Chapter Thirty-Four: Utopia
[TARDIS]
"Cardiff!" the Doctor announces with a grin as they materialize.
"Cardiff...?" Martha frowns.
"It's built on a rift in time and space," the Alchemist explains, "Like California and the San Andreas Fault—but this rift bleeds energy."
She passes the scanner, then doubles back, catching something. A grin tugs at her lips, but she hides it.
"Every now and then, we need to open the engines, soak up the energy, and use it as fuel."
"So it's a pit stop," Martha nods.
"Exactly," the Doctor agrees. "Should only take twenty seconds. The rift's been active."
"Wait a minute..." Martha frowns, piecing it together, "There was an earthquake in Cardiff a couple of years ago. Was that you?"
"Bit of trouble with the Slitheen," he winces.
"Raxacoricofallapatorians," the Alchemist adds, still watching the scanner.
The Doctor nods, "Long time ago. Lifetimes. I was a different man back then."
"I was a mean lady. Really awful," the Alchemist admits.
"Is that a fancy way of saying you were a different Regeneration?" Martha deadpans.
The Doctor rolls his eyes, "Yes."
The TARDIS whirrs to signal she's done, and the Doctor calls out, "Finito. All powered up."
But his eyes lock on something on the scanner—Jack. His expression shifts, alarmed. He throws the TARDIS into motion. Outside, Jack leaps for the ship. Sparks fly from the console.
The TARDIS lurches, rocking violently side to side as they spin out of control through the Vortex. Even the Alchemist loses her footing before they all scramble upright.
"Whoa!" Martha cries, clinging to the console, "What's that!?"
"No, Bluette, be nice!" the Alchemist shouts, running with the Doctor to the monitor, checking the readouts.
"We're accelerating into the future!" the Doctor yells, "The year one billion. Five billion. Five trillion. Fifty trillion? What? The year one hundred trillion!?"
"...That's impossible," the Alchemist breathes.
"Why?" Martha frowns, "What happens then?"
The Doctor turns, serious, "We're going to the end of the universe."
"Oh no, I'm not going to like this, am I?" the Alchemist groans, now wrestling with the TARDIS controls.
With a heavy thud, the ship lands. The Time Lords exchange a wary glance.
"...Well, we've landed," the Doctor mutters.
Martha eyes the doors, "So what's out there?"
"I don't know."
"Say that again," she grins, "That's rare."
"If he won't, I will..." the Alchemist sighs, "I don't know."
The Doctor slowly nods, "Not even the Time Lords came this far. We should leave. We should go. We should really... really... go."
"Nope, not happening!" the Alchemist shouts.
The trio share a grin—and bolt for the doors.
[Planet surface]
The planet is quiet. Silent. Desolate. The Alchemist frowns immediately, looking up. It's dark—too dark. No stars. Nothing. She sighs heavily and lowers her gaze to Jack's prone form.
"Oh my God!" Martha shouts, spotting him.
She drops beside him at once, checking for signs of life, "Can't get a pulse. Hold on. You've got that medical kit thing."
She jumps up and dashes into the TARDIS.
"Hello again," the Doctor sighs, stepping closer, "...Oh, I'm sorry."
"You're not," the Alchemist snaps, shooting him a glare. He winces.
Martha sprints back out with the kit, "Here we go," she pushes between them, "Get out of the way. It's a bit odd, though," she frowns, "Not very hundred trillion. That coat's more like World War Two."
"I think he came with us," the Time Lord murmurs.
'Because someone didn't let him in!' she shouts through their bond. He winces again.
Martha frowns, "How d'you mean, from Earth?"
"Must've been clinging to the outside of the TARDIS all the way through the Vortex," he sighs, "Well, that's very him."
"Quite," the Alchemist agrees, sitting down beside Jack.
"What?" Martha asks, still working, "Do you know him?"
The Doctor shrugs, "Friend of ours. Used to travel with us, back in the old days."
"Jack. This is Jack, Martha," the Time Lady explains.
Martha gasps. Her pilots told her about many of their companions, but only the Alchemist had mentioned Captain Jack Harkness—once calling him one of her dearest friends. Like a brother. She never explained more.
"But he's…" Martha sighs, "I'm sorry. There's no heartbeat. Nothing. He's dead."
"Just give him a mo'," the Alchemist frowns.
Jack suddenly gasps awake and grabs Martha's arm. She shouts in fright.
"Oh, so much for me," Martha scoffs, holding him, "It's alright. Just breathe deep. I've got you now."
He grins, "Captain Jack Harkness," he says, shaking Martha's hand, "And who are you?"
"Martha Jones."
"Nice to meet you, Martha Jones."
The Doctor rolls his eyes, "Oh, don't start."
"I was only saying hello," Jack defends.
Martha smiles, helping him up, "I don't mind."
"Oh, we're standing now," the Alchemist mutters, brushing off her dress.
Jack turns to the Time Lord, his smile vanishing, "Doctor."
"Captain," he replies, just as coldly.
"Alchemist," Jack adds, even colder.
"Smelly Jack," she greets kindly, and he tries not to smile.
He eyes them both, "Good to see you."
"And you," the Doctor shrugs, "Same as ever… Although, have you had work done?"
"You can talk!"
"Oh yes. The face. Regeneration. Both of us. How did you know it was me? I know Ally's obvious."
"The police box kind of gives it away," Jack scoffs, "I've been following you a long time," he adds, glaring, "You abandoned me."
"Did we? Busy life. Moving on."
The Alchemist glares at her husband. He swallows hard, feeling her fury through their bond.
"Just gotta ask. The Battle of Canary Wharf… I saw the list of the dead. It said Rose Tyler."
"Oh, no! Sorry, she's alive," the Doctor shakes his head.
"Kind of hate her now, though," the Alchemist mutters, "Brat. That's what we call her now… 'The Brat.'"
Jack frowns, "You're kidding?"
"Not at all," the Doctor grimaces, "Not pleased with her, but… Parallel world. Safe and sound. And Mickey and her mother."
"Oh, well, that's good, but…" Jack can't help himself—he hugs the Doctor. They laugh.
Martha rolls her eyes, "Good old Bratty Rose."
Jack turns to the Alchemist, noticing her watery eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Jack," she says softly.
"What for?"
She shakes her head and throws her arms around him. He spins her, laughing. The Doctor and Martha smile.
Jack sets the Time Lady down.
She declares, "Let's explore."
The Doctor grins, grabs her hand, and pulls her along until she follows. Martha and Jack laugh and trail behind as they leave the TARDIS.
"Why'd you stop traveling with them?" Martha asks.
