Doctor Who_ Dominion Part 30

Lying next to her was the Doctor, his face pressed against the floor, arms spread-eagled as though he were flying.

She held on to his hand, pressed it into her lap. She looked round. Fitz and Kerstin were sprawled amid an avalanche of books in the library. Wolstencroft and Schofield were p.r.o.ne on the floor near the console.

She had no idea if they were alive or dead.

She felt the Doctor's hand move in her lap, squeezing her own.

His eyes opened, his mouth moved. 'Splad.o.o.s.h?'

Sam smiled, and helped him into a sitting position. He looked a bit dazed, but otherwise OK.

'We came through it,' he said, his voice a breathy whisper. 'I'm... quite pleased!'

A groan from the library. Fitz was extricating himself from the books, helping Kerstin to her feet. So they were OK. One soldier was sitting up, rubbing his bald head. A muttered curse from the other. So they they were OK. were OK.

But what about 'The T'hiili!' said the Doctor and Sam at exactly the same time.

In the b.u.t.terfly room, it was a glorious summer's day. The air smelled fresh and clean, but then it always did. Fitz stood before the T'hiili Queen, the T'vorha and Itharquell kneeling in a semicircle around him. The Doctor and Sam were standing a little way away, watching, b.u.t.terflies swirling around them.

The Queen was changing.

Her body was swelling, the limbs disappearing into the central body, the flesh darkening, hardening. The face was flattening, the mouth widening to a slit. She was turning into a giant egg sac. It both revolted and fascinated Fitz.

An icy presence in his mind: I thank you for what you did for my race. We would never have escaped if it were not for you.

Fitz didn't know what to say. He'd almost led them to their deaths. He didn't deserve her thanks.

Now we must find a new Dominion.

Fitz bowed, feeling awkward.

Now you must leave, Fitz. You must all leave. My transformation is almost complete.

The icy voice melted away, for the last time.

Fitz turned away. Sam was waiting for him. There was a tenseness in her eyes, around her shoulders.

He remembered their argument, just before Sam was taken from the TARDIS. Oh blimey, surely she wasn't about to start it again?

She fixed him with a mock-serious stare. 'What's up with you? Not pleased to see me?'

Fitz winked at her. 'Sure am, baby. Boy, have I missed ya,' he drawled.

She laughed, and shook her head. They started back down the hill.

The Doctor ambled up, a dreamy smile on his face. 'You know, it's all worked out rather well, considering.'

Sam smiled up at him. 'You knew the TARDIS would survive, you sod!'

The Doctor shook his head. 'I didn't. I just hoped. I think it's about time the poor old thing had a rest.'

They walked down the hill together, half floating in the adjusted gravity.

Fitz frowned. 'I sort of understand why the T'hiili couldn't survive on Earth but how come we could survive in the Dominion?'

The Doctor put an arm around his shoulder. 'Human beings are so adaptable, Fitz. That's why they have proliferated. Why do you think Time Lords and humans have such similar bodies at least outwardly? Never waste a good design.'

An image of Kerstin popped into Fitz's mind. Now there was a human who was particularly well designed.

The door to the b.u.t.terfly room opened before them. Fitz took one last look at the Queen, and then stepped through after Sam and the Doctor.

Major Wolstencroft was impressed by the TARDIS, even though he'd known what to expect. From where he stood, in the library, bookshelves stretched into dusty infinity. He took down a volume with shaking hands. The memoirs of Field Marshal Douglas Haig.

Suddenly the Doctor burst into the console room. Wolstencroft put down the book, composing himself. Didn't want to let the Doctor see how impressed he was. He folded his arms. 'Where are the others?'

The Doctor waved a hand. 'Bathing, changing. Making tea.'

Schofield was staring up at the blue dome of the ceiling. 'Where are we now?'

'Where the C19 base was.' The Doctor operated a lever on the console, and the huge doors at the top of the steps swung open. Daylight poured in.

Wolstencroft and Schofield followed the Doctor up the steps.

'What the ' began Wolstencroft as he stepped outside.

They were at the bottom of a huge crater a hundred feet deep and four times that across. At the edge, fir trees stood like soldiers on parade.

The Doctor looked around, grinning widely. 'A very localised implosion. Hopefully n.o.body got caught up in it.' His smile vanished. 'Except poor Professor Nagle.'

Wolstencroft tried not to think of what had happened to her. One more casualty... And at least the TC Warp Generator was finished. The C19 chaps would be hopping mad millions of pounds gone, just like that. But it would show them the dangers of messing with alien technology. Perhaps then they would put more funds into UNIT, into protecting the planet.

He turned to the Doctor. 'Look, I'd... I'd appreciate it if you just went away,' he said. He ignored the Doctor's look of slight injury. 'There's a lot to be done. D notices. Reports to ministers. Letters to families.'

The Doctor held up his hands. 'I understand. You have your job to do.'

'How are we going to get out of here, sir?' said Schofield, indicating the almost vertical side of the crater.

The Doctor pursed his lips. 'It is a bit of a steep one. I could try a short hop.' He raised his eyebrows and gestured towards the TARDIS. 'Major? Private?'

