SciFi

This is the first collaboratively written blog episode of Doctor Who.
Written by GilraenH,Rithompson,Jenray,cj592 and Prydwen.
I have reproduced it as a whole story, I hope you enjoy it.

The Sands of Time

The TARDIS seemed a hive of activity as the Doctor struggled with the controls, Donna just stood there perplexed by his urgency. "What's 'appening"? she gasped.
The Doctor resisted answering her preferring to concentrate on the matter at hand.
With an abrupt halt the TARDIS came to rest throwing Donna on her behind.
"What's 'appening"? she repeated. The Doctor turned to her and with a wry smile said "I don't know, want to find out"?
The TARDIS doors opened and the interior was bathed in very bright light.
With the Doctor leading, they stepped out onto an alien landscape.

The twin suns, one a red dwarf, shone down on the barren sandy soil, which glistened like mica. Considering all things it wasn't that hot, in fact it was quiet bearable, as the pair climbed a steep outcrop of rock.
Reaching the top the Doctor and Donna looked down at the expansive city that lay before them for as far as the eye could see.

No matter how far they walked, the boundaries of the city always seemed so far away. They could see the building they were heading for - but it was as if the city was in a bowl, as if the outer buildings towered over the ones in the centre. They stopped at the top of a small hill in the city and Donna, after being so happy to find a civilsation after recent events, was suddenly uneasy.

The hilly rock they were standing on was red and sandy, like the barren landscape all around them, bar the city beneath. That was barren, sure, but it was also majestic, almost glowing, with tall towers, chimneys, domes - all at the centre. It looked like a silent civilisation, burning with life and knowledge, but no sound. No hum. Not what it should sound like. Why couldn't they hear antything?

'Why's it so quiet?' whispered Donna, still staring at the metropolis below.

'Hm? weeeelll, could be abandoned, could have missed the date by a few thousand years - Tardis does that on occasion, when she's feeling a bit cheeky. You could be looking at archaeology here, Donna, one of the Universe's mysteries - I mean, why did they leave? Was it the dying suns? Was it the lifestyle, was it the food? Too many cheeseburgers? Was it...'. ..Donna left the Doctor ramble on as usual, fascinated by his own insight as he often was (and voice, if Donna were to admit the truth). She knew something was wrong. Quite sure. The unnerving feeling that although it was quiet - as though you could hear a pin drop - things were still moving. Not in the city, but out of the corner of your eye, in the distance behind. A shadow. A movement. Was it her imagination?

'It's not your imagination.' Said the Doctor, suddenly back with Donna. 'There's something out there. And it wants to get there.' He pointed.

'The city?' asked Donna. 'But why?'

'Well.' The Doctor stretched his back and checked his pocket for the one thing that was sure to get him into the city where other scary silent moving-in-the-shadows aliens couldn't.

He made sure the TARDIS was locked and they went down the hill.

"Couldn't you have parked a bit closer"? Donna said, puffing.
"Sorry Donna but the TARDIS has a mind of it's own, anyway it's a nice day for a walk".

Donna and the Doctor continued heading for the first building they could see in the wondrous cityscape in front of them.

"Doesn't appear to be much in the way of life, now that's strange". The Doctor looked thoughtfully at Donna for an answer. " I mean the buildings look almost brand new, no decay or anything, but where are the people? Lets look for the little shop, there is always a little shop". Donna laughed.

In the shadows something moved, missed by both the Doctor and Donna. Something was watching them approach, something was waiting...

The Doctor and Donna eventually reached the first building, a small square pinkish rendered building with tiny elaborate windows and a tall slate roof. Looking at the bric a brac she could see when she peered in through one of the windows, it did in fact look like a gift shop. Donna smiled and looked around curiously for a door.

'Come on....'

The Doctor fiddled around with his screwdriver, concentration on his face. He turned and saw Donna with a withering stare as she calmly and slowly pushed the door open.

'Ah.'

'Well, these things in the shadows that are trying to get in - 'ave a problem with doors, do they?'. The Doctor scowled, but he didn't get a chance to reply - all of a sudden, Donna screamed as a shadow leaped out of the open door with a squeal. It even made the Doctor jump.

'My God.' shouted Donna clutching her chest and breathing hard. 'It's only a bleedin' cat!'. The Doctor scowled. The jet black cat turned and stared wide-eyed at him and then sauntered calmly off.

