Chapter Text
Sometimes Kate Lethbridge-Stewart wondered how her father had done it, wrangling UNIT all those years while keeping its true nature secret from her and most of the world. It seemed these days if the slightest alien presence showed up, it had worldwide effects that required more smoothing over than covering up. She had wanted to UNIT to become less of a military presence, but she hadn’t realized how much time she would spend interacting with their PR team rather than her scientists.
So she was always grateful when they got to do something genuinely focused on a small, simple mystery they could handle in-house. Today, it was an alien device of unknown origin dropped off for their analysis.
Now Kate could gratefully take an hour or so of her afternoon to oversee her science advisors as they tried to determine the nature of the odd, box-like device.
“Right,” she said, walking into the lab where Shirley, Mel, and Donna were already gathered, “the officer who brought this in says it fell from the sky onto a farm in Lancashire and was found by the farmer looking for what upset his sheep. He thought it was something either Russian or Ancient Roman and was planning to get it on an episode of Antiques Roadshow if our local officer hadn’t thankfully spotted its true nature.”
“Have to admit, I’d’ve liked to see Fiona Bruce keep a straight face through that one,” Donna said.
Kate allowed herself a smile while continuing to read the report. “The officer bought it off the farmer at what he considered, quote, ‘a shameful, but tolerable sum,’ end quote, which brings it here to us today.” She lowered the tablet and nodded at the object. “So, first thoughts?”
“Definitely not Ancient Roman or Russian,” Shirley commented dryly.
“Thank you, Shirley. Second thoughts?”
“Dr. Courtney’s got an analysis running on the metal, see if we can determine what it’s made of,” Shirley continued, frowning at the surface of the device. “Based on the corrosion and scarring, though, it doesn’t seem new. Even with the damage from atmospheric entry, I think it’s been floating in space for a long time.”
Kate nodded, looking over the shape of the object for any sense of familiarity. “So the question is where it came from and whether its course to Earth was intentional or chance. Mel, Donna, have you seen anything like this in your travels?”
“There’s something about it,” Donna said, circling around the table thoughtfully. “Tip of my tongue, but I don’t know. Maybe some echo of the Doctor’s memories I can’t quite remember?”
“The style is definitely familiar,” Mel agreed. She grimaced. “I hate to even say it, but does it look a little bit Dalek to anyone else?”
Kate gave it a new, more cautious look. “I don’t have as much direct experience as you, but it’s possible.”
“Look, there’s writing on this panel here,” Donna said, pointing to one side of the box. She looked up at Mel. “My memory’s not as good as yours, but I think I’ve seen something like it before.”
Mel joined her as Kate started toward that side of the table. “Definitely looks like Dalek writing from the databanks, though maybe an unusual dialect. Not that I can read it either way.”
Donna sighed. “If I still had the Metacrisis, I probably could. Or at least get a sense of what it’s for…”
“Not worth the cost,” Kate said firmly.
Donna gave a faint smile and eyeroll at the sentiment, but continued looking at the engraved script. “I don’t know. That bit there, I feel like I can almost read it…” She ran her finger under one of the words.
There was a sudden pop and a burst of compressed air hit all of them as the top side of the device sprang open. Kate jumped back, as did the others, her arm automatically moving to shield Shirley, being nearest. She had already wheeled back on her own, though, arm up in case anything launched out to attack.
Kate braced herself, but nothing more was forthcoming. She met Mel and Donna’s eyes where they were recoiled on the other side of the table, then cautiously began walking over to look inside.
The hollow space inside the device sat empty, the lid open, but the device once again inert. It gave no further sign of purpose or activation.
“Seal the doors,” she ordered the soldier outside, peering around the room suspiciously. “Get Dr. Courtney and don’t open it again until we do a full sweep of the room.”
“What is it?” Mel asked as he obeyed.
“I don’t know yet, but I highly doubt the Daleks would go to the trouble of building a device that can survive in the vacuum of space and not put something in it. I think we just released something.”
Donna grimaced. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have touched it.”
“You did nothing wrong. You weren’t the first one to handle the device. Just the first it reacted to…”
“What was that word, the one you touched?” Shirley asked.
Donna shook her head. “I don’t know. It just seemed like one I’ve seen before.”
