Thea smirked as she sat on the jump seat by the console, crossing her arms as the Doctor burst into the console room.
They'd gone to 1334BC to help Queen Nefertiti deal with an alien locust and then had a feast afterwards after the locals claimed them to be gods. The Doctor had sent her to the TARDIS not long after the food as he was getting a bit concerned over her love for being called a Goddess.
Not that he couldn't fault her, any girl would want to be called a Godness, no, it was the local boys who kept bowing at her feet, offering sacrifices for her hand in marriage and well...none of them were anything like the Rory Williams she claimed to want, so he had sent her back to the TARDIS, wanting her to get ready to dematerialise after he sorted out the last little things.
She had dressed for the times as well, which hadn't helped with the boys falling over her feet.
Nothing too eccentric, just a simple white dress down to her knees, cinched in at the waist with a thick golden belt, with golden sandals up to her knees and thick bracelets over her wrists, hair down with a golden band across her head with a sun centre piece with golden beads hanging down around her hair.
She grinned at him, "don't fancy kissing an Egyptian queen, then?"
"A bit of warning next time." He huffed.
Thea just laughed, catching sight of Queen Nefertiti slipping though the doors behind the Doctor, the man oblivious as she stared around the room in awe.
"But I did just get this!" He cheered, holding the psychic paper to show the message he had just received.
She raised her eyebrows, amused, "Still can't see it." She reminded him.
"Right," He winced, remembering that now, "Well, it's really interesting! You'll love it!"
"I'd better or I'm coming back here to be an Egyptian goddess!"
"Let's go!" He called, pulling down a lever sending them off.
"Where are we journeying to?"
The Doctor froze, turning to see Nefertiti standing near the doors, a small smirk on her face as Thea laughed at his own sour expression.
"What?" Thea giggled, "you didn't see that coming?"
"Shut up." He grumbled, inputting the coordinates to follow the message, "or you're grounded."
~.~
The Doctor and Thea stood to one side of a screen in a Military Headquarters on Earth circa 2367, the lovely Indian woman, Indira, explaining why she felt the need to summon them by psychic paper. There was only a few selected people across the universe who actually knew they were still alive, well, that the Doctor was anyway, most of the universe knew Thea was still alive after the Doctors apparent death, but as far as they all knew, she was back full time on Earth. Which was why the planet had access to communicate with them via psychic paper, a way to reach them for emergencies without alerting other species about them.
There was a large ship on the screen, an odd round shape with beams sticking out of it.
"Craft size approximately ten million square kilometres." Indira informed them.
"A ship the size of Canada coming at Earth very fast." The Doctor remarked. "Any signs of life?"
"We sent up a drone craft. It took these readings."
"Crikey, Charlie," the Doctor grinned at the information flashing across the screen, "look at that. Ooh, I know someone who'd love to have a look at that."
"And the Ponds!" Thea cheered, "we cannot go without Amy and Rory! If we're bring Neffy and Johnny along they'll be cross if they miss out. And you don't want to see cross Amy."
"No, no one wants to see Amy cross." The Doctor agreed.
"Can you communicate with this craft?" Nefertiti, who had been standing off to the side since sneaking on board, wondered.
"She's with us." The Doctor told her, knowing Indira was rather confused to why two of them there were dressed up like they had just come from Ancient Egypt.
"A stowaway." Thea added, quietly, "but with a very good question."
"No." Indira sighed, "No response on any channel, in any recognised language. If it comes within ten thousand kilometres of Earth, we send up missiles."
"Oh, Indira," the Doctor shook his head, "I liked you before you said missiles. How long till the ship gets that close?"
"6 hours 19 minutes." Thea answered instead.
"Right." He nodded, trusting her. She was really good with timings, "Better get a shift on, then. Leave it with us. Come on, Neffy. We're going to need help."
~.~
In the African plans, 1902, a lone hunter sitting by a fire.
"More stew?" The Doctor asked, startling the man.
"Where've you been, man?" He demanded, "7 months. You said you were popping out for some liquorice. I had two very disappointed dancers on my hands. Not that I couldn't manage." He laughed, "so where is Thea now then?"
"Stealing your stew." She answered, plopping down besides him and taking a spoonful from his bowl, "it's good."
"Riddell, listen." The Doctor looked at the man, "we've found, well...something."
"No, no, no, no, no." Riddell shook his head, "I shan't fall for that again." Only to see them smirking at him, "What is it?"
"We have no idea." Thea told him honestly. "You wanna come and find out?"
He smirked.
~.~
"We really should start calling ahead." Thea warned the Doctor as he raced around the console to materialise around the Ponds.
It had been a couple of months since they had seen the Ponds, she didn't even know how long from the couples timeline, they were giving them a bit more time on Earth nowadays, letting them actually live their life's there. Thea had told them they would try to call ahead in case they were unavailable for adventures. Key word being try as the Doctor refused to believe that anyone could be too busy for adventures.
"But that wastes time!" The Doctor called, slapping Nefertitis hand away as she moved to press a button.
"What if they're busy?" She crossed her arms.
"No one is too busy for this." He countered, moving around and flicking her nose as he pulled down a lever.
The Ponds materialised in the middle of the console room, along with an older man standing on a small ladder between them.
"Hello!" The Doctor cheered, not stopping as he moved to land on the ship heading to Earth, "You weren't busy, were you?"
"Yes." Thea answered for them.
"Well, even if you were, it wasn't as interesting as this probably is. Didn't want you to miss it. Now, just a quick hop." He set them down, "everybody grab a torch." He opened a small panel from the side of the console, grabbing one for himself and handing one to Thea as he grabbed her hand and pulled her out onto the ship with him, not even giving her a chance to apologise to the Ponds, nor did he seem to notice their extra guest.