'Cat? CAT? Why cats? Are they stalking me? Why not dogs? Cows? Hippopotamuses? Or is it Hippopotami? Why does it always have to be cats? I mean, are cats going to eventually rule the universe?'. The Doctor screwed up his face and looked to the sky, as if he suddenly expected it to rain cats. 'Donna.....'

But Donna wasn't listening. She was staring listlessly into the building through the door. Rigid with fear.

'Donna?'

She couldn't move her eyes. She could barely speak, her lips barely moved.

'They're all dead...' she murmured.

Donna and The Doctor looked into the building. Lying lifeless on the floor were the bodies of strange human-plant hybrid creatures. The smell seeping through the broken glass suggested that they had already started decomposing. The Doctor covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and tried opening the door to the back storeroom.

It wouldn't budge.

"It's locked." He said, pulling out his sonic screwdriver. Still wouldn't budge. "Why kill these people? And why was it necessary it lock the doors so no one - not even a Timelord - could get in?"

Donna rolled her eyes, and pointed to a window with no glass left in it. "Possibly because we could climb in through the window!"

The Doctor smiled. "Of course."

As the pair of them scrambled through the window, a mysterious shape stood watching a few metres away. It reached towards it's midriff, and pulled out a radio-like object.

"Looks like we have a couple alive, after all." Said the metallic voice.

‘I think I’m going to throw up.’ Donna says looking green around the gills.
‘Hold your breath.’ The doctor replies from behind his handkerchief.
‘Oh, brilliant…’ Donna snaps. ‘ ‘ow long for? This room goes on forever.’
They both stand staring at the dead creatures stretching as far as the eye can see.
Suddenly, there’s a noise behind them.
They both turn to see a humanoid hybrid creature approaching, armed and doesn’t look
friendly.
‘I suggest we run.’ The doctor says.
‘Where?’ Donna gasps still trying not to be sick.
‘I dunno.’ The doctor says. ‘Try over there.’ He points to a door across the piles
of dead.
Donna pulls a face and both of them start hopping over bodies heading for the door.
The humanoid calls out. ‘Stop…who are you?’
The doctor shouts to Donna to keep going.
A blast of a laser gun whistles past their heads.
‘What do we do now?’ Donna demands breathlessly.
The doctor glances over his shoulder and says. ‘Keep going…’
‘Oh, great..’ Donna says as she trips and sprawls onto one of dead creatures.
The doctor stops and helps her up while more laser fire whistles over their heads.
He and Donna scramble over the last of the bodies and reach the door.
They manage to open it just as the humanoid is joined by several more of its kind.
‘Orders are not to kill but capture the male.’ One of the humanoids says to the one who found them.
‘Why?’ It asks.
‘Because the male is a Time Lord and can ruin everything. The female is dispensable.’

Donna was still having difficulty with the door, even though it was open, her way was blocked by bodies piled up behind it. The Doctor aware of the situation, turns to the aggressors and raises his hands. "Ok, we don't want any trouble,we come in peace".

Donna stops her frantic effort to get through the door and stands next to the Doctor.

The humanoid was more visible now having stepped out of the shadows. He wore a head to foot one piece black-metallic outfit with respirator type mask. Motioning with his gun he lead the pair back out into the open.

"Where are you taking us?" pleaded Donna.

The rasping metallic voice came back. "You will follow, the Prime Lord wants to meet you".

Slowly the Doctor and Donna followed the humanoid with others joining them out of the shadows.
Up ahead was a building resembling a warehouse with a large open door, Donna espied movement inside, for a dead city it was slowly coming to life.

The warehouse was like the TARDIS,appearing a lot larger on the inside. The entrance was well guarded by more of the black metallic humanoids.
The Doctor and Donna were lead to a brightly lit area near the centre, as they approached they could see a variety of futuristic vehicles most designed to traverse the sandy rocky surface of the planet. The lit area looked like a plain walled room, but when they entered they soon realise it was a lift, the piped muzak gave it away. "Why is it alway The Girl from Ipanema"? Pleaded Donna.

Skirted by three humanoids the Doctor and Donna are propelled down into the bowls of the planet. What seems like an age culminates with the lift coming to an abrupt halt and the door slides open.

"Well, well, it appears we have arrived" the Doctor observed.

The area outside of the lift was well lit and as expansive as the warehouse, the pair are ushered on with a poke from the humanoid weapons.

"Where are we going now?" asked Donna.
"It's a surprise, I like surprises", replied the Doctor with unexpected glee in his voice.

