Chapter Two, coming up
Chapter Two, coming up. We get to find out more about Kerralie, and yes, it is significant that in Chapter One I said Kerralie had two hearts. And YAY Cap'n Jack is back (sort of) in business in this chapter. I've missed him.
Chapter Two
The small blue box looked innocent, which meant that Kerralie immediately didn't trust it. Any inanimate object that looks innocent is usually plotting something. And this was the reason she hesitated before going through the doors of what the mysterious Doctor called a 'TARDIS', whatever that was. When she stepped through, though, she trusted it completely. The comforting psychic presence soothed her, and then she noticed the obvious thing.
"Wow, that's clever," Kerralie observed.
"Go ahead, say it," said the Doctor. "Everyone does."
"Say what? That the inside's bigger than the outside? Isn't that a little obvious?"
"Thank you! That's what I try to tell everyone, but nearly every person who's been in here has said-" he stopped suddenly, appearing to be listening to something. "Kerralie, what planet are you from?" he said it casually, too casually. Kerralie had tried not to eavesdrop, but she'd heard some of the exchange between the living ship and the Doctor. She knew the timeship was excited about something, and the Doctor was trying to find out more before accepting what the ship was saying.
"I don't know," she answered. "Not Earth, but I was adopted on Earth so I have no clue where."
"Hmmm. Can I try something?"
"Sure. Do you know where I'm from?"
"I'm trying to find out. Can I listen to your heartbeat? I'm not crazy, this could be relevant."
She let him listen through the stethoscope to her heartbeats, first the left, then the right.
"Kerralie, do you know you have two hearts?"
"Yes. That's part of the reason I know I'm not from Earth."
"Kerralie, have you heard of a planet called Gallifrey?"
"No. should I have?"
"Yes. I have a strong feeling that's where you're from. And if I'm right, that's quite important."
He'd just finished explaining when the next tremor hit. Kerralie was already shaken to learn she was part of a nearly extinct race, and this Doctor was the only other member of her species still alive, and she was caught unawares by the sudden movement. She half-fell against the console and was greeted with the strangest sensation of falling into liquid silver. She snatched her hands off and returned to the real world with a bump. Whoa, she thought, anyone else get that?
That was weird! Came from Common Sense
Tell me about it, agreed Conscience
It's like having more of me in here, commented Power
BIZARRE, agreed Hindsight
In my opinion, the timeship is psychic like us,chimed in Second Thoughts
Helpful, thought Kerralie. I think I'm going mad.
"Was it just me, or was that quake worse than the last one?" she asked the Doctor.
He nodded. "They're getting worse. We need to visit Jack."
"Who is Jack?"
"An old friend," he said, grinning.
TARDIS flight was strange, not least because Kerralie could hear the timeship's thoughts.
"Are you eavesdropping, Bright One?" the voice was kind, and Kerralie realised it was the TARDIS speaking in her mind.
Sorry, I can't help it.
Don't pry,
I can't help it!
Poking around in the mind of a powerful time machine is probably not a good idea,
"You're different to him. So much more electric. That is trained out of Time Lords when they are young. But of course you haven't. It's nice to have a true Time Lady in me again. Time was, many people were like you. So long ago, now."
Kerralie would have stayed and chatted, but at that moment the landed and the Doctor headed for the door. She said goodbye to the TARDIS and hurried after him. She caught up outside, where she found a tall, dark and very handsome man talking to him. She guessed- correctly- that this was Jack, and immediately she felt what was different about him: he had immortality.
"Hello, who is this?" he asked, with an American accent and a look of 'flirt with anything' which Kerralie had seen before and knew enough not to be fooled by.
"I'm Kerralie," she said, smiling nicely but not flirtatiously.
"Don't try it," warned the Doctor.
"Try what? Why do you always tell me not to try things?" asked Jack in a mock-hurt tone.
"I'd love to go through all this again, but we've got more important things to worry about. You haven't been causing these earthquakes, have you?"
"Nope. I was hoping you'd know what's going on."
"No such luck. Oh, and I picked up Kerralie here on the way through. She's from Gallifrey too, but she's untrained so very different."
Jack looked like he was about to say something, but he didn't get a chance, because Kerralie suddenly spoke up; surprising them both.
"I know what's going on,"
"How's that? If the Doctor doesn't know then surely you shouldn't." jack pointed out.
"TARDIS told me. She knows what I should be able to do, and she helped me see what's happening. The timelines are getting distorted as the Rift power fluctuates, and one of them has fractured, setting off the earthquakes."
"Can you fix it?" asked the Doctor.
"Ah. That's the catch. No, I don't think so, and it needs to be fixed before it destroys half the universe."
"Great."
Actually, this wasn't strictly true. Kerralie was sure she could fix it, but in doing so she would probably cause more trouble by not knowing what she was doing. Sadly, once again her mind was in disagreement:
Don't do it.
Do it. You owe it to them.
I don't think I can. I'm not that powerful.
ASK THE TIMESHIP ABOUT IT, OR THERE COULD BE TROUBLE.
Don't do anything until you're sure.
Gotcha. I'm going with the majority: do nothing until later.
Selfish.
Don't sulk, Conscience. That won't help.
I don't know why anyone expects me to do anything.
I THINK WE SHOULD SPEAK TO THE TIMESHIP NOW. DON'T IGNORE ME!
Stop squabbling! That won't help! Don't listen to them, but you should ask the timeship. She'll help, even if we can't do anything.
Good advice.
Thanks.
I'm definitely insane. Ah, well. No point worrying about it if there's nothing I can do right now. Toodles for now, girls.
Bye
Cheerio
Ta-ta for now
SEE YA!
Au revoir, my other self.
Kerralie shook her head, and paid attention to the conversation between Jack and the Doctor. It was filled with technical jargon, but when she had sifted this out she understood that they had no idea what to do either, and were doing the thing all men do when they have no clue, and making it up as they went along. She shook her head again, and headed off into the TARDIS to ask advice on how to deal with conflicting inner voices and fractured timelines.
Getting to the fun part now! Again, read & review please, if no one likes then I won't write.