“Well, we may soon find out. If anyone sees anything or feels anything strange, say so,” Kate said, still scanning the room, each shadow, corner, potential hiding place. She knew it was likely pointless given how many forms of life out there could be invisible or intangible, or mimic something familiar. Hell, her own increasing paranoia could be the effect the device was designed to elicit…
“Watch it turn out to be me opening the Dalek version of Pandora’s box,” Donna muttered, as if thinking the same thing.
There was a clatter of feet outside the door as Dr. Courtney was hurried over, Major Singh jogging alongside. “Ma’am! What’s happened?” Singh asked.
“We’ve accidentally opened a device that seems to be Dalek in origin,” she answered. “We need a complete scan of this room for any sign of what may have come out of it or any effects it could be causing. No one is to enter or leave this room until we get the all clear that it’s safe. Major, the door was open for a moment before I realized the potential threat. Do a sweep of the building as well for anything that seems out of place or potential threats.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Singh saluted, hurrying off and shouting commands to his soldiers.
Courtney began typing at the computer in the main lab room. “Beginning a full range scan of all energies, biosignatures, and chemicals present in the room. I’ll let you know as soon as I see anything out of place.”
Kate nodded. “Make yourselves comfortable,” she told the others. “This could take a while.”
“Any idea what the Daleks might have put in a pressurized space capsule?” Shirley asked.
“I’m not sure,” Mel said, “but given Davros’ focus on genetic engineering and biological purity, I have some pretty nasty suspicions.”
Donna sighed, rubbing her forehead and leaning against the back wall. She pulled her jacket more tightly around her.
Kate cocked her head. “Donna? Are you all right?”
“Yeah, just locked my knees or didn’t eat enough this morning or something. Got a little light-headed for a second.” She rubbed her arms and Kate realized she was shivering. “Did they crank up the air in here as part of the scan?”
Kate exchanged a look with Shirley and Mel, a bad feeling growing in her stomach. She gestured the two of them to stay back. “Donna, may I…?” She gestured to Donna’s forehead.
“Hm?” Donna frowned, but just gave her a slightly bleary look of confusion.
When Kate raised the back of her hand to Donna’s forehead, she didn’t resist. Up close, Kate could see the flush on Donna’s fair skin even before she felt the heat burning off her.
“Courtney!” she called. “Prioritize pathogens in the scan and vitals for everyone in the room.”
‘Fever,’ she mouthed to the others who were watching with alarm and concern. “Anyone else, any signs of feeling strange?”
Mel shook her head. “Completely fine so far.”
“No change here,” Shirley agreed.
“Nor me.” Kate turned back to Donna. “Any chance you already had contracted a flu or something before coming in this morning?”
“I don’t think so,” Donna shrugged, her eyes closed as she braced against the wall, possibly feeling woozy again. “But Rose is back in school again. Kids bring everything home.” She exhaled shakily.
“I think perhaps you should sit down,” Kate said, moving to guide her to the floor.
“Yeah, that sounds best.” Donna started to slide down the wall, but ended up dropping the rest of the way as her legs gave out weakly.
“Donna!” Kate steadied her, crouching at her side. “We need a medic up here! Soon as you can clear someone to enter!”
“Working on it!” Courtney confirmed.
Kate turned to Shirley. “Get the tablet. Start looking up everything we know on Dalek bioweapons.”
“On it,” Shirley agreed.
Mel joined Kate on Donna’s other side, touching her shoulder. No point now in worrying about exposure. They had all been around the device when it opened and were sharing the same small space anyway. So why was only Donna being affected?
“Stay with us, Donna. Help’s on the way, but I need you to stay conscious,” Kate urged.
Donna’s head was lolling, her eyes fully closed. “Sorry…”
“Hang on, Donna.” Kate shook her slightly, desperation kicking in. “Stay with us!”
“Rose…Tell…” she breathed, then slumped bonelessly, Kate managing to steer her enough that her head didn’t hit the floor.
“Donna!” Kate gripped Donna’s wrist, counting in her head. She was still breathing, her pulse thready and racing, but she was out cold.
Kate met Mel’s eyes. “Call the Doctor.”
She suddenly wished the worst thing to happen today had just been dealing with the media.
OOO
Kate stood, staring through the window of the quarantined observation room in the medical wing. She was dressed in a fresh change of clothes, her hair still damp from the decontamination shower they had all had to take. Courtney had cleared them to exit the lab with a few procedures to ensure safety in case his readings were incomplete. His scans confirmed they were clear of unknown biological or nanotechnological entities.
