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frenchy_chicksTitle: Journey into the Unknown - Pt. 1
Rating: FRT
Characters: Donna, the Doctor (10), Original Character (Cerys Pritchard)
Summary: Traveling with the Doctor can be fun and sometimes scary, but definitely worth it.
Word count: 6653
Disclaimer: Not mine. I wish they were, but they're not.
Cerys never thought she would be so lucky as to travel with the Doctor. They’d met completely out of the blue, the Doctor running through the streets of Wales with an older, gingerish woman trailing after him, yelling at him to “slow the bloody hell down”. She’d thought the whole thing was comical until she saw why they were running. That’s when the Doctor noticed her standing there, and he’d recruited her right on the spot. He said he needed three people to stop what was chasing them. They did stop it, and the Doctor grinned that charming smile her way and asked her if she’d like to travel with him. Of course Cerys said yes.
They’d gone backwards through time, forwards through time, even sideways through time. The Doctor assured her it was possible, but he’d yet to explain exactly how something like that worked… apart from the four words he kept repeating any time she asked – “Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey.” Whatever that meant.
The gingerish woman, Donna, told Cerys that he always said weird things like that and not to take offense if he didn’t always answer her questions. Donna was nice, though it was best to stay on her good side. She had one hell of a temper.
After having travelled for what seemed like a month straight, Donna had wanted to go some place to relax, an alien planet with a beach, she’d said. The last three places they’d been to were anything but relaxing. They’d been chased, jailed and almost eaten. They definitely deserved a break, even if Cerys still thought those adventures had been fun. She never would have been an almost meal to an alien if not for the Doctor. And she knew he’d never let anything happen to either one of them if he could help it.
The Doctor said he’d take them to this amazing planet called Midnight. It sounded wonderful the way he described it, but, Donna said he could make visiting a dung heap sound like an exotic adventure. Even with all of her complaining, the Doctor still took them to Midnight. He said it was a place you had to visit at least once, and he’d always wanted to go.
***
“Sapphire waterfall. It’s a waterfall made of sapphires.” The Doctor explained to Donna.
Cerys stood next to the Doctor, watching people gather for the shuttle tour while the Doctor tried once again to convince Donna to go with them. She’d already said no twice, once when the Doctor told them where they were going, and again once she saw the pool and spa.
“There’s an enormous jewel the size of a glacier. It reaches the Cliffs of Oblivion, and then shatters into sapphires at the edge. They fall a hundred thousand feet into a crystal ravine.”
The Doctor pouted and Cerys knew that Donna had once again said no. She couldn’t understand how Donna could say no to something that sounded so beautiful, but, the spa was equally as beautiful and there was less of a chance of getting into major trouble.
“Oh, come on. They’re boarding now. It’s no fun if Cerys and I see it without you. Four hours, that’s all it takes.” He was pleading now.
Cerys smirked and listened as the Doctor told Donna to be careful, something about the sunlight on the planet being Xtonic… another strange word she didn’t understand. The whole trip sounded like it would be a lot of fun, even if it was four hours long. She wasn’t quite sure if it was four hours one way, or four hours there and back. The Doctor hadn’t been clear on that, but then again, when was the doctor ever clear about anything? Sighing at the phone, the Doctor hung it up and looked at Cerys, shrugging. “Guess it’s just you an’ me for this one, Cerys.”
“S’okay. I think that ehm, whatever it was that almost had us for lunch was a bit too much for Donna. Can’t say I blame her for sitting out on this one.”
The Doctor frowned at her, lower lip pouting out just enough to be considered cute. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Cerys smirked and walked in step with the Doctor, boarding onto the shuttle for the tour. “Well, you’re not exactly the kind of bloke that c’n stay out of trouble for too long.”
“Mmm… you do have a point there. It’s not for a lack of trying, I’ll have you know.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like you don’t mind the trouble either. It’s how you get your exercise, what with all the running.” She grinned.
The Doctor grinned back to her and took her hand. “Well, let’s hope we don’t need to do any running. One step outside the shuttle and it’ll be an excruciating death.”
***
The Doctor and Cerys picked some seats near the front of the shuttle. There were already other passengers sitting in their seats, and a hostess was passing out juice packs, peanuts and headphones. The Doctor, as always, was fiddling with the little buttons he found on the inside arm of his seat when the hostess reached them.
“That’s for the headphones for channels one to thirty six. Modern link for 3D vidgames. Complimentary earplugs, complimentary slippers, complimentary juice pack and complimentary peanuts.” She said, handing each item over to the Doctor and Cerys, “I must warn you some products may contain nuts.”
“That’ll be the peanuts.” The Doctor stated, and Cerys smirked.
The hostess smiled politely, clearly not understanding his sense of humor. “Enjoy your trip.” She said.
“Oh, we can’t wait. Allons-y!” The Doctor grinned.
The hostess stopped and look at the Doctor, clearly not understanding the word. Of course, the Doctor was oblivious, and Cerys leaned over, smiling, “It’s French for ‘let’s go.’ It’s one of the things he says, like a catch phrase.”
“Fascinating.” The hostess said before moving on to the passengers who had sat behind them.
***
Cerys had been enthralled by talking to these future humans. Their language patterns and usage were very similar to those used back home in 2014, but Cerys wasn’t sure if maybe the TARDIS’ translation abilities didn’t have something to do with that. She absolutely loved talking to Professor Hobbes and DeeDee, the two passengers who had sat behind her and the Doctor. She was a huge history buff and minored in the subject in college, and she found what Professor Hobbes and DeeDee talked about truly interesting. They started talking about something else and Cerys’ eyes wandered around the small shuttle. The Doctor had “fixed” the entertainment system, forcing the passengers to start talking to one another. She caught the Doctor’s eye and they grinned at each other before going back to their conversations.
After talking in small groups, Professor Hobbes thought he would share his knowledge of the falls, since he’d been on the tour fourteen times. He had a nice slideshow going and Cerys was enthralled with the images. She couldn’t wait to see it with her own eyes. And that’s when the shuttle stopped.
“We’ve stopped. Have we stopped?” A passenger, Val questioned. She was travelling with her husband Biff and her son Jethro , who finally seemed to be perking up. He’d looked bored the entire trip.
The passengers started talking about why the shuttle stopped, whether or not they were there, if this was a pit stop, if they’d broken down. Professor Hobbes looked annoyed, correcting everyone as they made suggestions as to why they had stopped moving. “There’s not pit to stop in,” He said, “I’ve been on this expedition fourteen times. They never stop.”
“Well, evidently we have stopped, so there’s no point in denying it.” Sky, one of the other passengers who was travelling by herself said.
“Doctor… why have we stopped?” Cerys asked quietly.
“No idea. But, I plan to find out.” He said, getting out of his seat and walking towards the door that led to the cockpit.
“No, I’m sorry sir… could you please…?” The hostess asked, pointing to the seat next to Cerys.
The Doctor grabbed his psychic paper and flashed it at the Hostess, giving her his charming smile. “There you go, Engine expert. Two ticks.”
Cerys watched as the Doctor headed into the cockpit to talk with the driver. Professor Hobbes was bickering with Biff as to why they would have stopped, and Jethro was riling his mother up, telling her that they’d stopped in the middle of nowhere.
“Excuse me… your friend, the Doctor. Is he really an engine expert?” DeeDee asked.
“Ehm… well, he’s very clever. Knows loads of things about loads of things. He’ll figure things out, I’m sure.” Cerys smiled.
“Alright. I hope we don’t miss the waterfall. We already had to make a detour…” She sighed.
Cerys nodded in agreement, watching DeeDee move back to her seat. It would be a shame to miss the waterfall, after being on the shuttle for as long as they had already. She watched as Sky moved from her seat to stand by the door to the cockpit, clearly anxious and waiting for the Doctor. The two had talked for quite some time, and Cerys wondered if maybe she was crushing on him. He hadn’t been in the cockpit for more than five minutes before he came back out.
“What did they say? Did they tell you? What is it? What’s wrong?” Sky asked.
“Oh, just stabilizing. Happens all the time.” The Doctor assured her.
“I don’t need this. I’m on a schedule. This is completely unnecessary.” Sky said, clearly upset.
The hostess came over and touched her arm lightly, giving her a smile. “Back to your seats, thank you.”
Sky sat down in her seat and the Doctor came and sat down next to Cerys. “Everything’s really okay?” She asked quietly.
