Martha stared at the console, a little miffed. She was completely confused why The Doctor hadn't let her have a proper goodbye with Zara. He'd just dropped her off and left. She'd watched the short conversation between the two of them on the scanner as she left, and Martha couldn't understand why he hadn't let Zara return to Earth with her. She knew the woman wanted to travel somewhere else than her home, and Zara seemed fascinated by 21st century. She already knew Martha really well, and considered her someone important in her life, but that wasn't hard seeing as she knew a grand total of four people, one being dead: her, The Doctor, Boe and Hame.
The Doctor pulled a lever on the console, The TARDIS landing, "There we go…perfect landing," He said. "Which isn't easy in such a tight spot."
"You should be used to tight spots by now." Martha smirked. "Where are we?"
"The end of the line." He replied as she rushed towards the doors. "No place like it." She looked back at him, questioning and he nodded back at her. She stepped out of the doors and into her flat, looking around, disappointed. "Home." She deadpanned as The Doctor stepped out behind her. "You took me home?"
The Doctor nodded, "In fact, the morning after we left, so you've only been gone about 12 hours. No time at all, really." He looked around, glancing at photos around the room.
"But all the stuff we've done—Shakespeare, New New York, old New York?"
"Yep, all in one night—relatively speaking. Everything should be just as it was—books, CDs," He picked up a garment of underwear from a drying rack, holding it out to her. "Laundry." Martha snagged it from him, offended. "So, back were you were, as promised."
"This is it?"
The Doctor inhaled deeply, nodding, "Yeah, I should probably…um…"
Martha's phone rang and the answer machine picked up, "Hi! I'm out! Leave a message!"
"I'm sorry." Martha muttered as the machine beeped.
"Martha, are you there?" Francine's voice rang through. "Pick it up, will you?"
"It's Mum. It'll wait."
"All right then, pretend that you're out if you like. I was only calling to say that your sister's on TV. On the news of all things. Just thought you might be interested."
Martha frowned, picking up the remote control and turning on the TV.
"The details are top secret—" An elderly man on screen said, the name of Professor Lazarus written underneath, talking to a press conference.
"How could Tish end up on the news?" Martha frowned, looking at Tish who stood behind Lazarus.
"Tonight, I will demonstrate a device…"
"She's got a new job." Martha explained, waving the remote as she spoke. "PR for some research lab."
"…with the push of a single button, I will change what it means to be human."
Martha sighed, switching of the tv, "Sorry. You were saying we should-?" She turned back to The Doctor.
"Yes, yes, we should." The Doctor nodded. "One trip is what we said."
Martha nodded, "Yeah. I suppose things just kind of…escalated."
"Mmm. Seems to happen to me a lot."
"Thank you. For everything."
"It was my pleasure." The Doctor smiled, stepping into The TARDIS.
Martha looked up at The TARDIS, nearly in tears, "You better go back for her." She whispered to herself. Because she did firmly believe that he in fact needed Zara Saxon. And unknown to her, Zara Saxon firmly believed he needed Martha Jones. She sighed, watching as the TARDIS dematerialized and she stared into the empty space.
...
The TARDIS rematerialized in the New New York alleyway and The Doctor opened the door, grabbing Zara, who hadn't moved since The TARDIS had disappeared seeing as only as barely 5 seconds had gone by, by the arm and yanked her back in. Zara let out a yelp, looking at him, confused as he slammed the door and ran up to the console.
Zara looked up as he ran round the console, pulling levers, completely stunned, never expecting to ever see The Doctor again, "Doctor?" She asked. "What's going on?" He pulled a final lever and the TARDIS materialized. The Doctor ran to the door, grabbing Zara's hand, and opened it up and the two of them peered out into Martha's flat. Martha looked at them, stunned.
"No, I'm sorry." The Doctor said. "Did he say he was going to change what it means to be human?"
Zara looked up at him, eyes wide, "Who said what?!"
...
Zara, dressed in a flowing, thick strapped, circle cut blue dress and pair of black pumps, her hair curled loosely, hanging over her shoulders, walked along the street in the night light with The Doctor in a black suit and bow tie, and Martha in a similar dress to her own, but in purple.
"Oh, black tie." The Doctor muttered, fiddling with his cuffs. "Whenever I wear this, something bad always happens."
"It's not the outfit, that's just you." Martha laughed.
"Anyway, I think it suits you." Zara agreed, whacking his hand away and doing up the button on his cuff. "In a James Bond kind of way."
"James Bond?" The Doctor asked before smiling down at her. "Really?"
"Yeah." Zara nodded, grinning.