"Darker than I was expecting." Thea muttered, shining her torch around the darkened spaceship, a few cobwebs on the walls.
"You alright?" He muttered, turning his torch on a spider web, knowing she wasn't too fond on the dark.
"Hope there is no Weeping Angels or Vasta Nerada." She remarked, rolling her eyes as he stiffened at her words, "that's not a feeling."
"You're sure on that?" He asked, wanting to be sure it wasn't going to be that kind of day.
"That's not what we have to worry about."
"What should we worry about then?"
She blinked, "being watched."
He nodded, making a mental note on that, eying the cameras oo the walls as a spider crawled along its web, "Don't normally get spiders in space."
The Doctor stiffened, hearing an unknown voice behind them as everyone stepped out with their own torches, "what the...?" Rorys dad breathed.
Thea rolled her eyes as the Doctor held a protective arm out in front of her as he stalked over to Rorys poor father.
"Don't move!" The Doctor shouted, "Do you really think I'm that stupid I wouldn't notice? How did you get aboard, eh? Transmat? Who sent you?"
"Dad!" Thea groaned, "he is to Rory what you are to me."
"What?"
"Doctor." Rory sighed, "That's my dad."
The Doctor turned to him, "Well frankly, that's outrageous."
"What?"
"You think you can just bring your dad along without asking? I'm not a taxi service, you know!"
"You materialised around us! And Thea didn't even give us a warning!"
"Hey, don't go putting the blame on me!" Thea pouted, "I wanted to call ahead."
"Nevermind that," the Doctor waved them off, turning to shake Rorys dad's hand, "Hello, Brian. How are you? Nice to meet you. Welcome, welcome."
"Sorry, he's an idiot." Thea grinned at Brian.
"Oi!"
"Lucky I'm adopted so it's not genetic."
"Oi!"
She ignored him, hugging Brian, "we didn't get to properly meet at the wedding, what with us just suddenly turning up out of the blue...pun intended." She laughed nodding back to the TARDIS behind them.
"This is the gang." The Doctor gestured to Nefertiti and Riddell, "I've got a gang. Yes. Come on then, everyone." And headed off with a call off, "Come along, kiddo!" Over his shoulder.
Thea grinned at Brian, turning to Rory, "now's the perfect time to explain everything about us." She warned him before skipping off ahead to the Doctor.
Everyone's parents found out eventually, whether they were kids or adults like Rory. Rather Brian found out this way than them having to do the worst thing and explain to him after Amy and Rory had gone.
She shook her head not wanting to think of that.
No, Amy and Rory were going to live a long and happy life together once they had worn off gently from their adventures with them.
"All right," Amy caught up with them as there was a small rumble causing the ship to shake, "where are we? What is that noise and hello, 10 months?"
"We're on a spaceship orbiting Earth." Thea answered her first question.
"Well, she says orbiting, more like pre-crashing." The Doctor corrected, "On a spaceship, don't know, and hello, Pond." He stopped and hugged her, "10 months. Time flies. Never really understood that phrase."
"In the TARDIS time is literally flying about." Thea stated.
He looked at her, "Is that where the phrase comes from?" He wondered.
"This is Neffy and Riddell." Thea introduced, nodding to the pair.
"Charmed." Riddell grinned at Amy, tipping the front of his hat to her.
"He's a flirt." She added in a loud whisper. "Bit of a misogynist, you are more that welcome to put him in his place, I'm sure Neffy will too."
"Are they the new us?" Amy frowned, "Is that why we haven't seen you?"
"No. They're just people." The Doctor said quickly, "They're not Ponds. I thought we might need a new gang. Not really had a gang before. It's new. Thea has her own so I thought I'd give it ago myself.
They stopped hearing a grinding sort of noise coming from the doors ahead of them.
"Sounds like a lift," Thea tilted her head at it, "coming down."
"Empty?" Amy glanced at her.
She blinked, "No."
"What is it?" Riddell asked.
"No idea!" The Doctor grinned as the lift doors opened, a light blinding them, as two roaring creatures stepped out.
"Not possible..." Brian breathed as he and Rory caught up with them to see two dinosaurs, Ankylosaurs, stepping out of the lift.
"Run!" The Doctor ordered the humans who turned and ran off.
"Dinosaurs!" Thea cheered, neither she nor the Doctor turning away as they stared at the creatures.
"I know!" The Doctor grinned, "On a spaceship!"
"Come on," Amy groaned, seeing the Time Lords hadn't followed them and grabbed their hands, pulling them off.
"In here!" Nefertiti called, leading them into a small alcove, too small for the dinosaurs to fit.
Riddell pulled out a large hunting knife as the dinosaurs stopped near their hiding spot, "I could take one of them. Short blow up into the throat."
"No." Thea lowered his knife, "they are dinosaurs."
"We just found dinosaurs in space." The Doctor agreed, "We need to preserve them."
"Who's going to preserve us?" Riddell hissed.
Amy shushed them, they all kept quiet as the dinosaurs moved past them, swishing their tails, knocking into everything on their way.
"Okay, so, how and whose ship?" Rory asked.
"Well, there's so much to discover." the Doctor grinned, "Think how wise we'll be by the end of all this."
"As long as we don't run into an Tyranasourous Rexes." Thea offered.
"Well, there is that."
"Sorry, sorry." Brian cut in, shaking his head, "Are you saying dinosaurs are flying a spaceship?"
"Brian, please, that would be ridiculous." the Doctor scoffed, "They're probably just passengers."
"He got rid of the crew." Thea remarked.
"Who did?" Rory looked at her.
