A/N: Hello there. I would just like to take a moment to sincerely apologize for leaving this hanging so long. I know it can be frustrating to wait and wait and never get any sort of idea if something's been completely abandoned willy nilly or not. Got a bit lazy with writing, and then slowly got started on updating my other fic for a bit. But now I'm in a routine of writing again, so ideally your wait time will now be reduced from the ridiculous FIVE FREAKING MONTHS that it has been in the past. Again, I really deeply apologize for that. For those of you who have stuck it out, thank you so much. You're all fantastic, and you're much better than I would be if the position were reversed. (I would have drafted and sent at least 3 dozen threatening emails by now, and as yet, I've received none) Anyway, onward!
- 1925 -
- The Lost City of Z -
She wasn't quite standing upright when she arrived, and so she toppled backward. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to find herself staring up at a familiar orange lit ceiling. She blinked, sure she must have made some mistake. But the soft whirring of the ship confirmed that she was, indeed, on the TARDIS, while it was traveling, despite her belief that such a thing was impossible.
"Calypso?" The floppy haired Doctor had just spun around the console as she pushed herself up to her elbows, his hand frozen on a blue lever as he stared at her for a long moment. "How did you-" the ship made a grinding noise and he flinched, throwing the lever down so that the noises, and the shifting floor, shuddered to a stop. He then resumed his stare, a confused frown crinkling his brow.
"I…I don't know." She shook her head. She didn't know if she should be alarmed or happy, but it didn't seem to be something the Doctor had caused, given his current state of concern.
"Well, can't say that I'm sorry," his frown melted into a grin as she strode over, helping her to her feet. She was unhappy to have been snatched from the Doctor before, but she couldn't deny she was still happy to see this man. "It is good to see you." He murmured as he brought the back of her hand to his mouth and kissed it, shutting his eyes for a moment.
"I say good man, where in the blazes did she come from? Pardon my rudeness, madam." Calypso started as a man appeared from behind the console. He was older, but well maintained. Lean muscles stretched out on a tall frame and a well trimmed, if slightly graying beard, framed his face.
"Ah," the Doctor said turning, apparently only just then remembering that he had other guests aboard his ship. "Yes. Sorry. Introductions." The Doctor released Calypso's hands with what looked like a pang of regret as he gestured between the two of them. "This is my," he paused, looking back at Calypso with the hint of a smirk. "Very special friend, Calypso. She's been through the ringer more times than I care to mention, and I can personally vouch for her being beautifully brilliant. And clever, and just generally remarkable." Calypso flushed at the excessive compliments, certain that he must be exaggerating. "And this fine specimen, is the extraordinary Colonel Percy Fawcett. He's," the Doctor clapped his hands together and grinned exuberantly at the both of them. "An adventurer." The colonel nodded, clearly approving of the Doctor's enthusiasm. "He's looking for the lost city of Z. Isn't that brilliant?"
It was a place Calypso had never heard of, though that didn't mean it couldn't exist so she nodded politely.
"Lovely to meet you dear, hope you're ready to go rugged. Afraid it's a bit tetchy out there." The colonel nodded toward the TARDIS doors that remained shut before he turned to begin packing up a bag from a pile of miscellaneous items that were scattered across the floor.
"Is there a lost city of Z?" She asked the Doctor quietly while the colonel was distracted.
"What? Oh, course not." The Doctor shook his head. "They moved that ages ago. Can you imagine the trouble that would cause? An entire city of gold, which surrounds a portal, leading to an entire planet of gold? Don't think humankind is quite ready for a war of that magnitude, nor am I inclined to let them start one." He said dangerously.
"What was that Doctor?" The colonel looked up suspiciously from his packing.
"Oh nothing," the Doctor smiled innocently. "Nothing at all. Just catching up. You know, adventurer…stuff. Ah, here come the rest of the troops-" Calypso looked up to see two young men walking out of a doorway from the balcony above. The fairer of the two nearly tumbled over the lip of the door, but the other caught his hand, and their grasp lingered a moment longer than necessary. "Hello boys." The Doctor said with a cheerful wave.
"Doctor, was she here before?" The man with dusty blond hair asked with a raised eyebrow. He was a beautiful man, and clean shaven, but it was clear from the angles of his face that he was related to the colonel somehow.
"No Jack, I'm afraid we've taken on another passenger for the ride. Not to worry, she's marvelous, though she does tend to pop in and out. On occasion. Anyway. Calypso, this is the colonel's son, Jack, and his friend, Raleigh Rimmell." The second man, who had dark hair neatly combed back and tanned skin, nodded politely.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, but I'm afraid you've come at a rather bad time." Jack frowned, extending his left arm, which Calypso realized was bandaged over just below the elbow.
"Damnable bugs." The colonel muttered.
"They're not bugs." The Doctor corrected him. "They're a complex hive creature from the Crosynx system. And I've already told you that by jumping forward a handful of hours…or months," he said as he made a face, glancing at the scanner. "Regardless, the trap that we inadvertently set off should have reset by now, and we'll easily avoid them this time round."
