Child of Earth
By Lumendea
Chapter Fifty-Two: Champion of Time: Echoes of the Future
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the spinoff material and I gain no income off of this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.
…
Rose wanted to feel a sense of victory as the TARDIS dematerialized and they headed for the rip again. They'd just taken out a large swarm of neverweres, but Rose's mind was fixed on the Silver Lord. She leaned over the console controls, pressing buttons as the Doctor told her to. He was watching her and it was all Rose could do not to look at him.
The TARDIS settled with a soft hum, so very different than the future heavy thump that she'd come to know. Her fingers brushed gently over the controls. One more sad result of the Time War. With luck, she'd heal in time.
"What's the plan?" Rose asked, turning to face the Doctor.
His eyes were on her hand as she caressed the TARDIS. Realising what she was doing, Rose pulled her hand away as if she'd been burned. She was fully aware of a blush creeping over her face as the Doctor looked torn between amusement, shock and unease. If they hadn't been up against the Silver Lord Rose might have been tempted to tease him a bit more, but this wasn't the time for flirting. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
"The temporal manipulator should be ready now," the Doctor replied.
"What if the Silver Lord took it while the neverweres were after us?" Rose questioned.
"It is made from a special alloy," the Doctor explained. He headed for the TARDIS doors. "Repeals Eternals and with luck his Chronovore side won't let him overcome it."
They stepped outside and listened. The street was unnaturally quiet with a sharp chill lingering in the air. Rose shivered slightly and looked at the Doctor. He was watching the street carefully but then took a step away from the TARDIS. A sound echoed down the street and Rose followed him, summoning her sword.
The Doctor fell into step with her. They exchanged a look, both reassuring and worrying at the same time. They moved forward and the Doctor gestured to the right turn up ahead with his umbrella. Down the small alleyway, Rose could see the device the Doctor had put out early. It didn't' look damaged. The problem was that blue and red light was spilling into the street from a gaping open hole.
"That's not good," Rose said. "Even I know that isn't good."
"The Vortex is spilling out too much energy. We need to close it now!"
A man leapt out of the shadows. At least Rose thought he was a man at first, but then his eyes caught the light and silver was reflected back to her. The man was tall and thin with dark hair and wearing local style clothing. His gaze jumped between her and the Doctor.
"It's the Silver Lord," Rose said quickly.
Then the man shifted, pulling something off his back. It was a sheath From it he pulled a long silver blade that shimmered with soft red and blue light. He took a step towards the Doctor and Rose shifted to stand between them. Snarling, the Silver Lord's eyes flashed and he swung the blade towards her. Rose jumped back and heard the Doctor shout something.
"I'm fine!" Rose shouted. "Close it!"
The Doctor hesitated, she could see his unease in the corner of her eye, but then he turned and ran for the device. Lashing forward, the Silver Lord slammed the heavy sword down. Rose brought her own blade up to block, her knees buckling as the swords collided. Silver and golden sparks fell around them and Rose could feel the strange chill of the temporal rip working its way up her spine. The Silver Lord glared her with glowing silver eyes, all pretence discarded. He twisted his hands and freed his sword, moving at a superhuman pace. Rose jumped back but felt a sharp rush of pain and ice as the sword caught her left arm. Dizziness hit her and her stomach turned, but she didn't dare inspect the wound.
Rose lashed her own blade forward, catching the Silver Lord's hilt and shoving it to the side. His whole arm moved to follow it. With a grunt he shoved his whole body at Rose, catching her shoulder and trying to free his sword. While his body was stronger, Rose had the better position and kept his sword locked away from her.
A high pitched electric sound echoed around Rose followed by the smell of ozone. A strange choking sound escaped the Silver Lord. His eyes flashed and the red and blue glow of the vortex intensified. Rose's ears filled with the smooth song of Time and she tensed as the energy washed over her. Jumping back, she let her sword retract just long enough to untangle the two blades before summoning it again. But then the silver sword dropped harmlessly from the Silver Lord's hand.
