The Lazarus Experiment
"There we go…perfect landing, which isn't easy in such a tight spot." The Doctor said as they came to a stop.
"Where are we?" Freya asked as she and Martha glanced at the door excitedly.
The Doctor grinned widely. "The end of the line. No place like it." Freya and Martha exchanged a look before running for the door. They opened the door only to have their smiles wiped from their faces.
"Home. You took me home?" Martha asked in disappointment as they walked out of the TARDIS and into Martha's livingroom.
"In fact, the morning after we left, so you've only been gone about 12 hours. No time at all, really." The time lord said as he walked further into the small flat, looking at Martha's pictures, smiling at a certain one of Freya and Martha from last christmas.
Freya watched him carefully while Martha looked torn between crying and anger. "So...all of those things; Shakespear, New new York and Old New York...that happened all in one night?"
"Yep." The Doctor said, popping the 'p'. "Everything should be just as it was—books, CDs..." he trailed off as he, to Martha's horror, picked up Martha's underwear from the rack, "laundry."
Martha snatched it away from him and quickly hid it behind her back.
"So, back were you were, as promised." The Doctor finished.
"This is it?" Martha asked, sounding slightly bitter.
The Doctor inhaled deeply, watching Freya from the corner of his eye. "Yeah, I should probably…um - " He was cut off as Martha's phone rang.
"Hi! I'm out! Leave a message!" The answering machine said and Martha sighed.
"I'm sorry." She apologised but the Doctor wasn't bothered, he was still watching Freya who was completely oblivious to his gaze.
"Martha, are you there? Pick it up, will you?" Francine said over the phone, making Martha sigh and Freya smile.
"It's Mum. It'll wait." Martha said quickly, the last person she wanted to talk to right now w bas her mother.
"All right then, pretend that you're out if you like. I was only calling to say that your sister's on TV. On the news of all things. Just thought you might be interested." Francine said.
Freya picked up the remote from the sofa and turned on the TV. "What's Tish doing on the news?" the younger girl asked. Martha shrugged as the three of them watched.
"Tonight, I will demonstrate a device ... with the push of a single button, I will change what it means to be human." The old man in front of Tish Jones said and Martha shrugged before turning to TV off.
"Sorry. You were saying we should - ?" Martha asked hopefully, looking up at the doctor with wide, innocent eyes that made Freya look away uncomfortably.
The doctor was still staring at the screen before realising that Martha had spoke. "Yes, yes, we should. One trip is what we said." Martha sighed.
"Yeah. I suppose things just kind of…escalated."
"Mmm. Seems to happen to me a lot."
"Thank you. For everything."
The Doctor shrugged. "My pleasure." He turned to Freya. "Do you need a lift?"
Freya shook her head, trying to ignore the hurt she felt about being left behind. "No, it's okay, I can get the bus."
"The TARDIS will be quicker." The Doctor pointed out.
Freya Noble raised an eyebrow. "It'll also be more bumpy."
"Call it my treat." The Doctor said quickly, getting more and more desperate to trick the young time lord back into the TARDIS. Martha noticed this and scowled at her shoes.
Freya, however, remained oblivious. "You've already treated me. Who else can introduce me to Shakespear or take me to New York - sure it's only an airplane away but nobody's every taken me there before."
"Will you please just let me take you home?" the Doctor practically begged and she frowned at him.
"Okay, okay. Keep your hair on." She went to step into the TARDIS when the Doctor froze. "What?"
"Sorry, did he just say he was going to change what it means to be human?" He suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the TV screen. Martha's head shot up, a hopefull expression on her face.
...
"How do I look?" Freya asked as they walked down the street. The Doctor looked up from his cuff links to look at her. She was wearing a short purple dress made from silk, hanging off one shoulder. She shivered slightly but seemed to ignore it.
The Doctor frowned, wondering why girls let themselfs be cold just so they could look good. "You look great." He told her and she smiled.
"And me?" Martha asked, smoothing down her longer black dress.
"Oh, black tie." The Doctor muttered, not hearing Martha as he began fussing over his cuff links again. Martha's heart shattered. "Whenever I wear this, something bad always happens."
Freya smirked. "Something tells me that's not the outfit."
"Anyway, I think it suits you. In a James Bond kind of way." Martha said quickly, giving the doctor a charming smile which, of course, he didn't notice.
"James Bond?" He pulled a face before pausing. "Really?" he asked, sounding a lot more flattered than before. Martha and Freya laughed but Martha couldn't help but shake off the feeling that the Doctor would prefer it if it was just him and Freya.
...
Martha and Freya looked around impressed as they walked in, while the Doctor was more interested in something else.
