Back At Ground Control-

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There was, as has been noted, somewhat limited passenger space on the Enterprise. Something of an argument most likely ensued over who got to go and who didn't. Eventually, two things were pointed out

Comments

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It's not the TARDIS' fault. It's got to work with substandard human-

Oh, there we go, found them all. Belknap's got them all mapped out and controlled through his desktop terminal. Bluetooth really needs to be more securable, don't you think?

Speaking of Belknap, he gives Romana an annoyed look. "Lady, either you join in the chanting to summon the Great Old One out of Galveston bay along with all these other nice people, or you sit down and be quiet. Want me to load you up a copy of Tetris? Will that keep you out of trouble?"

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"... Romana?" comes a somewhat wobbly, but recognizable voice. "Oh, boy. Am I ever glad to hear you. Uh, somebody made the gravity go away again..."

[_romana_]

Romana beams. It is unbelievably good to hear Ray's voice right now.

"Are you alright? Everyone still with you?" What she means is 'tell me you are fine, so I can stop worrying, because I am worried, and quite a lot', but that is not the professional sort of thing one says over official comm lines.

She means it anyway.

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"Egon got clocked in the head with a dead Mi-Go, but otherwise we're okay. Uh, I hope nobody was too attached to that new annex for the Station, because it's gone. Admiral Kirk and the other astronauts are on their way to the Enterprise. Um, everybody here's okay except Mr. Kuttner and Dr. Campbell, and Dr. Campbell should be all right with the help of a very very good microneurosurgeon..."

[_romana_]

"Good. Very good." She's still beaming, relief thick in her voice. So many things can go wrong in space. Especially when it is just a little foundling of a progam like this one.
"I suppose the astronauts are anxious to talk to their controllers here."

It is tempting, very tempting, to simply remotely call the TARDIS to her, and go get Ray herself. She isn't very much good at waiting patiently, she's found.

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"They wouldn't mind," Ray's voice says. "Especially since we're going to need them to send up the other shuttle. There's not enough seating on board Enterprise for everybody and the majority of Dr. Campbell."

"I beg your pardon," says a muffled English voice in the background.

"Anyway, I'll let them settle that." There's a pause, and then Ray adds quietly, "I'm really looking forward to seeing you again when we land, Romana."

He's got witnesses on his end too, after all.

[_romana_]

"I'll be here." She promises, and doesn't care at all if the humans here think she is being a silly female. Ray is well, is coming home, and the evil du jour is defeated. After that, everything else is inconsequential.
"Turning the comm back over to NASA mission control now."

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If they think it, they don't say it. All that happens as the communications resume between NASA and the astronauts (one of whom, the English voice from before, sounds very indignant indeed about possibly having to ride home in someone's lap or under the seat) is that one of the monitoring techs coughs slightly and beckons Romana over for a look at a set of vital sign readings on her screen.

"Sensors in Dr. Stantz's suit," she murmurs. "You do intersting things to his heart rate."

[_romana_]

It seems that even Gallifreyans can blush. Romana does so, prettily, smiling despite her embarassment.
"He is very dear." Is all the explanation she seems willing to give, though it does sum up the situation handily. Though, after a moment, she adds:
"It is only fair that I should have some effect on him."

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The woman smiles a little. "I'll make sure no one gets between the two of you when the shuttles land," she says. "Thank you, though. For-" She waves a hand at the fact that Mission Control hasn't exploded or been eaten by a tentacular horror from beyond the stars. "-everything."

[_romana_]

"It was my pleasure. You lot just need more time to grow into your new abilities, is all. If you'll excuse me, I need to finish writing a few programs."

She has to wipe the Gallifreyan programs out of NASA systems, after all. Humans aren't exactly supposed to have access to that sort of thing just yet.

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The woman nods. "Of course. Good luck," she adds, before going back to her own work.

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(OOC: Closing post here, if you need to tag it.)