Union of Souls
Chapter Two
Martha stared at the Doctor for the longest moment, her mouth slightly askew as she tried to come to terms with his unexpected outburst. The shock of his sudden revival had been one thing, but to realize he was still just as bonkers as her Doctor to boot, took some sinking in.
Eventually, he seemed to comprehend that his old friend was a little overwhelmed, if not for the right reasons. "Oy! I know River Song called me Pretty Boy, but there's no need to overdo the old ogle, then!"
"We…we didn't know if you'd ever wake up, or if…" Martha found herself stammering for the first time in a long time. Talking sense to a Time Lord was never easy, but talking it to a human Time Lord felt just plain weird. Or was she just being irrational? "The things that attacked you…" She tried again.
The Doctor nodded absently as he examined his room, nose puckering at the sparse and very bland surroundings. "Tau K'mon. Nasty lot if you catch them on a bad day." He cocked his head. "Which…come to think of it is almost every day. Grumpiest aliens I ever had the pleasure of not meeting. 'Til today, of course." He thought about it. "That is, if it is still today? I suppose if I've been asleep awhile, it might be tomorrow already!"
Martha had to think about her response before she said anything. "You were attacked last night. A U.N.I.T. patrol found you along with two girls…"
The Doctor's face sobered and he began fiddling with the IV needle in his arm rather than look her in the eye. "I tried to tell them. Warned them to run, but I was too late. I'm always too late…"
The confession was unexpected. While her Doctor often carried the deaths of those he couldn't save on his conscience, it was a rare thing indeed for him to talk about it so openly.
"We can't save all the people all the time," Martha offered, wondering if she dare broach the subject of Rose yet. "But maybe with your help we can make a difference. Who are these Tau K'mon? Sounds like something out of Stargate! Where did they come from? What do they want here?"
The Doctor brightened at the questions, obviously as keen to be in the thick of things as his alter ego.
But despite his smile, Martha suspected that he was far from happy. Did these mystery creatures behind the deaths actually scare him?
"To'kra are the sluggy things in Stargate," he corrected. "The Tau K'mon are much worse. An ancient race of beings from the far flung edges of the universe. They're legendary…and well…not in a good way."
"Older and more legendary than the Time Lords?" Martha interrupted.
He bobbed his head, surprising her. "Older than old, they're positively antediluvian!"
"And very scary, yeah?"
The Doctor rubbed at the beard that still seemed odd on his normally clean, angular features. "Even the Time Lords feared them," he clarified with a nod. "No-one knows where they originally came from, but it's said they once had form, substance…being. Then something happened, something changed all that and made them into the evil entities they are now. For years they were the scourge of the heavens, sucking away countless planets of their lifeforce….even the people of Gallifrey were susceptible…"
"Time Lords weren't even immune to them?" Martha looked taken aback, a sudden fear gripping her heart like an icy hand squeezing inside her chest.
"No, not even Gallifrey was safe…" He looked distant again as memories of his long-dead planet resurfaced deep within. "After the Tau K'mon, or 'The Wall' as they became known, had rampaged through six solar systems, the Time Lords finally managed to banish them, imprisoning them in an ark and sealing it in an empty alternate dimension. Over the years, 'The Wall' became nothing more than a story to tell misbehaving kids. Got told it once myself, obviously. Mind you…I had just opened a dwarf quantum singularity in my physics class…never did like that teacher…"
"So, if the Time Lords banished these things millennia ago, how come they're here now, sucking peoples brains dry?"
"Looks like I'm not the only one who knows how to open up a good old black hole!" He shuddered. "Or in this case a trans-dimensional wormhole that allows energy and matter to pass through it…"
Martha took a second to think. This wasn't just a coincidence. 'The Wall' was here because of something she'd been involved in.
Yes, she'd tried to help her Doctor stop it, but had The Tesla Affair really allowed these energy creatures to escape from their prison?
"I think I know how they got out," she admitted, the chill in her heart spreading through the rest of her limbs.
The human Doctor nodded as if he had already been privy to the information. "The Rift. The Schism. The huge hole zapping at the very essence of the universe like a enormous intergalactic Hoover!" he said matter-of-factly. "It's let 'The Wall' out of their ark – and Earth wasn't their first stop off."
"You know about The Rift?" Martha couldn't hide the surprise in her voice. This version of the Time Lord had been left in a different dimension before those events had taken place. How could he know about them?
"My TARDIS!" He beamed. "The other me…your, um…me, sent her back with a recorded message inside. Left me everything I needed to know, just in case." He cocked his head, wrinkling his nose. "Which turned out not to be quite everything I needed to know, actually."
