War on Felspoon

"Ready?"

"Aren't I always?" Rose asked, tugging on her jacket with a smile on her face.

"Yes. Ooh, new alien planet. Well, for you anyway. I've been to Felspoon before. About, oh, four hundred years ago? Give or take a hundred," the Doctor rambled, bustling about the console. "It was good. I liked it. It was teeming down with rain the whole time, though. Pity that. It never normally rains in Felspoon; it's a very dry planet. Most of the time, anyway. I do have to admit they eat some pretty weird stuff."

Rose just nodded.

"Well, don't just stand there like your mother's slapped you! Let's go!" the Doctor yelled, running to the doors grabbing Rose's hand on the way. Rose rolled her eyes at the sly comment to her mother, but nevertheless allowed the Doctor to lead her outside.

"As long as it's not raining…" Rose said, opening the doors tentatively.

"Oh, for the love of God!" the Doctor said, pushing her out the doors … and into pouring rain.

"I hate you, you know that?" Rose joked, trying in vain to protect her hair from the relentless bad weather. It was so bad that Rose couldn't see five feet in front of her. "What is this, monsoon season? I can't see a thing!"

"You haven't been eating your carrots, Rose Tyler," the Doctor said mockingly, waving a finger in front of her face. "Five a day keeps the doctor away," he sang, before realizing what he'd sang. "Ah, well. Never mind," he said, and Rose laughed, patting him on the arm in what she hoped was a sympathetic way.

"Can we just get out of the rain? You said it was going to be hot! First, rain in London, then rain in Felspoon!" Rose said, sighing.

"We could go back in the TARDIS," the Doctor suggested.

"Nah. You promised me an alien planet, and I'm gonna get an alien planet, even if it kills me!" Rose replied, tongue in cheek.

"There's a building over there," the Doctor said, pointing slightly to his left; all Rose could see was grey. "Let's try that then," He grabbed her hand and dragged her to the building that only came into view when they were less than a metre away from the front door. The Doctor raised a fist and banged hard on the door, loud enough to be heard over the thundering rain.

The door opened a fraction, and a voice rang out. "Why are you outside in that rain?" The door opened a bit more and the Doctor and Rose slipped in the building.

They looked up to find their saviour. The creature was basically human in shape, apart from the fact they had bright blue skin, were bald, and their eyelashes were bright red with red-orange eyes. The room in which they found themselves in was small and rather dingy, with a small lamp lit by something akin to oil.

"I'm Japrax," the creature introduced himself. "And why, may I ask, were two intelligent people such as yourselves outside?"

"I'm the Doctor, and this is Rose," the Doctor said as Rose nodded, "and we're travellers, just come here by accident. We didn't realise it was raining quite so heavily until we got here. Home's a long way off," he finished, not telling them their home was actually a mile away.

"Well, you may stay here for as long as you need, Doctor and Rose," Japrax said, nodding at the couple.

"Thanks," Rose said gratefully, as Japrax led them into a larger and much brighter room. It was wide and circular in shape, with chairs dotted around a threaded rug. It was very much like a room you would find in your grandmother's house; warm, inviting and rather old-fashioned. A glowing fire at one end of the room was roaring and Rose could already feel herself getting drier.

"Bad weather, isn't it?" The Doctor said, for lack of something else to say. Japrax nodded.

"It's getting worse, though, everyday; the Fellissas are coming."

"Fellissas?" The Doctor asked, intrigued.

Again, Japrax nodded. "They want to overthrow the Felspoon Government. They're vicious, angry things. All carrying weapons, trained to kill. Even the children."

Rose stared at Japrax. "Doesn't sound much different from Earth," she said, and the Doctor raised an eyebrow at her. "They hire children soldiers in places like Sudan and the rebels there, they want to overthrow they government, don't they?"

The Doctor smiled. "I suppose you could compare it. But I think the weapons here are much, much more dangerous than the ones in Sudan."

Japrax looked confused. "Where exactly are you two from?"

"Earth," Rose answered, shivering slightly.

"Then the Doctor is right. Earth is a primitive country, with tiny weapons. Fellissa use lasers, mainly. And usually, if they are trying to wipe out a whole country, atomic bombs. They wiped out our neighbouring town, Johhan. My sister and her husband were killed instantly," Japrax said, hanging his head slightly.

"I'm sorry," Rose said, wrapping an arm around the alien in sympathy.

"No matter. It was a long time ago."

"How long, exactly?" The Doctor asked.

"Fifty-four years ago," Japrax said, as Rose itched her nose. The Doctor seemed quite shocked, and Japrax noticed. "Let me make you a warm drink, my friends. I have been rude!"

"What's wrong?" Rose said, looking at the Doctor with watery eyes.

"The war on Felspoon only lasts fifty-four years. We must be coming to the end of it now. We better get going soon," the Doctor whispered. "Historically, there is a massive bloodbath at the end of the war, much worse than in Sudan or any other country on Earth. Half of Felspoon is either killed or serious injured. The Felspoon Government hands over power to the Fellissa – who change their name, which is why I don't recognise it – and it turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to Felspoon. I was hoping to land after the bloodbath, and as per usual, I've landed right in the middle of it. Are you ok?" The ramble came to an abrupt end as the Doctor noticed Rose getting more teary-eyed.

"Yeah I'm –" Rose started, but ended with a massive sneeze.

"Oh god. You've got a cold. I'm so going to die," The Doctor said, looking slightly worried.

"Don't be so ridiculous. A bit of Beechams once we get back to the TARDIS and everything will be fine," Rose said.

"We better get back soon. I don't want to be on this planet much longer if I can help it," the Doctor said, grimly, as Japrax re-entered.

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