~revised~

Chapter XXXI

Doctor

The crew of the base had burst into activity as soon as the drilling had stopped. They were preparing for going down the shaft, ready to finally find out what was down there – the sole reason the humans were there. Rose, Mira, and he were suddenly alone in the canteen.

"What do you think about all this?" Mira asked and looked at him. Good question. The hull-breach wasn't that suspicious, but Toby's behaviour on the other hand…

"Don't know. Well, I think it definitely has something to do with whatever is down there. And we'll soon find out what that is."

"Yeah. But what's with the Ood? They seem to ignore them, but I have a nasty feeling that there is something about to come. And Toby...he was behaving more than weird."

"Might have something to do with the fact that he was just near a hull breach?" Rose asked, and he couldn't just ignore the sarcasm in her voice. Things between her and Mira were still far from being okay, and she seemed to have completely forgotten what she had said to him back in the TARDIS, about accepting that there would be nothing more than friendship between them. There had been too many hints earlier on after breakfast. Somehow he had the feeling that Mira had also noticed it, and would insist that he cleared it with Rose once and for all. Good grief, humans. Why did they always have to be so complicated?

"I think that's not the only reason," Mira answered, thankfully not reacting to Rose's tone.

"Yeah, he was behaving a bit suspiciously," he said, "but I don't know what's going on with him. I guess it's best to ask him."

"Yeah, probably. But there's something else," Mira said seriously, and he looked at her, inviting her to speak on.

"I guess I picked something up when I was sleeping. I'm not sure about it, and maybe it was just a dream, but after we received this message, and what was going on with the Ood and Toby..."

"What is it?"

"It was a dream about Toby. His skin was covered in symbols like the ones here on the wall. He was saying something I couldn't understand, and his eyes were glowing red. I thought it had been something made up by my brain, putting together pieces of the day, but maybe it was something more. There definitely is a telepathic entity, and I may have gotten something from it, probably unintentionally."

"Would have been a really weird dream if it really was just a dream," he said thoughtfully.

"Oh, I have a tendency for having weird dreams," she said.

"But it wasn't about the future, was it?"

"No. Those dreams are different. As said, I thought it was just a dream, and maybe it isn't. Maybe some sort of message, not really intended for me. We should keep an eye on Toby, and the Ood."

She was right. Although it was her who would have to keep an eye on them, because he would go down the shaft. There was no way he would stay up here when the TARDIS was down there. He looked back and forth between Mira and Rose. It wouldn't be easy to convince them of his plan.

"Rose? Please go to the control room and keep an eye on what's going on there. Call me if something important happens."

She looked at him as if considering it for a moment, not exactly being happy about it, but finally obeyed.

"Okay. I'll call you." She hesitated for one more moment, but then left the canteen.

"So. A house. Settle down, hmm?"

He spun around to Mira, watching her, bewildered. "What?! Oh come on. Not now!"

"All right. 'Not now' means later, doesn't it? I'm fine with that." She crossed her arms and looked at him with an inscrutable look on her face. If only she would stop doing that. In moments like that he couldn't tell at all what was going on in her head, and that was driving him mad. Well, not exactly in a bad way, he had to admit, but…

"Um, I think I'll go down with them," he said after clearing his throat, desperate for a change of topic, pulling at his earlobe. "See what's down there. You'll stay here and have an eye on Toby and..."

"I don't think so," she interrupted him determinedly. "I'll go with them and you stay up here. We have no idea what's down there, it might be dangerous, and, at least up here we have an idea of what to deal with. You'll have an eye on Toby, the Ood and Rose! Rose. May I remind you how it went the last time I was supposed to keep an eye on her?"

"She promised me to listen to you."

"Oh, did she now? I'll believe it when I see it."

"Yeah, she did. Besides, the TARDIS is down there. You said it. We might find a way to her from down there."

"Yes, I did, and I can find her just as well. You're not putting yourself in danger. I've done things like this millions of times. I know what to do. Trust me, at least with this."