"Oh, look, they've got nibbles! I love nibbles!" He said excitedly, grabbing one from a tray and stuffing it whole into his mouth.
"Hello!" Tish Jones said happily, appearing next to them and Martha and Freya smiled back.
"Tish." Martha said, pulling her sister into her arms.
She smiled at Freya over Martha's shoulder. "Hey Freya."
"Hi." Freya said as Tish stepped away from her sister.
"You two look great. So, what do you think? Impressive, isn't it?" Tish said, sounding rather smug.
Freya nodded. "Very."
"And two nights out in a row —that's dangerously close to a social life."
"If we keep this up, we'll end up in all of the gossip columns." Martha joked and the Doctor rolled his eyes as the three girls giggled.
"You might, actually. Keep an eye out for photographers. And Mum—she's coming too, even dragging Leo along with her."
"Leo in black tie?" Martha asked incredulously.
"That's something you don't see everyday." Freya said as Tish caught sight of the Doctor. "This is the Doctor."
"Hello." He grinned as he shook Tish's hand.
"Is he with you?" Tish asked Freya and Martha as soon as the Doctor let go of her hand. Martha nodded. "But he's not on the list. How did he get in?"
"He's...our plus one."
"So, this Lazarus bloke, he's your boss?" the Doctor asked quickly.
"Professor Lazarus, yes. I'm part of his executive staff."
"She's in the PR department." Martha explained to the Doctor but Tish shook her head.
"I'm head of the PR department, actually." She corrected, making Martha's eyes widen in shock.
"You're joking."
Tish guestered around the whole room. "I put this whole thing together."
"So do you know what the professor's going to be doing tonight? That looks like it might be a sonic microfield manipulator." The Doctor said, Tish and Martha stared at him blankly as if he had just spoke pig latin while Freya shook her head.
"He's a science geek. I should've known. Gotta get back to work now. I'll catch up with you later." Tish said before walking off.
The Doctor frowned. "Science geek? What does that mean?"
"That your obsessively enthusiastic about it." Martha shrugged.
"Oh, nice." The Doctor said before whispering to Freya so Martha couldn't hear. "Does that mean that you are a science geek?" he asked.
"I have no idea what you mean." Freya said innocently and the Doctor chuckled.
"Martha! Freya!" They heard suddenly and they turned to see Francine Jones walking over to them.
"Mum!" Martha exclaimed, pulling the older woman into her arms.
Francine pulled away bemused. "Oh. All right, what's the occasion?"
"I think she's just pleased to see you." Freya said, giving her a quick hug. Francine had been like a mother to Freya since she moved to London and often thought of her like a third daughter.
Francine frowned. "You saw me last night." She reminded them.
"You're looking good, Leo." Martha said, turning her attention to her brother quickly.
"Not bad." Freya agreed and Leo smirked.
"Yeah. If anyone asks me to fetch 'em a drink, I'll swing for him."
"You disappeared last night." Francine said, not giving up, after she glanced at the Doctor who was standing slightly away.
"I...just went home." Martha stuttered while Freya decided she was going to stay out of it.
"On your own?"
Martha turned to the Doctor. "This is a friend, the Doctor."
"Doctor what?" Francine asked, staring at him suspiciously.
"No, it's just the Doctor. The three of us have been doing some work together."
The Doctor, oblivious to Francine's stare, shook Leo's hand before turning to her. "Lovely to meet you, Mrs Jones. Heard a lot about you."
Francine eyes shot to Martha and Freya. "Have you? What have you heard, then?"
The Doctor's smile faded. "Oh, you know, that you're Martha's mother and…um… No, actually, that's…that's about it. We haven't had much time to chat, you know, been busy."
"Busy? Doing what, exactly?"
"Oh…you know…stuff."
Their conversation was cut short as there was a tapping on glass and they all turned their attention to the big machine. The old man from the news stepped forward. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Professor Richard Lazarus and tonight I'm going to perform a miracle. It is, I believe, the most important advance since Rutherford split the atom, the biggest leap since Armstrong stood on the moon. Tonight, you will watch and wonder. Tomorrow, you'll awake to a world which will be changed forever." Lazarus entered the chamber and the technicians started it up. There was a high pitch whir and a bright blue light as the four pillars outside the chamber began to spin individually before rotating around the chamber, going faster and faster. A warning klaxon went off and the Doctor shared a nervous look with Freya.
"Something's going wrong. It's overloading." Freya whispered as the technicians tried to stop it but some of the panels exploded, sending off sparks.
The Doctor quickly jumped over the low desk and aimed his sonic screwdriver at the controls. "Somebody stop him! Get him away from those controls!" An old woman yelled.