Except for Donna.
Kate watched through the glass as medics attached EKG and EEG sensors to Donna’s unconscious form, coming and going through the decontamination scan at the door to her room. Donna hadn’t moved or given any sign of improvement since collapsing in the lab. Her skin was blotched with fever, her breathing shallow, but steady. She had been changed into a hospital gown and standard decontamination attempted as well for good measure, but the damage was already done.
Major Singh’s sweep of the building, coupled with the extended scan by Dr. Courtney confirmed the rest of UNIT was clear. The only place any sign of contamination existed was in Donna herself. And it hadn’t taken very long for the medics to figure out why.
Kate hated every time one of her people got injured or killed in the line of duty. She knew it was a cost that came with leadership, but she still dreaded every call home to family members, carried the guilt of every loss that happened under her command. But it was even worse when it happened to one of the colleagues she knew well and was fond of. She wondered how her father had borne it all those years, remembered the haunted look behind his eyes sometimes, the things he wouldn’t talk about even when she joined UNIT.
She wished he was still around for her to talk to now.
Mel stepped over to stand beside Kate, as if knowing she needed someone. “It’s not your fault, you know.”
Kate hummed noncommittally.
Mel watched as the newly-attached monitors started picking up Donna’s slightly elevated, but steady heartrate and neural patterns. “She’s a strong and stubborn one. If anyone can make it through this, she can.”
“Damn right.” I hope you’re right.
The elevator behind them opened and Kate heard the commotion of many rushing feet. She closed her eyes briefly, taking a steadying breath before turning around.
The Temple-Noble family were barreling across the room toward her, ahead of their UNIT escort. Their faces were variations of pale and stricken, including the Doctor’s where he followed at a respectful, but frantic distance. Kate realized they had brought Rose and Wilfred with them and swallowed. She had rather hoped they wouldn’t need to know about this until they had more positive news. But she supposed the news had to be broken to them at some point and perhaps it was better all at once.
Kate held up her hand to waylay them for a moment before they could rush past her into the quarantine room themselves.
“Donna?” Sylvia said reflexively, seeing her daughter’s prone form through the glass plate.
“Oh, my baby girl,” Wilfred pressed a frail hand to his mouth.
“I’ll tell you everything we know, then you can go in and see her,” Kate said, hoping to focus their attention before they got overwhelmed with emotion.
“Is my mum going to be all right?” Rose asked softly and Kate remembered all the times she had worried about her father at work once she knew the truth of his job.
“We’re putting every resource we have into making that happen,” she assured Rose, glancing at the Doctor to indicate he was one of those resources.
“What happened?” Shaun asked. “The Doc just said you told him Donna was sick from something alien she was exposed to.”
“We were analyzing a device that landed on Earth a few days ago. Unfortunately, during the investigation, it activated and released what we have now identified as a bioengineered virus. Our medics and scientists are researching everything we can find to try to kill or neutralize it, but haven’t made any progress yet.”
“What type of device? Where did it come from?” the Doctor asked, voice full of barely restrained urgency.
“Mel and Donna identified it as being Dalek in origin,” she said, holding his gaze.
She saw the deep rage and fear grow in his eyes, the way his jaw clenched until a muscle twitched in his cheek. But he held it in check.
“Daleks? Those awful monsters from when there were planets in the sky?” Wilf asked.
“The ones she nearly died stopping the last time?” Sylvia demanded.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Wait, if Donna’s sick with a virus, how come no one’s wearing masks or protective gear?” Wilf asked, pointing to the medics coming and going from her room.
Kate sighed. “That’s the odd nature of this particular virus, and the reason that I’m so sorry, but you two cannot go anywhere near her right now,” she said, holding her arm in front of the Doctor and Rose.
The Doctor looked affronted and shaken.
“Me?” Rose asked with a similar expression.
Shaun put a protective arm around her. “What do you mean Rose can’t see her mother?”
“The virus has no affect on humans,” Kate explained “It can’t use our cells as a host. It simply shuts down and gradually disintegrates if it lands on a human. But it’s apparently designed to target Time Lord DNA.”
“But Donna gave up her Time Lord side,” Wilf protested. “She let it go.”
“She gave up the Metacrisis,” the Doctor said, his face a mask barely covering the pain and anger below. “My memories, the Time Lord mind. But her DNA was rewritten, at least partially, by the original reaction and there’s no way to undo that.”
