Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Donnie sighed as he let his head hit the desk, making loose screws and other pieces of loose and thin metal sheets move as he did so. 

He didn't know why he agreed to that bet with Mikey, but here he was, two days later trying to figure out how to create a time travel machine. Donnie couldn't even remember what led up to the bet being made, but he knew it happened during one of Raph and Leo's arguments, and he and Mikey started talking about some sci-fi show and Mikey created a bet with Donnie that he couldn't figure out a way to time travel. And Donnie agreed because who could say no to a little brother?

So, here he was now, head pressed against the table with a thick, watch-looking device next to him. Donnie wasn't sure what compelled him to make it watch-like but he just did. 

“Donnie! 10 minutes until dinner.” He heard Raph yell from the other side of his lab door, Donnie yelled back ‘okay’ and he heard Raph's footsteps fade as the elder walked away. He was very tempted to just not go to dinner as he didn't want to risk getting caught in an argument with Raph and Leo.

However, Raph had come to his lab personally to tell him so maybe those two were on better terms today so he might as well go to actually sit at the table. 

But not before he attempts to complete the machine, so Donnie decided to give himself five minutes to pour all his energy and concentration into making the device, determined to make this machine work. 

But Donnie should have predicted that those five minutes weren't going to amount to anything, as after those five minutes were up, all that had changed was that the leather strap had a fancy magnetic buckle to it. 

Donnie then felt his ninpo run through his hand as he held the device. The spirit-like being giggled in his head as it flew around the device, having taken a backseat during the invention process for whatever reason. The golden mist that always seemed to accompany both his mystics and ninpo seemed to be looser as his ninpo hovered above the device, Donnie able to feel its curiosity. 

The softshell watched as the golden, glitter-like mist left the purple spirit of his ninpo and put itself into the watch. But Donnie didn't think anything of it, as it was common for that golden mist to enter any invention he made to see if it could improve it. 

He signed and placed the device in his shell, in case he wanted to tinker with it during dinner or if Mikey wanted to see it. Donnie knew that he accidentally pressed a couple of the buttons on the watch as he placed it into his shell, but he didn't care as they didn't do anything. 

As Donnie stood up from his chair and stretched, hearing his bones click from spending several hours in relatively the same position, he felt a small draft flow through his lab. 

‘Wait a draft?’ Donnie thought to himself as he spun around to see a blue box slowly appear in his lab, a whirring sound accompanying the object. 

He stared in disbelief as the blue box (that read police box) appeared fully in his lab, the draft it created disappearing fully. 

“Well, this is new.” Donnie almost didn't process that a human opened the door to the police box and popped their head out. 

Donnie didn't even know what to say, he just stared at the human and the box, jaw slightly agape. 

“Close your mouth, a fly might land in there.” Whilst Donnie did listen to the human stranger, he glared at them with a deadpan look, “Now, I'm The Doctor, who are you and how did you call me here?” The human asked him. 

“Call you? I didn't call you?” Donnie told him, having found his voice, and pushed himself off his desk that he held onto as the box appeared in his lab.

“Well, you did because one moment I was just in the vortex a few hours after regeneration and suddenly the TARDIS started flying without me controlling her.” 

Yep, Donnie was definitely hallucinating. 

“What…what?” 

The human, or The Doctor as they called themselves, just looked at Donnie with confusion, “What are you confused about, that's a perfectly reasonable explanation. Oh is that who I am now, am I sarcastic? Huh. Anyways who are you and what planet am I on as the TARDIS hasn't given me any information.” 

“You keep saying TARDIS like I should know what it is? You're saying so much like I should know what you're talking about?” Donnie walked closer to the box, the human (was this person even human if they were talking about planets?) just watched him with a weird grin on their face. 

“Well you called me here, so please answer my question. Though I could guess, there are a couple of planets with turtle looking beings.” 

Donnie's head snapped back to the Doctor, having fully processed the fact that this Doctor guy might not be human, “Planets, like actual planets in outer space?” 

“Yep. Now, please, for the last time, where am I, and who are you?” It was very obvious that The Doctor was starting to get impatient. 

“I'm Donnie and you're on Earth, well New York to be specific.” Did this guy even know what New York was? 

“Ah of course, you're a yōkai, has the human-yōkai relations act been passed yet? If not, ignore me.” 

That just confirms that this guy isn't human as humans don't know about yōkais.

“Nope, not a yōkai, I'm a mutant.” 

“Of course, I forgot about the mutants, they just got lumped in as yōkais in the act. Once again ignore me. Nice lab by the way.” The Doctor told him, looking around the softshell’s lab, curiosity plastered on their face. 

Donnie felt a rush of glee flow through him when The Doctor told him that, the praise from a parent age adult made him want to giggle in happiness but he held himself back as he continued to circle the TARDIS, his goggles pulled down as he scanned it, but no matter what he tried to scan his sensors couldn’t pick it up. 

“What is this thing anyways?” He asked The Doctor, walking up in front of them and trying to scan them as well, but there were no mystic readings that came up, which made sense if this was alien, and somehow knew about future events. 

Donnie suddenly stopped in his tracks and flipped his goggles up (he wasn’t even going to question the interior of the box that definitely looked like it expanded beyond the size it should be) and stared at The Doctor, who just gave him a childish wave and teeth-filled grin. 

“Can you travel in time?” He asked them, taking a step back when he realized how close he was to their face. 

“Now what gave you that idea?” The Doctor asked him sarcastically, so Donnie decided to answer back, almost mincing their level of sarcasm. 

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the fact that you talked about some ‘Human-yōkai relations act’ which is nowhere close to even happening…can you actually travel in time though?” 

The Doctor just gave him a look that said, “Well you just answered your own question didn’t you?” 

“Yes but you see Doctor, I’m a man of science so I need evidence.” Donnie told him, trying to look over The Doctor’s shoulder to see more of the TARDIS’ interior. And he was ready to try and persuade The Doctor more as his curiosity was beyond piqued. 

But it turned out, he didn’t need to convince the alien anymore as they stepped out of the way, allowing the golden glow of the box to wash over Donnie, “Well how about I show you then Mr ‘man of science’.” 

Donnie didn’t hesitate as he ran into the box. 

He was immediately filled with so many emotions he couldn’t even describe, wound, awe, shock, familiarity, and even some terror. The TARDIS was huge, it should have filled his entire lab, but it didn’t, only that small blue police box did. How was that possible? 

“So, where do you want to go, Donnie?” The Doctor asked, the click of the TARDIS door making Donnie turn back to the alien. 

“It’s…it’s bigger on the inside! How?” He questioned as he flipped his goggles down again, spinning in a circle, trying to see if he could get any readings, but all he got were error messages as his scanning systems were overwhelmed. 

“Timelord technology.” The Doctor told him as they ran over to the control panels and started flicking random levers. 

Donnie only stared at The Doctor, a million billion questions flowing through his mind, “Wait but my brothers would come and check on me if I don’t go to dinner, gods know what they’ll do if I’m not in my lab.” 

“Time machine Donnie, I could take you to 20 planets and be back in time for tea. Now, where do you want to go?” 

Donnie thought for a few seconds, leaning his hands on the panel opposite where The Doctor was standing, “If this truly a time machine, take me to the end of the universe, show me how the universe ends.” 

The Doctor’s grin was infectious as they smiled at the challenge and started pressing buttons and flicking levers that Donnie would kill to know how to control. The TARDIS started to make the same noise it made when it entered Donnie’s lab, the machine rocking back and forth, creating an extreme creaking noise. 

But Donnie didn’t care, he laughed carelessly as he gripped onto the console, watching The Doctor run feverishly around the panels, pressing any and all buttons (at one point they even smacked the machine with a mullet).

Then all of a sudden it stopped. The noise was muted and the rocking ceased. The only sound was The Doctor walking up next to him and turning a dial that looked similar to a kitchen egg timer. 

Donnie looked at The Doctor with a half-open mouth and wide eyes, the alien then smiled and gestured their hand towards the door. He quickly ran towards the door and flung them open. 

The universe was rapidly darkening, stars and whole galaxies disappearing. 

“The year 100 trillion, all life forms are dead and all the stars are slowly fading, leaving the universe black, the heat death of the universe.” The Doctor told him, leaving on the wall next to him as they too watch the universe grow cold. 

“But how are we breathing, and why is it going so fast?” Donnie asked, never taking his eyes off the small white dots in the sky that went out, each time he blinked there was a chunk of space just gone. 

“There’s an air bubble around the TARDIS, keeps the oxygen going. When we stopped I effectively kept the TARDIS traveling through time. This is the heat death but sped up 6000 times, so since you’ve opened up the doors, 15 million years have passed.” The Doctor said, looking down at Donnie, hiding a grin as they saw the child-like wonder and enjoyment in his eyes.

“I feel like throwing up, he said very very happy, and that’s two very’s.” Donnie told The Doctor, not caring that he was stimming in front of this stranger. The Doctor laughed, but not a mocking laugh, a genuine laugh at his statement. 

“Does anyone ever get to see stuff like this, or do you just travel alone?” He asked them as The Doctor walked back to the console. 

He watched as The Doctor’s face dropped for a few seconds before they placed a smile back on their face, “Nope, I’ve had a few companions before, you’re the first non-human companion I’ve traveled with.” 

“Why humans though?” Donnie asked as he closed the doors and ran up to The Doctor just shrugged. 

“They’ve always fascinated me more than any other creatures in the universe. So I’ve just stuck with them.”  They told him. “Now, something that fascinates me is how you called me to your home?” The Doctor asked, filling the silence that had fallen for a short moment. 

Donnie suddenly perked up at the chance to tell The Doctor about his device, so he immediately reached into his battle shell and pulled out the watch-like device. “My younger brother made a bet with me that I couldn’t make a time travel machine, and he is right but it appears that I made a machine that calls a time travel machine to me!” As he was talking The Doctor took something out of their jacket’s pocket and scanned Donnie’s device, several expressions flashed across their face before landing on a neutral expression. 

“What a brilliant device, you should be proud of yourself for that.” Silence filled the TARDIS, as Donnie put the device back in his battle shell, gleaming with joy at the compliant, but then Donnie was reminded of something that The Doctor had mentioned earlier, 

“Wait,” Donnie started, catching The Doctor’s attention, “Earlier you said that there were other planets with turtle-like species, can you take me to one?” He asked, hoping that The Doctor agreed as his curiosity was piqued about these different worlds he had never even considered existed. 

“Of course! Might as well make this journey worth it.” 

So The Doctor, once again started to run around the console and flick and press all sorts of the controls, making the TARDIS rock back and forth, laughter from both parties filled the machine as the TARDIS went to her destination.

Chapter Text

The headache that Donnie woke up confused him, he wasn’t even aware of where he was or how he got there. 

‘ The hatchling giver has woken up.’ Donnie heard someone say, well it didn’t sound like words but Donnie’s mind could still understand the sounds being produced. He opened his eyes, the heaviness of them made it difficult, but after a few moments, he managed to open them. But the moment he did he screamed in shock. 

Looking at him were three humanoid turtle-like beings, but the turtle being had saggy-like skin that looked tough, their eyes were small, practically invisible and their beaks were short and triangular. 

“What the hell! Where am I?” Donnie screamed as he scrambled away from the turtles, falling off a flat circle of rock that appeared like a bed. 

‘ What does hatchling giver say? What are those noises you make?’ The slightly pinkish turtle asked, the chirps sounded more high-pitched than the one who spoke when Donnie first woke up. 

It had been a while since Donnie had spoken ‘turtle-speak’ (as he and his brothers called it), but he cleared his throat and started to chirp and hiss. 

‘ Where am I?’ He asked, watching as the turtle's faces turned confused. 

‘ What do you mean hatchling giver? You are on Lakus. Do you not remember?’

Did he remember? 

Of course! The Doctor had taken him to a planet that was filled with turtle-like aliens, but he couldn't remember the species' name or why he had no memories of his time here. 

‘ No, I don't remember. ’ Donnie told them, sitting on his knees, mimicking the three turtles' way of sitting.

‘She does not remember.’ ‘Why no memories?’ ‘Perhaps the kel she ate.’ The three said at once, Donnie was unable to tell who said what but he did physically flinch when he heard two of the turtles (Kapas, his mind supplied him randomly), call him by the wrong pronoun. 

“It's he- it's he not she. I'm a guy.’  Donnie told them, feeling a lot more self-aware about certain parts of himself that were more likely to be seen on a female softshell than male. 

‘ Ah of course of course. Our apologies hatchling giver, you have told us that before, apologies for forgetting.’  The slightly more yellow kapas said, the pink and cyan one nodded, also chirping ‘apologies’.

‘ Why do you keep calling me hatchling giver? Did I not tell you my name?’ Donnie asked, trying to remember the reason why he was being called that title. 

‘ Wow, the kel did more on he- his memory than we thought. Perhaps young off worlder’s have different reactions to our snacks.” The cyan one said, the others nodding. 

‘ We call you hatchling giver as you are a hatchling and you have given us access to wonderful materials that you call ‘technology’.’ The pink one told him. 

Oh shit, of course. Donnie remembered now, The Doctor got the timing out by about half a million years and landed on the planet Lakus back before they became the main export for technology, apparently being the ones who invented the vortex manipulators (Donnie remembered how The Doctor mumbled something about ‘cheap time travel’). 

‘ Wait where The Doctor, the person I came here with?’

‘The peach-colored otherworlder? Yes yes…’ The yellow one trailed off, looking towards the other two turtles. Donnie watched as they traded glances at each other that he recognized as “No you tell him” “No you” 

Finally the pink one sighed before turning towards Donnie, ‘ Whilst you were knocked out due to the kel, he wandered around our forests, which we advised not to, but then he got taken by coyos.” 

‘Coyos?’ Donnie questioned, tilting his head in confusion (not noticing how the pink turtle misgendered The Doctor). 

The cyan turtle spoke up this time, ‘ Coyos are another lifeform on our planet, not nearly as civilized as us, they don’t even speak properly, but they eat and hunt us. But they stay in the forests as the waters that surround our villages harm them as they don’t like getting their fur wet.’ 

Donnie immediately sat up when he heard that out of panic, ‘ Are they okay? Wait, how long have I been out?’ He immediately stood up and started to walk out of the room he was in, panicking that The Doctor might be dead, he didn’t want to live on this planet, he wanted to go back to his brothers. 

‘ Woah woah, hatchling giver. Stop. It’s too dangerous to go out into the forests, you are a softshell kapas like us. The coyos will hunt you and use you to create soup. You must wait until the hardshelled ones are ready to go out and get your parental one.’ One of the kapas told him, he didn’t even care to tell them that The Doctor wasn’t his parent although something in his mind told him otherwise as he walked out of the room and immediately stepped into the street. 

He was immediately taken aback by the brightness of the three suns, and the clouds that appeared like rippling water, whilst the street itself was water that went up to his knees, but it didn’t have the same resistance that walking in water on earth. 

‘ Hatchling giver, you are just a softshelled like, you are not suited for fighting the coyos.’ The yellow kapas told him as they ran in front of him. 

‘ Even if you do have that fake hardshell, they can still smell your leather and hunt you down. Just wait for the hardshelled ones to be ready to fight.’ The pink one said, their voice more calming than the other two. 

It was also at that moment, Donnie realized not only were every other kapas on the street also softshells, but that he didn’t have his battle shell on him. 

‘ Where’s my battle shell- my fake hard shell?’ Donnie demanded, feeling very naked without it. 

‘ The Thinkers have it, you gave it to them to study, along with the fake time teller within it.’ 

Fake time teller? Oh, of course, the watch-like time machine device he attempted to create, the device that started this whole thing as it called the TARDIS to this lab. 

‘ I need my battle shell back! Please, it helps me feel more comfortable.’ Donnie wasn’t completely lying as over the years of first creating his battle shell, it helped provide pressure that a weighted blanket couldn’t on his bad days. 

‘ Will you use your “battle shell” to fight the coyos to gain your parental one back?’ Donnie nodded, answering the cyan’s one question, still confused on why they were calling The Doctor his ‘parental one’, ‘ And if we don’t give you back your battle shell, will you still find a way to fight the coyos?’ 

Donnie once again nodded, he would find a way to use his mystics and ninpo to save The Doctor, it was the least he could do for them as they’ve shown him such incredible things. 

The three kapas looked at each other, trading those silent conversations once again before all three nodded, the yellow one (which by this point Donnie assumed to be the oldest), spoke, ‘ We will take you to the Thinkers to get your battle shell then take you to the beginning of the forest and give the directions to the main coyos camp.’ 

So the three kapas took him to the building that belonged to the group of kapas called ‘the thinkers’ (which Donnie remembered were the kapas that helped create things that improved the kapas lives) where they gave him back his battle shell. 

One of the Thinkers had also told him that they had copied the watch-like design and were going to try and make it into something useful, but Donnie didn’t care for that as he put his original device back into his battle shell and put the shell on, let out a sigh of relief as he felt the comforting pressure on his shell and shoulder. 

The three kapas then guided him to the entrance of the forest and just told him to keep going straight until he got a blockade of trees then turn a sharp left and he should make it to the main camp of the coyos. 

‘ Are you sure you don’t want to help me?’ Donnie asked the kapas again. They all shook their heads. 

‘ Fighting for the hardshelled ones, we are softshelled like the others.’ The pink one said. 

‘ We wish the creatures of above give you the luck you need to get your parental one back. We know we can’t stop you until the hardshelled are ready to fight, so go on your way.’ The yellow told him, placing a webbed hand onto his head gently, the other three hummed a quick and short tune. If Donnie had to guess, it was some sort of prayer. Whilst he wasn’t religious himself, he did appreciate the thought a lot. 

He walked through the forest carefully, making sure to make as little noise as possible, avoiding stepping on any tree branches (that were bright green). The forest was eerie, the fog within it reminded him of the cloud forests back on earth that sat in lakes and swamps, coated in a layer of fog. 

It was only 30 minutes of walking before he got to the blockade of trees, making it impossible to continue forwards, and turned left just as he was told. And the further he walked, the louder he heard screaming that sounded very similar to the screams of a coyote. 

As he made it closer, the smell of fire reached him and he got his bō out and stayed hidden behind the trees. 

The coyos in question did look very similar to coyotes he’d seen in movies or pictures, just a lot more humanoid. They were hunched over and their fur was very thick, it made sense why they stayed away from the kapas villages as it did appear like it took forever to get water out of that fur and it's possible the water also weighed them down. Donnie crouched and sneaked around the outskirts of the campsite, looking for signs of The Doctor. 

He was beyond thankful when he saw The Doctor hanging from a tree by a vine wrapped around their ankle, an annoyed scowl on their face as their arms were crossed and their sonic screwdriver was on the floor a few feet away from them. 

“I see you’re hanging about?” 

Goddammit Leo had too much influence over Donnie. 

“Took you long enough.” The Doctor said back, raising an eyebrow at him (although it looked like their eyebrow was dropping). 

“Well apparently I had alot of fun with something called kel, and got knocked out. The real complaint is why you ran off and got yourself kidnapped.” Donnie whisper-yelled as he went to untie the rope from The Doctor’s ankle, having a bit of trouble as it tied incredibly tightly. 

“Kel is just this planet's version of sugar, and you ate so much of it when you crashed you passed out. And it wasn’t my fault I was kidnapped, one of the kapas came from the forest with a bleeding shell and I went to go and look and got taken by these creatures. You weren’t there to translate for me what the kapas were saying.” The Doctor told him, their explanation making sense, especially since Donnie had a very sinful sweet tooth.

But after a few moments he gave up untying it and created a knife with his ninpo and just cut the rope, holding in his laughter as The Doctor fell into the mud discreetly below them. 

“What was that?” They asked, trying to wipe the mud off their face, looking at Donnie with confusion as he dismissed his ninpo, ignoring it as it laughed loudly at The Doctor’s confusion (even if The Doctor couldn’t hear it). 

“My ninpo, family magic. Don’t ask because I don’t understand it either. Now we might want to run as the coyos have woken up and they look hungry.” Donnie said, grabbing his bō ready to fight the creatures as they snarled, bearing their teeth. 

But he didn’t get a chance to fight them as The Doctor grabbed his wrist and started sprinting, telling Donnie to lead the way back to the village they landed in. 

“I wish I put my jackback shell on as this would be so much quicker!” Donnie complained to himself as he whacked a coyos that attempted to bite the back of his neck, the yelp from the creature sounded a lot like a cartoon yelp. 

“Well, I’ll be sure to tell you the next time when we land on a planet with creatures that have a taste for suppon nabe.” The Doctor yelled at Donnie, the sarcasm from the alien made the softshell glare at them.

They continued running before Donnie grabbed The Doctor’s wrist and yelled, “SHARP RIGHT!” The two nearly slipped on the mud as they both made a sudden turn to the right, hearing behind them many of the coyos slipping and falling on top of each other which gave Donnie and The Doctor a few extra seconds to get to the village before they got caught by the coyos. 

The two nearly fell over as they reached the village, Donnie sighing in relief as he felt the water of the streets splash onto his lower body as they ran. 

‘ It's the hatchling giver and his other worlder!’ ‘The softshelled one survived the coyos.’ ‘They are alive.’ And so many other things were yelled out that Donnie couldn’t make out as the kapas gathered around him and The Doctor, their voices loud and overlapping at a rate that made Donnie’s head spin. 

“Everyone shhhhh.” The Doctor yelled when they noticed Donnie getting overwhelmed, despite the kapas not understanding any language other than their own, they all stopped chirping and hissing and put their webbed fingers onto their beaks, confused about why they were doing that action. 

But the silence was disrupted by snarling from the entrance of the village. Coyos stood just beyond the village, not daring to get close to the water. So Donnie decided to try something, he slowly walked up to the coyos line, not flinching as they bared their teeth at him, and kicked a small wave of water at the coyos. 

They immediately started screaming and trying to get the water off of them, but there was no steam of melting flesh like the witch in ‘Wizard of Oz’, the coyos just straight up didn’t like water on their fur. 

“Such an odd evolutionary trait.” The Doctor mumbled from behind him as they watched the coyos run back to their camps. 

‘ That is another reason why we need the water on our streets, not just so we can keep our bodies moist.’ The yellow kapas said, Donnie translating for The Doctor, ‘ But I’m guessing now that you found your parental one, you will return to your ship and leave us?’ 

‘ Yeah, we weren’t going to really stay long, just visit a planet that has people like me. We can come back and visit especially as you seem to take an interest in technology and I can help you develop it!” Donnie told them, excited that he could potentially help a whole population with the first steps of technology. 

So, when Donnie told The Doctor this, they were very hesitant before agreeing that he and the elders the village could talk about times for him to return every so often to the planet to help with developing technology (The Doctor going back to the TARDIS to change out of their mud-covered outfit). 

After around ten minutes of walking with the elders and the three other kapas (who Donnie learnt were called Jeen, Lii and Veus) who had gained a sibling like affection for Donnie, he would return to the planet once a cycle, which equaled to 16.5 earth years, and see how they were progressing with their technology and see if he needed to help with with improved techniques or devices. 

“So I guess that means I pretty much have to stay with you then?” Donnie asked The Doctor jokingly after he told The Doctor about what he talked about with the kapas, “Though, wouldn’t that change time by, like, a lot? Like are the kapas more powerful in the future?” 

“Nope,” The Doctor told him with full confidence, “Not all events are locked events, sure, you introduced technology to the kapas way ahead of their timeline, but they still have the same amount of power over the technological exports in the universe. Though an interesting fact for you Donnie, the kapas are the reason why the human legend of the kappas exists.” 

“Wait what?” Donnie asked in shock. 

“Yep,” The Doctor said, popping the ‘p’ as they loudly flicked on of the louder levers which started the TARDIS, “They head to earth around the year 700 in Japan, by this point they have translators but the Japanese people misspell their species name with two ‘p’s, and that tale from the past is distorted over time and bang, legend of the kappas is now a common story in Japan.” Donnie just stared at The Doctor in shock. 

“Oh don’t act so shocked, there are plenty of species of animals on your planet that were originally aliens. Like where do you think bees came from.” 

Donnie didn’t even know what to say to The Doctor as he just stared at the alien with shock, “Is it going to be like this with you all the time?” He asked as he helped by pressing one of the buttons on the console ( not noticing to look of subtle look of confusion on The Doctor’s face ) 

“Oh yes, but only if you choose to continue traveling with me, haven’t had a companion for a while.” 

“Well then, better get used to having company.”

Chapter Text

Donnie had been traveling with The Doctor for about a week, well a week for him, for his family it was less than a day (as Donnie went back home to have dinner and sleep before The Doctor came to pick him up the next morning). And he had seen so much that he never thought even existed. 

Memories of the future, whole planets, moon, and galaxies filled his head, and storage on his audio files as he liked to record a summary of the day's events. 

“-and then we went back to Lakus! It had been a few decades for them at that point and they actually decided to name their technological company after my own trademark!” Donnie said into his tech-wristband as he sat on the chair in the main control room as The Doctor did a few touch ups on the console. 

“He cried at that compliment.” The Doctor spoke from under the console, smugness laced in their voice. 

“Scoff, I did not! Anyways-” Donnie was cut off by his villain alarm going off. He quickly paused the audio recording and went to look at the villain alarm. 

The Purple Dragons? Really? 

“Wait, how is your wristband connected to your timeline? I only gave your phone that upgrade?” The Doctor asked as they wheeled their mechanic creeper from under the TARDIS console, a look of confusion on their face. 

“I just copied the design,” Donnie told them, not looking at The Doctor as he tried to figure out the location of the Purple Dragons, (not hearing The Doctor mumbling “that’s not really possible.”), “Can you drop off near East Harlem, about an hour after we left please?” 

The Doctor wasn’t too sure if they should, something didn’t feel right, but they agreed regardless and set the TARDIS for just an hour after The Doctor picked Donnie up a week prior. During the short ride there, The Doctor just looked at Donnie as he flicked through security camera footage, a look of slight confusion on his face but The Doctor didn’t think too much of it as they were dealing with their own confusion and doubt at this situation. 

Sure, Donnie has told them about the Purple Dragons, alongside a few other of the villains he and his brothers have fought and they didn’t seem that much of a threat, but that gut feeling The Doctor had as they stepped out of the TARDIS and onto the Manhattan streets made them worry.

“You don’t have to come with me, Doctor, I’m alright with sorting these guys alone, I’ve even contacted my brothers telling them that they don’t need to help,” Donnie told them, and The Doctor wanted to believe that he was going to be okay and that they could just go back and tinker with the TARDIS console, but there was a certain type of energy in the air that made The Doctor put on a fake smile and shook their head. 

“Nope, I’m going to come with you. I take you on adventures. I think it’s about time you take me on an adventure. Think of it like adult supervision” They joked, and whilst they were talking, they used their sonic screwdriver to scan the area and as they walked behind Donnie they quickly checked it. There was someone in the area that the screwdriver had picked up, but it couldn’t determine what it was. So The Doctor just repocketed their screwdriver and followed Donnie as the softshell hid themselves with a purple hoodie and moved quickly. 

Within a few minutes, they made it to a warehouse where Donnie's wristband did one long beep before going out. “The Purple Dragons are here,” Donnie said, turning off his wristband and taking out his bō. 

The Doctor nodded, deciding to help Donnie out by sonicing the door, the click of the lock echoed in the early morning air, but The Doctor couldn’t help but notice just how fake the click sounded, it sounded too clear, but they ignored it and went into the warehouse behind Donnie.

The warehouse was empty, apart from Kendra sitting on the railing of the second level, staring down at the door, a smile appearing on her face. 

“Well, it took you long enough, Othello Von Ryan.” Kendra said. Donnie expected her voice to echo around the warehouse, but when it didn't, Donnie's grip on his bō tightened, “And you aren't alone, glad to see The Doctor with you.” 

“How do you know who I am?” The Doctor asked, his eyes subtly darting around the room, noticing how some of the space seemed to ripple like it was water, like it wasn't real. 

“Well when you have an associate, you tell her about your enemies, right Doctor?” A new voice said. 

From behind Kendra, the space rippled before a human-looking started walking out of the ripple, a maddening grin on his face, a red cloak trailed behind him as he wore a purple suit.

Although he had a different face, that smile always stayed the same. 

“The Toymaker.” The Doctor said, placing himself in front of Donnie, remembering their first and only encounter with the god-like being back in their first regeneration. They remembered how powerful The Toymaker was, and how close to death they and their companions were. 

“Kendra, step away from him, I can get you somewhere safe-” But the human laughing cut them off. 

“Why wouldn't I be safe with my co-worker, he's promised me to get revenge on you, Donnie. And if I help him, he's promised me the TARDIS.” The crazed look on Kendra's face made Donnie grip his bō tighter. 

“Pfft, what can you do, annoy me with stupid paper dolls?” Donnie taunted the two. 

The Doctor wanted to turn around and tell Donnie to not taunt the Toymaker, to just be quiet and let them be the one who talked. But they were too slow, as the Toymaker laughed before clicking his fingers. 

Donnie was gone, his bō clanging to the floor. 

“Where is he‽ You bring him back, this is between you and me!” The Doctor yelled at the Toymaker. 

“Oh, but it isn’t dear Doctor. Kendra is the one who wants the mutant, but I just thought it'd be fun to put him in his place, you know, lower his morale.” The Toymaker laughed, Kendra giggling as she swung her legs back and forth before she turned to the Toymaker, 

“Bring him back, I want to be the one to break him, not you.” 

The Toymaker sighed and clicked his fingers again, making Donnie reappear. 

Donnie immediately fell to his knees, loud, desperate sobs filled the warehouse. The Doctor got to his knees as well and gripped Donnie's forearms, hard enough to get the mutant's attention but not enough to hurt him. 

“Donnie, Donnie listen to me, whatever you saw isn't real. You hear me?” 

But it was obvious Donnie didn't as he just whimpered, “They're dead they're dead they're dead.” Over and over again. 

“What did you show him?” The Doctor demanded, glaring as the two villains just laughed. “WHAT DID YOU SHOW HIM‽” They spat, their voice overpowering the heartless laughter. 

“You'd be surprised how much game material I have from a teenager's trauma and love for his family.” The Toymaker smiled as he spoke. 

The Doctor inhaled, suppressing anger as they turned back to Donnie and lowered themselves down to his level, “Donnie, I promise you, your family is alive. Alright, they're alive.” They told him as they held onto his face, making Donnie look at them. 

“The-they’re alive.” Donnie repeated, his voice hoarse like he’d been screaming for years. 

But The Doctor wasn’t able to comfort him for long as Kendra jumped down off the catwalk, the Toymaker appearing behind her, “Well, I didn’t invite Donnie here just to watch him be comforted. Toymaker get your plaything whilst I have a little playdate with Von Ryan.” Kendra said. 

The Toymaker smirked, rubbing his hands together like a fly before clapping, “Well, let's go and have some fun shall we Doctor.” 

The Doctor wasn't able to say anything as they and the Toymaker were teleported away in his realm, whilst Donnie was left with Kendra in a not empty warehouse. 

“Get up.” She said to him, jumping down from the ledge, going to stand in front of him. 

“Get UP!” She grabbed Donnie by the collar of his hoodie, pulling him close to her face, “I didn't call you here just to watch you cry over some hallucination of your dying brothers, I called you here so I could watch you fight. So I can finally get my revenge. So, get UP !” Kendra shoved Donnie to the floor, watching him scramble for his bō as he wiped the remaining tears off his face as he got into a sloppy fighting position.

“Revenge for what?” Donnie asked, not caring that it cracked after he screamed for so long. 

Kendra scoffed like he had just asked her the most idiotic question in the universe, “You ruined my life Donatello. Ruined it!” She yelled, stepping closer to him, but Donnie didn't dare step back, instead he placed his bō in front of him like a shield. 

“How did I ruin it? All I did was just stop you from destroying New York.” Donnie rebutted, making sure to stand his ground and not let his guard down. 

“You and your freak of a family ruined my life, made my status worthless, you kept making yourself better than me. You ruined any chance I had at greatness!” Kendra yelled, breathing heavily in rage. 

Donnie didn't know what to say because he was confused, he didn't do anything to ruin Kendra's life. Had she been so hellbent on getting revenge that she has lost all sense of reason? 

“Where are the other two? Jason and Jeremy? You can't exactly be the Purple Dragons without your step-brother and friend?” Donnie asked, looking around in case the two boys were hiding, ready to release one of the group's creations. 

“Well, the Toymaker needed to test his powers after being stuck in his own realm for so long.” Kendra told him, a bored look on her face as she looked at her nails, “But this isn't about them, now, let's see how well you fare against my own creations.” 

The human then pulled a controller out of her pocket and pressed one of the buttons on, and from the walls, several bright purple drones shaped like dragons appeared. The drones lined the walls, many small, many big, some had visible weapons, others didn't. 

Donnie gripped his bō, his hands moving to be near the different small buttons to control the technology within the staff, as his eyes darted around the room at each of the drones. Different plans on how to defeat ran across his mind overwhelming him. 

“Oh and don't even bother trying to call your brother's for help, phone signals can't leave the Toymaker's realm. Good luck.” Kendra laughed, pressing another button on her controller before she disappeared in a wave of ripples. 

Donnie couldn't process the fact he was still in the Toymakers realm, and had been since he and The Doctor entered the warehouse as the drones started to fly towards in groups of around five and six. So he got to work destroying them. 

At first he was clumsy, unsure of the fighting techniques Kendra had coded into the AI of the drones, but eventually he got the hang of them. 

Most of the dragon drones would fly straight towards him, going for his head, and if they missed they would shot a laser from the tail of the dragon at a 48° degree angle, and if Donnie still wasn't hit, it would fly in a circle around Donnie, shooting at him until it ran out of fire power or got destroyed.

Thankfully for the smaller drones, the lasers didn't hurt as much, they just felt like small pin-pricks, but the lasers from the larger ones had more force and were able to force Donnie to the floor, burning his skin. So he planned on taking out the large drones, ignoring the pain from the smaller drones.

By the time half of the drones were destroyed, either burnt, smashed, or fried with higher voltage, Donnie was panting on the floor, using his bō to keep him from fully collapsing out of pure exhaustion. 

“Well, not as powerful as you like to brag, are you Othello?” Kendra's voice ran out throughout the warehouse, “You know, apparently your Doctor friend is easily defeating the Toymaker, he would be so disappointed to see you lose to a couple of simple drones.” She taunted, one moment sounding like she was right behind him, the next in front of him. 

Donnie hissed in a mixture of pain, anger and annoyance as he pulled himself back up onto his feet, his bō still acting as a crutch. 

“Little mutant still has some fighting spirit in him? Then fight !” 

Donnie wanted to cry as more drones detached themselves from the wall, the robot’s eyes seemed bright than their predecessors. He knew that more and more dragon drones were going to continue to attack him if he didn't fight the source of the drones ; Kendra herself. 

But that was impossible at the moment as she seemed to be invisible, hidden by the Toymakers magic. But when he turned to face the backend of the warehouse, he saw slight ripples in the air, in the shape of Kendra. 

Donnie decided that he had nothing to lose if he tried. So he got rid of a dragon drone that was flying in front of him before sprinting towards the ripple. As he got close, he pulled his bō back and swung at the ripple. 

For a split second it didn't touch anything, but as the bō passed through the ripple it connected to its target. 

Kendra's body hit the wall with a sickening crack, not dead, just concussed as she groaned in pain and attempted to get back up. 

Donnie could have just left her, he could have left her against that wall, surrounded by the corpses of her machines, and went to look for The Doctor, but he didn't. 

His bō was turned back to just the simple metal stick as Donnie walked towards Kendra, ignoring her pleas and bargains just as he ignored the burns that covered his body before he took the first swing. 

The grief that Donnie gained from watching fake versions of his brothers die in the most brutal of ways several times over turned into anger as he hit Kendra over the head. That anger that Donnie had been holding in since the Shredder’s final attack, that anger of everything that had happened to him was being turned against Kendra as he kept producing swing after swing. Not caring how much blood coated his bō. 

Donnie didn't know how long he attacked Kendra for, how long he spent beating the everloving shit out of the human, but eventually reality caught up to him as he saw what he was doing. The lower half of his bō was coated in her blood, not a single sliver of purple-colored metal could be seen on that part of his bō. Kendra's body was slumped against the wall, but she was still breathing, still fighting out of spite for Donnie. 

“Oh my god…” Donnie stumbled back out of horror of what he had done, tripping over some of the destroyed drones before he felt the other wall of the warehouse touch his battle shell, allowing him to slide down the wall, be quickly pressed a button that made the bō the size of his palm and shoved it into his battle shell, not wanting to look at that weapon any more than he had to. 

Donnie didn't know how long he sat there, staring at Kendra, unsure if she was alive as she was so incredibly still. His attention was taken off Kendra's still form as the backend of the warehouse started to ripple, The Doctor then stepped out, panting like they had run a marathon. 

“Alright let's get out of here before this realm closes- What happened?” The Doctor asked, their eyes darting between the remains of Donnie's battle. 

Donnie wanted to tell them the truth, and he did, but he knew The Doctor’s view on killing and hurting others so he couldn't risk that disappointment and hatred. 

So he lied.  

“I figured out a way to stop her drones from attacking me, but that ended up making them turn on her, I don't know if she's still alive.” He told them, thankful that the darkness of the warehouse made it impossible for The Doctor to see his facial expression that showed his lies.

He watched as The Doctor walked over to Kendra and placed their fingers on her neck, the relaxing of their shoulders gave Donnie all the confirmation that she was alive.

“What happened to the Toymaker?” He asked as he walked over to The Doctor, using his bō to help him, not looking at Kendra’s body but instead at The Doctor. 

“Oh, I beat him at his own game, so we won’t have to deal with him for a while.” The Doctor told him, their voice void of true emotion, only producing fake confidence, Donnie could tell that they went through something when they were with the Toymaker but refused to show it, “Do you know where she lives so we can take her to her parents?” The Doctor asked, turning back to Donnie. 

He nodded, remembering that Kendra lived in the same apartment building as April, just a floor below her. So Donnie told The Doctor where she lived and they got Donnie to help them lift Kendra out of the warehouse, and as they walked out of the wall that The Doctor determined wasn’t actually real and just apart of the Toymaker’s realms, the pair were thankful it was night as they carried Kendra to the TARDIS and laid her on the console floor. 

Donnie just kept looking at Kendra for the entire ride back to her family’s flat, dark red blood matted her light purple hair and dyed her clothes, bruises and cuts littered her body. And he kept telling himself that she deserved it, she hurt him and had her brother and friend killed. Oh…Donnie didn’t even know where Jeremy’s parents lived so they wouldn’t know that he was dead, and would Kendra even tell her mother and stepfather that Jason was dead? He shouldn’t be feeling so guilty over all of this, so he tried to ignore the guilt that planted itself in his mind. 

“So what do you plan to do?” The Doctor asked him as the TARDIS landed. 

Donnie thought for a bit, his hands gripping the handrailing near the door so tightly like he would fly off the TARDIS if he let go, “Put Kendra on the doorstep, knock, and go.” He said, hoping just dropping her off and leaving would help the guilt die. 

The Doctor looked like they wanted to argue with that, but they sighed and asked if Donnie needed help, he shook his head saying that he needed to do this himself. So he wrapped Kendra’s arm around his shoulders and dragged her out of the TARDIS. 

The TARDIS was a few feet away from the apartment door, so Donnie dragged Kendra to the door and carefully dropped her against the door (checking her pulse one last time, the soft beats against his fingers confirmed she was alive), knocking loudly before quickly retreating back to the TARDIS. He knew her mother and step-father would be sleeping and it would take them a minute or two to get to the door, enough time to leave and for the TARDIS to enter the time vortex. 

“Is it always going to be like this?” Donnie asked as The Doctor assisted him in patching up his burns, “Have a week of happy adventures than face an enemy that emotionally destroys your life?” 

“Yep, part of the contract.” The Doctor joked, closing the bottle to some 51th century burn medicine as Donnie applied the last of it to his arms. 

Donnie wanted to joke back, but he didn’t have the energy to do so, instead he just tiredly looked at The Doctor and asked, “Can we head back to my home, I just want to make sure my family are okay. And get my spare phone as it ended up being destroyed.” Donnie said, hoping the forced laughter at the end of his sentence lifted the mood up. 

“You know your brothers are alive right? What the Toymaker showed you wasn’t real.” The Doctor told him, putting the burn medicine back into the first aid cabinet that was in the kitchen for some reason. 

“Yeah I know, I just want to make sure they’re okay. Just to ease my mind.” He said, getting up from the chair and placing his purple hoodie back on, ignoring the small holes in it, he was going to throw it away and get one of the identical spares. Despite hating change more than beach balls, he wasn’t going to continue wearing a ruined hoodie ( a hoodie lightly coated in Kendra’s blood ). 

“What did he show you?” 

Donnie sucked in air, flashes of what he was forced to witness went through his mind. “I..I’ll tell you later.” The Doctor nodded, respecting his decision 

So The Doctor dropped him back in his lab, the timelord telling him that they’ll wait for him to come back, indirectly telling him that he could still travel with them (of course he could still travel with The Doctor, they didn’t know about what he almost did to Kendra). 

He stepped out of the TARDIS, and into his lab, and made a beeline for his cabinet that held his spare technology like battle shell parts and phones. He grabbed one of the phones, held it under his arm as he typed on his wristband to upload all previous data onto the new phone before placing it down on his desk. And whilst that was happening he went to close the door to the cabinet when something caught his eye, a cloaking broach redesigned to be a necklace. Donnie decided that he might as well, and grabbed it before shutting the door. 

He then went over to his cupboard and grabbed a spare purple hoodie and threw the burnt one to the side, putting on the new one, Donnie then grabbed around three more that he would keep in the TARDIS incase anymore got destory alongside a few pairs of shorts. 

A ping from his wristband told him that his new phone had all the previous data on it and he ran to it and immediately opened the messaging app and the group chat with him and his brothers. 

He sighed in relief as he saw that the last message was sent three minutes ago and it was Mikey telling everyone that he was coming back from Run of the Mill with pizza. Donnie quickly shot the chat a text saying that the Purple Dragon’s were dealt with and that’ll be in his lab sleeping as he was tired, telling Leo that he better not eat his pizza or else he’ll find his pillows turned into jello. 

Donnie sighed, almost wanting to stay true to his text and go to sleep, telling The Doctor that he didn't want to continue traveling. But he knew he couldn't return to his regular life, not with all he’s seen and all there is to see. So he sharply inhaled before running back through the TARDIS doors. 

“Ah there you are, took you long enough. What’s with the fancy necklace?” They asked, pointing to the cloaking necklace on top of the pile of clothes. 

“It's a cloaking broach turned into a necklace so it can be hidden better. Since we’ve traveled to Earth’s future I assume we’ll also travel to Earth’s past one day, and I don’t want to cause mass panic by not being human.” Donnie told them, placing the necklace into his hoodie pocket. He then quickly ran to his bedroom within the TARDIS and placed the hoodie half-hazard onto his bed, telling himself that he would sort them out later. And as he did so, he heard his bō rattle in his battle shell, a reminder of what he did. 

Donnie quickly took it out of his shell and threw it under his bed, not risking The Doctor finding out about it. He then made his way back to the console room where The Doctor perked up at hearing him enter. 

“So I was thinking of taking you to this planet that is shaped almost like a square, I’m sure your science loving mind would love that.” They told him, pulling up one of the larger levers, causing the TARDIS to rock. 

Donnie put on a smile that felt genuine, (but at the same time, faked), as he nodded The Doctor grinned at him before smacking one of the many black buttons, “Fantastic!”

