Hi, all. Trying something a bit different with my writing. I'm going to write this chapter more from Ten's perspective and the next one will be from Martha's perspective. So expect a little overlap between this chapter and chapter 3, as well as less interactions between the two. Will see how it works out.

Chapter 2

The Doctor took Martha's hand not wanting to be separated from her again and they walked down the corridor. The familiar feeling of excitement over the unknown had taken hold of him and he was letting his feet carry him forward into the unknown. Another door opened and without hesitation he walked through again.

"You are aware we are walking into a trap," Martha asked.

Still walking the Doctor answered, "Yep, but we need answers,"

Walking into danger had never stopped the Doctor before, and it wouldn't now. He glanced over to look at Martha who except for raising an eye brow said nothing more. He tried to decipher what she was thinking but she remained impassive. He could never tell what she was thinking, not that he had been good at it before, but lately he was finding it more than a little frustrating. A fleetingly thought to read her mind crossed his mind but he quickly dismissed it. He would never invade her like that. He heard another door open ahead so changed his attention to walking instead. Without checking he walked through the door and found himself facing three gun barrels.

Seeing the guns pointed at him the Doctor frowned and said, "There is really no need for those."

The only woman among them stepped forward and said,

"What are you doing on this ship?"

"Just having a look around," the Doctor said casually.

She narrowed her eyes, "Are you stowaways?"

"Nope,"

Unsure of the two strangers she asked, "What are your names?"

"I'm the Doctor and this is Martha."

"Doctor who?"

The Doctor couldn't help but smile, "Just the Doctor."

"We should throw them out the air lock Captain," one of the men offered with a smirk , "Him at least."

She paused and looked at the man wearing a blue suit and the woman beside him, "Not just yet Jake. You two are coming with me, when this thing is sorted I'll deal with you."

She turned and started walking and the Doctor and Martha followed her whilst her two crew members followed from behind.

"That went well," Martha mumbled under her breath.

"Sorry?" he asked.

"Just thinking how we've got off to a great start already," Martha teased.

"Well at least we're not floating in space,"

Martha chuckled, "That's true,"

The Doctor walked and caught up to the woman they had called captain,

"You're the captain then?" the Doctor asked.

She considered not replying but changed her mind, "Yes, I'm Captain Kate Miller, and this here is my ship. You just met two of my crew, Jake and Gandrake."

"What is this ship," the Doctor asked.

"You really don't know?"

"I know it's a transport ship,"

"Yes, we deliver supplies,"

"And those sirens earlier, what were they for?"

"Do you expect me to believe you didn't cause them," Kate asked skeptically.

"Well, no. So what happened?"

"Nothing," she replied curtly.

The Doctor heard Martha laugh behind him so he looked back and saw Martha was talking to Jake. He hoped she was getting more information than he was, at least she seemed to be enjoying her conversation.

The Doctor turned back to Kate, "Did you send out a distress signal?"

"We haven't been near another ship in weeks and we haven't been on a planet for a few days," Kate replied. "So my question Doctor is how did you get on board,"

"I used my ship,"

Kate stopped, "Where is it?"

"In one of your cargo holds,"

Kate laughed and continued walking, "Do you know the size of those holds, they could never fit a ship. You better come up with better lies if you expect me to believe you."

"I'm not lying," the Doctor replied offended.

"It doesn't really matter what you say Doctor, I just have to decide what to do with you until we can drop you off somewhere."

They walked into what was the ship's main control room.

"Any progress," Kate asked out loud.

A man sat behind a computer monitor and a young woman stuck her head up from where she was working. "We still can't move, and Zoe and Luke haven't checked back yet."

Kate sighed heavily and turned to Gandrake, "We can handle the rest from here. I need you to go and finish your checks."

"Got it," Gandrake said before walking out the room.

The young woman stood up and said, "Aren't you going to introduce our guests."

"This is the Doctor and Martha," Kate responded

"Hi, I'm Emilja and this is Oscar," she said pointing to the man who was still working.

Oscar barely nodded acknowledgement as he continued working.

"Nice to meet you," the Doctor said cheerfully and Martha waved her hello.

"Not much of a talker as you can see," Emilja said critically of Oscar who continued to work without comment.

Suddenly an announcement was heard, "Systems shutdown initiated."

