FSE

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CHAPTER 2

CAT-ASTROPHE

I step out the door and Rusty very warily follows.

I turn back and tell him, "At least we don't have to worry about any linguistic barriers as the TARDIS matrix automatically lets its passengers understand and speak any language, though everything is heard in your own. So, let's greet our new guests...or well, it's the other way around, but you get the idea."

We look around at the huge garden. The plants are somewhat Earth-like, but with odd shades of colors, like purple and yellow, and slightly different shapes. I see vents at the top of the dome with what seems to be a filtration system. I use my sonic screwdriver, scan the dome and the filters, then look at the readings and tilt my head a bit.

"Now that's weird. The vents lead INTO the garden. You'd think there would be trees here to create oxygen, but instead, the plants are absorbing all the carbon dioxide that's being pumped in."

"Maybe these creatures don't need oxygen?"

"But then where's the carbon dioxide coming from? If they don't breathe in oxygen, then how would they breathe out carbon dioxide? Well, that's one of the things we can ask we get there." I shrug and we continue through the garden, and go through the tunnel. As we look through the transparent tunnel, we can see the land is barren and desolate.

We get through the tunnel until we get to the edge of town, behind one of the gleaming buildings.

Stepping out from behind the building, I smile and cheerily call out "Hello, as we say on Earth. I'm Murphy Slaugh, otherwise known as the Doctor, a Time Lord from Gallifrey. And my big, stout companion here is Rusty BlackMist Clydesdale from Earth. But we don't hold that against him." I chuckle from the joke that's obviously lost on them. "We seem to be..." I pause because every head turns toward me and some of the creatures' eyes have widened, others have turned to slits. "...stuck and need some...help."

The air is filled with cries of "Strangers!", "We're found out!", "Get them!", "Call the authorities".

I turn to Rusty, whose eyes are wide and he goes in a defensive position. "Hmm...very unfriendly crowd, wouldn't you say?"

Turning to me he says, "I would say and I DID say, if you'll recall."

"Yes, well, now is not the time to argue. Now is the time to RUN!"

Just as some of them extend their claws and start to chase us, we both turn and start running back through the tunnel, but before we get too far, several of the creatures suddenly appear ahead of us. We skid to a stop and look all around us. Some have claws extended, some have fence posts, and others have various other weapons extended toward us. Slowly they all advance upon us, evidently wanting to do us harm.

Suddenly, several of the creatures appeared in front the crowd. They were wearing blue uniforms of sorts. One of them turns to the crowd.

"Hold back. We've got this taken care of. Go back about your business."

Then he turns to us, and I get a better look at him. He stands about 6 feet tall, and a very solid-looking 180 pounds or so. His fur was mainly brown, with some yellow and orange stripes. He has dark brown eyes, almost black, which were very narrow and menacing looking. His hair was medium length, but combed neatly. His uniform, oddly enough, did not look custom made, but seemed to have been modified to fit him. Like the citizens, he didn't wear any shoes.

"You there. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm the Doctor, and this Rusty. And who are you?" I ask, trying to distract him.

"I am Suo Yved, 3rd Level Silencer. I ask again, what are you doing here?"

"You see, our ship crashed on your planet. Well, not exactly crashed, but landed, sort of...ish. We're from outside the Void. We came through a black hole but managed to escape somehow."

What's that you say? You're from outside Void Space?" He draws in a breath in a hiss. "Then, the outside world knows of our existence!"

"Well, no. Just my friend Rusty and I. Our method of transport is not one that anyone else could follow, you see."

His eyes slitted and he growled low. "Nevertheless, you must be eliminated so our existence can continue to be a secret. No one outside Void Space must know about us."

I wave a paw dismissively. "Oh we're very good at keeping secrets. Besides, no one would ever believe us if we ever told anybody. Right, Rusty?"

He looks very skeptical but follows along. "Right. NOT that we're planning to." Rusty adds hastily.

"Oh, good grief, no. We can keep a secret." I smile disarmingly at Suo.

"Nonetheless, we cannot take that chance. You will come with us. We will discover whether or not you are threats to be dealt with."

Rusty leans towards me and, while keeping his eyes on Suo, murmured from the corner of his mouth, "I don't like the sound of that."

"Well, I don't either, but I don't think we have a choice," I whispered back.

"No," Suo said, obviously hearing what we were saying, "you don't have a choice. Now come with us."