Inside, TARDIS, Library...
Lexi smiled in sadness as she spotted a book on a stand, the title of said book being 'The History of the Time War'.
"Oh, Doctor..." She sighed, as she lightly ran her fingertips over the words before turning when she heard the growling noises again, Clara and Jupiter rushing to be next to her before they all ducked behind a bookshelf as the two creatures entered the library.
The trio quietly made their way over to another row of shelves, trying to keep out of sight of the creatures. On one of the shelves above them were bottles that contained the Encyclopedia Gallifreya.
Lexi cautiously peeked out and saw the creatures getting closer, making her pull back and knock one of the bottles loose.
Jupiter looked up as she heard whispers from the spilled bottle her mother had accidentally knocked over above her head and quickly fanned them away with her hand that was attached to her uninjured wrist.
The two creature then began to come closer but then ran past where Jupiter, Lexi and Clara were hiding.
Not wasting the chance, Lexi quickly grabbed Jupiter's hand that was attached to her uninjured wrist before also grabbing Clara's hand, all three of them running back out of the library the way they had come in.
Inside, TARDIS, Corridor...
The Doctor was now leading Sky, Lucas, Gregor and Tricky through the corridors, all of them soon ending up in the same intersection.
"It's the same." Tricky said as he looked around, seeing how they were in the same intersection of corridors they had just walked through. "It's just the same."
"It's diverting us, spinning a maze around us." The Doctor informed, looking to Gregor. "We will never reach the girls in time." He said, Gregor just glaring at him before taking the right corridor which made the Doctor rush after him. "Hey! Hey!"
Sky, Lucas and Tricky all shared a look before following after the two men and entering the same spot from the left.
"Seriously?" Lucas sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Tricky glanced at Gregor and the Doctor. "It's just the same, again."
"No point in building walls." The Doctor told him. "You'll just know how to smash them down. It's found other ways of controlling you. Smart bunch, Time Lords. No dress sense, dreadful hats, but smart."
"Gregor, If you want to get out of here, let that circuit go." Sky just about growled. "It is creating a labyrinth."
"Bram? Bram?" Tricky asked, speaking into his communicator. "Can you hear me?"
Inside, TARDIS, Console room...
Bram opened a section under the console to reveal a shaft with a ladder down one side as glowing wires ran down the center.
"Bram, the ship is alive. Get out of there." Tricky's voice came over Bram's communicator. "Bram, don't touch anything."
"You're just the sweetest thing ever." Bram grinned before entering the shaft, ignoring Tricky.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room...
Lexi, Jupiter and Clara soon found themselves in the console room and smiled.
However, none of them knew that this did not look like the console room Bram was in given that this one's console panels were intact.
"Oh, thank you." Lexi sighed in relief. "Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Clara laughed as she and Jupiter ran up to the console, Clara giving it a kiss for good measure. "Ah! Mwah!"
Jupiter giggled at her before looking around, her eyes widening. "No door?" She quickly ran to where the door should have been. "Er... Where's the door gone?" She questioned turning back around to face her mother as she and Clara came around from the other side of the console. "I don't know if either you know, but there should be a set of doors right here where this concrete wall is!"
"Oh, Idris..." Lexi sighed, looking up to ceiling.
Inside, TARDIS, Under console room...
"Bram?" Tricky's voice questioned through Bram's communicator, said man climbing down the ladder. "You've got to get out of there fast."
Bram's back then touched the wires, making him grunt in pain before falling to the floor below. However, he slowly stood back up and brushed himself off before looking up, only to see a creature in the corridor in front of him.
The creature quickly rushed towards Bram with a growl, knocking him to the floor and making him scream while he struggled before he soon fell silent and still as steam rose from the creature's body.
Inside, TARDIS, Corridor...
Tricky listened for a moment, waiting for a response from Bram. as the Doctor and Sky pulled out their sonics and began to scan ahead.
"Channel's dead." Tricky said, looking to Gregor. "We've got to help him. Gregor, do something. Do something!"
"It's too late. He's gone!" Gregor told him, putting his hands on Tricky's shoulders. "Let's just worry about the salvage."
Tricky glared at Gregor before shoving him. "You care more about the circuit than you do about him!"
"Your concern for your brother is really touching. The android is more cut up about it than you." The Doctor said as he quickly pulled them apart. "Now will you two stop bickering and listen! There is something else down there..."
