Doctor Who: The End of the World (FIRST DOCTOR FAN-FICTION)

About this book.

This short e-book is part of a series called 'The Wrong Doctors'. It takes an existing Doctor Who story and replaces the cast with another Doctor and his associated companions.

This story is The End of the World as written by Russell T. Davies for Christopher Eccleston's Doctor. This replaces him with William Hartnell's Doctor alongside his companions Susan, Ian and Barbara. Some plot changes have been used to reflect the cast change, but this is the intention in order to see just how different the stories would be if they had happened earlier, or later, in the Doctor's life.

Doctor Who remains the copyright of the BBC, the script and characters are copyright Russell T. Davies.

Adapted by Stephen Henderson, 2013.

Chapter One The ship roared into life, that unmistakable sound of the TARDIS, accompanied by lights flashing lights from all over the console. An elderly gentleman stooped over the controls, twiddling at levers until the ship became silent.

“Now you see, Chesterfield! We have landed!” said the old man.

“Yes, but have we landed in the right place, Doctor?” said Ian Chesterton, a middle-aged man who was quite right to question the Doctor – a mysterious alien with an equally mysterious time-machine – as the last time he had promised to land somewhere safe, Ian was almost married of to the daughter of a tribal warlord. A nice trip to the beach, the Doctor had claimed.

“Where have we landed then, Grandfather?” asked the youngest member of the group, the Doctor's unearthly granddaughter, Susan. She was 15 years old to look at, with her modern short hair style and modern dress, but nobody really knew her real age as she was, after all, an alien of the same species as the mysterious Doctor.

“Hmm, my dear, it appears we are on some form of space craft, the ship has detected some form of artificial gravity outside.” replied the Doctor.

“What sort of craft? One like the TARDIS you mean?” asked the final member of the group, Barbara Wright, a woman of similar age to Ian. In fact she had been a fellow teacher to Mr Chesterton at the school where they had both taught Susan. But that life now felt so far away. A life of grading essays and feeding the cat pale into insignificance when running up a corridor from the Daleks.

The TARDIS had arrived on Platform One. It was a viewing platform which had been installed by the great and the good of the universe for one purpose only. The planet Earth had existed for billions of years, but now its time had come. The Doctor and his mysterious blue box were now in the company of representatives from almost every galaxy in existence. The Doctor led the way out of the TARDIS with the inevitable caution that came with discovering something new. They found themselves in a room with a very large window. Through it, Susan could see the Earth, burning away before her eyes – the entire planet had turned to a molten fireball.

“Grandfather, look!” Susan said.

“Goodness Doctor, what is that?” asked Barbara.

“That my dears, if I am not mistaken, and I am rarely mistaken, is the planet Earth!” replied the Doctor as he strode forward to gain a closer look. “Hmm, how interesting!”

“What's happened to it?” enquired Ian. “Well, Chesterford! You are a science teacher at that school of yours, are you not?”

“Well, yes!”

“So then, my boy, use some of that scientific knowledge! That planet is dying!”

“Dying, but come on Doctor, that won't happen for millions of years, surely!”

“Billions, my boy, Billions” “So you mean we're...?”

“Yes!”, the Doctor chuckled “Billions of years in the future! Your future that is. Where I come from this is ancient history. You know I've always wanted to visit this. How very interesting!” Barbara looked horrified.

“But what about all of the people, Doctor?” she asked.

“Gone!” replied the Doctor “they've all discovered interstellar travel and left and now the planet has fallen into disrepair and that sun over there will soon expand and the planet will cease to exist. This contraption we are on is some form of viewing platform.”

“What are you doing here?” came a voice from the opposite side of the room where a blue skinned man was standing. “This is a private function room for some very ” “You insolent man!” chastised the Doctor feigning the right to be there, “We happen to be distinguished guests!”

“Well, I'm very...” replied the blue man.

“Hmm, and yes you should be!”, the Doctor interrupted “My name is the Doctor, this is my granddaughter Susan and these two people are Mr Chesterland...”

“Chesterton!” corrected Ian, who went to shake hands with the blue gentleman. “and Ms Wright!” The blue steward had a long list of names which he checked for the four aforementioned

names.

“I'm afraid I don't see your names.”

“Well I suggest you look again my good man!” said the Doctor, again in that tone of false authority.

