Reaching Mercia
She was asleep when someone knocked on her door. For a moment she thought she was back at her home and Tish was knocking on her door to tell her something she thought important.
She opened her eyes. Her sight was still blurry. Her room was made of pure metal. TARDIS? Could it really be? She had that feeling of traveling through time and space. His voice was going to be heard any minute now.
"Martha Jones?" it was not him. It was a deep, harsh voice. Mercians.
She got up. She was in the Mercian armada heading to their planet. Her tears had dried on her cheeks. She had been crying until she sleep took her away. She dreamt of Him. She saw him rescuing her.
The Mercian knocked again. She took a deep breath and opened the door. He was short, for her human standards. He barely reached her chest and looked more like a chimp than an alien.
He waved so she would follow him. Another one took her luggage. He led her to the control room. There were no windows in the ship so she didn't know where they were.
"Excuse me for you treatment and my English, Dr. Jones, but we were trained no more than a week to escort you here." A tall Mercian said rising from his seat. He was taller than her, muscular, a hybrid between human and ape.
"You speak English." She said surprised.
"Yes, I do. There was no need for this language before but since you are living with us we are trying our best." He said and scanned her with his eyes. She should be as much an alien to him as he was to her. He wore leather clothes, like a suit, black boots and something that looked like a red cape.
"May I ask who you are?" Martha said.
"I am Prince Akon, of the Narayan tribe." He answered.
"A Prince?" Martha said surprised.
"It's title of no significance. I have read about your planet. Nothing like your Princes." He said.
"Oh, alright." Martha said.
"Dr. Martha Jones. I want you to put these on." He said and gave her a pair of earring and a necklace.
"What are they doing?" Martha asked. After all these years she knew they were not meant for beauty.
"These," the Prince said and showed her the earrings "are translators. So you can understand what we are saying." Prince Akon answered.
"What about the necklace?' She asked.
"It is an atmospheric adaptor. You were not made to live in Mercia. You cannot survive in our atmosphere." The Prince said.
"Really Important. Got it." She said and put it on.
"Follow me, now please." He said and walked away from the Control room, through a wide corridor.
"Where are we going?" Martha asked.
The Prince did not respond. A moment later a light appeared at the end of the corridor. That's where they were going.
"Dr. Martha Jones, welcome to Mercia."
He said and led her out of the ship.
Martha closed her eyes by instinct. It was very bright outside. She used her hand to make some shade. Everything was so blurry. It was not easy to get used to this light while she could barely see her nose inside the ship.
After a few minutes her vision was restored. She looked around, stunned. Buildings on wonderful, tiny, white rocks. It was like the city was flying. Waterfalls in every gaze, they seem to fall into nowhere.
She found the courage and looked down. Hundreds of meters down there were tropical forests and birds, with weird voices her ear was not used in.
"That's …breathtaking." She said.
"I hope this means something very good." The Prince said.
"It means the Storyteller really likes our city." an aged voice said.
Martha looked ahead. An old Mercian, in a red cloak, was approaching them. She recognized him at once. It was Lord Hasam Kuun.
"Lord Hasam Kuun?" Martha said.
"Welcome to Narayan, child of time. I see you like our city." The lord said.
"Well, it is a pleasant surprise." She said.
"I am glad. Now, come, you must be tired."
The Lord said and took her at his home. A large house made of something that resembled wood. Everything seemed so warm in there. Wooden walls, floors, furniture of leather, big round windows like those in submarines. Beautiful.
"Kale, would you make us some, mont, please?" Hasam Kuun asked a short chimp.
"You will like it, it tastes like your tea." The Lord explained.
A few moments of silence past until the, 'mont', was served. The Lord took the cap with both his hands, took a zip, and then he drank from the opposite side. Martha did the same.
The Eldest of the Narayan, took a moment to scan Martha and then he smiled.
"I am so blest to meet you, Story teller." He said.
"Why do you call me that way? With all do respect." She said.
"Because, it's the name history gave you. To all of you, children of time. The Undead, The Seeker, The Lost, The Mother, The Follower and my, personal favourite, the Storyteller."
"But that year never existed, history, doesn't even know how to spell my name." Martha said taking another zip of that 'mont'. She liked it.
"Human history has overseen many things, Martha Jones. The history of the universe is being written here, in Mercia. The tribe of Edan has this duty. Every event that has happened in this universe since the dawn of time can be found in the palace of Edan." Lord Hasam Kuun said.
"You mean I can find Gallifrey and the War of Time?" Martha asked and the old Mercian's gaze became dark.
"It is something we wish we could burn but what is done cannot be undone. You can find everything." He answered.
"Lord Hasam Kuun, can I ask you a question?" she asked and he nodded.
"Why me?" She asked.
"Because, without knowing it, you saved more than your planet." He answered and headed to the window.
"If the Master had prevailed, Earth would be just the beginning. He would stop at nothing until he became what his title said. The Master… of universe. See, a small victory in battle…"
"… a great hit at war." Martha finished his line. The Lord smiled.
"You are very smart, Martha Jones, and very courageous. That's why you were picked by destiny." He said and looked at her. She was surprised.
"It's something it keeps knocking on His door and He keeps rejecting it. I believe we have the right human , now." Lord Hasam Kuun said and returned to his seat.
Martha looked even more confused.
"Do not try to understand, now. It will get to you someday. Let's go back to your training." He said and drank some, 'mont'.
"My training?" Martha said.
"Exactly. We, Narayans, are Atruses." The Lord said.
"What is that?" she asked him.
"An Atrus is something you would call, a doctor and a scientist. Through you we want to share some of our knowledge with earth." The lord said.
Martha wanted to ask why, but she thought it wouldn't be the wisest thing to do.
"You will work at Atrusan in a week. Until then, rest, explore, and I will always be here to answer your questions." Lord Hasam Kuun said and got up.
"Atrusan is a hospital?" Martha asked.
"It's more like a research and medical center." He said and clapped his hands once.
A female Mercian came out of nowhere. She was a little bit shorter than Martha, thin, with a sweet monkey face and a tale rapped around her waist.
"This is Fatima, of the Janmin tribe. She will be your assistant. Funny thing she was born a Janmin and she likes science more than books." Lord Hasam Kuun said and left the room.
Fatima approached Martha and gave her, her hand.
"I am so glad to work for you." Fatima said.
"No, you will work with me, and you will show me this place, because I have no idea." Martha said smiling at her.
"Yes, Atrus." Fatima said.
"Only, if you are not going to call me Martha, don't call me Atrus. It reminds me of a male name." Martha said.
"And how am I supposed to call you?" Fatima asked
"Martha…" she said but Fatima's horrified look made her change her answer.
"Doctor." Martha said, smiling.