They finally reached their destination as a door slide open and the room beyond struck the pair as being a sort of nerve centre, with banks of humanoids sat it computer terminals.

Donna clings to the Doctor as a humanoid bereft of metallic suit and respirator heads towards them.

Donna had seen countless aliens now, but these humanoids looked very strange. Part human, part plant, distinct facial features topped with a green growth not dissimilar to coriander. Arms and upper torso were mossy in look some green some brown.

"Prime Lord, I presume?" said the Doctor extending his hand.
The humanoid responded equally "You are the one called the Doctor, a Time Lord, am I right? We have been awaiting your arrival".

"I'm sorry we haven't been introduced, have we"? the Doctor asked bemused.

"I am Prime Lord Aattah of the Arbustoid colony, here on planet Deleo" replied the hybrid. "We settled on this planet about 5 of its solar rotations ago and it has been nothing but trouble since"

"5 Years?" The Doctor questioned. "But this city looks ancient"!

"The city is a millenia old, it makes up our colonization fleet. We fly the whole colony from planet to planet and use it as a base to build anew, but this time we have not had the chance to put down roots because of the Perdo". Informed Aattah.

"Who or what is the Perdo"? Queried Donna.

"When we arrived we assumed this planet was lifeless, but we soon learned that the life was all around us. The soil is alive, it can mimic form, and it objects to us being here. As you have seen in the out reaches of the city the Perdo have killed thousands of our settlers forcing us to live underground, that is why we called you Doctor, we noted your passing in inter-dimensional time and space and summoned you to us".

"But how do you know about me and the TARDIS"? Asked the Doctor.

“You are written in legend amongst many of our sister races” Aattah replied. “In the religious Vol-Dek-Vorah of the Vervoids. And even in the ancient sceptre scrolls of the Krynoid Kastra. Different faces, Doctor, but unmistakably you.”
“Yeah” The doctor shrugged, “I do get a round a bit.”
“You have a reputation for bringing resolution, Doctor, and it is for this reason that we have brought you here. We need your assistance.”

Meanwhile, outside the city walls, another ship approached the planet surface.
“Captain, we have arrived” said a young cadet, wearing military fatigues. He swivelled on his chair to face his captain. Shelda, a brash, elderly war veteran, stared intently into the view screen, showing the planet surface beyond.
“Thank you, Destra. Take us in”
Destra, the young pilot cadet steered the ship closer to the surface ready to land. Shelda watched with intensity, as if her life depended on it.
“This is it” she said to herself. “I have waited a long time to find you, and now….. and now I can finally end this”.

Shelda landed the ship perfectly, and walked towards the city like she was on a mission. She felt for the weapon attached to her belt, and smiled at the power she was feeling.

"Where is he?" She asked her young charge, who was struggling to keep up.
"He is believed...to be underneath the city." Destra gasped.
"Thank you Destra. You'll be a captain soon enough!"

As the two, coriander-haired humanoids marched over the ground towards the city, the soil stirred and gradually formed the shape of a blue 1950's Earth police box...

"Vol-Dek-Vorah". Repeated the Doctor rolling the R in Vorah. "Haven't been to Vervo for eons".
Turning to Donna he continues "Now they are an Interesting race, all there major organs are on the outside, they look like they have been turned inside-out".
"Nice", replied Donna "How to put a girl off her lunch".

The Doctor returns his glance to Aattah. "It must have taken a lot of power to track me and divert the TARDIS".

"We used up most of our reserve", replied Aattah, "We are in a desperate plight".

"What, did they dial you up like some Yellow Pages"? Asked Donna.
"If I remember the ancient sceptre scrolls of the Krynoid Kastra are bright pink". The Doctor retorted.

Aattah looking perplexed continued. "The creatures we call the Predo have somehow disabled our stardrives, so we are trapped on this forsaken planet awaiting our demise".

Just then there was a commotion behind them as Shelda and Destra burst into the control room.

