The Doctor didn't mind a bit of banter with Yvonne and Jackie when Rose was discovered down in the sphere room. After Asher's ominous comment, the group was a bit tense and him most of all. Asher didn't give warnings or hints really. She was smart with her foreknowledge and tended to keep things close to the chest, especially when she was newer to the whole adventuring thing like she was now. This meant that whatever was about to happen was going to be very not-good and as much as his curiosity demanded he question her further, he knew better. Even if it was dangerous, if it was something that couldn't be stopped—truly, couldn't—then he had to let it go and play out as Asher believed.

There was a hum of machinery then, drawing Yvonne's attention and making her get up out of her seat to figure out what was happening. The Doctor's gaze followed after her as she yelled at her staff to stop the Ghost Shift she'd halted but she wasn't getting a response. A quick glance at Asher showed the Doctor that she wasn't surprised and, as expected, she wouldn't look at him. He mentally sighed. It was the one thing he wished was different about the younger Asher. She was a realist and one with family and childhood trauma that hadn't been dealt with yet. So, when she did something she suspected was morally right but had consequences, she always expected to be hated for it. She didn't understand that he could never truly hate her for anything she did, especially about her choices concerning her foreknowledge. He might get frustrated or upset but he would never blame her.

But she's too young. She hasn't dealt with her own personal issues or known me long enough to see that. I need to be patient with her when this mess is over. She won't know what to do. He got up and moved to the doorway with Jackie as Asher stayed seated, eyeing the people who were typing away and ignoring Yvonne's commands to stop.

"Stop the levers!" She demanded as scientists tried in vain to pull them to a halt.

"What's she doing?" The Doctor questioned, going over to one of the workers and looking her over, snapping his fingers in front of her face as Yvonne tried to demand she move away from the desk to no avail. "She can't hear you. They're overriding the system. We're going into Ghost Shift. It's the earpiece. It's controlling them. I've seen this before. Sorry. I'm so sorry," he apologized as he drew his sonic and used it to disable the earpieces.

"What happened?"

"What did you just do?"

"They're dead," Asher spoke up from the doorway solemnly. "They have been for a while, not because of the Doctor but because they were converted while you were all looking at the sphere."

"Converted? What do you mean?" Yvonne asked, getting frustrated. "If you have all the answers, then why not just tell us!"

"Because it wouldn't make a difference," Asher argued, annoyed herself and rubbing at her face. "Those earpieces go straight into their brain. The second they had them installed, they were dead. What you should be more worried about is the fact that the Ghost Shift was forced just now. They made sure it would happen today, right now. You were never in control of it and they've just finished making sure it was ready for their goal."

"Who's they?" Yvonne asked, then turned to the Doctor. "Can't you stop the shift?"

"They've hijacked the system. Now, there might be a remote transmitter but it's got to be close by. I can trace it," he said, drawing his sonic again and pointing at Jackie. "Jackie, stay here with Asher! Keep each other safe!"

They nodded and he hurried out, hoping that this mess wasn't what he thought it was.

It didn't take long for the Doctor and Yvonne to be escorted back and I winced as the scientists who'd been trying to stop the levers were killed on sight by the Cybermen leading them. My heart was racing and I was scared to death but I stuck close to the Doctor as the Ghost Shift was opened up fully and the Ghosts were revealed to be what they truly were; an army of Cybermen.

"They're Cybermen. All of the ghosts are Cybermen. Millions of them, right across the world," the Doctor breathed, understanding what I'd meant now by how bad this mess was.

And he doesn't know about the sphere full of Daleks yet.

"They're invading the whole planet."

"It's not an invasion. It's too late for that. It's a victory," the Doctor corrected as an alarm on a nearby computer went off, announcing the activation of the sphere. "But I don't understand. The Cybermen don't have the technology to build a Void Ship. That's way beyond you. How did you create that sphere?"

"The sphere is not ours," said the Cyberman, and I hesitantly spoke up.

"I told you, they're separate. The Cybermen took advantage of an opportunity and just followed the Void Ship."

"Then, what's inside it?" The Doctor asked as Jackie panicked about Rose who was down there with it.

"Something far worse than Cybermen."

"What's down there? She was in that room with the sphere. What's happened to Rose?" Jackie demanded to know.

