Entry 2: This is my first entry as an official time-traveler. (Ahh!) My excitement for this adventure has already been well stated, so I won't flog a dead horse. However, it is worth repeating that the Doctor is a miracle-worker and a dream-maker. I can still scarcely believe that this is real. I often find myself reaching out to touch and grip and hold things – just to make sure this isn't an intense hallucination. So far, everything has stood up to the scrutiny.
I keep thinking about the character of Wendy – a wide-eyed English girl who was suddenly exposed to this whole other world. Sounds quite like my situation. And if that's the case, I guess the Doctor is Peter Pan. Which suits him quite well, because there is a childlike wonder about him that suggests he'll never completely grow up. I wouldn't want him to, though. To do something like this, I think you have to possess a measure of youth and imagination. No mature, rational adult would agree to do this. Because it's absolutely mad! And doing absolutely mad things is only appealing for a certain period of time. Once you get older, I imagine you'd want to be comfortable. The risk-taking, reckless inhibitions of young life start to fade.
At a certain age, once you're settled into your life - with a house and job and family – radically disrupting that doesn't sound appealing. My parents are at that point. And they seem perfectly content, so I'm all for it. The point when we start to butt heads is when they insist that I need to settle down, too. I'm a curious person. And when you're young and healthy and full of energy, you're willing to do more to fulfill that curiosity. Once I've done that – once my youth starts to fade – I might want to be a bit more stagnant, too. But how will I know if I never experience anything?
But, anyway. I didn't mean to spend this time ranting about my parents. I broke out of that tedious monotony; that's what's important. I am officially on the road to becoming a more well-rounded person. I think, sometimes, taking the first step is the hardest – committing to something before you have the opportunity to change your mind. I overcame that barrier, if only just, and now I feel very settled and confident with my decision.
I've sort of been thrown in the deep end, and you have to learn fast in situations like these. In the short time I've been aboard the TARDIS, I've picked up a few key tips to traveling the cosmos. I'll share them here, in the event that any of you have the opportunity to take such amazing trips. Number one: pack heavily; whatever obscure items you think you won't need, you're bound to find use for eventually. Have an outfit for every occasion and climate. Number two: (literally) strap yourself in for the journey; I promise that intergalactic travel is 10x more intense than whatever you could imagine. The whiplash is no joke. And lastly, number three: remember to breath, because your breath will be taken away.
"There we are, then!" the Doctor announced, setting the last of Gemma's bags down on the grating. "You are now an official passenger of the TARDIS!"
Gemma's smile was wider than ever. "I can't believe we're doin' this! This is brilliant!" She turned in circles, taking the time to observe the console room as she never had before. After all, they had the time now. She wanted to know absolutely every detail.
The Doctor noticed this, and he chuckled quietly. "There'll be time for a full tour later, but for now, I recon we should get you settled in your room for the night. It's been a long day, and I know how you humans are about your sleep."
She was primed to retort that she wasn't tired, but a massive yawn cut her off. Well, perhaps a few hours rest wouldn't be the worst thing. "Yeah, I think you might be right. Which way do I…?"
"Ah, follow me!" The Doctor was about to guide her off when she bent down to pick up a suitcase. "Oh, no, no, no – don't worry about those. The TARDIS will handle them."
Gemma's eyebrows furrowed. "She'll- she'll move my bags for me?"
"Indeed. 'Object Impermanence.' The TARDIS exists in a separate dimension, wherein she can manipulate the state and location of, well, everything."
"Wow…! Can I see? Will my bags, like, fizzle away or something?"
The Doctor pouted. "No, unfortunately not. She has this thing about 'being observed,' so… alterations will usually only happen when you're focused on something else or turned away. A bit underwhelming, I know."
"No, that's still brilliant – invisible baggage service! Any chance to avoid lifting something heavy and making multiple trips. I had no idea this was a luxury, 5-Star time machine," she replied with mirth.
He bowed slightly and tipped an imaginary hat in her direction. "We aim to please. So! Follow me to your accommodations."
