Chapter 2
…And nearly walked off the edge of a skyscraper. "Ahh!" I cried, and the Doctor quickly pulled me backwards with a fistful of my jacket.
"Careful, Emrys." He murmured.
Huffing, I stepped out of the TARDIS and made my way around it. Soon I was standing on the roof. "I can take care of myself." I muttered as the Doctor followed suit.
Although I wouldn't admit it, the view from on top of the tall building was amazing, albeit not what I expected. A huge city spread in all directions and smog hung above the ground. It looked like a typical, massive suburb, and if it weren't for the hovering cars, holographic images, and robotic people, I wouldn't know the difference from any other city on Earth. However, it was not the city that caught my eyes, it was the sky. Through the smog, three suns shined brightly, and even in the day, I could see spiraling stars. No wonder it was so hot, I was already sweating through my hoodie. Unzipping it, I spun in an uncertain circle upon the concrete roof. Interesting, I thought. I'm on another planet in the year 5234, yet it looks nearly the same as Earth. Obviously more advanced, but still very similar.
"Brilliant isn't it?" said the Doctor, hands in his pockets. I flinched, having not noticed him walk up.
I shrugged, "Sure."
"Sure?" The Doctor repeated, aghast, "This city stretches over the entire planet!" he paused, "Horrid for the environment, but it is one of the larges cities in the universe, well, this universe."
I felt my mouth go dry, looking at the crowded streets below us, suddenly realizing something. "How are we going find Arthur?"
The Doctor opened his mouth, a sheepish look on his face, "Oh, I hadn't actually thought about that." He bit his lip, glancing at me.
I turned on him, "You said you know where he is!"
The Doctor shrugged, "I said I know how to get you closer!"
"There could be billions of people of this planet!"
"Thirty trillion, actually."
I huffed, running my hands through my hair, "It'll take lifetimes to find him!" I pushed the man who gave me hope and then pulled it away. "He'll be dead by then!"
"Hey! It's not my fault you weren't more specific!" the Doctor protested, pushing me back.
"What?" I shouted, angry now. "How is this my fault?!"
The Doctor frowned at me like I was a child, "The future you walked up to me while I was visiting planet Doosh. You told me to find the younger you and say Arthur was on Sileo in the year 5324!"
I clenched my fist, attempting to put out the tiny flame that ignited itself on my palm. It was a long time since I lost my temper, but now might do me in. The stupid link told me he wasn't lying, which didn't do anything to pacify my anger or settle my confusion.
"And if I'm right, which I usually am with these sorts of things, the TARDIS will have picked up on where we needed to be. Arthur can't be that far!" the Doctor continued, staring at me defiantly.
I snorted, "Usually right? Usually right is not enough!"
"It's more than you had before!"
We might have flung ourselves into a full-on pushing battle if we hadn't heard the fairly familiar sound of a cocking gun.
"Shut up!" said a feminine voice, "Shut up both of you!"
We shut up.
"Now turn around! Slowly! Hands raised!" the girl's tone left no room for disobedience. "You are trespassing in the Royal Empire Palace!"
"Is that where we are?" murmured the Doctor, mostly to himself. "Technically we would be trespassing on top of the Royal Empire Palace but-"
"Quiet!" the voice barked.
We complied. I finished my slow turn and to my surprise we were met with the sight of a richly dressed blonde about sixteen or seventeen years of age. Her hair was braided messily to the side, and her blue eyes flashed as she pointed her weapon at us. I watched her expression change from disapproval to shock after glancing at the blue box.
"Oh, no way!" she burst, still not lowering her gun. "I- I can't believe it worked!"
The Doctor frowned, "Ah, what?"
She shook his words away, looking at me. "Which one of you is the Doctor? You?" she pointed at me.
"Actually he's-"
"Good!" she interrupted, walking forward, placing the gun on her hip and grabbing my arm. "A friend of mine has a machine, something to do with time and gravity and force fields, I don't know, but anyway, he was able to locate the TARDIS at a time you were heading in our general direction and managed to direct her path so she lands here." She girl pulled me through a hatch on the floor, not pausing in her monologue. The Doctor followed after us, slightly put off. "I didn't really believe it would work, but hey, here you are, and now you can help us." She grinned.
We were now at the bottom of the ladder that led to the floor, and were standing in a broom closet. She exited the tiny room and entered a rather luxurious hall full of couches and people clinking glasses. The girl continued to pull me along. "These people don't know what's going on, on the lower floors I mean. Daddy didn't want to scare them, but now that you're here, they won't have anything to worry about!"
"Um, I'm not-" I tried.
"Everyone's getting the sickness, but we don't know what's causing it. Daddy quarantined the Palace, so hopefully the sickness won't spread, and we're using most of the bottom floors for those who are infected to lie down in. It's gotten to almost all the staff, and the entire board of leaders is down. Our friend is a doctor too; he says you can find the cure before it's too late." She turned to see if I was listening, "I'm Alyss by the way." I realized now that we were heading to an elevator. Pressing a button impatiently, Alice groaned when an interface popped up.
"Good day Princess Alyss, where is your destination?" it said in a pleasant, but slightly electronic voice. I could see why Alyss was annoyed by it.
I looked backwards at the Doctor for help. To my humiliation, he looked more amused than put off now.
"Sixth floor, Programmer." Alyss sighed.
The elevator doors opened and all three of us climbed inside. Alyss turned to me, letting go of my arm. I rubbed it subconsciously; she had a tight grip. "Do you really travel through time?" she asked, breathless.
