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fandomweekly2023-12-08 02:03 pm
badly_knitted) wrote in fandomweekly2023-12-08 02:03 pm
Entry tags:
[#202] TARDIS To The Rescue (Torchwood/Doctor Who)
Theme Prompt: #202 – Catastrophe
Title: TARDIS To The Rescue
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 1000
Summary: Catastrophes are always happening, but even though this one can’t be prevented, lives can still be saved.
In such a vast universe, catastrophes happened all the time. They were part of the natural order, and many were fixed points, necessary in order to keep the universe running the way it should: not exactly smoothly, but without too many bumps in the road, as it were.
The Doctor could safely ignore those since there was nothing he could, or should, do about them, but there were other catastrophic events that were best dealt with quickly, or prevented altogether. Having a ship that could travel through time as well as through space made such missions a whole lot easier.
This particular disaster couldn’t be prevented. It wasn’t exactly a fixed point it time, and in theory the TARDIS could have latched onto the meteor that was currently on a collision course with the planet and divert it, but that would merely have delayed the inevitable. The planet’s wildly eccentric orbit was steadily decaying, and had been for some time, but any adjustments to it would have caused the planet itself to disintegrate, which wouldn’t do the life forms living there any good.
The people living on another planet in the same system had, or would, or maybe were… Even for a time traveller like the Doctor, tenses got a bit difficult to figure out at times. Suffice to say that the Dellabrixians did what they could to rescue the creatures that had evolved on the ill-fated world, but they were limited in how many trips they could make back and forth before it was once again out of range, so they’d only been able to save a small percentage. So many creatures would be wiped out when the meteor hit, but maybe that didn’t have to happen.
All the Doctor needed to do was visit the Dellabrix system at a time just after the Dellabrixians themselves had to give up their rescue attempt, but before the planet was destroyed, and pack as many creatures as he could into the TARDIS before transporting them to a new world. He’d have approximately one hundred and forty-three days, which ought to be plenty of time.
Well, perhaps he’d been a bit overly optimistic, because his first attempts at landing hadn’t worked out too well. Seismic activity caused by the shift in the planet’s orbit combined with the pull of the approaching meteor had practically tossed the TARDIS back out into space again, like a bucking horse unseating its rider.
Picking himself up off the floor, the Doctor dusted himself down, retrieved his Fez, and clapped it back on his head. Wearing it always helped him think when he was faced with a difficult situation.
“Well, that didn’t quite work, did it?” he asked his passengers. “Never mind, we’ll just try again. If at first you don’t succeed, and all that.”
“You’ve already tried three times,” Ianto pointed out from where he and Jack were propped against the wall, hanging on to convenient handholds, having decided it was safer to remain seated.
“It’s just a case of finding a more stable spot to set down.”
“You said that last time. This mission isn’t getting off to a very promising start.”
“Yes, well, it’s not an exact science, just experiencing a few ups and downs. And we may have suffered some minor damage to the transducer coil on that last bounce.”
“Of course we did,” Ianto sighed. “So much for an easy rescue.”
“It’s not the Doctor’s fault,” Jack said. “Besides…”
Ianto cut his husband off. “If you’re about to say anything along the lines of ‘Could anything else possibly go wrong?’, just don’t; you’ve already jinxed us enough.”
“That’s superstitious talk. We’ll be fine. Nosy’s not worried.”
Their Fluff, currently draped across their laps so they could keep it from flying across the console room during the ‘ups and downs’ gave a noncommittal hum. Ianto smoothed its ruffled fur, the part that was within his reach.
“Alright!” the Doctor said cheerfully. “Here we go! Definitely landing this time!”
In fact, it took four more attempts and several minor repairs before the TARDIS was finally able to touch down. Then everyone aboard needed an hour or so to regain their equilibrium and find their balance. The planet was a bit… twitchy.
Nevertheless, as soon as they could, everyone ventured outside. The planet was, or had been, beautiful, a mix of jungles and open plains, but now an aura of apprehension hung over it. The natives were worried.
Nosy stretched out flat on the ground, emitting a hum so low it made the surface vibrate beneath their feet. Within moments, Fluffs started to appear, slithering towards them through the vegetation.
“What about the other creatures?” Ianto asked.
“They’ll come.” The Doctor grinned. “The word will spread, Fluff to Fluff. In the meantime, we need to start digging up plants and moving them to the room the TARDIS has prepared. The smaller native species will have a better chance of surviving if we can provide them with the habitat they’re accustomed to.”
It was back-breaking work, but while Nosy spread the word to the other Fluffs, drawing in as many as possible, the Time Lord and the two immortals worked almost around the clock, moving as many jungle plants as possible into the TARDIS.
Soon, Fluffs of all sizes and colours were streaming through the open door, many with other creatures perched on their backs. Things like flightless birds, small, vaguely reptilian animals, furry blobs with large eyes and no visible legs, all followed the Fluffs, coming from every corner of the continent.