“Which means Rose inherited some Time Lord DNA as well,” Kate said apologetically. “Less than Donna, so it may not affect her as strongly, but I refuse to take that chance.” Donna would certainly kill her if she allowed it.
“What does all this mean for Donna? What’s the virus doing to her?” Sylvia pressed.
“Right now, thankfully, nothing beyond the range of a normal human virus,” Kate explained. “High fever, exhaustion, much of that the result of her own immune system fighting back. But we don’t yet know how far the illness will progress or what the virus is designed to do once it gets a foothold. We’re working on that and in the meantime providing fluids and medications to try to keep the symptoms at bay as best we can. Give Donna every chance to win this fight.”
“Where is this device? Can I take a look at it?” the Doctor asked.
Kate nodded. “Shirley’s studying it in the lab. I’ll take you there. The rest of you, mostly, are welcome to go in with Donna. It should be safe to come and go without transmitting the virus out of the room. It doesn’t appear to attach to humans for more than a moment, but just to be sure, you have to have a full scan before exiting the room.” She gestured to the airlock-like set of double doors leading into Donna’s room.
Then she hesitated. “Rose…”
The Doctor spoke up, his voice and expression softening. “Rose, would you like to come help me figure this out and save your mum?”
“Um…” Rose looked back at him, but her attention immediately went back to her mother’s room. “I guess so…”
Kate understood how torn she was. When her own father was in the hospital it had pained her whenever she needed to leave his side for work. And that was as a middle-aged woman. For a teenager still getting used to the idea of her mother being a mortal human being…
“You don’t have to, love,” Shaun said, wrapping an arm around Rose’s waist. “Sylvia, Wilf, you go ahead. I’ll watch with Rose.”
“Dad, you don’t have to stay with me.”
“I want to. That’s what dads do.”
Kate’s heart clenched, but she kept a professional face.
Mel stepped over. “Shaun, go see your wife. I can stay with Rose, if she’s okay with that.”
Shaun was clearly still torn as well, but Rose nodded she was all right and leaned into her adoptive aunt’s side. Shaun kissed Rose’s forehead.
“Everything’s going to be okay. Your mother has the best scientists in the world helping her.”
“And the Doctor,” Rose nodded.
Kate glanced over and saw the Doctor straighten, comporting himself with purpose and confidence to live up to her absolute faith in him. Kate met his eyes and nodded, leaving the family to their privacy while she got back to work.
As they walked out of earshot of the Temple-Nobles, the Doctor leaned closer and said quietly, “The main part of me Donna got from the Metacrisis was my mind. If that virus targets her brain…”
Kate’s stomach twisted, but she maintained a serious expression for the Doctor’s sake. “Then let’s make sure we stop it before it gets that far.”
OOO
Shirley had the device still open on the table in the lab where it had first been activated. She was scanning it with the 3D imager and adding notes on her tablet. They had determined that no traces of the virus remained in the device, so it could be safely handled in the open, for the most part. It had already delivered its contents in the burst of compressed air that wasn’t just air and now was just an empty container.
Shirley looked up as they entered. “How’s Donna?”
“Still unconscious, but relatively stable,” Kate answered. “Her family’s with her.”
“Good. Glad you’re here too, Doctor.”
“Wish it was better reasons.” He had pulled out his glasses and bent to look at the device. Kate still didn’t know if they had technology in them that gave him additional insight or just made him feel more scientific.
His already grim expression went darker. “Oh, this is Dalek all right. Where did you lot find this?”
“It fell on a farmer’s fields in Lancashire.”
He raised his eyebrows briefly in an ‘of course it did’ gesture. “It’s ancient. The Daleks built devices like this for the Time War. Traps for any unfortunate Time Lords close enough or careless enough to activate it.”
“But it was handled extensively even before it was delivered here,” Kate said. “If that farmer didn’t activate it while showing it off and crashing to Earth didn’t do it, why now?”
“Handled by humans, yes, but what happened directly before it opened?”
“Donna touched it,” Shirley said thoughtfully.
The Doctor nodded, his suspicions confirmed. He gestured to Shirley. “Can you close the top on it? It can’t hurt you. You’re not what it’s here for.”
Kate tensed. Shirley set aside her tablet and pushed the lid of the device shut until it clicked in place. Sure enough, it remained dull and lifeless.
“Doctor…” Kate said warily.