Chapter Text

“Living plastic!” The Doctor yelled as Donnie entered the console room, the teenager having only woken up barely five minutes ago, he hadn't even put his battle shell on yet

“I'm sorry what?” He yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eye. 

“Apology accepted, now,” Donnie glared at The Doctor's sarcasm, “, According to the TARDIS, 26th of March, 2005 is where we should land if we want to get rid of the living plastic before it takes over the human race. Sound good?” 

Donnie just looked at The Doctor with a blank expression, “I've not even had my coffee yet Doctor.” 

“Well then pop off to the kitchen and get it, oh and bring me some.” The Doctor said, not even phased by the lack of enthusiasm for adventure. But after a month traveling with the mutant, they were used to the fact Donnie hated mornings (well waking up as it was hard to tell when it was day and when it was night). 

It only took a few minutes for Donnie to come back into the console room with a black coffee (with only a small splash of milk) for The Doctor and a coffee with so much sweeter and creamer it would give any regular person a heart attack, thankfully whatever chemicals Draxum put into Donnie made it so it didn’t affect him that much. 

“So, where are we going again?” Donnie asked after drinking some of his coffee. 

“2005 in the UK, London, where the TARDIS has picked up multiple signals, including the use of warp shunt technology.” The Doctor told him, downing their coffee before placing the mug on the chair next to where Donnie was sitting, “I have reason to believe this is the Nestene Consciousness.” 

“Nestene what?” Donnie asked, finishing his own coffee, and placing it on the chair before standing up and going to stand next to The Doctor. 

“Nestene Consciousness, made of pure liquid plastic and can control anything plastic. Without a transmitter it can barely control the plastic, but with a proper transmitter, well, those simple pieces of plastic can be fatal to humanity.” 

The Doctor then pulled up a simple fact file on the Nestene Consciousness on the screen attached to the console, Donnie quickly took a picture of the fact file to add to his folders that held information about the different alien lifeforms they fought and encountered. 

“So how do we defeat it?” He asked, putting his phone back into his hoodie. 

“Well, we’ll give it a chance to leave Earth, if it doesn’t and instead goes ahead with the invasion then we need to get rid of it via a small solution known as anti-plastic.” They said, lifting up one of the grates under the console and picking up a medium sized wooden box. Donnie watched as they went through it for a few moments before picking up a small glass tube with a blue liquid that looked like pen ink. 

“Anti-plastic, outlawed in most places, but good thing the TARDIS isn’t most places.” The Doctor said as they handed the vial to Donnie, letting the teen examine the liquid. 

“What is made off?” He asked, handing the vial back to The Doctor. 

The Doctor thought for a moment before answering, “Tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, dichloromethane along with a few other chemicals to help dissolve the Nestene Consciousness. Now, pop your shell on, we’re heading to London!” 

Donnie grinned before he ran back to his bedroom and changed his bed hoodie out for his regular hoodie and shorts (placing his battle shell on as well), placing his cloaking necklace on and making sure to hide it under the hoodie. He still wasn’t used to his human form, the hair, the scaleless skin, how his battle shell turned into a back brace, and how he had scars on his chest that resembled top surgery scars, that also mirrors the lines on his plastron. 

But as he was getting changed, the TARDIS shook around violently, causing his old bō to roll from under his bed. He hadn’t cleaned the blood off it at all, in fact, he had replaced the bō altogether for a new one, one made purely from his ninpo so that it couldn’t ever be stained with blood. Donnie shook his head to get rid of those thoughts as he kicked the bō back under his bed and ran back out into the console, almost falling a couple of times as the TARDIS shook. 

“Central South East London.” The Doctor announced as the two exited the TARDIS, the sounds, smells, and lights overwhelmed Donnie, but thankfully he managed to adapt to the new senses immediately. 

“Why are we in Central South East London of all places?” Donnie asked as the two started to walk around. 

“You know how I told you that the Nestene Consciousness needed a transmitter to control all the plastic.” Donnie nodded, “Well I half lied, it can create small transmitters to control plastic but not turn them into an army, and that transmitter is on the roof of one of these buildings. Unfortunately, the TARDIS couldn’t pick up which one.”

“Do you have any idea how long that’ll take?” Donnie asked, raising an eyebrow at The Doctor. 

“Yep.” 

Donnie rolled his eyes before turning away from The Doctor as they continued walking. Donnie took out his phone to set up a scanner for any type of transmittions which didn’t really help as there were constant transmissions of TVs, phones and the giant screen billboards. 

“Here give me that.” The Doctor told him, so Donnie gave The Doctor his phone, watching as they subtly soniced it, “There, upgraded to focus purely on the miniature transmitter.” 

Donnie quietly thanked The Doctor as he placed his phone back in his pocket, keeping his hand in the pocket so he could feel the vibrations. The two continued walking for a bit more, looking at all the different buildings seeing if they held the transmitter until Donnie suddenly realized something and stepped in front of The Doctor. 

“The shops!” He said, only receiving a confused look from the timelord, “Look at the shops, the ones that sell clothes especially. All of them have mannequins, plastic mannequins. Now if I was a plastic controlling alien, I think it would want to control something that could easily move and had dozens in heavily populated areas to make the take over easier.” 

Donnie watched as The Doctor looked around at the dozens of shops that surrounded them in the high street, most being clothes shops that showed off their products in the display windows via plastic mannequins before turning back to Donnie, “Oh Donnie you’re genius!” 

“Of course I am, gotta keep you humble somehow.” Donnie jokingly told The Doctor. 

“Oi watch it young man. Now,” The Doctor rubbed their hands together in excitement, "That narrows down the miniature transmitter by a lot. So, let's split up and go into different shops, sound like a plan?” 

So the pair split up and went about the area entering different clothing shops, walking around before leaving, thankfully the staff weren’t too bothered by that, though Donnie did get stopped a few times by shop security in some of the fancier shops, but other than that the search was going relatively slow. 

Until Donnie entered a shop called Henriks where his phone started to vibrate in much shorter intervals than it was previously, so Donnie hung around the shop longer. 

“Eh excuse me, you need help?” A feminine voice asked him as Donnie hung around the elevator (or lift as he learnt it was called in England) scanning the area. 

“Mm? Oh yes I’m fine, I’m just trying to remember what floor my sister went to.” Donnie said, having told a lie similar to that a few times during the search. 

“Well, she’s most likely on the third floor, that's where all the women’s clothing is.” The woman said, who Donnie guessed was around 19.

“Ah thank you-” Donnie looked at the name tag, “Rose, thank you for your help.” 

“Of course, it’s what I get paid to do.” She joked, the two sharing a quick and quiet laugh. 

Donnie then waved her goodbye and entered the elevator, and as he entered the third floor, the vibrations from his phone got stronger. Yep, the transmitter was definitely on the roof of this building. So Donnie stepped out of the elevator and made his way back to the ground floor via the stairs and left the store, making sure to catch a glimpse at the closing times and saw it closed at six PM. 

So Donnie made his way into an alleyway and made a quick call to The Doctor, making sure that his phone was hidden from the humans as The Doctor told him to keep future tech hidden from humans when they were in the past, and told them that he’d found the store that the transmitter was located in. 

They both met up at the TARDIS and discussed the plan. 

There was a bit of an argument, but The Doctor had the final say as they were going to be the one who would take the bomb up to the roof whilst Donnie made sure that there weren’t any people left in the store whilst also making sure that any and all security cameras didn’t show them entering or exiting the store. 

So they parked the TARDIS a few minutes away from the Henriks shop about an hour after it closed, whilst also scanning for any life signs in the shop. Donnie got out of the TARDIS and immediately got to work with looping the cameras for the next few hours whilst The Doctor entered the shop and immediately went for the elevator at the back of the shop. But Donnie stopped The Doctor by whistling to catch their attention. 

“What?” They whisper-yelled. 

‘Two- no one, Human, basement.’ Donnie signed, trying to make sure there was no attention pulled towards them. He heard The Doctor sigh before entering the elevator, the panel above the elevator showing that it was going down to the basement. Donnie then leant against the shop, thankful that people weren’t too bothered by a teenager on his phone (that he kept half hidden) as he continued to scan for life signs, and making sure that people weren’t too close to the shop, which thankfully there weren’t many humans about as most were head home or weren’t needing to enter shops as they went to pubs or restaurants. 

His phone then started to beep quietly as it told him that the bomb had been placed and had started the 20 seconds countdown to allow The Doctor to get off the roof. So Donnie also quickly made his way back to the TARDIS, but as he did he nearly got ran into by a familiar human, Rose, the employee from the shop, and she was holding a plastic arm? 

Donnie didn’t really question it as he knew that she must have been the one his scanner picked up on in the basement, he was just thankful she didn’t really recognize him. 

Just as Donnie crossed the street to get back to the TARDIS, an explosion ran through his ears, he spun around and watched as the explosion took out the roof and first two floors of the shop. As people panicked, Donnie ran to the TARDIS, thankful that the humans’ panic made it easy to slip into the machine without being seen. 

And it was only a few minutes later when The Doctor entered the TARDIS, covered head to toe in soot and a light fire on their jacket. “And what do you call a time like this Mx? And coming home like that?” He joked as The Doctor used their soot covered sleeve to try and clean their face, only adding more soot to their face. 

“Ha ha very funny.” They said as they shrugged off the jacket and started to make their way to their own room as Donnie leant against the railings and turned on his phone, making sure it was connected to this timeline as within a  few minutes there were several news articles and news channels reporting on the explosion. Donnie made sure to skim through them all to make sure his and The Doctor’s faces weren’t on any footage shown. 

“Good news, we’re not on the news, bad news, a human, Rose, I believe her name is, had an arm from one of the mannequins so I assume that’s your fault.” Donnie said, repocketed his phone as The Doctor re-entered the console room, in the same outfit, just without soot and fire. 

“Oi, it wasn’t my fault, she was the one down in the basement and nearly got attacked by the mannequins, speaking of which we need to find that arm as we can use it to track the main signal to the Nestene Consciousness. Just need to find out where Rose is.”

“Do you really think she took the arm home?” Donnie asked

The Doctor shrugged, “That’s the best possibility we have, do you think you’re able to find out where she lives?” They asked, receiving an eyebrow raise from the mutant. 

“You’re asking me to stalk Rose? Do you know how creepy that sounds?” Donnie said, looking at The Doctor very unimpressed. 

“I’m not asking you to stalk her, I’m asking you to find where she lives so we can get the plastic arm back.” Donnie knew he wasn’t getting out of this as it was the only way to actually find the arm and he knew The Doctor didn’t want to spend another day trying to find another store with a miniature transmitter, so he told The Doctor to hang on as he went to get his laptop and brought it back into the console room. 

It took a few minutes until Donnie managed to find the estate where Rose and her mother lived via different CCTV cameras that showed the direction that Rose was walking, with her holding the mannequin arm the entire way to her flat, only issue is that it didn’t show which flat was Rose’s. But that shouldn’t be too much of an issue as Donnie’s phone and The Doctor’s sonic could detect the plastic. 

So The Doctor set the TARDIS to travel to the morning around 9AM as requested by Donnie as they’d be seen as a lot less suspicious wandering around a block of flats in the day time than night time. Eventually they ended up on the second to top floor, where their scanners showed that the plastic arm was close. 

The Doctor then suddenly got down on the floor and started to scan a cat flat on one of the doors, “What are you doing?” Donnie whisper-yelled at The Doctor. 

He watched as The Doctor suddenly got back up to their feet as the door opened, Donnie was semi-thankful that it was Rose on the other side of that door, he didn’t want to deal with the awkwardness of a conversation with a stranger. 

“What are you doing here?” They blurted out. 

“I live here.” 

“What did you do that for?” 

“‘Cause I do? I’m only here cause someone blew up my job.” Donnie very quickly turned away from Rose, hoping that she hadn't seen him yet. 

“Must have gotten the wrong signal.” The Doctor muttered as they turned on their sonic listening for the signal, it was strong, determining the arm was in the area but maybe it moved, “You’re not plastic?” They asked as they knocked on Rose’s forehead, “Nope, bonehead. Let’s go.” 

The Doctor tried to leave but their arm got grabbed by Rose, “You two, inside, now.” They got dragged into the flat, Donnie following quickly behind. 

“Who is it?” A feminine voice called out, Donnie had to assume it was Rose’s mother. 

“It’s about last night, he’s part of the inquiry. And it’s also bring your kid to work day.” Rose said, quickly explaining the reason for The Doctor’s appearance and why a teenager was with them. 

‘Why do people always think I’m their son.’ Donnie thought as he followed Rose into the living room. Holding in laughter as he heard Rose’s mother flirt with The Doctor, letting a snort when the timelord ‘no’ and walked away from the bedroom. 

“Don’t mind the mess, you two want a coffee?” Rose asked them. 

“Yes please, can I have sweetener with mine? The Doctor will have milk in theirs.” Donnie said, just as The Doctor joined them in the living room. 

“We should go to the police.” Donnie heard Rose say from the kitchen. 

Whilst Rose was making the coffee for the pair, Donnie watched as The Doctor wandered around the living room, picking up a magazine and book, flicking through them before muttering a statement about the people or the ending before placing it down. He also heard Rose talking in the kitchen but he wasn’t bothering to try and hear what she was saying. 

“Can’t take you anywhere.” Donnie joked as he hung his arms over the back of the chair closest to the window, enjoying the feeling of the sun on his shell. He continued to watch as The Doctor picked up a piece of paper and said ‘Rose Tyler’, Donnie guessed that was her full name. 

They placed the paper down and caught sight of the mirror on the wall and decided to look at themselves, despite having this regeneration for over a month, they’d yet to look at what they look like. 

“Eh could’ve been worse. Look at the ears.” They start, flicking at their ears. 

“Now you see why I call you Dumbo.” Donnie joked, receiving a light hearted glare from The Doctor. They then immediately got distracted by a stack of cards and started doing some odd card trick with them (‘God they’re as bad as Leo’ Donnie thought). And only stopped when he coughed loudly to gain their attention, causing them to drop the cards. 

But then the two of them got distracted by a flapping sound and the sound of something scuttering across the wooden floor. “What’s that?” Donnie mumbled, walking to the side of the chair. 

“Have you got a cat?” The Doctor asked as they went to look over behind the sofa where the noise stopped. 

“We did have, but we just get strays, they come off the estate.” Rose answered, still making the coffee. 

But as The Doctor looked behind the sofa, they suddenly fell backwards as a plastic hand wrapped itself around their neck. Donnie quickly sprung into action and ran towards The Doctor and started to try and tug the arm off The Doctor’s neck. They ended up falling onto the couch, Donnie pressing his foot against the base of the couch to try and pull the arm off their neck. 

“I told Mickey to chuck that out.” Rose sat with disappointment in her voice, “You boys are all the same, give a man a plastic hand- and you two haven’t even told me your names-” But Rose was cut off as Donnie managed to pull the arm off The Doctor, making him fall to the ground, but this caused the arm to fly towards the next nearest face, which happened to be Rose’s. 

The Doctor immediately got up from the couch and ran over to Rose who was pressed against the wall and tried to pull the arm off, Donnie went forward to help but he didn’t know what to do so he just held his hands in front of himself clenching his fists, unsure of how to help. 

‘How is her mother not hearing any of this?’ He asked himself, rolling his eyes as he heard the hair dryer coming from Rose’s mother’s bedroom. 

Donnie hissed in shock as The Doctor and Rose suddenly fell backwards onto the glass coffee table, shattering the furniture. Whilst The Doctor was left on the floor, Rose got up and fell onto the couch, trying to take the arm off her face. The mutant immediately jumped in to help her get it off as The Doctor recovered from shattering the table. 

As Donnie got the arm off, The Doctor hastily kneeled next to him and soniced the arm, going through dozens of frequencies before finding one that stopped the signal that kept the arm alive. Donnie sighed as the arm stopped moving, resting his head against the plastic. 

“It’s alright. I’ve stopped it. Armless see.” Donnie didn’t hesitate smacking The Doctor with the arm, hearing Rose mutter ‘serves you right mate’, 

“Right, goodbye.” The Doctor quickly got up from the floor, dusting themselves, Donnie following a few moments after, not surprised that Rose tailed after them down the fire escape stairs. 

“Wai’ a minute, you two can’t just go swanning off.” Rose yelled after them. 

“Well we can and we are.” Donnie shot back immediately, turning towards the human and giving a grin, well aware it showed his unnaturally sharp teeth. But it didn’t seem she was too bothered as she was still following them down the fire escape stairs. 

“But that arm was moving, it tried to kill me!”

“Well observed!” The Doctor yelled. 

“You can’t just walk away. That’s not fair, you gotta tell me what’s going on.” 

“No we don’t.” The Doctor told her as they reached the bottom of the stairs, and held the door open for Donnie as he walked through, still holding the mannequin arm. 

“Alright then,” Rose said, walking next to The Doctor, Donnie on the right side of the timelord, causing them to be squished between the two. “I’ll go to the police, I’ll tell everyone.” 

Donnie rolled his eyes as he heard her say that, the police won’t believe her, UNIT would pick up that report immediately and tell the police to stay out of it. 

“You said I’d get people killed, so, your choice. Tell me or I'll talk.” When Rose said that, Donnie just looked at The Doctor with a look that read ‘really?’, but they ignored it as they continued to walk to the TARDIS

“Is that supposed to sound tough?” 

“Sort of.” 

“Doesn’t work.”

The two continued to walk to the TARDIS, with Rose still tailing behind them, just as unsure about who the two were as she was earlier, “Who are you two?” 

“I’m The Doctor and that’s Donnie.” They answered, pointing at Donnie who gave a bored wave before deciding to flip his goggles down (which appeared as sunglasses when he put his cloaking necklace on) to try and scan the arm to see if there was a signal still being transmitted. He still listened to the conversation between The Doctor and Rose but didn’t have the energy to actively participate in it.

“I was in the shop, you blundered in, almost ruined it all.” 

“Hey, be nice.” Donnie said, lightly elbowing The Doctor’s ribs. 

The conversation continued on as Donnie scanned the arm, the signal was weak but there was still a chance they could use that signal to track the Nestene Consciousness, but the arm was suddenly taken off him by Rose reaching across the two and taking it. 

“Okay then, start from the beginning,” Rose said as she now held onto the arm, “I mean, if we’re gonna go with living plastic, and I don’t even believe that, how did you kill it?” 

“Donnie, you want to contribute to the conversation?” The Doctor asked the mutant who was just now messing around with his phone. 

“Do I have to?” 

“Yes, be nice now.” The Doctor told him lightheartedly. 

So Donnie sighed, pretending to be annoyed that he had to talk about something that did fascinate him, “Well there’s something that was projecting a signal into all those mannequins, that signal was what was on top of your shop- sorry about the job by the way, and that arm was still receiving the signal, The Doctor cut it off by finding the the right frequency and effectively killing it. Any questions?” 

“Who's controlling it then?” Rose asked. 

“Very long story.” The Doctor quickly answered, obviously thinking that saying it’s alien would be too much for Rose. 

“But why window shop dummies?” 

“Oh you know, army to overthrow the human race and destroy you, the usual.” Donnie answered casually, flashing Rose a grin hoping that lightened up the statement. 

As the two continued to walk forward, Rose stopped, “Really though, Doctor, who are you?” 

Donnie stayed in place as The Doctor took a few steps towards Rose, “You know how we were saying about the Earth revolving? And when you’re a kid and they tell you the Earth is spinning but you don’t believe it because everything is just so still…I can feel it, I can feel the Earth spinning at 1,000 miles under our feet. And I can feel it, all the time. No one else can feel it, Rose, not even Donnie. That’s who I am Rose Tyler. Now, go home and forget about me, forget Donnie. Just go back to your normal life, alright.” 

As the two entered the TARDIS, The Doctor started to attach the arm (having taken it back from Rose) to the console to try and follow the signal, but Donnie’s mind was still on Rose, there was something in the back of his mind telling him she was important. 

“Do you think we’ll see Rose again? Like, for some reason she just felt important.” 

“Everyone is important Donnie, I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important, but there are some who just have more impact than others, and with Rose…I could hear her song, it was louder than most, almost as loud as yours's.”

Donnie didn’t know much about the timelords as The Doctor didn’t like to talk about their old home, but what he did know is how they described their language, the language of the timelords could be akinned to a never ending song, and everyone had a song surrounding them. And apparently some people’s songs are louder than others, Donnie’s song being one of those songs. 

“So who knows, we might see her again.”

“Mickey he’s safe, he’s got a wife and kids.” Rose told Mickey as she unbuckled her seat belt, almost wanting to laugh at her friend’s worry. 

“And who told you that? He did! What exactly does an internet lunatic murderer would say.” Mickey yelled, believing that Rose going to see this ‘Clive’ guy about some Doctor she believes blew up her job was sketchy. 

“Oh stop worrying, I’ll be fine, now just wait here, don’t go off to the pub for a pint.” Rose told him jokingly as she got out of the car and walked over to the house that Clive lived at. She knocked on the door and a young kid answered, Rose told him that she had been talking to Clive, making the kid yell into the house “Dad, it’s one of your nutters.” 

It wasn’t long before Clive took Rose into the house and to his shed (well not before she said that Mickey was in the car just to make sure the guy wasn’t going to murder her if there was a person who was aware of her location). 

“A lot of this is quite sensitive, I couldn’t just send it, people might intercept.” Clive told her as he started to take out different files and placed them down the one the table, “Now, if you dig deep enough, this Doctor keeps cropping up all over the place. Political diaries, conspiracy theories, even ghost stories. No first name or last name, always just the Doctor. The title seems to be passed from father to son, that’s your Doctor there isn't it.” Clive then pointed to the computer behind Rose, it was the picture she saw on the website, The Doctor surrounded by blurred out faces. 

“I tracked it down last year. The online photo is enhanced, but if we look at the original,” Clive then turned back to the table and pulled out a series of photos, and slowly revealed one photo at a time that The Doctor was watching the assassination of John. F Kennedy. 

“November 23nd 1963, the assassination of President Kennedy.” 

“Must be his father- wait…” Rose mumbled as she pointed to a Black kid standing next to The Doctor, it was Donnie, he was wearing the same hoodie and everything.  

“Yep, that kid is with the Doctor all the time, see if we look further back, April 1912,” Clive walked over to another shelf and took another file to show Rose, “The O’Neil family, and ‘friends’.” The photo showed a Black family and next to them was The Doctor and Donnie, both were more dressed for the time than the JFK photo, “Taken on the day they were meant to go on the titanic to the new world, and for some unknown reason they canceled the trip, the youngest writing in his diary that their parents decided to set off to America the next year.” 

Clive then placed the photo down and grabbed another photo, “And, 1883, another Doctor and the same child.” Clive showed her a drawn photo this time, “They’re identical to all other photos. This one washed up on the Sumatran coast the night Krakatoa exploded.” 

Rose wasn’t sure what he was talking about as she didn’t pay attention in history class, so she just nodded along. 

“The Doctor and his kid, who people call his ‘child soldier’ as he appears to be the fighter out of the two, are woven throughout history. When disaster comes, they’re there, they bring a storm in their wake, and there is always someone right behind them both.” 

“Who?” 

“Death.” 

The shed fell with a heavy silence. 

“If The Doctor and his child soldier are back, there’s one thing for certain…we’re all in danger, God help us all.” 

Despite all this information that Clive has given her, there was still one question he hadn’t even gotten close to answering, “But who are they? Who are The Doctor and Donnie?”

“I think they’re the same people. I think they’re both immortal. The Doctor is an alien from another world, whilst Donnie is a government experiment, a mutant, that hides what he is through some cloaking technology the Doctor has given him.” 

And through that answer alone, that gave Rose all the evidence she needed to say that Clive is an absolute nutter. 

“Dammit! The signal is too weak to actually track the Nestene Consciousness.” The Doctor yelled as the TARDIS wasn’t able to lock onto the location of the alien.

“Wouldn’t a head be stronger? Cause you know, brainwaves and everything?” Donnie asked as he tried to heighten the signal via his laptop, but he only ended up getting a random awry of signals that seemed to move along to the roads before coming to a slow stop at some restaurant, “Wait, Doctor come look at this.” He waved The Doctor over who leaned over his shoulder to look at his laptop screen. 

“There seems to be a sudden shift in one of the transmitter signals, which then drives across the roads before stopping at a restaurant. Why?” He asked, looking up at the timelord. 

“Could it be a shift change?” 

“A what?” Donnie looked at The Doctor, slightly confused on what they meant. 

“You know, a shift change, where the plastic shifts from one form to another. And I’m guessing it’s shifted into a person based on those strong signals.” The Doctor then took Donnie’s laptop into their hands to find out the location of the restaurant before giving Donnie back his laptop and going back to the console, throwing the arm to the side and making the TARDIS appear behind the restaurant. 

“Yep, it’s inside.” 

“That means it's shifted into a person! Oh I knew keeping you around would be a good idea.” The Doctor praised, ruffling Donnie's hair, making the mutant groan about messing up his afro. 

The two then exited the TARDIS and walked into the restaurant, thankfully despite being a Sunday the restaurant was empty and the two got walked given a table, (the waitress believing The Doctor and Donnie were father and son), with happened to be near Rose and Mickey, except the human didn't appear human, he looked too smooth. 

They were too far away too properly hear, so The Doctor came up with a plan, they somehow managed to get a bottle of champagne within only a few minutes of them being sat down, but when they got given it, they stood up and went over to the table were Rose and ‘Mickey’ were sitting at pretending to be a server. 

Donnie watched as The Doctor was rejected a few times by Rose as she most likely didn't notice who it was until ‘Mickey’ looked up, causing The Doctor to shake the champagne bottle before letting the cork fly off and into ‘Mickey's’ face. But that didn't have much of an effect as the cork just got absorbed into the plastic before he spit out the cork. 

‘Mickey's’ hand then suddenly formed into something resembling a wooden board and started chopping at the tables. If there weren’t dozens of humans around Donnie would have summoned his bō and taken out the fake, but he knew he couldn’t without causing more of a panic so he jumped up and grabbed onto the arms of the fake, allowing The Doctor to grab the head of the fake. For a short moment Donnie believed the fake to be dead, but when the head suddenly opened his eyes and said “Don’t you think that’s going to stop me.” Causing the couple on the table in front of The Doctor to scream in horror. 

“Everyone out!” Rose yelled as she activated the fire alarm as the body threw Donnie off it and onto the table behind him, causing it to shatter. The Doctor grabbed Donnie’s arm helping him up (he was glad that there was no glass that pierced him or ruined his hoodie as that would have been annoying to deal with). Whilst everyone ran towards the entrance of the restaurant to get out, the three ran towards the back entrance to get to the TARDIS and to make sure the plastic mickey couldn’t harm anyone. 

The Doctor soniced the door to give them that bit of extra time to get into the TARDIS and make sure that Rose got into the machine as well. Whilst The Doctor soniced the door, Donnie took his own TARDIS key out of his pocket and walked over to the TARDIS to unlock it. 

“Open the gate!” Rose demanded as she grabbed at the chains holding the metal cage shut, not even noticing that Donnie was no longer in the area as he had entered the TARDIS, as he started to set up the scanning device to get the location of the alien. It wasn’t too long before The Doctor also joined him in the TARDIS, walking in casually as he held the head under his arm. 

“How long do you think it’ll take for her to join us?” Donnie asked jokingly as he helped The Doctor connect the head to the TARDIS tracking system. The timelord only shrugged, but there was no need for an answer as Rose ran into the TARDIS, bracing herself for having to share a small police box with two other people. Donnie almost laughed as she ran back out. “Do you think she’ll say the thing?” 

“Oh I’m counting on it.” The Doctor answered. 

It was only a few seconds later when Rose re-entered the TARDIS, the doors closing behind her, “It’s gonna follow us.” She cried out. 

“The assembled hordes Genghis Khan couldn’t get through that door.” The Doctor told her, flicking a couple of switches to help the TARDIS lock onto the signal, Donnie focusing on making sure the head was secure, “You see, an arm was way too simple, but the head is perfect, so we can use it to track the original source.” 

“I literally told you that.” Donnie told them, The Doctor only shrugged before turning to Rose who was looking around the TARDIS in shock. 

“Right, where do you want to start?” The Doctor asked, Donnie also turned around, resting his hands on the console table. 

Rose stammered for a quick second before speaking, “Um- the inside is bigger than the outside?” 

“Yes.” 

“It’s alien?”

“Yep.” 

Rose then pointed to The Doctor, “Are you alien?”  When they answered with a simple ‘yes’, she then pointed to Donnie, “Is he alien?” 

“Nope,” Donnie answered, a look of relief on Rose’s face before Donnie decided to ruin that relief, “I’m a turtle mutant from about 13 years in your future.” 

“American?” Rose asked, Donnie stopped himself from laughing with her before he nodded, answering her question, “Then how come you look human, if you’re, like, part turtle?” She asked.

Donnie then held up his cloaking necklace, the green crystal taken out of the broach it was originally in, shone in the dim TARDIS light, Rose just nodded, obviously not really understanding. 

“It's called the TARDIS, this thing.” The Doctor said, moving their head in a small circular motion, “T-A-R-D-I-S, that's Time And Relative Dimension In Space.” 

Rose crying was not the reaction Donnie expected from the human, “It's okay, culture shock, Donnie almost threw up his first time.” The Doctor said, ignoring Donnie's look of annoyance. 

“Did they kill him- Mickey, did they kill Mickey? Is he dead?” Rose asked, Donnie looked towards The Doctor on what to say as he wasn't the best at comforting, (that was always Mikey's job in the family) but granted either two were good at comforting. 

“Oh, I didn't think of that.” They answered. 

“You pulled off his head- they copied him, and you didn't even think? And now you're just gonna let him melt?” Rose pointed to the head that was beside Donnie, The Doctor quickly jumping to the console to try and follow the signal. 

Whilst The Doctor tried to get the TARDIS to track the signal, Donnie decided to walk over to Rose in an attempt to help her feel better, he hesitated before speaking. 

“He most likely isn't dead.” He said, causing Rose's head to snap towards him, “As you said, that was a copy and they need the person alive to keep the copy alive. So your boyfriend is most likely alive. There's a 76% chance.” Donnie told her, whilst he may not be the best at providing comfort, he'd hope that those facts would help Rose. 

“Suppose that's better than 0%, and he ain't my boyfriend. I mean he was, but we broke up a few weeks ago. Still good mates though.” Rose told him, Donnie muttering that he's sorry for assuming. 

“It's fine, what is he doing anyways?” Rose asked as The Doctor ran around the console, muttering curses to themselves. 

“ They ,” Donnie started, emphasizing the pronoun, “Are trying to track to the signal to find the creature controlling the mannequins.” 

“Donnie, come and help me here!” The Doctor yelled, Donnie quickly ran from the entrance of the TARDIS back to the console, “Hold down the two levers by the head and try and keep the liquid from spilling onto the floor.” The Doctor said, Donnie looking at the timelord in confusion with an expression that read ‘how?’ 

The TARDIS then stopped and The Doctor ran towards the doors, Donnie following close behind, “You can't go out there! It's not safe!” He heard Rose yell before she followed out the TARDIS doors as well. 

“We lost the signal, we were so close.” The Doctor stressed, looking out over the River Thames. 

“We've moved? Does it fly?” Rose asked, closing the TARDIS doors behind her. 

“It disappears there and reappears here.” The Doctor told her, leaning against the concrete wall of the Thames bridge. 

“But if we're…like, somewhere else, that headless thing's still on the loose.” 

“Nope,” Donnie said, “It melted alongside the head, now there's just a random pool of brown liquid plastic that's definitely going to confuse the police.” He laughed.

“Wait, hold on, if he- if they're alien, how come they sounds like they're from the North?” Rose asked The Doctor, the topic quickly shifted as more questions about who the two of them were appeared in her head. 

“Lots of planets have a North.” The Doctor answered, crossing their arms with pretend offense at the question. 

“And this plastic, what's it got against us?” 

“Oh, nothing, it loves you. You've got a good planet, lots of smoke and oil, plenty of toxins and dioxins, perfect. Just what the Nestene Consciousness needs.” The Doctor answered. 

“But,” Rose continued to question, “Surely since Donnie's from the future, the living plastic or whatever got solved?” 

The Doctor shook their head, “Nope, time is constantly changing, there are certain fixed points, but there are many points that can be changed without much consequences to the stream of time.” 

Donnie then decided to step in with some information, “The only reason why it's here in the first place is because its home was destroyed, so its planning on making earth its new home.” 

“So how do we stop it?” 

The Doctor then grinned before pulling the anti-plastic from their trousers, “Anti-plastic.” They grinned, “But we gotta find it first.” The Doctor said, placing the anti-plastic back into their pocket. 

“How can you hide something that big in a city so small?” The Doctor asked, mostly to themselves as they walked back to the spot on the bridge they just were. 

“Hide what?” 

“The main transmitter,” Donnie answered Rose, “There was a smaller one on your shop and probably near where Mickey got copied, and then there's the main transmitter which sits directly on top of where the Consciousness should be so it can control every piece of plastic.” He explained.

“We should be able to see the transmitter,” The Doctor continued, “Round and massive, smack bang in the middle of London. A huge metal circular structure, like a dish, or wheel. It should be close to where we're standing, it must be completely invisible.” 

As The Doctor talked they walked to the other side of the bridge until they stopped, and behind them was the goddamn London Eye. Donnie almost wanted to laugh at how oblivious they were, but he kept in his laughter to see how long it'll take them to realize. 

Donnie just held a fist over his mouth whilst Rose just looked behind The Doctor, half nodding. They turned around, looking at the London Eye, one of the roundest things in London, before looking back at the pair, “What?” 

Rose nodded again whilst Donnie was internally dying of laughter, “What?” The Doctor asked again as they looked behind them.

“What? What is it? What?” They asked as Rose sighed, rolling her eyes whilst a laugh was finally released from Donnie's mouth. 

“Oh…” The Doctor finally realized turning back to the Eye again, “Fantastic!” They grinned before they started to run off in the direction of the London Eye.

The run across the bridge that was suspended above the large river only took a few minutes as they were already half way along it, eventually they stopped a few meters away from the waiting lines and ticket booth. 

“Think. Plastic. All over the world, every artificial thing is waiting to be alive.” The Doctor told them as they waited for Rose to catch her breath. “Shop window dummies, phones, wires, cables-” 

“Breast implants.” Rose added, making Donnie snort, god he was such a child. 

“At least we've found the transmitter. The Consciousness must be somewhere underneath.” Donnie said after regaining his composure. 

Rose then suddenly ran to the right and looked over the bridge, “What about down here?” She yelled, making Donnie and The Doctor join her.

The Doctor looked over at the edge at the entrance to a possible basement-like room that most likely ran underneath the London Eye before they got Rose and Donnie to follow them. 

When they got down to the hatch, The Doctor turned the wheel that locked the hatch before climbing down the ladder. Donnie being the last one down as he put the lid back onto the hole just to make sure no humans came to investigate. 

The three walked down a corridor, the air immediately felt heavy and hot with the smoke that drifted around them. The Doctor then opened another door which led them to a room with a red tint to it and the air was even hotter. 

“The Nestene Consciousness.” They pointed out, looking at the pit in the middle of the floor. The Consciousness looked similar to molten lava as it moved and bubbled like the thick liquid, “That's it, inside the vat, a living plastic creature.” 

“Well, tip in your anti-plastic and let's go.” 

“No,” The Doctor rejected, their voice more serious than it was moments prior, “We're not here to kill it. We need to give it a chance, come on Donnie.” 

Donnie followed The Doctor down the stairs, Rose close behind. 

“We seek audience with the Nestene Consciousness under peaceful contract, according to Convention 15 of the Shadow Proclamation.” 

‘ I UNDERSTAND YOUR WISH FOR AUDIENCE.’ The living plastic called out, Donnie was unsure of how to describe the voice of the alien, the only way he could describe it was drippy. 

“Thank you. If I might have permission for me and my companion to approach?” The Doctor requested, gesturing to Donnie. 

‘ YOU AND THE YOUNG ONE MAY APPROACH MY FORM.’ 

As the Consciousness said that, Rose suddenly ran down the stairs, spotting Mickey. 

“See I told you they would have kept him alive.” Donnie told her as Rose quickly knelt beside Mickey and hugged him tightly, the other human hugging her just as hard. 

“Can we keep the domestics outside please?” The Doctor asked as they continued to walk down the stairs so they were closer to the Consciousness. 

Donnie and The Doctor stood on the platform above the Consciousness, “Am I addressing the Consciousness?” The Doctor asked just as a precaution. 

‘ INDEED YOU ARE TIMELORD.’ 

“Thank you, now, if we may observe, you infiltrated this civilisation by means of warp, shunt technology. So, may I suggest. with the greatest respect that you shunt off?” Donnie held back a laugh when The Doctor said that.

‘HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME IN SUCH A WAY!’ The Consciousness cried out in offense. 

“Oh don't give us that.” Donnie said, “This is the most obvious invasion ever, I think we get the right to talk to you like that.”

‘BUT MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS- ’

“Oh don't talk about constitutional rights-” The Doctor then got cut off by the Consciousness throwing what Donnie could only describe as a tantrum. 

‘MY RIGHTS ARE BEING THREATENED HOW DARE YOU, I'VE GOT MORE RIGHTS THAN ALL CREATURES ON THIS BACKWARDS PLANE-’

“I AM TALKING!” The Doctor yelled, cutting the Consciousness off, “This planet is just starting, These- stupid little people are just learning how to walk, they’re not even aware of the whole different species that live under their feet waiting to live among them. They capable of so much more so I’m asking you on their behalf-” 

“Doctor!” Rose’s yell cut them off as two mannequins suddenly grabbed The Doctor. Donnie went to go and attack them but he too was grabbed, probably even more harshly than The Doctor, as the plastic had a tight grip on his hands, almost like the Nestene Consciousness knew of his ninpo which he wouldn’t be too surprised if it did know.

‘YOU DARE COME ONTO MY TERRITORY WHILST BEING A TRESPASSER YOURSELF ON THIS PLANET WITH WEAPONS THAT CAN KILL ME? WHAT SORT OF A DOCTOR ARE YOU WITH SUCH DESTRUCTION ON HAND‽’ The Consciousness demanded as one of the mannequins holding The Doctor let go, leaving the other one holding them tightly, and dove its hand into their pocket before pulling out the vial of anti-plastic. 

“That was only insurance, I wasn’t going to use it.” 

‘ THEN WHAT IS THE KAPAS’ PURPOSE‽’ The Consciousness questioned as one of the mannequins holding Donnie moved its hand to the cloaking necklace and yanked it off, causing Donnie to choke and cough for a short few moments before the chain snapped, making the mannequin hold the broken necklace high in the air. Donnie’s form quickly changed from a Black human teenager to his actual form, a mutant softshell turtle. He heard Mickey and Rose mumble something when his necklace was taken off him but he wasn’t able to understand them, ‘ AH, THE CREATOR OF GENIUS TECH ™, WHY DO YOU TRAVEL WITH SUCH A DANGEROUS CREATURE, WITH SUCH A WEAPON?’ The Consciousness addressed The Doctor like Donnie wasn’t even in the room. 

“He travels with me, he’s my companion, not a weapon. We are not here to attack you, I’m here to help you. We’re not your enemy I swear!” The Doctor begged as both tried their hardest to get out of the arms of the plastic. 

‘ AND YOUR WAR SHIP?’ 

“Our what?” Donnie questioned, very confused on what it meant. 

Then from behind them, on the platform above, metal doors opened up revealing that the Nestene Consciousness had somehow gotten the TARDIS. 

“No, no honestly no.” The Doctor said, obviously not liking the face that the Consciousness had called the TARDIS a war ship. 

‘ THAT IS YOUR SHIP IS IT NOT?’ 

“Yes, that’s my ship.” 

‘ THAT IS THE WAR SHIP THAT DESTROYED MY PLANET!’ The Consciousness cried out, Donnie turned his head towards The Doctor to see that they looked at the liquid plastic in complete horror. 

“That’s not true! I should know, I was there. I fought in the war. It wasn’t my fault.” The Doctor sounded like they were on the verge of crying as they spoke, and if Donnie had to guess, the ‘war’ they were talking about was the Time War, something that Donnie had only heard about once.

‘ SO WHY DIDN’T YOU SAVE IT?’ 

“I couldn't save your world. I couldn't save any of them.” The Doctor pleaded. 

The Nestene Consciousness just screamed curses at The Doctor before screaming something about how the TARDIS would be a price to pay for their mistakes. 

“What's it doing?” Rose asked

“It's the TARDIS.” The Doctor answered whilst struggling against the mannequin still holding them, “The Nestene's identified it as superior technology. It's terrified.” The Doctor half lied, knowing that Rose couldn't truly understand the Nestene yet. 

“It's starting the invasion! Get out Rose, just leg it!” The Doctor demanded. Just moments after The Doctor said that, a sudden bolt of lightning shot up from the middle of the Consciousness and broke the part of the ceiling above it. 

“The activation signal!” The Doctor yelled as the lightning circled the Consciousness as it transmitted its signal to the whole world via the London Eye. 

‘ MY PEOPLE WILL BECOME ALIVE ONCE MORE!’ The Nestene cried out in joy as the lightning stopped. 

“ROSE!” Donnie yelled to the human, “Get yourself and Mickey out now!” He then heard Rose yell about how the stairs were gone as the infrastructure of the basement-like room started to collapse.

As more of the room collapsed and the Consciousness celebrated it's ‘victory’ it was hard to hear any yelling from the two humans. But despite that lack of hearing, Donnie watched as Rose suddenly stood up from her position on the floor alongside Mickey as she ran to a part of the wall that had a chain attached to it. She then grabbed an axe, broke it off the wall and used that chain to swing towards them both. Kicking one of the mannequins holding Donnie and The Doctor whilst knocking the mannequin holding the anti-plastic. 

The Doctor then threw the mannequin on them over their back and into the Consciousness whilst Donnie summoned his bō and hit both the mannequins holding him off the platform, beheading the one mannequins that was holding his cloaking necklace, grabbing back the broken piece of jewellery before shoving it into his short's pocket. 

A sudden scream of anguish rang through the room as the anti-plastic started to eat up and dissolve the Nestene Consciousness, making Donnie flinch at the loudness, god where were his headphones when he needed them. 

He then ran towards The Doctor as they caught Rose as she swung back. 

“Now we're in trouble.” The Doctor grinned as they grabbed Rose's hand and pointed Donnie up the stairs. They ran as fast as they could, avoiding the falling debris in order to get to the TARDIS. 

The Doctor unlocked the door (even though Mickey was hugging the box which Donnie had to admit made him laugh) and got everyone inside.

“Oh my god.” Mickey said as he saw what the inside of the TARDIS looked like. 

“Yep, it is pretty big.” Donnie told him as he looked at the chain on his cloaking necklace, annoyed that his ninpo could only create technology and not items like necklace chains. But knowing the TARDIS, she most likely had a jewellery room that he can steal a chain from. 

The TARDIS landed very quickly, and the moment it landed Mickey shoved his way out of the doors. 

“Why do people always get so freaked out?” The Doctor asked as Mickey ran out and Rose walked out, most likely phoning her mother. Donnie just raised a drawn-on eyebrow at The Doctor. 

“You're gonna try and convince her? Convince her to join us, aren't you?” He asked as The Doctor walked towards the open door. 

“Three is a crowd and honestly, I quite like a crowd.” 

Donnie sighed jokingly before walking with The Doctor to the doors, opening up the other one so he could also be seen. 

“Nestene Consciousness? Easy?” The Doctor said, snapping their fingers which helped gain Rose's and Mickey's attention. 

“You were useless. You two'd be dead if it wasn't for me.” Rose said, no real malice in her voice. 