"If it helps," I muttered, keeping tucked just behind her and in front of the Doctor. "Rose is doing a great job of not getting killed. If there's one thing the Doctor's good at, it's teaching regular people how to fib long enough to get to safety. We're the ones who need to be concerned. I'd rather get shot by a Dalek than converted."

"Not going to happen," the Doctor said sharply. "I brought you here, I'll get you all out, you, Asher, and your daughter. Jackie, look at me. Look at me. I promise you. I give you my word," he swore and she didn't exactly look convinced but it helped her keep her nerve somewhat as the lead Cyberman approached Yvonne, who rose her head as confidently as she could manage.

"You will talk to your central world authority and order global surrender."

"Oh, do some research. We haven't got a central world authority," she spat.

"You have now. I will speak on all global wavelengths. This broadcast is for humankind," it commanded, broadcasting its demands for immediate world surrender and then being surprised when humanity didn't bend to its will. "I ordered surrender."

"They're not taking instructions. Don't you understand? You're on every street, you're in their homes, you've got their children! Of course, they're going to fight."

"God, America is probably losing its mind," I muttered under my breath before the Cyberleader stomped forward with the announcement I hoped never to hear.

"Scans detect unknown technology active within Sphere chamber."

"Cybermen will investigate," one agreed, as orders were passed out and two Cybermen were sent away to investigate.

"Ash," the Doctor breathed, drawing my hesitant gaze to him as he continued to monitor the Cybermen. "I know you can't say much but when you said this was bad, just how bad did you mean?"

"Honestly? As bad as it can get," I murmured, wringing my hands and eyeing the Cybermen wearily. "You won't be happy at all. I know that much."

"It won't be your fault if I am or not," he countered and I grit my teeth a bit, not entirely agreeing but not going to argue either.

A visual link was finally brought up and I winced and looked down at the floor when the Doctor finally saw a hint of what we were dealing with. The Daleks were arguing with the Cybermen and as mildly funny as it was on-screen, it was far less so in real life. There was no room for laughter here and none of us were about to, at risk of being killed.

"Rose said about the Daleks. She was terrified of them," Jackie said quietly to the Doctor. "What have they done to her, Doctor? Is she dead?"

"Phone," he hissed, taking it from her and calling Rose, who thankfully picked up rather easily. "She's answered. She's alive. Why haven't they killed her?"

"Well, don't complain!"

"They must need her for something," the Doctor muttered, glancing at me as I shrugged.

"I said she was doing good to survive. She said some bullshit about being important I think. I'm not sure but… it's not specifically her that they need."

"How do you mean?" He asked and I hesitated, nodding back at the display as the Daleks spoke.

"We must protect the Genesis Ark."

"The Genesis Ark?" He questioned, looking back at me as I debated whether to tell him or not.

He'll figure it out anyway and there's not much to stop what happens… "It's in the name," I begrudgingly gave in. "It's an ark. Like Noah's ark."

His eyes widened in understanding as Jackie and Yvonne looked between us in confusion.

"Hold on. What's that mean then?" Jackie questioned the Doctor as Yvonne eyed me.

"How do you know all this?"

"Why does that matter when we're going to die if we're not focused on the here and now?" I bit out as the Doctor glanced back at me.

"Can we stop it?" He questioned and I hesitated. "Not the whole thing. The Ark. Can we stop the Ark being used?"

"I… I-I don't know," I offered in uncertainty. "I tried to think of what I could do—what you could do. If there are not enough Daleks to take out enough Cybermen…"

He frowned and I grimaced.

"Sorry. I know that probably doesn't make much sense. I don't even know if I'm thinking about it the right way or if that's even an actual problem to consider. If anything changes then—"

"Then, something far worse could happen," he finished for me and I slowly nodded as he dragged a hand through his hair.

I didn't like being in this position; the person with all the answers but nothing to give. The future Doctors claimed that they trusted my decisions but still, I was hesitant to accept that; much less when I knew just how much was on the line and for a younger Doctor. I was scared that saying too much would change things to the point where I couldn't predict what would happen. I also had to worry about my own safety because nothing that I knew could prepare me for what might happen. As much as I'd like to claim that my morals were sound, the situations in Doctor Who were not things your average people just went through. I wouldn't know what might change if I were put in danger or if someone else's life was on the line.

