Epilogue - Goodbye to old friends
Epilogue - Goodbye to old friends
Banter ran through the double doors leading to the outside as if his life depended on it. What he saw stopped him in his tracks and filled him with amazement. The humans were walking freely between the Daleks, talking and laughing. No one was fighting and best of all no one was dying. To his right he felt his sister’s presence. With a smile that only he could see, he walked towards her. She felt his presence long before he could say a word and with a shriek of joy she wrapped her arms around him.
‘Banter… I thought I’d lost you in the tunnels. I tried to go back but it was too dangerous.’ Banter hugged his sister, realising for the first time that he had been worried that she too had died in the battle.
Alonso looked at where the voices were coming from and nudged Ianto. ‘What’s going on?’ Ianto smiled.
‘Webber has found her brother Banter. They’re hugging.’ Ianto looked at Alonso whose face was screwed up in disgust. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘He’s hugging his sister…’ Ianto shook his head incomprehension showing on his face.
‘So?’
‘They’re naked… would you hug your sister naked?’ Ianto realised what he meant and screwed up his own face.
‘Have you seen my sister…? I wouldn’t even shake Johnny’s hand… her husband… you never know what it’s previously shook.’ Alonso smiled and for the first time held out a hand of friendship to Ianto. Ianto nodded then taking his hand pulled him close enough to give him a hug.
Sitting on a rock Louise Ruth watched as Ianto and Alonso raced each other while sitting on the back of a pair of Daleks. It was their version of trains. Turning to Jack she smiled, her redden eyes now dry for the first time in hours.
‘They’re new to this world, newly born and innocent. They’re like kids finding their feet.’
Jack nodded then added with a smile of his own. ‘Are we talking about Ianto and Alonso?’ She turned and slapped his shoulder.
‘I’m talking about the Spiridon Daleks. They’re a new race of beings and need all the help they can get.’ Jack shook his head and starred at the ground.
‘I just don’t trust them. It’s the nature/nurture debate I suppose. Will they grow into psychotic killers bent on universal domination all on their own or will the Spiridons help them and shape them into model citizens? I still believe evil will always find its own level. If you ask me I’d have to say…’ Jack was cut off from finishing his sentence when the double doors behind him burst open. Removing his Webley he saw a single black Dalek manoeuvre between the doors, its eye stork searching, taking in everything. ‘What the hell… that’s the Dalek that was following us,’ Jack shouted as he stood to meet its advance.
The Dalek rose slightly from the ground and moved towards them. With a sense of foreboding Jack fired but knew it was hopeless. As the bullet connected with the protective shield it stopped in mid air and fell harmlessly to the ground. Three Human Factor Daleks began to hover behind her as they too brought their primary weapons to bear. Before anyone could fire Louise Ruth held up her arms and walked forward.
‘Stop… stop… stop. Stop this killing once and for all. I’ve seen more torture and death in the last few hours then I ever want to see again.’ In response, it seemed, the black Dalek lowered itself to the ground in front of Louise Ruth and stood motionless for a moment. Then its dome lights flashed and the familiar metallic voice beamed out.
‘I… hope… I… didn’t… scare… you… Louise…Ruth. As… you… can… see… I… went… for… the… upgrade… so… I… could… kick… arse.’ Even through the Dalek casing she recognised Omega’s voice and throwing caution to the wind ran towards him and wrapped her arms around him.
‘Omega… I thought I’d lost you.’
‘You… will… never… lose… me… Louise… Ruth… you… are… my… friend.’ As Jack holstered his Webley he realised that it had been his last shot.
***
It took them two days to get over the party that ensued. Rebec had been told of the death of her husband and her sadness had cast a shadow over the proceedings. She had decided to stay on Spiridon and bring up their child on a planet near to her own and close to where her husband had been burried.
Louise Ruth came to terms with the fact that Spiridon whiskey was the best thing that had ever happened to her. The taste, she thought was unbelievable, cooled in the ice lake. The best part of it was, she realised, she could drink as much as she wanted, getting as wasted as she needed without the disadvantage of a hangover the next day. There were a few side effects, she realised when most of the alcohol was sweated out through her pores, which meant numerous washings. Alonso pointed out to Ianto that too much would turn his urine cherry red but Ianto didn’t listen. A few hours into the celebrations he discovered with shock that Alonso hadn’t lied and in an alcoholic stupor told everyone present that he was bleeding to death, slowly.
When the feasting and drinking had finally came to an end the team headed off back to the TARDIS and home. Omega, who by then had taken over leadership of the newly created Spiridon Daleks, had pledged his support and his people’s, as he called them, to aiding the Spiridons in improving their lives on the planet. The Spiridons, in turn had offered the Daleks a new life on their planet as long as they hunted out and destroyed any rogue Daleks that were still lurking in the old compound. Webber and Omega had made a pact to live symbiotically with each other to the benefit of both their races.