There was no body now, the man fell to the ground. A cloud of energy in the rough form of a bird of some kind appeared in front of her. It screamed, a terrible high pitched sound that cut through Rose's mind. Hands flew to her head and Rose groaned at a sudden rush of pressure. In the corner of her eye, she saw the Doctor adjusting some sort of control in his hands. He kicked the black box device across the ground and it slid right next to the Silver Lord. The hum became louder and the pressure in her head was suddenly gone.
A shimmering form of energy filled the air in front of Rose. There were ripples of many colours, but the dominant colour was silver. Rose could almost feel it glaring at her even as it struggled against the pressure. Taking a step back, Rose couldn't help but smile as the shimmering field around the Silver Lord tightened. The dying light of the day caught the field and made it glint. An orb became visible and just kept shrinking smaller and smaller. Then it turned a solid silver colour and stopped at the size of a snow globe.
The silver orb rattled and spun on the surface of the ground. Around her, the cold of the Vortex was fading and the strange glow was receding. She was aware of the Doctor closing up the rip, but couldn't bring herself to take her eyes off the Silver Lord. The orb rattled again, striking a slightly elevated stone with a sharp strange sound. For a moment Rose feared that the Silver Lord might make it fall over and escape. The Doctor stepped past her and tapped the orb firmly with the edge of his umbrella and the movement stopped. Sighing in relief, Rose grinned at the sight.
"Well that's him captured then," she said. Rose took a shaky step closer, her jaw slightly slack. "Wow… I mean." A weak almost hysterical giggle escaped her. "Wow, I can't-"
"Rose?" The Doctor called carefully. He caught her arm gently, holding up her as her legs threatened to give out. Rose looked at him and found herself looking into worried blue eyes. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," Rose forced out. "It's just… I'm relieved." She forced a little smile. "It'll be easier knowing that he can't hurt me or anyone else again."
"What did he do to you?" the Doctor asked. His eyes had darkened now and Rose tensed at the sight of the growing storm in his eyes. But she forced a sad smile.
"I'll tell you the whole story someday Doctor, but not today."
The Doctor adjusted her arm once more, taking on more of Rose's weight. "As you say, Rose," he replied gently.
Smiling for real now, Rose felt another blush trying to take over. She was so grateful that there was no younger Ace here to tease her. Another giggle escaped her and Rose let her sword return to bracelet form. "Now all I need to do is deal with the Trickster and Eclipse once and for all and I'll be golden."
"The Trickster," the Doctor repeated. "You have an interesting life, Rose Tyler."
"Can't let you have all the fun, Doctor."
"I suppose that would explain part of the attraction," the Doctor said. There was a slight blush on his cheeks again, but he met Rose's teasing gaze evenly. Holding back a grin, Rose stepped around the orb and knelt down. Her fingers went the pulse of the man and a sigh of relief escaped her. "His pulse is strong," she told the Doctor. "I think he'll be alright." She pulled out her phone and stood up again. "Let me call an ambulance."
Rose was aware of the Doctor watching her as she quickly reported an unconscious man. She had to quickly ask him just where they were, her own sense of direction badly scrambled. Slipping her phone into her jeans pocket, Rose finally allowed her shoulders to relax and she looked around. Everything looked normal.
"Is that it then?" Rose questioned. "Rip closed?"
"Yes it is quite safe now," the Doctor answered. He nodded in satisfaction then looked back at her. He was about to say something else when a white and black flash of light filled the street.
Blinking, Rose summoned her sword and shifted in front of the Doctor, but was unsurprised to find the White and Black Guardians both standing there. They were in their suits and glowering down at the silver orb. She released the sword and allowed it to return to bracelet form. Rose inched forward as the dropped silver sword flashed in the low light. Something about it set her on edge, but she carefully knelt down and picked it up.
The Black Guardian shifted closer, examining the sword over her shoulder. He reached towards it and Rose saw the Doctor move in the corner of her eye. Before she was aware of what she doing, she slapped the Black Guardian's hand away. His and the Doctor's eyes widened in surprise, but the Black Guardian merely stepped back next to the smiling White Guardian. White gave him a warning look and Black's frown deepened. Rose almost laughed at the silent exchange while the Doctor looked between the pair with poorly concealed interest and surprise.