"The man." She shrugged, "I don't know, just...he got rid of them..." she furrowed her brow, "he wanted the dinosaurs..."
"Did I mention missiles?" The Doctor asked them.
"Missiles?" Brian gaped.
"Didn't want to worry you. Anyway, six hours is a lifetime. Not literally a lifetime. That's what we're trying to avoid. And we're all really clever. Oh, let's see what we can find out. Come on."
The Doctor grinned as they entered a room full of vegetation, but more excitedly, computers! He hurried over to one, brushing away the cobwebs.
"How many dinosaurs do you think are on here?" Amy wondered.
"I can feel you looking at me for an answer." Thea muttered as she moved to the Doctors side as he sonicked the computer to life.
"Well, do you know?"
"Oh, well done, whoever you are." The Doctor cheered as the computer came to life, "Looking for engines. Thank you, computer. Look at that." Rory and Brian moved closer to have a look themselves, "Different sections have engines, but these look like the primary clusters. Where are we now, computer? We need to get down to these engines." He reached out and touched the screen...
And he, Thea, Rory and Brian suddenly found themselves standing on a beach, "and find out..." the Doctor trailed off once he realised they had teleported.
"What?" Rory gaped, looking around the beach they were now on, seeing the ocean before them with a rocky cliff behind them.
"We're outside." Brian breathed, "we're on a beach."
"No, I don't think so." Thea countered with a frown, getting the feeling they were still on the ship.
"Teleport." The Doctor groaned, "Oh, I hate teleports. Must have activated on my voice."
"Ah, yes, well, thank you, Arthur C Clarke!" Brian snapped, "teleport, obviously. I mean, we're on a spaceship with dinosaurs. Why wouldn't there be a teleport? In fact, why don't we just teleport now?" And with that, he stormed off.
Thea blinked, turning to Rory, "Is he alright?"
"No, he hates travelling." Rory sighed, "Makes him really anxious. He only goes to the paper shop and golf."
"What did you bring him for?" The Doctor complained.
"I didn't!" He defended, "Why can't you just phone ahead like any normal person?"
"Somebody tell me where we are, now?" Brian asked, coming back over, a bit calmer now.
The Doctor stuck his tongue out to try and get a sense, when Thea cut him off, "Still on the ship," she answered, "a few levels below the others."
"Brilliant." The Doctor grinned at her.
A large bird flying over them, suddenly screeched, "Is that a kestrel?" Brian asked.
"I do hope so." The Doctor remarked.
"The beach is humming." Rory called, having knelt down to touch the sand.
"Is it?" He crouched down himself, "Oh yes. Right, well, don't just stand there, you two. Dig," he took Theas hand and led her off, "we're going to look at rocks. Love a rock."
"Dig with what?" Rory called after them.
The Doctor held his hands up in question but kept walking.
"Ah, well." Brian pulled out a small collapsible towel from his pocket and started to dig.
"Did you just have that on you?" Rory eyed his father.
"Of course." He nodded, "What sort of man doesn't carry a trowel? Put it on your Christmas list."
Rory rolled his eyes and squatted down, "Dad, I'm 31. I don't have a Christmas list anymore."
"I do!" The Doctor shouted, holding his arms wide.
"Don't worry Brian, I'll buy Rory a trowel for Christmas." Thea grinned.
Brian continued to dig until his trowel hit something metal under the sand, "there's a floor under this beach." He exclaimed.
"Doctor!" Rory shouted over to them, "Thea!" He tried again seeing the girl wandering further to the cliff side.
"I've found a computer." She yelled back.
"Oh, brilliant!" The Doctor cheered, running over, leaving the humans little choice but to follow them to the edge of the cliff.
The Doctor tapped random buttons as the screen came back to life, "See? Metal floors, screens in rocks. It was just a matter of a short-range teleport." He smiled at Thea, "Right as always, kiddo, we're still on the ship."
"No, we're outside on a beach." Brian argued.
"It's part of the ship, Dad." Rory told him.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Well, it is quite ridiculous. Also brilliant. That's why the system teleported us here. I wanted the engines. This is the engine room!" He threw his arms wide, "Hydrogenerators! Ha!"
Brian blinked, turning to his son, "I have literally no idea what he's saying."
"A spaceship powered by waves." Rory explained simply.
The Doctor stepped forwards, putting his arms around Rory and Brian's shoulders, "fabulously impossible. Oh, think of the things we could learn from this ship."
"If we manage to stop it being blown to pieces." Thea commented.
"Exactly."
"Plus not dying." Rory added.
"Bad news, can't shut the wave system down in time. Takes..." The Doctor looked up.
"Takes way too long." Thea sighed.
"If these are the engines, there must be a control room." Rory reasoned.
"Exactly. That's what we need to find."
"You're expecting me to lead us there, aren't you?" Thea guessed, crossing her arms.
"Well, now that you've volunteered." He laughed, flicking her nose as she rolled her eyes, "Now, what do we do about the things that aren't kestrals?"
They looked over to see the screeching creatures getting closer, certainly not birds.
"Oh my lord!" Brian gasped, "Are those pterodactyls?"
"Yes. On any other occasion, I'd be thrilled. Exposed on a beach, less thrilled."
"So let's go!" Thea determined, turning and running across the beach.
"Where?" Brian shook his head as he followed them across the beach. He didn't know where they were going, but Rory was quick to follow the girl as she seemed to know where to go.
"Er, definitely away from them." The Doctor replied.
"That's the plan?" Rory scoffed.
"That's the plan. Amendments welcome. Move away from the pterodactyls."
Rory looked back over his shoulders to see the pterodactyls slowly start to circle around above them, "I think they might be noticing."
"Amendment one, run!"
