//------------------------------//
// Part 4: Eclipse of Ruta 3 
// Story: Doctor Whooves: New Settings; Story 2: Voyage Towards Extiction 
// by KevynTheDevylman 
//------------------------------//

Doctor Whooves: New Settings
Story 2: Voyage Towards Extiction

Part 4: Eclipse of Ruta 3

Alhab lead the small band through a secret shaft. It was one of many service shafts known only to the crew of the ship. She hoped that, with the security crippled and herself and the Doctor’s crew believed to be imprisoned, the Sontarans wouldn’t think to patrol them. The corridors were narrow, meaning they had to walk in pairs. Alhad lead the pack on her own; Vinyl and Octavia followed next; The Doctor walked with Derpy, Dinky riding on her back; and Ghala took the rear guard.

As they walked, Vinyl whispered to Octavia, “You know how we were talking ‘worst vacations’ earlier.”

“Yes?” Octavia replied.

“Is it weird that I’m enjoying myself more?” She asked with a sly grin.

Octavia actually chuckled at that. “As much as I wish it was,” she said, “I think I’m feeling that too.”

Vinyl chuckled softly. “I guess we’re both thrill junkies at heart.”

Octavia smiled. “Maybe. Though if that fact leaves this corridor, you’ll wish it hadn’t.”

The two chuckled to themselves.

As the unicorn and Earth pony chatted, the Doctor turned back to the Rutan. “How long have the Sontarans been planning this?” He asked.

“Months; maybe years,” She replied. “Perhaps since the day the Splendor set sail. You know the Sontarans, Doctor; always strategizing.”

“What strategy?” Vinyl asked in a plaintive voice. “Doctor, what are they doing? Tell us!”

“I agree,” Octavia added. “We need to know the Sontaran’s stratagem if we’re to overcome it.”

The Doctor sighed. “Okay! You know how this thing is run by a star, yeah?” They all nodded. “Now, you lot just think of stars as tiny little lights; think they can be flung about by magic. Why not? That’s how it works for you.” They all nodded again. “Truth is, though, your star is not even remotely standard. Real stars are massive balls of gas. They are nature’s fusion engines. They burn with an intensity that cannot be matched and have gravity that, when they finally burn out, lingers in the form of black holes. These things are more powerful than any magic as you understand it. They are the driving creative force of the universe. With me so far?”

They all nodded again, enraptured by the Doctor’s passionate speech.

“Good,” he said. “Now. Ask yourselves; what would happen if you dropped something like that on a planet?”

Their eyes all went wide in horror.

“Would they do that?” Derpy asked.

“That’s what they are doing,” The Doctor said. “I can feel it. This ship is hurtling through space towards Ruta 3, the Rutan homeworld. They’re going to crash this ship right into the planet. When that happens, the star-drive will be cracked open, unleashing the star. Its gravitational field will draw in Ruta 3 and collapse everything into itself. Nothing will be able to escape the sudden gravitational rebound. Instant apocalypse.”

“Yeesh!” Vinyl said. “I thought the Cyberponies were hardcore evil.”

“It’s just… monstrous,” Octavia added.

“Can you stop it Doctor?” Derpy asked.

He nodded. “If we can take the bridge back, we can stop the ship before we get to the Ruta system and remove the Sontarans’ virus.”

“Then let’s hasten,” The Captain said. “We’re not far from the bridge, now.”

After another minute of walking, Derpy turned to Ghala. “So, Ghala,” she said. “Have you met The Doctor before?”

“Unfortunately no,” She replied. “This is the first time I’ve met him. But, I’ve heard stories about him since I was a hatchling. He’s garnered quite the mythology. His exploits reach back to the earliest days of this war. You know what most races call him?”

“Uh, ‘The Doctor’?” Derpy replied, innocently.

“‘The Oncoming Storm’.”

Derpy’s eyes widened and both focused on the pony beside her. He didn’t react to the conversation, but she knew he was listening. She couldn’t quite believe that the Doctor, the nicest Pony she’d ever known, could have such an intimidating title. Though, as she considered it, The Doctor was also very intimidating and confident when it came to dealing with his enemies.

“Don’t mistake me,” Ghala said. “Most see it as a title of endearment. The Doctor is the storm that drives away death and brings new life.”

