I am worn-down and tired. I need something in my life. I don't know what, so I keep sending ideas into the ocean of FF and hope it makes me feel something. I have two trips in one month planned and I am a little all over the place to put it mildly. I hope you stick with me during this troubled time and I'll finally deliver some good, complete stories.
The Future Queen of Coleum
For Clara, it felt good to sleep in on a Saturday in her own bed in her own time period. The TARDIS beds were quite lovely, but she never knew when she'd be knocked out of it in the event of an alien trying to steal it or the Doctor accidently hitting a supernova. She stretched and slowly got out of bed, enjoying the peace of having nowhere to be and nothing to run from.
Then the sound of the cloister bell came. Clara sighed. So much for a lazy morning. The TARDIS appeared, and the Doctor opened the door.
"Come on Clara, we have an alien to escort home," he said.
"Well that's different," she said. "But I haven't gotten dressed yet."
"Well then get dressed and let's get going. We have a queen to transport."
She grabbed some clothes to get dressed in and washed up in bathroom. The Doctor was waiting impatiently.
"What's the hurry, you have a time machine!" she said.
"I'm a little nervous about transporting royalty is all. If I screw this up, the Colians could eat both my hearts in a single bite."
"So why are you doing this favor for them to begin with?" she asked as she stepped inside.
"There was a war there recently and they have lost much of their transport technology. Restoring their queen seems like the right thing to do."
"So where are we going?" she asked as he entered the coordinates.
"A place called Quantico in America," he said. "In Colian culture, their queen must be sent to an uncultured world to learn humility before taking the crown. They must become when one of them biologically and then die as one of them before an envoy is sent to bring the queen home for a lavish ceremony."
"So, what does her alien form look like?" Clara asked.
"It'll be a surprise," the Doctor said with a glimmer of humor.
"You know I don't like surprises," she said.
"Which will make this one all the more grand."
Clara made a face. This version of the Doctor liked to challenge her more. It kept her on her toes more and even as she got to know him better.
"We're here," he said.
They were in what looked like a vacant lot in the middle of the night. After checking to see no one was around, they left and walked down the street. The doctor stopped in front of a building labeled "morgue."
The Doctor then waved his credentials in front of a security guard.
"My assistant," he said pointing to Clara.
The guard waved them in without a word and returned to looking at his phone.
The Doctor seemed to know where he was going and led her through the halls. They went down a flight of stairs. The smell then hit her.
"And I thought catacombs were terrible," she said.
"Remind me never to take you the land of Ev then, beautiful flora, but the smell has made previous associates of mine pass out," he said.
He used the sonic screw driver to open a lock on a door.
It had a dozen slots, only three were currently occupied.
"Look for a Maeve Donovan," he said.
Clara found it first and opened the door. She pulled it open and then screamed.
It was woman around her age. The serene look on her face did nothing to distract her from the fact that there was a bullet wound where part of the right side of her head should be. Clara thought she could even see some brain matter. It made her sick.
"Where is she?" Clara asked desperately. "Where is she so we can get her out and get out of here?"
The Doctor waved his sonic screw driver over her heart.
"Oh, Alhandrexa Da Avtian a Harbrin please come forth to ascend to the throne."
A purple diamond bloomed out of the heart. It grew further and developed a head with two amber eyes and a mouth made of sapphire lips. Two arms and four legs grew out that fell on to the floor with a clank sound.
She smiled at Clara.
"I know you must be scared, but there is no need," she said in a tone that sounded musical. "I mean you no harm."
"I know," Clara said. "It is an honor to meet you, your highness."
She smiled. "I am not queen yet, call me Drexa."
"Okay, Drexa," Clara said.
Drexa turned to the Doctor.
"I know why you're here Timelord," she said respectfully. "But first can you take me to see a man? I just want to observe him one last time."
"Certainly, your future highness," he said. "Where to?"
"Capital Plaza Apartments."