Ticks & Tocks
Art by aimsleydale (LJ | e-mail | comment) and Neth Dugan (LJ | e-mail | comment)
Chapter 6
The door of the TARDIS was barely open before the Doctor and Kaylee were pulled out. Several Kluvians stood there, their hoods pulled back and their flat faces uncovered. The aliens kept their eyes on the wooden blue box, throwing the two passengers to the floor as they approached the TARDIS. Immediately, the door swung shut, the clicks of the lock twisting. The shortest of the Kluvians, who still towered over the Doctor, attempted to open it. It barely budged.
The Kluvians narrowed their eyes at the Doctor. "What is the meaning of this?"
He shrugged. "She doesn't like being bossed around," he explained, dusting himself off. The Kluvians ignored him, unsatisfied with his reason. The Doctor looked over to Kaylee sitting motionless next to him, her attention concentrated on the Kluvians that loomed over the TARDIS. "You alright?"
Kaylee's lower lip quivered, her entire body shaking. Finally, the Doctor's question processed, shaking her head and turning to him. "What, what're..." She began, too frightened to look up at the Kluvians.
"Aliens," he stated, cringing as they pushed their thick bodies against the TARDIS' doors. Raising his eyebrows, the Doctor faced Kaylee. "Oh! This is your first time seeing aliens, isn't it?"
Before she could respond, two of the Kluvians pulled the Doctor and Kaylee up and onto their feet. "Move!" One of them ordered, pushing them forward. They staggered, the Doctor quickly regaining his composure. He grabbed Kaylee's arm, helping her keep her balance, before they began walking forward. The Kluvians followed closely behind, their guns pointed towards their backs.
Kaylee kept her head lowered, frightened. Occasionally, she'd glance up through her eyelashes; the ship's corridors were wide, illuminated by the orange tubes set in the walls. A loud churning sound echoed from the ship's engine. She had no idea what their technology was like, but Kaylee knew this: it was not being properly cared for.
"Engine woes?" The Doctor asked, his hands in his pocket. Kaylee smiled, feeling a glint of pride; she couldn't help but revel in being right. But she also noticed something else. The Doctor seemed almost... calm. Any anxiety or worry that she saw before was a distant memory.
"None of your concern!" The bulkiest informed him, nudging the Doctor forward. "We've been upgrading the systems. Several new parts were installed. Should work smoothly in a few days time." Kaylee's smile faded as she listened once again; new or not, someone hadn't put them in correctly.
The Doctor recovered gracefully, continuing to walk side by side with Kaylee. "Right, right. Now, where are you exactly taking us? I seemed to have missed that part."
The Kluvian grunted, clinging onto his laser gun as he pressed forward. "You were never informed. There is no need."
"No need?" The Doctor exclaimed, turning on his heel and walking backwards. "We've been behaving like good children. I can't see why you wouldn't want to tell us."
"It won't matter."
"If it really doesn't matter that much, then why not tell us? We can keep secrets, right, Kaylee?" He jabbed Kaylee gently with his elbow, winking. Kaylee glared at him, horrified, before looking away.
Before he could answer, another young Kluvian leaned over to the largest one, whispering into his pointed ear. The elder Kluvian nodded, stepping away from the young one. "Captain Zuftar is eager to meet the crew of the Mark I Type 40 TT Capsule."
"Ooh, we're guests!" the Time Lord exclaimed, his voice an octave higher. He focused on Kaylee, grinning. "You get to meet more aliens. Isn't this exciting?"
Kaylee looked up, staring at him with wide eyes. Slowly, she glanced back, catching sight of the fat nosed, bright red Kluvians.
"'Exciting?' Ain't you scared? I mean, they's aliens; what if they wanna experiment on us or something?" She whispered, shuddering.
The Doctor snorted as they walked around the bend in the hall, hiding his amusement. "The Kluvians? They're lucky enough to be able to fly this ship, let alone conduct secretive, scientific research. We're quite safe." He paused, thinking over his words. "Well, from that, at least."
The corridor ended, expanding into a large, hexagon room. The windows of the vessel covered three walls completely, allowing them to view the vast, black space around them. Under the windows was a long row of machines, manned only by two Kluvians. Kaylee swore that they were more cluttered with parts than the TARDIS.
