Standing as if it was a duel at high noon, Ironwood and the Huntress stood facing each other. The wind was harsh, the rain was so heavy it was blinding everyone's vision and thunder was endlessly rolling and booming along with the odd flash across the sky.
'Last chance, Devil. Turn around and leave the humans in peace. Your have the oceans, why is it never enough for you!' the Huntress yelled. Her boiled anger keeping her nice and toasty while her human friends froze around her and would most likely leave today with colds.
Ironwood bellowed in laughter. 'Preposterous! We are at the dawn of our new shining age, Time Lord! Why on earth would we do such a ridiculous thing! I can't kill you, but soon my people will!!!'
Silence fell upon them, save for the rain and thunder. The Huntress shook her head in disappointment. That was clearly his last chance and she had hoped really hard that after her regenerating body stunt that he would perhaps consider it, but no.
Kate, Gray and Cassie could only watch the confrontation unfold. None of them could or were even willing to attempt intervention. This was a battle they had to sit back and watch.
The Huntress at last reset her stare upon Ironwood. This time, though, her gaze didn't emanate anger and any sort of vengeful emotion. They were sad. Those green eyes became pools of sadness and regret. Not for herself, but for him.
Ironwood's blood ran cold and he froze in a instantaneous wave of terror within. The unknown violence of the time lords was infamous, especially within the Time War itself. Would this be his punishment for defying her. Was he about to vanish before even seeing the rise of his people and their reclaiming of earth.
Making him tremble slightly in panic, she moved. Slowly but gracefully, the Huntress' arms were spread out to her sides, her palms facing the sky. She raised them up from her sides to above her head in this manner, like she was praying to the gods or blessing him like an dark angel.
'It's time' she quietly commanded, her head tilted up to the sky and her eyes closing as each word left her lips. She let the rain water hit her skin harshly and seep into her slightly open mouth. She was living the moment. The others on the other hand started looking around frantically, no one knowing what was about to happen.
Not knowing what else to do, Ironwood decided to take the safest and direct approach. He made a dive for his dropped gun with his arm. All his hand hit was something with sharp edges and a smooth surface, followed by the sensation of a freezing burn. He looked down to find his whole hand was forced willingly against an encasement of red ice and within it, the ray gun.
He yelped and clenched to his hand with the other. It looked like he touched dry ice.
Feeling the overwhelming desire to inflict such immense pain onto her, he made his first of supposed to be many steps towards the Huntress.
Once his first boot touched the deck, the new noise started and ceased his will to move.
Though it was hard to hear from the absolute chaos of the weather around them, the sound of violent bubbling water erupted around him in ever direction. More specifically, around the edges of the bow's deck. Around him, the Huntress, Kate, Cassie, Gray and the whole device itself.
One by one, figures rose from the layer of rainwater. There were many of them, certainly more than a dozen. All ghostly, water dripping from every mouth, ear, nose, the works. No words were spoken but there didn't need to be. It was a moment from a horror movie coming to life. The dead rising, quite literally.
'I gave you a choice, Ironwood. You could have left but you choose to have your plan pulled from right under your own feet. This is your fault, not mine now.'
Gaining their semi-solid form, the souls of the fallen crews started making steps, closer and closer to Ironwood. He turned in endless circles, growing dizzy. There was so many of them, so horrible to look at. The very people who had stood in his way since they started this long and agonising strategy. The ones in the water.
'So many... How are they doing this!' he cried as he was loosing his balance trying to watch all of them. He squinted his eyes at some of them, hoping that his telekinesis would return, but no such luck. He was powerless.
Not understanding exactly what and why this whole situation was now happening; Kate Gray and Cassie went back-to-back and watched from all angles as the watery risen officers were closing in on them. With the Huntress included, the four of them being back-to-back made a perfect square, or diamond depending on how you saw it.
Trying to avoid his dread and anxiety, Ironwood refocused on his rival, his true enemy in this moment. Back once again at the Huntress who was still in the same spot. Her hand was back by her side, her eyes locked with his, piercing his very soul with one thing. He could understand it so clearly even though it seemed so impossible. An apology.
