VTV Series Episode 11: What Goes Up

The Doctor raced around the console, searching all the files he had on Katie. He was locating her, hunting her down, rescuing her. She was there somewhere. He knew that much. The TARDIS had trouble tracking her, like she didn’t exist. But then it had found her, a small blip, somewhere on Earth. In the 21st Century probably.

“Come on, come on!” he cried, slamming down a lever.

There! He’d found her. The TARDIS whizzed through the vortex, hurtling down to Earth.

“Katie, come on,” Sandra said. “He’ll be back soon.”
“I know mum,” Katie sighed. “England just seems so far away.”

Katie was sat at her kitchen table, chatting to her mum over coffee. When she’d activated the teleport on the Planet of Oz, it had taken her home. Of course, she’d had to explain to her mum and dad that ‘John’ was in England. She didn’t want to tell them that he wasn’t her fiancé, and he wasn’t called John Smith, and he didn’t live in England, and that he was in fact a Time Lord from the planet Galliby.

“Check the notice board for me,” Sandra said. “When’s that trip to New York?”

Katie stood up and walked to the notice board. She remembered that the whole street had won a prize trip to New York, and the Doctor would be spending the day with her dad, while her mum would go wedding shopping with her. She picked up the invitation, and read it once more.

You’re a winner!

Congratulations, you’re street has won our prize! On 27th May you’re street will board the M4RY9099IN5 Airplane and you will be flown to New York to enjoy a free weekend of shopping and pampering! Sports and Films will be arranged for the men! Be sure not to miss it!

“It’s on the 27th of May mum,” Katie called.
“But that’s soon!” Sandra cried. “What day is John coming?”
“I’m not sure,” Katie said. “Listen mum, I’m not sure about this… I mean, it’s a few days, and John might not even be here then.”
“Call him,” Sandra said.

Katie handed Sandra the invitation, and walked to the window. She pulled out her phone, staring into the sky, where the Doctor would be, somewhere.

“Oh my God!” she said, running to the door. “Mum! Go pack some clothes for this trip! I think John’s here!”

Sandra gave a cry of excitement and ran upstairs to pack. Katie burst through the front door and rushed into the street. The TARDIS was hurtling down to the ground from the sky. She ducked as it flew past her and neatly parked around the corner.

“Doctor!” she cried, running to the TARDIS.
“Katie!” the Doctor cried, stepping out of his ship.

He hugged her, so relieved to see her again. He was a little surprised that Katie’s teleport had taken her home, but at least she was happy and safe.

“You’ve got to pack!” she said. “In two days we’re going to New York!”
“What? Why?” the Doctor asked.
“We won that trip, remember? You and dad are going for man-to-man time,” Katie laughed.
“But… Is it really May 27th already?” the Doctor asked.
“It’s the 25th,” Katie corrected him. “But yeah, it is.”
“Blimey, 2009, busy year.”

Katie took the Doctor’s hand and led him inside. Meanwhile, across space, a gloved hand placed an invitation on the table. It was similar to Katie’s, but slightly creased. The person wearing the glove laughed, in two days, they would have their revenge on the Doctor.

“Hello Sandra!” the Doctor beamed as he entered the house.
“Come here!” Sandra cried, hugging him. “How was work?”
“Fine thanks,” the Doctor said. “Sorry I didn’t know when I’d be over.”
“That’s fine,” Sandra said. “I have missed your English accent!”

Later that day, Derek came home, and the Parker’s sat down and had dinner. It was a strange experience for the Doctor, who wasn’t used to the domesticated side of life, but Sandra and Derek made him feel very welcoming. After dinner, Katie disappeared upstairs for a while, leaving the Doctor to talk to her parents.

“So, the wedding,” Sandra began. “Have you set a date?”
“Not yet,” the Doctor replied. “You’d have to talk to Katie about that, she knows more about it than me.”
“How did you meet?” Derek asked. “Katie said it was at the Health Center.”
“I was being given a guided tour by Gavin,” the Doctor lied. “I just saw her, stood by the water cooler, and I knew she was the one.”

Sandra sighed happily. The Doctor was saved having to talk about his sex life when Katie came downstairs.

“I think it’s time we all went to bed,” Sandra said. “It’s late, and we’ve all got to pack tomorrow.”
“I’ve set up your bed,” Derek told Katie and the Doctor.
“I’ll just sleep on the sofa,” the Doctor said quickly.
“Don’t be silly!” Sandra said. “Don’t think we imagine you don’t sleep in the same bed! It doesn’t bother us, we’ve got earmuffs.”

