(no subject)
Author: AnnieO
Character/Pairing: 10/Rose
Rating: PG
Summary: The choices made throughout life can have ever lasting consequences, some greatre than others. To save the universe The Doctor is forced into a choice that could destroy everything he holds dear to him. TO save one...he may loose the other.
Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Doctor Who. BBC does.
Author's Notes: “You will watch! As I watched Gallifrey burn! This is your sin! This is your demon! This is your nightmare! And I hope you never escape.”
Now this was odd. Well, when he thought odd, he meant a bit strange…ok, maybe really strange. Now, when he says that he means…Good grief. He even rambled in his dreams. Oh, and speaking of dreams where, was he? Oh yes! This was odd…well, when he says…
“Do you ever shut it?”
Oh, now this was very interesting. Not only was he dreaming, but it seems that he was talking to himself as well…in a manner of speaking anyway. Nothing worse than a dream where you talk to yourself. Well, not really yourself, but rather your former self, but still yourself. Oh, now this was just getting confusing.
“Well if that’s any proof no, you don’t ever shut it. How did Rose ever got a word in edgewise.”
Oh Rose…his Rose…wonderful Rose…sweet Rose…
“Yeah and you had to go and lose her didn’t you.”
Oh now, that was a bit harsh. Now when he thinks harsh, he really means…
“Oh, shut it!”
Now that was just rude. He doesn’t remember being that rude when he was in that incarnation. Well, maybe he was a bit rude, but not that rude. Well, there was that one time…wait a minute…
Rose…he lost her…
And then he saw it. The room, exactly as it was when he tore himself away from the sealed wall. A simple piece of steel and concrete his only connection to Rose. He couldn’t save her. He couldn’t help her. He lost her.
“That’s right. You lost her.”
No, he sent her away. Sent her to safety. But Rose, stubborn, independent Rose had to come back, had to prove that she meant what she told him. She promised him forever. She promised the impossible, and part of him believed her.
“She nearly died for us. She gave up everything for us. She loved us!”
He knew that, too. He knew it and he did nothing. Oh, he had his chance more than once. He could have told her, but the coward did what he always does, hid behind the facade of smiles and adventure and always trusted that he would have time.
“Time? Now there’s a fine thought. Time for what? Time has never granted us anything but loss and pain. We always loose everything. Times Champion? Time Lord!? Ha! More like Time’s Slave. We dance to the tune she sets us and we pay the price for it. Is it worth it? Is it all worth it? Gallifrey? Romana? Rose? How much death have we left in our wake? How much more pain can we take? How much longer must we burn?”
Now he remembered what he was like in his last body. Full of pain, full of hate, full of guilt. He survived through it all. He had to.
“You’re no different…”
Suddenly the room shifted and there she was. The pull of the vortex tore at her as one by one, Daleks and Cybermen flew by. He could hear himself yelling, telling her to hold on. Then slowly the lever began to move and he watched frozen as Rose let go and locked the lever into full position.
“You told her a storm was coming. She promised you forever. What did you promise her?”
He reached for her, pleading that, for once, fate would not be so cruel as to tear away his anchor to sanity.
“What did you promise her? Nothing!”
Time was against him as moment-by-moment, Rose’s grip failed and she slipped away from him. Falling, screaming, her fear washed over him.
“You failed. You let them take her from us.”
No! No! No! No!…please not again. He can’t watch again!
“You will watch! As I watched Gallifrey burn! This is your sin! This is your demon! This is your nightmare and I hope you never escape.”
ROOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!
* * * * *
Head and body slamming against something hard and unyielding was not the way he had planned to wake up. Actually, he didn’t even mean to fall asleep. He didn’t remember even getting to his room. The last thing he remembered was sending Martha off to make tea and then nothing - blank. Well until his floor decided to assist in his waking.
‘Well no use just lying here and contemplating the reasons of the universe’, he thought to himself as he sat up and rubbed the nasty knot that was beginning to form on the back of his head.
“Doctor?” Martha’s voice carried through the door. “You alright?”
“Fine, great, stupendous.” he answered as he quickly pulled himself to his feet. “Never better.”
“You sure?”
He could hear the disbelief in her voice. “Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked and pulled to door open, smiling brightly at her. “See, nothing wrong. I am 100% perfect.”
She glanced behind him at the tatters of his bed then back to him, unconvinced. “Right,” she retorted.
He flashed her a hurt look. “Would I lie to you? Ah, ah, ah!” He waggled a finger at her as she started to answer. “It doesn’t count in life or death situations.”
Martha snorted. “Fine, you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll just go back to my breakfast.” She spun on her heel and walked away muttering about his ability to drive anyone to insanity.
He backed into his bedroom and firmly closed the door behind him. Okay, so maybe he was a bit more bothered by what had happened then he let on. Loosing time wasn’t something that he did that often, and when it did happen it was never for the better. He ran a hand through his hair sending it into an even more disarrayed state.
Think. Met Martha in the library to solve her little mystery. Sent her off to make some tea while I looked over the book… The book!
He spun around as his mind suddenly connected the events of the night before, and there on the bed lay the source of his missing moments. A simple, innocent looking item, but something told him it is anything but simple or innocent. Cautiously, he approached the leather bound object on his bed, reinforcing his shields before he reached out a hand out to touch it. He closed his eyes and tensed, expecting some reaction.
Nothing.
He cracked it open, sighed and then pouted. “Now that’s a bit unfair,” he said to the inert book. “You’re supposed to do something. Or am I supposed to do something?” He picked the book up and looked it over carefully. “Great - it has an on/off switch and I don’t have the remote for it.” He flipped the book open and blinked in surprise when the pages that just last night had been full of words now stood blank.
“Curiouser and curiouser.”
He tossed the book back on his bed quickly pulled on his Converses and headed for the console room. He smiled at Martha as he scooted past her in the hall and grabbed the cup of tea she held out to him. “Thanks,” he said, gulping down the beverage and then dancing about the console.
“Have to give you a rain check on visiting the Temple of Medox.”
Martha sighed and settled on the jump seat. “Where we off to, then?” She grabbed the teacup from the Doctor as he danced past.
“Oh, you know,” He flipped switches and gave the console a tap with the mallet. “Somewhere, nowhere, everywhere.”
“Doctor, the last time you said that, we ended up stuck up to our necks in mud with the entire population of Wexlon 5 betting on which of us would die first.”
He paused in his dancing and gave her a playful pouting look. “Well, I did promise you a mud bath.”
Martha snorted. “You promised me a planet with the best day spa in the galaxy. I’m beginning to wonder if you even know how to drive this thing.” She teased.
“I’ll have you know that I was top of my class,” he pointed out, then grinned as the TARDIS began to materialize. “And here we are.”
“And where is here?” Martha asked as she followed the Doctor to the door. She stepped out and glanced around. “Doctor?”
He grinned as he stepped out beside her. “Wait for it.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
The Doctor turned and smiled at the man behind him. “Hello, Jack. You remember Martha.”
* * * * *
Rose Tyler loved a good mystery at times. She loved puzzling out the clues and hints that were left behind. This however was not one of those times that she enjoyed the conundrum before her. She had stopped glancing at the clock when it had read 2 AM, but refused to give up on trying to figure out the cryptic message that the now ever so hated book had given her. She knew deep down that she might be playing too much into it, but another part of her screamed for her to unravel the twisted strings in front of her and learn what was hidden within.
There were times Rose Tyler hated a good mystery.
