Chapter 2: Edge Of Rain
"I'm dancing on the edge of rain
It's dark and then it's light again
But I've got gloves to keep me warm
And I've been through a lot today
But this storm won't take my life away
I'm bruised and broken, beat and torn"
So, When I awoke with a tin dog in my face and clear white TARDIS walls, I knew I had changed places to where I had been. "Um, Hi?"
Stories don't always go the way we want them, we get given a teaser and expect that to be the beginning of the next chapter, the next arc, whatever you call it, we expect repetition of some kind.
But no. I am not skin to metal nose if you inquire. I wish I was already at that part honestly because that is how it usually works in other stories. Sleep, wake up to another Doctor Who adventure.
You know where I truly wake up?
In a bin in the back of a restaurant, legs over the edge with my body hung inside like a dead body dumped to the side with no care.
Real nice treatment universe!
I guess I didn't get the whole jumping around the Doctor's timeline destiny, I got wherever the universe dumps me instead and if I'm lucky, we might bump heads. At least this time I'm not waffling around in pyjamas. I had pockets, wee eeh! I got special extras such as a piece of paper, pen, and a will to live.
As you can tell, my sense of sarcasm has gone up a notch to 'are you fucking kidding me?'
I was back on the ground, back to the streets of the middle of nowhere in the grand old, trash bag filled country known as the United Kingdom. The restaurant sat just behind the barriers to the beach, the swift smell of fish and chips and salt water luckily moved the rotten smell I had gathered for the small time I had crashed in the bin for.
I sat on the short stone wall, feet dangling above the grains of sand as I watch the grey clouds bounce above the shimmering sea, as it dances back and forth. The scene is nostalgic, as I notice little footprints imprints that will eventually be washed away from the sea in a matter of hours. I can remember the years growing up, the highlighted summers being the ones we all huddled in the car with our caravan behind us as we head up to one the seaside locations. Getting our feet covered in salt and sand, our hair tangled from the green ocean we had swam in for hours.
I could see the smirk my brother would send my way as he chucks a handful of sand my way, the screaming and laughter as we played. I couldn't help and notice the way the breeze touches my shoulders, as if waking me from a soft daydream. I shiver.
A thick fake fur coat pops around my shoulder, as small petite shoes and legs come swinging down to sit beside me. I look up and stare. Because like, I didn't expect anyone but like not this anyone. Short brunette hair, a smile that stretches wide. A lovely polka dot dress and an inflatable ball in her hands, though still no Doctor in sight. I didn't care for that fact. Because this was for a moment of wonder. Sarah, freaking Jane Smith. I am damn well in shock. A young, doctorless Sarah Jane Smith.
She pulls out beside her, a warm bag of chips. "Would you like some?"
"Yes!" I answer as I take a big thick chip from the bag, taking a bite and gasping at the burning sensation.
"I should've told you they're hot." She says as she takes her own and blows on it.
We sit together for a while in peaceful silence as we eat chips and listen to the gentle waves. Brushing hands and rustling of the bag as we grease our hands in fat and salt, a little vinegar too.
It's like hanging out with your bestie for a day out, just you two for the first time in a while. It was both strange and yet very comforting, and I couldn't believe this is how we first met.
"So," I start as we get to the ends of the chips. "How did you know I was here?"
"By you of course." She answers, she pulls out a note, with a rushed handwriting that looks eerily like mine. It is mine. All there was written was a time, a date, and coordinates. Beneath sat the words 'Don't forget the chips, it's tradition!'
"Huh," I look over the empty newspapers, covered in grease and vinegar, still held in her hands. "We do this often then?"
"More than the Doctor." She replies, her other hand rocking back and forth the blown-up ball beside her. "You don't control your jumps well, but you learn to remember where they are, so we meet up sometimes."
"Well one, great." I reply sarcastically at my fate. "Secondly, Great!" I further add, smiling at Sarah. "I'm relieved our first meeting isn't amidst a messy adventure."
"Your first meeting, mine, played out much differently."
"Yours was amidst a messy adventure, wasn't it?"
"That, I'm not allowed to say." She answers back with ease. As if she had to say this a few times to me already.