“If it’s all the same,” The Doctor finally replied, “I think, ‘The Doctor’, is a trifle more endearing than that horrid title.”

“I think it’s kinda kickass!” Vinyl chimed in. “‘The Oncoming Storm’! Sounds like an Awesome band name!”

“Miss, Scratch,” Said the Doctor. “The only ones I want to think of me as the Oncoming Storm are my enemies.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Linx stood in the center of the control room. He watched stars fly past on the view monitor while his men held their guns to the heads of the crew, forcing them to hold the course. A twisted grin crossed his face.

“How long before we reach the Ruta system?” he asked.

“Twenty minutes, Sir,” replied one of his men.

“Excellent,” Linx replied. “Finally, we’re going to end this war in one stroke.”

His second in command walked up. “General, I see you enter battle open skinned,” he said. “May I join that honor?”

“Permission granted,” Linx replied.

The soldier removed his helmet. He looked nearly identical to Linx, minus the scar.

“This will be a great moment for the Empire,” The Second-in-Command said.

“Yes,” said Linx. “Today, we bring the Rutan filth to their… whatever they have instead of knees. Finally, I will be given the respect I deserve.”

The Second turned to his leader with a confused expression. “Sir?” He said.

“Return to your post, Commander,” Linx said. “Today, we bring honor to Sontar.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

After a time, the group came to a grate that lead to the main corridors. Outside they could just make an entrance to the bridge, only a few feet beyond on the opposite wall. They also noticed two Sontarans patrolling the entrance. Ghala compressed herself down and slid along the ceiling, over the equines, and reached her tendrils out through the grate. The tendrils slid into the vents on the Sontarans’ necks while their backs were turned. Unlike before, they simply fell limp. The tendrils supported the Sontaran bodies, ensuring they wouldn’t slam against the ground and draw unwanted attention. She placed them gently against the far walls and retracted her tendrils.

“We’re clear,” she said in a hushed voice.

“Nice move,” Vinyl whispered. “What did you do?”

“The probic vent on their necks is their weak-point,” Ghala replied. “They always face forward in battle and never retreat.”

“I think we can get around that,” Vinyl said with a sly grin.

“Let’s be smart about this,” Octavia said. “There’s more of them than us. We need a distraction.”

“Got it covered,” Vinyl said.

With that, Vinyl’s horn glowed brightly. In a flash of light she vanished.

“Vinyl!” Octavia said, trying her hardest not to shout, despite her surprise.

“Where’d she go?” Derpy asked.

Suddenly, a loud clambering noise came from down the hallway.

“I have a suspicion,” The Doctor replied.

“Oh, Celestia!” Octavia declared. “She’ll get herself killed!”

“I’m sure she can take care of herself,” Ghala said. “More importantly, look.”

They could see the Sontarans in the control room turn to one of the far exits. The one in the center, probably Linx, motioned to the door and several of the Sontaran soldiers ran to it.

“This is our chance,” Ghala said as she slipped her tendrils through the grate and morphed them into tiny screwdrivers. She unscrewed the grate and quietly moved it aside.

The instant the door opened, Octavia charged down the hallway, towards where they heard the sound.

“Where are you going?” Ghala demanded as she and the others moved out of the grate.

“Vinyl needs me!” She replied, stopping to reply.

“She can take care of herself,” Ghala said, angrily. “We need you.”

“Just go, Lieutenant,” The Doctor interjected.

“What!?” Ghala replied.

Octavia shot the Doctor a grateful look. She continued running off, the Doctor smiling proudly in her wake.

“What are you doing?” Ghala asked him. “She’s a soldier. We could have used her combat expertise.”

“We don’t have time to argue,” The Doctor said. “By my calculations, we’re almost at the Ruta system now. Your planet--your people--are at risk here, Ghala. It looks like there are only a few left. The four of us can take them.”

Ghala grumbled. “Very well. Winged one,” she said to Derpy. “You and I shall handle the remaining troops. Are you up to it?”

Derpy nodded confidently. She then let Dinky off her back. “Stay in the vent, Dinky,” she said. “We’ll come get you when it’s safe.”

Dinky nodded. “Okay, Mommy.”