"You said Earth wasn't first?" Martha dared to ask, sitting forwards in her chair expectantly.
The Doctor's smile weakened and he seemed to deflate, slumping back to rest on his pillows. "No…Earth wasn't first," he agreed. "They destroyed the world me and Rose were on first…"
Martha tried to take it in – the vastness of the scale of destruction – a whole planet, or did he even mean a whole dimension?
"The steel world, yeah?" she finally asked, still not daring to mention the earring she'd found – not yet.
He nodded, his gaze still remote, pained. "Everything's gone there now. Not a living thing left, just empty, lifeless bodies. If it hadn't been for the TARDIS calling to me, pulling me to it with its psychic link, we'd have all died too." The Doctor swallowed, brown eyes as deep and haunted as his soul. "I followed them here, tried to stop them…but it was too late…"
Martha wanted to tell him it was never too late. That's what her Doctor would have said, wouldn't he? But the thing was, she didn't know anymore. She'd always thought there was nothing beyond a Time Lord's capabilities. To learn that Gallifrey had once feared the Tau K'mon was terrifying.
She looked at him, seeing the same despair that had filled the old Doctor's eyes as he'd left her for the very last time.
Neither of them spoke, both sensing, knowing the others thoughts. They should be friends, were friends, and yet, there was something different, something not quite perceptible that held them apart.
"Wait a minute!" Martha's face lit up like she'd had a sudden and valuable revelation. "If you're totally human, how did you survive against that thing? I mean, if even Time Lords can't get zapped and live to tell the tale?"
The dull, downtrodden face brightened again and the Doctor tapped his brow with his forefinger. "'Cause I'm unique! No…wait…not just unique, I'm amazing! Body of a human, consciousness of a Time Lord! My brainwave activity is just different enough to send the Tau K'mon packing...well…that time, at least."
"So because you're a 'one off' you confused it, right?"
"Special edition, that's me!" he agreed. "Just like a Mini with a great big whopping Ferrari engine under the bonnet!" The legendary smile began to creep back and he swung his legs out over the edge of the bed, pulling the IV from his arm with a wince.
"Oy!" Martha warned. "Where do you think you're going? You were half dead last night!"
"And I'm half alive this morning!" The Doctor snapped back cheerily. "Wouldn't half mind a spot of breakfast though!"
"Just promise me one thing?" Martha chastised. "Will you just get rid of that beard? You look like a very skinny bear."
"Oooh, I always was fond of Grizzly Adams…back to nature and all that. Although…maybe not…" He dropped down barefoot onto the lino floor and began to rigorously jog on the spot. When he realized Martha was looking at him strangely, he offered. "Just making sure all the bits still work!"
Martha smiled, but didn't say what was running through her head. Mister, I'm so glad Jack Harkness wasn't around to hear THAT!
Eventually, the jogging stopped and he suddenly looked almost lost. Brow furrowing he sat back on the end of the bed, grabbing his own chart and examining it. After reading the sheet three times, he tossed it down as if it hadn't given the answers he needed.
"Something wrong?" she asked. "I mean, obviously aside from the fact we've been invaded by brain sucking aliens."
The Doctor glanced up, his face shaped with an unusual expression of bewilderment. "There are pieces missing," he answered, almost confused. "Things I suddenly realized I don't have the answers to. Things I should know."
Martha braced herself. This had to be the reason he hadn't questioned Rose's whereabouts – and now, maybe she would have to tell him the awful truth.
"It must be a side effect of the attack," she suggested, choosing her words with care. "Given the amount of brain damage to the other victims, I'd say that's still pretty lucky…"
He shook his head dolefully, the slight London twang to his voice becoming just that little bit stronger with his desperation. "I can't remember what happened to Rose…"
* * * *
Martha strode down the corridor, still not quite sure about the gangly Time Lord at her side. He looked like her friend, but just as he'd suggested back in his room, it felt like there were 'bits missing'.
She supposed in time she'd get used to the slight underlying differences, and maybe if he got all his memories back it would help; but then, would they even live to see that day?
The Doctor stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets and looked himself up and down, appraising the blue suit she'd managed to find him. It wasn't exactly like the one he was used to, but it was close enough. His tie hung loose, and he'd thankfully shaved off the beard and spiked his hair.