"Captain, these two were the only ones 'board the TT Capsule," the shortest Kluvian announced. In front the large windows stood a figure, its arms crossed and it's back facing them. The figure wasn't wearing the same green cloaks as the rest; he wore a camouflage green uwagi and black hakama, long black shoulder pads stretching across. A black hood was wrapped around his head, but Kaylee could see the horns peak out from his head.
The figure rotated, the Kluvian now staring at them. His face wasn't round like the others; it was thin, his jaw line prominent. He leered, several teeth missing.
"So, you two were the ones who broke my false signal," He said, more of a statement than a question.
Kaylee turned to the Doctor, confused. The Doctor smiled, laughing with only a hint of nervousness. "Just me. I'm the Doctor, and this is my new friend, Kaylee. Fancy meeting you in this part of the galaxy." He paused. "And century."
"I suppose there's no hiding it, is there?" The Kluvian chuckled, walking down the small set of steps and approaching them slowly. "I'm Captain Zuftar. I hope you'll find my ship comfortable." Zuftar spoke politely, his hands behind his back; it unsettled Kaylee, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. He couldn't be trusted.
"You interfered with the TARDIS while she was traveling," the Doctor stated, his tone humorless. He studied the room. "This ship is full of surprises, isn't it? It's been years since I've encountered false signals. They're illegal, aren't they? And grapplers? If I recall, in the thirty-third century, only military vessels were equipped with them. Yes, on commercial vessels such as the Model MMC892-44-" he took a look around the room once again, "they're illegal."
"You're only upsetting yourself, Doctor-"
"Kluvians are an underdeveloped race!" The Doctor accused, stepping forward. "They only began using spaceships after the third invasion of Velux! Who gave you that technology? You most certainly did not figure that out on your own."
Zuftar's expression remained subdued, his jaw firmly set. "Really, Doctor: insults? I think I've been a good host so far." He sighed. "Would you like to see our engine room? Golog would be happy to show you and your friend."
The tallest Kluvian grunted, setting his large hands on the Doctor and Kaylee's shoulder and pulling them backwards. He pointed his gun toward them; they didn't need to be told twice to start walking. The group of Kluvians began following.
"The rest of you stay here; only Golog and I will accompany them," Zuftar ordered, walking past his crew. The Doctor and Kaylee walked through the familiar dark hallway again, Golog's gun poking into the middle of the Doctor's back. Kaylee glanced to her side as they passed the TARDIS, little evidence of the Kluvians' attempt to pry it open showing.
As they walked, the end of the vessel came into view, a round metal door sealing it shut. Zuftar slipped past the Doctor and Kaylee. She shivered; she never felt him near her. He pulled the heavy door open, light spilling out into the bleak corridor.
Turning around, Zuftar grinned. "Would you like to look, Doctor? You can't tell me that you're not curious."
The captain wasn't wrong. The Doctor leaned closer, peeping inside. His mouth hung open as he walked into the room, pushing the door out of his way. Afraid of falling behind, Kaylee followed him inside. The loud churning and whirling sounds were crisp and clear as she found herself facing the engine. It was huge, its sheer mass could fill up the engine room of Serenity, but big ships needed big engines.
"Interesting," the Doctor confirmed, strolling alongside the engine. Zuftar was at his side, watching him carefully as he lifted a stray part with his fingers, his eyes glancing at it. "I see many of these parts are scavenged."
"It's difficult getting everything you need. Compromises must be made. You should know that, Doctor."
"Right, right," he muttered, laying his fingers on the engine. Something on the other end of the engine caught the Doctor's eye and he immediately dodged for it. He stopped short, and Kaylee attempted to try to discern what exactly he was concerned with: these parts of the engine were not brightly colored, but they were much newer than everything else, shaped in twisted prisms and other odd shapes.
The Doctor's breaths became heavy as he turned toward Zuftar. His face was pale, drained of color. "Where did you get these?" He almost whispered, looking back at the engine.
Zuftar advanced behind him slowly. "You know, I was shocked to find you here- or existing, for that matter. I was sure your kind had died off in that nasty war. When we found your ship, I was pleasantly surprised; every once in awhile, I enjoy being proved wrong."
Tilting his head back, the Doctor sighed. "You didn't answer my question; where did you get these?" He asked, his voice shaky, never looking back at him.
