Firstly I'd like to apologise for the late update... As I explained in the last chapter I went away for a week and had no internet what-so-ever.
Then, to delay even writing my next chapter, when I got on home on Friday 24th (August), I came down with a severe throat infection. I slept (or drifted in and out of consciousness) for several days, and then found out it has progressed to tonsillitis. Bit inconvenient really!
But I'm on antibiotics, and I'm feeling well enough so I can finally write more chapters! And another good thing, I did really quite well in my GCSEs too!
Disclaimer: I still do not own anything to do with Doctor Who. Or Chris Hoy. Or the Olympics. But I did think of this storyline. I also don't own the 'ArcelorMittal Orbit'.
Chapter 4: Energy
"Oh you beautiful human!" The Doctor exclaimed as Chris Hoy crossed the finish line to victory. He wrapped his arms around Rose and lifted her in the air.
After spinning her around in a restricted amount of space, he finally set her down again, followed by the slowing giggles from Rose.
"See? Wasn't that worth being here for? Seeing it happen right in front of you?" The Doctor questioned enthusiastically, shouting above the roaring crowd, unable to control his excitement.
"Yeah, yeah, you were right," Rose smiled and gave in.
The Doctor was still beaming; "Unbelievable!" He brushed his hair through his hair, from front to back, in awe.
At that precise moment, everyone around them stopped. The Doctor's eyebrows lowered as he suddenly became very alert. His mouth twisted into a very confused, open pout, "What?"
"They've just stopped," Rose stated, looking almost as confused as The Doctor, as she waved a hand in front of a man standing next to them.
It wasn't as if they had been possessed; they had physically frozen on the spot. Some paused in mid-celebration, others paused mid-jump. It was almost as if time itself was at a standstill around them. There wasn't a whisper of sound or a trace of moment. Everything was still.
"This has gotta be somefin to do with the TARDIS fallin' from the time vortex," Rose said as a passing comment, whilst she continued to meander around the flesh statues.
The Doctor never failed to voice his thoughts in a confusing situation, and this event was no exception, "I wonder if it's restricted to the velodrome-"
Rose finished, "Or if it's happened outside too."
They glanced at each other before they ran to the exit, passing a drink that had been dropped in all the excitement of the victory, and had been halted in its sudden descent.
Once they reached the outdoors they realised everybody outside had stopped too. However, they could see buses, cars, planes and even people moving around outside the Olympic Park.
"Whatever it is, it's only restricted to the Olympic Park," The Doctor observed, as he tugged his glasses out of his pocket.
He unfolded them with a quick flick of the hand and pushed them on his face as he surveyed yet another stranger. He lightly nudged a lady who was pushing a buggy, only to find that they didn't move a millimetre. They were glued to the spot. The baby's tired tears halted before they could tumble from his eyes.
When he looked up at the sky, the birds above the park hung in midair and the trees around them lingered in the now non-existent breeze. The dark clouds above them were frozen, and the rain had begun its rush down to Earth but never reached the surface.
The Doctor's eyebrows lowered as his puzzled expression became a permanent feature before his eyes fused on something of interest, "What's that?"
"What?" Rose's eyes darted into a vague direction of where The Doctor seemed to be looking.
"That... thing. Over there." He leant into Rose, pointing to the object of interest. He glanced at Rose to make sure she was looking where he needed her to.
"Oh," It was pretty obvious to see, "it's some sorta sculpture. You can see the whole park from the top," Rose said, not really understanding what The Doctor was getting at. She looked at him, expectantly.
"What're we waiting for then?" The Doctor grinned as he grasped her hand and ran for the structure.
"Why're we running?" Rose asked, stopping abruptly.
The Doctor was caught off guard and stopped too, swivelling around to face her. He had never needed to answer such a question. He pursed his lips, and spoke with surprising innocence, "W-What?"
"Why're we running?" She repeated.
His eyebrows lifted, "It's just habit," he paused, confusion sweeping across his face, "W-Why are you asking?"
"Time has stopped. And we're running...?"
"This could be a matter of life or death, and you're asking a question like that!" The Doctor said jokingly, a small grin spreading from ear to ear, "Now, are we going to run, or wait here to die?"
"Why are we gonna die?" Rose's eyebrows raised, as she spoke with humorous confusion.
"We always find ourselves in life or death situations," he grinned, making it impossible for Rose to refuse, "Now run!"
Once they reached the sculpture, The Doctor began to run energetically round and round it several times. When he came to a stop, he stood close to the steel. Not pausing for breath, he suddenly licked the steel and then smiled.
