"No matter what you think Lia Marie, No matter what your eyes see before you. This machine, this... Box. It is the most important, most amazing time machine, no... the best Ship in the universe. So believe me when I tell you that no matter what happens. She'll always be there to protect you."
This time machine is a box. Like, a Blue box, maybe seven foot tall, an actual police box from the 1960's. I must say, he certainly knows how to pick a weird appearance. First the bow tie and suspenders and now a tall blue box he calls a time machine?
"She?" I nod, still trying to process everything in my mind. "Bear with me here, my theory is that you decided to steal from a museum, the best thing you could find was that police box and it turned out to be a female time machine? That is the only explanation I can come up with right now"
"Logical! But no, I stole it from my own species before running away from all my responsibilities to explore the universe." The slight amusement on his face increases as I roll my eyes.
"You have the whole universe at your fingertips, and you're here on earth." I gently push his shoulder jokingly "Timelords are weird."
"I love this planet, it is so beautiful and new. How could I resist coming here." The Doctor says, but I am no longer listening. Instead, I am running my hand down the rough wood surface of the Tardis door. A soft hum emanates from somewhere inside, fueling a sudden desire within me to enter.
"Ok, Doctor, impress me. Show me why this is the best ship in the universe." I stand on my tiptoes trying to peer in through the frosted window but I can see nothing. "Ugh."
I fall back on my heels as The Doctor steps forward to the door in amusement. This seems to be a running theme with him, I do something strange or weird, and he is utterly amused by it. Maybe this is my job as fellow time traveler now. Be the onboard clumsy comedian. I wouldn't complain about that career path of course.
The Doctor pauses in front of me, rifling in his coat pocket before pulling out a silver key that looks like it could open any normal lock. Unconsciously I open my hand towards him and he drops the key in my palm, studying my face as I grip the key and rush to place it in the lock.
Seconds later I rush inside the box before immediately running back out. The Doctor nods at me knowingly as I run around the box with my hand never once leaving the wooden surface until I meet the door again. I glance at The Doctor, completely bewildered.
"You might want to give yourself a second, the Tardis can be a wee bit..."
"Mindblowing? Exhilarating? Oh! I know! Terrifying!" Before the Doctor can reply a take a deep breath and push the doors open yet again and stand inside. "Whoa."
That one simple word is a complete understatement for all the feelings rushing through me as I spin around trying to take in The Doctor's Tardis.
Ok sure, I had my doubts about the size I was expecting. I mean, the Doctor is cool and all but being stuck in a tiny box with him would have been a bit awkward.
Instead, the large copper room with stairs leading up to what must be the control panel was far from what I was expecting. The size of the room seemed larger and larger the more I looked at it, and the three doors leading away from the room indicated that there could be much more to this 'small box' than anyone could ever imagine. If he can fit this entire control room in a small box, who says he couldn't fit a universe as well.
"Anything you want to say? Any questions?" The Doctor frowns as I stand still near the door, looking around with my mouth open in shock. "Usually, people have said a whole lot more than you have right about now."
"Uh..." Completely speechless I try and turn my attention to him, I am his guest after all or his new worker. Co-worker? That seems to be too formal. Maybe like a companion or ally? "Yeah... all I can think of saying right now is Whoa."
"Oh." His disappointment is obvious before a grin replaces any sign of it. "As I told you earlier this is called the Tardis. It means Time and Relative Dimension in Space."
"The key words being Time and Space, I'm guessing?" I ask.
"Huh, you catch on quickly." He replies, gently nudging my shoulder, I take this as a suggestion and step away from the door so he can close it. I go up the steps onto a glass-floored hexagon platform, mechanical items, levers and buttons laid out before me all tempting to push and look at but way too frightening to go near.
"So do you live here? In this box?" I enquire, leaning on the banisters around the platform trying to give an illusion of sanity.
"Yeah. The Tardis is my home."
"Pretty impressive home. Are there bedrooms and a kitchen and all that stuff? Or do you go somewhere else for all that?"
The Doctor brings up a display on a nearby monitor, moving just enough so I can have a clear look at it.
"It's a spaceship! Of course it has 'all that stuff'." He flicks a switch uncomfortably, if I didn't know any better I would say he is nervous about how I will react to everything. I guess he should, I've never been in a time and space machine with an alien before. Although now I'm an alien too It doesn't seem that frightening. He glances at me while I'm still deep in thought and interrupts. "It seems The Tardis has already set up a bedroom for you, should be easy to find if you're tired."
"Me? Tired?" I shake my head and try to look as awake and energetic as possible. "You walk a girl into a time machine then tell her to get some rest? What kind of alien are you? I want adventure! I want time travel! That is... if you want to.."
I panic, half expecting him to throw me out for demanding he take me somewhere but he seems excited by my enthusiasm giving him the incentive to start pulling levers and pushing buttons as the room shakes.
"Some time travel coming right up!" And just like that, I would never be remotely human again.
Sorry about the wait, this chapter was somehow awkward to write but after this we are back to adventures and I should start writing more during these holidays (holidays in New Zealand yay!)