Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.

(A/N: Set between 'The Next Doctor' and 'Planet of the Dead,' SO CONSIDERED YOURSELF SPOILER WARNED.)

The Hollow Star

Prologue

Kevin's boots clomped noisily against the marble floors. Well, simulated marble anyway. Genuine marble was more of a collector's item now; affordable only for the rich and flighty. Which, of course, Mr Icarus was, so why he didn't have actual marble was beyond Kevin.

Then again…

He swiped a hand on the sensor beside the towering doors, which opened compliantly. Stepping through onto the multi-level and lavish bridge, Kevin considered that Mr Icarus probably thought genuine marble was beneath him. His ancestor's attempts at 'improving' the hospital system on New Earth generations ago seemed a testament to that.

And, moving swiftly from questionable nursing to scientific discoveries, only one thing was on the good Mr Icarus' mind, and it was blazing brightly in front of the Phoenix (an old Earth pop-culture reference apparently - Kevin didn't really see the significance in a fictional woman who was part of a group of 'mutants', but to each his own). The full strength of the solar rays was blocked by several incredibly thick and dense shields, each one becoming thinner as they extended out towards the star.

The Hollow Star.

"Curious name."

That was all Mr Icarus' representatives had said initially. Until Kevin notified them of it's potential. Of course, when he said 'potential', it was somewhat of a stretch. There wasn't much in there that would interest Mr Icarus once they found a way inside. But Kevin needed the Hollow Star. So much depended on it.

And he was the only one who could make it happen. That was what he kept telling himself. It was what kept him sane in these… distasteful circumstances.

"Phoenix, this is Shuttle Fetch-Two-Bronze, do you read?"

A young woman at the front answered the call. She was a New Human, if Kevin recalled correctly. Fourth or fifth generation since their inception. Although how they were actually cured, no-one knew. Only the Face of Boe had professed to have any kind of knowledge, but that was only hints and chuckled comments, as though everyone were foolish for asking.

And now he had a statue. A statue devoted to a giant head. Humans. Very strange.

Kevin continually had to remind himself to keep such comments to himself and firmly within his own head. This was a human body after all. It wouldn't do for him to start giving anyone a reason to think he was anything else.

His attention was brought back to the shuttle that was very slowly edging it's way into the corona of the star.

"There's a slight fluctuation in levels five and six. It was fine for the entire journey up here, but as soon as we got close to the star-"

Kevin walked quickly to the young woman and jabbed a finger onto the communication button. "Shuttle Fetch-Two-Bronze, this is Professor Mal. Your worriers are groundless, the shields will hold."

"But the readings-"

"Are a result of interference from the unusual radiation of the star, that's all." He softened his voice a little, and hated himself for doing it. "The shields will hold."

There was a few moments of static filled silence. "Understood."

Catkind seemed to have an irrational fear of humans. Kevin believed it came down to the hospital incident so very long ago, and just evolved from there. Tensions between Catkind and humans only become worse when that pilot Cat became the Duke of Manhattan. Ridiculous story, but there it was. But things seemed to be dying down.

Kevin doubted that what was about to happen would help matters at all.

The shuttle slowly turned and headed towards the planet, the Catkind pilots updating them on their progress the closer they got. Eventually, static began to intercede, making them almost inaudible through the vicious crackling.

The screams, however, came through loud and clear.

"There's something pulling us in! We can't pull up! Shields are failing, please advise! Repeat, shields-"

The relatively small explosion on the surface of the sun cut through Kevin like a finely honed assassin's blade. Face a stony blank, he stood to his full height and tugged down on his tunic.

"Frequency 66.2 is a failure. Could you log it in and prepare for another test?"

None of the crew even hesitated or looked the least bit disturbed by what had just occurred. Mr Icarus had taught them well.

But Kevin had none of their ability to nonchalantly dismiss such death. That wasn't the first shuttle to be destroyed in such a way, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

And yet, each time, Kevin always prayed that it would be. No-one deserved to die in such a careless manner. Except for a worthy cause.

As he wandered back to his quarters, Kevin wondered if he would truly feel justified when he reached the Hollow Star. But he had come too far now.

And so much depended on him.