Chapter 9: Cold Blood

Disclaimer: If I owned Doctor Who, things would be very different.

PREVIOUSLY

The Doctor joined the girls and saw the same thing. "Ah." Below them was a large community, verging on a city with buildings and monuments.

The Vixen said, "Maybe more than a dozen. Maybe more like an entire civilization living beneath the Earth."

The Vixen, the Doctor and Nasreen walked along pathways in a cavern above molten magma and past buildings. The Doctor said, "This place is enormous and deserted. The majority of the race are probably still asleep."

The Vixen took out her sonic screwdriver. "We need to find Amy, looking for heat signature anomalies."

Nasreen asked, "But, how can all this be here? I mean, these plants."

The Vixen muttered, "must be getting closer to the centre of the city."

Nasreen asked, "You're sure this is the best way to enter?"

The Doctor replied, "Front door approach! Definitely. Always the best way..."

An alarm sounded and a female voice was heard over a speaker system. "Hostile life force detected, area 17."

The trio stopped. The Vixen said, "Apart from the back door approach, that's also good," She turned around. "…sometimes better."

"Hostile life force detected, area 17."

A door slid open in front of Nasreen. "Doctor!" Armed Silurian soldiers came through the door as the warning repeated.

As more arrived through the tunnel behind them, the Vixen put her hand on her sword. The Doctor raised his hands. "We're not hostile, we're not armed! Except for Vixen's sword, that's just for show, she doesn't even know how to use it!"

The Vixen gave him a glare and pulled up Nasreen's arm. "We're here in peace!"

The Silurians shot gas from their weapons and the trio fell to the floor, unconscious.

The Doctor, the Vixen and Nasreen were clamped down. The Vixen writhed in pain as a machine scanned her.

The Doctor snarled, "Leave her alone!" Another machine scanned him and he cried out in pain.

A female Silurian, warrior class, questioned a male Silurian, Malokeh. "How can they have escaped? This proves all prisoners should remain under military guard."

"I'm sure you'd prefer to be in charge of everything and everyone, Restac. But we rank the same. Is there any word from Alaya?"

Restac replied shortly, "No." She turned to watch the Vixen and the Doctor writhe in pain.

Malokeh said, "It's fine to show concern, you know. She's part of your gene-chain. I'm decontaminating now."

The Vixen asked, "Decontamination! No, no, no!" She and the Doctor screamed in agony, undergoing decontamination.

Malokeh said, "It's all right. It won't harm you. I'm only neutralising all your ape bacteria."

The Vixen screamed and the Doctor said, "We're not apes! Look at the scans! Two hearts each! Totally different! Totally not ape! Remove all human germs, you remove half the things keeping us alive."

Malokeh checked the scans and then shut down the machine. Restac ordered, "No, complete the process."

The Vixen panted, "Oh, that's much better, thanks! Not got any celery, have you? No, no, not really the climate, tomatoes, though, you'd do a roaring trade in those. I'm the Vixen, this is the Doctor, oh, and there's Nasreen, good!"

Malokeh had gone over to examine Nasreen, who awoke and said, "Oh, a green man."

The Doctor asked, "Hello, who are you?"

Restac replied authoritatively, "Restac. Military commander."

The Vixen asked, "Oh, really? There's always a military, isn't there?"

Malokeh said, "Your was attacking the oxygen pockets above our city."

The Doctor murmured, "Oxygen pockets! Lovely! Oooh, but not so good with an impending drill! Now it makes sense!" Malokeh nodded and continued to examine Nasreen.

Restac asked, "Where is the rest of your invasion force?"

The Vixen asked, "Invasion force? The Doctor, me and lovely Nasreen? No! We came for the humans you took. And...to offer the safe return of Alaya." She saw the look on Restac's face and said gently, "Oh, wait, you and she, what is it, same genetic source? Of course you're worried, but don't be, she's safe."

Restac said, "You claim to come in peace, but you hold one of us hostage." She motioned for soldiers to take position by the Vixen, the Doctor and Nasreen.

The Doctor said, "Wait, wait, we all want the same thing here."

Restac growled, "I don't negotiate with apes." She turned to Malokeh. "I'm going to send a clear message to those on the surface."

The Vixen and the Doctor asked in unison, "What's that?"

"Your execution."

"Yes..."

