The next time Arthur landed, he was inside an abandoned warehouse.
He's not entirely sure where and when he is now. It seems like an ordinary warehouse he often sees around his old orphanage. He used to play there whenever he got bored, all by himself. No children ever played that warehouse for how creepy it looked. The boy recalled a strange, spooky story about that warehouse. But he doesn't recall exactly what kind of story was that.
Not long after, Arthur finds the Doctor, Yasmin, Ryan, and Graham enter.
"Hello, Sunny!" The Doctor greeted him and gives him a warm hug. "Oh! How I miss you!"
"Wait, Doc," Graham interrupted. "How on earth he's here? I thought..."
"No now, Graham," she cut in, scanning the area.
"But you said he was disappeared..."
"Later, Graham," she insisted with a bit of harsh tone.
"There's nothing in here," Ryan noted.
"Why padlock an empty room? Unless it's not empty," the Doctor countered.
"What are you searching for?" Arthur inquired when he spots a suitcase appears in front of them.
"That wasn't there a second ago," Graham recalled.
"No kidding," Ryan commented.
"It was there," the Doctor denoted. "We just couldn't see it."
"Perception filter," Arthur realized.
"Why would anybody do that to a suitcase?" Yasmin wondered as they look at an initial that said GFB on the suitcase.
"Can we open it?" Ryan asked.
"Is the right question," the Doctor agreed and stepped closer to inspect. "Is anyone excited? Cos I'm really excited."
"You won't be if it's a bomb," Graham remarked.
Arthur gulps. Why lately is he always facing bombs in this adventure?
"Don't kill the vibe, Graham," the Doctor protested as she opens the suitcase to reveal 5 technology inside.
"Whoa," Ryan responded. "Not very '50s."
"I knew it. See, now there's a problem. We're not the only ones in Montgomery who don't belong here."
"Any clues what any of that is?" Yasmin asked.
"Information brick, multi-intercept... and surveillance device," Arthur identified.
The Doctor smiles, proud. "Indeed, Sunny. And all a bit knackered, though."
"Well, why has it been left in here?" Graham wondered.
"This explains the artron signals. This is very bad news. Secondary charger for a..."
"Look out!" Arthur yelled as he spots a man standing far from them, firing something past them.
"Run!" The Doctor shouted, grabbing Arthur. "Over here," she urges others to follow her outside. They soon spot the same man climbing to the top of a rusty oil. "Stay here." She gets onto the next tank. "Oi, Brando, looking for us? I'm not armed."
"Is that supposed to make me not shoot you?" He dared.
"Ideally," the Doctor hoped. She must be careful now. This man can harm Arthur. And she had sworn to protect Arthur at any cost. "So, temporal displacement weapon. Horrible things. Can't stand them."
"Thank you."
"Not a compliment. Takes a lot of power to displace things in Time. I think you and I both know your weapon's pretty much out of juice. And I've got your spare battery. You've been leaving traces of residual artron energy all over 1955."
"And what are you, the Artron Police?" He eyed her. "Maybe you are. The blue box in the alley. Is it a Tardis?"
"Might be. What's it to you?"
"Well, it could be worth a lot."
"Nah, not that one. Second hand, huge mileage, one careless owner. Mind you, it's better than a Vortex Manipulator, like the one on your wrist," she gestures. "Cheap and nasty time travel."
The man fiddles with the thing on his right wrist, revealing a tattoo on the inside of his left wrist. The Doctor still doesn't like much with the tattoo, not after the Raven incident. But she can't help herself from being familiar with that tattoo's design. "So, what do you want with Rosa Parks?"
"Who?"
"Oh, now you're being annoying."
"The feeling's mutual."
"How long have you been here?" She asked again.
"Get out of Montgomery," he warned.
"You're not the first to say that to us."
"If I see any of you again, I will kill you and that boy."
"Don't try to play games with me," she suddenly snapped, making the man takes a step back. "If you touch a single hair of him, you'll going to face a real hell itself."
Krasko simply observes. "Chop, chop, on your way now."
The Doctor gives his weapon a quick scanning.
"What are you doing?" He asked, to which the Doctor doesn't reply as he returns with others.
"Come on, gang," she called, holding Arthur closer.
"Are we actually leaving?" Yasmin inquired.
"We're not, are we?" The blonde boy asked.
"Not in a million years," the Doctor remarked with conviction.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
"Why can't we just stay in the Tardis?" Graham wondered as they all arrive inside an old motel room Arthur helps Yasmin and Ryan sneak inside.
"Our friend with the temporal displacement weapon's got eyes on it," the Doctor reasoned. "We go in and out of there, we're going to run into him again and I don't want to just yet. Not till we've figured this out."
"And this is better? Smuggling ourselves into crummy motels?" Ryan huffed.
"I just need a moment to work this out."