"Do we really have to see Colonel Mace?" he complained as they walked by a sentry. "I mean, he salutes me and everything…we could be out and about looking for aliens or breakfast…Breakfast at Tiffany's! That'd be good! 'Course that was New York. They had King Kong there too, you know…doubt he ate at Tiffany's, though…"
"I doubt the Colonel would allow us out without debriefing first."
The Doctor grinned and leaned closer to her ear conspiratorially. "Yeah…but I'm really good with doors…and locks…and…"
Martha stopped walking and looked back towards the last guard they'd passed. Cutting out the interview with Mace would give them more time – time they desperately needed to find Rose.
On the other hand, jumping ship on U.N.I.T. at a time like this might not be the best course of action, either.
Explaining all about this second Doctor, though; now that would be tricky. And Mace wouldn't wait forever.
Finally, she made a choice. "You can't sonic the doors if you don't have your screwdriver."
"Riiiggghtttt," he gestured forwards with his hand. "That's why you're going to point us in the direction of the TARDIS! Who needs screwdrivers when we can just fly?" He shrugged. "Waste of good Air Miles but who's counting!"
Martha shot another look at the soldier behind them. He still hadn't moved. It was like their conversation wasn't even registering with him. But she was still considered 'staff' so why should he be concerned?
She was just about to tell the Doctor they had to go back the way they'd come to get to the TARDIS when the guard moved. Holding onto his earpiece as he turned, it appeared he was receiving instructions.
"Uh oh!" The Doctor pulled that 'whoops' face he was so fond of. "I think we've been scuppered! Run for the lifeboats!" He grabbed Martha's hand and then pulled absently at one ear when he realized he hadn't a clue which way to go. "Oh well then, just RUN!"
Martha yanked on his arm, stopping him from dashing full pelt the wrong way down the white-walled passage. "Oy! We need to go the other way!"
His mouth opened like a coy carp at feeding time and his eyes momentarily glazed as if he couldn't quite process an answer. He looked at the soldier who was now approaching them from the direction they needed to go. "Oooh…this might be bad," he finally mouthed.
"Dr. Jones?" The soldier shot Martha a quick salute and looked warily at the Doctor, unsure if a second gesture was required.
"No salute for me, thanks," the Doctor offered helpfully. "Puts me right off my breakfast! Speaking of which, my stomach isn't half grumbling…"
"Ma'am," the soldier tried again. "Colonel Mace would like to see you in control room two right away. There's been another attack."
"Did he say where?" the Doctor interrupted, abruptly all business.
"I don't know the exact address, sir, but I can tell you it was West London. Now if you'll follow me back to the control room…" The black-clad guard adjusted his snub-nosed auto's strap on his shoulder and about-turned, expecting them to tag along.
Martha shot the Doctor a look. "We can find our own way, soldier. Best not leave your post, yeah?"
The young man looked uncertain, and for a moment Martha thought he was going to radio for confirmation. Instead, he saluted again and repositioned himself at the intersection of two corridors.
When they were out of earshot, the Doctor looked over his shoulder. "Blimey! When did you get to be so bossy?"
"Travelling with you," she shot back, forgetting that she hadn't actually travelled with this version of the Time Lord at all yet. "Now c'mon, the TARDIS is back this way." She dodged by the room he'd been confined in and into the storage area that contained all the evidence from 'The Wall's' attacks. "Just how do we know where to go? West London is a big area."
"I'll tap into U.N.I.T.'s monitoring equipment with the TARDIS before we leave and reroute their feeds to my control console!" He jogged over to the tarp and pulled it free. Rubbing a hand affectionately over the blue wooden police box, he pulled a key out of his pocket and slipped it into the door lock.
The tumblers clicked and the door swung open with a creak.
"Where did you get that key?"
He grinned. "Time Lord magic…"
Martha was inclined to believe him. Mace had informed her they'd found nothing in the clothes the Doctor had been wearing when they'd brought him in, and the key she still had in her purse didn't work, even if he had been able to steal it. "I thought you could do the whole 'Hey Presto' click your fingers thing now, anyway?"
He shrugged and ducked inside. "Must be the amnesia! Forgot how! Oooh…lots of room in 'ere!"
Martha watched him dance around the time ship as if he'd never seen the inside of it before. She crossed her arms. "Yeah, it's err, bigger on the inside." Was he teasing, or had the Tau K'mon's attack really wiped so much from his mind?
Spotting his long brown overcoat hanging from one of the support beams, he rushed over and grabbed it. "Brilliant! Oh, I've really, really, REALLY missed this coat." He slipped it on, and then began rubbing his hands together gleefully. "Right then, Martha Jones! Time to nick a bit of information before we leg it!"