"Quarantine the Sphere chamber. Start emergency upgrading. Begin with these personnel," the Cyberleader announced and I was startled out of my thoughts when a Cyberman grabbed myself, Yvonne, and Jackie.

"No, you can't do this! We surrendered! We surrendered!" Yvonne argued, struggling in its grip while I just stayed still, knowing there was nothing I could do to escape them and frozen in fear as well.

"This one. His increased adrenaline suggests that he has vital Dalek information," one Cyberman pointed out about the Doctor as he began shouting next.

"I demand you leave them alone! I won't help you if you hurt them! Jackie, don't fight! I'll think of something! Ash! Ash, stay safe! I promise I'll save you!"

I just nodded dumbly, knowing that wasn't about to happen and that Jackie and I would have to escape on our own while Yvonne got converted. I didn't wish conversion on anyone but Yvonne also played a large part in preventing Cybermen from getting up the stairs later. I was conflicted and confused and scared half to death. I was mentally arguing with myself about my so-called morals that said to let someone die to let the plot play out while also fearing what was going to change because I was there. For all I knew, I would be the first one to be converted and that thought sent a wave of ice through my veins.

We were led to the floor with the plastic sheets and I cringed with every person pushed past us into another room where they screamed as they were converted. I felt sick and swallowed thickly, eyes already looking for escape and wondering how fast I would have to be to run if I was going to be the first victim.

"What happens in there?" Jackie asked; a wobble of worry in her tone but far more steady than what I think mine might have been. "What's upgrading mean? What do they do?"

"I think they remove the brain... Sorry. I think they remove the brain and they put it in a suit of armor. That's what these things are. They're us," Yvonne tried to explain before the Cyberman in front of us grabbed her and pulled her along.

Jackie went to blame her but I grabbed her arm to silence her as Yvonne muttered about doing her duty for Queen and country before walking in and screaming. My grip tightened on Jackie and she held tight in return, looking at me.

"Y-You knew things, yeah? The future or something? How do we get out of here?"

"W-We have to wait."

"Wait? They're going to convert us!"

"I-I-I don't—The Doctor—" I grimaced, trying to remember what happened that saved her originally. "T-There was something that stopped the Cyberleader. I don't remember what."

"What use are you then?" She snapped in her worry and I knew that's all it was, was her lashing out in fear but it didn't stop the pain that flickered through me for a moment.

"Next," a Cyberman bit out and my eyes went wide when it grabbed my arm and started to drag me along.

"No," I breathed, starting now to fight against it as best I could even if its tight grip would leave bruising on my arm as I struggled. "No, no, no, no, no. You can't! Y-You—"

It suddenly released me to face another Cyberman who announced the leader's defeat and I wasn't about to waste time, bolting back for Jackie and grabbing her arm; pulling her through the hall and down into a stairwell. We continued to hurry down the stairs even as my breathing grew further and further labored. I might have been exercising a bit in my cell but a majority of my time in Torchwood was spent sleeping. I wasn't in the shape for this but the fear and adrenaline kept me going and Jackie as well. We could hear the echoes of the Cybermen stomping around even now and weren't about to stop until we were out of breath or certain we were safe.

Jackie's phone went off then and we finally pulled to a stop as she answered and I kept glancing up and down to be certain we weren't being followed yet.

"Oh, my God, help us! They tried to download us but we ran away!" She said, replying to the Doctor's questions. "I don't know. Staircase."

I pointed a shaking finger at the giant painted N3 on the wall and she was soon complaining about him leaving us before huffing.

"He hung up!"

"He can't keep on the phone and neither can we," I reminded her, tugging her a bit. "Come on. They're getting closer. We have to keep moving."

We hurried down more stairs until I jerked her to a halt, seeing Cybermen on their way up. We doubled back but I knew there were more above us coming down so I pulled Jackie through a door into the building and out of the stairwell. It was getting harder to keep going too. I had a painful stitch in my side that I kept my hand wrapped around to try and help and already I was stumbling more. I couldn't keep running for much longer. We rushed down the hall and then I skid to a halt as two Cybermen stomped toward us.

"You will be upgraded."

"No, but you can't! Please!" Jackie begged as I took a hesitant step back, pushing her lightly back as well.

