AN/ Hi again everyone I can't believe it's nearly Christmas and I left you guys hanging for over 4 months before I updated, I'm so sorry. I have received all of your reviews and they have each made my day. A special shout out to Pocket Bug for her lovely review and yes I will be changing some of the original Timeline of events as the story progresses and adding things in to make it interesting.
This Chapter was so hard to write, I have had it sitting half unfinished for months and suddenly 2 days ago my muse came back and demanded I get on with this and stop procrastinating as I actually have some time to update more chapters and I promise I will have another new chapter coming soon, probably within the next week or so. I really hope I got 9's anger right in this as I don't want it to seem too excessive.
As always spoilers for those who know where to look for upcoming chapters and plot threads. I've certainly got some good ideas for Riana's adventures ahead.
Merry Chirstmas to all and if you don't celebrate Christmas have a fantastic day anyway.
PS Who else is excited for the Christmas Special this year (Although I am terribly sad Peter Capauldi is leaving he was in the end a fantastic Doctor)
Jd009
Chapter 9: The Unquiet Dead- The Angry Heart
I was panting, hidden behind a garden statue. If anyone were to ask me what I would rather be doing, it would be anything but this. Damn the Doctor and his incessant need to let curiosity get the better of him!
He couldn't just leave well enough alone and Martha, well she was just as bad as him, although I wasn't as irritated with her as she wasn't entirely at fault, being less educated in the ways of the universe and interstellar civilisations than the Doctor or myself. Still it should have just been a normal outing. After the day we'd all had, I had taken a shower eaten and then crashed on my bed for the next day and a half. Not surfacing until my body had completely recovered from my harrowing ordeal. I probably wouldn't need to sleep again for some time, but a fast metabolism required constant nutrition.
So, when the Doctor had suggested an outing, we had all been up for the ice skating, which much to my surprise had actually gone according to plan, it was the next trip a day later that had gone to complete zeem'al. I for one had gotten a bit sick of extreme heat and cold. So, a nice trip to a safe leisure spa on an intergalactic cruise sounded truly divine. Not knowing next when I would leave the TARDIS, Martha and I suited up for a nice soak in the spa.
What we had expected was for the Doctor to wander off alone and maybe talk to some people, heck get someone annoyed with his wise-ass remarks, then have to apologise before he got himself arrested or slapped. What I hadn't expected and what I should know better by now, was to never leave him alone for too long, for undoubtedly his mouth will bite off more than it could chew.
Trouble, as in running for our lives hiding in the ships botanical gardens, with the Emperor of the Fifth Nomadia's sacred glass ball clutched in one hand, while the other was currently handcuffed to the Doctor. While numerous angry imperial guards hunted for our heads on a platter. Did I also mention I was in my swimwear?
The Doctor had caught wind of a secret meeting and like the idiot he was, decided that it would be a good idea to crash the party, so to speak. Martha was all for it as well, despite my insistent warnings against leaving well enough alone. The Doctor's argument that it might be life or death, was still not enough to sway me from my much needed and long-awaited spa treatment.
What can I say, Skorvian oil really did wonders for the skin. So, while Martha had forgone joining me in the hot oil bath, she had instead accompanied the Doctor into sticking their noses where they didn't belong. The highlight of my day was the half-hour of spa time I had gotten before the communicator the Doctor had given me, began to beep. I knew that could only mean trouble.
The so-called meeting, the Doctor and Martha had interrupted was between the ruler of half a galaxy and the Treshian Alliance, which ruled nearly the other half. These two species as I had read had been at war for longer than my civilisation had been around. They both fought over an incredibly valuable object, known as the sphere of Atzaan. Supposed to be their creator and held all the lost knowledge of their history. Neither species could agree upon who had come first. So the fact that they had chosen this cruise liner was a surprise, but signalled an historic moment in time.
Of course, the Doctor had opened his mouth and then suddenly they were declaring war again, but not against each other, oh no, the Doctor had done something better. He had thought it a good idea to distract them by grabbing the orb. Which turned out to be the highest crime a being could commit. No instead they had declared eternal war against the Doctor, Martha and myself. Well originally against him and Martha and had handcuffed them together to stop them escaping.
I had turned up unaware of this and found myself handcuffed to the Doctor as well. Still in my swim wear and beyond angry that we were about to be executed. The two races had been united like never before and in a fit of desperation I had used my telekinesis to grab the orb and knock everyone out. We had made a mad dash for the TARDIS, as not two minutes later, the entire security and armed personnel were hunting for us and were trying to kill us and retrieve the orb. If we had it though, we had the upper hand. The Doctor wouldn't stop talking and Martha seemed to think it one big joke, as though getting arrested and nearly being summarily executed was a good thing.
It had then fallen to me, to get their asses moving in the general direction of safety and I couldn't be sure, but I could swear I could feel the Doctor's eyes on my backside as we sprinted. Although my swimsuit was a one piece, it was still a lot less clothing than I normally wore. Which lead me to where I was now.
The TARDIS was but 200m in front of us and it was only a straight dash to safety. The only problem were the 20 armed guards between us and her. I sighed feeling the insistent tugging of the Doctor behind me.
"We can't stay here." He muttered. I snorted, way to state the obvious Doctor. Martha made a noise of agreement.
"Why can you never just leave well enough alone? It's like your entire life just revolves around sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. I mean would it have killed you to go, oh wait this is one of the most important meetings in the history of time, better just let it be and observe from a distance?" I said to him in incredulity. The Doctor smirked at my non-amused tone.
"But my dear, where would the fun be in that? Plus, it was actually our presence that united them in an alliance that will span nearly a million years. One of the strongest galactic Empires to ever exist responsible for defeating the hordes of travesty…ahem anyway we should probably be more concerned with getting to the TARDIS and preferably not dying." He said. I narrowed my eyes dangerously and I watched as his Adam's apple went up and down, as he swallowed nervously.
"How are we going to do that exactly?" Martha asked. The Doctor looked thoughtfully at them before deciding upon something ridiculously mad no doubt. He raised his sonic screwdriver and created an explosion from several of the lights in the gardens and a high-pitched screeching noise from the speakers, where pleasant music was playing softly.
