I opened my eyes and I was back in the console room, "Oh, there you are", I heard a man say from another room, as I approached. I saw a man dressed in a colorful suit standing on a ladder, messing with something inside of the wall.
"I'll soon put you back to rights", he said as he went to another part of the wall, and tried to fix the wiring inside. Well, at least until he almost electrocuted himself, I gasped as he almost fell of the ladder, and held onto the ladder tightly so he wouldn't fall.
Then I sighed, "Are you trying to get yourself killed", I said upset, "Ah! Acacia, tell me is that supposed to happen", the man asked me, as he climbed down the ladder.
"Doctor", I asked, and he sighed, "Must we go through this every time you see me. Yes, hello, I'm the Doctor. Now, if you could kindly…hold on you look", the Doctor said, then took a closer look at my face.
I looked at him awkwardly as there was a pause, "Different", he told me after a moment, "Hm, must be the first, so you won't know sadly, but anyway", the Doctor said as he placed down his toolbox.
Then he placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled, "It's good to see you", he told me, just as a girl came in running as she wore a lowcut pink dress and had short brown hair.
"What are you doing? And who's she", the girl or woman asked in a U.S. accent and my eyebrows raised in surprise as I glanced over to the Doctor.
"Don't worry, she's not you", he told me, "I can tell, I wouldn't wear something like that", I told him quietly, "You'd be surprised", he told me, and I scoffed.
"Are you talking about me", the woman asked annoyed, "No, my dear, as for your question I'm doing what I've should've done long ago. Fix the chameleon circuit, the Tardis, when working properly, is capable of many amazing things. Not unlike myself", the Doctor told us.
"After all this time, you still haven't fixed it", I asked him, "I was getting around to it", he told me, I scoffed and shook my head.
"I was", he insisted and I raised a brow at him, "Look, you can raise your brow all you want-", "What does it do", the woman asked, cutting him off.
"Well, one of its functions is that it can change shape to blend in perfectly with its surrounding environments", the Doctor told us, as we followed him to another room.
"I see", she said, "Not yet, you don't", he told her, "Do you need any help", I asked as he poked around inside of the wall.
"Not just now, I'll have Peri help me. You'll have to get changed out of that awful dress", he told me, "Your one to talk", I told him.
"Your bedroom is through those doors, down the hall and to the right", he told me, and I sighed as I followed his instruction, however he failed to mention that it was a long hallway.
When I got to my bedroom I opened the door and inside looked just like my bedroom back home, a tear fell down my cheek as I walked in and closed the door behind me.
"How did he", I whispered as my cheeks grew warm and then I found a letter on my bed as well was as black slip on shoes, black slacks, a black and white striped shirt, and a black fedora. They were folded neatly on my bed I noticed and may have been covered in a little dust.
I picked up the letter and read the contents: "Hello Me, Well, this is awkward, huh? Before you get any ideas, no the Doctor didn't recreate your room, I did and well he helped. Sometimes he needs help fixing things, but anyway welcome! I hope you like it and think of home Me. Sincerely, Your Future Self."
I didn't notice there was a tear stain on the bottom of the letter, until a tear from my own cheek fell on the same exact spot where the stain was. Trying not to think about it, I folded the letter back up and placed it in a drawer nearby.
After I was done taking a shower, getting dressed, and cutting my hair; I exited out the room, closed the door behind me as it locked itself, and then made my way back down the long hallway.
I walked through the door, just as Peri was saying, "Look, Doctor, do you really think you are up for this. I mean, you've only recently regenerated and you've undertaken so much work. Well, what I really mean to say is that you seem a little unstable."
I raised my brows at her, as I felt the Doctor get really offended, "Unstable? Unstable? Unstable? This is me Peri, at this very moment I am as stable as you will ever see me", the Doctor said as he placed the cords back into the wall, and then closed the panel. Before he moved to work on another piece of machinery.
