Gridlock
"Just one tip. S'what I said." The doctor said cheerfully. Why he could be cheerfull, Martha would never know. "One trip in the TARDIS, and then back home. Although...I suppose we could...stretch the definition." Martha's face lit up and Freya smiled. "Try one trip to the past, one trip to the future. How do you fancy that?"
"No complaints from us!" Martha said loudly, a wide smile on her face. Freya just nodded in agreement.
"How about a different planet?" the doctor asked.
"Can we go to yours?" Martha asked excitedly and Freya sat up straighter, waiting for the doctors answer.
The doctor's smile faded slightly. "Ahh, there's plenty of other places!" He said, forcing a smile onto his face.
Martha didn't notice any of this but Freya's smile faded as she remembered him telling her that they were the last of their kind.
"Come on, though! I mean, Planet of the Time Lords! that's got to be worth a look! What's it like?"
"Well, it's beautiful, yeah." The doctor agreed.
"Is it like, you know, outer space cities, all spires and stuff?" Martha asked, obviously getting excited and Freya wished she would stop.
"Suppose it is."
"Great big temples and cathedrals!"
"Yeah."
"Lots of planets in the sky?"
The doctor was silent before a smile appeared onto his face. "The sky's a burnt orange, with the Citadel enclosed in a mighty glass dome, shining under the twin suns. Beyond that, the mountains go on forever – slopes of deep red grass, capped with snow." He said slowly, lost in thought.
Freya smiled as she listened and Martha smile grew.
"Can we go there? I'm sure Freya will want to see her home planet." She said and the doctor glanced at Freya for a second before looking away.
"Nah! Instead..." the doctor dances around the console, tweaking settings as he went. "This is much better. Year five billion and fifty-three, planet New Earth! Second hope of mankind! Fifty thousand light years from your old world, and we're slap bang in the middle of New New York. Although, technically it's the fifteenth New York from the original, so it's New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York. One of the most dazzling cities ever built."
He put on his overcoat and leads the two girls outside into the pouring rain. Martha gasped and scowled while Freya smiled - having like rain since she was little.
"Oh, that's nice! Time Lord version of dazzling!" Martha said as she zipped up her jacket and Freya laughed at her. "It's not funny." Martha said but she too was smiling.
"Bit of rain never hurt anyone. Come on, let's get under cover!" The doctor said and they follow quickly. They dash through a junk-ridden street, past what look like giant dumpsters and old laundry swinging from a line.
"It looks like the same old Earth." Freya said, looking around. "Kinda looks like the area I used to live in."
"Hold on, hold on. Let's have a look." The doctor said, he goes over to a dead screen on the wall, and uses his sonic screwdriver. Once static appears, the Doctor bangs on the top of the screen and a blonde woman appeared, smiling cheerfully.
" - and the driving should be clear and easy, with fifteen extra lanes open for the New New Jersey expressway." She said before the image on the screen shifts to reveal the New New York above ground, a gorgeous spired city on the coast of a large river, with sleek flying cars zooming in the air.
"That's beautiful." Freya gasped and the doctor smiled sadly, she would've loved Gallifrey.
He forced a proper smile on his face. "That's the New we had last time. This must be the lower levels. Down in the base of the tower, some sort of under-city."
"You've brought us to the slums?" Martha sounded irritated but was smiling in spite of herself.
"Much more interesting! It's all cocktails and glitter up there. This is the real city!"
Freya and Martha smiled at him.
"You'd love anything." Freya said happily and he winked at her.
"When you say "last time", was that you and Rose?" Martha asked slowly and Freya held her breath, hoping Martha won't do anything to upset or anger the doctor.
"Um – yeah. Yeah, it was, yeah." The doctor said and Martha frowned.
"You're taking us to the same planets that you took her?"
The doctor looked confused. "What's wrong with that?"
Martha tried not to snap at him. "Nothing. Just – ever heard the word "rebound"?" she muttered the last part to herself, but both the doctor and Freya heard her, before storming past him.
"Don't worry about her." Freya whispered to the doctor as they followed.
A man suddenly flips open the top of the large green boxes to reveal a street vendor's cart. Around the three travellers, many others do the same, appearing and shouting out their wares.
"Oh! You should have said. How long you been there? Happy! You want Happy!" One of them said with a crazy grin.
"Customers! Customers! We've got customers!" Another shouted.
