She was headed home from the last Astronomy class in the summer night. A shallow breeze blew through her short dyed hair, pushing it away from her smooth neck. In her dark blue side bag was her money, her makeup, a pen and pad of paper, a scarf, her laptop, and then some feminine hygiene products.
She looked over her right shoulder to see if she was safe to cross the street. After the lone cabbie passed, she j-walked into the entrance for the tube. The tunnels were nearly empty, maybe 40 people wandering around.
The redhead was eger to get home to Whales. She was tired and not looking forward to having to take a forty minute bus ride, and then hike back to her apartment in the dark.
She stood, hanging onto the pole for balance, her bag bouncing on the dark denim of her jeans. She adjusted her black shirt, and then rezipped her plain jacket. There were 13 people on the bus, counting the redhead and the driver.
To her left behind her a bit was a 20 something year old, making eye contact and a knowing face at the blonde across from him. She was wearing 7 pounds of makeup, and was skinnier than a bean pole.
'She looks like pond sludge.' the voice of the bug in Tom Thumb and Thumbelina echoed through her head, and she stifled a chuckle.
Flipping out her phone it read 11:47. 'Oh joyous' She thought, wanting nothing more to be home, in bed, sleeping.
There was a sudden stop on the bus, not the slow, controlled stop like usual but a violent stop that through the redhead and her bag to the ground.
It was quiet for a moment, the soft hum of the tube, the sounds of the two flirting, all the earlier ignored noises, and now suddenly she wished they were back.
There was a solid thud from the front of the bus, and then another.
It sounded like footsteps.
I picked up my head, trying to place where the footsteps were coming from, and slowly standing up. I pulled the strap closer to me, as I moved back. I heard the footsteps stop right above the driver's compartment.
It was silent for a minute, and I had backed up against the other 11 passengers.
The sound of metal tearing open met my ears, and then I felt the thud as whatever that thing was hit the floor. The passengers huddled into me, hiding behind me as though I was there mother and they were in the grocery store.
I pulled my eyes away from the compartment door, and looked for a way to get these people, and myself, out. I saw a window, and a plan started to form.
I turned to the middle aged man with graying hair, and gestured for him to follow and help me silently remove the window glass.
When we were pulling it out and setting it down, I heard two quick clicks, but then the screams of the driver began to occur. The sound of long
nails against the door. It didn't sound human.
I began shuffling people out the window, "Shhhh, go go, come on hurry up!" I whispered as the screams in the next room continued. I heard a gunshot go off and then silence.
The last woman before myself was a pregnant lady (a very pregnant lady). I helped her onto the bench, and began to assist her on the 3 foot drop.
"What's your name?" she asked, she had a Cockney accent.
"Kaitlynn." I replied, only seconds after the door to the compartment was ripped open, leaving a giant bulging creature standing there.
"What is that!"
"GO! Run!" I shouted, pushing her out.
"Godspeed." She took my hand, jumped out the window and they all began to run.
I could feel myself begin to waver. I wanted to run, but I couldn't risk them getting hurt. No one else needs to die.
I turned around, and pushed my fear down looking at the creature. IT was huge, build like an ape, only the torso was more of a cockroach style.
It had patches of fur missing, and blood of the driver splashed across the arms.
'Okay think. Think. What do we have? Nothing, great.' Acting purely on instinct, I leveled myself with a pole, right in front of him.
"Come at me big guy!" I shouted hoping to god he was dumb. As the creature was charging a head popped up in the knocked out window.
"I saw running and assumed, HEY!" The monster ran straight into the pole, knocking it out of place, and it scattered to the right on the ground.
While the thing was dazed I rolled across the floor and picked it up. It wasn't much, just a solid pole but I felt better having something in my hands.
"Brilliant!" He shouted, I think it was a praise. I looked between him and the dazed monster.
"Who the Hell are you!?" I shouted at the man in a brown striped suit.
"And American!" He sounded oddly excited, "Brilliant and American. I'm the Doctor." He lifted himself into the subway, standing on the other side leaving the creature in between.