Martha chuckled, shaking her head at the both of them as they stepped into the impressive entrance of Lazarus Laboratories.
...
The trio stood inside the main reception where guests mingled through out the room, a large white round cabinet surrounded by four pillars in the middle of the room.
"Oh, look, they've got nibbles!" The Doctor grinned, grabbing a piece of food off a passing tray. "I love nibbles!" He tossed it in his mouth and caught it as Tish walked over, smiling.
"Hello." Tish said.
"Tish." Martha replied, hugging her sister.
"You look great." Tish grinned, pulling back. "So, what do you think?" She asked, gesturing to the room. "Impressive, isn't it?"
Martha nodded, "Very."
"And two nights out in a row for you—that's dangerously close to a social life."
"If I keep this up, I'll end up in all the gossip columns." Martha joked.
"You might, actually. Keep an eye out for photographers. And Mum—she's coming too, even dragging Leo along with her."
"Leo in black tie?" Martha asked, incredulous. "That I must see." Tish glanced at the Doctor and Zara. "This is, uh, the Doctor and Zara."
The Doctor shook her hand, "Hello." Zara smiled, and shook her hand.
"Are they with you?"
"Yeah."
"But he's not on the list." Tish said, glancing down at her clipboard. "How did he get in?"
"He's my plus one."
Tish looked up at Zara, handing a plastic pass out to her, "Here you go Miss Saxon."
"Uh," Zara blinked, taking the pass from Tish as Martha and The Doctor frowned. "You knew I was coming?"
Tish nodded, "Mr Saxon phoned ahead."
"Bloke running for prime minister." Martha whispered quietly to Zara, who nodded back, still confused.
"So, this Lazarus bloke, he's your boss?" The Doctor asked Tish, frowning at the pass in Zara's hand.
"Professor Lazarus, yes." Tish nodded. "I'm part of his executive staff."
"She's in the PR department." Martha said, rolling her eyes.
"I'm head of the PR department, actually." Tish corrected.
Martha stared at her, stunned, "You're joking."
"I put this whole thing together."
"So do you know what the professor's going to be doing tonight?" The Doctor asked, glancing back at the white cabinet. "That looks like it might be a sonic microfield manipulator." He said, looking back at Tish with a smile.
"He's a science geek. I should've known. Gotta get back to work now. I'll catch up with you later." Tish nodded at the three of them, walking off to mingle.
"Science geek?" The Doctor asked. "What does that mean?"
"That your obsessively enthusiastic about it." Martha explained.
"Oh, nice."
Zara looked at the pass she held in her hand, with Miss Zara Saxon ACCESS ALL AREAS. She frowned, this 'Mr Saxon' knew she was coming. They shared a surname, but that was it. They weren't related, she had no family, she knew that. So how did he know she was going to be there?
"Martha." Francine called from behind Martha, shaking Zara from her thoughts.
The three turned round and Martha looked at her Mum and Leo, who stood next to her, "Mum!" Martha cried, throwing her arms around Francine.
"Oh." Francine said, stunned. "All right, what's the occasion?"
"What do you mean?" Martha asked, pulling back. "I'm just pleased to see you, that's all."
"You saw me last night."
"I know. I just…miss you." She turned to Leo. "You're looking good, Leo."
"Yeah." Leo nodded. "If anyone asks me to fetch 'em a drink, I'll swing for him."
Francine glanced behind Martha at Zara and The Doctor, "You disappeared last night."
"I...just went home." Martha said.
"On your own?"
Martha turned back, gesturing to Zara and The Doctor, "These are friends of mine, the Doctor and Zara."
"Doctor what?"
"No, it's just the Doctor. We've been doing some work together."
The Doctor shook Leo's hand, "Yeah, all right." The Doctor nodded, shaking Francine's hand as Leo and Zara shared a kiss to the cheek. "Lovely to meet you, Mrs Jones. Heard a lot about you."
"Have you?" Francine asked. "What have you heard, then?"
"Oh, you know, that you're Martha's mother and…um… No, actually, that's…that's about it. We haven't had much time to chat, you know, been busy."
"Idiot." Zara muttered quietly.
"Genius." He countered.
"Busy?" Francine asked. "Doing what, exactly?"
"Oh…you know…stuff."
Francine opened her mouth to speak again, only to be cut off as a tapping on a glass cut them off. Everyone turned round, looking to see the man they recognised as Professor Lazarus standing in front of the microfield manipulator.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Professor Richard Lazarus and tonight I'm going to perform a miracle." Lazarus announced. "It is, I believe, the most important advance since Rutherford split the atom, the biggest leap since Armstrong stood on the moon. Tonight, you will watch and wonder. Tomorrow, you'll awake to a world which will be changed forever." He stepped into the cabinet and two female technicians started the machinery from a bank of instruments behind the cabinet. A high-pitched whir and blight blue light filled the room as four pillars began to spin individually, creating an energy field before a klaxon went off.
