Well, here's "42!" Took a bit longer than expected, sorry, everyone. It's amazing how many tests I missed for my aunt's funeral . . . and I only had the two study halls.

Let's see who the Doctor and the Alchemist save this time around!

***

"Right, there we go," the Doctor said brightly, finishing sonicking Martha's phone. "Universal roaming. Never have to worry about a signal again."

"No way!" Martha gasped as the Doctor tossed it back to her. "This is too mad! You're telling me I can phone anyone, anywhere, in space and time on my mobile?"

"As long as you have the area code," the Alchemist winked. "Frequent flier's privilege."

"Go on," the Doctor grinned. "Try it!"

Martha was about to dial when the TARDIS shuddered, tossing them everywhere. "Alice?" the Doctor shouted.

"Distress signal!" she shouted back. "Locking onto it now! Just might be a bit - !" Martha shrieked as she was tossed onto the other side of the TARDIS. "Bumpy!"

The TARDIS finally stopped, and the Doctor poked his head up, looking around. "Well . . . let's take a look!" he said.

The Alchemist poked her head out to take a look around, and she blinked. "Whoa!" she exclaimed, shedding her jacket and tossing it back into the TARDIS. "That's hot!"

"Whuff!" Martha tossed hers in as well. "It's like a sauna in here!"

"Venting systems," the Doctor looked around. "Working at full pelt, trying to cool down. Wherever it is we are . . . well, if you can't stand the heat . . . "

"Oi!" a young man shouted when they made it out of the bulkhead door, two men and a woman running towards them. "You three!"

"Get out of there!" the woman put in.

"Seal that door, now!"

The Alchemist obeyed, locking the door behind them. "Who are you?" the woman demanded, looking between them all. "What are you doing on my ship?"

"Are you police?" the young man asked.

Before the Doctor could even open his mouth, the Alchemist was nodding. "Yes, we are," she nodded. "We got your distress signal."

"If this is a ship, why can't I hear engines?" the Doctor looked down and around.

"It went dead four minutes ago," the woman answered.

"So maybe we should stop chatting and get to Engineering, Captain," the older man put in with a look.

"Secure closure active."

"What?" the woman gasped, looking around.

"The ship's gone mad!" the older man exclaimed.

The faint sound of bulkheads slamming reached their ears, and a young woman came running down the hall, just narrowly arriving before the bulkhead slammed shut. "Who activated secure closure?" she asked. "I nearly got locked into Area 27!" She blinked, seeing the newcomers. "Who are you?"

"He's the Doctor, she's the Alchemist, and I'm Martha," Martha answered with a wave. "Hello."

"Impact projection in 42:27."

"We'll get out of this, I promise," the captain said, looking at her crew members.

Martha looked out the porthole, and she blanched. "Doctor? Alchemist?"

"Forty two minutes until what?" the Doctor asked.

"Doctor?" the Alchemist swallowed, joining Martha. "You'll want to see this."

"Forty two minutes until we crash into the sun," the captain answered as the three stared out the small window at the blazing yellow orb.

"How many crew members onboard?" the Doctor asked, turning around.

"Seven, including us," the captain gestured.

"We transport cargo across the galaxy," the older man nodded. "Everything's automated. We just keep the ship space worthy."

"Call the others," the Doctor went towards the bulkhead door to Area 30. "I'll get you out."

"What's he doing?" the young man asked.

"No, don't!" the captain shouted.

The Doctor opened the door, and he was blown to the ground by a blast of heat. The Alchemist ran forward, hissing at the heat, but she slammed the door shut. "I don't think that's an option," she quipped.

"But our ship's in there!" the Doctor protested.

"In the vent chamber?" the young man blinked.

"It's our lifeboat."

"It's lava," the older man shook his head.

"The temperature's going mad in there," the young woman checked the readings. "Up three thousand degrees in ten seconds, and still rising."

The Alchemist whistled. "That isn't hot. That's scorching."

"We're stuck here!" Martha folded her arms angrily.

"So we fix the engines, we steer the ship away from the sun," the Doctor shrugged. "Simple."

"Engineering down here, yeah?" the Alchemist pointed.

