Alec gasped, overwhelmed by a violent pulse of blue light that rippled around him. Crumpling to his knees, he cowered by Shannon, who staggered as she too was flung. Looking about himself, Alec realised that he and Shannon were no longer being hunted in the gothic maze, but where wheezing in a large white room. Above was a circular device, its blue light fading as it deactivated.
"Are you alright?" Sasha asked, throwing her arms around Alec, who had turned pale from shock.
"What the hell just happened?" Alec gasped, his head spinning.
"Woah!" Shannon gasped as she staggered. Quickly, the Doctor caught her and sat her down.
"What was that?" Alec inquired.
"Teleport," the Doctor replied. "Do I get thanked?"
"Thank you!" Shannon panted.
"A little rough," Alec complained.
"First time teleport is always rough," the Doctor retorted.
"And the monster? What do we do about the monster?" Alec asked.
"It nearly killed us both!" Shannon cried.
"Don't worry; I've got a plan," the Doctor replied.
"A bit more info would be useful," Sasha insisted. "I'm guessing we'll help in some way."
"Exactly," the Doctor confirmed.
"Then what do we do?" Alec asked.
"That creature is called the Mork, meaning 'darkness' through the universe, even some Earth languages use this word. The Mork comes from the darknest corner of the universe, far from any sun. It's just instinct, like any other animal. And here, it's a pest. And what do you do with a pest? We lure it to this room, where we can teleport it back to its own planet. Simple when you think about it."
"But someone has to be in this room to activate the teleport," Sasha reminded him. "I'm not gonna stay in the same room as this monster."
"That's fine; I'll be here," the Doctor insisted.
"Ok. That doesn't sound too bad; not for us at least," Shannon considered.
"I need the three of you as bait though," the Doctor added.
"WHAT?" Alec shouted. "No way! Nope! Never!"
"Don't worry," the Doctor pleaded, "I'll find a way of protecting you."
"You'd better had!" Alec snapped.
"Just promise that you'll get me home in the same way I left," Shannon begged.
Sasha turned to the Doctor, then whispered to him, "Don't make a promise you can't keep."
"I promise!" the Doctor insisted. "This plan is fool proof. I've got away with much worse."
"Like blowing up Mr Derbyshire with a Jelly Baby?" Alec criticized.
"It got the job done," the Doctor defended himself.
"Where is everyone?" Sasha asked, not hearing any voices.
"Aliana sent them away," the Doctor replied. "We've tried making contact with the rest of the planet but there haven't been any responses so far."
"That sounds strange," Alec frowned.
"I suspect the black hole is distorting the messages some how," the Doctor concluded.
"Ok, so we're on our own," Shannon realised. "Right . . . Not scared at all."
The Doctor led Sasha, Alec and Shannon through the Tourist Centre, back to the ground floor where the doors locked them in. From behind a counter, Aliana, the woman with the insect head, scuttled towards the Doctor. "Doctor!" she cried. "I see you have your companions back."
"Why are you still here?" the Doctor inquired. "I told you to leave!"
"Someone had to operate the buttons," she replied. "And I want to help you anyway."
"I have my help already; you're just putting yourself in danger."
"But I WANT to help you!" Aliana insisted, stamping her foot.
"Fine!" the Doctor shouted, pushing past her. "There's no point getting rid of you anyway."
"What's the plan?" Sasha asked.
"We lure the creature into this very room," the Doctor began.
"And then what?" Shannon wondered.
"We trick it into the teleport room, a mirrors and meat kind of thing, where I'll be waiting to send it back to where it came from. It'll be dangerous for everyone; we'll have to distract it before it gets your scent. If one single thing goes wrong, this plan will fall apart into disaster. That's why you should've gone, Aliana!"
"Then what are we doing here?" Alec asked.
"I won't leave," Sasha insisted. "The Doctor needs to do this, but he needs our help. We're his companions, it's our duty . . ."
"No it really isn't!" the Doctor snapped.
"It is!" Shannon interrupted. "We all volunteered for this, so it's up to us whether we want to help, and in my view, we should."
"I agree. From the moment I stepped on this TARDIS I've been kidnapped, shot at by terrorists, nearly been blown up, possessed and killed. Another risk doesn't seem too bad," Alec shrugged.
