The Littlest Timelord: Cracks in Time

Chapter 15

River was working on a control panel. "How impossible?" she asked.

"Two minutes".

The hatch they came in through opened.

"The hull is breached and the power's failing", Octavian said.

River groaned. She really wished Elise was older so she could help out. The lights went out for a second and the angels started crawling into the corridor.

The Doctor read River's mind and started helping her with the control panel.

"Sir, incoming", a cleric said.

"Doctor? Lights", Amy told him.

As the lights continued to flicker, the angels got closer to them.

"Clerics, keep watching them", Octavian ordered.

"And don't look at their eyes. Anywhere else. Not the eyes", the Doctor added, "I've isolated the lighting grid. They can't drain the power now".

"Good work, Doctor".

"Yes. Good, good, good. Good in many ways. Good you like it so far".

"So far?" Amy asked.

The Doctor opened up the control panel. "Well, there's only one way to open this door. I guess I'll need to route all the power in this section through the door control".

"Good. Fine. Do it", Octavian told him.

"Including the lights. All of them. I'll need to turn out the lights".

"How long for?"

"Fraction of a second. Maybe longer. Maybe quite a bit longer".

"Maybe?"

"I'm guessing. We're being attacked by statues in a crashed ship. There isn't a manual for this!"

"Doctor, we lost the torches. We'll be in total darkness", Amy mentioned.

"No other way", he told her, "Bishop".

Father Octavian turned to River. "Doctor Song, I've lost good Clerics today. You trust this man?"

River nodded. "I absolutely trust him".

"He's not some kind of madman, then?"

"I absolutely trust him".

The Doctor patted River's shoulder in thanks. "Excuse me".

Elise watched as Father Octavian had a quiet conversation with River before he said, "Okay, Doctor. We've got your back".

"Bless you. Bishop".

"Combat distance, ten feet. As soon as the lights go down, continuous fire. Full spread over the hostiles. Do not stop firing while the lights are out. Shot gun protocol. We don't have bullets to waste".

"Amy, when the lights go down, the wheel should release. Spin it clockwise four turns".

Amy nodded and said, "Ten".

"No, four. Four turns", the Doctor corrected her.

"Yeah, four. I heard you".

The Doctor walked over to the control panel. "Ready!" He stuck his sonic screwdriver into it and pressed the button. "Elise, the lights are going to go out and they're going to shoot the angels. Okay?" He felt Elise nod against his back as her small arms wrapped around his neck.