Zara jumped to her feet, pulling various controls as The Doctor scrambled after her. The wall reversed on itself and Zara pulled a lever, materializing inside the Titanic.
...
The Doctor and Zara stepped out into a storage closet. Zara leaned round, rubbing a hand against the edge of The TARDIS to make sure it was ok, before The Doctor took her hand and lead her out of the closet. The two of them stepped out into a wood panelled room decorated with potted palms and Christmas decorations, people dressed in early 20th century clothing mingled around as waiters walked round, passing out hors d'oeuvres and champagne. In the background, a band played a sedate version of Jingle Bells played. Zara and The Doctor glanced over at two golden angels, clearly robots before wandering over to the window and peering out.
"Right." The Doctor muttered.
"Attention all passengers." A man on the PA called. "The Titanic is now in orbit above Sol 3, also known as Earth. Population: Human," Above the Earth, the Titanic floated. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Christmas."
...
"Max Capricorn Cruiseliners-the fastest, the farthest, the best." A bald man with a thin moustache and a cloudly glass eye said on a video. "And I should know because my name is Max." He grinned and his tooth glinted gold. The screen reverted to the cruise line logo and The Doctor turned away, dressed in his black suit and bow tie, looking over at a door as Zara stepped out, and his hearts stopped. Her very slightly waved hair gently dropped across her shoulders and she wore a thick strapped, dark blue ruffled dress that came down to her knees, a thick black ribbon around her middle and a pair of black tennis shoes.
"What?" Zara frowned, stopping in front of him as The Doctor tried to swallow, his mouth dry. She was so... beautiful. She put a hand up to her eye, "Have eye got an eye lash loose or something?"
"No." The Doctor stuttered. "Uh, no."
"Distracted by my eyes?" She joked, smirking at him.
"Yes." He laughed. "Your shining dark green eyes." He teased when Zara immediately sobered, staring at him sadly. Of course, that's what The Master said about her eyes... "I'm sorry-"
"It's fine." She shook her head, taking his hand. "Didn't really know the bloke. Well, I did, but not as my father."
He reached into his pocket, taking out a small silver ring, engraved with dark blue swirls round it, "Merry Christmas, genius." He winked at her, taking her right hand and sliding it onto her ring finger.
"I didn't get you anything..." Zara blinked. "It was nearly Christmas for Martha and I, obviously... I forgot though." She smiled slightly. "Thank you."
"C'mon." The Doctor smiled, walking off towards reception.
The Steward walked past them, "Merry Christmas, sir, ma'am." He nodded to them.
"Merry Christmas." The Doctor and Zara smiled.
Making their way back into the main lounge, the two of them making their way around the room when they walked past a man in a black suit, Rickston Slade, talking on his vone.
"It's not a holiday for me, not while I've still got my vone." Rickston spat. "Now do as I say and sell." He turned and walked off, Zara eyeing him as The Doctor pulled her up to one of the robotic angel, a Host.
"Evening." He nodded to the Host. "Passengers 57 and 58. Terrible memory. Remind me. Uh, you would be..."
"Information: Heavenly Host supplying tourist information." The Host replied.
"Good, so, um...tell me-cos I'm an idiot-" He winked at Zara. "She isn't." He looked back to the Host. "Where are we from?"
"Information: the Titanic is en route from the planet Sto in the Cassavalian Belt. The purpose of the cruise is to experience primitive cultures."
"Titanic." Zara frowned in amusement. "Um...who...thought of the name?"
"Information: it was chosen as the most famous vessel of the planet Earth."
"Did they tell you why it was famous?" The Doctor asked.
"Information: all designations are chosen by Mr Max Capricorn, president of Max-Max-Max..." It's voice turned higher in pitch, repeating itself.
"Ooh, bit of a glitch." Zara winced as The Doctor reached into his pocket for the sonic.
The Steward suddenly hurried over, seeing the Host malfunction, "Sir, madam, we can handle this." He waved over two other stewards who rushed over and switched off the Host, taking it away. "Software problem, that's all. Leave it with us, sir, ma'am. Merry Christmas." He smiled, following after the other stewards. "That's another one down." He muttered to them. "What's going on with these things?"