"You must forget how we used to be, we're Time-Lords. We are people of science, temperament, and passion", the Doctor said, before grabbing my hand and dragged me out into the console room.
"And a very loud voice", Peri complained, "Yes and that too, but not unstable. This is the real us, Peri", the Doctor said, before letting go of my hand. He's a bit theatrical, I thought.
The Doctor gave me a look as Peri said, "But she looks different than the other-", "Ah, ah, ah, shush", the Doctor said, as he placed a finger over his mouth to shush her.
"Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you", the Doctor told her, was she afraid of us, I wondered as the Doctor pulled an apple out of his pocket and began eating it.
"I still think you're doing too much. You need to rest", she told the Doctor as he gave me the other half of the apple, I just placed it down on the console.
"Rest? Nonsense. Rest is for the weary and sleep is for the dead. I feel like a hungry man eager for a feast. Now, we've spent too long in the Tardis, we need a change. Where would the two of you like to go", the Doctor asked us.
"It doesn't matter", I replied, "When", Peri answered, "For you, somewhere restful, I think; I'm sure after the bleakness of Joconda you could do with a sight of green hills, rolling countryside. Although, you've probably already seem enough green haven't you", the Doctor told me amused.
I shrugged, and the Doctor smiled as he said, "I know just the place", and then he pressed a button. The Tardis was then jolted through the air as it spun around.
"Doctor", I yelled, "What happening", Peri asked panicking, "Just hold on", he told us as we all held onto the console tightly.
Suddenly, the Tardis stopped and we all fell onto the floor, "Must have crossed a wiring", the Doctor said as we all stood up.
"Did you check the circuit breakers", I asked as he examined the console, "I'm checking them now", the Doctor told me, as he opened a panel below the console to examine the wiring.
"Well, I hope you never do anything more serious. I think my heart is where my liver should be", Peri said, and the Doctor actually looked, I thought amused.
"At least the Tardis isn't damages, are you alright", the Doctor asked me as I rubbed my hip, "Must have landed on my side wrong", I told him.
"I know, I felt it, let me see", the Doctor said and then began to lift my shirt, before I quickly pulled it back down as my cheeks turned bright red.
"Right…modest, I'll check my side then", he said before lifted his own side to check his hip to reveal a bruise, "Well, it's bruised", he said, before he poked it, which caused me to flinch and hit his arm.
"Nothing broken, some ice will help", the Doctor told me, before he pulled his shirt down.
"How do you guys do that? Feel each other's pain", Peris asked, "We're…connected…long story", the Doctor told her.
"Okay, so tell just tell me where we are", Peri asked, and the Doctor sighed and then went over to the console.
"Oh, child of little faith", he said, "Do you blame me", Peri asked, then we looked at the monitor as it revealed a comet.
"What's that", Peri asked, "Comet nine slash one, two slash four, and four. To the two of you, that would-be Holley's comet", the Doctor told us.
The comet flew through outer space as it glowed a deep fiery blue, "It's beautiful", I commented.
"Yes, it's very pretty, but it still doesn't tell me where we are", Peri said frustrated.
"Outer space", I stated obviously as I turned around to face her and she gave me a look, "More specifically in your sun's solar system. In the year you would calculate as 1985. I was in fact taking you, Peri, to Earth", the Doctor told her.
"Bit of an anticlimax after that journey", Peri commented to which the Doctor replied very salty, "Ungrateful wretch."
I scoffed, "There's no need to be mean", I told him, "What did he expect? An applause", Peri told me.
"A little gratitude wouldn't irretrievably damage my ego", the Doctor told her, "Come off it Doctor, no one is more surprised than you that we came through it", Peri told him.
I was left in confusion as they argued about what had happened before I got here, then the Doctor stormed off to fix the console.
Walking up to him, I asked, "Don't suppose you'll tell me what happened", I asked, "Nope, no sneak previews. You'll find out", the Doctor told me as he fixed the console.
