+++Emergency landing procedure initiated+++Engine power failing+++
+++Landing complete+++No further damage to systems+++
+++Diagnostic programme reveals all systems damaged beyond capacity of self repair+++
+++Distress beacon activated+++Power low+++Estimate four days of active life+++
+++Basic life support operating at minimum power requirement+++
+++Hibernation systems initiated+++Pilot stable+++
"Well," said Stephen, "at least the air is breathable."
"That, my boy, is because I have been able to extend the forcefield around the Ship to encompass the local area. You would soon know if you were breathing the natural atmosphere of this asteroid. Dear me, yes."
"How far have you extended it, Doctor?" asked Dodo, their other companion.
The Doctor tapped an index finger against his lips. "The best I could manage was a quarter of a mile, my dear."
"Then let's hope we find the source of that distress signal within that radius," Stephen commented.
The Doctor smiled smugly. "I think you'll find that the signal emanates from one eighth of a mile in that direction." The Doctor pointed with his walking cane.
Stephen sighed. Trust the Doctor to have thought of everything. But then again, that trait of being prepared had saved their lives a number of times, so he shouldn't complain. Instead, he led them in the direction the Doctor had indicated.
***
It was Dodo who saw it first. The uneven surface of the asteroid made even searching an area of a quarter of a mile a long process.
"Over here," called the small woman, waving her arms. The Doctor, despite seeming to be further away, arrived just ahead of Stephen. The younger man still didn't know how he did that.
The three of them looked down into the shallow crater at the alien craft. It was about twenty feet long, and looked heavily damaged, with smoke rising slowly from various places.
"Is it safe?" asked the ever-practical Stephen.
"I think so, my boy, I think so," the Doctor said, starting down the shallow side of the crater. Stephen exchanged a shrug with Dodo and they followed.
Up close, the damage was much more evident. Stephen ran his hand along a particularly nasty looking scorch mark. He then sniffed his fingers.
"This ship has been in a firefight, and recently too," he commented.
"Any idea who with?" asked Dodo. She had seen him sniffing the burn residue on his fingers.
"Well, it wasn't human forces, as far as I can tell." Stephen was a space pilot from the 23rd Century who had fought in a number of conflicts.
The Doctor, meanwhile, had found an open hatchway. The three of them entered the craft.
Splitting up again, Stephen went forward, while the Doctor and Dodo went aft. It wasn't long, however, before Stephen made a discovery.
"Doctor! Dodo!" he called. "I've found the pilot. And it's not human!"
+++Power to sensors insufficient to determine friend or foe+++
+++Hibernation programme interrupted+++
+++Initiating revival routines+++
The Doctor knelt beside the pilot seat, looking with interest over the alien.
"Do you recognise it?" asked Dodo.
The Doctor shook his head. "This region of space is not one I travel much. How about you, young man?"
Stephen gazed at the comatose pilot. "I've never seen anything quite like that before," he stated.
The alien looked like a giant tortoise or turtle. It was man sized, with hydraulically assisted limbs. The shell also seemed to have been modified.
"Well, he's alive, at least," the Doctor was able to determine. "Though he will not be able to remain that way for long, given that this ship is running on it's last reserves of energy."
At that moment, the pilot's eyes snapped open. It fixed its gaze on the three time travellers. A hissing breath escaped from between its thin lips.
"Parasites! Have you come to kill me?"
Dodo looked shocked. "Certainly not! We are here to help you."
The turtle snorted. "Parasites do not help warriors of the glorious Chelonian Empire."
"Chelonians," the Doctor muttered.
"You've heard of them?" asked Dodo.
The Doctor nodded. "A savage military race with a matriarchal system of power and a hatred of humans," he told them.
"Lovely," Stephen said sarcastically. "Trust us to home in on its distress call."
The Chelonian looked up at them from its position, strapped into its seat and seemingly unable to move.
"I would suggest you kill me now, before I regain my movement," it stated flatly.
"As my young friend said, we have no intention of killing you. We are merciful people. Do you understand the concept?"
"You are weak and foolish. That much I understand."
"Hey, we're here to help you. You might at least be grateful."
The Chelonian's mouth seemed to form a half smile. "I will be grateful. To rid the galaxy of you parasite scum."
