Fic: The Death and Life of Rodageitmososa. Act One. (2/5)

[elisi]

And - more fic! :) For more info, see Cold Open:

Cold Open

Title/Summary: The Death and Life of Rodageitmososa.
Summary: Roda knew, at that very moment, that she was going to die.
Authors: luckweaver (aka the_redjay - they changed their name) & elisi.
Warnings: Character death, grievous injuries.
Setting: Between 'Day of the Doctor' and 'Time of the Doctor'. AU 'verse. Set post-A Good Day and [immediately] post-Galimaufrey.
Spoilers: Day of the Doctor, A Good Day, Galimaufrey.
Rating: PG-13
Characters: The Seeker (OC), Roda (OC), the Doctor, Clara, the Master (original/author-created), Jack.


Act One
In another universe
The Seeker watched the emptiness of space for a long time, letting his mind go over what had happened, making it all fit.

Absentmindedly bringing up his hand to his neck, he took a deep breath as he assigned this latest encounter to a whole new sub-folder in his mind. Lessons… not so much learned, as reinforced. (If that was what this had been.)

Yet, it had been one amongst many in his travels - and the others had been more constructive. Jack… He smiled. Jack would get a surprise when he returned. And he’d win round Roda and the Doctor, eventually - it might never be the same, but he would be able to build something new on the ruins. And there had been other valuable experiences and lessons and ventures… What had started out as an exercise in clearing his head - and getting away from well-meaning, but interfering, family and friends - so he could start his life’s work in as effective and efficient a manner as possible, had turned into so much more: A chance to see those friends and family in a new light, interacting with them in ways he’d not thought possible, and to test his theories in practice, with incredibly useful (if sometimes also painful) outcomes. It had been near five years he estimated - taking in all the other adventures along the way - but although it was less than he’d expected, he felt that after this latest encounter he was ready to return.

“OK, Harvey,” he said to the Toclafane always hovering somewhere above his right shoulder (a familiar and comforting presence wherever he had gone) “-let’s go home!”

The calculations were complex, but the failsafes worked like they should, and then he was home...

It wasn’t until he was actually in his own universe that he realised how off-balance the other worlds had made him, comparatively. Not that any traveller didn’t swiftly adjust to a moving deck or a change in altitude, but to feel everything suddenly fit, like stepping onto solid ground again, was an unexpected, but welcome, pleasure.

Setting the co-ordinates for his own planet (his own bed, his own house - tomorrow morning he would watch the suns rise from his tower and everything would be right in this and every other world), his TARDIS suddenly seemed to throw a hissy fit (had he damaged her? For a second a cold flash of fear washed over him), but then he realised that she was simply pulling the same trick the Doctor’s TARDIS always did - taking him to wherever (or rather whenever) he needed to be. Maybe Jack had arranged some sort of Welcome Back party? The Seeker wouldn’t put it past him…

(Nineteen years after he'd left, he noticed. A strangely long time. And strangely specific. The TARDIS was honing in on a date and time with minute precision. Why?)

Stepping out into the courtyard of his house, he looked around, puzzled. The place was completely empty, except for a few Toclafane who made a beeline straight for him. But their welcome wasn't what he had expected.

"The Lady Redjay!"

"She came but moments ago!"

"She is injured!"

"She isn't talking to us!"

He stared, willing his mind to wrap itself around what they were saying.

"Where?" was his only question as he reached out to the nearest Toclafane, seeing through their eyes where she lay - a valley somewhere, miles and miles away; and without a moment's hesitation he turned back into his TARDIS.

But even though he'd watched through others' eyes, he wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted him.

Kneeling beside her he almost felt sick, and for a moment didn’t even dare touch her.

The deep stab wound in her chest brought with it far too recent memories, except this time he would not be able to fix it easily… The rest of her was so broken, her lungs collapsed (judging by the look of her chest), every part of her body that he could see bruised and bloody with several broken bones - even her face was grazed, and her clothing was so soaked with blood he wasn't sure whether or not the top had been red originally.