After a tearful goodbye Jack plotted the time and course then sent the TARDIS spinning off through the time corridor with a look of disappointment on his face. He’d always wanted a TARDIS of his own and the freedom it offered but the Rani’s craft seemed tainted. Too much evil had occurred for him to feel comfortable at the controls. Besides that it was too basic, too clean for him. He’d travelled in the Doctor’s TARDIS too often not to enjoy the small idiosyncrasies of it. Everything worked on the Rani’s TARDIS for one and a single operator could travel in it with minimal use of the controls.
He smiled remembering how the Doctor would run round the centre consol flicking switches and slamming mallets into every piece of machinery there was. He missed the Doctor and if what they said was true he’d never see his face again. He thought of the Doctor for a while picturing him with a new face and smiled. Whatever he looked like there would be no changing him he knew.
Getting up in the middle of the night Jack hurriedly dressed and, buttoning up his great coat, walked towards the consol room. To his surprise he saw Louise Ruth standing alone, her arms wrapped around her shoulders as if for warmth. Walking up to her he smiled.
‘Omega will be alright. He’s lived a long time in an evil regime and that didn’t change him. I’m sure he won’t turn into an evil Dalek. I’m told the Daleks are going to clear enough land to house every Spiridon on the planet. He’ll make a good leader I’m sure. Between you and the Doctor he’s full of so much humanity the next time we visit he’ll probably be sitting on a sofa watching football and drinking beer.’
Louise Ruth smiled at that thought and was about to say something when the floor stopped vibrating and the centre time rotor came to a halt as the TARDIS materialised. ‘Looks like we’ve arrived,’ Jack said his smile widening as he took Louise Ruth’s hand. Raising an eye brow she looked puzzled,
‘Arrived… where… and why haven’t you told the others?’
Jack shook his head, ‘The Year is 2004,’ immediately he saw her face drop as she pulled away from him.
‘Don’t tell me it’s somewhere in the North East of bloody England… I just don’t want to know.’ Turning her back on him she headed back to her room. Ignoring her Jack opened the main doors and the shouts and screams that flooded in, drew her attention back to the entrance as he continued.
‘It’s 2004 and we’re in Boston. The Red Sox are playing the St. Louis Cardinals in the final of the World Series Championship. They’ve already won game one eleven to nine because of Mark Bellhorn's home run off Pesky's Pole. The Sox took game two and game three with a four one win which leaves…’ Louise Ruth headed for the exit her shoulder bag in place.
‘Game four of the 2004 World Series. The first World Championship they won in eighty Six years. How did we get tickets?’
Jack smiled. ‘I’m not sure… I’ll let you know in a few minutes.’
Coming soon - UNIT and the Witching Time of Night
Banter ran through the double doors leading to the outside as if his life depended on it. What he saw stopped him in his tracks and filled him with amazement. The humans were walking freely between the Daleks, talking and laughing. No one was fighting and best of all no one was dying. To his right he felt his sister’s presence. With a smile that only he could see, he walked towards her. She felt his presence long before he could say a word and with a shriek of joy she wrapped her arms around him.
‘Banter… I thought I’d lost you in the tunnels. I tried to go back but it was too dangerous.’ Banter hugged his sister, realising for the first time that he had been worried that she too had died in the battle.
Alonso looked at where the voices were coming from and nudged Ianto. ‘What’s going on?’ Ianto smiled.
‘Webber has found her brother Banter. They’re hugging.’ Ianto looked at Alonso whose face was screwed up in disgust. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘He’s hugging his sister…’ Ianto shook his head incomprehension showing on his face.
‘So?’
‘They’re naked… would you hug your sister naked?’ Ianto realised what he meant and screwed up his own face.
‘Have you seen my sister…? I wouldn’t even shake Johnny’s hand… her husband… you never know what it’s previously shook.’ Alonso smiled and for the first time held out a hand of friendship to Ianto. Ianto nodded then taking his hand pulled him close enough to give him a hug.
Sitting on a rock Louise Ruth watched as Ianto and Alonso raced each other while sitting on the back of a pair of Daleks. It was their version of trains. Turning to Jack she smiled, her redden eyes now dry for the first time in hours.
‘They’re new to this world, newly born and innocent. They’re like kids finding their feet.’
Jack nodded then added with a smile of his own. ‘Are we talking about Ianto and Alonso?’ She turned and slapped his shoulder.
‘I’m talking about the Spiridon Daleks. They’re a new race of beings and need all the help they can get.’ Jack shook his head and starred at the ground.
‘I just don’t trust them. It’s the nature/nurture debate I suppose. Will they grow into psychotic killers bent on universal domination all on their own or will the Spiridons help them and shape them into model citizens? I still believe evil will always find its own level. If you ask me I’d have to say…’ Jack was cut off from finishing his sentence when the double doors behind him burst open. Removing his Webley he saw a single black Dalek manoeuvre between the doors, its eye stork searching, taking in everything. ‘What the hell… that’s the Dalek that was following us,’ Jack shouted as he stood to meet its advance.