"Yes," the captain nodded.

"Impact in 40:26."

***

The Alchemist blinked when she arrived in the engine room. "Blimey," she looked around. "I think the Creators' workshops weren't even as bad as this, and that's saying something."

"Oh, my God!" the captain gasped, looking around at the mess the engines were in.

"What the hell happened?" the older man looked around.

"Oh, it's wrecked!" the young man groaned.

"Pretty efficiently, too," the Doctor nodded. "Someone knew what they were doing."

"Where's Korwin?" the captain looked around. "Has anyone heard from him or Ashton?"

"No," the older man shook his head.

"You mean someone did this on purpose?" Martha asked.

"Possibly," the Alchemist sighed as the Doctor went to check a monitor.

"Korwin, Ashton?" the captain spoke into an intercom. "Where are you? Korwin, can you answer?" She looked back. "Where the hell is he? He should be up here!"

"Oh, we're in the Torajii system!" the Doctor brightened. "Lovely. You're a long way from home, Martha. Half a universe away."

"Yeah," Martha looked around. "Feels it."

"And you're still using energy scoops for fusion?" the Doctor frowned. "Hasn't that been outlawed yet?"

"We're due to upgrade next docking," the captain turned around, the Alchemist frowning slightly. "Scannell, engine report?"

"She didn't answer your question," the Alchemist noted.

"She didn't, did she?" the Doctor frowned as well.

"No response," the older man, Scannell, answered with a frown.

"What?" the captain scowled.

"They're burnt out. The controls are wrecked. I can't get them back online."

"Does this include the auxiliary engines, or is this the one craft in the universe that doesn't?" the Alchemist frowned.

"We don't have access from here," the captain said. "The auxiliary controls are in the front of the ship."

"Yeah," Scannell rolled his eyes. "With twenty nine password sealed doors between us and them. You'll never get there in time."

"Can't you override the doors?" Martha asked.

"No. Sealed closure means what it says. They're all deadlock sealed."

"So our sonics are no use," the Doctor sighed.

"Nothing's any use," Scannell grumbled. "We've got no engines, no time, and no chance."

"Blimey, and you lot manage an entire craft by yourselves?" the Alchemist huffed. "Come on! You haven't even started yet! The passwords had to be set. Who's got them?"

"They're randomly generated," the young man said. "Reckon I know most of them. Sorry, Riley Vashti."

"Nice to meet you, Riley Vashti," the Alchemist shook his hand when offered. "So, what're you waiting for? Go get those doors open."

"Well, it's a two person job," Riley started packing up a huge backpack. "One, a technish for the questions, and the other to carry this." He held up a giant metal clamp. "The oldest and cheapest security system around, eh, Captain?"

"Reliable and simple, just like you, eh, Riley?" the captain countered.

Riley rolled his eyes, grumbling incoherently. "Try and be helpful, get abuse. Nice."

"I'll help you," Martha volunteered, taking the clamp. "Make myself useful."

"It's remotely controlled by the computer panel," Riley explained. "That's why it needs two."

"Oi!" the Doctor called, and Martha turned back. "Be careful."

"You, too," Martha smiled.

"McDonnell, it's Ashton," a man's voice rang from the intercom.

The captain replied. "Where are you? Is Korwin with you?"

"Get up to the med center, now!"

McDonnell ran past Riley and Martha, and the Doctor and the Alchemist followed. "Impact in 34:31."

***

"Korwin!" McDonnell cried as they ran into the med center to see a young woman and Ashton holding down a man inside a chamber, his eyes squeezed shut. "What's happened? Is he OK?"

"Help me!" Korwin screamed. "It's burning me!"

"How long's he been like this?" the Doctor asked.

"Ashton just brought him in," the woman answered.

McDonnell frowned as the Doctor scanned with his sonic screwdriver. "What are you doing?"

"I wouldn't get too close," the Alchemist advised.

"Don't be so stupid," McDonnell scoffed. "That's my husband."

"And he's my Bonded," the Alchemist retorted, clapping the Doctor on the shoulder. "Believe me, I know."

"And he's just sabotaged our ship," Ashton put in.

