To Call Our Own (17&18 of 36)

[amberfocus]

Chapter Seventeen:  Progression

Harrington Conrad heard the scream coming from Rose Tyler’s room and smiled. So something could get to her after all. He hadn’t liked her calm reserve or his inability to shake her, though he had found himself admiring the woman, as much for her strength as for her beauty.

It was really too bad, he mused, that she’d have to die with the child. Taming that mix of fire and ice appealed to him. She would make a fine lady at his side. But not at the cost of her child. He knew instinctively that she would never forgive him for that. He shrugged. Silly fancy anyway. He was starting to indulge them a little too frequently lately. Look at the way he’d let that first Kranamari female live too long just because she was pretty.

He rose from his desk, placing his drink down and striding towards his guest’s bed chamber. He laughed quietly to himself before he opened the door to see how the woman was coping with his little surprise.

When he flung open the door and flipped on the light, he found her hands wrapped around her stomach. Her eyes shot sparks in his direction as she looked up at him. “What the hell did you to my baby?” Her voice held uncontained rage.

“Ah, so now you want to ask me questions?”

Rose stared at him mutely for a long moment then looked down, her eyes on the now quite obvious swelling of her abdomen. Where there had been only a slight swelling the night before, she was now obviously quite pregnant. She’d heard women speak of ‘popping’ overnight, but this sort of thing was impossible. She’d gone from halfway through her pregnancy to nearly three quarters if the size of her belly and the sudden maturity of the baby’s thoughts were any indication.

“What did you do?” Each word was bit out separately.

“It was rather simple really. I don’t have ten weeks to sit around and wait for your child to be mature enough for my purposes. I scattered a little something in your food,” he said.

“But you ate it,” she protested.

“This particular brain chemical only affects the hormones of a pregnant female. The Kranamari female can increase or decrease the amount of gestation hormone in her system. In the event of a disaster she can do many things. She can cause rapid growth to finish a pregnancy sooner, she can reabsorb a fetus to the point that it becomes an embryo again, or she can stop a pregnancy, putting it into stasis until such time as it becomes safe to deliver.”

Rose stared at him, hating his smooth oily voice, the way his eyes looked at her, lingered over her, held ownership of her belly in them. “So you sped up the gestation. By how much?”

“Oh, I’d say about eight weeks. Couldn’t give you too much or we’d overshoot the mark and once you’re past it, you’re of no use to me,” he told her. “You should relax and enjoy the next two weeks. I assure you, every luxury will be at your disposal. Your every desire, other than to see your husband and live out your life with your baby, will be met.”

“You expect me to take advantage of your hospitality?” She spat out the last word as he approached her.

“That choice is entirely yours, Mrs. Tyler.” He reached out and ran his hand over her hair.

The overwhelming panic stilled instantly as the rush of ice returned to her veins. It was back, that presence in her mind, calming her. “You think that my husband will try to kill you,” she said, again able to read his thoughts.

“If he finds me in time, I’m sure that he will try. He won’t succeed.” Rose began to laugh softly as images flashed behind her eyes. He stared at her like she had lost her mind. And that was partially true, the little presence told her, though it would give it back when it was through.

“Oh, we know he won’t,” she said, placing her hand against the baby. “We’ve just seen a glimpse of the future. We know how you end.”

“And how pray, is that?” he asked, mocking laughter in his voice.

“In the storm.” The laughter died on his lips as he took in her serious tone. The woman was serious. Deadly serious.

“You said it wasn’t the Oncoming Storm.”

“No.”

“What then?”

“It’s more powerful than that. It brings your death.”

“I’m not going to die,” he said, dismissing her words. Or trying to. “I’m going to live forever.”

Rose’s eyes fogged over for a moment and her lips curved into a fearsome grin, her teeth exposed in a feral manner. “You’re going to die. Forever.”