"He's trying to help!" Freya snapped at her.
"If this thing goes off, it'll take the whole building with it. Is that what you want?" the Doctor asked loudly as he worked. He pulled one of the main wires that connect the cabinet and it slowly stopped spinning. Martha and Freya ran to the door with the doctor following.
They opened the door before staring at Lazuras in shock as he stepped through the smoke looking forty years younger. He touched his face in wonder before smiling and turning towards the stunned crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Richard Lazarus. I am 76 years old and I am reborn!" He exclaimed, holding out his arms as everyone clapped.
"He did it. He actually did it." The old woman cried while the Doctor, Martha and Freya continued to stare at Lazuras.
...
"It can't be the same guy." Martha said as she watched Lazarus have pictures taken with people. "It's got to be a trick."
Freya sighed. "I don't think it's a trick."
"Wish it were." The Doctor said as he studied the machine.
"What just happened then?" Martha asked.
The Doctor moved away from the machine and turned to watch Lazarus with the girls. "He's just changed what it means to be human."
"Excuse me." They heard Lady Thaw say. "That was the most astonishing thing I've ever seen. Look at you!" Lazarus smirked.
"This is only the beginning. We're not just making history; we're shaping the future, too."
"Think of the money we'll make." Freya rolled her eyes in disgust, of course it was all about money. "People will sell their souls to be transformed like that. And I'll be first in line."
Lazarus didn't answer. Instead, he cracked his kneck as if it was hurting before grabbing a tray of the nearest waiter and began shoving the food into his mouth.
"Richard!" Lady Thaw snapped, watching in angst. The Doctor, Martha and Freya walked over to them.
Lazarus shrugged at his wife. "I'm famished." He said as they stopped next to them.
"Energy deficit. Always happens with this kind of process." The Doctor said, Lazarus raised an eyebrow.
"You speak as if you see this every day, Mr..."
"Doctor. And, well, no, not every day, but I have some experience in this kind of transformation." The Doctor told him and Freya shifted slightly, not going unnoticed by the Doctor.
Lazarus just scoffed while Lady Thaw rolled her eyes, they obviously didn't believe him. "That's not possible."
"Well, I'm not the only one." The Doctor turned his head and looked straight at Freya who's eyes widened in alarm. "Freya knows, don't you."
All eyes were on Freya. She was torn - she had always dumbed herself down in front of Martha so she wouldn't appear to be a genius but right now, with everyone staring at her intently, she didn't want to seem like an idiot. Her decision was made up when Lazarus sneered down at her and she glared back defiantly. "Using hypersonic sound waves to create a state of resonance."
Martha frowned at her while Lazarus just shook his head dismissively. "You understand the theory, then."
"Enough to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables." The Doctor said and Freya was thankfull that almost all of the attention was turned away from her and back onto him. Martha stared at her for a second but looked away when she realised that Freya was still uncomfortable.
Lazarus' expression was hard to read. "No experiment is entirely without risk."
Freya glared harder at the man. "Are you kidding? That thing almost exploded! You might as well have stepped into a blender."
"You're not qualified to comment." Lady Thaw said coldly as she and Lazarus glared down at her, trying to be intimidating.
"If the Doctor hadn't have stopped it, you would've died." Freya carried on anyway while the Doctor and Martha smiled proudly.
"Then I thank you, Doctor. But that's a simple engineering issue. What happened inside the capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less."
Martha shook her head. "You've no way of knowing that until you've run proper tests."
"Look at me! You can see what happened. I'm all the proof you need." Lazarus laughed.
"This device will be properly certified before we start to operate commercially." Lady Thaw said firmly.
"Commercially?" Martha almost shouted, looking at the old women in disbelief. "You are joking. That'll cause chaos."
Lazarus shook his head. "Not chaos. Change. A chance for humanity to evolve, to improve."
"This isn't about improving. It's about you and your customers living a little longer." The Doctor said dryly.
"Not a little longer, Doctor. A lot longer. Perhaps indefinitely." Lazarus smiled wistfully.
"Richard, we have things to discuss. Upstairs." Lady Thaw said before walking off and he went to follow.
"Goodbye, Doctor. In a few years, you'll look back and laugh at how wrong you were." He said before kissing Martha's hand and glaring at Freya one last time before disappearing.
"I don't like him." Freya said suddenly.
Martha chuckled. "We could tell."
The Doctor smiled too before turning serious. "Ooh, he's out of his depth. No idea of the damage he might have done."
"So what do we do now?" Martha asked.
"Now…well, this building must be full of laboratories. I say we do our own tests."
