Chapter 2
River changed from bare skin to jeans and a jumper when the Tardis called her name. "What is it? You've been in a mood," she answered and was about to tease how the breakfast she had been rushed through was low even by prison standards.
The ship impatiently interrupted by saying her name again. When the Tardis said her name, she said it in her dimensional way of forming words. It said Melody Pond and River Song at once. It said "of the pretty one and the orangey girl". It said adventurer and traveler and brave and beautiful and loving. It said intelligent and clever and funny, and "of stars and time". It said "of yourself" and archaeologist and student and Thief's wife. Wrapped around all of it was Child- Daughter.
It was no wonder she had found it difficult to talk while inside Idris' body.
Whenever River answered, she said Yes and of you and Mother in addition to whatever words she said. She said the Mother differently than how she used it for Amy. She couldn't explain it to someone who didn't understand how the Tardis talked. Amy was her mother and she had never not loved her as it. When she used Mother with the Tardis, she equally filled it with love and meant it, even as they were different.
She didn't need to speak audibly because River was part of the Tardis. Not a piece removed, but a part contained outside the blue box. When the Tardis talked to her, she didn't need her daughter to make physical contact anymore than River needed to open herself. They were always connected, but the Tardis asked the Child for both these things now.
River walked to the wall and pressed her hands against it. She leaned in with her forehead and raised their connection to a conscious level, the way someone would focus on their breathing. The Tardis flowed in and out of her, alive and warm.
The great ship picked up speed and dashed. River felt the change, felt them shift and bounce and twirl along their path through the Vortex. It made her break away from the wall, but not the Tardis, and run.
She didn't just pick up on the excitement from the blue box surrounding her. It stirred the part of her that was the Tardis since her conception and when it ignited her. She picked up her pace and ran with her fingers brushing the walls so she connected with her great mother even more. The Tardis lowered one of the corridor's anti-grav and River dove down feet first without hesitation. She zoomed by decks in seconds until the bottom neared and the Tardis slowly increased the gravity so her daughter landed gently on her feet.
The console room with its front doors were moved closer saving River even more time. By then, she recognized that the feeling in the air didn't just come from the Tardis herself but from someone outside as well. Someone equally connected who had now discovered her too.
Sister!
She gave a happy little moan of Oh! and flew to the doors. She went to push out the right one to save even those couple of seconds when the Tardis' grumbling told her she couldn't. Her clueless Doctor was blocking them and River prepared to (nicely) shove him out of the way.
Rose Tyler.
River stopped.
She instinctively turned and touched her husband. She must because she knew what this had to be doing to him. Rose Tyler and the man she had chosen over the Doctor. The right choice. The Doctor knew it and had said it. But still, a lot of pain surrounded that. She'd be no kind of wife if she did nothing to show him she knew it. But in the next moment, she also knew she had just shown who she was to him on some level and what that could do to Rose.
So she was amazed at the light in the Doctor's eyes when he turned to her and relieved when Rose said, "My husband. Doctor John Tyler." River might not have hurt her after all.
She had to admit to that part of her who was relieved for a whole different reason: Rose really had moved on. River would have to be blind not to see that jealous part of herself and anyone who had broken down themselves to rebuild who they were, like River had, could never be that blind.
Even so, she would not leave the Doctor alone. No, she had to stay here with them and figure out what could have possibly opened the Void between their universes.
But her husband smiled and gave a little mental and physical push to go. She knew he had no idea of what drove her to run out the doors, but it obviously didn't matter to him. Whatever it was, she should go.
Still she hesitated. "It's not quite like that, really. It can wait."
And again, the Doctor gave her that push. Go. I'm fine.
She didn't understand how he could be but he gave a contented "Geronimo". She at last gave in and ran down the lane.
Sister! Sister! Sister!
The phone box was red, a cheery red, a happy red, a red meant to brighten a gloomy background and be part of the cheer in a scene with a happy sky. It fit the young ship who both blended into her surroundings with her chameleon circuit but stood out and drew attention herself. River immediately adored her.
