When I opened my eyes, there was a strange man who was uncomfortably close to my face and staring right at me, "Acacia", he asked.
I looked at him confused, then around the room as I stood up, and backed away, "Yes", I said awkwardly while looking back at him.
"Don't you recognize me? Wait, of course you don't, you haven't seen this face before. It's me! The Doctor", the Doctor exclaimed rather quickly, before putting his hands in his pockets.
"Doctor", I questioned as I examined what he was wearing, this Doctor wore a long overcoat, a hat, and a long-colorful-complicated scarf; he was also...alone?
"Oh, of course...if it had to happen, it would've happened now wouldn't it! Ow", the Doctor said as he grabbed his head in pain; I winced, however whatever he saw I wasn't able to see for myself. Then suddenly he got up and moved toward the console, "We're right outside of the capital of Galifrey. I'm in real trouble now", he told me.
"In trouble for what", I asked confused and then he glanced over at me, "I didn't tell you", he asked, then it clicked, "Did you really steal this Tardis", I asked.
"Blimey", the Doctor suddenly said and turned on the screen, "Hey", I exclaimed as he didn't answer my question, "" Hey" is for horses", he told me amused.
"Oh", I said annoyed and then he hushed me as he looked at his screen. The Doctor was acting rather childish, I thought, "What's wrong with being childish", he asked, then glanced over at me before chuckling as I crossed my arms to glare at him.
Then we both looked back at the screen just as some men approached the Tardis, "The Chancellery guards, what a welcome home", the Doctor scoffed.
"Who are they", I asked, "The police men of Galifrey", the Doctor told me, and we watched as one of the men spoke on screen.
"By the looks of it, it looks like a type 40", one of the guards said, "It is", another man asked, although he wasn't dressed in a uniform like the others; his robe and his hat were brown.
"But…that's impossible, there are no type 40s in service; they are out of commission…obsolete", the guard said. "" Obsolete?" Take no notice, either of you", the Doctor said to both the Tardis and myself, which made me look at him in confusion while the Tardis hummed.
"Never the less, Commander, this is a Tardis and it is the unauthorized zone. I want the occupants arrested", the man in the brown robe ordered.
"Very good, Castellan, I'll send for one", the guard told him, "After you have arrested the personal, impound the machine", the man, I assume was Castellan, said.
"Of course, Castellan, will you want me to question- ", "Eventually, yes, but not on a Presidential Resignation Day", Castellan said, cutting off the guard.
"They're electing a president", I asked, "Yes, it is to be announced today and they're supposed to give a speech", the Doctor told me ominously, like he knew something bad was going to happen. "We have to get past them and warn the president", the Doctor said as he grabbed a pen and paper from the console, then started writing a note before placing it in his pocket.
Then he grabbed a large bag from the closet, placed it on the console. Then pulled out a tube and a pipe, then attached them before setting up a dummy with its, back facing the door way, wearing his jacket while smoking the pipe. I ended up stuffing the dummy to make it look more realistic and then we hid just as the guards came walking in.
When one of the guards saw the dummy, he raised his gun at it, "Don't move, I said don't move", he said menacingly and I held my mouth shut to keep myself from laughing. I glanced over to see the Doctor was doing the same thing as well, it's not like it was going to move anytime soon. Then the Doctor and I quickly snuck out of the Tardis, to walk down the turquoise hallway at least until we were stopped by a guard who walked through one of the doorways and pointed his gun at us.
We had our hands up in surrender and just as we turned around, so he could escort us, he was immediately shot and killed; the Doctor and I ducked as soon as we heard the loud bang. The Doctor quickly checked the man's pulse, but it was too late…he was already dead, and we quickly hid behind a pillar, so we wouldn't be seen.