“Good on ya, Derpy,” The Doctor said. He turned to the Captain. “Captain, you’re with me. I need you to take back the controls.”

“Very well,” Captain Alhab replied. “But what about the General?”

The Doctor turned to the entrance of the control room. “He’s mine.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Hey!” Vinyl shouted, bucking against the walls of the ship. “Potato-heads! Come and get me you losers!”

Vinyl continued to buck the walls, until she heard the tell-tale sounds of marching Sontarans. She stood at the center of the hallway, at the ready.

“Okay, Scratch,” she said to herself. “Time to see how those brawls in Manehatten compare to a brawl with Space Potatoes.”

Then Sontarans then rounded the corner and spotted her.

“There,” said one. “It’s one of the Doctor’s companions.”

“Get it!”

They all ran at Vinyl, just as her horn started to glow. By the time they reached her, there was a flash of light before they found themselves grabbing at empty air.

“Where did it go?” Asked one of the group.

Another flash behind the group was followed by the sounds of impacts and thudding bodies. The group turned to see two of their number felled and the white pony standing with her hind to them with a smirk on her face.

“There it is!” said another Sontaran.

He tried to grab her, but she vanished again, reappearing to kick two more in the back of the neck. Most of the group turned to face her as she teleported again. However, one on the far end reached for his stun baton. As she reappeared on the other side, he thrust his baton into her side. Vinyl had no chance to react. Her strategy had only been good for four hits.

“Crap…” she mumbled as she fell, limp.

“Nice try, beast,” The Sontaran said. “But such a simplistic strategy is of no use against true warriors.” He grabbed the pony by her mane. “But, a fighter capable of disabling four Sontarans in only a few seconds has earned the chance at a final word. What say you beast?”

Vinyl spat in his faceplate.

The Sontaran laughed. “This beast has spirit. Still, if it managed to escape it’s too much of a threat to our plan to let live.” He pulled out his gun. “You fought with valor, beast. Now die likewise.”

“Get your grubby mits off of her, you MONSTER!”

They all turned to the end of the hall. There stood Octavia, the glare to end all death glares plastered across her face.

“Tavi…” Vinyl managed to squeak out.

The Sontaran leveled its weapon as Octavia charged at him, screaming at the top of her lungs.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

“What in the name of Sontar is going on?!” Linx demanded, referring to the loud racket in the halls.

“General!” his Second said in a panic. “I just checked the monitors in the cells. The Doctor and his companions have escaped!”

“What?!” Linx replied, angrily. “Find them! Inform the men investigating that racket! It’s probably The Doctor, plotting something.”

“Wrong-o, Linx Ol’boy!”

Linx turned to the entrance on his left. There stood the Doctor, joined by the Captain.

“Sorry for dropping in unannounced,” the Doctor continued. “But I do believe you’re about to crash something that doesn’t belong to you.”

“DOCTOR!!!” Linx Shouted. “Kill Him!”

His Second drew a bead on them, but was knocked down by a blast of green energy. Linx turned to the source and saw Derpy and the Rutan, Ghala, entering from the forward entrance. The few remaining soldiers ran at them. Ghala blasted those coming from her direction with energy blasts from her tentacles. Meanwhile, Derpy flew over the heads of her opponents and back-kicked them in the vent.

The Doctor ran up and bucked Linx away from the controls while Alhab began working them. Linx regained his footing as he and the Doctor stared each other down.

“This ends now, Linx,” The Doctor said.

Linx laughed at his words. “Amusing Doctor. Is the pacifist finally going to fight me?”

“I may be a pacifist,” The Doctor replied as he reared up on his hind legs, “but I know how to fight.” He assumed the combat pose. “I trust you’re familiar with Venusian Aikido?”

“Of course,” Linx replied, assuming a similar stance.

“Good, then I shan’t feel bad about kicking your butt with it.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Octavia panted heavily. At her feet was the entire Sontaran platoon. She’d out-fought them all. It had taken every ounce of her EQUIT combat training, but she had won. Before her sat Vinyl Scratch, still somewhat shaken from the blow she’d taken.

“Thanks… Tavi…” Vinyl managed to say between painful pants.

Octavia growled angrily before shouting, “What were you thinking?! You could’ve gotten yourself killed!”

