| Ocean Stars | Sequel to Deeper | COMPLETE |

Chapter 9

Rose looked down at her hands as she walked the cold corridors of the Istuli facility. When they exited the cell compartment of the building, they turned right, through a passage that allowed them to traverse over to the medical bay where she had found the Doctor a couple of hours before. Instead of going in, however, the Istuli led her to a room just across the morgue.

„Sit." it commanded.

The room was fairly small, cooped with different types of machinery that she deducted as dangerous. It was a torture chamber.

Letting out a sob, she glanced at the creature, who was now fidgeting with a couple of utensils. Rose sat on a chair, resting her arms on the metal table in front of her. The Istuli smiled widely and its eyes shone at the sight of a particular tool.

„This is what we're going to do." it sat down at the other end. „You're going to tell me what I need to know, and I'll allow you to live."

„Go to hell." Rose scoffed. The Istuli shot her a look before gripping on the weapon tightly and piercing the table just above her fingers, barely missing them.

„Now. This...friend of yours. The Doctor. He is a Lord of Time, yes?"

„What's it to you?"

„Well, a Lord of Time cannot be one without a machine of Time, can he? You'll tell me where this machine is, and I'll let you go."

„Why would I ever do that?" she chuckled, looking the Istuli up and down. Then her eyes glared at its face. „You think I'm scared of you." she leaned back in her seat. „But I'm not. Not anymore. Your simple existence unphases me. I've seen things you wouldn't imagine. Things you don't even know exist, Istuli. And you? You're just a tiny fragment of a child's nightmare. That's all you are. So go on, kill me." she raised a brow, tilting her head to the right. „Kill me, I said."

„What makes you think I won't? You pesky little parasite." its grin grew even wider as it struck again. This time, it didn't miss. The blade went through her hand, pinning it down to the table.

Rose muffled a scream, her eyes growing red and teary. She gasped, sweat making its way up her brow. „You think you're so much better than us. But you're nothing. You hear me? Nothing!" she saw her blood now spilling over the surface. „It's hilarious. You call us parasites, then use us for your growing farm. All because you're unable to mate. Ha!" she let out a laugh. „You want me to talk? Then listen to this. I fought the Emperor of an entire Dalek fleet, took the time vortex into my mind, and wiped his existence. And I could hear him scream for mercy, begging for his life." she pressed her other hand over the wound. „But you know what made him better than you?" Rose screamed in pain as she pulled her hand up the blade. She then yanked it from the table, throwing it between the Istuli's eyes. The creature fell to the ground, a loud thud as it did so. „He was never as stupid to leave his prisoners with a weapon."

Ripping off a chunk of her shirt, she wrapped it around her wound before moving to the Istuli's corpse to check its pockets. Nothing much of importance besides an ID, a couple of keys, and a pen. After tucking all of these in her pockets, she dragged the body into a corner, hiding it away. She slowly opened the door and closed her eyes in regret once it creaked. To her luck though, no Istuli were in sight.

Rose made her way to the TARDIS, but would soon realise she had no key on her. She was just about to leave when a voice called from behind.

My wolf.

The time machine hummed, opening its doors.

„You've no idea how much I missed you." Rose said as she ran to the controls.

Hurt?

„I'll be okay. We still have two idiots down there that need to be saved though." she looked over at the display. They were still alive, thank God.

Prisoners?

„Indeed they are. If I could only figure a way to get there unnoticed."

Help.

The Doctor banged on the glass frustrated. „They're gonna kill her!" he punched it again with force.

The Time Lord eyed the gun outside his cell, pondering. Then he would move to the bed, pulling off the mattress to reveal the frame. As he knelt, he tugged at the metal, trying to disassemble it. He kicked it, thrown it, smashed it. But the bars were too sturdy. He would then grab the whole frame to charge it at the glass.

The Doctor seeing this would do the same. Tossing the object over and over again. After his sixth throw, the frame would break into multiple pieces of metal bars.

It was a whole fiesta, with the two men banging against the doors of the enclosure, and they gasped for air. It was seemingly impossible.

They were just about to give up when the Time Lord jumped to a sound. „Shh." he said to the other, a finger on his lips.

The TARDIS wheezed, materialising right before their eyes. Shocked, the Doctor approached the wall, pressing his palm against it. Looking frantically at the door, he felt his heart tremble, and as it opened, he smiled.

Rose exited leisurely. „Did you miss me?"

It didn't take long for another alarm to go off, and she leaped forwards, taking the keys out of her pocket to open the cells. The Doctors would fall to her embrace, and she would have to drag them to the TARDIS, telling them she's fine.

„What did they do to you?" the Time Lord pushed her to the jump seat, now inspecting her hand.

„I'm okay." she stood back up and walked to the console. „We need to get Brad."

„We can't. It's too dangerous out there, especially now they've realised we escaped. I'm sorr-"

„No!" she cut him off, pulling down a lever and pressing a button. The TARDIS made a noise before dematerialising. „I'm not leaving him behind. Besides, we need to destroy this facility." she launched over to the NavCom Databanks and the helmic regulators. After activating them, she would grab onto the handbrake.

„Rose?" the Doctor called. „How are you-"

„Flying the TARDIS?" the Time Lord continued.

They both stood there, watching in complete bewilderment as the woman typed away on the computer. She met their gaze, a smile forming in the corners of her mouth.

„I had a little bit of help." she looked up.

Help.

„Anyway, we get Brad, we destroy the facility. Is that a plan?" her face turned back to a serious expression.

The Time Lord walked up to her, stopping her from what she was doing. „I'm taking you home first." he said as he tried to change the coordinates, resulting in the TARDIS zapping his fingers off.

Choice. the time machine hummed.

„Rose, there is only one way we can destroy this place, and I can't promise you we'll get out." the Time Lord caught her hands, turning her to face him. „Do you understand that? It could kill you."

„And I'd rather try knowing that there's a chance I won't. Would you rather be on your own?" she asked, staring him deep into the eyes. After a moment of thought, the Time Lord freed her.

„No." he said, pulling away. „But if we're doing this, we need to be smart. The Istuli said you blew up their terminal, but that wasn't enough. Which means they have a protective shield. So we need to get to the core, deactivate it."

„Already on it." the Doctor typed on the keyboard. A moment later, he disconnected a USB from the computer. „A virus. Plug this in and the whole place goes boom."

„Great. You two do that and I'll be on Brad duty. I'll meet you back here afterwards." Rose explained.

„Take this." the Doctor handed her the sonic screwdriver he found laying on a pile of documents in the cell room. „You might need it."

„I'll fly the TARDIS to you." the Time Lord said, watching her already at the door. „And Rose? Be careful."

„I will." she opened the door, but before exiting she would look back. „Doctor?"

„Yes?" both of them answered.

Rose smiled. „I love you."

Both of you, she thought, then left.