The Vixen, the Doctor and Nasreen were being escorted through the city, in a section that most likely acted like a park. The Doctor said, "These must be the only ones awake, the others must still be in hibernation."

Nasreen asked, "So, why did they go into hibernation in the first place?"

The Vixen replied, "Their astronomers predicted a planet heading to Earth on a crash course. They a built life underground and put themselves to sleep for millennia in order to avert what they thought was the apocalypse. When in reality, it was the moon, coming into alignment with the Earth."

Restac stopped and looked at the Vixen. Malokeh asked, "How can you know that?"

The Vixen said, "Long time ago, the Doctor and I met another tribe of homo reptilia, similar, but not identical."

Restac asked curiously, "Others of our species have survived?"

The Doctor hesitated then said reluctantly, "The humans attacked them. They died, I'm sorry."

Restac growled, "A vermin race." The escort continued.

Restac and Malokeh entered the courtroom followed by the soldiers escorting the Vixen, the Doctor and Nasreen. Malokeh said, "You're not authorised to do this!"

Restac replied, "I'm authorised to protect the safety of our species while they sleep."

The Doctor remarked cheerfully, "Oh, lovely place, very gleaming."

Restac snarled, "This is our court and our place of execution."

Amy entered through another door, aiming a gun at Restac. "Let them go!"

The Vixen grinned, "Amelia Pond, there's a girl to rely on."

Mo entered through the main door. Amy said, "You're covered both ways, so don't try anything clever, buster. Now let them go, or I shoot." Restac moved closer. "I'm warning you!"

Restac took the gun from Amy, pushing her to the ground. The Vixen snarled, her eyes glowing, "Don't you touch her!"

Restac said to Mo, feeling a burning sensation in her mind but ignoring it, "And you." Soldiers approached Mo and he gave up his gun.

Malokeh said, "All right, Restac. You've made your point."

Restac walked up to Malokeh, "This is now a military tribunal. Go back to your laboratory, Malokeh."

One of the soldiers jabbed Malokeh in the back, who looked at Amy, before leaving. "This isn't the way."

Restac ordered, "Prepare them for execution."

The Vixen, the Doctor, Amy, Nasreen and Mo were tied to pillars. Amy sighed, "OK, sorry, as rescues go, didn't live up to its potential."

The Vixen said to her, "I'm glad you're OK."

"Me too! Lizard men, though!"

The Doctor said, "Homo reptilia... They occupied the planet before humans. Now they want it back."

Nasreen added, "After they've wiped out the human race."

Amy said, "Right, preferred it when I didn't know, to be honest."

The soldiers had lined up like a firing squad. Nasreen asked, "Why are they waiting? What do you think they're going to do with us?"

A large projection in the middle of the room showed Ambrose, Tony and Rory. Restac asked, "Who is the ape leader? Who speaks for the apes?"

The three humans looked at each other and Rory stepped forward. "I speak for the... humans. Some of us, anyway."

Restac asked, "Do you understand who we are?"

Rory replied, "Sort of. A bit. Not really."

Restac said, "We have ape hostages."

Rory saw the five tied to the pillars. "Vixen! Doctor! Amy!" He rushed towards the screen.

Ambrose asked, "Mo! Mo, are you OK?"

Mo replied, "I'm fine, love! I've found Elliot. I'm bringing him home!"

Rory said, "Amy! I thought I'd lost you!"

Amy asked, "What, cos I was sucked into the ground? You're so clingy."

Nasreen said, "Tony Mack!"

Tony asked, "Having fun down there?"

The Doctor said, "Not to interrupt, but just a quick reminder to stay calm."

Restac ordered, "Show me Alaya. Show me and release her, immediately, unharmed, or we kill your friends… one by one."

Ambrose shouted, "No!"

The Vixen said, "Steady now, everyone."

Tony held Ambrose back, "Ambrose, stop it!"

Ambrose snapped, "Get off me, Dad! We didn't start this!"

The Doctor called, "Let Rory deal with this Ambrose, eh!"

Ambrose growled, "We're not doing what you say any more. Now, give me back my family!"

Everyone waited tensely for Restac's reply. The Vixen and Amy exchanged glances. Restac ordered, "No. Execute the girl." The soldiers moved Amy.

Rory pushed Ambrose aside. "No! No, wait!"

"Rory!"

"She's not speaking for us!"

Amy was pushed to the center of the room in front of the soldiers. The Vixen snarled, "There's no need for this..."

