Chapter 10: Planet of the Dead
"I'd be surprised if you manage to get us back into the palace grounds," Shawn said.
The Doctor and Shawn were walking out of a candy shop eating chocolate when an alarm went off as double beeps.
"Oh, what's this?" the Doctor asked.
He handed his chocolate to Shawn and began to dig around in his pockets.
"Hold this, would you please?" the Doctor said as he handed over something. "And this, and this. This, too. Ah! Here we go!"
"What's that?" Shawn asked.
The Doctor frowned. "It's picking up something strange." The Doctor reclaimed his belongings from Shawn.
"In London?"
"That could be bad," the Doctor said. "It's . . . gone. Come on, let's move around, see if it will pick something up again."
The two walked around and then boarded a double decker bus. The Doctor used his psychic paper to grant entry and the two sat two rows behind a woman in a leather jacket. Soon after the bus took off, Shawn heard sirens.
"Is that coming from behind us?" Shawn asked. "Why isn't he pulling over to the side?"
The alarm went off again as pairs of beeps. "Oh, we've got excitation again," the Doctor said. "I'm picking up something very strange."
Shawn noticed a weird look from the other side as the Doctor continued examining the readings.
"Doctor, maybe you should be a little more inconspicuous with the alien stuff," Shawn suggested.
"This is London, Shawn. They've all seen weirder things."
"So what kind of strange stuff is that thing detecting?
"A possible hole in reality. It's very small. If this thing picks up rhondium particles, it will go around. That'll help determine . . . oh, it's going around. And around!"
The dish on the device started spinning faster and a sound started coming out.
"Doctor, you're going to attract a lot of attention," Shawn said.
Part of the device exploded.
"What is that?" the woman in front asked. "Can't you turn that thing off?"
"Sorry," the Doctor said as he walked up a bit. He turned around in alarm. "What was your name?"
"Christina."
"Christina, everyone, hold on tight!"
The bus suddenly shook violently and several passengers began screaming. Glass and sparks flew around.
"What's going on?" Shawn thought he heard someone cry.
A bright white light started blinding everyone and soon, it was dark again. The shaking finally stopped and the passengers looked around in confusion. Through the smoke, they saw a desert all around them.
"Is anyone hurt?" Shawn asked. No one replied.
The Doctor slowly got up and stepped out, followed by Shawn.
"End of the line," the Doctor said. "Call it a hunch, but I think we've gone a little bit further than Brixton."
Several passengers also followed.
The Doctor distanced himself from the others to get a close look at the sand, though Shawn and Christina joined him.
"Doctor, there are three suns here," Shawn said.
"Now what's your name?" Christina asked.
"I'm Shawn Farrell."
"And you? Doctor what?"
"Just the Doctor," the Doctor responded.
"Surname?"
"The Doctor."
"You're called 'The Doctor?'"
"Yeah."
"That's not a name, that's a psychological condition."
Christina sighed. She took off her jacket and put on sunglasses. "Ready for every emergency."
The Doctor looked up, removed his glasses, and tinted them with his sonic screwdriver. "Me too." He went back to the sand. "Funny sort of sand, this. There's a trace of something else." The Doctor tasted the sand.
Shawn groaned in disgust.
"Lagch lagch lagch lagch lagch," the Doctor said. "Lagch, lagch. Blah, that's not good."
"It's sand," Christina said.
"No, it tastes like . . . Never mind." The Doctor stood up.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Christina asked.
"Hold on a minute," a guy said, approaching while pointing a finger. "I saw you, mate! You had that thing, that machine. Did you make this happen?"
Shawn exhaled and looked at the Doctor. "At least you're already out of it."
"If you must know," the Doctor said. "I was tracking a hole in the fabric of reality. Call it a hobby. But it was a tiny little hole, no danger to anyone. Suddenly it gets big, and we drive right through it."
"But then where is it?" the bus driver asked. "There's nothing, there's just sand!"
"All right," the Doctor said. He walked towards the back of the bus with the others following. "If you want proof . . . " he took some sand and threw it in the air. A massive and clear swirl emerged and then disappeared. "We came through that."
"What's that?" Christina asked.
"A door," the Doctor responded. "A door in space."
"So what you're saying is, on the other side of that is home?" the bus driver asked. "We can get to London through there?"
"The bus came through, but we can't," the Doctor answered.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" the driver said as he approached the hole.
"Oh, no, don't," the Doctor warned. He tried to catch up.
"I'm going home, mate!" The bus driver proceeded through, but burned instantly into a skeleton, screaming.
Shawn turned to the Doctor in shock.
"He was a skeleton, man!" someone said. "He was bones, just bones!"
The Doctor walked to the bus. "It was the bus. Look at the damage. That was the bus protecting us. Great big box of metal."
"Rather like a Faraday cage?" Christina asked.
"Like in a thunderstorm, yeah?" someone said. He was holding a crying woman. "Safest place is inside a car, cos the metal conducts the lightning right through. We did it in school."
