I had been searching for my Doctor, jumping from dimension to dimension... helping where I could before leaving to continue my search.
My name is Rose Tyler... and today is the day I destroyed the multiverse.
###
River Song grinned as she got back out into an adventure. Don't get her wrong, she loved living on Darillium with the Doctor but it was nice to occasionally get out on her own. Still, for some reason the Doctor seemed nervous. She couldn't figure why. Since they settled into their life of Domestic bliss she had, on occasion, left home to do a job.
She promised the Doctor she would call one of his younger selves to assist her. Each time she left she would go on an adventure with his younger self well the real him would stay home with their daughter. Still the Doctor seemed... off... like he didn't want her to go on this particular mission... yet he dare not stop her. Time Paradoxes and all that. Whatever was about to happen, it was going to be bad.
River smiled, the worse it got the more she loved it. She held up her sonic screwdriver, sending out her space / time coordinates, calling her Doctor... she had no idea how wrong it was about to go.
###
The Doctor, a young man in an old man's body, clutched his left heart as something appeared in a flash of light.
"Good lord." The Doctor gasped, "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"
A young blonde girl was collapsed on the floor, clearly unconscious.
"What is it Grandfather?" Susan blinked from her spot at the controls.
"Dear Child, we appear to have an uninvited guest." The Doctor gave a playful huff before looking at the woman. "Based on the light spectrum her entrance caused, and the taste of the distortion, I would reckon our visitor popped in from another dimension."
He went over to her, feeling for a pulse. Needless to say he was relieved to find it strong and steady.
Susan looked at the controls, pressing a few buttons, "That's right Grandfather. I am picking up a clear distortion in the rift around her, and a Message. Poor dear, she appears to have gotten caught in a temporal distress call and it threw both of them off course. Whoever the message was trying to reach, we got it instead."
"A distress call?" The Doctor blinked, "Best route it to the Time Agents then. It's their job to deal with such matters."
"Yes, but Grandfather, it's addressed to you."
The Doctor's eyes widened, "Why would anyone send ME a distress call. We left Gallifrey not an hour ago?"
"Think it's some of the rebels? Maybe we aren't the only ones who got out?" Susan theorized, then near begged, "We need to go see, Grandfather. We owe them that."
The young man put a wrinkled hand to his face, "It could be a trap. The High Command-"
"The High Command doesn't even know we are the ones to steal this TARDIS." Susan reminded.
The Doctor quickly countered, "I thought you said it wasn't sent to us. How could it possibly have my name?... unless it was sent to a future incarnation... and they didn't get it..." The Doctor realized.
The woman on the floor suddenly stirred. Looking up at him, she gasped the second her eyes came into focus, "Doctor? You're- you're THE Doctor, the first regeneration. I've seen pictures of you!"
The Doctor raised an eyebrow as he helped the woman to her feet, "Well that is flattering my dear, keep in mind I am not YOUR Doctor. Though that would explain how you bumped into the message. If both you and it were trying to locate the me of this universe you must have collided when you crossed paths."
"Yes," The young blonde rubbed one of her eyes with her palm. Shaking her head, as if to banish the disorientation she felt. She looked over at the Doctor, "Yes, that makes sense. Seems whatever dimension your from you catch on quick. Maybe you can help me."
The Doctor blinked, "Quite a lot of people seem to want my help today."
The girl smiled, "If you're anything like my Doctor, you'll get used to it. Rose, Rose Tyler." she extended her hand
The Doctor smiled, shaking it, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. That is my granddaughter, Susan."
Rose gaped, "You have a granddaughter! But that mean you would have had to have a daughter and a... a wife..."
"Did I not in your reality?" The Doctor puzzled, more interested in the theories behind the interdimensional differences then the more troubling implications. Though he was recently seperated from his spouse
"You never mentioned it." Rose shook her head again, "I suppose that is too be expected. Not like your life would be exactly the same in every universe."
The Doctor smiled, "I believe you wanted my help. I take it I am somekind of respectable scholar in your universe."
"Something like that but a bit off the mark." Rose smiled, "Best I leave it at that as to not alter your fate, time travel and all that."
"My dear nothing you could tell me could effect my future in any way. You are from another reality all together. My destiny is not that of my counterpart's." The Doctor smiled.
"Still, let's skip that bit, just in case." Rose insisted.
The Doctor sighed in disappointment, "Very well. Now what can I be of assistance with?"
"Grandfather, what about the distress call?" Susan brought up again.
"Haven't you sent it to the Time Agents yet?"
"You got a distress call?" Rose looked eager.
Susan shrugged, "I'm afraid it's what you collided with on entrance to our universe."
The Doctor shook is head, "If the message was intended for our future, then the last thing we want is to interfere."
"But your future didn't get it." Susan tried. "And if they wanted the Time Agents to know about it they would have sent the message to them in the first place."
"Maybe it is the moment you are supposed to meet?" Rose tried.
"Most unlikely, Miss Tyler." The Doctor wagged a finger. "Dimensions aren't supposed to interact and if your collision is what sent the message off course then we most definitely aren't suppose to get it."
Susan tried, "But a Doctor was supposed to get it, and they didn't. Surely it be better that we answer the call."
The Doctor sighed, "Once again I find myself surrounded by bleeding hearts. We couldn't go, even if we wanted. The TARDIS navigation-"
"Is knackered," Rose grinned. "I can show you a few tricks to get around that. On the condition we go help these people afterwards."
###
The Doctor was amazed. This girl really knew her way around a TARDIS. She showed him a machine, in one of the deeper rooms, which could grow any parts he needed to repair the ship.
They quickly got to work on that. Seeing as the Doctor got this TARDIS out of a repair shop, it needed a good bit of work.
She also redesigned the controls to make them more user friendly... by giving the TARDIS, herself, more control. The navigation was already "knackered" but this new setup seemed to work with that.
"You know a lot about TARDIS design, young lady." The Doctor observed as they worked on installing a few new buttons to the console.
"It's mostly my Torchwood training." Rose explained, "I picked up a little technical know how from the Doctor, my Doctor, but I didn't really understand WHY most of these circuits did what they did until I began working for my dimension's Torchwood. For the past few decades they have been all about bettering life of the United Earth Republic. In that dimension, a proper global government was established after World War 2. They are a lot nicer then my native dimension's version of Torchwood, which just killed all aliens that entered our space and stole their tech." She gently slapped the console, "There ya go."
