AN/ Hi again, it seems I'm back. 2 Chapters in 2 Days. The muse just really keep em coming. I was reading over my last chapter and I seem to have forgotten the line breaks. Apparently they didn't transfer over properly, also I was reading over it and saw heaps of errors. Gah! I feel terrible now, you would think as English is my native language I would be able to spell properly, but apparently not :D I will make sure I reedit the previous chapter as some stage so it makes for easier reading.
Also I forgot to mention how to say Riana's name. Her full name is Riana'Cekina Tahlay. (as you probably guessed it's a bit unusal because she's an alien) So as I am Australian I tend to pronounce my words a bit differently, so I will do my best to translate the sound over.
Riana (Ree-ah-na) Cekina (Se-kih-nah) Tahlay (Taa-lay)
I'm not sure when I will post next but I will try and keep up a steady pace while my muse is still around. Thanks so much for all those people who read my last chapter. And without further ado, here's chapter 2.
jd009
Chapter 2: The Next Doctor- Doctor Who?
A soft humming sound surrounded me; I was floating amongst the endless stars of the Universe. Perfectly at ease, nothing could in that moment tear me from this eternal feeling of bliss. The perfect moment before a dream becomes reality and the real world beckons.
Nothing, except the startling motion of finding myself knocked out of bed, onto the floor. I was disoriented and dazed as it took me a few moments to gather my wits about me. First I noticed that whatever had caused me to fall out of bed was the swaying motion of the room around me. The second was the fact that I was uninjured only slightly bruised on my behind and the third and most important fact was that I was in fact no longer in my own bedroom.
The room I found myself in was similar to my bedroom, if one person had tried to imitate it. It had a similar double bed with its navy blue star covered doona and my Galaxy 4 comforter. However four posts extended from each end into a canopy above the bed. Soft white curtains fell down on each side creating a partitioned off area. I had fallen down through one of them and currently resided on the carpeted floor of the room. The carpet was soft to the touch and well worn, a homely cream colour that matched the walls of the room.
The room was much bigger than mine with a sitting area, study and a…fireplace? Who actually had something so old fashioned? Several exotic species of flora grew about the place many of them in full bloom. There were several bookshelves scattered about, with various collections of reading materials in all sorts of languages.
What did stop me though was that many of my familiar possessions littered the room. My favourite stuffed plushie doll I'd had since I was a small child of 5. My father's old time keeper, that used to sit in his study that I stole and never returned. Many of my mother's tools she used for imprinting Preciousness onto items. They lay to rest on a workbench, that looked like who ever lived here was in the middle of imprinting and repairing to great value. Even all the collector's editions of Galaxy 4 streamavids, stacked neatly on a shelf next to a SV that rested in front of a well worn couch.
Exploring further revealed two door ways that lead off to a bathroom and a wardrobe. The bathroom contained the most high-tech amenities that I had ever seen; I spied a pair of men's sock lying about, two teeth cleaners in a container, on the counter next to the water dispenser. A strange long article of clothing that looked like it tied around one's neck, hung from the cleaning unit in the far side of the room. Various women's articles were strewn about as if the occupants had been in a rush. I shrugged, it was not for me to wonder about, and I had more important things to be doing, such as figuring out how I had ended up here, wherever here was.
The other door lead to the largest walk in wardrobe I had ever seen. It had articles of every conceivable design of clothing imaginable. Although much of it was familiar to me as it ran along some of my own taste. Shoes lined the far wall and on the other side in a small corner were many pairs of the same brown and blue suits. I frowned at this and again questioned the occupants taste in clothing choice. I walked out of the wardrobe, and now I thought of it was much larger than its immediate size seemed to suggest.
Wondering just what exactly I ended up into, I proceeded to try and find an exit from the unnervingly accurate room. Spying a door on the far side I managed to open it without any trouble and was startled when I spied a name plate on the door. The door was a dark blue with red outlines and was covered in stars and galaxies. The nameplate on it read simply; RIANA. I ran my hand over the raised lettering of the door and shuddered trying to ignore the unnatural feeling of a bad omen. How could this room have my name on it? How could so many of my personal possessions occupy its depths? Things I had not even seen for decades since I was small child or before my father left. I backed away slowly, trying to get away from the eerie feeling that had taken up residence in my heart. It wasn't possible, whatever possible was, it was the complete opposite of it.
Suddenly a burning feeling around my neck, caused me to realise the locket I was still wearing was glowing a soft red from the two gems upon it. I picked it up to feel it pulsing slightly and was startled when a man's voice burst forth from it.
"Yes, this is your room. Look I can't explain everything now, too complicated could mess up the whole of space time etc… but what you need to know is that you are completely safe, everything in this room was placed by you. It was given to you by the TARDIS when you first started to travel with us. She's good at things like that…sort of gets inside your head…anyway, what, what's wrong? What do you mean I've said this all before?" the man's voice trailed off as the locket stopped pulsing and the red glow left it until it was an ordinary looking piece of jewellery.
"What in the Seven Systems was that?" I muttered to myself.