"Yeah, like, what do we actually know?" Yasmin asked.
"Well, 1955, Montgomery," Graham started. "One day away from Rosa Parks refusing to give her seat up on a bus."
"Meanwhile, we've got an out-of-time impostor skulking at the bus works with a temporal displacement weapon," the Doctor added.
"I understand weapon, but not sure about temporal or displacement," Ryan admitted.
"Displaces you through Time," Arthur answered. "If it hits you, you're thrown through Time, to wherever the user has set it."
"And he had it set for the very far future," the Doctor finished.
"That's horrible," Ryan shivers.
"Yes. And it uses artron molecules. That, plus his Vortex Manipulator were presumably what the Tardis detected when it brought us here. Might also explain why Sunny's here."
"So do we think he's trying to kill Rosa Parks or use that weapon on her?" Yasmin wondered.
Arthur shook his head. "He's been here a while and set up base at the bus works. If he wanted to get rid of her, he could have done it immediately."
"Besides, the sonic picked up something else on him," the Doctor added, "but I'd need to go back to make sure." The Doctor starts writing on the wall using a marker. "Right, what do you remember about Rosa from school?"
"Oi, whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing?" Graham argued. "That is vandalism. We'll have to pay for that."
"It's a special pen," Arthur reasoned, remembering River and Delaney carried that same pen. "You can make it disappears with sonic device."
"Rosa takes the bus on the 1st December 1955," the Doctor began. "What time of day?"
"Evening. She was coming home from work," Yasmin answered. "I remember cos she said people thought she didn't stand cos she was tired from working, but she wasn't."
"Where did she work?"
"A department store," Arthur replied. "She was a seamstress."
Suddenly, there's a banging on the door, coming from outside.
"Bathroom," Yasmin suggested.
"Seriously?" Ryan complained.
"Very seriously," she insisted before dragging Ryan inside the bathroom.
"The wall," Arthur pointed out. The Doctor scans it, making the writing disappears before opening the door, revealing a rather fat officer.
"Oh, officer," the Doctor greeted. "What can I do for you?"
"Can I come in, ma'am?" He asked.
"Ma'am. Still can't get used to that," she admitted, glancing at Arthur. "Don't worry, Sunny. This police officer was so keen to come in he didn't feel the need to introduce himself."
Graham frowns. "Is there a problem, Officer...?"
"Mason. Montgomery Police," he introduced.
"I'd offer you a cuppa, but the refreshment facilities are very poor. I'll be leaving a note," the Doctor commented.
"British?" Mason guessed.
"How can you tell?" Graham wondered.
"You've been making folks uneasy."
"Because we're British?" Arthur frowns.
"No, not that," Mason grumbled like he doesn't want to be around children. Not the first time people did that to him, honestly. "D'you happen to know a couple of... mongrels, hmm? Negro boy, Mexican girl?"
"I don't recognise anyone by that description," the Doctor shrugged.
"Huh. See, the er... negro's been going around picking fights with upstanding citizens. Now, you appreciate it's er, an offence to harbour coloureds in a room here."
"We're not harbouring anyone who doesn't have a right to be here."
"Mmm-hmm. What's your business here in Montgomery?"
"Vacation," Arthur responded without a second thought. "I wanna visit Montgomery."
"Uh-huh," Mason muttered before bursting into the bathroom. Arthur relaxes a little when knowing Ryan and Yasmin already escape earlier. "Hmm. You get yourselves gone as soon as your, er... vacation is over, mmm-hmm?"
Graham responds with a smile, hugging the Doctor who looks displeasure as Mason left.
"I hate him," Arthur admitted, pouting. "He's a meanie."
Graham just raises his eyebrows and the Doctor had to stop herself from smiling.
For her, hearing Arthur said 'meanie' is just too adorable.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
They spend their next hours planning everything. To make sure history sticks without any damage, they need all information they can gather regarding Rosa Park herself and her action that creates history as they all know.
Arthur barely remembers much, since his body needs some rest from jumping before. It seems that no matter what, he always gets tired after the jump, despite he has already done this couple of times. It really annoys him, getting extra sleepy time.
He wants to help them, not to burden them more.
"Hi. Nice to see you again," Yasmin greeted, stopping Arthur from his thought and returning his focus to reality where they're sitting on a bus with Rosa. The Doctor's sitting beside her. "Mrs Parks, right?"
"Yes," Rosa agreed.
"You helped us out earlier today with our little misunderstanding," the Doctor noted.
"I remember. British."
"Yes. Funny thing, you'll never believe this, we're actually doing market research for bus companies. Looking at people's transport habits. Answer the questions, enter the raffle for a prize. You get this bus this time every day?"
"Most days. Always this time."
"And you live...?"
"Cleveland Court. Next stop," Rosa stated. "Ma'am, if you keep sitting there, we're all going to have to move."
