The Doctor and Whooves

by Landpower

Episode 2 - Scavengers Part 1

Moon Rusher breathed heavily inside his helmet. Looking around he spotted two other ponies clad in the same type of orange suit he wore. It was only a simple design of tough plastic covering their entire bodies. The only features of the ponies that could be seen were their heads which were surrounded by a clear bubble of hardened plastic. On each of their backs lay a single tank that is connected by two short grey tubes. Without these the trio would soon choke to death where they were going. As his helmet fogged from his condensed breath, a faint voice played out through the old radio.
“Systems are looking alright but we have some bad weather heading our way. I want you three back within an hour with as much as you can carry,” said their captain. Moon moved over too the front door and pushed a button next to it.
“Sure thing boss,” he replied. Nodding to his fellow workers he opened the door. “Rougher and Honey you know the drill. Only bring back stuff that is useful and not junk.” They gave a salute in return and started marching out. Moon took a final look around the small metal room before walking out himself.

Strong wind buffeted him as soon as he was outside. Red dust swirled around him as he took a look around. Massive piles of twisted metal surrounded him and covered the land for as far as the eye could see. The only intact thing was behind him, a ship 250 meters long. It looked like the metal the ship was made of had been patched together from 50 different ships. Seeing that his workers had already gone their separate ways he continued down his own little pathway. Scanning the piles with eagle eyes he searched for anything useful.

20 minutes had passed since Moon Rusher had left the ship and he had yet to find anything he could bring back. Well aware of the rising winds he looked at the horizon. Dark green clouds spread across the distant sky and even now they seemed to be rushing forward too meet him.
“Should probably head back,” he said as he fumbled for his radio. “Guys it’s not looking good. Time to start heading back before the storm hits us.” Looking back at the ominous sky he failed to notice three stealthy figures move silently over the piles. Turning back to head back to the ship it was already too late. Claws punctured his suit and exited on the other side. Feeling blood spew from the wound he looked at his killer. Even though the terror he felt he couldn’t scream as his precious oxygen leaked out. Only letting out a strangled gasp Moon Rusher fell to the ground.

***

Sparks flew in the Doctor’s face as he connected two seemingly random cables. Whooves stood by the control console looking through the glass floor.
“So where you’re from that humanoid shape is standard throughout the universe?” The Doctor, distracted by the question, looked up.
“Yes, well mostly,” he thought back to some of his adventures, “well most intelligent life is anyway. Never really understood why AH!” More sparks burnt his hands causing him to yelp in pain. Sucking on his singed flesh the Doctor inserted the last cable and looked proudly at his handy work. “That should stop us from being ripped apart in this universe since the TARDIS isn’t designed for this universe.”
“You mean we were in danger?” said Whooves completely shocked.
“Well where's the fun in taking the safe road?” A small smile played across the Doctor’s face as he climbed to the same level as his pony incarnation.
“Where’s the fun in dying?!”
“Well it does get boring after the fourth time now that you mention it,” the Doctor said.

The Doctor slid over too his faithful control console.
“A whole new universe awaits us and neither of us have traveled it. If you’re worried about danger then I’m happy to take you back.” Whooves eyes opened wide at the prospect of ending his journey.
“NO!” he shouted to the Doctor. Satisfied at the rise in Whooves he placed his hand on a lever.
“Put it on randomizer - random time and place. I always loved doing this back home.” Looking up for confirmation he saw Whooves nod and pulled the lever. The entire room rocked backwards and forward sending the two travelers flying. The time rotor whirled away as the TARDIS enter the time vortex. Joy filled the Doctor while dread filled Whooves as the shaking intensified. It went on for only ten seconds before it stopped and the TARDIS fell silent. Picking himself up from the ground the Doctor checked to confirm his companion was alright. Whooves waved a hoof which he took to be the equivalent of a thumbs up.

The Doctor couldn’t help but smile at not knowing anything about the world outside the front door. Whooves felt a similar sensation before a question came to mind.
“If you’re form is rare in this universe then don’t you think that ponies might act less than kind towards you?” He simply responded by pulling on a string around his neck. It revealed what looked like a circuit board that had been roughly snapped in half. A mass of multi coloured wires had been soldered onto it but its most noticeable feature was a blinking green light. “What is that?” he asked pointing to the unusual necklace.
“Perception filter - a really powerful and unique one. Everyone or should I say everypony will being able to hear and see me but they’ll never notice I’m different. It’d take a pretty strong mind too notice I’m not a pony.” Extending his arm towards the door the Doctor snapped his fingers and opened the door, “Shall we?”

Whooves hadn’t expected what was outside the TARDIS. He didn’t really know what he had expected but it was not a filthy corridor made up of several different types of metals. The roof looked like simple iron while the walls were a patchwork of bronze, aluminum and tin. Grated iron supported them on the ground. The Doctor stepped out from behind him and somehow he seemed to enjoy the sight. He was beaming like a child on christmas day, ready to unwrap his new presents. Whooves couldn’t help but wonder if that was what the Doctor thought of these adventures.
“Any clue where we are?” Whooves asked.
“Nope, like I told you I put the settings on random,” he replied. Clanging of hooves on metal came ringing down the corridor. Both travelers turned their heads in the direction of the sound to see a slightly overweight grey pony running towards them. Stopping before them, he gasped for air while taking a look at them. A Greasy unkempt mane of brown hair sat atop his head. On his back lay a strap which supported two large bags on his sides.

