They ran through the hallway once again and Donna pounced on something glittering on the floor.
"My chain! I'd forgotten!"
Peter had the decency to flush at the sight of it, she noticed.
"Come on." They ran down the stairs and into the communal areas, pausing for a moment to look into the dining room. Everyone looked fairly relaxed though they were still sitting in small groups and the chatter sounded more subdued than it had earlier.
"They seem alright," Clara said uncertainly.
Donna looked all around the room, desperately wanting to see the guard she'd seen earlier. If there was any chance it could be...
"Come on," Peter whispered behind her, "you'll be seen."
Sighing she turned and walked between them down to the control area. This time, the doors of the control rooms were closed. There was a faint murmur of voices from within.
"There's the Professor," she whispered to Clara, "the real one, I think."
They pressed themselves against the wall and peered cautiously into the room.
The Professor was holding up a test-tube of bubbling liquid and staring at a screen in front of him.
"You said she could withstand another dose," Private Newman was saying. Although he sounded terrified, there was an accusatory tone to this voice.
"A little more, I think," the Professor said. He slowly bent the jar and began to pour some of it into a clear tube to his left. He pressed the device on his wrist.
"Still nothing," he said after a moment.
"It's better that way," Private Newman said, "too much disturbances caused by these things could be catastrophic at this stage, sir. She's weakened greatly in the last hour. We don't know how much longer..."
"Her abilities are sufficient," the Professor said.
"She'll need to be taken around the ship again this evening. We need her presence in every area."
"She?" Peter whispered.
Donna waved him back. She could feel the familiar heaviness in the air again. Her skin felt like someone was tickling her. With pins.
"We need to take care of the other business," the Professor was saying.
"We need to move," Clara whispered. But it was too late. Suddenly he appeared in front of them. For one second, Donna prepared to brazen it out before she remembered that she no longer had her TARDIS key. With a cry, she started to run, hearing the footsteps of the others behind her.
"They're here!" The Professor shouted somewhere in their wake.
"Run!" Clara shouted.
They got to the end of the corridor until a breezy voice brought them to a screeching halt.
"Enough subterfuge," the Doctor said, striding past Donna and stopping in front of the Professor. Despite the situation, Donna couldn't help noticing that he looked very pleased with himself. When he reached the Professor however, his face was deadly cold. It never ceased to surprise her that someone so warm and full of enthusiasm could literally seem to burn with anger at other times.
"We're all about to crash and burn here, Professor, and if you're honest, you know that too."
The Professor took out his gun and waved his two helpers back.
"Check on the passengers." He turned back to them.
"Where is the Doctor?"
"Oh he's here, don't worry. Trying to figure out a way of getting you out of this mess. Because that's what it is. A mess. Your ideals are just about to cost the whole Earth."
"Nonsense," the Professor said. He indicated towards the nearest room, then turned and pointed the gun directly into Clara's face.
"Miss Stokes, after you."
They turned and followed. Out of the corner of her eye, Donna watched as Jack appeared at the far end of the corridor and made his way into the console room.
"How did you get on here?" the Professor was asking.
"I could say the same way as you," the Doctor replied coolly. "Where are the crew?"
"We are the crew," he replied smoothly and turned to look at Donna who was gasping now, and trying hard to cover the sound. Clara looked worriedly at her and placed a hand on her back. Peter stood in front of her, glaring at the professor. The gesture made Donna want to hug him. Or hit him. If he'd felt half as protective earlier...
"You need to let us fix this," the Doctor said, "because at the moment, the asteroid is little more than a couple of hours away and it's the least of your problems."
"I told you that was nonsense," the Professor said. But his eyes strayed upwards to where, over their heads, the dim light began to flicker over and over. There was a clanking sound from a nearby machine and when they turned to look at it, two sparks flew out and drifted upwards.
"It's started. You know it has." The Doctor's voice was grave.
"Minor malfunction," the Professor said. "This is clever distraction, Captain but it's not..."
"Professor!" The door flew open and Private Newman burst in, looking terrified. "Professor, it's failing."
The light over their head flickered a last time and died.
"Is she dead?" The Professor's voice was completely devoid of emotion.
"I think so, Sir. You told me this wouldn't happen." As if only just realising that the room was full of people, he stopped abruptly.
"Sub-human species do have the tiresome ability to be unpredictable."
"Sub-human! You'll pay for that!" Donna spluttered. "You've killed her, haven't you?" Suddenly, she couldn't bear to try out the name on him.
The Professor calmly pointed the gun at the Doctor.
"You and I will fetch your Doctor and bring him here to restart proceedings."
"You don't care," the Doctor asked. "You've just killed one of your team?"
"No one's indispensible." He gave Clara a pointed glance.
