Hiya my dear readers!
This is the continuation "The Doctor and the Student", so you should probably read that first!
We originally wanted to update yesterday (Christmas Day), but because of technical difficulties we were unable to do so.
We have already finished the first 3 chapters of "The Doctor, the Auntie and the Scott", but it'll still take some time until they are all posted.
Also this will be a cliff hanger, because (mainly) I wrote the chapter and it's 20 pages long!
Anyway, please enjoy!
"So… do you want to leave as well?" the Doctor asked me suddenly.
I looked confused at him. Why would I leave him? "Well… didn't think of that. Hm… no. I still wanna meet Agatha Christie."
"Then we should start a new adventure… I guess", the Doctor said and pressed some buttons on the console. But suddenly there was something in the TARDIS. "What?"
I found a lifebuoy on which was standing TITANIC. "WHAT?" I repeated the Doctor.
While I was looking completely confused on the lifebuoy, the Doctor jumped up and pressed some buttons on the console. The ship went out and the TARDIS repaired itself immediately.
"What happened?" I asked the Doctor.
"I don't know" he said and I recognized that he landed the TARDIS somewhere. He stepped out of the TARDIS and checked it. "Let's find out" he said and so I followed him.
We came directly in a big hall where many people where chatting and a band was playing Christmas Carols. I looked confused around and the Doctor moved past a blond woman in a maid costume to some golden angels in white dresses. "very Christmassy" I said to the Doctor when we both where standing in front of them. Suddenly on of the angels head moved. It scared me so much that I took the Doctors hand. He also looked confused at the angel but it didn't seem to bother him, that I was holding his hand. Well, honestly why should it. He took my hand that often without asking.
He kept going and I could see a red skinned alien which said that "Christmas is funny". The Doctor went to a window and we looked out.
"Right…" He said when he could see the orbit outside.
Suddenly there was an announcement. "Attention all passengers. The Titanic is now in orbit above Sol 3, also known as Earth. Population, human. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Christmas."
(^.^)
The Doctor and I just cam back from the TARDIS. He was wearing a suit, while I was wearing a green evening dress. When suddenly a monitor got our attention. "Max Capricorn Cruise Liners. The fastest, the furthest, the best. And I should know because my name is Max."
"Merry Christmas," a young steward said.
"Merry Christmas" the Doctor answered while I was smiling. We entered a beautiful hall and all was full of christmas-y stuff and it was playing "walking in a winter wonderland"
"That's beautiful" I said and the Doctor smiled at me as we kept going.
Both of us recognized a man who was talking on his phone. "It's not a holiday for me, not while I've still got my vone. Now, do as I say and sell." While I was still wondering how you could think about business in such a beautiful environment the Doctor went to one of the golden angels.
"Evening. Passenger 57. Terrible memory. Remind me. You would be?"
"Information" the angel answered. "Heavenly Host supplying tourist information."
"Good. So, um, tell me, 'cause I'm an idiot. Where are we from?"
"Information. The Titanic in en route from the planet Sto in the Casivanian Belt. The purpose of the cruise is to experience primitive cultures."
When I heard that I got pretty angry. Even if I am mostly a Timelord, I was also part Doctor gave me a look before continuing "Titanic. Um, who thought of the name?"
"A stupid idiot, I guess" I whispered, but the Doctor could still hear me.
"Information. It was chosen as the most famous vessel of the planet Earth."
"Did they tell you why it was famous?"
"You mean why it is famous…" I said but the angel already answered.
"Information. All designations are chosen by Mister Max Capricorn, President of Max… Max…"
"Great, you broke it" I said to the Doctor.
"Ooh. A bit of a glitch" the Doctor said and wanted to pull his sonic screwdriver out. I stopped him, as I saw that there was a steward coming.
"Sorry, chaps, we can handle this." The steward said and put the angel out. "Software problem, that's all. Leave it with us, sir, Madame. Merry Christmas" Then he turned but I could still hear him. "That's another one down. What's going on with these things?"
(^.^)
We walked again around the hall when we heard glass shattering.
"For toff's sake! Look where you're going" the business man screamed at a maid. "This Jacket's a genuine Earth antique"
"I'm sorry, sir" the blond woman said and started to pick up the glass splits.
"You'll be sorry when it comes off your wages, sweetheart. Staffed by idiots. No wonder Max Capricorn in going down the drain." Than he walked away.
The Doctor went in this moment to her. "Jack was right… he likes blond girls" I mumbled and saw the red alien guy looking at me. I smiled at him before going to the Doctor and his flirt.
"Careful, there we go." The Doctor said and helped her putting glass splits away.
"Thank you, sir. I can manage." She said.
"I never said you couldn't. I'm the Doctor, by the way." I stopped behind him and he quickly added: "and that's Emma… Emma Smith"
"Astrid, sir. Astrid Peth."
