(2) Leaf on the Solar Wind
[[It should be noted that the Second Doctor in this timeline is a post-War-Games Doctor, and that he is traveling with an older Victoria, whom he picked up from Earth some time after The Three Doctors. That said, on with the show.]]
"It's no good," grumbled the Doctor at last. "Most of it is all right, but the vortex stabilizer requires an extra part that I don't have." Fitting the floor panel back into place, he brushed off his grubby hands on his equally grubby sleeves and stood up, shaking his head in disappointment.
Victoria Waterfield looked around in alarm. The TARDIS, once a nostalgic refuge as well as a suddenly had the ominous air of a trap. "But Doctor -- does that mean we can't land?"
"Not at all, Victoria -- not at all. In fact, we must land if I'm to take the proper components apart and cobble up a new connection. Hang on--" He descended on the controls, and Victoria wisely held onto the edge of the hexagonal console as the ship bucked, swayed, and finally shuddered to a halt.
"That's done it!" crowed the Doctor, rubbing his hands together. "Hmm... we're in deep space, stationary in relation to gravity but moving nonetheless... a ship of some sort, I imagine. Breathable atmosphere, too."
Victoria smiled. "I'm not even going to ask if it's safe. We've done that too many times."
"Still," mused the Doctor, "it's only polite to call upon our hosts and let them know why we're here."
"And if there's trouble?"
"Well...." He shrugged ruefully, but there was a humorous twinkle in his eyes as he activated the door control. "Then we'll find out."
"It's no good," grumbled the Doctor at last. "Most of it is all right, but the vortex stabilizer requires an extra part that I don't have." Fitting the floor panel back into place, he brushed off his grubby hands on his equally grubby sleeves and stood up, shaking his head in disappointment.
Victoria Waterfield looked around in alarm. The TARDIS, once a nostalgic refuge as well as a suddenly had the ominous air of a trap. "But Doctor -- does that mean we can't land?"
"Not at all, Victoria -- not at all. In fact, we must land if I'm to take the proper components apart and cobble up a new connection. Hang on--" He descended on the controls, and Victoria wisely held onto the edge of the hexagonal console as the ship bucked, swayed, and finally shuddered to a halt.
"That's done it!" crowed the Doctor, rubbing his hands together. "Hmm... we're in deep space, stationary in relation to gravity but moving nonetheless... a ship of some sort, I imagine. Breathable atmosphere, too."
Victoria smiled. "I'm not even going to ask if it's safe. We've done that too many times."
"Still," mused the Doctor, "it's only polite to call upon our hosts and let them know why we're here."
"And if there's trouble?"
"Well...." He shrugged ruefully, but there was a humorous twinkle in his eyes as he activated the door control. "Then we'll find out."