Touch The Sky: Doctor Who/Studio C [Book 3]

Voyage of the Damned (Part 2)

"I was in mid-sentence!" the Doctor complained as the group solidified back on the Titanic.

"Yes, sorry about that," Mr. Copper said. "A bit of a problem. If I could have your bracelets..."

"Apologies, ladies and gentlemen, Bannakaffalatta," one of the stewards said as he joined the group. "We seemed to have suffered a power fluctuation. If you'd like to return to the festivities... and on behalf of Max Capricorn Cruiseliners, free drinks will be provided."

Seemingly unbothered by their abrupt departure, Astrid grinned at the Doctor and said, "That was the best. The best!" She gave him one final smile before slipping back through the crowd and returning to work.

The Doctor, meanwhile, took a step toward the steward. "What sort of power fluctuation?"

~~~

The Doctor had gotten no sort of satisfactory answer from the steward. Back in the thick of the party—slightly odd now that he had confirmed it wasn't actually Christmas—he glanced around the room, eyes landing on a golden picture frame, showing a video advertisement for the cruiseliner on loop.

He slipped through the crowd, pulling his specs from his jacket and discretely sonicking the frame, pushing it aside as it popped open to reveal the components inside. With a moment of work, he changed the screen to display the Titanic's surroundings.

Above the image were words in blinking red: Shields Off-line.

His eyes widened, and with another flick of a switch he accessed the comms. "Is that the bridge? I need to talk to the captain. You've got a meteoroid storm coming in West 0 by North 2."

"Who is this?" a voice demanded on the other end.

"Never mind that, your shields are down! Check your scanners, Captain. You've got meteoroids coming in and no shielding!"

"You have no authorization. You will clear the comms at once."

"Yeah? Just look starboard!" the Doctor exclaimed, as two stewards pushed through the crowd.

"Come with me, sir," one said quietly, grasping the Time Lord's arm.

"You've got a rock storm heading for this ship and the Shields. Are. Down!" And by the brief glance he'd had at the radar, they'd make impact in minutes. The two stewards continued to ignore him until he broke free of their hold, dashing through the crowd. A woman singing was soundly ignored as he snatched the microphone from her hand. "Everyone, listen to me! This is an emergency! Get to the lifeb—"

A Host's gloved hand over his mouth cut him off, pulling him down off the stage as the two stewards caught up to him. He caught the eyes of Astrid and the rude businessman she'd bumped into earlier, along with Foon, Morvin, and Bannakaffalatta as he was dragged away again.

"Look out the windows!" the Doctor exclaimed as he passed the businessman.

A moment later, the van Hoffs and Astrid had caught up to him. "Sir, I can vouch for him!" Astrid exclaimed to one of the stewards.

"Looks, Steward, he's just had a bit too much to drink," Morvin tried to reason.

Mr. Copper turned as they passed. "Sir, something seems to have gone wrong, all the teleports are down."

"Not now!" one of the stewards exclaimed.

Back at the window, a small rock about an inch in diameter shot through the window, landing at the businessman's feet. "Oxygen membrane holding," the computer intoned.