Ruri blinked, furrowing her brows as she was faced with a different room to the one she had been in before. Well, not completely different, but... different. She noted it looked like the inside of the 'TARDIS' but grungier and... more rustic.

"Oh, here comes trouble."

She turned to see The Doctor, the one with the spikey hair and pinstripe suit, looking at her, a small smile on his lips greeting her.

"Where have you just come from?" He asked, as a woman entered the room from the sidelines, causing Ruri to look at her in confusion.

"Um... Not too sure. You didn't look like you though." Ruri told him shortly as she saw the young woman give her a wave. "Sorry, where's Donna?" Ruri asked, turning back to face the alien.

"Donna?" He inquired, raising a brow. "I.. don't know." He frowned. "Last time I saw her it was Christmas."

"But you were just with her..." Ruri shook her head trying to understand. "Sorry, I don't mean to be rude." She looked at the stranger as she waved her off.

"Don't worry, I can imagine it gets hard to keep up with him." She pointed at the Timelord. "So you haven't met me then?" Ruri shook her head. "Martha. Martha Jones." Martha grinned, holding out her hand for Ruri, as she took it.

"Nice to meet you." Ruri smiled. "Really, I'm sorry, i'm a bit off kilter..." She apologised as Martha gave her a sympathetic look.

"I get it. Totally." She insisted. "You told me you don't really travel in order."

"What does that mean?" Ruri narrowed her eyes as The Doctor stepped in.

"Ruri, how old are you?" He asked, as she gave him an odd stare.

"26." She told him. "Why, is it important?" The Doctor then pulled out some glasses, as he placed them on his nose, leaning closer to her, causing her to lean backwards, sending a look of 'help' to Martha. After a moment, he took them off, putting them away as he ran a hand over his face.

"God you're young." He told her as she raised a brow. "How many times have you met me?"

"Once."

"Early days for you then..."

"You said that before." She eyed him as he turned back to the console. "You keep avoiding me when I ask how I got here, why I'm here and what is even happening to me." She pushed.

"I'm not avoiding!" He exclaimed, defensively. "I'm just..." He paused, sniffing. "Biding my time." He shrugged, causing her to roll her eyes.

"Not exactly fair though, is it?" Ruri argued, folding her arms. "I'm the one being pulled pillar to post, I should at least know why."

"She's got a point." Martha voiced as The Doctor sent her a look.

"Yeah, thanks Martha." He muttered. "Not helping." Before anyone could anything else, the TARDIS suddenly jolted, causing everyone to stumble as a beeping emitted from the console. "Distress signal. Locking on. Might be a bit of-" The Doctor got cut off as the ship jolted violently, causing them all to fall to the floor with a thump. "-Turbulence. Sorry." He said, as Ruri groaned. The Doctor pushed himself up, hurrying the girls. Come on, you two. Let's take a look."

The trio stepped out of the TARDIS, heat hitting them in the face as Ruri let out a breath, fanning her face. Steam was filling the room, as it held a red hue.

"Whoa, now that is hot." The Doctor said, taking a look round the room.

"Whuff, it's like a sauna in here." Martha added, as Ruri nodded, removing her jacket as she chucked it back inside the TARDIS.

"Venting systems. Working at full pelt, trying to cool down. Wherever it is we are." The Doctor explained, before heading towards a door, twisting the wheel on the door to open it. "Well, if you can't stand the heat-"

"I hope we're in a kitchen, I'm starving." Ruri muttered, as they looked out into the next room, seeing three people running towards them.

"Oi, you three!" One of the men called, as they all stared at each other.

"Get out of there!" The woman shouted as they quickly obeyed, stepping into the room with the others as they shut the door behind them. "Who are you? What are you doing on my ship?"

"Are you police?"

"Why would we be police?" The Doctor asked as Ruri looked at him.

"You do travel in a... police box." She raised a brow, causing him to stare down at her.

"We got your distress signal." Martha answered.

"If this is a ship, why can't I hear any engines?" The Doctor asked, raising a brow.

"It went dead four minutes ago." The woman answered.

"That sounds bad." Ruri mumbled.

"So maybe we should stop chatting and get to Engineering. Captain." The older man told them all.

"Secure closure active." A robotic voice said from over the intercom.

"The ship's gone mad." The older man shook his head, as another woman came through a door, slamming it shut behind her as she came towards the others.