The strange events of last night came to me as if half remembered in a dream, the women who had looked identical to me, her warnings and her strange prophecies.
…Very soon a light will surround you and you will find yourself in another time and place…
… A man awaits; the greatest and most terrible man you will ever meet and together you will destroy the stars and watch them be reborn again, all of time your kingdom and domain…
Was what happened real? Had it really occurred that I had travelled in time? Such a thought was inconceivable let alone impossible without some mode of transport. The vessel I was in, for I could only conclude it was some sort of space transport shook again and I wobbled where I stood trying not to lose my balance.
I had to find a way out, preferably without being knocked all over the place, or dying, that was a good thought too. I started off down a corridor making random decisions to turn right or left down the various corridors. I had a strange sense of being guided, so I followed it without question, hoping only to find someone to help me.
Eventually I stumbled across a large circular room, what I could only assume was the bridge of the ship as various controls could be seen around the centre column. It looked strange with many coral themed pillars lining the room. I could hear a masculine voice talking from the other side of the room and see a tall dark haired man, whom I assumed was my captor. I walked forward attempting to be quiet as I spied what looked like an exit door. Maybe I could make a mad dash for it and leave before the strange alien man noticed me.
Before I could even attempt it, the figure turned and looked straight as me. He looked as surprised to see me as I looked to see him. Ok maybe not my captor, but still I could never be too careful. Not caring I rushed towards the door, but the man ran after me yelling for me to stop.
I didn't listen and pried the doors apart to be met with the emptiness of space. I gasped as I almost fell out of the doors, taking in the endlessness of space around me. Strong arms restrained me and stopped me from tumbling out of the ship. In my panic I only had time to just register that the doors were open and I was breathing in space, before I was pulled back onto solid ground and the doors were unceremoniously shut. I sat on the ground panting trying to catch my breath from the fright I had just had.
The alien turned around as he lent against the doors also out of breath, although more in a relieved manner than from too much running.
"What do you think you were doing? The Tardis is in mid flight and you could have died if you had left the air shell." He demanded in an astounded voice, as though I had just told him Grandfather was knocking on his door.
"Hmph, Riana answer me? Surely I'm not that irritating to be around that you had to just run straight out the doors. I know I've told you before about waiting till I've landed the Old Girl before running into danger. Mind, not that you ever particularly listen to what I have to say-" He trailed off as he noticed my terrified expression on my face and the fact I had slowly been backing away from him. I hadn't really had the chance to observe the alien from before, but he was tall, and extremely skinny for a male. He looked like a Zell only his short hair was a dark brown and was gelled in a messy style at the front. He had dark brown soulful eyes that hid more than his youthful appearance suggested. His face was handsomely proportioned with a hint of stubble on his chin visible. However his ears were rounded unlike my pointed ones. He wore a brown pinstriped suit, the same one I had spied in the wardrobe from earlier and alien looking shoes with pieces of string wound through them. He had on a long brown overcoat that trailed to the ground as he slowly knelt down to approach me.
"Hey, what's wrong, it's ok you're not in danger anymore now Riana. I'm sorry for yelling at you. You just scared me, I don't ever want to see something like that again where I was afraid you were going to die. You don't know how much… what I mean to say is, how difficult it would be if you were… what's wrong?" he trailed off when he realised I wasn't replying.
How did this alien know my name and why was he looking at me so intently as though my eyes held the answer to the universe. He seemed to realise whatever he was looking for wasn't there, as the intensity vanished to be replaced with genuine concern and confusion.
"Riana, do you know where you are?" he asked with a deliberate forcedness to his voice.
"W-where am I and who are you?" I stammered out, kicking myself for how my voice trembled. His eyes seemed sad for a moment, before whatever emotion there had been was hidden. He seemed to draw in a deep breath before he slowly reached out a hand for me to take. I hesitated as I still didn't know who this crazy man was, but eventually allowed him to pull me up.
He really was tall at least over 6 feet and I was no short person, standing at around 5'8, I still only came up to just under his chin. He stepped away from me slightly giving me a bit of room; for which I was grateful for.
"Did you kidnap me?" I asked again determined to not show how scared and confused I was before him. A small smile appeared on his face at the mention of him being a possible kidnapper.
"No no, I assure you I didn't kidnap you Riana. You're on the Tardis, T-A-R-D-I-S, Time and Relative Dimensions in Space. Long name I know and my name is the Doctor. This is my ship, well time machine if you want to be really picky." He said. I still didn't understand what was so funny about this situation. Where was my mother and Aunt Ahina?
"Do you seriously expect me to believe that this is a time machine? And Doctor who, exactly?" I demanded of the strange man, I was seriously beginning to suspect he was indeed completely mad, tookihal sort of mad. Rather than making the alien become defensive or angry at me questioning his story, this "Doctor" only laughed. A full out belly laugh, completely in my opinion inappropriate for the situation. He spun around and seemed to clap his hands in disbelief at something I had said.
"I knew it!" he crowed, "I always knew that you lied when you said you never asked that, ha! I win, she now owes me a strip- ah never mind" he trailed off awkwardly. Rubbing the back of his neck nervously, I didn't know who she was but I could only begin to guess exactly who owed him a strip of something, of which I didn't want to even think about.