He observed her. She was right, old habits did die hard. He could really imagine her leading a group of people through situations like that, putting herself in the line of fire in their stead. Not too different from him handling his companions.

"I do trust you. I'm not just saying it; I mean it. And that's why I need you up here. I even trust you to find a way to the TARDIS down there, if there is one. But you can't fly her. Plus, you seem to have a connection to that force here, whatever it is. You're good at that. I saw how you threw the plant out of your mind. After everything you've told me about your abilities, I think you're much more able to deal with it than I am. Not that I'm saying you're stronger than me, but..."

"Oh, it all sounded so flattering...and you had to ruin it with the last sentence," she interrupted him with a lopsided grin. "Fine," she continued, serious again, "You've got a point with flying the TARDIS. But then we go down together. I won't stay up here and wait and-"

"Mira. Please. I need someone up here who I can trust, who's able to handle the situation, whatever is about to happen. Rose is good, no question, but I'm afraid that this might be a bit too much for her. I promised to keep her safe, I know. But right now we have to get the TARDIS back, and she's surely not going down there with me. Please, I know I'm asking a lot of you, but look after her."

She sighed and answered after a moment of consideration, "Let's pretend for a moment that I'll do what you want. Just answer me one question: How far shall I go to keep her safe? If it's for the best, I have no problem to knock her out and lock her away somewhere, if that's the only way to prevent her from running into her own death."

"What?" He stared at her. Would she really do that? He narrowed his eyes. Probably. If it was the only way, he would probably do the same. At least, the locking her away part; not too sure about knocking her out, though he himself had knocked out a few people, mainly in his fourth regeneration.

"Oh come on, don't look so shocked. You know how she can be. Clock-work space-ship, remember?"

He looked around the room in discomfort, ruffling his hair, and answered, "Do whatever you think is necessary. As said, I trust you, hmm?" He looked in her eyes, trying to figure out if she believed him. He really meant what he was saying. There might still be things she was keeping from him, but he believed that she was trying to help as best as she could, and would not deceive him.

"Do you?" she asked quietly, returning his gaze. "I just wonder exactly how far."

His face fell as he heard her reply. What else could he do to make it right again? He had had the whole night to think about all this. Not only about their fight, but also his feelings towards her, although he was still trying to deny them. He was drawn to her, more than he wanted. At first, it had been fun to tease, even challenge each other. But, somewhere along the way, it had changed, at least for him. He couldn't tell when this had happened, and even less if he liked it, but there it was. He couldn't even say what it was about her. Her strength? How she had managed to give him hope again, even after what he had accused her of? The feeling that she was really able to understand him, even without words? The few and short moments when she had touched his mind? And now he had the nasty feeling that he might have shattered it all.

"Mira," he started to say, the resignation clearly audible in his voice, "I've already apologised. If there is something else I can do, then please, tell me."

"No, it's...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. Not now." She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, before continuing, "You should get ready now, or they'll go without you."


Rose

She had been in the control room, but there had only been Zach, and she felt that there wouldn't be anything interesting happening any time soon. Besides, it bothered her that the Doctor was alone with Mira right now. It was more than enough that they seemed to spend so much time together when she was sleeping. Mira hadn't been in their room at the base when she went to bed, so she assumed that she had been with him. She had hardly spent any time with him alone since that woman had arrived. Not even the fight he had had with her seemed to have changed anything between them. Had she really foreseen what would happen? And, if so, why had he forgiven her so quickly?

She finally found him next to the lift that would go down the mineshaft, with Mira, of course. She was helping him with the orange space suit he was wearing.

"Oxygen...nitro-balance...gravity. It's ages since I wore one of these!" he said to Mira.

"Told you, they're a bit...antiquated," Mira replied.

"What's that going to be for?" Rose asked and hurried over to them. "You're not going down there, are you?"

"Rose, please," he started, "The TARDIS is down there. I have to."