'I did exactly what I wanted. I found a way to save everyone. It was so simple, the simplest simplicity moment of simple ideas ever. I did what you could never achieve. I split the control of the device, but rather than giving it to you, I gave it to them.'
The figures stopped and lowered there heads in respect. There was no malice within them. Just existence. Kate, Gray and Cassie finally relaxed.
Feeling something new, another piercing stare now punching through the back of his skull, Ironwood turned around. Behind him were three figures. Not familiar to him, but quite familiar to the others. They had come around from the ships starboard side.
One stood in front, proud and maintained a stance just like the Huntress'. Ready to fight, but with words alone. No weapons, no fighting. The other two stood to the sides, but slightly back.
It was Will at point. The Huntress saw him for the first time and nodded a welcoming smile to him. He did the same thing back, quite pleased to have seen what he'd seen. She truly found a way to save them. He just had to hope that the rest of her plan would kick in soon. The ships were still moving and the storm around them was still becoming more violent.
To the sides, people ran to shelters and the streets were beginning to flood over from the breaking banks of the Thames and the sheer never-ending downpour of rain.
Behind Will were another two familiar faces. Will himself turned around to look at the person off to his left shoulder with a proud smile and she smiled back. It was the Fortress' captain, Margorie Atwood.
Though Will didn't do the same for the person on his right, he didn't have to. The person who was suppose to notice was someone else. And he did.
Gray shuttered and tears welt up, flowing on their own in that one moment involuntarily. He couldn't look away from her and his heart was rebreaking in his chest with every staggered breath. 'Oh Breena...' he whimpered at the sight of this beloved but lost sister, Breena Broke.
She looked so lifeless and pale, yet the moment she smiled at him she seemed more alive than anyone else in the world. So bright and so full of heart.
Once she started smiling, every one of the lost souls looked up at the raging storm clouds and closed their eyes, smiling along with her. Everyone smiling.
Out of nowhere, the rain began to ease. The lightning vanished. The thunder grew softer and softer everywhere and the clouds became lighter and lighter until they dissipated, leaving just a few fluffy white ones in the sky. The sun was out and in its full glory.
Once the weather had reverted to that of a nice, sunny day, the water forcing the ships along began to flow back down. Within a minute, all three vessels were back down to the Thames standard level, halted in their tracks and unmoving. The charge was over.
Inside the Salvations heart, the primed missiles steaming within suddenly shut off. Every light, every noise, everything. The impending bomb was diffused.
Now that the rain was gone, everyone could feel just how saturated they were. The clinging of their clothes, the heaviness. It didn't matter, though. The heat and warmth from the sun felt so glorious, so beautiful. It was quite like leaving a room of pure darkness into the great outdoors full of light and life for the first time in a very long while. Hope at its finest.
Though they weren't noticed, off to the sides were others met along the way. Teddy, the Welshman and more. All basking in the sunlight and all looking more human and solid. Their clothes still dripping with endless water, but their faces didn't. Even a glimpse of colour could be seen in their faces.
Lost and watching his plan unfold before his very eyes, Ironwood limped his body and dropped to his knees. The Huntress watched with a stone expression, emotionless. She just watched him and inside he felt the despair of his failure.
'It's over, Ironwood. Just let go' the Huntress spoke to him one last time. There was nothing more to say now.
Knowing deep down that he was unable to touch her, Gray only ran up to where her sister was. They stood face to face. Gray still wet with tears and snivelling, Breena looking like she was shedding tears of her own even though it was difficult to tell.
Gray raise his hand up in front of him and she did the same. They couldn't hold each other, but in their own way, the moment their hands met was enough. Gray felt only cold, gushing water beneath his palm but imagined her warm, silky-smooth skin instead.
'Long time, eh squirt' Gray finally spoke in half sadness and half chuckling. She laughed a full laugh back, having missed everything about her brother considered he was the only one to really make her smile and laugh in her life.
'Ya missed me, I see' she joked back, letting her own accent punch through. In that one sentence, it become so much more clearer that they were related.
Leaving them to their catchup, Will and Atwood walked around the still shellshocked Ironwood and approached the others, the Huntress in particular.
