Okay. So. Um. Hello! It's been a while ;D And... this, my rambling, could be either way too long or way too short. So I'll just settle on the short - read on.
It's a strange feeling coming to a familiar place. Your heart beats just a little bit faster in recognition. Your eyes wander to the familiar surroundings.
When you step into the devil's trap - it's a different story altogether.
Thump.
"Everybody leaves home in the end."
They do. But how can you leave your heart?
How can you bare to separate the one person, whom you came to love from the bottom of your heart, with their only home left? And later, how can you bare to let them go, alone, with possibly no return, to retrieve what was lost?
The thing is... you don't.
Somewhere in the core of the Impossible Planet, the TARDIS materialised. However, the landing was not smooth - she groaned and wheezed as if finding it difficult. Those were certain warning signs. But none bothered with them much.
The Doctor stepped outside the doors first, followed by Jack and a very reluctant Rose, who was being unusually quiet.
"I dunno what's wrong with her, she's sort of..." the Doctor began, looking at the TARDIS. "Queasy, Indigestion, like she didn't wanna land," he ended, caressing her surface.
"If we find any trouble, I'll protect you both," Jack said humorously.
"Thanks," the Doctor replied sarcastically, but smiling despite himself.
Rose only looked at Jack with a faraway look.
"Oh, if you think there's gonna be trouble, we could always get back inside and go somewhere else..." she said seriously to him. They looked at each other and burst out laughing at the absurd notion.
She turned her gaze away, chewing on her lip.
"I think..." the Doctor said, looking around. "We've landed inside a cupboard! Here we go!" he exclaimed and made his way towards the door to the next base.
"Open Door 15," the computer announced.
The Doctor went inside, Jack following him close by. Only Rose was standing like a statue, gripping the TARDIS surface with her hands behind her back.
"Rooose? You coming?" The Doctor's voice shook her.
"Y-yeh!" she called out. "I'm coming..." she whispered to herself and turned around to face the TARDIS with a pained expression. She didn't want to let go. Not ever. Not with that outcome.
She exhaled a breath, caressing the wood gently. "We'll get you back." She smiled softly. "See you later, girl." With one last brush on the surface, she left their home to her fate.
She found herself alone in a small corridor and she had to open yet another door.
"Open Door 16," the computer announced.
"Flat-pack wardrobe," Rose muttered under her breath, recalling the Doctor's words, when she found herself alone once again.
"Open Door 17," the computer announced.
With the last push of yet one more doors, she finally found the two familiar faces lurking about.
"Aaaah!" the Doctor exclaimed, beaming at Rose. "We started without you. Look, it's a sanctuary base!"
"Close Door 17," the computer announced as Rose closed the door.
"Deep Space exploration," the Doctor began talking, while steadily making his way towards the slowly approaching Rose. "We've gone way out. And listen to that, underneath..." He leaned towards her, pointing downwards, indicating for Rose to listen. The hum of drills could be heard.
"Someone's drilling," he half-whispered. Rose only nodded.
"You alright?" the Doctor asked, furrowing his brows.
"Mm? What?" Rose shook her head.
"Don't know..." He frowned. "You seem a bit... out of it?" He raised his eyebrow.
"Must have gotten the TARDIS indigestion," she joked and nearly choked on her words.
"What's wrong with you girls, eh?" the Doctor asked playfully, nudging her shoulder. Rose just smiled softly at him.
"Welcome to hell," Jack said. "I always told you we would see each other in one."
"Oh, it's not THAT bad!" the Doctor cried, turning around to face Jack.
"No, Doc, I'm talking about this." Jack pointed at the words, scrawled on the wall, with ancient symbols written underneath. The Doctor stared at them.
"Hold on... " He furrowed his brows, going over to it. "What does that say?"
"I was kinda hoping you would tell me," Jack said casually, when the Doctor joined him near the scrawling. He peered closely at the ancient text, but it remained stubbornly incomprehensible.
"That's weird. It won't translate," the Doctor whispered.
Jack glanced over at Rose, who was standing a few steps away, looking at the wall with a concerned expression. When he saw that she was making no effort to continue the investigation, Jack took over the position.
"I thought the TARDIS translated everything."