"I didn't choose to," Jack replies, "Daleks attacked us. I—uh… Anyway. There I was, stranded in the year 200,100, ankle-deep in Dalek dust, and they go off without me," he lifts his wrist device, "But I had this. I used to be a Time Agent. It's called a Vortex manipulator. They're not the only ones who can time travel."
"Oh, excuse me," the Doctor scoffs, "That is not time travel. It's like—I've got a sports car and you've got a space hopper."
"Oh ho," Martha laughs, "Boys and their toys."
The Alchemist rolls her eyes, "Not wrong. Also, we've got a sports car. That thing's addicting anyway—literally. …Although my version of time jumping is smoother. I really miss it."
"Soon," the Doctor says gently, and she nods.
"You can't do your magic trick anymore?" Jack asks, stunned.
She shakes her head, saying nothing more.
He sighs, "Alright, so I bounced. Thought—21st century? Best place to find the Doctor and Allycat. Except I got it a little wrong. Arrived in 1869. This thing burnt out."
"Told you," the Doctor smirks.
"I had to live through the entire 20th century waiting for a version of you that matched my timeline."
Martha gapes, "That makes you more than a hundred years old."
"And looking good, don't you think?" Jack grins, "So I went to the time rift. Based myself there. Knew you'd come back to refuel," he pats his pack, "Finally got a signal detecting you—and here we are."
Martha frowns, "But the thing is… why did you leave him behind?"
The Doctor glances at his wife, "I was… busy."
"Is that what happens, seriously? You just get bored with us one day and disappear?"
"Not if you're blonde," Jack scoffs.
"Of course she was blonde," Martha mutters, remembering her father's girlfriend.
The Alchemist's jaw tightens. She remembers the way Rose treated her—like her bond with the Doctor was an obstacle to be ignored. A slap hadn't been enough.
The Doctor feels her darkness and calls out, "You two! We're at the end of the Universe, alright?" he waves an arm, "Right at the edge of knowledge itself—and you're blogging!"
The Alchemist sighs and looks at Jack, "We had to leave you behind because it hurt to be near you. I felt you rippling through time… and it hurt."
"Does it hurt now?" Jack asks gently.
She shakes her head. He grins and slings an arm around her shoulders, making her smile.
"Come on," the Doctor says, leading them to a cliff edge overlooking a canyon with a city nestled in its heart.
"Is that a city?" Martha asks.
The Time Lord shrugs. "A city or a hive, or a nest, or…"
"It's a conglomeration," the Alchemist says.
He nods, "Mm. Like it was grown. But look—those are pathways, roads. Must've been life here, once."
"What killed it?" Martha frowns.
"Time," he sighs, "Just time. Everything's dying now. All the great civilizations are gone."
"This isn't just night," the Alchemist adds, gesturing to the dark, "All the stars have burned up. Faded away. Soon, the Universe will start again. A new plane. Time continues. Death begets Life."
"They must have an atmospheric shell," Jack mutters, "We should be frozen to death."
"Well, Martha, Ally, and I—maybe," the Doctor says, eyeing him, "Not so sure about you, Jack."
The Time Lady keeps her sigh quiet. She knows what's coming for Jack—and part of her is glad.
Martha turns to them, "What about the people? No one survives?"
The Alchemist tilts her head, listening, "Oh," she smirks, "I suppose we can live in the hope that life finds a way."
The Doctor smiles at her, then frowns, realizing she hears something.
Jack follows her gaze and smirks, "He's not doing too bad. Guessing you heard that, Allycat?"
"Yep," she mutters.
A man sprints across the canyon. A group follows, torches burning, voices shouting.
"Is it me, or does that look like a hunt?" the Doctor asks. He and the Alchemist exchange a look—and take off, "Come on!"
They run toward the fleeing man.
Jack laughs brightly, "Oh, I've missed this!"
He catches the man before he falls, "I've got you."
"We've gotta run! They're coming!" the man cries.
Jack's eyes widen. He pulls a revolver and aims at the hunters.
"Jack, don't you dare shoot them!" the Alchemist shouts.
He hesitates, then fires into the air. The group stops at the sound.
"What the hell are they?" Martha breathes, eyeing their sharp teeth.
"There's more of them," the man warns, "We've got to keep going."
The Doctor nods, "We've got a ship. It's safe. Not far—just over there."
The Alchemist turns at more noise—more hunters on the cliff.
"Or maybe not…" she mutters.
"We're close to the silo," the man says, "We get there, we're safe."
"Silo?" the Doctor asks.
"Silo," Jack confirms.
"Silo for me," Martha nods.
"Yep. Silo," the Alchemist agrees.
They sprint again, the Alchemist in the lead, hand in hand with her Bondmate. The silo waits in the distance.
[Silo gates]
Reaching the gates surrounding the building, the guards on the other side run forward, aiming their guns at them.
"It's the Futurekind!" the man cries, "Open the gate!"
"Show me your teeth!" a guard demands as they rush the gates, "Show me your teeth! Show me your teeth!
The man they saved turns to them, "Show him your teeth."
He grins a grimace and the rest follow suit, allowing the guard to inspect them.
"Human!" he confirms, "Let 'em in! Let 'em in!" the other guards open the gates and they hurry in, "Close! Close! Close!" he fires his machine gun at the ground as the hunters close in on them.
"Humans," one of the hunters growls, "Humani. Make feast."
"Go back to where you came from!" the guard shouts, "I said, go back. Back!"
"Oh, don't tell him to put his gun down," Jack scoffs, rolling his eyes as the man continues to aim at the human-hunting group.
The Doctor glares at him for the comment, "He's not our responsibility."
"And I am? Huh, that makes a change."
The Alchemist bites her lip, it was her fault they left him. Sure, the Doctor wanted to leave as well, but she needed to. The amount of pain it was causing just from him closing in on the TARDIS was not easy to stand and she didn't know how long she could even block it. Then they Regenerated to top it off. That was a horrible day.
"Kind watch you," the apparent leader of the hunting party hisses, "Kind hungry," he waves his hand, and the others back away, turning to where they came.
"Thanks for that," the Time Lord tells the guard.
"Right," he nods, "Let's get you inside."
The man they saved runs over, "My name is Padra Toc Shafe Cane. Tell me. Just please tell me, can you take me to Utopia?"
"Oh yes, sir," the guard smiles, "Yes, I can," he turns and gestures for the group to follow them into a tunnel in the mountain; the silo.
[Silo]
A man approaches them and introduces himself as Atillo, "I need your names for the records," he explains.
