Wyvern [Complete Story]

[Fitz Kreiner]

Professor Ita Mori leant forward in his chair in his lab and clasped his hands in front of him. Resting his chin on his interlocked fingers he closely watched the chemical reaction as it took place before him on the Petri dish. Gingerly, the professor picked up the Petri disc and carefully poured the now powdered contents into a beaker containing a clear viscous fluid. Picking up a slender glass rod, Professor Mori stirred the contents of the beaker, watching with a smile as the powder dissolved, clouding the fluid before turning it a milky white.

Turning, the professor reached out to a small potted plant, resembling a deep red coloured cactus with dark purple spiked leaves. Picking up a pair of forceps, Mori carefully squeezed one of the thorns on the leaf and watched as a droplet of a milky blue liquid dropped from the thorn onto a leaf below. Mori watched as the droplet of liquid rolled harmlessly off the leaf onto the sandy soil the plant was stood in, where it sizzled slightly.

A low rumbling sound came through the floor, emanating up the bench where Mori was working causing the beakers and dishes to rattle slightly. Sighing, Mori pushed his protective goggles up onto his head and peeled off his latex gloves, slapping them down onto the desk in frustration. Reaching over to the communications system, he angrily hit the activation switch.

“Would someone tell that military buffoon that this is a scientific mission and not a chance for him to show off? I’m conducting important research here and I cannot tolerate these distractions.” He snapped, angrily shouting at the speaker.

“Easy there Prof!” The new voice had a heavy Australian twang to it.

Mori turned and saw one of the post graduate student supports to the mission stood in the doorway. Andrew, or Drew as he insisted on being called, Bradman annoyed Professor Mori, constantly calling him “Prof” was just one of his annoying habits.

“I know the skip might be in Earths forces,” Drew continued unaware that Mori was only half listening. “But it’s regs. Even we have to go by ‘em.”

“Will you shut that door?” Mori snapped again.

With a clang, Drew slammed the door shut and sat down heavily on one of the other stools, swivelling round. With a slap he dropped the papers he was carrying with him onto the desktop.

“You should kick back and relax sometime, Prof.” He said fishing a pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and placing them next to the papers. “Some of the botanical lads have brewed a new batch of ‘Bellingshausen Four X’. Ok, it’s not as good as the stuff in the mess, but it’s got one hell of a kick.”

Mori snatched the goggles off his greying head and slammed them down on the desk, turning to face Drew. “Mr. Bradman.” Mori sighed turning his dark eyes on the student. “You may happen to be part of the zoological side of this expedition but I ask you to remember it is a scientific expedition. I also ask you to not smoke those things in this laboratory.” Mori added pointing to Drew’s cigarettes. “You shouldn’t even have them in this room.”

“Yes, Prof.” Drew said in an admonished tone as he turned back to the papers he’d brought through. “I’ve got the final reports from ol-” Pausing, Drew looked up at Mori, suddenly very aware of what he was saying and not wanting another admonishment from the professor. “I’ve got the final reports from Doctor Sauer about the Boranis Major Crimson Crested sand lizard things.”

Mori sighed loudly and turned to face Drew. “And how do you propose to become a doctorate in Zoology with that attitude Mr. Bradman?”

“Sorry Prof.” Drew said again, attracting another sigh from Mori. “The Boranis Major Crimson Crested Gnathostomata Tetrapod.” Drew put the papers down and bit his lip, tempted to make a comment about the reptile being a slippery customer remembering Mori’s attempts to capture one for study.

“And what of Doctor Sauers’ samples?” Mori asked.

“Cold storage.” Drew replied matter of factly, examining one of his fingernails. “Want me to go get some for your work?” He asked, placing the nail firmly between his teeth and biting it.

Mori’s normally deadpan face almost broke into a smile. It was one of the smartest things he’d ever heard Bradman suggest and he took no time in taking the student up on his offer. It was only after Drew had left that Mori allowed himself a private smile. Getting to his feet, he quickly crossed the floor to a cryogenic freezer and reaching out pulled on the handle. With a hiss of cryogenics, the door opened revealing rows of various blood and tissue samples from the many different animals that he had studied.

A scuffling sound outside the door made him start. Closing the lid of the storage cooler, Professor Mori swiftly made his way over to the door. “Mr. Bradman?” He called. He waited several seconds and not hearing a reply opened the door. The corridor outside was deserted. Straining to listen, all Mori could hear was the distant droning of the powerful engines as they propelled the vast craft through the deepest regions of space.

Shrugging off the sound, Mori turned to re enter his lab when another scuffling sound came from behind him, getting closer. Mori turned and looked down the seemingly empty corridor. “Mr. Bradman, will you stop prating about?” He said loudly.

The scuffling came again, this time from above him. Looking up, Mori saw the access hatch to the service ducts above the corridor. There was no way someone could be crawling in that narrow space, surely. Mori looked at the hatchway for a couple of seconds. At only five feet seven inches tall, reaching the hatch to open it wouldn’t be most convenient. Turning the re-enter the lab, Mori stopped at the sound of clumping boots on the metal of the corridor.

Mori spun round. There was still no one about. Confused, Mori shrugged the sound off as overwork and turned to go back into his lab. He paused, one step into the lab, as the shuffling sound came again, closer this time and faster.

*

“Well, there you are Herr Doctor.” Commander Thomen Olbrich turned from where he was sat in his chair overlooking the bridge of the large mother ship that was home to the Bellingshausen Expedition, to face Doctor Sauer. “The planet Amaranth, our next destination.”

Doctor Tobias Sauer took a couple of steps forwards to look at the large monitor screen displaying the planet they were approaching, which looked like a large green marble suspended in the inky backdrop of space. “Beautiful.” Sauer breathed taking in the sight before turning to Olbrich. “How long until we are in orbit, Commander?”

Olbrich looked down at his personal display system and tapped at a few controls. “We will be in orbit at 2100 hours, ships time.” He said in his heavy German accent without looking up. Tapping at a few more controls he checked the data on his personal display screen against his personal wrist computer. “I can have patrols ready to escort you to the planet surface at 2130 hours.”

“Thank you, Commander, but your troops can rest. Our teams will not be heading to the planet until 0830 hours.” Sauer replied, looking at his watch. “Besides, I believe some of the students on this trip are planning another little ‘get-together’ tonight. Also, I’ve been rather busy with my work and I wish to have a relatively early night tonight.”

“Very good, Herr Doctor.” Olbrich said as he snapped closed the cover on his wrist top computer pad and straightening his neck tie, got to his feet. “Although I do wish that you would talk to your students’ abou-”

Olbrich was cut off by a bleeping from the communications console and the loud and excitable voice of one of the student team, with a heavy Australian accent came through the speakers on the bridge.

“Hey, Skip? Anyone? Is there anyone there?” The voice paused, only a heavy breathing coming through the speakers. “Come on ya bunch of dags” The voice said almost too quietly to hear as though the speaker wasn’t aware he was still on the comms unit. “Anyone there, please?”

Clearly annoyed, Olbrich leant over to his console and slammed his hand down, angrily flicking the communications switch. “This is Commander Olbrich.” He snapped. “What is it? The Comms system is not for student frivolities.”

“Sorry, skip, it’s urgent.” The Australian voice came again. “It’s the Prof. Someone’s attacked him.”

Doctor Sauer stepped forwards. “This is Doctor Sauer.” He said as he tapped at his wrist computer looking at the student manifest. “Who is this, where are you?”

“Drew Bradman.” The voice replied. “I’m in Prof Moris’ lab. Someone’s given the old fella a proper goin’ over.”

*

“I... I... I don’t know what else to tell you.”

Commander Thomen Oldbrich stood beside the bed containing Professor Ita Mori, his arms folded. The Professor was laying back in the small sickbay having been found unconscious on the floor of his laboratory by Drew Bradman.

“I heard a noise outside my laboratory. I thought it was one of the student team playing a practical joke but I opened the door and there was no one there. The next thing I know I wake up here.”

“But Professor,” Olbrich said sternly, unfolding his arms and leaning on the edge of the medibed, looking closely at Mori. “Someone did this to you, who was it? You must have seen someone.”

“Commander, please!” Doctor Amelie Le Druier looked up from her desk towards the rear of the sickbay. “I understand that you need to question the Professor in regards to his attack in order to find the culprit, but he is under medical supervision and if you’re going to carry on like that, I have no choice but to ask you to leave.”

“Mein Doctor,” Olbrich began, his strong Bavarian accent coming through heavier in his frustration. “If we have a criminal on board my ship then I am within my right to find him and bring him to justice.”

Doctor Le Druier got to her feet and pulled her glasses from her nose, taking a step towards Olbrich. “You may be an Earth forces Commander, Commander. But I am an Earth forces Doctor, and in here, I outrank even you. I suggest if you want to question someone, you question the student who found the Professor.”

Olbrich opened his mouth to argue, his hand rose to make a point, before realising that Le Druier was perfectly correct. “Where is this student?” He asked as he straightened himself and used his raised hand to straighten his tie.

*

Drew Bradman was stood outside the sickbay, nervously bouncing on the balls of his feet. He was anxiously gnawing at his already well bitten down nails, a cigarette in his other hand. Closing his eyes, Drew took a long drag on the cigarette and leant back against the wall. He opened his eyes and watched the blue-grey smoke as he exhaled. The sound of the sickbay door opening caused him to start. He looked down at the cigarette in his hand, not sure what to do with it, before looking up into the stern face of Commander Olbrich.

Drew opened his mouth and stalled, not knowing what to say. Olbrich stared at him, his eyes wide and his lips downturned into an angered scowl. He looked Drew up and down, his eyes falling on the cigarette, held limply between his middle and forefinger.

“You should not be smoking those things in the ship, let alone outside the sickbay, Herr Bradman. There is a reason that we have the smoking pods.”

Drew shuffled uncomfortably, dropping the remains of the cigarette and stubbing it out with the toe of his boot. This was his first close quarters meeting with Thomen Olbrich and frankly, the Commander scared him. He was well over six feet tall, shaven headed with steel grey eyes. The man was also built like a brick outhouse and had been a marine when he was younger. Currently his eyes looked tired and bloodshot with dark rings and a three day growth of stubble adorned his chin. None of this detracted from his formidable appearance, even now he scared Drew.

“Yes sir, sorry sir.” He muttered, nervously running a hand through his styled dirty blonde hair.

“You are the one who found Professor Mori.” It was definitely a statement rather than a question.

Drew swallowed hard and looked up into the eyes of Olbrich, trying desperately not to let his legs buckle beneath him. “Yes sir.” He was unable to stop his voice from wavering however.

“Then you will accompany me, ja? I wish to ask you some questions.”

Drew nodded before finally replying. “Yes sir.” He didn’t know why he felt so terrified or guilty. He knew he had done nothing wrong. He felt totally intimidated by the imposing figure of Olbrich, who was now leading the way to the aft of the ship, and the bridge and his office. Following Olbrich, Drew looked down the corridor to Moris’ lab. There was a guard stationed outside keeping people away until the investigation into the attack was over.

The Commanders office was just before the bridge and Drew nervously entered as Olbrich gestured for him to go in. He stood nervously just inside the door looking about. He had never been in here before, and had hoped never to. One wall was a vast window looking out into the blackness of space, pinpricked with starlight. A distant nebula provided a vast array of colour to one side, whilst the other had the sun starting to shine its rays over the planet Amaranth, still bathed in shadow.

Olbrich closed the door and marched passed Drew and seated himself on the far side of his desk. Shifting through several papers that sat on his desk he looked up at Drew. “Please, you may sit down Herr Bradman. You need not fear, this is not an interrogation. I wish to clear some details.”

“Uhm, thanks skip.” Drew said. Whilst now feeling braver, he cautiously pulling out the chair before him and sitting opposite Olbrich. “I dunno what else I can tell ya.” He said, staring at the star-scape out of the large window. “I’d gone to get the Prof one of Doc Sauers’ samples, when I came back I found the Prof conked out in the lab. There was no one else about.” Drew paused, thinking before looking up at Olbrich. “Hey, what about those transponder things we had implanted when we set off? Can’t you check who was in the corridor from them?”

Olbrich leant forward, resting his elbows on his desk and steepling his fingers. “We had thought of that, Herr Bradman.” He said as he interlocked his fingers, keeping his two forefingers extended, before lowering them to point at Drew. “There were no results. Only Professor Mori registered as being in that part of the ship. That is why I was hoping you would be able to shed some light on this mystery.”

“I don’t understand it, skip.” Drew said, exasperated. “Why would someone want to hurt the Prof? These chip things, they aren’t totally foolproof are they?”

“Why may you ask that?”

“What if someone overrode them, or your systems?” Drew shrugged. “I mean, if someone had the knowledge or skills. We got some good tech guys on this trip.”

“In that case, Herr Bradman, I wish you to give me the names of everyone who has the ability and is on this expedition.”

*

Doctor Tobias Sauer was stood on the observation catwalk, hands gripping the guard rail, as he looked down at the mingling students below him. Several of his colleagues were organising them into groups, preparing them for their journey down to the planet Amaranth to begin their survey of the fifth world on their journey. He suddenly became aware of another presence beside him on the catwalk.

Turning, he saw Professor Ita Mori standing, looking down at the bustling parties below. “Should you be here, Mori?” He asked. Mori looked as though he was almost back to full health, just dark rings around his eyes making him look tired.

“I’m perfectly alright, Tobias. Doctor Le Druier has given me a clean bill of health.” Mori said as he looked down into the preparation room below. “Besides, I can’t let you get all the credit.” He grinned.
Sauer laughed. “Then at least let the students do the setting up for you.” He said, clapping his old friend on the back.

“What do you think I’ve been doing the whole expedition?” Mori chuckled, watching the students below him.

The two zoologists watched as the student team members below them arranged all the landing and research equipment. Beyond the preparation area was a large transparent partitioning with hermetically sealed doors leading to the landing craft hangar which contained five of the ships.

The landing craft were tiny in comparison to the mother craft. Each could contain a maximum of ten people, with berths for each person to sleep with adequate washing facilities and kitchen and living areas. There was also a large laboratory area and cockpit up front where the two military pilots would fly the craft down and provide support if they were needed for any emergency.

Towards the rear of the craft was space for four transport pods, each large enough for two people, their flight computers slaved to the mother and landing craft. Each landing craft was equipped with two travel pods so that a rotation of the landing crew could be set up and members of the landing team travel back to the ship and others to the planets’ surface. They could also be used for transporting equipment and samples to and from the surface to the expedition members still on the mother ship.

“Well, I’d best go get my stuff ready, Mori. See you on the planet surface.” Sauer said, stepping back from the guard rail and turning to leave. At the door he paused and turned back to Mori. “Don’t discover everything without me. I still haven’t forgiven you for cataloguing the whole of the southern hemisphere of Gallileus Prime without me.”

Mori watched Sauer leave and then turned and leant on the guard rail, looked down at the massed crew below him and allowed himself a rare private smile.

[Fitz Kreiner]

Amaranth: Day 35.
So far my team have analysed and catalogued seven different species of what we have called the Amaranth Dodo. A rather interesting species resembling the large flightless birds of Earth, they seem to be confined to the largest continent of the planet as none of the other teams have reported any species that resemble them. The birds range from about two feet tall to a massive eight feet tall and are powerfully built. Their body structure is fascinating.

Doctor Sauer sighed and dropped his data pad down on the desk in the small sectioned off part of the landing craft laboratory that served as his office. Running his hands through his thinning hair, he sighed loudly and leant back in his chair. Hearing a knock at the door he reached to the data pad and shut off the voice recorder.

“Come in.” He looked up at the door as Mendez, the pilot entered.

“Sorry to bother you, Doctor Sauer.” He said, saluting as he entered. “Commander Olbrich is on the video link for you.”

Nodding, Sauer waved his hand dismissing Mendez. “Thank you.” Sighing again, he turned to the video screen and flicked it on. Olbrichs stern face filled the screen. “Commander, what can I do for you?”

“I thought I should warn you, mein Doctor. Our sensors have detected an anomalous reading coming from the planets’ surface, roughly two miles from your current location.” Olbrich said, starkly matter of factly. “We are not sure, but it might be best if your team check it out, in case it is linked to the attack on Professor Mori last month.”

“Or the sabotage that we’ve experienced since?” Sauer asked, raising an eyebrow. “I take it your investigation has yielded no results.”

Olbrich shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I regret that neither our investigation here or on the planets’ surface have yielded positive results.”

“Not only that, but could you order your men to not interfere with our research here? They have hindered our work more than these disruptions.”

“I regret that, mein Doctor.” Olbrich said, lowering his head in apology. “But this saboteur has to be found before he puts lives in danger.”

Sauer sighed again and rolled his eyes. “I appreciate that Commander, but may I remind you that you are merely here to service this expedition.”

“And to protect you, ja?” Olbrich sat back in his chair as Sauer fell silent. “Then we have to find this saboteur, and believe me, we will, and then your expedition can continue unabated.”

“Very well, Commander Olbrich.” Sauer said, folding his arms and sitting back. “I shall keep my eye out for anomalous readings and anything out of the ordinary, now if you don’t mind, I’m very busy.” Reaching out, Sauer switched off the communications link and leaning back farther, shut his eyes and breathed in deeply. Another knock on his door brought him out of his reverie. He opened his eyes as Cristina Rossini, the eldest of his student team, entered.

“Sorry to disturb you, Doc,” She started, brushing a long curly strand of ebony hair back from in front of her eyes. “You said we were to head out on an expedition hike twenty minutes ago. I was just, erm, seeing if you’d fallen asleep?”

Sauer turned round to face Cristina. “I’m terribly sorry.” He said, running his hand through his thinning fair hair. “I’ve been having yet another talk with Commander Olbrich and got carried away with my work.” Getting to his feet, Sauer grabbed his boots and perching on the edge of his small desk, pulled them onto his feet. “Okay, my dear girl, just grab our things and we shall make up for lost time.”

*

Drew Bradman turned off his holo image recorder and placed it back into the case on his belt. “That’s something I wasn’t bargaining for.” He whispered to his colleague, and Professor Mori’s protégé, Lucien Dufayel. “The male carries the eggs around with him in a hidden pouch.” Thoughtfully he rubbed his lower lip, suddenly realising how thirsty he was.

The two Zoology students had just witnessed a female lizard with a trail of fur along her back lay eggs, only to be scooped up and stored in a pouch on the male, which the two had hither to not known about, despite studying the creatures for two weeks now. Dufayel determined to fully catalogue the new species, already calling it the Rectus Pilosus Amaranth Salamander, had insisted that they stayed out longer than their allotted three hours to continue to observe the two lizards. All of a sudden, the two lizards stiffened and turned, looking away from the two students before scampering off into the thick undergrowth.

“Well, something’s spooked them.” Drew said softly, getting to his feet.

Dufayel reached up and grabbed him by the arm, looking up at his colleague, his finger to his lips.

“What is it?” Drew whispered, looking about him.

“I thought I heard something.” Dufayel whispered.

“The jungle’s full of noises.” Drew replied, somewhat unhelpfully.

Dufayel waved Drew silent with one hand, silently getting to his feet. “Voices. Strange voices.”

Falling silent, Drew strained to listen. Dufayel was a conscientious worker and studier and not the sort to play practical jokes. Sure enough, Drew could hear two distant voices and the sound of branches cracking under footfalls. “It could just be the Doc, or one of the others.”

“Non, non, non.” Dufayel quietly protested. “They’re English.”

Drew listened carefully. They certainly seemed to be a proper English accent, without the hints of the different European, Oriental and Australian hints that affected the accents of the expedition and military crew. His first thought was that it was one of their landing crew who was putting the accent on for a joke, but as he listened, he became sure that they were genuine accents; one male, one female. He looked at Dufayel, confused, and shrugged.

The voices were getting closer and becoming easier to make out. The girl swore; “I really think I’m wearing the wrong gear.”

“The Doctor did say it was jungle.” The man was saying.

Drew looked at Dufayel and raised an eyebrow. “Another expedition?”