"But if we can only travel back inside the bus . . ." Christina said. "A Faraday cage needs to be closed. That thing's been ripped wide open."
"Slightly different dynamics with a wormhole," explained the Doctor. "There's enough metal to make it work, I think. I hope."
"Then we have to drive five tons of bus, which is currently buried in the sand, and we've got nothing but our bare hands. Correct?" Christina asked.
"How are we going to manage that?" Shawn asked.
"With discipline," Christina answered. "And with a leader."
"Yes, at last, thank you, so . . ." the Doctor began.
"Well, thank goodness you've got me!" Christina interrupted. "Everyone do exactly as I say! Inside the bus immediately!"
Shawn smiled in amusement.
"Is it safe in there?" one of the young men asked.
"I don't think anything's safe any more," Christina answered. "But if it's a choice between baking in there or roasting out here, I'd say baking is slower. Come on! All of you. Right now! And you, the Doctor."
"Yes, ma'am," the Doctor replied.
Christina got everyone back in and seated. She stood at the front. " . . . Point five, the crucial thing is, do not panic. Quite apart from anything else, the smell of sweat inside this thing is reaching atrocious levels. We don't need to add any more. Point six. Team identification. Names. I'm Christina. This man is apparently the Doctor. That's Shawn Farrell. And you?"
"Nathan."
"I'm Barclay."
"Angela. Angela Whitaker."
"My name's Louis, everyone calls me Lou. And this is Carmen."
"Excellent. Memorize those names," Christina told everyone. "There might be a test. Point seven, assessment and application of knowledge. Over to you, the Doctor."
"I thought you were in charge," the Doctor said.
"I am. And a good leader utilizes her strengths. You seem to be the brainbox. So, start boxing."
The Doctor situated himself on the back of his seat. "Right. So, the wormhole. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was just an accident."
"No, it wasn't," Carmen interrupted. "That thing, the doorway. Someone made it. For a reason."
"How do you know?" the Doctor asked.
"She's got a gift," Lou explained. "Ever since she was a little girl, she can just . . . tell things. We do the lottery, twice a week."
"You don't look like millionaires," Christina said.
"No, but we win ten pounds. Every week, twice a week, ten pounds. Don't tell me that's not a gift!"
"Tell me, Carmen," the Doctor said. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Three. Four," Carmen correctly answered. She then looked at Shawn. "I'm not a 4400."
"Low level psychic ability," the Doctor said, "exacerbated by an alien sun."
"Three suns," Shawn corrected.
"Right. Three. What can you see, Carmen? Tell me, what's out there?"
"Something . . . Something is coming. Riding on the wind. And shining."
"What is it?" the Doctor asked.
"Death. Death is coming."
"We're going to die," Angela said, crying.
"I knew it man," Barclay said. "I said so."
"We can't die out here. No one's gonna find us," Nathan worried.
"That isn't exactly helping," Christina said.
"Shut up, we're not your soldiers," Barclay countered.
"It's not doing any good," said Nathan.
"You're upsetting her. Be quiet," Lou requested.
"Will we be bones, like the bus driver?" Nathan asked.
"Stop whimpering," Christina said "All of you!"
"All right now," the Doctor finally said. "Stop it, everyone stop it!"
Everyone silenced themselves except for Angela, who was still crying. The Doctor went to her.
"Angela, look at me. Angela, answer me one question, Angela. That's it, at me, at me. There we go, Angela. Just answer me one thing. When you got on this bus, where were you going?"
"Doesn't matter now, does it?" Angel asked.
"Just answer the question," the Doctor requested.
"Just home."
"And what's home?"
"Me, and Mike and Suzanne. That's my daughter. She's 18."
"Suzanne. Good," the Doctor said. He turned to Barclay. "What about you?"
"Dunno. Going round Tina's," Barclay answered.
"Girlfriend?"
"Not yet." Barclay gave a sly smile.
"Good boy," the Doctor said. "What about you, Nathan?"
"Bit strapped for cash. I lost my job last week. I was gonna stay in. Watch TV."
"Brilliant. And you two?"
"I was going to cook," Lou answered.
"It's his turn tonight," Carmen explained. "Then I clear up."
"What's for tea?" the Doctor asked.
"Chops," Lou answered. "Nice couple of chops and gravy. Nothing special."
"That sounds great," Shawn finally said. "I haven't had normal Earth food in a while, except for the Easter chocolate."
"You some sort of alien?" Barclay asked.
"No, I've just been traveling a lot lately."
"Christina? What were you doing?" the Doctor asked.
"I was going . . . so far away."
"Far away. Chops and gravy," the Doctor summarized. "Watching TV. Mike and Suzanne and poor, old Tina."
"Hey!" Barclay protested.
"And you two?" Christina asked.
"Same as you, kind of," Shawn answered.
"The planet out there," the Doctor continued. "It's just three suns, a wormhole, and sand. It's nothing compared to everything and everyone waiting for you back home. Think about food and home and people. Hold on to that. We are going to get out of here. We're going home. We just need to work together and get this thing back through the hole. So, we need seat cushions! Nathan, Barclay, I need seat cushions!" The Doctor then ran out, followed by Shawn and Christina. He checked the tires.