“Yes, quite. There were a few late additions to the list, perhaps your names got left off. Besides which, your fellow guests are about to arrive.” A announcement was made over the speaker system, “Earth Death is scheduled for fifteen thirty nine.”

The Steward took his place at a lectern.

“We already have in our company; The Doctor, Susan, Chesterland and Ms Wright. All staff to positions please as I welcome - Representing the Forest of Cheam, we have trees, namely, Jabe, Lute and Coffa.” A treelike woman entered the room accompanied by two other tree-like males.

“Goodness me!” whispered Barbara to Ian “They're made of wood!”

“Yes,” chuckled Ian in reply “and how must you look all pink and soft!” The two had a short private giggle before the next guest was announced.

“Next, from the solicitors Jolco and Jolco, we have the Moxx of Balhoon.” continued the steward as a much shorter bulbous blue creature entered on a small floating platform. “There will be an exchange of gifts representing peace. If you could keep the room circulating, thank you. And next, from Financial Family Seven, we have the Adherents of the Repeated Meme.” Two robotic people in black robes entered followed by many more assorted aliens, some reptillian and some bird-like, all manner of people were streaming in.

“The inventors of Hypo-slip Travel Systems, the brothers Hop Pyleen. Thank you. Cal Spark Plug. Mr and Mrs Pakoo. The Ambassadors from the City State of Binding Light.”

The tree-like people came forward to the Doctor and his friends and presented him with a small plant pot with what looked like a twig planted within.

“The Gift of Peace. I bring you a cutting of my Grandfather.”

“Oh, much thanks!” replied the Doctor “Gifts! I'm afraid that I.... Barbara here is a history teacher, she will profess you with a story from the planet below.”

“Will I?” Barbara responded quickly which was met by a glare of content by the Doctor. “Oh, but yes of course!” Barbara led them to one side to tell them them a story. Ian heard the word 'Lionheart' and instantly chuckled to himself. Meanwhile, the steward announced another guest “From the Silver Devastation, the sponsor of the main event, please welcome the Face of Boe.” The black robed robots strode toward Susan and presented her with a silver sphere “A gift of peace in all good faith.” and then strode away without receiving their customary history lecture from Barbara or indeed the science talk that Ian was now giving to the Moxx of Balhoon. The steward made his final announcement “And last but not least, our very special guest. Ladies and gentlemen, and trees and multiforms, consider the Earth below. In memory of this dying world, we call forth the last Human. The Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta Seventeen.” A thin stretch of pale skin with a face in the middle in a rectangular frame wheeled forward by two men hidden in top-to-toe hospital whites.

“Oh, now, don't stare. I know, I know it's shocking, isn't it? I've had my chin completely taken away and look at the difference. Look how thin I am. Thin and dainty. I don't look a day over two thousand. Moisturise me.

Moisturise me.” said the paper-thin woman in a husky voice as her two hospital staff sprayed her with a mystery substance from a large spray can.

“Truly, I am the last true Human that was born on the planet below. My father was a Texan, my mother was from the Arctic Desert. They were born on the Earth and were the last to be buried in its soil. I have come to honour them and say goodbye. Oh, no tears, no tears. I'm sorry. But behold, I bring gifts. From Earth itself, the last remaining ostrich egg. Legend says it had a wingspan of fifty feet and blew fire from its nostrils. Or was that my third husband? Oh, no. Oh, don't laugh. I'll get laughter lines. And here, another rarity.” she said as a large 50-style jukebox was then wheeled in.

“According to the archives, this was called an iPod.” said Cassandra “It stores classical music from humanity's greatest composers. Play on!” Susans face delighted when her favourite song by John Smith and the Common

Men began playing.

“Refreshments will now be served. Earth Death in thirty minutes.” said the steward.

Chapter Two Susan and Barbara had now separated from the Doctor and Ian. They had began to wander and found themselves in a large corridor with a panoramic view of the dying Earth. They came across another blue person, this time female and wearing overalls who was tinkering away with wires and mechanical whatnots strewn across the opening to the hatch she was working at.

“Sorry. Are we allowed to be in here?” Barbara asked.

“You have to give us permission to talk” the blue girl replied.

“You have permission” said Susan.

“Thank you. And, no, you're not in the way. Guests are allowed anywhere.”