"What?" McDonnell gawked.

"He went mad," Ashton nodded. "He put the ship onto secure closure, then he set the heat pulse to melt the controls."

"No way," she shook her head. "He wouldn't do that."

"I saw it happen, Captain."

"Korwin?" the Doctor leaned down. "Korwin, open your eyes for me a second."

"I can't!"

"Yeah, course you can, go on."

"Don't make me look at you, please!"

"All right, all right, all right," the Doctor sighed. "Just relax."

The Alchemist picked up a gun-like object. "Sedative?" she asked.

"Yes," the woman nodded.

The Alchemist stuck Korwin, and McDonnell asked, "What's wrong with him?"

"Rising body temperature, unusual energy readings," the Doctor looked at his screwdriver, the Alchemist looking over his shoulder. "Stasis chamber . . . I do love a good stasis chamber. Keep him sedated in there. Regulate the body temperature."

"Also, just for fun, run a bioscan and tissue profile on a metabolic detail."

"Just doing them now," the woman nodded, turning around.

"Oh, you're good," the Doctor smiled. "Anyone else presenting these symptoms?"

"Not so far."

"Well, that's something."

"Will someone tell me what is the matter with him?" McDonnell huffed.

"Some sort of infection," the Doctor shrugged. "We'll know more after the test results. Now, allons-y! Back downstairs. Hey, see about those engines. Go, hey, go!"

McDonnell reluctantly went with Ashton, and the Alchemist smiled at the woman. "If there's any news, let us know. Any questions?"

"Yeah," she frowned. "Who are you?"

"I'm the Doctor," the Doctor grinned, "and this is my Bonded, the Alchemist."

"Heat shield failing. At twenty-five percent. Impact in 32:50."

***

"Hurry up, will you?" Martha grumbled as Riley worked on his computer.

"All right," Riley nodded. "Fix the clamp on."

Martha lifted the clamp onto the door. "What are you typing?"

"Each door's trip code is the answer to a random question set by the crew. Nine tours back, we got drunk, thought them up. Reckoning was, if we're hijacked, we're the only ones who know all the answers."

"So you type in the right answer?"

"This sends an unlock pulse to the clamp, but we only get one chance per door. Get it wrong, the whole system freezes."

"Better not get it wrong, then."

"OK," Riley rubbed his hands together. "Date of SS Pentallian's first flight. That's all right." He typed it in. "Go!"

The clamp lights flashed green, and the door opened. "Yes!" Martha whooped.

"Twenty eight more to go!" Riley laughed as they ran on.

***

"Abi, how's Korwin doing?" the Doctor asked one side of the comm. "Any results from the bioscan?"

"He's under heavy sedation. I'm just trying to make sense of this data. Give me a couple of minutes, and I'll let you know."

"Martha? Riley? What about you?" the Alchemist asked the other side. "How're you doing?"

"Area 29, at the door to 28," Martha answered.

"Any chance you can move faster?"

"We're doing our best."

"Find the next number in the sequence 313, 331, 367 . . . what?" Riley blinked.

"You said the crew knew all the answers!" Martha protested.

"The crew's changed since we set the questions."

"You're joking!"

"379," the Alchemist said, a hair ahead of the Doctor.

"What?" Martha asked.

"It's a sequence of happy primes," the Alchemist said, smirking as the Doctor beamed, grinning at her. "379."

" . . . happy what?"

"Just enter it!"

"Are you sure?" Riley asked. "We only get one chance."

"Any number that reduces to one when you take the sum of the square of its digit, and you continue iterating until it yields a happy number," the Alchemist calmly recited. "Any number that doesn't, isn't. A happy prime is a number that is both happy and prime. Type it in." The Alchemist looked at the Doctor in exasperation. "Don't they teach recreational mathematics any more?"

"No idea," he said with a grin, hugging her happily. Oh, his Bonded was brilliant!

"We're through!" Martha cheered.

"Keep moving, fast as you can," the Alchemist ordered. "And you better be careful, Martha. There may be something else on board this ship."

A snort came from over the comm. "Any time you want to unnerve me, feel free."

"Will do, thanks," the Alchemist said cheerfully.

