Doctor And Assistant (Chap. 8)
Chapter Eight: Rejoicing and Gaining
/the Doctor\\
He stood positioned in front of the monitor. "Are you sure we are dealing with a Skyolozine?"
The TARDIS shuddered, buzzing in response.
"Okay. So... is this the thing that took her?"
Another loud buzz.
"How about this: flicker the lights once for 'yes' and twice for 'no'."
One flicker.
The Doctor resourcefully watched the monitor as the TARDIS depicted different files installed in to her database, showing him the "SKYOLOZINE" folder.
Summary:
[Skyolozine] are winged creatures designed to look and act like normal Homo sapiens (humans). When in true form they sprout from their mid back large, hawk-like wings and gain the ability to fly.
Attacks/Weaknesses:
All Skyolozine's have a limited supply of "energy". To fill this, they absorb the memories from their victims, which can range enormously. Their personalities can change in a seconds time.
Habitats:
Most Skyolozine (because of their flying abilities) build their habitats and shelters on clouds in the sky so the chances of something happening are slim. These houses can range from small shacks to castles.
Abilities/Talents:
Skyolozine are known mostly for their strength, intelligence, and braveness.
The Doctor covered his face with a hand, his expression blank and confused at the same time. "TARDIS, would you happen to know where they are?"
Two flickers.
"Fat lot of good you aren't," he muttered. His persona perked, though, and he gasped. "You have a telepathic sensor, right?"
One flicker. A helmet dropped down suspended by 4 single, thin strings.
The Doctor flipped the telepathic helmet's 7 miniature levers and strapped the helmet to his head. Two of the four channelers went to the front and back of his head and the other two rested against his temples.
"TARDIS, I'm turning your auto pilot on," the Doctor declared, switching the lever. He spun a few knobs and wheels, sitting on the torn couch when he finished. "Okay... I'm readier than I'll ever be. You know what to do, right?"
One flicker.
"Right then. Allons-y..."
The Doctor shut his eyes tightly from the regular noises of the engines, thinking of his assistant and forgetting everything else.
"Derpy... Derpy," he repeated to himself under his breath, "Derpy..."
Memories, thoughts, and dreams of his assistant (yes, during the very few times he sleeps he DOES dream, and they ARE about her more than 99.9% of the time) filtered through his mind. They were all consisting of the same things.
Her beautiful eyes, her beautiful smile, her beautiful features, her beautiful personality, her infectious smiles and giggles... And these all brought a wave of depression to him.
"No, don't you dare," he warned himself, setting an imaginary wall to block out the emotions in his mind. The TARDIS was still trying to pick up his thoughts, so the Doctor had no choice.
He tried to remember specific times where her personality was vibrantly shown. One memory came to his mind quicker than anything else.
The Doctor curiously got out of the main control room and followed an angelic voice. It led him to the far end of the TARDIS in the Music Room, where he proceeded to listen and watch from the doorway.
Derpy was sitting on the Grand Piano's bench and delicately pressed against the keys. Her voice was quiet when she began singing again, an elegant sound emerging from between her lips.
The Doctor clapped out of awe and she jumped back. "Sorry," he laughed nervously. "Didn't mean to scare you."
"That's what you always say as an excuse," she exhaled.
"You never told me you could sing," the Doctor smiled, walking over to her.
"Well, there. I can sing." Derpy's cheeks grew red out of embarrassment.
He stopped walking, a step away from the bench. "You know, maybe I could play the piano, and you could sing?" he suggested.
"Oh, um, uh... I-I-I d-don't know..."
"Come on, it'll be fun! And I know you know all of the lyrics to 'Millenia'."
Derpy pursed her lips and watched him uneasily when he took a seat next to her. (Author's Note: I'm serious. Look this up: "Millenia – Crown The Empire [Rock Piano Cover]" by "3dgrabb" on YouTube and listen!) He began playing, grinning wildly at her. He'd always been something more than a prodigy when it came to playing instruments. "Come on," he smiled, "you know you want to."
She tried to hide a nervous blush as she cleared her throat and waited for the semi-chorus to begin. "So please just let me go, if you're done... Cause it's hope that kills this heart. So please just set me free, kill the spark..."
The Doctor laughed triumphantly, beginning to sing a deep undertone while she remained in he harmony. "I've been gone from this world for what seems like Millennia looking for nothing short of a miracle..."
They continued until the end of the song where Derpy watched him intently... and then wrapped an arm around his stomach and held him to her.
He froze for a few seconds before blushing and hugging her back.