"Why don't we just teleport or something?" Rory gasped as they ran.
"No! Local teleport burnt out on arrival."
"There!" Thea shouted, pointing to see a small opening in the cliff face, and started running towards it.
Rory looked back to see her father lagging behind, "Come on!"
"I'm trying!" Brian panted, he wasn't used to running, hadn't done so much exercise in ages.
The pterodactyls swooped down just as the group reached the opening of the cave, narrowing missing Rory. Thea quickly shoved him to the floor as they caught their breath, safe from the pterodactyls who couldn't get inside.
"Are you all right?" Brian asked Rory concerned seeing his son on the floor.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Rory assured him, "Thea always has my back." He smiled over at her.
"You know it!" She grinned back at him.
"And puts herself in danger instead." The Doctor mock glared at her.
"Oh, like you don't."
"I think you'll find I'm a responsible adult and therefore am allowed."
"You responsible?" She scoffed, "as if."
"I am," he pulled out the psychic paper, "see?" She blinked at him and he sagged his shoulders, realising his mistake, "one day I will remember you can't read it." He muttered, putting it away again.
"Right, what do we do now?" Rory asked, "There's no way back out there."
"Through the cave. Come on." The Doctor turned to lead them further into the cave, but stopped when they heard a loud thumping, "That suggestion was a work in progress."
"We're trapped!" Brian exclaimed.
"Yes, thanks for spelling it out." The Doctor muttered, sarcastically.
"Doctor, whatever's down there is coming this way." Rory told him.
"Spelling it out is hereditary. Wonderful."
"That sound's getting nearer." Brian spoke again.
They looked over to see two large yellow Robots step around the corner, "We're very cross with you." One of the Robots pointed at them, it's voice high and squeaky.
"Come with us." The other gestured with its gun for them to move out.
The Doctor shared a glance with Thea, who didn't look overly concerned at the robots and so he hoped that meant that they wouldn't try to kill them and so they moved to follow them. Rory and Brian warily following behind.
"You're going straight on the naughty step." The first robot spoke as it followed them down the corridor.
"What's the escape plan?" Brian hissed.
"Why do we want to escape?" The Doctor countered.
"They have us hostage."
Rory sighed, having guessed that Thea had some sort of feeling or something about the Robots finding them and hadn't warned them for a reason, "They're taking us somewhere. We might learn from it."
"Oh, you see?" The Doctor pinched Rorys cheeks, "He's so clever. I've missed you, Rory."
"Don't do that." Rory groaned.
"Next he'll be kissing you." Thea giggled.
Rory grimaced and really hoped she was joking, and the Doctor wouldn't try to kiss him.
"What if they kill us?" Brian fussed.
"They won't." Thea stated.
"How do you know?"
"They wouldn't do that." The Doctor looked at him, not wanting to tell him Thea was psychic right now in front of the Robots. He was getting better at that, not announcing her abilities to everyone they met. He slapped the first robot on the chest, "You're not going to kill us, are you, Rusty?"
"Who are you calling Rusty?" It asked, offended.
Thea looked it up and down, "Have you seen yourselves lately?"
"You try being on this ship for two millennia. See how your paintwork does."
"Better than either of you that's for sure." She jerked her head at the Doctor, "this one might have a few grey hairs."
"Don't listen to them," the second robot told his partner, "they're just being mean because we captured them."
Brains eyes widened as he caught sight of something beyond them, "Oh, my goodness..."
"Whoa!" Rory blinked, turning to see a Tricetatops coming towards them.
"Ooh, who's a cute little Triceratops." Thea cooed.
"Uh...deadly...dinosaur..." Brian stuttered, unable to believe the girl was talking to it like a dog.
"Herbivore." The Doctor assured, "Don't panic. Triceratops. Ha! Beautiful."
"Shall I shoot it?" The first robot asked.
"We're not supposed to shoot the creatures, stupid." It's partner responded.
"Stop calling me stupid."
"Roar yourself." the Doctor laughed as the Triceratops roared, both he and Thea petting it, "Hello, cutie. Good boy. Who's a lovely Tricy then? Yes, you are. Yes, you are."
"You are too cute." Thea gushed, "can we keep him?" She turned to the Doctor.
"We'll see," the Doctor offered. As much as he would like a dinosaur, even wanted one himself when he had been a child he knew the responsibilities, he was mature enough to know the TARDIS was not the best place for a dinosaur, or any pet.
"I've always wanted a pet."
"You've got K9."
"Good point." She nodded.
"What do I do?" Brian started to panic as the Triceratops moved closer to him, "What do I do?" He gasped as it started to sniff him, "What's it doing?"
"It can smell the grass on your golf balls." Thea told him.
Brian stared at her, "how'd you know I have golf balls on me?"
"Oh, er..." Rory fumbled, not really sure whether to tell his dad the truth or make up an excuse. He knew Thea didn't like other people telling others about her abilities but seeing her small nod knew she was alright with him knowing. "Thea is sort of psychic."
"What? Really?" He blinked at her.
She shrugged, "Just a little."
"A little brilliant!" The Doctor grinned, resting his hands on her shoulders as she rolled her eyes.
"What are you carrying those around for?" Rory questioned.
Brian didn't get to answer as the Triceratops licked his face, leaving a trail of saliva making him grimace, "Urgh!"
"Ah, bless." The Doctor smiled.
"Get it away from me!" Brian cried.
"Can I have a golf ball?" Thea held her hand out as Brian handed her one, "Here boy," She waved it before the Triceratops, "fetch!" She threw down the corridor and the Triceratops raced after it.
The Doctor patted Brian on the back, "And breath out." He turned to the Robots, "Right, take us to your leader."
