Almost done with this. I am oddly excited to see how people react to the ending. Muaha. Anywho, hope you enjoy the chapter!
The Doctor felt his eyes widen, and Kimberly grabbed onto his sleeve.
"What do you mean, no?" the Doctor demanded. He could hear the hysterics trying to worm their way into his voice. "A deal is a deal."
"Self preservation, Doctor," the Salitoran said, like he was scolding a misbehaving toddler. "You have given me a place where I can burrow without fear of death. I have no need for you now. You can go."
The Doctor started to run back towards the control room, but a tentacle slid in front of the doorway. A 'tsk tsk' sound filled the room.
"No, no, Doctor," the Salitoran rumbled. "Can't have you changing the coordinates, now can I?"
The Doctor glared at the squid, feeling anger towards both it and himself. He let himself get tricked by a giant space squid that lives underground. He would never live this down, even from himself. He could feel the rage swirl inside his stomach, feel the Oncoming Storm slip into control.
"Doctor, it's not blocking the way we came."
The Doctor looked down to see Kimberly staring up at him - Rassilon, this girl was short; how tall was she? 5'2", 5'3", without the boots? - and gripping onto his sleeve again. She was pointing behind her at the passageway back into the mine. He glanced back at the Salitoran, who was making no effort to block this way of escaping. He grabbed Kimberly's hand - it was a bit and the Doctor could feel a scar on the top of her palm, but something about it seemed off - and started pulling her with him back the way they had come, sonic screwdriver acting as a torch once again.
They went as quickly as they could with the low ceilings and Kimberly's skirts and the panic. They were only halfway back to where the Doctor had landed when they felt the ground begin to rumble.
"The ship's getting ready to launch," the Doctor said through clenched teeth. "Five more minutes, maximum."
That got them to go a little quicker, but not quick enough. They were thrown to the ground as the tremors grew more intense. Rocks began to fall from above, and the Doctor did his best to shield Kimberly from any falling rubble.
"What was that?" Rory asked as the rumbling slowed down. John opened his mouth to say something but stopped.
"There's your answer," Amy said, pointing. Rory turned to see a silver spaceship burst out of the ground close to where the little house - which John had informed them was the main office - stood and fly up into the sky.
"Where's the Doctor and Kimberly, then?" Amy asked, rushing forward. "Do you think they're hurt or, or…"
"I'm sure they're fine," John said, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Let's go back to the ventilation shaft. Maybe they made their way back there and are trying to think of a way up."
Amy rubbed her eyes and nodded. "Alright. It's the best plan I can think of right now."
The Doctor opened one eye as the rumbling stopped.
"Kimberly, are you okay?" he whispered.
"I will be when you get off," she grumbled. The Doctor apologized and quickly did as instructed. He stood up the best he could and brushed himself off. Helping Kimberly to her feet, he looked around.
"Our way's still open," he said, picked the sonic off of the ground next. "Let's keep moving."
It took even longer now that there was more rubble laying around. Dust hung heavily in the air, causing Kimberly to cough. Even the Doctor could feel it tickling the back of his throat.
"There's a handkerchief in one of the pockets," the Doctor told her. He heard the rustle of his jacket and a gasp.
"How deep are your pockets?" Kimberly asked, causing the Doctor to grin.
"Very."
They walked on for what seemed like forever (but in reality was only eighteen minutes and forty seconds) before the light from the ventilation shaft started to flow down the passage way. The Doctor and Kimberly rushed forward until they were standing underneath it and could straighten up.
"How do we get back up?" Kimberly asked, craning her neck.
"Excellent question," the Doctor observed. "You'd be a great companion."
She grinned what appeared to the Doctor to be a knowing smile.