"Want a cuppa?" Claire asked, offering Sasha a kind smile and a plate of biscuits.
"No thanks," Sasha shrugged, resting her head in her palms.
"Are you sure; I've just boiled the kettle?" Claire offered, heading into the kitchen to put the biscuits away. "How about a hot chocolate? You've always liked hot chocolate. I've got those biscuits from M&S, you know, those chocolatey ones in the circles? You said you liked them on New Years. Everyone was dancing and drinking, then you were there with a plate of biscuits! Want one?"
"Now's not the time," Sasha declined.
"You've got nothing but time," Claire said, flopping down in the sofa beside her friend. "You haven't even told me what's happen yet. A guy? Did Rippon finally fire you?"
"No," Sasha sobbed.
"Then I'm scared, Sasha," Claire frowned, wrapping an arm around her. "You turned up at my house in a state, you won't eat and you won't tell me what's happened. Most of all, you won't laugh at my hilarious anecdotes. All I can promise is that I'll support you, but I can't help unless you tell me what's up . . . And laugh at my hilarious anecdotes, but that'll come with time."
"I'm sorry, but I can't," Sasha refused. "If I tell you one thing, I'll have to tell you everything else, and I can't do that."
"Are you not telling me to protect someone else?" Claire asked.
"No . . . A little. It's not how you think – I'm not being blackmail or anything. I want to tell you what's happened, but I'm afraid of what it could lead to."
"Sasha, what's going on?" Claire worried.
Sasha gulped, wiping a tear from her eyes. "It's about the Doctor."
"The Doctor? The man you called yesterday."
"I guess. He's in trouble and I need to help him."
Claire laughed a little. "Sasha, you've only just talked to the guy. You haven't even met him yet."
"Yes I have," Sasha reminded her. "The Doctor was here not long ago. Don't you remember? Kate broke in with the soldiers and you nearly wet yourself."
Claire raised an eyebrow, moving away from Sasha a little. "I'm not sure whether you're just experiencing a lot a stress about Alec disappearing, but this is getting creepy. There haven't been any soldiers in my flat!"
"Yes there were! The crashing meteorite?"
"I think I'd remember something like that."
"But I remember!" Sasha cried, jumping off the sofa. "I was here when it happened! You met the Doctor! I told you we found Alec!"
"No you didn't," Claire insisted. "Last night we watched one of those romantic movies you hate. I gave you the Doctor's number to call and you missed that topless scene. You arranged to meet him today at a Papa's Café Stop in town at midday. And, now that I mention it, you've got half an hour until you should be there. I'll give you a towel for the shower, wipe those tears, and I'll give you a lift down there."
Sasha's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "I've already done that though. I've been here since then. Why don't you remember any of this?"
"Because it didn't happen," Claire said as if it was obvious.
"But . . ." Sasha stuttered. Nothing quite seemed right. How come Claire didn't remember anything? Suddenly, things came together in Sasha's mind. Claire didn't remember because it happened yet. "It hasn't happened yet . . ." Sasha smiled.
"What hasn't happened yet?" Claire asked in confusion.
"The TARDIS must have landed the day after I called the Doctor, but before I met him and UNIT turned up!" Sasha gasped.
"Sasha . . . I know a girl at work that can deal with your situation – after just a few sessions, I'm sure you'll be back to your usual state," Claire offered.
"But it makes sense now!" Sasha cried, jumping into the air. "The TARDIS is trying to help me. It's given me a way back to the Doctor!"
"The TARDIS?"
"I can get back to him! The Doctor must've landed in town; I remember where he parked it. If I can get to the TARDIS before the previous me does, I can get back to the ship. I can get them all back. I can save Alec too! Do you have a twenty I can borrow? I need to get a cab."
"What?" Claire gasped. "Tell me what's going on right now!"
"I'm getting my brother back!" Sasha laughed. "Come on. Twenty?"
Claire handed Sasha a twenty pound note.