He had left her then, striding as fast as he could to get away from her. Rose smiled in satisfaction. The presence in her mind whispered to her. ‘Soon,” it said. ‘We come. Soon.’



“We’re here,” said the Doctor. “Kranamar. Thriving agricultural planet, three major commerce centers, and a very good trade in…” He paused, staring at the view screen. Unable to believe his eyes, he rushed to the doors and threw them open.

“What happened here?” Jack asked grimly as he emerged just behind the Doctor.

Everywhere they looked they saw skeletal Kranamari females, far too many clutching infants. “It’s like a population explosion,” said Martha, “But, how can all the babies have been born at once and be all the same age? Do they have a birthing season?”

“No,” said the Doctor, his voice desolate. “Oh, no.” He swallowed convulsively. “We don’t have ten weeks to find Rose. We’ll be lucky if we have ten hours.”

He strode back into the TARDIS, picked up the portable tracking system that fed off his armlets, and told his companions to load up on the weapons. “You sure, Doctor?” Martha asked him. “I know how you feel about guns.”

“This is my wife and my child. Every rule just went out the window.”

“Doctor, we have to do something for those women,” Donna said as they left the TARDIS again. “They’re on the verge of death.”

“First we find Rose,” the Doctor said. “Then we clean up Conrad’s mess.”

The Doctor’s mind reached out for Rose. He’d been trying intermittently while they were in the Vortex, never the best time to find their link unless she was in the TARDIS with him. He’d been met by a barrier. It was enough for him to realize she was still in her own mind but from her end she wouldn’t sense anything, just an absence of him.

He tried to inveigle his way past the barrier but was meant with a firm bounce. It was back to the technology his son had brought them, then. Vandarian had said it was the only way. “Let’s go,” he said.

Picking their way through the dying populace was a horrible experience. It hurt him to ignore their suffering and he swore he would do what he could to make it better, but he had to focus exclusively on his wife and child. If he didn’t, there wouldn’t be enough time to save her.



‘We come,’ the ice in her mind whispered turning like a sunburst into fiery warmth. Vortex energy gathered in one corner of the room, and Rose heard the tearing of the fabric of time.

“What are you doing?” she gasped.

“We’ll knit it back up.” This time the voice was not in her mind, it issued aloud from the rip. Two beings began to take form. They were both women, humanoid, and in two distinct stages of pregnancy. Rose looked at their faces.

“Do I know you?” she asked, feeling a sense of familiarity beyond the fact that their voices had been in her mind.

“You will,” laughed one, her eyes sparkling.

The women were remarkably similar in facial structure. The older one looked to be about twenty and had chestnut brown hair that barely touched her shoulders, chocolate brown eyes and the warmest smile she’d ever seen. The younger woman looked to be twenty-five or so. Her hair was ginger and fell to her waist and her eyes were blue. She’d seen that shade of blue before.

“Who are you?” Rose asked.

Rose whirled as a third woman solidified behind her. “The bringers of the Time Storm.”


Chapter Eighteen:  When the Bough Breaks

For a moment Rose thought she was looking at herself at nineteen. Only she’d never been pregnant at nineteen. She frowned, looking past the makeup. Or possibly younger than nineteen. How old was this girl? The young woman had blond hair the color Rose had once kept her own at, and the same light brown eyes flashing with specks of gold.

“Figured it out yet, Grandmum?” the third to appear asked her.

“Four generations of pregnant Tyler women,” Rose gasped.

The eldest woman smiled at her. “I’m your eldest daughter and second born child. I’m Cassiopeia and I’m pregnant with Andromeda.” Rose looked at her in astonishment. “No, really. It just seemed fitting. Blame it on Dad reading me classic Terran mythology at bedtime.”

“And I’m Andromeda and I’m pregnant with Kayleeinara,” the blond woman told her. Rose started to laugh. Andromeda shrugged. “Jack’s addicted to Firefly. Granddad, too. They remade it in 2074.  And 2196, and 5102.  Several times in between, too.” She smiled. “But the best one was the fifteen year run in 2074.  Daniel Fillion’s divine as Mal. Gives Jack a run for his money in the looks department.”