"But if it's down there, they will find it. Mira can go!" Why did he have to endanger his life? It seemed to be dangerous, going down a mineshaft to the very core of the planet. If something were to happen to him, she would be on her own. On a planet that didn't even have a name, orbiting a black hole, stuck in the future, with no one to turn to. Alone.

Suddenly the severity of the situation fully hit her, and she could feel tears forming in her eyes. She blinked them away, not wanting Mira to see her crying like a child.

"It's funny, 'cos people back home think that space travel's gonna be all whizzing about and teleports and anti-gravity... but it's not, is it?" She looked at him, searching for comfort in his eyes. "It's tough," she added.

He took her hands in gloved hands. "I'll see you later," he said with confidence, before he let go of her hands and put on the helmet that Mira handed him.

"Not if I see you first," she answered and tried a smile. Then she pulled his head down and placed a kiss on the helmet. Right now she didn't care what Mira was thinking. Well, she did. In case the other woman got jealous.

"Just one more thing," the Doctor said, his voice slightly muted by the helmet. "No fighting when I'm gone. You both said that there's a new start. And Rose, you will listen to her. We have no idea what's going on here, and it might be dangerous. So if Mira tells you to stand back, you'll do so. I don't want you to get hurt. Promise me that."

She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. What was he thinking? That she was a little child? She could very well look after herself. She was about to tell him that, but then thought about what her mother had said to her, and just nodded. "Okay."

"Okay?" He raised his brows.

"Yeah. I'm fine with it. You're probably right."

Before he could say another word, Zach appeared. "What's that going to be?" he repeated her very words.

"Reporting as a volunteer for the expeditionary force," the Doctor replied cheerfully.

"Doctor, this is breaking every single protocol. We don't even know who you are."

"Yeah, but you trust me, don't you? And you can't let Ida go down there on her own. Go on... look me in the eye...yes you do, I can see it. Trust."

"I should be going down."

"Give it up. I've tried that already," Mira interrupted them.

"What? None of you is going down! If someone is going, than it's me." Zach said, looking at them.

"The Captain doesn't lead the mission. He stays here. In charge," the Doctor said to him.

"Not much good at it, am I?" Zach replied, and Rose could hear the bitterness in his voice. The Doctor just looked at him.

Zach sighed and said, now addressing everyone, "Positions! We're going down in two. Everyone, positions!"

"And you," Mira said to the Doctor, "You'll report back to me. You, and the space suit, in one piece. Got that?"

"Yes, Major," he replied steadily, copying Mira's tone, but with a soft and gentle look in his eyes that made her heart ache. It had not only been gentle, it had been loving. She was almost certain about that, and this certainty and the pain it brought was eating her up from the inside. Had he ever looked at her in that way? Suddenly, she saw it all too clearly. She had lost him. And there wasn't a thing she could do about it.

"Capsule active. Counting down in 10...9..." sounded Zach's voice over the comm. The Doctor and Ida went into the capsule and Jefferson closed the door behind them. She looked at him and had the sudden urge to stop him, getting overwhelmed by the feeling that she would never see him again once he went down there. That something would happen to him. But, at the same time, she knew she couldn't stop him now. She waved at him whilst Zach was counting down, and then the capsule began to descent into the shaft. She looked around as soon as the capsule was out of sight. Toby was sitting in a corner, seeming strangely nervous and checking his hands. Then her eyes fell to Mira. She had heard what the Doctor had told her, but she had no intention to follow his orders. It didn't matter now anyway, did it? She had lost, no matter what. The only chance she was seeing now was to sabotage Mira somehow, hoping that he would get angry at her again–even more than he did before. She just had to be a bit more careful than the last time in the TARDIS. She wouldn't make the same mistake – betraying his trust – twice. She didn't even care that Mira most likely knew that she was up to something. There wasn't much she could do, was there? Apart from locking her into a room or something, but she wouldn't go that far.


