Chapter 4
"Here we go, off into space and time." The Doctor leapt into a chair and spun around.
"I know you don't like to do is, but I'm gonna ask anyway."
He laughed sheepishly at her. "What is it that is so bold?"
"Could I have a try with the TARDIS?" She saw his fixed stare. "Er, please? Pretty please?"
"Well, I let Donna have a go, you can't be any worse."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Lily set off and darted around the TARDIS. The DOCTOR cringed as he watched her. "Oy! I see that!"
"Where are you taking us? Do you have any idea?"
Lily laughed. "Haven't the foggiest." Again a groan. "Never got to ask that question much yourself, eh mister control freak?"
"Who- Where are you taking us?" He did his best to smile.
"Exactly where you need to be."
"How would you manage that?" His eyes widened in surprise as he saw how calm his TARDIS was while Lily was in control. He was vaguely reminded of River, but this girl was much different. Lily hit a big blue-like button and the loud whooshing of the TARDIS stopped. The smile on her face was worth a million dollars. Or Pounds, he should say.
He took one of the monitors and dialled a few numbers. A sandy, dark beach below a grey cliff came into view. Now his reminiscing of River did not seem much of a coincidence. He had been here before. It wasn't exactly the same; the Byzantium was now less vast and greener. There were flowers on the ship now, or at least colour that made it look like flowers. With humans, you can't be sure. They're funny little beings, humans. Then he looked at Lily. She looked human enough. She was emotional, so she would be completely human. At least…
"What's the matter, Doctor? Did I do it wrong? Should we go?"
He looked at her again. She did remind him of Rose a little, but there was something else: she was completely her own. He now thought that this might be the reason she came so far.
"No, it's fine. It's perfect." He headed for the doors of the TARDIS and stepped out into the salty air. Lily followed him closely, her backpack on her back, ready for travel. "It's done a good job. River should be proud." River? Is that a name?
She looked around, frantic. "Blimey, this is another planet, not some Norwegian coast." A pang of guilt shot through the Doctor. Lily seemed to realise what she had said, for she added, "I'm sorry."
The Doctor walked towards the cliffs looming overhead. "All right, then. Let's go", and Lily hurried after him.
"You've been here before, haven't you?" He looked at her, puzzled. "You seem to know exactly where you need to go. You're not showing any trace of wandering about." He remained quiet, so Lily fell silent in disappointment. The silence was charged with the awkwardness she so dreaded. They walked right up to the cliff and stared up at the grassy mound on top of it.
"Last time, I saw the weeping angels here," he finally said. The Doctor casted Lily a glance, and saw her looking up at the Byzantium with amazement.
"Oh, they creep me out," she said. "Are they up there?"
"No need to worry." Lily sighed with relief. "There's much worse up there now."
"Great."
"Doctor!" a voice cried from above. A lone figure stood waving at them.
"It's time to begin our first adventure together, Lily Smith."
With some help from his friend on the ship, they reached the top of the cliffs and were led into the Byzantium. In what looked like an atrium, a small group of people were standing in a circle, surrounding a pillar of light, and one woman was facing them, smiling at the Doctor. Her smile faltered slightly when she set eyes on Lily, and Lily wondered why; they hadn't even met yet.
"My sweet!" The woman embraced the Doctor. My Sweet? Why would she-?
The Doctor disregarded her comment, but did smile at her before asking "why did you need me, River?" A-ha! So it was a name! The Doctor and River kept talking for a while, until Lily was sucked back into their conversation upon hearing River raise her voice.
"Why would you just let her rip a hole in the universe, and then adopt her as your companion; she committed a crime against time!" Lily definitely wanted to see this. The other people in the atrium were backing out. "This girl- she ripped a hole, for crying out loud, in the universe!" Now Lily felt insulted. The Doctor did nothing but look defiantly onto River's face. River stopped the verbal attack and stayed quiet.
Unable to retain her hurt feelings, Lily blurted "Who are you?" not caring for her rudeness, as this woman did nothing to justify her character.
"Doctor River Song. You are Lily Smith."
"I am-"
"I know who you are."
"I don't think you do."
River chose to ignore Lily. "Tell me, my sweet, how could you?" River was definitely pleading now.
"Hey! You've got to get your facts straight before you go and insult people."
River raised her posture and turned to Lily. "A bit hypocritical, don't you think?"
"Well, my sweet, I don't care who or what you are, but you have no right going off at him like that. And you don't even know who I am!"
"You jeopardised our existence!"
"No, I haven't!" Lily shrieked back.
"She hasn't." The Doctor stood next both women, his face lit up with anger as he looked at River with fiery eyes.
"How could she not? She crossed from a parallel universe!"
"River, calm down. Listen!" He took her firmly by the shoulders. "She's from a parallel world which runs ahead of our world. Her technology- "he glanced sideways at Lily – "her technology allowed her to safely pass. No rips conjured, no canons, just a temporary veil where time and space are naturally weak. Temporarily weak, before sealing off."
River panted slightly and looked at Lily, who had her vision locked on the Doctor. "How did you know? I didn't tell you that yet."
"The TARDIS."
A look of dawning comprehension appeared on Lily's face. "She let me fly her and she didn't buck us off."
"That means you are meant to be on the TARDIS."
Tears welled up in Lily's eyes, but she fought them back, unwilling to become overemotional with him. She began to see the impact of what she has done, and didn't feel guilt, but did feel discontent.
"But then: Who are you?" asked River, still gaping at Lily who gave the Doctor a pleading look.
"We'll get to that. And we'll discuss River when we're back in the TARDIS, Lily." Both women nodded obediently. "All you need to know now, is that you both are important and essential people at this very moment." River gave lily a rather sceptical look, but nodded in accordance.
Lily heaved her backpack further up and followed the Doctor into the heart of the Byzantium, feeling River's reproving eyes looking back at her ever so often.