"Really?" Rory gave him a look.
"Too good to resist." He laughed, "isn't that right, kiddo?"
"I have never said it before." She admitted.
"But you want too."
"Yeah," she couldn't help but agree, "I really do."
~.~
The Robots led them to another ship that had attached itself to the main one, a gate blocking the entrance. The Doctor leaned forwards, peeking in, "Love what you've done to the place down here." He called, spotting a figure laying down in the dark room.
"Let him in." The man called, "open the gate."
One of the robots pushed a button opening the gate, motioning the Doctor to go through.
"And her." He nodded to Thea, not comfortable to let her out of his sight when they didn't know who the man was or what his intentions were.
The man inside sighed, waving a hand in a 'get on with it' motion.
"We'll be fine." The Doctor muttered as they stepped through, the gate closing behind them, separating them from Rory and Brian.
"He's not interested in you." The first robot told the two men waiting outside.
"Look, you need to learn some manners." Rory said to it.
"No, you need to learn some manners."
"No, you do."
"No, you do," the second robot agreed, "Mr Manners."
"No, you..."
"Don't encourage them." Thea huffed as she and the Doctor headed over to the old man laying down.
"Fantasia in F minor for four hands." The Doctor remarked, hearing the music faintly playing on the sound system.
The old man, with long grey hair, looked at him, "You know it?"
"Know it? Say hello to hands three and four. Schubert kept tickling me to try to put me off. Franz the hands. Oh, that takes me back. Well, this is... cosy." He eyed the cobwebs covering the equipment.
"It's fate you came." The man wheezed.
"Is it?" he glanced back over at the man, "I'm the Doctor. This is my daughter Thea."
"Yes, I know." He interrupted, "I'm Solomon."
"You've been watching us." Thea stated, nodding to the cameras where he had seen them on the beach.
A machine beeped behind the Doctor, a purple light quickly scanning them, "What's that?" The Doctor frowned.
"System malfunction." Solomon waved him off, "Ignore it."
"If you say so." Thea muttered.
The Doctor nodded, if Thea didn't believe that then neither did he, "What happened to you?" He asked Solomon.
"I was attacked." Solomon sighed, "Three raptors. They cornered me. The robots rescued me but it was nearly too late."
"Ah yes, the robots. They're unusual."
"I got them cheap from a concession on Alyria Seven. The robots did as best they could with my legs, but you can help me so much more."
"Oh. A 'doctor' Doctor. I see." He breathed into his hands, warming them up, "Let's have a look." He lifted up the cloth covering the mans legs.
"They chewed through part of the bone in my legs."
"Yes. Very nasty."
"But you can repair them."
The Doctor looked at him, "If you tell me how you came by so many dinosaurs."
"Injure..."
"Finish that order and hurt either Rory or Brian and you will get absolutely no help from us." Thea glared at him.
"Then I'll have them kill you." Solomon smirked as the Doctor tensed.
"Go on then." She dared him, "give the order."
The man glared at her but didn't give the order.
"I don't respond well to violent, Solomon." The Doctor told him, "Especially when you threaten my daughter."
"And I don't like questions, Doctor." He sneered, "you boarded without my permission. Now, fix me, or I'll give the order."
"Threats don't work unless you deliver." Thea crossed her arms, glancing at Rory and nodding to the phone in his pocket.
He looked at her and rolled his eyes playfully a moment before he heard his phone ringing.
The Doctor sighed and gathered some surgical tools to help work on Solomons leg as Thea grabbed a tray for him to rest them on.
"How did you get on board, Doctor?" Solomon asked.
"Oh, I never talk about myself with a gun pointed at me." The Doctor murmured.
"How about you?" Thea asked, "you're ship doesn't match the architecture."
"You're very observant." Solomon glanced at her.
She shrugged, "I went through a phase wanting to be a detective."
She hadn't really wanted that, but it was far easier to make people believe that. The more people believed she was just an observant person the less they thought she could be psychic.
"I'm transporting it to the Roxborne Peninsula." Solomon replied.
"A commerce colony." The Doctor nodded, "You're a trader."
"I search out opportunities for profit across nine galaxies."
"And you scanned us when your system malfunction." Thea remarked.
"An IV system, identifying value." The Doctor agreed, glancing back at the light that had scanned them, "The database of everything across space and time allocated a market value. Argos for the universe. You were trying to find out how much we're worth."
"Would you like to know?" Solomon glanced at the computer screen as the Time Lords turned to see 'No Identification Found' Flashing on the screen, "You don't exist. Neither of you. It's never done that."
"That's me." The Doctor smiled, "Worthless."
"Unlike the dinosaurs you have on board." Thea eyed Solomon, "Very valuable, given they're extinct." She didn't bat an eye as the Doctor turn on a device, making it whir as Solomon groaned in pain.
"Done." The Doctor called, "Sit up, very slowly." He reached out to help him up.
"Doctor?" Rory called through the gate, "Amy."
"I need to take this." The Doctor murmured, stepping away to take the phone. "Amy."
"This is an Ark built by the Silurians." She told him down the line, Thea moving closer to listen in, "They were looking for another planet."
"Where are they now?" He frowned.
"None on board. I mean, thousands of stasis pods, all empty."
"He sent them away." Thea whispered.
The Doctor nodded, recalling she had said that earlier, as well as knowing they were being watched, "we'll see you soon." He ended the called, handing the phone back to Rory, "Be ready." He told him quietly.
"The pain in my legs is gone." Solomon moved to stand up with a cane, "I can move them. Thank you, Doctor."
"What did you do to the Silurians?" He demanded.
"We ejected them. The robots woke them from cryosleep a handful at a time and jettisoned them from the airlocks. We must have left a trail of dust and bone."