Martha held up the hand that Lazarus had kissed. "Lucky I've just collected a DNA sample then, isn't it?"
"Oh, Martha Jones, you're a star!" The Doctor said happily and Martha's smiled widened.
...
"Wow."
"Amazing."
The Doctor, Freya and Martha looked down at the computer screen at Lazarus's results. The Doctor and Freya looked shocked while Martha was bemused.
"What?" she asked the pair.
"Lazarus's DNA." The Doctor pointed at the screen as if it explained everything.
"I can't see anything different."
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Look at it!"
Martha frowned but looked at the screen more closely, her eyes widening when the image on the screen flickered. "Oh my god. Did that just change? But it can't have!"
"But it did." Freya said.
Martha shook her head firmly. "It's impossible."
"So is making yourself younger but Lazarus has already done that." Freya pointed out.
"That means Lazarus has changed his own molecular patterns."
"Hypersonic sound waves to destabilize the cell structure then a mutagenic program to manipulate the coding in the protein strands. Basically, he hacked into his own genes and instructed them to rejuvenate." The Doctor said.
"But they're still mutating now."
Freya nodded before the Doctor could. "He's missed something. Something in his DNA has been activated and won't let him stabilize. Something is going to change him."
Martha stared at her and she sighed. She had been fooling her friend for the past two years and now in one night she had managed to slip up twice. "Change to what?" Martha asked finally.
The Doctor shrugged. "I dunno but I think we need to find out."
"That woman said they were going upstairs." Freya said.
"Let's go." The Doctor said before walking out of the lab, Freya and Martha followed.
...
"This is his office." Martha said as they walked in.
The Doctor frowned as he looked around the empty office. "So, where is he?"
"Dunno. Let's try back at the rec - " Martha was cut off by Freya who gasped. The Doctor and Martha looked around at her in concern to see her staring in shock at something on the other side of the room. They followed her gaze to see a pair of skeleton bones wearing heels, poking out from behind the desk.
"Is that Lady Thaw?" Martha asked as she recognised the outfit.
"What's left of her." Freya sighed. "It's like she's a shell."
"Had all the life energy drained out. Like sqeezing the juice out of an orange." The Doctor said as he knelt down next to her.
"Lazarus?" Martha asked.
"Could be." The Doctor said while Freya nodded.
"So...he's changed already..."
"Not necessarily. You saw the DNA. It was fluctuating. The process must demand energy. This might not have been enough."
Freya bit her lip. "So, he's going to do this again."
...
"I can't see him." Martha said as they looked around the reception.
"He can't be far, keep looking." The Doctor said before walking off.
"Hey, you alright?" Leo asked, suddenly appearing at Martha and Freya's side. "I think Mum wants to talk to you."
"You haven't seen Lazarus anywhere, have you?" Freya asked quickly.
Leo smirked. "Yeah. He was getting cosy with Tish a couple of minutes ago." He said as the Doctor joined them moments before Francine.
"Wish Tish?" Martha exclaimed.
"Ah, Doctor." Francine said coldly.
"Where did they go?" the Doctor asked, ignoring Francine.
"Upstairs I think, why?" Leo asked.
"Doctor - " Francine started again but the Doctor rushed past her, spilling her drink as he went. "I'm speaking to you!"
"Not now, Mum!" Martha called back as she and Freya ran after the Doctor.
...
"Where are they?" Freya asked as they arrived back in Lazarus's office.
The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver. "Fluctuating DNA will give off an energy signature. I might be able to pick it up." He held the sonic screwdriver at arms length and slowly turned in a circle. The beeping increased. "Got him."
"Where?" The Doctor ended up pointing the sonic screwdriver at the ceiling.
Martha frowned. "But this is the top floor! The roof!" She said and they ran for the stairs.
Freya sighed. "This was a really bad night to wear high heels."
They walked out the fire escape quietly, listening to Tish's and Lazarus's conversation. "I'm still adjusting myself. I've been working toward it for two many years, it's hard to believe the moment's finally arrived." Lazarus said.
"And is it like you expected?" Tish asked.
"I find that nothing's ever exactly like you expect. There's always something to surprise you. 'Between the idea and the reality, between the motion and the act-'"
"'Falls the shadow'." The Doctor finished for him.
Lazarus and Tish turned to face them. "So the mysterious Doctor knows his Eliot. I'm impressed." Lazarus said smirking while Tish looked confused.
"What are you doing?" she asked Martha and Freya.
"Tish, get away from him." Martha said calmly and Tish glared.
"What? Don't tell me what to do." Tish said, sounding like a child.
"I wouldn't have thought you had time for poetry, Lazarus, what with you being busy defying the laws of nature and all." The Doctor said, keeping his attention on Lazarus.