"Who activated secure closure? I nearly got locked in to area twenty seven." She told them as she spotted Ruri, Martha and The Doctor, sending them an odd look. "Who are you?"

"He's the Doctor, that's Ruri and I'm Martha." Martha told her, before something caught her eye as she began to wonder off, Ruri waving at the strangers.

"Impact projection forty two minutes twenty seven seconds." The computer spoke again.

"We'll get out of this. I promise." The Captain told them as Ruri sent her an anxious look.

"Get out of what?" She asked worriedly, as Martha called for The Doctor. "Forty two minutes until what?" Ruri asked urgently as The Doctor approached Martha, looking out a porthole.

"Forty two minutes until we crash into the sun." The Captain told her as Ruri's eyes widened.

"Oh." Ruri swallowed the lump in her throat. "Why is everywhere I land a life or death situation with you?" She looked at The Timelord as he rounded back towards the others.

"How many crew members on board?" He asked.

"Seven, including us."

"We transport cargo across the galaxy. Everything's automated. We just keep the ship spaceworthy." The older gentlemen who Ruri noted was dressed in a mechanics jumpsuit said.

"Call the others, I'll get you out." The Doctor told him, as he turned, going to the door they'd just come through as he went to open it.

"No, don't!" The Captain yelled, but it was too late, the door opened, sending The Doctor flying back with Ruri as she yelped. One of the crew shut the door, as The Doctor sat up.

"But my ship's in there!" He exclaimed. "It's our lifeboat!" He turned to Ruri, eyeing her to check she was ok as she nodded at him to let him know she was good. He stood up, holding out a hand for her to take as he helped her up.

"It's lava."

"Oh god." Ruri muttered, looking at the Doctor in worry. "Not to make you panic more, but your ship is made of wood." She whispered as he ignored her.

"The temperature's going mad in there. Up three thousand degrees in ten seconds, and still rising."

"We're stuck here." Martha spoke, finally coming back to the group.

"So, we fix the engines, we steer the ship away from the sun. Simple. Engineering down here, is it?" The Doctor told them all, as he followed the Captain to the engines, leaving Ruri and Martha to follow behind with the others.

"Why do I feel like this isn't going to be easy?" Ruri weakly said to Martha as she gave her a knowing look.

"Blimey, do you always leave things in such a mess?"

The Doctor asked as they all stood in the engine room, looking at the destruction around them.

"What the hell happened?" One of the crew asked in shock. "It's wrecked!"

"Pretty efficiently too. Someone knew what they were doing." The Doctor added, raising a brow.

"Where's Korwin? Has anyone heard from him or Ashton?" The Captain asked as the others shook their heads.

"You mean someone did this on purpose?" Martha asked, furrowing her brows at the mess.

"Not to sound like Sherlock Holmes, but someone destroyed this on purpose, and two of the crew is missing?" Ruri wondered aloud, as The Doctor gave her a look. "A little bit suspect isn't it..." He gave her a hum in response as he walked over to a nearby screen, showing a map.

"Oh, we're in the Torajii system. Lovely. You're a long way from home, Martha. Half a universe away." The Doctor noted as Martha scoffed.

"Yeah. Feels it." She told him.

"And you're still using energy scoops for fusion? Hasn't that been outlawed yet?" The Doctor turned back to the Captain as she shrugged.

"We're due to upgrade next docking. Scannell, engine report."

"No response." Scannell replied. "They're burnt out. The controls are wrecked. I can't get them back online."

"Oh, come on. Auxiliary engines. Every craft's got auxiliaries." The Doctor frowned.

"We don't have access from here. The auxiliary controls are in the front of the ship." The Captain told him.

"Yeah, with twenty nine password sealed doors between us and them. You'll never get there in time." Scannell added.

"Who's idea was that?" Ruri asked, beginning to get irritated with the heat. "Isn't there an override or something?"

"No. Sealed closure means what it says. They're all dead-lock sealed."

"So a sonic screwdriver's no use." The Doctor muttered.

"Nothing's any use. We've got no engines, no time, and no chance."

"Oh, listen to you. Defeated before you've even started. Where's your Dunkirk spirit?" The Doctor paced, looking at the crew. "Who's got the door passwords?"

