Katy stumbled through the dim hallways toward the central dome, swallowing thickly as she tried to calm herself. There were dozens of ways the man in the trench coat could have appeared and disappeared so quickly. An off-planet teleport. He could have been a hologram, even. But something told Katy otherwise. She ran a hand over her face, leaning against the wall for a moment, trying to push down the thought that kept running through her mind.
What if the man wasn't real at all?
She had never been the most stable of individuals, but she had never hallucinated before. Not to her knowledge, at least. But she had heard things about her people, her family in particular. The more a Krillitane's DNA mutated, the less hold on reality they had. Maybe that's what was happening to her.
"What are you doing here?" Ed's voice broke through her thoughts, as her eyes shot open to see him standing in the hatch doorway.
"Adelaide sent me," Katy answered, pushing her way past him to where the rest of the panicked group was. She could see the disappointment on their faces once they saw their Captain was yet to return. "Maggie's infected, but she hid it. She hid it well, which means... any of you could," Katy explained, as thick tension grew in the air.
"Well, that means you could be infected too," Roman huffed, as she marched over to a nearby computer and held her wrist up to be scanned.
"Report heartrate," Katy spoke up, as a red light whizzed over her skin.
"Heart rate recorded at one hundred and ten," The computer replied, making Katy wince.
"...I'm a little stressed," She shrugged.
"How low was Maggie's heart rate?" Mia inquired, not sure if she wanted the answer.
"Twenty," Katy confessed, coming to stand in front of the woman, listening closely to her heart, which was about four times as fast as Maggie's was. She just had to hope whatever was infecting the crew wasn't smart enough to figure out how to increase their pulse. "You're good," She nodded, turning her attention to Roman, who crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yeah, like you can hear my heart from over there," Roman scoffed, as she raised an eyebrow in his direction.
"Who the hell are you people?" Ed inquired.
"We're just...travellers," Katy answered, listening to the pounding coming from his chest, happy to hear its fast rate.
"How do we know you're not the one who brought the infection here?" Steffi accused.
"Honey, if I wanted to kill you...you'd be dead," Katy scoffed, noticing the way the blonde's shoulders tensed, her eyes flickering to a laser gun on the nearby computer desk. Katy grimaced as she realised just how bad that sounded. "I mean that in a totally non-threatening way...just FYI," She mumbled.
In the next minute, she had been able to listen to their hearts of the rest of the crew, thankful to find they all appeared normal. She then turned her attention to their enemy. Pulling up the layout of the base, she began swiping through pages of documents, trying to find something they could use.
"How do you fight water...and no, that wasn't a rhetorical question people. C'mon, ideas!" Katy insisted.
"Know your enemy?" Ed suggested, as Katy clicked her fingers together.
"You're smart. Come with me," Katy announced, jumping to her feet, and racing toward the hatch doors.
"Where are we going?" Ed asked, surprised to find himself following her without any argument.
"We're gonna' go talk to the neighbours. You lot, keep an eye on the cameras. Tell us if anything moves," Katy ordered, patting Ed on the shoulder as the two set off in a sprint toward the medical dome.
Katy let out an amused huff as they continued racing through the dark hallways, catching Ed's attention. They were likely running toward their deaths, he couldn't see much to laugh about.
"What's so funny?" He inquired, breathlessly.
"It's just...I kinda' sound like him. The Doctor, I mean. Must be rubbing off on me," She mused, as they turned a corner.
"Marriage will do that to you," Ed mumbled, as they came to a locked door.
"You've been married?" She questioned, dismissing the fact that he seemed to think she was married to the Doctor.
She guessed the ring on her finger would make it appear that way. She looked down at the golden coloured jewellery, her brow furrowing as she wondered whether that was the reason the Doctor gave her a key in the shape of a ring. She found her lips twitching into a smile at the thought.
"Just once," Ed stated, as he typed a code into the hatch panel, which flashed green.
"You must miss her?" Katy suggested, still not quite sure if she trusted the crew members.
"Don't have to. Considering she came to Mars with me," Ed confessed, as the door swung open to reveal Adelaide on the other side.
"I thought I ordered you both to stay in the Central Dome," Adelaide huffed, as Ed stepped inside, with a smirk.
"I was never any good at listening to you, Addy," He pointed out, as Katy noticed the way Adelaide's cheeks reddened slightly.
Relief flashed over the Doctor's face as soon as he spotted Katy,and immediately headed over to her, his hand raised out to touch her arm. She gave him a half smile, which she hoped was somewhat reassuring. She knew now wasn't the time to bring up the man in the trench coat, but eventually, she'd have to tell him all. Katy's eyes flickered to behind the Doctor's shoulder, where Maggie was pressed up against a glass cell, water pouring off her palms. Her lips had cracked and blackened, as more water dripped down her lips.
"Wow. She's creepy as fuck, huh?" Katy murmured, earning a snort of agreement from Yuri.
"Where do you get your water from?" The Doctor inquired, as Katy took a step closer to the glass separating her from the woman.
"The ice field. That's why we chose the crater. We're on top of an underground glacier," Adelaide admitted.
"Tons of water. Marvellous," The Doctor mumbled, sarcastically.
"But every single drop is filtered. It's screened. It's safe."
"Looks like it, yeah," The Doctor scoffed, gesturing to Maggie.
"If something was frozen down there. A viral life form held in the ice for all those years..." Ed trailed off, as Katy headed toward the computer monitor nearby.
"Look at her mouth. All blackened, like there's some sort of fission. This thing, whatever it is, doesn't just hide in water, it creates water," The Doctor realised, acknowledging for perhaps the first time that night just how bad things could get. Every instinct in him was yelling at him to flee. "Tell me what you want."
