FIC: The Foreseen Wife (4/8)
Title: The Foreseen Wife
Rating: T (with a DVD extra rated MA)
Author: tkel_paris
Summary: In a world where Gallifrey survived the Time War, the Doctor must remarry. Only his wife will bear many responsibilities for helping rebuild and protect time. Not sure where to start, he gives Sarah Jane the power to choose. How will she pick? Written for bas_math_girl's birthday.
Required Disclaimer: This is a humorous twist on several ideas I've seen, built around one I thought of. So I don't own the characters within.
Dedications: BMG, of course! And... I suppose Juno_Inferno because of “Cosmic Love”, which fed a little into Muse's thinking about this story. And my beta for this work: tardis_mole. You really know how to make a girl feel better about what she thought was crack-fic. :D
Author's Note: Utter silliness that would NEVER have been canon. Written solely to amuse BMG. And hopefully my other readers. It clearly entertained TM, who apparently had a late breakfast because it was “compelling”. I don't encourage anyone to skip or have late meals, even if the effort is to my benefit. But I owe you one, TM. Thank you.
Sorry for the delay. Was at an old friend's wedding, out of state. Connectivity was... spotty at best. Thank you for the reviews. Now to see how Donna handles the interview. :)
Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three
CHAPTER FOUR: Becoming Mrs. Smith
Finished September 5, 2013
Donna sat in the spartan office. Only a computer and a jumble of papers graced the desk, her application out on its own in the middle. Nothing on the walls, suggesting that this office space had either been recently acquired by UNIT, whatever that stood for, or Sarah Jane only had this on a temporary basis. Possibly only until she completed her task.
Well, she was not going to be intimidated. She was a Noble and a Mott. She imagined her business suit was like armor, and braced herself to be strong.
Sarah Jane smiled as she sat down. “I have to give you credit. You're the only one who's tried to give us her CV and the only one who treated it like a job interview.” She wasn't going to admit that no one else had found them yet, but she was the first to treat it seriously.
“So you're not denying that it is a job? The wife of the Lord President, this Queen, has duties?”
“More than that. She, according to the laws of the planet, would be the Queen of Gallifrey, its ruler.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, you would literally be the ruler. Your husband would be more like the Prime Minister, which I admit is a role that I still have trouble seeing the Doctor hold. But he had good reason more than once to seize the Lord Presidency, which proved fortunate for the planet. What do you know about the Time Lords and Gallifrey?”
"Hold on a minute... you're saying there really are aliens? That Christmas really was ruined by an invasion of Skeletors and there's a bloke who really does fly about in a little blue box?"
"Yes. To all of the above," Sarah Jane said calmly.
Donna thought for a moment. “I know... My god, this is insane. Give me minute, coz I thought my mates were drunk or someone had spiked their drinks. These Time Lords, they were the ones who forced that rock in the sky to leave very suddenly. I believe they've blocked a few other invasion attempts since, though people think I'm mad. A lot of people are still dismissing it as a malfunction of the WiFi, or some huge advertising gimmick that got a bit out of hand. Besides that, it sounds a bit kinky having several people inside what amounts to a wardrobe, all at once. Either that or a game of Sardines.”
Sarah Jane made no comment. “Did you actually see the rock?”
Donna cringed. “I didn't. Had a hangover. Missed the big event, again.”
“'Again'? What do you mean?”
Donna took a deep breath. “I've had this bad luck of missing all these... alien events that've happened recently. I was stuck in a project when the story about a ship hitting the Houses of Parliament happened. Was let go from that job after things calmed down, even after giving better results than they hoped for. I was out of town for the mannequins coming to life. I didn't believe in any of it until the messages about Gallifrey aired on the 9 O'clock news last night. My granddad knows all about stars and planets and he'd never heard of it until now. We both looked it up in NASA's catalog. No mention of it. Although the ad didn't ask for anything other than a phone number aside from some personal details, so I thought what did I have to lose.” She frowned. “So, what's all that got to do with the job and why are you interviewing me?”
Sarah Jane folded her hands together on her crossed knees, sensing this required a delicate touch. “I once travelled with the Doctor. He was not used to being challenged by those he called his assistants. I did it a few times, and I suppose that earned more of his respect in the end. So I'm giving you points for being professional, dressing dignified, and for being more mature. And for being ginger.”
“What? You have to be joking!”
“I'm not. He always wanted to be ginger, and has shown himself fond of gingers. But I digress. I had a clear set of conditions I had to meet, and I have hopes that you might meet the remaining ones. Will you let us test your blood and scan you to see if you would be compatible with the Doctor?”
"Why aren't you his wife, then?" Donna countered.
Sarah Jane gave her a sad smile. "I'm too old. And the High Council disapproved of me as the Doctor's choice when I was his companion. So now I am to choose a better one," she explained.