With the Doctor leading, they walked through a door on the far side of the console room, down a metal staircase, and into a hallway. The grating floor remained, but the walls became sheet metal with the occasional column sticking out. She ran her fingers along one such column, and the closet thing Gemma could liken it to was coral – oddly enough. They also passed multiple doors of differing colors and varying materials. Gemma wondered what they each lead to. Hopefully this would be included in the tour. The curiosity was almost too much to bear; she wanted to throw them all open right now! But she was essentially a guest in someone else's home, so decorum was required. Gemma wasn't getting herself kicked out for exceeding boundaries – especially not on the first day. She needed to establish trust with the Doctor, and then, hopefully, her privileges would be expanded.
They reached a portion of the hallway where the doors had names on them – Rose, Martha, and then Donna. She wondered who they were. Possibly those other traveling companions that he's talked about. Would she get her name on a door, too? Was that presumptuous? Gemma certainly wasn't going to ask, but still… it would be quite cool. How did she stack up to his other friends, though? It wasn't a competition, but… Gemma wanted to know that she could live up to the Doctor's expectations. What were Rose, Martha, and Donna like? She wanted to ask, but it felt like a sensitive subject, better left alone for now.
Finally, they came to a stop at a door across the hall from the named ones. The Doctor gestured to it. "Here we are – your room for the next 15 trips." At Gemma's questioning glance, he added, "Please, go ahead! Open it, explore!"
She didn't need to be told twice, so as soon as the words left his mouth, Gemma had the door open. The room wasn't at all what she'd expected. With the sort of… steampunk-look to the rest of the TARDIS, she assumed that the rooms would be decorated accordingly. Some metal-frame bunk beds, a steel desk mounted to the wall, perhaps some lockers for storage. However, what she discovered was much more appealing.
It was a spacious-sized bedroom, with a large window on the wall directly opposite the door. In the center of the right wall was a double bed, dressed with linens in eggshell and cream colors. The headboard and baseboard were a glossy white – simple, but classy and beautiful. The nightstands matched the bedframe. There was a beautiful piece of Impressionist art hanging above the bed, and knowing the Doctor, Gemma considered that it might be some original from the late 1800s.
Nestled inside a nook on the left wall was a maple-wood desk. It had a laptop – one from 21st century Earth, fortunately for her – a digital clock, and a stationary organizer. There was a full-length mirror next to it, the kind with illuminated edges that Gemma's been wanting for ages. Directly to her right, against the front wall, was a sitting area. There was a two-seater couch, a plush armchair, a coffee table, and a flatscreen resting upon a maple-wood TV stand. On the far side of the desk nook, there was a door that led to an en-suite. (Gemma would later discover that the bathroom had a jacuzzi soaking tub and a walk-in shower.) The final bit of the room was a dresser sitting under the window. It was bare save for a small plant and a collectable statue that she assumed was from some far-off planet.
And, of course, right there beside the bed, was all Gemma's luggage.
She was speechless for a minute, unable to communicate her amazement with words. But eventually, she did manage to stammer out: "This- this is incredible! I really get this room all to myself?"
"Absolutely. The TARDIS has hundreds of bedrooms alone, so everyone can have their own space," he replied.
Gemma took several steps into the room, unsure what to do. Then she spotted the window and decided that was a mystery that needed unveiling - immediately. She strode towards it, thrust open the curtains, and was greeted with the view of a bright white void.
Before she could even utter a question, The Doctor jogged over. "Ah! Sorry, should've explained before. This isn't an ordinary window; it can display anywhere in time and space. Whatever view you want, whatever location, whatever date - this window will produce it. Some have chosen the view from another planet; others like to wake up and see their neighborhood back on Earth, all progressing in real time."
"That's… amazing." Gemma was running out of words to describe things because it was all just so impressive. "Can I choose something, too?"
"Absolutely; this is an amenity offered to all guests! Pick anything you want."
