Thor Hill
Glastonbury, England
2:30 p.m.
Emily and her team immediately began setting up the machine to open the portal to a parallel universe. Teams of Daleks roamed the city looking for humans destroy, and Emily knew that it was only a matter of time before the Daleks discovered that all humans were moved to a parallel universe. Emily felt that fortune was on her side since the Daleks had not discovered the machine. While George calibrated, Sherri and Frank began navigating the energy fields finding the lines where the ancient energy was strongest. Emily took a deep breath and began hooking herself up to the machine.
"Hey," said Sherri softly as she came over to help Emily, "your ex is right; you could die doing this."
Emily smiled and touched Sherri's cheek. "I've been dead a long time." She sighed and inserted the last coupling to her body. "I thought finding my father would help, but not even that has made a difference." She breathed in the cool afternoon air and smiled at Emily. "I need to do this." Sherri nodded and squeezed Emily's hand. Stepping back, Sherri joined Frank and George who were waiting by the prepped machine.
"Ready, when you are boss," said George.
Emily smiled and nodded. "You know what to do?"
"Yes," said Frank, "we're ready."
"Let's do it" said Emily.
Together, Frank, Sherri and George threw the main switches. Emily's body lit up and glowed gold.
Meanwhile
The Doctor, Donna, Jack and Martha arrived at another end of town as a burst of energy tore through the sky from Thor Hill. Donna gasped as Daleks took to the sky and headed toward Thor Hill. She turned to Jack. "Is your plan going to work?" He grinned. "I knew my wife well enough, so yes, I think the plan will work."
"You'd better hope so," said the Doctor.
Jack rolled his eyes. "You're not the only person who wants her safe."
The Doctor continued to glare at Jack, but motioned to Donna and Martha with a nod of his head. While Jack spoke into his Blackberry, the Doctor consulted with Donna and Martha.
"Did you bring it?" the Doctor asked Martha.
Martha tapped her pocket. "Yes, Doctor." She looked at him seriously. "Are you sure?"
The Doctor looked grim and pointed to the sky. "She is using all of her energy to open that tear." He nodded, "I just found her; I'm not going to lose her now." He held out his hand to Martha. "Give me the syringe."
For a moment, Martha hesitated, then reached into her pocket and handed it over. The Doctor took it, flicked his finger to check it, and then satisfied, he tucked it in his pocket. "Come on," he said to Donna and Martha, "we need to rejoin Jack." He and Martha started off, but the Doctor was stopped by Donna's hand. "Doctor, I need a word."
The Doctor stopped and turned to stare at her. "Donna, we don't have time for this."
Donna crossed her arms and glared at the Doctor. He sighed. Despite the chaos around them, he knew that if he did not stop and hear Donna out; she would make his life even more difficult. Swallowing his pride, he walked over and hung his shoulders. Seeing that she had him beaten, Donna gently grabbed the Doctor's hand and held it.
"Look," she began, "we did not travel together for a long time, but I feel I know you well enough." She cocked her head and smiled at him. "I know how badly you need a companion. Someone who won't die. Someone who will live with you forever . . ."
A sudden explosion turned their attention toward Thor Hill. Emily attached to the machine had opened the tear and ships came through the tear and began firing under Jack's command. In the last five years, Jack had been coordinating with the armed services concerning all possible scenarios, and like George, he had been working with Blackberry to create a phone service that could work in parallel worlds. Jack, as he told them during the teleport, was counting on his wife to create a machine and then use her power to program it. "I known since she was a baby that she had that power," said Jack, "Emily figured it out when she went to Harvard, and she's fought hard to deny it."
"Why?" asked Donna. "Why would she want to deny that power?"
"She didn't know how to control it," said Jack, "and without someone to guide it, she found that power frightening and isolating." He sighed. "After the baby died, she threw herself into her work and found a use for her power." He looked at the Doctor. "Emily doesn't care if she lives or dies." He shook his head. "You need to convince her otherwise."
The Doctor looked grimly at Donna, but said nothing. Turning his attention to Jack, he asked, "Now what?"
"Now," said Jack, "We go and meet the army."
While chaos flew overhead, Donna, the Doctor, Jack and Martha ran toward Thor Hill.
Thor Hill
George, Sherri and Frank managed to close the tear behind the army. George and Sherri managed to detach Emily from the machine and with Frank carrying Emily, the four of them ran down the hillside for cover. Halfway down, they were met by three Daleks. Sherri and George pointed their Blackberry's and fired. Two Daleks were destroyed, but the third Dalek managed to deflect the fired rays and the machine moved forward. It was soon joined by two other Daleks. Sherri and George fired again, but their rays were deflected. The Daleks had apparently been carefully planning for this time too. One Dalek rolled toward Frank and extended its arms.
"Give us the woman" it demanded. "She is a time lord."
"No!" shouted Frank. "You can't take her."
"You have no choice in this!" shouted the Dalek in return. All three Daleks opened fire.
"No!" shouted a voice that appeared to be running.
Frank, Sherri and George all collapsed as they were fired upon. One of the Daleks rolled up and tried to pick up Emily, but suddenly its circuitry went haywire. The other two Daleks rolled around and saw the Doctor running up with Jack, Donna and Martha.
