Chapter Twenty Eight
Everyone in the Command Center heard the Tardis arrive. The Commander was sitting at his desk and looked forward to his senior staff. "Let's hope the Doctor still has good news." he stated simply. The news of the Doctor's promise had spread like wildfire through the base with John Koenig doing very little to stop it. He hoped it was all true. He prayed it was all true. He decided to wait till he'd received a positive report from the Doctor before he made any official announcements. The Alphans had come so close to finding a permanent home that even at this juncture they were somewhat gun shy.
Helena, Tony, Maya, Alan and Sahn all rose from their desk as did their Commander, each preparing their selves for potentially bad news. The Doctor strolled through the open Command Center doors as if he owned them. When he saw the look on their faces he frowned and asked, "What? What's wrong? Has something happened? Is it Sarah?"
"No, no of course not, Alan please ask Sarah Jane to come to the Command Center." John said as he turned to Alan.
Alan flipped a few switches and said, "Sarah Jane Smith please report to Command Center."
Over the speaker she replied, "On my way."
"Then what's wrong?" the Doctor asked as he sat down on the edge of Maya's desk.
"There's nothing wrong Doctor. We were all slightly worried that you were going to give us bad news." Helena said with a nervous smile as she approached the Doctor.
"No bad news on my end unless you count the Tardis' indigestion, she didn't really care for the energy from the nuclear dumps I fed her." He looked around him and enquired with a slap of his hands, "So everybody ready to go home?"
Everyone around him broke into a relieved and nervous laughter, each almost giddy at the prospect of going home. John embraced Helena and they kissed as did Maya and Tony. Alan and several of the female operatives were wrapped around each other as well.
The Doctor looked confused so when the excitement quieted down he asked the Commander, "I did tell you that I would be taking you home, right?"
"What's going on?" Sarah asked as she came through the Command Center doors and sidled up to the Doctor. "Hi!" she smiled as he leaned in and gave her a kiss.
"Hi and I don't think they really believed me." he said slightly amazed.
"So we're really going home…tomorrow? We're leaving tomorrow?" Tony asked incredulously. It was one thing to hear it as an idea, even a promise but it was actually happening tomorrow.
The Doctor was baffled. Didn't they understand what he was saying? He was about to ask when Sarah whispered in his ear, "We've been so close to leaving here before that it's…hard to take it all in. I can't even begin to tell you how many Operation Exodus plans I've been part of. So just be patient with them."
He took a deep breath and tried again. He raised his voice and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Tomorrow at oh, let's say noon we'll begin our trip to Earth. So if you haven't packed, you should get started." He met the Commander's eyes and added, "If that's all right with you?"
John Koenig smile was brilliant. "We'll be ready. I think it's time to make the announcement." He squeezed Helena's hand and walked back to his desk and sat down. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He pressed a few buttons and began, "Attention all sections Alpha. I'm sure everyone has heard that we're going home. The fact is the Moon will be towed back to Earth tomorrow at approximately twelve hundred hours by the Doctor. This has been a long and arduous journey but one that has finally come to an end. I'm sure everyone would like to stop what they're doing and celebrate but we all know it takes a great deal of work to keep a base this size running. Please file your final reports with your division heads. That means I need everyone to continue to perform their duties and make sure the base is in good shape. I'm sure an examination and assessment of the base if for no other reason than placement in the history books will be taken and we want Moonbase Alpha to look her best. Moonbase Alpha has been out home for many years but now we're returning to the home of our birth, the planet Earth. Everyone should pack their belongings but please try to limit it to no more than you can carry. I cannot begin to tell all of you how proud and honored I am to have served with you. You are exemplary in every way. We have moved beyond coworkers to friends and in many cases family. Once again, the Doctor has informed me that we will begin our journey home at twelve hundred hours tomorrow, Commander Koenig out."
Helena came behind him and leaned in saying, "That was perfect John, just perfect."
