Chapter 24:
Silence and pitch black was all that fogged the mind of each member of Team RWBY. All they would hear at first is the sound of mechanical groaning before each would slowly wake up. The TARDIS was low on lights as the girls noticed The Doctor and Dalek Khan trying to restart the TARDIS but no luck.
Ruby: You girls okay?
Weiss: A little dizzy but I should be okay.
Blake: What even happened?
Yang: I'd say we hit this ship with a Yang!
The girls would facepalm at Yang's terrible pun at a bad timing as they slowly got up and looked around to see a mess of the TARDIS. They flew at hyper speed and CRASH! That's all they remember.
Weiss: Doctor, what happened? Did the TARDIS break?
The Doctor: No no, she's fine. However, much of the speed and crash took a lot from her so basically, she's drained. We tried to jumpstart her and give her a kick but no luck.
Blake: Wait! So we're stuck here!
Dalek Khan: NOT FOR LONG!
The Doctor: Not until the TARDIS is halfway energized. Probably about an hour or two.
Yang: That's too much!
Ruby: We're gonna be late for class and get in trouble...
The Doctor and Weiss looked at each other knowing time works different and who's gonna be the one to tell them.
Weiss: Girls, I don't think there's anything to worry about.
The Doctor: Time is a very complicated thing. But you won't be late. Just you wait. *winks*
The Doctor opens the door to reveal a cold and windy view of the planet they're on. Looking around, he noticed the crack closing again leaving him to sigh. If that crack continues to appear, more trouble will occur, and he needed to stop this soon. Unbeknownst to him, a few vines were growing from below the TARDIS.
The Doctor: *walks back inside* The crack just closed. Khan?
Dalek Khan: Doctor! There is no sign of anything that crossed the crack.
The Doctor: What?
Weiss: Maybe it didn't cross it on time?
Dalek Khan: CORRECT! Nothing appeared as the crack began to close.
The Doctor: Well, I personally say it's for the best.
Yang: Hang on a minute! THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME IN SPACE! ACTUAL SPACE!
The Doctor: Oh! That's actually right.
Unlike Weiss, who has travelled more into space with the Doctor, Team RBY has only travelled with him once, which was when they went back in time and that was it. So, this was surprising for the Doctor.
The Doctor: Well, it is cold and windy outside. And by the looks of it, it looks like an empty planet. There's no sign of life or structures nearby.
Blake: So we're just gonna stay in here until the TARDIS is ready to go?
The Doctor: Sounds about right!
Suddenly, a large growl was heard as everyone turned their heads to Yang who holds her stomach in embarrassment while Blake giggles. Team RWBY did not eat lunch.
Ruby: We forgot to get food.
The Doctor: Actually! *Runs downstairs* Ah! Thank goodness!
The girls looked confused and questioned what the Doctor was doing at the bottom until he came back up with bags of food which was a sigh of relief.
The Doctor: Anyone for Fish and Chips?
Blake: *eyes widen and runs* DIBS! I WANT SOME!
Yang: Blake...*facepalms and turns red*
The Doctor: *chuckles* I knew you would crave it; Thought I get you two plates just in case one isn't enough.
Blake: *drools and grabs both plates* I am in your debt, and I am grateful.
Dalek Khan: RUBY!
Ruby: Wassup Khan?
Dalek Khan: Should we go and work on my blaster until the TARDIS is fully effective?
Ruby: *gasps* Yes! Let's go!
Everyone watched as Ruby followed Khan to his room to begin fixing his weapon and once the door closed, a few giggles and chuckles were let out.
Yang: I still don't know how my sister is friends with a killer alien.
The Doctor: Says the one who loves to go on a rampage when she's very angry.
Weiss: I've actually never had Fish and Chips. *Eats a chip* Mmm! These are pretty good.
Blake: Oh my goooood! The fish is perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Doctor: Had to go to the finest Fish and Chips in Remnant.
As the group began to eat and talk about a few things in their daily lives such as some background history, Beacon, and kicking Grimm's ass, unless you're Blake who had been devouring her two plates, one thought was in the three girls' minds.
Weiss: Hey Doctor?
The Doctor: Hmm?
Yang: I know you don't like to talk much about the Time War, but we were curious about Gallifrey. You always talked about what happened in the end but never told us how it was before. Was it perfect?
The Doctor: Oh no, nowhere near close to being a perfect planet. But if you are talking about the view of Gallifrey then it was perfect, it was beautiful. Within the Constellation of Kasterborous, they used to call it the Shining World of the Seven Systems. And on the Continent of Wild Endeavour, in the Mountains of Solace and Solitude, there stood the Citadel of the Time Lords, the oldest and most mighty race in the universe, looking down on the galaxies below. Sworn never to interfere, only to watch.