She thought for a minute. Dozens of possibilities ran through her head, each just as exciting as the last. But ultimately, Gemma decided that it needed to be something she couldn't see on Earth. That was the whole point of this trip.
"How about… how about outer space by itself? Can I see some moons revolve around a planet millions of lightyears away? I want to feel like a proper galactic traveler."
The Doctor made some elaborate flourish with his hand. "Your wish is the TARDIS' command! Close the curtains, and when you open them again, you'll have the view you want."
Gemma did as instructed, returning the curtains to their original position. Then, after a deep breath to prepare herself, she parted them again. And suddenly, the light of a million stars shone through the glass. A planet had appeared, with orange landmasses shrouded under a purple atmosphere. Two moons revolved around it – the smaller one, ebony; the larger one, maroon.
"Flan! Oh, I haven't seen Flan for years! What a lovely choice." The Doctor patted the TARDIS' walls with praise.
Gemma wouldn't take her eyes off the window, but she still had so many questions. "It's called Flan?"
"Mhm. It's the largest planet in the Argon system – approximately 1.7 million light years from Earth."
She leaned her elbows against the windowsill, getting so close to the glass that her nose almost touched. "What's it like on Flan?"
The Doctor mimicked her position. "The inhabitants are a species known as Kaa'ra. They don't have eyes, but that makes all their other senses much more sophisticated. The average Kaa'ra adult can distinguish a particular voice from a crowd of thousands, at a distance as far as 50 miles. They navigate the world via echolocation, like dolphins. Most of their habitation exists as part of a vast underground network. The tunnels of their cities are considered to be the longest and most complex in the galaxy."
Gemma exhaled softly, and her warm breath fogged up the glass. "Sounds amazing. And to think, I get to wake up to this every morning…."
"Ah, yes, speaking of mornings! I should leave you to your unpacking. Make sure to get plenty of rest; it's not like we're on a schedule or anything." The Doctor said this as he was exiting the room, but then he stopped at the threshold. "After all, it's impossible to be late when you've got a time machine."
She laughed, appreciating his playful smile. "Goodnight, Doctor. And thank you – for everything."
"It's my pleasure. Sleep well!"
When Gemma awoke the following morning – or the simulated version of morning created by the TARDIS – she'd forgotten about yesterday's developments. She expected to be in her bed at home, and when her hand grazed an unfamiliar headboard, she snapped to attention. First thing she saw upon opening her eyes was a beige wall. This definitely wasn't home. Where was she? What happened? How'd she-
Ah. And then it hit her. Yesterday's escapades flooded her mind, and Gemma got giddy all over again. She was traveling on a spaceship! This was the first day of what would no doubt be the most incredible experience of her life. And with that in mind, she didn't want to waste a single second. Gemma hopped out of bed – which, by the way, was the most luxurious mattress she'd ever slept on – and began her morning routine. The first port of call was to go to the window and gaze at the planet of Flan. She waved down at it, imagining that some Kaa'ra with a telescope was looking up into the sky to catch a glance of the TARDIS. It probably didn't work that way, but it was still a nice thought.
Next, she went about the business of showering, combing her hair, and other general hygiene. She wasn't too fussed about her outfit, but the one thing she did want to include was a pair of comfortable trainers. The Doctor himself had admitted that his lifestyle was indicative of outrunning things. Best she be prepared.
Just as she was tying her laces, there was a knock at the door. Upon answering, the Doctor was revealed to be on the other side.
He smiled jubilantly. "Good morning, Gemma."
"Morning, Doctor. What serendipitous timing; I just finished getting ready."
"Ah, yes, well. As much as I'd love to take the credit for that via my superb intuition, I must admit that the TARDIS alerted me."
Gemma got that sensation again, of a thousand eyes on her. She shifted uncomfortably. "You mean, the TARDIS was watching me?"
The Doctor noticed her uneasiness and hurried to alleviate her concerns. "Not watching in the sense of stalking, or anything else unsavory! It's more just a… general awareness of her occupants. Like, like peripheral vision!"