"She was looking at the screen. At Earth. She wanted Earth. A world full of water," Yuri explained, as red lights started to flash overhead.
"What's happening?" Adelaide exclaimed, backing up from the glass cell.
"Every biodome has a decontamination protocol. This one's gonna' activate in five minutes. I suggest we go," Katy announced, tapping the enter key on the keyboard as a countdown began.
"But decontamination...it will cause a self-contained explosion. Maggie will be killed!" Yuri cried, as Katy gave him a look of disbelief.
"Alright, listen to me closely. If she gets out, or Andy and Tarak...if they infect any of you, and you bring that shit back to the human race? It's the end. Of everything. So yeah, the bitch can burn," Katy retorted, bluntly.
Yuri turned to his captain, expecting her to speak up, to stop Katy but instead, Adelaide's gaze dropped to the ground. Even Ed stayed quiet, his arms crossed over his chest, knowing better than to speak up.
"Adelaide! She's one of us!" Yuri pushed.
"She's dead. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. You're a nurse. Look at her vitals," Katy insisted, gesturing to the computer screen which still displayed Maggie's inhuman heart rate at the bottom of the screen.
"A little bit of tact, wouldn't go amiss," Adelaide scolded, as Katy held her hands up in mock defence. Adelaide glanced at the countdown on the screen, before pulling out her comms. "But you are right."
"Action One?" Ed guessed, as Adelaide gave a firm nod.
"Sorry, sorry, but, Action One, that means evacuation, yeah?" The Doctor questioned, as Adelaide brought her comms to her mouth.
"We're going home. This is Captain Brooke. I'm declaring Action One. Repeat to all crewmembers, this is Action One with immediate effect. Evacuate the base."
Everyone jumped into immediate action, heading toward their posts, undoubtedly being glad to have the order to flee. It was what Katy knew they needed to be doing too. If the idea of the team taking the infection back to Earth was bad, Katy could only imagine the destruction that would follow if she or the Doctor brought it to the TARDIS...
"Your spacesuits will be returned. And good luck to you," Adelaide stated, as Katy rushed forward to stop her in her tracks.
"We have no foolproof way of knowing who he or isn't infected, Adelaide. It wouldn't take much for this parasite to manipulate a heart rate. It sure seems smart enough," Katy pointed out, as Adelaide mulled it over.
"But we're only presuming infection. If we can find out how this thing got through. When it got through. Yuri, continue with Action One. I'm going to inspect the ice field," Adelaide informed him, before rushing off.
"Oh no. Don't even think about it," Katy warned, when she noticed the look on the Doctor's face.
"Ice field! Come on, ten minutes," The Doctor pleaded.
"You know those puppy dog eyes aren't going to work on me," She scolded, as the Doctor leaned down a little closer, a slight smug grin on his face.
"No. Okay, I'm putting my foot down," Katy told him.
"Five minutes?" He exclaimed, as their eyes met and Katy let out a long groan.
"... Five minutes ," She sighed, as he leaned down to press a quick kiss to her cheek before grabbing her hand and dragging them out of the room, fast on Adelaide's heels.
Just as they were barging through the doors to the ice field, the base suddenly lurched to the side, causing the three to collide with the wall. Katy looked to the nearest computer monitor, finding confirmation that the biodome had been successfully decontaminated. Adelaide gave her a cold look, but decided not to comment, before pushing past the pair.
"I just killed someone. No lecture on how we could have tried to save her?" Katy asked the Doctor.
"Like you said, she was already dead," The Doctor stated, as Katy's eyes narrowed.
"You don't usually give up on people so easily though," Katy pointed out.
"Maybe I'm tired of trying," The Doctor answered, before following Adelaide through the hatch.
Katy's brow furrowed at his words, thinking of how defeated he sounded. Without a companion by his side, he had changed. And she would be gone again soon enough, and then he'd be alone. How long would it be this time for him? A year? Longer?
"They tell legends of Mars from long ago, of a fine and noble race who built an empire out of snow. The Ice Warriors," The Doctor mused, staring down at the ice field beneath their feet, frozen long ago.
"I haven't got time for stories," Adelaide muttered, walking over to the control panel.
"Perhaps they found something down there. Used their might and their wisdom to freeze it," The Doctor theorised, as Katy came to stand by his side, careful not to touch the railings that appeared to be covered in ice.
"This is all very fascinating. Now, time to go," Katy insisted, as a conflicted expression flashed over the Doctor's face.
"You don't look like a coward, but all you've wanted to do is leave," Adelaide said aloud, eyes narrowing as they fell on Katy.
"We're not supposed to be here. We just...want to make sure no one finds out about us," Katy stated.
"It's more than that."
"This moment, this precise moment in time, it's like. I mean, it's only a theory, what do I know, but I think certain moments in time are fixed. Tiny, precious moments. Everything else is in flux, anything can happen, but those certain moments, they have to stand. This base on Mars with you, Adelaide Brooke, this is one vital moment. What happens here must always happen. Has to happen," The Doctor explained, looking anywhere but Katy at that moment.
"Which is what?" Adelaide pushed.
"Katy, plot us the nearest route back to the TARDIS. An interactive map should be over there," The Doctor suggested, gesturing to the corner of the walkway.
"Spoilers?" She guessed, as he gave a firm nod.
Reluctantly, she did as she was told, glancing back a few times as the Doctor and Adelaide continued talking. The Doctor knew if she wanted to she could listen to their conversation, but he hoped she'd trust him enough not to. He wasn't sure what would happen if she found out about the Daleks, and their plans too early. Taking her attention off them, she found the best route back to their machine, finding it was the way they had just come.