As the girls listened, they all pictured differently how Gallifrey would look like, but all kept the same imagery that it was very beautiful. Weiss imagined it as some kind of kingdom, Yang pictured it as a big castle surrounded by the smaller cities, and Blake thought of her home Menagerie and thought it could be similar but with a palace in the center.
The Doctor: Children of Gallifrey, taken from our families age of eight to enter the Academy.
Blake: What Academy?
The Doctor: To see if we are worthy of becoming time lords. Not everyone in Gallifrey were time lords. Only the special and selected were after passing the Academy.
Weiss: So, there were actual people in Gallifrey that are like us humans?
The Doctor: You could say that. We were called Gallifreyans but those of us who are lucky enough to pass the Academy and the approval of the higher ups become Time Lords.
Yang: And just by mentioning it to us, you passed and became one.
The Doctor: Wasn't like the usual school stuff like you guys do. Ours was more...complex to say. One of our final courses to completing the Academy and as a novice, we were taken for initiation. Many of us stood in front of the Untampered Schism. It's a gap in the fabric of reality through which could be seen the whole of the vortex. You stand there, eight years old, staring at the raw power of time and space, just a child. Some would be inspired, some would run away, and some would go mad.
The girls looked at each other before looking at the Doctor after hearing his tale of the Gallifrey Academy and the difficult process of becoming a time lord. They never knew it would have consequences.
Blake: And you were?
The Doctor: Oh, Inspired! I knew about the original Doctor when I was young and saw him as this adventurous man travelling through planets and galaxies, defeating evil, and saving lives. When I looked through the vortex, all I could think about was what is out there in the universe. Never expected that I would explore a different universe that I would say before, not my own.
Weiss: But the fact that some ran away, and others became mad.
The Doctor: It was unfortunate because most of them were good kids, friends. Perhaps the most remembered one will be The Doctor and The Master.
Weiss: The Master?
The Doctor: Arch enemy of the Original Doctor. Driven insane when he viewed the vortex and became a manipulator, crazy, and sinister person.
Yang: The one who became mad.
The Doctor: And the Doctor wanted to do more than just stay in Gallifrey so he left, stealing a TARDIS and Whoosh! Off to Adventures in Time and Space.
Blake: The one who ran away.
Weiss: So if you're the Doctor now, wouldn't you be concerned about The Master coming for you since...the original Doctor died.
The Doctor: Actually no. The Master died in the Time War after he tried to escape but was executed by the Daleks. While the Doctor...brought down all the Daleks and Time Lords with him destroying Gallifrey.
Blake: Doesn't it scare you? Knowing that you're the last Time Lord in existence. There's no Gallifrey in this universe and your home is gone.
The Doctor: Of course it does. But it doesn't stop me from doing what I must. Besides, Remnant is slowly becoming Gallifrey for me.
Weiss: *smiles softly* Home.
The Doctor: Yep, and I got the TARDIS, you guys, and Khan all with me. Still surprises me I have a Dalek as a companion.
Yang: Just hearing you mention the Daleks gives me the chills seeing how ruthless and threatening they are. And then there's Khan, a kind yet threatening Dalek. He gives off a creepy but hopeful vibe.
The Doctor: He's not just a weapon expert. He's a smart Dalek, knows well how to coordinate travels, keeps an eye out on wherever we are at, and always makes sure we both and the people we encounter are protected. That's why he's my co-pilot.
Blake: Little cunning too. *giggles*
The Doctor: What do you mean by that?
Yang: Well...*pulls out scroll and shows a video* He gave us a look at the most beautiful dance in the universe.
The Doctor and Weiss knew what Yang meant as they watched the video and blushed not knowing that Khan recorded the entire dance.
The Doctor and Weiss: KHAN!
Meanwhile in Khan's room, Ruby enjoys her fish and chips while helping her Dalek friend with the blaster as Khan would instruct her in repairing some parts.
Ruby: You haven't thought about upgrading your weapon at all Khan?
Dalek Khan: It's been a thought in mind.
Ruby: You got the perfect accuracy and packed power from that weapon. But I think it needs speed. Maybe like a mingun. *Grabs scroll* Think of it, 6 muzzles around the middle one. The surrounding ones can go for multiple targets while the main one goes for the directed target.
Dalek Khan: I SEE! I must suggest this to the Doctor, get the right materials and create it.