“Thank You”, said Barbara, “I certainly hope nobody's told the Doctor that!” Susan giggled.

“What's your name?” asked Susan.

“Raffalo”, she replied, “I won't be long, I've just got to carry out some maintenance. There's a tiny little glitch in the Face of Boe's suite. There must be something blocking the system. He's not getting any hot water.

“So, you're a plumber?” asked Barbara.

“That's right, miss” replied Raffalo.

“So they still have plumbers?” responded Barbara.

“I hope so, else I'm out of a job!” laughed Raffalo.

“Where are you from?” asked Susan.

“Crespallion.” replied “part of the Jaggit Brocade, affiliated to the Scarlet Junction, Convex fifty six. And where are you from, miss? If you don't mind me asking.”

“No, not at all” said Barbara, then realising she couldn't very well say Earth, “Er, I don't know. A long way away. Anyway, don't let us keep you.”

“Thank you, miss, miss” she said to Barbara and Susan as they began leaving her to her work. “And er, thank you for the permission. Not many people are that considerate.”

“Not at all”, said Barbara “It was a pleasure.” Now that Raffalo was alone she began crawling into the vast network of tunnels that led from the hatch she was working at.

She spoke into her communicator: “Control, I'm at junction nineteen and I think the problem's coming from in here. I'll have a closer look.” She heard the sound of metal tapping on metal.

“What's that? Is something in there?”

A metal spider came scuttling towards her.

“Oh! Who are you, then?”

It began scuttling away.

“Hold on! I if you're an upgrade I just need to register you, that's all. Oh, come back.”

Then she saw another, then another, and another. Before long there was half a dozen staring at her with little red light eyes reflecting onto her face.

“I think I'd better report this to Control. How many of you are there?” Suddenly, they began to attack and dragged her along the tunnel. She let out one last pathetic scream.

Meanwhile in the stewards office, a message came up on a screen on his desk.

“Oh, whats this now?” he muttered to himself after thinking he'd finally managed to get a few minutes rest. He lifted the microphone and made an announcement, “Would the owner of the blue box in private gallery fifteen please report to the Steward’s office immediately.

Guests are reminded that use of teleportation devices is strictly forbidden under Peace Treaty five point four slash cup slash sixteen. Thank you.”

While he was distracted with the announcement, one of the metal spheres that the Adherents of the Repeated Meme had been gifting began to open. It was an egg. Out of it hatched a small metal spider creature, just like

the one that had killed Raffalo. The announcement system announced “Earth Death in Twenty Minutes”.

Susan and Barbara were now in Gallery 15, offering yet another view of the dying Earth. Susan was playing with one of the spheres, but soon became bored of it so put it down again. The Doctor's voice could be heard booming from outside.

“Now you will be careful with that, won't you. Park it properly. No scratches.” Another, much shorter, blue man gave the Doctor a parking ticket with the message 'Have A Nice Day' emblazoned across it as two more blue men wheeled the TARDIS to an appropriate parking place. He and Ian entered the room to join Susan and Barbara. Another spider scuttled along the floor, unseen, narrowly avoiding being sat on by Ian. “So then, my child, What do you think, then, hmm?” asked the Doctor of his granddaughter.

“Marvellous, grandfather, so many nice people!” she replied. The announcement system proclaimed, “Earth Death in twenty minutes. Earth Death in twenty minutes.”

“If only it were under happier circumstances” responded Ian in a rather droll tone of voice. The space station began to shake.

“What was that Doctor?” asked Barbara who didn't know whether to be worried or excited.

“Hmm, I assume some sort of turbulence, and that's not supposed to happen!” responded the Doctor. The four travellers made their way back to the main observation gallery.

Meanwhile, in the steward's office, the steward sat at his desk frantic as to what to do about what the Doctor had shrugged off as turbulence.

“Well, what was it? I'm just getting green lights at this end” he snipped to control on the communicator. He calmed himself and made a broadcast.

“Honoured guests may be reassured that gravity pockets may cause slight turbulence, thanking you.” His harsh tone soon returned once the broadcast was over.

“The whole place shook! I felt it. I've hosted all sorts of events on Platforms One, Three, Six and Fifteen and I've never felt the slightest tremor. I warn you, if this lot decide to sue. I'm going to scan the infrastructure.”

He begins the scan, but while doing so he heard a scuttling sound.