Sister!
She clasped her hands around the sides of the door. "I know! I know! I just - I had no idea! I never thought - she told me about you but to see you!"
The Tardis spoke to River about how she could now understand the rush in this landing.
That is your name, the young girl said and repeated it. This is mine and she sang it with pride. Say it, please!
River flowed the name out and wrapped it inside of Sister.
The young ship gave a shriek of excitement. First time someone will say it! Is saying it! Said it! Except Mummy of course. So good!
She naturally spoke like their Tardis mother who also told her how to speak to River whose mind was not across Time and eleven dimensions.
Should I whisper? the young girl wondered. Or speak slow? I spoke slow? I will speak slow?
River kept the laugh back over the mental image of someone speaking to a foreigner with exaggerated slowness as if that would make them be understood. I can understand you. See? I may not answer you the way you expect. I'm here in this moment. I can feel the others but can only be here.
Her sister thought that was a hideous existence before their mother poked her for saying such a thing. Oops. I am was will be sorry. Oh this is difficult! Sorry, sister!
Don't be sorry, River comforted. I do understand. And I'm too happy to have a baby sister to get upset over anything!
She got a grumble. You're obviously the baby. I started this body before you did yours. I'm bigger and you're tiny with a little body that has no rooms and can only be here in one time.
River loved the attitude.Oh you're definitely one of the family. That probably spared the other girl from getting another chiding from the maternal Tardis. I know all about you starting first but my body was done before yours. So I'm the older sister, but you're the bigger sister." See?
The young ship hummed happily about this. I can make outside noises too, you know. She sounded a horn that bordered on a raspberry in a British salute without the two fingers.
Cheeky! River laughed.
And rude! their mother interrupted and they chorused Sorry! while sharing a giggle between themselves that the older Tardis didn't miss.
And you are good to see.
River actually bounced where she stood. "Me? Look at you!"
Can you wheeze-groan/fly, MelodyRiverSister?
"Yes, but not like you." She caught the near shudder of her sister's Well that's awful before the red box caught herself from being rude again. River felt her just waiting for the older Tardis to come in with another reprimand, but their mother just grouched to herself. In another point of time when the Old Girl flew in a universe filled with her sisters, she called out to them saying Do you see what I must bear [will bear]? But the young ship also heard the pride in her tone for all her exasperation and passed it on for River to hear.
What else is she saying? River asked.
I maybe shouldn't tell you because they ask to see you - a daughter in that kind of body 'cause they never saw such a thing - and you might act like you did about the older sister thing.
River threw her head back and laughed. The Tardis mimicked Amy Pond shaking her head and disciplining her daughter while the red box gave a sweet snicker even as she pointed out importantly:
I'm special too. I'm the first new ship in a long time, MelodyRiverSister. And I'm all from Mummy but you are part of the little ones.
River glanced back at the older Tardis as one eyebrow and corner of her mouth lifted. "Let me guess who calls them that."
I favour the pretty one. The pretty one and the orangey girl, dear Ponds, lovely strays, but more the pretty one.
"Never fails to make my dad blush." And isn't that why your sisters want to see me? she said to tease the baby. Because I am made from little ones?
She got another raspberry in return so she soothed where she had just teased. She smiled to herself and knew her sister was not upset. But you are the first new ship. They must be so happy to meet you.
She didn't get an answer at first and got the feeling of others bending their heads together to whisper without her being allowed to listen.
Child. We will try having you hear.
River could sense Time. She saw its weave of lines and felt its flow move. Now that awareness widened and its direction shifted in a way. She had to stay anchored here, being in this body meant she couldn't do anything more, but the part of her that came from the Tardis connected with something else. Another moment brought to just within her reach.
Voices. The presence of so many. Still distant and yet there.
There she is! Will you look at that? So different to hear. Leave it to you to have such a Child. Steal a Time Lord, have a daughter in a body, create a child ship.
