Challenge #01622-D161: An Unlikely Misadventure
“I want to preface this by saying nothing happened, nothing is on fire. It is mere speculation. Do we have a fire extinguisher?” -- RecklessPrudence
"We're on a steam-powered space ship," said the Doctor. "Something has to be on fire or it wouldn't be working." He didn't look at Kev. He was more interested in the pipes and valves that seemed to make up a majority of the corridor decor. He was busy trying to work out what they were for and where they went.
"Yes, but... theoretically... If the wrong thing was on fire... is there one?"
"Steam. Powered. Space ship. There should be one on every corner. But there isn't. Why?"
Smoke began to trickle out of the corridor from whence Kev had come. "Might need quite a big fire extinguisher, actually... theoretically, of course."
"Steam powered," muttered the Doctor. "All the laws of physics decree that this should not be operational. Since when have bolts been airtight enough to withstand the rigors of vacuum?" He sniffed in derision. Then sniffed again in alarm. "Kev... about this 'hypothetical' fire extinguisher you're looking for..."
"Ididn'tdoanything, Ididn'ttouchanything, andIreallydidn'tmeanit," said Kev rapidly.
"And now it's on fire," sighed the Doctor. "There should be a system maintenance panel. Or at least some obvious levers.
A musical alarm sounded. It had a lot more in relation to a doorbell than an alert klaxon.
"Carbon-based particulate air pollution detected in levels exceeding zero point zero zero zero zero nine percent of total air volume," growled a bass voice. "Excess heat detected in corridor number three seven five two four. Contacting Maintenance Network." Another musical alarm, and some lively, looped music. A robot clanked in time to the beat, out of a hatch that had not been initially obvious. It made its way to the corridor that was on fire and filled the area with a vibrantly blue foam.
The robot went back the way it had come, and the door it had entered through vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"Why does it smell like artificial raspberries?" wondered Kev. He experimentally tasted some. Spat. "And taste like soap?"
"It clings," said the Doctor. "And it's easier to clean up the mess." He scanned the area where the door was, and stared at his sonic screwdriver in clear confusion. "A dimensionally transcendent door in a steam powered space ship? There's a lot about this that doesn't make sense."
"Just like a phone box that's bigger on the inside," muttered Kev.
"Are you still catching up?" complained the Doctor.
"I was looking for the lav, I didn't expect an adventure."
The Doctor tutted. "Well, come on. The sooner we solve this riddle, the sooner I can try to get you home. We're following this pipe."
"Why that one?"
"It's the biggest and therefore the most important. One end has to lead to something interesting and I want to find out what it is." He took off running.
"Oi!" Kev followed at the same pace. "What if I don't want to?"
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Nostal6ie]
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