I shrugged, "Worth a try", I said as the Doctor stood, "Yes and there it's fixed", he said as he closed the panel to the console.
"No more death-defying rides", Peri asked, "Absolutely not", the Doctor told her, but then a panel popped off the wall to reveal the wiring inside as it short circuited.
I sighed as the Doctor said, "Oh...hopefully not", he said as he walked over to the wall to fix the wires inside.
"Look, don't you think we should land", Peri asked, "No, not at all, I have perfect rapport with this machine", the Doctor replied.
"I only hope the Tardis knows it", Peri commented, and the Tardis hummed.
"Look, Doctor and Acacia, out there are thousands and millions of tons of ice. One ill-considered move could cause us to collide with it. I'm scared, and you don't seem to understand that", Peri told us.
I sighed and looked down, it was understandable for her to fear the comet…but to fear us? I've noticed she's been avoiding our gaze and keeping her distance.
"Of course, we do", the Doctor told her after glancing at me, "But you have nothing to fear. Promise", the Doctor told her.
"I hope not, it's rather ironic...on Earth, Holley's Comet is always associated with impending disaster", She told him, "That's nonsense", he told her, "Not when you're this close, it isn't", she told him upset.
"It's as the Doctor said, the comet won't hurt us", I said, trying to comfort Peri, "That's easy for you to say, you don't even know all of it", Peri told me, frantically.
"Now, now- ", the Doctor said, before an alarm started to go off on the console, "Does…does that noise have anything to do with you", Peri asked us as he messed with the wires in the console.
"No", the Doctor replied as he went around the console to see what he was looking at and started pressing more buttons and switches.
"Is it just me or does it sound like a- ", "Distress signal", the Doctor finished as he looked up at me and I nodded.
"How do you know", Peri asked, "Oh! Listen, that is an intergalactic distress signal code", the Doctor told her.
"You tell her that as if she's supposed to know", I told him, "She should", he said bluntly, and I lifted a brow at him.
He smiled at that, "You get amused when you annoy me don't you", I asked, "A little", he admitted.
"There's another noise", Peri told us confused and I listened, "You're right", I told her.
"That's strange…it's coming from Earth. In 1985", he told us questioningly, "It's not possible", Peri said.
"Possible it is, desirable it isn't", the Doctor told her, "So, there could be an extraterrestrial on Earth", I asked the Doctor, "Possibly, I think when we arrive, we should investigate", the Doctor told us.
When we re-materialized on Earth, we exited out of the Tardis, just as the Doctor grabbed a machine from the console, "This is familiar", he said as he followed us out and then closed the door.
"Where are we", I asked, "Scrapyard", he replied, and I nodded, "Where on Earth are we", Peri asked, "London", replied the Doctor as he messed with the machine in his hand.
"It didn't change", she said, "Hm", I asked looking back at her, "He said it was going to blend into its surroundings", Peri told me.
"Oh, she's probably just thinking about it, isn't that right Acacia", the Doctor asked me as the Tardis hummed, "Yeah, I think your right", I told him, and I heard Peri sigh.
"Come on, let's find out where those signals are coming from", the Doctor said as we walked a few paces, before we stopped as we heard a noise coming from behind.
The Tardis turned itself into a tall fountain, "Oh, neat", Peri joked as she laughed, both the Doctor and I looked at her, then at the Tardis.
"There's nothing at all incongruous about that", Peri told us, "Well, at least it's something", I said, trying to be positive.
"She hasn't done it for a long time. She's…she's out of practice", the Doctor told her, "Of course", Peri said.
"Cheeky minxes", the Doctor groaned quietly, "What was that", I asked, and he coughed nervously, "Oh, nothing. Come on", he said, as he walked away.
We followed the Doctor as he scanned the area with his machine, then he suddenly stopped and looked around.
"I suddenly feel conspicuous", the Doctor said, "I'm not surprised, in that coat", Peri said amused as she walked away.
I examined the Doctor's coat, "What's wrong with it", I asked, "Of course you would see nothing wrong with it", Peri told me.