'Sorry we're late' Will said, looking at the Huntress in hopes of breaking her fixated stare on the Admiral. It did.
She smiled back and clapped him on the shoulder. His blazer squelched like wet carpet and she couldn't stop her face from twisted in her realising disgust. 'Ah, yeah. We got there. But nice of you to finally show' she answered, in an attempt to be casual.
Kate suddenly tapped on the Huntress' shoulder. 'Sorry to interrupt, but how exactly did that all happen. Better yet, what exactly happened just now?'
'That little gadget of Ironwood's plus a few changes to the main climate regulator was enough to relinquish control to the souls of the fallen ships. These are the crewmembers who shared the same blood type as the one in the control conduit. In the end, it was actually them who stopped the storm and relaxed the waters. I put fate into their hands.'
'And we thank you, Huntress' Atwood added with a smile and her hands behind her back in her standard, military stance. 'I was ready to lead Will here on a mission to destroy the whole lot of these vessels as well the sleeping creatures and what's left of the crews existence. You gave us another option and now were needn't fear death, again I might add.'
'As happy as I am to help, I'm afraid this all comes with a price' the Huntress answered, clearly nervous with whatever request she was about to enforce of these dearly departed.
Atwood on the other hand maintained her smile and waved her hand in dismissal. 'You needn't worry, my friend. I can see into your mind and I am sure all of us are more than willing to adhere to your terms. Leave it to us. But, enough of this. We're all losing our strength and need to return to our liquid forms. It's been a pleasure, Huntress. Will.'
The Huntress took in a great big breath and raised her arm in salute to Atwood. 'Captain' she farewelled. Taking her lead, Will raised his own arm in a two fingered, cheeky salute. 'Till next time, Atwood' he added.
With a wide smile, Atwood nodded and let her body fall downwards into the remaining water on the deck. No fear or resistance in her unfolding into water. Behind them, the rest of the crew did the same, save for Breena who was taking her time.
'Please. Please don't go' Gray muttered, the sorrow welling up again as her hand started moving away from his and her body began sinking.
'Sorry, Gray. Duty calls. Love you' she said through breaking words with a confident yet heartbroken voice. She smiled for him until her face finally disappeared, not wanting the last thing for him to see being her sadness or her twisted frown from crying.
Gray's hand remained up in the air, just where hers used to be. He didn't want the moment to be gone. Didn't want her to be gone for good. He couldn't let go.
Seeing her opportunity to help, Cassie slowly made her way to Gray. She dare not touch his outreached arm, but she lightly grabbed his shoulders with her hands and hugged his back close, hoping to comfort him.
Still half locked in the lost moment, he never said anything to Cassie's hug but his mind knew and felt her compassion, her assurance that everything would be okay, especially for Breena.
'She's where she wants to be. She gets to live and sail the seas. You'll see her again one day. You just have to believe it. I do' Cassie comforted softly.
Her words touched his heart and Gray finally let go. His arm ever so slowly slipped down to his side. As it did, he remembered Breena's arm as she sank into the water and followed its path until he could reach her hand no more. In his mind, her words looped and echoed without stopping. Love you.
'Love you too, sis' he whisper as he looked down at the puddle on deck. It sparkled in the sunlight and was drying up into patches already.
Noticing Cassie's physical presence fully now, Will reached his left hand up and touched Cassie's on his right shoulder. Not expecting it, Cassie's head snapped around and looked at his hand on hers.
'Thanks, Cas. I needed to hear that' he thanked with a warm voice. Though he couldn't see, Cassie grinned just a bright as Breena did.
Back over by the device, Will was about to say something to the Huntress. Something important. But before he could, a noise could be heard. Another gunshot.
The only ones who saw what happened were Kate and Gray since there were looking in Ironwood's direction. Long enough to see the shot hit him and watch his whole body disintegrate into ash within seconds. All that was left was a tiny pile of white ash on the ground, half emersed in the water on deck.
The Huntress ran around Will in a hurry and was struck with panic upon seeing the final piece of this body flaking away. His face, in particular, his lips. A grin, evil and ear to ear.