The Doctor sat down, dejected, as Thea stared at Solomon disgusted, "Because you wanted the dinosaurs."
"Their ship crossed my path." Solomon shrugged, as though that explained his actions, "I sent out a distress signal, they let me board, and when I saw the cargo things became more complex."
"Piracy and then genocide." the Doctor spat.
"Very emotive words, Doctor."
"Oh, I'm a very emotive man."
"The lizards wouldn't negotiate. I made them a generous offer."
"Those dinosaurs are not objects to be sold or traded!" Thea snapped.
"I feel like you're judging me." Solomon eyed them.
She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes, "very much."
"You said Roxborne Peninsula, so why are you heading to Earth?" The Doctor questioned, "you're on the wrong course." He blinked, realising why he was, "Oh, you don't know how. Brilliant. You couldn't change the pre-programmed course without instructions. The ship defaulted, returned home. Oh dear. The Silurians outwitted you even after you'd massacred them, so now you're a prisoner on the ship you hijacked."
"Not now you're here. You going to help me go wherever I want to go, Doctor."
"Little bit of news, Solomon. You're being targeted by missiles. Get off this ship," he stood up, "while you still can." And he and Thea headed for the gate.
"You think I believe that?" Solomon scoffed, "You just want them for yourself. You won't profit from me, Doctor."
The Doctor paused at the gate, "Don't ever judge me by your standards." And used the sonic to open it, "Well, don't just stand there, Rory!"
"He wants to see you." Thea lied to the robots as she quickly led them down the corridor.
"Dad, up!" Rory helped Brian back to his feet as they hurried off.
"This way." Thea turned a corner to see the Triceratops a little way ahead.
"Brilliant!" The Doctor laughed.
"What are we doing?" Brian asked.
"Just do exactly as I do." The Doctor replied.
"Doctor, no!" Rory shouted.
The Doctor jumped on some crates and then on the back of the Triceratops with a cry off, "Geronimo!" Turning to help Thea in front of him, waving the men to follow.
"This is so exciting!" Thea laughed in delight as Brian and Rory clambered on behind them.
"Go, Tricy." The Doctor ordered, "Run like the wind!"
But the dinosaurs just bellowed, remaining stationary even as laser bolts fired past as the robots caught up with them.
"Quick, how do you start a Triceratops?" The Doctor wondered.
"There they are." One of the robots called.
"I know," the other agreed, "I saw them before you."
Brain pulled out another golf ball, "Tricy, fetch!" And threw it down the corridor.
The Triceratops quickly ran after it.
"Go, Tricy!" The Doctor cheered.
"They've stolen a dinosaur." The robot shouted, rushing after them.
"I can see that." The other remarked.
"Come on, Tricy, faster, baby!" The Doctor urged as the dinosaur ran around a corner.
"They're turning off. We're losing them."
"Which way did they go?" The other looked around.
"I thought you were looking."
"No. Now they've got away."
"We definitely used to be faster."
"This is so much fun!" Thea laughed as they lost the robots.
"I'm riding a dinosaur on a spaceship." Brian gasped.
"I know!" Rory grinned.
"I only came round to fix your light."
"Come on, Tricy." The Doctor patted the dinosaur, wanting it to slow down seeing a dead end before them, "Where are the brakes?"
The dinosaur came to a sudden stop sending them flying off its back. They laid on the floor panting as the Triceratops dropped the golf ball before Brian and trotted off.
"Can we do that again?" Thea asked, moving her hair out of her face as she got back to her feet.
"Maybe later." The Doctor stood himself, "Okay," He looked around, "where are we now?"
Thea headed over to a nearby computer, "incoming message from Earth," she hit a button as Indira and her team appeared on the screen as the Doctor joined her.
"Hello, Earth," the Doctor greeted, "how's things?"
"Doctor, the ship's coming through the atmosphere." Indira informed them, "I have to start the missile programme."
"No. No, no, no, don't do that. Everything's completely under control here. Turning round any moment. Need a bit of wriggle room on the timings..."
"I can't do that."
"Yes, you can!" Thea insisted, "please, this ship contains the most precious cargo."
"My only responsibility is the Earth's safety." Indira replied, "I'm launching the missiles. Goodbye, Doctor."
"No, Indira." The Doctor called as the call disconnected, "Hey! Come back! Please! That's very bad indeed. Completely unhelpful."
"Doesn't the ship have any defence systems installed?" Rory shook his head.
"Not Silurians." Thea sighed, "ancient species, still so full of hope."
"What about the control deck?" Brian called, "You said we should go to the control deck next."
"It's too late." The Doctor shook his head, "It won't make any difference."
"We could at least try." Rory argued.
"It won't work, Rory. The missiles are locked on."
"So what, we're just giving up?"
"I don't know. I don't know."
Thea shook her head, "we don't give up." She determined, "We're going to the control deck." She moved to the computer to try and active the teleport again when there was a flash of light behind them, Solomon and his robots appeared, the man leaning heavily on a cane.
"You were telling the truth, Doctor." He remarked, "Earth has launched missiles. This vessel is too clumsy to outrun them, but I have my own ship."
"You won't get your precious cargo on board, though." The Doctor pointed out, "Just be you and your metal tantrum machines."
"We do not have tantrums!" One robot shouted.
"Shut up." Solomon snapped at it, hobbling over to the Doctor, "You're right, Doctor. I can't keep the dinosaurs and live myself. But I had the IV system scan the entire ship, and it found something even more valuable. Utterly unique. I don't know where you found it, or how you got it here, but I want it."
"I don't know what you're talking about." The Doctor stiffened.
