A/N: I'm totally calling this a reasonably short update time. Huzzah!


-1925-

-The Lost City of Z-


"I suppose, old sport, that really depends upon your definition of 'terrible'." The Colonel said mildly, somewhere to the left of Calypso. His voice sounded smaller in the pitch black, and she wondered if it was his fear, or her own, that made it that way. She was having trouble catching her breath, both from the near miss with the creatures above, and the heavily claustrophobic darkness that squeezed at her chest. It felt as though they were in a tomb. Something tickled at her neck and she brushed at it violently, afraid that there had been a few of the bugs that had followed them down. She took a steadying breath and pushed herself to her knees, hoping that the room was much bigger than it seemed.

"Well, we've managed not to get ourselves devoured by flesh eating aliens," a bright light burst forth from the direction of the Doctor's voice and she shrank back from it as she blinked away the spots in her vision. "And we all seem to be no worse for wear." She could finally see him now, if she squinted a little. He was holding a long slender lantern that illuminated most of the room they had fallen into. She surveyed the group as the Doctor did. Raleigh was helping Jack up, it looked as though Jack had struck his arm again on the way down, but nothing too serious. The Colonel was already up and brushing cobwebs from his beard. "Everyone is alright?" The Doctor asked, his eyes meeting Calypso's questioningly.

He seemed worried, which probably meant she was looking spooked. She supposed that was understandable considering she'd just had a footrace with a tsunami of bugs intent on devouring her, and then subsequently, had nearly plunged to her death. She nodded, trying to calm herself a bit. "Yes, I'm okay. Are you?"

"I'm always okay," he grinned. "Mister Okay-Dokay is what they-" his face twisted into one of disgust mid sentence. "Oh, blimey, I just heard how that sounded. That was awful. Under no circumstances should you ever call me, or anyone else Mr. Okay-Dokay. Ever. Absolute rubbish."

"Okay." Calypso said with the hint of a smile.

"Cheeky," the Doctor said as he approached her. "I rather like that-"

"Doctor, I hate to ruin this moment of triumph by pointing out the obvious, but how exactly do you plan to get us out of here?" Jack was leaning on Raleigh now, possibly because of his arm or from new bruises he had gained from the rather unorthodox way they'd chosen to take through the tunnel. She could see his point though, they had tumbled down into the bowels of the pyramid with no way of knowing how to get back up, or if they even could.

"Not to worry," he strode over to the tunnel opening they had all fallen through. "Noticed a bit of chiseling on the way down," She snorted, only he would have taken the time to notice the texture of the hole they were falling through. "So we should be able to climb our way back up easy enough." He reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out his sonic screwdriver, scanning the stone above their heads. "But that's an awful plan. Besides, who wants to know what's down this other tunnel?" He asked with a grin as he crossed the room in three strides and revealed that there was one more exit, sloping down even further.

"I'm up for a look." The Colonel dusted off his hat and dropped it back on his head, and for a moment, the Doctor's smile faded as he realized his own hat had been lost in the chase through the jungle.

"Is now really a good time for exploring?" Raleigh sounded properly annoyed. "Don't you think maybe we should go back?" he jerked his head toward Jack, who was looking a little pale.

"Why, what's wrong with him?" The Doctor strode forward, scanning Jack with his sonic. "Bit of a concussion, best keep him awake." He told Raleigh seriously. "But going back at this point would require us to push through about twelve thousand little friends upstairs. I don't know about you, but I'm not entirely sure I'm up for that, what with liking my flesh right where it is. I'm a bit old fashion like that." He patted Raleigh's shoulder reassuringly as the man blanched, his eye flicking up to the ceiling as though they might descend at any moment now that he was thinking about them again. "Besides, this is what you boys came all this way for, aren't you a bit curious to see it through?"

"This?" The Colonel asked with a frown.

"Yes, this. The lost city."

"This is the lost city?" the Colonel seemed suitably unimpressed.

"Yes, that is what I just said. It's going to get rather tedious if you insist on making me repeat myself. Try to keep up." The Doctor turned and beckoned Calypso to follow him as he descended down into the dark tunnel. She wasn't feeling especially optimistic about it, considering how their adventure had turned out so far, but she also didn't like the idea of being left behind, so she marched after him.

"Well, this is hardly a city." The Colonel called gruffly from behind her, having decided to join them. She could hear Jack and Raleigh scuffling further back, presumably because they wanted to follow the light.

"Well- Corner here," he paused as the path turned sharply to the left and continued to wind downward. "It's not a city anymore. This is what's left. The actual city vanished ages ago. There's definitely something left here, else they wouldn't have gone through so much trouble to keep it hidden."

"Or to keep it protected." Calypso wondered if having that many creatures ready to spring to action to protect an old relic wasn't a bit overkill.

"Yes," he agreed. "Leaving no survivors does seem a rather effective way to keep a spot on the map buried. But why? What's down here that's so important that they couldn't take it with them?"