Another snort, followed by the computer chirping. "Impact in 30:50."

***

"I can't believe our lives depend on some stupid pub quiz," Martha rolled her eyes before seeing Riley groan at the next question. "Is that the next one?"

"Oh, this is a nightmare!" he rubbed his forehead. "Classical music. Who had the most pre-download number ones, Elvis Presley or the Beatles? How are we supposed to know that?"

***

"We need a backup in case they don't reach the auxiliary engines in time," the Alchemist paced, rubbing her temples as she thought. "Resources . . . what have we got?"

"Doctor? Alchemist?" Martha's voice rang again.

"What is it now?" the Doctor huffed.

"Who had the most number ones, Elvis or the Beatles? That's pre-download."

"Elvis," the Alchemist said immediately.

"The Beatles," the Doctor said at the same time.

"OK, that is a bit tough," the Alchemist admitted. "We are a bit busy."

"Fine," Martha said. "I'll ask someone else."

"Now, where were we?" the Doctor turned to pace. "Here comes the sun - "

"Resources," the Alchemist cut in.

"Right," he nodded. "So, the power's still working, the generator's still going. If we can harness that - ah!"

"Use the generator to jumpstart the ship," McDonnell realized.

"Exactly," the Doctor nodded. "At the very least, it'll buy us some more time."

"That is brilliant!"

"You should see her on a good day," the Doctor gestured to the Alchemist. "She's even better."

"All you need, tiny glimmer of hope," the Alchemist winked.

"If it works," Scannell ruined the mood.

The Alchemist tilted her head innocently. "Would you rather die?" she asked sweetly.

Scannell blinked. "Er . . . no."

"Then make it work."

Scannell grumbled, turning back to the engines. He only looked back once to glare at the Doctor as the Time Lord snickered. "Go, Namara," he praised her.

"Impact in 29:46."

***

Martha pulled out her phone, looked at it, then took a deep breath and dialed her mother. "Hello?" Francine asked.

"Mum?" Martha gawked, stunned. It really did work! "It's me. It's Martha . . . wow!"

"Where are you? Don't you check your messages? I've been calling you."

"Actually, a bit busy. Need you to do something for me."

"No, listen to me, we have to talk about this Doctor - "

"Mum, please, not now. I need you to look something up on the Internet."

"Do it yourself. You've got a computer."

"Oh, just do it, will you?" Martha snapped. "Please?"

"When did you get so rude?" Francine huffed. "I'll tell you when. Ever since you met that man."

"I need to know who had more number ones, the Beatles or Elvis."

"Hang on, the mouse is unplugged," Francine said. "OK, I'm on. What is this, a pub quiz?"

"Yeah," Martha rolled her eyes at Riley, who had the grace to blush. "A pub quiz."

"Using your mobile is cheating."

"Have you found it?"

"There's over four hundred thousand results. Give me a minute."

"Impact in 28:50."

***

"Doctor?" Abi's voice came, sounding scared. "These readings are starting to scare me."

The Doctor immediately went to the comm. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Korwin's body's changing. His whole biological makeup. It's impossible - " She screamed suddenly. "This is med center! Urgent assistance requested! Urgent assistance!"

"Stay here, keep working!" the Doctor shouted to the others, running off immediately, the Alchemist running after him.

"Captain?" Scannell asked as he ran up, following McDonnell.

"I told you to stay in Engineering!" the Doctor glared.

"I only take orders from one person round here!"

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Oh, is he always this cheery?"

***

"Elvis."

Martha blinked. "What? Really?" She relayed the answer to Riley. "Elvis." He typed it in, and the bulkhead slid open. "Mum, you're a star!"

"Now, we need to have a serious – " Francine broke off when Abi's scream sounded over the intercom. "What was that?"

"I've got to go," Martha said hurriedly, hanging up. "Doctor, Alchemist, what were those screams?"

"Concentrate on those doors," the Doctor ordered tensely. "You've got to keep moving forward."

"Impact in 27:06."

***

"Korwin's gone," McDonnell looked down at the stasis chamber.

"Oh, my God," Scannell gasped. "Tell me that's not Lerner!"

