The Doctor lightly pat Ripley's cheek, waking the dog up from where she'd been resting. Her gaze was still unfocused from whatever sedative she'd been given, though that didn't help the guilt swimming through him. I shouldn't have drug her here. We should've stayed on the Tardis as she wanted and then she wouldn't have to deal with any of this. She's still healing, still struggling with the year that never was…. Now, this?
"Try to stay awake, Rip," he muttered quietly. "Not sure what sort of sedative they gave you, but I need you awake in case there are any side effects that happen with your different biology, okay?"
She nodded, though weakly, but kept her head up as he stepped away to try and get a hold of someone competent on the bridge.
"Deck twenty-two to the bridge. Deck twenty-two to the bridge. Is there anyone there?"
"This is the bridge," came a weak voice from the other end of the line.
"Oh hello, sailor. Good to hear you. What's the situation up there?"
"Uh, we've got air. The oxygen field is holding, but the Captain… he's dead. He did it. I watched while he took down the shields. There was nothing I could do. I tried. I did try."
He sounds young… like Ripley, even. The Doctor's gaze drifted over to the dog as Astrid checked up on her, letting her rest her head on her lap as she pet her.
"All right. Just stay calm. Tell me your name. What's your name?"
"Midshipman Frame."
"Nice to meet you, sir. What's the state of the engines?."
"They're, uh… Hold on. Ah!"
The cry of agony that tore itself from the man made the Doctor cringe. "Have you been injured?"
"I'm alright," Frame said before he found the information the Doctor asked for. "Oh, my Vot. They're cycling down."
"That's a nuclear storm drive, yes?" The Doctor tried to confirm, thinking quickly of the amount of damage those engines could do.
"Yeah."
"The moment they're gone we lose orbit."
"The planet…"
The Doctor ran his hand through his hair. "Oh, yes. If we hit the planet, the nuclear storm explodes and wipes out life on Earth. Midshipman, I need you to fire up the engine containment field and feed it back into the core."
"This is never going to work."
"Trust me, it'll keep the engines going until I can get to the bridge."
"We're going to die," Foon said then, stirring up the panic that had been settling into the group.
The others started to talk over one another and the Doctor turned to try and calm them before a loud round of barking shut them up. Ripley barked again with the attention on her and growled before huffing and dropping her head back into a startled Astrid's lap. The Doctor blinked, surprised at the intervention but grateful as he cleared his throat and spoke to the group.
"First things first. One. We are going to climb through this ship. B. No. Two. We're going to reach the bridge. Three. Or C. We're going to save the Titanic. And, coming in a very low four, or D, or that little iv in brackets they use in footnotes, why? Right then, follow me."
"Hang on a minute," Slade stopped him. "Who put you in charge and who the hell are you anyway?"
The Doctor took a step forward, brimming with as much confidence as he could muster because this was a group of humans. Scared humans who think everything is lost and who need someone confident who at least acted like they had a plan. He was used to filling that position and while he didn't have all the answers currently, he would try his best, and that usually led to a decent outcome.
"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm nine hundred and three years old and I'm the man who's going to save your lives and all six billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?"
"No," Slade replied quickly.
"In that case, allons-y!"
"Awoo!"
The Doctor, who'd turned around to lead the way did a quick about-face and grinned at Ripley. She was still lying on the ground with a mildly annoyed expression on her face.
"Yes, I didn't forget about you, Ripley. Just a bit caught up in the moment."
She grumbled a bit and he pat her head, hefting her up and carrying her over his shoulders far too easily for his liking.
"You need to put on weight, Ripley," he scolded as she settled in as best she could with her body slung across his shoulders. "What do you say we try a raw diet, eh? Get you some fresh food, more protein."
Ripley grumbled on his shoulder, lowering her head to rest on him. …Try… —er than dog food…
The Doctor cracked a grin, catching at least a little bit of what she'd said and enough to understand she was willing to try it. They reached a bulkhead and the Doctor pushed it open, warning the group to be careful as Copper, the older gentleman in tweed, spoke up.
"Rather ironic, but this is very much in the spirit of Christmas. It's a festival of violence. They say that human beings only survive depending on whether they've been good or bad. It's barbaric."
"Actually, that's not true. Christmas is a time of, of peace and thanksgiving and…" The Doctor paused with a wrinkle of his nose. "What am I on about? My Christmases are always like this."
He lifted a piece of metal then, revealing the golden mask of one of the angel-shaped Hosts.
"We've got a Host. Strength of ten. If we can mend it, we can use it to fix the rubble."
"We can do robotics. Both of us," Morvin announced as his wife nodded.
"We work on the milk market back on Sto. It's all robot staff."
Ripley let out a whine then though, making the Doctor frown, reaching up and scratch at her head.
"What's wrong then, Ripley?" He asked as he moved out of the way for Foon and Mrovin to get to work. "I don't want to put you down here with the small spaces, especially if you're not certain about moving well."
She still fussed, but he couldn't make out what she was trying to tell him now as he led the group further up the stairs.
"Can you understand her?" Astrid asked then; Ripley whining a bit more and staring down back at Foon and Morvin.
