Enduring 3/13
Series: Enduring the Test of Time
Title: New Companions
Author: McRaider
Summary: He was still just a kid in comparison to all of the Doctor’s 900 years, but he wanted to see the universe, and sometimes even the Doctor could use a little extra help.
Author’s Note: I’ve been considering this for a long time, I think reading teachwriteslash further inspired the idea, but it’s brewing up there in various different ways thus I decided to try it on and see what happened.
Pairings: Doctor/Rose and eventually in this story leading into Jack/Ianto
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Ianto’s eyes grew wide as Van Statten and the Doctor-who was currently pulling his jumper over his head-stepped Ianto’s office. He was mildly surprised, and seriously concerned as to the paleness of the Doctor. “What did he do?” Ianto asked glaring at Van Statten.
“It doesn’t matter now; we’ve got to keep it in its cell.”
“Doctor, it’s all my fault.” Rose began as the three men in Ianto’s office looked at the monitor where Rose, Adam and Bywater, one of the security guards stood.
“I’ve sealed the compartment. It can't get out, that lock's got a billion combinations.” Bywater explained.
“The Dalek's a genius. It can calculate a thousand billion combinations in one second flat.”
Ianto’s eyes grew wide in horror as seconds later the door opened and the Dalek began to move towards them. “Open fire!” Bywater screamed.
“Don’t shoot! I want it unharmed!” Van Statten ordered.
“Rose get out of there!” cried the Doctor.
“Everyone evacuate level fifty-four, I repeat get to safe ground!” Ianto decided someone had to take action, since obviously Van Statten wasn’t going to be the guy to do it. Ianto was prepared to take over. They would put up a fight against this thing, but he wasn’t getting anymore killed than necessary.
The Doctor glanced over at Ianto in surprise, as if hearing his thoughts.
“De Maggio - take the civilians and get them out alive. That is your job, got that?” Bywater told the female security guard.
She nodded, “You, with me.” She ordered, not wanting to frighten them more. The three hurried out of the room.
The Doctor, Ianto and Van Statten watched in horror as the creature walked over to the nearest computer. Seconds later it attached the sucker to the control panel and light up, becoming like new. “Doctor-“ whispered Ianto.
“He’s using the internet against us.” The Doctor whispered, confirming Ianto’s worst fear. A beep from Ianto’s computer drew his attention away. Stepping over to the computer he typed a few strokes then looked up. “We’re loosing power Doctor, it’s raiding the power supplies for the whole state of Utah.”
“It’s downloading.” The Doctor replied looking over Ianto’s shoulder. He was mildly impressed as Ianto began trying to combat it, fighting back for the power, shooting up firewalls and technically blocks that might slow the creature down.
“Downloading what?” Van Statten questioned.
“The entire West Coast has gone down-I can’t stop it.” Ianto shook his head.
“It’s not energy. That Dalek just absorbed the entire Internet, it knows everything now.”
“The Daleks survive in me!” The creature roared as he moved away from the controls, looking good as new.
“We’ve lost cameras in the vault as well.” The room lights dimmed slightly. Ianto looked at the Doctor. “It’s emergency power.” He stated.
The Doctor nodded. “It's eaten everything else, you've got to kill it now!”
“How can we fight it Doctor, I won’t send my men-“
“You’re men!?” Van Statten raged staring at the man.
Ianto chose to ignore him, as did the Doctor. “I won’t get my people killed-“
A crackle over the radio and Ianto listened to a thousand screams. “This is Bywater, we got the Civilians out, but we can’t take them-red division is-“ His words were cut of by a scream and a high pitched particle gun. He was dead.
“They're dispensable, that Dalek is unique!” Growled Van Statten, “I don't want a scratch on its body work? Do you hear me? Do you hear me?”
“They won’t hear you sir-they’re all dead,” Ianto murmured, pulling up the remaining life signs in the building. He closed his eyes, feel lost as he could feel the pain of all the dead, hear their last screams.
“This is not war! This is Pest control!” The Dalek cried.
“We are five million Cybermen, how many are you?” The Cyberman demanded.
“Four!”
“You would destroy Cybermen with four Daleks!” The Cybermen practically laughed-well if it could have.
“We would destroy Cybermen with one Dalek! You are superior in only one way.”
“What is that?”
“Dying!”