Rory said, "Listen! Listen! Whatever you want... we'll do it!"

Restac ordered, "Aim."

"Amy!"

Amy cried out, "Rory!"

The Vixen growled, "Don't do this!"

"No!" The projection went off.

Restac ordered, "Fire!" Amy closed her eyes.

A voice called, "Stop!" Malokeh entered with a Silurian elder, Eldane. "You want to start a war, while the rest of us sleep, Restac?"

Restac hissed, "The apes are attacking us!"

Eldane said calmly, "You're our protector, not our commander, Restac. Unchain them."

"I do not recognize your authority at this time, Eldane."

Eldane said, "Well, then, you must shoot me."

Frustrated, Restac approached Malokeh. "You woke him to undermine me."

Malokeh replied, "We're not monsters. And neither are they."

Restac asked, "What is it about apes you love so much? Hmm?"

"While you slept, they've evolved. I've seen it for myself."

Restac growled, "We used to hunt apes for sport. When we came underground, they bred and polluted this planet."

Eldane said, "Shush now, Restac. Go and play soldiers. I'll let you know if I need you."

Restac snapped, "You'll need me, then we'll see."

In the church basement, Rory hit the monitor, trying to get the connection back. "Nothing! I've got to get down there." He started to walk away.

The Vixen called, "Rory!" The picture came back, everyone free. "Hello!"

Rory asked, "Where's Amy?"

The Vixen replied, "She's fine, look, here, she is." She moved aside so Rory could see.

Rory heaved a sigh in relief. "Oh, thank God."

Amy said, "Keeping you on your toes!"

"No time to chat."

The Doctor appeared beside her. "Listen, you need to get down here... Go to the drill storeroom, there's a large patch of earth in the middle of the floor. The Silurians are going to send up transport discs to bring you back down using geothermal energy and gravity bubble-technology. It's how they travel and frankly it's pretty cool. Bring Alaya. We hand her over, we can land this after all. All going to work, promise. Got to dash! Hurry up!" The signal ended.

The Vixen turned to Malokeh, "Where's my sword again?"

Malokeh replied apologetically, "I'm sorry. Restac destroyed it."

The Vixen sighed, "Oh well." Her eyes glowed warmly.

Gold dust swirled around and everyone stared at it mesmerized. The dust floated down and formed a black sword with gold Galifreyan engravings on the blade. It was the Vixen's name. She picked it up and grinned, "Oh, you beauty!" She ran her finger along the engraving before sheathing it at her belt. She looked up and saw everyone looking at her. "What? It's part of a very complicated thing I was born into. Trust me, it's not sorcery."

The Doctor clapped his hands and said, breaking the silence, "So, let's talk."

Amy and Nasreen were seated on one side of the table with Eldane on the other. The Vixen, the Doctor, Mo and Malokeh stood behind Amy and Nasreen. The Doctor said, "I'd say, you've got a fair bit to talk about."

Eldane asked, "How so?"

The Doctor replied, "You both want the planet. You both have a genuine claim to it."

Eldane asked, "Are one of you authorised to negotiate on behalf of humanity?"

The Vixen grinned, "One of us? No! I just produced a sword out of thin air and gold dust, we're far from authorised. But they are!"

Nasreen turned around. "What?!"

Amy snapped, "No, we're not!"

The Vixen said, "Course you are! Amelia Pond and Nasreen Chaudhry, speaking for the planet!" She stood behind them. "Humanity couldn't have better ambassadors. Come on, who has more fun than us?" She and the Doctor moved to the opposite end of the table.

Amy went over to him and asked, "Is this what happens, in the future, the planet gets shared? Is that what we need to do?"

Nasreen heard them and walked over. "What are you talking about?"

The Doctor said, "Oh, Nasreen, sorry, probably worth mentioning at this stage, Vixen, Amy and I travel in time, a bit."

Nasreen asked, "Anything else?"

The Vixen explained, "There are fixed points through time, where things must always stay the way they are. This is not one of them. This is an opportunity, a temporal tipping point. Whatever happens today, will change future events, create its own timeline, its own reality. The future pivots around you. Here. Now. So do good. For humanity, and for Earth."

Amy took a deep breath, "Right. No pressure there, then." She headed back to the table.

Nasreen hissed, "We can't share the planet. Nobody on the surface is going to go for this idea. It is just too big a leap!"