"Something's wrong." Zara breathed. "It's overloading." She glanced over at the technicians attempting to stop it, the panels exploding and sparks flashing from it. Zara ran over, jumping over the low desk, pulling on some of the switches on the panels. The Doctor ran over, throwing her the sonic and jumping over the desk, bashing things as Zara soniced the controls.
"Somebody stop her!" An old woman - Lazarus' wife Lady Thaw shouted. "Get her away from those controls!"
"If this thing goes off, it'll take the whole building with it." Zara shouted. "Is that what you want?" She quickly yanked on one of the main wires and the cabinet slowly stopped spinning. Martha ran over to the door as Zara and The Doctor ran over to her.
"Get it open!" The Doctor shouted and the three of them yanked open the door and watched through the smoke as Lazarus emerged 40 years younger. Zara stared calmly at him and how much younger he was as photographers snapped away at him and Martha and The Doctor stared, amazed. Lazarus touched his face gently before stepping out of the machine.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Richard Lazarus." Lazarus called. "I am 76 years old and I am reborn!" He held his arms up in triumph and everyone clapped.
...
Martha watched as The Doctor and Zara studied the cabinet warily, Lazarus having his photo taken with people in the background.
"It can't be the same guy." Martha said. "It's impossible. It must be a trick."
"Oh, it's not a trick." The Doctor muttered. "I wish it were."
"What just happened, then?"
"He just changed what it means to be human." Zara sighed, glancing over at Lazarus as he stuffed his face with food. She made her way up behind him, The Doctor and Martha following after her.
"...I'm famished." Lazarus said to Lady Thaw.
"Energy deficit." Zara said, making Lazarus turn around and look at them. "Always happens with this kind of process."
"You speak as if you see this every day, Miss—"
"Saxon." Zara finished before gesturing to The Doctor and Martha. "The Doctor and Martha Jones. And, well, no, not every day, but I have some experience in this kind of transformation."
Lazarus frowned, "That's not possible."
"Using hypersonic sound waves to create a state of resonance."
"That's—that's inspired." The Doctor agreed.
"You understand the theory, then." Lazarus said.
"Enough to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables."
"No experiment is entirely without risk."
"That thing nearly exploded. You might as well have stepped into a blender."
"You're not qualified to comment." Lady Thaw scoffed.
"If Zara hadn't stopped it, it would have exploded." The Doctor snapped.
"Then I thank you, Miss Saxon." Lazarus nodded. "But that's a simple engineering issue. What happened inside the capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less."
Martha frowned, "You've no way of knowing that until you've run proper tests." She said.
Lazarus laughed, "Look at me! You can see what happened. I'm all the proof you need."
"This device will be properly certified before we start to operate commercially." Lady Thaw sneered.
"Commercially?!" Martha gaped. "You are joking. That'll cause chaos."
"Not chaos. Change." Lazarus said. "A chance for humanity to evolve, to improve."
"This isn't about improving." Zara spat. "It's about you and your customers living a little longer."
"Not a little longer, Miss Saxon. A lot longer. Perhaps indefinitely."
"Richard, we have things to discuss." Lady Thaw interrupted. "Upstairs." She turned and walked off.
"Goodbye, Doctor, Miss Saxon, Miss Jones. In a few years, you'll look back and laugh at how wrong you were." Lazarus said, reaching out and taking Martha's hand, kissing the back of it before leaving.
"Ooh, he's out of his depth." The Doctor muttered. "No idea of the damage he might have done."
"So what do we do now?" Martha asked.
"Now…well, this building must be full of laboratories. I say we do our own tests."
Martha held her hand up, wiggling it, "Lucky I've just collected a DNA sample then, isn't it?"
"And lucky I've got our way in." Zara smirked, holding up the ACCESS ALL AREAS pass.
The Doctor grinned, "Oh, Martha Jones, Zara Saxon, you're stars." The trio grinned at each other before heading off.
...
Martha, The Doctor and Zara stared at the computer screen in the lab, glancing at the DNA results.
"Amazing." The Doctor grinned.
"What?" Martha frowned.
"Lazarus's DNA."
"I can't see anything different."
"Look at it!"
"Oh, my God! Did that just change? But it can't have!"
"But it did."
"It's impossible."
"And that's two impossible things we've seen tonight." The Doctor grinned. "Don't you love it when that happens?"
