15. The Days of Kazran Sardick
Abigail suggest to look around the town that she grows up with her family. Tory watches as Kazran and Abigail holding hands without them noticing as Abigail looking around with amusement and wonder. The same gaze that remind the Time Lady with herself, back then she looked into the wonder of Universe.
Then, she suddenly stops walking as she's standing in the street, stepping closer into a small house before looking in a window. The Time Lords and Teen Kazran stand back a-ways, watching her.
"Who are they?" Teen Kazran asked.
"Her family. The lady's her sister," the Doctor mentioned. "We met her once, when she was... older."
"Abigail's crying."
"Yeah. I mean, she probably hasn't see her sister nor her family for long time," Tory muttered, thinking of her family, of her parents. She still miss them every day.
"When girls are crying, are you supposed to talk to them?" Teen Kazran quietly asked Tory.
"It all depends, actually. We're quite emotional at certain times. But I think, in this occasion, you can."
Teen Kazran nods in grateful and steps closer to Abigail.
"I have a great idea," the Doctor suddenly said. "Wanna know, sister dear?"
"Oh, do tell me, brother dear."
As it turns out, the Doctor and Tory already sneak inside the house and gesturing Teen Kazran and Abigail to come inside to celebrate Christmas together.
The Time Lords are entertaining Benjamin, the younger version of the man they met before in the future, with card tricks at one end of the table while Abigail sits with her sister, Isabella, and Teen Kazran is helping Isabella's husband, Eric, decorate.
"Pick a card, any card at all," the Doctor said as Benjamin did so. "You memorise the card, you put it back in the deck. Don't let me see it."
"You're terrible at this," Tory commented, watching in amusement. Lately, the Doctor obsesses with magic trick, in a hope, to become a magician. Safe to say, he didn't make any great trick so far and failed miserably, to the point Amy and Rory just so done with his constant whining or complain about his magic trick.
"The three of clubs," the Doctor guessed, giving the card.
"No," Benjamin stated.
"You sure? I'm very good at card tricks."
"He's not," Tory whispered beside him. "He's rude."
"No, I'm not!"
"It wasn't the three of clubs," Benjamin noted.
"Well, of course it wasn't," the Doctor admitted and tosses away that card. "Because it was the seven of diamonds!" He guessed, pulls it from inside pocket.
"No."
"Oi, stop it, you're doing it wrong."
From behind, Tory can hear Abigail and Isabella having a private conversation.
"I see him around the town sometimes. Never any friends," Isabella remembered.
"He's got me," Abigail remarked.
"All those Christmas Eves, you never once came to see us."
"I'm here now."
"Then stay. Stay for tomorrow. Have Christmas dinner with us."
"I can't," Abigail replied.
"Well, then," Isabella stands up and announcing, "Tomorrow's dinner is cancelled, as my sister refuses to attend."
"Isabella..."
"Instead... we'll have it tonight," she finished.
Later, they are sitting around the table, the Doctor and Tory at one end, and they are about to pull the crackers. "Three! Two! One! Pull!"
Everyone cheers and laughs.
Benjamin pulls a playing card from his. "How did you do that?"
"Your card, I believe," the Doctor said, giving him the eight of hearts.
"No!"
"Oh, shut up!"
Tory giggles and pulls out seven of hearts. "This one?"
Benjamin nods. "Yeah!"
"How did you do that?" The Doctor asked this time while pouting.
"It's a secret!" She winks,
"Er, Merry Christmas," Teen Kazran said, toasting his drink
"Merry Christmas!"
"Best Christmas Eve ever," Abigail beamed and hugs the Doctor before did same with Tory.
"Ah! Till the next one," he responded.
"I look forward to it."
"I have some great plans for next Christmas! Both of you will love it!" Tory shared with a smile.
Abigail smiles. "Thank you. Now I'd like to say good night to Kazran."
"Of course," the Doctor nods.
"I think it's a private one, Doctor," Tory commented, rolls her eyes how he didn't catch what Abigail meant. "You know, those adult things that those lovebirds always do?"
"Oh! Oh, yes, right!" He realized. "Sorry, we'll, um, we'll go, then." He looks at Abigail. "Good night." He looks at Teen Kazran. "Good luck... night! Good night!" He said backs into a container. "Sorry."
"Oh, come on," Tory remarked, dragging him away.
"Doctor! Tory!" Kazran called and rushes over. "I, er, I think she's going to kiss me."
"Yeah, I think you're right," he agreed and pushes him towards Abigail.
