Post by Fitz Kreiner on Feb 25, 2009 11:56:53 GMT
Thaer dropped his communicator as he sprang into action leaping forwards as Piazzi leapt off the edge of the precipice and into the air. Tom dived towards the edge, impacting hard against the bare rock, crying out as he landed and skidded towards the edge, his arm outstretched and grasping into the air.
Skidding to a halt, Thaer stumbled backwards, landing with a heavy thump on the rock, scrambling to grab hold of Tom, who was still sliding towards the edge of the cliff. The rocks at the edge under Tom started to crack and crumble as Thaer started pulling the young Time Lord back to safe ground.
Quickly, but carefully, Sauer edged to the cliff edge and peered over the sheer drop. He could see Piazzi’s body falling fast towards the rocky pool at the base of the waterfall.
“No.” He said softly and sadly, turning away as his former student’s body impacted into the rocks at the base of the waterfall.
“Thanks.” Tom breathed, struggling back to his feet. Gasping, he placed his hand on Sauer’s shoulder and looked over the edge of the precipice. “I’m sorry.” He said positioning himself between Sauer and the drop.
An uncomfortable silence descended over the three men, the only sound being the roar of the waterfall. Chancing another look back over the edge, Tom glanced over at the churning pool far below. The blood in the water was dissipating and the rocks were washing clean. Of Piazzi’s body, there was no sight. His face grim, with his mouth downturned in a grimace, Tom turned back from the edge.
“This is all, that bastard, Mori’s fault.” Sauer spat, his face red in fury. “Whatever he gets is too good for him.”
Tifa opened her eyes. She had a slight ache in her head and she felt a little dizzy. She closed her eyes and opened them again, the headache and dizziness were fading. Taking a deep breath, Tifa stretched out. She felt a lot better than she had in all the time she’d been on the planet.
“How are you feeling?”
The voice made her start. It was a soft and caring voice, one she recognised.
“Doctor?” She asked, turning her head.
The Time Lord was sat beside the bunk she was laying on, smiling. Looking round the dim room, she saw Jess sat nearby. She also had a huge grin on her face.
“Wh- where am I?” She stammered.
“Number Two Lander,” Jess said. “Apparently. The other one was destroyed. Don’t you remember us trekking and carrying you through the jungle?”
Tifa tried hard to think, but couldn’t remember anything after the Doctor and Sauer had given her a sedative.
“Tom? Where is he?” She asked, suddenly realising that he wasn’t there. “Did you say something about him?”
“He’s fine,” The Doctor smiled, taking hold of her hand. “He’s just gone on a little trip out into the jungle with Doctor Sauer and Sergeant Thaer. He’ll be back before we know it.”
A sudden crashing coming from the front of the Lander made the Doctor and Jess spin round and Tifa instantly move to a sitting position. She had no idea why she had a sudden feeling of dread, but she could feel her heart beating harder and faster. She hadn’t realised she was doing it until the Doctor went to get to his feet and she found she was gripping hold of his hand rather tightly.
“That sounds like him.” Jess said in a flat tone, turning back to the Doctor and Tifa, her eyebrows raised.
“It also sounds like trouble,” the Doctor replied, having extradited his hand from Tifa’s and making his way to the door.
“Are you ok?” Jess asked, grasping Tifa’s hand as the girl got to her feet.
“Yes. I think,” she replied, briefly holding back before following Jess and the Doctor out of the door and into the lab.
Olbrich walked out of the cockpit and into the lab section of the Lander. Corporal Neruda snapped to attention as he emerged. Pausing, Olbrich pursed his lips and looked around the Lab. Mori seemed to be asleep in the small makeshift cell, and the Doctor and his two companions were not in sight.
“Status,” he said, turning to face Neruda.
“All quiet, Sir,” she reported. “Not a peep from the Professor and the Doctor and the girl Jess are in the living section looking after the other girl.”
Olbrich nodded and walked over to the work bench where the Doctor had put the pack he’d brought down from the mother ship which contained the antidote that he’d concocted. Olbrich wondered what else the Doctor had in the pack and carefully opened up the top. Surely there had to be something in here that would give him some more information about the mysterious man. He was starting to rummage though the pack when the outer door crashed open and there was a cry.
Spinning round, Olbrich was in time to see Neruda stumble backwards and the door to the office cell fling open. Catching Neruda just before she hit the floor, he looked up in time to see the young man, Rowan, run into the office, Thaer stood at the open external door, a look of shock on his face.
“You bastard, I’ll kill you!”
Olbrich recognised the voice as Sauer, although he couldn’t see the doctor. It was then it hit him, he was inside the cell with Mori. Rushing to the door with Neruda, he saw that Sauer had the smaller man by the scruff of the neck, holding him against the wall. Mori had a trickle blood coming from his nose and the corner of his mouth, presumably where Sauer had hit him. Rowan was trying desperately to separate the two men, but Sauer’s hands hand moved to Mori’s throat and the doctor was throttling him and trying to bash the other man’s head against the bulkhead.
