CHAPTER 40
THE END IS NEAR
Mission End
The Doctor arrived at an archway that opened onto a platform above a yawning chasm. This was, in actuality, part of the ventilation shaft above the engine room's main floor. The platform was connected to another on the far side by a catwalk. There were several levels within the enormous empty space, each with a section of catwalk crisscrossing each other throughout. "Somehow I knew there'd be decaying catwalks at the end of this journey," he grumbled.
On one of the levels below him, the Benefactor was making his way across. The Doctor stepped onto the walkway and leaned over the railing. "Benefactor!"
The Benefactor looked up and laughed. "Doctor!" he called out happily. Jason arrived at that moment and received his own greeting. "And the late Ambassador Krystovan!"
"Benefactor, stop!" the Doctor called. "You don't know what you're doing."
"Really?" the Benefactor called back. "I thought everything worked out perfectly."
"This ship will never take the strain of a powered assent," Jason pointed out. "If you try, it'll crack like an egg. You'll blow yourself and half the countryside to atoms."
"You know, Ambassador, that was the plan from the beginning."
"What?" the baffled Jason gasped. He looked over at the Doctor in bewilderment, seeing a look of thunder on his face. Before he could say anything, a muffled thud shook the room, throwing him off balance and back against the wall.
The Benefactor looked up and waved. "Good bye, Doctor!" he cried happily. "Give my regards to the High Council!" So saying, he charged to the archway beneath them and vanished, cackling the whole time.
"He's as mad as a hatter," Jason said as he struggled to regain is footing, grabbing the wall to keep his balance.
The Doctor moved further along the catwalk just as another muffled thud resounded through the room. It was as though some ancient machinery were trying to turn over for the first time in centuries. "I think that may be the pre-ignition sequence starting," he guessed.
"Great. How long does that take?" Jason asked nervously.
"No telling."
Instead of the thuds they had been hearing, an explosion suddenly rocked the room and sent the metal catwalks swaying. The end of the one on which the Doctor stood clanged into the supports of another below. "I wouldn't put it past that lunatic to have booby traps all over the place," he called over the growing noise.
"Oh, terrific," Jason moaned. He grabbed the Time Lord's arm to try and pull him back the way they had come. He could hear smaller explosions starting further within the building, each one causing the room to vibrate. "We've got to get out of here!"
"No!" the Doctor snapped, pulling his arm away. "I've got shut it down." He continued as swiftly as he could, calling back over his shoulder. "You were right about one thing. If that power system blows, it'll take out several square miles and contaminate an area several times that. And that's just a conservative estimate."
"Any more comforting thoughts, Doctor? You realize we're standing right over the top of the engine room!"
Jason had to struggle to keep up on the swaying metalwork. The Time Lord was already halfway across and several feet ahead of him. The catwalk suddenly pitched violently, throwing the Alterran into the railing to one side. The supports of another section broke away, swinging down and catching him across the head and shoulders, stunning him. The momentum carried him over the railing, yet somehow, miraculously, he managed to maintain his grip.
The Time Lord did not even think twice. He dove at the railing, catching hold of the dazed Alterran's wrists just as his hands slipped free. "Don't kick or you'll have us both over!" he called, pulling with all his strength to get Jason up high enough so he could climb over the railing. They landed together on the metal surface, panting from the effort.
The Doctor looked the Prince in the eye. "Help me end this," he said firmly.
Another explosion shook the room as they got to their feet. The catwalk suspended above them started to detach from the ceiling and Jason jumped back as chunks of metal and dust rained down on them. He looked up at the decaying metalwork of the walkway on which they stood, seeing it twist and distort under their weight. "This thing's gonna fall any second and take us both with it."
"Then run!" the Doctor cried, giving him a shove. The catwalk continued to sway beneath their feet, shuddering dangerously as another section pulled free from the ceiling. Jason made it to the platform first, running full pelt. He had to use the wall to stop himself and leaned against its reassuringly solid surface as he tried to catch his breath.
The Doctor was practically on his heels. He was almost to the platform when the end section of the catwalk broke free from the ceiling and dropped several feet, the ramp beneath his feet suddenly vanishing. He made a desperate leap into space, landing half-on, half-off the platform, his lower body dangling over the edge. He tried to pull himself up but his hands could find no purchase. He quickly slid backwards and made a frantic grab for the safety railing at the edge of the platform. It immediately twisted under his weight and folded over, leaving the Time Lord suspended in midair.
This had all taken place in the blink of an eye. One second the Doctor was half-on the platform, the next he was dangling in space and hanging onto a piece of questionable metalwork for dear life. He looked up, seeing the railing slowly bending under his weight. He suddenly found himself wondering if Jason would even respond if he called for help.
Even as this thought was passing through the Time Lord's mind, Jason abruptly appeared above him. Without a word, he grabbed the Doctor by his coat and pulled with all his might, lifting him up and onto the platform just as an enormous section of metal crashed against the edge where he had been.
The Alterran dropped to the floor beside the Doctor, too winded to say a word. As they struggled to catch their breath, they watched as the remaining catwalk completely broke free, crashing into the section below.
The Doctor got to his feet and gave Jason a dark look. "I suppose now you're going to say we're even," he said sarcastically.
Jason replied with an angry scowl. As he stood up, he watched the raging Time Lord storm toward the archway. There was an explosion in the corridor just outside the door, the force of the blast knocking him off of his feet again. A chuck of debris caught the Doctor in the forehead and sent him sprawling.
Unaware of this, Jason was picking himself up off of the ground again. He shook his head to clear it, his ears ringing from the noise. He looked up to see the Doctor lying motionless on the ground and staggered over to him. There was blood trickling down the Time Lord's face. Jason knelt down beside him and brushed his hair aside revealing the gash on his forehand.
Another explosion rocked the room and Jason used his own body to shield the Doctor from the storm of debris that rained down on them. A large, heavy and sharp metal object struck him square in the back and he yelped in pain but continued to act as a shield until the debris stopped falling. Then he collapsed to the floor, rolling painfully onto his back. To his horror, he saw another enormous piece of twisted metal directly above him. It looked like it was hanging by a thread. Summoning all his strength, he pulled the unconscious Time Lord across the floor and into the questionable safety of the doorframe just as the object broke free and imbedded itself into the very spot where they had been.
Cradling the Doctor protectively in his arms, Jason sat gasping for breath as the room beyond continued to disintegrate. He reached back to where the debris struck him, his hand coming away with blood on it. "Great," he muttered darkly. Closing his eyes, he put his head back against the wall in resignation. "We're not gonna make it." Then he heard the sound he dreaded coming from below. The machinery in the engine room was starting to whine. Power up had begun.
"I'm sorry, Doctor. We've run out of time," he said in an exhausted whisper.
A quick search the Time Lord's coat pockets produced the recall disk. As the engine room started to explode, Jason activated the disk, transporting the Doctor and himself to the safety of the ARGO.