Chapter 11

Lying on her back under a desk, Kari screwed in what felt like the hundredth bracket in this short row alone. A new voice in the tent caused her to lose her concentration and slip with the very much not-sonic screwdriver, jamming it into her thumb. Again.

"Ow! Dammit!"

"That's her!" the voice exclaimed. Suddenly, she was looking up at the Doctor's grinning face. "Hello!"

"Hi," she said around her thumb. She reached her free hand out. "Sonic, please? I've lost enough blood."

Chuckling, he changed settings on it and handed it to her. "Maybe I should consider making these for you and Rose."

"That would be nice, yes." She finished with the screws she'd been fighting with and handed it back to him. "Thank you. That was much easier."

Kari pulled herself out from under the desk and stood up, brushing herself off.

"So what've you two been up to?"

"Rose is helping in the hospital and I've been with the scientists." He shoved his hands in his pockets as they started out of the tent. "There was something I wanted to ask you about."

"Oh?"

The Doctor nodded and leaned in a bit closer, lowering his voice so that only she could hear. "Have they told you what they're doing here?"

Kari sighed and looked down at their feet as they made their way through the tents.

"Yeah, Utopia." She shifted anxiously. "It doesn't exist, though. Not the way they're hoping it does, anyway."

"In any case," the Doctor muttered. "I think we probably need to get off of this planet just as soon as possible. Have they given you any indication that you're not free to leave?"

"No."

"Good. Let's keep it that way. Friendly with the natives." He smiled.

They came to a stop outside a tent. The Doctor opened the flap and gestured for her to go first. Once again, she was astounded by what they fit into these tents. They'd stepped into what was obviously a living area, with a couch, a couple chairs, and some tables and lamps. Off to one side was another flap that led to what she assumed was the sleeping area. In a corner was a sink and small refrigerator.

Kari slumped into a chair. "That heat takes a lot out of you quickly."

He tossed her a bottle of water. "That it does. I'm glad these tents are kept cool."

Kari worried her lip as she ran the bottle over her forehead. She had a niggling feeling in the back of her mind that something was very off; she just couldn't put her finger on it.

"I don't suppose…" She trailed off, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.

He sat down across from her. "You don't suppose what?"

She sighed. "I don't suppose there's a Professor Yana working with them?"

He raised an eyebrow. "No, not that I'm aware of. Why do you ask?"

"No reason." She blew out a breath of relief as she leaned back in her chair.

"There you go, being lousy with hiding things again. Spill it."

Kari closed her eyes. She really didn't want to have this conversation. "No, never mind. It's not a big deal."

The Doctor leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands over his stomach, watching and waiting for her to continue.

Sensing him staring at her, she cracked an eye and heaved a heavy sigh.

"It's just that… this all seems entirely too similar to when they found the Master in my time. He went by Professor Yana in his human form."

"Oh." He ran his hands down his face. "I haven't heard the name 'Yana.'"

Kari nodded. "And if you do? Have you considered what to do about it?"

The Doctor looked up at her with a mask of no emotion, his voice very even. "There's nothing to consider. It's impossible that any other Time Lords survived the war."

"Yeah." She paused before changing subjects. "So, Rose is helping at the hospital, huh?"

"Yep. Wouldn't go until they promised there were no cat nuns."

Kari chuckled. "Don't blame her! Any idea what she's doing there?"

"Playing with kids, mostly," Rose said from behind her as she walked into the tent. "It is bloody hot!"

The Doctor jumped up, gesturing for her to take his seat while he got her water. He handed it to her and flopped down on the floor. "The sun's expanding. Will explode in thirty years or so."

Kari looked at him and frowned. "How is it still safe to be here? Shouldn't it be close to toast by now?"

"Well, you saw the terrain on our way here. It'll only be safe for another five years, tops. That's why they're figuring out a way off."

Rose raised an eyebrow when she noticed the small bandages on Kari's hands. "What'd you do to yourself?"

"Real screwdrivers suck. A lot."

Rose choked on her water while trying to stifle a laugh. "All of that is from using a screwdriver?"

Kari shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a klutz."

The Doctor snickered when his companions' stomachs growled, loudly. "When was the last time either of you ate?"

They both shrugged.

"Right, well, I saw what looked like a mess tent a couple rows over. I say we head that way." He frowned when both girls groaned. "What?"