Mira

Mira watched as the capsule descended. She didn't like the situation at all. Of course, the Doctor had been right – if there was one of them going down, it had to be him, because she couldn't fly the TARDIS. But, staying up here with Rose, and taking care of her, wouldn't be easy. She had felt the waves of hate and jealousy coming off of her, and she had also seen how the Doctor had looked at her, had seen the intensity in his eyes. But she wasn't quite sure what to make of it. He was still a mystery to her in most parts.

All in all, she had a more than bad feeling about the whole operation, and she hated to be condemned to inactivity. Be careful what you wish for, she thought. Things could change all to quickly. And there still was Toby, who was behaving weirder and weirder with every passing minute. But, on the good side, she hadn't felt the strange presence again, and even the Ood seemed to behave normally, at least the three that were here with them. And Danny, who had an eye on the others at Ood Habitation hadn't reported anything odd either.

"Gone beyond the oxygen field. You're on your own," Zach said, and, before she could prevent it, Rose had grabbed the mic of the comm and said, "Don't forget to breath. Breathing's good," and demonstrating the action afterwards.

"Rose, give that to..." she started, but was interrupted by Zach, "Rose, stay off the comm."

"Fat chance," Rose murmured and shot her an angry look.

Great. Rose obviously had no intention to do as the Doctor had told her. Fine. If she wanted to block the comm, she should do so. Right now they couldn't do anything else than to watch the descent of the capsule. She looked at the computer screen that showed a diagram of the mineshaft with the capsule in it. They were almost there. Just as they reached point zero, the whole base started to shake again, and for a moment they all had to fight to stay on their feet. Mira headed for the comm, but Rose was faster.

"Doctor?" she asked, and the fear in her voice was clear to anyone with ears. "Doctor, are you all right?"

But there was no response. Now, Zach was trying it as well. "Ida, report to me..." Nothing.

"Doctor?"

Just as the silence threatened to overwhelm them all, the Doctor finally responded, "It's all right...we've made it. Coming out of the capsule now."

Mira and Rose sighed in relief, and even Jefferson seemed to relax a bit. Only Toby remained in his corner, as nervous as ever.

"What's it like down there?" Rose asked.

"It's hard to tell...some sort of...cave...cavern...it's massive," the Doctor answered, and they all could hear how impressed he was. After a moment of silence, he continued, "Rose...you can tell Toby, we've found his civilisation."

Well, at least they had found something down there. Could have been worse, couldn't it?

"Oi, Toby - sounds like you've got plenty of work," Rose told Toby cheerfully.

Toby, on the other hand, wasn't cheerful at all. One would think he would be over the moon, but, instead, he just murmured, "Good, good. Good."

"Concentrate now, people. Keep on the mission. Ida...what about the power source?" Zach said from the control room.


Doctor

It was incredible down there. He wondered how long this civilisation was gone, when not even the TARDIS could translate these writings. And then, having a planet orbiting a black hole, it was incredible. Well, not that incredible compared to his people and Time Lord technology, but at least quite impressive.

"We're close. Energy signature indicates north-northwest. Are you getting pictures up there?" Ida asked over the comm. He looked at her. She possessed a lot of the traits he loved so much about humanity. The urge to go forward, to explore, no matter what the risks were.

"There's too much interference. We're in your hands," Zach replied.

"Well...we've come this far. There's no turning back," Ida said to him.

"Oh, did you have to? No turning back? That's almost as bad as 'nothing can possibly go wrong', or 'this is gonna be the best Christmas Walford's ever had'," he had just started, as Ida turned around to him.

"Are you finished?"

He stared at her for a long moment, caught completely off-guard.

"Yeah! Finished," he finally said. Did he really talk that much? Well, he did know that he could babble, but not that much...


Mira

She almost started to regret that she had stayed back because nothing was happening, but then she felt the strange presence again. Just as she opened her senses to the Ood, she got flooded with white noise in her head again, and Danny said over the comm, "Captain, sir. There's something happening with the Ood."