Morning sunlight streaking through her window was the first hint she allowed that she had spent the entire night staring at the dusty pages. She leaned back in her chair and ran a hand through her hair in frustration. This had gotten annoying and that just made her dig her heels in harder to try and figure out what was going on. “Bloody thing’s probably laughing at me,” she muttered as she started flipping again through the blank pages.
“You look like hell.”
Rose jumped and glanced up toward the door. “What are you doing here?”
Alyce laughed lightly as she entered with two cups of coffee. “You Da called and told me I better pop in and make sure you were still alive. That and I thought you might like a little pick-me-up.”
Rose smiles tiredly at the cup of coffee Alyce set in front of her. “What time is it anyway?” she asked just before taking a grateful sip.
Alyce settled into the chair in front of Rose’s desk and took a sip from her own cup. “Near 5:30, and don’t look guilty about me being here. I was up anyway.”
Rose slumped forward on her desk. “Maybe I’m going insane.”
“We work for Torchwood,’ Alyce jokingly pointed out. “Of course we’re insane.” She sat her cup on the desk and leaned forward, an impish smile spreading across her face. "Any luck with the bloody book or should we just use it for target practice?"
Rose shook her head. “Nothing. I’m not even sure what I was looking for to begin with.”
“Oh, target practice it is then.” Alyce leaned over and grabbed the book up flipping through the pages. “I was thinking of that new flame thrower the boys in R&D came up with. We could just BBQ it a bit.”
Rose blinked and stared blankly at Alyce before breaking into a laugh. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“I know,” She sat the book back on the desk. “I know you want answers, but it’s not all going to come to you if you keep forcing.”
Rose sighed, “I’ve been going about this all wrong.” She stood and started to pace. “Something triggered it. But what?”
“Could it have been the scanner when R&D had it?”
She shook her head, “No, it was blank when Emma examined it in the lab.” She ran a frustrated hand through her hair “Nothing happened until it was here. In this office.”
Alyce tapped a finger thoughtfully on her chin. “What could you have in here that could possibly trigger a reaction from it this afternoon, but not now?”
“I don’t know…” She paused in her pacing. “No it can’t be that simple.”
“What?” Alyce asked as Rose rushed to her desk and pulled out a simple box. “Rose?”
“It was sitting on my desk when I looked at the book.” She carefully opened the box and pulled out along chain to which a key was attached, a key that was glowing golden. “That’s it.”
“What the…!” Alyce jumped to her feet and with speed that contrasted her normal calm manner she dove across the desk sending the contents crashing to the floor, yanking the key from Rose’s hand, and shoving Rose away. “Out now.” Her usual quiet tone now sharp as a knife, her eyes calm and calculating.
“It’s alright Alyce.”
She turned slightly. “I said out, Ms. Tyler.” Her tone demanded action and not question. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a portable scanner that she ran over the key. “And remain out until I say otherwise.”
“No,” Rose’s brown eyes locked with Alyce’s green. “What’s the scanner say?” She asked calmly.
Alyce frowned at the readings. “It’s clean.” She relaxed slightly and put the scanner back in her pocket.
“It’s harmless.” Rose held out a hand waiting.
Alyce glanced from the glowing key to Rose’s hand and with a reluctant sigh returned it. “For the record, this is against my better judgment.”
Rose closed her hand around the key and held Alyce’s eyes for a moment longer. “Yeah? Well, for the record, I don’t give a damn what you think.” She turned and moved back to her desk, stepping over the items strewn across the floor.
“I’m doing my job…”
Rose spun around key still clutched in her hand. “And I’m doing mine.” She pulled the book to her and flipped open the pages.
Alyce stepped forward. “Just promise me one thing.”
“What?” Rose snapped.
“If you’re planning on giving me a heart attack, at least wait until after I’ve finished my coffee.”
Rose smiled slightly then turned her attention to the book. “It’s working.”
Across time they sing. Across space they walk. Forever apart. Forever together. Pulled apart by the darkness of the undying enemy. Bound by paths that are yet to cross. The Wanderer and the Wolf. Lost…alone…waiting. As the tapestry unwinds around them, as time moves in its dance, there is only one way. There is only one time. There is only one chance.
That which was healed, is now undone. The scar will crack and the way will open. The Wolf will pass and all will be as it is meant.
The way is shut. The key is lost. The Wanderer grieves. The Wolf howls. The Unborn pays. The Child cries. Only time can save them.
The way once shut shall shatter. The scar shall break. The Child of Time will light the way. The way is set. The Wolf and Wanderer shall be one. That which was broken shall be healed. The time is now.
The Bad Wolf returns.
“That makes no sense,” Alyce sighed as she leaned back from reading over Rose’s shoulder. “It’s like a riddle and a bad one at that.”
Rose gently set the book back on her desk. “Scar,” She leaned back in her chair, hand still clutching the key as she thought. “It keeps mentioning a scar.” She shakes her head. “No, you’re right. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Maybe you should give that thing back to R&D and forget you ever found it.”
Rose shook her head. “Too late to forget about it…” She broke off as her phone rang. She picked up the receiver.
“Tyler... What!? … How long ago?” She spun around to her computer and quickly typed in some commands. “I want transport standing by in twenty minutes.” She hung up the phone. “Alyce, get the team in,” she ordered as she stood and placed the chain with the key over her neck. She then grabbed her sidearm from the desk drawer and grabbed her long leather jacket. “We’re going on a little trip.”
Alyce looked up from the phone as she sent out the single to the beepers. “Where?”
Rose pulled on her jacket and holstered her gun. “Control is picking up a major increase in energy output from site Alpha.”
“Alpha? Isn’t Dr. Quinn and his team supposed to be running a simulation there tonight?”
“Yeah and it looks like things are getting out of hand.”
Alyce’s eyes widened in shock, “That means…”
Rose nodded. “We’re going to Cardiff.”
* * * * *
There were times Jack wished he could take his fist and wipe out the arrogant, smug, all-knowing smile that flashed across the Doctor’s face. He’d agreed that the Doctor was welcome to drop into Cardiff whenever the TARDIS needed to refuel at The Rift, but hadn’t expected to walk into the hub and find the TARDIS parked near his office. Thankfully, the team was off on a mission so he was spared having to explain this to them. “What the hell are you doing here?” he repeated.
“Oh now, what kind of welcome is that?” the Doctor asked, his smile crumpling. “Here I was hoping for tea and…”
“Doctor,” Martha sighed, “maybe now’s not the best time.”
The Doctor kicked a bit of rubbish on the floor and muttered something that sounded like ‘never let me have any fun’, before bouncing on the balls of his feet and turning his attention fully on Jack. “I’ll probably kick myself for saying this later, but I need your help.”
Jack pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against. “That’s a first.” He motioned them towards his office. “Let me just make a note of this so I can refer to it later.”
The Doctor rolled his eyes. “Humans.”
“Time Lords.” Jack countered.
“Men,” Martha huffed, setting the leather bound book on Jack’s desk.
Jack looked down at the object then back to Martha and the Doctor. “It’s a book.”
“Oh it’s a bit more than that, Captain.” The Doctor perched on the edge of Jack’s desk. “I’m just not sure what.”
“Can you be a little more specific, Doc?”
“Of course I can, but then you wouldn’t understand any of it.”
“Look,” Martha stepped forward, stalling Jack’s retort. “Would you two stop lobbing testosterone around long enough to figure this out, or do I have to send you to corners and tell you to come out swinging?” She caught each with a look and waited a moment for them to back down. “That’s better,” she said with a smile. “Now, Captain, can you help or not?”
“Sure, I can help, but only if I have some idea of what the hell this thing is supposed to be.”