The Doctor said, "Come on. Be extraordinary."

"Oh...you..." Nasreen sat back at the table.

The Vixen walked over and said, "OK. Bringing things to order - the first meeting of representatives of the human race and homo reptilian is now in session."

The Doctor said to her, "Ha! Never said that before, that's fab!" The Vixen gave him a look. "Carry on!" He turned to Mo. "Now, Mo, let's go and get your son." He walked towards Mo and the door. "Oh, you know, humans, and their predecessors, shooting the breeze. Never thought I'd see it." The Vixen shook her head fondly and turned back to the meeting.

The Doctor, Mo and Malokeh were outside a room containing Elliot. The Doctor said, "Elliot, there you are."

Malokeh used the panel outside to revive Elliot. Mo said, "If you've harmed him in any way…"

Malokeh replied, "Of course not! I only store the young."

The Doctor asked, "But why?"

Malokeh explained, "I took samples of the young, slowed their lifecycles to a millionth of their normal rate. So I could study how they grew, what they needed, how they lived on the surface."

The Doctor asked, "You've been down here, working by yourself, all alone?"

"My family, through the millennia... For the last 300 years, just me." He turned to Mo. "I never meant to harm your child."

The Doctor said, "Malokeh, I rather love you." Fist bump. "It's safe. We can wake him."

Malokeh entered the room and removed the 'wires'. He beckoned Mo in. "Come."

Malokeh stepped out as Mo entered and stood before his son as he slowly blinked, dazed. "Elliot? Ell, it's Dad."

Elliot asked, "What...? Dad."

Mo embraced his son. "You're safe now."

Elliot asked, "Where are we?"

Mo replied, "Well, I've got to be honest with you, son. We're in the centre of the Earth... and there are lizard men. And a woman who can make things from dust."

Elliot looked to the doorway where he saw the Doctor and Malokeh. "Wow."

The Doctor entered the room. "Elliot, I'm sorry. I took my eye off you."

Elliot nodded, "It's OK. I forgive you." He and the Doctor shook hands.

They started down the hallway. Malokeh said, "You go on, Doctor. I'll catch up."

Eldane, Nasreen and Amy were sitting at the table, the Vixen standing between them. Eldane said, "We lived on the surface of the planet, long before you did. Our sole purpose has been to return to our rightful place."

Nasreen said, "And we've got a planet that can't already sustain the people who live there. And you want to add a whole other species, to drain resources..."

Eldane brought up a projection of the Earth. Amy stood up and said, "So, erm, what about the areas that aren't habitable to us? Australian outback, Sahara desert, Nevada plains... They're all deserted."

Nasreen tugged Amy down by her arm. "Yes, fine, but what happens when their population grows and breeds and spreads? And anyway, what benefit does humanity get, and how would we ever sell this to people on the surface?"

Eldane said, "If I could get a word in, maybe I could tell you. You give us space, we can bring new sources of energy, new methods of water supply, new medicines, scientific advances. We were a great civilisation. You provide a place for us on the surface, we'll give you knowledge and technology beyond humanity's dreams. We work together, this planet could achieve greatness."

Nasreen nodded, "OK. Now I'm starting to see it."

Amy agreed, "Oh, yeah."

There was applause from the Vixen and then some more. The group turned to see the Doctor clapping. With him were Mo and Elliot. The Vixen laughed and turned back to the trio on the table. "Not bad for a first session. More similarities than differences."

There was a whooshing sound. Eldane reported, "The transport has returned. Your friends are here."

Rory entered through a doorway. The Doctor waved. "Here they are."

Ambrose entered next. Elliot ran to her. "Mum!"

Amy laughed in relief, "Rory!"

Rory's mouth moved like he was trying to find the words.

The Doctor muttered, "Something's wrong..."

Tony entered carrying the shrouded body of Alaya. Amy asked, "Doctor, what's he carrying?"

The Doctor and the Vixen stepped forward. The Vixen snarled, "No. Don't do this. Tell me you didn't do this."

Tony laid his burden on the floor. The Doctor squatted down and pulled the cloth away from Alaya's face. Everyone got a good look before he put it back in place. The Vixen glared at Tony. "What did you do?"

Ambrose spoke up. "It was me. I did it."

Elliot looked up at her. "Mum?"

Ambrose said, "I just wanted you back."

