Author's Note
The Doctor discovers the presence of an alien chemical in the water and does some investigating to find out where it came from and what it means for planet earth. While Rose runs into some trouble of her own.
The Disclaimer: I own nothing. All rights belong to Russell T. Davies and BBC. I make no money and intend no harm.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy it, any reviews or comments would be great.
"Doctor?" asked Rose nervously. "What's not good? What is it? What's in the water?"
"Sam was right." said the Doctor, running his hand through his hair. "It is chemicals. Sulfuric Acid, Thionyl Chloride, Naphthalene, Vanadium. I mean Vanadium, that's definitely not from earth, so what's it doing here?"
"Is that what's causing the black rust?" asked Rose.
"Oh yes, but not the explosion, no. Vanadium may be highly corrosive, but it's not known to make things spontaneously combust. No, there's something else going on here."
"This Vanadium stuff, what planet's it from, then?" asked Paul curiously.
"Well, it can be found on hundreds of planets, right across the galaxy said the Doctor. "I'll need more information to narrow it down."
"Yeah, but what has that ship got to do with anything?" asked Rose. "I mean it didn't just blow itself up, did it? And, if it wasn't those chemicals, then what was it?"
"I don't know." said the Doctor sighing heavily. "We'll have to find out though. Let's find out if there wasn't something going on with that ship besides the alien rust."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked John.
"Yeah, let's go!" said Ringo excitedly.
"I don't know about this." said the Doctor apprehensively. "I mean it might look a little funny if people see you lot poking round the sight of an explosion."
"That's easy." said George happily. "We won't let anybody see us."
"Well we can't go now it's too late, no one'll be there."
"What do we do?" asked Paul.
"Hold on tight" said the Doctor grinning. He ran round the console of the T.A.R.D.I.S hitting buttons and finally stopped in front of a large lever. With a wild laugh he threw the lever and the T.A.R.D.I.S gave an almighty lurch and started making a strange wheezing sound. The T.A.R.D.I.S lurched violently again throwing everyone to the ground except for the Doctor.
"What just happened?" asked Ringo bewildered.
"Why don't you go and see." said the Doctor.
Without waiting for a reply they filed out of the T.A.R.D.I.S, into the weak morning sunlight. Rose shot the Doctor a grin and followed the boys out; the Doctor sighed and stepped out of the T.A.R.D.I.S behind Rose.
"Look at that!" exclaimed Paul. "We traveled through time!"
"There will be plenty of time to be impressed later." said the Doctor. "Right now we've got work to do."
They set off once more for the docks, heading straight for the site of the explosion. There were fewer people about today. The excitement seemed to have worn off and they had gone back to their normal, boring lives. It would be harder to blend in, with less of a crowd and the Doctor knew they would have to tread carefully to avoid any unwanted attention.
"Alright." said the Doctor. "I think we'd better stick together. This could be dangerous and I don't want anyone wandering off on their own. Got it?"
"We'll be fine, don't worry about us." said John.
"Yeah it'll be quicker this way." added Paul quickly.
"Quicker what way? No, no, absolutely not. Have you not listened to anything I've just said?" spluttered the Doctor.
"Course we did." said George. "We're just taking your advice and er… tweaking it a bit."
"Tweaking it a bit! This is ridiculous." said the Doctor indignantly.
"Great, we knew you'd understand." said Ringo pleasantly.
"Yeah, we'll see you later." said John. He turned and strode in the opposite direction, the others right behind him. The Doctor turned to Rose, unable to speak. She patted his arm gently.
"Don't worry." she said. "I'll go with them, keep them out of trouble. Meanwhile, you go investigate, I'll see you later."
The Doctor watched as she turned and hurried to catch up with the others. "Be careful." he called to her retreating form. Rose merely turned and waved at him before disappearing amidst the four men.
The Doctor turned and looked around him for someone to talk to. He spotted an important looking man who was shouting orders at a group of workers. He seemed to be in charge of the clean up and therefore a good man to talk to. The Doctor casually approached him. "Hello," he said. "How's it going?"
"It's a nightmare." the man replied. "It'll take weeks to get this lot cleaned up and O'Neil's been firing anyone who so much as looks at him funny."
"Really?" said the Doctor. "That's awful. Anyway, I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions."
"Questions, what kind of questions? Who are you?" asked the man.
The Doctor rummaged through his pockets and produced a small leather case. Flipping it open, he held in front of the man's face for him to read. "John Smith." he said. "I've come to investigate the cause of the explosion, you know, make sure it doesn't happen again. So what can you tell me about what happened here?"