There was a loud hum.
"You're welcome, love." Rose smiled at the ceiling, then looked at the Doctor. "All systems repaired and upgraded, even gave it a bit of flare. Time to answer the destress call."
"But it's been days of repairs," Susan blinked, "Surely whoever called no longer needs our help... for better or for worse."
Rose smiled, wagging a finger, "Oh, but you forget. Time Machine." She song the last bit. "Now let's go, Sexy!" Rose started pressing buttons around the console. "Hold on!" She grinned as she flipped a leaver.
The whole ship started to shake. Susan and The Doctor grabbed hold of the Console, and quickly started pressing buttons of their own. The ship stabilized. It need at least 3 people steering to properly pilot it.
"You could have warned us!" Scolded the Doctor.
Rose smiled, "Sorry, I like the shaking."
###
Once the ship landed, Rose grinned, looking around... then frowned, "A library? Bit of a let down."
The Doctor huffed, "Nonsense, this is not 'a library', but rather 'The Library'. I have dreamed of visiting this place."
Susan smiled, before awing as she spotted something. She walked over to a balcony. "Grandfather!"
The deceptively old face smiled as he joined her.
Rose joined the awe, "Yeah, I take back my complaint." she insisted.
Outside were miles and miles of book shelves as tall as skyscrapers, each with various balconies.
"The Library." The Doctor grinned, "A large space station, the size of a planet. Resources from countless worlds were required to build it. The sheer number of forest cut down just too make it's books. It be shameful, if the Lux family hadn't make a point of planting a tree for each they cut down. Or how he only harvested metals from uninhabitable worlds and meteors. This station is not only a symbol of progress, but proof you don't have to tear things down in order to build others up. It is... a marvel... Who could possibly need help here?"
"It's a bit quiet, isn't it?" Susan noted.
"Library," Rose smiled.
"No," The Doctor frowned, "She has a point. We should be hearing hushed whispers. At the very least, the sound of breathing." He went over to a nearby terminal, pressing a few buttons, "No one's here."
"What, no one?" Rose blinked.
"There should be millions on any given day... but there's no one..." The Doctor frowned.
"Not even the people who called us?" Susan gulped. "Are we too late?"
"Calm my deer," The Doctor frowned, not pausing in his typing. "I'm picking up a ship coming into orbit. Let me hail them."
###
Anita blinked as she saw the little red light blinking, "We're... being hailed?" that was far from the first time their ship was hailed since she had been on an expedition... but it was the first time a supposedly dead planet tried to contact them.
River smiled, "How polite of him." She gave a little chuckle.
"You're expecting someone?" Strackman Lux bristled, "You promised me an exclusive expedition." he glared.
Their engineer, Other Dave, rolled his eyes. While Proper Dave, the first Dave hired on, scuffed. None of them had signed the waver for a private expedition, what self respecting archaeologist would sign away their rights to write papers on a dig? That defeated the entire purpose of being an Archeologist.
"Just the rest of my team." River waved off. While she had grown to like the team Mister Lux hired, in the weeks they had been traveling, this was her first time working with them.
"I didn't pay for."
"I paid for them." River lied, "So ease your nerves. Anita-" she called before Mister Lux could say anything further, "I'll take it in my quarters."
"Transfering the call."
###
River answered as soon as she got into her room. "Hello sweetie." she smiled, then frowned as she saw the face looking back at her... a face she had never seen in person, but knew so well.
The Doctor quickly gave his apologies at her shocked expression, then explained who he was and what happened to the message she sent.
"I see." River looked at the old wrinkled face... her heart tearing apart at the lack of recognition... this must be why the Doctor, her Doctor was so worried for her... "It's the first time I ever saw those eyes... and had them younger then my own..." she observed.
The Doctor huffed, grumpily, as if a mix of a child in an old man's body.
River sighed, "Sorry, I know your not one for sentiment... still I could use your help all the same. I'm an archeologist."
"Oh? They still have those in the 51st century." awed the medical student, as River was more comfortable thinking of this man child as that.
River gave a silk smile, despite her heart breaking. She had long dreaded the day she finally ran into the Doctor... on the day he didn't recognize her. "I do a bit of time traveling myself, for my trade, but occasionally I'm asked by a privateer to investigate ruins."
"Ah, oh yes, I suppose that IS how that would work." The Medical Student nodded, "I imagine we have run into each other a few times?"
River smiled, "Spoilers."
"What?" the man looked very confused by the slang... River could have collapsed to the floor, weeping from just that... at the implications that this Doctor truly knew nothing of her... not even the words he taught her.
Still she kept her silk mask in place. A sly smile firm on her face, "It means you'll have to wait for the surprises to come."
The Doctor sighed, "I suppose that is only fair. Perhaps it would be best if you tell me what the emergency is?"
"No emergency," River waved off. "I figured it might be nice if you helped me on a simple dig. I know how you love mysteries. This planet went dark a hundred years ago. It quarantined itself, which recently lifted. Whatever killed this planet is long dead."
The medical student slumped, looking truly crushed, "The Library was lost?"
"Our ultimate goal is to open it again." River explained, and watched as the man child immediately perked, "But first we need to discover what killed all those people."
"Right, of course, I will be glad to help! Nothing could be more important then reopening a galactic wonder!"
River couldn't stop her smile from becoming more sad, "I figured you would feel that way. Send me your coordinates, and we will meet you at the nearest docking port. See you soon, Sweetie."
River quickly hung up... just in time for the tears to fall. That may have been a bit rude to just cut the boy off... but The Doctor needn't see the damage. That is what is important. She would be strong during this. She would give the medical student a wonderful memory to cherish... for her Doctor's sake... she would be strong, but until she was in front of him... she would allow herself this moment of weakness.
Silently, she cried.
###
A/N:
River isn't all knowing and has no knowledge of how inter dimensional travel works so she doesn't realize Rose shouldn't be here. I also wanted River to take her moment of weakness, but then keep a strong front for the Doctor.
###
"You mean this isn't really happening?" Rose blinked.
"Of course it's happening." Susan smiled, happy to be discussing the differences in how the physics of their universes worked. The ladies were following the Doctor down the hall, just chatting amongst themselves, unaware of the dangers that lurked around them.
Susan explained, "Just not yet. Time travel. In this reality at least, is not truly possible. Each time you travel to the past, what you are actually doing is creating a pocket dimension. A dimension that has no effect on the reality it branched off from. Where as the future is an infinity of possibilities, all happening simultaneously. The Future can effect the present but not the past."