Rose sobered. “Jack?”

“Harkness. You did know…oops.” Andromeda stopped talking.

“You’re with Jack?”

“Depends on what you mean by with,” Cassiopeia muttered darkly, sounding very much like Jackie Tyler in that moment.

“Mum!”

“Anyway,” Andromeda continued. “He’s Kaylee’s dad.”

“That’s me,” said the remaining woman, the one with ginger hair. "Your great granddaughter.”

“And who are you pregnant with then?” Rose asked, amusement starting to color her voice.

“Don’t know,” said Kaylee, shrugging her shoulders. “Haven’t picked a name yet and haven’t met her. Just know she’s a girl.”

“All right,” Rose said. “Let’s make sure I’ve got this straight. Cassiopeia,” and she pointed to the brunette.

“Just Cassi is fine, Mum.”

Rose nodded. “Andromeda,” she said pointing to the blond.

“I go by Dromee.”

“And Kayleeinara. Who just goes by Kaylee, I take it.” Kaylee nodded.

“Where’d you get the ginger hair?” Rose asked.

“Jack’s mum,” said Andromeda before Kaylee could answer.

“You’re great granddad will be so jealous.”

“Won’t he just?” She gave an insouciant wink. Then she sobered. “So you’ve gotten yourself in quite the mess here, haven’t you? Someone trying to kill you and baby Dare. We can’t have that. It would play miserable havoc with the time lines and the genesis of--.” Andromeda’s hand clamped over her daughter’s mouth.

“I taught you better than that, Kaylee.”

“How do you know that you taught her better than that?” Rose asked, curious. “If you’re pregnant with her in this point of your personal time line, I mean. How do you know how you raised her?”

Andromeda laughed. “Well, our physical form is taken from the moment of our greatest power, when we’re pregnant with the untapped potential of a female Time Baby, but we know our own time lines pretty well through mentally at this point. It’s a future thing, part of the genesis--.”

This time it was Cassiopeia’s hand covering Andromeda’s mouth. “That’s enough, Dromee.” Andromeda rolled her eyes and removed the hand from her mouth.

“Oh, bloody paradox!” Kaylee swore, her eyes losing focus for a moment.

“What? What is it?” Cassiopeia demanded.

“They weren’t supposed to bring Martha!”

“What? Who wasn’t?”

“Granddad and his little rescue squad.”

“Why not?”

The tear opened again, divulging the head of one more person coming partially through. “Because I’m already here,” said Martha. “I’m the one holding onto the dimensional rip.”

“Well, hand it over to Dare then and get as far from there as you can,” Cassiopeia said.

“But the energy won’t be the same,” protested Martha. “I’m the one pregnant.”

“It won’t do us any good if we save Mum and lose you and Devora.”

“I can do it,” said Martha. “Just don’t let her near the tear and we’ll be fine.”

“Martha,” warned Cassiopeia.

“Cassi, I can do it. You know how strong she is!” Martha protested.

“The minute you sense a convergence you hand the reins to Dare and get as far out of that room as you can, you get me?” growled Cassiopeia.

“I get you.” And Martha’s head disappeared from sight.

“What happens if they meet?” Rose asked, trepidation in her voice.

“We won’t be able to direct the storm. Plus, the universe might go boom.”

“Let’s not let that happen then,” Rose said.



They had made for the poshest domicile in the city. Harrington Conrad was a man who appreciated luxury and had the power and fortune to pay for it. It was a wise decision for the alien did in fact live there for the moment.

The Doctor easily disarmed the electronic security system while Jack, Donna, and Martha dealt with the guards. In the end, they had used non-lethal means of incapacitating the guards, but that didn’t mean they weren’t bristling with lethal weaponry.