"Oh, well, I suppose that doesn't sound so creepy. That's alright, then," she chuckled, attempting to dispel the nerves.
"Good, good. Otherwise, the tour would be terribly uncomfortable for all involved."
Gemma perked at the mention of the tour. "Oh, that's right! I'd almost forgotten. Can we start now?"
"I have come to fetch you for that very reason." The Doctor stepped to the side, clearing the threshold, and extended his arm in an inviting gesture. "After you."
After checking to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything, Gemma left her temporary room. Her and the Doctor began strolling back down the hallway, and it wasn't long before they stopped.
"Our first destination," explained the Doctor, "the closet!"
He threw open the door, and the first thing Gemma noticed was the massive spiral staircase that seemed to extend to infinity. From her vantagepoint on the ground, she identified at least 8 levels to this room. Each floor was crammed full of built-in closets, dressers, and metal racks. This was much more what she expected the TARDIS rooms to look like. The grating floor continued from the hallway into this room. The walls were made of metal panels. The staircase was in the center of the room, creating an endless tower of doughnut-shaped levels.
"This isn't a closet; it's a shopping mall!" Gemma commented, making her way inside.
The Doctor followed closely behind. "Stored in here is attire from every location and time period I've ever visited. After several centuries of travel, you can imagine how much I must've accumulated."
"I don't have to imagine; it's all right here in front of me!" She bounded over to the west side of the room, drawn toward a massive floor-to-ceiling wardrobe.
Gemma began flicking through the hanging garments. Though, this must've been the 21st century floor, because everything she came across was familiar. A pair of low-rise jeans from the early 2000s did prompt some amusing memories. Hindsight is 20/20, and unfortunately, sometimes it takes the passage of time before people realize how silly something was. That brief moment of nostalgia wasn't enough to keep her interest, and Gemma was about to abandon the wardrobe for a different rack. But then, she noticed some suits hanging in a separate section. Gemma wandered over – and was immediately filled with delight when she realized what these clothes were.
It was the Doctor's suit, an exact copy of the one he currently wore. Brown with pinstripes. And there were at least a dozen hanging here. Gemma smiled and called the Doctor over.
He was by her side in an instant, materializing out of nowhere. "You beckoned?"
"Yeah, uh, I just had a quick question. Are these… all copiesof one suit?"
The Doctor nodded. "Yes, well, my lifestyle tends to be rough on clothing, so I keep multiple pairs. Less laundering that way."
"Right, but… it's the same suit."
He blinked dumbly. "Yes…? And?"
Gemma gawked at him. "Do you actually not realize how ridiculous this is?"
"I thought it was a rather shrewd idea," the Doctor replied, looking just a bit like a kicked puppy.
She was trying desperately not to burst out laughing at his cluelessness. "Yeah, very pragmatic; the issue isn't with keeping multiple sets. It's the fact that they're all the same. D'you actually wear the same thing every day?"
He glanced down, rather self-consciously. "Well, I alternate with a plain blue suit. That's them – right over there." The Doctor pointed towards the end of the wardrobe, where his other suits were hanging.
"But- but why? You're obviously not lacking in alternatives!"
The Doctor shrugged. "Once I find something I like, I tend to stick with it. There's so much to be done and not enough time to waste picking out a different outfit every day. All this-" he gestured around the closet "-is more for historical preservation than anything."
Gemma paused for a second, considering his answer. Then, the amused grin was back. "Well, I suppose you're right about that. To each their own." She turned back to the suits, and seeing them all lined up produced the most hilarious thought. "Doctor… are you familiar with Spongebob?"
"Spongebob Squarepants: the popular Nickelodeon cartoon show created in 1999, ending far past the point everyone thought it should."
"Yeah, that's the one. So, there's this episode where Spongebob opens his wardrobe, and he has multiple of the same outfit – 'cuz, y'know, he's always wearing the same thing." Her voice cracked with laughter.
