Doctor Who : The Nightmare Child
Chapter Two : Another Crack in the Wall Pt. 1
"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions." - Albert Einstein
The noise grew in volume, a harsh unearthly scraping sound. The wind about the area increasing in sympathy, whipping and clearing nearby leaves and litter until a large blue box screamed into existence in the middle of an empty alley in London with a great big thud. That brand new ancient blue magic box. Big and tiny at the same time and the bluest blue ever. So odd, so out of place and so out of time just sitting there in the corner of the alley.
But nobody noticed. Nobody ever did. Not unless they really wanted to.
The TARDIS criss-crosses the world, making it right, making it strange, and the people never sees its' coming or going. Why should they? The travellers in the time and space travelling blue box don't ever try to get noticed.
"YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN ME! IT WAS BRILLIANT," cried a young woman's voice from the depths of the blue box.
Well…most of the time.
Inside the TARDIS, there was a gathering around the main console and a fervent conversation was taking place as Jenny Anna Molly (Short for 'Generated Anomaly' – She had extended her name for legal matters involving a bet, Casanova, a chicken and several angry Zygons) was describing their latest adventure in animated detail. Extremely animated detail. With mouth-made sound effects and everything.
Her arms waved about happily without restraint and the joy spread over her face was radiating throughout into every faraway corner of the TARDIS. Her beautiful blonde hair, tied in a ponytail trailed and danced after her every jump of joy as she recounted her latest heroic battle against a dragon.
"And then I flew the TARDIS right up to where you were falling and bam! Caught you just like that," she enthused cheerfully, her eyes shining in the light of the time column that rose and fell gently like soft quiet breaths of the TARDIS. It even hummed rhythmically to each rise and fall and the time machine felt more responsive, more organic, and seemingly more alive than it ever had before.
"Yes, about that," said the Doctor carefully, his eyebrows furrowed with deep concern as he sat on the control panels, staring and fiddling with the controls apprehensively, "Where did you learn how to fly like that?"
"The instruction manual," she answered serenely, shrugging her shoulders. She turned a few knobs and pressed a few keys- just to show she knew how. The TARDIS made a responsive chime- like a cat purring its content.
"But I threw away the manual," he refuted incredulously, scratching his head as he took off and threw away his large brown coat to hang by his favourite coral pillar.
"Well it came back," she replied smiling. "Found it in the library."
"Came back?" asked the Doctor. His voice had gone squeaky and high pitched again. "What do you mean it came back? I specifically told it to stay out."
"It's just a book," interrupted Ivy impatiently, who was still in the middle of getting her windswept hair under control again. It had disagreed with riding on the back of an angry dragon who disagreed with them riding on his back in return. "So what if it came back? Personally I think all books should do that. It'd be great if they did."
"No it wouldn't!" cried the Doctor and Matt together across the opposite sides of the console looking offended.
There was a self-aware and indignant yet awkward mix of silence before it shattered into collective laughter. The Doctor broke into a wide grin, ruffling his messy brown hair into more of mess before bouncing on a seat and letting his feet rest atop the console. He seemed distracted as he stared out into the blank space above where one living in the normal world expected there to be a ceiling, instead of an unending stretch of the room.
"Only books that should come back to where they belong are library books," said Matt slightly disgruntled.
"So is that why you never bring your textbooks to school?" asked Ivy, an eyebrow raised in Matt's direction giving him a meaningful look. Suddenly, Matt's ears turned bright red and he seemed very preoccupied with staring at the tear in the poorly sunken seat and picking away at the insides.
They laughed again and so did Jenny, but staring at the others, she slipped into reminiscence. A warmth filled her two hearts. It had been a long time since they came back to Earth. She was fond of it. It felt like home, no matter what the century. This was where she found her father again. Where she had met Matt and Ivy. She began to drift blindly around the console room, flipping switches and picking at controls as she remained in her memories of a fleeting time not too long past.
She recounted that Matt and Ivy had called this place and time home. This knowingly despite the fact that they didn't truly have a home. They were orphans, just young children from different families, but growing up together they became like family. The only kind of family they could have ever had in such an abandoned state of loss. But they persevered and triumphed together. And they had then extended that family of two by tagging albeit forcefully along with the Doctor when they first encountered him on the fateful trip to Cardiff. Jenny remembered that day quite clearly. The day where they drove back the darkness and the ruin of a black shadow above. The Rani's peril from the sky.