"I made a telepathic connection with her a while back, but we were in a… situation this last year and she's having trouble communicating properly through the link. I'm only catching bits and pieces of it and reading what I can from her body language. She's not your average dog though. More… human."
Ripley turned her head and chewed lightly on his ear, making him complain lightly and swat at her with a small smile before she huffed again. He noticed her keeping her gaze aimed toward Foon and Morvin though, wondering if the incident with the Host trying to take him away earlier had settled in an instinctual distrust of the Hosts. They reached the top of the stairs just then though, drawing his attention to the metal that was barring the way.
"It's blocked," Astrid huffed, out of breath like the rest of them after the hike up.
"So, what do we do?"
"We shift it."
"That's the attitude. Rickston, Mister Copper, and you, Bannakaffalatta," the Doctor wrinkled his nose at that. "Look, can I just call you Banna? It's going to save a lot of time."
The small red alien shook his head. "No. Bannakaffalatta."
The Doctor sighed but wasn't about to argue whatever naming customs of the man's culture. "All right then, Bannakaffalatta. There's a gap in the middle. See if you can get through."
"Easy. Good."
The ship jerked then, making Ripley yowl in unease as Slade shouted over the noise of debris shifting around them.
"This whole thing could come crashing down any minute!"
"Oh, Rickston, I forgot. Did you get that message?" The Doctor called back.
"No. What message?"
"Shut up!" The Doctor snapped, reaching up and taking Ripley down from off his shoulders as Bannakaffalatta called out from the other side of the debris that he'd made it. "Ripley, you next."
The dog whined, not wanting to leave the Doctor and still a bit uneasy on her feet.
"I know you don't want to go, but we all need to get through."
"I'll go with her," Astrid offered, giving the unsettled Ripley a small smile. "I'm small enough to get through."
The Doctor nodded, trusting her with Ripley as he encouraged the dog to move forward. She was reluctant but begrudgingly worked her way through with Astrid right behind her. They started working on clearing the pathway for Foon and Morvin—the Doctor doing his best to ignore the snide comments about the couple from Slade—when Astrid called out from the other side.
"I can clear it from this side. Just tell me if it starts moving."
The Doctor heard whining from the other side and perked up. "Ripley? Astrid, is everything okay?"
There was a quiet pause.
"What's going on up there!" The Doctor called out, worried for Ripley as Astrid poked her head back through.
"I think Bannakaffalatta and I just got engaged," she chirped, earning a small smile from the Doctor as he went back to getting the comm nearby working to keep track of Midshipman Frame's progress. "But Doctor, Ripley keeps whining at the blockage. I'm not sure what's wrong. She doesn't look hurt."
The Doctor frowned, knowing it wasn't like her to fuss about nothing, especially when she had warned him before about trouble and ignored it. I'm not going to do that again. "Astrid, is she trying to come back through?"
Astrid checked and nodded. "She's pawing at the debris, so I think so."
The Doctor sighed heavily, not wanting to do this because of the risk it put Ripley in, but knowing that until he could talk back to her and figure out what is wrong, he was going to have to trust her.
"Help her back through. I think something's wrong."
There was a call back on the comms then and the Doctor turned his attention to that as Ripley started to squeeze back through the gap.
"Doctor, I've got life signs all over the ship but they're going out one by one."
The Doctor frowned. That can't be right. "What is it? Are they losing air?"
"No. One of them said it's the Host. It's something to do with the Host."
The Doctor's eyes went wide as Ripley bolted past him, still awkward on her feet and using her momentum and the stair railings to help her navigate the stairs. Downstairs, Morvin had called out that they'd gotten the Host working and it turned to grab hold of Morvin the same instant Ripley came tearing through.
"Turn it off!" The Doctor shouted.
"I can't!" Foon yelled back in the panic as Ripley bit down hard on the Host's wrist trying to strangle Morvin.
The Host's wrist bent and sparked under the pressure of her jaws, giving Morvin enough slack to jerk out of its hold and rush after Foon as the Doctor told them to run, drawing his sonic. The Host grabbed Ripley's harness, attempting to jerk her off of it, but she held firm as the Doctor cursed at his sonic being useless.
"Double deadlocked! Ripley! Ripley, we need to go!" He sonicked her harness, unstrapping it from around her easily and throwing the Host off balance as he bolted up the stairs with Ripley on his heels.
The Host returned to chase them, swinging at the Doctor as he dodged before Ripley lunged again, using her weight and the stairs to throw the Host off balance again. The Doctor winced when they hit the ground and Ripley attempted to find a place to properly bite down on other than the flimsy white fabric draped around the Host. The Doctor wasn't sure how to help her but knew there was one other person unaware of the danger the Hosts possessed and hit the comms one more time.
"It's the Hosts! They've gone berserk! Are you safe up there!"
He got all the way to where the hole in the debris was, not hearing Frame's response but hoping it was enough warning to save the man. Problem was, the opening in the debris wasn't wide enough for Foon and Morvin, who was currently stuck. The Doctor grimaced and pushed at him with an apology until he popped through.
"Ripley!" The Doctor shouted, trying to call the dog back upstairs but his hearts dropped at seeing just the Host. He had to think quickly, buy time and get answers. "Information override! You will tell me the point of origin of your command structure!"