“What's that? Control, I don't want to worry you, but I'm picking up readings. I have no idea. Well, they're small. The scan says they're metal. I don't know what they look like!” He soon did know, however, as he saw one of the culprits on this desk.

“Although I imagine they might look rather like that. You're not on the guest list. How did you get on board?”

The spider began fiddling with buttons, much to the panic of the steward. It had deactivated the sun filter, the only thing stopping the guests from frying. The window of the steward's office began to lower. The steward began to scream as blinding white light began descending down the walls, leaving black scorch marks on the walls.

“No!” screamed the steward. A computer voice said, “Sun filter deactivated. Sun filter descending.”

(The room starts to fill with white light from the ceiling downwards as the filter on the window lowers.)

“No! Sun filter, up! No, no, no!”

“External temperature four thousand degrees” announced the computer voice.

“Control, respond! Sun filter up! Argh!” said the steward for the final time as the menacing spider scuttled out and into the ventilation tunnels leaving the steward to burn.

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan arrived back at the viewing platform to find the room in disarray after the turbulence. They all went over to speak to Jabe.

“That wasn't a gravity pocket. I know gravity pockets and they don't feel like that. What do you think, erm, Jabe, was it? Listen to the engines. They've pitched up!” said the Doctor “It's the sound of metal. It doesn't make any sense to me.” replied Jabe “Where's the engine room?” asked the Doctor “I don't know, but the maintenance duct is just behind our guest suite, I could show you.“ “Oh, goodness gracious me no, I'm afraid the excitement of today has left me rather worn out. But I'm sure that my friend Mr Chesterton will gladly accompany you on your endeavour.

“I'm all yours” said Ian as he held out his army in a gentlemanly fashion.

“And I want you home by midnight!” joked Barbara.

The automated announcement said: “Earth Death in fifteen minutes. Earth Death in fifteen minutes.”

Ian and Jabe entered the tunnel, which was long and vast, covered with wires and piping. The noise of the engines was loud, so they must have been close, Ian thought to himself.

“So, who's in charge of Platform One? Is there a Captain?” asked Ian “There's just the Steward and the staff. All the rest is controlled by the metal mind” replied Jabe.

“Some form of computer? But who controls that?”

“The Corporation. They move Platform One from one artistic event to another.”

“But there's no one from the Corporation on board.”

“They're not needed. This facility is purely automatic. It's the height of the Alpha class. Nothing can go wrong.”

“Unsinkable?”

“If you like. The nautical metaphor is appropriate.”

“You ought to have a chat with Ms Wright about unsinkable ships. So, what you're saying is, if we get in trouble there's no one to help us out?

“I'm afraid not.” Behind them, another scuttling metal spider was chasing them by running along the power cables.

Barbara went over to Cassandra while the Doctor took a sit down to speak to Susan. Cassandra was her usual self, boasting her credentials.

“Soon, the sun will blossom into a red giant, and my home will die. That's where I used to live, when I was a little boy, down there. Mummy and Daddy had a little house built into the side of the Los Angeles Crevice. I'd have such fun” “Cassandra”, asked Barbara.“What happened to everyone else? The human race, where did it go?”

“They say mankind has touched every star in the sky” she replied.

“It's just that I understood that you were the last human.”

“I am the last pure human. The others mingled. Oh, they call themselves New humans and Proto-humans and Digi-humans, even 'Humanish, but you know what I call them? Mongrels.”

“Oh, I see!” she said, rather appalled at the attitude to which she held towards other races. Barabara's job was to teach children that the cause of wars throughout history was because of that particular attitude. But she held her peace.

“You don't look particularly human now though!” said Barbara.

“I have had operations. Seven hundred and eight. Next week, it's seven hundred and nine. I'm having my blood bleached. Is that why you wanted a word? You could be flatter, Barbara. You've got a little bit of a chin poking out.” Barbara was incensed.

“I'd rather die” she said “than look like some form of living trampoline” allowing all anger that she had bottled up earlier to come rushing out. Cassandra brushed it off, “Oh, well. What do you know?”

“I happen to be human. I was born on that planet, and so was my mum, and so was my dad, and that makes me officially the last human being in this room, because you're not human. You're just skin, Cassandra. Lipstick and skin. Besides, being human isn't about biology it's about emotions. Love and pride and fear and envy. The decisions one makes, not the people they are descended from. Good day to you!” Barbara stormed off over to Susan.