"Here we go!" Barclay soon said. He emerged from the bus with a seat cushion, as did Nathan.
"That's my boys!" the Doctor exclaimed. "We lay a flat surface between the bus and the wormhole, like duckboards, and reverse into it!"
"Let some air out of the tires," Christina suggested. "Just a little bit. Spreads the weight of the bus, gives you more grip."
"Oh, that's good!" the Doctor said.
"Holidays in the Kalahari," Christina explained.
"Yeah, but those wheels go deeeeeeep," Barclay said.
"Then start digging," Christina said.
"With what?"
"With this," Christina replied. She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded shovel.
The Doctor took the shovel, unfolded it, and passed it to Barclay.
"Got anything else in there?" the Doctor asked.
"Try that," Christina said as she pulled out a small axe and gave it to Nathan. "Might help with the seats."
Shawn laughed out loud and Christina winked at him.
"Thanks!" Nathan said.
"I can't find the keys," Angela yelled from the driver's seat.
"Buses don't have keys," the Doctor said as he went to Angela. "There's a master switch, one button for start, the other one for stop, yeah?"
"Right. Hold on, oh, I've got it," Angela said. She flipped a switch. "Here we go, hold tight, ding ding!"
The engine sputtered, then died.
The Doctor checked the engine. "Oh! Never mind losing half the top deck, you know what's worse? Sand. Lots of little grains. It's clogged up."
"Anyone know mechanics?" Christina asked.
"Me," Barclay answered. "I did a two-week NVQ at the garage. Never finished it, but . . . "
"Off you go, then," the Doctor said. "Try stripping the air filter, fast as you can. Back in two ticks." The Doctor headed off.
"Bathroom break or is something out there?" Shawn asked.
"I just want a closer look at something," the Doctor said. He noticed Christina walking with them.
"You have the answers. I'm not letting you out of my sight."
"It's easier if you left that backpack behind," the Doctor said.
"Where I go, it goes," Christina responded.
"A backpack with a spade and an axe. Christina, who's going so far away, possibly chased by sirens. Who are you?"
"You can talk," Christina countered. "Let's just say we're two equal mysteries. And you, Shawn? What's your story?"
"I'm just traveling with the Doctor."
"You're a 4400, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"What's your special power?"
"I heal other people."
"That's very nice," Christina responded genuinely. "So, tell me. If Carmen's right, if that wormhole's not an accident, then what is it? Has someone done this on purpose?"
"I don't know," the Doctor responded. "But every single instinct of mine is telling me to get off this planet, right now."
"And do you think we can?" Christina asked.
"I live in hope."
"That must be nice. It's Christina de Souza, by the way. To be precise, Lady Christina de Souza." She held out her hand and the Doctor shook it. "Now, that device you were carrying, and your knowledge, the way you stride around this place . . ."
"Yeah?"
"It's like you're not quite . . . are you a 4400 too?"
"Nope. Anyway! Come on! Allons-y!"
"Oui, mais pas si nous allons vers un cauchemar," Christina said.
"Oh, I don't like the look of that," the Doctor said.
"Storm clouds," Christina announced. "Must be hundreds of miles away."
"It's heading here," Shawn said.
"If that's a sandstorm, we'll get ripped to shreds," Christina worried.
"It's a storm," the Doctor said. "Who says it's sand? Let's get back to the others."
The three ran back to the bus.
"Do either you of have a mobile with you?" the Doctor asked as he approached the bus.
"I have mine on the bus," Barclay responded.
The Doctor ran in. "Where is it?"
"There, on the seat."
The Doctor picked up the phone and aimed his sonic screwdriver at it.
"You're hardly going to get a signal. We're on another planet!" Christina said.
"Oh, just watch me. Right, now, bit of hush, thank you. Gotta remember the number, very important number," the Doctor said as he dialed.
"Hello, Pizza Geronimo?" someone on the phone said.
The Doctor hung up. "And again! Ah! 7-6, not 6-7."
"This is the Unified Intelligence Taskforce. Please select one of the following four options," a voice said. "If you want to . . . "
"Oh, I hate these things!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"No, if you keep your finger pressed on zero, you get through to a real person," Angela said. "I saw it on Watchdog!"
"Thank you, Angela!" The Doctor pressed 0 and sat down.
"UNIT helpline, which department would you like?" a woman said.
"Listen, it's the Doctor. It's me. Are you all aware of the wormhole in London? A bus gone missing?"
"Yes, Doctor. At the tunnel."
"I need to talk to the person on site right now."
"I'll transfer you."
The passengers waited.
"This is UNIT."
"Hello. This is the Doctor. Are you at the London tunnel with the wormhole?"
"Yes, sir."
"I need to talk to whoever's in charge."
"Right away, sir."
The passengers heard the man transfer the phone to someone else. "Captain! Urgent call, ma'am, relayed direct from HQ."
