Green Vortex [III]

Midnight Pt2:

"Oh, that is beautiful." The Doctor breathed. "Look at all those diamonds! Poisoned by the sun. No one can ever touch them." Claude gasped. "Joe, you said we took a detour, yes?" Galaxy asked him. "Just about 40 kliks to the west."

"Is that a recognised path?" The Doctor asked. "No, it's a new one. The computer worked it out on automatic." He told them. "So we're the first. This piece of ground. No one's ever been here before. Not in the whole of recorded history."

'Doctor, over there.' Galaxy said, seeing something out of the corner of her eye for a split second before it was gone.

"Did you just...No, sorry, it's nothing." Claude said. "What did you see?" The Doctor asked seriously, clearly Claude saw the same thing Galaxy did. "Just there. That ridge. Like...like a shadow. Just...just for a second."

"What sort of shadow?" He asked but then alarms went off.

"Xtonic rising! Shields down." Joe said, lowering the shields. "Look, look, there it is, there it is, look, there!" Claude pointed frantically. "Where?!" The Doctor tried looking, but the shields closed, "What was it?"

"Like, just, something...shifting, something sort of...dark. Like it was...running."

"Running which way."

"Toward us."

"We need to get out of here." Galaxy told him.

"Right, Doctor, Galaxy, back to your seats. And, er, not a word. Recue's on its way. If you could close the door. Thank you." Joe said, ushering them out and they walked back into the main part of the shuttle.

"What did they say? Did they tell you? What is it, what's wrong?" Sky asked, having waited by the door for them. "Oh, just stabilizing, happens all the time." The Doctor shrugged. "I don't need this. I'm on a schedule. This is completely unnecessary!"

"Back to your seats, thank you." The Hostess said. "Excuse me, Doctor, Galaxy, but they're micropetrol engines, aren't they?" Dee Dee asked. "Now, don't bother them." Hobbes said. "My father was a mechanic. Micropetrol doesn't stabilize, what does 'stabilize' mean?"

"Well, bit of flim-flam. Don't worry, they're sorting it out."

"So, it's not the engines?" Hobbes asked.

"It's just a little pause, that's all."

"How much air have we got?" Hobbes gasped. "Oh my God." Galaxy shook her head. For being a professor and taken the tour 14 times the man was rather ill prepared. "Professor, it's fine." Dee Dee tried to assure him. "What did he say?"

"Nothing!" Galaxy shouted. "Are we running out of air?" Val asked. "I was just speculating..." Hobbes said as the Hostess returned. "Is that right, miss? Are we running out of air?" Biff asked. "Is that what the Captain said?"

'They're going to create problems later, aren't they?" Galaxy speculated. "Be nice." He scolded lightly.

"If you could all just remain calm." The Hostess said. "How much air have we got?" Val asked. "Mum, just stop it." Jethro said. "I assure you, everything is under control." The Hostess said. "Well, doesn't look like it to me!"

"Well, he said it..." Val started.

"...it's fine, the air is on a circular filter..." Dee Dee tried saying.

"...he started it..." Val said as everyone started talking all at once, panicked.

"Everyone..." The Doctor tried getting their attention but they all ignored him. "Oi! All of you, shut up!" Galaxy shouted and they instantly quieted, looking at her in shock as the Doctor smiled slightly, "Isn't that better? Now, it won't hurt for you to take a moment to listen to Dee Dee."