The TARDIS visited each of the five inhabited continents in turn, welcoming in every creature that reached its doors. Some probably were left behind, trapped or injured during the frequent earth tremors, but the vast majority were successfully saved.
At a safe distance, they watched as the meteor hit, obliterating the planet; a catastrophe, but an acceptable one.
The Doctor grinned, clapping his hands. “Right, let’s take you all to your new home!”
The End
The Doctor could safely ignore those since there was nothing he could, or should, do about them, but there were other catastrophic events that were best dealt with quickly, or prevented altogether. Having a ship that could travel through time as well as through space made such missions a whole lot easier.
This particular disaster couldn’t be prevented. It wasn’t exactly a fixed point it time, and in theory the TARDIS could have latched onto the meteor that was currently on a collision course with the planet and divert it, but that would merely have delayed the inevitable. The planet’s wildly eccentric orbit was steadily decaying, and had been for some time, but any adjustments to it would have caused the planet itself to disintegrate, which wouldn’t do the life forms living there any good.
The people living on another planet in the same system had, or would, or maybe were… Even for a time traveller like the Doctor, tenses got a bit difficult to figure out at times. Suffice to say that the Dellabrixians did what they could to rescue the creatures that had evolved on the ill-fated world, but they were limited in how many trips they could make back and forth before it was once again out of range, so they’d only been able to save a small percentage. So many creatures would be wiped out when the meteor hit, but maybe that didn’t have to happen.
All the Doctor needed to do was visit the Dellabrix system at a time just after the Dellabrixians themselves had to give up their rescue attempt, but before the planet was destroyed, and pack as many creatures as he could into the TARDIS before transporting them to a new world. He’d have approximately one hundred and forty-three days, which ought to be plenty of time.
Well, perhaps he’d been a bit overly optimistic, because his first attempts at landing hadn’t worked out too well. Seismic activity caused by the shift in the planet’s orbit combined with the pull of the approaching meteor had practically tossed the TARDIS back out into space again, like a bucking horse unseating its rider.
Picking himself up off the floor, the Doctor dusted himself down, retrieved his Fez, and clapped it back on his head. Wearing it always helped him think when he was faced with a difficult situation.
“Well, that didn’t quite work, did it?” he asked his passengers. “Never mind, we’ll just try again. If at first you don’t succeed, and all that.”
“You’ve already tried three times,” Ianto pointed out from where he and Jack were propped against the wall, hanging on to convenient handholds, having decided it was safer to remain seated.
“It’s just a case of finding a more stable spot to set down.”
“You said that last time. This mission isn’t getting off to a very promising start.”
“Yes, well, it’s not an exact science, just experiencing a few ups and downs. And we may have suffered some minor damage to the transducer coil on that last bounce.”
“Of course we did,” Ianto sighed. “So much for an easy rescue.”
“It’s not the Doctor’s fault,” Jack said. “Besides…”
Ianto cut his husband off. “If you’re about to say anything along the lines of ‘Could anything else possibly go wrong?’, just don’t; you’ve already jinxed us enough.”
“That’s superstitious talk. We’ll be fine. Nosy’s not worried.”
Their Fluff, currently draped across their laps so they could keep it from flying across the console room during the ‘ups and downs’ gave a noncommittal hum. Ianto smoothed its ruffled fur, the part that was within his reach.
“Alright!” the Doctor said cheerfully. “Here we go! Definitely landing this time!”
In fact, it took four more attempts and several minor repairs before the TARDIS was finally able to touch down. Then everyone aboard needed an hour or so to regain their equilibrium and find their balance. The planet was a bit… twitchy.
Nevertheless, as soon as they could, everyone ventured outside. The planet was, or had been, beautiful, a mix of jungles and open plains, but now an aura of apprehension hung over it. The natives were worried.
Nosy stretched out flat on the ground, emitting a hum so low it made the surface vibrate beneath their feet. Within moments, Fluffs started to appear, slithering towards them through the vegetation.
“What about the other creatures?” Ianto asked.
“They’ll come.” The Doctor grinned. “The word will spread, Fluff to Fluff. In the meantime, we need to start digging up plants and moving them to the room the TARDIS has prepared. The smaller native species will have a better chance of surviving if we can provide them with the habitat they’re accustomed to.”
It was back-breaking work, but while Nosy spread the word to the other Fluffs, drawing in as many as possible, the Time Lord and the two immortals worked almost around the clock, moving as many jungle plants as possible into the TARDIS.
Soon, Fluffs of all sizes and colours were streaming through the open door, many with other creatures perched on their backs. Things like flightless birds, small, vaguely reptilian animals, furry blobs with large eyes and no visible legs, all followed the Fluffs, coming from every corner of the continent.
The TARDIS visited each of the five inhabited continents in turn, welcoming in every creature that reached its doors. Some probably were left behind, trapped or injured during the frequent earth tremors, but the vast majority were successfully saved.
At a safe distance, they watched as the meteor hit, obliterating the planet; a catastrophe, but an acceptable one.
The Doctor grinned, clapping his hands. “Right, let’s take you all to your new home!”
The End