Everyone is attempting to hold on to various parts of the TARDIS as it continues its violent shaking. Rose has been knocked to the ground a few times, and just as she pulls herself up again, Donna is knocked to the floor. Martha has been attempting to steady herself since the TARDIS took off, and she seems to be finally losing her balance. Rose has no idea what is going on with the TARDIS, the console is continuously erupting into sparks, every time it does, Martha and Donna let out scream of surprise.
After being knocked to the ground for the third time, the Doctor helps her up, since she is the closest to him. His stare is dark and one of confusion. Clearly he doesn't understand what is happening either. He's attempting to regain control by pressing, twisting, hitting anything he can to gain the control back. It seems to be for naught. The TARDIS continues its shaking, without a seeming end. Rose's features change to one of concern, are they going somewhere?
'What the hell's it doing?' Donna demands, another shudder causes her to lose her balance and Rose reaches out her hand to steady her.
'The controls aren't working!' The Doctor informs her and he attempts to dictate the way in which the TARDIS will be handled. It makes no difference.
With a shake, Rose loses her footing and almost falls to the ground again, she manages to catch herself, but it causes her eyes to lock with something that has been carefully hidden. When she manages to pull herself up, she tugs the Doctor's hand and he turns to her.
'Look.' Rose points to the hand in the jar. It is bubbling wildly and she swallows. It still gives her an uneasy feeling; sometimes she swears that she can hear a beating. Like a heart, but she figures that she's only imagining things. It can't possibly be coming from that hand.
'What?' Donna inquires and Martha's attention is drawn to the hand as well.
'I don't know where we're going, but my old hand's very excited about it!' The Doctor informs them and Rose watches Donna's expression change from one that was mildly curious, to one of complete horror and shock. She pales a bit at the answer. Martha doesn't do much better; her gaze is darting from the hand, to the Doctor, to his hands, since he has two. So, where did the third come from? She appears to want an explanation, but it's Donna who speaks first.
'I thought that was just some freaky alien thing! You're telling me it's yours?!' Donna cries and she looks down at the hand again. Sure she'd seen in left in that jar under the console, but she hadn't actually thought it was the Doctor's. In truth it just appeared to be a hand, certainly not one that had previously been attached. And whose owner apparently still has two.
'Well…' The Doctor trails off.
'It um…it got cut off…a while back. And, he grew another one.' Rose informs them, her voice is rather quiet. So quiet amongst the chaos, that Martha and Donna have to strain their listening to hear her.
'You are impossible!' Donna states firmly and the Doctor rubs the back of his head in an attempt to explain it away.
'Not impossible…just a bit…unlikely.'
Rose wonders why he left of the part of regeneration; then again, it was probably a good choice on his part. Not a very good idea to overload Martha and Donna with that type of information. She hopes they never have to witness it, it was scary the first time she had. To lose someone she had grown so fond of, so close to, and then having a stranger amongst her…she was confused. Of course, now, stranger wasn't a word she'd ever use with him. She couldn't, it didn't fit him. Rose steals another quick look at him, how is it possible that wit the utterance of one word to her, her entire world was reshaped. With one simple word.
The TARDIS gives another rebellious shake, clearly not liking that the Doctor was continuing to intervene. That shock sent Donna and Martha onto their sides, Rose on backside and the Doctor stumbling backward until he lands in the console chair. Together, they exchange looks, and all is silent now. The TARDIS appears to have landed at their destination, wherever that was.
In mere seconds, the Doctor is on his feet; pulling Rose up by her arm and dragging her down the ramp. They linger at the door for moments, only so the Doctor can pull his coat on. They head outside.
Martha is to her feet first, and helps Donna up. She dusts herself off and straightens her attire. Martha frowns.
'Since when does he ever lose control like that?' Donna inquires and Martha shrugs.
'I didn't know he could. Of course, this is my first time actually leaving with him.'
'What? Really?' Donna finds that rather hard to swallow. She pictured the adventures she's had with the Doctor and Rose much the same as she's experienced. The thrill of the unknown, getting dirty, meeting wonderfully different people and of course, getting your heartstrings pulled at. After all, Rose told her of the adventure they had had together…but she never really told her how it all started. Maybe it wasn't in the way that Donna thought it had.
'Yeah, I mean, I met them both on Earth. And the second time…I called them back to Earth…' Martha stares at the open door. 'This is entirely new to me…and I can't wait! Martha Jones is on another planet!'
'You sound just like me, but come on. We can't let them have all the fun.' Donna replies and together they head out of the TARDIS.
They step out and see Rose and the Doctor, and they observe their confused faces. It doesn't take Martha and Donna to join their bewilderment. The Doctor looks around with curiosity, they appear to be in some kind of underground tunnel. It is poorly lit and the walls are moist with condensation. Rose kicks a piece of junk out her path with her foot. However, the tunnel is just littered with what appears to be junk and old equipment. Rose walks over to the Doctor and he turns to the little group.
'Why would the TARDIS bring us here?' The Doctor wondered aloud and Rose shrugged her shoulders.
'Oh, this bit I remember…and I love it.' Martha leans over to Donna and grins.
'I thought you wanted to go home?' Donna challenges, but she has a sly smile on her face. Martha presses her lips together and finds her features breaking out into a large smile.
'I know, but all the same…' Martha replies and together, the two of the turn to Rose and the Doctor. They are seemingly oblivious to their conversation; Rose and the Doctor are picking up random pieces of equipment and examining it. Abruptly, he licks his hands and looks off into the distance. Rose eyes him and Martha and Donna just blink at the strangeness they have been privy too.
'It's that feeling I used to get…when we had those few amazing adventures.' Martha recalls and Donna looks back to her.
'It's sort of like…like you swallowed a hamster?' Donna inquires and Martha nods. She missed that feeling, the unknown, of what lies around the corner. While she wants to go home, there are people who need her now; she had always wanted to travel with him, to experience his life. She'd gotten a taste for it, craved it and sought more. Now, she was finally getting her chance. And she was going to enjoy it. No matter what.
A loud noise turns everyone's attention to the source of it. There is the sound of heavy footsteps being heard as it echoes off the dank walls. The commotion continues to grow and Martha and Donna stand beside the Doctor and Rose. The unmistakeable sound of guns being cocked makes Rose hold her breath. Armed men are coming. It could get very dangerous very quickly.
Men pour out of a side alcove and advance towards the group, their guns pointed directly at them. Immediately, everyone takes a step back.
'Don't move, stay where you are! Drop your weapons!' A man instructs, it prompts the Doctor to take a step forward. He appears to be in charge of the soldiers.
'We're not armed! Look, no weapons.' The Doctor motions behind him. Rose, Martha and Donna have their hands up. 'Never any weapons. We're safe.'
Another man, who still has his gun aimed at the group, notices something. They might be useful after all. 'Look at their hands. They're clean.' The leader turns to them and nods his head deeply.
'All right, process them!' The leader shouts and the two accompanying men advance towards the group. 'Him first.' They set their sights on the Doctor and grab him. They drag him towards a strange looking machine.
'Oi, oi! What's wrong with clean hands?!' The Doctor loudly questions, but the men ignore him.
Rose begins to march forward, but the leader points his gun at her and Martha takes her wrist.
'What's going on?' Martha demands and Rose shakes her wrist free from Martha's grasp.
'Leave him alone!' Rose shouts but the leader continues to hold his gaze with Rose's. She finally breaks it and looks past him. She witnesses the men force the Doctor's hand into the odd machine and he lets out a yell in pain, the machine continues to whiz away, indicating it's doing its job. Rose tries to approach him, but the leader takes one forward.
'Something tell me this isn't about to check my blood pressure.' The Doctor lets out a yell of pain. Rose balls her fists.
'What are you doing to him?!' Rose demands an answer and the leader finally lowers his weapon at her, sliding the safety on.
'Everyone gets processed.' The man informs her, and eyes her. He's surprised that they don't know what's going on. Where could they possibly be from?
'Doctor…?' Rose calls over to him and he turns to her.
'It's taken a tissue sample,' He informs them. Martha blinks at that statement. Rose and Donna exchange concerned looks. 'Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!' Rose covers her mouth. 'And extrapolated it! Some kind of accelerator?' The Doctor wonders.
The machine finally lets him go and Rose rushes over to him. He begins to examine his hand and Rose stares at the larger machine next to the 'processor.'
'Are you okay?' Rose questions and takes his hand in hers. She frowns at the 'Y' shaped graze on his hand. She gingerly runs her fingers across it, he doesn't flinch away but he does stop her from continuing.
Martha and Donna eye the machine suspiciously and Rose and the Doctor join them as the machine begins to open.
'What on earth…? That's just…' The Doctor trails off and Rose covers her mouth as a petite blonde woman steps out from the machine. Smoke billows out from the machine and into the dank tunnels. Rose widens her eyes as the woman eyes the group; her curiosity evidently peaked as well.
'Arm yourself!' The leader states firmly and he hands the woman another gun, she handles it with natural grace and Rose tilts her head. How on earth did that woman know how to handle a gun…and where did she come from?
'Where did she come from?' Martha questions and the Doctor stares at the woman in disbelief.
'From me.' The Doctor informs them and Rose feels her mouth open.
'What?' Rose breathes and everyone watches as the woman is arming the gun. The Doctor turns to Rose. She can see he's completely shocked himself. But surely…he knows what's happened…
'From you?! How? Who is she?!' Donna cries, utterly bewildered at the events that just transpired.
The woman has finally finished prepping the weapon she is holding and looks up to them with a confident smile on her face.
'Hello dad!' She beams. Rose freezes at that statement…how is that even possible? Martha and Donna feel their mouths drop from the statement that the woman had just so nonchalantly said. What the hell is going on?
She joins the other soldiers, without a second thought, while the Doctor, Rose, Martha and Donna remain in the background unsure of what to do.
'You primed to take orders, ready to fight?' The leader questions and the woman nods her head.
'Instant mental download of all strategic and military protocols, sir. Generation Five Thousand soldier primed and in peak physical health,' She pauses and smiles confidently. 'Oh, I'm ready.'