The Alchemist swallowed, looking at the figure burnt into the x-ray shield. "Endothermic vaporization," she identified. "I've never seen one this ferocious!"

"Burn with me," the Doctor remarked.

"That's what we heard Korwin say," Scannell nodded.

"What?" McDonnell looked back and forth between them. "Do you think? No way. Scannell, tell them! Korwin is not a killer! He can't vaporize people! He's human!"

"But I'm looking at the bioscan results," the Alchemist waved them at her. "Internal temperature was one hundred degrees, body oxygen replaced with hydrogen."

The Doctor whistled, cringing. "Your husband hasn't been infected. He's been overwhelmed."

"The test results are wrong," McDonnell said bluntly.

"But what is it, though?" the Doctor wondered. "A parasite? A mutagenic virus?"

"It needed a host body," the Alchemist pointed out.

"But how did it get inside him?"

"Stop talking like he's some kind of experiment!" McDonnell shouted.

"Where's the ship been?" the Doctor turned. "Have you made planet fall recently? Docked with any other vessels? Any kind of external contact at all?"

"What is this, an interrogation?"

"We've got to stop him before he kills again."

"We're just a cargo ship!"

"Doctor, if you give her a minute," Scannell began.

"I'm fine," McDonnell shook her head. "I need to warn the crew." She went to the intercom. "Everybody, listen to me. Something has infected Korwin. We think he killed Abi Lerner. None of you must go anywhere near him, is that clear?"

"Understood, Captain," Ashton confirmed. "Erina? Get back here with that equipment."

"Whatever you say, boss," Erina answered.

"Impact in 24:51."

"Is the infection permanent?" McDonnell asked, turning. "Can you cure him?"

The Doctor looked at the Alchemist, but even she looked unsure. "I don't know," he answered.

"Don't lie to me, Doctor," McDonnell folded her arms. "Eleven years we've been married. We chose this ship together. He keeps me honest, so I don't want false hope."

"The parasite's too aggressive," the Alchemist sighed heavily. "Your husband's gone. I can't think of a way back."

"I'm sorry," the Doctor added.

"Thank you," McDonnell whispered.

"Are you certain nothing happened to provoke this?" the Doctor asked. "Nobody's working on anything secret? Because it's vital that we know."

"I know every inch of this ship," McDonnell shook her head. "I know every detail of my crew's lives. There is nothing."

"Then why is this thing so interested in you?"

"I wish I knew."

"Doctor, we're through to Area 17," Martha said.

"Keep going," the Doctor answered. "You've got to get to Area 1 and reboot those engines."

"Heat shields failing. At twenty percent."

***

"Come on!" Riley hit his computer as Martha fastened the clamp. "Everything on this ship is so cheap – " He cut off when the bulkhead to Area 18 opened, and he turned. "Who's there?"

Martha squinted as a figure stepped through the smoke. "Is that Korwin?"

"No, wait a minute," Riley frowned, then sighed. "Oh, Ashton, what're you doing?"

"Burn with me," Ashton answered, making Martha frown.

"Well, if you want to help," Riley gestured.

"Burn with me," Ashton repeated, raising a hand to the helmet on his head. "Burn with me."

"Move!" Martha cried, grabbing Riley and opening the door to a small area nearby. "Come on!"

She shoved Riley inside, then went in as well and shut the door. "What is happening on this ship?" Riley asked as they huddled inside.

"Never mind that," Martha shook her head, looking around. "Where are we?"

"Airlock sealed. Jettison escape pod."

Martha gawked. "That doesn't mean us?" She hammered on the door, trying to find the comm. "Doctor!"

"Pod jettison initiated."

"Alchemist! We're stuck in an escape pod off the Area 17 airlock! One of the crew's trying to jettison us! You've got to help us!" She turned to Riley, seeing him typing away. "Tell me you can stop it!"

***

"Why is this happening?" McDonnell demanded as they ran through the hall.

"Stay here," the Doctor pointed to her. "I mean it this time! Jump start those engines!"

***

"Jettison held."

"Thank you," Riley sighed.

"Jettison reactivated."