"Look mister, get out this thing is dangerous! There's a pregnant woman up the road, maybe she needs help, but at the moment," I swallowed as I studied the arms of the monster, before finally looking into his dark brown eyes, "I'm fine."
The man, the doctor, gave me a quizzical look, before nodding. He leaned down, and pinched the back of the monster's leg causing it to collapse.
I looked at the monster in wonder, stepping towards it.
"What is it? I've never seen any animal like it before."
"It's a Rondalic from Syridonya. A war dog as you might call it." He said, looking at the animal. I heard a moan, it sounded human.
"Doctor! The driver! help the driver!" I shouted pointing. The doctor looked up and quickly ran over to the man. I looked back at the dog.
He said it was from another planet.
"An alien? Impossible... Of course... to think we, humans, are the only living life forms in this bg galaxy is selfish. but how..." I trailed off from my mumbled whispering. I noticed something on the creatures shoulder.
"Doctor? Is this a... Branding?" A symbol of small 'V' type shape was turned upside down inside a right side larger 'V' shape, neither were touching, and there was a circle around it, with a secondary circle only touching the outer circle on the top.
"It's possible," He sounded distracted, I looked over and saw he had ripped the sleeve of the driver to try to wrap around the mans bleeding opens.
"Wait stop, here use this. It will stretch better." I pulled my beloved scarf out of my bag and handed it over. If it will save someones life then it had good use.
He nodded appreciatively and began to wrap the man's cuts.
After just a few minutes, the doctor stood, "I'm not a medical doctor, and I'm not terribly familiar with human biology but I think that should work."
I nodded, "Well we need to get this thing out of here, if he's a war dog then no doubt he's dangerous. He'll hurt other people Doctor." The doctor seemed to contemplate for a moment before nodding.
"Alright. We'll take him home, and send a message. I'll need your help though clever one."
"What?" This guy was nuts!
"What's your name?" He asked picking up on side of the bipedal animal. I grabbed the other arm diffucultly and we began to make or way out.
"Kaitlynn. Kaitlynn Scodder." I shook his hand and then we continued walking. Heading down the the subway slowly. After walking for a few minutes I spoke up.
"Where are we going? The next station is miles off." The doctor didn't reply, just kept walking. After a few more minutes we came across a blue police box, the same color as my bag.
"Oh shoot! Doctor I left my bag!" The doctor picked up the alien and brought him into the tiny blue box.
"Well go on then!" He waved me off leaning out the door.
"But how? What about the alien?"
"I've got him. Get your bag I won't leave without you." He said waving me off.
I furrowed my brows before running back to where I came from.
I grabbed my back, pulling the strap over my head, when I heard a sound.
A sound like running, like lots and lots of running.
I turned my head slowly behind me to see tons of those alien war dogs running right towards me.
They were down the tunnel, and I was like a deer in the headlights. To terrified to move.
"DOCTOR!" I shouted, but doubted he could hear me. Plus, even if he could, alien or not he couldn't get here fast enough.
I turned full front to face the oncoming wave of war dogs.
'Come on Kaitlynn, don't go out like this! You can survive. Do if for the driver inside. War dogs. War dogs.'
An idea popped into my head, and it was worth a shot right?
"STOP!" I held out my hand in front of me, putting as much power in my voice as possible, and it echoed through the tunnels.
It was the most incredible thing I'd ever seen. Hundreds of huge dangerous aliens all stopped running per comand of nothing more than my voice.
"SIT!." I shouted again, my voice echoing, pointing my finger at the ground as a gesture. All the creatures sat down.
"STAY." I said pointing at them, and turning around.
'Oh my god!'
I ran back to the blue box, the doctor was probably inside.
I opened the door, "How do you fit in here with... Oh my.. God.." I ran back outside. No it was definitely a small box. I checked around the back,
it wasn't attached to the wall. It stood on it's own.
I ran back inside, it was impossibly huge filled with bronze machinery, and levers and buttons and lights.
"How is it? It's..."
"The TARDIS! Time and Relative Dimension in Space. She's my ship." He said fondly.
I looked around, not really understanding the emotion I felt.
