| Ocean Stars | Sequel to Deeper | COMPLETE |

Chapter 7

Rose and the Time Lord were back in the TARDIS, scanning for alien life, trying to find the Doctor. Wandering around the halls of the Istuli habitat would have been proven to be too dangerous, so this was their only logical choice. The Time Lord did, however, need to drag Rose out of there before she went on a rampage with her gun.

They were staring at the screen in the console room, and she sighed. How do you look for an alien, when that alien is surrounded by aliens?

„What if you link up to the key around his neck? Like, I dunno, Bluetooth?" she asked.

„Haven't installed that function yet."

„Why not?"

„Well, I didn't think people would go missing like that, Rose."

Dead ends. Always dead ends. No matter how much they tried, no matter how long the Time Lord typed. Dead ends.

Rose sat on the jump seat. That idiot. Why would he do such a thing? And here she was, thinking they were a team.

„One day I'll meet somebody that doesn't just wander off." the Time Lord sat next to her, and she hit him with her elbow.

„That's just a human emotion, Doctor. You'll learn." she said before suddenly standing. „Human."

The Time Lord tilted his head slightly.

„Human." she repeated, a smile on his face. „Oh, come on, use your gigantic brain! He is part human!"

His eyebrows shot up. Brilliant. Just brilliant, this woman. Of course!

Jumping back to the console, he searched for human beings. And there it was. First, you had Rose, in the TARDIS. Then you had the morgue, with over 20 signals, poor souls. And then, just at the end of the map, you had another three. Which must've been past-Rose, Brad, and the Doctor. No, but hold on, how come he wasn't moving? He was just standing still.

„He was making his way to you." he explained.

„Of course he was. He is gonna create a whole Paradox, isn't he?"

„No." the Time Lord shook his head. „He is not moving. He had about another 5 minutes to reach you, but he stopped."

„Maybe he changed his mind."

„That's what I was hoping, but... he seems to be unconscious. We need to get-"

But Rose had already exited the TARDIS. Gun to her chest, she moved forwards. Why why why? Why would he do such a thing? Did he think that by saving her he could change the outcome? What's bad had already passed, so why? Why try and change the past? It was all good, wasn't it?

Was he trying to prove something? And if yes, what?

The Time Lord had barely managed to catch up to her, and as he did so, he grabbed her hand, pulling her away from turning the corner. He put one finger to his lips, silencing her. At that moment, two Istuli soldiers had passed.

Thank God for the keys around their necks, otherwise, they would've been dead meat.

„How do these things work anyway?" Rose whispered.

„It's camouflage. People can see you in the corner of their eye, but choose to ignore you. That's why we still need to be careful."

They made their way over to the terminal, circling around and about every time threat was perceived, then down the hall to where past-Rose was held hostage. Nearing the cells, Rose could hear herself talk.

„No. No. It's them. They did this. It wasn't your fault, Brad. I promise you we will get out. For your sister, yeah?" past-Rose said.

„We will never get out, Rose. We're stuck here. No one to save us."