Twists in Time
Chapter Twelve: Path of the Healers: Greetings
By Lumendea
AN: Thank you so much for all the great comments on The Shakespeare Code. I really enjoyed the rewrite even if the length got a bit out of control.
AN: Life is a little strange right now, so have the chapter early and have a great weekend.
…
"What do you think, Martha?" The Doctor asked. He was bouncing around the central console with a spring in his step. "You've seen the past; how about another planet?"
"Can we go to yours?" Martha asked.
Rose immediately froze. Jack tensed, and the Doctor's mood shifted, though he tried to keep his expression the same.
"Ah, there's plenty of other places," the Doctor said dismissively.
"Come on, though. I mean, the planet of the Time Lords. That's got to be worth a look. What's it like?"
Rose moved around the console, trying not to be too obvious. Jack looked ready to say something. Rose shook her head so he could see. Saying it out loud would trigger a conversation that Rose doubted the Doctor was ready to have with someone he'd only recently met.
"Well, it's beautiful, yeah," the Doctor replied carefully.
"Is it like, you know, outer space cities, all spires and stuff?"
Rose caught Martha's wrist lightly to draw the other woman's attention. Then she shook her head and mouthed the word 'no' so that Martha could clearly see it. Confusion flickered across Martha's face, and Rose forced a smile.
"We could check in on Karn," Rose offered.
"And let the Sisterhood try to steal you," the Doctor scoffed. "No, no, no bad idea."
"Rose, what-" Martha started to ask softly.
"Then someplace else, maybe someplace you don't know much about that's always been on your to-do list."
"On my to-do list…" The Doctor ran a hand through his hair and then brightened. "Oh! I have an idea." He patted the console and started throwing the switches. "Jack! Hold down the blue stabilizer!"
Jack lunged forward to obey, and Rose offered Martha a softer smile when Martha looked back at her again. But she didn't offer an explanation. Telling a new passenger that the Doctor's planet was gone didn't feel like her place… then again, she didn't want Martha bringing it up again. Rose wasn't sure. This was new ground for them if Martha was going to push. But Martha nodded slowly and stayed silent, giving Rose hope that they'd put off this issue for a little longer.
The TARDIS landed with a familiar shudder that made Rose laugh with glee. The Doctor beamed in response and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the Doctor. But Rose came to a stop and nodded towards Martha. The Doctor's smile somehow widened. Turning to Martha, he gestured her towards the door.
"Where are we?" Martha asked. She was eying the door of the TARDIS with a mix of excitement and fear.
"Find out," the Doctor answered. His smile softened at her nervousness. He made a show of shifting back to the console and flipping a few switches. "Atmosphere safe, gravity very close to Earth, and normal radiation levels."
Martha nodded and stepped towards the door. She paused and inhaled deeply for a moment before striding forward. Martha opened the door, giving Rose a glimpse of a rich, pale violet sky. Then Martha stepped out. Rose squeezed the Doctor's hand as Jack followed Martha out. They stepped out after the others, with Rose closing the door.
They were in a stone-paved city square surrounded by short buildings made of gleaming local stone and metal panels that Rose thought might be solar power panels. Most of the buildings were more than three stories high, and the flat roofs had visible gardens. A taller building stood at the far end of the square and looked older than the others, with a smooth white façade and a tall radio tower rising from its roof.
"Where are we?" Martha asked softly. She looked around the stone square with wide eyes. The light spectrum was redder here, casting an orange glow across the pavement that made it gleam like rose gold. "Oh, wow, it's another…."
"Another planet, yeah," the Doctor said with a grin. "Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, and Jack Harkness welcome to the planet Pele in the 36th century. Colonized by humans descended from Earth five centuries ago. It was one of the first full terraforming projects in this sector of the galaxy. Originally a planet of volcanos, some of the earliest tectonic modification was done here. They didn't originally intend for it to become a colony world on account of the different light spectrum, but some of the plants that the researchers brought with them started growing wild and evolving to match the planet, and that brought more scientists and, well…." The Doctor chuckled and gestured around. "This is Research City, originally the main research outpost that one day they realized had become a city. So they stayed."
"So it's a human colony," Martha said carefully. "So there are people here."
"Humans and human hybrids mostly," the Doctor said. "But there are a lot of humanoid species in the universe that make places like this their homes too." The Doctor grinned and gestured at the buildings around them. "I'm guessing we're here early in the day." He glanced around the quiet square carefully. "At least, I hope so."
"That doesn't fill me with confidence," Martha said uneasily. But she forced a smile and took a step forward to peer into a large raised flowerbed. "Just look at these colours…"
"This star is at a different stage in its life cycle, so the light is a little different. Not harmful to you. In fact, this point in the red-light spectrum can be beneficial to humans," the Doctor added. But then he was looking around the empty square again. "Most times, I land in an empty city square; it isn't a good sign." He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded towards the white building. "That should be the original research centre. Let's try there first."