Ruby: YEAH! By the way Khan, what exactly is the power in your blaster? Like my Crescent Rose contains dust bullets for example.
Dalek Khan: Neutronic Energy! Think of it as multiple lightning bolts hitting you at once.
Ruby: *gulps* No wonder the Daleks are feared.
Dalek Khan: I wish...to no longer be feared...I. AM. Different...
Ruby: And you are Khan. I may not know much about the Daleks besides being ruthless killers, but you are not like them. You are something so much better and special.
Dalek Khan: *eyestalk looks down* We...are created for many dark things: Death, Conquer, Regime, Supremacy. I...killed lives in my universe before the Time War. We were only created with one emotion: Hatred.
Ruby can only look at her Dalek friend, just by the voice she knew he was guilty of many things and regretted the actions he had done.
Ruby: So what changed you?
Dalek Khan: The Time War...it changed me. It was the very first time I felt FEAR!
Dalek Khan remembers waking up in his damaged armor and seeing his former fallen comrades all dead and he was the only one alive. Stuck and unable to continue, he felt the fear grow in him as he knew he did not want to die.
Dalek Khan: I...was alone...and defenseless until...THE DOCTOR came.
Ruby: He noticed you were scared.
Dalek Khan: I told him...and he saw. He HELPED me...and I helped him. I exterminated the Daleks that were going to kill him, and we escaped.
Ruby was saddened yet touched by how the friendship between the last time lord and the dalek came to be. Unexpectedly, she heard something beginning to open and noticed Dalek Khan opening his shell from his armor. As she got a better look, her eyes widened to see a squid-like alien inside of the armor. She noticed the little scar he must've received from the time war and looked at her Dalek friend in awe. Dalek Khan looked at his huntress friend as he took out one of his tentacles and Ruby took a hold of it with two fingers.
Dalek Khan: You...are not...scared?
Ruby: Why would I be? Because you're a Dalek? Because your kind is perhaps the deadliest thing in the galaxy? No. You are very different Khan and that is your heart. You have shown that a Dalek can be different and can be good. You are a smart and strong Dalek yet a kindhearted creature even with a little bit of sass who I'm glad to call you my friend. *smiles*
Dalek Khan never heard these words before from anyone, yet it felt so special when Ruby told him this. A happy feeling grew within the Dalek as he went back in and closed his shell as Ruby smiled at her Dalek friend.
Dalek Khan: Thank you Ruby! I. AM. Glad. I can call you my friend too.
Ruby: *gasps* KHANNNNNNNN! *Hugs him*
Dalek Khan: NO HUUUUGS!
Ruby: Just this once pweaseeeee.
Dalek Khan: Fine!
About an hour passed as everyone continued to wait for the TARDIS to boost up anytime soon. All four girls decided to work on their schoolwork as the Doctor was outside looking around the area of this planet.
Blake: Shouldn't we be worried that we're pretty much missing class.
Ruby: About an hour has passed, *sighs* I don't wanna get detention.
Weiss: Jeez, your girls are so impatient. Doctor!
The Doctor: Yes?
Weiss: On this planet light years from Remnant, how much is an hour?
The Doctor: I'd say about 5 minutes. So back home, it's only been 5 minutes since you left.
Weiss: Thank you sweetie!
Weiss smirked as her teammates were in shock once again, but they didn't know which was more shocking: that time is going very slow or that Weiss just called the Doctor sweetie. After a bit more of studying, Yang had an interesting question in mind.
Yang: Hey Doctor, question.
The Doctor: *walks inside* And that would be?
Yang: How is it that the TARDIS is bigger on the inside while it looks like a small police box on the outside?
Ruby: Ooooooo!
Blake: That's something that didn't come to mind until now.
Weiss: I'd like to know as well. You never explained how THIS works?
The Doctor smiles as he grabs two different books, a big one and a small one. Weiss pulled out her journal about Time and Space ready to write down as well as the four girls listened.
The Doctor: Let's start with a simple thing, which book is bigger?
Ruby: The one on your left hand!
The Doctor: Precisely! Now, observe.
The Doctor places the large book on the control buttons of the TARDIS, and he walks right in front of RWBY with the small book in his hand.
The Doctor: Now which one is bigger?
Ruby: Uhhh, it's still the book over there.
The Doctor: You sure?
Yang: Yeah, you only placed it further but it's still big- Wait!
The Doctor: Perspectives. Think about that.
Yang: In that case, the one on your hand is bigger.
The Doctor: There we go!
Weiss: Wait, back up. You're gonna need to explain it more.
Blake: I'm sure we're still lost Doctor.