Elliot walked away from her. Everyone else looked at her with pity and shame. The Vixen ran a hand through her short hair and walked up to Eldane. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. Neither of us did. You have to believe me, they're better than this."

Ambrose said, "This is our planet!"

The Doctor snapped at her, "We had a chance here."

Ambrose said to Eldane, "Leave us alone."

The Vixen strode over to Ambrose, eyes glowing, and growled, "In future, when you talk about this, you tell people there was a chance but you were so much less than the best of humanity."

Armed soldiers entered the room, Restac behind them. "My sister." She saw the body, uncovered it and wailed before gently replacing the shroud. "And you want us to trust these apes, Doctor?"

The Doctor said, wagging a finger, "One woman. She was scared for her family. She's not typical."

Restac faced Ambrose. "I think she is."

The Vixen pleaded with Eldane. "One person let us down. But there's a whole race of dazzling, peaceful human beings up there. You were building something, here, come on...an alliance could work."

Ambrose said, "It's too late for that, Vixen." The Vixen and the Doctor looked at Ambrose questioningly. Tony ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

The Doctor asked, "Why?"

Ambrose said, "Our drill is set to start burrowing again in..." She checked a stopwatch. "15 minutes."

Nasreen asked, "What?"

Tony asked, "What choice did I have? They had Elliot."

The Doctor said to Eldane, "Don't do this, don't call their bluff."

Ambrose said, "Let us go back. And you promise to never come to the surface ever again. We'll walk away, leave you alone."

Restac ordered, "Execute her!"

The Doctor shouted, "No!" He pulled Ambrose to safety as the soldiers fired. "Everybody, back to the lab! Run!"

The humans ran for the exit. Restac ordered, "Execute all the apes!"

The Doctor and the Vixen pulled out their sonic screwdrivers and used them on the guns, causing them to explode. The Vixen then put her sonic back and pulled out her sword. The engravings were glowing. "This is a deadly weapon - stay back." All the soldiers recoiled away.

One of the soldiers shook her head, approaching from the seats and lashed out at the Doctor with her tongue. He backed out of the way and ran out of the room, the Vixen right behind him.

The humans ran through the tunnel, the Vixen and the Doctor following. The Doctor said to Rory, "Take everyone to the lab!" He dodged a beam from a gun. "Vixen and I'll cover you! Go! Go!"

The Vixen and Doctor took a stand as the others ran. Restac and her warriors arrived. The Doctor used his sonic on their guns. The Vixen snarled, "Ah-ah! Stop right there! I'll use my very deadly weapon again. You saw what this sword can do. One warning, that's all you get. If there can be no deal, you go back into hibernation. All of you. Now. This ends here."

Restac growled, "No. It only ends with our victory."

The Vixen said, "Like I said... one warning." She nodded and the Doctor disabled the last two guns and they ran away. With a growl, Restac gave chase.

The Doctor used his sonic screwdriver on the doors and they slid shut. The Vixen sheathed her sword again and said, "Elliot, you and your dad keep your eyes on that screen. Let me know if we get company."

The Doctor tossed the stopwatch to Amy. "Amy, keep reminding me how much time we haven't got."

Mo and Elliot watched the screen showing the tunnel outside. Amy said, "OK, 12 minutes till drill impact."

Tony was sitting down, Nasreen standing next to him. The Doctor said, "Tony Mack, sweaty forehead, dilated pupils, what're you hiding?"

Tony opened his shirt to show the venom infection spread across his chest. Nasreen asked, concerned, "Tony! What happened?!"

The Vixen walked over and used her screwdriver as a scanner on the infected area. Tony breathed, "Alaya's sting. She said there's no cure. I'm dying, aren't I?"

The Doctor moved to the control panel and checked the Vixen's readings. "That's not right."

The Vixen pushed him aside and asked, "What? Oh. Tony, you're not dying, you're mutating."

The Doctor muttered, "How can I stop it? Decontamination program! Might work - don't know. Eldane, can you run the program on Tony?"

Mo reported, "Vixen, shedload of those creatures coming our way! We're surrounded in here!"

Eldane helped Tony to the decontamination chamber as the Vixen spoke. "So, question is, how we do stop the drill, given we can't get there in time? Plus also, how do we get out, given that we're surrounded? Nasreen, how d'you feel about an energy pulse, channelled up through the tunnels to the base of the drill?"