The result was far too much chaos to comprehend as the guards ran around like headless wampaii's and clutched their ears at the Grandfather awful racket. My hearing was particularly sensitive and I swore in pain as my eyes watered at the noise. If I wasn't so busy trying to make a run for it I would be cringing on the ground with my ears covered.
We sprinted all three of us towards the TARDIS with thankfully no injuries. Somehow, I had kept a hold of the orb after all that time and hadn't had the presence of mind to throw it away. So, while we burst through the doors, tripping over our own feet in our haste to not be killed, I nearly smashed the thing when I almost tossed in onto the floor grating. Martha slammed the doors closed as the Doctor got up and started pressing levers on the console as the familiar whirring and groaning of the time rotor started up and we dematerialised.
We were yanked along behind the Doctor and thrown about until we landed on our backsides. The moment of tense silence was broken when the Doctor began to laugh and Martha joined not a moment later. It was relieved laughter, after one nearly dies. I sighed as I realised I was still slightly damp from the now cold oil and was making marks all over the TARDIS's floor. I was not amused.
"Can you please get these stupid things off us!" I declared hotly. The Doctor grinned before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his sonic screwdriver. With a whir and a buzz, the handcuffs unlocked. I yanked my hand out of them quickly and rubbed my slightly tender wrist. The Doctor noticed my sour expression and made a pouty face at me. My inclination to smack him increased.
"Why such a grim face, Riana? We escaped, got away from them with our heads intact, might I add. Why thank you, thank you very much." He said the last part with a funny accent. My nostrils flared. Martha seemed to sense I was a hairsbreadth away from losing it.
"A grim face? A grim face! Are you without any common sense at all? We nearly died, which I might add is a far too frequent occurring thing with you. Would it kill you just for once not to have to get arrested, thrown in jail or sentenced to execution? Or better yet not to get us in the thick of the trouble. I just wanted a nice relaxing day at the spa after my week of near death experiences." By the time I reached the last part of my rant I was fully shouting.
The Doctor's face still had not lost its amused expression at my indignation at being disrupted from my oil bath to pull his dwinni arse from the fire. Still he seemed to try and become more serious as Martha cleared her throat.
"Well, yes of course, dying a very serious thing. I'll try harder next time to avoid getting into trouble. But even you have to admit Riana that was brilliant!" He said excitedly, still entirely missing the point of this conversation.
"Urh, you are….urh, so bloody impossible and ridiculous that I don't even know why I bother trying to reason with you. It's like I open my mouth and all you hear is not dead, blah blah blah cool let's do that again!" I said exasperated. Martha was nearly snorting with laughter now at my ranting and the lack of seriousness that the Doctor was taking me with. I probably wasn't very serious looking, ranting and raving in my swim suit covered in oil and my hair a mess, holding an incredibly valuable object in one hand.
"Not to mention, that I warned you not to go and you still did and I had to get out of my bath to save you, only to get handcuffed to you and spend the next half an hour run around a ship in my swim wear, while I know you were checking out my arse…" I was still ranting and Martha's laughter was nearly outright now as the Doctor's expression became more and more like a kicked Ooski and a red flush spread up his cheeks. Finally, Martha couldn't hold it in anymore and began to laugh so hard she was bent double with tears streaming from her eyes.
The Doctor looked put out as he tried to deny my accusation. Even as I advanced on him with my finger poking into his chest in admonishment. His hands went up in a motion of surrender as he was faced with my ire.
"So, you're just going to stand there and say nothing?" I demanded of him.
"Um…sorry?" The Doctor said, although it was more a question than a statement. That ticked me off more that he wasn't even attempting to apologise.
"Sorry! That's all you have to say. How about 'yes Riana you were right', or 'no I shouldn't have stuck my nose where it didn't belong' or even, 'sorry for being a pervert when I really should really have been focusing on running for my life'." I yelled. Now the Doctor was really panicking.
"Um, sorry for making you have to save us and have people see you in your swim wear, well even though that's what it's designed for. But also for having to check out your arse…I mean, not having to check it out, because that would be wrong and really not what I was doing. Also for not listening to you as you were right and Martha and I promise to do so from now on." He said in a rush with his usual verbal dribble.
It was difficult not to admit I found it entirely too amusing, causing him to trip over his words in a haste to reassure me of his attentions. Or the fact he was such a typical male at times, that it was almost scary. Martha's laughter was starting to make it hard not to smile as well as keep my annoyed expression in place. A raised eyebrow had him nearly backing away from me.
What more I would have said was quickly lost, as for the first time in nearly five days I felt the familiar tingle in my body. The slow warmth that crept up my limbs and the red light that emanated from the locket and grew to encompass me. I knew I was off again to Akhaten knows where in the Doctor's timeline. Except like last time, I was not in the best state and had little clothing on; although I made sure that I was wearing shoes this time.
The orb was still in my hand, as I let out a frustrated growl. No, I wasn't finished yet with this Doctor or Martha. I wanted to spend more time getting to know them and travelling the regular way. While I was not really that grateful to have nearly died, I could admit the high that came from surviving such encounters. The Doctor's expression became one of sadness as his face grew solemn. He offered me a small smile.
"Goodbye my Riana. Until we meet again. Also, I am truly sorry for nearly getting us killed, I promise I'll make it up to you!" He said, nearly shouting the last bit as I was compressed and stretched through Time and Space.
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This time I at least landed on my feet and remained, somewhat upright. As to where I had landed though, I genuinely did not know. It was dark and some stars were visible in the sky, so that meant it was a planet and it had a breathable atmosphere, by the obvious lack of asphyxiation on my part.
However, it was also very primitive going by the structure of the wooden houses and the gas lamps decorating the streets. It was also snowing- brilliant. (Note my sarcasm.) The snow was gently falling in small flakes that settled themselves on my hair and person. I shivered slightly, even if the cold didn't bother me that much, I was wearing my swim suit and much of my skin was bare. I was also covered in oil and whatever heat had once been in it, was long gone now.
Looking around, I could've sworn that I had been somewhere similar before, my first trip in fact with the Doctor, to London. Which meant that I must be on Earth again. I sighed, the Doctor really had a love of this planet and its native inhabitant; humans. Noticing something shining at my feet, I realised the orb had come with me. I picked it up and wrapped my arms around myself, I began to trudge through the snow in search of the Doctor. Luckily, there didn't seem to be too many others around, so any odd looks I might have received at the state of my dress went unmentioned.