"That means Lazarus has changed his own molecular patterns."
"Hypersonic sound waves to destabilize the cell structure then a mutagenic program to manipulate the coding in the protein strands." Zara shrugged, making The Doctor and Martha smile at her. "Basically, he hacked into his own genes and instructed them to rejuvenate."
Martha pointed at the screen, "But they're still mutating now."
"'Cause he missed something. Something in his DNA has been activated and won't let him stabilize. Something that's trying to change him."
"Change him into what?"
The Doctor breathed in sharply, "I dunno but I think we need to find out."
"That woman said they were going upstairs."
Zara held up her pass once again, smirking, "Let's go!"
...
The three of them stepped out of the lift and into Lazarus' office and The Doctor flicked on the lights.
"This is his office, all right." Martha muttered.
"So, where is he?"
"Dunno. Let's try back at the re…ception." She trailed off, glancing at a pair of skeletal bones wearing high heels sticking out from behind Lazarus' desk. They rushed over, looking at the desiccated remains of Lady Thaw. "Is that Lady Thaw?"
"Used to be. Now it's just a shell. Had all the life energy drained out. Like squeezing the juice out of an orange."
"Lazarus."
"Could be."
"So he's changed already."
"Not necessarily." Zara sighed, looking away from Lady Thaw's body with pity. "You saw the DNA. It was fluctuating. The process must demand energy. This might not have been enough."
"So he might do this again?" Martha exclaimed.
"Yes." Zara breathed and the three of them shared a look before rushing back to the lift.
...
The three of them ran back into the reception, looking around the crowded room frantically.
"I can't see him." Martha breathed.
"He can't be far." The Doctor said. "Keep looking." He turned, walking on as Leo walked up to Martha and Zara.
"Hey, you all right, Marth, Zar?" He asked. "Martha, I think Mum wants to talk to you."
"Have you see Lazarus anywhere?" Martha asked as Zara stood up on her toes, looking around.
"Yeah. He was getting' cosy with Tish a couple of minutes ago."
The Doctor headed back over as Zara dropped to her feet, staring at Leo, stunned, "With Tish?!" She shouted.
Francine appeared behind them, "Ah, Doctor, Zara."
"Where did they go?" Zara asked.
"Upstairs I think," Leo frowned. "Why?"
"Doctor—" Francine began and The Doctor rushed past with Zara following, spilling Francine's drink. "I'm speaking to you!"
Martha ran after them, "Not now, Mum!" She called over her shoulder.
Francine sighed angrily, going over to one of the tables and picking up a napkin, wiping herself down when a man in a suit walked up to her.
"I think you need one of these." The man said, handing her a fresh glass of champagne.
"Thank you." Francine nodded. "That's very kind of you."
The man glanced over in the direction Martha, The Doctor and Zara ran off in, "Do you know that man and woman?"
"No. They're friends of my daughter's."
"Perhaps she should choose her friends more carefully." He muttered, walking off.
...
The Doctor, Martha and Zara ran back into the office to find it empty.
"Where are they?" Martha asked as The Doctor took out the sonic.
"Fluctuating DNA will give off an energy signature." Zara said breathlessly. "We might be able to pick it up." The Doctor held out the sonic at arm's length, turning slowly in a circle and the beeping increased. "Got him."
"Where?" The Doctor followed the beeping, pointing the sonic at the ceiling. "But this is the top floor! The roof!" They turned and ran to the stairs.
...
Zara, The Doctor and Martha stepped out onto the roof, watching Lazarus and Tish.
"..."Between the idea and the reality, between the motion and the act-"." Lazarus quoted.
""Falls the shadow"." The Doctor finished.
Lazarus turned and looked at the three of them, "So the mysterious Doctor knows his Eliot. I'm impressed."
"Martha, what are you doing here?" Tish hissed.
Martha edged towards her, holding her hand out, "Tish, get away from him."
"What? Don't tell me what to do."
"I wouldn't have thought you had time for poetry, Lazarus," Zara glared. "What with you being busy defying the laws of nature and all."
"You're right, Miss Saxon." Lazarus nodded. "One lifetime's been too short for me to do everything I'd like. How much more would I get done in two or three or four?"
"Doesn't work like that." The Doctor said. "Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It's not the time that matters; it's the person."
"But if it's the right person, what a gift that would be."
"Or what a curse. Look at what you've done to yourself."
"Who are you to judge me?"
"Over here, Tish." Martha muttered.
Tish quickly walked over to her, "You have to spoil everything, don't you?" She asked. "Every time I find someone nice, you have to go and find fault."
"Tish, he's a monster!" Martha gasped.