Donna hesitated, but finally answered the question with one of her own. She was still keeping the option open that this was all some bad joke, but she had nothing to lose. “Would you explain to me what I'd be getting myself into if you decide I'm suitable? The ad clearly didn't say, and it never mentioned blood tests.”
“Of course. If anything, that shows the kind of maturity I'm looking for. Gallifrey experienced almost a billion years of being effectively sterile. There were no natural births until one was attained over nine hundred years ago, and it helped spark a chain of events that led to a war that spread across time and space. It wasn't the first, but it came to be known as the Last Great Time War. Because there hasn't been one like it since, apparently. Gallifrey itself should have been consumed by the war and the efforts of the Doctor to contain it, but a string of events came together to permit the planet to escape. But Gallifrey, already laid mostly to waste by an earlier Time War, was nearly destroyed. Most of the population that was left were killed in the War.”
“Oh my god! How many of them survived the War? How many are are left?!”
Sarah Jane had to stop and consult her notes. Those weren't questions she was prepared for. “Um, about one hundred Time Lords, several hundred so-called lesser Gallifreyans, and about five thousand from a colony known as Karn survived, along with twenty Boe-Kind. They're descended from that one successful birth that sparked the War. Those numbers have increased since, but I don't have those numbers and the groups - with the exception of the Boe-Kind - have intermingled slightly. The one with the American accent you spoke to in reception is a Boe-Kind.”
"He's an alien? I thought aliens didn't look like us," she spoke more to herself. Donna sucked in a breath. “Are you an alien?”
Sarah Jane smiled. “No. I'm Human.”
“Can they bounce back from that? It won't be too much of a population bottleneck, will it? And does that mean the Doctor's a billion years old?!”
“In truth, he never told me how old he is, but it's rumoured he is almost half a million years old. You know enough about biology to know the term 'population bottleneck'?” She focused on that first.
Donna shrugged. “I read a lot. Not that learning about something for the sake of learning was encouraged in my childhood home, my mum always said learning was for the higher income bracket, but I wanted to know. They mention it a lot when talking about the giant panda and other endangered animals, when their habitat has been surrounded by Human encroachment and development. But how'd you stop a sentient species from breeding, if you'll pardon the poor choice of words?”
Sarah Jane mentally marked another point in Donna's favor. “There was a Curse on the Time Lords and their descendants, preventing them from reproducing naturally or experiencing emotions the way you or I do. They lost their lexicon and knowledge. The Karnaans never lost that, but they were jaded by their treatment at the hands of the Time Lords. Peace was only forged in the end, out of necessity, and there is still some tension. The Queen would have to help the Karnaans let go of the griefs they still harbour, and the others to learn to handle emotions again. That's part of how the Doctor could get himself mixed up with a child like Rose Tyler.”
"The mouthy blonde outside?"
"That's her."
“Okay.”
“You don't sound convinced,” Sarah Jane noted.
Donna sighed. “To be honest, it's all fantastical, this story. I'm having trouble accepting that it could be real.”
“I'm not lying to you.”
“I don't feel that you're lying. I just think this Lord High President has got a bit of a cheek coming to another planet and making like Earth girls are easy. Sending out ads for a concubine - sorry, wife. I mean it's a bit unbelievable. I think he needs a good punch to bring his feet back to ground level. I feel sorry for him and what he and his people have been through, don't get me wrong, and I'd like to think I've got a chance at getting the job, but I think someone should start telling him what reality is and tell it like it is. It seems to me he needs a mother as much as a wife. What's he want to get married for when there must be so much else to do on his planet? Poor git; what a job and a half he's got," she thought aloud. "Of course I haven't proved the best judge of men, so what do I know?”
Sarah Jane tried not to narrow her eyes at that, or the resignation behind it. “Please explain that.”
Donna closed her eyes, letting memories wash over her and at first still able to hide the tears. “I'm the ginger-nut who was the one they all tried to sleep with instead of actually claiming as the girlfriend. I've been dumped for every reason in the book, twice for some of them, and dumped men for either being too pushy or trying to use me so they could hide that they were gay. I always wanted to be married and have a family. It's looking like it's not going to happen and I needed to find something else to do with my life. I wanted to be able to ensure my granddad and parents were taken care of. I can't be doing nothing, but my CV looks like I've done exactly that: bounced from one temping job to the next, can't get a regular job, and my mum could give a dissertation on that one.” At the last, a tear collected at the corner of her eye and she absently hid the fact with a finger.
“Why does your mother think that?”
Donna sighed. “She never wanted me. There was a house fire, my brothers were killed and my mum ended up in hospital with smoke inhalation and coughed me out on a gurney in A&E. She never forgave me for being born. I think she would rather have been left with her grief, or have her boys back. So everything I do is never good enough, and every failure seems to reinforce that for her.”
"What about your father?"
That did it for the last dam busting raid, but Donna bravely rode through it. "Dying of cancer." She stubbornly refused to say more on that.
Sarah Jane forced her eyes to not widen. “Any other siblings?”
