New breakthroughs in the "Doc&Lock" investigation have led us to another file that has existed in our archives for some time. Though it does not appear to be related to Entry 4017-399, it contains mention of a Mr. Sherlock. And, giving the particular circumstances by which this document came into our possession we have reason to believe that it is indeed linked to the Doctor. It is our main focus, here at NEW LInDA, to discover as much information as we can about the said Doctor and his whereabouts. Though this Mr. Sherlock is now under offical title as a person of interest to NEW LInDA, unless we can find a direct link to the Doctor, he will no longer be considered as a viable lead and all cases regarding him will be subject to permanent closure.
-NEW LInDA (16 June 2012)
NEW LInDA Files Archive Entry 4020-218:
Casefile [20251B] "Doc&Lock" Status: Open
Document sequestered from Torchwood Operative Toshiko Sato Early February 2008:
...Document in [Poor] Condition; Segments may be Corrupted or Missing...
'Where is this place?' Sherlock asked the man at the Desk. He couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy at the sight of what appeared to be dogs without noses. After he had traveled to so many planets, he had the feeling that he would never quite get over that feeling of curious uncomfortableness.
The man behind the desk spoke with a voice that sounded entirely synthetic, probably an old mid-grade Atraxian protocol simulator, nothing too spectacular. Apparently it didn't get very much use on this planet, or asteroid, or semiterranean spacestation, or wherever he was. 'You...[Corrupted Data]...appreciated.'
'Well that's all very nice, but I don't suppose you could tell me how to return to Earth? Or possibly Sol 3, as I've heard it called before? The planets of the humans?' Sherlock was nearly certain that this machine would have little to no useful information, but after what happened on Etra Prime he was not about to jump back into that TARDIS without being fully certain that this planet had nothing to offer him.
'Sol 3... Planet Name Unrecognized... Earth... Planet Name Unrecognized... Human... Species Recognized. Planet of origin... Error, list Exceeds allotted size for Verbalization... Major Political Organizations... Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire... Public Information and the Bureau of External Relations located at 14X7L Gortahlic Center, New New New New New...'
Sherlock grinned to himself, perhaps this "Great and Bountiful Human Empire" may be able to point me in the right direction. I've hear of this New York, with too many "New"s for any form of convention, and just maybe they might have something that can get him back to the original New York. From there he could take a boat back to London and just leave this time traveling craft in the Hudson river! For all the trouble it's caused him, it's what that TARDIS deserves.
But he knew that that's not how it would end. He and the TARDIS had already traveled so far together, and as much as he hated to admit it, he learned so much from his travels that he was certain that he could no longer return home to London and resume his normal lifestyle. There were just too many fascinating mysteries for him to solve, and all of them thanks to his accidental trip. But that was so long ago, maybe a year? Two? Moriarty was no longer an issue. Once they had been great rivals, but now he was nothing more than a madman lost in time and space. I cant believe he actually...
'Error... Species Unrecognized. Attempting to Scan Again...' the robotic man was now focusing directly on Sherlock and his eyes were looking him over from head to foot. Of course Sherlock couldn't allow his identity to be discovered so he used a useful gadget he had found among...
...Segment Missing...
...the window was an amazing sight. 'How can this semipermeable colloidial-nitrate atmosphere possibly contain them all?' Sherlock thought himself.
'Thank you for visiting our humble planet. Please come again.' His robot escort retorted as Sherlock opened the door to the TARDIS, the red and white phonebooth giving off a strange glow under the phosphorescent glow of the soft evening light.
'I certainly will. This place has most assuredly been one of my most pleasant adventures thus far.' He then turned to close the door. After week on this planet he had found a sort of kinship with the peoples, which was not something Sherlock had much experience with. Back on Earth he had always found people to be below him, and his superior analytical skills had only helped him to prove that further. But out here among the stars things were different somehow, it was almost like seeing how they all felt towards him whenever he talked to anyone. Frustration had been what first took hold, but then it had changed somehow into something new.
