The view was breathtaking.
From her view on a raised landing platform, Rose could look over the capital city of the planet Vesporia under an orange-tinted sky. It was almost like London, with many large, spiraling towers and skyscrapers, only it was several times bigger. It spread for miles upon miles, further than she could see in any direction.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
She jumped at the Doctor's voice beside her, having been caught up in the sight. His hands were hidden inside his trench coat pockets as his eyes swept over the dazzling silver city.
"Yeah," Rose agreed, matching his volume of reverence. "I know I've said it before, but I'll never get used to seein' things like this."
The Doctor flashed a grin. "That's good, because it means I won't either." He reached out his hand to hold hers and pulled her to his side.
"Commander!"
The Doctor and Rose both spun around at the new voice, breaking their grip on each other. A Vespiform, wearing a black suit instead of white like the rest of them, marched across the landing platform to where the Commander stood in front of Jackie, Pete, and Tony. However, his eyes were on the Doctor and Rose.
"I allow you to bring humans to this planet, and you allow them to break our laws?"
The Commander followed the Vespiform's gaze. Rose looked down at her jeans and blouse, wondering if her clothing was somehow inappropriate.
"Forgive me, Supreme Chancellor," he said, taking a step back and suddenly seeming much smaller. "I did not see. I will be sure to inform them of our customs so that no further-"
"Yes, you will see to it, and you will also see to remembering that I am no longer Supreme Chancellor, just as you are no longer Commander in Chief." The Chancellor looked past him. "Where is our Queen, Sergeant?"
"Right here, sir," he said, gesturing to Jackie. "She seems to be incapable of switching back to her true form."
"My Queen." The Chancellor's voice immediately became reverent as he bowed to Jackie. "I have had word that your memory has been impaired, so I will try to refresh it as much as I can. I am your Commander in Chief, who does your bidding and sends orders to all the Vespiforms."
Jackie smiled, probably realizing that she liked the idea of someone who would do anything she wanted. "Thank you, Commander," she said, putting on the kind manner she used at charity balls, benefits, and the like.
The newly demoted Commander in Chief looked over Pete and Tony with a critical gaze. "Sergeant, show the humans their chambers." He turned to Jackie. "Your Majesty, would you like to see yours as well?"
"Yes I would, thank you."
The Doctor looked down at Rose with a raised eyebrow. "What happened to your mum?" he murmured.
Rose smiled smugly up at him. "She knows how to adapt."
He nodded. "Well I can see that. I thought she'd have them fighting a civil war by now."
Rose huffed and elbowed him in the ribs, walking across the landing platform to join her family as they followed the Sergeant. The Doctor followed her, walking right by her side as they entered one of the shorter buildings in the city, leaving the Commander out on the platform. The party walked straight into an elevator, and all was quiet as it gently descended.
A quiet sniff sounded, and Rose looked down to see Tony wiping the sleeves of his shirt over his eyes. "Oh, dear," she mumbled as she reached down to take him in her arms and pick him up. He normally would squirm until she put him down, but instead he leaned his head on Rose's shoulder and clung to her like a lifeline.
"'S gonna be all right," she whispered. Jackie's head turned, and her eyes widened at the sight of Tony.
Rose tried to communicate with her eyes that she had it under control. Jackie nodded and turned to face the door of the elevator, flanked on one side by the Sergeant.
"Me and the Doctor have done this loads of times. Remember all the stories?"
The boy nodded his head.
"And this time, we're special. They're not going to try to hurt us because Mum is their Queen." Rose looked next to her at the Doctor, who was staring at her with a strange expression.
"You're turn," she muttered, knowing that if anyone could cheer Tony up, it would be the Doctor.
He put on his best, most charming smile. "We'll get you home soon enough, Tony." He ruffled his hair. "But first we need to do some adventuring. Are you up for that?"
A small smile peeked through Tony's expression. He nodded.
"Good. 'Cause we're gonna need your help."