"You're right, Doctor. One lifetime's been too short for me to do everything I'd like. How much more would I get done in two or three or four?"
The Doctor shook his head. "Doesn't work like that. Some people live more in twenty years than others do in eighty. It's not the time that mattes; it's the person."
"But if it's the right person, what a gift that would be."
"Or what a curse. Look at what you've done to yourself." The Doctor said and Lazarus's smirk was replaced by a scowl.
"Who are you to judge me?"
"Over here, Tish." Martha pleaded, holding out her arm. Tish rolled her eyes but walked over to her.
"You have to spoil everything, don't you? Every time I find someone nice, you have to go and find fault." Tish snapped and Martha stared at her in disbelief.
"Tish, he's a monster."
"I know the age thing's a bit freaky, but it works for Catherine Zeta-Jones." Tish shrugged before freezing at the sounds of growls behind her. She turned her head to see what looked like mix between a scorpion and a skeleton. It moved closer to them.
"Run!" The Doctor yelled.
They all raced back inside and the Doctor sealed the lock with the sonic screwdriver.
"Are you okay?" Freya asked Tish as Martha pressed the call button for the lift.
"I was going to snog him." Tish whispered in shock.
Suddenly sirens started to go off. "Security breach. Security breach. Security breach." A computerised warning said over to PA.
"What's happening?" Martha asked.
"Uh...an intrusion. It triggers a security lockdown. Kills most of the power. Stops the lifts. Seals the exits." Tish explained.
"He must be breaking through that door. The stairs, come on!" The Doctor said, leading the way down the stairs as the door crashed open.
"He's inside!" Freya yelled.
"Haven't got much time!" The Doctor yelled back as they carried on untill they got to the reception. "Tish! Is there another way out of here?"
"There's an exit around the corner, but it'll be locked by now." Tish said and the Doctor passed his sonic screwdriver to Freya.
"Setting 54, hurry." He said. Freya nodded before she, Martha and Tish headed for the door. The Doctor jumped onto the platform in front of Lazarus's machine. "Listen to me! Your people are in serious danger! You need to get out of here right now!"
Everyone looked at him as if he was completely nuts. "Don't be ridiculous." A blonde woman scoffed. "The biggest danger here is choking on an olive."
Glass shattered from the landing above and Lazarus leaped down to the reception floor. The girls sped up as everyone ran for the door screaming.
"Mum, get back!" Leo yelled as he was suddenly hit by a table Lazarus had sent flying.
"Leo!" Francine yelled as Freya got the door open.
"Over here! This way! Get down stairs!" She yelled and everyone rushed past her.
Lazarus closed in on the blonde woman who hadn't believed the Doctor and all she could do was stare at him in shock. "No! Get away from her!" The Doctor yelled but it was too late. The woman screamed as Lazarus sucked her dry before her shell fell to the floor. Lazarus turned to Francine who was kneeling by Leo as he slowly came to.
"Lazarus! Leave them alone!" The Doctor yelled as Martha ran over to them to help get them out. "What's the point if you can't control it? The mutation's too strong. Killing those people won't help you. You're a fool, a vain old man who thought he could defy Nature. Only Nature got her own back, didn't she? You're a joke, Lazarus! A footnote in the history of failure!" The Doctor ran from the reception hall and through the hall ways, Lazarus following.
...
"What's the Doctor doing?" Tish asked while Martha examined Leo and Freya paced.
"He's trying to buy us some time. Let's not waste it." Freya said. "How's Leo doing?"
"Leo, look at me. Let me see your eyes." Martha said before looking up at Freya. "He's got concussion. He'll need help getting downstairs."
Freya got to an ice bucket and put some ice in a napkin, which she handed to Francine. "This'll keep the swelling down. Come on, we need to get out of here."
They got down the stairs to the main entrance but the doors were locked. "We can't get out! We're trapped!" Tish sighed.
"There must be an override switch. Where's the security desk?" Martha asked quickly.
"Right there." Tish said, pointing to the desk. Martha ran round while Freya helped Francine carry Leo. Martha checked the panel layout before using the sonic screwdriver. The power came back on and the doors opened.
"We've got to go back." Martha said to Freya who nodded in agreement.
"You can't!" Francine protested. "You saw what that thing did. It'll kill you!"
"We have to go back." Freya repeated and Francine frowned.
"It's that Doctor, isn't it? That's what's happened to you two. That's why you've changed."
"He was buying us time. Time for us to get out." Tish said softly but Freya shook her head.
"I'm not leaving him." She said before walking up the stairs without another word. Martha glanced at her family for a second before following, ignoring her mother's begging.