"We've got to get out of here!" Tricky exclaimed as the Doctor began scanning with his sonic again, Lucas leaning against the wall as he watched everyone. "Gregor, give it back. Give it back to her."
"What are you doing?" Gregor questioned, shoving Tricky's hand away at it reached out to his pack before pushing him against the wall. "You're always on the side of the machines!"
"We're facing actual mortal danger," Lucas chimed in, crossing his arms as he continued to lean against the wall. "and here we all are, standing still and waiting for whatever's on the TARDIS to kill us. Please, do stop squabbling."
"I agree, Lucas. That would be of tremendous help." The Doctor said as he backed up to where everyone stood. "Also, I am getting a massive signal."
Sky's eyes widened as he looked at the readings on his own sonic. "Oh no..."
Tricky looked back and forth between Sky and the Doctor. "Where are they?"
"Oh, none of you are going to like the answer." Sky responded as they all crowded next to each other. "About two steps away... One step."
The five men all slowly turned around and screamed as they saw the creature. It was a creature that seemed to be made of two separate creatures fused together. It then reached for them and growled.
"Gregor, look out! Careful! Gregor!" The Doctor shouted as Gregor ran down the hall opposite them. "No! We have to stay together. Come on. Sky, Lucas, Tricky, run!" He exclaimed, making Sky and Lucas share a look before running, Tricky following after them.
"I'm sorry." The Doctor told the two fused creatures before turning around and running after everyone.
Inside, TARDIS, Corridor...
"I don't think this is going to help." Lexi said as she, Jupiter and Clara made their way down a red-lit corridor until they found themselves in...
Inside, TARDIS, Console room...
...the same console room as before.
Clara tilted her head, pointing at the entrance and then at the console. "What the hell...?"
"I think she wants us in here." Jupiter whispered.
"What do you mean?" Clara enquired, glancing at her.
"What my dear daughter means, Miss Oswald, is that the TARDIS is probably trying to protect us." Lexi said, walking over to them and putting an arm around Jupiter's shoulders as they looked at Clara.
"Protect us?"
"It's a thing she does." Jupiter explained. "If there's ever a problem, a particularly dangerous one, the TARDIS will move her corridors and rooms around so as not to harm her inhabitants."
"Exactly." Lexi nodded in agreement, taking her arm from around Jupiter's shoulders before walking up the stairs to the console. "And if you want to get her to like you, I suggest you just go ahead and let her protect you."
Clara bit her lip in thought before looking up to the console room ceiling, the TARDIS humming at her as best she could given the pain she was currently in.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room...
Tricky, Lucas, Sky and the Doctor all entered the console room. However, it was not the one Bram was in and not the one Lexi, Jupiter and Clara were in either.
Tricky looked around. "Back where we started."
"No. It's an echo." The Doctor corrected before running up to the console. "The console room is the safest place on the ship." He explained, circling the console as Sky and Lucas came and joined him. "It can replicate itself any number of times."
"So, in other words, the TARDIS is trying to protect us." Lucas concluded
"Because I tried to give back the circuit?" Tricky questioned as he came up and joined them at the console.
"Team TARDIS." Sky grinned, patting Tricky on the face before he and the Doctor went about fiddling with the controls, the Doctor accidentally knocking a piece loose.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
Lexi jumped slightly when a piece fell from the console right next to where she stood, making her tilt her head in confusion.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky...
Tricky pointed at where he saw the piece disappear. "Where did... where did that go?"
"What do you mean?" Sky questioned, glancing at him before cursing silently as he dropped his sonic. He quickly tried to catch it, but his eyes widened when he saw it disappear. "What the hell...?"
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
"Ow!" Jupiter exclaimed, wincing as Sky's sonic landed on top of her injured wrist.
Clara's eyes widened as she walked up next to Jupiter, gently picking up the sonic screwdriver. "Isn't this Sky's?"
"It's an echo." Lexi whispered in realization before laughing. "It's an echo!"
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky...
The Doctor looked at where Sky's sonic had disappeared. "There's more than one echo room." He realized before walking around to the other side of the console and seeing three shadows move slightly as they stood next to each other. "Hey, look, look!" He exclaimed, pointing to the spot. "The TARDIS has got all three of them safe. That was them. That was them there." He said, kissing his fingers and pressing them against the time rotor. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Lucas crossed his arms. "Why can't we see them?"