"It's so hot out there!" Rose moaned as she absently rubbed a spot on her chest. "I think it's getting to me."

He sighed dramatically. "Fine, I'll go get food. But you only have yourselves to blame if you don't like what I bring you." Rolling his eyes at the dismissive waves he received, he turned and left the tent.

Kari frowned at Rose, who was still rubbing her chest. "You okay?"

Rose nodded. "Yeah, just think the heat is getting to me. Chest is a bit tight."

"Did you get a chance to talk to the Doctor about your burns?"

"Naw, not that big of a deal. No reason to worry him."

"Rose, your hand was covered in what I'm guessing were third degree burns and you received a serious concussion. They healed in a matter of minutes. That's not normal."

She shrugged. "It's nothing, really. Like I said, I've been healing quickly for months now. Don't see a reason to make a big deal of it."

Kari eyed her warily. "Alright, if you say so."

Rose sighed and nodded toward Kari's hands. "Other than inflicting multiple injuries on yourself, what did you do today?"

"Untangled cables, moved computers, and put together desks, mostly." She held her hands up and wiggled her fingers. "Hence all the cuts."

Rose shook her head as she looked around the tent. "Is there a shower in here? I feel disgusting."

Kari shrugged. "No idea. I haven't left this spot since we came in."

"I'm going to go investigate." She shoved herself up, only to fall back again, a hand going to her chest. Her face scrunched up in pain.

Kari fell to her knees in front of Rose, ignoring the wave of pain and confusion coming from somewhere, – she really needed to figure out why that kept happening – and gently placed her hands on her arms.

"What's wrong?"

Rose shook her head, her face still twisted in pain. "Nothing, just my chest. Got a shooting pain through it all of a sudden."

"Rose, that's not something to ignore." Kari searched her friend's face, panic written all over hers. "How long as this been going on?"

Taking a few deep breaths, Rose sat back in her chair. She closed her eyes as the pain in her face dissipated.

"Few hours. Started after I got to the hospital. Just figured it was from the walk in the heat."

Kari sat back on her heels and ran her hands through her hair. The wave of pain and confusion was gone, which helped her calm a bit.

"Promise me you'll tell the Doctor about this."

Rose nodded as she made to stand up again, moving much slower this time. "I promise, if it continues or gets worse, I'll tell him." She stood up straight and stretched. "Now, to go see if this place has a shower."

Kari watched with worry as Rose disappeared into the back part of the tent. Something was going on with her and it scared her. She'd been out in the heat, too, and it hadn't affected her like that. Granted, the hospital was quite a ways away…

She stifled a yawn as the Doctor came back in with two bags with what looked like take out boxes in them. Standing, she moved to help him.

"Where's Rose?"

"Off to see if we have a shower." Kari stuck her head in one of the bags and took a deep breath. "Oh, that smells marvelous!" She covered another yawn.

He laughed and shook his head. "You humans and your need of sleep."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "It's been a very long day that started rather rudely, as I recall."

Clearing his throat, he turned away from her. "Right, now, where are those plates?"

Finding a fork and a box with what looked like teriyaki chicken, Kari wandered back to her chair and sat back down. "Who needs plates?"

Rolling his eyes, he joined her, opting to bypass a plate as well.

A while later, Rose emerged, freshly showered and in clean clothes. Smiling, she grabbed a box and fork and joined the other two in the sitting area.

"Feel better?" Kari asked around a mouthful of rice.

"Much!"

"Where'd the clothes come from?"

Rose shrugged. "There's a whole dresser of them back there. Just found what fit best."

Kari nodded. "Looks like we'll be rocking some camo until the TARDIS is functional again."

Rose worried her lip and looked at the Doctor. "How long do you think that'll take?"

He shrugged as he shoved his food around with his fork. "At least 24 hours, probably closer to 72." He sighed. "I did a number on her. I'll go check on her in the morning before I head back to the lab."

The women nodded solemnly, knowing it was hurting him that his ship was broken and there was nothing he could do about it.

They all slipped into silence as they finished their food. Once she was done, Kari stood and stretched.

"Alright, I'm gonna go shower and then sack out. Something tells me our day starts early tomorrow."

Rose smiled up at her. "Night. Sleep well!"

Kari gave a wave over her shoulder before disappearing into the back of the tent, ready to wash off all of the grime and stress of the day.