REWRITE THE STARS ― doctor who

impossible planet: part two

Chapter Sixteen: Impossible Planet

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"THE GROUND GAVE WAY. MY TARDIS MUST HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE HEART OF THE PLANET."

If Claudia wasn't so concerned about the TARDIS and the Doctor's grip on her hand, she would've spotted the man in the corner of the room smirking at her. Alas, her surroundings were still a bit blurred from her panic attack and the creeping anxiety from losing the only place that felt like home anymore.

"You've got robot drills heading the same way," the Doctor pointed out.

"We can't divert the drilling." Zack shrugged, walking around the command center.

The Doctor's hand tightened on Claudia's and Claudia looked down, fighting the oncoming panic attack. She needed to be strong for the Doctor. He needed her to be strong.

"But I need my ship!" The Doctor exclaimed, dropping Claudia's hand and meeting Zach on the other end of the command center. "It's all I've got. Literally, the only thing."

"Doctor," Zack looked at him. "We've only got the resources to dig one central shaft down to the power source and that's it. No diversions, no distractions, no exceptions." He paused, looking at the Doctor sympathetically. "Your machine is lost."

Claudia closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The TARDIS was more than a machine, more than a ship. She was a beautiful source of life and adventure. Claudia spent more time talking to the TARDIS than she did talking to the Doctor and Rose upon her arrival. The TARDIS was telepathic and loyal and protective.

Claudia hoped she wasn't in pain.

"All I can do is offer you a lift," Zack continued. "If we ever get to leave this place. And that is the end of it."

As Zack walked away, Ita smiled at the Doctor. "I'll, em, put you on the duty roster," she informed him, looking to Claudia and Rose. "We need someone in the laundry."

"Open door one."

Ita walked off, leaving the Doctor, Rose, and Claudia staring at one another, each filled with a hopelessness and hollowness that neither was sure would ever go away.

"Close door one."

The Doctor walked to Rose and Claudia, leaning in between them and taking a deep breath.

"I've trapped you here," the Doctor told them quietly.

"No," Rose shook her head. "Don't worry about me."

"There are worse places to be trapped, I assure you," Claudia added, but she wasn't sure she meant it. If the 666 situation was anything to go by, perhaps this was a terrible place to end up. She hoped she was wrong. Hoped this was another alien thing the Doctor would figure out. And then...

They couldn't run away in the TARDIS together, so Claudia wasn't entirely sure what would happen after that.

A rumbling shook the space station and the trio looked up.

"Okay," Rose inhaled sharply. "We're on a planet that shouldn't exist, underneath a black hole, and no way out." She looked at the Doctor with fearful eyes. "Yeah, I've changed my mind. Start worrying about me." She let out a small, nervous laugh and the Doctor smiled sadly, tugging her into his arms and wrapping an arm around her.

Rose buried her face in his shoulder, and he looked to Claudia, who offered a half-shrug and a small smile. His eyebrows furrowed together, and she shook her head. A small smile fell to his lips, and he nodded marginally, closing his eyes. She smiled sadly at him, and they both looked away.