"Yeah? Just look starboard!" the Doctor told the Captain over the intercom.
Two stewards grabbed the Doctor. "Come with me, sir."
He let them lead him out of reception, but he continued arguing. "You've got a rock storm heading for this ship and the shields are down!"
The stewards ignored him.
The Doctor lifted his feet off the ground. He pushed hard on the ground and flew out of their grasp without a struggle. The stewards chased him but he flew over the crowd.
He flew to the stage where the band was playing and landed in front of a microphone. "Everyone, listen to me! This is an emergency! Get to the lifeb-."
One of the Host grabbed him and covered his mouth. He struggled as the robot dragged him away.
"All the same, Rickston's right," Morvin began, "Me and Foon should-."
He stepped on a weak piece of metal near the edge and the floor gave way. He screamed as he fell into the pit toward the engine.
The Doctor jumped after him. He dove headfirst, his arms pinned to his sides, trying to catch up. Morvin screamed and flailed his arms. They were getting close to the engine. It was getting hot. If the Doctor didn't back out soon, both of them would burn. He reached out his hand. Morvin tried to reach too. It was too hot. The Doctor's eyes were stinging and his brain was getting foggy. He had to back off now or he wouldn't be able to concentrate enough to make it back up.
He gave Morvin one last look of sadness. Morvin looked up at him in terror. Even if the Doctor caught him, Morvin might be too heavy for him to bring back up. The Doctor spread his arms and flew back up, just before Morvin disappeared into the engine with a scream. The Doctor flapped his arms half-heartedly as he soared back up the shaft. He'd watched so many people die before his eyes. It never got easier, but it was worse when he tried to save them and failed, when he had the power to save them, and failed. What was the purpose of learning how to fly if he couldn't use it to save anyone?
He looked up at everyone's shocked faces.
"Bring him back! Why didn't you bring him back? Bring him back, Doctor!" Foon shouted hysterically down to him.
The Doctor grabbed the railing and pulled himself up. "I'm sorry, I tried."
"You promised me!" Foon shouted.
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Mrs. Van Hoff, I am coming back for you, all right?" the Doctor said. Maybe he could carry her across, but he didn't want to risk it.
Foon nodded. The Doctor jumped lightly into the air and floated beside the bridge of metal, ready to catch anyone who slipped. The metal creaked at the weight of the three of them.
"Too many people!" Bannakaffalatta said.
"Keep going!" the Doctor said.
"It's gonna fall!" Astrid exclaimed.
"It's just settling! Keep going! I'll catch you if you slip," the Doctor said.
The pounding on the doors suddenly stopped.
"They've stopped," Astrid remarked.
"Gone away?" Bannakaffalatta questioned.
"Why would they give up?" the Doctor wondered aloud.
"Never mind that. Keep coming!" Rickston urged.
"Where have they gone? Where are the Host?" the Doctor wondered.
"I'm afraid . . . we forgot the tradition of Christmas that angels have wings!" Mr. Copper exclaimed, looking up. He pointed at the Host gliding down from above.
The robots surrounded them. The Doctor and the Host floated around the bridge.
"Information: kill," the Host said. The Host reached for their halos.
"Arm yourselves! All of you!" the Doctor shouted.
They all reached for pipes and bits of metal to defend themselves. The Doctor also rushed to grab a bar. The Host threw their halos. The passengers batted the halos away with their various pieces of metal. The Doctor flew around, batting away halos the others didn't see.
The Doctor suddenly noticed a Host flying toward him. He flew away and the Host chased him. The Host grabbed him and they grappled in the air. The robot was too strong. The Doctor would never be able to defeat it with brute strength. He flipped and threw it off. He tried to fly away as it flew toward him, but he couldn't get enough momentum. The Host grabbed his throat, choking him. He struggled.
Astrid fell to her knees. "I can't," she said.
"Bannakaffalatta, stop! Bannakaffalatta, proud! Bannakaffalatta, cyborg!" Bannakaffalatta lifted his shirt and released a blast of energy, disabling the robots.
The Host let go of the Doctor and the robots plummeted toward the engine. The Doctor fell after them. One of the Host fell onto the bridge.
The Doctor spread his arms and glided to the bridge. He grabbed onto the metal and pulled himself up. "Electromagnetic pulse took out the robotics. Oh, Bannakaffalatta, that was brilliant!"
"Information: protocol grants you only three questions. These three questions have been used."
"Well, you could have warned me," the Doctor said.
"Information: now you will die." The Host reached to strike the Doctor with its halo.
A lasso appeared over its head and tightened around its body.
"You're coming with me," Foon said, holding the other end. She closed her eyes and jumped over the side, pulling the host with her.
The Doctor immediately jumped after them. He grabbed the host and pulled with all his might, but it was no use. Both Foon and the robot were too heavy. They pulled the Doctor down.
"Nooooo!" he growled, pulling with all his might, even though he knew it was useless. He let go and they all watched, helpless, as Foon fell to her death. The Doctor steeled his face and clenched his teeth. "No more."
The Doctor watched in horror as Astrid lifted Max completely off the ground. She stepped on the gas and they both fell over the edge.
The Doctor struggled against the Host. "Astrid!" he screamed.
With their leader gone, the Host let him go and he ran to the edge. It was too late. Astrid fell toward the engine, reaching out to him.
The Doctor turned away, his face expressionless. Sparks flew behind him but he didn't flinch. Fires burned all around him but he didn't even glance at them. He held his arms out to the sides and a Host stood by either one. He snapped his fingers. The Host grabbed his arms and flew straight up. They flew faster and faster. The Doctor couldn't fly straight up so fast on his own. The Host raised their fists and smashed through the ceiling into the bridge. Midshipman Frame gave a shout of surprise.
"Deadlock broken," the computer said.
The Doctor flew out, flipped, and landed in front of Midshipman Frame. "Ah, Midshipman Frame at last!"