He couldn't help his gaze shift to Thea, even though Solomon had already scanned her and nothing had come up, if he had increased the scan across the ship, he could have increased it to bypass all of their work. A man like Solomon would probably do anything to have someone knowing the future by his side.
"Earth Queen Nefertiti of Egypt." Solomon stated and the Doctor let out the smallest of breaths, "A face stamped across history. Give her to me, and I'll let the rest of you live."
"No." The Doctor refused.
"You think I won't punish those who get in my way, whatever they're worth?" He nodded to his robots, one of them shooting the Triceratops as it cried out in pain.
"No!" Thea gasped, running to his side to try and comfort it, hating how she hadn't seen that coming, she hadn't known Solomon would want Nefertiti, all she knew was the man would get what he deserved, but again, she couldnt see everything. "You're a monster," She glared at Solomon as the Doctor crouched besides her, placing a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
"You must be very proud." The Doctor murmured as the dinosaur closed its eyes as it died.
"Bring her to me," Solomon smirked, "or the robots will make their way through your corpses. Bring her now."
The Doctor stepped closer to Solomon, anger clear in his tone as he whispered, "No."
There was a flash of light and Amy, Nefertiti and Riddell appeared in the room.
"What are you doing?" The Doctor demanded rounding on them.
"I demanded to be brought here." Nefertiti told him, walking over.
"No," the Doctor grabbed her arm, stopping her as she continued to make her way to Solomon, "no, no, no, no way."
"It isn't your choice, Doctor, it's mine."
"If you go," Thea began, stepping closer, "We can't guarantee you'll be safe."
"You saved my people." She stated, "I am in your debt."
"No." The Doctor shook his head, "No debts. You don't owe me anything."
"Then I do it on my own."
"You aren't supposed to die yet," Thea told her softly, "you still have years of being queen, if that doesn't happen, so much of the Earth's future will change and not for the better."
She had to ensure the future happened as it was made too, it was part of a Visionarys job to ensure the world turned how it should, that the correct courses ran. She wouldn't allow Solomon to take Nefertiti.
"Then you shall have to endear persistently to get me back." She smiled.
"Neffy, Neffy..." The Doctor shook his head.
Nefertiti walked to Solomon as Riddell cooked his rifle, "no!" He turned to Solomon, "take her and I shoot you."
"Put your weapon down." Nefertiti ordered, "let me make my choice."
"Do it, boy." Solomon sneered as the robots raised their weapons, forcing Riddell to lower his rifle, "My bounty increases. And what an extraordinary bounty you are." He lifted a hand to trail across Nefertitis cheek.
But she shoved him away, "Never touch me."
Solomon reacted quickly, shoving her against the wall, his cane to her throat, "I like my possessions to have spirit." He grinned, "it means I can have fun breaking them." Nefertiti shoved the cane away, "And I will break you in with immense pleasure. Thank you, Doctor. Computer, take us back to my ship."
Solomon disappeared a in a bright flash along with Nefertiti and his robots, just as an alarm blared, the computer announcing, "Hostile targeting in progress. Hostile targeting in progress. Hostile targeting in progress. Hostile targeting in progress."
The Doctor smiled, "Bingo."
"What is it?" Rory asked, "Doctor?"
"To the control deck!" Thea shouted, running to the computer to active the teleport.
The small group appeared in control deck to see two piloting chairs facing each other, covered in cobwebs with computers and a post between them.
"I told you we should have come here." Thea huffed as the Doctor hurried over to the post, peering inside.
"And why do we?" Rory asked, "what's the plan?"
"Come on." The Doctor glanced at them, "The missiles are locked onto us. We can't out-run them. We have to save the dinosaurs and get Nefertiti back from Solomon. Isn't it obvious?"
"It's sort of the opposite of obvious." Rory deadpanned.
"We have 17 minutes until the missiles hit." Thea told him, "in that time we need to turn this ship around, save the dinosaurs and get Neffi back."
"You said it was too late. That there wasn't any time."
"Ah, yes, but I didn't have this plan then, did I?" The Doctor countered, "Riddell? Keep an eye out for dinosaurs."
"I was rather hoping you'd say that." Riddell grinned, cooking his gun and heading out.
"Don't even think about killing any of them!" Thea yelled after him.
"Rory, Brian, get rid of the cobwebs." The Doctor called, gesturing to the chairs as he moved to a computer, "No, don't be like that. Really unhelpful."
"What's the matter?" Amy asked as she walked over.
"Parallel pilot compartments, both configured. Needs two operator of the same gene-chain. And that's why Solomon couldn't change the ship's course, and neither can we."
"You'd have thought Silurians were smart enough to understand that family wasn't just by blood." Thea remarked, crossing her arms.
Oh, she would have so loved to be able to fly this ship with the Doctor, but the Silurians didn't see them as the same gene chain. They shared none of the same DNA as each other. Which was so stupid! He was her dad, by the stars, why shouldn't they be allowed to fly together.
"We can." Brian cut in, gesturing to him and Rory, "Me and Rory. We must be the same gene-thingy you said."
"So they get to fly a Silurian ship but I don't." Thea pouted, "that's so not fair!"
"Brian Pond, you are delicious." The Doctor turned to him.
"I'm not a Pond." Brian shook his head.
"Course you are." He grinned, "sit down, both of you, licketty split. The ship does all the engineering. The controls are straight forward. Even a monkey can use them. Oh look, they're going to." Neither man looked impressed as they sat down, "Guys, come on. Comedy gold. Where's a Silurian audience when you need one. Anyway, two eye line screens. Velocity and trajectories. Steer away from the Earth. Try not to bump into the moon otherwise the races who live there will be livid."
"What?" Brian blinked.