Martha wasn't sure what to make about his comment on empty squares. It made her uneasy, mostly because she could understand the worry. Growing up in London, it was rare to see a totally empty public space like this. Occasionally at night, a street would be empty, but… she glanced at the sun. It was reasonably high in the sky, and if the colonists were human or even mostly human, then she expected them to be awake. The research lab was locked up, but the Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and used it on the front panel. Rose was close beside him and leaned over to look at the panel.
"It's a medical lockdown of some sort," Rose said nervously. "Are you aware of any disease running through at this time?"
"No." The Doctor paused and lowered the sonic. "Tell you what, let's try the diplomatic approach rather than breaking the protocol, just in case."
"Thank you," Martha heard herself say. "If they put it into place, then there has to be a reason, and we can't be dismissive." She laughed nervously. "I don't fancy dying of alien smallpox thousands of years after my birth."
"That won't happen," the Doctor said urgently. He stopped what he was doing and turned to her. "The TARDIS, well, all forms of time travel actually, take you through the Time Vortex. As part of moving through that energy field, your white blood cells are subtly mutated to make you immune to diseases throughout time. Most diseases. It's almost complete immunity. It's one of the defences that time has for itself to keep plagues from shifting eras."
"Oh." Martha knew her eyes had to be wide. The Doctor just smiled and nodded at her before turning back to the entry panel. Rose glanced her way and offered her a small smile. "Okay."
That felt sort of like something they should have warned her about, but it also seemed obvious when she thought about it. A person travelling from even her time would be carrying very strong germs and viruses that had been building immunity to medications for decades. They would have been absolutely devastating in, say, Tudor England when she'd just been.
"Sorry," Rose said softly. "I'm starting to think that I should write a welcome pamphlet for companions."
Jack chuckled. "That would be a very you thing, Rose."
The Doctor grumbled something about domestics that made Rose give him an unbearably soft smile. He melted and gave her just as gentle a look in return. Martha dropped her eyes, a swelling sense of embarrassment and jealousy flashing through her that she didn't fully understand. Very old memories of her parents being like that rolled across her memory. They'd been almost lost under the years of fighting. Then a buzz made Martha look up. The Doctor was focused on the panel again.
"Hello, my name is the Doctor. My companions and I just arrived-"
"Goodness!" a voice gasped. "Didn't you receive the alert?"
"Uh, no," the Doctor answered. "We didn't. Is everything alright? The city seems abandoned-"
"You'd better come in," the voice cut him off. "You have to be checked immediately. I'm sorry, but…" they trailed off. There was another buzz, and the door clicked open.
"That's something," the Doctor said with a grin. Martha thought it was a little too forced.
But she followed the others inside. For being an alien planet in the future, the interior entry was very familiar and normal. It was a small reception room with a desk blocking access to the corridor beyond. A few comfortable-looking benches were against the walls, and small screens set into the wall were flashing through images. Martha started to read them but was distracted by a figure hurried into view around the corner beyond the desk.
Martha's eyes widened. The man, or at least it seemed like a man, had pale bluish skin though he otherwise looked very human. His hair was very pale. He was almost white, and his eyes were pink. Honest to goodness pink. The man reminded Martha a bit of an albino patient that she'd cared for a couple of weeks ago. Still, she didn't ask or point it out. Maybe for his species, it was normal. There had to be something between the Doctor, who appeared completely human, and the Judoon, who had been so very alien.
"Healer Traken will want to speak with you," the man said quickly. "I'm so sorry, but people aren't supposed to come to the planet right now. You need to speak with her regarding the next steps."
"Traken," the Doctor repeated. His brow furrowed.
Rose tilted her head thoughtfully, giving Martha the impression she was trying to remember something. Then the man gestured for them to follow him, watching them nervously as if he was afraid that they'd argue. Or bolt. Martha glanced back at the doors behind them, which were closed. She had a bad feeling that they'd be locked now.
But the Doctor, Rose, and Jack started walking forward. She followed them a few steps behind, looking around at the clean walls carefully. It certainly reminded her of the hospital labs. Clean and sterile. They were shown into a good-sized room that had an examination table and some unfamiliar equipment built into the walls. Martha studied it carefully, trying to see if she could guess what they were. Their guide thanked them and hurried off.
"I think we broke a medical quarantine, Doc," Jack said with a sigh. "That guy was very jumpy. And not in a good way."
"Maybe," the Doctor said. He was frowning. "But there shouldn't be anything on this planet right now. Not for centuries."
Martha wanted to ask, but movement across the room drew her attention. The woman who came through the doorway appeared human. Martha felt herself relaxing a little. The strangely coloured sky and alien plants had thrown her off more than she liked to admit. She was dressed in a green tunic shirt over matching green pants. It was a bit like scrubs. A lanyard-like thing hung around her neck.
"Nyssa?!" The Doctor gasped, his eyes widening.