The Time Lady nods before pointing them out, "The Doctor, Captain Jack Harkness, Martha Jones, and I'm the Alchemist."
"Doctor?" Atillo asks, "Of what?"
"Oh, just about everything," the Time Lord shrugs.
He nods and writes everything down.
"We need to get back out there to get our ship," the Doctor informs him.
Atillo scoffs, "Not happening; we're not opening the gates to let anyone out of here."
"Please," the Alchemist implores, "We need our ship."
"It looks like a box, a big blue box," the Time Lord explains, "I'm sorry, but we need it back. It's stuck out there."
"I'm sorry," Padra says, interrupting them, "But my family were heading for the silo. Did they get here? My mother is Kistane Shafe Cane. My brother's name is Beltone."
He sighs, "The computers are down but you can check the paperwork," he calls out, "Creet! Passenger needs help!"
A young boy comes around the corner with a clipboard at hand; Padra walks over to him.
Atillo turns back to the couple, "A blue box, you said."
"Big, tall, wooden. Says 'Police,'" the Alchemist explains.
He sighs, hesitant, before saying, "We're driving out for the last water collection. I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you," the Doctor smiles in relief.
"Come on," Creet says, gesturing for Padra to follow him.
Martha frowns before going to follow, the other three walking along behind her, "Sorry, but how old are you?"
"Old enough to work," Creet answers, "This way," they follow Creet down the corridors.
[Corridors]
"Kistane Shafe Cane?" Creet calls out as they walk along, "Kistane Shafe Cane! Kistane and Biltone Shafe Cane? We're looking for a Kistane and Beltone Shafe Cane."
"The Shafe Canes, anyone?" Padra tries, "Kistane from Red Force Five? My name's Padra."
"Anyone? Kistane and Beltone Shafe Cane? Anyone know the Shafe Cane family? Anyone called Shafe Cane?"
"It's like a refugee camp," Martha realizes as she looks along the walls where people are huddled.
"Stinking... not sure how Allycat's managing this," a man turns and glares at Jack, "Oh, sorry. No offense. Not you."
The Time Lady rolls her eyes and mutters, "Nose filters. Wear them almost constantly."
He turns to her, "Really?"
She tilts up her head to show him, "Really."
Jack nods thoughtfully.
"Don't you see that? The ripe old smell of humans," The Doctor grins widely, "You survived. Oh, you might have spent a million years evolving into clouds of gas, and another million as downloads, but you always revert to the same basic shape. The fundamental humans."
"Kistane Shafe Cane?" Creet calls out again.
"End of the universe and here you are," the Time Lord sighs with a smile.
"'Ready to out-sit eternity. They're indomitable,'" the Alchemist smirks, recalling when the fourth version of her Bondmate said that on the Ark.
"Indomitable!" the Doctor grins, pressing a kiss to her cheek, "That's the word. Indomitable! Ha!" he pauses, frowning, " ...Wait, I said that."
The Alchemist laughs and grins at him.
'Cheeky,' he sighs.
"Is there a Kistane Shafe Cane?"
A woman stands, calling out, "That's me!"
Padra runs over, grinning, "Mother?"
"Oh, my God!" she gasps, "Padra!"
Another man stands, and Padra runs over to embrace them, "Beltone?"
Martha smiles at the sight, "It's not all bad news."
A handsome young man stands to walk past and Jack reaches over to shake his hand.
"Captain Jack Harkness. And who are you?" he grins broadly.
"Stop it," the Doctor groans before walking to the doors, "Give us a hand with this," he scans it before turning to his wife, "It's half deadlocked. Ally, can you overwrite the code? Let's find out where we are."
The Doctor and Jack ready themselves to slide open the door while the Alchemist is typing away at the keypad; they pull it open.
"That explains the silo," the Alchemist comments, and the couple leans in to look.
The Doctor stumbles on the edge, grabbing his Bondmate's arm, and nearly causes them both to fall in until Jack grabs them by the shoulders and pulls them back.
"Gotcha," he calls out.
The Doctor sighs, "Thanks."
"How did you cope without me?"
"He had me," the Alchemist shrugs.
"...Good point."
Martha looks at it wide-eyed, "Now that is what I call a rocket."
"They're not refugees, they're passengers!" the Time Lord exclaims in realization.
"He said they were going to Utopia," Martha recalls.
"The perfect place. Hundred trillion years, it's the same old dream. ...Either of you recognize those engines?"
"Some bits I recall seeing before, but I don't know from where," the Alchemist frowns.
"Nope, I don't," Jack responds, "Whatever it is, it's not rocket science. But it's hot, though."
"Boiling," the Doctor adds as the Alchemist types in a code to close the door.
The Time Lady looks around, "But if the Universe is falling apart, what does Utopia mean?"
An old man rushes up to them, glancing between Jack and the Doctor, out of sorts. He focuses on Jack and asks, "The Doctor?"
Smirking, the Alchemist gestures to her husband, "That would be him."
"Good! Good!" the man cries out, grabbing the Doctor's arm and dragging him off, "Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good."
"It's good, apparently," the Doctor shrugs as he looks over his shoulder towards them.
The trio exchange wary looks before following after.
[Yana's laboratory]
"Chan, welcome, tho," a blue insectoid-type alien greets them with a slight bow.
The older man rushes the Doctor over to various pieces of equipment, and the Alchemist follows, looking over her husband's shoulder.
He points everything out, "Now, this is the gravitissimal accelerator. It's past its best but it works..."
Martha and Jack enter, and the alien greets them as well, "Chan welcome tho."
"And over here is the footprint impeller system. Now, do you know anything about endtime gravity...?"
"Hello. Who are you?" Martha smiles.
"Chan, Chantho, tho."
The older man sighs, "But we can't get it to harmonize."
Jack grins, "Captain Jack Harkness."
"Stop it," the Time Lady calls out over her shoulder before looking over the system again with her brows furrowed.
He huffs, rolling his eyes, "Can't I say hello to anyone?"
"Chan, I do not protest, tho," she replies, looking down with a grin.
Jack winks, "Maybe later, Blue," he approaches the technology as well after putting down his black rucksack, "So, what have we got here?"
"And all this feeds into the rocket?" the Doctor asks.
"No stable footprint, though," the Alchemist mutters, confused as to why this system is so familiar.
He nods, "Without a stable footprint, you see, we're..."
"Unable to achieve escape velocity," the Alchemist says along with him before frowning.
The Doctor turns to her in concern, not sure how she knows that, any of it. He's never seen something like this before, was it something she studied as an Elite?
Still frowning, the Time Lady looks wary at the older gentleman.