It was the Doctor’s turn to stare at Ianto in surprise, again as though he could read the younger man’s thoughts. He studied him crucially for a moment, he’d invite this man as a companion, he was someone to watch out for. Ianto returned to the present and quickly pulled up a map of the base. “That’s us right below the surface, and that’s the cage and here’s the dalek,” he explained pointing to the little blue light on the screen.
“This museum of yours - have you got any alien weapons?” The Doctor questioned Ianto.
“Yes, but the Dalek is between us and them.”
“We’ve got to keep that thing alive! We could just seal the entire vault and trap it down there!” Van Statten screamed again, annoyed that they no longer seemed to be listening.
“Leaving everyone trapped with it? Rose is down there. I won't let that happen. Have you got that?” the Doctor glared are the man before returning to the computer screen and Ianto. “It’s go to go through this area, what is it?”
“Weapons testing.”
Nodding, the Doctor looked at Ianto. “Give guns to the lawyers, technicians, anyone. Everyone. Only then have you got a chance of killing it.”
“But-it’ll kill them.” Ianto whispered, his own humanity keeping him from risking the lives of thousands.
“Ianto-“
The younger man nodded. “I understand-“ Getting up he walked off to the side, while the Doctor took a seat in Ianto’s vacant chair.
o0o
As Rose, De Maggio and Adam stood at the top of the stairs all Rose could think was how dumb it was to taunt the large thing with a laser weapon for not being able to go up the stairs. It was in that briefest of moments, she realized just how stupid Adam really was.
“Now, listen to me. I demand that you return to your cage. If you want to negotiate then I guarantee that Mr. van Statten will be willing to talk. I accept that we imprisoned you and maybe that was wrong. But people have died, and that stops. Right now. The killing stops, have you got that?” De Maggio tried to reason. “I demand that you surrender, is that clear?”
“El-ev-ate.”
“Oh god.” whispered Rose as she suddenly turned and pushed Adam up the stairs. “Come with us! You can’t stop it!” She cried to De Maggio.
“Someone’s got to try! Now go!”
Rose ran up the stairs behind Adam, it was only seconds later when they heard the screams of the poor woman. No doubt dead.
o0o
Ianto could only listen, but he felt sick to his stomach, he didn’t want to see people die, certainly didn’t want to hear them. He gotten to know every single person, their names, spouses names and he was sending them all to their death.
“I thought you were the great expert, Doctor.” Van Statten yelled, obviously becoming distressed. “If you're so impressive, then why not just reason with this Dalek? It must be willing to negotiate - there must be something it needs, everything needs something.”
But the Doctor’s eyes were solely on Ianto who appeared to be dealing with whatever was rushing through the younger man’s mind. Finally he snapped out of his thoughts and face Van Statten. “What’s the nearest town?”
“Salt Lake City.”
“Population?”
“One Million,” whispered Ianto.
“All dead. If the Dalek gets out, it'll murder every living creature, that's all it needs.”
“But why would it do that!?” Van Statten demanded in fury.
“Because it honestly believes they should die. Human beings are different, and anything different is wrong. It's the ultimate in racial cleansing and you, Van Statten, you've let it loose!”
o0o
The room was huge, with catwalk stairs up above, and all around people with guns were positioning themselves, some where soldiers, but most of them appeared to be simple civilians that worked there. All of which, held a look of fear and terror in their eyes.
“The Dalek's surrounded by a force field. The bullets are melting before they even hit home but it's not indestructible. If you concentrate your fire, you might get through.” The Doctor explained over the communication system. “Aim for the dome, the head, the eyepiece, that’s the weak spot.”
“Thank you, Doctor, but I think I know how to fight one single tin robot. Positions!”
“Just listen you bloody idiot!” screamed Ianto, suddenly unable to take it anymore, knowing every single one of these men and women were going to die.
“On my mark...” The commander spoke again as the Dalek entered the room. “Open fire!”
“We’ve got vision,” Ianto whispered as he, the Doctor and Van Statten all watched.
“It wants us to see it.” The Doctor murmured.
They watched with building sickness as the Dalek set off the water sprinklers, as he electrocuted every single man and woman in the room. Leaving no one alive on the base but Adam, Rose, Ianto, Van Statten and the Doctor.
“They’re all dead.” Ianto whispered, his eyes beginning to tear slightly. All of them innocent people in the game of a sick deranged man who just wanted to play with his toy and wouldn’t listen.