...
The Doctor and Zara sat at a table, Zara's legs laying across The Doctor's lap.
"I just..." Zara sighed, laying her head on The Doctor's chest. "Don't understand why she took the blame for me."
"Because you were her daughter, that's why."
"I killed him though." She whispered before bolting up right, looking at him. "Oh my god, I killed the only other Time Lord apart from you! I killed one of only two Time Lords, oh my-"
"Ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh!" The Doctor interrupted, rubbing a hand up and down her arm. "It's ok, it's ok. I'm not on my own anymore though, am I?"
Zara frowned, thinking about it, before her eyes widened, "But I'm human!" She gasped as The Doctor gave her a look. "But I'm not... wait, what does that make me? Like... human plus? Human plus Time Lord? Time Lady? No!" She snapped, shaking her head. "I am human, with one life and-"
"Zara." The Doctor said quietly. "You're a Time Lady. I'm sorry," He started to smile. "But now we're not on our own! And-"
"No!" Zara snapped, jumping to her feet and shaking her head. She turned round, getting distracted by a short blonde waitress, Astrid Peth, drop a tray of drinks as Rickston bumped into her.
"For Tov's sake, look where you're going!" Rickston shouted at her. "This jacket's a genuine Earth antique."
"I'm sorry, sir." Astrid muttered, kneeling down to pick up the broken glass.
"You'll be sorry when it comes off your wages, sweetheart. Staffed by idiots. No wonder Max Capricorn is going down the drain." He rolled his eyes and stormed off.
The Doctor moved over to her, Zara following, "Careful." The Doctor smiled, helping her pick up the glass as Zara watched. "There we go."
"Thank you, sir." Astrid smiled. "I can manage."
"I never said you couldn't. I'm the Doctor, by the way." He nodded up at Zara. "This is Zara Saxon."
"Astrid, sir, ma'am. Astrid Peth."
"Nice to meet you, Astrid Peth. Merry Christmas."
Astrid stared at him, surprised, "Merry Christmas, sir."
"Just "Doctor", not "sir"."
"You enjoying the cruise?"
"Um...Yeah, I suppose." Zara shrugged. "I don't know. It doesn't quite work, a cruise just us." The Doctor looked up at her, she was clearly not taking Martha leaving very well. He was thinking now that as soon as they'd had a look around to find what the ship that had crashed into them was, they should have left. Zara had a lot to sort out in her head. Not just everything since The Master had taken her from the Silo, but losing Martha and everything with Jack.
Astrid stood up, "You're not with anyone?"
"No, no. Just us." The Doctor explained as he stood up. "Just, uh...used to be but, uh... No. What about you? Long way from home, Planet Sto."
"Doesn't feel that different. I spent three years working at the spaceport diner, travelled all the way here...and I'm still waiting on tables." She sighed, walking away.
The Doctor followed after her, "No shore leave?" He asked.
"We're not allowed." She sighed, clearing a table by the window. "They can't afford the insurance. I just wanted to try it, just once. I used to watch the ships heading off to the stars and I always dreamt of...It sounds daft."
"You dreamt of another sky. New sun, new air, new life. A whole universe teeming with life. Why stand still when there're all that life out there?"
"So..." Astrid eyed the two of them. "You travel a lot?"
"All the time. Just for fun."
Zara laughed sarcastically, glancing out of the window, distracted, "Well, that's the plan. Never quite works."
Astrid frowned at her, "Must be rich, though." She said to The Doctor, turning back to him.
"Haven't got a penny." He leaned towards her. "Stowaways."
Astrid's eyes widened, "Kidding."
"Seriously."
"No!"
"Oh, yeah."
"How did you get on board?"
"Accident." He waved a hand at her. "We've got this, sort of, ship thing. We were just rebuilding her. Left the defences down, bumped into the Titanic. Here we are. Bit of a party, we thought "Why not?"."
"I should report you."
"Go on then."
"I'll get you a drink..." She smiled. "On the house." She whispered before walking off.
"She fancies you." Zara muttered.