'What was that? Did you study this at the Elite Academy?' the Doctor asks.
"No, I didn't... and I only ever speak when you speak now. That was odd. I don't know, Theta, I don't know why I recognize some of this...' she swallows hard, and they return to listening to the man.
"Yes, yes!" he cries, "If only we could harmonize the five impact patterns and unify them, well, we might yet make it. What do you think, Doctor? Any ideas?" he turns to the Alchemist, "And you, what is your name?"
"Well, er... basically... sort of... not a clue," the Doctor admits.
"The Alchemist, call me Ally," she says, distracted by looking over the system, hand hovering over it.
The man smiles, "Wonderful to meet you, Ally. But, Doctor, nothing?"
"I'm not from around these parts," the Doctor shrugs, "I've never seen a system like it. Sorry."
"No, no. I'm sorry. It's my fault. There's been so little help," the man sighs.
"Actually, the... design is familiar for some reason," the Alchemist admits before gesturing to a section, "Boost reversal circuit...?"
He turns to her, "Yes, yes, that's what that is! You can help, truly? Are you a doctor as well?"
She shrugs, "Scientist, engineer, doctor, teacher, researcher, artist... I dabble."
Over in the corner, Martha spots something peeking out of Jack's bag, unzips it, and pulls it out, gasping at the sight of a bubbling jar with a hand in it.
"Oh, my God," Martha gasps, staring at it, "You've got a hand? A hand in a jar. A hand in a jar in your bag."
"But that... that, that's my hand!" the Doctor cries.
"An... extra hand," the Alchemist recalls, blanching.
Jack smirks, "I said I had a 'Doctor detector.'"
"Chan, is this a tradition amongst your people, tho?"
"Not on my street," Martha shakes her head, "What do you mean, that's your hand?" she looks at the Time Lord, "You've got both your hands, I can see them."
He waves her off, "Long story. I lost my hand Christmas Day..." he frowns, staring at the hand, "In a swordfight."
"That wasn't a long story, Doctor. That's exactly what happened. Remember the rocks in space that turned out to be aliens invading, Martha?"
The companion nods, "Yeah, yeah, I remember that," she frowns, "But... What, the Doctor grew another hand?"
"Er, yeah, yeah, I did. Yeah...Hello." he grins, waving with it.
The older man frowns, "Might I ask, what species are you?"
"Time Lord," he gestures to his wife and himself, "Me and Ally..."
"Last of," the Alchemist cuts in quickly.
'I want to tell Jack in private,' she informs him.
The Doctor nods to her, "Heard of them?" they stare blankly at him, "Legend or... anything? Not even a myth?" he sighs, "Blimey, end of the Universe is a bit humbling."
"Good, you need a bit of humbling," the Alchemist mutters, and her husband points to her with a pout.
"Chan, it is said that I am the last of my species, too, tho," Chantho tells them.
The Time Lord turns to her, "Sorry, what was your name?"
"My assistant and good friend, Chantho," the older gentleman introduces, "A survivor of the Malmooth. This was their planet, Malcassairo, before we took refuge."
The Alchemist nods to this, from her senses it was once Jaconda; the species must have developed long after the original inhabitants of the planet died off.
"The city outside, that was yours?" the Doctor asks.
"Conglomeration," the Alchemist corrects before turning to the female alien, "I'm so sorry for your loss."
Chantho bows, "Chan, the conglomeration died; thank you for your consideration, tho."
"Conglomeration. That's what I meant to say when Ally interrupted me!" the Doctor nods.
Jack chastises him, "You're supposed to say sorry. Why does Ally always get it right?"
"Oh, yes. Sorry," he winces before turning to the immortal, "Because, apparently, she always is."
Jack considers it before nodding, "True."
"Chan, most grateful, tho," Chantho replies.
Martha blinks hard, still focusing on the hand, "You grew another hand?"
"Hello, again," the Doctor waves again, "It's fine. Look, really, it's me," he reaches out his hand to shake with a smile.
"First fifteen hours after we change... even before it, we can heal ourselves using the residual energy... that includes growing new limbs," the Alchemist explains.
Martha shakes her head, "All this time and you're still full of surprises."
"Chan, you are most unusual, tho."
The Alchemist rolls her eyes before smirking, "No kidding. Together for almost all of our lives, and he still catches me off guard."
The Doctor grins, "Gotta spice things up sometimes."
"So what about those things outside?" Jack asks the man, "The Beastie Boys. What are they?"
"We call them the Futurekind," the older man answers with a sigh, "Which is a myth in itself, but it's feared they are what we will become unless we reach Utopia."
"...And Utopia is?" the Doctor prompts.
"Oh, every human knows of Utopia. Where have you been?"
"Bit of a hermit..." the Doctor shrugs before adding, "With a wife."
"Yes, hermit, sure," the Time Lady rolls her eyes.
Yana frowns, "A married hermit... with... friends?"
"Hermits United," the Doctor replies, "We meet up every ten years and swap stories about caves. It's good fun... for a hermit. So, um, Utopia?"
The man crooks his finger and strides over to a display showing the gravitational field navigation system.
"The call came from across the stars," he explains, "Over and over again. Come to Utopia," he gestures to a red blinking dot, "Originating from that point."
"Where is that?" the Doctor frowns, looking at the screen.
"Oh, it's far beyond the Condensate Wilderness, out towards the Wildlands and the Dark Matter reefs, calling us in. The last of the humans scattered across the night."
The Alchemist smiles, "What do you think's out there?"
"We can't know," he sighs, "A colony, a city, some sort of haven? The Science Foundation created the Utopia Project thousands of years ago to preserve mankind, to find a way of surviving beyond the collapse of reality itself. Now, perhaps they found it... Perhaps not. But it's worth a look, don't you think?"
"Oh, yes," the Time Lord grins.
The Alchemist flinches, hearing something, and spins around in shock, looking for the sound.
"No..." she whispers, unheard, as she paces around the room, searching and sniffing.
"And the signal keeps modulating, so it's not automatic. That's a good sign someone's out there," the Doctor looks closer at the screen and grins, "And that's, ooh, that's a navigation matrix. So you can fly without stars to guide you."
The Time Lady turns, focusing on the old man with narrowed eyes. His eyes are closed, and his face is drawn as if in pain.
"What's wrong?" she asks.
"I, um," he blinks his eyes open, "Ahem, right, that's enough talk. There's work to do. Now if you could leave, thank you," he takes a breath and walks over to the table of equipment.
"You alright?" the Doctor asks, concerned.
"Yes, I'm fine," he answers shortly.