He took a moment to be impressed. Jack had been training both Martha and Donna over the last year with Torchwood methods and obviously it had paid off. For a brief moment it occurred to the Doctor that it was just possible that it was going too well. He felt uneasy and reached for Rose’s mind again.

The Doctor was confused by what he felt. Rose was there but she was curiously augmented. Last time that had happened she had gone golden and turned into Rose Plus. This wasn’t like that and yet she seemed to be dripping with power. He felt it barely contained. His mind moved towards the baby and he found himself bounced back out of his wife’s mind. Again. Firmly but not terribly politely.

Whatever that barrier was it had a touch of impudence to it. He frowned. That was an odd thought. How could a barrier be impudent? “Jack,” he said, “I think we need to…” He trailed off mid-sentence as Harrington Conrad strode out to greet them.

“Come for your wife?” he asked as if he were having an ordinary every day conversation with a trusted friend.

“Come for my wife and my child, thank you.”

“Do you really think I’m going to let that happen? I’ve worked too hard for this.”

“You’ve brought another species to its knees, left them damaged and dying.” The Doctor’s voice held no mercy. “If you think I’ll let you do the same to my family, then--.”

“Then what, Doctor? Do you honestly think you can save them? You, who couldn’t even save your own people?” His voice was calculated to cause the most emotional pain possible.

The Doctor didn’t even blink. “I’m going to kill you.”

“Oh, no. I’ve been told my future. And apparently you’re really not. In fact,” he said raising a blaster and leveling it at the Doctor. He fired before finishing his sentence. He was one to learn from his past mistakes. “I rather think I’m going to kill you instead.”

Jack had shoved Donna and Martha into the bushes with an urgent command to run for it. He leapt forward, disarming Conrad with one hand and then rolling around and pulling out another weapon of his own that he put to the head of the Flatau, his other arm going around the man’s neck.

Conrad only disintegrated in his grasp, his body collapsing into particles of blue light, only to reappear in a column of energy a few meters away. “You can’t kill me, Captain Jack. But I rather think I can kill you.”

He raised another weapon and fired. Jack fell at his feet. He turned and walked back towards the house. He wasn’t going to wait any longer. If he was very, very careful, injected Rose with just a tiny amount more of the Kranamari brain chemical, he could bring her to the point he needed her to be. The time for games was over.

As soon as Harrington was out of sight the Doctor sat up and brushed himself off. “Jack?” He said, reaching over and feeling for the pulse of his friend. Jack suddenly inhaled a loud, rasping breath and sat up.

“I really hate it when they kill me,” he said. “How you doing, Doc?”

“The Tirawlian personal shield worked as intended.” He rose to his feet and Jack followed suit. “Martha and Donna?”

“Scampered off to safety as far as I know.”

The Doctor groaned. “What do you want to bet they found a way into that house on their own?”

“Well, you’re the one who didn’t want to share the full plan with them,” Jack said. “If they take matters into their own hands, you only have yourself to blame. You know what the two of them are like when they get together.”



“The Doctor’s here,” said Rose, feeling the mental nudge of her husband in her mind, followed by her descendants firmly tossing him back out.

“He’ll only interfere,” said Andromeda by way of explanation. “And anyway, that man is almost here. We need to hide.”

“What, hide?”

“He can’t see us just yet, Rose.” One by one the women blinked out though she still felt the calming ice of them in her mind.

The door to her room was flung open and Harrington Conrad strode quickly to her side. Without any warning he grabbed her arm, pulled it away from her body and rapidly injected her with a syringe. She screamed at the abrupt jump in her stomach as it triggered rapid growth of the baby and she knew with a sick certainty that he had done it perfectly. She knew she was thirty weeks along. The shock of the sudden change was deepened by the aching absence of the women as they were torn from her mind.

Harrington clamped his hand over her mouth and dragged her from the room.

Ch. 19-22:  http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/73869.html