AN: I'm so sorry this took so long. I had a lot of other things I needed to do. And a new boyfriend :)

I don't know when the next chapter will be up. I'll be in hospital next week because of a small surgery so it depends on how I'm feeling afterwards.

Thank you to my beta reader Persiflage.

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who

Chapter 13

On their way back to the control room, the Doctor and Martha almost ran into a small group of Ladurians. They stood behind a corner and waited until the Ladurians left in the opposite direction before their resumed their way.

"That was weird," the Doctor murmured as if he was talking to himself. He was staring at a point in front of him.

"What was?" Martha asked. The Doctor turned his head to look at her while they were walking down the corridor.

"Those Ladurians. If L'Kal went back to his crew like we thought he would then he would have met them."

"Well, maybe he missed them," Martha said. "We don't know how long those Ladurians were in that corridor. For all we know they might have arrived after L'Kal did."

"Maybe," the Doctor said. "But I can't shake the feeling that he's planning something. He knows that he and his crew don't stand a chance when S'Tal shows up here."

Martha nodded but didn't say anything. L'Kal didn't seem like the kind of person who would just give up. And she had had the feeling that he was planning something ever since he had agreed to go with them to the TARDIS.

...

They reached the locked door to the area around the control room without running into any Ladurians. Martha knocked against the door and waited until someone checked the security cameras to confirm it was them. Mike opened the door only seconds later.

"I'm so glad you're both alright," Mike said as he stepped aside to let them through the door. He locked the door behind them and followed them to the control room.

Captain Bennett and Vanessa immediately looked up as soon as they walked into the room.

"Did you send the message?" Bennett asked them anxiously.

"Yes, we did," the Doctor announced with a slight smile. Everyone in the room let out a breath.

...

Martha let her gaze trail over the people in the room. The Doctor was telling Captain Bennett what had happened after they left the control room an hour ago. Everyone seemed to be relieved that the immediate danger seemed to be over. But Martha wasn't so sure it was.

The internal scanner showed that the Ladurians on the spacestation where still walking around in small groups. She could see it on a screen nearby. If L'Kal had gone back to his people he would have told them to stick together and try to find a way to escape. If they were scattered across the spacestation when the other Ladurians arrived they wouldn't have any chance at all. There were far more Ladurians on the ship than criminals, or rebels or whatever they were, on the spacestation.

Martha exhaled slowly. Maybe the Doctor was right and L'Kal was planning something. But what?

The only way for him to save his people was to get rid of the Ladurian ship while the crew was still on board.

Martha looked up and scanned the room till she saw Mike sitting at one of the consoles. She walked over to where he sat.

"Mike, can I asked you something?" Martha asked as soon as she was standing next to him. Mike looked up from whatever he was doing.

"Of course," he replied with a smile. Martha smiled back at him.

"Is there any way one of the criminal Ladurians could use the weapon systems to shoot at the ship?" she asked him.

"No," Mike answered immediately. "He would have to hack into the main computer to do that. It would be a really good plan because the ship has to deactivate their shields if they want to use their Transmat to get here, so it would only take one shot to destroy the ship when they do. But I seriously doubt that anyone could hack into our computer."

"Is there any way of checking if anyone tried to hack into it?" Martha asked.

"Really, you don't need to worry about that."

"Could you check anyway?" Martha asked. "Please Mike. I would feel a lot better if we knew that that's not what they're planning."

"Alright," Mike said. "I still think it's a complete waste of time but if it makes you feel better."

Martha smiled at him. "Thank you Mike," she said. She got a bit closer and looked over his shoulder while Mike checked the computer.

A few minutes later he looked up at her again. "You were right. There is someone in the main computer room."

"Will he be able to hack into the computer?"

"I don't know... maybe. He seems to know a lot about computer systems."

"Can you stop him?"

"Not from here. I'll need to get to the main computer room."

"Great!" Martha said. She turned around and ran back to where the Doctor stood with Bennett and Vanessa.

"Doctor, I know what L'Kal is planning!" she started as soon as she reached him. "He wants to use the weapon systems of the station to shoot at the Ladurian ship when their shields are down to use the Transmat. Mike just checked. L'Kal is in the main computer room trying to hack into the computer."

The Doctor stared at her for a second. Then he slapped his hand against his forehead. "Of course! I should have thought of that. I must be really getting old. Martha, you're brilliant!" He leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"We need to get to the main computer room."

"I'm coming with you!" Mike said. Martha turned around and noticed he had followed her.

The Doctor nodded at the young Lieutenant. "Come on then" he said as he walked towards the door.

Vanessa ran after them. "He will be armed so I will come with you as well," she said as she followed them outside. "Any plans how we are going to stop them?"

"Nope," the Doctor answered, popping the p.

"He never has a plan," Martha added as she smiled at the other woman.

"Great," Vanessa said. She gripped her weapon tighter and followed them out of the secured area.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you think.