Child of Time: A Doctor Who Fanfiction

His Oldest Companion: Part Two

        Chelsea wasn't sure how, but she knew exactly what buttons to press on the teleport to return to Satellite 5. While the others' backs were turned, distracted by Ainsley's ominous message, she set the coordinates and stood with her thumb hovering above the 'SET' button. 

        "Don't try to follow me, Doctor," she said firmly, and they turned again, remembering that she was there. "I can stop him, I can fly it out of range of London--it has a navigation system, I designed it that way for optimal viewing capabilities--but I have to do it manually, and I have to do it alone." 

        "The TARDIS--" the Doctor began. 

        "You're not bringing the TARDIS up there." Chelsea cut him off. "He'll have the shields up against you, and if you try to break through, he'll know we're coming." 

        "And how do you plan on doing this?" said Martha.  

        "It doesn't matter." she looked down. "But I'm going to do it now, while I'm still me, and when I've got it where it won't be of danger, I'll open the fob-watch." 

        "You can't--" 

        "This is my decision, Doctor," said Chelsea. "The life support systems on the Satellite are failing, and the teleport is on it's last legs. We were lucky we made it to the TARDIS in the first place. Unfortunately, the Cybermen can last a lot longer than me without oxygen, perhaps indefinitely, so I'm going to need a Time Lord--not a human--to get out of there." 

        "Just stop," said Martha, holding up her hand. "You don't have to do this." 

        "What would you have me do?" Chelsea said coldly. "Let it destroy London? Don't be dramatic." 

        She made eye contact with the Doctor. "This is goodbye," she said. Then, "Sorry. For what I might do. I can't help it." Her eyes gleamed suddenly. "I don't really want to help it, actually."  

        With that, she pressed the button, flickered, and disappeared. 

        "What's she going on about?" Mickey shook his head, and the scientists and personel all sped to the window to watch as a burning shell appeared, high in the sky. 

        Martha looked up at the distant crashing satellite, and then at the Doctor. 

        "We have to help her," said Martha. "I don't care who she is. Or stop her. Which do we do? Help her, or stop her?" 

        The Doctor just stared, his eyes looking old and a little sad. 

        "Doctor?" 

        "There's nothing we can do." he said. "She's right. Ainsley's bound to have the shields against the TARDIS back on line." 

        "Who is she, then?" Mickey blinked, confused.  

        The Doctor closed his eyes. "An old enemy." Then his eyes snapped open. "Oh, I'm brilliant."   

        Chelsea appeared in control room of the Satellite, where lights were blinking, alarms blaring, and systems switching between on and offline. 

        Ainsley was sitting at main control panel, clutching the metal as artificial gravity began to fail. 

        Chelsea still had the gun in her hand. 

        "Hello again," said Ainsley, and she could hear him smiling grimly even though he didn't turn when she arrived. 

        "I know you have it." she said mildly, her finger hugging the trigger. He spun slowly around in the chair and looked at the gun and then at her with something like surprise, which, for some reason, made her happy.