"What are they doing?" Zach wanted to know. Right now Mira was glad that they were broadcasting to the whole base, and not only between the single stations, so she could hear the conversation as well.

"They're staring at me. I've told them to stop, but they won't," came Danny's response.

"Danny, you're a big boy. I think you can take being stared at," Zach said, seemingly annoyed.

Just as she had wound the mic quickly out of Rose's hand, ignoring her struggles, Danny said, "But the telepathic field, Sir. It's at Basic 100! I've checked–there isn't any fault. It's definitely 100."

"But that's impossible," Zach said in disbelief.

"I'm afraid it's not," Mira said over the comm. "There's something going on Zach, I'll go to Ood habitation."

"What's Basic 100 mean?" Rose asked as she had given the mic back to her.

"They should be dead," Danny answered.

"Basic 100's brain death," Jefferson confirmed.

"Oh hell, you really have no idea about the Ood or psychic abilities, do you? Brain dead. Sure. I mean, it's strong, but not that strong." she said to Jefferson. Not that she had any idea about the scale they were using, but her sensed told her that it was far from brain dead.

Before he could reply, Zach asked, "But they're safe? They're not actually moving?"

"No, sir,"

"Keep watching them. And you, Jefferson – keep a guard on the Ood," Zach said.

Fine. Jefferson was staying here, keeping an eye on the three Ood and hopefully on Rose.

"Officers at arms!" he commanded and readied his gun. Well, maybe she had to reconsider the last part.

"Yes, sir," one of the guards said.

"You can't fire a gun in here. What if they hit a wall?" Rose wanted to know. Of course. She only knew of one kind of bullets from her time.

"I'm firing stock 15, only packs upon organics," he replied, and then, to the security guard, "Keep watch. Guard them."

"Is everything all right up there?" the Doctor wanted to know. Had the comm-link been active all the time?

"Yeah, yeah," Rose answered, followed by Zach, "It's fine."

"Great!", Danny fell in sarcastically.


Doctor

In front of them was an enormous, circular trapdoor, covered in engravings.

"We've found something. It looks like metal, like some sort of seal. I've got a nasty feeling the word might be 'trapdoor'. Not a good word, 'trapdoor'. Never met a trapdoor I liked," he said over the comm. At this moment, he was really glad that Mira was up there. She would handle what was going on, no matter what; although, he would have liked to have her with him as well.

"The edge is covered with those symbols," Ida said, after shining her torch at them.

"Do you think it opens?" Zach asked.

"That's what trapdoors tend to do," he said, as Ida walked around it.

"'Trapdoor' doesn't do it justice. It's massive, Zach. About thirty feet in diameter," she said.

"Any way of opening it?" Zach was a bit of a pragmatist, he couldn't help to notice.

"I don't know. I can't see any sort of mechanism," Ida answered.

"I suppose that's the writing, that'll tell us what to do. The letters that defy translation," he said.

"Toby, did you get anywhere with decoding it?" he could hear Zach asking. At least the comm-link to the base was still working.


Mira

She was about to head for Ood Habitation – she had asked Jefferson for a weapon, but he had refused – as things started to escalate. Rose had just asked Toby if he had been able to make anything out of the lettering yet, as the strange presence fully hit her. At the same moment Toby –still in his corner, head in his arms – answered, "I know what it says."

His voice was perfectly calm now, but Rose didn't seem to notice it.

"Then tell them," she ordered him to do so.

"When did you work that out?" Jefferson wanted to know, as oblivious as Rose.

"It doesn't matter, just tell them," Rose demanded.

"Jefferson, Rose, carefully, there is something going on with him," she said. She was now certain that something had taken over him, and she was trying to analyse it, to block it, but it proved to be quite strong. Suddenly, Toby stood up and turned towards them. His skin was now covered in symbols, and he stared at them out of red, glowing eyes. Just as in her dream. This must have happened before, probably during last night.

"These are the words of the Beast," he proclaimed with a deep, hollow voice, "And he has woken."