But it has indeed been a long time. Jenny couldn't figure out how long precisely. Life inside the TARDIS blurred and confounded things. She couldn't even keep track of her own birthday – not that she really had a birth. But she knows it has indeed been a long time passed since they all first met.
Everyone had grown so much closer. They knew one another so well; how they thought and acted. And on their adventures, they moved and worked like a precise timepiece. Very different from when they first met. Now the four of them had forged a beautiful partnership. They were almost like a real family. Some people said that the sky was the limit. Jenny thought they were wrong. For them, the sky was only just the beginning...
Then, a phone rang.
It echoed loudly in the vast halls of the TARDIS and everyone but Jenny turned to stare at the main console. She seemed lost in her own serene thoughts, still drifting around the console, unaware of the ringing phone. The others froze and allowed the phone to ring again before Ivy finally spoke.
"Is that a phone?" she asked quizzically. "People phone you?"
She looked in puzzlement for the phone on the console centre. Ivy didn't know what to think. She would have thought that having lived in the TARDIS for so long, she would have at the very least seen, heard or known of the existence of a phone in the premises by now. However the machine had never failed to continually surprise and amaze its occupants. Ivy noticed that once in a while, even the Doctor gets pleasantly surprised by it.
"Well it is a phone box after all," the Doctor replied rather gravely, staring at the now obvious phone, still unanswered. He scrambled to his feet, pacing up and down, mind whirring, trying to think of who on earth - or other various planets - could be calling him.
"Were you expecting a call?" Ivy inquired, eyebrows raised, now looking to the Doctor.
"No," said the Doctor startled, his eyes flickered towards her and away again as Matt spoke.
"Martha maybe?" suggested Matt, shrugging
"What? On her honeymoon?" the Doctor said dismissively, waving his suggestion away.
"Well...I suppose not," retracted Matt.
"The Queen?" asked Ivy. It was a reasonable possibility, considering the Doctor's obvious contributions to the safety and security of the British people in essentially every time period. It was a bit curious how he was always available to help with every little problem in London. Well, except for the Great Fire. That according to him was due to some silly little lizards with some silly little guns.
"Which one?" countered the Doctor with alarm in his voice. Ivy laughed, thinking had Elizabeth the First had found his phone number, he'd definitely disconnect the phone for good. The Doctor turned to her, his face betraying a slight fear.
"You don't have to be so scared," she continued. "I really doubt good old Good Queen Bess would ring us. Not that she can. She doesn't have a phone."
"Never stopped King Henry," replied the Doctor simply. "Or William Wallace. Or William the Bloody. Blimey. Too many people know my number. Does the psychic paper give it out or something?"
"I suppose we can just sit here and be witty all day or we could answer it," suggested Ivy impatiently. There was a moment of silence where everyone merely stared at the ringing phone as if it were a modern art exhibit that none of them could figure out.
"I vote witty," answered Matt.
"Me too," said the Doctor.
"Me three," said Ivy slightly exasperatedly.
Suddenly the ringing stopped. They turned to see Jenny, who had been in her own dreamy thoughts, cheerfully with phone in hand, completely oblivious to the situation.
"Hello, can we help you? Tell me we can help you!" she cried happily. She bounced slightly as she spoke, giving her the look of a slightly ridiculous Barbie doll.
"She never listens to me anymore," informed the Doctor despairingly to the rest as they stared at her. "I feel old...er."
"Dad, it's the Shadow Proclamation," informed Jenny avidly as she looked up smiling.
"That's great!" lied the Doctor with tremendously forced enthusiasm. "Well put her on then."
"Oh cool," added Matt sarcastically, his eyes rolling high and possibly into the back of his skull. "We get to watch the Shadow Architect and you argue again. Oh, the joy. You can see it on my face."
You couldn't; it was nonexistent.
Jenny returned her father a smile and eagerly set about tapping keys at the console. Ivy noticed for the first time that she now began to operate it nearly as fast as her father - and with just as much glee. A buzz and a ring were heard and a few of the lights blinked in sync before a toweringly monstrous projection of an imposing Judoon sprang into life right before them. Surprised, Matt gave a tiny shriek as he lunged across the room from his seat.