Martha screamed, and Riley went back to pounding away at the keyboard. "Come on!" he spat. "Tsilpinski sequence. This'll get him."

"Jettison held. Escape pod stabilized."

Martha smiled faintly. "You're pretty good."

***

The Alchemist ran around the corner first, bringing her blaster up to bear upon Ashton. "That's enough!" she snapped, aiming at him. "What do you want?"

Ashton just smashed the circuitry, and the alarm started blaring. "Jettison activated."

The Alchemist's eyes widened, and she ran for the controls, aiming her blaster at it and adjusting the sonic settings, the Doctor walking up to Korwin. "Come on," he frowned. "Let's see you. I want to know what you really are."

Ashton raised a hand to lift the visor, the Alchemist hurriedly rewiring the controls, but then Ashton staggered before walking off. "Airlock sealed."

"McDonnell?" the Doctor went to the intercom. "Ashton's heading in your direction. He's been infected, just like Korwin."

"Korwin's dead, Doctor," Scannell replied.

"Magnetization in progress."

The Doctor blinked, turning to look around, seeing the Alchemist typing out on the keyboard. "What did you do?"

"What does it look like I did?" the Alchemist raised an eyebrow. "I fixed the circuitry."

"But . . . how're you doing this?"

"There's the Tsilpinski sequence, and that's a big override," the Alchemist said, not looking away from the code she was doing. "But then there's the Tsalwarska sequence. It's the biggest override there is."

The Doctor blinked. "Where did that come from?"

"Gallifrey," she smirked. "Just a few more keys . . . "

"Remagnetizing complete. Jettison held. Escape pod stabilized."

The Alchemist opened the door to the escape pod, and she smiled sweetly at Martha and Riley. "Tsalwarska sequence," she said in satisfaction. "Now, what're you two kids doing in there? Do I need to call your parents?"

"Alchemist!" Martha ran out and hugged her tightly, the Doctor smiling widely.

"Tsalwarska?" Riley gaped at her. "What the hell is that?"

"Automatic override I learned in school," the Alchemist brushed imaginary dust off her hands. "Piece in my time."

"You two, keep getting those doors open," the Doctor ordered. "We'll go handle Ashton."

"Gotcha," Martha nodded, giving them one last hug before running off with Riley.

"Impact in 17:05."

***

They ran into Engineering to see McDonnell crouching over the body of her husband, Scannell talking to her. "Scannell, go help Riley and Martha," the Doctor ordered.

"Ashton's still out there!" Scannell protested.

"We'll deal with him," the Alchemist promised. "Go."

***

"The wonderful world of space travel," Riley sighed as Martha fastened the next clamp. "The prettier it looks, the more likely it is to kill you."

"We'll get out of this," Martha said. "The Doctor and the Alchemist, they'll figure this out."

"No, it's too late," Riley shook his head. "Our heat shields will pack any minute, and then we go into free fall. We'll fall into the sun."

"You saw the Alchemist save us," Martha said. "I believe in them."

"Then you're lucky. I've never found anyone worth believing in."

"No girlfriend, boyfriend?"

"The job doesn't lend itself to stable relationships."

"Family, then?"

"My dad's dead, and I haven't seen my mum in six years. She didn't want me to sign up for cargo tours. Things were said, and since then, all silent. She wanted to hold onto me, I know that. Oh, she's so stubborn."

"Yeah, well, that's families."

"What about you?"

"Full works. Mum, Dad, Dad's girlfriend, brother, sister. No silence there. So much noise." Her eyes widened. "Oh, God! They'll never know! I . . . I'll just have disappeared, and they'll always be waiting."

Riley stood up and put a hand on her arm, looking down at the pocket she kept her mobile in. "Call them," he suggested.

***

Ashton trumped to the bottom of a metal staircase when he heard McDonnell's voice. "Ashton."

McDonnell hurried into the med center, Ashton following her.

When he was inside, the Alchemist and the Doctor grabbed him, forcing him head first into the stasis chamber. McDonnell punched the button to freeze him, and he shook as the temperature dropped, before he slumped, dead.

"Impact in 12:55."

***

Martha dialed her mother's number again, and Francine picked up again. "Hello."