The Host paused as Copper announced he wouldn't be able to hold the gap open for much longer. "Information. Deck thirty-one."
"Thank you," the Doctor said, crawling through the gap with Copper holding it as the Host started to crawl forward after them.
There was a growl then and the Host reached desperately only for Ripley to have a hold of its ankle.
"Ripley!" The Doctor called, hopeful and she jerked at the Host, dragging it further down the stairs before jumping on its back and rushing through the gap.
She yelped though as the Host grabbed her back foot, making her falter until the Doctor lunged forward and grabbed her, pulling her through the gap and dragging the Host slightly with her.
"Let go!" He told Copper who dropped the pipe holding up the debris, crushing the Host underneath, and leaving Ripley panting in his arms.
He let out a sigh of relief, holding her tight with his hands digging into her fur. He pressed his face into her shoulder with a shuddering breath.
"Don't… Don't scare me like that again, Ripley."
She turned and licked his neck with a soft whine, leaning heavily into him as well. Sorry… try… It wasn't a promise, but they both knew it was the most either of them could swear to do.
We settled into the new area and everyone went for the food that was left behind whereas I stayed lying on the ground, exhausted. Whatever adrenaline rush that had overcome me earlier had faded quickly and with it gone, the aches from fighting with the robots had made themselves known. I sighed softly and closed my eyes, idly keeping my ears perked for anything suspicious. I started to drift off to sleep before the scent of cooked chicken reached my nose.
I peeked open an eye and glanced at Astrid who was placing a plate in front of me with some bits of chicken she'd removed from the bone. I wasn't really interested. With the unease of my abrupt mood swings lingering in the back of my mind, I was hesitant about getting close to Astrid and the others. Worried I would possibly take my anger and fear out on them and that they would look at me fearfully as well. I turned my head slightly away from the plate, but she was persistent.
"You should eat something," she pressed lightly. "You'll make the Doctor worried if you don't."
That's a low blow, I grumbled, turning and lifting my head to frown at her, though she was smiling innocently. She obviously knew what she was doing and a quick glance at the Doctor as he spoke with whoever was up in the bridge made me begrudgingly give in. I can't keep holding him back. I scooped up a piece of chicken and chewed it idly, stiffening for a second when Astrid pet my head, drawing my gaze to her.
"You know, you look sad sometimes," she mused, watching me as I turned back to eating. "Like you don't want him worried, so you hide it, but it's just putting a wedge between you, you know?"
I hesitated on eating my next piece of chicken, unnerved by how she'd figured me out so quickly. It's not like I want to be like this, I murmured, dropping my head back on my paws and giving up on the food once more. I just… there's so much going wrong and it's all my fault. He's just too nice. He's keeping me with him out of pity and I'm just constantly holding him back. What am I supposed to do? I can't stay with him like this. I'll get him hurt or someone else hurt. You saw me back there! I could kill someone and then what? I whined and covered my face with my paws. I can't even get myself under control. Why can't I just go back to being human?
"What's wrong?" The Doctor asked, heading over as Astrid handed him some food she'd saved.
"I just thought she looked sad sometimes, is all," Astrid said softly. "I didn't mean to upset her."
"We had a rough time last trip," the Doctor explained lightly, accepting the food but running his hands through my fur. "It was hard on her and with our communication issues, it's been… tough, trying to help her. I thought a trip would do her good but… well, you can see how that's turned out."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry, Ripley," Astrid apologized as I tucked my face into the Doctor's leg. "Oh, do you think she'll forgive me?"
Course I will, I grumbled with a frown, lifting my head and dropping it on the Doctor's leg with a huff. You're just trying to be nice.
The Doctor smiled and fiddled with my ears. "Quick to forgive others, this one."
"But struggles to forgive herself?" Astrid questioned, making my ears flick back as I dropped my head again. "Oh, me and my big mouth."
"No, it's okay," the Doctor said, giving me a pat. "We've all got our vices… some more than others."
I nudged the Doctor's leg with my head as though trying to get closer but mostly just to lightly scold him. Only I get to be upset with myself. You're a good person, Doctor. He smiled a little again as Astrid spoke up.
"So, you look good for nine hundred and three."
"You should see me in the mornings," the Doctor teased, getting a surprising response.
"Okay."
The two squirmed a little and even I poked my head back up to eye them, only for Copper to wander over.
"Doctor, it must be well past midnight, Earth time. Christmas Day."
"So, it is. Merry Christmas," the Doctor smiled as Astrid wrinkled her nose.
"This Christmas thing, what's it all about?"
"Long story. I should know, I was there. I got the last room."
My head snapped up so quickly I was surprised it didn't give me whiplash. You what!
The Doctor smiled and winked like it was a secret as Copper questioned things.
"But if the planet's waking up, can't we signal them? They could send up a rocket or something."
"They don't have spaceships," the Doctor informed him.
"No, I read about it. They have shuffles. Space shuffles."
He's right though. We have space shuttles. I frowned at the Doctor. Though I suppose them suddenly flying rockets down would cause more of a panic…
It didn't really matter though, given Copper was lying about his degree in order to try and get something out of his retired life.
