Planets in the sky! Finally!
When Rose comes back I take a deep and steady breath. There's no more time to wait any more. There's nothing else that needs to be done. We are nearing the end. At least for me. That's the plan.
But in order for that plan to work, I have to go with Rose. Not on my own. Not with Mickey and Jackie, but with Rose. Which reminds me. I pull Mickey aside for a quick discussion as Rose gears up with a gun that's ridiculously large.
"You can't let Jackie come."
"What?"
"You're going to follow. I know that. But I want Jackie to stay out of it. Don't let her come. We'll need you, but not her. Got it?"
"You got it babe. Just me. But I'll definitely be there."
I pat his head.
"Good boy."
"Ha ha. Very funny. I'm not a tin dog."
"No you're not. You never really were."
Rose heads over with her gun. Seriously. That thing is huge. I don't even want to know how much it weighs. But I suppose I'll have to.
"Okay. I'm ready. Send me through?"
"Not yet."
I walk to the selection of weapons and I select my large gun. It's a little smaller than hers, and a bit more sleek in design. It doesn't pack as much of a punch and won't do nearly as much damage, but it works well enough.
"Wot are you doing?"
"I'm coming with you."
"I thought you said you didn't want to interfere."
"That was before. This is now. I'm coming."
I cock my weapon. She gives me her tongue to teeth grin.
"Now you're gettin' it."
"Positions everyone!"
Since I'm going with Rose, Mickey is the one to give orders and start the countdown.
"Everyone ready?"
Rose winks and I give a lazy, two fingered salute.
"On my mark."
This is it. I'm about to meet the Doctor.
"Three."
I'm going to see the TARDIS.
"Two."
I'm going to fight Daleks.
"One."
Wait. Daleks! What the hell am I thinking?! This was a bad idea.
"Fire."
Before I even have a chance to bail or even properly panic on the outside, we're already on the streets of London. And the sky is filled with planets that shouldn't be there.
"Right. Now we're in trouble."
I turn to Rose as she cocks her gun. I look back at the sky and reply.
"It's only just beginning."
We begin to walk through the panic stricken streets. People everywhere are running around like headless chickens. Shouting and crying. I can't really blame them. I knew it was coming and I'm still a bit spooked. Seeing animation on tellie is nothing compared to the reality of it all.
"End of the world darlin'. End of the stinkin' world!"
A drunk man staggers by us, and Rose answers with with an indulging smile.
"Have one on us, mate."
I roll my eyes at her but smile anyway. Despite everything, it's a kind of cool to be on this side of it. It's easy to detach myself from the fear of everything. But I'm walking down the street with Rose Tyler. Guns in hand. She has her leather jacket. I have my original travel outfit. Well, sort of. The jeans are new. And so is the bow necklace around my neck. But I still have my shirt and my red hoodie. What would little red riding hood be without her red hoodie?
We walk into a shop and there's a couple of punks about to rob it in the chaos.
"Right. You two! You can put that stuff down or you can run for your lives."
They look at us skeptically but then Rose cocks her weapon and I steal one of my favorite lines. Sort of.
"Do you like her gun?"
They run past us out the store and I giggle. I'm borderline crazy right now but I can't seem to make myself care. Rose sits down and looks at the screen.
"Twenty seven planets. But what are they for?"
She turns to me for answers. I smile apologetically.
"Spoilers."
Before she can press for answers, we hear it.
"Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate!"
We walk out the shop and look up into the sky. The Dalek ship is enormous and gives me a sick feeling in my stomach. I haven't heard the voice of a Dalek in a year. But it chills me to the bone.
Without needing to say a word to each other, Rose and I walk away as the Dalek ship shoots at the earth. We've trained together in the Torchwood gym. I've been over what needs to happen here with her a hundred times. There's no need for words. So we simply walk away. I can hear the explosion behind us. I even feel it, but neither of us bothers to look back at it.
We make it into what we have learned is Donna's neighborhood. We turn a corner and I can see Wilf and Sylvia facing off with a Dalek.
"Halt! You will come with me."
Rose and share a glance and she readies her weapon. I prefer not to fire until I absolutely have to. If I absolutely have to.
"Will I, 'eck!"
I smile at Wilf as he bravely shoots the eye with a paint ball. It really was clever. Too bad it didn't work.
"My vision is not impaired!"
"I warned you dad."
We are rushing forward now so that Rose can have a cleaner shot.
"Hostility will not be tolerated. Exterminate! Exterminate! Extermin..."
The explosion from the gun was louder than I expected. But I guess that makes sense. When the smoke clears, the father and daughter look between us and the smoking wreckage.
"Do you want to swap?"
Rose looks a bit stunned. I curse myself for not warning her. I never mentioned that Danny and Donna were technically the same. I'd figured it would have made turn left more difficult for her. But I should have said something. I need to speak now.
"You're Donna Noble's family, right?"
Wilf nods. I smile warmly.
"I'm Jane Ryder and this is Rose Tyler. We need your help."
They take us back to their house and Rose manages to get over her shock.
"Can you get a hold of Donna?"
Sylvia is making tea and I sit quietly while I let Rose take the lead again.
"Yeah, I've tried calling her, but I can't get through! But she's still with the Doctor, I know that much and the last time she phoned, it, it was from a planet called Midnight, made of diamonds!"
"What the hell are you two on about?"
Sylvia doesn't understand what she's hearing. I wouldn't either if was her. No ones being very clear. It's really a 'you had to have been there' sort of story.
"Look, she's out there, sweetheart. Your daughter. She's travelling the stars, with that Doctor, she always has been!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Oh, come on open your eyes! Look at the sky! Look at, look at the Daleks! You can't start denying things now!"
"You're my last hope. If we can't find Donna, we can't find the Doctor... Where is he?!"
This last question, Rose is directing at me. I sigh. I can't tell her yet. It's not time yet.
"Soon Rose."
She's frustrated with me. But she understands why I stay silent so she doesn't push me. No matter how much she might want to strangle answers out of me right now.
A transmission comes on that is being broadcast to the whole planet.
"This is the Commander General of the United Nations calling the Dalek Fleet. We surrender, repeat, we surrender. Planet Earth surrenders."
Sylvia is crying as her father holds her. Rose looks at me with desperation. I smile at her, hoping it's enough reassurance. It's all I have to give at the moment.
"Humans selected for testing will follow Dalek instructions. The Daleks reign supreme. All hail the will obey Dalek instructions without question. You will obey your Dalek Ma..."
The transmission is cut off and I smirk, knowing exactly what's going on.
"Can anyone hear me? The Subwave Network is open. You should be able to hear my voice... Is there anyone there?"
Rose walks over to the computer.
"I know that voice."
"Can anyone hear me?"
I laugh. "Finally."
"This message is of the utmost importance. We haven't much time... Can anyone hear me?"
TBC...