"It's me again," Martha took a deep breath. "Sorry about earlier."

"Is everything all right?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Martha?"

Martha swallowed, looking out the porthole to look at the sun. "Mum, I . . . you know I love you, don't you?"

"Of course I do!" Francine seemed shocked. "What's brought this on?"

"I never say it," Martha shook her head. "I never get the time. I never think of it, and then . . . " She took a shaky breath. "I really love you. Tell Dad, Leo, and Tish that I love them."

"Martha, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I promise."

"Where are you?"

"Just . . . out."

"With anyone nice?"

"Just mates."

"What mates?"

Martha closed her eyes. "Mum, can we not just talk?"

"Of course," she answered. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I don't know . . . anything! What you had for breakfast, what you watched on telly last night, how much you're going to kill Dad next time you see him . . . " Riley couldn't help but snort at that statement, and Martha smiled sheepishly at him. "Just . . . anything."

"Is the Doctor with you? Is he there, now?"

Martha huffed. Of everything, that was what she wanted to talk about? "Mum, just leave it."

"It's a simple enough question."

"I'd better go."

"Er, no, Martha, wait!"

"See you, Mum," Martha hung up, then took a deep breath.

"Impact in 11:15. Heat shield failing. At ten percent."

***

"What are you doing?" McDonnell frowned as the Alchemist bent over Ashton, putting her fingers to his temples.

"If I can just scratch the surface of what's going on," the Alchemist closed her eyes, concentrating. "If I can find out why . . . " She gasped, her eyes flying open. "The sun!"

"What?"

"You mined the sun!" the Alchemist breathed, staggering away, looking at Ashton in shock. "You stripped its surface for cheap fuel! Why didn't you scan for life?"

"I don't understand," McDonnell shook her head.

"That sun is alive," the Alchemist pointed to the porthole. "A living organism. You scooped out its heart, used it for fuel, and now it's screaming!"

"What do you mean? How can a sun be alive?" McDonnell asked, surprised, as the Doctor blinked and bent down to do the same to Ashton. "Why are you saying that?"

"Because it was living in him," the Doctor looked up, narrowing his eyes as he found the same thing.

McDonnell gaped. "Oh, my God."

"Humans," the Doctor shook his head in disgust. "You grab whatever's nearest and bleed it dry! You should have scanned!"

"It takes too long," McDonnell shook her head. "We'd be caught. Fusion scoops are illegal."

"Are you sure you took care of Korwin?" the Alchemist asked McDonnell hurriedly.

Her eyes widened, thinking back.

***

"Here," Scannell ran up, taking the computer from Riley. "Help Martha."

"OK," Riley hurried to help Martha lock the clamp onto the bulkhead.

"Right," Scannell looked at the question, then blinked. "What's your favorite color?"

"You what?" Martha blinked.

"It's the question," Scannell shrugged.

"Purple," Riley answered, then blinked. "Or did I say orange?"

"Oh, God, you are kidding me," Martha groaned.

***

"Heat shields draining. At five percent. Impact in 4:47."

McDonnell ran into Engineering, seeing Korwin turn to block her. "You were right," she said. "It was my fault."

"Oi! You!" the Alchemist appeared behind her. "Come on! Let's run!"

"Alchemist!" McDonnell gasped as Korwin took off after her, and the Alchemist ran down the halls, the Doctor rushing past as he headed down the path Martha, Riley, and Scannell had taken.

"Impact in 3:43."

Korwin went around the corner –

The Alchemist shot him once in the chest, the setting on blunt, sending Korwin into the wall, making him slump.

***

"Impact in 2:17. Primary engines critical. Repeat, primary engines critical. Survival estimate projection zero percent."

"Kasterborous, we've got Korwin," the Alchemist said as he ran. "If you get the sun particles released, there's a chance he can survive."

"Got it," the Doctor nodded.

"Impact in 1:21. Life support systems reaching critical. Repeat, life support systems reaching critical. Impact in 1:06."

He burst into Area 1, seeing Scannell and Riley scrambling around. "Vent the engines!" he ordered. "Dump the fuel!"