“Yeah yeah.” Donnie rolled his eyes jokingly at Rose. 

“Welp,” The Doctor started, popping the ‘p’, “We'll be off. Unless, I dunno know. unless you want to come along with us.” 

Donnie leant against the wall next to the door as he watched The Doctor do their speech to try and convince Rose, “This box isn't just a London hopper, you know. It goes anywhere and anywhen in the universe, free of charge.” 

“You-you can't go with him, he's an alien he's a thing.” Mickey said, standing up from the floor and pointing at The Doctor. 

“He's not invited.” The Doctor said, nodding their head at Mickey, obviously tired of all the misgendering today. 

“You said anywhen?” Rose asked. 

“That they did, could take you to a reading of a Christmas Carol, then to a new version of earth and still bring you back for dinner.” Donnie told her, watching as her face changed from uncertainty to a smile. 

“Will she be in danger?” Mickey asked from behind her. 

“Yep, but I'll keep her safe, I mean, I kept this one alive for over a month.” The Doctor said, ruffling Donnie's non-existent hair. 

“Hey, I kept myself alive, thank you very much.” Donnie groaned half-heartedly. 

There were a few moments of silence before Rose turned around and hugged Mickey. 

“You better keep her safe, I don't have any other mates that can do the weekly pub quizzes as good as her.” Mickey told them as Rose hugged him. Donnie and The Doctor nodded, giving him that silent promise. 

Rose then let go of him, giving Mickey a playful punch on the shoulder before running towards the TARDIS, making their traveling pair into a trio.

Chapter Text

“Alright, Rose Tyler, you tell me. Where do you wanna go? Backwards or forwards in time? Your choice.” The Doctor asked her, Donnie going to sit on the chair to just watch this happen. 

Rose thought for a few moments before she answered with, “Forwards.” 

Donnie watched The Doctor place down whatever device they were fiddling with to flick a few levels, “How far?” 

“Umm, hundred years?” 

As The Doctor grinned and started to do what was necessary to travel that close to the future, Donnie gripped onto the chair as the TARDIS shook and revved before stopping. 

“Step outside those doors and it's the 22nd century.” 

“You're kidding?” Rose questioned excitedly, but before she could do anything Donnie perked up. 

“Really, only the 22nd, why not go somewhere more exciting, Doctor?” Donnie asked, activating that part of The Doctor who always wanted to show off. 

“Fine then, want to go further?” They asked, when Rose nodded, they started the TARDIS up again, “10000 years in the future. Step outside, it's the year 12005, the new Roman Empire.” 

Donnie raised his eyebrow, finding it hard to believe that the Roman Empire restarted itself, and it seemed like Rose had a similar sentiment to him. 

“You think you're soooo impressive.” Rose said sarcastically. 

“I am impressive.” 

“You wish.” Donnie said from the chair, making Rose laugh. 

“Right then,” The Doctor said, “I know exactly where to go. Hold on you two.” They told them as they started to pump something on the side of the console that could be akinned to a bicycle pump. 

The TARDIS shook and groaned as they traveled further and further into the future. It wasn't long before The Doctor hit a bell that put the TARDIS to a pause. 

They then gestured to the doors, getting Rose to walk out first, “Don't worry Donnie, you won't need your cloaking broach.” They told him. 

So Donnie left the broken necklace on the chair as he followed behind The Doctor out of the TARDIS. 

Whilst Donnie followed Rose down the small set of steps, The Doctor went to go sonic something on the wall. After they did the paneling on the window lowered, showing the earth and an incredibly bright sun.

“You lot…you spend all your time thinking about dying.” The Doctor started as they went to stand in-between Donnie and Rose, “Like you'd gonna get killed by eggs of beef or global warming or asteroids. You never take time to imagine the impossible, that maybe you survive.” 

Bit morbid, but Donnie kept his mouth shut as he looked at the planet.

“This is the year five point five slash apple slash 26. Five billion years in your future. And this is the day- hold on.” The Doctor looked at their watch before looking back at the window to the sun suddenly releasing a burst of light, “This is the day the sun expands. Welcome to the end of the world.”

Rose just stared at the window, “Don't worry, they took me to the end of the universe, a lot more morbid.” Donnie joked. 

The Doctor then caught their attention by clapping their hands, “Well, we can't watch it just from here, there's got to be a better view. Come on.” They then turned around and walked towards the door and out of the room. 

Donnie shrugged when Rose looked at him with confusion before following The Doctor out of the room. 

‘ Shuttles five and six now docking. Guests are reminded that Platform One forbids the use of weapons, teleportation and religion. Earth-death is scheduled for 15:39. Followed by drinks in the Manchester Suite.’ An announcement rang out through the ship, or platform one as the name was now discovered. 

‘Better not summon anything then.’ Donnie thought to himself when he heard that weapons are forbidden. 

“So when it says “guests”, does that mean people?” Rose asked as they walked through the corridors of the ship. 

“Depends what you mean by people.” The Doctor told Rose, tugging on Donnie's hoodie as he stopped to try and admire some of the ship's technology. 

“I mean people? What do you mean?” 

“Aliens.”

Rose spluttered for a few moments before asking another question, “Then what are they doing on board this space-ship? Like, what is it all for?” 

“It seems more like an observation deck. The rich, or ‘the great and good’ as they call themselves, gather to watch the planet burn for entertainment.” Donnie answered as The Doctor soniced another panel in the wall, this one opening up a door.

“But hold on, they did this once on Newsround Extra-” Donnie had no clue what that was so he had to guess it was a British thing, “-the sun expanding, that takes 100s of years.” Rose questioned.

“Millions.” The Doctor corrected. “But the planet's now the property of the National Trust. They've been keeping it preserved. See down there? Gravity satellites, holding back the sun.” 

“Wait, but why aren’t the continents different? Why do they look the same as ever?” Donnie questioned as he realized that the earth hadn’t changed much in look. 

“That’s cause the trust shifted them back into place for this event. But the money’s run out so they let nature take over.” The Doctor answered, Donnie nodded, finding that a reasonable answer. 

“So, how long’s it got?” Rose then asked, looking up at The Doctor after having not taken her gaze off the planet she called home this whole time.

The Doctor looked at their watch before looking back up at the window that allowed them to see the planet, “About 30 minutes, then the planet gets roasted.” The Doctor told her, emphasizing the word ‘roasted’. 

“Is that what you two do then?” Rose asked, Donnie looking at her with confusion, “Jump in at the last moment to save the earth?” 

“There's no saving it. Time's up.” The Doctor said, getting close to her face in hopes that'll make her understand before pulling away. 

“But what about the people?” Rose continued to ask, Donnie at this point had walked away from the window and had gone to explore the different objects within the room, scanning them with his goggles. 

But he didn't get to explore for long as a sudden loud voice caught his attention, “Who the hell are you?” Donnie turned around to see a blue-skinned alien with black markings on his face enter the room.

“This is a maximum hospitality zone the guests have disembarked. They're on their way any second now-” The Doctor cut the alien off by quickly grabbing their psychic paper and showing the alien the “blank” paper. 

“That's me, I'm a guest, I've got an invitation, see? It's fine, ‘The Doctor plus one’ I'm The Doctor, this is Rose Tyler, my plus. That all right?” 

“And what about him?” The alien pointed at Donnie as the mutant walked up beside Rose. 

“Oh I'm Hatchling Giver, leader of Genius Tech ™, ring any bells?” Donnie then summoned a metal looking bell from his ninpo to ring, hoping that would back up his statement. 

The alien then flushed even more, Donnie wasn't too sure if Genius Tech ™ was still as powerful five billion years in the future but it appeared that it was. 

“Apologies et cetera. If you're on board, we'd better start. Enjoy.” The alien, who Donnie had to assume was the steward of some kind. 

“Wait,” Rose then turned towards Donnie, “Leader of a tech company? Aren't you like 12?” 

“I'm 15 thank you very much!” Donnie said, very offended that Rose thought he was that young. “And I'm only technically the leader because I introduced the kapas to technology.” Donnie muttered.

“Eh, 12, 15, the same thing.” Rose said, ignoring the glare Donnie gave her.

Before he could say anything more, the steward started to speak, “We have in attendance The Doctor and Rose Tyler. And Donatello, The Hatchling Giver of Genius Tech™ from Planet Lakus. All staff to their positions.” The steward clapped his hands which caused the children-like aliens to start working. 

“And now, might I introduce the next honored guest? Representing the Forest of Cheam, we have trees. Namely Jabe, Lute and Coffa. There will be an exchange of gifts representing peace, if you could keep the room circulating thank you.” The doors opened to three humanoid tree-like aliens, two in what appeared to be armor whilst the one in the middle wore a very fancy dress. 

More and more rich and famous people then entered the room, the Moxx of Balhoon and The Repeating Meme, the brothers of Hop Pyleen, Mrs and Mrs Pacoon and many more but at a certain point Donnie just zoned out due to pure boredom. 

“A gift of peace. I bring you a cutting of my grandfather.” One of the tree people said, who Donnie had to assume was Jabe. She then handed a potted tree branch to The Doctor then another one to Donnie. 

Donnie then quickly opened his left hand, letting a metal cube, only the size of his palm, be formed by his ninpo. 

“And this is a multi-purpose helper. It's a hand warmer, hand colder, air conditioning, and can even heat up your meals. This is a device that's not available to the public so it is made only for this event.” Donnie rambled off just a load of bullshit, adding the features to the cube the more he spoke. 

One of the armored tree people took Donnie's gift, looking at it with a look of confusion. 

“Thank you. Ah yes gift, umm.” The Doctor patted at their jacket before saying, “In return I give you air from my lungs.” The Doctor then blew a soft breath of air towards Jabe 

“How...intimate.” If the trees could blush Donnie would be sure that Jabe would be red. 

“There's more where that came from.” 

Donnie just silently gagged at the flirting between the two whilst Rose looked confused. 

“-the sponsor of the main event, please welcome The Face Of Boe.” The softshell immediately lit up and told The Doctor that he was going to talk to Boe. 

“Alright, just make sure you don't bother the old fella too much.” The Doctor joked, making Donnie spin around on his heel to stick his tongue out at the timelord before spinning back around to find The Face Of Boe. 

But he didn't make it far from The Doctor and Rose as a group of the Adherents of the Repeated Meme stopped him to hand him a gift, “A gift of peace. In all good faith.” It said, handing him a metal ball. 

“Ah, thank you very much, here's my gift that was made just for his event. It's a hand warmer, hand colder, air conditioning, and can even heat up your meals.” Donnie gave the speech again as he created the device from his ninpo, placing the metal ball into his pocket as he was still holding the grandfather tree cutting. 

The Repeating Meme took the gift, nodded at Donnie before walking away, although Donnie would akin it more to gliding. 

“-And last but not least, our very special guest.” Donnie heard the steward continue to announce, “Ladies and gentlemen and non-confirming and trees and multiform…consider the Earth below. In memory of this dying world, we call forth the Last Human. The Lady Cassandra O'Brian Dot Delta Seventeen.” 

Donnie withheld a groan as he turned to Rose to mumble to her, “According to one of my kapas co-leaders, they had to create a whole new type of surgery technology to help her get like…that.” He subtly gestured to Cassandra as she talked about how she had her chin taken away and how she “doesn’t look a day over 2000”, remembering when The Doctor accidentally took them a bit far in the future to visit Lakus again one of his co-leaders ranted about how they had to created a new load of technology to help a rich person make herself very flat and to keep her alive, and Donnie had to guess now that person was Cassandra.

“Truly, I am the last human.” Cassandra continued as one of the people who were accompanying her moisturized her. “My father was a Texan, my mother was from the Arctic Desert.” As Cassandra spoke Rose moved from The Doctor’s side to get a closer look at Cassandra. ‘Let her go’ The Doctor’s face read so Donnie stayed still and watched Rose half circle the flat human.

“They were born on the Earth and they were the last to be buried in its soil. I have come to honour them…and say goodbye.” As she spoke, Cassandra's voice broke and she appeared to be tearing up but Donnie wouldn't be surprised if she somehow had her tear ducts removed. 

After she regained her composure, the door behind her opened with one of the children-like-aliens walked in with what appeared to be an egg, “But behold. I bring gifts! From Earth itself, the last remaining ostrich egg. Legend says it had a wing-span of 50 feet and blew fire from its nostrils,” Donnie raised a drawn-on eyebrow at Cassandra, knowing that was complete bullshit. “Or was that my third husband? Oh no oh, don't laugh. I'll get laughter-lines. No stop.” 

Donnie refrained himself from sighing aloud as he didn't want to deal with an annoyed Cassandra, so he just continued to look at her with a blank stare. And it seemed everyone shared the same boredom until she once again regained her composure and the door opened behind her once more. 

“And here! Another rarity. According to the archives this was called an iPod.” The mutant had to hold in a laugh at how wrong she had gotten it, “It stores classical music from humanity's greatest composure. Play on!”

Tainted Love started to play from the “iPod” (that was really a jukebox) and Donnie immediately felt the urge to dance along to the song, but he stopped himself as he knew he'd get distracted from talking to The Face Of Boe so when the song started to play and the different people started to socialize, he slipped through the groups of people and made his way to the Face Of Boe. 

“The Face Of Boe! How are you doing? How long has it been since I've seen you?” Donnie asked as he approached The Face. 

‘Ah Donatello. What a pleasure to see you. It has been a while.’ The Face Of Boe told him telepathy, he had yet to get used to being talked to telepathically as it still felt like it was weighing his head down. 

“Yeah yeah, well that's the life of traveling with The Doctor, anyways, I can see that you have a new holding tank, is there any reason for that or?” Donnie asked, noticing that the last time he and The Doctor saw The Face Of Boe there were less wires and smoke within the tank-like structure that held his head. 

‘Yes, unfortunately my lungs have fully rotted away so I must have machinery that helps with the respiratory system.’ 

Donnie noticed how slow and wheezy the Face Of Boe's “breathing” was. “Mmm, is it alright if I take a look at the wiring to see if I could improve the breathing systems?” 

The softshell felt the Face nod which gave him the silent permission to crouched down behind the tank and pull off the paneling. Donnie was truly fascinated by the wires and all the technology that kept the Face Of Boe alive but he would find another time to ask him about the technology as he continued to look through the wires and small panels. 

“Ah here's the issue, the speed rate of the breathing assistants is the same speed as the fluid exchanges, causing it to be around seven seconds slower. Now if I just do this,” Donnie swapped a few wires around and changed a small amount of code within the systems before grinning in delight, “and now your systems are much more optimal! I would add many new features but I simply don't have the tools to do so here, and I don't want to risk harming you.”

‘Regardless of how much more you wish to do, I appreciate your help a lot Child.’ 

Donnie and The Face Of Boe talked for a new more minutes, a few other wealthy people joining the conversation, but Donnie quickly got overwhelmed by the amount of different noises and how many people were surrounding him so he excused himself and left the observation deck, knowing that he saw Rose leave the room and decided to go and find her. 

It really didn't take long to find the human as he heard her faintly talking to herself in one of the rooms within the station. 

“Enjoying yourself?” He asked, going to sit cross-legged next to her, scaring her slightly. 

“I dunno, it's a bit much. Is this what you two do all the time?” She asked, her ever present confusion laced very heavily in her voice. 

Donnie placed his hands into his hoodie pocket, feeling the metal ball in there and decided to take it out and placed it on the floor as the coldness of it bothered him, “Eh, not really? Kinda. I just go wherever The Doctor does, though I do make them take me to Lakus- that's the planet where my tech company is positioned often so I can help with the technology evolution, but yeah, it's kinda random most of the time. But it is very very, and that's two verys, fun.” Donnie told her, grinning slightly as he spoke. 

“How long have you been traveling with them then?” 

“I'd say a month?” Donnie estimated, “It is very hard to tell, especially as sometimes we spend a few days in one place and time period before moving on, there's no standing still with The Doctor. “ 

Rose was silent for a few moments before speaking again, “Are you like their kid or something? Cause you're 15 as you told me earlier, so do you not have any parents or something?”

“I don't know why everyone keeps thinking I'm their kid.” Donnie muttered, mostly to himself, “But I've got a family, a dad, older sister and three brothers. And I guess a step-dad but I don't really think of him like that.” 

“Are they all turtles like you?” 

“My brothers are turtle mutants, though different species, my oldest brother a snapping turtle, my twin a red eared slider and my younger brother is a box turtle. But my dad is a human turned rat mutant and my sister is human, she isn’t biologically my sister but we think of her like our sister.” 

“And you just left them?” Donnie whipped his head around at Rose when she said that, almost appalled that she would suggest that. 

“No! I wouldn't just leave them, I go back a lot and live a normal life with them. The Doctor is like…a hobby, or pastime. I don't know.” Donnie scratched at his head, moving his mask slightly as he did, thinking deeper about what Rose had said, he wasn't leaving his family behind at all, they were his family. Splinter was coming back into their lives after spending many years so deep in depression that he was emotionally unavailable, and  Leo was now leader so that was whole new territory to deal with, and they had these new powers and understanding of their family's history and a new culture to learn, he wasn’t just going to leave that behind, not at all, he would never leave them. 

Whilst Donnie was deep in those thoughts, leaving Rose in a mildly uncomfortable silence, he was shaken out of them by the faint voice of The Doctor behind the door of the room, before it quickly opened and they walked in, sitting on the ledge on the other side of the steps. 

“What'd you think, then?” They asked, obviously excited for this event. 

“Great yeah fine,” Rose answered, “Once you get past the slightly psychic paper.” She joked, making The Doctor chuckle. 

There was a brief moment of silence before Rose spoke up again, “They just so…alien.” She explained,  receiving a look of confusion from The Doctor, “The aliens are just so alien. You look at ‘em- and they're alien.” Rose repeated. 

“Good thing I didn't take you to the deep south.” The Doctor joked, receiving a snort from Donnie at the inside joke, knowing how he reacted to seeing that part of the galaxy. 

Rose then leant back, using her hand as support and asked The Doctor, “Where are you from?” Donnie was expecting them to not answer or steer the conversation away from their home planet but he wasn’t so surprised when they answered with a lie. 

“All over the place.” 

And it seemed that answer was good enough for Rose as she moved onto yet another question, ‘My god, does she have a lot of questions.’ Donnie thought to himself. 

“They all speak English?” 

Donnie decided that he had enough of just watching the conversation and answered her question for The Doctor, “Yeah, it's the TARDIS, automatically translates pretty much all languages apart from the ones that use primarily sound, like the turtle-speak from Kapas.” Donnie then quickly demonstrated by chirping a quick ‘hello’, which he knew wasn't translatable by the TARDIS.

“So wait, is it in my head?” Donnie nodded, answering Rose's question. “So it gets inside and changes my mind and you didn't even ask?” Rose demanded, turning to The Doctor. 

Donnie bit his cheek as he heard the rising anger in Rose's voice. 

“Huh, I didn't even think about that.” The Doctor responded, not having that issue with Donnie as he quickly accepted the TARDIS’ translation. 

“No you were too busy thinking up cheap shots about the deep South.” Rose yelled back. Donnie scooted away from Rose slightly and pulled out his phone out of habit, trying his best to ignore the argument between the two. ‘Almost sounds like Raph and Leo,’ Donnie joked to himself as The Doctor yelled about how “This is who I am, right here, right now.” 

Donnie placed his phone back into his short pocket when he saw The Doctor walk down the stairs, obviously trying not to seem like they were storming off. 

Rose gave a look that Donnie couldn't completely read so he just shrugged, this did prompt Rose to sigh, stand up and walk to The Doctor whilst the intercom informed that there was only 20 minutes left until the Earth was roasted. Donnie chose to stay on the mini-ledge and watch the two talk. 

“Alright, as my mate Shireen says, don't argue with the designated driver.” Rose said, making The Doctor's shoulders shake in a silent laugh, “Can't exactly call for a taxi.” 

Donnie watched as Rose pulled out her phone, talking about how there was no signal. The Doctor then took the phone out of her hand and gave it a similar upgrade that they gave Donnie's phone. 

All of a sudden, his phone felt heavy in his pocket as Rose called her mum, so whilst Rose was preoccupied with that phone call, Donnie pulled out his phone. 

He opened it and set it so it was connected to his own timeline, it was only an hour after he left with The Doctor just a month ago, to his brothers he was still asleep in his bedroom after a fight with the Purple Dragons, and it was obvious that they hadn't gone into his room as there was no panicked messages about him disappearing. 

Donnie did check though the family chat, smiling at the hour of messages between Mikey and April, messages that happened 5 billion years ago, at this moment in time they had been dead for so long. But Donnie refused to dwell on those thoughts because he too shouldn't be alive this far into the future. 

The mutant pressed his head against his phone, before placing it back into his pocket, he knew that he would never abandon his brothers, his family. Rose was wrong, he didn't leave them behind. 

An earthquake-like rumble shocked Donnie out of those thoughts, making him push them away as he quickly got up from his position on the floor. 

“That's not supposed to happen.” The Doctor stated, shortly after that the voice of the steward rang through the station. 

“ Honored guests may be reassured that gravity pockets may cause slight turbulence. Thanking you. ” 

The Doctor was very quick to walk out of the room and presumably back to the main observation deck, “Come on you two.”

Donnie and Rose follow in suit, making it back to the observation deck within only a few moments. 

“That wasn't a gravity pocket, I know gravity pockets and they don't feel like that,” The Doctor told them, activating and scrolling through a panel on the wall next to a door, trying to get some information. “What do you think, Jabe?” They turned around to face the tree person that walked up to the group. 

“Listen to the engines, they've pitched up about 30 hertz. Is that dodgy or what?” They asked Jabe who only shrugged. 

“It's the sound of metal, it doesn't make any sense to me.” 

“Where's the engine room?” 

“I don't know.” Jabe responded. “But the maintenance duct is just behind our guest suite. I could show you… and your wife and son?” 

Donnie rolled his eyes again, he should start demanding money every time someone assumed he was The Doctor's son. 

“Oh, she's not my wife, and he's not my son.” The Doctor corrected. 

“Partner?” Jabe seemed to only try and guess what Rose was, thankfully. 

“No.” 

“Concubine?” 

“Nope.” 

“Prostitute?” Donnie bit his lip in slight embarrassment as the tree lady continued to guess, even he wasn’t that poor at social cues. 

“Well whatever I am, it must be invisible, d'you mind‽” Rose yelled, slightly offended at Jabe's assumptions of her, “Tell you what, you two go…pollinate. I'll catch up with the family. Quick word with Michael Jackson.” Rose stated, pointing to Cassandra who was conversing with someone. 

“Donnie don't let her start a fight.” The Doctor told him, indirectly telling him to stick by Rose. 

“Bold of you to assume I won't start the fight.” Donnie joked as he walked after Rose. 

“And I want you home by midnight.” Rose jokingly yelled, if Donnie had to guess it was to make her feel better about being upstaged by a tree. 

“Earth-death in 15 minutes. Earth-death in 15 minutes.” The intercom repeated. 

As Rose and Donnie got close to Cassandra she moved towards the window and started talking, “Soon the sun will blossom into a red giant. And my home will die. That's where I used to live, when I was a little boy. Down there mummy and daddy had a house built into the side of the Los Angeles Crevasse. Ah, I'd have such fun.” 

Cassandra rambled on, looking down at the earth. 

“What happened to everyone else? The human race, where did it go?” Rose asked her. 

“They say mankind, alongside those yōkai,” (Donnie didn't fail to notice how she said that name with disgust), “touched every star in the sky.” 

“So you're not the last human then?” Donnie questioned, looking at the human with a bored expression. 

“I'm the last pure human. The others mingled. They call themselves New Humans and Yōkmans and Protohumans and Digihumans- even Human-ish.” Cassandra told them, saying it quietly like it was some dirty secret she was talking about, “But you know what I call them…mongers.” 

“Right, and you stayed behind.” 

“I kept myself pure.” 

“Again with the pure bullshit.” Donnie said, not caring he heard a few people in the crowd gasp in shock at the swear, “Genius Tech had to create a whole new type of surgery equipment and your- paper holder to keep you alive, I wouldn't call that pure.” Donnie said, gesturing to the device that held up Cassandra.

Cassandra only scoffed at Donnie's outburst, quickly getting distracted by Rose asking her how many operations she's had. 

“708. Next week, it's 709. I'm having my blood bleached. And you know Hatchling Giver, or whatever your name is, I have half a mind of retracting my need from your company, that outburst has put me off.” 

Donnie just rolled his eyes, silently telling the human that he didn't really care if she stopped using the company, he wasn't too sure what the company was doing in the year 5 billion as kapas only had a 2 million life span so all the kapas he knew well were dead, but he could be sure the new kapas that ran the company wouldn't care about Cassandra pulling out…probably.

“Is that why you wanted a word?” Cassandra continued, “You could be flatter, Rose. You got a bit of a…chin poking out. And Hatching Giver you could get rid of alot of you to make yourself more appealing and less feminine .” Donnie grimaced when he heard Cassandra say that, he just felt gross as she looked at him. 

But he stayed quiet as Rose started to talk, “I'd rather die.” She bluntly told Cassandra 

“Honestly, it doesn't hurt.” 

‘Yeah because you've had all your pain receptors removed.’ Donnie refrained himself from saying. 

“I mean it, I would rather die.” Rose doubled down on her statement, “It's better to die than live like you, a bitchy trampoline.” Donnie mumbled a ‘nice’ to Rose at the compliment.

“Oh well, what do you know?” Cassandra side-eyed Rose, Donnie watched as Rose’s posture suddenly changed and she became more defensive. 

“I was born on that planet. And so was my mum and so was my dad, so that makes me officially the last human in this room. Cause you're not human. You've had it all tucked, nipped and flattened until there's nothing left.” Rose yelled at her, Donnie only stepping in to pull her away from Cassandra so she didn't get too close to her. 

“Anything human got chucked in the bin. You're just skin, Cassandra, lipstick and skin.” 

“Alright, Rose enough.” Donnie said, despite how much he wanted to see them fight, he didn’t want to disappoint The Doctor so he encouraged Rose to walk away. 

He followed Rose but was stopped when she said that she didn't need a little kid following her, and Donnie knew she didn't really mean it but he was still annoyed about the comment Cassandra made earlier, so he scoffed and let her walk off. 

“ Earth-death in 10 minutes.” The intercom repeated as Rose left the room, leaving Donnie to lean against a wall bored out of his mind. And it seemed like things were going to get worse as Cassandra started talking. 

“The Earth's end. Come gather, come gather-” But Donnie didn't care for her speech as he saw several of the smaller blue aliens suddenly run out of the room, so Donnie followed them. 

He ended up following them to what he thought was the steward's office, and from it a huge amount of smoke and steam was leaving the room via the small cracks in the door, alongside the smell of roasting meat. 

Donnie quickly had his way to the panel on the door in an attempt to help with the situation, but within a few moments The Doctor and Jabe appeared, The Doctor immediately joined Donnie's side and soniced the panel, causing the intercom to repeat ‘sunfliter rising.’ 

“Is the steward in there?” Jabe asked. 

“You can smell him.” Annnnd now Donnie wanted to vomit even more, “Hold on, there's another sunfliter programmed to descend.” 

Donnie ran alongside The Doctor as they ran to find the other room where The sunfliter was dropping. As they ran through the corridors they heard a quick series of bangs against one of the doors, which was more likely than not the room where the sunfliter was descending. 

“Anyone in there?” The Doctor demanded as he soniced the panel near the door. 

From behind the door, a faint but desperate ‘let me out’ was heard from a voice that sounded very much like Rose. 

“Oh well it woul be you.” The Doctor groaned, trying to mask their panic with annoyance, “Give us two ticks.” 

But just as it seemed like Rose would be okay, the sunfliter started to descend again. 

“Of course the computer is getting clever.” Donnie commented, unsure of how to help out as The Doctor continued to sonic the panel. 

“Stop mucking about!” Rose pleaded from the otherside of the door. 

“I'm not mucking about! It's fighting back.” 

Donnie then pulled his hoodie sleeve back and started to see if he could somehow connect his tech wristband to the panel to help Rose, and as he did the panel popped open. So before The Doctor could start sonicing the wires Donnie lightly shoved The Doctor out of the way and started messing with the wires. 

Within a few moments he pulled on one of the orange cables, snapping it in half, which thankfully caused the intercom to repeat that the sunfliter was rising once more. 

“The whole thing's jammed.” The Doctor said as they went to open the door, “I can't open the door. Stay here and don't move. Donnie with me.” 

Donnie followed The Doctor as they made their way back to the main observation deck. When they walked back into the room, The Doctor immediately grabbed some sort of spider device as Jabe was telling the aliens within the room that the steward was dead. 

“Who killed him?” The Moxx demanded. 

“This whole event was sponsored by The Face Of Boe. He invited us. Talk to the Face talk to the Face!” Cassandra rallied, obviously hoping that people would go against Boe. 

But The Doctor quickly stopped the conspiracies, “Easy way of finding out. Someone brought their little pet on board. Let's send him back to master.” They then placed the spider onto the floor and it quickly scrambled across the floor. 

It stopped in front of Cassandra for a few moments before quickly moving to the Repeated Meme. 

“The Adherents of the Repeated Meme. J’accuse!” Cassandra exclaimed, Donnie rolled his eyes, wanting to call Cassandra out on her bullshit but stayed quiet as The Doctor walked over the group of cloaked figures, guessing that they had a plan. 

“That's all very well and kind of obvious, but if you stop and think about it-” As The Doctor got close to the group, one of them lifted its arm to attack The Doctor but they quickly caught it and tore it off, “-a Repeated Meme is just an idea and that's all they are, an idea.” They then tore one of the wire out of the arm which caused the group to fall to the floor like flies. 

“Remote controlled droids, nice little cover for the real trouble maker. Go on, Jimbo, go home.” The Doctor kicked the spider robot causing it to jump before scrambling over to Cassandra, to no one's surprise. 

“I bet you were the school swot and never got kissed.” Cassandra immediately spat, “At arms!” At that demand her two lackeys held up the moisturizing hoes like they were weapons. 

“What you gonna do, moisturize me?” The Doctor mocked, placing both hands on their chest in a mocking stance. 

“With acid.” Cassandra shot back, “Oh, you're too late anyways, my spiders have control of the mainframe. Oh you all carried them as gifts, tax-free past every codewall. I'm not just a pretty face.”

Donnie's eyes widened as he realized she was talking about the metal balls the Repeated Meme had gifted them all. 

“But you're still here with us. You'll burn with us then, it seems they didn't connect the brain back correctly.” Donnie quickly insulted her, going to stand next to The Doctor. 

“Well I'd hoped to manufacture a hostage situation with myself as one of the victims, the compensation would have been enormous .” 

The Doctor sighed, “Five billion years and it still comes down to money.”

“D'you think it's cheap looking like this? Flatness costs a fortune! I am the Last Human, Doctor! Me! Not that freaky little pet of yours.” 

“Arrest her! The infidel!” The moxx of Balhoon demanded, everyone agreeing with him. 

“Oh shut it, pixie! I've still got my final option-” Cassandra was cut off by the intercom announcing that there was three minutes until the Earth was killed. 

“And here it comes.” She continued, “You're just as useful dead, all of you. I have shares in your rival companies. They'll triple in price as soon as you're dead. My spiders are primed and ready to destroy the safety systems. How did that old Earth song go? Burn baby burn .” 

“And you'll burn with us!” Jabe yelled in disgust at Cassandra. 

“Oh, I'm so sorry. I know the use of teleportation is strictly forbidden, but I'm such a naughty thing. Spiders, activate!” 

Suddenly the whole platform shook again, much more violently than it did earlier, “Force-fields gone, with the planet about to explode- at least it'll be quick. Just like my fifth husband, oops! Oh shame on me, bye bye darlings.” Cassandra and her two lackeys then teleported away as the ship intercom started to repeat ‘heat levels rising’. 

“Donnie stay here, keep everyone calm and alive, Jabe come with me, there must be a system restore switch.” The Doctor then ran out of the room with the tree woman following him, so Donnie did as he was told. He caught everyone's attention and demanded to know who was the most vulnerable to the heat levels rising. 

“That'll be us and The Face Of Boe.” The two other tree people said, who Donnie had to guess was Lute and Coffa. 

“Alright, everyone, your multi-purpose helper has a hand cooling and air conditioning function, half goes to Boe and the other half to the trees. Hurry up, we've got two minutes!” Donnie demanded, thankful that everyone listened to him. 

“But what happens if The Doctor and Jabe don't get the forcefields back up‽” One of the golden masked aliens asked. 

“They will, okay, just-” Donnie was cut off by the sound of glass cracking, “Shit shit shit.” 

Everyone started to panic as thin, intense streams of lights started to shine into the room, the heat rising even more. 

Donnie needed to create a shield, but he didn't know if he could create one's as big as the window, Draxum had taught him how to create a small body shield but never one that large, he didn't even know if it would hold back the streams of light from the sun itself. But if he doesn't try, everyone in this room will die. 

His ninpo flew through his hands as he summoned his shield, the only thing his ninpo could summon that wasn't technology, and made it as large as the window, but he wasn't fast enough as some sun beams made it into the room. 

The screams and smell of burning flesh would haunt his dreams for weeks. 

He could feel his sweat soak his mask, both from the heat and the stress of keeping the shield up. There was 10 seconds, he could do it, he could keep it up for 10 seconds. 

And he did, the sound of the remains of planet earth hitting a force field, the earth had exploded and they weren't dead! 

Donnie let the shield fall and he felt his ninpo collapse back into his body, almost disappearing from exhaustion which is exactly how Donnie felt. 

“Hey, you alright?” He heard Rose ask, a hand placed on his shoulder. 

Donnie turned around to her, noticing how much his vision was swaying. Of course, turtles don't do well in heat so he wasn't surprised as he felt himself fall sideways and his vision go black. 

It couldn't have been more than a minute when Donnie woke up with The Doctor crouched down in front of him. Rose must have leant him against a pillar as he knew he was falling towards the floor beforehand, “You able to stand up, Donnie?” The Doctor asked, offering a hand to the mutant. 

Donnie took the hand and pulled himself up, his vision was still blurry but it was better, even if he felt like he was inside an oven. He might be very very dehydrated which would make sense. So he told The Doctor this which prompted The Doctor to get him back into the TARDIS and possibly into the swimming pool as well so he could rehydrate his skin. 

The walk back to the TARDIS was a faded one, Donnie didn't remember it as The Doctor helped him get to the swimming pool and he just let himself drop into, he knew they worried about him the whole walk there but he just waved him off, telling him to go get Rose before letting himself stink to the bottom of the pool, obviously removing his battle shell, mask and hoodie beforehand. 

And as Donnie laid at the bottom of the pool, his thoughts wandered back to the people who were burnt alive, and even wandered back to Kendra, a person he nearly killed with his bare hands, but he didn't want to think about that, he was just going to shove down those thoughts and emotions until a later date. 

Donnie surfaced the pool, shaking his head like a dog before lazily pulling himself up and activated the dryers within the room before putting his outfit back on, annoyed that his shorts didn't dry properly but they weren't damp enough to cause issues. 

He walked back into the console room to see Rose leaning against one of the pillars, a sober look on her face, so he walked over to her, grabbing his cloaking necklace as he walked past the chair. 

“You okay?” 

“Mm? Yeah yeah, I'm alright…just, I know it was five billion years in the future but no one saw it go, no one saw the earth die.” Rose told him, the guilt forever clear on her face. 

But Donnie didn't get to say anything to comfort her, not that he could as he didn't know what to say, as the TARDIS stopped, and The Doctor nodded to the door. 

When Rose opened the door, Donnie saw that they were back on earth so he made a rushed knot in the chain and placed the necklace on and walked out of the TARDIS behind The Doctor. 

“You think it'll last forever, people and cars and concrete.” The Doctor said, mostly to Rose, “But it won't. One day it's all gone, even the sky.” 

There was silence for a short moment before The Doctor continued, “My planet's gone. It's dead.” Donnie looked towards The Doctor, determined to hear more about their mysterious backstory as they had said so very little about it. 

“It burned, like the earth. It's just rocks and dust. Before it's time.” 

“What happened?” Rose asked. 

“There was a war, and we lost.” Donnie could tell that The Doctor was just about keeping themselves together. 

“A war with who?” When Rose didn't receive an answer from The Doctor, Donnie decided to ask a question instead. 

“What about your people? Did anyone survive?” 

The Doctor was silent before they answered, not even looking at Donnie as they did, “No, I'm the last of the timelords. They're all gone. And despite being left all by myself, Donnie has made it less lonely.” They smiled down at the mutant. 

“There's me aswell, you don't have to be so alone.” Rose said. The Doctor turned to Rose, a sobering smile on their face. 

“You've seen how dangerous it is. D'you wanna go home?” 

Rose hesitated before answering, “I don't know, I want-” But she got distracted before she could answer, “Can you smell chips?” 

The Doctor laughed, “Yeah yeah.” Obviously glad that there was a distraction from the questions. 

“I want chips.” Rose sighed, Donnie agreed with a laugh as he was pretty hungry as well. 

“Right then, before you get me back into that box, chips it is. And you can pay.” Rose pointed at The Doctor. 

“No money.” The Doctor said, putting their hands into their pockets as proof. 

“What sort of date are you. Come on tightwad. Chips are on me. You too, Donnie.” 

Donnie jokingly groaned, “Great am I the third wheel?” 

“That you are mate. Have you ever had British chips before?” Rose asked, Donnie shook his head, “Ha, they're proper good. Now come on, we only have five billion years until the shops close.”

Chapter Text

”Hold that one down!” The Doctor yelled at Rose who they decided would help then travel to the past. 

“I am holding this one down!” 

“Both of them dumb-dumb!” Donnie rebutted, using his elbow to hold down a button as his hands were preoccupied with the levers The Doctor told him to keep pushed up. 

Donnie heard Rose groan something in response but wasn’t able to hear it as the TARDIS wheezed and creaked as they flew throughout space and time. 

“Now you’ve seen the future, let’s have a look at the past. How does 1860 sound?” The Doctor yelled over the sounds of the TARDIS. 

“What happened in 1860?” Rose

“I don't know. Let’s find out! Hold on- here we go!” 

The TARDIS gave one last final shake before it violently threw everyone to the ground before it went silent, indicating that it had landed. Whilst Donnie managed to half hang onto the console, Rose and The Doctor fell onto the floor next to one another, laughing in joy, “Blimey!” Rose cried out whilst still laughing. 

“You’re telling me! You two alright?” They asked, jumping up from the floor, helping Rose up to her feet before looking over at Donnie who gave them a thumbs up before pulling himself up using the console. 

“Yeah I think so, nothings broken.” Rose told them, (Donnie arching his back making it crack slightly, grumbling about falling onto his shell), “Did we make it? Where are we?” 

The Doctor grabbed the console screen before exclaiming, “I did it! Give me a medal, Earth, Naples, December 24th 1860!” 

“That’s so weird, it’s Christmas.” Rose said, staring at the screen as Donnie walked up next to her. 

“All yours.” The Doctor grinned, gesturing towards the TARDIS doors, but Rose didn’t move. 

“But think about it, though,” She started, “Christmas 1860 happens once, just once and then it’s…gone, it’s finished it’ll never happen again. Expect you can go back and see days that are dead and gone. A hundred thousand sunsets ago. No wonder you never stay still.” 

“It’s not a bad life.” Donnie chipped in, giving Rose a smile, knowing how she felt. 

“Well come on then!” Rose suddenly took off towards the doors, Donnie about to follow before The Doctor called out. 

“Oi oi oi, where d’you think you’re going?” 

“1860?” 

“Dressed like that? You’ll start a riot, there’s a wardrobe through there. 1st left, 2nd right, under the stairs, past the bins on your left. Hurry up! You too, Donnie.” 

Donnie threw his hands up dramatically, “What? Why?” 

“A bright purple knee-length hoodie and shorts that are almost covered by said hoodie? Go get changed.” Donnie groaned in annoyance and walked to the wardrobe, greeting Rose who was looking for Victorian-looking dresses. 

“You know Donnie I didn’t think I’d ever see you in anything different.” Rose commented as she pulled out a 1920s flappers dress before putting it back, mumbling about how pretty it looked. 

“I prefer to wear this, it's comfortable.” Donnie said as he grabbed a suit that was hanging on the bars under the floor, he didn’t really care that it looked slightly too big for him, at least that meant the trouser legs wouldn’t touch his legs too much. He then went to his bedroom and quickly got changed into the suit and put his cloaking necklace on, grumbling the whole time despite no one but the TARDIS being able to hear him. 

Donnie came back into the console room to The Doctor tinkering with the TARDIS wiring under the floor, so he decided to sit on the floor, legs hanging over the gap. A few minutes later, Rose entered the console room wearing a black corset top with a long red dress, a bank shawl laid on top of the corset top. And Donnie could tell the moment The Doctor laid their eyes on her they were absolutely smittened. 

“Blimey.” They said, Donnie holding back a snort. 

“Don’t laugh.” Rose demanded, pointing a finger at him.

“You look beautiful.” But just as The Doctor said that, they backtracked, “Considering-” 

“Considering what?” Rose questioned. 

“That you’re human.” 

Rose looked at The Doctor with slight confusion, “I think that’s a compliment? Aren’t you gonna change? I mean you made Donnie change.” She said, pointing towards Donnie who put on a dramatic pouty face when The Doctor looked at him. 

“I’ve changed my jumper! Come on.” They said, (the jumper have only changed to a slightly darker shade of black) pulling themselves up from under the floor. 

“You, stay there, you’ve done this before, it’s my turn.” Rose said gleefully, running towards the door. 

As Rose went through the doors, Donnie quickly leant towards The Doctor’s ear and mocked, “You love heeeerrrr~”, quickly getting up from the floor as The Doctor went to jokingly whack Donnie. 

Donnie ran out of the TARDIS, immediately feeling the drop in tempturate, a whole body shiver ran through him as his body tried to adapt to the temperature, The Doctor was close behind them, closing and locking the TARDIS. 

“Ready for this?” They asked, putting their arm out, an offer for Rose to interlock her own with theirs, “Here we go, history!” The Doctor grinned. 

Donnie opted to walk next to Rose, hands in the pockets of his suit’s trousers, his hand gripped on his phone as a comfort thing as the trio walked through the olden streets. As they walked, The Doctor rattled off random facts about the time period before falling into a relatively comfortable silence. 

“Hey, Doctor,” Donnie said after getting a free newspaper from a paperboy, “You got the date wrong, it’s 1869- nice- not 1860. And we’re in Cardiff, where’s that?” Donnie asked as he handed the newspaper to The Doctor. 

“It’s in Wales, do they teach you nothing nowadays.” 

“In case you forgot, I was raised in the sewers.” Donnie shot back, no real bite behind his words. And when Rose questioned that out of confusion, him and The Doctor just said nothing for the fun of it. 

A few moments passed before their comfortable silence was broken by a chorus of screams coming from within a building, “That's more like it!” The Doctor gleefully said, throwing the newspaper behind them before running up to the building. 

The trio struggled to get into the building as people ran out panicking but within less than a minute they managed to get into the main theatre room where they saw a ghost-like glowing blue mist wailing as it flew around the room. 

“Fantastic.” The Doctor commented before running up to the man on the stage, Donnie following them, “Did you see where it came from?” They questioned the man. 

“Ah! The wags reveal themselves, do they? I trust you're satisfied with yourself sirs?” The man demanded. But before The Doctor or Donnie could say anything in return they heard Rose cry out from within the crowd to get their attention. 

“Oi, where are you taking her! Doctor! I'll get them!” She called out, Donnie going on his tiptoes to see over the heads of the crowd, and he caught an old man and a fairly young woman, looked just older than Rose, dragging away the body of the woman where the mist came from. 