I scoffed, "I've gotten used to it", I told her, "It's more a question of having organized a surprise party and forgotten who's it for", the Doctor suddenly said.
"Listen Doctor, since you've regenerated…it's as if your memory has been put through the meat grinder. I mean, it's all there but in a pile of unrelated bits and pieces", Peri told him, and I gave her a sour look.
"That's a horrible simile", the Doctor told her, "It's true though, in the past couple of days you've called me Teagan, Zoe, Susan. On one occasion, you even referred to me as Jaimie…I'm surprised you didn't call me Acacia in all that time", Peri said.
"Merely slips of the tongue and no offence, but I would never call you Acacia", the Doctor told her.
She scoffed, "Why no offence? Anyway, I rather think they are slips of the mind and while we're about it. Who's this terrible Zodin", Peri asked him.
"I called you Zodin did I? Oh, they don't make villains like…um…never mind", the Doctor said, glancing back at me, before we continued walking.
I looked at him confused, "Perhaps my mind has been playing tricks on me", the Doctor said as we continued down the street, with him still scanning the area. Then he suddenly stopped, and Peri ran to catch up with us.
"Now where", Peri asked out of breath; then Doctor grabbed my hand and we rounded the corner, then we stopped, then turned around, and went back. We walked a couple paces in that direction before we turned around.
"Getting a bit dizzy here Doctor", I told him, "I'm sure I almost have it", he told me, then we turned back, stopped at the entrance of an alleyway, and then we went in.
We walked to an abandoned house and the Doctor looked into the peep hole, "It's unoccupied", he told us, "Are you sure this is the right place", Peri asked him.
"Oh, yes…I'm a fool", the Doctor exclaimed, "What? No, you're not", I told him, "Of course I am! That's precisely what I would have done", the Doctor said as we took off down the Alley, with Peri following after us.
We followed the Doctor, until we stopped in front of the building and looked at the sign in the window. "Look, Acacia and Susan", the Doctor said as he pointed at the sign, before we gave the Doctor a look of concern.
"Peri", she corrected, and the Doctor ignored her, and she sighed. "So the signal should be around here", I asked the Doctor and he nodded.
"Yeah, well…supposing there really are aliens here on Earth…does that really matter", she asked, and the Doctor continued to ignore her, at least until she jumped right in front of him.
He frowned as he looked down at her, "I mean, they don't all have ten heads and want to take over the world", Peri told him.
"Or it could be trapped and terrified", I argued, "Precisely, the poor thing, if it is we can do something about it", the Doctor said as we walked back to the scrapyard.
"We", Peri asked, "Acacia and I", the Doctor corrected as he was looking for the entrance to the Tardis, I looked over to see Peri looking down and I felt bad.
Before I could say anything to her, the Doctor had found the entrance to the Tardis right behind it, and we all went in. Then we all went to the console as the Doctor de-materialized the Tardis.
"Are we looking for the source of the distress signal", I asked, "Yes", the Doctor replied, "I thought you said it was coming from the house", Peri asked.
"It is, but the source of the signal is transmitting from somewhere else", the Doctor told her, "I don't understand", she said confused.
"I also detected several weaker signals going into the house. Our alien is being ultra-cautious, he's bouncing the signal off several relay points around London. It could take days to find out where it's coming from", the Doctor told us.
"But…by then he would have plenty of time to move on", I said, "Hm...you are brilliant Acacia, absolutely brilliant! If the signal is being relayed to prevent detection, then the house would have to be watched", the Doctor told me.
"So, he can find out if his transmitter had been discovered", I said, "Exactly", the Doctor said as he pressed some buttons on the console.
"Let's find our alien before he has time to vanish", the Doctor told us, then Doctor walked around the console as he tried to figure out the signal.
"So, how long have you been traveling with the Doctor", Peri asked as she walked up to me, "Technically a year", I told her, "What do you mean technically", she asked.
