"Cathica, I'm going to miss you," Suki said as she, The Doctor, Cathica and I stood by the elevator. She sighed happily and turned to The Doctor, "Floor five hundred, thank you."
"I didn't do anything," The Doctor said. "Well, you're my lucky charm," Suki said. "All right. I'll hug anyone," The Doctor said and Suki hugged him. I bit my inside cheek lightly and scratched the back of my head before walking over to Adam, who stood a bit away from us. "It's not that bad," I said. "With the head thing?" He asked. "Well, she's closed it now," I said.
"Yeah, but. It's everything. It freaks me out. And I just need to. If I could just cool down. Sort of acclimatise," Adam said. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Maybe I could just go and sit on the observation deck," He suggested, "Would that be all right? Soak it in, you know. Pretend I'm a citizen of the year two hundred thousand."
"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked. "No it's alright. You stick with The Doctor," He said, "I know you'd rather be with him. It's going to take a better man than me to get between you two. Anyway, I'll be on the deck."
I reached in my pocket and pulled out the TARDIS key, "Take the TARDIS key. Just in case it gets a bit too much," I said. "Yeah, like it's not weird in there," Adam joked. I smiled a little and gave him the key. He nodded to me before walking off. I sighed and turned back to The Doctor, Suki and Cathica.
"Oh, my God, I've got to go. I can't keep them waiting. I'm sorry. Say goodbye to Steve for me. Bye," Suki said and ran into the elevator before the doors closed. "Good riddance," Cathica said.
"You're talking like you'll never see her again. She's only going upstairs," The Doctor said. "We won't," She said, "Once you go to Floor five hundred you never come back."
"Huh," Me and The Doctor said at the same time as we both shared a look. Cathica started to led us through the cafeteria, "Have you ever been up there?" The Doctor asked. "I can't. You need a key for the lift, and you only get a key with promotion. No one gets to five hundred except for the chosen few," She replied.
"We need to go back to the newsroom," He said before going off and Cathica and I quickly followed him back to the room. The Doctor sat on the broadcast chair, starting to play with the buttons on the chair's arm. I stood on his side and watched what he was doing over his shoulder.
"Look, they only give us 20 minutes maintenance. Can't you give it a rest?" Cathica asked. "But you've never been to another floor? Not even one floor down?" The Doctor asked.
"I went to floor sixteen when I first arrived," She replied, "That's medical. That's when I got my head done, and then I came straight here. Satellite Five, you work, eat and sleep on the same floor. That's it, that's all." She stared at The Doctor as he stared back at her with a frown, "You're not management, are you." The Doctor looked at me, "At last. She's clever."
"Yeah, well, whatever it is, don't involve me. I don't know anything," Cathica said. "Don't you even ask?" The Doctor asked. "Well, why would I?" She asked. "You're a journalist," He commented.
"Why's all the crew human?" I asked. "What's that got to do with anything?" Cathica asked me. "She's right," The Doctor agreed with me. "There's no aliens on board. Why?"
"I don't know. No real reason. They're not banned or anything," Cathica said. "Then where are they?" The Doctor asked. "I suppose immigration's tightened up. It's had to, what with all the threats," She said. "What threats?" He asked.
"I don't know. All of them. Usual stuff. And the price of space warp doubled so that kept the visitors away. Oh, and the government on Chavic Five's collapsed, so that lot stopped coming, you see. Just lots of little reasons, that's all," Cathica said.
"Adding up to one great big fact, and you didn't even notice," The Doctor said. "Doctor, I think if there was any kind of conspiracy, Satellite Five would have seen it. We see everything," Cathica said.
"I can see better. This society's the wrong shape, even the technology," The Doctor said. "It's cutting edge," Cathica said. "It's backwards," He retorted, "There's a great big door in your head. You should've chucked this out years ago."
"What do you think's going on?" I asked him. "It's not just this space station, it's the whole attitude," He explained, "It's the way people think. The great and bountiful Human Empire's stunted. Something's holding it back."
"And how would you know?" Cathica asked. "Trust me, humanity's been set back about ninety years. When did Satellite Five start broadcasting?" The Doctor asked. "Ninety one years ago," She replied.
... ...
The Doctor was using his Sonic Screwdriver on a pair of double doors. "We are so going to get in trouble," Cathica complained, "You're not allowed to touch the mainframe. You're going to get told off."
"Sam, tell her to button it," The Doctor told me and I smirked. "You can't just vandalise the place. Someone's going to notice," Cathica said. The Doctor got the door open and he started scanning the wires.