The Doctor then suddenly got onto the stage to get on eye level with the man, “Did it say anything? Can it speak? I'm The Doctor by the way, and that's Donnie.” They said, pointing to the disguised mutant in question who also pulled himself onto the stage. 

“Doctor? You look more like a navvy. If anything, the boy looks more like a doctor.” The man commented, Donnie was definitely going to rub that into their face later. 

“What's wrong with this jumper?” The Doctor mumbled, turning to light-heartedly glare at Donnie when he muttered something about like he was attending a funeral. 

But they were both distracted by the blue ghost continuing to wail and cry as it flew around the room until it suddenly disappeared into one of the gas lights on the theatre walls.

“It's made of gas.” The Doctor said, watching as it stopped wailing, almost as if it was never there.

“Wait, Doctor. Rose, she went after those people.” Donnie said as a sudden bad feeling settled in his gut, or it could just be the 1800s germs. But that didn't matter as The Doctor suddenly jumped off the stage and ran out of the building, Donnie quickly followed them, and it also appeared the man was following them as well. 

As they got outside, Donnie just about caught the young woman closing the door to a hearse that appeared to have Rose inside alongside the old woman. 

“Rose!” The Doctor cried out, their steps slowing as the hearse got carted away. 

“Don't think you're getting away! What do you know about that hob-goblin? Hmm?” The man demanded, getting right into The Doctor’s face about it, “Projection on glass, I suppose? Who put you up to it.” 

“Frustrated groan.” Donnie muttered easily, having not realized how much he suppressed his usual speech patterns around Rose, “Look now’s not the time.” 

“Oi! You! Follow that hearse!” The Doctor suddenly yelled as they ran up to a four seater horse drawn carriage, Donnie rolling his eyes at, no matter the century, The Doctor treated everywhere like 2000s London. But that didn't stop him from following them, going to sit in the seat diagonally from The Doctor. 

“You two can't do that!” The man (Donnie really needed to find out his name) demanded.

“Why not?” 

The man seemed almost offended at The Doctor’s question, “‘Why not?’ I'll tell you a very good reason why not, because this is my coach.”

“Well get in then!” The Doctor said, pulling the man into the coach by his arm, causing him to get into the seat next to The Doctor, which also happened to be the one opposite Donnie.

“Move it!” Donnie yelled to the driver, not expecting it to be so bumpy. 

“Everything in order, Mr Dickens?” The coachman asked, his face slightly covered by his top hat. 

“No it is not!” The man, or Mr Dickens (where had Donnie heard that last name from before?) as his last name was revealed, yelled out in obvious anger and confusion.

“Wait what did he say?” The Doctor questioned. 

“I am not without a sense of humour-” But the man got cut off by Donnie suddenly snapping his fingers. 

“Wait Dickens? Like Charles Dickens?” 

“ The Charles Dickens?” The Doctor also questioned, now turning to face Charles Dickens fully, well as fully as they could in the small coach. 

“Should I remove the two gentlemen, sir?” The coach driver asked, Donnie almost expected Dickens to agree but was surprised when he told the driver that that wasn't necessary after some slight fangirling from The Doctor. 

“I personally haven't read your books myself but I know my twin did at one point, pretty sure he might have had a crush on David Copperfield, but he might have just found the name attractive.” Donnie also commented, slightly regretting what he said as Dickens looked at him with an expression mixed with disgust and confusion. 

“Honestly Charles,” The Doctor quickly distracting the man, “May I call you Charles? I'm such a big fan.” 

“Eh, you’re a what? A big what?” Dickens questioned

“Fan. Number one fan, that’s me!” The Doctor told him, not clocking onto the fact that they were using a word that wouldn’t be invented for another 100 years or so. 

Dickens just stared at The Doctor in confusion for a brief moment, “How exactly are you a ‘fan’? In what way do you resemble a means of keeping oneself cool?” 

“It means fanatic.” Donnie told the author, lightly struggling to get into a comfortable position and opted to cross his leg over the other, also a way to stop his legs from bumping into Dickens’ as the coach rocked lightly as they moved. 

“Mind you,” The Doctor once again redirected attention onto themselves, “That American bit in Martin Chuzzlewit, what’s that about? Was that just padding or what? It’s rubbish." Donnie was 97% The Doctor was just making up words at that point. 

“I thought you said you were my fan?” 

“Oh, well if you can’t take criticism-” The Doctor quickly got distracted, “Oh do the death of Little Nell. It cracks me up. No! Sorry, forget about that. Come on! Faster!” They once again got distracted by yelling at the coach driver to be faster, obviously remembering the reason why they hijacked the coach to begin with. 

A few moments passed with relative silence before Dickens asked about who was in the hearse they were following, “Our friend. She’s only 19 and it’s my fault. She’s in my care, now she’s in danger.” The Doctor answered, barely noticeable sorrow laced in their voice. 

“Then why are we wasting my time talking about dry old books? This is much more important.” Dickens declared, “Driver! Be swift! The chase is on.” He yelled to his driver, the coach speeding up. 

The coach then stopped a few minutes later and the three hastily exited the coach, Dickens leading the group to the door of ‘Sneed and Company’, knocking on the door.

“I’m sorry sir, we’re closed.” A young woman with a thick Welsh accent said. 

“Nonsense, since when did an undertaker keep office hours?” Dickens demanded, “The dead don’t die on schedule, I demand to see your master.” 

“He’s not in sir.” The woman said, trying to close the door but Dickens, very violently, grabbed the closing door and forced it back open. 

“Don’t lie to me, child! Summon the master!” Donnie saw from the corner of his eye The Doctor move forward slightly before stopping when Dickens’ tone quickly calmed.

“I’m awfully sorry, Mr Dickens, but the master is indisposed.” 

As the woman said this, Donnie noticed how the flame behind her flicked and got brighter for a few seconds, “Got gas problems?” He asked, pointing to the gas light, swearing he also heard familiar, yet very faint, wailing coming from within the house walls. 

The Doctor then pushed themselves inside the house and pressed their ear against the wall, ignoring the woman saying that they weren’t allowed inside, “There’s something inside the walls.” They said, indirectly confirming what Donnie heard, “There’s something living inside the gas.” 

Then from within the house a faint, “Let me out! Open the door!” Resonated throughout the house.

“That's her!” Donnie said, also pushing himself inside the house, chasing after The Doctor as they followed Rose’s voice. 

As they ran through the house to the room, an older man appeared from around the corner, angrily yelling at the three. When The Doctor found themselves at the locked door where Rose’s panicked voice erupted from, instead of sonicing the lock like Donnie excepted, they kicked it down before completely changing their demeanour and said, “I think this is my dance.” And grabbed Rose who was in the grasps of two corpse-like people, pulling her just behind them, Donnie muttered ‘are you okay?’ to her, she only nodded as she kept her eyes on the two corpses. 

“It’s a prank. Must be? We’re under some mesmeric influence.” Dickens said in a panic. 

“No, the dead are walking- hi.” They said, quickly turning to Rose and smiled at her. 

“Hi, who’s your friend?” 

“Charles Dickens.” Donnie answered, pointing to the man behind him. 

“My name’s The Doctor. Who are you, then? What do you want?” The Doctor said, their voice changing to the tone Donnie was pretty used to hearing when they came across semi-hostile lifeforms. 

When the corpses spoke Donnie immediately slapped his hands over his ears, the whispering nature and overlapping of the voices was just as bad as nails on a chalkboard, but he could still hear them, “Failing! Open the rift! We’re dying! Trapped in this form! Cannot sustain! Help us!” The corpses cried out, though Donnie had reason it wasn’t the corpses that were talking. After the talk ceased the corpses started screaming as the familiar blue glowing gas exited the bodies, flying back to the gas lights that littered the walls of the room, and it went silent as the bodies limped to the floor.

“First you drug me, then you kidnap me- and don’t think I didn’t feel your hands having a quick little wander you dirty old man!” Rose, rightfully, yelled at Sneed. 

“I won’t be spoken to like this!” Sneed exclaimed. 

Donnie loudly sighed from his place on the chair, which he was obviously not sitting correctly on, “I think she gets the right, creep.” 

He barely finished his sentence as Rose continued her yelling, “Then you sent me in a room full of zombies! And if that ain’t enough, you swan off and leave me to die! So come on! Talk!”

“It’s not my fault, it’s this house!” Sneed rebutted “It’s always has a reputation- haunted. But I never had much bother, until about three months back. And then the stiffs-” Sneed then stopped himself, looking at Dickens with a glare before going back to talking, Donnie had to assume ‘stiffs’ was a slang for the dead, “The..umm dear departed started getting restless.” 

“Tommyrot.” Dicken scoffed, going to drink from his cup Gwyneth gave him. 

“You witnessed it! Can’t keep the beggars down, sir.” Gwenyneth then handed Donnie a cup of tea to Donnie, muttering about how she tried to make it as sweet as it liked it, confusing Donnie as he never said that he likes his drinks extremely sweet, but he drank it regardless as Sneed continued to talk, “They walk, and it’s the queerest thing, but they onto scraps. One old fella used to be a sexton- almost walked into his own memorial service. Just like the old lady, going to your performance, sir, just as she’d planned.” Sneed said, pointing at Dickens.

The man in question held a face that made it obvious he didn’t believe a word Sneed said, “Morbid fancy.” He once again scoffed, getting up from his seat. 

“Oh Charles, you were there.” The Doctor called out, finding it ridiculous that the man didn’t believe that the dead could work. 

“I saw nothing but an illusion.” 

“If you’re going to deny it, don’t waste my time, just shut up.” Donnie sipped his tea quietly as The Doctor snapped at Dickens. It was silent for a few moments before The Doctor broke the silence, “What about the gas?” They asked. 

“That’s new, sir. I never seen anything like that.” Sneed answered, not seeming to be lying at all. 

“Could it mean whatever is possessing the corpse is getting stronger?” Donnie asked, sliding down from the back of the chair to sit in the actual seat itself, “Because they mentioned something about the rift, so are more able to sneak through?” Donnie mostly looked at The Doctor as he spoke. 

“What’s the rift?” Rose asked. 

“A weak point in time and space, a connection between this place and another.” The Doctor answered, gesturing their head towards the wall, “That’s the cause of ghost stories most of the time.” 

“That’s how I got the house so cheap, stories going back generations.” Sneed realised, as he spoke Dickens left the room, Donnie gestured his head towards Dickens’ and The Doctor nodded, silently telling him it was alright to go after the author. 

So Donnie silently left the room and followed behind Dickens as he went to the room they were just in previously. As Donnie walked he could have sworn he heard whispers coming from within the wall, but he shook it off as he entered the room just as Dickens opened up one of the coffins. 

“You know, I thought you lot were more respectful of the dead?” Donnie asked as he walked up next to Dickens, making the old man jump back in slight shock. 

“Well the dead cannot walk and talk, young man, so it is not disrespectful to check for such trickery like stings.” Dickens replied, turning the body over before going to fondle the bottom of the coffin, trying to feel for said strings, “Here must be some mechanism behind this fraud.” 

“Or maybe, for some unexplained reason, the dead can suddenly talk and walk. I mean, you saw the gas creatures, we all did, it may not be the dead coming alive but maybe something else is piloting the dead?” 

“I cannot accept that.” Dickens stood his ground, so Donnie decided to get science-y, despite his speciality being in machines, he’d heard enough of Leo’s infodumps about the human body to know a good amount. 

“When the human body dies, it breaks down and decomposes, and that decomposition causes gas to fill the body, and if those creatures that are more than likely listening to our conversation are made of gas then a gas filled body would be the perfect home for them.” 

“Oh stop it.” Dickens said, “How can it be that I have the world entirely wrong? How can a youth of your colour know much more about the world than me?” 

Donnie decided to ignore the slight racism for the time being, knowing that he couldn’t and really shouldn’t argue with the human and just continued talking with him, “Well there’s always more to know about the world, so you’re not wrong, just need to gain new knowledge.” 

“But I’ve always railed against the fantasists. Oh, I loved an illusion- revelled in them even, but that’s exactly what they were, illusions! The real world is something else!” Dickens cried out, obviously not dealing with this new information that well, “I dedicated myself to that, injustices, the great social causes. I hoped that I was a force for good. Now, you tell me that the real world is a realm of spectres and jack o’lanterns. In which case..am I wasting my time here, Donnie? Has it all been for nothing?” 

Donnie wasn’t sure how to answer Dickens’ questions, but regardless he tried his best, “No. what you have done has been great, your books have and will generate so much change for good. Just because you’ve found out about creatures that aren’t human doesn’t mean you wasted your time, not at all.” 

The author looked at Donnie with a content smile, “For someone so young you say the wisest things.” 

“Eh, what can I say, I’m the smartest in my family so I got to show that somehow.” Donnie joked, making Dickens snicker. 

But that already short laughter was cut short by The Doctor rapping their knuckles against the door frame, telling the two to meet them in the parlour room as they were to have a séance. Dickens did resist and grumble about it but eventually followed the two. 

Donnie ended up being sat in between Gwyneth and The Doctor, Gwyneth beginning to talk, “This is how Madame Mortlock summons those from the land of mists down in Butetown, “Come, we must all join hands.” She said, holding her hands out for Donnie and Dickens, who was sitting on the other side of her, to hold. 

“I can’t take part in this.” Dickens said, getting up from his seat. 

“Hey, remember what I said about new information, sit back down.” Donnie called out, pointing to his chair. 

“This is precisely the sort of cheap mummery I strive to unmask. Séances🙹 Nothing but luminous tambourines and a squeeze-box concealed between the knees. This girl knows nothing!” 

“Now, don’t antagonise her. I love a happy medium.” The Doctor joked, hoping to bring Gwyneth’s spirits back up, no pun intended.

“Come on, sit down, you’ve written plenty about ghosts. We might need you.” Donnie said, convincing Dickens to sit back in his chair. 

After Dickens sat down and joined hands with Gwyneth, Donnie doing the same with both her and The Doctor (he noticed how the girl shivered slightly as his hand made contact with his, most likely not expecting how cold it was), The Doctor spoke again, “Now, Gwyneth, reach out.” 

It was silent for a few moments before Gwyneth spoke, “Speak to us.” 

And as she said that it went black for Donnie. The feeling of hands left his, there was no one in sight. 

Donnie rapidly looked around, not even aware that he was standing up, as he turned he caught sight of his hands, they were a translucent purple. 

“Donatello?” A voice called out, at first he didn’t recognize it, but when he turned to face the voice he felt his chest go tight with emotions. 

“Gram-gram?” And there she was, Karai, a translucent green much as his own purple, standing a few feet in front of him, her smile so reminiscent of the short time she spent with him and his family. 

He was hesitant to walk up to her, hands reached out before retracting, “It is alright Donatello, you are able to hug me here.” So without thinking Donnie threw himself at the human, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He wasn’t even sure how he was here but he didn’t care, he hadn’t seen her since the day they defeated the Shredder. 

“It appears you were able to access the ancestral plane because of the séance you have done with those people.” Karai said, seemingly reading his mind. 

But as they hugged, Donnie rested his head on Karai’s shoulder and looked behind her. He expected there to be pure darkness, there to be nothing behind her, no one behind her. But there was. 

It looked like a child, back facing them. Their hair was long and blond, a bright red robe adorned them with odd golden circles on the edges of the robe. 

Just before Donnie was able to question who that was he woke up. 

Next to him Gwyneth suddenly feel forward, Rose running up from her seat to look her over in concern, the image of that person still clear in his mind but started to fade as Rose said to find a place for Gwyneth to lay down. 

“The boy- he too was glowing!” Sneed said, pointing to Donnie, “Green and purple he was.” 

“It was just a trick of the light.” The Doctor defended, but looked at Donnie with an expression of ‘we’ll talk later’

Donnie stayed sat at the table as Rose cared for Gwyneth, seemingly very concerned for the young girl, but as much as Donnie wanted to help see if she was alright, the events of that short time ran through his mind. 

All of his other brothers were able to enter the ancestral plane via meditation and connecting with the Hamato ninpo, even April was able to connect with the ancestral plane due to Karai possessing her, but Donnie was never able to because he never had that great of a connect with his ninpo, even now with only using a mystic bō, but he was fine with that, how he processed his grief of losing Karai had pretty much stopped him from even trying to connect to that plane of existence as he didn’t want to ruin that progress. 

“It’s alright, you just sleep.” Rose said, catching Donnie’s attention as she spoke to a now conscious Gwyneth. Donnie zoned out the rest of the conversation until Sneed started to speak, asking what ‘they’ where, Donnie had to assume he meant the creatures the séance had summoned. Donnie decided to listen to that as, spiritually, he wasn’t there for the séance. 

“Aliens.” 

“Like foreigners?” Sneed asked

“Pretty foreign, yeah. From up there.” 

“Brecon?” 

“Close.” The Doctor replied, “And they’ve been trying to get through from Brecon to Cardiff but the road’s blocked.” They explained, not really answering Donnie’s mental questions about what happened but enough information to at least give him an idea. “Only a few can get through. Even then, they’re weak. They can only test-drive the bodies for so long. Then they have to revert to gas and hide in the pipes.” 

“Which is why they need the girl?” Dickens butted in, Donnie somewhat forgetting he was actually here. 

“They’re not having her.” Rose exclaimed, protectiveness heavy in her face. 

“But she can help. Living on the rift, she’s become part of it. She can open it up, make a bridge and let them through.” 

“Incredible.” Dickens once again called out, gaining the attention of the room again, “Ghosts that are not ghosts but beings from another world. Who can only exist in our realm by inhabiting cadavers.” 

“Good system, might work.” Donnie contributed, having stayed silent for most of the conversation. But t seemed Rose didn’t like that contribution as she suddenly stood up and walked up to the door frame. 

“You can’t let them run around inside of dead people!” She demanded, obviously angry. 

“Why not? It’s like recycling.” The Doctor told her. 

“It’s just wrong. Those bodies were living people. We should respect them, even in death.” Donnie could understand Rose’s point, but it seemed like The Doctor didn’t. 

“Do you carry a donor card?” When Rose stuttered out an answer they continued, “It’s a different morality. Get used to it, or go home.” The Doctor then talked quieter to Rose, making it hard for him to hear, but he was able to clearly heard Gwyneth asking if she got a say in the matter. 

“You don’t understand what’s going on.” Rose said, obviously trying to protect her. 

“You would say that, miss. Cos that’s very clear inside your head. That you think I’m stupid.” 

“That’s not fair-” 

“It’s true though.” Gwyneth cut her off. “Things might be very different where you’re from, but here and now, I know my own mind. And the angels need me. Doctor, What do I have to do?” 

Eventually they were lead down to the morgue of the house, believing that to be the weakest spot in the house, as the walked down the stairs Donnie wasn’t sure if he shivered because of the temperature or because he felt creeped out by the dead bodies, either way he stuck to The Doctor’s side.

“Thing is Doctor, the Gelth don’t succeed, cos I know they don’t, Donnie should know they don’t. I know for a fact that corpses weren’t walking round in 1869.” Rose said. 

“Time’s in flux, changing every second. Your cosy little world could be rewritten like that.” The Doctor snapped their fingers, “Nothing is safe. Remember that.” Donnie wasn’t used to The Doctor acting like this, it was definitely something to do with what the Gelth said. 

Donnie suddenly felt a shiver run through his body, “Doctor, I think the room is getting colder.” He said, rubbing his arms slightly. 

“ You’ve come to help.” The blue mist creatures said, joy and glee in their voice, “ Praise The Doctor. Praise them! ”

“Promise you won’t hurt her.” Rose demanded, but the Gelth didn’t agree. 

“ Hurry! Please! So little time! Pity the Gelth. ” 

When they didn’t agree to keep Gwyneth unharmed, Donnie felt uneasy, but he gave the Gelth the benefit of the doubt. 

“I’ll take you somewhere else after the transfer,” The Doctor said, walking in front of the group, “Somewhere you can build proper bodies. This isn’t a permanent solution alright.” 

Gwyneth spoke before the Gelth could agree to The Doctor’s deal, “My angels! I can help them live.” Gwyneth’s voice sounded like she was enchanted by the Gelth. 

“Okay, where’s the weak point?” The Doctor asked, the Gelth answered with the fact it was under the arch, right where they were floating. 

As Gwyneth went to stand there, Rose ran to her, “You don’t have to do this.” 

“My angels-” 

“ Establish the bridge .” The Gelth cut her off, “ Reach out to the void! Let us through ”

Gwyneth agreed, “Come to this world, oh your poor lost souls.” As she said that, more and more Gelth appeared, flying out of her mouth and through the room at alarming numbers. 

“ The bridge is open, we descend!” Suddenly the blue spirit turned grey and red, sharp teeth appearing in their mouth. 

“You said you were few in numbers!” The Doctor cried out, betrayal plastered on their face. 

“ A few billion! And all of in need of corpses!” The Gelth exclaimed, as they said that, the Gelth flying around the room started to possess the corpses. 

Sneed attempted to stop Gwyneth from letting the Gelth in, but it was in vain as she wasn’t able to even hear him and from behind him, one of the corpses grabbed onto his neck, reacting to Rose’s warning too late. 

The Gelth possessed-body then snapped his neck with a loud snap, allowing for another Gelth to enter his body. 

Donnie jumped back from all the bodies and flying Gelth, ending up near the door of the morgue alongside Dickens. He watched as The Doctor and Rose were forced into the cage that cut off the morgue from a stone wall that might have been a garden once. He wanted to go and help them, but he knew he wasn’t able to do anything as there were too many to fight to get to the duo, but when he saw Dickens run out of the room he went after the man, not letting him escape without at least trying to help the human race. 

“Dickens!” Donnie yelled as he opened the door just as Dickens shut it. 

He stumbled out of the house, and watched as Dickens looked in curiosity as one of the Gelth tried to follow him but instead went into the gas lamp. Dickens then snapped his head to Donnie, “The gas!” 

The realization dawned on Donnie a few moments later, “Oh-mi-gosh, the gas!” He then turned back to the house, hearing Dickens follow. 

“Turn on the gas, child, all of them that you can find.” Dickens demanded as he went to turn on the ones nearest to the doors. Donnie sucked in a deep breath of air, thankful that his lungs could survive without oxygen for several hours, and ran up the stairs, the first lamp had a bit of difficulty with turn on just the gas but eventually he figured it out and quickly was able to do the same for all the other lamps, making sure to put out any candles he found. 

He ran back down the stairs and to the morgue just as Dickens made his way back down as well, “Turn off the flame, turn up the gas! Now fill the room! All of it, now!” Dickens said, turning to Donnie just as he said that last sentence, Donnie nodded and ran across of the other side of the room, seeing a pipe that connected all the lamps and decided to break it, getting hit in the face with the gas, he coughed before moving away from it, reminding himself to hold his breath again. 

“The Gelth are made of gas so they’ll be drawn to the gas instead of the bodies.” Donnie answered The Doctor’s and Rose’s concerns, his finding it difficult to speak whilst holding his breath, and it seemed Dickens was finding breathing just as difficult as he coughed into his napkin. 

As he said that, the Gelth possessed bodies moved from the barred door and started to walk towards Donnie and Dickens, the group splinting to go after the two, they were slow but walking them into the wall. 

Just as the possessed bodies were getting closer to the human and mutant, The Doctor broke another pipe, in turn releasing even more gas into the room. That thankfully drew the Gelth from the bodies and back into the air, the corpses limped to the floor as there was no one puppeting them. 

“Gwyneth, send them back! They lied, they're not angels!” The Doctor demanded the girl. 

“Liars?” Gwyneth asked, her eyes appeared gazed over. 

“Look at them,” The Doctor gestured to the gaseous beings, “If your mother and father could look down and see this, they’d tell you the same. They’d give you the strength. Now send them back!” 

As The Doctor spoke, Donnie noticed how Rose struggled to breathe, so he quickly shed himself of his jacket and help it up to her face as something to breathe into so she could block out the gas. It wouldn’t be effective but it would help. The Doctor seemed to notice this and asked Donnie to get her and Dickens of the house. 

After a small bit of rejection from Rose, who refused to leave Gwyneth, Donnie helped direct Rose out of the house, despite the human being taller than him it was fairly easy to half drag half guide her out of the house. As they left and were finally in the clean air she dropped Donnie’s suit jacket and cough and spluttered, Dickens doing the same. 

“How were you able to hold your breath for so long?” Rose asked as Donnie let out a long exhale, coughing slightly himself. He pulled at the cloaking necklace reminding that he wasn’t human. 

Donnie looked back at the house, seeing The Doctor running through the corridor, they barely made it to the door before the house exploded, sending a strong force of wind at the group, making them stumble in place, debris falling onto them. 

“Wait Doctor, what about Gwyneth🙹” Donnie demanded, looking back at the house in desperation.

“I’m sorry. She closed the rift, I did try I really did, but she was already dead…she had been for at least five minutes.” 

Donnie felt a wave of dread wash over him at those words. 

“But she can’t have, she spoke to us, she helped us- she saved us. How could she have done that?” Rose said in disbelief.

“There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Even for you, Doctor.” As Dickens spoke, grief filled his voice, even though he only knew Gwyneth for less than an hour he still grieved the young girl, and it seemed everyone was the same. 

“She saved the world…a servant girl and no one would ever know.” Rose commented. 

“But we will, we won’t let ourselves forget.” Donnie said, looking at Rose, trying his best not to show the sombre emotions but knowing he was ultimately failing as Rose grabbed onto his hand as a show of comfort. 

The walk back to the TARDIS was quiet, Donnie having kept hold of Rose’s hand, and she didn’t seem to be against it, possibly thinking that Donnie needed that comfort. 

“Right then, Charlie boy, I’ve just got to go into my- erm- shed, won’t be long.” The Doctor said as they went to unlock the TARDIS. 

“What are you going to do now?” Rose asked Dickens. 

“I shall take the mail-coach back to London, quite literally post-haste. This is no time for me to be on my own. I shall spend Christmas with my family and make amends to them. Afterall, I’ve learnt tonight there can be nothing more vital.” 

“You’ve cheered up.” Donnie commented, giving the old man a smile. 

“Exceedingly! This morning I thought I knew everything in the world. Now I know I’ve just started.” He told them, moving his hands in an excited motion, “All these huge and wonderful notions, Doctor! I am inspired! I must write about them!” 

“Do you think that’s wise?” Rose questioned. 

“I shall be subtle, at first. The mystery of Edwin Drood still lacks an ending. Perhaps the killer was not the boy’s uncle, perhaps he was not of this earth! The mystery of Edwin Drood and the Blue Elementals!” Dickens remarked with excitement in his voice. 

“Well good luck with it! Nice to meet you, fantastic.” The Doctor shook Dickens hand, a joy filled grin settling on their face.  

“Bye, then. And thanks!” Rose shook his hand and gave Dickens a polite kiss on the cheek, making the man blush lightly. 

Donnie rolled his eyes playfully and went to shake Dickens hand, bidding him goodbye as well. Dickens then placed his own hand on top of Donnie and said, “And thank you, child, for opening up my eyes to the wonder of the impossible.” Donnie smiled at him before to enter the TARDIS with The Doctor and Rose. 

“Wait but I don’t understand, in what way is this goodbye.” 

“Oh, we’re about to blow your mind Charles. Just watch.” Donnie said, trying to encourage The Doctor and Rose into the machine, but they were stopped once again by Dickens. 

“It’s just one riddle after another with you three, but please answer me this. Donnie told me that my books will make a change. Is that true? Do my book last past my time?” 

“Oh yes.” They answered. 

“For how long?” 

“Forever.” 

Dickens looked content with that answer, stepping away slightly, a gleeful smile on his face. Finally the three of them went inside the TARDIS, The Doctor immediately going to the console screen that showed the camera that showed the outside of the TARDIS. 

“Doesn’t that change history, if he writes about blue ghosts?” Rose asked, walking up next to The Doctor.

“No,” Donnie said in sudden realization, “He dies next year, June, he never got to finish his book.” 

“But now he’s more alive than ever, Old Charlie boy.” The Doctor told them, still looking at the screen, the human in question looking at the TARDIS in confusion, “Let’s give him one last surprise.” 

The Doctor activated the TARDIS, even though they only had a few seconds before the camera switched off as they entered the time vortex, they could still see the pure, childlike joy that Dickens’ face morphed into.

Chapter Text

Rose exited the TARDIS first, Donnie and The Doctor following behind her, “How long have I been gone?” She questioned, turning to face the timelord. 

“About 12 hours.” They replied, leaning against their TARDIS with a grin on their face. 

Rose laughed in disbelief, “Right, I won’t be long, I just wanna see my mum.” She said, starting to walk back to the estate where she lived, but she was stopped when Donnie started to speak. 

“What are you gonna tell her?”

“I dunno, that I’ve been to the year five billion and only been gone- what, 12 hours. Nah, I’ll just tell her I spent the night at Shereen’s. You two don’t disappear.” Rose then started to run back to her flat, a grin on her face at the thought of seeing her mum. 

The Doctor then pushed themselves off the TARDIS and suggested to Donnie to have a little wander around, maybe stock up on snacks in the TARDIS, but the two didn’t get far from the TARDIS when Donnie noticed a poster on a building column, “Um…Doctor.”  He took the poster from the column, his eyes widening in alarm at what he read. 

They then took the poster from Donnie, and within a few seconds they bore the same expression Donnie did. Almost immediately they ran after Rose, Donnie close behind. 

“How did you manage to mess up that badly?” 

“I don’t know, I’ve gotten you home on time before, granted the TARDIS was being fussy when we landed so that might of been it-”

Donnie cut The Doctor off before they could continue talking, “Doesn’t matter what might of happened, this is a big fuck up Doctor.” 

It was silent for the rest of the run up the stairs before they found the Tyler’s flat, The Doctor practically throwing the door open, “I-it’s not 12 hours, it’s 12 months. You’ve been gone for a whole year. Sorry.” They awkwardly smiled at Rose, whose mother was hugging her tightly. 

The police were called quickly and they showed up within minutes, they tried to question Rose, Donnie and The Doctor but got nothing of detail out of the trio, and that (rightfully) caused her mother to snap. 

“The hours I sat here, days and weeks and months, all on my own! I thought you were dead and where were you? “Travelling”! What the hell does that mean, travelling🙺” Jackie yelled at Rose, who just looked away from her mother, mouth agape like she wanted to speak but couldn’t get the words to leave her throat. Whilst her mother yelled, Donnie opted to stand just behind The Doctor, he knew he had his cloaking necklace on and it appeared as he was human, but he didn’t know if the British police were more observant than the New York police of his time, especially since this officer was on very high alert due to Rose being a missing person's case. 

“That’s no sort of answer!” Jackie continued without even taking a breath, “You ask her, she won’t tell me anything. That's all she says, “Travelling”.” She said to the police officer 

“That’s what I was doing.” Rose defended, but any effort was immediately diminished 

“With your passport still in the drawer? It’s just one lie after another!” 

“I meant to phone, I really did, I just…I forgot.” 

Jackie sputtered in disbelief at what Rose just said, “For a year? You forgot for a year, and I’m left sitting here🙺 I just don’t believe you! Why won’t you tell me where you’ve been?” 

The Doctor then decided to step in, perhaps in hope that’ll take the attention and yelling off Rose, “Actually, it’s my fault, I sorta employed Rose as my companion.” The Doctor said, trying to keep things as brief as they could. 

“When you say companion, is this a sexual relationship?” The police officer asked, also side-eyeing Donnie as he spoke. 

“No!” “No!” Rose and The Doctor said at the same time, Donnie briefly air gagging at that implication. 

“Then what is it? Because you- you waltz in here, all charms and smiles and the next thing I know she banishes off the face of the earth!” Jackie once again yells, walking up to The Doctor, Donnie surprised they’ve managed to keep a neutral face the whole time they were being yelled at. 

“How old are you then., 40? 45? What did you find her on the internet? Did you find him too? Or was he the one to lure her?” Jackie pointed an accusatory finger at Donnie whilst still glaring at The Doctor. “You go online and pretend you’re a doctor?” 

“I am a Doctor.” 

“Prove it, stitch this mate.” The slap ran through the house, managing to make The Doctor stumble at the force, Donnie hissed through his teeth at the slap. 

Thankfully the officer left a few minutes later, saying that there appeared to be no real reason for him to be there. After the officer left Jackie dragged Rose into her kitchen, and instead of yelling again like Donnie expected it sounded like the mother was crying. That’s when The Doctor advised that they should properly leave the flat, knowing that Rose and Jackie should have some time to themselves. 

A few minutes passed when Rose met them outside the flat, wiping tears from her cheeks, telling the two to make their way to the roof so they could talk. Said talk didn’t really happen for a short while, they all just stayed relatively silent until Rose spoke up. 

“I can’t tell her. I can’t even begin. She’s never going to forgive me. And I missed a year, was it good?” She asked, looking at The Doctor and Donnie. 

Donnie shrugged as he was only three years old in 2006, and also, raised in a sewer in New York, whilst The Doctor just answered with “Middling.” 

“You’re so useless.” She said, Donnie unsure if she was joking or not. 

“Well, if it’s this much trouble, are you gonna stay here now?” They asked, Rose only shrugged. 

“I dunno, can't do that to her again, though.” 

“Well she's not coming with us.” The Doctor put their foot down on that statement. 

The two laughed when they looked at each other, “No chance.” 

“They don't do families, too cold hearted.” Donnie joked, keeping the laughter going. 

“She slapped you.” Rose blurted out, Donnie snorting at the memory of the event from earlier. 

“900 years of time and space and I've never been slapped by someone's mother.” 

“I bet your younger-self felt that slap.” Donnie laughed, rocking as he did so. 

“It hurt.” They said, holding a hand up to their face looking at Donnie with a lighthearted hurt look. 

“Wait when you say 900 years…?” 

“That’s my age.” The Doctor answer, seemingly surprised that they hadn’t mentioned that to Rose before hand

The human looked at The Doctor with light disbelief, “You’re 900 years old?” 

The Doctor nodded, confirming their statement, “That’s definitely an age gap.” Donnie joked, receiving a glare from the pair. 

Rose then jumped off the small part of the roof she was sitting on and walked away from The Doctor and Donnie, “Every conversation with you just goes mental. There’s no-one else, well apart from Donnie, I can talk to. I’ve seen all that stuff up there- the size of it, and I can’t say a word. Aliens and spaceships and things, and I’m one of the few people on planet Earth who knows they exist.” 

But she was immediately proved wrong as a loud, foghorn-like noise filled the air as above them a spaceship flew overhead, causing gusts of winds to wrap around them. The trio ducked and watched as the ship flew over London, barely skimming the River Thames before circling over the city, the side of it crashing into the clock tower (that Donnie was pretty sure was called Big Ben) before nose diving into the Thames. The smoke from the Thames rising higher and higher into the air. 

“Oh that’s just not fair.” Rose grumbled as the trio stumbled up from their position on the floor, Donnie staring in disbelief whilst The Doctor just laughed like a manic person. They started to run down from the roof and to the stairs. 

It didn't take them long to reach the streets, cars packed tightly together, people yelling and arguing with each other and the soldiers, people attempting to get photos or make it past the army. 

“We're miles from the center. The city must be gridlocked.” Rose commented. 

“Yeah,” Donnie confirmed after pulling out his phone which was already connected to this timeline, “Any roads and streets leading to the Thames are completely swamped with the army, the bridge itself being only soldiers and divers.” He said, scrolling through his phone and skimming any photos and news articles he saw. 

“I know! I can’t believe I’m here seeing this! This is fantastic!” The Doctor laughed, hopping from one foot to the other. 

“Did either of you know this was gonna happen?” 

“Nope” 

“Nope, I was only three in 2006, and also, New York.” Donnie answered, overlapping The Doctor’s own answer. 

Rose continued to question The Doctor about if they recognise the ship or knew why it crashed, each time they answered with a ‘nope’ whilst looking straight ahead with a grin on their face. 

“This is why I travel, Rose. History is happening right in front of us!” 

“Why don’t we go see it?” Donnie asked, gesturing to the army vans, “We have the TARDIS, it would be easy to make it to the Thames.” 

The Doctor shook their head, “It’s best not to, with one spaceship in the middle of London, I don’t want to shove another on top. And, Donnie, best you keep your mystic weapons to yourself, all kinds of people will be watching. So trust me you two, the TARDIS stays where it is.” 

Donnie groaned in annoyance (of course verbally communicating that groan), wanting to argue with the timelord but stayed quiet, that childhood fear of being taken by the government itching his mind. 

“So history is happening and we’re stuck here?” When The Doctor answered with a simple, ‘yes’, Rose continued, “We could do what everyone else does, watch it on TV.”

They ended up back at Rose’s flat, (The Doctor telling Donnie to keep his phone hidden as everyone was on high alert for ‘alien tech’), and within a few moments of them arriving, dozen other humans arrived in the flat. Donnie had to assume they were friends of Jackie. 

The Doctor turned the TV on immediately flipping to the BBC news, Donnie opting for leaning against the back of the armchair The Doctor was sitting on. 

“ Big Ben destroyed as a UFO crash-lands in central London. Police reinforcements are drafted in from across the country to control widespread panic, looting and civil disturbance. A state of national emergency has been declared. Tom Hichinson is at the scene .” The new reporter relayed, Donnie wanting to scoff at how low quality the entire thing was but kept his mouth shout as it was 2006 afterall. 

“ The police urge the public not to panic. Here’s the helpline number on screen right now if you’re worried about friends or family .” The news camera then panned over to the Thames where the ship was. As it did that, Donnie tapped on The Doctor’s shoulder and told them to find the american news to see what they had to say about that. 

“ The military are on the lookout for more spaceships so all flights in North American airspace have been grounded. ” 

The Doctor then switched the TV back to the BBC news, grumbling something about not being able to stand her accent, “-T he army are sending divers into the wreck of the spaceship. No one knows what they’re going to find .” 

Donnie then snatched the controller from The Doctor and put the channel back to the American News, maturely sticking his tongue out at the timelord, “- The prescient will address the nation live from the White House but the Secretary General has asked that people watch the skies. ” 

As The Doctor took the controller back Jackie came into the living room and everyone started talking, overlapping with what was being said on the TV about Rose 'suddenly coming back home’. For a few moments it was hard to hear what was being said but The Doctor opted to turn the volume up by a few. 

“ They’ve found a body. It’s unconfirmed but I’m being told a body’s been found in the wreckage- a body of non-terrestrial origins. ” As the reporter said this, the camera zoomed in, to the background, “ It’s being brought ashore. ” The reporter then changed to the BBC studio itself as the reporter there started to speak. 

“ A body has been found inside the wreckage of a spacecraft and its being brought ashore.” The footage then went back to the Thames, but the instudio reporter still talked, “Unconfirmed reports say the body is of extra-terrestrial origin. An extraordinary event unfolding live in central London. The body is being transferred to a secure-unit mortuary, whereabouts as yet unknown -” The channel was suddenly switched to a baking channel. Donnie snapped his head down to see a young human child sprawled across The Doctor’s lap, having stolen the controller from them. 

They managed to wrestle the controller from the child’s hands, gently encouraging the kid to go back to his parents and quickly switched the channel back to the news, “- Albion Hospital. We still don’t know if it’s alive or dead. Whitehall’s denying everything. But the body’s been brought here, Albion Hospital. With roads closed, it’s the closest to the river. I’m being told that’s General Asquith now entering the hospital. ” The camera zoomed in on a man with a stern and strict face exit a police car and walk into the hospital before the camera turned its focus back to the reporter, “ The building’s evacuated, patients moved out onto the streets. The police still won’t confirm the presence of an alien body contained inside those walls. ”

The reporter then handed over to another reporter, whose name Donnie didn’t really care to remember who was reporting from outside Downing Street, “ Thank you Tom. Mystery still surrounds the whereabouts of the Prime Minister. He’s not been seen since the emergency began. The Conservative party are criticising his lack of leadership- hold on .” The camera panned onto a black car as a man exited the vehicle. 

“ Oh ,” The reporter said, his disappointment very obvious, “ That’s Joseph Green, MP for Hartley Dale. He’s the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on the Monitoring of Sugar standards in Exported Confectionery- with respect- hardly the most important person right now. ” Donnie snorted at the honesty of the reporter. 

After the reporter said that The Doctor got up from the chair and exited the flat, Donnie opted to follow them as it was getting a bit overwhelming for him, and it turned out that Rose had noticed them leaving. 

“And where d’you think you’re going?” 

“Nowhere, it’s- it’s just a bit human in there for me. History’s happened and they’re talking about where to buy dodgy top-up cards half price. We’re only off on a wander.” 

Roes nodded in a way that made it seem like she didn’t believe them, “Riiiiight. A spaceship on the Thames and you’re just wandering?” 

“It’s not like we can do anything, it doesn’t seem like an invasion and they found a dead body on board.” Donnie pointed out. 

“And maybe this is it,” The Doctor continued on from Donnie, “First contact, the day mankind officially comes into contact with an alien race.” They said with a giddy expression on their face. 

“Yeah but there aren't any aliens walking around in 2018.” Donnie asked, the only “aliens” being mutants and yokai and even then they were only focused in New York. 

“Well history is always in flux, always changing. You don’t need me, go and celebrate history!” The Doctor said, looking towards Rose with a genuine smile on their face, “Go spend time with your mum.” They then turned and started walking away but were stopped by Rose talking. 

“Promise you won’t disappear?” 

The Doctor hesitated before patting their jacket and pulled out one of the many TARDIS keys they kept in their jacket and handed it to Rose, “Tell you what. TARDIS key, about time you had one. And I’ll leave Donnie here as well as extra reassurance.” The disguised mutant in question half threw his hands up in protest, but Donnie knew The Doctor well enough that they definitely had a reason to leave Donnie with Rose. 

“Come on, let's go back inside, it’s cold.” Rose commented as they watched The Doctor leave the estate building, rubbing her arms as to back up the statement. Donnie hesitated before going back inside, not wanting to get cold as he was wearing shorts after all. 

The pair returned to the flat and both went into the kitchen, Rose offering him a drink, “Either coffee or flavourless juice.” He answered. 

“Isn’t that just water?” 

“No, it’s flavourless juice.” How did she not get that?

So Rose opted to making him coffee, remembering how he liked it teeth-decaying sweet, whilst fixing herself a small glass of gin and tonic, before going back into the living room, Rose sitting in the armchair nearest the TV whilst Donnie sat on the floor against the window, biting his cheek as the found of his battle shell against curtained-glass ran through his ears, but thankfully the cloaking technology made it seem like he was leaning against it normally. He drank his coffee as he fidgeted with the hair on his head, pulling lightly at the curls his cloaking necklace created. 

“Here’s to the martians!” Jackie cheered out, everyone cheering with her before taking a sip of their, presumably alcoholic, drinks. But the light cheering immediately quieted down when the door opened and a pissed Mickey stepped into the living room, his gaze on Rose. 

“Someone owes Mickey an apology.” One of the women in the room said quietly. 

“I’m sorry.” Rose said out of reflex, but the woman shook her head and looked up at Jackie.

“Well, it’s not my fault. Be fair, what was I supposed to think?” Jackie shrugged off Mickey’s glare as she walked into the kitchen. 

Mickey inhaled deeply before turning to look at Rose, “Rose kitchen, you too Donnie.” The pair in question looked at each before going into the kitchen, Jackie also following them into her kitchen. Mickey didn’t hesitate before he went off on Rose. 