"Then get mirrors and anything large and strong – big sheets of aluminium, plastic and just about anything that can make a barricade," the Doctor instructed. "Until I tell you, no-one is to unlock these doors!"
"Come on, let's go," Alec said, leading Shannon out of the room, disappearing through a large set of doors.
"Aliana, I need you to find meat, bring every last slice," the Doctor instructed.
"This is only the Tourist Centre. We don't have meat here," Aliana corrected him.
"Yes, I suppose," the Doctor frowned.
"If we could make contact with cafes and restaurants on the planet, and they can send us what we need," Sasha suggested.
"That would be possible," Aliana agreed.
"Great!" the Doctor cried. "Aliana, get onto that!"
"And what about me?" Sasha asked.
"We need to locate the Mork," the Doctor told her. "We can open and close barriers from here, making a path from it to us." The Doctor took Sasha's hand and led her to one of the computers, jumping over the desk and into a seat. Quickly, he typed until a screen appeared. On the screen was a 3D map of the garden complex, with markings of people, doors and the monster. As Sasha advised him, the Doctor selected sets of doors then opened and closed them, arranging a long path from the monster to the tourist centre. "All we need to do is wait," the Doctor grinned. "it should take an hour for it to reach us. This planet really is a complex."
"Will these do?" Alec called, stumbling through a large set of doors with sheets of aluminium and plastic in his arms, Shannon following with several mirrors. "There's more through there but I can't carry much."
"Yes. Perfect," the Doctor smiled. "Let me help you," he insisted, heading through the doors in the direction Alec had pointed. "Make a path leading to the teleport room. It's time to trap this monster."
After a while of hard work and sweat, the Doctor and his companions had constructed a large passage, leading from the doors to the teleport room, assembled of pieces of metal and plastic, weakly held in place. It was a quick job, but it was secure enough.
"Ok, well done everyone," the Doctor applauded, standing side by side with his companions.
"Will it survive the Mork?" Sasha worried.
"We'll have to hope so," the Doctor sighed.
"Do we just open the doors and let it in?" Alec asked.
"Now that it'll have our scent, it won't let us go," the Doctor replied.
"Let's do it!" Shannon decided. "There's no point waiting."
"I agree," Sasha added. "Aliana, unlock the doors," she commanded.
Following her instructions, Aliana typed at a computer and opened the doors, making them swing open. "Doors open, and look, you can see the Mork in the distance." Pointing out into the distance, a black creature raced towards them, slowly developing from a dot.
"Good. Move quickly," the Doctor announced. "I'll be in the teleport room; don't follow me unless in an extremely serious situation. You know the plan; stick to it and this will go by without a hitch." The Doctor waved to his companions and walked, almost solemnly, up to the floor above them. Wrapping his hands around the handle to the teleport room, he pushed . . . Nothing happened. His eyebrows curled together in confusion as he rattled that handle. "Aliana, can you get the door!"
"I'm sorry, but no," Aliana frowned, stepping out from behind the computer.
"Oh, has it locked you out?" Sasha asked.
"No. I locked the computer, and believe me, I have no intention of opening that door," Aliana grinned.
The Doctor stepped down the stairs and stood beside Sasha, holding her arm. "Aliana? What's going on?"
Aliana cackled. "Did you really think the IJA would plant only one egg and not send someone to look after it? Ha! How could you be so stupid?"
"You're one of them!" Alec gasped, stepping back with Shannon.
"Yes, of course. Why else wouldn't I teleport to my safety by getting someone else to do the job? And did you not find it funny that no other buildings on this planet thought to communicate with us? I thought it'd be best to trap everyone here – no insiders' stories in the press – and I decided to let the tourists in this room go, only to keep you here to be killed later. Don't worry about the tourists, they'll be dead by now; I tampered with the machinery and sent them to the nearest source of an extremely high temperature."
"The black hole!" the Doctor gasped.
"Why not?" Aliana shrugged, "It was a local, useable resource. I would've held them hostage, but I needed your trust so I could figure out how to kill you."
"Kill?" Shannon inquired. "This has all been a trap to kill us?"
"No. Don't be so self-centred. The plan was always to let the creature destroy the planet, which it will do in time, but when you lot turned up I decided that you had to be killed. I was thinking: trap you in this very room as the monster arrives to destroy you. Killed by your own trap; how ironic!" Aliana smiled, giggling slightly.