"This is nothing to do with me. I'm going back to work," Cathica said. "Go on, then. See you," The Doctor said. "I can't just leave you, can I," She said. "If you want to be useful, get them to turn the heating down," I said, "It's boiling. What's wrong with this place? Can't they do something about it?"
"I don't know. We keep asking. Something to do with the turbine," Cathica said. "Something to do with the turbine," The Doctor repeated. "Well, I don't know," She said. "Exactly. I give up on you, Cathica. Now, Sam. Look at Sam. Sam is asking the right kind of question," The Doctor said. "Thank you," I said.
"Why is it so hot?" The Doctor asked. "One minutes you're worried about the Empire and the next it's the central heating," Cathica said. "Well, never underestimate plumbing," He said, "Plumbing's very important."
He fixed a monitor, "Here we go. Satellite Five, pipes and plumbing. Look at the layout," He said. "This is ridiculous," Cathica said in disbelief, "You've got access to the computer's core. You can look at the archive, the news, the stock exchange and you're looking at pipes?"
"But there's something wrong," The Doctor said. "I suppose," Cathica said. "What's wrong?" I asked. "The ventilation system. Cooling ducts, ice filters, all working flat out channelling massive amounts of heat down," Cathica explained.
"All the way from the top," The Doctor said. "Floor five hundred," I said. "Something up there is generating tons and tons of heat," He said. "I don't know about you, but I feel like we're missing out a party," I said, "Let's check out upstairs."
"You can't. You need a key," Cathica said. "Keys are just codes, and I've got the codes right here," The Doctor said, "Here we go. Override two one five point nine."
"How come it's given you the code?" Cathica asked. "Someone up there likes me," The Doctor said and looked at me, "Let's go."
We walked to the elevator and the doors opened. We stepped inside and turned to Cathica to see she was outside the elevator. "Come with us," I said. "No way," She said. "Bye," The Doctor said as he waved to her.
"Well, don't mention my name. When you get in trouble, just don't involve me," She said and then she walked away. "That's her gone. Adam's given up," The Doctor said and looked at me, "Looks like it's just you and me."
"Yeah," I said as I looked at him. "Good," He said with a smile. "Yep," I said with a smile. The Doctor put the code in and he grabbed my hand as the elevator doors closed.
After a few moments, we reached floor five hundred and stepped out to see that the all room was ice and the air was cold. "The walls are not made of gold," The Doctor noted and looked at me, "You should go back downstairs."
"Tough luck," I said, rolling my eyes before we started to walk further in. We turned a corner and there was a man looking at a bunch of monitors. "I started without you. This is fascinating," He said, "Satellite Five contains every piece of information within the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. Birth certificates, shopping habits, bank statements -" He turned to us, "- But you two, you don't exist. Not a trace. No birth, no job, not the slightest kiss. How can you walk through the world and not leave a single footprint?"
I spotted Suki sitting at one of the computers and I walked up to her. "Suki. Can you hear me? Suki?" I asked and looked at the man, "What have you done to her?"
"I think she's dead," The Doctor said. "But she's working," I pointed out. "They've all got chips in their head, and the chips keep going, like puppets," The Doctor explained.
"Oh! You're full of information," The man noted, "But it's only fair we get some information back, because apparently, you're no one. It's so rare not to know something. Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter, because we're off," The Doctor said. "Nice to meet you." He looked at me, "Come on." Suddenly two men blocked him and my arm was grabbed and I looked at it to see Suki was holding me.
"Tell me who you are," The man said. "Since that information's keeping us alive, I'm hardly going to say, am I," The Doctor said. "Well, perhaps my Editor in Chief can convince you otherwise," The man said.
"And who's that?" The Doctor asked. "It may interest you to know that this is not the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. In fact, it's not actually human at all. It's merely a place where humans happen to live," The man said.
Suddenly, we heard a snarl and the man sighed, "Yeah, sorry. It's a place where humans are allowed to live by kind permission of my client," He said. We looked up at the ceiling to see a giant lump on it that had a set of razor sharp teeth. "What is that?" I asked. "You mean that thing's in charge of Satellite Five?" The Doctor asked the man.
"That thing, as you put it, is in charge of the human race," The man said, "For almost a hundred years, mankind has been shaped and guided, his knowledge and ambition strictly controlled by it's broadcast news, edited by my superior, your master, and humanity's guiding light, the mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe. I call him Max."
The Doctor and I were placed in manacles. "Create a climate of fear and it's easy to keep the borders closed. It's just a matter of emphasis. The right word in the right broadcast repeated often enough can destabilise an economy, invent an enemy, change a vote," The man, the Editor said.
