13Episode 1: Epilogue.
River awed, witnessing the birth of a civilization. The people were taking the literal first steps into building their own society...
The Vashta Nerada had become so... docile... peaceful even... They were eagerly talking with the humanoids, getting ideas on how to handle "Tourist".
"The Medical Student" had thought up an idea, so that the Vashta Nerada didn't have to completely depend on others.
The Medical student had set up a universal translator, into the local interfaces, so that the shadows could understand the bipedal lifeforms.
This world sized station was filled with millions of people, once trapped in a virtual reality, but now free... and they were all existing in Harmony with the carnivorous shadows... even working with them, to plant trees that the "Medical Student" had given them... genetically modified trees growing every type of food imaginable... with new foods ripening as quickly as they were picked. To give infinite food, to feed an entire planet.
The plants were further modified to need only ultraviolet light to grow and survive. No need for water or soil, which helped on a space station. Thankfully, the Station itself, produced Ultraviolet light, all on it's own. Even had an artificial sky.
The most helpful, were the variety of Flesh Trees, from Demon World, which grew different kinds of meat.
From what River saw, the Flesh Trees were the most common, planted in every gift shop, lounge, and roof... the Medical Student... had given this station the means to become completely self sufficient... yet the shadows were still willing to make bipedal lifeforms comfortable and help them flourish.
Most of the Humanoids wanted to stay on the station, as it had been a few thousand years, since they were pulled into the virtual reality... Everything, and everyone, they knew was gone.
The Vashta Nerada agreed to let them stay, in exchange for tending the plants. Which the humanoids were allowed to eat from. The humanoids moved into the large hotel wing, within the Station. where entire floors were converted for farms.
This universe's Doctor, was standing off to the side, speaking to the shadows, that nothing cast. Trying to hold himself with the dignity, so many were trying to deny him.
The descendant, of this station's creators, wouldn't even let him work on the Command Mode. Locking himself away to work on it in private... humanoids sure took these "Patents" seriously.
River parted ways with the medical student, and found her Doctor waiting by her ship.
"River?" The 12th Doctor, the aging Magician, swallowed the lump in his throat. As River walked back into his life... he had memories, new memories, of a billion more adventures with her... and he knew there were more to come.
The 12th couldn't resist coming to the library, to see for himself she wasn't... wasn't...
"It seems we mucked up a bit, Sweetie," River smiled as she gently flirted, in that morbid way of her's. "Guess we weren't supposed to save the natives, but I'll be damned if you think I'll let you undo that." She warned, with that seductive smile still on her face.
"That wasn't what was changed..." The 12th tried to think of how to phrase this.
River frowned, "I don't see what else it could be." She didn't like being wrong.
"You..." The Doctor frowned back, and she blinked at him. "You're what's wrong with the universe... you were supposed to die today... saving my life..."
River grew more grave, "I see... I suppose you need to correct that mistake." she looked away.
The Doctor grabbed her arm and looked straight into her eyes, "You don't get a vote," he growled.
Her eyes widened, then she whispered, too quiet for anyone else to hear her... only the 12th could. "You were furious the last time I meddled with a fixed point... did everything you could to correct it..."
"That was me, dying to save the universe... but it can't have you... I sent you to your death once already, just by letting you come here... I refuse to do it again..." He gently guided a rogue strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't have it in me to say goodbye a second time..."
River argued, as she could already feel something wrong with time. "There will be consequences. The sheer temporal backlash-"
But the Doctor spoke the most romantic sentiment that ever passed his lips. "if the universe requires your death to survive... then I say, let it burn..."
She gulped staring into his eyes and realizing, for perhaps the first time in all the millenniums they had known each other... the Doctor really did love her back...
Soon there after, The first Doctor brought Rose to Chrome.
This world... existed in the same place, all over the multiverse... fixed in this one spot... all throughout the Cosmos.
The Doctor, her Doctor, once told her the story surrounding it. The Time Lords feared it, as it was a world without Origins.
In Rose's dimension, her Time Lords visited this planet, and used it to unlock the secrets of Time Travel. Then went back, to before the big bang... and Chrome was still there, still ancient... When there wasn't even space dust... there was Chrome...literally older then the Universe itself.
The Time Lords fled the world, not understanding it. Terrified, on an instinctual level, of a world that had no beginning, of a world that was ancient before the big bang.
But Pete's World, was able to crack the secrets of Chrome...
It was the first cell to form in the womb. It's anchor to the soul of all reality. It was the starting point of the universe, where dimensions intersected... and it's where Torchwood unlocked the secrets of interdimensional travel.
Rose stepped onto the planet, the Doctor hesitantly behind her. Old Time Lord prejudice rearing it's head. Susan looked more in awe, the benefits of youth... While River had left their side, to return to her own Doctor.