“Doctor?” Martha turned her stare to him. “I’d like to know that myself.”
The Doctor jumped up off the desk and began to pace back and forth across the limited space of Jack’s office. “It’s a psychic sponge.”
Martha blinked confused. “Sponge?”
“No, wait not a sponge…more like a storage battery.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Like a great big, colossal, super duper, extra large…super sized…oh chips sound good. Feel like chips Martha?” He paused in his pacing. “No wait, never mind more important things. Anyway, storage battery, and right now whatever it’s storing is starting to draw power, and psychic energy at that. At least it was.”
“Was?”
“Last night when Martha asked me to look at it, I could sense that it was pulling psychic energy into itself.” The Doctor pointedly tapped the book. “Now, however, I’m not getting so much as a tickle.”
“So it turned itself off?” Martha asked.
The Doctor nodded. “And I can’t seem to find the on switch.”
“Doc,” Jack interrupted. “what exactly is this thing storing?”
“As far as I can tell, aside from the energy its been pulling in, there’s a consciousness embedded in it.”
Jack leaned back in his chair. “Any idea who?”
The Doctor shook his head. “All I’ve been getting are little glimpses out of the corner of my mind’s eye. Just enough to let me know something is there but not enough for me to know what it is, or why for that matter. There always a why, you know…”
“Wait,” Martha broke in, forcing the Doctor to pause. “You’re saying that this book is alive?”
“Not in the sense as humans understand life no, but in the mental sense,” The Doctor’s face filled with his familiar grin. “Oh yes, it’s very much alive.”
“Is it dangerous?” Jack asked his eyes moving from the book to the Doctor.
The Doctor scratched the back of his head, “Well…I wouldn’t say dangerous in the end of the world type danger…”
“Doctor…”
“Not now, Martha. No, I wouldn’t even say imploding the universe danger, maybe a tiny little smidgen of not really real danger.”
Jack frowned. “You don’t know, do you? That was a statement, by the way, not a question.”
Martha glanced back down at the open book. “Doctor, I really think you should…”
Ignoring Martha, the Doctor replied, “Jack, it’s nothing more than a psychic amplifier with an unknown embedded consciousness that seems to be harmless. Well, reasonably harmless.” He pulled his glasses up to the top of his head.
“Unknown is the key word there, Doc,” Jack’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. “And I am not taking chances that it might be harmless. You said that it’s pulling energy into itself.” Jack waited for the Doctor’s nod. “Well, I’m wondering why would it need to pull in energy? What’s it trying to do?”
“It’s writing.”
The Doctor and Jack both turned towards Martha as her voice finally broke through. She pointed down to the now glowing book and all three watched as slowly words appeared in golden script across the page.
It has come.
The time of the Wolf and the Wanderer draws near. The way once shut shall shatter. The scar shall break. The Child of Time will light the way. The way is set. The Wolf and Wanderer shall be one. That which was broken shall be healed. The time is now.
The border between worlds shifts. The Universe merges. The way through Hell opens. One step, one choice, one thought. The separate paths become one. The Wolf and the Wanderer. The Lost and the Lonely. Time shall heal all.
The Wolf comes.
“Can you feel it?” The Doctor’s voice, though in a whisper, seemed to shout out in the silent room. “It’s coming.”
Martha reached out and grabbed his arm. “What? What’s coming?”
Jack spun round as the computer on his desk suddenly started beeping madly. He dove into his chair and quickly typed in the commands. “Shit, Doc The Rift just went active.” He frantically typed in more commands as his eyes scanned the current readings from The Rift. “Power’s climbing and climbing fast.”
Martha’s grip increased on the Doctor’s arm as the ground began to shake. “That can’t be a good sign.”
“It’s going to open.” Jack said and flashed a worried look at the Doctor. “The Rift’s going to open.”
“I know.” The Doctor replied in a calm voice. “She’s coming.”
Martha glanced over at Jack. He shrugged in response. “Doctor!” Martha had to shout to be heard over to increasing noise. “Who’s coming?!”
The Doctor looked down at Martha his brown eyes a mix of pain, sorrow, and hope. “The Bad Wolf.”
* * * * *
Zeppelins. She never quite understood why it was Zeppelins, but who was she to argue with the rules of parallel universes and their need to be the same, yet different. So far, the supposedly short flight was taking twice as long due to the havoc The Rift’s energy was playing with the local weather system. The pilots had to find ways around storm systems that sprang up in front of them.
Rose Tyler had always considered herself to be patient when she needed to be. Right now, at this very moment, she didn’t feel the need. Relentlessly, her fingers tapped out a rhythm that had somehow caught in a loop through her mind. She figured it was either this or asking if they were there yet every five minutes. She decided to choose the latter. Behind her, she could hear Mickey and Jake going over the current readings from The Rift in Cardiff and part of her mind assimilated the information while the other kept nagging her to tell them to move faster. No, patience was not on the agenda for today.
“Unless you’ve got good news, I don’t want to hear it.” Rose said without moving her eyes from her drumming fingers.
Alyce sighed and sat in the seat next to Rose. Gone was her normal office attire of skirt, blouse, and heels and in its place was black leather pants and dark pullover covered with a knee length coat, dark boots, and probably more hidden weapons than Rose really wanted to think about. “If it makes you feel any better, we should be landing in less then ten.”
The drumming stopped. “And?”
Alyce placed a new set of print outs in Rose’s reach. “A ten block area’s been cleared of civilians. Local law enforcement has set up the road blocks and are standing by in case and the Cardiff team is currently at the location and monitoring activity. Air traffic has been diverted and a no-fly zone is in effect.”
Rose nodded, her fingers absently beginning to tap again. “And the book?” She hadn’t wanted to leave it behind, but she couldn’t take a chance that it would cause more trouble than it already had if she brought it closer to the Rift.
“According to Dr. Highlands current readings.” Alyce said as she passed another printout over, “it’s still pulling in power from somewhere, but it’s only increasing at 10% now instead of 50%.”
She turned her seat slightly and glanced back at Mickey and Jake. “And The Rift?”
Mickey looked up from his computer. “Latest readings have its activity at 30% above norm and increasing approximately every twenty minutes, give or take a second.”
“If this keeps up ETA of a breach in The Rift is 6-7 hours.” Jake added after rechecking some readouts. “But, that’s only if the increase remains constant.”
“In other words,” Rose observed, “this could blow up in our face.” She felt herself tense as the pitch in the engines changed.
“Sorry about the delay,” The pilot’s voice cut over the load speakers. “ETA at Torchwood Cardiff, two minutes.”
“About bloody time.” Rose muttered under her breath and quickly gathered up the pile of handouts and shoved them into her case. She then turned her attention to her team. “Once we’re ground-side, I want Mickey and Jake to hook up with Cardiff’s crew and compare readings. Sam,” she said as she turned to the head of her security team. “you go and back up the local law. You know the drill.”
Sam nodded. “Standard perimeter should be easy enough. What about press?”
“Usual release will cover for now.” Rose replied. She then frowned and fixed her eyes on her team. “This is a mauve situation. Am I clear?” The quick echoing responses of ‘yes ma’am’ were all she needed and with a nod, she dismissed her team. She felt the familiar jolt as the zeppelin settled into its landing cradle and without a backward glance, she grabbed her jacket and headed for steps, trusting her team to carry out their orders.
Cardiff had never been her favorite spot, not even in the other Universe. It was hard to find enjoyment in a city that seemed to cause her nothing but grief. From Gelth that wanted to kill her so they could take over her body, Slitheen that plotted to cause a nuclear holocaust just to get home, to The Rift that seemed to exist to generate headaches for her. Cardiff…nope, not on her top ten spots to visit.