I jumped though as there was a blast of something that hit the two Cybermen, destroying them before they could reach us. They collapsed and Jackie moved past me upon seeing the man who'd destroyed them, whereas I let out a sigh of relief and sank down against a wall. I let Jackie and her alternate-universe husband have their moment, trying instead to catch my breath as I ran a hand through my sweat-slicked hair. I was quivering from adrenaline and the fear that was ebbing away, flinching when someone touched my arm only to see the Doctor eyeing me in concern.

"You alright?" He asked as I lifted a hand and wobbled it a bit.

"So-so," I breathed. "F-Forgot how much running there was a-a-and Cybermen… they're not fun."

He cracked a small smile, giving my arm a squeeze of reassurance. "Come on. Up you get. Gotta get you back on the treadmill once we're done here. All that jail time let you slack off."

"Fuck off," I grumbled, accepting his help before giving him a look. "Do I honestly exercise for this sort of stuff?"

He smiled. "Oh, all the time. Tardis was thrilled to have someone finally using the gym. Takes a bit of encouragement and reminders but you get the hang of it. You said it's good for you."

I scoffed. "Travelling with you? Yeah, probably. I have shit stamina and Daleks don't give a damn about that."

He lightly tapped my temple with a finger. "Up here, I mean. Helps you take your mind off things."

"That too," I muttered, knowing I'd never really gotten around to regularly going to a gym back home due to financial costs as well as a lack of motivation.

"Now, we better keep going. The Daleks were moving out and I've got a plan but we need to get to the warehouse. Sorry, Ash, bit more running."

I waved him off as our group gathered up and started for the warehouse, doing my best to keep up and wincing as my aching side continued to cramp up. The Doctor was quick and able to get the Magnaclamps he'd been aiming for without getting hit, then we watched as the Daleks opened the roof and began to lift off up into the sky.

"What're they doing? Why do they need to get outside?" Rose asked as the Doctor grimaced.

"Time Lord science, they said, and… well, Ash kind of gave it away. It's an ark. It's bigger on the inside. We've got to go back up. Come on! All of you. top floor!" He demanded as I groaned and Jackie complained for me.

"That's forty-five floors up! Believe me, I've done them all."

There was a ding then and Jake poked his head out from a door nearby. "We could always take the lift."

"Oh, thank God," I muttered, joining the others inside the elevator as Mickey chuckled beside me.

"Been a while, Ash. How you holdin' up with the Doctor?"

"Still new to this whole thing," I admitted, fanning myself with my hand and shooting him a look. "First time meeting you so hello and all that shit, but I'm surviving. So far, anyway."

"First time? Blimey, what a mess for you to walk in on, huh?"

"Tell me about it."

The lift opened up at the top floor and the Doctor rushed out toward the windows as the Ark opened up and began dumping out more Daleks.

"Time Lord science," he breathed, sounding guilty as Mickey eyed the thing in concern.

"Did the Time Lords put those Daleks in there? What for?"

"It's a prison ship."

"How many Daleks?" Rose asked, eyeing them in growing fear.

"Millions."

"And you couldn't have stopped this?" Rose asked me as I shook my head.

"I-I didn't even know where to start. Stopping one thing wouldn't stop the rest, it'd just make it worse. I'm only one human. What could I have honestly done?"

She looked like she wanted to say something but held her tongue as Pete turned away from the mess outside the window.

"I'm sorry, but you've had it. This world's going to crash and burn. There's nothing we can do. We're going home," he announced, grabbing a yellow button from his bag nearby and offering it to Jackie. "Jacks, take this. You're coming with us."

"But they're destroying the city."

"I'd forgotten you could argue. It's not just London, it's the whole world. But there's another world just waiting for you, Jacks. And it's safe as long as the Doctor closes the breach. Doctor?"

The Doctor turned around with a big grin and 3D glasses on his face. "Oh, I'm ready. I've got the equipment right here. Thank you, Torchwood. Slam it down and close off both universes."

He hurried over to a computer to do just that as Rose came up beside him and questioned him.

"But we can't just leave. What about the Daleks? And the Cybermen?"

"They're part of the problem, and that makes them part of the solution. Oh yes! Well? Isn't anyone going to ask what is it with the glasses?"

"Thought you just wanted to watch the show," I teased from a chair nearby.

