Saving the Doctor

Chapter 26

I take a look around the 'bridge' as Edrik called it.

"So...the compound...is your ship?" I'm still having a hard time to wrap my head around it as he smiles proudly. "The entire compound?"

He nods, still smiling. "Indeed it is, my dear. The Cobbleen have been very hospitable towards me. It's really very amazing that they've gone to such an extent to make me comfortable."

Amazing is an understatement. 'A bit excessive' is a more suitable description for this amount of effort, I think. Although, I must admit that I can understand why they would go to such lengths to give him something so amazing, and the work they've done is beautiful.

As I look around the spacious room, which is painted a soft blue color, Edrik presses a button on the control panel.

"I'm letting the Cobbleen know that we're about to take off so they have time to reach their posts." He explains as a green light starts flashing at a steady pace.

I suppose that would make sense. Even the Tardis is meant to have at least seven pilots. It's pretty amazing that the Doctor can drive so well all by himself.

The Tardis! It's inside the compound! If she still doesn't want to leave the planet's atmosphere, she might hold back the entire ship from escaping!

But...how do I explain that to Edrik?

Maybe if I just leave it be, everything will be fine. Besides, he's busy piloting and I don't want to make him worry.

The light stops flashing and Edrik smiles, taking a seat at the controls. "That means all of the Cobbleen are ready for takeoff." He indicates the light that's come on at the top of the control panel. "Come. Sit. You may need to buckle up. Takeoff can be quite bumpy."

"So you've done this before?" I ask, taking a seat in the chair beside him and fastening the safety restraints.

"I have. There's no need to worry, my dear. Soon, we shall be flying through the stars and enjoying their beauty together." He reaches over and sets his hand on mine, giving me a warm, caring smile.

I can't help but return the smile. "I can't wait."

-Doctor-

As I walk around the console once more, trying the controls again in false hopes of her reacting to anything, I hear a soft whir from outside.

The screen blinks at me and I rush over to it, anxious to see what she's got for me.

"What are you doing?" I ask curiously.

I watch the screen as the Tardis connects herself to the compound's electrical and surveillance systems and displays a control room. I tap a few buttons and am pleasantly surprised when they respond.

I find the blueprints for the compound and find that it's not a compound at all. It's a ship. A huge spaceship that reaches far into the ground. I do some more searching and find that the engines are getting ready to fire.

The Tardis brings the picture back up of the room from before. It must be a camera feed from one of the rooms within the compound. The picture pans and I see Bethany watching the man intently as he speaks. He points to a control on a panel and looks like he's explaining something to her.

"What are you saying to her?" I look around and press a button or two. "Come on, where's the sound?"

"-and then we're off. Into the stars and towards home."

Bethany smiles wide. "You just called Earth 'home'."

The man slowly returns her smile. "Yes, I suppose I did, didn't I. You've told me so much about it, that I feel it is close to my heart as well."

I scoff as he continues. "And you know as well that the things you care about and see as important, are important to me, too."

I roll my eyes. He's so transparent. "Oh come on. She really cannot think that-"

"You're too sweet, Edrik. Really. But I know you'll love it even more once you've seen it. It's the most beautiful place I've ever seen." Her voice and eyes have some quality I have never seen in them before, and I simply cannot stand it. So I hit the mute button.

Is she high? How could she fall for this kind of trickery? He obviously doesn't really care, can't she see that?

I pace irritatedly as I think.

What is with her? Hasn't she got any sense at all? Doesn't she know about men who only take everything they can get and then move on? They aren't all like that, of course, but he is obviously one of those people.

Now. On to the more important questions.

What does he want from her? She's a human for now, with no knowledge of really anything outside of her own planet. She's not even the smartest human there is, so what could he possibly want from her or even see in her?

I stop and look at the video again. 'Edrik', as she had called him, is now pointing to the controls and talking, Bethany paying close attention and nodding every once in a while.

What is going on down there?

I see Bethany press a button, which seems to make the entire complex shudder. Edrik indicates another button and when she presses that one, the complex shifts and I feel it break free from some force holding it down.

We're taking off.