"I told you before, Doctor; we must scavenge for parts in order to survive. Sometimes, you must make do with what you have, mostly nothing at all. But, every once in awhile, you'll come across something special. Mine was out near the Jasmine Cluster; it was surprisingly calm-"
"I remember that battle; it was the beginning of the end-"
"We were only passing through when we found all these floating parts. They were perfectly usable, so we did just that. You Time Lords made yourself useful for something." Zuftar finished, proudly gazing at the engine.
Kaylee moved closer to the Doctor, ignoring Golog's heavy footsteps behind her. The Kluvians no longer frightened her. "What are you talking about? Doctor, what's going on? What are Time Lords?" She began rattling over, staring at the back of the Doctor's head.
"He's a Time Lord," Zuftar answered, glancing at the Doctor. "An alien from a planet very far away, older than you or I, with no home to go back to."
"Fuhn pi," she spat. "Doctor looks like a normal human, not some alien. Two arms, two legs, two eyes-"
"You'd be surprised how many sets of two he has," the captain interrupted. "Not all Kluvians are as stupid as you presume we are, Doctor. Some of us are capable of great things, myself included. After all, I managed to install all the TT Capsule's time traveling accessibilities to my own ship. Mind you, it took me quite some time, but I did it."
Finally, the Doctor turned around. The color in his face had returned; red flushed across his cheeks and down his neck. "You raided the ships of dead soldiers and looted their technology. The time vortex is getting worse with each passing moment, and your clunking ship does nothing to help!"
Kaylee placed her hand on the Doctor's shoulder, squeezing it as he had when she refused to leave the TARDIS. "Doctor-?"
Zuftar interrupted her, "I have paved the way for the future of the Kluvian race-"
"By using Time Lord technology for your own purposes. Admirable. You're a gleaming example of your primordial people. They are nothing compared to what the Time Lords were."
"That is the key word, Doctor: were! And with that, I say good riddance to the Time Lords! Condescending buggers who thought they knew what was best for the universe! They knew nothing but how to start trouble. We're all better off without them."
A sharp, buzzing sound interrupted them. "Captain, you're needed at the helm. We've found the Firefly class ship," the intercom echoed. Kaylee gasped, covering her mouth. She had almost forgotten about Serenity, something she never before would've believed that she would actually do.
Zuftar sighed, stepping away from her and the Doctor. "Business to take care of," he informed them, grinning slightly at Kaylee; her shock had not gone unnoticed.
Kaylee scoffed, looking up at the blistering red alien. "Business? You ain't got no business with Serenity!"
"On the contrary; that ship has caused an awful amount of trouble for me. I'm very serious about business matters, and I don't like being sidetracked. They have my stone; I intend on retrieving it." Zuftar turned to move, his muscular back facing them.
"You have no business with the Rosetta Stone!" the Doctor shouted, his fists clenched tightly. This was enough to halt the captain. "You're clever, I won't deny you that. As a clever man, you know the effect this can cause on history. Archibald Mathers is one of the most important people in human history. In 2515, he discovered the Maps of New Luxor. Three years later, he came into possession of the Rosetta Stone, which made their translation possible. He funded the mission that discovered the Colonies-Left-Behind.
"In 2532, Earth was found. These are the beginnings of the Human Empire. It spreads out so far and becomes so powerful, the rest of the universe is dependent upon it. Everything, all of this, set off because of the Rosetta Stone; if you take the stone away before its due time, the consequences on history are outstanding. Those maps in your computers? They're the Maps of New Luxor, still used to this day. Can you really take that risk?"
Zuftar stood quietly. A moment of silence elapsed when he finished. Kaylee looked desperately at Zuftar and the Doctor, neither of them making any sudden movements. She glanced to Golog; he stood there, his shoulders slumped as he held his gun; he had no concept of what was happening, nor the magnitude of the situation.
The captain cleared his throat. "Your compliments are appreciated, Doctor. I've carefully considered how history can be twisted by one solitary action. It's taken me nearly two years searching for this stone, so it's quite a lot of thinking I've done. And so, I've come to the conclusion that no matter what, I'm still taking it. A Peloppian warlord is offering a reward to whoever brings it to him. The money would allow me to finally rise above this lowly existence. It's what I've been waiting for. I hope you understand." He moved toward the exit.
"N-no, stop!" The Doctor stuttered, lunging forward. His svelte body hit into the large arm of Golog, halting him. He struggled against the huge alien. "Do you realize what you're doing? The progress of the universe will be completely set back because of greed! For all you know, stealing the Rosetta Stone in this period could alter the history of the Peloppians. There would be no one to offer you any money for this. Have you even thought this through?"
