Hannah felt like she was going to be sick. Her spine was trying to impersonate an accordion; her chest a bowl of jelly and her legs felt the continued need to become one limb. On top of that her head felt like it had been opened up and glass poured inside along with a six piece Mexican band. All in all she going out and getting herself run over by a truck was mild and in the long run better for her health. Sure she had tried screaming but being violently sick every time she opened her mouth just put her off the whole concept.
They blinked back into reality and stumbled slightly on the loose light brown stony soil. It appeared to be quite Earth-like, maybe a little arid and with little vegetation. However the sudden sight of three hundred soldiers advancing over the nearby ridge, weapons drawn put a dampener on things just a little. They waited, huddled together as a small section of the soldiers advanced towards them.
Lieutenant Johnny Rico tore his helmet off as he advanced on the civilians. "What the hell are you three doing here? This is bug country. Sergeant, order immediate evac for them."
The order was passed down the chain of command and the request sent.
"Where is this place?" the Doctor asked the young officer.
"This is Klendathu ma'am. The heart of bug territory," Rico replied more than a little suspicious as to her unfamiliarity with the whole war raging between insect and human civilisations.
"Don't call me ma'am," the Doctor snapped. "Klendathu, Klendathu. Nope, never heard of it."
"Where have you been for the last two years? This is war lady; the bugs flattened Buenos Aires, destroyed over six million lives including my family. And here you stand not knowing anything about it! Where's that ship? I want them out of my sight."
"Hey we've just been hurtled god knows where in the future to here which may be even more in the future for all I know." Hannah's patience snapped and she tore a strip of the soldier. "The Doctor has been in trickier situations than anyone here. If you have a problem she can help you."
"That much is true." Andred backed up Hannah's statement of the situation.
Rico pointed behind the trio. "Then tell me what you're going to do about them?" He pointed to the advancing horde of Arachnid warriors. "Bear arms, fire on my command." Rico grabbed his rifle and aimed it at the river of insects.
Andred pulled the Doctor and Hannah to the ground, out of the line of fire.
"Fire!" Rico ordered, almost screaming his hatred at the bugs.
Hannah pushed her fingers in her ears at the deafening sound of weapons firing. She looked up to see a green coloured insect swooping at her. She screamed, as it got closer before it exploded in a shower of gunk and innards. It splattered all over her jeans and t-shirt, it was in her hair and it smelled awful. She realised that Andred was the one to save her. He was holding one of the Capitol guard's guns in his hands and he was firing again and again at the advancing insects. It was more or less here that she started to scream again, even when the Doctor put her hand over Hannah's mouth.
There was a loud pop and a missile was launched at the large hole in the middle distance from which the bugs were emerging. It dodged around a large cockroach looking bug and went into the hole. Seconds later a massive fireball erupted out of the hole incinerating many of the insects including the massive one. The soldiers picked off the few remaining bugs and then it was all over. There were no casualties among the soldiers except for a few shot nerves among the newer ones.
The Doctor fussed over a panic-stricken Hannah calming her companion down. "There now, it's all over. You're safe now, look I'm here, you're here and Andred's here."
Hannah looked around at the surroundings, deadly sure that more of them would burst out from behind rocks and try to kill her. "They're here, they're here, THEY'RE HERE!" Her screams got louder and louder until the Doctor slapped her. Somehow this snapped Hannah back into focus. "I'm scared Doctor, I'm scared to my soul that they'll come and kill me."
"I know Hannah, I know. Come on, let's get out of this place. I have no idea why the Time Ring brought us here." The Doctor produced the brass coloured bracelet and she put Hannah's hand on it. Andred hurried over and put his hand on it also and they felt the temporal displacement field spin up into effect. They were off once again, hopefully this time back to the Capitol.
As they were pulled out of time Hannah noticed several of the soldiers staring at her and she tried to wave at them, to say goodbye.
Rico turned to Ace and laughed. "Damned girl pees herself and she doesn't notice. Save me from idiots and civilians."
"Sure Lieutenant, next lot we find I'll shoot them for you myself."
"Okay you worthless excuse for MI's lets get moving, we got us a job to do." Rico ordered his squad to move out, leading from the front as he always did. He forgot about the three civilians; they didn't pay MI to think after all.