'You Better Run, You Better Take Cover ' (for capj_harkness)

[first_in_time]

The wardrobe in the Guardian's TARDIS was quite kind as to provide Barbara with a rack of clothes to choose from. Well, probably not just Barbara, but it certainly felt that way. The dress she chose fitted perfectly, and even the bottom hem stopped at the perfect length above the floor. She smoothed the dress over her hips as she admired herself in

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[capj_harkness]

Again Jack fired, but this time it didn't have quite so much the desired effect. One of the tentacles wrapped around his leg and pulled him to the ground, dragging him further in.

[capj_harkness]

"People dig up all sorts of things they don't understand. They'll make up an explanation that suits them."

Jack glanced around the cave, hoping to get a better idea what was going on. "I'd rather worry about why this guy was here and what they're up to."

[first_in_time]

Barbara still didn't like it, but let it go.

"Well, shall we go further in?" she asked as something caught her eye. It stuck out of the creature's belly, like a mouse might stick out of a snake's belly. It had a sharp corner and looked like it might have been painful, were the creature alive. "Hold on."

Upon closer inspection, the flesh was slightly transparent. She wiped away some of the goop which covered the outside skin of the whatsit. "I think it might be a box," Barbara said, turning back to the Captain and shaking some of the icky clumps of muck from her fingers.

[capj_harkness]

"That's what it looks like. But... do we want it that badly?" Jack asked skeptically.

[first_in_time]

"Depends what it is, I suppose." Barbara took another look at the box then turned to walk back toward Jack. "What do you think?"

[capj_harkness]

Jack gestured to the alien. "Knock yourself out," he told her. "Let me see if I can find a knife." He started hunting around the mining equipment.

[first_in_time]

Barbara looked back at the box. It seemed close enough to the skin that she wouldn't have to cut far. But if anyone had told her in her youth, that she'd be performing an autopsy-type performance on an alien deep inside a mine in Ballarat during the height of the Gold Rush, Barbara reflected that she'd think they were mad. She smiled involuntarily at the thought.

[capj_harkness]

Jack returned a moment later. "It's not a knife, it's a saw blade, but it ought to do the job," he said, handing her the bent piece of metal.

[first_in_time]

"Thank you." Barbara took the blade apprehensively and stared at the box inside the creature. She breathed deeply, shut her eyes and tentatively poked at the flesh until it gave way to the blade. A small shudder ran through her, and her face contorted with slight disgust as her eyes opened so she could see what she was doing. Barbara had to tell herself that she was performing an autopsy. Even if she wasn't necessarily looking for a cause of death, it still made her feel slightly better.

"Here," she said as she passed the blade back, now covered in gluggy chunks of the poor creature, "I've almost got it but I need to hands.

[capj_harkness]

Well, she was a lot less squeamish than she looked, he'd give her that. He tossed the blade away and watched with some interest as she freed the item from the creature's guts.

[first_in_time]

No, Barbara could be quite squeamish. In fact, it took her a moment of deep breathing before reaching in with both hands to pull open the cut. She had to rip the flesh, causing chucks of inner goop to slosh out around her feet. She wanted to vomit again, but there wasn't anything left after last time.

Another short moment, and the box was able to be pulled out. "Do you have a handkerchief?" she asked the Captain, and turned around to show him her prize, which, with its dark mahogany-like finish, made the paleness of her skin stand out all the more.

[capj_harkness]

He reached into his coat. "But of course, m'lady," he told her, handing it over. He looked at the box. "Doesn't seem to be from around here. I'm not sure opening it is a great idea."

[first_in_time]

She smiled gratefully as she took the handkerchief and wiped down the box. "No, I think we should take it to the TARDIS and ask the Doctor. He should know what it is, or in the very least know what to do about it."

Barbara still didn't like the idea of leaving the creature there, but she chose to trust the Captain in his evaluation of people in the future. So she picked up the lantern with her spare hand and started back the way she came.

"At least we can't say we were unsuccessful," she suggested, trying to fill the gap between them with conversation.

[capj_harkness]

"I guess that will depend on what's in the box," Jack said, glancing down at it in her hands as they walked.

[first_in_time]

"I suppose you're right." Barbara held up the box a little to see if there were any details she missed, but it was difficult to say with bits of the creature's innards still sticking to the box. "Although we did deal with the threat, and we've got something of interest, so it wouldn't be too much of a failed mission."

[capj_harkness]

"No, I suppose not." He squinted as they emerged into daylight. "Hopefully it'll be a lead."