“Corporal!” Olbrich barked as Thaer reached his side.
“What’s happening?”
Olbrich turned at the sound of the Doctors voice. He hadn’t noticed the man arrive by his side. He could see the two girls now approaching; the blonde girl seemed to have made a full recovery. She was inquisitively looking close to the door at the drama unfolding inside the small cell.
Inside, Neruda was helping Rowan pull doctor Sauer off Professor Mori, who was still bizarrely smiling through the attack. Olbrich looked closer; he couldn’t see the Professors hands, whereas before they were trying to fight off Sauer.
“Tom, what are you doing?” Jess cried at seeing the sight before her.
“Doctor Sauer has attacked Professor Mori.” Olbrich said, looking at the Doctor. “Your friend, Rowan, is trying to stop it.”
Olbrich saw the Doctor narrow his eyes before he turned to the cell door. “Tom, be careful!” He warned.
What happened next, Olbrich was barely aware of until it had actually happened. Tom and Neruda finally managed to pull Sauer off Mori and started to pull the enraged doctor out of the small room. Olbrich was about to move forwards to check if Mori was alright when the Professor started to laugh. As quick as a flash he grabbed out and grabbed the girl, Tifa, round the throat with one arm. He brought his other hand up and pointed it at the girls head. He held a pistol in his hand.
“Everyone get back, right back.” Mori snarled as he stepped into the main area of the Lander.
Instantly, Thaer moved into the outer doorway of the Lander, bringing his rifle up to cover Mori. Olbrich took a step back and reached down for his own pistol. The Doctor and Jess seemed to have been caught off guard and were both stood dumbstruck, as were Rowan, Neruda and Sauer, who had seemingly regained his composure.
“Do as I say or I’ll scatter this pretty blonds’ brains all over the lab.” Mori said, looking round.
Tifa seemed to be frozen, a picture of shock and fear on her face, her hands up to Mori’s arm, trying to pull it back to stop choking her.
“I swear by Rassilon, that if you harm one hair on her head, Mori-” Tom snarled.
“You’ll nothing.” Mori interjected.
“Do as he says Tom.” The Doctor said, calmly, raising his hands. “I suggest we all do as he says.”
“That’s good advice.” Mori sneered as he backed towards the cockpit.
“I’ve got a shot sir.” Thaer said, glancing over to Olbrich.
Olbrich opened his mouth to reply when a gunshot rang out. Thaer staggered back from the door, his grip on his rifle slackening and his mouth open. A crimson stain was spreading on the shoulder of his uniform.
“No one else to try something silly.” Mori said, pointing the gun back at Tifa’s head before looking over to the Doctor. “You, fancy dress, over here and open this door.”
Nodding slowly, the Doctor obliged and opened the door to the cockpit. Keeping his eyes on the group before him, Mori backed into the cockpit and then motioned with the gun he held for the Doctor to follow him. The door to the cockpit closed, leaving the Lander in all but silence, just the sound of Thaer gasping outside the Lander.
Within seconds, Sauer rushed out to his aid and Olbrich drew his pistol, turning to Neruda ordering her to arm herself and get to stand by the door, guarding.
“What just happened?” Jess asked quietly to Tom, still shocked by the speed that the events unfolded.
“I think Professor Mori just tried escaping, taking the Doctor and Tifa hostage.” Tom replied, picking up the rifle that he’d discarded and turning back to the door. “But he can’t stay holed up there for long.”
“You’re right Mr. Rowan.” Olbrich said. “We need to flush him out of there.”
“What?” Jess asked, turning round to face Olbrich. “He’s got the Doctor and Tifa. We can’t risk them getting killed.”
“Yes,” Olbrich mused rubbing his stubbly chin. “You’re both right. We need Mori out of there without risk to your friends.”
“Wait.” Jess almost cried. “If this Lander is like the other, then isn’t there another way out of the cockpit?”
Toms eyes widened in realisation as he turned to look at Olbrich who was doing the same.
“You’re right.” He breathed. “In case he does get out that way, Mr. Rowan, will you keep watch?”
Nodding, Tom hurried over to the outside door and jumped out onto the planet’s surface. Looking round, he saw Doctor Sauer kneeling beside Sergeant Thaer. He was treating the bullet wound to the marines shoulder. Sauer had used a pocket knife to cut open the marines shirt at the shoulder.
“How is he?” Tom asked.
“I’ll live.” Thaer said, through gritted teeth.
“He will,” Sauer confirmed. “The bullet passed straight through his shoulder, no real damage. He’ll be right as rain in a couple of hours.”