"We're in business! Mother, open up the Mellow, and the Read!" The third one yelled.
"Happy, Happy, lovely happy Happy!"
"Anger! Buy some Anger!"
"Get some Mellow, makes you feel all bendy and soft all day long!"
"Younger, them. They'll rip you off. Do you want some happy?"
The doctor frowned. "No thanks."
"Are they selling drugs?" Martha asked quietly.
"I think they're selling moods."
Freya sighed. "What's the difference?"
Other, more bedragged-looking people walk into the alleyway behind the Doctor and Martha. This makes the pharmacists shout even more. A pale woman dressed in very dark clothes walks with intent toward the stalls.
"Over here, sweetheart! That's it, come on, I'll get you first!" The third one said frantically.
"Oy! Oy, you! Over here! Over here! Buy some Happy!" The first one snapped.
"Come over here, yeah. And what can I get you, my love?" the third one asked after sending the other two a smug look.
"I want to buy Forget." The pale girl said quietly.
"I've got Forget, my darling. What strength? How much you want forgetting?"
"It's my mother and father. They went on the motorway." She said sadly and the time travellers frowned. That was hardly a reason to forget all about it!
"Oh, that's so sweet." The woman reached behind her into the stall, pulls out a small circular token, and holds it out to the pale woman. "Try this. Forget Forty-three. That's two pence."
The girl pays the pharmacist and turns away, the token still in her hand. Before she can do anything with it, the Doctor stops her. "Sorry, but – hold on a minute. What happened to your parents?"
"They drove off." She said tearfully.
"They could come back." Freya pointed out but the girl shook her head.
"Everyone goes to the motorway in the end. I've lost them."
"But they can't have gone far. You could find them." The doctor said softly and the girl stared at him. She then looked down at the token with a sigh before sticking it onto her kneck. "No, no don't." The doctor tried but it was too late.
"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" she asked, looking completely out of it.
"Your parents. Your mother and father. They're on the motorway." The doctor reminded her but knew it would be no good.
"Are they? That's nice." Martha's jaw dropped while Freya bit her lip. "I'm sorry. I won't keep you."
The three of them watch her go. "So that's the human race five billion years in the future. Off their heads on chemicals." Martha spat before jumping when Freya let out a scream.
Freya had been grabbed from behind and was being dragged backwards by someone with a gun while another person kept her gun on Martha and the Doctor.
"I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry. We just need four, that's all." The man said.
"Please, please, don't hurt her!" Martha pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of Freya's terrified face.
"No, let her go! I'm warning you, let her go!" The doctor yelled desperately. "Whatever you want, I can help. Both of us, we can help. But first you've got to let her go!"
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." The woman cried, she repeated her apologises (almost crying) untill she and her friend disappeared with Freya, locking a big green door behind them.
The doctor wasted no time in pulling his sonic screwdriver out and using it on the door. After a few moments the door swung open and ran after them.
The couple pulled Freya into the daylight and towards a car. "Please, let me go. I don't know what you want but I have nothing. Please!" Freya pleaded nervously.
"Give her some sleep." The man said and Freya struggled even more.
"No! Please!" She screamed, almost crying.
"It's just Sleep Fourteen." The woman said softly. She placed the token on Freya's kneck with some difficulty and sighed in relief when Freya's eyes closed. "That's it. Come on, let's go."
"Get on board." The man said, as the loaded Freya into the car. They had just drove off when the doctor and Martha ran out of a fire escape.
"FREYA!" The doctor yelled while Martha cried as she watched the car disappear.
...
"She's all right." The woman said after checking her over. "She's breathing, pulse is fine, and no harm done. She looks rich. She must have got lost."
She was not a lot more cheerfull - once all the screaming and crying was out of the way - as she settled down next to her husband.
"She's hot." The teenage boy in the back said but he was ignored.
"Yeah, well, she's worth her weight in gold to us." The man smiled widely, pulling out a tramsmitter. "This is car four six five diamond six. We have four passengers, repeat four. Request access to the fast lane." He said in to it and they all held their breath, waiting.
"Access granted," said an electronic voice and they all smiled.
"Oh, yes."
...
The Doctor and Martha walk back through the alleyway and the doctor pounds on the door of one of the now-closed stalls. It flips up quickly; behind it is third pharmacist. Seeing them, she grins broadly and leans toward them over the countertop.