Tears leaked despite her. “I had just two brothers. They both died in that fire on the day I was born. My birthday's never been a cause for celebration.”
Sucking in a breath, Sarah Jane called upon every reserve to keep her composure. Donna Noble was so far hitting every aspect of the prophecy. “So would you be willing to be the guide to a race that needs it, and the wifely voice of reason to a man who really needs to learn some common sense? Because he's an old man with arrogant and selfish tendencies who needs to learn that being set in his ways is no excuse.”
Donna snorted, tears forgotten. “I have no problem with knocking a man's ego down a little if he deserves it,” she said boldly. “So he needs his brought down to a manageable size, and his people need someone who's been around the block to teach them about emotions? Well, I think I can do both. Any cautions I need to know about? Would I ever be able to return to Earth to visit my family? Will I be able to have children? Will I have to get a sperm donor or IVF or something, since this Doctor is sterile? And will I be expected to foist nannies on them? Because I'm not about to be like the rich and famous. I want to be as much of a hands-on parent as I can be. And if they have a problem with breastfeeding then they're going to have to learn where they can stick that thought.”
Sarah Jane smiled, imagining the Doctor's expression on hearing these questions. “You wouldn't be a prisoner, if that's what you mean. Knowing the Doctor, he'd take you off Gallifrey as often as you wish. Knowing him, you're more likely to be away from Gallifrey, most of the time. And since you'll be able to have his children, with some help as long as you're compatible with him, which is why I want to test your blood and scan you, he'll know the need to visit your family. Especially once you've started teaching them about what the emotional bonds mean. And I imagine that as Queen you'll be able to set the standards. They're a bit stuffed-shirt, as you put it, right now. With you as their leader I imagine they'll slowly adapt to the new ways. Some might quickly discover they like them.”
Silence reigned while Donna thought about it. Here was possibly the rest of her life decided upon, depending on the results of a blood test and an x-ray. Assuming she consented. Was she crazy to forget about trying to find love? Did she really want a loveless marriage with a man she had never met? Talk about arranged marriage; this was just barmy! On the other hand, looking at herself since she'd left home, her life was already barmy! On the other hand, what if she didn't like him? What if he took one look at her and ran away screaming? And with this age thing... it was just as likely he'd could turn out to be a little kid as he was to be a wrinkled Hugh Hefner. To that point, she hadn't even seen a picture of him yet. In fact, come to think of it, she might have met him and wouldn't have even known it!
That was a scary thought. Along with... what was she supposed to call him? Morning, Doctor. How would you like your toast? Donna cringed inwardly. Not very personal, was it? Would he let her call him something a bit more affectionate, if they ever got affectionate, like sweetie, or honey, or snookums? She decided to stop there before she burst into hysterical, and possibly insane, laughter and they carted her off to some sanatorium. If there were any still running.
In the end, the risk of not being a mother, ever, was not an option. She took a deep breath, and let it out along with her answer. “Do the tests.”
The confidence and bravery in the face of uncertainty was exactly what Sarah Jane was hoping to see. So she hurried Donna to another room, one
that Torchwood Cardiff had set up for her. Dr. Owen Harper ran the scanner, which freaked Donna out a little since all she had to do was put her hand on something. Oddest x-ray she had ever heard of or seen. It was more like an MRI. And it wasn't just false color, it was 3-D. And so she began asking questions about how it worked and how the equipment could possibly give information from her blood within minutes when they hadn't even taken any blood.
And she certainly had questions to ask about Jack Harkness. Who was he? What was his connection to the Doctor? What were the Boe-Kind? And if they were so flirtatious then why didn't he flirt with her?
The answer to the last stunned her.
"Because you're the prospective Queen. Jack Harkness is only my boss," Dr. Harper replied. "Nowhere near in the same class as you. You're only fit for the Lord President. The monkey-grinders have to make do with the organ. If you'll forgive the turn of phrase?" He did not smile, but his eyes were alight with humour.
Fortunately she was permitted to have her hand back, so she could only turn to look in shock at Sarah Jane, who just shrugged.
Dr. Harper read through the results, with more than a bit of disbelief in his voice. “Life Scan fingerprint confirms no criminal history, convictions or warnings.”
Donna stared at him in questioning disbelief. How the hell could anyone get that from a scan?!
“Blood screening shows no abnormalities. Blood group B+, blood type - she has all thirty-three markers, either active or dormant in her DNA. That makes her the rarest Human on Earth, and it’s not the result of a blood donation. This is natural. Which means her medical practitioners will need to keep a supply of blood for her if and when she needs a transfusion in future, cos if anyone tries to give Donna bog-standard Joe Public blood, she’ll be dead inside half an hour.”
Donna's eyes widened.
“Vaccinations are complete and up to date and antibodies are normal. No systemic infection, no drug use, some slight damage caused by alcohol, but it’s minimal. Probably fixable by Gallifreyan medicine.”
Donna cringed, thinking to the multiple times she got so drunk she had a hangover. At least it hadn't hurt her permanently.
