A to Z with nothing in between.

I bring you the two worst words in history...Writers-effing-block!

Any way, enjoy this installment.

Chapter 4.

If you were to look at the planet Marina, you'd think you'd died and gone to whole planet was covered in crisp,turquoise waters that stretched as far as the eye could see and sparkled under a single sun. Dotted around far and wide were small islands complete with sandy beaches and palm trees.

On one such island, standing out like a blue sore thumb, stood the TARDIS. Its doors were open revealing the control room. The Doctor was standing at the top of the entry ramp looking mildly impressed, which wasn't often.

"Well?" Asked a nervous looking Tails, who was now sporting a fetching brown waistcoat, matching boots and flight goggles. " It's just a prototype, but what do you think?"

The Timelord pursed his lips together, took out the sonic screwdriver and ran its blue tip along the surface of the yellow board infront of him. "Well... I like the craftsmanship, very sleek and modern. I like the personal touch of the colour- your favourite, yes? but do you know what I really, really like?"

Tails gulped, "Wh-what?"

The Doctor's face broke into a beaming smile, "It flies!" Placing a hand gently on the board, he pushed down lightly. The board took the weight and bobbed in the air for a few seconds. " You made this out of the spare parts from the storage cupboard, the trinkets in your techno trunk and the mini go-kart you brought with you in just a couple of hours?" Tails, now pearched on the hand rail, nodded. "So this was your top secret surprise?" Another nod. He sighed deeply, " Hate to say it, Tails,but...I'm impressed."

The cub's face flushed, " I...I think there's a compliment in there somewhere. And I didn't just make one prototpye,"

"No?"

He grinned, "I made six! OK, guys, you can come out now."

From the inner santuary of the time machine the Freedom Fighters walked out each carrying a costomised board. Rouge was first in black hot pants and matching t-top with a purple board, to match her boots and gloves. She winked at the Doctor before heading out to pratise her moves. Amy was next with her pink board, she hadn't changed just taken off her bulky jumper which pleased the Doctor ( he was still a bit miffed at her for using it to sneak out two books from the Lost Library.) she smoothed down her mini- skirt, adjusted the camera around her neck and skipped out to join Rouge. Shadow followed shortly after, the black hedgehog was out of his spacesuit and back wearing his normal shoes and gloves. Under his arm he carried his black hover-board. There was a haunting expression on his face as he passed them.

"Shadow... You OK?"

The black hedgehog gave a slow nod. " Everything's fine." He murmered softly. And with out another word headed out to regroup with the girls.

The Doctor and Tails shared a concerned glance, "Something's up." Tails peered through the gap in the doors with his arms folded, he could just make out the others having prastice races around the trees with Amy taking photos. " It seems that Shadow has reverted back to his old self. Maybe we should ask him what's wrong."

The Doctor held him back, "Later. He'll tell us when he's ready."

"Good call." The pair turned and found Sola standing by the consoule with a board under each arm. She smiled at them both, "Loving the Extreme Gear, T2. Just like old times."

"Thanks, Sonic! They're only prototypes. No big deal."

"No big deal he says." Leaning the boards against the pilot chair, she reached over and ruffled his fringe. " Aw, such a humble young'un." She faced the Doctor, "Well?"

"Well what?" He asked, completely confused and not liking it one bit. Sola gestured to the two boards: one blue and one red. " What?" He said again.

"You can have the blue one, it goes with your suit. Red's not too much of a girly shade, and I miss my sneaks, so I'll take that one." She grinned clapping her hands, "Great! Glad that's sorted." The Dcotor gaped at her. "So, do we know where the Eye is on this..." She shuddered, "...Water planet?"

"Well," went the Doctor booting up the TARDIS' computer, " I'm getting high energy readings, that could be the Eye, unfortunately it's coming from under the sea. Good news is that some of these islands house entry/ exit tunnels and one's near our posittion." He took out his BMD ( Bad Mojo Detector) and up- loaded the energy readouts coordinates. " There. All done."

" Come on then, Doctor." Tails grabbed his arm and was steering him towards the doors, " time for a quick practice. Let's see if you've got the moves."

Sola grinned behind her hand as Tails led the stuttering and protesting Doctor out of the TARDIS. She was about to join them when the console bleeped. "Huh? What's up with you, old thing?" Flicking serveral switches, just like the Time Lord had shown them, she brought up a simple start-up menu. " Ooh, it's a T- Mail! Let's see. It's addressed to the Doc, but I'm sure he won't mind if I take a peek." She clicked on the flashing envelope, quickly scanned its contents and did a double take at the signature. " Who ever wrote this must know the Doctor pretty -" The last part of her sentence was drown out by a terrified scream. Quickly she grabbed her board and hurried out of the TARDIS shutting the door behind her, "Oh!"

" Don't. You. Dare. Laugh!" Said the Doctor through gritted teeth. He was halfway up a palmtree his arms around the trunk, holding on for dear life. His lower half was floating upwards backwards, it looked extremely painfull. "Someone help me!"

"Hold on!" Sola zipped up her waistcoat. She took a running start, threw her board out infront of her and hopped on. Keeping her knees slightly bent and arms out for balance she circled the tree and reached the top in seconds, " Guess you're not a flying doctor, then?" She held out a helping hand.