"Some absurdly enormous gold statue." The Doctor turned to look at the Colonel, who shrugged. "What? It's always about gold, isn't it?"

The Doctor shook his head and continued on. "The Aureus don't treasure gold, it's part of their genetic build. They need it to survive."

"The what?"

"Ah, this looks about right." The Doctor dismissed the Colonel's question as the narrow passage opened into another room, this one larger than the first. It had no exit, and was largely the same, save a large stone arch in the center. It was unremarkable beyond that, and Calypso could see no reason that the tunnel would lead them here.

"Does it?" She asked, as they all started to circle the arch. The bricks were fit together so well, that from a distance, it looked as though it were one solid piece. The Doctor put the lantern down on the floor and inspected the far wall where there were marks that she had thought were meaningless.

"That some sort of ancient language?" The Colonel was right over the Doctor's shoulder, squinting as though it might help him recognize it.

"Ancient, and alien." The Doctor confirmed. The Colonel frowned, but decided not to ask. Calypso circled under the arch, noting a thin crack that ran the entire length. It was on the outside too, she touched it lightly with her fingertips and was shocked to find a buzzing sensation jolt through her. She jerked back suddenly, but it hadn't particularly hurt, just surprised her.

With a bit more caution, she looked closer at the fissure, finding it odd that it could run through the whole arch without bringing it crumbling down. But now she could see that there were marks along the crack, marks from tools. This wasn't a weakness in the rock, it had been made that way. Her eyes followed the line to the floor where she saw it continued out for a bit, and there was a small depression where it stopped. She knelt down and brushed away at the thick coating of dust, revealing a small circle carved into the floor. It was etched carefully with the same delicate letters from the wall. She could feel the buzzing even though her hand hovered above the floor and on an impulse, she pressed her fingers to it.

The stone gave way, grinding against the stone around it, and the whole room was suddenly humming with sound. Calypso fell backward, not entirely sure what she had done. The Colonel and the Doctor both spun together, watching the once empty arch flicker with a light of its own in an unsteady pattern. The crack along the edge pulsed with a muted blue glow and the arch exploded with a radiant light that forced them all to look away. It faded in the moments following, but did not extinguish completely.

"What did you do?" The Doctor asked thoughtfully. Calypso looked to the arch again and saw that the space beneath it was no longer empty, there was a spiraling point of light shimmering in its center.

"I-I…" she was at a loss how to explain it. Worried that her impulse may have gotten them in worse trouble than they already were. "There was a button." She said weakly.

"Brilliant," he smirked as he walked over and offered a hand up. "Love a good button. Well spotted you clever minx."

"I learn from the best." She shrugged. She was relieved that the arch seemed to be harmless.

"I am rather minx-y," the Doctor said with a smug look as he adjusted his bow tie. Calypso stifled a laugh. "Or…clever. You meant clever. Right." He cleared his throat and stuffed his sonic away in an effort to look busy.

"Why can't it be both?" Calypso asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Calypso," he said, a slow smile pulling at his lips as he looked at her again. "I think you might be in danger of flirting with an old man." He took a step closer, looming directly above her and she felt her stomach flutter.

"Er…Doctor," the Colonel cleared his throat, and was focusing intently on the arch, and not at how close the Doctor was to Calypso. "If you've the time, I could use some clarification on what exactly this bloody thing is."

"Ah," the Doctor clapped his hands together, waggling his eyebrows at Calypso before turning to face the Colonel, and the less eager looking Jack and Raleigh. "That'll be a portal. A doorway through."

"Through?" The Colonel frowned. "Well what's on the other side of the damned thing?"

"I don't know, that's what's exciting! It could be nothing. It could be the fourth gamma moon of Hurion. There's only one way to know for sure." The Doctor had that manic look in his eye and Calypso knew exactly what way he intended to find out.

The Colonel looked at the Doctor for a moment as if he were completely mad, but then he sighed. "Well, I suppose I didn't come all this way just for the malaria. Onward!" He shouted before he marched through the light, his form faded as he walked forward, and then vanished completely.

"That's the ticket." The Doctor beamed as though he'd never been prouder. "Gentlemen, after you." The Doctor nodded to Raleigh, Jack looked less ill now, but now appeared to be horrified at the disappearance of his father.

"Where's he gone?" Jack asked, demanding an answer from the Doctor.

"I think we just discussed how I didn't know, were you not listening?" The Doctor turned and shook his head at Calypso. "They never listen."

"How could he just be gone?" Jack slowly stumbled his way around to the back of the arch to make certain he hadn't just hidden away. "I don't understand."

"It's a bit complicated as far as the science goes. It's just… a really elaborate door. It's alright Jack, you can go through."

"I think it might be best if we stayed here." Raleigh offered.

"Absolutely," Jack shook his head. "I'm not going through that…that thing." He stared at the light as though it were some kind of dangerous creature.

"Suit yourself." The Doctor shrugged. "Care to join me?" He offered his arm out to Calypso, but she hesitated. The Doctor noticed immediately. "Did you want to come?" He looked crestfallen at the idea that she might not. She did, and she didn't. Though probably not for the reasons he suspected.