"She does," the Doctor breathed. "At least she should be." He grimaced. "If that's not working, then it means... this writing is old. Very old. Impossibly old." He shook his head in disbelief.
Suddenly the Doctor stood up and made his way over to another door.
"We should find out who's in charge," he said while turning the wheel to open the door. "We've gone beyond the reach of the TARDIS' knowledge. Not a good move," he continued and Rose's breath hitched. "And if someone's lucky enough-"
"Open Door 19," the computer announced.
The door opened, and the Doctor and Jack gasped in shock, stumbling backwards a few steps. Rose was only momentary startled by the suddenness, but quickly recovered. On the other side of the door, the Ood stood there, blinking at them.
"Right!" the Doctor exclaimed, trying to regain his composure. "Hello! Sorry! Uh..." He stumbled for words. "I was just saying, uh... nice base!" he said nervously, not sure what were the residents here like.
"We must feed," the Ood said in a chorus.
The Doctor blinked. "You're gonna what?" He furrowed his brows, taken aback.
"We must feed," the Ood repeated.
"I kinda think they mean us," Jack said half-joking.
The Ood started to advance in the room, and the trio were left no choice but to back away.
"We must feed." The Ood marched towards them.
The Doctor turned sideways, seeing as Jack went to check for the other door, but a curse under his breath spoke for itself. Rose took in a deep breath, preparing herself, for all that's to come. She was just about to make her move, when yet another door opened, revealing more Ood slowly walking through it.
They were cornered.
"Okay, that's enough," Rose breathed to herself, but the Doctor heard her and just glanced at her worriedly. He put his hand in front of her, trying to shield her from the danger, Jack was taking out his blaster and was ready to shoot.
Rose took a step forward. "I think that's enough for scaring us. Mind to check your speech bulbs, because they seem to be having a serious problem here," she said firmly. The Doctor glanced at her questioningly.
"I don't think they-" the Doctor began, when one of the Ood's shook their orb in their hands.
"We apologise," it began in a gentle voice. "Electromagnetics have interfered with our speech systems."
"I'm sorry?" the Doctor blinked, confused.
"Would you like some refreshments?" the Ood offered. Suddenly all tense atmosphere disappearing from them.
"Are you offering us food?" Jack asked warily.
"We offer good policy and meal," the Ood said.
Jack eyed the speaking Ood suspiciously, but decided to drop it. He slowly hid his weapon back to its place. The Doctor seemed to relax too.
The Doctor leaned in to Rose. "Mind sharing with us, what are they?" he asked her in a serious voice. Rose could see that unlike his usual interest in her "mysterious travels" this time he was visibly bothered by them. She kicked herself mentally. Revealing to have been in the place where the TARDIS had no knowledge of, was a bad move.
"They look like the Ood I have came across before," Rose said carefully.
"The Ood?" the Doctor furrowed his brows. "What planet are they from then?" he asked, his eyes piercing through hers. He was silently demanding for answers, his casual approach only a façade.
"They are not," Rose said, shaking her head. The Doctor raised an eyebrow.
"Not from a planet," Rose added. "They are just…there. They are considered a…" Rose frowned. It still felt wrong.
"A what?" the Doctor persisted.
"Slaves," Rose said, locking her gaze to his. "A slave race, which apparently is common among… humans."
The Doctor just stared at her silently. She could see that he was also bothered by slavery, but instead of anger she saw the disappointment in his face.
Slavery always had that effect on him. They could do so much more better than that. He didn't have much time to dwell on it, when the door suddenly opened.
"Open Door 18," the computer announced.
A door opened and Jefferson came through it, flanked by two others holding guns.
"What the hell...? How did...?" he exclaimed in utter shock.
He approached the trio staring at them.
"Captain... " he began, talking into his communication device, absolutely incredulous. "You're not going to believe this. We've got PEOPLE. Out of nowhere. I mean, real people." The Doctor rubbed on the back of his neck, as the man spoke. "I mean three... living... people," Jefferson continued. "Just standing here, right in front of me." He spoke in disbelief.
The Doctor and Jack obviously didn't quite know what to make of this unusual reception, so just stood there with blank faces. Rose kept her face neutral.
"Don't be stupid, that's impossible," a voice of a man came through the device.
