The Doctor was still spinning in his chair when he heard the headmaster clearing his throat.
The Doctor quickly stopped and smiled nervously. "Mr. Rocastle, hello."
He arched his eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
"Uh, making sure the seat was sturdy." The Doctor lied.
He pursed his lips. "Well, if you're done I'd like to ask you a favor."
"Yes sir?" The Doctor replied trying to sound serious.
"Mr. Wilson is ill and we would like it if you'd take his place observing the students during target practice, tomorrow." Mr. Rocastle said.
The Doctor's hearts dropped. "Target practice? Like with guns?"
"Yes, that's how it's usually done." He replied.
"Um, excuse me sir but why are these children even handling guns?" The Doctor asked.
The headmaster sighed.
"Because we're training them to be soldiers." He explained.
"Sir, there just children."
"You will do as you're told." He said firmly.
"But-" The Doctor started to say.
Mr. Rocastle stopped him.
"Not another word, the students will be waiting for you outside at 8:00 A.M tomorrow, Mr. Smith."
Before he could protest Mr. Rocastle was already gone.
The Doctor sighed and sank in his chair.
"Humans." He muttered.
Meanwhile Martha was sitting outside when she saw Clara walking by.
"Hi Clara!" She smiled.
Clara smiled. "Hello Martha, what are you doing out here?"
"Just taking a short break. How about you?" She replied.
Clara grinned. "Same. May I sit with you?'
Martha nodded and moved over on the stone bench.
"So how long have you been working here?" Martha asked.
"Three years." Clara replied.
Her eyes widen. "Wow, you must like it here."
"Well, it wasn't something I had planned on doing." Clara admitted.
"What do you mean?' She asked.
Clara sighed. "Well, after my parents died I was left to raise my two sisters so I had to leave school. I was a governess first before I came here."
"Why'd you quit?"
"I was becoming more of a parent to my charges then their governess and I didn't like that. They really needed their parents not me. Then I was offered a job here but I had to send my sisters to boarding school. Any income I make is sent to them." Clara explained.
Martha felt bad for her. "Do you get to see them?"
She nodded. "Yes, usually when their on break."
"Can I ask what you originally wanted to do?"
Clara smiled sadly. "I don't really know. I gave up on dreams a long time ago."
"Do you fancy anyone?" Martha asked.
Clara smiled and thought of the Doctor and his sweet smile.
She then cleared her throat. "No, not really. I mean who would be interested in a maid?"
Martha frowned. "That's no way to talk. I believe there's someone for everyone."
Clara sighed. "I appreciate your optimism, Martha but I'm afraid my life's here."
"It'll get better." She said.
Clara smiled. "Thanks, I appreciate it."
She stood from the bench and sighed. "Well, I better get back and start on their laundry."
She looked back at Martha. "You coming?"
Martha nodded. "Yeah, I'll be there in a minute, you go on."
Clara shrugged and started walking back.
Martha sat there and was about to leave when she saw the Doctor walking by, he looked bothered.
"Doctor what's wrong?"
He sighed and plopped next to her. "I was ordered by Mr. Sunshine to help these kids use a gun."
Martha giggled. "I take it you mean Mr. Rocastle."
The Doctor nodded.
"Well, that's one of the things this place teaches, how to be a soldier." She replied.
"I don't like it; I know what it's like to be eight years old and learning how to use a weapon and I can't participate in that. It's wrong." He said.
"Well, did you really think being human was going to be easy?" Martha asked.
The Doctor shrugged. "I don't know but I can't turn back now. It's too late, I've got no choice."
He stood and stared out over the hill.
Martha stood beside him. "It'll be alright. You'll think of something."
He smiled. "Thanks."
Martha then moved closer and squinted at the scarecrow in the field.
"What's wrong?" He said.
She made a face. "Nothing it's just that's the creepiest scarecrow I've ever seen."
He chuckled. "Well there not meant to be pretty, you know."
Martha smiled. "Yeah, well I've got to get back to the school."
She started walking and glanced back. "You going to be okay?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine."
Martha smiled and left but the Doctor stared at the scarecrow and now felt bothered by it but he shrugged it off and left.
That night a strange distant noise woke Martha up from a deep sleep.
She looked around groggy eyed but when the noise happened again she was officially alert.
It sounded like a thunder-storm but it wasn't raining and she had never heard a storm that had a whirring buzzing echo.
Martha checked to see if Clara was still asleep before getting on her slippers and robe.
She quietly left their room to get the Doctor.
Martha tapped on his door before going inside; she was surprised to see he was fast asleep.
She sat on the edge of his bed and began rubbing his shoulder. "Doctor?" She whispered.
He grunted and buried himself deeper under the blankets.
Martha groaned and rubbed his arm. "Come on Doctor, wake up." She said a little louder.
He groaned and slowly propped himself up. "What is it, Martha? I'm trying to sleep."
"I thought Time Lords didn't sleep." She scowled.
"Well, unfortunately when I put my D.N.A in the watch that also included my ability to stay awake all night. Now, good night." He grumbled.
"Wait, I thought I heard a noise outside." She said slightly panicking.
That caught his attention. "What kind of noise?"
She swallowed. "The kind the Family's spaceship makes."
The Doctor immediately sat up. "Come on." He said hopping out of bed.
"What about your robe?"
"No time for that." He said.
She sighed, grabbed a flash light and followed him outside.
It was dark and chilly outside, Martha shivered in her robe.
The Doctor listened for a few minutes.
"Well?" Martha asked.
"I don't hear anything." He said.
"I swear I heard something." Martha insisted.
"How far away was it?" He asked.
She shrugged. "I'm not sure it was too far to tell."
He held out his sonic screwdriver and studied it.
The Doctor nodded. "Just what I thought, there not here yet but there coming. Thankfully they still have a long way to go."
"But the laptop said they were already here."
He shook his head.
"I should've realized it." The Doctor scowled.
Martha looked at him worried. "Realize what?"
The Doctor sighed. "What we saw on the laptop was their pilot fish."
Martha pulled her robe tighter. "What do we do?"
"Tomorrow we need to find where they dropped that pilot fish."
"How? If you're not there tomorrow at target practice you'll be fired and then we'll really be in trouble." Martha replied.
"Well, what do you suggest?"
"I could do it." She said.
He shook his head. "No, that's too dangerous."
"Okay, so what do we do?"
The Doctor thought for a moment.
"Could you please hurry? It's freezing out here." She grumbled.
"Look, I have a plan to halt the student's target practice then I'll just meet you and we'll look together." He explained.
"Fine." Martha yawned.
The Doctor tapped her arm. "Come on let's go back."
She stopped him.
"Wait, if they dropped them off doesn't that mean the pilot fish might've crashed?" Martha pointed out.
A grim expression came across his face. "It means we don't find it first people will die."