"Cayned", we heard the Commander say from behind the pillar, "He must have gone into the tower. You'll have to check every floor. All guards report to main tower, sector seven, dangerous intruder at large", the Commander said, I could only assume he said that last part in some sort of communication device. Once the Commander and guards were gone, the Doctor and I removed ourselves from the pillar, gave each other a confused look before returning to the Tardis.
We walked inside, and the Doctor turned on the screen and then changed it to the local news, "Really? We're being hunted by guards, probably going to be charged for murder, and you're watching television", I told the Doctor. "We will", he corrected, "What", I asked, "Not "probably", we will, or I will be charged for murder and you'll be charged for being an accomplice…so how about we get our minds off it and watch some tele, eh", he asked me.
"Oh", was the only thing I said before I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants and turned my eyes towards the screen as he switched it back to the feed from outside of the Tardis.
A man in a red and orange robe walked up to the Tardis and started caressing it, which gave me shivers down my spine and the Doctor glared at the man as he said, "What an inventive, suspicious mind you have, Spandrell. So this is an old type 40, its shape was infinitely variable, it's in remarkably good condition", the man in the red and orange robe commented.
"What are you going to do with it", the man in the red and orange robe asked Spandrell, who's title name was Castellan.
"I hadn't thought...I was more interested in its operator", Castellan or Spandrell said, "Well, I shouldn't leave it here in case he tries to sneak back. Transduct it into the Capital", the man in the red and orange robe ordered as he walked away.
"Very well, Sir", Castellan said, "Oh and keep me informed about your conspiracy", the man in the red and orange robe yelled. "Of course, transduct that to the museum", Castellan ordered one of the guard.
The Tardis and ourselves pixelated away to the museum inside of the Capital; once put back together I shook off the feeling of being a puzzle who was being put back together again. The Doctor sighed, "What a way to travel", he said, "You're telling me", I commented as I rolled around my neck, then he chuckled as we exited out of the Tardis.
"Now, which way is the Panpicon", he asked looking at me and I shrugged, he chuckled again as I smiled.
Then I heard someone whisper my name, "Acacia", I looked around, but I didn't see anyone, "Acacia", the Doctor called, "Yeah...I'm coming", I said in confusion as I followed him.
"Acacia", the voice whispered again, and I stopped to look behind me, "Acacia", it whispered again, but no one was there. In my confusion, I decided to follow the voice to find out where it was coming from only to find that I've been walking for ages until I entered inside a half-sphered room. I looked around, inside the room had brick walls, a white floor that matched the ceiling; the room looked completely different from what I saw outside, and it looked…ancient as I noticed the different symbols that I didn't understand, scrawled against the brown bricks.
Suddenly a ray of light beamed down on me and just as I felt I shouldn't be there, I tried to exit but the door closed before I could reach it and it was locked.
"Come to the center of the room, Acacia", I heard the same voice from before say; given no other choice, I decided to do as it said. I looked up into the light as it was beaming down onto me, "Hello Acacia, I am known as the Healer", the voice said from above me, "Um…hello", I said and waved at it awkwardly.
"By law, I am required to let you know that you're in a time-dimensional dome. This means you are in a room where time is different than outside, time in the outside world is slowed down to almost non-existent. This makes it covenant for your loved ones, as it makes it seem no time as passed at all", the Healer told me.
"Please give me a sign that you understand", the Healer asked me, "Um…yes? I understand", I said unsure, then it binged, and the beam of light turned yellow, "I sense confusion in your tone, was there something I had told you that might have confuse you? Would you like me to elaborate or continue", the Healer asked me.
"Um…could you elaborate…I guess", I asked. Then the light turned back to white, "Okay, while time is slowed down to non-extant outside; a hundred years would've passed in here and hardly any time would've passed out there. For timelords, that amount of time should be of no problem at all", the Healer told me.
I gulped, a hundred years…, "Is that how long I have to be in here", I asked, "Yes, exactly", the Healer told me and my eyes widened at that.