"You're certainly not!" There was a loud crash and in the darkness, Donna found herself clinging to Clara as they ducked instinctively. A blue light fell across their faces as the Doctor moved the screwdriver around. They could see a prone shape on the ground and Peter's face, grim and slightly sick looking as he placed a large metal object on the ground.
"You hit him?" Clara asked.
He nodded, as if unable to speak.
"We don't solve our problems with violence, Peter," the Doctor said.
"You're welcome," Peter muttered stonily.
The Doctor pointed the screwdriver at the door where Jack had come into view. He grabbed hold of Private Newman and held him in a firm grip.
"What happened? Is anyone hurt?"
"Is he alright?" Private Newman asked, his voice trembling. "This is treason of the highest order! You'll all be..."
"Dead in a minute if you don't keep quiet," Jack said.
"Can we save whoever it is they've poisoned?" Donna asked between furious coughs.
"It's too late for them," the Doctor said. His voice was tight with frustration. "The machine isn't working and that means they're dead. All we can do now is try to save ourselves."
"We can at least try!"
"Donna, the 200 innocents on this ship are our priority. Remember Pompeii? Sometimes you've got to look at..."
"The bigger picture, I know," she said, bending low to try and ease the pressure on her chest. The Doctor put a hand on her shoulder but when she looked up at him, his face was angry.
"Why did you come down? Was it really too much to ask...?"
"Yes!"
"I told you to stay put!"
Clara nudged her before she could say anything else. Probably best not to add to the stress of the moment. The Doctor took a deep breath.
"Ok, come on. We'll stay together then. Donna, walk with me. This room isn't doing you any good." He beckoned to Peter and Clara at the back then turned to lead them forwards.
"Doctor..." Donna began.
He faced her and now she could see that his eyes were full of pain.
"Did you know the name of Clara's colleague?" he asked quietly.
"She just told me. Doctor...do you think...the person I saw?"
"No." He said firmly but his eyes weren't quite meeting hers. "It can't be. We can't let it distract us."
Jack stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Doctor, I know what you're doing and why you're doing it. You're trying to protect yourself, I get that. I did it too, about my brother. Told myself there was no way he could be alive and it'd be best if I mourned for him and got on with it. But...if I hadn't...then maybe..." His voice trailed off and he took a long breath. "If there's any chance that Jenny's alive, you've got to bear the possibility in mind. You'll never forgive yourself otherwise."
The Doctor was silent. Donna stared at the ground. She really had no idea what to say to him.
"She's dead," he said eventually. "Donna and I saw her die. Clara last saw her colleague seven years ago. My...Jenny doesn't fit in with any of that."
"If she had enough of your genetics to regenerate or heal herself? And let's not forget, if she was a time agent, the seven years thing could be possible. Don't rule it out, ok? If comes to nothing, you haven't failed her."
The Doctor looked at Jack for a moment and a look of deep understanding passed between them. He nodded shakily.
"You're ok with this?"
"Sure," Jack said. The Doctor pushed a lever on the control nearest to them as Jack pushed Private Newman over to the far end of the room and tied his wrists securely together.
"Let's get out of here," Jack said.
"Wait a moment." The Doctor pressed a few buttons on the screen in front of him then ran the screwdriver up and down the controls. He closed his eyes for a moment.
"Is there something wrong?" Donna asked hesitantly. "I mean, something else?"
"No." He pressed a button again, and a faint yellow light glowed in front of them. The ship shuddered violently again.
"Are we about to hit?" Jack asked.
"No, no. I just sent a distress signal," the Doctor whispered. "To Vira." Private Newman strained his head, trying desperately to see what he was doing.
"What good can that do?" Jack asked, and then stared at the computer.
"Oh yeah," he breathed.
"Their telekinetic skills aren't that powerful," Clara said. "Sorry, I don't mean to be negative but I've studied these people. We can't depend on..."
"Every race of people is powerful when their powers are combined!" The Doctor said. "Think of it! The visitors from Earth are the main thing on everyone's mind there right now...and then they get a distress call! I don't know what they can do for us but I guarantee you they can do something!"
"Long shot though," Donna wheezed. The Doctor looked at her.
"Any better?"
She nodded uncertainly. Her symptoms weren't getting worse and she supposed that was a good sign.
"Have you a better idea?" His voice was neither defensive nor angry. It was a simple question and that frightened her.
"Come on then," he said quietly, stepping over some wires and indicating the door. He stepped out, peering around him.
Donna turned to follow but as she stepped past the threshold, she felt something, not quite a breeze but more of a change in the atmosphere. It was like two magnets when they wouldn't meet. She couldn't pass the doorway. She stepped back uncertainly.
"What's wrong?" Peter asked.
"You try."
He stepped easily out through the door.