The Doctor finally caught on to where she was going with this. "Now, hold on-"
"-So you're basically Spongebob," Gemma interrupted, no longer able to keep the full force of her amusement at bay. She started off chuckling, but it quickly grew to belly-aching laughter.
She had to brace herself against the closet, her cheeks warming and turning red. All the while, the Doctor stood by, looking particularly displeased. When the laughter (eventually) descended into giggles, he spoke up. "Right, that's it: invitation revoked."
Gemma sobered, but the smile remained. "Aww, Doctor, you don't mean that."
"I absolutely do! No one insults me so viciously and then gets to remain in my TARDIS."
"Come on; it was funny! I'll bet even the TARDIS thought so."
"No, she most certainly-" As he spoke, his eyes drifted off to stare into the distance. With each quiet second that passed, The Doctor started looking more and more cross. Finally, he scowled and said, "Traitors, the both of you!"
Gemma wasn't sure exactly what happened, but it seemed safe to say that the TARDIS sided with her. She tried not to start laughing again. Instead, Gemma gave the Doctor a pat on the arm. Mustering as much sympathy as she could, she said, "Alright, I'm done joshing you. Why don't we continue with the tour?"
The Doctor said nothing – petulant as a child – but followed Gemma as she walked around. He wanted so desperately to stay mad, but every time she cringed at styles of the past or reminisced about items that she had owned herself, his hearts felt a pang of warmth. Gemma bounced around, trying on jackets and hats, and taking particular interest in a pair of shoes. By the time they climbed the staircase to the next floor, his indignation was long forgotten.
They spent the next half hour or so looking through plated armor, vintage swinger dresses, old bonnets and top hats, and even a pair of bellbottoms with a USB plug in the pocket – a trend that wouldn't hit Earth for another 100 years or so. In the accessories section, Gemma examined Venetian masks and heirloom pocket watches and 100% cashmere gloves. They went on a proper journey through the ages.
But there was so much more to see, so the Doctor dragged Gemma out with the promise that she could explore more later. They quickly arrived at the next door and the Doctor held it open for her, just enough to see inside.
"Here we have the infirmary – most sophisticated medical technology in the galaxy. Let's not linger; hopefully, we won't need to make use of this room."
Gemma smirked. They hurried along to the next room.
"Now, may I present… the living room!" He threw the door open with a flourish.
The décor was mod with a touch of polished industrial - an odd combination, to be sure. It was a multi-level room - they entered on the higher level; then, there was a wide step which led to the lower level. It created a sunken square in the middle of the room. That's where the plush sectional couch was, along with glass coffee table, a fireplace open on both sides, and a 75" television hanging from the ceiling. There were circle chairs in the corner, by a small bookcase. The room was detailed with colorful pillows, modern art, and a light fixture shaped like an infinity symbol. There was a gaming section at the far end which included everything from chess to a Nintendo Switch.
"Wow, Doctor. I had no idea you had such extravagant taste."
"Oh, I dunno about that. I just like to keep things comfortable. This is a great spot to relax between trips; it's got all the entertainment you could hope for!"
"I can tell. If only I could take this whole room home with me," she said, looking reflective and disappointed at the same time.
"You can take something as a souvenir, if you like."
The Doctor was startled when Gemma turned to him, eyes wide as saucers. "You really mean that?"
"Of course! I'm not terribly attached to anything. It can all be replaced, anyway, if need be." He saw Gemma begin to eye the entire room and resolved to keep her moving, lest she get stuck on a shopping spree all day. "And, there will be plenty of time for that later. But I've got one more room to show you."
The reminder of their tour was enough to pull Gemma from the room. Their final destination took them to the end of the hallway, near the staircase that led up to the console room. Running out of fancy ways to open doors, the Doctor simply turned the handle and let it swing out.
"This," he announced, "is the kitchen."
The kitchen was, in a word, magnificent. It was the sort you only saw on telly, made for a Michelin star chef. The cabinetry was made of African Blackwood, and the countertops were of grey marble. There was a massive double-door refrigerator disguised along the wall as a tall cabinet. Gemma always thought those were the coolest ones. There was a double farmhouse sink and an island with barstools and two giant ovens stacked on top of each other.