Nodding, Tom slipped the safety catch off the rifle and slowly moved towards the front of the Lander. The door to the cockpit was virtually undetectable against the hull of the ship. Slowly and carefully, Tom crept round, peering through the dark Plexiglas of the Landers view screen. Squinting, he could just make out a silhouette through the window; the Doctor. Tom’s hearts skipped a beat when the Doctor looked up, straight into his eyes. To his surprise the Doctor winked.
Tom ducked back when he saw the shape of Professor Mori, still holding Tifa round the neck with his arm, move into view. Pulling back to the hull of the craft, he pressed himself against the metal, just under the window to the cockpit, and inside his head, as clear as though he were standing beside him, he heard the Doctor’s voice;
“Contact.”
To his amazement, Tom looked down and saw the control console for the Lander, and his hands skipping across the controls. Only, they weren’t his hands and he was outside, so had no access to the controls. The display screen now before him showed the progress of the engine overload.
“I’m sure no one would be stupid enough to try to stop you, Professor. Not while you’re holding Tifa and myself. I can be sure that my friend Tom, as much as he’d like to, wouldn’t dream of putting our lives in danger. You’ll be out on the planet’s surface and away in the pod before they realise what I’ve done here.”
The Doctor’s voice again. Tom’s eyes widened as he found himself back outside the Lander and suddenly realised what had happened. The Doctor had opened a mental link to him and sent him a message.
Quickly, Tom rushed back into the Lander, to the surprise of Olbrich and Neruda, and the obvious delight of Jess. Before any of them could manage to say anything, Tom held his finger to his lips, silencing them.
“Commander, Corporal. I think I’m going to need you.” He whispered, beckoning the two marines over to the external door which he had closed behind him, leaving a tiny crack to the outside world.
The soft, indistinguishable sound of Mori’s commands to the Doctor and Tifa faded away from the cockpit and Tom held his hand up, peering through the small crack in the door. The Doctor was walking across the clearing, his hands held above his head, Mori following behind, holding Tifa, his pistol trained on the Doctor’s head.
“When I give the word,” he whispered softly. “Make sure you’re careful of the Doctor and-”
The terrifying two toned scream of a Wyvern cut Tom off, mid sentence, and the young Time Lords eyes widened as he looked to the door and then back to Olbrich and Neruda. A long, drawn out, blood curdling human scream spurred Tom into action, and he kicked the door open and bolted out onto the planet’s surface, rifle raised, readied for action.
Immediately following suit, Olbrich and Neruda raised their weapons and ran from the Lander, followed by Jess, who stopped at the doorway. It was Professor Mori who was screaming; wordless, terrified screams. A Wyvern had shot out from the jungle and knocked the professor from his feet. He, Tifa and the Doctor were laying sprawled on the floor; Mori was staring at the creature, screaming, blood pouring from several wounds on his back. Tifa was staring at the creature, clearly petrified and unable to move, yet the Wyvern was ignoring her, looking from Mori to the Doctor, who was looking astounded beyond the creature to Tifa.
As Jess watched, the Wyvern took a long sniff and then ducked its head down, its beak-like jaws wide and took a crushing bite down on Mori’s skull. Turning away, her stomach doing somersaults, Jess heard the sickening crunch of bone, and Mori’s screams stopped. She was barely aware of the shots as they rang out behind her, or even her walking into the lab. Tom’s hand on her shoulder made her jump, and she turned around, coming back down to Earth with a jolt.
“He didn’t deserve that.” She muttered, quietly.
“I agree.” Tom said sadly, pulling her into a hug.
“Fascinating,”
The two looked up at the sound of the Doctor’s voice as he entered the Lander with Tifa.
“The Wyvern didn’t even notice you out there, just Professor Mori and I.” The Doctor suddenly stopped, as though he’d hit a wall, his eyes widening. “Of course!” he cried hitting the palm of his hand against his forehead. Without another word, he dashed over to the workbench and pulled out several syringes full of the blue fluid that he had injected Tifa with. “Tom, can you sort the engine overload for me please?” He said, smiling over to the young Time Lord before turning back to Jess, Tifa and the rest of the Lander who had crowded around him.
“Right, are we ready? Good. This ‘cure’ contains elements of the genetic sources from which the Wyvern were created. So when injected into the bloodstream to cure the infection, it left traces of these genetic routes so the Wyvern, whose eyesight isn’t very good, sniffed the air, all it could smell was the background vegetation, and another of its kind. That’s why it ignored you, and that’s what will help us get back to the TARDIS. Although it also means one of us has to make a rather difficult choice.”
The Doctor paused looking down uncomfortably before looking up to Tifa and Jess, aware that Tom had just appeared behind him. Slowly he looked back up to Olbrich and the rest of the Lander crew, who quickly realised what he meant, and nodding, turned and walked into the living area and closed the door. Pulling three more syringes out of the holder, he turned back to his companions and started swabbing his own wrist.
