Sister Star
Chapter 7: Dalek
Almadynis
Disclaimer: Do I look like a millionaire? Then quit asking! I do own Astrid, though. *glomps* No takies!
AN: Beta is on vacation. All mistakes are mine.
AN2: A big 'Thank you!' goes out to quidditchandsonicscrewdrivers. She is a Scot who helped me with all the Brit slang in this chapter and figured out that a scone and a biscuit were the almost the same thing, plus introducing me to the crumpet.
Astrid's thoughts
Astrid was dancing in the TARDIS kitchen, Julian laying on his side on the cool floor, and humming 'Fireflies' by Owl City. It was about a month since the Slitheen incident—at least according to her internal calendar, it was hard to tell inside a time machine—and she was finally getting the chance to follow through with her threat. She was making a traditional Southern American breakfast.
The TARDIS was apparently in on the plan with her, which was a little odd. The last trip had been to 1998 Ohio to help a lost kid from another planet she couldn't pronounce get back to its mother. They had landed right next to Wal-Mart. With a huge grin and a pick-pocket later to grab the credit card, Astrid was in the huge shopping center grabbing everything she had ever hoped to need to make a wonderful breakfast. She even got a griddle and waffle-iron.
The Pillsbury 'Flaky' biscuits were in the oven—and how odd was it that a coral themed kitchen could have a normal electric oven?—while the griddle was on the nearest counter cooking pancakes. The pancake recipe was actually from scratch, a testament to her mother, who used no recipe to begin with. It consisted of 'this look right', 'a dash of salt', 'a bit more sugar', and 'add milk and stir until sloppy'. The only reason she knew exactly what to do was that she had watched her mother use it uncountable times and could do it in her sleep.
On top of the gas stove—again, how weird that the TARDIS has a gas stove…but that does imply that it's a gas I know of—was a skillet with scrambled eggs. A bowl of shredded mozzarella and Colby cheese was to the side ready to add to the eggs when it was time. The extra crispy bacon was already done and in a serving plate—on top of a paper towel to get rid of the excess grease—on the dining table.
The table actually matched the theme, it was coral colored and seemed to grow out of the floor. Also on the table was both butter and margarine, honey, grape and strawberry jam, maple and ''s' syrup, and all the place settings for three people.
Breakfast was almost ready, which is why she was wasting time dancing and singing.
Her voice rang out softly but strongly as she stirred the eggs, trying to get just the right consistency. She was actually very good, but an incident when she was a child had made her very nervous singing in front of anyone. "'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs / from ten thousand lightning bugs / as they tried to teach me how to dance" she twirled as she laughed. Julian gave a small 'yip' from his spot, tail wagging. Her smiled was bright, uninhibited as she responded to his encouragement and sang louder. "A fox trot above my head / a sock hop beneath my bed / a disco ball is just hanging by a thread" she tilted the cheese into the eggs, turned off the burner, and lifted the pan to allow the still-melting cheesy-egg mixture to go into the serving bowl. She placed the bowl on the table. Just the pancakes left. She laughed again, gaily, and continued to sing, this time at full volume due to the sweet face of her loyal golden companion. "I'd like to make myself believe / that planet Earth turns slowly" she twirled again, her eyes closed while the smile on her face never diminished "it's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep / 'cause everything is never as it seeeems…"
The red apron she was wearing that said 'Queen of the Kitchen' flew as she danced in a circular path to the griddle and began to flip the last of the pancakes. "Leave my door open just a crack / 'cause I feel like such an insomniac" The pancakes went into the serving dish and the last of the batch of batter went onto the griddle. "why do I tire of counting sheep / when I'm too tired to fall asleep" Pancakes were finicky, they took a little bit longer on one side than on the other, so she had time to dance again, eyes closed in delight. "To ten million fireflies, I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes / I got misty eyes as they said 'farewell' / but I'll know where several are if my dreams get real bizarre / 'cause I say if you and I keep them in a jar" She flipped the pancakes and closed her eyes and she twirled again. "I'd like to make myself believe / that planet Earth turns slowly" she let her fingers swirl around in a slow circular pattern to make the lyrics "it's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep / 'cause everything is never as it seeeems…" The last of the pancakes went onto the serving plate and as she made her way to place the plate on the table her voice went back to a quiet gentle chime as she finished the song, skipping a few chorus lines due to time. "I'd like to make myself believe / that planet Earth turns slowly / it's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep / 'cause my dreams are bursting out the seams." Now time to wake up Ro—
Her thoughts were abruptly blown off course as two hands clapping came to her ears. Her head jerked to the hallway behind her to see the Doctor and Rose, both clapping enthusiastically and grinning ear-to-ear. Astrid blushed scarlet and hid her face in embarrassment, but even Julian seemed to be against her as his tail thumped rhythmically on the floor in time to their clapping.
"Breakfast and a show. Fantastic!" The Doctor came completely into the kitchen/dining room and sat at his place at the table. Rose went to Astrid, who was still hiding behind her shoulder-length brown hair. The blond was grinning as she untied the apron and stashed it on a random counter and pulled her friend to a seat. Then Rose took her own seat.
Rose did take pity though, knowing exactly why Astrid was so shy about her singing—that had been one drunk night in Astrid's flat for confessions—and decided to ask, "What is all this?"