The Dalek rose slightly from the ground and moved towards them. With a sense of foreboding Jack fired but knew it was hopeless. As the bullet connected with the protective shield it stopped in mid air and fell harmlessly to the ground. Three Human Factor Daleks began to hover behind her as they too brought their primary weapons to bear. Before anyone could fire Louise Ruth held up her arms and walked forward.
‘Stop… stop… stop. Stop this killing once and for all. I’ve seen more torture and death in the last few hours then I ever want to see again.’ In response, it seemed, the black Dalek lowered itself to the ground in front of Louise Ruth and stood motionless for a moment. Then its dome lights flashed and the familiar metallic voice beamed out.
‘I… hope… I… didn’t… scare… you… Louise…Ruth. As… you… can… see… I… went… for… the… upgrade… so… I… could… kick… arse.’ Even through the Dalek casing she recognised Omega’s voice and throwing caution to the wind ran towards him and wrapped her arms around him.
‘Omega… I thought I’d lost you.’
‘You… will… never… lose… me… Louise… Ruth… you… are… my… friend.’ As Jack holstered his Webley he realised that it had been his last shot.
***
It took them two days to get over the party that ensued. Rebec had been told of the death of her husband and her sadness had cast a shadow over the proceedings. She had decided to stay on Spiridon and bring up their child on a planet near to her own and close to where her husband had been burried.
Louise Ruth came to terms with the fact that Spiridon whiskey was the best thing that had ever happened to her. The taste, she thought was unbelievable, cooled in the ice lake. The best part of it was, she realised, she could drink as much as she wanted, getting as wasted as she needed without the disadvantage of a hangover the next day. There were a few side effects, she realised when most of the alcohol was sweated out through her pores, which meant numerous washings. Alonso pointed out to Ianto that too much would turn his urine cherry red but Ianto didn’t listen. A few hours into the celebrations he discovered with shock that Alonso hadn’t lied and in an alcoholic stupor told everyone present that he was bleeding to death, slowly.
When the feasting and drinking had finally came to an end the team headed off back to the TARDIS and home. Omega, who by then had taken over leadership of the newly created Spiridon Daleks, had pledged his support and his people’s, as he called them, to aiding the Spiridons in improving their lives on the planet. The Spiridons, in turn had offered the Daleks a new life on their planet as long as they hunted out and destroyed any rogue Daleks that were still lurking in the old compound. Webber and Omega had made a pact to live symbiotically with each other to the benefit of both their races.
After a tearful goodbye Jack plotted the time and course then sent the TARDIS spinning off through the time corridor with a look of disappointment on his face. He’d always wanted a TARDIS of his own and the freedom it offered but the Rani’s craft seemed tainted. Too much evil had occurred for him to feel comfortable at the controls. Besides that it was too basic, too clean for him. He’d travelled in the Doctor’s TARDIS too often not to enjoy the small idiosyncrasies of it. Everything worked on the Rani’s TARDIS for one and a single operator could travel in it with minimal use of the controls.
He smiled remembering how the Doctor would run round the centre consol flicking switches and slamming mallets into every piece of machinery there was. He missed the Doctor and if what they said was true he’d never see his face again. He thought of the Doctor for a while picturing him with a new face and smiled. Whatever he looked like there would be no changing him he knew.
Getting up in the middle of the night Jack hurriedly dressed and, buttoning up his great coat, walked towards the consol room. To his surprise he saw Louise Ruth standing alone, her arms wrapped around her shoulders as if for warmth. Walking up to her he smiled.
‘Omega will be alright. He’s lived a long time in an evil regime and that didn’t change him. I’m sure he won’t turn into an evil Dalek. I’m told the Daleks are going to clear enough land to house every Spiridon on the planet. He’ll make a good leader I’m sure. Between you and the Doctor he’s full of so much humanity the next time we visit he’ll probably be sitting on a sofa watching football and drinking beer.’
Louise Ruth smiled at that thought and was about to say something when the floor stopped vibrating and the centre time rotor came to a halt as the TARDIS materialised. ‘Looks like we’ve arrived,’ Jack said his smile widening as he took Louise Ruth’s hand. Raising an eye brow she looked puzzled,
‘Arrived… where… and why haven’t you told the others?’
Jack shook his head, ‘The Year is 2004,’ immediately he saw her face drop as she pulled away from him.
‘Don’t tell me it’s somewhere in the North East of bloody England… I just don’t want to know.’ Turning her back on him she headed back to her room. Ignoring her Jack opened the main doors and the shouts and screams that flooded in, drew her attention back to the entrance as he continued.
‘It’s 2004 and we’re in Boston. The Red Sox are playing the St. Louis Cardinals in the final of the World Series Championship. They’ve already won game one eleven to nine because of Mark Bellhorn's home run off Pesky's Pole. The Sox took game two and game three with a four one win which leaves…’ Louise Ruth headed for the exit her shoulder bag in place.
‘Game four of the 2004 World Series. The first World Championship they won in eighty Six years. How did we get tickets?’
Jack smiled. ‘I’m not sure… I’ll let you know in a few minutes.’
Coming soon - UNIT and the Witching Time of Night