Wolstencroft shook his head. 'No, thank you, Doctor. We're fit enough to climb.'

'Suit yourself.' The Doctor stepped into the TARDIS. There was an infernal roaring sound, and it vanished into thin air.

Wolstencroft turned and faced the wall of the crater.

'Come on, lad. We've got work to do.'

After Sam had bathed, changed and had a cup of tea, she felt a bit better. Her room was gone there was simply nothing there in its place, just a blank wall. She wasn't that bothered. There were plenty of other rooms in the TARDIS.

Now she walked towards the console room, determined to get the Doctor to relocate the T'hiili right away. It was the sort of thing he could forget about unless he was forcibly reminded. Besides, the T'vorha had started eating the b.u.t.terflies.

She'd left Kerstin in the wardrobe room. Although they were about the same age, the Swedish girl seemed so much younger, so much more vulnerable. Still, for someone totally unprepared for alien creatures, pocket universes and time travel, Kerstin was doing well. Maybe too well Sam had detected a familiar light in her eyes. She'd seen it in Fitz's, when he'd first joined them. It said, What a world I've stumbled upon. I don't want to leave. What a world I've stumbled upon. I don't want to leave.

That might be a problem.

She found Fitz sitting in the Doctor's chair, his nose in a book. He'd changed back into more normal clothes black trousers, boots and a white silk s.h.i.+rt. He'd even shaved. To impress Kerstin? She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. He returned her gaze, all innocence.

The Doctor was standing at the console, flicking switches and muttering under his breath. Every now and then he'd dart around to another panel, skidding on the floor.

She walked up to the console. 'Doctor, about the '

He glanced up. His face wore the distracted look which usually spelled Big Trouble. 'There's something wrong!'

Sam sighed. 'Isn't there always?'

The Doctor ruffled his hair. 'This could be very bad. Very bad indeed. Look!'

Sam looked up at the ceiling. It showed a map, of America. As she watched, it zoomed in to the west coast California; she could make out Monterey Bay. Just above that was a glowing blue spot.

Fitz put down his book and came over to the console. 'What is it?'

'I don't know,' said the Doctor. 'Some sort of dimensional scarring.'

'Wormhole damage?' suggested Sam.

The Doctor drummed his fingers on his lips. 'Maybe. Maybe. But the location...'

Fitz frowned. 'What do you mean?'

Sam looked. The blue glow was directly over San Francisco. 'Where you regenerated?'

'Yes,' replied the Doctor, simply.

Oh, pants.

'We'll have to go there. Now.' The Doctor moved to the console.

'Hang on what about the T'hiili?' said Sam.

The Doctor waved a hand. 'Oh, we'll drop them off on a suitable planet en route.'

To San Francisco via an alien planet! Only in the TARDIS, thought Sam. 'And what about Kerstin?'

There was a hopeful gleam in Fitz's eyes. 'Can't we take her with us?'

'Certainly not,' said the Doctor.

At that moment, Kerstin walked into the console room. Sam boggled. She was wearing a black dress, suede boots and a white cardie. The get-up showed off her figure to startling effect.

Fitz's face was practically falling over itself. She caught his eye. Put your tongue back, Put your tongue back, she mouthed. He grinned widely in return. she mouthed. He grinned widely in return.

'Why can't I come with you?' Kerstin had obviously overheard the Doctor.

'Because you can't,' snapped the Doctor.

Kerstin looked stunned.

Grief. He could be so c.r.a.p at this sort of thing sometimes.

Fitz went to stand by Kerstin, his face defiant. 'Yes, why not?'

The Doctor looked pained. 'I really haven't got time for this!'

'This is my life we're talking about!' said Kerstin. She looked scared.

What was it Fitz had said? Kerstin's fiance had been killed? The strain was showing on her face. She would need normal things around her, whatever she thought now. Another trip in the TARDIS would probably unhinge her. She'd have to go, for her own good. Perhaps Fitz would decide to go with her after all, he'd been ready to stay with Maddie in 1967. But Sam found herself rather hoping he wouldn't.

She walked over to Fitz. 'You'd better say your goodbyes,' she murmured.

Fitz scowled. 'Who to you or Kerstin?'

Sam sighed. They were going to end up arguing. Again. Over a girl. She fixed Fitz with her most level, most serious, stare. 'Fitz, it's your life. It's up to you.'

Then she walked from the console room, in search of a new room to call her own.

Kerstin couldn't believe it. She'd found this wonderful place, but she wasn't allowed to stay. This fantastic machine couldn't save Johan, and now it couldn't save her from her own dull life.

She was standing with Fitz next to the train set. She watched the busy little engines whizzing round the track. Going nowhere. Just like her.

'He's made up his mind, you know,' said Fitz.

She looked him up and down slowly. 'What about you?'

Fitz leaned closer. 'If it was up to me...'

She reached out, held his hands, stared into his eyes. It was no use: Johan was still there, in the deep lake of her mind.

He must have seen something in her eyes, because his expression changed, grew distant.

Something flickered above. She looked up, and her heart sank. The TARDIS ceiling was showing a weird fish-eye view of Strangnas, the familiar cobbled streets and tidy buildings, the lake and windmill.