"Nice to meet you, Astrid, Merry Christmas", the Doctor said and I could already see the same look in Astrid eyes like Martha has when she looked at the Doctor.
"Merry Christmas, sir… madame", she said surprised.
"Just Doctor, not 'sir'", the Doctor said.
"And I'm Emma… just Emma" I said.
"You enjoying the cruise?" Astrid asked.
"Um, yeah. I suppose. I don't know. It doesn't quite work, a cruise on your own."
"So… you are with Emma?" she asked him.
"No, no, just me. Just…" He said and looked at me.. "Well.. I travel with her, but we are not a couple." He finished then.
"Well… I guess she got the last part from your reaction" I said and saw an amused look on Astrid's face.
"What about you? Long way from home, planet Sto."
"Doesn't feel that different. Spent three years working at the Spaceport Diner. Travelled all the way here and I'm still waiting on tables." She said and continued to work. And of course the Doctor followed her.
"No shore leave?"
"We're not allowed. Can't afford the insurance. I just wanted to try it, just once. I used to watch the ships heading out to the stars. I always dreamt of… sounds daft"
"You dreamt of another sky. New sun, new air, new life. A whole universe teeming with life.", the Doctor started and sighed. "Why stand still when there's all that life out there?" the Doctor said and looked at her.
"So, you travel a lot?" she asked looking at me. But before I could answer…
"All the time. Just for fun. Well, that's the plan. Never quite works."
"Well… don't have to add something"
"Must be rich, though" she asked.
"Haven't got a penny."
"Me neither…"
"Stowaway" the Doctor whispered.
"Kidding"
"Seriously"
"No!"
"Oh, yeah"
"How's you get on board"
"Accident. I've got this, sort of, ship thing, I was just rebuilding…."
"You simply can't drive" I said and the Doctor looked a bit cross at me.
"I was just rebuilding… left the defenses down. Bumped into the Titanic, here I… we are. A bit of a party, I thought, why not"
"I should report you"
"Go on, then"
"I'll get you a drink", she said. "On the house" she added whispering.
The Doctor smiled and I went away. I don't know why, but I was, really jealous.
I went to a table where a nice couple was sitting in purple shirts and eating chicken wings. "May I take a seat?" I asked them.
"Of course" the woman said. I sat down when I heard some snobs laughing about them.
"Just ignore them" the man told me and his wife.
"Something's tickled them…" the Doctor said and sat down next to me. "Why did you go away" he added.
"Not now…" I said.
"They told us it was fancy dress. Very funny, I'm sure."
"They're just picking on us because we haven't paid. We won our tickets in a competition.", the black guy explained.
"I had to name the five husbands of Juthy Crystal in By the Light of the Asteroid. Do you ever watch By the Light of the Asteroid?"
"Is that the one with the twins?" the Doctor replied.
"That's it. Oh, it's marvellous."
"But we're not good enough for that lot. They thing we should be in steerage."
"Can't have that, can we?" the Doctor said and pulled out his screwdriver.
"What…"
"Just watch" he said and used it against the snobs. The couple on our table watched the Doctor when suddenly one of the champagne bottles exploded.
"Did you do that?" the woman asked
"Maybe" the Doctor said. All three of us, the couple and me, were chuckling.
"We like you… both of you" the woman said.
"We do" her husband agreed. "I'm Morvin Van Hoff. This is my good woman, Foon."
"Foon, I'm the Doctor and that is Emma Smith"
"Oh, well I'll need a doctor by the time I finish with that buffet. Have a buffalo wing. They must be enormous, these buffalo. So many wings" Foon said and the Doctor took two and gave one to me.
"So… are you newly-weds?" Morvin asked suddenly. Before we could answer there was another announcement.
"Attention, please. Shore leave tickets Red 6-7 now activated. Red 6-7"
"Red 6-7? That's us" Foon said.
"Thank you" the announcement finished.
"Are you Red 6-7?"
"Might as well be."
"Come on then. We're going to Earth" Morvin said while the Doctor took my hand.
(^.^)
"Red 6-7. Red 6-7, this way. Fast as you can" a man screamed while he was holding a red shield with 6-7 standing on it. Foon and Morvin already ran to the direction. Suddenly Astrid came the way.
"I got you that drink" she said smiling.
"And I got you a treat, come on" the Doctor said.
"Red 6-7, departing shortly" the man with the shield repeated.
"Re 6-7, plus two" the Doctor said and showed the man his psychic paper.
"Uh… Quickly, sir, please, and take three teleport bracelets if you would "
"I'll get the sack"
"Brand new sky…" the Doctor said.
"The most beautiful sky I know" I added. It was good to be back on Earth, even if we just left it.
"To repeat. I am Mr Cooper, the ship's historian, and I shall be taking you to the old London Town in the country of UK, ruled over by Good King Wenceslas."
