[12-11-13] - 4
[08-27-16] - 4 edit/finish
(lol hi guys. thank you for reading. Been like... 3 years :D We'll see where this story goes with life changes and different maturity perspective for the writer, but it should still be fun!)
Vroom. VROOOOOOOOM
VRRROOOOOOOOOOOM
Don't deny it. If you were in a fancy wheelchair with cool noises, you'd be making those noises too. I would have been making them out loud, had the Doctor not taken it upon himself to explain everything about everything around us: This was this really cool place, that place is less cool but almost cool, not as cool as a bow tie but very close.
I nodded and listened, making the car noises in my head. I was in control of the chair half the time. The other time, the doctor felt the need to push me around like two children taking turns with learning to ride a bike. Only, it was always my turn.
I didn't mind so much, as the scenery was enough to take in. The buildings were one above skyscrapers; perhaps space scrapers. They shimmered with the lights of signs and cars. It felt like a scene out of star wars, mixed with the bustle of New York times infinity.
"Now this isn't my usual new new new york I visit," I could hear the expression of distaste in the doctor's voice. "Still not sure the felines like me. So! This is the next new. Brand brand new! So new, so fresh, so ready to bring a new generation out of turmoil." He rambled on. I half listened, watching as many different species walked around us. Reptilian, canine, amphibious, humanoid, robotic, feline, etc. They all went about their business as if they really knew what they were doing and it didn't matter that we existed. I kind of liked it this way.
I felt smaller the more I saw. Unneeded. But in the best possible way. The feeling of freedom in invisibility was nice. No obligations. No one staring at me, waiting for me to make a decision.
"And that is why, this is by far the better of the two." The doctor finished. I blinked. We had stopped in front of what I assumed was a medical facility. I had daydreamed nearly the whole time. I looked toward the doctor, about to ask what the heck he was talking about. "But then again those were close odds, you never can tell with safety tests so close to the magnetic poles."
He pushed me into the large doors before I could protest. The glass frames hissed open, a great WOOSH of sterilized air hit my face. Cold and reserved, yet promising a better feeling after leaving. Or so I hoped.
"This way!" The doctor sang. I tensed in the seat as the wheelchair made a sharp right, sending a shot of pain up my leg.
"aaaookay" I mumbled, gripping the armrests of my set of wheels.
The reception desk met me quick. I squinted before coming to an abrupt halt. The front desk employee was… not there? I tried to look over the counter, just a bit too tall for my liking. My fellow traveler spun around and tapped a button on the desk. A chime sounded, a melodious chime that should have comforted the sickest patients. I was not the sickest patient. I was not comforted.
A holographic human male appeared at the desk, a patient and listening face was the first thing he greeted us with.
"Good day to you!" He chorused. "How can we help your situation?"
The doctor lifted a knowing finger, motioning towards me with his little bit of swagger.
"Ah" he began. As if to tell the whole story and then some to the holographic figure. "My friend had an incident with some nasty tooth and claw" He looked towards me "Nasty little things-or rather not so little, lot so nasty."
"Please clarify the level of injury that has occurred" The holo-form monotonized.
"Yes well." The Doctor talked with his hands, turning back to the receptionist. "A great big gash in her leg"
"Right leg" I clarified.
"Right leg" He echoed. "I'm guessing a moment or two in a regenerate chamber should do the trick!"
"Procedures require a doctors examination before execution. I will see if an appointment is open." Nodded the hologram. The time traveler looked back at me with the most ridiculous of smiles. I smiled back at him a little. He sure got a kick out of himself, didn't he?
"Please present your code." Asked the program. The doctor spun his direction towards the blue figure again, and flipped out a wallet. He showed it to the hologram with confidence. It chuckled. "Haven't seen one of those in a while, sir. Ancient technology. I've got you covered this time, but you'll have to upgrade soon." The doctor took his wallet once the hologram was finished, and looked at him with a kind grin.