I wasn't surprised that I had been dropped in the middle of nowhere, that seemed to be a reoccurring theme with the Doctor. I knew he would show up eventually, but it was the difficult and at times cumbersome effort of finding him and all the trouble that went along with it.
I suppose I should have expected it by now, the fact that it wouldn't have lasted forever, travelling with only one Doctor. But it had made me hope that for a brief time, I could be somewhat normal. Like one of the Doctor's other companions. Even I knew that travelling with him like a normal companion, didn't necessarily make me one. Something that was becoming quite clear the more I saw of the Doctor.
I stopped after a few minutes to try and get my bearings, this was getting ridiculous! Where was the Doctor? The locket wasn't pulsing or snatching me from my body to show me a hint. No, in fact it was silent, eerily so.
I shivered at that ominous sign. It reminded me of my other little problem that I had tried to push to the back of mind the light creature trapped inside of me. It had spoken no other word to me other than that one last chilling statement. I had hoped I had imagined it, that the locket for all its annoyance, would do something right for once and get rid of it for me. But if I concentrated just right, I could feel the strange hum that radiated from my body, tingling away beneath the surface of my skin that proved that it was no mere dream.
Just as I was about to stamp my foot in irritation and yell at the top of my lungs for the Doctor, which thinking about it was a fairly foolish idea. Akhaten answered my prayers. The familiar wheezing, groaning of the TARDIS filled the air and I watched in gladness and trepidation as it materialized. I sprinted forward until I was in front of its doors. The old girl hummed in greeting to me and I smiled in kind.
"Hello, old girl. Thanks for showing when you did. Shall we see which Doctor is in store for me this time?" I said softly to her. Her encouraging hum was all I needed to hear. However, when I went to open the door, it was locked. I pulled as hard as I could, but the doors remained firmly shut. The TARDIS hummed in irritation at my antics, reminding me to be patient.
"Hey, you're not the one stuck out here in your swimsuit freezing her arse off." I reminded her. Instead I knocked loudly on the doors.
"Doctor! You better get your butt out here now, or Akhaten so help me I'm kicking it!" I threatened. I heard grumbling and some laughter from within, as not a minute later the door was opened by a strange man in front of me. He was taller than me, but not as tall as Chulki, nor as good looking. He had short dark, closely cut hair and big clear blue eyes that appeared from a middle-aged face. His ears were ridiculously big and stuck out from the side of his head. He wore a black well-worn leather jacket, over the top of dark pants and a dark shirt underneath.
In fact, everything about him appeared quite gloomy in comparison to many of his future incarnations. In case the question arose as to how I was sure this was the Doctor, well for one he opened the door of the TARDIS and second it was the ancient eyes, hidden in a relatively youthful face. Not to mention the raised brow at my appearance. I also remembered seeing this face before his 9th incarnation, if I remembered correctly.
"Riana, making an entrance as usual. But please do come in." He said somewhat impishly. I grunted in acknowledgement of his presence, as I brushed past him into the far more inviting temperature and feel of the TARDIS's interior. On the inside, it looked very similar to Chulki's TARDIS, but was even somewhat darker feeling. In this moment, I missed Kaluskalu's TARDIS, the warmth and the light it emitted.
Next to the console, I spotted a young blonde-haired girl, a human I was assuming going by her attire and rounded ears. She wore a grey t-shirt, dark blue material pants, which Martha had informed me were called jeans. She also had on an undone cream and dark red jacket hanging off one shoulder. Her eyes were a soulful inquisitive brown and there was an innocence and naivety to her countenance. She appeared very young, and not knowing what was considered young in human years, I would have put her at perhaps 28 in Zell years.
I stopped and examined her closely, but she did no such thing for me as her eyes lit up in recognition. She smirked at my clothing and turned to face the dark leather clad man, who was obviously the Doctor.
"So, if I am starting a riot Doctor, what d'you think Riana's starting, Christmas come early for all the very naughty boys?" She laughed mischievously. The Doctor had the good grace to tug uncomfortably at his ear. I had obviously come in on the end of a conversation.
"Sorry, not to interrupt, but are you implying that I'm a hooker?" I asked the girl. She snorted, but rolled her eyes. She came over to me and tugged on my hand.
"Oh, lighten up Riana. You know how we love to tease him, keeps him honest you always say. It's just its 1860 out there and the Doctor seems to think I will start a riot with the way I'm dressed and then you literally showed up in your swim costume." She explained. I shook my head in amusement. I stopped her from going further as I turned back to the Doctor.
"So you must be the Doctor, interesting I haven't seen this face of yours before. Aren't you going to introduce me to your other guest?" I asked of him. His blue eyes sharpened at my statement and I noticed his eyes went to my right wrist where the three charms were very visible. The other girl followed his gaze and her eyes became confused.
"Um, I'm Rose. You know you met me before seemed to know everything about me before even the Doctor did. Convinced me to come along with the both of you. Ringing any bells?" She asked.
"Rose, remember I explained how this works before, Riana did as well the last time. We don't meet in the right order. So the Riana you're meeting now is actually a younger version than the ones we have met before. She hasn't done any of the stuff we have and you can't tell her about it." He explained. Rose's eyes widened in understanding. Then she took my hand again and shook it.
"Well, I'm Rose Tyler, human that's me." She said with a great amount of warmth. I smiled at her enthusiasm, having the feeling that I would like her honest demeanour and friendliness.
"Nice to meet you Rose Tyler. But before we get too carried away, the Doctor's point does stand, we kind of need to change before venturing out to explore 1860, whenever that it." I added. The Doctor gave instructions of where Rose could find the wardrobe and she took off to get changed. Which left me alone with the Doctor. He had gone back to 'fixing' the console. Without turning around, he was speaking to me.
"You should probably get changed as well, unless you want to be standing around like that?" He said. I was waiting for him to ask me the codeword, which the last Doctor had given me not too long ago.
"Aren't you going to ask?" I said promptly.
"Ask what?" He said. I rolled my eyes.
"If you're trying to be funny, you're not. The codeword dumb head." I said. The Doctor looked up then.
"Ah yes, the codeword, that little matter. I take it that from lack of recognition of me or Rose this is the earliest it has been for you?" The Doctor asked. I nodded, not really seeing where he was going with this.