Rose took note, that there were no stars in the sky... yet there was a dim light emitting from the planet. No, there was one star, one tiny star in the black, shining over the planet... This world's sun was still lit... yet the light looked dim, as if it was a full moon instead of a star.
"Where are we,"
"The last gasp," The Doctor informed. "Within a few hours, the last star will go out, and the universe will die with it. I wanted to get to Chrome, but as you said, my dear girl, navigating my TARDIS is more a negotiation."
"Doc-tor," a weak yet powerful voice spoke from all around them.
Rose screamed falling to the floor. While the Doctor and Susan merely winced.
"You might want to tone it down, my good woman," the Doctor spoke kindly. "Not all can withstand your lovely voice. Perhaps, if you took mortal form."
"I am not strong... but I will try."
There was a flash, and a void of galaxies and stars, appeared before them... shaped vaguely in the form of a woman.
"Doctor." the voice spoke, "You came... for a favor..." The powerful creature stepped over to them... standing a good two feet taller then them all.
"Indeed." The Doctor acknowledged. "Though it seems rude to ask it, given the circumstances."
"I don't have long now." The Universe acknowledged. "I did not expect to see you." the very God of this realm spoke. Then settled her eyes on Rose.
Rose could feel the gaze fall on her... the very god of this reality, looking at her, with no eyes to see, yet she saw. It was a humbling experience. Rose couldn't explain the feeling... of being in the sights of a very God.
"This is your doing?." Spoke the God of this realm. "You alter the fates design, just by being in a Universe not your own. While I appreciate the gift you have given my favored, you are a stranger to me. I see all, know all, am all, but I don't know you... it is an unnerving sensation... but not an unwelcome one.
"I can feel my counterpart on you, she sees me through you, helps me through you. The fates may not approve, but we Gods enjoy it when our children visit other realms. It gives us a bit of excitement...
"So I will give you a gift."
Rose's "Dimension Cannon" started updating itself. With the psychic interface alerting her to not only the map of the Cosmos... but a new Transport engine, that could travel between universes without harming the dimensional walls. The Engine would require an actual vessel, and not just a small handheld disk... but it would allow for safer travel between realms.
The Doctor sighed, part of him feeling uncomfortable asking her for anything, during these moments... even if they didn't need to ask. "I'm sorry to disturb you. These moments should be private."
"All throughout eternity," God spoke. "Loved ones have gathered around a bed... to stay by their side... as they die... I... I thought I would be denied that. As I have every time before."
The Doctor's eyes widened in horror. Before gently taking her hand. "I won't let that happen." He promised. "We'll stay here, with you."
The universe shuttered. "Since the first light... I've known I would be the last soul to leave my realm. None left to mourn me, none to stay with me, in these final moments... but now, that there is someone, I can admit-"
The body of stars buckled under her knees, but the Doctor gently caught her, and laid her down... her head in his lap, as he gently stroked her, literally flowing, hair.
Susan merely sat by her, not knowing what to say... Being a Time Lord, true death was rare... the idea disturbed her.
"I can admit," God spoke. "... the concept's too big, I cannot fathom it."
"You're afraid," the Doctor spoke for her, and Rose heard the universe, choke back a sob. "You needn't be love, this isn't the end, not really."
"I know," The Universe spoke. "This has happened a thousand times before. I am born, I live, I die, in an endless cycle, as all things do. Yet still, my precious Doctor... dying is something you should only remember once. Soon, in a few billion years, My worlds will fall back into each other. They will compress within me, crushed to dust, only to explode, and expand all over again... and endless cycle of death and birth.
"But it won't be me, someone knew will take my place, that shares my soul... there is no comfort in that."
The Doctor frowned, being little more then a boy, despite the old face... he didn't really give his mortality any true thought. After all, he would just regenerate. Something very similar to what the universe itself goes through. They will both remember their past lives... but they will see them through someone else's eyes.
The universe gently touched the Doctor's cheek. "You understand," she spoke in awe of her little mortal. "Death is sad, always. We may cheat the Reaper, but we still feel the passing... you really are my favorite."
The star began to dim further. Taking mortal form was killing her faster.
God spoke, "I have seen you, all your lives, yet your place in the weave has been disturbed. Regardless, you still have a Destiny to fulfill."
The Doctor sighed, "I am not interested in prophecies at the moment. I have had a glimpse into my future. And I must say, it troubles me as it is."
"Very well," spoke the soul of the Universe itself.
Rose felt like she was intruding. Then jumped, as her Dimension Cannon beeped. The psychic interface telling her it was finished mapping out the cosmos.
"Go," The Doctor eyed her. "These moments should be with family. I'm sure your own universe is eager for your return."
Rose nodded... realizing this Doctor did think of her as an intruder... Even if it was just in this moment... and not even her Doctor... regardless, the notion hurt.
She gave them a brief "Goodbye." Before activating her yellow disk... and disappearing from this dimension.
End Episode 1.
Story Continues next Chapter, with Episode 2.