"Yes, I've been looking into that." The receptionist hologram gave the Doctor a ticket with a number on it and directed us towards the waiting room.
"Please take a seat until our physician can meet with you."
"Right!" The Doctor affirmed, looking at the ticket and whisking me off to the waiting room. I gave a quick thank you before the wheelchair hovered too far away. From the corner of my eye I saw the holo-receptionist flicker off.
The waiting room was quiet just like 21st century waiting rooms; full of anticipation and a good heap of dread. I didn't really like doctor visits. Of course, as I thought of this, I turned to glance at the Doctor, who was quite content with a digital coloring book. It wasn't that I didn't like being healthy, or the idea of hospitals, but I wasn't a huge fan of drugs. I liked natural healing of things if not just walking it off. Then again, I had never had part of my leg's flesh taken by a giant monster from space… there was quite a lot of "new"s involved in this adventure. Not just in the New York title.
The hospital as a whole was enormous. I'd like to say it was a little over the top but maybe that was the style of the times. I was happy to live in my own humble 21st century earth. Glancing over at my tour guide of the future, I noticed his coloring work. It was nothing fancy, but he was very proud of it. His eyebrows raised as he showed me his handy work. I gave him a nod of approval. Yes, very good, Doctor. You colored a thing.
"Nice color choices" I commented.
"I know" He replied. He really loved his blue, that was for sure. There were some starry yellows in there as well. He really had space on the mind. But I suppose that is what happens to a traveler in a TARDIS. "Do you like to color?"
"Oh yeah." I laughed. My education choices led towards the illustrative type. It was early in my college career but I didn't plan on doing anything else besides drawing. It was, after all, the thing I was good at. For a guy who seemed to pride himself in knowing a lot, I made a point to tell the Doctor little as possible. Unless he asked specifically, just to see how things went.
The time traveler's face stopped at the noise of something far off before bringing himself mentally back to the waiting room.
"I'm terribly sorry!" He said with wide eyes. For a split instant I thought I had done something wrong. Maybe he had time-traveling senses that could tell when I was keeping things from him. Or maybe he forgot to turn off the oven?
"For wha?"
"I never asked your name!"
Oh. Hm. Name. Well the normal thing to do would be to tell him my name. But this was all very un-normal. Non-normal? Abnormal. Yes abnormal. With a title like the Doctor, why should I not give myself another title? I was an illustrator but also a creative writing mind. There were many characters for me to chose from. Perhaps this is a fresh start. An new adventure…
"… Dakota." I replied. Dakota was a traveller in my stories. A reluctant one with a gift, but this made it a fitting name for the situation at hand. I felt as clumsy as I made her out to be. Hopefully I wouldn't encounter the same problems as she did... The Doctor grabbed my hand in a firm handshake.
"Dakota! That's a state-sized name!"
"Sure is. Rolls off the tongue like sandpaper. Or maybe a beatboxer. You can call me…. Kota for short. Easier to say in emergencies" The Doc pointed at me with the digital stylus in his hand.
"I like the way you think, Kota. Always prepared."
"Well I wouldn't say always. This threw me for a loop." I gestured at my leg, the scars on it looking quite nasty. I made a face towards the misfortunate limb. I wasn't sure if the strain of moving created the marks leading up to the wound but the blood vessels were looking rather odd. Lord willing, the creature from Asheville's little incident had not poisoned me with it's toothiness.
"Where you weren't prepared, I was! Once the physician takes a look at you, we'll have you back on your feet in no time." I gave him a nod of assurance, though I still wasn't quite sure if I believed him. Or that I was fully awake and alert. The throbbing pain on my leg was real enough, but the grandeur of the situation felt very much like a dream. Although if this were a dream, there would probably work involved or a great deal of social pressure. Or giant spiders.
A silence fell between us. I leaned back in my wheelchair and the Doctor leaned back in his waiting room seat. As I stared at the ceiling that was so so far above us, I had a thought.
"Wait. Aren't you a Doctor?"