Doctor Whooves: New Settings
STORY 2: Voyage Towards Extinction
Part 1: Splendid Surroundings
The beach was alive with activity. Equinoid life forms of all sorts were laughing and playing happily in the light of the sun. The pony-like life forms all had unique attributes that defined their groups. Some were larger than most; some were as small as foals; some had wings like insects; and some looked like ordinary equestrians. The groups would freely interact and play together in harmony.
On the beach sat a metal tower. Inside, a blue, pony-like creature with a curving horn-crest over her brow and a mark on her hip of a field of stars, watched over the playing beach-goers. Over her shoulder was a sash that read, “Lifeguard”. She had a soft smile on her face as she watched the beach-goers having fun. She reached her right fore hoof up and, from above, she pulled down a circular device, which was attached to the ceiling by a wire.
She spoke into it. “All guests are reminded that night-cycle is to start in exactly 3 hours. Thank you.” As she spoke, her words were amplified and sent over the crowd.
She hung up the device. She noticed a filly (or what she assumed was a filly given the species present) waving up at her. She smiled and waved back, watching as the little one returned to her activities. The lifeguard sighed contently. Rarely were her services actually needed, but she loved watching the beach-goers playing.
In her reverie, she failed to notice the sound of steps behind her. What she didn't fail to notice was the sharp electric shock that ran through her. She collapsed to the floor, unconscious. From the shadows, something grabbed her unconscious form and dragged her into the dark.
Outside, the filly that had waved before looked up again into the lifeguard station. She frowned when she noticed that the lifeguard was gone. She shrugged and returned to her games.
Beyond the beaches were metal buildings connected a massive glass sphere that encompassed the entire beach and the waters it lead to. This sphere was connected to a massive, arrow-shaped metal machine with a second sphere, made of metal, connecting to it. From the metal sphere protruded three fins, all at a right angle to each other, with the tip of the center fin mounted with an ovangular structure that was brightly lit. Behind all of this, a bright light seemed to push it all forward. The machine soared through the wide expanse of space.
(Doctor Who Theme)
At the farthest edge of the beach, where the metal structures began, there were very few creatures present. The structures closest to the beach were small and had colorful, inviting signs; “Arduvian delicacies”, “Calian Fruit Drinks”, “Recycled Food”. Behind a stand for “Betelgeuseian Hard Drinks” there came an inexplicable sound. The whirring noise preceded a soft blue glow, which gave way to a familiar blue box with the words “Police Public Call Box” marking the top. The door opened inward and a brown coated pony in a brown vest with an hourglass mark.
“Well, ladies,” he said with a flourish. “We’re here!”
The brown stallion stepped aside, allowing more ponies to step out. The first was a grey Pegasus with a yellow mane, joined by a similar looking unicorn filly. They were followed by a white unicorn with blue hair and a grey Earth Pony with raven hair, wearing a grey vest and beret. They all looked about with great interest, taking in the environment.
The first to speak was Octavia, the raven haired pony. “A beach, Doctor?” she said towards the male. “Rather pedestrian, don’t you think, given the option of the whole universe?”
“Ah, you underestimate me, my dear Lieutenant,” The Doctor replied. “I know better than to start off slow.”
“Yeah, Octavia,” Vinyl Scratch said, the blue haired unicorn tapping the earth pony on the shoulder. “I’ll bet this is some alien beach on a planet trillions of miles away, with oceans made of lemon soda and beaches of sugar.”
The Doctor gave the blue haired unicorn a bemused look. “Close,” he replied. “But not quite. And before you ask, Miss. Scratch, it’s too late to make requests.”
“So, where are we?” chimed Dinky, the little filly.
The Doctor smiled and tilted his head. “I’ll show you.”
He lead them towards a strange silver monolith, only a foot or so taller than them, with a bright glass screen that displayed a map of the area.
As they approached, the Doctor spoke. “Information.”
“Online.” replied a feminine voice from the monolith.
“Display full map, please,” The Doctor said.
The device beeped, the map expanding out into a bizarre shape. The arrow-like shape with two spheres rotated to give a three dimensional display. The four mares looked at the image, wide-eyed, as they realized what it was.
“We’re on a spaceship,” Derpy, the Pegasus, stated in amazement.
“Aaaaawesome!” Vinyl said, her voice dripping with excitement.
The Doctor turned dramatically and motioned to the screen with his hoof. “Ladies, I give you -- pause for dramatic effect -- The Splendor! The single most luxurious, fun, glorious and largely affordable cruise ship in the universe.”