"The thing is, if we survive this, there'll be police and all sorts of investigations. Now the minimum penalty for space lane fraud is ten years in jail. I'm an old man. I won't survive ten years."
There was a bang on one of the doors then and I was immediately on my feet with a growl.
"A Host! Move! Come on!" The Doctor called out, leading the group through the next bulkhead while I took up the rear. I at least had a chance of fighting the Hosts, as much as my body protested.
We stepped into the engine room though, stopping as we faced a slim platform of twisted metal leading across a rather long way down. I growled at the bulkhead behind us and barked, reminding the Doctor we didn't have much time before the Hosts caught up.
"Is that the only way across?" Slade asked, making the Doctor's eyes rake across the room.
"On the other hand, it is a way across."
"The engines are open," Astrid noted, eyeing them uneasily.
"Nuclear storm drive. As soon as it stops, the Titanic falls."
"But that thing, it'll never take our weight," Morvin noted, eyeing the slim metal path.
"You're going last, mate," Slade scoffed, making me turn to growl at him.
He shuffled uneasily but went quiet as the Doctor eyed it.
"It's nitrofin metal. It's stronger than it looks."
"All the same, Rickston's right—" Morvin started, moving towards a railing but my ears heard the metal under him creak and I barked, lunging.
"The dog's gone mad!" Slade shouted, but I grabbed Morvin by the back of his shirt and hauled him back.
He wasn't a light man by any means, but my weight suddenly yanking him by the back of his shirt, threw him off balance to fall back and hit the ground; just as the railing he'd touched swung freely out towards the center of the empty hole below.
"My Vot. He would've fallen!" Copper breathed as I sighed in relief and Foon held Morvin close.
"Oh, Good, dog, Ripley," the Doctor preened, giving my head a good ruffle as I felt a bit of hope well up.
I… I did it. I saved someone! The joy was short-lived though as I heard the Hosts again and turned back to the door, moving away from the Doctor and barking as Copper alerted the Doctor.
"Doctor, I rather think that those things have got our scent."
"I'm not waiting," Slade scoffed, moving out onto the beam as the Doctor warned him.
"Careful! Take it slowly!"
The ship jolted and he fell onto the beam as the Doctor encouraged him to keep going. I barked though, hearing the Hosts getting closer.
Doctor! They'll be here in a minute!
I wasn't sure if he heard me or if he just understood without me telling him, but he hurried over with his sonic.
"Seal us in."
"You're leaving us trapped, wouldn't you say?" Copper countered, nervous.
"Never say trapped, just inconveniently circumstanced."
Oh, because that's reassuring, I scoffed, gaze focused on the door as the Doctor pointed at me.
"I don't want any of that sass from you, Rip," he scolded teasingly, making me turn in surprise as he smiled. "Welcome back."
I wagged my tail and barked, pleased that he could hear me, even if it may only be for a short time. Slade made it across by this point though, so the Doctor turned to the next person.
"Bannakaffalatta, you go next."
The small red man started across quickly until the Doctor told him to go slower as I barked at the banging on the bulkhead.
Doctor, they're here!
"Astrid, get across right now," the Doctor ordered, making her hesitate.
"What about you?"
"Just do it. Go on. Mister Copper, we can't wait."
He made to argue, but the Doctor nudged him towards the bridge as well, then went over to Foon.
"Foon, Morvin, you've got to get across right now. One at a time. As soon as Bannakaffalatta is across and Astrid's close, then the next one goes, understand?"
Morvin nodded and shuffled over to get Foon across first while he waited behind uneasily.
"Doctor, I can't open the door. We need the whirling key thing of yours," Slade called out as the Doctor eyed me and Morvin hesitantly.
"I can't leave them!"
"They'll get us all killed if we can't get out."
The Doctor hesitated, looking at Morvin and longingly at me and I groaned, turning to face the door and barking.
Go! I'll be fine and I'll get Morvin across, but you need to go!
He clenched his eyes shut for a moment before turning to Morvin. "I won't leave you both. Ripley will tell you when to get across, okay?"
He nodded, glancing at his wife who looked back and offering her a smile. "Keep going! I'll be right behind!"
Bannakaffalatta was nearly across now with Astrid on his heels when the ship jerked again and the metal creaked, shifting uneasily. The group went to their hands and knees to steady themselves as my ears flicked back, eyeing the dents being punched into the metal bulkhead uneasily. We don't have much time. They're nearly across and the metal's shifting. Morvin needs to go now. I can run across if needed. I turned to Morvin and barked, nudging his hand and he understood, slowly creeping onto the metal as well.
"It's going to fall!" Foon called out as the Doctor encouraged her, though I could sense his uneasiness as well.
"It's just settling. Keep going!"
Then, the banging on the door stopped. I froze, ears perked for any sound, but the Hosts had stopped. No. Not stopped. They've gone somewhere. I can hear it. I can still hear them. Bannakaffalatta made it across now and Astrid was nearly there as well, but I realized where the Hosts were and whipped around to the Doctor with a loud bark.
Above! Doctor, they're flying! The Doctor turned as Copper pointed them out.
"Information. Kill," the Hosts said, reaching for their halos to use as throwing blades as the Doctor called for everyone to arm themselves.