"What?" Scannell gawked.

"Sun particles in the fuel," the Doctor answered. "Get rid of them. Do it, now!"

"Do as he says!" Martha turned to them.

Scannell and Riley quickly changed what they were doing, and the computer went off. "Fuel dump in progress. Fuel dump in progress."

"There!" Scannell grinned. "The auxiliaries are firing!"

"Impact averted. Impact averted. Impact averted."

"We're clear," Riley said in surprise. "We've got just enough reserves."

"Alchemist? McDonnell?" the Doctor went to the intercom. "What about Korwin?"

***

"He's fine," the Alchemist smiled, watching as the light dimmed from Korwin's eyes, McDonnell lifting up his helmet and kissing him in relief. "You got there just in time."

***

"This is never your ship," Scannell denied as they stood in Area 30, looking at the TARDIS.

"Compact, eh?" the Doctor smirked as the Alchemist brushed the TARDIS off. "And another good word: robust. Barely a scorch mark on her."

"We can't just leave you drifting with no fuel," Martha shook her head.

"We've sent out an official mayday," Riley answered. "The authorities'll pick us up soon enough."

"Though how we explain what happened," Scannell muttered.

"We tell them," Korwin answered. "The sun needs care and protection just like any other living thing."

"Thank you, Doctor, Alchemist," McDonnell smiled.

The Alchemist gave a salute and stepped into the TARDIS, the Alchemist going with her.

"So, er . . . " Riley cleared his throat. "You're off, then. No chance I'll see you again?"

"Not really," Martha shrugged. "It was nice, not dying with you. I reckon you'll find someone worth believing in."

He smiled. "I think I already did."

Martha yelped when she was shoved from behind, stumbling right into Riley. She glared over her shoulder, but saw no one there, then sighed and kissed him. If it made the Alchemist happy . . .

She smiled and pulled back. "Well done," she said. "Very hot."

Scannell snickered and clapped Riley on the back while McDonnell rolled her eyes. Martha stepped into the TARDIS and glared at the Alchemist, who was oh so innocently watching her. "Thanks for nothing," she spat.

"Me?" the Alchemist's eyes widened innocently. "Why, what did I do?"

"You . . . " Martha growled.

"OK!" the Doctor said loudly, interrupting a possible argument. "What do you say? Ice skating on the mineral lakes of Kurha. Fancy it?"

Both girls brightened. "Yeah!" Martha agreed immediately.

"Oh, by the way," the Alchemist snagged something off the TARDIS console. "You'll need this."

Martha gasped when she held up a TARDIS key on a chain. "Really?"

"Frequent flier's privilege," she nodded, handing it to her.

Martha took a look at it, then blinked. "Oh, no. Mum!" She turned away, then pulled out her phone and dialed.

"Hello?" Francine asked.

"It's me again," Martha said.

"Three calls in one day?"

"I'm sorry about earlier. Over emotional. Mad day."

"What are you doing tonight? Why don't you come round? I'll make something nice, and we can catch up."

"Yeah, tonight, do my best," Martha nodded. "Er . . . just remind me, what day is it again?"

"Election Day."

"Right, of course. I'll be round for tea . . . roughly."

The Alchemist snorted, and the Doctor playfully punched her in the arm. "And what about – ?" Francine began.

"Anyway, I've got to go," Martha smiled. "See you later. Love you."

***

Francine hung up when Martha did, and when the blonde woman listening in held out an evidence bag, Francine dropped her mobile in. "That's all?" she asked.

"For now," the blonde woman nodded. "Have you voted?"

"Of course. Just don't expect me to tell you who for."

"Thanks for all you're doing, Mrs. Jones," she smiled. "Mr. Saxon will be very grateful. He is very concerned about what the Doctor could possibly be doing with the Alchemist."

***

After all . . . the Alchemist was the Master's best friend as well. Looks like he's trying to find her, and thinks the Doctor's done something to her.

That'll be quite a school reunion, won't it?

Anyway, here's a surprise for you lot. Next up to be updated is NOT "The Bad Wolf Chronicles." I'm starting "The Diaries of a Teenage Time Lady" next, so keep an eye out for that!