"Would explain a few things that's all. But I take it that you have in fact met me before. Other faces if I'm correct, but you won't talk about them, or tell me anything about my future…" I still didn't see what he was getting at. Was he fishing for information? Having had enough, I turned to him exasperatedly.
"Look, I don't really see what you are asking. All I asked was whether you were going to ask me the codeword, so you know where we are in relation to each other." I was starting to get a bit ticked off now with his evasiveness.
"I still don't see the point in this little dance and routine that you insist on sticking too. What is even the point of these silly codewords. You could just tell me." He said and I could detect a note of bitterness in his voice as he spoke. I was surprised, I had never encountered a version of the Doctor who didn't seem to immediately regard me with fondness. While this Doctor obviously knew my name, I got the feeling that his trust in me was more out of little choice than genuine affection.
"What are you talking about? Dance and routine? Have I done something to offend you, far be it for me to earn your displeasure at something I haven't even done yet. As for the point of the 'silly codewords' they were your idea that I am just following on." I said somewhat hotly. He had now turned to face me fully, his expression becoming irate.
"I created it? It was you who just pushed yourself into my life when I didn't ask for you too. You who insisted I needed someone to travel with, when I was fine being on my own. What about your constant evasiveness and failure to warn me when my choices get people killed? So sorry if I don't immediately jump to follow your instruction on something I don't quite like." He said angrily. I was completely baffled as to why he disliked me so.
"What?" I said. He suddenly stopped ranting as he saw my face becoming paler.
"Surely you know." He said, now coming to realise his mistake.
"Don't." I said holding a hand to stop him coming closer. "Why are you being so nasty to me?" I said softly, my sympathy and pity for him outweighing my anger. The Doctor looked away, before running his hand over his face.
"Look, I shouldn't even be talking to you about this. I'm sorry for saying that, I was angry with you. From last time. You just left me and Rose with no explanation and after all those people died. You always just turn up and then expect us to do what we're told and then swan off into the distance as though nothing can affect you." He said.
What had I done to make him this way?
"Why would I leave you?" I asked.
The Doctor's jaw worked but he remained quiet. Somehow, the concept of him disliking me didn't seem to unbelievable or misplaced now. I waited for the ominous answer to come but the Doctor remained resolute in his silence and I knew I wouldn't be getting the answer anytime soon.
"Saggy trampoline." He said out of nowhere. I stared at him bewilderment. What did that even mean? Was he off his rocker or something? My confusion must have been pretty obvious as he sighed as he rolled his eyes.
"Excuse me?" I said somewhat offended at that the thought that he might be insulting me.
"The codeword, you wanted to know what it is, well it's Saggy Trampoline." He explained as though I was retarded. I made an understanding noise as I forced myself to meet his weary angry eyes. I tried not to flinch at the thought of what his last words implied and his strange silence on the matter.
"Right, mine's Sunburst." I replied. The Doctor's brows raised in scepticism.
"What like the sweet?" He asked. I shrugged not having the first clue what he was referring too. Did that mean there were lollies out there that burst like a sun in your mouth? How dangerous!
"Don't think so, you picked it. Plus, I have no idea what yours means. So, I guess this means its early for both of us. Doctor, whatever I might have done…in the future I mean…please I want you to know I would never do anything to deliberately hurt you if I could help it…" I said trailing off awkwardly. The Doctor glared slightly at me. With a deep breath, he turned back to the TARDIS console and let the air rush out of his lungs in frustration.
"Just…forget it alright. What I said before, I say things I don't mean when I'm angry. Go get changed." He said to me. I gritted my teeth, it was like trying to pull Ooska's teeth, stubborn and extremely dangerous for the people involved. I vowed to have more patience with the Doctor today as a promise I made Kaluskalu.
With anger and heavy sadness in my heart I turned away from the Doctor and marched out of the console room, towards my own room.
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Finding my room was easy enough, it was exactly where I remembered it to be from the last TARDIS I had been in. Which made me wonder how much earlier was this from the last Doctor I had encountered. How many times had he met me? It was certainly a strange sensation.
But the worst thing that weighed on my mind was his terrible angry attitude towards me. To think that I would be so blasé about the potential deaths of others was…disturbing. It made me wonder if I really abandoned any morals that I had now, or was everything just a means to an end?
With the glass orb still clutched in one hand and my now semi dried blue swim suit the only thing I was wearing, I made my way into the room. To say that I expected it to be almost identical to the room I had just left was an understatement. I was so confused that I stopped mid step and stared. It was nothing like the room I had just left.
Well, the bed was the same, but the comforter and the duvet over was completely different from the usual colour. Instead it was a plain deep navy blue with silver trimmings, no stars. There were no white gauzy curtains that surrounded the sides either, just the four posters holding up a canopy above. The carpet was still cream like the walls of the room. No stars and galaxies swirled overhead on the roof or wind chimes tinkled softly. There was a fireplace with a chair in front of it, but there was only one. There were various book shelves around the room, but they were mostly empty. Altogether, the room felt, wrong…barren.
I knew realistically at some point I must have started to decorate it as it couldn't have magically done so by itself, but it saddened me. A sympathetic hum greeted me and I smiled slightly as the TARDIS did her best to reassure me. I felt a slight tugging sensation which I followed over to an empty shelf, well it had only one thing on it actually. It was a as near I could tell a still life-like image.
What was strange was that I recognised the smiling blue haired woman in the image. Her hair was only a few shades lighter than mine and her eyes were a deep blue. The points of her ears were visible through the curtain of her hair that was elaborately done up. A silver head piece with a sapphire rested on her brow. She wore a sky-blue gown of gossamer silk trimmed with silver. Next to her stood a man, however when I tried to make out his image it seemed to blur, and I quickly found myself distracted. There was a third figure in the frame a young child, but it was difficult to place where the feeling of recognition came from.
The hum of the TARDIS, caught my attention again as I realised a special holder had been created to hold the orb next to the framed image. I snorted in fond irritation, as I remembered my most recent encounter with the Doctor. I placed the precious sphere of Atzaan on to the shelf and then laughed as it really only was just a glass orb. Oh well at least I knew for certain that it wouldn't be getting stolen anytime soon. I couldn't help but feel that whatever today's adventure brought, it was going to test me to my core. This Doctor had made it clear that I was on my own in certain departments, or our usual camaraderie shouldn't be taken for granted. I sighed there was as Martha had once said to me, no point crying over spilt milk. An odd turn of phrase if ever I had heard one.