Nasreen asked, "To blow up my life's work?"

The Vixen winced, "Yes. Sorry. No nice way of putting that."

Nasreen said, "Right, well, you're going to have to do it before the drill hits the city, in..."

Amy replied, "11 minutes, 40 seconds..."

The Doctor clapped his hands. "Yes! Squeaky bum time!"

Nasreen said, "Yes, but the explosion is going to cave in all the surrounding tunnels so we have to be on the surface by then."

Rory said, "But we can't get past Restac's troops."

Eldane spoke up, "I can help with that... Toxic Fumigation - an emergency failsafe meant to protect my species from infection. A warning signal to occupy cryo-chambers. After that, citywide fumigation, by toxic gas. Then the city shuts down."

Amy said, "You could end up killing your own people."

Eldane replied, "Only those foolish enough to follow Restac."

The Doctor asked, "Eldane, are you sure about this?"

Eldane replied, "my priority is my race's survival. The Earth isn't ready for us to return yet."

"No."

Amy said, "10 minutes, Doctor."

The Vixen got an idea. "But maybe it should be. So here's the deal. Everybody listening? Eldane, you activate shutdown... Doctor, you and I'll amend the system, set Eldane's alarm for 1,000 years' time." Eldane went to the controls. "1,000 years, to sort the planet out. To be ready. Pass it on. As legend, or prophesy, or religion, but somehow, make it known. This planet is to be shared."

Elliot smiled, "Yeah. I get you."

"Nine minutes, seven seconds."

The Doctor and the Vixen joined Eldane at controls. The Doctor rubbed his hands. "Yes, fluid controls, my favourite!"

The Vixen said, "Energy pulse timed, primed and set. Before we go, energy barricade, need to cancel it out - quickly." She used her sonic on the controls and the barricade came down.

Eldane said, "Fumigation pre-launching."

Rory said, "There's not much time for us to get from here to the surface, Doctor!"

The Doctor gave a laugh, "Ah-ha, super-squeaky bum time! Get ready to run for your lives. Now..."

Eldane said, "But the decontamination program on your friend hasn't started yet."

Everyone looked to Tony in the chamber, who said, "Well, go. All of you! Go."

Ambrose said tearfully, "No, we're not leaving you here!"

Elliot ran to Tony and hugged him. "Granddad!"

Amy reported, "Eight minutes, 10 seconds."

Tony said to Elliot, "Now you look after your mum. You mustn't blame her. She only did what she thought was right."

Elliot asked, "I'm not going to see you again, am I?"

Tony replied, "I'll be here." He touched Elliot's chest where his heart was. "Always. I love you, boy." He hugged him tightly and said to Ambrose. "You be sure he gets home safe!" Elliot went to Mo who pulled him close.

Ambrose said, "This is my fault."

Tony said, "No, I can't go back up there. I'd be a freak show. The technology down here's my only hope." He hugged Ambrose.

"I love you, Dad."

Tony let go of her. "Go. Go. Come on.. Go on."

Eldane activated the fumigation. A voice on the tannoy said, "Toxic fumigation initiated. Return to cryo-chambers. Toxic fumigation initiated. Return to cryo-chambers. Toxic fumigation initiated…"

Amy said, "They're going! We're clear!"

The Doctor said, "OK. Everyone follow Nasreen. Look for a blue box. Get ready to run." He used his sonic on the door and it slid open.

The Vixen said to Eldane, "I'm sorry."

Eldane said, "I thought for a moment, our race, and the humans..."

The Vixen nodded, "Yeah. Me too."

Amy called, "Vixen! Doctor! We've got less than six minutes."

The Doctor ordered, "Go! Go! We're right behind you!" The others rushed from the room. The Doctor turned to Nasreen, "Let's go."

Nasreen said, "I'm not coming either."

The Vixen and the Doctor asked in unison, "What?"

Nasreen stood by Tony, hand on his arm. "We're going to hibernate with them, me and Tony." If they didn't go now then…

Eldane said urgently, "Vixen, Doctor, you must go!"

Tony looked at Nasreen. "I can be decontaminated when we're woken. All the time in the world."

The Vixen stammered, "But... Nasreen... you..."

Nasreen walked to the Doctor. "No. This is perfect. I don't want to go. I've got what I was digging for. I can't leave when I've only just found it."

Amy ran in. "Vixen, Doctor!"

