Chapter Ninety-Four: Stolen Earth

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The door slams shut behind us. We aren't met with the destruction we expect. All we see is a quiet neighbourhood, brick houses lined in neat and undamaged rows.

"It's fine," the Doctor says, looking around in search of any sign of trouble. "Everything's fine. Nothing's wrong. All fine." His gaze lands on a milk delivery van that has stopped on the other side of the road. Raising his voice, he calls for the driver's attention, "'Scuse me! What day is it?"

"Saturday," the man replies, shaking his head and muttering under his breath as he returns to his job.

"Saturday. Good. Good, I like Saturdays."

I rub my arms and suppress a shiver, shifting from foot to foot in my heels. I am still wearing the dress from the wedding, its thin black material, knee-length skirt and absence of sleeves doing nothing to fend off the chill morning breeze. "Are you sure we're meant to be here? Maybe we should check tomorrow."

"No, it's definitely today. The date-ometer was certain about that."

The world is still quiet around us, only the clinking of milk bottles disturbing the peace. Donna emerges from her state of shock enough to say, "So, I just met Rose Tyler?"

"Yeah."

"But she's locked away in a parallel world."

He nods grimly. "Exactly. If she can cross from her parallel world to your parallel world, that means the walls of the universe are breaking down. Which puts everything in danger. Everything. But how?"

We have no answers. He runs back into the Tardis and we can do nothing but follow. Barely sparing me a glance in his single-minded focus, he tosses his trench coat to me. I smile and put it on, heading around to peer at the screen over his shoulder. Whatever it says has him worried.

"Thing is," Donna anxiously begins. "No matter what's happening — and I'm sure it's bad, I get that — but... Rose is coming back. Isn't that good?"

Our eyes meet. The Doctor breaks into a reluctant but overwhelming smile. "Yeah."

The ship jolts. I lose my balance, letting out a yelp of surprise as I grab for something to stop my fall. "What the hell was that?" Donna squeaks.

"It came from outside."

Without hesitation, I lead the chase back outside. The doors open. Before I can even react, the Doctor catches me and pulls me back. The street is gone. Nothing but darkness and space debris remains. The only thing stopping me from falling into the abyss below is the arm he keeps around my middle. "Di Immortales!"

"But we're in space," Donna gasps. "How did that happen? What did you do?"

He doesn't need to let go of me, as we both sprint back to the console. The screen remains unchanged. "We haven't moved, we're fixed."

I frown and peer closer. "That makes no sense. That would mean..."

He looks to me in alarm. "It can't have."

"What else can explain that?"

"No!" Back to the doors we run. He leans right out of the doors and I find myself repaying the favour, clutching tightly onto his arm in case he loses his balance. "The Tardis is still in the same place, but the Earth has gone. The entire planet... it's gone."

She stares at us, dumbstruck for a moment. "But if the Earth's been moved, they've lost the sun! What about my mum? And Grandad? They're dead, aren't they?" Neither of us has the answers she's looking for. Wincing, I wrap an arm around her shoulders. Her voice trembles. "Are they dead?"

Helpless, I look to him as well. He sighs, "I don't know, Donna. I'm sorry, I don't know."

"That's my family. My whole world."

"There's no readings. Nothing. Not a trace. Not even a whisper. Oh, that is fearsome technology."

It takes everything in me not to panic. Keeping close to her, I reach to pull the screen around. It shows no planet below us, nor any life signs. It's like Earth was never there at all. "So what do we do?"

"We've got to get help," he replies, staring pensively off beyond the pistons, rubbing the back of his neck. It doesn't bring him ideas nor any comfort from this mess.

"From where?"

Now he looks at us. His gaze is still far-off, not focused on either of us. "Inara, Donna... I'm taking you to the Shadow Proclamation. Hold tight."

With the pull of a lever, the ship takes off. Whatever has happened, the Tardis is unhappy. She is rattled, shaking around us. I can barely keep my footing and lean against the Doctor for stability, helping him to pilot us. "I know you missed me, but you didn't need an extinction-level emergency to bring me back," I half-heartedly tease.

He buys into it, forcing a nervous smile. "Well, worth a try. You look lovely, by the way."

"You too."

"So go on then," Donna says, interrupting our brief moment together, "what is the Shadow Proclamation anyway?"

"Posh name for police. Outer space police."

