Ties Between Time and Space

✦20✦ - The Girl In The Fireplace

Chapter Twenty
Into The Future But Also The Past

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Emma was pulled into the console room as soon as the TARDIS materialized. Rose was used to all this by now, the adventure that waited beyond the blue wooden doors but for Mickey, it was a whole new world out there. The Doctor strolled down the ramp, pulling open the door and walking out first with Emma by his side.

"It's a spaceship," Mickey whispered in wonder. "Ha, brilliant! I got a spaceship on my first go," he laughed and Rose smiled.

The surroundings were dark and dusty, and in the middle of wherever they landed was what looked like a working bench. Parts of things, bits and pieces of junk scattered everywhere. It made Emma frown as she spun in a circle trying to take it all in.

"It's a bit dull," she commented. "Is it abandoned? Is there actually anyone here?"

"Nah, nothing here," the Doctor replied. "Well, nothing dangerous," he tilted his head and shrugged his shoulder. "Well, not that dangerous," he corrected himself. "You know what," the Doctor said glancing around, "I'll just have a quick scan, in case there's anything dangerous."

Emma smiled at him, appearing by his side and leaning her head against his arm. The Doctor grinned at her before inspecting the strange things laid out on the table.

"So," Rose came up next to the two. "What's the date? How far we gone?"

"About three thousand years into your future, give or take," the Doctor answered, pulling at a switch and then twisting it. It was like flipping a light on and suddenly the four weren't in complete darkness anymore. "Fifty-first century. Diagmar Cluster, you're a long way from home, Mickey. Two and a half galaxies," the Doctor told him as a panel in the ceiling parted and the sky of space stared down at them.

"Mickey Smith, meet the universe," Rose introduced. Mickey moved over to one of the windows and stared out of it in shock and amazement. "See anything you like?" Rose whispered in Mickey's ear as she wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.

"It's so realistic!" Mickey breathed out as he glanced back at Emma and the Doctor before looking out of the window again.

Rose grinned at Emma and Emma returned it with a smile and a nod. The Doctor, on the other hand, had started sorting through the mess on the desks and control panels around them. He pulled at black strips of plastic and picked up metal bits before throwing them back down again.

"Dear me, had some cowboys in here," the Doctor noted. "Got a ton of repair work going on. Now that's odd. Look at that," he pointed at the small screen in front of him. "All the warp engines are going. Full capacity. There's enough power running through this ship to punch a hole in the universe, but we're not moving." The Doctor glanced up and around, and so did Emma and Rose.

"If the power's not to run the ship, then what's it being used for instead?" Emma wondered. "And aren't there supposed to be passengers and crew members on board?"

"Two very good questions. No life readings on board," the Doctor said, and turned and twisted some of the panel's knobs and buttons.

"Well, we're in deep space," Rose stated. "They didn't just nip out for a quick fag."

"No," the Doctor agreed. "I've checked all the smoking pods. Can you smell that?" he asked, straightening up and twitching his nose.

Emma, Rose, and Mickey smelt it, too. Each taking in a breath before glancing around to try and find the source of it.