"Not exactly helping is it; tell you what lets start over. Never tried this before, maybe this time it'll work. Hi, I'm the Doctor and before you ask just the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord and this is my time machine and space ship, the Tardis." As he said this he eagerly held out his hand for mine to shake, an odd gesture if ever I had seen one. Still I reluctantly held out my hand and shook his larger one.
"I'm not sure I really believe you, time travel isn't possible, but I seem to be having a bit of stressful day, so for the sake of the argument and to stop me feeling like I'm going completely kanwaii, my name is Riana Tahlay. Although somehow you seem to know that" I muttered. I still thought I was in shock, but the Doctor simply held my hand tightly before bringing it to his lips and pressing his mouth to it chastely. The action startled me and had me tearing my hand out of his grasp.
"My apologies. But I want to reassure you Riana, you aren't mad; not even close. Something has happened to you that started yesterday afternoon for you didn't it? It started with a locket, which now hangs around your neck." As he said this, my hands flew to my chest where the locket was positioned.
"H-how do you know any of this, I haven't told anyone?" I begged even more confused than before.
"I know because you told me, or you will do one day in the future, well your future. The truth is that it is complicated, you haven't met me yet but I have already known you for many years. You see when you found that locket you set into motion a series of events that changed your life forever. Our timelines are linked. To simply state it, we don't meet in the right order. My future is your past and my past your future. You travel to different points in my timeline both into the past and the future. We travel through time and space together seeing the universe." The Doctor said with a serious tone of voice. His voice was hypnotic in quality and I found myself listening intently to it.
As soon as he finished speaking I shook my head trying to gather my thoughts.
"Prove it." I demanded of him. He seemed to expect something of this line so he sighed deeply before cautiously approaching me.
"I can't tell you everything" he said, "but there is one thing I could say that would prove to you I am someone you can trust and that I am telling the truth. But I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Riana, but it's the only way." With that he leaned forward and whispered something in my ear. I heard the words, heard every painful rush of air into my ear, and relived every terrible thing I had tried to lock deep into my subconscious mind. When he pulled away I fled from him, backing away as if I had been burned. Shuddering sobs ripped from my throat and I hit the edge of the console in the centre of the room, gasping as I sank to the floor hugging my knees to my chest.
All I could think was; how? How did he know that terrible secret, something that I had never told anyone before, would never tell anyone, not even my own mother. He let me cry and sob to myself as I tried to reorder my mind, I could feel the locket around my neck pulsing and burning in time to my bipolar emotions. A gentle arm brought me into his secure embrace and for the first time since I had been a child of 13, I willingly let someone else hold me as I cried my heart out.
I wasn't sure how long we sat there, mixed in our strange embrace, with a man who claimed to know me completely, when I knew nothing of him. Eventually my sobs subsided and I reluctantly pulled away from him. The Doctor said nothing only reaching into one of his pockets and offering me a cloth to dry my tears with. I wiped my eyes and got rid of- I'm sad to say- the snot as well. I was sure I wasn't a pretty sight, not that he would care I'm sure, or that I was vain enough to be concerned particularly.
Still I had to make some effort to at least recognise his support, as strange as it was.
"Ah, thank you, I mean, well I am not thanking you for saying what you did, but for letting me cry all over you. Wait no, that didn't come out right, I meant to say thanks for putting up with my snot and tears and just generally accusing you of being a kidnapper, which apparently you're not. Oh wow I'm babbling, I really need to stop now…" I trailed off awkwardly as I tried to make clear what I was saying. The Doctor only smiled gently and stood, while offering me a hand up again. This time I didn't hesitate to take it.
He pulled me up as though I weighed nothing.
"Never be sorry for letting me be there for you. I am only returning the many numerous times you have done the same for me over the years, or will do one day. I understand you have a lot of questions, but you have to know that I can't answer all of them. It's part of the rules that you created when we first met. Spoilers you call them. And a more annoying word if ever I've heard one." He grinned with a slight maniacal glint in his eye. "Oh the things we will do Riana, just you wait and see".
"Now first things first, rules. Because I'm sorry Riana, but nothing is ever going to be easy from now on. You will continue to jump around my timeline, as such you will encounter versions of me that will have experienced things that I yet haven't; you can't under any circumstances reveal what happens in my future to me Riana, no matter how many times I might beg, plead or threaten. Promise me that." He demanded. I nodded automatically like a small child when my mother used that tone of voice on me. The Doctor looked relieved and quickly resumed talking.
"Secondly and this is very important; you must never, I repeat never take that locket off or open it. That locket is the key to many things and will save your life at times, it's also your link to me. Repeat that back to me, so I know you understand, it's vital." I did so and finally the tension which I had only just noticed, eased from his shoulders and he relaxed, a more playful manner entered his eyes.
"Right, I think that's enough of the really serious stuff. I know just what would cheer you up Riana'Cekila Tahlay, girl who dreams of the stars. We're in a time machine, anywhere or anywhen in the entire universe, where do you wanna start?" His attitude was infectious and I couldn't help but smile slightly at this insane man who apparently owned a time machine that redefined the laws of physics.