The Doctor looked over at her and she knew that he hadn’t figured out why they’d stopped, but he didn’t looked worried, so she shouldn’t be worried either. She sighed and sat back in her seat, closing her eyes. Either they’d start moving or they’d send another shuttle. Either way, all they could do was wait, and she might as well try and get a little rest in while it was quiet. She heard DeeDee talking to the Doctor about the engines. Apparently, the type of engines the shuttle had didn’t require stabilizing, so it wasn’t the engines. Next Professor Hobbes started asking about the oxygen levels, and of course, Val overheard and started freaking out. So much for a bit of a rest.
Cerys opened her eyes in time to see the Hostess come back in from the cockpit, trying to calm Val and the other passengers down as much as possible, assuring everyone that things were under control.
“Well, doesn’t look like it to me.” Biff snorted.
The hostess and DeeDee both tried to calm Val down, the Hostess assuring her things were fine while DeeDee tried explaining how the system worked, telling her they had tons of air due to it being on a circular filter. Neither explanation was working.
“Everyone! Quiet! Thank you. Now, if you’d care to listen to my good friend DeeDee.” The Doctor said.
The passengers settled, and Cerys turned around in her seat to look over the back at DeeDee. She looked a little nervous to be speaking in public, but clearly she knew her stuff.
“Oh. Er, it’s just that, well, the air’s on a circular filter, so we could stay breathing for ten years.” She explained.
“There you go. And I’ve spoken to the Captain. I can guarantee you everything’s fine.” The Doctor reassured.
That’s when the knocking started. It was just the thing to get the passengers all up in arms again, wondering what it was that made the knocking sound. Professor Hobbes said it was the metal cooling down and setting, whereas DeeDee thought it could have been falling rocks. Sky and Val were both nervous, and another two knocks were heard, this time on the other side of the shuttle.
“There’s someone out there!” Val said.
“Now, don’t be ridiculous.” Professor Hobbes huffed.
DeeDee cleared her throat and looked over at Val, “Like I said, it could be rocks.”
“We’re out in the open. Nothing could fall against the sides.” The hostess said, looking worried.
Cerys glanced over at the Doctor, who was looking at the side of the shuttle, his brow furrowed in thought. He was trying to figure out what was making that noise, and he puzzled because he didn’t know what it was. That worried Cerys, but she knew she was safe with the Doctor. Another two knocks came, close to where the Doctor was, and he looked even more puzzled.
“Knock, knock.” He muttered.
Cerys moved closer to the Doctor. This was too weird. The knocks were consistent, two knocks at a time, and it moved from one side to the other. It was as though a conscious being was behind the knocking noise, but, the Doctor and Professor Hobbes had both said that nothing could survive out there. So, what was making the knocking noise?
“Sir, Madam, you two should really get back to your seats. This will all get sorted out as soon as possible.” The hostess said.
The Doctor wasn’t budging, and Cerys wasn’t about the leave. This was just another mystery that needed solving, and she was just as curious as he was. When he pulled a stethoscope out of his pocket, her eyes went wide. She didn’t think his pockets were that deep! He must have noticed the look on her face, because he smiled and laughed softly.
“Time Lord technology. My pockets are bigger on the inside, just like the TARDIS.” He explained quietly.
Putting the stethoscope to the hull, the Doctor listened carefully, trying to solve the mystery that had presented itself. “Hello?” He spoke.
There were two, quicker knocks, as though they were answering him, and the Doctor and Cerys smiled. This was starting to get interesting!
“It’s moving…” Jethro said, his eyes staring at the hull.
When the emergency exit started rattling, Val became spooked, clinging to her husband and crying out, “It’s trying the door!”
“There is no it. There’s nothing out there. Can’t be.” Professor Hobbes stressed.
The door rattled again, and then the knocking was on the roof and the entrance door. Val was in near hysterics at this point, gripping Biff’s arm so tightly that he was grimacing. “That’s the entrance. Can it get in?”
“No,” DeeDee said, “That door’s on two hundred weight hydraulics.”
“Stop it. Don’t encourage them.” Professor Hobbes chastised.
Biff moved over to the door and knocked on it three times, testing its strength. The thing on the other side answered back in three quick knocks that shocked the small group, but intrigued the Doctor and Cerys.
“Three times. Did you hear that? It did it three times.” Val said.
“It answered.” Jethro muttered.
Now Val was beyond hysterics and the Doctor put away his stethoscope back in his pocket and turned his attention to the group, mainly Val. “All right, all right, all right. Everyone calm down.”
“No, but it answered. It answered. Don’t tell me that thing’s not alive. It answered him.” Sky said, looking at the Doctor.
The hostess tried once again to get everyone back into their seats, but it was no use. Everyone was too riled up to care about sitting down. Sky started bickering with her, telling her that she was the hostess, she was supposed to be doing something, not just telling them to sit down. The hostess looked a little hurt, but shuffled away, picking up the intercom. Moving towards the door, the Doctor knocked four times and listened. Surely enough, it knocked back four times.
“What is it? What the hell’s making that noise? She said she’d get me, my ex. Stop it. Make it stop. Somebody make it stop. Don’t just stand there looking at me, it’s not my fault. He started it with his stories.” Sky rambled.
Cerys was getting nervous. A small group of people, trapped inside a tin can like sardines. They couldn’t go outside, and they couldn’t move the shuttle. They were trapped and people were starting to get hysterical. She hoped they started moving again soon.
“Why don’t you leave it alone? Stop staring at me! Just tell me what the hell it is!” Sky screamed.
“Calm down!” DeeDee cried.
Sky started chanting over and over that the thing was coming for her, and she backed away from the group, her hands going to her hair. When she bumped against the driver’s door, she screamed. The lights went off and the shuttle rocked from side to side violently, throwing Cerys off of her feet and against the hull. The entertainment system came back on, showing a music video, though there was no sound. If the group wasn’t scared before, they were scared now, and that included Cerys. Her eyes searched for the Doctor, and when she found him, he held her gaze. Clearly, he was trying to work out what exactly was going on here. Cerys was wishing she’d stayed at the spa with Donna.
“Are you all right? You’re bleeding a bit, just on your forehead.” The Doctor said, moving towards her to take a better look.
“What the hell was that? What is going on? And, ouch, that hurts.” Cerys said.
The Doctor clicked his tongue and sighed. “Your head’s fine, just a little scratch. I don’t know what that was, or exactly why we stopped, to be honest. But, I intend to find out. Okay?”
Cerys smiled softly. “Okay. Just… try not to get into too much trouble?”
The Doctor grinned and jumped up to start his investigation. “How are we? Everyone all right?” He asked.
Professor Hobbes stood, looking a little shaken up. DeeDee looked concerned as well, but at least they weren’t in hysterics. “Earthquake. Must be.” Professor Hobbes said.
“But that’s impossible. The ground is fixed. It’s solid.” DeeDee said.
“Everyone take a torch, they’re in the back of the seats.” The hostess said.
Cerys reached for a torch and flicked it on, aiming the beam around the shuttle, checking for herself to make sure everyone was okay. Val looked like a wreck, and she was acting like one, too. She was concerned for her son, Jethro, but he seemed completely unfazed. He told Val not to concern herself with him, and drew their attention to Sky.
Cerys shone her flashlight at the front of the shuttle, where Sky was sitting with her back to them. The seats were all torn away. She wasn’t moving and Cerys wondered if maybe she had been killed.
“It’s all right,” the Doctor spoke, “It’s over. We’re still alive. Look, the wall’s still intact, do you see?”
Cerys looked at the wall. Intact may have been a bit of a stretch. The thing was dented like a tin can. Whatever was outside must be incredibly strong. She gripped the flashlight tighter and stood back. The front cabin, where the driver was, was gone, the hostess stated. She said she wasn’t able to get in touch with the driver, Joe, or the mechanic. The Doctor went over to the panel by the door, working on the wires inside.
“You’d better leave that wall alone, if the cabin’s actually gone.” Biff said, aiming his flashlight at the Doctor.
“No, it’s safe. Any rupture would automatically seal itself.” He informed, “But… something sliced it off. You’re right, the cabin’s gone.”
The Doctor explained how the cabin would have lost its integrity and that the two men inside unfortunately had died. He told them that a distress signal had been sent and that help was on the way. They would get out of here eventually, they just had to stay calm.
“Doctor… look at her.” Jethro spoke out, still staring at Sky.
The Doctor got up and moved over to her, “Sky? Can you hear me? Are you all right? Can you move, Sky? Just look at me.”
“The noise from outside stopped…” Jethro spoke again.
“Where did it go?” Cerys asked.
“Maybe it got bored.” Biff suggested.
“I don’t know…” Cerys sighed. She didn’t like this at all. Something was wrong.
“Sky? It’s all right. I just want you to turn around, face me.” The Doctor said.