"Thank you for assisting Miss Tyler, Doctor," the White Guardian said politely. He tipped his hat a little as the Black Guardian reached down and picked up the silver orb.
"We'll deal with him," the Black Guardian said. His voice echoed ominously in the street.
"Are you going to imprison him again?" Rose questioned.
"He escaped the Void once before," the Black Guardian replied. "We won't be taking chances this time."
"His original exile was due to his nature being a threat," the White Guardian told her kindly. "It was an act of mercy not to harm him for something he had no control over. However, he has now proven that he will lash out if free."
"And you two are working together?" the Doctor asked. Rose looked at him and he was eyeing them both suspiciously. "Odd."
"Some threats require us putting aside our differences," the White Guardian said. The Black Guardian was glaring viciously at the Doctor. "We are both Guardians of the Universe."
"Yes," the Doctor agreed slowly. His tone suggested that he wasn't happy with their explanation. "Very well, but keep that creature contained. He managed to summon forth an army of neverweres."
"We are aware Doctor," the White Guardian said. He stepped closer to Rose and held out his hands. "If I may take the sword, Miss Tyler, it is not safe anywhere near you."
"What is it?" Rose asked.
"A blade he crafted to destroy you. It has the power to dissolve parts of timelines. Similar to the chronosteel items it could be used to alter even fixed points," the White Guardian admitted. Behind Rose, the Doctor made a sound of alarm. "I need to destroy it."
Rose was too tired to argue and carefully handed the blade over. The White Guardian's hands glowed for a moment and the sword dissolved into silver dust. Her eyes jumped over to the Black Guardian who had an unreadable expression on his face. Holding back a sigh, Rose reminded her that while the Black Guardian may be on her side right now he still liked chaos. It was after all his domain.
"Now Doctor, may I suggest that you tend to Miss Tyler," the White Guardian said. He clapped his hands together sending tiny sparks of silver dust into the air. "Do be sure to erase these memories, you aren't supposed to know her yet."
"What is your interest in the girl?" the Doctor demanded. He shifted slightly in front of her, placing himself between her and the Guardians. Rose almost rolled her eyes but caught the White Guardian smiling.
"Merely to guide and protect her," the White Guardian promised with a disarming smile.
"Though we failed to protect her from you," the Black Guardian huffed, almost pouting in his displeasure. Then he looked thoughtfully at Rose and then at the White Guardian. "I could still-"
"You know the rules Black," the White Guardian remarked. His smile was larger now. "Leave the Doctor be. You had your chances."
The Black Guardian scowled but vanished with the silver orb. Shaking his head, the White Guardian looked back at the Doctor. "Fear not Doctor, it will all be clear one day." He nodded at Rose and gave her a small warm, almost grandfatherly smile. "Good luck with the rest of your year, Miss Tyler."
"Thanks," Rose replied automatically.
"And don't forget Doctor, you mustn't remember this," the White Guardian said once more.
"Yes yes the timelines," the Doctor replied impatiently. "You're a bit more worried than usual." He was leaning on his umbrella and looking between Rose and the Guardian thoughtfully.
"You'll meet her properly when you need to," the White Guardian assured him. "You don't need her yet." There was a finality to the words that rang in the alley.
There was a flash of something like dread and understanding in the Doctor's eyes that Rose hated. Then the Doctor sighed softly and shook his head a little. He slipped the device into his pocket and then looked at Rose, his eyes instantly narrowing on the injury. Gently he took her arm and guided Rose back to the TARDIS.
The TARDIS medical bay was largely unchanged from how Rose knew it. Rather than the coral colour she knew, the walls were sterile white with roundels lining the top section of the wall. While she didn't know what the various machines did yet, Rose recognised many of them. The Doctor kept a tight grip on her uninjured arm and lowered her down into a chair. Then his shifted her arm and inspected the wound. Rose finally looked down at it herself. It looked like a regular wound, but there was a faint silver hue to the skin around it. Relief that the Silver Lord hadn't managed a worse hit filled Rose. It was the first time she'd ever seen the Silver Lord use a sword and she had no doubt it had been for something ugly.