"I suggest telling THEM that," Jefferson said, staring.
"Are you saying it's so uncommon for people to come by?" Jack asked with raised interest.
"You're telling me you don't know where you are?" Jefferson said roughly.
"No idea." The Doctor shook his head with ease. "More fun that way," he said, grinning.
"Stand by, everyone. Buckle down. We have incoming. And it's a big one. Quake Point 5 on its way." A female voice came through.
Rose felt her breath catch in her throat, as she swallowed hard. The Doctor looked around, curious.
As the base started to quake and tremble, Rose could feel her legs shake. But they were not shaking from the impact. Almost involuntary she snapped her head sideways, towards the door, which held all that was dear for her Doctor and nearly made a step towards it.
But just as suddenly, Jefferson rushed over to a door and opened it. Taking charge of the situation, which was clearly not a promising one from his experience.
"Through here! Now. Quickly, come on!" the man shouted urgently.
Loud sirens sound echoed in the base. The Doctor didn't need to be told twice. He made for the door, after Jack, stopping by just to see Rose standing still in the same place.
"Rose!" he called anxiously for her. When she just stood still, he rushed to her side, yanking her by her arm. "Come on!" For a moment they locked their eyes together. Rose had a devastated expression on her face, which she tried deliberately to hide, but was failing. How could one bear the guilt of letting their loved one's home be lost from them?
The Doctor could hardly grasp her emotions, playing out on her face, but he made no questions. They had no time.
As if on cue, a harsh voice yelled at them. "What the hell are you doing!? Hurry!" Jefferson snapped.
Rose followed the sound of the voice, turning her head towards the door, almost like not knowing what was happening. The next thing she felt, was a familiar hand tightly grasped into hers, and a sensation of being pulled out of the room.
They came through into corridor, which was shaking, smoke rising from the floor, complete chaos.
"Move it! Come on! Come on, come on! " Jefferson was urging them through the noise.
The sparks were flying everywhere. They delayed their escape and they were more powerful than she knew them to be the previous time. The ground beneath them shook violently, nearly making the group lose their footing.
Seconds after they stumbled into the control room, where the crew were busy working, a violent shake sent the Doctor and Rose flying off the stairs, at the very bottom of them, on the ground. The Doctor came crashing down on his back, moaning on the impact, Rose landing on him, his hands holding her protectively.
Jefferson managed to take hold on the railing of the stairs. Jack was not as lucky. He hit his head hard, on the metal doors, losing consciousness altogether.
After a little while, the shaking stopped, and everyone momentary sighed in relief. "Well, that wasn't so-" the Doctor began, when another, a more powerful wave hit the base. "Bad!" Rose clung onto the Doctor's body desperately. Feeling each quiver hitting her in the gut. This impact was the worst. Worse than anything. The knowledge of their home falling down to the pit. Rose squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
"Okay, that's it." Jefferson hurried forward with a fire extinguisher.
"Everyone all right? Speak to me, Ida?" Zach asked urgently.
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Danny?"
"Toby?"
"Yeah, fine."
"Scooti?"
"No damage."
"Jefferson?"
"Check!"
"We're fine, thanks, fine, yeah, don't worry about us," the Doctor intervened, lifting the two of them up slowly from the ground.
"The surface caved in," Zach announced.
"You alright?" the Doctor asked, looking Rose over. Rose took a calming breath.
"Rose?" the Doctor asked in a more concerned voice, squeezing her shoulders slightly. She looked up to meet his intense gaze.
"Yeh. Yeh, I'm fine." She tried to smile assuring to him.
"You're pale," he stated, caressing her cheeck gently.
"Yeh. Well. A bit of an impact," Rose joked. The Doctor smiled back at her.
"What's better than a fair ride on a roller coaster." The Doctor grinned. Rose grinned back at him.
"Oh, my GOD. You meant it," Zach suddenly exclaimed. That took Rose's and the Doctor's attention.
"People! Look at that! Real people!" Scooti said.
The Doctor straightened up, standing side by side with Rose. "That's us," the Doctor exhaled. "Hooray!" He beamed in a half-enthusiastic way.
