Chapter 18
"Do I look like a secretary?" Rose spun in front of Donna. The TARDIS had accommodated her with black slacks and a maroon blouse; she'd forgone the black heels in favor of the more comfortable converse, she wanted to be prepared in case they had to run.
"You look smashing." Donna smiled. Rose straightened her shirt and scrunched her nose.
"I'd forgotten how much I hated this. We used to dress like this all the time on Pete's world, we were always going to dinners and press conferences." she stared at the walls of the TARDIS, her mind roving thousands of miles away. "Mum loved it, it was a dream come true for her." She pressed her lips together and looked back at Donna. "Sorry." Donna chuckled and shook her head.
"Don't be, heaven knows I'm used to it thanks to him." she laid a hand on her arm. "If you ever need someone to talk to, let me know." she smiled faintly at her and Rose smiled back.
"Thank you Donna, I may take you up on that sometime." Rose stepped forward and hugged her. "Come on, lets go make sure he isn't burning the kitchen down." she led the way out of the wardrobe and into the expansive kitchen. Jack and Gwen sat at the table looking amused as they walked in. The Doctor was setting plates of eggs and bacon on the table, as well as a large stack of fairly burnt toast. Rose let out an exasperated sigh.
"How many times do I have to remind you that not everyone likes their toast rock-hard?" she teased sitting down. He scowled playfully at her, giving her a mug.
"I can't help that I make it the right way." he retorted. Donna smirked and picked up a slice, twisting it in her hand to survey it.
"He's getting better, it's not completely black." she commented. He sent a prideful grin to Rose before pulling the kettle off the stove and sitting beside her.
"Voila! Breakfast and a proper cuppa." he waved his hand at the spread on the table. He was rather pleased with himself, he'd managed to cook something that didn't involve any strange alien food and he hadn't drastically botched it. Donna didn't look so sure and sat down hesitantly.
"Oh come on, have a little more faith. He used to cook for us all the time, didn't he Rose?" Jack said in an attempt to reassure her. Rose nodded vigorously, looking mischievously at the Doctor.
"Oh yes, he was so good we had banana creme pie for three weeks in a row." she chuckled.
"Oi, it's not my fault pounds don't translate properly on Vagara!" he looked at Jack. "The look on your face though, when you saw all the bananas!" he and Rose burst into laughter. Gwen smiled uncomfortably and looked at Donna who just shrugged.
"I've learned to just laugh with them, there are somethings we may never understand." she said feigning seriousness.
"Speaking of understanding, where's Owen and River?" Jack asked. "Has anyone seen them this morning?"
"If I know Owen, they'll both be late. Safe and probably slightly rumpled but fine." Gwen commented as she drank her tea.
"Well hurry up, we've got places to be," The Doctor gulped his tea and looked at Rose. "You ready?" She grinned.
"Yeah."
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The office of Cage Enmity was sterile and clean, devoid of any clutter or knick knacks. Several bookshelves were filled with large volumes of encyclopedias and novels, and a large desk graced the center of the room with several chairs. The Doctor directed Rose to sit down while he circled the room.
"What do you notice that's odd?" he asked, pausing at the window that overlooked the street. Rose frowned.
"Well he doesn't have a secretary," she began. She stared at the desk, an idea coming to her. "Theres no dust or plants. Everythings bare, like he just moved in." The Doctor shoved his hands in his pockets and stood by her chair, his eyes still roving the room, just as a rather portly looking man rushed in. Sweat sprinkled down his balding head and his suit was rumpled.
"Hello! You must be Mr. Robinson!" The Doctor greeted cheerily holding out his hand. Mr. Robinson stared at him wide eyed.
"Bill, please call me Bill." he uttered hastily, ignoring the Doctor's hand and rushing to his desk. He sat behind it and began to open drawers, keeping his eyes on them. "What can I do for you? I was told you're from marketing."
"Marketing, yes! That's us, I'm John Smith and this is Miss Tyler, my secretary. We're looking for new companies to help...market, and we were interested in yours." The Doctor grinned disarmingly, taking note of the flecks of gold on the man's cuffs.
"How did you hear about this?" Bill looked slightly alarmed, and he paused shuffling through his drawers to train his focus on them. "I don't want a lot of advertisement, that isn't what this is about."
"Then what is this about?" The Doctor straightened to his full height. "I've got evidence that you have a machine, one that could completely alter the human race." Bill pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his brow.
"How'd you know about that?" his eyes narrowed and his voice became fierce. "That's top secret information."
"We've got connections in very high places." Rose commented.
"And one of those connections would be willing to buy out this, machine of yours for a very high price." The Doctor added, looking to Rose for confirmation. She nodded curtly, trying not to smile at him.
"You're not marketers, are you?" Bill stood up and scowled. "Get out, I don't know who you are or what you want but get out."
"We just want to help, whatever your doing, its dangerous. You're putting the whole of the human race in jeopardy." The Doctor took a step forward, looking serious. Bill shook his head.
"We're saving the human race, we're leveling the playing field so Gettysburg and Amsterdam don't happen again. It's for our own good." Bill explained.
"You don't know what you're dealing with." The Doctor stated.
"What do you mean, 'level the playing field'?" Rose asked simultaneously, standing just behind the Doctor.
"We have specialists, they know what they're doing." Bill leaned forward across the desk. "Now get out."
"You're working for the Time Agency aren't you?" The Doctor took a step closer to the desk. Bill leaned back, his jaw dropping.
"How do you know of the Time Agency?"
"Connections." The Doctor replied sternly. Questions were being answered, only to present more questions. Rose was calm beside him and he reached out for her hand, his mind comforted by her presence. Bill looked around the room nervously.
"It's a pet project they have, it's why I am here, to protect it. I don't know why or who it's for. They don't tell us that, just that I have to make sure it's alive." He held a finger to his lips. "I didn't tell you that, you didn't hear it from me."
"Then listen to me Bill Robinson, stop. Stop feeding it, let it die, you don't know what they've created and what it could do. You have to stop." The Doctor leaned his hands the desk and watched the man with sympathy. He wrung his hands and shook his head.
"I can't, they won't let me, even if I managed to stop and leave, they'd find someone else to do it. I'm sorry I can't." he looked at the Doctor, fear chilling him to the bone. The Doctor stood back, his grip on Rose's hand tightening.
"Then I'm going to have to stop it."