Cerys watched as Sky slowly turned around. She looked okay, unharmed… but her eyes. There was something about her eyes. She looked… empty.
“Sky?” the Doctor said… and she repeated.
Sky was repeating everything the Doctor was saying, like some sick game of copy cat. She repeated everything, right down to the intonation. And she wasn’t just repeating the Doctor… she repeated anything anyone said. At first, she was just repeating after the Doctor and the others, but, the more people talked, the more her speech overlapped with theirs. Cerys felt like whatever was happening to Sky… whatever this thing was… it was learning…
***
The lights in the shuttle came back on and Cerys felt a little bit better. The hostess said the back up system was on and the other passengers seemed to feel that was a good thing. Val started to ask about the rescue and how long it was going to take. Clearly, Sky needed some help. Something was insider her, and Cerys was sure it was that thing that was outside. The rescue shuttle would take another hour to reach them and she didn’t want to think about what might happen in that time.
“I suggest we all calm down,” Professor Hobbes spoke, “This panic isn’t helping. That poor woman is evidently in a state of self induced hysteria. We should leave her alone.”
Mid-way through Professor Hobbes’ pep-talk, Sky had fully synced – she was speaking the same words at the same time. It was just creepy. Cerys, shuffled closer to the Doctor, which, unfortunately meant she was getting closer to Sky as well. She just didn’t know the others well enough to feel comfortable around them and right now, she needed the Doctors reassurance. Everyone else needed some reassurance as well, as they were back in hysterics, talking over one another, screaming at Sky to stop, to just shut up.
“Just stop it, all of you. Stop it, please.” The Doctor said, Sky speaking right along with him.
Cerys watched as the Doctor sat crossed-legged in front of Sky, staring at her. “Now then. Sky? Are you Sky? Is Sky still in there? Mrs. Silvestry? You know exactly what I’m going to say. How are you doing that?” The Doctor mused. It certainly was interesting, but creepy nonetheless. “Roast beef. Bananas. The Medusa Cascade. Bang! Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Noble, Cerys Pritchard, TARDIS! Shamble bobble dibble dooble. Oh Doctor, you’re so handsome. Yes, I am, thank you. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O – ”
Cerys rolled her eyes. The Doctor was having fun with this now, testing the limits, trying to see just how far Sky would go.
“First she repeats, then she catches up. What’s the next stage?” The Doctor mused.
“The next stage of what, Doctor?” Cerys asked.
“That’s not her, is it. That’s not Mrs. Silvestry anymore.” Jethro said.
“I don’t think so, no. I think the more we talk, the more she learns. Now, I’m all for education, but in this case, maybe not. Let’s move back. Come on, come with me. Everyone get back. All of you, as far as you can.”
The Doctor got up and took Cerys’ elbow, leading her towards the back of the shuttle where the refreshments and emergency exit were. Val was pleading for the Doctor to make Sky stop, and the Doctor shushed her, telling her to get back like the others. He told them they only needed fifty minutes until the rescue came. They just needed to survive for that much longer and then they could go home.
“All she’s got is our voices.” The Doctor reassured.
“I can’t. I can’t look at her. It’s those eyes.” Val shuddered.
“We must not look at goblin men.” DeeDee muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Biff frowned.
“It’s a poem. Christina Rossetti.” The Doctor said. Cerys stood beside him and reached for his hand. She was starting to get scared. Any time someone spoke, Sky spoke along with them. She was always there, staring at them, repeating them. The Doctor squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. Everything was going to be okay.
***
Apparently, waiting calmly for fifty minutes was beyond the capabilities of this group. They felt they needed to take control of the situation, and that meant taking control of Sky. The hostess had suggested they throw her out of the airlock, which took Cerys and the Doctor by surprise. She was still human, she just wasn’t herself. She couldn’t even move and they wanted to throw her out? They blamed her for the death of the two people in the cabin, and that she could possibly be the cause of their deaths. The Doctor was trying to convince them otherwise. Even if this wasn’t Sky, is was a new life form. They couldn’t just destroy it because they were scared. They started talking about taking a vote on whether or not they would throw Sky out of the airlock. DeeDee had said the doors would automatically seal back up after six seconds, so they could do it without anyone else getting hurt.
“There isn’t a vote. It’s not happening. Ever. If you try to throw her out that door, you’ll have to get past me first.” The Doctor frowned.
“Okay.” Biff said, and the hostess agreed.
The Doctor rolled his eyes and wiped his hand over his face. Cerys crossed her arms over her chest. She couldn’t believe what these people were thinking of doing. Committing murder because they were scared? Where was that rescue shuttle?
“Oh, now you’re being stupid. Just think about it. Could you actually take hold of someone and throw them out of that door?” He asked.
“Calling me a coward?” Biff growled, “An’ who put you in charge, anyway?”
“He wasn’t even booked in. Or his friend,” The hostess pointed to Cerys, “The rest of you, tickets in advance. They just turned up out of the blue.”
“Where from?” Val questioned.
“We’re just travelling. We’re travelers, that’s all.” Cerys spoke softly.
“Like an immigrant?”
“Who were you talking to? Before you two got on board, you were talking to someone. Who was that?” The hostess asked.
“Just Donna. Just my friend.” The Doctor stressed.
“He hasn’t even told us his name.” Val sneered.
“You’ve been loving this, haven’t you, Doctor? The both of you. I saw the way you two smiled at one another when the knocking noises started. And again when Mrs. Silvestry went crazy.” Jethro said.
The Doctor looked hurt by what Jethro had said. They had seemed to been good friends, and Cerys sighed. The one person she hoped would stay on their side had turned against them. They were all turning against him. After all, he had spoke with Sky earlier, and he went into the cabin. So, therefore, it must have been his fault. Cerys was worried. What were they going to do? Why couldn’t they all just sit quietly and patiently while they waited for their rescue to get here?
“How did you know what to do with the wiring?” Biff questioned.
“Because I’m clever!” the Doctor barked.
“If you’re clever, then what are we?” DeeDee asked, quietly.
What really started to scare Cerys, was when they started talking about throwing the Doctor out, and possibly her too. If they needed to, the hostess had said, and she sniffed. She didn’t want to die!
“We haven’t done anything!” Cerys cried.
“Look, just. Right, sorry yes, hold on, just. I know you’re scared, and so am I. Look at me, look at Cerys, we’re just as scared as you are. Bur we have all got to calm down and cool off and think.” The Doctor spoke softly.
“Perhaps you could tell us your name.” Professor Hobbes said.
“What does it matter?” The Doctor asked.
“Tell us.”
“John Smith.”
Cerys sighed. Like anyone would buy that, and these people certainly did not. They knew he was lying, but, the Doctor had told her he wasn’t able to tell anyone his name. It was something he didn’t share with anyone. They started bickering again, pointing fingers at the Doctor and at her, saying they had been lying to them from the beginning, that they didn’t like how the Doctor told them all that they needed him in order to get out of this.
“If anyone’s in charge, it should be the Professor. He’s the expert.” Val said.
“Mum, stop. Just look.” Jethro said.
“You keep out of this Jethro.” Biff grunted.
“LOOK AT HER!” Jethro yelled.
Everyone stopped and looked at Sky. She was sitting there, staring at them, a sickening smile on her face. It gave Cerys the chills. She didn’t like the look on her face.
“She’s stopped.” DeeDee gasped.
“When did she? No, she hasn’t. She’s still doing it.” The Doctor frowned.
“No, she’s stopped. Look, I’m talking, and she’s not.” Val said.
“What about me, is she? Look. Look at that. She’s not doing me, she’s let me go!” Biff exclaimed, relieved.
“Doctor…” Cerys muttered. She had a bad feeling about this.
“Doctor, it’s you. She’s only copying you.” Professor Hobbes spoke.
“Why me? Why are you doing this?” the Doctor asked.
“How do you explain this Doctor, if you’re so clever?” Professor Hobbes asked, clearly being sarcastic.
“I don’t know. Sky, stop it. I said stop it. Just stop it.”
The Doctor moved towards Sky, and Cerys and the other passengers moved with him, keeping behind him, in case she decided to start copying all of them again.
“Mrs. Silvestry, I’m trying to understand. You’ve captured my speech. What for? What do you need? You need my voice in particular. The cleverest voice in the room. Why? Because I’m the only one who can help? Oh, I’d love that to be true, but your eyes, they’re saying something else. Listen to me. Whatever you want, if it’s life, or form, or consciousness, or voice, you don’t have to steal it. You can find it without hurting anything. And I’ll help you. That’s a promise. So, what do you think?” The Doctor said.
