Author: castrovalva9
Rating: PG
Characters: Kamelion/TARDIS; the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough
Summary: What was Kamelion doing in the back of the TARDIS all that time between The King's Demons and Planet of Fire?
Disclaimer: "Doctor Who" is property of the BBC.
Notes: Beta read by Kara MT.
Inspired by the comment Peter Davison made about how Kamelion was basically just thrown in the TARDIS and forgotten about. I'm not sure why I care, but I started thinking about what Kamelion was doing during this absence from the screen. I wrote this one during a break from my Five/Nyssa story, which I'm afraid is also crack!fic.
Set immediately after Kamelion joins the crew in the The King's Demons.
Kamelion traversed the TARDIS corridors, searching for a place of his own. The one called Tegan had said he could have her room, for all she cared. Given approval, Kamelion assiduously sought out this location.
It was fortunate that he shared compatible data-stream rhythms with the TARDIS; it made finding the appropriate spot a simple process that did not require him to request additional help of Tegan or the others. Kamelion did not want to get off to a poor start by making a nuisance of himself.
He paused outside the doorway of the indicated room and examined the interior. Articles of clothing, crumpled papers, coins, and a few battered novels lay haphazardly on the floor. Kamelion picked his way around and over the items and settled atop the blue plastic chair in the corner. He was not demanding; all he needed was a quiet place to stay.
When Tegan came in four minutes later, she did not react in a positive manner and the room ceased to be quiet.
Kamelion filed away the information that he could not always trust Tegan's words and renewed his search. He learned that he was not wanted in the library, the laboratory, the kitchen, the study, Turlough's room, the art gallery, the medical bay, any of various storage rooms or bathrooms, and dozens of other places. Undeterred, he continued his hunt, eventually stepping into a dark room with a console in the middle of it.
'Secondary console room,' the TARDIS informed him. 'Functional but not currently in use.'
Kamelion thought this area should prove suitable. According to the TARDIS, the room had not been visited in years. However, this data was not all that the TARDIS shared. She communicated her loneliness and jealousy, the fact that she was mentally and physically abused, especially by her beloved Doctor. She flashed images of Tegan insulting her, the Doctor hitting her console, Turlough receiving the caresses that should have been hers alone.
Kamelion understood; he also knew what it felt like to be used. He and the TARDIS shared much in common, and should interface very effectively. Moving efficiently, he knelt, removed a panel from the side of the console, and last of all exposed his own circuits. As he had projected, they interlocked perfectly with those of the TARDIS.
Then she flooded him with her power and Kamelion accepted it.
Turlough hesitated on his way out the door of the TARDIS. "Aren't we missing someone?" The Doctor and Tegan both looked blank, and he reminded them, "Kamelion isn't here."
"Who cares?" Tegan muttered.
"Don't you think his shape-shifting ability might come in handy?" Turlough pressed.
"I think he's more trouble than he's worth," was Tegan's assessment.
The Doctor offered no words of support, so Turlough shrugged and started walking again. "All right, we can go without him. But don't you wonder where he is and what he's doing?"
"He's probably in the back of the TARDIS somewhere," the Doctor replied. "I'm sure he's fine."
And that was the last time any of them spared for a thought about Kamelion for many days.