Chapter 22
A Gut Feeling/The Impossible Planet
By: Izzy
After partying all day and night with the people of Florizel Street, the Doctor and Rhee decided to stay a week with the people of Florizel Street. Mostly because Rhee wanted to make sure that Tommy was OK. After the week the Doctor and Rhee returned to the TARDIS. They slipped back into the Vortex and then slipped into bed after a bit of cuddling. They didn't sleep the whole time they were at Florizel Street so they were both tired. She slept for only four hours, when she woke up with a bad feeling. It was a terrifying feeling. She hadn't had a feeling like this since she was human and living in her own world. It scared her. She couldn't take it. Because the last time she had a feeling this intense, she had a miscarriage. It was too soon for that. On so many levels. But when could a Time Lady feel that she was pregnant? She was freaking out and needed comfort but he was asleep and she didn't want to wake him so she'd do the next best thing. A hot shower. That would calm her for a while. She slid off her nightgown and laid it on the foot of the bed. She left the door to the bathroom open so he could hear her if she needed him.
The TARDIS put the water as hot as her Time Lady body could handle without getting burned. She relaxed slightly but as she stood there, letting the water run down her face, the thoughts and fears came back. Pregnant so soon? It was just too soon to be pregnant for her. And worse if she was going to lose it. She let the fear and doubt fill her mind. She turned so her back was on the wall of the shower. She started to cry, heavily. She felt her legs buckle under the weight of the fear. She slid down the wall quickly, so quickly that she made a splash and thud.
The Doctor woke up as he felt Rhee slipping into depression. But why? Why would she be depressed? Then his hearts dropped, he heard her fall. He jumped out of the bed and nearly flew to the bathroom. He yanked back the certain to find her sitting in the fetal position at the bottom of the tub with the water poring down on her head. He could tell she was crying, not only because he could feel it but also because she shook as the tears fell. He turned off the water and grabbed a towel from the cabinet. He wrapped the towel around her and scooped her up bridal style, he took her back to the bed and held her. "Shh," he said trying to calm her. "I'm here it's OK." She shook in his arms as he rocked her and rubbed her back. She finally hugged him and let her tears die down enough to speak.
"I'm sorry," she sniffed.
"You've nothing to apologize for," he said softly. "What's wrong?" She couldn't form it into words so she reached for his temples but stopped and waited for him to let her know it was OK. He nodded. She put her hands on his temples and showed him how she felt. "Well, Love. I can help with this fear." He lifted her back up bridal style and carried her into the Med Bay. He ran a multitude of scans. She held her breath for most of the scans until her respiratory bypass system kicked in reminding her to breath. She was still so afraid. She didn't want to be a mother again so soon.
The Doctor shared her fear. But not for the same reasons. He wanted to be a father again. But he knew she didn't and he didn't want to push for it too soon. So for her sake he wanted these tests to be negative. He ran every test twice, he had to make sure that it was right. It was right no mistaking it. She had miscarried. He sighed. She was only a week a long. He had to tell her the truth. She always knew when he lied. "Love," he started. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "You did miscarry." Tears streamed down her face in full force, his hearts broke at the mix of relief and heartbreak radiating off her. He wrapped his arms around her naked form, he held her as she cried herself back to sleep. He picked her up again and carried her back to their bed. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He broke. Tears flooded him as he walked back to the nursery in the TARDIS. He had set it up for Rose when she thought she was pregnant but it was a false alarm. It had his old crib from Gallifrey in it and all his old toys. He had even set it up with a ceiling that displayed the Milky Way. But he would change that to Kasterborous for his own child. He wanted a child. And he was so happy to find out that the love of his life could give him this. But after the tests he ran he knew that her body couldn't handle it.
Maybe after she regenerated. He hoped, he wanted children with her. He loved children. That's why the Time War hurt so badly. He had killed so many children. But maybe he could rebuild the Time Lord race with her. That would be something. The man who killed his own kind revives it. He sniffed and wiped the tears away with his hand. He looked down and laughed. In all this emotional turmoil he hadn't got dressed. He was only wearing his boxers. He left the nursery and locked the door. Please don't let Rhee find this, he begged the TARDIS.
Don't worry my thief I won't, Jess replied.
I can hear you!? He asked sounding surprised.
Yes, she said. When you bound with my Dragon, you gained her ability to hear me.
Wow, he said. He walked to the main wardrobe and got dressed.
Hello, she said. It's so very, very nice to meet you.
Hello, he said. What does she need? How can I help her? She may be a Time Lady now but she was still raised as a human. I'm lost.
It's OK my thief, she said. Don't panic. She needs time. And her body will adjust. Somethings in the change didn't change right. She needs time and she can give you children. But the depression will be a little harder to heal. Now is a good time for he anti-depressants that Ai gave you.
You trust her?! He asked surprised. He was dressed now and headed to the console room.
Yes, she said softly. Why don't you? My Dragon raised her. She means my Dragon no harm.
But I don't know her and she knows me, I don't like that, he said.
She only knows you because of my Dragon, she said. My Dragon needs those anti-depressants.
OK, OK, he said. He stopped and walked back to the Med Bay and grabbed the bottle of anti-depressants and the kitchen where a Mountain Dew sat on the table waiting for the Doctor to take it to Rhee. He sighed as he picked up the Mountain Dew and walked back to their room. He found her awake and staring at a picture of Susan he had on his desk. "Hey," he said aloud.
"Hey," she said softly never taking her eyes off Susan's picture. "Susan was so pretty."
"Yeah," he said as he moved to sit on the bed beside her. "Here. The TARDIS thought I should give you these to take the edge off." He handed her the bottle of anti-depressants and the Mountain Dew. She smiled weakly as she looked at the Mountain Dew.
"Wow," she said. "A Mountain Dew. I haven't had one in almost three years." She laughed weakly. "Matt didn't like how much I drank. He called me a caffeine addict." He laughed lightly. "But if your giving this too me then you don't care if I drink lots of caffeine?"
"If it makes you feel better then drink it," he said firmly. She took the Mountain Dew, cracked it open and drank some letting the smooth drink flow down her throat she moaned lightly. He laughed.