"Yeah, definitely real," Rose said, smiling at them, but purposely avoiding eye contact with Toby. "My name's Rose... Rose Tyler, and-" She pointed. "And this is the Doctor." The Doctor smiled at her. "And-" She turned around. To her horror to see their friend sprawled on the top stair, laying what looked like – dead.
"Oh, my God, Jack!" she cried and rushed towards him.
The crew exchanged uncomfortable glances. New people on board with fatality only a few minutes later, didn't sound that welcoming.
The Doctor cast a nervous glance at the crew, making his way towards their friend. He didn't know yet if he could trust the people, who apparently had slaves. That didn't sound right. And having to explain the resurrection from the dead so soon in the conversation was not what he was eager to do.
He checked the Captain's pulse and to both of their relief, he was just unconscious. Rose let out a breath.
"Nah, just unconscious," the Doctor announced casually, standing up, turning to face the crew. "So where were we?" he asked nonchalantly.
"How about we start with how you got here?" Ida asked.
"Oh, we have this, um, transport, of sorts." The Doctor waved his hand dismissively. Rose turned her face. "What we would like to know is… where have we landed. What's this planet called?" The Doctor looked the crew over expectedly.
"Now, don't be stupid. It hasn't got a name. How could it have a name?" Ida asked incredulously.
The Doctor only raised his eyebrows.
"You really don't know, do you?" she asked softly.
"What's the damage?" someone from the crew asked, after their captain finally calculated the loss.
"I deflected it onto storage 5 through 8. We've lost them completely. Toby, go and check the rocket link," Zach said.
Rose gripped the railing with her hands for support, trying to play out casual as much as was possible.
"That's not my department," Toby complained.
"Just do as I say, yeah? " Zach countered him. Finally, Toby grudgingly left the room.
"Oxygen holding. Internal gravity 56.6. We should be okay," Ida announced.
With a sudden groan, Jack came to, rubbing on his head. "Gorgeous fall down," he joked.
"You alright?" Rose helping him to stand up.
"Yeh, no worries." Jack smiled warmly at her. "One powerful hurricane this planet has. Even I can't shake that much." He grinned.
The Doctor gave him a look.
"You'd need an atmosphere for a hurricane. There's no air out there. It's a complete vacuum," Scooti said.
The Doctor gave her a puzzled look.
"You're not joking," Ida stated. "You really don't know?
The Doctor shook his head. "Weell, besides that you've got..." He grimaced at the word. "Slaves..?"
"Oh, don't start. Are they like those - the friends of the Ood," Scooti sneered.
"Well, maybe we are, yeh!" Rose half-snapped. "Since when do humans need slaves?"
"But the Ood offer themselves. If you DON'T give them orders, they just pine away and die," Danny said.
"I know that it's all they crave for," Rose said, before the Ood, approaching her, could start.
"Then?" Danny raised an eyebrow.
"But that doesn't mean you can come up and call them slaves. That's how they live. Their lifestyle. Humans or not, you don't have the right to call another living being's life slavery," she said in a bit annoyed voice.
"We're good to them!" Danny defended himself. "We just order them, and they do it."
"Well, they wouldn't be called slaves for no reason then, would they?" she pressed them, and they momentary silenced down. The Doctor watched them with interest. The very idea of slavery wasn't sitting all that well in his stomach, but he knew many civilisations had them and he accepted the existing fact. Only Rose made him smile proudly at her once more.
"Alright then!" Ida exclaimed, previously warily looking at the exchange. "Well." She prepared herself. "Introductions. If you're starting a fight, at least know your opponent's name, or how they said in the olden days," she began. The Doctor and Rose sat on the stairs. Jack leaning onto the railing.
"I'm Ida Scott, science officer." She then pointed towards Zach. "Zachary Cross Flane, acting Captain, sir... you've met Mr Jefferson, he's head of security. Danny Bartock. Ethics committee."
"Not as boring as it sounds," Danny hurried to add. The Doctor and Rose both grinned at him.
"And that man who just left, that was Toby Zed, archaeology, and this..." Ida placed her hands on Scooti's shoulders. "Is Scooti Manista. Trainee maintenance." Scooti smiled at them. Ida went over to a set of controls.
"And this... this is home," she breathed the word meaningfully. She turned a lever, looking up, as a whirring sound started.