Doctor, you need to keep moving! I barked back, dodging one halo and catching another precariously in my mouth. I snapped it startlingly easy with a growl, fur on end, and ignoring the few halos that nicked me as they were hurting everyone else as well. The Doctor crying out brought me to full attention and I growled, grabbing another halo and throwing it back at a Host to no avail and I could feel myself desperately needing to do something. Again, I felt so useless. This time though, it wasn't my turn to be the hero.
A blast echoed out from Bannakaffalatta, a partial cyborg, and all the Hosts began to fall. Relief flooded through us all and I barked, trying to get them moving again.
"Electromagnetic pulse took out the robotics. Oh, Bannakaffalatta, that was brilliant!" The Doctor cheered, but the spikey man collapsed as Astrid rushed to his side.
"He's used all his power."
I whined uneasily, sensing that he was fading and not knowing what could be done for him. Copper took an EMP transmitter from him, but I barked again, seeing that one Host was still active.
"Use the EMP!" Slade shouted, but it wasn't charged yet.
I growled, seeing that I was the only one left behind the Host, and started creeping up behind it carefully, painfully aware of the large pit below as the Doctor called out to the Host.
"Override loophole. Security protocol ten. 666. Uh, twenty-one, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. I don't know, forty-two? Eh, 1!"
The Host stopped. "Information. State request."
"Good. Right. You've been ordered to kill the survivors, but why?"
"Information. No witnesses."
"But this ship's going to fall on the Earth and kill everyone. The human race have nothing to do with the Titanic, so that contravenes your orders, yes?" The Doctor continued, desperate to get information as to what was happening on the ship.
I'm nearly there. Just a bit more.
"Information. Incorrect."
"But why do you want to destroy the Earth?"
"Information. It is the plan."
"What plan?"
"Information. Protocol grants you only three questions. These three questions have been used."
"Well, you could have warned me."
"Information. Now, you will die." It raised the halo in its hands, but I was quicker.
I grabbed it by the ankle, biting down hard and making it falter.
"Ripley!"
My eyes shifted to the Doctor but this wasn't like before. I wasn't out of control or dazed in that rush of adrenaline to keep the Doctor safe. I was calm, focused. I can't keep being a burden to you, Doctor. I just want someone to be proud of me, to look at me and see more than just a dog. I want to be useful, helpful. I want to save people and… and I want to save you. The Host twisted then, the flash of its metal halo rushing for my snout, but I dug my feet into the twisted metal as best I could and yanked backward, hard.
"Ripley!" The Doctor bellowed as the Host started to fall off the metal bridge and white-hot fire went through my left shoulder.
My footing shifted and my heart lept into my throat as the Host toppled over me and fell into the engines below. Its weight hitting me made my own footing slip and a back foot slipped over the edge as my chest slammed into the metal of the bridge. My other foot fought to push me back up and for a moment, it slipped too, leaving me half dangling over the engines below. I closed my eyes, properly scared and wondering what the hell I had been thinking a moment ago; what I'd been thinking this whole damn time.
I'm scared. I-I'm scared! I've always been scared! I-I don't know what's happening a-and I've been trying my best but I-I don't know what to do! I'm a dog! What is a dog supposed to do in these situations! If I was human, I might've had a chance, but—
My foot slipped again, letting a whine escape from me as I started to slip backward, desperately clawing at the metal uselessly.
I just wanted somewhere to belong! Somewhere I could just live my life how I wanted with whomever I wanted! I was so tired of feeling so helpless! I was tired of being a burden to everyone! My bad heart made me useless a-and now I'm stuck in the body of, of a damn dog!
My eyes pinched shut as I tucked my chin down against the metal and my muscles quivered to keep me on the bridge.
I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Doctor! I was just scared!
"Ripley!"
Hands grabbed my fur, stopping my descent as I looked up at the Doctor with wide, fearful eyes. He grabbed at me, straining, but somehow managing to pull me up onto the metal. He then hauled me across it, arms wrapped around me and helping me get to where the others were before putting me down. I quivered, still terrified and shameful as the Doctor turned to the others and started giving out orders.
"Right. Get yourself up to Reception One. Once you're there, Mister Copper, you've got staff access to the computer. Try to find a way of transmitting an SOS. Astrid, you're in charge of this." He handed her the EMP transmitter. "Once it's powered up, it'll take out a Host within fifty yards but then it needs sixty seconds to recharge. Got it? Morvin, take this." He handed him the sonic screwdriver. "I've preset it. Just hold down that button, it'll open doors. Do not lose it! You got that? Now go and open the next door. Go on, go!" He also handed over a first-aid kit to Copper. "Help Ripley please, then it's all yours."
"Y-Yes, of course."
Copper was a little hesitant, but came over and spoke to me quietly, letting me know that things were going to be okay. I stayed silent as he worked on bandaging the large gash from the Hosts' halo on my left shoulder. I hadn't even noticed it, despite how deep it was, too caught up in my own fear and panic at what had happened.
"You're talking as if you're not coming with us," Astrid pointed out then and that turned my attention back to the Doctor.
"There's something down on deck thirty-one. I'm going to find out what it is."
I whined, moving away from Copper who reached out to stop me as I limped towards the Doctor. Said man knelt down and took hold of my face.