The Doctor stared into Sky’s eyes, as if trying to make a connection with her.
“Do we have a deal?” Sky said… and the Doctor repeated after her.
“Oh God.” Cerys whispered.
“Hold on, did she?” DeeDee wondered.
“She spoke first.”
“She can’t have.” Val said.
“She did.” Professor Hobbes sighed.
“Oh, look at that. I’m ahead of you.” Sky said.
“He’s copying her.” Jethro muttered.
“Doctor, what’s going on?” Cerys asked, her voice wavering.
“I think it’s moved.” Sky said, the Doctor still repeating, “I think it’s letting me go.”
Sky started to get up, and the Doctor was stuck in his crouched position, staring forward, unmoving.
“Mrs. Silvestry, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me.” Sky said.
Cerys moved, keeping her distance from Sky until she could squat down in front of the Doctor. His eyes were wide, scared, and she whimpered. “Doctor? Doctor, what do I do? Tell me what to do.” She pleaded.
“Get away from him!” Biff yelled, grabbing her and pulling away.
“No! No, he’s fine, please, don’t!” She cried.
“It’s passed into the Doctor. It’s transferred. Whatever it is, it’s gone inside him.” Jethro said.
“No, that’s not it!” Cerys argued.
“Help me, Professor? Get me away from him. Please.” Sky pleaded.
Professor Hobbes offered a hand to Sky, pulling her away from the Doctor, who was still in the same position, completely unmoving, like he was stone.
“She’s free. She’s been saved!” Val exclaimed happily.
“Oh, it was so cold. I couldn’t breathe. I’m sorry. I must have scared you so much.” Sky whispered.
“No, no, it’s all right. I’ve got you. Ooo, there you are, my love. It’s gone. Everything’s all right now.” Val said, reaching to pull Sky into her arms.
“I wouldn’t touch her.” DeeDee spoke.
“But it’s gone. She’s clean, it passed into him.” Biff said.
“No, it hasn’t!” Cerys growled, fighting against Biff’s strong grip.
“Cerys is right. That’s not what happened.” DeeDee said.
Thank God, someone was agreeing with her. They had to help the Doctor, they had to do something. She couldn’t lose him. She and Donna couldn’t fly the TARDIS. They would never get home. They’d be stuck here. Oh, her parents would be so upset, she couldn’t bare to think of their grief when she never returned back home. The other passengers told DeeDee and Cerys that they were both wrong, that the Doctor was now infected and he was their new problem. Where was the rescue shuttle? They needed to be rescued now!
“It’s inside his head. It killed the driver. And the mechanic. And now it wants us.” Sky said.
“No!” Cerys cried.
“Shut up!” Biff yelled.
“But it’s not true!”
“He’s waited so long. In the dark. And the cold… and the diamonds. Until you came. Bodies so hot, with blood, and pain.” Sky spoke.
“Oh, my God, make him stop. Someone make him stop!” Val groaned.
“But it’s not him, it’s her! He’s repeating after her!” Cerys yelled.
“You can shut up, Like my husband said. He had you under a spell of some sort.” Val snapped.
“But she’s saying it.” DeeDee whispered.
Professor Hobbes shushed the group, encouraging DeeDee to speak up. “I think. I mean, from what I’ve seen, it repeats, then it synchronizes, then it goes on to the next stage. That’s exactly what the Doctor said would happen.”
“What, are you on his side?” Biff frowned.
“No… The voice is the thing. And she’s the voice. She stole it. Look at her. It’s not possessing him, it’s draining him.” DeeDee pushed.
“She has his voice…” The hostess gasped.
“But that’s not true, because it can’t. Because I saw it pass into him. I saw it with my own eyes.” Val said.
“So did I.” Biff backed her up.
“No you didn’t, you didn’t see anything! You’re making it up!” Cerys yelled.
“Everyone saw it. Everyone.” Biff spoke harshly.
“You didn’t. You’re making it up. I know what I saw, and I saw her stealing his voice.” DeeDee frowned.
“I think you should be quiet, DeeDee.” Professor Hobbes said.
“Well I’m only saying – “
“And that’s an order! You’re making a fool of yourself, pretending you’re an expert in mechanics and hydraulics, when I can tell you, you are nothing more than average at best. Now shut up!”
Cerys sniffed, and looked over at DeeDee, who had stopped talking. She felt bad for her. She really was smart, smarter than Hobbes gave her credit for. And now, Cerys lost the only other person who could help her save the Doctor, as she shrunk back into herself.
“That’s how he does it. He makes you fight, creeps into your head and whispers,” Sky drew out the last word, sounding more like a hiss of a snake, “Listen. Just listen. That’s him. Inside. Throw him out.”
“Yeah, we should throw him out.” Biff nodded.
“Don’t just talk about it, just. You’re useless. Do something!” Val growled.
“No!” Cerys yelped.
“I will. You watch me. I’m going to throw him out. Keep her outta my way.” Biff huffed, pushing Cerys towards Professor Hobbes, who wrapped his arms tight around her fighting form, keeping her from running to the Doctor’s aid.
“Yes. Throw him out. Get rid of him. Now. You’ll be next.” Sky taunted.
“Don’t!” DeeDee called.
“I don’t think we should do this.” The hostess muttered.
“Help him! Someone, please! Stop this!” Cerys pleaded.
Biff started dragging the Doctor down the aisle, Cerys screaming, pleading for them to stop. How could they do this? Just a couple of hours ago they were all smiles, talking and laughing with each other. Now they were willing to kill an innocent man because they were scared. The Doctors foot snagged on a chair and Cerys could see his eyes. She saw the fear, the tears… and she cried, “Look at him! Look at his eyes, he’s scared!” She sobbed.
“That’s ‘cause he knows we’re on to him. He knows we’re throwin’ him out! It was him all along! This’ll keep him from getting the rest of us!” Biff grunted.
“No! Please, no!” Cerys begged.
“Do it. Do it now. Faster.” Sky goaded them on.
“Jethro, gimme a hand!” Biff commanded.
“That’s the way! You can do it! Molto bene!” Sky said.
Cerys frowned. That was something the Doctor said. Those were the Doctors words! That bitch was taking the Doctor from her, and there was nothing she could do about it.
“Allons-y!”
The hostesses eyes widened. “That’s his voice.” She said.
“The starlight waits. The emptiness, the Midnight sky.” Sky grinned.
“She’s taken his voice. It’s her.” The hostess realized.
Sky was backing towards the door, watching as Jethro and Biff struggled to move the Doctor closer to the door so they could throw him out. The hostess grabbed Sky around the middle and pressed the button for the door, which flew open. Everyone was screaming, and Cerys watching as the hostess and Sky were sucked out into the night before the door closed again and then men dropped the Doctor back to the floor. Professor Hobbes’ arms loosened around Cerys and she slumped to her knees.
The Doctor seemed to gasp back to life, and he lay on his back on the floor panting, staring at the ceiling whole the passengers all stared at him. “It’s gone. It's gone. It's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone. It's gone. It's gone. It's gone, it's gone, it's gone. It's gone, it's gone, it's gone.” He chanted over and over.
Cerys sobbed and crawled over to the Doctor. Her eyes were still full of fear, and she cleared her throat. “Doctor?” She asked quietly.
Slowly, his eyes focused on her, and he gave her a sad smile. “Yeah. It’s me. I’m fine.”
Sniffing, she pulled him into a tight hug, feeling his arms wrap around her. They were both shaking, and Cerys couldn’t help but think that they needed a real vacation after this. God, they needed it badly now.
“Trouble magnet.” She whispered.
He laughed once, shortly, and gripped her tightly to him. “Yep.” He said, popping the ‘p’.
The rest of the passengers were silent, trying to come to grips with the situation, with the fact that they had almost committed murder. In the background, Val cleared her throat before speaking up. “I said it was her.”
***
When they got back to the spa, Donna met them with tight hugs. She’d heard about an issue with the tour and had been worried sick for the Doctor and Cerys. They sat down and explained to her what had gone on.
“What do you think it was?” She asked.
“No idea.” The Doctor admitted.
“Do you think it’s still out there?” Cerys asked.
When the Doctor didn’t answer, Cerys shuddered and Donna sighed. “Well, you’d better tell them. This lot.” She said, nodding her head at the group of higher ups that had gathered.
“Yeah. They can build a Leisure Palace somewhere else. Let this planet keep on turning round an Xtonic star in silence.” He sighed.
“I can’t imagine you without a voice.” Donna smirked.
“Molto bene.”
“Molto bene.” Donna copied.
The Doctor pinned her with a look and shook his head. “No, don’t do that. Don’t. Don’t.”