Donna appears to be the first to recover from the shock. 'Did you say, daughter?' Donna clarifies and the Doctor nods deeply.
'Technically.' He folds his arms.
'Technically how?' Martha questions, Rose can't seem to find her voice. She just finds herself gaping as the woman continues to prime her weapon.
'Progenation. Reproduction from a single organism,' Donna crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. Right, he should explain it properly. He turns to Rose, she is just staring. 'It uh, means one parent is biological mother and father. You take a sample of diploid cells, split them into haploids, then recombine them in a different arrangement, and grow. Very quickly, apparently.' The Doctor looks back to the woman.
Her head snaps in the direction of another approaching noise. 'Something's coming!' She shouts and the other soldiers prime their weapons.
Odd creatures barrel down the tunnel, opening fire on the small group that is located there.
'It's the Hath!' The leader screams and the soldiers begin to shoot back. The two accompanying soldiers and brought down with relative ease by the Hath. Their group is dwindling.
'Get down!' The woman instructs and the little group takes a step back.
'We have to blow the tunnel! Get the detonator!' The leader screams and the woman does as she's instructed.
'I'm not detonating anything!' The Doctor firmly states.
While he's attempting to argue with the leader, a Hath gets a firm hold of Martha. She immediately begins to struggle and he forcibly moves her back to the other Hath. She can be of use to them. The woman is jumped by a Hath, which causes her to drop the detonator. She manages to shake herself from his grasp, kicking him in the process. She scoops up the detonator and Rose widens her eyes as Martha manages to pull the creature's hand away from her mouth.
'Rose! Doctor! Donna!' She screams.
'Blow that thing, blow the thing!' The leader instructs and the Doctor widens his eyes.
'Martha! No! Don't!' He screams, Rose starts to run towards the creatures in an attempt to get Martha back. The Doctor misses grabbing her wrist and doesn't see that the woman has pressed the detonator. The woman pulls the Doctor and Donna back to be shielded.
'Rose! Rose come back!' Donna tries to shout to her, but the explosion cuts her off and the shockwaves send Rose flying backwards and she lets out a cry of surprise. She lands on her back and debris shoots into the air, landing around everyone. The dust hasn't even settled, nor the debris finished skirting across the ground before the Doctor is on his feet and running towards Rose. All he can hear is a ringing in his ears, but he sets his sights on the Rose, lying in the middle of the tunnel, unmoving.
'Rose?! Rose?!' He kneels beside her, her head is lolled to one side, and her hair is covering a large portion of her face. He moves her hair and immediately spots a violent gash that is located on the left side of her forehead and runs down to meet her left eyebrow. Minor cuts and scrapes litter her face and hands. Dirt along with black grime has been rubbed into her face.
He hears Donna running towards him as well as the others gingerly draw closer to them. Donna drops to her knees and stares in disbelief. The Doctor gently attempts to rouse her by shaking her shoulders. It takes a few attempts before her eyes flutter open. She sees the Doctor and Donna staring down at her, concern and relief clearly evident in their features.
Rose suddenly remembers where she had been trying to go and she shoots up. A bit too fast, it clouds her vision and she presses her hand to her temple. All she can do is point to the wall with her free hand. The Doctor turns his attention to that and remembers. He gets to his feet and balls his fists. If anything had happened to Martha, they would pay.
Donna helps Rose to her feet and she smiles, Donna returns it, knowing that Rose's silent offering of gratitude needn't be spoken.
The Doctor rounds on the woman. 'You've sealed off the tunnel. Why did you do that?!' He shouts and Rose looks over. He needs to get a handle on that temper. Anger will not solve anything.
'They were trying to kill us!' The woman counters and is surprised she even needs to mention something like that. Why don't these people understand? Where are they from? They've no fight in them.
'But they've got my friend!' The Doctor yells and Rose breaks away from Donna's protectiveness and approaches the Doctor.
'Collateral damage,' The woman informs them, her tone is rather cold. It provokes Donna. 'At least you still have the two of them, he lost both his men,' She points to the leader. 'I'd say you came out ahead.'
'Her name is Martha, you understand?' Rose intercepts, her tone is firm and Donna marches towards the woman.
'And she is not collateral damage, not for anyone!' Donna shouts. 'Have you got that, GI Jane?' Donna spat and the woman looks away. She is unaccustomed to such an angry tone.
'We're going to find her.' The Doctor states simply. He takes Rose's hand in his own and Donna rounds to follow them.
'You're not going anywhere,' The leader informs them and he aims his gun at them. 'You lot don't make sense. No guns, no marks, and no fight in you…I'm taking you to General Cobb. Now, move.' The leader motions for them to start moving.
Reluctantly, they begin to move. Rose turns over her shoulder and stares meaningfully at the now blocked tunnel. She inhales deeply and hopes with her all that Martha is alive and okay. They'd just meet with the Cobb person and then they could go looking for her.
The Doctor stops when he notices Rose is starting to fall behind, she's looking at that wall with such a deep stare and he knows why. She wants to find Martha. Every second they lose, something bad may have happened. He reaches back for her hand and she accepts it. Holding it very tightly. He stops and reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handkerchief. He carefully dabs the cut on Rose and she smiles, wincing slightly has he hits a tender spot. It doesn't look serious, and he's thankful for that.
'Thank you.' Rose says quietly and he nods. Donna notices that they've stopped and she drops back to join them.
'How are you doing?' Donna questions and Rose shrugs.
'I'm okay. What I really feel like doing, is finding Martha.'
'We will. We'll meet this General Cobb and then we can go find her.' The Doctor states and the two of them nod.
'Keep up! Let's go, let's go!' The leader calls back. Rose shoots him a dirty look and the three of them fall into step with the other two soldiers. She takes one last look at the caved in tunnel, Martha is okay. She believes that, she has to be.
Martha awakens on the opposite side of the wall and presses her hand to her head. Everything hurts, her body aches. Something then hits her, it's awfully quiet. Where is she? She notices a large portion of the tunnel appears to have been blown out. And she's alone. She can't see the Doctor, Rose or Donna. Or those soldiers, she just remembers being taken by something called a Hath…
She hears a shuffling and her attention is drawn to a figure lying on the ground, clutching their arm. That definitely looks like the creature that had grabbed her. So, is that a Hath?
Martha gets to her feet, still a bit disorientated and walks towards him. She drops to her knees and puts her arm around the Hath's shoulder. He turns to her and she offers him a warm smile.
'Hold on, I've got you,' Martha helps the Hath into a sitting position. 'Is it your arm, yeah?' She motions to the one he is clutching. He gurgles, but Martha doesn't understand what that means. 'Is that a yes?' The Hath nods and she rolls up her sleeves. 'Let me examine it. Keep it still. Still, yeah?' The Hath attempts to move. 'No move!' Again the Hath nods. Martha does a preliminary check on the arm, but this is rather confusing. 'Half fish, half human, how am I supposed to know? Is that a shoulder?' Martha questions herself. 'Feels like a shoulder, I think it's dislocated.'
Without warning, several other Hath march in, their guns aimed at her. God, she is really getting sick of guns.
'I'm trying to help him!' Martha holds her hands up to show that she is unarmed. 'I am a doctor and he is my patient, and I'm not leaving him!' Martha firmly tells them and she turns back to the injured Hath. 'Now, this is gonna hurt. One, two, three!' Martha snaps the shoulder back into place. The Hath cock their guns at her, but the injured Hath explains to them that Martha was only helping him.
Martha watches intently at them and after the injured Hath is finished explaining the situation to them, the guns are lowered. 'Now, then, I'm Doctor Martha Jones. Who the hell are you?'
The Hath exchange looks and help Martha and the injured Hath to their feet, and begin to lead her deeper into the tunnels.
While the Doctor and Rose continue to distant themselves from the rest of the group, if ever so slightly. Donna however, attempts to bridge the gap. She feels like everyone got off on the wrong foot.
'I'm Donna, and that's Rose, what's your name?' Donna questions and the woman turns to her, a pensive look on her features.
'Don't know, it's not been assigned.' She states simply and Donna frowns.
'Well, if you don't know that, what do you know?'
'How to fight.' The woman replies.
'Nothing else?' Donna tries; she finds it hard to believe. That this woman knows only how to conduct battle tactics and nothing else more substantial.
'The machine must embed military history and tactics but no name. She's a generated anomaly.' The Doctor breaks in and Donna goes off into thought.
'Generated anomaly? Donna echoes. 'Jenny-rated. Well, what about that? Jenny!' Donna exclaims and Rose turns her gaze to the Doctor. He remains stoic, and she swallows. This has to be difficult for him…and is awaking long buried feelings of the past.
'Jenny. Yeah, I like that, Jenny.' Jenny smiles and Donna turns to the Doctor and Rose.
'What do you think, 'dad?'' Donna smirks.
'Donna…' Rose attempts to get her attention by clearing her throat. Donna turns to her and frowns at the look Rose is giving her. What is that look? It's like she's telling her to drop the subject. But why?
'Good as anything, I suppose.' The Doctor chimes in and Donna is struck by his monotone answer. What's wrong with him? Why is he acting so distant?
'Not what you'd call a natural parent, are you?' Donna challenges and Rose froze in her tracks. Oh, Donna, why? Rose bit her lip, unsure of what his reaction would be. Donna doesn't know…she doesn't…if she did, Rose was sure her tune would change…
'They stole a tissue sample at gunpoint and processed it; it's not what I call natural parentage. Rose, keep up.' The Doctor instructs, but his voice is filled with anger and hurt. Rose quickens her pace to keep up. Donna crosses her arms, that excuse won't fly with her. And Rose, what's up with her now? Does Rose know something that she doesn't?
'Rubbish! My friend Nerys father twins with a turkey baster, don't bother her.' Donna informs him and the Doctor's features darken.
'You can't extrapolate a relationship from a biological accident.' The Doctor states coldly and Rose can see he's remembering his own family, from a time so long ago now.
'Er, Child Support Agency can.' Donna states flatly and Rose closes her eyes. This entire situation must be so awkward for him. She can see the annoyance flash across his features the longer that Donna continues to push the subject.