"Sorry," she said. "It just tastes so good." She took another drink and moaned lightly again.
"It reminded me of Rose with her chips," he said. "Here's some anti-depressants." He handed her the bottle. She took it and gave him a soft smile.
"Join me?" she asked. He hesitated. "Please." He took off his shoes, his jacket, and his tie. He crawled into the bed with her. She placed the empty can and the bottle on the desk beside her. She didn't take any, which was something she had always done. She never liked to rely on mediation to fix her problems. She cuddled up to him. He smiled down at her. The TARDIS started to play a soft melody for them. Rhee knew what it was right away. Her favorite Queensryche song called Silent Lucidity. She couldn't help but sing. But this song always made her cry. He started to sing with her. She smiled he had a great voice. She love it. After all she would listen to David Tennant's version of Hamlet's soliloquy over and over. And they sounded the same. Well after all David Tennant played the tenth Doctor after all.
"I wanna watch a movie," she said after they finished the song.
"What movie?" he asked. He was happy that she was feeling better but he worried that she was trying to again avoid rather than deal with her problems. She was good at it. Time Lords were better but there of course she is now a Time Lady. Oh, no that means it was going to get worse.
"Hamlet the one made in 2009," she said.
"That wasn't a Hamlet made in 2009," he replied.
"In my universe there was," she said happily.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied. "It stars my two favor British actors."
"Yeah?" he asked. "Who are they?"
"David Tennant and Patrick Steward," she said.
"Patrick Steward is brilliant!" he exclaimed.
"So want to watch Hamlet with me?" she asked.
"Why not?" he asked as they got up. She dressed in a nightgown again and they met in the media room. He had popcorn and tea ready for them. They cuddled on the sofa. The sofa that used to be in her bedroom they noticed that the TARDIS had moved it. Rhee smiled at the sofa. She loved that sofa. The movie started. "So it's a 21st century Hamlet."
"Shh, just watch," she said. They watched silently. He wanted to asked why if it was set in the 21st century, they spoke the same way it was wrote. But he remained quiet as she asked of him.
"He looks like me!" he said as he saw David Tennant.
"That's David Tennant," she said.
"It's weird," the Doctor said. As David spoke his lines, the Doctor's eyes widen. "He sounds like me!"
"Shh," she said. As he watched this human actor from her universe that looked like him, the Doctor had many questions but he would wait. The actor was good. The Doctor felt weird watching someone that looked like him but as he watched he was shucked into the movie. He didn't ask anymore questions as they continued the movie. Once the movie ended he was impressed. "What do you want to ask?"
"Did he play me in 'Doctor Who'?" he asked.
"Yep," she said. "By the way he is actually Scottish."
"Scottish?" he asked.
"Yup," she said. "But he uses his London accent for most of his roles."
"Did you know about him before he played me?" he asked.
"No," she answered. "But can you blame me I am American." They laughed. "I like a lot of movies and shows that he plays in."
"So he plays in a lot?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. "'Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire,' 'Fright Night,' 'Spies of Warsaw,' 'Broadchurch,' 'Learners.' That's all I can think of right now."
"He played in Harry Potter?" he asked. She nodded. "Who did he play?"
"Barty Crouch Jr." she said.
"Benedict Cumberbatch played him in this universe," he said.
"Oh, he's brilliant!" she exclaimed. "I love him as Sherlock!"
"He does make a good Sherlock," he agreed.
"Oh, and his take on Kahn," she said. "Brilliant!" He smiled at her smile, he was happy that she was smiling again.
"Do you like the other actors that played me?" he asked. He had to ask.
"Christopher Eccleston," she said. "But most of the others are old and don't act anymore."
"Which one of me was he?" he asked.
"The last you," she said.
"Big Ears and leather?" he asked. "Does he really have those ears?"
"Yeah," she laughed. "But he don't normally wear leather." He laughed with her. "Though he plays a lot of bad guys."
"Really?" he said imagining his last incarnation playing a bad guy. "Like who?"
"Well Destro is one." she said.
"From G. I. Joe?" he asked with a small laugh.
"Yeah," she said. "Oh and he played the bad guy in Gone in 60 Seconds with Nicolas Cage. Though that was about five years before he played you."
"Wow," he said.
"Enough movie talk," she said. "Let's go get into trouble." He grinned at her.
"Where to then?" he asked with that grin firmly on his face.
"Random?" she asked.
"Brilliant!" he said as he jumped up nearly knocking her off in his enthusiasm. She laughed as he ran down the hall. She got up and returned to the bedroom to get dressed. She dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and a tight red shirt with the leather jacket he gave her. She turned to exit the room when she saw the bottle of anti-depressants. She knew that they were coming close to the Impossible Planet so maybe it would be good to take them. So she grabbed the bottle and she noticed that the sound of the pills sounded odd. Like it was recorded. She opened the bottle and inside was a projector. It turned on and a hologram of the ninth Doctor appeared. She gasped.
"Hello," he said. "Lady told me that you needed me to record this, but the me that's with you won't remember so don't ask him about it. Lady said that you will be going through a rough patch when you hear this message." He took a deep breath. "That you're a Time Lady and you miscarried our child." She could tell that he was trying not to cry. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'm not upset. It is understandable. You're body wasn't ready yet." She started to cry as she could see silent tears fall from his eyes down his face. "I love you. I don't think I tell you that often enough. But I do, I love you with both these tired old hearts. And before you start in saying that I'm not old, I'm much older than you." She laughed. He flashed her the goofy grin she had fallen in love with. "Don't worry so much. Leave that to me. I'll worry for us both. Oh, and get him to tell you about Gallifrey. Lady told me that you already know all about Gallifrey but that you like to hear me talk about it, so get him to tell you about it. Just ask, he will because if you'd have asked me I would have." He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I'm out of time. Always remember that I love you! I hope we have a fantastic life!"
"We will," she said as the tears renewed but this time they were happy tears. She was so happy that he got to leave this message. She wondered when he could have left this for her. It was sweet of him. She missed his as big ears and leather but she loved pinstripes too.
"Well we're-" her Doctor started. He saw she was crying and rushed to her side. "What is it? What's wrong? I knew I shouldn't have left you alone."