The TARDIS needed a bit more so he reached down into his memories once more, concentrating thoroughly.
"Hmm..." Derpy sighed from in front of him, "you're smart enough. You might figure it out, right?"
"I think the key word in that sentence is 'might'," he chuckled under his breath.
"Well... I'll trust you. You've gotten us this far."
"Thanks," he laughed. They awkwardly looked around for something to use to strike a conversation with, but to no oblige, found nothing.
"You know, Valentines Day is coming up," Derpy said so quietly he almost didn't hear.
"Aren't you already busy?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"No, silly Doctor! I don't have any friends, remember?" she laughed sarcastically.
"So... are you asking... me?"
Derpy's face went completely red and she looked down, smiling. "I suppose I am."
He didn't even hesitate for a reason he couldn't understand.
"Ditzy Doo, better known as Derpy Hooves, I would be honored to share Valentines Day with you."
Derpy looked up. "R-r-really?" she stammered.
"I'd be honored," he repeated with a smile.
"Oh, thank you, thank you!" she yelled happily, embracing the Doctor.
His smile grew and he wrapped his arms around her tightly, enjoying her presence. They stayed that way before she backed away with a yawn.
"Goodnight, Doctor," she said softly with a wave, beginning to walk away. "See you tomorrow."
His hearts were pounding out of his chest and his stomach clenched into knots as he watched her enter the hallway. If he remembered it correctly from earlier on in his present incarnation and his first, it was true.
He had developed a crush on his assistant.
The Doctor wiped away a tear and opened his eyes before covering his face with both hands. The TARDIS landed, and the Doctor set up his imaginary emotion-blocking wall once more, knowing it would crumble just as easily. He was thankful it as over. Until she was with him again he couldn't think of her, or he would die inside. Because he felt he had... abandoned her. He let her down. And being abandoned is one of his greatest fears; he is scared he will abandon someone, or that someone will abandon him. It's happened before, but he still isn't used to it. And it kills him.
They arrived on a cloud in front of a purple-walled, large building. Hoping this was the correct spot, the Doctor opened the door and walked inside.
/0:6:12 (6 Minutes and 12 Seconds) Later\\
The Doctor saw a torch hung to the wall. A skeleton was nailed next to it, the flames dancing around the figure. He shut his eyes at the sight.
Another thought came to mind about his surroundings. 'Am I in a dungeon?' he asked himself mentally. 'The walls are purple. Odd choice. There are torches, no windows, the air is stale, there are cells, skeletons... I even saw a bloody knife. Medieval dungeon, if I ever seen one.'
"Well, well, well..." a woman smiled wickedly. "Look who's come to the party."
He recognized the face instantly and his fists clenched, nearing her until he was only about a foot away. Behind her was complete darkness. "Where is she?" he asked through his teeth. Just looking at his lovely assistant's kidnapper made his breathing heavy.
"A lil' too mad, aren't ya?"
"I'll ask you only once more. Where. Is. She?!"
"Who are you?"
"I'm the Doctor. Now, answer my bloody question or so help me Gallifrey I will come over there and make you."
"Scarlet. Nice to meet you, Doctor," she said sarcastically, spitting out the "t". "Now, why is she of such importance to you?"
He watched her for a moment. He had a myriad of reasons, all manifold, but didn't want to say it all to a stranger. Especially THAT stranger. "It's the least you could do for me," he muttered as an excuse. "Now hand her over!"
A whimper was made from behind the Skyolozine but it was so quiet only Scarlet had heard it. She blew a gasket, obviously annoyed. "What'd you mean that it's the least I could do for you?! ANSWER my question! Why is she of such importance to you?!"
He stared into Scarlet's eyes, his own a pair of blue (Author's Note: looking back I understand your confusion. Yes, his real eye color is brown; but the blue is an allusion to the ice, as he's already obviously full of rage and his eyes are said to look like fire.) flames, ready to burn anything in their path. "Because she's my assistant."
"Oh, is that all?"
"Yes," he lied.
"... I don't take the memories of important persons. I give two days for them to make their worths. But if this is true... I see no such reason to not kill her. I shall be leaving." She turned around.
"No, no... Wait," he said. She turned around and flashed a smile. "I'll give you MY memories in return for her safety and freedom, WITH her memories still intact. You can't lay anything on her."
"Tell me why this assistant of yours is so important or she is better off dead."
"Fine. Fine. I will tell you why," he snarled. "She is the reason I am still alive. She is the woman I would give anything to. She is the one responsible for my feelings to finally be named. She's taught me things I couldn't have learned on my own. I would do anything she asked of me. And... I love her.