'Look, just cause I share certain physiological traits with simian primates doesn't make me a monkey's uncle, does it?' The Doctor questions and before Donna can answer him, Jenny interrupts the conversation.
'I'm not a monkey! Or a child.' She states firmly. Rose feels a small smile break out.
The leader has stopped and it appears they have reached the human encampment. It is a huge underground room that might have been a theatre in another age. But it's fallen into decay; Rose studies it tensely and wonders what it looked like in its glory.
'So, where are we? What planet's this?' The Doctor questions and the leader turns to them.
'Messaline. Well, what's left of it.' He replies and leads them further into the encampment. He leaves them at the entrance and marches up to an older man and begins to converse with him. Occasionally pointing back to the little group.
'663-75 deceased. Generation 6671-Extinct. Generation 6672-46 deceased. Generation 6680-14 deceased. Generation…' A voice is reading out the casualties and Rose widens her eyes at the mass amount of deaths. Even Donna does a small twirl to place her surroundings and wonders what exactly this place is.
'But, this is a theatre!' Donna exclaims and her shock goes unnoticed.
'Maybe they're doing Miss Saigon.' The Doctor grins and Rose is glad to see he seems to have pulled himself out of those dark thoughts. An even better sign, he reaches for Rose's hand.
'It's almost like an underground city.' Rose breathes as she continues to study their surroundings.
'Maybe more like a town or a city.' Donna corrects and Rose nods.
'But why? What's the need?' Rose wonders and they witness the older man stride towards him. He looks perpetually angry and his features appear to be in a constant scowl.
'General Cobb, I presume?' The Doctor questions and Cobb studies them, looking them up and down.
'Found in the Western tunnels, I'm told, with no marks. There was an outbreak of pacifism in the Eastern Zone, three generations back, before we lost contact. Is that where you came from?' Cobb questions and the Doctor nods.
'Eastern Zone, that's us, yeah. Yeah. I'm the Doctor, this is Rose and Donna.' Rose and Donna offer a small wave.
'And I'm Jenny.' Jenny interjects and smiles brightly.
'Don't think you can infect us with your peacemaking. We're committed to the fight, to the very end.' Cobb states coldly.
'Well, that's all right, I can't stay anyway. I've gotta go and find my friend.' The Doctor replies.
'That's not possible, all movement is regulated. We're at war.' Cobb crosses his arms.
'Yes, I noticed. With the Hath. But tell me, cause we got a bit out of circulation, Eastern Zone and all that, who exactly are the Hath?'
Cobb gapes that them and then narrows his eyes. He doesn't trust these people; there is something wrong with them. They are not fighters, well, the blonde one maybe. She looks like she acquired those injuries through battle. She may be of use to them yet. And Jenny, well he can tell she's a fighter. A new generation has been created.
Martha studies her surroundings, the Hath have brought her to some kind of encampment. It's shoddy and flimsy at best, but it's home to the Hath. Martha looks around as the Hath begin to surround her. Feeling uneasy, Martha takes a step back but they don't appear to want to harm her, no, they seem delighted that they have encountered a non-hostile human.
One Hath reaches out to touch her, rather than recoiling from fear, Martha holds out her arm and the Hath gently strokes her arm. He turns to his brethren and without warning, all of the Hath begin to pet Martha. She smiles and is glad that their willingness to put aside the differences they have with the other humans allows them to be open-minded.
Once the petting had ended, Martha became serious. She needed to find her way out of this side of the tunnel.
'So, can you show me where I am?' She asks and the Hath nod their heads eagerly. They lead her to a central command post and bring forth a map. It is holographic and an area is illuminated before them. 'Right…so we're here?' Martha questions and the Hath nod their heads.
'Back at the dawn of this planet, these ancients halls were carved from the Earth. Our ancestors dreamt of a new beginning, a colony were human and Hath could work and live together.' Cobb informs them.
'Obviously that alliance collapsed. What happened?' Rose questions and Cobb turns to her.
'The dream simply died. Broken, along with Hath promises. They wanted it all for themselves. But those early pioneers, they fought back. They used the machines to produce soldiers instead of colonists, and began this battle for survival.' Cobb states and he crosses his arms.
'There nothing but earth outside, why's that? Why build everything underground?' Donna wonders and Cobb frowns at her.
'The surface is too dangerous.' Cobb doesn't understand how they don't know that. It's as if they are not from this planet. If they aren't from here, then where did they come from? And how did they manage to walk the surface of the planet?
'So, why go through the effort of building windows in the first place?' Rose questions, mostly to herself. Cobb doesn't answer her
'And what does this mean?' Donna points to a sequence of numbers that have been stamped into the wall. Rose frowns and she tries to make sense of them. But no plausible explanation comes to mind.
'The rites and symbols of our ancestors. They meanings…lost in time.' Cobb says quietly.
'How long's this war gone on for?' The Doctor wonders and Cobb stares off a bit.
'Longer than anyone can remember. Countless generations marked only by the dead.'
'What, fighting all this time?' Donna replies, what she actually wants is clarification. How are they fighting a war, when to her, it doesn't even sound like an appropriate reason to even start a war. The way Cobb was phrasing things; it was like he couldn't quite remember what had initially started the war.
'Because we must. Every child of the machine is born with this knowledge. It's our inheritance; it's all we know. How to fight. And how to die.' Jenny states coldly and Rose turns to the Doctor, who doesn't particularly like her answer.
Cobb directs them back into camp and leads to a projection of a holographic map. The entire surrounding area is rather large, there is a lot of ground that the humans and the Hath need to cover in order to gain a sense victory.
The Doctor is studying the map intensely. 'Does this show the entire city, including the Hath zones?' He looks over to Cobb.
'Yes. Why?'
'Well, it'll help us find Martha.' The Doctor states plainly.
'We've more important things to do,' The man who led them to Cobb informs them. 'The Progenation Machines are powered down for the night shift, but as soon as they're active, we could breed a whole platoon from you three.'
Donna's face contorts into one of disgust at the mere thought. 'I'm not having sons and daughters by some great big flippin' machine!' Realising what she's just said, she turns to Jenny. 'Sorry, no offense but you're not…well, I mean you're not real.'
'You're no better than him!' Jenny cries defensively and Rose feels her heart go out to her. It isn't her fault; she didn't ask for this but she needs to be accepted. 'I have a body, I have a mind, I have independent thought, how am I not real? What makes you better than me?' She challenges and Donna drops her gaze to the ground. Cobb smiles smugly.
'Well said, soldier. We need more like you if we're to find the Source.'
'Ooh, the Source, what's that then, what's a Source? I like a Source, what is it?' The Doctor inquires; a smile is on his features. Rose is glad that he seems to be focusing on something other than Jenny.
'The Breath of Life.' Cobb inwardly smiles. The entire reason for this war.
'And that would be…?' The Doctor trails off.
'In the beginning the great one breathed life into the universe. And then she looked at what she'd done, and she sighed.' Cobb explains.
'She? I like that.' Jenny smiles and turns to the rest of the group.
'So, that's essentially a creation story.' Rose surmises and crosses her arms. Cobb turns his attention to her and narrows his eyes at her ignorance.
'It's not a story. It's real. The sigh. From the beginning of time it was caught and kept as the Source. It was lost when the war started. But it's here, somewhere. Whoever holds the Source control the destiny of this planet.' Cobb continued to glare daggers at Rose throughout his story. The Doctor becomes excited, as he's discovered something about the holographic map. Myth or story, it seems unlikely that the Source is a tangible object. And so, he tuned out.
'Ah! I thought so! There a suppressed layer of information in this map, if I can just…' The Doctor trails off and he pulls out the Sonic Screwdriver, running it over the map and a new set of tunnels appear on the map. It draws everyone to it, as they study it with renewed interest.
'What is it, what's it mean?' Donna wonders and she turns to the Doctor.
'See? A whole complex of tunnels, hidden from sight.' The Doctor points to them.
'What do you think is down there?' Rose wonders aloud.
The extra set of tunnels as also appeared on Martha's side as well. The Hath look on with peaked curiosity.
'Hold on, look!' Martha exclaimed and she enthusiastically points to the map's additions. 'There a new map. There's a different set of tunnels!' She wonders what has happened that caused it to appear like that. The only logical conclusion is that the Doctor must be figuring things out from his side.
Cobb seems to ponder Rose's question deeply. 'That must be the lost temple. The Source will be inside. You've shown us the way! And look,' Cobb points to a location. 'We're closer than the Hath! It's ours!' Cobb declares, he can almost taste the victory.
Rose and the Doctor exchange looks, clearly this may be one thing they need to try and deter them from.
'I've never seen anyone so focused on this type of destruction…' Rose drops her voice and leans into the Doctor.
'I know. We need to try and shift the mentality.'
'Tell them to prepare to move out. We'll progenate new soldiers on the morning shift, and then we march. Once we reach the Temple, peace will be restored at long last.' Cobb instructs and men being to set about their tasks. The Doctor frowns at that last statement. It seems a bit contradictory.
'Um, call me old fashioned, but if you really wanted peace couldn't you just stop fighting?' He wondered and Cobb smirks.
'Only when we have the Source. It'll give us the power to erase every stinking Hath from the face of this planet!'
'Wait a minute! You're talking about committing genocide!' Rose cries and Cobb turns to her.
'A second ago it was peace in our time, now it's genocide!' The Doctor cuts in and Cobb merely shrugs his shoulders at their appalled reactions.
'For us, that means the same thing.' Cobb's reply is rather nonchalant.
'Then you need to get yourself a better dictionary. When you do, look up genocide. You'll see a little picture of me there and the caption will read 'Over my dead body!'' The Doctor states firmly. Cobb smiles at his rather ironic nature.
'And you're the one who showed us the path to victory,' Cobb challenges and his look becomes dark. 'But you can consider the irony from your prison cell. Cline, at arms!'
The man who had led them to this encampment and the first man they met in the tunnels springs to life and points his gun at Rose, the Doctor and Donna.
'Oi, oi, oi! All right! Cool the beans Rambo!' Donna shouts and Cline eyes them.
'Take them, I won't have the spreading treason,' Cobb instructs and a thought strikes him as he sees the blonde put her hand on the Doctor's back. 'And if you try anything, Doctor, I'll see that your woman dies first.'