"And you'll die too!" the Doctor reminded her.
"So what?" Aliana shrugged. "It's essential that the Mork destroys the planet, so if I die to ensure it, so what?"
"It's nearly here, there is still time to save yourself!" Sasha pleaded.
"None of you seem to get the point. I'm not doing this for my benefit; I have no interest in survival. Who would want to keep living in this world of chaos? How boring. I'd prefer to set it right, even if this is how."
There was a grunt from behind Aliana.
"Aliana. Stop this!" Alec insisted. "Any moment now it'll be too late."
The grunting grew louder. Claws scratched at the floor.
"Open the doors, Aliana!" the Doctor pleaded.
"Too late. Time to die, Doc . . ." Aliana was cut silent, wailing as she was engulfed in black fur. She disappearing into the Mork, as it snarled and ate her.
"Oh my God!" Shannon gasped.
"RUN!" the Doctor screamed.
The four of them dived to the floor as the Mork swung at them, tearing through the air with a long claw. Sasha, moving quickly, squeezed between a gap in the metal passageway, hiding in safety. Reaching out, she pulled Shannon with her into the gap, scurrying out the way of the Mork as it regained its stability.
The Mork stood proud, baring its fangs as it towered over the Doctor, snarling as it prepared to feed. Crying, Alec jumped at the monster, knocking it to the ground before it could lay a paw on the Doctor. Taking the opportunity, the Doctor was able to crawl from beneath the Mork, and hurried to the control desk, where he waved his sonic at the screen.
Alec slid off the monster's back, landing on his feet. Panicking, he slipped back towards the stairs, cowering, unsure where to go or what to do. "DOCTOR!" he cried.
"Go to the teleport room!" the Doctor ordered. "I'll follow you! Be quick! GO NOW!"
Scurrying, Alec rushed up the stairs, knocking into the banister as he wobbled, still in a panic. The Mork chased after him, quicker and much steadier. Alec pulled his feet away from the monster's claw as it reached out to pluck him from the steps. He moved as fast as he could, staggering as he bounded towards the teleport room. He threw the doors open, falling in. Recovering, he secured the door with a chair and limped to the middle of the room. What to do? Where was the Doctor? He didn't know. He didn't have a clue what to do.
The Mork tore the door down, climbing into the room through a hole it had made within seconds. It was ferocious. Its eyes burned with anger, and saliva dripped over its fangs, glittering like deadly diamonds. Alec moved away from it, remaining silent. He didn't dare to make a sound, yet his pants were nearly as loud as a scream. The Mork continued to stalk him, snarling.
Behind the Mork, the Doctor stumbled into the room. Immediately, the monster turned to glare at him.
"Damn!" the Doctor gasped. "Alec, distract it!"
"What?" Alec gasped.
"DO IT!"
"AAARRRGGGHHH!" Alec screamed, improvising. "Look at me! HERE!" The Mork turned to Alec, a glint in its eye. "Hurry, Doctor!"
The Doctor rushed behind the controls, quickly flicking the buttons and typing into it. "Give me a moment!"
"I NEED IT GONE NOW!" Alec screamed, falling to the floor as the Mork hit him. Alec was trapped, held under the black fur of the creature as it prepared to feed. The darkness surrounded him, freezing cold as if it had been sucked of life and left to dry out in the cold. "NOW!"
The Doctor slammed his fist onto a button. Surrounded by a bright blue light, the Mork dissolved into the air. Alec gasped, the whites of his eyes showing as he struggled to move. "Yes!" the Doctor laughed. "I am great! Not only to operate a teleport in seconds, but to differentiate between human and Mork. Well done, me!"
"Jesus!" Alec gasped. "I nearly died then."
"Stop moaning, you were barely scratched."
Alec laughed a little, finally calm.
"There it is," the Doctor grinned, "returned to Draxon 4. Goodbye, Mork."
"Good for him," Alec smiled. "Shannon!" he suddenly gasped, hurrying out of the room.
"Alec!" Sasha gasped, staggering out of her hiding place and throwing her arms around her brother. "I thought the Doctor had gone and killed you!"