The blood of her anger rushed to her face, her eyes gain its deathly glare again and she looked like she could lash out at any minute. All the others could do was watch in awe of the spectacle they witnessed out of nowhere.
Behind where Ironwood knelt, in the same direction from which Will came from earlier but further back was a dark, heavily armoured figure. Will recognised it instantly.
'Why! You didn't have to do that! Why kill him! It was over!' she screamed at it, her emotions and pure hate for watching people die severely hitting her nerves.
'The soldier from the Fortress!' Will yelled in realisation upon observing the killer properly.
Gray and Cassie hurried over to the Huntress and stood behind her, as did Will and Kate. All of them waiting for her to do something. Their leader in this battle.
The Huntress looked at it up and down, extremely puzzled. 'Now what on earth are you doing on earth' she bitterly questioned. Will looked at her with a million questions dancing through his mind, a million miles a minute at that.
'Doing on earth? That's a Sea Devil!' Will rebutted, thinking she'd finally cracked it. The Huntress on the other hand wasn't fazed.
'You've never seen one before. Now, that. That is no Sea Devil'
The Huntress remembered the Sea Devils original form well. This one however had a different build. The weapon they wielded was foreign to her so it had to originate for far across the stars, away from earth. This soldier didn't even wear chain mail like all their warriors did. It was a black and dark green in design with ridges like scales. It's helmet was that of a Sea Devil sure enough, but not underneath. She was too observant to be fooled by such a thing.
'I'll ask this once more. Why and how is a being like yourself able to be here. Quite the drastic climate change, eh. Ice Warrior'
Completely lost and beyond intrigued, the humans watched in suspense as the creature removed its helmet only to reveal another underneath. It was the same colour as the armour, but had wide eye holes with red see-through material in them like glass. It almost hissed as it looked down at her.
'Temperature does not affect me. I am more than I once was. You truly do not remember me, child' came the deep, rasping voice of the Ice Warrior.
The Huntress seemed unsure. Nothing about this particular Ice Warrior stood out to her and she was absolutely sure she would remember one who could stand such a climate as the one they were standing in right now. It was unheard of. Also, child? What was with that?
'No. No, I don't. You seem to know me, it seems. That's strange you know, since you've never seen this face before.'
'No matter what vain appearance you have, I will always know you. I bring a... greeting. From the Never.'
The Huntress shock her head hard as she tried to understand but she was drawing nothing but a blank. 'What never? What is the Never meant to be?'
The Ice Warrior gave a deep elongated hiss as if sighing. 'Good. You remember nothing.'
Growing frustrated, the Huntress took a few emotional steps forward. 'Who are you! What is the Never, or who for that matter! And while I'm on a roll, why kill Ironwood! Blatant murder!'
'All in due time. Your prophecy is unfolding. I am Gydrek and I follow the Never'
Eyes opened in hesitant curiosity, the Huntress made sure to take in every single detail of this Ice Warrior before he inevitably disappeared.
'Sorry. Don't believe in prophecy, not quite my way. Incidentally, I have something to ask of you. Simple yes or no question. I'm sure you can do that since we used to know each other, Gydrek'
Being called by his name caused a low growl from the Ice Warrior but that was all the retaliation he gave. 'Go on' he grumbled with an drawn-out hiss.
'It was you who shot my TARDIS down, wasn't it? It was you that made me regenerate last night. All for your so-called prophecy?'
There was an elongated silence. Everyone was on the edge waiting for Gydrek's answer.
The lone Ice Warrior turned its back to the Huntress. 'Yes' was all it said. Within one blink of her eyes, he was gone. Just like he was never there. She ran to where Gydrek stood and used her sonic on the spot, looking for a teleport signal, residue, anything. Nothing could be found. She huffed and swung her fist at the air hard, then rested her hands on her hips in an attempt to calm down.
Trying to think about something else, she turned back around to her friends. Colleagues. Companions. Whatever they were, they were special to her, nonetheless. They all stood looking at her, faces of bewilderment and almost blank. No words, mixed thoughts, never-ending questions. She shook her head and chuckled under her breath.
'Alright. Time to get off this ships. We've got some cleaning up to do'