"Happy tears," she said as she closed the bottle. "You're so sweet." She dropped the bottle and kissed him with love and passion. He kissed her back with equal love and passion.
"What did I do?" he asked. "So I can do it again." He grinned at her. She playfully hit him.
"Just be you," she said as she walked out of their room with him in toe.
"Can do," he grinned. "But as I was saying we're getting ready to land."
"Where at?" she asked.
"You said random," he teased.
"I did, didn't I?" she said.
"Yup," he said popping the 'p'. As they reached the console room, the TARDIS shook. He rushed to the console to check on what was going on. He pushed buttons and slammed the console with the rubber malt.
"You know she'd like you more if you didn't hit her so much!" she shouted as she gripped the rail so she wouldn't fall down from the shaking of the TARDIS. They finally landed with a lot of protest from the TARDIS. "Strange I wonder what got her in a tizzy."
"I don't know." he said as he walked to the doors and looked around. "She's sort of queasy. Indigestion, like she didn't want to land."
"Usually that means something bad is gonna happen," she said. "Maybe we should leave." They both laughed.
"I think we've landed inside a cupboard." he said. "Here we go." She got the feeling, as he opened the door, that she knew this place. She couldn't put her finger on it. It was taking her longer to remember thinks of late she did know if it was because of the bond or becoming a Time Lady that did it.
"Open door 15." the computer announced. Familiarity.
"Some sort of base. Moon base, sea base, space base." he said as he walked through the door with her in toe. "They build these things out of kits."
"Close door 15." the computer announced. She couldn't put her finger on it.
"Sounds like a storm out there." she said. Why can't she remember?
"Open door 16." the computer announced.
"Human design." he said as they entered a large room. "They've got a thing about kits. This place was put together like a flat pack wardrobe, only bigger. And easier." The large room looked like a commissary. "Oh, it's a sanctuary base."
"Close door 16." it announced. Goddess she was getting tired of the announcements.
"What's a 'flat pack' wardrobe?" she asked.
"Oh, forgot you're American," he said then thought a minute. "It's a. Oh, a do it yourself kit."
"Ah," she said. "That was all my furniture was." She laughed. "Twenty bucks at Wal-mart would by most of my furniture, from my universe."
"Bucks?" he asked. "Oh, you mean dollars!" She thought he was cute when, she said something that she would normally say and he didn't get it. It didn't happen often she was trying to be mindful of the fact he hung out with people from Britain more than America. Which was fine with her.
"So this is an exploration thing?" she asked. Still cursing in her head that she couldn't remember what made this place so familiar.
"Deep Space exploration." he said with a nod. "We've gone way out. And listen to that, underneath."
"Someone's drilling." she said. He smiled and nodded. He loved traveling with her, she was the only one he had ever met that could keep up with him and ask the right questions. He thought that most of it came from watching the show but she had proven that even without the show's knowledge she was still clever. Hell, when she was human she was learning things that humans won't learn for many, many years after her time. "Oh, no. Welcome to hell."
"Oh, it's not that bad." he said.
"No," she said. "It is! We need to leave! This is the only adventure I will ever beg you to abandon!" She remembered this was Krop Tor. This is bad.
"Are people going to die without us?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied sadly. "But it's going to be bad for us too!"
"Well we need to stay then," he said.
"Doctor, Love," she said with fear thick in her voice. "This place is bad!"
"Since I know you can't tell me what happens in case we stay," he said. "But on a scale of one to ten how bad?"
"Nine," she said. "There is an adventure thats worse than this, but that involves a fixed point."
"Oo," he said then thought for a moment before continuing. "No matter how bad. If we can help people we need to stay." She nodded.
"I understand," she said. "But if I ask you to do something crazy, you have to listen to me."
"Fine," he said. Then he looked at the wall and saw the old writing. "Hold on, what does that say? That's weird, it won't translate."
"That means his writing is old." she said. "Impossibly old. Because otherwise the TARDIS would translate."
"Yeah," he said. "We should find out who's in charge." He opens another door. "We've gone beyond the reach of the TARDIS' knowledge. Not a good move. And if someone's lucky enough-" He was cut off by the ood coming in. "Oh! Right. Hello. Sorry. I was just saying, er, nice base."
"We must feed." the ood say in unison. The Doctor backed up trying to pull her with him but she stood firm.
"You've got to what?" he asked them.
"We must feed." they said again.
"It's OK," she said with a smile. She took the glowing ball from the ood in front of her and tapped it, then handed it back. "Electromagnetics have interfered with your speech systems."
"Thank you," it said.
"Happy to help," she said happily.
"Would you like some refreshments?" it asked.
"These are called the ood," she explained. "There a harmless race. Well for the most part."
"Er, what do you mean for the most part?" he asked.
"Well there is a bit of a problem with them in the future but it was not their fault," she said.
"Ah," he said. Suddenly another door opens and reveals a human. Jefferson if she remembered his name right. But to be honest she didn't trust her memory right then.
"What the hell? How did?" Jefferson said. The ood all move away to make room for Jefferson and his soldiers. "Captain, you're not going to believe this. We've got people. Out of nowhere. I mean, real people. I mean two living people, just standing here right in front of me."
"Don't be stupid, that's impossible." the Captain said. She was trying to remember his name it was the same as a character she liked from another TV show. No wait it was a game . That's right his name was Zack. Like Zack from Final Fantasy VII.
"I suggest telling them that." Jefferson said.
"You must have visitors some times," the Doctor said.
"You're telling me you don't know where you are?" Jefferson asked the Doctor.
"No idea. More fun that way." the Doctor said with a bit of a laugh.
"Stand by, everyone." a woman called over the speakers. "Buckle down. We have incoming. And it's a big one. Quake point five on its way."
"Through here, now." Jefferson said as he opened a door. "Quickly, come on! Move!" As they ran down the hall, the hall shook and vapors came from pipes. "Move it! Come on! Keep moving. Come on! Quickly! Move it!"
"Oh, my God. You meant it." Zack said as they stepped in a room that looked like a command room. Rhee shallowed hard as she remembered what came next. Losing the TARDIS.
You know that I will be fine my Dragon, Jess said. It's just that this place bothers me.
