CHAPTER 3
The TARDIS held in space near the destroyed Vico, the Black Cluster in the background.
The Doctor, Nita, Michelle and Carolyn were in the library. The Doctor was in mid-report, on a nearby monitor was a graphic of the interior of the Black Cluster – a dully glowing center, a dozen bright points scattered through it.
"The Black Cluster was formed almost nine billion years ago when hundreds of protostars collapsed in close proximity. The resulting gravitational forces are violent and highly unpredictable."
"To get anywhere near the centre, we'll have to push through the gravitational wavefronts – just like the science vessel was designed to do," said Michelle. "I've adjusted our shields accordingly."
"The gravitational forces will affect sensor accuracy," said Nita. "Detecting an enemy vessel will be difficult. Maybe that's what happened to the Vico – they didn't see anything coming until it was too late."
The Doctor considered this, and turned to Carolyn. "Has the boy volunteered any further information?"
"No. But I'm going to go and talk to him again soon."
The Doctor nodded then glanced at the graphic. "If there's any possibility of getting more from him, I'd like you to pursue it."
Carolyn nodded. The Doctor glanced toward the graphic display. "Regardless, we need to continue our investigation. We'll enter the cluster at seven o'clock tomorrow morning."
They rose to exit.
In the corridor, Carolyn stopped at Joshua's door and knocked. A few moments later, the door opened, revealing Joshua.
"Hello, Joshua. Are you ready to go?"
Joshua was wearing similarly styled and exactly the same colour clothing as the Doctor did. His face was impassive and Time-Lord-like (his hair was still in his own style and colour). Unlike the agitated condition he exhibited earlier, the boy was the essence of calm self-control.
"Yes, Ma'am. I'm ready."
The boy's outfit and his calm, almost formal tone of voice were not lost on Carolyn. "How are you feeling, Joshua?"
"I'm all right."
Carolyn considered this for a moment. "All right? You sound like the Doctor."
"I am a Time Lord."
Carolyn reacted. "I see… Well. Let's go for our walk, shall we?"
"That would be acceptable."
Carolyn and Joshua were sitting at a table in the galley.
"Time Lords don't need to eat as often as Humans." Then he noticed a tray of desserts on the counter. "However, sometimes we like to taste things. A Tamarin frost, please. Would you like anything, Ma'am?"
Carolyn took this all in, cautiously trying to deal with this new development. "No, I'm fine, thank you."
"As you wish."
"So… you're not longer a Human?"
"I'm a Time Lord."
"When did this happen?"
"I've always been a Time Lord."
"What's it like… being a Time Lord?"
"I exceed human capacity both mentally and physically. But I control my emotions."
"You do? You don't express emotions at all?"
"That is correct."
Carolyn wondered how to deal with this.
The Doctor and Carolyn were in the Doctor's study.
"A Time Lord."
"I know it sounds unusual – but it is understandable. Technically, it's called enantiodromia. Conversion into the opposite. Joshua went from Human to Time Lord. From being emotional to being emotionless. But the underlying trauma is still there. He's just found a new way to repress it."
"How long will this behaviour last?"
"As long as he needs it to. Joshua is rebuilding his identity as best he can. The Time Lord persona is only one step along the way. When he becomes stronger and more sure of himself, it should drop away naturally."
The Doctor considered her words. "I assume this is not a time to confront him about what happened to his ship."
"Not yet. The best thing we can do right now is to let Joshua take us where he wants to go. We should support the process – even encourage it."
The Doctor nodded. "I'd like to make Joshua the best Time Lord he can possibly be."
Joshua and the Doctor were in Joshua's quarters. The Doctor was standing next to Joshua, who was sitting in a chair, the wall mirror behind him – like an impromptu barber shop set-up. The Doctor was holding a small comb and was eyeing Joshua's hair.
"Doctor, are there any other Time Lords?"
"Yes, many, but most of them remain on Gallifrey."
Joshua nodded. He was silent for a moment. "Doctor, what's the scariest thing that ever happened to you?"
"Fear is a quality that I don't express."
"Because it's an emotion."
"That's correct."
"But what if you had a nightmare?"
"I have never had a nightmare. I don't require much sleep."
Joshua was silent. The Doctor continued adjusting the boy's hair for a moment, then realized something. "Joshua, are you having… disturbing dreams?"
Joshua didn't answer right away. There was a sense that he was hiding something – even from himself. He looked straight at the Doctor. "I don't require much sleep."
The Doctor looked at him for a moment – he wasn't going to get anything further out of him for now. The Doctor finished one last touch-up on the hair, then lifted the chair and turned it barber style to face the mirror on the wall. Joshua looked at his reflection – and his perfectly executed Doctor-like hairstyle. The Doctor stood over his shoulder. "Is it satisfactory?"
Joshua looked at the Doctor with tremendous admiration, then glanced back at the mirror. "It's perfect."
The Doctor and Joshua were striding along the corridor, in perfect step, their arms swinging in unison. It looked for all the world like there was a new Time Lord on board.
In the sickbay, the Doctor and Joshua were sitting side by side with their legs hanging off the side of a diagnostic bed. Carolyn was running a hand-held, medical scanning device over the length of Joshua's arm. "Binary vascular system is functioning properly."
"Within established parameters?"
Carolyn nodded. "Absolutely." Carolyn continued with the scan, moving it over his head. "Input processing, pattern recognition… all within established parameters." She took the scanner down, finished.
"Thank you, Carolyn," the Doctor and Joshua said simultaneously.
The Doctor and Joshua were each sitting in the Doctor's quarters at an easel, paint brush in hand, dabbing brushstrokes against their respective canvasses. Joshua's set-up is an exact duplicate. The Doctor's painting was a tranquil landscape. Joshua looked sleepy, they'd been going non-stop all day. The Doctor was as fresh as always.
The boy glanced down at his palette and paint jars. "I ran out of red ochre."
"You may use mine." The Doctor handed him a jar.
"Thank you." Joshua couldn't help but let loose with a huge yawn.
"Perhaps you should return to your quarters."
"I'm fine. I was imitating human movements."
The Doctor considered for a moment. Then attempted a yawn. It didn't look too convincing. But Joshua didn't want to discourage him. "Not bad."
"Thank you."
The Doctor looked over at the boy's easel. It looked exceedingly violent – he couldn't actually see a spacecraft ripped apart, but he could sense the feeling of one. The boy's trauma was making its presence known…
The Doctor reacted to the painting. "It was very… expressive."
"Thank you." Joshua didn't seem to be aware of what his own work suggested.
"Is your painting representative of something?"
Joshua shrugged. "It's just a painting." Joshua again yawned.
The Doctor thought for a moment – this was not his area of expertise and he knew to tread lightly… "Joshua, you understand that you may speak with me about anything you wish – any subject."
Joshua again yawned. "I understand…"
The Doctor watched him for a moment, but nothing further was forthcoming. He turned back to his own easel, applying a few brushstrokes. "At times I too find it difficult to share my thoughts with others. I'm not always confident that I'm expressing myself in a way that Humans will comprehend. But I know that…" The Doctor turned –
Joshua was now slumped on his chair, fast asleep. The Doctor reacted, stopped speaking. He stood, lifted Joshua off the chair, then carried and carefully deposited him on a nearby couch. The Doctor straightened, and watched Joshua for a moment. The boy curled up, and looked like he was out for the night.