"That's not a her," murmured the Doctor as he watched the great creature with interest and smiled. It was a strange, inscrutable smile that took a second or two to reach his eyes. The Judoon's own beady little eyes was blinking stupidly, nostrils flaring and head craned to one side as though confused and unsure. No sound came from the image as they stared at it busily tapping away at large orb-like buttons, tiny eyes staring back at them in eerie silence.
"How can you tell?" asked Matt as he struggled to get up from the floor, rubbing his forehead painfully.
"Females don't have the - big long thingie," whispered back the Doctor, awkwardly gesturing a horn with his hand on his nose.
"Well, duh," said Matt, paying no attention to the strange sight.
"No, really," muttered the Doctor. "They don't have the-uhm, thing."
He continued miming a horn on his nose, wiggling his fingers as an added aid.
"Oh, right," realised Matt stupidly. "Antlers." Ivy nudged him painfully in the side.
"Close," winced the Doctor slightly, as though the word was sharp in his throat. "Horn."
Ivy let out a noise between a sigh and a laugh as he watched Matt's small face crumple with concentration, mouth ajar. Then, the brief silence was shattered by a buzzing sound like angry hornets in a tin. The image of the Judoon began to speak.
"To-Flo-No-Mok-Hello?" the speakers crackled and screeched like fearsome thunder, carrying the bellowing voice of the large creature. "Is this thing on? Mister Doctor sir?"
"Uhm...present?" said the Doctor sounding nervous as they all looked worriedly at one another.
"Greetings Doctor," said the Judoon as he bent to what seemed like a bow before resuming his panicky demeanour. Glancing fervently over his shoulder before continuing. "My name is Toruk Tor."
"Pleased to meet you Toruk Tor," replied the Doctor politely, though his tone hinted at suspicion. The Doctor scratched his cheek, scrutinising the Judoon slowly, as though taking in as much visual detail and information to process in that astounding brain of his. Ivy suspected that his head was possibly much like the TARDIS - bigger on the inside.
"I have urgent questions to ask you Doctor. She is still inspecting the time field anomalies. We have not much time. As I am the last of the Judoon I must warn-"
But Toruk Tor was interrupted and there was an immediate sudden silence.
"What are you doing?" screamed a shrill voice from beyond their view. "Get away from the communicator you stupid animal. Get away!"
Toruk Tor turned behind as the projection of the Shadow Architect, her albino pale skin and hair at sharp contrast with her sharp black robes, entered the scene, as though from an aged film, looking utterly furious. Her red dagger eyes flashing as she pointed her thin pale finger at Toruk Tor in dire accusation. Ivy could not blame the large beast for retreating several steps as she marched closer and closer to him.
"Please, I wish to-"
"I order you to get away from the communicator at once!" screamed the Shadow Architect sharply and Ivy swore the floor trembled.
Toruk Tor glanced at the others fleetingly as though considering a plea for help, but Ivy could only manage a mere grimace in her own helplessness. The Doctor stood quiet, taking in the scene with an expression of some benign interest, though his eyes seemed faraway and distant.
"I...obey," he said quickly, not wishing to risk further angering the Shadow Architect as he bowed his oversized head to her and trudged away noisily. The large shape then disappeared from projection in a blue flash as it walked right through Matt and out of view. An alarmed Matt shivered as the image walked right through him.
"My apologies Doctor for that...inconvenience," said the Shadow Architect much more quietly, though her expression remained stony and her eyes still like daggers.
"What's going on?" the Doctor asked urgently. His brows contracted and now concern spread across his face.
"It is nothing important," she dismissed hastily. She seemed reluctant to approach the subject that the Doctor was pressing towards. "It is of very little value for us to engage in another tirade of-"
"He said he was the last of the Judoon," interjected the Doctor, his hands now curled up into a foreboding fist. Ivy noted the increase in aggression and volume in their speech. It was clear there was probably already some pre-existing tension between the two. "I'd like to know-"
"This is an internal matter of the Shadow Proclamation," she screamed. "I cannot possibly discuss such things with you."
"Yes well, but, you owe me," said the Doctor, seizing an opportunity to attack the proud Architect. "Caught your prisoner for you didn't I?"
"It is absolutely nothing of concern," she replied tartly, still attempting to salvage her situation. However, her evaporating confidence was beginning to show on her face. Her expression was softening.