“Tifa, I know that things have been difficult for you of late. You miss the stability of your old life and your own people. I know the next destination of this expedition, the planet Moraur; a Thal colony. I wasn’t sure how far into the expedition we were until I was on the mother ship, whether we had passed the colony or not. The decision is yours to take; you’re more than welcome to stay with us, or you can join the expedition to Moraur and your own people.”
Jess and Tom’s eyes widened and looked at each other, shocked before turning to face Tifa. The Thals face was clearly pained, torn by the hard decision placed before her. A tear rolled from her eye as she looked up into the Doctors eyes.
“I’ve loved being with you. With you all,” she said as she looked over at Tom and Jess. “But, I don’t think I can carry on. As much as I love it, I would love to go back to my own people.” Tifa paused as a sob escaped her lips. “I’ll never forget you, any of you.”
A tear rolling down her own cheek, Jess moved forwards and embraced Tifa in a hug. “We won’t ever forget you too, hunny.” She said.
“You never know, with the TARDIS, we might end up there next.” Tom smiled, rubbing the inside of his elbow, where he’d just been injected by the Doctor. Opening his arms, he embraced Tifa in a hug after Jess had let the young Thal go.
The door to the living area of the Lander opened and Sauer and Olbrich slowly walked out and looked over to the Doctor and his companions.
“Ah, just the men,” the Doctor smiled. “I would appreciate it that when you come to make your reports of the expedition, don’t make any mention of Amaranth, the Wyvern or anything that happened on this planet. Just forget about it. And those poor people who died here; Mendez, Professor Mori and all the others, just say that they died nobly in the name of discovery and science.”
“But surely, Doctor, people should know.” Sauer said.
“No, no mention, Tobias.” The Doctor said sadly. “But you will be picking up a passenger. The next planet on your expedition list will have a colony of Tifa’s own people.”
“She’d be most welcomed to come with us, Doctor.” Olbrich said, anticipating the Doctors question.
“Thank you,” The Doctor smiled, shaking Olbrich’s hand. “Make sure you take good care of her.”
“We will do, Doctor.” Sauer smiled, taking his turn in having his hand shaken by the Doctor.”But what about the Wyvern?”
“Well, with these injections, Tom, Jess and I will be safe in travelling back to the TARDIS. And then I suggest you leave, and leave them in peace. They’re a new life form, they can’t help if they were created by someone who’d suffered a mental breakdown.”
Nodding, Sauer turned to Tifa, who was drying her eyes with the shirt Tom had given her, before shrugging the garment on. “Goodby Doctor.” She sniffed, getting a hug from him also. “I’ll never forget these few weeks, or you.”
“I’ll never forget you either, Tifa. Your people continue to amaze and surprise me, and you’ll go on for a long time.” The Doctor placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled, before kissing her softly on the forehead.
Tifa stood back and watched, sadly as the Doctor administered the infection to Jess and started to clear the items in the pack away.
“Well, I’ve always hated goodbyes,” the Doctor said eventually as he made his way to the door of the Lander. “Take care Tifa, and be as brilliant as I know you can be.” With a sad smile, he turned and disappeared from the Lander.
After several lingering seconds, Jess and Tom each hugged Tifa goodbye again before they followed the Doctor onto the planet’s surface.
With the familiar soft hum and blue glow, the crystal rods in the central column of the TARDIS moved up and down in a gentle rhythm. The Doctor was busying himself over the console, a steaming cup of tea resting on the wooden ledge round the side. Jess was sat, cross legged, on one of the sofa’s to the side of the console room. A book lay open on her lap. Walking over from the kitchen alcove, Tom carried two cups of tea, one he placed on the table beside Jess, smiling at her as he put it down, before taking a seat himself beside her.
“Good book?” he asked.
“I’m not really reading it.” Jess admitted.
“Ah, here we go.” The Doctor said, sounding delighted, as he pulled the scanner round towards him before turning to Jess and Tom. “You might want to have a look.”
Getting to their feet and walking to the console, Jess and Tom looked at the image of a space craft on the screen.
“That,” the Doctor said pointing, “is the mother ship of the Bellingshausen Expedition. And Tifa is at this very moment on that heading to her new home.” Smiling, he turned to face his two companions.
“I’ll miss her,” Jess said, softly. “It’ll take some moulding to get Tom into the film watching buddy she was.”
“Oi!” Tom exclaimed, feigning hurt.
“Don’t be sad,” the Doctor. “She’s off to adventures new, a new life. In fact, I envy her; the new life she’s starting. It’s an important time for both humanity and the Thals.”
“And then there’s us, rattling round the universe in this rackety old TARDIS.” Tom said, affectionately patting one of the support struts around the console.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” The Doctor smiled, patting the console.
