Robin stepped out of the TARDIS with the same look Michi had had on her face the entire time. A look of absolute amazement, but it somehow didn’t show any surprise.
“That was incredible!” she exclaimed.
“You know,” the Doctor said, coming out right behind her, “You’re probably the first person not to say ‘It’s bigger on the inside.’ Well, you and Michi.”
Robin smiled. “I’ve never been one for stating the obvious.”
Michi looked around them. “We’re at the power plant. Does that mean you’re going to hook up all the lights in the city the way you did the lights at the hospital?”
“Exactly,” the Doctor said. “All the Vashta Nerada all over the city will be too weak to hunt, completely harmless. Eventually they’ll start eating road-kill or small animals, maybe, but they shouldn’t be a threat. I’ll just set it so that the lights all intensify for a minute or two at noon every day to make sure it stays that way.”
And so after much use of the psychic paper and the Doctor’s “honest face” they worked their way into the power plant. Everywhere they went the Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and set to work, calling out instructions to Michi and Robin.
They’d been through most of the power plant. Michi and Robin were hooking up containers of theta particles to a power grid in case of blackouts.
“Finished with this one,” Michi called out.
And then she saw it. The lights were blacking out down the hall. Michi’s heart tightened in her chest. The Vashta Nerada were coming.
“Come on Robin!” Michi shouted as she went to join the Doctor in the island of light they had set up ahead of time. She made it, but realized Robin hadn’t followed. She turned around, and there was Robin, a determined look on her face, struggling to finish the one last bit of wiring.
“Just leave it Robin, get over here!” Michi called to her.
But Robin wouldn’t leave it. The shadows were coming closer and closer. Finally, Robin got the last bit wired up, just as she was swallowed up by the darkness. They heard a scream, and a sickening crunch, and then nothing.
“No!” Michi called out, instinctive taking off towards the spot where Robin had been working. But the Doctor grabbed her arm.
“There’s nothing we can do!” he told her. Michi looked up at him, and could tell he hated, absolutely hated, having to say that. He continued with a gentler tone. “Come on, gather the lights, stay out of the shadows. There’s one last bit of paneling we need to get over there.”
Michi stared at the spot awhile longer. She knew she hadn’t really known Robin very well, but her death still seemed somehow personal. But the Doctor was right; there was nothing they could do. She nodded, and started preparing to make the move around the corner.
But when they did round the corner, Michi noticed a flash of light coming from behind them in the area they’d just left.
“Doctor, did you see that?” Michi asked.
“See what?”
“That light,” Michi told him. Of course, being towards the back edge of their lights she might have seen it better. “There was a flash of light coming from over there.”
They looked, but all they could see now was darkness.
“You don’t think…” Michi started.
“No,” the Doctor said. “I’m sorry, but it’s not possible. Robin’s dead.”
After a pause the Doctor went to work, determined to finish before anybody else died. Michi took another few seconds before going to help.
A few minutes later lights came back on all over Austin.
***
Michi hung up the phone and returned it to the Doctor. She’d checked in and all her friends and family were safe. Michi felt glad to have that weight off her shoulders, and a bit proud too. She hadn’t mentioned the Doctor or her part in events, not even to Miki or the Doctor-obsessed Thena. Nobody ever told their loved ones about the Doctor if they didn’t have to.
“I supposed you liked this better when it was all just a story,” the Doctor said, leaning against the TARDIS’ control column.
“A bit, yeah,” Michi agreed.
“It’s a brilliant life,” he said, “a fantastic, amazing life. It’s full of danger, and monsters and the unknown. Full of things you couldn’t begin to imagine. But…”
Michi’s heart skipped a beat in anticipation of what she was sure came next.
“You could come with me, if you want,” the Doctor offered.
Michi thought for a minute. She’d be leaving behind her friends, her family. What about school? What if something happened to her?
But in the end, it wasn’t really much of a choice. School and a daily routine were boring. The TARDIS travelled in time, she could have a thousand adventures and be back only seconds after she left. And she knew she couldn’t pass up something like this. It was the trip of a lifetime.
Michi smiled. “I’d love to! I’ve had enough of Halloween for this year anyways.”
The Doctor grinned, putting a hand on a lever. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
“Heck yeah!”
“Well then,” the Doctor said, pulling the lever, “allons-y!”
Michi stood there, mirroring the Doctor’s grin as the engines started, and hanging on for dear life with the worst driver she had ever met at the controls.
“I must be dreaming,” Michi thought. “This is way too good to be true!”
But it couldn’t be a dream. She could feel the ancient power of the TARDIS, hear its engines, and see the Doctor right in front of her, looking as excited as Michi. This was real. And it was forever.
Michi laughed, more excited than she’d been about anything in a long time. She was off to explore the stars.
Also, I know you guys are probably thinking Robin is kind of a random character. While it may seem that way for this story, it is important for a story my friend, who created her, is writing.
ReplyDeleteThis was an amazing story Callie!!!!! I really liked it, A LOT! Girl you should become a writer! :D
ReplyDeleteI'd like to one day.
ReplyDeleteYay :)
ReplyDelete