"Well," said the man. "I dunno what happened. I mean she just blew up, bizarre really."
"Yea, very bizarre." relied the Doctor. "So you haven't noticed anything funny with the ship lately?"
No, no nothing serious. Well, I mean there was something, but it wasn't a big deal or anything."
"Every little thing is important." said the Doctor urgently. "Tell me, what happened?"
"Well, it was nothing really, a small oil leak."
"And when was this?" asked the Doctor.
"Day before the explosion, I think." he said. "I see what you're getting at, but it had nothing to do with the explosion. It was a tiny amount of oil and there's no way it could have ignited under water."
"Of course." said the Doctor looking troubled." That would be mad. Well, anyway, that's all. I'm just gonna go check something over there." The Doctor pointed vaguely over his shoulder. "Well, I'll see you later." he said, turning and hurrying in the direction Rose had gone.
"Hey, you lot, slow down would ya?" said Rose, catching up with the boys.
"What are you doing here, I thought you were going with the Doctor." said John.
"Nope," said Rose. "I'm supposed to keep you all out of trouble."
"Trouble? We won't get into any trouble, will we George?" said John.
"Nope, no trouble here." said George grinning mischievously.
"Alright, how about we split up; we'll cover more ground that way. John and George, go talk to those guys over there." said Rose pointing to a group of large men crowded around a small fenced off area. "And try to be subtle about it, alright?"
"Subtlety's our specialty." said John. He saluted her and wandered off in the general direction of the men, with George following a step behind him.
"Okay, you two." said Rose turning to Paul and Ringo. "I want you to have a look around, don't talk to anyone, just keep your eyes open. Anyone looks funny, or something doesn't look right, you let me know straight away. Got that?"
"Yes Ma'am." said Ringo and he and Paul ambled off in the opposite direction John and George had gone in.
Rose, however was drawn to a brick building. Curious as to what they might be hiding in it she casually approached the door and saw a small sign on it. The sign read Brian O'Neil, and Rose becoming even more curious about the big boss with a bad temper, tried the door. It was locked, but she had been expecting that.
She walked along the side of the building and slipped around the back, where she was happy to discover a window that most certainly would lead to O'Neil's office. She was relieved to find it unlocked and without much trouble, she managed to crawl through into a darkened room.
"I've been expecting you." came a voice from behind her. She turned quickly to see a man in a high backed chair. He leaned forward and clicked on a small lamp on the desk which he sat behind. "You know, I've always wanted to say that." he said, and as he leaned forward into the lamplight Rose recognized him as the man who had been arguing with Sam the day before.
"So, it seems you've been sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. We can't have that, now can we?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lied Rose.
"Now don't be modest. You've been all over the place asking questions, sneaking in here at night. You and those four idiots, I don't envy the company you keep. But, the other one, the Doctor, he seems different than the others. Tell me, Miss Tyler, what have you found out?"
H-How do you know my name?" asked Rose.
"A little bird told me, you may know him…Sam, his name was." said O'Neil, maliciously.
"If you hurt him, I swear…" Stammered Rose.
"Now, Now, what do you take me for, a monster? No, Sam is perfectly fine, let's just say he won't be talking to anyone else about my personal matters."
"What personal matters? What's going on with the water? What have you done with Sam?" Rose was shouting now, desperately trying to think of a way out. She looked longingly towards the open window, knowing she would never get there quick enough.
"As if I would tell you my plans. No matter though, you will know soon enough what my masters have planned for this pathetic little planet."
Now you listen to me." said Rose angrily. "Whatever you and your masters are planning, the Doctor will find out about it."
"By which time it will be too late to do anything about it." said O'Neil calmly.
"You're wrong, he'll stop you." said Rose.
"Yes, yes, very well, the knight in shining armor will save the day, how lovely. Now to business."
"What do you mean?" asked Rose, worriedly.
"Now, now, Miss Tyler, I can't just let you leave here, can I? You've seen too much. No, I think it best that you and dear Sam be reunited. Now if you'll excuse me." O'Neil opened a drawer on his desk and pulled out a gas mask. Before Rose could even begin to wonder what was happening he had slipped it on and flicked a switch underneath his desk.
Thick, acrid gas poured from the vents filling the room in seconds. Rose tried to run, but she could hardly breathe through the gas. She collapsed to the floor and looked up at O'Neil who was now standing over her. He was laughing as he watched her trying to fight the gas. The Doctor's face crossed her mind as she succumbed to the gas, a small comfort before she fell unconscious.