It's been weeks since the bizarre incident with Masa and the Sontaran, still don't know anything more than what he heard from Masa and Al couldn't help him with either the message or the mention of a head.
He claimed he did everything possible with the Sontaran language, but he couldn't get anything out of the archaic language.
No idea what the head is or was, if it's a head, or something that can't translate into English well, he doesn't know.
When asked about the coordinates, Al claimed they're corrupted, a miracle that Masa managed translating them into something as accurate as sending them to Earth.
Even if it's somehow coincidental, it's strange how Masa accurately translated the supposedly corrupted coordinates.
The fact that Masa concocted this scheme just to deliver a head and a message, which Theodore can't figure out who or what the head belonged to, or even why someone wanted it or where Masa even gotten it from.
Mantanga knew just as much as him, didn't know what his former superior's orders were and why he went through the effort just to commit suicide, knowing full well that it'll leave a black mark on his family tree for the rest of their eternity.
The fact he even did it, it's troubling, soldiers rather die fighting and they'll only resort to suicide if it means it'll take out enemies.
Masa didn't attempt either, just did it, and the fact he willingly did, it's only adding to the strange adventure.
It's truly bizarre and Theodore's wracked his brain over whole thing, but found nothing shaking out.
He ended up having to put it on the back burner, his head's almost about steamed itself out from overworking trying to figure out the latest in the bizarre situation.
Can't figure any of this out with everything else going on in his life, as is the life of a Doctor, and he's forced to balance himself between working and acting as the Doctor.
He hoped Al's able to find something in the meantime as he's working between his job as a librarian and running for his life.
Though the TARDIS couldn't come up with anything the last time he checked, that much apparent.
Today's a break from working at the library, but it's no day-off, an adventure needed doing, and the aloof giant and his companion both set out on it, having it start with a mere phone call directed to the TARDIS by a concerned man working at a mental hospital in a heavily wooded area, claiming that patients periodically disappeared, and his boss told everyone to continue working as normal despite the alarming disappearances.
He couldn't handle it anymore and reached out to a number someone gave him, claiming that whoever answered would've known what to do about his situation.
It sounded more like a police matter than something involving Theodore, until the man said certain patients, the troubled usually, always went missing at night, he kept finding the doors to the outside unlocked, even though he's certain he locked them beforehand, and he swears his boss' involved somehow, but he couldn't find proof of the crime and he's sure by the time Theodore arrived at the mental hospital, he'll be dead.
Arriving behind a large oak tree, the TARDIS materialized, once it's completely solid, the door opened inward, with Theodore poking his head out, smelling the free pine needles draping across the ground as he stepped out.
Behind him, Lila stepped out, pulling on the sleeve of her leather jacket, as she glanced around, smelling the fresh pine needles.
"I don't see how this exactly involves us," Lila didn't understand how they ended up in this adventure, it sounded more of a police matter than something that involved them, but Theodore says that someone went out of their way calling him, and generally the number doesn't exchange hands so easily without a reason.
The TARDIS screens incoming calls, all the time, but something about this one let it go to him.
If it was truly a police matter, the TARDIS would've rerouted it to proper authorities.
"If you say so," Lila murmured as she remained unsure about this adventure.
Joining his side, Lila glimpsed to the forest, teaming with thick fauna and evergreen trees that blotted out the sun in areas, as she moved her head, she sees a large building in the distance, surrounded by the trees with one path leading to civilization going up as they followed it, snaking around the corner.
"Well, let's see what we'll shake out," Theodore shoved his large hands in his stitched pockets as he walked with Lila onto the paved path leading up to the hospice.
While they're walking, they noticed there's no sounds of the wildlife, not even a bird, quiet, and glancing up to the skies, Theodore sees mountains in the distance behind the forests ahead. The peaks masked by the thick grey clouds hanging over the area.
"It's beautiful, I'll give it that," Lila commented that the area the mental hospital located in's fairly scenic. Surrounded by the woods, quiet, a good view of the mountains in the distance, it looked like a good place for anyone needing help without stressors at every corner.
Surveying their surroundings with his icy blue eyes, Theodore remarked while the area's beautiful in its own way, there's still more beautiful things in the world.
"Like what?" Lila turned to him with curiosity as she wanted to know what's more beautiful than a scene like this as she walks with Theodore.
He didn't say much despite her prodding for answers and he didn't say anything more until they arrived at the steps of the hospice.
"Okay, could you at least tell me how're we supposed to waltz into a mental hospital?" Lila changed topics, wanting to know what Theodore planned for them getting inside the mental hospital.
Two strangers who had no relatives in the hospital, seemingly arriving at said remote hospital without a car, didn't exactly warrant them an easy way inside.
Shrugging his wide shoulders, Theodore says he'll think of something, he always did, causing skepticism with Lila.
Walking up to the oak two-doors with a smooth brushed chocolate lacquer finish, Theodore pushed the button on the side of the doors as he held his free hand behind his back.
Waiting with Lila, they glimpsed at the lacquered porch that wrapped around the building, complete with metal benches with woven metal in the form of leaves.
The age of the porch, looked older than the building, and confirmed when someone opened the doors inward, the scent of an old home gusted through, a gentleman with black slick hair, pale skin, wearing thick rimmed glasses, and wore a light blue nurse's uniform.