~TBC~
Rating: FRT
Characters: Donna, the Doctor (10), Original Character (Cerys Pritchard)
Summary: Traveling with the Doctor can be fun and sometimes scary, but definitely worth it.
Word count: 6653
Disclaimer: Not mine. I wish they were, but they're not.
Cerys never thought she would be so lucky as to travel with the Doctor. They’d met completely out of the blue, the Doctor running through the streets of Wales with an older, gingerish woman trailing after him, yelling at him to “slow the bloody hell down”. She’d thought the whole thing was comical until she saw why they were running. That’s when the Doctor noticed her standing there, and he’d recruited her right on the spot. He said he needed three people to stop what was chasing them. They did stop it, and the Doctor grinned that charming smile her way and asked her if she’d like to travel with him. Of course Cerys said yes.
They’d gone backwards through time, forwards through time, even sideways through time. The Doctor assured her it was possible, but he’d yet to explain exactly how something like that worked… apart from the four words he kept repeating any time she asked – “Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey.” Whatever that meant.
The gingerish woman, Donna, told Cerys that he always said weird things like that and not to take offense if he didn’t always answer her questions. Donna was nice, though it was best to stay on her good side. She had one hell of a temper.
After having travelled for what seemed like a month straight, Donna had wanted to go some place to relax, an alien planet with a beach, she’d said. The last three places they’d been to were anything but relaxing. They’d been chased, jailed and almost eaten. They definitely deserved a break, even if Cerys still thought those adventures had been fun. She never would have been an almost meal to an alien if not for the Doctor. And she knew he’d never let anything happen to either one of them if he could help it.
The Doctor said he’d take them to this amazing planet called Midnight. It sounded wonderful the way he described it, but, Donna said he could make visiting a dung heap sound like an exotic adventure. Even with all of her complaining, the Doctor still took them to Midnight. He said it was a place you had to visit at least once, and he’d always wanted to go.
***
“Sapphire waterfall. It’s a waterfall made of sapphires.” The Doctor explained to Donna.
Cerys stood next to the Doctor, watching people gather for the shuttle tour while the Doctor tried once again to convince Donna to go with them. She’d already said no twice, once when the Doctor told them where they were going, and again once she saw the pool and spa.
“There’s an enormous jewel the size of a glacier. It reaches the Cliffs of Oblivion, and then shatters into sapphires at the edge. They fall a hundred thousand feet into a crystal ravine.”
The Doctor pouted and Cerys knew that Donna had once again said no. She couldn’t understand how Donna could say no to something that sounded so beautiful, but, the spa was equally as beautiful and there was less of a chance of getting into major trouble.
“Oh, come on. They’re boarding now. It’s no fun if Cerys and I see it without you. Four hours, that’s all it takes.” He was pleading now.
Cerys smirked and listened as the Doctor told Donna to be careful, something about the sunlight on the planet being Xtonic… another strange word she didn’t understand. The whole trip sounded like it would be a lot of fun, even if it was four hours long. She wasn’t quite sure if it was four hours one way, or four hours there and back. The Doctor hadn’t been clear on that, but then again, when was the doctor ever clear about anything? Sighing at the phone, the Doctor hung it up and looked at Cerys, shrugging. “Guess it’s just you an’ me for this one, Cerys.”
“S’okay. I think that ehm, whatever it was that almost had us for lunch was a bit too much for Donna. Can’t say I blame her for sitting out on this one.”
The Doctor frowned at her, lower lip pouting out just enough to be considered cute. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Cerys smirked and walked in step with the Doctor, boarding onto the shuttle for the tour. “Well, you’re not exactly the kind of bloke that c’n stay out of trouble for too long.”
“Mmm… you do have a point there. It’s not for a lack of trying, I’ll have you know.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like you don’t mind the trouble either. It’s how you get your exercise, what with all the running.” She grinned.
The Doctor grinned back to her and took her hand. “Well, let’s hope we don’t need to do any running. One step outside the shuttle and it’ll be an excruciating death.”
***
The Doctor and Cerys picked some seats near the front of the shuttle. There were already other passengers sitting in their seats, and a hostess was passing out juice packs, peanuts and headphones. The Doctor, as always, was fiddling with the little buttons he found on the inside arm of his seat when the hostess reached them.
“That’s for the headphones for channels one to thirty six. Modern link for 3D vidgames. Complimentary earplugs, complimentary slippers, complimentary juice pack and complimentary peanuts.” She said, handing each item over to the Doctor and Cerys, “I must warn you some products may contain nuts.”
“That’ll be the peanuts.” The Doctor stated, and Cerys smirked.
The hostess smiled politely, clearly not understanding his sense of humor. “Enjoy your trip.” She said.
“Oh, we can’t wait. Allons-y!” The Doctor grinned.
The hostess stopped and look at the Doctor, clearly not understanding the word. Of course, the Doctor was oblivious, and Cerys leaned over, smiling, “It’s French for ‘let’s go.’ It’s one of the things he says, like a catch phrase.”
“Fascinating.” The hostess said before moving on to the passengers who had sat behind them.
***
Cerys had been enthralled by talking to these future humans. Their language patterns and usage were very similar to those used back home in 2014, but Cerys wasn’t sure if maybe the TARDIS’ translation abilities didn’t have something to do with that. She absolutely loved talking to Professor Hobbes and DeeDee, the two passengers who had sat behind her and the Doctor. She was a huge history buff and minored in the subject in college, and she found what Professor Hobbes and DeeDee talked about truly interesting. They started talking about something else and Cerys’ eyes wandered around the small shuttle. The Doctor had “fixed” the entertainment system, forcing the passengers to start talking to one another. She caught the Doctor’s eye and they grinned at each other before going back to their conversations.
After talking in small groups, Professor Hobbes thought he would share his knowledge of the falls, since he’d been on the tour fourteen times. He had a nice slideshow going and Cerys was enthralled with the images. She couldn’t wait to see it with her own eyes. And that’s when the shuttle stopped.
“We’ve stopped. Have we stopped?” A passenger, Val questioned. She was travelling with her husband Biff and her son Jethro , who finally seemed to be perking up. He’d looked bored the entire trip.
The passengers started talking about why the shuttle stopped, whether or not they were there, if this was a pit stop, if they’d broken down. Professor Hobbes looked annoyed, correcting everyone as they made suggestions as to why they had stopped moving. “There’s not pit to stop in,” He said, “I’ve been on this expedition fourteen times. They never stop.”
“Well, evidently we have stopped, so there’s no point in denying it.” Sky, one of the other passengers who was travelling by herself said.
“Doctor… why have we stopped?” Cerys asked quietly.
“No idea. But, I plan to find out.” He said, getting out of his seat and walking towards the door that led to the cockpit.
“No, I’m sorry sir… could you please…?” The hostess asked, pointing to the seat next to Cerys.
The Doctor grabbed his psychic paper and flashed it at the Hostess, giving her his charming smile. “There you go, Engine expert. Two ticks.”
Cerys watched as the Doctor headed into the cockpit to talk with the driver. Professor Hobbes was bickering with Biff as to why they would have stopped, and Jethro was riling his mother up, telling her that they’d stopped in the middle of nowhere.
“Excuse me… your friend, the Doctor. Is he really an engine expert?” DeeDee asked.
“Ehm… well, he’s very clever. Knows loads of things about loads of things. He’ll figure things out, I’m sure.” Cerys smiled.
“Alright. I hope we don’t miss the waterfall. We already had to make a detour…” She sighed.
Cerys nodded in agreement, watching DeeDee move back to her seat. It would be a shame to miss the waterfall, after being on the shuttle for as long as they had already. She watched as Sky moved from her seat to stand by the door to the cockpit, clearly anxious and waiting for the Doctor. The two had talked for quite some time, and Cerys wondered if maybe she was crushing on him. He hadn’t been in the cockpit for more than five minutes before he came back out.
“What did they say? Did they tell you? What is it? What’s wrong?” Sky asked.
“Oh, just stabilizing. Happens all the time.” The Doctor assured her.
“I don’t need this. I’m on a schedule. This is completely unnecessary.” Sky said, clearly upset.
The hostess came over and touched her arm lightly, giving her a smile. “Back to your seats, thank you.”
Sky sat down in her seat and the Doctor came and sat down next to Cerys. “Everything’s really okay?” She asked quietly.