Nasreen nodded, "Thank you, Doctor. Thank you, Vixen."

The Vixen smiled, "The pleasure was all ours." She hugged her then the Doctor grabbed hers and Amy's hands and headed for the door.

Nasreen called, "Come and look for us." The doors to the lab slid closed.

In a different tunnel, the Vixen, the Doctor and Amy met up with Rory, running towards them. Amy said to Rory, "Other way, idiot!"

Mo, Elliot and Ambrose paused at the sight in front of them. The Vixen, the Doctor, Amy and Rory joined them and kept running. The tannoy repeated its announcement. The Doctor called, "Come on!" They arrived in the tunnel where the TARDIS was. "No questions, just get in! And yes, I know it's big!" He unlocked it and ushered the family inside. "Ambrose, sickbay up the stairs, left, then left again... get yourself fixed up. Come on! Five minutes and counting..."

The Vixen touched his arm and he turned around to see the crack in the tunnel wall, the same crack from Amy's childhood bedroom. The Vixen muttered, "Not here. Not now. It's getting wider."

Amy said, "The crack on my bedroom wall

The Doctor walked up to the wall and squatted down. "And the Byzantium. All through the universe - rips in the continuum."

The Vixen walked up and muttered, "Some sort of space-time cataclysm. An explosion, maybe. Big enough to put cracks in the universe. But what?" She studied the crack, fascinated.

Amy checked the stopwatch. "Four minutes 50... We have to go!"

The Vixen licked her lips, "The Angels laughed, when we didn't know. Prisoner Zero knew, everybody knows, except us!"

Amy snapped, "Vixen, Doctor, just leave it."

The Doctor grinned at the Vixen, "But where there's an explosion…" He pulled a red hankie from an inside pocket. "…there's shrapnel." He walked to the crack.

Rory said, "Doctor, you can't put your hand in there!"

The Doctor asked, "Why not?"

The Vixen said sarcastically, "Because, you're acting like, 'Hey, there's a growing crack following us wherever we go, I think I'll put my hand in it.'"

The Doctor replied, "Yep." He reached in with the hand holding the hankie and cried out in pain as the light got brighter. The Vixen, Rory and Amy watched nervously, not knowing what to do. "I've got something!"

Amy asked, "What is it?"

The Doctor fell to the ground, clutching the item wrapped in the hankie. It sizzled with heat and energy. "I don't know."

Rory called, "Doctor!"

A dying Restac crawled into the tunnel. The Doctor jumped up off the ground. Amy said, "She was there, when the gas started... She must've been poisoned."

Restac growled, "You!"

The Vixen said to Amy and Rory, "OK, get in the TARDIS, both of you." She pulled out her sword as the Doctor reached into his jacket pocket.

Restac snarled, "You did this." She aimed her gun and fired two shots at the Doctor.

Rory and the Vixen lunged together. "Doctor!" Rory pushed the Doctor out of the way, crashing into the Vixen and both were shot.

Amy cried out, "Rory! Vixen!"

Rory groaned in pain on the ground as Restac died. The Doctor asked the Vixen, "Vixen, can you hear me?" He used his sonic on both of them.

Rory stammered, "I- I don't understand."

Amy stroked his face, "Shh-shh. Don't talk."

The Doctor sat beside the Vixen, "Hello."

The Vixen smiled painfully, "Hey."

The Doctor said, "Come on. You can't leave me now."

Amy asked, "Doctor, are they OK? We have to get them into the TARDIS!"

Rory said, "We were on the hill. I can't die here."

Amy said, tearful, "Don't say that."

Rory said, "You're so beautiful... I'm sorry." He took a last breath.

Amy said, "Doctor, help him."

The Vixen whispered, "Doctor. Time Energy." The Doctor looked towards the crack and saw tendrils of light reaching out, touching Rory and the Vixen's feet. "You have to leave."

The Doctor shook his head. "No. I won't lose you. Not again."

The Vixen groaned, "Doctor, it's too late. No regeneration. I'm sorry. Tell Jack, I'll see him in hell."

The Doctor smiled sadly and took the Vixen's hand in his, tears running down his cheek. He kissed her one last time. "I love you."

The Vixen said, "I love you too. I'm sorry."

As the Vixen's eyes fluttered shut, the Doctor stood up. "Amy, move away from the light, if it touches you you'll be wiped from history. Amy, move away now."

