Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. I got sick.
Despite the introduction, the entire rest of the story is Jenny.
Enjoy!
Jenny emerged from her ship, coughing and waving away smoke. Something had sent the controls haywire — just like it had sent all her senses haywire. She could tell, just by stepping outside, that something was happening, here. Something she needed to get involved in.
Probably something she needed to stop.
The city was a ruin.
Obviously, at one time, this place had been swarming with people. Now, there were only a few hundred people left. All living in broken-down hovels — the ruins of their city.
Jenny went to the only local bar that was still in business.
Started talking to people, trying to figure out what happened, here. What was still happening.
"You don't know?" the man eyed her, suspiciously. He had gray hair, sunken eyes. Looked like he'd lived through too much. "You're one of those orphan kids, huh? Growing up living like rats on the streets?" He turned away, with disgust. "I bet half the murders here could be prevented if we wiped all you guys out with a single strike!"
"I'm not an orphan," Jenny insisted. "I'm an investigator from one of the outer systems. I'm here to find out—"
"—what happened, here?" the man laughed, bitterly. "Oh, I heard about you 'investigators'. My grandfather said that, when he was a boy, investigators showed up. Trying to dig around. Find out what happened." He took another drink. "Died almost the moment they arrived."
"She did come prepared," the bartender offered. Gestured at Jenny's gun. "Armed."
Jenny laughed. Took out her gun, showed it to them.
"Not loaded?!" The man cried.
"Almost never is, these days," Jenny replied. Replaced it back in her holster. "I dunno. Sometimes I think… the older I get, the more I take after my dad."
The bartender looked Jenny up and down. "You're a brave woman," he said. "Showing up here with no way to protect yourself."
Jenny looked outside. War zone, she guessed.
Probably made a no-go area, after the investigators failed to return. No wonder these people weren't expecting to find any strangers, here. From the looks of it, this planet had basically been sealed off from the rest of the universe a long time ago.
"It's the students who started it," said the old man. "You know how young people are. They get all these ideas about changing the world and turning their home into a utopia — but then it all goes wrong. It did, here."
"Is there still a lot of violence?" Jenny asked.
The bartender and the old man looked at each other. As if the question amused them.
"You'd think not, huh?" the bartender said. "But I haven't lived through a single day without hearing gunshots. And I'm guessing neither has anyone else that's left."
"It's those street orphans," said the old man. "I used to be a cop, you know. I saw all the crimes those kids committed. They're barely more than animals — but when they find guns, they use them. I told the guys on the force that if we just used our knowledge to our advantage, we could…" He trailed off.
Staring into the distance.
"Everyone's thought about it," the bartender assured the old man. "But you know no one would ever actually do it. No matter what."
The old man nodded. His face sad.
Then he sighed.
Checked his watch.
And got up.
"It's time?" said the bartender.
"Almost," said the old man. He stretched, his eyes weary. "Thank you, Anton. For the drink — and the chat. I didn't want my last day to end without seeing a friendly face."
Jenny blinked. "Sorry? Your… last day?!"
The two ignored her.
"You don't have to do this, Gavin," Anton said. He held out another drink, in a glass. "Stay here. Stay alive."
The old man shook his head. "I've seen it happen before, Anton," he said. "Ex-cops trying to fight their fate. Use their knowledge of the future to change it, delay their deaths. It's always worse, when you do that." He shrugged on his coat. "Besides. This isn't a bad way to go. My death, at least, will be for a good cause. I'll intervene. Try to stop a murder."
"A cop actually stopping a crime," Anton said. "Who would have thought it!"
Jenny couldn't quite believe she was hearing this. She grabbed up the old man by the shoulders, spun him around.
"You know the exact moment you're going to die?" she said. "You know how you're going to die?"
"Every policeman knows how he'll die," the old man told her. He managed to twist himself out of her grip. Then stepped away, head held high. "And I welcome my fate. I embrace it." He waved, as he headed out of the bar. "Goodbye, Anton."
"Goodbye," said the barman.
But Jenny wasn't about to let this happen. Whatever this Gavin fellow was about to do, whatever was happening here — no one should have to die. Jenny wouldn't let anyone die!
The old man tried to dart down a side street, to lose Jenny, but she was too fast. Caught him up in no time.
"You're not supposed to be here," Gavin said. "I have to do this alone."
"Who wants to die alone?" Jenny replied, strolling alongside him, easily. "I just want to chat, before your 'moment of destiny' approaches. Find out a little more about this place."
"You're trying to stop me," said Gavin. He paused in his walk. Turned to her. "You can't, you know. This is fate. A death I gladly walk into."
"It's not about fate, it's about time!" Jenny insisted. "And I'm the expert on time! Whatever you know — there has to be a way around it."
Gavin looked at her, sadly.
Then shook his head. Turned away, resuming his walk. "You don't understand."
"Then make me understand!" Jenny urged, racing after him, again. "Something happened here, a long time ago — something that plunged this planet into civil war, and allowed you and the other policemen to know the future. I'm the closest thing to a Time Lady there still is, Gavin! Whatever happened, I can help!"
Gavin turned the next corner.
And Jenny was relieved to find a whole group of police, encircling the area up ahead. Creating a blockade around the area.
Beyond that, Jenny could hear the echo of voices. One pleading. One unrelenting and merciless.
"See? The police are already here!" Jenny told Gavin. "They're dealing with it. Whatever's going on, you don't have to die!"
But Gavin didn't listen to her.
He walked over to the police, who all greeted him, warmly. Commending him for what he was going to do. And then letting him through.
Jenny couldn't believe she was seeing this.
She raced forwards, trying to drag Gavin away, but a policewoman and policeman grabbed her and twisted her around, managing to restrain her. The woman clamped a hand down over Jenny's mouth.
"You're going to ruin everything!" she hissed.
Which was when Jenny finally recognized the voices echoing from the impending crime scene. The pleading voice of Jack Harkness. And the cold, unrelenting voice — of Jenny's sister.
Saying, "I'm sorry. But I don't have a choice."
The sound of a gun cocking.
And it all crashed on top of Jenny. All at once. Just what Gavin was about to do. Who he'd throw himself in front of, to save. What he wouldn't know about Jack, that would make him think he was giving up his own life to help another.
Jenny struggled even harder, trying to shout.
But she was too late.
The shot resounded through the air.
Followed by Gavin's cry, Seo's horrified gasp, and the sound of the old man's body dropping to the ground.