Second Chances (A Doctor Who Fanfiction)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10:

*Quinn’s POV*

I abandoned the computer just as the Cybermen broke in. But just as I turned around, all of the Cybermen collapsed. Every single one of them, unmoving. “Impressed?” I jumped as the Doctor spoke, right behind me. I hadn’t heard him walk over to me. He was standing with his hands behind his back, smiling, looking very pleased with himself.

“Cutting it a bit close, don’t you think?” I couldn’t help but laugh, and neither could he. We stood there, amongst dead Cybermen after almost dying, just laughing. “So you deactivated the Cybermen. Permanently, I assume?” He nodded. “All we have to do now is use the teleport that brought us here and we’ll be back at the TARDIS before you can say ‘geronimo.’”

“What about the ship? It’ll just float here?” I asked. “Oh don’t worry about it. Big empty spaceship orbiting the Earth, I’m sure Torchwood will find it. They handle these things.” he said. “Torchwood?” “Long story.”

As we made our way through the ship, we had to step over all the bodies of Cybermen. The further we got, the darker the Doctor’s expression became. I stopped walking and so did he. “Doctor, what’s the matter, we won didn’t we?” I could tell it wasn’t something he wanted to discuss but I didn’t care.

“All these Cybermen,” he said, “were people once. Actual, living people with lives, with families… and we murdered them. With the suits shut down, the brains inside will just die. I know there was nothing else we could do, I know there was no hope for them, that all their humanity was long gone. But that doesn’t make it right.”

He tried to turn and continue walking but I grabbed his arm to stop him. “I honestly don’t think there was a ‘right’ choice, Doctor. You can’t blame yourself.” I had been trying to be helpful but now he only seemed more upset, “But that's just it! I can blame myself! I’m the only one to blame every time!’ He was almost yelling at this point, “Every time I try to save a planet or a person and just end up killing another! I’m trading one life for another. I'm always the one left to make the decision of whose intentions are better. Who deserves to live and who deserves to die. While many call me the Doctor, there are other names for me, ‘The Predator,’ ‘The Oncoming Storm’... I have these names for a reason. I am the one choosing life or death for others. That’s too much power for one man…”

Without waiting for a response, he turned his back to me and kept walking. For a moment, I had to just stand there and let those words sink in. I followed him again but didn’t press the subject. It was completely quiet until we reached the teleport.

The Doctor had gotten there just before me and was fiddling with the control panel. “I’ve adjusted the coordinates so we should wind up right by the TARDIS. Just stand over there.” I didn’t reply, just did what he said. With the press of a few buttons, I found myself standing outside, next to the TARDIS. The air was cool and breezy. It was dark out and the light from the familiar blue box was the only light.

A couple seconds later, the Doctor appeared next to me. The wind messed up his hair and made it look floppier than it already was. “Well, home sweet home I suppose.” he said. I followed him inside and welcomed the familiar space. The orange glow of the lights and the ever-present hum of the TARDIS. I’d only been in here once but it just felt… right.

It reminded me of home.

“I think we need to talk.” said The Doctor. I knew this was coming. I figured he would wait until we got back, and I was right. “So… you’re a Time Lord again.” He had his arms crossed and was standing across from me, on the other side of the console, leaning on the railing.