Focusing on taking a quick shower and choosing appropriate wear for… what year had the blonde-haired girl said we were in? 1850? 1860? When the TARDIS lead me to the back of the wardrobe, which was not nearly as filled with dresses as I was used to, to what felt like the right choice I was nearly gobsmacked. It was certainly not what I was expecting to be appropriate attire for this era and that colour! But still I now knew why that number rang a bell for me, it was because it was similar to what Rosita had worn. So, I suppose the attire was sort of appropriate- even if I had never seen anything like it. Choosing to be daring I grinned as I grabbed the dress and tried to put it on.
Tried being the optimal word…
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I was somewhat on a high note when I walked back into the console room as I had finally managed to get the horrendous thing they called a dress onto myself. It was a bright shade of almost fuchsia faille silk. It hugged my waist snuggly with what I learned was called a corset and flowed out in a voluminous skirt with a bustle and many ruffles in the layered skirt. The top of the gown was an off the shoulder neckline with small puffy sleeves, which left almost all of my arms bare. The locket would suffice well enough for a small set of jewellery, the only problem is that it did not match the colour of my dress.
I found a solution to that by tucking the pendant beneath my breast so only the gold chain was visible. My hair I had twisted into high bun and pinned it so that almost nothing was loose. The only problem remained was my pointed ears. Blue hair was easy enough to explain away, but pointed ears was harder. I had settled on a thick pink ribbon which I tied around the front of my hair with the tips of my ears tucked underneath it. I let the ends trail down my back to give it some flair. Shoes were harder, as the TARDIS insisted on a block heeled pair that were slipped over the foot and secured with a thin strap over the foot. They were a dark plum colour and completely covered over the toes. I sighed, sincerely hoping we wouldn't need to run anywhere today.
Ahead of me I spotted Rose (I had remembered her name by now), she was dressed similarly to me only her dress was a dark red with a much narrower skirt and bodice tipped with black. Her hair was pinned up in a low twist and fastened with a red flower head piece. She wore a long black cape over her clothes presumably to provide warmth I figured. She was standing in front of where the Doctor was working underneath the console. I was about to announce my presence when Rose spoke laughing somewhat self-consciously at her appearance.
"Don't laugh." She said smoothing down the front of her dress. The Doctor looked awestruck at her appearance and his blue eyes were almost twinkling in approval. I noticed how his pupils had dilated and something inside me twisted uncomfortably.
You're being stupid Riana, as if it matters if he thinks she looks good. You don't need him to always tell you that to satisfy your ego. I thought to myself harshly, brushing the twisting feeling inside my stomach aside.
"Blimey! You look beautiful… considering." The Doctor stated trailing off sharply. Rose looked confused at his hasty coverup.
"Considering what?" She asked. I already knew however what excuse he was going to use. Deciding to intervene before he stuck his foot in his mouth again- and yes that was the only reason I was going to stick with for going out there. I walked out from the doorway into view.
"Considering your Human. Don't take it too personally, the Doctor as our resident Time Lord has somewhat of a problem with acknowledging other species attributes and realising that we aren't ALL inferior to their superiority. Personally, I think you look lovely, Rose, regardless of species." I said somewhat snarkily towards the Doctor. The Doctor was levelling me with his best glare although I noticed I had taken him by surprise.
Rose looked awkwardly between the two of us as she tried to decide what was safe to say. Finally deciding I was the lesser of the two evils she smiled gratefully at me.
"Thanks Riana, you look lovely as well. Doesn't she Doctor?" Rose added pointedly towards me. The Doctor grumbled something under his breath as he turned around and met my eyes. His gaze gave me a cursory once over before he turned around and threw over his shoulder.
"Yep, very nice. Now what are we waiting for our adventure awaits." He said as he headed for the door. Well that stung. I thought to myself as I tried to brush it off and not let it show that it bothered me. Rose appeared confused by his brief appraisal, but he hadn't been particularly rude so there wasn't really anything I could say to his remark, other than an irritated huff and a prayer to Akhaten to preserve my patience with the infuriating child-man.
Rose however wasn't subdued for long as she demanded to know if the Doctor had changed at all. He looked exasperated at her question when he declared that he had indeed changed his jumper to a different colour. I nearly snorted as in my opinion he didn't look all that different than before. Rose clearly agreed as she gave me a look that said 'I know right', before she again pushed in front of both me and him and turned around in her excitement from the prospect of entering a new time and place.
"Don't move, this one's mine! You both have done this before and I want to be the one to see what's out there this time and Riana, don't even think about any spoilers." Rose said as she turned around pushed the door open. I couldn't help but smile at the wonderous look on her face as she took in the dark snow-covered alley. It must have started snowing again as there was a fresh layer of snow on the ground. Rose gingerly stepped out and shivered slightly in the sudden drop in temperature.
I wondered if this was why the Doctor kept us around, for the never ending thrill of seeing another being discover the wonders of the Universe for the first time, every time. The Doctor smiled at her in obvious amusement as he offered his arm to her. She laughed as she took it.
"Ready for this? Here we go. History." He said. With that he set off down the way I had originally come from. I shook my head as I noticed he hadn't once glanced back in my direction, assuming that I would either follow him automatically, or not caring if I didn't. I had a sneaking suspicion is might be the latter.
The air was brisk, and the snow crunched under my shoes. I wasn't cold anymore as I found being dry and freshly dressed much more pleasant. I could hear voices singing in the distance and a few of them I recognised from my last visit to Earth. Realising that it might in fact be the pagan holiday of Christmas again, I wondered if this would become a regular thing.
We exited the alleyway to enter onto another street. There were more lights now and as we leisurely strolled down them, we started to encounter more people going about their business. Horses walked passed pulling carriages, still reeking up the place. Humans singing in the background could be seen. The wind had picked up and was blowing people's coats and scarves all over the place. I had to dodge several young boys kicking a ball in the middle of the street and sprint to catch up with Rose and the Doctor.