“No major infections historically. Endocrine, thyroid and pituitary functions are at acceptable levels. She does have a higher red blood cell count than you’d typically find in the general population, but that will come in handy on Gallifrey with the rarefied air. No signs of abnormalities or sticky blood. DNA shows compatibility with the Gallifreyan genome and no genetic abnormalities. Blood tests show the organ functions are at peak efficiency. Brain, brain stem and spine are perfect, no abnormalities or damage due to injury or disease. Bladder and kidneys perfect. Digestive tract is perfect. Liver, pancreas, gall bladder, spleen and lungs all at optimal condition. Heart and vascular system perfect. ENT and other senses perfect, mild ESP detected. Skeletal scan shows no degradation or malformations and no broken or repaired bones; strong musculature will come in handy with the higher gravity on Gallifrey. Skin checks negative for pathogens and deformities. I feel like I’m looking at a text book. She’s perfect,” he concluded.
Perfect?! Donna thought she had to be hallucinating. No one ever said that about her. Well, her dad and granddad, and her late gran Mott, but no one outside the family.
“But finally and most importantly; fertility is excellent, without the need of boosting from Gallifreyan technology, and possibly without any need for medical intervention. Projected fertile phase seventeen years. Pending unforeseen injury or illness, you should be able to have children for a number of years yet, and that doesn't factor anything Gallifreyan medicine could do to extend your fertility phase and lifespan. In conclusion; if this isn’t the Queen, then I don’t know who is, because we won’t find anyone more compatible on Earth.”
Donna closed her mouth, eyes wide. He got all that from her hand on a box? But she couldn't think of anything to say to that.
Sarah Jane then opened a box that Jack handed to her as he entered the room. It was the box from the Prophetess. She drew out a necklace that shone brighter than diamonds and somehow showed all the colors of the rainbow - without turning white in the process. The largest of the gems hung from the bottom.
Donna gasped. It was so beautiful it was almost painful to look at.
“This is the Pendant of Pythia, belonging to the Queen. It's the first item of office received. Once I put it on you, Donna, there's no going back. This begins the preparation and the rituals that are needed. It will signal the High Council that I found you. Are you prepared to take on the mantle of responsibility?”
She needed to close her eyes and focus again on her breathing. This was really happening. Shouldn't she go home and think about it? Shouldn't she tell her family? Say goodbye? Pack? Sell the flat? Was she mad to walk away from everything, what little she had, to marry some dinosaur? Even if he was Royalty.
Jack decided to speak. “We'll help you settle things here on Earth. I should add that you won't have to worry about money ever again. I'll have my people take care of everything this end. I know the Doctor has acquired more than enough wealth that you'll be able to see to your family's needs.”
“That's actually now the last reason for doing this,” Donna spoke. “The biggest is because there are people who need help, and I now want to help them. Not to blow my own trumpet, but some one has to, and I'd rather it be me and not that bungling little curler-lover out in the front office, Dr. Snog, or whatever her name was. I'd planned to go scuba diving in Spain next month, but I guess it might be too much to have one last vacation as a commoner.”
“I don't see why not,” Jack thought aloud. “A bit of fun to break up the seriousness.”
She opened her eyes. “I'm ready. What happens if I need to clean it?”
Jack was prepared for that question. “The materials resist becoming dirty or tarnished. The necklace is something you'll wear all the time, under your clothes if you prefer; it's not coming off you until your death. The office is held for life, after all. But there is a cloth if you wish to polish it.”
Donna nodded. “Okay.” She lifted her hair to provide the needed access and sight.
Sarah Jane stepped behind her. She draped the necklace against Donna's shirt, the largest gem resting above her heart.
And the clasp snapped shut.
In that moment, several billion light years away, the Doctor was listening to a Council matter. Mickey was sitting by his side, allowed to remain but knowing he needed to remain silent for both their sakes. It was an enormous learning opportunity, and he wasn't going to waste it.
The Doctor was about to give a particularly rude Council member a piece of his mind when a glow caught everyone's eyes. It came from a console centrally placed, showing its significance and everyone could see it light up from any seat in the Panoptigon. It was an object brought from Karn, made of orange onyx with a hexagon of lights surrounding a central circular light, which when lit up created a milky white pyramid of light above it. It stood out impressively, because the Panoptigon was made of grey/blue granite with the Seal Of Rassilon inlaid in the floor in Egyptian (or TARDIS) blue and silver. It looked really out of place in appearance, but central because it was so very important. They all knew the meaning of the pattern.
“The Queen has been found!” cried the Prophetess, her face beaming as she stared sightlessly. “Gallifrey will be reborn!”
The Doctor paled. It was really happening. He sank to his knees, feeling suddenly weak and lightheaded. One work squeaked out of him before he hit the ground: “What?”
Mickey had never thought the alien could look like he was going to faint, let alone actually do it. Never mind look more undignified than he did at Christmas.