"Oh good, he said you'd come on time," the gentleman pushed up his glasses as he looked at the two, didn't question at all why there's two strangers at the door, he expected them.
Confused, Theodore inquired what the gentleman meant and he shrugs as he says that someone above him said a man and a woman would've come to the mental hospital, at this time, and instructed to bring them inside.
"Said you're qualified, I don't know, I just work here," the gentleman said as he let them's through the doorway into the main area, the old oak floor boards started creaking under their feet as they walked through.
Parts of the area kept the bare planked walls, adorned in different knickknacks hanging in intervals around the walls, while rest converted into a baby blue painted drywall.
"So, where's the man who, uh, hired us, figured he'd be here waiting," Lila asked about the man who hired them and George, the nurse, replied that he doesn't know, management passes the word along, and George follows it.
Didn't really get paid enough to question it and he's hoping that in time, he'll get a job offer for something better, no offense to the patients at the mental hospital, but bills needed paying, and the hourly rate at the small hospital's wasn't keeping up with rising costs.
"Don't suppose he told you what our work entailed, did he?" Theodore inquired more about their mysterious man that gave them jobs, the way it sounded, it didn't seem like he's the one who called Theodore.
Wasn't George, he's struggling with things in his life, he probably didn't realize anything off while working.
It further intrigued him when George handed over the badges that let them into restricted parts of the mental hospital, with Theodore's catching his eye, seeing his calling him, Mr. Smith.
Looking over to Lila's as she's looking at hers with her brow raised, on it, it said Miss Smith.
Their roles, both orderlies.
It perturbed the two, but they didn't get time to think it over, George wanted to go over the basics of the mental hospital.
Hawthorne Mental Hospital, it's low security, supposed to keep the feel of a home, but with the doctors and nurses at an arm's reach.
Not every mental patient came through here, there's a strict checklist for in-coming patients, anyone prone to violence or required significant accommodations wasn't allowed at the mental hospital due to it's low security and size, for an example.
It can't accommodate everyone due to the age and the remoteness of the hospital, but they have in-network sister locations that better fit any accommodations they couldn't fulfill.
Generally, the patients have free reign of the facility, provided they follow the rules of the hospital and obey the doctors.
The low security nature of it's supposed to allow patients breathing room, without feeling like they're in a cage, and giving them time so they're able to put their respected lives back together at their own paces.
Originally, the building used to be a plantation house, established sometime in the 1800s, but was converted into the mental hospital some time ago, parts of the plantation house still existed, in hopes it lessened the stresses of the patients that might've reacted to the starchy white walls of a normal hospital.
While they have free reign, they're not allowed outside at night, there's known instances of wolves making their way through the property at night, and must return to their bedrooms by bedtime.
Periodically, the patients did chores around the hospital, giving them a sense of purpose, and allowing them to form their own schedules, giving them structure.
There's been success with the hospital, with some patients able to leave on their own, once they've proven themselves to the doctors, and found success outside.
Few patients gone back into the hospital after they left, in all, it's an idea location for most patients.
For their parts, Theodore, and Lila watch over the patients, make sure they receive their medications, and file paperwork on their off-times.
With their badges and copies of their schedules, Theodore and Lila left for the restricted parts of the hospital, where they're given sets of keys, and a list of patients they'll oversee.
At the time of their arrival, the patients already had their daily medication, they're allowed free time until dinner, when they're required to appear in the converted mess hall, and have at least thirty minutes to themselves before bedtime.
"Er, any advice?" Lila asked one of the orderlies handing them flashlights for bed checks.
Tall, built like an ox, black beard recently trimmed, looked like he benched weights on his free time, someone nobody expected working at a mental hospital, but here they are, and he introduced himself as Max Kincaid.
Looking at the two, Max responded that the patients generally won't give them trouble, but since they're new, they'll expect some resistance.
Once they settled in, the patients would've calmed down, weaving the two into their structured schedules as they done with other orderlies.
"If I have an advice, be careful where you step outside, one of them's got a garden, and doesn't appreciate people trampling it," Max gave one advice for the two.
A patient of the hospital kept a garden, gives her something to do, and she gets agitated when anyone accidentally tramples it.
Nodding, Lila affirmed that she'll keep that advice in mind.
"All the food that comes through here's already certified allergy-free, we do have patients trying to cook, so keep that in mind," Max added that any concerns about food allergies already taken care of and that it's not uncommon for patients taking up something like cooking, trying to get experience.
Theodore inquired about how many patients were in the hospital and Max replied due to the strict policies keeping most patients out, they've got at least thirteen.
Two transferred out not too long ago and they haven't received word of any more coming in.
Nodding, Theodore went with Lila as they've taken up their new roles, quietly conversing with themselves with Theodore's telepathy.
"Two transferred out, huh," Lila looked towards Theodore with a quizzical expression on her face as they walked down the hallway with their respected paperwork.
Seems far cry from them disappearing, but Theodore isn't about to call it too early.
Looking over their sheets, they see the set of patients they're overseeing, and there's special annotations describing things about them.
"Well, Lee, let's get dangerous," Theodore sighs as they began their duties as orderlies, breaking off as they gone to different parts of the building.