by Cour M.
“But then can you really hate him?”
“I have no choice, Clara. He is my great antagonist. Try having a man on your TARDIS who you will have let out so that he can get caught for something when you cannot warn him or try and change him? Try having to let someone on your ship who you have to let be a villain.”
“Oh, he breaks your hearts.”
“Yes. Very much so.”
Eventually a plan was struck and it was time for all to fall in its place. The historic figures were placed back in their timelines, Commander Nestor was taken back to Uxarieus and informed their government of the situation, and the Doctor returned to the atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean with his TARDIS and he looked down at the Earth below.
“Humans, I feel as if I shall never get done saving you all,” The Doctor admitted.
“Hopefully you may.”
“Dear god, I hope not!” He scoffed, “if I didn’t have you to save, then what else could I have to get rid of the bad memories?”
Clara smiled at this and they slapped hands.
“Clara, we may die from this.”
“Right. Then press the button before I have time to think about it or get scared.”
“Good advice.”
He turned on the TARDIS and they flew back down to the ocean and dove in.
Chapter 17
The Time of the Angels
Eleven was in his TARDIS, making sure his consul unit was set for the adventure when the door opened and Twelve entered.
“What’s the status of everything?” Eleven asked.
“Dasha has organized a meeting with UNIT and two of her four leaders. They shall appear before the Tower of London in an hour.”
“And what about everything else? Was Kate able to establish international cooperation to get enough soldiers to volunteer?”
“When news broke that UNIT had returned all the captured people to Earth and are allowing them to return home, it was enough to make a couple countries act on good faith. I was able to say goodbye to Leela and her niece. I hope I see her again. It’s looking good.”
“Good.”
Twelve did not move, but only stood there, and Eleven sensed what was coming.
“How are you?” Eleven asked.
“Fine.”
“Really, are you pretty sure that you are, because I get the sense that you are not. Or is that how your face always is?”
“We are a strange pair. You look like you are always happy, I look like I’m upset. Our faces really don’t know anything less than extremity.”
“Funny how my face was the face born from loneliness and your face was the face born from hope,” Eleven noted, “how ironic, huh?”
“I suppose so.”
“What is it? Are you about to judge us when I fought at Trenzalore again? Because you can deny it all you want to, but that man was you.”
“We are about to let a war happen, again?”
“And what do you propose we do?!” Eleven cried, “Go on, Doctor! Tell me!”
Twelve did not reply.
“I just… I have wondered often,” Twelve said, “if I am a good or bad man. It’s sometimes hard to accept that we are both.”
“There is nothing bad about this. Or have you grown to care for the Daleks?”
“No, don’t ever accuse me of that!”
“Then what am I to think?”
“That so much could go wrong with this plan. If we get one thing wrong, we can blow a hole in the universe. How far are we willing to go to help? Do you ever remember all the people who died on Trenzalore?”
“Do you think I forgot?” Eleven scoffed, “it was almost yesterday for me, but years for you. You’ve had time to get past it, but for me, it’s fresh in my mind.”
“Many died before it all was put to right. And as for the Angels. If they betray us, what are you prepared to do?”
“What you are prepared to do.”
“Fine then, have you wondered though, about what would happen if we win?”
“Ah, the moment after. If I die, then I will have to regenerate in the midst of it, therefore destroying part of your life.”
“I wasn’t thinking of that. Don’t accuse me of being selfish. I know very well that my memories may change.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“If we both survive this, then I will be in the universe, with my new companion Bill, while you are off with Clara.”
“What do you mean by Bill?” Eleven started, “you have Donna.”
“Donna was by accident. My new companion is a girl I met named Bill. She’s great, she’s funny.”
“Then,” Eleven’s eyes narrowed, “what happened to Clara?”
“I did the best I could.”
Eleven grabbed Twelve’s jacket, threateningly.
“You should have tried harder!”
“I wish I could say so… and now you sound just like Rory, you know, when Amy got sucked down in the ground by those Silurians so long ago. Remember that?”
Eleven saw the similarity and let go of Twelve.
“We don’t let our companions die anymore,” Eleven said, scratching his chin, distracted, “Our aim is to never let that happen. Ever. So whether you travel with Bill or Donna, or both every now and again, you remember that. Which means that I have to spend the last months as myself knowing that under you, Clara will…”
“Yes.”
“Do us both a favor. And don’t tell me how it happens.”
“You know that I won’t. Besides, I never fully said what happened to her. I will say this; the last time I spoke to her, she was alive and well.”
“Then she is alive somewhere?” Eleven asked, hopeful.
“That I can say,” Twelve lied, “very much.”
“Thank you. Now do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Don’t forget Donna. She deserves better.”
Twelve walked up to Eleven, his eyes fierce.
“You know you don’t need to tell me to do that.”
“No, I suppose that I didn’t.”
They were interrupted by Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister.
“Hello you two,” she poked her head into the TARDIS, “The Angel council has come and they are convening.”