"And space," added the Doctor, who was busy staring through the glass elevator as we descended level after level.
The girl glanced at him, and then back at me. "That's amazing! Is he your companion? I hear you travel with other people sometimes…"
The Doctor snorted, "Companion," he muttered under his breath.
"I don't-" The elevator made a dinging sound and the doors slid open. I groaned silently as I was sped along through a more drab room. Why do I even try? I wondered. I could feel the Doctor's conscience in the back of my mind. He was laughing at me!
I swiveled around, but the girl grabbed my arm and yanked me forward. "Dr. Caliber?" she shouted, "It worked! The Doctor is here! Your machine worked!" Racing into what looked like a laboratory of some sort, the Doctor slowly followed after us. He was obviously enjoying my discomfort.
Nearly buried in test tubes, microscopes, and other scientific equipment I didn't recognize, a short man with curly, grayish-purple hair was bending over a pile of papers. He didn't look up when we entered, but I could see oddly colored goggles strapped to his face. "What number, Alyss? Is it Six? I absolutely refuse to work with Six!"
Finally the Doctor stepped up, hands in his pockets, "Ten, actually. 'Ello!" he gave a little wave.
The odd little man looked up with a smile, "Good! Good! Anyone but Six!"
The Doctor chuckled good naturally, "He was a bit stuck up."
Dr. Caliber snorted, "A bit! Ha!""
Alyss frowned; "Wait, he's the Doctor?" she glared accusingly at me.
I gave a helpless shrug.
"Common mistake, Alyss. My friend here," the Doctor slapped me heartily on the back, "Is often mistaken for me, not sure why." I was this close from smacking him.
Alyss nodded, staring at me, "I dunno, he seems older somehow..."
"He looks fifteen!" the Doctor protested.
I smirked.
Alyss continued staring, making me shift my weight uncomfortably. "Something in the eyes…" she murmured. Then shaking her head, she dismissed the thought. "Right then," she slapped her hands on the table, moving on. "Dr. Caliber has assured us you can find the cure." She was addressing the Doctor now.
The Doctor shrugged, "I hope so."
The girl was not to be dissuaded, "I'll tell Daddy you're here." She said, and with that, Alyss was gone, streaking through the door. I stared after her. Interesting girl, I thought. Bit of a gab...
The Doctor glanced at me. Don't be rude, Merlin. He jested.
I ignored him, preferring to study the numerous instruments lining the rather large room. Some bits I recognized from the 21st century, but most was unfamiliar. The walls were white and everything felt overwhelmingly sterile. I never liked hospitals, or laboratories, for that matter, and the smell was making me slight woozy. The Doctor and the weird scientist were deep in a conversation I could use my magic to hear, but I figured whatever they were talking about, I'd find out from the Doctor later. Feeling slightly useless, and a bit bored, I tapped my fingers against a glass table. Suddenly, I felt the hair along my spine prickle. My head began to pound. Oh, flying dragons, not now!
I started having these 'episodes' during the seventeenth century, and I knew what was happening next. Feeling the Doctor's concerned consciences on the edges of my own, I quickly pushed him out. No need for him to suffer with me. The world stretched and twisted, and I groaned. Imagine being repeatedly hit on the back of your head with a brick; that's what it feels like, but a thousand times worse. For an instant, everything blinked out and I collapsed.
My stomach heaved, but I kept my mouth firmly shut. Opening my eyes, I saw that the laboratory had taken on a bluish tint. The Doctor and Dr. Caliber were gone from my side and laboratory equipment was broken on the floor. Bits of glass covered the surface, and as I stood up, it cracked beneath my feet. Knowing the drill, I quickly scanned the room. My eyes fell on a clock. 3:33 PM April 10th. I was peering into a scene five days from now.
Biting my lip, I was wondering what exactly I was supposed to be seeing, when three people burst into the room. Riveting my attention to them, I saw myself, Alyss, and the Doctor. The Doctor appeared to be having trouble standing, and I was supporting him. His tie was undone, and my handkerchief hung out of my back pocket.
"What now?" Alyss shouted, her eyes wild. I saw myself jump, recognition lighting my eyes. After a moment, I realized the future me was probably remembering this vision.
"You need to mix the… the-" the Doctor slumped in my arms and I tumbled under his weight. Slowly we sank to the floor. My future self coughed, sickening more and more by the moment as the Doctor sank deeper and deeper into unconsciousness.
"What, Doctor? What do we do?" The future me begged, trying desperately to keep his eyes from closing.
The Doctor was struggling to open his own eyes. He was pale and his eyes were dark. "I don't- I can't-" he tried.
"Doctor, please! The cure!" Alyss begged. "You said something about hydrogen and-"
Suddenly the Doctor sat up straight, eyes wide, "Two parts Hydrogen one part Elysium!"
"The heck is Elysium!" I cried.
"Purple…" he tried to describe it, but his head lolled forward and he fell silent.
"Doctor!" I grabbed the Doctor's hair and pulled his face up. "Help us! You can't-" I fell silent. My condition was just as bad as his.
The alien shook his head, "Too late…" he mumbled. Blinking bleary eyes, the Doctor lifted a hand. Golden dust and light escaped from the sleeve. My future self twisted in pain, his eyes glowing golden. The Doctor struggled to his knees and stumbled a few feet away from us before collapsing again.
I gasped, watching the face of my future self fall in despair. The physic link was dragging me along with the Doctor! The scene around faded, and I knew the vision was at its end. "No!" I cried. "Let me see what happens!" but as always, the vision was heedless of my voice.
Five days from now, The Doctor was going to regenerate.