"People!" a young woman said. "Look at that, real people!"
"That's us. Hooray!" the Doctor said.
"Yup, we're real." Rhee said. "I'm Rhiannon Smith." He couldn't help but smile at the fact she said Smith instead of Riwitis. "But you can call me Rhee. And this is my bondmate, the Doctor."
"Come on the oxygen must be off-line." a young man said. "We're hallucinating. They can't be." He said as he approached them and poked them both. Which made Rhee laugh. "No, they're real."
"Come on, we're in the middle of an alert!" Zack shouted. :"Danny, strap up. The quake's coming in! Impact in thirty seconds! Sorry you two, whoever you are. Just hold on, tight. Ood, are we fixed?" The Doctor pressed his body against Rhee and grabbed hold of the railing so if something hit them she would be safe.
"Your kindness in this emergency is much appreciated." the ood said.
"What's this planet called, anyway?" the Doctor asked.
"Now, don't be stupid." the older of the two woman said. "It hasn't got-"
"On my planet this place is called Krop Tor." Rhee said. The Doctor looked at confused.
"And impact!" Zack shouted. The base shook lightly, then stopped.
"Oh, well, that wasn't so bad." the Doctor said. He then noticed Rhee grip the rail tight so he knew it wasn't over so he kept hold. Suddenly the base shook with great force causing the consoles to burst into flames. The shaking stopped as suddenly as it started.
"Okay, that's it. Everyone all right? Speak to me, Ida." Zack said.
"Yeah, yeah!" the older of the two woman, named Ida said. Rhee couldn't believe she forgot Ida's name she wanted to facepalm.
"Danny?" he asked.
"Fine." the dark haired man that approached the Doctor and Rhee, named Danny said.
"Toby?" Zack asked.
"Yeah, fine." Toby said. She couldn't forget Toby. The ginger man that gets taken over and tries to kill everyone.
"Scooti?" Zack asked.
"No damage." The young woman, named Scooti said. Another name Rhee couldn't believe she forgot. Scooti was 20 and was going to die by Toby's hands. Rhee sighed. She knew she couldn't stop Scooti's death without causing her own. Sure, Time Lords and Ladies could survive with no air longer than humans but the door malfunctioned. Which was the biggest problem.
"Jefferson?" Zack asked. Now Jefferson, Rhee might be able to save. But she didn't know if he would listen to a crazy alien woman from another universe. She sighed. Maybe if the Doctor. A plan formulated in her mind.
"Check!" Jefferson said.
"We're fine, thanks, fine." the Doctor said sarcastically. "Yeah, don't worry about us." She playfully hit him for being rude. He grinned at her.
"The surface caved in." Zack said as he looked over the schematic of the base. "I deflected it onto storage five through eight. We've lost them completely. Toby, go and check the rocket link." Toby rolled his eyes.
"That's not my department." he whined.
"Just do as I say, yeah?" Zack said. Toby walked past the Doctor and Rhee with an attitude.
"Oxygen holding." Ida announced. "Internal gravity fifty six point six. We should be okay."
"That's one hell of a storm. What is that, a hurricane?" the Doctor asked.
"You'd need an atmosphere for a hurricane." Scooti said. "There's no air out there. It's a complete vacuum." He looked at them both with a mixture of disbelieve and confusion.
"You're not joking." Ids said. "You really don't know." He still looked at them with the same look. "Well introductions. F Y I, as they said in the olden days." She gestured to herself. "I'm Ida Scott, science officer." She pointed to Zack. "Zackary Cross Flane, acting Captain, sir." Then to the Jefferson. "You've met Mister Jefferson, he's Head of Security." Then to Danny. "Danny Bartock, Ethics committee."
"Not as boring as it sounds." he said.
"Yeah," Rhee said. "You're in charge of the ood."
"And that man who just left, that was Toby Zed, Archaeology," She pointed to the door then moved to Scooti and grabbed her shoulder with affection. "And this is Scooti Manista, Trainee maintenance." She moved to a lever. "And this? This is home." She pulled the lever.
"Brace yourselves." Zack said. "The sight of it sends some people mad." The shutters open to reveal the black hole. The Doctor stares at it with a look of amazement and horror. Rhee dares not look at it.
"That's a black hole." he said absentmindedly. "But that's impossible."
"I did warn you." Zack said.
"We're standing under a black hole." the Doctor said.
"In orbit." Ida corrected.
"But we can't be," he said.
"You can see for yourself." she said. "We're in orbit." She moved over to the console so she could prove it to him.
"But we can't be." he repeated as he looked at the hologram proving what they were telling him.
"This lump of rock is suspended in perpetual geostationary orbit around that black hole without falling in." Ida said.
"I warned you," Rhee said. "This is bad."
"Bad doesn't cover it." he said. "A black hole's a dead star. It collapses in on itself, in and in and in until the matter's so dense and tight it starts to pull everything else in too. Nothing in the universe can escape it. Light, gravity, time. Everything just gets pulled inside and crushed."
"I know," she said sadly. "We should be dead."
"And yet here we are, beyond the laws of physics." Ida said. "Welcome on board." There was another quake, a small one. They remained quiet while he stared at the black hole.
"The rocket link's fine." Toby said as he reentered the room. He called up a hologram showing the black hole.
"That's the black hole, officially designated K three seven Gen five." Zack said.
"In the scriptures of the Falltino, this planet like she said, is called Krop Tor, the bitter pill." Ida said. "Wait are you Falltino?"
"No," Rhee said. "But my people studied the scriptures." Ida nodded. "In the scriptures, the black hole is supposed to be a mighty demon. It was tricked into devouring the planet, only to spit it out, because it was poison." The Doctor liked her excuse. They'd never believe that she was once human and watched all this on a TV show.
"She's right," Ida said in amazement.
"We are so far out." the Doctor said with amazement. "Lost in the drifts of the universe. How did you even get here?!"
"We flew in." Zack said. "You see, this planet's generating a gravity field. We don't know how. We've no idea. But it's kept in constant balance against the black hole. And the field extends out there as a funnel. A distinct gravity funnel, reaching out into clear space. That was our way in." He changed the hologram to show the funnel. "By rights, the ship should have been torn apart. We lost the Captain, which is what put me in charge."