The Doctor looked over at her and she knew that he hadn’t figured out why they’d stopped, but he didn’t looked worried, so she shouldn’t be worried either. She sighed and sat back in her seat, closing her eyes. Either they’d start moving or they’d send another shuttle. Either way, all they could do was wait, and she might as well try and get a little rest in while it was quiet. She heard DeeDee talking to the Doctor about the engines. Apparently, the type of engines the shuttle had didn’t require stabilizing, so it wasn’t the engines. Next Professor Hobbes started asking about the oxygen levels, and of course, Val overheard and started freaking out. So much for a bit of a rest.
Cerys opened her eyes in time to see the Hostess come back in from the cockpit, trying to calm Val and the other passengers down as much as possible, assuring everyone that things were under control.
“Well, doesn’t look like it to me.” Biff snorted.
The hostess and DeeDee both tried to calm Val down, the Hostess assuring her things were fine while DeeDee tried explaining how the system worked, telling her they had tons of air due to it being on a circular filter. Neither explanation was working.
“Everyone! Quiet! Thank you. Now, if you’d care to listen to my good friend DeeDee.” The Doctor said.
The passengers settled, and Cerys turned around in her seat to look over the back at DeeDee. She looked a little nervous to be speaking in public, but clearly she knew her stuff.
“Oh. Er, it’s just that, well, the air’s on a circular filter, so we could stay breathing for ten years.” She explained.
“There you go. And I’ve spoken to the Captain. I can guarantee you everything’s fine.” The Doctor reassured.
That’s when the knocking started. It was just the thing to get the passengers all up in arms again, wondering what it was that made the knocking sound. Professor Hobbes said it was the metal cooling down and setting, whereas DeeDee thought it could have been falling rocks. Sky and Val were both nervous, and another two knocks were heard, this time on the other side of the shuttle.
“There’s someone out there!” Val said.
“Now, don’t be ridiculous.” Professor Hobbes huffed.
DeeDee cleared her throat and looked over at Val, “Like I said, it could be rocks.”
“We’re out in the open. Nothing could fall against the sides.” The hostess said, looking worried.
Cerys glanced over at the Doctor, who was looking at the side of the shuttle, his brow furrowed in thought. He was trying to figure out what was making that noise, and he puzzled because he didn’t know what it was. That worried Cerys, but she knew she was safe with the Doctor. Another two knocks came, close to where the Doctor was, and he looked even more puzzled.
“Knock, knock.” He muttered.
Cerys moved closer to the Doctor. This was too weird. The knocks were consistent, two knocks at a time, and it moved from one side to the other. It was as though a conscious being was behind the knocking noise, but, the Doctor and Professor Hobbes had both said that nothing could survive out there. So, what was making the knocking noise?
“Sir, Madam, you two should really get back to your seats. This will all get sorted out as soon as possible.” The hostess said.
The Doctor wasn’t budging, and Cerys wasn’t about the leave. This was just another mystery that needed solving, and she was just as curious as he was. When he pulled a stethoscope out of his pocket, her eyes went wide. She didn’t think his pockets were that deep! He must have noticed the look on her face, because he smiled and laughed softly.
“Time Lord technology. My pockets are bigger on the inside, just like the TARDIS.” He explained quietly.
Putting the stethoscope to the hull, the Doctor listened carefully, trying to solve the mystery that had presented itself. “Hello?” He spoke.
There were two, quicker knocks, as though they were answering him, and the Doctor and Cerys smiled. This was starting to get interesting!
“It’s moving…” Jethro said, his eyes staring at the hull.
When the emergency exit started rattling, Val became spooked, clinging to her husband and crying out, “It’s trying the door!”
“There is no it. There’s nothing out there. Can’t be.” Professor Hobbes stressed.
The door rattled again, and then the knocking was on the roof and the entrance door. Val was in near hysterics at this point, gripping Biff’s arm so tightly that he was grimacing. “That’s the entrance. Can it get in?”
“No,” DeeDee said, “That door’s on two hundred weight hydraulics.”
“Stop it. Don’t encourage them.” Professor Hobbes chastised.
Biff moved over to the door and knocked on it three times, testing its strength. The thing on the other side answered back in three quick knocks that shocked the small group, but intrigued the Doctor and Cerys.
“Three times. Did you hear that? It did it three times.” Val said.
“It answered.” Jethro muttered.
Now Val was beyond hysterics and the Doctor put away his stethoscope back in his pocket and turned his attention to the group, mainly Val. “All right, all right, all right. Everyone calm down.”
“No, but it answered. It answered. Don’t tell me that thing’s not alive. It answered him.” Sky said, looking at the Doctor.
The hostess tried once again to get everyone back into their seats, but it was no use. Everyone was too riled up to care about sitting down. Sky started bickering with her, telling her that she was the hostess, she was supposed to be doing something, not just telling them to sit down. The hostess looked a little hurt, but shuffled away, picking up the intercom. Moving towards the door, the Doctor knocked four times and listened. Surely enough, it knocked back four times.
“What is it? What the hell’s making that noise? She said she’d get me, my ex. Stop it. Make it stop. Somebody make it stop. Don’t just stand there looking at me, it’s not my fault. He started it with his stories.” Sky rambled.
Cerys was getting nervous. A small group of people, trapped inside a tin can like sardines. They couldn’t go outside, and they couldn’t move the shuttle. They were trapped and people were starting to get hysterical. She hoped they started moving again soon.
“Why don’t you leave it alone? Stop staring at me! Just tell me what the hell it is!” Sky screamed.
“Calm down!” DeeDee cried.
Sky started chanting over and over that the thing was coming for her, and she backed away from the group, her hands going to her hair. When she bumped against the driver’s door, she screamed. The lights went off and the shuttle rocked from side to side violently, throwing Cerys off of her feet and against the hull. The entertainment system came back on, showing a music video, though there was no sound. If the group wasn’t scared before, they were scared now, and that included Cerys. Her eyes searched for the Doctor, and when she found him, he held her gaze. Clearly, he was trying to work out what exactly was going on here. Cerys was wishing she’d stayed at the spa with Donna.
“Are you all right? You’re bleeding a bit, just on your forehead.” The Doctor said, moving towards her to take a better look.
“What the hell was that? What is going on? And, ouch, that hurts.” Cerys said.
The Doctor clicked his tongue and sighed. “Your head’s fine, just a little scratch. I don’t know what that was, or exactly why we stopped, to be honest. But, I intend to find out. Okay?”
Cerys smiled softly. “Okay. Just… try not to get into too much trouble?”
The Doctor grinned and jumped up to start his investigation. “How are we? Everyone all right?” He asked.
Professor Hobbes stood, looking a little shaken up. DeeDee looked concerned as well, but at least they weren’t in hysterics. “Earthquake. Must be.” Professor Hobbes said.
“But that’s impossible. The ground is fixed. It’s solid.” DeeDee said.
“Everyone take a torch, they’re in the back of the seats.” The hostess said.
Cerys reached for a torch and flicked it on, aiming the beam around the shuttle, checking for herself to make sure everyone was okay. Val looked like a wreck, and she was acting like one, too. She was concerned for her son, Jethro, but he seemed completely unfazed. He told Val not to concern herself with him, and drew their attention to Sky.
Cerys shone her flashlight at the front of the shuttle, where Sky was sitting with her back to them. The seats were all torn away. She wasn’t moving and Cerys wondered if maybe she had been killed.
“It’s all right,” the Doctor spoke, “It’s over. We’re still alive. Look, the wall’s still intact, do you see?”
Cerys looked at the wall. Intact may have been a bit of a stretch. The thing was dented like a tin can. Whatever was outside must be incredibly strong. She gripped the flashlight tighter and stood back. The front cabin, where the driver was, was gone, the hostess stated. She said she wasn’t able to get in touch with the driver, Joe, or the mechanic. The Doctor went over to the panel by the door, working on the wires inside.
“You’d better leave that wall alone, if the cabin’s actually gone.” Biff said, aiming his flashlight at the Doctor.
“No, it’s safe. Any rupture would automatically seal itself.” He informed, “But… something sliced it off. You’re right, the cabin’s gone.”
The Doctor explained how the cabin would have lost its integrity and that the two men inside unfortunately had died. He told them that a distress signal had been sent and that help was on the way. They would get out of here eventually, they just had to stay calm.
“Doctor… look at her.” Jethro spoke out, still staring at Sky.
The Doctor got up and moved over to her, “Sky? Can you hear me? Are you all right? Can you move, Sky? Just look at me.”
“The noise from outside stopped…” Jethro spoke again.
“Where did it go?” Cerys asked.
“Maybe it got bored.” Biff suggested.
“I don’t know…” Cerys sighed. She didn’t like this at all. Something was wrong.
“Sky? It’s all right. I just want you to turn around, face me.” The Doctor said.