"Doctor, I am not above knocking you out and dragging you back to the TARDIS myself. We're going ," Katy announced, marching over to the pair.
Just then, the computer monitor flashed on, as a video of Andy Stone flashed up on the screen, waving a white disc around in his hands. It was strange seeing the now-dead man appearing so full of life. He didn't appear cruel, but what the parasite that had taken him over did to Tarak, that she certainly couldn't forgive.
"Maintenance log, twenty one twenty, November 2059. Number three water filter's bust. And guess what? The spares they sent don't fit. What a surprise. Over and out," Andy huffed, as the realisation hit all three of them.
"A filter! One tiny little filter and then the Flood," The Doctor exclaimed.
"But that means the infection arrived today, and the water's only cycled out of the biodome after a week. The rest of us can't be infected. We can leave!" Adelaide announced beginning to rush away from the ice field, a look of relief on her face.
The Doctor went to follow her, but was held back by Katy's strong grip on the arm of his jacket. He opened his mouth to speak but soon clamped his lips together when he saw the look on her face.
"You can't save them. And I am not going to let you die trying," She warned, watching as the Doctor mulled over her words, before giving a slow nod of agreement.
When they made it back to the central dome, the crew were running about, desperately trying to carry everything they would need toward the rocket ship to ensure their survival on the way back. Katy bit her lip, pushing down the urge to warn them that they wouldn't get that far. The base would explode, with them all still inside. They should have been spending their last moments together, but even that warning could change history. Reaching for the Doctor's hand, she looked up at him, his haunted eyes watching the monitor, signalling there were two objects now on top of the dome. It was now or never to leave. Giving a firm tug on his hand, she started guiding him toward the airlock, squeezing his hand tightly. They pulled their spacesuits on in silence, neither knowing what to say. It felt like they were leaving a wake. But the crew didn't even realise it.
Access denied.
Katy's eyes snapped to the panel that flashed red, as the airlock stayed closed. They were running out of time. The Doctor went to stand underneath the camera, knowing who would be controlling the airlock.
"Tell me what happens," Adelaide's voice echoed around the room.
"I don't know," The Doctor replied, firmly.
"Yes, you do."
"You should be with the others, Adelaide," Katy warned, coming to stand by the Doctor's side.
" Tell me!" Adelaide snapped, before attempting to regain her composure. She needed answers, and she wouldn't let the pair leave without them. "I could ramp up the pressure in that airlock and crush you both," Adelaide continued, as Katy let out a scoff.
"Is that what it's come to? You'd kill two unarmed people as your last act?" Katy suggested.
"Please. I need the truth. You owe us that," Adelaide pushed, as sadness washed over the Doctor.
"Imagine...imagine you knew something. Imagine you found yourself somewhere. I don't know, Pompeii. Imagine you were in Pompeii," The Doctor began, his eyes growing watery.
"What the hell's that got to do with it?" Adelaide frowned.
"And you tried to save them. But in doing so, you make it happen. Anything I do..." The Doctor trailed off, his eyes finding Katy.
His brown eyes grew unfocused for a moment, as she could tell, even though he was looking right at her, he wasn't really seeing her. He saw her future. She imagined that's what he saw whenever he looked at any of his companions. He knew how it would always end.
"Anything I do... just makes it happen ," The Doctor sighed, in a shaky voice, before closing his eyes.
"You were a good captain, Adelaide. One of the best. They all look to you...in the future. Your story needs to be heard," Katy told her, as Adelaide's eyes widened in horror.
"You're speaking about me in past tense," Adelaide realised, as Katy averted her gaze to the metal beneath their feet.
"You're taking Action One. There are four more standard action procedures. And Action Five is detonation. The final option. The nuclear device at the heart of the Central Dome. Today, on the twenty first of November 2059, Captain Brooke activates that device, taking the base and all her crew members with her. No one ever knows why. But you were saving Earth. That's what inspires your granddaughter. She takes your people out into the galaxy because you die on Mars. You die today. She flies out there like she's trying to meet you," The Doctor confessed, as Katy felt a cold tear run down her cheek, unable to brush it away.
"I won't die. I will not," Adelaide exclaimed, causing Katy to frown.
She wished she had the human instinct to survive. To find a way to carry on. But just like the Doctor, maybe she was tired of trying.
"But your death creates the future," The Doctor stated.
"Help me. Why won't you help, Doctor? If you know all of this, why can't you change it?" Adelaide all but begged, as Katy had to turn away from the camera.
"I can't."
"Why can't you find a way?" Adelaide insisted, as the Doctor shook his head, vehemently.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. Sometimes I can, sometimes I do. Most times I can save someone, or anyone. But not you. You wondered all your life why that Dalek spared you. I think it knew," The Doctor informed her, as Katy's frown depended, not understanding when Adelaide would have met a Dalek, let alone be spared by the creature. Swallowing thickly, she watched as the Doctor turned to her, with tired eyes. "Your death is fixed in time forever," The Doctor exclaimed, as Katy knew he was speaking to them both.
Is that why he had brought her there? A twisted way to admit the truth?
"You'll die here too," Adelaide spoke up, breaking through Katy's disturbed thoughts.
"No," The Doctor retorted, looking back up at the camera.
"What's going to save you?" Adelaide questioned, still not understanding.
" Captain Adelaide Brooke ."
Katy watched as a moment later, the panel on the airlock unlocked, and would allow them their freedom. They could escape. Run away as they did best.
"Damn you," Adelaide muttered, in a cold tone.
Suddenly, shouts erupted from further inside the dome, and Katy could hear the sound of trickling water. It was inside. With a shake of her head, she placed her hand on the Doctor's back and pushed him forward just as the airlock hatch opened. They could hear the panicked shouting of the team from over the comms, but still the pair kept going. They knew they had no other choice.
