Going back to the days following the culmination of their previous adventure. The Doctor and Clara are exploring...
The new adventure is just beginning as The Tardis is launched towards the 456 home planet...
With Scene 11, I was keen to write something which I have been sure about for some long time. The Doctor needs and much misses telepathic contact. It is part of his DNA, the fibre of his being, and he has been without it for so long. I wanted to try to get across what that emptiness would feel like, and how much it would mean to him to be able to communicate thus with Clara. I hope I have managed that. The scene will also be important later in the story...
Then, the three are on their way, whirled into the vortex towards the 456 home planet, where God knows what awaits them...
Scene 11
Flashback.
The days following Malcolm's return to his life, passed in a dreamy haze for Clara and The Doctor.
They remained together aboard the Tardis.
A certain degree of domesticity ensued.
Tea making, reading, cooking...
Formerly so stiff and awkward, The Doctor seemed, more at ease.
More content. Relaxed.
Sharing a bed, seemed to give him an inordinate amount of pleasure, not just from a sexual point of view, although that undoubtedly was a part of it, but from the simple enjoyment of being close.
Lying beside her, touching...her proximity, it gave him joy.
It was during these hours of repose that he began, slowly, to attempt to teach her the mental control necessary to form a stronger telepathic link.
She'd performed marvellously well, he'd assured her, the first time they'd made love.
He'd not expected her to be able to let him in at all, and he had so craved it.
So many hundreds of years had passed since he'd lost all link with his loved ones, it formed a void that he was unable to fill. His previous human companions were not with him long enough to forge that bond.
Clara was different, she was scattered throughout his timeline.
They had a past. She was as close to being a Timelord herself, as she could be.
Forming that connection, so powerful, was an inherent part of his culture, reaching another's mind was part and parcel of everyday Gallifreyan existence.
He missed it more than he could say.
He ached for it.
Clara was keen to learn. Eager to please him.
It choked him to see her earnest face, brow furrowed in concentration, as she tried to connect.
When The Doctor was kissing her, caressing her, when she was aroused, as she never had been with anyone so intensely before...then, she found it easier.
She could pass all her desires, her innermost feelings to him, in return she allowed his thoughts to wash over her, her mind open and receptive, all the rushing, brilliant cascade of colour and light, the deep attachment, it flowed through him and enveloped her.
For him it was completeness.
Sexual love for one such as himself, was only half the picture. It was like never experiencing a full orgasm, always ruined.
Yes, he could climax, but the joining of minds while performing the act, was the ultimate satisfaction.
Clara found it almost overwhelming.
Now, though, he was trying to teach her to link at a less intense level.
Not as they did when they made love, but when they simply had something to say, or wished to feel each other near.
Touching foreheads. Eyes closed.
Breathing gently, in...out...she had it then...she could hear him, feel his presence, but as he pulled away, she'd lose it.
Damn!
She was becoming frustrated.
"You're trying to push it too much, Clara. Just let it happen."
"Trying!"
Fingers to her temples this time, barely touching. Feather light.
Eyes closed again. Breathe. Concentrate.
She was aware of him pulling back, physically...then, a voice, in her head.
"Clara. I love you. Hear me Clara."
She gasped, and tears coursed down her face, although she wasn't really crying.
The Doctor was smiling.
"Come on." He said, "That's enough for today. You'll be exhausted from the effort. We'll try again tomorrow."
She sat back on her heels, with a sigh.
"I do so want to do this...for you." She whispered.
"I know Clara, and you are awesome. I can't believe you've even managed this much. Thank you. Thank you so much."
She took both his hands and held them tight.
"I'll get stronger. I will. I can do this. I know I can."
And she would. He had no doubt.
She wanted it as badly as he did.
She would improve, he could guide her, their bond was so strong now, she would learn. It would be like having another of his own species to communicate with, at last.
He turned away from her, trying to hide the emotion on his face, but she tugged at his hand in hers, turned him to face her,
"I heard you." She whispered, eyes wide. "You were thinking about talking like this to your wife...a long time ago."
He couldn't speak. Couldn't trust his voice.
Nodded. Squeezed her fingers.
One day, soon, they would be able to reach each other wherever they were.
Scene 12
"The 456 thrive in an atmosphere made up of 25% nitrosyl chloride, 22% hydrogen chloride, 20% nitrogen, 12% fluorine, 9% hydrogen cyanide, 6% acetone, and 6% phosgene. It says so here, in Frobisher's notes. The 456 obviously contacted him directly."
Jack was busily tapping on the computer.
"We can't live in that. We'll have to wear suits. Breathing apparatus, helmets on at all times"
"It makes sense that they dealt with him, he was 'their' man. They even lied blatantly when he spoke with them. Not mentioning their previous visit."
The Doctor watched over his shoulder.
"We'll need a Plan B, as well as a plan A Doctor, I just can't see them agreeing to be nice friendly cuddly warm bunnies, I'm afraid."
"Thoughts?" The Doctor replied.
"Plenty," Jack turned," blowing them all sky high is my favourite."
"What about their labs, Jack? If we could destroy those?"
"They are vastly superior beings Doctor. They'd rebuild and restock in no time."
"Hmmm. I guess you're right."
"Doctor, this is going to be hellishly dangerous...Clara should stay here. You and I should do this together."
"Ha!" He laughed," I can just imagine her reaction to that! I don't think you know My Clara very well, Jack."
"Just sayin'!"
"Kate can provide us with anything we need. We're up against some serious technology here. They were able to mind control the whole of the population's children. Not to mention travelling to Earth from God knows where. But for all that, Doctor, they're nothing but bloody drug dealers, that's all they are, and we need to remember that."
It had taken most of the day to prepare themselves.
The Doctor could see Jack bringing various boxes and equipment, given him by UNIT, on board the Tardis. What the boxes contained, Jack hadn't had chance to discover.
He'd asked for certain items, he felt would be useful, but Kate hinted she'd included one or two 'added extras'.
He had the impression he was going to war, an uncomfortable position for him...
"I'm not a soldier Jack, I don't carry weapons. I'm not a fighter. Not really. It's against every principle I hold dear."
"Lucky you've got me here then!" Jack winked.
Clara had searched for, and found the orange suits, she and the Doctor had worn previously, plus another, for Jack.
Cumbersome but necessary.
Oxygen packs, med boxes, anything she thought might be useful.
The air crackled with expectation.
They were ready.
"Now, Old Girl," the Doctor spoke aloud, " this is going to be one hell of a ride. Don't let me down."
The Tardis hummed a response.
Slamming the lever, they lurched backwards in time, towards 2009, the Tardis held in a static position, staying just within shouting distance of Thames House.
As the fiery column appeared, heralding the arrival of the 456 Ambassador, The Doctor gave a yell, and swung into action.
His jaw was set, muscles tight. Eyes focused and blazing. Hearts pumping with adrenaline.
He moved around the console with fluid agility, jabbing buttons, working levers...flying the Tardis manually. Right into the heart of the flaming tube.
Sparks flew from the panels as the Time Machine whirled upwards into the vortex, spinning and spinning along the cylindrical funnel of fire, that composed the 456's transmat beam.
It lurched and tumbled, groaning and complaining as the Doctor fought to hold it on line.
"Come onnnnnnn...come onnnnnnnn!"
The Doctor roared, through gritted teeth, as Jack and Clara clung on for dear life.
For what seemed like an eternity, but was really only a few minutes, they barrelled, twisting and spiralling, until, with a final clunk and a toll like a death knell, they finally came to rest.
The Doctor stepped away from the console with a sigh.
"Well...we're here!"