Chapter 3
Hi, so this chapter is from Martha perspective and beings roughly where Chapter 2 began.
Martha stood in a familiar situation again with the Doctor as he talked his way out of a situation.
"What are your names?" Kate asked.
"I'm the Doctor and this is Martha."
Martha smiled back trying to look friendly but Kate seemed non-pulsed.
"We should throw them out the air lock Captain," one of the men offered before throwing a smile her way, "Him at least."
"Not just yet Jake. You two are coming with me, when this thing is sorted I'll deal with you." Kate said before marching out the room.
Without any other option Martha and the Doctor followed her.
Mumbling under her breathe Martha said, "That went well."
"Sorry?" the Doctor asked.
"Just thinking how we've got off to a great start already," she said smiling sweetly.
"Well at least we're not floating in space,"
Martha chuckled at the thought, "That's true."
The Doctor walked on ahead to speak to Kate and Martha decided to stay behind them.
"Hi,"
Martha turned to see Jake. She gave him a tight smile and nodded, which seemed to encourage him to walk beside her. Seeing an opportunity to get possible information from him she asked,
"So what's the deal with your ship?"
"Aren't you supposed to tell me?"
"Why would I know?"
"Our ship's trying to kill us and two strangers appear from nowhere. You seem like likely candidates for trouble making,"
Martha laughed, "If you put it that way I suppose, but we only just arrived. We haven't done anything,"
Jake hesitated but continued, "About earlier, sorry for suggesting we throw you out the air lock, I only really meant him."
"Threatening my friend isn't much of an apology," Martha responded.
"So you're friends then?"
"What's it to you?"
"It's just an interesting piece of information,"
Martha scoffed but decided to drop it.
"Since I've clearly not made a good impression, what do I need to do to get on your good side?"
"Let's start by not pointing guns my way," Martha said.
"I guess that's reasonable," he said.
"It would be a start," Martha said.
They all walked into what was the ship's main control room.
"Any progress," Kate asked out loud.
Kate introduced two other crew members, Emilja and Oscar, while Gandrake was sent away.
"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.
Martha looked to Jake.
"Our ship is trying to kill us," Jake responded.
"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.
"Really!?" Martha asked.
"Sorry captain's orders," Jake said giving her an apologetic look, but Martha also stepped away from him.
With her crew failing to find a solution, Kate allowed the Doctor to help them. The Doctor took Oscar's place by the monitor and Martha went to stand beside him in case he needed her help. He gave her a reassuring smile before returning to his work. When Martha turned to look at the rest of the room their fear was obvious, but they just didn't know the Doctor like she did. He always found a way out, always. She looked over his shoulder and saw a gauge rapidly reaching its completion and briefly wondered what would have happened to the crew if they hadn't arrived.
"System shutdown terminated"
The Doctor smiled overly pleased with himself.
So to wind him up Martha asked "Cutting it close."
"Have I ever let you down?" he asked a bit too smugly.
"Well…" Martha said dragging out the word as the Doctor always did, before trailing off as if she had to think about the answer when she already knew it. But she was taken aback when the Doctor's smiled dropped and he became contemplative, so she quickly reassured him, "Doctor, of course not."
Martha was mystified that the Doctor would ever doubt her trust in him, she thought he knew there was no one else in the universe she trusted more than him. She smiled sadly and looked away.
.
After examining the computer's information the Doctor said, "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."
"Jake, head over there," Kate ordered.
"I'll go with him," Martha offered feeling a little useless as the Doctor did his work and wanting to have a look around the ship.
"I'd prefer it if you stayed here," Kate stated.
"Come on captain, what do you think she is going to do?" Jake defended.
Martha shot Jake a quizzical look and he flashed a smile in answer.
"Okay but make sure she doesn't go wandering off," Kate commanded.
"Aye aye captain," Jake said making a mock two finger salute.
Martha turned to leave but the Doctor called, "Wait, Martha…."
"I'll be fine Doctor," Martha replied.
"Just be careful," he said warned.