“Perhaps it's time for a new strategy, maybe we should consider abandoning this place,” Van Statten offered, his voice full of panic, his entire body shaking in fear.
“We can’t get out, there’s no power remember,” Ianto replied.
“You said you could seal the vault?” The Doctor questioned.
“It was designed to be a bunker. In the event of nuclear war, steel bulkheads-“
“There isn’t enough power, the bulkheads are huge.”
“We’ve got emergency power. We can re-route that to the bulkhead doors.”
Van Statten shook his head. “We'd have to bypass the security codes, that would take a computer genius!”
Ianto grinned suddenly. “That’s why I’m here!”
“Excuse me!?” Van Statten looked stunned at the man. “Who the hell do you think you are-“
“I’m Torchwood, and we’ve been watching you Van Statten. I’ve spent the past six months rewiring your codes in case something went wrong. As of this very moment sir, you’ve just been over thrown. I’ll help Doctor.”
Van Statten, not quite sure how to respond looked back suddenly at the screen. “Doctor-“
“I shall speak only to the Doctor. “ It spoke.
Ianto and the Doctor both straightened up and looked at the Dalek. “You’re gonna get rusty.”
“I fed off the DNA of Rose Tyler. Extrapolating the biomass of a time traveler regenerated me.”
“What's your next trick?”
“I have been searching for the Daleks.” The Dalek explained.
“Yeah, I saw. Downloading the Internet. What did you find?”
“I scanned your satellites and radio telescopes.”
“And?”
“Nothing. Where shall I get my orders now?”
“You’re just a soldier without commands.”
“Then I shall follow the primary order - the Dalek instinct to destroy! To conquer!”
The Doctor shook his head, not understanding. “What for!? What’s the point!?” The Dalek was silent. “Don't you see, it's all gone? Everything you were, everything you stood for.”
“Then what should I do?” The creature almost sounded lost.
“If you want orders... follow this one: kill yourself.” He said viciously.
“The Daleks must survive!”
“The Daleks have failed. Why don't you finish the job and make the Daleks extinct? Rid the Universe of your filth, why don't you just die?” His anger was sudden and terrifying, Ianto suddenly couldn’t see a delineation between the Daleks and the Doctor. The Doctor was staring there, breathing hard in pure anger.
“You would make a good Dalek.”
The silence was palpable as the Doctor stared at the creature in horror and sadness. “Seal the vaults.” The Doctor whispered.
Ianto sat at the computer, with the Doctor opposite of him, working on closing down the entire facility. Ianto couldn’t help but think about the grave yard this place would become. When this was all said he was pouring concrete in the blasted hole. No one would ever see what they saw down here. These people would not die in vein. “I can take power off the ground defenses, feed it to the bulkheads-“
“You’re quite good at this Ianto Jones.”
Ianto smirked, but then he paused. “She still down there Doctor.”
The Doctor nodded and pulled out a mobile. Hating himself for putting her at risk.
o0o
Rose groan as she pulled out her mobile. “This isn’t the best time!” She huffed running through the hallway.
“Where are you?”
“Level 49.” She replied briefly.
You’ve got to keep moving, the vaults being sealed off, bulkhead level 46, you’ve got to get past that!”
“Can't you stop them closing?”
The Doctor shook his head, as if she could see him. “I'm the one who's closing them. I can't wait and I can't help you. Now for God's sake, run.” He glanced up just in time to see Ianto look at him.
“We’ve got power to the bulkheads. The Dalek is right behind them.”
“We’re nearly there, just give us two seconds!” cried Rose.
“Doctor, I can't sustain the power. The whole system is failing.” Ianto said urgently.
“You’ve got to close the bulkheads!” yelled Van Statten.
Hating himself the Doctor whispered into the phone, “I'm sorry.” Then hit the button.
Rose and Adam were still running towards the divider, just as the bulk head began to close.
“Come on!” Cried Adam as he rolled under it, leaving Rose behind.
Ianto closed his eyes. “The vault is sealed.” And Rose hadn’t made it, he could sense her fear, feel the sadness radiating from such a young girl.
“Rose!? Where are you? Rose, did you make it?”
She leaned against the door, her breathing coming out in pants. “Sorry, I was a bit slow.” She whispered. “See you then, Doctor. It wasn’t your fault, remember that okay? It wasn’t your fault. An’ you know what? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” She tried to keep her voice steady. She would be strong for her Doctor.
