Twists in Time
Chapter Three: Tylers and Jones: Martha Meets Jack
By Lumendea
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any spinoff material, and I gain no income from this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.
AN: Thank you so much for the wonderful comments! I'm so happy to see so much love for Martha and excitement for her introduction.
….
The Judoon were already inside when the Doctor, Rose, and Martha made it to the mezzanine above the waiting room. A tall and thick plant gave them cover as they peeked out. Rose noted the Doctor was blocking much of her view with her body. She wasn't sure if this was protectiveness left over from his recent death only or a new worry regarding the Judoon. Either was fair, she supposed.
A young man in a medical coat stepped forward to greet the Judoon. "Er, we are citizens of planet Earth. We welcome you in peace."
"Morgenstern," Martha whispered beside them. "Oh…"
The Judoon pushed him against the wall and shined a blue light in his mouth. Martha made a tiny sound of alarm, and Rose reached over to grab her hand.
"Please don't hurt me. I was just trying to help. I'm sorry, don't hurt me," Morgenstern rambled. The patients and other staff drew back in alarm. "Please don't hurt me."
"He'll be alright," Rose whispered to Martha.
Then the Judoon pulled back the light, and a recording of Morgenstern's voice played. They plugged the device into the armour. Rose remembered this from before and rolled her eyes. Couldn't they just keep an ongoing catalogue of languages rather than assimilate every time?
"Language assimilated," the Judoon said. "Designation Earth English. You will be catalogued." The rhino-like alien shined a blue light on Morgenstern's forehead. The young man squirmed but didn't run. "Category human." They marked a cross on Morgenstern's right hand before turning to the other Judoon. "Catalogue all suspects."
The small platoon of Judoon spread out through the room and began to catalogue all of them. Rose was pleased to see that the people weren't fighting them. Morgenstern's example seemed to have calmed things down a little.
"He did well," Rose murmured. "Considering."
"Oh, look down there; you've got a little shop," the Doctor said. "I like a little shop."
"It was there yesterday too, Doctor," Rose teased.
"Never mind that. What are Judoon?
"They're like police. Well, police for hire," the Doctor answered. "They're more like interplanetary thugs."
"And they brought us to the moon?" Martha pressed.
"Neutral territory," Rose answered. "They operate under very strict rules of what they can do and where."
"According to galactic law, they've got no jurisdiction over the Earth, and they isolated it," the Doctor added. "That rain, lightning? That was them, using an H2O scoop."
"What are you on about, galactic law?" Martha gasped. "Where'd you get that from? If they're police, are we under arrest? Are we trespassing on the moon or something?"
"No, but I like that. Good thinking." The Doctor smiled softly at Martha. "No, I wish it were that simple. They're making a catalogue. That means they're after something non-human, which is very bad news for me."
"Why?" Martha asked. The Doctor just looked at Martha. "Oh, you're kidding me. Don't be ridiculous. Stop looking at me like that."
Rose huffed softly, holding back a full laugh. The Doctor shifted back and grabbed her hand. "Come on then," the Doctor said.
Rose looked back into the entry just to check once more. The Judoon had let the young man step back from them. He still looked shaky, but he quickly straightened himself out and moved with the Judoon. So far, Rose was very impressed with most of the medical students working in the hospital. Martha was the coolest under pressure, but that young man and even Swales had pulled themselves together.
The Doctor made an impatient noise, and Rose resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She wasn't sure if this hype impatience was just due to his recent regeneration or if it would be lingering for a bit. Rose knew that, eventually, he would mellow a little. The question simply was when that would be. Then again, she was calmer about this incident than she might have been otherwise. It would turn out okay, one way or another. Rose didn't remember much about the news coverage as she'd avoided information, but it hadn't dominated the news cycle, so it would be alright.
