Eyes of Time: The Final Line ✓

Chapter 31: Human Nature

[TARDIS]

The Console sparks and smokes as Martha rushes in through the doors followed by the two Time Lords.

"Get down!" the Alchemist cries..

The Time Lady throws herself over Martha to protect her from a blast of green energy as the Doctor narrowly dodges it and throws the door shut. She helps Martha back up, checking her over.

"Did they see you?" the Doctor asks their companion urgently.

"I don't know!" she replies.

"But did they see you?"

"I don't know. I was too busy running."

The Alchemist grabs her shoulders, "Martha, this is important. Did they see your face?"

"No," she says, thinking, "They couldn't have."

The couple dash to the console, prepping it for flight into the Vortex.

"Off we go!" the Doctor remarks as their companion grabs onto the edge of the console for the flight.

Warnings go off and Old High Gallifreyan flashes across the screen, the Alchemist runs to check it.

"Doctor," the Time Lady calls wide-eyed, "They're following us!"

She sprints back over and helps adjust the flight's course, jumping time tracks, passing through the 1930s, 1800s, every Tuesday, anything to get them off their tail.

"How can they do that?" Martha asks, shaking her head, "You've got a time machine!"

"Stolen technology," the Alchemist grimaces, "They've got a Time Agent's vortex manipulator."

The Doctor continues, "They can follow us wherever we go, right across the universe. They're never going to stop."

He steps back and messes up his hair in his frustration and nerves, "Unless... We'll have to do it..." he turns to their companion, "Martha, you trust us, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"Doctor, I can't!" the Time Lady shouts, catching on.

"We have to, Alchemist!" he calls back before turning to the young woman again, "Martha, it all depends on you."

"What does? What am I supposed to do?" she shakes her head, frowning.

The Doctor pulls out an ornate silver pocket watch from the console and holds it out to her.

"Take this watch, 'cause my life depends on it. This watch, Martha... the watch is..."

[John's room]

He blinks awake, finding himself lying on a bed in a Victorian-styled wood-paneled room. A clock is ticking and he can hear the chattering of young voices in the corridor outside. He gets up, straightening his blue and white striped pajamas when there is a knock on the door.

"Come in," he calls out.

Martha enters, carrying a breakfast tray and wearing a traditional Edwardian black and white starched maid's uniform. Her eyes widen when she sees he's still in his nightclothes and she immediately turns away.

"Pardon me, Mister Smith. You're not dressed yet. I can come back later."

"No!" he calls, getting up and putting his dressing gown on, "It's alright, it's alright. Put it down."

Martha does so with a lowered gaze, placing the tray on the table in the room.

John looks at her, thoughtful, "I was er... Sorry, sorry," he shakes his head, "Sometimes I have these extraordinary dreams about Ally and myself. I do so miss her."