"I'm going to have to hear that alot, aren't I?" I mumble, kicking my legs.
"Variations of it from a variety of people." She answers, she puts the newspaper in a bin nearby. "Now, how about living the now?"
"What do you have in mind?" I ask, her smile was all the answer I need as I pull myself beside her. "Then lead the way."
I spent a week or two with Sarah, running around the seaside, wandering the local nature, and getting our hands dirty in little adventures whenever we found something strange going on.
It went so quickly, with all the laughter and near being caught in the act of fear, it was a ride well ridden. So of course, I was sad when I was yanked from said fun and dumped once more somewhere else.
I don't slip into one place, no, it's never that simple. I fall into sand, run into a concrete wall, and find myself on top of a building in the middle of the day. They don't last long, just minutes between each.
Then finally, I slip in the middle of a thunderstorm where there is no shelter nearby, just fields upon fields in sight and a road where no car dare goes through at night. My shoes sunk into the mud that I fell into, fingers scraping a bush.
I drag myself out onto the road, keeping to the side and follow it forward, hoping to find any kind of shelter. My eyesight is blurry, my skin turning colour even though I was lucky to even have a leather jacket on. Sarah had told me that another version of me had left it for me, and I now knew why. A rumble echoes and I gulp, for as much I adore rain, I usually watch thunderstorms from within the safety of my own home.
I try to imagine that scene into mine, the memory of being at my grandma's place, sitting at her upstairs window and watching the lightning and thunder paint the skies. Letting my finger follow the raindrops drip down the windowpane, sometimes watching and betting on which one is fastest.
If I got too scared, I would take my grandpa's hand, his being big enough to hold both hands in one and still have room for another. They made me feel safe, the warmth later in life left tears in my eyes. He was the type to show his affection through his actions rather than words, and they meant the world to me.
I took a deep breath, let the familiar sensation of a warm, big and wrinkle hand holding mine to give me strength. With an exhale, I kept going, against the rain, against my fears because someone has faith in me. I will find my way no matter where I am, I promised.
So, I did what I am best at, I just kept swimming.
I don't know how long I had wondered for, even with the thunder slowly fading away and the rain dripping lightly. I could see orange and red filling the space over the fields, its weight sunk on my shoulders, and I couldn't feel the stretch of my skin when I relaxed my hands and fingers.
A car pulls up beside me, stopping and the window pulls down to reveal someone else. How many faces of companions am I going to see?
"Do you need help?" He asks, pulling the door open, where I can see his full nurse outfit. Though his nose is the first thing I notice, it was iconic, okay?
I drudge over and nod. Even though Rory didn't seem to recognize me, the familiarity was enough to know I am not going to get myself killed. He gets out and helps me into the back seat, and he belts me in when he notices my shaky hands and the way I slump into the backseat.
When he pulls back my hair that covers my eyes and half my face, he flinches back, his eyes widened before he's quick to shut the back door and get into the driver's seat. Then we're off and I doze off in my puddle in the backseat.
The next thing I know is hands on my side, having released me from the seat belt. Then pulling me out as if I barely weigh much, or maybe Rory was just stronger then he looks. He takes me into what I presume is his home, being that it wasn't a hospital for sure.
I crashed out again, tired from the long trek and the fact I had left near night-time with Sarah, it had been a long time. I was and am exhausted once more.
When I woke up again, I was in a spare shirt and shorts. My clothes are gone beside the hanging leather jacket at the door. I clutch my chest and groan, as my back clicks and cracks into place and I realize my binder is gone as well. It was nice to breathe, but I felt lost without it. When I finally got my hands on one, I had not let it leave my person even when I wasn't wearing it.
I shook my head and took note of many blankets on the bed, the glass of water at the side, half full. I still felt like I was still outside, the sensation of the raindrops tapping at my skin like phantom fingers tapping on them instead.
I wipe the sweat from my forehead, before taking a swig of water. I hum happily and lay back down, knowing at this moment I didn't have the energy to even dare try and walk.
Voices echo outside the door, one which I knew is Rory and another more feminine, high pitch voice arguing with him. I could only guess it was Amy. Their voices lull me to sleep once more.
And when I wake again, it isn't here.