Arthur quickly notices many passengers looking oddly at them. "What do you mean?"
"If white folks need seats, by law, I have to give mine up. This middle section is only for coloureds if white folk don't need it."
"Well, that's not right," Graham argued as the Doctor moves to an empty seat in front.
"Tell your company that, sir," Rosa commented. "If I win your raffle, will that give me the right to sit anywhere I want on this bus?"
"No," Arthur sadly replied.
"I didn't think so. This is my stop."
With that, Rosa leaves by the rear door.
"I'm going to follow her," Ryan suggested. "See what I can find out. Meet you back at the motel later."
"Ryan?" The Doctor called. "Be careful."
"Yeah," he said before leaving.
"Do you think he'll be all right?" Yasmin wondered.
"I hope so. Graham, do you think you can find James Blake, the driver?" The Doctor asked.
"Er, yeah. I'll just have a talk with the bloke at the front and find out where they all drink," Graham mentioned.
"Yaz, Sunny, can you compile a timeline of what happens this time tomorrow evening?"
"Okay," Yasmin nods before frowning. "What are you going to do?"
"Talk to our friend," she declared, holding Arthur closer and giving him a quick kiss on his cheek. "Tell him to stay out of history's way."
▪︎▪︎▪︎
It was relatively easy, to say the least. He and Yasmin spend some time checking out the time in order at their temporary base (alias the motel) from whatever's going to happen with Rosa Park.
The moment they regroup, Arthur hears bad news.
Apparently, James Blake, the driver that would report Rosa into her arrest, suddenly took a day off, replacing someone else called Elias Griffin Junior. Adding more time for them to fix the timeline and make sure whatever happens with Rosa Park happens.
Luckily, Yasmin had a plan. She and the Doctor will offer Elias a free lottery ticket to keep the man busy and not get into the bus, while Ryan and Graham bother James himself so he'll get his job back.
And, in addition, in case something strange might happen to Rosa, the Doctor, Yasmin, and Arthur himself going to be with Rosa, buying some time so the woman kept busy and arrive at the bus precisely as history dictated.
"Mrs Parks, enormous clothing emergency. Can you help me?" The Doctor asked as they enter the building where Rosa works.
Rosa checks the Doctor's jacket. "That is one nasty tear."
"Yes, it is," Yasmin agreed. "And there is nothing us Brits hate more than a clothing emergency."
"Mrs Parks, I have to go out in that coat this evening, and if it's torn I'll get in such trouble," the Doctor commented.
"Can you take a look at it now? Double time Christmas bonus?"
Rosa checks something in her book. "Well, I don't have any collections until tomorrow afternoon. I guess I could fit you in. Now, if you come back just before we close..."
"We'll wait," Arthur proposed. "You might get bored."
"I don't need company."
"No, but my coat does," the Doctor insisted. "It's very valuable. I don't usually let it out of my sight. Thank you. You're going to make a big difference."
"Oh, I'd best set to work, then."
She grabs Yasmin's and Arthur's hands, whispering. "Don't let her out of your sight. I'm going to go meet Graham and Ryan. Remember, get Rosa out of here by 5:40 at the latest to be on that bus on time."
As the Doctor leaves, Arthur checks the time. It's already 3:50. Hopefully, they can make it out.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
"Have you always wanted to be a seamstress?" Yasmin asked as Arthur checks the clock. Again. For billion times.
"I dreamed of being a teacher, but my grandmother got sick, then my mother, so that was the end of school," Rosa confessed, sewing the Doctor's jacket that's hanging on a mannequin.
"Sorry about that," Arthur admitted, looking down. "I'm... also quit school. Never belongs anywhere. People found me as weird." He smiles a little. "Until the Doctor comes to my life."
"Glad to know that, kid. I got myself educated as well. Just... took longer than I thought."
"But you kept going," Yasmin noted.
"Always. An education makes you unstoppable."
"But don't you ever feel tired with everything around here? People, that keep making your life so much harder?" Arthur wondered.
"What keeps you going?" Yasmin agreed.
"Promise of tomorrow," Rosa answered. "When today isn't working, tomorrow is what you have." She looks at Yasmin. "You married? Got a job back home?"
"Not married, and I'm a police officer."
"You're police?"
"Yeah. Just starting. Not where I want to be."
"Hmm. Where is it you want to be?"
"In charge."
Rosa chuckles. "Amen to that," she hoped. "What about you, kid?"
"I... I'm just wandering around lately," Arthur shrugged, trying to explain his situation to Rosa without making it more confusing. "My mother asked the Doctor to keep me safe... and I'm just tagging along. The Doctor always travels around, so I never stay in one place."
Rosa glances at Arthur curiously. "What about your father? Does he ever miss you?"
Arthur's going to open his mouth, to answer that he had no idea about his father... but stop himself from saying it. His mind went blank, thinking, realizing something.
