The Girl Who Stayed (Doctor Who fanfic)

Floor Five Hundred

"Create a climate of fear and it's easy to keep the borders closed. It's just a matter of emphasis. The right word in the right broadcast repeated often enough can destabilise an economy, invent an enemy, change a vote."

"So all the people on Earth are like, slaves." I told him.

"Well, now, there's an interesting point. Is a slave a slave if he doesn't know he's enslaved?"

"Yes." I replied.

"Oh. I was hoping for a philosophical debate. Is that all I'm going to get? Yes?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"You're no fun." He rolled his eyes.

"Let me out of these manacles. You'll find out how much fun I am."

"Oh, she's tough, isn't she?" He laughed. "But, come on. Isn't it a great system? You've got to admire it, just a little bit."

"You can't hide something on this scale. Somebody must have noticed." Rose reasoned.

"From time to time, someone, yes, but the computer chip system allows me to see inside their brains. I can see the smallest doubt and crush it." He smirked. "Then they just carry on, living the life, strutting about downstairs and all over the surface of the Earth like they're so individual, when of course, they're not. They're just cattle. In that respect, the Jagrafess hasn't changed a thing."

"Doctor, there's someone else here." I whispered. "I can feel it."

"Do we know them?"

I closed my eyes and focused. "Yes."

"Do you know who? Focus on familiar feelings."

I focused on the combination of emotions, and my eyes snapped open. "Cathica."

"Okay. Good. That's good."

"Rose, Cathica is here."

She nodded. "Got it."

"What about you?!" She called to the man. "You're not a Jagrabelly."

"Jagrafess." He corrected.

"Jagrafess. You're not a Jagrafess. You're human."

"Yeah, well, simply being human doesn't pay very well."

"But you couldn't have done this all on your own."

"No. I represent a consortium of banks. Money prefers a long-term investment. Also, the Jagrafess needed a little hand to install himself."

"No wonder, a creature that size. What's his life span?" The Doctor asked.

"Three thousand years." He replied happily.

"That's one hell of a metabolism generating all that heat. That's why Satellite Five's so hot. You pump it out of the creature, channel it downstairs. Jagrafess stays cool, it stays alive. Satellite Five is one great big life support system." The Doctor announced, making sure Cathica could hear.

"But that's why you're so dangerous. Knowledge is power, but you remain unknown. Who are you?"

He snapped his fingers and energy surged through the manacles, frying Rose and I. We screamed in pain.

"Leave them alone! I'm the Doctor, she's Jordyn Avery and she's Rose Tyler." He gestured to both of us in turn. "We're nothing, we're just wandering."

"Tell me who you are!" He demanded.

"I just said!"

"Yes, but who do you work for? Who sent you? Who knows about us? Who exactly-" He stopped, and the Jagrafess growled.