Astrid grinned up at her friend, her embarrassment momentarily forgotten. "Breakfast! REAL breakfast. Those're biscuits; you eat them with butter and honey or butter and jam." She began to point as she spoke. "Cheesy eggs and extra crispy bacon that doesn't flop around. And finally pancakes, made like my mother's, that are eaten with butter and syrup. Not fruit like crumpets." She shivered in disgust. "Well, you CAN eat them with fruit, but its fresh fruit and whipped cream. You generally leave off the butter and syrup for those kind of pancakes. I forgot both fruit and whipped cream, we can try that next time."
The Doctor was already serving his plate, his face still having a grin when a thought occurred to him. "I thought I told you no domestics?"
Astrid gave him a smile that made him raise his eyebrow at its evilness. She held up her fingers as she began to tick off reasons. "One, the TARDIS helped me, so it's not really domestic. Two, this is payment in return for letting me keep Julian here. Three, you have HORRIBLE breakfast stuff here, I decided it was about time to show you two what biscuits are supposed to taste like." As much as she had spent the last year and change in England, she had never gotten used to their idea of what breakfast should be and had made herself breakfast for all that time.
He raised his other eyebrow to match the first. Over the last month or so, Astrid had gone back to the way she had been between The Breakdown and the Slitheen incident, no longer looking over her shoulder, no longer afraid. This personality of hers that came out when she didn't have to worry over keeping people alive had been able to stay for a long while. Three weeks and counting. He liked it too. He fancied her a little this way. Her attitude was so carefree, even after what she had seen and experienced, what she knew could happen soon, he was a bit jealous. But then, she was only human—and he had to give her credit, the food was very good. Since when did he have a gas stove?
Rose bit into a biscuit that dripped with butter and honey and her eyes popped open. Astrid was avidly watching her face and smiled in happy triumph. Her American accent came through loud and clear as she said in a sing-song tone."Told ya' so."
The Doctor was the first out of the TARDIS, as always, Rose just behind him. Astrid brought up the rear almost every time, since she spent the last few seconds reassuring Julian that she would indeed be back soon. She kissed his forehead goodbye and pulled the door to the TARDIS shut, locking it. Then she turned around and froze.
The Doctor had just turned on the lights with a switch on the far wall, illuminating the alien museum of Henry Van Statten. Cases upon cases of alien parts, pieces and plugs. Glass and proximity alarms all encasing the exhibits.
Rose was surprised and a little awed by the sight. "Blimey! It's a great big museum!"
The Doctor and Rose were carrying on a conversation about the uniqueness of the artifacts while Astrid was having a very mild breakdown. I'm not ready for this! Not again. This is Van Statten's museum, which means the Dalek is here. Oh god, so many people are going to die. What can I do? So much of the deaths were caused by Van Statten himself, because he was too stubborn and stupid to let his people retreat. What if—
Her thoughts were derailed when she caught sight of the Doctor about to touch the glass case of an old Cyberman. She yelled out to him, horror in her voice as she reached out as if to stop him, even though she was several feet away. "NO!" It was too late though. An alarm went off insistently and they were quickly surrounded by soldiers in black gear, all of them pointing their guns directly at the intruders.
The Doctor couldn't take his eyes off of Astrid's face. The walls that had drifted down over the last month were back up with reinforcements. She had steeled herself against whatever she knew was coming. Her crystal sky blue eyes were trying to communicate with him. Whatever was going to happen, it was bad. The horror and fear in her voice when she had screamed said that all by itself, but the look in her eyes let him know that whatever he could imagine, whatever he could guess…it was much worse than that.
Rose by his side commented quietly. "If someone's collecting aliens, that makes you Exhibit A."
He glanced at Rose and gave the surrounding soldiers a small grin.
The Doctor and Rose were in front of Astrid as they were led to Van Statten's exclusive office. The more she remembered of the episode, the more she wanted to punch the asshole. Which was why she was behind the Doctor. Of all the people to stop her from doing something stupid, it would be him.
Behind Van Statten—and he looks just as much like an asshole as the actor that played him, I wonder how that works? The Doctor looks like Christopher Eccelston too. Weird.—there was a portrait of him or his father, along with two flags, one the American Flag on the right, and the other was probably the Utah State Flag on the left. The office was lined with beautiful things around the walls and gorgeous computer screens on the glass-topped desk. The lamps placed strategically were a little odd, but no less pretty. All the more to hide how much of a tool he is.
Van Statten was talking to Adam when they entered. "What does it do?" He took the instrument from the English kid as Adam explained as best as he could with his limited experience in the field of alien interaction.
"Well you see, the tubes on the side must be to channel something, I think maybe fuel..." Wow, his voice is even more annoying in person than on the show. How interesting. NOT! How the hell can we get out of here without waking up that damn Dalek?
The Doctor was trying to be helpful. "I really wouldn't hold it like that."
Diana Goddard—actually not a bad lady, just in with the wrong crowd, she has a really good head on her shoulders—snapped at him. "Shut it."
Astrid piped up from behind. Around listening to so many American accents, hers was bound to come back. It wasn't like she had much control over it; it came and went as it pleased, conforming to what it heard unless she was under stress. Though, this situation does count as stress, doesn't it? There is an alien beneath me that is about to eliminate the entirety of this complex's population. "Yes, please Doctor. Shut it."