"Aliens. Time travel. It's real." It wasn't a question but the Doctor answered anyway.
"Yes. A whole universe teaming with life."
All of the sudden I remembered why I ran in.
"Doctor! Oh Doctor you have to come see this!" I grabbed his hand and dragged him back to where the hundreds of war dogs were. The hadn't moved but there was a hum of activity. They were all communicating.
"Doctor watch" I said excitedly.
"QUIET!" I shouted.
The doctor looked at me as though I was insane, but the whole group of them stopped talking.
"STAND!" I instructed.
I turned to the Doctor, he looked impressed.
"They're just like dogs. Trained! What would I say to get them to go home?"
"I would say retreat, or return maybe?" He replied, thinking over the options.
"How about go home?"
He smiled widely, "That sounds perfect."
"GO HOME!" I watched as the hundreds of war dogs were beamed up, leaving none behind.
I turned and smiled at him, and he did the same to me.
"Brilliant! You are brilliant!" He shouted. I just smiled in response.
He took my hand and together we ran back to the the TARDIS. As we entered he ran up the ramp and hit buttons on the circular device in the
the middle of the machine. I kept looking around, not able to believe that this was all happening.
Aliens, time travel, space travel. It's all real. Of course with all the strangeness going on, I have to wonder if it's always been there, it's just getting harder to cover up now.
"Well Mrs. Scodder, are you ready to being back this war dog and save your planet?" The voice of the Doctor pulled me from my thoughts.
I walked up the the console, standing on the right of him.
"Miss. I'm not married." I replied showing him my hands that held no rings. I think he smiled, but I can't really tell.
I nudged the alien dog to wake it up, it took a few minutes but eventually it roused.
"Stand." I said firmly. This one followed orders like the rest did.
I turned to the doctor, a grin on my lips, and he returned the same smile.
Offering me his arm, he led me out side. We had moved to a knew location, and were surrounded by war dogs, and other Aliens. They were incredible. The tentacles sprouted out of the bottom of a case with a single eye on a brain. They stood tall and proud, as though devoid of emotions aside arrogance.
"What is the meaning of this interruption!" A particularly large one asked in a demanding tone.
"Alien. Right." I said in an exhale. The Doctor looked at me expectantly.
"What me?" I asked, he wanted me to talk!? He nodded.
I faced the Aliens, and sucked in a breath.
"I have come as a representative of Earth. We will not accept your war dogs on our planet." I was a little loose on confidence, and I think they saw that.
They all began to laugh strangely. I think it was a laugh anyway.
"The Earthliver wishes to tell us what to do! We are older and stronger than your armies pink one."
Despite my low confidence, I had plenty of rage, and the rest I could fake. I felt my anger boil over, and passionately I yelled.
"This was not a request. It also was not a plea! I am stating to you what will happen." I took a step forward, "You WILL leave this planet, you WILL remove your war dogs and you WILL never come back. We are armed, and we are prepared to fight. If you would like to avoid that then
you will leave now or else I have other means of convincing you." I glared at the alien, holding my fake confidence, thinking if I can still command the dogs.
It's mannerisms seemed to change a tad, not standing as tall.
"I'm interested in these other means." It's voice was inside my head. So it was telepathic... Maybe the dogs were too.
I stepped back from him, and back towards the TARDIS. I looked at the Doctor, and he seemed to nod, stepping forward pulling on his ear.
I sent a mental message out trying to see if the dogs could hear my thoughts. Soon all the war dogs around stood on edge. None of the Aliens seemed to notice. The doctor began talking.
"Hi there! I'm the Doctor, why exactly are you trying to invade this planet so quietly?"
"We do not have to explain ourselves to you."
"You don't have to, but you should. I just want to know why you're trying to start a war."
"It's not a war. It's an invasion, a conquer."
"Okay fine, but why?" The Doctor insisted.
The two talked back and forth about strategy, and it was a little over my head. I'm not really a war girl, and honestly? I was reeling!
I had such control, such confidence! I was powerful. I never had so much respect in a room before.
"So you were sent here then. Thought this would be the easiest planet to conquer. Not expecting the fight?" He asked. "Well you must have been expecting a fight or you wouldn't have rented the slaves."