The wind hit her as she stepped away from the protection of the zeppelin and into the open airfield. She glanced up and the darkening sky and shivered as she felt the power emanating in the air. It was something familiar, like from a dream. She could remember light burning, the paths of time stretched out before her.
I can see everything. All that is. All that will be. All that was.
That’s what I see, but doesn’t it drive you mad.
But why does it hurt?
She could hear singing and she knew it was a song she had heard before, but couldn’t place where.
There was singing.
That’s right. I sung a song and the Daleks ran away.
You were fantastic. And you know what…so was I.
“Rose?”
She blinked and looked down at the hand Alyce had placed on her shoulder. “Sorry?”
Alyce frowned. “You alright?”
“Fine.” She took a deep breath, shoving the memories back down. “Come on, we’ve got a job to do.” Her steps were full of purpose and she could feel herself being drawn towards whatever it was that was calling her.
“Am I glad to see you.”
Dr. Ian Quinn, head of Torchwood Cardiff, nearly fainted in relief at seeing Rose and her team walk off the lift into the hub. “We thought you might not be able to get through with the weather patterns.”
Rose nodded a greeting, but her eyes were only for the stats flashing across the computer screens. “We’re here now. Where can my team set up?”
“Conference room.” Ian replied, waving to the open room behind him. “If you need…”
“No thanks, Mate.” Jake waved him off as he and Mickey moved past. “We can do it ourselves.”
“Actually, get someone to grab the rest of that gear and bring it in.” Mickey added as he moved past.
“Yes, of course.” Ian replied, then returned his attention to Rose. “Ms. Tyler, I realize that you’re here to observe and I will be happy to share the information we have managed to amass since the phenomenon began. But, I do need to request that not interfere with the current experiments. ”
“No,” Rose responded, turning and facing Ian for the first time. “As of now, my team’s in charge. Your team is to back us up as needed and contain the civilians. All experiments are to stop and no one is to attempt any manipulation of The Rift”
“But my team’s research…”
“Takes a backseat to what’s happening now” she snapped and turned back to the screens. “You screwed up and it’s my job to figure out how to fix it without blowing the universe up.”
Alyce stepped forward, placing herself between Rose and Ian. “I suggest you go and do as your told,” she quietly told Dr. Quinn. As the scientist stalked away, she turned to Rose. “So, what’s the plan?”
“The plan is to shut down whatever it is they have feeding power to The Rift.”
“And?”
“And, like I said earlier, hope the Universe doesn’t blow.”
Alyce shook her head. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
* * * * *
“Who’s the Bad Wolf?” Martha shook the Doctor’s arm and was contemplating slapping him to knock him out of the blank stare, when suddenly he blinked and looked at her the familiar smile spreading across his face. “Doctor?”
“Right where was I?” He thought for a moment and pulled his glasses back onto his nose. “Oh wait, I remember now.”
“Can you hold that thought, Doc? “Jack interrupted. “We’ve got a bigger problem right now.” He grabbed a hold of his desk as the ground shook. “The Rift.”
The Doctor nodded. “The Rift. Right.” He turned to Martha. “Come on. Upstairs for us.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him.
Martha lengthened her strides to keep up with the Doctor. “What’s this Rift? And who’s Bad Wolf?”
“The Rift is nothing more than an opening to the void. It comes in handy when the TARDIS needs a bit of a top off, although, it can be pretty nasty if it gets out of control. Nearly blew up Cardiff once because of that Rift.” The Doctor glanced back at her in surprise as the rest of her question caught up with him. “Bad Wolf, is…was actually someone who saved my life once.”
He pulled her out of the lift behind him and froze at the sight of the energy vortex dancing in the nighttime sky of Cardiff. Martha held tight to his hand as the wind picked up and the crack seemed to slowly spread across the sky. “That can’t be good.”
“Doctor!” Jack’s voice piped over the comm unit he didn’t even remember grabbing. “If the readings are right, something’s going to break through from the other side.”
“Can we stop it?” The Doctor glanced down at Martha and she caught her breath at the look in his eyes. “Can we stop it?”
His answer was simple. “No.”
* * * * *
“It’s going to breach!” Mickey’s shout stopped the current argument that had been going on between Rose and the Cardiff staff. “Mass is at critical.”
“Right,” Rose turned and headed for the lift. “Can we kill it if we stop the power feed?”
“Negative.” Jake’s voice was strained. “Even if you cut it off completely the Rift’s got too much built up to dissipate before it cracks.”
Rose ignored Alyce as she pushed into the lift before the doors closed. “Sam, get everyone clear of here, fast as you can.”
“Already working on it.” Sam’s voice could barely be heard over the background nose outside. “Although most of ‘em took off when it started going to hell.”
The doors opened at the top floor and Rose was forced back by the strength of the wind that pounded into the lift. Their ears were assaulted by a high-pitched whine that made all of them cover their ears quickly. Above them, lightening flashed across the sky and a small crack slowly grew spreading its blinding white light as it did so. Rose stepped out of the protection of the lift and fought against the wind as she pushed forward. Around her the singing she had until this moment heard only in her mind wrap her into its embrace as she moved towards The Rift.
“Rose! What are you doing?” Alyce shouted to be heard over the wind. “Rose!”
Slowly, so slowly, Rose turned back.
“I am the Bad Wolf.”
Alyce froze at the woman before her. Gone was the familiar brown eyes in their place rose golden light.
“I am the Bad Wolf.” Rose repeated and turned away, stretching out her arms to The Rift. “I create myself. I wander alone.” She stepped forward. “Now I see the path.”
“It’s open.” Jake shouted over the comm. “I repeat, the Rift is open!”
Alyce forced herself forward and reached out to grab for Rose. She felt her fingers brush against fabric and gripped with all her strength. Around her the wind tore at her, pulling at Rose, trying to rip her away from Alyce’s failing grip.
“Let me go home.”
Alyce looked up at the voice that was pleading, the eyes begging. In horror, she watched, as time seemed to slow. Gradually, her fingers loosened and Rose slipped away.
“Thank you.” Rose said quietly, then without a backward glance, she threw her arms out and jumped.
* * * * *
Jack was frantic as he fought to gain some control over the power emanating from the Rift. So far, it was a loosing battle, but he was never one to throw up his hands in defeat. So, the more power that built up, the more he fought it until there was nothing more he could do.
“This is it!”
It was all the warning he could give the Doctor and Martha topside and he hoped that it was enough for them to get clear. Around him, he felt the air grow heavy and the pressure build. Then suddenly, as if someone had released a valve, it stopped. He glanced down at his computer and blinked, baffled at the readings now appearing.
“Doctor, can you hear me? he yelled over the comm unit. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but it’s stable again. Just like that. Did you hear me? Doctor?”
Martha’s voice answered him. “Jack, you need to get up here.”
Jack didn’t waste time with questions. He grabbed his sidearm and headed up to the Millennium Center. He kicked aside several objects that had been blown into the open courtyard of the center and skidded to a stop next to Martha. “Where’s … ?”
Martha pointed to the spot where The Rift had so recently been consolidating its power. “There was this light,” she explained, “and then suddenly everything stopped and she was there.”
The Doctor knelt on the ground clutching the body to him. Jack’s breath caught when he saw the locks of blond hair. “It can’t be. It’s impossible” He took a shaking step forward and fell to his knees beside the Doctor. “Oh, my God…”
“Rose.” The Doctor whispered as he rocked her. “Rose.”
She wasn’t breathing.