Zara glanced back at Lazarus as he squirmed behind Tish, having another attack.
"I know the age thing's a bit freaky, but it works for Catherine Zeta-Jones."
At the sound of growling, Tish slowly turned around, looking up at Lazarus who had ripped into his second form, a sort of skeleton human-scorpion, rearing up on his hind legs.
"Run!" The Doctor cried, grabbing Zara and Martha's arms and they ran inside, sealing the lock with the sonic. Martha ran to the lift, pressing the button.
Martha turned back to Tish, "Are you okay?"
"I was gonna snog him." Tish gasped.
Outside, Lazarus banged on the door, setting sirens off through out the building.
"Security breach." The computer announced over the PA. "Security breach. Security beach."
"What's happening?" Martha asked.
"Uh, an intrusion." Tish said quickly. "It triggers a security lockdown. Kills most of the power. Stops the lifts. Seals the exits."
"He must be breaking through that door." Zara cried. "The stairs, come on!" They ran down the stairs, glancing back as the door crashed open.
"He's inside!" Martha gulped.
"Haven't got much time!" The Doctor said.
...
The four of them ran back into reception.
"Tish! Is there another way out of here?" The Doctor asked.
Tish nodded, "There's an exit in the corner, but it'll be locked now."
Zara snatched the sonic from The Doctor's hand as he opened his mouth to speak, grabbing Martha's hand and running off.
"Setting 54!" He called after her.
"I know!" Zara shouted over her shoulder, Tish chasing after them. The three bolted up to the door as guests began to run to the exits. Zara quickly soniced the doors and they swung open.
"Over here! This way!" Martha called, pushing people through as they ran past and out the door, screaming. "Everyone downstairs now! Hurry!"
...
Martha, Tish and Zara ran up to Leo, concussed against the table next to Francine.
"Martha." Francine said nervously.
Martha and Zara hoisted Leo up, "C'mon, stay with me." Martha encouraged.
"Leo mate, c'mon!" Zara said nervously, helping Martha pull him away from the danger.
...
Martha held Leo's head, examining him carefully.
"What's the Doctor doing?" Tish asked.
Zara turned and hugged Tish comfortingly, "He's trying to buy us some time. Let's not waste it."
"Leo, look at me." Martha begged. "Let me see your eyes." He looked into his eyes before looking up at Francine. "He's got concussion. You'll need to help him downstairs."
Zara let go of Tish, grabbing some ice out of a bucket and put it in a napkin, handing it to Francine, "This'll keep the swelling down." She said and Francine gave her a nervous smile.
"Go!" Martha said, grabbing Zara's hand. "I'll be right behind you! Tish, move! We need to get out of here!"
...
The partygoers ran down the stairs to the main entrance, Martha, Tish and Zara following.
"We can't get out!" Tish gasped, looking over the guests as they screamed, squashing together against the door. "We're trapped!"
"There must be an override switch." Zara muttered. "Where's the security desk? Tish!"
Tish pointed over to a desk in the corner of the room, "Right there."
Zara ran over to the desk, sliding over the top and using the sonic on the panels behind it quickly. Power flickered through the panels and the doors opened, everyone ran out. She jumped back over as Francine ran up.
"I've got to go back." Martha said as Zara ran off to find The Doctor.
"You can't!" Francine gulped. "You saw what that thing did. It'll kill you."
"I don't care. I have to go."
"Martha come on!" Zara shouted over her shoulder.
"It's that Doctor, isn't it?" Francine asked. "That's what's happened to you. That's why you've changed. That Zara girl is a nice girl, why are you two running after him?!"
"He was buying us time, Martha." Tish said nervously. "Time for you to get out, too."
"I'm not leaving him. Or Zara, she's just gone after him!" Martha cried, turning and running after her.
"Martha!" Francine shouted. Tish grabbed Francine's hand, pulling her outside.
...
"Where the hell do we find him?" Martha asked breathlessly.
"I don't know!" Zara sighed, clutching the sonic in her hand tightly. "Wait for an explosion, I don't know." Right on cue, an loud explosion went off round the corner. Zara and Martha grinned, running towards it's direction before crashing right into The Doctor as they turned the corner.
"What are you doing here?" The Doctor asked breathlessly, looking between the two of them.
"We're returning this." Zara said, holding the sonic out to him. "I thought you might need it." She laughed quickly. "Scrap that, I know you will need it."
"How did you-?"
"We heard the explosion." Martha supplied. "Guessed it was you."
"I blasted Lazarus."
"Did you kill him?"
A crash filled the air from down the hall, "More sort of annoyed him, I'd say." Zara laughed.