“You disappear, and who do they turn to? Your ex! Five times I was taken in for questioning! Five!” He reiterated, “No evidence, Couldn’t be, could there? And then I get her ,” Mickey said with disgust, pointing at Jackie, “Whispering round the estate, pointing the finger, stuff through my letterbox. All cause of you and that Doctor fella of yours.” Mickey said, suddenly turning towards Donnie and jabbing a fingering at his plastron. 

“There was a mistake, we didn’t think she would be gone for so long.” Donnie defended, holding back the natural instinct to bite at the finger pointing at him. 

Mickey scowled at Donnie before turning back to Rose, letting his hand flop to his side, “I waited for you Rose, 12 months waiting for you and The Doctor to come back.” 

Jackie suddenly stood up from her seat at the mention of The Doctor, “You knew about The Doctor? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Yeah,” Mickey said, going to close the door to the opening to the living room and the kitchen door, “Why not, Rose? How could I tell her where you went?” 

“Tell me now.” Jackie demanded. 

“I might as well, cos you’re stuck here. The Doctor’s gone, just now that- box thing, just faded away.” Donnie looked at Mickey with disbelief, The Doctor wouldn’t leave Donnie, especially in the wrong timeline and completely wrong country. 

“They’ve left you, some boyfriend they turned out to be.” Mickey mocked, Rose immediately shoved past Mickey and her mother and ran out of the flat. Donnie quickly followed behind as the two humans went to look at him, seemingly starting questioning him. 

“They wouldn’t just leave, Rose. I mean I’m here. Knowing them, they went to investigate the alien crash.” Donnie said as he ran up to Rose who was staring at the spot where the TARDIS was. 

“Yeah but they promised.” 

“They’re The Doctor, once they’re curious they’re gonna do some bullshit timelord stuff and go have tea with those aliens.” Donnie commented, not realizing that Jackie and Mickey had too followed them out of the flat. 

“What are you two on about? What’s going on? What's this Doctor done now?” Jackie asked. 

“They’ve vamoosed.” Mickey laughed. 

“No they haven’t because I’m still here, I don’t belong in this time.” Donnie pointed out, Rose also quickly pointed out the fact she was given a TARDIS key, pulling it out of her pocket. 

A few moments after she did, it started to glow and the familiar groans from the TARDIS started to fade in. Rose quickly walked in front of her mother, blocking her view and tried to get her inside. But it was proved futile as her mum refused to move and stood taller to see the TARDIS appear in view, pulling her daughter to her side. 

When the TARDIS landed Donnie immediately unlocked the doors, “And where did you go?” 

“Yes yes I lied, I just had to look. The whole crash-landing’s a fake it’s too perfect.” The Doctor said the moment Donnie entered the TARDIS, Rose entered just behind him. 

“Yeah makes sense, managing to hit Big Ben on the way down? Sounds like one of my dad’s movies.” Donnie commented as he fixed his gaze on the screen.

“Exactly, so I thought ‘Let’s go and have a look at the pilot’.” 

The Doctor was then cut off by Rose, “My mum’s here.” 

They then swung around to see both Jackie and Mickey entering the TARDIS, Jackie looking around in shock whilst Mickey had his eyes set on The Doctor in anger. 

“Oh just what I need, you better not make this place domestic.” They said Donnie was unsure if they were actually joking or not. 

“You ruined my life, Doctor.” Mickey said, his voice surprisingly calm, “They thought she was dead. I was a murder suspect because of you.” He said, pointing a finger at the timelord. 

“You see what I mean? Domestic.” They turned to Donnie, who could now tell that they weren’t saying it as a joke or being serious but more because they didn’t know how to respond or react to the mess they created by getting the timing wrong. 

Jackie then suddenly ran out of the TARDIS as Mickey walked up closer to The Doctor, his posture defensive, Rose called out to her mum as she ran out, “Don’t go anywhere and don’t start a fight.” She told The Doctor and Mickey before running out after her mother.

“Listen I just got the timings a bit wrong that's all-”  Mickey scoffed at The Doctor’s defense, but nothing much could really be said as Rose ran back into the TARDIS. 

“So it is a real spaceship?” Rose asked as The Doctor turned to look at the console screen, answering with a quick yep. 

“Are they invading though?” Donnie questioned as he pulled the console screen closer to him to get a better look at The Doctor’s readings. 

From behind them, Mickey injected into the conversation with a very good point, “Funny way to invade, putting the world on red alert.” 

The Doctor nodded, “Good point, so what are they up to?” 

“Maybe try and find the ship’s journey before it crashed?” Donnie suggested, earning a grin and a side hug from The Doctor. They quickly crouched to the floor and removed one of the metal mesh floors, and laid down on their back, and immediately started to mess around with the TARDIS floor controls. 

“Well come and help me then Donnie.” The Doctor said, more than aware that Donnie always took the chance to look at the more technological parts of the time machine, so he kneeled down on the left side and started to assist The Doctor. Flicking levers and reconnecting wires as they saw fit. 

“So what are you doing down there?” Mickey asked as he walked up to the right side of The Doctor as they handed Donnie a panel and told him to press the buttons in a certain order as they continued to mess around with the under controls. 

“If I were to tell you what I was doing to the controls of my frankly magnificent timeship would you even begin to understand?” 

Mickey shrugged, “I ‘pose not.” 

“Shut it then.” The Doctor smiled before putting their sonic in their mouth. 

“Stop winding the guy up, Doctor.” Donnie told them, passing the panel of buttons back to The Doctor who didn’t really say anything and just continued to mess with their TARDIS. 

Donnie heard Rose and Mickey talking somewhat quietly, and tried to block it out just out of privacy for the two friends, but he couldn’t help but listen in as Rose apologized for a mistake she didn’t really made, if anything it should be The Doctor apologizing. He listened as Mickey told her that he looked everyday for her and the TARDIS during that year, and Rose telling him that it had barely been a week for her. 

The mutant was thankful that The Doctor always got the timings right they took Donnie back to his time, even if he hadn’t been back since they picked up Rose, for his family it had only been an hour, he couldn’t imagine his family going a year without him, especially after the Shredder. Donnie may have a ‘bad boy’ image he liked to keep up (which seemed to be chipped away by The Doctor the more time he spent with them) but that didn’t mean he didn’t care for his family. 

‘Pizza supreme, I need to stop getting so sentimental about my family, I blame Rose for this.’ Donnie joked to himself as he ran a hand over his face, silently laughing to himself. 

“Aha!” The Doctor suddenly yelled, scarring everyone in the TARDIS as they jumped out of the gap under the TARDIS and swung the console screen so everyone could see it, “Patched in the radar, looped it back 12 hours so it could follow the flight of that spaceship- hold on, here we go.” The Doctor pressed a few buttons on the console and hit the screen. 

The screen started to show a very simple diagram of the earth and the rocket alongside the flight pattern behind it, “That’s the spaceship on its way to Earth, see.” They told the three, “Except, hold on-” The path then disappeared and the screen then showed the spaceship leaving earth, doing a semi-circle motion before landing back on the planet. 

“Wait so it never left the planet in the first place? The aliens were already here?” Donnie asked, watching as the program repeated itself. 

“Yeah, and they’ve possibly been here a while.” The Doctor replied, pulling the screen towards themselves and turned it off the flight pattern to all the different news channels world wide. All of them showed either footage from the UK, people of that country rioting or interviews with experts. 

“How many channels you get?” Mickey questioned as The Doctor continued to flick through pretty much one per second. 

“All the basic packages.” 

“Sports channels?” 

The Doctor sighed, “Yes I get the football- hold on.” They stopped back on a news channel reporting in Britain, “I know that lot.” 

They pointed at the screen as the reporter talked about how the group of people the camera was focused on had devoted their whole lives to learning about aliens, “U.N.I.T. United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. Good people.” The Doctor said, looking almost nostalgic. 

“How come you know them?” Donnie asked, he had heard of them back home, he knew they had suddenly become very active after the Shredder and when people started to mutate, so he and his family had to keep quiet the few weeks after defeating the Shredder so they weren’t found out about them. 

“Cause they’ve worked for them.” Mickey answered Donnie, receiving a confused eyebrow raise from The Doctor, “Don’t think I sat on my backside for 12 months, Doctor, I read up on you and Donnie, a mutated biological weapon from 12 years in our future.” Mickey said, the anger from earlier still present as he glared at Donnie and The Doctor. 

He then turned to Rose as he continued to speak, “Look deep enough on the internet or history books, there’s their name, followed by a list of the dead.”  

“That’s nice, good boy, Mickey.” The Doctor said, sarcasm dipping from their sentence. 

“If you know ‘em, why not go and help?” Rose questioned as she continued to watch the news report. 

The Doctor shook their head, “They wouldn’t recognise me. I’ve changed a lot since the old days. Besides, the world’s on a knife-edge. There’s aliens out there, and fake aliens. I wanna keep this alien and that mutant,” The Doctor pointed to Donnie, “Out of the mix. I’m going undercover, I’d better keep the TARDIS out of sight too. Mickey you’ve got a car, you can drive.” 

“Where to?” Mickey asked, sounding not too happy about it. 

“The roads are clearing. Let’s see that ship.” 

‘So much for undercover.’ Was Donnie’ first thought was as they stepped out of the TARDIS as there was a huge beaming searchlight that lit them up, blinding the four for a few moments before their eyes adjusted. 

“ DO NOT MOVE .” The human within the helicopter demanded as police and army vans and cars surrounded them, soldiers and officers exited the cars and vans, the army people carrying guns, making sure there was no way for them to escape. But that didn’t stop Mickey as he suddenly bolted, running past the officers. Donnie wasn’t sure where he ran off to but it seemed like the officers lost the human. 

“Rose!” Jackie yelled, appearing out of seemingly nowhere but was held back by army officers as she attempted to get close to the remaining trio. 

“ RAISE YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEADS! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST .” The same human demanded from the helicopter’s megaphone. 

Donnie hesitantly raised his hands in a surrender position, suppressing any and all intistics to summon his bō and other weapons and fight the humans, but he knew that would end very poorly and quickly. 

“Take me to your leader.” The Doctor grinned, quietly saying about how much they wanted to do that.

They were eventually led to one of the larger and fancier cars, The Doctor sitting in the middle whilst Rose was on the right side and Donnie on the left, the driver was hidden by a black out window but they weren’t too concerned about that. 

“This is a bit posh! If I’d known it would be like this getting arrested. I would’ve done it years ago.” Rose joked as she clicked in her seatbelt. 

“We’re not being arrested, we’re being escorted.” The Doctor scoffed, acting like Rose should’ve known that they weren’t in any legal trouble. 

“Where to?” Donnie asked as he looked out of the windows, the light tint of them indicated that they were blackout on the outside, making it so people from the outside of the car couldn’t see inside. 

“Where d’you think? Downing Street.” The Doctor laughed. 

Donnie looked at The Doctor with slight shock, “No shot?” 

“You’re kidding!” Rose exclaimed in disbelief. 

“I’m not!” The Doctor continued to laugh

“10 Downing Street?” 

“That’s the one!” 

“Oh my God!” Rose was still in disbelief, leaning forward to look at Donnie with a questioning expression, almost to check if he had heard the same thing, “We’re going to 10 Downing Street? How come?” 

“I hate to say it, but Mickey was right. Over the years I’ve visited this planet, I’ve been, well, noticed.” The Doctor told her. 

“So they need you? The ultimate expert in alien knowledge.” Donnie lightly joked. 

Donnie tuned out the rest of the conversation as they were driven to Downing Street, not really feeling the need (or energy) to talk or listen into the conversation. But soon enough the car stopped outside Downing Street, and they exited the car. 

The moment they got out, Donnie was overwhelmed by the shouting and flashes of cameras. So Donnie quickly flipped his hood over his head, holding it down just over his face, The Doctor helping guide him into the house as his vision was blocked by the purple fabric. He lifted the hood off his face when he heard the sound off a door closing. 

“You alright?” The Doctor asked quietly. 

“Yeah, fine thanks.” Donnie nodded. 

They were led into a hallway where there were at least 20 or more people talking in small groups of twos or threes, Donnie and Rose both choosing to stick close to The Doctor who stayed to themselves and didn’t talk to any of the U.N.I.T agents. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, can we convene? Quick as we can please. This way, on the right. ID cards are to be worn at all times.” One of the parliamentary staff encouraged. The trio followed behind the group of humans. 

“Looks like a scene in Men in Black.” Rose joked to Donnie who quietly snorted, but made sure to keep it quiet as they were able to enter the room. But they were quickly stopped by the same staff member as he handed The Doctor an ID card. 

“I’m sorry, your companions don’t have clearance.” 

“I don’t go anywhere without them.” The Doctor said. 

But it seemed the staff member wasn’t really listening to them, “You’re the Code Nine, sir, not them. Now I’m sorry Doctor but both of them will have to stay outside.” 

As the man spoke Donnie saw a woman walk up behind the man slowly.

“They’re staying with me.” The Doctor insisted but that didn’t seem to have any effort on the staff member. 

“Look, even I don’t have clearance to go in there, I can’t let them in, that's a fact.” 

“That’s okay,” Rose said, “You go in, me and Donnie can handle ourselves.” 

Before The Doctor could reply, the woman stepped to the staff member's side, a worried look on her face, “Excuse me, are you The Doctor?” 

“Not now! We’re busy, can’t you go home.” The staff member told her angrily, obviously had to deal with her several times today. 

“I just need a word in private.” She said, but The Doctor was made to enter the room by security. 

As the staff member turned to tell Donnie and Rose that they’ll be left with security the woman offered to look after the two. 

“Walk with me, just keep walking.” And now Donnie was concerned, “That’s right, don’t look around. Harriet Jones, MP, Flydale North.” Donnie had no clue what any of those words mean as the woman, Harriet, showed them her ID. 

Harriet then stopped, “Your friend, he’s an expert, is that right?” 

“Yeah they are? Why?” Donnie raised an eyebrow, keeping his voice as quiet as Harriet’s was. 

Harriet then suddenly dissolved into sobs, not out of sadness but it seemed like more out of shock. Rose immediately placed her hands onto Harriet’s arms as a form of comfort. When she regained her composure, Harriet led them both into a room, she then quickly reached for the cupboard and pulled out a limp human, only it wasn’t a human, not anymore. 

“They turn the body into a suit, a disguise, for the thing inside-” She once again started to sob out of shock. 

“It’s alright I believe you.” Rose said as she rubbed Harriets arms to comfort her. 

“There’s gotta be some serious technology behind this.” Donnie said as he examined the suit, immediately dropping it when his fingers brushed the sliminess of the inside part of the skin, “Keep it down, vomitello.” He told himself as he rapidly flapped his hands and air gagged. 

“Yeah and if we find it we can use it-” Rose said as he went searching around the room, opening up drawers and cupboards. But when she opened one she jumped back in shock as a man fell out of one of them. 

“Oh my god- is that?” Rose questioned as she crouched down next to the body. 

Harriet and Donnie quickly ran over, but a voice from the other side of the room caused everyone to turn around, “Harrier for God’s sake! This is beyond a joke you cannot wander-” The same staff member from earlier, stopped when he saw Harrier Jones, Rose and Donnie standing over a body of who Donnie had to assume was an important figure. And those assumptions were quickly confirmed, “Oh my god that’s the Prime Minister.” 

“Oh, has someone been naughty?” A feminine voice said, as a woman walked out of the shadow of the hallway and into the light of the room, a sick grin on her face. As she entered the room she closed the door, never taking her eyes off the three humans and mutant. Harriet placed her hand in front of Donnie and Rose, obviously unaware of how much damage he could do if need be. 

“But that’s not possible, he left this afternoon.” The staff member said, “I mean, the Prime Minister left Downing Street, he was driven away.” 

 “And who told you that?” The woman asked, her voice dropping from the innocence it had just moments prior as she walked closer to the group, “Me.” She said gleefully. 

She then brushed her hand against her fringe and pinched a zip that was originally hidden. As she unzipped her forehead, a blue light filled the room as she pulled the skin suit down, revealing a sickly green alien with pure black eyes and horrifying odd portions. The blue light stopped as the alien had fully shed herself of her skin suit. Donnie, alongside the three humans, stared in shock and horror at the life form. 

And that shock was all the alien needed as she grabbed the staff member by the neck and pushed him against the wall, choking him out. 

Donnie’s ninja instinct immediately kicked in as he summoned his bō and went to hit the alien but he was hit back by the alien’s free arm, crashing him just behind Harriet and Rose, and they just watched in shock as the alien suffocated the man, laughing maniacally.

Chapter Text

She then brushed her hand against her fringe and pinched a zip that was originally hidden. As she unzipped her forehead, a blue light filled the room as she pulled the skin suit down, revealing a sickly green alien with pure black eyes and horrifying odd portions. The blue light stopped as the alien had fully shed herself of her skin suit. Donnie, alongside the three humans, stared in shock and horror at the life form. 

And that shock was all the alien needed as she grabbed the staff member by the neck and pushed him against the wall, choking him out. 

Donnie’s ninja instinct immediately kicked in as he summoned his bō and went to hit the alien but he was hit back by the alien’s free arm, crashing him just behind Harriet and Rose, and they just watched in shock as the alien suffocated the man, laughing maniacally. 

But that laughter didn’t last long as the alien’s collar suddenly erupted into lightning, sending a shock of electricity all over her body. Donnie didn’t understand what was happening and he didn’t get much time to question it as Harriet grabbed his arm and helped him off the floor, Rose encouraging the two to run. 

Donnie freed his hand from Harriet to help him run more comfortably, but the woman in question suddenly stopped as they turned the corner, “Wait! They’re still in there- the emergency protocols, we need them.” 

“Do we really need them?” Donnie asked as he and Rose ran after Harriet, but they weren’t to backtrack too far as the alien came running towards them at inhumane speeds. Thankfully they managed to get a good distance between themselves and the alien as they entered a hallway room, Rose closing a door in hopes of giving them more time. But it didn’t do much as the alien just broke through the wood like it was drywall. 

They continued to run aimlessly throughout the upper levels of Downing Street, not enough distance between them for Donnie to stop and focus on creating a weapon that could at least stun the alien so he and the two humans could get somewhere safe. As they ran, the alien suddenly got distracted by The Doctor who was in the elevator? Donnie didn’t have time to question it as he broke the doorknob off a locked door, messing up the lock mechanism and allowing them inside. 

There wasn’t enough time to unlock the other door inside the room which possibly led to a walk-in cabinet so Rose yelled for them to hide. Rose herself hiding behind a settee, Harriet behind some dividers and Donnie diving under a chair that had a blanket over it, pressing his limbs inside his shell, his head just poking out. 

“Little human children, where are you? Oh, one of you doesn’t smell quite human, this hunt is going to be fun.” The alien laughed, Donnie held his breath as she spoke, hoping that at least hid him a little more. 

“My brothers.” He heard her say as the door opened. 

“Happy hunting?” One of the brother’s said, his voice had the same echo and crock that her’s did. 

“It’s wonderful. The more you prolong it, the more they stink.” Donnie was suddenly glad that he didn’t have a ‘fear stink’ like Raph did, but his natural pheromones still seemed to be smelt by the aliens. 

“Sweat and fear.”

“I can smell an old girl,” One of the brother’s said joyfully, "stale perfume and brittle bones.” 

“And a ripe youngster, all hormones and adrenaline.” 

“And another youngster, so many fake chemicals mixed around in such a small body, so much adrenaline and cortisol. A fighter makes the hunt more enjoyable!” The chair that Donnie was under was suddenly thrown off him, causing him to shoot his neck out of his shell, hiss and bite the ankle of the alien. 

“No! Take me first!” Harriet distracted the aliens as Donnie pulled his limbs out of his shell (he had no clue what it looked like in his human form but he had to bet it was creepy) and Rose picked up the chair that was previously above Donnie and whacked it over one of the alien’s head. 

At the same moment The Doctor came running in with a fire extinguisher and began spraying the carbon dioxide at the aliens, “Out! With me!” They demanded, and the three wasted no time running behind The Doctor, Donnie stumbling slightly as he ran as he spat out the taste of alien skin (which tasted like rotten milk) out of his mouth. 

“Who are you?” The Doctor asked as they continued to spray the aliens with the fire extinguisher. 

“Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North.” 

“Nice to meet you.” 

“Likewise.” 

After getting acquainted with each other The Doctor sprayed one last blast of CO2 at the aliens before encouraging them all to run out of the room. 

“We need to get to the cabinet rooms.” The Doctor exclaimed as they ran through the corridors. 

“The Emergency Protocols are in there!” Harriet yelled. 

“Harriet Jones, I like you.” 

“I think I like you too.” 

Talking ceased as they continued to run to the Cabinet Room, the aliens a far distance behind them by quickly getting closer, The Doctor quickly soniced a door that appeared to be a side door to the cabinet room. 

As they ran to the main open door, The Doctor swiping a glass bottle of alcohol and quickly held up in front of them and started to sonic it as the aliens ran towards them, “One move and my device’ll triplicate the flammability of this alcohol, and Donnie will set it alight with a blowtorch of his. Boom we all go up.” The moment Donnie said that, he summoned a mystic blowtorch to help keep up The Doctor’s lie, as a simple mystic blowtorch couldn’t produce a true flame only a placebo one, and Donnie was pretty sure the sonic screwdriver didn’t have a ‘triplicate flammability’ setting. 

Thankfully the aliens believed The Doctor’s fib and backed off, so The Doctor smiled and put the alcohol down by their side, Donnie still holding the mystic blowtorch. 

“Alright question time, who exactly are the Slitheen?” The Doctor asked, putting a name to the aliens. 

“They’re aliens.” Harriet answered for them. 

Donnie stared at her with a raised eyebrow. 

“Who are you two-” One of them asked, obviously referring to both The Doctor and Donnie, “-if not human?”

But The Doctor didn’t answer that and Donnie kept quiet, knowing that sort of information could provide them with more time to live, “So what’s the plan?” They asked, holding the alcohol back up next to Donnie’s mystic blowtorch, “Well come on, you’ve got a spaceship hidden in the North Sea. You’ve murdered your way to the top- what for? Invasion?” 

“Why would we invade this godforsaken rock?” Another Slitheen said in disgust. 

“Well your race is here for a reason, so spill.” Donnie demanded as he held his mystic blowtorch closer to the glass bottle. 

“The Slitheen race?” 

“Slitheen isn’t our species, Slitheen is our surname. Jocrassa Fel Fotch Pasammer-Day Slitheen at your service.” One of the Slitheen brother’s said. 

The Doctor nodded and grinned at the knowledge they now had, “So you’re family?” 

“A family business.” 

“Then you’re out to make a profit. How can you do that on a ‘godforskaen rock’?” The Doctor asked, quoting the Slitheen from just moments earlier. 

The Slitheen were quiet for a few moments before one of the brothers spoke up, “Aaaah, excuse me, you said your device will do what? ‘Triplicate the flammability’?” Donnie bit his lip as the Slitheen brother started to call The Doctor out on their bullshit. 

“That’s what I said?” They asked nervously, looking at Donnie from the corner of their eyes as they spoke to get secondary confirmation. 

“You’re making it up.” The Slitheen sister call out. 

“Oh well. Nice try. But Donnie still has his blowtorch.” Just to prove The Doctor’s point, Donnie activated the blowtorch, (silently laughing when he heard Harriet cry out in shock), even though the flame couldn’t actually burn anyone and could just make you feel warm, the Slitheen didn’t have to know that. 

The Doctor then handed the alcohol to Harriet, before passing it to Rose after she told them to “pass it to the left first.” 

“Now we can end this hunt- with a slaughter.” The Slitheen said, but they weren’t able to do anything as The Doctor started speaking. 

“Fascinating history, Downing Street. 2,000 years ago this was marshland. 1730, it was occupied by a Mr Chicken- nice man. 1796, this was the Cabinet Room and if the Cabinet’s in session and in danger, these are about the safest walls in the whole of Great Britain. End of lesson.” They then flicked open a small metal case on the wall and pressed the button. 

All the windows and doors suddenly had metal shutters and doors slam shut over them, including the door that shut the Slitheen out. As they were secured in the room, Donnie de-summoned the blowtorch. 

“Installed in 1991. Three inches of steel lining every single wall. They’ll never get in.” The Doctor continued to infodump. 

“And how’ll we get out?” Rose asked. 

They all looked at The Doctor who just looked past them with a blank look and the only thing they had to say in response was, “Ah.” 

“And we won’t know anything about what those…aliens are doing.” Harriet said in slight distress. 

That’s when Donnie remembered that he had his phone, so he reached into his short pocket and pulled it out and quickly (as it was still connected to 2006) went onto the news to see if it provided them with any information that might be helpful. 

“It seems they’re summoning the whole family.” The Doctor commented, putting their hands on the table and looked to their right, freezing for a short moment before straightening up. 

“Why is there a body in here?” They asked, everyone suddenly looked in the direction The Doctor was looking. Donnie had completely forgotten the Slitheen sister had killed him. 

Harriet Jones was the one to speak as Rose and Donnie just looked at each other, not really knowing what to say, “He was killed by one of those creatures, they strangled him.” She answered as The Doctor as they went over to the man and started to drag the body into one of the cupboards. 

“What was his name?” 

No one spoke again, none of them even knew his name, there was no badge on him, and it appears Harriet didn’t even know, despite her working as an MP, “I don’t know. I talked to him, I brought him a cup of coffee, I never asked his name.” Harriet said, her tone sombre. 

Donnie ran a hand over his face, he didn’t know what to think, yes he had seen death before ( Gram-Gram’s body still fuelled his own nightmares and he was sure his brothers could still see her lifeless eyes when they went to bed ) but to see the death and body of someone who he didn’t even know felt disrespectful.

But thankfully The Doctor distracted them all from that shared grief, “Right, what have we got? Any terminals, anything?” They asked as they went to sonic the different panels of steel on the windows. 

“When they killed the Prime Minister, why didn’t they use him as a disguise?” Rose asked as she looked around the room, Donnie doing the same, leaving his phone on the table so they could still hear the noise for any updates as more of the Slitheen family arrived, posing as different, non-important, UK politicians. 

“He’s too slim, they need to fit inside bigger humans.” 

“Yeah but the Slitheen are like seven foot tall or something, how can they even fit inside those humans?” Donnie asked, giving up on searching and opted to sit on the table next to his phone. 

“It’s the device around their necks, it shrinks them down a bit. That’s why there’s all that gas.” They answered, going to another steel covered window and soniced it. 

“Guessing the gas makes their skin taste disgusting, 0 out of 10 wouldn’t recommend.” Donnie joked, the taste of the Slitheen skin he bit into early lingering on his teeth. 

Harriet Jones then looked at Donnie with disgust and disappointment on her face, “Excuse me young man, but people have died. This is not the time for jokes.” 

“It’s alright, you get used to stuff when you’re friends with them.” Rose defended Donnie, gesturing her head to The Doctor when she talked. 

The Doctor then walked up to the fireplace behind Harriet with a perplexed look on their face, “Harriet Jones, I’ve heard that name before, are you famous?” 

“Hardly.” She scoffed. 

“Rings a bell. Harriet Jones. Donnie you’ve heard of her?” 

Donnie shook his head, “Nope, American and raised in a sewer.” 

Harriet looked at the mutant with confusion, “I’m sorry what?” 

“Yeah, I’m from about 13- no 12 years in your future, so when you hear about mutants in New York, that’s most likely me and my brothers. Wait, was anything about New York ever reported out of the country or was it covered up as like hoax or terrorist shit?” Donnie asked The Doctor, not caring when he heard Harriet grumble about ‘such foul words’.

The Doctor bit their lip as they thought before answering, “I’m not too sure, but I do remember an incident where there had to be a lot of aid sent to New York for some huge attack but I don’t remember what. But the reason why was kept quiet by E.P.F, odd people, very strict, didn’t like me much.” The Doctor laughed. The incident they were most likely talking about was the shredder, but Donnie didn’t think it caused that much damage to New York. 

“Well it’s not like Donnie having any foresight will help us, the protocols are redundant, the list of people who could help are dead downstairs.” Harriet said as she dropped the stacks of paper into the case defeated. 

“Wait, couldn’t we just launch a nuclear bomb at them or something?” Rose suggested, making Donnie look at her with a slightly confused expression, that sounds like something he’d suggest (well considering he could in theory summon something with the equivalent power of a nuke). 

“You’re a very violent young woman.” 

“I’m serious, we could!” 

“But we couldn’t?” Donnie questioned, “Because aren’t the nukes protected by the UN with codes?”

Harriet nodded, backing up Donnie’s question, “Yes, the British Isles can’t gain access to atomic weapons without a Special Resolution from the UN, and those codes are no longer in Government hands.” 

As Harriet spoke, Donnie noticed The Doctor leaning against a chair with a puzzled look on their face, “It’s just one family so it isn’t an invasion, they don’t want ‘Slitheen world’. So they must be out to make money and want to use something on Earth to do so.” 

“Like what? Gold? Oil? Water?” Harriet tried to help. 

“You’re very good at this.” The Doctor praised.

A sudden and quick beeping filled the room. But it wasn’t from a bomb or anything of that manner, instead it was Rose’s phone, “Oh, that’s me,” Rose said as she took her phone and looked at it, she was quiet for a few moments before announcing it was Mickey who had texted her. 

“Oh would you tell your stupid ex that we’re busy.” The Doctor told her, very aggravated. 

Rose scoffed before handing The Doctor her phone, “Yeah he isn’t so stupid is he.” 

“What is it?” Harriet asked. 

Rose took her phone back from The Doctor and went to call Mickey as The Doctor explained that the human had caught a picture of another Slitheen. As they told them Rose talked to Mickey over the phone but she didn’t get to talk to him for long as The Doctor took Mickey’s phone out of her hand and started to talk to the human instead. 

“Is that Mickey, go to your computer…because I need you to access the U.N.I.T database now, hurry up.” 

The Doctor then put the phone on the table and set it to speaker so they could all hear, Donnie moving his position on the table closer to the phone whilst Harriet got up to pour some of the alcohol. 

They continued to talk to Mickey about how to access everything on the website needed, Donnie silently questioned how Mickey could access military documents and websites on a 2006, possibly older, computer but he kept quiet as The Doctor continued to talk to the human on the other side. 

“Big Ben. Why did the Slitheen go and hit Big Ben?” The Doctor questioned as they walked around to the opposite side of the table. 

“All it did was put the world on red alert, but they’ve been so cocky with taking off their skin suits.” Donnie answered, with his own curiosities about the situation. 

“Yeah, if they’re in hiding, when did they do it, and now they’ve drawn more attention to themselves by becoming acting Prime Minister and such.” 

“ Oh, listen to her.” Jackie scoffed from the other side of the phone. 

“Hey, at least I’m trying.” 

“ Well, I’ve got a question if you don’t mind. Ever since that man walked into our lives. I’ve been attacked in the streets. I’ve had creatures from the pits of hell in my own living room and my daughter disappeared off the face of the Earth!” Jackie yelled, making Donnie wince slightly at the volume she was yelling. 

Rose signed in annoyance at her mother, “I told you what happened-” But she was cut off by Jackie. 

“ I’m talking to him, cause I’ve seen this life of yours, Doctor, and maybe you get off on it and maybe you think it’s all clever and smart but you tell me this, just answer me this please…is my daughter safe? Will she always be safe? Can you promise me that?” 

There was an uncomfortable silence that bled into the air after Jackie finished her questions as Rose and The Doctor looked at each other, both knowing they couldn’t answer Jackie truthly without upsetting the woman. But thankfully they didn’t have to answer as Mickey’s voice came through the phone, telling them that he had gotten into the website. 

The Doctor quickly snapped into action and started guiding Mickey through the website, and guided him to a part of the website that held the audio of the Slitheen spaceship before telling everyone to shush and let them work it out. 

The transmission was very muffled and cut off, obviously not fully recorded but there were a few words that they could make out, but there was two words that caught Donnie’s attention, “fuel here” and although it was a simple looping transmission there was a tone there that Donnie felt was similar to advertising tones on his dad’s shows. 

“It’s an ad. Something about fuel.” Donnie relayed, making The Doctor look at Donnie with a pleased and proud grin. But that grin was quickly taken away when the sound of a doorbell buzzing came through the phone and just seconds later Jackie screamed and Mickey told them that a Slitheen had found them.  

“ Oh my god- It’s unmasking. It’s gonna kill us.” Mickey’s semi-panicked voice came through the phone, and his panic was infectious as everyone else in the cabinet panicked, trying to think of ways to make sure Mickey and Jackie didn’t get killed. 

“Right,” The Doctor suddenly snapped, their face serious, “If we’re gonna find their weakness, we need to find out where they’re from, which planet. So just their basic shape, that narrows it down to…5,000 nearby planets. What else do we know about them information!” 

“They’re green!” Rose quickly said, narrowing it down more. 

“Good sense of smell.” Harriet helped narrow it down. 

“They can smell adrenaline.” Rose added on, narrowing it down more. 

“Their compression collars which connect to each other.” Donnie added, which helped narrow it down. 

“The pig technology.” Narrowing it down.

“Spaceship in the Thames, you said Slipstream engine.” Rose relayed the information from earlier, helping narrow it down more. 

“Their skin is tough, like snapping turtle tough and it tastes disgusting, like rotten milk.” That somehow helped narrow it down more. 

“They hunt, like a ritual.” Rose said, remembering how they were hunted barely an hour prior, helping narrow it down even more. 

“Wait, did you notice, when they fart- if you’ll pardon the word, it doesn’t just smell like a fart- if you’ll pardon the word, it’s like something else, more like bad breath.” 

The Doctor slammed their hands excitedly on the table, the dots connecting very quickly, “Calcium decay! Now that narrows it down!” They then ran over to the other side of the table, almost to give them more space to think, but the two humans and Donnie just followed them. 

“Calcium phosphate, organic calcium, living calcium, creatures made out of living calcium, what else- hyphenated surname! YES! That narrows it down to one planet! Raxacoricofallapatorius!” They yelled in joy, running back to the phone and demanded that Mickey and Jackie go into the kitchen, “Calcium is weakened by the compression field-  acetic acid, vinegar! Mickey, do you have any vinegar?” 

“ How should I know? ” Mickey asked, his voice hard to hear due to the pounding of the Slitheen on his kitchen door. 

Rose quickly informed him that there was vinegar in the cupboard by the sink. It then appeared that Jackie took the phone as her voice was clearer now, audibly telling them the concoction that she was making from the different things within Mickey’s house that contained vinegar. 

“You used to kiss this man?” The Doctor asked, judging just how many pickled items Mickey had in his kitchen. 

Just moments later they heard the door open and the Slitheen roar then it went quiet, everyone listened intently at the phone for any noise before getting jumpscared by the sound of something exploding. The group sighed in relief when that sound came through the phone, knowing that Jackie and Mickey were no longer in danger. 

“Well there we go then.” Rose breathed out, any tension and worry left her as she went to pick up a glass of alcohol, the other’s following suit and drank it, (well Donnie wasn’t able to as The Doctor immediately put their hand over the cup and shook their head, Donnie in return giving a pretend look of disappointment).

As the three adults drank their drinks Donnie looked over at his phone which was still laying on the table, with the BBC news on it. And it seemed he looked at it at the right time as the ‘acting Prime Minister’ walked out of Downing Street and to the podium.

“Doctor.” Donnie called the timelord over, indirectly calling Rose and Harriet over too. 

“ Nations of the world ,” The disguised Slitheen started to speak, “ Humankind…the greatest experts in extraterrestrial events came here tonight. They gathered in the common cause…but the news I bring you now is grave indeed. The experts are dead- murdered, right in front of me by alien hands. Peoples of the Earth, heed my words. These “visitors” do not come in peace. Our inspectors have searched the sky above our heads, and they have found massive weapons of destruction capable of being deployed within 45 seconds. Our technicians can baffle the alien probes but not for long. We are facing extinction unless we strike first! The United Kingdom stands directly below the belly of the mothership. So I beg of the United Nations, pass an emergency resolution. Give us the access codes. A nuclear strike at the heart of the beast is our only chance of survival. Because…from this moment on it is my solemn duty to inform you…planet Earth is at wa r.” 

“He’s making it up!” The Doctor immediately after the speech finished the Slitheen walked back into Downing Street, “There’s no weapon up there, no threat. He invented it!” 

Donnie suddenly connected the dots to one question from earlier that they couldn’t answer, “That’s why they crashed landed that ship, to put the world on red alert. They need the powerful people of the world to panic so they’re more likely to give them the codes!” 

“But why?” Rose questioned as the group followed the Doctor to the main door of the Cabinet Room as they pressed the button to open it back up. 

Outside the door were the three Slitheen again, but the slight differences in them made Donnie assume that they were just more of the Slitheen family who were posted outside the door to make sure the mutant, timelord and humans didn’t try and escape. “You get the codes, release the missiles, but not into space because there's nothing there, you attack every other country on Earth. They fight back. World War Three. Whole planet gets nuked.” The Doctor told them, relaying the new found information of their plan back to them. 

As The Doctor spoke, the Slitheen sister that attacked Donnie, Rose and Harriet from earlier appeared from behind the three other Slitheen family members. “And we sit through it, safe in our spaceship, waiting in the Thames.” The Slitheen Sister told them with smugness in her voice. “Not crashed, just parked. Barely two minutes away.” 

“But you’ll destroy the planet- this beautiful place! What for?” Harriet cried out, anger rife in her voice. 

“It’s for profit. Remember what I said earlier, their transmission was an advert, after they destroy the earth, something that’s left over is going to be used for fuel.” Donnie replied. 

The Slitheen scoffed a laugh, “It’s the sale of the century. We reduce the Earth to molten slag then sell it. Piece by piece, Radioactive chunks, capable of powering every cut-price starliner and budget cargo ship.” She said, looking extremely proud of herself, “There’s a recession out there, people are buying cheap. This rock becomes raw fuel.” 

“At the cost of five billion humans and over nine million yokai.”

“Bargain.” The Slitheen sister grinned at The Doctor. 

The Doctor continued to stare down at the Slitheen sister before speaking again, “I’ll give you a choice. Leave this planet, or I’ll stop you.” 

The unspoken threat seemed to have no effect on the Slitheen as they just laughed at The Doctor, but just as the threat had no effect on the Slitheen, the mocking had no effect on The Doctor either. 

“What, you in your little box?” 

“Yes, me.” The Doctor closed the doors once more, cutting off the mocking laughter of the Slitheen. 

They spent hours in that room, refusing sleep as they tried to think of something, anything to stop the Slitheen. Donnie kept his phone on full volume flicking between all the news stations, but they were all relatively quiet. 

It was only until five AM in Britain when the BBC news started making some noise again, informing people that the United Nations in New York were deciding if they should give the nuke codes to the UK.

“If we could just get out of here.” Rose said as they heard the news anchor in the US reported that the decision might be coming to a close, meaning the chance of the Slitheen tearing apart the planet was becoming nearer and nearer. 

“There’s a way out, there’s always been a way out.” The Doctor said, looking at Rose with an expression Donnie has never seen from them, a look of somber, regret and grief. 

“Then why don’t we use it?” Rose questioned. 

The Doctor was silent as they walked over to Rose’s phone that was still calling Mickey (who was going to have a huge phone bill) and rested their hands on the chairs, “Because I can’t guarantee your daughter will be safe.” They told Jackie before looking up at Donnie, “And I can’t guarantee yours either.” 

There was a look in The Doctor’s eyes, the look Donnie had seen in his own father’s eyes when they were almost killed by the shredder, a specific look of pre-emptive grief only a parent could have. 

“ Don’t you dare! ” Jackie called out from the phone, “ Whatever it is, don’t you dare.” 

The Doctor sighed, “That’s the thing, if I don’t dare everyone dies.” 

“Then do it,” Rose said with full confidence, Donnie nodded in solidarity of her comment, backing her up. 

The Doctor looked up at the two with confusion, “You don’t even know what it is, and you’re just letting me?” 

“We trust you to look after us.” Donnie told them, going to stand by Rose’ side. 

But that trust both Donnie and Rose had for The Doctor didn’t extend to Jackie at all, “ Please, Doctor, please. She’s my daughter, she’s just a kid,” Jackie begged. 

“Do you think I don’t know that? Cause this is my life, Jackie. It’s not fun, it’s not smart, it's standing up and making a decision because nobody else will.” The Doctor stressed to the mother before looking up at Donnie and Rose, “I could save the world but lose you, lose both of you.” 

There was a heavy silence in the room as The Doctor looked at the pair, a silence that was broken by Harriet who had stayed relatively quiet for a while. 

“Except it’s not your decision, Doctor. It’s mine.” 

“ And who the hell are you?” 

“Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North,” The politician answered, “The only elected representative in this room. Chosen by the people for the people, and on behalf of the people I command you. Do it.” 

Harriet’s command was all that was needed to sway The Doctor’s decision as they grinned at Rose and Donnie before looking down at Rose’s phone.

The Doctor quickly grabbed the briefcase with the emergency protocols and started to look through them, going faster when the news from Donnie’s phone announced that the UN council was coming to their final decision. 

“Use the buffalo password, it overriders everything.” The Doctor told Mickey, dropped the papers, ultimately finding them mostly useless. 

“ We’re in! Here it is, HMS Taurean, Trafalgar class submarine, time miles off the coast of Plymouth.” The Doctor told Mickey to select a missile after reading through one of the protocols about the weapons within submarines near Britain, “ We can’t go nuclear, we don’t have the defense codes.” 

“We don’t need it, just an ordinary missile. What’s the first category?” After Mickey told them what the category was, The Doctor was silent for a split second before speaking again, “That’s the one, select. Ready for this?” Mickey was hesitant before he spoke, confirming that he was ready. 

“Fire.”  The Doctor commanded, knowing that Mickey listened to them as a muffled and afraid  ‘Oh my God’ came from Jackie. 

“How solid are these?” Harriet immediately asked, going to one of the steel covered windows. 

“Not solid enough. Built for short-range attack, nothing this big.” The Doctor answered as they still looked down at Rose’s phone. 

“I could use my ninpo to shield us?” Donnie offered, he knew his ninpo wasn’t the strongest but he still wanted to help anyway he could. 

“I don’t think your shield could help against a missile.” The Doctor told him apologetically. 

Rose then looked behind her and started to walk to one of the smaller cabinets, “Alright then I’m making a decision. I’m not gonna die, we’re gonna ride this one out. It’s like with earthquakes, you can survive by standing under a door frame. This cupboard’s small so it’s strong. Come and help.” Rose told them as she started chucking the files and boxes out of the cupboard handfuls at a time. 

“And then I can use my shield to help absorb most of the shock!” Donnie exclaimed as he helped empty the cupboard. 

“Good lad.” The Doctor said as they threw the coats and suit jackets out of the cupboard and onto the table, decided to quickly grab Rose’s and Donnie’s phone and handed the devices back to their respective owners. 

After the cupboard was cleared out enough so that the four could squeeze themselves into one corner they quickly dived into it, Harriet closing the door. 

Donnie ended up between The Doctor and Rose, The Doctor putting a hand on his head and pressed it into their shoulder, resting their own head on top of his, almost to protect him, whilst Rose tightly held onto his hand, Donnie returning the squeeze tenfold before letting go to summon his shield that encased then

Within seconds of them getting to the cupboard the missile hit. 

Seconds after impact, Donnie’s shield broke from the shock, but it did its job as they were tossed around the cupboard, clinging to each other for dear life. 

Almost as soon as it started it ended, the tumbling stopped, the explosion ceased and the room stilled. 

They waited with bated breaths as the ringing in their ears calmed. 

The Doctor was the first to make noise out of the four, laughing in pure, unfiltered delight and glee, shaking Donnie’s shoulder’s as they did so, kissing the teen on his forehead in joy at the fact they had survived. 