It took Mira only seconds to gather herself. She wasn't as surprised as the others were. She stepped in front of them and asked, "Who are you?"

"Get out of the way!" she heard Jefferson behind her. Hopefully he wouldn't do something stupid right now. She still believed that she could make contact with this entity, or maybe even fight it.

"He is the heart that beats in the darkness, he is the blood that will never cease. And now he will rise."

"Identify yourself. What do you want?" Mira tried it again, no trace of fear or insecurity in her voice. Jefferson was now standing next to her, pointing his gun at Toby.

"Officer, stand down. STAND DOWN!"

"Jefferson, don't. You'll only kill Toby, but that's not Toby who's speaking," she tried to stop him.

Toby was flexing his arms, counteracting her attempts to hold Jefferson back.

"Officer, as commander of security, I order you to stand down and be confined. Immediately!"

"He's come out in those symbols all over his face. They're all over him," Rose yelled into the comm. At least she was keeping a clear head now, updating the Doctor.

Toby considered them for a moment, then continued, "Mr. Jefferson, tell me, sir...did your wife ever forgive you?"

"I don't know what you mean," Jefferson answered. He lied, that was clear to her. So, whatever had possessed Toby was obviously telepathic.

"Let me tell you a secret: she never did," Toby replied, smiling sardonically.

"Officer... you stand down and be confined," Jefferson said, a bit less self-confident now.

"Or what?"

"Or under the jurisdiction of Condition Red, I am authorised to shoot you."

Mira had used the time to gather herself for a counter-attack. She didn't really belief that she could throw this entity out of Toby's mind, but she had to find out how strong it really was. She had analysed it and could clearly see the wavelength of his psychic energy. She adapted her own energy, concentrated on the entity and, just as he was again talking to Jefferson, she hit it. Toby wavered for a second, and then focused his red eyes on her. She instantly realised that she had failed. Not that she had anticipated success, but it had been less effective than she had hoped. Not only that, but she had also felt its presence in her own mind, if only for a moment. That was the thing with attacks of this sort, they could open a two way road. She had no idea what it had seen there. All in all, her attempt had gone horribly wrong.

"Oh, what's that," he said. "The immortal one. So brave on the outside, yet so afraid on the inside, equally afraid of life and death. Tell me, have you decided yet what's worse? Eternal life or finding eternity in death?"

"Tell me something I don't know yet," she replied as calm as she could. So it had been in her head and headed straight for her weak spots. No magic behind that, just plain and simple mind-games. Well, it had been a hit, and clearly nothing she liked the others to know, but she couldn't change it now. She was indeed very well aware of her fears. Before she had become immortal it had almost scared the living daylight out of her to know that her days were numbered, that she would grow old, wither and die like anyone else. And yes, she now dreaded eternity probably as much as she had dreaded death, but she was aware of it. She had confronted herself and accepted it. Maybe not dealt with it, as this fear was still there, but accepted it. There was no way this entity could use it against her. No way.

Really?

Instead of replying, Toby's eyes lit up, his mouth opened in a low roar and the symbols whirling away in black smoke, heading straight for the three Ood. Toby collapsed on the floor, seemingly himself again, but nevertheless, things went from bad to worse. Now, the Ood seemed to be possessed, their eyes red as they said as one, "We are the Legion of the Beast."

Jefferson pointed his gun at them now.

"Rose? What is it? Mira?" the Doctor's voice came over the comm, followed by Zach, "Report. Report! Jefferson, report! Someone, report!"

"The Legion shall be many. And the Legion shall be few..." the Ood continued.

"It's the Ood," Rose said.

"Sir, we have a contamination in the livestock," Jefferson said over his wrist-comm.

"Doctor, I don't know what it is – it's... it's like they're possessed," Rose explained. "They won't listen to us."

"He has woven himself in the fabric of your life since the dawn of time," the Ood stated, clearly unimpressed. "Some may call him Abaddon. Some may call him Kroptor. Some may call him Satan..."

