Chapter Forty-One (Ditzy`s Point of View)
"What do you want?" The man asked the Doctor.
"Like I said, just a few questions, that`s all," he replied softly.
"Well, ask them already!" The woman added sourly.
"How do you guys die? What are you, species wise?"
The man looked confused, sharing the same expression as his wife. His brow furrowed and he looked to the stone before returning his gaze to us. "I... I don`t know," he muttered.
"How can you not know," I sighed exasperatedly, "that`s crucial to your survival!"
"I think that`s the point," the Doctor said under his breath. "Do you at least know how your daughter died?"
"...no...," they frowned.
The Doctor added things up in his head before screaming "AHA!" with his madman smile returning to his face, a single finger raised high in the air. "I`ve gotten it!"
"Huh?" Dinky laughed at him.
"Assistants, I require assistance!" He pulled us away from the grieving couple and I stared at him like he was crazy (well, crazier than normal).
"Since when did I become an assistant?" Dinky asked.
"Just now," the Doctor answered quickly, pushing the door to the TARDIS wide open. "Now, if I am correct, I have a few ideas!"
"JUST SAY THEM ALREADY!" I yelled to get his attention, but laughing so he knew I wasn`t trying to be rude.
His smile grew and his eyes widened, grinning as he suggests "what if they aren`t being allowed to know?"
I crossed my arms impatiently. "That`s it?"
"Just think about it," he said, "it makes perfect sense! They were confused! Their entire demeanor, attitude, posture, expressions, it all changed!"
"And what does that mean?" Dinky asked, sharing my crossed arms action.
"Remember that woman, Melinda Ross? She wanted to get away from that building. Don`t you think it adds up?"
"What are you trying to suggest?" I asked.
"What if, in that building, the Mayor breaks her 'no secrecy' rules to hold in the biggest secret of all – their weakness?"
He stared at us expectantly and I gasped, understanding what he was saying.
"Do you think the Mayor is behind all this?" I whispered as if she could hear me.
"Positively so in my mind, I`m afraid," the Doctor shrugged.
"What can we do with that theory?" Dinky asked.
"Time to see the Mayor," the Doctor and I said in unison.
"I`ll have you know, Mayor, there`s a fine line between secretively and honestly," the Doctor said.
"What are you talking about?" the Mayor asked, tilting her head.
"Cut the act," I grumbled. "Why aren`t you saying what species you are?"
The Mayor`s eyes grew wide and she laughed. "Do we have to? What`s wrong with not saying anything?"
"Because you said to us, in your exact words, 'this is a place of no secrecy and complete honesty'," the Doctor reminded her, raising his eyebrows. "Also, why would it be such a huge pain to just say the word?"
"May I ask the same for your name, Doctor?" the Mayor countered.
The Doctor stared at her like she was crazy and stood up like he was going to confront her, but I hopped up quickly and stepped in front of him. "You need to sit down," I said. "Don`t bother harming her." He groaned, sitting back down and placing a hand on his head.
"My name has an entirely different meaning to your species," he muttered.
"Then why is it such a big deal to you? You have to be called 'the Doctor', not your-"
"- shut up," he warned her.
Dinky sat farther back in her seat, obviously worried for the Doctor`s sake like me. "Is he alright?" she asked me quietly.
I nodded in response, my hand resting against the Doctor`s back in an effort to calm him down. "Do you seriously not know not ask him about it?" I asked the Mayor.
She smirked.
"But we do have another question," I said. "Explain again how the ground got the way it is."
"We needed some... storage areas, and like a dream come true, it appeared.
"Yeah, but things like that can`t just happen," I reminded her.
"Obviously, although I am not surprised to see it took you that long to figure it out, Ditzy. For an alien, you`re pretty dimwitted, if I do say so myself," the Mayor chuckled.
The Doctor raised his head and glared at her murderously, something I haven`t seen before. "Let`s go," he growled, grabbing Dinky and I`s hands. Before we left, however, he said six words. "We will find out your secret."
Author`s Note:
Oh, god, the day I have feared has come.
The end of "Beginnings" is coming closer. In under five more chapters I believe.
Sadly, this is true. But I do have two new fics ready and under construction. But, I can`t say anything. Spoilers...