From inside the shell casing, a weapon dropped into the Chelonian's waiting paw. It pointed the energy pistol at them.
"Time to die, parasites!"
+++Life support systems at overload levels+++
+++Power systems at critical+++
+++Shutdown of all systems now essential+++
Before the Chelonian could carry out it's threat, it's eyes closed and its head slumped backwards. The gun dropped from its hand.
"What happened?" Stephen asked.
The Doctor was studying nearby instrumentation. "The power systems have gone into shutdown mode. Unless we can restore them, this creature will die."
"Good riddance," Stephen said with feeling.
"That's a terrible thing to say," Dodo protested. "All life is precious. Isn't it, Doctor?"
The Doctor nodded. "However we may feel about this Chelonian and it's attempt to kill us, we must render assistance where we can. Now Stephen, go back to the Ship and fetch my tool kit, there's a good fellow."
Muttering to himself, Stephen left the craft and headed back for the TARDIS.
***
"I'm still not sure we're doing the right thing," Stephen said a few hours later. "The damned creature won't be grateful."
"Whether he is grateful or not, we must do our best," the Doctor snapped. "Now, pass me that magnetic clamp."
"At least let's disarm it," Stephen replied, passing the Doctor the requested tool.
"I have already done so, young man."
Stephen's jaw dropped. "You have? When?"
"While you were fetching the tool kit, I looked our reptilian friend over and found a number of other concealed weapons, which I have hidden."
"Well, that's alright then," Stephen said, looking sulky at having been left behind a couple of steps. The Doctor smiled to himself.
Dodo returned to the cockpit. "That light in the engine compartment has come on, Doctor," she reported.
"Good, good," the Doctor replied. "Now, all I need to do is connect the reserve generator back up to the engine output and this ship should be able to power up again."
The Doctor busied himself for another five minutes before stepping away from the console, apparently happy with his work.
"Now, Stephen my boy, would you like to push that switch?"
"Must I?" complained the former space pilot.
The Doctor nodded. "I think it would be appropriate."
Stephen sighed and pressed the switch the Doctor had indicated. Lights flashed on the control panels and a hum of machinery filled the air.
"Splendid, splendid," the Doctor said, clapping his hands. "Now, it will take a few minutes for the medical computers to revive our aggressive friend, so I suggest we leave, quickly."
"I'm right behind you," Stephen told him, following the Doctor and Dodo out of the Chelonian craft.
+++Power systems returning to normal levels+++
+++Power to life support increasing++++
+++Engine power back up to fifty percent and rising+++
+++Pilot reviving+++
The Chelonian scout's eyes snapped open. It's claw twitched in a reflex-firing manoeuvre, but its gun wasn't there.
Neither were the parasites. The pilot wondered for a moment if they had been a hallucination.
A swift check of his internal systems showed that all it's weapons had been removed. So, they had been real.
Well, it was a good thing, for them, that they had left before the superior Chelonian technology had powered up the craft again.
After a booster shot of adrenaline from the medical systems, the Chelonian began going through the pre-flight checks, ready for take off.
***
Stephen walked into the console room, carrying a portable disc reader and a couple of discs.
"I've been reading up on the Chelonians," he told the Doctor, waving the discs. "It seems they have a long history of violent conflict. Especially with humans."
The old man looked at him calmly. "Are you trying to make a point, young man?"
"We should have left it to die. It could be out there, killing humans even now!"
The Doctor sighed. "It is hardly surprising your two species have a history of conflict. Would you have us act as judge and jury over every species we meet? In case they may be hostile to humanity?"
"No," Stephen replied. "But these Chelonians are hostile!"
"So are most species, especially when provoked." The Doctor grasped his lapels, going into lecture mode. "Humans have a long history of conflict, especially with each other. Would you have us judge different humans we meet? Hmm?"
Stephen was taken aback. "Well, no, obviously not," he blustered.
"Then do not take it upon yourself to impose your views on other beings."
After a minute or two of silence, Stephen nodded. "You're right, Doctor. As always."
The Doctor smiled at his young companion. "You're learning, young man. Yes, you're definitely learning." He chuckled to himself as Stephen left the console room.