"Are you sure? Did you hear something?" the Alchemist asks him.
The Doctor turns to her, feeling her anxiety rise, 'Amara, what's wrong? You haven't been this anxious in weeks...'
"Nothing, nothing. And busy."
'Later pile,' is the only thing she can say, and he nods, worried.
The Alchemist frowns, glancing at the circuit boards, "Except that rocket's not going to fly, is it? This footprint mechanism... It's not working."
He waves her off, "We'll find a way!"
"You're stuck on this planet," the Time Lord realizes, "And you haven't told them, have you? That lot out there, they still think they're going to fly."
"Well, it's better to let them live in hope."
"Quite right, too," the Doctor smiles, "And I must say, um, what was it?"
"Professor Yana."
The Alchemist nods, "The path of enlightenment, hm," she gestures to an area on the circuit board, "Professor Yana. This new science is well beyond both of us despite me recognizing some of it."
"But all the same," the Doctor continues, approaching the area his wife pointed out, "A boost reversal circuit, in any time frame, must be a circuit which reverses the boost. So, I wonder, what would happen if we did this?"
He sonics a cable leading to the switch, and the Alchemist flips it on. Power surges through the machines.
"Chan, it's working, tho!"
Yana gapes, "But how did you do that?"
"Oh, we've been chatting away," the Doctor grins, "I forgot to tell you. We're brilliant!"
[Yana's laboratory]
"All passengers prepare for boarding," Atillo calls over the tannoy, "I repeat, all passengers prepare for immediate boarding. Destination: Utopia. All troops report to silo. I repeat, all troops report to silo. All passengers prepare for immediate boarding. All passengers prepare for immediate boarding."
The Time Lords work together at the massive clear circuit board with Professor Yana, all busy connecting wires, adding cords, and adjusting the energy feed.
The Doctor sniffs one of the cords, "Is this?"
"Gluten extract, yeah," the Time Lady glances at him, "It's binding the neutralino map together. Like I said, this system is familiar, but I'm... not sure why yet," she frowns.
"Yes, gluten extract," Yana confirms, impressed, "You've seen such a thing? I wasn't aware it had been used this way before me."
The Alchemist shrugs; she's still trying to figure out why, but she's also in denial over what she heard before.
"But that's food," the Doctor blinks in shock, "You've built this system out of food and string and staples? Professor Yana, you're a genius."
The Alchemist looks up in surprise, "I've never heard you compliment a human like that before."
Yana laughs, shaking his head, "Says the ones who made it work."
"Ooh, it's easy coming in at the end, but... you're stellar," the Time Lord continues, "This is, this is magnificent. And to continue my wife's point, I don't often say that 'cause, well, 'cause of me."
The Alchemist covers a laugh.
He blinks, realizing what he just said, "And Ally... Actually, mostly her."
"Well, even my title is an affectation," Yana sighs, "There hasn't been such a thing as a university for... over a thousand years. I've spent my life going from one refugee ship to another."
"If you'd been born in a different time, you'd be revered. I mean it. Throughout the galaxies."
"Oh, those damned galaxies," he shakes his head, "They had to go and collapse. Some admiration would have been nice," he sighs, "Yes, just a little, just once."
The Doctor grins, "Well, you've got it now."
The Alchemist glances at him, "But the footprint engine, there's no way you can't activate it from onboard. It's got to be from here."
The Time Lord frowns, "You're staying behind?"
'When did you notice that? I missed it.'
'I wasn't aware you did... It's on one of the readouts.'
He nods, "With Chantho. She won't leave without me. Simply refuses."
"You'd give your life so they could fly," the Doctor sighs.
"Oh, I think I'm a little too old for Utopia. Time I had some sleep."
Atillo calls out over the comm, "Professor, tell the Doctor and the Alchemist we've found their blue box."
"Ah!" the Time Lord grins brightly.
"Doctor? Allycat?" Jack calls from his place before the monitor.
The Time Lords rush over, beaming at the sight.
"Professor," the Doctor pats the man on the shoulder, "It's a wild stab in the dark, but I may just have found you a way out."
Yana looks at the screen, staring at the blue box.
The Alchemist hears something again and turns her gaze to Yana. Her eyes harden into a glare before she shakes her head and looks away.
"I'll go get her," she declares and strides out of the lab.
Jack and the Doctor share a concerned glance. Just from her expression alone, they can tell something is upsetting her, but they're both uncertain as to what. The Time Lord is certain she'll explain when she's ready; his Bondmate has already promised to.
Approaching Atillo, the Alchemist smiles at the man with a nod, and he grins back. She looks around, seeing the survivors on the planet rushing about, preparing for takeoff.
Entering the TARDIS, she shifts over to the console before pausing. She hasn't been actively communicating with the Time Vortex lately, still upset with what happened on the ship flying into the living sun.
'...Is it him?' she asks Teacher reluctantly, but frowns when there's no response.
The Alchemist sighs and starts up the Time Rotor, sending them into the lab to appear in the present.
Running in, the Time Lord grins brightly at his wife before hooking up a thick power cable and dragging it out with her help.
"Extra power," the Doctor calls out as they exit the TARDIS, "Little bit of a cheat, but who's counting?" he plugs it into an outlet, "Jack, you're in charge of the retro feeds."
The Time Lady stares hard at Professor Yana, hearing it again when Martha walks in with Chantho, more circuit boards in hand.
"Oh," Martha sighs in relief, "Am I glad to see that thing..."
"Don't call Bluette a 'thing,' Martha, she doesn't like it," the Alchemist admonishes, still staring at the man who's now dropping hard into a chair, rubbing his head.
"Sorry, Bluette," She says with a wince.
The Alchemist glances away from Yana to her, when she hears a response, smirking, "She accepts your apology."
"Chan, Professor, are you alright, tho?" Chantho asks, approaching the professor with concern.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine," he waves her off, "Just get on with it."
"Connect those circuits into the spar," Jack orders Martha, "Same as that last lot... But quicker."
"Ooh, yes, sir," she laughs.
"You don't have to keep working," the Doctor tells Yana. "We can handle it."
"It's just a headache," the older man says, "It's just... just noise inside my head, Doctor. Constant noise inside my head."
The Alchemist freezes in her work and stares at the man. Jack spares her a look before continuing with the connections he's making with the cables.
"What sort of noise?" the Time Lord frowns.
"It's the sound of drums. More and more, as though it's getting closer."
"When did it start?"
"Oh, I've had it all my life. Every waking hour," he shakes his head and stands, walking off, "Still, no rest for the wicked."
The Alchemist watches him move away with mounting horror; that's all the confirmation she needs.
