#ian chesterton x barbara wright | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

the-doctor-3000 · 11 months

Text

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 {Doctor Who Fanfic}

Chapter 2: The Cave Of Skulls

Into the TARDIS's console room, Emma was pacing around the room as she was biting her fingernails anxiously and took slow deep breaths. This was crazy. This couldn't possibly be real.

"Okay okay okay. . ." Emma said, she turned to the Doctor and Susan but not quite addressing them. "This is either a really long dream or my brothers are pulling a prank on me."

"Why would they prank you?" Susan frowned.

She shrugged. "I- I don't know! Some of them are incredibly mischievous, always coming up with a prank. No matter how far it may get." She paused as she took yet another breath.

"Then tell me, miss Jones," the Doctor spoke, his voice wasn't as gentle as his granddaughter's. "If this is a trick, how did these brothers of yours afford for all of this?"

He gestured around at the TARDIS. Emma realised that he made a valid point. She stopped walking as she thought about it. Her family had money, yes, but they weren't rich either. There was no way her brothers could recreate the whole thing. Her mind also travelled when she went around the TARDIS and then inside it. This wasn't an illusion, she could tell that much, but it couldn't be real. Finally, she came to a decision.

"I see. . ." she muttered slowly. "This is just a dream, then!"

The Doctor scoffed as he rolled his eyes, Susan bit her lip. The former turned away from the black haired female and focused on the monitor. Barbara, still on the chair was finally coming to. She knelt down to rouse Ian, who also still laid on the floor. She shook him gently. "Ian? Ian?"

He rose to a sitting position, holding his head. "I'm alright. Oh...I must have hit my head." He looked around. "The movement's stopped."

Before them, the Doctor and Susan stared at the monitor from the control console. The cylindrical column had stopped moving. They checked the console's controls.

"The base is steady." said Susan.

"Well, sand, rock formation. . .mm, good." said the Doctor.

"We've left 1963."

"Oh yes, undoubtedly. I'll be able to tell you where presently." He blinked at a console readout. "Zero? That's not right. I'm afraid this year-o-meter is not calculating properly. . . .hmm. Well, anyway, the journey's finished." He looked down at Ian, still sitting on the floor. "What are you doing down there?"

"What have you done?" Barbara demanded.

Ian spoke, "Barbara, you don't believe all this nonsense?"

"Well, look at the scanner screen." said Susan to the three.

The Doctor pointed at the screen. "Yes, look up there." Ian and Barbara got to their feet while Emma took a look out of curiosity. "They don't understand, and I suspect they don't want to." He waved at the screen. "Well, there you are. A new world for you."

The scanner showed the desert outside. An icy mountain range was visible in the distance. Ian then said contemptuously, "Sand and rock?"

"Yes, that's the immediate view outside the ship."

Barbara, baffled, asked. "But where are we?"

"You mean that's what we'll see when we go outside?" asked Ian.

"Yes! You'll see it for yourself." said Susan.

"I don't believe it!" said Ian.

"You really are a stubborn young man, aren't you?" the Doctor said.

"All right, show me some proof! Give me some concrete evidence!" said Ian, he turned to Susan. "I'm sorry Susan, I don't want to hurt you, but. . .it's time you were brought back to reality."

Emma's head span from this conversation which seemed to her that it only led to more argument. "For goodness' sake! Can everyone stop talking?!" Ian and Barbara stared at her in bewilderment, they thought that the girl was shy and quiet. Emma brushed her hair away. "Now. . . Instead of continuing with this rather lovely debate whether this is a hoax or not, would it really hurt to have some faith in your student? She might be right!"

Neither Ian or Barbara had time to respond when the Doctor decided to comment. "That's quite rich coming from you, miss Jones." She glared at him but he ignored it as he continued. "Considering that you yourself do not believe it to be real either."

"It's a dream. Everything is possible."

Ian blinked and looked at her. "Wait- You think you are dreaming?"

She nodded vigorously. "But of course! There is no other logical explanation as to why you all are here. Everything here is not real, in fact neither are you."

"Why do you believe that?" Barbara asked the girl.

"Because this is just a show. At least the classic which I only saw the first episode yesterday." replied Emma casually as if this was completely normal. "It's called Doctor Who, a science-fiction programme which first broadcasted in 1963. It follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord, as he travels across space and time inside a blue British police box called the TARDIS. As far as I know, there are 871 episodes and 300 stories over 39 seasons."

Both the Doctor and Susan were now stunned at her response. The former's interest had been piqued. How could she know of the Time Lords? Could she be from another universe?

Ian and Barbara, on the other hand, started believing that the girl was mentally ill. Emma could see it in their faces but, still thinking that she was sleeping, she simply shrugged and clapped her hands together.

"Can we go outside now?" she asked with an eager look in her eyes. "I wanna see what's outside!"

"No." the Doctor responded flatly, snapping out of his train of thoughts.

"Why not?"