I wake like the first slip, in some back alley of a shop. The difference it was obviously the weekend with the bustling of the streets and the noise of them chattering, walking pass. Car's engines and beeps could be heard in the distance, and I couldn't help but settle here in the noise as I sniffle.
I grip my shoulders as I let the reeling emotions catch up to me, now I'm back to square one. Water trails down my cheeks, my stomach swirl and twist in knots. All I wanted to be is home. In my warm bed, with the covers over my body and some cosy Pjs with a cup of tea at my side. I didn't particular like being wrung around by the universe like some ragdoll.
I don't think anyone would enjoy this treatment. There was never guessing where I would end up. It was more than petrifying. I found it hard to catch up with myself when its constant change of scenery. I didn't want to move, for fear I would stumble elsewhere. Though, I know whatever dragging around won't leave alone forever. It will grip me and take me even if I liked it or not. I had no choice but accept this as my life.
I bit my lip, groan as I let myself cough. "I should've been careful about what I wished for." I mutter to myself. I leant back against the wall, taking big breaths, trying to settle my beating heart. Then I list the positive things, all the good things just to keep my sanity.
Once I could see in front of me once more and the cold floor now radiated my body heat, I found the energy to explore. I walk around the city; I couldn't help but notice I was in Cambridge. I went to the museums, the ones you didn't need to pay. I went to shops and the fields filled with cows as the days passed. It was like everything from my bus hopping to now hadn't changed.
Then one day, I slip into a puddle and I find myself sliding on ice amidst a storm, I try and grip anything. Nothing, just smooth ice, and creaking of said ice. I cry out and it get muffle out in the weather, then it sinks beneath my body. I watch as a crack follows me before it is sliding beneath me. I sink under, headfirst and I panic, trying to reach for edges to get nothing.
Then I slip once more. Where the here and now I am face to face with a robot dog. here, and now, staring into the red light of K-9 eyes, I already know and knew that for a fact, this isn't a dream. Kind of hard too when you've been flung around like some toy a toddler had. Especially now I've been through all types of environments and conditions in a matter of hours.
Did I mention I was staring into the red shaded eyes of K-9? The disco stannum, tin dog?
He whorls his ears, as if trying to understand fully who is in front of him. His tail slightly moves to the side, something I didn't think he could even do, and I couldn't help leaning over to watch in pure festination, then words left his sound box. "Mistress?"
"No." Is my automated response, as if the closet between us had no doors.
"Master?"
"No." I sigh, "I'm not any of those titles."
"Dusty." He ends up on, his mechanical, high pitch voice ringing in my ears. My mouth is a little agape for it was a name I had been given only the weeks before, still it didn't feel like mine, yet here it is, in another time and space being echoed at me from someone else. The other thing it answers is it is not a name, but a title?
"Um, sure, let's go with that." I tell him, giving him a pat on his shiny head before scrambling myself back onto my feet. Feet squeaking as they rub against the floor, before sliding back, not into the console that should be behind me. I wish it had been behind me, for mother of reality loves playing game of dice. So, not for the first time and will not be last, I stumble.
There is no ground beneath my feet, I do not step on stone or grass, I don't slip like the last few times. No, I get the lucky feeling of cascading downwards. For my back feels the sensation of air bellowing upwards around me, howling into my ears and if I had time, I would've held them. Then splash, I'm gasping like a fish out of water, swallowing and choking on liquid as I am encased into thick water. I kick and flare my arms around, of course, I panic, for what human being would not? I am not prepped for any of these inconsistencies nor the situation I keep finding myself in. I sink, and as I blink, I see bubbles forming up above me. I stop as a soft vibration sounds around me, a motherly slow down, darling. No need to worry, I am here. I scrape the edge; fingers glide upwards and grasp around the ridged side. I turn myself around and hull myself over, I dribble the moment I enter the air before my body plunges the water out in a fitful of coughs.
My windpipes wheeze as I lay limp. Air and squeaks leave my lips as I stare at nothing, for I hadn't expected another heart wrecking jump in such a short time and distance. I didn't move, not because I wanted to, I just couldn't. My heart hammers, dots light in my eyesight dancing like a DVD pause screen you left for too long.
