Sandra lee Morgan
Chapter: two
Meanwhile, in another part of the universe, Clara Oswald sat on the captains chair inside the TARDIS's console room and looked on in worried silence as the Doctor made careful adjustments to the central control consoles delicate instruments. Ever since their close call on the planet Varlas three, Clara had been keeping herself on high alert for any signs of trouble with the doctors physical health. Every now and then she would catch a glimpse of the growing weariness in the time lords eyes and wondered if he was even aware of this new vulnerability he was showing. He didn't seem to be and that frightened her more than anything.
The young woman reasoned that if her fellow time travelers weakened condition was obvious to her, it would be just as obvious to his enemies as well. This was the reason why she had suggested the planet earth for their next destination. Clara was more than convinced that the Doctor was in desperate need of some time off, and she was more than determined to make sure that his mind and body got the rest that they required. Not to mention that the holiday would make it easier for her to keep an eye on him just in case his health did indeed go south.
Clara made a point to add Kate Stewarts personal phone number to the contact list of her cell phone just as units' head scientific officer had suggested. Clara's mind instantly shot back to an evening not that long ago, when she had decided to make the short journey to the TARDIS's unbelievably large kitchen to get herself a steaming hot cup of tea, and to her surprise found the doctors unconscious body sprawled out on the floor of the corridor not too far from her TARDIS bedroom.
She remembered kneeling down beside the time lord checking his vital signs and calling his name in a desperate attempt to rouse him. She even tried gently slapping his face but even that didn't seem to work. Clara was just about to start panicking, when she suddenly heard the sound of coughing from just below her. She looked down at the Doctor and to her relief noticed that his eyes slowly fluttering open.
At that moment, Clara's train of thought was suddenly brought back to the present, when a familiar voice asked with a deep note of concern that just couldn't be ignored," Clara, are you going to be all right?" The young woman settled her gaze back on the Doctor and was slightly surprised to see a glimpse of terrified panic swirling in his eyes. Clara got to her feet and announced with a gentle smile, as she slowly made her way over to her alien friend," yes of course I'm all right, Doctor. Why wouldn't I be?"
The Doctor just shrugged his shoulders and replied sadly," you were just staring off into space, Clara. I thought that you might be missing Danny again." Clara took a deep breath and said warmly as she took the Doctor shaking hands into her own "Doctor, I'm always going to miss my boyfriend and nothing out in this universe will ever change that. That fact, however; would never cause me to stop looking after you, and it sure in the hell would never cause me to just get up and abandon you. We both tried to save my boyfriend by bringing him back from the dead, but things just in work out the way we both wanted them to. I'm also aware that there's no way to go back and change what happened."
Clara placed her free hand on the doctors' cheek and added with a strong note of conviction in her voice that the time lord had never heard before, "you don't have to worry about me, Doctor. I'm going to be just fine. But obviously, the same can't be said about you. We both know that you haven't been doing too well lately, and I think that it's high time for the both of us to have some R and R for a few weeks."
The Doctor just stared at her in shocked silence quite taken aback by the level of worry and affection he heard in her voice. the Doctor smiled one of his rare smiles and said disarmingly, as he shook his head and turned back to the control console, " I've already told you, Clara. I'm just fine. You really don't have anything to worry about. That thing in the corridor was probably just the result of a mild dizzy spell." Clara took a deep breath and then asked adamantly," but you can't be really sure of that, now can you?"
The Doctor sighed and replied sadly," no, of course I can't." Clara nodded and announced with a victorious smile, as she lovingly wrapped her arms around his waist "This proves that you need a few weeks to rest and recharge your batteries. I'm only doing this to make sure that you're going to be all right. You do understand where I'm coming from, don't you?" The Doctor made to say something but then thought better of it and kept his mouth shut. After several moments of silent consideration, he took a deep ragged breath and and nodded his head in weary surrender.
Clara smiled at her Galifreyan friend and then remarked with a profound note of joyful relief in her voice, " thank you, Doctor. I'm pleased that you and I are able to see eye to eye on this one." The Doctor was silent for a few more moments, and then he looked up at Clara and asked curiously, as the TARDIS made a gentle landing," So, how do you suppose we go about starting this holiday?"
Clara smiled and replied comfortingly, as she released the Time Lord from her grip," I don't want you to have to worry about a thing, Doctor. Just follow my lead and leave everything to me. The first thing that needs to be done is to get you all settled back at my place. Then we can decide whether to stay home and eat dinner or go out."
The Time Lord took a deep calming breath and inquired worriedly, as he operated the door lever," are you sure that this's really such a good idea, Clara? It's just that I've been traveling for so long, that I'm not so sure that I actually know how to settle down anymore." Clara grinned and replied reassuringly, as she gently grabbed the Doctor By his right arm," I'll be here with you every step of the way, Doctor. So you really have nothing to worry about."
The young woman was silent for few moments and then added as an afterthought,"Oh and yes you will have your own bedroom, and we'll have the backup protection of unit just in case there is any trouble down the line, or any of your enemies turn up to try and take you out. Kate has already told me about your reputation."
The Doctor raised an eyebrow and then asked with a grin of mild surprise, as he allowed his youthful companion to lead him out of the time-ship and on to the well-constructed sidewalk that ran along the green grassy areas of Hyde park," you really have thought of every little thing, haven't you?" Clara nodded and replied proudly, as she let go of the doctors arm and sprinted over to a nearby public water fountain that Kate had told her about during their privately held conversation over the TARDIS phone," I really hope so. I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Doctor."
