Fic: Battle for Moonlight (12/?)
Characters:10 and Donna
Author: noblegirl91
Summary: The Doctor and Donna get stranded on Earth in the 71st century during the world's largest civil war.
Author's Notes: This is my first attempt at writing an Adventure story so bear with me. Sorry if I seem to be dragging it out. I just thought shorter chapters were easier to post and faster to read. I promise by the end of this chapter things really start to pick up!
Genre: Adventure/Angst
Rating:PG
Disclaimer: I don't own them!
Chapter 12
Donna shouted and raged the entire way back to the Alunae camp. She cursed and kicked as Castor tried in vain to control her. Eventually he succeeded in getting her into the shelter that had been erected on the field. General Shath was already inside, he indicated a chair for Donna which Castor steered her towards. A small aluminum table separated Shath and Donna. He waved Castor away after he removed Donna’s cuffs.
“Why didn’t you release me? The Doctor did exactly as you asked.” Donna hissed angrily.
“I didn’t release you for the same reason Ivor imprisoned you.” Shath smirked.
“Yeah, well this time you better keep your promise or you’ll really be in for it.” Donna said threateningly.
Shath nodded. “You will be released. But I hardly think that your friend is any threat to me.”
Donna almost leapt out of her seat. “You don’t know him! I’ve seen enemies cower in his presence. I’ve watched him destroy cites and monsters alike. He’s brilliant and mad, a dangerous combination for someone in your position.” Donna folded her arms over her chest and sat stone faced.
Shath scratched at this chin. “Noted. Now, I’m assuming that before your friend dreamed up this little scheme, General Ivor had one of his own. Do you know anything about?” He leaned over the table, closer to Donna.
“Yeah, he did. How did it phrase it? I want to wipe the Alunae off the face of the planet. But what’s it matter to you?” She swiveled on her chair so that she was not directly facing him. From the corner of her eye she saw Shath stand and retrieve something. There was a soft clang as he set a metal tray on the table. Donna turned her head to see what it was and found a platter of food sitting in front of her, some of the food looked familiar; some looked like nothing she’d ever seen.
He didn’t appear to be bothered by the news. “Just curious.” Shath replied coolly as he picked up a piece of, what Donna decided was some type of fruit. Her eyes followed his hand as he popped it into his mouth. In all the excitement she had forgotten how hungry she was. The General noticed her expression and nudged the tray towards her. “You should eat. I’m sure you must be starved.”
Donna hastily reached for one of the small sandwiches, but then hesitated before taking a bite. “Wait. I’m not that thick buster! What’d you do to it? Poisoned? Laced with truth serum? Some other kind of drug maybe?” Donna tossed it back on to the table with a disgusted look.
Shath shook his head. “What reason would I have to do anything to you? I told the Doctor that you would not be harmed.” Again he pushed the tray forward.
********
Half way back to the TARDIS the Doctor regained his composure. General Ivor and Captain Striker released their death grips on him and allowed him to walk on his own. As they reached the hangar, the Doctor checked the sky. It was growing lighter. “Roughly three minutes left. You two, with me in the TARDIS. And before you say anything Captain, yes it really is bigger on the inside.”
Striker threw him a confused glance but soon discovered what the Doctor was talking about upon entering the Police Box. He gasped and froze in the middle of the ramp, Ivor stood beside him and laughing. “Mindboggling isn’t it?”
“No time to dawdle! I have a Moon to move and an infuriated red head to save!” The Doctor yelled. He pulled a lever and the ship dematerialized. Striker was jolted out of his stupor as the TARDIS lurched violently. “Whoops! Sorry! Just a little hiccup. She does that sometimes!”
********
Donna was examining the different food on the tray when she heard the familiar wheezing of the TARDIS fill the air. Shath jumped from his seat to see where the noise was coming from. Leaving the tent with Donna following behind him, they emerged just in time to watch a large blue box materialize out of thin air.
Shath was rendered speechless. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him in the growing brightness as three figures filed through the door.
Several Alunae soldiers appeared, all wondering how the box got there. Donna burst through the growing crowd and headed straight for the Doctor. She threw her arms around his neck as he enveloped her in a giant hug. The Doctor lifted her off the ground and spun about, completely overjoyed to be reunited with his best friend.