He turned back to look at her in surprise. Of all the time they had spent together, she had never spoken to him like this. There had to be a reason, but all he could see in her eyes was hatred. She didn't take her eyes off of the gentleman that seemed to be in charge. As far as he knew, the best way out of this situation that they had found themselves in was to be helpful. It worked more times than not. He faced back to the man sitting behind the desk. "Really, though, that's wrong."
Adam was curious. "Is it dangerous?"
"No. Just looks silly." He smiled gently, trying to offset the glare of anger that Astrid was sending the boss's way. He held out his hand for the artifact. The security clicked off their safety and pointed their guns at the Doctor again. He froze and gave a look to the man in charge, who in turn held up a finger for them to stop as he got up to hand the object to the Doctor.
The Doctor took it firmly in his left hand. "You just need to be..." He ran his fingers ever so gently over the artifact's ridges and a musical tune that sounded kind of like a harmonica began to come out of the object. "…delicate." He grinned up at the man in charge, who looked mildly impressed. Rose was a little awed by his elbow. Astrid hadn't taken her eyes off of the brunette American male.
"It's a musical instrument!" The man said with a little awe.
The Doctor nodded. "And it's a long way from home."
The man reached over and snatched the instrument from the Doctor. "Here, let me."
The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "I did say 'delicate'. Reacts to the smallest fingerprint." At first, the man can't play at all, only getting a discordant trill that has Astrid making her first different expression since entering the room, even if it is a wince. "It needs precision." It took a few more seconds before the man got the hang of it and was able to replicate the same notes as the Doctor had previously. The Doctor smiles encouragingly. "Very good. Quite the expert."
"As are you." The man tosses the instrument aside as if it were trash. Well, to Van Statten, anything not a weapon is useless. The Doctor and Adam follow its course with their eyes, alarmed at such a display of flippancy. "Who exactly are you?"
The Doctor was starting to get a hint of why Astrid was glaring so furiously at the man. He was getting a disdainful look in his own eyes, he knew, as he answered. "I'm the Doctor. And who are you?"
"I know your name, that's what she called you." He gave a significant glance to Astrid. "Like you don't know who I am! We're hidden away with the most valuable collection of extra-terrestrial artifacts in the world and you just stumbled in by mistake!" The man's voice was very much with the disbelieving.
The Doctor of course was grinning as he nodded. "Pretty much sums me up, yeah."
Now, the man came around the desk to be directly in front of the group of intruders. "The question is, how did you get in? 53 floors down. With your little cat burglar accomplices." He looked at the girls, before focusing on Rose. "Quite a collector yourself, she's rather pretty."
Rose was about to answer in the negative when Astrid grabbed Rose's hand and tugged her behind. She gave a look to Rose telling her to keep quiet as she faced the asshole. "If you hurt my sister, I will kill you with a song in my heart."
Both Rose and the Doctor turned wide disbelieving eyes to their friend. But she was so different than she had been just that morning. Gone was the carefree attitude and warm nature and pure, sweet voice. Her shoulders were set in determination and anger. Her eyes were cold and dead. Her voice was hard as stone and frigid, but completely American in her accent.
The man in charge waved away the guns that had repositioned themselves to the brunette girl. "And who are you?" He wasn't really intimidated by this little five foot three inch child that he towered over, he had been threatened before. The fact that she was doing it in his face with guns pointed at her, in his very office after breaking in. That was interesting.
Astrid thought quickly. There was no way she was giving her real name to his man. She was almost 99% positive that she didn't exist in this world, but there was always that 1% chance. If this man got ahold of her parents, she would never forgive herself. There's an idea. I was adopted. Let's give him… "Angel." It wasn't actually that far from the truth. She missed the surprised glance that Rose threw her; Rose knew exactly what that name meant.
"Your friends don't seem to know you."
"They've never seen me angry. You are the embodiment of everything I despise. My childhood was a living hell because of people like you and you outshine them all. I wouldn't be surprised if demons made notes watching you, helping themselves get better at torturing others and manipulating people to get what you want."
The Doctor's eyes were widening with every breath she took to keep talking. This was on the worse side of what he had thought with this trip, torture was always at the bottom of his list of hoping what things were for rescue missions. But the depth of her hatred was just hitting him blind-sided. The girl that had made him breakfast was completely gone. In her place, was a person he had never met. He had caught a glimpse, he thought, on Platform One when Cassandra had threatened Rose, but this…and then he understood. This was the person that Astrid became when she was protecting her family, Rose in particular, and she didn't think the Doctor could help her this time. She was controlling, cold-hearted, and harsh. Also fiercely protective for those she cared about as she tried to make things right again. She would do anything and everything she had to to protect her family. Just. Like. Him.
Adam butted into the staring contest between a girl and his boss. "This is Mr. Henry Van Statten." His tone suggested that he didn't think the girl knew. How could she talk like that to this man?
Angel's eyes briefly moved to Adam. "IDGARA." She focused back on Van Statten. "I Don't Give A Rat's Ass. Let me give you my last friendly warning, Mr. Van Statten. Let us go. You will never hear from us again and your little world will keep on spinning. If you don't, I promise you, that if you survive the night, you will be very very lucky to remember your own name." She saw how much disbelief Van Statten held in his eyes, but she really didn't care. Her loyalty was to Rose and the Doctor. This man didn't deserve anything else.