The Doctor wore a cheerful grin on his face and I couldn't help noticing how much nicer his face appeared when he wasn't scowling or being angry at something, namely myself. Rose looked like she had met the Old God himself with how intensely and almost reverently she took in the sights around us. As I caught up with them the Doctor steered them down another path towards a man selling pieces of folded up paper with many words on them.
"Get your newspapers here! Get your newspapers here!" He yelled over the wind and the singing humans. The Doctor left Rose and myself as he went over to the man and exchanged a silver round disk for one of the newspapers. I wondered if that silver disk had much Preciousness in it?
"Isn't this just fantastic!" Rose said enthusiastically to me. My attention was somewhat occupied as I had just noticed a horse drawn carriage pull up near the side of an opulent building. There was a man and a dark-haired woman with him. They seemed to be talking as I caught part of their conversation on the wind.
"She's in there, sir, I'm certain of it." The woman said.
"Right." The man replied. I frowned at the nervousness that radiated off him. I could literally almost taste it. The locket pulsed once against my chest and I knew that somehow those two were important to whatever events were about to unfold.
"…Riana! Are you even listening to me?" Rose said waving her hand in front of my face. I startled at the motion breaking my attention from the two individuals across the square.
"What? Oh Grandfather, sorry Rose, I was just thinking about something." I said trying to apologise for my lack of interest. She sighed but rolled her eyes in amusement.
"I said, isn't this just fantastic." Rose reiterated. I nodded my head in agreement but was watching as the Doctor headed back towards us. I had lost track of the other two individuals when I had been distracted by Rose. Her brown eyes were furrowed as she looked at me with worry.
"Hey, what's wrong? If this is about the Doctor, I really don't know what has got into him. He isn't usually this…short with you." Rose said. I focused back on her then, trying to reassure her it wasn't her fault.
"Rose… I'm fine, it's just the Doctor said-" Whatever I was about to say was cut off when the Doctor returned. With a sharp look he raised his brow at me.
"I said what?" He asked. I rolled my eyes at his challenge and decided to ignore it for the moment. I shrugged.
"Nothing it's not important. What's that?" I asked instead brushing his question off. The Doctor scowled slightly had my redirection of the conversation, but didn't ask again as he looked at the newspaper he was holding.
"Just a newspaper." He replied.
"Yes, that's really helpful for those of us who weren't born on this planet and haven't attended the newspaper classes." I scoffed. The Doctor rolled his eyes at my sarcasm.
"This is a printed publication in which news, articles, advertisements, and correspondence are contained and made aware to the general public." He replied in his usual lecturing I'm a genius voice.
"Helpful." I muttered. We were walking down the street again as the Doctor perused the newspaper for clues about the current time and place. Rose had helpfully filled me in that we were supposed to be in Naples a city in a country called Italy in the year 1860. I looked around suspiciously at the surroundings and how similar it was to London and had a general feeling that the Doctor's driving skills weren't quite as good as he claimed.
Sure enough…
"I got the flight a bit wrong." The Doctor's voice eventually says. I smirk making sure to keep my face forward to make sure the Doctor can't see my amusement.
"How wrong is wrong?" I ask innocently. The Doctor I know is glaring at me.
"I don't care." Rose replied still overwhelmed by the splendour of Time travel.
"It's not 1860, it's 1869." The Doctor says. I turn around and raise one of my eyebrows at him, my lips quirked.
"Could be worse." I try to sound nonchalant as I say it too. I know the Doctor can see my amusement. "We could be in completely the wrong location as well." I add.
"I don't care." Rose adds again. The Doctor looked away sheepishly.
"Ahem, and it's not Naples." He said. Now I was smiling.
"Where are we then?" I asked.
"I still don't care." Rose said. I waited for it, the pause before the big reveal.
"It's Cardiff." The Doctor said with finality. Rose stopped dead in her tracks as the Doctor kept walking. She looked thoroughly unimpressed, as though all her excitement had died.
"Right…" She trailed off.
"Where Cardiff?" I asked.
"Whales near England." The Doctor replied. Well that didn't exactly help, where was Whales and what was England. I huffed in exasperation at him.
"Yep that makes it so much clearer." I said.
"It's the most mundane place you can get." Rose said, well at least I now knew why she looked light a hot air balloon that had deflated.
We were walking passed what the Doctor was explaining was a theatre and several historic monuments when the screams began. All of a sudden hundreds of people were flooding the streets in a panic from the building that the Doctor had pointed out as the theatre. I sighed and here was what I had been waiting for, the start of another dangerous adventure. The Doctor grinned as he looked at the both of us in glee.
"That's more like it!" He shouted happily as he chucked the newspaper over his shoulder and ran towards the source of trouble.
"And here I was thinking that we might just have a reasonable day out without all the trouble that you seem to attract." I yelled as I picked up my skirts and ran after him, Rose hot on my heels.
"But where would the fun be in that?" He yelled back, clearly forgetting his anger at me in the thick of the excitement and I found myself grinning back. Curse this stupid dress, the skirts were heavy, and it was difficult to keep up.
We sprinted up the stairs being jostled by the fleeing people as they rushed past in their lavish costumes. I nearly tripped twice but managed to catch myself before I face planted. Rose was facing a similar issue and so I decided after she nearly tripped for the fourth time to use my telekinesis to create a barrier around the both of us as I pushed people aside. The Doctor was just ahead of us when we entered a large carpeted room. There was a stage with an older man standing upon it shouting for people to remain seated. The ceiling was at least four metres tall and there were rows upon rows of red plush seats.
I stopped and stared as an older pale looking woman screamed from her place amongst the sea of seat with strange blue light streaming off her. An unnatural wind buffeted the room, but it was the two familiar individuals that caught my attention. They were just ahead of us pushing through the crowd.
"There she is, sir!" The woman shouted pointing to the pale ghostly woman.
"I can see that. The whole blooming world can see that!" The man shouted anxiously as he watched the strange blue gas left the woman and she collapsed sideways onto the seat behind her. The Doctor was mesmerised by the light show.
"Fantastic!" The Doctor exclaimed as he bounded up the stage stairs to stand next the brown-haired human on the stage. The man and woman made for the woman amongst all those fleeing the scene.
"Did you see where it came from?" The Doctor asked the man on the stage. I was of two minds watching as the other man and woman grab the old woman and make off with her but also being preoccupied with what the Doctor was doing.