As Gemma went over to inspect, she took note of the finer details. The silverware was 100% real; all the knives were made of the highest quality steel; every single cooking appliance known to man – and alien – could be found in the cabinets. There were many sets of fine china displayed along the wall, all of which Gemma assumed came from expansive dynasties of old.
The walk-in pantry seemed to go on forever. It might've done, actually, because the Doctor informed her that every ingredient ever was available. The shelfs were mechanized, so the food could come to them like groceries on a conveyer belt. A digital recipe book built into the wall had millions of recipes. If only Gemma was any good as a cook, this would've been game changing.
Leaving the pantry, she briefly went to sit at the adjacent breakfast nook. The diner-style seats were covered in real leather, and the cushions must've been stuffed with clouds for how comfortable they were. Before leaving, Gemma couldn't help but run her hand over the cool marble countertops, marveling at the smoothness. Their retreating footsteps echoed on tile that was polished to perfection.
"Those are the rooms you'll be most likely to use," the Doctor explained as they ascended the staircase. "Of course, the TARDIS has thousands of them, but I rarely need to access any of those."
Gemma nodded. "That sounds like a nightmare to navigate."
He chuckled but nodded. "It is a bit of a slog trying to remember the layout. But I've had 900 years to do it."
"Is that how old you are?!" Gemma exclaimed, unable to reign in her shock.
"Mhmm." At her astonished expression, he felt obligated to add, "That's fairly young for a Time Lord, though. You're not traveling with fossil or anything."
She shook her head, bemused. "No, I wasn't worried. It's just… you look really good for 900."
"Yes, I get that a lot." Once they arrived in the console room, the Doctor excitedly slapped his hands together. "Right! So, now for the best bit. Are you ready for your first trip?"
"Wh- now? Already?" She sputtered. At his nod, Gemma said, "Well, yeah! I mean, I think so. Where are we going?"
"That, my dear lady, is a surprise. I should warn you, though. Traveling through time and space is much more jarring than popping over to Laura's dorm. You'll want to belt yourself in."
Gemma did as instructed. "Oooh, it's like a rollercoaster."
The Doctor opted to focus on the controls instead of responding.
It was not, in fact, like a rollercoaster.
Traveling in the TARDIS was like being a sock in a washing machine. The belt did very little to secure her in place. Instead, Gemma was sliding back and forth, trying not to hit her head on anything. The Doctor took every jolt and bump in stride, so she assumed this was normal - just turbulence. He was running in circles, throwing levers, turning dials. At one point, he even used his foot to press a button out of reach. She wondered about the design of the console, why it was so difficult to operate. Who would design a one-pilot ship like that?
When they finally seemed to land, Gemma celebrated silently. She couldn't get the seatbelt off quickly enough.
The Doctor came over. "You alright?"
She wanted to respond with scathing sarcasm, but the genuine concern in his voice changed her mind. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just a bit shaken – literally and figuratively."
Something akin to a laugh bubbled up from the back of his throat. "Yeah, sorry about that. You will get used to it, though. It just takes time to-"
"-Get my sea legs?" she finished.
The Doctor grinned. "Precisely. Now, would you like to find out where we are?" Gemma nodded emphatically. "Go on, then. Open the door."
That was all the permission she needed. Gemma bounded to the front of the ship and unlocked the doors at lightening speed. As they opened, a bright ray of sunlight filled her vision. She squinted at first, waiting for her eyes to adjust. But when they did…
Oh my.
They were on a platform overlooking a beach. Not exotic in itself, but the state of the beach was something Gemma would never forget. The sand was pink – and not the pale pink that can be found on Earth, but a bright, deep shade. Gemma was sure Barbie's convertible was the same color. The ocean was turquoise, clear as glass, and it shined under the light of three suns. There were cliffs on both sides, sandwiching the beach in between; and Gemma couldn't be sure from the TARDIS threshold, but they looked to made of… Playdough instead of rock.
