Chapter 2
Nita opened the TARDIS door. Ace stood there. She wore a Time Lord Prydonian Academy Cadet uniform, and carried a travel bag. She looked a little more mature. At the sight of Nita, she smiled and stepped through the door. "Nita!"
"Welcome back, Ace."
They hugged.
"How have you been, Nita?"
"Yeah, really good thanks."
Ace smiled, then looked around the room, suddenly aware that no one else was present. "So… where is the Doctor?"
He's holding a meeting with our new companions and our scientist visitors. You're supposed to go to your old quarters."
The statement caught Ace offguard – she was expecting a warmer welcome. "Oh. Well, do you think it'd be alright if I stopped by… just to say hi?"
Nita thought for a moment. "I'll check." She tapped the console. "Nita to observation lounge."
"Observation lounge here," came Michelle's voice.
"Ace has arrived and wants to know if she can stop by the observation lounge… to say 'hi'."
"That is acceptable."
Nita looked to Ace, who was somewhat disturbed by the chilly reception she was receiving. "Thanks."
Nita nodded. Ace left.
The Observation Lounge was dark. The door opened and Ace entered. A beat, then the lights came on and several voices called out in greeting – "Hello! Welcome home!"
The Doctor, Carolyn and Michelle were in the room. A large cake sat on the table.
Ace was surprised.
"Welcome home, I'm Carolyn."
"Thanks, nice to meet you."
The Doctor hugged Ace. "Ace…"
"Professor…"
The Doctor said something in Gallifreyan, (How's your Gallifreyan?)
Ace thought for a moment, then responded in Gallifreyan- (It's better than before.)
"Very good. Your Gallifreyan has improved."
Ace smiled. Michelle came over and shook Ace's hand. "I'm Michelle."
"That's a nice uniform, Ace," said Carolyn.
"Bet you drive the boys wild," said Michelle.
Ace looked embarrassed. Nita, who had entered the room behind Ace, and was now busy serving the cake, offered Ace a piece. The cake looked dark and heavy.
"Tarvokian pound cake. I made it myself."
"Thanks, Nita."
Ace took the plate and her arm fell slightly from the weight of it – the cake literally weighed a pound. She took a bite, and reacted to the richness of the cake. Cake was served all around, everyone holding their little plates.
"Ace – was our attempt to make you uncomfortable effective?" asked the Doctor.
"You bet it was. For a second there, I thought I was on the wrong ship."
There was laughter all around – the satisfaction of a practical joke well-played.
"And you found the deception pleasurable?" asked the Doctor.
"Well… yeah. It's fun to be surprised."
The Doctor looked intrigued by the idea.
"Are you here to work or play, Ace?" asked Carolyn with humor.
"Pardon?"
"I know you're on vacation. You'll probably want to sleep late, and go to the holoroom. But if you'd like to help out, we could use an extra hand in preparing for the Phoenix Cluster survey."
Ace looked charged by the idea.
"That's be great."
"After you're settled, come down to the cloister room. We'll get you started," said Michelle.
"Ok."
The party continued…
Nita and Michelle conversed at the far end of the table. Nita was looking at Michelle with an intrigued expression. "What kind of game?"
"Come by my quarters, and I'll show it to you…" Michelle smiled…
The Doctor and Ace entered the corridor and walked together.
"Have you found the Academy challenging, Ace?"
"Yeah. I thought after being on the TARDIS, it would be a breeze, but there's a lot more to learn than just timeship operations. What was your first year like?"
"I did extremely poorly scholastically, and my lack of willingness to conform often created social obstacles."
"Like what?"
"I particularly remember the phenomenon of practical jokes, several of which backfired on me, because nobody understood the concept."
"Tell me about it. My first week that I was there, I reprogrammed the sonic shower to cover this girl named Abigail Martoni with mud. It took her a while, but she got me back really good."
"Good for her."
"Yeah."
"I also found social gatherings difficult. There was one event, an Academy tradition, the Rassilon Dance?"