Satan? Really? Mira could probably free some of the Ood from the influence, as it now as spread a bid thinner, so to speak, at least temporarily, but right now there was no need for it, and it was probably for the best to keep that fact from Satan for a while.

"Or Lucifer..." the Ood continued.

"Satan? Lucifer? Really? I would have expected something better than playing with basic human fears!" She said to the Ood, hoping that she could draw the attention of the creatures – or whatever had possessed them – away from the others to herself.

"Or the Bringer of Despair..." They were ignoring her. "The Deathless Prince. The Bringer of Night."

"Are you done yet? Then, maybe, you could finally say what you want and we can stop this ridiculous game of-" she tried it again but got interrupted.

"These are the words that shall set him free."

"Hey! Where I come from, you let others finish!" They were now backing away from the Ood, Jefferson next to her, Toby and Rose behind her.

"Back up to the Door!" Jefferson shouted over his shoulder.

"I shall become manifest," the Ood continued.

"Well then, finally! Get on with it! Show yourself!" Mira shouted at them. She had enough of it. This was leading nowhere. It was only supposed to frighten them, and, unfortunately, it seemed to work. Even Jefferson was feeling a bit nervous now.

"Move quickly!" he urged. "Mira, stop it! We have to get out!"

"Yeah, well, then, you get out. I'll distract them."

"I shall walk in might," the Ood announced.

"To the door! Get it open!", Jefferson yelled.

"My Legions shall swarm across the worlds..."

They were trying to open the door, just as the base shook. This time it felt like an earthquake, as if the whole planet was pushed out of its orbit. Not good.

"We're moving! The whole thing's moving! The planet's moving!" Zach confirmed her worst fears.

"I am the sin and the temptation, and the desire. I am the pain and the loss, and the Dead will come," the Ood continued approaching them.

"Oh, just shut it! We got it!" she yelled at them; not that she had any hopes that they would listen.

"Get that door open," Jefferson was shouting behind her back.

"The gravity field... it's going! We're losing orbit!" Zach said over the comm, panic in his voice.

"We're gonna fall into the black hole!"

It seemed that whatever had awoken had set something else into motion. Something bad. It was the energy source, she thought. It had to be connected. They door still didn't move, and Jefferson was now aiming at the Ood again, who continued, "I have been imprisoned for eternity. But no more."

"Door sealed," the computer announced.

"Come on!" Rose cried, her hands still on the door lock.

"Door sealed."

Suddenly, the Ood still advancing towards them, a deep, dark voice filled the air. Just like the voice she had heard in her own head earlier on.

"The Pit is open. And I am free."


Doctor

He had heard what was going on in the base. He couldn't really make sense of it, but it hadn't sounded good. Not at all. He should really get up there, as soon as possible. Even though the TARDIS was still down here somewhere. Well, they always could come back. Suddenly, the ground started to shake and the trapdoor slowly slid open. At the same time he heard Zach shouting over the comm, that the planet itself was moving.

If it could get any worse…

"Doctor! It's opening!" Ida yelled. The next moment they were showered with rocks. He hesitated for a moment, but then decided to help Ida instead of going back immediately.

As soon as she was back on her feet again, he looked over to the trapdoor. It was completely open now, smoke rising from it. The ground was still shaking, although not as bad as moments ago.

Suddenly he heard a voice, just like the one in his head. It filled the air, his mind, everything. Surely they could hear it in the base as well.

"The Pit is open. And I am free."


Ronin Kenshin: Thanks for your review.

10th Squad 3rd Seat: I think mainly because Rose had forgotten – again – that he would have to live a lot longer like that as she have to.

AxidentlGoddes: Thanks for your detailed review :-) I hope I can keep up with your expectations with this chapter :-)

bored411: I´m glad you liked that part. I actually was a bit unsure how it would come across.

Wicken25: Not much surprises here, I´m afraid, but I hope I've given enough reasons why she stayed up and he went down.

OxxgerogiaxXo: Thanks for reviewing it :-)