How the Time Flies

Chapter 9

I make my way through dinner and then run off as soon as Spock and Vala leave. Julian tried to chase after me, but probably realized I'd been through a lot lately. I end up going up some of the Jeffery Tubes until I get to a small compartment I liked to call the sweet spot. It was this area that I guess the engineers forgot to add the artificial gravity to. It was just a small room that had a few panels with conduits for stuff like back up systems and other non essential programs. That's why no one knew about this place, no one normally had to come up here. And even if they did have to come up here they probably wouldn't find it, it's not on the ship's maps or sensors. That's exactly why I like the place. I float into the room and then close the hatch. I was so close to the engine room I could hear the humming of the warp drive, or maybe it was my enhanced ears. I could never tell. I sit there contemplating what the Doctor was doing, if he was alive. I know I would have to feel something if he died. I would wouldn't I?

I keep my mind of anything that isn't about Admiral Pike, I didn't even get to say goodbye. At least I got that with my mom, my dad was a psychopath. So bad, that it killed him, it took me to realize that. I had thought that my dad still had some shred of goodness in him, and then I realize that after mom died. He broke, and I'm also realizing that maybe he was right. I had blamed him all these years for her death. When it truly could have not been his fault. That's when I hear something from behind me, I turn around and find the Doctor standing weakly in front of me. "Im not really here. Or else I would be floating like you." He states. "You look awful." I say to him sadly. "News got around here that a high ranking officer of Star Fleet died. I just now got the name. I'm sorry Max." I nod and then ask "How are you? Can you tell me where you are?"
He looks around, I'm guessing he's looking at the cell he's in or someplace. "I honesty don't know. But I guess most people around here call it Hell." The Doctor says laughing slightly. "I think I do know where your at, and I also think you know. But your protecting me. Something happened back then and you refuse to tell me." I state. "Max...." The Doctor starts to say. "No. You're going to tell me. Because I can save you and refuse to let me help you, I mean if you can use whatever you have to communicate why can't you, I don't know, beam yourself off the planet?!" I snap. "It's not that simple." He says. "You always say that." I state. "Max. I can communicate with you, but the room I'm in is impenetrable."

"Doctor. Please. Tell me." I plead. "If you come here. There is a 100....alright 99% chance you will not be able to leave!" He says. "I've had worse odds believe it or not." I state. "I'm sure you have, but I'm trying to help you here. If you come, we will both be stuck here. And I can't let that happen." I look at him annoyed now. "And why's that?!" I snap. "Because your special Max. You aren't just a Time Lord. Your a unique and special one. Your mum saw that in you." He says. "Doctor. How is that even relevant?" I ask. "When you came to that planet all those years ago. And you saw me. I knew it was you. I just couldn't believe it. I saved you all those years ago by setting a device up that would make it so that no one could leave once you and all of us had left. That didn't mean that people couldn't come there. It just meant they couldn't leave. The place was set up as a sort of Gallifreyan prison secretly. After they got there the device also made it so they couldn't regenerate. The Romulans came here and found the device. They still don't know what it is but they are keeping it up and running. So please! You can't come here! Max I'm so. So. Sorry. Please. I have to go but I needed you to know. They are on to me. This is the last time we might be able to talk, so I want you to know that I have a-" The call terminates and I float there with a solemn expression. Thats when for the first time in a long while I break down. I couldn't lose the Doctor to. I couldn't. He was the only family I had left that was from my planet. That's when the hatch opens and River comes in. I quickly wipe my eyes and then ask "How did you even know this was here let alone get in here?!"

"The Doctor really hasn't told you a lot about me, has he?" River states closing the hatch behind her. "You killed him. I figured that out on my own." I state. She looked at me with a more serious look and nods. "But he isn't dead is he?" She states. "He will be soon if I don't go and save him. And yes you heard me right. I finally figured out where the Doctor is. He's been trying to protect me, and I'm not going to have it. Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm gonna go talk to my first officer." I state opening the hatch. "Max! You can't just go off alone on a mission like that!" River yells at me. "Yes I can. It's not the first time I have River." I snap. She looks defeated and then crosses her arms. She climbs out with me after a few minutes of wondering what to do with me. Once back into the main corridor I head off to Ten Forward.