...
Francine sat on the main steps of Lazarus Laboratories, a still slightly concussed Leo next to her, Tish standing in front of them.
"She'll be all right." Tish reassured her. "The Doctor and her and Zara, they'll look out for each other."
"She turned her back on us, went in there with that thing for him. They both did!" Francine sneered. "That girl, did you see what she done for Martha? How much she was looking out for her?! But him?"
"They must be some some friends." Leo shrugged.
"Maybe she loves them." Tish suggested. "They're seem like her best friends..."
"She just met them." Francine scoffed.
The man from earlier that night, supplying her with champagne, walked over, "Is you daughter still in there with the Doctor and Zara Saxon?"
Francine stood up, "Do you know them?"
"He's dangerous. There are things you should know."
"What things?"
He leaned in, whispering in her ear. Francine stared ahead, horrified, and the man pulled back, looking at her carefully, "It is important that you get not just your daughter, but Zara Saxon away from that man, Mrs Jones."
...
The Doctor, Zara and Martha ran back into the reception room, looking around nervously.
"What now?" Martha asked. "We've just gone 'round in a circle!"
Lazarus burst in on the other side of the room and Zara grabbed Martha and The Doctor, pulling them over to the cabinet, "We can't lead him outside. Come on, get in." She yanked open the door and the three got in, shutting the door, squashing together.
"Are we hiding?"
"No, he knows we're here." The Doctor whispered. "But this is his masterpiece. I'm betting he won't destroy it, not even to get at us."
"But we're trapped!"
"Well, yeah, that's a slight problem." Zara muttered.
"You mean you don't have a plan?"
"Yes, the plan was to get inside here!"
"Then what?"
"Well…then I'd come up with another plan."
"You're plans are very short aren't they?" The Doctor whispered, referencing to her short plan to get inside the Dalek lab back in Manhattan.
"In your own time, then." Martha sighed. The Doctor began to fumble around, reaching for his pocket. "Hey!"
"Sorry, sorry, sorry." He muttered, pulling out the sonic from his pocket. "Here we are."
"What're you gonna do with that?"
"Improvise." He slid slowly down to the floor, popping open a panel.
Martha looked back up at Zara, "I still don't understand where that thing came from. Is it alien?"
"No, for once it's strictly human in origin." Zara said, watching The Doctor sonic wires under the panel.
"Human? How can it be human?"
"Probably from dormant genes in Lazarus's DNA. The energy field in this thing must have reactivated them." Zara explained quickly placing a hand against the wall of the cabinet. "And it looks like they're becoming dominant."
"So it's a throwback."
Zara nodded, "Some option that evolution rejected for you millions of years ago, but the potential is still there. Locked away in our genes, forgotten about until Lazarus unlocked it by mistake."
"It's like Pandora's box."
"Exactly." The Doctor called up before nodding at Martha's feet. "Nice shoes, by the way."
Suddenly, a blue light filled the capsule.
"Doctor, what's happening?"
"Sounds like he's switched the machine on."
"That's not good, is it?"
"Well, I was hoping it was gonna take him a little bit longer to work that out."
Suddenly, the machine started to spin. Zara reached out and grabbed Martha's hand, squeezing it, "I don't want to hurry you, idiot, but—" She began.
"I know, I know, genius. Nearly done."
"What're you doin'?" Martha asked.
"Trying to set the capsule to reflect energy rather than receive it."
"Will that kill him?"
"When he transforms, he's three times his size—cellular triplication—so he's spreading himself thin." Zara explained quickly.
"We're gonna end up like him!"
"Just one more!" The Doctor called, yanking on a wire, the cabinet stopping with a halt.
...
The Doctor opened the door of the cabinet and cautiously stepped out, Zara and Martha behind him.
"I thought we were gonna go through the blender then." Martha whispered.
"It really shouldn't take that long just to reverse the polarity." Zara muttered, raising an eyebrow at The Doctor.
The Doctor winced, "I must be a bit out of practice."
The trio glanced across the room at Lazarus, laying in human form, naked, on the floor.
"Oh God." Martha sighed. "He seems so…human again. It's kind of pitiful."
"Eliot saw that, too. "This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper."."
...
The trio stood on the steps outside the laboratories, watching as two paramedics wheeled Lazarus away inside a body bag when Tish, Francine and Leo came rushing up.
"They're here." Tish gasped. "Oh, they're all right." She reached forward and pulled both Zara and Martha into a hug.
"Ah, Mrs Jones, we still haven't finished out chat." The Doctor grinned.
Francine stormed up to him, slapping him across the face, "Keep away from my daughter and this poor girl!"