Dufayel opened his mouth to reply before he was cut off by the wailing cry of a large animal and a scream from the girl. The two looked at each other before setting off at a run towards the sound. Drew arrived at the scene first and stopped dead at what he saw through the branches; two total strangers, totally unequipped for a planetary survey being attacked by one of the larger species of Amaranth Dodo, what had been called the Sword Billed Dodo.

The man was on the ground, pushing and scrambling backwards through the bare soil of the small clearing, keeping himself between the bird and the girl, who was trying desperately to help the young man back to his feet. The bird was using it’s long, razor-sharp beak to stab at the young man, who was trying desperately to avoid getting injured.

As Drew watched, the Dodo stabbed its beak down, lifting up again, having snagged the man’s shirt on one of the vicious barbs on its beak. Struggling to free himself, the young man kicked up, catching the bird in one of its large yellow eyes. Squawking in pain, the bird opened its beak, the young man dropping to the ground with a grunt.

There was a loud roaring noise from beside him, and Drew realised that Dufayel was stood beside him. The roaring noise came again causing the bird to pause, suddenly silent and Drew to turn. Dufayel was holding out his wrist comp and playing a recording of a large predatory animal from an earlier planetary survey. At the present moment in time, he couldn’t identify what the animal was, but it certainly spooked the bird, which, with a final cry, flapped its feeble wings and disappeared into the thick jungle behind it, its powerful legs carrying it into the higher branches of the vegetation.

The immediate danger over, Drew finally had the chance to take in what the two strangers looked like. The young man appeared to be in his mid twenties, with long, straggly hair held in a pony tail with immaculately sculpted facial hair. He was wearing a faded black t-shirt with a grey image of an archaic depiction of a robot on it, with a red and white checked lumberjack shirt over top, unbuttoned with the sleeves rolled up, jeans and heavy duty looking black boots.

The girl caught Drews’ attention more. She looked as if she may be early twenties at her eldest. Her hair was raven black, and she had dark makeup round her eyes, which almost shone green and deep red lipstick, making her lips seem full and sensual. She was wearing what appeared to be a black corset over a white shirt, which was unbuttoned to the top of the corset, a black skirt, which was ripped down one side, presumably because of the Dodo, and black tights which were also ripped and laddered. Her boots were black and purple and looked heavy and cumbersome.

“Tom!” The girl cried, rushing over to the young man, as he scrambled to his feet. “Are you ok?”

The young man, Tom, nodded, brushing himself down. “Yeah, no bones broken; just a few scratches and a ripped shirt. You?”

“Yeah.” She replied, smiling. “Thanks to you and that animal, whatever it was.”

“A recording.” Tom replied. “We’ve got company.”

Drews’ heart almost skipped a beat when he realised that the young man was looking right at him, into his eyes. He almost felt as though he were looking into his very soul, his blue eyes bright and piercing. Drew swallowed and looked at Dufayel, who looked back and nodding slightly stepped out into the open towards the two strangers.

“Hello there.” Tom was saying, his hand outstretched to Dufayel. “I think we owe you our thanks.”

“Who are you?” Dufayel asked, ignoring Toms offered hand.

His smile fading into a look of confusion, Tom looked down at his hand, turning it so his palm was facing his face. Smiling and looking from Dufayel to Drew, Jess stepped forwards, snagging her tights on a branch again.

“I’m Jess, and this is Tom.” She said, smiling at Drew. “And you are?”

“Andrew Bradman.” Drew said quickly, stepping forwards and almost grasping Jess’ hand eagerly. “But you can call me Drew.” He winked.

“Lucien Dufayel.” Dufayel said, gently taking Jess’ hand and kissing it.

Jess turned and smiled and winked at Tom, before taking a step forwards, causing another rip to her tights from where they’d snagged. “Like Tom said, I think we owe you our thanks. If you hadn’t arrived, that big bird would have had us for lunch.” She paused and looked down before looking up at the two men coyly. “I don’t suppose you two fellers have any spare clothing you could lend us, ours seem to have got a little tattered.” She said, putting on an almost sultry voice.

Drew and Dufayel looked at each other, lost for what to say for a few seconds before Drew turned back to look at Jess and Tom, the latter of whom merely shrugged, a weak smile on his face. “Uhm, yeah. Back this way.” He said, jerking his thumb back over his shoulder. “We can get you a drink and some tucker too?”

“Sounds brilliant, thanks.” Jess smiled. “After you.”

“You were lucky,” Dufayel said turning back to look at Jess and Tom. “The Sword Billed Dodo is fiercely territorial. If we hadn’t turned up, it would have killed you both.”

“Like we said, we owe you our thanks.” Tom said, stepping over a fallen tree. “So, who are you guys? Where are you from?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know.” Drew said, pausing and turning to look at Tom. “Everyone on the outer colonies has heard of the Bellingshausen Expedition.” He glanced back at Dufayel who was now several steps ahead talking quietly into a communicator.

“Ah, you see, we’re not from one of the colonies.” Jess said. “Earth actually. Well, travellers, I’m from Earth.”

“Ah.” Drew exclaimed as if it explained everything. Turning to Tom he said; “I take it you’re a Moonchild or from Mars Uni?”

“Not quiet.” Tom replied, holding his hand out to Jess, who struggled through a thorny patch of plants. “Why do you think we’re affiliated with a University?”

“Don’t worry m’love, less than a mile now.” Drew smiled at Jess.

“Wonderful.” Jess muttered quietly to Tom as she stumbled again.

“Well, who else would be this far out?” Drew said, addressing Toms question. “We’re a good six months from Earth at max drive. Which expedition are you from?”

“We’re not part of an expedition.” Jess said.

Drew raised his eyebrow as he turned to look at her. “Oh no?” He asked, turning to Tom. “Then who is this Doctor you were talking about?”

“Drew!” Dufayel walked over, cutting the conversation off before it could proceed any further. “I think we’d better get these two back to the landing craft before the Dodo comes back.”

Nodding, Drew turned back towards Dufayel, recognising the tone in his voice, and away from Jess and Tom. “You don’t trust ‘em d’ya?” He whispered, glancing back at the two strangers.

Dufayel muttered in French before turning to Drew. Taking his colleague lightly by the arm, he spurred him a few more steps ahead. “We’ve heard no other ship arrive and one wasn’t detected in orbit or on the planet. Where have they come from?”

Drew opened his mouth to reply, but Dufayel continued; “There’s only one logical explanation. They’re stowaways, they must be. Almost certainly the ones who attacked the Professor and are the cause of the disruptions we’ve experienced.”

“No!” Drew replied in hushed shock looking back at Jess and Tom. Jess now had her arm through Toms and the pair were cautiously making their way through the undergrowth, following them, whispering between themselves. “But they can’t be. These disruptions have happened on the planet and the ship. Everyone who transports has to check in.”

“The devices.” Dufayel whispered. “Some of the sabotage was done with small bombs and devices. Don’t forget that.”

Cautiously, Drew chanced another look back over his shoulder at Jess and Tom. The pair of them were still whispering together, but suddenly, the girl didn’t seem as attractive as first he thought, and the young man looked more sinister. He closed his eyes and looked back the way he was going, shaking his head as if to clear it. He had to be imagining it. He couldn’t believe that they were two dangerous saboteurs, let alone stowaways. There’d been nowhere for them to hide for the past two years that the expedition had taken. Dufayel had to be mistaken. He had to be.

*

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Jess whispered, slipping her arm through Toms and walking arm in arm beside him.

“Us. Deffinately.” Tom replied almost immediately.

“I knew you’d say that, y’pessimistic old git.” Jess teased, smiling up at Tom.

“That Dufayel chappy. He doesn’t trust us, one bit. I caught a bit of what he was saying into his wrist comm. thing. The words ‘saboteur’ and ‘stowaway’ were used.” Tom paused as he pushed a branch out of the way and seeing a large insect scuttle away down the branch and fly off before he let it swing back to where it had been. “Drew, however, you seem to have bewitched with those feminine wiles of yours.”

“Hey, if you’ve got it.” Jess winked. “Shame it doesn’t work on everyone. You ever heard of this Bellhousing Expedition?”

“Bellingshausen.” Tom corrected. “And no, never. Dunno whether it’s past of future to when I was Earthbound.”

“So what do you suggest we do?”

“Play along, get you some more appropriate clothes and if the Doctor doesn’t show up within two hours claiming to be an expert on something, I’ll make you tea and breakfast every day for a month and do all your washing!” Tom chuckled as Jess playfully hit him in the arm.

*

“Saboteurs?” Olbrich asked, looking intently from the screen.

“That’s what Monsieur Dufayel believes, Sir.” Mendez replied, reading back from the report he had compiled on Dufayels’ brief report to the landing craft. “He says he thinks they stowed away somewhere.”

“But where?” Olbrich asked, thoughtfully rubbing his stubbly chin. “We’re over two years into this expedition and a good six months from Earth, a week or so from the nearest colony. We would have noticed stowaways.” Sitting back in his chair, Olbrich drummed his fingers on his desk as he thought through his options.

Not sure what to do whilst his Commander was in a thoughtful mood, Mendez started a daily systems check that would prepare for the arrival of another transport pod, bringing two more students to the planet.

“Very well.” Olbrich said eventually, almost making Mendez jump. “When they arrive, I want you to check them out and then send them up to the mother ship. I will have a party ready for them when they arrive and then I can fully interview them.”

“Very good, Sir.” Mendez replied. “You don’t think they’re stowaways?”

“I don’t know, Mendez.” Olbrich replied. “If they are, it leaves the question of when and where did they stow away. If they were here before us, how long have they been here? No other ships have arrived in the area.” Olbrich paused and straightened up. “When they arrive with you, send them up to me and let me know.” Leaning forwards, Olbrich closed off the comms link, cauing the screen to go blank.

Nodding at the black screen, Mendez sighed and got to his feet. Running a hand through his short black hair, he patted his breast pocket and smiled, feeling the small carton within. Stepping out of the cockpit onto the bare soil of the landing site, Mendez pulled the carton out of his pocket and withdrew a cigarette. Placing the filtered end between his lips, he patted another pocket and then withdrew a lighter. Lighting the cigarette, he leant back against the cockpit doorway and inhaled deeply, closing his eyes against the bright Amaranth sun.

The sound of rustling undergrowth caught his attention and the snapping of a twig under a boot made Mendez open his eyes, looking in the direction of the sound. Blinking in the bright light, he could just make out the blurred image of someone stood at the edge of the clearing. He blinked again as they stepped closer and into his vision.

“Oh, it’s you!” He breathed, holding the cigarette between his lips. “Sorry you made me start.”

Mendez looked again. Something was glinting in the figures hand. Before he had a change to react, the knife flashed across his throat and was then plunged deep into his chest. His eyes wide, Mendez dropped to his knees, his cigarette hanging limply from his lip, blood frothing and gushing from his throat, as he gargled helplessly, unable to talk. He vaguely saw the glint of the knife as it was drawn from his chest as it dripped with his blood, before he fell forwards into the dirt, his blood forming a sticky pool about him.

[Fitz Kreiner]

“What’s going on?” Cristina Rossini had stopped in what seemed to be a large track in the jungle, looking for all the world like a long green tunnel, that Doctor Sauer had said was a migratory path, her head cocked to one side and her hands on her hips. “You’re not your normal self, and we’re not exactly surveying anything.”

Tobias Sauer stopped and removed his hat and using a white handkerchief, wiped the think sheen of perspiration that was accumulating on his forehead. “Well, to be honest, my dear, before you popped in, Olbrich was on the comms with me.” Sauer paused as he pocketed the handkerchief and popped his hat back on his head.

“Yeah, you said.” Cristina smiled.

“Well, what I didn’t say was that he informed me of an anomalous reading the mother ship got about two miles from the landing craft. I downloaded the information and thought that we’d check it out.” Sauer admitted. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have deceived you.”

“No, that’s cool, Doc.” Cristina said, walking over to him. “Kinda cool, strange readings. Maybe it’s an ancient civilisation that we’ve awakened somehow!”

Sauer chuckled as he saw Rossinis’ eyes sparkle as she spoke. The young Italian woman had a sense of adventure that was greater than the expedition leaders combined. He remembered that she chomping at the bit to get going back at Charon University.

“That could be dangerous.” Sauer said. “It may just be an old crashed satellite from the 20th Century. Remember, no one ever found the Voyager.”

“Hey, if we find that..!” Cristina started, her eyes wide and sparkling.

“Not likely that we’ll find that.” Sauer replied. “I recon it will be another thing like the Mary Celeste. We will never know.”

A rustling in the bushes made the two Zoologists turn.

“What was that?” Cristina asked, narrowing her eyes to look at the wavering of the branches.

“Oh, most probably an animal or something.” Sauer replied, passing over the noise until it came again, this time with a soft murmering.
“They were definitely voices.” Cristina said, looking closer at the branches as they swayed. “Can any of the creatures here talk?”

“Nonsense.” Sauer almost scoffed. “None of the other teams have come out this way. It must have been the wind.”

Cristina looked around and stooping down, ripped a small section of undergrowth up and dropped it watching it fall straight to the ground. “What wind?” She asked.

“Hello there!”

The voice made the pair of them start. They spun round to see two figures stood on the migratory path about fifty yards down from them. One male, one female. It was the male who had shouted and was currently waving at them. He was dressed in light grey trousers, which had muddied at the bottom, a light green paisley waistcoat and a white shirt that was undone at the neck and the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Long curly brown hair snaked from under a white panama hat to his shoulders.

The girl stood to his side had long golden blonde hair and was stood rather awkwardly, as though embarrassed by the man’s behaviour. She was wearing a blue vest shirt and khaki shorts. She had hiking boots and grey socks curled just above the tops of her boots. Her legs and lower arms were a mass of scratches from the undergrowth.

“I wonder,” The man was saying, walking up the path towards them. “Could you tell me where we are?” The girl seemed to roll her head and trot along behind him.

Sauer and Cristina looked at each other totally perplexed as the strange man bounded up to them.

“Hello.” He said as he approached and grabbed Sauer’s hand and pumped it up and down furiously. “I wonder if you could help us, we’re a little lost. I’m the Doctor and this is my friend Tifa.”

“Erm... Erm... Erm...” Sauer barely managed, floundering with his words not knowing what to say to the strange man.

“Doctor?” Cristina queried, cocking her head.

“Hello.” Tifa waved from behind the Doctor. “We’re travellers.”

“Travellers? This far out?” Sauer managed finally, still clearly perplexed.

“Yes,” The Doctor said slowly, pushing his hat further up his head. “We’ve been on the go a while and made a landing here, not actually knowing where here is.”

“It depends how long you’ve been travelling.” Cristina said. “Amaranth is one of the farthest surveyed worlds from Earth. We’re the first Zoological survey team here.” Cristina paused as she looked at the Doctor and Tifa. “Well, we thought we were.”

“I’ve been with the Doctor about five weeks.” Tifa replied.

“Ah, so you’re from the outer colonies.” Sauer smiled.

“Not quite. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, Mr?” The Doctor said.

“Doctor. Doctor Tobias Sauer. And I disagreeistant Miss Cristina Rossini.” Sauer replied introducing himself and Cristina.

The Doctor stopped and looked at Sauer. “Tobias Sauer?” He repeated. “The Doctor Tobias Sauer? Author of ‘The Link Between the Archaeopteryx and Non Terrestrial Bird’? Famed for Zoological lecture tours throughout the Universities of the Solar System? The most prominent Zoologist of the 29th Century?”

Sauer stammered again, taken aback by the Doctors sudden enthusiastic outburst.

“Leader and organiser of the Bellingshausen Expedition.” Cristina replied, proudly.

“Of course!” The Doctor cried, hitting his forehead with the palm of his hand. “Doctor Sauer. What a great honour it is to meet you.” Grabbing Sauer’s hand again, the Doctor proceeded to pump it up and down with greater ferocity than before. “I’ve admired your work for centuries. I’ve lots of questions for you and lots more to talk about. I think it would be better if we talked back at your base or wherever you’ve set up shop, have a cup of tea.”

“I’m sorry, Doctor Whoever You Are, but we’ve no idea who you are and where you’re from. Or even, how you got here. We’ve been here over a month and seen no other ships in the sector.” Sauer said, finally retrieving his hand from the Doctors grip.

“Ah, yes.” The Doctor said, rubbing the back of his head. “That’s another thing you wouldn’t probably believe.”

“Try me.” Sauer said, standing his ground.

Cristina watched as Doctor Sauer stood staring down the stranger calling himself the Doctor who was almost hopping from foot to foot as though he were impatient to move on. The girl, Tifa, was stood looking from the Doctor to Sauer and then to Cristina. Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she caught Cristina’s eye and smiled.

“Oh, please?!” The Doctor was saying. “Please please please please?” Cristina was sure that he hopped from foot to foot in time to his repeating the word. “Just one hour, a cup of tea and then we’ll be gone and out of your hair.”

“Just one hour?” Sauer asked in confirmation.

“Just one hour.” The Doctor confirmed holding up a long finger and smiling. “Then we really will have to be getting going.”

“Oh, another engagement?” Cristina asked, picking up on the Doctors words. “I thought you were travellers?”

“Yes, but we said we’d meet Jess and Tom back at the TARDIS in-” Tifa trailed off when she realised that everyone was staring at her.

“There are more of you?” Sauer asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, my other two assistants. We agreed to each explore and meet back at my ship in two hours. Perfectly harmless. We wouldn’t dream of interfering with your expedition.” The Doctor smiled, before looking up and down the path. “Some sort of migratory track I’d assume.” He muttered before looking at Sauer. “So, this way or that?” He asked, pointing either way down the path, his arms crossing.

“Neither, Doctor.” Sauer corrected. “It’s this.” Pointing, Sauer turned to point to a tangent from the main migratory path they were stood on. Sauer paused as the Doctor came and stood beside him. “You say you’ve admired my work for, centuries?”

“Very much so.” The Doctor confirmed, following Sauer as he lead the way through the thick undergrowth.

Cristina looked at Tifa, who seemed to be stood rather uncomfortably, looking after the Doctor and Sauer. “Tifa?” She asked. “That’s a rather unusual name.”

“I’ve not heard yours before.” Tifa admitted.

“I’m originally from Italy, Earth. But I’ve been at Charon University for seven years now.” Cristina smiled, remembering how hard it had been for her in her early days. “I’m guessing you’re not local to me?”

“I don’t know.” Tifa replied. “I’m from Telris, a Thal colony.”

“That’s a new one on me.” Cristina replied, holding a branch out of Tifas’ way as the Thal passed.

“There are more of my people out there, somewhere.” Tifa said, looking up to the canopy of the trees and the sky beyond. “That’s what the Doctor says, although I don’t know where they are.”

“I’m sure you’ll find them.” Cristina smiled, noting a far away and tearful look come to Tifas eyes.

“Thank you.” Tifa turned, smiling at Cristina, missing the fallen branch at her feet. With a twist and a cry of shock, Tifa stumbled, grabbing hold of a low hanging creeper to steady herself. As though she’d been burnt, Tifa grabbed her hand away from the vine and fell flat on her face, with a pained grunt.

Before Cristina could ask if she was alright, or even extend a hand to help, the Doctor had paused, spun on his heel and was already helping Tifa to her feet.

“Are you ok?” He asked.

Tifa nodded as she first got to her knees and then to her feet, using the Doctor as support. “I just tripped. I grabbed hold of something but it stung me.”

“Let me see.” The Doctor asked.

Tifa held out her hand and was surprised to see that her hand was covered in blood, seemingly from the three small puncture wounds on her hand. Pulling a handkerchief out of a pocket, the Doctor gently wiped the blood away, seemingly unaware that he was being watched by Sauer and Cristina.

“Hmm, we’d best get some anti-septic and disinfectant on that as soon as we get back to Doctor Sauer’s camp.” The Doctor said as he rolled his handkerchief into a long strip and tied it round Tifa’s hand. “Doctor Sauer?”