“Okay, now I’m impressed,” Octavia commented with a smile. However, she then gave the Doctor a rather skeptical look. “I’m guessing that, despite being ‘largely affordable’, we don’t have tickets?”
“I won’t tell if you won’t,” the Doctor replied slyly.
“Awfully rude to board a ship without paying, isn't it?” She chided.
“Do you have 100,000 galactic standard credits in that fancy hat of yours, by chance?” He replied. “I know I don’t. Fun comes with frugality in my case, Lieutenant.”
Octavia rolled her eyes. “Point taken,” she said. “But if we get thrown in the brig or something, I reserve the right to smack you upside your head.”
“Fair enough,” the Doctor said with a coy smile.
“So, there’s a beach in a spaceship?” Derpy asked.
“Yep,” the Doctor said. “But that’s not even the most amazing thing. You want to know the amazing thing?”
“What’s more amazing than a spaceship with a beach in it?” Vinyl asked.
“This isn’t just a spaceship,” The Doctor replied. “It’s a Star Ship!”
They all gave him a confused look.
“Doctor,” Derpy said, “isn’t starship just a different word for spaceship?”
“No, no, no,” The Doctor said, shaking his head. “Not a starship; a Star ship!” He emphasized the word star as he turned to the panel again. “Information.”
“Online.”
“Display engine room.”
The image focused in on the second sphere. Inside was a glowing ball of light.
“See?” The Doctor said. “This is a Star Ship. As in, a ship powered by a star. Micro-star to be precise. The ship takes everything; the light, the heat; the gravitational force; and uses it to propel this entire ship through the galaxy at speeds unparalleled by any other system. One of the greatest feats of engineering in the universe.”
The others didn’t look quite as enthused as he was.
“So… it’s solar powered. Literally,” Vinyl commented unenthusiastically, but trying to smile and sound interested. “That’s… interesting.”
“What?!” The Doctor said, slightly annoyed. “Is no one impressed by this? Do you know how hard it is to build a mechanism that uses gravitational force while also not succumbing to it? This is amazing!”
“Doctor,” Octavia chimed in. “We live on a world where our rulers move celestial bodies at will. Not exactly shocking to us that somepony would use a star for power.”
“Without magic?!” The Doctor replied.
“Hey! Don’t underestimate non-magical ponies,” she replied, somewhat humorously.
The Doctor sighed in frustration and bowed his head.
Derpy walked up and patted his shoulder supportively. “So, who built it?” she asked.
The Doctor shot up, apparently over his frustration. “The Nauta,” he said. “They’re not too different from you lot, just more technologically advanced. Ooh, and three really curvy horns on their heads that make a fancy crest. I like a fancy crest.”
“So, they run the ship then?” Octavia asked.
“Of course,” The Doctor replied. “Wouldn’t do to make a ship and not run it yourself. No one knows how to run a ship better than the one who made it.”
“Goes a long way to explaining your driving then,” Octavia rebutted.
“WHAT?!” The Doctor said indignantly.
Vinyl laughed out loud, clutching her sides. “Ooh! Burn!” she said, holding up a hoof, which Octavia hoof-bumped.
Even Derpy and Dinky chuckled at Octavia’s clever jab. The Doctor maintained his displeased look for a few seconds, but soon, even he broke down and chuckled with them.
“Well,” The Doctor continued. “If we’re done criticizing my driving, what do we want to do first?”
“Definitely want to hit the surf,” Vinyl said energetically. “I’ve always wanted to ride the waves. They do have waves here, right?”
“Artificially generated for perfection,” the Doctor replied.
“I think Dinky and I will just explore the beach,” Derpy said. “Maybe meet some of the other passengers.”
“I want to build a sandcastle!” Dinky said, bouncing excitedly.
“And you, Lieutenant?” the Doctor asked.
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll think of something,” Octavia said, looking about. Her eyes fell on the sign of the booth that they parked the TARDIS by. “Betelgeuseian Hard Drinks”. She smiled wickedly and turned towards it. “First thing I’m doing for sure is enjoying a good drink.”
“Really?” Vinyl asked, a little surprised at how eager she was. “Never would’ve taken you for the drinking type.”
“Only when off duty, Scratch,” Octavia replied. “Helps me loosen up. Besides, no harm in a quick sip before exploring this place.”
Derpy shook her head disapprovingly. “I see no reason to use drinks to loosen up. I’m sure we’ll have just as much fun sober.”
“Jeeze, don’t be such a PSA, Derpy,” Vinyl chided.
“PSA?” The Doctor asked.