“Let's go see the aftermath shall we?” The Doctor asked as they made their way out of the cupboard, never letting go of Donnie, holding his shoulders in the same way a parent would, only letting go because two people can’t fit through the panel they managed to knock down at the same time. 

“Oh my God are you alright?” A man, who appeared to be a part of the army exclaimed, running up to the group.

Harriet was quick to respond as she pulled out her ID card, “Harriet Jones, MP, Flydale North. Contact the UN immediately and tell the ambassadors the crisis is over. They can step down. Go on, tell the news.” Harriet sent the man off, who ran off immediately and quickly, “Someone’s got a hell of a job sorting this lot out. Oh lord! We haven’t even got a Prime Minister.” 

“Maybe you should have a go?” The Doctor suggested. 

“Oh me? I’m only a backbencher. I’d better go and see if I can help.” Harriet said as she caught sight of the group of reporters, police officers and army officials down the road of the, now ruined, Downing Street. 

As Harriet went towards the emergency professionals and army members, The Doctor, Rose and Donnie walked the other way, “I thought I knew the name.” The Doctor told them as they walked away from the ruins, “Harriet Jones. Future Prime Minister, elected for three successive terms. The architect of Britain's Golden Age” 

As they made it back to Powell estate, Rose ran to the building and immediately up the stairs to her flat whilst The Doctor and Donnie went back into the TARDIS. 

“How come you were holding me like that?” Donnie asked as he took off his cloaking necklace, rolling his neck to get the tightness out. 

“Like what?” The Doctor didn’t look up at Donnie when they spoke and just flicked levers and pressed buttons on the TARDIS console. 

“Like a father who was afraid to lose his child.” 

That stopped The Doctor in their tracks, they exhaled shakily, only subtly showing that vulnerable side of themselves that they never showed, “I had children before the time war. I had grandchildren. And I lost them all. And I guess… when that missile was fired, I looked at you and saw them in you. My youngest especially.” The Doctor looked at Donnie with a somber look. But they quickly got rid of that look as they put on a fake grin and picked up the TARDIS phone. Just when Donnie thought that maybe he was getting through to The Doctor, pizza supreme, how did Mikey deal with him and the of his brothers being closed off all the time. 

“Right.” The Doctor said, but not to Donnie, but instead whoever they were calling, Donnie had to guess it was Rose, “We’ll be a couple of hours then we can go…You think I travel through space and time and I haven’t got a phone? Anyways, like I said, couple of hours. Just got to send a dispersal, Donnie, want to help?” 

Donnie pushed himself off the railing he was leaning against to assist The Doctor in creating a counter-ad to the Slitheen’s one to make sure no one came to Earth with the expectation of getting cheap fuel. 

“There we go, advert canceled and another one sent out saying “Cheaper fuel was a scam, don’t bother coming, the planet is still here.”.”  Donnie told The Doctor. 

“ My mum’s cooking.” Since Donnie was now next to The Doctor, he could now hear what Rose was saying. 

“Good, put her on a slow heat and let her simmer.” The Doctor joked, receiving a joking whack from Donnie. 

“ She’s cooking tea. For us.” 

The Doctor shook their head, despite Rose not being able to see that, “I don’t do that.” 

“She wants to get to know you.” 

“Tough, I’ve better things to do- oi.” Donnie took the phone from The Doctor’s hand, having to jump slightly to reach it. 

“What’s cooking?” Donnie asked Rose, he heard her splutter in slight surprise when she heard Donnie’s voice but answered regardless. 

“ Um, shepherd pie. You two okay with that?” 

Donnie told her they were and told her they’d be up in her flat in a few minutes, hanging up. 

“Didn’t peg you for the social type.” The Doctor said as they put the phone back in its slot in the console. 

“I’m not, but it’s the least we can do for Rose and her mother after making Jackie believe her daughter was missing for a year.” 

And The Doctor couldn’t argue with Donnie’s logic, so they sighed and told Donnie to put his cloaking necklace back on and for them to make their way to the Tyler’s flat. 

Dinner was rather uneventful, or in The Doctor’s words, ‘domestic’. 

There was talk about what Rose has done with The Doctor, some travels Donnie has done in the month prior with The Doctor. It then moved onto Donnie’s and The Doctor’s private live’s, whilst Donnie gave a lot of information about his life, family and even origins, infodumping about the science behind his and his brother’s mutations (which also including accidentally outing himself as trans to Jackie and Rose, but the mother didn’t seem to pick it up whilst Rose seemed to understand), The Doctor was very private about it all. Giving so very little information about their life, the only real personal thing about themselves which they told Jackie was that they used they/them pronouns, which Jackie didn’t really understand that well but it was 2006 so Donnie wasn’t surprised. 

But eventually, whilst dinner was ending, it got into the conversation of what Rose was going to do, if she was going to stay home or go with The Doctor, and she put her foot down and said she was going with them. Her mother tried to talk her out of it, of course she did, but Rose was adamant with her decision. 

So after dinner ended and Jackie was putting the plates into the kitchen to wash up, Donnie went to help her whilst The Doctor (at the request of Rose) helped her pack so she could have some familiar clothes and items whilst they traveled. 

“It was nice, the um shepherd’s pie.” Donnie told Jackie, trying his best to make conversation as he put his and The Doctor’s plates in the sink. 

“So your family really don’t know that you’re traveling with The Doctor?” 

Donnie hesitated before answering, nodding his head, “When you grow up with not a lot alongside three other brothers you practically shared everything. So it’s nice to just have this thing that is mine you know.” 

“What about your father, do you think it’s better that he doesn’t know, so that he doesn’t have this worry.” Jackie asked him, turning to face him, resting her hands on the kitchen counter. 

Donnie thought carefully about what he said next, he didn’t want to say something that made his father seem like a bad person, “He…he wasn’t too present in our lives for a long time, emotionally present that is. He was suffering from depression and possible PTSD, and he still is, but he never even got a chance to deal with that when he got caught up with raising four kids. It’s only recently he’s been really emotionally present, helping train us and teaching us the culture of the Hamato clan, and Japanese culture in general. But yes, if he was as aware as you are about what Rose is getting into, he would be worried, all of my brothers would be. So I think it's better that they don’t know.” 

Jackie only hummed before she asked something that Donnie didn’t really expect, “Can I hug you?” 

Donnie wanted to say no, he really considered it but he knew this would provide that small amount to Jackie, so he allowed her to hug him, he didn’t return the hug, he just stood with his hands stiffly at his sides before pulling back after 3 seconds. 

“You’re a brave kid, you make sure you’re safe when traveling with The Doctor, you understand.” Jackie told him just like a mother would, so he nodded, silently promising her that. 

Jackie walked with Rose, The Doctor and Donnie back to the TARDIS (The Doctor complained about some simple graffiti they saw on the side of the TARDIS that read something like “bad wolf”, but they said it would burn off in the vortex). When they got there they saw Mickey sitting on a bin opposite the TARDIS with a newspaper in hand. 

“I just went down the shop. And I was thinking, y’know, kike the while world’s changed, aliens and spaceships all in public, and here it is.” He showed them the newspaper whose headline just read “ALIEN HOAX?” 

“How can they do that? They saw it?”

“You should see what New York is like in my time, doesn’t even acknowledge the mutants walking around fighting each other.” Donnie laughed. 

“There’s a scientific explanation for that, you lot are thick.” The Doctor joked, giving Donnie’s head a noggie, making the young lightheartedly slap their hand away. They then made an ‘ah’ noise and dug in their jacket for a short minute before pulling out a black disc, “This is a virus, created by Donnie. Put it online and it’ll destroy every mention of me and him. I don’t want anybody following me, or him, too dangerous.” 

“How can you say that and take her with you?” Mickey asked, gesturing his head over to Rose who was quietly talking to her mum, her attention now tore away from that conversation and to Mickey. 

“You could come with us.” Rose offered. 

Mickey was silent for a few moments before shaking his head, “I can’t. This life of theirs that you follow, it’s just too much. I couldn’t do it.” 

Rose nodded in understanding, disappointed but understanding nonetheless. 

“Alright, I’ll be back, yeah.” She hugged him, Mickey holding her tighter than she was holding him.

But even after all the reassurance that she’d been given, Jackie still wasn’t happy, as she turned to The Doctor to talk to them, “You still can’t promise me. What if she gets lost? What if something happens to you, Doctor? And she and Donnie are left all alone, standing on some moon a million light years away? How long do I wait? How long do his family wait?”

Rose tapped her mum on the shoulder and got her to turn towards her, “Mum, you’re forgetting it’s a time machine. I could travel round suns, planets and the edge of the universe and when I get back just ten seconds would have passed. So stop worrying. I’ll see you in ten seconds’ time, yeah?” Rose lightly shook her mum by the arms before she was pulled into a hug. 

Jackie let Rose go into the TARDIS, Donnie hesitating before he entered, “She’ll be safe. I promise.” He told her before walking into the TARDIS himself, closing the door. 

The machine then disappeared, and since it had fully disappeared Jackie looked at her watch and started counting. 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10.

Ten seconds and her daughter hadn’t returned.

Chapter Text

It was meant to be Donnie’s turn to choose somewhere to go, but it appeared the TARDIS had other plans as the screen flashed up with different coordinates before piloting herself. 

“So what’s wrong with it?” Donnie asked as they walked out of the TARDIS into some sort of display room. 

“I don’t know, some kind of signal, drawing the TARDIS off course.” The Doctor said, looking around the building they seemed to be in. 

“So where are we?” Rose questioned as she started to walk away from the TARDIS and towards some of the displays. 

The Doctor was silent for a moment as they tried to figure out where they were before they answered, “Earth. Utah, North America. About half a mile underground. Around 2012.” They told them, looking at a design of a large worm looking creature. 

“God, that’s so close. I should be…26!” Rose laughed. 

“Yeah and I was 8. I’d be meeting April around this time.” Donnie said, remembering the day April practically became his sister.

The Doctor was silent for a few more seconds as they inspected the taxidermied creatures before looking down the hall that seemed to be filled with different alien heads and artifacts, stuffed, powered down and displaced.

 “Blimey, like a great big museum.” Rose pointed out as the lights turned on, must have finally registered their movement. 

“It’s an alien museum. Someone’s got a hobby.” The Doctor said, but when Donnie looked at some of the glass displays he realized their statement wasn’t so accurate. 

“Not just aliens, look.” Donnie pointed out a glass display that had a simple head, but it was a head that looked like a feminine version of Draxum. The sheep yokai very rarely talked about his family, but what information he had given the turtles, it was obvious to note that  he had said his sister had been killed by humans. Could this be her? 

And the next two glass displays seemed to be yokai-like. One held a cloaking broach and the other, although now that Donnie was looking at it seemed to be a purple alien tentacle with a sharp point, the plaque reading that it had come from ancient Japan, but since it didn’t look like any yokai Donnie had ever seen, he just assumed it was an alien that had crash landed in Japan.

By the time he looked up from the displays, he realized The Doctor and Rose had moved towards some of the other displays, The Doctor was standing in front of a display that had a robot head within it, it was a simple and almost humanoid design with tubes going where the ears should be to the top of the head. A blank expression on its face. 

“What is it?” Rose asked as she stood behind The Doctor, Donnie quickly catching up with them and going to stand by their side. 

“An old friend of mine- well enemy.” The Doctor told them as they stared into the empty eyes of the robot, “The stuff of nightmares…reduced to an exhibit.” 

“Is that where the signals are coming from?” 

The Doctor shook their head at Rose's question, “No, it’s stone dead and the signal is alive. Something’s reaching out. Calling for help.” As The Doctor finished their sentence they put two fingers up to the glass and lightly touched it. 

An alarm went off immediately. And within seconds heavily armed soldiers surrounded them on all sides. Pointing their guns at the trio. 

“If someone’s collecting aliens, that makes you Exhibit A.” 

They were led, ratherly forcefully, up to an office who Donnie assumed was the person who owned this place, and next to him was a kid, who was British, talking about how he played $80,000 for the small device that looked like an ocarina, but the man seemed to think it was for fuel. 

“I really wouldn’t hold it like that.” The Doctor told them, quickly getting told to ‘shut it’ by the woman who had joined the journey of them being taken up to the head office. 

“Is it dangerous?” The man asked, a slight panic in his voice. 

The Doctor shook their head, “No, it just looks silly.” They went to go and grab the device but was stopped when the soldiers stationed behind them cocked their guns. Donnie had to resist the natural urge to summon one of his own or even hiss at the guards. 

The man, who was assumed to be the owner of the place, stood up from his chair and handed The Doctor the device. 

“You just need to be…delicate.” They said as they gently brushed their fingers over the device and it made a high pitched humming sound. 

The man then leaned forward in his chair with an almost amused look on his face, “It’s a musical instrument.” He then quickly snatched the instrument from The Doctor to have a go at it, like a toddler taking a toy from another toddler because the toy ‘looked cool’. 

“Reacts to the smallest fingerprint. It needs precision.” The Doctor stressed, almost glad to see the human listen to them and copied how The Doctor played with the instrument just moments prior. “Very good, quite the expert.” 

“As are you.” The human then violently threw the instrument across the room, never taking his eyes off the trio, “Who exactly are you?” 

“I’m The Doctor. And who are you?” 

The man scoffed, “Like you don’t know. We’re hidden away with the most valuable collection of extraterrestrial artifacts in the world and you just stumbled in by mistake.” 

“Not all of it is extraterrestrial,” Donnie mumbled, the man then snapped his head towards Donnie. 

“What did you say kid?” 

“Oh sorry, was I not loud enough for your old man ears?” Donnie ignored how The Doctor harshly whispered to not fight with the man. 

“And who might you be then, boy?” The man said, standing up and went to stand in front of Donnie, who by this point Donnie recognised who he was. 

“Oh I’m Donnie, but I think you might remember me as the kid who hacked your systems in…oooo I say 2010. I was the one who made all of your computers and screens say “Cool sci-fi shit.” whilst playing the yakety sax. Bet your men enjoyed that, Henry Van Statten” Donnie told the name with a very smug look on his face. 

Van Statten just laughed, “Ah so that was you? Honestly we expected it was some terrorist organization who decided to troll with us before attacking us. But we did manage to track your location to New York, which I can tell you’re from based on your accent, although there seems to be a slight Japanese twang to it. But we couldn’t find your house as the signal disappeared before we could even start getting a flight out there.” 

Now it was Donnie’s turn to laugh at the human, “What kind of terrorist organization has the username, ‘bootyshaker9000’ and possibly at that point I got bored and decided to disconnect my own system from yours.” 

“Although, I have a question for you and The Doctor, how did you get in here? 53 floors down, with your little cat-burglar accomplice. Quite a collector yourself, she’s rather pretty.” Van Statten as he looked at Rose like the creep he was. 

“She’s gonna smack you if you keep calling her “she”.” 

“She’s English too!” Van Statten said with a little too much joy, “Hey, little lord Fauntleroy, got you a girlfriend.” 

The Doctor then butted in as they were rightfully getting annoyed at Van Statten, “So you claim to be an expert in everything, except for the things in your museum is that correct? And anything you don’t understand you just lock up?” 

“You claim greater knowledge?” 

“I don’t claim, I know how good I am.” 

“And yet I captured you right next to the Cage, it contains my one living specimen. You wanna see it?” Van Statten, very suddenly, asked The Doctor, a glint of something more sinister in his eye. 

“Blimey you can smell the testosterone,” Rose whispered to Donnie. 

“Yeah, could fill up a needle with the air and use it for myself.” Donnie joked, quickly whispering to Rose who stifled a laugh. 

“Goddard!” Van Statten called out to the woman standing next to the trio, “Inform the Cage we’re heading down. You, English, look after the girl and boy.” 

“No, Donnie stays with me.” The Doctor insisted. 

Van Statten sighed in annoyance (though something about it made the annoyance seem fake), “Fine the boy can go with you. Now, Doctor with no name, come and see my pet.” 

The elevator ride down to the Cage was a quiet and awkward one, The Doctor making sure to keep themselves pressed against Donnie the whole time, hand on his shoulder. But they were made to walk behind one another once the elevator stopped. 

“We tried everything. The creature has shielded itself, but there’s definite signs of life inside.” Van Statten told them as they exited the elevator and pressed a button on the wall, which started opening up a vault-like door. Donnie had to guess that door led into the Cage. 

“Welcome back, sir. I’ve had to take the power down, the Metaltron is resting.” One of Van Stattens employees said to the man. 

“Metaltron? Sounds like something my brother would come up with.” Donnie scoffed at the name. 

“Thought of it myself. And it’s much better than anything you and your brother could come up with.” Van Statten said, the insecurity beyond obvious, “Although. I’d much prefer to find out its real name.” The man looked towards The Doctor and nodded, signaling that they would be the one to go into the Cage to look at this “metaltron” 

“Here,” The employee said, giving a pair of gloves to The Doctor, “You’d better put these on. The last guy that touched it went up in flames.” 

“I just won’t touch it then.” The Doctor told him with a smile. 

“Well, go ahead Doctor, impress. The boy stays here through. Only one person is allowed in the Cage at a time.” Van Statten said, putting his hand in front of Donnie when went to follow The Doctor into the cage. 

“Don’t you dare hurt or touch him whilst I’m in there.” They threatened. 

“Why, what will you do?” Van Statten questioned, not affected by The Doctor’s threat. 

“It’s not what they’ll do, it’s what I’ll do to you.” Donnie hissed at the human, ending up baring his teeth out of instinct. 

As The Doctor entered the Cage, Donnie went to stand by the wall, making sure his back was protected in case something went wrong and Van Statten’s people decided to attack, but making sure to stand in a way so that he could see the small computer screen that showed the camera footage inside the Cage. 

“ Look, I’m sorry about this. Mr Van Statten might think he’s clever but never mind him.” The Doctor’s voice came through the camera feed, gritty and muffled, but still loud enough for Donnie to hear, “ I’ve come to help. I’m The Doctor.” 

From the dark room, a mechanical voice started to speak, slow and paced, a simple “ Doc..tor.” 

“Impossible.” The panic and disbelief in their voice made Donnie push himself off the wall and walk nearer to the computer showing the camera feed. 

“ The Doctor?” The mechanical voice once again said, more energy and life in its lifeless voice. And as it spoke, two small cylindrical lights lit up on what Donnie assumed was the head of the creature’s shell. 

“Light turning back on.” One of the staff members said as he flicked on the lights that had previously been shut down. As he did the camera feed became brighter and the creature that was in the cage. The creature, which Donnie assumed was the shell/armor for the creature was a dirtied bronze colour, with what a appeared to be a plunger on the right side and a gun looking device on the left, and in the middle of the head was an eyestalk that glowed blue and two tube-like lights on the side of its head which appeared to be the things that lit up whilst it talked. 

“ Exterminate! Exterminate!” The creature called out, trying to move against the chains whilst The Doctor begged to be let out. 

Donnie immediately sprung into action and tried to run towards the door but was grabbed by one of the soldiers in the room who didn’t falter when Donnie kicked and struggled in his grasp, eventually Donnie fell to his knees due to the amount of kicking he did allowed the soldier to lower him onto the floor and onto his knees, taking away one of his ‘weapons’ so he could only listen to the camera feed as he panted, out of breath from the brief struggle. 

“You are an enemy of the Daleks! You must be destroyed!”  Donnie heard the creature, who now identified itself as a Dalek. The silence that followed worried Donnie, had The Doctor been killed? 

But his worries were elevated when he heard The Doctor laugh out a “ It’s not working ,” Obviously talking about the gun-like thing. Then a laugh erupted from the camera feed, a laugh Donnie had never heard from The Doctor, it almost scared him. 

“Fantastic!” They laughed out, too much glee and joy in their voice for Donnie to be comfortable with, “Oh fantastic! Powerless! Look at you! The great space dustbin. How does it feel?” 

“Keep back.” The creature cried out, a surprising amount of fear in its robot voice . 

“This man is insane.” Donnie heard Van Statten say, overlapping whatever The Doctor was saying from within the Cage. 

“If you can’t kill?... Then what are you good for, Dalek? What’s the point of you? You’re nothing! What the hell are you here for?” Donnie heard The Doctor mock, he tried to struggle out of the soldiers grasp, the soldier asked Van Statten if he could let Donnie go who nodded. The soldier quickly let go of Donnie, who hissed at the soldier out of instinct, shaking off the feeling of the grip that the human had on him before walking back over to the camera to see what was going on insane the Cage. 

“ I am…waiting for orders.” The Dalek replied, talking immediately after The Doctor questioned what that meant, “ I am a soldier. I was bred to receive orders.”

“Well, you’re never gonna get any. Not ever.” 

“I demand orders !” 

“ They’re never gonna come!” The Doctor yelled, getting right into the Dalek’s face- well eye stalk, “ Your race is dead! You all burnt! All of you. Ten million ships on fire. The entire Dalek race wiped out, in one second!” They spat at the creature. 

“ You lie!” 

“ I watched it happen. I made it happen!” If Donnie had to guess, they were referring to the Time War, but The Doctor wasn’t one to destroy an entire race, that just wasn’t them. Right? 

“ You destroyed us? ”

The Doctor paused, staring at the Dalek before walking away, turning its back to this supposedly dangerous creature before saying ever so quietly, “ I had no choice .” 

“ And what of the Time Lords? ” 

Silence once more hung in the air, not just in the Cage but in the main room, Van Statten, Goddard and Donnie all stared at the screen like it was some ‘on the edge of your seat’ drama show. 

“ Dead. ” Such a plain and simple word held so much weight in The Doctor’s voice. The implications of the word were strung in the air for all to see. “ They burnt with you. The end of the last great Time War. Everyone lost.” They whispered those last two words like they were some shameful secret.

“ And the coward survived.”  The Dalek said with as much smugness as its robot voice could muster. 

But that smugness didn’t even affect The Doctor at all, in fact it seemed like they just returned that smugness and mocked the Dalek, “ Oh, and I caught your little signal. “Help me”. Poor little thing.” They said with so much fake pity. But that tone quickly changed back to one of disgust and anger, “ But there’s no-one else coming cause there's no-one else left.” 

That sentence alone seemed to have such a big effect on the Dalek as its eyestalk drooped like someone’s head would as it spoke, “ I am alone in the universe .” But the stalk suddenly rose again to look at The Doctor, “ So are you. We are the same.” 

The movement at which The Doctor moved almost made it seem like they teleported as they suddenly turned back to the Dalek to yell at it, “ We’re not the same! I’m not…No. Wait. Maybe we are? You’re right! Yeah, okay! You’ve got a point.” By this point Donnie had started to worry greatly for The Doctor as they started to walk backwards towards a table that Donnie couldn’t see too clearly on the camera feed. 

“ Cause I know what to do. I know what should happen. I know what you deserve.” There was a short moment of silence between the two aliens before The Doctor grinned and continued talking, “ Exterminate.” 

They then suddenly pushed down on a lever on the table which caused the chains to light up with electricity and electrify the Dalek, making it scream. 

“Get him out.” Van Statten demanded, two of the soldiers within the room already going towards the Cage whilst another one grabbed onto Donnie’s arms, Van Statten calling it “precaution”. Before following the soldiers into the Cage, yelling something at the Dalek that Donnie couldn’t understand or hear as he tried to struggle out of the soldier’s grip but ultimately failing as he had a tight grip on Donnie’s arms. 

When The Doctor was dragged out of the Cage, they yanked their arms out of the soldier’s grip before immediately going over to Donnie, who was thankfully let go by the soldier the moment The Doctor came storming over to him.

“You alright.” They asked as they crouched down slightly to meet Donnie eye to eye, once again looking at him the same way a father would look at his scared little boy, gentle hand on his cheek. 

But they didn’t get long to calm from what had happened in the Cage as the soldiers immediately encouraged them into the elevator where The Doctor, whose tone and posture had changed, started to talk, “The metal’s just battle armour. The real Dalek creature is inside. It's a mutation. They’re genetically engineered. Every single emotion was removed, except hate.” 

Suppose that one thing Donnie had to be thankful Draxum didn’t do about him and his brother’s mutation, at least he let him keep their emotions, if not heightened them in Raph’s and Mikey’s cases. 

“Genetically engineered? By whom?” Van Statten asked, a glint of greed-filled curiosity formed in his eyes. 

“By a genius, Van Statten.” The Doctor answered, “By a man who was king of his own little world. You’d like him,” 

“It’s been on Earth for over 50 years,” Goddard started to inform them, “Sold at private auctions, moving between collections- why would it be a threat now?” 

“Because I’m here.” The Doctor answered, the stress in their voice may not be obvious to anyone else but to Donnie he could see the way their hands clenched and went into fists in their jacket pockets in a panic. 

“How did it even get to Earth in the first place?” Donnie asked, crossing his arms and going to lean against the elevator wall, subtly pressing his shoulder against The Doctor in hopes of comforting them. 

Goddard then started to relay the information that Donnie requested to them, “The records say it came from the sky like a meteorite. It fell to Earth on the Ascension Islands, burnt in its crater for three days before anybody could get near it. And all that time it was screaming. Must have gone insane.” 

The Doctor then looked to the doors before they spoke, “It must have fallen through time…the only survivor.” 

“You talked about a war?” Goddard questioned. 

“The Time War. The final battle between my people and the Daleks.” 

“But you survived too.” Van Statten commented, looking at the floor levels on the elevator door. 

“Not by choice.” 

“This means the Dalek isn’t the only alien on Earth, Doctor there’s you. The only one of your kind in existence. And I’m willing to bet that the boy isn’t completely human either.” 

The elevator stopped and before Donnie and The Doctor could even process what they were just told the soldiers in the elevator grabbed Donnie harshly, so much so that his arms would definitely bruise later. The Doctor didn’t even have enough time to turn to help Donnie as the doors to the elevator opened and two more soldiers crowded into the elevator and grabbed onto The Doctor. 

Despite the threats and yells the soldiers stayed neutral-faced as Van Statten commanded them to talk them out into the ‘inspection room’.  The pair tried to struggle but the soldier's grip was far too much for them to break out of, and even when Donnie attempted to summon his ninpo to help, he was hit with the butt of a gun to disorientate him, making it harder to concentrate on his ninpo.

He heard The Doctor scream at them to not hurt him, (and if Donnie asked The Doctor at a later date if they said ‘my kid’ they denied it and quickly changed the subject) but it was in vain as their hands continued to dig into his arms, leaving big ugly bruises. 

They were led into a room that had large studio-like lights, around the room where upright grid-like tables, two per wall, and in the middle was a camera looking device with a tablet like screen on the end of it.

Donnie heard a command being given by Van Statten but the possible concussion made it hard for him to listen, but within seconds he had a pretty good guess at what the command was as another soldier started forcefully taking off his hoodie before putting cuffs on his wrists and pressed him against the table like grid-like table two away from The Doctor, the cuffs being reeled into the air, making his arms raised slightly above him caused him to hiss in pain and discomfort. 

Unfortunately, that hiss grew Van Statten’s attention as he looked over at Donnie and his eye was drawn to Donnie’s cloaking broach necklace that, thankfully beforehand, hadn’t been taken off when his hoodie was removed. 

Van Statten walked over to him and ever so gently, picked up the pendant of the necklace that held the cloaking technology and lifted it up and the chain with it over his head. As soon as the chain was off him his form changed from human to turtle. The afro was gone and his regular purple mask with drawn-on eyebrows was in view, his back brace changed to his battle shell and the plastron had replaced his human chest and his top surgery scars. 

“I knew it wasn’t human.” Van Statten scoffed as he handed the necklace to a soldier, “Take off its shell, I want to see the real thing.” 

Rough human hands grabbed at him once more, despite Donnie’s pleads of ‘no’s, not wanting to be seen as vulnerable in front of these humans, whilst The Doctor screamed at them to leave him along, but those words did nothing as the humans turned him around onto his plastron, attempting to pull at his shell. 

As they kept pulling and pulling at his battle shell Donnie suddenly realised just how much damage they could do if they continued to just yank at his shell, they could dislocate his shoulders or even tear off his shell if they pulled hard enough. 

“There’s a release button on the sides of the clamps, please for the love of Galileo press them,” Donnie yelled at the two soldiers, not expecting them to listen. But thankfully they pressed the buttons, the yanking stopped as they removed his battle shell and turned him back around, The Doctor looked at Donnie with such a worried expression that he didn’t even realize that his mask had soaked up his tears. 

“Now that all of that is over, smile.” Van Statten said to The Doctor before activating the camera-like machine in the middle of the room.  

A red, laser-like beam shot from the camera and started to go down The Doctor’s body, but the scan seemed to cause an immense amount of pain as they struggled and groaned, obviously trying to keep down screams. 

The scan finished just below their diaphragm as the laser fizzled out, it obviously couldn’t take in much information before presenting it as Van Statten looked at the screen in sick pleasure, “Two hearts. A binary vascular system! Oh I am so gonna patent this.” 

“So that’s your secret. You don’t collect stuff, you scavenge it.” The Doctor shot at Van Statten, anger poisoning their words. 

“This technology has been falling to Earth for centuries. All it took was the right mind to use it properly. Oh, the advances I’ve made from alien junk, you two have no idea. Broadband? Roswell. Just last year, my scientists cultivated bacteria from the Russian Crater, and do you know what we found? The cure to the common cold.” Van Statten laughed as he walked up to The Doctor, “Kept it within the laboratory of course- no need to get people excited. Why sell one cure when I can sell a thousand palliatives.” 

“Do you know what a Dalek is, Van Statten?” The Doctor asked the human, shocking him slightly as they completely changed the subject, “A Dalek is honest. It does what it was born to do, for the survival of its species. That creature in your dungeon is better than you.” 

“Well, in that case, I’ll be true to myself. And continue.” The human walked back over to the scan and activated it again. 

Van Statten continued to do as The Doctor screamed about how the Dalek down in the Cage would kill them all and they weren't safe but Van Statten didn't listen as he just continued to let the machine scan The Doctor, catching them off guard as they screamed in pain for a few seconds before stifling it and turning the screams into groans of pain. 

It wasn’t long before Van Statten stopped the scan, asking the scientist next to him if the data was on his laptop, when the scientist nodded, the camera device was turned to Donnie. The Doctor looked like they wanted to yell at Van Statten to stop, but the way their chest heaved and the sweat dropped off their brow, the energy needed to even speak was practically non-existent.  

Van Statten then activated the machine.  

Pain. That was all the machine brought him. Pain. 

His bones were being burnt. His organs were being pricked. His blood was being boiled. 

Donnie didn’t even register the scream he let out as he felt 1000s of pinpricks on his bones and organs. 

That pain only lasted for five seconds maximum, but it felt like hours. 

“Oh, very interesting, the ‘human’ part of you is genetically engineered to be faster and stronger. Almost like a biological weapon. Who made you then?” Van Statten asked as he nodded over to the scientist who Donnie noticed was now organizing some surgery tools. 

Donnie’s breath hitched but he kept his panic of being vivisected behind his regular neutral facial expression. 

“A man who is smarter than you and has more power and empathy than you will ever have.” He spat out at Van Statten who only scoffed. 

“Well, I’ll enjoy getting that information out of you, especially since you mentioned having  a brother earlier that means there must be more of you.” He grinned at Donnie before activating the scanner once more. 

Just like The Doctor, Van Statten scanned a section at a time before stopping, and when he got to the section that ran from Donnie’s waist to mid thighs Van Statten hummed out of curiosity like the creep he is, 

“Oh look at that, despite looking and sounding like a man you have a female reproductive system. So what, you pretend to be a man to appear more threatening.” Donnie had much rather Van Statten called him a slur as that would have hurt a lot less. 

Donnie’s breathing picked up as the words rang through his head, not able to get them out, but nothing else was able to be done as a sudden alarm rang through the room and a voice over an intercom yelled out “ Condition red. Repeat, this is not a drill!” 

As Van Statten started to panic, The Doctor looked- no glared at the human and demanded, “Release us if you want to live.” Within seconds Van Statten agreed to release them, returning the top half of their clothing and Donnie’s cloaking necklace, he had never put a necklace on so fast- a necklace that made him look more masculine than his regular mutant form, his tail being the biggest give away that he isn’t a true cis man 

Was Van Statten right? Was he just a girl pretending to be a boy to be more threatening? He still had the sexual organs of a girl. Was he just faking it so he wasn’t the odd one out from his brothers for another thing, his brain making something else wrong with him to cancel out the oddness? 

The shaking of the elevator stopping and the doors opening forced Donnie to push those thoughts away. The Doctor immediately ran out of the elevator and towards a medium-sized screen that showed some form of camera footage, there was Rose and the British guy behind her. 

“You have got to keep it in that cell!” The Doctor yelled. 

“ Doctor, it’s all my fault, ” Rose confessed, worry and regret plastered on her face. 

From next to her, a soldier appeared and started to speak, “ I’ve sealed the compartment. The lock’s got a billion combinations.” He relayed. 

“A Dalek is a genius. It can calculate a thousand million combinations in one second flat.” 

“How long do they have?” Donnie asked in fear as he watched the screen as Rose, the brit and two soldiers turned to face the door that, presumingly had the Dalek behind it. 

But an answer wasn’t needed as within five seconds the door was opened and the soldier demanded ‘open fire’.  Gunshots ran through the air, muffled by the static of the camera.

“Don’t shoot it, I want it unharmed.” Van Statten replied, The Doctor rolling their eyes at the man. 

“Rose, get out of there,” Donnie yelled in worry as the bullets seemed to not affect the Dalek and it only continued to move forward. 

One of the soldiers quickly got Rose and the brit out of the door and got them out. The Dalek then rolled closer to the camera and stuck the weird plunger thing near the screen, it didn’t even take a second for the footage to cut out. 

“Goddard, you two my office. We can obverse the creature from there.” Van Statten demanded as he stormed back to the elevator, Donnie hesitated before following him into it, but The Doctor placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and helped lead him to the elevator and took them up to Van Statten’s office. 

Goddard made a beeline for the laptop on Van Statten’s desk and immediately opened up to some program that Donnie didn’t recognize nor understand, “We’re losing power. It’s draining the base. Oh my God…it’s draining the power supply from the whole of Utah.” Goddard fret. 

“It’s downloading.” The Doctor commented as a map of the US was pulled up, the states along the west coast going gray. 

“Sir, the entire West Coast has gone down!” 

“It’s not just energy. That Dalek just absorbed the entire internet. It knows everything.” The Doctor stated as Goddard attempted to access the cameras, but before she could even click on the ones in the Vault a bright blue light was shot at them, it was the Dalek that did that. 

“We’ve only got emergency power, you gotta kill it now!” The Doctor demanded Van Statten as Goddard commanded the soldiers to go to the Cage in order to kill the Dalek, as she did that, Donnie pushed himself to the laptop and rolled up his sleeve to his tech wristband, creating a cable out of his ninpo and plugged it into the laptop, using a small amount of his ninpo to power the laptop even more so it didn’t have to rely on emergency power, draining the limited power the building had. He quickly accessed the laptop from his wristband, unfortunately, he couldn’t find any camera near the vault anymore but what was left of the camera’s power provided them with audio of what was going on down there. 

The only thing that was coming from the Vault via the wristband was gunshots. 

“Tell them to stop shooting at it!” Van Statten yelled, looking at Donnie and his wristband. 

“But it’s killing them, sir.” Goddard protested. 

Van Statten didn’t care that his men were dying as he ignored Goddard, “They’re dispensable! That Dalek is unique!” Van Statten then grabbed Donnie’s wrist and pressed the button on the wristband that made it so they could be heard from the cameras, “I don’t want a scratch on its bodywork! Do you hear me?” Donnie tore his hand away from the human, rubbing at it hoping it would get the feeling of someone touching him gone. “Do you hear me?” Van Statten continued to yell. 

But he no longer needed to yell as there were no more gunshots to yell over. 

“The dead can’t hear.” Donnie turned off the audio feed from the Vault as he said that, going back to rub his hand as the feeling of Van Statten hand still infected him.

Goddard typed quickly on the laptop, pulling up another tab that showed the layout of the building, several different spots were on the screen, but she then isolated it to just one single spot, Donnie had to guess it was a tracker on the Dalek. 

“That’s us, right below the surface.” She pointed at the room that was a darker blue to the rest of the building, the room that was Van Statten’s office that they were currently in, Goddard then scrolled down the blueprint before stopping again, “That’s the Cage, and that’s the Dalek.” She pointed to the blinking pale yellow spot. 

“You got any alien weapons in here?” Donnie asked as they watched the Dalek’s tracker move along the screen. 

Goddard nodded, “Lots of them, but the Dalek’s between us and them.” 

“We’ve got to keep it alive. Seal the entire vault.” Van Statten demanded, still with the mindset that the Dalek is more important than human life. 

“Absolutely not.” The Doctor called out, “Rose is down there, I won’t let that happen. Got that?” They then got closer to the screen and studied the blueprint before pointing to a section of the map, “It has to go though this area, what’s that?” 

“Weapons testing,” Goddard told them. 

“Give guns to the technicians, lawyers, anyone and everyone. Only then you might have a chance of killing it.” Goddard nodded and went off to the side, presumably to talk to the people The Doctor mentioned, The Doctor then turned to Donnie, “Donnie I need you to try and access any camera in left in this place, I don’t care if they’re just audio or visual try and access them so we can see what the Dalek is doing.” Donnie nodded and reconnected his wristband to the computer, using his ninpo to make a laptop-sized screen to try and access the network of life-feed cameras in this place. 

“If you’re so impressive, why not just reason with this Dalek?” Van Statten questioned The Doctor, standing on the other side of the room whilst Donnie and Goddard did all the work, “It must be willing to negotiate. It must need something, everything needs something.” 

“What’s the nearest town?” The Doctor asked, not even looking up from the laptop as they helped assist Donnie by giving them access to the network of the building whilst also keeping an eye on the Dalek’s tracker. 

“Salt lake city.” 

“Population?” 

“Over 190 thousand.” 

“All dead.” Only then did The Doctor look up from the laptop, “If the Dalek gets out it’ll murder every creature. That’s all it needs.” 

“But why🙹” Van Statten yelled, obviously panicked that he had no control over the situation. 

“Because it honestly believes they should die. Human beings are different, and anything different is wrong. It’s the ultimate racial cleansing, and you, Van Statten, let it loose!” The Doctor yelled at the man, not breaking eye contact. 

As The Doctor was talking Donnie finally got access to the camera, and thankfully the one in the weapon testing room was completely fine, and it even had the intercom system in tacked, “Doctor.” Donnie got their attention, showing them the feed of all the different getting in crouching positions and waiting for the Dalek to show up, he then pressed the microphone button on his ninpo-screen, opening up the intercom. 

“The Dalek has got a force field and the bullets will melt before they hit the haul, but it’s not indestructible. If you concentrate your fire you might get through. Aim for the dome- the head, the eyepiece, that’s the weak spot. 

“ Thank you, Doctor, but I think we know how to fight one single tin robot.” One of the soldiers said with a smugness Donnie would expect from a soldier. 

They watched with unease as the room fell into silence, only ever gaining back the noise when the lead soldier yelled ‘hold your fire!’ when Rose and the British guy ran through the room before falling back into a heavy silence. 

But less than 30 seconds passed before the Dalek entered the room, as it cruised into the room, no one fired until given the command. 

“ On my mark….open fire! ” 

Volleys after volleys of bullets made themselves known through the audio of the camera feed, (Donnie wouldn’t deny that it made him jump slightly), the room watched with undeniable terror as the camera feed showed no damage being done to the creature, as it just stood in the middle of the weapon testing room completely unphased. 

The Dalek then started to rise, still unphased by the attack, before stopping just below the ceiling, shooting at what Donnie had to guess was the fire alarm as water suddenly rained down from the ceiling. Within seconds the Dalek shot out its laser again, but not at only one person in particular, but at the ground. 

The floor lit up with bolts of lighting, shocking and killing the people who were on the ground floor, and there wasn’t even any time for the people on the second floor or catwalk to run as the Dalek shot the wet floor there as well, killing another several dozen people. 

No one spoke as they watched the footage, even the breathing was silent. No one knew what to say, several dozen people just died in less than a minute and none of them knew how to react. 

“Perhaps it’s time for a new strategy.” Van Statten said with a slight shake to his voice, “Maybe we should consider abandoning this place.” 

Goddard slowly turned to her towards her boss, a look of disgust and disappointment on her face as she talked to him, “Except there’s no power to the helipad, sir. We can’t get out.” 

“What about sealing the vault? Sealing off the entire building so we can at least buy time to find a way to destroy that monster.” Donnie never used that word lightly, never even as a joke, because he knew how that word was used towards mutants such as his family and other yōkai, and with how much hatred Donnie said that word, The Doctor wouldn’t be surprised if Donnie was thinking of killing the Dalek (but they were as well, thinking back to the strategies used in the time war to destroy the Daleks)

“It was designed to be a bunker in the event of nuclear war, steel bulkheads” Van Statten informed as he quickly went to sit down by the laptop and started to access the program to start the shutdown. 

“There’s not enough power!” Goddard tried to stress. 

“We’ve got emergency power, and Donnie do you think you’re able to channel some of your mystics into the building?” Donnie nodded, despite not wanting to be used as a living battery (his ninpo agreeing wholeheartedly with that want), but he knew that was the best chance at providing the building with enough power to seal the Dalek in. 

So, with the cable that was already plugged into the laptop, he focused on channeling his mystics into the laptop which in turn channeled them into the building. 

“And we need to bypass the security codes- that’ll need a computer genius to do.” Goddard once again stressed, obviously not being able to see how they can get out of this situation. 

“Good thing you’ve got me, then.” Van Statten boasted. 

“Oh so now you want to help, scoff,” Donnie said as he continued to flick through the cameras, trying to find either the Dalek or Rose, trying his best to ignore the dead bodies that showed up every so often. 

“I don’t want to die, simple as that, do you need a better reason girl?” (Donnie sucked in a harsh breath as the human spoke, but that didn’t seem to effect Van Statten as he continued to talk) “And nobody knows this software better than me-” 

Van Statten was suddenly cut off by a short, painful scream from Donnie as he was suddenly electrified by his own system, he shook his hand in pain, not even realizing that the camera feed he had been surfing through had changed back to the weapons testing room. 

“ I shall speak only to the Doctor.” The familiar robotic voice demanded. 

The Doctor slowly stood up straight as they walked around to the camera feed still showing via Donnie’s ninpo, waiting for the mutant to turn on the microphone. “You’re gonna get rusty.” The Doctor told the Dalek, their voice void of all emotion. 

“ I fed off the DNA of Rose Tyler. Extrapolating the biomass of a time-traveler regenerated me.” 

So that explains how it got powerful and escaped the cage. 

“What’s your next trick?” The Doctor asked with little emotion in their voice. 

“ I have been searching for the Daleks.” The alien answered, “ I scanned your satellites and radio telescopes.” 

The Doctor looked at the screen as the Dalek spoke, crossing their arms, “And?” 

“ Nothing.” The Dalek replied, “ Where shall I get my orders now?”  

“You’re just a soldier without commands.” 

“ Then I shall follow the primary order- the Dalek instinct to destroy! To conquer!”

“What for🙹” The Doctor demanded, getting closer to the ninpo screen, “What’s the point🙹”

When there was no reply from the Dalek, the Doctor continued to yell and demand answers from the creature, “Don’t you see? It’s all gone. Everything you were, everything you stood for.” 

“ Then what should I do?” 

The Doctor was silent for a few moments before they gave the Dalek an order, “All right then. If you want orders, follow this one. Kill yourself.” They spat, the fury and hatred in The Doctor’s eyes was nothing like Donnie had ever seen from them before. 

“ The Daleks must survive!” The creature yelled from the camera footage. 