"Brace yourselves. The sight of it sends some people mad," Zach informed them in a serious voice.
The Doctor gave him a side-way glance, not yet sure what to expect. Rose kept her gaze firm on the opening ceiling, breathing in the sight once again.
The room soon flooded with a red-ish light as an overhead window was opened, revealing a black hole right above them. The Doctor sprang to his feet at once, amazed, watching the light being sucked into it. Rose slowly came to stand herself, not breaking eye contact with the power above them. They steadily made their way in the middle of the room, Jack following too.
"That's a black hole," Rose said in reflex, her voice cracking at the end.
"But that's impossible," the Doctor breathed, his eyes wide in disbelief, mouth half-slack.
"I did warn you," Zach said.
"What the hell?" Jack furrowed his brows.
"We're standing under a black hole," the Doctor breathed, still in a complete shock.
"We're in orbit," Ida said.
"But we can't be..." The Doctor shook his head, crossing his eyebrows.
"You can see for yourself. We're in orbit," Ida said softly.
"But we CAN'T be." The Doctor turned to look at her.
"This lump of rock is suspended in perpetual geostationary orbit around that black hole without falling in. Discuss," Ida said in a wavering voice.
"How in the world did this happen..." Jack mused. "This is bad."
"Bad doesn't cover it..." the Doctor breathed. "A black hole's a dead star," he continued in a stronger voice. "It collapses in on itself, in and in and in," he spilled. "Until the matter's so dense and tight it starts to pull everything else in too." He uttered each word meaningfully, trying to calm his own nerves down. "Nothing in the universe can escape it." He turned to look at Rose. "Light, gravity... time... everything just gets pulled inside... and crushed."
"We should be pulled right in," Rose exhaled.
"We should be dead," the Doctor said, looking at the intense sight.
"And yet... here we are. Beyond the laws of physics. Welcome on board," Ida said.
Rose inhaled, pressing her lips together. She then turned to Ida. "But if there's no atmosphere out there, what's that?" She pointed to clouds speeding rapidly towards the black hole outside the base.
"Stars breaking up... " Ida began. "Gas clouds... we have whole solar systems being ripped apart above our heads before falling into that thing."
Suddenly the base began shaking again. Rose grabbing onto the Doctor for support in steadying herself. The Doctor held onto her arm, until finally the shaking subsided.
The crew, together with the Doctor, Rose and Jack were crowded around the control panel, when Toby came back into the control room.
"Close Door 1," the computer announced.
"The rocket link's fine," Toby muttered edgily.
Zach tapped some button on the controls and suddenly a hologram black hole appeared before them. The Doctor put his glasses on.
"That's the black hole officially designated K37 Gen 5," Zach said. The Doctor propped himself on his elbow, his cheek cupped in his palm, looking at the hologram.
"Can I?" Jack indicated to transfer the reading on his Vortex Manipulator.
"Go ahead," Zach gestured casually.
"In the scriptures of the Falltino, this planet is called 'Kroptor'," Ida said. "The bitter pill. And the black hole is supposed to be a mighty demon. It was tricked into devouring the planet, only to spit it out. Because it was poison."
"The mighty demon," Rose breathed, resting on her forearms on the console.
The Doctor shrugged his eyebrows. "We are so far out. Lost in the drifts of the universe - how did you even GET here?!" he asked, furrowing his brows.
"We flew in," Zach said simply. "You see..." He pressed another button and the hologram changed to one of the planet with a gravity field emanating out from it like a tunnel.
"This planet's generating a gravity field. We don't know how - we've no idea, but... it's kept in constant balance against the black hole." The Doctor raised his eyebrows in Oh, really? way. "And the field extends out there." Zach gestured. "As a funnel. A distinct... gravity funnel, reaching out into clear space. That was our way in."
Jack grinned. "Reminds me of our meeting with Rosie."
The Doctor glanced at him. "The visual image practically shows how she flew into my ship. Through the beam, all the way into my hands." Jack beamed at Rose.
"Like a rollercoaster," Rose said, grinning. The Doctor decided to ignore this exchange.
"By rights, the ship should've been torn apart. We lost the Captain... which is what put me in charge..." Zach said.
"You're doing a good job," Ida said consolingly.
