Jumping For The Stars

Chapter 29 - A Utopian Society

Chapter 29

A Utopian Society

The Doctor had been avoiding Ailia for a while, opting to talk to Martha instead of herself.

"Cardiff," the Doctor said when they landed.

"Cardiff?" Martha questioned, unimpressed.

Ailia stood up slowly from the console, remembering Jack saying something about Cardiff.

"Ah, but the thing about Cardiff is that it's built on a rift in time and space-just like California and the San Andreas Fault. The rift bleeds energy. Every now and then I need to open up the engines, soak up the energy and use it as fuel," the Doctor cheered.

'So it's a pit stop," Martha pointed out.

"Exactly," the Doctor watched Ailia out of the corner of his eye, the girl staring at the screen by the console.

"Wait a minute. They had an earthquake in Cardiff a couple years ago. Was that you?" Martha asked, already knowing.

"Bit of trouble with the Slitheen," the Doctor allowed, continuing thoughtfully, "Long time ago. Lifetimes. I was a different man back then."

"Lifetime," Ailia corrected under her breath.

"Finito. All powered up," the Doctor jumped up, turning to the moniter near were Ailia sat, seeing Jack on the TARDIS moniter.

Ailia watched as a panicked expression appeared on the Doctor's face, the man quickly starting the TARDIS. The last thing Ailia saw on the moniter was Jack's running jump.

The TARDIS console sparked and the trio was thrown to the floor, Ailia swearing as she jumped up, "God dammit, Doctor."

Martha clinger to the console, asking, "What's that?"

"We're accelerating into the future. The year one billion. Five billion. Five trillion. 50 trillion. What? The year 100 trillion. That's impossible!" the Doctor gaped at the screen.

"Why? What happens then?" Martha questioned, struggling to stand up.

"We're going to the end of the universe," the Doctor imformed omniously.

The TARDIS landed with a thud and the Doctor looked at Martha questioningly saying, "Well, we've landed."

"So what's out there?" Martha glanced towards the doors.

"I don't know," the Doctor replied.

"Say that again. That's rare," Martha teased.

"Not even the Time Lords came this far. We should leave. We should go. We should really, really... go," the Doctor trailed off, giving Martha a grin, running towards the doors where Ailia already stood, pulling the open.

Outside the TARDIS doors was a bleak landscape, a barren wasteland covered in dull brown, the skies a polluted gray, and cliffes creating shadows in the distance.

Then Martha saw Jack on the ground.

"Oh my God!" Martha gaped, tapping the Doctor's arm before kneeling next to the man, "Can't get a pulse. Hold on, you've got that medical kit thing."

Martha ran back into the TARDIS, Ailia spinning on her heel to watch her go.

The Doctor sauntered over to Jack, greeting him softly, "Hello again. Oh, I'm sorry."

"Here we go. Out of the way," Martha ran back, shoving past the Doctor to get to the man, "It's a bit odd, though. Not very 100 trillion, that coat's more like World War II."