...
Martha and Freya ran down the corridor before pausing when they heard a crash. They shared a glance before changing direction, running into the Doctor as they turned the corner.
"What are you doing here?" he asked them, frowning.
"We're returning this." Martha held out the sonic screwdriver for the Doctor to take. "Thought you might need it."
"How did you - "
"We heard the explosion." Freya interupted. "It wasn't that hard to guess it was you."
"I blasted Lazarus." The Doctor said, sounding pleased with himself.
"Did you kill him?"
Lazarus came crashing down the hall before the Doctor could answer. "More sort of annoyed him, I'd say." He said before grabbing their hands and dragging them back the way they'd came.
...
"What now?" Freya asked as they ran back into the reception room. "We're going round in circles!"
Lazarus burst in and the Doctor headed for the machine. "We can't lead him outside. Come on!"
They sqeezed themselfs into the machine and closed the door behind them. Martha frowned up at the Doctor. "Are we hiding?"
"No, he knows we're here. But this is his masterpiece." The Doctor said and Freya nodded in understanding.
"He won't destroy it to get us."
"But we're trapped!" Martha pointed out.
"Yeah, that can be a problem." Freya sighed. "Please tell me you have a plan."
"The plan was to get inside here!"
"Then what?" Martha asked.
"Well..." the Doctor paused. "Then I'd come up with another plan."
"In your own time then."
"Yeah, don't mind us."
...
The Doctor frowned as he tried to get into his pockets.
"Hey!" Martha snapped.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry." He murmured as he finally got the sonic screwdriver out of his pocket. "Here we are."
"What are you going to do?" Freya asked.
"Improvise." The Doctor said as he slide down slowly to the floor and popped open the panel.
"I still don't understand where that thing came from. Is it alien?" Martha asked as she listened to Lazarus move around outside.
The Doctor shook his head as he worked. "No, for once it's strictly human origin." He said, using the sonic screwdriver on the wires.
Martha looked down at the Doctor's head in disbelief. "Human? How can it be human?"
"It's probably from the dormant genes in Lazarus's DNA. The energy field in this thing must have reactivated them and from the looks of it they're becoming dominant." The Doctor explained.
"So it's a throwback."
"Some option that evolution rejected for you millions of years ago, but the potential is still there. Locked away in your genes, forgotten about until Lazarus unlocked it by mistake."
"Like the pandora's box." Freya said and the Doctor nodded.
"Exactly. You two have nice shoes by the way."
They froze when the machine was filled with light. "Doctor, what's going on?" Freya asked slowly.
"Sounds like he's switched the machine on."
Freya groaned softly while Martha looked ready to throw up. "I was worried that you were going to say that."
"I was hoping it was going to take him a little bit longer to work that out." The Doctor admitted as the machine began to spin around them.
Martha began to panic. "I don't want to worry you but - "
"I know, I know. Nearly done."
"What are you doing?" Freya asked.
"Trying to set the capsule to reflect energy rather than receive it."
"And that will kill him?"
"When he transforms, he's three times his size—cellular triplication—so he's spreading himself thin."
"We're going to end up like him!" Martha yelled as the light began to get brighter.
"Just one more." The Doctor said as he pulled on a wire and the machine stopped. They were silent for a second before the Doctor stood up and opened the door, stepping out with Martha and Freya following.
Martha and Freya both sighed in relief. "I thought we were going through the blender then." Martha said.
"Really shouldn't take that long just to reverse the polarity. I must be a bit out of practice." The Doctor said before they noticed Lazarus lying - naked and human - a few feet away.
"Oh god. He seems so...human again. It's kind of pitiful." Martha whispered.
The Doctor stared down at Lazarus. "Eliot saw that, too. 'This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper.'"
...
"She's here. Oh, she's alright." Tish said as they came down the stairs outside and threw herself into Martha's arms.
The Doctor smiled widely at Francine as she walked over to him, not noticing her furious expression. "Ah, Mrs Jones, we still haven't finished out chat." He said before she slapped him.
"Keep away from Martha and Freya." Francine said slowly as the Doctor rubbed his jaw.
"Francine, what are you doing?" Freya asked in shock.
"Always the mothers, every time." The Doctor muttered.
Francine ignored him. "He is dangerous. I've been told things."
"Well, whatever you've been told is rubbish." Freya said firmly and Francine knew she was getting nowhere with her. She turned to Martha and put her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Look around you! Nothing but death and destruction!" Francine looked down at Martha pleadingly, almost begging her to listen.
"This isn't his fault. He saved us, all of us!" Martha insisted.
"It was Tish who invited everyone to this thing in the first place. I'd say technically, it's her fault." Leo pipped up and Tish elbowed him in the side.