The Doctor shot her a glare, before watching Astrid as she passed a group of first class passengers who were pointing and laughing at a large couple dressed in purple country western outfits, sitting at a table and eating.
"Just ignore 'em." The man commented to his wife.
The Doctor and Zara moved over, sitting next to them, "Something's tickled them." The Doctor commented.
"They told us it was fancy dress." The woman muttered. "Very funny, I'm sure."
"They're just pickin' on us because we haven't paid." The man explained. "We won our tickets in a competition."
"I had to name the five husbands of Joofie Crystalle in "By the Light of the Asteroid". Did you ever watch..."
Zara frowned, thinking about it, "Is that the one with the twins?" She asked.
"That's it. Oh, it's marvelous."
"Probably not good enough for that lot." The man remarked, motioning to the laughing crow. "They think we should be in steerage."
The Doctor reached into his pocket, "Can't have that, can we?" He put the sonic at his side, aiming it at the laughing crowd, making the champagne on the table pop it's cork, spraying them.
"Did-Did you do that?" The woman gasped.
"Maybe." the Doctor shrugged, putting the screwdriver away.
"We like you."
"We do." The man agreed, holding out his hand to The Doctor. "I'm Morvin van Hoff." The Doctor smiled, shaking his hand. "This is my good woman, Foon."
The Doctor shook Foon's hand, "Foon. Hello, I'm the Doctor." He out his arm around Zara. "This is Zara." Zara smiled back at the couple.
"Ooh, I'm gonna need a Doctor by the time I'm finished with this buffet." Foon laughed. "Have a buffalo wing." She nodded to the plate on the table. "They must be enormous, these buffalo, so many wings."
The Doctor nodded, picking up a buffalo wing and holding it out to Zara who shook her head.
The Doctor frowned, "What's wrong?" He asked quietly.
"I murdered my father, let my mother take the blame, found out the man who raised me was with me for a year without realising and lost my best friend in the space of a few hours." She said under her breath. "I feel like I'm going to be sick any minute."
"Attention please." The PA called as The Doctor stared sadly at Zara. "Shore leave tickets Red 6-7 now activated. Red 6-7."
Foon took out a red ticket from her pocket, "Red 6-7. That's us." She stood up, looking at The Doctor and Zara. "Are you Red 6-7?"
"Might as well be." Zara laughed, shaking The Doctor from his thoughts.
"Come on." Morvin smiled, putting his arm around Foon. "We're going to Earth."
...
An older man, Mr Copper, dressed in a tweed suit held up a red sign that read"6-7".
"Red 6-7. Red 6-7." Mr Copper called. "This way, fast as you can."
The Van Hoffs rushed over, The Doctor and Zara following when Astrid approached.
"I got you that drink." She whispered as Zara eyed only one glass on the tray Astrid carried.
"And I got you a treat. Come on." The Doctor muttered, taking the tray from here and setting it on a table.
"Red 6-7 departing shortly." Mr Copper called.
The Doctor stepped forward with Zara, holding up the psychic paper, "Red 6-7 plus one."
"Uh, quickly, sir, and please take three teleport bracelets if you would."
"I'll get the sack." Astrid hissed as The Doctor took three teleport bracelets, passing one to Zara, the other to Astrid.
"Brand new sky." The Doctor smiled.
"To repeat, I am Mr Copper, the ship's historian, and I shall be taking you to old London town in the country of U.K. ruled over by good King Wenceslas." Mr Copper explained to the crowd. "Now human beings worshipped the great god Santa, a creature with fearsome claws, and his wife Mary. And every Christmas Eve the people of U.K. go to war with the country of Turkey." Zara raised an eyebrow at the man, amused. "They then eat the Turkey people for Christmas dinner...like savages."
"Excuse me, sorry, sorry," The Doctor interrupted softly. "But, um...where did you get all this from?"
"Well, I have a first class degree in Earthonomics. Now stand by..."
Suddenly, a small red man with spikes all over his face, dressed in a black suit came running through the crowd, "And me! And me! Red 6-7!" He called with a high pitched voice.
"Well, take a bracelet, sir?"