"With Gallifrey acting as the present." Rose speculated.
Susan grinned eagerly, "Exactly, Gallifrey is the oldest civilization ever to exist. In fact, it is the only known civilization to exist in our time. Most of the very planets, that will one day form, are still space dust. With Gallifrey and her two suns having evolved near the center of the universe as one of the first astral bodies. The first to develop life, as far as we know.
"The future however, that intrigues us. There are billions of trillions of possible planets that will one day develop life. The Time Lords of Gallifrey are happy to explore and record the possibilties, eagerly awaiting the day the next lifeforms evolve into the present.
"The future is always in motion, but there are fixed points that must always happen. Moments in history that intersect so frequently that they bind reality itself. If these moments are disturbed then the present, even the past, will be affected... and we are in one. We appear to be a part of it so we can't just run away. We have to be here... or rather, the Doctor has to be here. Me and you aren't. We are intruding on a fixed point. So just try to keep your head down and let reality play out as it's supposed to... that is easier said then done, I realize. Honestly it might be best if we wait for Grandfather in the TARDIS." she tried.
"I've handled fixed points before. Relax, I know, what I'm doing. Even fixed points have wiggle room. That is why things didn't go to hell when the wrong Doctor got the distress call."
Rose smiled eagerly as she looked back at her Tricorder, and showed the readings to Susan, "I'm more interested in this. I'm picking up some kind of radiation. It appears to be harmless but it infects every corner of this universe. I even took a long range scan while in the TARDIS. It is literally EVERYWHERE in this dimension."
Susan looked at the readings, then up at Rose, "That's nothing to worry about. It's the psychic energy of the Universe's conciousness."
Rose stopped, and the whole party stopped with her, "You mean to tell me... your universe... is ALIVE!"
Susan blinked, "Of course. All dimensions are. Your's might just be too young to be self aware yet. How can you be a dimension hopper and not know that?"
Rose blushed, "To be honest the universe I'm from only started dabbling in dimensional engineering a few years ago. We are still learning. only recently did we figure out how to safely travel between them without punching holes in the fabric of reality."
Susan nodded, interested. Then explained, "Well, to my understanding, the universe works like a living organism that is just more aware of us then we are of our cells. Each galaxy inside her is a different organ, with the planets and stars acting as her cells. The various creatures of the universe act as bacteria. We live in her, and can be either helpful or detrimental to her existence."
Rose nodded, "So these readings are basicly the brainwaves of the universe?"
"Not quite. More like the Magical signature of it's soul." Susan shrugged.
"SOUL!" Rose gaped, "You not only believe in souls but have proof of them!?"
Susan blinked. She pulled a short metal rod out of her pocket, and buzzed the older woman. The light at the tip of the rod lit up. Rose just stood patiently during this, recognizing a sonic screwdriver when she saw one. When she was done, the girl held the device to her ear... her eyes widening in shock. "You... you don't have a soul... at least not as we understand it."
"Not all universes run by the same laws," The Doctor informed from his place ahead of them. Encouraging the young ladies to follow him once again. The party got moving, with Susan and Rose thinking about their discoveries.
The girl did her best to steady herself.
"What exactly is your definition of a 'soul'." Rose tried.
"A soul is the electrical impulses your body uses to function. Your brain, or rather our brains, imprint on them. This energy continues on after your death, getting reincarnated. Then the energy effects the new brain as that brain imprints on it, and so on and so on. Until an individual learns how to survive without physical form. We call those Celestials and they eventually evolve into gods, after a few trillion years of experience and growing their magical power."
"Gods!? Even magic?" Rose gaped, "Mind you I have seen lots of things with magic like abilities, but the Doctor always gave it a scientific explanation."
"Magic is Science," Susan explained. "Magic, in our dimension, is a fundamental law of the universe. There is nothing supernatural about it, though it can scare primitive cultures. Magic is nothing more then a category of energy. It's radiation allows for both minor and extreme manipulation of physics. However, even how it does that has rules and limitations.
"Magic inhabits every sapient race. The very definition of Sapiens is a creature aware of mind and magic.
"Most humanoid races are listed as 'Intelligent Lifeforms' rather then acknowledged as truly sapient. Strictly due to their lack of magic, most humanoid races are considered pest. As a result, humanoids will be frequently used as slaves. Until they rebelled and eventually conquered a total of one thousand galaxies.
"The point is, magic, for us, is real, and firmly rooted in science. However, Time Lords don't typically study magic unless they are training to be a priest. Grandfather taught me a bit, as he was studying it due to his Class.
"That's quite enough Susan." The Doctor huffed, taking a break from arguing with the Data Pad he was holding, "No sense airing my dirty laundry."
"Sorry Grandfather."
Rose couldn't resist asking the Doctor, "So you went to school to study magic? To become a priest."
"Not willingly." The Doctor huffed, wanting to leave it at that but the Rose girl wasn't backing down with her questions. "Fine, I'll tell you. You see I was orphaned at a young age, where my Atypical magical manifestation was discovered. Like in those Dungeons and Dragons games humans play, some people are born with a 'Class'. I have a mage class with a Time Agent Archetype. That means I am more proficient with magic then most and don't even need a focus to cast spells. Where as my Time Agent abilities are rather self explanatory. They allow me to manipulate the flow of time, to a minor degree."
"Like Hiro Nakamura from the show heroes." Susan helpfully supplied. "Basically, Grandfather can accelerate his time stream to move at such fast speeds it appears time has stopped. As well as manipulate local time streams of others."
The Doctor huffed, "I try to avoid using that power, as it's a holy ability for holy men, which I have no interest in being. I take it your Doctor can't do that?"
"No... he can't..." Rose frowned. Then a soft smile touched her face, "He basically just talks clever. Then stumbles his way through lucky encounter after lucky encounter until the planet is saved."
The Doctor stopped, looking back at her, "He saves planets?"
Rose smiled, "Spoilers." then trotted off.
About an hour of walking later, The Doctor once again stopped, holding up a Data Pad in front of his face. Trying to look at both it and the rows of bookshelves. He got the pad from the Terminal. It was an interactive map of The Library, showing him where he was going. He just had to tell it where he wanted to go... if only that was all it did.
"You need to get out," a young voice demanded through the speakers of the pad. It sounded much like a girl that hadn't yet hit puberty. Several floating orbs circled his party, security cameras.