“The Daleks have failed. So why don’t you finish the job and make the Daleks extinct? Rid the universe of your filth! Why don’t you just DIE!” Spit flew from their month as they yelled, the rage boiling over in The Doctor’s eyes and voice, they paced the room in that rage, their hands gripping their hair. 

The Dalek was silent for only a few seconds before speaking once more in as smug of a tone as that robotic voice could, “ You would make a good Dalek.” 

“Turn it off.” The Doctor spoke, their voice quiet and pleading, so Donnie obeyed and switched off the camera visuals, putting his wrist down into his lap as he watched The Doctor move to the other side of the room in a pacing manner. “Seal the vaults.” They told Van Statten who, for once, very quickly listened to The Doctor as he started to work on closing down the bulkheads, Donnie joining the man to help seal the bulkheads faster to ensure the Dalek couldn’t escape. 

“You can use my mystics and any power left in the building to feed to the bulkheads to shut them,” Donnie told him, not looking up at Van Statten as he helped with getting past the security system. 

“It’s been years since I had to work this fast.” Van Statten said with a small amount of sick joy in his voice. 

The Doctor scoffed, “Are you enjoying this?” 

But they didn’t get an answer as Donnie snapped his head towards them, “Doctor, Rose is still down there, she won’t be able to make it in time.” Donnie watched from his position on the table as The Doctor asked Goddard for a way to contact Rose. She handed them a spare headset she had and gave them a small handheld device in which they inputted her phone number. 

The Doctor was silent for a few moments before they started speaking into the headset, “Where are you?” The Doctor asked, Rose’s voice muffled too much for Donnie and the others in the room to hear. 

“You’ve got to keep moving. The vault is being sealed off up at level 46…I’m the one closing them. I can’t wait, and I can’t help. Now for God’s sake, run!” The Doctor told Rose in desperation. 

A couple more minutes passed, and heavy and panicked silence filled the room before Donnie stopped by telling The Doctor that he got the power to the bulkheads. 

“The Dalek’s right behind them,” Goddard informed as she continued to watch the dot that identified the creature on the diagram. 

“Doctor, I can’t sustain the power, even with the turtle’s help the whole system is failing.” Van Statten stressed, “You’ve got to close the bulkheads now.” 

Donnie watched as The Doctor’s face tightened in conflict before they looked down at the keyboard and, hesitating slightly, pressed enter, letting the code for bulkhead’s closer run through the system. The Timelord’s and mutant’s eyes were trained on the dots that showed Rose’s and the Dalek’s positions as the alarms for the closing of the bulkhead drowned out any worrying thoughts the two had for their friend. 

The alarms suddenly stopped as Van Statten informed them that the vaults were shut. The Doctor suddenly shot up from the table and yelled into the headset, “Rose” Where are you? Rose…did you make it.” 

Donnie didn’t need to hear what she said, he could tell Rose didn’t make it by the way The Doctor’s face dropped. The mutant slowly got off the table and made his way to their side, before he could open his mouth they ripped the headset, their hand shaking violently as they did so. 

“It killed her.” They said, tears shining in their eyes. Donnie refused to believe it, it wasn’t possible. 

“I’m sorry.” He heard Van Statten mutter, little genuine in his voice. 

“You’re sorry? This is all of your fault to begin with! That Dalek would have been dead now if you were so self-centered and selfish, wishing to hold onto that ego and power of yours. We wouldn’t be in this situation if you had just the smallest bit of empathy and killed that fucking thing!” Donnie spat at the human, not realizing he ended up in front of him with his hand in a fist on the desk. 

“It was the prize of my collection-” 

“Oh my sweet pizza-, your fucking collection doesn’t matter, those are things, those men out there- Rose, they were people! People who had others who loved them and were waiting for them to get home, but because of your selfish love for those useless things they died. All of their deaths are on your fucking hands and that’s blood you’ll never be able to wash off.” Donnie’s heavy breathing filled the room, his chest heaving as the anger towards the human ran through him, his Ninpo beginning to be taken out to give a man a piece of its mind. But Donnie didn’t, he was better than the human. 

“She was 19 years old.” The Doctor spoke, their voice shook with grief, turning to face Van Statten who already had fear in his eyes after Donnie tore into him, “She was only here because of me, because I promised her the stars and instead she died in a museum where the stars are labeled and stored. She died the furthest away from the stars that I promised her.” 

The Doctor didn’t yell, they just…talked, but their voice and eyes conveyed all the anger they needed towards the human. 

Van Statten sighed in relief when the doors to the office opened and the Brit (who Donnie still hadn’t found his name out yet) walked out, directing The Doctor’s and Donnie’s attention too as he nursed his wounds on his hands that looked similar to carpet burn. 

“You were quick to leave Rose behind,” Donnie muttered with slight disgust. 

But the human had a quick comeback, “Well, I’m not the one who sealed the vault!” He yelled, his eyes landing on The Doctor. 

Before anyone could do or say anything more, the TV within the office turned on and the Dalek’s voice once more pierced into the room, “ Open the bulkhead, or Rose Tyler dies .” 

All five people in the room turned towards the screen and saw the Dalek that was positioned behind Rose who had her hands on her hair, her body trembled but she tried to put a front of bravery by keeping her face neutral. 

“You’re-you’re alive!” The Doctor said with relief and joy, seemingly ignoring the fact that Rose was now a hostage. 

Rose smiled, “ You can’t get rid of me .” But her smile fell when the Dalek started talking again, 

“ Open the bulkheads! ” The creature screamed. Rose shook her head, hoping to convey all she wanted to say, hoping The Doctor wouldn’t obey the Dalek. “ What use are emotions if you can’t use them to save the human you adore? ” 

The Doctor stayed silent, before walking back over to the laptops, “I killed her once.” 

“No, Doctor don’t-” Donnie tried to reason with The Timelord, but the leftover grief was still running though their body, controlling their reasoning. 

“I can’t let it happen again.” They cut off Donnie and continued talking like Donnie wasn’t even there. 

“Doctor, listen. Even if you open up the bulkheads, who's to say the Dalek won’t just shoot Rose? And if by some miracle it doesn’t, how are we meant to stop it from escaping?” Donnie was now standing next to The Doctor, his hand on their forearm, making them look at the mutant. 

“I’ve got a plan, alright.” Donnie kept his hand on their forearm for a moment longer before mumbling “annoyed sigh” and walking back to the other side of the table. 

For a short moment, the only sound that filled the room was the tapping of keys as The Doctor undid the code to realize the bulkheads. One by one they started to open and the screen cut and went black as the Dalek started to make Rose go through the rest of the building. 

“What do we do now? What's your big plan, you bleeding heart!” Van Statten yelled at The Doctor as he shot up from his chair. 

“All the guns are useless, and the alien ones are all locked in the vault,” Goddard told them. 

“Just the cataloged ones.” 

The Brit, who on the ride to the ‘junk’ room, Donnie finally learned his name was Adam, took them to the room where all the weapons that got tossed out as junk were kept by the human. As The Doctor inspected the weapons with eye alone, Donnie let his Ninpo run through the tools, trying to find the ones that still had power and ammo. Eventually, throughout all the real junk, Donnie found one that had some power and tossed it over to The Doctor. 

“Oh, this is perfect.” The Doctor took hold of the gun, very quickly adjusting in a fight-ready way. “Donnie, are you still connected to the system, think you can find our Rose?” They asked as they walked out of the room, leaving Adam behind to clean the mess of thrown-away guns and other devices. 

Donnie activated his mystics, and with his Ninpo’s help he, once again, managed to get onto the cameras again (“Should probably make a ‘Camera everywhere’ app to pair with my ‘every camera in the city of New York’ app” Donnie thought to himself). “They are at the top level.” He informed The Doctor as he saw The Dalek leading Rose somewhere, the human still having her hands on her head in surrender. 

They nodded and headed back to the lift, and slowly they made their way up. 

“You go after Rose, get her out of the Dalek’s way and I’ll shoot it. The blast from this gun is large so I advise you and her to press your bodies to the ground to try and avoid any damage.” They told Donnie, their voice held command like that of an army chief. 

Donnie only nodded and hummed in agreement, he didn’t know how to deal with this version of The Doctor, and if he was being honest, they scared him at this moment. The lift dinged shortly afterwards, as they reached the top floor. Donnie walked behind The Doctor as they marched forward, never putting the gun down for a second. 

“Get out of the way!” They yelled as they rounded the corner and saw Rose and the Dalek, the Dalek, whose casing was opened showing off the alien inside it, basking in the sunlight through a part of the roof that was blown off. 

Rose looked at The Doctor and the gun in fear, not moving, “Donnie, get her out of the way!” They commanded the mutant. 

“No, cos I won’t let you do this!” Rose yelled, barely moving out of the way to make the uncovered Dalek more visible to The Doctor. 

“That thing has killed hundreds of people, I got to do this, I have got to end this!” They spat, “The Daleks destroyed my home, my people! I’ve got nothing left.” 

“And neither has he. Look at it.” Rose moved fully out of the way, showing the Dalek creature itself, reaching one of its tentacles towards the sunlight in a way that seems….almost desperate. “It’s the sunlight, it’s all it wants.” 

“What…” The gun was lowered, not because The Doctor suddenly trusted the creature was of no harm but because of confusion. 

“It couldn’t kill Van Statten, an-and it couldn’t kill me. Whatever my DNA did to it, it’s changing it. We were vulnerable and it didn’t kill us.” 

The message in Rose's words was clear. 

The Doctor dropped the gun to their side, Rose nodding to Donnie who understood that nod to take away the gun, so he did carefully and placed it on the ground. 

“Why did we survive?” The Dalek suddenly questioned. But The Doctor didn’t have an answer for the creature, “I am the last of the Daleks.” 

“Not even that,” The Doctor took a step forward, their face conveyed more than pity, “Rose did more than regenerate you, her DNA mutated you. She gave you emotions. I’m sorry.” 

“Isn’t that better though?” Donnie asked. But The Doctor shook their head. 

“For a Dalek? It’s worse than death.” They said. 

Their attention was then given back to the Dalek as it started to speak once more, “I can feel, feel so much darkness, so many ideas. Rose, give me orders! Order me to die…please.” The creature begged. 

“I-I can’t.” 

“This is not life! This is a sickness, I cannot be like you. Order my destruction!” It screamed, but when Rose stayed quiet, rather taken back by the Dalek’s screaming, it continued, “Obey! Obey! Obey! Obey!” It got louder every time. 

“Do it,” Rose spoke after a moment of silence, her body shaking as she gave the order.  

But before it could carry out that order, it spoke one more to Rose, “Are you frightened?” Rose could only nod, not trusting her voice to not break under the stress, “So am I. Exterminate.” 

As it said that, Rose quickly ran to The Doctor and Donnie, the Timelord wrapping an arm around her and Donnie squeezing her arm before letting go. 

They watched as the Dalek closed its casing back up and started to fly off the ground. The metal balls that covered its lower plating then came off and circled it, entrapping it in a force field that vaporized it. 

The Dalek was gone, but not by The Doctor’s hands like they wanted. 

The journey back to the TARDIS was a somber one, with none of the trio saying a word until they made it back. 

“Just a little piece of home left, better than nothing.” They said as they placed a hand on the machine. 

“Is that the end of it? The, the time war?” Rose asked with uncertainty. 

“I’m the only one left, can’t exactly go to war on myself.” They tried to joke but it just fell flat. 

“But there could be a chance, right? A chance that some of your people survived, I mean if the Dalek survived it’s only probable that they made it too?” Donnie suggested, hoping to give them a glimmer of hope. 

But that hope just wasn’t there as they shook their head, “No, I’d know. I would hear their song in there.” They tapped the side of their head, “But it’s empty, it's only your songs I can hear.” They looked at Donnie and Rose with a sadness that Donnie didn’t know how to describe. 

Their moment was broken up by Adam running up to them with a bag in his hand, “You need to get out of here, Van Statten disappeared. They’re closing down the base and Goddard says they’re gonna fill it with cement like it never existed.” 

“Good.” Donnie sighed. 

“I’ll have to go back home,” Adam told them (like they cared).

“Well, you better hurry up then, the next flight to Heathrow leaves at 1500 hours.” The Doctor said. 

“Well,” Rose started, a grin on her face, “Adam told me that his whole life he wanted to see the stars.”

“Just go outside then, he said with some sarcasm,” Donnie said, as he verbally made known, sarcastically.

Rose just gave him a look, “You know what I mean.” 

The Doctor sighed, “Fine one trip, you better not be doing this cause he looks pretty.” 

“I hadn’t noticed,” Rose said with a blank expression that Donnie knew was sarcasm. 

Adam just looked between the trio with confusion and frantically, “What are you guys talking about, we need to get out of here,” Adam got even more confused when The Doctor unlocked the TARDIS, and the three stepped inside, “Hello? She said cement, you guys know what that is right…” Adam trailed off when he followed the trio into the machine. 

“So,” The doors closed behind Adam, as The Doctor spoke to the human, “What stars do you want to see?” 

Chapter Text

The future was all Adam said. But it gave The Doctor a bit of leeway as to where they would take Adam, they didn’t take him as far as they took Rose and Donnie the first time they traveled with him, but instead somewhere close to the present time, and by close Donnie means the year 200,000.

The original trio quickly headed to the doors and stepped out whilst Adam was still in a state of awe to asset were they had landed, “So, it’s 200,000, it’s a spaceship-” 

“Space station, you can tell by the vibrations,” Donnie quickly corrected The Doctor, not having to even put on his goggles to know that as he felt the vibrations that were lesser than that on a ship. 

“Thank you Donnie, a space station, and let’s try that door over there,” They pointed to a gated area at the end of the room, “Alright get the newbie out.” 

After quickly confirming the year, Rose opened the door to a still starstruck Adam, “Oh my God-” 

“Don’t worry you get use to it,” Rose said, putting a hand on his back and guided him the rest of the way out of the TARDIS, “Now, from what we’ve managed to figure out, we are in the year 200,000, you can tell by the, erm, architecture. And from the vibrations you can also tell we are in a space station, though it’s a bit warm in here,” Now that Rose had mentioned it, Donnie could feel his skin pricking with the heat, he might go back into the TARDIS and swap out his hoodie for a sleeveless one if it got too much, “They could turn the heating down. But we want more than this so let's check this gate.” Rose told Adam, putting her own spin on the information that Donnie and The Doctor provided her. Rose and Adam went on ahead, Adam still walking and looking like a high man.

“She’s a natural at this.” Donnie whispered to The Doctor as they walked behind the two humans, they nodded with a slight look of pride on their face. 

Rose opened the gate with no difficulty and went up the small set of stairs onto a platform that looked like an observation deck, “And this the earth, but I’ll let The Doctor have a turn now.” 

The Doctor rolled their eyes before telling Adam all about the ‘Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire’. 

“Covered in mega-cities, five moons and a population of 96 billion, the hub of galactic domain stretching across a million planets- a million species, with man and yokai-kind right in the middle.” 

All three flinched slightly when they had the thump of a body hitting the floor, Donnie snorted at the fact Adam passed out. 

“He’s your boyfriend.” The Doctor mocked. 

Rose sighed in slight embarrassment, “Not anymore.” 

“Good, I didn’t like his face.” Donnie side eyed the human who was barely regaining consciousness. 

Adam quickly regained consciousness and the group left the observation deck, walking farther into the floor of the station that they had landed on. Donnie making a quick detour to the TARDIS to change out of his hoodie into a sleeveless version of it that he brought from the lair on the off chance he needed it, and that chance was proven correct. But even as he stepped out of the TARDIS, making sure to lock it, the heat was still oppressive. ‘Why don’t these people have air conditioning?’ Donnie thought to himself as he jogged back to the group just as The Doctor was telling Adam about this era’s “fine food, good manners, the works.” 

But the Timelord was quickly proven wrong when a food stall next to them suddenly opened up and the man in the stall started yelling. 

Within seconds the floor that was empty was now crowded with humans on all sides. The overlapping talking, demands and shouting was just as oppressive as the heat.  

“Fine cuisine?” Rose judged as she looked at the food that was presented in the stalls. 

“Looks more like something you’d see on a New York street, smells like it too.” Donnie covered his nose as the smell of the thing the humans called a krongburger reached his nose. 

“My watch must be wrong.” The Doctor said with some confusion, but after looking at their time era watch (as Donnie dubbed it months ago and hadn’t let the name drop), the confusion only deepened on their face, “No, it’s fine…that’s weird.” 

Rose gave them a snide grin, “That’s what you get for trying to show off, your history ain’t as good as you thought.” 

“My history is perfect.” 

“Wellllll-” 

“Don’t you start mister.” The Doctor cut Donnie off before he could prove Rose correct by relaying all of the examples from his travels with them.

“They’re all human? What about the millions of planets, the millions of species?” Adam questioned as his eyes scanned the crowds. 

Donnie looked as well, looking for a single inhuman being, but there weren’t any, “There aren’t even any yokai, I thought by now they had integrated themselves into human society?” He questioned, looking at The Doctor. 

The confusion once again deepened on their face, as they tried to find a way to answer both questions, but obviously they couldn’t produce an answer, “That’s a good question, both of you have good questions.”

But then The Doctor’s face suddenly shifted into a content look as they wrapped an arm around Adam, “Adam, me old mate, you must be starving. You must need a bit of grub.” They said, ignoring Adam’s resistance, as they obviously tried to distract the human so they could go and do some investigating alone., “Oi mate, how much is a krongburger?” 

The food vender informed them of the price and The Doctor walked the group over to a cashpoint, which Donnie was surprised still existed at this point in the future. 

They soniced the cashpoint and a large stick of metal (which Donnie put down his goggles to scan the item which seemed to be made of a mix of iron, tin and polyvinyl chloride, alongside several dozen EMV chips), “It’s basically a glorified credit card.” Donnie noted as The Doctor handed the metal stick to Adam who looked at it confused. 

“Now stop asking questions, go and do all the touristy things your heart desires, Donnie you’re with me.” Donnie nodded, making his way over to The Doctor. 

“I’ll get you something alright Don?” Donnie stuck a thumb’s up at Rose as they split up. 

The two walked in silence for a few moments, figuring out their first move, when Donnie tapped The Doctor’s arm and pointed at two women, one in regular clothes and the other in a causal suit, but she still dressed nicer than all of the other humans in the area, “Doctor, there. They could help with providing us answers.” He said as he pointed at them. They nodded and they weaved through the crowds to catch up with the women. As they did, The Doctor quickly asked which one of them wanted to be the one to ask the questions and Donnie pointed towards himself.

“Hi, sorry, but can you tell us where we are?” Donnie asked, stopping the two in their tracks. 

The women in the suit just looked at him with confusion before pointing to the large embossed number on the wall, “Floor 139, could they write it any bigger.” 

“No, I know that,” (Donnie absolutely did not know that), “but I meant as in, where we are place wise?” He asked, hoping to get an answer this time. 

“We’re on satellite five.” The more casually dressed lady answered with a smile.

“Are…are you lost? Is he lost?” The lady asked, looking up at The Doctor this time, pointing at Donnie, “Where are his parents?” 

The more casually dressed lady then suddenly put her hand onto the other’s arm, a look of slight horror and shock on her face, “Wait, this might be a test- is this a test? Some sort of management thing?” 

And that now gave the pair all the leeway they needed to get their answers, “Well done, you got us. Too clever for me and my apprentice.” The Doctor said, getting their physic paper out of their pocket, quickly flashing the “blank” paper. 

“We were warned about this in basic training, all employees must be versed in company promotion.” The casual lady told her co-worker, who by her smarter outfit Donnie assumed had been working there for longer but now he had to guess she was more of a newbie and was trying to impress the others in the station. 
As the two women talked to them about what Satatille Five does, Donnie informed them that he was going to check on Rose and Adam before slipping back into the crowd, thankfully finding the two in the same area they had left them. 

“Donnie!” Rose cheered as she spotted him in the crowd, waving him over and pointing to an empty seat opposite her. “Where’s The Doctor?” She asked as she took a slurp of the drink she was holding, making a face that made it seem like she didn’t like the taste but was too intrigued to not drink it. 

“They’re still doing investigation work, I just came back to see how you and the newbie were doing.” Donnie wasn’t surprised when he looked over at Adam and saw him looking fairly ill and overwhelmed. 

Adam took that look over as an invitation to start talking about how he was feeling about the whole experience, “It’s like everything is gone, home, family…everything.” 

A look of sympathy passed over Rose’s face, she then put her drink down and took her phone out, “If you’re feeling homesick, you can call them- your family, if you want. The Doctor put this sorta universal roaming on mine and Donnie’s phone.” 

Adam looked at the flip phone for a few seconds before shaking his head, “I’m alright for now, I just need some time.” Rose nodded and placed it back into her pocket, neither Rose or Donnie noticed how his eyes didn’t leave the phone at all until it went back into Rose’s pocket. 

“Oh, Donnie, as promised,” She pushed a cup towards him that looked like it hadn’t been drunk out of yet at all, “Here’s a little something for you.” 

Donnie picked up the cup, inspected it, he took off the lid and smelt the drink, but he wasn’t able to pinpoint any one smell. 

“What is it?” 

Rose shrugged, “It was a part of a trio pack of zaffics- like a slush puppy, all different flavors. Go on, try it.” She said with a look of glee in her eyes. 

Donnie took a deep breath before putting the straw in his mouth and taking a sip. He let the flavor rest on his tongue for a few seconds before swallowing, amongst the chemicals that make the zaffic cold despite the heat, he tasted what seemed like crayfish and escargot . “Texture not great but the taste isn’t bad, I’ve had worse.” He said as he continued to drink, Rose laughing as she went to drink hers. 

But the two didn’t get to relax for long as an alarm suddenly went off, and people got up from their seats and started to walk away. 

“Oi, you three.” Donnie heard The Doctor yell over the alarm, calling them over. They got up, Rose and Donnie grabbing their drinks and Adam walked just a couple of paces behind them. 

“I take it this is the rest of the inspection crew?” The suit lady asked as Donnie walked over with Rose and Adam following close behind, the two of them nodded. “Well, I would advise you to finish your drinks soon as we are going to go into the journalist room and to just prevent any mess we like to keep all food and drink out of it, there is a bin outside the room. Anyways, ready for your inspection?” 

Both women lead the way as they walked for around two minutes before making it to a corridor of doors, groups of people flowing into all the different rooms, including the one that the women leading them went into, (Rose and Donnie making sure to discard their empty cups into the bin). 

As they entered the room, there were six people sitting in a circle around a podium with a chair in the middle, the more casual looking woman took a seat in the last spot whilst the suited lady stayed standing. 

“Now, everyone behave. We have a management inspection. How d’you want it, by the book?” She asked as she turned towards the group. 

“Right from scratch, thanks.” They answered, hoping to get the most information that way. The lady in the suit, or ‘Cathica Santini Khadeni’ as she made sure the group knew so they could include her name in their “report” for level 500, talked through the produce and they found out that the process of gathering the news had to be, by law, unbiased, open and honest (which they also found out the other lady’s name was Suki through her pointing out it was the law). 

Cathica then walked into the center and onto the chair, “Engage safety.” She said, all the people in the circle around her hovered their hands just above the hand shaped pads and the lights around the room started to turn on with a whooshing noise to company then. 

Donnie stared at the technology with excitement, sure he had been to years much more impressive than this and even created his own galactic tech company (mainly by accident may he be reminded), but that doesn’t mean he could look at technology like this with pure excitement. 

It got even more interesting when Cathica snapped her fingers and the center of her forehead opened up, revealing a small part of her brain. Donnie quickly flipped down his goggles (which looked like sunglasses in his human form) to try and get a more detailed look at what was happening. 

“And three, two one…spike.” As she said that a stream of white light appeared from the machine positioned above the chair, that light immediately short-circuited his goggles and error signs relating to too much information being processed filled his vision. 

He hissed in slight pain as sparks of light flashed from the goggle, he quickly took them off to prevent more pain, taking a few steps back, rubbing his face. 

“Donnie you alright?” The Doctor turned around, a concerned look on their face, and walked over to him. The mutant nodded, frowning when he realized his goggles were now broken. 

“Yeah, the information overloaded my goggles. Now I have to fix them, frustrated sigh.” He placed them into his left hoodie pocket after saying that. 

“Oi, watch it, Adam.” They suddenly heard Rose say, causing both to look around at the two humans. 

“Sorry, I was just trying to get a better look.” He said, moving away from Rose back to the spot he was in originally. 

“It’s compressed information, that’s what broke your goggles, Donnie.” The Doctor said as they went back to the railing, “Streaming straight into her brain. Reports from every city, every country, every planet. They all get packaged right into her head.” 

“But won’t that information kill her, or make her insane?” Donnie asked. 

The Doctor shook their head, “No, she doesn’t remember any of it, the moment it closes she forgets.” They said as they walked around the circle. 

“But what about these people around the edge, what do they do?” Rose asked, pointing to the people who didn’t seem to be aware of their presence at all. 

The Doctor explained that each one had a smaller chip in their heads, connecting to Cathica, helping her with the transmission, “Every single fact in the Empire gets beamed out of this place.” 

“So this is what we do in the future? This technology is amazing!” Adam beamed, with a hint of something else in his voice that Donnie couldn’t place. 

“This technology is wrong.” The Doctor said bluntly. 

Suddenly, Suki’s hands shot off the pad, and all the people around the circle followed, but not as sudden, the lights on the walls immediately went out and the stream of information stopped, and Cathica’s forehead closed back up. 

“Come off it, Suki, I wasn’t even halfway what was that for?” Cathica demanded as she swung her legs over the chair to look at Suki. 

“Sorry, it must’ve been a glitch.” She apologized, holding her hands in a pained way. 

But before anything else could have been said, the walls opened up to reveal a screen and an automated voice said “Promotion,” 

But despite the wanting pleas from Cathica, Suki was the one that was up for promotion. Despite how good of a situation this all seemed, Donnie had a bad feeling about it, and it seemed like he wasn’t alone as The Doctor had a scowl on their face. 

As Suki was saying her cheerful goodbyes, Donnie noticed Adam leave the group and head back to the observation deck they were at not two hour’s prior, “Where’s he going?” Donnie asked Rose as he watched Adam walk away, his hand in his pockets. 

“Observation deck to, as he put it, acclimatize.” The two snorted. 

“Please tell me you don’t actually have a crush on him?” 

Rose looked at Donnie with a look of horror, “Oh god no, I’m just being nice to him, he’s the one taking it as me having a crush on him.” 

The two quickly closed the conversation as they walked over to The Doctor and the two humans, Suki giving hugs to everyone, she hugged Rose and went to hug Donnie. 

“No sorry. Don’t do hugs, but I do high-threes.” Suki giggled at that and high-fived Donnie before running off the elevator. 

“Good riddance.” Cathica mumbled. 

The Doctor gave the woman a confused look, “You’re talking like you’ll never see her again, she’s only going upstairs. 

“We won’t, once you go to floor 500, you never come back.” 

And that sentence was the last thing The Doctor needed to know there was something much bigger going on, “Can’t you go up there?” They asked as the trio followed Cathica through the floor. 

She shook her head, “You need a key for that and you only get a key with promotion. No one gets to 500 apart from the chosen few.” Cathica said with annoyance, heading back to the room they were in previously, “Look can you give it a rest. They only give us 20 minutes of maintenance.” 

“But you’ve never even been to another floor. Not for a little look around or anything?” Donnie asked as he leaned against the chair that The Doctor decided to sit on. 

“Well I went to floor 16 when I first arrived- that Medical, where I got my head done. And then I came straight here.” Cathica explained as she crouched down to the pads and started to take notes on them, “Satellite Five, you eat, sleep and work on the same floor.” She then looked up at the trio, standing up before saying, “You’re not management are you.” 

“At last, she’s clever.” The Doctor mocked. 

Cathica thought for a second before walking to another one of the pads, “Well whatever it is, don’t involve me. I don’t know anything.” 

“Don’t you even ask, that’s the number one rule of journalism.” Donnie said, but he got no answer from the human. 

“Why is all the crew human? No aliens, no yokai, why?” The Doctor suddenly asked. 

Cathica shrugged, “I dunno, no real reason. All yokai are living either on Venus or on other earth-like planets, oh- and immigration has tightened up with all the threats.” 
“What threats?” Donnie asked, having heard this excuse plenty of times in his own time. 

Once again, Cathica shrugged, “I don’t know, the usual stuff. And the price of spacewarp has doubled which keeps more away. Oh, and the government on Chavic Five collapsed so that lot stopped coming. Just..just lots of little reasons alright.” 

“Adding up to one big fact that you didn’t notice.” The Doctor said. 

Cathica sighed, crossing her arms, “Doctor, if there was a conspiracy then Satellite Five would have seen it.” 

“Well obviously you can’t, everything is wrong and, don’t get me wrong, great technology but it’s wrong, it’s too backwards.” Donnie said. 

Cathica got defensive at that, “It’s cutting edge.” 

“There’s a door in your head, Cathica.” Rose said, tapping on her own head. 

“It’s not just this station though, it’s the way people think. The ‘great bountiful human empire’ is being held back.” 

“And how would you know?” Cathica huffed, obviously not believing a word they were saying. 

“Trust me, humanity has been set back 90 years. When did Satellite Five start broadcasting?” They questioned. 

“...91 years ago.” 

The Doctor nodded at their two companions and they left the room, making their way back to the elevator. The Doctor got their sonic out and started to sonic away at the door to try and open it, and when they did they handed it off to Donnie who opened up his tech wristband and started to rummage around for important wires to plug into the band to get the information needed. 

“We’re going to get in trouble.” Cathica stressed as she caught up with them. “You can’t just go and mess with the main frame and vandalize it, someone is going to notice.” 

But neither of the group cared as Donnie plugged his band into the mainframe and handed The Doctor one of the screens, feeling bad that he couldn’t give Rose a job but she didn’t seem to mind being the lock out. The first thing he noticed was just how many cameras were in place, at least 200 per floor, and yet none on floor 500. 

“This has nothing to do with me, I’m going back to work.” Cathica said, doubling back when The Doctor said their farewells, “But I can’t just leave you can I?” 

“If you want to be useful, go get someone to turn down the heating, it’s boiling.” Rose demanded, “Can’t they do anything about it?” 

“We keep asking, it’s something to do with the turbines.” 

The Doctor then repeated what Cathica said in a mocking tone, which got Cathica annoyed and defensive. 

“Well Rose is asking the right questions,” Donnie said as he pulled something up onto the screen which The Doctor had abandoned in favor of sonicing and ripping the wires, “You can always tell alot about the place based on the heating and how much security they have. And this place has 200 cameras per floor, always active, and they also have all the cooling at floor 500, the floor which also has no cameras.” Donnie turned the screen around to show everything, showing the layout of the heating and plumbing, all the heat being redirected from the highest floor and being filtered to the floors below it, getting hotter the farther down it gets filtered. 

“This is ridiculous, you’ve got access to the computer's core.” Cathica admired, “You could look at anything and…you’re looking at pipes?” 

“Yes,” Donnie nodded, “Something up there is generating lots of heat and they don’t want it to stay up there so they’re making you all have it instead.” 

“Well I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m missing a party, it’s all going on upstairs.” 

“But you can’t go up,” Cathica said to Rose, “You need the key.” 

As she said that, Donnie activated his tech band again, “And the key is just a code, and code’s are one of my guilty pleasures.” 

“Not techno music?” Rose jokingly asked.

But Donnie didn’t even get a chance to hack into the system as the key code started to appear on screen. 

“What- how is it giving you the code?” Cathica questioned. 

“Someone up there must like us.” The Doctor says, looking into the cupboard where they suspected a camera was among the wires. 

So into the elevator they went (after closing the mainframe back up), “Come on, come with us!” Rose encouraged, as they walked into the elevator. 

Cathica shook her head in slight fear, “No way. Don’t mention my name at all- I don’t want to be involved when you lot get into trouble.” She said before she walked away. 

The Doctor looked at the two before shrugging and inputting the code, the doors shut and they went up to floor 500. 
As the elevator went up, Rose put her hands into her pocket out of boredom and suddenly panic spread across her face. 

“I don’t have my phone.” She said, frantically checking her pockets. 

“What do you mean you don’t have your phone?” The Doctor questioned, looking at her with confused concern. 

“I mean I don’t have my phone, or my TARDIS key- oh my god…” She paused, “Adam.” 

“What about him?” 

Rose let out a deep breath, calming herself before speaking, “When he bumped into me in that room, he must have taken it because I showed him my phone and told him about the thing you put into both mine and Don’s to let us talk to our families.” 

“But why the TARDIS key, he doesn’t know how to pilot it?” Donnie questioned, checking his own pockets, his shoulders dropping in relief when he felt all of his belongings still in their rightful places. 

“He’s most likely trying to call his parents in the past to tell them about all the information about the future.” The Doctor said, their voice filled with anger and light betrayal. 

“So what do we do?” Rose asked. 

“Nothing,” They answered, “We can’t do anything right now. But we’ll deal with him after we’ve dealt with this.” 

The elevator then dinged, indicating they were on floor 500 and the doors opened. The cold hit them in an instant. 

“You two should head back down stairs, especially you Donnie.” The Doctor commanded, not wanting to risk Donnie entering brumation . 

“Tough,” Rose said through full body shivers at the sudden change in temperature. 

“We’ve made it this far, Doctor, we’re not going back down.” Donnie agreed. 

The three walked through the almost carbon copy of floor 139, the only different is the emptiness and the thin layer of ice that coated everything, they then rounded a corner where they found a man, who Donnie could only describe as a walking corpse as his skin was pale but his eyes were inhumanly blue, standing behind people seated at security footage, all having less ice than the one to their right, indicting how long either person had been there. 

Donnie wasn’t surprised when Rose saw Suki who had little to no ice on her as she had only been there for barely an hour. 

“I’ve started without you.” The man said, not taking his eyes off the screens that flashed through different news stories and camera footage. “This is fascinating,” He laughed. 

“Satellite Five contains every piece of information within the fourth great and bountiful human empire. Birth certificates, shopping habits, bank statements, but you two…you don’t exist. I mean obvious we found everything about you Hatchling Giver. Oh yes don’t look surprised, that’s primitive yokai cloaking technology you’re wearing, an idiot could see past that.” The man said as he looked Donnie over, giving him an unnerving smile, “Being the leader of one of the biggest galactic tech companies tends to make your information well known. But what evades my knowledge is why you are in cahoots with two nobodies who can somehow walk through the world and not leave a single footprint?” He asked, looking between the trio, his eye movement too smooth to be puppeted by a living human. 

“What have you done to them, what have you done to Suki?” Rose demanded as she looked at Suki with horror. 

“They’re dead, they’ve got the chips in their heads that keep them working.” The Doctor answered with disgust. 

But their knowledge amused the man, “Oh! You’re full of information, but it’s only fair we get some information back, cause apparently you’re no one. It’s so rare to not know something.” He laughed.

“Who are you?” He asked, his voice a lot more serious. 

“Doesn’t matter cause we’re off, come on.” But as they went to turn around, puppeted humans suddenly came out of nowhere, grabbing the trio, their grip strong enough that they couldn’t escape them. The puppeted humans turned The Doctor back around whilst keeping a study grip on them. The humans holding Donnie made sure to keep a tight grip on his hands, preventing him from using his mystics and ninpo. 

“Tell me who you are!” The man demanded. 

“Since that information’s keeping us alive, I’m hardly gonna say, am I.” The Doctor said. 

“Well if that’s the facts, the kapa isn’t any use to me.” The man went to click his fingers as a non-verbal order to get rid of Donnie but was stopped by the mutant. 

“Nope, you don’t know everything about me, in fact half of the things you probably know about me aren’t even real!” Donnie stressed, panic in every word. 

The man looked at Donnie with a weird amount of contentment, “Well then tell me who you are?” 

Donnie shook his head with a smug grin on his face. 

“Oh, must you make this so difficult? Perhaps my Editor In Chief can convince you.” 

“Who's that then?” Rose asked, struggling against the undead human hands that held her back from moving. 

The man clicked his tongue before moving closer to the group, “It might interest you to know that this is not the fourth great and bountiful human empire, in fact-” He started to laugh as he spoke, “It’s not human at all, it’s merely a place where humans live.” A sudden angry growl was heard. 

The man pretended, as the growling (that wasn’t being translated for them by the TARDIS’ telepathic fields for a reason Donnie didn’t know) went on, to receive the growls from an ear piece, “Yep..yep, sorry…It’s merely a place humans are allowed to live by kind permission of my client.” He then snapped his fingers and pointed upwards, prompting the trio to look above them. 

A slimy looking creature that only had a mouth and no eyes was above them, stuck onto the ceiling, it growled, bared its teeth and roared as the trio looked at it with confusion as to what it was. 

“That thing is in charge of satellite five?” The Doctor questioned. 

“That “thing as you put it”,” The man said, sounding very offended by The Doctor’s wording, “Is in charge of the human race. For almost 100 years mankind has been shaped and guided, knowledge and ambition being strictly controlled by news broadcasts, being edited by my superior- your master, and humanities guiding light. The mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hardojasic Maxarodenfoe. But I call him Max.” He whispered the last part like it was some secret at a sleepover. 

His smile then dropped, “Cuff them.” Four other undead humans then came from behind with a device with three sets of manacles on them, they bolted the device into the floor before forcing Rose, Donnie and The Doctor into them, but they didn’t go without a fight, but that fight wasn’t worth it as the stiff and undead nature of the puppeted humans meant they didn’t react to the punches or kicks and they managed to lock them up. 

“If you got a Jagrafess controlling the human race why bother with broadcasting?” The Doctor questioned, demanded to get as much information they could out of the man, and the man obviously couldn’t resist telling others of his knowledge. 

“Well, we create a climate of fear, and it keeps the borders closed isolating humans, it’s just a matter of emphasis.” He emphasized ironically, “The right word in the right broadcast, repeated enough, can destabilize an economy, invent an enemy, change a vote.” 

“So all the people on earth are like what, slaves?” Rose asked. 

The man looked at Rose with a look of interest as he walked towards them, “Ah well, that’s an interesting point. Is a slave a slave if he doesn’t know he’s being enslaved?” 

“Yes,” The Doctor answered with no hesitation and with a bored tone.

The man looked disappointed at The Doctor’s quick and unflinching answer, “Oh, I was hoping for a philosophical debate. Is that all I’m going to get, “yes.” The man laughed as he mocked The Doctor’s answer. 

“Yes,” They repeated again. 

“You’re no fun.” He said with a still manic grin on his face. 

“Let me out of these manacles and you’ll find out how much fun I can be, especially Hatchling Giver over there, he really knows how to bring the fire to the party.” The Doctor said, being careful to keep the information of Donnie’s name from the man. 

“Oooo, they’re tough aren’t they?” He laughed, not expecting an answer to his question even though he looked at Rose and Donnie like he wanted an answer, “But come on, it’s a great system, you have to admire it just a bit.” 

“You can’t hide something on this scale. Somebody must have noticed by now.” Donnie scoffed.

The man nodded, “From time to time they did, but the computer chip allowed me to see inside their brains. I can see the smallest doubt and crush it.” He emphasized. “And then they just carry on, living life, strutting about downstairs, all over the surface of the earth like they’re soooo individual, when of course they’re not, they’re just cattle. So, in that respect the Jagrafess hasn’t changed a thing.” As the man spoke, the three saw Cathica in the room behind the main security, but made sure not to stare at her to not give her existence away to the man as all of his attention was currently on them and their existence. 

“Yeah, but what about you, you’re not a jargr-a-belly..” “Jagrafess.” The Doctor corrected Rose as they looked to the side, obviously thinking of a plan, “Jagrafess, you’re not a Jagrafess. You’re human.” 

The man looked at Rose with disagreement, “Yeah, well, being human didn’t pay off very well, so you’re wrong about that.” 

“But you couldn’t have done this all by yourself.” She continued. 

The man laughed, “No, I represent a consortium of banks, and money prefers long-term investment so their representative has to be long term. And also, the Jagrafess needed a hand to, erm, install himself.” 

“No wonder,” The Doctor scoffed, “A creature of that size. What’s its lifespan?” 

“3000 years.” The man once again showed off his knowledge. 

“That’s one hell of a metabolism. Generating all of that heat, that’s why satellite five is so hot. You pump it out of the creature and channel it downstairs, Jagrafess stays cool, stays alive. Satellite Five is one big life support system.” They said, subtly raising their voice so Cathica could hear them. 

The man smiled and snapped his fingers at them, “And that’s why you're so dangerous, knowledge is power, and yet you remain unknown.” He snapped again and this time electricity flowed through the cuffs, shocking the three. 

“Who are you?” 

The electricity continued for a few more moments before The Doctor spoke out of desperation for the pain of their companions to stop, “Leave them alone, I’m The Doctor, she’s Rose Tyler, he’s Hamato Donnie, we’re nothing. We’re just wandering.” 

“Tell me who you are?” The man still demanded, bouncing his knees with every word. 

“I’ve just said!” The Doctor yelled. 

“Yeah but who do you work for? Who sent you? Who knows about us? Who exactly…” He then stopped and suddenly the desperation in his face for the need to know was replaced with the smile of the knowledge gained, “Time Lord.” He said, putting his hands out. 

“What?” They questioned, confused. 

“Oh, yes, the last of the Time Lords. And their traveling machine. And his little human girl and mutant from so long ago. Time travel.” He grinned 

“Someone’s been telling you lies.” The Doctor tried to lie. 

“Young master Adam Mitchell?” The man snapped his fingers and on the screen, security footage of Adam screaming in pain, Rose’s stolen phone in hand, in the journalist chair and the same head opening as Cathica had, the white stream of information was- instead of being poured into his head was being poured out of his head, giving the man all the information he needed. 

“What the hell has he gone and done🙺” The Doctor yelled. “They’re reading his mind, he’s telling them everything they need to know!” 

“Oh yes he is, through him I now know everything I need to know about you. Every piece of information inside his head is now mine. And you have infinite knowledge, Doctor. The human empire is tiny compared with what you’ve seen in your T-A-R-D-I-S, TARDIS!” 

“Well, you’ll never get your hands on it, I’ll die first!” 

The man only smiled, “Die all you like, I don’t need you. I already have the key.” On screen, a shaking and unwilling hand from Adam reached into his pocket and pulled up the key, holding it for the camera. “Today, we are the headlines. We can rewrite history. We could prevent mankind from ever developing.” 

“And no-one is going to stop you.” The Doctor, making sure their voice was raised once more so Cathica could hear them perfectly, “Because you’ve bred a human race that doesn’t ask questions. Stupid little slaves, believing every little lie. They’ll just trot right into the slaughterhouse if they’re told the walls are made of gold.” 

Only a few moments later the Jagrafess started to growl, making the man run over to the computers in a panic. “What’s happening? Someone’s disengaged safety.” He snapped his fingers and switched the screen over, but instead of displaying footage, it just showed Cathica’s name. “Whose that?” 

“She’s thinking!” The Doctor said with glee, “She’s using what she knows, everything we told about Satellite Five, the pipes, the heating, everything! She’s reversing it. Look at that, it’s getting hot.” The Doctor pointed out the icicles that were now rapidly melting. 

The sudden heat overwhelmed the system and everything started to short circuit, allowing for the trio to escape the now broken manacles. 

“Massive body, massive bang, see you in the headlines mate!” The Doctor yelled out over the noise as they ran out of the room and towards the elevator, making sure to grab Cathica on the way out. 

They made it back to floor 139 as quickly as the elevator would allow them, finding a seat near the TARDIS to place a half-conscious Cathica on, making sure she was alright. “We’re just going to go, hate cleaning up, too many questions but I’m sure you’ll manage.” The Doctor said after Cathica regained her energy. 