"I'm sorry, Ripley. I can't take you either. You're hurt and… and I'm so sorry."
No. No, it's my fault. I never meant to—
"No, Ripley. It's not your fault. It's never been. If anything, it was my fault for not understanding… for not seeing that you were struggling so much with this."
I don't want you to get hurt.
"And I don't want you hurt because of me. Not anymore."
"What if you meet a Host?" Astrid asked, worried as well.
"Well, then I'll just have some fun," he replied, standing.
"Sounds like you do this kind of thing all the time."
"Not by choice. All I do is travel. That's what I am. Just a traveler. Imagine it. No tax, no bills, no boss. Just the open sky."
Astrid stared at him wistfully. "I'm sort of unemployed now. I was thinking the blue box is kind of small, but I could squeeze in it, like a stowaway."
The Doctor hesitated. "It's not always safe."
"So you need someone to take care of you. I've got no one back on Sto. No family, just me. So what do you think? Can I come with you?"
I barked and winced at how the action made my shoulder ache but got the point across nonetheless.
"Ripley says it's okay, so… yeah. I'd like that," the Doctor smiled before the ship suddenly jolted and he scrambled up to the comms. "Mister Frame, you still with us?"
"It's the engines, sir. Final phase. There's nothing more I can do. We've got only eight minutes left."
"Don't worry. I'll get there."
"But the bridge is sealed off."
"Yeah, yeah, working on it," the Doctor said as I whined and he pat my head reassuringly. "I'll get there, Mister Frame, somehow. All charged up? Mister Copper, look after her. Astrid, look after Ripley and the others. Rickston, uh, look after yourself. And I'll see you again, I promise."
"Hold on! There's an old tradition on Planet Sto," Astrid said, stopping him momentarily.
"I have really got to go."
"Just wait a minute," she said, before grabbing the first aid kit, standing on it, and pulling the Doctor in for a kiss.
They pulled back and the Doctor blinked, a bit stunned for words.
"Yeah, that's a, ahem, very old tradition, yeah."
Astrid smiled. "See you later."
I barked as well, making him smile.
"Oh, yes."
From there, things moved rather quickly. He'd rushed off and despite my worry, I knew I wouldn't be able to help him with my shoulder the way it was. I was limping heavily and forced to hold my leg up and focus on anything but the fact that my wound was still steadily soaking the bandages with blood. There was nothing to stitch it with, not that Copper would be capable of stitching it. For now, I ignored it and kept pushing on with the group as they took down a gathering of Hosts with the EMP and we reached the reception area. I was panting heavily as the group split up, exhausted from the travel.
Blood seeped through the bandages on my shoulder and I lightly licked at it, before I spotted Astrid messing with the teleport bracelets. I hurried over as quick as I could, realizing she was about to do something reckless. Something that would undoubtedly take her to the Doctor, and I wanted to help. I barked once, alerting her she she grabbed a bracelet and she paused.
"You want to help too."
I barked again, silently urging her to take me with her somehow. She eyed the bracelets, hesitating before grabbing a second one and snapping it around one of my ankles.
"I don't know if this will work, but if it does, then you're coming with me."
I nodded, surprising her a bit before she smiled and snapped on a bracelet of her own, facing Copper.
"Mister Copper, I'm going to find him."
"Good luck," he said, as Morvin and Foon helped with taking apart the Hosts and called over.
"And good luck to you, Ripley!"
"We owe you everything for helping us."
I wagged my tail with a bark just as the teleport started up, beaming us away. I hit the ground hard, panting and gasping for breath for a moment as my vision swam. The teleport was definitely not made for animals and Astrid grabbed me, pulling me up onto her lap. She smoothed my fur, whispering to me softly as the distant voice of someone nearby echoed through the metal along with the Doctor's voice. It took a moment for me to shake off the effects of the transport before I started to get up, urging her with a nudge for my nose as I struggled to get on my feet again.
She hesitated, but got up and rushed over to see how she could help the Doctor while I got to my feet. I swayed, blinking hard as my vision swam. I couldn't tell if it was from the teleporter or because of blood loss, but I couldn't afford to sit back now. It took me a moment to get over to where Astrid was tucked away and I came up beside her and leaned against her leg, letting her know I was there with her as we watched the Doctor talk to a man's head in some sort of metal box on wheels. I don't even want to know.
"So, business is failing and you wreck the ship so that makes things even worse. Oh, yes! No. Yes. The business isn't failing, it's failed. Past tense."
"My own board voted me out," Capricorn informed him. "Stabbed me in the back."
"If you had a back," the Doctor quipped, making me scoff before Astrid nudged me and nodded towards a hidden area that was closer.
We both hurried over to it, staying low and quiet.
"So, you scupper the ship, wipe out any survivors just in case anyone's rumbled you and the board find their shares halved in value… Oh, but that's not enough… No. Because if a Max Capricorn ship hits the Earth, it destroys an entire planet. Outrage back home. Scandal! The business is wiped out," the Doctor explained as Capricorn rolled forward.
"And the whole board thrown in jail for mass murder."
"While you sit there, safe inside the impact chamber."