I give the throttle a sharp push. "Basically, it's Intergalactic Geneva, if we're gonna get really specific. Doctor, do we have a plan for me not getting arrested? 'Cause the Judoon still don't like me. Just saying."

Reminded of the new concern, he scrunches up his nose in dismissal. "Just let me do the talking. Don't draw attention to yourself. Here we go!"

The second we step out of the Tardis, we are met by the priming of weapons. Six Judoon block the white corridor before us. The leader has no helmet, leaving his wrinkled, horned face bare for us to see. "Sco bo tro no flo jo ko fo. To to!"

The Doctor raises his hands in surrender and we follow suit. "No bo ho sho ko ro to so. Bokodozogobofopojo." Donna spares him an amused glance. The Judoon hesitate for a moment, then lower their weapons. His hands return to his sides as he finishes, "Mo ho."

A few more words are exchanged and suddenly we are on the move, being guided into what looks like a large office lobby. A woman awaits us. She is pale, almost as white as her tight curls, pinned behind her head in a black hairnet. Robes just as dark flow around her and glitter with every movement. I have heard of her before: the Architect of the Shadow Proclamation. "Time Lords are the stuff of legend," she remarks, eyeing the Doctor appraisingly with blood red irises. "They belong in the myths and whispers of the Higher Species. You cannot possibly exist."

He sticks his hands in his pockets, swaying awkwardly. "Yeah. More to the point, I've got a missing planet."

The news does not shock her. Instead, her dry lips inch up into a faint smirk. "Then you're not as wise as the stories would say. The picture is far bigger than you imagine. The whole universe is in outrage, Doctor. Twenty-four worlds have been taken from the sky."

"How many? Which ones? Show me!" he cries, rushing to a computer mounted on the central table. His glasses are already on.

She presses a button to call up a display on the little screen. I don't dare to follow, wary of catching unwanted attention. "Locations rage far and wide," she explains, "but all disappeared at the exact same moment, leaving no trace."

"Callufrax minor, Jahoo, Shallacatop, Woman Wept... Clom— Clom's gone? Who'd want Clom?"

She shrugs. "All different sizes. Some populated, some not. But all unconnected."

"What about Pyrovillia?"

At the interruption, she looks up indignantly. "Who is the female?"

"Donna. I'm a Human Being. Maybe not the stuff of legend but every bit as important as Time Lords, thank you." At her sharp response, both the Doctor and I share a proud glance. She raises her head high, trying to appear fearless, and continues, "Way back when we were in Pompeii, Lucius said Pyrovillia had gone missing."

The leader of the Juddoon steps in. "Pyrovillia is cold case. Not relevant!"

She frowns. "How d'you mean, 'cold case'?"

The Architect huffs, as if bored by the mere question. "Pyrovillia can't be part of this, it disappeared over two thousand years ago."

"Yes, yes, hang on. But there's the Adipose Breeding Planet, too. Miss Foster said that was lost but that must've been a long time ago."

Hesitating, I think it over. "My Gods."

"That's it! Donna, brilliant! Planets are being taken out of time as well as space." Leaning around the Architect, he presses something on the computer. A hologram of Earth appears in the air above us. "Now, if we add Pyrovillia..." With each push, a new planet appears, hovering overhead. "And Adipose 3..." There must be almost two dozen, but still they are not enough. "Something missing. Where else, where else? Lost, lost, lost. Oh! The Lost Moon of Poosh!"

With all of the planets named, he leaves the computer and steps into their midst. His skin glows blue in their light. Then they shift. Planets swap places, moving into alignment with each other. "What did you do?" the Architect snaps.

"Nothing. The planets rearranged themselves into the optimum pattern." He slips his hands into his pockets again and spins, the centre of their steady orbit. "Twenty-seven planets in perfect balance. Come on, that is gorgeous!"

"Oi, don't get all spaceman! What does it mean?"

"All those worlds fit together like pieces of an engine. It's like a powerhouse."

Crossing my arms, I carefully step closer to him. "Why, though? What for?"

"Who could design such a thing?" the Architect asks before he can answer.

His focus has shifted away again, that thousand-mile stare taking over. "Someone tried to move the Earth once before... long time ago."

I rest a hand on his shoulder. It brings him back to reality with a start. Seeking to calm him, I give his shoulder a squeeze and move closer, my eyes searching his. He is scared, more than I have seen him be in a long time. "Doctor," I gently try, "talk to me. What is it?"

