The Lost Series (A Doctor Who fanfiction) - 'Episodes '1-4

'Episode 4' - Europa- Part 3

The torchlight illuminated a large white tent-like structure, It had various thick ribbed silver tubes jutting out in different directions, filling the massive cave they had entered.

The doctor heard his companion, Kitty, quiet 'woah' as they approached it. The doctor however was growing more and more concerned. He could tell by their shoddy looking equipment and rickety tent that this was no scientific expedition. Oh, no. This was something else.

"Doctor?"

He turned to kitty who's large hazel eyes were fixed on him.

He gave her his best everything-is-absolutely-fine grin and together they entered the tent, or rather, the capsulated life-conditioned Pod. They were promptly sprayed with a blast of cold water from a sprinkler.

They were hustled forward into the main living quarters which resembled a more science-y looking white circus tent.  The Doctor could tell it was worn.

Immediately the doctor removed his anti-heat Jacket, running a hand through his brown tousled hair.

"Right." He spoke, clapping his hands together as the crew began to take off their own suits. "Who makes tea? Anyone? Fancy a cuppa? Kitty?"

"Um....?" She gave him a confused look so he just shrugged.

"Tea...good old tea, solves a lot of problems. Good remedy tea. Especially when you're about to deliver bad news." His tone darkened slightly.

"Bad news?" The man called Darren stood up, squaring up to the doctor, crossing his arms.

"Oh, it is bad news. Bad news for you, bad news for  us."

"Well?"

The doctor took a deep breath "Weeeell-Based on my observations, the climate, the condition, the humidity, the unique geology, the oh so obvious fact that this entire place was once heavily mined-making it structurally unsound-might I add - that. we.are.on.Europa!" He turned giving a quick grin to Kitty.

Darren gave a snort "Am I supposed to believe that that was some intelligent guess?"

"oOOOh, I never guess." Smirked the Doctor.

"Europa? As in one of the moons of Jupiter?!" Kitty suddenly exclaimed "but that's.....that's...impossible....Europa is full of ice or water...?"

"Correctamundo! It was thought it was either just a big ball of ice or had an icy crust but after an exploratory mission in 2042 it was discovered that beneath the deep ice and Europaen ocean was silicate rock. Further explorations in 2115, 2121 and 2130 found that Europa held a secret, caves upon caves of magnificent silicate based quartz- completely unique, never before seen and incredibly beautiful but difficult to mine on such an unstable Moon with it's irregular and aggressive tidal shifts. A small mining expedition was sent out to mine the quartz by some of the richest people on earth, it became known as Europaen Rainbow Platinum. The I.O.S.E.C-that's internatialoragansationofspaceexplorationandconservation ruled that Mining of Europa should cease and was banned in 2160 after an entire mining crew just poof- disappeared. Last known whereabouts- somewhere in the caves of Europa." The doctor paused for dramatic effect "So, given those facts and the state of your equipment which seems to be fairly on the not-so-new side I'd say we are somewhere around 2180-218....3? And mining, which is quite obviously what you are doing- on Europa is banned...."

"Thanks for the history lesson. Do you EVER stop talking?" Darren sneered "Yeah-we are here, we are mining. It's a quick in and out Job. Nothing to concern you. How did you even get here? Europa is condemned, we had to take a huge amount of precautions to even get here and you just show up!"

"I did." The doctor paused "WE did" he corrected himself "Just show up and now it is my concern-because your mining on a condemned planet, where an entire mining crew disappeared and if I'm right about the date-which I am- Then it's about to happen to you, too."