Van Statten seemed to understand that she was finished speaking, so he turned his attention back to the Doctor. "I captured you right next to the Cage. What were you doing down there? The Cage contains my one living specimen."
"And what's that?" The Doctor's tone was flat.
"Like you don't know."
"Show me."
"You wanna see it?"
Rose spoke up, "Blimey, you can smell the testosterone." She winced at the tightening of Astr—Angel's grip on her arm.
"She's English! Hey, Little Lord Fauntleroy! Got you a girlfriend." Adam drew himself up a bit at the statement. Then Van Statten was back to the Doctor. "Goddard - inform the Cage. We're heading down." The woman nodded. Van Statten gave a glance back to Adam. "You, English, look after the girls. Go and canoodle or spoon, or whatever it is you British do. And you, Doctor-With-No-Name," he was by the elevator, typing into it a musical code. "come and see my pet."
With her eyes alone, Angel gave the Doctor a look that screamed 'Be careful!'. He nodded and disappeared. She knew if they got out of this alive, she would hug him tightly to be sure that he was actually living. She hated being like this, but she knew—god do I know—that this was going to end all kinds of badly. She never had been much for praying, despite her first family's weekly trial to go to church, sometimes a different one every week. But for this occasion, she'd make an exception. Please, God. If you really are out there…please, let us get out of this alive. Whatever you want to be called, I don't care. God, Allah, Rassilon…just get us all through this safely. Please.
They went to Adam's workshop. Angel recognized the look in Adam's eyes, she had seen it in his eyes on the episode too, but one glare at him made him flinch. He's not coming with us if I can help it. What he does in 'Long Game'…he's only a little better than Van Statten. Just as manipulative and selfish. It was a crowd of knick-knacks, broken items, and lots of metal shelves with bits and pieces of odds and ends.
Adam was trying to get on Angel's good side so that he could get close to Rose. He had been trying the entire way up, but Angel just glared at him and kept a tight grip on Rose's hand. Rose seemed to understand why though and didn't say anything. "Sorry about the mess. Mr. Van Statten sort of lets me do my own thing. So long as I deliver the goods." Rose poked a few things around the room, Angel at her side. "What do you think…that is?" He handed Rose an object no bigger than his palms.
Rose was hesitant. "Er...a lump of metal?" she didn't feel a squeeze of warning from Angel, so felt safer to talk more freely.
"Yeah. Yeah, but I think-well, I'm almost certain—it's from the hull of a spacecraft." Rose finished looking over the hunk of metal and placed it down carefully on top of a pile of junk. "The thing is; it's all true. Everything the United Nations tries to keep quiet—spacecraft, aliens, visitors to Earth. They really exist."
Rose tried really hard to sound impressed or awed, but was only partly successful. "That's amazing."
He was smart enough to hear it in her voice. "I know it sounds incredible, but I honestly believe that the whole universe is teeming with life."
Rose smiled at him slightly. "I'm gob-smacked, yeah. And you do what? Sit here and catalogue it?"
He frowned even as he smiled. "Best job in the world!"
"Imagine if you could get out there. Travel amongst the stars and see it for real." Now she did wince at Angel's grip on her hand. There is NO way he's coming with us!
Adam missed the exchange. "Yeah... I'd give anything. But I don't think it's ever gonna happen - not in our lifetimes."
"So, how'd you end up here?" Rose was still curious. She knew that Astrid/Angel had a good reason for being so against Van Statten and Adam, but that didn't mean she couldn't admire from afar, could it? Astrid had the Doctor, and Mickey wasn't coming on their trips, it was time for her to find a new boyfriend of her own.
"Van Statten has agents all over the world looking for geniuses to recruit."
"Ah, right, you're a genius."
"Sorry, but yeah...can't help it, I was born clever."
Rose smiled but Astrid/Angel sneered. She spoke directly to Adam for the first time since her Patch Adams quote. "Get in line, boyo. My IQ is higher than yours." Only when I'm on my ADD medicine, but he doesn't need to know that, the wanker. I just thought 'wanker' as an insult. I really have been hanging out with Brits too long…of course, if this is the American choice I have to pick from, I'll take the Brits. When is Jack going to show up? He's American…sorta.
Now he was offended and tried to uphold his male need to prove himself worthy. "When I was eight, I logged onto the US Defense System. Nearly caused World War Three."
Angel rolled her eyes. "I'd rather not have to choose between going to jail, working for the government, or working for Van Statten."
"Well you should've been there! Just to see them running about! Fantastic!"
Rose spoke up between them, trying to cut the tension. "You sound like the Doctor."
Angel glared at Adam intensely. "One word does not a Doctor make."
Adam decided to ignore the brunette in favor of the blond. "Are you and him...?"
Rose was quick to deny it, "No, we're just friends." She wasn't going to ruin a month and a half worth of maneuvering Astrid and the Doctor together.
Adam nodded with a straight face. "Good."
Rose was a little shy as she smiled at him. "Why's that good?" She got another warning squeeze from Astrid/Angel.
"Just is."