"Cool your Circuits." the Doctor waggled a finger as he stopped to look at the map, for the hundredth time. "I just want to get to the nearest dock. While you're constantly recalculating my route. Trying to trick me back to my ship, don't think I hadn't noticed. We want to help get you running again. Don't you want people exploring these halls again."
"There are already too many people." The main interface insisted, "You need to leave! Now! Not safe!"
"The danger is over my dear." The Doctor tried.
"Grandfather," Susan smiled, "You're treating that Computer far more gently then you do me?"
The Doctor sighed, "It's the 51st Century, my dear, during the height of the Human Empire. They are rather big fans of using AIs rather then VIs, as Time Lords do. Where our VIs can only do preprogrammed task, AIs are capable of true independent thought. They are as much people as any organic lifeform. This one just appears a bit scrambled. Quite strange given it was designed to last for trillions of years. Some of it's hardware must have been damaged. Remind me to inform that Professor Song we need to get down to the Data Core, to make repairs."
"No!" The AI screamed, "You need to leave!"
"Maybe we should just follow the signs." Rose spotted a plaque mounted between the shelves, pointing them in the direction they needed to go.
Just then, there was a THUNK sound from deeper behind them. Each of the lights started cutting out, as if the Darkness itself was charging after them.
"RUN!" The Data Pad screamed.
###
The Doctor quickly dropped the Data Pad and grabbed hold of his granddaughter's hand, all but dragging her as he ran. Rose was hot on their heels, for all of a moment.
"This way!" The Blonde appeared in front of them and made a sharp turn. The Doctor followed, still grasping his granddaughter.
Rose found a door and, without hesitation (or even stopping to see if it was locked), kicked it in. Then ushered them inside. Once they were all in, they quickly closed what turned out to be double doors. As the Doctor looked for something to brace them. Susan touched the frame. The wood began to twist and grow. Twigs expanded out as the door fused together and became one with the wall.
The Doctor huffed in disapproval, "Magic really should be left to the priest."
"Sorry, Grandfather." Susan looked down in shame.
Rose scoffed, "Your granddaughter likely saved our lives and you scold her?"
"I'll have you know." a voice came from behind them. "Most species believe it is the fundamental right of all Sapient beings to study magic." The group spun around to see Professor Song with her team.
"Really now? Then I wonder why the actual study is limited to those who can afford it." The Doctor countered.
Song sighed, "Damn your hard work young. I thought you were stubborn as an adult." She tentatively walked over to the man child, "Is there anything in particular you were running away from, dear medical student?"
"The lights were cutting out." Susan quickly said, mostly to keep her Grandfather on task instead of getting flustered over the playful banter.
"Likely a malfunction in the station's environment systems." The Doctor brushed off, "Must be what the AI was trying to warn us about. If something damaged the automated repair command mode, things would be less then safe around here. Could also explain why the AI is so scrambled."
A plump, bolding man, stepped forward, "The Repair mode has hundreds of redundancies to insure that wouldn't happen."
"Well it seems it did anyway." The Doctor scuffed, "Everything goes wrong eventually."
The man bristled. Looking truly offended.
"Why are you taking it so personally?" The Doctor huffed.
"I'm Strackman Lux!" The man glared, "My family built this library. Miss Evangelista!"
A short, absolutely gorgeous, woman was instantly by the man's side, "I'm Mister Lux's personal... everything." She seemed very self conscious. Not at all behaving like someone so beautiful and who should know it. She was acting kinda shy and timid. "I need you to sign these forums, acknowledging that your individual experience are the..." she paused as she tried to remember what she was suppose to say, "The sole intellectual property of the Lux fondation."
"I don't particularly care for people trying to claim ownership of my experiences." The Doctor eyed, "And what, pray tell, is a 'forum'?"
River smiled, "Humans are rather big fans of bureaucracy and verbal agreements aren't binding in a court of law, without proof. So they like to have it in writing."
"How utterly ridiculous." The Doctor huffed.
Lux stepped up, "My family built this library. I have rights."
"I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with humanoid 'rights'." The Doctor waved off, "Nor do I even understand what you hope to gain from me signing a piece of paper."
Rose spoke up, "Sounds like he wants to have your word you won't talk about what you learn about the library. At least, not until he is ready to make it public knowledge."
"Is that it?"
"Well you would face legal trouble if you break the contract." Rose explained, "But good luck having them make good on that."
"And how do you figure?" Lux glared.
Rose shrugged, "Our governments don't have any treaties with your civilization. Which makes us signing a piece of paper all but worthless."
Lux scuffed, "All humanoids fall under the jurisdiction of the Empire."
Rose then pointed at the Doctor and Susan, "Time traveling aliens," then at herself, "Dimension hopper."
Lux visibly slumped, before pinching the bridge of his nose. Time travel had been in existence for 2000 years. Yet depending on the time period they came from, they were exempt from most laws, like legally binding contracts. Only the Time Agency had the authority to police Time Travelers in anything... Where as dimension hopping was even worse. Such technology was so new the law hadn't caught up with science. It's not like they even had so much as trade agreements with most interdimensional civilizations.
"Regardless." River got the crowds attention, "If the station is malfunctioning, I think it's best if we go back to my ship and get you three," She nodded at the Time Travelers and Dimension hopper, "Some suits."
"We're in a bit of a hurry." Lux scuffed, looking around. "Let's take the teleport." He nodded at the gift shop in the back of the port." Should save us about a half an hour walk."
The Doctor smiled, "Excellent! Then we can get to making repairs and reopening your family's legacy!" he rubbed his hands eagerly.
Lux actually gave a light smile at that. Which was ruined by Rose
The young woman sighed, "I was honestly hoping for something a bit more exciting then repairing a command mode."
"Non-sense!" The Doctor waved off. "What exactly did you expect? Monsters running through the library?"
River smirked well Rose said, "Kinda, yeah."
"I'll be sure not to disappoint you next time." River promised.
###
The group walked towards the shop, spotting the Teleports in the back.
"We should run a diagnostic on the beam before using it." The Doctor advised, "If the Main Repair Mode has been damaged, we can't risk using the device all willy nilly."
River blinked, "You actually think things through as a child." as she pulled something off her belt.
The Doctor was about to snap at her... when he stopped and looked at what she was holding. "A sonic screwdriver..." he awed
River smirked, imagining it was a shock for him to see anyone else use such a device.