"Steffi, get back!" Adelaide's sharp scream echoed over the comms, as more water could be heard in the background.
Katy winced as she heard children's voices suddenly, mixed in with Steffi's crying. The children spoke in German, something which Katy could understand, but from the way the Doctor's footsteps faltered, she could tell he did. Steffi's sobs grew muffled then, sounding as if she was underwater. Katy could hear her gasping for breath, but it seemed as though only water surrounded her. And then Steffi's comms went quiet. Katy reached for the Doctor's arm, ushering him to keep going, knowing he was fighting against his instincts to help the crew.
"You'd better go," Roman's voice announced over the comms.
"Don't just stand there. Move," Adelaide ordered, as they heard Roman inhale sharply.
"You'd really better go without me...I'm sorry, Captain. One drop," Roman exclaimed, as the Doctor closed his eyes, and grit his teeth.
Katy tried to keep it together, putting one foot in front of the other as Mia's screams deafened them, calling out for her friend who they could hear convulsing in the background. The guilt of leaving the crew behind was almost too much to bear.
"Captain. The shuttle is down," Ed's voice announced, stopping Katy in her tracks.
"What the hell do you mean?" Adelaide gaped.
"Compromised. It was Tarak," Ed panted, sounding in a great deal of pain.
"Get out of there!" Adelaide pleaded, as Katy twisted around to face the rocket ship, listening to Ed let out a cry.
"Too late. They want this ship to get to Earth. Got no choice," Ed explained, as they could hear him tapping buttons in the background, knowing what he was preparing to do. What he was willing to sacrifice. "Hated it, Adelaide. This bloody job. You never gave me a chance. You never could forgive me ...see you later," Ed cried, before pressing the last button to cause the self-destruct of the rocket.
The next second, Katy and the Doctor were thrown off their feet, the blast wave from the explosion hurling them forward. It was a miracle neither of their visors broke from the impact as they hit the red dirt underneath. Katy's ears rang, muffling out all the other sounds around her as she slowly rolled onto her back. She looked down at her body, glad to see no obvious injuries before glancing at the Doctor who was already climbing to his feet.
"Doctor?" She called out, standing onto shaky feet.
"Doctor!" She insisted, rushing to stand in front of him when she noticed the way he was staring off into the distance.
He was panting with anger, his hands balled into fists, looking as if he was on the verge of...something Katy didn't want to think about. His eyes were wide, as he didn't even flinch when she reached for his arm or called his name again. His mind was lost somewhere else.
I'm not just a Time Lord, I'm the Last of the Time Lords. They'll never come back. Not now...I've got theTARDIS. Same old life, last of the Time Lords...And they died and took it all with them. The walls of reality closed, the worlds were sealed, gone for ever. The Time Lords kept their eye on everything. It's gone now...But they died, the Time Lords! All of them, they died. I'm the last of the Time Lords.
He killed her?
It was me, Martha. My fault. I couldn't let her go.
" Doctor! " Katy shouted, now standing in front of him, placing her gloved hands on his chest.
It seemed to snap him out of the haze he was lost in, but she quickly realised that was worse. She watched with her mouth hanging agape as he took a step back, in the direction of the base. Her eyes widened with horror, realising instantly what he was planning to do.
"You can't! Doctor, you can't!" She yelled, but he wasn't listening anymore.
The Doctor's eyes darted manically around the central dome, looking for any weapon he could find to stop the creatures from advancing. He looked behind him at the bright white light coming from the airlock, noting that Katy still hadn't followed him. She would, he insisted. She always did.
"It can't be stopped. Don't die with us," Adelaide pleaded.
"No, because someone told me just recently. They said I was going to die. They said he will knock four times, and I think I know what that means, and it doesn't mean right here, right now, because I don't hear anyone knocking, do you?" The Doctor stated, as just then Andy thumped his fists down on the bulkhead door three times.
"Three knocks is all you're getting," The Doctor spat out.
Suddenly, Andy let out an eery scream as electricity sparked off from the door, sending the creature flying back against the wall. The crew whipped around to find Katy standing by the airlock, typing away on the control panel, electrifying the rest of the doors. A large grin spread over the Doctor's lips, his confidence rising.
"Water and electricity, bad mix. Now then, what else have we got?" The Doctor called out.
"But you said we die. For the future, for the human race!" Adelaide insisted, growing panicked by his unhinged behaviour. He raced around the room like a madman, desperately typing away on the computers, planning God knows what. Adelaide moved to Katy's side, reaching for her arm. "You need to stop him."
Katy's eyes snapped up to the captain's, realising what she was asking. The Doctor had heard her pleads, and stormed over to the pair, ripping away Adelaide's grip none too gently. He then spun around to glare at Adelaide, his face growing red with anger.
"There are Laws of Time. Once upon a time there were people in charge of those laws, but they died. They all died. Do you know who that leaves? Me! It's taken me all these years to realise the Laws of Time are mine, and they will obey me!" The Doctor shouted, not noticing how Katy flinched from beside him.
Because she heard it. As clear as day, when she looked at him. She could hear the drumming now.
All of a sudden, the computer desk from behind them exploded, sending them all to the floor once more. The computers continued sparking as the Doctor pulled himself onto his knees, a deranged look in his eyes, his hair a mess, littered with dust and ash. He barely spared Katy a glance as he jumped up, his hands balling into fists.
"Sorry, Doctor, it looks like history's got other ideas," Adelaide announced.
"We're not just fighting the Flood, we're fighting time itself. And I'm going to win!" The Doctor insisted, pounding his fists against his chest.