Tony had his arm around Maya's waist and asked, "Doctor, Sarah Jane let's all have dinner and maybe..."
"Tony if you say beer, I swear I'm going to hit you." Alan threatened.
The Doctor laughed at the pair. "What do you say, dinner Sarah?"
"I'm starving." She looked over at Alan. "But if you need help securing the Eagles…"
"There are plenty of technicians for that, tonight we will all have one last dinner together." He looked behind him to see Sahn turning her desk over to Yasko. "Ready Sahn?"
"Ready Alan." she said as she took his outstretched hand.
The four couples left the Command Center together laughing and talking. The Command Center door slid shut and the remainder of the staff left in the room threw a few papers up in the air and began talking and laughing simultaneously. The scene was repeated all over the base. Moonbase Alpha had never been a happier place to work.
Later that evening, the Doctor and Sarah were in the Tardis with the former fussing over the central console. He took a rubber mallet from the floor and banged on one of the buttons much to Sarah's horror. "Hey, hey, what are you doing? You're going to hurt her." she protested vehemently.
"I'm not hurting her. She's just being stubborn." he said with an edge of disgruntlement in his voice.
Sarah rose from the velvet bench she'd been sitting on. She laid the book down she'd been reading and went to the console and stroked it lovingly. She thought it ironic that she'd watched the Doctor do this more times than she cared to count and now she was doing it. "What's wrong old girl? You know as well as I do that it's easier to just go ahead and do what he wants, most of the time he gets his way anyhow. I missed you. I hope you know that." She returned to her seat and picked up her book.
The center column lit up and computations started to appear on the screen, in direct response to Sarah's soothing. The Doctor was less than pleased. "Oh so it's going to be like that is it, the pair of you against me?"
Sarah looked over the top of her book and answered with a smile, "Yes it is, so get used to it." She replaced the book in front of her face attempting to hide a laugh that threatened to overtake her.
The Doctor quickly rounded the console and was in front of her in seconds pulling the book down to reveal her laughing face. "You two think you're so funny don't you?" He began tickling her sides as she continued to laugh.
"I give, I give!" Sarah yelled. The Doctor stole a quick kiss and went back to the far side of the console. Sarah couldn't help but get in one more dig, "We'll only use our powers for good."
The Doctor stuck his head around to look her in the eyes, "Very funny. Now I have a few more things to do and it's getting late. Don't you think you should head off to bed? After all it will be your last chance to sleep in your quarters on Alpha and I happen to know you haven't even begun to pack yet." He watched as she set her book down and stood.
"Where are you sleeping?" she asked shyly.
"Probably not at all but if I do I'll come to your quarters. After all," he held up his Sonic Screwdriver, "I have my own key." He flashed a huge smile.
"You promise you're not going anywhere in the Tardis?" she asked with her head hanging down.
He came to her side at once and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tight. He placed his chin on top of her head and said, "I want you to listen to me very carefully. You Sarah Jane Smith are stuck with me. I came all this way to find you, now why would I leave you? Don't you know that you're my world?"
"I just worry. I'm so afraid something else will separate us. I don't want to lose you." she admitted guiltily.
He pulled back from her and tilted her chin up. "You are not going to lose me. This Tardis is staying put till we pull the Moon back to Earth tomorrow. I just need to triple check my calculations and I can't do that with Alpha's Neanderthal computer. I want the trip to go smoothly for your friends." He turned her towards the door. "Now go get some rest and if you can't do that, pack. Regardless of what the Commander said, you my girl can bring as much on board the Tardis as you want. But I really wish you'd rest. You're freshly regenerated and things are still trying to settle down in your body whether you realize it or not." She started to protest when the Doctor held his hand up and pointed to the door, "Go get some rest." Sarah blew him a kiss and left the Tardis.
As soon as the Tardis' door shut he said, "She's still a handful old girl, but now she's our handful." He stroked the Tardis and pulled out the contact phone Kate had given him. He brought up the contacts and tapped Kate's name. He could hear the ringing on the other end.
