A Strange Man in a Strange Box

2.5 Visitor From Another World

The Doctor stood silently contemplating the craft that lay smoking in a crater before them.

"Yes, definitely not a meteorite. That's a Traxion War Scout," he said.

Then he took his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket, and took some more readings.

"And it appears to be emitting low levels of tri-cyclic radiation," said the Doctor.

"Is that bad?" Y/n asked.

The Doctor looked at Y/n and rolled his eyes at her. "Yes, obviously," he said.

"Okay, I was only asking," said Y/n.

"In high levels it is devastating to life. It breaks down the cell walls in living creatures," said the Doctor. "But it also blocks the blue end of the light spectrum from sunlight, so stops nearby plants from growing properly."

"Okay, yeah, that sounds bad," said Y/n.

"Though it is only at low levels at the moment, so we should be safe to investigate," said the Doctor.

Y/n frowned. That didn't sound particularly safe. But before she could complain, the Doctor was cheerfully whistling as he walked down the side of the hill towards the crashed ship.

Y/n sighed, then hurried after the Doctor. Torg and the other two hunters were confused by what was happening, but they also followed the Doctor.

As the all walked around the back of the ship, they noticed there was a circular opening on the side of the craft. The door was open, and there was a figure standing nearby. It was vaguely human in shape, but without hair, and grey skin.

The alien was facing the other direction, and crouched down by some boxes. It seemed to be working intently on something important.

"What is that?" Y/n whispered.

At the sound of Y/n's voice, the alien's head whipped round. It let out a screeching cry, then leaped behind the boxes next to him. After a moment, its head popped up and it was holding some kind of weapon in its hand. Like a pistol, made of shiny metal and with a glowing green core.

Torg and the hunters reacted to the alien's movements by brandishing their own weapons. They drew back the spears, and aimed them at the alien. Ready to throw them at the slightest sign of danger.

"Wait. Stop!" cried the Doctor, as he rushed forward with his arms raised. "We mean you no harm."

"You would not harm me with your primitive weapons," the alien called back.

"Torg, lower your spears," the Doctor ordered.

Torg grunted apprehensively, but after a moment the three of them stopped aiming their spears.

"Okay, see, we are not here to attack you," said the Doctor.

The alien slowly stood up and came out from behind the boxes. This gave Y/n a chance to get a better look at him. He appeared small and slim, maybe around 5 feet tall. His skin was a mottled grey, and he had big yellow eyes. The clothes he was wearing was a dark red coloured jumpsuit, or possibly a thin spacesuit, Y/n wasn't sure. On his left side, there was a large tear, revealing some white fabric underneath.

"You appear different from the others," said the alien. "You are also not of this world."

"I'm the Doctor," he said. "And no, I'm not from earth. But more to the point, why are you here?"

"I am Commander Kadj'Ar of the Traxion Imperial Navy," he said. "We were on a reconnaissance mission around the sixth planet in this system when our drive malfunctioned."

"Yes, I was detecting the tri-cyclic radiation," said the Doctor.

"I need help, and repairs, but this primitive planet has no functioning spaceports," said Kadj'Ar, eyeing the Doctor thoughtfully. "Though you seem to be of a more advanced species."

The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and twirled it around in his fingers. "I am, and luckily for you, I know a thing or two about Traxian drive cores," he said.

Y/n rolled her eyes at the Doctor's humble brag.

"I am desperate. My crew is dead, and I will soon join them," said Kadj'Ar. "Will you help me?"

Kadj'Ar put his hand to his chest, and looked at the Doctor with big, pleading eyes.

"Oh, I never could say no when someone asks so nicely," said the Doctor, with a wink. "Lead the way."

Kadj'Ar slowly walked over to the doorway on the side of his ship, with the Doctor following close behind. Y/n also started to walk after them, but Torg and the hunters were reluctant to get any closer.

"Sky rock danger. Make hurt," said Torg.

"Oh, well, the Doctor said it was safe," said Y/n.

"No. Touch make sick," said Kol. "Not go in."

"Oh, okay," said Y/n. "Umm, maybe you should stay outside and keep watch or something?"

"Yes. Stay outside," said Torg.

"Okay, well I'll see you soon," said Y/n, and she hurried off after the Doctor.

Y/n slowed down the closer she got to the alien spacecraft. The doorway had opened up on the side, and a small ramp had come out from the ship. Cautiously, she walked up and took a look inside.

It was dark inside the ship. The main lights were not working, and there were just the blue emergency lights that were working. It gave the interior an odd coloured glow.

Through the doorway, the ship opened up into a large room. There were three seats, all facing what looked like a large TV screen, though it was currently inoperative. The front two seats had control consoles in front of them, which were evidently where the pilots sat. The third seat seemed to be the captain's chair, and it was slightly elevated from the other two.

To the back of the room, there was another doorway. Through here, Y/n could hear the voice of the Doctor coming through. So Y/n quickly went through the doorway to find him.

There was a short corridor, with a door on either side. At the end, it opened out into another large room. This was where the Doctor was standing with Kadj'Ar.

This room Y/n thought must be the engine room. Or whatever it would be called on a spaceship? She wasn't sure.

The room was dominated by a large silver sphere. There were pipes coming from the top, and many cables that came spilling out from the bottom. It also made a deep throbbing hum that Y/n could feel coming up through her chest.

The Doctor was busy waving his sonic screwdriver all around the metal sphere as Y/n came into the room. His expression seemed to have lost his usual confidence though, which gave Y/n some pause for concern. After a few more scans, the Doctor put his sonic screwdriver back in his pocket.

"Well..." said the Doctor. "I've got some good news, and some bad news..."