"So all the people on Earth are slaves," I said. "Well, now, there's an interesting point. Is a slave a slave if he doesn't know he's enslaved?" The Editor asked. "Yes," The Doctor said.
"Oh. I was hoping for a philosophical debate. Is that all I'm going to get? Yes?" The Editor asked. "Yes," The Doctor repeated. "You're no fun," The Editor whined. "Let me out of these manacles. You'll find out how much fun I am," The Doctor said.
"Oh, he's tough, isn't he," The Editor told me before looking back at The Doctor, "But, come on. Isn't it a great system? You've got to admire it, just a little bit." I frowned, "You can't hide something on this scale. Somebody must have noticed."
"From time to time, someone, yes, but the computer chip system allows me to see inside their brains," He explained, "I can see the smallest doubt and crush it and then they just carry on, living the life, strutting about downstairs and all over the surface of the Earth like they're so individual, when of course, they're not. They're just cattle. In that respect, the Jagrafess hasn't changed a thing."
The Doctor and I spotted Cathica behind the Editor's back and exchanged a glance before looking back at the Editor. "What about you? You're not a Jagrafess. You're human," I pointed out. "Yeah, well, simply being human doesn't pay very well," The Editor said.
"You couldn't have done this all on your own," I said. "No," He confirmed, "I represent a consortium of banks. Money prefers a long-term investment. Also, the Jagrafess needed a little hand to install himself."
"No wonder, a creature that size. What's his life span?" The Doctor asked. "Three thousand years," The Editor said. "That's one hell of a metabolism generating all that heat," The Doctor said, "That's why Satellite Five's so hot. You pump it out of the creature, channel it downstairs. Jagrafess stays cool, it stays alive. Satellite Five is one great big life support system."
"But that's why you're so dangerous. Knowledge is power, but you remain unknown," The Editor said as he stepped closer to us. He looked at me and grabbed a small piece of my hair, and curled it with his finger, "Who are you?"
"Leave her alone," The Doctor said and the Editor stepped away from me, "I'm The Doctor, she's Samantha Forbes Tyler. We're nothing, we're just wandering."
"Tell me who you are!" The Editor yelled at him. "I just said!" The Doctor yelled back. "Yes, but who do you work for?" The Editor questioned, "Who sent you? Who knows about us? Who exactly -"
He was interrupted by the Jagrafess growling. His eyes grew wide and he breathed out. "Time Lord," He said. "What?" The Doctor asked. "Oh, yes. The last of the Time Lords in his travelling machine," The Editor said and looked back at me, "Oh, with his little human girl from long ago." He brushed his fingers against my face.
"You don't know what you're talking about," The Doctor said. "Time travel," The Editor said. "Someone's been telling you lies," The Doctor said. "Young master Adam Mitchell?" The Editor asked.
I frowned before looking at the screen to see Adam with the beam of light going into his head. "Oh, my God. His head," I said. "What the hell's he done?" The Doctor asked, "What the hell's he gone and done? They're reading his mind. He's telling them everything."
"And through him, I know everything about you. Every piece of information in his head is now mine. And you have infinite knowledge, Doctor. The Human Empire is tiny compared to what you've seen in you S. TARDIS," The Editor said.
"Well, you'll never get your hands on it. I'll die first," The Doctor said. "Die all you like. I don't need you. I've got the key," The Editor said. I watched as my key started to come out of Adam's pocket.
"You and your boyfriends!" The Doctor snapped at me. "He wasn't my boyfriend!" I shot back. "Today, we are the headlines. We can rewrite history. We could prevent mankind from ever developing," The Editor said.
"And no one's going to stop you because you've bred a human race that doesn't bother to ask questions. Stupid little slaves, believing every lie. They'll just trot right into the slaughter house if they're told it's made of gold," The Doctor said.
Suddenly the room started to shake and The Doctor and I shared a confused look. The Editor walked over to the monitors, "What's happening?" He asked. "Someone's disengaged the safety. Who's that?" He looked at a monitor and we saw it was Cathica. "It's Cathica," I said, smiling slightly. "And she's thinking. She's using what she knows," The Doctor told me.
"Terminate her access," The Editor said. "Everything I told her about Satellite Five. The pipes, the filters, she's reversing it. Look at that," The Doctor said and the icicles were starting to melt. "It's getting hot."