To Be Continued.
Character/Pairing: 10/Rose
Rating: PG
Summary: The choices made throughout life can have ever lasting consequences, some greatre than others. To save the universe The Doctor is forced into a choice that could destroy everything he holds dear to him. TO save one...he may loose the other.
Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Doctor Who. BBC does.
Author's Notes: “You will watch! As I watched Gallifrey burn! This is your sin! This is your demon! This is your nightmare! And I hope you never escape.”
Now this was odd. Well, when he thought odd, he meant a bit strange…ok, maybe really strange. Now, when he says that he means…Good grief. He even rambled in his dreams. Oh, and speaking of dreams where, was he? Oh yes! This was odd…well, when he says…
“Do you ever shut it?”
Oh, now this was very interesting. Not only was he dreaming, but it seems that he was talking to himself as well…in a manner of speaking anyway. Nothing worse than a dream where you talk to yourself. Well, not really yourself, but rather your former self, but still yourself. Oh, now this was just getting confusing.
“Well if that’s any proof no, you don’t ever shut it. How did Rose ever got a word in edgewise.”
Oh Rose…his Rose…wonderful Rose…sweet Rose…
“Yeah and you had to go and lose her didn’t you.”
Oh now, that was a bit harsh. Now when he thinks harsh, he really means…
“Oh, shut it!”
Now that was just rude. He doesn’t remember being that rude when he was in that incarnation. Well, maybe he was a bit rude, but not that rude. Well, there was that one time…wait a minute…
Rose…he lost her…
And then he saw it. The room, exactly as it was when he tore himself away from the sealed wall. A simple piece of steel and concrete his only connection to Rose. He couldn’t save her. He couldn’t help her. He lost her.
“That’s right. You lost her.”
No, he sent her away. Sent her to safety. But Rose, stubborn, independent Rose had to come back, had to prove that she meant what she told him. She promised him forever. She promised the impossible, and part of him believed her.
“She nearly died for us. She gave up everything for us. She loved us!”
He knew that, too. He knew it and he did nothing. Oh, he had his chance more than once. He could have told her, but the coward did what he always does, hid behind the facade of smiles and adventure and always trusted that he would have time.
“Time? Now there’s a fine thought. Time for what? Time has never granted us anything but loss and pain. We always loose everything. Times Champion? Time Lord!? Ha! More like Time’s Slave. We dance to the tune she sets us and we pay the price for it. Is it worth it? Is it all worth it? Gallifrey? Romana? Rose? How much death have we left in our wake? How much more pain can we take? How much longer must we burn?”
Now he remembered what he was like in his last body. Full of pain, full of hate, full of guilt. He survived through it all. He had to.
“You’re no different…”
Suddenly the room shifted and there she was. The pull of the vortex tore at her as one by one, Daleks and Cybermen flew by. He could hear himself yelling, telling her to hold on. Then slowly the lever began to move and he watched frozen as Rose let go and locked the lever into full position.
“You told her a storm was coming. She promised you forever. What did you promise her?”
He reached for her, pleading that, for once, fate would not be so cruel as to tear away his anchor to sanity.
“What did you promise her? Nothing!”
Time was against him as moment-by-moment, Rose’s grip failed and she slipped away from him. Falling, screaming, her fear washed over him.
“You failed. You let them take her from us.”
No! No! No! No!…please not again. He can’t watch again!
“You will watch! As I watched Gallifrey burn! This is your sin! This is your demon! This is your nightmare and I hope you never escape.”
ROOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!
* * * * *
Head and body slamming against something hard and unyielding was not the way he had planned to wake up. Actually, he didn’t even mean to fall asleep. He didn’t remember even getting to his room. The last thing he remembered was sending Martha off to make tea and then nothing - blank. Well until his floor decided to assist in his waking.
‘Well no use just lying here and contemplating the reasons of the universe’, he thought to himself as he sat up and rubbed the nasty knot that was beginning to form on the back of his head.
“Doctor?” Martha’s voice carried through the door. “You alright?”
“Fine, great, stupendous.” he answered as he quickly pulled himself to his feet. “Never better.”
“You sure?”
He could hear the disbelief in her voice. “Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked and pulled to door open, smiling brightly at her. “See, nothing wrong. I am 100% perfect.”
She glanced behind him at the tatters of his bed then back to him, unconvinced. “Right,” she retorted.
He flashed her a hurt look. “Would I lie to you? Ah, ah, ah!” He waggled a finger at her as she started to answer. “It doesn’t count in life or death situations.”
Martha snorted. “Fine, you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll just go back to my breakfast.” She spun on her heel and walked away muttering about his ability to drive anyone to insanity.
He backed into his bedroom and firmly closed the door behind him. Okay, so maybe he was a bit more bothered by what had happened then he let on. Loosing time wasn’t something that he did that often, and when it did happen it was never for the better. He ran a hand through his hair sending it into an even more disarrayed state.
Think. Met Martha in the library to solve her little mystery. Sent her off to make some tea while I looked over the book… The book!
He spun around as his mind suddenly connected the events of the night before, and there on the bed lay the source of his missing moments. A simple, innocent looking item, but something told him it is anything but simple or innocent. Cautiously, he approached the leather bound object on his bed, reinforcing his shields before he reached out a hand out to touch it. He closed his eyes and tensed, expecting some reaction.
Nothing.
He cracked it open, sighed and then pouted. “Now that’s a bit unfair,” he said to the inert book. “You’re supposed to do something. Or am I supposed to do something?” He picked the book up and looked it over carefully. “Great - it has an on/off switch and I don’t have the remote for it.” He flipped the book open and blinked in surprise when the pages that just last night had been full of words now stood blank.
“Curiouser and curiouser.”
He tossed the book back on his bed quickly pulled on his Converses and headed for the console room. He smiled at Martha as he scooted past her in the hall and grabbed the cup of tea she held out to him. “Thanks,” he said, gulping down the beverage and then dancing about the console.
“Have to give you a rain check on visiting the Temple of Medox.”
Martha sighed and settled on the jump seat. “Where we off to, then?” She grabbed the teacup from the Doctor as he danced past.
“Oh, you know,” He flipped switches and gave the console a tap with the mallet. “Somewhere, nowhere, everywhere.”
“Doctor, the last time you said that, we ended up stuck up to our necks in mud with the entire population of Wexlon 5 betting on which of us would die first.”
He paused in his dancing and gave her a playful pouting look. “Well, I did promise you a mud bath.”
Martha snorted. “You promised me a planet with the best day spa in the galaxy. I’m beginning to wonder if you even know how to drive this thing.” She teased.
“I’ll have you know that I was top of my class,” he pointed out, then grinned as the TARDIS began to materialize. “And here we are.”
“And where is here?” Martha asked as she followed the Doctor to the door. She stepped out and glanced around. “Doctor?”
He grinned as he stepped out beside her. “Wait for it.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
The Doctor turned and smiled at the man behind him. “Hello, Jack. You remember Martha.”
* * * * *
Rose Tyler loved a good mystery at times. She loved puzzling out the clues and hints that were left behind. This however was not one of those times that she enjoyed the conundrum before her. She had stopped glancing at the clock when it had read 2 AM, but refused to give up on trying to figure out the cryptic message that the now ever so hated book had given her. She knew deep down that she might be playing too much into it, but another part of her screamed for her to unravel the twisted strings in front of her and learn what was hidden within.
There were times Rose Tyler hated a good mystery.