“Ah, I had it all in hoof,” Vinyl said casually. “Besides, I figured someone would come and save me if I was in trouble.”

“Don’t say that!”

Vinyl looked at Octavia, wide eyed, as the dark mare’s expression shifted from angry to tearful.

“Don’t ever put yourself at risk like that,” she said. “If something happened to you, I’d… I’d…” She couldn’t finish, bowing her head as tears seeped down her face.

Vinyl, smiling warmly, removed her glasses and cupped Octavia’s cheek with her hoof. “Hey,” she said. “I’m okay. As long as you’re with me, I’m always okay.”

Octavia looked up and into Vinyl’s beautiful scarlet eyes; eye beaming with love. A second later, she shot forward, connecting her lips with Vinyl’s. The white and blue mare was a bit shocked at first, but, being Vinyl, decided to go with the flow, returning the kiss in kind.

When she broke away, Octavia smiled nervously. “I… I think I love you, Vinyl Scratch.”

“I don’t have to think,” Vinyl replied. “I knew I loved you the second I saw you.”

The two embraced happily, wrapped up in their emotional bliss. So wrapped up that they remained completely unaware of the amazing fight going on on the other side of this story.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Speaking of…
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Doctor managed to block every blow that Linx sent at him. The Doctor was able to throw some pretty good blows himself, but the Sontaran proved just as capable a hand-to-hoof fighter. Derpy and Ghala watched in amazement, having pretty much finished off the rest of Linx’s men.

“I never knew the Doctor could fight like that,” Derpy stated.

“I didn’t know the Doctor could fight either,” Ghala admitted. “He usually outwits his opponents as opposed to physical force. It’s actually quite astonishing.”

“I feel like I’m watching a Spruce Tree movie,” Derpy commented.

The Doctor ducked under one of Linx’s punches, only to buck him in the face. The Sontaran staggered as the Doctor circled him.

“You know,” The Doctor said. “You astound me, Linx. Here we are, again, for what? The twelfth time? How many times must I outwit you before you just give up?”

“A Sontaran never gives in,” he replied. “I have to finish you. My pride rides on this mission.”

The Doctor’s eyes widened, before narrowing as he grinned, slyly. “Ah, now I get it,” he said. “General Linx doesn’t get the kind of respect he thinks he deserves. I suppose the Sontaran War Counsel isn’t too pleased with your service record; despite our many encounters apparently ranking you up to General.”

Linx growled angrily. “Many of the Generals feel that my survival is because of your mercy or my own cowardice. My honor has been tainted by the vary thing which gives me glory. This is my chance to prove my valor. This is my chance to prove my worth as a leader.”

“With a suicide mission?” The Doctor asked. “Because that’s what this is. Impacting a planet isn’t going to crack the Star-drive. The Soltanium is meant to hold back the force of a star. You have to remain to the last second to unlock the drive and unleash the full force of the star.”

“Exactly,” Linx said with a manic grin. “I shall be immortalized. My genes will be the basis of a new Sontaran elite corps. My victory will reshape the empire in My Image!”

The Doctor simply shook his head. “That Davros complex is going to be the death of you.”

They clashed again. The Doctor held his own, scoring some good strikes on Linx. However, Linx had two distinct advantages; he was naturally two-legged and he had hands. The Doctor constantly had to struggle to remain on two legs and could not grapple. Linx pressed this advantage, managing to grab one of the Doctor’s legs and toss him against the side of the Captain’s chair.

The Doctor struggled to regain his form, but Linx grabbed him around the throat.

“DOCTOR!” Derpy shouted, flying up to try and help.

“This is the end, Doctor,” Linx said with a manic grin. “Finally, your endless interference in my stratagems ends.”

“For once,” The Doctor managed to gasp out, “I think we’re in agreement.”

Linx’s eyes went wide at the sound of tearing metal. Blood seeped from his mouth. His grip slackened. Behind him stood Alhab, her front horn impaling his probic vent.

“That’s for my crewmen, you monster,” She said as she withdrew her horn.

Linx fell limp to the floor. Shockingly, he actually managed to cough up a chuckle. He slowly raised his arm into the air.

“Son… tar… ha…”

The arm fell.