"Mum, what are you doing?" Martha gasped as Zara looked over, amused.
The Doctor put his hand to his cheek, "All their mothers, every time."
"He is dangerous! I've been told things."
"What are you talking about?" Martha asked.
Francine took both Zara and Martha by their shoulders, "Look around you! Nothing but death and destruction!"
"This isn't his fault, Mrs Jones." Zara said with a smile.
"He saved us, all of us!" Martha said in agreement.
"It was Tish who invited everyone to this thing in the first place." Leo shrugged. "I'd say technically, it's her fault." Tish elbowed her brother in the side, not bothering to look around.
There was a far off crash in the distance and The Doctor looked over at Martha and Zara before running off.
Marth and Zara turned to leave when France stopped them, "Leave him." She begged.
Martha shook her head and the two of them took off after The Doctor.
...
Tish caught up with the Doctor, Zara and Martha as they ran down the street where they spotted the ambulance, the doors open and the medics merely skeletons with no sign of Lazarus.
"Lazarus, back from the dead." Zara huffed. "Should've known, really."
The Doctor took out the sonic, scanning for Lazarus like he did earlier that night.
"Where's he gone?" Martha asked as The Doctor pointed the sonic out into the distance.
"That way." He said, the sonic aiming at a church. "The church."
"Cathedral." Tish corrected. "It's Southwark Cathedral. He told me."
...
The four of them quietly made their way through the cathedral.
"Do you think he's in here?" Martha whispered.
"Where would you go if you were looking for sanctuary?" The Doctor asked.
They moved forward through the empty cathedral to an open space behind the altar, underneath the bell tower, where Lazarus sat, gasping, a red blanket from the ambulance wrapped around him.
"I came here before." He gasped out. "A lifetime ago. I thought I was going to die then. In fact, I was sure of it. I sat there, just a child…the sound of planes and bombs outside."
"The Blitz."
"You've read about it."
"I was there."
Lazarus scoffed, "You're too young."
"So are you."
Lazarus laughed, before quickly groaning out in pain, fighting a mutation, "In the morning, the fires had died, and I was still alive. I swore I'd never face death like that again." The Doctor walked around Lazarus slowly, looking up at the bell tower as Martha and Zara watched him carefully. "So defenceless. I would arm myself, fight back, defeat it."
"That's what you were trying to do today."
"That's what I did today."
"What about the other people who died?"
"They were nothing. I changed the course of history."
"Any of them might have done, too. You think history's only made with equations? Facing death is part of being human. You can't change that."
"No, Doctor. Avoiding death. That's being human. It's our strongest impulse, to cling to life with every fibre of being. I'm doing what everyone before me has tried to do. I've simply been more…successful." He groaned out in pain once again.
"Look at yourself!" Zara cried. "You're mutating! You've no control over it! You call that a success?"
Lazarus looked up at Zara, "I call it progress. I'm more now that I was. More than just an ordinary human."
"There's no such thing as an ordinary human." The Doctor said.
"He's gonna change again at any minute." Martha whispered.
"I know." The Doctor whispered back. "If I can get him up into the bell tower somehow, I've an idea that might work."
"Up there?"
The Doctor nodded back at her.
"You're so sentimental, Doctor." Lazarus breathed. "Maybe you are older than you look."
"I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one. In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle. Tired of losing everyone that matters to you. Tried of watching everything turn to dust." The Doctor said sadly, squatting beside Lazarus. "If you live long enough, Lazarus, the only certainty left is that you end up alone."
"That's a price worth paying."
"Is it?"
Lazarus winced, the mutation flowing through him, "I will feed soon."
"I'm not gonna let that happen."
"You've not been able to stop me so far."
Martha came up behind Lazarus, "Leave him, Lazarus! He's old and bitter. Thought you had a taste for fresher meat."
"Martha, no!" Zara called as Lazarus snarled, chasing after Martha towards stairs, Tish following.
"Doctor! The tower!" Martha called over her shoulder, running up the stairs. "Zara keep him safe!"
Zara ran over to The Doctor and the two looked up, trying to spot Martha and Tish, "Where are they?" The Doctor asked. "Martha?!"
Martha peered out of one of the archways, "Doctor!" She called.
"Take him to the top, the very top of the bell tower, d'you hear me?!"
"Up to the top!" She nodded. "Then what?"
"Martha, come on!" Tish cried, pulling Martha out of the way as Lazarus, back in his mutant form, ran towards them.
...
The Doctor and Zara ran over to a large pipe organ and sat on the bench and The Doctor pulled out the sonic.