"I have men waiting to retrieve me from the ruins and enough off-world accounts to retire me to the beaches of Penhaxico Two, where the ladies, so I'm told, are very fond of… metal."
"So that's the plan. A retirement plan," the Doctor bit out. "Two thousand people on this ship, six billion underneath us, all of them slaughtered, and why? Because Max Capricorn is a loser."
"I never lose," he snarled.
"You can't even sink the Titanic!"
"Oh, but I can, Doctor. I can cancel the engines from here."
An alarm went off and the Doctor's eyes went wide as I whined and looked at Astrid. She looked panicked as well but grabbed my collar when I nearly rushed out as the Hosts grabbed the Doctor to hold him back.
"Not so clever now, Doctor. A shame we couldn't work together. You're rather good. All that banter yet not a word wasted. Time for me to retire."
"Ripley," Astrid breathed. "Stay here."
What! I whipped to her as she nodded to the forklift. Oh, no. You think that will really work?
"You save the Doctor if he's in trouble. I'll take care of Capricorn."
I whined a little but pressed my head to her hand and licked her cheek. Stay safe.
She smiled but took off toward the forklift as I slipped up behind the Hosts holding the Doctor. I had room to leap at them if needed but hung back, for now, hanging on tight to those instincts that demanded I get them away from the Doctor before they hurt him. Have to wait. Have to trust Astrid.
"Oh, Host. Kill him," Capricorn ordered and I growled, preparing to leap in just as Astrid called out.
"Mr. Capricorn! I resign."
The forklift rushed for the man who had no chance to get away as the Doctor called out.
"Astrid, don't!"
The forklift struggled against Capricorn's own wheels and I saw the Doctor struggling to escape the Hosts the same instance I saw a Host draw its Halo and aim it at the forklift. I went to try and stop it, lunging, but it had already thrown the Halo, cutting the brake line as my injury drew me up just short of grabbing the Host's arm. Astrid looked at the Doctor only for a moment before she managed to lift Capricorn up off the ground—the forklift speeding towards the edge of the floor without any way of stopping it.
"Astrid!" The Doctor yelled, rushing for the edge himself now that the Hosts had released him.
I let out a whine, tears falling down my own face at what had happened. Again. Again, it was all my fault. If I had just moved sooner, gone with her, not had this stupid injury! I heard footsteps approaching me as I cried, soon sobbing and whining into the Doctor's chest as he held me close.
"It's not your fault, Ripley."
She's gone! I should've—
"There was nothing you could have done."
There was! There was so much! If I was just human—
"Rip. Just stop, please," he begged into my fur, holding me close and struggling himself. "She wouldn't want this. She wouldn't want us blaming ourselves. She did this to save us. To give us a chance to save everyone. We can't let that go to waste." He pulled away, wiping at my face, expression serious. "Come on. We need to go."
I whined a little more but shifted off of him so he could stand and face the leftover Hosts. I stiffened as they approached, but the Doctor gave me a light pat.
"They default to the next highest authority," he informed me, offering a small smile. "Me. Now then, to the bridge," he ordered them, holding out his arms for a Host to grab while a third approached me and scooped me up carefully.
I wasn't comfortable being handled by the once hostile robots but retrained myself as they lifted us up into the air. They punched right through the base of the bridge, scaring the poor man who was there as the Doctor and I clambered through.
"Ah, Midshipman Frame. At last."
"Uh, but, but the Hosts…" the man questioned, uneasy himself as I wandered over to him and collapsed with my head on his lap.
"Controller dead, they divert to the next highest authority, and that's me," the Doctor explained again.
"There's nothing we can do. There's no power. The ship's going to fall," he told him in a panic.
"What's your first name?"
"Alonso."
The Doctor paused, stunned for some reason. "You're kidding me."
"What?"
"That's something else I've always wanted to say. Allons-y, Alonso!" The Doctor cheered, grabbing the wheel of the ship with a shout. "Whoa!"
The ship jolted with his steering as Alonso held onto me and the control panel for dear life. We'd entered Earth's atmosphere and an alarm went off.
"Ripley!"
I groaned but struggled against the pull of the ship to head over to where the alarm was, putting a paw on the panel and lighting up a screen showing the impact zone. The Doctor groaned himself and picked up a phone, shouting into it over the noise.
"Oh. Hello, yes. Could you get me Buckingham Palace?"
We're headed for the Queen? I mentally shouted at him, letting out a stunned bark that he waved off.
"Listen to me. Security code 771. Now get out of there!"
Then, the engines were announced as active and the Doctor pulled back on the wheel desperately to get the ship upward before it could crash. Alonso and I skid across the floor, pressed up against the back railing of the bridge with yelps of pain from both of us, before the ship righted itself and just barely missed the palace, taking back off up into space. The Doctor let out a laugh of joy and relief and even Alonso cackled as the ship was put back where it was needed and set back into autopilot mode. Alonso sank to the ground beside me, giving me a smile and pat on the head and I weakly gave a tail wag in return before the Doctor settled down beside us.
"Used the heat of re-entry to fire up the secondary storm drive. Unsinkable, that's me."
"We made it," Alonso breathed.
"Not all of us," the Doctor sighed and I dropped my head onto the Doctor's lap, propping a foot up as well, not realizing it was the one with the teleport bracelet until he noticed it.