“Yes, immediately.” Sauer replied leaning in to take a closer look at the vine. “Our expedition hasn’t fully catalogued the full effects of toxic Amaranth plant life.” Leaning back and going to take a step, Sauer paused and turned back to the Doctor and Tifa. “Not that all plant life here is toxic, it’s highly probably it’s just something like the Stinging Nettle, or Thistle from Earth, or Bellinus Relladrona from Jupiter III.”

“It stings.” Tifa said, wincing in pain.

“It will do.” The Doctor said, putting a comforting arm about her shoulders. “But you’ll be fine. We’ll get back to the camp and have that sorted before you know it.”

Sauer smiled at the Doctors seemingly endless optimism and turned, leading the way back towards the landing craft, thinking to himself about the forms of stinging plant life that he knew about on Amaranth. Following him, the Doctor led Tifa carefully through the undergrowth, with Cristina bringing up the rear.

Had they stayed where they were for a few moments longer, they would have seen the creeper that Tifa had grabbed move and writhe. Slowly it unfolded from the branch it was hanging over and the greenish shape beyond the branches moved. The strange and gnarled looking trunk twisted. Slowly, a large eye opened; a fiery yellow iris, ringed in black glinted in the blood red of the remaining eye. The pupil contacted, allowing for the extra light and slowly followed the four humanoids make their way through the jungle.

After several long seconds, the creature pulled itself into the higher branches using four powerful limbs and slowly set off in a hunting pursuit.

*

Corporal Neruda yawned and stretched as she swung her legs off her bunk and pulled herself into a sitting position. Reaching out to the small shelf beside her bunk she grabbed the small bottle of pep pills and beaker of water. Popping two pills in her mouth she downed the water and jumped off her bunk, slipping her feet into her boots.

“Mendez?” She called, lacing up her boots. “Where are you, you ugly sonova?”

Karolina Neruda never normally slept during the day, however since arriving on Amaranth, she had developed a terrible headache. Instead of bothering Doctor Le Druier, Mendez had suggested she take a break and have a nap, and it seemed to have worked. She’d protested initially, until the pain got too much. She wasn’t normally one to have headaches.

Neruda paused having laced up her boots. She hadn’t had a reply from Mendez. He shouldn’t have strayed far from the landing craft, unless he’d sealed himself into the cockpit. Grabbing her jacket off the back of the small metal chair, she flung open the sleeping chamber door and exited through the living area. Crossing the lab, Neruda opened the connecting door to the cockpit and threw it open.

“Mendez, you deaf bastard.” She started, stopping when she saw that the cockpit was deserted. “Mendez?” She asked again, looking about.

A small light was flashing on the console indicating that someone from the mother ship had requested communication. It hadn’t yet been answered. Neruda looked about. Perhaps Mendez was in the loo. Seating herself in the co-pilot seat, Neruda hit the comm. switch and an image of Commander Olbrichs’ face appeared on the communication screen.

“About time.” He snapped, turning on the screen, his face a picture of anger. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting five minutes.”

“Sorry Sir.” Neruda apologised. “I’ve been resting off a migraine. It won’t happen again, sir.”

“Mendez informed me. I want you to check in with Doctor Le Druier when you return on Friday.” Olbrich said. “Where is Mendez? Why isn’t he on duty?”

“I don’t know sir.” Neruda confessed, running a hand through her short dark hair. “I was actually just looking for him. I thought he was either in the loo or having a cigarette.”

“Well find him, he should be on duty.” Olbrich snapped. “Not gallivanting about the planet.” Olbrich paused before looking up at the screen. “But before you go, Neruda; Mendez reported that one of the student teams had come across two strangers on the surface.”

“Strangers?” Neruda asked, flabbergasted.

“Never mind, we don’t know how they got here yet.” Olbrich cut in. “I ordered Mendez to send them straight up to the mother ship. Instead I wish to speak to them before they are sent up. I have heard of a small mission on the outer fringes of the territories. They may be part of that.”

“What mission, sir?” Neruda asked. “I’ve not heard of any other.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to, Corporal.” Olbrich said. “It was a need-to-know mission; they went missing two months ago. Before these unknown people are sent up to the mother ship, I want to see who they are.”

“Yes sir.” Neruda saluted before leaning forwards and switching the comm. link off. Sitting on the control panel was a report about the strangers, compiled by Mendez. Picking it up, she quickly read through it before getting to her feet. Neruda turned and made her way to the doorway leading to the planet’s surface. “Mendez you dopey son of a-” Neruda stopped dead as she looked out of the door. Mendez was laying face down in a damp patch of earth.

“Mendez!” Neruda cried, swiftly crossing the ground to where Mendez was laying. She crouched down beside him, putting her hand into the damp patch of earth. She pulled her hand back, the ground was sticky. Neruda slowly turned her hand round and looked at her palm; underneath the small clumps of earth that stuck to her hand was a sticky dark red substance. She recognised it immediately. She’d been on enough missions to know the look, texture and smell of blood.

Her heart starting to race, she slowly reached out and turned Mendez over. His eyes were staring up, glassy and shocked, his mouth agape. There was a large slash across his throat and his shirt was ripped over his heart, a jagged tear in the flesh underneath. His uniform was darkened, stained with his blood with earth and undergrowth sticking in the mess. Neruda’s mouth hardened as she looked down at the body of her friend. She was determined to find out who had done this. She was in no doubt that it was murder, there was no way Mendez could have done that to himself without a weapon.

Neruda pulled herself to her feet and straightened her shirt. A rustling sound to her right made her turn. Lucien Dufayel and Drew Bradman emerged from the forest stopping dead at the sight before them. Neruda turned, her hand falling to her belt, feeling for her holster, which wasn’t there. Behind the two students were the two strangers. Neruda almost double took; they were completely not what she was expecting. They were both young, about the age of the majority of the student team, both looking a little bedraggled from the jungle, however despite the attention of the foliage, the girl still looked rather smart in her black corset and skirt and white shirt. Totally inappropriate for the environment.

“What the hell happened?” Drew asked, looking at Mendez’ body as he stepped into the small clearing.

Neruda didn’t answer, keeping her eyes on the two strangers. They didn’t seem to notice Mendez’ body, instead the girl was looking at the landing craft, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open. The young man was whispering something to her and pointing to the antennae at the top of the ship.

“Someone killed him.” She said loudly, breaking the two strangers out of their little tête-à-tête. “Murdered.” She added for effect.

The two strangers looked down at the body. Neruda studied their reactions carefully; they certainly didn’t seem overly shocked. The young man leaned over to the girl and whispered. Neruda watched carefully, she had some ability in lip reading, and the young man was watching her carefully as he spoke.

“This is where we get accused of it and thrown into the brig or whatever.” She saw him say. Neruda pulled herself to her full height and took a step towards the two strangers.

“Yes, you heard that.” The man said. “Look, I can assure you, we had nothing to do with your mates death.”

“How can we have?” The girl added pointing to Drew and Dufayel. “They’ve only just brought us here.”

“And, we’d be covered in blood.” The man added, placing a protective hand on the girls shoulder.

“Are you alone?” Neruda asked.

“No.” The girl replied, getting a small wince from the man who gently squeezed her shoulder.

“Not that you’re here.” He cut in quickly, smiling.

Neruda raised her eyebrow before turning to Drew and Dufayel. “You two, get back into the landing craft, I’ll deal with these two.”

Silently, Drew and Dufayel walked into the landing craft, being watched by Neruda, Jess and Tom. Turning back to Tom and Jess, Neruda watched them carefully for several seconds. “I’m not stupid you know. I know you two can’t have done this, but I also know you’re not alone. I want you to tell me who and where your friends are.”

The young man scoffed. “You don’t seriously think that they did that?” His smile faded when he looked at Neruda’s set expression. “You do? Oh dear.” He shook his head sadly. “Look, I worked in Earth Security for five years and you don’t make instant assumptions like this. We’ve not been on this planet half an hour and I doubt that the Doctor and Tifa could have got here ahead of us.”

“I’ve only your word for that.” Neruda said.

“True.” The man replied. “But think about it. Your fellow there must have known his killer, there’s no sign he tried to defend himself. And he’s military, like you. The old training would have kicked in.”

Neruda looked at the two strangers. The young man was right and the girl was smiling, she knew he was right too. She paused, stumbling over the words in her head. She didn’t know what to say as she looked at the young man’s ice blue eyes. “Then-” She started.

“That means the murderer is one of your party.” The young man finished, nodding.

Neruda looked at the man for several seconds, studying his face. He was unmoving, his face not twitching or flinching. “Crap.” She spat. “That’s crap. We know everyone on this expedition and there aren’t any murderers among us.”

“Evidence to the contrary.” The man said, nodding at Mendez’ body.

“It’s impossible for us to have done that, you said it yourself.” The girl added.

“That leaves only one logical path open. Use your mind; I’m sure you’ve got one.” The man said continuing. “There can’t be that many people who’ve had the chance to do this, but it wasn’t us. It was one of you.” The man paused, looking at his young companion before turning back to Neruda. “And our appearance here must be like Christmas to them. Who better to blame than four strangers? They’ll know that, and won’t be happy until you’re all dead.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

“Murdered?” Olbrich almost choked on his coffee.

“I’m afraid so, Sir.” Neruda replied, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. “And as the strangers pointed out, it would have been impossible for them to have done it as they were with Bradman and Dufayel at the time.”

Olbrich leant back in his chair, thoughtfully stroking his chin. “There are two others on the planet somewhere. We know that. It must have been them.”

“They said that their companions wouldn’t have had time to get there ahead of them.” Neruda said, wincing as she said it but continuing. “The young man said that Mendez must have known his attacker not to have defended himself.”

“Corporal Neruda. You’ve been in Earth Forces long enough to not trust unknown civilians.” Olbrich admonished, leaning forwards, his face stern. “You are to keep those two strangers under close observation until a security team arrives. I am sending down an investigation team immediately. No one is to come up from the planet’s surface. While I really want the murderer to be one of these strangers, I hate to say that it sounds as though the young man is correct. I trust you have made Mendez decent?”

“I’ve covered him, but nothing else.” Neruda replied, feeling relived that her commander could see that she was not being impertinent in going with the young man’s statements. “There were only the two wounds on him, no obvious defensive wounds. Whoever it was, he either knew them, or they took him by surprise, sir. He was a trained marine.”

“I am aware of his background, thank you.” Olbrich said. “I will be sending down Doctor Le Druier to confirm cause of death and perform necessary medical duties.”

“I understand, Sir” Neruda said. “I’ll make sure that no one leaves the landing craft and call in all parties.”

“Thank you, corporal.” Olbrich said leaning forwards and switching off his comm. link before leaning back in his chair and putting his hands to his face. He breathed out an exasperated sigh as he slowly pulled his hands down his face. A death on the planet’s surface; that was the last thing he needed. As much as he loathed to admit it, the strangers were most probably right that Mendez knew his killer if he hadn’t tried to defend himself.

The strangers. That was another thing that bothered him. Where had they come from? They had been in orbit of Amaranth for 36 days now, the landing party leaving the ship after the first day. When they arrived they had detected no other ships in the area and in the past five weeks they had detected no other ship. The only way they could have arrived is if their ship had somehow eluded their scanners.

Leaning forward he activated the ship-wide communications. “Now hear this,” he started; “Due to incidents on the surface of Amaranth, all student and scientific teams currently aboard are confined to the ship and all teams on the surface are to remain there until further notice. Security teams B and C are to meet me in the transport hangar in thirty minutes.”

Olbrich was getting to his feet when a bleeping from the comm. panel distracted him back into his chair. Flicking the activation switch, the angry face of Professor Mori appeared on the screen.

“Commander Olbrich.” He snapped. “Would you kindly explain to me why my transport pod controls have been disabled and I am stuck on the planet’s surface with all my specimens? Do you not realise that we are conducting a scientific study here?”

“Apologies Professor.” Olbrich apologised. “But due to an incident on the planet’s surface, with Doctor Sauer’s team in fact, all civilian travel between the planet and the ship has been discontinued at my express order.”

“And what such incident could necessitate this action?” Mori angrily snapped.

“An attack, herr Professor.” Olbrich simply replied.

“Attack?” Mori replied before falling into a stunned silence. “An attack.” He repeated quietly before his eyes widened in horror. “Doctor Sauer’s party? Who was involved?”

“I am not at liberty to say.” Olbrich replied. “Meanwhile, I require that you are to remain on the planet’s surface until further notice. I apologise for any inconvenience this will cause you.” With that, Olbrich reached forwards and turned off the communications link. Swiftly getting to his feet, he grabbed his uniform jacket and made for the door, ignoring the comm. panel as it started bleeping again.

*

Professor Ita Mori slammed his fist down on the desk as his requests to re-establish the comm. link with Olbrich were ignored. Furious, he stormed out of the landing craft cockpit and dashing through the laboratory and living sections, arrived at the transport pod and snatched up the case containing his specimens. Marching back through to the laboratory, he slammed the case down on a desk and snapping it open, proceeded to remove its contents into a storage freezer.

“What’s going on, Professor? I thought you were meant to be on the mother ship by now.”

Mori spun round. Anton Chadov, another member of the student team, was stood in the doorway from the lab to the planet’s surface.
“Yes, I should be, but that military buffoon, Olbrich, has cut off all travel to and from the ship until he decides otherwise.” Mori snapped as a reply, slamming closed the freezers lid.

“That’s not right. How can he do that?” Anton asked, slumping his back pack on to a clear desk

Mori sighed as he clicked down the lid of the case and turned to face Anton. “Apparently there has been an attack in Doctor Sauer’s team. He said we are not to leave the planet’s surface until further notice.”

“An attack?” Anton stopped still in his pouring himself a drink, not noticing the water overflowing his cup as he turned to look at Mori. “Who did what?”

“He didn’t say. But I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later.” Mori replied turning and walking towards the sleeping berths, pausing and looking over his shoulder from the door. “Oh, and clear that spill up, will you?”

*

“Y’know it’s a bloody good job for us that you’ve been boning up on your ‘Taggart’!” Jess shouted through from the sleeping berth, where she was changing out of her ripped skirt and tights and into a pair of trousers that had been supplied.

“Eh?” Toms rather confused reply came through from the small living section.

“Y’know: ‘There’s bin a mah-dah!’” She said, trying to emulate the Scottish accent. “Police dramas and cop shows!” She added after several long seconds of silence. “What you said to that Marine about the victim knowing their killer who’d want to kill them all.”

“Oh that.” Tom’s voice came through. “That was just elementary.”

“What’s that Sherlock?”

“Just simple things which are obvious if you look objectively.”

“Ah.” Jess replied as she looked down at herself. She couldn’t see a mirror in the sleeping area to check her appearance. She took another look at herself and the grey trousers that emerged from underneath her corset. With a sigh, she removed the corset and rolled it up. “Well, whaddya think?” She asked walking through to the living area.

“Yeah, fine.” Tom replied. He had sprawled himself over an uncomfortable looking padded bench that ran around two sides of the room, one arm resting on a table that seemed to dominate the small space. His attention seemed to be concentrated on a long thorn he was delicately holding in his fingers.

“Don’t sound too excited.” Jess replied, sticking her tongue out. He was still wearing his ripped shirt. The mushroom coloured replacement shirt was still folded on the table near his feet.

“You think the Doctor’ll say ‘I told you so’ about the clothes?” He asked, looking at her and winking.

“You recon he’s the type?” Jess replied sliding onto the bench next to Tom and leaning on her arms, folded on the table. “What is that?”

“Dunno.” Tom replied. “Found it stuck in a tree trunk out there. Now, I’m no botanist, but if this is a thorn from a plant, it has some bizarrely biological properties. For a start, it had a congealed substance on the end of it that could have been a kind of blood, yet squeeze it,” to demonstrate, he gently squeezed the thorn and a droplet of milky liquid oozed from the spike. “And that’s a different liquid altogether. I’m guessing the Doctor’ll be interested.”

“Ooh, get you, eagle eyes.” Jess teased. “So how long until you’re doing my laundry then?”

“Ooh, at least another hour.” Tom replied, gently placing the thorn down in the centre of the table and laying flat out, resting his arms under his head. “Don’t worry; I’ve faith in the old feller.”

Smiling, Jess leaned back on the bench, shuffling until she was vaguely comfortable. Looking down at Tom, she wondered how he seemed so relaxed and comfortable. The bench was really less comfortable than it looked. Eventually finding a spot that resembled acceptable, she settled down. She could hear the muffled voices of Drew Bradman and Lucien Dufayel in the laboratory section of the landing craft. She didn’t know where Neruda was; outside or compiling an arrest report on her and Tom.

Closing her eyes, Jess listened to the soft burble of voices and the rhythmic sound of her breathing, not sure really what to do. She opened her eyes when she heard the voices coming from the lab get louder and more excited. Turning to look at the door, Tom rose from where he was laying and turned to look at her.

“And he’s here!” He said, smiling.

*

Doctor Sauer watched as the Doctor dashed from the clearing to a sheet covered form, laid prone on the ground beside the landing craft. Gently, the Time Lord reached out and pulled the sheet back, before swiftly covering the body and turning to look at Sauer, Rossini and Tifa.

“Oh dear.” He said sadly, looking at Sauer who quickly joined him. “A young man, military uniform.” He said softly.

“Mendez.” Sauer said, reaching to the sheet and looking at the body. “The pilot. Who could have done this?”

“I don’t think we’re the ones you want to be asking.” The Doctor replied, getting to his feet and brushing some mud off his trousers as Rossini and Tifa approached.

“What about the others of your party?” Rossini asked, looking from Tifa to the Doctor.

“They couldn’t. They wouldn’t.” Tifa protested, angrily turning on Rossini. “If they did, then he must have attacked them first.”

“Easy easy easy easy.” The Doctor cooed, soothingly putting his hands on Tifa’s shoulders. “No, this man was killed by someone he knew, there are no defensive wounds and the look on his face is clearly one of shock. He’s a soldier; he should have been able to defend himself against an attacker.”

“That’s exactly what the young man said.”

The small group turned to the landing craft. Colonel Neruda was stood at the door to the cockpit, her arms folded, observing the group.

“So these must be the others of the lost expedition.”

“Lost expedition?” Sauer asked.

“The other two members are inside.” Neruda replied. “Apparently Dufayel and Bradman found them being attacked by a one of the larger birds in the jungle.”

“Are they alright?” The Doctor asked stepping forwards and towards Neruda. “Hello, I’m the Doctor, I’m sure I can help you here.”

“Doctor, eh?” Neruda asked, ignoring his offered hand. “Well, Doctor, we’ve got teams coming down from the mother ship to conduct a full investigation, we don’t need your help.”

Quietly, the Doctor stepped back to Tifa’s side, his face fallen. “A load of military trampling all over the area; exactly what they don’t want.” He whispered.

“What have you done with the others of their party?” Sauer asked looking to the Doctor, who was stood looking sulky, and Tifa.

“They’re in the living quarters until a party from the ship arrive to take them into custody.” Neruda paused and looked at the Doctor. “All four of them.”

“Oh, you can’t pin this on us.” The Doctor protested stepping forward.

“We didn’t do it!” Tifa cried. “We’ve only just got here. We arrived with them, tell her.” He pleaded to Sauer.

“Think about it.” The Doctor said, putting his hands out, emploring Neruda. “You’ve got a brain, use it. Look at it rationally. How could we have done this, we all arrived with members of the scientific teams. Think about it, rationally.”

“That’s far enough.” Neruda said, pulling her gun from its holster and aiming it at the Doctors head.

“Corporal, please!” Sauer shouted, standing between the Doctor and Neruda’s gun. “Even I can tell that Mendez was killed by someone he knew, someone he allowed to get close because he didn’t see them as a threat.” Sauer swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on Neruda’s gun. “The Commander will be asking these questions. Also he will be asking why you weren’t on hand to stop his murder.”

Her face turning into a scowl, Neruda lowered her gun and holstered it. Taking a step down from the landing craft she came and stood very close to Sauer. “Don’t you ever question me like that again.” She whispered before turning and disappearing into the cockpit.