"Who is it?"
"Itʼs him, maʼam. It's the Doctor."
"Doctor. This is Captain Erisa Magambo. Might I say, sir, it's an honor."
"Did you just salute?" the Doctor asked.
"No . . ." Erisa answered after a beat.
"Erisa, it's about the bus. HQ said you're at the tunnel, yeah?"
"And where are you?" Erisa asked.
"I'm on the bus. But apart from that, not a clue, except it's very pretty and pretty dangerous."
"A body came through here. Have you sustained any more fatalities?"
"No, and we're not going to. But I'm stuck. I haven't got the TARDIS, and I need to analyze that wormhole."
"We have a scientific advisor on site, Dr. Malcolm Taylor. Just the man you need. He's a genius."
"Oh, is he? We'll see about that. Can I speak with him?"
"Of course, Doctor."
"You really are just the Doctor?" Angela asked as the passengers waited.
"Yup, that's me."
"Here's the Doctor," they heard Erisa said.
"No, I'm all right now, thanks. It was just a bit of a sore throat. Although I've got to be honest, a cup of tea might be nice."
"It's the Doctor."
"Do you mean . . . 'the Doctor' Doctor?" Malcolm responded after a couple seconds.
"I know," Erisa said. "We all want to meet him one day, but we all know what that day will bring."
"I can hear everything you're saying," the Doctor said.
Shawn laughed and the Doctor threw him a look.
"Hello, Doctor? Oh, my goodness!" Malcolm exclaimed.
"Yes, I am. Hello, Malcolm!"
"The Doctor! Cor blimey. I can't believe I'm actually speaking to you! I mean, I've read all the files!"
"Really? What was your favorite, the giant robot? No, no, hold on, let's sort out that wormhole. Excuse me." The Doctor went to the driver's seat. "Malcolm, something's not making sense here. I've got a storm and a wormhole, and I can't help thinking there's a connection. I need a complete full-range analysis of that wormhole, the whole thing."
"I've probably got the wrong idea, but I've wired up an integrator," Malcolm said. "I thought it could measure the energy signature."
"No, that'll never work. Just listen to me."
"It's quite extraordinary, though! I'm measuring an oscillation of 15 Malcolms per second."
"Fifteen what?"
"Fifteen Malcolms. It's my own little term. A wavelength parcel of ten kilohertz operating in four dimensions equals one Malcolm."
"You named a unit of measurement after yourself?"
"It didn't do Mr. Watt any harm. Furthermore, 100 Malcolms equals a Bernard."
"And who's that, your dad?"
"Don't be ridiculous, that's Quatermass."
"Right. Fine. But before I die of old age, which in my case would be quite an achievement, so congratulations on that, is there anyone else I can talk to?"
"No, no, no, no, but listen! I set the scanner to register what it can't detect and inverted the image."
"You did what?"
"Is that wrong?"
"No, Malcolm, that's brilliant! So you can actually measure the wormhole. Okay, I admit, that is genius!" the Doctor said. "Now, run a capacity scan. I need a full report. Call me back when you've done it. And Malcolm? You're really great."
The Doctor charged out of the bus. "Barclay, I'm holding on to this."
Shawn and Christina followed. They all went to the top of a dune.
The Doctor held up Barclay's phone. "Send this back to Earth, see if Malcolm can analyze the storm."
"There's something in those clouds, something shining. Look . . ." Christina said.
"Like metal," the Doctor observed.
"Why would there be metal in a storm?" Christina asked.
The Doctor continued on the phone. A chirruping sound began.
"Did you hear something?" Christina asked.
"I heard it," Shawn answered.
"Hold on," the Doctor said.
Christina looked around. "Oh . . ."
Shawn looked to his left with Christina.
"Doctor," Shawn said.
"Just one more . . ."
"Doctor!" Shawn repeated.
"What is – Oh . . ."
A being with an insect-like head approached the Doctor, Shawn, and Christina with a gun. It kept on chirruping and the Doctor responded in same.
"I told it to wait," the Doctor explained.
"You speak the language?" Christina asked.
"I speak every language." The Doctor continued communicating. "Now I've begged for mercy."
The being motioned with its gun.
"It's telling us to move," Christina said.
"Ooh, you're learning!" the Doctor exclaimed.
The four walked towards a broken ship.
"These fly things, they must be responsible. They brought us here," Christina suggested.
"No, no, no, no, no! Look at the ship. It's a wreck. They crashed, just like us."
They made their way to the interior.
"But this place is freezing!" Christina complained.
"The hull's made of Photafine steel. Turns cold when it's hot. Boiling desert outside, freezing ship inside. Since I met you, Christina, we've been through all the extremes!"
"That's how I like things. Extreme."
Shawn chuckled quietly.
"Having a good day, Shawn?" the Doctor asked.
"It's probably just a stage of grief."
"Oh, this is beautiful!" the Doctor exclaimed. "Intact, it must have been magnificent. A proper streamlined deep-spacer!"