"It's ok," he said to her uncertainly.
But when she tried again, the same things happened. Desperately, she attempted to push against it. The Doctor held her hands, pulling her forward but it was hopeless. Whatever held her back was stronger than the lot of them put together.
"I'll try," Jack said, moving past her.
The same thing happened. He pushed against it until Donna thought he would end up on the ground. Eventually, out of breath, he stepped back. Clara had the same result. Donna had to admit to being slightly relieved that she wasn't the only one.
"It's no good," Jack said to the Doctor. "You'll have to go on. It's stopping the three of us for a reason. It's like it's programmed."
"I can't," the Doctor said. "Can't leave you with this lot."
"You have to, Doctor. There's hardly any time left."
"Go on," Donna urged, "we'll be ok."
"I'll stay too," Peter said suddenly, moving to step back into the room.
"No!" Donna said sharply and the Doctor pulled him back gently. "It's best if you go with the Doctor. Keep him out of the trouble, yeah?"
Peter looked at her uncertainly. She could swear he looked worried.
"Take this back then," he said, and pulled the key over his head.
"No! You keep it." She closed his hand around it. "You might need it to come and get us, ok? When everything's sorted out." She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt. She was seriously worried about her sanity, truth be told. She actually felt protective of the little sod.
"Yeah, come on, Peter," the Doctor said, "I'll need the help." He turned to look at Donna, Jack and Clara.
"I'll be back soon as I can, ok? Look after each other."
They stared at each other in the gloom as the Doctor and Peter disappeared out of sight.
"Why do you think we can't get out?" Clara asked. Her teeth were chattering. "Why us? I mean, I can imagine why me."
"Nothing will happen to you," Jack said firmly. He turned to Private Newman.
"Why can't we get out?"
"The Professor needs you," he replied.
"Why us?"
"You're the Doctor, aren't you?" There was a pause. "Aren't you?"
"Yeah!" He didn't actually sound that convinced. Donna shot him a warning look.
"What about me?" she asked.
"Your genetics had similarities to the Doctor's and..." Private Newman stopped speaking as there was a murmur from the prone figure on the ground.
"Professor! Professor! Are you alright, sir?"
The man stirred, stared up at them and at Private Newman's bound wrists. He rolled his eyes.
"Where is the other one? The captain?"
"Ran away," the Private said. "I'm sorry, Sir."
"No matter. He can die along with everyone else. Take the picture."
Donna jumped slightly at the change in conversation. As she watched, Private Newman raised his wrist device towards Jack and Clara who stood together at the controls.
"Develop it and leave it in my office. That's where I found it."
"It's too late to try and appease them now," Jack said.
"What are you talking about?"
"The Reapers. You've messed with time so much now that keeping things as they should be won't make any difference anymore. They'll come for you first, Professor. Every time agent knows the consequences of messing up."
"And every Timelord, presumably? I don't think you're supposed to be here either," the Professor replied.
"Maybe we are," Jack said. "You had our photo, remember? Or some past version of you had. Going back on your own timeline...that's got to hurt."
The professor ignored him and turned to press a button on his wrist device. A panel on one wall opened to display shelves of small glass vials and three screens.
"What's he mean about my genetics?" Donna whispered.
"They're probably a bit mixed up still," Jack replied quietly. "Come to think of it, a hospital visit on Earth could be disaster for you at the moment. Remnants of Timelord genes. What would they think?"
"Same as this lot probably. That they can experiment on us." She stared at the glass jars.
"You two," the Professor continued, holding out what looked like a metal probe of some sort. "You two are, of course, sub-species but nonetheless, you have the ability to put this right. Your Timelord genes..."
"Sub species," Donna said loudly before she could stop herself, "let me tell you, Professor, this sub-species has the ability to take that stick and shove it right where..."
"Donna!" Clara hissed. She turned and looked directly at the Professor. "She's human. You should let her out with the others. She's definitely human. Honestly."
"Honestly." The Professor laughed. "Honestly is a word that doesn't hold much stock with you." He motioned to Jack. "Doctor, I'd like to say it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance but all I really want from you is to fix this machine. And you'll do it." He held out a vial of bubbling liquid to Jack.
"Will I?" Jack asked. "So you can just kill all these people your own way?"
"Think of the Earth," the Professor said, "from all accounts, our planet means a lot to you. This is a small sacrifice compared to what can happen down there if this machine can't function."
"We're a small sacrifice, you mean."
"If you want to put it that way, Doctor. After all, I think one thing we can agree on is the important of the survival of human race. The pure human race."
Jack stared him down.
"There's only thing in this room, Professor, that isn't pure."
He swirled the liquid in the vial and raised it to his lips.
"Your good health, ladies."
He drank the contents in one gulp.