"Thanks," Sasha smiled, hugging her friend a little too enthusiastically as she skipped out the room. Before she left Claire's view, Sasha turned back into the room. "Oh, when I come back in a couple of days, try not to ask too many questions. Just pretend most of this never happened; it'll help my recovery. This was just a mental blip. See you seen, Claire!"
The cab parked at a street market, where food was sold from large pans and traders who spoke with every tongue. It was raining – just how Sasha had remembered it. She threw the twenty at the cab driver, not waiting for change, and skipped out into the street. The scent of grilled meats, fragrant cheeses and Belgian chocolate fondues were all familiar to Sasha as she stepped into her past. At the end of the street, hidden in an alcove, stood the TARDIS.
Simply by stepping closer, the blue doors swung open, and bright green and orange light spilt out, bathing Sasha in warmth. She smiled, and tapped the ship, thanking it in a way. The doors closed as she stepped in.
"Ok then," Sasha muttered, "you're trying to help me, so take me back to that ship. Come on. I know you want to get them back too, so shift it, sexy!"
The TARDIS rattled into life, scattering Sasha across the ground as it disappeared from the market street. Sasha laughed, grasping a railing as she was flung about, her hair whipping into her face as the machine wheezed and groaned through time and space.
"Can you hear something?" Alec wondered, raising his head.
"I can't," Shannon disagreed, slumping onto the floor next to him.
"Got a plan?" River asked, standing beside the Doctor as he examined the door.
"If I had the sonic, this door would be simple. Even if we could open it, we can't go anywhere without those two getting aggressive," the Doctor groaned, gesturing to the Daleks that stood guard in the corner of the room. "You? Got that vortex manipulator?"
"Shush!" River insisted. You leant closer to the Doctor's eye. "I've got it on myself. The Daleks didn't see, and if I turn it on they'll probably be able to detect it."
"So, in short, we're stuck."
"Where's Sasha?" Alec asked.
River and Shannon gulped. "I don't know," Shannon replied, keeping her head down. "She disappeared through the ventilation shafts, so she could be anywhere by now. She said she was looking for the TARDIS . . ."
"But it's in surveillance mode, which will make it hard to find," River added.
"She's lost in a ship full of Daleks," Alec worried.
"If she gets back to the TARDIS, the emergency protocols will take her back home," the Doctor informed them.
"Can you hear something?" Alec worried again, turning his head.
"And what will the emergency protocols do?" Shannon asked.
"She'll be taken back home. Sasha will be safe there, but she won't be able to get back. I've left her a short message. I hope she listens to it," the Doctor replied.
"Surely you can hear that?" Alec insisted.
"So there's no chance of us getting back?" Shannon worried.
"Doctor, I can hear it too," River added.
"What is it?" Shannon asked.
"Audio frequency in range!" a Dalek announced, moving back from the wall.
"Is that . . .?" River gasped.
"It is!" Alec confirmed.
"TARDIS frequency in audible range!" the second Dalek announced.
"Get back!" the Doctor cried, pulling his companions away from the far wall of the cell.
The TARDIS smashed through the wall of the cell, spiralling out of control as it hit the two Daleks, ripping their bodies apart as they burst into flames across the floor. A Dalek eyestalk rolled across the floor, landing at the Doctor's feet as he staggered into the corner with his companions. Smoke protruded from the burning corpses of the Daleks, crushed under the TARDIS as it landed in the middle of the room.
Her hair a mess, Sasha staggered out of the TARDIS, her shoes crunching the plates of Dalek metal beneath her. Alec grinned, laughing a little as he ran into his sister's arms.
"I told you, kickass at times," River smiled.
"Well, I don't plan on doing that again," Sasha coughed, surrounded by smoke.
"Intruder detected! Contain the Predator!" a Dalek voice announced down a corridor.
"Ok, enough talking; let's make a move," the Doctor decided, ushering them into the TARDIS. "Stop chatting and move it!"
"Everyone in!" River insisted, watching as a Dalek at her heels twitched its gun. She stepped inside the TARDIS, locking the doors as the Doctor flew the ship.
"Well done, team!" Sasha laughed, hugging her brother.
