Next chapter… thanks for the review welshdragon, my mind is what I based Kerralie on so I'm crazy too. In this chapter the story title becomes more relevant (ish) and the plot takes an unexpected twist… unless you're psychic, which means it won't be unexpected at all. But then, if you're psychic, not much is unexpected. Shut up brain. Again, please read & review.
Chapter Three
Kerralie, the Doctor, Jack and the TARDIS (using Kerralie as a translator) met to hold a council of war. Only it wasn't, because the Doctor wanted no fighting. Jack said it was a war whether they liked it or not and this meant that war council or not it turned into a giant argument, the TARDIS decided that the argument was below her consideration and started humming, and Kerralie came up with a way to solve the problem but couldn't get a word in edgeways because of Jack and the Doctor squabbling. In fact, she probably would have had to have resorted to hitting them if the TARDIS hadn't chimed in her mind
"Bright One, another timeline has fractured. Tell them, or the timeflow will be disrupted even more and the universe will implode,"
Will it really?
"Yes,"
Oh, dear.
"Will you two stop fighting for one second so we can solve this problem!"
Both Jack and the Doctor looked a little shocked. After all, they had only just met Kerralie and couldn't know she was quite probably mad, with a deadly temper.
"We have more things to worry about than fighting or not. TARDIS just told me that another timeline's fractured."
"Damn," said Jack.
"Quite," agreed Kerralie.
"What do you suggest we do, seeing as you said you can't fix it?" asked the Doctor.
"I said I didn't think I could fix it, not that I definitely couldn't fix it. And the TARDIS says I should, theoretically, be able to do it if I train before hand."
"We don't have time to train you. The timelines are fracturing now!" the Doctor pointed out.
"I know. This means I have to do it untrained."
"And the catch is?" asked Jack, catching the tone of her voice.
"Ah, yes. The catch. There is a small chance that if it goes wrong I could end up slightly frying someone."
"Someone, like yourself?" The Doctor had noticed what she wasn't saying
"Um, yes. BUT, before you yell or something, it makes sense for me to do this."
The Doctor looked sceptical.
"Look, I'll prove it," said Kerralie. She'd prepared for this. She was better at reading people than anyone could guess- probably because she was psychic- and she had noticed from the moment she met him that the Doctor was someone who didn't like death, and would try to stop it at any cost. "Firstly, I probably won't kill myself, that's just a worst-case scenario; secondly, I'd rather it was me than an entire universe if you catch my drift; and thirdly, if I want to do it then you can't stop me."
"Ooh, touché. She's got you there, Doctor, you have to admit." Jack appeared to be enjoying this hugely. Kerralie got the feeling that Jack did what the Doctor said and was enjoying watching someone stand up to him. Kerralie knew they didn't have time to argue, so she pulled herself up to her full height- which wasn't much compared to the Doctor, but never mind-, looked him straight in the eye, and said, "Shall we get started?
……………………
They stood in the rain in Cardiff's centre. Jack had got Torchwood to clear the area, and it was deserted. Kerralie had been in a long conversation with the TARDIS to get the details of what to do, and was now ready… ish. She pushed the wet hair out of her eyes, took a deep breath, and dived into the other place, the one inside her where she could see the timelines stretching out, in front and behind like sparkling roads. The fractured timelines were obvious, glittering shards everywhere like a smashed mirror. She concentrated, sending the power shimmering out to the broken timestrands. The emptiness surrounding the strands was lit by blazing light. Darkness burned. The strands began to fix, making clinking sounds as the splinters rejoined. Kerralie was struggling to keep the power flowing. She had never used this much power, and she was aware how much was riding on this. The final pieces linked back into place, and just before the power died she heard a voice, twisted with hate and evil, hissing in her mind:
"I WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL BURN!"
The shock was too much for her, already weakened with exhaustion from using the power, and unconsciousness came as welcome relief, as the blackness claimed her.
…………………
She recognised the warmth and presence of the TARDIS before she opened her eyes. When she did open them, she saw Jack and the Doctor watching her.
"Are you all right?" asked the Doctor, with a concerned look that was impressive- after all, he barely knew her.
"When you collapsed like that we thought your worst-case scenario had happened," agreed Jack.
"I'm fine, really. Just a bit exhausted from using up all my power fixing timestrands."
"Did you? Fix it, I mean," asked Jack, who felt that there was a time and place for politeness and this wasn't it.
"Hang on a sec, let me check." Kerralie closed her eyes and went to the timestreams. They were all intact and humming with the mysterious energy of time. It was then that she remembered the malevolent voice in her head. Hmm, she thought, anyone get who that was?
There was a sort of group shrug (not a real shrug, of course, since they were all parts of her mind that had gone a bit renegade and started thinking for themselves, but a metaphorical shrug).
Great, Kerralie thought, another voice in my head I have to sort out. Maybe I should mention this to the Doctor. See what he thinks.
………………………..
He was surprisingly interested. Most people would have laughed and told her not to be silly, but he listened, and she found herself trusting him enough to explain the other voices in her head. That had made him smile. Then he asked something she wasn't expecting at all.
"Can I check out your mind a little?"
"You can do that?"
"Yes. One of the few powers that didn't completely trained out."
"Well, sure, if you think it will help."
He rested his fingertips gently against her temples, and entered her mind. He stopped almost as soon as he had entered. It was beautiful, a sea of molten gold light.
You know the drill people: r&r. more coming soon!