"I can't rest with her in another room. I need for her to be right by my side so I can make sure she is still alive. Once she dies, I won't make it. I need her. I need her so, so badly! There are so many things I need to say. So many things I have to do. So many things WE have to do. Different planets and times and locations and mysteries! Different experiences, memories, lives. She deserves all of it and more.
"She's been bullied all of her life. She has been excluded, put down half to death... And I know how she feels, in a manner of speaking. She's... She's the love of my lives. I don't know what I can do without her. She is the core reason I still walk these planets and see these times." He wiped away a tear at the emotion he had projected and the thought of his assistant — and the thought of losing her.
Scarlet was blown away by his speech. "Wow, Doc. Moving. I'll let her out – but just don't forget that other part you promised."
She smirked, walking backwards into the shadows. Someone was murmuring and she returned with Derpy in her grasp.
/Derpy\\
"It seems after a full day your knight in shining armor has arrived," Scarlet said dryly, waking her. "And too bad, too. Because it seemed you would have had some fine memories in that brain of yours."
Scarlet grabbed her arm roughly and Derpy whimpered, pulling away. "No," she croaked quietly. But Scarlet didn't move her hand, pulling her up to a standing position and practically pushed out of her corner. Derpy fell to the Doctor and wrapped her trembling arms around him. She'd been scared, petrified beyond means.
Derpy whimpered again, as that was the only noise she could make, and the Doctor ran his fingers through her hair. "Don't worry," he whispered, tears streaming down his face, "I'm here, it's the Doctor... I'm here, everything will be okay..."
"I-I-I w...was scared," she stammered, burying her face into his suit.
"You don't have to be scared, I'll protect you," he said into her ear. "I'm here... It's okay."
Scarlet cleared her throat. "Actually, Doctor, I need you in place of her, remember? We struck a deal."
Derpy gripped tighter around the Doctor. If he lost his memories, he would forget everything about his Time Lord biology, his previous selves, how to fly the TARDIS. He would forget planets and all of these different experiences and friends and companions. And he would forget about her. Any chance she had (although to her it was slim-to-none) of him loving her back would disappear in a blink. "No... No..."
"Derpy, please, calm down. I can regain my memories!" the Doctor reassured her.
Derpy spun around, ripping herself from the Doctor. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no! You aren't taking him, Scarlet!" she yelled hysterically. In a fit of rage she launched herself at Scarlet and had to be held back by the Doctor.
"Derpy, calm down!" he pleaded. "I'll be okay!"
Derpy recalled words the Doctor had told her once. She had been in a depressed state and he had only said these things. It changed her perspective. This was four months ago, and it hadn't faded yet. "You can be so much more that this! You have so much undiscovered potential! You have so much to look forwards to! You could be so, much, more!"
/the Doctor\\
He spun Derpy around and placed his index and middle fingers of each hand to the corresponding temples of her head, shutting his eyes. She went limp in his arms and the Doctor lowered her to the ground.
"I can..." Scarlet murmured to herself.
He looked up fearfully. "If you want a chance to prove yourself, and you don't want me to blame you for her being hysterical and out of control because she is NEVER, I repeat, NEVER like that, I highly remind you now is the time, Scarlet!" the Doctor said. "Help me help her into the TARDIS!"
"Okay," Scarlet nodded. "I'll get her left arm, you get her right?"
The Doctor didn't answer; he slung his assistant's weak arm around his neck, Scarlet doing the same.
They reached the TARDIS rather quickly. They had set Derpy in her bed, the Doctor kissing her forehead secretively.
Now in the main control room, the Doctor glared at Scarlet. "Now, shouldn't we talk?" he asked firmly.
"Okay. But... I'll spare you this time."
Author's Note:
Sorry for late upload. In my journal this was about 16 pages, and I had to study for a test tomorrow. Then I forgot.
Oops!
I do want to make it clear: over time, my stories have begun growing increasingly popular throughout this website, and I want to thank you all (both, the ones who have been reading every chapter, and yes, the ones who only opens the story for their first time and skips a few chapters to see if it had ended yet) for the support. Every day when I go to check my inbox, I see reviews, PM's, favorites, follows, and when I head onto seeing how many people have viewed these stories...
It's a mind boggling number. Beginnings? 1,670 last time I check yesterday morning. In 8 days this story has reached 171+! I never imagined myself seeing that, not even in my dreams.
Thank you all so, so much,
— GothicPegasister