Zuftar looked over his shoulder. "The Rosetta Stone has been a valued object for centuries. Unfortunately, this was the only window in history that I could successfully procure it. So the Peloppian warlord won't be around; I assure you there are others willing to pay a hefty sum for this, no matter who they may be," he explained, his voice even and his tone monotone. It was evident that he had long thought out his reasoning.
The Doctor had long ceased struggling with Golog, and was now catching his breath. "And what of the Kluvians? Your people only thrive in markets where humans are dominant. Your own birth could be altered; in fact, you might never be born! Surely you've thought of this. Please, this all can be avoided," he pleaded desperately, his entire body leaning against Golog's arm.
"Captain, we're awaiting further orders," the intercom announced again.
Walking over to the wall, Zuftar pressed his gloved finger against the speaker button. "I'll be there in a moment; don't lose sight of the Firefly ship," he commanded, removing his finger. He looked back at the Doctor and Kaylee, several wrinkles creased in his forehead. "I'm at peace with my decision, Doctor. I'm sorry about your beloved Firefly ship, Miss Kaylee." Zuftar opened the door, walking into the corridor.
Staring at the floor, the Doctor felt his body shiver. He looked toward Golog. "Take me to the bridge. I won't harm your captain, but I need to talk with him still." His yellow eyes stared back at him for almost a minute. With a swing, Golog's arm fell to his side, allowing the Doctor's body to collapse onto the metal floor. Gathering himself up, he leapt up and ran after Zuftar, Golog not far behind as his heavy footsteps shook the room.
"Wait, Doctor!" Kaylee called, finding herself alone in the noisy engine room. She looked over to the engine, loud bangs bouncing around internally. It was the same sounds she heard earlier. Biting her bottom lip, she drew near it, curiosity once again getting the better of her. Her hands grazed the exposed parts of the engine; those particular parts were from her own time period, she recognized. Many were brand new, but old compared to what was installed in the engine.
Never thought I'd be saying that, she thought to herself, raising herself on her tiptoes. The whole time travel thing was overwhelming, but unlike Golog, she attempted and- for the most part- succeeded in understanding the Doctor and Zuftar's conversation. It was all very foreign and strange to her; Wash had once shown her some old science fiction comics, which became the extent of her knowledge.
Snap.
"Ta ma duh," Kaylee cursed, gripping what was once part of the grav dampener. She had been careful; the rusted flakes that chipped off were staining her hands. Groaning, she thought of the mess that a broken grav dampener would cause, what with the ship being unable to turn in different directions-
A wicked thought came into Kaylee's mind. She immediately felt bad for it; she was a mechanic and respected all ships. However, she couldn't help but think of the spectacle at Proctor's building, the three Kluvian pirates shooting at Serenity's crew. Chills went up her spine as she remembered being scared and the Doctor comforting her. But what stuck in her head was the Doctor, heartbroken and desperately begging an indifferent Zuftar. The Kulvians had no respect for anyone else.
Dropping the piece in her hand, Kaylee placed both of her hands on the grav dampener. Tightening her grip, she yanked the part from the engine successfully. The engine roared, clinking even louder. Staring at the grav dampener, a mischievous grin tugged at Kaylee's lip.
Zuftar walked into the cockpit, his arms behind his back. "Firefly still in proximity?" He asked, his voice booming throughout the room.
"Aye," one of the Kluvians confirmed. "We're keeping as low a profile as possible. But they're moving out faster than we can keep up. Grapplers, then?"
"Wait!" Zuftar had opened his mouth to command when the Doctor's voice called out, his lanky figure running into the room. Golog pounced behind him, breathing heavily. The Doctor came up to Zuftar, wiping his forehead with his wrist. "It's not too late to reconsider."
Zuftar immediately turned away, looking out the windows. "You're a man who doesn't know when to give up, Doctor. I came to this time with one purpose: get the Rosetta Stone. I won't leave until then."
The Doctor stared at him, his hand brushing his wild hair. "That's all you have to say for yourself? You claim to be a man of knowledge, but you do nothing with it." He stepped backward. "I suppose you are nothing but a pirate," he acknowledged.
The captain had made no indication of his thoughts, continuing to ignore the Time Lord. "Set off the grapplers; I won't have them slipping away again," he ordered. The Doctor felt his hearts sink as the Kluvians pushed up several switches and pulled a lever back. He felt his leg jitter, anticipation eating at his nerves.