Turning to her, the Doctor calls out, 'What is it?'
'I want to be wrong,' she replies.
'About what, Amara? About what?' he asks.
She shakes her head, trying to focus on the circuits instead, 'I don't even want to think about it.'
He frowns at this, watching her, his Bondmate wanting to be wrong about something is never a good sign, never. And for her to put off telling him why makes it even worse.
[Control room]
Atillo goes up to one of the monitors and calls out, "Professor."
Hearing no response, he types in a system request.
"Systems are down. Professor, are you getting me?"
Yana's image appears on the screen, "I'm here! We're ready!"
[Yana's laboratory]
"Now all you need to do is connect the couplings," Yana tells him, "Then we can launch."
The screen goes to static, and the Professor smacks it before typing in a command.
"God's sake!" he complains, "This equipment... Needs rebooting all the time."
"Anything I can do?" Martha asks, coming over, "I've finished that lot."
He nods, "Yes, if you could," he stands and she takes his seat, "Just press the reboot key every time the picture goes."
"Certainly, sir. Just don't ask me to do shorthand."
"...Right," he replies, confused.
Atillo reappears on the monitor, "Are you still there?"
"Ah, present and correct," he nods, "Send your man inside. We'll keep the levels down from here."
Atillo nods and heads off-screen, returning a moment later, "He's inside. And good luck to him."
"Captain," Yana turns to Jack, "Keep the dials below the red."
"Where is that room?" the Doctor asks, looking at the monitor where he can see Atillo standing before a massive door.
"It's underneath the rocket. Fix the couplings, and the footprint can work. But the entire chamber is flooded with stet radiation."
"Stet?" the Alchemist mutters.
The Doctor shrugs, glancing at her, "Never heard of it. You?"
"No. And that's saying something," the Time Lady admits.
"You wouldn't want to," Yana explains, "But it's safe enough if we can hold the radiation back from here."
The Alchemist turns her head, hearing a slamming against metal from rather far away. Whatever's happening, she won't get to in time to stop, though.
Moments later, an alarm sounds, and the Time Lady flinches.
"It's rising! ...Naught point two..." Yana gasps, "Keep it level!"
"Yes, sir!" Jack replies, attempting to do so.
The alarm continues to go off as the second connection is made.
"Chan, we're losing power, tho!" Chantho cries out, watching it drop.
"Radiation's rising!" the Doctor calls out.
Jack shouts, unable to keep it steady, "We've lost control!"
"The chamber's going to flood," Yana realizes.
The Alchemist turns, "Jack, override the vents!"
Jack pulls out two live power cables, "We can jump-start the override."
"Don't! It's going to flare!" she shouts.
Power surges through Jack, electrocuting him and stopping his heart as he holds the live ends together.
"I've got him," Martha calls out as he collapses, running to his side.
Chantho moves the power cables away, "Chan, don't touch the cables, tho."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Yana tells them as Martha starts mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the immortal man.
The Doctor nods in thought, unconcerned, "The chamber's flooded with radiation, yes?"
"Without the couplings, the engines will never start. It was all for nothing!"
"Oh, I don't know," he shrugs, "Martha, leave him," he approaches them and pulls her back and away.
"You've got to let me try!" she shouts.
"No, really, leave him. He'll be fine, he will," The Alchemist nods.
"Come on, come on, just listen to us," the Time Lord adds, "Now leave him alone," he turns to the man, "It strikes me, Professor, you've got a room which no man can enter without dying. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Yana says, eyeing the calm Time Lords.
The Doctor glances over to Jack, "Well..." he gasps and sits up, revived, "I think I've got just the man."
"Was someone kissing me?" the immortal asks, confused.
The Alchemist sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration.
[Control room]
"Lieutenant, get on board the rocket!" the Doctor calls out as he and Jack run in, "I promise you're going to fly."
He shakes his head, "The chamber's flooded."
"Trust me. We've found a way of tripping the system. Run!"
Atillo nods and leaves, and the Doctor turns to Jack, frowning, "Wh...what are you taking your clothes off for?"
"I'm going in."
The Doctor rolls his eyes, "Well, by the looks of it, I'd say the stet radiation doesn't affect clothing, only flesh."
Jack shrugs, "Well, I look good though," he stops at the door, frowning, "How long have you known?"
"Ever since I ran away from you, I had to protect Ally from the pain. I promise she didn't want to go... Good luck."
Jack nods, swallowing hard, before entering the chamber and continuing to connect the couplings as the Doctor watches from the window.
[Yana's laboratory]
Chantho and the Alchemist behind her, Martha reboots the computer again before frowning.
"We lost picture when that thing flared up," Martha calls over the comm. from the computer, "Doctor, are you there?"
"Receiving, yeah," he replies, "He's inside."
Martha frowns, "And still alive?"
"Oh, yes."
"But he should evaporate," Yana shakes his head, "What sort of a man is he?"
"It doesn't matter," the Time Lady mutters, glancing over at him.
"I've only just met him," Martha shrugs, "The Doctor and Ally sort of travel through time and space and pick people up. God, I make us sound like stray dogs... Maybe we are."
"You're not dogs. More like puppies; much cuter," the Time Lady corrects with a smirk making Martha laugh.
"They travel in time...?" Yana asks, dazed.
The Alchemist slips her sonic discreetly out of her pocket before turning it on and aiming it at the controls for the Radiation Chamber console to turn off the sound. She's certain that Jack's going to want to speak with her husband while he's in there. She hasn't clued any of them into her worries yet. Anything could be a memory trigger; especially what they're probably going to discuss. Martha's saying too much already.
"Don't ask me to explain it, Ally probably could," Martha gestures to the ship, "That's a TARDIS, that box thing. The sports car of time travel, he says," she turns to the Time Lady, finally noticing her now tense disposition, "Ally, are you okay?"
"Fine, I'm fine. I'm going to check on those two. Don't say anything more, Martha," she warns and leaves.
Martha gives her a confused look as she rushes out the door.
[Radiation chamber]
"When did you first realize?" the Doctor asks him from behind the door.
"Earth, 1892," Jack sighs, "Got in a fight in Ellis Island. A man shot me through the heart. Then I woke up. Thought it was kind of strange. But then it never stopped. Fell off a cliff, trampled by horses, World War One, World War Two, poison, starvation, a stray javelin... In the end, I got the message. I'm the man who can never die. And all that time you knew."
"That's why... I needed to leave you behind. It's not easy even just looking at you, Jack, 'cause you're wrong. It hurt Ally, imagine? I don't know how she can be near you now. She's so connected to time."