He smirks as the Doctor's eyes dart between him and then the blonde woman. His gaze becomes dark and he eyes Cobb with an expression that he can't quite place.
'Come on, this way.' Cline instructs and Donna reluctantly starts to follow.
Rose starts to follow but then stops, she has a challenging expression on her face as she turns to Cobb. 'We're going to stop you, Cobb, just a heads up.' The Doctor grins at Rose's statement.
'I have an army and the breath of god on my side, what'll you have?' He questions them and the Doctor smirks.
'This.' He points to his head Cobb seems less than impressed.
'Lock them up and guard them.' Cobb informs him and Cline suddenly thinks of something.
'What about the new soldier?' Cline questions and Jenny steps forward. Cobb is furious that a new soldier has essentially been polluted. Anger wells inside of him and he pushes Jenny into Rose's arms. Rose wraps her arms protectively and glares daggers at Cobb.
'Can't trust her, she's from pacifist stock. Take them all!' Cobb yells and Cline begins to haul them away.
Martha stares in shock as the Hath begin to wave their weapons in the air, as if to celebrate the revelations that have been shown on this map.
'But I didn't do anything!' Martha insists. She doesn't want to be responsible for this. They could use this information to attack the humans. The Hath seem to understand that as well, for they continue to pat Martha on her back. 'I think I just started a war.'
She needs to attempt to stop them from this war. She'll do all she can.
Cline opens the door to the cell and the little group piles inside. Rose frowns as she studies the cell. Donna looks up to a bulkhead and notices the numbers have been imprinted on that bulkhead. But they are different now.
'Look, more numbers. They've gotta mean something.' Donna points and Rose turns to look up at them.
'I wonder what they mean, like is it a code?' Rose wonders and that has the Doctor's attention. He glances up briefly but shakes his head.
'Makes as much sense as the breath of life story.' He states and crosses his arms.
'You mean that it's not true?' Jenny asked, rather saddened and Rose turns to her.
'No, it's a myth, isn't it, Doctor?' Donna questions.
'Yes, but there could still be something real in that temple, something that's become a myth. A piece of technology, a weapon…'
'Oh good…' Rose trails off.
'So the Source could be a weapon and we've just given directions to Captain Nutjob?' Donna states, mildly annoyed.
'Sure seems that way.' Rose confirms and Donna rolls her eyes.
'Not good, is it?' Donna has a bit of a sigh in her voice.
'That's why we need to get out of here, find Martha and stop Cobb from slaughtering the Hath.' The Doctor informs them and he turns to see Jenny staring at him with a rather inquisitive look and a small smile on her face.
'What, what are you, what are you…what are you staring at?' He questions and Jenny looks him up and down.
'You keep insisting you're not a soldier. But look at you! Drawing up strategies like a proper general.' Jenny insists and the Doctor's face becomes one of shock.
'No, no, I'm trying to stop the fighting.' He replies, his tone adamant.
'Isn't every soldier?' Jenny counters and Rose feels a bit of a smile on her features. Oh, she's quite like him.
'Well, I suppose. But that's…that's technically…' The Doctor blinks. Why is he even defending himself from her? 'I haven't got time for this! Donna, give me your phone! Time for an upgrade!'
Donna hands him the phone and he takes out his screwdriver, running it rather quickly over the device.
'And now you've got a weapon!' Jenny cries, as if her point has been made.
'It's not a weapon.' The Doctor insists.
'But you're using it to fight back!' Jenny lets out a laugh. 'I'm gonna learn so much from you, you are such a soldier!'
'Rose, will you please tell her?' He pleads, and as Rose opens her mouth to answer him, Donna cuts her off. Rose can't get over their similarities, her ability to draw connections in such a quick manner, her remarks, she is him.
'Don't you drag Rose into your battles. She's left you speechless! This is brilliant, you keep on, Jenny!' Donna laughs.
The Doctor dials Martha's number and closes his eyes. This is not going well, why doesn't Donna just drop the subject? And Rose…she hasn't said much at all, what's she really thinking about?
'Doctor?' He opens his eyes at the sound of Martha's voice.
'Martha! You're alive!'
'Doctor! Oh, am I glad to hear your voice! Are you all right?'
Rose hugs Donna at her relief. 'I'm with Rose and Donna, we're fine. What about you?'
'And, and Jenny, she's fine too!' Donna breaks in and the Doctor turns to her, Donna nods her head and motions for him to inform Martha.
'Yes, all right,' He sighs, his voice quiet. 'And, and Jenny…that's the woman from the machine, the soldier, my daughter, except she isn't, she's, she's…anyway! Where are you?'
'I'm in the Hath camp. I'm okay, but something's going on. The Hath are all marching to some place that's appeared on this map thing.'
'Ohh, that's was me. If both armies are heading that way, there's going to be a bloodbath.' The Doctor states and Rose covers her mouth.
'What do you want me to do?'
'Just stay where you are, if you're safe, then don't move, do you hear?' He restates, he doesn't want to jeopardize her safety by having her move between the tunnels, what if she runs into Cobb with an army of Hath on her side…it won't end well.
'But I can help.'
The phone beeps and the connection breaks, the phone line becomes silent.
Cobb stares triumphantly at his soldiers that stand before him. They are so tantalisingly close he can almost taste it. Soon victory would come to them and they could restore the sought after peace by obliterating the Hath from existence.
'The doors that have been closed will be open to us now. The door to the Temple, to the Source, and to victory!' He exclaims and the soldiers cheer. 'Come the dawn cycle, we march.'
Their cheers and chants are loud and the sound travels to the cell where everyone is waiting. Rose's look becomes grave.
'It sounds like they're getting ready to move out.' Rose says.
'We have to get past that guard.' The Doctor states and Jenny smirks.
'I can deal with him.' She informs them confidently.
'No, no, no, no. You're not going anywhere.' The Doctor states and Jenny looks crestfallen, and then confused.
'What?'
'You belong here, with them.' His voice is cold and Donna crosses her arms at that statement. Who the hell does he think he is?
'She belongs with us. With you. She's your daughter!' Donna cries and Rose draws him close.
Wrapping her arms around his neck and whispers into his ear. 'Give her a chance…you owe that to her…' Rose steals a sideways glance a Jenny. 'She came from you…don't make the assumption that she is exactly as the others. She's quickly proving that she isn't. Benefit of the doubt…please…'
The Doctor closes his eyes at Rose's words. It's hard, it's hard to accept her, and he isn't sure he can. Those feelings, that instinct died. So long ago…he put everything associated with that in the past, and he doesn't want to go digging up those feelings again.
Donna watches them carefully, what's Rose saying? Is she making a difference in his decision? She must be, Donna can almost see him relax at her touch and he seems to sigh. Well, maybe he just needs an extra push. And she has just the action that can do it. When they pull away from each other, Donna approaches them with her arm outstretched.
'Have you got that stethoscope? Give it to me.' Donna demands and he fishes around in his pocket pulling it out and placing it in her hands.
Rose immediately knows exactly what she's going to do; she wonders what the outcome will be. Will he be more accepting then? Or continue to distance himself from her.
Donna walks towards Jenny who has a confused look on her face. 'What're you doing?' She questions but Donna holds up her hand.
'It's all right. Just hold still.' Donna places the stethoscope on Jenny's chest, first on the left and then on the right. Her gaze turns to Rose and she gives her the faintest smile.
Rose instantly knows the results and presses her lips together…amazed at the outcome and she hopes it will sway his decision, because he needs to accept her.
Donna fixates her look on the Doctor and he tilts his head. 'Come here. Listen. And then tell me where she belongs.'
Reluctantly, he draws closer and Donna hands him the stethoscope and he listens to the heartbeat on both sides. He steps back and stares at Jenny.
'Two hearts…' He replies quietly and he feels Rose join him, she slips her hand in his. When he looks at her she offers him an encouraging smile. It causes him to grip her hand tighter.
'Exactly.' Donna states.
'What's going on?' Jenny's eyes dart from Donna to Rose and the Doctor.
'Does that mean she's a…? What do you call a female Time Lord?' Donna wonders.
'What's a Time Lord?' Jenny questions and the Doctor turns to her.
'It's who I am. It's where I'm from.'
'And I'm from you.' Jenny states, excitement building in her that she has the chance to be something so much more than a soldier.
'You're an echo, that's all,' The Doctor states, his voice is devoid of emotion. Rose closes her eyes at his denial of her. 'A Time Lord is so much more. A sum of knowledge. A code. A shared history. A shared suffering,' He pauses slightly. 'Only it's gone now, all of it. Gone forever.'
Rose turns her gaze to the floor, remembering the pain he shared with her when they met, even now she wishes to take the pain away from him. Rose is roused from her thoughts as he draws her closer to him. He needs her support; he only wants her at the moment.
'What happened?' Jenny wonders and her voice is soft.
'There was a war.' The Doctor states and Jenny ponders for a moment.
'Like this one?'
The Doctor laughs at the absurdity of the comparison that this measly war is in anyway comparable to what he fought in. 'Bigger. Much bigger.'
'And you fought? And killed?' Jenny questions and places her hands on her hips.
'Yes.' His voice is dark.
'Then how are we different?' Jenny counters and Rose turns her gaze up to the Doctor. He remains stoic, but Rose can see the similarities. Maybe he sees too much of himself in her and that's why he wants to keep his distance. She has to make him see the good that this situation has brought him.
Martha watches as the last of the Hath have piled out the door. She's alone now, except for the one Hath that has decided to remain behind. She's just staring at the phone. She needs to charge it up; she needs to get into contact with him. She turns to the Hath, but he has his attention turned to the map.
'I need to charge it up, I need power do you understand?' Martha pleads and the Hath turns to her but then turns back down to the map.
Intrigued, Martha approaches him as he continues to fiddle with the controls until he manages to change the map into 3D. Martha gasps.
'There's even more! In 3D! Oh, you're a clever Hath!' Martha grins at him. A small area is illuminated and Martha frowns. 'So this is where everybody's headed? But look…those tunnels sort of zigzag. If I went up and over the surface, in a straight line, I'd get there first.' Martha surmises.