The Doctor felt shock hit him like a tidal wave, his sweet beautiful Rose. Suddenly he heard it. “EX-TERM-INATE!”
He ripped the ear piece from the side of his head, tears beginning to fill his beautiful blue eyes as he heard those words that made his hearts sink. “I’ve killed her,” the Doctor murmured as he realized the truth. ‘What had I done, My Rose, my beautiful Rose?’ he thought.
“I’m sorry,” came Van Statten’s response.
The Doctor suddenly turned on him, ‘he was sorry-‘ “I said I'd protect her. She was only here because of me, and you're sorry? I could've killed that Dalek in its cell. But you stopped me.” He could feel my muscles beginning to tighten, and tense, his breathing was becoming quick and unsteady.
‘My Rose, my Rose,’ it was like a mantra over and over in the back of his mind, screaming ‘you killed her’. ‘What had I done; a beautiful girl, and that’s all she was a mere child according to most. Still a teenager full of life, full of light, exuberance’. He was alone again. His heart stopped, for a second time. Hundreds of years he’d had companions, assistants, but none he’d ever loved like Rose. Not even Sarah Jane Smith, although she was close.
No, Rose had brought something back to the Doctor’s life that no one else ever had. A reason, a morality; he spent years trying to find ways to die, and suddenly the Doctor was trying to find another way to survive and love her. He would do anything to have her back, his sweet beautiful Rose.
“It was the prize of my collection!”
“Your collection? But was it worth it? Worth all those men's deaths? Worth Rose?” ‘Worth my Rose, oh what was I supposed to do? Could I suddenly spend the rest of my cursed eternity living without the simplest human being who made me happier than I’d ever been? Would that really be a life?’ he thought silently “Let me tell you something, Van Statten. Mankind goes into space to explore. To be part of something greater.”
“Exactly! I wanted to touch the stars!” Van Statten attempted.
“You just want to drag the stars down and stick them underground underneath tons of sand and dirt. And label them. You're about as far from the stars as you can get.” He paused, before saying the next words, his eyes filling up with tears again, “And you took her down with you. She was nineteen years old.” the Doctor whispered. ‘My nineteen year old’.
Title: New Companions
Author: McRaider
Summary: He was still just a kid in comparison to all of the Doctor’s 900 years, but he wanted to see the universe, and sometimes even the Doctor could use a little extra help.
Author’s Note: I’ve been considering this for a long time, I think reading teachwriteslash further inspired the idea, but it’s brewing up there in various different ways thus I decided to try it on and see what happened.
Pairings: Doctor/Rose and eventually in this story leading into Jack/Ianto
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Ianto’s eyes grew wide as Van Statten and the Doctor-who was currently pulling his jumper over his head-stepped Ianto’s office. He was mildly surprised, and seriously concerned as to the paleness of the Doctor. “What did he do?” Ianto asked glaring at Van Statten.
“It doesn’t matter now; we’ve got to keep it in its cell.”
“Doctor, it’s all my fault.” Rose began as the three men in Ianto’s office looked at the monitor where Rose, Adam and Bywater, one of the security guards stood.
“I’ve sealed the compartment. It can't get out, that lock's got a billion combinations.” Bywater explained.
“The Dalek's a genius. It can calculate a thousand billion combinations in one second flat.”
Ianto’s eyes grew wide in horror as seconds later the door opened and the Dalek began to move towards them. “Open fire!” Bywater screamed.
“Don’t shoot! I want it unharmed!” Van Statten ordered.
“Rose get out of there!” cried the Doctor.
“Everyone evacuate level fifty-four, I repeat get to safe ground!” Ianto decided someone had to take action, since obviously Van Statten wasn’t going to be the guy to do it. Ianto was prepared to take over. They would put up a fight against this thing, but he wasn’t getting anymore killed than necessary.
The Doctor glanced over at Ianto in surprise, as if hearing his thoughts.
“De Maggio - take the civilians and get them out alive. That is your job, got that?” Bywater told the female security guard.
She nodded, “You, with me.” She ordered, not wanting to frighten them more. The three hurried out of the room.
The Doctor, Ianto and Van Statten watched in horror as the creature walked over to the nearest computer. Seconds later it attached the sucker to the control panel and light up, becoming like new. “Doctor-“ whispered Ianto.