"They're randomly generated. Reckon I know most of them." One of the men spoke. "Sorry. Riley Vashti." Riley introduced.

"Then what're you waiting for, Riley Vashti? Get on it." The Doctor nodded at him.

"Well, it's a two person job. One, a technish for the questions, and the other to carry this." Riley explained, as he held up a clamp looking object. Martha stepped forwards, grabbing the clamp.

"I'll help you. Make myself useful." She told him.

"Oi." The Doctor called after her as she turned to him. "Be careful." She gave him a smile.

"You too." She told him, giving Ruri a quick nod before disappearing with Riley.

"McDonnell. It's Ashton." A voice came through the intercom. The Captain rushed to the intercom, holding down a button to reply.

"Where are you? Is Korwin with you?"

"Get up to the med-centre now!" Ashton cried as The Doctor and Captain quickly rushed out of the room, disappearing as Ruri stood with Stanell and the other woman.

"Impact in thirty four thirty one." The computer spoke as Ruri let out a breath.

"Just what we need." She commented, earning a look from the man. "A countdown to our deaths."

After a few minutes, Captain McDonnell and The Doctor reappeared, looking a bit concerned and definitely under stress.

"Everything ok?" Ruri asked, feeling a little like a useless part as she stood off to the side.

"There's something else going on." He said lowly as he approached her. "Seems like one of the crew has an infection, but I've never seen anything like it."

"Brilliant. Something else to add to the list then." Ruri sighed. "Sorry-" She shook her head. "Think the heats getting to me." She looked at the Doctor apologetically, as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"When did you last sleep?" He asked as she thought for a moment before shrugging.

"God knows." She laughed lightly. "I don't even know how long it's been since I first appeared with you." She added, biting her lip.

"You tend to get a little grumpy when you've not slept or eaten." He quipped as she raised a brow.

"And you don't?"

"I don't need to sleep as much as you."

"Seriously?" She raised a brow, as he smirked, waltzing off to the intercom.

"Abi, how's Korwin doing? Any results from the bio-scan?" He asked, as Abi responded.

"He's under heavy sedation. I'm just trying to make sense of this data. Give me a couple of minutes and I'll let you know."

"Martha? Riley? How're you doing?"

"Area twenty nine!" Martha called through the intercom. "At the door to twenty eight." The Doctor sighed, rubbing his eye.

"Yeah, you've got to move faster." He told them, as Ruri could see his own stress levels starting to rise.

"We're doing our best." Martha retorted.

"Find the next number in the sequence three one three." Riley spoke. "Three three one, three six seven."

"Three seven nine." The Doctor answered for them, leading to him trying to explain it to the others, earning a confused stare from Ruri.

"Is there anything you can't figure out?" She asked as he wiggled his brows, sending her a playful wink as she found herself smiling, before she caught herself and clearing her throat.

"We need a backup in case they don't reach the auxiliary engines in time." The Doctor sighed, turning to Scanell. "Come on, think. Resources. What have we got?"

"Doctor?" Martha's voice came through once again.

"What is it now?"

"Who had the most number ones, Elvis or the Beatles. That's pre-download." She asked as The Doctor frowned, groaning as he tried to think, obviously conflicted.

"Elvis." Ruri told them, as The Doctor snapped his head to her. She shrugged. "What? I'm a bit of a music nerd."

"Are you sure?" Martha asked as Ruri confirmed.

"Yes! Hound Dog, All Shook Up, Blue Suede Shoes, Jailhouse Rock-" Ruri started listing as Martha cut her off.

"Ok! Ok!" Martha laughed. "I trust you." After a moment everyone heard a cheer as they got it right. The Doctor looked at Ruri with a raised brow.

"Full of surprises you are." He commented as she took a small bow, causing him to smile. "Right! Back to business! Resources. So, the power's still working, the generator's going. If we can harness that. Ah!" He exclaimed, turning to McDonnell.

"Use the generator to jump-start the ship." She finished.

"Exactly. At the very least, it'll buy us some more time."

"That is brilliant." She smiled, shaking her head.

"I know. See? Tiny glimmer of hope." He grinned.

"If it works." Scannell commented.

"Oh, believe me. You're going to make it work." McDonnell told him sternly. However, the hope was short lived as Abi finally came back through the intercom.

"Doctor, these readings are starting to scare me."

