Clara and the Doctor strolled back toward the party. He shot her a sidelong glance, "Ready to mingle, again?"
Clara exhaled, "Oh, absolutely," She replied sarcastically, "Can't wait to hear the continuing fascinating tales of Earth from the human trampoline." She muttered.
The Doctor shrugged. "Don't know, she's not that bad."
Clara almost let out a laugh, "The woman is a liar," She scoffed. "And a bad one at that. She actually called a vintage jukebox an iPod." She pointed out.
He just shrugged, unbothered. "I've heard dumber things from humans."
Clara arched her brow. "Oh, really, says the man with encyclopedia knowledge of killer moving plastic."
The Doctor rolled his eyes, "Always the comedian," He muttered, amused.
Before she could reply , the floor suddenly shuddered harshly under them causing them both to stagger and nearly losing their balance.
The Doctor frowned regaining his balance, "Okay, that's not supposed to happen."
A second violent tremor rippled through the ship. Clara instinctively grabbed his arm. "What was that?" She asked worried.
He shook his head. "Not sure."
The steward's voice then crackled over the intercom, his voice concerned but steady, "Honored guests, apologies for the disruption. Gravity pockets are causing some slight turbulence. The situation will be resolved shortly."
Clara met the Doctor's eyes. "Bit rough for turbulence, don't you think?" She said skeptical.
"Probably because it wasn't turbulence," He muttered.
She tilted her head at him, curious, "So… trouble?"
The Doctor's eyes danced. "Always."
Clara grinned and they hurried back to the party, Jabe quickly approached them looking concerned, "Did you feel that?" She asked. "They said turbulence, but it sounded like metal."
"That's because it wasn't," He simply replied. The Doctor frowned, "Where's the engine room?"
Jabe shrugged, "I don't know. But the maintenance duct runs just behind the guest suites. I could show you if your wife doesn't mind." She gestured towards Clara.
Clara's eyes widen.
"Uh, she's not my wife," the Doctor quickly corrected.
"Girlfriend, then?" Jabe guessed.
"Uh, well…" The Doctor faltered.
Clara then gently interrupted, "Actually, I'm his caregiver," She chimed, smiling. "Someone's got to keep an eye on this one." She nudged his arm.
"Oi!" The Doctor protested, scowling.
Jabe stared at them, then cleared her throat. "So… um, shall I show you?"
The Doctor glanced at Clara.
She smiled. "Go on. Just be back before midnight." Clara playfully scolded.
"Yes, ma'am," He remarked, giving her a look before offering his arm to Jabe. "After you."
Jabe smiled faintly and led him away.
Clara exhaled, left alone at the party once again.
'Earth death, fifteen minutes,' the computer announced.
She folded her arms, trying to ignore the intimidating mechanical voice, her eyes drifting to the refreshment table, pretending to be interested in a green cocktail.
Then her phone started buzzing, Clara glanced at it, a message lit the screen: Talk to Cassandra, it said.
Clara frowned. "Talk to Cassandra? What for?"
Across the room, she could see Cassandra basking in the attention of her admirers, laughing and chatting way too loudly. Clara's suspicions sharpened. Sliding her phone away, she slowly approached.
"Ah, a fan," Cassandra purred at her. "Afraid I can't grace with you an autograph, but you may admire my beauty." She bragged.
Clara wrinkled her nose at her, "You're just skin. Hardly a beauty queen." She scoffed.
"I was once Miss World," Cassandra replied casually, before snapping at her attendants. "Moisturize me! Moisturize me" The guards quickly misted her with some wet spray.
Clara's eyes narrowed as she folded her arms, "You're lying, Cassandra," She said. "That's all you've been doing. And you're certainly not the last human."
Cassandra scoffed. "Well, what would you know," She muttered. "You're just a simple little creature."
"I'm human, Cassandra," Clara shot back. "I was born on that planet. That's my home and where my family and students are. But you are barely anything, you've done so much damage to yourself there's nothing left." She said. "You're just skin, Cassandra." She scowled. "Just lipstick and skin."
Cassandra shot her a defiant look, "I am pure," She insisted.
Clara rolled her eyes, Cassandra wasn't getting it, "Right. I'm done," Clara sighed. "Nice talk." She then turned away in frustration.
Cassandra's smile slowly becoming menacing, "Oh, we've only just begun, my dear."
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Jabe crept through the maintenance duct, ducking steam, and grime.
"So," the Doctor said lightly, "what's a nice tree like you doing in a place like this?"
"Paying respect to Earth," Jabe replied.
He snorted. "Come on. Everyone here's worth a fortune. Looking for a rich boyfriend?"
Jabe smirked. "Perhaps a few investors."
The Doctor laughed. "Knew it. You lot with your major forests and roots, always looking to expand the empire."
Her expression turned serious, "Doctor, we respect the Earth as family. So many species evolved from that planet. Mankind isn't the only one. My ancestors were transplanted from that planet," She told him firmly. "I'm a direct descendant of the tropical rainforest." She added proudly.
"Excuse me, then," The Doctor muttered crouching down and scanning at a metal screen.
Jabe looked at him, curious, "And what about you, Doctor? I'm sure you could tell a story or two," She said leaning against the wall.
"Not much to tell," He replied keeping his eyes on the blinking screen.
She smirked softly, "I doubt that" Jabe replied. "A man like you only enjoys trouble when there's nothing else left."
The Doctor just continued scanning slightly triggered by her words.
Jabe briefly lowered her head, "I scanned you earlier. The device refused to admit your existence," She told him, "But then it named you as a Time Lord, I couldn't believe it." Jabe scoffed.
The Doctor didn't respond.
Jabe came closer, "I wasn't trying to be nosy," She swore, "But it's amazing that you even exist," She said. Jabe then gently placed her wooden hand on his shoulder, "And I'm truly sorry for your loss." She added sincerely.
The Doctor just lowered his head, briefly touching her hand when then the door suddenly hissed open, "Ah! I did it." He jumped up before going inside, Jabe following closely.
The engine room was vast and dark, roars of fans blowing out cool, sharp air aligned along the sides of a narrow metal catwalk.
Jabe shivered a bit, "Rather cool in here."
"Yeah, it is rather chilly, isn't it?" The Doctor noted. "Still, kind of impressive, simple old-fashioned air conditioning run by fans. Bit retro, though," He added scanning a panel suddenly a metal spider with long thin legs appeared and skittered out across the wall.
"Well, that's new." He commented.
"What is it?" Jabe frowned.
"Not sure. Let's find out, hmm?" He raised his sonic trying to zap it down.
"Allow me." Jabe intervened tossing a leafy lasso, snagging the creature.
"Oh, nice catch!" The Doctor grinned, taking it from her and quickly scanned it.
Jabe just smiled shyly.
His face then darkened.
Jabe then leaned closer. "What? What is it?"
"Sabotage," He said grimly. The Doctor then noticed the thermal stat slowly rising. He was worried, now, "The temperature's about to rocket. Come on!"
'Earth death in ten minutes,' the computer declared.
Clara sighed, she was starting to hate that thing. She wandered through the halls, slightly bored from the party and soon realized she was lost. "Brilliant." She paused, quietly groaning. She briefly glanced behind her, trying to figure out how to get back to the party when she spotted a group of dark hooded figures walking towards her. Relieved, she stepped toward them, "Excuse me, I think I'm…"Clara started but then one the tall figures swiftly raised their armored hand at her, and everything went black!
TBC