“Come along Susan, let's go for a walk!” and the pair left the room.

Jabe and Ian continued their trail along the corridor.

“So tell me, Jabe, what's a tree like you doing in a place like this?” asked Ian. “Respect for the Earth.” replied Jabe. “We respect the Earth as family. So many species evolved from that planet. Mankind is only one. I'm another. My ancestors were transplanted from the planet down below, and I'm a direct descendant of the tropical rainforest.” Ian spotted a control panel and a doorway. He could hear the

whirring of the engines much louder now. He began fiddling with the controls, with out any particular knowledge or skill, in an effort to open the door. Miraculously, the door slid open to reveal a large room with gigantic fans and a small narrow walk way.

“Is it me, or is it a bit nippy?” joked Ian. Meanwhile Barbara and Susan were walking down one of the many corridors. Susan had found yet another contraption that she was marvelling in, only to discover it was a drinks machine. And it was broken. Suddenly a black clocked figure knocked them unconscious. They dragged the two women away.

It's enormous!” exclaimed ian. “That's a great bit of air conditioning. Sort of nice and old fashioned.” Ian then caught a glimpse of the spider that had been stalking them.”

“What's that?” he asked Jabe. She let out a branch-like lasoo to bring the metal creature down off a high girder. “Excellent!”

“Thank you.” said jabe “We're not supposed to show them in public.”

“Don't worry, I won't tell anybody. Now then, who's been bringing their pets on board?”

“What does it do?”

“Sabotage, I assume!”

The automated computer voice said: “Earth Death in ten minutes.”

“And the temperature's about to rise soon!” said Jabe, with a worried tone.

“Good think we caught it then!” said Ian, feeling quite the hero. Ian and Jabe left the way they had came.

Meanwhile the Doctor had been on his travels again. He had grown bored and had now been left alone. He went to find Barbara and Susan who had been gone for quite a while. In the corridor he met Ian and Jabe.

“Look Doctor!” Ian said to the Doctor, “We think this has been causing some sabotage today!”

“I dare say it has been!” replied the Doctor. The conversation had barely been allowed to progress when an army of little blue men ran past them, almost knocking the Doctor over.

“Trouble?” asked Jabe.

“Let's find out then!” exclaimed Ian. They came across the steward's office. The door was blackened and smoke was billowing out of it. The sun filter could be seen rising back up again.

“Is the Steward in there?!” asked Jabe, visibly worried.

“I am afraid so” responded the Doctor. “He told me and the rest of the guests that this is where he could be found. Tragic!” Ian looked at a control panel. It said that another sun filter was about to descend. He was just about to tell the Doctor this fact when they heard screams.

“Grandfather!”

“Doctor!” the screams echoed from around the corner. The computer voice kept on repeating 'Sun Filter Descending' 'Sun Filter Descending'. The Doctor and Ian, accompanied by Jabe, rushed the short distance to the door.

“Is anyone in there?” Ian shouted.

“Ian!” shouted Barbara from inside. He began tugging at the door.

“Doctor!” Ian exclaimed as he brung up the rear. “Barbara and Susan are in there!”

“Oh, you silly girls!” he shouted through the door. “We'll have to get that sun filter back up though, otherwise we'll all meet the same fate as that poor unfortunate steward back there!” Ian began utilising the luck that he had acquired with the control panel in the tunnels.

'Sun filter rising'. He'd done it! All the people around him began applauding as two distressed, but unharmed figures rushed out of the door. Ian gave Barbara a hug whilst the Doctor gave his granddaughter a stern look followed by a loving smile.

“We'll you're safe, my child, that is all that matters!”

Chapter 3 'Earth Death in Five Minutes' “I have scanned with my metal machine” announced Jabe to the shocked delegates. The metal machine of which she spoke was a small metal device, around the size of a postcard which had a light display across the front, detailing information on every and all subjects. “It confirms the spider devices have infiltrated the whole of Platform One.” Cassandra was the most vocal of the group, “How's that possible? Our private rooms are protected by a code wall.” she said as she summoned her nurses“Moisturise me, moisturise me.” Moxx was equally upset, “Summon the Steward”, he demanded.

“I'm afraid the Steward is dead” replied Jabe.