"It's sort of like a light switch. Two positions. Flickering at super-infinite speeds." Sky explained as he walked around the console. "We're only together for a brief second."
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
"This is really freaking me out." Clara said as she backed away slowly while Lexi got ready to drop Sky's sonic screwdriver.
"Come on, Clara. It'll be okay." Jupiter tried to tell her while watching Lexi experimentally drop Sky's sonic screwdriver, grinning as they saw it disappear.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky...
Lucas's eyes widened as Sky's sonic landed right in the palm of his left hand.
Sky quickly went over to him and took hold of his sonic again, grinning. "Thank you, Mum, Jupe and Clara."
"Shh!" The Doctor put a finger to his lips as he walked slowly around the console. "I can hear them."
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
"This is weird. I don't like this." Clara shook her head and she backed away towards the stairs.
"Clara, don't!" Lexi quickly rushed away from the console dropping her own sonic in the process, it clanging against the edge of the console as it landed on top.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky...
As everyone stayed completely still and silent, it was like they could all hear heavy breathing and the sound of footsteps as they thudded against the floor.
Lucas tilted his head in concern. "Something's wrong..."
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
Lexi tried to reach her, but wasn't fast enough before Clara opened the door only to find there were two creatures there.
Clara screamed, Lexi pulling her back before turning her around as they ran up to the console by Jupiter, said woman standing alert as she picked Lexi's sonic up off of the console while the two creatures ran into the room.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky...
"They've let them in! They've let them in!" The Doctor exclaimed, hearing the three women scream before he and Sky went about working the controls.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
"Both of you, get behind me." Lexi instructed as she, Jupiter and Clara tried to keep the console between themselves and the two creatures, the creatures seeming to mimic their movements.
"Mum, you're insane!" Jupiter objected.
"I'm trying to protect you two, now do it!" She ordered, Jupiter's eyes widened at hearing her mother actually raise her voice at her for the first time.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky...
"I think if we can just isolate their position, we can nudge the alternation." Sky suggested as he worked on the controls. "Maybe reach in and grab them."
"Will that actually work?" Lucas questioned, taking a step forward.
"Worth a shot." The Doctor agreed as he went about helping Sky work the controls.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
"What are they?" Clara asked as she and Jupiter stood behind Lexi, all of them staring at the two creatures who were just staring right back at them.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky...
"Console room, echo imprint of the original." A computer voice said, making everyone turn around to see Gregor directly behind them with his hand-held scanner in hand.
"You're coming with me." Gregor pointed at the Doctor. "I need you to get me out of here."
"Not until I get my wife, our daughter and our friend back." The Doctor said, ignoring Gregor as he used his sonic on the hand-held scanner.
"Scanning for two female aliens and one female human." The scanner announced as it began scanning for Lexi, Jupiter and Clara.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
Lexi, Jupiter and Clara all screamed as the two creatures charged at them, the three of them then finding themselves backed against the wall where the external door should be.
"Don't you dare." Lexi growled as she stood in front of Jupiter and Clara protectively.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky and Gregor...
"Scanning for two female aliens and one female human." The scanner announced as Gregor walked around with it.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With Lexi and Jupiter and Clara...
"Anytime now, Doctor!" Lexi shouted, standing in front of Jupiter and Clara as the two creatures slowly approached them with steam rising from their hands.
Inside, TARDIS, Console room, With the Doctor and Sky and Lucas and Tricky and Gregor...
Gregor continued to walk around with the scanner.
"Two unidentified aliens. One unidentified human."
"It doesn't know Time Lord and it doesn't know Lancashire." The Doctor said as he grabbed the scanner from Gregor.
Tricky raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"It doesn't know Time Lord or Lancashire. Yes!" The Doctor grinned. "It's found all three of them! It's found them. They are right there." He said as Sky came up next to him before they both used their sonics, making an image of Lexi, Jupiter and Clara all pressed against the wall with Lexi standing protectively in front of Jupiter and Clara begin to come through, Lexi holding her sonic up as she tried to help strengthen the signal.
Clara was screaming. Jupiter looked frightened. And Lexi looked pretty scared herself as she tried to protect her daughter and Clara.
The Doctor and Sky quickly put their sonics into their pockets before they and Lucas pulled the three women free.
Lucas grabbed Clara's hand before pulling her to him and hugging her close as she took deep breaths, trying to calm herself.
Sky grabbed Jupiter's hand, making her wince as he pulled her in for a hug since he had grabbed the hand that was attached to her injured wrist. He saw her scrunch up her face in pain and looked down at her in concern as the Doctor grabbed Lexi's hand and pulled her to him.
"It's all right. You're okay." He whispered, stroking Lexi's hair. "My glorious Pond, I'm so, so sorry. Please, please forgive me..."
"It wasn't your fault." She whispered back before pulling away from him and looking at his face.
The Doctor smiled at her, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs before pulling her in for a kiss.
"I'm still sorry." He whispered as they pulled apart before he then turned to Jupiter. "C'mere, you."
Jupiter gave him a small smile, stepping away from Sky before being enveloped in her father's arms.
"I'm sorry, my Angel." He whispered, hugging her tight.
Lucas glanced at them and smiled, seeing the Doctor hugging Jupiter as Sky went over to hug Lexi. Lucas then turned his head back to look down at Clara who was still wrapped in his arms. "Are you okay?"
"I think so." She nodded slightly as she pulled away from him before wrapping her arms around herself. "I mean, I enjoy a good horror film, but... that was a bit too real for my taste." She then looked over at Tricky and Gregor, Tricky giving a little wave. She then turned back to look up at Lucas. "Who are they?"
"Friends." The Doctor answered for him, frowning as he gently held Jupiter's injured wrist in his hand. He sighed before carefully letting go of it and turning back to look at everyone else. "Well, they're people who aren't trying to kill us."
"I'd consider that a good thing, dearie." Lexi chimed in with a smile as her son had his arm wrapped about her shoulders.
"Alright, alright, a deal's a deal." Gregor spoke up, getting their attention. "You got the girls back. Now cancel the self-destruct."
"Ah. Ah. You know," The Doctor chuckled, clapping a hand on Gregor's shoulder. "I've got to tell you, I won't be needing you in my quiz team."
Gregor blinked. "What?"
"There is no self-destruct, mate." Sky clarified, unwrapping his arm from his mother's shoulders. "And there never was. Had you going, though, didn't we?"
The Doctor laughed, pointing at Sky. "We just wiggled a few buttons. The old wiggly-buttons trick."
"And the faces." Lucas said, chuckling as he stepped away from Clara. "You can't forget about the faces, gentlemen. You know, the hours I've spent volunteering with the students in the drama department at school really just paid off."
"Ha! Yes!" The Doctor laughed, snapping and pointing at Lucas. "But you are right. You mustn't forget the faces. You've got to do the faces. 'Save them or we all die.' Sky and Lucas, you both were brilliant. I thought I might've rushed it a bit, but–"
"So you're telling us we're safe?" Tricky questioned, cutting him off.
"Ish." The Doctor corrected him. "Apart from the monsters and the TARDIS reinventing the architecture every five minutes."
"Seriously, though, guys, don't worry, the countdown's a fake." Sky told them. "Look, just give me a second. I'll turn it off." He then went to the console and flicked a few switches. "With Dad's go-ahead, I only made it look as though the engine was actually exploding." He confessed just before alarms started going off. "Ah... Uh, Dad, we may have a little problem." He said worriedly, making the Doctor come over and see that the screen read: Engine Overload. "Scratch that... big problem. A big and actual explode-y problem."
The Doctor cringed as he looked at the readings. "That's not good. But nobody panic... or maybe panic."
"Something you want to share with the rest of the class, Dad?" Jupiter asked as she crossed her arms, being mindful of her hurt wrist.
"It appears the engine is damaged." He replied. "We're all in trouble. Proper trouble. It needs fixing or we're all toast." He then ran for the lower level of the console room.
"What about that big friendly button, dear?" Lexi enquired as she and everyone else ran after the Doctor. "That'd be nice to have right about now, eh?"
"Yeah, sorry. Remind me to have one built in." He replied, as he used his sonic on one of the panels.
"Where are we going?" Lucas questioned as the panel the Doctor was working on fell inwards.
"Detour." He said as he kneeled in front of the panel. "The center of the TARDIS."