"Thought you'd come back! Do you want some happy Happy?"
"Those people – who were they? Where did they take her?" He asked while Martha looked lost.
"They've taken her to the motorway." The first one said.
The third one looked grim. "Looked like carjackers to me."
"I'd give up now, darlings. You won't see her again." The second one said.
"Used to be thriving in this place. You couldn't move. But they all go to the motorway in the end."
"He kept on saying four, we need four. What did he mean, four?" Martha asked quietly.
"It's the car-sharing policy, to save fuel. You get special access if you're carrying four adults." The third one explained.
"This motorway – how do we get there?"
"Straight down the alley, keep going to the end. You can't miss it." The third one told them and they took off, only to stop when she speaks again. "Tell you what – how 'bout some happy Happy? Then you'll be smiling, my love!"
The doctor turns around with a furious look on his face while Martha just looks sick.
"Word of advice, all of you. Cash up. Close down. And pack your bags." He snarled, number three's smile vanished and she scowled at him.
"Why's that, then?"
"Because as soon as I've found her, alive and well – and I will find her, alive and well – then I'm coming back. And this street is closing. Tonight!" He snapped, taking Martha by the hand before storming off again.
The pharmacists glance at each other, apprehensive.
...
Freya frowned as she heard voice and tried to figure out what they were saying.
"Yeah. The view from the windows. You can see all the way out to the flatlands." A woman's voice said as Freya reaches for the token on her kneck and pulls it off.
"I heard that the air smells like apple grass." A boy, around the same age as her, said excitedly.
"The houses are made of wood. There are jobs going in the foundries. Everyone says so!" The man said, none of the noticing her.
Freya looked around quickly, seeing a gun sitting on a computer screen next to her and grabs it quickly.
"Please, just take me back. I won't cause any trouble, just please, send me back." She pleaded and the three of them shared a glance.
"I'm sorry. That's not a real gun." The woman said softly and Freya clenched it tighter.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Where do you get a gun from, these days? I wouldn't even know how to fire."
Freya lowered the gun, knowing she would never have had the guts to shoot anyway. "Same." She muttered.
"What's your name?" the teen asked.
"Freya Noble." She said, walking closer to them causiously.
"Well, I'm Cheen, this is Milo," the woman said, pointing to her husband before nodding towards the teen, "and that's Marcus. And I swear we're sorry. We're really, really sorry. We just needed access to the fast line, but I promise, as soon as we arrive, we'll drop you off and you can go back and find your friend."
"Promise?" Freya asked, doubt clear in her voice.
"I swear! Look – " Cheen moved her hair back to show Freya a token that said Honesty 36. "Honestly patch."
"Where are we?"
"We're on the motorway."
Freya frowned as she looked out of the window. "That's a lot of fog."
Marcus chuckled. "That's the exhaust fumes."
"We're going out to Brooklyn. Everyone says the air's so much cleaner, and we couldn't stay in Pharmacy Town, 'cause..." Milo trailed off, looking at Cheen lovingly while Marcus pretended to gag (though he too was smiling).
"Well, 'cause of me. I'm pregnant. We only discovered it last week. Scan says it's going to be a boy." Cheen said happily and Milo maked a mock victory gesture.
Freya raised an eyebrow. "Am I suppose to congratulate my kidnappers?"
Cheen scoffed. "Oh, we're not kidnappers. Not really."
"Well, I didn't come here on my will, so what would you call it?" she got not reply so she reached down and ripped the honesty patch off Cheen's kneck. Cheen gasped. "You shouldn't wear these when you're pregnant. It's stupid."
"This'll be as fast as we can. We'll take the motorway to the Brooklyn flyover, and then after that it's gonna take awhile, 'cause then there's no fast lane, just ordinary roads, but at least it's direct." Milo explained calmly.
"It's only ten miles." Cheen said.
"How long is this going to take?"
"Six years." Marcus said and Freya froze.
"You've got to be kidding me." She said but they looked completely serious.
"On the bright side, we'll have six years to get to know each other." Marcus said, sending her a wink.
"Be just in time for him to start school." Cheen said as she and Milo started to giggle.
"Wait a second." Freya interupted. "Ten miles in six years? Why?"
...
"How many cars are out there?" Freya asked, peering up at the cars.
"No one knows." Marcus said as Cheen reached for something.