"I can't listen to this… idiot" I whispered to the Doctor while putting on my bracelet.
"That's the History Student…" he said smiling.
"Nope it's the British in me" I added smiling.
"Now, human beings worship the great god Santa, a creature with fearsome claws, and his wife Mary. And every Christmas Eve, the people of UK go to war with the country of Turkey."
I really tried not to laugh. "Is that the way how aliens talk about humans?" I asked the Doctor.
"Not all of them. An old friend of mine loved humans as much as I do… had a child with a human woman. Lovely girl" He told me.
"They then eat the Turkey people for Christmas dinner, like savages."
"Excuse me, sorry, sorry. But, um, where did you get all this form?"
"Well, I have a first class degree in Earthonomics. Now, standby…"
"Hopefully I won't end like that one day" I mumbled.
"And me! And me! Red 6-7" we heard. A red midget came and waved with his ticket.
"Well take a bracelet"
"But, hold on, hold on. What was your name?"
"Bannakaffalatta" the red alien answered.
"Okay, Bannakaffalatta. But it's Christmas Eve down there. Late night shopping, tons of people. He's like a talking conker." With these words the red alien turned to the Doctor. "No offence, but you'll cause a riot, 'cause the streets are gonna be packed with shoppers and parties and…" than we started to vanish.
As we showed up again, we were on an empty street in the middle of London. "Oh" was the only thing the Doctor could say.
"Now as spending money, I have a credit card in Earth currency. If you want to buy trinkets or stockings or the local delicacy, which is known as beef. But don't stray too far, it could be dangerous. Any day now, they start boxing."
"It should be full" the Doctor said. "It should be busy. Something's wrong"
"It's always like that here" I said and the Doctor looked at me surprised.
"Why do you know?"
"Because my gran-… somebody I know used to work here." I said and realized that I have no clue in which year we are.
"It's beautiful" Astrid said.
"It is" I said with a big smile.
"Really? Do you thing so? It's just a street. The pyramids are beautiful, and New Zealand."
"Stop ruining it" I said
"But it's a different planet. I'm standing on a different planet!" she said and started to stammer "There's concrete and shops, alien shops, real alien shops!"
"You see that's the normal reaction to aliens" he said to me and smiled.
"Oh shut up" I said smiling.
"Look, no stars in the sky. And it smells. It stinks! Oh, this is amazing! Thank you." She said and hugged the Doctor. "Both of you" she said than and hugged me as well.
"Yeah? Come on, then. Let's have a look" the Doctor said.
And of course… he went to my Gramps. I tried to hide 'cause I was pretty sure it wouldn't be a great idea to stand right in front of him… somewhere in the past. But well didn't work that good.
"Hello, there. Sorry, obvious question. But where's everybody gone?"
At that moment Astrid came, took my arm and said: "Oh come on, join us" and then she pulled me right next to the Doctor.
"Whoa. Scared." Gramps said, not seeing me.
"Right, yes. Scared of what?"
"Where have you been living? London, at Christmas. Not safe, is it? Tell him Emma." Gramps said.
The Doctor looked confused at me while I waved. "Hi Gramps. How is business?"
"Like always. How's university? Is it that easy like you thought?" he asked me.
"Well, I don't want to interrupt the reunion, but why is it not safe here?" the Doctor asked.
"Well, it's them, up above. Look, Christmas before last, we had that big bloody spaceship everyone standing on the roof, remember Emma you were too. And then last year, that Christmas star electrocuting all over the place. Draining the Thames." Gramps explained.
"This place is amazing" Astrid said.
I looked at the Doctor "Why do I have the feeling you have been involved in that bloody mess?" I asked him and he just smiled back
"And this year, God knows what. So, everybody's scarpered. Gone to the country. Well except me, and Her Majesty. By the way: Emma, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your mother and James?"
"Her Majesty the Queen has confirmed that she'll be staying in Buckingham Palace throughout the festive season to show the people of London and the world that there is nothing to fear" the guy from the TV said.
"God bless her. We stand vigil."
"Well, between you and me, I think Her Majesty's got it right. As far as I know, this year, nothing to worry about" the Doctor told us and we vanished again.
"Great done… my Gramps is surely gone crazy now" I said.
"I was in mid-sentence" the Doctor said annoyed.
"Well at least a way to stop you" I said.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that. Bit of a problem. If I can have your brace…" the Historian started.
"Apologies, ladies and gentlemen, Bannakaffalatta. We seem to have suffered a power fluctuation. If you'd like to return to the festivities, and on behalf of Max Capricon Cruiseliners, free drinks will be provided." One of the stewards told us.
"Thank you", Foon said.
"That was the best. The best." Astrid said to the Doctor and left him with a big smile on his face.