"Of course," she nodded, staring at his arm, but unable to take it. She wasn't afraid of what was on the other side of the door, though she had to admit, it was somewhat daunting. But what she really feared, was being taken away so soon. What if she vanished and he didn't make it out of here?

"But what if…" he eyes lingered on Jack and Raleigh, but they seemed deep in conversation now that Jack had slid to the ground, his eyes staring blankly where his father had once stood. "What if I disappear again?"

"Well," the Doctor smirked. "That is the general idea." But as he watched her, his face fell, realizing what she meant. "Oh. Of course. Not through- I see." He nodded solemnly as his eyes flicked to the portal. Whatever powered it could trigger her own unusual habit. She thought perhaps he would reassure her, tell her that whatever effected her had nothing to do with this, but he didn't. He didn't know if it would. "Do you want to wait here?"

She didn't really have to consider the question. Because what would be the point of staying if she might lose him anyway to whatever waited for them beyond the threshold? "No." She shook her head with a sad smile.

"Well then," he tried to put on a brave face as he stepped closer to her, gathering her hands in his own. "Best make it a good one then, eh? In case this is goodbye."

Her heart thrummed in her ribcage as he closed the distance between them, his words may have been vague, but the look in his eyes, and the slight tilt of his smile made it impossible for her to misunderstand his meaning. His hand slid up her side, cupping her cheek as he stooped down to kiss her. Softly at first, and then deepening the kiss. She leaned into him, hating the possibility that this might be the last for who knew how long, but needing it just the same. She reciprocated in kind and her lips tingled under the firm pressure of his mouth as he grew more urgent, she clutched the back of his neck and let out a happy noise from deep in her throat. Gradually, he slowed, lingering on her lips, and then her cheek. He moved back, a sly grin on his face.

"Yes," he said, his voice a bit hoarse. "That should do it." He cleared his throat and let his hand fall from her cheek. "Are you ready?"

"Ready," she didn't even bother trying to hide her own giddy smile as she squeezed his hand.

"Excellent," he grinned with enthusiasm as he led her to the arch, he glanced down at her as they stood facing it, a hint of sadness in his green eyes. "If you don't-" he stopped himself. "See you around, Callie." He pulled her against him, her arm locked under his own as he kissed the top of her head. "Geronimo!" He shouted, and they both took a step forward. They were plunged into darkness and a sharp cold, but with their next step, they were through, and her hand was still firmly clasped by the Doctor.

There was no yellow light hinting that she didn't have long to stay. She blinked as she looked up at the Doctor, and in the dim light from the arch, he beamed at her. "Not through with me yet." He winked.

"I was about to send a bloody search party for you lot. Where's the boy?" The Colonel barked, the wait had clearly made him nervous. Calypso looked around, the room was similar to the last, except the walls weren't made of stone. It was metallic and it reflected the light from the portal so that it looked as though they were underwater.

"The gentlemen opted to stay behind," the Doctor said. "They weren't feeling quite so ambitious as the rest of us. So, what have we got?" He pulled the sonic out from his pocket, releasing Calypso's hand as he circled the room. She knelt down and peered at the floor more carefully. The cool blue light was reflected more warmly that it appeared; the metal itself looked to be yellow in color.

"Is it…is it gold?" She had seen gold-flaked frescos, and the occasional small statue before, but nothing the size of a whole room. She couldn't even fathom how much that might cost.

"Yes," the Doctor said as he flipped his sonic in the air. "The walls, the ceiling, even the floor, it's solid."

"Solid?" The Colonel pressed his hand against one of the walls in awe. "This isn't a king's fortune. This is the fortune of a god." He shook his head as if it was all too much. "Are we below the pyramid?"

"Ah. No. This is another planet entirely."

"What?" The Colonel turned back toward the Doctor, disbelief in his eyes. "Good lord, get a hold of yourself. It only took a second to get here."

"Yes, well, that is one of the perks of traveling through a worm hole-"

"A worm what?" He wrinkled his nose, looking more concerned by the second.

"You know when I told you I was an explorer myself?"

"Yes…"

"And you know how I mentioned that big blue box traveled through time?"

"Well, yes, but I thought you were one of those… ridiculous poets who blather on about time being a creation of man or some other idiotic thing. I didn't think you were serious!"

"I am always serious," he caught Calypso's skeptical eye. "Well, nearly always-Sometimes. Look, the point is, I am a time traveler. I also travel through space. And I am telling you, this is possible, and we are on another planet. It's Aureus." He grinned as he rubbed his hands together like an excited child. "The lost planet of gold."

Just then, a shrill alarm went off, it was sharp and piercing and Calypso's hands flew to her ears, trying to block the sound. Even protected, she could hear the alarm grow, becoming louder as it spread to rooms and passages that they couldn't see. "Ah…now, that," the Doctor looked up with his own hands over his ears as the ceiling parted and the floor beneath them began to rise. "That is probably a bad sign."