Of course, he knew that he was absolutely brilliant. There would be nothing that could convince him otherwise. But if only he had the time to know everything the way he had back home. Back home where everything was a simple as lying in the grass and watching the day pass by. Now the complexities were further extending inwards, spiraling into a kaleidoscope of infinite and infinitesimal grandeur. The universe was far greater than anything Sherlock could have imagined, alhough not bigger than he could comprehend. Of that he assured himself. Ever since "the Incident" he had developed a new way of thinking. Not entirely new, he was still him self after all, but he had gained perspective. Perhaps Jim too, though he could hardly be called Jim Moriarty any more, had developed in a similar way.
Reaching for the controls of the TARDIS he slowed maneuvered a long gold lever along a zig-zag path into position while simultaneously pulling on a thin chain and flipping three greenish yellow switches. The odd but now familiar whooshing sound filled his ears as the room began to vibrate. Yanking on some valves and shoving in a series of plungers caused an eruption of steam from a nearby vent. A small video apparatus that sherlock had no name for lowered in front of him and read universal time coordinates.
Sherlock thought he was finally getting the hang of this. Whoever had left him this machine was certainly an odd fellow. Although he had not quite figured out all of the science behind these mechanisms, he knew that there must be a better or at least more efficient way to do this. Flying the TARDIS was easy, as far as Sherlock could tell, it was getting it to go where you wanted it to that was the hard part.
He thought back to when he had landed in a place that he had thought was northern Ireland, although he was unsure of the date. However, after only a few hours of exploring he found that it could not have been Earth because it was inhabited by large, approximately 6' 3", anthropomorphic lizard creatures. If it hadn't been for them he would have sworn that he had been standing in a field of coastal machair found only in northwestern Ireland and Scotland, given that the tempertature was slightly too high for that time of year to have been Scotland, he would've guessed somewhere near Achill Island.
Lost in his thoughts, Sherlock didn't notice the unfamiliar scent lingering in the air. The smell of metal was common in the TARDIS, but this odor was sour like iron and left a distasteful flavor in the mouth when breathed in. Before he could even turn, Sherlock knew he was surrounded. The harsh synthetic sound of a large alloy being filled his ears.
'IDENTIFY YOURSELF!'
Sherlock didn't move. He could see them through the reflection of the monitor, the word came to him, and he could see that his enemy was armed. While on this ship, he had discovered some traps and defenses. If only he could find the right lever...
'IDENTIFY YOURSELF!'
'SCAN COMPLETE. SPECIES UNKNOWN! EVALUATE!'
'IDENTIFY YOURSELF!'
'Quick,' Sherlock thought, 'I have to either find a way to dispose of them. Or else I need to find a good explanation...'
'TARGET IS REFUSING TO COMPLY! BEGIN COMPULSORY EXAMINATION!'
'If I tell you what I am, will you let me go?'
'SUBJECT HAS RESPONDED. BEGIN QUESTIONING. WHO ARE YOU?'
'You didn't answer my question. What will I get in return for answering your questions?'
'ANSWER INSUFFICIENT. WHO ARE YOU?'
'I'm just a human trying to get back home.'
'INCORRECT ANSWER. YOU ARE NOT HUMAN! WHO ARE YOU?'
Sherlock could see that this was not going to help him if he tried to cover up his identity. Luckily he had remembered which lever activated the temporal stasis device that he had used on Moriarty by accident. Maybe if he could distract them with one more answer he would be able to get to the button. Unfortunately there were two of these creatures, or possibly robots, and there was a chance that either of them could potentially harm him if this didn't work. 'If my calculations are correct,' Sherlock determined, 'then their reaction times will be reduced by the inefficient use of protocol to judge their decisions. If I leap for the switch unexpectedly, they will not have enough time to declare their next action before I can trap them in the stasis field.'
'I can from the planet Earth. Have you heard of it?'
'...EARTH NO LONGER EXISTS. HOW CAN YOU BE RETURNING THERE? YOU ARE NOT HUMAN! WHO ARE YO...'
The voice was cut off as Sherlock swiftly stepped to the side pressing a small button on the control panel mid-stride. Both of the metal figures suddenly froze in place as the time restricting device locked them in place. Once again pleased with his cleverness, Sherlock then realized that he had not be sure whether or not the field would have been able to stop both of them. However, previous doubts were no longer his concern. It had worked, and he was brilliant.
'Now I just need to figure out how to dispose of these... things!' he muttered to himself. 'Perhaps if I can rig the...'
He was taken by surprise when the enitred room echoed one word.
'EXTERMINATE!'
...End of File...