"Nearly there", we heard the Doctor say and then I answered Peri's question, "Well, I was in a coma for a year", I told her, and she stared wide eyed at me.
"So really, we've been traveling together technically…three months", I told her, "How did you come to be in a coma for a year", she asked, and I hesitated, before giving her the same answer as I did everyone else, "It's a long story."
"Okay, now I just have to lock onto the coordinates", the Doctor said, "So you really haven't been traveling for that long with him", she asked me, and I shook my head.
"Well, the last time I met you…you both made it seem like it's been years, I- ", then she stopped talking as I turned around and noticed the Doctor was right behind me.
"Why are you sneaking about", I asked, "I am not sneaking about, you just didn't hear me", the Doctor retorted.
"Well, I sure hope the alien appreciates what we're doing", Peri said, changing the subject, "I'm sure he will", I told her, "Probably sitting there all of a dither, waiting for us", the Doctor added.
After we materialized at our destination, we walked out only to realize we had came out of an organ piano.
"This is getting ridiculous", the Doctor complained, and I was a little amused as I hid my smile behind my hand.
"I'm not saying a word", Peri said, "I was certain, I'd fixed it", the Doctor told us, "Apparently not", I told him, and he glared at me.
"Cheeky minx", the Doctor insulted me, and I was slightly taken aback, at least until I realized the Doctor was only teasing which annoyed me.
Then the Doctor took his machine out and then scanned the inside of the building, "Come on", he told us, and we followed close behind.
He walked around with the machine and even walked over a hole with it, for a second I thought he wasn't paying attention then sighed in relief when he didn't fall in.
"You alright", he asked me as I placed a hand on my forehead, "Oh yeah…just peachy", I said sarcastically as I examined the hole. He nearly scared me half to death, glad he's alright though, and I wonder what's done there, I thought.
Then the Doctor glanced at me, waved, and then pointed to his ear, "I can hear what you're thinking", he thought to me and I lifted a brow, "What do you want me to do? Stop thinking", I thought back.
"No…but can you at least block me from reading your thoughts, just think about putting up a wall- ", his thought was cut off by the mental wall that I put up.
He looked up me questioningly, then smiled, gave me a thumbs up, before he continued examining the room again.
"Doctor", Peri called, "Not now, Peri", he told her, "Doctor, Acacia", Peri called again, saying my name as well. I looked over to see what she was looking at and saw a police man pointing a gun at us from inside of the hole.
"Ah, how do you do constable", the Doctor greeted as he approached the man, "He's got a gun", Peri warned.
"I'm not blind, Peri…You look uncomfortable in that hole let me help you out", the Doctor said as he held out his hand and pretended to help him, before kicking the gun away and pushing the man down with his foot.
"Doctor", I exclaimed as he jumped down into the hole to beat up the police officer and then another police officer came over as he was pointing a gun at us. Peri threw some dust in his eyes which caused him to drop it. Then Peri picked it up and pointed it at the man.
"Even I couldn't miss from this range", she warned, then the Doctor popped his head up from the hole as he wore the police officer's hat.
I sighed in relief, "Are you alright", I asked, "I'd think you'd know if I wasn't…I'm fine", the Doctor finally said after I gave him a look.
"Don't do something stupid like that again, I could have killed you", Peri warned the Doctor, both he and I looked at her.
"I believe you", he told her, "Don't patronize me", she said annoyed, "I wouldn't dare", said the Doctor, "Just don't point that gun at us", I added, and she glared at me.
I lifted a brow in confusion at her, before I helped the Doctor out of the hole he was in, then he searched the other police officer after pulling out some handcuffs.
"What happened to the other one", Peri asked as the Doctor handcuffed one of the man's wrist.
"He's…er, having a lie down", the Doctor told her as he dragged the man to the wall and chained him up to one of the bars.
"There, key", the Doctor said as he held out his hand for the key, the man placed it in his hand.