Nothing happened.
"Bloody hell," the Kluvian muttered, repeating the set of motions. Everything remained the same. Frustrated, he began pounding the machines with his fist, denting the exterior.
"Control yourself!" Zuftar spat, walking closer to his crew. "What's going on? Explain it to me."
The Kluvian groaned, staring miserably at the controls. "Grapplers aren't working, sir," he explained, grinding his teeth together.
Pushing the fat Kluvian aside, Zuftar attempted to helm the grapplers himself. He had as much success as his crew member. Zuftar stood up straight. "I see. Foltor, I want a diagnosis of the grapplers' status. In the meantime, we take the Firefly by going in head on. We didn't always have grapplers, so I hope at least one of us remembers how to properly board a ship."
Another Kluvian pushed the vessel forward, the increased speed shaking the balance of those in the room. Suddenly, the ship came to a stop, throwing everyone to the floor. Zuftar sat up, his cheeks flushing a darker shade of red. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, standing up.
The other Kluvian pulled himself up, stuttering to himself. "I-I was tr-trying to change course to p-p-properly board the sh-ship, but, but we can't even budge!"
Closing his eyes, Zuftar sighed, quietly assessing the situation. He turned to the other Kluvian. "Bring us close enough to the ship as possible. Once we're in close proximity, send out the shuttles." Zuftar grabbed onto a speaker, holding it close to his mouth. "Board the shuttles; await further commands." Dropping the piece, Zuftar walked away from the machinery.
"Zuftar, please reconsider," the Doctor shouted, facing the captain. Annoyed, Zuftar attempted to step around the Time Lord, the Doctor following his every step. "Let this moment in history be. There are other periods in history when you can take it and no overall affect occurs."
Grabbing the lapels of his jacket, Zuftar lifted the Doctor off his feet, dangling him above the floor. "This will be the last time I repeat myself: NO!" Arching his shoulders, the captain easily tossed the Doctor across the floor like a ragdoll, his gawky body sliding most of the way. The other Kluvian pirates walked around the Doctor, filing into the corridor.
BUZZ.
"Attention, unidentified spacecraft," a tenor voice announced, startling the Kluvians. The Doctor looked around him, watching the Kluvians stop dead in their tracks. He searched for the ship's speakers as the voice continued, "We are ordering you to release the helm. You will be docked and boarded. If you cannot provide proper identification, you will be arrested immediately."
"Delay boarding shuttles," Zuftar's powerful voice shouted, his hand clenching a nearby chair. "Man the artillery; I want that ship burning." His back faced the pirates as they scattered to follow their orders.
The Doctor grinned wryly. "The proper authorities! Brilliant timing, eh, Kaylee?" Turning his head, his heart jumped; Kaylee wasn't there. Moving onto his knees, he began recalling when he last saw his new friend. He groaned as he remembered her attempts to sooth him in the engine room; she had never left.
Standing up, the Doctor swerved around the confused Kluvians running through the corridor. When he finally reached the end, he glanced over his shoulder: no one was paying him any attention. Grabbing the door, the Doctor opened it enough to allow him entrance, slipping through.
His jaw dropped as he shut the door behind him. "Kaylee!?" He shouted weakly before covering his mouth. The smoke was overbearing, filling the room. Nearby, a small fire had started, flickering. The Doctor walked into the room, squinting as he searched. "Kaylee?"
Near the engine, he saw something move. Kaylee turned around, smiling despite the smears of grease on her face. She waved her hand excitedly.
"Evenin', Doctor!" She called back, her other hand on her waist.
The Doctor raised his eyebrows, approaching Kaylee. "What're you doing?"
"Oh, you know," she began, pulling a nearby wire from its original place. "Sabotage." A yellow spark snapped, startling her.
Nodding, the Doctor looked at the engine again; it was a mess, pieces broken off and missing. Hell hath no fury like a mechanic. "I should've suspected as much. Come on; the Kluvians have gotten themselves into a nasty fight with the police and I can't have us in the middle of everything." He grabbed her arm, pulling her along.
However, Kaylee resisted, staying in her place. "We can't leave yet," she stated, stifling a cough. "I believe those belong to you." She pointed to the other end of the engine; the TARDIS parts remained intact, almost completely untouched.