"Odd," the Doctor murmured. "The wound-" He cut himself off and shook his head, bringing the small dermal regenerator up to her arm. "Hold still."
Rose did as he said, familiar with the dermal regenerator. Soon enough the skin of her arm knit back together leaving a thin patch of slightly paler skin, but no scare. Rose let out the breath she was holding. It felt fine, nothing too bad had happened from the sword thankfully, but she had to wonder what it would have done if he'd managed a fatal blow.
"I guess that's my cue to go," Rose said softly. "Before we mess the timeline up."
"I'll see you out," the Doctor said.
To her surprise he extended his hand. Rose took it gratefully, smiling to herself as their fingers settled comfortably against each other. They were still for a moment and the Doctor looked down in surprise. Then he led her out of the medical bay and down the corridors of the TARDIS. It was familiar and yet different all at once, a bit like him. Her heart sank a bit as they stepped back into the console room. She had to say farewell to him yet again but stayed silent as the Doctor opened the door for her. Then he released her hand as she stepped out.
"Well," the Doctor finally said. "You are certainly interesting, Rose Tyler."
"Not so bad yourself Doctor." Rose resisted the urge to hug him or worse kiss him. "Thank you."
"I'm not entirely certain just what must have been going through my successor's mind when he chose to tie us to you, but I suspect it will be very interesting to find out."
"Well we aren't actually married yet," Rose informed him with a chuckle. On an impulse, she held up her ring and let the alien stone catch the light. "Just engaged at my point in our timelines. I'm afraid that even once I start travelling with you things are a bit complicated."
"You seem to like that word."
"It does the trick," Rose replied with another small smile before she turned serious. "Thank you though Doctor. I know crossing your own timeline is uncomfortable for you. I know that you don't like altering your own memories, but I'm grateful you were here. No matter what incarnation you're in, I always feel better with you nearby."
"Earlier you said…" the Doctor trailed off. The soft blush was back and Rose barely kept herself from grinning.
"That I love you," Rose said. She felt her own face flush a bit. "Yeah, I did. It slipped out."
"Do you then?" the Doctor asked. His voice was stronger now and he was looking at her curiously. Rose wasn't sure where the question was coming from or why he looked like he desperately needed to know. Maybe someday she'd find out.
"Yes, I do love you, have for years and will for the rest of my life." The words were solemn and settled in the air around them. "I wish…" She shook her head. "Like the White Guardian said: you'll meet me properly when you need me."
Then to her surprise, as a soft sigh escaped the Doctor, he took her right hand and brought it up to his lips. He pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles before releasing her hand and giving her one last searching look. Unable to resist, Rose leaned forward and pressed a soft chaste kiss to his lips. They stared at each other a moment longer before Rose forced herself to step back.
"Until next time Doctor," she said.
"Farewell, for now, Rose Tyler," the Doctor replied. He offered her a slight smile. "I suspect that while I won't remember this, something will remain. I look forward to meeting you properly."
The words made Rose grin and the Doctor's smile widened. Then the TARDIS door closed and Rose exhaled slowly as the TARDIS dematerialized, leaving her standing alone in the backstreets of Mumbai. After a few moments, the warmth of the India weather and the smells and sounds of the city now restored to normal washed over her.
…Next Time…
The tall blue police box began to fade into view while Rose beamed in relief. A moment later it settled into place and Rose dashed forward for the door. She was reaching for the key around her neck when the doors swung open to allow her entry.
There was a man standing a short ways from the doors waiting for her. He was familiar to her, though Rose couldn't recall ever seeing his face before. They locked eyes, her brown eyes meeting his cool blue ones and she almost shuddered under the immense age contained in them. Yet beneath that was a warmth that was unmistakable and Rose felt a smile tugging at her lips as the certainty of who he was settled into her bones.
"Rose Tyler," he greeted in a soft rolling Scottish accent.
"Hello, Doctor."