“Me neither,” Jess smiled. “So, Tifa’s off on her own adventure, and what about us? Where are we off to?”
“Where indeed?” The Doctor grinned, and threw the dematerialisation switch.
Skidding to a halt, Thaer stumbled backwards, landing with a heavy thump on the rock, scrambling to grab hold of Tom, who was still sliding towards the edge of the cliff. The rocks at the edge under Tom started to crack and crumble as Thaer started pulling the young Time Lord back to safe ground.
Quickly, but carefully, Sauer edged to the cliff edge and peered over the sheer drop. He could see Piazzi’s body falling fast towards the rocky pool at the base of the waterfall.
“No.” He said softly and sadly, turning away as his former student’s body impacted into the rocks at the base of the waterfall.
“Thanks.” Tom breathed, struggling back to his feet. Gasping, he placed his hand on Sauer’s shoulder and looked over the edge of the precipice. “I’m sorry.” He said positioning himself between Sauer and the drop.
An uncomfortable silence descended over the three men, the only sound being the roar of the waterfall. Chancing another look back over the edge, Tom glanced over at the churning pool far below. The blood in the water was dissipating and the rocks were washing clean. Of Piazzi’s body, there was no sight. His face grim, with his mouth downturned in a grimace, Tom turned back from the edge.
“This is all, that bastard, Mori’s fault.” Sauer spat, his face red in fury. “Whatever he gets is too good for him.”
*
Tifa opened her eyes. She had a slight ache in her head and she felt a little dizzy. She closed her eyes and opened them again, the headache and dizziness were fading. Taking a deep breath, Tifa stretched out. She felt a lot better than she had in all the time she’d been on the planet.
“How are you feeling?”
The voice made her start. It was a soft and caring voice, one she recognised.
“Doctor?” She asked, turning her head.
The Time Lord was sat beside the bunk she was laying on, smiling. Looking round the dim room, she saw Jess sat nearby. She also had a huge grin on her face.
“Wh- where am I?” She stammered.
“Number Two Lander,” Jess said. “Apparently. The other one was destroyed. Don’t you remember us trekking and carrying you through the jungle?”
Tifa tried hard to think, but couldn’t remember anything after the Doctor and Sauer had given her a sedative.
“Tom? Where is he?” She asked, suddenly realising that he wasn’t there. “Did you say something about him?”
“He’s fine,” The Doctor smiled, taking hold of her hand. “He’s just gone on a little trip out into the jungle with Doctor Sauer and Sergeant Thaer. He’ll be back before we know it.”
A sudden crashing coming from the front of the Lander made the Doctor and Jess spin round and Tifa instantly move to a sitting position. She had no idea why she had a sudden feeling of dread, but she could feel her heart beating harder and faster. She hadn’t realised she was doing it until the Doctor went to get to his feet and she found she was gripping hold of his hand rather tightly.
“That sounds like him.” Jess said in a flat tone, turning back to the Doctor and Tifa, her eyebrows raised.
“It also sounds like trouble,” the Doctor replied, having extradited his hand from Tifa’s and making his way to the door.
“Are you ok?” Jess asked, grasping Tifa’s hand as the girl got to her feet.
“Yes. I think,” she replied, briefly holding back before following Jess and the Doctor out of the door and into the lab.
*
Olbrich walked out of the cockpit and into the lab section of the Lander. Corporal Neruda snapped to attention as he emerged. Pausing, Olbrich pursed his lips and looked around the Lab. Mori seemed to be asleep in the small makeshift cell, and the Doctor and his two companions were not in sight.
“Status,” he said, turning to face Neruda.
“All quiet, Sir,” she reported. “Not a peep from the Professor and the Doctor and the girl Jess are in the living section looking after the other girl.”
Olbrich nodded and walked over to the work bench where the Doctor had put the pack he’d brought down from the mother ship which contained the antidote that he’d concocted. Olbrich wondered what else the Doctor had in the pack and carefully opened up the top. Surely there had to be something in here that would give him some more information about the mysterious man. He was starting to rummage though the pack when the outer door crashed open and there was a cry.
Spinning round, Olbrich was in time to see Neruda stumble backwards and the door to the office cell fling open. Catching Neruda just before she hit the floor, he looked up in time to see the young man, Rowan, run into the office, Thaer stood at the open external door, a look of shock on his face.
“You bastard, I’ll kill you!”
Olbrich recognised the voice as Sauer, although he couldn’t see the doctor. It was then it hit him, he was inside the cell with Mori. Rushing to the door with Neruda, he saw that Sauer had the smaller man by the scruff of the neck, holding him against the wall. Mori had a trickle blood coming from his nose and the corner of his mouth, presumably where Sauer had hit him. Rowan was trying desperately to separate the two men, but Sauer’s hands hand moved to Mori’s throat and the doctor was throttling him and trying to bash the other man’s head against the bulkhead.
