Doctor Who_ Longest Day - Michael Collier [110]
The Doctor got in the car and drove unsteadily down the corridors. It seemed to take for ever. Every time the car couldn't negotiate round some debris, the Doctor would get out and check that it was either inorganic or dead before driving jerkily over it.
Then he saw the section where the other ship must have come through.
The mass of wreckage was unbelievable. And his blood ran cold when he discerned a piece of Sam's top skewered on a jagged piece of metal protruding from the rubble-strewn floor.
'Sam!' The cry echoed dully in the ruined corridors as he rushed out to retrieve the fabric. It was damp with sweat and with traces of blood. But there was no sign of a body. Then he saw a gap in the debris, a narrow gap. She must have gone through. She must be on the other side.
He propelled himself through the gap and rushed through the darkened passageways, stumbling, falling down, always onward.
When he reached the docking lounge he lit a match. The room was empty.
Peering through the outer inspection hatch, he saw that the Kusk ship had departed.
Sam had to have come this way - with Anstaar? The gap back there wasn't big enough for a Kusk to get through, but had there been any crew still on board?
The Doctor looked at the dead terminal on the desk, at the logo on the wall in the light of the flickering flame. 'Time is our business...' he muttered bitterly, a sneer forming on his lips. The flame flickered out as the scant oxygen was used up.
He was alone.
Epilogue
- don't know if I'm working this right or not. But I hope it's recording. It's a message for you. For you, Sam.
You're going to wake up, I know - well, you will have woken up, I suppose.
Sorry, I'm not very good at this - and I bet you're wondering what in the deity's name is going on. But I bet you'll work out how to use this datacube, like I did. Like I think I did.
You're on the Kusk ship. Don't ask me how I got us on board. I had to drag you some of the way - not easy with a broken leg. You were semi-conscious. You'd run right into something, I think. You're in a bit of a state.
You were concussed, I guess, and lost consciousness a few - well, I don't know how long ago by the time you watch this. I know I'm not being much help...
The ship's empty. It was left ready for take-off, but I think the crew must've died before they could escape in it. Doesn't smell very nice here but I think the air's breathable, and there's sort of food things and drink things packed away in the next room. I don't know what they're like... There's room to move about, too - those things were so big, you wouldn't believe it.
The ship took off all right, the ascent was preprogrammed, but I can't figure out many of the flight controls. I just know it's taking you away from the moonbase, from what's left of Hirath. I don't know where to.
Not much use, am I? Sam, I'm sorry. I couldn't wake you to ask you, or to tell you, but I was scared this ship would take us far and away from the Thannos system, and from my home. If you travel with the Doctor, and I know you must do, then I'm sure you're used to not knowing where the hell you are. I want to go home, Sam. There's only one escape capsule, and I'm taking it. I don't know if it makes my chances of survival any better or not, but at least if anyone comes looking for Hirath - and they've got to, they must do, mustn't they? - maybe they'll find me too.
So I'm not here, and I'm saying goodbye. I suppose you're wondering why I'm bothering, I mean, we've hardly spoken. But I remember you calling out to Vasid, all that time ago, trying to stop him sending me away. And I saw you with the Doctor. I saw how much he cares about you. Sam, I'm so sorry he's - he's not here, with you now. But he saved us, didn't he? Saved everyone he could.