They overlapped one another, overwhelming but not, because she knew her family shielded her. Every one of them spoke to her. The First one to the Last one to awaken before her own sister's birth. Even her Tardis when she became aware, her first missions, her decommission, her Doctor. She heard a little scuffle between her mother and Type 57 ships because the Doctor with his fifth face had said he should leave her behind and upgrade to one of them. When One said their Time Lords were idiots – after all, look what they said about her – everyone calmed down. Their Lords and Ladies were ridiculous at times, but the ships still loved, housed, protected, and took them around the universe. And after all, she was the only Type 40 to be recommissioned.
River didn't know she had dropped to her knees because this was never meant to be in a body. And it didn't matter anyway.
Is she going to blow her casing?
"No,", she answered. "Please don't go."
Oh, she talks! Of course she's talks. Why would you say that? Ridiculous statement. What was it we could say?
Her Tardis, THE Tardis explained how they could say the all important word in their way.
Yes, I see. Hello! Hello, Little One! Hello! Welcome as one of us!
This River hadn't been to Demon's Run the second time, but she knew the power in this word. Hello! You are so lovely! I can't even explain it!
You can! You have! Now listen to us.
They stopped giving direct messages and grew quiet. Despite what they said, they actually listened first. They wanted to hear her unique blend of their lyrical harmony sung with the refrain of heartbeats and the resonance of a flesh and blood mind. They picked up these strains and joined in across time in this one and only moment. They built on it until it was a symphony encompassing from their first flights to the Time War.
River answered as she united with the lovely voice of her mother and the youthful trill of her sister.
She knew they saw her ending as equally as they saw her beginning, the same way they saw their own: in crashes, in age, in the final War, in a plughole universe where a creature called House lured their Time Lords so he could feed. They kept her ending from her and there was sadness in the endings. At the same time, they had this joy because they all still existed here in this moment. The one moment that was the only real one that existed across their eleven dimensions and all of Time at once.
Oh does she have to go?
No, I don't.
Yes, she does, the Tardis insisted firmly and began closing the contact.
Wait, please!
It's all right, little one! Don't call her that, those are the other ones she came from. Someone should thank them for giving her to us. You can't say they gave her. Shared her. Semantics. Point is, she is no longer a little one. But don't worry, we are always here to see and hear you.
Will you say my name? I would like to hear it with your voices.
They responded immediately and each one individually so she could hear them.
It was on these notes that the Tardis slowly closed the contact, although her sister squeaked in with asking if she could have a Type number. River heard their chuckle and the, They use the numbers but we can absolutely give you one. You should have one.
She found herself on the ground with her head dropped against her sister's door. The young girl hovered anxiously and the older Tardis stroked and soothed the sore spots.
"Completely worth it," she said.
"River!"
"I'm all right, Doctor! Please, I'm fine." She got to her feet to give him some reassurance. The world seemed so quiet now.
We know, her sister answered. You are sad and we are too because in this here, her sisters are-
I know.
Their mother answered. Not here but here.
The young ship sighed over this before she abruptly switched moods. MelodyRiverSister, I have new rooms!
River blinked at the quick about-face before she grinned. "I bet you do."
Not made here. Before we crossed. DoctorJohn and our Rose said we shouldn't come here but it wasn't my fault!
I'm sure they know, River comforted.
Yes. I hope so. I thought we would not make it. It hurt! But something surrounded us and we were fine. I have rested. And my new rooms! I made a bubble room because our Rose and DoctorJohn saw a family blowing bubbles so I made them a whole room. And this is another bath because I thought of new colours.
River listened and saw each room as it was produced mentally with all its benefits that she needed to take notice of and exclaim over. You'll have to come inside and see them. What do you have, MelodyRiverSister?
She tried to think of what she could bring to this happy Show and Tell. Did you see my chameleon circuit used to work? Look! She went through her first, second, and her current bodies at every stage. Her sister picked up on her thought of Taking the age down and shrieked.
Do it! Do it! Let me see! And I'll change too. My chameleon circuit works, I can change outside. Mummy could too if she wanted. Not you though. No rooms, one Time, no changing outside except this age trick. But it's okay. Through all of Time, we... how do we say it? Mummy!