Chapter Five: Meetings and Lessons
Rating: T (with a DVD extra rated MA)
Author: tkel_paris
Summary: In a world where Gallifrey survived the Time War, the Doctor must remarry. Only his wife will bear many responsibilities for helping rebuild and protect time. Not sure where to start, he gives Sarah Jane the power to choose. How will she pick? Written for bas_math_girl's birthday.
Required Disclaimer: This is a humorous twist on several ideas I've seen, built around one I thought of. So I don't own the characters within.
Dedications: BMG, of course! And... I suppose Juno_Inferno because of “Cosmic Love”, which fed a little into Muse's thinking about this story. And my beta for this work: tardis_mole. You really know how to make a girl feel better about what she thought was crack-fic. :D
Author's Note: Utter silliness that would NEVER have been canon. Written solely to amuse BMG. And hopefully my other readers. It clearly entertained TM, who apparently had a late breakfast because it was “compelling”. I don't encourage anyone to skip or have late meals, even if the effort is to my benefit. But I owe you one, TM. Thank you.
Sorry for the delay. Was at an old friend's wedding, out of state. Connectivity was... spotty at best. Thank you for the reviews. Now to see how Donna handles the interview. :)
Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three
CHAPTER FOUR: Becoming Mrs. Smith
Finished September 5, 2013
Donna sat in the spartan office. Only a computer and a jumble of papers graced the desk, her application out on its own in the middle. Nothing on the walls, suggesting that this office space had either been recently acquired by UNIT, whatever that stood for, or Sarah Jane only had this on a temporary basis. Possibly only until she completed her task.
Well, she was not going to be intimidated. She was a Noble and a Mott. She imagined her business suit was like armor, and braced herself to be strong.
Sarah Jane smiled as she sat down. “I have to give you credit. You're the only one who's tried to give us her CV and the only one who treated it like a job interview.” She wasn't going to admit that no one else had found them yet, but she was the first to treat it seriously.
“So you're not denying that it is a job? The wife of the Lord President, this Queen, has duties?”
“More than that. She, according to the laws of the planet, would be the Queen of Gallifrey, its ruler.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, you would literally be the ruler. Your husband would be more like the Prime Minister, which I admit is a role that I still have trouble seeing the Doctor hold. But he had good reason more than once to seize the Lord Presidency, which proved fortunate for the planet. What do you know about the Time Lords and Gallifrey?”
"Hold on a minute... you're saying there really are aliens? That Christmas really was ruined by an invasion of Skeletors and there's a bloke who really does fly about in a little blue box?"
"Yes. To all of the above," Sarah Jane said calmly.
Donna thought for a moment. “I know... My god, this is insane. Give me minute, coz I thought my mates were drunk or someone had spiked their drinks. These Time Lords, they were the ones who forced that rock in the sky to leave very suddenly. I believe they've blocked a few other invasion attempts since, though people think I'm mad. A lot of people are still dismissing it as a malfunction of the WiFi, or some huge advertising gimmick that got a bit out of hand. Besides that, it sounds a bit kinky having several people inside what amounts to a wardrobe, all at once. Either that or a game of Sardines.”
Sarah Jane made no comment. “Did you actually see the rock?”
Donna cringed. “I didn't. Had a hangover. Missed the big event, again.”
“'Again'? What do you mean?”
Donna took a deep breath. “I've had this bad luck of missing all these... alien events that've happened recently. I was stuck in a project when the story about a ship hitting the Houses of Parliament happened. Was let go from that job after things calmed down, even after giving better results than they hoped for. I was out of town for the mannequins coming to life. I didn't believe in any of it until the messages about Gallifrey aired on the 9 O'clock news last night. My granddad knows all about stars and planets and he'd never heard of it until now. We both looked it up in NASA's catalog. No mention of it. Although the ad didn't ask for anything other than a phone number aside from some personal details, so I thought what did I have to lose.” She frowned. “So, what's all that got to do with the job and why are you interviewing me?”
Sarah Jane folded her hands together on her crossed knees, sensing this required a delicate touch. “I once travelled with the Doctor. He was not used to being challenged by those he called his assistants. I did it a few times, and I suppose that earned more of his respect in the end. So I'm giving you points for being professional, dressing dignified, and for being more mature. And for being ginger.”
“What? You have to be joking!”
“I'm not. He always wanted to be ginger, and has shown himself fond of gingers. But I digress. I had a clear set of conditions I had to meet, and I have hopes that you might meet the remaining ones. Will you let us test your blood and scan you to see if you would be compatible with the Doctor?”
"Why aren't you his wife, then?" Donna countered.
Sarah Jane gave her a sad smile. "I'm too old. And the High Council disapproved of me as the Doctor's choice when I was his companion. So now I am to choose a better one," she explained.
Donna hesitated, but finally answered the question with one of her own. She was still keeping the option open that this was all some bad joke, but she had nothing to lose. “Would you explain to me what I'd be getting myself into if you decide I'm suitable? The ad clearly didn't say, and it never mentioned blood tests.”