Then Shelda's trill voice pipes up. "By the Proclomation of Aavid-Norr, we place the Doctor under arrest"

The Doctor, Donna and Aattah turned round and saw Shelda aiming a pistol at them.
“You really know how to make friends, don’t you Doctor” sighed Donna

“You have no authority here Commander Shelda” Aattah shrilled, with obvious irritation.
“Stand aside Aattah, this doesn’t concern you” Shelda ordered

The Doctor turned to Donna and whispered “When I shout ‘Now’, Run to the TARDIS”
“What are you gonna do?” asked Donna
“I just said, I’m gonna shout ‘Now’!”
“I was kind of referring to the bit before that”
“I’m gonna… wing it. Aaaaah” and the Doctor quickly turned to face Shelda. “I see you have a Phoron reverse laser pistol. I’ve always liked them. And you know why I like them? I’ll tell you why I like them.” The doctor quickly whipped something out of his pocket. “They don’t like sonics”
And with that he flipped a switch on his sonic screwdriver and sparks flew out of the gun.
“Run!”
“I thought you were gonna shout Now!
“Not now, Donna”
Donna took her opportunity to run. She ran out of the door that Shelda had burst in from. She ran the way she came. She ran and hid and ran, until she finally got out of the city. And there was the familiar sight of the TARDIS.
Quickly, she opened the door and entered, but it was too late before she realised her mistake. Because no sooner had she entered, than the form changed into sand and melted away, taking her with it.

The Doctor wasn't as lucky as Donna, or so he thought. Before he could make a dash for it Destra had wrestled him to the ground.

"You have overstepped the mark Shelda". Aatthah retorted. "You have no jurisdiction here".

"Oh, but I have" replied Shelda presenting Aattah a piece of paper. "The Commission of Arbusto gives me full powers of arrest, even on the colonies".

"We called the Doctor here, we needed his help, this Proclamation only counts if the Doctor infringes our space. He wouldn't have if we hadn't waylaid him".Implored Aatthah.

"The Commission shall decide, but in the mean time the Doctor is under arrest".Shelda said whilst motioning Destra to get the Doctor to his feet.

Meanwhile on the planets surface Shelda and Destra's space craft is slowly sinking into the planets shifting sand or was it being enveloped by the Predo.

Donna slowly came to. The last thing she could remember was the clawing suffocation of being swallowed up by the soil. She now found her self in a cavern, dimly lit by bio-luminous algae.
Slowly she became more aware of her surroundings, when directly in front of her soil migrated to a single spot and slowly grew to a shape of a person. The person was Donna, perfect in every detail. "Well, I'm blowed", she said "didn't know my bum was that big"!

Once the transformation was complete the sand-Donna spoke. "You need not fear, we do not intend to do you any harm". The voice was Donna's, but not hers, like she was hearing it played back by a tape recorder. Not the sound you hear in your own head. "This is weird", she said.

"We know of you and the Doctor and we want you to help us".

Meanwhile the Doctor had his own problems, Shelda and Destra had marshaled him to a small interrogation room.

"The last time you passed through Arbustoid space to visit Vorah you looked different". Shelda remarked.

"Long, time ago" replied the Doctor.

"But you haven't aged a bit, in fact you look younger. One of the benefits of being a Time Lord I see". Quizzed Shelda.

"Not just a Pretty Boy". Came back the Doctor.

"Your visit marked one of our darkest periods, the legends of your ability to travel in space and time set our scientists off on a quest to find the process for themselves. We are a colonial planet we seed others with our like and needed better ways to travel to far off worlds" Shelda illuminated.

"But in their eagerness the scientists developed a doomsday machine, for when it was first tried out the whole Arbustoid home world disappeared, what you see is the last remnants of off world colonies trying to find it's home", Shelda sounded tearful, "and for this you will pay with your life".....

"Woah, Woah, Woah,"! Pleaded the Doctor. "You can't go blaming me for that. It would be like Mr Toad blaming the Ford Motor Company for being in prison".

"Oh but we can, and will Doctor", Shelda informed him with no uncertain terms."

Just then Aattah burst into the room skirted by two armed Arbustoids. "Stand aside, we have come for the Doctor" he bellowed.

"What treasonous act is this Aattah"? Returned Shelda, "You know I have higher jurisdiction than you".

Aattah's men bundled Shelda and Destra from the room. "Lock them up, I will deal with them later".Ordered Aattah.

The look of relief was evident on the Doctors face as Aattah swapped seats with Shelda.
"Now Doctor how can you help me to save this colony and my people?"

----------

Donna was slowly coming to grips with talking to herself, it almost seemed natural. The sand-Donna raised her hands and in an instant the cavern they stood in slowly transformed into a room. "That's a neat trick", said Donna.
"We have full control in manipulating matter into other forms" replied the sand-Donna. "But it can only be sustained for a short period of time before it loses integrity and reverts back to sand."