"Doctor… isn't there a question open?" I asked him.
"Oh yes of course" he said and went to the steward, "What kind of power fluctuation"
(^.^)
We were back in the big ballroom, the Doctor looking at Astrid and I'm dancing with Bannakaffalatta. I suddenly saw how the Doctor went back to one of the Max Capricorn pictures and put his screwdriver out.
He did something and I went to him. "What's the matter?"
"Is that the bridge? I need to talk to the Captain. You got a meteoroid storm coming in. West 0 by north 2. "
"Who is this?"
"Never mind that. Your shields are down. Check your scanners, Captain. You got meteoroids coming in and no shielding."
"You have no authorization. I will clear the comms. at once." (16:55)
"Just look starboard!", the Doctor shouted as two stewards who had noticed us, came to escort us out.
"Come with me, sir, ma'am", the chief steward ordered. He grabbed the doctor and me and lead us away.
"You've got a rock storm heading for this ship and the shields are down!", the Doctor tried to explain. He managed to free himself and ran up on stage. While the steward, who was holding me, was distracted, I managed to twist my way out of his grip and ran after the Doctor, "Everyone, listen to me! This is an emergency! Get to the lifebo-", he was however rudely interrupted by a host covering his mouth and pulling him away. The steward got a hold of me once again and pulled me with him, "Look out the windows! If you don't believe me, check the shields for yourself!"
"Sir, I can vouch for him!", Astrid called as she ran after us.
"Look, Steward, he just had too much to drink," Morvin tried to reason, as they followed us as well.
"Sir, something seems to have gone wrong," Copper came over, "All the teleports are down!"
"Not now," the chief Stewart snapped while taking over and hauling the Doctor and me down the corridor as the small group, including Bannakaffalatta, followed.
"Oi!", the slick haired man shouted, "Steward, I'm telling you, the shields are down!"
"Listen to him!", the Doctor and I begged at the same time. "Listen to him!"
A second later the meteoroids hit the side of the ship, throwing all of us to the floor. Once the ship had stopped shaking the Doctor jumped up and shushed us, in order to listen to something.
"It's stopping,", he stated, before helping me up.
"Are you alright?", he asked me quietly.
"Yeah, never been better.", I replied sarcastically. The Doctor gave me a look, before helping Astrid up and asking her the same thing.
"I think so," she breathed, shaken, but fine.
"Bad name for a ship. Either that or this suit is really unlucky."
The Doctor noticed a fallen steward and kneeled down, checking his pulse. He turned towards the group and shook his head. He was dead. (Just for fun, read it very dramatic!)
One of the nearby video terminals started to loop and repeatedly said, "My name is Max"
"Ev- Everyone," the chief-steward stood shakily, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Bannakaffalatta, I must apologies on behalf of Max Capricorn Cruise Liners. We seem to have a small collision."
"Small?!" Morvin shrieked.
"You know how much I paid for my ticket?" the slick haired man glared.
"If I could have silence, Ladies, Gentlemen…", the steward began again, but nobody was listening to him and instead continued to argue. "ALRIGHT!", the chief-steward shouted. He continued once everyone had quietened down, "Thank you. I- I'm sure Max Capricorn Cruise Liners will be able to reimburse you for any inconvenience. But first I would point out, that we are all very much alive. She is, after all, a fine, sturdy ship," while he spoke the Doctor and I made our way towards the group, "If you could all stay here while I ascertain the exact nature of the- the situation," with these words he turned to open a hatch.
"Don't open it!" the Doctor shouted, but it was too late. The door opened and the steward was sucked into space by the vacuum. Everyone gripped onto a nearby pipe, while the Doctor made his way to the comm. and soniced it. The oxygen shields kicked in and the hatch sealed.
"Oxygen shield stabilized," the computer announced.
"Everyone alright? Astrid?" the Doctor asked.
"Yeah," she panted
"Foon? Morvin? Mr. Copper? Bannakaffalatta?"
"Yes," Bannakaffalatta replied while the others nodded.
"You,", he said, pointing at the slick haired man, "What's your name?"
"Rickston Slade", he replied.
"You alright?"
"No, thanks to that idiot."
"The steward just died.", I glared.
"Then he's a dead idiot."
Astrid was about to say something when the Doctor interrupted, "Alright, calm down. Just stay still, all of you. Hold on," he walked over to the hatch opening and looked out and I followed suit.
"What happened?", Astid asked, "How come the shields are down?"
"I don't think it was an accident.", I muttered, loud enough for them to hear.
"How many dead?"
"We're alive. Just focus on that. I will get you out of here, Astrid. I promise. Look at me, I promise," Astrid looked at me for reassurance. I smiled at her and she gave me a small smile in return before looking back at the Doctor and nodding, "Good. Now… If we get to the reception, we've got a space ship tucked away…"
I then noticed the TARDIS floating in space before us and shoved his shoulder lightly, "Doctor, I think there goes your idea of having a spaceship."