“Of course. If anything, that shows the kind of maturity I'm looking for. Gallifrey experienced almost a billion years of being effectively sterile. There were no natural births until one was attained over nine hundred years ago, and it helped spark a chain of events that led to a war that spread across time and space. It wasn't the first, but it came to be known as the Last Great Time War. Because there hasn't been one like it since, apparently. Gallifrey itself should have been consumed by the war and the efforts of the Doctor to contain it, but a string of events came together to permit the planet to escape. But Gallifrey, already laid mostly to waste by an earlier Time War, was nearly destroyed. Most of the population that was left were killed in the War.”
“Oh my god! How many of them survived the War? How many are are left?!”
Sarah Jane had to stop and consult her notes. Those weren't questions she was prepared for. “Um, about one hundred Time Lords, several hundred so-called lesser Gallifreyans, and about five thousand from a colony known as Karn survived, along with twenty Boe-Kind. They're descended from that one successful birth that sparked the War. Those numbers have increased since, but I don't have those numbers and the groups - with the exception of the Boe-Kind - have intermingled slightly. The one with the American accent you spoke to in reception is a Boe-Kind.”
"He's an alien? I thought aliens didn't look like us," she spoke more to herself. Donna sucked in a breath. “Are you an alien?”
Sarah Jane smiled. “No. I'm Human.”
“Can they bounce back from that? It won't be too much of a population bottleneck, will it? And does that mean the Doctor's a billion years old?!”
“In truth, he never told me how old he is, but it's rumoured he is almost half a million years old. You know enough about biology to know the term 'population bottleneck'?” She focused on that first.
Donna shrugged. “I read a lot. Not that learning about something for the sake of learning was encouraged in my childhood home, my mum always said learning was for the higher income bracket, but I wanted to know. They mention it a lot when talking about the giant panda and other endangered animals, when their habitat has been surrounded by Human encroachment and development. But how'd you stop a sentient species from breeding, if you'll pardon the poor choice of words?”
Sarah Jane mentally marked another point in Donna's favor. “There was a Curse on the Time Lords and their descendants, preventing them from reproducing naturally or experiencing emotions the way you or I do. They lost their lexicon and knowledge. The Karnaans never lost that, but they were jaded by their treatment at the hands of the Time Lords. Peace was only forged in the end, out of necessity, and there is still some tension. The Queen would have to help the Karnaans let go of the griefs they still harbour, and the others to learn to handle emotions again. That's part of how the Doctor could get himself mixed up with a child like Rose Tyler.”
"The mouthy blonde outside?"
"That's her."
“Okay.”
“You don't sound convinced,” Sarah Jane noted.
Donna sighed. “To be honest, it's all fantastical, this story. I'm having trouble accepting that it could be real.”
“I'm not lying to you.”
“I don't feel that you're lying. I just think this Lord High President has got a bit of a cheek coming to another planet and making like Earth girls are easy. Sending out ads for a concubine - sorry, wife. I mean it's a bit unbelievable. I think he needs a good punch to bring his feet back to ground level. I feel sorry for him and what he and his people have been through, don't get me wrong, and I'd like to think I've got a chance at getting the job, but I think someone should start telling him what reality is and tell it like it is. It seems to me he needs a mother as much as a wife. What's he want to get married for when there must be so much else to do on his planet? Poor git; what a job and a half he's got," she thought aloud. "Of course I haven't proved the best judge of men, so what do I know?”
Sarah Jane tried not to narrow her eyes at that, or the resignation behind it. “Please explain that.”
Donna closed her eyes, letting memories wash over her and at first still able to hide the tears. “I'm the ginger-nut who was the one they all tried to sleep with instead of actually claiming as the girlfriend. I've been dumped for every reason in the book, twice for some of them, and dumped men for either being too pushy or trying to use me so they could hide that they were gay. I always wanted to be married and have a family. It's looking like it's not going to happen and I needed to find something else to do with my life. I wanted to be able to ensure my granddad and parents were taken care of. I can't be doing nothing, but my CV looks like I've done exactly that: bounced from one temping job to the next, can't get a regular job, and my mum could give a dissertation on that one.” At the last, a tear collected at the corner of her eye and she absently hid the fact with a finger.
“Why does your mother think that?”
Donna sighed. “She never wanted me. There was a house fire, my brothers were killed and my mum ended up in hospital with smoke inhalation and coughed me out on a gurney in A&E. She never forgave me for being born. I think she would rather have been left with her grief, or have her boys back. So everything I do is never good enough, and every failure seems to reinforce that for her.”
"What about your father?"
That did it for the last dam busting raid, but Donna bravely rode through it. "Dying of cancer." She stubbornly refused to say more on that.
Sarah Jane forced her eyes to not widen. “Any other siblings?”
Tears leaked despite her. “I had just two brothers. They both died in that fire on the day I was born. My birthday's never been a cause for celebration.”