"Uh, but, um, hold on, hold on." The Doctor said, looking down at the red man as Zara smiled at him, clearly enjoying seeing a range of aliens. "What was your name?"
"Bannakaffalatta." It replied.
"OK, Bannakaffalatta. But it's Christmas Eve down there. Late-night shopping, tons of people. He's like a walking conker. No offence, but you'll cause a riot 'cause the streets are going to be packed with shoppers and parties..." He was cut off as the teleported away...
...
And reappeared on an empty street.
The Doctor frowned, looking around, "Oh."
"Bloody hell." Zara muttered, rubbing her arms. "Christmas, hovering over Earth, why didn't I think of bringing a jacket?!" She shivered and The Doctor put his arm around her shoulder in an attempt to warm her up. "God, I spent an awful lot of time here, didn't I?" She frowned, looking round the street. "So where is everyone? It's Christmas, it should be packed..."
"Now, spending money-" Mr Copper called to the group. "I have a credit card in Earth currency if you want to by trinkets or, uh, stockings or the local delicacy, which is known as "beef" but don't stray too far, it could be dangerous. Any day now they start boxing."
"It should be full." The Doctor muttered.
"It should be busy." Zara nodded in agreement. "Something's wrong."
"But it's beautiful." Astrid whispered, looking around in awe.
"Really?" The Doctor frowned. "Do you think so? It's just a street. The pyramids are beautiful, and New Zealand..."
"But it's a different planet. I'm standing on a different planet. Th-there's concrete...and shops, alien shops, real alien shops! Look, no stars in the sky. And it smells. It stinks!" She gasped. "This is amazing! Thank you!" She hugged The Doctor.
"Yeah? Come on then, let's have a look." He grabbed Zara's hand, pulling the two women over to a paper booth where inside, stood an older man bundled in winter clothes. "Hello there! Sorry, uh, obvious question, but where's everybody gone?"
"Oh-ho, scared!" The man laughed.
"Right, yes." Zara nodded, as if it was obvious. "Scared of what?"
"Where have you been living? London at Christmas? Not safe, is it?"
"Why?" The Doctor asked.
"Well, it's them, up above," He pointed up at the sky. "Look, Christmas before last we had that big bloody spaceship, everyone standing on a roof." He pointed to the small TV next to him, showing a clip. "And then last year, that Christmas Star electrocuting all over the place, draining the Thames."
"This place is amazing." Astrid remarked.
"And this year, Lord knows what. So everybody's scarpered, gone to the country. All except me...and Her Majesty." He stood proudly, looking at the TV.
"Her Majesty the Queen has confirmed that she will be staying in Buckingham Palace throughout the festive season to show the people of London, and the world, that there's nothing to fear." The TV reported
"God bless her!" The man saluted. "We stand vigil."
"Well, between you and me, I think her Majesty's got it right." The Doctor smiled. "Far as I know, this year, nothing to worry about."
Suddenly, they teleported away, leaving the man staring, mouth open.
...
The group reappeared back in reception.
"I was in mid-sentence." The Doctor remarked, annoyed.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that." Mr Copper apologised. "A bit of a problem. If I could have your bracelets-"
The Steward joined them, "Apologies, ladies and gentlemen, Bannakaffalatta, we seem to have suffered a slight power fluctuation. If you'd like to return to the festivities. And on behalf of Max Capricorn Cruiseliners, free drinks will be provided."
The ticket holders grumbled to themselves and departed.
"That was the best, the best!" Astrid whispered to The Doctor before leaving.
Zara approached the Steward with a frown, "What sort of power fluctuation?"
...
The Doctor leaned against the wall, looking out at the guests as they enjoyed themselves, keeping an eye out as Zara tried to pry the screen playing the Max Capricorn video open.
"Got it." Zara muttered, fiddling with the settings and looking back on the screen as it changed to show the Titanic in space as The Doctor shared a smile with Astrid, too distracted to notice what Zara was doing. Her eyes widened, seeing the shields offline before peering round and out of the window to see meteors approaching them. She burst back to the frame, turning on the comm, "Is that the bridge? I need to talk to the captain." She said urgently, shaking Te Doctor from his thoughts. He looked over in alarm, leering round at the screen and realising the shields were down. "You've got a meteoroid storm coming in West 0 by North 2."