"May... may I see it?" The Doctor asked hesitantly.
River continued to smile as she handed it over.
The Doctor studied it a moment, rotating it in his hands, his face in pure awe, "I never imagined the technology would develop so far."
Anita blinked , "What's the big deal, it's just a pocket scanner, right?"
The Doctor turned towards the dark skinned woman, "My dear, I invented this... back when I was a school boy. It uses the manipulation of sonic vibrations to interact with near anything... Never could figure out how to make it work with wood. It just doesn't vibrate enough... I made it for a science fair project... it was the last..." the Doctor trailed off.
"The last what Doctor?" Rose asked well River frowned.
The Doctor looked over at her, his eyes slightly misty, "The last project my mother ever helped me with... she died just after it was completed... I couldn't even bring myself to enter the thing in the fair... skipped it entirely... I can't imagine what could possess me to let this technology out of my grasp." it meant far too much...
River was staring at the Doctor, a calculating expression. Then decided to explain, incase the Doctor assumed he had no choice but to release the technology one day due to a time paradox, "You didn't." River gently took the screwdriver back, holding it out and running the scan on the teleporter, "Oh, there are those that attempt to make copies of the technology. Though without a real blue print they are all just cheap knockoffs. The true secrets, and all the ideas and improvements you will one day make, are safely kept in your hands. Though, on occasion, you have been known to give one of your devices to people you really trust."
Rose eyed River, using the screwdriver... hearing the explanation... and couldn't help but feel jealous. Yes the Doctor had let Rose use his Sonic, and she supposed she should feel honored if her Doctor had the same backstory with the device... but the Doctor never made one for her... never told her how it worked... and she had asked... but nothing...
"Who are you?" Rose was shocked to see it was the Doctor asking and not herself.
"How could anyone be so important to me?" now the Doctor eyed her with a great deal of... worry... the only person he had ever given a sonic to... was the Master... he didn't like to think of the idea that he could just move on from what he had with the Master. They had known each other since they were small. They had run away together... experienced their first heat together... had a child together... led a rebellion together... it had taken losing the child to drive them apart... how could anyone measure up to that? How could he allow such a thing?
"Spoilers." River just smiled. Forcing herself to remain strong for the Medical Student.
"That's not good enough." The Doctor glared.
"It will have to be." River finished her scan.
"I will not be dismissed as an annoying child!" The Doctor glared. "I demand to know!"
River sighed, looking back at her confused crew, then at the Doctor, "We can talk about this once we are at the ship." leaving no room for arguement, she pointed her sonic back at the controls of the Teleport. Having learned it was safe, she widened the beam and teleported the whole group back to the ship, herself included.
###
The Doctor slowly opened his eyes. Finding himself standing in a room. He recognize the code. It's a fairly advanced artificial reality, though it appears to be glitching from strained harddrive space.
"How did I get here?" He looked around.
"Doctor?"
The Doctor spun around to spot a tall AI in a nice suit and the form of a man. "Are you the primary command Mode? No, the programming isn't right." The Doctor eyed, "You must be some kind of virus checker."
The AI raised an eyebrow, "I am Doctor Moon. I have been treating you these last few months."
The Doctor stiffened as he felt a presence press up against his mind. It tried to gently push past his mental shields but thankfully couldn't.
"How rude!" The Doctor glared, "Young man, it is most unbecoming to try and rewrite my brain without so much as offering me a drink!"
A drink suddenly appeared in the Doctor's hand, "Cheeky brat." The Doctor scowled.
"Fascinating." Doctor Moon stepped closer, "Not even the Vulcans in the database could withstand my mental suggestions. What are you?" The AI tilted his head. "Your shields won't even let me see your name... ah... the Doctor. You have quite the reputation for yourself. A reputation you have yet to achieve... time travel... how curious."
"Where did you learn that!" The Doctor glared, gesturing aggressively with his hands as he could deduce the answer.
"Your companions aren't as skilled as yourself. Your entire life is plain on their thoughts... though they aren't falling for the Illusion either. No... this won't do at all."
The Doctor suddenly found himself in a completely different room.
"Grandfather!" Susan ran over and hugged the young man with the old face.
The Doctor sighed with relief.
Rose and River were in here as well... it looked like some kind of... house? Based on 20th century suburbia.
"There." Doctor Moon smiled, "I'll keep you lot in your own private server, as too not cause issue with the others."
"Others?" The Doctor blinked, "What others?"
Moon ignored him, "Feel free to explore the archive. You have access to every book and movie in existence. As well as various games in the game room."
"What is going on!?" Rose demanded but the AI disappeared.
River smiled, and explained, "It appears we are trapped in a virtual reality and confined to a single house."
"But HOW!?" Rose demanded.
The Doctor explained, "The teleport must have uploaded our cognitive functions to the main computer... or just made duplicates of us and our real selves are already in the ship."
River waved off, "Let's go under the assumption we are the real thing. Otherwise we won't have a reason to try and escape." She leaned over to Rose and whispered, "I love the escaping bit."
"Too right!" Rose grinned.
The Doctor walked up to the door and tried to open it. "Locked, that would have been too easy, wouldn't it?" He huffed.
The Doctor started randomly touching parts of the door.
"Errr, Doc?" Rose watched him work, "What you doin'? Trying to break the door with pressure points or something?"
"Don't be absurd." The Doctor scoffed, "This is a virtual reality, is it not? I'm rewiring the base code of the door to let us out. Irritatingly enough, this Doctor Moon is fighting back... this may take a few days. Why don't you girls go to bed."
River suddenly found herself alone in her room, wearing a nightgown.
"What just happened?" She tried to comprehend and felt the AI pressing into her mind again. Thankfully she was able to fight him back. Shaking her head she wanted to step out of the room... and suddenly found herself back with the Doctor.
"A rather crude virtual reality." The Doctor looked back at her for a brief moment, before returning to his work on the door. "Apparently, to save on RAM, it just teleports you to any room you think of. Be careful with that." he warned as he worked. "I imagine it can be quite disconcerning."
River looked down to see, instead of a nighty, she was wearing a... rather alluring outfit. With her best parts presented in the most flattering ways... and of course, the Doctor hadn't noticed.
River smiled as she sat down on the couch, "Do you suppose the rest of my team is here?"
"Undoubtedly." The Doctor assured, "However, they likely fell for the Illusion."