“Are Donna and Clara already there?” Twelve asked.
“Yes.”
“Good,” Eleven answered, putting his blazer on, “let’s go then.”
Kate, the Doctors, companions, Harriet and some guards met the Angels as they were led in by Dasha. It was an incredible sight of those stone angels sliding into the Tower, to negotiate the alliance between Angels and people of Earth. For an hour the negotiations went and eventually the alliance was formed, and the next few weeks was spent with organizing which soldiers between countries would be used for the energy transfer. Five thousand were selected, and on the fateful day, five thousand Angels came to Earth, seizing the volunteers. Across space and time, the soldiers were transferred and were placed safely on Larissa and a few other planets who were under the jurisdiction of the Shadow Proclamation and were benign to Level 5 planets.
Fueled enough by the energy they absorbed, the Angels led the siege across the skies and arrived at Crellia, where the Daleks were located on the planet and their ships filled the depths of space around it.
Alongside them, the two TARDISes belonging to the Doctors were on either side of the army of Angels in their ships. The Daleks eventually met them in the skies of space, their armada even larger than the Angels.
Both sets of Doctors and companions were to stand there and observe until all was ready, allowing a war to happen despite their desires for the reverse.
The Crellians hailed the Angels and the Doctors watched on their monitors. The Daleks came on the screen.
“Angels of Crellia,” the head Dalek said, “I am Dalek Kal, and you return to your planet.”
“Dalek Kal,” the head Angel, na
med Pallas, voiced, “I am Pallas, son of Pagidin, and we shall retake our homeland.”
“You come to die.”
“This is not Skaro!” Pallas declared, “why did you come to our home? Why did you do it?”
“The answer is plain.”
“What?”
“It was our right.”
“Your right?”
“All that are not Dalek are not our equals.”
“This is coming from a walking trashcan.”
“We Daleks are the superior race to anyone.”
“We are stone.”
“Even stone can be destroyed.”
“And metal can be ripped apart.”
“Our numbers are larger and our fighting tactics are superior.”
“Once and for all, Daleks, leave our planet and return to your own world, or we shall lay waste to your armies here.”
“Daleks do not surrender. We do not surrender. You will all be exterminated. Exterminated! Exterminated!”’
“Then there is nothing more to discuss,” Pallas said, “And the war begins.”
“Yes,” Dalek Kal said.
The war call between both space armadas was sounded, and eventually the battle began as Dalek and Crellians fought each other. Lasers shot against the skies as the fray began at its fullest.
Chapter 18
The Husband of River Song
Jetta Prime
A Planet in the Xecros System
Tracking her progression through time and space, Martha knew that her target had escaped prison, and therefore had to use the TARDIS to track her down.
With her last sighting being on Jetta Prime, Martha landed the TARDIS on it, did environmental checks, and discovered that the planet was benign, but there was only one requirement, which was that all women were expected to wear a cloak with a hood, for the sake of modesty. She went to the wardrobe room, looked through the clothes and found a brilliant coat that fitted her in her waist, but flowed out to the ground, had a wide hem and then the hood would cover her face completely.
Placing the screwdriver in her pocket, as well as storing her gun securely under her coat, she left the TARDIS and entered the hustle and bustle of inner city Wesros, the capital of Jetta Prime. She walked through the crowd, heading for the data archive center, then stood out of it, waiting.
The minutes ticked away, and eventually her target emerged from the center, carrying a brief case. Martha noticed how the woman wore a bright red hood, which made her stick out from the crowd of blues, browns, greens and grays. Even before meeting her, Martha deduced that this was deliberate on the woman’s part. From what the TARDIS showed of her, while others’ skill was fitting in, hers was standing out.
The woman moved through the crowd with confidence and Martha followed her stealthily. Through the people they both progressed, and then the woman turned down an alleyway, and Martha still pursued her.
While they were quite alone, in a long pathway in between buildings, the woman stopped suddenly.
“For an assassin,” she said teasingly, “you are really not good at your profession.”
She turned suddenly, her coat flapping in the wind as she removed her gun from its holster.
“Wait!” Martha cried, “Please wait!”
Martha’s reflexes however were almost as good and she removed hers. Both women crouched down as they aimed at each other.
“So,” the woman said, “who shall shoot first?”
“Neither, hopefully,” Martha replied, “I come for your help, Doctor Song.”
“Ah,” she said, removing her hood, “Well, there is no us in attempting to remain concealed then. Just to warn you, I’m probably the better shot, so speak your words up, please, while I consider what to do with you. Why are you after me? After all, the prison I’m in does not usually care about my escapes enough to send a bounty hunter after me. They at least give me a full night to return.”
“I don’t come from the prison,” Martha said, removing her hood, “Shall we lower our guns?”
“Now where would be the fun in that?”
“He would like you.”
“Who would? Though, whoever he is, he must have good taste.”
“The Doctor.”