“Thank you.” The Doctor began, as Sauer turned round and raised his hand.

“I don’t know who you are or where you come from, but I do know you couldn’t have done that.” He replied. “Commander Olbrich will want to question you no doubt. I don’t think you’ll be leaving so quickly after an hour. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, not at all, Doctor Sauer. Not at all.” The Doctor replied smiling. “I’m sure the Commander is a reasonable fellow and I can help him sort this little mess out. The Corporal was just talking out of hurt. Shall we?” He gestured towards the door leading to the laboratory section of the landing craft.

Nodding, Sauer lead the way into the lab, followed by the Doctor and Tifa, Rossini bringing up the rear. Drew Bradman and Lucien Dufayel were inside sat at one of the benches engaged in a deep discussion over something they were studying. So engaged they didn’t notice the arrival of Sauer and the others.

“Good afternoon gentlemen.” Sauer said loudly causing the two students to look up. “I understand that you found two strangers whilst you were out.”

“Yeah that’s right.” Bradman started, trailing off as his eyes fell onto the Doctor and Tifa. “You found the others. No, don’t tell me, the Doctor.” He said looking at the Time Lord.

“You’ve spoken to Jess and Tom then.” The Doctor smiled. “Where are they?”

“What are you a Doctor of?” Dufayel asked, eyeing the Doctor suspiciously.

“Practically everything.” The Doctor replied, grinning and standing up tall. “Botany, xenobiology, anthropology, chronology, you name it.”

“Haha! Yes! I told you!” The excited voice was muffled through the walls of the landing craft, but the Doctor recognised it instantly as Toms. A further voice, too muffled to be made out was clearly Jess’s.

“Ah, through there!” He smiled, pointing to the door leading to the living area.

In a quick stride the Doctor covered the floor and reached the door. Flinging it open he disappeared inside. Looking after him then to the assembled members of the expedition, Tifa managed an embarrassed and watery smile before heading off after the Doctor.

“What a weirdo!” Drew said quietly after they’d gone.

“I don’t think so.” Doctor Sauer said as he pulled out a stool and sat down, looking at the specimens that Drew and Dufayel had collected. “I was talking to him on the way back and he seems to know a lot more about zoology and xenobiology than myself. If he is with another expedition, I’m sure we could get them to join us, they’d be invaluable.”

“But what about the murder?” Dufayel asked.

“They can’t have done it.” Rossini said, joining the three men. “We found those two a good mile or so from here, and if you were with the others when it happened, they’ve cast iron alibis.” As she finished, her eyes widened as the three men all raised their heads at the same time. As one the four turned to look to the cockpit. “You don’t think?” Rossini whispered looking back to her colleagues.

“She’s putting on a very good act if she did.” Drew whispered.

“Now now.” Sauer admonished. “Let’s not let our imaginations run away from us. I imagine we’ll be getting a military investigation team, so we’ll just have to wait and see what they say.”

*

“It was only a matter of time, really.” Tom said as the Doctor slid onto the seat next to him. “I guess you’ve seen the body outside as well. Let me guess, the Corporal made a suggestion that it was one of us.”

“Hmm.” The Doctor muttered, he attention distracted by the thorn lying in the centre of the table. Reaching out, he picked it up and examined it closely, squinting at it.

“She said something about taking us into custody.” Tifa said, walking round the table to sit next to Jess.

“Typical military mind.” The Doctor muttered. “Shoot first, ask questions later. Never look for the logical, just the first conclusion, whether it’s right or not.”

“So you think that he was killed by someone he knew as well?” Jess asked.

“I’m positive of it.” The Doctor said. “The killer had struck before we arrived and the only other people on the planet are members of this expedition.”

“You mean the killer is here, with us?” Tom asked. “Hang on; the only one who was here before we got here was Neruda.”

“Your turn to jump to conclusions.” The Doctor replied, still busily examining the thorn, gently squeezing it. “I sincerely doubt that they’re the only ones here from the expedition. The Bellingshausen expedition was rather large as memory serves.”

“So you know who did it then, if you’ve heard of this Bell housing thing.” Jess said, her eyes brightening.

“No, I’m afraid not.” The Doctor looked up, his eyes and indeed his whole face full of sadness and concern. “I don’t remember any record of the expedition ever landing on Amaranth, it seemed to be strangely missing from the records. Also, there’s this, and I think this could be the key.”

“What is it?” Tifa asked.

“I found it in the jungle, sticking out of a tree, it looks like vegetation but there’s something not right about it.” Tom replied looking over the Doctors shoulder.

“You’re right there, top of the class.” The Doctor said, before pausing considering what he’d said. “It displays more in common with biological organisms rather than botanical life, and yet it does certainly display some properties that are akin to plant life.”

“So, what are you saying?” Jess asked. “It’s a Triffid?”

“Oh no. Although it could be a form of highly intelligent plant life, we can’t rule that out. No, I’d say it was more genetically engineered. I’ve not had any experience of the vegetable or animal life outside, but there’s something...” The Doctor trailed off and looked up at Tifa. “Tifa, let me see your hand.”

Cautiously Tifa held her hand out to the Doctor, his handkerchief still tied round where she had cut it on the vine earlier. “It still stings a bit.” She said. “It aches a bit now.”

“Let me see.” The Doctor said leaning over the table, putting the thorn carefully to one side.

Gently, he untied the knot that was holding the handkerchief in place and peeled it away. Tom and Jess who had leaned forwards, curious, swiftly sat back in shock, Jess grimacing. Tifa’s eyes widened at what she saw before her. The three puncture wounds were in an almost perfectly straight line diagonally across her palm, each one was raised and puckered. The skin around each wound had turned a dark green and taken a rough texture. Thick veins now pulsed through the skin in her hand, tinted a heavy green.

“As I thought.” The Doctor said. “That vine wasn’t a vine at all.”
His companions looked at him as one waiting for the explanation.
“Someone has been genetically modifying something and loosed it on this planet. Half animal, half vegetable. The thorn you found, Tom, comes from it, and it’s highly toxic.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

Slowly, it heaved itself out of the high branches of the trees, and perching carefully, observed the scene before it. The four creatures that it had followed had arrived at a strange construct. It recognised the construct deep down, but what it was, it couldn’t comprehend. There was a shape on the floor that smelled, oh it smelled divine. It was making it salivate even more than the faint odour from the four creatures.

As it watched, the two taller creatures lifted the strange covering back and peered underneath before they were joined by a fifth, emerging from the construct. It watched closely, carefully making sure that it remained hidden. It knew it was stronger than the creatures, yet it knew it had to retain caution. Eventually they all disappeared inside the construct.

It pulled itself to its full height, rising up on its two incredibly powerful hind legs, its tail whipping and curling behind it. It stretched its long neck opening its beak-like mouth and flashing long, sharp teeth. It closed its mouth and flexed its powerful forearms, looking at the covered object on the ground. With a powerful jump, wrinkled skin unfurled from its arms, forming rudimentary wings. Despite its heavy and un-aerodynamic look, it glided graciously to the ground, landing silently, its ‘wings’ disappearing back into its limbs as it spread its weight onto all four.

Cautiously it edged towards the covering and using its snout, dug underneath. The smell was so much greater now and long strands of saliva trickled from its jaws and dripped to the ground. Grasping the covering between its jaws, it ripped it off with a sharp twist of its neck. What it had covered was another of the creatures, only this one was lifeless and covered in blood. It was the blood that smelled so good.

Not caring if the creatures saw it any more, it rose onto its hind legs and pulled itself to its full height and let out a loud bellow. The noise was two toned at the same time; a low howl mixed with a primeval and guttural screech, it had found its lunch. It lowered its head and extended its tongue, licking along the large gash in the creatures’ neck. The blood was already congealing, but still tasted as good as it smelled. Opening its mouth it took a bite of the creatures’ neck and gripping the torso with its forearms gave a sharp twist, severing the head and taking a large chunk of the neck and upper torso into its mouth. With several crunching bites, it swallowed its food and carrying the remains of the body, leapt up into the high branches and carried its meal off with it.

*

Tifa looked at her hand held before her, the greening skin and pulsing veins, too shocked to actually say anything, her face drained of all colour. Jess looked from Tifas’ hand, to the young Thal and then to the Doctor.

“Can you do something?” She asked eventually, ending the awkward silence.

“Yes.” The Doctor replied, looking up. “Given time and resources, yet the problem is, we don’t know how much of the former we have.”
“Wh- what’s happening to me?” Tifa asked.

“I don’t know yet.” The Doctor admitted his face stony. “But trust me, I will find out. We have all the resources and manpower we need here with the Bellingshausen Expedition.”

“I just hope that they do help. Remember, we’ve got a military investigative team on the way down.” Tom said.

“Not to investigate us.” The Doctor added. “They may have a problem themselves, but it’s nothing to do with us. A quick chat with their commander and he’ll see that.”

“We hope.” Tom muttered quietly under his breath.

“Now, Doctor Sauer is a brilliant mind, and-” The Doctor was cut off by the loud cry of an animal outside the landing craft, causing the Time Lord and his companions to turn looking to the door leading to the lab.

“That was right outside.” Jess said looking around her huddled friends.

“What do you think it was?” Tifa asked.

“I’ve no idea.” The Doctor admitted getting to his feet and walking to the door. “Although there are some people who’ve been surveying the life on this planet.”

The door to the living area was flung open and Doctor Sauer burst through the door and quickly looked round at the assembled group. “Ah good, you’re all here.” He said quickly before disappearing back through the door, slamming it closed behind him.

“What the devil was all that about?” Tom asked, breaking the stunned silence.

The Doctor turned to face his companions, a finger raised and his mouth open as though he were about to say something before turning and swiftly disappearing through the door. Stunned to silence, Jess and Tifa slowly turned to look at one another before turning to look at Tom, who was staring after the Doctor at the door as it gently swayed flashing glimpses of the lab in the adjoining room.

*

Seeing that the lab area was now deserted, the Doctor rushed through to the outside of the landing craft. Doctor Sauer, Cristina, Drew and Lucien were stood looking round in shock, Nerdua stood some way before them searching the outer fringes of the jungle, her gun in her hand. Slowly she turned around and spotted the Time Lord.

“What have you done with him?” She growled levelling the gun at the Doctor.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Corporal.” Sauer interjected. “There’s no way they could have done this without us seeing them.”

“What’s happened here?” The Doctor asked.

“Something has taken Mendez’s body.” Cristina said, before pausing and glancing back at the folded sheet still lying on the ground. “Well, erm no, body is right.”

Curiously, the Doctor walked over to the sheet, folded to quarter its normal size, a curious bump in the middle. Slowly he peeled the sheet back revealing Mendez’s head, the flesh ripped at the base of the neck and the jaw missing.

“Fascinating.” The Doctor mused before replacing the sheet and turning to Sauer. “Tell me Doctor Sauer, Tobias, can I call you Tobias?” The Doctor smiled at Sauer, not allowing him chance to reply as he continued. “Have you, or any other members of your expedition, come across anything that could do something like this? Any form of native life?”

The Doctor watched as the expedition members looked at each other, bemused. “Erm, possible one of the larger avian life forms, they seem to be the predominant life on Amaranth.” Sauer replied eventually.

“Even so, Doc,” Cristina started. “The largest of the Dodos couldn’t do this.”

Sauer looked at her and began to count off characteristics of the larger birds on his fingers before Dufayel stepped in with an opposing argument, siding with Rossini. Beyond them, Neruda had turned her attention back to the jungle, attracted by a dark stain on a large, flat leaf. Cautiously she moved closer to it to examine it.

“You take some convincing that we’re on your side.”

The voice beside her made her start. She spun round to see the Doctor stood beside her, examining the same leaf she was.

“It looks as though whatever it was took your friends body, took it into the uppermost branches of the trees. If you look, you can see other blood stains on leaves higher up.” The Time Lord pointed before turning to face Neruda. “You’re beginning to realise we didn’t have anything to do with it. Believe it, it will make coming to terms with things easier.”

Neruda stared after the strange man as he turned and walked over towards where Doctor Sauer was engaged in a now rather lively debate with his student team. A whining coming from overhead caught her attention. Looking up, she saw four of the travel pods making their way to the planet’s surface; two destined for here and two for the next landing craft which was in the next valley a couple of miles away

The Doctor walked up to Sauer and cleared his throat rather loudly. “Sorry to disturb your debate Tobias, but I could really do with your opinion on something.”

Sauer paused in his discussion with his students and looked at the concerned expression on the Doctors face. It was a look that stopped Sauer dead. “What’s the problem, Doctor?”

The Doctors face twisted as he glanced at the students who were now staring at him. “Ah, I’d rather it if we discussed it somewhere a little more private.” Turning on his heel, the Doctor started on his way back to the landing craft. After several seconds of staring at the Time Lords back, Sauer shrugged to his students and followed, disappearing inside the ship.

“What do you suppose that was all about?” Drew asked, scratching the back of his head.

His question received a shrug from both Dufayel and Rossini, the latter of whom turned after Sauer, her finger thoughtfully on her lips, a concerned expression spreading across her face.

*

“Doctor Sauer,” the Doctor said, in an almost theatrical style as he stood next to Tifa, who was starting to look pale. “I’d like your professional opinion on this.” He said as he showed him the infection on Tifa’s hand. “Now, I know you’re not a botanist or a medical doctor, but we seem to think that this little fellow may be responsible.” The Doctor carefully picked up the thorn that Tom had found.

“Well,” Sauer said as he crouched down beside Tifa. “I can’t say that I’ve ever seen anything like this before.”

“That’s not the exactly building my confidence.” Tifa replied.

“Don’t worry,” the Doctor smiled down at his companion. “I’ve seen one or two things like it before. But I’ve never been to Amaranth before, let alone studied any of the plant or animal life.”

The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck and glanced over to the door to the sleeping berths where he had sent Tom and Jess while he and Sauer looked at Tifa’s hand. He didn’t want to tell Tifa that the two forms of plant life he’d seen before, Varga Plants and Krynoid were fatal to any life form them infected.

“I think a broad spectrum anti-biotic might be prudent at this stage, Doctor.” Sauer said looking up at the Time Lord. “But if Commander Olbrich is coming down to the surface about Mendez, then I would have thought he’d bring Doctor Le Druier with him to officially record cause of death.”

“Excellent,” the Doctor grinned, clapping his hands together. “I’ve a smattering of knowledge that will transcend all aspects that we need, so working with the two of you, we can sort this out.”

“I think Doctor Le Druier will be more pre-occupied with Mendez.” Sauer said and instantly regretted it noting the look on the Doctor’s face.

“Mendez is dead,” the Doctor said. “Tifa’s situation is far more pressing.”

*

“What do you thinks’ happening?” Jess asked. She was sat on one of the top bunks swinging her legs idly watching Tom who was stood by the door, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation in the living area.

“I don’t know,” the young Time Lord replied moving away from the door and easing himself onto one of the other bunks. “But I do know that whatever is happening to Tifa is a tad more serious that the Doctor’s making out.”

“A tad?” Jess asked. “I see you’re as technical as ever. How much of a tad are we talking here?”

“More than a smidge, less than a heap.” Tom shrugged.

“Boy, you’re helpful.” Jess teased looking up as there was a metallic sound coming from the rear of the landing craft. The sound of the two travel pods arriving could clearly be heard and the locking mechanisms securing them to the larger landing craft. “What was that?”

“I’d imagine that would be the Commander of the mission. Here t’clap us in irons, arr!” Tom laughed, affecting a pirate accent and squinting as he finished the sentence.

“You’re remarkably relaxed about it all.”

“Well, there’s not much for you or I to do really at the moment. No marauding monsters, Dalek invasion fleets or renegade Time Lords, well, except for the Doctor and me.” Tom replied, stretching as best he could in the cramped bunk.

“What about the murderer? And what’s happened to Tifa?”

“Are you a doctor of biology, zoology or medicine or anything to help?”

“No, not really.” Jess replied, swinging herself fully into the bunk and laying back. “But the murderer?”

“That’s why the commander and his team have come down.” Yawned Tom. “I imagine we’ll be back out into the great wide yonder before too much longer.”

“Oh yeah?” Jess asked, raising her eyebrow. “What’s the bet this time?”

“Well, normally I would,” started Tom raising his hand to emphasise his point. “But this is us. Two things you can count out; the Doctor turning up claiming to be an expert or able to help and us running afoul of an attempt to take over the galaxy or getting arrested.”

Jess pursed her lips as she thought about what Tom said. “Yeah, alright smart arse, you win.” Jess smiled and closed her eyes listening to the murmur of voices from the living area.

“You ever get tired of it?”

“What?” Jess almost hit her head on the top of the bunk, not expecting Tom’s question.

“Well, I imagine it’s a far cry from 20th century student life.”

“It’s better than spending all day in the library.” Jess said. “It’s like nothing else, it’s fantastic. What about you? How different is it to Security Commander of a space station. It’s not like Star Trek I take it.”

“Nah, that was alright,” Tom said, swinging his legs off the bunk and sitting up. “You’ll have to let me know what this ‘Star Trek’ is before I can compare to it. It had a few hairy moments and you meet a wide variety of people and races. This is the same, but different.”

“Riiiiiight,” Jess said. “What’s brought this on? You thinking of leaving?”

“No,” Tom chuckled. “Where would I go? Back to EST3? The Time Lords will have made sure that I’m forgotten there. And I sure as hell am not going back to Gallifrey. No, I’m gonna be kicking about for a while yet.”

“Good to know you’re still gonna be ‘kicking about’.” Jess smiled laying back down on the bunk. “Who would I have to pick on if you left?” Jess collapsed into giggles as the pillow from the bunk Tom was laying on was thrown up into hers.

*

“Doctor Smith, I do not believe that you or any of your party were responsible for the death of my pilot.” Olbrich said, pacing up and down the laboratory section of the landing craft, his hands folded behind his back. “However, it still raises the question as to who was responsible?”

“The answer is obvious, Commander,” the Doctor said getting up from where he was sat next to Tifa. Doctor Le Druier was sat the other side of the young Thal tending her hand and administering an intravenous anti-biotic. Looking round, the Doctor leaned closer to Olbrich conspiratorially. “It’s just ‘Doctor’, by the way.” He smiled standing back and sliding his hands into his trouser pockets. “The murderer is clearly a member of the expedition. I take it that there were more than just the six people on the planet?”

“Well, naturally,” Sauer said, looking up from where he was sat watching Le Druier work, clearly fascinated in the infection in Tifa’s hand. “Professor Mori’s party are about three miles away.”

“Then if Corporal Neruda’s story is to be believed, that leaves the only logical place the murderer could have come from.” The Doctor said, pulling himself to his full height and gripping the lapels of his waistcoat, grinning.

“It’s hardly an amusing matter, Doctor Smith.” Olbrich said glowering at the Doctor. “It means I have a murderer on my hands and I need to find who and a motive.”

“Are you a medical doctor?” Doctor Le Druier asked looking up at the Time Lord.

“I’ve taken a couple of degrees in my time.” The Doctor replied turning away from Olbrich and swiftly sitting down opposite Le Druier and looking at what she was doing before looking at Tifa and smiling. “How are you feeling?”

“A bit light headed and weak.” Tifa said flexing her fingers. “My hand really hurts and my fingers feel tingly.”

“There’s definitely an infection there, it’s certainly no allergic reaction.” Doctor Le Druier confirmed. “But I’d like to get you up to the sick bay so I can examine and treat you properly.”

Olbrich looked up sharply and turned round to face Le Druier, the Doctor and Tifa. “I’m sorry doctor, doctors, but I cannot allow a potentially contagious alien infection aboard my ship.”

“But, Commander,” Le Druier began, getting to her feet. “I don’t have the facilities here to properly treat this infection. The whole point of my coming along was to supply medical attention to the expedition and anyone we encounter. I’m a doctor; it’s my duty to treat this girl. It was precisely for this reason that you brought me along.”

Tifa looked up at Doctor Le Druier and then to the Doctor before turning on to look at Olbrich, a look of pleading in her eyes.