River sighed, lightly stroking the couch with her finger tips "And here I had such high hopes for them... how many days have we been here. It feels like seconds but simultaneously days."
"Three weeks." The Doctor informed, "The RAM is so stressed, every second in here actually last several hours in the real world. No wonder this place is falling apart. The sheer strain of maintaining the virtual reality is too much for the Repair Mode too handle." The Doctor yelped as the door zapped him, but quickly got back to work, "and I'm barely making any headway with this code. So I don't appreciate the distraction."
"Of course, just pretend I'm not here."
The Doctor stood in silence for several minutes, sparing the occasional glance at River. Eventually, he asked, "Perhaps you would be happier interacting with that Rose girl? Let you ladies do the gossip thing or what not."
River scoffed, "Damn your a peace of work young. I hadn't realized Time Lords had such clear cut gender norms." She said that in a mocking tone, "Or are you just trying to fit in with the humans?"
The Doctor stopped, spinning around, "Alright, Who are you?" The Doctor glared. "You can't possibly know me as well as you think!"
River frowned, "How long has it been since you left Gallifrey? It must be early if it's just you and Susan. Although I don't recall you mentioning anything about a dimension hopper in your early days... Should I be jealous."
"Jealous of what? There couldn't possibly be anything for you to feel jealous about?" The Doctor scoffed, "I would never be as... as intimate with a human as you are implying!"
"Why not? Your mother seemed to find us captivating enough." River teased... but perhaps she went a bit too far by the Doctor's shocked expression.
"Who are you?" The Doctor breathed out, "How could you... I would never... never betray the Master."
River frowned, "She betrayed you, Doctor."
"Should I be shocked that you know even that!?" The Doctor yelled, "My life is not an open book for you, of all people, to muddle through! How do I know you are really who you claim you are!?"
"I haven't claimed anything." River sat back.
"You know EVERYTHING about me! You imply I TOLD you. That that Sonic Screwdriver you hold is a gift from me. A right reserved for cherished people to me! How do I know you didn't just steal it and use some kind of mind probe to learn my secrets! For all I know, You are working for Rassillion. That this is a trap to capture me! You've done a pretty good job so far!"
River looked at him a moment. "You're not getting back to work until I give you something, are you?"
The Doctor just glared at her.
River got up and slowly walked over to him, as nonthreatening as possible. "I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry, but someday I am going to be someone you trust completely. But I can't wait for that day. I'll tell you something not even Rassillion would dare tell a non-Time Lord." She leaned over to his ear, and Whispered, "Alexander Macedon, such a 'Great' name, don't you think."
The Doctor paled, as she leaned back to stare at his young eyes.
"H-how...?" he tried. That was his name, she even implied she knew he was THE Alexander Macedon... she was right. Names were sacred to Time Lords. Not even Rassillion, Lord President or not, would dare speak anything but the Doctor's chosen name... this wasn't a trap... this was far worse then the Doctor could ever have imagined.
"We good Doctor?" She eyed.
He gulped, "So... the Master... she really isn't ever going to forgive me?"
River sighed, with a great deal of sympathy, but said nothing.
"I suppose that's only right." The Doctor nodded, trying to be stoic, "It was my fault, after all." the Doctor felt his eyes moisten.
"You are just off Gallifrey... aren't you?" River eyed the medical student with a great deal of sympathy.
"I need to get back to work." The Doctor turned, not sparing her another glance... too lost in his own thoughts.
###
River suddenly found herself in the kitchen, sitting at the table. She decided to give the medical student some space. He needed to gather himself... and as heart breaking as it was, the boy wouldn't turn to her for comfort... she was a stranger to him... a stranger that knew everything about him... even the things he rather no one knew.
River was just now realizing, this was just as traumatizing for the boy as herself... she shouldn't have been so careless with her banter. She was always flirty with the earlier Doctor regenerations... but this wasn't the Doctor, not yet... right off Gallifrey, barely seperated from the Master... Completely unaware of the hero he would become... and honestly not ready for the responsibility... he really was "The Medical Student"... River hadn't handled this well at all.
Suddenly that Dimension Hopper appeared, and River once again wondered why the Doctor never mentioned her... she hoped it was just a matter of Paradoxes. That the Doctor just didn't tell her because he wasn't supposed to tell her... but she wasn't a fool...
She knew the Doctor had lovers and wives besides herself... they both did. River had married quite a few people, and she truly loved most of them... but she loved the Doctor more... she hoped that was true of the Doctor as well... but if she was honest with herself she had always been insecure where the Doctor was concerned.
The Doctor was such a larger then life figure. There were legitimately cultures that worshipped him as a god... but he was more then even that to herself. She was no better then a fangirl... yet the Doctor said he loved her back...
Still, she thought she was the only one the Doctor confided in... the only one who knew all his secrets... yet she had no idea who this pretty blonde thing was.
The young thing looked at her with equal uncertainty... not the look of a companion learning the Doctor had other pretty things he showed the universe to... that was clearly the look of a lover... that just met the woman that would replace her...
"Don't worry." the girl seemed to recognize the look in her own eyes. She calmly sat across from River, "It's the Doctor from my universe that tickles my fancy. I just popped in to get the base code of the multiverse." She looked like she was going to cry, as if she was trying to convince herself River's existence didn't mean anything for her own Doctor, "Needed a map of sorts, to better help me find my original universe. Was hoping I could use this Doctor to help me."
"Why this Doctor?" River asked, realizing they were making an odd form of small talk. Talking shop was easier on both of them.
"This is the main universe, the original, the first. All the little black holes that pop up, leading to other dimensions, they all start here. I hoped to use this universe's TARDIS to get the base code, my map in a sense. That will lead me back to where I need, spent the better part of a year traveling through dimensions just to get here for my map... all universes can be traced back to here so wasn't that hard... been helping where I could along the way... like my Doctor would have wanted..."
So they had reached the Doctor... both of them stayed quiet a minute, not knowing what to say... what could be said...
River decided to comfort her, "Just because I exist for my Doctor, doesn't mean-"
"Don't," Rose interrupted, "I'm not an idiot. You know things about the Doctor, your Doctor, that mine never trusted me with... he never gave me a Sonic screwdriver... never trusted me with anything about himself... the odds are good, there is a you for my Doctor... I'm just one of many pets he has collected to show off to."