Morning sunlight streaking through her window was the first hint she allowed that she had spent the entire night staring at the dusty pages. She leaned back in her chair and ran a hand through her hair in frustration. This had gotten annoying and that just made her dig her heels in harder to try and figure out what was going on. “Bloody thing’s probably laughing at me,” she muttered as she started flipping again through the blank pages.
“You look like hell.”
Rose jumped and glanced up toward the door. “What are you doing here?”
Alyce laughed lightly as she entered with two cups of coffee. “You Da called and told me I better pop in and make sure you were still alive. That and I thought you might like a little pick-me-up.”
Rose smiles tiredly at the cup of coffee Alyce set in front of her. “What time is it anyway?” she asked just before taking a grateful sip.
Alyce settled into the chair in front of Rose’s desk and took a sip from her own cup. “Near 5:30, and don’t look guilty about me being here. I was up anyway.”
Rose slumped forward on her desk. “Maybe I’m going insane.”
“We work for Torchwood,’ Alyce jokingly pointed out. “Of course we’re insane.” She sat her cup on the desk and leaned forward, an impish smile spreading across her face. "Any luck with the bloody book or should we just use it for target practice?"
Rose shook her head. “Nothing. I’m not even sure what I was looking for to begin with.”
“Oh, target practice it is then.” Alyce leaned over and grabbed the book up flipping through the pages. “I was thinking of that new flame thrower the boys in R&D came up with. We could just BBQ it a bit.”
Rose blinked and stared blankly at Alyce before breaking into a laugh. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“I know,” She sat the book back on the desk. “I know you want answers, but it’s not all going to come to you if you keep forcing.”
Rose sighed, “I’ve been going about this all wrong.” She stood and started to pace. “Something triggered it. But what?”
“Could it have been the scanner when R&D had it?”
She shook her head, “No, it was blank when Emma examined it in the lab.” She ran a frustrated hand through her hair “Nothing happened until it was here. In this office.”
Alyce tapped a finger thoughtfully on her chin. “What could you have in here that could possibly trigger a reaction from it this afternoon, but not now?”
“I don’t know…” She paused in her pacing. “No it can’t be that simple.”
“What?” Alyce asked as Rose rushed to her desk and pulled out a simple box. “Rose?”
“It was sitting on my desk when I looked at the book.” She carefully opened the box and pulled out along chain to which a key was attached, a key that was glowing golden. “That’s it.”
“What the…!” Alyce jumped to her feet and with speed that contrasted her normal calm manner she dove across the desk sending the contents crashing to the floor, yanking the key from Rose’s hand, and shoving Rose away. “Out now.” Her usual quiet tone now sharp as a knife, her eyes calm and calculating.
“It’s alright Alyce.”
She turned slightly. “I said out, Ms. Tyler.” Her tone demanded action and not question. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a portable scanner that she ran over the key. “And remain out until I say otherwise.”
“No,” Rose’s brown eyes locked with Alyce’s green. “What’s the scanner say?” She asked calmly.
Alyce frowned at the readings. “It’s clean.” She relaxed slightly and put the scanner back in her pocket.
“It’s harmless.” Rose held out a hand waiting.
Alyce glanced from the glowing key to Rose’s hand and with a reluctant sigh returned it. “For the record, this is against my better judgment.”
Rose closed her hand around the key and held Alyce’s eyes for a moment longer. “Yeah? Well, for the record, I don’t give a damn what you think.” She turned and moved back to her desk, stepping over the items strewn across the floor.
“I’m doing my job…”
Rose spun around key still clutched in her hand. “And I’m doing mine.” She pulled the book to her and flipped open the pages.
Alyce stepped forward. “Just promise me one thing.”
“What?” Rose snapped.
“If you’re planning on giving me a heart attack, at least wait until after I’ve finished my coffee.”
Rose smiled slightly then turned her attention to the book. “It’s working.”
Across time they sing. Across space they walk. Forever apart. Forever together. Pulled apart by the darkness of the undying enemy. Bound by paths that are yet to cross. The Wanderer and the Wolf. Lost…alone…waiting. As the tapestry unwinds around them, as time moves in its dance, there is only one way. There is only one time. There is only one chance.
That which was healed, is now undone. The scar will crack and the way will open. The Wolf will pass and all will be as it is meant.
The way is shut. The key is lost. The Wanderer grieves. The Wolf howls. The Unborn pays. The Child cries. Only time can save them.
The way once shut shall shatter. The scar shall break. The Child of Time will light the way. The way is set. The Wolf and Wanderer shall be one. That which was broken shall be healed. The time is now.
The Bad Wolf returns.
“That makes no sense,” Alyce sighed as she leaned back from reading over Rose’s shoulder. “It’s like a riddle and a bad one at that.”
Rose gently set the book back on her desk. “Scar,” She leaned back in her chair, hand still clutching the key as she thought. “It keeps mentioning a scar.” She shakes her head. “No, you’re right. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Maybe you should give that thing back to R&D and forget you ever found it.”
Rose shook her head. “Too late to forget about it…” She broke off as her phone rang. She picked up the receiver.
“Tyler... What!? … How long ago?” She spun around to her computer and quickly typed in some commands. “I want transport standing by in twenty minutes.” She hung up the phone. “Alyce, get the team in,” she ordered as she stood and placed the chain with the key over her neck. She then grabbed her sidearm from the desk drawer and grabbed her long leather jacket. “We’re going on a little trip.”
Alyce looked up from the phone as she sent out the single to the beepers. “Where?”
Rose pulled on her jacket and holstered her gun. “Control is picking up a major increase in energy output from site Alpha.”
“Alpha? Isn’t Dr. Quinn and his team supposed to be running a simulation there tonight?”
“Yeah and it looks like things are getting out of hand.”
Alyce’s eyes widened in shock, “That means…”
Rose nodded. “We’re going to Cardiff.”
* * * * *
There were times Jack wished he could take his fist and wipe out the arrogant, smug, all-knowing smile that flashed across the Doctor’s face. He’d agreed that the Doctor was welcome to drop into Cardiff whenever the TARDIS needed to refuel at The Rift, but hadn’t expected to walk into the hub and find the TARDIS parked near his office. Thankfully, the team was off on a mission so he was spared having to explain this to them. “What the hell are you doing here?” he repeated.
“Oh now, what kind of welcome is that?” the Doctor asked, his smile crumpling. “Here I was hoping for tea and…”
“Doctor,” Martha sighed, “maybe now’s not the best time.”
The Doctor kicked a bit of rubbish on the floor and muttered something that sounded like ‘never let me have any fun’, before bouncing on the balls of his feet and turning his attention fully on Jack. “I’ll probably kick myself for saying this later, but I need your help.”
Jack pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against. “That’s a first.” He motioned them towards his office. “Let me just make a note of this so I can refer to it later.”
The Doctor rolled his eyes. “Humans.”
“Time Lords.” Jack countered.
“Men,” Martha huffed, setting the leather bound book on Jack’s desk.
Jack looked down at the object then back to Martha and the Doctor. “It’s a book.”
“Oh it’s a bit more than that, Captain.” The Doctor perched on the edge of Jack’s desk. “I’m just not sure what.”
“Can you be a little more specific, Doc?”
“Of course I can, but then you wouldn’t understand any of it.”
“Look,” Martha stepped forward, stalling Jack’s retort. “Would you two stop lobbing testosterone around long enough to figure this out, or do I have to send you to corners and tell you to come out swinging?” She caught each with a look and waited a moment for them to back down. “That’s better,” she said with a smile. “Now, Captain, can you help or not?”
“Sure, I can help, but only if I have some idea of what the hell this thing is supposed to be.”
“Doctor?” Martha turned her stare to him. “I’d like to know that myself.”