"Here you go, hungry?" she asked, handing the food to Freya who smiled.
"Starving, thanks. About how far down is it to this fast lane?"
"Oh, it's right at the bottom, underneath the traffic jam. But not many people can afford four passengers, so it's empty down there. Rumor has it you can reach up to thirty miles per hour."
Freya frowned, they get excited about that? "But how are you supposed to live inside this thing? It's so small."
"Oh, we stocked up. Got self-replicating fuel, muscle stimulants for exercise, and there's a chemical toilet at the back. And all waste products are recycled as food." Cheen explained and Freya stopped eating.
Freya put it down, ignoring the urge to throw up.
"Oh, another gap, brilliant!" Milo said excitedly.
"Car sign in." An electronic voice said through the transmitter.
"Car Four Six Five Diamond Six, on descent to fast lane, thank you very much."
"Please drive safely."
...
"Another ten layers to go. We're scorching." Marcus told Freya happily and she smiled at him.
Her smile faded when they heard a low rumbling noise.
"What's that?" Freya asked nervously as the rumblin noise came again. "Is it coming from under us?"
"It's like Kate said. The stories are true." Cheen said quietly.
"Stories? What stories?"
"It's the sound of the air vents. That's all. The exhaust fumes travel down, so at the base of the tunnel they've got air vents." Milo said exasperated.
"No, the stories are much better." Cheen said with a smile, Milo chuckled fondly. "They say people go missing on the motorway. Some cars just vanish, never to be seen again. 'Cause there's something living down there, in the smoke. Something huge. And hungry. And if you get lost on the road … it's waiting for you."
The rumbling noise gets louder and louder, everyone in the car is silent. Milo shifted in his seat slightly. "But like I said. Air vents." He said as he pressed some buttons on the console. "Going down to the next layer."
Freya frowned as she looked out of the window. "But...it doesn't look like the air vents are working..."
"No, it doesn't." Cheen said quietly, her eyes widening.
The sounds are louder but now there's growling and crashing.
"But what's that, then?" Marcus asked his brother but Milo shook his head.
"Nah. Kid stuff." He said, grabbing the transmitter again. "Car Four Six Five Diamond Six, on descent."
"This is Sally Calypso, and it's that time again. The sun is blazing high in the sky over the New Atlantic, the perfect setting for the daily contemplation." A woman said on the small screen inbetween Milo and Cheen. "This is for all of you out there on the roads. We're so sorry. Drive safe."
A song came on and Freya listened silently. Milo, Marcus and Cheen were singing along.
On a hill, far away
Stood an old, rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross
Where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I'll cherish the old, rugged cross, rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down, I lay down
I will cling to the old, rugged cross, rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown.
"Fast lane access, please drive safely." The electronic voice said once the song ended.
"We made it. The fast lane." Milo said happily, his wife and brother smiled back but as they got lower Freya couldn't shake off a feeling that something was going to go wrong.
...
"Try again." Cheen insisted as they all looked at the screen dejected.
Milo did as he was told but a large red message appared on the screen saying 'JUNCTION CLOSSED'.
"Brooklyn Turnoff One closed." The electronic voice said.
Cheen was starting to get desperate. "Try the next one."
"Brooklyn Turnoff Two closed."
"What are we going to do?" Marcus asked nervously.
"We'll keep going round. We'll do the whole loop. By the time we come back round, they'll be open." Milo said calmly.
The rumbling noise came back again and the four of them looked around in panic. "That can't be air vents." Freya whispered.
"What else could it be?" Milo snapped.
"What the hell is that?" Cheen asked when she heard it again.
"It's just...the hydraulics." Milo said but he looked like he was seriously doubting it himself.
Marcus gulped. "It's sounds like it's alive."
"It's all exhaust fumes out there. Nothing could breathe in that." Milo said firmly.
A womans voice came over the transmitter. "Calling Car Four Six Five Diamond Six. Repeat, calling Car Four Six Five Diamond Six."
"This is Car Four Six Five Diamond Six. Who's that? Where are you?" Milo asked confused.
"I'm in the fast lane, about fifty yards behind. Can you get back up? Can you get off the fast lane?" she asked frantically.
"We only have permission to go down. We – we need the Brooklyn Flyover."
"It's closed. Go back up."
"We can't. We'll just go round."