The Hath gurgles, as if to offer protest to her plan. Martha crosses her arms. 'Why not?'
He presses a button on the controls and he brings up a diagram. Martha leans in closer to study the details. It is slightly worrisome.
'Are these the readings of the surface?' Martha questions and the Hath nods. 'Well, it doesn't look too bad. Nitrogen and oxygen about 80:20, that's fine. Ozone levels are high. And some big radiation spikes. But as long as I'm not out there too long…' She speculates and the Hath gurgles again, forming a type of question. 'I need to find my friends.'
Martha runs off but she turns back to the gurgling of the Hath. She frowns; he seems to be asking if he can join her. Martha grins. 'Come on, then!'
Together they head for the door.
While the three of them seem to be arguing about how to get themselves out of the cell, Jenny has thought of a rather ingenious way. She strolls over to the cell's door and attempts to engage Cline in a conversation.
'Hey.' She smiles. Cline turns to her but then quickly looks away.
'I'm not supposed to talk to you, I'm on duty.' He informs her and Jenny offers him a crooked grin.
'I know, guarding me,' Her voice becomes sultry and she flings him a flirtatious smile. 'So, does that mean I'm dangerous? Or that I need protecting?'
'Protecting from what?' Cline questions and Jenny stands closer to the cell bars.
'Oh, I don't know…men like you?' Jenny reaches through the bars and pulls him down for a kiss. She covertly reaches for his gun that is still holstered. She takes a hold of his and points it at him. Shoving it into his stomach. 'Keep quiet and open the door.'
The Doctor, Donna and Rose stare at Jenny as Cline opens the door. It's Donna that recovers first.
'I'd like to see you try that!' Donna playfully hits him and leaves Rose and the Doctor alone as she approaches Jenny.
'Keep an open mind…' Rose reminds him and he begins to head towards the rest of them.
'I can't make that promise.' He states.
'I want you to try…for me…' She pleads and he gives her meaningful stare before he seems to relent.
'Fine…' He seems rather annoyed that she'd ask this of him, as he appears that he has already made up his mind.
He takes her hand and leads her to where Jenny and Donna are waiting. He pushes past them and directs them through the tunnels.
They descend a flight of stairs and the Doctor stops, and peeks around a corner, there is another guard. He turns back to the Rose and shakes his head, Jenny pushes her way forward and cocks the gun she's taken from Cline.
'Jenny, no!' Rose cries and puts her hand on the gun, forcing Jenny to lower it. It's Donna who makes her way to the front.
'Let me distract this one,' She states eagerly. 'I have picked up a few womanly wiles over the years.' Donna informs them and Rose stifles a giggle.
The Doctor eyes her and clears his throat. 'Let's…save your wiles for later. In case of emergency.' He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wind up mouse.
He winds it and releases it to distract the guard. It works and Jenny comes up behind him and knocks him out.
'I was gonna distract him, not clobber him!' The Doctor insisted and Jenny just shrugged.
'Well, it worked didn't it?'
The Doctor begins to think of something. 'They must all have a copy of that new map. Everyone just stay here. Jenny, don't hurt anyone.'
Martha and her new friend continue to head up the stairs but the Hath abruptly stops and he begins to protest her actions. She watches as the rest of the Hath begin to batter down a doorway. Martha and the Hath that has stayed with her continue to climb until they reach a hatch in the roof. She turns to him and places her hands on her hips.
'Look, you can stay down here and live your whole life in the shadows, or you can come with me and stand in the open air. Feel the wind on your face…' Martha describes and the Hath looks down. 'What's it gonna be?' The Hath seems to be undecided. 'It's up to you. But nothing's gonna stop me.'
Martha climbs up and out into the surface world. Movement behind her directs her attention back into the tunnel; she witnesses the Hath climbing out after her. Martha straightens up and takes in her surroundings.
They are standing on a desolate planet surface, it is cold, windy and there doesn't appear to be any signs of life here. The beauty of it, the planet is illuminated by three moon.
'I knew you couldn't resist.' Martha turns to the Hath and grins, he in return, gurgles his answer. 'Er…language! Come on!' Martha takes the Hath's hand and they take off running.
Cobb runs up to the cell where they have left the Doctor and his companions, along with the new soldier. They are gone and in their place they have left Cline inside the cell, tied up.
'It was the girl. She tricked me, they…they got away. I'm sorry.'
'I waited all my life for this moment. No one's gonna get in my way. Certainly not this Doctor. At arms! We march! To war!' Cobb declares and he motions for the men to untie Cline.
Rose reaches down to the guard and picks up a map, she hands it over to the Doctor who begins to study it. Rose is looking with him, with Donna and Jenny in the background.
'Wait! This is it. The hidden tunnel. There must be a control panel.' He sonics the wall beside the locked door. Rose notices something else.
'Donna, look.' Rose points to another sequence of numbers.
'It's more of those numbers. They're everywhere.' Donna stares at them.
'The original builders must've left them. Some old cataloguing system.' The Doctor surmises and works on getting the tunnel open.
'You got a pen? Bit of paper?' Donna inquires.
'Yeah, Rose, left pocket.' The Doctor replies and Rose begins fishing around for them. She eventually finds them and passes them over to Donna. Jenny watches them fascinated.
'Look, the numbers are counting down. This one ends in 1-4, the prison cell said 1-6.'
'Why would they be counting down? Is it like the beginning of these tunnels?' Rose wonders and Donna shrugs.
'Always thinking, the three of you. Who are you people?' Jenny questions and the Doctor turns back to her.
'I told you. I'm the Doctor.'
'The Doctor? That's it?' Jenny repeats and he nods.
'That's all he ever says.' Donna confirms.
'So, you don't have a name either? Are you an anomaly too?' Jenny asks and the Doctor shakes his head.
'No.'
'Oh, come off it! You're the most anomalous bloke I've ever met!' Donna cries and Rose looks away. They just don't know him like she does.
'Here it is!' The Doctor takes off the cover of the control panel.
'And Time Lords, what are they for exactly?' Jenny wonders and the Doctor rounds her, slightly offended.
'Well, Jenny, they are…' Rose attempts to explain before the Doctor cuts her off.
'They're not 'for' anything.' He states.
'So, what do you do?' Jenny asks.
'I travel. Through time and space.'
'Actually, he saves planets, rescues civilisations, defeats terrible creatures. And all with the help of his sidekicks, which is us. And we run a lot. Seriously, there's an outrageous amount of running involved.' Donna informs her and Rose laughs at the thought of being considered a sidekick.
The door has slide open and it draws everyone's attention to it. 'Got it!' The Doctor announces.
'Squad Five, with me!' Cobb's voice off in the distance begins to worry them
'Now, what were you saying about running?' The Doctor grins and takes Rose's hand, leading them through tunnel.
Red beams crossing the tunnel soon stop them, and it is blocking their way.
'That's not mood lighting, is it?' Donna frowns and the Doctor pulls out the little toy mouse. He throws it into the lights and it bursts into flames when it comes into contact with the beams.
'Mm, it doesn't look like it, Donna.' Rose sighs.
'Arming device.' The Doctor informs them. He runs to the controls, located in a blue box, and begins to fiddle with them. Donna turns her attention upwards and again spots the sequence of numbers.
'Rose, look up there. There are more of them. Always eight numbers, counting down, the closer we get…'
'What could they be counting down to?' Rose wonders.
'Here we go!' The Doctor calls to them.
'You better be quick!' Donna informs them.
'The General!' Jenny observes as she hears the voices of the soldiers drawing closer. She turns to run back but the Doctor catches her arm.
'Where are you going?'
'I can hold them up.' She replies but Rose shakes her head.
'Jenny, that's not an option.' Rose restates.
'We don't need any more dead.' The Doctor tells her.
'But it's them or us!' Jenny cries.
'It doesn't mean you have to kill them!' The Doctor raises his voice.
'I'm trying to save your lives!' Jenny retorts, her voice getting louder to match.
'Listen to me,' The Doctor lowers his voice. 'The killing, after a while, it infects you. And once it does you're never rid of it.'
'We don't have a choice.' She responds sadly.
'There's always a choice, Jenny.' Rose informs her and Jenny shakes her head.
'I'm sorry.' She runs off and Rose takes a step forward, wanting to chase after her.
'Jenny!' The Doctor yells, but she doesn't turn back. Rose clutches his arm as they watch her slowly disappear from their line of vision.
She continues to run until the first soldiers catch sight of her.
'There she is! At arms!' The soldiers prep their weapons and take aim at Jenny. She cocks her gun in return and open fire on the soldiers. The soldiers retaliate. The echoes of the gunfire float down to where the Doctor, Rose and Donna are still waiting.
Rose looks down the tunnel very concerned and Donna looks worried, but the Doctor is doing his best not to care. Rose told him to keep an open mind and he had. She told him that there was a possibility that she wasn't like them, but she was wrong. Rose was wrong, she's nothing like him. She was born to fight, that's all she knows how to do.
'I told you,' The Doctor turns to Donna. 'Nothing but a soldier.'
'She's trying to help.' Donna replied defensively.
'Believe in her…' Rose whispers to him but he shakes his head. And yet…Rose has a defiant look in her eyes. She's telling him not to give up on her…
Why is Rose so willing…? He can't deny her anything when she looks at him like that, he simply can't.
'Jenny! Come on!' The Doctor calls down the tunnels.
'I'm coming!' Her reply floats down to them.
'Cease-fire! Cease fire!' Cobb instructs and Rose balls her fists at the sound of his voice.
Jenny watches the soldiers stop firing and lower their weapons, she inwardly smirks but she keeps her gun poised.
The Doctor manages to turn off the red beams and Donna grins. 'That's it!' She praises.
'Jenny! We've got it!' Rose calls to her.
'Leave it, Jenny! Let's go!' The Doctor joins Rose in attempting to reach her. In seconds, he's gripped Rose's hand and spins her around, and taking a firm hold of Donna's hands they run through the corridor.
Cobb steps forward, trying to persuade Jenny to change her mind. She belongs to them; she is a born and bred fighter.