The Doctor panted, rubbing his neck. “Nice work, Captain,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

“My pleasure, Doctor,” she replied. “I managed to stop the ship.”

“Good,” he said. “Now we just need to get security back online.”

“Doctor!”

The Doctor turned in time to see Derpy fly towards him. She landed and wrapped him up in a hug.

“Oh, gosh,” She said. “I was so worried. Are you okay.”

“Well… Ah!” the Doctor said, wincing in pain. “I’d be better once you’ve let go of my neck.”

“Oh!” Derpy replied, letting go. “I’m sorry.”

“No worries, Miss. Hooves,” he replied with a comforting grin. “Just need a moment to recover.”

With that, the Doctor moved to the control panel and began working. Derpy stood beside him as Ghala floated over to them. Ghala floated near the corpse of Linx.

“Impressive,” she said.

“Quiet please,” The Doctor said. “I need to focus. This is a lot harder without my sonic screwdriver.”

“Oh!” Alhab replied. “Hold on a moment,” she said as she ran to another area in the bridge.

After she left the central area, Vinyl and Octavia walked in, walking very closely to each other. They both saw the felled Sontaran. Octavia flinched, while Vinyl simply pulled down her glasses in surprise.

“Man,” Vinyl said. “And I thought Tavi went hardcore on our side.”

“I guess it’s all over now,” Octavia added, leaning against Vinyl to steady herself.

“Not quite,” the Doctor replied. “I need to get the security drones back online before the other Sontarans get here. By now they’ve caught on and are headed this way.”

“Can you do it, Doctor?” Derpy asked.

The Doctor growled in frustration. “The virus is clever, it’s outmaneuvering me. I need…”

“This?”

The Doctor turned to see the Captain standing beside him, the Sonic Screwdriver in her hoof.

The Doctor’s face exploded into a massive grin. “HA HA!” He exclaimed. “My Sonic!”

“My men picked it up when they arrested you,” she said as he took the Sonic from her. “We thought it might be important.”

“Captain, you’re beautiful,” The Doctor said. He whirred the Sonic over the panel. “I’m back in business.”

The Sonic beeped an uneven pattern at him, not unlike it had in Ponyville.

“Yes, I noticed,” The Doctor replied. “It seems somepony is projecting huge waves of positive energy.” He looked back at Vinyl and Octavia, grinning slyly. “I don’t suppose you two have something to do with that?”

The two mares blushed, though they didn’t separate.

“J-just focus on stopping the virus,” Octavia stuttered.

“Oh, quite right,” the Doctor replied, returning focus to the controls. “Let’s see. Where are you my little… Aha!”

The screen flashed. A sparking sound emanated from inside the machine.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Across the ship, the various Sontaran soldiers were all uneasy. It hadn’t taken them long to notice that the ship was slowing down instead of speeding up. It hadn’t taken them long to realize that The Doctor had done something. It also didn’t take long for them to notice the hundreds of security droids flying through the Dome.

“Attacking Force.” Declared the Drones. “Cease and Desist. Resistance will be met with Force.”

It didn’t take them long to Answer.

“SONTAR HA!”

It didn’t take long for the drones to immobilize the hoard with their stun rays. One or two were taken down by the return fire, but it really was simple to overcome them.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the control room, The Doctor sighed with relief.

“So, now it’s all over?” Vinyl asked.

“Oh, yes,” the Doctor replied. “The problem has been resolved. Our pesky viral friend has been isolated from the databanks. Now the ship is back in our control with no chance of Sontaran interference.”

“Are you sure?” asked Ghala.

“Of course I’m sure,” The Doctor replied. “We’re completely out of danger.”

“Good.”

Ghala’s tendrils shot out, rapidly entangling themselves around the Doctor, Derpy, Vinyl, Octavia and the Captain. She lifted them into the air as she herself floatd towards the consol.

“Ghala, what are you doing?!” Derpy shouted.

“What I was sent here to do,” the Rutan replied as she began working the controls.

“Ghala!” the Doctor called out. “You don’t have to do this! Ruta 3 is safe! It’s over!”

“Oh, no, Doctor,” Ghala replied. “It’s not over. But it soon will be. The Sontarans really did create the perfect plan to end this war. And now, I will end it!”

To Be Concluded…