“He’s using the internet against us.” The Doctor whispered, confirming Ianto’s worst fear. A beep from Ianto’s computer drew his attention away. Stepping over to the computer he typed a few strokes then looked up. “We’re loosing power Doctor, it’s raiding the power supplies for the whole state of Utah.”
“It’s downloading.” The Doctor replied looking over Ianto’s shoulder. He was mildly impressed as Ianto began trying to combat it, fighting back for the power, shooting up firewalls and technically blocks that might slow the creature down.
“Downloading what?” Van Statten questioned.
“The entire West Coast has gone down-I can’t stop it.” Ianto shook his head.
“It’s not energy. That Dalek just absorbed the entire Internet, it knows everything now.”
“The Daleks survive in me!” The creature roared as he moved away from the controls, looking good as new.
“We’ve lost cameras in the vault as well.” The room lights dimmed slightly. Ianto looked at the Doctor. “It’s emergency power.” He stated.
The Doctor nodded. “It's eaten everything else, you've got to kill it now!”
“How can we fight it Doctor, I won’t send my men-“
“You’re men!?” Van Statten raged staring at the man.
Ianto chose to ignore him, as did the Doctor. “I won’t get my people killed-“
A crackle over the radio and Ianto listened to a thousand screams. “This is Bywater, we got the Civilians out, but we can’t take them-red division is-“ His words were cut of by a scream and a high pitched particle gun. He was dead.
“They're dispensable, that Dalek is unique!” Growled Van Statten, “I don't want a scratch on its body work? Do you hear me? Do you hear me?”
“They won’t hear you sir-they’re all dead,” Ianto murmured, pulling up the remaining life signs in the building. He closed his eyes, feel lost as he could feel the pain of all the dead, hear their last screams.
“This is not war! This is Pest control!” The Dalek cried.
“We are five million Cybermen, how many are you?” The Cyberman demanded.
“Four!”
“You would destroy Cybermen with four Daleks!” The Cybermen practically laughed-well if it could have.
“We would destroy Cybermen with one Dalek! You are superior in only one way.”
“What is that?”
“Dying!”
It was the Doctor’s turn to stare at Ianto in surprise, again as though he could read the younger man’s thoughts. He studied him crucially for a moment, he’d invite this man as a companion, he was someone to watch out for. Ianto returned to the present and quickly pulled up a map of the base. “That’s us right below the surface, and that’s the cage and here’s the dalek,” he explained pointing to the little blue light on the screen.
“This museum of yours - have you got any alien weapons?” The Doctor questioned Ianto.
“Yes, but the Dalek is between us and them.”
“We’ve got to keep that thing alive! We could just seal the entire vault and trap it down there!” Van Statten screamed again, annoyed that they no longer seemed to be listening.
“Leaving everyone trapped with it? Rose is down there. I won't let that happen. Have you got that?” the Doctor glared are the man before returning to the computer screen and Ianto. “It’s go to go through this area, what is it?”
“Weapons testing.”
Nodding, the Doctor looked at Ianto. “Give guns to the lawyers, technicians, anyone. Everyone. Only then have you got a chance of killing it.”
“But-it’ll kill them.” Ianto whispered, his own humanity keeping him from risking the lives of thousands.
“Ianto-“
The younger man nodded. “I understand-“ Getting up he walked off to the side, while the Doctor took a seat in Ianto’s vacant chair.
o0o
As Rose, De Maggio and Adam stood at the top of the stairs all Rose could think was how dumb it was to taunt the large thing with a laser weapon for not being able to go up the stairs. It was in that briefest of moments, she realized just how stupid Adam really was.
“Now, listen to me. I demand that you return to your cage. If you want to negotiate then I guarantee that Mr. van Statten will be willing to talk. I accept that we imprisoned you and maybe that was wrong. But people have died, and that stops. Right now. The killing stops, have you got that?” De Maggio tried to reason. “I demand that you surrender, is that clear?”
“El-ev-ate.”
“Oh god.” whispered Rose as she suddenly turned and pushed Adam up the stairs. “Come with us! You can’t stop it!” She cried to De Maggio.
“Someone’s got to try! Now go!”
Rose ran up the stairs behind Adam, it was only seconds later when they heard the screams of the poor woman. No doubt dead.
o0o
Ianto could only listen, but he felt sick to his stomach, he didn’t want to see people die, certainly didn’t want to hear them. He gotten to know every single person, their names, spouses names and he was sending them all to their death.