Katie entered her room, and saw the Doctor lying on her bed. She crossed the room and lay down next to him.

“So…” Katie said.
“So…” the Doctor replied.
“Night,” Katie said.
“Night,” the Doctor replied.

The next day, they packed, and the Doctor met the Johnsons from next door, who would be on the plane too. There was David and his wife Lillian, and their children Serena and Sky. He also met Sky’s boyfriend Dylan Fry, who would be accompanying them on the trip. They seemed like nice people, and they all loved his accent. It was still awkward with Katie at night, and when morning came, the Doctor couldn’t wait to go to New York.

“Hurry up Derek!” Sandra shouted.

She was stood with Katie and the Doctor, each with a suitcase, at the door. Derek hurried down the stairs with his suitcase.

“The coach is outside,” Katie informed them.
“Let’s go,” Derek said. “Have you turned off everything?”
“Yes,” Sandra said. “I think…”
“Let’s go,” Katie sighed.

She opened the door and stepped out into the sun. She waved at the Johnsons as they boarded the coach.

“Come on John,” Katie called to the Doctor. “Let’s go get a seat together; I can introduce you to the neighbours.”
“Sure,” the Doctor said, heaving his suitcase under the coach and climbing aboard.
“You’ve met David and Lillian and their family,” Katie said. “That’s Paul Robinson, and his girlfriend Izzy Robinson, and his daughter Elle Robinson.”
“Hello,” Paul said.
“Those are the Daniels sisters,” Katie pointed. “Irina, Alice and Tanya, and that’s Lou Bishop behind them. Then there’s Karl Kennedy and his wife Lyn, and sat opposite them is Max and Steph Hoyland, and their daughter Summer.”
“Hello everyone,” the Doctor said.

Everyone murmured hello in response, as the Doctor and Katie sat together behind the Hoyland family. Sandra and Derek appeared at the front of the coach and joined them, and the coach journey began. A short while later, the Doctor stepped out of the coach at the airport.

“I hate coach journeys,” he muttered.
“They aren’t so bad,” Katie said, following him. “Don’t forget the luggage.”
“Those men over there are taking them to the plane,” Sandra said as she stepped out from the coach with Derek.
“We have to get on the plane now,” Derek said. “Has everyone got their hand luggage?”
“Yes,” Katie sighed. “Come on, we want good seats!”

They boarded the plane, sitting near the front, just behind the Robinsons and in front of the Johnsons.

“This is exciting, isn’t it?” Sandra said to the Doctor.
“Yeah,” the Doctor said, a little less enthusiastically.
“Ooh, we’re off,” Sandra told Derek as the plane began to move along the runway.
“Fasten your seatbelts,” a voice said over the intercom.

Katie grinned, and took the Doctor’s hand in hers. He squeezed appreciatively. As the plane rose, it sped up, and took off the ground. It continued to rise higher, until forming a constant height. The seatbelt sign pinged off, and the Doctor removed his seat belt. His eyelids became heavy, and he began to fall asleep.

“Doctor, wake up!” Katie said.
“Where are we?” the Doctor asked.
“Look out the window,” Katie replied.

The Doctor leaned over her and peered out of the window. Far below he could see the sea. Suddenly the seatbelt light pinged on. The Doctor hastily reattached his seatbelt and Katie did the same.

“We are experiencing some turbulence,” the intercom voice informed the passengers.
“Typical,” Katie muttered.

There was a shake, and the plane rocked. Sandra screamed. The plane continued to rock, and the lights flickered.

“There seems to be a problem,” the intercom voice said. “Everyone get into the brace position! We’re going to crash! Put on your life jackets!”

The Doctor helped Katie and pulled on his own life jacket. Sandra was sobbing behind them. The plane began to tilt, and head towards the sea.

“We’re getting as low as possible,” the voice said hastily. “GET READY!”
“I’ll find you!” the Doctor cried to Katie.
“John!” she screamed.

The plane gave one last shake, and rocketed down into the sea below, leaving the sky quiet once more. Elsewhere, the gloved handed person gave a cackle, a cackle that could rip open the sky, terrify children, or bring down a plane full of horrified passengers into the cold, wet sea below.

To be continued…