Amy growled, "No! I am not leaving them! We have to help them!"

The Doctor gripped Amy gently by the shoulders. "The light's already around them, we can't help them."

"I am not leaving them. I am not leaving him!"

"We have to."

Amy tried to get out of the Doctor's grip. "No!"

The Doctor said, "I'm sorry!"

Amy snapped, "Get off me!"

The Doctor said again, "Sorry!" He took one last look at the Vixen then lifted Amy up and dragged her to the TARDIS.

"Get off me!" The Doctor pushed her inside the TARDIS. "No!" Amy rushed back to the door to get out. "No! No!"

The Doctor used his sonic on the door to prevent Amy from going outside. She shouted and pounds on the door. "Let me out, please let me out... I need to get Rory."

The Doctor walked determinedly to the console, broken inside. Amy turned around, tears streaming down her cheeks. She saw the monitor and said, "That light, if their bodies absorbed I'll forget them. They'll never have existed. You can't let that happen. Not to Rory. Not to Vixen." The Doctor pulled on a lever on the console. "What are you doing?" She ran to the console. "Doctor! No!" The TARDIS began to dematerialize.

As the TARDIS dematerialized, Rory's body was wrapped in the light. Gold dust swirled out of the Vixen's sword, covering her, keeping her safe from the Time Energy as she was swallowed by the light.

Amy began to beat her hands against the Doctor's chest as he hugged her. "No! No! Doctor, we can't just leave them there!"

The Doctor said, "Keep them in your mind. Don't forget them. If you forget them, you'll lose both of them forever."

Amy sobbed, "On the Byzantium, I still remembered the Clerics because I am a time traveller, now you said."

The Doctor gripped her head in his hands. "They weren't part of your world. This is different...this is your own history changing."

Amy snapped, "Don't tell me it's going to be OK. You have to make it OK."

The Doctor said, "It's going to be hard, but you can do it, Amy." He took her to the jump seat and knelt in front of her. "Tell me about Rory. Fantastic Rory, funny Rory, gorgeous Rory. Amy, listen to me. Do exactly as I say. Amy, please. Keep concentrating. You can do this."

"I can't."

The Doctor urged, "You can. You can do it. I can't help you unless you do. Come on. We can still save his memory. Vixen is lost but Rory can be saved. Come on, Amy. Please…" Amy remembered her and Rory together in Leadworth and Venice. "Come on, Amy, come on. Amy, please. Don't let anything distract you." She remembered her and Rory in the park and his death. "Remember Rory. Keep remembering, Rory is only alive in your memory. You must keep hold of him. Don't let anything distract you. Rory still lives in your mind."

The TARDIS jarred upon materializing, knocking both of them to the floor. The box containing the engagement ring fell in front of the Doctor and he stared at it. Amy asked brightly, "What were you saying?"

The Doctor could only stare at her. Mo and Elliot walked down the stairs. Mo said, "I have seen some things today, but this is beyond mad."

Amy looked at the stopwatch. "Doctor! Five seconds till it all goes up!"

The TARDIS had materialized in the graveyard overlooking the drill site. The group watched as it exploded. Later, Elliot, Amy and Mo walked through the graveyard as the Doctor and Ambrose stood at the entry to the church. Amy said, "All Nasreen's work just erased."

Mo said, "Good job she's not here to see it. She's going to give Tony hell when they wake up."

Ambrose said, "You could've let those things shoot me. You saved me."

The Doctor said, "An eye for an eye. It's never the way." He remembered the Vixen's words. "Now you show your son how wrong you were. How there's another way. You make him the best of humanity... in the way you couldn't be." He looked at her with a gentle smile before leaving, a tear rolling down his face.

Outside the TARDIS, Amy remarked, "You're very quiet. Oh! Hey! Look! There I am again! Hello, me!" She waved to her future self who was alone.

The Doctor asked, "Are you OK?"

Amy replied, "I thought I saw someone else there for a second. I need a holiday. Didn't we talk about Rio?"

The Doctor said, "You go in. Just fix this lock, keeps jamming." He unlocked the door for her.

Amy sighed, "You boys and your locksmithery." She entered and closed the door.

The Doctor unwrapped the item he took from within the crack. It was a piece of something with words written on it, very familiar words. He held it up to the TARDIS sign and it matched.

Oooh. What will happen to Vixen? Spoilers! Please review