They slipped into a staff room that was thankfully empty. The staff seemed to be busy running around and trying to calm the patients down. Martha exhaled and gave herself a small shake before turning back to the Doctor, who was inspecting a map of the hospital mounted on the wall. Then he started moving through the room, opening cupboards and looking around critically. What he was looking for, Martha wasn't sure.
"What now?" Martha asked.
"Okay, let's think about this," Rose said calmly, drawing Martha and the Doctor's attention. "They're looking for someone that is an alien. But why check into a hospital? If they recognize that you aren't human, then you're in a world of trouble. If you're lucky, UNIT is called, and if you're unlucky, Torchwood steps in before anyone else reminds them that they're not allowed to be around live aliens."
"What are you saying then?" Martha asked.
"That they're in the hospital for something. Likely something that is easier to get in a hospital than anywhere else, so much so that it's worth the risk."
"That could be a lot of things," Martha said. Rose could see the frustration and worry growing in the medical student. She was doing a good job keeping it in check. Then Martha frowned. "Though, probably not medications. Under modern rules, those are almost impossible to get your hands on. If you were on the staff, maybe, but even then, there's a lot of checks in place."
"Depends on their abilities," the Doctor murmured. He glanced at the door. "If you have the right talents, then a hospital doesn't pose much risk."
"I'm not sure about that," Rose huffed. "You're the alien with two hearts that thought checking into a hospital was a good idea. I'm not sure you're a good judge of that."
"Wait, what?" Martha gasped. She looked at Rose and then at the Doctor. "You aren't serious, are you?"
"About which part? The alien with two hearts thing or the thinking him being a patient was a good idea thing?" Rose replied. "Because I'm serious on both."
"It wasn't that bad," the Doctor grumbled. Then he shuddered. "Though, one of my deaths was due to doctors being confused about my two hearts and mucking around with my insides."
Martha didn't make a sound, but the sheer horror of Rose's reaction and the words made her feel sick and cold. She had no idea what to think about his words about his death, but this was… two hearts? That was just weird. How did that even work? Martha watched the emotions play over the woman's face with a rush of sympathy.
"Which one?" Rose asked softly.
"Seventh," the Doctor answered. He wasn't looking at her and was moving through the room like a cat on the prowl. "I need a computer. There must be a clue somewhere in the staff or patient files."
Martha still gaped. Then she took in a deep breath. Whatever these two were talking about wasn't' the priority. Rose was staring at the Doctor sadly. Shaking her head, Martha cleared her throat.
"Well, there are computers in the offices a few floors up. I have access."
"Good," the Doctor cheered up. "That's good. Nothing here is alien or unusual. At least not yet."
Martha led the odd couple out of the room. Computers. She could do computers, and the office would let them stay out of sight. While her giving access to these strangers wasn't great… well, Martha didn't think it would be anyone's main concern right now. Noise from the lower floor was drifting up. Never had the hospital been so loud. She wished the staff luck in keeping things calm. They made it up the stairs without anyone stopping them and slipped into one of the small side offices in the staff area.
There was an old computer terminal with one of the large boxy screens that the hospital was very slowly replacing. Martha glanced around nervously, but it was only them in the office. The Doctor went straight for the computer, pulling out a strange silvery tube. Martha was going to ask what it was before Rose started speaking again.
"Okay, but even if you can find whoever the Judoon are looking for, we need to address the whole bubble with limited oxygen situation," Rose said. She sounded calm, and Martha grabbed onto that. She liked calm and rational in a situation like this. "Jack has his vortex manipulator; he can come and give you a lift for Earth. Then you bring up the TARDIS. We can evacuate people that way."
"If too many people start disappearing, then the Judoon are likely to get extra twitchy," the Doctor pointed out. He was rocking on the balls of his feet and didn't seem to know what to do with himself. Then he paused. "But we could hide her and let her generate oxygen to buy time. All the patients stay where they are, and it eases the deadline."
"Will they notice?" Martha asked. They looked at her. "I mean, you said that they were thick, but surely they'd start to question that."
