Who sucks at deadlines? This girl. Sorry for the late chapter again, guys! Another small one, more rising action sort of. Not many more chapters after this. Still debating on whether I want to add more to the last chapter or not. If you don't mind me totally ruining the end of this, PM me and I'll throw the idea around with ya. As usually, review, fav, etc etc
The Doctor landed with an 'oomph'. He quickly rolled onto his back and looked back up the shaft. The light looked farther away than he expected, even for a mine. He turned his head to his left and found the way almost entirely blocked by rubble. To the right, a surprisingly large passage way opened up to him.
Right it is, then, he thought.
The Doctor slowly stood up and found that, even though the opening was large, he still had to bend his legs and lean forward a bit. The Salitoran had enlarged the passageway when its tentacle had smashed through to above ground; the edges were jagged and rocks littered the ground. The Doctor carefully picked his way down the passageway, trying not to trip. It became dark as pitch as he slowly walked away from where he landed, and he eventually took his sonic screwdriver out of his jacket pocket and held it out in front of him like a torch.
He walked for about ten minutes until he came upon a large lump laying off to the side.
"Kimberly!" he whispered, his voice echoing so much that it sounded like he was talking normally. He rushed to her side and quickly pressed his fingers to her neck. He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt her steady pulse. "Kimberly, wake up. I need you to wake up now."
"Mmm. Doctor?" she grumbled. She slowly opened her eyes, wincing slightly at the brightness of the sonic screwdriver. She looked around wildly; she'd lost her hat and her hair had fallen out of its bun, which resulting in her hair flying everywhere as she turned her head.
"We're in the mine," the Doctor informed her, straightening up as much as he could. "The Salitoran pulled you under. I can't tell you why, though, because I haven't a clue."
Kimberly nodded slowly and stood up. Short as she was, even she had to bend her knees so she didn't hit her head. "How are we supposed to get out?" she asked as the Doctor set off down the passageway once more.
"Well, I suppose we'll just have to keep walking, won't we?" the Doctor turned back to smile at her. "Don't worry. I've gotten stuck in worse situations and have gotten out just fine."
"I'm sure you'll get us out," Kimberly told him, grinning back. The Doctor's grin grew; it was nice knowing she had faith in him without having to prove his genius.
Above the mine, the others weren't so confident.
"What the hell was he thinking?" Amy demanded, staring down the shaft. "He really is the biggest idiot in the universe!"
"Amy, come on," Rory said, pulling her away. "He said it was a Salitoran, right? There's probably something about them in the TARDIS library." He turned to talk to John, who was still standing about a foot from the wooden structure, a look of deep thought on his face. "John, come with us. We're gonna find a way to get Kimberly back, alright? In the meantime, the Doctor will keep her safe."
John tore his attention from whatever it was he was thinking about and smiled. "I'm sure he will. Kimberly'll probably kill him if he doesn't."
"That's the spirit" Rory laughed, pulling Amy with him as they started their miniature journey back to the TARDIS. When they finally reached the doors, which felt like forever to Amy, she turned back to John.
"You're going to lose your mind when you see the inside," she stage whispered to him, a grin worming its way onto her face. John, however, had a look of both panic and longing.
"I-I can't," he stammered.
"Don't worry," Rory said, patting him on the shoulder. "It's loads bigger on the inside. Trust us."
"No, really," John insisted. "I can't. You two go do whatever. I'll…I'll just wait out here."
Amy and Rory exchanged a look and, after a shrug from the latter, the two of them disappeared into the TARDIS and quickly ran to the library, Amy cursing the skirts she wore loudly.
"What did he say it was called?" Amy called as she ran down one alleyway of bookshelves. "Salitoran?"
"Yeah," Rory called back. "From the planet Salitoria! There's a few books by where you are!"
Amy scoured the bookshelves and came away with three books on Salitoria.
"Any luck, Rory?" she called as she walked back into the main hallway of the massive library. Rory walked over, a large purple book open in his hands.
"This is the one that the Doctor was reading while you made lunch," he told her as he leafed through the pages. "There's all sorts of information about the Salitorans in here."
He read several passages aloud as they made their way back outside, where John was still waiting, stroking the TARDIS absentmindedly with one hand.
"'The Salitorans are known for their burrowing nature. Almost all of their planet is underground. It is easy to tell what planets have been taken over by the Salitorans. They start by sinking the entire planet underground, so it feels like home.'"
Amy stared at Rory in horror. "So whatever sank the mine is going to try to sink the entire planet?" she asked, voice squeaking.
"Not if we have anything to say about it," John grumbled, more to himself than the other two. A look of pure determination flashed in his blue eyes, reminding Amy so much of the Doctor.
"Are they particularly dangerous?" he asked, pulling one of the books out of Amy's hands. He began flipping through the pages. "We need to know if Kimberly and the Doctor are in immediate danger." His finger tapped on the page. "Here we go. 'Contrary to popular conception, Salitorans will not attack anyone unless attacked first. They tend to try to collapse the entire planet without directly attacking the citizens. This makes them some of the most dangerous invaders in the universe; they often slip under the radar until it is too late.'"
"Well, that's good," Rory said. He paused before adding, "I think."
"Good for now," John agreed. "Means that they won't be in too much danger, as long as they don't irritate the Salitoran."
"Knowing the Doctor, that won't be very long," Amy mused.