Martha blinked and glanced at Rose, whose face was brightening with surprise and realization. But no explanations came. She turned her eyes back to the woman who was staring at them with consideration. Nyssa was a woman that Martha estimated to be about fifty, though this was another planet, so she couldn't be sure. Her brown hair had hints of grey in it and was bound up in a bun though small wisps of curl were escaping it. Intense pale eyes studied the Doctor for another moment before she smiled.
"Hello, Doctor."
"Hello, Nyssa," the Doctor said gently, his voice ringing with fondness. He was studying Nyssa intently. "Good to see you healthy and safe."
Nyssa turned to set down the pile of equipment she'd been carrying on the small counter. Then she straightened up and headed right for the Doctor. Martha watched, uncertain of the strange way the woman was studying his face as if it was unfamiliar. Rose and Jack had both shifted back, and Rose said something softly to Jack. He nodded in understanding. Once Nyssa was past her, Martha slipped over to join them. Nyssa came to a stop in front of the Doctor and smiled up at him.
"I like the new face," she said. "How are you?"
"Oh, I can't complain," the Doctor said airily. Then he flinched a little and seemed to be struggling for words. "Well… I could." He swallowed and stared at Nyssa. "Still serving as a doctor?"
"My first education might not have been geared for that, but yes." Nyssa chuckled and nodded. "At this point, I have a couple of decades behind me as a healer."
"Good. That's…" The Doctor swallowed again. "You're brilliant, Nyssa; you always were."
"I'm guessing she's an old friend?" Martha whispered to Rose.
"Yes, Nyssa used to travel with him many years ago," Rose answered softly. "Left him to help as a medic on a plague ship. I imagine he's always worried about how long she… It's not just a disease that's a risk in a crisis."
"Ah." Martha nodded her understanding.
Then Nyssa chuckled and opened her hugs. The Doctor took the invitation and swept her up in a hug. They both were smiling widely, and Martha relaxed. But there had been definite tension there. Surprise on Nyssa's side, but something else on the Doctor's side of things. Had they fought before she left? And how many people had travelled with the Doctor in the past? Rose seemed to know her or at least about her though Nyssa hadn't done more than glance their way.
"It is very good to see you," Nyssa said softly. Then she stepped back and smiled over at them. "I take it that you're still travelling with friends?"
"Ah yes, I'm still travelling. Though, I am very happy to see that everyone present is intentionally travelling with me."
Martha's eyes widened. Rose snorted into her hand and seemed to be holding back laughter. Jack chuckled when he caught sight of Martha's expression. But then he shook his head in an indication not to ask. She wasn't sure that she wanted to.
"On that topic," the Doctor said. He drew Rose closer to him. "Nyssa, this is Rose Tyler," the Doctor said with a hint of nervousness. "My partner." He paused, putting the focus on the word partner made Rose smile softly and Nyssa look thoughtful. Nyssa peered at them both for a long moment and then glanced at the way the Doctor was holding tight to Rose's hand.
"That's new," Nyssa said softly. But she smiled warmly at Rose. "It is wonderful to meet you, Rose."
"And it was wonderful to meet you, Nyssa," Rose answered. "I've heard so much about you from Tegan!"
"You know Tegan?" Nyssa's eyes widened, and a shine of tears appeared in her eyes. "How is she?"
"She's good," Rose rushed to assure Nyssa. "Living in Australia still, though she visits friends around the world. A bunch of us who know him," she nodded at the Doctor. "Are friends and communicate regularly. Tegan works on human rights and has a couple of children she adopted. They're handfuls but great kids."
Martha was back to the question of how many people had travelled with the Doctor. She'd know that he had Rose and Jack when she came aboard, but was it just a… job or something? Was the post immediately filled when someone went home? Martha vaguely heard the Doctor and Rose introduce Jack as she fought to regain her bearings.
"Nyssa, this is Martha Jones," the Doctor said happily. Martha swallowed and smiled, fording herself to focus. "She's a medical student from the early 21st century on Earth. She hasn't finished her formal education yet, but definitely a brilliant doctor."
Martha tried not to flush at the glowing compliment. "It's nice to meet you," she told Nyssa.
The older woman shook her hand politely. So that custom was known to her. Nyssa looked human, but Martha wasn't sure she should comment on it. After all, Jack looked human but had admitted he had a lot of aliens in his background.
"You as well," Nyssa replied with a soft smile. Then she looked back to the Doctor. "You do seem to like companions from Earth, Doctor."
"I've had good luck with people from Earth," the Doctor said. He shrugged. "So, Healer Traken, that's new."
"This is a human colony. The use of surnames is much more common here." Nyssa shrugged. "Given… well, using my homeworld's name as my surname seemed the best option."
"Oh, you're not human?" Martha asked.
"No. I'm from the planet Traken," Nyssa replied calmly. "We were humanoids but had a different evolutionary origin than humans."
Martha caught the past tense and saw the Doctor flinch a little. She was about to ask when the Doctor straightened up and cleared their throat.
"So, Nyssa, what is happening here, and what help do you need?"
Nyssa smiled, his eyes brightening. "I'm very happy to hear you ask that, Doctor. Follow me."