'You're a child of the machine,' Cobb reminds her and Jenny drops her gaze to the ground. Everyone keeps telling her that, but she's still a person. 'You're on my side. Join us! Join us in the war against the Hath. It's in your blood, girl. Don't deny it.'
Jenny defiantly looks into Cobb's eyes; she sees nothing but hatred and bloodshed if she chose to go with him. Jenny raises her gun at Cobb, but Rose's words echo in her mind. She does have a choice. She has had that freedom bestowed on her. And she likes that. Instead of adding to the dead, she shoots a pipeline above Cobb's head and a cloud of steam blocks the soldiers' view of her.
A wide grin spreads across her face and she laughs. She turns on her heel and runs to where the Doctor, Rose and Donna are waiting.
Rose and the Doctor nervously watch the corridor in hopes of catching sight of Jenny. Rose jumps for joy as she sees Jenny approaching; she extends her hand to her.
'Jenny! Come on!' Rose calls.
'Hurry up!' Donna shouts and watches Jenny pick up her pace.
Just as she reaches the corridor, the red beams appear again. Donna lets out a frustrated sound.
'No!' Rose cries.
'The circuit's looped back!' The Doctor calls to her.
'Zap it back again!' Donna shouts but Rose shakes her head.
'The controls are all the way back there!' Rose points and Donna squeezes her eyes shut in frustration.
'They're coming!' Jenny yells to them. The Doctor looks frantic and he paces trying to think of a solution.
'Wait! Just…just! There isn't! Jenny, I can't!'
Jenny closes her eyes and smiles to herself. 'I'll have to manage on my own,' Jenny says to herself. She looks at Rose and the Doctor, their faces are frantic. And Donna, trying to think of a way to get her over to them. 'Watch and learn, father!' Jenny calls to them.
Jenny takes a few steps back and inhales deeply. She throws her weapon down and takes a running leap at the beams, performing an impressive amount of somersaults as she catapults herself over the red beams.
She lands in front of them and smiles. Donna hugs her first. 'No way! But that was impossible!'
'Not impossible…' The Doctor starts.
'Just a bit unlikely!' Rose cries and grins.
The Doctor embraces Jenny tightly, Rose beams at the proud smile he has on his face. 'Brilliant! You were brilliant! Brilliant!'
Jenny pulls away from him and embraces Rose tightly. 'I didn't kill him. General Cobb, I could have killed him, but I didn't!' Jenny pulls away and smiles at Rose. She embraces her again. 'You were right, Rose. There's always a choice!' Rose keeps Jenny in a tight embrace as she looks up to the Doctor. She motions to Jenny with her eyes and the Doctor closes his. Without words, Rose has told him that it wasn't right for him to have doubted her, and he agreed with her. He shouldn't have.
The moment is broken when the soldiers arrive at the other opposite end of the corridor. The Doctor takes Rose by her hand and sends her off down the corridor with Jenny and Donna. The Doctor shoves his hands into his pockets and grins.
'At arms!' Cobb instructs when he sets his eyes on the Doctor.
'I warned you, Cobb. If the Source is a weapon, I'm gonna make sure you never use it.'
'One of us is going to die today and it won't be me.' Cobb states darkly and he ups his arm up. In seconds he's swiftly lowered it again and the soldiers open fire. The Doctor turns on his heels and takes off down the corridor.
The surface of this planet has been a lot harder than Martha realised. She and her friend, which she had managed to deduct that his name is Peck, are struggling to cross this barren terrain. She's immensely glad that she doesn't have to do this alone.
'It can't be much further.' Martha turns back to Peck and she smiles reassuringly to him. She doesn't turn her attention back to their path fast enough, and she ends up tripping.
Martha lets out a cry of surprise, Peck can't reach her fast enough and Martha slips down a rough hill. She lands in a bog. It's thick and soupy, Martha attempts to pull herself out, but it keeps her in her place. And she's sinking rather quickly.
'Help me! I'm sinking! I'm sinking!' Martha is beginning to get frantic. 'Help me! Peck! Help me! Help me, Peck! I'm sinking!'
Peck has slowly reached out his hand out to her, Martha stretches as far as she can, but the distance between them is far too wide. 'Oh it's no good! Ah!'
She can't help but fall into hysterics, what's she going to do? She widens her eyes as Peck straightens himself up and takes a running leap into the bog as well. Martha lets out a cry of surprise as he pushes out and onto the shore. Martha struggles to pull herself out and turns around horrified. Peck is unable to pull himself out now and Martha stretches out her hand. He can no longer reach her and she watches utterly shocked and frozen as he slowly disappears into the bog. Martha starts to breathe in short breaths as he sinks out of view.
'Oh no! No!' Martha screams at the top of her lungs. The bubbles eventually stop and she stares at the motionless surface. Tears flow freely down her face as she mourns her friend.
After time has passed, Martha gets to her feet and hastily wipes the tears from her face. She inhales and sets her jaw, her face becomes hardened and she is determined that his sacrifice will not be in vain. He will not be forgotten.
Jenny watches with a curious eye as the Doctor and Rose walk a few steps a head of them. They seem overtly affectionate, especially since Rose has just wrapped her right arm around the Doctor middle. She looks up to him and smiles, and he returns her gesture.
Jenny looks to Donna, who seems to be enjoying this little sign of affection between them. Maybe she can help Jenny understand the mystery surrounding them.
'So…you travel together, all of you…but you're not…'together?'' Jenny questions and Donna smirks.
'What? Us two? Oh god, no, no. We're friends only,' Donna shakes her head; she leans into Jenny and points to the Doctor and Rose. 'It's a different story for those two. They're so together. But shush, it's a secret. I mean, don't go telling the world. They're a different species, there's probably laws against it.'
Jenny begins to laugh and it causes Rose to turn around. She flashes Donna a crooked smile and winks at her.
'I like breaking laws…' Rose responds, Donna returns the mischievous grin.
'What laws do you like breaking?' The Doctor inquires, not having heard the conversation, and Rose shakes her head.
'Never mind, don't worry.' Rose reassures him.
'And what's it like, the travelling?' Jenny wonders and Donna gets a dreamy look on her face.
'Ah, never a dull moment. Can be terrifying, brilliant and funny, sometimes all at the same time. I've seen some amazing things though. Whole new worlds. And that's just me. Rose has been at this a lot longer than I have.'
'Really?' Jenny inquires and Rose turns back and nods. 'New worlds? Oh, I'd love to see new worlds.'
'You will. Won't see, Doctor?' Donna states.
'Hm?' The Doctor questions and glances back at Donna.
'Do you think Jenny will see any new worlds?' Donna restates.
The Doctor looks down at Rose, she has a wide smile on her face. 'I suppose so…' The Doctor returns it.
'You mean…you mean you'll take me with you?' Jenny breathes and Rose nods at her.
'Of course!' Rose exclaims.
'We can't leave you here, can we?' The Doctor adds. He's a bit taken back when Jenny rushes forward to hug him.
'Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! Come on! Let's get a move on!' Jenny pulls away and she takes off ahead.
'Careful, there might be traps!' The Doctor calls down to her.
Donna is grinning when she approaches Rose and the Doctor. 'Kids! They never listen!'
'Um, Donna…' Rose interjects. Donna looks at her, rather confused. It isn't until she turns her gaze to the Doctor. He still appears to be troubled. Ah, she understands, he's still adjusting.
'Oh, I know that look. See it a lot round our way. Blokes with pushchairs and frowns. You've got dad-shock.' Donna states, rather confidently.
'Dad-shock?' The Doctor echoes, confused by the term.
'Um, Donna, it really isn't that…' Rose attempts to have her drop the subject, but Donna waves her off.
'Sudden, unexpected fatherhood. Take a bit of getting used to.' Donna tries to reassure him. He'll get the hang of it, eventually. Donna has all the faith in the world he'll get it.
'No, it's not that.' The Doctor stares off and he, without realising it, has taken a hold of Rose's hand.
'Donna, please, it's not really that black and white…' Rose again tries to get her to move on and forget this. The last thing he wants to do is face that pain.
'Well, what is it then?' Donna crosses her arms and rolls her eyes. 'Having Jenny on the TARDIS, is that is? What's she gonna do, cramp your style? Like you've got a sports car and she's gonna turn it into a people-carrier?' Donna has a slight huff in her voice.
The Doctor turns to Rose and she just takes his hand. There she goes again, she knew right from the start how he felt about this situation. She offers him an encouraging smile. 'Go on…'
He turns to Donna, but feels he can't look her in the eye. He inhales a bit. 'Donna, I've been a father before.'
'What?' Donna stops and feels her mouth drop from the shock.
'I lost all that a long time ago. Along with everything else.' His voice is quiet as he explains it to Donna.
'I'm sorry…' Donna breathes. 'I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me? You talk all the time, but you don't say anything.'
'I know,' He agrees, Rose rubs the back of his hand with her thumb. How truly he needs her now. He needs her strength. 'I'm just…when I look at her now I can see them. The hole they left, all the pain that filled it. I just don't know if I can face that everyday…'
'It won't stay like that,' Donna promises. 'She'll help you. We both will. And I know Rose will.'
'But when they died, that part of me died with them. It'll never come back. Not now.'
'I'll tell you something, Doctor, something I've never told you before. I think you're wrong. And I bet Rose feels the same way.' Donna states and Rose ponders that. She doesn't have time to give her answer as the sound of shooting erupts.
Jenny comes sprinting down the corridor and stops in front of everyone. 'They've blasted through the beams, time to run again. Love the running, yeah?' Jenny beams and the Doctor finds himself sharing her smile, her enthusiasm.
'Love the running.' He agrees and takes Rose's hand.
He continues to lead them through the tunnels and he takes an abrupt right turn. They run a bit more until they have reached a dead end.
'We're trapped.' Donna observes and sighs.
'Can't be. This must be the Temple,' The Doctor touches a panel of the wall. 'This is a door.'
'Donna, look!' Rose points to the sequence of numbers that have followed them since the beginning.
'And again! We're down to 1-2 now…' Donna quickly scribbles the numbers down on the pad of paper.
'I've got it!' The Doctor cries.
'I can hear them!' Jenny replies and she carefully studies the corridor, hoping they won't be found.