"Not until I'm quite sure it's safe to do so." He consulted the console. "Well, the air's good, yes it is, it’s good, excellent, excellent. . ." He turned to Susan who was still staring at the girl with an amazed look. "You've got the radiation counter over there. What’s it read?"

She shook her head and checked the counter on the console. "It's reading normal, Grandfather."

"Splendid, splendid. Well, I think I'll take my Geiger counter with me in any case." He smugly clutched his Edwardian lapels and turned to Ian. "So you, er, still challenge me, young man?"

"Well, just open the doors and prove your point."

"You're so narrow-minded, aren't you? Don't be so insular."

"Grandfather, do you know where we are?" asked Susan.

"Yes. We've gone back in time, all right. One or two samples and I shall be able to make an estimate. Rock pieces and a few plants. . ." He regarded the console. "But I do wish this wouldn't keep letting me down. However, we can go out now."

"Just a minute. You say we've gone back in time. . . ." Ian said.

"Yes, quite so."

"So that when we go out of that door, we won't be in a junkyard, in London, in England, in the year 1963. . . ."

"That is quite correct. But your tone suggests ridicule."

"But it is ridiculous! Time doesn't go 'round and 'round in circles! You can't get on and off whenever you like in the past or the future!"

"Really? Where does time go, then?"

"It doesn’t go anywhere. It just happens, and then it's finished."

"Oh. . ." said the Doctor with an amused smile, he laughed and looks at Barbara. "You're not as doubtful as your friend, I hope."

She shook her head. "No."

"Barbara, you can't. . ." said Ian in disbelief.

"I can't help it! I just believe them, that's all!"

"If you could touch the alien sand and hear the cries of strange birds -- and watch them wheel in another sky. . .would that satisfy you?" asked the Doctor.

"Yes." said Ian.

The Doctor twisted the controls and the doors opened with a hum. Outside was the desert.

"Now, see for yourself."

"It's not true! It can't be. . ." said Ian in a shocked whisper.

"That's not on the screen!" said Susan in triumph.

"Well, I've no more time to argue with you. I must get some samples, Susan." the Doctor said, he moved to a small table near the doors, gathering up a small electronic instrument and shoulder bag.

"Be careful, Grandfather."

The Doctor confidently strode out the door, muttering to himself. Emma excitedly dushed outside. After a last look at Ian, Barbara followed them. Ian heard an enthusiastic squeal which, he presumed, it belonged to Emma.

"Ian, come out and look!" Barbara called out.

Ian followed, dazed. He staggered, putting a hand to his forehead again. Susan offered help. "Oh, lean on me."

"Thank you. I'm all right. Thanks."

She led him out of the TARDIS, and the double doors closed behind them, slamming shut outside the police box. Ian, Emma and Barbara stared at the unfamiliar landscape around them. Ian stumbled and steadied himself against Susan who looked up to him for a response. The cry of a bird interrupted the noise of the wind.

"Well?"

"But, th-th-there must be some explanation. . ."

Barbara picked up a half-buried skull of a creature from the ground. She showed it to the younger girls. "What do you think it could be? Ian, look at this!"

Ian came and had a look at it. "I don't know. Hasn't got any horns or antlers. . . it could be a horse." He got up and walked away slightly from the three women. "It could be anything." He looked around again. "Incredible - a police box in the midst of. . .it just doesn't make sense. . . ."

Susan looked at the TARDIS, and was surprised herself to see that it was still a police box. "It should have changed. Wonder why it hasn't happened this time. . . ."

"The ship, you mean?" asked Barbara.

"Yes. It's been an Ionic Column and a Sedan Chair. . . ."

Wide-eyed, Emma spoke. "I didn't know that the TARDIS could do that!" She looked at Susan. "You mean to tell us that it can disguise itself?"

"Yes, that's right. . . . but it hasn't happened this time. I wonder why not?" She shrugged it off and picked up the skull. "Wonder if this old head'll help Grandfather? Where is he?"

She walked off to find him. Emma found it quite adorable that she cared for him. She was well aware that it was due to the fact that he was her grandfather but Barbara smiled at the stupefied Ian.

"You're very quiet." Barbara pointed out.

"I was wrong, wasn't I?"

"Oh, look, I don't understand it any more than you do. The inside of the ship, suddenly finding ourselves here. . .even some of the things Doctor Foreman says. . ."

"That's not his name. Who is he? Doctor who? Perhaps if we knew his name, we might have a clue as to all of this."

"Look, Ian. . .the point is, it's happened!"

"Yes, it has. But it's impossible to accept. I know I'm. . ." He trailed off, he turned to Emma with a hopeful look. "Erm, miss Jones, do you happen to know who that man is?"

"I told you, he is the Doctor!"

"Yeah, but what about his name? His real name?"

"I'm afraid I cannot answer that." she shook her head, her smile fading. "It may be my dream but it's still not my secret to share. It has been revealed in a way in an official Doctor Who comic book which was released in 1980."

"Miss Jones, this isn't---"

Susan ran back up to them, she seemed worried. "I can’t see him anywhere."