"The Doctor!" shouted one of the Daleks. "Our greatest enemy!"
The Daleks were getting ready to open fire when a British air ship flew overhead. Using a focused laser, it destroyed the two Daleks. With a sweep of the area, the hovering Daleks beat a retreat into space. While Jack and the Doctor checked Emily, Martha and Donna checked Frank, Sherri and George. Martha and Donna looked at each other sadly. Emily's team, her three closest friends and students, were dead. Walking over, Martha and Donna sat with Jack and the Doctor to check on Emily. The energy from her body was dissipating. The Doctor looked at his three companions. "She's dying." He reached into his coat pocket and grabbed the syringe. Feeling on Emily's neck for her carotid artery, the Doctor poised it and was about to put it in when Jack grabbed his arm.
"What is that?" he asked.
"Recombined DNA." he replied. "My DNA combined with her existing DNA will make her . . ."
"Like you" replied Jack heavily. He looked at the Doctor for a moment, then released his arm.
"Doctor" began Donna.
"Donna," he snapped, "this has to be done or she will die!"
"It know," she said softly, "but it's wrong." She looked over at Martha. "Back me up here."
Martha stared directly at the Doctor as she spoke. "The Doctor is doing what he feels is best."
With that, the Doctor pushed the needle into Emily's artery. Using his thumb, he pushed the plunger and the recombined DNA into her body. Taking the needle out, the Doctor put his palm on her neck and waited. Emily's body continued to dissipate energy and grow colder, but nothing appeared to be happening. Suddenly, Emily's body convulsed and the last bit of energy disappeared. The Doctor who still had his hand on her neck felt her pulse die. He sat back and looked over at Jack.
"She's gone" he said.
Jack pulled Emily's body into his lap and held her while he cried. Donna looked questioningly at Martha who gestured for her friend to come over. They walked off a little ways down the hill. Meanwhile, teams of army officers came up to the party while British air ships continued to drive the Daleks back into space.
Uffington, England
3 days later
The Doctor and Jack led the funeral procession up the hill. Jack held an urn while the Doctor strolled quietly along side him. They were followed by Martha, Donna and several of Emily's colleagues and friends. Upon reaching the top of the hill, the group gathered. Friends and colleagues shared remembrances, while Jack sang one of Emily's favorite songs. Donna and Martha both cried while the Doctor stood stone-faced. Jack turned and released Emily's ashes into the air. Then the group turned and headed down the hill. The Doctor stood still as if he were in a trance. Then he called to Martha.
"Martha," he called, "could we have a word?"
Martha turned and walked back up the hill. She and the Doctor stared at each other for a moment. Martha sighed and bit her lip. "You figured it out, didn't you?"
"There was nothing in that plunger was there?" said the Doctor.
"No," said Martha, "it was a placebo."
"Why?" he demanded angrily. "you knew how much I needed her."
"Exactly," responded Martha, "it is always about you." She crossed her arms and glared at him. "Did you ever stop to think about what she needed or wanted?" Martha cocked her head to one side. "Did you even think to ask?"
With his anger deflating, the Doctor stared at the ground. "There was no time."
"There never is with you," said Martha, "kind of ironic, really, since you are a time lord."
The Doctor stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared out over the hills. "I'm alone again."
Martha walked up to him and linked her arm through his. "Doctor, you are never alone." The two started down the hill together. "You have us even if we die and decay." "You will always have companions and they can learn so much from you." She smiled at him. "Maybe that is your purpose in life."
Oxford, England
The Doctor walked over to the Tardis and ran his fingers over the old wood. No matter how many people he lost in his life, the Tardis remained his one constant. Maybe, he thought, the Tardis is his true love. Unlocking the door, the inside sprung to life. Staring at the computer screen, the Doctor looked for the Face of Boe, but there was no one there. After the funeral, all of his companions left: Jack returned to Torchwood, Martha to the Unit and her fiancée, Donna to her company and new boyfriend. It seemed to the Doctor that everyone moved on while he remained static. Sure, he traveled the universe through time and space, but that was all he ever did.
Well, he thought, there was no point in feeling sorry for himself.
The Doctor went to the controls when suddenly there was a rift that tore through the Tardis. A human form descended and landed inside the Tardis. Immediately, the Doctor ran over and turned her over. From there, he stumbled back in shock. It was Emily. She was dressed in military fatigues. Behind her in the rift, he could see a battle. Running over to the controls, he pulled the Tardis back and ran back to Emily. She looked him as though he was a stranger.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
"I'm the Doctor" he said breathlessly. "And you?"
"Lt. Emily Smith, second commander of the 455th battalion," she said breathlessly as she stood up.
"What battle?" he asked.
She looked at him strangely. "World War Three in 2125." She looked around the box. "How do I get out of here?"
The Doctor pointed to the door. "That way."
Emily started out the door and then stopped. "You're a doctor?" He nodded. "Are you up to an adventure, because I could use your help."
"Yes," said the Doctor grinning. "I'd love to help."
"Just so you know" said Emily as she opened the door to the sounds of battle. "there is an awful lot of running to do."
The Doctor just grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way."