"Nothing. It— It can't be. But whatever's happened, this is not good."

"Well, evidently," I force myself to joke. He doesn't mirror my smile and  my face falls. "This 'powerhouse', have you ever seen something like this? What would need twenty-seven planets to power it?"

"I don't know," he admits. Before I can try to offer some comfort or ask any further questions, he backs away and instead looks to our friend sitting on the stairs at the side of the room. She has zoned out, staring at the cup of tea that has been placed in her hands by another pale-faced, member of the Shadow Proclamation. "Donna," he calls for her attention, leaning on the bannister. "Come on, think. Earth! There must have been some sort of warning. Was there anything happening back in your day, like electrical storms, freak weather, patterns in the sky?"

"Well, how should I know?" Grimacing at the harshness of her reply, she brings a hand to her head, as if pained. "Um... no. I don't think so, no."

Disappointed, he stands up straight again. "Okay, never mind."

"Although..."

I turn to properly face her, concerned by her newfound quietness. "What?"

She shrugs dismissively and says, "There were the bees disappearing."

"The bees disappearing," he repeats incredulously.

Rolling my eyes, I give him a warning glare. "Doctor—" But I cut myself off, seeing his eyes brighten with an idea.

"The bees disappearing," he says again. "The bees disappearing!"

The Architect watches him in bafflement as he returns to the computer, typing frantically. "How is that significant?"

We hurry to join him. "On Earth, we have these insects," Donna explains breathlessly. "Some people said it was pollution or mobile phone signals."

"Or they were going back home."

"'Back home' where?" she scoffs.

"The planet Melissa Majoria."

Feeling her eyes on me, I only shrug. Donna's head swiftly turns to him. "Are you saying bees are aliens?"

"Don't be so daft," he groans. "Not all of them. But if the migrant bees felt something coming, some danger, and escaped— Tandocca!" he suddenly exclaims, pointing to the Architect without even looking at her.

"The Tandocca Scale!"

"That's wavelengths, isn't it?" I offer hopefully.

He nods. "They're used as a carrier signal by migrant bees. Infinitely small. No wonder we didn't see it. It's like looking for a speck of cinnamon in the Sahara. But look!" An image pops up on the screen, a cloud of blue pixels streaking across the star-specked darkness. "There it is. The Tandocca trail. The transmat that moved the planets used the same wavelength, we can follow the path!"

Donna is already on her way to the Tardis, yelling over her shoulder, "And find the Earth? Well, stop talking and do it!"

"I am!" he shouts back. Breaking into a run again, he pulls me along as I struggle to keep up in my heels. The second we're inside, he's back at the console. "We're a bit late, the signal's scattered, but it's a start." The screen pops up with an image of the trail. He runs again, sticking his head out of the door. "I've got a blip! It's just a blip, but it's definitely a blip."

"Then according to the Strictures of the Shadow Proclamation, I will have to seize your transport and your technology."

"Oh, really? What for?"

"The planets were stolen with hostile intent. We are declaring war, Doctor. Right across the universe. And you will lead us into battle!"

He pauses, sobering up from his burst of triumph. "Right. Yes. Of course I will. I'll just go and... get you the key."

Shifting out of the way, I nod to the throttle. He looks to us, grins, and we are off again.

The Tardis comes to a creaking halt. From the look on the Doctor's face, it isn't supposed to be like this. "It's stopped," he says, barely a whisper.

"What d'you mean?" Donna asks. She looks between us anxiously. "Is that good or bad? Where are we?"

"The Medusa Cascade." He wanted to take us here, always spoke of its beauty. It seems unfair that this is how we experience it. The Doctor's voice softens, lighter as he recalls some unseen memory. "I came here when I was just a kid, ninety years old. It was the centre of a rift in time and space."

Quickly growing impatient, she looks back to the screen. All it shows is unfamiliar Gallifreyan characters and an image of the light outside, curved like an hourglass. "So, where are the twenty-seven planets?"

"Nowhere," he quietly replies. "The Tandocca Trail stops dead. End of the line."

She is at a loss for words. Her lips part but nothing comes. Blinking back tears of panic, she tries again. "So what do we do? Doctor, what do we do?"

He says nothing. Just sighs, leaning against one of the curled columns. His gaze travels further and further away, lost.

"Now, don't do this to me. No, don't— don't do this to me. Not now. Tell me, what are we going to do?"