"What do you mean?" He asked, frowning.

"Well, Korwin's body's changing. His whole biological make-up. It's impossible." The Doctor narrowed his eyes, as McDonnell looked instantly worried. "This is Med-centre. Urgent assistance requested." The Doctor turned to Ruri. "Urgent assistance!"

"Stay here!" He told her sternly. "And Keep working!" He added to Ashton as him and McDonnell rushed out of the room, heading back towards the med centre.

"Burn with me."

Ruri froze at the voice, it was gruff and dark, and quite frankly something from nightmares. She bit her lip anxiously, going to the comms.

"Abi, they're coming, get out of there!" She told the woman, but got no response. "Abi, run!" After a moment, a bloodcurdling scream emitted from the comms, causing Ruri to stumble back, realising The Doctor didn't get there in time. She covered her mouth with her hand as she peered over at the others in the room, seeing them both equally as terrified. Ruri quickly composed herself, letting out a shaky breath. "Ok. Ok." She turned to Ashton and Erina. "I'm so sorry, but you have to keep working. Whatever is out there is an added risk, if the sun doesn't get us, it will." Ashton glanced at his crew mate who seemed to nod.

"Everybody, listen to me." McDonnell came through tithe comm. "Something has infected Korwin. We think he killed Abi Lerner. None of you must go anywhere near him, is that clear?"

"Understood, Captain. Erina?" Ashton spoke, turning to the girl. "Go fetch the equipment, come straight back here." She nodded, turning on her heel to leave as Ruri blinked, before heading after her.

"What are you doing?" Erina asked as Ruri gave her a look.

"Coming with you. We've already lost one person, going alone just increases the likelihood of it happening again." She explained as Erina gave a silent thanks, both of them heading inside the storage area. "I'm sorry, about Abi." Ruri said sympathetically as Erina opened a locker.

"Not your fault." Erina sighed, grabbing a few bits.

"The Doctor will get us out of here." Ruri tried to reassure her. "I haven't known him long, but he seems to know what he's doing. Well, majority of the time at least." She half joked, causing a look from the girl. "I promise." She gave her a small smile, as Erina returned it. Closing the locker, Erina turned, her eyes widening, causing Ruri's smile to fall as she also turned, seeing someone stood a few feet away wearing some sort of helmet.

"Burn with me." The man, who Ruri deducted must've been Korwin, spoke. His hand slowly moved towards the visor on the helmet, as Ruri scanned the room, seeing a nearby crowbar looking object as she picked it up, quickly rushing at the man as she hit him in the side, causing him to stumble a little.

"Go!" Ruri yelled, causing Erina to run, Ruri close behind as they rushed out of the room. Ruri held onto the crowbar as they rushed back to the engine room. Legging it back into the room, Erina sealed the door behind them, both girls out of breath as Ashton frowned at the two.

"You got those tools, Erina? Because I-" He began as Ruri cut him off as she spoke into the intercom.

"Doctor!" She exclaimed. "It's Korwin. He was just in storage, no doubt making his way to us in engineering." She told him, her breath still ragged as she felt the adrenaline pumping through her body. They heard a bang at the door they'd just come from, as Ruri jumped. "We need to move." Ruri told the others, as the door suddenly opened, Korwin stepping into the room, making a b-line straight for Ashton. "No! Stop!" Ruri cried, but before she could take another swipe at the man, he'd grabbed ahold of Ashton by the head, as she saw steam coming from his gloved hands, as Ashton yelled in pain.

"Ruri!" She heard The Doctor over the comm as she turned back to it.

"Korwin's here, we're going to have to move!" She told him as she waved for Erina to follow. They both ran out towards the med centre, leaving Ashton with Korwin, as they knew it was too late. "Let's head towards Martha and Riley!" Ruri told Erina, who nodded in agreement, moving in front to lead the way. Eventually the two found the pair at area 19, as Martha turned to see Ruri and Erina, panicked.

"Ruri?" Martha asked, as Erina and Riley reunited.

"We need to keep going. Korwin killed Ashton." She told her as Martha looked shocked. "No doubt he's on his way here next." Riley shared a look with Martha as they quickly began to carry on with their work. Ruri wiped her brow, as she could feel the sweat dripping from the heat and the running. They unlocked the door, heading through the area 18.