"I'm assuming these aren't the real police", Peri asked, "Yeah", I commented as I examined the fake police officer, "I think you're right to make that assumption."
"But why did they try to kill us", she asked, "The bottom of that pit has been dug out", the Doctor said, before jumping into the hole.
"I think it leads to the sewers, come on", the Doctor said, "Okay, just let me fold up my pants and sleeves", I told him as I did just that.
"Oh, very well. Do hurry up", the Doctor said as I was finishing up folding up my sleeves and pants, then gave him a glare.
"One moment, kneel down", the Doctor told me, I lifted a brow as he gestured for me to do so. When I did, the Doctor snatched the hat off my head and threw it.
"Hey", I said, "What? It looked silly, come on", the Doctor said before jumping into the hole and Peri ran, then came back to give me my hat.
"Thank you", I said and placed it on my head, "No problem", she said and then we jumped in, the Doctor found some flashlights and gave us each one.
Then the Doctor flashed the light in my face, then my hat, and shook his head, before walking ahead of us.
"Are you going the right way", I asked, "You saw the signs and scuff marks on the bricks", the Doctor told me.
"That could have been made any time", Peri told him, "No, they're recent…I have an instinct for these things", he told her.
"I don't know about all that", I commented and that prompted the Doctor to flash the light in my face again, then he quickly turned away and rubbed his eyes as did I.
"I might have flashed the light a little too quickly", the Doctor told me, "You think", I said as I tried to adjust my eyes again to the darkness of the sewers.
"To think this is my first visit to London", Peri said after a while, "I'm sure you'll see more", I told her, "I hope so", she commented.
"Hm, the city's interesting, but you may find this route more memorable", the Doctor said as he turned a corner, "That I believe", Peri told him.
Then we heard a scream, the Doctor and I immediately ran towards the source with Peri following close behind.
"You can't be thinking of going to the noise", Peri asked us, "Someone could be hurt", I told her, "And need our help, come on", the Doctor added as we continued running.
We turned another corner to see a body lying on the floor and looked the person sadly as we slowly made our way towards him. After looking around to make sure we were in no danger, the Doctor knelt next to the man and checked his pulse.
"His neck is broken", he told us, and I breathed slowly as I knelt beside the Doctor, before shutting the man's eyes.
"We must fetch the police-", "We can't do that", I told her cutting her off, "Why not", she asked angrily, "We-", "One moment I'm thinking", the Doctor said cutting me off.
"Look, Doctor and Acacia this isn't some deserted planet in the middle of nowhere. You don't have to play Sheriff and Deputy", Peri told us, and I looked up at her with a lifted brow.
"Hm, yes, yes, you're absolutely right, but first let's find some hard evidence", the Doctor told her, before he started looking around as he used the flashlight.
"You've got a body right here, what more do you want", Peri asked," That's just the victim", the Doctor told her, "We need the suspect", I added.
"Right. The police will be more interested in the perpetrator of the crime, this way", the Doctor said, before walking away and we followed.
The Doctor walked down the tunnel where he flashed the wall with light, after we exited out of the room and then turned a corner. Peri poked him in the back, which caused him to yelp in surprise.
"Don't do that", he told her, "I'm sorry", she said, "You alright", I asked him, "Yes, I'm fine", he told me, "I didn't realize you were so scared", Peri said apologetically.
"I'm not scared, I was thinking", he told her, "Could've fooled me", I commented, "Now, listen you…", the Doctor said as he stopped to point at me, before he paused as I lifted a brow at him.
"Oh, I see…giving me a taste of my own medicine, eh", he asked me as he lowered his hand, "Pretty much", I admitted.
"I have to say I don't find that amusing", he told me and then flashed the light in my face, I lowered his hand and said, "Exactly", before walking away.
Doctor and Peri were taking behind me, I wasn't paying attention until a man from the shadows grabbed me and held a knife to my throat. "Drop it", the man ordered as he held the knife closer to my throat; this is just great, I thought annoyed.