"I said, terminate. Burn out her mind," The Editor ordered Suki. The monitors exploded and the bodies dropped as I got free of my manacles. "She's venting the heat up here. The Jagrafess needs to stay cool and now it's sitting on top of a volcano," The Doctor said as I tried to free him. I pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver from his inside pocket of his jacket.
"How does it work?" I asked. "Flick the switch," The Doctor said and I did, "Oi, mate, want to bank on a certainty? Massive heat in a massive body, massive bang." I got him free and we started to ran out, "See you in the headlines!"
We rushed back to the newsroom to see Cathica at the broadcast chair. The Doctor snapped his fingers and closed Cathica's portal. She blinked and then looked at us. "Hello," He told her with a soft smile and she smiled at us.
... ...
After a little while, we all were back at the cafeteria. Cathica, The Doctor and I were sitting at a table and Adam was standing by the TARDIS. "We're just going to go. I hate tidying up," The Doctor told Cathica, "Too many questions. You'll manage."
"You'll have to stay and explain it. No one's going to believe me," She said. "Oh, they might start believing a lot of things now. The human race should accelerate. All back to normal," He said.
"What about your friend?" Cathica asked, motioning towards Adam. "He's not my friend," The Doctor said. "Don't do what you're thinking," I warned before we both got up. He walked over to the TARDIS and Adam. I turned to Cathica, "Thanks again, see ya." With that I rushed after The Doctor.
"I'm all right now. Much better. And I've got the key. Look, it's. It all worked out for the best, didn't it? You know, it's not actually my fault, because you were in charge," Adam said. The Doctor opened the TARDIS and pushed Adam inside.
I followed them inside and closed the door. "Where we going?" Adam asked but The Doctor didn't answered and just pulled the lever. I walked towards him, "Doctor . . ." I trailed off. "Not now," He said.
I bit my lower lip, playing with my hands. After a moment, he stopped the TARDIS and walked past me. He grabbed Adam's arm and dragged him out of the doors. I worriedly followed and stepped outside to see we were inside a house.
Adam chuckled in disbelief, "It's my house. I'm home! Oh, my God, I'm home!" He said, "Blimey. I thought you were going to chuck me out of an airlock."
"Is there something else you want to tell me?" The Doctor asked. "No. What do you mean?" Adam asked. The Doctor walked over to the phone and picked it up. "The archive of Satellite Five. One second of that message could've changed the world," He said.
I glared at Adam before looking back at The Doctor as he pointed the Sonic Screwdrivers at the phone and made the phone explode. "That's it, then. See you," He said as he walked over to the TARDIS and me. "What do you mean, 'See you'?" Adam asked. "As in goodbye," The Doctor said.
"But what about me? You can't just go. I've got my head. I've got a chip type two. My head opens," Adam stated. "What, like this?" The Doctor asked and snapped his fingers, and Adam's forehead opened up. "Don't," Adam said and he closed his forehead by snapping his fingers.
"Don't do what?" The Doctor asked and snapped his fingers again. "Stop it," Adam said as he snapped his fingers. "Okay, that's enough, Doctor," I said, crossing my arms across my chest. "Thank you," Adam said.
"The whole of history could have changed because of you," The Doctor scolded him. "I just wanted to help," Adam said. "You were helping yourself," The Doctor said. "And I'm sorry. I've said I'm sorry, and I am, I really am, but you can't just leave me like this," Adam said.
"Yes I can. 'Cause if you show that head to anyone, they'll dissect you in seconds. You'll have to live a very quiet life. Keep out of trouble. Be average, unseen. Good luck," The Doctor said and he opened the TARDIS door. "But I want to come with you," Adam said. "I only take the best. I've got Sam," The Doctor said and he walked inside.
"Sam, Sam," Adam started before we heard the front door of the house opening and closing. "Oh my God," He breathed out. "Who's that? Geoff, is that you?" A woman asked. "It's me, Mom. Don't come in. Wait there a minute," Adam said.
"Oh, my Lord. You never told me you were coming home! Hold on, I'll just take my coat off. You should've told me you were coming home. I would've got your favourite tea in," Adam's Mom said. "Sam, take me with you," Adam begged me. The TARDIS engine started up and I stepped into the TARDIS. I closed the door, leaving Adam behind.
I walked towards The Doctor and watched him as he fly the TARDIS. "What is it?" He asked after a long moment. I took a deep breath and licked my lips, "Are you mad at me?" I asked. "Nope," He said. I frowned and studied his face, "You not?" I asked. "No," He said and looked at me, "Nothing of it is your fault." I stared at him for a moment as he went back to fly the TARDIS and I smiled slightly.