He held up a finger to tell her to wait, then poked the side of the device.
The lid sprang open again with a little hiss, but no more stored air to release. Even though Kate knew the device had been confirmed not to contain any more of the virus, she still jumped back instinctively.
“It’s genetically coded,” the Doctor explained. “Why waste their carefully-designed virus on a species it wouldn’t affect? It’s programmed to only activate if its targets are present. And all this time later, on the other side of the universe, it falls to the one place on Earth a Time Lord frequently visits.” He took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. “And was examined by one of only two humans on Earth with Time Lord DNA.”
“Combination of bad luck,” Kate muttered.
“I don’t believe in luck or coincidence anymore, not when Donna Noble’s involved.” He tapped his folded glasses on the table as he thought. “Donna took down the new Dalek Empire at its height, single-handedly. Turned all of Davros’ inventions against him as if they were toys. But my other self, the other half of the Metacrisis destroyed the Daleks by turning their own reality bomb against them, focusing it on Dalek cells. Now there’s a weapon targeting Time Lord cells fired right at us. Could one of them have survived? Is this a bit of revenge against us?”
“There’s a bit of writing on the side here,” Shirley pointed out. “Donna was trying to make sense of it when she touched it,” she explained as he came over to peer over her shoulder. “She thought she recognized this word here, but couldn’t place it.”
The Doctor’s face went blank for a second, then he stepped back, going dangerously still. Oh, Kate recognized that expression, even across multiple faces. The cold, pure anger that wise species learned to fear and prayed was never directed their way.
“Doctor?” she prodded cautiously.
“That’s what it says.” His voice was deceptively flat, his hand clenching his glasses, twisting the plastic until it creaked. “The word Donna was trying to translate. It means ‘Doctor’. This bomb was meant for me specifically.”
Kate grimaced. Shit.
“Right, so what do we do—” Shirley started.
But she was cut off as the Doctor suddenly whipped his glasses at the rear wall, smashing them to pieces with a visceral yell. Shirley jumped, alarmed, but Kate was already in motion, storming over to where the man stood, breathing hard, visibly seething.
“Doctor, get a hold of yourself! Guilt and fury is not going to save Donna’s life. You said it yourself: this device is ancient. A leftover of the Time War. It’s not a new attack, just an unused landmine we accidentally stumbled upon. And that’s horrible, but raging against Davros now isn’t helping anyone. When this is over, you can take out your anger at whatever makes you feel better, but right now, Donna needs you at your best. So pull it together!”
For a moment, Kate was very aware she was facing down an ancient being, potentially older than their entire planet, whose very name inspired awe or fear across the universe. But then she saw him sag in front of her eyes as his rage drained away and he once again seemed like the sad, tired, middle-aged man he appeared to be most of the time.
“You’re right.” He took a deep breath. “Sorry. I’m here.”
She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m upset too. But let’s put it to good use.”
“Right.” He sniffed, nodding as he calmed down.
Shirley, who had been staying carefully out of the conversation, tapped her fingers on the table. “You know, Donna commented that she felt like she’d opened Pandora’s box. Do you know that myth?”
The Doctor’s jaw tensed, eyes distant. “A box that contained all the evils in the world.”
Kate wondered what negative association he had with that story now, but didn’t ask about it.
“Pandora opened the box and let all the evils out, but I always preferred the version with the last part of the story.” Shirley pushed the lid of the Dalek device back into its sealed position. “Pandora closed the box in time to keep one thing from escaping, so humans had something to fight the evils with.”
The Doctor swallowed, still staring into space. “Hope.”
“Hope.” Shirley nodded, leaning back in her wheelchair and crossing her legs. “I’ve still got mine, Doctor. You?”
He snorted lightly, finally looking her way. “For humans, always.”
He squared his shoulders, starting for the door. “Right, let’s get to work, then. Can you send that scan to the TARDIS’s computer? And get me copies of everything the medics have figured out about the virus and Donna’s condition? I’m parked on the main floor.”
“Sending it over,” Shirley said, tapping at the screen.
“Kate.” The Doctor paused in the doorway, looking back. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “Just filling in until Donna can say the same thing herself.”
His expression went somewhere between pained and amused. “I’ll make sure she can yell at me properly very soon.”
As he left, Kate looked back over at the shattered pair of glasses by the wall. She didn’t want to see how he would react if he couldn’t solve this.
Best they make sure it didn’t come to that, then.