There was a loud crash in the direction of where Lazarus's body had been taken and the Doctor ran to it, Freya followed and Martha went to aswell but Francine grabbed her arm.
"Leave him." She begged but Martha shook her head, pulled her arm out of her mother's grasp, and ran after the two time lords.
"Martha?" Tish called.
"Not you, too." Francine sighed as Tish sent her an apologetic look.
"Sorry." She muttered before following.
Tish joined the Doctor, Freya and Martha as they ran down the street to the ambulance, all of the medics empty shells.
"He's still alive." Freya moaned as the Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver and began to search for Lazarus. "What happened to the bad guys staying dead after the good guys win?"
"Where's he gone?" Martha asked.
"That way. The Church." The Doctor decided.
"Cathedral." Tish corrected and they turned towards her. "It's Southwark Cathedral. He told me."
...
They walked into the cathedral silently, the Doctor in front with his sonic screwdriver held out in front of him.
"Do you think he's in here?" Martha whispered.
"Well, this is the best place for sanctuary." Freya whispered back.
They moved forwards through the empty cathedral to the open space behind the altar and underneath the bell tower, where Lazarus was sitting, gasping, with a red blanket from the ambulance wrapped around him.
"I came here before." Lazarus said suddenly, not looking at them. "A lifetime ago. I thought I was going to die then. In fact, I was sure of it. I sat there, just a child…the sound of planes and bombs outside."
"The Blitz." The Doctor nodded.
"You've read about it." Lazarus said as the Doctor circled around him.
"I was there. Saved the world, met a friend and learnt how to dance." The Doctor said and Lazarus scoffed.
"You're too young."
"So are you." The Doctor pointed out and Lazarus laughed. His laughtered was soon turned into gasps of pain as he fought the mutation.
"In the morning, the fires had died, and I was still alive. I swore I'd never face death like that again." Lazarus carried on while the Doctor looked up at the bell tower. Martha and Freya watched, knowing he was planning something. "So defenceless. I would arm myself, fight back, defeat it."
"That's what you were trying to do today."
Lazarus shook his head. "That's what I did today."
"What about the other people who died?" the Doctor asked, his voice now cold.
"They were nothing. I changed the course of history."
"Any one of them could have done that too. You think history's only made with equations? Facing death is part of being human. You can't change that."
"No, Doctor. Avoiding death. That's part of being human. It's our stongest impulse, to cling to life with every fibre of our being. I'm doing what everyone before me has tried to do. I've simply been more...successfull." Lazarus groaned in pain.
"Look at yourself!" The Doctor snapped. "You're mutating! You've no control over it! You call that success?"
Lazarus glared. "I call it progress. I'm more now than I was. More than just an ordinary human."
"There's no such thing as an ordinary human."
"He's going to change again at any minute." Martha whispered, once the Doctor was closer to them again.
"I know. If I can get him up into the bell tower somehow, I've an idea that might work." The Doctor whispered back.
"Up there?" Martha asked while Freya stared up and the Doctor nodded.
"You're so sentimental, Doctor. Maybe you are older than you look." Lazarus said, oblivious to what the Doctor was planning.
"I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one. In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle. Tired of losing everyone that matters to you. Tried of watching everything turn to dust." The Doctor said, sqatting next to Lazarus. "If you live long enough, Lazarus, the only certainty left is that you end up alone."
"It's a price worth paying."
"Is it?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow as he watched Lazarus cringe again.
"I will feed soon." Lazarus said, sneering at the Doctor.
"I'm not going to let that happen."
"You've not been able to stop me so far."
"Leave him, Lazarus." Freya said suddenly and all eyes turned to her. "He's old and bitter. I thought you have a taste for fresher meat."
"Freya, no." The Doctor warned a little too late. Lazarus snarled and chased after Freya who ran for the stairs, Martha and Tish running with her.
"What are you doing?" Martha asked her sister, looking nervous.
"Keeping you out of trouble." Tish replied.
They ran up a narrow spiral staircase that lead them to the upper level before pausing when Lazarus started screaming.
"Did you hear that?" Tish asked, her eyes wide.
"He's changing." Martha whispered.
"We've got to lead him up." Freya said firmly, turning and heading up the top of the stairs.
"Freya?" She heard the Doctor yell and peered out of one of the archways.
"Doctor!" She called back.
"Take him to the top, the very top of the bell tower, d'you hear me?"
"Up to the top!" Freya nodded.
"Freya, we've got to go." Martha said, trying to pull her friend away from the archway as Lazarus got closer and closer.
"Up to the top." Freya repeated. "Then what?"