"I'll remember that as I'm being slowly tortured: At least I'm bleeding on the floor of a really well-designed spaceship!"
A second creature appeared and it activated a purple button on its shirt.
"Oh, right, good, yes, hello!" the Doctor said. "That's a telepathic translator. He can understand us."
"Still sounds like gibberish to me," Christina said.
"That's what I said, he can understand us. Doesn't work the other way round. Okay . . . 'You will suffer for your crimes.' Et cetera. 'You have committed an act of violence against the Tritovore race.' Tritovores; they're called Tritovores. 'You came here in the 200 to destroy us.' Sorry, what's the 200?"
"It's the bus," Christina answered. "Number 200."
"Oh!" the Doctor said. "No, look, I think you're making the same mistake Christina did. I'm the Doctor, by the way. This is Shawn. This is Christina, the Honorable Lady Christina, at least I hope she's honorable! But we got pulled through that wormhole. The 200 doesn't look like that normally. It's broken, just the same as you."
The Tritovores talked to each other and then lowered their guns.
"That's a relief," Shawn said quietly.
"What are they doing?" Christina asked.
"They believe me," the Doctor answered.
"What, as simple as that?"
"I've got a very honest face. And the translator says I'm telling the truth. Plus, the face. Right! So, first things first. There's a very strange storm heading our way. Can you send out a probe?" the Doctor asked after running to a control station.
The Tritovores responded.
"Ah, they've lost power. Hmm, the crash knocked the mainline crystallography out of synch. But if I can jiggle it back . . ." the Doctor said. He kicked a part of the machine and the power returned. "I thank you . . . Yes, I am . . . Frequently . . . Okey-doke, let's launch that probe," he said to the Tritovores. He hit a switch. "Off it goes. Now, do you have any records of this planet so we can learn more about it?"
The Doctor, Shawn, and Christina sat in front of a screen that showed a nebula.
"The Scorpion Nebula. We're on the other side of the universe. Just what you wanted, Christina."
The image zoomed in.
"San Helios," the Doctor said.
"That's us?" Christina asked. "We're on another world."
"We have been for quite a while," the Doctor said.
"I know, but seeing it like that . . . "
"It's good, isn't it?"
"Wonderful."
The Tritovores began to speak and the Doctor translated.
"The Tritovores were going to trade with San Helios. Population of one hundred billion. Plenty of waste matter for them to absorb."
"By waste matter, you mean . . .?" Christina asked.
"They feed off what others leave behind. From their . . ."
"We got it," Shawn said.
"Remind me never to kiss them," Christina said.
The screen showed a beautiful and advanced city.
"San Helios City," the Doctor said.
"That's amazing. But you've seen this sort of thing before, haven't you?"
"Thousands of times."
"Where are you two from?" Christina asked.
"I'm from Seattle . . ."
"Gallifrey, in the constellation Kasterborous."
"You're an alien?"
"Yeah. But you don't have to kiss me either."
"So where is that city?" Shawn asked. "Maybe they can at least protect us from the storm."
"We're there right now," the Doctor said.
"Was that image ancient history then?" Christina asked.
"That image was taken last year."
"How did that become a desert in only one year?" Shawn asked.
"I said there was something in the sand. The city, the oceans, the mountains, the wildlife and 100 billion people, turned to sand. All those voices in Carmen's head. She's hearing them die."
"This is all dead people?" Shawn asked.
"I've got it in my hair. That's disgusting!" Christina cried.
"Something destroyed the whole of San Helios," the Doctor said.
"Yes, but in my hair!"
Barclay's phone rang and the Doctor answered.
"Malcolm! Tell me the bad news!"
"Oh, you are clever! It is bad news! It's the wormhole, Doctor. It's getting bigger! We've gone way past 100 Bernards. I haven't invented a name for that."
"How can it get bigger by itself?" the Doctor asked.
"Well, that's why I'm phoning! You'll work it out, if I know you, sir."
"Doctor, we estimate the circumference of your invisible wormhole is now four miles," Erisa said, "heading upwards. I've grounded all flights above London. We can't risk anyone else falling through."
"Good work, both of you."
"But I have to know," Erisa said. "Does that wormhole constitute a danger to this planet?"
The phone beeped twice.
"Oh, sorry, call waiting, gotta go," the Doctor said. He switched to another caller. "Yep?"
"Doctor, it's Nathan. We got those duckboard things down, but . . ."
"Whatʼs happened?" the Doctor asked.
"We kept on turning the engine, but . . . We're out of petrol. Used it all up. Even if we can get those wheels out . . . This bus is never going to move."
Shawn looked at the Doctor, concerned. The Doctor lowered the phone.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Christina asked. "Doctor, tell me."
"You said we were going home," Nathan continued. "Doctor? Are you still there?"
"Doctor, tell me, what did he say?" Christina asked again.
There was a series of beeps. The Tritovores went to a control and spoke to the Doctor.
"It's the probe. It's reached the storm," the Doctor explained.
"And what's he saying?" Christina asked.
