18

The TARDIS whirred and spun through the Vortex as both Time Lords did their best to not show how worried they really were. The Sontaran Empire was known for its warmongering, it was their only purpose as far as the Doctor had ever been able to tell. The tell-tale sounds of the TARDIS materialising caught Thirteen's attention as she tried to remember what the germ of the plan she had been beginning to form was.

"We're here." She stepped back from the centre console as Ten nodded.

"Alonsey."

"Yeah." She looked at him. "You ready for this?"

"Yeah." He tugged on his collar as she pulled her coat a little closer to her. "Yeah."

"Ok then."

"One or both of us may regenerate after this."

"Again." Ten sighed. "Getting boring now, don't you think?"

"A bit."

"The universe could cope with two of us? You reckon?"

"Maybe." She smirked.

"What if we regenerate and there are three of us?"

"Come on." She headed to the door as the TARDIS groaned. One Time Lord was more than enough for her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ian stared at the computer screen, still feeling uneasy about the whole thing. He was 90 years old, too old for all the nonsense of UNIT and Torchwood but he knew he was one of the few humans who knew what the realities of the Universe held. He looked over to Kate who was talking on the phone. A moment later she hung up.

"My Dear?"

"Yes." Kate smiled, knowing that the term of endearment was not meant to undermine her. It was just something only Ian could get away with calling her.

"Everyone is in position. Captain Jack has notified that Cardiff are in position and ready. Graham and Ryan were the last to confirm."

"Not surprised." She folded her arms as she read the screen over his shoulder. "This has to work."

"It will." The elderly man looked up at her. "With two Doctors then there is no way we can lose."

xxxxxxxxxxx

Ace ran along the corridor with Yaz just a little ahead of her. The idea that the Earth was being suffocated made her feel slightly sick. Knowing that at least one Sontaran fleet was on Earth terrified her. Stopping dead she grabbed Yaz by the shoulders, indicating that they had to move left. Both ducked into a small alcove.

"What?" Yaz hissed as the older woman pinned her to the wall. A moment later a Sontaran advanced guard marched past. Ace narrowed her eyes as she watched them stop, as if they were sensing them just a few feet away. Ace picked up her baseball bat, glad that she had kept it all the years she had. She jabbed the bat into the back of the first Sontaran's neck as the other two marched away, apparently unaware of their presence.

"Come on." Yaz backed away, hoping the others were having more luck than they were.

xxxxxxx

"Here." Ten jumped out of the TARDIS heading towards what he thought was the middle of the Sontaran ship. Thirteen dipped her head, listening intensely she knew there was a very real chance they were walking into a trap.

"This has to work." She muttered under her breath. "Give me this. Come on. Give me this one." She stepped forward hoping the plan would work.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Dan knelt next to Tegan as the older woman set the Nitro 99 that Ace had spent the best part of the week making. The edge of the mountain was not somewhere he particularly wanted to be.

"Yous sure about this?"

"Yes." Tegan got to her feet. "Well, as much as I can be."

"You really think it's going to work?" Dan bit his lip, remembering all the years he and Yaz had been stuck in the past. He hated to think of a time without the Doctor, with the Sontarans in charge of the planet. This really was their last hope.