The Doctor: If you could keep it exactly that distance away and have it here, the large one would fit inside the small one. That's called trans dimensional engineering. It's a very complicated concept for you guys to understand for the time being.
Ruby: So then, we keep it at this distance...and bring both books together as well, the bigger one will fit exactly within the smaller one?
The Doctor: Not bad Ruby Rose. Close enough but it's something like that.
Yang: You time lords are confusing.
Blake: It's more that they're too advanced. We don't have anything like that in Remnant at all and probably never.
Weiss: What were you doing outside by the way Doctor?
The Doctor: Trying to inspect the area for the time being. From where we are at, it looks like an empty planet, but no planets are ever empty.
Blake: It does look chilly out there as well.
The Doctor: The power should be at 50% by now. I need to check the energy source downstairs. Khan, scan please.
Dalek Khan: SCANNING!
The Doctor walks downstairs to where the energy source of the TARDIS as he opens it. To his surprise, the source is fully energized but why wasn't the TARDIS turning on.
Dalek Khan: SCANNING!
Then he remembered what he mentioned to Weiss, there is no such thing as an empty planet. He looked around and noticed some kind of vine around some small cracks of the TARDIS.
Dalek Khan: SCAN COMPLETE!
The Doctor: Oh no...
Dalek Khan: TARDIS Energy source is at 100%! Life Source also detected!
The Doctor runs back upstairs and runs outside to look at the TARDIS to see vines wrapping around it from the ground. This planet has life on it, and it was organisms.
The Doctor: We must go NOW! *Tries to power the TARDIS* KHAN! Find a way to activate the TARDIS!
Blake: What's going on?
The Doctor: It's pulling the TARDIS down!
Weiss: What is?
The Doctor: The ground! FULL POWER KHAN!
Dalek Khan: FULL POWER!
Doing everything they can to jumpstart the TARDIS, the Doctor and Dalek Khan continue to get the TARDIS moving but then more vines appear, and the police box begins to go down even more.
The Doctor: *grunts* EVERYONE OUT NOW!
Wasting no time, everyone jumps out of the TARDIS and miraculously makes it with the Doctor being the last one to jump. They all turn around to see the vines completely wrap the TARDIS and disappear into the ground. Pulling out his Sonic Screwdriver, the Doctor scans the ground and to his relief, the TARDIS wasn't destroyed but rather deep underground.
Ruby: Doctor...Are we?...
The Doctor: No thankfully. TARDIS is okay and at full power.
Yang: So, what happened?
The Doctor: Like I said, there are no planets that exist without life. *Scans the ground* Stay away from the grass, it's a living organism that feeds on anything when stepped on.
Weiss: The Grass is alive?
The Doctor: Yes, but it's how the organism appears. One wrong step and we are a 6-course meal for this creature.
Blake: Okay, so how do we find the TARDIS without trying to be eaten.
The Doctor: *breathes and smiles* That's the tricky part. *Looks at Team RWBY*
Weiss: I don't like where this is going especially when you have that adventurous look.
The Doctor: These organisms can drag us down, suffocate us, and kill us at the instant. We must stay away from that while heading to...
Weiss: Please don't say-
The Doctor: The Belly of the Beast.
Team RBY: HUH?...
Weiss: I hate you.
The Doctor: No you don't. We find a way to go underground, reach the TARDIS, jumpstart it, and get out of here.
Blake: That's just crazy Doctor!
The Doctor: And crazy is my type of thing. *winks*
All four girls groan not knowing what they've just gotten themselves into. Trouble at home and trouble in space. All they hoped for now was to make it back home and be alive.
Yang: Well, nothing we can do now but to kick ass and find the TARDIS! *smirks* I'm ready Doctor!
The Doctor: That's the spirit Yang! Now then, stay close, line formation, and follow me. Khan, you get behind all of us in case something pops up.
Dalek Khan: UNDERSTOOD!
Ruby: I'll help! You're gonna need a sniper of a partner in case they try to take you down.
Dalek Khan: Let's Do It!
Weiss: *walks behind the Doctor* Doctor...*holds his hand for a couple of seconds* We trust you in this, just please promise me it won't go wrong.
The Doctor: *smiles softly and kisses Weiss's hand* That's a promise I won't break.
Weiss: Then lead us to the Belly of the Beast. The sooner we get out of here, the better.
The Doctor: That's the plan. Alrighty then, *smiles* Off We Go!
Away from the Grass in single line formation, the crew all followed the Doctor to bring the TARDIS back. Of course, in space and on a different planet, always be prepared for the unexpected.