"What is it? What's wrong?" Astrid asked.
"That's our spaceship.", the Doctor replied.
"Where?"
"There, that box. That little, blue box."
"That's a spaceship?"
" I know, hard to believe, right?", I asked, grinning mockingly at the Doctor.
"Oi don't knock it.", the Doctor replied.
"It's a bit small", Astrid added.
"A bit distant. Trouble is, once it's set adrift, it's programmed to lock onto the nearest center of gravity and that would be…"
"The earth.", I finished for him.
(^.^)
"Deck 22 to the Bridge" I called into a kind of a phone, which the Doctor had fixed. "Deck 22 to the Bridge. Is there anyone there?"
"This is the Bridge…" a man replied a moment later.
The Doctor took away the communication system and started talking. "Oh hello, sailor. Good to hear you. What's the situation up there?"
I could really hear how the guy at the bridge had big pain. "We've got air. The oxygen field is holding. But the captain… he's dead. He did it. I watched while he took down the shields. There was nothing I could do. I tried. I did try" the guy said.
"Alright", the Doctor said. "Just stay calm. Tell me your name. What's your name?"
"Midshipman Frame"
"Nice to meet you, sir" I said.
"What's the state of the engines" the Doctor said.
"They're… um hold on…" he groaned.
"I guess he has pain" I said to the Doctor.
"Have you been injured?" the Doctor asked the Midshipman.
"I'm alright" Frame replied, "Oh my Vot. They're cycling down."
"That's a nuclear storm drive, yes?" the Doctor wondered.
"Yeah"
"What does that mean? I asked the Doctor with a very bad feeling in my stomach.
"The moment they're gone, we lose orbit."
"The planet", Frame said.
"Oh yes. If we hit the planet, the nuclear storm explodes and wipes out life on Earth…" the Doctor said and I looked at him.
"So that means we will try not to hit the planet" I said to Frame and the Doctor. "On this planet lives my family. I won't lose them 'cause a stupid captain put down his shields. You got me?" I asked the Doctor. He nodded.
"Midshipman, I need you to fire up the engine containment field and feed it back into the core" the Doctor said.
"This is never going to work" Frame argued.
"Trust me, it'll keep the engines going until we can get to the Bridge", he switched of the comm. and turned to face the others.
"We're going to die" Foon wept.
"Are you saying someone's done this on purpose?" Cooper asked.
"We're just a cruise ship!" Astrid argued.
"Oi, guys. Shut up and listen to this guy" I said as strict as I could and to my own surprise they stopped arguing.
"Okay.. thank you Emma, First things first. One, we're going to climb through this ship, B…"
"Next is two…" I interrupt him.
"We're going to reach the Bridge. Three, or C, we're going to save the Titanic. And coming in a very low four, or D, or that little 'IV' in brackets they use in footnotes, why? Right then… Follow me" the doctor said, took my hand and stared to walk.
"Hang on a minute," Rickston glared, "Who put you in charge and who the hell are you anyway?
The Doctor stepped back to him. "I'm the Doctor. I'm a Timelord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I'm the one who is gonna save your lives and all six billion of the planet below. This is Emma Smith, a close friend and she was born on this planet. You got a problem with that?"
"No"
"In that case, Allons-y!" the Doctor turned, took my hand again and we started to walk, followed by the small group.
(^.^)
The Doctor shoved against a doorway, slowly pushing it open into a stairwell, only to see it littered with debris and sparking cables.
"Careful", he called as the others followed us. "Follow us"
He moved ahead, grabbing my hand again, clearing a path as Astrid, Cooper, Rickston, Bannakaffalatta and the van Hoffs followed.
"Rather ironic, when this is very much in the spirit of Christmas", Copper remarked. "It's a festival of violence. They say that human beings only survive depending on whether they've been good or bad. It's barbaric"
"Actually that's not true. Ask Emma. She still tries not to kill you"
"Christmas is a festival of love. You spend it with the people you love and give them presents. We want to show how much we care about the others… but in the last year it was always like that. Thanks by the way" I said to the Doctor.
"It's not my fault…" the Doctor said upset.
"But it has always to do with you, right?" I argued for a moment with him.
"We've got a host." The Doctor said. "Strength of ten. If we can mend it, we can use it to fix the rubble."
"We can do robotics, both of us", Morvin stepped up.
"We worked on the milk market back on Sto", Foon told us. "It's all robot staff."
"See if you can get it working", the Doctor nodded, "Let's have a look."
All of us, without the van Huffs, continued the way, to find the way blocked.
"It's blocked" I heard Astrid.
"So what do we do?" I asked. I was really worried.
"Shift it." Astrid said.