Sucking in a breath, Sarah Jane called upon every reserve to keep her composure. Donna Noble was so far hitting every aspect of the prophecy. “So would you be willing to be the guide to a race that needs it, and the wifely voice of reason to a man who really needs to learn some common sense? Because he's an old man with arrogant and selfish tendencies who needs to learn that being set in his ways is no excuse.”
Donna snorted, tears forgotten. “I have no problem with knocking a man's ego down a little if he deserves it,” she said boldly. “So he needs his brought down to a manageable size, and his people need someone who's been around the block to teach them about emotions? Well, I think I can do both. Any cautions I need to know about? Would I ever be able to return to Earth to visit my family? Will I be able to have children? Will I have to get a sperm donor or IVF or something, since this Doctor is sterile? And will I be expected to foist nannies on them? Because I'm not about to be like the rich and famous. I want to be as much of a hands-on parent as I can be. And if they have a problem with breastfeeding then they're going to have to learn where they can stick that thought.”
Sarah Jane smiled, imagining the Doctor's expression on hearing these questions. “You wouldn't be a prisoner, if that's what you mean. Knowing the Doctor, he'd take you off Gallifrey as often as you wish. Knowing him, you're more likely to be away from Gallifrey, most of the time. And since you'll be able to have his children, with some help as long as you're compatible with him, which is why I want to test your blood and scan you, he'll know the need to visit your family. Especially once you've started teaching them about what the emotional bonds mean. And I imagine that as Queen you'll be able to set the standards. They're a bit stuffed-shirt, as you put it, right now. With you as their leader I imagine they'll slowly adapt to the new ways. Some might quickly discover they like them.”
Silence reigned while Donna thought about it. Here was possibly the rest of her life decided upon, depending on the results of a blood test and an x-ray. Assuming she consented. Was she crazy to forget about trying to find love? Did she really want a loveless marriage with a man she had never met? Talk about arranged marriage; this was just barmy! On the other hand, looking at herself since she'd left home, her life was already barmy! On the other hand, what if she didn't like him? What if he took one look at her and ran away screaming? And with this age thing... it was just as likely he'd could turn out to be a little kid as he was to be a wrinkled Hugh Hefner. To that point, she hadn't even seen a picture of him yet. In fact, come to think of it, she might have met him and wouldn't have even known it!
That was a scary thought. Along with... what was she supposed to call him? Morning, Doctor. How would you like your toast? Donna cringed inwardly. Not very personal, was it? Would he let her call him something a bit more affectionate, if they ever got affectionate, like sweetie, or honey, or snookums? She decided to stop there before she burst into hysterical, and possibly insane, laughter and they carted her off to some sanatorium. If there were any still running.
In the end, the risk of not being a mother, ever, was not an option. She took a deep breath, and let it out along with her answer. “Do the tests.”
The confidence and bravery in the face of uncertainty was exactly what Sarah Jane was hoping to see. So she hurried Donna to another room, one
that Torchwood Cardiff had set up for her. Dr. Owen Harper ran the scanner, which freaked Donna out a little since all she had to do was put her hand on something. Oddest x-ray she had ever heard of or seen. It was more like an MRI. And it wasn't just false color, it was 3-D. And so she began asking questions about how it worked and how the equipment could possibly give information from her blood within minutes when they hadn't even taken any blood.
And she certainly had questions to ask about Jack Harkness. Who was he? What was his connection to the Doctor? What were the Boe-Kind? And if they were so flirtatious then why didn't he flirt with her?
The answer to the last stunned her.
"Because you're the prospective Queen. Jack Harkness is only my boss," Dr. Harper replied. "Nowhere near in the same class as you. You're only fit for the Lord President. The monkey-grinders have to make do with the organ. If you'll forgive the turn of phrase?" He did not smile, but his eyes were alight with humour.
Fortunately she was permitted to have her hand back, so she could only turn to look in shock at Sarah Jane, who just shrugged.
Dr. Harper read through the results, with more than a bit of disbelief in his voice. “Life Scan fingerprint confirms no criminal history, convictions or warnings.”
Donna stared at him in questioning disbelief. How the hell could anyone get that from a scan?!
“Blood screening shows no abnormalities. Blood group B+, blood type - she has all thirty-three markers, either active or dormant in her DNA. That makes her the rarest Human on Earth, and it’s not the result of a blood donation. This is natural. Which means her medical practitioners will need to keep a supply of blood for her if and when she needs a transfusion in future, cos if anyone tries to give Donna bog-standard Joe Public blood, she’ll be dead inside half an hour.”
Donna's eyes widened.
“Vaccinations are complete and up to date and antibodies are normal. No systemic infection, no drug use, some slight damage caused by alcohol, but it’s minimal. Probably fixable by Gallifreyan medicine.”
Donna cringed, thinking to the multiple times she got so drunk she had a hangover. At least it hadn't hurt her permanently.