“Commander, you cannot refuse medical attention for this girl when she so obviously needs it. If not taking her up to the command ship, then at least let some DNA and blood samples be taken up so that the Doctors can work on something.” Sauer said, backing up his colleague. “I have enough rudimentary knowledge to administer basic needs down here.”

Olbrich looked at the small group gathered before him for several seconds before finally relenting and nodding. “Very well. You can take up blood samples and anything you need, but you are to be confined to the sick bay. I do not want any infection spread aboard my ship.” With that, he turned on his heel and left headed towards the cockpit of the landing craft.

“Well, that’s less than I hoped for, but at least it’s something.” The Doctor admitted.

“I’m sorry he wasn’t more accepting.” Le Druier said. “We’ve never had an incident like this, let alone one with unidentified personnel.”
“So what’s going to happen to me?” Tifa asked, looking up at the Doctor, who crouched down besides her smiling comfortingly.

“Doctor Le Druier and I are going to take a few blood and skin samples from you to a medical facility on the ship in orbit. But don’t worry; Tobias here will keep you under close observation. You’ll be quite safe.”

“But, Doctor, I’m scared.” Tifa admitted, grasping the Doctors hand with hers. “I don’t know what’s happening.”

“I know.” The Doctor replied softly, patting her hand. “Tom and Jess will be here still to look after you. I promise you; you’ll be fine.”

*

Olbrich walked from the living area through the laboratory section of the landing craft, spotting Rossini, Dufayel and Bradman gathered round a bench. Pausing mid-step, he changed direction towards them. They had found the strangers on the surface, and Dufeyal and Bradman had returned with the two younger members of the Doctors party that he hadn’t met yet. There was still time to question them, most probably when the Doctor had left to go the command ship.

In the mean time, he could still question the student team here, and he would. He was walking towards them when one of the security personnel burst through from the cockpit, the adjoining door slamming into the partitioning wall with a loud crash causing the three students to spin round to face him.

“Sorry sir,” she apologised, straightening up. “We’ve just had contact from Sergeant Thaer from Professor Mori’s party,” Pausing, she quickly glanced round the eyes watching her. “They’re under attack by alien creatures.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

Sergeant Thaer disembarked from the travel pod, closely followed by Private Boortz, who’d accompanied him on the journey from the mother ship. Stopping, he took a look around the lush vegetation. It wasn’t long before he was attracted by a shout coming from a figure stood in the doorway to the landing craft. Turning, Thaer rolled his eyes. It was Professor Mori. He’d forgotten the Professor was with this party. The two didn’t exactly get along well.

“What the bloody hell is going on here, hmm?” He shouted, storming out of the landing craft towards Thaer. “Why has all transport been delayed? Do you pompous military asses not know that we’re doing important research here?”

“Please stand down, Professor.” Thaer said loudly, his thick German accent carrying the authority with which he spoke. “There has been a murder at the Landing Craft containing Doctor Sauer’s party. All transport to the mother ship is suspended until the murderer is found.”

“But how can that affect us?” Mori shouted at the Sergeant. “We are in a separate valley to Sauer’s party. It’s tragic yes, but we have to go on.”

Thaer narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow, cocking his head to look at the Professor. “That does not sound the attitude of someone who is surprised about the events. It has not been made public.”

“Do you think we do not communicate to each other, Sergeant?” Mori snapped, his face contorting in anger. “I do not like your tone.”

“I would appreciate it if you were to return to the craft, Professor, we will need to question you about your whereabouts to eliminate you from our enquiries.” Thaer said. To his relief the Professor turned on his heel and stormed back to the landing craft. Rolling his eyes, Thaer turned back to the three troopers who had accompanied him; Naja Boortz, Ru Doritz and Gino Lucetti.
“Ok then; I want you to start to get statements from the crew of the Lander and the survey team. Then we can start to collate our reports.”

The three privates saluted before turning and making their way to the Landing Craft. When they had gone, Thaer turned to look at the surrounding jungle. The Lander was in a small clearing near a hillside. Thaer remembered from the transport pod that just to the other side of the hills was another Landing Craft, this one containing Doctor Sauer’s party. Commander Olbrich had quietly spoken to him about the possibility of the murderer being from one of the other of these two crafts as the only person registered as being aboard the second Lander at the time of the murder was Corporal Neruda, who claimed to be asleep ill at the time.

One thing was troubling him slightly, the appearance of the four strangers that were reported. It would be a lot easier if it were one of them that were responsible for the murder, although the evidence already pointed to their innocence. That meant the murderer was one of their party. Thaer closed his eyes and took a deep breath, taking in the Amaranth air. He sincerely hoped that things would be quickly resolved. He was not a detective.

A scream from the jungle to his left brought him crashing out of his reverie. He spun around looking for the source of the noise. The tops of the taller trees were swaying violently, as though something heavy was moving fast through them. Turning, Thaer saw the bushes and undergrowth bustling violently. There was a second scream; a two toned scream than made his blood run cold. There must be one of the jungle creatures chasing another.

It took him several seconds to recognise the shadows running from the undergrowth as human. It was two members of the student team, screaming and running scared. One of them was bleeding, heavily. Within very few seconds, Thaer had drawn his pistol from its holster and was running down the low incline towards the two scared students.

“What the hell happened?” he yelled, skidding to a halt as the two students hurriedly ran across the clearing.

“There’s something out there!” One of them screamed; the one who wasn’t bleeding.

“What sort of something?” Thaer asked, looking closely at the wound on the others shoulder. It was a large ragged tear across the shoulder. Their shirt was crimson with blood. They must be in tremendous pain.

“Them.” The young man managed pointing with his good arm.

Thaer turned cautiously, wondering what he was going to see. It took him several seconds to spot the three shapes perched in the upper branches watching them. Without taking his eyes off them, Thaer spoke:

“Get inside the Lander quickly and quietly. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on these things.” Thaer paused. “And send the others of my troop out and get in touch with Olbrich.”

Thaer didn’t take his eyes off the three shapes, instead, slowly backed towards the Lander. He could hear the two students make their way to the craft. As he backed away one of the green shapes dropped from the branches of the tree and pulled itself up to its full height and let off a two toned bellow, giving Thaer his first proper look at the creatures.

The creature stood about eight feet tall and was green in colour. It had a beaked mouth filled with long, sharp, pointed teeth, behind that, two large yellow and red eyes glared at Thaer. It had two powerful and thick hind legs and a long whipping tail that curiously resembled a thick and flexible creeper. There seemed to be a membrane that was furled up under the forearms of the creature, and its neck seemed to be covered in something that bizarrely looked like a mix between feathers and leaves.

The creature bellowed again, thick strands of saliva dripped from its jaws. Thaer staggered back, his eyes wide. He’d never seen anything like it. The think looked like it was half animal, half plant. It took a step towards him, its powerful hind legs propelling it forwards surprisingly swiftly. Thaer looked into the creatures eyes. There was no question about its intent. Raising his gun and fired three shots at the creature. It bellowed in pain and took another lunge forwards to him, its beaky mouth wide, sharp teeth almost gleaming in the sun, its deep purple tongue flailing as it roared at him.

His jaw set and his mouth downturned in a scowl, Thaer emptied the clip into the creature’s mouth, bright green blood and brain matter exploded out the back of its head before in crumpled down onto the ground, dead.

Thaer lowered his gun, wisps of smoke still coming from the barrel, the sound of the shots still echoing round the valley. He suddenly remembered the two other creatures and looked back up into the tree tops. The two creatures were still crouched there; immobile and watching him.

“Sergeant, what happened?”

Thaer spun round and saw Private Naja Boortz running towards him, pistol in her hand. Her eyes were fixed firmly on the dead creature just behind him.

“That creature happened.” Thaer said, indicating the dead creature with his boot before turning back to look up into the trees, where the other two creatures were.

Squinting, he paused; they had disappeared. He hadn’t heard them, they must have moved into cover when Boortz appeared. Turning, Thaer saw that two students had appeared outside the door to the Lander, one of the two who’d ran from the jungle and another he assumed had already been there.

“It sure is one ugly sonova.” Boortz said, kicking the corpse gently.

“You may want to get back inside.” Thaer shouted up to the Lander before turning back to Boortz. He opened his mouth to speak and that was when it happened.

A green shape launched itself out of the jungle towards Boortz, with a blood chilling two toned wail. Thaer saw a long green tail trailing behind it, and what looked like wings joining the forearms to the trunk of the torso. The creature landed heavily on Boortz’s back, knocking her from her feet and to the ground with a yell of surprise. The long clawed feet dug into her back, piercing and tearing the flesh.

Thaer brought his gun up and squeezed the trigger automatically, taking several shots before he realised that the clip was spent. Hurriedly, he fumbled about his belt for another, whilst his eyes were fixed firmly on the struggling mass of Boortz and the creature. Boortz was now screaming, a wordless scream, as the creatures claws ripped through her clothing and flesh. Blood dripped from the creatures claws as it raised its head and bellowed its chilling two toned scream. With a swift movement it ducked its head and long neck down, opening its beaklike jaws. Boortz looked round and up at the attacker in time to see its strong jaws clamp about her head, sharp teeth puncturing her flesh numerous times. With a twist of its neck, Boortz stopped screaming, and the creature brought its head up, shards of flesh clung to its teeth.

Thaer looked down at Boortz, her neck was twisted and broken and there were large jagged tears in her face where the creature’s teeth had taken the flesh. The creature fixed its eyes on Thaer for several long seconds before it bent its head down and took a crushing bite of Boortz head. There was the sickening sound of shattering and crushing bone and the soft squelch of brain matter, as the creature brought its head up again, blood, grey brain matter and shards of skull bone falling from its jaw as it swallowed the bite it had taken.

Slamming the new clip into place, Thaer raised his gun to fire at the creature when another shriek echoed round the valley and a second green blur shot out of the jungle to his right as the second creature leapt towards him. Sidestepping, Thaer brought his gun round, but he wasn’t quick enough; the creature knocked him from his feet and sent him stumbling. Standing beside its fellow, the creature reared to its full height, spread its wing-like forearms and bellowed.

Thaer scrambled to his feet, ducking as shots rang out. Chancing a look behind him, Doritz, Lucetti and the two crewmembers of the Lander were stood by the doorway to craft, firing at the two creatures. Quickly, Thaer rushed over to them, ducking under their covering fire.

“What happened?” Doritz shouted over the sound of the gunfire.
“Those creatures came out of nowhere. They’ve killed Boortz and one of them attacked one of the students.” Thaer shouted back, before indicating to the troops to withdraw into the craft.

“We saw him, looks nasty.” Doritz shouted back. “I’ve bandaged him up as best as I could.”

Thaer looked back towards the two creatures. One of them had been wounded, but not seriously. As he watched, the trees and undergrowth started to move and more of the creatures appeared; four, six, ten, fifteen.

“We’re outnumbered here. Get back inside quickly!” He yelled.

There was a scream from the co pilot as another of the creatures appeared from round the front of the craft, grabbing the man by the neck its large talons, digging into his skin, dragging the man towards its open mouth. As Thaer watched, the creature bit down on the man’s shoulder, ripping his arm off at the joint. Blood spurted from the wound, splashing over the main screen of the Lander. Thaer made an on the spot decision; he couldn’t save the man’s life and with a squeeze of the trigger, shot him dead, saving him the pain of being ripped apart. With a final look at the creatures, he dived into the craft and slammed the door behind him.

*

The sound of the locking mechanism to the transport pods reverberated through the Landing Craft. Olbrich completed keying in his authorisation code into the panel and, turning on his heel, headed back towards the living area of the Lander. Doctor Le Druier and the stranger calling himself the Doctor were now making their way back to the mother ship with the blood sample from the girl.

Olbrich paused at the door to the living section and glanced over to where the three members of the student team were sat. They were white faced and looked deeply concerned. He had to admit, he couldn’t blame them. It was now fifteen minutes since Thaer’s party had reported that they were under attack from alien creatures and no word had been heard since. As a precaution, Olbrich had sent the two troopers who had accompanied himself and Doctor Le Druier to the surface. He had ordered that Neruda remain here in case he needed her. Le Druier had checked her out before she left, and the Corporal was in full health.

Rubbing his stubbly chin, Olbrich opened the door and stepped into the living area. The young girl was sat, looking extremely pale, next to Doctor Sauer, who was carefully treating her hand as the Doctor had instructed him. Another girl was sat next to the blonde girl, holding her hand and talking to her in a quiet and calming voice, clearly concerned. She didn’t look up when Olbrich opened the door so he didn’t get a look at her face. The other of the Doctor’s companions, however, Olbrich, couldn’t have missed. He was stood by the door to the sleeping compartments, hands in his pocket. He was wearing one of the crew shirts, open over a t-shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked both uncomfortable and concerned at not being able to do anything to help the girl.

Olbrich was opening his mouth to speak when suddenly the young man shot a look up and the words failed on Olbrich’s tongue. The young man fixed his with a piercing stare, his bright blue eyes almost boring into Olbrich’s skull.

“You could have let her go up, you know.” He said. “She needs medical attention, and you’re refusing it her?”

“Tom!”

The young man was silenced from the scorning tone from the dark girl.

“I would if I could, but I cannot allow it.” Olbrich said. “Maybe when you become Commander of a mission that is this far from Earth you will be able to cope with the decisions of command.”

“Oh, it’s tough at the top, isn’t it?” The young man muttered. “I commanded a full station of security before.”

Olbrich narrowed his eyes. The young man was in his mid twenties. He was either exaggerating greatly or lying. Either way, Olbrich didn’t let it worry him.

“I’m Commander Olbrich.” He said as way of introduction. “And you are?”

“Tom Rowan.” The man replied, smiling now and offering Olbrich his hand. “Sorry about that, we’re just all concerned about Tifa.”

“That’s understandable.” Olbrich said turning to face the girl. “We all say things in the heat of the moment. And you?”

“Jess.” The girl said looking up, giving Olbrich his first proper look at her. He almost immediately felt a pang of jealousy to the Doctor and Rowan, travelling with two such attractive young women.

“Doctor Smith never mentioned, how do you come to be so far out?” Olbrich said, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on Rowan as he spoke. Interestingly, a look of confusion fluttered over the man’s face at the name before he looked up again.

“We just landed out here. We’d been travelling a while. Didn’t realise that there were others out here.”

Olbrich thoughtfully sucked on his teeth. He wasn’t sure he trusted the young man, he seemed shifty and his reaction to Doctor Smiths name and the reason for being so far out seemed wrong. He was about to try another line, see if he could catch the young man out when the door was flung open and Neruda burst in.

“Sorry sir.” She apologised, snapping to attention. “I’ve discovered something amiss with the computer logs.”

Olbrich turned round to face her, his eyebrow arched, wordlessly inviting her to continue.

“It seems as though someone has accessed them and deleted several files, including most of the shift logs that Mendez would have made before he was killed.”

“Is there any way to retrieve them?” Olbrich asked.

Neruda sadly shook her head. “Not that I know of.”

“Ah, excuse me.”

Olbrich turned round to see Rowan stepping forwards, raising his hand.

“I happen to be quite handy with computers. You don’t mind if I take a look?” He smiled at Olbrich, patting the Commander on the shoulder as he walked past, not waiting for an answer.

“Now hold on just a moment-” Olbrich started, stepping after Tom.
Spinning round and walking backwards, Tom pointed at Olbrich with both hands. “You’re trying to solve a murder and the info you need could be in the system somewhere, which I can get for you.” He paused and raised a quizzical eyebrow, “Unless you don’t want to solve this?”

“You think you can retrieve the deleted data?” Olbrich asked.

“Can’t hurt to have a go.” Tom smiled.

Olbrich glanced at Neruda and raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know sir.” She replied. “I’m not a tech, it might be possible.”

“Alright.” Olbrich nodded. “Have a look.”

Tom nodded and clicked his fingers as he spun on the spot and disappeared into the cockpit. Neruda looked up at Olbrich before following. Olbrich sighed and glanced over towards the three students. They were sat; slack jawed, looking on at the strange event that had just transpired. The sound of Olbrich’s communicator thankfully drew him away. Stepping outside the Lander, he activated it and Private Ghuld’s tinny voice came through.

“Commander, we’re overlooking the second Lander now. No sight of these alien creatures though. What do you want us to do?”

“Circle in and see if there are any casualties and give assistance if needed. Report back to me when you reach them.” Olbrich said, and shut off the communicator, slipping it back into the pouch on his belt.

Sighing, Olbrich leaned heavily against the warm metal of the Landers hull and looked out into the jungle. Somewhere out there were some rather hostile creatures, which had only appeared in the last day. Creatures that had attacked one of the Landers and presumably been responsible for Mendez’s body going missing. Remembering this, Olbrich kept his eyes open and scoured the jungle edge. He didn’t want to be taken by surprise.

He didn’t know how long he stood staring into the jungle, but he was brought out of his reverie when Neruda stepped out of the Lander and almost jumped back in surprise at seeing him.

“Ah sir.” She started.

“How is he faring?” Olbrich asked.

“Good.” Neruda said, fishing a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and placing one between her lips. “In an odd way. He’s acting as if those systems are child’s play to him.”

Olbrich paused and blinked before turning to face Neruda. “Those systems were brand new. Freshly installed before we set off weren’t they?”

Neruda nodded, blowing out some blue-grey smoke. “He mentioned something about it being an old system and remembering using something like it years ago.”

“The mystery surrounding them deepens.” Olbrich said absently. “I thought we were the first expedition to use this new style.”

“We are.” Neruda confirmed. “Which is why I’m a little lost with it still. Every day you learn something new. He took to it like a duck to water.”

“Hmm, I think it’s time I had another chat with him.” Olbrich said walking into the Lander. He paused almost immediately he entered; the young man, Rowan was talking to one of the students.

“Look, I need this data pad.” He said, grasping the slim pad.

“I don’t care if you need it,” Dufeyal almost growled, trying the snatch it back. “It contains everything we’ve surveyed about the Rectus Pilosus.”

“Then survey it again later. This is rather more important than a-” Tom paused, as though trying to search for the right word. “...Than whatever that is. This is a murder enquiry, and I’m sure that the Commander there would be very interested to know that you’re standing in its way for a rectus something.”

Dufeyal faltered and shot a look towards the door, where Olbrich was stood, watching them, his arms folded. Resigning himself, he stood back his head bowed.

“That’s it mate. We can always redo all that stuff after this thing is over.” Bradman said, placing a friendly hand on Dufeyal’s shoulder.

“Thanks!” Tom winked, before spinning and disappearing back into the cockpit.

Olbrich watched as Dufeyal slumped down onto a bench and rested his head on his hands. After several seconds, he followed Tom into the cockpit. Upon entering the cockpit, Olbrick found the young man had pulled open one of the panel coverings and had attached the data pad to one of the wires he had removed. He was holding another, thicker one, between his teeth and was tapping furiously at another panel.

“Any progress?” Olbrich asked looking at the mess the cockpit was now in.

“Well, whoever tried to erase the computer log was clever, but didn’t really know what they were doing.” Tom replied, not looking up or even removing the wiring from his mouth. “Fortunately for you, I’m cleverer.” Plugging the wire he held between his teeth into an overhead monitor, he turned and winked at Olbirch.

Olbrich looked at Tom carefully. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Sure.” Tom replied. “Whoever tried to erase your computer memory only accessed the neuroplasmic data core. And fortunately, this doesn’t have later than a mark three mercury filament linkages to a serve memory bank. Whoever attempted this sabotage obviously didn’t know that.”

Olbrich blinked. He had absolutely no idea what the young man was on about. He could have just made all that techno-babble up for all he knew, and quite probably had to make himself sound clever.

“However, if I get this right, I should be able to access the last files that were worked on about the time your pilot was killed.” Tom paused and turned to Olbrich. “Oh, hang on. Do you have his duty number at all, just to make the search a tad easier?”

“Oh, yes.” Olbrich fumbled for his personal pad about his belt and flipped it open, accessing the information. “Gamma oblique three three.” He said, looking up and seeing Tom again busying himself in the instrument panel.