"Tell me anyways," insisted the Doctor forcefully. His sharp ancient eyes boring into the skull of the Shadow Architect though his expression was a lie of playfulness. "Just a bit of banter about nothing then. You know how I love to talk."
He smiled at her and her resolve began to break. Her stern face softened further, though in ever the slightest way.
"Toruk Tor is a youngling and simply mistaken and confused," she said slowly. Her eyes darted here and there, anywhere and everywhere, so long as it did not meet another pair. Ivy noticed how the Shadow Architect began fiddling with her fingers in apparent embarrassment, like a child caught with her hand in a cookie jar. It seemed so far past, the intimidation she wielded to command and order a Judoon twice her own size. "He is not the last of the Judoon as he so adamantly believes."
"But?"
"However, he is the last of the Judoon still under our employ," admitted the Shadow Architect thickly. "He has always been an outsider even amongst his bond brothers."
"What happened to the rest?" asked the Doctor, egging her along.
"Several months ago, for reasons not made clear to us, the sizeable Judoon battalion force of the Shadow Proclamation illegally left our employ."
"What? What does that mean?"
"They marched out, commandeered a ship and simply left," admitted the Shadow Architect annoyed, a slight edge to her voice.
"Just like that?" the Doctor asked with a little start. "Didn't you try to stop them?"
"Have you ever tried to stop a Judoon march Doctor?" she snapped back aggressively. Her emotion was now left unchecked, and she continued in a pleading voice of desperation. "We were outnumbered and overpowered and they knew it. They simply walked out. What could we do?"
"Where are they now?" the Doctor demanded.
"We do not know and I for one certainly do not care," growled the Shadow Architect angrily, looking up and raising herself a little higher." But if you must know, we lost contact with the vessel as it reached the Outer Regions and they simply disappeared near the Felucian Asteroid Field. Possibly and hopefully taken down by the pirates. Ever since they abandoned us, we have been lacking in manpower and unfortunately, have had to resort to hiring others for help in enforcing the laws of the Shadow Proclamation."
The quiet TARDIS seemed to hum darkly with the recent revelation and only the Doctor seemed to make any sound as he began puzzling together all the pieces in his head.
"Like me," he said.
"Yes," she confessed finally, the agreement seemingly difficult to utter. "We had no other choice. We couldn't find anyone else qualified to capture a dragon. Not anyone trustworthy at any rate."
"Ooh, I'm trustworthy," responded the Doctor smugly, tugging away at his own collar and grinning at Jenny. She laughed in response.
"I disagreed with the Council on that matter," cut the Architect brusquely. "Need I remind you that by Galactic Law you are still a wanted criminal in the eyes of the Shadow Proclamation?"
Her eyes flashed maliciously and her expression turned to one of savage pleasure.
"Oh," said the Doctor taking a step back before a sudden and painful realization hit him. "Wait. Does this mean I get a Wanted poster? With my face and everything?"
He suddenly punched both hands triumphantly in the air and declared, "I've always wanted a wanted poster! That'd be brilliant."
"You have a list of charges that would fill halls in your TARDIS," she protested vehemently.
"Which face though?" chattered on the Doctor distractedly, in a world entirely of his own vivid imagination. "Is it this one? Not big ears I hope. And how high's my bounty?"
"Doctor!" snapped the Shadow Architect, silencing him.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Let us return however, to the real purpose of this call."
"Let's," he agreed.
"Prisoner 1404 is exercising his right to one call/transmission - and it is to you."
"Prisoner 1404?"
"The dragon," she sighed impatiently.
Nothing registered.
"Bob."
"Ohhh," realized the Doctor, perking up once more. "Put him on then! Good old Bob."
"He shall receive you in a few moments," said the Shadow Architect, annoyed.
The projection of the gigantic dragon filled the main console room, imposing its presence upon them all. Its great spiky wings, folded to its body, would have completely filled the room had it been spread, and when it reared its large serpentine head towards them, it broke into a ghastly roar like the falling of the walls of Jericho, making the entire TARDIS tremble. Several bookcases in the library toppled over and drowned in the swimming pool. Whilst Ivy clearly knew that it was simply a projection, it still brought her to a complete standstill, sweat pouring down her forehead. She noticed that Matt and the often calm Jenny too were rooted to the ground. Only the Doctor seemed indifferent to the beast's presence and intimidation - he acted as though to him it was merely a nuisance of a thing. Like a buzzing fly.