"I've never kissed anyone before. What do I do?"
The Doctor puts arm around his shoulder. "Well... try and be all nervous and rubbish and a bit shaky."
"Why?"
"You'll be like that anyway. Make it part of the plan. Off you go, then!" He replied, pushes the teen forwards, who still resists.
"What, now? I kiss her now?"
"Well, if it's not now, then when?" Tory retorted, nudging him "Come on, just kiss the girl already!"
Teen Kazran gulps, but eventually moves closer to Abigail. Both Time Lords quickly enter the TARDIS, leaving those two alone.
Abigail is standing by the pool in a period gown. Tory, wearing her yellow tunic party dress, sitting next to her, listening to what Abigail just confessed and asking her opinion about it.
Tory rubs her forehead. "This is troublesome," she admitted, not in biting tone, but in concern tone. "So that's why you're asking the Doctor about that."
Abigail nods, tears in her eyes. "What should I do? Should I tell Kazran?"
Tory sighs. She's not an expert of romantic stuff (since it's too gross for her and she never experience romantic relationship herself). "To be honest, Abigail, I don't know as well. I'm never in relationship like you and Kazran. But, if you're asking my opinion, I think you should tell him. Both me and my brother will try find the cure, okay?"
"Okay," Abigail responded as Teen Kazran appears.
"Abigail! Tory! Are you coming back? The Doctor is going to do a duet with Frank."
"Oh, really?" Tory gasps, her eyes glitters in happiness. "Oh, man! I should see this!" She glances at Abigail, gives a small nods, before leaving them alone.
The Doctor, who's wearing a white evening jacket with tie undone, not to mention, some leftover smear of lipstick on his mouth, finds Abigail and Teen Kazran kissing. "Guys, we've really got to go quite quickly. I just accidentally got engaged to Marilyn Monroe."
"Which is scandalous!" Tory addressed, smiling. "Wait until Amy and Rory hear this!"
The Doctor grumbles, both by Tory's smiles and the couple keeps kissing. "How do you keep going like that? Do you breathe out your ears? Hello? Sorry, hello? Guys, she's phoned a chapel, there's a car outside, this is happening now!"
"Yoo-hoo! Yoo-hoo," Marilyn called.
"Ohoho, she finds you," Tory teased. "I'll tell her you already gone somewhere. Just stay inside the TARDIS."
"Oh, thank you, sister dear!" He sighs in relief before walks away.
Teen Kazran let go of their kiss. "What are we going to do?"
"I'm going to find the cure," Tory responded as the couple look at her in despair. "I ask my brother for help. But remember, I can't promise I can find it. But that doesn't mean I won't try my best."
"Thank you," Teen Kazran said with tears as three of them enter the TARDIS.
Teen Kazran escorts Abigail to her container as the Doctor tests the sonic on a small fish. Tory gives them some private moment before beginning her research on Abigail's cure.
After Abigail enters the container, the Doctor walks over, cheerful, blissful. "There we go. Another day, another Christmas Eve. I'll see you in a minute, eh? I mean, a year."
"Doctor... Listen, why don't we leave it?" Teen Kazran suggested.
"Sorry, leave what?"
"Oh, you know. This. Every Christmas Eve, it's getting a bit old."
"Old?"
"Well, Christmas is for kids, isn't it? I've got some work with my dad now, I'm going to focus on that. Get that cloud belt under control."
"We understand, Kazran," Tory kindly replied, holding his hand before let go, knowing very well that he doesn't want to celebrate Christmas without Abigail. "If you ever need us, just contact us, okay?"
The Doctor walks up to him, giving him his sonic screwdriver. "I'll be needing a new one, anyway. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," he said before walks away.
"Well, that was weird," the Doctor said as he and Tory, who said nothing, enter the TARDIS.
"Actually, Doctor," Tory called. "You need to hear this."
Tory quietly waiting outside the window, waiting Teen Kazran. She told the Doctor to stay inside the TARDIS, in a hope so Teen Kazran won't get too angry with the news, knowing that the Time Lords failed to find Abigail's cure.
The girl watches Teen Kazran enters his room, looking at the Doctor's old sonic screwdriver before looking at the window, at Tory. He quickly walks closer and open the window. "Well?" He asked. "Do you find it?"
Tory simply stares at him, unable to say it without crushing his hearts. Teen Kazran soon understand her silent as her way to tell him the bad news. The teen nods, looking solemn and sad, and quickly closes the window and the curtains.