She felt the Doctor walk up behind her. "Jaclanis – the larger of the two planets in the Bospora binary system. One of the most famous vacation destinations in this galaxy."
"And for good reason," Gemma replied. She exited the doorway, pulled toward the beach by a magnetic force of wonder. Behind her, the Doctor locked the TARDIS.
Gemma quicky descended the platform's staircase and took a tentative step onto the sand. It felt nice enough, but her sneakers were impairing the experience, so she chucked them off. When her bare feet touched the ground, she couldn't believe how soft it was. Sand back on Earth was basically tiny pieces of rock, but Jaclanis sand felt like walking on a blanket. She dug her foot in, getting the magnificent sand between her toes.
The Doctor had now caught up to her. He came to stand by Gemma's side as she marveled at the landscape. "See those cliffs in the distance?" Gemma nodded. "They're not rock. They're made of some… putty-like element. And the foliage up on top is grass that's actually made up of individual petals." Then he pointed out to sea. Her eyes followed his every gesture. "And about 50 feet offshore, there are reefs made entirely of crystals – diamonds, rubies, sapphires, the works. It attracts some of the rarest fish I've ever come across."
Gemma shook her head in amazement. Still looking out over the water, she wistfully mumbled, "What I wouldn't give to see that up close."
The Doctor went quiet. He considered Gemma for a minute, thought for another few, and then said, "We could go out there." As soon as the words left his mouth, Gemma's neck pivoted in a biological display that would rival owls. He continued, "I… have snorkeling gear in the TARDIS. We could swim out to see them - if you want. If you don't mind swimming."
The absolute glee and awe on her face was answer enough. She bolted back up the stairs, and he scrambled to keep up. They returned to this TARDIS for gear and a change of clothes. Gemma came back out in a 50s inspired one-piece, and the Doctor – to her absolute delight – wore a surfer's top and a pair of swim trucks with the exact same pinstripes as his suit. She wanted to comment but figured she'd made enough jokes about his style habits for the day.
With gear in hand, they made their way to the ocean's edge. The Doctor instructed Gemma on how to put the fins on, helped her adjust the mask, told her how to breathe with the snorkel, and warned her to be cautious of strong tides. As she had told the Doctor, Gemma had been swimming since her parents got her lessons at the age of 3. Every summer of her childhood was spent at the pool. So, as soon as they paddled out, she took to snorkeling like a moth takes to a flame.
They paddled along slowly, the Doctor stopping her occasionally, to point out fish or unique underwater terrain. At one point, he dove down and returned to the surface with a slimy, wriggling creature in his hand. With much convincing, she allowed him to place it on her palm. It was roughly the size of a baseball and semi-transparent. She couldn't discern any eyes or limbs, but the ombre of its jelly-like skin was beautiful. It wasn't until she felt the suction cups stick to her palm that she demanded the Doctor take it back. That thing was, as she put it, 'getting way too comfortable with her.' Especially considering she couldn't look it in the eye.
The Doctor was amused by her squeamishness, for which he received a large splash to the face. When his mask cleared, Gemma was already swimming off ahead of him. He caught up easily, and they continued exploring. They could see through the water perfectly, so Gemma knew the second they had reached the reef. The Doctor's description was slipshod compared to its true beauty.
It sparkled in the suns' light, practically glowing. There were tubes of emeralds and fans of amethyst and bunches of topaz. Geodes jutted out of the ground. The reef spread out over several miles, bending and curving and even poking out of the water. The pillars of crystal rose and branched off like skyscrapers in a Dr. Suess book. This time, Gemma wanted to dive down to see it. The Doctor gave her some quick tips and instructions for freediving, but after seeing her swim, he wasn't all that concerned.