"Beware the Moonites." Thea agreed.
"Primary controls in the arms of the chairs." The Doctor continued to explain, "Principle's the same as any vehicle. 8 minutes 45 seconds." He flashed the sonic on the chairs, activating them, "Get us as far away as you can. Right, phase two sorted. Now for phase one."
"Oh no, phase two comes after phase one." Amy remarked, joining them.
"Humans," Thea mock sighed, "you are so linear." She pulled out her torch, shining some light into the hole the Doctor was looking at.
"Thank you, kiddo." He smiled at not even needing to ask.
"What are you doing?" Amy asked, watching them.
"Mixing my messages." The Doctor replied, "How's the job?"
"We're about to be hit by missiles and you're asking me that?
I work best when I'm multitasking. Keep talking. How's the job?"
"I gave it up." Amy sighed.
"Again?" Thea looked at her. She could barely keep up with how many jobs Amy had done.
"Yeah, well, I can't settle. Every minute I'm listening out for that stupid TARDIS sound."
"Right, so it's my fault now, is it?" The Doctor frowned.
"I can't not wait for you, even now." Amy explained, "And they're getting longer, you know, the gaps between your visits. I think you're weaning us off you."
"I'm not, I promise." The Doctor looked at her, "Really promise. The others, yeah, but not you. Rory and you, you have lives, have each other. I thought that's what we agreed."
"I know. I just worry there'll come a time when you never turn up. That something will have happened to you and I'll still be waiting, never knowing."
"You know that'll never happen." Thea told her.
"Come on, Pond." The Doctor smiled at her, "You'll be there till the end of me."
"Or vice versa." Amy muttered.
The Doctor looked back at the post, focusing on finishing his work, knowing just how likely that was.
"Beep." Thea called a moment before the sonic beeped, finished.
"Done," The Doctor smiled, pulling some more wires from the post and resting them on top.
"Doctor?" Riddell called into the room, "this is a two man job." Amy grabbed one of the rifles, "What are you doing?"
"I'm easily worth two men." Amy remarked, heading for the door, "You can help too, if you like." She stepped put the room, Riddell following, impressed.
The Doctor tossed a small crystal in his hand, grinning, "ready, kiddo?"
"Let's go save the dinosaurs." She agreed.
The Doctor flashed the sonic on the crystal, the pair disappearing in the teleports flash.
Thea turned as they appeared in Solomons ship, quickly grabbing two live wires of the wall and pressing them into the robots chest, sending them powering down before Solomon had the chance to tell them to attack them.
The Doctor chuckled at her quick reaction, "hello!" He called to Solomon, the man standing before Nefertitti, "Having trouble leaving? Ship's still magnetised. Just couldn't bear to lose you."
"Release my ship, Doctor, or I kill this precious little object." Solomon threatened, grabbing Nefertiti arm and holding his cane around her neck.
But the Egyptian queen had had enough of him, kicking away the cane he used to stand up and grabbed the cane around her neck, pressing it to his own neck instead.
"I am not your possession now, nor will I ever be." Nefertiti stated, "Now, stay there."
"Don't mess with Egyptian Queens, Solomon." Thea glared at him, "or any woman for that matter."
"I hope you've learnt that now." The Doctor remarked, heading over to the controls.
"What are you doing?" Solomon cried, watching him.
"Disabling this ship's signal and replacing it with the one from the Silurian ship." The Doctor responded, "I send this craft off emitting the signal they're looking for, the missiles will follow." He turned around with a smile, "Hopefully, Siliurian ship safe, dinosaurs safe, everybody safe."
"Bit tight for time." Thea cut in.
"Yes, shouldn't really be chatting. Neffy, let's go." Nefertiti joined them as they turned to leave.
"Oh, one more thing." Thea spun around and set the crystal down, "things about missiles is they're very literal. This is what they latch on to."
"Now, one press of this and the ship's demagnetised." The Doctor added.
"Doctor, whatever you want, I can get it for you." Solomon pleaded, "Whatever object you desire."
Thea tilted her head at him, "Didn't the Silurians beg you to stop?"
The Doctor nodded to the screen seeing the red blinking dots of the missiles getting closer, "Look, Solomon. The missiles. See them shine? See how valuable they are. And they're all yours."
They turned and headed out of the ship, to the teleport, leaving Solomon behind in his ship.
"You wouldn't leave me, Doctor." Solomon shook his head.
The Doctor just closed the gate behind them, "Enjoy your bounty." The Doctor held up the sonic, activated the teleport, sending them away just before the missiles hit Solomons ship.
The group headed back to the TARDIS now that the Silurian ship, and dinosaurs on board, were safe from the missiles.
"So, dinosaur drop off time." The Doctor clapped, opening the doors.
"Actually, we think home for us." Rory cut in.
"Oh. Fine. Of course."
"Not for ever," Amy hastily added, "just a couple of months."
"Right. Yes." The Doctor nodded, "I'm pretty busy anyway. I mean, I've got to drop everyone back."
"And brag to Clyde we saw dinosaurs." Thea laughed, "He's been nagging me for ages that he wants to see them."
"About heading home," Brain stepped forwards, "Can I ask a favour? There's something I want to see."
"Absolutely!" Thea cheered.
The TARDIS hovered above the Earth with Brian sitting in the doorway, his legs dangling, eating a sandwich and drinking tea from a thermos, looking out at the magnificent sight.
Amy and Rory opened the doors widened to look out from behind him.
The Time Lords stood by the console, watching the Ponds from a distance, knowing the time was soon coming when Amy and Rory would eventually stay on Earth and stop travelling, the only thing stopping that knowledge from hurting too much, was knowing at that least they'd be safe.