Note: as you can see in my writing, most of this is taking place from a 3rd person limited from Taal's POV. This chapter (and possibly the next few chapters) will be taking place from 3rd person limited from the Doctor's POV. You'll find out what's happened to Taal soon enough, but you'll have to wait.

Chapter 11 Hologram

The Doctor groggily came to. For a moment, he didn't know where he was. Then the events of the last day came rushing back to him.

"Taal!" he cried, sitting bolt upright. This was her bedroom, the computer still sitting humming on the desk. He slowly walked over to it, sitting down heavily on Taal's favorite swivel chair, and aimlessly ran his fingers over the keys on the laptop. He didn't expect anything to happen; after all, Taal always shut off and encrypted her laptop after every use, but the screen turned on and revealed an image of Taal, sitting almost exactly where the Doctor was now.

There was a thunking sound as she tapped the screen. "Is this thing on?" came her voice. She peered at the camera. "Doctor, I know you're there, listening. I figure that right now you're probably a little down in the dumps, because I've left the TARDIS for one reason or another, but you need to know why. This message is playing because in your hands you have a datachip recognized by this computer."

The Doctor looked up, and found himself clutching a small chip so hard that it had left little indents in his hand. "Yes." He said softly. "Is this a failsafe or something?"

Taal smiled on camera. "I gave you a moment there to look at the chip, now let's get to business. On that chip is a hologram from me explaining in more detail why I've left you behind on the TARDIS. This is very important, because one way or another, you really shouldn't go looking for me."

"This message is a failsafe so that you'd know what to do with the chip."

"Oh, so it is a failsafe, then." said the Doctor. "What am I supposed to do with it?"

"Right about now, you're probably wondering what to do with the chip. Well," said Taal, "on the console, near the panel that opens into the Heart of the TARDIS, is a small card slot. About a week after you took me on here, after you taught me how to fly this thing, you were busy in your study and you let me fly it on my own."

"I remember that." Whispered the Doctor. "I found the TARDIS spinning out of control and you unconscious on the floor!"

"Well, here's what happened. You had just finished telling me about the dangers of traveling with you in the TARDIS. And I began working on a failsafe, a message that would get to you in the event that I was killed or captured and in a situation too dangerous for you to come rescue me. Somehow, that panel opened up a little, and the TARDIS read my mind, that slot appeared, and I got knocked out somehow. So all you have to do is put that card in that slot, and I'll say my goodbyes."

Taal pressed her middle and index fingers to her lips. "I'm so sorry, Doctor, if this is the message you see. If I had my way, I would have left the TARDIS under my own power, not have gotten taken away from it. I never wanted you to see this, and I'm sorry. I'm really, very sorry."

The screen faded to black, and showed a single option. Play again?

"No." said the Doctor, closing the lid of the laptop. The screen went dark for what was probably the last time.

.oOo.

As the Doctor strode out of the bedroom towards the console room, he was stopped by Jack. "Doctor! Where's Taal? I was going to find you, and then I must have passed out or something."

"She's gone." The Doctor said in a hoarse whisper, grasping the datachip even tighter.

"What?" said Jack, looking at the Doctor's stricken face. "What do you mean, she's gone?"

The Doctor wordlessly held up the datachip. "She left a message for me on her laptop. She left, trying to save our lives." He sniffed slightly and rubbed his nose. "I think that I rubbed off a little too much on her."

Jack walked up to the Doctor. "But isn't that a good thing? She obviously cares about you, Doctor. Honor her final request. Use the chip."

The Doctor nodded, and walked as if he were sleepwalking over to the console. He plugged the chip into the console, and a full sized hologram of Taal appeared in the exact space that his hologram had spoken to Rose before she became Bad Wolf.

"If you are listening to this, Doctor, this means that I have given you datachip one-seven-three. This chip was designed to allow me to give you one last message before you make your choice. I have been either captured or have left the TARDIS against your will in order to save your, and whoever else is in the TARDIS at the time's lives. My message is this: run. Please, get out of here."

"Doctor, the only reason that I would have left the TARDIS just to very likely get myself into a situation where the best outcome is buying you some time at the cost of my life is to save yours. Please, don't make my decision worthless. Leave where ever you are as quickly as you possibly can."

Taal paused, her head sweeping back and forth until it seemed like she was staring right at the Doctor. "But you're probably wondering right now what I meant by listening to this message before you make your choice. Well, here's the choice. If you remove this chip at any time before this message has concluded, you'll be able to try and come and get me. But if you fail to save me, you'll never be able to hear my final words."

"Then what's the other choice?" said the Doctor, his hand resting lightly on the chip.

"The other choice is to leave the chip in the slot until the end. If you choose this, and I really hope you do, the TARDIS controls will lock you out and return the TARDIS to one of the safest spots available. It will bring it to the Cardiff rift, where you can meet up with your little buddies at Torchwood- don't think that I don't know who they are, you talk in your sleep when you've been stunned. The TARDIS will lock you out of this specific place and will not allow you to return within a five-year radius into the future."

"You need to make your choice, Doctor. You have one minute before my final words."

Jack looked at the Doctor. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "Honor her final request or be so very you and go save her."

"What's that quote again? 'To thine own self be true?'" He smiled, and looked back at the hologram.

"Time's up. Doctor, I'd like you to know that-" then she fizzled out.

"I'm going to save her. If they think that we're Death Eaters…" he looked at Jack.

Jack pulled his gun out of his pocket, and rolled up his sleeve to reveal his Vortex Manipulator. "Let's give 'em hell." He said grimly.

The Doctor looked at Jack, and placed his hand on the Manipulator. "For Taal."

"For Taal."

There was a flash of light as the Time Vortex ripped a hole in space around them, and they vanished.

Dramatic, huh? I always wanted to do something like this, have the roles of Rose and the Doctor in Doomsday and The Parting of the Ways reversed. So, what should happen next? I'm on the fence about killing off Taal (Jack will definitely die once or twice, don't worry about that), and your opinions will change what happens! Should Taal live or die?

And once again, thanks to all who reviewed (The10thDoctorRocks, deeforever, LordDalakMort, NoodleGurl27, KyokoHonda49, darkikill, KyokoHonda49 again, and 10Whovian). Please let me know what you think and remember, Taal's fate is in your hands!