He had memories from his infancy of his father torturing the Redjay - and he knew that she had eventually regenerated from the build-up of injuries - but this was worse.

(“You see this, Alexander?” his father had said, one hand knotted in and out of the Redjay's hair, the other held too tightly around her bruised throat, “This is what our race should never be.” She'd been all over bruises and cuts, too weak to even support her own weight... And he suddenly knew what his father had meant. This was wrong. This kind of hurt was unnatural on a level so bone-deep he felt it like a physical blow. They were the mightiest race in the universe, they should never be this. What had done this to her? He would find them and have the Toclafane slice them to ribbons. Slowly. While he watched.)

But first of all he had to save her...

She was so deathly pale he knew she had to be on the cusp - as far as he could tell she'd already slipped into unconsciousness.

(For a second he didn’t know what to do… He could remember Ianto, dying, the terror of uncertainty he had felt then. But Ianto had been human, and he himself had only been a child. Roda must have used her last strength to find her way to him - and he would not let her down. No matter what it took. He had the power of empires at his fingertips, he would find a way.)

With utmost gentleness he cradled her face, and - closing his eyes - touched his forehead to hers, delving deeper into her mind than he ever had.

In a flash second he absorbed a brief imprint of her most recent memories - a conversation with the Doctor that had unbalanced her (the saved, but lost, Gallifrey, of course - Missy had been a very useful source of information, all told) and then Torchwood hunting a serial killer… And Roda (so stubborn, so focussed, so brave) of course giving her everything, no matter the cost. And the cost had been far too high. Even if they’d caught, and shot, the killer in the end.

Deeper and deeper he went, through rapidly closing darkness, until he found the tiniest spark, a mere flicker of consciousness - so deeply hidden he almost missed it.

‘Roda,’ he whispered, ‘Roda, it’s me. I found you. Hold on, just please hold on - I’ll bring you home, I’ll bring you back. I promise you.’

The tiny flicker grew for a moment, a spark of Redjay that made his throat catch.

‘Too late.’ It was like the lightest breeze, too faint to even stir a leaf. ‘... Missed you. Tell everyone I'm sorry. Someone'll pick up the mantle.’

And then - she was gone.

He sat in disbelief, waiting for a golden spark that never came. Instead there was just nothing. No phoenix-like burst of fire; no slow change, like a tide coming in; no abrupt transformation like lightning searing itself across the landscape. Just nothing. Her mind fell away from around him like darkness receding before the morning sun - as insubstantial as shadows, and as impossible to catch.

(He remembered her - the other world her - furious and glorious and ever antagonistic, never giving him a moment’s peace. She couldn’t be dead. Such a force of nature couldn't just be gone, destroyed by something as inconsequential and unremarkable as that serial killer.)

“No,” he said softly, but firmly. “No. This is not how it ends.”

With utmost care and gentleness he picked up her lifeless body, and carried it into his TARDIS. (The questions in his mind were multiplying, but for the moment he merely stacked them up in neat piles.)

“You listen lover, even if you cannot hear. I am the Seeker, and I will find a way. I promise you.”

He would accept nothing else.



Act Two

Comments

[enevarim]

This is beautiful and terrifying and it feels like there are so many ways it could go horribly horribly wrong, like when the Seeker’s father had to cope with death without someone like Sarah Jane nearby to remind him that “Everything has its time. And everything ends.”:

Disbelief segued into dismay, then pain in his expression, as Koschei’s breath exhaled in an almost silent wail. It seemed to take forever, the moment interminably and unbearably frozen. He pressed his ear to her breast. There wasn’t a sound. “This is not supposed to happen.” Being characteristically thorough, he placed the heel of his hand over her heart, and tried to massage it back to life. It didn’t work. No amount of pressure of pounding made a difference, and he soon sat back on his heels. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

With the fingertips of his right hand, he touched the blood than ran from the corner of her mouth. It was still warm. He touched the index finger of his left hand to his own cheek, just below the tear duct. It came away dry. He leant forward, and kissed her very gently, but no breath returned from between her lips. “Not yet,” he muttered in a harsh tone. “This isn’t over yet.”