“No major infections historically. Endocrine, thyroid and pituitary functions are at acceptable levels. She does have a higher red blood cell count than you’d typically find in the general population, but that will come in handy on Gallifrey with the rarefied air. No signs of abnormalities or sticky blood. DNA shows compatibility with the Gallifreyan genome and no genetic abnormalities. Blood tests show the organ functions are at peak efficiency. Brain, brain stem and spine are perfect, no abnormalities or damage due to injury or disease. Bladder and kidneys perfect. Digestive tract is perfect. Liver, pancreas, gall bladder, spleen and lungs all at optimal condition. Heart and vascular system perfect. ENT and other senses perfect, mild ESP detected. Skeletal scan shows no degradation or malformations and no broken or repaired bones; strong musculature will come in handy with the higher gravity on Gallifrey. Skin checks negative for pathogens and deformities. I feel like I’m looking at a text book. She’s perfect,” he concluded.
Perfect?! Donna thought she had to be hallucinating. No one ever said that about her. Well, her dad and granddad, and her late gran Mott, but no one outside the family.
“But finally and most importantly; fertility is excellent, without the need of boosting from Gallifreyan technology, and possibly without any need for medical intervention. Projected fertile phase seventeen years. Pending unforeseen injury or illness, you should be able to have children for a number of years yet, and that doesn't factor anything Gallifreyan medicine could do to extend your fertility phase and lifespan. In conclusion; if this isn’t the Queen, then I don’t know who is, because we won’t find anyone more compatible on Earth.”
Donna closed her mouth, eyes wide. He got all that from her hand on a box? But she couldn't think of anything to say to that.
Sarah Jane then opened a box that Jack handed to her as he entered the room. It was the box from the Prophetess. She drew out a necklace that shone brighter than diamonds and somehow showed all the colors of the rainbow - without turning white in the process. The largest of the gems hung from the bottom.
Donna gasped. It was so beautiful it was almost painful to look at.
“This is the Pendant of Pythia, belonging to the Queen. It's the first item of office received. Once I put it on you, Donna, there's no going back. This begins the preparation and the rituals that are needed. It will signal the High Council that I found you. Are you prepared to take on the mantle of responsibility?”
She needed to close her eyes and focus again on her breathing. This was really happening. Shouldn't she go home and think about it? Shouldn't she tell her family? Say goodbye? Pack? Sell the flat? Was she mad to walk away from everything, what little she had, to marry some dinosaur? Even if he was Royalty.
Jack decided to speak. “We'll help you settle things here on Earth. I should add that you won't have to worry about money ever again. I'll have my people take care of everything this end. I know the Doctor has acquired more than enough wealth that you'll be able to see to your family's needs.”
“That's actually now the last reason for doing this,” Donna spoke. “The biggest is because there are people who need help, and I now want to help them. Not to blow my own trumpet, but some one has to, and I'd rather it be me and not that bungling little curler-lover out in the front office, Dr. Snog, or whatever her name was. I'd planned to go scuba diving in Spain next month, but I guess it might be too much to have one last vacation as a commoner.”
“I don't see why not,” Jack thought aloud. “A bit of fun to break up the seriousness.”
She opened her eyes. “I'm ready. What happens if I need to clean it?”
Jack was prepared for that question. “The materials resist becoming dirty or tarnished. The necklace is something you'll wear all the time, under your clothes if you prefer; it's not coming off you until your death. The office is held for life, after all. But there is a cloth if you wish to polish it.”
Donna nodded. “Okay.” She lifted her hair to provide the needed access and sight.
Sarah Jane stepped behind her. She draped the necklace against Donna's shirt, the largest gem resting above her heart.
And the clasp snapped shut.
In that moment, several billion light years away, the Doctor was listening to a Council matter. Mickey was sitting by his side, allowed to remain but knowing he needed to remain silent for both their sakes. It was an enormous learning opportunity, and he wasn't going to waste it.
The Doctor was about to give a particularly rude Council member a piece of his mind when a glow caught everyone's eyes. It came from a console centrally placed, showing its significance and everyone could see it light up from any seat in the Panoptigon. It was an object brought from Karn, made of orange onyx with a hexagon of lights surrounding a central circular light, which when lit up created a milky white pyramid of light above it. It stood out impressively, because the Panoptigon was made of grey/blue granite with the Seal Of Rassilon inlaid in the floor in Egyptian (or TARDIS) blue and silver. It looked really out of place in appearance, but central because it was so very important. They all knew the meaning of the pattern.
“The Queen has been found!” cried the Prophetess, her face beaming as she stared sightlessly. “Gallifrey will be reborn!”
The Doctor paled. It was really happening. He sank to his knees, feeling suddenly weak and lightheaded. One work squeaked out of him before he hit the ground: “What?”
Mickey had never thought the alien could look like he was going to faint, let alone actually do it. Never mind look more undignified than he did at Christmas.
Chapter Five: Meetings and Lessons