Chapter 14 how to deal with your family
Romana awoke in a metal room. Everything was blurry and the atmosphere was gloomy and cold. She couldn't remember falling asleep or even being knocked out. Then she felt a cold hand next to her. It moved on top of hers. She moved her blurred eyes to stare at a brown blob. As her vision cleared The Doctor came into focus. He didn't say a word and looked at the grey wall in front of him. She moved her other arm to feel her head as the dizziness crept away. The Doctor then moved his head towards her and smiled.
"Finally after two hours" he said laughing.
"I'm still recovering you know" she said.
"From what?" said a perplexed face.
"After being run over with a car, what do you think?" she said sternly. He shook his head then got to his feet and picked her up, then there on the spot through his arms around her.
"It's been too long, I thought you were dead" his voice had changed. He now had a sad tone and squeezed tighter to make sure he wasn't dreaming. After so many years The Doctor and Romana reunited at last. Then he placed her down and a single tear fell from his left eye.
Suddenly the huge heavy door opened. There stood the son of their nightmares.
"Its dinner time" he said with a smile. He walked them to where his family waited for their time lord meals.
"I have to ask how did you get another ship?" asked The Doctor.
"When your friend thru us into the vortex we ended up lucky and stole this one, much better than the last I have to say" he said stroking the metallic walls. Romana kept up the pace slowly behind, keeping silent so she would stand a better chance of survival. She had her plan all mapped out in her head. She would somehow decapitate the family for just enough time so she could set the ship to explode and then she and The Doctor could make their getaway with the watch. She was also hoping that The Doctor hadn't come up with a plan of his own, and she knew that it wouldn't be long before he did. They arrived where the family waited. This would be like the Sunday roast. Mother immediately got out of her chair and walked over to Romana. She breathed up deep and then out with a huge smile on her face and it wasn't the one that made you happy. Romana tried to back up but was facing the wall. Mother placed her finger on her forehead and the others began to laugh.
Striking pain swept across her head. All of her energy was being stolen from her and the evil alien was gaining all the pleasure. The Doctor tried to intervene but the father pinned him to the floor. He was no match for this monster of a man. Their children watched thru their stolen human eyes and waited for their turn on dinner.
"We would have had you last time if it wasn't for your friends always in the way" said the father spitting in The Doctors face.
"You can change your face as many times as you want but we will always get you" laughed the son, his sister with him.
"What do you say sister of mine shall we feast?" he added as they reached for him. His words could hardly be heard over the screaming of a young girl in pain.
The air was cold as the central heating broke in the small shop. Rose pulled her coat tightly around herself and cuddled into John's arm. Bad things were running through her head as two of her closest friends were trapped in the hands of four evil swine's. The rest were just as gloomy as the weather was horrid and nobody knew what was what. Amy and Rory stuck close together as they were still learning what life with The Doctor was like.
"What now, do we just sit here and assume that the earth is safe" Rose spoke up. "We have to consider what is happening up there, you don't know what they are capable of" John said. Suddenly the bell on the door rang aloud startling them all. Rose stood up in excitement and the others weren't far behind.
"Doctor, Rouen" she shouted. But the doorway was empty until you looked down.
The mother lifted her finger from her forehead. Romana automatically dropped to the floor.
"Romana, Romana" The Doctor pleaded. Romana moved her leg to show she was still alive for she couldn't speak. The Doctor gave a sigh of relive, but he couldn't be relaxed for long because he was next. Romana heaved herself up slowly and thought quickly for anything that popped up in her mind.
"I've waited so long for this, victory is ours, the universal hero, falls at the family of bloods feet" said the son slowly to scene the moment.
"Go on then son, have your share of the victory" said the father eagerly. Then doctor felt the most pain he had felt in years, all the pain Romana had just felt. Romana had to think of something quick, searching through two hundred years worth of memory wasn't the easiest task in the world. Then it hit her. She travelled way back in her mind to her childhood at The Academy back home on Gallifrey.
"Now who can tell me who the family of blood are?" said the teacher. A small girl lifted her hand and the rest of the class groaned.
"Yes Romanadvoratrelundar"
"They are the ones how want to gain time lords and feed on them so they can live forever" said a child Romana.
"Correct, now I'm going to tell you the best way of defeating them if you should ever come across them. It's you, your regeneration energy is toxic to them, it will poison them and leave them close to death. Now I hope none of you will ever need this information but you never know, although we can see the future, we can't determine yours". Romana now knew what she had to do. She dragged her tired legs towards a sharp piece of metal hanging from the wall and handled it towards her, then she drove it through her chest. As her blood spilled the family feast had seized.
"So you think taking your own life will stop you from our suffering" said the son. Then they slowly walked towards her leaving The Doctor laid out on the floor.