" No! "
Katy's sharp cry had him faltering, as he whipped around to face her, still kneeling on the floor, looking up at him with such despair. That was when his eyes landed on the ring around her finger, an idea formulating in his head.
"You can bring the TARDIS here. We can take them with us!" The Doctor realised, as he crouched down beside her, his brow furrowing as she shook his head.
"We can't," She stated, firmly.
"Give me the ring," He exclaimed, as she stared at him in disbelief.
Implementing Captain's protocol.
Katy's head snapped up as a computer-generated voice repeated the warning, as all attention returned to Adelaide. The computer screens that hadn't been destroyed all flashed the same message.
"Oh, my God. Action Five," Mia gaped, as the countdown began.
"If I have to fight you as well, then I will," The Doctor snapped, as Adelaide simply gave him an emotionless look.
"You gonna' fight me too?" Katy questioned, watching the Doctor grimace at her words.
" I would do anything to save you. Anything ," The Doctor confessed, the admission making her feel sick.
"I am not letting you do this," Katy retorted, firmly.
"We can save them. Me and you. Like it's always meant to be," The Doctor told her, as his eyes flickered to something over her shoulder. She watched as he gave a sharp nod, his eyes swimming with guilt. Just as she whipped around to find Yuri looming over her, before she was struck in the head and everything faded to black. "I'm sorry," She heard his voice echo before she lost consciousness.
Katy awoke to find herself lying across the jump seat in the console room, just as the remaining crew were exiting the TARDIS. A chill ran down her spine as she lifted herself up, her eyes meeting the Doctor from across the room as he grabbed his brown coat. There was something cold in his eyes now, something she wasn't used to. Without a word, he left the room, following closely behind the humans. As Katy pulled herself to her feet, she leaned against the console for a moment, her head pounding as soon as she moved. The TARDIS let out a sharp hum, signalling their concern for the Time Lord.
"I'll bring him back. Don't worry," Katy exclaimed, patting the console before she headed toward the exit.
It was nighttime outside, as Katy stepped out onto the cold street, finding snow underneath her feet. It looked like Earth, but with all the lies the Doctor had told her lately, she didn't trust him enough to give a real answer. The group were silent as they backed away from the time machine, their minds unable to comprehend what had just happened
"Isn't anyone going to thank me?" The Doctor huffed, earning a glare from Katy. She couldn't believe how he was acting. Of course, she had seen him angry before. Full of rage. But this...this was something else.
It was cruel.
"That's my house," Adelaide realised, pointing to one of the large houses further down the street.
"Don't you get it? This is the twenty first of November 2059. It's the same day on Earth," The Doctor stated, slowly, as if the humans were too thick to understand. He looked upwards as snowflakes started coating his cheeks. "And it's snowing. You love snow," The Doctor grinned at Katy, who remained silent.
"What is that thing? It's bigger...I mean, it's bigger on the inside. Who the hell are you?" She gaped, before running in the opposite direction.
"Look after her," Adelaide told Yuri, knowing he was desperate to follow her.
"Yes, ma'am...I'm sorry about your head," Yuri called out to Katy, who could do nothing but scoff in response.
"You saved us," Adelaide said, her words sounding more like an accusation.
"Just think though. Your daughter, and your daughter's daughter, you can see them again. Family reunion," The Doctor suggested, as Adelaide's eyes narrowed.
"But I'm supposed to be dead."
"Not any more," The Doctor retorted, as Adelaide shook her head.
"But Susie, my granddaughter. The person she's supposed to become might never exist now," Adelaide went on, as Katy slowly inched toward the pair.
"Nah! Captain Adelaide can inspire her face to face. Different details, but the story's the same," The Doctor shrugged.
"You can't know that. And if my family changes, the whole of history could change. The future of the human race. No one should have that much power!" Adelaide cried, as the Doctor's jaw clenched.
" Tough ."
Katy could do nothing more than stand at the Doctor's side in shock, not understanding how he could have grown so cold. So unlike how he was when they first met. Adelaide's eyes flickered to hers for a moment, panic evident on her features.
"You should have left us there," Adelaide told him.
"Adelaide, I've done this sort of thing before. In small ways, saved some little people, but never someone as important as you. Oh, I'm good," The Doctor congratulated himself, as Katy grit her teeth, anger beginning to course through her veins.
" Little people? What, like Mia and Yuri? Who decides they're so unimportant? You?" Adelaide spat out, disgusted with the man in front of her.
"For a long time now, I thought I was just a survivor, but I'm not. I'm the winner. That's who I am. The Time Lord Victorious," The Doctor snapped, as Adelaide took a step back, noting the way Katy's shoulders had grown rigid.
"And there's no one to stop you?" Adelaide questioned.
"No," The Doctor replied, bitterly.
"Actually..." Katy trailed off, as the Doctor turned to face her, his face completely devoid of its usual compassion. " There's still me ," She muttered, before striking him in the face with such force that he was knocked unconscious before he even hit the snow beneath their feet.
Adelaide gaped at her, stiffening for a moment as she wondered whether she would be next to be struck. Instead, Katy ran both her hands through her hair, hunching over and letting out a cry of despair. Dropping to her knees beside the Time Lord, it became obvious to Adelaide that Katy had never had any idea what the Doctor had been planning.
"This is why you kept asking him to leave," Adelaide guessed.
"I'm sorry, Adelaide. He...he came to Mars because of me," Katy sighed, hanging her head low.
"That's not your fault," Adelaide asked, as Katy looked up at her with bloodshot eyes.
"It's not why I was apologising. I'm sorry...that he took your choice away," Katy continued, her eyes landing on the laser gun on Adelaide's belt.