"Very funny, " he replied dryly. With shaky moments he held onto her ,screwing his eyes shut as she lowered them to the ground. "Ugh..." he mumbled a string of ingornanet words as he sat down on his board, it bobbed under his wieght as he held his head in his hands. He was very green in the face. " Don't think I'm cut out for hover-boards."

"We've got no choice. You said the Eye must be under water and the best way to get it would be by using the boards. Eggman might already be here and the TADRIS might be at risk if you take it to the City."

"Oh, all right." He mumbled to Tails. Slowly he got to his feet and pulled out his BMD from his inside pocket. " Right...Gather round, troop. This island had two entry points; one to the left and one to the right." The device bleeped when he pointed left, "Aha! High readings of unknown power supply. This way to the Eye." BMD back in his pockets and board under his arm he led the others who followed closely behind.

"No. Wait!" Sola cried but it was too late. The group barely had time to duck out the way as a giant tentacle covered in smelly slime shot out. "No!" The limb, thick as a tree, headed for the Doctor who was in a bit of a daze and sprawled on the sand. Sola dropped her board, ran full pelt towards the beast and jumped on the attacking limb. Using her fists, legs and anything else, she pounded it as hard as she could. "Leave him alone!"

"Sola, look out!"

She heard Shadow's warning in the distance but acting a split-second too late. Soon the area around her was thick with arms. They rose up, waving in the breeze and then swooshed down for the attack. She jumped, ducked and dived to the best of her abilities. Hopping over one, she spotted a small opening and was glad to see Shadow through it with his arms outstretched. She made a bee line for him when...

SNATCH!

"Uh-oh," a feeler snapped it self around her body, squeezing her tightly, she could hear her metallic joints creaking. " Help! Help me!" The mass of arms started to slowly retreat towards the cave. Desperately she clawed the ground, her nails making tracks as she was dragged along. " HELP!"

" I got you!" From no where the Doctor appeared taking her flaying hands in his. The pull of the gaint sea beast was proving too much, he grunted as he too was being dragged along. "A little help, please!"

One by one the Freedom Fighters lined up behind him. Holding on to each other waists, with feet planted firmly into the sand, the friends gritted thier teeth and tugged back with all the strenght they could muster. For a second it looked like they were making progress when the creature released a thunderous shreech and yanked hard. Sola lost her grip and looked horrified at the Doctor who, to her surprise, looked more scared then she'd ever seen him before.

Her scream echoed as she taken into the dark depths, "Doctor!"

"Sola!" Fighting to unscramble himself from the others, he crawled on his hands and knees to the cave's mouth, "Sola? Sola!" From the blackness came a muffled relpy, almost too muffled to make out.

"What do we do now?" Asked Amy, nervously tugging her hair. "Where's it taken her?"

Shadow folded his arms, deep in thought and then, "My guess...The underwater city."

"We have to get her back! Let's stop wasting time and go fetch her." After collecting his board from the pile, Tails marched towards the cave. "Well? Come on!"

Rouge held him back, "Hold on, sweet-pea. The Doctor's having one of his moments."

It appeared she was right. The Doctor was still kneeling at the entrance rubbing together his thumb and forefinger. He brought them up to his nose, sniffed and suddenly recoiled in disgust, "Strange. Very strange," he muttered. "The Maries- the locals, if you like- are not known for their technology. So... The real question is this: Where did they get a Robo-Squid from?"

The others looked at each other and together spluttered, "Th-that was a robot?"

"Of course." He jumped to his feet, in full Doctor-mode now, wiping the gunk off on his trousers, "Dark blotches of crude oil," he pointed to the white sand where black spots were everywhere, " the smell is old mechine grease and lubericates plus the typical salty desposits from the ocean. and the clincher- a limb of the robot lost a bolt as it escaped. See?" From his inside pocket he withdrew a big metal bolt with a chipped head. " But how did Sola know before we did?"

Rouge shrugged, "Don't look at us. We're not physic, you know."

"Physic? Physic! Oh, Rouge I could kiss you!" He pulled out the black wallet- containing his magic paper- and flipped it open, "Look. The TARDIS recieved a T-Mail moment before the attack."

"Well, what's it say?"

He read it carefully, "Hello, Sweetie. If you want to go far, remember this helpful tip: Do the oppostie. Short but effective."

Amy giggled," Sweetie?"

The Doctor ignored her, reading the message again a slight smirk grew on his face, "Hmm... Do the opposite. I wonder..."Taking the BMD, he waved it in an arch and it beeped at the Robo-Squid's dwelling. Frowning, he continued the swing until it beeped beamed, "Right, you lot! This way!" Gathering up his board he headed right.

"What! That's it?" Shadow came up along side him. The others follwed a few steps behind, they knew to steer clear if Shadow went into one of his moments. "You get an anomymous T-Mail and you as it says. Why?"

"Trust." The Doctor relpied simply. He smiled gently down at him, " I trust the author completely ... Well , someday I will." Shadow looked confused, he shrugged. " Complications of being a Time Lord. But the point is trust. Do you remember when we were on board the ARK? You trusted me then and I hope you can trust me now. You can trust me." With his free hand he reached down and took Shadow's own, the black hedgehog blinked at him, "You can trust me." He repeated softly.

Shadow quickly looked back to the others who were deep in their own conversation. He sighed and nodded,

"It's about Sola..."

More soon, I hope.

I'm thinking a sword fight between the two Doctors. What do you think?