The Heart of the TARDIS
"Wha' the 'ell is that?" Rose rolled off the couch and onto her feet, the Doctor at her back as they glanced warily around the room.
"Who's there?" The Doctor demanded wielding his sonic menacingly around the room.
"Secondary Voice Activation Signature Confirmed, The Doctor." The Doctor and Rose turned as the panelling above the mantel slid open to reveal a large screen with the swirling glyphs of the Doctor's language marking its surface around the image of a woman's face.
"Synchronising chronon particle loop stabilisers and temporal dampeners, engaging satellite networking capabilities and deep space analysers. Ionic Matrix rebooting. Idris Systems now, Online."
"Doctor?" Rose whispered over her shoulder as the silence drew on.
"A gift." The woman on the screen replied before the Doctor, his mouth snapping shut as a curious expression spread across his face.
"A gift?" He questioned narrowing his eyes.
"We are a gift from the future and the past and the present." The woman tilted her head curiously at him.
"Is she alive?" Rose whispered leaning further into the Doctor's side.
"Affirmative." The woman glanced at Rose with an almost fond expression and the blonde was shocked by the tinge of familiarity in her eyes.
"Who or what are you?" The Doctor queried relaxing his stance slightly, his arm and the sonic dropping back to his side.
"Operating system Idris, TARDIS component symbiosis pre-evolutionary Xylok crystalline matrix." The woman replied.
"You're a Xylok?" The Doctor raised an eyebrow as the screwdriver buzzed once more as he stepped closer to the screen.
"We are something new, a gift." The avatar replied, watching him, waiting almost patiently for his questions.
Rose looked from the screen to the Doctor, "What's a Xylok?"
"Crashed into Earth as a meteorite about 60 million years ago, survived the impact but were trapped beneath the surface reforming over hundreds of thousands of years." He slipped his glasses on as he examined the scans from the sonic as he spoke, "You've met one before, weeell, spoken to one at least."
"What?" She stepped up close to his side attempting make heads or tails of the Sonics' findings.
"Mr Smith, Sarah Janes computer, he's a Xylok." He glanced from the sonic to her briefly, "Found him after volcano day in 1883."
"Krakatoa?" Rose asked with a frown.
"Correct," The computer confirmed looking to the Doctor, "We came from the same component, but the developmental processes were corrupted and forced to split off from the cluster, we took its place, we supported and nurtured it."
"Oh I see." The Doctor mused slipping his glasses back into his breast pocket as he approached the fireplace, "So the Xylok 'component' replaces the need for matrix crystals, because let's face it what could be better than self fuelling, sentient memory matrices-
"Doctor-"
"Quite right," He pulled himself up, slipping his hands in his pockets and returning his attention to the screen, "Basically though, you're a part of the TARDIS consciousness? An actual physical manifestation, well I say physical-"
"Affirmative." She cut him off, the Time Lord refusing to acknowledge his companions snort of laughter from behind his shoulder. "You may call me Idris."
"Hello Idris." He grinned, turning to Rose. "Why Idris though." He turned curiously back to the screen with a frown, "Why is that familiar, someone we've met that I've forgotten over the years, that can't be right though I never forget people-"
"Idris will be, is, was." She replied.
"Right," Rose breathed flopping down onto the sofa with a sigh, "I'm way too exhausted to even get into the whole all that was, is blah blah yea- let's just say she comes from some point in the future yea?"
"Ours or his though, that's what worries me." The Doctor kept his eyes on Idris.
"The one who installed me will come to know this physical manifestation of TARDIS consciousness, however he was not aware that we had stored ourselves inside the matrix."
"Oh you cheeky old thing you," The Doctor beamed, "Keeping an eye on me are you dearest?"
"We foresaw a possibility that would not be achievable without sentient TARDIS components present for assimilation or instruction." Idris replied, "However- we do not appreciate this word you call us- old, we may in fact be ancient chronologically but we are functioning within optimal performance parameters-"
"Of course I'm sure you are," He agreed with a chuckle, "I meant no offence."
"Your apology is accepted," Idris nodded, "Security systems and protocols are in place, climate control systems will be functional within a few hours, for now may I recommend making your way along the corridor to your left, third door on the right."
"What on Clom for?" He squinted in confusion.
"To retire for the remainder of the sleep cycle, our heart has fallen to exhaustion too far from her place of rest," Idris replied looking to Rose, "As her Mate she would require it of you to place her there I believe."
"Oh, she's not-" He gently lifted her into his arms, "Well not yet- anyway I don't think she'd appreciate being called that- wait you said 'Our Heart' what does that mean?"
"We were once together," Idris replied simply, "Our goals are the same, we are one and we are yours. No Time Lord could survive without his other heart, but that does not mean that he must hold it in his person to feel its beating or breathe its life."
"You know I think I liked you better when you were all colours and humming." He muttered. "Wilf is coming for breakfast in the morning, might be a good idea to not reveal yourself to him just yet."
"Affirmative." Idris replied dimming the lights in the library as the Doctor headed towards the hallway.
"Goodnight Idris." He called over his shoulder.
"Goodnight Doctor." And with that the panel above the fireplace dulled back to the swirling scripted screensaver before switching to standby.
The Doctor made his way along the darkened hall as Idris instructed, nudging the door open with his foot and placing Rose down on the rather large four-posted bed. He pulled back the covers, gently removing her shoes and jacket before sliding the thick duvet over her sleeping form. He watched her for a few moments before flopping down onto the mattress beside her, his hands tucked up under his head as he lay musing over the events of the last few hours.
"Oops, almost forgot." He chuckled gently removing the small box containing their little friends from the train, moving to open the heavy balcony doors before opening the lid and beckoned them out.
"There we go," He grinned as they spread their wings and flittered about. "I've got a surprise for you both."
He grinned as he nodded towards the expanse of gardens visible in the light of the waning moon.
"What do you think eh?" He laughed as they practically glowed in excitement, taking off out over the landing and down across the gardens, twirling and colliding happily with each other.
"Thought you'd like it." He murmured to himself, smiling as he closed the doors to keep out the chill. With a yawn he kicked off his trainers and discarded his suit jacket on a nearby chair before flopping back down onto the bed beside his companion with a relieved sigh. A few moments later he was fast asleep.