"That's the attitude. Rickston, Mr. Copper, and you, Bannakaffalatta… look, can I just call you Banna? IT's gonna save a lot of time."
"No", the alien glared, "Bannakaffalatta!"
"Alright then, Bannakaffalatta, there's a gap in the middle. See if you can get through."
"Easy, good", he squeezed through the opening when the ship lurched, sending loose debris falling around us.
"This whole thing could come crashing down any minute!" Rickston shouted.
"Shut up…" I whispered, still trying not to cry. Right now I felt like I haven't seen my Mum for centuries. And maybe I would never see her again.
The Doctor saw it and said. "Oh, Rickston, I forgot. Did you get our message?"
"No. What message?"
"SHUT UP!"
"Bannakaffalatta made it", the red midget shouted.
"I'm small enough, I can get through," Astrid moved to climb through the hole as well.
"Careful", the Doctor said.
"I'm fine."
"Thing is, how are Mr. and Mrs. Fatso gonna get through this gap?" Rickston wondered cruelly.
"First of all, there name is van Hoffs" I started.
"Second, we make the gap bigger" the Doctor glared at him, "So start", he shoved him a piece of metal to help us clear away the debris. A few minutes later, laughter drifted up to us from the van Hoffs.
"What happened?" Rickston sneered. "Did they find a donut?"
Right in that moment the Doctor gave me a small metal thing. I looked at it and without really thing the metal thing landed just in Rickstons face. I was pretty sure his nose was broken. "Oh… I'm soooo sorry… It must slipped out of my hands" I said and looked back to the Doctor. He gave me a very strict look, which quickly turned into a big smile.
"I can clear it from this side," Astrid yelled through the debris to us, "Just tell me if it starts moving", she disappeared a moment later but nothing moved.
"What's going on up there?" the Doctor called, trying to look through the small space.
"I guess Bannakaffalatta and I just got engaged." Astrid laughed.
"Congratulations" I laughed back.
(^.^)
"Almost done!" Morvin shouted up to us.
"Good, good, good" the Doctor nodded, before turning back to the comm. he repaired. "Mr. Frame, how's things?"
"Doctor, I've got life signs all over the ship but they're going out one by one", Frame replied.
"What is it? Are we losing air?"
"No. One of them said it's the Host. It's something to do with the Host"
As I heard that I looked at the Doctor and then back to the van Hoffs.
"It's working", Morvin shouted.
The Doctor and I started to run down and arrived just as the Host grabbed Morvin by the throat, shouting, "Kill. Kill. Kill."
"TURN IT OFF!" the Doctor and I shouted at the couple.
"I can't Doctor!" Foon told us. She couldn't get close enough.
"Go!" he ran past her, ushering her to the stairs. She came to me and waited for her husband.
The Doctor took out his screwdriver. "Lock! Double deadlock!" he shouted, put the sonic away and pried Morvin free with his bare hands. "Okay, go upstairs"
"Run, darling, run!" Foon shouted.
The host turned on the Doctor instead. "Information: kill, kill, kill…" I could hear it.
"Rickston," the Doctor shouted, "Get them through"
"No chance" Rickston spat, before shoving himself through the narrow path.
I waited for the Doctor who arrived right a second later at me. He grabbed my hand and stopped at the comm. "Midshipman Frame, it's the Host. They've gone berserk. Are you safe up there?"
There was no reply…
"I'm stuck" I heard Foon cry.
"Come on, you can do it!" Astrid called from the other side.
There was a creaking as some of the debris lifted slightly, "It's going to collapse!"; Copper said, but managed to get Foon through it.
"Morvin, your turn," the Doctor turned back.
Morvin nodded and tried to get through, only to get stuck like Foon.
"Doctor, Emma, he's stuck!" Astrid shouted.
"Mr. van Hoff, I know we've only just met but you'll have to excuse me," the Doctor replied while grabbing Morvin's butt and shoving him through.
"That's it", Astrid shouted. "We've got you. Come on you two, get through!"
"Information override. You will tell me the point of origin of your command structure!"
"Information: Deck 31"
"I can't hold it" Copper strained.
The Doctor pushed me, so that I had to go first, I tried to climb as fast as possible, knowing the Doctor was just behind me. "How long have you wanted to see me from behind?" I joked. Right then we came through the hole.
"It's okay:" the Doctor stood up, "Let's go! Oh and Emma, I like your face more than your backside. Much more interesting to talk with."
(^.^)
We just came into a new room, it was a kitchen. Foon gasped, spotting something on a table, "Morvin, look, food"
"Oh great", Rickston remarked sarcastically, "Someone's happy."
"Don't have any then" Morvin glared as they moved over to the food.
"I would stop talking like that. Remember your nose" I said to Rickston in a threatening voice, before moving to the Doctor, who went to a comm.