“Pony Safety Advocate,” Vinyl said. “Somepony who buts her nose into other ponies’ business, pretending to be the moral authority.”
“I’m not a PSA!” Derpy retaliated. “I’m just thinking of Dinky. I don’t want her being negatively influenced.”
“PSA,” Vinyl said, her voice in a mocking sing-song tone.
Derpy grumbled while Vinyl snickered.
“Relax Derpy,” Octavia said. “I’m not going to get knackered. I’m just trying the local services.”
With that, Octavia gracefully trotted off to the booth. Once there, she reared up on her hind legs and put her forelegs on the bar, supporting herself in an upright position.
“Excuse me,” she said politely, trying to get the attention of the bartender, who was facing away from her. “Can I get some service, please?”
Octavia nearly jumped backwards from shock when the bartender turned. She struggled to regain balance from the shock of what she saw; namely, that the bartender had two heads. He’d had them down before, cleaning dishes by the look of the rag and glass in his mouths. Octavia quickly reminded herself that she was in space now and tried to push past the fact that this creature had two heads to the side. Aside from the heads, the bartender looked like a normal pony. He had a red coat and green manes, the colors reminding Octavia a bit of Heath’s Warming. His mark was a strange shape resembling the unique appendage which she usually associated with minotaurs. What was it called…? A hand! Yes, a hand. It was a hand with four of its sub-appendages-- she couldn’t be bothered to remember what to call them-- curled up and its largest appendage pointing towards his front.
The Barkeep put down his rag and glass and smiled with both faces at the pony. “’Ello Miss,” he said from his left face. “How may I help you?” he continued from the right.
“Er, yes…” Octavia replied hesitantly, trying her best to smile politely. “I was just… that is… I was wondering what the special was?”
“Oh,” said the alien from both heads. It continued from the right head, “Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, of course.” Then the left chimed in, “Most popular drink in our system.”
“Sounds… intriguing,” Octavia said uneasily. “I’ll take one, please.”
The two heads, in an anatomical marvel, actually turned to each other in surprise, just clearing each other’s noses. Then they laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Octavia asked, her eyes darting between the two heads in confusion.
Stifling its laughter, the left head stuttered out, “That’s a good one miss. I’ll have ONE! HA HA HA! Classic!”
“Is there something wrong with only having one?” Octavia asked.
“Of course not,” said the other. “It’s funny to imagine anyone taking More than one! Like it needs to be said, ‘I’ll have one’! Hilarious!”
Octavia still felt confused as the two heads settled down from their laughter and began mixing her drink. She didn’t know what to make of the mixing either. It started normally, as they mixed two liquids with some rather odd looking ice. But then they attached a hose which pumped some foul smelling gas through the substance. Next they added a spoonful of something else, followed by… was that a tooth?! It was followed by the sprinkling of another substance that smelled of lemons and the addition of an olive. They poured the drink, olive and all, into a martini glass and presented it to Octavia. The substance fizzed incessantly in the glass, vapors coming off of it.
Octavia eyed it suspiciously while her friends walked up beside her, the Doctor, Derpy and Dinky on her right and Vinyl on her left.
“Dang!” Vinyl commented. “I’ve seen some funky drinks in my day, but that’s just weird!”
“Not exactly tops on my preferred liquors either,” the Doctor added.
Octavia shrugged. “Oh well,” she said. “When in Space…” With that, she picked up the glass in her hoof and made to gulp it.
“NO WAIT!” said the Doctor and the two-headed bartender in tandem.
Too late.
A split second after in taking the drink, Octavia’s head shot to the side; a thwacking sound coming from nowhere at the same time. She fell to the ground, eyes wide and swirling. The three fillies left the stand and circled her in concern while the Doctor rubbed his temple with his hoof and the bartender shook his heads.
“Tourists,” the bartender said from his right head.
“Tell me about it,” the Doctor replied. “Jinninton’k please.”
“Would you like that with or without the leech?” asked the left head.
“No, that’s Djinn’n Tawnix,” the Doctor replied crossly. “I want a Jinninton’k.”
“Is that the one with the ‘c-k’ at the end or the ’apostrophe k’?”
“Apostrophe K,” the Doctor replied.
“On it!” said both heads, setting to work.
The Doctor ignored the two-headed bartender doing Celestia knows what, noting the pained groan of Octavia. He turned to see that she was coming too and rubbing her forehead with both hooves.
“You okay, Octy?” Vinyl asked.
Octavia managed to pry open one eye and glare disdainfully at Vinyl. “Octy?” she muttered, wincing in pain afterwards.
