Evie's TARDIS Diary: Planet 84
Age: 13
Location: Planet 84, Ontipax System
Date: 342
We hadn't visited an alien planet for a while so that's where the Doctor suggested we went next. Mum and I had been with him in the TARDIS for a while. I have no idea why, but one day he just turned up and announced that he wanted us to go with him.
He never questions the fact that I live at Stormcage with Mum. She apparently told him when I was younger that I was the youngest prisoner at the facility and as Mum was a woman they decided that I should be put with her. They assumed that she would be maternal and raise me. Mum says the Doctor found this assumption funny and she ended up punching him because he wouldn't stop laughing.
Anyway, I was sitting in the doorway of the TARDIS with the doors flung wide open and my legs dangling into the blackness below. I love just sitting and staring out at the universe. Mum was a little nervous at first, but the Doctor assured her that the field around the TARDIS would make sure I wouldn't just float off into Space.
"Well knowing you it wouldn't surprise me at all!" River exclaimed behind the teenager, making her jump. "You're so accident prone sometimes I wouldn't put it past you to just topple out."
"Mum!" Evie almost shrieked. "Could you please NOT stand behind me and read what I'm writing. You can see it when I'm finished."
With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, the woman walked away, leaving her daughter in peace for once.
"How would you like to see a new Planet, Evie?" The Doctor asked, settling himself on the ground beside me, his legs dangling into the darkness beside mine. I turned to face him, smiling. "I'll take that as a yes, shall I?"
"Yes! Do you even need to ask?" I said, grinning at him. Behind me I could hear Mum huffing slightly at not being including in these plans.
"Right… there's somewhere I want you to see… It's called Planet 84." He said, leaping off the ground and heading towards the console. Reluctantly I dragged myself away from the stars and planets outside the doors and closed them firmly. "It's in the Ontipax System. Just before Planet 85 and about 3000 miles after –"
"Planet 83?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. He grinned and nodded. "Inventive."
"Well, yes, the natives aren't the most imaginative people in the universe, but they make an amazing cheesecake!" The Doctor said laughing.
"What are they called?" I asked, curiously. "The natives of Planet 84?"
"Queegs."
"That's not how you spell Quejes." River said nonchalantly. Evie threw one of her shoes at her mother, who ducked and grinned.
"Quejes? Why?"
The Doctor shrugged. "Who knows! Why are the Sontarans called Sontarans or you Humans called Humans?"
"Well the Sontarans are from Sontar… that makes more sense than the Quejes from Planet 84." I pointed out grinning. He rolled his eyes.
"Always making things difficult, aren't you?"
"It's what I'm here for."
He rolled his eyes theatrically. "Can't you control your child?" He asked Mum. "On the other hand, considering the only adult influences she's ever had… it's no wonder the poor girl's ended up so annoying."
Mum rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the console scanner, before she threw something at him. I knew the expression on her face so well.
"So, Sweetie, what's on this planet apart from 'amazing cheesecake'?" Mum asked, arching an eyebrow. "Nothing dangerous, I hope."
"Well… as long as we stay away from the Molten Lava Pits and the carnivorous Lilix plants we should be absolutely fine." He said casually, flipping switches and moving levers. I glanced at Mum, who looked horrified, and snorted with laughter. Since when had a trip with the Doctor ever been risk free?
x-x
As soon as the TARDIS landed I was out; stepping onto a soft, blue, sand-like surface. The substance seemed to be their version of soil and stretched away as far as I could see. Tall, orange stemmed plants waved slightly as we passed them, despite the lack of breeze. The Doctor grabbed my arm and yanked me sideways as one of these Lilix plants made a sudden grab for me. A couple of creatures scuttled across the ground in front of us. They looked like miniature red and yellow badgers.
The Doctor lead the way towards a settlement. Everything was made of a strange, blue material. It shone like metal but it had a strange, almost soft, texture. In the light it seemed to sparkle. The Doctor informed us that it was called Quejionite and, despite its appearance and feel was one of the strongest and most enduring materials in the Ontipax system.