"Don't blame yourself," the Doctor told her, stepping outside and hugs her. "This isn't your fault, okay?"
Tory simply nods. "We need another plan," she stated, focusing back into their main problem.
After that, both Time Lords contact Amy and Rory regarding their next plan. Their had instruct Amy and Rory to carry out their plan using some knowledge of theirs. They can't interfere much with this, but they hope this might changing Kazran's opinion to save the spaceship.
Inside the TARDIS, from the monitor, they see a hologram of Amy appears in front of Kazran. "Hello!"
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Kazran demanded, startled by her appearance.
"Didn't think this was over, did you? I'm the Ghost of Christmas Present."
"A ghost? Dressed like that?"
Amy get pushes aside by Rory. "Eyes off the skirt," he warned before Amy shoves Rory as well.
Kazran blinks. "You turned into a Roman."
"Yeah. I do that. I also do this," Amy noted before disappears.
"Do what? What are you talking about?"
Tory takes the comm.. per instruction. "on a cue. Three, two, one! Go!" She commanded as a chorus of Silent Night can be heard.
"Silent night, holy night."
The Time Lords watch Kazran slowly enter the vault.
"All is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin mother and child..."
He peers throught the window as he opens it, looking at all passengers.
"Holy infant so tender and mild. Christ the Saviour is born. Christ the Saviour is born."
Amy appears behind him. "They're holograms. Projections, like me," she informed him.
"Who are they?" Kazran asked.
"The people on the ship up there. The ones that you're going to let die tonight."
"Why are they singing?"
"For their lives. Which one's Abigail?" Amy asked, causing Kazran to glances her. "Tory told me."
"Did she now?" Kazran scoffed. Tory closes her eyes, realizing that Kazran blames her all these years for unable to save Abigail. She knows she said to never hoping much for finding the cure, but even still, she won't blame him that he might be heartbroken from losing the person he loves the most because she and the Doctor failed to save Abigail.
"They don't hold back. You know them."
"How do I? I never met them before tonight. Now I seem to have known them all my life. How? Why?"
"You're the only person who can let that ship land. They were trying to turn you into a nicer person. And they were trying to do it nicely."
"They're changed my past, my whole life."
"Time can be rewritten," Amy insisted.
"You tell the Doctor and his sister. Tell them from me, people can't," Kazran barked, moving forward, causing all holograms disappear. He stops moving, looking at Abigail inside her container.
Amy appears behind him again. "That's Abigail?"
"I would never have known her if the Doctor and Tory hadn't changed the course of my whole life to suit themself."
"Well, that's good, isn't it?"
"No."
"Why is she still in there? You could let her out any time."
"Oh, yes. Any time at all. Any time... I choose," Kazran leered, touching the container's window.
"Then why don't you?"
"This is what they did to me. Abigail was ill when she went into the ice. On the point of death. I suppose the rest in the ice helped her. But she's used up her time. All those Christmas Eves with me. I could release her any time I want... and she would live a single day," Kazran revealed, looks at Amy. "Tory said she'll try to search a cure for Abigail with the Doctor. I know she said not to expect much, but how can I not? Especially when it relates to Abigail. Yet, when I met her eyes, I know she failed. And I resent her and her brother for that. So tell me, Ghost of Christmas Present, how do I choose which day?"
"I'm sorry. I really am. I'm very, very sorry," Amy apologized. "But you know what? She's got more time left than I have. More than anyone on this ship."
"Good."
"Rory, widen the beam," Amy commanded as the room flickers, sending Kazran on the ship.
"Status update on engine one..." a Captain commanded.
"How did I get here?" Kazran wondered.
"You didn't. It's your turn to be the hologram," Amy claimed. "Since you're going to let a lot of people die, I thought you might like to see where it's all going to happen."
"The singing," he realized. "What is it? I don't understand."
"It's the Doctor's idea," Rory clarified. "The harmonies resonate in the ice crystals, that's why thee fish like it. He thought maybe it would stabilise the ship. But it isn't working. It's not powerful enough."
"Why are they still singing, then?"
"Because we haven't told them," the Captain on the ship denoted. "Sir, I understand you have a machine that controls this cloud layer. If you can release us from it, we still have time to make a landing. Nobody has to die."
"Everybody has to die."
"Not tonight."
"Tonight's as good as any other. How do you choose?"
Amy sighs, takes the small device. "Doctor? Tory?"
The Doctor takes Tory's phone while comforting Tory. "Yeah?"