"How do you know about the Doctor and me"? Inquired Donna.

"We have infiltrated the city and have monitored their communications. We know the Doctor was bought here to save the Arbustoids, but we need help too", replied sand-Donna.

"I don't understand, how can we help"? Implored Donna.

The sand-Donna looked thoughtfully, almost sad. "We need you to tell the Arbustoids that we are kin, we are the lost planet Arbusto".

Sand-Donna was having difficulty keeping her shape, making her more bell shaped than ever. "I must rest now", she said, "we will talk again later".
With that she fell to the floor of the room, which in itself was becoming a cavern again.

Donna was feeling all alone and wondered when sand-Donna would return.

----------

The Doctor was deep in conversation with Aattah.
"So let me get it straight, a millenia ago Arbustoid scientists sought the power of the Time Lords and developed the means of traveling in time and space". Aattah nodded.
"But it all went wrong and instead of the prototype time ship being activated the effect enveloped the whole planet". The Doctor finished summarising.

"One minute it was there, and then it was gone", recounted Aattah. "All that remained were the space stations, satellites and our moons."

"When we realised what had happened we contacted all off world colonies with the intention of searching for our lost home world, lost in time and space for a thousand years".

"So 5 solar rotations ago you landed here, another stepping stone in your search", said the Doctor. "With hopes to set up another base from which to spread your search".

Aattah sadly nodded. "But as soon as we arrived we hit problems, the sand creatures encroached the city and began mimicking our people, but we couldn't converse with them, and contact proved deadly for their touch lead to a disease which soon wiped out thousands of out people. We contained the disease and were forced to wear respirators outside the city limits. All attempt to converse with the Predo have so far failed".

"Have they made any further attempt to contact you"? Asked the Doctor.

"Strangely no, once we became diseased they kept their distance, as if they hadn't meant to infect us". Aattah turned and activated a wall screen. "But then other problems arose, being on this planet started draining our power, we soon didn't have enough to leave, and now our reserves are critically low". The screen showed power bars that were teetering on the red mark. "We have enough power for another half solar rotation of the planet then we will have to fend for ourselves on the surface, a surface that kills".

Sand-Donna returned within an hour, much to Donna's delight. She couldn't bear too long without talking. No sooner did she arrive than an opening appeared followed by daylight. Like the parting of the Red Sea Donna could see a route to the surface, which sand-Donna was now proceeding.

On the surface sand-Donna spoke to her. "We do not know why you can understand us, we have tried talking to the city dwellers but they couldn't hear what we had to say".
"Oh, that would be the TARDIS, it translates for us wherever we go". Informed Donna.

"Do you think the TARDIS would allow you to act as translator for us"? Queried sand-Donna.

"Yes, both the Doctor and I could translate for you",replied Donna, talking about the Doctor, I should get back and find him".

"We have the ability to transfer our consciousness through the sand", explained sand-Donna. "So if you go to the outskirts of the city we will reform as you there".

With this sand-Donna disappeared into the planet's surface again and Donna was left alone once more. So she set off back to the city with intentions of finding the Doctor.

The Doctor understood more about the plight of the Arbustoids and could even offer a means of rectifying the problem.

"Any movement in time and space leaves a trail that the TARDIS can follow, all I need to do is enter the point of departure". The Doctor informed Aattah.

"I will get a group together and we shall accompany you back to your, TARDIS". Returned Aattah.

Motioning to two Arbustoid guards Aattah, the Doctor in tow, headed for the planet surface.

Donna was starting to feel ill, the sickness was sudden and left her disorientated.
The city was in view but kept going in and out of focus and she was beginning to feel panic.
She soldiered on until she could make out a shape of someone coming towards her then collapsed in a heap.

"Help me get her to her feet", implored the Doctor.But Aattah and his armed guard kept their distance. "We have seen this before Doctor", Aattah said, "She has the sickness, she will die within the day".

Donna started to moan, low at first, and the a full blown moan when she realised that she was cocooned in mesh. The doctor lifted the 'metallic mosquito net' to find a very appreciative Donna.
"Doctor"! She gasped.
The Doctor managed a wry smile that went from ear to ear, "thought I had lost you there".

Aattah was impressed, "our doctors could do nothing for those with the sickness, what did you do"?