"Sadly, probably not," the Doctor said. He looked pained by the idea, and Martha chuckled weakly. He glanced at Rose and nodded. "Alright, we meet up with Jack and get the TARDIS up here."
"You meet up with Jack," Rose corrected. When the Doctor opened his mouth to argue, Rose cut in quickly. "I'm human, Doctor. Their scans will catalogue me as such."
"Except you've crossed paths with the Judoon in the past," the Doctor argued. He fussed with his hair, clear frustration on his face. "Rose, they will have a file on you, and it is very possible that there is still an execution order on you. Judoon do not like it when the law is used against them." He shook his head. "Better to not risk it. You need to stay away from them." He paused, and Martha could see the stubbornness in Rose's eyes lingering. "Rose, if they find you here and that execution order is still active, then they might declare the hospital guilty of harbouring fugitives with another one here and execute everyone."
Releasing a soft gasp, Martha allowed herself a moment of horror. Rose's eyes widened, but then the stubborn slant of her mouth faded, and she nodded.
"Alright," Rose agreed with a sigh.
Martha stared at them in shock. It was just one thing after another with this pair. If they weren't on the moon, the actual moon, and Martha hadn't seen those aliens, then she'd be sending them for psychological evaluations. Stepping closer to Rose and the Doctor, Martha cleared her throat and raised her chin.
"We need to focus," she cut in. "We're all worried, but if you can get more oxygen for the hospital, then that is the top priority."
"She's right," Rose agreed with a smile. "Okay, you get the TARDIS." When the Doctor started to argue, Rose smiled at him. "I'll help Martha look at patient records. I don't know as much about aliens as you, but I might spot something that she doesn't. We'll stay away from the Judoon."
"You promise?"
"I promise," Rose assured him. "You're right. If they are still mad at me, then I could make this situation worse. I won't do that."
The Doctor smiled, his brown eyes brighter now. Then Rose pulled out a cellphone, and Martha wilted.
"We're on the moon," Martha reminded her. "The call will never make it through."
"Superphone," the Doctor said. He smirked at her and turned back to the computer. "Honestly, I'm shocked he hasn't called yet."
Martha blinked again. Her mind was spinning, but she focused on the records as the Doctor brought them up. How he'd gotten through the security, she didn't know. She tried to listen in on Rose's call, though she could only hear half of the conversation. Even that was short and to the point, with Rose giving instructions to the mysterious Jack. Her gaze jumped back to the Doctor. A phone that could call Earth from the moon. Maybe he was really an alien. She eyed the silver tube that the Doctor was using on the computer.
"What's that thing?"
"Sonic screwdriver," the Doctor answered.
"Well, if you're not going to answer me properly."
"No, really, it is. It's a screwdriver, and it's sonic. Look." The Doctor held it up and the strange device made a whirling sound.
She blinked her eyes and gaped at him. "What else have you got, a laser spanner?"
"I did, but it was stolen by Emily Pankhurst, cheeky woman." Then, he smacked the computer. "Oh, this computer! The Judoon must have locked it down. Judoon platoon upon the moon. Because I was just travelling past, I swear we were just wandering. I wasn't looking for trouble. Honestly, I wasn't. In fact, we had plans. Granted, I wasn't thrilled with the plan, but there was a plan to visit Rose's mother. But the timing was wrong, and I noticed these plasma coils around the hospital, and that lightning, that's a plasma coil. Been building up for two days now, so Rose checked in. I thought something was going on inside. It turns out the plasma coils were the Judoon up above."
There was a lot in that little rant, so Martha focused on the last part. The Judoon and what they were after.
"But what were they looking for? Rose?"
"No, not her," the Doctor said firmly. "They're cataloguing humans, not looking for a specific one. They're after someone that looks human but isn't."
"Like you, apparently," Martha said.
"Humanoid," Rose corrected. She was holding the phone, but the call seemed to be over. "But not him."
"Haven't they got a photo?"
"Well, might be a shape-changer," the Doctor answered thoughtfully.