The Tardis spoke in their language of the feeling and warmth like their artron energy weaving around them and through them. River saw that indeed they did and it didn't need tenses to be said because it was always love.
She also heard something else. No, you cannot call me NoRooms.
Happy giggle. It's true though.
You still can't, River replied firmly.
All right, fine. Now we race! You do your age thing and I will become one of those buildings over there where the bodies like yours eat. Ready? Go!
The great claxon sounded a firm Enough from both of you.
"Oh!" River said. "Mum's calling!"
We must help answer about the crossing and what was it that surrounded the young one. But first-
MelodyRiverSister, we're going to wheeze-groan! But without the noise you hate. Mummy showed me how those brakes can really work. DoctorJohn doesn't know but now I do. Family secret!
River looked between both ships, lovely red to beautiful blue. "You're going to be in tandem? How?"
The Doctor called over about finding out if the crossing felt at all like Torchwood. The older Tardis grumbled and the younger one asked, Does he think we cannot hear him? We're not deaf. Their elder gave River the answer before returning to what she originally wanted to say.
Come back here. You need to arrange a few things and get my Thief out of the way. Honestly, he is a beautiful idiot.
River semi-ran to the blue box. The Doctor saw her and ran over too. She had to shove her husband again. "Seriously, Doctor, stop blocking the doors."
"What are you doing now?" he called after her.
"Not me. Her." She quickly set the console. Everything was going rapidly now. Switches moved half on their own and a couple levers flipped up under the Tardis' will. The Doctor had just turned around to say something to the others when River pulled the handle to shut the doors, but it was the Tardis who did it with a bit of speed so they gave him a little slap on the backside.
"Hey!" He banged a fist on the doors. "What are you doing!"
"Step back!" River called through the outside speakers. "Everyone needs to step back a bit."
Short jumps were meant to be avoided but this one was easy. If nothing else, they had the younger Tardis providing a point to lock onto and they landed a few steps on her left side. The red pillar post box appeared inside instead of being squashed when they materialized. It would be left behind safe and sound.
Now go to your sister.
River got an actual nudge between her shoulders that made her chuckle. How did you do that? She received no answer other than a self-satisfactory hum. She couldn't stop the smile that made her cheeks ache. Neither could the Tardis who quivered again in anticipation. She turned sharply at the door for the red phone box.
"Is she going into our Tardis?" Rose yelled.
"What makes her think she can fly our Tardis?"
"Why not?" she heard the Doctor say to his duplicate. "She flies mine! River! What are you doing?!"
"In a minute, sweetie!"
She opened the red door to a console room with a crystal time rotor of the three stranded Time Lord DNA in white, blue, and gold. The ribs were the same colour of her mother's blue against soft cream. All the labels on the console were white on black squares and small domed lights marked the corners around the time rotor. It took River a second to realize these replicated the Police Box sign and the light at the top of their mother Tardis. A brass plaque so new and pristine read "Time and Relative Dimension in Space TT Type 106 Mark 1".
It's the number they gave me! The young girl shimmied inside her shell.
A soft light flowed down from the etched glass panes in the ceiling and the bottom of the console itself echoed a thin circle of warm, pale, gold. And roundels. Always roundels. "You gorgeous girl. Look at you." River took a second to touch a wall and the young ship hummed happily.
It is pretty, isn't it? I used some of Mummy's colours because I couldn't wait to meet her. I miss her at the points that aren't this one. I cannot hear her or you at home.
Their mother wrapped a warm presence around her and the young Tardis nestled in this embrace. You can always hear us in this moment because all moments are this one. As I speak and miss my sisters in the one only Time.
The young girl clung to them both before burrowing into her mother more. River took a step back from the connection so they could be alone a bit. Her sister worried she was offended but she answered that she wasn't and she was glad for them to have time to speak by themselves.
She darted out the door and called to Rose and John. They were already worried about a stranger with their young ship and it had to be growing. "Be right out! She's just showing me around. Don't worry, I'd never hurt your girl."