"Of course," she said as if she needed reminding she thought.
Once through the doors Martha asked, "Why did you want me to come?"
"Does there need to be a reason?"
"I guess it doesn't really matter,"
"Would it surprise you if I said I liked,"
"You've got a weird way of showing it," Martha replied.
"You mean the gun thing," Jake said. "What about if I say this, I promise no matter what, no more gun pointing."
Martha gave him a doubtful look.
"I swear,"
"Okay then,"
"But you can't run off either," Jake said.
"No promises," Martha replied.
They entered the circuit room which was lined with flashing and blinking lights on either side.
"It's not just flipping switches, this is going to take some time," Jake said. "You can stay close to me; you never know what dangers lurk," he teased.
"I can hold your hand if you scared," Martha mocked.
"You can hold me anyway you like," he counter.
Martha rolled her eyes and said, "Focus on the job at hand soldier."
"Yes ma'am," he said giving her a full salute before winking.
Martha shook her head and laughed. As Jake got to work opening up each single unit, Martha looked towards the door. She wanted to have a better look around the ship and she wouldn't do that by watching Jake. She pretended to show some interest in what he was doing, before inching closer to the door. When she was sure he was fully engrossed in his work she made for the door and slipped out.
But once out, Martha wasn't sure where to go. She looked down each corridor and just picked a side and started walking. The first door she came upon she stopped and looked inside but it was empty. She carried on checking room after room but found nothing of interest. Martha approached another door expecting to find the same but then her eyes fell on a rusted piece of equipment which looked like a metal salt shaker with ball rings lining its side. Martha involuntarily took a step back in surprise.
Regaining her composure she took a closer look at it. This one was different, it was older and more damaged. But it didn't change the fact that she wished to never have to lay her eyes on one of them again after what happened the last time they faced them. Martha cautiously approached it watching for the slightest movement or sign of life, but to her eyes it looked dead. But she had never seen a dead one before except for when it had been blown to pieces so she couldn't be sure. Martha stopped when she was in reaching distance of it. She reached out her hand to touch it,
"You aren't supposed to be here,"
Martha drew her hand back and spun around in surprise to see Jake by the door looking angry.
"Do you know what that is?" Martha asked.
Jake kept his eyes on her but then shifted his gaze to it.
"A piece of junk," he asked in a peeved voice.
"It's a Dalek Jake,"
"What's a Dalek, except for a stupid looking piece of metal that the captain took a fascination in and decided to bring on board. If it was up to me I would have left it on that dumb of a planet we found it on."
"We have to warn the others," Martha said stepping back and staring at it still waiting for it to come to life and attack them.
"Warn them about what? Look at it! It's been sitting here for weeks," Picking up a metal bar, Jake approached it and without out warning struck it causing Martha to involuntarily flinch. Martha expected some form of retaliation but nothing happened, it remained lifeless.
"You see, junk," Jake said throwing bar to the ground.
"We have to go," Martha said grabbing his arm and trying to drag him out.
But instead Jake pulled her towards him and said, "Martha, if this is a way to get me alone all you had to do was ask,"
"Jake this isn't a joke," Martha said seriously pulling away.
"I don't get you," Jake said. "You and the Doctor mysteriously show up on our ship, showing no fear or worry when the rest of us think we are about to die and now out of all things, you're scared because of a piece of scrap metal."
"It's a lot more than that. It's a ruthless killer which would not hesitate to kill us all if it still alive. We have to seal the room, can you do that?"
"Yes, but why would I, look at it," he said crossing his hands obstinately.
"Jake please, trust me on this, no one on this ship is safe as long as it's on board,"
Still skeptical, Jake nodded,
"You believe me," Martha asked.
"No, but if it will make you happy then I'll do it,"
"Okay,"
As Martha walked out the room she glanced back again to look for a sign of life but still it had not moved. Martha kept her eyes on it as the door shut closed. Unseen by anyone, a blue dim light blinked on from his eye stalk.
"The Doctor"