"Daleks, nil – Team Doctor, winners!" Alec cheered.
"We are the champions, my friends! Dum, dum, DUM!" Shannon sang.
"And we'll kind on fighting 'til the end!" Sasha and Alec joined in.
Whilst Sasha, Alec and Shannon celebrated, the Doctor and River exchanged worried, solemn looks.
"So, where are we off to?" Alec asked the Doctor, leaning against the console. "I was thinking: twenties America; I could do with a party, or some sort of festival on a distant planet."
"I could do with a rest after all this," Sasha disagreed.
"Earth," the Doctor snapped. "We're going back to Earth."
"Oh . . . Ok," Alec muttered. "Earth in the future?"
"No. 21st century, right where we started," the Doctor snapped.
Sasha looked quizzical. "Saving the Earth? Another meteorite?"
"No. Nothing's going to happen, and if it does, I'll deal with it," the Doctor replied.
"Ah," Sasha groaned. "I've just come from home, I want at least two other adventures before we go back."
"You were meant to stay on Earth!" the Doctor suddenly snapped. The TARDIS shuddered as it landed. "Get out. Now! Get out of my TARDIS!"
Sasha gasped. "Have I done something?"
"No, you didn't do anything."
"Are you trying to kick me out?"
"Yes."
"Without any reason?"
"I just want you gone."
"Hey! Stop having a go," Alec complained. "What is this about?"
The Doctor hung his head. "There's a reason I sent Sasha back home. There's a reason that my emergency protocols would do the same for anyone else."
"Yeah, and why's that?" Sasha asked, turning stern.
"To protect you," the Doctor answered. "This is getting too dangerous and I don't want any of you to be caught up in this. I've taken you back home, and I don't want you to interfere. This is for your own purpose."
"Surely that's our decision to make," Alec complained.
"Sasha and River, yes, maybe, but not you or Shannon. You're too young, so it's my decision."
"You're taking me back too?" River asked.
"Yes. As I said, this is too dangerous and I don't want you to be caught up in it. You're my wife! I don't want to see you in trouble."
"Caught up in what?" Shannon questioned him. "We got out of there and we have Alec back. What's the problem?"
"This isn't the end," the Doctor explained. "The Daleks trapped us so we were out of the way for the rest of their plans. The Daleks are going to tear this world apart. They'll take every human they can find and change them into Daleks. They already started with the children from the cells, and now they want to do it with everyone else."
"Then let us help to stop them," Sasha pleaded.
"No!" the Doctor snapped. "These are the Daleks. They are the deadliest creatures I've ever known. If this had been any other enemy, I would let you help, but not with the Daleks. I will do whatever I can to protect you all, even if it puts myself in danger."
"Doctor, you can't do this," River cried.
"I can and I have to," the Doctor insisted. The Doctor flicked at lever at the TARDIS console. "I've programmed the TARDIS to take you to the Luna University once these three have left. It won't let you travel anywhere else, so don't even try."
"Have you never learnt everything?" River gasped. "You can't make it through life by yourself; that's why you travel with companions."
"Then I'll try my best," the Doctor sobbed. He took River's wrists in his hands, gently stroking her arms with his thumbs. "River, you have to understand. I have to try to stop the Daleks, but I can't put any of you into this much danger."
"And you never have before?"
"Not this much danger. I'll have to destroy a whole Dalek fleet, and if I don't, the consequences could be catastrophic."
"And you're going to put yourself through this amount of danger anyway? You could die!"
"Then so be it. I've had a happy life – met wonderful people, done amazing things, seen outstanding places. What's the harm in dying trying to help?"
River slapped the Doctor in the face. "Don't say that! Don't you dare say that! Don't you ever listen to me?"
"I always do. And I always pay attention to every word you say."
"Then why won't you stop this?"
"Because if I do what you're asking, I won't have anyone left to listen to," the Doctor replied. Softly, he kissed River on the forehead. "Do something for me, Professor Song – stay alive. I don't want to lose you."
"Neither do I," River sobbed. She leant closer and kissed the Doctor on the lips. "I love you, sweetie."
