Doctor Who and the Traveler

By: Abby Ebon

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. PS I don't own any of the Pendragon books by D. J. MacHale either…

He did wonder something though, where had those others, who had left her when they had gotten her power gone?

Semit indeed went to her children; Rose had placed them in the same room as Jay refused to be parted from Shinrai -especially in a strange place. It may have been strange to Jay, but Semit found it perfect.

The TARDIS was pleased with her appearance and hummed in the back of her mind. Semit seldom got such a warm welcome from anything- human or otherwise.

She relished in it.

The Travelers had built and entombed their souls in machines just like the TARDIS. So truly Semit was not the last, but she was the last with a body. Semit understood that while she had sensed the Doctor, what she truly sensed was the TARDIS.

TARDIS was loyal to the Doctor, though it was the Doctor's longest companion it understood the Doctor's need for physical contact- that wasn't in the form of a ship.

In a way TADIS had pulled Semit into it for the same reason Semit had risked her life, and the lives of her children, to find another of her kind. The TARDIS understood this and more.

It was truly more aware then any of the Doctor's companions had ever known. It was subtlety mentally linked to all that entered it- but none more so then the Doctor.

The TARDIS in its own way had questioned her mentally- knowing she could communicate best that way, which was why she had reacted to it the way she had when she had awoken.

Because the Travelers and Time Lords were cousin races they could communicate telepathically. But it took much more effort then linking to their own race- even humans or the other 'lesser' races were easier to read. The TARDIS 'told' her this and explained that that was the reason it rarely 'spoke' to the Doctor- though he was aware of the TARDIS's soul.

All this passed between the two as Semit went to her children's room. Rose met her on the way just was spooked by the blankness in Semit's green eyes and sped up to pass her. Something, the TARDIS (though she didn't know this), told her that Semit would find her way to the children.

She entered and found herself enveloped in a tight hug from Shinrai, while Jay looked on a slight smile on his lips. Semit patted Shinrai's head and the young girl pulled away.

"What did he want?" Jay asked suddenly all seriousness. Semit raised an eyebrow amused at Jay's usual mood. Jay sensed this and blushed but his eyes remained on Semit, and finally Semit gave in to them, as she always had.

We are welcome. Told him how we met. He understands. There was relief in her mind voice broken and chipped as it was from non-use, even with them, who she had to slow her thoughts and concepts for.

Jay felt a surge of jealously, which he quickly hid from Semit.

For as long as they had known her, Semit had been their 'mother'. He hated the thought of sharing her- or gaining more members in their 'family', he liked it as it was- with his sister, Semit, and himself.

Tell us about the star- signs and travel-paths again? Shinrai asked broadcasting to both of them. Even Jay felt the jealously overwhelmed by his curiosity.

Semit needed no way to go between dimensions; she simply touched them sung in a jumble of mixed notes. These were unlike anything either of them had ever heard- or were likely to ever hear again, and then they arrived in a different place.

She had let it slip that there was a way for them to leave a place without her- and she had told them she would tell them more when they were ready. Gradually she had told them- and shown them, places with a star drawn near the tunnels that led to different worlds. All these places were underground, hidden from the world above.

She also told them that her former 'children' knew of these places and used them frequently. So far neither of them had ever met another of her 'children', but Jay swore if he ever did he'd tear them apart for hurting Semit.

To use…flume, call name of territory. Semit spoke, the two glanced at each other in confusion.

They had never heard of her refer to the travel-paths in such a manner, but it fit their way of thinking. A flume was a 'chute' to another world after all. Nor had she used the word 'territory' in reference to the worlds and dimensions they visited.

It occurred to them that Semit for lack of words they understood was falling back to things and names she knew to give names to things they didn't have words for. They knew some of the 'names of territories' so that at least made since. Neither questioned it, it was just the way Semit was.

Both sent their acceptance and thankfulness to her. In return she sent them the 'feeling' of sleep- they sent reluctant acceptance but did as she had 'told' them.

Semit herself did not sleep she had much to think on. She knew they would start to find her power had effected more then their hair- her previous 'children' had had many abilities- to communicate mind to mind with everything not just her and themselves.

Some were able to manipulate a person by silent persuasiveness. Both she sensed Jay had- what scared her was that she knew his gifts worked even on her. There was nothing she could do to stop this- her 'gifts' could not be taken back.

There was more her gifts could do- they could change the way people saw you by mental power, or even physically morph themselves. All these things she could do, her gifts even prolonged their lives- and she wasn't certain how long for none in all her two decades of spreading her gifts among the ten territories they hadn't died.

And she would know when they died- her mind would brake the link to them to protect her and the power she lost in them would come back- even if they had breed and their powers were passed to their children.

So though her children were not 'true' Travelers in the since of her race they were powerful, but still bound to certain limits. They could only go to ten territories- though they didn't know this as she had taken them to five worlds, and explored them till there was nothing left to explore.

And they could only go by flume if she was not with them, but even she couldn't take them out of the ten territories they were bound to. As it had been for every 'gifted' of the Travelers, but the Travelers themselves were not bound to those limits.

They could go to anywhere or any when, which was why it was hard for Semit to answer the Doctor truthfully. Because even she did not know if there were others beyond her range of sensing, but she doubted there were, and despaired at this not knowing.

The TARDIS interrupted her depressing monologue, reminding her that it was there for her. That there was another who she could share the grief of not knowing if she was the last (as sure as she was that she was the last she still did not know), The TARDIS pleaded for her to go to the Doctor and Semit obeyed.

Semit rose and the TARDIS opened the doors for her, both were unaware of Jay's gaze following her out. The Doctor looked up from his position slouched in a chair, he smiled when he saw Semit.

Rose? Semit sought, not seeing his companion.

Asleep, of course, and your children? The Doctor answered and questioned, as was in his nature, she sent the 'feeling' of sleep, and he understood.

The Doctor had a very real question though. He had wondered at how Travelers 'gifted' others- for in the Time Lord society it was a unspoken rule that those any of them turned must be approved by the council (to ensure this it was kept secret) so he had never learned how it was done.

As there was no subtle way for the Doctor to bring it up he settled for bluntness.

How did you make Jay and Shinrai yours? The Doctor only hoped that he had been clear and from the expression on Semit's face he had been.

Sure, you are, that you want this knowledge? They can never be our race, only changed to our likeness. It was the clearest she had ever been, and the Doctor could only swallow and nod.

First blend blood, yours with theirs. Then give something of yours. My people's tears are stone, set in a ring let our gifted bearers communicate with each other- and us. The Doctor nodded to show he understood while his mind churned with thoughts.

He remembered an ancient text in his youth saying the Travers had taught the Time Lords how to give other races gifts and powers like their own. But nothing could confirm that as the Travers were gone- but hearing her he believed them for it brought up echoes of ancient lessons taught to his ancients.

Beware if they die- or have children, you will know it and feel what they do. And with that final warning Semit left him to think, going back to her children.