In hearing his name mentioned, River Song’s expression changed to one of gravity.
“State your name, soldier,” She instructed.
“Not a soldier actually.”
“You carry a gun.”
“So do you? And yet, you’re still a Doctor. Well so am I. My name is Doctor Martha Jones.”
“Martha Jones?” River gasped, lowering her gun. “You.”
“I know that you’ve heard of me.”
“The Doctor has told you about me?”
“No, the TARDIS did.”
River took a step forward.
“She spoke to you?”
“Yes. And I need you to trust me now.”
“Never would I have foreseen seeing your face.”
“I know.”
“Quickly, state why you are here.”
“I need to save the Doctor, and I need you to help me do it. I’ll explain along the way, but I need you to accept and agree.”
“Right. Come on.”
River walked past her and then Martha followed behind.
“Where is the TARDIS?” River asked.
“Where I left her.”
River looked down at Martha and could not help but smirk.
“Of all his companions, I never thought I would have met you.”
“I can see why. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Nothing so small or large or pressing.” She raised up her briefcase, “I merely got an assignment to lead an expedition into a library that takes up an entire planet is all, and has been quarantined for almost a century. Don’t worry about it, I’m sure that I shall be able to return in time for it.”[7]
“Good, for I didn’t want to catch you at an inconvenient time.”
“When you’re a time traveler, it’s never a bad time while also always being a bad time.”
They eventually reached the place where the TARDIS was.
“Ah, hello old friend,” River said as Martha opened the door, let them in and they flew off.
“So tell me,” River demanded, “What’s happened?”
When Martha finished explaining what happened to Eleven, River was calm and collected, but it was clear that she was hiding a secret feeling of agitation and anxiety.
“So,” River said, “what is your plan to save him?”
Martha blinked.
“I’m surprised that you didn’t offer anything first,” Martha admitted.
“I would, but you’re Martha Jones, and I know who you are. Which means that I know you don’t need me to create the plan. You just need me to help you do it. That’s why you came after me, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. How did you know?”
River smiled.
“How much do you know about me?”
“Even more than you know about me,” River answered, “for there are things about me that even the TARDIS doesn’t know.”
“I know that you are his wife, and that he loves you.”
River faltered at this.
“And so you would do anything for him,” Martha continued, “therefore, I need your help finding four faces. Four faces that I know you would have seen and that I know you would know how to find and where to find. I want to do this in the way that the Doctor would do it. I don’t want to be the death of a nation. I don’t want to destroy an entire race. I want to save and save only. And this is the only way that I could think of how.”
“Who are these four faces that you would expect me to know?”
Martha gave River a look and for some reason, River comprehended.
“Oh.”
“I had the feeling that they will all listen to you,” Martha confessed.
“You think they wouldn’t ans
wer to you?” River clicked her teeth, “ye’ of little faith.”
“How fast can you get a hold of them and get them to help?”
River raised her vortex manipulator on her wrist and pressed it.
“Time me.”
She clicked it on and then she disappeared.
Martha sat down on the steps in the TARDIS and she could not have closed her eyes for more than five seconds before River appeared again, wearing a completely different outfit.
“How long was I gone?” She asked politely.
“About ten seconds,” Martha reported.
“Maybe for you,” she smirked, “yet according to my calendar, I do believe that I was gone for two months.”
“What about the four of them?”
River smirked.
“I make it a habit to always be successful. Now it’s not just enough that I got them. Croesus would be prepared for an attack.”
“So what do I need to do?”
River Song smirked.
Mondas
The Belas Quadrant of the planet
Cybermen were entering the military base when the TARDIS appeared on the first level of it. From out of it emerged Martha Jones with the sonic screwdriver.
She shut the doors behind her, emerged with a gun and shot at them with golden bullets. She rushed through them as they shot at her and then ran into the establishment, shooting as she went. The cybermen, being ill-equipped for golden bullets, and not prepared for any sort of confrontation at the time, had no organized units about, and therefore she was able to make it through the first level of the center. Eventually she arrived at the main control room, entered while using the half-deactivated version of a cyberman as a shield. As she moved forward, she pointed the gun at the main cybermen who were placed at the table.
“My name is Martha Jones, and I come for the Doctor,” she demanded.
“We do not have him.”
“Oh please don’t give me those blank looks,” she dismissed, “I know you are in alliance with Croesus. I come for the Doctor and to negotiate the release of all your captives. If you hand them over, then I can assure you that we can negotiate with the Shadow Proclamation, where they will speak with other planets who would be willing to give a small percentage of their planet’s core to Mondas, to keep the planet alive until further assistance can be found. The universe is willing to work with the cybermen in this case, if you allow it. Yet if you continue to side with the mechanoids and drain humans as a power source, then what do you think will happen if the planets discover what you are doing to their space explorers? You have just declared war, cybermen of Mondas, and very shortly, the universe will respond, unless you give me what I come for.”