"Ah, the wag reveals himself, does he? I trust you're satisfied, sir!" The angry man shouted at the Doctor. The Doctor looked taken aback at the accusation. Rose was making for the stage, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"Wait, Rose I need you to do something for me. I need you to follow where that man and woman are taking that old lady. Whatever is going on here, they're part of it." I said. Rose looked torn but nodded, somehow not questioning my command. It was a strange feeling and one I would have to think on at a later time.
"Oi! Leave her alone!" She shouted at the two thieves who became panicked at her pursuit. "Riana, Doctor I'll get them." She yelled over her shoulder as she took off after them. The Doctor looked alarmed but glanced at me to see what I was doing. When he noticed I wasn't following he became concerned.
"Be careful! Riana aren't you going after her?" The Doctor asked me. I joined him on the stage next to the grumpy brown-haired man, who appeared even more bewildered by my appearance.
"No, I told Rose to follow them, she'll be fine." I said off handedly. The Doctor frowned but didn't say anymore on the subject.
"Did it say anything? Can it speak? I'm the Doctor, by the way." He said in his usual verbal dribble. I rolled my eyes when he forgot to introduce me.
"Hi, I'm Riana by the way." I added elbowing the Doctor slightly in the ribs. He grunted but continued with only a single reprimanding look towards me.
"Doctor? You look more like a navvie. And who in the name of the Lord has blue hair?" He said. The Doctor looked down indignantly at his jumper and I couldn't help glancing at my hair in irritation. What was it with Humans and their obsession with my Blue hair, it was respectable Grandfather dammit!
"What's wrong with this jumper?" He exclaimed.
"Hey! Enough cracks about the hair, what is wrong with blue, it is a respectable colour." I said huffily.
"I think that is entirely beside the point." The Doctor said.
"Sure, you can get offended about your jumper, but I can't defend my hair?" I said sarcastically.
"I think you are entirely missing what I'm saying." The Doctor said.
"Really!" I exclaimed in irritation. A clearing of the throat from the other man made us stop arguing.
"WHAT!" We said at the same time.
"I think you are both very strange." He said. I snorted, if that was all this man could come up with, I think we were wasting our time. Just then the blue light disappeared into what looked light a light device, although it was very primitive with a flame flickering instead of a bulb. I surmised it ran on gas and used an oil and wick to burn.
"Gas! It's made of gas." The Doctor said excitedly.
"Thanks for that observation Doctor, I'm so glad we have your smarts to see-"
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Whatever I was about to say was left unfinished as I was ripped from my body when the locket pulsed once very brightly and the light creature inside of me seemed to waken.
I was torn through walls out on to the street outside the theatre where the strange man and woman who I had told Rose to follow were putting the ghostly woman's body into the back of their carriage. Rose was running towards them shouting.
"What're you doing?!" Rose yelled at them. She came up to where the man was standing and was looking at the woman's unconscious form.
"We don't think she is unconscious, we think she is perished." A voice said from beside me. I jumped, startled to notice that another person was standing beside me. When I turned to look I nearly screamed as I was confronted with what looked like an identical version of myself but with glowing gold white eyes of the light creature.
"What? How is this possible, you're not supposed to be able to see me like this?" I said nervously. The girl creature laughed in it's deep voice.
"The little blue queen is scared without her precious Doctor to save her. But he is not being so precious, now is he? So angry, so hurtful and he cannot even see the wounds that he carves into your heart. But you try to be brave, for him… for the Doctor…my Doctor." The girl creature whispered. I was scared, unsure of what it wanted.
"Stop it! How are you here?" I demanded. The girl creature sighed in annoyance.
"Always demanding we are. I am able to see what you see, hear what you hear, feel what you feel. Our light is joined remember? You woke me here from where I slumbered inside. You are scared of us, but you don't need to be…we can help." It said. I didn't believe it for a second.
"I don't want your help. Go away and get out of my head." I said angrily. The creature only rolled its eyes and pointed to the scene in front of us, which had somehow frozen while we talked.
"Be angry then, because being angry always solves everything doesn't it little blue queen. Rather than taking the hand that is offered you would rather bite it off than surrender your pride." It said knowingly. I gasped as it seemed to almost be able to read my mind.
"How do you know that? Why would you want to help me?" I asked.
"We are one, your fire and our fire joined. We are changed by the Red Light, by the Heart. That was the price, the agreement you will spread our light. So, we will help you." It answers were far too confusing for me to be dealing with at the moment. So I decided to just let it go and think it over later.
"Fine you can help me, why is everything frozen? That's never happened before" I thought outloud. The creature again laughed.
"That is because Time is frozen. In this state many things are possible, but you have slumbered long Red One and you have forgotten. We will help you remember." It answered. I frowned, first it called me little blue queen and now I was Red One again. Also what did it mean by the Heart? Was this something to do with the locket? The power to control Time? It seemed impossible, yet many things about this locket were, and at this point I was almost willing to believe anything was possible.
"Right… but how do we unfreeze it?" I asked.
"You must want to." Was the helpful reply. I groaned in annoyance, if I had to get stuck with a tag along, could they at least have been straightforward in their answers.
"Cool, let's assume for Grandfather's sake I don't know how to do that. What do I do then." I said. The girl creature rolled its eyes.
"We cannot do this for you Red One, you must find a way. Will Time to start again as you did before when you stopped Korwin to save Abi." It replied. Great that was so much help, not to mention that before, that was sheer desperation and I in fact failed. Still I took a deep breath and tried to calm my racing mind.
Reaching out for that familiar thread I tried to will Time to start again. When I looked around nothing had changed. I tried it several more times before I grew angry.
"Start, Grandfather dammit!" I yelled in sheer frustration and suddenly Time began again. The Light creature, (whom I decided to call Zeem'Akh for nothing better than to save time always refering to it at the Light creature, the girl creature, the nasty burny monster living in my head etc. or Glory for short as that was what its name effectively translated to) snorted at my antics.
Rose was suddenly trying to see the woman lying in the back of the carriage. The dark haired woman was barring her from getting a good look.
"Oh, it's a tragedy, miss. Don't worry yourself. Me and the master will deal with it. The fact is, this poor lady's been taken with the brain fever and we have to get her to the infirmary." The woman lied terribly. I snorted along with Glory over there at her attempt.