"You're doing a good job." Ida said as she patted him on the back.
"Yeah, well, needs must." he said.
"But if that gravity funnel closes, there's no way out," Danny said.
"We had fun speculating about that." Scooti said.
"Oh, yeah. That's the word. Fun." Danny said sarcastically.
"But that field would take phenomenal amounts of power." the Doctor said. "I mean not just big, but off the scale! Can I?" He motioned to a calculator.
"Sure. Help yourself." Ida said as she handed him the calculator.
"Your refreshment." an ood said as it gave Rhee a cup of water.
"Thanks." she said. "Don't worry he'll break the circle. Not now but soon."
"Your concern is appreciated," it said. She nodded to him and sat down in the seat Danny was sitting in moments ago. She wanted to be near the Doctor but she also knew the answer he was looking for so she didn't want to just give him the answer. So she stayed back. Let him work it out. She sipped the water. It took a minute but she knew he'd get it.
"There we go." he said as he looked for her. He smiled at her when he noticed she was frowning. Then he turned back to the crew. "Do you see? To generate that gravity field, and the funnel, you'd need a power source with an inverted self extrapolating reflex of six to the power of six every six seconds. Which is impossible."
"It took us two years to work that out," Zack said.
"We're very good." he said with a smug smile.
"But that's why we're here." Ida said. "This power source is ten miles below through solid rock. Point Zero. We're drilling down to try and find it."
"It's giving off readings of over ninety stats on the Blazon scale." Zack said.
"It could revolutionize modern science." she said with pride.
"We could use it to fuel the Empire." Jefferson said.
"Or start a war." the Doctor said darkly.
"It's buried beneath us, in the darkness, waiting." Toby said ominously.
"Drama Queen," Rhee mumbled. The Doctor heard her and laughed lightly.
"Well, whatever it is down there is not a natural phenomena." Toby continued. "And this, er, planet once supported life eons ago, before the human race had even learned to walk."
"I saw that lettering written on the wall. Did you do that?" the Doctor asked.
"I copied it from fragments we found unearthed by the drilling, but I can't translate it." Toby said.
"No, neither can I." the Doctor said. "And that's saying something."
"There was some form of civilization." Toby said. "They buried something. Now it's reaching out, calling us in."
"And you came." the Doctor said with great joy in his voice.
"Well, how could we not?" Ida asked.
"So, when it comes right down to it, why did you come here?" the Doctor asked. "Why did you do that? Why? I'll tell you why. Because it was there. Brilliant." Rhee smiled at his beaming face. She knew that he was impressed by this people. But she still worried how he would take her not telling him about the TARDIS.
"Excuse me, er, Zack, wasn't it?"
"That's me." Zack said.
"Just stand there, because I'm going to hug you." the Doctor said as he approached Zack. "Is that all right?"
"I suppose so." Zack said feeling a bit uneasy about the Doctor.
"Here we go. Come on, then." the Doctor said as he hugged Zack. "Oh, human beings. You are amazing! Ha! Thank you." He let go of Zack.
"Not at all." Zack said.
"But apart from that, you're completely mad." the Doctor said. "You should pack your bags, get back in that ship and fly for your lives."
"You can talk." Ida said. "And how the hell did you get here?"
"Oh, I've got this er, this ship." he said. "It's hard to explain. It just sort of appears." He rubbed his head nervously. "We can show you, we parked in a room near Habitation area three."
"Do you mean storage six?" Zack asked.
"It was a bit of a cupboard, yeah." the Doctor said as Zack looked at his crew with worried eyes. "Storage six. But you said. You said. You said storage five to eight." When it finally clicked he ran out of the room and Rhee ran after him. He opened door after door, running through them all as fast as they'd open and she followed closely behind.
"Open the door! Come on!" He shouted at the computer. They finally got to the hall where the TARDIS was.
"Door 16 out of commission." the computer announced.
"It can't be. It can't be!" he yelled with hurt and anger in his voice. He opened the peek hole and looked down to see the hole. "The TARDIS is gone."
"Door 16 out of commission." the computer repeated.
"The earthquake. This section collapsed." he said without emotion. But she knew better he was so hurt by the loss that he was feeling hollow inside right now. He hugged her and held on as if she was the last thing he had left. Which he believed in that moment that she was. He inhaled her scent that was mixed with the smell of the jacket. It calmed him. "I should have listened to you."
"Shh," she said. "It's OK." She rubbed his back in slow soothing circles as she always did when he was upset.
"But I should have learned by now to listen to you," he said.
"I'm not mad Love," she said. "But from here on out please listen to what I have to say. Yeah?"
"Yeah," he said softly.
"Come on let's go back to the others," she said. They walked back hand in hand. He held her hand like a life line. Without the TARDIS he was the only one he had left. His bondmate. They arrived back in the command room and it dawned on him that they could possibly help get the TARDIS back.
"The ground gave way." he explained to Zack. "Our TARDIS must've fallen down right into the heart of the planet. But you've got robot drills heading the same way."
"We can't divert the drilling." Zack said.
"But we need our ship." the Doctor pleaded. "It's all we've got. Literally the only thing."
"Doctor, we've only got the resources to drill one central shaft down to the power source, and that's it." Zack explained. "No diversions, no distractions, no exceptions. Your machine is lost. All I can do is offer you a lift if we ever get to leave this place, and that is the end of it." The Doctor looked lost. Today was becoming to much for even him. First he found out Rhee's body can't handle childbirth right now, and that she miscarried. Then they lose the TARDIS. Oh, yes today was bad.
"I'll er, put you on the duty roster." Ida said. "We need someone in the laundry." Everyone left leaving them alone with and ood.
Love, she said in his mind. They may have been alone but she wanted him to feel a piece of home and telepathy was something from his home. You were a little off on what we have left.
"Oh?"he asked aloud.
Yeah, she said as she moved closer and grabbed him around the hips. We have each other.
"True," he said.
You'll always have me, she said. They smiled at each other and kissed. They left the room to go see about helping out around. She found Ida. "You said something about laundry?"