"Whatever it is, can't you just leave the Judoon to find it?"
"If they declare the hospital guilty of harbouring a fugitive, they'll sentence it to execution."
"Oh, Guardians," Rose groaned. She rubbed between her eyes as if fighting a headache. "I knew they were…."
"All of us?" Martha asked. That was a lot of belief.
"Oh yes," the Doctor said. His focus was on the computer. "If I can find this thing first. Oh! You see, they're thick! Judoon are thick! They are completely thick! They wiped the records. Oh, that's clever."
"What are we looking for?"
"I don't know. Say, any patient admitted in the past week with unusual symptoms. Maybe there's a backup."
Martha was distracted from offering help by a flash of light. The small room was suddenly even more cramped as a man appeared. She gaped at him, but Rose grinned and stepped forward to hug him in greeting.
"Jack! That was fast!"
"Moon was close enough to get a good lock on the Doctor and you," Jack replied with a smile.
The man was tall with dark hair and blue eyes, looking like he'd just stepped off a magazine cover. But his expression turned serious as he took in Rose and the Doctor's faces. He glanced in her direction and smiled, his eyes twinkling a little.
"Captain Jack Harkness." He held his hand out to her.
"One, he is not a captain," the Doctor snapped. "And two, Jack, we're in a hurry."
"Fine, fine." Jack sighed but gave Martha a wink. "Still, very nice to meet you."
Martha felt her cheeks heat up at the charming smile. The Doctor groaned and rolled his eyes, real impatience creeping over him. That seemed all Jack needed, and he turned his attention to the Doctor and Rose, the flirty hint in his expression falling away.
"So, who am I taking back? Rose said to the Doctor, but…."
"Take Rose," the Doctor said. "She's in more danger up here than I am."
"You are literally not human," Rose snapped. "But beyond that, this is going to be a precise landing," Rose said with a shake of her head. "I'm not a bad pilot, but that's a lot to ask." She nodded towards Martha. "So that needs to be you, and I'm not leaving Martha alone up here. Just go and get the TARDIS. The quicker you go, the quicker you'll be back."
"Right." Jack agreed. He nodded to Rose and held a hand out to the Doctor with a grin. Rolling his eyes, the Doctor ignored it and shifted closer to Jack, wrapping his arm over his shoulders.
"You know holding a hand isn't enough contact," the Doctor grumbled.
"Very true." Jack's eyes were twinkling. "Get in nice and close, Doctor."
The Doctor sighed, though Martha noted he didn't really look annoyed, and a hint of a smile played at his mouth. Rose looked like she was just barely holding back a laugh. Still, Martha was a bit confused as to what was going on until the man pulled back the sleeve of his leather jacket and toyed with a device strapped to his wrist. Then they vanished in a flash of light. Gaping, Martha turned back to Rose, who just smiled.
"He really is an alien, then?"
"Yes, and is going to get our sentient, alien ship because she can help keep the oxygen level from collapsing." Rose gave her another smile and nodded to the chair tucked into the corner. "Do you need a minute?"
"No," Martha replied. She shook her head firmly. "No, with the computer wiped, I think we should find Mr Stoker. If there is a backup, he'd know. Since your phone works, we can meet up with the Doctor and Jack when they're back."
"Good plan. If Mr Stoker can point me towards it, I can get the system up and running," Rose promised. "I'm familiar with modern computer systems."
"Right." The way she said modern confused Martha a touch, but it was good to hear that she had someone qualified on her hands. Taking a deep breath, Martha allowed herself a moment to shudder and shake off her building confusion. "Follow me."
Rose smiled at her and waited patiently for Martha. It wasn't long. They didn't have time for her to fall apart. Giving Rose a smile of her own, Martha gestured towards the hallway. Together, they glanced out to check for Judoon and Martha quickly led Rose towards Mr Stoker's office as hope bloomed in her chest that maybe these impossible strangers could make sure everything worked out.