“You know, it’s odd.” He was saying. “It’s almost as though someone had accessed this before, inside the panel I mean, it shouldn’t have come away as easy as it did.”

“We have been having bouts of sabotage for a while.” Olbrich said. “Are you suggesting that this was overlooked by my team?”

“Not necessarily.” Tom replied, turning to look at Olbrich before tapping some instructions into the data pad. “Whoever did this hid their tracks very well.” Pausing, Tom leaned over and flicked a few switches causing the data pads screen to light up. “Ah!” He grinned. “Shouldn’t be long now.” He added leaning over to make some more adjustments inside the panel, before looking up, his face suddenly deadly serious. “Oh dear!”

“What is it?” Olbrich asked, leaning forwards, trying to see into open control panel.

“I think you’d better get everyone out of here and as far away as possible.” Tom replied, gripping hold of the lower covering to the panel and tugging it until it came away in his hands.

“What is it?” Olbrich repeated, louder and sterner.

“A bomb.” Tom said flatly, turning and looking up at the Commanders slack jawed response. “Well, I say a bomb; it’s a rewiring resulting in an exponentially increasing feedback loop into the engines. It seems it was activated by trying to retrieve the deleted information. Sorry.”

Olbrich stared at Tom for what seemed like years before his brain clicked into gear and he managed to make sense of what the young man was saying. “You mean, somebody deliberately set this up?”

“Yup.” Tom replied grimly. “Someone who obviously wanted what was in this data kept very secret, and they were willing to destroy this craft to do it. And I’d be less than surprised if that was the reason for your pilot’s death.”

“Mendez had discovered something and someone killed him because of it?”

“Exactly.” Tom replied, before diving under the console. After several seconds his head poked out. “Are you still here? I told you to get everyone the hell away from here.” He shouted.

“Then lead by example.” Olbrich snapped, causing Tom to furiously pull himself from under the control panel and stand up, his face close to that of Olbrich’s.

“I’m doing this for you there’s nothing keeping me here but I’m staying to get this information for you because there is a murderer out there.” He said staring irately into the Commanders eyes. “Get these people out of here and I’ll try and stop this feedback loop. As I was indirectly responsible for its starting, it’s the least I can do.”

Olbrich stared at those piercing blue eyes for several seconds. There was something about them, something that chilled his blood. Reluctantly he nodded and turned to leave. Taking one glance back over his shoulder, he saw that Tom was once again emerging himself into the workings of the cockpit.

*

Jess was confused. Commander Olbrich had burst into the living area; his face flushed red, and ordered everyone out of the Landing Craft. Hers and Doctor Sauer’s protests about Tifa’s condition had fallen onto deaf ears, as the Commander repeated his order for them to leave. They had half carried Tifa some way into the jungle with the help of the two students that had met her and Tom initially before she realised that the young Time Lord was nowhere to be seen. Turning round, she couldn’t see him anywhere. Was she the only one who had noticed he wasn’t there? She felt a wave of panic flood over her for a moment which was broken when Sauer spoke.

“Would you please tell us what is happening?” He said, shouting up to Olbrich from where he was crouched next to the exhausted Tifa.

“The young man, Rowan, was trying to access the computer core when he accidentally triggered some sabotage he thinks the saboteur left in the system.” Olbrich replied.

The wave of panic was back. “What sabotage?” Jess asked, her voice faltering slightly.

“Something called a feedback loop.” Olbrich said, causing Neruda and Sauer to look up, concerned looks on their faces. “Linked to the engines or something, like a bomb.”

Jess felt the wave of panic sweep over her as the last word sank in, her eyes widening. “Where is he?” She demanded, her legs already feeling weak, as if preparing for the worst.

“He’s trying to stop the loop from overloading the engines.” Olbrich said.

“He’s still there?” Sauer exclaimed getting to his feet.

The panic was back. Jess felt as though a surge of fire shot from her heart, down each of her limbs and left her tingling. Adrenaline seemed to be flooding her system. “You just left him?” Jess knew she said the words, but not how loud.

“He insisted we get to safety.” Olbrich protested.

Jess glared at the officer for a couple of seconds before turning to make back to the Landing Craft.

“No wait-” Sauer began, putting his hand on her shoulder.

The rest of his words were cut off by a deafening explosion as a huge fireball erupted in the clearing where the Lander was situated. Jess could feel the heat from the explosion as large bits of debris showered the jungle about them, staring in shock at the way she was about to go, a large plume of flame and smoke rising into the air.

[Fitz Kreiner]

Jess started at the plume of smoke and flame, her mouth agape in shock. She seemed to have lost all feeling in her legs and a numbing sensation seemed to flow rapidly through her. She blinked several times, the flash of the explosion still in her eyes and the roar still in her ears as it echoed round the valley. Slowly she turned to face Olbrich.

“You just left him,” she managed, her voice shaking. “You just left him. You may as well have killed him yourself you bastard!”

“Easy, take it easy.”

Jess didn’t realise she’d stepped forwards, her hand raised to strike Olbrich until both Sauer and Rossini stepped forwards to restrain her.

“That won’t get you anywhere.” Sauer said, gently into her ear. “There was nothing any of us could have done. Your friend was trying to save us all.”

“Tom-” Jess managed before a wailing cry echoed through the valley.

The whole group paused and looked around them trying to locate the source of the cry, suddenly realising that the sounds of the jungle had ceased in the wake of the explosion. The wail came again, closely followed by a chilling two toned scream.

“Sir,” Neruda said stepping forwards, looking around. “That sounded like the cry of whatever it was that took Mendez’s body. I don’t think we’re quite safe out here, especially if they were the things that attacked the other Lander.”

“Yes, you’re quite right Corporal.” Olbrich said as he un-holstered his pistol and hefted it in his hand, looking about the upper branches of the trees.

“Will you be ok?” Rossini asked Jess, who she was now almost supporting.

“I’ll have to be,” Jess said shakily, glaring at Olbrich, who was still scouring the branches of the trees. “For Tifa at least.”

“Drew, Lucien, could you help me with the girl?” Sauer said, helping the semi-conscious Tifa to her feet, supporting her immensely.

A bleep from Olbrich’s communicator caused him to remove the object from his belt. “Yes,” he snapped into the small box.

“Sir, we heard an explosion.” The concern was evident in the tinny voice.

“There was some serious sabotage in the first Lander; the engines overloaded destroying the ship.” Olbrich said, before glancing over towards Jess. “We lost one man.”

“His name was Tom.” Jess said quietly, still not quite able to feel her legs, leaning against Rossini for support.

“What’s the situation with Number Two Lander?” Olbrich asked into his communicator.

“We’ve got in no troubles sir. No sight of the alien creatures.” The tinny voice reported. “But we’ve got casualties; two crewmembers are dead and one of the student team is seriously injured.”

“Well, keep guard. We’re going to make our way over to your Lander.” Olbrich said into the communicator. “We’ve one injured member of the party, so may make slow progress. In the meantime, I want you to get in touch with Mother Ship and tell them to inform Doctor Le Druier’s passenger that one of his companions was killed in the explosion.”

“Sir.” The tinny voice replied before the communicator bleeped off.

“Right, listen up.” Olbrich shouted to the group as he put his communicator back into the pouch on his belt. “Now, I know that you’re a civilian team, and mostly a student team at that, but I’m sure you’re all full well aware of the situation. We’re currently stranded in a hostile jungle with a good three mile or so trek to undertake. We’ve one injured member, who will slow us down-”

“You’re not leaving Tifa behind too!” Jess said loudly, cutting Olbrich off. “You don’t like us, that’s obvious, but one of my friends has just been killed helping you.”

Olbrich glared round at Jess, his mouth still open. “If you had allowed me to continue Miss,” he said curtly. “Your friend is injured so she will slow us down, but I shall head the procession and Corporal Neruda, you shall bring up the rear. Be on guard, there are hostile creatures in the jungle. No one touches anything and watch where you step.”

Nodding, Neruda un-holstered her pistol and looked around the jungle as Olbrich nodded and set off into the jungle.

“You ok?” Rossini asked Jess.

Nodding, Jess set off with Rossini still supporting her with Sauer and Dufeyal carrying Tifa between them, Drew following on behind, looking cautiously about him. Taking another look behind her at the plume of smoke that still billowed from the wreckage of the Lander, Neruda set off behind the rest of the party, scouring the vegetation for any sight of any alien life.

*

Doctor Le Druier sighed and looked over at her travelling companion. They had been sat in the small travel pod for ten minutes now and were leaving the upper stratosphere and heading towards the mother ship in higher orbit. The Doctor had seemed rather impatient since the doors had closed, jostling his feet and tapping his fingers together. Still, he hadn’t spent the journey quietly so far.

Instead of talking about the fact that one of his companions had developed an alien infection, he had instead been name dropping most of the trip. Notable scientists and even historical figures this strange Doctor was claiming to have met. Now he was muttering to himself and looking up to the top of the travel pod.

“How long is it now?” The Doctor asked, still staring at the bulkhead.
“It should only be about another ten minutes.” Le Druier said, almost jumping when the Doctor turned to face her, fixing her with his blue-green eyes.

“You really haven’t said much during the journey. Are you alright, Amelie?” He said a large smile across his face. “How’re the husband and kids? You heard from them recently?”

Doctor Le Druier gaped. How did he know about them? OK, he had probably spotted the wedding ring, but how he had known that she had two children back with her husband on Pluto, she didn’t know. She was just about to ask him about this when the travel pod gave a shudder.

“What was that?” She asked looking around.

“I was rather hoping you’d be able to tell me,” the Doctor said, gripping hold of a small hand rail just above his head. “After all, you’ve used these things more than me.”

“Not that many times.” Le Druier said as the travel pod gave another shudder.

“How are they guided?” The Doctor asked, studying the controls before him. “These controls aren’t very sophisticated. Slave control to the Landers and mother ship I suppose.”

“I think so. I’m a medical Doctor, not a technician.”

The pod gave another shudder and Le Druier felt her stomach rise as the pod started to fall.

“Oh dear,” the Doctor said quietly as the pod started to tremble as it fell.

“What is it? We’re falling aren’t we?”

“Yes,” the Doctor said, reaching for the controls before him. “We’ve lost contact with one end of our journey.”

“Which?” Le Druier asked, panic rushing through her.

“I’m not sure. I’m not too familiar with these systems.” The Doctor said, struggling furiously with the controls. “If it’s the Landing Craft, then I hope it’s a systems failure and nothing else. If it’s the mother ship-”

Le Druier looked at the Doctor as he tailed off. He had now raised his leg and was kicking at the control panel before him. “Well?” she asked.

“If it’s the mother ship, then again I hope it’s a systems failure, otherwise everyone on the planet is stranded quite a way from the outer colonies.” The Doctor said looking over at Le Druier and patting his pockets, his face falling. “Oh dear,” he repeated.

“What now?” Le Druier asked. She wasn’t sure how worse the situation could get.

“I’ve left my sonic screwdriver in my coat pocket back in the TARDIS.”
Le Druier didn’t have a clue what the Doctor was on about, let alone what a TARDIS was. However, it was clear from the look on his face that it was something he could have done with. As she watched, he gave the panel another kick and then gave a cry of triumph.

“Now, if I’m very clever here, I could manage to save us plummeting back towards the surface.” He winked at her.

How could he be so damn calm? Something had happened to either the Lander or the mother ship, and if it was the mother ship, then getting them back into orbit would be a futile gesture.

“Oh dear,” He repeated again. “Dear, oh dear, oh dear. This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. There’s absolutely no trace of the Lander here at all.”

“I’m guessing by the fact we’re falling that we were being controlled by the Lander.” Le Druier said before realisation started to sink in. “What happened to the Lander?”

“I don’t know,” the Doctor admitted. “Now if I can find any communication controls-”

Le Druier gripped hold of the rail beside her head, her knuckles turning white as she watched the Doctors head and shoulders disappear into the workings of the travel pod controls. “I do wish you’d hurry up!” she said as the trembling of the pod increased.

“I’m going as fast as I can,” the Doctors muffled voice came from inside the control panel. “I’ve got to try to engage the pods travel unit with the capture scoop from the mother ship. If I can hook it on, we can complete our journey in comfort.”

Le Druier wasn’t sure how she got the feeling, but she was sure that the Doctor had a large grin on his face. He seemed to be relishing the fact that they were in mortal danger of crashing into the planet’s surface at such a speed that would create a large and lasting impression on the surface.

“You know, I remember being in such a similar situation to this once with a chap called Leif Erikson. Well, almost. I joined him in sailing across the Atlantic, some five hundred years before Columbus, not sure whether he was going to fall off the edge of the Earth or not.” The Doctor gave a short laugh.

“I fail to see how that’s similar to this!” Le Druier almost screamed at the Doctor.

“Well, he didn’t know if he was going to fall off the edge of the planet and we don’t know if we’re going to crash into one!” The Doctor laughed.

“I really don’t think it’s funny.” Le Druier shouted, unable to keep it back any longer as she was almost thrown from her seat as the pod jolted violently. “We’re falling to our deaths and there’s the distinct possibility that the Lander has been destroyed somehow, killing your friends and mine.”

The Doctor pulled himself out of the controls and fixed Le Druier with his piercing eyes. “I’d really rather hope that that isn’t the case, Amelie,” he said, pulling two wires out from the control panel and twisting them together and smiling. “I’m sure that it’s just the system is down. Don’t worry, Tom’s good with the computers of this era, he should manage to get them back online.”

“I wish I had your confidence.” Le Druier muttered quietly as the pod started shuddering even more and a creaking noise started to come from the hull. “Doctor,” she warned.

With a sudden jolt, the falling sensation stopped and the pod became smooth again. “A-ha!” the Doctor cried in triumph. “Who said anything about falling to our deaths?” He grinned.

Le Druier breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “For a moment there, I wasn’t sure whether we were going to make it.”

“Really?” the Doctor said, his face forming a look of pure surprise. “I never doubted it.” He added with a grin.

“You could have fooled me!” Le Druier said, letting go of the hand rail.

“It was only a matter of time,” the Doctor smiled. “I’m used to much higher levels of technology than this. I do like a good challenge every now and then.”

“Oh really?” Le Druier asked; her eyes wide. “Well next time, make sure that it’s without me or if it is with me, make sure it doesn’t have the other option of us plummeting to our deaths.”

“I’ve been a lot closer to death that that in my lives.” The Doctor grinned. “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.”

Amelie found herself relaxing again. The Doctor had said that they would be fine, and she found herself believing him.

*

Jess had recovered her composure as the party had progressed through the jungle. She had no idea whether they were heading near the TARDIS at all, she was completely lost. Olbrich, however, seemed to have an idea of where they were going, guiding them through thick undergrowth, constantly checking what she assumed to be a space age compass or directional unit or something.

She had left Cristina after thanking her for her support and taken over from Dufeyal in helping Doctor Sauer support Tifa through the jungle. Her friend was now fully conscious and aware of the numbing pain in her arm. Jess had tried to talk to her to calm her down and reassure her, but it wasn’t easy. There were moments when Tifa became near hysterical. Doctor Sauer had called forward to Olbrich to stop and had administered more injections and drugs to Tifa. Jess hoped that they would hold off the infection long enough for the Doctor to reach the mother ship, develop a cure, and bring it back down.

She would rather Olbrich had not told his crewman to tell the Doctor that Tom had been killed. She would have rather that she could have told him in person when he got down. Tom. Oh God. Had she actually come to terms with it already? One minute he was with her laughing and joking and now, rather ironically, gone, after his talk of leaving and saying that he’d not leave. Fate could be cruel.

Looking ahead, Jess noticed that the jungle seemed to end, coming to a clearing. Upon reaching it, the party slowed to a stop, to take another breather. They’d be walking through the jungle for what seemed like hours. A look at her watch told her that it had been fifty minutes. They’d made good time with Tifa in the state that she was. They were on the brow of a hill that had what seemed like sweeping grassland to more jungle below, and there in another clearing was the second Lander. They’d almost made it. If it was the same size as the other, then Jess assumed that it was least a mile away at the most. Maybe less.

“Jess?”

Jess turned at the sound of her name. Tifa was looking up at her and reaching out with her hand.

“Where’s Tom? I can’t see him.”

Jess swallowed hard and suddenly realised there was a lump in her throat. A tear rolled from her eye down her cheek.

“He,” she paused, not sure what to say. “He didn’t make it.”

“He didn’t- What happened?”

Jess swallowed hard again. “The ship blew up, he was still inside it.” She said softly looking up at Olbrich. The Commander was staring towards the sun, his hand shielding his eyes from the glare. He had the classic explorers pose; one foot up on a rock, one hand at his hip, the other at his eyes.

“We’d better get a move on.” He said turning back to the group. “The sun is setting and I don’t fancy making my way through this jungle in the dark.” Stepping down from where he was stood he walked over to Jess and Tifa. “Are you going to be ok?” He asked, holding his hand out to the young Thal.

*

Doctor Amelie Le Druier looked up from her work and across at her companion in the sterile section of the sick bay, the Doctor. His mood had nosedived since they had arrived back on the mother ship after one of the Bridge officers had met them at the travel pod docking bay and informed them of what had happened on the surface.

They had been working some hours now and so far had found no results that they could use to develop a cure for the Doctors friend of her infection. Amelie had raised this point with the Doctor about an hour and a half ago and got quite the shocking response. The Time Lord had slammed his hand down on the worktop and screamed;

“I’ve already lost one of my friends today, I will not lose another!”

His eye’s had seemed to burn with a fiery rage that had made Amelie take a couple of steps back, surprised by his sudden turn. Since then, they had worked in an uncomfortable silence, the Doctor fixed intently on his work. He had skimmed through every data pad and snipped of information that had been collected by everyone in the expedition since they had left port in a matter of minutes, claiming that he now knew it all. Somehow, she wondered how, but he seemed to mention things relating to the mission. Well, before his outburst anyway.

With a motion which almost made Amelie jump out of her skin, the Doctor looked up, a huge grin across his face, and his whole demeanour seemingly more brighter.

“Aha! Yes, gotcha!” He cried out, jumping up from his stool and bounding over to Amelie and grabbing her by the shoulders. “I’ve found it.” He said, guiding her by the shoulders to the station he was working at.

Amelie looked at the image on the small display screen as the Doctor pointed to the motif resembling Tifa’s blood cells.

“Those green shapes there are the aggressive foreign cells that have migrated from the touch of the creature into Tifa’s bloodstream. There they’re attacking and converting the white blood cells, thus stopping the natural defences of the body from having any chance of defending themselves.”

“We know this already.” Amelie said looking up at the Doctor, almost exasperated.

“Ah yes, but look at this!” the Doctor smiled, pointing to some readings on the left of the screen. “But there, right there, a point oh five variance in the attacking cellular structure. These creatures are genetically engineered, and this little flicker in their cellular structure is what we needed.” The Doctor paused and drew breath. “Whoever it was who created them wasn’t quite as clever as they think they were. The cellular attack is reversible and I’m not too sure whether the structure of the creatures is either. Although there is a chance that they’ll find a way to adapt and become strong. I’d hate to think of a life form coming into existence and then to dissolve into a puddle of cells and proteins.”

“But Doctor, these creatures have infected your friend with an aggressive alien contagion and from reports from the surface, have injured another and killed two more.” Amelie protested.

“They’re animals, Amelie.” The Doctor said, fixing her with his dazzling eyes. “They can’t help what they were made. Should lions be stopped if one attacks a tourist on Safari? Should all sharks be exterminated because some have taken bites out of swimmers or surfers? They’re not doing it on purpose, they’ve been created and thrust into an alien environment and are doing all they can to survive. As are we all.”

Sighing, Amelie le Druier nodded. “I guess you’re right. So, we need to work on getting an anti aggressor, that destroys the invading alien cells?”

“Spot on,” the Doctor smiled. “Don’t forget, these creatures aren’t the villain of the piece, it’s whoever it is has been tampering with nature. And believe me, once this is done, I will waste no time in finding out just who it is; because they’re responsible for the death of your colleague and one of my friends.”