Swallowing hard, the Doctor's focus was clearly where she pointed, his brown eyes almost mesmerized by the site. Still, he refused to release his grip on her, his fingers firmly set around her upper arm. He coughed once, ignoring the calls the alarms setting off and the calls for more firepower.
"Kaylee, I can't take those. Those once belonged to TARDIS, perhaps more than one. A TARIDS that was operated by my people, my comrades in war; it wouldn't feel right-"
"And that's exactly why it should be you skimming 'em," she interrupted, looking directly into the Doctor's eyes. "So you leave 'em; that's shiny. But someone else just like Zuftar and his pirates will loot this ship and I can guarantee you they ain't going to be as informed as he is. If they even got an iota of intelligence, they can figure out how to use it. And when they do, their intentions will be wicked. You're the only person, alien, - whatever you are- that's aware of all the responsibilities that come with this technology. Cap'n always says that you can't keep caught up on past losses; just push forward and look ahead to the next battle. Now, Doctor-" She paused, biting her bottom lip. "Please take the parts."
The ship jolted sharply, swaying them. The Doctor remained silent as the shouts from Kluvians echoed outside of the engine room, their heavy bodies running through the ships. He looked away from Kaylee, only to glance back at her; he couldn't avoid her stern gaze. Finally, he loosened his grip, slowly dropping her arm back to her side. He reached into his inside pocket, taking out the sonic screwdriver.
"There's not a lot to carry; I can fit most of them in my pockets but I'll need you to carry any larger items," he began, placing his hand on her lower back and pushing her along.
Kaylee looked up, her eyebrows pushed together. "Your pockets?"
"Yes, well, they're quite... voluminous." He grabbed onto one of the smaller parts- a small, neon green cylinder with dark green swirled designs sketched in- and held the sonic screwdriver over it for several seconds. It came off easily, and he slipped it into his pocket. The Doctor continued this process quickly, removing them one by one. He handed off to Kaylee a slightly larger piece, causing her body to dip from its weight.
The room shook, the other end of the engine sparking once again. Startled, the Doctor almost ripped the final part from the engine, tucking the metallic device under his arm. With his free hand, he grabbed Kaylee's, their fingers interlocking.
He smiled. "Right then; allons-y!" With a slight tug, Kaylee felt herself running with the Doctor, stepping around the brightly burning fire as electricity cackled. They hopped over a small stream of black oil as it oozed across the floor.
With a pull, the Doctor opened the door, allowing them to run down the hall. "The Firefly class ship has opened fire- I repeat-" Zuftar's voice boomed over the intercom. The insanity in the corridor only increased, several of the Kluvians pushing and fighting with one another.
The Doctor glanced over his shoulder; Kaylee was beaming, not attempting to hide her smile. He found it infectious, grinning. "We're a proud mother hen, aren't we?"
Flipping her hair over her shoulder, Kaylee looked up at the Doctor, her eyes glinting in the bleak light. "The Cap'n and Serenity don't run from tussles." However, her smile faltered a moment later. "Well, most of the time," she admitted.
They stopped near the TARDIS; it had remained undisturbed despite the chaos that surrounded it. Releasing Kaylee's hand, the Doctor balanced the piece of machinery in his arm on his hip as dug into his pocket. Finally, he produced the bronze Yale key. He slipped it into the lock, fumbling slightly until he twisted it open.
The corridor filled with a bright light, the earsplitting boom of an explosion sounding off. Kaylee jumped, backing closer to the blue box as she glanced over her shoulder. The Doctor pulled open the TARDIS' door and he pushed Kaylee inside, following her quickly. Dropping the part onto the floor, he closed the door shut, silencing all sounds outside.
Pausing to catch his breath, the Doctor stared at the door for a moment. With a long sigh, he walked toward the console, stepping over the discarded part. The cloister bell no longer rang; a good sign. Still, the Doctor began checking the random instruments that were connected, from a thermometer to a digital clock, reading them to himself.
"The lock over the TARDIS has been lifted; we should be able to take off." He checked the coordinates. "Time is still set; ready to head off, Kaylee?"
Placing down the heavy device, she approached the console, staring at it. Kaylee rested her hand on the console, her thumb grazing it slightly before she gripped onto it. She glanced at the Doctor. "Show me what your girl's got."
The Doctor could feel the TARDIS' acceptance of her challenge, the controls heating up. He grinned wickedly. "Prepare to be impressed, Miss Frye." Grabbing the lever, he pulled it down, and the TARDIS roared once again.