"It's not a storm."
Everyone looked at the screen and saw a massive horde of creatures that looked like metal stingrays.
"It's a swarm," Christina said.
"There're so many," Shawn added.
"There could be billions out there," said the Doctor.
One of the creatures flew into the probe and ate it, cutting transmission.
"Ah!" the Doctor exclaimed. "We've lost the probe. I think it got eaten. Everything on this planet gets eaten."
"How far away is that swarm?" Christina asked.
"Hundred miles. But at that speed, it'll be here in twenty minutes."
A Tritovore said something to the Doctor.
"No, they're not just coming for us. They want the wormhole," the Doctor explained.
"They're heading for Earth!" Christina said.
"Show the analysis," the Doctor requested.
An image of one of the creatures came up.
"Incredible! They swarm out of a wormhole, strip the planet bare, then move on to the next world, start the life cycle all over again," said the Doctor.
"So, they make the wormholes?" Christina asked.
"They must have," the Doctor responded.
"But how? They don't exactly look like technicians. And if the wormhole belongs to them, why are they 100 miles away?"
"Because they need to be?" the Doctor offered. "No. That's bonkers. Hang on! Yes! Oh! Do you see? Billions of them, flying in formation, all around the planet, round and round and round, faster and faster and faster, till they generate a rupture in space! The speed of them, and the numbers, and the size, all of that rips the wormhole into existence!"
"And the wormhole's getting bigger?" Christina asked.
"Because they're getting closer!"
"Their metal skin protects them, doesn't it?" Shawn asked.
"You're right! They've got bones of metal! They eat metal, and extrude it into the exoskeleton! So their velocity makes the wormhole, then their body makes it safe! Perfect design!"
Christina got up and paced around. "Doctor, you're missing the obvious. We came here through the wormhole, yes? But our Tritovore friends didn't. They came here to trade with San Helios. Therefore, the question is, why did they crash?"
"Ah, good question! What a team! Like she said, why did you crash?"
A Tritovore responded and ran off.
"Let's follow!" the Doctor said. They came across a hole.
"Oh, yes. Gravity well, look," the Doctor said. "Goes all the way down to the engine. So what happened?"
The Tritovore answered.
"He says the drive system stalled. Ten miles up, they fell out of the sky. But what caused that?"
The Tritovore shrugged.
"I can understand that," Shawn said.
"Wait a minute," the Doctor said. "That's a crystal nucleus down there, yes? It looks like it survived the crash. If the crystal's intact, it'd work better than diesel!"
"You can use it to move the bus?" Christina asked.
"I think so. The spaceship's a write-off, but the 200's small enough."
"How do you use a crystal to power a bus?" Shawn asked.
"In a super-clever outer-spacey way, just trust me! There's the crystal! It's fallen to the bottom of the well," the Doctor noticed on a screen. "Have you got access shafts? . . . All frozen? Maybe I can open them! Aaah! Internal comms, put that on," the Doctor said as he gave Shawn an earpiece and ran for a door. "You two stay here, keep an eye on the shaft. Tell me if anything happens."
Christina edged towards the well, sat down, and went through her bag.
"What else do you have in there?" Shawn asked.
"Something that will help us." She slowly put on a harness and her hair up as the Doctor spoke to Shawn.
"If I can use that sunlight to start the automatic maintenance . . . Shawn?"
"Yeah?"
"If you see a panel opening in that shaft, let me know."
"I don't think so, Doctor," Shawn replied, half-distracted by Christina.
"Anything now?"
"Yes . . . yes."
"Great! What do you see?"
"A screen with two lines I can't read. There's also a red button and a tiny switch."
"Flip that switch."
"Actually, Doctor, I think Christina's got something else in mind."
"What?"
"She's going to drop into the well."
The Doctor suddenly ran back to the well just in time to see Christina drop. He used his sonic screwdriver to stop her descent.
"That's better," the Doctor said.
"I decide when I stop, thank you," remarked Christina.
"You're about to hit the security grid. Look!"
"Excellent. So what do I do?"
"Try the big red button."
"Well done!"
"Now come back up! I can do that."
"Oh, don't you wish?" Christina said as she continued her descent.
"Slowly!"
"Yes, sir."
"Quite the mystery, aren't you? Lady Christina de Souza. Carrying a winch in her bag."
"No stranger than you, spaceman."
"Probably not."
"Did you just confirm that you're a spaceman? Do you zoom around in a rocket?"
"Well, a blue box," the Doctor said as he looked through Christina's bag. "I've traveled to many places and times. World War One, creation of the universe, end of the universe, the war between Japan and China, and the court of King Athelstan. I don't remember you being there, so what are you doing with this?"
"Excuse me, a gentleman never goes through a lady's possessions."
"It's the Cup of Athelstan. Given to the first King of Britain from Hywel, King of the Welsh. But it's been held in the International Gallery for 200 years, which makes you, Lady Christina, a thief."
"I like to think I liberated it," Christina said.
"Don't tell me you need the money."