"You said before that I travel with you, do we really visit other planets?" I asked cautiously, trying not to let hope build up in my heart. My entire life I had dreamed of visiting the stars, ever since I had sat in my father's lap as he made the universe come alive with his voice and his tales of mystery and adventure. I could hardly fathom how this could become my life, with this strange man.
…The greatest and most terrible man you will ever meet…
The words of the strange woman in the locket floated through my mind warning me to be careful in to easily trusting this fantastical alien.
"Anywhere or anywhen, you name it we'll go there, or we have been. I promise you Riana, you can trust me, always." He smiled reassuringly at me as he held out his hand for me to take. I did so as he slowly drew me towards the console with the strange buttons and levers on it.
"Ok, I know just where to go, a nice easy planet and time to begin with for your first trip." With that last statement he pushed a few buttons and pulled a leaver. A strange exotic wheezing noise filled the air, as the central column started to go up and down and the entire ship shook. "Allons-y!" he shouted as he hung on tight a completely mad look on his face. I could only scream in terror.
The rocking motion stopped soon enough and before long I realised I was still in one piece, much to my eternal joy. The Doctor danced around the Tardis's console like a madman, of which no doubt I'm sure he was. He ran over to the doors where I had almost fallen to my death from before. He turned to meet my nervous gaze with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Behind this door lies a completely different time and place, from wherever you have been before. Step out and you will be on a different planet." With that he flung the door open and peeked outside a grand smile on his face. I felt a chilly breeze enter the room and shivered slightly. I slowly approached the entrance and walked out after the Doctor. He was further ahead of me, in what I could only describe as an alleyway. But it was so alien.
I could smell a thousand different scents, people and animals and vegetation and something delicious too, wafting on the breeze. Above me was a cloudy blue and white sky, an alien sky, the first one I had ever seen. On the ground below my feet, was a strange white powdery substance that was cold and wet to the touch.
"What is this?" I asked out loud in wonder.
"That's condensed water vapour frozen because of the cold temperatures. Locally it is more commonly known as snow. Great to sled in and ski, mind you don't attempt to do it in a blizzard or running away from Ood, not fun. Anyway what do you think?" He said in one long sentence, which made me have to really stop and concentrate on what he had just said. I smiled genuinely at him.
"I think this is the most fantastic and wondrous thing I have ever seen, or anyone has ever done for me, so thank you."
"Anytime Riana. Now I reckon we should go explore, I hear a nice market place over that way and I'm sure it'll be a blast. Oh before I forget undo your hair" he said. I frowned in confusion, why exactly did he want me to undo my hair for? The Doctor seemed to sense my hesitation and reluctance, so explained to me his purpose.
"We are on a planet called Earth, lovely place depending upon the season and date, anyway, the local species is known as Humans and they tend to be a bit…well cautious with dealing with aliens, so it would be better if you covered you ears so they're less likely to know you are one. Get me?" he stated. I harrumphed in slight annoyance before complying with his wishes. The cold hair blew my hair slightly; the long blue strands, cerulean in colour brushed my waist. The Doctor reached up and adjusted a few strands slightly. I shivered from his touch, although I wasn't sure if it was because I found it pleasant, or the fact I did and didn't want to admit it.
"There much better. Now you're a Zell so the cold shouldn't bother you too much, however not sure about your outfit. Might, maybe cause a riot. Not sure, guess we'll see. We won't be staying for too long, so off we go" he said as he grabbed my hand in his and pulled me along behind him.
The market place was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was filled to the brim with people of all ages and genders going about their business. They wore strange clothing, with women wearing elaborate gowns and the men wearing pants and strange coats with extended tails on the ends of them.
I thought the Doctor and I stood out like a Kormpi snake in a Rattledin's den. Him with his strange brown coat and suit and I with my bright blue hair and blue short sleeved dress. Nobody seemed to pay us particular attention other than for one man in a uniform to wish us a pleasant afternoon.
A group was singing across the street and another man was selling his wares, something called "Hot Chestnuts". The Doctor walked up to a young human boy with a dirty face and asked him the day.
The boy promptly responded "Christmas Eve sir."
The Doctor nodded as if he understood what the child had said. I didn't though and looked at the Doctor curiously. He smiled slightly before explaining that it was a pagan winter festival that Humans celebrated as a religious celebration. I guess it was something like the Festival of Offerings back on Akhaten.
"What year?" the Doctor asked again. The boy simply looked at the both of us as though we had grown a second head.
"You thick or something?" he asked us instead. I took that to mean he thought us stupid. Or at least the Doctor's annoyed response confirmed it.
"Oi. Just answer the question." He said. I had to laugh at that. The boy promptly replied in a proud voice "The Year of Our Lord 1851, sir."
The Doctor nodded in acknowledgement and turned away as though he was done with the conversation, seemingly dismissing the boy.
"Right, nice year, bit dull." He muttered to himself. I wondered exactly what he meant by that and was just about to ask him when a loud women's cry reached my ears.