"No but I know this will make you all suffer" Romana said, then suddenly golden streams poured out of her arms and then she directed the beams at the family. They all screamed as the regeneration energy poisoned their bodies. Then like a switch she turned it off and headed towards the control room of the ship. The stab wound on her chest had fully healed and just left a ripped, blood stained sweater.
The shop door closed as K-9 came through the door, his metal body so cold you could have frozen something on him.
"I came to check on mistress Romana" said the frozen dog.
"She's gone K-9, along with The Doctor" said Sarah with a sigh then clutched Luke tighter.
"Romana is alive mistress" said the dog.
"How do you know?" asked Sarah.
"Mr Smith is still tracking her body signature" said K-9.
"Come on we've got to get back and see" said John in a hurry. So they all ran out of the shop and headed towards Sarah – Jane's house.
The control room was colder than the rest of the ship. The view of space from the windscreen was beautiful as they passed by all the stars and nebular of their galaxy. But she hadn't come on a sightseeing trip; she had to find a way to work the controls. Looking at the dash board she paused as a bright green button caught her eye. The self destruct button. Without any fuss or thinking she pushed it as hard as she could. Then alarms flashed all around as the countdown had begun.
"Two minutes until self destruct" said the computer. There was no stopping it now. She ran back to The Doctor. He was still unconscious on the floor. The family were laid still next to him. She had to hurry as she didn't know how long they would stay asleep and she was running out of time anyway. Strapping the watch to her arm Romana panicked as the strap wouldn't keep still. With one final lucky try the watch was on and she dragged The Doctor out of the way into a clear space so they could take off. But the son got a hold of The Doctor's ankle.
"If we die you go with us" he said with a low voice. But Romana still had fight left in her. She got the sharp piece of metal and through it at his hand. As the blade cut the skin he immediately let go to grab it with his other hand. Romana quickly grabbed The Doctor and readied the watch.
"Thirty seconds until self destruct" warned the computer. Romana pushed the dial and with that they teleported back to earth.
Steam burst out of the floors, alarms went crazy and the computer updated every couple of seconds. The rest of the family awoke and stood up quickly. Holding his wrist son went to the control room. He searched hopelessly for an answer that would never come.
"Five, four, three" the son sat down and let the blood flow from his arm. The rest of the family huddled together and the daughter closed her eyes.
"Two, one, BOOM". It was over. The sky changed colour yet again over the centre of London. Romana looked up as an explosion filled the sky causing glass to rupture and smash on every building. She ducked down and covered her face. The glass mixed in with the now falling snow. The fragments were tiny and couldn't be seen with the naked eye. The group looked from Sarah – Jane's house with startled eyes. The atmosphere filled with fire as the dark purple of the night sky, turned to red and orange smoke with the blink of an eye. She slowly uncurled to watch the lightshow up in the sky. The Doctor began to quiver from the cold floor. He then opened his eyes in a flash and sat up to shake his head. Turning his head, he too saw the ever changing colours. Romana felt happy inside, she had accomplished her mission to rid them universe of the family. They were gone for good and it was all thanks to her. The Doctor faced Romana and smiled. He was in a happy state of mind too, just glad they were gone forever.
He moved slowly off of the cold floor to stand up, and then offered a hand to Romana to help her stand too. She smiled and took it. Before she could say or do anything The Doctor grasped her tightly in both arms. She couldn't move an inch, not even her arms so she could cuddle him back,
"Thank you" he whispered. He then let her go and asked,
"What did you do back there?"
"Something I learned at school" she replied.
"Come on we've got to find the other's and tell them we're ok, and I bet they've gone to Sarah's house" Romana said in hurry and began to walk towards Banamon Road. The Doctor followed closely behind without question and held her hand so they could run together.
"What was that?" asked Martha.
"I bet it was the family's ship" said Jack in an excited tone.
"But The Doctor and Romana were up there!" said Rose in the opposite tone.
"Don't worry Rose, Romana has the watch, they'll be fine I hope" said John.
"Romana's body signature is still running so either just she or them both are alive" said Mr Smith.
"Thank goodness for that" Sarah – Jane sighed.
"Why did you miss us?" a voice came from the doorway. All heads turned to face two smiling figures stood at the attic door. Amy got out of her seat and hugged The Doctor before he had the chance to move.
"What are you doing here Pond?" he asked with a smile. Rose also got out of her seat to cuddle Romana. Then she turned her attention to the giant bloody slit in Romana's sweater. But once she pulled back the cloth there was no cut or even a smear of blood. John also assessed the torn cloth and suddenly Romana's t-shirt became the centre of attention.
"But that's impossible!" John said aloud.
"I call it recycling energy" beamed Romana, proud of all the attention. They all laughed along with her and each had a turn of congratulating the victors of the battle.