WRATH OF THE BROTHERHOOD

Chapter Five

Rose made her way to the bedroom she shared with John and sat down on the side of the bed. She tried to keep her emotions under control because she figured her husband would be along any moment. Sure enough, she saw a shadow in the light from the doorway but when she looked up, she was surprised to see the Doctor with him.

"What is it, Rose?" John said as they came towards her.

"Guess," Rose said angrily.

"You're terrified the Brotherhood followed us," John said. "She's had nightmares about this since we got over here," he said to the Doctor. "So what's your opinion? Do you think it's them?"

"I don't know," the Doctor said as he sat down beside Rose. "It could be them, it could be someone else. There are thousands of universes; one of them might have void travel."

"But Amy said they're heading for Earth," Rose said as John sat down on the other side and took her hand. "If the Brotherhood found the dimension cannon, they would have seen the coordinates for this universe and if they came here, they could just scan for Earth. We were so thick. We should have fixed it so the information was deleted after we left. But we were so weak and in such a big hurry and now…"

"Rose, things are different now," the Doctor said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"How?" Rose said to him.

"Now, there's all these people who can band together to protect and save the world. Now we have professionals. It isn't Pete Tyler and the Scooby Doo Squad. Let them try to come here," the Doctor said.

John held up his hand for silence and pointed to the doorway. They saw Michelle and Mandy peeking around the corner. Michelle took Mandy's hand and they walked into the room.

"We can help," Michelle said as she and her sister walked over to Rose. "We can help protect the Earth."

Rose smiled and held her arms open wide, embracing them both.

"Thank you," Rose said to them as she hugged them tight.

The Doctor stared at the children while they hugged Rose. Then he heard Lori calling for Michelle and Mandy and he told them to wait while he went out into the hallway.

"Did Shelly and Mandy come this way?" Lori said, exasperated.

"Yes, they did," the Doctor said.

"Uggh, I turn around for one moment…"

"Listen, Lori. I think I should take you and your family and John and Rose somewhere," the Doctor said softly. "Everyone is worried that this orb and ship belongs to the Brotherhood and they've come looking for Rose and John. If they locate them, you're gonna be in danger. Please let me take you somewhere…or at least stay inside the TARDIS, that would be the safest place of all."

"Are you sure it might be them?" Lori said softly.

"I don't know but I want to investigate. But I want you all safe while I do it. If this lot is gonna invade this Earth, I want my friends and family inside my TARDIS instead of a concentration camp. Will you let me do this?"

"Mommy, are we gonna have a party?" Mandy said as she came out of the room and walked over to her.

"Baby, I don't know, we're a little busy right now," Lori said.

"How about a party in the TARDIS?" the Doctor said, bending down to Mandy. "The TARDIS has many rooms, including rooms for partying. We could all have fun in there."

"Are you coming?" Mandy asked as the Doctor picked her up and held her close to him.

"I'll be in there but I have to go back and forth because I'm trying to find out what this spaceship is," the Doctor said. "Would you like to do that?"

"I can help you like Shelly can," Mandy said.

The Doctor chuckled.

"Bookworm and her want to help us defend Earth," the Doctor said to Lori.

"I think you'll have to wait till you're a bit older, honey," Lori said, ruffling Mandy's hair.

"Sweetie?"

The Doctor looked around Lori's shoulder and saw River walking up to them.

"Is everything alright?" River said.

The Doctor explained what was going on and River nodded.

"I would take his advice," River said, coming up to Lori's side. "Just to be on the safe side."

"Okay, I'll tell Jim about this," Lori said. "Can you watch Mandy and Shelly for a moment?"

"Happy to," the Doctor said.

Lori ruffled Mandy's hair before hurrying back down the hallway.

"If it is them, I'm assuming we're going to be stopping them this time?" River said sweetly.

"To prevent them destroying another Earth? You better believe it," the Doctor said.

"I'll help!" Mandy said.

River chuckled while the Doctor held Mandy close.

"You have a volunteer then," she said, rubbing Mandy's back while she laid her head on the Doctor's shoulder.

"Yes, they're getting younger and younger," the Doctor said. "Then again, I'm getting younger and younger."

"Yes, I noticed that," River said.

"How do you know about that?" the Doctor said.

"You forget, love, I needed the Spotter's Guide for a reason. I've seen your younger lives. And I have to say, compared to life number one, you're practically a fetus."

"Gee, thanks, dear," the Doctor said while River chuckled and patted his cheek.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Everyone went into the TARDIS after the Doctor told them what was happening. He promised to have the party inside it and to flit in and out of it while he was trying to find the ship. Lori and Jim told their family to pack a few essential belongings just in case and Mandy made sure to get her panda bear before everyone went inside the time ship. Everyone went into the kitchen except for the Doctor, River, Rose, John, Jack, Donna, Martha and Sarah Jane. They were standing around the console discussing recent events and what they needed to do about it.

"So do we track them then?" Martha asked them. "Scan for any ships in the vicinity of Earth and investigate?"

"That might do for starters but we need to find a way to stop them," the Doctor said. "And if this ship can get through the void, how many others could as well?"

"An armada?" Sarah Jane.

"That's what they did the last time," John said. "Put ships over every major city on Earth."

"And Earth doesn't know about them," Jack said. "Which means they could be fooled like the other Earth into believing they're peaceful."

John snorted at that.

"They're about as peaceful as a heart attack," he said to them. "And just as unpleasant."

"I have a thought," Sarah Jane said.

"Yeah?" the Doctor said, walking over to her.

"If this Brotherhood is searching for John and Rose. Perhaps we can use them as bait and use the protection of the TARDIS at the same time. Perhaps find an uninhabited planet and lure them there."

"Keep them away from Earth," Jack said, nodding.

The Doctor thought about that.

"If they're coming here, they must want John and Rose badly," the Doctor mused as he leaned back against his console.

"Or they're greedy and want another world to strip," River added.

"Oh, they're greedy all right," Rose said while John nodded.

The Doctor thought some more.

"We could find an uninhabited world, yes. But at the same time we could find some more allies. Someone who could help us defeat and contain them," the Doctor said. "That will take a bit of thought though. There are many allies."

"Assemble a fighting force then," River said. "Like you did for Demon's Run."

"Well, I have the start of one here," the Doctor said, gesturing to everyone. "But yes, we could find others who will help us. After hearing Rose and John's story, we'll need all the help we can get."

While they were talking, Michelle was standing just inside the back door with a tray filled with cups of tea that her mother had given to take to everyone. She had been listening to the conversation and sighed softly.

"I wish I was old enough to help," she whispered to herself before she went into the console room.

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