“Who killed him?” asked Moxx. Cassandra assumed authority once more, “This whole event was sponsored by the Face of Boe. He invited us. Talk to the Face. Talk to the Face.”

“There is an easy way of finding out.” said the Doctor. “These mechanical things obviously have some controller. Let's send him back to master.” He lay the spider on the ground, it scuttled off to Cassandra and began scanning her. It gave out a beep and diverted towards the black gowned group.

“The Adherents of the Repeated Meme” accused Cassandra. “J'accuse!”

“Yes.” said the Doctor. “But that's all very well but if you stop and think about it! A Repeated Meme is just an idea. And that's all they are, an idea.” The Doctor pulled the cloak off one of the Ahedrants and pulled at it's wiring that was exposed beneath.

“Nothing more than remote controlled robots. Cover for the real troublemaker!” exclaimed the Doctor. With the Ahedrants out of action, the spider returned to it's true owner.

“Bother!” said Cassandra. “At arms!” Her nurses turned her moisturising sprayers at the Doctor.

“Oh yes! What are you going to do, moisturise me?” said the Doctor.

“With acid. Oh, you're too late, anyway. My spiders have control of the mainframe. Oh, you all carried them as gifts, tax free, past every code wall. I'm not just as pretty face.”

“Sabotaging a ship while you're still inside it?” said Ian “ That's rather stupid!”

“I'd hoped to manufacture a hostage situation with myself as one of the victims. The compensation would have been enormous.”

“So it's all down to money!” said the Doctor, rather angry at the prospect.

“Do you think it's cheap, looking like this? Flatness costs a fortune. I am the last human, Doctor. Me. Not that freaky little kid of yours.”

“Arrest her, the infidel.” said Moxx, outraged.

“Oh, shut it, pixie”, snipped Cassandra “I've still got my final option.” The computer voice announced 'Earth Death in three minutes'.

“And here it comes. You're just as useful dead, all of you. I have shares in your rival companies and they'll triple in price as soon as you're dead. My spiders are primed and ready to destroy the safety systems. How did that old Earth song go? Burn, baby, burn.”

“Then you'll burn with us.” said Jabe. Cassandra sniggered.

“Oh, I'm so sorry. I know the use of teleportation is strictly forbidden, but I'm such a naughty thing. Spiders, activate.” Each one of the spiders began to explode, weakening the forcefield.

“Forcefields gone with the planet about to explode. At least it'll be quick. Oh, shame on me.” The computer voice announced 'Safety systems failing'.

“Bye, bye, darlings. Bye, bye, my darlings” she said as she and her white clad nurses teleported out. The computer voice announced 'Heat levels rising'.

“Reset the computer” shouted Moxx with all the conviction but with none of the intention to actually help.

“Only the Steward would know how” responded Jabe.

“No!” interrupted the Doctor, “There must be some form of manual control. We can do it by hand. There must be a system restore switch”.

“Jabe”, said Ian, “come on, we'll go find it!"

'Heat rising' announced the computer.'Heat levels critical' Chapter Four Jabe looked on her 'metal machine'.

“Ian, it has located the switch!” said Jabe. It was also showing her how urgent it was that they get there soon. It was reading that the platform was falling apart. The planet below was close to exploding and it would take the platform with it if they didn't put the shields back on.

“Oh”, bemoned Ian, “And look where the switch is.” Jabe's readout showed the switch on the other side of those turbines they had visited earlier.

'Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising.' The computer voice signalling that they didn't have long left.

They came across the the turbine room. Just inside the door, was a switch, but it was not the switch they desired. This was the switch to slow down the turbines, the other switch was at the other end of the corridor.

Ian pulled the lever, expecting it to stay there, but in vain, the switch had to be kept down. The turbines were turning faster than ever before, with the rising temperatures they were doing overtime.

'External temperature five thousand degrees' said the computer voice. Jabe went over to the switch and held it down.

“Jabe, you can't!”, Ian said in disbelief, “The heat's going to vent through this place. You're made of wood!”

“Then stop wasting time!” replied Jabe, visibly pained because of the heat.

'Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising' said the computer voice.

The computer voice announced the imminent doom: 'Heat levels hazardous'. Windows all around the platform began cracking, allowing the blinding white light to come streaming in.

'Heat levels hazardous'.

