Terra II part 87

Donna led the others into the Doctor’s blue box.  Some of them--notably Redwing and Mirage--were hesitant, whereas Terra and Changeling were right behind her.

But all of them were stunned into silence once they got inside.

The box was bigger inside than out.  There was a whole room inside, pristine white with roundels set into the walls.  A hexagonal machine sat in the center.  A cute brunette girl in a dark jacket leaned against one of the walls.  There was an open door in the far wall, and through a hallway winding yet deeper.

Donna looked around, awed.  “The Justice Society mentioned that it was larger on the inside, but...”

The Doctor nodded.  “Only their Green Lantern saw the inside.”

“Oi, Professor!” said the girl.  “What’s with all these people?”

“This is Ace,” the Doctor said, gesturing to her.  I believe Miss Levine could compare notes with her concerning explosives.”

Redwing brightened.  “I’m always looking for tips.”

“This is great, and all,” Terra said.  “But why exactly do you need us?”

“Was wondering that myself,” Ace muttered.  “No offense.”

“None taken,” Terra returned.  “I kinda like your jacket.”

Ace chuckled.

“To answer you question,” the Doctor said to Ace, “We are here to protect their timeline, and they are in a unique position to understand and assist.”

“There’s a threat to our timeline?” Donna asked.

The Doctor turned back to her.  “Your particular timeline has been altered many times.  This is normal.  I wouldn’t say healthy, exactly, but normal.  You may even remember some of the changes, Donna Troy.  The red skies...”

“Whne the Crisis came,” Donna murmured softly.

“It was not the first,” the Doctor said.  “Nor will it be the last.”

Terra frowned.  “You’re not here to prevent it?”

“Not in the way you mean.  As I said, your history has been altered many times.  Each time, there was a split; the old universe continued, but a new one branched off.”

“You’re talking about the multiverse?”  Gar said.  “Thought that was destroyed....”

“Certain timelines became inaccessible to you, yes.  But look; these very people around you, save for Donna and yourself, are from an alternate timeline, and you know it.”

“So...if there’s just gonna be a branch off anyway,” Terra asked, “What’s the problem?”

“The problem,” the Doctor said, “Is that this time, someone wants to destroy your universe utterly, instead of just creating their own divergent stream.”

“Is that possible?” Donna gasped.

“You believe that the multiverse was destroyed,” the Doctor reminded them.  “That’s because many of those alternate Earths were wiped out.”  A shadow passed over his face.  “I couldn’t save them all.”

“And now you want to stop it from happening again,” Terra said.  “And that’s why you need us.”

“Well, ‘need’ may be too strong a word,” the Doctor said, a twinkle in his eye.  “But the odds are better with you, than without you.  And besides...” he went on, spreading his hands, “You'll be saving not one timeline, but two.  This one....and the one that most of you came from.”

“Our world is still there!” Redwing exclaimed.

The Doctor nodded.  “And since Chaos was imprisoned by the Gods here, that world is also free from him.”

“So where do we start?” Terra asked.

“By saving the leader of your Resistance from being replaced,” The Doctor said, and moved to the TARDIS controls.