"Teleport! She was wearing a teleport bracelet! Come on, Ripley! One more trip."
He hoisted me up over his shoulders as I groaned in complaint at the movement.
"Sorry! Bit of a hurry!" He apologized, rushing us into reception and setting me down. "Morvin, sonic!"
The device was tossed to him as I trailed after him weakly, starting to really feel the pain and blood loss again as I moved to lay up against the podium the Doctor was working on.
"Mr. Copper, the teleports, have they got emergency settings?" The Doctor asked, working frantically as the man tried to understand what was happening.
"I don't know. They should have."
"She fell, Mr. Copper. She fell. What's the emergency code?"
"Uh, let me see," he said, moving in to help as Alonso tried to understand what was happening as well.
"We can bring her back," the Doctor replied, before getting to work on the wiring as I perked up.
Bring Astrid back? We can?
"If a passenger has an accident on shore leave and they're still wearing their teleport, their molecules are automatically suspended and held in stasis, so of we can just trigger the shift—" Copper explained as the Doctor cheered.
"There!"
A see-through image of Astrid appeared and the Doctor grit his teeth as she mentioned falling.
"Only halfway there. Come on."
"I keep falling," Astrid repeated as the Doctor struggled.
"Feed back the molecule grid. Boost it with the restoration matrix. No, no, no, no, no!" He shouted as it sparked. "Need more phase containment."
I whined as Copper spoke up, both of us knowing that there would be no saving her.
"Doctor."
"No! If I can just link up the surface suspension."
Doctor…
"I just need to override the safety. I can do this. I can do it."
"Doctor, let her go."
"I can do anything!" He shouted, kicking the podium as I whined and Astrid spoke.
"Stop me falling."
"There's not enough left. The system was too badly damaged. She's just atoms, Doctor. An echo with the ghost of consciousness. She's stardust," Copper explained as softly as he could.
I pushed myself up with a cringe, teetering off my injured leg and hobbling over to the Doctor as he stood staring at Astrid, out of breath and hurting. I could feel it, just as well as I could feel my own guilt and sadness and pain. I whined and leaned heavily against the Doctor's leg, nudging his hand until it was on my head and speaking softly.
Doctor, she wouldn't want this, just as you said. I'm sad too. I blame myself too, but we can't keep her like this. You know that.
His hand pressed lightly on my head, letting me know he heard and he knew what he had to do. He stepped towards her image, speaking to her quietly.
"Astrid Peth, citizen of Sto. The woman who looked at the stars and dreamt of traveling. There's an old tradition" he said, kissing her lightly before lifting his sonic. "Now you can travel forever. You're not falling, Astrid, you're flying."
The particles drifted out a window into space and I stepped up beside the Doctor once more, leaning against him to comfort him. Alonso moved over to a comm system as the Doctor sighed and looked down at me before kneeling. His hand brushed over my cheek, then drifted to my bloodied bandages with a soft sigh.
"Copper, do you still have that medkit?"
"Ah, yes. Just a moment."
He scrambled off to retrieve it as the Doctor settled down on the ground and pat his legs for me to lie across them while he removed the bandages. The stitching and rebandaging were done in silence; both of us mourning until Alonso came back over.
"The engines have stabilized. We're holding steady till we get help, and I've sent the SOS. A rescue ship should be here within twenty minutes. And they're digging out the records on Max Capricorn. It should be quite a story."
"They'll want to talk to all of us, I suppose," Copper sighed, resigned.
"I'd have thought so, yeah."
"I think one or two inconvenient truths might come to light. Still, it's my own fault, and ten years in jail is better than dying."
I gave the Doctor a glance before Slade came over, making me grumble a little and forcing him to clear his throat and stay a small distance away as he spoke.
"Doctor, I never said thank you. The funny thing is, I said Max Capricorn was falling apart. Just before the crash, I sold all my shares, transferred them to his rivals. It's made me rich. What do you think of that?" He smiled as his phone rang and I scoffed when he walked off, settling my head back on the Doctor's lap as he idly pet it and Copper huffed.
"Of all the people to survive, he's not the one you would have chosen, is he? But if you could choose, Doctor, if you decide who lives and who dies, that would make you a monster."
The Doctor took a breath, but stood, giving me a pat and encouraging me onto my feet as well before taking one of the teleport bracelets.
"Mr. Copper, I think you deserve one of these."
Copper looked surprised but took it as I frowned and whined a little.
Oh, but the teleport does not make me feel great at all.
The Doctor cracked a smile and scooped me up, draping me over his shoulders. "I'll carry you then, Rip. Take all the time you need."
I grumbled about being man-handled but honestly didn't mind it once we'd teleported down to Earth. Ugh, never again.
The Doctor carried Ripley back to the Tardis, educating Copper on some of the actualities of Earth history. She was dosing apparently, or close to it, and once Copper found out he had actual money on hand, things were settled between them and the Doctor stepped into the Tardis with a smile again. He was still sad, still mourning but he wasn't alone. Not this Christmas, anyway.
"I think we deserve a break, eh, Ripley?"
The dog on his shoulders grumbled ever so slightly and the Doctor smiled. Just a little one.