"What's with the crowbar?" Martha finally asked, raising a brow as Ruri looked down, not realising she'd kept a hold of it.

"Self defence." Ruri answered.

"Not sure The Doctor would approve." Martha commented as Ruri frowned.

"Well I'm not The Doctor." She retorted as Martha gave her a 'and don't I know it' look. The group were disrupted by a loud bang behind them, looking back down the hall at the other door they'd just come through. "Damn he's fast." Ruri muttered.

"Move!" Martha ushered Riley as he began to enter the next password, as she stationed herself at the next door, clamping the lock as she awaited it to unlock. "He's gonna catch up to us!" Martha exclaimed, worry lacing her tone as Ruri held up the crowbar, panting a little from anxiety.

"Better hurry then!" Ruri called back to them, as the door finally opened, Martha and Riley heading through. Ruri turned to follow, seeing Erina pause. "Come on!" She urged her but the girl just stayed put.

"Go. I'll buy you some time." Erina told her as Ruri shook her head.

"You can't, he'll kill you!" She widened her eyes as the door behind began to unlock.

"Someone's gotta slow him down. You've got to make it to those controls!" Erina insisted, as Ruri felt torn, it was written on her face. Erina sighed, deciding for her as she pushed the girl through the open door to the other side, sending her an apologetic stare as she shut the door behind her. Ruri hit the door, trying to open it as she turned to Riley and Martha who was busy on the next one.

"Open this door!" Ruri called to them as Riley turned, looking back in confusion.

"Where's Erina?" He asked as Ruri gave him a defeated look. After a moment, there was a scream as his question was answered. Ruri shook her head in anger.

"I tried to stop her! I told her she couldn't buy us time!" Ruri cried as Riley looked shocked, whilst Martha let out a shaky breath.

"We need to keep going! Don't let her death be for nothing!" Martha said, as Riley brought himself back to the job at hand. Ruri ran to the intercom.

"Doctor, where the hell are you?!" She exclaimed into the comm.

"Sorry!" He called back. "Bit busy, where are you now?"

"Area 17." Martha told him.

"Erina and Ashton are dead." Ruri told him. "I tried to help, to stop it but-"

"Ruri, focus on getting to the controls." He told her sternly.

"Korwin is hot on our trail, he's in area 18." Ruri said, as she heard a bang from the door. "He's going to get in." She realised, her voice quiet.

"I'm on my way!" The Doctor called, before the line went quiet. But as it did, the door opened, revealing the enemy as Ruri gasped, taking a few steps back. Riley and Martha turned, panic on their own faces. Ruri looked over to a little nearby room as she hit the button to it, the door opening.

"In here!" Ruri called, as they quickly followed, rushing inside as the door closed behind them, a small window their only visual on the other side. "He's gonna get through." She whispered, as Riley took lead, turning to open a small hatch at the back.

"Get in." He told them as the girls quickly obeyed, jumping inside what looked like a small pod of some sort.

"Hold on this looks like some sort of-" Ruri began, furrowing her brows, but the computer interrupted.

"Airlock sealed. Jettison escape pod."

"That doesn't mean us?" Martha asked, her heart sinking. "Doctor!"

"Pod jettison initiated."

"Doctor!" Martha called into the intercom. "We're stuck in an escape pod off the area seventeen airlock. One of the crew's trying to jettison us! You've got to help us!" She cried as Ruri felt her breathing get faster. "Tell me you can stop it." Martha said to Riley, as he instantly began to press buttons on a keypad.

"Jettison held."

The trio sighed in relief, letting a smile fall onto their lips, but it was short lived as the computer spoke again.

"Jettison reactivated."

Martha screamed as she banged on the pod window, causing Ruri to watch in horror.

"Isn't there anything else?! An override code?! Something he wouldn't know?!" Ruri asked, frantic.

"Tsilpinski sequence. This'll get him." Riley said, as he typed again on the keypad.

"Jettison held. Escape pod stabilised."

"You're pretty good." Martha commented as Riley gave her a small smile.

"Yeah but I think he might be better." Ruri said lowly, looking through the pod window, seeing the man on the other side of the airlock door typing away. "Whatever's infected him, we can guess it's not human."

"She's cheery." Riley turned to Martha, as she gave him an apologetic glance.

"Jettison activated."

Suddenly the keypad in the pod sparked, as the three covered their faces.