“Haha! There we go! Safe and sound!” The Doctor said with a wide grin. He gently set her back down. “You alright?” A hint of concern crept into his voice.
“Not bad. Took you long enough. Stop off of for coffee or something? ” Donna teased, playfully slapping his arm.
“Yeah, I had to run all the way to Alzoc just to the right kind.”Neither of them could stop smiling as they continued their friendly banter. General Ivor interrupted by loudly clearing his throat, “Ahem! Doctor we have a more pressing matter.”
His interruption also shook General Ivor from his stunned silence. “What alien technology is this? This is beyond anything we have access to!”
The Doctor disengaged from Donna’s grasp and came face to face with Shath. When he spoke, his warm, friendly tone was replaced by one much more serious.
“Time Lord.”
“Time Lord? But the only way you could have that kind of technology is-“ For a very brief second fear flashed across Shath’s face.
“Is if I were a Time Lord? Well then I guess I’m in luck!” The Doctor finished for him, a broad smile appeared on his slim face.
“No, it’s not possible! Time Lords are just myths invented by UNIT to spark conspiracies.” Shath stammered.
Ivor came forward now. “Come off it Shath. You’ve read the files. Half the things that UNIT took credit for couldn’t have been achieved without the Doctor’s help.”
“Doctor,” Donna patted his arm. “Look.” She pointed to the sky. “The eclipse is over.”
“Right! Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get this planet back on track.” Pivoting on his heel he headed back to the TARDIS with Donna in tow. Before he opened the door Donna yanked him back by his arm.
In a hushed tone she began, “Doctor, I think that Shath might try to attack again while we are up there.” Donna tilted her head upward. The Doctor glanced over his shoulder at the two generals. They stood several paces apart from each other wearing matching scowls.
“I think your right. Best not leave them alone.” He admitted while rubbing the back of his neck. He had an idea and he knew Donna wasn’t going to like it but it was for her own good. Abruptly he turned back around and announced, “Since we can’t trust that either of you won’t try to kill each other while we’re gone, I’m leaving Donna in charge. And just to warn you, she has my permission (not that she’s ever needed it) to slap anyone who even thinks of starting a fight.” He looked poignantly at Ivor and Shath.
“What? No! I’m coming with you! You can’t do it by yourself, you’ll need help. ”She folded her arms over her chest, daring him to say otherwise. The Doctor gently placed his on Donna’s shoulders and looked her straight in the eye.
“Donna I’m sorry, I really am, but I need you stay here. Someone has to watch them and you’re the only one I can trust.” Donna stared into the Doctor’s face. She had seen this look before; it was the same look he always gave her when he thought something was too dangerous for her.
“What’s the danger?” Her voice was calm.
The Doctor tried to play it cool and act as if it were nothing. “I need to be able to fully concentrate on what I’m doing to ensure nothing bad happens,” With a sly grin he added, “and I think a back seat driver would only be a distraction.” Donna didn’t buy it though.
She unfolded her arms and grasped his, “Doctor. Why are you so worried?” Her sapphire eyes bore into him, imploring him to tell the truth.
The Doctor’s smile fell from his lips. “The Moon has a tight grip on the Earth. There’s a slight chance, a very minute possibility that TARDIS’s gravity beam might not hold. If the beam were to break while I’m towing the Moon back, the Moon’s not going to lose momentum just because it’s stopped being pulled, and if I can’t evade it quick enough, then we’ll collide and the Moon will gain another crater.”He paused to do some calculations, then with a scrunched face said, “But the possibility of that happening is one million to one.”
It took a second for all that to sink in before Donna replied. “Stop being so overdramatic Spaceman! If that’s all you’re worried about I’m coming.”
“Maybe I am being overdramatic”, he squeezed her shoulders trying to get her to see reason. “But it’s just a precaution. Donna please, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t care about your safety.” The Doctor let her go and once again began to enter his ship and once again Donna stopped him.
“Donna-“ Before he could scold her she placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. His ears turned a bright pink.
“Just be careful Spaceman.” Donna, blushing profusely, spun around to march over and stand between the two generals.
Grinning like an idiot the Doctor vanished into the TARDIS. Again the sound of ancient engines pierced the air, a gust of wind swirled around the blue box just before it faded out of sight.