"Are you two hearing this?"
"We can hear."
"They're here? Where are they?!" Kazran demanded. "Doctor?! Tory?!"
Rory turns off the hologram and Kazran sends back in the vault, where they park the TARDIS. Both Time Lords step outside. "We're sorry, Kazran," Tory remarked. "We tried. Trust me, we did. But Abigail's illness already way beyone help."
There is another option she suggested, which is used her regeneration ability to Abigail. But the Doctor pretty much againts it. While it may work on Abigail, he had no idea if Tory's body can sustain the aftermath. Her being part human might causing some serious effects that endanger her life, and for all he knows, Tory won't survive. And the Doctor can't give any to Abigail since he can't regenerate anymore.
"All my life, I've been called heartless. My other life, my real life, the one you rewrote. Now look at me," Kazran remarked.
"Better a broken heart than no heart at all," the Doctor told him.
"Oh, try it. You try it."
"We did," Tory stated, recalling the Doctor losing his family due to the Time War, losing Rose in parallel universe, losing his best friend during The Year That Never Was and losing Donna. And, in a way, Tory also experienced that as well. Her parents, her best friend, her niece, and... River.
Kazran shook his head. "Why are you here?"
"Cos we're not finished with you yet," the Doctor said as he and Tory walk forward. "You've seen the past, the present... and now you need to see the future."
"Fine! Do it! Show me! I'll die cold, alone and afraid. Of course I will, we all do! What difference does showing me make? Do you know why I'm going to let those people die? It's not a plan. I don't get anything from it. It's just that I don't care. I'm not like you. I don't even want to be like you! I don't and never, ever will care!"
"And we believe that's not true," Tory simply alluded.
"Then show me the future. Prove me wrong."
"We are showing it to you. We're showing it to you right now, since I'm the Ghost of Christmas Future," the Time Lady glances behind looking at Young Kazran who stares Kazran with shock. "So what do you think, Kazran?"
Kazran frowns before turns around to see his younger self.
"Is this who you want to become?" The Doctor asked as two Kazrans slowly walk towards each other.
"Dad?" Young Kazran innocently asked, which triggers Kazran as he drops his cane and lifts his hand to strike his younger self... before he cries.
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," he lamented, reaches out for Young Kazran who takes a step back. "It's okay, don't be frightened," he assured him, puts his hands on his younger self's shoulders before pulls him into a hug. "I'm... I'm so, so, so..."
The Time Lords glancing at each other. "Kazran," the Doctor called. "We don't have much time."
"Hi, Amy!" Tory called from a screen. "Listen. Just prepare to lock on to the Doctor's signal. Copt that?"
Before Amy can say more, Tory turns of the screen and walking at the Doctor with Kazran and Young Kazran. Kazran starts to take control the machine.
"We good to go, then?" The Doctor asked.
"The controls won't respond," Kazran responded.
"They're isomorphic, tuned to your brainwaves, they'll only respond to you."
"They won't."
"That doesn't make sense, why wouldn't," he stops, realizing. "Oh! Oh, of course. Stupid, stupid Doctor!"
"What's wrong?" Tory asked.
"Tell me, what is it, what...?" Kazran insisted.
"It's you," the Doctor revealed. "I've changed you too much, the machine doesn't recognise you."
"But my father programmed it..."
"He would never have programmed it for the man you are now."
Tory looks at Young Kazran. "Remind me to kick your father's arse after this is over."
"Then what do we do?" Kazran inquired, worry.
"Um... Um... I don't know, I don't know," the Doctor admitted.
"There must be something!" Young Kazran insisted.
Kazran pulls out the old sonic screwdriver. "This! You can use this! I kept it, see?"
"What, half a screwdriver? With the other half up in the sky in a big old shark, right in the heart of the cloud layer. We use your aerial to boost the signal, set up a resonation pattern between the two halves...That would work!" He cheered. "My screwdriver, coolest bit of kit on this planet. Could do it."
"Do what?"
"My screwdriver is still trying to repair. It's signalling itself. We use the signal, but we send something else."
"Send what?" Young Kazran wondered.
"The singing," Tory shared, sighs. "I'm sorry, Kazran. So sorry, but..."
Kazran frowns. "But?"
"We need to send something into the cloud belt, something we know works," the Doctor informed, solemn. "We need her to sing."
They step inside the vault. "Her voice resonates perfectly with the ice crystals," the Doctor explained. "It calmed the shark. It will calm the sky, too."