He knows that his mother left him in an orphanage for his safety. He knows that the Doctor was his mother's acquaintance. Other than that, he doesn't know much information about his mother.
But his father... he barely even knows about his father. He doesn't even consider his father's whereabouts and his status.
Where is he? What happens to him?
"Shouldn't you be finishing up?" Yasmin asked, cutting Arthur from his thought.
"If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well," Rosa said.
"But don't you have a bus to get?"
"I can always walk."
Yasmin and Arthur look at each other, worried.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
Rosa cuts a thread and checks the jacket. "I think that should just about..."
Yasmin takes the coat from Rosa and drags her. "Love it. Let's go. We'll walk you out. Pay you on the way."
"Oh," Rosa responded as Arthur checks the time.
5:39. Just in time.
He, Yasmin, and Rosa on board the bus and soon met with the Doctor and Graham inside.
"Yaz, Sunny, you're here," the Doctor called. "How's it going?"
"She fixed it," Arthur informed with a smile.
"Oh, thank you, Mrs Parks. Beautiful work. Much appreciated."
"You're welcome, ma'am," Rosa replied, looking around before slowly leaving the bus.
"Don't shut the door, don't drive off. One more coming on," Ryan shouted from outside before getting inside. "Found you. I just got rid of Krasko."
"How?"
"I borrowed this," he gives a device Arthur had never seen before to the Doctor. "I think I dialled the settings as far back as it can go. He's gone."
"Use the door for coloureds," Blake reminded as Ryan pays using a coin, gets off and enter the bus at a different section with Rosa. "Law's the law."
"Jerk," Arthur whispered to Blake.
The Doctor nudges him. "Let's move back," she suggested to others as the bus drives on.
"Hey, Doc. Rosa's on board, Blake's driving. We're good, right?" Graham asked.
But the Doctor and Arthur don't say anything. Both look around, worrying.
"What's the matter?" Yasmin wondered. "What are you doing?"
"Counting seats," both said at the same time.
"Has it worked? Have we done enough?"
Arthur frowns. "Something's not... right."
"What do you mean?" Graham confused. "We get off at the next stop, right?"
"Empire Theatre, yeah," Yasmin noted as the bus stops.
Graham slowly gets up before a woman took his seat. "Right, come on, then. We can go, job done, history's safe. Well, come on, then."
"Holy crap," Arthur realized in horror.
"Arthur?" Yasmin called, confused.
"Don't get off, Graham," the Doctor warned, understanding why Arthur looks shaken. "If we get off, there's enough empty seats for white passengers. Rosa won't be asked to move. We have to stay on."
"But we're here. We're part of the story. Part of history."
"No, no, no, I don't want to be part of this," Graham begged.
"We have to," the Doctor insisted, holding Arthur's grip much closer. "I'm sorry. We have to not help her."
"I'm going to need those seats back there. Y'all better make it light on yourselves and let me have those seats," Blake told them.
Two women move back down the bus, then the man next to Rosa. She stands to let him out, long pause, looking around the passengers... before finally sitting down again next to the window.
In a rage, Blake gets up and moves a White sign from the row in front. "Stand up now."
"I don't think I should have to," Rosa simply stated.
"Are you going to stand up?!"
"No."
"If you don't stand, I'm going to have you arrested."
"You may do that."
Blake leaves the bus and uses a telephone box nearby, calling the police.
Arthur, shaken and feeling immense guilt, looks at Rosa as tears came down his eyes. "This isn't fair," Arthur argued, looking sad.
The woman just simply smiles, slowly patting his head, like telling him that everything's going to be okay. She let go of him as two policemen take her away from the bus, giving gives a little nod to them as she walks past.
"Let's go," the Doctor quietly said.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
Back inside the blue box, the Doctor explain what happens next.
"On Monday, the boycotts begin," she began. "Across Montgomery, people refuse to use the buses as a response to Rosa's arrest. And in just over a year, on 21st December 1956, segregation on buses in Montgomery was ended."
"So it all worked out for her," Ryan concluded.
"No, life's still hard for Rosa. She loses her job, so does her husband. It's a struggle, but they keep fighting. And in June 1999, Rosa receives the Congressional Medal from President Clinton, the highest award given to any civilian, recognising her as a living icon for freedom."
Arthur smiles when looking at the footage. "I'm glad."
"I agree. And guess what?" The Doctor opens the Tardis doors, where they can see stars and asteroid floating. "Asteroid 284996. Also known as Rosaparks."
"Amazing," Arthur gasps, looking at the asteroid with happiness. But then, he remembers something. "Doctor?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you know where my father is?"
The Doctor looks at Arthur without any good indication. She looks petrified, like never wants to hear that question coming from his mouth.
"No," she simply said before returning to the console, looking grim and solemn, just adding more confusion to Arthur and others.