Until We Burn | Dr Who

Chapter Forty-Eight: The Last Secret

I lie on the cold floor of a dark and unfamiliar hall. It takes less time to re-orientate myself than the others, likely due to years of travelling with a vortex manipulator. I check the Doctor for any signs of time travel sickness and help him up to his feet, keeping an arm around his waist for support. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just got turned inside-out. Rough teleport," he groans. In no time, his anger returns, and he focuses back on Hame. "But you can go straight back down and teleport people out, starting with Martha."

"I only had the power for one trip."

"Then get some more! Where are we?"

There is nothing much visible beyond the shadows. A few black pillars jut out into the nothingness above us and books lay strewn across the floor. The whole place smells of dust and mould. "High above, in the Overcity."

Something is very, very wrong.

"Good. 'Cause you can tell the Senate of New New York I'd like a word. They've got thousands of people trapped on the Motorway! Millions!"

She gestures to our surroundings, exasperation taking over. "But you're inside the Senate right now. May the Goddess Santori bless them."

With the push of a button on her bracelet, bars of light flicker on. Rows of stone benches rise before us. Each occupant is perfectly still and silent — just skeletons.

"Oh my Gods."

"They died. The city died."

Stunned into quietness, he slowly approaches. "How long's it been like this?"

She bows her head in mourning. "Twenty-four years."

He crouches beside a fallen body. It's almost as if they had been running, or just going about their day, when they were struck down. I wordlessly join him. My hand rests on his back ans traces its length, soothing his despair. "All of them?" he whispers. "Everyone? What happened?"

"A new chemical, a new mood. They called it Bliss." Seeing the cause, I pluck up the clear, moon-embossed patch from the floor. It crumples in my fist and falls in fragments. "Everyone tried it. They couldn't stop. A virus mutated inside the compound and became airborne. Everything perished, even the virus in the end. It killed the world in seven minutes flat. There was just enough time to close down the walkways and the flyovers, sealing off the Undercity. Those people on the Motorway aren't lost. They were saved."

"So the whole thing down there is running on automatic?"

She grimaces. "There's not enough power to get them out. We did all we could to stop the system from choking."

Coming out of the shock, I stand again. "'We'?" There's more of you?"

Her eyes fill with admiration and she breathes, "He protected me. And he has waited for you, these long years."

"Inara. Doctor," a voice calls from deep in my mind.

We run around the corner, pausing at the sight of the giant head watching us from inside his tank. Ropes of flesh float in suspension around him, connecting him to the various tubes that keep him alive. He has aged since the last time we saw him, his blue eyes far more unfocused and bloodshot.

"The Face of Boe!"

His mouth rises into the faintest hint of a smile. Something about it is unnervingly familiar but I just can't put my finger on it. One thing I do know is that our presence is a great relief to him. "I knew you'd come," he hums tranquilly.

Kneeling before the misty tank, we gaze up at him in wonder. Hame lingers in the shadows. "Back in the old days," she says, "I was made his nurse as penance for my sins."