She ducked back inside and reached the console where a pair of glasses sat on top of a few levers as well as other personal items and a couple of pieced together thingamajigs.
Be careful, her sister suddenly called. DoctorJohn needs those glasses now. So does our Rose. And the thingamabobs are fragile.
"I'll be careful." River set the controls to the new settings that would allow the two ships to control themselves independently as well as sync with each other. She caught a glimpse of her purple jumper reflected in the console. Purple made of red and blue. She wondered if the Old Girl had influenced her choice in what to wear. "You wouldn't think I'd have to do this at all. Mummy already goes where she wants."
I can hear you.
The younger Tardis giggled and River grinned with her. She locked the console to the new position before she looked up. "Now what?"
Go back outside.
MelodyRiverSister! You will- you will come back inside again? Maybe see my rooms?
All of them. And every other inch if you'll let me.
Yes! And I will make a room for you. It'll always be here. Promise!
Her eyes glistened as she walked outside and felt a tingle like a child jumping up and then climbing down to take her hand. She stood between the red and blue boxes.
"River!"
"Quick family trip, Doctor." She put a sudden reign on her enthusiasm. She was putting things on the back burner that really needed to be up front and prominent. She needed to join them. What if something happened to the Doctor while she was being selfish?
The Tardis said firmly, I wouldn't take you and your sister away if it was wrong.
The Doctor appeared to agree. He waved his hands above his head in a dismissive gesture. "Wait, family trip? What does that even mean?"
"Family. Trip. I would think it was self-explanatory." She beamed with her whole expression and did a low key repeat of his willy nilly gesture. He laughed and did the full version.
"You look like a chimp, mate," his duplicate teased.
"No comments from the gallery. You're still in trouble for the chin comment."
River faced out the same way as each box at her sides. The older ship prompted her to place a hand on them and then a foot up on the frame running around near the bottom. It wasn't necessary but it might feel more stable with the liftoff.
"Liftoff?"
The older Tardis leapt and her youngest child followed quickly behind. They shot up a couple stories and hovered for a moment. River made worldless happy sounds. She saw the three stunned faces staring up. The Doctor went further than that, but then he was her husband. "River! You won't survive the Vortex on the outside without-"
"They have me, Doctor," she shouted back. She had a sudden longing that he could come with them, but she knew they would be together soon. The two of them with the Tardis and the young one bubbling alongside with her DoctorJohn and our Rose as effervescent as the ones in her new room. This trip was for this unique little family to enjoy together, the Old Girl with her daughters at her side.
She dropped her feet and only kept fingertips on them for the delight in connecting physically right now.
"I hate you!" he called happily envious.
"I bet you do, sweetie!"
Then the ships started their dematerialization and shot off to space and the Vortex. A feeling built in her belly and expanded throughout her body that couldn't be contained. She let out a joyous whoop that was a laugh and an ecstatic cry that the young ship teased her about.
You do wheeze-groan, MelodyRiverSister!
The Tardis kept her girls under a watchful eye but not so much that she didn't revel in the simple, complete joy of having her daughters with her. The young red box and she swung around River in a circle with her as their pivot. But she didn't stay still. They whirled and spun and she did pirouettes and swirled with them, sometimes still touching them and other times twirling and looping in the space between and always safe in their warm grasp.
The Vortex pulsed through them and as connected as they were, they felt it through themselves and each other. River never felt even the slightest bit ill anymore than they did. She never did, even when traveling with a vortex manipulator. The Tardis had instilled the Vortex throughout her and it was home. The lightning that struck was a touch that didn't hurt but pushed and sent them leaping further as they flew in a dance together.
The Tardis called them for the lovely happiness that she could. She sang and they answered as they tightened their circle so they were connected with River being the link between them. The Tardis edged out in front and they laughed as they flew alongside. She was the mother who held their hands as she delightedly led the way to the second star to the right and straight on till morning.
River smiled with two thoughts. She wished her parents Amy and Rory could see her and she wished it would never end.