Chapter 6 – A Trip in the TARDIS

"Barbara, Barbara! Wake up!" shouted David Jr as he burst into his sister's room.

Barbara slowly opened her eyes. "Whazgoinon?" she mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Come on, Barbara. Mummy says we have to get ready for a big day. The Doctor's going to take us for a trip in his machine!"

"Alright, I'll be there soon," Barbara grumbled. She waited until David had gone before lying back down and promptly falling asleep again.

An hour later, when Barbara had finally been woken up by the insistent shouts of David Jr, the party, laden with food, water and a picnic rug, headed off towards the old bridge. The TARDIS was still waiting there, as patient as ever. The Doctor ran up to the door and quickly unlocked it. Susan was looking at the police box exterior curiously.

"It's still a police box," she noted, scrutinizing it carefully.

"I know. The chameleon circuit is still malfunctioning, but I don't mind; I like the police box," the Doctor answered.

David Sr was talking to the children. "Now, kids, don't get too excited. Keep a cool head and don't touch anything."

Ian, Barbara and David Jr enthusiastically nodded their head in agreement. "Yes, dad," they chorused in unison.

The Doctor pushed the door open. "In, you go!" he said. The three children immediately rushed inside.

"Don't get lost!" Susan shouted after them. Smiling, she stepped inside the TARDIS.

"You've changed it!" said Susan accusingly, looking around the TARDIS interior. Chrome plating had replaced gleaming white walls, and the control console was now on a raised platform and looked more old fashioned than the futuristic console she had known.

"So?" replied the Doctor indignantly. "I got bored of all the white. I wanted a change."

David Sr was astounded. "Bigger on the inside? And there I was, wondering how we were all going to fit in!"

Susan clasped her husband's hand. "I told you that you'd be amazed. Do you like it?"

Before David could answer, the children came running back into the control room.

"Wow!" shouted David Jr. "This place is huge; we saw a kitchen, a library, a bedroom and even a garage!"

"Really, grandfather?" asked Susan. "The TARDIS didn't have a garage when I travelled with you."

"Yeah, well, I have a need for it," the Doctor replied.

"Why?"

"Well, let's just say I've...picked up a few vehicles along the way."

"Meaning you stole them?" asked Barbara curiously.

"No, I borrowed them with the intention of – no, shut up. Yes, I did steal them!" the Doctor proclaimed, ignoring his granddaughter's disapproving expression. He spun around and spotted Ian standing next to his father. "Ian, where would you like to go, forwards or backwards in time?"

"What? Oh, forwards, I suppose," Ian said, trying not to look too eager.

"Ok, forward," the Doctor muttered, setting the controls. "Mini David: how far forwards?"

"A million years!" was David Jr's enthusiastic reply.

"Too easy!" said the Doctor. "Alright everybody, hold on. It's gonna be a bumpy ride!" he cried, releasing the TARDIS's handbrake.

The machine shuddered before a wheezing, groaning sound began and the instrument in the Time Rotor began moving up and down in time with the sound of the TARDIS's engines.

"What's happening?" asked David Sr, looking everywhere for the source of the TARDIS's characteristic dematerialisation sound.

"The TARDIS is dematerialising; it's leaving the physical dimensions of the Universe and crossing into the Time Vortex," answered Susan.

"I see," said David slowly, not seeing at all. "And how does it do that?"

"No idea!" laughed Susan. "You'll have to ask grandfather. After all, he has been flying the TARDIS for quite some time now."

David nodded and went over to the Doctor to initiate a very scientific conversation that left him very confused.

Eventually, the wheezing groaning sound stopped, and the engines ground to a halt with a shuddering thud.

"What now?" asked Barbara apprehensively.

"The exciting bit," replied the Doctor, running around the console to check various readings. "Ok, the year is 1,062,291, about a million years into your future," he read. He looked up, eyes gleaming. "Who wants to go outside?"

The three children took one look at each other before racing to the door and pushing it open.