"Aye, that sounds like a sure fire plan. Remind me again, Doctor, what these 'hive creatures' look like?"
"Well…they…" the Doctor set a frown on his features as he realized that the colonel had trapped him. "Well I suppose they look a bit like scarabs, but that's only because they're distant ancestors-"
"Bugs, my boy. Nasty flesh eating bugs."
"Yes. I mean, no, not really. Not at all. But if it helps. Yes." The Doctor rolled his eyes as he ruffled a hand through his hair. "Now, more importantly. Who wants to go find a lost city?" That wonder filled grin returned to his face.
"That's the ticket," the colonel said with an approving nod. "Boys, pack light. I get the feeling we'll want to travel fast."
Neither of the two younger men looked especially enthusiastic, but they both walked down the stairs and set to digging through the mess the colonel had created and began to organize some of the chaos.
"Now, we'll need to get you…dressed in something more appropriate." The Doctor said as he led Calypso to the far side of the room where a spiral staircase disappeared into the floor.
"Didn't…you say there was no city?" He met her hesitance with a wide grin.
"Yes, I may have. Well, I did. But what I didn't mention, was that they didn't just remove the city. They've replaced it."
"With what?"
"I don't know," he certainly did have a particular zeal for the unknown that Calypso wasn't entirely sure she could get behind. "That's why it's so brilliant. Now, get yourself sorted down there- No, wait." He grasped her shoulders and stopped her from moving. "More importantly, how did you end up here?" He stared deep into her eyes, as though he might divulge the answer simply by looking at her long enough.
"I really can't say, nothing different happened. One moment I was on the train-" he voice faltered, remembering exactly what she and the Doctor had been doing on the train. But then she was remembering something else entirely. A frightened family, Olga's last words to her. "Are they alright? Did the family make it through alright?" She was suddenly desperate to know that they were okay, that the Doctor had managed to save them from the fate their father had befallen.
"Family?" He frowned. "No, hang on, I'll get this…train. Train…oh of course. The Romanov's, that's why you're dressed as if for a blizzard. Yes. Yes, they're quite alright. They opened a small hotel in Spain, it was really quite lovely, I spent some time there in the thirties. Make a fantastic banana foster." Calypso felt the tightness in her chest release as she took in a breath. They were safe, the Doctor had saved them. She hoped he'd been able to explain her sudden disappearance without causing them too much further distress. "Try and remember though, was there anything you were doing just before you-" The Doctor seemed to remember just a moment too late. "Oh. Oh." His look of surprise slowly spread into a grin. "Rubbish timing indeed."
"Afraid so." She allowed herself to smile.
"So then it must have been the TARDIS," he peered into the ceiling overhead as though that might provide some answers. "Wonder what she's up to." When the ship offered no response he half shrugged. "Well, something to sort out later, and I mean to." He told her very seriously. "But for now, you'll have to change. Wardrobe at the bottom of the stairs-"
"Doctor…what am I changing into?" He blinked for a moment, and then smiled.
"Ah, yes, sorry. Perhaps I better explain," he walked her back to the front doors of the TARDIS and threw them wide for her. There was an abundance of green outside, but what she most immediately noticed was the sweltering heat that hit her like a wave. It was sticky and warm, and she could already feel the wool in her dress starting to scratch at her. "We are in Brazil. Right along the north end of the Xingu River. And there are no paved roads, so you better find some sturdy boots while you're down there." He added thoughtfully. "She's likely got everything you need set aside though, she likes to take care of us." He patted the side of the ship and Calypso let her hand trail over the railing, feeling the glowing familiarity pulse against her like an old friend.
She turned to head for the stairs, but the Doctor caught her hand as she begin to leave, and pulled backward. The act unbalanced her and she fell flying forward, but the Doctor was ready to catch her, which suggested perhaps that had been his plan all along.
"And Calypso," he said and she found herself mesmerized by those thoughtful green eyes gazing down on her. She struggled to remember anything at all, the most important that was coming to mind was how to calm her racing heart before it exploded in her chest. "Don't go disappearing while you're down there. I'd be very cross if you did." He smiled as he said it, but there was a sadness in his eyes. Then he brought his hands gently up to her face and pressed his lips against hers. There wasn't the nervous desperation there had been on the train. He was sure of himself, and gentle, and she melted into it. It was over too soon, but the rustling behind them reminded her that they weren't alone. "Sorry," he said absently as he watched her lips. "Couldn't quite help myself. But I gather we've been introduced this way before." His own lips curled into a grin.
"Yes, I imagine we have been." She couldn't help her own smile, nor did she particularly want to.
"Good. Now you best get changed before the boys finish up. The colonel in particular doesn't have an abundance of patience when it comes to his expeditions." He still had her face cupped between his hands though, making it difficult for her to do anything but linger in his gaze. "Blimey it's good to see you again." He said with a smile. Then he kissed her cheek gently and released her. "Off you go. See if she's got anything more adventurer looking down there for me. I'm feeling a bit under dressed." He winked and she tried not to laugh, imagining the Doctor tromping through the humid jungles of Brazil in his bow tie and suspenders.