Amelie looked into the Time Lords eyes. They had gone cold again, and she felt really relieved that she was not the one who would be feeling the wrath of the Doctor, when he found out who it was that was responsible for his friend’s death. It had really upset him and she was sure that he would make whoever was responsible pay.

*

Commander Olbrich looked around as Professor Mori and Doctor Sauer entered the cockpit of the Lander. He could see Corporal Neruda stood at the door.

“You two have been on this planet longer than anyone else in this expedition. Are there any humanoid life forms?” He said, noting their confused looks.

“What do you mean?” Sauer asked.

Olbrich turned and nodded to the pilot, who was sat at the controls of the craft, running a scan of the local area. A small white dot was registering on the screen.

“I’ve run a scan of the local area, a mile radius to see if I can spot any of these creatures, so we can ward off a potential attack, and I found this. It’s anomalous as everyone has been accounted for, and they seem to be making their way towards us.” The pilot said.

“Hmm.” Sauer mused, rubbing his chin. “All our initial scans and searches have proved that there are no native humanoid species on this planet. There is, however, one possibility.”

Olbrich looked at him and raised his eyebrow. “You think the boy survived?”

“It’s a possibility.” Sauer nodded. “We never checked the remains of the other Lander after the explosion, just assumed that he’d perished.”

Olbrich nodded. “It’s a slim chance, but we should check it out.” Pausing, he turned to the door. “Neruda.”

“Sir.” The Corporal saluted entering the cockpit.

“I want you to set up a perimeter around the craft, flood lights pointing in,” Olbrich paused and looked at the scanner screen. “North-west direction, the way we arrived, and send out two armed personnel with flashlights to check the immediate area.”

“What is it we’re looking for?” Neruda asked.

“We don’t know.” Olbrich confessed. “From the scans, it’s a possibility that the young man, Rowan, survived the explosion and is making his way here. He may be injured and in need of help, and we’re going to give him that help.”

“Sir.” Neruda said, saluting.”

“Oh, Corporal.” Olbrich shouted after her, drawing her back into the cockpit. “Don’t tell the girl. We don’t want to get her hopes up if we’re wrong. She’s already been through enough stresses already.”

“Sir.” Neruda saluted before exiting. Her voice could be heard ordering the troops through the door.

“I do hope you are right.” Mori said. “Although I still don’t understand what he was doing that made the Lander explode. Could he be the one behind this?”

“I don’t know yet, Professor.” Olbrich admitted. “But if this is him, then I can assure you that I will be questioning him.”

*

Jess sat near where Tifa was laying, unconscious, soothingly stroking her golden hair. Doctor Sauer had given her another dose of sedatives and anti-biotics to stem the infection. He had done the same to a student who had a large, deep gash across his shoulder. The young man was in a lot worse state than Tifa, delirious and the flesh around the wound seemed to be mutating, Sauer said, becoming a tough green, almost like a tough woody vegetable matter.

She had been in the Lander for some hours now. There had been no word from the Doctor since they had arrived and she had insisted fervently to get in touch with the mother ship in orbit and speak to him and told him about Tom. She spotted a grim determination come across his face as she told him what happened. She’d never seen him like that before.

Since then, things had quietened. Until now that is. Olbrich had been called into the cockpit of the Lander by the pilot, and then the Commander had called both Sauer and Mori and then Neruda into the cockpit. Something was happening, of that she was well aware of. Neruda had emerged from the cockpit and ordered the military crew to sort something out outside the Lander. She didn’t envy them running around a hostile jungle in the dark. Although it had created some much needed room in the now over cramped Lander.
She could see that most of the soldiers were stood behind some large floodlights, heavily armed, two had slowly moved out towards the edge of the clearing, even more heavily armed than those who were closer to the Lander. Perhapse they were preparing for an attack by the creatures. Sighing, she looked back down at Tifa, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. She couldn’t imagine what was happening in the poor girls mind.

Jess looked up as private Doritz re-entered the Lander. He was supporting a weary and dirty looking figure that was also leaning heavily on a large, thick stick, as a rudimentary crutch. She instantly recognised the figure, her heart almost leaping in joy.

“Tom!” She cried rushing over.

The young Time Lords face was covered in mud and blood. He was protecting his left leg and looking down, Jess saw why; he had rolled his shirt up and was using it as a makeshift tourniquet, a jagged piece of metal was stuck out of his calf.

“You’re alive!” She cried hugging him and hearing him gasp in pain. “Don’t you ever do that again.” She said, stepping back and hitting him on the arm. “We thought you were dead.”

“Not quite,” he gasped. “We Time Lords are tough old sticks.” He hefted the stick as he said it, a thin smile on his face. “I almost was,” he added.

Jess turned and shot a look at Olbrich.

“Not him.” Tom said. He paused until he was sure that everyone in the Lander was looking at him. “Commander Olbrich,” he said, taking his arm from Doritz and, standing by his self and leaning heavily on the crutch, raised it to point at Professor Mori. “Arrest that man.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

The Lander occupants stared at Tom in shock, before slowly turning to look at Mori, who’s eye’s were fixed on the young Time Lord, his mouth hung slack, open in disbelief.

“Who the hell are you to accuse me of such a thing, you stupid young upstart?” Mori finally exploded, trembling in rage.

Cooly, Tom turned from the small man and held out a rather battered looking data pad, with a large crack across the screen, towards Olbrich. “This data pad should contain all the information you need to know. It seems your pilot, Mendez, had discovered what the “professor” was up to and was planning to use the information for blackmail purposes; this is why he was killed. It links in with the theory that he knew his attacker. Oh, it got a bit damaged in the sabotage and explosion; you might have to hold it tight to get it to work properly.” Pausing, Tom glanced at Corporal Neruda out the corner of his eye. The marine had her hand on the butt of her pistol and was staring daggers at Mori.

“You’re not seriously entertaining this foolish story are you?” Mori asked, rounding on Olbrich. “How could any data have been entered about Mendez’s death if he was dead and no one saw it?”

“That was speculation mostly.” Tom admitted. “But the fact that there is clear data there from Mendez himself about his discovering you, it gives a very obvious motive. It also highlights the sabotage that you’ve inflicted upon this mission, and your own data and lab to throw suspicion off yourself. Not only that, but there are details of the illicit genetic experiments that you’ve been conduction on various animal and plant life which you have unleashed onto this unsuspecting world, and which have injured one of my friends and by the looks, attacked one member of your own expedition and killed two other marines.”

“He’s responsible for these creatures?” Rossini asked.

Tom nodded. “In the report I’ve got here it seems he’s called them ‘Wyvern’.”

Mori looked round at the people grouped around him; the marines, his colleague and students and the strangers. The Lander suddenly seemed more cramped than ever and the walls seemed to be closing in on him. “You seriously aren’t entertaining this nonsense are you?” He asked, looking at Olbrich. Neruda, Thaer and Sauer were stood behind him, looking up from the data pad.

Slowly and deliberately Olbrich passed the data pad back to Tom. “You might want to transfer this data to your friend on the mother ship.” He said before turning back to Mori and drawing his pistol. “Whereas you, Professor Mori, are under arrest, for murder, assault, criminal damage, sabotage and five violations of the Jupiter Genetics Law 2813.” Olbrich motioned to two of the marines stood near Mori, who moved forwards and grabbed the professor’s arms.

“You cannot be serious? Don’t you realise, you stupid military fool, that this boy has fabricated it all to get himself out of trouble?” Mori shouted at Olbrich.

“I’m sorry, Ita, that was all genuine. I can see it all now.” Sauer said sadly, stepping back from Olbrich. “What are you going to do with him?”

Olbrich kept his eyes firmly fixed on Mori. “It’s starting to get very crowded down here; however, I don’t want this man out of my sight.” Olbrich paused as he glanced around the crowded Lander. “I want this place cleared as much as possible. We’ve four travel pods, and I want all student team members to be evacuated to the mother ship. Thaer, Neruda, Doritz and Sauer; you will remain, Sauer to help treat the injured.”

“Now just a minute skip-” Drew started before Olbrich brought his hand up, cutting him off.

“I want to hear no arguments. We may have to abandon this mission yet. As for you,” Olbrich paused and took a couple of steps towards Mori. “I have every right to order your execution right now, you piece of filth.” Turning, Olbrich motioned to Neruda and Doritz. “Clear that office out and prep it as a makeshift cell. That man is leaving the planet with me.”

“What about me and Tom?” Jess asked.

“Yes, you two will remain here.” Olbrich said. “You can tend to your friend, and the young man looks as though he needs some medical attention.”

“In time.” Tom said, turning and hobbling towards the cockpit.

“Yes, very well. There isn’t the space here at the moment, I suggest we start preperations.” Olbrich said, pointing to Mori, a look of disgust on his face. “Bring him.” He said, making for the small office.

*

Jess walked into the cockpit of the Lander, squeezing between the bustling marines and students who were preparing to leave. It would seem quiet without them. Sergeant Thaer was stood at the door to the cockpit, staring towards the office prison cell, which had Neruda stood on guard outside.

Taking a last look about, she nipped into the cockpit. Tom was sat inside, gingerly holding his injured leg away from the chair he was sat in. He had activated several of the screens and it looked as though he was transferring the data from the pad into the computer.

“You really scared me.” Jess said eventually after several seconds of silence.

The young Time Lord stopped at what he was doing and turned to face her. He looked pained.

“I scared myself as well.” He admitted. “Close call doesn’t come close. How’s Tifa?”

“Asleep.” Jess said. “Doctor Sauer sedated her and gave her some anti-biotics to stop that infection. What’s that you’re doing there?”

“Getting all this info stored here onto the main ship computer so I can transfer it off to the Doctor.”

“The Doctor!” Jess replied, suddenly shocked. “He thinks you’re dead.” Jess paused noting the look on Tom’s face. “Well, we all did. But a message was sent up to the mother ship telling him you’d died in the explosion. I spoke to him myself.”

“Well, he’ll be pleased to see me then.” Tom said, looking straight into Jess’s eyes. They’d lost none of their sparkle.

Toms face broke into a large grin, cracking the drying mud and blood that spattered it. Jess found herself grinning back. She felt a lot safer and more comfortable now that he was back, and the relief that she felt not he was here and not dead, well, she couldn’t put it into words. Suddenly Jess felt a pang of guilt about Tifa, lying unconscious in the back of the Lander.

“I’m going to go and check on Tifa,” she said, the thought suddenly weighing on her mind. “Don’t do anything silly again, will you.” She added, stopping and laying a hand on Toms shoulder.

“I’ll be right here when you get back.” He smiled, reaching up and placing his hand on hers. “Or at least getting this leg seen to.”

Jess smiled and reached down to give the young Time Lord a hug, as best she could with his sitting down, without hurting him.

*

Doctor Le Druier was sat staring at the monitor screen before her. She seemed to be fading in and out the past couple of hours. She was tired and hadn’t had a break; she’d even point blankly refused a break when the Doctor had told her to go for one some hours ago. The Doctor. Her co-worker in this little project. He had been dashing about the sick bay lab and working at screens like a Will o' the wisp. She’d never seen such energy.

She was brought out of her reverie by a bleeping on the communications panel. Shaking her head clear she activated the circuit and the image of a rather dirty and battered looking young man appeared on the screen.

“Doctor, I think this is for you.” She said looking up at the Time Lord.

“Hmm? What is it?” He asked, his face looking almost empty of emotion.

“I think you should see this, it could be rather important.”

The Doctor bounded round the console to look at the screen. Instantly his face changed to a picture of pure joy and happiness. “Tom? Tom!” He cried out, and for several moments, Amelie thought that he was going to hug the screen. “You’re alive!” He cried.

“Just about. It was a close call.” Tom replied. “I don’t want to bore you with details, we may not have time, but I’ve managed to get some info about these creatures and their genetic make-up.”

“Ha ha! Brilliant! Thank you.” The Doctor grinned.

“We were right; they’re genetically engineered, by Professor Ita Mori. I’ve managed to get some information that was being held by the marine who was killed and I’m transferring it up for you now actually.”

The Doctor pulled a keyboard over and started to furiously tap at the keys at a speed that made his hands seem like blurs. On the screen the image of Tom shrank into the top left corner and reams of data blurred up the right hand side of the screen at a speed that Amelie was sure that was impossible for anyone to read, yet the Doctor seemed to be staring at it intently.

“Ah, Wyvern he calls them.” He muttered as some images of strange green creatures appeared in the text. “Genetically modified, genetic abnormalities, infection, lymph phagocytes, aggressive cellular defence.” The Doctor continued to mutter as the data scrolled up.

“I’m going to have to cut this short, Doctor.” Tom said from the screen. “I have a slight medical matter to have attended to.”

“Yes, yes, thanks you. Of course.” The Doctor smiled. “And thank you, this information could be most invaluable. See you soon.”

The communication link blinked off and Amelie looked up at the Doctor. The Time Lord was stood, staring at the screen intently, gently tapping his lips with his index and middle finger, a look on his face that hinted that he was in deep thought.

“Doctor?” Amelie asked.

“Hmm? Yes?” He asked, as if coming out of a deep reverie. “What is it?”

“What did all that say? Surely you can’t have had time to read it all?”

“Oh, yes I did. I’m a rather swift reader. And that was rather an interesting read!” The Doctor spun on his heel and grabbed Amelie by the shoulders. “It appears that these creatures were genetically created by some chap called Professor Ita Mori, whoever he is, and it has details of the methods and experiments he used as well as the genetic material he used, which we can use to help us develop an anti-serum for the infection that Tifa has. And if anyone else has been infected as well.”

“Professor Mori?!” Amelie exclaimed, running her hand through her hair. “But he’d have been the last person I’d have thought of.”

“Yes,” the Doctor mused. “And apparently he was behind a series of sabotage and the murder of the pilot on the surface.”

“But, he was attacked, just before all this trouble started, I saw to him.”

“May I see your records?” The Doctor asked.

Amelie reached round to access her medical records and pulled up her records of the attack on Mori. Reaching behind him and grabbing a stool, the Doctor dragged it round and sat back on it, reaching across and pulling the screen towards him at the same time. Resting his elbows on the bench before him, the Doctor planted his chin in his hands and stared at the record.

“Chemical inhalation?” The Doctor said thoughtfully after several seconds. “Didn’t you think that was rather suspicious?”

“Well, there was a lot of damage to the lab, bottles and containers smashed and scattered over the floor. Professor Mori himself was lying in a pool of chemicals.”

“Yes, it said here. But it’s highly probably that the attack could have been staged. After all, who is going to suspect the victim of an assault as the assaulter? It does happen but what the eyes and ears see and hear, the mind believes. You see a man having been attacked and assume that someone else has attacked him.”

Amelie smiled at the Time Lord. “You should have been a detective rather than a doctor.”

“I’ve been a lot of things in my time, Doctor Le Druier.” The Doctor smiled. “Detective and Doctor are just two of them.”

“Well, whatever you are, you’re very welcomed.” Amelie smiled. “Where are you and your expedition off to next?”

“Expedition?” The Doctor asked. “Oh, we don’t know yet. The TARDIS sort of does its own thing a lot of the time, which is alright by me.” He grinned.

“What sort of way is that to run an expedition?”

“Well, we’re more travellers and explorers than a scientific expedition. As nice as it is to do a spot of work like that sometimes.” The Doctor replied getting to his feet and walking back to where he had been working.

Amelie looked across at the Time Lord. He seemed sprightlier; there was a smile back on his face and almost a spring in his step. Amelie smiled. She felt instantly more comfortable about him, as if he emanated an aura of good feeling.

“So where are you heading next? The expedition that is.”

The question caught Amelie off guard, coming completely out of the blue. It seemed that the Doctor was now a different man now he knew his friend was alive, and he had the information to save his other friend at his finger tips.

“Erm, sector 411/23 I think. Even farther out than we are now. We know there’s a planetary system out that way, around the star Zeta Puppis.”

“Ah, how interesting.” The Doctor mused. “Containing the planet Moraur unless I’m much mistaken. The year 2824, yes, a colony of... How interesting.”

Amelie looked at the Doctor again, he had a faraway look on his face.

“Doctor? Is everything ok?” She asked.

“Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.” The Doctor said looking up and smiling one of his wonderful smiles at Amelie. “I’ve just got to have a chat with someone about something soon.”

*

“Now this could hurt,” doctor Sauer said, looking up at Tom.

The young Time Lord was sat on the bench in the living area of the Lander, his injured leg up on a chair. Doctor Sauer was crouched down beside, examining the shrapnel sticking out of his leg.

“I’m aware of that.” Tom replied.

“I really wish you came to see about getting this sorted earlier.” Sauer scorned.

“Well, no offence Doc,” Tom said shifting uncomfortably. “I thought sending the info about these Wyvern off to the Doctor a lot more important than a shrapnel wound.”

“I suppose you didn’t think about infection or even gangrene at all either, did you?”

“I’ve been fighting all that off. I’ve a different biochemistry to you humans, y’see.” Tom smiled at noting the confused look on the man’s face. “Long story. But basically, get that out and I can put myself to sleep to heal up.”

“I’d still rather administer some anaesthetics and anti-biotics.” Sauer protested.

“I’ve told you, wrong bio-chemistry. Anaesthetic could prove detrimental to my own personal regenerative capabilities. I wouldn’t want to survive a near fatal experience only to lose a life to a simple injection trying to help me!”

“Lose a life? Are you taking this seriously Mr. Rowan?” Sauer asked narrowing his eyes and getting to his feet. He reached out and laid a hand across Tom’s forehead. “You don’t seem to be running a temperature.” He said.

“Time Lord. Not human.” Tom said. “Just take a blood sample.”

“Hmm,” Sauer mused, moving back down to Tom’s leg. “As long as you’re sure you don’t want anything.”

“Yup,” Tom nodded.

“Would you object to my using a dermal regenerator to help repair the wound?” Sauer asked.

“You’ve got one?”

“Of course. Part of every first aid kit out here.” Sauer replied.

“Ah,” Tom paused and craned his neck to glance through the door to the sleeping berths. He could just see the male student who had been attacked. “Then why haven’t you used it on him?”

“I don’t want to close the wound around an alien infection.” Sauer explained. “Instead I’ve just sedated him for the time being. And, well, there was the issue that the regenerator didn’t seem to recognise the matter that his skin is metamorphosing into around the wound.” Sauer winced as he finished his sentence. “I just wish there was more I could do.”

“The Doctor will come through.” Tom replied.

Sauer looked up straight into Tom’s eyes. The piercing and vibrant blue of them seemed to reach out directly into his skull, and he found himself believing the young man. Everything almost seemed all alright again.

“Hold tight,” Sauer warned. He gripped hold of the shrapnel and pulled.

The door from the lab was flung open and Jess almost fell through the opening, Olbrich close behind her.

“What was that cry?” Jess asked, taking in the sight of Sauer holding a bloody piece of metal and Tom, his knuckles white, gripping the edge of the thin cushions that covered the bench, his head pressed back, a sheen of sweat over his forehead.

“It’s ok.” Tom said, through clenched teeth.

“Just a quick operation,” Sauer said almost sheepishly as he put the shrapnel on the table and picked up the dermal regenerator. “Your friend has the wrong bio-chemistry for anaesthetic.”

Jess took a sigh of relief and looked up at Tom. His eyes were closed and he hardly seemed to be breathing. “Is he ok? Has he fainted?”

Sauer looked up sharply at Tom. Swiftly he got to his feet and gently checked his eyes. “No, just asleep it seems. He said something about self inducing it to help heal himself.”

“Well, I think he must be onto something Herr Doctor.” Olbrich said, looking round the small group. “I think that you civilians should take his example and get some sleep. There is not much we can do now until the Doctor returns with the necessary information to help those two unfortunate kids in there.” Olbrich nodded to the sleeping berths.

“If you think that’s sensible, Commander.” Sauer said.

“I think it is necessary, Herr Doctor.” Olbrich said, folding his arms. “We have all been through a lot in the past couple of days and gotten very little rest. Sergeant Thaer, Corporal Neruda and I will take shifts in keeping watch and guard on Mori.”