Suddenly, Martha felt guilty.
The Doctor knew Rose was missing, but he didn't know that she'd been in the alleyway with him at the time of the attack – which the earring seemed to suggest. Could she afford not to give him even the tiniest piece of information?
"Wait. There's something you should know…"
"Big something? Little something? Useful something?"
Martha slipped out of the TARDIS' door and retrieved the evidence bag from the table. The little gold ring seemed to shine under the overhead fluorescents as she looked at it.
Fingering the earring through the bag, she stepped back into the police box to find the Doctor waiting patiently for her. "Close something, then," he acknowledged, sliding on his thick-rimmed glasses to examine the bag's contents.
"Mace's people found it near the TARDIS, back in the alleyway where…"
"It's Rose's…" The Doctor pulled his glasses back off and slumped down onto the slightly threadbare console chair.
"Look, we didn't find a body. She still could be out there somewhere. That's why we have to find these Tau K'mon, find out what they're doing." Martha's voice was pleading now. She could see his eyes turning distant again – lonely.
He was giving in.
"Right, mister, no feeling sorry for yourself!" She pointed at the monitor that had whirling glyphs and cogs flashing across its width, raising her voice in the hope he'd listen. "We have a job to do, remember? And besides, what kind of a Time Lord are you anyway, sitting there looking glum instead of saving the planet?"
The Doctor leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he began tapping keys. "A human one?" he offered with a quirky expression. "A forgetful one? No wait…how about an ingenious but vaguely barmy one?"
"I'll definitely go with the barmy," Martha agreed. "But right now we need the genius side, yeah?"
The Doctor unconsciously slid his glasses on again as if they increased his mental ability. Continuing to work the console keys with his fingers, his eyes darted from corner to corner of the monitor as if he could read faster than the TARDIS could provide the stolen data.
"Oh I don't like the look of this…total electronics blackout for a mile outside the epicentre…some kind of EMP taking out the whole housing estate and…" he stepped back from the console, rapidly brushing his hand through his spiked hair, throat bobbing in shock. "No…no…NO…can't be…not there, not now…"
"What?" Martha tried to read what was on the screen, but to her it was just a jumble of numbers and Gallifreyan symbols. Why the TARDIS didn't translate that as well as everything else it encountered was a mystery.
Unless, of course, the eccentric machine liked to keep some privacy for its master.
The Doctor swallowed. "The street where the latest attack took place? It's where Donna lives…"
"Our Donna, Donna Noble?" Martha couldn't quite take it in. Why would the Tau K'mon 'Wall' target a temp from Chiswick? There was no way it could know of her connection to the Doctor – even Donna didn't know it anymore.
"First Rose, now Donna…" The Doctor looked at Martha desolately. "It's me…has to be. You should go. It's not safe to be near me." He began moving around the central controls, pushing buttons and adjusting settings. "Back in the alley they must have read my mind somehow…used the electrical field they create to form a synaptic bridge... If they know half of what I know…"
As he worked, the time rotor began to glow a brighter shade of emerald and the little ship started to rasp as it powered up.
"Leave you to get zapped by that thing again, you mean? No way. I'm coming with you, we're gonna find Rose and Donna, save the planet and then…and then we'll all have breakfast at Tiffany's."
The Doctor's face broke into a small smile. "That might work…although…always preferred Notting Grill myself…oh wait, maybe that was a film with Hugh Grant…? Always liked Hugh Grant…he'd have made a brilliant Time Lord…" He paused staring blankly at the console suddenly. "Don't suppose you know how we actually fly this thing do you?"
"Seriously?" Martha didn't know whether to break into blind panic or genuinely try to help. "You don't remember any of this stuff?"
There was a beat and his features broke into the largest grin his facial muscles were capable of. "'Coarse I remember how to fly! Like riding a bike this is…mind you, was always a bit wibbly wobbly with anything less than three wheels…"
He push the thing that resembled a bicycle pump up and down vigorously, continuing to fire up the TARDIS until it was wheezing its way through time and space in search of the Tau K'mon.
"Well, just as long as you remember," Martha warned. "Because there's something else you need to know. Even if we find her, Donna won't remember us…"
The Doctor stopped pressing the pump. "What…what?" He scowled, one brow raised high in confusion.
Behind him, the time rotor roared on obliviously.
And now, as if losing one friend, maybe even one love wasn't enough, Martha had the heart-wrenching task of explaining to the Doctor why his 'birth' had almost heralded the death of one Donna Noble.
Tbc…