[011]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is huddled in a dark coat, also wearing bright red mittens. He has a backpack on, as well as a suit jacket draped over one arm. And he is definitely standing in the Enviro-dome; the winter sky and thin trees are visible behind him]

Okay, so... Doctor? You're not allowed to say "I told you so." [smiles a bit sheepishly] On the bright

Comments

[bit_impossible]

That's not the point! I promised her family that I'd take care of her. And sure, I brought her home and she's alive and well, but she's back to being the same loud and ignorant person she was when we first met. She changed into this beautiful and strong person and she's back to the beginning again.

And I promised you that I'd bring you back home, to Chloe. 'The same, but improved. Oliver plus...' Don't you remember? I failed you then, too.

That's why this time around I won't. I refuse!

[oliverplus]

[freezes at the Doctor's words, going cold; his voice catches in his throat as he tries to respond] That wasn't your fault. Oh Doctor, you would've brought me home. I was the one who doubted that. You never failed me!

[his voice grows stronger as he continues] And I chose. Remember? Isn't it my choice in the end? And I've told you, Doctor--I've been enough places, done enough things, lost enough that now, if I had the choice, I would rather have the adventure.

One more time. Please. I know you'll get me back to Gondovan. But I want anything to be possible again first! This ship is the only chance I've got to live like that again. And I wouldn't miss it for the world. That's my choice.

[bit_impossible]

[his face slowly breaks into a relieved smile]

One last adventure, huh? Seeing as we're stuck here, in this slightly creepy forest, might as well take advantage of it!

[laughs and throws oliver his spare suit jacket] You hold onto this. There's some good things in there you might need if we get separated.

[oliverplus]

[grins, relieved, at the Doctor's reaction and laughs with him] Yes! Definitely.

[catches the jacket] So I noticed. Now what? Do we look for other people, or an ex-

[cuts off at the sound of an odd distant sort of roar, like thunder]

[softly, smiling faintly with excitement] What was that?

[bit_impossible]

Well, I'd say that's the start of our adventure!

[gives oliver an excited look and begins to, carefully, start jogging towards the source of the sound]

[oliverplus]

Good then! [follows the Doctor, looking around for any sign of what may have happened]

[stops as they receive a message from the TARDIS, explaining the explosion on level 10]

So whatever happened, it wasn't in here. [is slightly disappointed] Now what, Doctor?

[bit_impossible]

So it appears. [frowns]

I'd say our adventure lies out there, Ol--[stops, suddenly hearing something new. it's slight, but he can feel the hair on the back of his neck begin to bristle]

[quietly] I don't think we're alone any more.

[oliverplus]

[softly, keeps his question short] Where?

[begins looking around them, seeing nothing but the softly-falling snow and the trees; slowly turns, trying to see as far as he can without making any noise]

[bit_impossible]

Not sure. [narrows his eyes, searching for anything that could be making him feel like that.]

[and then there it is, not too far away from oliver. a slight disturbance in the pattern of the falling snow. while the snow's falling lazily to the ground at a slight twenty degree angle perpendicular to the ground, the formless shape has snow running at a faster rate and in an opposite direction. and he can feel that this one isn't a pleasant apparition]

Ollie, slowly and calmly walk towards me and follow me. Don't turn around and don't act alarmed.

[oliverplus]

[eyes widen at the Doctor's words, feeling a mix of excitement and fear; nods to the Doctor and starts forward, trying very hard to resist his desire to look back and see just what it is behind him]

[bit_impossible]

[still in a calm and even voice]

That's it, very good. Keep on going like that.

[oliverplus]

[takes another slow step forward, taking deep breaths and working very hard not to think about the situation at all--until his foot catches a tree root under the snow, and he stumbles just slightly]

[hears a sort of growl behind him, just before he feels teeth sink into his arm; cries out in surprise and pain; how did it get so close!? tries to jerk his arm away, feeling the teeth slide until, suddenly, there is a metal clang and it lets go as abruptly as it grabbed him]

[bit_impossible]

Ollie!

[whirls around to, well, he hadn't thought that much through yet, but the attack happened so quick, whatever just bit oliver is gone and he's left staring into the falling snow again.]

[grabs oliver's good arm] Come on, I'll check that out in just a minute. Run!

[oliverplus]

[breaks out of his shock and runs with the Doctor; he can hear--sense?--the creature somewhere behind them, giving chase] I think it's...following us...! Ideas!?

[bit_impossible]

Need to distract it!

[fishes through his pockets while he runs and jumps over large tree roots, and pulls out his sonic] Okay, you've never failed me before!

[changes the setting on it and points the screwdriver behind them, the normal sound now at an almost ear-splitting level]

[oliverplus]

[cries out, putting his hands over his ears; his arm is burning, but he ignores it and keeps running; he can hear some sort of scream from the monster but doesn't take the risk of turning around]

[shouts through the noise] Doctor! Heavy trees! To the right!