"Don't you understand? They're closed. They're always closed." The woman said and Cheen gasped, tears starting to well up in her eyes. "We're stuck down here. And there's something else. Out there, in the fog. Can't you hear it?"
There is a definite shrill roar sounding outside now.
Milo took a shaky breath. "That's the air vents."
"What are you, some stupid kid? Get out of here!" The woman yelled and there was a sound of screaming and crashing on her line.
"What was that?" Marcus asked, holding onto the back of Cheen's chair so tightly his knuckles were going white.
"I can't move! They've got us!"
Freya grabbed the transmitter from Milo. "What's got you? What is it?"
She got no answer. Milo snatched the transmitter back. "Hello?"
"Just drive, you idiots! Get out of here! Get out!" The woman yelled before it was silent.
"Can you hear me? Hello?" Milo yelled frantically.
"Just drive! Do what she said – get us out of here!"
"But where?"
"Just straight ahead! And fast!"
"What is it? What's out there? What is it?" Cheen sobbed as Milo took off.
...
"Go faster!" Marcus yelled as the car jolted more than ever.
"I'm at top speed!" Milo snapped back as message appears on the screen, 'PROXIMITY WARNING.'
"No access above." The electronic voice said.
"But this is an emergency!"
"Thank you for your call. You have been placed on hold." The electronic voice said as a thought hit Freya.
"Turn everything off!" She ordered and the other three looked at her in shock.
"You've got to be joking!" Milo spat.
"They can't see through all of that fog so maybe they had hear the engines. Turn everything off and they might not be able to find us." Freya explained.
"What if you're wrong?"
"It better to atleast try!"
Milo sighed before switching everything off. The jolting stopped and everything is silent.
"They've stopped." Cheen whispered.
"But they're still out there." Marcus pointed out.
"How did you think of that?" Cheen asked Freya.
"Saw it on a film that me and Martha watched." Freya told the quietly. "They used to do it in submarines. I just can't remember what they did next."
Milo sighed. "Well, you better think of something, because we've lost the aircon. If we don't switch the engines back on, we won't be able to breathe."
"How long have we got?"
"Eight minutes, maximum."
They're silent for what seems like forever, no one sure what to say.
"How much air's left?" Cheen asked suddenly.
"Two minutes." Milo said grimly.
"The doctor will think of something. My friend, he...he will, he'll come." Freya said and she was sure that it sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than them.
"Freya, no one's coming." Marcus whispered and Freya bit her lip hard, trying to stop herself from crying.
"He looked kind of nice." Cheen said softly.
Freya smiled. "He's a bit more than that."
"Are you and him - " Cheen was about to ask but Freya shook her head.
"If I'm honest, he acts more like a dad to me."
"I never even asked. Where's home?"
"It's long way away...my brother and sister don't know where I am. If I died, they'd never know." Freya whispered, the tears she was holding back finally falling. Marcus, who was sitting next to her, gave her a small hug.
"So...um...who is he, then? This Doctor?" Milo asked.
Freya shrugged. "I don't know. We never really talked that much."
"But that means that … the only hope, right now is … a complete stranger." Cheen said, looking horrified. "Well, that's no use!"
"Just trust me." Freya said firmly. "He'll help, he wouldn't just leave."
It was silent for a second before Milo sighed. "Right." He said, turning everything back on. "Good luck."
"You too."
...
Freya tried not to scream as they were thrown about and almost let out a laugh of relief when the doctor came onto the screen.
"Oy! Car Four Six Five Diamond Six! Freya! Drive up!" He said.
"That's him! I told you!"
"We can't go up! We'll hit the layer!" Milo protested.
"Do as he says! Go up!"
"You've got access above! Now go!" The doctor said and Milo frowned as he drove the car upwards.
They drove through the fog and gasped when they saw sunlight.
"It's daylight! Oh my God. That's the sky, the real sky!" Cheen whispered in amazement.
"He did it!" Freya laughed happily. "Oh my god, he did!"
Marcus pulled Freya into a hug while Cheen and Milo kissed.
"Any chance I'll be seeing you around?" Marcus asked, sending her a cheeky grin and Freya smiled.
"No, I'll be leaving soon."
Marcus sighed in defeat. "Had to try." He said and Freya giggled.
"And Car Four Six Five Diamond Six, I've sent you a flight path. Come to the Senate." The doctor said over the transmitter and Freya grabbed it quickly.