So, they dove down together. The water surrounding her was cool and calming. Fish passed by in schools; some sort of eel slithered along the ocean floor; Gemma saw a string of kelp grow eyes and float away. But the main focus - the pièce de resistance - was the reef. They spent a few minutes swimming among the crystals, reaching out to trace the rises and falls. Then, when air became a necessity, they resurfaced, just to go back down a minute later. This process repeated itself for the better part of an hour. By the time they returned to shore, sunset had begun.
It was only now that Gemma realized there was no one around. "Doctor… didn't you say this was a popular vacation destination?" He nodded. "So where is everyone?"
"I picked a day when the beach is closed to the public. I thought it might be more enjoyable that way." The Doctor hesitated before adding, "I hope that's alright."
She looked at him and smiled – a smile that the Doctor found to be just as bright as the setting suns. "It's more than alright. It's perfect! You're so thoughtful."
Before he could even register the movement, Gemma rushed over to hug him. The Doctor released a nervous laugh, returning the hug in earnest. He wasn't quite sure how to respond, but thankfully, he didn't need to. Once Gemma broke the hug, she started towards their pile of items – throwing a "you coming?" over her shoulder.
When they reached their bags, beach towels were unraveled to be used as blankets. The snorkeling excursion had depleted quite a bit of energy, and Gemma knew she should probably rest for a minute. Her mind, however- "D'y'know what I haven't done in the longest time?"
The Doctor turned his attention away from the lapping waves. "What's that?"
"Built a sandcastle. And with sand like this, I'm just dying to give it a go. Is that childish?"
"I think I'm the wrong person to ask," he replied, to which Gemma guffawed. "But if it is, then I'm childish as well. I've got some plastic tools in my bag. Wanna build one?"
She beamed, grateful that they seemed to operate on the same wavelength. With Gemma's confirmation, the Doctor emptied his bag of all the objects necessary to build a sandcastle.
"How in the world did you fit all this in that tiny tote?" Gemma wondered aloud, gazing at the large pile of pails and shovels.
"It's bigger on the inside, of course." The Doctor looked particularly pleased with himself, and she couldn't help but laugh.
Several feet from their encampment, they got to work. It took 45 minutes, 3 buckets of water, 6 failed attempts at a tower, and sheer determination before their masterpiece was complete. Once it was, they stood back and appraised their work. Perhaps, Gemma thought, they'd gone a bit overboard. Still, it was by far the best sandcastle she'd ever seen. It had a moat, a drawbridge made of driftwood, and four towers topped with cone-shaped roofs. The outer walls were detailed with windows and an arched doorway. Gemma was particularly proud of the various shells and even loose bits of crystal that she'd used to decorate various sections. The castle ended up being 3 feet tall.
"I'd like to see a child make a sandcastle as amazing as that," remarked the Doctor.
Gemma hummed with laughter. Then: "Oh! Let me get my phone! I've got to take a picture!"
She took photos from several angles, as well as a video. While the camera was already out, Gemma also photographed the beach and surrounding landscape. She even convinced the Doctor to jump in for a couple of selfies – after explaining what a selfie was.
At some point, he grabbed her by the hand and said, "Come take a look at this."
Gemma was dragged over to the cliff made of putty, and as they approached, she realized that it was covered with impressions of different shapes and sizes.
The Doctor explained: "It's somewhat of a tradition amongst tourists. Because of its composition, if you press hard enough into the cliff, it'll leave a indentation and stay that way forever."
Upon closer inspection, she noticed hearts and declarations of love; shells accompanied by a language she couldn't read; and handprints, often with names and/or dates.
"Can we do one?" Gemma asked.
"Why else do you think I brought you here?" he replied good-naturedly.
They found an empty space in the cliff, and after deciding on handprints, pressed their palms firmly into the putty. The Doctor then went hunting for a pointy stick, and with it, they inscribed writing inside their handprints. His said simply "The Doctor." Gemma went for something a bit more detailed: "Gemma was here. 02/06/2023." She took a picture of that, as well. And knowing that this sign of her presence, in a galaxy millions of miles away, would remain for people of all species to see, warmed her heart. This travel arrangement might've been temporary, but she still managed to leave a mark in the universe.