"...It was one thing causing the base to self-destruct. This...this will be something else," Adelaide murmured, taking the gun out with a shaky hand.
"I could—" Katy began, as Adelaide cut her off.
"No. I think you've both done enough," Adelaide stated.
"You should call her. Your daughter. Say goodbye," Katy insisted, as Adelaide gave a firm nod, taking a step toward her home.
"Will it be enough? Will this...make things right again?" Adelaide inquired.
"I don't know. I hope so," Katy answered, honestly.
"Care to take some advice from a dead woman?" Adelaide spoke up, as their eyes connected. The captain reached out to place her hand on Katy's shoulder, giving a firm squeeze. "You should leave him. Before he gets you killed too."
And with that, Adelaide headed in the direction of home for the last time, not turning around to glance back at the pair. Katy kept her eyes firmly on the Doctor's unconscious form until she heard the front door slam shut, and allowed a few tears to spill over her cheeks. A sharp groan from beneath her grabbed Katy's attention, as she glanced down to find the Doctor's eyes fluttering open.
"You hit me," He groaned, his hand flying to his cheek.
"If you were anyone else...I'd have probably killed you," Katy admitted, pushing herself to her feet.
"I'm sorry that I used your ring, but—" The Doctor began, as Katy cut him off instantly.
" God, you really think that's what I'm angry about? I'm fucking furious because...because I thought I knew you," Katy admitted, as the Doctor staggered forward toward her.
"You do. You know me better than anyone," He insisted, reaching out for her, as she brushed his hands away.
"Maybe I don't want to."
Her cold words felt like a bucket of freezing water had been thrown over him, finally pulling him out of the red haze he had been surrounded by ever since they stepped on Mars. She looked at him with such spiteful anger, he wanted nothing more than to run in the other direction.
"Why did you bring us there?" Katy questioned.
"I thought that if I saved them, it would show you that I can save you too," The Doctor answered, as she shook her head.
"Because I'm dead. Right? In your time. I'm already dead?" She pushed, as the Doctor looked away from her, swallowing thickly. It took him a few more moments before he finally nodded. "You told me you made a promise to someone. That you promised you wouldn't change things. Who did you promise, Doctor?" Katy went on, but truthfully, she already knew the truth.
"...It was you. I made the promise to you," The Doctor confessed, as Katy bit her inner cheek, turning away from him.
"My death...it's a fixed point in time? If you change it...a lot of bad shit happens, huh?" She suggested.
"But you've seen what I can do! I can stop it! I can save you, I can save everyone!" The Doctor pushed, making her huff out a cruel laugh.
"What, like you're some fucking God now? This ...this mindset, is what killed the Time Lords. You realise that, right?" Katy retorted, forcing herself to look back at him.
"No. No, this is different," The Doctor said, shaking his head, quickly.
"It's a slippery slope, Doctor. And you're falling faster than I can catch you right now."
"So, what? I'm supposed to let you die? To go on living like this? Travelling with your ghost?" The Doctor snapped.
"Yes," Katy told him, in a cold tone. With gritted teeth, she could see he still wasn't convinced on the matter. "This ends here. This...madness about saving me. I don't want to be saved! Do you hear me? I don't want it!" She shouted, leaving him taken aback.
"What about me?" He asked, in a shaky tone.
"I don't know, Doctor. I don't fucking know. Maybe...maybe I should leave. You'd sure as hell be better off for it. It's like I've poisoned you or something. Is that it? Have I ruined you?" Katy scoffed.
"I was like this long before I met you. I'm just...good at hiding it," The Doctor admitted, as she ran a hand through her hair.
"You need to let me go," Katy told him, her words causing him to wince.
"Could you?" He began, stepping closer to her, reaching out to touch her face, gently. Reluctantly, she looked up into his sad brown eyes, surprised to find how they had grown full of tears. "If the roles were reversed. Could you let me go?" The Doctor insisted.
She thought of the lake in America. To being forced to watch him die and not being able to do a thing about it. She understood the Doctor's pain a hell of a lot more than he thought. Selfishly though, she hoped she would be the first to go.
The sound of the laser gun being fired pierced through the air then, causing them both to whip around. Katy almost fell to her knees as the ripples of time changing all around them threatened to suffocate them both. Adelaide had died on Earth. Mia and Yuri had told her story. As a tribute to her grandmother, Susie Fontana Brooke had ventured off to the stars. But Adelaide had still lost her choice. She was forced to kill herself, to have that be the way she'd always be remembered. Stumbling into the TARDIS, Katy clutched onto the railing, as a sob left her lips.
"You robbed that woman of her legacy. Don't you see, Doctor? That's exactly what you want to do to me," Katy explained, hearing the TARDIS doors shut behind her. A moment later, there was a hand on her back, and she didn't need to turn around to know the guilty expression the Time Lord wore. "I should get to die on my terms. Don't I at least deserve that?" Katy sighed, as she felt his arms wrap around her waist, pulling her close.
"I'm sorry," He mumbled, into her shoulder.
"I don't want you to change. You can't go on like this," Katy warned him, as she felt him nod.
"I know."
"If you ever do anything like this again...I will leave you. For good. You will never see me again ," She continued, feeling how his arms tightened around her.
Before the Doctor had a chance to head her warning, the TARDIS was suddenly lurching forward, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Katy looked up to see the time rotor shining a red colour instead of its usual green. The Doctor sprinted forward, pulling at levers and buttons as they went hurtling through the time vortex.
"Doctor? What's..." Katy trailed off, when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach, leaving her hunched over on the ground.
"Time ripples. Dammit, we should be able to ride them out if...Katy?" He called out, once he saw her still on the ground.