"Doctor! Doctor!"
The Doctor took one look at me and grabbed my hand again; something I was beginning to suspect was a habit as much as measure to stop me getting lost. He grinned in pure delight as the distressed cry. Turning to me he said; "Now we're talking Riana, this is where it gets exciting." The cry of 'Doctor' sounded once more and the Doctor seemed to delight in responding to it.
"Who, me?" before he grabbed my hand and sprinting towards the voice. I could only begin to imagine what sort of trouble we were going to get ourselves into.
We ran through the market place dodging the city goers, and avoiding the strange four legged animals. We rounded a corner and came into a deserted street between many old wooden buildings. The 'snow' covered the ground and made running slightly difficult. The Doctor came to a halt in front a dark skinned woman, who had been yelling for him. She stood before a pair of rattling metal doors, with an obviously angry something behind them. I was sure going towards the doors was a bad idea, but the Doctor seemed to think otherwise. He grasped the women's shoulders and pulled her behind him.
"Don't worry, don't worry. Stand back. What have we got here?" he stated a sick sort of delight in his tone. I cried out when a snarling noise came from behind the doors, backing away from the obvious danger. The Doctor had no such qualms about it though and turned to the women slightly.
"Ooh, okay I've got this. Whatever's behind that door, I think you should get out of here" the Doctor stated calmly. I was in complete agreement with this statement and was just about to take off with the women, when she completely ignored the both of us and called out 'Doctor!' again. This seemed to confuse the Doctor as he said in some confusion.
"No, I'm standing right here. Hello."
"Don't be so stupid, who are you?" the women asked in disbelief. I was still more concerned with the ominous banging coming from behind the doors. I tugged on the Doctor's jacket and tried to pull him away.
"I really think this would be a great time to have this conversation elsewhere, instead of in front of something that is definitely trying to kill us!" I shouted at the both of them. The Doctor just ignored me though in favour of trying to be the hero. I hissed with irritation. So much for an easy first time trip. Was nothing ever straight and normal with this man?
"I'm The Doctor." He said.
"Doctor who?" she asked.
"Just the Doctor." He stated simply.
"Well, there can't be two of ya!" she said in exasperation. I too wondered exactly was going on here. Just at that moment another man came running around the corner. He was dressed in a yellow jacket, red waist coat and black pants. His hair was covered in snow and he half appeared to be out of breath. The Doctor turned in confusion at the new comer and turned to me to give me a look. I shrugged. I had no idea in all the Seven Worlds, what was going on.
The dark skinned women sighed in relief before demanding with irritation to know where the other man had been.
"Don't worry. Stand back. What have we got here, then?" the strange man said in curiosity. He seemed to completely glance over both the Doctor and me, in favour of the rattling doors.
"Hold on, hold on. Who are you?" The Doctor asked in complete bewilderment. The man turned to the both of us and in a proud straight to the point tone proclaimed; "I'm the Doctor. Simply the Doctor. The one, the only and the best. Rosita, give me the sonic screwdriver." With that the dark skinned woman, evidently named Rosita pushed me aside and handed the other 'Doctor' something too quick for me to glance at.
"What?" my Doctor stated.
At the same time the other Doctor turned back to face the door. "Now quick, back to the TARDIS!" he shouted to Rosita. Rosita backed away quickly. The other Doctor turned to me. "I should also think this is no place for a lady, you too my dear before either of you are hurt." He said as if not believing I would disobey.
I snorted. "Not likely." I muttered under my breath. Staying put exactly where I was. I might not want to be killed by a strange creature, but no way was a running away like a zinni. Especially away from the one man who apparently had all the answers I needed.
"Stand back sir, ma'am. This is a job for a Time Lord" The other Doctor stated.
"Job for a what lord?" my Doctor said in disbelief. I too was becoming more confused, didn't the Doctor state before that he was a Time Lord. Apparently this other Doctor was of the same race and also had the same name. But then again they WERE aliens.
At that moment both 'Time Lords were distracted by the doors bursting open to reveal a shaggy creature with a strange looking mask of bronze, maybe copper where its face should be.
"Oh, that's different." My Doctor stated. He reached into his pocket at the same time as the other Doctor said "Oh that's new" before also pulling a device from his own pockets. Both men pointed their devices at the creature and said; "Allons-y!"
By this point I was beyond confused. What exactly was this creature and what exactly could the Doctors' do with their so called devices, when the creature was coming right at us.
With out really thinking about it, I telekinetically threw up a field and created a shield around us. The other Doctor had stepped in front of my Doctor and was exclaiming how he had been hunting the creature for weeks. When the blue shimmering field appeared, both he and Rosita cried out in surprise. The creature tried to run at us but instead rebounded off. When it couldn't penetrate the shield it jumped onto a nearby building, at least two stories higher than the ground.
"Telekinetic barrier, brilliant Riana!" my Doctor cried out in joy. I tried not to let that distract me from the situation at hand. "Some sort of cybernetic conversion, like they took the brain of a cat, or a dog." The Doctor was mumbling to himself. For one thing I had no idea what a cat or dog was. I resided myself to asking later.
