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The Bookman's Apprentice

Episode 2

The TARDIS lands in England, 1903. Landing inside the Black Order HQ, they immediately come to the attention of the residents. But who exactly is Lavi, the Bookman's Apprentice, and why does he know so much about The Doctor's Granddaughter? And more to the point, what's all this about Generals, Exorcists, Innocence and Akuma? One way to find out. Geronimo!

Chapter 1

A Further Introduction

The Doctor fell out of the TARDIS and saw Susan standing there, arms folded, not at all happy, "How long was I gone for?" He asked tentatively.

"Fourteen years," Susan replied, her tone short, easily conveying her annoyance. And she had every right to be annoyed. Fourteen years was a long time when he was sure he'd promised her he'd be five minutes, "Well, can I come in?"

"What? Come in- ah yes, right, absolutely," The Doctor stood aside, letting Susan into the TARDIS. He's redecorated… again, Susan realised, the TARDIS now all blues and greys where it had once been warm oranges. She wasn't sure which she preferred. This felt colder, had something awful happened? She always thought that the TARDIS interior reflected the mood of The Doctor. The first time she had travelled with him, it had been white, a blank slate. Both Time Travellers just starting out. Then when she had last met him, fourteen years ago, it was orange; perhaps he'd been a warm kind character. And now it blue, cold and impersonal. He was lonely, she realised, more than she had ever imagined. Susan paused when she saw another figure in the control room, a pretty dark-haired girl. Susan turned back to her grandfather, "And who might this be?"

The Doctor, absent minded as he ever was looked at the two girls as if he were seeing them for the first time, "Ah, yes, Susan, this is Clara Oswald, my new companion. Clara, this is Susan Foreman, my granddaughter," He said proudly, although Susan really wasn't sure who he sounded more proud of. She regarded Clara warily, suspicious and slightly jealous of this other girl. She had hoped it would be just her and The Doctor this time around. Alas, that was not to be.

"Hold on, you have a granddaughter?" Clara asked.

Susan nodded, "Yep, that's me," She waved awkwardly, "The Doctor's Granddaughter. Pleasure to make your acquaintance," Susan smiled sweetly. Her grandfather always had a thing for finding the pretty ones to take with him, and they would always follow. Maybe she had imagined the conversation when he said it was just be the two of them. With The Doctor, everything was a possibility.

The Doctor skipped around the console, as he was prone to do, the aged time machine giving the occasional jerk as it flew. Clara was now stood next to Susan, both clinging to the railing for safety, "So how long have you waited?"

"What?" Susan asked a little more sharply than she had intended.

Clara nodded towards The Doctor, "We were travelling and he said you were waiting for him," So they'd already been travelling, Susan realised. How nice that she had been a side thought, "So how long were you waiting for?" The TARDIS jolted again, Susan's shoulder protesting at the sudden movement.

"Fourteen years."

"Long time."

"Time Lady, blink of an eye," Susan shrugged the time off, not wanting Clara to know just how much the time had bothered her.

The Doctor cleared his throat, "Sorry to interrupt your conversation but we need somewhere to land. Susan? Clara's already had her place, it's your turn."

"You got side tracked?"

The Doctor pulled a series of faces, circling his hands, "Oh, just pick a date."

Susan thought for a moment, "25th March, 1903."

"25th March 1903 it is then," The Doctor set the date, wondering why that particular date. He couldn't recall anything major happening on that date, in terms of world history or Susan's personal life. He didn't ask though, not knowing wouldn't kill him. The TARDIS groaned and The Doctor stood back, beaming like a child, "We have arrived."

Susan hugged her grandfather tightly, in a way she hadn't since she was a child, before almost skipping out of the TARDIS. She found herself face-to-face with three men. One, a long haired Asian man, looked far too happy to see her, his eyes glinting behind his glasses. The second man bore an uncanny resemblance to Adolf Hitler, and looked just as nice in character. The final was an auburn haired… boy—young man?—any which way, he was still younger than the other two by a few years and looked at her with much more familiarity than the other two.

The Asian man grabbed Susan by her shoulders, "General! Please tell us you still have your Innocence?"

General? Innocence? Wait… what? "That's none of your bloody business," Susan protested, pushing the slightly odd man off her.

"Komui," The younger man piped up, "they're all time travellers remember? None of this has happened for them yet. Right events, wrong order, am I correct?" He stepped forward, "Name's Lavi," He extended his hand, "Nice ta meet ya," He smiled broadly, the skin round his visible eye crinkling slightly. Laughter lines, Susan thought. His other eye was hidden behind an eye-patch and his hair.

Susan took Lavi's hand, shaking it more from politeness than anything else, having no clue what else to do yet, "Uh… hi." Susan's voice sounded weak to her own ears. The Doctor and Clara finally emerged from the TARDIS, Susan throwing a glare back at The Doctor, "They could've been hostile."

"And I would have swung in and saved the day. Don't worry," The Doctor straightened his bow-tie, noticing Lavi and Susan's hands, "And you would be?"

Lavi let go of Susan's hand, "Lavi, sir," he nodded to Clara, "Ma'am," Clara dipped her head slightly in response.

The man who looked like Hitler finally spoke, "Since Miss Foreman appears to be without her Innocence, perhaps it would be wise to take her to see Hevlaska?" Although it was disguised as a question, it was clear that this was an order. Susan would see Hevlaska. His red uniform set him apart from Lavi, a higher rank than the young man if his tone was anything to go by. She got the distinct impression that he was a man who was used to being obeyed. Well, wasn't that nice for him, perhaps someone should rock the boat around here.

Komui clapped his hands, "Yes, Hevlaska. Right away. This was please, General," He began steering Susan through the labyrinthine corridors of the building, Lavi following close behind, "Isn't Rouvelier coming?" He asked.

Rouvelier glared at The Doctor, "Doctor," he greeted the Time Lord tightly, not at all enjoying being in his presence. "Might I suggest that you keep your family on a tighter leash? The trouble Miss Foreman had caused for myself and my colleagues is disconcerting to say the least. As her father-"

"Grandfather," The Doctor corrected him, "I'm Susan grandfather."

Rouvelier pursed his lips, "As her grandfather, I expect that you could at least try and keep the girl under some control. Only for the Black Order to be able to run smoothly, you understand."

The Doctor smiled sardonically, "I understand perfectly. What was your name? I'm not sure I caught it earlier."

"Inspector Rouvelier." Despite having met The Doctor several times before, this was the first time Rouvelier had had to introduce himself to The Doctor. So, this was the first time in The Doctor's life they had met. That was interesting.

"Well then, Rouvelier, I understand perfectly."

Rouvelier nodded stiffly, "I'm glad we understand one another," Rouvelier afforded the pair a final sweeping glare, before stalking down the corridor after Susan, Komui and Lavi.

"What exactly did Susan do to rile him up so badly?" Clara asked.

The Doctor shrugged, "No idea, but I can't wait to find out. Beauty of time travel that is. You annoy people and figure out how you did, just so you keep up the consistency," He offered his arm to Clara, "Shall we Miss Oswald?"

Clara linked her arm with The Doctor's, "We shall Doctor."