"So, where's this cheesecake then?" I asked as we entered an area that seemed to be where the shops were.
"This way… the best café around." The Doctor informed us, leading the way. Exchanging a look, Mum and I followed silently.
The Quejes were humanoids. They were smaller than humans, however. I'm short, but they were at least a head shorter than me. Their faces had the same, blue tinged sparkly appearance as the Quejionite and their hair was bright orange like the stems of the Lilix plants.
"Good evening." A waiter said as we entered the dimly lit building. The Doctor chatted to him for a moment before we were shown to a table in front of a large glass window. As I sat down my eyes fell on a large, red pool.
"What's that?" I asked the Doctor, pointing at it. He smiled.
"That's one of the famous Molten Lava Pits." He informed us. Mum and I exchanged yet another look. "I think that one is known as Blawnog. Did you know that the Molten Lava Pits are a huge source of income for the Quejes? Not only are they a massive tourist site, they also provide a lot of jobs. For instance…"
I tuned out as the Doctor went into a long ramble about the merits of the pools of bright, boiling liquid. The Queje waiter soon brought our order and I tucked into my possi fruit cheesecake. It was delicious; sweet and sour in equal measures, just how it should be. Mum, boringly, went for chocolate while the Doctor, awkward as always, asked for a custom made fish finger cheesecake. I shook my head as he took his first bite, obviously delighted.
"That's so gross." I complained, watching with horrified fascination as he wolfed his desert down. He just grinned, showing me the contents of his mouth. "YOU are gross."
"Doctor, sir." The waiter said, reappearing at their side before the Time Lord could respond. "I regret that I was unable to make space on the next Lava Tour for you and your party."
Mum looked absolutely horrified at the idea of a Lava Tour, but the Doctor looked disappointed. He sighed and shrugged.
"Never mind. And I told you before, don't call me sir!" As the waiter nodded and hurried away, the Doctor turned to us, looking apologetic. "Sorry… that would have been so interesting."
"Oh… never mind." Mum said, unconvincingly disappointed. "At least you tried. Besides… I noticed a lovely little jewellery shop back there… maybe we could take a look at that before we leave?"
The Doctor grinned, through down some money on the table and we left the café, heading in the direction Mum had pointed. She seemed to have memorised exactly where the jewellery shop was and within a couple minutes were standing outside a small shop. The window contained a display of beautiful jewellery; either made of polished Quejionite or hardened Lava from the famous pits.
It took a long time for Mum to decide what she wanted, but finally we left the shop. The Doctor looked absolutely exhausted. Mum was thrilled with her sparkling blue Quejionite earrings. They drew the colour out of her eyes, making them shine even more brightly than normal. The Doctor had also bought me a present; a deep orange Lava bangle. Apparently they were supposed to bring good luck to the wearer, so I've got my fingers crossed on that one.
On our way back to the TARDIS the Doctor suggested going to check whether there were any seats on any of the other Lava Tours. Mum suddenly decided that she had a headache and desperately needed a lie down. With a grin I followed the pair of them back to the police box. Mum shot me a wink over her shoulder and a look which clearly said 'I'm not risking anything stupidly dangerous', allowing the Doctor to wrap and arm around her waist and 'help' her along the path. They never changed.
"Alright, mother." Evie said, putting down her pen and swivelling to face River. The woman put on her most innocent face and smiled. "I've finished if you want to read it?"
"Oh… thank you, honey." Her mother said, reaching out a hand and taking the small blue diary. She read the first line and sighed. "You really need to work on your handwriting… it's almost as messy as the Doctor's."
Evie let out a sharp exhalation of breath and smiled sarcastically. "Thanks."
Hello sweeties! Thank you very much for all the comments etc again! It means so SO much to know that you guys are enjoying it! :D
This is just a quick note to say that I'm away until Sunday night, so there won't be any updates until at least then... or maybe Monday! We'll see! :)