"He's smashed the circuit. I can't stop it. I can't stop it!" Riley pushed his hair out of his face as Marthas panic returned. She pushed Ruri out the way as she tried the door.

"This thing's locked!" She exclaimed.

"Airlock decompression completed. Jettisoning pod." The pod began to shake as it got ready to launch, as Ruri sat in disbelief all of it was happening. After a moment, The Doctors face appeared on the other side of the airlock, as Martha smiled, hitting the window.

"Doctor!" She grinned, waiting for him to save them all. However, his face stayed stern, as he looked angry and defeated. Ruri peered through the window also, as his eyes went to her. He began shouting at them, as the pod began to drift away from the docking station.

"I can't hear you!" Martha cried at her friend as he kept repeating the same words over and over, but it was silence to Martha and Ruri. Ruri was first to pull away from the window, throwing herself back to lean against the pod wall.

"The wonderful world of space travel." Riley said, letting out a breath as he looked out the window with Martha. "The prettier it looks, the more likely it is to kill you."

"He'll come for us." Martha told him defiantly.

"No, it's too late. Our heat shields will pack in any minute, and then we go into free fall." He told her softly. "We'll fall into the sun way before he has a chance to do anything."

"You don't know the Doctor. I believe in him." Martha turned to Ruri. "Tell him." But Ruri stayed silent, doubting her words as she pursed her lips.

"Then you're lucky. I've never found anyone worth believing in." Riley told her as he leant back against the wall opposite Ruri.

"No girlfriend? Boyfriend?" Martha raised a brow.

"The job doesn't lend itself to stable relationships."

"Family, then?"

"My dad's dead, and I haven't seen my mum in six years. She didn't want me to sign up for cargo tours. Things were said, and since then, all silent." Riley admitted, half shrugging. "She wanted to hold on to me, I know that. Oh, she's so stubborn." He let out a breathy laugh.

"Yeah, well, that's families." Martha smiled fondly.

"What about you two?" Riley inquired, as Martha peered at Ruri, obviously interested herself.

"Mum died 6 years ago, dad works a lot, struggled after mums death so used work to cope, then finally moved on and re-married. She's nice." Ruri shrugged, but thought to herself 'but she's not mum'. "No siblings, just me." She told them as the pair gave a sympathetic stare. "And none of that," Ruri pointed at their faces. "Anyway, what about you Martha?" She turned the focus to the woman.

"Full works. Mum, Dad, Dad's girlfriend, brother, sister. No silence there. So much noise. Oh, God!" She suddenly gasped. "They'll never know! I, I'll just have disappeared, and they'll always be waiting."

"Call them." Riley told her as Ruri sent him a look.

"How? We're not exactly near a cellphone tower." She looked confused as Martha pulled out her phone.

"The Doctor did this thing-" She began. "To make my phone work anywhere, anytime." She told her. "Comes in handy, especially for awful pop quizzes." She glanced at Riley, as they obviously had a little inside joke. Ruri zoned out as Martha called her mum, as she stared out the window at the sun they were falling towards. It was beautiful. Horrifying, but beautiful. Narrowing her eyes, she began to notice odd swirls coming from the glow, as they moved in such a way... Almost as if... they were alive. She got pulled back to reality by Martha calling her name.

"Do you want to call your dad? If you know his number..." She offered as Ruri thought for a moment, biting her lip as she took the phone from Martha.

"What would I even say?" Ruri asked, letting out a breath. Before she could even go to open the flip phone, the pod jolted, causing everyone to stumble slightly, as Riley checked the screen.

"We're being pulled back!" He exclaimed, a smile forming as Martha cheered.

"I told you! It's the Doctor!" She exclaimed as Ruri let out a sigh of relief, a laugh following as she thanked the gods, or whatever was looking out for them.

"God, he likes to cut it fine doesn't he?" Ruri laughed as Martha beamed at her.

"I find he works well under pressure." She commented.

After a few minutes, the pod finally locked back into the ships docking station, as the door unlocked, allowing them to leave. However, as they rushed out of the pod, they came face to face with The Doctor wearing a spacesuit, seemingly in pain as he knelt down on the floor. His eyes were squeezed shut as Martha rushed to him.