'Nearly done.' He informs her and he continues to work.
'These can't be a cataloguing system.' Donna tells Rose.
'What else could they be, though? If they're counting down…what are they counting down to?' Rose ponders.
'They're getting closer!' Jenny continues to watch the advancing soldiers from around her corner.
'Then get back here!' The Doctor orders and Jenny sprints back to where they are holding up.
'Rose, they're too similar, too familiar.' Donna tries to remember where she's seen them.
'Was it on another planet?' Rose tries to think. But she doesn't remember where she's seen them. She can't recall.
'Now! Got it!' The Doctor shouts and the door opens.
Rose rushes in first, followed by Donna and then Jenny. They have made it to this Temple.
'They're coming! Close the door! Jenny cries and the Doctor rushes over to a keypad and pushes them in a sequential order. The door quickly shuts itself.
'We have to stop cutting things so close like that.' Rose observes but the Doctor simply grins and shrugs his shoulders.
'No fun otherwise.'
'Point taken.' Rose agrees.
Donna continues to study their surroundings, this is not some elusive temple, it can't be. 'It's not what I'd call a temple.' Donna states firmly.
'It looks more like…' Jenny starts before she's interrupted.
'Fusion drive transport. It's a spaceship!' The Doctor turns around and studies it closer.
'So, like the original one the first colonists used?' Rose questioned. So much of this isn't making sense.
'Well, it could be, but the power cells would have run down after all that time. This one's still powered up and functioning. Come on!' He dashes past Rose and takes her hand. Jenny and Donna follow suit and they continue to run until something catches their eye.
At another door, someone has begun to cut through it. It doesn't need to be said who it could be.
'It's the Hath! That door's not gonna last much longer. And if General Cobb get through down there, war's gonna break out.' Jenny predicts and Rose closes her eyes at the bloodshed that could potentially happen if the two sides were to meet.
The Doctor notices something and dashes up to another level of the ship. Rose frowns and walks towards him.
'Oh, look, look, look, look, look! Ship's log!'
'What's it say?' Rose wonders.
"First wave of Human/Hath co-colonisation of planet Messaline.'' The Doctor reads and he scrolls down a bit further.
'So it is the original ship.' Jenny states and Donna frowns. What caused it to go sideways?
'What happened?' Donna questions and the Doctor's face knits into one of deep thought as he catches an interesting log entry.
"Phase one. Construction.' They used robot drones to build the city.' The Doctor informs them and Rose presses her lips together in thought.
'What caused the war?' Rose asked and the Doctor scrolls through the log book some more.
'Final entry. 'Mission commander dead. Still no agreement on who should assume leadership. Hath and human have divided into factions.' That must be it!' The Doctor looks up to the group. 'A power vacuum. The crew divided into two factions and turned on each other. Start using progenation machines and suddenly you've got two armies fighting an never ending war!'
'Two armies who are now both outside.' Jenny looks over her shoulder. How are they going to convince the two sides to end this nonsensical feud?
'Look at that.' Donna states. She is staring at a screen that is displaying a set of numbers similar to the ones that have been stamped into the bulkheads.
'Just like the numbers in the tunnel.' Rose agrees, but she still doesn't know what it means. It suddenly makes perfectly clear sense to Donna.
'No, no, no, no, but listen…I spent six months working as a temp in Hounslow Library, and I mastered the Dewey Decimal System in two day flat. I'm good with numbers! It's staring us in the face!' Donna exclaims. Rose is slowly beginning to peace it together.
'What is?' Jenny wonders.
'It's the date! Assuming the first two numbers are some big old space date, then you've got year, month, day. It's the other way round, like it is in America!' Donna cries and the Doctor understands everything.
'Ohh, it's the New Byzantine Calendar!' He explains.
'The codes are completion dates for each section. They finish it, they stamp the date on! So the numbers aren't counting down, they're going out, from here, day by day, as the city got built.'
'Yes! Oh, good work, Donna!' The Doctor exclaims and she smiles confidently at him. He still doesn't seem to understand it fully.
'Yeah! But you're, you're still not getting it. The first number I saw there, was 6012-07-17. Well, look at the date today.' Donna points and his face becomes one of shock.
'07-24. No!' The Doctor shouts.
'What does it mean?' Jenny questions and Rose covers her mouth.
'Seven days…' Rose explains and Donna nods her head.
'That's it, seven days!' Donna cries.
'Just seven days?!' The Doctor repeats, utterly shocked at this revelation.
'What do you mean, seven days?' Jenny questions. Why is everyone making a big deal over seven days?
'Seven days since war broke out.' The Doctor explains and Jenny widens her eyes.
'This war started seven days ago! Just a week! A week!' Donna reiterates.
'They said years!' Jenny informs them but Donna shakes her head.
'No. They said generations. And if they're all like you, and they're products of those machines…' Donna clarifies.
'They could easily have twenty generations in a day!' Rose informs her and Jenny frowns.
'Each generation gets killed in the war, passes on the legend,' The Doctor explains. 'Ohh! Donna, you're a genius!'
'But all the buildings, the encampments, they're in ruins.' Jenny attempts to make sense from all of this new and shocking information.
'No they're not ruined, they're just empty! Waiting to be populated! Oh, they've mythologized their entire history! The Source must be part of that too. Come on!'
The Doctor leads the little group down the corridors and then around a corner, Rose bumps into Martha.
'Martha!' Rose cries.
'Rose!' Martha embraces her. Rose can't help but notice how dirty Martha is. Where exactly had she come from?
'I should've known you wouldn't stay away from the excitement!' The Doctor observes and Martha offers a sly smile. She embraces him tightly.
'Donna!' Martha hugs her tightly as well.
'Ohh, you're filthy, what happened?!' Donna exclaimed and Martha clears her throat a bit.
'I…um, took the surface route.' Martha says quickly.
The voices of the soldiers interrupt the small reunion and the Doctor turns his attention back down to the halls.
'That's the general! We haven't got much time!'
'But, Doctor, we don't know what we're looking for!' Rose cried and Martha stops.
'Is it me…or you can you smell flowers?' Martha inhales deeply.
'Yes! Bougainvillea! I say we follow our nose!' The Doctor states.
'Blocks Seven to Ten, advance! With me!' Cobb's voice is still in the distance, but it's getting much closer.
The Doctor leads the group through more of the ship's corridors until they run through an open archway. Once they run in, Rose stops to take in the beauty of the room. It's almost like a greenhouse that's located right in the spaceship. There are so many potted palms and other types of exotic plants. It has a wonderful fragrance and Rose inhales deeply.
'Oh, yes! Yes! Isn't this brilliant?' The Doctor turns a bit to see the full scope of the room.
And there, placed in the middle of the room, is a glass sphere. It has been placed on a pedestal and in the glass sphere; there is a shining, swirling gas.
'Is that the Source?' Donna questions, her voice is soft as she stares at the orb.
'It's beautiful.' Jenny smiles and Martha studies it.
'What is it?' Martha turns to the Doctor who has now been joined by Rose.
'It's terraforming! It's a third generation terraforming device!'
'But why has it turned this room into a garden?' Rose looks up to him.
'Because that's what it does. All this, only bigger. Much bigger! It's in a transit state. Producing all this must help keep it stable before they finally…'
The Doctor stops as he witnesses the Hath and the human soldiers appear on opposite sides of the room. They all cock their guns as soon as they catch sight of each other.
'Wait, hold your fire!' Rose calls to them.
'What is this? Some kind of trap?' Cobb states, disgusted.
'You said you wanted this war over.' The Doctor restates and Cobb shakes his head at the lack of understanding.
'I want this war won.' He clarifies and the Doctor closes his eyes.
'You can't win. No one can,' He crosses his arms and opens his eyes, staring at Cobb. 'You don't even know why you're here. Your whole history, it's just Chinese whispers. Getting more distorted the more it's passed on,' The Doctor points to the sphere still perched on the pedestal. 'This is the Source. This is what you're fighting over. A device to rejuvenate a planet's ecosystem. It's nothing mystical. It's from a laboratory, not some creator. It's a bubble of gases. A cocktail of stuff for accelerated evolution. Methane, hydrogen, ammonia, amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids. It's used to make barren planets habitable. Look around you!' The Doctor motions their surrounding area. 'It's not for killing; it's for bringing life. If you allow it, it can life you out of these dark tunnels and into the bright, bright sunlight! No more fighting. No more killing,' The Doctor walks up to the pedestal and lifts up the swirling orb. He turns and faces Cobb and his men, his own little group and the Hath. 'I'm the Doctor, and I declare this war is over!'
He throws the orb to the ground. The glass ball shatters and the mingling gases escape, they shine in bright gold and green as they spread out into the air. The Doctor has walked back towards Rose and she clutches his arm as she watches the beautiful tendrils extend further out. Everyone has a smile on their face, and, spurred on by the amazing sight, human and Hath both put their guns to the ground. Rose witnesses the end and she embraces the Doctor out of excitement, planting a quick kiss on him.
Jenny approaches them and she continues to stare at the escaping gases. 'What's happening?'
'The gases will escape and trigger the terraforming process.' The Doctor informs her.
'What does that mean?' Jenny questions and Rose takes her hands into her own, smiling warmly at her.
'It means, Jenny, that a brand new world is about to be born.' Rose says and Jenny laughs. She hugs Rose tightly and Rose hangs on to her.
Eventually they pull away from each other and Rose looks to all the happy faces that surrounds them. All except one. Cobb still has a scowl on his face; he isn't enchanted by what is happening around them. Jenny has noticed it as well. Together they witness as Cobb begins to raise his gun, aiming it at the Doctor, who has his back turned to them.
An icy ball drops into the pit of Rose's stomach and her breathing becomes uneven. She begins to move forward and Jenny watches her. She can't let her do this, she hasn't known him for very long, but she can see the way he looks at Rose. He is in love with her. To lose her now…no, she won't let that happen. Rose hasn't been paying attention and Jenny watches as Cobb cocks his gun.
'Doctor!' Rose calls and he turns to her, he catches Cobb aiming his gun at her and he struggles to get to her. He reaches her just in time and attempts to shove her behind him. But he isn't quick enough, Cobb has fired. Donna lets out a scream of surprise and Martha covers her mouth with her hands from complete shock.