“I thought you were the great expert, Doctor.” Van Statten yelled, obviously becoming distressed. “If you're so impressive, then why not just reason with this Dalek? It must be willing to negotiate - there must be something it needs, everything needs something.”
But the Doctor’s eyes were solely on Ianto who appeared to be dealing with whatever was rushing through the younger man’s mind. Finally he snapped out of his thoughts and face Van Statten. “What’s the nearest town?”
“Salt Lake City.”
“Population?”
“One Million,” whispered Ianto.
“All dead. If the Dalek gets out, it'll murder every living creature, that's all it needs.”
“But why would it do that!?” Van Statten demanded in fury.
“Because it honestly believes they should die. Human beings are different, and anything different is wrong. It's the ultimate in racial cleansing and you, Van Statten, you've let it loose!”
o0o
The room was huge, with catwalk stairs up above, and all around people with guns were positioning themselves, some where soldiers, but most of them appeared to be simple civilians that worked there. All of which, held a look of fear and terror in their eyes.
“The Dalek's surrounded by a force field. The bullets are melting before they even hit home but it's not indestructible. If you concentrate your fire, you might get through.” The Doctor explained over the communication system. “Aim for the dome, the head, the eyepiece, that’s the weak spot.”
“Thank you, Doctor, but I think I know how to fight one single tin robot. Positions!”
“Just listen you bloody idiot!” screamed Ianto, suddenly unable to take it anymore, knowing every single one of these men and women were going to die.
“On my mark...” The commander spoke again as the Dalek entered the room. “Open fire!”
“We’ve got vision,” Ianto whispered as he, the Doctor and Van Statten all watched.
“It wants us to see it.” The Doctor murmured.
They watched with building sickness as the Dalek set off the water sprinklers, as he electrocuted every single man and woman in the room. Leaving no one alive on the base but Adam, Rose, Ianto, Van Statten and the Doctor.
“They’re all dead.” Ianto whispered, his eyes beginning to tear slightly. All of them innocent people in the game of a sick deranged man who just wanted to play with his toy and wouldn’t listen.
“Perhaps it's time for a new strategy, maybe we should consider abandoning this place,” Van Statten offered, his voice full of panic, his entire body shaking in fear.
“We can’t get out, there’s no power remember,” Ianto replied.
“You said you could seal the vault?” The Doctor questioned.
“It was designed to be a bunker. In the event of nuclear war, steel bulkheads-“
“There isn’t enough power, the bulkheads are huge.”
“We’ve got emergency power. We can re-route that to the bulkhead doors.”
Van Statten shook his head. “We'd have to bypass the security codes, that would take a computer genius!”
Ianto grinned suddenly. “That’s why I’m here!”
“Excuse me!?” Van Statten looked stunned at the man. “Who the hell do you think you are-“
“I’m Torchwood, and we’ve been watching you Van Statten. I’ve spent the past six months rewiring your codes in case something went wrong. As of this very moment sir, you’ve just been over thrown. I’ll help Doctor.”
Van Statten, not quite sure how to respond looked back suddenly at the screen. “Doctor-“
“I shall speak only to the Doctor. “ It spoke.
Ianto and the Doctor both straightened up and looked at the Dalek. “You’re gonna get rusty.”
“I fed off the DNA of Rose Tyler. Extrapolating the biomass of a time traveler regenerated me.”
“What's your next trick?”
“I have been searching for the Daleks.” The Dalek explained.
“Yeah, I saw. Downloading the Internet. What did you find?”
“I scanned your satellites and radio telescopes.”
“And?”
“Nothing. Where shall I get my orders now?”
“You’re just a soldier without commands.”
“Then I shall follow the primary order - the Dalek instinct to destroy! To conquer!”
The Doctor shook his head, not understanding. “What for!? What’s the point!?” The Dalek was silent. “Don't you see, it's all gone? Everything you were, everything you stood for.”
“Then what should I do?” The creature almost sounded lost.
“If you want orders... follow this one: kill yourself.” He said viciously.
“The Daleks must survive!”
“The Daleks have failed. Why don't you finish the job and make the Daleks extinct? Rid the Universe of your filth, why don't you just die?” His anger was sudden and terrifying, Ianto suddenly couldn’t see a delineation between the Daleks and the Doctor. The Doctor was staring there, breathing hard in pure anger.