Cerys watched as Sky slowly turned around. She looked okay, unharmed… but her eyes. There was something about her eyes. She looked… empty.
“Sky?” the Doctor said… and she repeated.
Sky was repeating everything the Doctor was saying, like some sick game of copy cat. She repeated everything, right down to the intonation. And she wasn’t just repeating the Doctor… she repeated anything anyone said. At first, she was just repeating after the Doctor and the others, but, the more people talked, the more her speech overlapped with theirs. Cerys felt like whatever was happening to Sky… whatever this thing was… it was learning…
***
The lights in the shuttle came back on and Cerys felt a little bit better. The hostess said the back up system was on and the other passengers seemed to feel that was a good thing. Val started to ask about the rescue and how long it was going to take. Clearly, Sky needed some help. Something was insider her, and Cerys was sure it was that thing that was outside. The rescue shuttle would take another hour to reach them and she didn’t want to think about what might happen in that time.
“I suggest we all calm down,” Professor Hobbes spoke, “This panic isn’t helping. That poor woman is evidently in a state of self induced hysteria. We should leave her alone.”
Mid-way through Professor Hobbes’ pep-talk, Sky had fully synced – she was speaking the same words at the same time. It was just creepy. Cerys, shuffled closer to the Doctor, which, unfortunately meant she was getting closer to Sky as well. She just didn’t know the others well enough to feel comfortable around them and right now, she needed the Doctors reassurance. Everyone else needed some reassurance as well, as they were back in hysterics, talking over one another, screaming at Sky to stop, to just shut up.
“Just stop it, all of you. Stop it, please.” The Doctor said, Sky speaking right along with him.
Cerys watched as the Doctor sat crossed-legged in front of Sky, staring at her. “Now then. Sky? Are you Sky? Is Sky still in there? Mrs. Silvestry? You know exactly what I’m going to say. How are you doing that?” The Doctor mused. It certainly was interesting, but creepy nonetheless. “Roast beef. Bananas. The Medusa Cascade. Bang! Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Noble, Cerys Pritchard, TARDIS! Shamble bobble dibble dooble. Oh Doctor, you’re so handsome. Yes, I am, thank you. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O – ”
Cerys rolled her eyes. The Doctor was having fun with this now, testing the limits, trying to see just how far Sky would go.
“First she repeats, then she catches up. What’s the next stage?” The Doctor mused.
“The next stage of what, Doctor?” Cerys asked.
“That’s not her, is it. That’s not Mrs. Silvestry anymore.” Jethro said.
“I don’t think so, no. I think the more we talk, the more she learns. Now, I’m all for education, but in this case, maybe not. Let’s move back. Come on, come with me. Everyone get back. All of you, as far as you can.”
The Doctor got up and took Cerys’ elbow, leading her towards the back of the shuttle where the refreshments and emergency exit were. Val was pleading for the Doctor to make Sky stop, and the Doctor shushed her, telling her to get back like the others. He told them they only needed fifty minutes until the rescue came. They just needed to survive for that much longer and then they could go home.
“All she’s got is our voices.” The Doctor reassured.
“I can’t. I can’t look at her. It’s those eyes.” Val shuddered.
“We must not look at goblin men.” DeeDee muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Biff frowned.
“It’s a poem. Christina Rossetti.” The Doctor said. Cerys stood beside him and reached for his hand. She was starting to get scared. Any time someone spoke, Sky spoke along with them. She was always there, staring at them, repeating them. The Doctor squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. Everything was going to be okay.
***
Apparently, waiting calmly for fifty minutes was beyond the capabilities of this group. They felt they needed to take control of the situation, and that meant taking control of Sky. The hostess had suggested they throw her out of the airlock, which took Cerys and the Doctor by surprise. She was still human, she just wasn’t herself. She couldn’t even move and they wanted to throw her out? They blamed her for the death of the two people in the cabin, and that she could possibly be the cause of their deaths. The Doctor was trying to convince them otherwise. Even if this wasn’t Sky, is was a new life form. They couldn’t just destroy it because they were scared. They started talking about taking a vote on whether or not they would throw Sky out of the airlock. DeeDee had said the doors would automatically seal back up after six seconds, so they could do it without anyone else getting hurt.
“There isn’t a vote. It’s not happening. Ever. If you try to throw her out that door, you’ll have to get past me first.” The Doctor frowned.
“Okay.” Biff said, and the hostess agreed.
The Doctor rolled his eyes and wiped his hand over his face. Cerys crossed her arms over her chest. She couldn’t believe what these people were thinking of doing. Committing murder because they were scared? Where was that rescue shuttle?
“Oh, now you’re being stupid. Just think about it. Could you actually take hold of someone and throw them out of that door?” He asked.
“Calling me a coward?” Biff growled, “An’ who put you in charge, anyway?”
“He wasn’t even booked in. Or his friend,” The hostess pointed to Cerys, “The rest of you, tickets in advance. They just turned up out of the blue.”
“Where from?” Val questioned.
“We’re just travelling. We’re travelers, that’s all.” Cerys spoke softly.
“Like an immigrant?”
“Who were you talking to? Before you two got on board, you were talking to someone. Who was that?” The hostess asked.
“Just Donna. Just my friend.” The Doctor stressed.
“He hasn’t even told us his name.” Val sneered.
“You’ve been loving this, haven’t you, Doctor? The both of you. I saw the way you two smiled at one another when the knocking noises started. And again when Mrs. Silvestry went crazy.” Jethro said.
The Doctor looked hurt by what Jethro had said. They had seemed to been good friends, and Cerys sighed. The one person she hoped would stay on their side had turned against them. They were all turning against him. After all, he had spoke with Sky earlier, and he went into the cabin. So, therefore, it must have been his fault. Cerys was worried. What were they going to do? Why couldn’t they all just sit quietly and patiently while they waited for their rescue to get here?
“How did you know what to do with the wiring?” Biff questioned.
“Because I’m clever!” the Doctor barked.
“If you’re clever, then what are we?” DeeDee asked, quietly.
What really started to scare Cerys, was when they started talking about throwing the Doctor out, and possibly her too. If they needed to, the hostess had said, and she sniffed. She didn’t want to die!
“We haven’t done anything!” Cerys cried.
“Look, just. Right, sorry yes, hold on, just. I know you’re scared, and so am I. Look at me, look at Cerys, we’re just as scared as you are. Bur we have all got to calm down and cool off and think.” The Doctor spoke softly.
“Perhaps you could tell us your name.” Professor Hobbes said.
“What does it matter?” The Doctor asked.
“Tell us.”
“John Smith.”
Cerys sighed. Like anyone would buy that, and these people certainly did not. They knew he was lying, but, the Doctor had told her he wasn’t able to tell anyone his name. It was something he didn’t share with anyone. They started bickering again, pointing fingers at the Doctor and at her, saying they had been lying to them from the beginning, that they didn’t like how the Doctor told them all that they needed him in order to get out of this.
“If anyone’s in charge, it should be the Professor. He’s the expert.” Val said.
“Mum, stop. Just look.” Jethro said.
“You keep out of this Jethro.” Biff grunted.
“LOOK AT HER!” Jethro yelled.
Everyone stopped and looked at Sky. She was sitting there, staring at them, a sickening smile on her face. It gave Cerys the chills. She didn’t like the look on her face.
“She’s stopped.” DeeDee gasped.
“When did she? No, she hasn’t. She’s still doing it.” The Doctor frowned.
“No, she’s stopped. Look, I’m talking, and she’s not.” Val said.
“What about me, is she? Look. Look at that. She’s not doing me, she’s let me go!” Biff exclaimed, relieved.
“Doctor…” Cerys muttered. She had a bad feeling about this.
“Doctor, it’s you. She’s only copying you.” Professor Hobbes spoke.
“Why me? Why are you doing this?” the Doctor asked.
“How do you explain this Doctor, if you’re so clever?” Professor Hobbes asked, clearly being sarcastic.
“I don’t know. Sky, stop it. I said stop it. Just stop it.”
The Doctor moved towards Sky, and Cerys and the other passengers moved with him, keeping behind him, in case she decided to start copying all of them again.
“Mrs. Silvestry, I’m trying to understand. You’ve captured my speech. What for? What do you need? You need my voice in particular. The cleverest voice in the room. Why? Because I’m the only one who can help? Oh, I’d love that to be true, but your eyes, they’re saying something else. Listen to me. Whatever you want, if it’s life, or form, or consciousness, or voice, you don’t have to steal it. You can find it without hurting anything. And I’ll help you. That’s a promise. So, what do you think?” The Doctor said.
The Doctor stared into Sky’s eyes, as if trying to make a connection with her.