“But you have to stay to explain it, no one is going to believe me.” 

“They might stay believing a lot of things now.” Donnie inputted. 

“What about your friend?” She questioned, looking behind the trio as Adam stumbled to the TARDIS. 

“He’s not our friend.” The Doctor scoffed, getting up and walking over to the TARDIS. 

As they walked over Adam started to talk, “I’m alright now, feeling much better. And I’ve got the key-” Rose snatched it out of his hand and also dove her hand into his pocket and got her phone out of it, giving him a deadly glare as she did so, putting her phone back into her pocket with a huff. 

“Donnie, hold him.” The Doctor demanded as they unlocked the TARDIS. 

And Donnie gladly listened to them, grabbing Adam’s bicep in an iron grip, practically shoving him into the TARDIS. 

It seemed the TARDIS already knew where Adam lived as the moment the doors closed the TARDIS took off without The Doctor even pressing any buttons. And within seconds of it landing again, the doors opened and Donnie, still with an iron grip on Adam’s bicep, shoved him out, only letting go once he was out of the TARDIS.

“I’m home, oh my god I’m home. Thought you were going to chuck me out of an airlock or something,” Adam said, rubbing his already bruising bicep. 

“Is there something else you want to tell us?” 

Adam shook his head, “Erm, no, what do you mean?” 

The Doctor rolled their eyes and walked over to Adam’s family phone, lifting up the landline, “One second of that message could change the world. Donnie, want to do the honors?” They placed the phone and stepped back from the phone. 

“My pleasure, dear Doctor.” He grinned as he summoned a gun with his mystics and shot at the phone, and instead of there being a bullet hole in it, it fried the circuit. 

“See ya.” The Doctor said as Donnie de-summoned the gun, both walking back to the TARDIS.

“What about me, I’ve got a great big type two chip in my head that opens.” Adam whined. 

“What, like this?” The Doctor clicked their fingers and the chip opened. 

Adam huffed and snapped his fingers to shut it. 

“Or this?” Donnie snapped both hands rapidly 4 times, causing the chip to spam open and close, making Donnie and The Doctor laugh. 

“Stop it, you two.” Rose said, making Adam believe she was showing sympathy for him when in reality she wanted to make it open herself.

“You gotta live a really quiet life now because the moment they find out about your decision you made, they’re gonna dissect you Adam. So I suggest you be careful, wear a hat from time to time, he said jokingly.” Donnie said with a smile. 

“But I want to come with you.” Adam pleaded. 

The Doctor shook their head, “I only take the best and the honest. I’ve got Rose and Donnie. Come on.” They opened the TARDIS and went inside just as they heard the door opening a voice, presumably Adam’s mother, called out. 

So they left Adam behind with the consequences of his actions. 

Chapter Text

Hamato Yoshi. 

But Donnie never really knew him as Splinter until the last year of his and his brothers' lives. 

They didn't know who Splinter was before he was a rat, but at that time they didn't care, he was their weird rat dad who sat around watching old Japanese TV shows. 

But after Draxum, the Shredder, and Karai, they found out who he was. 

Donnie remembered the night after the Shredder's defeat, Splinter sat them down in his bedroom, and he told them he could ask as many questions about his human life as they wanted. 

So they did. 

But even with all of those answers, Donnie was still left with so much unknown knowledge. But most of all, the lack of knowledge of what his father looked like. 

Sure, they could just watch one of his movies to see what Splinter looked like, but that wasn’t enough, that wasn’t genuine. Donnie wanted to see his father when he was human face to face. 

And that mission is helped when he has a friend who has a time machine. 

Donnie made sure to wake up before Rose (which wasn’t that hard as the human had a tendency to sleep in and not listen to her multiple alarms), to talk to The Doctor about what he wanted to do. 

He found them in the kitchen, making themselves a basic mashed banana on toast for breakfast alongside a coffee, and when they saw Donnie enter the main kitchen, they put the coffee machine back on for them. 

“You’re awake earlier than usual, what’s the occasion?” They asked as they watched Donnie get out a mug from the cupboard. 

“Oh, you know, just, early turtle gets the coffee right. He said, definitely not lying through his teeth.” Donnie verbally announced, shoving his mug under the coffee machine, hoping The Doctor wouldn’t ask. 

But they didn’t even need to ask, they just raised their eyebrow at him and he cracked, “I wanted to ask you something, about somewhere we could go?” When The Doctor didn’t say anything, but just looked at Donnie, silently telling him he could carry on, “I wanted to see my father, back when he was human. Before…before everything happened to him. And it won’t be like what happened with Rose! I won’t try to stop him from being kidnapped by Big Mama or mutated by Draxum. I just want to see him when he was human. Please.” Donnie frantically explained, the incident with Rose’s father still fresh on their minds as it was barely a week ago. 

The Doctor was silent for a few moments, thinking, before they sighed, placing down their plate and looking at Donnie. 

“I will do it, as long as you promise me that you will not try and change the past, you understand?” 

Donnie grinned ear to ear and started squealing and shaking his hands in excitement, “Oh thank you thank you thank you!” 

“Now, since you aren’t sure of the year or any date where you know you’ll be able to see your father, I’m going to introduce you to a bit of the TARDIS that us Timelords didn’t use often, it’s a piece of technology that gives you the most direct connect to the TARDIS’ telepathic field, but you have to be very gently and careful with it.” The Doctor said as they were attempting to pry open a section of the TARDIS where the main controls were, Rose standing in the hallway, still in a sleeping state as Donnie’s excitement woke her up. “Ha-ah!” They exclaimed as the piece of panel came flying off, landing on the floor with a bang. 

Donnie looked over and immediately wanted to throw up, under where the panel was, was a square of what looked like glowing flesh, pulsing and moving. 

“Nope-” Donnie went to turn around to walk away from the control panel, but The Doctor’s hand stopped him from walking as they turned him back around. 

“Donnie, you wanted to see your dad as a human, and this is one of the only ways we can do this unless you want to play a guessing game and not be able to. This will be your only way, Donnie.” They said, their hand staying on his shoulder.

Donnie stared at it for several more moments before he felt Rose’s hand join The Doctor’s on his other shoulder, “Hey, it’ll be okay, if it gets too much you can stop.” She said with a comforting smile. 

“Keep it down, vomitello.” He said, mainly to himself, as he slowly put his hands onto the telepathic flesh. 

As soon as he made contact with it, he could feel the TARDIS in his mind. He couldn’t understand her, he couldn’t understand the singing he believed were her words, but he knew she could understand him. 

“Now, imagine your father as a human, and the TARDIS will use those thoughts to travel to a time it believes is correct.” Donnie could hear The Doctor say, but it had a song behind the words, behind the words that the TARDIS translated for him, he could hear the shift of The Doctor’s language to one Donnie could understand. 

But Donnie made sure to not pay attention to the translation aspect of the machine and instead tried to envision Splinter when he was human. 

Obviously, his mind went to what he looked like in his movies, to what he looked like as Lou Jitsu, but as he imagined that, his mind went down to who he was after that - a champion in the battle nexus. And as he did so, a memory Donnie didn’t think he had forced itself into his mind. 

A memory of Splinter telling the whole story from how he went from a champion in Big Mama’s arena to being mutated, “ -but barely an hour before Draxum’s gargoyles took me to him, a young boy visited me, I was injured and Big Mama’s goons had yet to come to my cell to heal me, and he told me things that unfortunately I do not remember, but I remember how they made me feel, how they made me want to keep going. When I think back to that moment I believe it might have been a hallucination my mind gave me to try and keep me alive-”

The memory ended as Donnie felt himself fall back onto someone and onto his knees

“-nnie, Donnie. Hey, Don, you alright?” He heard Rose ask, the human also on her knees, a hand on his cheek, wiping away tears. The Doctor was standing over the control panels, their hands frantically gripping the levels and buttons, but the TARDIS was still. 

“We’ve landed.” They announced, as they slowly backed away from the panel and walked over to Donnie, who Rose was trying to help off the floor. 

“What happened there?” She asked, keeping a comforting arm around him as Donnie stared at the floor, the memory that Donnie swore he didn’t have before fading from his mind, not quite there but not quite gone like it hadn’t been made yet. 

“With the telepathic field, it pokes around in your mind, making your memories vulnerable and more open. And obviously, the field found a memory of Donnie that either was emotional for him, or it can’t be real because something hadn’t happened yet.” They said as they looked at Donnie, the mutant in question, finally taking his eyes off the floor and using his forearm to wipe away the rest of the tears, “Do you still want to see him?” The Doctor asked. 

Donnie nodded, reaching into his short’s pocket and pulled out their cloaking necklace, and put it on, “Can..can you two please stay in here? I don’t think I could handle you two being there as well- no offense.” Donnie said sheepishly, but both The Doctor and Rose nodded, respecting his wishes. 

So, the mutant walked down to the door, hesitating for only a few seconds before opening up the door. For a few seconds, Donnie thought they had landed in an alleyway, but he was proven wrong when he heard chanting. It only took a few seconds for the chanting to become clear that the crowd were chanting for blood. 

Donnie took a deep breath before walking to the gate where very limited light shone through. 

‘The battle nexus!’ Donnie thought to himself as he saw a yokai in the stands and another yokai in the middle of the arena face down with a human who had his foot on the yokai, his hands up in the air encouraging applause, blood coating him. But it wasn’t the yokai’s blood as Donnie could see their blood which was pooling a dark green color beneath them. 

“ And once again, Lou Jitsu remains the undefeated champion of the Battle Nexus! ” Donnie heard an announcer say, making the crowd cheer louder. 

The announcer then started to announce more fights, and as he did so, Donnie watched as Splinter’s posture changed as he walked towards the gate Donnie watched through, all the wounds the fight most likely caused, or even fights from within the same day, bleeding and open, but Splinter’s face didn’t convey the pain that he should be in. Thankfully the gate opened inward so Donnie could hide behind the wood as Splinter opened it up, and stumbled into the hallway before turning to his right and opening up a door that Donnie hadn’t noticed.

Donnie let his head hit the wall, exhaling through his mouth in an unsettled manner. He knew his dad fought in the nexus, but he didn’t ever think about it deep enough to think about the fights in such a gruesome way. 

But his dad was here now, human and not the rat Donnie and his brothers had grown up with, but also not the version of him Donnie wanted him to be. 

Donnie didn’t know what made him go towards the room (or more accurately cell) that he knew Splinter was in and he opened the door, surprised when the room wasn’t locked, but he had to guess that Splinter had been here for years at this point so they trusted he wouldn’t run. 

The room was furnished to some degree, but all the lights were off, making the room dark apart from one dim light that was filled with the Hidden City’s version of fireflies. 

“If you wish to be in here, please close the door, I don’t want it to get cold.” Splinter suddenly said, his voice low and devoid of any emotion, making Donnie jump. But the mutant obeyed and shut the door, his nose suddenly picking up the smell of blood. “You don’t look like one of Big Mama’s goons, you look human. Who are you?” 

Donnie didn’t know how to answer, so he just stayed silent, wringing his hands together. He watched as Splinter hunched over himself, the blood from the wound on his chest and stomach still bleeding, he made no effort to try and stop the bleeding. 

“Why aren’t you trying to stop the blood?” Donnie asked, pointing towards the wounds. 

“Because I don’t want to. Big Mama hasn’t sent her medics yet and I don’t see any point in trying to stay alive.” Splinter answered. 

“But you don’t die.” Donnie blurted out, making the human turn towards Donnie. 

“Of course I will.” 

Donnie didn’t know how to reply to him so he walked towards Splinter and just sat down on the floor next to him, reaching into his shell (Donnie was thankful that Splinter wasn’t looking at him as to him it would have looked like Donnie was reaching into nothing) and pulled out a towel that he kept in there, handing it over to Splinter, “At least put it over the wound so the smell of blood will lessen.” Donnie said, lying so he could make Splinter at least weaken the flow of blood out of his body. 

“You said ‘don’t’.” Splinter said, pressing the towel to his stomach, making Donnie turn towards him in confusion, “You should have said ‘won’t’. ‘Don’t’ means that I’m still alive in the future.” 

Donnie chose to just stare at his lap, unable to think of what to say to Splinter. 

“How do you know that I won’t die? Who are you?” 

The mutant thought for a few moments before deciding to ignore all the time travel “rules” he had learned from The Doctor (and his favorite sci-fi shows), “I just know you don’t, I- there’s proof of that. Four people who need you in the future, sure you aren’t there emotionally for us for a long time but when you get there, you start being there for us.” 

Donnie didn’t notice the change in the pronouns as he spoke to Splinter until he saw the man’s hand hover beside his face, unsure if he was allowed to hold it like a father should. And Donnie gave him that permission as he took off his cloaking broach, revealing his mutant self. Splinter’s hand then closed the distance and gently cupped his face, Donnie trying his best to keep the tears from falling. 

“How?” Splinter asked, his eyes mapping his face, looking at the limited features that he could see in the dark. 

“I can’t say, I don’t want to risk changing the future more than I already have,” Donnie replied, trying to stop himself from leaning into the gentle, fatherly touch of Splinter’s hand. 

“Well you better leave then, I don’t want you to get caught here.” Splinter’s hand left Donnie’s cheek, and he looked away from the mutant. 

Donnie stayed there for a few moments before getting up and leaving, no goodbyes being said.

The TARDIS doors opened for him as he got near the machine, the comforting hum surrounded him as he walked in, emotional and vulnerable from the interaction. 

And it seemed like The Doctor knew that, as the doors shut behind Donnie, The Doctor got up from the floor, (them and Rose appeared of been talking whilst they tinkered with the TARDIS),  and walked over to Donnie, putting their arms out in a gesture that asked if Donnie wanted a hug. And he did, he let himself fall into their arms, finally letting the tears fall out of his eyes. 

As The Doctor hugged him, the memory that led him here in the first place became more clear. 

He remembered the week after the Shredder’s defeat and Splinter let him and his brothers ask details about his life as Hamtao Yoshi and as Lou Jitsu and they wanted more details about how he even became a mutant, and he told of how a young boy came into his cell and told him that he wouldn’t die before Splinter made him leave before Big Mama’s goons appeared, but instead, Draxum’s gargoyles appeared and took him to the yokai. At the time, Donnie didn’t notice that Splinter only looked at him during the story, but now, Donnie knew Splinter was looking at him because he remembered that young boy was him.

Chapter Text

At first they didn’t hear the sensors go off, the three were laughing about the recent planet they just went to, how The Doctor ended up crashing a party and accidentally got married, but when the sensors started to irritate Donnie, he turned over to the screen. He couldn’t make out what the TARDIS was sensing but it was something that had somehow entered the time stream alongside them so he called out to The Doctor. 

Within seconds they were slamming down buttons and moving levers. 

“What’s the emergency?” Rose demanded as she held onto the console table for dear life. 

“It’s mauve!” The Doctor asked, pointing to a button for Donnie to hold down. 

“Mauve?” Rose questioned. 

“Space version of code red, for them red is camp.” Donnie attempted to explain as he almost fell backward at the force of the TARDIS’ movement. 

“I’ve hacked into the computer- slaved the TARDIS. Wherever it goes we go!” They said with a crazed grin. 

Rose looked at them, slightly concerned, “And you’re sure that’s safe?” 

“Totally!” They answered before running over to another part of the panel. 

“Oh pizza supreme.” Donnie muttered to himself, not getting much time to think about the idiocy of The Doctor as he was almost shaken to the floor as the console started to spark. “You want to rethink your answer Doctor?” Donnie questioned them as he jumped off the floor and walked (or more accurately stumbled) over to the screen.

As he got there, the screen started to show the capsule jumping back into the time vortex, which The Doctor explained was it trying to shake them and 30 seconds away from the center of London. 

But despite how close they were, the capsule made a jump in the vortex and they lost it, so the TARDIS exited the vortex itself, landing in an alleyway. 

“D’you know how long you can knock around space and not bump into earth?” The Doctor asked sarcastically. 

“Five days? Or is that just when we’re out of milk, or Donnie’s wasabi.” Rose answered. 

“Speaking of which, can we buy some if we’re here?” Donnie asked, putting on his cloaking necklace before stepping out of the TARDIS. 

“With your own money you can.” The Doctor received a groan from Donnie which they just laughed at. “Must’ve landed somewhere quite close, within a mile. It couldn’t have been more than a month ago.” They said as the trio started to walk down the alley, Donnie was unable to shake the feeling of being watched as they walked but just ignored it, thinking it to be his classic overthinking.

“A month?” Rose questioned, “But we were just behind it?” 

“It time jumped, we were bound to be out by a bit.” 

As The Doctor and Rose went back and forth with banter, Donnie looked up at the buildings, feeling like they were being watched by someone, but he was unable to see anything, even when he put down his goggles which showed no signs of life apart from the humans which lived inside the buildings. 

“Not very Spock though it is?” Donnie heard Rose say as he flipped his goggles back up, looking around to see The Doctor crouched down at a door that had faint music coming from it. 

“Door, music, people- what do you think?” 

“Still think you should do a scan for alien tech.” Rose mumbled, side-eyeing Donnie as she spoke, giving him a silent question.

“Sigh, yes I’ll do a scan.” Donnie said, flipping his goggles onto his face before slowly spinning around.

The Doctor rolled their eyes before crouching down and attempting to unlock the door via sonic screwdriver before looking back at Rose, eyeing up her shirt, “Are you sure about that shirt?” 

“Lost that bet to Donnie remember, so it was either this or the American flag one.” Rose groaned as Donnie snorted at the mention of the bet she made (and lost) with him on their last adventure.

Just as Donnie’s goggles picked up on something they fizzled out when an echo of a child’s voice, calling for his mummy, was heard from up above, the words “mummy?” were now also displaced on his goggles. But it seemed The Doctor hadn’t heard as they entered the now unlocked door. 

“You heard that as well, right Don?” Rose asked as she slowly walked towards where the voice was coming from. Donnie nodded, taking off his goggles in confusion. But he was unable to mention it to Rose as she suddenly gasped in shock, “There’s a kid up there.” Donnie quickly looked up and on the roof was a young child, couldn’t have been more than eight, with a gas mask on standing on top of a building roof, his head moving around in what appeared to be confusion. 

“Are you alright up there🙹” Rose yelled up to the kid, as both her and Donnie ran around the building in hopes of finding a fire exit staircase. 

The kid didn’t respond and just continued to call for his mummy. 

“Don’t worry we’ll get you down!” Donnie shouted, “Rose, over here.” He told her as he rounded the corner and came face to face with the fire exit staircase. 

When they made it to the ceiling the kid was no longer there, but appeared to have moved to a higher point of the roof. Donnie groaned in annoyance, catching his breath from the running as Rose ran towards the young child as he asked for his mummy again. 

“Okay, hang on, don’t move.” She called out to him as she stopped beside the raised up bit of building, trying to think of a way to get up to the child. 

“Donnie,” She suddenly said, “Hold down this rope so I can climb up, alright?” Rose said as she handed Donnie a rope that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, and Donnie was about to voice his concerns when Rose started to climb on the rope, using it to help her climb up the raised building. But she didn’t get far as the rope was suddenly moved by a great force, the movement accompanied by sirens. 

Donnie was only lifted a few feet off the ground before he fell onto his back as he didn’t have much of a grip on the rope, but Rose stayed on as she was carried off by a barrage balloon that was now in view. Black spots coated Donnie’s vision for a few seconds before he sat up again, his shell aching from the fall. He went to go look back at the child who was now staring down at him, despite the fact his eyes were covered by the gas mask, Donnie had no doubt they were completely soulless with the creeps he was getting off of him. So he quickly stood up, ignoring the rescue mission plan he and Rose had not a few moments ago and went down the stairs, knowing there was no point attempting to get Rose as he didn’t have his jetpack shell on and he now recognised those sirens as ones used in world war 2. 

But as he went down the stairs he almost bumped into a girl, “You were going after him weren’ ya?” She asked, gesturing to the building. Donnie blinked a few times before nodding, the sudden appearance of the woman (and definite concussion) shocking him enough to void him of speech. 

“Don’t,” She said, very firmly, “If you want what’s best for ya, don’t go after him. Alright?” The woman told him, her voice reminding him of a mother or caretaker. 

“Why? Why shouldn’t I go after that kid?” Donnie asked, crossing his arms. 

The woman sighed, “Just don’t, alrigh’.” She paused for a brief moment before continuing, “Do you have anywhere to eat tonight, assuming ya ain’ a street kid?” She asked, her face shifting to one of empathy. 

Donnie gave her a confused look, and without having to ask anything she answered his silent questions, “During the bombings, us runaways from the farms the adults tried to send us do go into houses and take the food whilst the families are inside their shelters.” 

That explanation then gave Donnie an idea. 

“So you don’t get long to eat the food or take some for later?” The woman shook her head. “How about we make a deal then?” 

It was now her turn to cross her arms, “What deal?” 

“What if, conveniently, the shelter of the family you and the kids are going to raid tonight was locked in for another hour or so. And in return, you give me more information on that boy.” 

The woman thought for a few moments before sticking her hand out, “Deal. I’m Nancy.” 

Donnie grinned and shook her hand, “I’m Donnie.” 

Nancy then started to descend down the stairway, Donnie following behind her as she led him to a house just outside the hallway where the TARDIS had landed. “Shh.” Nancy placed a hand in front of him as they heard the sounds of the family complaining and getting into the shelter. They waited for a few moments before the door shut. Nancy then nodded to Donnie who crept up to the shelter. He would use his mystics but he couldn’t with Nancy keeping an eye on him, so he did it the old fashion way, he reached into his shell, which thankfully it was too dark for Nancy to see that so it must of seemed like he reached into a pocket as he pulled out a pair of pliers and started to bend the door hinges, subtly using his ninpo to help strengthen the tool, the purple light hidden by his hands. 

“There, that should buy at least 20 or more minutes, the bent hinges should prevent it from opening.” Donnie told her as he placed the pliers into his pocket after standing up. 

Nancy smiled and told him good job before she walked into the house, Donnie following her. 

As they entered, the warmth from the house hit them, feeling harsh against their cold skin but slowly,(Donnie especially as the top half of him was the only thing that was covered fully, his shorts weren’t doing much against the cold), they both warmed up. Nancy immediately started to rummage through the cupboards, only taking things that were half open, at the back or small things that wouldn’t be noticed. 

“Check if there’s food on the table, will ya?” She asked Donnie as she went cupboard to cupboard, even taking a fruit cake that was cooling down. So Donnie listened to her and entered more into the house, being able to smell turkey and a mix of food, and there was. The meal on the table was almost untouched, the carving knife had only made a small dent in the turkey. 

Donnie told Nancy did and she grinned with joy as she quickly made it to the front door and onto the street, whistling a few times before going back in, “Donnie can you get a couple plates please?” 

“What about the rest of our deal?” He questioned as he watched Nancy take off her coat before starting to carve the turkey. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll give ya information once the kids have been fed, now go and fetch more plates.” 

“Sigh.” Donnie verbally expressed as he went back into the kitchen, opening a few cupboards before finding the cutlery, deciding to grab a handful of forks before reentering the dining room. 

“Whose he Miss?” A boy asked who must have entered the house as Donnie left the room. 

“He’s helped give us a couple more minutes of dinner time even after the bombings end, and he needs somewhere to eat just like you lot so I don’t want to hear any complaints, understand.” Both boys nodded, echoing ‘Yes Miss.’ As Donnie places the plates on the empty spaces on the table

Over the next couple of seconds, more kids entered the house, all looking young and homeless, excited about the food, Donnie deciding to take a seat on one of the chairs at the end of the table. 

“It’s got to be black market. You couldn’t get all this on coupons.” One of the boys said, the other kids nodding and agreeing. 

But the boy’s statement made Nancy sigh, “Ernie. How many times? We’re guests in this house! We will not make comments of that kind. Washing up.” Her command made all the other kids laugh at Ernie, the boy in question groaning in annoyance. 

As Nancy talked to another one of the children, one who apparently hadn’t been on a dinner before, Donnie noticed The Doctor sneak into the room and sit in the seat next to him, none of the kids noticing as they were all watching the conversation between Nancy and the new boy before Nancy went to share out the turkey she had carved. 

“One slice each, and I want to see everyone chewing properly.” 

The plate was passed between child, each saying ‘Thank you Miss’ before it got passed to Donnie and finally The Doctor. 

Only when The Doctor echoed the phrase of all the other kids did they notice them and freak out, “It’s alright.” Nancy quickly said, “Everyone stay where they are. He shouldn’t be here either.” Nancy said, looking at The Doctor like she knew who they were, or least had seen them before.

“They’re with me as well.” Donnie blurted out before putting the turkey slice into his mouth and swallowing. 

“Donnie, chew your food or you’ll be put on washing up duty with Ernie.” Nancy told him off, making the other kids laugh at him and The Doctor to snort, (which of course made Donnie kick them lightly). 

“So, you lot, what’s the story?” The Doctor asked as they scooped some bread sauce onto their’s and Donnie’s plate. 

“How do you mean?” Ernie questioned defensively. 

“You’re homeless, right? Living rough?” They continued to ask. 

“Why do you want to know? You a copper?” Another one of the kids asked. 

The Doctor snorted, “Course I’m not a copper, what’s a copper gonna do? Arrest you for starving?” 

The Doctor continued to talk to the kids, who talked about why they were on the streets, about the fact they ran away from the homes they were evacuated to because of the people there. 

“Why did you follow me?” Nancy asked after The Doctor finished talking about how Nancy’s plan to feed the children was either Marxism or a west end musical. “What d’you want to know?” She demanded. 

“I want to know how a phone that isn’t a phone gets a phone call. And you seem to be the one to know.” 

“I did ya a favour, I told you not to answer it, that’s all I’m gonna give ya.” Nancy told them. 

“But we still have a deal.” Donnie said, causing the attention of the children at the table to be turned to him, “I give you and the street kids more time to feast and you give me the information about that boy, who I assume was the same one who called their not-phone, so any information you give to me will go directly to them as well, so might as well to answer their questions before they attempt to do anything stupid.” Donnie said, gesturing to The Doctor with his knife. 

The Doctor then reached into their pocket and pulled out a mini notebook and gestured for Donnie to hand over a pen, which he did, before they started to draw and talk at the same time, “There’s something that I’m looking for, which I think is connected to this mysterious boy, it would have fallen from the sky about a month ago- but it isn’t a bomb, at least not the usual kind. It wouldn’t of exploded, but instead buried itself in the ground. And it would have looked like this.” The Doctor turned the notebook around, showing a rushed drawing of the object they were chasing in the TARDIS less than an hour ago. 

Donnie noticed a slight shift in Nancy’s expression, but before he could question her about her possible knowledge, or before any of the other kids could answer, a knock was heard at the window. 

“Mummy?” The same boy from earlier, “Are you in there, Mummy?” The knocking on the window continued as the boy spoke, all the children looked at the curtained off window in fear. 

The Doctor though had no fear present on their face as they got up from their seat and opened the curtain, proving Donnie’s suspicions right. 

“Who was the last one in?” Nancy asked, not taking her eyes off the boy. 

Ernie pointed to the boy next to him, but when Nancy asked who was the last one through the front door the newer boy whispered yes. She quickly ran to the front door and started to bolt it. 

“Nancy what is it?” Donnie questioned as he watched the still silhouette of the child. 

“It’s..it’s not a child.” But as she said that, the boy continued to cry for his mummy, just like a child would.   

Nancy then moved back into the dining room and called for everyone to leave. 

“Donnie, do you know what it is?” The Doctor asked as the children ran out of the house. 

“No, me and Rose went to go help him cause we thought he was a regular kid, she ended up being flown away on the rope of a barrage balloon.” Donnie told them. 

“Mummy?” The boy continued to cry, “Please let me in mummy.” Donnie watched as the silhouette of the boy moved and his hand was stuck through the letterbox, a scar on his hand that looked only a few minutes old was visible, and that scar seemed to greatly concern The Doctor. 

But just as they went to get a closer look at the child and his hand, Nancy threw a small vase at the door, making The Doctor flinch back. 

“You mustn’t let him touch ya.” She stressed, “He’ll make you like him. We need to leave.” 

“What do you mean by him? Nancy!” Donnie called after her as she attempted to leave. 

“He’s empty.” She responded as she turned back around. 

As Nancy said that, the phone started to ring. 

“It’s him.” She said, “He can make phones ring.” The Doctor went to pick the phone up but Donnie put a hand over it, getting a bad feeling from everything, but it seemed the child could communicate past just phones as the radio started to play, the child’s cries for his mummy overlapped the music. 

And as The Doctor went into the dinning room to turn off the radio, the toy monkey started to clash its cymbals together, the cries for mummy echoing again and again from it. 

Nancy ran after that, leaving The Doctor and Donnie in the house, with the boy still outside the front door. Crying outside, “Mummy. Please let me in, Mummy, I’m scared of the bombs Mummy.” 

The two walked to the door, The Doctor went to go and talk to the boy but Donnie started to talk before they did, “You mummy isn’t here, because she’s playing hide and seek, and it’s your turn to hide. So how about you go find somewhere to hide then she can find you.” 

The boy stood still for a few moments before the hand retracted from the letterbox and the boy started to walk away. 

“Didn’t think you were good with kids.” The Doctor commented as they watched the silhouette of the empty child get further and further from the house. 

“I’m not, it’s a similar trick Raph did with me and my brothers when we overstayed our welcome in his room when we were younger.” Donnie said. 

There were a few moments before The Doctor opened the door, the child nowhere in sight. “Come on, let's go find, Nancy. Believe she still has to uphold her end of your deal.” 

“How are you going to find her though?” Donnie asked as the two walked onto the street, the faint sound of bombs making The Doctor flinch slightly each time, but Donnie didn’t notice. 

“I don’t have this nose for nothing.” They joked. 

About 20 minutes later they had ended up at abandoned train tracks, Nancy only a few feet in front of them as they followed, storing the food in an old run down train look out post. 

“Nancy.” Donnie said, stepping in front of The Doctor as the girl turned around in shock. 

“How did you follow me?” She demanded. 

“That doesn’t matter, all we want is information on that boy and we’ll leave you be. It was a part of our deal after all.” 

Nancy stayed quiet. 

“There’s something that’s chasing you and the other kids,” The Doctor started, “Something that looks like a boy but isn’t and it all started a month ago.” Nancy turned around with an expression on her face that confirmed The Doctor’s theory. “That’s the thing we’re looking for- that thing that isn’t a bomb but looks like a bomb, that’s when it landed. And you know exactly what I’m talking about.” 

Nancy was only silent for a few seconds before she sighed and spoke, “There was a bomb, a bomb that wasn’t a bomb. It landed the other end of Limehouse Green Station.” 

“Take us there then.” Donnie asked, only earning a dismissive laugh from Nancy. 

“Soldiers are guarding it, barbed wire. You’ll never get through.” 

Donnie scoffed at that sentence, “You haven’t seen me in action.” He said with confidence. 

Nancy raised her eyebrow at him, “You sure you want to know what’s going on in there.” When both nodded, Nancy continued, “Fine, then you need to meet. The doctor.” 

The Doctor looked at Donnie with slight confusion, but the disguised mutant only shrugged before following Nancy. 

The woman led them down the stairs and alongside the abandoned train tracks until she stopped them. 

“There.” Nancy pointed out. 

The site below was hard to make out in the dark, but from what could be seen from the naked eye, Donnie could see that Nancy definitely wasn't lying about the barbed wire as it coated every edge of the fence that surrounded the area, soldiers stationed at every point, loaded guns in hand. 

“Able to get a better look, Donnie?” The Doctor asked, the mutant nodded as he put down his goggles and expanded their view. 

“I’m guessing the not-bomb is underneath that tarpaulin?” Donnie asked as he focused his goggles on it, trying to get a reading from it to try and guess what it was, but all his goggles told him was that it was basically empty, no organic signs of life. 

“See that building behind it? That's the hospital, that’s where the doctor is. You should talk to him first.” Nancy advised. 

“But we could get more information from getting the not-bomb straight away.” Donnie commented, flipping up his goggles and facing Nancy, only to put them back down after talking. 

She shook her head, “Talk to him first and maybe you’ll change your mind on wanting to break in there.” As The Doctor and Donnie continued to look at the scene ahead of them, they heard Nancy footsteps as she started to retreat from the scene. 

“Where are you going?” The Doctor asked, turning around as Donnie kept his eyes on the area. 

“There was a lot of food in that house. I’ve got mouths to feed, and thanks to Donnie, it should be safe to grab some.” 

Nancy was about to turn to walk away again but was stopped by The Doctor. 

“Can I ask you a question?” Donnie didn’t hear her reply so he had to assume she nodded as The Doctor asked their question, “Who did you lose?” 

Donnie turned around this time, taking his goggles off. 

“The way you look after those kids, it’s cos you lost someone, isn’t it? You’re doing all of this to make it up.” The Doctor asked.

Nancy hesitated before she answered, “My little brother. Jamie.” She looked away in an attempt to stop the tears, “One night, I went out looking for food. Same night that thing fell. I told him to not follow me. I told him it was too dangerous but he just…he didn’t like being on his own.” 

The Doctor then started to talk to Nancy, but Donnie didn’t listen, all he could think about was how similar his situation several months ago was (a situation that was only been less than 2 months for his brothers, he’s had more time to heal then they did and they didn’t even know about it) with Karai, how she died from something that was completely unavoidable but then again, it could of been avoided. 

He then suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder, “Come on.” The Doctor said as they started to descend down the stairs. 

Donnie went to follow but stopped to turn around, “Nancy,” He said, stopping the woman in her tracks, “I’m sorry for your loss. I could never imagine how hard it was to lose him, I can’t imagine what I’d do if I lost any of my brothers.” Donnie comforted. 

Nancy looked like she wanted to say something but she kept her mouth shut and just smiled at Donnie, silently telling him she appreciated the comfort before she walked away. 

Albion hospital was quiet, it lacked that smell that Donnie associated with most hospitals. It was quiet and lifeless. 

It wasn’t until they entered one of the first rooms that they saw people, but they appeared as lifeless as the building they slept in. 

So the two leave the room and look in another, and another, another until they come across to the only room so far that has the lights turned on. 

As they walk in, they heard the squeak of rubber against the ground, but when they turn around it’s a gas mask-less man, the only human that appeared to be living in the entire hospital, the bottom of his cane appeared to of made the squeaking noise. 

“You find them everywhere.” The man, presumably the doctor, began, “In every bed, in every ward. Hundreds of them.” 

“Yes, we saw.” 

“If they…if they’re sleeping,” As Donnie didn’t want to assume they were dead, “Why are they still wearing their gas masks?” 

“They’re not. Who are you?” The doctor didn’t allow any time for his first statement to be considered as he questioned them. 

“That’s Donnie and I’m…are you the doctor?” They asked, not giving their own name. 

“Dr Constantine.” He answered, “And you are?” 

“Nancy sent us.” The Doctor said, avoiding the question once more.

“Nancy…that must mean you’ve been asking about the bomb.” Dr Constantine said as he walked over to a desk in the middle of the room. 

When The Doctor answered yes, Dr Constantine continued, “What do you know about it?” 

“Well, it isn’t a bomb. That’s about all we know, that’s why we came to you, to get answers.” Donnie said. 

“I only know about what it’s done.” Constantine replied. 

“These people, “ The Doctor asked, as they looked around at the patients on the beds, “were they caught up in the blast?” 

Constantine shook his head, “None of them were.” 

He then started to cough, going to sit down on the chair but signaling to The Doctor and Donnie that he didn’t need help as he sat down, still coughing like something was stuck in his throat. 

“You’re very sick.” The Doctor pointed out. 

“Dying, I should think. But I just haven’t found the time. Are you a Doctor?” He asked, the question directed at The Doctor. 

“I have my moments.” 

“Have either of you examined them yet?” Constantine asked. 

They answered no. 

“Don’t touch the flesh. Any of them” He commanded. 

The Doctor gestured their head to the other side of the room, signaling for Donnie to examine the right whilst they took the left side of the room. 

As The Doctor took out their sonic screwdriver to examine the gas mask patients, Donnie used his goggles (which to Dr Constantine, looked like he was examining them with sunglasses). 

“Conclusions?” He asked the two of them. 

“Massive head trauma, most to the left side.” The Doctor started. “Partial collapse of the chest cavity to the right and some scarring on the back of the hand and the gas mask seemed to be fused to the flesh but I can’t see any burn marks.” 

Donnie then continued, “Although there is body heat, neither the heart nor blood are pumping, and all organs seem to have stopped apart from the brain.” 

“Examine another one.” 

So The Doctor and Donnie did as they were told. 

The same results. 

“This isn’t possible.” The Doctor said. 

Constantine told them to look at more. 

The exact same results, for each and everyone. 

“They’ve all got the same injuries, all of them a body temperature of 45 degree celsius, only the brain working. This isn’t scientifically possible!” Donnie was getting frustrated. “All the injuries are the same, with how the bones are splinted in the right chest cavity to the scar on the back of their hand.” 

A scar that was on Dr Constantine’s hand.

“How did this happen? How exactly did this happen?” The Doctor demanded. 

“When that bomb dropped, there was only one victim. His injuries were truly dreadful; we thought of him dead, at first. But by the following morning every nurse and doctor who had treated him- who had touched him had those exact same injuries. By the morning after that, every patient on the same ward- the exact same injuries. Within a week, the entire hospital. Physical injuries…as plague. Can you,” He looked over at Donnie, “Or your science explain that?”

Neither could. 

“What would you say was the cause of death?” He asked them. Donnie answered his question. 

“Nothing, they’re not dead. Their brains are active, but none of their other organs are.” 

Constantine nodded, “Correct.” He then took his cane and hit the bucket next to him, causing all the patients to sit up suddenly, The Doctor immediately putting a hand in front of Donnie to shield him. 

“It’s alright, they’re harmless.” Constantine said, relaxing The Doctor but their hand still hovering to shield Donnie, “They just sort of sit there. No heartbeat, no life signs of any kind. They just…don’t die.” 

“And they’ve just been left here?” The Doctor demanded, “Nobody’s doing anything?” 

“I try to make them comfortable, what else is there?” Constantine said as the patients laid back down. 

“Just you? You’re the only one here?” Donnie asked. 

“Young man, before this war I was a father and a grandfather. Now I am neither. But I am still a doctor.” 

The Doctor nodded, “Yeah, I know that feeling.” 

“I suspect their plan is to blow up the hospital and blame it on a German bomb.” Constantine muttered. “But it’s too late, there have already been isolated cases-” Constantine was cut off with a horrendous cough, “Isolated cases-” Another cough, “Breaking out all over-” Cough,” London.” The more he talked, the more it sounded like something was being forced up his throat. 

The Doctor tried to step forward but Constantine yelled for them to stay back, “Listen to me,” He said as he struggled to talk, “Top floor, room 802. That’s where they took the first victim- the one from the crash site. And you must find Nancy again.” Constantine forced out. “It was her brother. She knows more than she is saying. She won’t tell me, but she m-” 

Constantine started to wince and dry heave, like he was trying to cough, or talk, but something was blocking his airways. 

“Mu-mmy.” Was the only words that he could say as he continued to shake in pain and dry heave. 

“Are…y-ou my mummmmmmy?” The same question as the boy. 

No more words were able to leave Dr Constantine as, from out of his mouth the valve of a gas mask started to force its way out of his throat and spread to the rest of his face like an infection. His eyes bulged and became glass as the rest of his face and features became plastic. 

Dr Constatine was no longer there, as an empty gas mask creature sat where the doctor once was. 

Donnie didn’t even have time to figure out if he was going to throw up or pass out from the horror he just witnessed as the faint voices of someone calling out from the hallway distracted the pair. 

The Doctor placed a hand on Donnie’s shoulder and directed him out of the room, the mutant swallowing back the vomit. 

Walking towards them, was Rose and a human male Donnie had never seen before. 

“Good evening, hope we’re not interrupting anything. Jack Harkness, I’ve been hearing a lot about you two on the way over.” The man said as he shook The Doctor’s hand.

“He knows, I had to tell him about us being time agents.” Rose said, her voice expressing the fact that what she was saying about the “time agents” thing was an obvious lie that the pair had to follow along with. 

“And it’s a real pleasure to meet you, Mr Spock, and you too, Donnie.” Jack said as he patted The Doctor on the back, Donnie held in a laugh that thankfully wasn’t heard by Jack. 

“Mr Spock?” The Doctor questioned Rose as Jack walked away. 

Rose shrugged, “What was I supposed to say, you don’t have a name. Don’t you ever get tired of ‘Doctor’ ‘Doctor who?’.”

“Nine centuries in and I’m coping. And where have you been, Donnie told me you were hanging off a barrage balloon.” 

“Yeah, thanks for trying to save me by the way, Donnie,” Rose told him sarcastically, “Anyways, listen, what’s a Chula warship?” 

“Chula?” The Doctor questioned. 

But their question wasn’t answered as when they reentered the room, the trio saw Jack scanning all the patients with his own device, his own confusion mirroring The Doctor’s and Donnie’s not even ten minutes prior. 

“What kind of Chula ship landed here?” The Doctor asked, pulling Jack from his confusion. 

“He said it was a warship.” Rose answered, “He stole it, parked it somewhere, somewhere a bomb’s gonna fall on it. Unless we make him an offer.” 

“What kind of a warship?” The Doctor asked, but Jack couldn’t give them a proper answer as he didn’t know and that it didn’t connect to what was happening here.

“All of this started at the bomb site you caused, so tell us what kind of warship it was.” Donnie demanded from the man. 

“An Ambulance.” Jack responded, walking towards the trio, “Look, this is what you were chasing through the time vortex,” Jack’s wristband then showed a hologram of the capsule the TARDIS had chased, “It’s space junk. I wanted you to believe it was valuable. It’s empty, it’s just a shell- I made sure of it!” Jack told them, a defensive bite to his voice. “I threw it at you, saw your time-travel vehicle- love the retro look by the way, threw you the bait so I could sell it to you, then destroy it before you found out it was junk.” 

“You said it was a warship.” 

“Wars have ambulances,” Donnie responded to Rose’s statement. 

Jack exhaled heavily before walking behind the group, “It’s a con, I’m conning you. That’s what I am, I’m a con man! I thought you were time agents, but you aren't, are you?” 

Rose shook her head, “Nope, just a couple more freelancers.” 

Jack scoffed, “Should have known, they way you guys were blending in with the local colour, I mean flag girl was bad enough, but you, U-boat captain, and that one over there with the cloaking broach.” Jack gestured to each of them and to Donnie’s cloaking broach necklace which must have escaped the underneath of his hoodie at some point during the night as it was resting atop his hoodie. 

“Anyways,” Jack continued, “Whatever is happening here has nothing to do with the ship?” 

“But what is happening here?” Rose questioned as she looked at all the patients. 

“Human DNA is being rewritten, by an idiot.” The Doctor answered. “Some kind of virus is converting human beings into these things, not fully dead but not alive. But why?” 

All of a sudden the patients sat up, all crying for their mummy. 

“What’s happening?” Donnie asked as the patients started to get out of the bed and slowly stagger over to the group. All of them still crying for their mummy. 

“Don’t let them touch you!” The Doctor commanded as they once again placed an arm in front of Donnie as the group backed themselves against the wall. 

“What happens if they touch us?” Rose questioned as her back hit the wall, giving her nowhere else to go. 

“You’re looking at it.” Donnie replied, not thinking straight to be able to summon either his ninpo or his mystics to try and defend his friends or Jack. 

All the patients continued to cry out for their mummy, getting closer and closer. 

There appeared to be no way out, it seemed their fate was sealed to become like the patients, mindless and empty.