| Ocean Stars | Sequel to Deeper | COMPLETE |

Chapter 6

Istuli Facility, Past-Rose

They arrived back in the medical room and she walked towards the surgery table, but to her surprise, she wasn't led there. Instead, they took her to another section. She looked at the machine in front of her. It was a chair, where she would get strapped on to, and there hovered a teardrop-shaped helmed above her head.

„What...what is this?" she asked, struggling in her seat. „What are you gonna do to me?"

„Shut it, child." Istuli fixed the helmet on her head. Then it took a step back, looking at a chart. „Experiment number 2.3.3.5. Commence."

The helmet puffed air, then water started filling it. At that, Rose screamed. They were going to drown her. The Istuli were going to drown her.

„Anything but this! Please!" she cried, water already above her chin. „Please!" she kicked in her chair. „I beg of y-"

But her begging was now muffled. Water went down her breathing pipes and she choked. Was this the end? Was this how she was going to die?

The Time Lord watched in agony the image of Rose suffocating. He touched the TARDIS key around his neck, nobody could see them and yet, he felt like he wanted to be seen. At that moment, all he wanted to do is take the key off and run. Run to save her. Because she was drowning. They were killing her.

„Don't." Rose grabbed his hand away from the key as if she knew what he was thinking. „Paradox. Look at me. Hey, look at me." she slowly cupped his face, turning him towards her. The look in his eyes was dark and she could see he was terrified. „I am here. I'm alive. If you do anything we might end up dead. I'm here, okay?"

„Oh, Rose." he whispered, leaning into her hand. „Rose."

„I'm here." she smiled sadly.

„I'm going to kill them." the Doctor called from her left.

„At three?" the Time Lord got ready, steadying his pose, at which the Doctor nodded.

„No. Stop. No." Rose stopped them, grabbing their hands. „Please don't. Either of you. I couldn't live a day knowing you could die. I love you. Please don't."

There was a rattle and they could see past Rose struggle in the chair. She was bound to it tightly with no form of escape. And they could hear her scream underwater, fighting for air.

The Doctor strengthened his grip around Rose's hand. He trembled, rage, fright, and sadness having a battle within his mind. No wonder she had no intention of talking about all this before. This was...sickening. And they brought her back here, to relive these memories. She told them not to, that all was done. It all made sense, the TARDIS not wanting to move, the TARDIS resisting it all. The time machine must've known the moment she passed through this dimension. She was just trying to protect them from all the heartache. Not only theirs but Rose's too.

„It's nearly over." she said. „Just watch. Two minutes from now. It will be over."

A sob was trying to escape, but she stood grounded, brave, strong.

The machinery past-Rose was hooked up to made a sound, freeing her from the helmet. The water then escaped, making its way over her clothes and body. She gasped for air, her head falling forwards. The Istuli popped off the shackles, grabbing her by the arms and she tried to stand up her feet, but her legs gave in, making her plop onto the floor.

The Time Lord took a step forward in response as if wanting to catch her. Is this what he had done to her? It was all his fault, wasn't it? If only he hadn't left her here alone.