“Uh, sorry,” Vinyl said, blushing in embarrassment.
Octavia forced herself into a seated position, still wracked with pain that she hadn’t experienced since her college years. She struggled against the pain as she went through a list of important items she wanted to be sure she remembered. Name? Octavia. Check! Age? 23. …ish. Check! The Prelude to Buch’s Cello Piece #1? Umm… well, that would probably come back to her if she heard it again.
“I’m impressed,” came the Doctor’s voice through the throbbing of her temples. “Not many life forms can get up right after gulping a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster. I half expected you to be in a coma for a week. I’m genuinely impressed, Lieutenant.”
“Gee, thanks for your approval,” Octavia replied, contemptuously.
“Oy, don’t get angry at me,” The Doctor replied. “I tried to warn you!”
“Ah! Not so loud!” she said, grabbing her head in pain. “Heavens! I feel like… like…”
“…Like your brain’s been smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick,” the Doctor said evenly.
Octavia stared at him in utter shock. “Yes! I think that’s exactly it!”
“Next time, try the Jinninton’k,” he said, ironically as said drink was placed beside him. “Far less nerve damaging.”
Derpy looked towards her daughter and said, “And that, Muffin, is why you don’t ever want to start drinking.”
Dinky giggled while Vinyl helped Octavia to her hooves.
“Well, I certainly hit my limit early,” Octavia said as she struggled to remain upright. “Miss. Scratch, please escort me to a beach chair. I believe I’ll be spending the next hour or so recovering.”
“Right,” Vinyl replied. “Where do we get chairs Doctor?”
The Doctor, finishing his drink rather quickly, pointed towards a round, metal platform just past the information panel. “Trans-mat pads. Just step on and say where you’d like to go.”
“What is it?” Vinyl asked. “A hover board?”
“Teleport,” the Doctor replied. “Like that trick you pulled on the Cyberponies.”
“Sweet,” Vinyl said excitedly. “No magical burnouts on this Vay-kay! Why can’t we have this kind of stuff on our planet?”
“Just drag me towards it so we can get going, Vinyl,” Octavia said impatiently. “I need a good lay-down.”
“Heh, right,” Vinyl replied. She lead them both to the metal pad.
Once atop the machine, a synthetic voice sounded out. “Please state desired destination.”
Vinyl pondered for a moment what exactly they were looking for. Once she had a good idea, she said, “Uh, beach supplies?”
With that, the two mares vanished in a flash of light.
Dinky ran up to the pad with a fascinated smile on her face. “Neat!” she said. “I’ve never been able to do that spell. I bet if I could study this thing, I’d be the best teleporter ever.”
The Doctor walked up beside the little filly, a bemused smile on his face. “I’m not sure trans-mats work the same way as pony magic. But please, don’t let that stop you.”
“Maybe the Doctor can show you how they work, later,” Derpy interjected. “I’m certain that the Nautas wouldn’t want us taking apart their machines.”
“Quite right,” the Doctor said. “Besides, we need to find our own fun. Everyone on board.”
The Doctor, Derpy and Dinky all stood on the pad. “Please state desired destination.”
“To the beach, if you please,” the Doctor said.
In another flash, the group was gone.
The Betelgeuseian bartender shook his heads at the odd group and returned to his task of polishing glasses. As he worked, neither of his heads was aware of something else approaching the stand. In fact, both heads were so engrossed in their work that the only thing they noticed was a sudden jolt of electricity before being knocked unconscious.
As the bartender lay unconscious at his station, a pair of strange, semi-circular shadows appeared from the window.
“What was that all about?!” said the owner of one shadow to the other.
“Our mission is to disable the security personnel,” replied the other in a matter-of-factly tone.
“You dimwit!” said the first. “He’s not a security man. He’s a bartender.”
“My scanners detected a weapon at his station,” said the other.
“Of course he has a weapon,” replied the first. “Bartenders always have weapons.”
“Well, what do you propose we do about it? We can’t just leave him here.”
“Obviously not. We’ll have to take him with us.”
“What will we tell the general?”
The first voice paused, obviously thinking. “Ah! We’ll say he initiated hostilities and we captured him as a prisoner of war.”
“What if he doesn’t buy it?”
“Then we’ll say we captured him to prepare refreshments for the general. I hear he likes Betalgeuseian drinks.”
“Makes sense to me,” replied the other voice. “Let’s get moving, the main operation will be starting soon.”
The Shadows disappeared from the window. The door on the side of the booth then opened, and the body of the bartender was dragged out under muttered protests of how heavy he is.
To be continued...