Look, early chapter for once ever. I stayed home from school today and thought, "They deserve this because I suck at deadlines..." So heyyyy. Three more chapters after this! I really have to force myself not to post all the chapters right now because I love the ending so much and want to see people's reactions! haha Anyway, review, critiques, etc loved. Also, I still need someone's opinions on if I should add another part to the last chapter. PM me if you don't mind spoilers!
"I think we're getting close to where the Salitoran is," the Doctor said over his shoulder to Kimberly. The girl was running her hands up and down her arms, causing the Doctor to frown. "Are you cold?"
"A-a little," she admitted. "But I'll be-" She trailed off as the Doctor threw his jacket over her shoulders. "Thanks. But aren't you going to be cold?"
"I have superior biology," he told her, a twinge of smugness sneaking its way into his voice. "I won't get cold."
"I see," Kimberly said. As the Doctor turned back around, he could of sworn he heard her mumble, "Always a bragger, it seems."
They walked on, making small talk as they went.
"So, besides this little escapade and the whole working in a factory thing, how are you liking England?" he asked, stepping around a particularly large chunk of rock. The rubble was getting bigger, so the Doctor hoped that meant they were getting closer to where the Salitoran was nesting. A giant purple squid underneath a mine wasn't going to be the most challenging thing to find.
"It's alright," Kimberly was saying. "The cities are gross, but my uncle brought John and I into the countryside once. It was so beautiful." Her voice got a wistful tone to it. "The sun was going down, and the stars were just beginning to come out."
"Uncle?" the Doctor echoed. "You've got an uncle and you're still working in factories and living in the lodging house?"
"Uncle Jack is a bit down on his luck himself," she defended him quickly. "He's livin' in a boarding house himself, and he can barely pay his own rent, let alone the rent for his orphaned niece. I only have to work until I'm an adult, anyway. I get what my parents left me when I turn 18."
The Doctor mulled this over. The Victorian Era was infamous for not particularly caring much for children, especially workers, but the Doctor still thought this was just a bit ridiculous. Kimberly was family, and 'Uncle Jack' should take her in, regardless of how rich he was. The nonchalant way she told this rubbed him the wrong way, too.
"So, do you give your wages to your uncle, then?" the Doctor asked.
"No. I keep them, for the most part." The Doctor heard her kick a rock out of the way. "I'm saving up to go back home, to America. John wants to see Boston and I'm a bit homesick."
The Doctor whirled around. "You can't."
Kimberly looked at him in surprise. "Why not?"
"There's a civil war going on over there," he reminded her. "It's been going on for almost two years."
Kimberly stared blankly at him for a moment before furrowing her eyebrows. "Oh, right." She sounded as if somebody had reminded her of the weather, or a project for school due that Friday. "There was word about it going around the factory a little while ago. I can't believe I forgot about that…"
They walked in silence again until the walls turned from stone to metal and they could both stand completely straight without fear of smashing their heads on the ceiling.
"Where are we now?" Kimberly whispered, running one hand over the cold steel.
"The ship of the Salitoran," he whispered back. "Stay close. I don't know where it is, or if it's angry."
Kimberly grabbed onto the back of his shirt and stayed quiet as they walked slowly through the ship's hallways, trying to walk quietly.
"What shoes are you wearing?" the Doctor whispered as one of Kimberly's steps echoed loudly. He turned around and stared at the boots she was wearing. They were made of brown leather, lacing almost to her kneecap and giving her at least an extra inch of height - not that it helped much. They looked like a strange combination of 1860s work boots and 21st century combat boots. "Where did you find those?"
"John found them and gave them to me when he saw my old ones were worn out," she said with a shrug. "I 'unno where he found 'em."
The Doctor let out a 'hmm' noise and continued on; he could tell Kimberly was taking great pains to walk as quietly as a cat now. He still had question he'd been wondering about, though.
"Why'd you call me?"
"What?"
"When the Salitoran first grabbed you, you shouted 'Doctor' before you did 'John'," he reminded her.
"Oh," she said. "Well, it was more force of habit than anything, I suppose."
"Force of habit?" he asked, turned his head to look at her. The Doctor saw something that looked a bit like panic flash through her green eyes.
"Y-Yeah. Force of habit." She let out a nervous sort of laugh. "When there's something dangerous at the factory - an accident, or even an occasional fight - that you can't handle yourself, you call for the strongest person available. You're almost taller than John - which is something, because that boy is tall - and seem stronger."
"Makes sense," the Doctor agreed with a nod. They finally made their way to a fork in the hallway. "Which way?"
"John says to always go left," Kimberly said, moving to stand next to him.
"Ah, wise kid," he said with a grin. "A friend of mine saved the world by going left."
"Really?" Kimberly asked looking up at him. "How?"
"I'll tell you later," the Doctor promised as they started down the left hallway. This hallway was significantly smaller, and in no time the two of them were face to face with the giant, purple squid-like face of the Salitoran, which wore an expression that suggested it had been waiting for them for a long while.
"Watch me work my magic," the Doctor whispered to Kimberly.
"Don't get us killed," Kimberly said, stepping back and flashing him two thumbs up.
"Thanks for the confidence boost," he grumbled, a smile spreading itself on his face despite this.
"Any time!"
The Doctor chuckled before turning his full attention to the waiting alien. "What are you doing on Earth?" he demanded.
"My planet is becoming too overpopulated," the Salitoran replied, it's voice booming echoing through the dimly lit spaceship.
"You didn't entirely answer my question," the Doctor pointed out, crossing his arms across his chest. He heard Kimberly shift her weight and take in a quiet breath.
"I, and many like me, was sent to find planets to sink so that my kind could take them over and make them our own."
"You can't do that!' Kimberly interrupted, striding forward to stand next to the Doctor. "What about the people already living here?"
"They are not of my concern, Earth child," the alien said, its tone scornful. The Doctor was staring at Kimberly.
"You can understand it?" he asked. Kimberly looked at him, eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Of course." Then she turned back to the alien. "There are hundreds of millions of people on this planet. We can't live underground like you can. We need oxygen and water and trees. Everyone on this planet will die. How would you like it if somebody invaded your planet and killed your entire species?"
"My species needs room to grow," the Salitoran insisted. "The fate of your people has nothing to do with me."
"Maybe we can work out a deal?" the Doctor suggesting, breaking into the conversation he had been listening to with great interest.
"What sort of deal?" the alien asked, narrowing its fishy eyes.