“Do we have a deal?” Sky said… and the Doctor repeated after her.
“Oh God.” Cerys whispered.
“Hold on, did she?” DeeDee wondered.
“She spoke first.”
“She can’t have.” Val said.
“She did.” Professor Hobbes sighed.
“Oh, look at that. I’m ahead of you.” Sky said.
“He’s copying her.” Jethro muttered.
“Doctor, what’s going on?” Cerys asked, her voice wavering.
“I think it’s moved.” Sky said, the Doctor still repeating, “I think it’s letting me go.”
Sky started to get up, and the Doctor was stuck in his crouched position, staring forward, unmoving.
“Mrs. Silvestry, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me.” Sky said.
Cerys moved, keeping her distance from Sky until she could squat down in front of the Doctor. His eyes were wide, scared, and she whimpered. “Doctor? Doctor, what do I do? Tell me what to do.” She pleaded.
“Get away from him!” Biff yelled, grabbing her and pulling away.
“No! No, he’s fine, please, don’t!” She cried.
“It’s passed into the Doctor. It’s transferred. Whatever it is, it’s gone inside him.” Jethro said.
“No, that’s not it!” Cerys argued.
“Help me, Professor? Get me away from him. Please.” Sky pleaded.
Professor Hobbes offered a hand to Sky, pulling her away from the Doctor, who was still in the same position, completely unmoving, like he was stone.
“She’s free. She’s been saved!” Val exclaimed happily.
“Oh, it was so cold. I couldn’t breathe. I’m sorry. I must have scared you so much.” Sky whispered.
“No, no, it’s all right. I’ve got you. Ooo, there you are, my love. It’s gone. Everything’s all right now.” Val said, reaching to pull Sky into her arms.
“I wouldn’t touch her.” DeeDee spoke.
“But it’s gone. She’s clean, it passed into him.” Biff said.
“No, it hasn’t!” Cerys growled, fighting against Biff’s strong grip.
“Cerys is right. That’s not what happened.” DeeDee said.
Thank God, someone was agreeing with her. They had to help the Doctor, they had to do something. She couldn’t lose him. She and Donna couldn’t fly the TARDIS. They would never get home. They’d be stuck here. Oh, her parents would be so upset, she couldn’t bare to think of their grief when she never returned back home. The other passengers told DeeDee and Cerys that they were both wrong, that the Doctor was now infected and he was their new problem. Where was the rescue shuttle? They needed to be rescued now!
“It’s inside his head. It killed the driver. And the mechanic. And now it wants us.” Sky said.
“No!” Cerys cried.
“Shut up!” Biff yelled.
“But it’s not true!”
“He’s waited so long. In the dark. And the cold… and the diamonds. Until you came. Bodies so hot, with blood, and pain.” Sky spoke.
“Oh, my God, make him stop. Someone make him stop!” Val groaned.
“But it’s not him, it’s her! He’s repeating after her!” Cerys yelled.
“You can shut up, Like my husband said. He had you under a spell of some sort.” Val snapped.
“But she’s saying it.” DeeDee whispered.
Professor Hobbes shushed the group, encouraging DeeDee to speak up. “I think. I mean, from what I’ve seen, it repeats, then it synchronizes, then it goes on to the next stage. That’s exactly what the Doctor said would happen.”
“What, are you on his side?” Biff frowned.
“No… The voice is the thing. And she’s the voice. She stole it. Look at her. It’s not possessing him, it’s draining him.” DeeDee pushed.
“She has his voice…” The hostess gasped.
“But that’s not true, because it can’t. Because I saw it pass into him. I saw it with my own eyes.” Val said.
“So did I.” Biff backed her up.
“No you didn’t, you didn’t see anything! You’re making it up!” Cerys yelled.
“Everyone saw it. Everyone.” Biff spoke harshly.
“You didn’t. You’re making it up. I know what I saw, and I saw her stealing his voice.” DeeDee frowned.
“I think you should be quiet, DeeDee.” Professor Hobbes said.
“Well I’m only saying – “
“And that’s an order! You’re making a fool of yourself, pretending you’re an expert in mechanics and hydraulics, when I can tell you, you are nothing more than average at best. Now shut up!”
Cerys sniffed, and looked over at DeeDee, who had stopped talking. She felt bad for her. She really was smart, smarter than Hobbes gave her credit for. And now, Cerys lost the only other person who could help her save the Doctor, as she shrunk back into herself.
“That’s how he does it. He makes you fight, creeps into your head and whispers,” Sky drew out the last word, sounding more like a hiss of a snake, “Listen. Just listen. That’s him. Inside. Throw him out.”
“Yeah, we should throw him out.” Biff nodded.
“Don’t just talk about it, just. You’re useless. Do something!” Val growled.
“No!” Cerys yelped.
“I will. You watch me. I’m going to throw him out. Keep her outta my way.” Biff huffed, pushing Cerys towards Professor Hobbes, who wrapped his arms tight around her fighting form, keeping her from running to the Doctor’s aid.
“Yes. Throw him out. Get rid of him. Now. You’ll be next.” Sky taunted.
“Don’t!” DeeDee called.
“I don’t think we should do this.” The hostess muttered.
“Help him! Someone, please! Stop this!” Cerys pleaded.
Biff started dragging the Doctor down the aisle, Cerys screaming, pleading for them to stop. How could they do this? Just a couple of hours ago they were all smiles, talking and laughing with each other. Now they were willing to kill an innocent man because they were scared. The Doctors foot snagged on a chair and Cerys could see his eyes. She saw the fear, the tears… and she cried, “Look at him! Look at his eyes, he’s scared!” She sobbed.
“That’s ‘cause he knows we’re on to him. He knows we’re throwin’ him out! It was him all along! This’ll keep him from getting the rest of us!” Biff grunted.
“No! Please, no!” Cerys begged.
“Do it. Do it now. Faster.” Sky goaded them on.
“Jethro, gimme a hand!” Biff commanded.
“That’s the way! You can do it! Molto bene!” Sky said.
Cerys frowned. That was something the Doctor said. Those were the Doctors words! That bitch was taking the Doctor from her, and there was nothing she could do about it.
“Allons-y!”
The hostesses eyes widened. “That’s his voice.” She said.
“The starlight waits. The emptiness, the Midnight sky.” Sky grinned.
“She’s taken his voice. It’s her.” The hostess realized.
Sky was backing towards the door, watching as Jethro and Biff struggled to move the Doctor closer to the door so they could throw him out. The hostess grabbed Sky around the middle and pressed the button for the door, which flew open. Everyone was screaming, and Cerys watching as the hostess and Sky were sucked out into the night before the door closed again and then men dropped the Doctor back to the floor. Professor Hobbes’ arms loosened around Cerys and she slumped to her knees.
The Doctor seemed to gasp back to life, and he lay on his back on the floor panting, staring at the ceiling whole the passengers all stared at him. “It’s gone. It's gone. It's gone, it's gone, it's gone, it's gone. It's gone. It's gone. It's gone, it's gone, it's gone. It's gone, it's gone, it's gone.” He chanted over and over.
Cerys sobbed and crawled over to the Doctor. Her eyes were still full of fear, and she cleared her throat. “Doctor?” She asked quietly.
Slowly, his eyes focused on her, and he gave her a sad smile. “Yeah. It’s me. I’m fine.”
Sniffing, she pulled him into a tight hug, feeling his arms wrap around her. They were both shaking, and Cerys couldn’t help but think that they needed a real vacation after this. God, they needed it badly now.
“Trouble magnet.” She whispered.
He laughed once, shortly, and gripped her tightly to him. “Yep.” He said, popping the ‘p’.
The rest of the passengers were silent, trying to come to grips with the situation, with the fact that they had almost committed murder. In the background, Val cleared her throat before speaking up. “I said it was her.”
***
When they got back to the spa, Donna met them with tight hugs. She’d heard about an issue with the tour and had been worried sick for the Doctor and Cerys. They sat down and explained to her what had gone on.
“What do you think it was?” She asked.
“No idea.” The Doctor admitted.
“Do you think it’s still out there?” Cerys asked.
When the Doctor didn’t answer, Cerys shuddered and Donna sighed. “Well, you’d better tell them. This lot.” She said, nodding her head at the group of higher ups that had gathered.
“Yeah. They can build a Leisure Palace somewhere else. Let this planet keep on turning round an Xtonic star in silence.” He sighed.
“I can’t imagine you without a voice.” Donna smirked.
“Molto bene.”
“Molto bene.” Donna copied.
The Doctor pinned her with a look and shook his head. “No, don’t do that. Don’t. Don’t.”
~TBC~