Meanwhile, the other Doctor had run over to the bottom of the building where the creature was scaling the side. He turned to Rosita in expectation.
"Well, talking's all very well." He stated to the Doctor before calling out "Rosita." The said girl appeared with an armful of rope. "I'm ready." She stated passing the rope to the other Doctor. He began to swing the rope like a lasso over his head before stating "Watch and learn'". He released the rope and it circled the cyber creature perfectly. "Excellent. Now then, let's pull this timorous beastie down to earth."
Unfortunately that's when the cyber creature chose to begin running up the wall pulling the other Doctor off his feet up behind it.
"Or not" my Doctor stated with a sort of wry amusement.
"I might be in a little bit of trouble." The other Doctor stated as he was left hanging from a rope a metre off the ground. My Doctor ran forward and grabbed the rope as well.
"Nothing changes. I've got you." He shouted, however much to my horror and slight amusement, he too was pulled off his feet up the building. I was in agreement when Rosita standing besides me shouted up at the both of them "You IDIOTS!"
"Doctor, are you mad?" I yelled.
"Possibly." My Doctor replied. I didn't hear exactly what the Doctors' were saying to each other as they were pulled through a window after the cyber creature, disappearing from view. Rosita backed up and was muttering to herself under her breath.
"It's always the same with 'im. Can't ever do nothin' right without my help. Now there are two of them." She turned around and spied an axe, a resigned expression entered her face. I was busy looking around for a way up. I spied a set of stairs going around the opposite side of the building.
"This way, there are stairs going up into the building we can cut them off there." I said as I took off running, with Rosita right behind me.
"I take it you're the sensible one?" Rosita asked me as we ran.
"Don't know, not exactly having a normal sort of day." I replied. I'm not sure the woman really knew what to make of that statement, as we had reached the stairs and were concentrating on not tripping over our skirts. By the time we reached the warehouse at the top both Doctor's were being dragged across the floor on their behinds.
I watched at the cyber creature exited the building through another window. At this rate it would take both punkal's with it to their deaths. I quickly created another telekinetic field around the creature and tried to slow its rate of movement. It seemed to work as the Doctor's slowed down enough for Rosita to raise the axe and chop the rope in half. Both Doctor's toppled over from the loss of momentum and started to groan in pain. My doctor lying on his stomach as he tried to regain his bearings.
They both slowly got off the ground stretching their bruised and battered limbs, before the other Doctor began to laugh and the Doctor joined in. I followed Rosita, after releasing the telekinetic hold on the creature, up to where the Doctor's were hugging each other in sickening delight. Honestly was there not a brain cell left between the two of them. Men!
Rosita dropped the axe in annoyance and looked on bewildered by their mad behaviour; I crossed my arms in frustration, if it hadn't been for the both of us, the two kanwaii males would have died- Doctor or no Doctor.
"You can thank us at any time." I stated but the two men were still laughing. Rosita simply turned and began walk away from the two of them.
"I wouldn't bother, those two nut jobs will be at it for a while." She said off handily.
I was beyond over this zeem'al of a day.
We exited the warehouse down the flight of stairs Rosita and I had run up, in our mad dash to save our companions. The two Doctor's were still laughing and I could tell Rosita was fed up with both of them. I understood laughing if you had survived a dangerous situation. Relieved laughter they called it, but to carry on laughing for a full five minutes was a bit excessive in my book.
"Well I'm glad you think it's so funny. You're mad. Both of you. You could've got killed." She finally blew up angrily.
"I am of a second mind to agree with that. Doctor honestly you promised me a trip with no trouble. If Rosita hadn't cut the rope and I, stopped the creature, both of you would be dead!" I exclaimed in a loud voice. The Doctor's stopped laughing but there were still smiles on their faces.
"But, evidently, we did not. Oh, I should introduce Rosita. My faithful companion, always telling me off." The other Doctor stated as though it was a last minute thought. I felt a tad annoyed for the way the girl was being treated. She didn't seem to mind though as she made no reply to his comment. The other Doctor came to place his hand on her shoulders and he rubbed his sore backside with the other one. My Doctor turned and grinned in reply.
"Well, they do, don't they? Rosita? Good name. Hello, Rosita." He said as he acknowledged her. He turned to me and placed his hands on both of my shoulders so I was almost pressed again his chest. "I suppose I should introduce my own companion, of a sort, the lovely Riana Tahlay. Keeps me on my toes this one, never lets me forget my place either." He laughed as he said it and I couldn't help but stare at him in confusion. Keeping him on his toes? I was sure he had gotten it the wrong way around. Also the closeness of his body to mind bothered me. The other Doctor smiled at me in return and bowed slightly.
"Ma'am, a pleasure to meet you, and also thankyou for saving my life." I was genuinely surprised that he had thanked me. I smiled slightly, flattered by his response. The Doctor's hands tightened slightly on my shoulders.
"Ow!" I said causing the Doctor to release me and take a step back. He grimaced slightly at my irritated expression. "Sorry" he muttered.