And I thought this was the seventh regeneration of Roda, in which case surely it shouldn’t be final, although if she is from Rassilon’s time (still haven’t caught up on the earlier Roda stories, I’m afraid) maybe the number of regenerations isn’t fixed yet, but I felt the same disbelief the Seeker did waiting for the regeneration that didn’t come.

And he’d win round Roda and the Doctor, he knew it - that, if nothing else, his journeys had proved beyond a doubt. And there had been other valuable experiences and lessons and ventures… What had started out as an exercise in clearing his head - and getting away from well-meaning, but interfering, family and friends - so he could start his life’s work in as effective and efficient a manner as possible, had turned into so much more: A chance to see those friends and family in a new light, interacting with them in ways he’d not thought possible, and to test his theories in practise, with incredibly useful outcomes.
– Even if this is never explained or referred to again, it is interesting and thought-provoking. And a topical line of thought for the last day of 2014.

but then he realised that she was simply pulling the same trick the Doctor’s TARDIS always did - taking him to wherever (or rather whenever) he needed to be. Maybe Jack had arranged some sort of Welcome Back party?
– Oh, Seeker. Such a hammerblow to come. (And a lovely vision of all the other TARDISes that at various points went “off-course” in order to take their “owners” to where they actually needed to be.)

No phoenix-like burst of fire; no slow change, like a tide coming in; no abrupt transformation like lightning searing itself across the landscape
– lovely descriptions of the 9-10 / 10-11 regens, the classical series regens, and then the 11-12 regen.

And then the terrifying question of what the Seeker is actually going to do, and whether he is now (like River in TWoRS) in a place where his Time Head is telling him that this is what actually should happen next and he is going to ignore it and do something Awful.

Superb, as always. Looking forward very much to discovering what happens next. Happy New Year to you both!

[elisi]

Ooooooh, feedback! ♥

This is beautiful and terrifying and it feels like there are so many ways it could go horribly horribly wrong
It is always fascinating to let some free into the world, and see how it is perceived and understood... Let's just say you are not wrong.

like when the Seeker’s father had to cope with death without someone like Sarah Jane nearby to remind him that “Everything has its time. And everything ends.”
I'm not familiar with the quote you posted. Where is it from? Looks interesting.

And I thought this was the seventh regeneration of Roda, in which case surely it shouldn’t be final, although if she is from Rassilon’s time (still haven’t caught up on the earlier Roda stories, I’m afraid) maybe the number of regenerations isn’t fixed yet, but I felt the same disbelief the Seeker did waiting for the regeneration that didn’t come.
You are a very perceptive reader.

– Even if this is never explained or referred to again, it is interesting and thought-provoking. And a topical line of thought for the last day of 2014.
Oh that's the next set of stories, pretty much - the tales of his travels. I just wanted to sketch them in a little, so people had an idea how he felt, returning. Hadn't linked it to the New Year though...

– Oh, Seeker. Such a hammerblow to come.
Set them up... Stab them in the back.

(And a lovely vision of all the other TARDISes that at various points went “off-course” in order to take their “owners” to where they actually needed to be.)
TARDISes are wonderful things. :)

– lovely descriptions of the 9-10 / 10-11 regens, the classical series regens, and then the 11-12 regen.
I could have gone & added all the classic ones also, but I figured this would cover most. And thanks. :)

And then the terrifying question of what the Seeker is actually going to do, and whether he is now (like River in TWoRS) in a place where his Time Head is telling him that this is what actually should happen next and he is going to ignore it and do something Awful.
MORE COMING TOMORROW!

Superb, as always. Looking forward very much to discovering what happens next.
Squee. Thank you!!!