Kazran sighs. "Could you do it?" He glances at him. "Could you do this? Think about it, Doctor. One last day with your beloved. Which day would you choose?"
"Christmas," Abigail replied, stepping out. "Christmas Day. Look at you." She puts a hand on his cheek. "So old now. I think you waited a bit too long, didn't you?"
"I'm sorry."
"Hoarding my days, like an old miser."
"But... if you leave the ice now..."
"We've had so many Christmas Eves, Kazran. I think it's time for Christmas Day," she kindly said.
They start their work on sending the signal. As Abigail sings a new song Tory never hears before into the sonic screwdriver, Tory keep on working the machine alongside the Doctor by using an extremely long wires that connecting the sonic screwdrived and the machine. Both work on some adjustments.
"When you're alone, silence is all you know," Abigail sang.
"Well?" Kazran asked.
"Well, the singing resonates in the crystals. It's feeding back and forth between the two halves of the screwdriver. One song, filling the sky. The crystals will align, we'll feed in a controlled phase loop, and the clouds will unlock," the Doctor described.
"What does that mean? What happens when a cloud unlocks?" Young Kazran asked.
"Snow," Tory replied, looking as the snow begins to fall.
"When you're alone, silence is all you see. When you're alone, silence is all you'll be. Give me your hand and come to me," Abigail continued as Kazran wraps his hand around one of Abigail's. She places her hand against Kazran's cheek. "When you are here, music is all around. When you are near, music is all around. Open your eyes, don't make a sound."
They look up to see the shark swimming above. "Hello, my old friend," Kazran greeted.
"Let in the shadow."
"Let's go," the Doctor said to Young Kazran and Tory. They look around, one last time, before enter, hearing Abigail's singing from outside as they dematerialises the TARDIS.
"Let in the shadow, let in the light of your bright shadow. Let in the shadow, let in the shadow. Let in the light of your bright shadow."
Later, after sending Young Kazran into the past, both Time Lords start to make snowmens around.
"You know, that could almost be mistaken for a real person. The snowman isn't bad, either," Amy remarked as both Tory and the Doctor look around, finding Amy and Rory walking up the street. Amy in her policewoman outfit and Rory in his Centurion costume.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Tory called, before frowning. "Eh, why are you dressed like that?"
"Ah, kind of lost our luggage. Kind of crash landed," Rory responded.
"Yeah, but why are you dressed like that at all?" The Doctor asked.
Both Amy and Rory look away, embarass. "They really love their snowmen around here," Amy noted, wanting to change the subject. "I've counted about 20."
"The more the merrier," Tory smiles.
"Of course," Amy sighs before hugging them. "Thank you."
"Pleasure. Right, come on, then, let's go!" He said as they heads for the TARDIS.
"Got any more honeymoon ideas?" Rory pondered.
"There's a moon that's made of actual honey," the Doctor began.
"Actually, that's not true at all. It's alive and a bit carnivorous, but there are some lovely views," she added before the Doctor unlocks the TARDIS.
"Yeah, great, thanks," Rory muttered and enters TARDIS.
Amy approaches them. "Are you okay?"
"Course we're okay," the Doctor assured Amy. "You?"
"Of course. It'll be their last day together, won't it?"
"Everything has to end some time, otherwise nothing would ever get started."
"Snow isn't snow till it falls," Tory murmured with fondness.
Rory opens the door. "Your phone was ringing. Someone called Marilyn. Actually sounds like the Marilyn."
Amy eyeing the Doctor suspiciosly. "Doctor?"
"Tell her I'll phone her back," he sheepishly replied.
"Oh, man. That was quite something. Let me tell you, Rory," Tory playfully remarked as she and Rory enter the TARDIS. "And later you can tell Amy about it."
Amy simply shook her head. Oh, she can't wait for Rory to tell her. "Where are they?" Amy asked the Doctor. "Kazran and Abigail."
"Off on a little trip, I should think," the Doctor guessed.
"Where?"
"Christmas."
"Christmas?"
"Yeah, Christmas."
Amy goes inside and the Doctoe looks up at the sky. "Halfway out of the dark," he muttered.
"And then, Marilyn suddenly just so engaged with him that..."
"Okay, that's enough!" He interjected and enters the TARDIS so Tory stop blabbering around.
Note: hope everyone enjoy these two-part christmas. I love this episode, and writing them is quite fun. Like in last series, I'm going to update SJA episode before finally end this story and move into another one :)