“If you insist, Commander.” Sauer sighed.

Olbrich nodded and turned, walking out of the living area and shutting the door behind him.

Jess looked after him and soon found herself yawning. “I didn’t realise I was so tired I’ve been so worried about Tom and Tifa.” She said, turning to look at Sauer, who was still stood beside Tom.

“Adrenaline,” He said. “Now you know they’re both going to be ok, it’s returning to its normal levels.” Sauer paused, shifting uncomfortably. “Would, erm, would you prefer to be in here with Tom, or in one of the beds through there. I’ll go for the opposite of course.”

Jess shrugged. “I don’t care. Wherever is comfiest.”

“Probably perched on a branch outside.” Sauer smiled. “Take one of the beds. It’s a lot safer through there.”

*

“Are you sure you want to go alone?” Amelie asked, feeling rather sad that the Doctor was heading back to the planet’s surface already; and alone at that. “I mean, what if you need assistance?”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine, thank you Amelie.”

The Time Lord smiled and kissed her once on each cheek. Amelie found herself blushing. It was very rare that anyone used such an archaic gesture these days.

“Besides, you have your own patients to administer to.” The Doctor added.

“You’re right,” she admitted meekly.

“And if all goes well, everyone should be back up here and you on your way within a couple of hours.” The Doctor flashed Amelie another of his smiles as he hit the door control. “Bon voyage, and thank you, Amelie, you were a great help.” He smiled as the door closed.

Amelie found herself waving at the blank metal door of the travel pod before checking herself and moving back as the pod moved for travel to the planet. Crossing to the transport control panel, she stood behind the operator and watched as the red blip, that marked the travel pod, make its way down to the green mass that was Amaranth.

*

Camillo Piazzi’s eyes snapped open. The alien infection was coursing through his veins and nerves. His whole body was tingling. He could hear movement in the very fore of the Lander, smell the eight other occupants, and sense the vibrations of the power supply. His red and yellow eyes burnt through the darkness, giving him a clear vision. He had to get out, out of this metal cage and into the freedom of the jungle.

A growl emanated deep within his throat as he got to his feet. He could smell the outside world. He had to make his way through three doors, and at least six of the other occupants of the Lander were between him and freedom.

Crossing over to the door, he looked down at the handle. Cautiously reaching out, he pulled the door open. Two of the other occupants were in this section, both asleep. They posed no danger, and neither did the two in the same compartment as he was.
Piazzi narrowed his eyes as he opened the other door and light flooded in. He wasn’t used to the bright light, it almost seemed too much. However, he could smell where everyone was; two in the cockpit, one in the office and a man outside the office.

He could detect a change of smell in the man. He had clearly spotted Piazzi and was reaction, and the reaction was hostile. With a snarling wail, Piazzi flung himself at the man.

[Fitz Kreiner]

Sergeant Thaer yawned and checked his watch. He had set it to the planet’s time before he had left the mother ship, and it was now nearly half five in the morning; dawn. He crossed to the exterior door and opened it cautiously and peered out. The first rays of sun were starting to creep round the mountain that strangely stood alone, the lush vegetation climbing its sides until it thinned to reveal the purplish rock.

Glancing round the edge of the clearing, in case any of the creatures were lurking, Thaer started to close the door when he saw the door to the living area crack open. He closed the door softly as the door to the living section fully opened. Framed in the doorway was the student who he had seen running from the forest, the one who had been attacked by the Wyvern; Camillo Piazzi.

Doctor Sauer had removed the young man’s shirt to treat the wound, but by the looks, the treatment was failing. The large gash was a sickly green, and seemed to be metamorphosing into a mottled green, gnarled, almost scaly flesh. His pupils seemed to burn a fiery yellow, ringed with black, whilst the whites of his eyes were a deep blood red. Thick, pulsing green veins seemed to pulse from the wound across his upper torso and neck onto the side of his face. He was snarling, his lips were drawn back baring his teeth, and thick strands of saliva trickled down his chin onto his bare chest.

Thaer grimaced at the sight, cautiously reaching for his pistol. The boy snarled at him, as he uh-holstered his weapon, his eyes fixed on the student. As his pistol snagged in the holster, Thaer looked down. With a roar, Piazzi launched himself at Thaer, the Sergeant looking up just as it was too late. A blow of almost superhuman strength knocked Thaer from his feet.

His head connecting sharply with the floor, Thaer cried out as he was struck by blow after blow from the crazed student. His finger squeezed around the trigger and the echoing explosion of the gunshot reverberated around the room, the bullet causing a shower of sparks from the terminal it hit. The sound of the gun shot caused Piazzi to jump to his feet, hissing and snarling like a wild animal. With a last roar at Thaer, he bolted for the door and disappeared onto the surface of the planet.

Clambering to his feet, Thaer looked round as the door to the cockpit opened, followed by the door to the living area. Olbrich, Neruda, Sauer and the young man dashed into the room, wide eyed and alert. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Mori’s face at the small window to the office cell.

“What the hell is happening out here Sergeant?” Olbrich thundered.
“What happened? What was that?”

Thaer spun round. The girl, Jess had appeared behind Sauer and Rowan.

“Sorry sir,” Thaer saluted, turning back to Olbrich. “The infected student, Piazzi; he seemed possessed. He attacked me. He seemed incredibly strong.”

Olbrich quizzically raised an eyebrow before looking over Thaer’s shoulder at Sauer, who’s eye’s had widened.

“The infection,” he said in a hushed voice. “It must have overcome the drugs and taken an effect on him, on his mind.”

“What happened to him?” Olbrich asked.

“He fled the Lander, out onto the surface.” Thaer reported.

“What about him? Can’t he help us, or tell us something?”

The marines turned to look at Jess, the source of the question. She was pointing at the office cell, wherein Mori was staring out at them.

“He won’t talk.” Olbrich said.

“When Ita is being stubborn, you’ve more luck getting blood out of a stone.” Sauer added. “There’s only one option; we go out after him.”

“Out there, with those creatures?” Neruda asked.

“It’s the only way to get Piazzi back.” Olbrich agreed. “I won’t ask for volunteers, I’m commander, I should go.”

“No. You’re the commander, you should stay.” Sauer said. “He’s one of my students, I should go.”

“No,” Olbrich retorted. “You are a civilian, Herr Doctor. It is my responsibility.”

“Oh for goodness sake! You’re grown men; a Doctor and a Commander, and you’re bickering like schoolboys!” Jess almost shouted, cutting the two men off causing them to turn to look at her, mouths agape. “You’re both right, and you’re both wrong. What if Doctor Sauer went with the Sergeant or Corporal?”

Thaer nodded. “I’ll volunteer to go, sir,” he said. “After all, it was me who prevented his escape.”

“Very well.” Olbrich nodded. “I think you should be armed as well, Herr Doctor. We do not know how many of Mori’s creatures are out there.”

Sauer nodded and followed Thaer to the weapons locker, where the Sergeant passed the doctor a rifle, taking another for himself.

“I’m going too.” Tom said stepping forward.

“No, Tom, not again!” Jess protested.

“It’s ok, this time.” Tom replied. “It’s for Tifa’s sake as well. Keep an eye on her.” Gently cupping Jess’s face in his hand, Tom smiled and turned to Thaer and nodded. Reciprocating, the Sergeant threw a rifle over to him. “Besides, I’ve got this, this time.” He winked, turning back and hefting the weapon.

“Good luck.” Jess said, hugging Tom and placing a kiss on his cheek. “Make sure you come back in one piece this time, please.”

Tom smiled and nodded before turning and following Thaer and Sauer out of the Lander. Watching them go, Olbrich closed the door behind them and turned back towards Neruda.

“You had better take watch now, Corporal.”

*

Tifa’s eyes flickered open. She could hear voices flitting through from another part of the Lander. She felt strange; almost euphoric, as though there was nothing she couldn’t do. She could even see in the dark. Not brilliantly, but she could make things out clearer than the shadowy shapes they should have been. She could even smell things clearer. It was as though her senses had been sharpened. She felt light headed and giddy, her breathing deepening. The walls almost seemed as though they were starting to close in. She would have to get out sometime soon.

*

“Which way do you suggest?” Sauer looked about the clearing, his rifle poised ready for action.

“This way,” Tom said starting off for the edge of the jungle.

“How do you know?” Sauer asked, spinning to face the young man.

“He’s a possessed student, not an alien creature, or marine. He’s leaving a good track.”

“He’s right.” Thaer said, swiftly walking to the front of the small group. “I think I’d best go first, after all, I’m the marine here.”

“I’ve had some training too.” Tom replied. “It’s one of the reasons I’ve come.”

“You take up the rear then, sir.” Thaer said, pushing a branch out of his way.

“Are you sure you’re up to this already?” Sauer asked, glancing back at Tom as he stepped into the thick undergrowth.

“I’ve told you, different physiognomy.” Tom replied stepping over a fallen tree.

“You certainly seem fit enough.” Sauer said ducking as a shrieking cry of an alien bird rang out. He looked up to see Thaer crouching down, his hand held out to slow him and Tom down.

“What is it?” Tom hissed, crouching down and slowly and carefully making his way through the undergrowth towards Thaer.

“I think we’ve found him.” The marine said, gently pushing a branch out of the way so that the two other men could see.

Camillo Piazzi was crouching on the banks of a fast moving river, his hair was wild and his upper body was covered in scratches and welts from the vegetation. The infection had spread even further, his skin becoming a tough and gnarled covering over his back, shoulder and neck, almost like the bark of a tree.

“What do you suggest we do now?” Tom whispered. “Shoot him?”

“Only as a last resort,” Thaer replied.

“What?” Sauer almost had to stop himself from shouting. “We can’t kill him. He’s one of my student team. What if your friend has developed a cure?”

“I never said kill him.” Tom retorted. “But stop him running off again somehow.”

“I think I can manage that,” Sauer said, slowly getting to his feet. “After all, I’m his tutor, he knows me. I’m sure I can reason with him. Get him sedated again.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Thaer said as Sauer handed him his rifle and stepped out of the jungle into the clearing by the river.

“Me too,” Sauer said swallowing hard and taking a step forwards. “Piazzi? Camillo, it’s me; Doctor Sauer.”

At the sound of Sauer’s voice, Piazzi froze and turned to look at his mentor, his eyes blazing like hot coals. Blood covered his face and dripped from his chin, feathers stuck to the blood dotting his face. The corpse of the turkey sized bird lay at his feet, ripped apart, its entrails scattered on the ground. Several thick green veins could be seen pulsing through the blood on his face, coming up from his neck.

“Camillo, please listen to me. You’re a strong man, you can fight this infection.” Sauer pleaded.

Piazzi stared at Sauer, his eyes almost burning in his skull, and roared a guttural, animalistic roar, spittle, blood and feathers spraying in the explosion of sound. For several seconds the two men stared at each other before Piazzi growled and turned and ran along the river.

Thaer was instantly on his feet and vaulting over the branches to the river back. “After him; move, move, move!” He yelled, tossing Sauer back his rifle and sprinting after the fleeing student.

Spurred into action, Tom leapt into the clearing and grabbing Sauer by the arm, had to pull the doctor into action.

*

“What’s that?” Jess awoke with a start. She’d nodded off sat on a stool in the lab, her head resting on her arms which were folded before her on the desk.

Neruda looked around. There had been a clanging and clunking sound coming from the hull of the Lander. “It sounded like it could be a travel pod arriving.” She said, drawing her pistol from her holster.

“What if it’s not?” Jess asked as the door to the cockpit opened and Olbrich emerged. He had his pistol drawn as well. “It could be those Wyvern thing on the roof.”

“Sir?” Neruda asked turning to Olbrich.

“We’ve had no reports of a travel pod leaving the mother ship.” He said cautiously edging past the exterior door.

The creaking and clanging on the hull continued, and was fallowed up by a long, low wail from somewhere outside. Olbrich and Neruda glanced at each other, and with a nod from Olbrich, Neruda slipped off the safety catch on her pistol.

“I’d stay back if I were you.” Olbrich warned glancing towards Jess. “Back to the far wall,” he added, glancing over Jess’s shoulder.

Noticing where the Commander was looking, Jess turned. The door to the living area was opening, revealing Tifa. She had a wild look in her eyes, her lips were drawn back over her clenched teeth and her breathing was deep and laborious. Her eyes darted around the three occupants of the room, her nostrils flared as she took a deep sniff of the surroundings.

“Like the other. She’s posessed.” Neruda said softly, levelling her gun towards Tifa.

“No!” Jess almost screamed. “You can’t shoot her. She’s not done anything. We’ve got to talk to her. Let me try.”

“You’re quite right, but let me. I might have a trick or two up my sleeve that will be a lot more useful.”

All four occupants of the Lander spun at the sound of the voice. A figure was sillohetted in the outside door of the Lander; the main distinguishing feature of the figure being the long wavey hair cascading from out underneith a panama hat.

“Lovely morning, isn’t it?” The Doctor smiled as he stepped into the Lander, smiling. He took a quick look around before taking several slow and deliberate steps towards Tifa. Casually and deliberately he removed his pocket watch from his waistcoat pocket and unclipped it from his buttonhole.

“Doctor, what are you-?” Jess started before being silence by the Doctor holding his hand out.

Holding his hand up, he let the watch dangle on its chain and slowly swing back and forth.

“Look at the watch, Tifa.” He said softly. “Look at how the light catches and dances off it.”

Stopping in her tracks, Tifa cocked her head and looked intently at the watch. Jess watched on amazed, glancing at Olbrich and Neruda. The two marines were also watching on amazed. Jess couldn’t believe it. She’d always thought of swinging watches as a form of hypnosis to be nothing but the invent of film and televison. Then, to her amazement, the Doctor started to sing.

“Kokleda partha mennin clatch. Aroon aroon aroon. Kokleda sheena teerinatch. Aroon aroon aroon. Aroon aroon aroo-oon. Aroon aroon aroon..." he sang softly and remarkably in time with the swinging watch, gently swaying back and forth himself.

Jess found herself yawning as she watched the event and the soothing voice of the Doctor and the strange alien lyrics flittered through her head. She shook her head and looked over at Olbrich and Neruda. The Doctor’s strange song seemed to be affecting them the same way. Looking back at the Doctor, Jess saw that Tifa’s eyes were drooping and the Doctor was subtly beckoning her over.

“Get ready to catch her.” He whispered to Jess.

Jess opened her mouth to reply when she saw Tifa’s legs start to buckle. She leapt forwards and grabbed the young Thal as she crumpled to the floor. “What did you do?” She asked as she laid the other girl out.

“Venusian Lullaby,” the Doctor replied as though that explained everything.

Turning back, the Doctor reached over to a small pack that he had laid down near the door and drew it across to him. Flipping the top open, he rummaged inside it and drew out a small syringe with a pale blue liquid inside, a small bottle of surgical alcohol and a ball of cotton wool. Gripping the top of the alcohol in his teeth, he ripped it off and then, placing the cotton wool over the top, briefly tipped it over before righting it.

“Take this.” He said, handing the small bottle to Jess and then straightening Tifa’s arm.

Rubbing her wrist with the alcohol covered ball, he then tossed it aside and picked up the syringe. Removing the needle covering with his teeth, he gently slid the needle into Tifa’s vein and depressed the plunger. Jess watched as the blue liquid disappeared and the Doctor drew the needle out. Quick as a flash, he reached back and produced another cotton wool ball from the pack and held it over the needle prick on Tifa’s wrist.

“Hold that there,” he said to Jess. “It should counter the alien infection in her system and kill it off.”

“She’s going to be ok?” Jess asked, looking up at the Doctor. It seemed like ages since she’d seen him. She suddenly realised she hadn’t even said hello because of the drama in the Lander. She was about to rectify that when the Doctor jumped sprightly to his feet.

“Right, now for that other poor student,” he said, looking around before the realisation suddenly dawned on him. “Commander Olbrich, where’s Tom?”

Olbrich uncomfortably rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding the Time Lords eyes for several seconds before he looked at him. “Camillo Piazzi, the student who was infected, he ran from the Lander. Sergeant Thaer, doctor Sauer and your companion, Rowan, went after him.”

“How long?” the Doctor asked, suddenly seeming very urgent.

“Not half an hour before you arrived.” Corporal Neruda replied. “You barely missed him.”

“Thaer has his communicator with him, we can always contact them.” Olbrich said reaching down to his belt and removing his own communicator.

“Oh would you?” the Doctor asked, an almost pleading look on his face. “That would be absolutely fantastic, thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome,” Olbrich stammered, not quite sure what else to say as the Doctor turned away seemingly disinterested now.

Crossing to where Jess was crouched near Tifa, he knelt down and checked the young Thal’s pulse. “She’ll be fine,” he smiled at Jess, scooping her up in his arms.

“You’re sure?” Jess asked, getting to her feet and following the Doctor into the sleeping berths.

“Trust me, I’m a doctor.” The Time Lord winked back. “Her pulse has slowed and is strong and the discolouration is fading. I just hope that Tom and the others can find this student and bring him back unharmed.”

*

He could run, faster and harder than he ever could before. The sounds and smells of the jungle were almost euphoric and lifted his senses even higher. The sound of the river running beside him almost filled his ears. However, there was another sound behind him making him run faster. Piazzi could hear his pursuers as they crashed through the jungle behind him, well two of them. One of them crashed through the undergrowth very loudly, the second was less loud, as though he had been trained to make as little noise as possible. As for the third, Piazzi could smell him, the adrenaline and other things he couldn’t identify. He smelled so different to his other two pursuers.

It didn’t matter what they smelled like, all Piazzi knew was they had a hostile intent and outnumbered him. Running was the only option. He was sure that he was faster than his pursuers and had more stamina to run longer than them. He could hear their breathing getting more and more laboured.

Suddenly a new sound filled Piazzi’s ears. A roaring sound that felt almost primeval, the sound of falling and churning water; a waterfall. And his pursuers were chasing him towards it.

*

“How long is he going to keep running?” Sauer panted as he ran along the river bank. His heart was pounding and he could hear it loudly in his ears. His lungs brunt from the pure exertion.

“Can’t be much further,” Tom panted back. “At least not in this direction.”

“What makes you say that?” Sauer replied stumbling over a fallen branch.

“Can’t you hear it?” Tom shouted. “We’re heading towards a waterfall.”

Thaer skidded to a halt, almost tripping over in the mud of the river bank, and readied his rifle. “Sod this,” he panted as he slipped the safety off. Aiming above Piazzi’s head, he squeezed the trigger and loosed off a round. The gun shot had the desired effect as Piazzi stopped.

“Nice one.” Tom breathed as he came up beside Thaer, taking the safety catch off his own rifle.

“As a last resort, remember.” Sauer managed as he staggered up behind the two other men. They really made him feel out of shape, his lungs felt as though they were on fire. “Piazzi, we can help you.” He said after several seconds, regaining his composure.

Piazzi was stood, legs bent, almost poised to launch himself at the group. Thick, bloody strands of saliva dripped from his mouth as he breathed deeply. His head cocked to one side as a bleep sounded from the communicator on Thaer’s belt.

“Thaer,” the marine said breathlessly as he pulled the communicator to his lips.

“Thaer, this is Olbrich. The Doctor is back and he has a cure for this infection. What’s your status?” Olbrich’s tinny voice came from the tiny speaker.

Piazzi cocked his head the other way before looking around him, his eyes darting back and forth, as if trying to locate the source of the voice.

“We’ve cornered him by a cliff edge.” Thaer said, taking a step back and speaking softly. “He seems spooked and more animal than man now.”

“No!”

Thaer looked up at Sauer’s cry. Paizzi had turned and was sprinting towards the cliff edge. Sauer was starting forwards and Tom was already running, but it was too late. Piazzi reached the precipice and launched himself off into the air.

[Fitz Kreiner]

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.

[Hoichi]

Mr. Blake, I wish I had the time to read these stories you have worked so hard on. I don't need to read them to congratulate you, though.

[Fitz Kreiner]

Thank you kindly Hoichi