"Yeah. Well, needs must," Zach exhaled.
"But if that gravity funnel closes, there's no way out," Danny pointed.
"We had fun speculating about that," Scooti said casually.
"Oh, yeah. That's the word." Danny whacked Scooti on the head with a scroll. "Fun".
Rose looked at the girl with a pained expression.
"She was only twenty years old."
"But that field would take phenomenal amounts of power," the Doctor said, completely stumped. "I mean... not just big, but off the scale! Can I...?" He gestured to the controls with his finger.
"Sure. Help yourself," Ida said, pushing the calculator over to him and leaving him and Jack to it.
Rose stood up to stretch herself, when one of the Ood approached her, giving her a cup.
"Your refreshment," it said gently.
"Oh yeah, thanks," Rose said, taking it. "Thank you." She smiled at the Ood. At one moment her forehead wrinkled, as she had a flashabck of the red-eyed Oods, marching towards them dangerously.
But that was not their fault. They were possessed.
"We can offer our accommodations, if you are unwell." It crocked its head in what looked like a possible concern.
Rose smiled at it. "No, thank you. I'll be alright." She then moved back towards the console.
"There we go. D'you see? To generate that gravity field, and the funnel, you'd need a power source with an inverted self-extrapolating reflex of six to the power of six every six seconds," the Doctor spilled hurriedly, having finished with the calculator.
"That's a lot of sixes," Rose noted, leaning onto the console.
"Aand it's impossible," the Doctor breathed, looking at Rose, his lips pressed together.
"It took us two years to work that out!" Zach sounded impressed.
The Doctor half-shrugged. "I'm very good," he said modestly.
"But... " Ida shook her head. "That's why we're here. This power source is ten miles below through solid rock. Point Zero. We're drilling down to try and find it.
"It's giving off readings of over ninety stats on the Blazen Scale," Zach said.
"We could revolutionize modern science," Ida said enthusiastically.
"We could use it to fuel the Empire," Jefferson added.
"Or start a war," the Doctor said seriously, taking his glasses off.
"It's buried beneath us. In the darkness, waiting," Toby spoke mythically.
"Is this the part where you start talkin' about the devil?" Rose said, looking him in the eyes. The Doctor smirked at that, although, Rose was dead serious. Jack observed them carefully, taking note that there was something about the boy.
Something went past them in that moment. She could have sworn that Toby's eyes reflected some sort of recognition. But he soon hid it under his mask.
She was wary of him. Scared even. Not that much for herself as for someone else. But that didn't mean that she could just let him off easily.
"Well, whatever it is down there is not a natural phenomena. And this, er, planet once supported life. Eons ago, before the human race had even learned to walk," Toby said.
"I saw that lettering written on the wall. Did YOU do that?" the Doctor asked Toby.
He nodded. "I copied it from fragments we found on earth by the drilling, but I can't translate it."
How convenient, that You copied them.
"No, neither can I," the Doctor agreed. "And that's saying something," he sang, tilting his head sideways.
"There was some form of civilisation. They buried something. Now it's reaching out. Calling us in." Toby was talking. Rose held her head high, as she watched him suspiciously.
He wanted the Doctor there. It was his plan all along. And at this very moment, Rose was witnessing the Devil's call.
"And you came," the Doctor said, not hiding his adoration, grinning at them. So did we.
"Well, how could we not?" Ida asked incredulously. Zach switched the hologram off, in the meantime.
"So," the Doctor began blithely. "When it comes right down to it, why did you come here?" he asked them fondly, grinning. "Why did you do that? Why?" he asked them softly. "I'll tell you why. Because it was there. Brilliant." He knew the feeling all too well. "Excuse me, ah, Zach, wasn't it?" He turned to face the man.
"That's me," Zach said.
"Just stand there," the Doctor instructed him. "'Cos I'm gonna hug you," he stated softly. "Is that all right?" He pointed the finger at him, casually.
"I s'pose so." Zach shrugged.
"Here we go. Coming in." The Doctor steadily edged towards him. He extended his hands and clutched the man in a bear hug. Smiling proudly at humans.
"Ahh," the Doctor exhaled in contentment. "Human beings, you are amazing!" he cried with enthusiasm.
