Amazement!
Chapter 1:
As Donna walked back into the console room, she saw The Doctor busy flicking switches, kicking at buttons, and dancing crazily round the central column, which was rising and falling purposefully. He hardly glanced at her as he called out
"Grab your coat – we're going out!"
"Where are we?" She asked, as she obediently reached for her leather jacket, lying where she'd flung it earlier. His answer was lost, as the Tardis lurched to a halt with a loud 'thump'. They both staggered and clutched at anything stable. Without waiting for her he grabbed his long coat and dashed to the door. She caught up with him, as he sidled out….
They emerged into what looked like a long white featureless corridor. It was about five foot wide, and to their left stretched endlessly away into the distance. Donna realised there was no ceiling above them. All she could see overhead was blue sky with a hint of cloud. She turned to her right. In this direction the corridor came to an abrupt halt about twenty feet from where they were standing. Crouched against the end wall was a young man – a boy even. He was watching them with no trace of surprise – in fact he looked quite pleased to see them!
The Doctor started to walk towards the boy, saying,
"Oh! So it was you!"
Donna felt completely at sea.
"Doctor!" she hissed "Where are we? What's going on? And who's that boy?"
The Doctor ignored her for the moment, and stood, hands in pockets, looking down at the boy.
"Hello Alph!" he said. "Long time no see!"
The boy got to his feet, sliding his back up the wall behind him.
"It is you Doctor, isn't it? You look….different!"
The Doctor tugged at his ear,
"Yeah, as I said, long time!"
The boy looked at Donna, and gave a deep sniff.
"Earth woman – very distinctive smell!" he said.
"Oi!" retorted Donna, as much annoyed with The Doctor for not explaining anything, as with this boy's manners.
The Doctor suddenly seemed to remember his.
"Donna meet Alph – we go way back! And Alph – this is Donna Noble, from Earth, as you so rightly smelled!"
Alph nodded at Donna, before turning back to The Doctor.
"I hoped you'd get my message – wasn't sure after all this time! I've kept it, just in case – brought it in here with me - 'cos if there's anything you could help me with, it's this place!"
He had produced what looked to Donna exactly like a cricket ball, and held it up for them to see.
"What is it?" she asked.
The Doctor gave her a puzzled look.
"It's a cricket ball Donna! I used to be quite keen on cricket at one time – don't seem to have the enthusiasm these days!" he mused. "So what's the urgent problem you thought it was worth calling me across several galaxies for?"
"It's The Maze!" Alph explained "I can't find the way out!"
The Doctor looked dumbfounded. "You sent an intergalactic distress signal because you're lost in a maze? I know I said if you ever needed assistance – but to get you out of a maze?"
"Not a maze, Doctor – it's The Maze! I've been in here for about two years, and I'm running out of options!"