That... River felt horrible... such news should not relieve her so. "I spent most of my life," River informed, "Comfortable with the fact the Doctor could never really love me...He is... the Doctor... loving him is like loving a Sunset. You're marvelled by the beauty... but know a Sunset can't love you back. The star that cast it barely notices you as a spec... to stand before something so grand, so vital to life... you just feel privileged to stand before such a thing... Even now, I'm not entirely sure if the Doctor truly cares for me... Even so I would rather stay near... you can't expect a star to love you back..."
"Is that what I become?" Both Women suddenly tensed. Looking near the door to the Kitchen, at the Doctor staring at them. "Do I truly hurt you both so much... and don't even realize it?"
River looked back at him, and before she could stop herself she simply said, "Spoilers."
Rose assured, "You realize, and try to discourage it, but people can't help falling in love with you... but we are mortal Doctor. You, right now, are thousands of years old... and your people still consider you a boy. You get close to many people... and have to watch as you lose them all... it makes you distant and scared, but you never stop trying, never stop helping. You place such value on life, and endure in your loneliness in order to protect everyone... you came out to the stars to answer a question."
River stiffened, so this girl knew more about the Doctor then she thought she did.
"'Why is it, that when evil is willing to do so much more, how can it be that good prevails.' On an evolutionary level, it doesn't make sense." Rose looked at the Doctor, "You're your own answer Doctor. You will become something absolutely amazing, the source of light that prevails in the darkness. You inspire, so many, to stand up for what is right. You show them a better way to live. A daft tourist, sailing the stars, helping where you can. That's all the universe needs. One man, inspiring others, saving the soldiers on the battlefield. How could evil stand a chance?"
The Doctor gulped, "How could I possibly live up to that?... I couldn't even save my home..."
"Just be yourself." River insisted, "Continue traveling, helping people where you can. That is all that anyone can do... and it is all that is needed."
###
They had been here for days, years in the real world according to the Doctor.
Rose and River each were working at the... quaint computers, as Grandfather stood at the door, still trying to open it.
Susan sighed, she felt right useless. Everyone was busy working, but she had nothing to contribute. She was the child in the room... it wasn't like she would even know how to help... this reality was such an archaic program she couldn't recognize the coding.
The only reason Grandfather could was because he had gotten his Mastery in every field of study known to Time Lords... well not medicine but he did qualify as a field medic. The point was, one of the Doctor's degrees was Xeno-programming. That meant he knew how to operate the less advanced computers of alien civilizations...
Susan hadn't even gotten her first Mastery, though she did have a large number of Apprentice worthy studies under her belt. That may be quite advanced for her age, given other such children were still novices, but when compared to someone like Grandfather... she just felt useless...
She was clever, beyond clever, but if the Doctor was considered a teenager at near 3000... she was practically a toddler at 16.
Truthfully, Time Lord's didn't really keep track of the years they lived. They measured based on regenerations, as age was near meaningless to them. The Doctor was in his second regeneration and that made him the human equivalent of 17, barely an adult teenager. While Susan, in her first regeneration, was still very much a child... even by human standards she was a child... and nobody takes children seriously...
It didn't help that both humans present where aware of how Time Lords marked "age". So they understood Susan's toddler status.
Grandfather was just having her sit at a computer of her own... but she was working on school assignments, as the Doctor felt it was important not to neglect her education...
The Doctor completed his schooling at 12, when the Academy ran out of things to teach him... then he and grandmother ran away... they accomplished far more by the time they were Susan's age... Susan was rather excited by the idea of traveling like they had... but Grandfather wasn't letting her do anything TOO dangerous.
Perhaps it was the few human genes she had that made her want more. Yes Grandfather had virtually all of his removed, and then he mated with a Time Lord, and then Father mated with another Time Lord... but then there was still something deep inside her. Something compelling her to explore and advance. It was something Time Lords once had, but they had stagnated millions of years ago. They only really explored now out of tradition, and then only to record the passage of time... but she felt compelled to change it. She wanted to help...
Her human blood, however thin, called to her. It loudly declared she should be taken seriously. That she should be stepping out on her own and learning independence... The Time Lord in her insisted that was irrational and she should be content with her place. However, like her grandfather... and like her father... she wanted to listen to her human side.
"Got it!" Rose grinned, "I have traced roughly 4 million people in this place, and, I believe, I can find a way to get us all out. That AI is trying to block me but, if you two help, I can activate the teleports and materialize everyone."
"Might want to hold off on that." River sighed, "I found footage of what attacked the Library."
The Doctor and Rose paused in their work as River projected a video on the Television.
"Susan Sweetie." River looked over at the 16 year old. "Do you mind closing your eyes? The video is rather graphic."
Susan resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead she whined, "Grandfather?"
"You best mind her, Susan."
Susan sighed, but obeyed. She was a good girl after all. So she didn't see whatever it was on the video.
However, She heard Grandfather mutter, "Vashta Nerada." and couldn't help but gasp as she imagined what was on the Video. She had read about those in school. They were quite literally "The Shadows that melt the flesh", as their name translates. Susan found herself strangely thankful they were apparently watching with muted visuals.
"I have never seen an infection on this scale." The Doctor noted, "
"What's happening to them?" Rose gulped.
"Vashta Nerada, they roughly translate to 'Shadows that melt the flesh', they are carnivores spores that feed off road kill. Most planets have them, quite mundane things, very rarely do they feed on people. If they got imported here... with no animals to scavenge... they must of become more aggressive. I wouldn't worry about it though. 100 years? They would have starved too death."
"What if-" Susan began, but faltered as all the adults looked at her. She gathered her courage and forced out the question, "What if they begun cannibalizing other swarms?"
Rose gulped, before turning to the Doctor, "It might not have been a power cut chasing us?"
The Doctor scoffed. Then spoke with a dismissive voice and a wag of his finger, "The Vashta Nerada are not simple pest. They have a hive mind. The more of them there are, the smarter the entity. A swarm so large it covers a planet?... I refuse to believe such a magnificent creature would resort to eating itself."
River smiled that sad smile, as she was once again reminded how young this medical student was... how innocent, "You would be amazed what any creature will do if desperate enough." she said gently.
The Doctor huffed, "It be easy enough to see which of us is right. Do a scan for any life within the library. This is a sterile environment. Not even bacteria should be present."
River smiled, a bit more condescending now, "Couldn't hurt to get confirmation, Rosey dear?"