"They still hold it, every year."
"A notably awkward experience."
"I know what you mean. I can't even dance."
"Really? I thought you would be an expert. I recently learned to dance."
"The Dancing Doctor? I tried to learn too, but I just don't have the knack."
"I would be happy to teach you dancing. I had the TARDIS program a comprehensive seventeen part course with some interesting holographic partners."
"I'll let you know."
The visiting engineers were hard at work in the Cloister Room. Ashleigh was absent. Michelle and Ace were working at a control panel.
"I'll modify the planetary scanners," said Ace.
"Just make sure we keep enough data lines open for stellar physics."
"No problem. I'll compress the signal flow."
Ace worked the console. Michelle looked satisfied, and moved off to another part of the cloister room.
Ashleigh entered, carrying some small equipment. As he crossed the room, he noticed Ace.
Ace, looking frustrated, was stuck on some sort of problem. "Why aren't these registering?"
"You might try calibrating them manually."
Ace looked up, saw Ashleigh standing over her. She was surprised by his presence – and his good looks – but maintained her cool. "Excuse me?"
"The detectors. They tend to get temperamental. You can try calibrating them by hand."
"You're kidding. The computer has to do this."
"No. Look…" Ashleigh leaned over and entered some commands into the console. After a beat, he looked satisfied. "The subroutine lets you do it from the panel." He demonstrated by rapidly tapping two buttons on Ace's panel. Ace watched with interest. "Law Seventeen. When all else fails, do it yourself."
Ace thought a beat – "What the hell?" She started working the console… and reacted with surprise. "It's working." She turned to Ashleigh, amazed. "Thanks."
"Sure." Ashleigh turned to go.
"By the way, I'm Ace. Ace McShane."
Ashleigh turned to her. "I know. Just came back from the Timelord Academy."
"That's right."
Ashleigh extended a hand. "Ashleigh Judd."
They shook hands. There was an electrifying moment when they touched – an instant attraction between them. The handshake went on just for a little too long.
"Hi."
"Hi."
Ace's console sounded a small warning alarm.
"Your neutrinos are drifting."
"They're what? Oh!" Ace rushed to the console to make some quick adjustments. Ashleigh couldn't suppress a laugh at the sight. Ace glanced up at him, embarrassed… but gave in to the humour of the moment. The exchanged a smile.
The Control Room was still a busy environment, with various visitors tending to their work. The Doctor entered and went to Michelle, who was at a science station. "A conflict has started between the planetary adaptation scientist and the stellar physicist. Each wishes to be the first to use the thermal imaging array."
"Well, tell them to flip a coin. We've got to work together on this mission, otherwise we're never going to get it done."
"A coin. Very good. I will find one immediately." The Doctor moved towards the corridor.
"Carolyn to the Doctor."
"Go ahead, Carolyn."
"Do you have a minute to join me in Sickbay? I need your help with something."
"Yes, Carolyn. On my way." The Doctor entered the corridor.
Carolyn was working at a medical station in Sickbay.
The Doctor entered. "You wanted to see me, Carolyn?"
"Yes, Doctor. I need your help with something."
The Doctor joined her at the station. She handed him a tablet. "I'm working on a new experiment with bioactive silicon. Would you reprogram your Sonic Screwdriver to these specifications?"
"Certainly."
"I'm sorry to bother you with it, but I need it done quickly."
The Doctor stood at a station and began to reprogram the sonic screwdriver. Carolyn stopped close behind him.
"It does not bother me. In fact, I am happy to…"
Without warning, Carolyn injected the Doctor with a sedative. The Doctor instantly slumped onto the console, unconscious.
Nita entered from an adjoining room. Her face was expressionless as she quickly moved to the Doctor. Without a word, she dragged the Doctor to a nearby examination table and lay him on top of it.
"Computer, secure Sickbay."
All entries to Sickbay were secured. Carolyn set up an IV to keep the Doctor sedated.