"Just missing the popcorn, but no. Nice try, Asher," he chuckled as Rose smiled a little.

"What is it with the glasses?"

"I can see, that's what. Because we've got two separate worlds, but in between the two separate worlds, we've got the Void. That's where the Daleks were hiding. And the Cybermen traveled through the Void to get here. And you lot, one world to another, via the Void. Oh, I like that. Via the Void. Look." He put the glasses on Rose and wiggled around in front of her. "I've been through it. Do you see?"

"What is it?"

"Void stuff."

"Like, um, background radiation."

"That's it. Look at the others. And the only one who hasn't been through the Void, your mother. First time she's looked normal all in her life."

"Oi," Jackie complained.

"But the Daleks lived inside the Void. They're bristling with it. Cybermen, all of them. I just open the Void and reverse. The Void stuff gets sucked back inside."

"Pulling them all in!"

"Pulling them all in," he agreed as Mickey spoke.

"Sorry, what's the Void?"

"The dead space. Some people call it Hell."

"It's the gap between universes," I offered. "No man's land, purgatory, whatever you want to call it."

"So you're sending the Daleks and Cybermen to Hell. Man, I told you he was good."

"But it's like you said," Rose realized, taking off the glasses. "We've all got Void stuff. Me too, because we went to that parallel world. We're all contaminated. We'll get pulled in."

"That's why you've got to go," the Doctor told her seriously. "Back to Pete's world. Hey, we should call it that. Pete's World. I'm opening the Void, but only on this side. You'll be safe on that side."

"And then you close it, for good?" Pete asked.

"The breach itself is soaked in Void stuff. In the end, it'll close itself. And that's it. Kaput."

"But you stay on this side?" Rose muttered.

"But you'll get pulled in," Mickey pointed out and the Doctor hurried back to pick up the Magnaclamp.

"That's why I got these. I'll just have to hold on tight. I've been doing it all my life."

"I'm supposed to go," Rose said and he dropped the Magnaclamps.

"Yeah."

"To another world, and then it gets sealed off."

"Yeah."

"Forever. That's not going to happen," she argued as he went to another computer near me—giving me a small look—before the building shook.

"We haven't got time to argue. The plan works. We're going. You too. All of us," Pete stated firmly but still Rose protested.

"No, I'm not leaving him!"

"I'm not going without her," Jackie said as well.

"Oh, my God. We're going," Pete said and Rose went to try and convince her mother to go as I eyed the Doctor for a minute.

"You're not asking me to go," I pointed out, suspicious of why I was being ignored in this situation.

"Can't," he muttered. "As much as I would try in other circumstances, there are too many unknowns with you."

"I came from another universe though. Don't I have the Void stuff?"

"A very minimal amount. Your trip through the Void was maybe milliseconds."

"But I bounce around your timeline or whatever."

"Through the Time Vortex. Different stuff. Thing is, you've not been to Pete's world and you've not traveled between universes more than once and not for long. What my plan will do is pull in everything covered in Void stuff. Like a big black hole in the middle of this room. We'll be pulled off our feet. You might not. Might be tugged a bit but that's it. It's not a risk keeping you here and there were… complications when you did show up for our impromptu trip to Pete's world."

I raised a brow. "Complications?"

He wrinkled his nose, debating whether to tell me or not. "Well, best thing I could come up with was you were allergic."

"To another universe?"

He shrugged, not really having more to say on that. "Point is, can't send you there and even if you weren't allergic, you always get pulled back to me. I doubt it would be an easy process if you were in another universe. Could kill you, so I'm not risking you leaving my side."

"Cute," I scoffed, earning a small smile from him that faded quickly as he looked back at Rose.

"You couldn't change this, could you?" He muttered and I solemnly shook my head.

"Rose can't stay. At the end of this, it won't be possible. She's got such a big role to play in the future and… and her leaving allows for progression. I know it sounds stupid but if she stays there are so many others you won't get the chance to meet. Other people need you too, Doctor."

He hummed, pulling out the leftover yellow button from his pocket and slipping it over Rose's neck. Pete saw and was quick to summon them back to his world, but Rose came right on back.

"I think this is the on switch," she said and the Doctor stormed over toward her.

"Once the breach collapses, that's it. You will never be able to see her again. Your own mother!"

