this is Rose Tyler. She's my plus one. Is that alright?"

The steward looked extremely confused but nodded. "Well, obviously. Apologies, et cetera. If you're on board, we'd better start. Enjoy."

The Doctor nodded and showed the paper to Rose. "It's slightly psychic, shows them whatever I want them to see. Saves a lot of time."

"...he's blue."

Of all the things to focus on. "Yeah."

"Okay."

The Doctor smiled and led her along toward the guests, where gifts were exchanged between guests and themselves. Saliva, a twig, a large metal ball...the Doctor wasn't very thrilled with that one. He stuck it into his pocket (bigger on the inside) and looked over as Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta Seventeen was rolled into the observation deck, a large, stretched out piece of skin with a face. The Doctor tried not to stare in disgust. Rose looked shocked.

"She is the last human?" she asked in a whisper, listening as the woman rambled about her life on Earth and so called "rarities". Both time travelers snorted quietly at her definition of an ostrich and an iPod. What was worse was that she thought that Soft Cell was classical music.

"She can't be serious…" Rose whispered, looking at the Doctor.

"Afraid so," he said as the steward announced the Earth's death: thirty minutes. Rose shook her head and took a step back, running off. The Doctor frowned and followed after her, ignoring the flash from Jabe's device (he'd deal with it later) and going after the human.

"Would the owner of the blue box in private gallery fifteen please report to the Steward's office immediately. Guests are reminded that the use of teleportation devices is strictly forbidden under Peace Treaty five point four slash cup slash sixteen. Thank you."

Bloody hell.

-DW-

Metal spiders scurried throughout the platform. No way to be caught, because no one noticed. No one, of course, except for the plumber. Not to worry, though. She was easily taken care of.

-DW-

The Doctor saw the spider pop out of the ball this time around, but that was luck on his part. This time, he'd kept the ball with him. The spider tried to crawl out of his endless pocket. but it wasn't hard to grip it and take a look. Out came the sonic screwdriver, and a scan led him to the source. Of course, Lady Cassandra couldn't have suspected he'd find them. Sun filter, he had to go protect the sun filter.

Quickly, he ran toward the Steward's office, barging in and finding the man. He jumped, eyes wide in shock.

"I say, Doctor! What is the meaning of this?"

He held the fidgeting spider up in his hand. "This came out of one of the peace offerings. The readings, they aren't good. Spot any, smash it at once."

"Now why would I do that?"

He frowned, "Steward, I am a time traveler. I know all sorts of timelines that you couldn't possibly understand. And I know that if you let these things roam about your platform, the sun filter will be deactivated and many of us will burn. Your little event? Done. I hope you never expect any more events on your decks."

The steward stared with side eyes, nodding slowly. "Yes, yes. Of course." The deck trembled, and his eyes widened even more. "That's not supposed to happen." He reached for the intercom and made a calm announcement.

"Honoured guests may be reassured that gravity pockets may cause slight turbulence, thanking you."

He hung the intercom up and looked at the Doctor. "You can stop anything from happening, correct?"

He nodded. "I can, yes." He was going to get it right this time. Everyone lives.

"Then do it."

The Doctor nodded and left, scanning the spider again and going to trace the signal. The steward watched him go, shaking his head and closing his eyes again. "I don't get paid enough for this."

He stayed like that for a few moments before getting up and leaving. He needed a drink.

As he did that, another spider appeared, being quiet this time around. It crawled toward the button and pressed it, scurrying off to find its kin.

"Sun filter deactivated. Sun filter descending."