"Daddy lost everything. Invested his fortune in the Icelandic banks."
"If you're short on cash, you rob a bank. Stealing this, that's a lifestyle."
"I take it you disapprove?"
"Absolutely. Except, that little blue box . . . I stole it."
"Good boy. We're a good team. How about you, Shawn? Any fancy crimes?"
"Just genocide."
The Doctor gave Shawn an uneasy look.
A loud screech interrupted the conversation.
"What was that?" Shawn asked.
"We never did find out why the ship crashed," the Doctor pointed out. "Christina, I think you should come back up."
"Too late. I can see it."
"Careful," the Doctor instructed. "Slowly." He turned to a Tritovore. "Have you got an open-vent system?" "I thought so."
"What does that mean?" Christina asked.
"It's like when birds fly into the engines of an aircraft."
"One of the creatures," Christina said.
"Got trapped in the vents. Caused the crash. Christina, get out."
"It's not moving. I think it's injured."
"No, it's dormant, because it's so cold down there. But your body heat is raising the temperature."
"I tend to have that effect. Almost there."
"Not just the crystal. I need the whole bed, the plate thing," the Doctor explained.
"I've got it!" Christina exclaimed.
The Doctor applied the sonic screwdriver to the winch. "Come on, come on! Come on, come on, come on, come on! It's gonna eat its way up!"
Shawn watched nervously as Christina made her way up. She hit the red button on the way, turning on the security grid and injuring the creature.
"Oh, she's good!" the Doctor exclaimed.
Christina finally got to the top and the Doctor helped her. "That's it, that's it. I've got you. I've got you!"
The Tritovore made a comment.
"Isn't she just?" the Doctor said.
Everyone then ran to the control room.
"Commander!" the Doctor cried. "Mission complete! Now we've got to get back to the 200, all of us."
The commanding Tritovore replied.
"Oh, don't be so daft!" the Doctor said. "A captain can leave his ship if there's a bus standing by."
Everyone heard a rumbling.
"What was that, Doctor? Is there another one of those things?" Shawn asked.
"Maybe they hit a swarm."
"There's more on board?" Christina asked.
"This ship's built inside a metal sleeve. They can move through the infrastructure, all around us."
A loud bang and falling dust alarmed everyone.
"And they wake up hungry," the Doctor said. "Commander, you've got to come with us, right now!"
"You can come back to Earth, we'll find you a home!" Christina offered.
"And that's the word of a lady! Come on!"
Everyone was about to set off, but a creature burst in and began eating a Tritovore. The other aimed its gun, but the creature then attacked, killing that one as well.
"There's nothing we can do," the Doctor said. "Run!"
The Doctor, Shawn, and Christina then ran back to the bus as fast as they could.
Barclay's phone rang and the Doctor eventually answered. "Not now, Malcolm!" he quickly said before hanging up. They finally arrived.
"At last!" Nathan cried. "Where've you been?"
"Get inside, get them sitting down. Now then, let's have a look."
"So what does that crystal do?" Christina asked.
"Oh, nothing, don't need the crystal," the Doctor said, tossing the crystal away.
Shawn retrieved it.
"I risked my life for that!" Christina complained.
"No no, you risked your life for these. The clamps!" The doctor put the clamps on each of the tires as Shawn and Christina followed and then all three boarded the bus.
"But what are the clamps for? Do they turn the wheels?" Christina asked.
"Something like that. I just need to fix this. Have you got a hammer in that bag?"
"Funnily enough," Christina answered as she pulled out a hammer.
"Phone, phone . . ." the Doctor said. He gave Shawn the phone. "Press redial."
Shawn hit redial and put the phone to the Doctor's ear.
"Malcolm, it's me!" the Doctor said. "Ready for what? . . . I'll try to get back. There might be something following us. You need to find a way to close the wormhole . . . Oh, Malcolm! You're brilliant! . . . Sorry, gotta go."
"Ah, it's not compatible!" the Doctor said after trying to fit the clamp and the steering wheel together. "Bus, spaceship, spaceship, bus. I need to weld the two systems together."
"And how do you do that?" Christina asked.
"I need something non-corrosive, something malleable, something ductile, something . . . gold," the Doctor said, looking at Christina.
"Oh, no you don't," Christina replied.
"Christina, what is it worth now?"
Barclay appeared, offering his watch. "Hey, hey, use this!"
"I said gold," the Doctor replied.
"It is gold."
"Oh, they saw you coming. Christina!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"It's not worth our lives," Shawn said.
Christina took out the cup and gave it to the Doctor. "It's over 1,000 years old, worth 18 million pounds. Promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise," the Doctor said. He turned the cup over.
"He's going to destroy it," Shawn said.
The Doctor proceeded to hammer the cup.
"I hate you," Christina complained.
"Here," Shawn said. "The crystal. It might not be worth 18 million pounds, but you probably won't be able to find it on Earth."
Christina gasped. "How old are you?"
"Not old enough," the Doctor answered for Shawn as he continued fitting the pieces together.