"Hypersonic sound waves. Inspired." He grinned, jamming the screwdriver into a slot before two of them began to pull out all of the stops. Zara looked up nervously as smashing echoed down from the bell tower and Tish screamed.
"I hope it's good acoustic in here." Zara muttered and the two of them began to play the organ, not really bothering to notice what they were playing or their hands bashing together. They played frantically, realising it wasn't working when The Doctor pulled out the sonic, resetting the volume.
"We need to turn this up to 11." He muttered before the two of them began to play. They bashed at the keyboard, desperate to save Martha and Tish when a thump echoed from the open space behind the altar. They looked down to see Lazarus in his human form, dead on the floor before looking up, trying to spot Tish and Martha.
"Martha?!" Zara called desperately.
"I'm okay! We're both okay!" Martha called back.
Zara let out a sigh of relief, relaxing her body and laying her forehead against The Doctor's shoulder. The Doctor gave a small smile and put his arm around her, placing a kiss to her head.
"Cutting it a bit fine there, idiot." She mumbled into his arm.
"Sorry genius." He whispered back.
...
The Doctor knelt by Lazarus' body, Zara standing next to him, and closed his eyes over, his body returning to its old, fragile state. Martha and Tish appeared at the bottom of the stairs, walking towards them. The Doctor got up and rushed over, picking Martha up in a hug and spinning her around. Zara ran over, hugging her tightly.
"I didn't know you could play?" Martha asked, squeezing Zara tightly before the two women looked to The Doctor.
"Oh, well, you know, if you hang around with Beethoven, you're bound to pick a few things up." The Doctor shrugged.
"Hmm, especially about playing loud."
The Doctor leant forward, pretending he didn't hear, "Sorry?" He asked, making Martha and Zara laugh.
...
"This is a lovely place, Martha." Zara said, looking around Martha's bedroom. "Anyway," She shook her head, smiling at Martha who stood in the doorway, The Doctor in the living room in the doorway of The TARDIS. "About time The Doctor dropped me off." She stared at Martha sadly. "I am going to miss you so much." She sighed. "I've never had a friend before. Boe and Hame were like my parents, so I never had a friend before. You were my best friend, I guess."
Martha breathed in sharply, tears in her eyes, and reached out and squeezed Zara's hand, "You want to travel, Zara." She said. "Well, Planet Earth is a lovely place. The Pyramids, New Zealand..." She let out a small laugh. "You could come back for Christmas, maybe Easter. Mum would love to have you around."
Zara's eyes lit up, "Really?" She gasped.
"Of course." Martha laughed. "We better say goodbye to The Doctor then." The two turned and headed into the living room, stopping in front of The TARDIS.
"Something else that just kind of escalated, then." The Doctor smiled.
"I can see a pattern developing." Martha laughed. "You should take more care in the future. And the past, and whatever other time period you find yourself in."
"It's good fun, though, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"So, what d'you say, one more trip?"
"No." She shook her head. "Sorry."
"What do you mean?" The Doctor asked, stunned. "I thought you liked it."
"I do, but I can't go on like this. "One more trip." It's not fair! To either of us."
Zara gave him a look and he stared back, a little annoyed that she was right.
"What're you talking about?"
"I don't want to be just a passenger anymore. Someone you take along for a treat. If that's how you still see me, well, I'd rather stay here."
"Okay, then. If that's what you want."
"Right. But we've already said good-bye once today so it's really best if you just go." She turned away from The TARDIS and The Doctor looked at Zara with a frown.
"I'm staying here." Zara said, stepping back towards Martha.
The Doctor frowned even more at the two of them and Martha turned back, looking at him, "What is it?"
"What?" The Doctor frowned. "I said okay."
"Sorry?"
"Okay." He nodded back at The TARDIS.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Martha gasped, throwing her arms around The Doctor.
"Well, you were never really just a passenger, were you?" He grinned, letting go of Martha and letting her past.
"Bring her back soon?" Zara asked, glancing around the flat innocently. "I feel like I'm intruding without her here."
The Doctor laughed softly, "Do you think I'm leaving you here?" He asked.
"Well-"
"Uh!" He groaned mockingly. "Come with me!"
Zara stared back, stunned, "Ok." She grinned. He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her into The TARDIS.
As The TARDIS dematerialized, Martha's phone rang, "Hi, I'm out! Leave a message!" The answer machine answered.
"Martha, it's your mother." Francine called through. "Please, phone me back. I'm begging you. I know who this Doctor really is. I know he's dangerous. You're gonna get yourself killed. Please, trust me. This information comes from Harold Saxon himself. You're not safe! For god sake, get Zara away from him!"