New Earth

[just_the_doctor]

The TARDIS doors open on a windy landscape. A grassy plain on the shore of a lake, with all manner of short-range atmospheric crafts buzzing about their tasks.

"It's the year five billion and twenty-three," the Doctor explains. "We're in the galaxy M-87, and this? This is New Earth."

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[just_the_doctor]

"I kept myself safe," Chip says adoringly. "For you, mistress."

The Doctor can almost see the wheels turning in Cassandra's mind as she says, "A body... and not just that, a volunteer..."

"Don't you dare," he snaps. "He's got a life of his own."

Chip protests. He worships Cassandra. He would willingly welcome her into his body. The Doctor tries vainly again to stop her, but Cassandra doesn't listen. She ejects herself from Rose and enters Chip without a flinch.

Rose gasps, and her knees buckle. All the words he might have spoken to Cassandra in that moment flee the Doctor's mind as he lunges forward to catch Rose, checking if she's all right.

[ibringlife.livejournal.com]

It takes a few minutes to get her balance back. It's the opposite of before, suddenly theres too much room in her head and she's dizzy. She manages to affirm that she's all right, and then looks, really looks at the Doctor and smiles in relief.

"Hello!"

[just_the_doctor]

He beams at her. His Rose. "Hello. Welcome back."

They share a moment until, predictably, Cassandra interjects her self-serving observations into the mix, this time complaining about how she's "a walking doodle".

It breaks the spell, and the Doctor turns and, more subdued -- more grounded now that Rose is there, whole and complete -- he explains, "You can't stay in there. I'm sorry, Cassandra, but that's not fair. I can take you to the City. They can build you a skin tank and you can stand trial for what you've done."

"Well, that would be rather dramatic," Cassandra begins drolly. But she points out that Chip has been through so much, and was only a half-life to begin with. The body collapses, and both Rose and the Doctor move to catch him/her.

She's dying. Cassandra and Chip, they're both dying. But it's fine, she insists. The Doctor offers to bring her to the city, but Cassandra shakes her head. "Everything's new on this planet," she says. "There's no place for Chip and me anymore. You're right, Doctor. It's time to die. And that's good."

The Doctor considers for a moment, then nods with decision. "Come on. There's one last thing I can do." Rose helps him lift Chip/Cassandra to his/her feet and together, they head for the TARDIS.

[ibringlife.livejournal.com]

It's still so sad, Rose thinks, just like she had at Cassandra's first death. Maybe it's because she'd had her inside her head, felt that desperate will to survive, to live again. To feel something again with hands instead of just nerve endings. She couldn't help but sympathize, as horrid as Cassandra was.

The TARDIS lands again and the Doctor steps out ahead of them. Rose and Cassandra, in the body of Chip, follow after. It's that party, the one Ros e had caught a glimpse of on that recording. Cassandra, the real, human Cassandra was there, and there was something bright and glittering and brilliant about this one that made Rose hurt for her just a little bit more.

"Thank you," Cassandra says, in Chip's voice.

The Doctor tells her to go, and Rose wishes her luck.

She genuinely means it.

[just_the_doctor]

They watch from the TARDIS door as the older Cassandra, in the failing body of the half-life Chip, approaches the younger and compliments her beauty. The younger waves it off at first, but Chip's voice persists. She is truly beautiful. Just the way she is. It's self-effacing, but it's a warning, too, and a plea to remember, to keep that knowledge with her and not allow herself to end up as she already knows she will.

The body collapses then, all the life exhausted, draining away. Cassandra the younger catches the falling form, easing it to the ground. She calls for help, then rocks the dying (her) Chip, murmuring soothingly.

Rose turns away and goes back into the TARDIS, but the Doctor watches for another lingering moment. The fear of death, of ending, is a powerful motivator.

Especially when you're the last of your kind.