"Doctor! Doctor! Are you okay?" She asked as his eyes opened briefly, showing a bright light emitting from them, before he snapped them shut again. Ruri's eyes widened at his appearance.

"Stay away from me!" He exclaimed, as Martha took a hesitant step back.

"What's happened?" McDonnell appeared as she looked down at the man.

"It's your fault, Captain McDonnell!" The Doctor shouted, as Ruri eyed the woman.

"Riley, get down to area ten and help Scannell with the doors. Go!" She ordered her crewmate as he quickly obeyed, rushing off.

"You mined that sun. Stripped its surface for cheap fuel. You should have scanned for life!" The Doctor told her, voice full of anger and pain. Ruri covered her mouth as she watched, worried for the alien.

"I don't understand." McDonnell shook her head.

"Doctor, what are you talking about?" Martha asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

"That sun is alive. A living organism. They scooped out its heart, used it for fuel, and now it's screaming!" He shouted, groaning as Ruri remembered what she saw before.

"I saw it." She muttered as the women turned to her. "It was moving, like... like it was breathing." She explained.

"What do you mean? How can a sun be alive?" McDonnell questioned, looking worried.

"It can be... because it's living in me." The Doctor answered as she gasped.

"Oh, my God."

"He told you! The infection!" Ruri realised. "It wasn't like any infection he'd seen, it was like a-a possession!"

"Humans! You grab whatever's nearest and bleed it dry! You should have scanned!" He yelled, gasping as he fell forwards.

"It takes too long. We'd be caught. Fusion scoops are illegal." McDonnell told them.

"You've got to freeze me, quickly." The Doctor told them, as Martha looked confused.

"What?"

"Stasis chamber. You've got to take it below minus two hundred. Freeze it out of me!" He explained. "It'll use me to kill you if you don't. The closer we get to the sun, the stronger it gets! Med-centre, quickly! Quickly!" He urged, as Martha and Ruri moved to each side of the man, helping him to his feet as they quickly began to move towards the med centre.

As they entered the med centre, Ruri and Martha placed The Doctor on the gurney of the stasis chamber as Martha rushed to find some sort of manual.

"Ruri, where are you?" The Doctor asked, his voice shaking as he held out his hand. She cleared her throat, pushing her own fear down as she took his gloved hand.

"I'm here." She told him. "You're going to be fine. Martha's gonna get this old thing working, and you'll be good as new." She forced a smile, as McDonnell and Martha bickered.

"Ten seconds. That's all I'll be able to take. No more. Martha!" He told them as Martha came back to the machine.

"Yeah?"

"It's burning me up. I can't control it. If you don't get rid of it, I could kill you. I could kill you all." He said darkly, causing Ruri to loosen her grip slightly, but he quickly switched as he began to whimper. "I'm scared! I'm so scared."

"Just stay calm. You saved me, now I return the favour. Just believe in me." Martha told him as Ruri squeezed his hand.

"You really will do anything to avoid answering my questions won't you?" Ruri teased, laughing a little as she tried to comfort the man. "You can't go dying on us." She told him sternly.

"It's burning through me. Then what'll happen?" He cried. "There's this process, this thing that happens if I'm about to die."

"Shush. Quiet now. Because that is not going to happen." Martha said defiantly. "Are you ready?"

"No." He whimpered, as Ruri nodded at Martha, letting go of his hand as she backed away, allowing her to roll the Doctor inside the machine, before turning it on. He began to scream, causing Ruri to watch tearfully. It was horrible. She shook her head.

"There's got to be something else..." She muttered, before looking at McDonnell who had her hand covering her mouth. "Think..." She mumbled to herself. "People being possessed by a sun that is alive... Ship is using fuel taken from the sun... The sun is alive, it's living inside this ship..." Her eyes widened as she looked at Martha. "The ship!" She exclaimed as Martha sent her a confused stare. "It's the fuel! It wants it back." She announced, as she turned to McDonnell. "How do we dump the fuel?!"

"What?" The Captain frowned.

"The fuel! Tell me!" Ruri exclaimed, rushing towards the woman.

"At the controls, Riley and Scannell can do it manually!" She answered as Ruri nodded, before taking off, exiting the med centre as she ran through the halls, going as quick as she could towards the two men. Her heart was beating in her chest as she fought against the rising heat. Coming to area 2, she spotted the men as she approached.

