[Otherways] Arrival at Palasia Four

[just_the_doctor]

The hum of travel in the TARDIS ceases abruptly as the ship materializes at its destination.

The Doctor heads over to Padme's suite and knocks on the door.

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[just_the_doctor]

"The improved nanobots developed the ability to destroy the standard ones," he explains. "Which means if they'd gotten out onto the planet, the inoculations wouldn't have helped -- they would have destroyed everything."

The Doctor uses a set of tiny manipulators to pick up one of the improved nanobots from Padme's sample and transfer it into his own sample containing only the standard ones.

Immediately, the improved 'bot twitches into life and attacks the 'bot closest to him. The standard nanobots don't attack back because they still recognize the improved nanobot as the same material. And without any other midiclorians to utilize, the improved nanobot is unable to replicate itself. It simply breaks the standard nanobots down into nothing and then returns to dormancy.

"I think we may have a way out of this," he says carefully.

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

And see, she wasn't watching that. Although, she finds it interesting that the improved nanobots destroyed the standard ones. "Well, then its a good thing we're in here and not out there." Okay... not really but you know.

"What way is that, Doc?"

[just_the_doctor]

"That's where I went," he says. "I took us off the planet. If even one of those improved guys managed to get out through the ventilation and onto the planet, it would be devastating."

He taps the screen with the single dormant nanobot.

"If I can reprogram these to attack only themselves, they'll do the work for us."

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

"Well, lets hope you can reprogram these things, Doctor. Because I want them out of my system and I'm sure you want them out of yours as well."

[just_the_doctor]

He gets to work. It's slow going since he doesn't know the programming language or even have the proper tools to interface with them.

And what's worse, he is starting to feel the effects of the nanobots on himself as well. Weakness, nausea, fatigue...

Time is very clearly of the essence.

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

Which means if he's feeling all of that then think of what she's feeling. Not to mention she's gone deathly quiet too. Even in the little state that she's in. But she's not feeling good at all and she's shielding herself. Not that it helps any. It's just a natural thing to do.

[just_the_doctor]

Oh, yes. He's highly aware of Padme's condition. It might be slowing him down some the way he keeps looking over at her. At a guess, he'd say she's got about another 2 hours before there's not going to be enough of her internal organs left to save.

He might last 3.

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

"Quit watching me, Doctor. I'll be fine."

Whether that's true or not is a completely different story. But if she has to leave the room just so he'll stop looking back at her to make sure she's okay and alive then she will.

[just_the_doctor]

"Humor me," he says over his shoulder. "Lay down on the bed and cover up with the blanket."

The Doctor keeps working. He tags the nanobots in his culture with a trace of the TARDIS hull material to change the signature yet again.

After another hour, he draws up a syringe of half the bots along with some of the hull material in liquid form (so the little guys can create more), and comes over to Padme.

"It's this or nothing, love. There's not time to try again."

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

Humor him? She hardly humored anyone but rather than argue the point... not that there really was a point she got up walked over laying down on the bed and covered up with the blanket.

When he did come over to her she was being awfully still and her eyes were closed. "To hell with trying again, Doctor, just do it."

It didn't matter what he needed to do. Because she could feel how taxing this was on her body, could feel the fact that her body was... yeah, she was laying on Death's doorstep again. Sheesh... he must not be too happy since he was always inches away from getting her but someone or something always pulled her bac.

[just_the_doctor]

He injects Padme with the syringe in the crook of her elbow, right into the bloodstream.

Nothing to do now but wait.

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

And wait they do.

At first it doesn't seem like anything at all is happening. And its no miracle cure... well, it kind of is and at the same time isn't. But she feels something working in her bloodstream. Doesn't mean she's going to open her eyes or move though. Because she just flat out doesn't feel like it yet.

[just_the_doctor]

The Doctor meanwhile has grabbed the blanket off the other bed and is draped with it in the chair. His cheeks are sunken, his face pale, and it's a struggle for him to stay awake.

But he refuses to inject himself until he knows if it's going to work for Padme. He may need to make some adjustments and give her the rest of them as well.

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

Padme turns over on her side and opens her eyes a bit, watching him. Yeah... the stuff was working and she shakes her head a bit as she watches him.

"You know sitting there and not giving yourself any isn't going to work Doctor." She gives a tired smirk. "I don't plan on being the only one alive in this ship ya know."

[just_the_doctor]

He coughs while trying to laugh.

"Had to make sure you wouldn't need the rest."

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

"Just inject yourself, Doctor."

It wasn't a Force command but it was command enough considering how firm her tone had been. One of those tones that brooked no disobediance.

[just_the_doctor]

Another cough. "Yes, ma'am."

He turns back to the table and lifts the syringe with shaking hands, drawing the rest of the nanobots up into the solution. It was just saline this time -- having no midiclorians, they couldn't replicate themselves anyway.

It takes him three tries to get the needle into his arm, but he eventually manages.

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

"Now sit down, relax and let your body do what it needs to."

She lets her eyes close once more and wills her body to relax. They're safe. Well, they'd be safer once they were off this planet.

[just_the_doctor]

Because the Doctor didn't have any of the improved nanobots in his system, the ones he injected himself with work much faster.

Soon enough, he's looking better and is able to make it to the console room and set the coordinates back to Milliways.

Then it's back to the infirmary to wait out the hour trip back. Well, actually, he made one stop first.

"I got your book," he tells Padme when he gets back, passing it to her. "Guess you're probably regretting this trip, huh?"

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

Padme takes the book from him and smiles. "Thank you."

She rolls her eyes a bit at what he asks though. "Oh no. Don't regret it at all. It was rather adventurous. We'll have to do it again some time. Just not on that planet."

[just_the_doctor]

He smiles. "How about I do more research next time instead?"

The Doctor pats her hand and bends over to kiss her forehead. Then, he pulls his blanket back onto the bed as he crawls under it to rest for the rest of the trip back to the bar.

[darksithsenator.livejournal.com]

"That sounds like a much better idea. More research before going some place."

Yeah, that would be so much better. She lays the book next to her head before closing her eyes allowing herself to fall asleep for the rest of the trip.