Ida looked bemused, not getting the situation.
"Ha!" the Doctor exclaimed. Jack and Rose both chuckled.
With one last pat on Zach's back, the Doctor released the man.
"Thank you," the Doctor said sincerely.
"Not at all." Zach smiled at him.
"But apart from that, you're completely mad," the Doctor said now in a completely different tone. "You should pack your bags and get back in that ship and fly for your lives." He looked meaningfully at them.
"You can talk! And how the hell did your "ship" even get here?" Ida asked, standing her ground.
"Oh, it's... it's hard to explain." The Doctor shook his hand dismissively. "It just sort of... appears."
"I'm sure Doc could show you around. It kinda has this retro look. You should love it!" Jack exclaimed, smirking at the group. "We parked it in habitation area three." He then glanced at Rose, who's face lost all its colour. What did he say?
"Do you mean storage six?" Zach asked warily.
"Uh, it was a bit of a cupboard, yeah," the Doctor agreed casually. Zach only glanced uncomfortably at Ida.
"Storage six," the Doctor repeat aloud. "But you said..." Zach closed his eyes, as it dawned on him. "You said..." the Doctor could feel his breathing catching up. His eyebrows rose. "You said storage five to eight!" he breathed and without another word turned on his heel, dashing from the room. Rose close behind with Jack, who caught on about the same time as the Doctor.
He sprang back down the corridor, the pair close on his tail. Rose kept silent all the way down. What she will tell him? What this will do to him?
The Doctor frantically opened Door 19.
"Open Door 19," the computer announced. They were back into the canteen area once again.
He sprint the length of the room, Rose following behind. She took a quick glance at the room, where she saw a flash of images them sitting there, talking about never reaching home again. Discussing the houses and mortgage-
"Close Door 19," the computer announced.
The Doctor was near the door, spinning the wheel to try and open the door back through the other corridor.
"Stupid doors, come ON!" he spoke through his teeth, furiously. When it finally swung open, the trio found themselves in yet another corridor.
"Open Door 17," the computer announced. The Doctor quickly passed the space, slamming into the door across the room.
"Open Door 15," the computer announced. The Doctor was frantically pushing the button to open, his expression desperate, but it wouldn't budge.
"Door 16 out of commission," the computer announced. Rose gulped, keeping some distance away. Jack was having a shocked expression. He understood what just happened, but he couldn't believe it. And someone didn't take time to voice those thoughts out.
"Can't be, can't bee!" the Doctor gritted through his teeth. Slamming on the buttons again and again.
"Damn it," Jack cursed.
Giving up on the button slamming, the Doctor opened a small round window in the door to look through. His breath caught in his throat at the sight. He watched the view wide-eyed, breathing heavily.
It was impossible. It couldn't be. They were inseparable. This was not happening!
He staggered backwards from the door, taking a sideway glance on the floor, his mouth slack open. It was opening and closing again. How could it be? She was his constant companion. Through all and everything.
"She's gone." He heard his own voice say in a whisper. "The TARDIS is..." He furrowed his brows, not believe what he was saying. "Gone."
"The earthquake," Jack voiced the Doctor's thoughts. "This section collapsed," he ended softly.
"Well..." Rose bit her quivering lip. "We'll get her back. Yeh? We always do," she said in a faint voice.
The Doctor closed his eyes, taking his face in his both palms.
"Doctor," Rose began faintly, edging towards him. "We'll go through this."
"Stop it," the Doctor said in a low but quiet voice.
"W-what?" Rose asked, blinking.
"Just stop," the Doctor repeated in a stronger voice.
"Stop what?" Rose asked, confused.
The Doctor rubbed his face in his palms, letting them fall, moments later. He had his gaze sideways, when he slowly turned to face Rose. Rose gasped at his expression. He never had that expression on his face before. Never on her.
It was beyond disappointment. It was giving up. On her.
Rose felt her quickening heartbeat. Then he opened his mouth to speak. "You knew she was gonna fall," the Doctor said in such a pained voice, like he felt betrayed, stomped on his both hearts, them crushed.
Rose shook her head slowly. Not from denying, but from pure disbelief what was happening.
"So why don't you start talking now?" he asked in a voice, which could only be directed to a stranger.
to be continued...