"Who is this?" The captain replied.
"Never mind that. Your shields are down. Check your scanners, Captain. You've got meteoroids coming in and no shielding!"
"You have no authorization. You will clear the comms at once."
"Yeah? Just look starboard!"
Two stewards came up to Zara, leading her off, "Come with me, madam." The Steward said quietly.
The Doctor ran after her, arguing with the stewards, "You've got a rock storm heading for this ship and the shields are down!"
Zara pulled from their grips, bolting up to the stage where the band played, "Everyone, listen to me! This is an emergency! Get to the lifeb-" She was interrupted by a Host covering her mouth and dragging her off stage as The Doctor, Astrid, the Van Hoffs and Bannalaffalatta watched in shock.
Zara was dragged forcibly from the room, "Look out the windows!" She hissed to Rickston as she passed him.
"Oi!" The Doctor shouted, bolting across the room after Zara. "Let her go!" He caught up with them, trying to pull Zara out of their grasps. "If you don't believe her, check the shields yourself!"
Astrid suddenly ran after them, "Sir, I can vouch for her!"
"Look, Steward, he's just had a bit too much to drink." Morvin said, him and Foon also following.
"Sir, something seems to have gone wrong." Mr Copper called. "All the teleports are down."
"Not now!" The Steward snapped.
...
The Steward pulled Zara down a maintenance corridor, The Doctor, Astrid, Mr Copper, Bannakaffalatta and the Van Hoffs following after her.
"The shields are down, we are going to get hit." Zara snapped as everyone began to talk at once.
Rickston ran caught up with them, "Oi! Steward! I'm telling you the shields are down!" He called.
"Listen to him!" The Doctor growled, pulling at the Steward to let go of Zara, Astrid trying to keep him calm. "Listen to him!"
...
Three meteors hit the ship, sending everyone flying.
...
The Doctor grabbed Zara, protecting her as they were thrown to the floor. The both of them breathed heavily as the shaking stopped, the place in ruins, and looked around. The Doctor began to check Zara over, before noticing a rip across her dress, exposing the red scar across her stoumach. His eyes widened, tracing a finger over them.
"These aren't new." The Doctor mumbled. "They've healed over, when..."
"I'm fine." Zara gulped as The Doctor pulled her to her feet. "It's not a big deal..." She sighed, pulling off the rest of her dress over her head, making The Doctor's eyes widen as he eyed her white tank top that came just above her belly button and black shorts underneath. She rolled her eyes at him, as he stared at her tanned, flat stoumach, "Well I'm not wearing a ripped dress, am I?"
The Doctor shook his head, looking as everyone began to look around and shushed them, "It's stopping." He whispered. He moved over, helping Astrid to her feet. "You all right?"
"I think so." Astrid nodded.
"Bad name for a ship."
"Either that or that suit is really unlucky." Zara laughed, eyeing his suit. "Big human mutant, space Titanic crashing, what next hm?" Everyone began to scramble to their feet and The Doctor kneeled down next to one of the stewards to find he was dead.
"Ev-everyone..." The Steward stammered. "Ladies and gentlemen, Bannakaffalatta, I must apologize on behalf of Max Capricorn Cruiseliners. We seem to have had a small collision."
Zara moved over to a comm panel, The Doctor following.
"Small?" Morvin cried.
"You know how much I paid for my ticket?" Rickston snapped.
"If I could have silence, ladies, gentlemen..." The Steward begged as they ignored him, continuing to argue. "Quiet!" They all suddenly stopped. "Thank you. I-I'm sure Max Capricorn Cruiseliners will be able to reimburse you for any inconvenience. But first I would point out that we are very much alive."
Astrid turned to Mr Copper, who was still on the floor, "Are you all right?" She asked, dabbing a cut on his head as The Doctor headed back over to the others.
"She is, after all, a fine, sturdy ship. If you could all stay here while I ascertain the exact nature of the-the situation." He moved over to a hatch to open it.