I frowned, but thought better of confronting him on his weird behaviour. He probably didn't mean it and also what was with this 'companion' business?
Rosita looked at the Doctor strangely.
"Huh? Now I'll have to go and dismantle the traps. All that for nothing. And we've only got 20 minutes till the funeral, don't forget." With that she walked away and replied over her shoulder in an off handed manner; "Then back to the TARDIS, right?" There was that strange word again, the Doctor's ship, which we had only just come from not long ago, this day, just kept getting weirder and weirder.
"Funeral?" my Doctor asked.
"Oh, long story. Not my own, not yet. Oooh, I'm not as young as I was." He grunted as he bent over to stretch his legs. The Doctor seemed greatly amused at the other Doctor's behaviour, as if there was some joke I had missed in all the excitement.
"Well, not as young as you were when you were me." My Doctor replied. I squinted my eyes in confusion, when he was my Doctor? But how could the other Doctor be my Doctor? They weren't even the same man. I checked again looking at each of them closely. Definitely not the same man at all, they looked nothing alike.
"When I was who?" The other Doctor asked, just as confused as I. The Doctor's face fell as if he had just been told the worst news.
You really don't recognise me? What about Riana, you must know her, we always know her." He asked hesitantly. I only stared between the both of them, feeling like a sort of third wheel. I still didn't grasp exactly what the Doctor was trying to imply.
"Not at all. As for your lovely companion, with her…frankly unusual coloured hair would be sure to remember such a face." The other Doctor stated.
"But you're The Doctor. The next Doctor. Or the next-but-one. A future Doctor anyway. No, no, don't tell me how it happened. Although... I hope I don't just trip over a brick, that'd be embarrassing. Then again, painless. Worse ways to go, depends on the brick." My Doctor ranted, completely not making any sense.
"Doctor, what exactly are you rambling on about? What do you mean tripping over a brick? You're talking like your about to die!" I said exasperated with the silly alien. He turned to me as if only just remembering something.
"Right sorry, forgot this is the first time you meeting me. Should probably really explain the whole regeneration thing later." He said quickly. Regeneration thing? What was this man on?
"You're gabbling, sir. Now, might I ask, who are you, exactly?" the other Doctor asked.
"No, I'm, uh... I'm just Smith. John Smith. But I've heard all about you, Doctor. Bit of a legend, if I say so myself. Oh and you have already been introduced to Riana, Riana Tahlay." The Doctor; who apparently did have a first name of John and a last name of Smith replied.
"Modesty forbids me to agree with you, sir. But yes. Yes, I am." The other Doctor replied with slight pride.
"A legend with certain memories missing. Am I right?" Doctor Smith asked a slight ominous tone in his voice. I became quiet, intent on listening to the conversation taking place before me. Doctor Smith seemed to be giving away a lot of information about himself and the other Doctor too. Besides I had gotten to the point where I wasn't sure what to expect anymore. I just wanted to go home.
"How do you know that?" The other Doctor asked, surprise colouring his tone.
"You've forgotten me." Doctor Smith replied with finality to his words. I wondered what was so important about the other Doctor not remembering Doctor Smith. Also did that mean the other Doctor was suffering from amnesia?
"Great swathes of my life have been stolen away. When I turn my mind to the past, there's nothing. All I see is darkness and an image of a woman in my mind surrounded by fire." The other Doctor replied, great sadness behind his words.
"Going how far back?" I asked sympathy tinging my tone.
"Since the Cybermen. Masters of that hellish wall-scuttler and old enemies of mine, now at work in London town. You won't believe this, Mr Smith, Miss Tahlay, but they are creatures from another world." The other Doctor's voice dropped a decibel to imply the seriousness of the situation.
Cybermen? Why did that word seem familiar to me? But if it had anything to do with that cyber creature that had attacked us before, I wanted nothing to do with it. We should just leave. While I felt sorry for the man and the fact he had lost so much of his memories, why did it matter to us? I didn't need anymore complications in my life at the moment. It looked like Rosita and him had things handled well enough anyway.
"It's said they fell onto London, out of the sky in a blaze of light. And they found me. Something was taken. And something was lost. Something so precious to me. What was I like? In the past?" The other Doctor asked a raw sort of need to know on his face. He looked so lost and so sad.
"Really? Wow." Doctor Smith exclaimed, although I was not sure he was being truthful in his surprise. Probably because he was an alien as well. "I don't think I should say. Sorry. Got to be careful with memory loss. One wrong word..." he trailed off as he backed away slightly.
"It's strange, though. I talk of Cybermen from the stars and you don't blink, Mr Smith. Neither do you Miss Tahlay." The other Doctor said curiosity clouding his tone.
"Ah, don't blink, remember that? Whatever you do, don't blink? The blinking and the statues? Sally and the angels? No?" Doctor Smith said with excitement before he looked at the blank expressions on both our faces and sighed. "Time travel" he muttered. I guessed this was something I might experience in my future at one point, but didn't want to dwell on it or its implications.
"You're a very odd man. The pair of you." The other Doctor said in disbelief.