Rose understood the gesture from her sister and decided to change the topic of conversation. "So...wouldn't you rather be downstairs? I mean, you've got these bits of metal and stuff, but Mr. Van Statten's got a living creature down there."
"Yeah...yeah well I did ask but he keeps it to himself. Although…if you're a genius…it doesn't take long to patch in on the comm system." Great, now he's trying to impress her. Shit and shineola.
Though Rose wasn't as interested in Adam as she appeared to be, she still wanted to see if she could help the alien that was giving out the distress signal. She laughed flirtatiously to keep up the illusion to Adam. "Let's have a look, then."
Adam went to the computer on what seemed to be the main desk and tapped some keys. Rose observed over his shoulder. "It doesn't do much - the alien. It's weird; it's kind of...useless. It's just like this great big pepper pot."
On the computer screen flashes up the security video that watches the Cage. They all watched as Simmons approached the Dalek and began to drill into the thing. The Dalek began to scream.
Rose was alarmed and demanded of Adam. "It's being tortured! Where's the Doctor?"
"I don't know."
"Take me down there. Now." She strided from the room, Astrid/Angel by her side.
Angel leaned over and hissed softly into her ear. "Stick to me like glue and whatever you do, don't touch that thing. Promise me." She felt Rose nod against her cheek. "Good. And stay clear of Adam. You don't know how close we are to being killed, Rose. If I tell you, run as fast as you can to the Doctor. He'll keep you safe." Rose's brown eyes widened at that statement. What could be here that Astrid was so concerned for her safety that she would sacrifice herself?
They were right outside of the Cage, walking into the Dalek's cell. Oh god, I can't believe I'm doing this. Yes I can. Rose needs me. Adam was going through the lobby outside the Cage first, then Rose and Astrid was bringing up the rear.
Some peon yelled at them to stop but Adam flashed a badge their way and called out, "Level three access. Special clearance from Mr. Van Statten." I'm not even sure that they had time to read that badge. Bloody idiots. Well, of course they're idiots, they work for Van Statten! They enter the Cage and Adam hangs back as if afraid. All he said was, "Don't get too close."
Astrid/Angel keeps a tight grip on Rose's arm as she slowly starts to walk towards the Dalek. Astrid kept Rose from going too far into the room, definitely not close enough to touch it. But Rose had a very kind heart, and her soul was pure. Not like mine. Rose, while hesitant because of Astrid's warning, still addressed the Dalek. She would treat the alien like a friend until proven otherwise. "Hello." The blue glow of the eyestalk just watched the blond, no other reaction. So she continued. "Are you in pain? My name's Rose Tyler. I've got a friend, he can help. He's called the Doctor. What's your name?"
"Yes." Astrid winced at the harshness of the voice and dropped Rose's hand to cup her ears. Rose moves closer to better see and let the alien see her. If every damn alien is going to provoke this reaction in me, then I need to either fix my hearing like my eyes, or I need to start wearing earmuffs!
"What?" Rose didn't understand.
The Dalek raised its eyestalk to better be able to look her in the face. It spoke slowly, wearily. It wanted to be misunderstood by the kind human friends with the Doctor. "I am in pain. They torture me, but still they fear me. Do you fear me?"
Rose shook her head slightly. "No."
The Dalek lowered its eyestalk as if it was tired. "I am dying."
"No, we can help!" Rose doesn't understand Astrid's mistrust of the creature. It was so helpless.
"I welcome death. But I am glad...that before I die...I met a human who was not afraid." Rose, stop encouraging it to talk…please. Oooww.
Rose just stood there, overwhelmed by the pity her pure soul and sweet personality, and asked gently. "Isn't there anything I can do?"
"My race is dead. I shall die alone." It let its eyestalk lower more.
Rose is so moved that she has tears in her eyes. She reaches out and Astrid moves, heedless of the noise of the Dalek in her ears. "NO!" Astrid grabbed a hold of Rose's shirt and yanked backward, pulling the blond off her feet and the momentum shoved her into Adam's chest. But Astrid forgot about Newton's Third Law of Motion. As Rose was pulled backward, Astrid was tossing herself forward. Right into the Dalek. Oh no...please, no.
The place where Astrid had landed, where her hand, the back of her arm, and her neck had touched the Dalek began to burn. As she got to her feet as quickly as she could and was across the room, dragging Rose with her, she saw out of the corner of her eye that the places where she had touched it were suddenly bright orange. The Dalek's tone changed into one even more harsh. "Genetic material extrapolated - initiate cellular reconstruction!" It burst out of its chains with a new lease of life. Sparks flew from it. Simmons entered the room as, with her hand firmly around Rose's wrist, Astrid literally ran from the room. She barely heard Simmons ask a question and she heard a cracking sound.
The intercom burst into life, "Condition red! Repeat, condition red! This is not a drill!"
Rose tried to slow down but Astrid kept pulling. The brunette looked back briefly as a call came to 'open fire' and lots of gunshots sounded. "Keep going, Rose. We have to get to the Doctor." Her words came out relatively calm and she was happy that she could. After a month and change with the Doctor, she could now run and talk—albeit briefly—at the same time.
The Doctor's voice came over the intercom system, agreeing with Astrid. "Rose! Astrid, get out of there!"