"Something's wrong," She murmured, reaching out for him when she found her hand...wasn't there.
She gasped, immediately bringing up her other hand to find the limb was disappearing too. As if she had never had arms in the first place. Her head snapped up to the Doctor's in a panic, watching as he raced toward her. Suddenly, her surroundings dimmed, as the time machine spun around causing her to fall off the walkway. She let out a groan as she glanced up, instantly holding her arms up, relieved to see they were back.
"What the fuck was that?" She huffed, dragging herself upwards.
With a shake of her head, she began her ascent up the stairs, letting out a curse when she almost tripped over a bunch of books left on the staircase. Gripping onto the railing, she finally made it back up to the console, her mouth going slack with what she saw.
It had changed. This was neither of the Doctor's console rooms that she had encountered. Could the time ripples have sent her even further out into the Doctor's timeline? Her eyes darted around, finding the time rotor glowed a golden colour, with a group of rings etched with Gallifreyan symbols twisting around above it. Eighteen rib-like pillars supported the room, making it almost seem like the time rotor was the heart of the machine. Her eyes continued surveying the console room, finding bookshelves and even a chalkboard. The lightning was far darker, and perhaps moodier than she was used to.
"What, is he in his emo phase or something?" Katy scoffed, placing her hand on the console.
She let out a yelp as a current was sent through the machine into her hand, causing her to jump back. She glared at the TARDIS, clutching her hand to her chest, not sure why the time machine seemed pissed at her now.
" Hey! What was that for?" Katy muttered.
" Who the hell are you? " A voice cried out, as Katy spun around to find a stranger had entered the room.
She listened closely, able to quickly make out a singular heartbeat, well within normal human limits. She held no weapons, only...an umbrella? Katy's frown deepened as the woman slowly approached her, appearing just as confused as she was.
"Uh, I could ask you the same question. What are you doing in the TARDIS?" Katy retorted, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I asked you first," The woman stated, as Katy regarded her closely.
She was wearing a pretty floral dress, her brunette hair cut around her shoulders, and maybe an inch shorter than Katy. Making her pretty damn short, Katy mused. Taking a step forward, she had bite down a laugh when the stranger held out the umbrella like a weapon.
"What are you gonna' do? Sprinkle some rainwater on me?" Katy snorted, as the woman waved the umbrella about.
"This could be a deadly weapon," She suggested, as Katy quirked an eyebrow.
"Yeah, otherwise known as an umbrella. Look, have you seen the Doctor or what?" Katy insisted, as the woman's brow furrowed.
"How do you know the Doctor?" She questioned.
"He's my...well, I mean, I think...I'm sorry, what did you say your name was again?" Katy pushed.
" Clara. You?" The woman replied, finally dropping the umbrella to her side.
"Wait. Hold on a second...you're human, right?" Katy guessed, as Clara gave her a confused look, before nodding. Katy barked out a bitter laugh then, realising who she had just encountered. "What year do you come from?"
"Excuse me?" Clara frowned.
"Look, I've had a really shitty day, mate, so just...answer the question," Katy retorted.
"...2014. Why?" Clara admitted, as Katy shook her head, vehemently turning away from her.
"Doesn't matter. Hell, it's good. This is good. He's moving on. That's...2014. Wow. Hey, how does Lost end? Actually, no...don't tell me. Spoilers and all," Katy ranted, leaning back against the console, as Clara's eyes dropped to the ring on Katy's finger.
"You still haven't told me who you are," Clara pointed out, placing a hand on her hip.
"That is...a very long story—" Katy began, as a voice called out from down the corridor.
"Clara? Is that you?" A Scottish voice asked, as Katy opened her mouth, just as she suddenly disappeared in a puff of blue electricity.
Clara stood there for a few moments, dumbfounded by what she had just seen. The TARDIS made a clicking sound, before the time rotor started spinning sound, as if nothing had just happened. Clara's eyes darted around the room, wondering if the woman could possibly still be on the ship.
"Doctor?" Clara exclaimed, hearing footsteps approaching.
"Ah, there you are. Why've you got that look on your face? Are you two fighting again?" The Doctor huffed, descending down the staircase.
"...There was a woman. Right there!" Clara insisted, pointing toward the console.
"Aren't you a little young to be growing senile?" The Doctor replied, as Clara rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious! And she...she knew you!" Clara told him.
"Well, what did this mystery woman look that?" The Doctor scoffed, reaching for the monitor on the console.
"Uh, brunette. Pretty. Oh, and she was English! Taller than me—" Clara started, as the Doctor cut her off.
"Everyone's taller than you, Clara," He pointed out, as she stomped her foot on the ground. With a long sigh, the Doctor pushed the monitor toward her, relaying the footage of the console room of the last few minutes. "See, nothing...there?" He frowned, when he found nothing but static.
"Ha! See, I told you!" Clara grinned, coming to stand by his side, as he started tapping at buttons on the TARDIS.
"No one can get past this ship's defences," The Doctor shook his head.
"And that postman that wandered in here a few weeks ago?" Clara snorted.
"Well, that was...different. The only way into the TARDIS is with a key," The Doctor retorted, running a hand through his grey hair, the ring on his finger catching her eye.
"I reckon she did. She had your ring," Clara informed him, as the Doctor's shoulders suddenly grew tense, catching her eye.
"What did you say?" He frowned, a few more wrinkles appearing on his forehead.
"Your ring. It was the same one. Wait, does that mean she's someone from your past? Your future? Have you given anyone that ring before?" Clara blurted out, as he looked down at the ring with a stony expression.
"No," He answered, firmly.