"Dump the fuel!" She called to them, causing them to turn to her. "We need to dump the fuel, it wants it back, the suns alive, that's why it's after you." She told them as they gave her an unsure look. "Hurry!" She snapped at them, as they continued to unlock the door. After a moment, they got through to the last area before the control room.

"How can a sun be alive?!" Scannell questioned.

"I don't know, but it is." Ruri told him. "The Doctor is dying and he's our only hope, so we dump the fuel, give it back what it wants and pray it lets us go."

Finally, they made it into the control room as the two men quickly began to work.

"Fuel dump in progress. Fuel dump in progress."

A bang sound echoed through the room, as the ship shuddered, but eventually stabilised.

"Impact averted. Impact averted. Impact averted."

"We're clear." Riley cried, smiling. "We've got just enough reserves." Ruri sighed as she smiled, thankful it had worked.

"Thank god that worked." She laughed. "Would've been a bit embarrassing if it didn't." The two men laughed as she suddenly realised- "The Doctor!" She quickly took off once again, rushing back towards the med centre, praying that he had survived and that the sun had left his body. Coming to the med centre, she saw The Doctor and Martha embracing as she let a smile form once again on her lips. The two parted ways as The Doctor beamed at Ruri.

"Still alive then?" She asked as he clicked his tongue, sending her a wink.

"Can't get rid of me that easily." He told her as she smirked.

"Good to have you back." She said, walking towards him.

"You dumped the fuel..." He said as she shrugged.

"I may have had a little idea." She shrugged as Martha scoffed.

"A little idea?" Martha shook her head. "Ruri, you did it!" She exclaimed as Ruri scrunched her nose.

"No we did it." She told her. "Besides, we didn't save everyone." She added sadly, as the Doctors smile fell slightly, before he took a step forwards, gently embracing the girl as she froze, unsure on what to do. After a moment, she allowed herself to just enjoy it, closing her eyes as she accepted the comfort.

"This is never your ship."

Riley looked the blue box up and down as The Doctor, now out of his space suit, as he tapped his ship.

"Compact, eh? And another good word, robust. Barely a scorch mark on her." He looked at his ship endearingly as Ruri raised a brow.

"Careful, you're starting to look like a man with his car." She teased as he wiggled his brows at her playfully.

"We can't just leave you drifting with no fuel." Martha told Riley and Scannell.

"We've sent out an official mayday. The authorities'll pick us up soon enough." Riley responded.

"Though how we explain what happened..." Scannell sighed.

"Just tell them. That sun needs care and protection just like any other living thing." The Doctor told them as Ruri nodded in agreement, before he turned heading inside the TARDIS. Ruri gave the two men one last smile as she followed suit. She followed him up to the console as they waited for Martha.

"Are you ok?" Ruri asked, causing him to look up at her.

"Why wouldn't I be?" He raised a brow.

"You did just have the sun burning up inside of you..." She tilted her head slightly. "It looked like it hurt." He sniffed, waving her off.

"Nah, look at me." He grinned. "All better now." He put his hands in his trouser pockets. "All thanks to you." Ruri shook her head.

"That's not fair, Martha did her bit too." She argued as he hummed. "I'm just glad you're ok." She told him as he gave her a small smile. "Now... Is there a shower in this place?" She asked. "Because I definitely need one."

"Oh!" He nodded. "Yes! Of course. Um-" He took a step forward, taking his hands from his pockets. "Actually... You have a room." Ruri raised a brow.

"A room?"

"Yup." He popped the p. "With its own en-suite."

"Very luxurious." She smirked.

"Up the stairs, down the hallway, to the left-" He started to tell her, gesturing with his hands. "Then down that hall, to the right and it's the fifth door down." Ruri blinked as she nodded slowly.

"Right... Left, right, fifth door down." She repeated as he nodded. "Got it." She began to head to the steps.

"Oh, and Ruri-" The Doctor called, as she turned. "Thank you." He told her sincerely with a small smile, as she nodded silently, before heading up the steps, Martha entering just as she disappeared from view. She headed towards the console, as she saw The Doctor looking up at the stairs, before he turned back to see his companion.

"You still haven't told her have you?" She asked, arms folded as he turned to the console.

"It's early days." He told her. "She's just beginning to trust me." Martha shook her head at the alien.

"She'll trust you more when you start telling her the truth."