The Doctor jumped up off the desk and began to pace back and forth across the limited space of Jack’s office. “It’s a psychic sponge.”
Martha blinked confused. “Sponge?”
“No, wait not a sponge…more like a storage battery.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Like a great big, colossal, super duper, extra large…super sized…oh chips sound good. Feel like chips Martha?” He paused in his pacing. “No wait, never mind more important things. Anyway, storage battery, and right now whatever it’s storing is starting to draw power, and psychic energy at that. At least it was.”
“Was?”
“Last night when Martha asked me to look at it, I could sense that it was pulling psychic energy into itself.” The Doctor pointedly tapped the book. “Now, however, I’m not getting so much as a tickle.”
“So it turned itself off?” Martha asked.
The Doctor nodded. “And I can’t seem to find the on switch.”
“Doc,” Jack interrupted. “what exactly is this thing storing?”
“As far as I can tell, aside from the energy its been pulling in, there’s a consciousness embedded in it.”
Jack leaned back in his chair. “Any idea who?”
The Doctor shook his head. “All I’ve been getting are little glimpses out of the corner of my mind’s eye. Just enough to let me know something is there but not enough for me to know what it is, or why for that matter. There always a why, you know…”
“Wait,” Martha broke in, forcing the Doctor to pause. “You’re saying that this book is alive?”
“Not in the sense as humans understand life no, but in the mental sense,” The Doctor’s face filled with his familiar grin. “Oh yes, it’s very much alive.”
“Is it dangerous?” Jack asked his eyes moving from the book to the Doctor.
The Doctor scratched the back of his head, “Well…I wouldn’t say dangerous in the end of the world type danger…”
“Doctor…”
“Not now, Martha. No, I wouldn’t even say imploding the universe danger, maybe a tiny little smidgen of not really real danger.”
Jack frowned. “You don’t know, do you? That was a statement, by the way, not a question.”
Martha glanced back down at the open book. “Doctor, I really think you should…”
Ignoring Martha, the Doctor replied, “Jack, it’s nothing more than a psychic amplifier with an unknown embedded consciousness that seems to be harmless. Well, reasonably harmless.” He pulled his glasses up to the top of his head.
“Unknown is the key word there, Doc,” Jack’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. “And I am not taking chances that it might be harmless. You said that it’s pulling energy into itself.” Jack waited for the Doctor’s nod. “Well, I’m wondering why would it need to pull in energy? What’s it trying to do?”
“It’s writing.”
The Doctor and Jack both turned towards Martha as her voice finally broke through. She pointed down to the now glowing book and all three watched as slowly words appeared in golden script across the page.
It has come.
The time of the Wolf and the Wanderer draws near. The way once shut shall shatter. The scar shall break. The Child of Time will light the way. The way is set. The Wolf and Wanderer shall be one. That which was broken shall be healed. The time is now.
The border between worlds shifts. The Universe merges. The way through Hell opens. One step, one choice, one thought. The separate paths become one. The Wolf and the Wanderer. The Lost and the Lonely. Time shall heal all.
The Wolf comes.
“Can you feel it?” The Doctor’s voice, though in a whisper, seemed to shout out in the silent room. “It’s coming.”
Martha reached out and grabbed his arm. “What? What’s coming?”
Jack spun round as the computer on his desk suddenly started beeping madly. He dove into his chair and quickly typed in the commands. “Shit, Doc The Rift just went active.” He frantically typed in more commands as his eyes scanned the current readings from The Rift. “Power’s climbing and climbing fast.”
Martha’s grip increased on the Doctor’s arm as the ground began to shake. “That can’t be a good sign.”
“It’s going to open.” Jack said and flashed a worried look at the Doctor. “The Rift’s going to open.”
“I know.” The Doctor replied in a calm voice. “She’s coming.”
Martha glanced over at Jack. He shrugged in response. “Doctor!” Martha had to shout to be heard over to increasing noise. “Who’s coming?!”
The Doctor looked down at Martha his brown eyes a mix of pain, sorrow, and hope. “The Bad Wolf.”
* * * * *
Zeppelins. She never quite understood why it was Zeppelins, but who was she to argue with the rules of parallel universes and their need to be the same, yet different. So far, the supposedly short flight was taking twice as long due to the havoc The Rift’s energy was playing with the local weather system. The pilots had to find ways around storm systems that sprang up in front of them.
Rose Tyler had always considered herself to be patient when she needed to be. Right now, at this very moment, she didn’t feel the need. Relentlessly, her fingers tapped out a rhythm that had somehow caught in a loop through her mind. She figured it was either this or asking if they were there yet every five minutes. She decided to choose the latter. Behind her, she could hear Mickey and Jake going over the current readings from The Rift in Cardiff and part of her mind assimilated the information while the other kept nagging her to tell them to move faster. No, patience was not on the agenda for today.
“Unless you’ve got good news, I don’t want to hear it.” Rose said without moving her eyes from her drumming fingers.
Alyce sighed and sat in the seat next to Rose. Gone was her normal office attire of skirt, blouse, and heels and in its place was black leather pants and dark pullover covered with a knee length coat, dark boots, and probably more hidden weapons than Rose really wanted to think about. “If it makes you feel any better, we should be landing in less then ten.”
The drumming stopped. “And?”
Alyce placed a new set of print outs in Rose’s reach. “A ten block area’s been cleared of civilians. Local law enforcement has set up the road blocks and are standing by in case and the Cardiff team is currently at the location and monitoring activity. Air traffic has been diverted and a no-fly zone is in effect.”
Rose nodded, her fingers absently beginning to tap again. “And the book?” She hadn’t wanted to leave it behind, but she couldn’t take a chance that it would cause more trouble than it already had if she brought it closer to the Rift.
“According to Dr. Highlands current readings.” Alyce said as she passed another printout over, “it’s still pulling in power from somewhere, but it’s only increasing at 10% now instead of 50%.”
She turned her seat slightly and glanced back at Mickey and Jake. “And The Rift?”
Mickey looked up from his computer. “Latest readings have its activity at 30% above norm and increasing approximately every twenty minutes, give or take a second.”
“If this keeps up ETA of a breach in The Rift is 6-7 hours.” Jake added after rechecking some readouts. “But, that’s only if the increase remains constant.”
“In other words,” Rose observed, “this could blow up in our face.” She felt herself tense as the pitch in the engines changed.
“Sorry about the delay,” The pilot’s voice cut over the load speakers. “ETA at Torchwood Cardiff, two minutes.”
“About bloody time.” Rose muttered under her breath and quickly gathered up the pile of handouts and shoved them into her case. She then turned her attention to her team. “Once we’re ground-side, I want Mickey and Jake to hook up with Cardiff’s crew and compare readings. Sam,” she said as she turned to the head of her security team. “you go and back up the local law. You know the drill.”
Sam nodded. “Standard perimeter should be easy enough. What about press?”
“Usual release will cover for now.” Rose replied. She then frowned and fixed her eyes on her team. “This is a mauve situation. Am I clear?” The quick echoing responses of ‘yes ma’am’ were all she needed and with a nod, she dismissed her team. She felt the familiar jolt as the zeppelin settled into its landing cradle and without a backward glance, she grabbed her jacket and headed for steps, trusting her team to carry out their orders.
Cardiff had never been her favorite spot, not even in the other Universe. It was hard to find enjoyment in a city that seemed to cause her nothing but grief. From Gelth that wanted to kill her so they could take over her body, Slitheen that plotted to cause a nuclear holocaust just to get home, to The Rift that seemed to exist to generate headaches for her. Cardiff…nope, not on her top ten spots to visit.