"Mr. Frame, you still there" he called.
"Yes, sir, but I've got Host outside. I sealed the door."
"They've been programmed to kill. Why would anyone do that?"
"That's not the only problem, Doctor. I had to use a maximum deadlock on the door, which means… no one can get in. I'm sealed off. Even if you can fix the Titanic, you can't get to the Bridge."
"Yeah, right, fine. One problem at a time. What's on Deck 31?"
"Um, that's down below. It's nothing. It's just the Host storage deck. That's where we keep the robots."
The Doctor and I looked at the screen of the comm. where a schematic of the ship had been brought up, "Well, what's that?" I asked and point on a black panel. "See that panel? Black"
The Doctor put on his glasses. "Yeah, its's Black. It's registering nothing. No power, no heat, no light."
"Never seen it before" the Midshipman said.
"100 percent shielded. What's down there?"
"I'll try to intensifying the scanner" Frame told us.
"Let us know if you find anything,", he pulled of his specs, "And keep those engines going"
"Saved you some", Astrid smiled as she brought us a small plate of food. "You might be a Time King from Gaddabee and you might be a barbaric Human, but you need to eat" she said.
"Yeah, thanks" the doctor said.
"You look good for 903, both of you."
"Well, I'm 22 years old"
"You should see me in the mornings."
"Okay" Astrid said before realizing what she'd said. Her eyes widened and she blushed. "I didn't…" Astrid stared to explain me.
"Doctor, it must be well past midnight, Earth time," Copper joined us, "Christmas Day."
"So it is," he nodded, "Merry Christmas…. Do you want to call your mother?" he asked me.
"No, I guess would be creepy cause I'm there with her… I guess." I told him and he nodded.
"This Christmas thing, what's it all about?", Astrid asked.
"Long story. I should know, I was there. I got the last room",
"Really? Are you kidding me?" I asked laughing.
"But if the planet's waking up, can't we signal them?" Copper wondered, "They can send up a rocket or something."
"They don't have spaceships"
"No I read about it. They have shuffles, space shuffles."
"Mr Copper, this degree in Earthonomics, where is it from?" the Doctor asked him in a suspect tone.
"Honestly?"
"Just between us" the Doctor agreed.
"Mrs. Golightly's Happy Travelling University and Dry Cleaners", he mopped a brow with a hankie and plopped down.
"You… you lied to the company… to get the job?" Astrid gasped.
"I… I wasted my life on Sto. I was travelling salesman, always on the road and I reached retirement with nothing to show for it. Not even a home. And Earth sounded so exotic.
"Hmmm, I suppose it is, yeah", the Doctor agreed.
"How come you know it so well", Astrid eyed us.
"Well… I was born on it and grew up on it…" I said and looked at the Doctor.
"I was sort of…a few years ago, I sorta made… well sort of homeless, and , um, there was Earth, "the Doctor said.
"Thing is", Copper sighed, "If we survive this, there will be police and all sorts of investigations. Now the minimum penalty for space-age fraud is ten years in jail. I'm an old man. Well I won't survive ten years"
Suddenly there was a banging on the door. The Doctor jumped up and ran to the opposite door, "A Host! Move! Come on!"
The pounding continued, dents starting to form in the door as we ran out of the room, following the Doctor. He flashed a door with the sonic and it opened onto the engine rooms, where the only way across was a fallen strut acting like a bridge.
"Is that the only way across?" Rickston's eyes widened.
"Well, I don't see another one" I said.
"On the other hand, it is a way across", the Doctor said.
The engines are open!" Astrid gasped, looking over the ledge at the engines.
"Nuclear storm drive. Soon as it stops, the Titanic falls."
"But that thing it'll never take our weight", Morvin stated.
"You're going last, mate", Rickston remarked.
"It's nitrofine metal", the Doctor remarked. "It's stronger than it looks."
"All the same, Rickston's right," Morvin sighed, "Me and Foon should…" he stepped forward, onto a weak piece of metal near the edge and it gave way. He fell, down towards the engines, with a scream.
"MORVIN!" Foon screeched.
"I told you!", Rickston pointed, "I told you!"
"Just shut up!" Copper spat at him, "Shut up!"
"Couldn't said it better, Mr. Copper!", I agreed.
"Bring him back!" Foon cried hysterically to the Doctor. "Can't you bring him back? Bring him back, Doctor!"
"I'm sorry, I can't" he shook his head.
"You promised me!"
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Doctor!" Copper called as there was a bang behind us, "I rather think those things have got our scent."
"I'm not waiting", Rickston decided, starting across the bridge.
"Careful!" the Doctor called, "Take it slowly!"
There was a rumble, jolting the ship and nearly knocking Rickston off the strut, "Vot help me."
"You're okay. One step at a time. Come on, you can do it." The Doctor said.