"It's just Rose." Rose insisted before punching a few keys at her laptop. "Only my mum can get away with calling me 'Rosey', and I can tell you I have to fight the urge to strangle her each time she does."
River filed that away to use for later.
Rose suddenly paled as what she was looking for popped up... After a brief gulp She began to count the numbers on her screen... why one would need to count to read a number, Susan didn't know. "What is 20 nines called?"
All the adults paled as Susan automatically answered, "one shy of Sextillion."
"I take it that is as high as the computer can count?" River speculated, looking thoughtful, as if she was already formulating a plan. "If we set the Sanitation Mode to maximum, we could potentially vaporize all of these creatures."
The Doctor looked affronted, "You want to KILL these lifeforms!"
Rose caught on to what River was REALLY saying, "We should set up the option, if it comes to that." Before pulling up a map through the projector. "The Sanitation Mode is located here, in the planets core. If we increase the lighting, I figure it can keep shadow creatures out."
"More like slow them down." The Doctor muttered, still glaring. "I must insist I don't approve of this plan."
"When can you implement it?" The whole group froze as they turned to spy The Doctor Moon program standing behind them. The AI explained to them, "The Central Computer is strained to it's limits. Keeping everyone here, distracting them from their former lives so they don't go mad. The sheer act of protecting all the organics will inevitably result in the destruction of the core."
"So that's what your doing." River eyed, "Trust a computer to use logic to inact the most irrational plan." she shook her head. The Doctor glared at her disapprovingly.
"It was a fail safe in case the planet became endangered. Activate the Teleports and save the patterns while keeping the minds entertained. However, It was only supposed to last a few months at most. But the organics never sent a sterilizing crew, to remove the infection and reclaim the people we saved to the harddrive.
"If you came here to finally kill the infestation, then I apologize for the inconvenience."
"Slight problem." River smirked.
"Whoever activates the Mode will be caught in the process?" Rose smirked back.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who gets to be the hero?" River suggested.
"Straws are more dramatic but that works." Rose grinned.
"Mental." The Doctor shook his head, "Absolutely mental."
"Ha! Rock crushes Scissors." Rose widely grinned, "Looks like I get to be the hero!" She boasted.
"Now wait a minute!" The Doctor stepped over to them, but went ignored.
Rose wrote out a series of numbers and forced them into the Doctor's hand. "Do me a favor. Memorize this. If things go pear shaped, get yourself to Chrome and look for a dimension with this frequency. Then send the coordinates to this dimension." She handed him another slip of paper. "I imagine memorizing a few numbers won't be that hard for someone with your brains."
The Doctor looked at the slips of paper, "You can't..."
"I know Chrome is a scary place for you Time Lords, but it is a fixed point in every dimension in the multiverse. Your TARDIS will be able to work out a map between both dimensions from there... I need this Doctor. The fate of everything depends on my universe getting these coordinates."
The Doctor gulped, "I'll do my best."
"And don't look so glum, I have no intention of dying tonight." Rose grinned. "Let me show you what being the Doctor is REALLY about." turning to the AI, Rose kept up her confident grin. "Drop me off as close to the lights as you can."
###
The Doctor watched Rose from the projector. The skinny blonde immediately turned up the lights to maximum, before making a mad dash to the Sanitation Mode. She began flipping switches and pressing buttons as frantically as possible... the Doctor could see the safety settings quickly go into the red...
Once she was done, Rose stood tall, and pulled out a hand held speaker from her pocket. The Doctor watched as she smiled at the Camera... and waited.
The Doctor's eyes widened, "What is she doing!?"
River smiled, "You'll see. She really is a companion to the Doctor."
The lights suddenly started going out, as if the darkness was rushing towards her. Rose just continued to stand there, waiting.
The Medical Student looked at her, his eyes filled with fears, "Is she mad!"
"You said they were intelligent," River reminded, just as Rose switched on the speaker. "So she's giving them a choice."
"Hungery," a demonic voice echoed around the room, as if a billion trillion voices spoke at once, "So Hungery."
"If I flip this switch we all die, right here, right now." Rose called out. The voices instantly stopped. The shadows even stopped their approached.
"You... speak..." The shadow demon hesitantly asked.
Rose smiled, holding up the device, "Universal translator, it let's us understand each other, and as you can see. I'm not some mindless animal, I can talk, I have emotions, I have a soul... much like yourself..."
The demon of shadows said mournfully, "Our elders talk... they have emotions... they have... souls all their own. Yet we feed on them. We have no choice. Hungry, so hungry, no food in these cursed forest. You are food, you are MEAT!"
"What if we could bring you some place with meat."
"Cursed as these forest may be... these are OUR forest..."
"Then how about we bring the meat to you." The shadows stirred as she spoke, "Imagine it, no more killing the old so the young could live. You let the people trapped in the library's computers, free, and they can leave to tell others the deal. They will feed you, might even bring a steady supply of other resources to help your citizens flourish. They will gladly trade their resources in exchange for you letting them read your books."
"THE TREES HATCH THE YOUNG!" the shadows raged.
"Oh? Then I suppose that is a problem..." Rose thought, "We came her to reopen the library, but if the books are off limits then they will have to settle for a planet wide virtual reality of everything ever written... that's the next best thing really. You still have something each of you can benefit from. Where I came from, that's called Tourism. All you would have to do is stop feeding on intelligent lifeforms, and you will get more food then you thought possible. Then you can start moving forward as a civilization."
"We could work together, so that our peoples could be... beautiful... and thriving. We can teach each other so much."
"You claim to have the power to destroy us."
"I do, but now..." She flipped a switch. The terminal suddenly began to spark and then smoked... before shutting down completely, "No one does..."
"Why?" The shadows asked, "You give up your only advantage?"
"Don't get me wrong. I'm all for blasting the irredeemable evil, but I don't think that's you. You have had to suffer here for long enough... let us help you."
"Why? Why would you do any of this for us? Our ancestors ravaged these forests, killed millions... we have only grown more cruel in the hundred Generations since then... so, yellow girl, why?"
Rose simply replied, "Kindness."
This moment, a fixed point in time, had been bent to the extreme. So many changes it had to compensate for. So many lives, meant to end this day, that would now continue to flourish. Lives that would continue to effect the Cosmos in their own extremes... this singular moment, that would define the Doctor, changed forever. Subsequently altering everything that would happen next.
This moment was bent to the extreme with the hesitant declaration of free will... with the final words. "We... are open to tourism..."
The multiverse snapped.