Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who or anything related to it.

A.N. Okay, so it's been a very long time since I've even looked at this fic. When Rose got stuck in the parallel universe I kind of lost any muse I had to write about her. But after convincing myself that this fic really does need finishing I've returned.

I hope everyone who's reading enjoys this chapter!

Chapter One - Wandering Off

It hadn't taken long for news to spread about Lady Ardeth's failing bid for the Doctor. Throughout the market place, people would stare when they walked past and no other desperate offers were made on the Doctor, much to his relief. Now he was 'out of danger', as he put it, he strolled along beside Rose, seemingly unaware of the eyes that followed him.

Rose, on the other hand, knew it wasn't the sun that was burning her back. Self-consciously, she quickened her pace in order to get though the busiest streets of Cherush and away from the gaze of those who were wondering who she, who had dared refuse their 'Princess', was.

She was starting to think that insisting to explore here was a bad idea after all.

It wasn't until they had passed through the market place and out into the near deserted outskirts of the city centre that they had the chance to speak again.

"You know," the Doctor spoke cheerily as they approached a large fountain, "I reckon she's the most welcoming person we've met yet! Even let us in on who the boss is around here!"

He ignored Rose's look of amusement as he dipped his hands into the water fountain and lifting water to his mouth. He slurped at it, noisily, for a brief second, before spitting it out onto the ground, Rose darting out of its path.

Seeing the disgusted look on his face as he tried to rid the taste from his mouth, she quipped, "That's what you get for drinking dirty water!"

The Doctor spat again before replying, "I don't think that was dirt. Tasted too chemically. More like whatever they use here to keep the fountain clean. Huh," he said as he stuck out his tongue, tasting the air, "much better!"

"If you want a drink so badly we could always go back to the TARDIS and get you some normal water," Rose suggested hopefully. Although it had been her idea to stay here originally, she now had no intention of staying on a planet where the daughter of the Prime Minister was out for her blood- and her 'slave'.

The Doctor had other intentions. "And go through that battlefield again?" he asked, gesturing over towards the market place they had just left. "No thank you! You said you wanted to explore," he said slyly. Rose could almost hear the gears spinning at high speed inside his brain. He had picked up on something- something out of place. She had travelled with him for so long that she could tell. "So why don't we go find a nice little hotel and stay the night. It'll be dark soon, anyhow." He paused, "A nice little hotel, preferable in that direction," he said, pointing in the opposite direction of where they had just come from.

Rose didn't even try to argue. She knew there was no dissuading him. Besides, it might even be fun. Things like these generally were.

Rose, standing in the doorway of their bedroom, had to admit, it was nice when the Doctor decided to stay in a hotel. Not that it was always nice. No- sometimes the beds were made from something that certainly felt like rocks. Sometimes food from room service looked as though it were still alive.

But it really made up for all the unfortunate experiences when you landed in a place like this!

A massive four-poster bed sat off to the side of the room and a door led off into a bathroom that was bigger than the one Rose had in London. But what really captivated her attention was the view from the balcony they were facing. There was grass. Green grass! How grass managed to grow on such a warm planet astounded her. She had thought Cherush to be a bigger version of Egypt- or, at least the pictures she had seen; all sand.

Beyond the hills she could see a steep cliff that had steps leading down to a beach. So that's where the sand was. The gold contrasted with the deep blue of the sea.

Forcing herself to turn away she noticed the Doctor peering over the rim of the toilet bowl. No doubt he was trying to figure out where exactly on the planet they were by seeing which way the water swirled. Or something like that. It was kind of hard to know, with the Doctor.

Turning away the Doctor grinned, "Yup! I think this is a nice spot for a little vacation!"

Rose stared at him in mock surprise as she settled herself on the bed, "Vacation? Doing ten laps of the Army's obstacle course is more restful than a vacation with you!" She shook her head as he poured himself a glass of water from the crystal pitcher that had been resting on the table opposite the bed. He took a sip then promptly spat it back out and poured it down the sink in the bathroom. "That's a waste, that is," she chided him.

The Doctor shook his head, "I'm getting a bit fed up with these clothes," he said, looking down at the lone piece of material that attempted to cover him. "Reckon I'll go back to the TARDIS and get my suit. It's a quality piece of workmanship- or is it tailorship?"

Rose grinned, "It's neither. You pulled it out of the back of the TARDIS's wardrobe. Besides, I thought you didn't want to go back through the market?"

He was lost in his own little world, "Stay here, have some R and R. I'll be back soon," he turned to leave. "And don't wander off!"

Rose frowned as he closed the door behind him. 'Don't wander off.' Honestly, what could happen to her in a place like this? She watched from the balcony as the Doctor disappeared from view, before turning around and walking straight out the door.

She wouldn't go far, she told herself to appease her conscious. Just to the edge of the cliff to have a look down at the beach. Then she'd come straight back and the Doctor need never know.

She kept her promise to herself and after a wistful look at the beach she turned around and headed back towards the hotel. No one had attempted to murder her or kidnap her. No one had even spoken to her. Rose smiled to herself. See- she was able to get along fine on her own when the Doctor wasn't around.

"Excuse me," a soft voice murmured from behind her and she nearly jumped a foot in the air. A young and certainly attractive man was standing before her with his head bowed. "My name is Marick," the man began uncertainly. "You're not from around here, are you?"

Rose, who had been instantly on her guard from the moment she realised Marick was there, softened and smiled at him, "No, I'm not. I'm just visiting. My name's Rose, by the way."

"Rose," Marick whispered to himself, as though testing the name. "Rose, I used to be Lady Ardeth's most favoured servant but she has now given her favour to another and I owe her nothing. However I spent much time with her and learnt many things especially about her mother, the Lady President." He looked up at her with such big mournful eyes that she couldn't help but be drawn in by him.

"Those that make up the Government of Cherush are nothing but puppets! They're all ruled by the Lady President as though their very free will has been taken away! They've been turned into drones! And you have been noticed, Rose. Lady Ardeth is not in favour of you being here. She has as much power as her mother. If she wishes you gone then it will be as if you never existed. You must leave this place as soon as you can!"

Rose stared at the young man as he pleaded with her, trying to take in everything he said. A dictator running the planet? A puppet Government? It wasn't right. The true wishes of the people of Cherush weren't being considered.

She and the Doctor, they had taken down Cybermen, Slitheen, Daleks and a whole host of other aliens bent on world domination. What was one dictator in comparison to all that?

"Marick," Rose said kindly, "me and my friend, we can make a difference here. That's what we do. We can uncover what the President is doing here. I can't run away. Not yet."

The gratitude seemed to radiate from Marick. "Thank you, Rose! Thank you! I can give you information and proof of what she's doing- if you'll meet me at the Fountain tomorrow when the sun is at its highest."

She nodded, "I'll bring my friend. He's the Doctor. He can hel-"

"No! You can't bring him!" Marick protested. "Lady Ardeth is spying on him! If he comes, she'll know!"

Rose nodded again. "I'll meet you tomorrow then," she said as he departed. "Alone."

A.N. That was incredibly difficult to write. I've kind of forgotten how Rose speaks. I apologise if she or the Doctor seem OOC. I'm doing my best!

~Sweetdeath04