Finding himself alone again, the Doctor decided to take advantage of the fact. Ever since the trial and the disturbing glimpse into his future as the Valeyard, he had known that sooner, rather than later, he would meet his next companion and his time would no longer be his own. He therefore decided that he would finally deal with the myriad of little problems that had been upsetting the TARDIS over recent years.
After three months he had managed to re-align the dimensional stabilisers, synchronise the plasma shell generators, repair the holographic projection system in the console room, diagnose several major faults in the navigation computer and sweep up the mess in the secondary control room.
But the Doctor was becoming bored with the tasks he had assigned himself, and was beginning to find his own company very irritating.
"Hello old girl!" he bellowed as he walked into the console room. The console made a series of bleeps, as if answering his greeting.
"Now then," the Doctor said, "Where shall we go today?"
His hands moved across the controls, which he was pleased to see were responding a lot quicker than they had before he began repairs. The column in the centre of the console began to rise and fall, as the TARDIS began its flight.
Suddenly, the console emitted a high pitched alarm, startling the Doctor.
"Distress call?" He began punching at the console panel, which housed the communication circuits.
The console reacted with a spark, and the Doctor jumped back.
"What's going on?" He moved towards the console again, tentatively.
On a screen on the communications panel, he could see a series of symbols appear, then disappear.
"That's odd," he mused, "the message is being fed into another system...I wonder which one..."
His question was answered when a hatch under the console fell open, and a lens-type instrument extended out. The end of the lens lit up, and a pale blue laser shot out.
"The holographic projector!" cried the Doctor.
***
The laser quickly built up the image of a frail old woman, wrapped in a dirty, torn shawl. Her face was incredibly wrinkled, framed by wispy white hair.
"Good lord...I don't remember that program in the hologram data banks."
The old woman looked up at the Doctor. "That's because I'm not from your data banks" she croaked.
The Doctor was indignant. "You've invaded my TARDIS!"
The old woman looked alarmed at the Timelord's reaction. "I'm sorry, I mean you no harm."
The Doctor was about to launch into a tirade, until he saw the tired and scared eyes of his visitor.
"What do you want?"
The old woman walked towards him. "I need your help."
The Doctor sighed. "There are more conventional ways of asking for assistance you know."
The old woman ran a hand across the console, gently, almost lovingly.
"This is the only way I can."
The Doctor watched her caress the console, and realised what had happened.
"You accessed the TARDIS telepathic circuits!"
The old woman smiled, and nodded. "That's right. I felt your machine's presence and communicated with it."
The Doctor glared at the rising and falling column at the centre of the console. "How many times have I told you not to talk to strangers?"
The old woman continued. "Your machine allowed me access to its holographic projection system, in order that I may talk with you."
The Doctor scowled at the console again. "Oh it did, did it?"
The woman extended a hand towards the Doctor. "My name is Genralda."
The Doctor went to shake Genralda's hand, but the old woman had already retracted hers and was wandering away from him.
Genralda began to walk around the console. "You are called the Doctor, yes?"
The Doctor followed Genralda around the console, showing slight panic whenever she touched the console. "That's right. How did you know?"
"Your machine is very talkative. It told me of your many adventures, and how you have helped so many people through the years."
"Yes, I suppose that's true."
Genralda smiled at him. "Then you must help me. I am dying."
***
The Doctor had sensed that Genralda was so tired, and he had fetched two wicker chairs from a nearby storeroom. He and Genralda now sat, like old friends, in the console room.
"I'm sorry about your condition."
"It is no matter. I am past the point that concern or apology will prevent my death."
The Doctor nodded sadly. "What can I do to help you?"
Genralda paused for a second and stared into the Doctor's eyes.
"I have many loving children who will not survive without me."
The Doctor cocked his head slightly, and a puzzled look came across his face.
"I appreciate the maternal bond, but even children must accept the death of a parent at some point in their existence."
"My children are so very special."
"I don't doubt it."
Genralda suddenly smiled, an obviously proud smile.
"I am indebted to my children. They have cared for me with a tenderness and respect that other mothers can only dream of."
Her face suddenly darkened. " So many of my sisters have suffered terribly at the hands of their own."
"You must very proud."
The old woman said nothing, but the sadness in her face told the Doctor that pride was too small a word for what Genralda felt.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked cautiously.
The old woman leant forward and held the Doctor's hand in hers. The Doctor was surprised at the strength of her grip.
"You must save my children. When I die, they will perish with me."
"I don't understand. Why?"
"My children cannot escape. They are intelligent and caring, but they have not found the ability to leave me. Their desire to remain with their mother will lead to their doom."
***
The Doctor stood up and walked over to the console. He began tapping away at controls, lighting up data screens with floods of new data.
"How many children are we talking about here?" A message appeared on the screen - 'HOLOGRAPHIC DATA SOURCE' followed by a description of Genralda's origins.
"I have two billion, three hundred and twenty six million, nine hundred and two thousand, five hundred and thirty eight children."
Several minutes passed before the Doctor spoke again.
"I see your problem," he said thoughtfully.
"Do you? Do you really?"
The Doctor nodded.
"Can you help me?"
The Timelord shook his head, sadly.
"Then I am doomed," said Genralda.
The Doctor walked over to the seated old woman, took her hand and held it firmly.
"All things come to an end eventually. I can help solve problems, thwart invasions by power-hungry aliens, even overthrow the odd corrupted dictatorship. I cannot stop the inevitable."
Genralda stared into the Doctor's eyes, and she knew he told the truth.
"It is time," she said.
The Doctor watched as the holographic image faded away, leaving him alone once again.
***
The Doctor operated the scanner control and the large screen on the console room wall sprang to life. The image was of a brilliantly green planet set against a backdrop of bright stars. He watched the screen as the planet's blue haze turned slowly purple, then red. Cracks appeared across the continental plates, spewing forth its glowing innards. The plates began to shift violently, and the atmosphere burned away. Then, more suddenly than the Doctor had expected, the planet disintegrated in a flash of white. The glare filled the console room and the Doctor looked away to shield his eyes.
When his eyes returned to the screen a few seconds later, all that was left of the planet Genralda was molten rocks floating aimlessly in space.