Happy New Year to you both!
And to you too! ♥

[enevarim]

The quote is from the David A. McIntee Missing Adventure The Dark Path, with Delgado!Koschei interacting with Two and becoming the Master, for a whole set of complicated and spoilerful reasons, spiralling from the death of his companion. And the not-yet-the-Master Koschei is a curious scientific investigator, not at all unhinged, and not unlike the Seeker (without the prophecy of conquest), and so while it is entirely unintended by the authors there’s a terrible DUH-DUH-DUH in my head as we wait a day to see whether the Seeker handles the death of someone he loves any better than his father did, or than River did. (We know from the coin that he gave Clara that he ends up with his empire. And we see from his thoughts up to this point that he was perfectly sane and careful in his plans of how to get there. We don’t know what happens next. This is... concerning.)

[elisi]

The quote is from the David A. McIntee Missing Adventure The Dark Path, with Delgado!Koschei interacting with Two and becoming the Master, for a whole set of complicated and spoilerful reasons, spiralling from the death of his companion.
Interesting. My own headcanon re. the Master is ariafic's the naming of things (Summary: How to become the Master), which is also the best Master fic ever, and I think I know great parts off by heart... (Long - 13,028 words. But worth it. If you read it, I'm sure you'll see ways in which [my depiction of] little Alex was influenced by it.)

and so while it is entirely unintended by the authors there’s a terrible DUH-DUH-DUH in my head as we wait a day to see whether the Seeker handles the death of someone he loves any better than his father did, or than River did.
*whistles innocently*

We know from the coin that he gave Clara that he ends up with his empire. And we see from his thoughts up to this point that he was perfectly sane and careful in his plans of how to get there. We don’t know what happens next. This is... concerning.
Yes, he did finish A Good Day on somewhat of a high... His travels have not really changed that.

[enevarim]

Oh dear. Not only is Koschei!Two a ginger, but Koschei makes a mental note to add a really excellent long-term planner to the list of traits he'd like in his next regeneration.... Yes. Definitely insightful and worth it. Actually, now that I get to the end, frighteningly brilliant. Thank you.

*whistles innocently*
– You know, that is so, so, so not how I was hoping you would react to that. :) Ah well. On to part three...

[elisi]

Oh dear. Not only is Koschei!Two a ginger, but Koschei makes a mental note to add a really excellent long-term planner to the list of traits he'd like in his next regeneration.... Yes. Definitely insightful and worth it. Actually, now that I get to the end, frighteningly brilliant. Thank you.
My pleasure. Sooner or later I tell everyone I meet [in fandom] to read it. Because the level of brilliance is just that pronounced.

You know, that is so, so, so not how I was hoping you would react to that. :) Ah well. On to part three...
There is really nothing I can say to that. Although if I am innocent... Well, I was merely being honest.

[luckweaver.livejournal.com]

I think Elisi covered most of what I wanted to reply, but:

And I thought this was the seventh regeneration of Roda, in which case surely it shouldn’t be final, although if she is from Rassilon’s time (still haven’t caught up on the earlier Roda stories, I’m afraid) maybe the number of regenerations isn’t fixed yet, but I felt the same disbelief the Seeker did waiting for the regeneration that didn’t come.
Yes, she's on her 7th regeneration, and though she is from Rassilon's era, and was born before the looms, she has the normal, expected number of regenerations. MORE COMING TOMORROW.

And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Although here in Canada, we still have 4 hours until the bells (and just convince things, my family in the Philippines (expats) rang in 2015... 8 hours ago?).

[enevarim]

You too! (To further confuse things and time zones, a trick I’ve heard of with young children in Canada is to have a kids’ New Year party at 7pm, but tuning into live television from London, so the kids can go to bed early but still feel like they’ve had the whole New Year’s pealing of the bells experience...)

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

This is really well one - just wonderful :D

[elisi]

Thank you! As long a we manage to hold your interest, I think we're happy. :)

[sea_thoughts]

I would love to find a Clara mood theme! My Eleven one is very old now, much as I love it.

[elisi]

You can have mine if you want it, I'm sure! I'll ask luckweaver! :)

ETA: Check out the latest post on my LJ. :)

[sea_thoughts]

I'm not even sure how this comment ended up on this entry! I'm so sorry!

[elisi]

These things happen, no worries. :)