Susan, although worried herself, was comforting one of the guests who was certain they were all going to die.

The heat had already caused the Doctor to pass out who was being nursed by Barbara.

With a leap of faith, Ian made it past the first fan.

'Shields malfunction. Shields malfunction. Shields malfunction'.

'Heat levels critical. Heat levels critical'.

Ian looked back at Jabe. She was in more pain than ever, he had to hurry but he had to take his time or he'd be hit by one of the fans. He took a deep breath and passed the second fan.

'Heat levels rising. Heat levels rising.'

Jabe burst into flames. She let out a scream and let go of the switch. The fans began turning so fast they were just a blur before Ian's eyes.

'Planet explodes in ten, nine, eight.

Ian took his first attempt at passing the fan, he quickly ducked and pulled back as the fan almost hits him.

'Seven, six, five' Ian closed his eyes.

'Four.'

He took a deep breath.

'Three.'

He stepped forward.

'Two.' He'd made it! He dashed to the switch, just happy that he was alive. He pulled on the switch and the forcefield engaged.

'One.' The forcefield washed over the platform just in time. The earth exploded. It took only seconds. The fire-ball just split into millions of pieces, which were thrown out in all directions, including at the platform which was now safe, thanks to the bravery of Ian and the sacrifice of Jabe.

'Exoglass repair. Exoglass repair. Exoglass repair.'

'Susan opened her eyes as the glass began to repair itself. The Doctor recovered as the temperature began to lower which also meant that the fans slowed right down allowing Ian to walk along the pathway with relative ease.

Ian looked down at what remained of Jabe. Heartbroken.

“I'm so sorry, Jabe.” A single tear fell down his cheek.

Ian returned to the main viewing room. A few of the short blue men were clambering around what remained of the Moxx of Balhoon whose delicate bulbous body had exploded with the heat. Barbara spotted him but knew he was visibly upset so did not call him over. He went over to the other two tree people to break the bad news.

He comforted them and then left them to their grief.

The Doctor rose to his feet, shakily but determined.

“Enough!” he said “There has been enough senseless killing today! Now that young madam teleported through five thousand degrees. That needs some kind of feed. Now that feed must be hidden nearby.”

The Doctor strode over to the alleged ostrich egg and smashed it open to reveal a small device.

“Now I propose that a teleportation feed can be reversed” he said as he began twiddling with the buttons on the small device.

A disembodied voice began echoing through, “Oh, you should have seen their little alien faces” as the familiar trampoline began to beam back into the room.

“Bother!”

“You, madam! The last human. You have shown no humanity today!”

“So, you passed my little test”, said Cassandra. “Bravo. This makes you eligible to join, er, the Human Club.”

“People have died” said the Doctor, “You murdered them”.

“It depends on your definition of people, and that's enough of a technicality to keep your lawyers dizzy for centuries. Take me to court, then, Doctor, and watch me smile and cry and flutter...”

“Grandfather!” shouted Susan, “She's drying out! Isn't she?”

“What?”, panicked Cassandra. “Ah! I'm drying out! Oh, sweet heavens. Moisturise me, moisturise me! Where are my surgeons? My lovely boys! It's too hot!

“Oh, I'm afraid you have returned alone” answered the Doctor.

“Have pity! Moisturise me! Oh, oh, Doctor. I'm sorry. I'll do anything.”

“Shouldn't we help her?” asked Susan.

“Oh yes, come on Doctor, there must be something we can do!” asked Barbara.

“Everything has its time and everything dies” he replied. Besides, there was nothing he could do, it was too late.

“I'm too young!”, let out Cassandra along with her last scream as she ripped from side to side, skin being flung across the room.

Epilogue A computer voice made it's last announcement, 'Shuttles four and six departing. This unit now closing down for maintenance.'

The Doctor, Ian, Susan and Barbara were the last people left on the platform. Everyone had left, they'd had enough of the day's events and just wanted to go home. People had died and people had been put in horrible situations.

“The earth's gone!” said Barbara. “We were too busy saving ourselves. No one saw it go. All those years, all that history, and no one was even looking. It's just so sad.

“Time we were off, I believe” responded the Doctor.

“Agreed”, said Ian who hugged Barbara as they all bundled into the TARDIS. Off to another adventure.

Hopefully it would be a much happier occasion.