Martha took a seat on the driver's seat of a small almost hoverpod as Abel leaned over her shoulder. As she strapped in Abel gestured toward the intimidating looking dashboard in front of her. "You know how to drive a twenty first century car, so flying one of these isn't too much different. Unless you encounter trouble I have it configured on automatic pilot. If something does happen flying is pretty easy. First switch off the automatic pilot with the green switch. You got a joystick for positioning right there. Speed up, slow down, and completely stop are those three switches there. You'll be planked by Daleks on your trip so if you encounter any attacks they'll mop it up for you. When you arrive, keep the headset on and wait for my signal. I need you to be my eyes and ears, oh, and... thank you."
Martha turned her head towards him confused. "For what?"
Abel sighed as if it was obvious. "Martha, I know that what you want to do is stop me and that may make you my enemy. I don't see it like that. You… you're different and I know I'm intruding here, but another time and another place…"
Martha took a quick look at the ring on her finger. Maybe it was nerves that she was about to fly some type of ominous hovercraft as part of a dangerous mission, but part of her actually could admit Abel rubbed her the right way. He was a bit strange, but that mystery was rather enduring as well as his good looks. Yeah, Martha may have taken to him if things were different and she didn't have Tom back home. The same Tom Milligan, who has no idea where she is right now. Almost to herself, but seemingly to Abel, Martha replied, "Even in war love shines through."
Abel grinned as he laid a hand on her shoulder. "You're gonna be alright, Martha. You're the only one that can say that."
A sly smile played across Martha's face. "I am still committed to stopping you though."
"Don't ever underestimate a general."
Abel climbed out of the transport and shut the door as the engines began to thrust. Martha was really about to fly down right into the planet below. It was a dream and a terrifying thought for a person of her time, but she was ready. She'd find whatever it is behind that citadel and she'd protect it by any means necessary.
A door opening to the space outside slid open as the hover craft sped out and the planet Sirius loomed large in front of her. This was a completely alien planet than the one Martha knew at home, and yet it was so massive and beautiful. As expected a platoon of Daleks soon was flanking her to the sides flying as if they were her allies. Martha was defenseless, but despite all of her preconceptions Abel really was in control and she was a piece he could not loose. The thought was a bit humiliating but she also took it as empowering. The ship began shaking, rattling Martha around as it and the Daleks began to plunge into the atmosphere below. This was going to be fun!
Fun was not a word that could describe the Doctor or Rose at the moment. In the TARDIS Rose carried a futuristic yet simple plug where the Doctor had instructed her to put it. Her heart and head were low knowing that very soon it would all be over. Still, something told her inside that maybe doing this menial task to help open the citadel would change everything rather than just count the minutes until midnight struck. Rose trudged on keeping herself from breaking down.
In a completely other room the Doctor frowned as he stared down a more perplexing task to the tune of a series of numbers on the screen. To break a lock in space was one thing but time was a whole other animal indeed. '5, 15, 1, 13, 7.' According the the schematics the numbers had came across randomly when Dalek Caan had tried to assess the citadel through time travel. The numbers were blocking him from even breaking the lock itself. Find out the meaning of the numbers and he would know what to do to break the lock.
For a minute he struggled, but suddenly the realization dawned on him. He knew immediately what he was dealing with and this could not be good. "No! It can't be! Martha! She can't…" The Doctor stepped back with his hands agonizingly on his head.
The decent for Martha through the Sirian atmosphere had felt like a rollercoaster ride but the craft leveled off as her decent slowed and the land of the planet loomed below. Except for the color scheme it looked so Earth like, but she couldn't focus on it for long. Trouble was on its way. The Sirians weren't going to make this easy.
In the air to the left came what she would describe as airplanes. Soon as the familiar yet strangely looking machines arrived, shots were fired in the air around her hitting some of the Daleks. The aliens seemingly absorbed the firepower, but Martha wasn't so lucky. The hover craft shook with intensity suddenly scaring her. They were clearly outnumbered by the Sirians as the Daleks began to fire back.
Martha flew through a sky full of blasting lights as if she was in some type of portal. She was flying through a full aerial battlefield. The Daleks began destroying several crafts providing great defense for Martha's craft. For a Dalek to defend her there was something very valuable in that citadel indeed.
More Sirian planes were struck making them explode in flashes of light but the battle was not yet done. Suddenly, a different weapon was shot from a Sirian vessel completely exploding one of the covering Daleks. Martha talked into her radio, "A Dalek just got shot!"
Abel's voice resounded with concern. "That's impossible!"
Martha searched her craft controls looking for something or any type of weapon to at least defend herself. "Is there any settings or anything I can use to defend myself?"
Abel's voice replied sadly, "No." Martha realized the truth that she was a sitting duck having to put all hopes on the Daleks.
The battle raged on with both Sirian aircraft and Dalek bodies blowing up in mini explosions. Shots flared all around her with most just barely missing Martha's craft. She couldn't die right here and right now. If Martha Jones was to die in this battle it would have to be while she piloted the craft. "I'm going to take off the autopilot. I'm sorry." With that she pressed the button to turn off the autopilot and firmly grabbed the joystick with sweat barrowing down her face.
Martha's initial downward adjustment allowed her to miss a blast as she noticed only two Daleks left and not many Sirians. One of the two Daleks exploded to her right leaving just one. Martha continued her path down moving left or right irregularly to miss any blasts. With hope Abel radioed, "You might make the citadel, Martha! Just keep trying to dodge those fires!" Out of the corner of her eye she saw the miraculous building below.
The last Dalek blew up behind her as two Sirian planes also were destroyed. Only one plane left and Martha was now a sitting duck. "I'm flying solo!" She dodged one fire but suddenly the back of the craft was hit hard. "I'm hit! I'm hit!"
Martha could hear Abel scream "No!" as she joined him. The craft's engines froze quickly and it as well as her in it rapidly descended toward the ground below. Her eyes remained wide ready to meet her maker until the ground filled her front screen and everything exploded…