"Yeah," she said. "This way." She showed Rhee where the laundry was. Rhee got started right away. "Will you guys be alright?"
"Fine," she said with a small smile. "Oh, and the Doctor is great with alien scripts so he should help Toby."
"Really? That's great!" Ida said. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'll be fine," Rhee said. "Before coming here I found out I miscarried. So it has been a hard day."
"Oh, and now you're stranded," Ida said. "I can't say I know how you feel but I can get you guys a room ready."
"That would be fantastic," Rhee said. Ida left Rhee to do the laundry.
Meanwhile the Doctor was already studying the script trying to figure it out. He knew that keeping busy would help keep the emotion of the day from erupting into tears. He didn't want to cry again. The first time was for his unborn child, understandable. But he didn't want to cry over the loss of the TARDIS. Even though Rhee would tell him that it would be understandable too. He loved how understanding she always was. "Danny, check the temperature in Ood Habitation. It seems to be rising." Zack said over the intercoms. Which broke him out of his thoughts.
Getting anywhere with the script? Rhee asked in his mind.
Too distracted, he said.
Sorry, she said. I'll leave you be.
No, he said. I mean I want to talk to you.
Well I really only wanted to tell you that Ida said she was going to get us a room ready, she said.
Good I could use a good rest after today, he said.
I know what you mean, I'm ready to curl up in this laundry, she said. They both laughed. Cuddles?
Always, he said. Have I told you today?
Yeah, she said. I love you too.
Funny I don't remember saying it, he said.
I do, and isn't that what counts? She asked.
I suppose, he said.
I'll meet you in Habitation three once I'm done, she said. Which shouldn't be long.
She you then, he said. It was an hour later when they met in Habitation three. They sat down on the bench and cuddled. They needed it. They both were an emotional mess but both were putting on a brave front of the other.
"Goddess," she said. "I could go for a banana sundae."
"Oi!" he exclaimed. "Don't start that!" She giggled. "If you're hungry go have a look at what they have."
"Not hungry per say," she said. "Just craving a banana sundae."
"Stop saying it!" he groaned. He playfully pushed her off him. "I am hungry." He moved to get up and get himself something, but she was already on it. He shook his head and sighed.
"Some of that and that," she said pointing to the blue and green.
"Would you like sauce with that?" the ood asked.
"Why not?" she said.
"The Beast and his Armies shall rise from the Pit to make war against God." the ood said.
"I think you're malfunctioning again," she said.
"Apologies. I said, I hope you enjoy your meal." the ood said.
"Right," she said as she went back to the Doctor. She handed him the tray and sat across from him. He seemed disappointed that she sat across from him instead of beside him. The lights flicker as Ida came in to the Habitation.
"Zack? Have we got a problem?" she asked into the intercom.
"No more than usual." Zack replied. "Got the Scarlet System burning up. Might be worth a look."
"You might want to see this." she said to the Doctor and Rhee. "Moment in history." She opened the shutters. "There. On the edge. That red cloud. That used to be the Scarlet System. Home to the Peluchi, a mighty civilization spanning a billion years, disappearing forever. Their planets and suns consumed. Ladies and gentlemen, we have witnessed its passing." She went to close the shutters again.
"Er, no, could you leave it open?" the Doctor asked. "Just for a bit. We won't go mad, I promise."
"How would you know?" Ida asked. "By the way, your room is ready. I'm sorry it's small but it should work for now." She turned to Scooti. "Scooti, check the lock-down. Jefferson, sign off the airlock seals for me." Everyone leaves the room.
"Long way from Earth," Rhee said as they looked out the roof.
"Go that way, turn right, keep going for er, about, er, five hundred years, and you'll reach the Earth." he said.
"Well, could be worse." she said. "They said they'd give us a lift."
"And then what?" he asked.
"Maybe find a planet, get a job, live a life," she teased. "Like normal people."
"I'd have to settle down." he said. "Get a house or something. A proper house with, with doors and things. Carpets. Me, living in a house. Like you said before that is terrifying."
"You'd have to get a mortgage." she continued to tease him.
"No." he said.
"Oh, yes." she teased.
"I'm dying." he said. "That's it. I'm dying. It is all over."
"How do you think I feel?" she asked. "I did the whole house wife thing. I went nuts. And without any 'Doctor Who' this time to keep me sane." She laughed.
"I'm sorry that we're stuck here," he said.
"No one I'd rather be stuck with," she said.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said. "My Doctor." They smiled at each other. "But there goes my bucket list."
"Your bucket list?" he asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah," she said. "I've had to changed it twice since knowing you."
"Twice," he said.
"Yup," she said. "First time was when I met you. See as a fan of 'Doctor Who' I wanted to meet the cast. But I met the real Doctor. So that was off. Fly in a airplane. Well I've flown in the TARDIS who needs and airplane." He laughed. "I changed it to kissing you once, well you took care of that for me."
"Kissing me was on your bucket list?" he asked with a flirty look in his eye.
"Well yeah," she said. "You're hot." He laughed. "Anyway, meeting a famous writer. Did that. Then it was Shakespeare. I want to meet.." She trailed off as she started to get really sleepy.
"How many hours did you get last night?" he asked.
"Four why?" she asked. He didn't answer her, instead he walked over to the intercom. He closed the shutter.
"Zack," he said.
"Yes, Doctor?" Zack asked.
"Ida said something about a room being ready for us," the Doctor said. "But she forgot to tell us where it is." She could hear Zack explain where the room was but she was so tired. So tired she couldn't stay awake anymore. She passed out.
The Doctor rushed to her as she passed out, catching her so she didn't hit the floor. He scanned her with his Sonic. She was just asleep. In a deep sleep. He picked her up and carried her to the room that had been made ready for them. Like Ida said it was small for two people but it would do. He laid her on the bed. He took off her jacket and shoe. Then his own. He laid down beside her and covered her up. He was tired but knew he couldn't sleep without the TARDIS. Even with her there, he knew. Maybe this adventure, the adventure of settling down with her wouldn't be so bad. He smiled at her sleeping form. He snuggled into her, breathing in her scent, and somehow breathing in her scent was enough to lull him to sleep.