The dragon was tethered to the ground by metal cuffs borne on each of its legs, with chains leading to massive pegs bolted to the scorched metal floor. Its ugly head turned to face the Doctor, gleaming ruby eyes staring down at him, razor sharp teeth baring. Ivy took a step away, but the Doctor remained steadfast and flashed his own teeth in a retaliatory wide white smile.
"Doctor," growled the dragon hoarsely as flames sputtered from his mouth and nostrils.
"Ah, Bob my friend," replied the Doctor happily. "How are you?"
"Chained and imprisoned thanks to you," said the dragon, shaking his scaly body and rattling his chains.
"Well, that's hardly my fault, is it?" exclaimed the Doctor cheerily. "You've been a naughty boy. I saw your record. Arson-"
"Naturally I'd think," replied the dragon sarcastically, snorting harmless projection of embers at the Doctor, which melted away into nothingness upon contact. The Doctor ignored it and pressed on with the impressive list of charges he was reading from the top of his head, lips pursed to one side in profound concentration.
"-perjury; piracy; pilfering and my personal favourite, impersonating a clergy of the Church of Octavius."
The dragon laughed heartily, scales bristling like fur and chains ringing against each other. "Oh yeah. Heh. That was a good one." he commented nonchalantly as Ivy gave a shout of surprise when the heavy chains fell with a crash where her feet were a second ago.
"So really, you can't blame me you're going to be locked up in Stormcage for the rest of your life," said the Doctor.
"Well indeed," agreed the dragon simply, swinging its massive head around, noticing and acknowledging the others. Ivy felt as though it had been surreptitiously glancing at her. "But I didn't call you to blame you. I called to congratulate you."
"Congratulate me?" the Doctor asked as he took a small step forward, straightening himself. Ivy noticed the rare tone of surprise.
"Yes," nodded the dragon. "You and your child. I was impressed with what I saw. Such skill and will to outwit me. The legends about you are true Time Lord."
"Well...thank you. I think."
"And the young child of Time," added the dragon in a businesslike voice, as it turned to face Jenny, eyes narrowing as though x-raying her. "I could sense a touch of destiny about her. One should hope there will be legends about her as well."
There was a pause.
"Thank you Bob," replied Jenny awkwardly, though the dragon did not elaborate. Its lips seemed to curl into a placid smile and noticed Ivy staring at it. Then she had the strangest feeling it winked at her.
"If ever there is a time, perhaps soon, I would gladly fight alongside you in battle."
"I would hope that time never comes," said the Doctor.
"I'm afraid that is not possible," said the dragon, as casually as if they had asked it about the next day's weather. "That time will definitely come."
"Why?"
"Have you not heard the great silence?"
"Great silence?"
The dragon bowed and shook its head as though disappointed.
"Silence will fall, Doctor," said the dragon gravely. Its eyes glowed a brighter shade of scarlet as it spoke the words, reared up its head, graceful and gleaming in the light, moved closer to the Doctor as though to whisper into his very ears. "There is a gathering gloom at the edge of the Universe. Something festers in the heart of that darkness. Something you have failed to see. An ancient master of time has returned through the fractures and cracks in the wall of the worlds. Children of time, beware his approach. He comes closer and closer still."
Then the comms died and the vast dragon that filled the room vanished in a bright flash of blue light. Silence spread outwards like cold freezing ripples. Nobody moved from where they stood, still trying to understand what had been said.
Then somebody knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock, knock."
All heads turned and the echoes of the dragon's words rang in their ears.
"He comes closer and closer still..."
She was alone in her room, sat by her desk. The open window letting the endless rain pour in, the cold wind rushing and flapping the curtains angrily.
But she made no notice of this. Her head was in excruciating agony.
"I remember," said Donna Noble, her lips trembling as she sank to her knees.
Authors Notes :
Pink Floyd reference in title – check
Deathly Hallows movie reference/antlers – check
Doctor Who Series 5 mysterious connections – check
Crazy ass cliff hanger(s) – booyah!
Tune in next time, for less talk, more action with your favourite Master. Ooooh.