"But, I'm not a Time-Lord", I exclaimed, "Scanning", the Healer said as it's light changed to blue and then back to white. "Records: Gender: ?", the Healer asked me, "Non—Specific", I said, I felt like gender didn't matter, "Gender: Non-Binary, Age: 19, Year of Birth:…Unknown." My heart dropped at that, "What do you mean unknown", I asked, "Species: Hum…Time-Lor…error, unknown", the Healer continued as it ignored my first question.
"What do you mean by "unknown"", I asked upset and confused, "Someone has tampered with your genetic code, to make you appear human inside and out."
"Then what's my original race or "species"", I said getting angry and the Healer paused for a moment before giving me the answer, "Time-Lord."
"Okay...", I said as I combed my fingers through my hair, "What about the year I was born", I asked as I felt my heart or hearts started to beat faster. "You are unauthorized to access these files", the Healer told me, "But it's about me…surely you can tell me", I said getting angry, "You are unauthorized to access these files", the Healer repeated.
I sighed, "Okay", I said defeated with my hands in my hair, "Would you like me to finish", the Healer asked, "Sure", I said and looked up. "Name: Acacia Juniper Birch", the Healer told me as my eyes widened when a memory popped into my head.
A picture of a man appeared in front of me who seemed to be picking me up as fires blared around him, "One…I just need to save one", he said as I watched his him cut his own hand. "Forgive me", he said and cut my tiny hand, then held it tight as I heard a baby cry.
Then a white light seemed to illuminate from me and the man's eyes widened in surprise, "Doctor", I heard a woman shout and I blinked, feeling like I just woke from a dream.
Then I felt my nose bleed like a waterfall and I fainted, the Healer's light turned red as it said, "Emergency, emergency", then I saw a cloaked figure rush into the room as I closed my eyes. When I finally opened my eyes, it felt like my hair had gotten longer and then I looked around as I was slowly being lowered to the floor.
"Well that's not freaky", I said as I felt my bare bottom touch the floor and then I quickly stood, "Whew, that is ice cold", I said and then looked down, only realizing…I was naked.
I squeaked and tried to cover myself with my hands, "What happened", I asked as I looked up at the Healer, "The Experiment was a success, Time-Lord transformation complete."
"What do you mean experiment and why am I naked", I asked, "It is common for patients to experience paranoia after their procedure, but it doesn't last long and your clothes needed to be removed so the treatment could be done", the Healer told me as I lifted a brow. "Warning: By law, I am required to tell you that within an hour of leaving this room, there is a possibility that you will die. You are required to seek out your attendant to help you through your transformation. Clothes will be provided to you in the next room; thank you and have a nice day", the Healer told me, and the white light shut off, then a door opened at the opposite side of the room.
Upon entering the room, I saw that shoes, underwear, a white dress, and a strap…I suppose that was for my breasts, were laid out for me on a table. The door closed by itself behind me, as I approached the clothing; I wondered who placed it there and where my clothes were. After taking a good look around and not finding my original outfit anywhere within the room, I decided to put the clothing on with a sigh.
The sleeves and shoes were a bit tight and the cleavage part of the dress was a bit low, but overall were comfortable. Then I looked into the mirror, I haven't changed at all…besides my hair growing as far as right above my hips; I was in there for a hundred years…which sounds impossible when you think about it, but I remained looking the same. I blinked at my reflection as I placed two hands on my chest to feel my heart beats, they were strongly beating, and it was an odd feeling.
Then I sighed and left the dressing room, I walked down the hall in search of the Doctor as people in colored gowns gave me odd sideways glances.
Somehow, I managed to find a large room that was filled with those who wore long colorful robes, "I must've taken a wrong turn", I thought out loud and turned around to see a couple of people staring at me.
They gave me a confused look, before one of them asked, "Are you lost, child", I fidgeted with my fingers embarrassed, "Actually…um…I was looking for someone", I told them, before I felt someone grab my hand and drag me away.