They slept for a full eight hours. They woke at the same time. She stretched out like a cat. And grunted at the fact she was still in tight clothes. She hated sleeping in jeans. "Morning," he said.
"Morn'" she said. Even though she was a Time Lady she still didn't like mornings. "Yay, another day fun filled day at Krop Tor."
"Yesterday you said it wasn't so bad being stuck with me," he teased.
"I really don't mind being stuck with you," she said. "I mind being stuck on Krop Tor." She sat up. "Don't worry 'bout me I'll make the most of it. As long as they have caffeine." He laughed. She got up put her jacket and shoes back on. She was about to walk out the door when her phone played Secrets by One Republic. She had been dreading this, but she answered the phone anyway.
"He is awake." a deep voice said. She ended the call and looked to check for signal. There wasn't any. She knew there wouldn't be but she had to make sure.
"Love," he said as he got up. "You look pale. Who was it?" He hugged her from behind.
"No one," she said. "I don't have signal."
"But I heard your phone ring," he said.
"Yeah," she said. "It's starting."
"What's starting?" he asked.
"We need to go to the ood habitation." she said. They left the room and walked to the ood habitation. She explained on the way what happened between her and the ood.
"Morning," he said to Danny as they entered the habitation. Causing Danny to jump.
"Only us." she said.
"The mysterious couple." he said. "How are you, then? Settling in?"
"Yes," she said. "Thank you."
"Yeah," the Doctor said. "Sorry, straight to business, the Ood how do they communicate? I mean, with each other."
"Oh, just empaths." Danny replied. "There's a low level telepathic field connecting them. Not that that does them much good. They're basically a herd race. Like cattle." They look out over the ood.
"This telepathic field. Can it pick up messages?" the Doctor asked. "Because last night I was having dinner, and one of the Ood said something odd to my bondmate."
"Hmm. An odd Ood." Danny said.
"And then this morning she got something else on her communicator." the Doctor said.
"Which has no signal, I might add," she said.
"Oh, be fair." Danny said. "We've got whole star systems burning up around us. There's all sorts of stray transmissions. Probably nothing. Look, if there was something wrong, it would show. We monitor the telepathic field. It's the only way to look after them. They're so stupid, they don't even tell us when they're ill."
"Monitor the field." the Doctor said. "That's this thing?" He pointed to the monitor behind Danny. It read basic five.
"Yeah. But like I said, it's low level telepathy. They only register basic five." Danny said. The number began to rise.
"Well, that's not basic five. Ten, twenty. They've gone up to basic thirty." the Doctor said. The ood all lifted their heads and looked straight at Rhee. She felt it. They were looking at her.
"But they can't." Danny said.
"So, they're shouting," she said. "Or something's shouting at them."
"But where is it coming from? What is it saying? What did it say to you?" Danny asked.
"Something about the beast in the pit." she said.
"What about your communicator?" Danny asked. "What did that say?"
"He is awake." she answered.
"And you will worship him." all the ood said.
"What the hell?" Danny said.
"He is awake." the Doctor repeated and nothing.
"And you will worship him." they said.
"Worship who?"he said and the ood remained quiet. "Who's talking to you? Who is it?"
"Everyone, evacuate eleven to thirteen." Zack announced. "We've got a breach. The base is open. Repeat, the base is open!" The Doctor, Danny and Rhee all ran down the hall. "I can't contain the oxygen field. We're going to lose it." They met up with Jefferson about mid way through.
"Come on! Keep moving!" he said. The crew all met up in the hall that was safe. Toby was the last to get into the hall. "And you too, Toby!"
"Breach sealed. Breach sealed." the computer said.
"Everyone all right?!" the Doctor asked. "What happened? What was it?"
"Oxygen levels normal." the computer said as he watched Rhee walk down the hall and leave the safe hall. He found it odd.
"Hull breach." Jefferson said. "We were open to the elements. Another couple of minutes and we'd have been inspecting that black hole at close quarters."
"That wasn't a quake. What caused it?" the Doctor asked.
"We've lost sections eleven to thirteen Everyone all right?" Zack asked over the intercom.
"We've got everyone here except Scooti." Jefferson said. "Scooti, report. Scooti Manista? That's an order. Report."
"She's all right." Zack said. "I've picked up her bio-chip. She's in Habitation three. Better go and check if she's not responding. She might be unconscious. How about that, eh? We survived."
"Habitation three." Jefferson repeated as he moved to leave. "Come on. I don't often say this, but I think we could all do with a drink. Come on."
"What happened?" the Doctor asked Toby.
"I don't. I don't know." Toby said. He looked like he was in shock. "I was working and then I can't remember. All that noise. The room was falling apart. There was no air."
"Come on," the Doctor said as he helped Toby up. They followed Jefferson.
"I've checked Habitation four. Can you hear me?" Ida said.
"There's no sign of her. The biochip says she's in the area. Have any of you seen Scooti?" Jefferson said Toby as they all got into Habitation three
"No, no, no, I don't think so." he said.
"Scooti, please respond. If you can hear this, please respond. Habitation six." Ida called over the intercoms.
"Nowhere here." Jefferson said. "Zack? We've got a problem. Scooti's still missing."
"It says Habitation three." Zack said over the intercoms.
"Yeah, well, that's where I am, and I'm telling you she's not here." Jefferson said. The Doctor moved over to Rhee and saw she was crying.
"What's wrong, Love?" he asked and she pointed up at Scooti's lifeless body. "I've found her." Everyone but Rhee looked up through the shutters. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Captain. Report Officer Scootori Manista PKD, deceased. Forty three K two point one." Jefferson reported over the intercom.
"She was twenty. Twenty years old." Ida said in horror.
"For how should man die better than facing fearful odds?" Jefferson quoted as she shut the shutters. "For the ashes of his father and the temples of his Gods."
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," Rhee quoted the bible. The Doctor gave her a strange look. "I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." She saw his look. "Though I'm a Wiccan I know the bible. And they say that in Van Hellsing."
"Ah," he said. "But why that quote?"
"Van Hellsing," she said. He shook his head. "It's stopped. The drill has stopped."