"Thanks," Jack scoffs.
"You are! I can't help it. I'm a Time Lord. It's instinct. It's in my guts. I don't know how my Bondmate isn't reacting to it now. You're a fixed point in time and space. You're a fact. That's never meant to happen. Even the TARDIS reacted against you, tried to shake you off. Flew all the way to the end of the Universe just to get rid of you."
"So what you're saying is that you're, uh..." he trails off as he connects another coupling, "Prejudiced?"
The Doctor sighs, "...I never thought of it like that."
"Shame on you."
"Yeah."
The Alchemist comes in and looks straight at the Doctor, concern and anger written all over her features and bubbling within the empathic bond rapidly.
'What's wrong?' he asks.
'I remember why that stupid system is familiar now. We need to leave as soon as possible,' she replies.
'Why?' he asks and she shakes her head, refusing to answer.
He'll want to bring him back with them; she knows it, and that is something she can't let happen. Not when they're so close to finding them. He's going to stay human, and that's the end of it.
[Yana's laboratory]
Yana notices the sound is off and turns it back on, confused, beginning to listen in along with Martha.
"Last thing I remember, back when I was mortal," Jack sighs, "I was facing three Daleks. Death by extermination. And then I came back to life," he glances at the door, "...What happened?"
"Rose," the Doctor grumbles out.
"I thought you'd sent her back home?"
"She came back. Opened the heart of the TARDIS and tore it out. She absorbed some of the Time Vortex."
The Alchemist frowns, "She fought against Teacher and you had to pay a massive part of the price for the genocide of the Daleks, Jack."
"What does that mean, exactly?" he asks.
The Doctor sighs, "No one's ever meant to have that power, only Ally can handle it."
[Radiation chamber]
"They used to say a Time Lord would become a god if they did that," the Alchemist scoffs, "A vengeful god. Clearly, they didn't know about me. But she was human... that turned out to be worse."
The Doctor grasps her hand tightly, feeling her rage.
She continues, "Everything she did was so human. She brought you back to life but she couldn't control it... especially not when payment is due. She brought you back forever."
"That's something, I suppose," the Doctor sighs, "The final act of the Time War was life, even if she killed every Dalek to do it and the three of us had to pay the price."
"Do you think she could change me back? ...Could you, Ally?"
The Time Lord sighs, "We took the power out of her."
"And you've already rippled through the Timeline as a fixed point. My connection is complete, and I've got a lot of my abilities at this point... but even then, I can do nothing. I'm sorry, Jack. That's why I'm sorry."
"I am, too. Besides, she's gone, Jack. She's not just living on a parallel world, she's trapped there. The walls have closed."
"I'm sorry," Jack replies with a frown.
The Doctor's silent for a moment before finally admitting, "We're... not."
"Why?" Jack asks, "What happened between you three, anyway?"
"She tried to get between me and Ally," the Time Lord sighs.
Jack scoffs, "Seriously? She must have had a death sentence. I remember Ally mentioning that it was a law for you guys."
"...Do you want to die?" the Alchemist asks.
"Oh, this one's a little stuck."
"Jack?"
He sighs, "I thought I did. I don't know. But this lot. You see them out here surviving, and that's fantastic."
The Doctor nods, "You might be out there, somewhere."
"Mmm, perhaps," the Alchemist says with a sad smile.
"I could go meet myself."
"Well, the only man you're ever going to be happy with," the Doctor smirks.
"This new Regeneration, it's kind of cheeky like Ally now."
"Hmm."
"You have no idea, Jack," the Alchemist laughs, "No idea."
The Doctor shoots her a look, and she grins.
[Yana's laboratory]
"I never understand half the things they say," Martha shakes her head before seeing Yana leaning up against the equipment with tears in his eyes, "What's wrong?"
"Chan, Professor, what is it, tho?"
"Time travel," he whispers, "They say there was time travel back in the old days. I never believed... But what would I know? Stupid old man," he scoffs, "Never could keep time. Always late, always lost. Even this thing never worked," he pulls out a silver fob watch from his pocket, "Time and time and time again. Always running out on me."
"Can I have a look at that?" Martha asks, eyeing it.
"Oh, it's only an old relic. Like me."
"Where did you get it?"
"Hmm? I was found with it."
"What do you mean?"
"An orphan in the storm. I was a naked child found on the coast of the Silver Devastation. Abandoned, with only this," he says, holding it up.
"Have you opened it?"
Yana frowns, "Why would I? It's broken."
Martha shakes her head, "How do you know it's broken if you've never opened it?"
"It's stuck. It's old. It's not meant to be. I don't know," he shows the watch to Martha.
She turns it over, noting the circular Gallifreyan that she recognizes from her pilots' room sign, the name above the Alchemist's table in the Makeover Room, the lettering that never translates on the screen in the TARDIS, and, most of all, from the watches when the Time Lords used the Chameleon Arch to become human.
"Does it matter?" Yana asks, looking at her and taking the watch back.
"No. It's nothing. It's..." she trails off before glancing at the door, beginning to back out of it, "Listen, everything's fine up here. I'm going to see if the Doctor and Ally need me."
It hits Martha as she runs to the control room partly why the Alchemist was so intent on her not saying anything more. She knows. She knows he has a watch and for some reason, she doesn't want the man to open it. The question, though, is why.
[Radiation chamber]
"Yes!" Jack shouts as he makes the last connection.
"Now, get out of there," the Doctor calls through the door, "Come on!"
"Hurry up!" the Alchemist shouts, worried.
She needs to make sure they get out of here immediately.
[Control room]
Jack exits as the Doctor contacts Atillo, "Lieutenant, everyone on board?"
"Ready and waiting," he replies.
"Stand by. Two minutes to ignition!"
Atillo calls out over the silo-wide comm, "Ready to launch. Outer doors sealed."
The Computer continues the announcement, "Countdown commencing. T minus ninety-nine, ninety-eight..."
The Time Lords turn to the controls with Jack, flipping switches and preparing them for launch with Martha runs in, out of breath.
"Ah, nearly there," the Doctor looks up, grinning, "The footprint, it's a gravity pulse. It stamps down, the rocket shoots up. Bit primitive. It'll take the both of us to keep it stable, but with three it's going a bit easier."
"Ally, Doctor, it's the Professor," Martha gasps out, "He's got this watch. He's got a fob watch. It's the same as yours. Same writing on it, same... everything."
"Did you point it out to him!? Did you say anything, Martha!? I told you not to!" The Alchemist yells, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her, scaring the woman.
The Doctor turns to her in alarm, "Ally what are you doing!?"
