CHAPTER 9
Final chapter! Thanks for reading and please review to let me know what you thought.
The following scene is the Doctor and Kate's conversation outside the engine room.
After finding out what happened to Luke and Zoe, Kate pulled the Doctor aside and said,
"Doctor you have to go on without me,"
"What?" the Doctor asked confused.
In a lower voice Kate said, "I'm going to overload the engine room."
Pulling Kate further away from the group the Doctor said, "That would destroy this half of the ship, if not the whole thing."
"I know. That's why you all have to leave and only I can stay,"
"We can figure out a better way when we reach the Tardis,"
"We might not have that choice," Kate stated.
"There's always a choice," the Doctor said.
"Look at everything that's happened, we might not make it off this ship. At least this way we know whatever happens neither will that Dalek."
"You might not succeed either," the Doctor countered. "We have a better chance together. I can't agree to this and neither will they."
The Doctor rejoined the group and said, "We have to keep moving."
.
Martha, Gandrake and Emilja reached the final door leading to the Tardis. Unlocking it with the Doctor's sonic. They opened the door to find the big blue police box inside.
"Is that it?" Emilja asked skeptical. "Doesn't look like it could fit us, much less fly."
"She's bigger than she looks," Martha said inserting her Tardis key.
Martha opened the door and Gandrake and Emilja followed close behind her. Once inside they both stared stunned at the console room. They looked around at their surroundings before Clare muttered, "Wait its…"
"Yeah I know," Martha said.
"But it's,…" Clare put her hands together and drew them apart.
"Bigger on the inside," Gandrake finally declared as Clare furiously shook her head in agreement.
"You'll be safe in here," Martha said turning to leave.
"Where are you going?" Gandrake asked.
"I'm going back for him," Martha replied.
"But it isn't safe out there," Emilja declared.
"I can't abandon the Doctor," Martha stated flatly.
"Martha you can't leave us in this place," Emilja said uneasily.
"Don't worry your both safe. And if anything happens, the Tardis has a fast return protocol which will take you to Earth. Just walk out and leave the doors closed she will shut herself down."
"Martha please stay," Emilja pleaded.
"I'm sorry," Martha said before walking out.
As Martha stepped out the doors she was thrown off-balance by the force of the explosion on the other side of the ship. Steadying herself, she begun running back.
.
"Explain Doctor, explain," Dalek Taro demanded as the ship trembled and a red haze of the flashing lights illuminated the room in warning.
"The ship is collapsing," the Doctor stated. "Any minute now it will explode."
The Doctor had distracted Dalek Taro allowing Martha and the others to get safely to the Tardis. He also allowed Kate to carry out her plan, though the Doctor wished he could have stopped her. Now the ship would be gone soon but at least Martha was safe.
"You deceived me Doctor," Dalek Taro stated angrily.
"It's over," the Doctor declared, "but it doesn't have to end here."
With his gun no longer functioning and the ship about to explode, Dalek Taro's plans had failed.
"Explain," Dalek Taro asked.
"We still might have a chance to escape. You're unique and the last of your kind. You don't have to die on this ship. You can change and be better."
"You are wrong Doctor, I can only make sure I do not die alone," Dalek Taro said.
Dalek Taro self-destructed intending to kill the Doctor along with himself.
.
"Doctor wake up, we don't have much time," Martha said shaking the Doctor as she felt the growing heat around them. She could smell the tinge of smoke coming through the vents.
"Doctor?" Martha said shaking him.
The Doctor's eyes slowly opened. "Martha?"
"Doctor please get up, we have to get out of here."
Martha had tried dragging the Doctor but he was too heavy and even if she could it could take too long, she needed him to get up.
"What are you doing here?" the Doctor mumbled seeing Martha in the dim light.
"Doctor you have to get up, we have to go," Martha pleaded. She heard another explosion. "The ship is falling apart," Martha stated anxiously wondering if the Doctor hit his head when he got injured. She still wasn't sure what happened to him but the Dalek wasn't here which was good, but neither was Kate.
The Doctor remembered everything that had happened and quickly shot up into a sitting position, "I'm alive."
"Yes, but not for much longer if we don't move now," Martha said as she heard another loud crash.
The Doctor grabbed Martha's hand and they started running to the Tardis as the ship slowly collapsed around them. They burst into the Tardis surprising Emilja and Gandrake. The Doctor ran straight to the console and soon the hum of the Tardis filled the room as it slowly dematerializing whilst the ship exploded.
.
As the Doctor dropped off Emilja and Gandrake on an Earth colony Martha asked.
"Do you think they will be okay?"
"They have each other," the Doctor answered.
"Yes, that helps," Martha said smiling.
Finally alone the Doctor scooped Martha off her feet into a hug. Martha gladly wrapped her hands around his neck embracing him as well. When he set her back on her feet the Doctor said,
"Thank you, for coming back for me," the Doctor said appreciatively.
"You would do the same for me," Martha said dismissively.
The Doctor smiled broadly, "Always. But really thank you."
Martha nodded her head in acknowledgement which satisfied the Doctor.
"What happened back there?" Martha asked curious. The Doctor only spoke about Kate but never elaborated on himself.
"Dalek Taro self destructed intending to kill me in the process but it seems he didn't have enough power beyond destroying itself,"
"And knocking you out," Martha added.
"Yes there is that," The Doctor answered. "But where to next?" the Doctor said with more energy."We could go see the dancing trees on the planet of Zollop. Or the lights in the Gorax Nebula, you'll love that. It's like watching an intergalactic light show."
"Doctor," Martha called uncertainly.
"No, we should go and savour the unique cuisine of Jax the Great. Amazing chef, knows how to use a banana. Personally, I like his banana smoothie."
"Doctor," Martha called again.
The Doctor stopped and looked at her.
"We haven't really talked about my situation on the Tardis. It's just been one trip after the next but we haven't talked about it. I mean I just up and left without really thinking about it," Martha said feeling a bit of déjà vu.
"You want to go home then?" the Doctor asked uncertainly.
"Do you want me to go home?" Martha asked.
"No," the Doctor said, but again feeling unsure he continued, "I meant…I mean… if you want to stay… not that I'm forcing you."
Martha smiled, "Well… you still owe me a relaxing vacation."
Smiling again the Doctor said, "I can give you that."
"And I still have this," Martha reached inside her jacket and pulled out his sonic screwdriver. She waved it at him enticingly.
"My sonic screwdriver," he said happily.
"Thought you might want it back," Martha said.
He walked over and took it from her. "I've missed you," he said stroking it affectionately before slipping it back into his pocket.
Martha rolled her eyes.
"Hey Mister, I want a proper vacation. No prisons, dangling on a ledges and definitely no running."
"I know just the place," he said turning back to the console.
"Don't you always," Martha teased with a grin.
"The trees are ten foot high with orange leaves which glisten in the light, surrounded by purple grass which smells like lavender. The sky is jade with two burning red giants hanging in the sky and the nights, oh the night Martha, it a never-ending twilight. You'll love it."