It only rang twice before Kate immediately said, "Hello Doctor."
"Hello Kate. How is everything?" he asked as he leaned back against the central console and crossed his legs.
"We're ready for them on this end Doctor. We have a reunification center set up with a select group of their friends and relatives arriving tomorrow morning early. We wanted to talk to them about not overwhelming the Alphans. I have another group here that will attempt to bring the Alphans up to date on technology and the world in general. Harry Sullivan has set up physicals…"
"Kate, there's no need. They're all fine." he protested.
"I'm sure they are. But they've been in space a long time and we need to be sure they're not bringing anything back to Earth we can't handle. It might not be a bad idea if you let them know to expect this."
"You're not taking about quarantine are you?" He knew the Alphans would not handle that well.
"No, not quarantine, when they arrive the first thing that will happen will be a physical. Then once that's accomplished they'll meet with their families and friends and have a meal. Many of their families have given my team grief over that."
"Why?" the Doctor asked confused.
"Because they wanted to bring their loved one's favorite foods to them, but we were able to finally convey to them that they would have plenty of time once they were home to cook their favorite foods. After their meal there will be a mandatory meeting concerning world affairs, advances in technology, a debriefing for some, monetary compensation and in some cases housing. I know I'm asking a lot Doctor, but if you could prepare them it will be easier for everyone." Kate explained. Looking at her watch it was nearly two in the morning for her and this had been a long day. She'd spent the entire day in various meeting preparing for the Moon's and the Alphans arrival. Her next day was set to begin in three hours.
"Kate I'll tell them everything you've said. This reunification and physical exam thing doesn't apply to Sarah does it? I'm sure she'll want to see your father, Harry and the others but… As far as the physical goes, since she's regenerated…"
"She regenerated? You didn't tell me that. Is she all right?" Kate had heard stories from her dad about some of the Doctor's difficulties during regeneration.
"Sorry, thought I told you and she's fine. Before you ask, she looks like a younger version of herself. But you won't really be able to gauge her health considering…" the Doctor trailed off.
"Considering everything the two of you did. I trust I can count on you to make sure she's all right?" Kate asked.
"You know you can. Trust me when I say that the most she needs is some rest, if I can get her to slow down long enough to get some. As far as the Moon coming back, it should be arriving about one in the afternoon your time. Are your scientists ready for that?"
"We'll be keeping a close watch and they've assured me the second the Moon is back in Earth orbit the gravity locking system they're using now will be switched off with no disruption to the Earth. Once they're in Earth orbit the Valiant will be sent to Moonbase Alpha…"
"The Valiant?" the Doctor interrupted. "Isn't that an overgrown aircraft carrier?"
"The Valiant was modified to be able to go to space. It wasn't public knowledge Doctor; we at Unit do try to keep 'some' things secret." Kate used her best superior Brigadier voice. "In any case, the Valiant can hold seven hundred so there should be plenty of room to take the Alphans and a small amount of their possessions home. One of the Valiant doors has been modified to link up with Moonbase Alpha so there should be no problems."
"They could have just used their Eagles." the Doctor commented knowing that the decision had already been made but wanting to wind Kate up like he once did her father.
"The Valiant will be arriving as soon as the Moon is placed in Earth orbit." Kate sighed.
If she were going to get any sleep at all she needed to start now. "Doctor, I have a lot…"
"I know Kate. I'm just winding you up. You've done a fantastic job and I'm sure the Alphans will be very grateful. Now I'm going to tell you the same thing I just told Sarah, go get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a fantastic day." Before she could say more, the Doctor said, "Goodnight Kate." He put the phone back in his pocket and smiled. Tomorrow would indeed be a long day, a good day but a long day. The Doctor tapped the central console once more and walked down the metal ramp. He carefully locked the door and headed for Sarah's quarters. Maybe even he could catch an hour of sleep.