Zara span round, "Don't open it!" She shouted.
The hatch flew open and the Steward was sucked out into space by the vacuum. Everyone grabbed hold of things around them in a panic. The Doctor looked over at Zara, pulling out the sonic and throwing it to Zara who turned back to the control panel, replacing the shield.
"Oxygen shield stabilized." The computer announced.
"Everyone all right?" The Doctor gasped. "Zar?"
"Hm." She nodded, throwing the sonic back to him.
"Astrid?"
"Yeah." Astrid panted.
"Foon? Morvin? Mr Copper? Bannakaffalatta?"
"Yes." Bannakaffalatta called.
"You," He nodded to Rickston. "What was your name?"
"Ah, Rickston Slade." He replied.
"You all right?"
"No thanks to that idiot."
Astrid gasped, "The steward just died."
"Then he's a dead idiot."
She gasped again, taking a step towards him.
"All right, calm down." The Doctor warned. "Just stay still, all of you. Hold on." He walked towards the hatch opening, Zara stepping next to him and taking his hand.
"What happened?" Astrid asked, moving over next to them. "How come the shields were down?"
"I don't think it was an accident."
They looked out into space, looking at the bodies floating among the scrap above the Earth.
"How many dead?"
"We're alive, just focus on that." Zara breathed.
"I will get you out of here, Astrid. I promise." The Doctor said, turning to Astrid. "Look at me." She looked up at him. "I promise." She nodded at him. "Good. Now," He looked around. "If we can get to Reception, I've got a spaceship tucked away. We can all get on board-"
"Doctor." Zara said softly, staring out.
The Doctor followed her gaze to The TARDIS, floating above the Earth, "Oh."
"What is it? What's wrong?" Astrid frowned.
"That's my spaceship over there." The Doctor sighed as Zara lay her head on The Doctor's arm.
"Where?"
"There, that box. That little blue box."
"That's a spaceship?"
"Oi, don't knock it."
"It's a bit small."
"A bit distant." Zara sighed. "Trouble is, once it's set adrift, it's programmed to lock onto the nearest centre of gravity and that would be...the Earth." She turned around, moving back over to the comm, activating it. "Deck 22 to the bridge. Deck 22 to the bridge. Is there anyone there?"
"This is the bridge." A male voice replied.
"Oh hello, sailor." The Doctor cheered, moving over to the comm. "Good to hear you. What's the situation up there?"
"We've got air. The oxygen field is holding. But the captain..." He paused a moment, "He's dead. He did it." His voice began to break. "I watched while he took down the shields. There was nothing I could do. I tried. I did try."
"All right. Just stay calm. Tell me your name. What's your name?"
"Midshipman Frame."
"Nice to meet you, sir."
Zara smiled softly, "What's the state of the engines?" She asked.
"They're um... Hold on." He suddenly groaned.
The Doctor frowned, "Have you been injured?"
"I'm all right. Oh my vot. They're cycling down."
"Oh my vot indeed." Zara muttered. "That's a nuclear storm drive, yes?"
"Yeah."
"The moment they're gone, we lose orbit." The Doctor frowned.
"The planet."
"Oh yes. If we hit the planet, the nuclear storm explodes and wipes out life on Earth." He looked to Zara. "Uhm..."
"Right," Zara sighed, nodding to herself. "Midshipman, I need you to fire up the engine containment field and feed it back into the core."
The Doctor smirked at her, placing a kiss to her head, "Genius." He muttered.
"Idiot." She shook her head.
"This is never going to work." Frame remarked.
"Trust me, it'll keep the engines going until we can get to the bridge." She turned off the comm and the two of them turned back to face the others.
"We're going to die!" Foon cried.
"Are you saying someone's done this on purpose?" Mr Copper asked.
"We're just a cruise ship!" Astrid shook her head.
"Okay, okay." The Doctor interrupted. "Tch, tch. First things first. One: we're going to climb through this ship. B..."
"No...two." Zara corrected.
"We're going to reach the bridge. Three-or C: we're going to save the Titanic. And, coming in a very low Four or D or that little "iv" in brackets they use in footnotes...why. Right then, follow me." Him and Zara turned to leave.
