AN: Hey guys! Got another chapter for you! I appreciate all of your reviews, so please enjoy!

Chapter 18

As we continued down the hallway, I thought about the upcoming events. Let's see: right now, Rose should be calling Cassandra a "bitchy trampoline", the Doctor, Jabe, and I are going to investigate, and the Sun will burn the Earth to a crisp in less than 15 minutes.

"So tell me Jabe," the Doctor was saying. "What's a tree like you doing in a place like this. Jabe was still flirting with the Doctor, as much as a tree can, though a little more cautious. She did know who he was by now. She bowed her head graciously, answering, "Respect for the Earth." The Doctor tilted his head to me, signalling that I could have the next line. "Come on," I started. "Everyone on this platform's worth zillions." She seemed suspicious of me, I guess her scanner did not reveal where I came from. "Well, perhaps it's a case of having to be seen at the right occasions."

The Doctor quickly retorted, "In case your share prices drop? I know you lot. You've got massive forests everywhere, roots everywhere, and there's always money in land." Jabe didn't look the least bit guilty. "All the same, we respect Earth as family. So many species evolved from that planet. Mankind is only one. I am another." She sighed, as if she was having a flashback.

"My ancestors were transplanted from the planet down below, and I'm a direct descendent of a tropical rainforest."

I snorted. Jabe didn't seem very… exotic. The Doctor, however, looked slightly impressed. We approached a panel on the wall. The Doctor held his finger up, saying, "Excuse me." I followed him as he discreetly searched the computer with his sonic. Jabe awkwardly stood off to the side while we worked. She eventually broke the silence. "And what about your ancestry, Doctor?"

I felt the Doctor tense up beside me, but he made no sound. Jabe didn't seem to notice. "Perhaps you could tell a story or two… perhaps a man only enjoys trouble when there's nothing else left…" Her voice trailed away. The Doctor was still silent, drowning himself in his examination of the computer system. Jabe could tell she was hitting a chink in the Doctor's invincible armor, and yet she pressed on.

"I scanned you earlier," she admitted. "You too," she gestured towards me. The metal machine had trouble identifying the species of you two, it refused to admit your existence, Doctor." A flash of pain crossed his face. She raised an eyebrow at me. "It couldn't identify you."

I gulped down the lump in my throat. "Maybe it was malfunctioning." She didn't look convinced. "I'm human, if you're wondering," I said, purely to try and quench her curiosity. It didn't seem to work, but she didn't argue. "Even when it named you, I wouldn't believe it," she continued, eyes training back on the Doctor. I couldn't believe this, could she not see how many bad memories she was bringing back to him? I placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't make any response, but he also didn't shrug it off. "But it was right."

He stopped scanning. There was no use keeping up the act. He didn't turn to face her, the emotions on his face too strong to show to anyone but his own demons, and me, because I understand. Not completely, but at least enough to know what is running through his mind.

"I know where you're from," she whispered, as if afraid to break the Doctor completely. "Forgive me for intruding, but it's remarkable you even exist." I understand she's a tree, but does she have any other emotions than respectfulness and curiosity? "I just want to say… how sorry I am," she finally finished. My hand has never left his shoulder, but now I let it drift to his arm.

He takes the hand not holding his sonic and covers mine. His hand is warm and calloused with small scars that are nearly microscopic. When I look up, there are small tears collecting in the corners of his eyes. He removes his hand, wipes his tear, and finishes scanning. I hesitantly remove my hand. He still hasn't spoken a word. I don't think anything can be said. He quickly straightens up, and I follow him into another hallway.

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(Rose P.O.V)

Rose storms out of the room after her infuriating conversation with Cassandra. The nerve of that stretchy bitch! She was so caught up in her hatred that she did not notice the Adherents of the Repeated Meme approaching her. When she turned around it was too late. She felt a clunk, and the world dissolved into darkness.

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As we entered the engine room, I realized just how enormous it was. The room had to be at least 50 feet wide and 80 feet long. The gigantic fans took up ¾ of the catwalk that spanned the length of the area. I whistled slowly. "Is it me, or is it a bit nippy?" the Doctor commented, sounding very British.

I shrug, answering, "They have one hell of an air conditioning unit…" I trail away, eventually adding, "A bit retro if you ask me." The Doctor just hums in annoyment and quickly turns to a panel, scanning it with his screwdriver. "Gotcha!" He cried after a minute. No sooner had he yanked the metal covering off when a metal spider scuttled out as fast as lightning. He started to climb expertly up the metal wall. "What the hell's that?" the Doctor exclaimed, startled.

"Is it part of the retro?" Jabe asked curiously. I snorted at her phrasing. "I don't think so, hold on." The Doctor tried aiming at it with his sonic, but the creature was too fast. I smiled and counted down in my head, 3...2...1…. WHIP! Jabe's vine snapped out and wrapped around the spider, disabling it and bringing it right to the Doctor. "Talk about vine whip," I muttered under my breath. The Doctor's grin was infectious. "Hey, nice liana!" He complimented.

I swear all of her sap rose to her cheeks in an attempt to blush. "Thank you," she beamed. "We're not supposed to show them in public."

"Don't worry, we won't tell anyone," the Doctor confirmed, jabbing a thumb in my direction. "Now then," he continued, returning his attention to the still inactive metal insect lying on the ground. "Who's bringing their pets on board?" Cassandra, Cassandra, Cassandra! I wanted to scream it, but I knew that I had to let the Doctor figure this out. I think he could see the restrain I was putting on myself to not tell him. He sent a silent thank you in my direction. He enjoyed the mystery of it all as much as the satisfaction of discovering who the villain was. "What does it do?" Jabe said, clearing her throat. The Doctor looked my way as both whispered,

"Sabotage."