"My plus one", the man that had grabbed my hand told another timelord that held a clipboard, who just gave him a lifted a brow before letting us in. I watched as the other Time-Lords just shake their head, "Where did you go", the man asked and I glanced over to see that it was the Doctor holding my hand. "I…followed a voice", I told him awkwardly as I felt my cheeks growing hot in embarrassment. Before he asked anything else, the Doctor suddenly felt my pulse on my neck while no one was looking and then lowered his hand.
"You thought that was a good idea", he asked me, "I don't know… I couldn't help it…it….it lured me in and that sounds embarrassing when I say that out loud", I told him. He was about to ask something else, before a Time-Lord walked by…someone he recognized I suspected and we quickly turned our back to talk to another Time-Lord.
"Ruciable, my dear chap, how nice to see you", the Doctor said as he greeted the man, "Oh, I don't believe we…oh, I say. Weren't you expelled or something, quite the scandal and who's this…too young to have been one of our classmates", Ruciable said.
"Oh, it's all been forgotten, old boy and she's my plus one", the Doctor told him, "Oh really? As in a "date"? You do realize you're old enough to be her father or grandfather don't you", Ruciable asked the Doctor.
"Yes", the Doctor replied, "And do you care", the man asked me, "No", I told him, and he nodded.
"Anyway, where have you been all these years", Ruciable asked, "Oh, here and there, you know…around and about", the Doctor told him, before he bowed so his face wasn't seen by the guards. "With her by your side, I take it", Ruciable asked, "You'd be correct", the Doctor replied and I tapped his shoulder, letting him know that the guard had passed.
"Have you had a face-lift", Ruciable asked the Doctor and my brows raised at that an then they narrowed in annoyance, "Of all the rude things to- ", "Yes, several so far", the Doctor said covering my mouth before I pulled his hand down to finish what I was saying, "To say", then I glared up at the Doctor who just grinned.
"Yes, well, it was nice to have met the both of you. I must get on, I'm doing the PR video-cast", Ruciable said awkwardly after watching our exchange.
"Yes, and splendid it is too, if I may so", the Doctor said, "Oh, do you really think so", Ruciable asked, "Oh, it's a gift…somehow you have a wonderful way of making the whole thing come alive", the Doctor said, before turning his head, si his back was facing the guard.
"Why thank you for saying so. Ah! That'll be the president now. He's just arrived at the Ponpticon", Ruciable said into his floating camera.
The Doctor suddenly looked processed as he turned around to look up at a balcony, "You sure you're aright", Ruciable asked the Doctor, "Doctor", I questioned as I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"What? Yes", the Doctor said as the Ruciable complained about not getting a signal, both the Doctor looked at the balcony and we noticed a clear sniper rifle in place. Then the Doctor suddenly ran up the stairs to take a closer look, just as I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I saw a glimpse of a hooded figure, before they handed me what looked like a mirror only when I looked into it did the time vortex appear. Time itself seemed to play for me as the hooded figure walked away; wars, families, animals, diseases, cures, inventions, space, stars, universes, planets, the big bang, the beginning and end of all things. I watched it all and a voice said within my mind, "Some people change once they look into the vortex. Some get inspired, some run away, and some…go mad. Which are you", the voice asked.
I saw multiple things of what was, what is, and what could be…someone said this before…endless possibilities of the past, present, and future. I had to look away and wipe my tears…those poor people…I wanted to help them…all of them.
Just as I looked up, I felt a hand on my shoulder and for a moment I thought it was the Doctor, until they said, "Here she is…the accomplice", a guard shouted. I turned around and noticed that the Doctor was being arrested, how long was I looking into this thing, I wondered as I looked down at the screen that now looked like a mirror.
"Why? What's happened", I asked, "Were you not paying attention? You were standing right here! The president is dead and you helped kill him", the guard told me and my eyes widened in shock.
(Reference to Doctor Who: Born from War.)