“Bloody hell, the scanners weren’t wrong,” he paused to regain his breath, “who the hell are you and why are you here?” Searching inside his jacket the Doctor bought out a folded leather wallet. Showing it to the grey pony for examination the Doctor stood confidently.
“Health and safety. Just here to check that everything is fine,” he knocked on the mismatched wall, “yes this is metal. Well done on keeping that up but I’ll need too see your bridge, good sir.” The grey pony blew his overgrown brown mane out of his eyes as he tried to think.
“We haven’t ever had health and safety down before.I think I should um take you too see boss, he’ll know what to do.”
“Good man but I have one question for you,” said the Doctor. The pony once again looked confused.
“What?”
“What date is it?” The pony looked at the Doctor as if he crazy but still answered.
“32,073 SR.”
“SR?” asked the Doctor.
“It means how many years after the Universal Sun Revolution. So it's been 32,073 years since then, hell where have you been living your whole life?”
“Another universe, hmm I’ll have to check out this revolution some time,” the Doctor mumbled beyond the grey pony’s hearing.

As the trio started heading down the corridor the grey pony pulled out a radio from his bags draped across his back.
“Boss, it’s Rougher, we have some ponies here from health and safety,” they all waited until a tinny voice began playing from the radio.
“What the buck are they doing here? Bring them to me now.”
“Best not to keep boss waiting, she can have a mean temper if he’s kept waiting.”

***

A door opened half way before becoming stuck. Rougher gave it a technical prod with his hoof causing it too open the rest of the way. They entered a room that didn’t seem like it was put together from different ships. Steel that still held some of its original luster coated the floors, walls and roof. In the middle of the room was a well worn leather chair with two smaller chairs flanking it. In front of the chairs were two raised screens displaying information that made no sense to Whooves. Sitting upon the chair was a pony that looked as if she’d been in too many fights. Her left eye was covered with an eye patch and three massive scars ran down her face. Her tail was completely missing while her mane was cut short and neat. Scars like veins criss crossed her entire yellow body. A diamond surrounded by a circle of grey was her cutie mark.

Rougher motioned for them to walk towards the imposing mare sitting in the chair.
“Here they are boss,” Rougher announced. The mare, referred to as boss, hardly treated the two visitors with a glance before going back to concentrating on the screens.
“25 years I’ve worked on this stinking planet and not once has headquarters sent down health and safety,” her voice was like her appearance - rough and no messing around.” Whooves was the first to react as lies passed through his head.
“Well you know how it is. Gotta check up on you sometime just to keep it all official,” he said with confidence daring her to think it was untrue. The Doctor looked down proudly at him. Obviously I’m learning fast, Whooves thought.
“Fine, do your little checks and then get out of here. Have you been to this planet before?” she asked.
“No this is our first time,” said the Doctor.
“Figures that they’d send first timers,” she sighed and pressed a spot on the screen, “I guess you should get a view of our lovely little planet.” A side of the wall started moving down revealing a hidden window. “Gentlecolts, welcome to The Pit.”Both the Doctor and Whooves looked confused.
“The Pit?” asked the Doctor.
“How do you not know about this stuff? Anyway it doesn’t matter, it’s just a nickname - ‘The Pit of the Galaxy’ they call it. Officially it’s called UP5204 but that’s just numbers nopony can remember,” she explained.

Whooves and the Doctor stared out of the window that had appeared. Not much could be seen apart from darkness with a tinge of green. By the sound of it there was a fierce storm going on outside.
“Windy outside?” the Doctor joked.
“You don’t know the half of it. 600 mile per hour wind is blowing out there. When a storm gets this bad it picks up radioactive dust that would kill anything in minutes. I’ve lost a worker out there today to this damn storm,” for the first time her voice became soft. She sniffed before her voice took on its normal roughness. “The poor bastard didn’t come back before the storm hit and there’s no chance he’ll survive out there.”

Comments

[Landpower]

Is anyone interested in making a cover image for The Doctor and Whooves? Just asking because my one is pretty average and I'd like a custom one. PM if you're interested.

[dbanksischillin]

i could refer you too an artist he might be able to help

[Djerid]

if this were spread out a bit longer, this part would have a real doctor whoish episode feel to it. good job, cant wait for the monster.

[ocbaker]

Moon moved over too the front door and pushed a button next to it.

“Best not to keep boss waiting, she can have a mean temper if he’s kept waiting.”

EDIT1: In-fact a lot of places you have used too (As in I'll come too!) instead of to (I am going to the space station)

[dbanksischillin]

you bro you gonna continue this?

[Landpower]

Yeah, just been busy with school work and I'm writing a story for the National Pony Writing Month. I plan to have the next chapter out in a week.1032822

[dbanksischillin]

Awesome. Just been wondering