Chapter Eighteen

"Yes!" the Valeyard said as they entered the TARDIS. "Back home at last! Now we can leave this miserable planet and head for greener pastures…after London, that is," he said as Rose and Jasmine entered.

Rose shut the door and she and Jasmine followed him to the console.

"Come, my Arkytior, let me take you to the med bay and get something for your…"

The Doctor trailed off when he passed by his monitor and heard it beeping. He told Rose and Jasmine to wait while he hurried over to it.

"I have a message waiting for me," he said over his shoulder. "Wait a tic."

Rose and Jasmine walked over while the Valeyard read the message. Rose noticed it was written with the concentric circle language and she hoped that the Valeyard would tell her what it meant. She looked at him and frowned when she noticed the Valeyard's face had gone slack.

"What is it?" she said.

"Buckingham Palace has been attacked," he said, looking at her.

"By who?" Rose said.

"Rebels. Clara's friends, the masses, they stormed the palace and according to my personal secretary have murdered nearly everyone."

"Oh God," Rose said, paling. "But most of the people, I mean, they're not evil. They just work for you, yeah?"

"Doesn't matter," the Valeyard said, shaking his head. "According to this, it was a frenzied mob. They probably don't care who it was, they just wanted blood."

The Valeyard stood there, arms crossed over his chest while he thought.

"Then let's go," Rose said.

The Valeyard frowned.

"Go where?" he said.

"Just anywhere. Just leave Earth and the three of us can travel, that's all we need, right?"

"You don't want me to go back and sort this out?" the Valeyard said, pointing to the monitor.

" No because I don't want them killing you. I don't want them falling into their hands because they won't show you any mercy. Just…leave."

A grim smile spread over the Valeyard's face.

"Another planet I've run from then," he said, shaking his head. "Once a renegade, always a renegade it seems. Pity. Earth had its faults but it had been my second home for centuries. I suppose in the end, this is my true home," he said, looking up at the ceiling.

He checked the end of the message.

"This was sent an hour ago," he mused. "Anything could have happened in that time. My secretary could have been killed by now…"

He trailed off and returned to his thoughts for a moment before he started up his ship and prepared to take her into the vortex.

"Clara, I'm sorry," he murmured to himself. "I only hope they didn't kill you as well. Perhaps someday I can return and see you again."

He knew that he'd have to take them far away from his realm because he was sure if Earth was in rebellion, the others would follow suit and he'd have to find a way for him, Rose and Jasmine to be safe in case they came baying for his blood. For now, he had Rose at his side and his thoughts were on her and Jasmine and getting them far away from the chaos.

Once they were inside the vortex, he stepped away from the console and took Rose's hand, escorting her out of the room while Jasmine followed them. First things first, he had to attend to Rose's throat and then they would decide after that where they should go and what they should do in order to begin a new life together.

THE END.

A/N: Planning a series for this so the second part will be up soon.