"I don't reckon she could lie to save her life, let alone fool Rose." I muttered.
"Agreed, she is terrible." Glory said. That didn't stop Rose from pushing past to feel the so obviously dead woman's face now.
"She's cold. She's dead! Oh, my God, what'd you do to her?" Rose exclaimed, I felt my heart sink, I had held out some hope that she wasn't. I tried to shout a warning to Rose as I spotted the sneaky snorri quietly creeping up behind her to put a cloth over her face. He held Rose firmly as she struggled, but eventually succumbed to whatever drug that cloth was infused with. Oh, he was so dead when I caught up to him.
"What did you do that for?" The other woman said with shock.
"She's seen too much. Get her in the hearse. Legs." He commanded her. The woman reluctant obeyed. Helping to haul Rose into the back of the carriage with the dead woman.
"You must hurry little blue queen, your friend doesn't have much time." Glory said. With that I was pulled back into my body where the Doctor and the brown-haired man were staring at me strangely.
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
"Riana? Riana what's happening?" The Doctor was speaking to me as he waved his hand in front of my face. I couldn't help but notice the concern in his eyes as I came back to myself. I noticed that Glory wasn't there anymore and wondered what had happened.
"Rose…Doctor we need to help Rose!" I yelled as I grabbed my skirts and trying not trip made my way off the stage and out of the hall towards the entrance of the building. The Doctor was close behind me and the other man on the Doctor's heels.
"What's wrong? What happened back there? If she is in trouble I'm going to hold you responsible." He said as he caught up to me. I half glared at him, trying to not to let his words hurt me.
"Yes, because its my fault that the two idiots decided to drug and kidnap her and a dead woman." I yelled back at him. When we reached the stairs, I spotted Rose's head being put into the carriage as the woman slammed the doors and raced back to the carriage. The Doctor skidded to a stop beside me as we both watched helplessly as it drove away. I tried to give chase, but the abominable dress and awful heels slowed me down and they were too far away to attempt to telekinetically stop them without hurting all the people in the carriage.
"Rose!" The Doctor yelled after her. "Riana, stop it, use your telekinesis." He ordered me.
"I can't they're too far away and even if I tried I'm not sure if I could stop it enough for them not to all get hurt." I tried to explain. He turned to me and was all out seething now.
"You told Rose to go after them, knowing she could be in danger and didn't stop her! You knew about those two and didn't tell me a damn thing! It should have been you instead of her, you at least have powers to protect yourself she doesn't. She's just a child and you made me promise to protect her and now I've failed her! Tell me right now why I shouldn't just throw you out of the TARDIS and be done with it? Why should I trust you?" He demanded yelling in his fury. I tried not to flinch under the assault of his words, but it was a difficult thing to accomplish. But I refused to sit here and let him harass me anymore. So, I got angry and did the last thing he would expect, I got up into his personal space and all but growled for him to shut up.
"Enough! I've had just about enough of your snide remarks and your distrust and your anger today. I haven't done anything wrong to deserve this, I made a decision at the time for what I thought would help and if you haven't noticed yet, you had just as much ability to stop her as I did. You chose not to, so don't pin this on me. I'm new at this, it hasn't even been two weeks for me yet since I first met you, so I'm doing my best I really am, but so help me, if you talk to me like that again I will punch you." I threatened him. His glare didn't let up but his anger seemed to cool off slightly as his eyes widened at the new piece of information that I had fed him.
"Why, why are you being so horrible to me, what have I done to make you hate me so?" I whispered. I stepped out of his personal space as all the anger I had just felt drained away, leaving me feeling numb.
"I-I…I don't hate you Riana. I just don't know anything about you. You show up in my life and expect me to trust you when you won't even tell me anything about yourself. You know my future but won't tell me a thing about it, so I might be able to save lives and you just swan off as though you don't care." He said bitterly.
"You don't trust me, do you?" I asked simply.
"You haven't ever given me a real reason too. You know too much, information that is dangerous in the wrong hands and I don't know what to do about it." He said, and I could feel my eyes watering with unshed tears.
"What did I do Doctor, what did I do that made you so angry and distrustful towards me? Please just tell me so I can fix it." I almost begged him.
"I can't. You made that clear right from the beginning, I can't tell you about your future, just as you can't tell me about mine. As much as I loathe it, you are right, knowing your own personal future is dangerous and our situation is about as dangerous as you could get. Look this isn't the time to be having this conversation. We have to rescue Rose. I'll try and not let my anger get the best of me again." He said as he started over to another carriage parked next to the theatre. I ran up after him and yanked on his arm. The brown-haired man had caught up to us while we were arguing.
I wasn't going to let the Doctor be a hypocrite in this scenario. Not spoon feed me convenient excuses when it suited him and ignore them when it didn't.
"No, not this time. You are going to tell me why you feel so empty inside. Why your eyes are so full of anger and sadness. Let me help you." I said.
"Help me? The last time you offered to help me, you made me destroy my own people! So yes, I have a right to be angry and sad and a be ticked off when you act as though you care." His words were like daggers in my heart and I could feel the carefully concealed wound begin to bleed again. I gasped and almost stumbled back from him in fear, not from him, but his words.
You made me destroy my own people...you made me destroy my own people...you…made…me…destroy…my…own…people…
No, it was like my worst nightmare come to life. The thought I could be the one to ruin to ruin this man's life so completely was horrifying.
A man awaits; the greatest and most terrible man you will ever know and together you will burn the starts and watch them be reborn again…
All shall come to fear you and all shall come to love you…
So there are other Time Lords yeah?... No. There were, but there aren't…Just me now. Long story. There was a bad day. Bad stuff happened, and you know what? I'd love to forget it all, every last bit of it, but I don't. Not ever.
I am a damaged old man. And somehow, I have someone like you in my life. You have such a kind heart and you always try to make things better. Even when it doesn't always work.
What had I done?
Next Chapter: The Unquiet dead- The Walking Dead
Akheet Word List
Kaluskalu- A ridiculous idiot.
Chulki- A flirt.
Tori'sh- Angry heart.
Wampaii- A flightless poultry bird farmed for its meat. Equivalent of a chicken.
Dwinni- Skinny/childlike
Ooska- Equivalent of a dog.
Zeem'akh- Divine Light (aka Glory)
Snorri- Equivalent of a weasel.