"I made my choice a long time ago, and I'm never going to leave you. So what can I do to help?" Rose said and I could see him working his jaw before he gave in.

"Those coordinates over there, set them all at six. And hurry up."

Rose slipped over to the computer to do that as the Doctor came back over to the computer near me.

"She'll be safe," I murmured, drawing his gaze to me as he continued to frown. "I've not changed anything from what I know. I wouldn't when the consequences have the potential to be huge, so… so she will be okay… in case you're worried, I mean."

He dropped his head, taking a deep breath and letting it out. "Thank you."

"Sorry, I couldn't do more."

"No. No, I wouldn't want you to. You've always done your best to handle things the right way and… I appreciate that. Even if there are times when it might seem like I don't." He reached over and kissed the top of my head, surprising me. "I mean it, Ash. You've helped me far more than you realize and I know that it's not always easy dealing with me and my life but I wouldn't have it any other way."

I nodded silently before Rose spoke up from across the way.

"We've got Cybermen on the way up."

"Yvonne… Yvonne will stop them," I replied uneasily, seeing the Doctor's questioning glance. "She was converted before the Cyberleader was gone and we could get away but she was… she truly believed in doing her duty for Queen and Country. Not even Cyber-technology could stop that from leaking through."

The Doctor nodded and went back to his work, soon getting the levers operational for the particle engines that would close the gap between universes. He cracked a smile, beaming at me as I offered a small one in return and Rose cut in.

"That's more like it. Bit of a smile. The old team."

"Three Musketeers, the Three Stooges, the Bee Gees," he hummed, pleased with himself before handing Rose a Magnaclamp and securing his own before heading toward the lever. "You're with me, Asher. When it starts, just hold on tight. Shouldn't be too bad for us but the Daleks and the Cybermen are steeped in Void stuff. Are you ready, Rose?"

"So are they," she pointed out, gesturing to the Daleks outside the window and the Doctor hastily lifted his lever as Rose did hers; both running back to the Magnaclamps to hang on.

I grimaced as I clung to his and he kept a firm arm looked around my waist as well. The Daleks nearest the window flew in first while we were still somehow on our feet.

"The breech is open! Into the void! Ha!" The Doctor cheered as the rest of the Cybermen and Daleks started getting sucked in as well.

The pull wasn't as bad as I expected but it was probably as the Doctor said and I just wasn't as covered in Void stuff as the rest of them. Still, he kept a firm hold of me just in case. Then, there was a spark and Rose's lever started to switch back. Risking herself, Rose stretched and reached for it before falling and grabbing it desperately but she was struggling to stay on her feet.

"I've got to get it upright!" She shouted over the noise and somehow managed to only for her feet to slip on the tile and have her holding desperately to the lever as the Void tried to suck her in.

"Rose, hold on! Hold on!" The Doctor shouted just before her grip slipped off the lever. "Rose!"

She fell toward the Void but was saved at the last second by Pete who appeared quickly, caught her, and vanished. The Void closed a moment later and the Doctor's grip on me went slack. I let him slip away from me and walk over to the wall where she'd gone, fidgeting but saying nothing to let him have his moment of mourning.

"She's safe?" He asked after a while and I nodded as he turned and started to head toward me.

"Yes. She's… not happy but… she will be with time."

He nodded, standing before me before lightly touching my arm. "Could I… just for a moment."

I didn't need to answer, just reaching out and pulling him close to hold tight. He held me far tighter than I did, just taking shuddering breaths and clinging to me as I awkwardly pat his shoulder. It wasn't that I didn't care about what happened but for one thing, Rose was going to come back later. She would see the Doctor again and he would move on. The fact that I barely knew her added to that. I knew her as a character only. Even my relationship with the Doctor was kind of strained because of that. I was still settling into the fact that they were people now and that there were things I didn't know about them. I didn't truly know them yet and while I knew the Doctor a bit better, I didn't know Rose much at all here. I could only sympathize with the Doctor's pain and be there for him as best I could.

Yet, when he released me, I stumbled backward as though someone had pulled on the back of my coat and fumbled into the dirt. I grimaced, before realizing what had happened. The Doctor was gone as was the Torchwood Tower. I had traveled to some other point in the Doctor's timeline. Somewhere hot and in the middle of nowhere.

"Fuck me."