"They're getting nearer!", Copper reported.
The Doctor turned to the door, took again his screwdriver and flashing it across the door. "Sealed us in."
"Leaving us trapped, wouldn't you say?" Copper looked at him alarmed.
"Never say trapped, just inconveniently circumstanced," the Doctor replied.
"I'm okay", Rickston called as he was halfway across but nobody cared.
"Maybe he's alright", Foon looked at Astrid and me hopefully. "Maybe… maybe there's a gravity curve down there or something. I don't know. Maybe he's unconscious."
"I would really wish it for you Foon… but I don't think so… I'm sorry Foon" I said.
"I'm sorry, Foon", Astrid joined me and hugged Foon. "He's gone"
"What am I going to do without him?" she sobbed.
"Yes!" Rickston cheered as he made it to the other end, "Oh yes! Who's good?"
"Bannakaffalatta, you go next" the Doctor called.
"Bannakaffalatta, small", the alien said and jumped on the bridge.
"SLOWLY!" the Doctor and I screamed at the same time.
The Host knocked on the door, "They've found us!" Copper gasped.
"Astrid, get across right now!", the Doctor said.
"What about you?" Astrid looked at him.
"Just do it. Go on", Astrid nodded and moved. "Mr. Copper, we can't wait. Don't argue", Copper followed, "Emma…"
"Forget it… I won't go, before I know there is the chance you also will go across.
"Well.. Foon, you've got to get across right now"
"What for?" she wept, "What am I gonna do without him?"
"Doctor!" Rickston shouted, "The door's locked!"
"Just think… what would he want, eh?"
"He doesn't want anything. He is dead." Foon sobbed.
"Doctor, I can't open the door!" Rickston called again, "We need the whirring key thing of yours!"
"We can't leave her!" the Doctor shouted back.
"She'll get us all killed if we can't get out!"
The Doctor sighed looking between Rickston and the others before turning to Foon, "Mrs. Van Hoff, we are coming back for you, alright?"
Foon nodded and the Doctor pushed me again, so that I started to walk on the bridge before him.
"To many people!" Bannakaffalatta called.
"Oi!", the Doctor snapped, "Don't get spiky with us! Keep going!" he said and grabbed my hand.
"It's gonna fall!" Astrid said.
"It's just stalling! Keep going!"
It suddenly became very quiet as the pounding stopped.
"They've stopped..:" Astrid remarked.
"Gone away?" Bannakaffalatta wondered.
"Why would they give up?" the Doctor looked at the door.
"I don't think that they give up… maybe they changed their tactic… That's what I would do" I said.
"But what? Where have they gone? Where are the Host?"
"I'm afraid…" Copper called looking up, "We forgot the tradition of Christmas… that angels have wings!" he pointed up and we could see the Host gliding down on us from above.
"Information: kill"
They reached for their halos.
"ARM YOURSELVES" the Doctor screamed. "ALL OF YOU!"
We all tried to get some type of pipes and bits of metal to defend ourselves as the Host threw their halos at us. It was really hard to defend ourselves and even the Doctor got hurt at his arm.
"I can't" Astrid cried, falling on her knees.
"Bannakaffalatta stop!" the little alien shouted, throwing down his pipe, "Bannakaffalatta proud! Bannakaffalatta cyborg!" he lifted his shirt and discharged an energy ring out, disabling the Host. Those fell from the air, towards the engines, with only one falling onto the strut behind the Doctor.
"Electromagnetic pulse took out the robotics. Oh Bannakaffalatta that was brilliant!" the Doctor said and looked over but Bannakaffalatta fell backwards.
"He used all his power!" Astrid called as she fell to her knees beside him, checking on him.
"Did good?" Bannakaffalatta looked up at her.
"You saved our lives."
"Bannakaffalatta happy"
"We can recharge you, get you to a power point and just plug you in!"
"Too late"
"No, but… you gotta get me that drink, remember?"
"Pretty girl", he breathed before his eyes fell closed and he died. Astrid moved to button up his shirt when Mr. Copper reached for his mechanics.
"I'm sorry", he told her, "Forgive me."
"Leave him alone!" Astrid glared.
"It's the EMP transmitter. He… he'd want us to use it…" he removed it gently, "I used to sell these things. They'd always give me a bed for the night in the cyborg caravans. They're good people. But if we can recharge it, we can reuse it as weapon against the rest of the Host. Bannakaffalatta might have saved us all."
"Do you think?" Rickston scoffed, "Try telling him that" he pointed behind us and we turned to see the Host behind the Doctor had gotten up.
"Information: reboot"
Cliffhanger, even though you know how it'll end :D
Anyway, thank you for reading and as always review, it would mean the world to me! (even if I and my sister can be really lazy about writing…)
Happy Christmas everyone!
Also RIP Eleven! :'(
~Yukiko