“Corporal!” Olbrich barked as Thaer reached his side.
“What’s happening?”
Olbrich turned at the sound of the Doctors voice. He hadn’t noticed the man arrive by his side. He could see the two girls now approaching; the blonde girl seemed to have made a full recovery. She was inquisitively looking close to the door at the drama unfolding inside the small cell.
Inside, Neruda was helping Rowan pull doctor Sauer off Professor Mori, who was still bizarrely smiling through the attack. Olbrich looked closer; he couldn’t see the Professors hands, whereas before they were trying to fight off Sauer.
“Tom, what are you doing?” Jess cried at seeing the sight before her.
“Doctor Sauer has attacked Professor Mori.” Olbrich said, looking at the Doctor. “Your friend, Rowan, is trying to stop it.”
Olbrich saw the Doctor narrow his eyes before he turned to the cell door. “Tom, be careful!” He warned.
What happened next, Olbrich was barely aware of until it had actually happened. Tom and Neruda finally managed to pull Sauer off Mori and started to pull the enraged doctor out of the small room. Olbrich was about to move forwards to check if Mori was alright when the Professor started to laugh. As quick as a flash he grabbed out and grabbed the girl, Tifa, round the throat with one arm. He brought his other hand up and pointed it at the girls head. He held a pistol in his hand.
“Everyone get back, right back.” Mori snarled as he stepped into the main area of the Lander.
Instantly, Thaer moved into the outer doorway of the Lander, bringing his rifle up to cover Mori. Olbrich took a step back and reached down for his own pistol. The Doctor and Jess seemed to have been caught off guard and were both stood dumbstruck, as were Rowan, Neruda and Sauer, who had seemingly regained his composure.
“Do as I say or I’ll scatter this pretty blonds’ brains all over the lab.” Mori said, looking round.
Tifa seemed to be frozen, a picture of shock and fear on her face, her hands up to Mori’s arm, trying to pull it back to stop choking her.
“I swear by Rassilon, that if you harm one hair on her head, Mori-” Tom snarled.
“You’ll nothing.” Mori interjected.
“Do as he says Tom.” The Doctor said, calmly, raising his hands. “I suggest we all do as he says.”
“That’s good advice.” Mori sneered as he backed towards the cockpit.
“I’ve got a shot sir.” Thaer said, glancing over to Olbrich.
Olbrich opened his mouth to reply when a gunshot rang out. Thaer staggered back from the door, his grip on his rifle slackening and his mouth open. A crimson stain was spreading on the shoulder of his uniform.
“No one else to try something silly.” Mori said, pointing the gun back at Tifa’s head before looking over to the Doctor. “You, fancy dress, over here and open this door.”
Nodding slowly, the Doctor obliged and opened the door to the cockpit. Keeping his eyes on the group before him, Mori backed into the cockpit and then motioned with the gun he held for the Doctor to follow him. The door to the cockpit closed, leaving the Lander in all but silence, just the sound of Thaer gasping outside the Lander.
Within seconds, Sauer rushed out to his aid and Olbrich drew his pistol, turning to Neruda ordering her to arm herself and get to stand by the door, guarding.
“What just happened?” Jess asked quietly to Tom, still shocked by the speed that the events unfolded.
“I think Professor Mori just tried escaping, taking the Doctor and Tifa hostage.” Tom replied, picking up the rifle that he’d discarded and turning back to the door. “But he can’t stay holed up there for long.”
“You’re right Mr. Rowan.” Olbrich said. “We need to flush him out of there.”
“What?” Jess asked, turning round to face Olbrich. “He’s got the Doctor and Tifa. We can’t risk them getting killed.”
“Yes,” Olbrich mused rubbing his stubbly chin. “You’re both right. We need Mori out of there without risk to your friends.”
“Wait.” Jess almost cried. “If this Lander is like the other, then isn’t there another way out of the cockpit?”
Toms eyes widened in realisation as he turned to look at Olbrich who was doing the same.
“You’re right.” He breathed. “In case he does get out that way, Mr. Rowan, will you keep watch?”
Nodding, Tom hurried over to the outside door and jumped out onto the planet’s surface. Looking round, he saw Doctor Sauer kneeling beside Sergeant Thaer. He was treating the bullet wound to the marines shoulder. Sauer had used a pocket knife to cut open the marines shirt at the shoulder.
“How is he?” Tom asked.
“I’ll live.” Thaer said, through gritted teeth.
“He will,” Sauer confirmed. “The bullet passed straight through his shoulder, no real damage. He’ll be right as rain in a couple of hours.”
Nodding, Tom slipped the safety catch off the rifle and slowly moved towards the front of the Lander. The door to the cockpit was virtually undetectable against the hull of the ship. Slowly and carefully, Tom crept round, peering through the dark Plexiglas of the Landers view screen. Squinting, he could just make out a silhouette through the window; the Doctor. Tom’s hearts skipped a beat when the Doctor looked up, straight into his eyes. To his surprise the Doctor winked.