"On my way!" She said down it, not able to keep the smile of her face.
"It's been a while since I've seen you, Freya Noble!"
...
Freya walked happily into the senate room but froze when she saw a skeleton lying on the floor.
"Doctor! Martha!" She called out and smiled again when Martha came running from another room.
"Freya!" Martha pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry I was such a cow! I promise I won't ever let a man come between us again!"
Freya let out a small laugh. "Speaking of which, where is he?"
Martha looked a little sad at that and Freya wondered what she'd missed. "Come on." She said, leading Freya into the room she'd just been into.
Freya's eyes widened when she walked in to see the doctor and a cat person kneeling down next to a large face.
"What's that?" she whispered.
"It's the Face of Boe. It's all right. Come and say hello. And this is Hame. She's a cat. Don't worry." The doctor said and Freya walked causiously to his side. "He's the one that saved you, not me."
"Don't worry, Freya, I don't bite." The face whispered and Freya smiled slightly.
"My lord gave his life to save the city. And now he's dying." Novice Hame said, crying.
The doctor shook his head firmly. "No, don't say that. Not old Boe. Plenty of life left."
"It's good to breathe the air once more." The Face of Boe said.
"Who is he?" Freya asked the doctor quietly.
"I don't even know. Legend says the Face of Boe has lived for billions of years. Isn't that right? And you're not about to give up now." The doctor sounded like he was begging and Freya found herself crying. She didn't like him sounding like that and hoped she never did again.
"Everything has its time. You know that, old friend, better than most."
"The legend says more." Novice Hame said and the doctor looked up sharply.
"Don't. There's no need for that."
Novice Hame ignored him. "It says that the Face of Boe will speak his final secret to a traveller."
"Yeah, but not yet. Who needs secrets, eh?"
"I have seen so much. Perhaps too much. I am the last of my kind — as you two are the last of yours." The Face of Boe said, looking at Freya and the doctor was starting to get desperate. Martha looked up at the doctor in shock.
"That's why we have to survive. Both of us. Don't go." The doctor cried.
"I must. But know this, Time Lords. You are not alone."
...
"All closed down." The doctor said as he, Martha and Freya walked down the alleyway.
"You happy?" Freya asked with a knowing smirk.
"Happy happy." The doctor teased making Martha and Freya laugh.
"New New York can start again. And they've got Novice Hame. Just what every city needs — cats in charge! Come on, time we were off." He said before walking towards the TARDIS, Freya was about to follow before she noticed that Martha was staying put.
"But what did he mean, the Face of Boe?" Martha asked and the doctor turned around. "'You are not alone'?"
"I don't know." He muttered.
"You've got me. Is that what he meant?"
The doctor stared at her. "I don't think so. Sorry."
Martha smiled faded. "Then what?"
"Could mean my family, but we know about them so it wouldn't make much sense for those to be his last words." Freya said with a frown.
"Doesn't matter anyway. Back to the TARDIS, off we go." The doctor said, trying to sound cheerfull. Martha scowled, grabbing a chair and sitting on it, her arms crossed. Freya stood to the side, not wanting to get into anything if it turns into an argument.
"All right, you staying?" the doctor asked amused.
"'Till you talk to me properly, yes. He said "last of your kind." What does that mean?"
"It really doesn't matter."
"You don't talk. You never say! You don't even tell Freya and it involves her aswell! Why not?" Martha snapped and Freya watched the doctor curiously.
He sighed. "I lied to you, 'cause I liked it. I could pretend. Just for a bit, I could imagine they were still alive, underneath a burnt orange sky." Freya and Martha watch him sadly. "Me, Freya and her family are the last ones left. The Face of Boe was wrong. There's no one else."
"What happened?" Freya whispered.
The doctor stood stiffly for a few seconds before grabbing two more chairs for him and Freya, setting them next to Marthas.
"There was a war. A Time War. The last Great Time War. My people fought a race called the Daleks, for the sake of all creation. And they lost. They lost. Everyone lost. They're all gone now. My family, my friends, even that sky. Oh, you should have seen it, that old planet. The second sun would rise in the south, and the mountains would shine. The leaves on the trees were silver, and when they caught the light every morning, it looked like a forest on fire. When the autumn came, the breeze would blow through the branches like a song..."
R&R