They acquired a tag-along soldier, a female. Astrid looked at her and gave her a solemn stare as they retreated. "If you want to live, run as fast and as long as you can." Not long after that, the Cage was abandoned.
They ran. Goddard came over the comm system. "All guards to converge in the Metaltron cage, immediately." Their soldier—I don't remember her name—look at them, but kept going, guarding the civilian retreat as ordered. They ran through corridors and then another bunch of security guards. Their soldier called out, "Civilians! Let them through!" Astrid had no idea where Adam was at this point, and could care less. Her job was to get Rose out alive. That was all she really wanted. This is my fault. I woke it up. If I hadn't ran into it…
Van Statten, the giant asshole, was on the intercom next. "I don't want a scratch on its body work! Do you hear me? Do you hear me?"
Astrid felt tears try to come, but she just kept running. She knew the soldiers were all dead. With no Doctor and no weapons, all they could do was run. They arrive at a flight of stairs. Oh, I remember this part. "Don't stop running! Keep going."
Rose tried to pause again, but Astrid kept a firm grip and literally pulled her sister up the stairs. "It hasn't got legs, it's stuck!"
Astrid didn't bother to shake her head. They didn't have the time. "It's fully regenerated by now. It can fly."
The soldier raised up wide horrified eyes at the brunette. "What?"
"It can fly! Now RUN!"
They all ran up the stairs. It was only after a few seconds that Astrid realized that the brave soldier had stayed behind. She was buying them time. The soldier looked up at them and realized they weren't running. "Don't look back, just run!"
Moments after they had run up the stairs and were working their way down the corridor, they heard the sound of the Dalek's exterminator bean and the soldier scream. God, whoever you are, if there is anyone looking out for us, let her rest in peace. She deserves it. Astrid was running side-by-side with Rose, both of them actively clutching each other's hands in terror. Another set of footsteps followed them, but Astrid didn't bother turning around to see who. Probably Adam.
As they ran, the sweet sound of the Doctor's voice finally announced, "The Dalek's surrounded by a force field. The bullets are melting before they even hit home but it's not indestructible. If you concentrate your fire, you might get through. Aim for the dome, the head, the eyepiece. That's the weak spot."
But Astrid knew the commander wouldn't listen. She didn't even slow down when they ran through the soldiers positioned in the warehouse strategically. She completely ignored the commander yelling 'hold fire', simply yanking on Rose's hand and continuing to run. "Go, Rose. Run!" Rose turned fear-filled eyes to her friend. It only took a few seconds, but Astrid pushed her. "RUN!"
The commander called out to Astrid, "Get the hell out of there!"
The Dalek came into view and positioned its eyestalk toward the corridor where Astrid was standing, looking at it. They had a stare down. Before either could be a winner, though, Rose appeared again, yanked Astrid by her closest arm, and they were running again. If it got my DNA material like it did Rose's in the episode, it will start to feel. My biggest feeling when I touched it was protecting Rose…good, then at least she is safe. It won't harm Rose, as long as I keep it away from her long enough so that the DNA can do its work. So, back to the running.
The Doctor had gotten the brilliant idea of phoning Rose on her super-phone. Astrid had to let go of Rose so that she could climb the stairs, hold the mobile, and talk at the same time. "This isn't the best time…Level 49…Can't you stop them closing?" Astrid grabbed her other hand, she knew what was going on, and if she had to, she would use Newton's Third Law of Motion in her favor.
They ran down the corridor on the 46th floor. Adam hadn't waited for them—I didn't expect him to, the wanker—Rose was next in the line, with Astrid bringing up the rear, still clutching Rose's hand tightly. She knew enough about physics from her father that she was already thinking of how to sling-shot Rose past the bulkheads if they didn't make it in time.
Rose was still talking on the cell. "We're nearly there. Give us two seconds." The alarm begins to sound. They round the corner, just close enough from Astrid urging them ever onwards that Adam was able to clear the bulkhead when it was half way down. Astrid's heart was in her throat, she knew that there was no way both of them could make it. I choose Rose.
It was a move that any Olympic shot-put thrower would be proud of. Astrid, using the hand that she clutched Rose with, put all of her weight, inertia, and momentum into a yo-yo like move, almost throwing Rose past the bulkhead right in a rolling, sliding sling-shot throw as it slammed into the ground. Since it was a rolling motion, Astrid hit the bulkhead herself a split second later, but it was too late. She was stuck on different sides.
Astrid let herself slide down the bulkhead door as she regained her breath. She doesn't even have the phone to call and hear the Doctor's voice one last time. I would've like that. I really do like him. Even as Eleven, though that one's a little annoying, I still like him. I would say that I love him, but well…Not yet. Maybe by the time Jack would've showed up…well, time to face the music. She turned around slowly around to face the Dalek as it came down the corridor. She couldn't watch, turning her head to the side and closing her eyes as it yelled at her. "Exterminate!"
Astrid looked up at the Dalek. Huh, I forgot about this part. "I'm sorry."
"I feel your fear."
"I know."
"Daleks do not fear. Must not fear." It shot its death ray wildly at the wall on either side of Astrid. The Dalek sounded slightly hysterical and scared. "You gave me life. What else have you given me? I am contaminated!"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." It was all she could think to say.