Martha swallows hard, "I... I'm sorry, I did; I asked him. He said he's had it his whole life."
"So he's got the same watch," Jack shrugs, not seeing the issue.
"Yeah, but it's not a watch. It's this chameleon thing,"
The Alchemist grabs Martha and whispers in her ear, "No one survived besides us. Don't mention the others."
She nods but doesn't understand why she can't. How is this not a good thing?
"No, no, no, it's this, this thing, this device, it... rewrites biology," the Doctor explains, "Changes a Time Lord into a human"
Martha turns to him, "...And it's the same watch."
"Don't be ridiculous. It can't be."
"It's not, but the same type. His name is on it though," the Alchemist growls.
An alarm goes off, and the Alchemist quickly adjusts for it.
"That means he could be a Time Lord," Jack realizes, "You might not be the last ones."
The Doctor looks at the readings, "Jack, keep it level!"
"But that's brilliant, isn't it?" Martha shakes her head, still confused.
"Yes, it is. Course it is. Depends which one. Brilliant, fantastic, yeah. But they died, the Time Lords. All of them. They died, only..."
The Alchemist cuts him off, "We're the only ones who got out."
'Say nothing about the children, Theta Sigma,' she orders.
He glances at her, confused, but nods.
"Not if he was human," Jack tells them.
"What did he say, Martha?" the Time Lord demands, "What did he say?"
"He said he heard drums, Doctor! Don't be an idiot!" The Alchemist shouts, rounding on him.
"He looked at the watch like he could hardly see it," Martha admits, "Like that perception filter thing."
"What about now? Can he see it now!?" He asks, in concern and terror.
He understands now why she was so upset.
Martha can only nod.
"Thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine..." the computer calls out.
"If he escaped the Time War, then it's the perfect place to hide," the Alchemist glares at her husband, "The end of the Universe. Where the hell else would he go to get away from something that scared him?"
"...Six, five..."
"Think of what the Face of Boe said," Martha recalls, "His dying words. He said..."
"...One."
The Doctor hits the last switch, and the rocket engines fire.
"You are not alone," Martha reminds them.
'Hello!' the Alchemist hears.
"Damn it all!" she shouts aloud.
The Time Lady grasps her Bondmate's hand, dragging him through the doorway and down the corridors, intent on stopping him before he gets too far. She's furious at herself for not telling the Doctor immediately. If she had... none of this would be happening now.
[Corridor]
The main corridor doors slam in the Doctor's face, and he desperately tries to unlock them with the sonic.
"Get it open...!" he shouts, "Get it open!"
"Move!" orders the Time Lady, and he does.
The Alchemist kicks the door open, raging, as she hears the conversation happening in the laboratory.
They make it around a corner before being forced to stop short as the Futurekind rushes towards them, having been let into the building. The Time Lady leads them back around where they just came from, and the cannibals make chase, shouting at them.
"This way!" Jack shouts, turning down another hall to lead them down a different corridor to get to the lab.
'I have an extra haannndddd!' The Alchemist hears and she growls aloud, getting a strange look from everyone but the Doctor.
'Put it back, you don't need one, just a new brain!' she shouts back.
[Outside Yana's laboratory]
They make it to the door of the lab, and the Doctor begins pounding at the window, "Professor! Professor, let me in! Let me in!" he cries, "Professor! Professor, where are you?! Professor! Professor, are you there? Please, I need to explain. Whatever you do, don't open that watch."
"He's already opened it, Doctor!" the Alchemist shouts, pulling the Doctor back and slamming herself bodily against the door. She looks inside when it doesn't budge.
Focusing her eyesight on his movements, the Time Lady sees him removing a circuit board from the gravitational field navigation system.
"Utopia," she hears him say.
"And he's coming up with a stupid plan already!" she growls.
"They're coming!" Martha cries, spotting the Futurekind entering the corridor.
"Professor!" the Doctor shouts, in denial, "Open the door, please! I'm begging you. Please, listen to me! Just open the door, please!"
They hear a gunshot go off, and the others freeze as The Alchemist smashes her fist into the door panel. The door opens with the locks now disabled.
[Yana's laboratory]
They run in and see the bleeding Time Lord step back into the TARDIS, carrying the jar. He shuts the door on the couple and deadlocks it with a switch on the console.
The Doctor runs to the doors of the ship and pounds against them, "Let us in. Let us in!"
"You lunatic, just let us in!" The Alchemist shouts, refusing to hit their TARDIS.
"She's dead," Martha calls out from beside Chantho.
"Ally broke the lock," Jack calls over to Martha, "Give me a hand!"
She rushes over to help them as the Bondmates call out to the Time Lord now locked in the TARDIS.
"I'm begging you. Everything's changed!" the Doctor cries out, "It's only... the three of us! We're the only ones left! Just let us in!"
The Doctor stumbles back, worried, as he watches the orange-golden glow through the TARDIS windows; the Alchemist glares, furious still, as the man inside shouts.
"Doctor! Ally! You'd better think of something!" Jack calls out.
The light fades inside the TARDIS, and the comm system is turned on; he cackles wildly, "Now then, Alchemist, Doctor. Ooh, new voice..." he drops his pitch, "Hello," higher, "Hello!" he returns it to his natural tone, "Hello."
"And a stupid laugh again, congratulations!" the Alchemist shouts.
"Oh, hush!" he shouts before laughing once more, "Anyway, why don't we stop and have a nice little chat while I tell you all my plans and you can work out a way to stop me? I don't think so!"
"Hold on!" Martha gasps, "I know that voice."
"I'm asking you really properly," the Time Lord implores, "Just stop. Just think!
"Oh, as if he can go beyond one desire, Doctor," the Alchemist snaps before turning back to the TARDIS, "Don't you worry! I'll work out your little plan and foil it again as usual!"
"Not this time, Alchemist!" he calls, "Use my name. Both of you, use it!"
The Doctor sighs, "Master. I'm sorry."
"The hell I will!" the Alchemist calls out.
"Tough!" he shouts before demanding. "Say my name, Alchemist!"
"You keep asking and I'll keep saying no, you coward!" she screams back.
The couple's eyes go wide as they hear the time rotor start-up. The Doctor slips out his sonic screwdriver and aims it at the console through the window.
"We can't hold out much longer," Jack cries, "Ally, help!"
"Oh, no you don't!" the Master shouts at the TARDIS when it reacts against him, "End of the Universe. Have fun. Bye-bye!"
"Doctor, Ally! Stop him!" Martha yells, "Help us. They're getting in!"
The TARDIS dematerializes.
A/N: Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum...