"I never did ask when we first met but how did you meet Ali and the Doctor?" Steve asked shifting the fire extinguisher in his arms.
"At the hospital. The Doctor was looking for this Alien called a plasmavore and Ali happened to be there as well"
"Was that the Royal Hope hospital?"
"Yes"
"I thought that was some trick how it vanished then reappeared. The news didn't really explain how that happened"
"Oh that was the Judoon. According to the Doctor they're some kind of space police. They took the hospital up to the moon in order to look for the plasmavore", Martha explained.
"I take it the Doctor saved the day?"
"Yes he did. You seem to be getting used to this rather quickly", Martha commented.
"I suppose after seeing the monster that Lazarus turned into, being in space is quite straight forward to get used to. Though how do you get used to being in the TARDIS? I mean it's bigger on the inside"
"It is a lot to get your head around. Travelling through time and space. It does help that Ali is there too"
"Travelling with the Doctor is dangerous isn't it?"
Martha stopped walking and looked at him. "Do you want an honest answer? Or a reassuring one?"
"Honest answer"
"Yes it is dangerous travelling with the Doctor. You never know where you could end up. One minute you could be chatting to Shakespeare and the next your running for your life in the sewers of 1930's New York", Martha replied. "You're wondering if she's safe being with him. Aren't you?"
Steve nodded "she's one of my good friends. I've got no problems with her being with the Doctor but I'm just worried that she's isn't safe"
"Steve, the Doctor loves Ali. He would do anything to protect her"
"I know he would. It's just I can't help but worry although hearing you say that does help. Thank you Martha"
"You're welcome Steve", Martha said and the pair of them started walking again. Steve paused when he heard something.
"Do you hear that?" Steve asked. Martha listened for a moment.
"Yeah", she replied. They followed the sound along the wall to the circular cover. "Is it just me or does that sound like a heartbeat?"
"It does sound like it but why would there be a heartbeat be in the wall? It's not like there's an actual heart behind that cover", Steve said. At those words he and Martha exchanged looks. Steve slowly reached over and pulls the cover away. Sure enough a human heart was in there attached to wires and pipes. "That's a heart. There's a human heart in the wall", he said in disgust.
"Yeah I can see that too", Martha said. Even though she was training to be a doctor, she was pretty disgusted too.
"Why don't we keep walking?" Steve suggested.
"Good idea", Martha agreed. They left the human heart behind unaware of being watched by cameras or that Alyssa was trying to get hold of Martha.
"I'm still not getting an answer", Alyssa said after trying Martha's phone for the third time. "Note to self: tell Martha to have her phone on loud, really loud. I see you and Arthur are getting along", she said looking at the white horse that was sticking close to the Doctor since he got back from Versailles gardens. Alyssa had declined claiming that she still had a bit of a headache although the Doctor had a feeling that wasn't the actual reason she wanted to stay behind.
"Arthur?"
"It's a good name for a horse. Come on we better try and find Martha and Steve", Alyssa said and started to walk. As they walked, she used her abilities in hope that she would be able to sense them like she did with the robot that was hiding under Reinette's bed.
Alyssa stopped when she sensed something ahead. "Ali what is it?" the Doctor asked.
"I think…" she broke off when she heard Steve's voice. The red head quickly headed up the corridor and around the corner. There her friend was standing next to Martha. They were looking through a large window at a man that was wearing fancy clothes.
"Blimey, look at this guy. Who does he think he is?" Steve asked.
"The King of France", the Doctor replied coming up.
"Oh, here's trouble. What have you two you been up to?" Martha asked looking at them.
"Oh, this and that. Became the imaginary friend of a future French aristocrat…"
"Don't forget you kissed her", Alyssa interrupted.
"Care to elaborate Ali?" Steve asked.
"Not now", she replied.
"Why is there a horse with you?" Steve asked noticing. The Doctor was about to reply when Reinette entered the room they were looking at through the window.
"I'm guessing that's Reinette. Funny you forgot to mention that she was beautiful", Alyssa commented as the woman checked her appearance in the window/mirror. "You know I think I'm going to head back to the TARDIS", she added and with that she walked off.
"I'll go after her", Steve said and hurried after his friend. "Ali! Ali wait!" he called.
"What Steve?" Ali asked stopping when he managed to catch up to her.
"Are you ok? I mean you did mention that the Doctor kissed Reinette"
"No I'm not ok. He kissed another woman!"
"What did the Doctor say when you asked him?"
"He said that she kissed him. I'm just…"
"Jealous?"
"Yeah. I mean look at Reinette, she's beautiful"
"So are you"
"Thanks but you would say that. You're my friend"
"But it's still true. And the Doctor is an idiot if he can't see what's right in front of him"
"I suppose. I'm gonna head back to the TARDIS. I need some time to think"
"Do you want me to walk you back?"
Alyssa shook her head "no thanks Steve. I'll see you later", she said and with that she walked off. The red haired woman wandered back through the ship, retracing her steps. Eventually she reached the familiar blue box. Alyssa unclasped the chain from around her neck where the TARDIS key hung. She was about to put it in the lock when she sensed something behind her. Before Alyssa could do anything, she felt something being stuck in her neck. She dropped the key and collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
When Alyssa came to, she discovered that she was strapped to a slanted table. She noticed Martha and Steve strapped on tables just like she was. "You two ok?" she asked her friends after giving the droids a glare.
"Oh I'm fantastic", Martha said sarcastically.
"Me too except for the fact that we're going to be chopped into little pieces and used a parts for this ship", Steve added.
"Is that so?" Alyssa asked the droids. But they didn't answer her. One of the droids, dressed as an 18th century noble woman, stepped up to Martha's table.
"You are compatible", it said.
"Why don't you release us and I'll consider not destroying each and every one of you", Alyssa suggested.
"Um Ali I don't think they like your suggestion", Martha said as the droid by her table extends the blade from her hand.
"Nope they don't like it at all", Steve agreed the droid by his table did the same thing. The droid wasn't able to touch Martha as it found itself-unable to move. Steve noticed that Alyssa was staring hard at it. The red head jerked her head, flinging the droid away from the dark skinned woman. She flinched from the pain in her head which she always got from using her abilities. Alyssa did the same to the droid by Steve's table.
As she fought to keep herself from passing out, a droid dressed as a noble man approached her table. "Your brain is compatible", it said to her.
"Really? Well I'm kinda using my brain at the moment"
"Your brain is compatible", the droid repeated sliding its blade out from its hand.
"Look if you don't want to end up like your friends then you'll back off", Alyssa warned.
"Your brain is compatible", the droid repeated for the third time.
"Yeah you said that already", Alyssa snapped really struggling to keep her eyes open due to her throbbing head.
"Ali!" Steve shouted when he saw his friend's eyes closed. As the blade touched Alyssa's cheek, drunken singing could be heard nearby. Then the Doctor swayed in, carrying a goblet and wearing his tie around his head. "And still have begged for more. I could've spread my wings and done a thou" the Time Lord sung "Have you met the French? My god, they know how to party" the Doctor said sounding a little drunk. When he saw Alyssa unconscious with a droid standing over her holding a blade to her face, his drunken façade slipped slightly to show concern for her.
"Oh, look at what the cat dragged in", Martha said sarcastically. She was worried about her friend and here the Doctor was drunk and seemingly uncaring about the red head.
"Oh, you need to lighten up Martha", the Doctor said keeping up the pretence of being drunk.
"Where've you been? They almost harmed Ali" Steve said angrily. His friend managed to save them but she couldn't save herself before falling unconscious.
"Well, among other things, I think just invented the banana daiquiri a few centuries early. Do you know, they've never even seen a banana before?" the Doctor said before turning to the droid by Alyssa's table. "Oh ho, ho, ho, ho, brilliant. It's you. You're my favourite, you are. You are the best! Do you know why? Because you're so thick. You're Mister Thick Thick Thickity Thick Face from Thicktown, Thickania. And so's your dad" he looked at Steve and Martha "Do you know what they were scanning Reinette's brain for? Her milometer. They want to know how old she is. Know why? Because this ship is thirty seven years old, and they think that when Reinette is thirty seven, when she's complete, then her brain will be compatible".
The Doctor turned back to the droid "So, that's what you're missing, isn't it, hmm? Command circuit. Your computer. Your ship needs a brain. And for some reason, God knows what, only the brain of Madame de Pompadour will do", he said getting right up to the droid.
"Their brains are compatible", it said.
"Their brains? I only mentioned Reinette's", the Doctor said confused.
"It said that Ali's brain was compatible too", Steve added.
"Compatible? If you believe that, you probably believe this is a glass of wine", the Doctor said before removing the droid's mask and pouring the contents of the goblet over its head. "Multigrain anti-oil. If it moves, it doesn't", he explained as the droid seized up. The remaining droids advanced, with the exception of the two Alyssa had damaged and the one the Doctor damaged. The Time Lord reached over to a nearby lever and pulled it down, deactivating the droids. The Doctor then released Martha, Steve with his sonic. He went back to the table that Alyssa was strapped to and released her as well.
"Is she going to be ok?" Steve asked when the Doctor picked up the unconscious woman.
"She will be. She just needs some rest", the Doctor replied carrying Alyssa to the TARDIS that was on the other side of the room. He took her to her bedroom where the door swung open as he approached with the red haired woman in his arms. The Time Lord laid her down on her bed. "Ali I'm sorry", he said caressing her cheek.
The Doctor looked up when there was a tap on the door. Steve was in the doorway "does that often happen when she uses her gifts?" he asked coming in.
"No. It only happens if Ali uses too much"
"Is Reinette still in danger?"
"Yes she is"
"I can look after Ali while you keep an eye on Reinette with Martha", Steve offered. The Doctor was grateful for the offer but he was conflicted about leaving Alyssa while she was still unconscious.
"Steve I appreciate the offer but..."
"Doctor I really think it would be best if I was here when she woke up. She's not exactly happy about you kissing Reinette"
"I know. I could tell"
"You care about her don't you?"
"Yeah I do", the Doctor admitted.
"Then maybe you need to tell her"
"I can't"
"Why not?" Steve asked.
"She's with someone else"
"No she isn't. Not anymore", Steve told him surprising the Time Lord.
"She's not with Ben anymore? How come?"
"That's for her to tell you. Anyway I think you should probably get back to saving Reinette"
The Doctor nodded and got up. He paused in the doorway to glance back at the woman before walking away. "Looks like he feels the same way about you Ali", Steve said quietly.
Eventually Alyssa stirred "Doctor", she murmured opening her eyes and seeing someone sitting there.
"No it's me Steve"
"Steve? How did I get here?" she asked sitting up.
"The Doctor carried you in", Steve replied.
"Where is he now?"
"He went with Martha to keep an eye on Reinette"
"What? Is she still in danger?"
Steve nodded "I better go help", Alyssa said swinging her legs around. She stumbled clutching her head when she got up.
"Maybe you should stay here", Steve suggested.
"No. I have to help him", Alyssa said firmly walking out of the room. Steve quickly hurried after his friend who using the wall for support.
"Ali you're barely standing. You need to stay here", he said stopping her walking.
"I'm not staying here. Reinette is in danger and I am going to help her", the red head said moving around him.
"At least let me help keep you on your feet"
Alyssa sighed "Fine. Allonsy", she said tiredly.
The pair walked around the ship, Alyssa slightly leaning on Steve. "Can you use your gifts? To find them?"
"It's how I found you. But there is an easier way..." Alyssa trailed off when she couldn't find her phone. "Damn it. My phone is still in the TARDIS. I guess I will have to use my gifts after all", the woman said sighing. She took a breath and focused on the Time Lord and Martha. "They're this way", Alyssa said pointing down a corridor.
Alyssa led Steve to where she sensed their friends were. "Ali? Whats wrong?" Steve asked when she paused.
"I can only sense one now", Alyssa said pushing away from him and hurried down the corridor. Steve ran after her. "Martha!" the red head called spotting the dark skinned woman.
"Ali. Are you ok now?" Martha asked when she and Steve reached them.
"I'm fine. Where's the Doctor?"
Martha looked at the wall where the replica fireplace stood. There was a wall in place of the broken mirror. "He went through the Time Window to save Reinette", Martha replied geusturing to the place where the mirror hung.
"Time Window?" Alyssa asked looking that the fireplace
"That's what the Doctor called it"
"Is there any way to get through to help him?" Steve asked.
"I'm afraid not. The Doctor said if you smash a Time Window there would be no way back", Martha replied. "Ali I'm sorry"
Alyssa didn't answer, just looked at the broken mirror. 5 and ½ hours later the trio was surprised to see the Doctor approaching them. He explained how he got back via the fireplace he and Alyssa had gone through originally. "Doctor you should tell Ali how you feel", Steve said after his red haired friend left to have a lie down "and before you say you can't you should know that there is a chance she feels the same way".
