Sparrow Saga: Book 1 - Time Lady Sparrow

Chapter 14: The End and the Beginning

Sparrow awoke with a groggy sense of awareness, her body adjusting to the unfamiliar surroundings of the reality game show, The Weakest Link. She already knew where she was, her memories intact, and it was only because of the Doctor's meticulous control that she wasn't trapped in a fog of amnesia like Rose or Jack might have been. As her vision cleared, she saw the glowing red eyes of Anne Droid looming over the contestants.

"Welcome, players, to The Weakest Link. Prepare for elimination."

Sparrow inwardly sighed. Alright, let's get this over with.

While Rose found herself disoriented and confused in the original timeline, Sparrow was fully aware of the imminent danger. She had no intention of letting Rose, or anyone else for that matter, end up teleported to the Dalek fleet. Sparrow had her own plans. I'll make sure of that, she thought, her mind working a mile a minute as she calculated how best to intervene without Rose realizing what was happening.

Meanwhile, the Doctor was frantically trying to figure out where he was. Inside the Big Brother house, his sharp intellect allowed him to quickly break free from the programmed amnesia and uncover that he was on Satellite 5. His hearts ached as his mind raced. His team was separated, but he knew he had to find them fast. Yet as he moved, thoughts of Sparrow clouded his judgment. He hadn't expected her fury to linger so long. Her distance from him gnawed at him, and now more than ever, he wished to prove his worth to her.

Sparrow... please forgive me, he thought. I'll make it right.

Jack, inside his own danger-filled game show, had just blasted the robotic stylists Trine-e and Zu-Zana. As usual, he handled things with his usual bravado, but his thoughts often drifted to Sparrow. There was something about her that drew him in—not just her strength or her intelligence, but the aura of determination that surrounded her. He felt loyal, fiercely protective even, but at the same time, he knew she was far more capable than anyone could imagine.

Sparrow's handling herself, I'm sure of it, Jack mused with a grin. But he couldn't help but hope he'd see her again soon.

Back in the game, Sparrow's eyes caught Rose's gaze. Rose looked rattled, while Sparrow maintained a calm composure. She played her part well, answering questions with precision, making sure Rose stayed in the game long enough for her plan to succeed.

When they reached the final round, Sparrow deliberately fumbled a question, letting Rose win. The mechanical voice of Anne Droid rang out, "You are the weakest link. Goodbye."

As the blue energy surrounded her, Sparrow locked eyes with Rose. There was a flicker of acknowledgment. Then, Sparrow disappeared—teleported to the heart of the Dalek fleet.

In the control room, the Doctor had just discovered the truth—that the eliminated contestants weren't being disintegrated but teleported. His hearts dropped as he realized the scope of the threat they faced. Daleks. Hundreds of them.

"Sparrow," he whispered in dread, panic setting in.

Jack arrived beside him, equally alarmed by the discovery. The Doctor turned to him, his voice frantic. "We need to get to her. We need to stop the Daleks!"

As they made their way toward the Dalek fleet, Lynda looked up at the Doctor with hopeful eyes. Her admiration for him was obvious, and Sparrow's absence filled her with an urge to fill that gap. But the Doctor barely noticed, his mind solely focused on finding Sparrow. He couldn't lose her, not after everything they'd been through. Lynda's words of encouragement fell on deaf ears as the Doctor raced ahead, Jack on his heels.

Sparrow materialized aboard the Dalek ship, standing amidst a sea of Dalek machinery. Hundreds of metallic voices echoed the infamous cry, "Exterminate!"