Clara knelt down in front of the fountain, reached underneath the base and felt around until her fingers brushed against something small and metallic. Clara grabbed the object and pulled out what proved to be a set of brand new car keys that were attached to a Key FOB. The young woman beamed and added. as she got back to her feet and calmly strolled back over to her fellow time traveler," in fact, we even have four wheeled transportation and a two story town house compliments of your friend Kate Stewart." The Doctor just looked at her for a long moment in stunned silence.
Clara activated the panic button on the Key FOB, and within a matter of seconds, they both heard the sound of the car alarm going off from somewhere close by. Clara looked in the direction of the sound and immediately caught sight of the flashing headlights of a brand new 2015 midnight blue colored dodge challenger that was part on the other side of the parking lot. Clara looked at the Doctor and remarked with a confident smile, "there, you see? Everything's all under control."
The time lord took a ragged breath and declared with bewildered fascination," wow! For some reason, I feel like crying right now. I don't think I've ever had any one show this much concern for me before." Clara gently took the doctors left hand into her own and said with an unmistakable hint of relief in her voice that couldn't be ignored," well, I'm pleased to see that you're happy with this situation, Doctor. For a moment, I thought for sure that I was going to have a problem with you. But don't worry, I'm sure that you'll be well enough to travel in no time. Shall we go?"
Without another word, the Doctor obediently followed his companion across the half empty parking lot completely unaware that they were both being watched through a pair of high tech binoculars by a young Alirian male soldier who was dressed in a solid black tunic with matching knee-high black leather boots. From behind a large oak tree that was positioned only 100 yards away. After a few moments, the Alirian soldier laughed and announced under his breath with an evil grin," well now. What do we have here? This is going to be like taking candy away from a baby. Or should I say, a time lord?"
Without a moment to spare, the young soldier put away his binoculars, lifted his wrist com to his lips, press the on button and announced in a voice that was brimming over with cheerful optimism," it seems that I have finally located our target, sir. I am now waiting for your further instructions on how to proceed.
After a few seconds of silence, a gritty sounding voice came over the small speaker that was embedded in the device and replied with a note of authority that had always made the soldier cringe," you're to follow the target to his new destination, and your only to observe from a distance. You're not to approach the target in any way. Once the target is spotted again, you are to report your new position and await further instructions. Under no circumstances are you to make any attempt to apprehend the target yourself. We don't want him finding out about our plans this soon. Have I made myself perfectly clear?"
The young soldier took a deep breath and replied obediently," yes you have, sir. This is lieutenant Garice Moran over and out." With that, the young lieutenant took another deep breath to calm his nerves, got back to his feet and headed back to his hidden star cruiser completely unaware that he too was being monitored by Dsira from the safety of her cloaked star cruiser that was parked only a few yards away from the park. As soon as he left his hiding place, Dsira put away her own set of binoculars and with a quick glance at her stolen copy of the shadow proclamations time scans press the button under cruisers control panel and started the engines with the hopes of getting to the Doctor before the Alirian could.
Little did she know that the earth itself was being scanned by a cloaked Alirian Rebel scout shipped that was at that very moment in G. orbit above the planet's stratosphere. Inside its' main control room sat three of the vessels four crew members. While saffron sat at her computer listening to all planetary radio transmissions on a pair of silver colored headphones and at the same time scanning the earth's surface for traces of Artron energy missions, Kyra and Cealar were both sitting around the control rooms square shaped central planning table playing it quite friendly game the of chess, while malia was busy in the ship's kitchen making them all a fresh hot pot of tea.
After a few long moments of agonized concentration, Cealar picked up his king, moved it two spaces to the left and then announced with a victorious grin," checkmate! Well, I'd like to see you try to top that one, Kyra." The Alirian female freedom fighter shook her head and replied with an exhaustive frown," I'm sorry, Cealar. I don't think that I have another game within me tonight. To be honest, I really should be playing better than this." Cealar nodded and replied in a voice that was full of concerned agreement," I think you're absolutely right about that one, Kyra. What seems to be the problem?" Kyra sighed and replied solemnly," it's just that we've been orbiting this planet of primitives for the last nine months, and we still haven't gotten a glimpse of the chosen one. I'm beginning to wonder that this being even exist after all."
Cealar sat back in his chair and announced in a voice that was overflowing with self confidence," yes of course, the chosen one exists, Kyra. Mother Amara, wouldn't have sent us out here to look for him, if he didn't. Once our ships tracking device picks up on his unique energy signature, we'll have a general idea of his location, and we'll be that much closer to making contact." Kyra stretched her arms and then stated matter of factly," I really hope so, Cealar. This meeting can't come soon enough for me. I'm just so tired of being cooped up in here."
Cealar was about to reply, when their friend saffron lifted her fist up into the air and shouted victoriously," hell yes! I found him!" Saffron turned to her two friends and added joyfully," well, the bad news is that I can't triangulate his exact position, because he's currently on the move. The good news is that I have been able to pinpoint his location to one particular country which has a population density of 59.3 million humans and over 100,000 Zygons. We will be able to track him down, but it might take us a little while." Kyra nodded and remarked with a grateful smile," well, that's all right. At least we know now what country he's currently in. I don't think we'll have very much trouble finding him. There can't be all that many individuals like him living among the humans."