Rose looked at him incredulously, one eyebrow almost disappearing into her hairline. She was speechless.
The Doctor ran to her and grabbed her shoulders, "This thing is just bursting with energy!" Excitement and realisation crossed his face simultaneously, "It's drawing energy from the universe..."
He smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand, "Oh I'm so stupid - well, no, I'm a genius –"he added to himself, "But how did I not see this before?!"
"It's taking the energy, and that's why the TARDIS fell from the time vortex!" Rose caught on.
"And it wants more energy, and that's why the people have stopped. All the hype, the excitement, of being part of the Olympics, of celebrating a victory. It's taking their energy!" He was almost dancing around Rose.
"But what for?" They asked in unison, as they looked at each other before darting for the spiral staircase.
When they reached the top viewing platform, Rose was breathless. Yet The Doctor seemed completely unaffected. It wouldn't surprise her if he managed to win a marathon and still seem completely alright. Although he would probably be disqualified under the criteria of cheating if they found out he had two hearts – and then he'd locked up in a science lab in the back end of nowhere, never to be seen again.
They turned the corner to see a human-shaped figure, covered in a black robe from head to toe. The Doctor walked slowly up to it, and nudged it in the shoulder.
To his surprise the figure stumbled slightly before turning instantly, showcasing a set of sharp teeth and a defensive, yet deafening roar. The midnight black robe dropped to the ground, unleashing a set of spiked and furry wings.
The Doctor leapt back, shooting his arm in front of Rose to protect her.
The creature resembled a grizzly bear, yet its face was nearly hairless – almost resembling a gorilla. Its legs were skinny, but covered in a thin layer of brown hair, similar to its arms. It stood in a similar to humans, yet its arms were curled into its torso with fear and uncertainty. It was almost like an undeveloped human, back in the hairy, ape days – but with a set of wings, of which looked broken.
"We won't hurt you," The Doctor showed the creature his hands, "We can help you."
The creature crept carefully closer to him, and spoke calmly with a husky undertone, "Long way from home." The TARDIS was translating its language, but it was very similar to that of a human. Yet, it seemed very basic.
"Are there others like you?" Rose asked, mimicking how calmly The Doctor spoke before.
"I was underground for years. Everybody gone," the creature almost winced with sadness.
The Doctor decided to get to the point, "Why are you drawing energy from this planet?"
"Home."
"It's a signal?"
The creature shyly nodded.
"You're just a lonely creature. A long way from your people. Trying to get home. What's your planet called? I can take you there; I have a ship."
"I was lost here for years. It's gone."
"What's it called?" The Doctor asked again.
"Arcelor-Relicta."
"Rose, what's this thing called?"
She tried to remember, "It was on the news... Um..."
The Doctor face grew impatient and desperate.
"Arcelor!" She almost shouted, "The ArcelorMittal Orbit, I think."
"And you're alone," The Doctor turned his attention back to the creature, "You're relict, you're alone. You're a relict mortal." He kept repeating to himself. The Doctor was onto something, but even he didn't know what it was.
"ArcelorMittal. It's an anagram," he hit himself in the forehead with his palm again. "A Relict Mortal! You're a relict mortal. This... this thing, this sculpture is for you. But you need more energy, more power. And I have just that," he grinned.
He knelt down next to a small device that seemed to be emitting the signal, and pressed his sonic screwdriver into it. After a whirr from the screwdriver, and a then a sudden rumble from the floor beneath their feet, the whole sculpture began to hum.
"How did you do that?" the Arcelor questioned, stunned by The Doctor's actions.
The sound of people talking, laughing and cheering filled the air again. The screwdriver had charged the signal transmitter, and there was no longer a need to take energy from the universe.
"Your screwdriver just does anything, doesn't it?" Rose stated, more than asked.
An unfamiliar growl echoed around the sculpture, and a flashing light beamed around them. Shrieks of surprise and fear hit their eardrums like a rock hitting water.
The Arcelor spoke, "My people. My ship! Thank you, Doctor!" The Arcelor headed for the outside of the sculpture, and began to climb to the top, using the frame – of which resembled a climbing frame.
The Doctor and Rose ran to the edge and looked up to where the Arcelor was hurriedly climbing to.
"No doubt this'll be on the news tonight," Rose joked, but she knew it would be true.
I hope you liked it! I tried to be a bit clever in this episode, and I'm not sure if that's come across or if I did it very well at all... But the next chapter is in progress if you want it! ...Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading... Yep, it's still being written... Loading... Loading... Bare with me...