"Hmm, I still am. Something's wrong here." Doctor Smith said as he looked to be deep in thought. "What do you think Riana, any good ideas?" he said turning to me.
I looked at him in surprise that he was addressing me. Did he actually expect me to know? I was still reeling from finding myself on a different planet, let alone a different time. The scare of the cyber creature was still all too much present in my thoughts.
"I'm not sure what you mean Doctor Smith?" I said. Doctor Smith looked surprised. 'Doctor Smith' he mouthed to himself.
Suddenly the other Doctor perked up. "Oh, the funeral. The funeral's at two o'clock. It's been a pleasure, Mr Smith, Miss Tahlay. Don't breathe a word of it."
"Can't we come with you?" Doctor Smith asked. I pulled the back of his coat towards me replying promptly with "Absolutely not. We. Need. To. Talk."
However it was a moot point as the other Doctor simply dismissed the both of us. "It's far dangerous. Rest assured, I shall keep this city safe. Oh, and, er... merry Christmas, Mr Smith, Miss Tahlay." He quickly left through an archway into another street, leaving me alone with Doctor John Smith.
"Merry Christmas Doctor" Doctor Smith called out to him. He waited all of a second before he ran to follow him. I sighed resigning myself to tackling him if I had to, to get some answers about why he was so obsessed with this mysterious other Doctor.
I rolled my eyes "Why me?" I muttered before taking off after him.
Doctor Smith wasn't too much further ahead, so I caught up with him relatively quickly. He had led us back to a main street where a funeral possession of men dressed in black were following a carriage, pulled by four of the strange four legged creatures with plumes upon their heads. He stood silently watching the other Doctor and Rosita. Both of them were focussed intently on the procession to notice our presence. I pulled Doctor Smith's arm as I neared him drawing him to face me.
"We need to talk Doctor Smith. First of all I want to know why you're following him. He clearly stated he didn't want us involved and secondly what was all that back there? Why are you so interested in this man? Also why would you think he would know me? I have a million more questions, but I'm having a rough sort of day. I just want to go home back to my bed and my mum and my annoying horrible aunt. I didn't ask for trouble and saving people and mystery and stuff and what's more I don't even know you… yet I'm following you around like a lost Ooski. So tell me what we're doing here!" as I said the last sentence I almost shouted at him. Doctor Smith sighed before pulling back behind a pillar to avoid unnecessary attention being drawn to us.
He stood almost leaning over me, his eyes staring intently into mine and it was again I felt that strange tingling in my spine and the drumming in my temple. I hadn't really thought about it before, but this man was extremely attractive. I pushed that thought away almost as soon as it occurred, I was being ridiculous.
"Riana, I know this is all so confusing for you, but I promise I will explain. But you have to trust me. If there is one thing you should know about us, it's that we never walk away, never from those who need our help. We can't always save everyone, but we always try. I know your scared and confused and feeling things you can't explain, but I can't tell you any more, you just have to trust me." He pressed a kiss to my forehead in a reassuring manner before continuing to speak.
"Right now there is a man out there, who is lost and alone and confused. He's lost half his life and he's doing the best he can with what he's got. He knows something terrible is going to happen and he's trying to stop it, he just doesn't know how. The Cybermen he was speaking of, they are one of my oldest enemies. I've defeated them many times and lost so much to them and if they're here now in London, in this city nothing good is going to come of it. So hundreds maybe thousands of people are relying on us and that man is the key. So be brave, be magnificent, because I know you can be. Don't forget your kindness and pity; don't let your fear rule you. Let it fuel you and make you stronger. Because that man may very well be me."
With that last sentence I held my breath, flinching away from him. Who was this man and what did he mean to me that I would risk everything by telling him my deepest, darkest secret?
"Who are you?" I whispered in both awe and fear. He leaned away from me slightly, but the intensity of his gaze did not lessen.
"I'm the Doctor. Just the Doctor and you are my Riana, my beautiful Azure Queen. So I ask you, just trust me a little bit more and believe." He breathed. He stepped back and offered me his hand.
Did I want this, this time I had a choice, but something in his voice or maybe his eyes or perhaps his whole being called to me to believe his words. I wanted to believe. I wanted to trust. So when I found myself reaching out my hand to take his, my heart sang.
"Now first things first we need to follow that man and get to the bottom of this mystery of the murder of Reverend Fairchild. I think then we will have all the answers we need. Allons-y" he grinned madly as we ran off.
Next Chapter: The Next Doctor- The Worth of a Woman
Akheet Word List
Tookihal- Strange or crazy to the extreme, beyond what is considered normal.
Kanwaii- Insanely mad.
Zinni- A timid looking animal native to Quanria, one of the Seven Worlds of Akhet. In this instance it literally means a coward.
Punkal- A hybrid term meaning fool/punk.
Ooski- The equivalent of a baby dog.
Zeem'al- Akheet term for divine trouble or literally 'trouble worth the gods'
Kormpi – A rodent like creature.
Rattledin- A carnivorous reptile that is the natural enemy of the Kormpi. It makes a loud rattling noise when someone approaches it.