Christina kissed Shawn on a cheek.
"This is your driver speaking!" the Doctor said after finishing. "Hold on tight!"
"What for?" Barclay asked. "What's he doing?"
"Do as he says!" Christina yelled, then leaned to the Doctor. "What are you doing?" she asked quietly.
The Doctor ignored her in favor of the bus. "Come on, that's it . . . You can do it, you beauty! One last trip!"
The bus finally powered up and rattled, then levitated.
"Ah, you are so kidding me!" Barclay exclaimed.
"We're flying! It's flying!" Nathan realized.
"He's flying the bus!" said Lou as the bus continued moving through the air.
"It's a miracle!" Angela cried.
"Anti-gravity clamps. Didn't I say? Round we go," said the Doctor. He turned the bus.
"Doctor! They're coming!" Carmen warned.
"Hurry up, Doctor!" Shawn cried.
"Do you think this thing will survive the journey back?" Christina asked.
"Only one way to find out! Next stop . . ."
"Planet Earth!" Christina said.
Everyone held on tight and screamed as the bus went through the wormhole. They soon emerged in London, followed by three creatures.
The passengers rejoiced and the UNIT soldiers shot at the creatures. Some of the bullets hit the bus.
"Are they shooting at us?" Shawn asked.
"Some of the creatures must have made it through," the Doctor said as he dialed Malcolm. "Malcolm! Close that wormhole! . . . He hung up on me!" The Doctor tried to reach Malcolm again. "Malcolm! . . . He hung up on me again!" The Doctor called yet another time. "I need that signal. We've got billions of those things about to fly through! . . . Loop it back through the integrator, and keep the signal ramping up . . . 500 Bernards! Do it, now!"
The Doctor navigated the bus around, trying to find a place to park near the tunnel while evading the creatures.
"Doctor, it's coming for us!" Nathan cried.
"Oh, no you don't!" The Doctor swerved the bus to hit the creature.
Shawn watched as UNIT finally succeeded. "They did it. Those things are dead."
The Doctor breathed a sigh of relief and landed the bus. "Ladies and gentlemen, you have reached your final destination. Welcome home, the mighty 200." He rang the bell.
UNIT clapped outside, prompting the passengers to clap as well. They slowly got up and made their way out. "Welcome back," a soldier said. "If you could step away from the bus to be safe. As fast as you can. It's standard procedure. We need to screen you, and then you'll all be taken to debriefing."
The Doctor held up his psychic paper. "We don't count," he said and proceeded away with Shawn.
Christina tried to follow but wasn't allowed.
The Doctor and Shawn approached Erisa and Malcolm came running up.
"Doctor!" Malcolm cried.
"You must be Malcolm!"
Malcolm gave the Doctor a very big hug. "Oh! Oh, I love you. I love you. I love you."
"To your station, Dr. Taylor," Erisa said.
"Yes, ma'am," Malcolm replied. He went back, but threw another declaration of adoration towards the Doctor.
The Doctor pointed with a smile.
"Doctor," Erisa said while saluting. "I salute you, whether you like it or not. Shawn Farrell, you look even younger than the last time I saw you."
"This isn't the Shawn Farrell you know now. He's from a few years in the past."
"I see. Now, I take it we're safe from those things?"
"They'll start again. Generate a new doorway. It's not their fault, it's their natural life cycle. But I'll see if I can nudge the wormhole on to uninhabited planets. Closer to home, Captain, those two lads, very good in a crisis," the Doctor said, pointing to Nathan and Barclay. "Nathan needs a job, Barclay's good with engines. You could do a lot worse. Privates Nathan and Barclay, UNIT's finest."
"I might be able to find something for them. If not, Torchwood 4 might. Now that they've finally returned, Allen Curbishley will be hiring. I've got something for you." Erisa pointed at the TARDIS.
"Oh, ho! Better than a bus, any day! Hello!"
"Found in the gardens of Buckingham Palace," Erisa explained.
"Oh, she doesn't mind," the Doctor said.
"Now, I've got three dead alien stingrays to clean up. I don't suppose you fancy helping with the paperwork?"
"Not a chance!"
"Till we meet again, Doctor."
"I hope so."
"Shawn," Erisa acknowledged.
The Doctor and Shawn shook Erisa's hands and she departed. Christina soon appeared.
"Little blue box! Just like you said! Right then, off we go! Come on, Doctor, show me the stars!"
The Doctor didn't respond.
"Please, Doctor?" Shawn asked.
The Doctor hesitated again.
"You were right, it's not about the money. I only steal things for the adventure, and today, with you . . . I want more days like this. I want every day to be like this. We're a great team!"
The Doctor gave a small smile and opened the TARDIS door. He tilted his head, inviting Christina in.
Christina stepped in and gasped.
"It's bigger on the inside!" she exclaimed as the Doctor and Shawn entered and closed the door.
"Where to now, Doctor?" Shawn asked.
"Back to San Helios. Just a brief trip."
"Are you serious?" Christina asked.
"Oh, yeah . . ."