Cursing under my breath, I turn away from him. My focus lands on the Coin in its little case. The conjoined heads smile cruelly back at me, as if they know something I don't.

"You never give up. Please!"

Still, nothing. She gasps, clapping a hand over her mouth.

I open my arms, holding her close. Over her shoulder, I meet his distant stare. For the first time in a long, long while, he seems so small, so powerless.

And then the phone rings.

None of us hear at first, then it registers. "Phone!"

He snatches the mobile up from the console. "Martha, is that you?" he asks. She doesn't reply, all we hear is a steady beeping. "A signal."

"Can we follow it?"

Anticipating him, I pull the stethoscope from the pocket of the trench coat still wrapped around me. He catches it and puts it on. "Just watch me!"

He descends on the console in a flurry of movement. The lights around us pulse a deep red, the Tardis beginning to shake. The phone rings again. "Got it!" Sparks shower over us. A few feet away, flames leap up through the floor grating. With another lurch, the pistons roar even louder. In the chaos, our hands join. "We're travelling through time. One second in the future, the phone call's pulling us through! Three... two... one!"

The quaking of the ship is worse than ever. All we can do is yell at the top of our lungs, clinging onto each other for dear life.

And then the sparks stop, the flames cease, and the lights return to normal. We've stopped. On the screen, tiny dots of light flicker to life. Gasping, Donna looks to us in excitement. "Twenty-seven planets. And there's the Earth! Why couldn't we see them?"

"The entire Medusa Cascade has been put a second out of sync with the rest of the universe. Perfect hiding place, tiny little pocket of time. But we found them!"

Static takes over the screen. Pausing the celebration, I lean in to get a better look, waving the others in closer. "Did you see that?"

"What?"

"There, it did it again."

They squint at it, watching as it reduces to a glitch once more. "Hold on, hold on. Some sort of Subwave Network," the Doctor says, turning a dial. The picture changes.

There, divided across the screen in four windows, are us, Jack, Sarah Jane, and Martha. The sight of my best friend's terrified expression is enough to stop any relief I feel at seeing them all again. "Where the hell have you been?" he snaps. "Doctor, it's the Daleks!"

"It's the Daleks. They're taking people to their spaceship." Sarah Jane manages a smile, which only grows as she presents the shy, dark-haired boy stood next to her. "Doctor, look—"

Her talk is overlapped by Martha, holding her mother protectively beside her. "It's not just Dalek Caan!"

A proud grin takes over as he sees them all together. He nudges me, then thinks better of it and wraps an arm around me to bring me closer. "Oh, look. Sarah Jane! Who's that boy?" Then he points to Jack, and I recognise the white tile walls of the Hub behind him. "That must be Torchwood. Aren't they brilliant? Look at you all, you clever people."

"That's Martha," Donna notes. She leans in with a mischievous smile to point out Jack's face. "And who's he?"

"Captain Jack. Don't. Just don't."

"Wasn't gonna. Was just thinking Inara has a good taste in friends. It's like an outer space Facebook!"

Still, there is something missing from all of this. He knows it, too. "Everyone except Rose."

They all disappear as static takes over once more. "We've lost them!"

He tries the dial again. "No, no, no. There's another signal coming through. There's someone else out there. Hello? Can you hear me? Rose?"

"Your voice is different. And yet, its arrogance is unchanged." A voice comes from the darkness, deep and hoarse. Menacing.

The Doctor's hope vanishes and he steps back from the console. Fear takes over again. "Who is that?" I whisper, praying that he has an answer, a reason not to be afraid.

A new face appears on the screen. This one is old, very old. His fawn skin is sagged with wrinkles, especially over the shadowed sockets where his eyes should be. At the centre of his bald forehead, fixed with screws and silver wire, is a single, electric blue eye.

"Welcome to my new Empire, Doctor," he sneers. "It is only fitting that you should bear witness to the resurrection and the triumph of Davros, Lord and Creator of the Dalek Race."

Donna's hand finds mine. "Doctor?"

His breathing is fast, his gaze darting over the features of this haunting creature. "Have you nothing to say?" Davros taunts again.

She tries to comfort him, approaching and resting her other hand on his arm. "Doctor, it's all right. We're in the Tardis. We're safe."

He can't look away from the face. He can barely move. "But you were destroyed. In the very first year of the Time War, at the Gates of Elysium. I saw your command ship fly into the jaws of the Nightmare

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