Apocalypse Rising (Book Two)

The Impossible Planet

"Is she all right?" Rose asked as the TARDIS landed shakily.

The Apocalypse frowned. "Yeah, she's fine," she answered, going outside and looking around. "I don't know what's wrong, though. She's sort of queasy. Indigestion, like she didn't want to land."

Rose shrugged. "Oh, if you think there's going to be trouble we could always . . . get back inside . . . and . . . go somewhere . . . else . . . "

Both women looked at each other before they burst out laughing, Rose doubling over, the Apocalypse leaning on the TARDIS. After they settled out their laughing fest, the Apocalypse looked around the compartment they were in. "I think we've landed inside a cupboard," she decided before heading for the door. "Here we go."

"Open Door 15."

"It's some sort of base," the Apocalypse continued her inspection. "Moon base, sea base, space base. They build these things out of kits."

"Close Door 15."

"Glad we're indoors," Rose remarked, hearing rumbles from outside. "Sounds like a storm out there."

"Open Door 16."

"Human design," the Apocalypse said, shaking her head as they walked through the hall. "You've got a thing about kits. This place was put together like a flat pack wardrobe, only bigger. And easier."

"Open Door 17."

"Oh, it's a sanctuary base!" the Apocalypse realized as they stepped inside a comfortable-looking room with a 3 on the wall.

"Close Door 17."

"Deep Space exploration," she nodded. "We've gone way out. And listen to that underneath. Someone's drilling."

"Welcome to hell," Rose mused.

"Oh, it's not that bad!" the Apocalypse complained.

Rose laughed. "No, over there!" The Apocalypse turned to see the words in block lettering before Rose frowned at the alien language underneath. "Hold on. What does that say? That's weird. It won't translate."

"And the TARDIS translates everything," the Apocalypse nodded. "Which means if it's not working . . . then this writing is old. Very old. Impossibly old." She shook her head, standing up. "We need to find out who's in charge." She spun the wheel on the next door. "We've gone beyond the reach of the TARDIS's knowledge. That's why she didn't want to land. It's not good. If someone's lucky enough - "

"Open Door 19."

Rose started when the door opened, revealing aliens with tentacles for a nose and mouths, holding a globe in their hands with a tube that ran behind the tentacles. "Oh!" the Apocalypse exclaimed, blinking. "Right. Hello! Sorry. I was just saying, er . . . nice base."

"We must feed," the aliens said, their globes lighting up.

The Apocalypse blinked. "You've got to what?" she repeated.

"We must feed."

"Yeah, I think they mean us," Rose said shakily.

"We must feed. We must feed. We must feed." The aliens continued the chant, pressing forward. The Apocalypse aimed her sonic screwdriver as Rose picked up a chair to use. "We must feed - " one alien said before it tapped its globe. "You, if you are hungry."

The Apocalypse nearly dropped her sonic screwdriver at that. "Sorry?" she squeaked.

"We apologize. Electromagnetics have interfered with the speech systems. Would you like some refreshment?"