'Rose, no!' Jenny cries and she steps in front of them. The bullet has struck her and she collapses into Rose's arms.
The soldiers on both sides, human and Hath, hold down Cobb and wrestle his gun away from him.
'Jenny? Jenny! Talk to me, Jenny!' The Doctor cries and Rose falls to the ground with her still in her arms. The Doctor falls to his knees in despair. He takes Jenny out of Rose's embrace, but Rose clutches on to Jenny's hand. She bites her lip as she tries to stop herself from crying.
Martha kneels down and Donna slowly approaches them. Martha checks Jenny's pulse and then the gunshot wound. It's grave…Jenny won't survive this.
'Is she gonna be all right?' Donna puts her hand on Martha's shoulder. Martha looks up to her and shakes her head, not saying a word, but she places her hand over Donna's.
'A new world. It's beautiful…' Jenny whispers and she smiles up to Rose and the Doctor. Rose's tears finally start to fall as she returns her smile.
'It is, isn't it? But we're gonna see it together, right? We just have to get you better.' Rose whispers to her.
'Be strong, now. You need to hold on. Do you hear me?' The Doctor tells her, but something is telling him she's fading too fast. There are only moments left. 'We've got things to do, you and me,' Jenny has closed her eyes. 'Hey? Hey?' Jenny reopens them. 'We can go anywhere. Everywhere. You choose.'
'That sounds good.' Jenny agrees and the Doctor places his hand on her cheek. Rose can't help but notice the strength that Jenny has been using to hold Rose's hand has been weakening.
'You're my daughter and we've only just got started. You're gonna be great. You're gonna be more than great,' The Doctor finds himself falling deeper into hysterics and hearing Rose stifle her sobs isn't helping him. 'You're gonna be amazing! You hear me? Jenny?'
Rose watches, her tears still falling, as Jenny closes her eyes and her hand go limp in her own. Jenny doesn't open her eyes again. The Doctor leans down and places a kiss on her forehead in despair.
Not knowing where else to turn he pulls Rose towards him and embraces her fiercely. She just tries to be strong for him. He needs her right now. He pushes her away abruptly and Rose notices a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
'Two hearts, Rose. Two hearts, she's like me. If we wait…if we just wait…' The Doctor has trouble believing his own words, but Rose holds on to them. He embraces her again and continues to wait for the regeneration cycle to begin…but it hasn't.
'There's no sign, Doctor. There's no regeneration…' Martha whispers to him and he closes his eyes. 'She's like you, but…maybe not enough…'
'No. Too much. That's the truth of it. She was too much like me.' The Doctor pulls himself away from Rose and places a final kiss on Jenny's forehead.
Blinded by anger and rage, he gets up and walks towards Cobb. He bends down and picks up his gun. He stands there, panting from the anger and despair, pointing the gun at Cobb's head. Martha and Donna are shocked at what he's doing, but Rose shuts her eyes and stands.
She knows he never would, but it wouldn't hurt to remind him of something he told her long ago. Rose steps in front of the Doctor and Cobb. He's so broken; Rose brushes away her tears and places her hand on the gun. He doesn't lower it, just stands there, staring at her. She can see the conflicting emotions in his eyes.
'Once, a long time ago…you told me about the moral high ground…'
'I know…'
'Because you and I both know, you're better than this. And I know for a fact that you never would.' Rose's voice shakes but there is still conviction in it.
He closes his eyes and lowers the gun. He bends down to Cobb's level looks him in the eye. 'I never would. Have you got that? I never would!' The Doctor stands and looks towards the two parties. 'When you start this new world. This world of Human and Hath…remember that! Make that the foundation of this society. A man who never would!'
Rose takes the gun from his hand and tosses it away. The Doctor stares forlornly at Jenny's body, he tightly grasps Rose's hand in his own and she closes her eyes.
They have moved Jenny body from the greenhouse room on the ship, to the theatre that used to be the human encampment. The Doctor has his arm around Rose's shoulders as they stand close to Jenny. Donna, Martha, Cline and a Hath have chosen to stay with them.
Suddenly, beams of light come through the windows, causing everyone to turn their attention upwards. Martha smiles sadly.
'It's happening. The terraforming…'
'Build a city, nice and safe underground. Strip away the topsoil. And there it is,' Donna pauses slightly, unsure of how to bridge the subject. 'And…what about Jenny?'
'Let us give her a proper ceremony. I think it'd help us,' Cline decides but he turns to the Doctor, wanting to ensure that it's acceptable. 'Please?'
Rose turns her attention to him, but he doesn't say anything. He's clearly still lost in dark thoughts. However, he nods his approval and Rose gives a slightly weak smile.
The three of them watch the Doctor immediately walk to the hallway of the TARDIS, not saying anything to anyone. They exchange uncomfortable looks with everyone and Rose takes a step forward.
'I'll be back…'
'Yeah, of course…' Martha says softly and Donna nods.
'Take your time. He shouldn't be alone right now…'
'Yeah, I'll see what I can do.' Rose agrees and walks towards the hallway.
It's so eerily quiet, but the humming around her tells her she has made the right choice. He needs her.
When she approaches his room, the door is slightly ajar, as if he knew she'd follow him. She pushes the door open and he's sitting on the bed, facing the bookshelves and Rose inhales quickly. Trying to steady her nerves. She walks quickly towards the bed and climbs into it. She crawls towards him and embraces him from behind.
For a while nothing is said, until the Doctor turns up to her. 'Jenny was the reason for the TARDIS bringing us there. We just got there too soon, which then created Jenny in the first place.'
'A paradox.' Rose whispers sadly.
'An endless paradox,' He agrees and Rose swings her legs around to sit beside him. There's more, something else is bothering him, Rose can tell. 'You know, I was so sure that after everything that happened with…I was so sure that everything I had in me to be a parent…died. I was so sure that I couldn't feel like that again.'
'That instinct never dies, even if you think it has. No matter how many years have passed.'
'Yeah…you're right. And it took me too long to realise that,' The Doctor continues to stare ahead. 'Seeing her brought up so many different emotions. And then she made me think of my family that I'd lost. Especially Susan…'
Rose frowns, this is a new name. She hasn't heard of a Susan before. She wants to ask but now isn't the time. 'I'm sorry for that…'
'Susan was my granddaughter.' He informs her, knowing she'd want to ask, but figuring now wasn't the time.
'Oh…I'm so sorry…' Rose whispers.
'I never knew what happened to her…I don't even know where she is now…' He sighed and covered his face with his hands. 'It doesn't matter…'
Rose can tell he's shutting down and soon he'll push everything away, act normal and pretend that nothing has happened. She just attempts to keep him close and he seems to appreciate that gesture.
'We need to get Martha back home.' The Doctor informs her and he gets to his feet. He studies Rose as she looks up to him. Her eyes are still red, and the cut on her eyebrow still needs to be attended to. He pulls her to her feet, as they walk towards the door, he slips his arm around her waist.
Rose mentally sighs, this moment is over, and it's likely he won't bring this situation up again. There is so much she wants to say to him, but he's decided that there is to be no more. Maybe another time he'll open up to her about his family.
Donna and Martha are sitting on the console chair when they hear Rose and the Doctor approaching. Together they stand and watch him with so much sympathy as he heads towards the console.
He glances over to Martha and she gives him a sad smile. 'Time to go home?'
'Yeah, home.' Martha agrees and together the three of them watch as he pulls controls on the console, but without his usual enthusiasm. Donna turns to Rose who only offers a small shake of her head and a diminutive smile. Donna nods her head and Martha places her arm around Rose's shoulders. They would always be there for him. Rose only hopes that he knows how much support he truly has. He doesn't have to constantly be referred to as the lonely god; he has such a vast amount of people who care for him and his wellbeing. With Rose at the helm, she'd do all in her power to help him through this difficult time. Together. Always together.
Rose and Donna are walking down the road with Martha towards her house. Rose frowns a bit and turns to Martha.
'Are you sure you want to do this?' Rose questions and Martha nods her head.
'Yeah, positive. I've got purpose here. I've got people who need me.' Martha replies and Donna smiles.
'Are you sure it's so easy to go back to a normal life after what you've seen?' Donna wonders and they all peek over behind them. The Doctor is staring at the ground, and he's kicked a pebble out of the way.
'Yeah. It is. I can't do this.' Martha restates
'I'm gonna travel with that man forever.' Donna declares and Rose smiles widely. She already made her choice so long ago. She'd never, ever leave him.
Everyone stops and Rose embraces Martha first before she pulls away and embraces Donna next.
'Good luck, Martha. Take care of yourself.' Rose says and Martha nods.
'You too. Both of you. Stay safe.' Martha smiles and she turns her attention to the Doctor as he joins them. Rose and Donna hang back as the Doctor and Martha continue the walk to her house.
'We seem to be making this a habit.' The Doctor observes and Martha laughs a bit.
'Doesn't seem to get easier, though.' Martha informs him and he nods his head at her observation.
Martha embraces him and he smiles. 'Goodbye Dr. Jones.'
'Bye, Doctor.' Martha pulls away from he and he offers her a small wave before turning around and walks towards Rose and Donna.
She smiles to herself as he places his arm around Rose's shoulders and Donna turns back to her, a slight wave and a smile.
Martha, for an instant, wonders if she has done the right thing. Her first real adventure with him, she loved every second of it. Except the bad that came with it. Does she regret saying no? Should she run up and declare to them that she has changed her mind? She wants more…but then she turns her attention to her engagement ring and it hits her. No. She's done the right thing; she smiles and rushes inside to her house. She can do more good if she stayed here. She can make a difference if she stayed here.
She watches from her front window as the TARDIS dematerialises from her sight and wondered where they were off to next.
Another one down, wow.
I'm not entirely happy with this chapter. I might rewrite certain parts, we'll see. I hope you like it in the mean time. It's very late here too, so I did my best to catch all the errors. I hope everyone doesn't freak out over the mention of Susan...I just decided to write that bit in on a whim...so I hope you all like it.
Thank you all for continuing to read this!