Tom ducked back when he saw the shape of Professor Mori, still holding Tifa round the neck with his arm, move into view. Pulling back to the hull of the craft, he pressed himself against the metal, just under the window to the cockpit, and inside his head, as clear as though he were standing beside him, he heard the Doctor’s voice;
“Contact.”
To his amazement, Tom looked down and saw the control console for the Lander, and his hands skipping across the controls. Only, they weren’t his hands and he was outside, so had no access to the controls. The display screen now before him showed the progress of the engine overload.
“I’m sure no one would be stupid enough to try to stop you, Professor. Not while you’re holding Tifa and myself. I can be sure that my friend Tom, as much as he’d like to, wouldn’t dream of putting our lives in danger. You’ll be out on the planet’s surface and away in the pod before they realise what I’ve done here.”
The Doctor’s voice again. Tom’s eyes widened as he found himself back outside the Lander and suddenly realised what had happened. The Doctor had opened a mental link to him and sent him a message.
Quickly, Tom rushed back into the Lander, to the surprise of Olbrich and Neruda, and the obvious delight of Jess. Before any of them could manage to say anything, Tom held his finger to his lips, silencing them.
“Commander, Corporal. I think I’m going to need you.” He whispered, beckoning the two marines over to the external door which he had closed behind him, leaving a tiny crack to the outside world.
The soft, indistinguishable sound of Mori’s commands to the Doctor and Tifa faded away from the cockpit and Tom held his hand up, peering through the small crack in the door. The Doctor was walking across the clearing, his hands held above his head, Mori following behind, holding Tifa, his pistol trained on the Doctor’s head.
“When I give the word,” he whispered softly. “Make sure you’re careful of the Doctor and-”
The terrifying two toned scream of a Wyvern cut Tom off, mid sentence, and the young Time Lords eyes widened as he looked to the door and then back to Olbrich and Neruda. A long, drawn out, blood curdling human scream spurred Tom into action, and he kicked the door open and bolted out onto the planet’s surface, rifle raised, readied for action.
Immediately following suit, Olbrich and Neruda raised their weapons and ran from the Lander, followed by Jess, who stopped at the doorway. It was Professor Mori who was screaming; wordless, terrified screams. A Wyvern had shot out from the jungle and knocked the professor from his feet. He, Tifa and the Doctor were laying sprawled on the floor; Mori was staring at the creature, screaming, blood pouring from several wounds on his back. Tifa was staring at the creature, clearly petrified and unable to move, yet the Wyvern was ignoring her, looking from Mori to the Doctor, who was looking astounded beyond the creature to Tifa.
As Jess watched, the Wyvern took a long sniff and then ducked its head down, its beak-like jaws wide and took a crushing bite down on Mori’s skull. Turning away, her stomach doing somersaults, Jess heard the sickening crunch of bone, and Mori’s screams stopped. She was barely aware of the shots as they rang out behind her, or even her walking into the lab. Tom’s hand on her shoulder made her jump, and she turned around, coming back down to Earth with a jolt.
“He didn’t deserve that.” She muttered, quietly.
“I agree.” Tom said sadly, pulling her into a hug.
“Fascinating,”
The two looked up at the sound of the Doctor’s voice as he entered the Lander with Tifa.
“The Wyvern didn’t even notice you out there, just Professor Mori and I.” The Doctor suddenly stopped, as though he’d hit a wall, his eyes widening. “Of course!” he cried hitting the palm of his hand against his forehead. Without another word, he dashed over to the workbench and pulled out several syringes full of the blue fluid that he had injected Tifa with. “Tom, can you sort the engine overload for me please?” He said, smiling over to the young Time Lord before turning back to Jess, Tifa and the rest of the Lander who had crowded around him.
“Right, are we ready? Good. This ‘cure’ contains elements of the genetic sources from which the Wyvern were created. So when injected into the bloodstream to cure the infection, it left traces of these genetic routes so the Wyvern, whose eyesight isn’t very good, sniffed the air, all it could smell was the background vegetation, and another of its kind. That’s why it ignored you, and that’s what will help us get back to the TARDIS. Although it also means one of us has to make a rather difficult choice.”
The Doctor paused looking down uncomfortably before looking up to Tifa and Jess, aware that Tom had just appeared behind him. Slowly he looked back up to Olbrich and the rest of the Lander crew, who quickly realised what he meant, and nodding, turned and walked into the living area and closed the door. Pulling three more syringes out of the holder, he turned back to his companions and started swabbing his own wrist.