The Dalek herded her at the point of its exterminator ray to face the security camera. For some odd reason, the camera also had a screen to show who—or what—you were being seen by, so she got to see the Doctor, even as the Dalek threatened her life. "Open the bulkhead or Astrid dies."
The Doctor's expression was a huge grin, as was Rose's behind him. The joy on both of their faces made Astrid smile. "You're alive!"
Astrid's smile vanished quickly when she heard Van Statten off screen ask about her name. She snarled viciously. "It's all your fault, Van Statten. They are all dead because of you. What the hell are you talking about my bloody name for?" She took a deep breath to calm herself before she focused back on the Doctor. "Did you really think you could get rid of me that easily? Rose, did I hurt you with that sling-shot maneuver? Are you alright?"
Rose nodded quickly. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. You've got a Dalek behind you."
As if its name was a reminder, it shoved Astrid forward a few inches, making her wince at the death ray in the small of her back hitting and digging in too deep to the wrong nerve. "Open the bulkhead!"
"Don't do it, Doctor. We both know what will happen if it gets out like this." Astrid shook her head at him.
The Dalek was almost having an emotional moment, exasperation. "What use are emotions if you will not save the woman you love?"
She watched as the Doctor's face became a mask of shock and realization. She looked at the Dalek behind her. "He loves me?" she asked quietly, almost disbelievingly. How can he love me? He loves Rose!
The Dalek moves its eyestalk so that the blue light is directly in her face. "The Doctor loves you." A Dalek with absolutely no emotions whatsoever can see that the Doctor loves me…which means that he really does. He loves me…he LOVES me…he loves ME… Her face split into a grin and she gave a great whooping laugh and danced on the spot, despite the Dalek. In a fit of complete idiocy, she reached back and hugged it tightly. "What are you doing?" It backed away as if afraid of such a simple thing, the bulkhead door opening slowly behind them.
"It's called a hug. Humans do it to express themselves. In this case, I was sharing my happiness." Astrid couldn't take the grin off of her face, even when the Dalek regained its composure and began to march her through the corridor beyond the bulkhead, its death ray aimed at the small of her back.
They got to an elevator and began the long trip to the surface. Astrid gave a sigh and looked at the Dalek. "You don't have to kill. I know you have my protective instincts, that's what I was feeling strongest when I touched you. So, protect the humans on this planet. You don't have to kill anymore. You didn't kill me."
The Dalek spun its eyepiece around to look at her so fast she has to duck out of the way to avoid having her eye poked out. "But why not? Why are you alive? My function is to kill. What am I? What am I?"
Astrid held back the tears threatening and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry."
The lift doors open and Van Statten is just standing there, waiting. What the devil did he think he could do? Be a speed bump?
If a person could glare with its voice, the Dalek was. "Van Statten. You tortured me. Why?" It advanced on the man, who was terrified beyond belief.
The coward backed away. I wonder if he's peed his pants. "I wanted to help you. I just…I don't know. I-I was just trying to help. I thought if we could get through to you, if we could mend you…I wanted you better, I'm sorry." The Dalek was still moving forward, forcing Van Statten to move backward and finally could go no further when he hit a wall. His voice could have broken a crystal glass, making Astrid cover her ears in pain. "I'm so sorry! I swear! I just wanted you to talk!"
"Then hear me talk now. Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate!"
Astrid took this time to intercede, she gently put her hand on the Dalek and used the voice she dealt with Julian. "Don't kill him, Dalek. He's not worth it. Do you understand?" The Dalek spun to face her. Astrid looked right into its eyepiece. "You don't have to do this anymore. There must be something else, not just killing. What else is there? What do you want?"
The Dalek turned back to Van Statten, who winced in terror, but the eyestalk went back to Astrid's face. "I want…freedom."
Astrid gave it a motherly smile. "Then let's go breathe the open air. Together. Alright?"
They moved down the corridor and out into the Level 01 large communal area. It's probably a parking garage. Astrid was no longer being forced to walk with the Dalek, she did it freely. It needed her more than anything else at the moment. She doubted it knew the concept of friendship, but she also knew that it couldn't live with itself like this. It would die soon. The way it was right now was because of her. As it said, I gave it life. I should see it depart.
The Dalek fired its beam at the ceiling, making a hole. Astrid flinched and dodged the falling debris, but saw the sunlight flood the room and shine directly on the Dalek. "You did it. You're out. You're free." She breathed in the air; her sense of smell always triggered the best memories. "I've always loved the smell of sunlight." She put her hand in the beam of light and felt the heat on her skin.
"How...does...it...feel?" Astrid looked on as the Dalek opened up its casing, revealing the one-eyed, multi-tentacled body with its exposed brain.
Astrid was smiling down at it gently, glad that it could have at least one good memory when the Doctor's voice cut through the room, making her spin to face him, putting her body between the Time Lord and the Dalek. "Star, get out of the way, now!" He was holding a huge frickin' gun and pointing it right at the Dalek, right at Astrid since she was between them. This is the time he gives me a nickname?
Astrid gave him a look. "Don't do this, Doctor. I won't let you do this."
She could hear the cold hatred in his voice. The same anger that she had expressed to Van Statten only hours before. "That thing killed hundreds of people." The amount of animosity directed her way, even though it wasn't directly at her, was daunting and a little scary.