"Thank God you're safe!" Alec cried. "Shannon!" he gasped, hugging her as she emerged from the gap. "Thank you! Thank you! I was so scared!"
"It's alright!" Shannon laughed, hugging Alec back. "Everyone's fine. You're fine. I'm fine. Everyone's alright."
"I know," Alec sniffed, on the verge of tears.
"Aw!" Shannon smiled. "My little scaredy cat. I don't blame you; it'd be in tears if that'd been me."
"I'm so happy you're safe," Sasha grinned, playfully punching Alec ln the arm, trying to distract him from Shannon in a failed attempt.
"Cheer up," the Doctor said, nudging Sasha, "let him have a moment."
"Is this how it's meant to work?" Sasha wondered, watching Alec as he refused to let go of Shannon. "I save him from a future prison and a psychotic creep, and suddenly he's testosterone frenzy! People never are how you remember them. I should've left him there for a little longer, just until he's finally stopped lingering around girls like a fly on a week old take away from that dodging Indian restaurant that's one ticked box away from being closed by the hygiene inspector. Why can't he just be that sweet little boy I remember?"
"He's not a boy, he's a teenager," the Doctor corrected, grinning from his own joke.
"Erm, guys," Shannon announced, finally breaking apart from Alec, "I wanted to say something."
"Yes, spit it out," the Doctor urged.
"Can I go home?" Shannon asked, ignoring Sasha as she did a discrete dance in the corner of her eye. "Not forever though! It's just that today was a bit of a ride, and I'm not sure I can cope."
"Shannon?" Alec gasped.
"Don't worry. Call me back any time you have an adventure that doesn't involve space terrorists and monsters. I've loved this – I really have – it's just that I can't live with the danger every day. I know I'm stupid for not jumping into this life of yours, but it's just not me."
"Of course, I understand," the Doctor accepted.
"But you are coming back?" Alec pleaded.
"Of course!" Shannon insisted. "I just can't do this all the time. Call round on a Saturday, any Saturday that you can get to my house for. And I'll be expecting canapés with Cleopatra, or the biggest water ride in Disneyland Mars!" she joked. "I'll miss you."
"I miss you too," Sasha smiled, having to hold back being too happy.
"Me too," the Doctor added.
"And you?" Shannon asked, turning to Alec.
"I'll miss you more than anyone," Alec stuttered. "Be back soon. I can't stand being in the TARDIS with these two; it's like living with a bickering couple."
"We are not a couple!" Sasha snapped, stepping away from the Doctor a little.
"I'll miss this," Shannon smiled. "Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for letting me into this."
"My pleasure," he smiled. "I can't do anything else anyway."
"Yeah, you are pretty useless," Shannon joked.
"I'll see you soon then," Alec grinned.
"Of course," Shannon confirmed.
"Mum, I'm back!" Shannon smiled, stepping back into her flat.
"Shannon?" her blonde haired mother, Francesca asked, spearing from the kitchen counter. "You've only been half an hour. What happened? What's going on? Who was that woman? Who was that boy?"
"Calm down, Mum," Shannon insisted, pulling a tub of ice cream out the freezer.
"No, Shannon!" Francesca snapped, snatching the ice cream out of her daughter's hands. "I want answers! Now! You disappeared for four months and won't even tell me why. I'm your mother! This is the sort of thing you should be telling someone - especially me. What happened, darling? Tell me."
Shannon collapsed onto the sofa, twisting her fingers through her hair. "I can't tell you."
"Why?" Francesca asked, sitting down beside her. "I'm scared now. I'm scared for you. If it's something you've done, you know I'll always forgive you . . ."
"It's not me!" Shannon cried.
"Is it that boy? Is it Alec?" Francesca inquired.
Shannon stuttered. "No. He was involved but it's not to do with him."
"If he was involved then it's got everything to do with him!"
"Mum! Please, stop it. Just trust me."
"But, darling, I need to know," Francesca pleaded. "There are so many theories and worries in my head, so I need closure as much as you need help."
"I don't need help!"
"Then why can't you tell me?!" Francesca screamed.
Shannon jumped from the sofa, scowling at her mother. "I can't do this. If you don't trust me, then don't irritate me. Please, don't let this escalate. Forget about it," Shannon insisted, leaving her mother and slamming her bedroom door shut behind her.
Francesca sighed. "If only I could."