“Tifa, I know that things have been difficult for you of late. You miss the stability of your old life and your own people. I know the next destination of this expedition, the planet Moraur; a Thal colony. I wasn’t sure how far into the expedition we were until I was on the mother ship, whether we had passed the colony or not. The decision is yours to take; you’re more than welcome to stay with us, or you can join the expedition to Moraur and your own people.”
Jess and Tom’s eyes widened and looked at each other, shocked before turning to face Tifa. The Thals face was clearly pained, torn by the hard decision placed before her. A tear rolled from her eye as she looked up into the Doctors eyes.
“I’ve loved being with you. With you all,” she said as she looked over at Tom and Jess. “But, I don’t think I can carry on. As much as I love it, I would love to go back to my own people.” Tifa paused as a sob escaped her lips. “I’ll never forget you, any of you.”
A tear rolling down her own cheek, Jess moved forwards and embraced Tifa in a hug. “We won’t ever forget you too, hunny.” She said.
“You never know, with the TARDIS, we might end up there next.” Tom smiled, rubbing the inside of his elbow, where he’d just been injected by the Doctor. Opening his arms, he embraced Tifa in a hug after Jess had let the young Thal go.
The door to the living area of the Lander opened and Sauer and Olbrich slowly walked out and looked over to the Doctor and his companions.
“Ah, just the men,” the Doctor smiled. “I would appreciate it that when you come to make your reports of the expedition, don’t make any mention of Amaranth, the Wyvern or anything that happened on this planet. Just forget about it. And those poor people who died here; Mendez, Professor Mori and all the others, just say that they died nobly in the name of discovery and science.”
“But surely, Doctor, people should know.” Sauer said.
“No, no mention, Tobias.” The Doctor said sadly. “But you will be picking up a passenger. The next planet on your expedition list will have a colony of Tifa’s own people.”
“She’d be most welcomed to come with us, Doctor.” Olbrich said, anticipating the Doctors question.
“Thank you,” The Doctor smiled, shaking Olbrich’s hand. “Make sure you take good care of her.”
“We will do, Doctor.” Sauer smiled, taking his turn in having his hand shaken by the Doctor.”But what about the Wyvern?”
“Well, with these injections, Tom, Jess and I will be safe in travelling back to the TARDIS. And then I suggest you leave, and leave them in peace. They’re a new life form, they can’t help if they were created by someone who’d suffered a mental breakdown.”
Nodding, Sauer turned to Tifa, who was drying her eyes with the shirt Tom had given her, before shrugging the garment on. “Goodby Doctor.” She sniffed, getting a hug from him also. “I’ll never forget these few weeks, or you.”
“I’ll never forget you either, Tifa. Your people continue to amaze and surprise me, and you’ll go on for a long time.” The Doctor placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled, before kissing her softly on the forehead.
Tifa stood back and watched, sadly as the Doctor administered the infection to Jess and started to clear the items in the pack away.
“Well, I’ve always hated goodbyes,” the Doctor said eventually as he made his way to the door of the Lander. “Take care Tifa, and be as brilliant as I know you can be.” With a sad smile, he turned and disappeared from the Lander.
After several lingering seconds, Jess and Tom each hugged Tifa goodbye again before they followed the Doctor onto the planet’s surface.
*
With the familiar soft hum and blue glow, the crystal rods in the central column of the TARDIS moved up and down in a gentle rhythm. The Doctor was busying himself over the console, a steaming cup of tea resting on the wooden ledge round the side. Jess was sat, cross legged, on one of the sofa’s to the side of the console room. A book lay open on her lap. Walking over from the kitchen alcove, Tom carried two cups of tea, one he placed on the table beside Jess, smiling at her as he put it down, before taking a seat himself beside her.
“Good book?” he asked.
“I’m not really reading it.” Jess admitted.
“Ah, here we go.” The Doctor said, sounding delighted, as he pulled the scanner round towards him before turning to Jess and Tom. “You might want to have a look.”
Getting to their feet and walking to the console, Jess and Tom looked at the image of a space craft on the screen.
“That,” the Doctor said pointing, “is the mother ship of the Bellingshausen Expedition. And Tifa is at this very moment on that heading to her new home.” Smiling, he turned to face his two companions.
“I’ll miss her,” Jess said, softly. “It’ll take some moulding to get Tom into the film watching buddy she was.”
“Oi!” Tom exclaimed, feigning hurt.
“Don’t be sad,” the Doctor. “She’s off to adventures new, a new life. In fact, I envy her; the new life she’s starting. It’s an important time for both humanity and the Thals.”
“And then there’s us, rattling round the universe in this rackety old TARDIS.” Tom said, affectionately patting one of the support struts around the console.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” The Doctor smiled, patting the console.
“Me neither,” Jess smiled. “So, Tifa’s off on her own adventure, and what about us? Where are we off to?”
“Where indeed?” The Doctor grinned, and threw the dematerialisation switch.