"Then let me save you."
River looked down at her wrists. Whilst she and the Doctor had kissed, the Doctor had removed the vortex manipulator from her. She opened her mouth, ready to protest, but the Doctor had already activated the device and disappeared into wisps of smoke.
"No . . ." River gasped, a tear lingering in her eye. "You idiot!" she screamed, kicking the console. The TARDIS groaned.
"Oh, River . . ." Sasha soothed, rubbing River's arm in an attempt to comfort her.
"Thank you," River stuttered. "Sasha, if you learn anything from the Doctor, it's that you should never trust him. Love him all you want, but don't bet your life on him. That's the mistake I've been making for years."
"We can't do anything now," Alec sighed.
"No. We're trapped here," Shannon confirmed. "We've come so far, and now we're straight back at the start. Snakes and ladders."
"I suppose it's what the Doctor wanted," Sasha muttered.
"That doesn't mean we have to do what he wants," River interrupted. "We're not controlled by him; we can make our own decisions. He's on that Dalek ship as we speak, so what's to stop us from following him there. I don't know about you, but I want to help."
"We can't get to him though!" Sasha pointed out. "All we've got is the TARDIS and it won't go anywhere other than where we are now on Earth and the Luna University."
"Exactly. We have the TARDIS," River smiled. "The biggest ship in the universe. You would image that there's something in here that can help us."
"Where would we find something that could help us?" Sasha questioned.
"I don't know. I'd like to find out myself."
Alec stepped forwards. "I'll help. Point me in the right direction and tell me what to do."
"Me too," Shannon added.
"Ok then. Liking the attitude. Span the whole of the TARDIS – look in every room, every draw and bring anything back to the console room if you think it could help. Bring weapons as well. If we're going back to the Dalek ship we might need to be armed," River instructed.
"You heard her: let's go!" Sasha cried.
The Doctor appeared in what appeared to be a laboratory. Several Daleks roamed the room, guarding it as their puppets fused wires and concentrated bubbling liquids before injecting them into Dalek mutants. Crouching, the Doctor watched with interest. There was so much technology. Smoke lingered in the air, and the lights flickered ever other moment from electrical experiments.
Silently, the Doctor scuttled through the room, his eyes peering over tables to make sure he wasn't being followed. Neither the Daleks nor their puppets saw the Doctor; they were too busy with their experiments.
Cautiously, the Doctor placed his hand across the table, feeling for anything of interest. He felt several large pieces of paper; he pulled them off the table and looked through the elaborately detailed plans that were on them. There were plans for new Dalek guns, teleport devices, new eyestalks, complicated shielding systems and the designs for the Dalek ships.
A smile crept across the Doctor's face. He folded up the designs for the ship and placed it on the inside pocket of his coat. As for the rest, he briefly looked at the gun designs, then placed them back on the table. Whilst he placed the documents back, he quickly scanned the room for anything else that might help. He recognised several objects that littered the room: a hand held Dalek gun, unusual plates of metal and a collection of everyday DIY equipment.
The Doctor had a plan. He needed a lot of the equipment in the room to execute it however, which would be hazardous, considering the number of Daleks in the room. There would be no chance unless he had the Dalek gun.
Suddenly, the Doctor made a dash for it. As two Daleks turned to face him, he slid behind a table.
"The Predator is located!"
"Restrain the Doctor!"
Finding a chance, the Doctor jumped onto the table, reached for the gun and aimed it at a Dalek. He fired, hitting the first Dalek in the eyestalk. It wailed as its head was blown apart, shattering into pieces.
"Extermina . . ." the second Dalek cried before being blown apart by the Doctor.
The Doctor shot the remaining Daleks, sending their heads into flames, but missed the puppets – their human figures enabled them to duck and hide behind tables. Following suit, the Doctor dived behind a table, avoiding a shot from a puppet. When there was silence, the Doctor leant out from behind the table and shot the remaining Dalek puppets.
Sparks flew from behind the Doctor as he stood up. The room was eliminated. He smiled a little. "Yep. I've still got it."