“You would make a good Dalek.”
The silence was palpable as the Doctor stared at the creature in horror and sadness. “Seal the vaults.” The Doctor whispered.
Ianto sat at the computer, with the Doctor opposite of him, working on closing down the entire facility. Ianto couldn’t help but think about the grave yard this place would become. When this was all said he was pouring concrete in the blasted hole. No one would ever see what they saw down here. These people would not die in vein. “I can take power off the ground defenses, feed it to the bulkheads-“
“You’re quite good at this Ianto Jones.”
Ianto smirked, but then he paused. “She still down there Doctor.”
The Doctor nodded and pulled out a mobile. Hating himself for putting her at risk.
o0o
Rose groan as she pulled out her mobile. “This isn’t the best time!” She huffed running through the hallway.
“Where are you?”
“Level 49.” She replied briefly.
You’ve got to keep moving, the vaults being sealed off, bulkhead level 46, you’ve got to get past that!”
“Can't you stop them closing?”
The Doctor shook his head, as if she could see him. “I'm the one who's closing them. I can't wait and I can't help you. Now for God's sake, run.” He glanced up just in time to see Ianto look at him.
“We’ve got power to the bulkheads. The Dalek is right behind them.”
“We’re nearly there, just give us two seconds!” cried Rose.
“Doctor, I can't sustain the power. The whole system is failing.” Ianto said urgently.
“You’ve got to close the bulkheads!” yelled Van Statten.
Hating himself the Doctor whispered into the phone, “I'm sorry.” Then hit the button.
Rose and Adam were still running towards the divider, just as the bulk head began to close.
“Come on!” Cried Adam as he rolled under it, leaving Rose behind.
Ianto closed his eyes. “The vault is sealed.” And Rose hadn’t made it, he could sense her fear, feel the sadness radiating from such a young girl.
“Rose!? Where are you? Rose, did you make it?”
She leaned against the door, her breathing coming out in pants. “Sorry, I was a bit slow.” She whispered. “See you then, Doctor. It wasn’t your fault, remember that okay? It wasn’t your fault. An’ you know what? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” She tried to keep her voice steady. She would be strong for her Doctor.
The Doctor felt shock hit him like a tidal wave, his sweet beautiful Rose. Suddenly he heard it. “EX-TERM-INATE!”
He ripped the ear piece from the side of his head, tears beginning to fill his beautiful blue eyes as he heard those words that made his hearts sink. “I’ve killed her,” the Doctor murmured as he realized the truth. ‘What had I done, My Rose, my beautiful Rose?’ he thought.
“I’m sorry,” came Van Statten’s response.
The Doctor suddenly turned on him, ‘he was sorry-‘ “I said I'd protect her. She was only here because of me, and you're sorry? I could've killed that Dalek in its cell. But you stopped me.” He could feel my muscles beginning to tighten, and tense, his breathing was becoming quick and unsteady.
‘My Rose, my Rose,’ it was like a mantra over and over in the back of his mind, screaming ‘you killed her’. ‘What had I done; a beautiful girl, and that’s all she was a mere child according to most. Still a teenager full of life, full of light, exuberance’. He was alone again. His heart stopped, for a second time. Hundreds of years he’d had companions, assistants, but none he’d ever loved like Rose. Not even Sarah Jane Smith, although she was close.
No, Rose had brought something back to the Doctor’s life that no one else ever had. A reason, a morality; he spent years trying to find ways to die, and suddenly the Doctor was trying to find another way to survive and love her. He would do anything to have her back, his sweet beautiful Rose.
“It was the prize of my collection!”
“Your collection? But was it worth it? Worth all those men's deaths? Worth Rose?” ‘Worth my Rose, oh what was I supposed to do? Could I suddenly spend the rest of my cursed eternity living without the simplest human being who made me happier than I’d ever been? Would that really be a life?’ he thought silently “Let me tell you something, Van Statten. Mankind goes into space to explore. To be part of something greater.”
“Exactly! I wanted to touch the stars!” Van Statten attempted.
“You just want to drag the stars down and stick them underground underneath tons of sand and dirt. And label them. You're about as far from the stars as you can get.” He paused, before saying the next words, his eyes filling up with tears again, “And you took her down with you. She was nineteen years old.” the Doctor whispered. ‘My nineteen year old’.