"We've made it. Point Zero," Ida said. She left the habitation with Rhee in toe. The Doctor found it odd. Rhee had been acting so strange since they got there. He was concerned. He followed Jefferson to the capsule room.
"All non essential Oods to be confined." Zack said over the intercoms.
"Capsule established." Ida said. "All systems functioning. The mineshaft is go. Bring systems online now." She and Rhee came out in a spacesuit.
"Reporting as a volunteer for the expeditionary force." Rhee said.
"Rhee, this is breaking every single protocol." Zack said. "We don't even know who you are."
"Yeah, but you trust me, right?" she said smugly. "And you can't let Ida go down there alone. I can see it in your eyes. You trust me. "
"I should be going down." he said.
"The Captain doesn't lead the mission." she said. "He stays here, in charge."
"Not much good at it, am I?" he asked.
"You'll be fine," she smiled at him. "Plus you'll have my Doctor. Best man to have under your command."
"I fear if something happens to you he won't listen," he said. Then turned to his crew. "Positions! We're going down in two. Everyone, positions! Mister Jefferson! I want maximum system enhancement."
"Oxygen, nitro balance, gravity." she said as she looked over the suit. The Doctor walked up to her. "First time wearing one of these."
"Is this the crazy thing you were talking about?" he asked concern written on his face as well as in his words.
"I'll be fine," she said.
"You better come back to me," he said firmly. "I'm letting you go against my better judgment."
"Yes, sir." she said. They kiss. After they broke the kiss he helped her put on her helmet. "I'll see you later, promise."
"You'd better," he said. "No unnecessary risks!"
"Capsule active." Zack said over the intercoms. Ida and Rhee stepped into the capsule. The Doctor watches and prays to every god he can think of that Rhee will return as safely as she said. "Counting down in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Release." She waved to him as the capsule lowered down the hole. "You've gone beyond the oxygen field. You're on your own." The girls turn on their life support. Suddenly the capsule jerks and fell a bit faster than planned. Rhee grabbed the sides tightly. Then they landed with a loud crash.
"Rhee!" the Doctor shouted over the radio. "Love, are you all right?
"Ida, report to me." Zack said. "Rhee?"
"It's all right." Rhee said. "We've made it. Getting out of the capsule now."
"What's it like down there?" the Doctor asked.
"It's hard to tell. Some sort of cave. Cavern. It's massive." she said.
"Well, this should help. Gravity globe." Ida said as she threw the Gravity globe up into the air. It gives them some light. "That's, that's. My God, that's beautiful."
"Well Love," Rhee said. "You and Toby have your work cut out for you with all this writing."
"Concentrate now, people." Zack said. "Keep on the mission. Ida, what about the power source?"
"We're close." Ida said as she scanned the area. "Energy signature indicates north north west. Are you getting pictures up there?" Rhee pulled out her Sonic, she had slipped in to her suit from the leather jacket.
"There's too much interference." Zack said. "We're in your hands."
"Well, we've come this far." Ida said. "There's no turning back."
"Did ya have to say that?" Rhee asked. "No turning back? That's almost as bad as nothing can possible go wrong."
"Or this is going to be the best Christmas Walford's ever had." the Doctor added with a small laugh.
"Are two you finished?" Ida said.
"Yeah. Finished." they said in unison. The guys talked about the problem with the ood being at basic one hundred. Rhee really didn't listen she was focusing on the area around her. She and Ida continue through the cave and they come to a the pit. Rhee felt a lump in her throat. She knew this was going to be hard but this hard.
"We've found something." Rhee reported. "It looks like metal. Like some sort of seal, feels like a trapdoor."
"Not a good word, trapdoor." the Doctor said. "Never met a trapdoor I liked."
"The edge is covered with those symbols." Ida said.
"Do you think it opens?" Zack asked.
"That's what trapdoors tend to do." the Doctor said.
"Trapdoor doesn't do it justice." Ida said. "It's massive, Zack. About thirty feet in diameter."
"Any way of opening it?" Zack asked.
"I don't know." Ida said. "I can't see any sort of mechanism."
"I suppose that's the writing." the Doctor said. "It'll tell us what to do. The letters that defy translation."
"Toby, did you get anywhere with decoding it?" Zack asked.
"I know what it says." Toby said. Rhee shallowed hard and moved to a nearby rock.
"What are you doing?" Ida asked.
"I know this is going to sound weird but there will be a quake soon," Rhee said.
"OK," Ida said, as she did the same as Rhee. Ida didn't believe Rhee but if there was going to be a quaked then Ida would rather be save then sorry.
"When did you work that out?" They heard Jefferson over the radio.
"These are the words of the Beast." Toby said quickly sounding demonic. "And he has woken. He is the heart that beats in the darkness. He is the blood that will never cease. And now he will rise."
"Officer, stand down. Stand down." Jefferson said.
"What is it?" Ida asked. "What's he done? What's happening? Captain, what's going on?"
"Officer, as Commander of Security," Jefferson said. "I order you to stand down and be confined. Immediately!" Then the radio cut off.
"Captain?" Ida asked. "What is it, Captain? I'm going back up."
"It's the Ood." the Doctor said over the radio. "Rhee said it, they would do something. That wasn't their fault."
"He has woven himself in the fabric of your life since the dawn of time." the ood said transmitting over the radio. Some may call him Abaddon. Some may call him Krop Tor. Some may call him Satan or Lucifer. Or the Bringer of Despair, the Deathless Prince, the Bringer of Night. These are the words that shall set him free. I shall become manifest. I shall walk in might. My Legions shall swarm across the worlds.
"It's opening!" Ida shouted as the ground shook. She and Rhee held on to the rock tightly.
"We're moving!" Zack shouted over the radio. "The whole thing's moving. The planet's moving."
"I am the sin and the temptation and the desire." the ood said. "I am the pain and the loss and the-" The planet shook harder, the door to the pit fully opened. Once the ground stopped shaking Rhee approached the opening to reveal a large shaft. "I have been imprisoned for eternity. But no more."
"The Pit is open. And I am free. Bwahahahahahaha!" a dark voice said over the radio. Rhee knew what it was but didn't voice it. The Beast.
Notes: My updating may slow down here soon but I will update as I can. Thank you for Reading and Reviewing!