"Freya!" Tish snapped as she and Martha managed to pull her away and they ran for another staircase.
...
"There's no where to go!" Tish cried when they got to the top of the bell tower, which happened to be a circular walkway with wooden rails. "We're trapped!"
"This is where the Doctor said to bring him." Freya said firmly as they ran round so they were facing the door.
"Oh, so we're not trapped. We're bait!" Tish snapped sarcastically.
"He know's what he's doing." Martha agreed with Freya. "We have to trust him."
"Ladies." Lazarus hissed as he entered, blocking the only exit. Martha pushed Freya and Tish behind her.
"Stay behind me. If he takes me, make a run for it. Head down the stairs, you should have enough time."
"But - "
"Just do it!" Martha snapped as Lazarus began swinging his tail around.
Lazarus knocked away part of the wall and Martha is hit by the tail, falling over and left clinging to the edge of the walkway. Tish and Freya dropped down to help her back up as someone started playing the organ downstairs.
Freya rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding me? We're fighting for out lifes and he's having a musical session!"
Tish and Freya tensed when Lazarus jumped over next to them, leering down at Martha who screamed.
"Get away from her!" Tish snapped as she and Freya tried to pull Martha back up. Both she and Freya cringed in agony as the organ got louder and louder. Lazarus screeched before toppling over the edge and fell to the floor below.
Martha was about to fall when Tish and Freya grabbed hold of her arms and Martha let out a small sob.
"We've got you." Freya said softly as she and Tish managed to get her up onto the walkway. They all held onto each other tightly, trying to catch their breath.
"Martha? Freya?" The Doctor yelled up to them.
Freya sighed slightly before answering. "We're okay!" She called back.
"Thanks." Martha whispered.
Tish shook her head. "It's that Doctor you should be thanking."
"Told you he'd think of something."
The three of them laughed slightly. "He's cut it a bit find there, didn't he?"
Freya smiled wider. "It's more fun that way."
"Who is he?" Tish asked, making Martha and Freya share a glance.
"He's the Doctor."
...
The Doctor knelt down next to Lazarus' body, looking down at him grimly. He closed Lazarus' eyes as he began to turn back to his old self before getting up and walking over to Martha, Freya and Tish.
He pulled both Freya and Martha into a big hug, grinning widely.
"I didn't know you could play." Martha said once they pulled away while Tish watched from the side.
The Doctor shrugged casually. "Oh, well, you know, if you hang around with Beethoven, you're bound to pick up a few things."
Freya raised an eyebrow. "Like playing very loudly."
The Doctor leaned forwards slightly as if he didn't hear her. "Sorry?" he said, causing the group to burst out laughing.
...
"Something else that just kind of escalated, then." The Doctor said once they were back in Martha's flat and in front of the TARDIS.
"Am I the only one who's seeing the patern?" Freya joked as they smiled.
"You should take more care in the future." Martha said. "And the past, and whatever other time period you find yourself in."
"It's good fun, though, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Freya agreed and Martha nodded.
"So, what'd you say? One more trip." The Doctor nodded to the TARDIS.
Freya glanced at Martha, knowing she wouldn't go without her, before sighing when she saw Martha's smile fade. "No. Sorry." Martha said.
The Doctor's smile slipped off his face and he glanced at Freya who shook her head slightly. He frowned. "What do you mean? I thought you liked it."
Martha sighed. "I do, but I can't go on like this. 'One more trip.' It's not fair."
"What are you talking about?"
"We don't want to be passengers anymore. We want to keep travelling." Freya told him before quickly cutting him off when he opened his mouth. "And you ain't taking one of us without the other so if you're not okay with that then we'll rather stay."
Martha smiled, thankfull that Freya wasn't going to leave her on her own before swanning off with the Doctor. The Doctor nodded. "Okay, then. If that's what you want."
Martha and Freya glared at him. "Right." Martha snapped. "We've already said good-bye once today so it's really best if you just go." She walked off to the other side of the room, turning her back on the Doctor, Freya and the TARDIS.
Freya frowned when she noticed that the Doctor wasn't going to move and Martha turned, looking just as confused.
"What's wrong?" Freya asked quietly.
The Doctor looked between them with a frown. "What? I said okay."
Martha and Freya stared at him, not sure they'd heard him right. "Sorry?" Martha asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Okay." The Doctor repeated, nodding towards the TARDIS and their faces lit up.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Martha squealed, about to throw herself into the Doctor's arms when Freya beat her to it. Her smile faltered slightly but she managed to keep it up.
"Well, you were never really passengers, were you?" the Doctor said as he walked back into the TARDIS, holding it open for them.
R&R