The Doctor gave a prolonged "Well. The reason for Donna's condition was similar to the outer surface of the TARDIS when it travels through time and space. The particles slow down before dematerializing and then reassemble as matter somewhere else. The inner part of the TARDIS just goes along for the ride supported by a matrix not dissimilar to this mesh I used." The Doctor drew breath. "So all I did was reverse the process and back came Donna".

"Doctor", Donna cried, "there is something I must tell you".

Donna recounted the story that sand-Donna had told her, much to Aattah's surprise.

"Well that explains the whereabouts of planet Arbusto", said the Doctor, "it's all around us".

After a period of recuperation Donna got up from the bed. The Doctor and Aattah by this time had withdrawn to the control room of the TARDIS and were in deep conversation.
"Donna, we were just talking about you", said the Doctor.
"Wondered why my ears were burning", returned Donna.

"Aattah and I have been trying to devise a means to re-materialize the planets surface and think we have a plan. But we need the service of Shelda and Destra". The Doctor said looking slightly worried.

"Not if I can help it". replied the Doctor,lifting her limp body over his shoulder.
"We have to make it to the TARDIS, I can help her there, I am a Doctor don't you know".

Carrying Donna's dead-weight across the sandy surface was arduous, but the Doctor soon reached the TARDIS. Using his new trick he snapped his fingers and the door of the TARDIS opened.

Accompanied by Aattah the Doctor entered inside whilst the guard stood outside. Aattah was awe struck and the difference in size inside the TARDIS was to out, but aware of the Doctor's predicament he didn't ask.

The Doctor carried Donna to an anti room where a variety of emergency equipment was stored and laid her on a bed. He then beavered himself around her linking her to a variety of test equipment.

After a while he spoke to Aattah. "From these readings there is not much wrong with Donna apart from her body is beginning to granulate. From the inside out her organs are turning to sand, it is a very slow process, but it is already affecting her breathing and blood flow".

Aattah spoke. "We found this with or own, but the process was faster, maybe our metabolism makes the difference", he reflected. "In fact once bodily functions ceased the conversion to sand also stopped and the bodies just started to decay naturally. We didn't touch them as it proved to be contagious".

The Doctor looked up thoughtfully, "It is not a disease as such, but the actual atoms of the body are breaking down and losing cohesion, as if the electrons of the cells have slowed so much they are no longer bonded together."

The Doctor hit his forehead with the palm of his hand, "I'm an idiot why didn't I see this before. Yes, now I understand it all" Rushing off the Doctor soon returned with an apparatus that looked like a mosquito net made of fine wire mesh and covered Donna from head to toe. Plugging it in the Doctor said. "And now we wait".

Shelda was none too happy when she was released, throwing threats and abuse at Aattah. But after he informed her of the latest 'findings' she began to calm down.

Once the last of the red went from her cheeks the Doctor spoke to her.
"What I want you to do is take your craft into orbit and seed these micro satellites that I have", the Doctor told her "We need to get them in geosynchronous orbit so that I can use the TARDIS to re-materialize the planet".

Shelda agreed and she Destra the Doctor Donna and Aattah proceeded to where Shelda had 'parked' her space ship.

"It was right here"! Destra said to Shelda and the others. "I know it was". The Doctor activated his sonic screwdriver in the guise of starship finder. "It still is", said the Doctor,"but under the surface of the planet".
They all looked at each other asking without words 'what to do next' when sand-Donna began to re-emerge from the soil.

Donna was pleased to meet her doppleganger again and sand-Donna also had a smile on her face. The Doctor shook his head, it was hard enough dealing with one Donna....

"We have been monitoring your situation", said sand-Donna, "I suppose you want your ship back"?
With that the craft slowly emerged from the soil, as pristine as it was when it landed.

Within a short while the Doctor and Donna joined Shelda and Destra on-board and lifted off into orbit. The satellite seeding went without a hitch and they were soon back on terrafirma close to the TARDIS.

Once inside the Doctor took only a short time to 'fire-up' the TARDIS system and activate the satellite net.

"Come on", said the Doctor grabbing Donna's hand with a big smile, "come and meet the natives"...

No sooner than they were outside they witnessed what would have been a miracle. The sand was slowly 'gelling' mounds became homes, mountains became cities and finally people, the whole planet of Arbusto was slowly coming back to life after a millenia.

Aattah Shelda and Destra seemed over the moon in finding their 'lost' planet, so the Doctor and Donna took their leave before Shelda tried to arrest him again.

"Time we got back home, don't you think"? Said the Doctor, as they slowly slipped away.