The Alien didn't reply.
The doctor looked at me, and winked. I felt myself blush and look away quickly.
"Expected the humans do be stupid did you? Not thinking, inventing, intimidating creatures? Not expecting them to be unphased by your confidence?"
"The readings stated they did not know about alien life. They should have been unaware and easy."
The doctor seemed to smile, "Well, humans are adaptable. They're quick thinkers, smart, strong, and brave. They have compassion, they have passion, and they have so much potential." He said. Something about this great man, this alien praising my planet was incredible for me. I felt so... special suddenly.
All the planets in the galaxy, and he praises and protects us.
"Enough talk! We will conquer your world now."
Some kind of electric cages surrounded us now.
"No you won't!" I shouted staying away from the bars.
"I'm interested in seeing how you'll stop me when you're locked in an energy cage pink one."
I looked at the dogs, standing on edge, they had recognized me and were awaiting my command.
'Attack.' I shot the word out with my mind and within seconds all the dogs were attacking the crew.
I tried to reach the mind of the dog inside the TARDIS so that it could get these traps down.
The screams of the crew were to distracting, and I still wasn't even sure how to do it.
"DOCTOR! Doctor the dogs are telepathic! They might be able to get us out of here, but I don't know how to do it." I shouted over the screams to the man trapped across the room.
The doctor smiled widely, "Brilliant you are! Just brilliant."
Within seconds the war dog was scampering out of the TARDIS and freeing us.
"Are you ready to leave this planet yet?" The Doctor asked stepping up the the bigger one.
The Alien looked defiant somehow. After several seconds, the screams of his crew must have gotten to him. "Retreat."
I called off the dogs.
"Spread the word, Earth is protected, and will never sit idly by."
With that, I returned to the TARDIS. They door closed and we headed home.
The sound of machinery wheezing filled the walls, as we moved back to Earth.
I stepped out of the TARDIS onto my street. The whole world was in new color. New lights.
I turned around and the Doctor was leaning in the door frame of the TARDIS.
"Do you always do this?"
"Do what?" He replied, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Save planets, run around, meet people only to leave and be alone? I didn't see anyone is that big spaceship of yours Time Lord." I heard the
alien call him that; Time Lord, must be his race.
"Yeah. Well usually more running." I smiled and looked up at the sky.
The stars twinkled, "All my life I've been watching the stars. Learning their stories, their lives. Then one day you show up, and you show me that life is out there. This whole galaxy is simply BUZZING with activity. So many species, so much amazing wonder. Each uniquely different." I walked over to him, slowly cautiously wrapped my arms around his thin waist.
"I'm not to good at goodbyes. Not goodbyes like this anyway." I whispered into his ear before kissing his cheeks. I separated from him, looking into his eyes with sad fondness.
I began to walk to my house, my hand gripping my dark blue strap tightly. Not wanting to let my tears fall. I had almost made it to my door when
I heard the metal wheezing begin. I watched as the blue box faded in and out of existence until it wasn't there at all.
I stood there, for nearly half an hour I stood there. Knowing nothing would happen, but will wishing it would.
Finally, I let out a sigh and walked into my apartment building.
I climbed the three stories, and into my room. I slipped off my knee high boots, and dropped my bag next to the table.
How will I be able to enjoy anything in life now? I laid down on my couch, putting my phone on the table, not yet wanting this day to end.
I heard a tap at my window. Glancing at my phone I saw it was 1:08 in the morning.
Irritated I walked over to the window, "Brad it's the middle of the-"
"Come with me!"
I opened my eyes fully to see a man in a pinstriped brown suit standing in front of a blue box, "What?"
"Come with me clever Kaitlynn Scodder. I can show you the stars."
"Will it be dangerous?" I think I already knew the answer.
"If we're lucky."
"I'll get my coat."
All of space and time now at my finger tips. I grabbed my jacket, and my bag running down the stairs, past the doctor and into the TARDIS.
"Where to?" He asked a smile on his face.
"Somewhere with new stars." He smiled, and pulled a lever, taking my hand in his.