Astrid said calmly, but firmly. I can be harsh when I have to. Don't make me have to, Doctor. Please…not you."He's not the one pointing the gun at me."
"I've got to do this. I've got to end it. The Daleks destroyed my home, my people. I've got nothing left."
"Look at it." Astrid stood to the side and let the Doctor see what she saw. That the Dalek was feeling the sunlight on its tentacles, that it wasn't interested in killing anymore.
The Doctor was confused, but he didn't drop the gun. "What's it doing?"
"It wanted the sunlight. Freedom. That's all."
"But it can't..."
She couldn't help it. She had to say the line. That one line from the episode that always rocked her to her core, and the line that she always could see the Doctor rocked to his core as well. But apparently it had to be said. "It couldn't kill Van Statten. It couldn't kill me. It's changing. What about you, Doctor? What the hell are you changing into?" Astrid shook her head slightly, staring the Time Lord down.
The Doctor lowered his gun, but he looked so lost. "I couldn't…" Astrid just stared at him, letting the compassion come back into her eyes. "I wasn't…Oh, Star. They're all dead."
The Dalek spoke again, as if it was an effort. "Why do we survive?"
Astrid looked back at it as the Doctor answered. "I don't know."
"I am the last of the Daleks." It was becoming more and more difficult for it to speak. It's almost time.
"You're not even that. Star did more than regenerate you. You absorbed her DNA. You're mutating."
"Into what?"
"Something new. I'm sorry."
"I can feel. So many ideas. So much darkness...Astrid...give me orders! Order me to die. I shall not be like you. Order my destruction! Obey! Obey! Obey!"
Astrid couldn't bloke the single tear that slipped through. "Okay. Do it."
"Are you frightened, Astrid?"
"Yes."
"So am I." With what seemed to be the last of its energy, it said, "Exterminate."
Astrid stumbled backwards, and ran to the Doctor's side as the Dalek replaced its armor. It levitated into the air and the golden knobs detached themselves to surround the Dalek in a perfect sphere. The Dalek glowed briefly, and then exploded inside the sphere, vanishing into nothing. The Doctor stared at the place where it disappeared, stunned.
Rose, Astrid, and the Doctor stood beside the TARDIS. The Doctor was running his hand up and down the casing and looking up at the windows with a pensive stare. His voice was sad as he commented. "Little piece of home. Better than nothing."
Rose was curious, but a little sad herself. So many people had died that day. "Is that the end of it? The Time War?"
"I'm the only one left. I win. How about that?" Astrid winced at his words, knowing that the Master was still alive…that the Corsair could be alive, though it was unlikely.
Rose tried to cheer him up. "The Dalek survived...maybe some of your people did too."
"I'd know. In here." He gestured to his head. That's right, the Time Lords are mildly telepathic. He'd feel it if the Corsair was alive. Damn. "Feels like there's no one."
"Well then…good thing we're not going anywhere." Astrid and Rose grinned at him. He smiles back in response.
Adam jogged up to them. Astrid's face crashed down in anger and the Doctor caught the look easily as did Rose. They both knew from the brunette's face that the boy was bad news. "We'd better get out. Van Statten's disappeared. They're closing down the base." The Doctor turned to face Adam with his arms folded and a stern expression. "Goddard says they're going to fill it full of cement! Like it never existed!"
Rose commented. "About time."
"I'll have to go back home." Adam shrugged.
"Better hurry up then. Next flight to Heathrow leaves at 1500 hours." The Doctor was cross.
So was Astrid. "You left Rose down there. You are never traveling with us if I can help it. Go. Run so that you aren't left behind."
Adam didn't understand. "What're you talking about? We've got to leave!"
The Doctor raised his eyebrows at her intense reaction and turned to the TARDIS. He pulled out his key and went into the TARDIS, followed by Rose. Astrid, glaring at the English kid harshly, said "You have no idea the life I've saved you from." Then she stepped into the ship herself, closed the door tightly, locked it, and surrendered herself to Julian's enthusiastic licking.
She could here Adam talking, and then heard the door tug, but the engines started up and they left without the selfish kid. Thank you, Rassilon. God. Allah, whoever. Thank you for letting us get through this. Take care of all the souls lost today. She hugged Julian's neck tightly and allowed him to lick her longer than normal.
The Doctor looked at her solemnly. "How bad would he have made it?" Rose looked over, just as curious.
"He would have sold us out for a computer chip."
The Doctor nodded even as Rose looked shocked and horrified. Astrid swallowed and spoke again. "I'm sorry. I couldn't save them. I tried to keep Rose away, but ended up touching the Dalek myself. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault." She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up through her tears.
There was the Doctor, his eyes full of compassion. "I told you before…I'd rather have you here. I know that while it is possible you could make things better, you could also make them worse. You keep putting yourself in harm's way. You protect Rose, even at the cost to yourself." Rose knelt on the other side of the Time Lord and hugged Astrid intensely around the dog.
"I don't blame you. It's not your fault." How could he know that was what I wanted to hear most?
What do you think? This chapter is a bit different at the end due to Astrid taking Rose's spot, but I really wanted to reveal that the Doc loved Astrid and what better way than a Dalek? We have finally reached the romance side of the story! Please leave a review!