"Hang on a minute." Rickston called after them. "Who put you two in charge and who the hell are you anyway?"
The Doctor turned back, "I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I'm the man who's gonna save your lives and all six billion of the people on the planet below."
"And me?" Zara raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm Zara Saxon. I'm a human being." The Doctor filled with disappointment slightly. "I'm the only being in the whole of time and space who is a complete paradox and I'm about to stop this ship crashing." The Doctor smiled at her, proudly. "You got a problem with that?"
Rickston stared at them, miffed, "No."
"In that case, allons-y!" The Doctor cheered, pulling Zara off.
...
The Doctor slowly pushed open a metal door that lead into a stairwell littered with debris and sparking cables.
"Careful." The Doctor warned, holding Zara's hand tightly. "Follow me." The two of them went ahead, clearing the way as Astrid, Mr Copper, Rickston and the Van Hoffs followed them.
"Rather ironic when this is very much in the spirit of Christmas." Mr Copper remarked. "It's a festival of violence. They say that human beings only survive depending on whether they've been good or bad. It's barbaric."
"Actually, that's not true." The Doctor frowned. "Christmas is a time of-of peace and thanksgiving and...what am I on about? Christmas is always like this." He pulled away some stuff, uncovering a dormant Host. "We've got a Host. Strength of ten. If we can mend it, we can use it to fix the rubble."
"We can do robotics, both of us." Morvin called.
"We worked on the milk market back on Sto." Foon nodded. "It's all robot staff."
"See if you can get it working." The Doctor smiled, turning to Zara and Astrid. "Let's have a look."
Everyone but the Van Hoffs climbed the stairs, only to find their path blocked by wreckage.
"It's blocked." Astrid sighed.
"So what do we do?"
"We shift it." Zara nodded.
"That's the attitude." The Doctor smiled, squeezing her hand before looking back at the others, "Rickston, Mr Copper, and you, Bannakaffalatta...look, can I just call you Banna? It's gonna save a lot of time."
"No!" Bannakaffalatta cried. "Bannakaffalatta!"
"All right then, Bannakaffalatta, there's a gap in the middle. See if you can get through."
"Easy. Good." He shuffled through, squeezing the opening. The ship suddenly lurched again, sending loose debris falling around them.
"This whole thing could come crashing down any minute!" Rickston exclaimed.
"Oh, Rickston, I forgot." Zara snapped over her shoulder. "Did you get our message?"
"No. What message?"
"Shut up!" She shouted, making The Doctor laughed.
"Bannakaffalatta made it." Bannakaffalatta called.
"I'm small enough, I can get through." Astrid said, making her way through the hole.
"Careful." The Doctor called.
"I'm fine."
"Thing is, how are Mr and Mrs Fatso gonna get through this gap?" Rickston asked.
"We make the gap bigger." Zara muttered. "So start." She shoved a piece of metal into his hand. She winced, rubbing the scars on her stoumach.
"You alright?" The Doctor asked quietly, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
Zara nodded, "Still a bit painful." She mumbled. "I think I might have rescraped it when we fell."
"Why did he do it?" He asked. He'd worked out easily enough that the scars must have come from The Master... Zara ignored him, continuing to clear the rubble. "The Master, Zara. Why?"
"I was protecting Lucy." She replied. "She was heavily pregnant, I couldn't let him hurt that baby. Technically, I was saving my own life, so sorry for being so selfish." She snapped. The Doctor glared at her, putting a hand on her scars, his hand beginning to glow orange, "No!" She hissed, pushing him away, the scar still remaining on her. "You are not wasting your regeneration energy on me."
The Doctor opened his mouth to say something when Foon and Morvin's laughter floated up.
Rickston looked, clearly missing the previous interactions between The Doctor and Zara, "What happened? Did they find a donut?"
"I can clear it from this side." Astrid called through. "Just tell me if it starts moving." They waited for a few minutes, with no answer.
"What's going on up there?!" The Doctor called up.
Astried peered through, smiling, "I think Bannakaffalatta and I just got engaged."
Zara smirked, "Nice." She laughed.