"Dammit what is it this time?" Kate asking rushing past the Doctor to Emilja and Oscar.

"What's happening?" the Doctor asked.

"It's the life support this time," Oscar said. Emilja quickly moved to another monitor as well.

"Is there anything you can do to stop it?" Kate asked kneeling over Oscar

"I'm working on it," Oscar replied.

"Let me help," the Doctor offered stepping forward.

"You stay right there," Kate warned not taking her eyes off the screen. "Jake keep your gun on them. I don't want to see them move,"

Jake stepped away from Martha and pulled out his gun. The Doctor heard Martha say something he didn't quite catch it

"I can help you," the Doctor insisted.

Ignoring him Kate asked, "Can you tell where the command came from,"

"It's the same as the last time," Emilja said in a worried voice, "The computer just initiated it on its own."

"Let me help you," the Doctor continued.

Kate finally turned to look at the Doctor, "How do I know you aren't causing this?"

"You'll just have to trust me," the Doctor replied.

turning back to look at her crew Kate asked, "Any luck Oscar?"

"No,"

"Anything Emilja?"

"No it's locking us out," Emilja replied becoming panicked.

"We are running out of time," the Doctor said calmly taking another step forward.

Kate turned to look at the Doctor again, "If you make one wrong move we won't hesitate to shoot you."

"Sure," the Doctor said stepping further forward.

"Take his computer," Kate said pointing to Oscar and stepping back.

Oscar begrudgingly stood up and allowed the Doctor to take his place. The Doctor looked at the screen and saw the life support shutdown sequence was already 75% complete. He grabbed his screwdriver from his left breast pocket and scanned the computer. It showed him all the information he needed to know and a bit more of what was happening on the ship. He sensed Martha close to him so he looked up and saw her walk and stand next to him. the Doctor smiled before getting to work on overriding the computer commands. The sequence was now over 90% complete but he knew what he had to do. The Doctor input the codes

"System shutdown terminated."

The Doctor smiled pleased with himself.

"Cutting it close," Martha said.

"Have I ever let you down?" he asked confidently.

"Well…" Martha said dragging out the word before trailed off as if thinking about her answer. His smile dropped as he began to think of the times he had let her down, with the events of the Master most prominent in his mind.

"Doctor, of course not," Martha reassured before smiling and shaking her head.

"Who are you two exactly?"

They both turned to see Kate pointing her gun at them.

"I expected more of a thank you," the Doctor replied annoyed at having a gun pointed at him for the third time.

"You have ten seconds to explain yourself," she declared.

"Bundle of laughs you are," The Doctor said but Kate placed her finger on the trigger.

"Okay then," the Doctor said . "What I told you earlier was true.I came here on my ship because we received a distress call from your ship."

"But we didn't send out a signal,"

"Maybe you didn't but someone did. And from what I just saw here," the Doctor said pointing at the monitor, "Someone has tampered with your ship's controls. Changing commands that they could take control of the ship. And now they have almost complete control."

Kate lowered her gun slightly, "Who would do that? This is a simple transport vessel without any weapons or advance technology; it hardly seems like a likely target."

"I don't know, but if you let me I can help I can figure it out."

Kate hesitated. "I feel I can trust you Doctor but any wrong moves."

"Yes, yes, you and your big bad gun," the Doctor responded.

Kate lowered her gun.

"Now then, have you had any new crew members or someone you don't trust on board?" the Doctor asked.

"You mean except you two, no one," Kate responded.

"Well someone has been doing this." The Doctor took out his glasses and put them on before turning back to the monitor. The Doctor quickly eaxmined the information in front of him, "I need someone to head to the main circuit unit and reboot it. That should buy us some time and stop whoever is doing this from shutting down life support again," the Doctor stated.

"Jake, head over there," Kate commanded.

"I'll go with him," Martha offered.

"I'd prefer it if you stayed here," Kate stated.

"Come on captain, what do you think she is going to do?" Jake defended surprising everyone.

"Okay but make sure she doesn't go wandering off," Kate commanded.

"Aye aye captain," Jake said making a mock two finger salute.

"Wait, Martha…," the Doctor called.

"I'll be fine Doctor,"

"Just be careful," he said.

"Of course,"

The Doctor watched as a sly smile crossed Jake's face as he turned and walked out with Martha following behind.