"Oh, he can't be far away." said Barbara reassuringly.

Emma nodded. "We'll find him!"

"I had a feeling just now as if we were being watched." said Susan and began calling for him. "Grandfather. . . ." As they searched around the dessert, a yell was overheard by the group. It was the Doctor. "Grandfather!"

Susan dropped the skull and started toward the noise, the others right behind her.

"Come on!" Ian and Emma said in a sync.

They arrived only to find the bag, the samples, and the smashed instrument.

"Look!" Ian said.

Susan asked, "What is it?"

"There’s some of his things!" said Barbara

"Grandfather, where are you?" shouted Susan, hysterically.

"Susan, don’t panic. . ." Ian said.

"I must find him. . .I must see. . ."

Ian tried to grab her and calm her down, but she twisted out of his grip and ran out of sight with Emma right at her heels.

"Well, be careful, then!" shouted Ian. "The both of you!"

Emma caught up to the Gallifreyan girl and hugged her tightly. Susan tried to get out of her grip but Emma had dealt with something similar before. She gently rubbed the back of Susan's head.

"Sh. . . sh. . . It's alright, Susan. "said Emma calmly. "I understand this is upsetting but we're here with you in this. I promise we'll find your grandfather." Susan seemed to have calmed down but started sobbing as she returned the hug and hid her face in the crook of Emma's neck. The black haired female patted the girl's back. "There. There. Let's return to the others, okay? The more help the merrier."

She nodded, still sobbing, and the two returned to Ian and Barbara.

"I can't see him, I can’t find him anywhere. . .There’s not a sign of him. . . ." said Susan.

"Susan, don't worry." said Barbara. Susan stooped down and picked up a small book from the pile of belongings. "What's the matter?"

"It's his notes! He'd never leave his notebook, it's too important to him. . . it's got the key codes of all the machines on the ship, it's got notes of everywhere we've been to. . . .oh, something terrible has happened to him, I know it has! We must find him!"

Emma grabbed her wrist, not too tight but not too loose either, and looked into her eyes. "And we will. But we cannot just run around, shouting and all, risking to be spotted too by whatever or whoever took your grandfather."

"Miss Jones is right." said Ian, he picked up the Doctor's things. "What's on the other side of those rocks?"

"There's a line of trees, and there's a gap in them. . .there might be a path on the other side. . ." said Susan.

Ian picked up the bag. "All right, we'll try there first. Come on." As he started to get up, he paused, putting his hands against the sand. "Strange. . ."

"What?" asked Barbara.

"This sand. . . it's cold. It's nearly freezing!"

As they searched for the Doctor, it seemed hopeless. They couldn't find him. Just when they thought that they should find another way, they heard noises coming from a cave. Susan was the first one to run into the cave through the crowd and onto a caveman's back who had raised a knife.

"Grandfather!" exclaimed Susan.

Screaming furiously, Susan beat on the caveman from behind. Ian, Emma and Barbara joined the brawl although Barbara was quickly grabbed from behind. Emma was also grabbed by two cavemen, she screamed and kicked her feet but they were stronger than her. One of the cavemen got the better of Ian, and another caveman raised his axe to cleave his skull.

"If he dies, there will be no fire!" said the Doctor.

The fight halted suddenly. Za snarled and hoisted Ian up, handing his axe to another caveman. During the silence that followed, Kal looked over each of the newcomers. He stared open-jawed at Barbara. He staggered up to her, his hand about to touch her made-up, 20th century face.

"Kill her! Kill her!" an elderly woman ordered.

Kal's hands moved to his furs, Za grabbed him and Barbara screamed. "Wait!" Za shouted. Kal made a guttural reply. "When Orb gives fire back to the sky, let him look down on them. Then that is when they die! And Orb will bring us fire!" Kal at Za angrily. After a moment, and a look at the crowd, he replaced his stone knife in his furs. "Take them to the Cave of Skulls."

The tribe carried the five out, Susan screaming all the way. "No! Ah, ah, Grandfather! No, No. . ."

Inside the Cave of Skulls, as Za called it, a group of tribes-men completed the task of tying up the five inside a cave filled with bones of all types. Ian stumbled to the ground with the others as their captors left. He looked down at a prone Barbara.

The woman coughed. "Ian. . ."

"Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"

"No. . . .Ian, I'm frightened. . . ."

"Try to hang on."

"But how are we going to get out of this?"

The Doctor was sitting, and muttering furiously as he worked at his bonds. Emma, on the meantime, tried to remain calm as she looked around for anything that could release her and the others from their bonds.

"We must use our cunning. I hope you can get yourself free, Chesterton. I can't. Eeuuch! The stench in here. The stench. . . I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I. . .I'm desperately sorry."

"Don't blame yourself, Grandfather." Susan told him.

Emma noticed a pair of skulls lie next to them. One cracked and missing some of its front teeth. The other with a hole at the top. "Look!" She shouted. "Look at that! Look!"

And they did.

Ian was the next one to speak. "They're all the same. They've been split open. . ."

7 notes · View notes