Clara was about to push him further on the subject, but from the look on his face, she decided otherwise. There was no talking to him when he'd get like this, she mused. With a shake of her head, she walked away from him, not noticing the way he was touching the golden ring with his thumb.
A gust of air pushed Katy off her feet, as she scrunched her eyes shut, expecting to collide with the floor a second later. Instead, something soft cushioned her fall. She looked to her side to find she had landed on a bed... her bed. Sitting bolt upright, she was about to question what the hell was happening when she realised, she wasn't alone on the bed. Glancing beside her, she found Missy propped up on her pillows, dressed in her usual purple outfit, a single black curl coming loose from her headpiece.
"Missy? What...fuck, my head..." Katy groaned, clutching at her skull as pain radiated through every nerve.
"Open wide," Missy announced, as Katy's eyes fluttered open to find Missy waving something in her face.
Reluctantly, Katy opened her mouth to find a lollipop was then shoved against her lips. With a roll of her eyes, Katy took the lollipop stick in her hands, inspecting the red sweet at the top.
"What is this, a stabiliser or something?" Katy inquired.
"Nope. Just for your blood sugar, poppet," Missy replied, patting her cheek.
"I think you're taking this demented Mary Poppins thing a little far," Katy huffed, placing the lollipop back into her mouth with a dejected look. Missy's grin simply widened in response. "I'm guessing you knew all that was going to happen," Katy sighed.
"Of course. I know all about you," Missy stated.
"Look, I'm not in the mood for... this , right now," Katy insisted, leaning back down against her pillows.
"And what would this be, dear?" Missy huffed, jumping up from the bed.
"You talking in riddles. Generally confusing the shit out of me," Katy continued, as Missy tutted.
"Well, if you're going to mean, I'll just leave," Missy announced, walking toward the door, her heels clicking as she did so.
"...Wait," Katy spoke up, a little quicker than she meant to. With Missy's back still to her, she couldn't see the smug smirk that had grown on the woman's face. "That was...the Doctor's future, right? Further than I'm supposed to go?" Katy called out.
"Perhaps."
"So, that girl. Clara. Who was she?" Katy inquired, in a strained tone.
"Oh, just some little puppy he brings along for the ride," Missy dismissed, heading over to her dresser, where she had makeup laid out on the top.
" Okay ...not exactly making me feel better. She's his...companion then?" Katy guessed, crawling to the edge of the bed.
"Hmm. Just like you were mine," Missy replied, picking up a red lipstick, and opening it up.
"Uh, I'm no one's companion, thank you very much. And stop touching," Katy scolded, grabbing the lipstick from her hands.
"I haven't been in your bedroom for ages. You're just as messy as the Doctor," Missy said, before opening up a drawer underneath, a mischievous glint growing in her eyes when she saw what was inside.
"Now, where have you been hiding these?" Missy grinned, pulling out a pair of red, lacy panties. Instantly Katy tried to grab them, but due to Missy's taller height thanks to her heels, she was able to keep the underwear out of her reach. "I think I might just keep these," Missy teased, before stuffing the panties into her dress pockets.
"Missy. Give them back," Katy insisted, her cheeks reddening.
"Go on then. See if you can find them," Missy shrugged, holding her hands up, as Katy frowned at her.
She was quick to slot her hand into the vast pocket of her dress, her frown deepening when she found her arm went all the way to her elbow. Damn Time Lords, she thought to herself, before her eyes almost popped out of her head.
"Holy shit. That's it! You're a Time Lord! " Katy gaped, immediately pulling away, as Missy gave a mocking gasp.
"Give the girl a prize," Missy exclaimed, tapping her on the nose, before leaning forward, with a teasing grin. "So, my love, what do you want as a prize?" Missy questioned, so close that their noses were almost touching.
Though she would never admit it, Katy didn't exactly...hate all of Missy's pet names for her but that one seemed a little too intimate. Taking a step back, she could see the way Missy's forehead wrinkled for a moment before she masked whatever she was feeling.
"A redo of today?" Katy retorted.
"Well, if you haven't noticed, you do happen to live in a time machine," Missy pointed out, as Katy gave her a look.
"...Maybe sometimes I wish I didn't," Katy admitted, as Missy then went to walk past her without another word, perching on the end of the bed.
"C'mon then. Come sit on Mummy's lap," Missy exclaimed, patting at her legs expectantly.
"...Yeah, that's not happening," Katy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm attempting to do that thing the humans go on about. Confront? No, that's not it..." Missy pouted, as Katy raised an eyebrow.
"Comfort me?" Katy guessed, as Missy leaned back on her hands.
"If you insist, poppet," Missy grinned at her, as even Katy felt her lips twitching into the slightest of smiles, which was quite a feat after the day.
"I should talk to the Doctor," Katy said, but her legs didn't move toward the door.
"Yet, here you are. In your bedroom. With little old me. Again," Missy retorted, as Katy cocked her head to the side.
"Again?"
"I have it on quite good authority, that you find me irresistible ," Missy told her, emphasising her accent on the last word.
"I have terrible taste," Katy pointed out, nonetheless walking over to her bed where Missy was still sitting. The woman's smugness only grew as Katy came to stand in front of her, eyes ushering down to her legs once more. "But I am not sitting on your lap," Katy snorted, as she came to sit beside Missy instead.
"Not today," Missy clarified, holding her finger up.
"Will you stay for a bit?" Katy asked, as Missy gave a firm nod.
Without another word, Katy lowered her head to rest on her shoulder, her arm moving to wrap around Missy's. With a content sigh, she shut her eyes and tried to drown out the conflicted thoughts and worries running through her mind. Her lips twitched into a smile when she felt soft lips pressed against her forehead a moment later.