The wind hit her as she stepped away from the protection of the zeppelin and into the open airfield. She glanced up and the darkening sky and shivered as she felt the power emanating in the air. It was something familiar, like from a dream. She could remember light burning, the paths of time stretched out before her.
I can see everything. All that is. All that will be. All that was.
That’s what I see, but doesn’t it drive you mad.
But why does it hurt?
She could hear singing and she knew it was a song she had heard before, but couldn’t place where.
There was singing.
That’s right. I sung a song and the Daleks ran away.
You were fantastic. And you know what…so was I.
“Rose?”
She blinked and looked down at the hand Alyce had placed on her shoulder. “Sorry?”
Alyce frowned. “You alright?”
“Fine.” She took a deep breath, shoving the memories back down. “Come on, we’ve got a job to do.” Her steps were full of purpose and she could feel herself being drawn towards whatever it was that was calling her.
“Am I glad to see you.”
Dr. Ian Quinn, head of Torchwood Cardiff, nearly fainted in relief at seeing Rose and her team walk off the lift into the hub. “We thought you might not be able to get through with the weather patterns.”
Rose nodded a greeting, but her eyes were only for the stats flashing across the computer screens. “We’re here now. Where can my team set up?”
“Conference room.” Ian replied, waving to the open room behind him. “If you need…”
“No thanks, Mate.” Jake waved him off as he and Mickey moved past. “We can do it ourselves.”
“Actually, get someone to grab the rest of that gear and bring it in.” Mickey added as he moved past.
“Yes, of course.” Ian replied, then returned his attention to Rose. “Ms. Tyler, I realize that you’re here to observe and I will be happy to share the information we have managed to amass since the phenomenon began. But, I do need to request that not interfere with the current experiments. ”
“No,” Rose responded, turning and facing Ian for the first time. “As of now, my team’s in charge. Your team is to back us up as needed and contain the civilians. All experiments are to stop and no one is to attempt any manipulation of The Rift”
“But my team’s research…”
“Takes a backseat to what’s happening now” she snapped and turned back to the screens. “You screwed up and it’s my job to figure out how to fix it without blowing the universe up.”
Alyce stepped forward, placing herself between Rose and Ian. “I suggest you go and do as your told,” she quietly told Dr. Quinn. As the scientist stalked away, she turned to Rose. “So, what’s the plan?”
“The plan is to shut down whatever it is they have feeding power to The Rift.”
“And?”
“And, like I said earlier, hope the Universe doesn’t blow.”
Alyce shook her head. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
* * * * *
“Who’s the Bad Wolf?” Martha shook the Doctor’s arm and was contemplating slapping him to knock him out of the blank stare, when suddenly he blinked and looked at her the familiar smile spreading across his face. “Doctor?”
“Right where was I?” He thought for a moment and pulled his glasses back onto his nose. “Oh wait, I remember now.”
“Can you hold that thought, Doc? “Jack interrupted. “We’ve got a bigger problem right now.” He grabbed a hold of his desk as the ground shook. “The Rift.”
The Doctor nodded. “The Rift. Right.” He turned to Martha. “Come on. Upstairs for us.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him.
Martha lengthened her strides to keep up with the Doctor. “What’s this Rift? And who’s Bad Wolf?”
“The Rift is nothing more than an opening to the void. It comes in handy when the TARDIS needs a bit of a top off, although, it can be pretty nasty if it gets out of control. Nearly blew up Cardiff once because of that Rift.” The Doctor glanced back at her in surprise as the rest of her question caught up with him. “Bad Wolf, is…was actually someone who saved my life once.”
He pulled her out of the lift behind him and froze at the sight of the energy vortex dancing in the nighttime sky of Cardiff. Martha held tight to his hand as the wind picked up and the crack seemed to slowly spread across the sky. “That can’t be good.”
“Doctor!” Jack’s voice piped over the comm unit he didn’t even remember grabbing. “If the readings are right, something’s going to break through from the other side.”
“Can we stop it?” The Doctor glanced down at Martha and she caught her breath at the look in his eyes. “Can we stop it?”
His answer was simple. “No.”
* * * * *
“It’s going to breach!” Mickey’s shout stopped the current argument that had been going on between Rose and the Cardiff staff. “Mass is at critical.”
“Right,” Rose turned and headed for the lift. “Can we kill it if we stop the power feed?”
“Negative.” Jake’s voice was strained. “Even if you cut it off completely the Rift’s got too much built up to dissipate before it cracks.”
Rose ignored Alyce as she pushed into the lift before the doors closed. “Sam, get everyone clear of here, fast as you can.”
“Already working on it.” Sam’s voice could barely be heard over the background nose outside. “Although most of ‘em took off when it started going to hell.”
The doors opened at the top floor and Rose was forced back by the strength of the wind that pounded into the lift. Their ears were assaulted by a high-pitched whine that made all of them cover their ears quickly. Above them, lightening flashed across the sky and a small crack slowly grew spreading its blinding white light as it did so. Rose stepped out of the protection of the lift and fought against the wind as she pushed forward. Around her the singing she had until this moment heard only in her mind wrap her into its embrace as she moved towards The Rift.
“Rose! What are you doing?” Alyce shouted to be heard over the wind. “Rose!”
Slowly, so slowly, Rose turned back.
“I am the Bad Wolf.”
Alyce froze at the woman before her. Gone was the familiar brown eyes in their place rose golden light.
“I am the Bad Wolf.” Rose repeated and turned away, stretching out her arms to The Rift. “I create myself. I wander alone.” She stepped forward. “Now I see the path.”
“It’s open.” Jake shouted over the comm. “I repeat, the Rift is open!”
Alyce forced herself forward and reached out to grab for Rose. She felt her fingers brush against fabric and gripped with all her strength. Around her the wind tore at her, pulling at Rose, trying to rip her away from Alyce’s failing grip.
“Let me go home.”
Alyce looked up at the voice that was pleading, the eyes begging. In horror, she watched, as time seemed to slow. Gradually, her fingers loosened and Rose slipped away.
“Thank you.” Rose said quietly, then without a backward glance, she threw her arms out and jumped.
* * * * *
Jack was frantic as he fought to gain some control over the power emanating from the Rift. So far, it was a loosing battle, but he was never one to throw up his hands in defeat. So, the more power that built up, the more he fought it until there was nothing more he could do.
“This is it!”
It was all the warning he could give the Doctor and Martha topside and he hoped that it was enough for them to get clear. Around him, he felt the air grow heavy and the pressure build. Then suddenly, as if someone had released a valve, it stopped. He glanced down at his computer and blinked, baffled at the readings now appearing.
“Doctor, can you hear me? he yelled over the comm unit. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but it’s stable again. Just like that. Did you hear me? Doctor?”
Martha’s voice answered him. “Jack, you need to get up here.”
Jack didn’t waste time with questions. He grabbed his sidearm and headed up to the Millennium Center. He kicked aside several objects that had been blown into the open courtyard of the center and skidded to a stop next to Martha. “Where’s … ?”
Martha pointed to the spot where The Rift had so recently been consolidating its power. “There was this light,” she explained, “and then suddenly everything stopped and she was there.”
The Doctor knelt on the ground clutching the body to him. Jack’s breath caught when he saw the locks of blond hair. “It can’t be. It’s impossible” He took a shaking step forward and fell to his knees beside the Doctor. “Oh, my God…”
“Rose.” The Doctor whispered as he rocked her. “Rose.”
She wasn’t breathing.
To Be Continued.