I think I'm in shock. Yes, I can clarify I am a good Ninety-eight percent in shock. I'm shooketh. I am overthrown by my emotions once more as I lay cold and soak through on the pool side. Then a rumble beckons out my throat and into the room as I roll over and stare at the ceiling, for whenever I am hurt, frightened or both, I laugh. It echoes around me, as I stare at the white ceiling, my stomach itching, wet drops leak from my eyes and all I could think was bloody hell. I hadn't seen it coming and I pray that it wouldn't happen again, the TARDIS sings a laugh at the thought, and I knew then there was no hope of such a case.
I already knew, it had been the second time today.
"Thanks, Sexy, good to know you think it's funny!" I shout at the walls.
She just sings softly, with little hiccups in-between as if trying to console me while laughing at a funny memory. I wasn't mad, not at her. Just at the situation, for it one thing to read about people tumbling and hopping around the Doctor, it another thing to even be living it.
My brain burnt like a well overcooked piece of toast, as I comprehend the many questions whirling in there. Instead, I change my process of thinking and list all the many fanfiction theories that had something similar happen, I was sure I didn't have a mark. It doesn't hurt when I travel, though it does exhaust me instead when I jump, slip, whatever too many times in a short amount of time. I had no watch; I didn't use watches. My phone was my everything. I doubt I need it anymore, who is there to call?
I don't think I glow, I saw no light, though I only know my perspective of this which is extremely Bias right now. "I need to collect information. "I mutter, before finally sitting up.
I look around, taking note of the many shelves of books all in different languages. Some had writing all in shapes, other hands, some look like chicken scratchings and ones that I recognize as gallifreyan. I couldn't help but feel some amusement at the fact the TARDIS truly had a pool and library together. You saw the pool a little in the show but sitting here at the edge was perplexing. It was a combination you would never see at home, not this close together.
I could hear book enthusiast being concern about the handling of such books, for sure they must get water damaged and yet they all look as good as new. Some had aged of course but none look like water had made the pages meld, warped or both. I carefully get up for I didn't want to fall back into pool anytime soon. I shake my legs, hoping to get some more of the water out of the shorts and shirt before sludging my way to the hallway and hope I could find my room once more.
I wander for a while, finding other iconic rooms such as the boot closet, the wardrobe, the spare console room. There was more for sure, some I wouldn't know the names for. It was a lot of storage, a lot of empty spaces. Sometimes I find rooms for companions that haven't met the Doctor yet and I couldn't help to think if the TARDIS was always flowing through time and space. Or I was seeing things, which could be likely with all the hallways looking the same.
I have long dried out on the exploration of the TARDIS, and I felt like I have barely seen any of her. She seems infinite, as if she can keep building more and more space within herself if needed and I would never know if I had seen all she could offer. Eventually, a wooden door comes into sight, and I couldn't help a little "Whoop!" As my eyes land on it.
The scribble of my name was there and the same stickers as yesterday and I knew I had found my door. I open it with the expectations of finding the room pretty much the way I found it before and yet, it lay almost bare. The bed was the same, however. The desk had what looks to be a kettle broken into pieces and I must have been trying to fix it. Strange, I never been one to even think of fixing things. The room had a few trinkets and maps but nothing like before, they were spread thin here unlike yesterday. Yesterday room was filled to the brim that I would've struggle to identify anything within the chaos.
Though, I thought best not to stare at too many spoilers. Instead, I looked at the ceiling, for the room didn't have a wardrobe. "Possible, I could have a change of clothes honey?" I ask. I know I could've used the wardrobe here, yet something told me not too.
She purrs, as she springs open draws underneath the bed.
"Oh." I didn't think about the fact that beds can have draws and space beneath, I felt a little silly.
I take a change of clothes, switching to a tank top, a massive blue and white stripey jumper and dark jeans and quickly take a wash. I pulled out some new socks and leather boots after, feeling more ready for adventure this time, now myself and my clothes were no longer crusty. I hold up the old clothes, not sure where I should put them before she knocks my ankle with a lower, empty draw. I squeak and she sings in chuckles. I couldn't help shaking my head before putting clothes in what I assume is the laundry draw of sorts.
"Thank you," I tell her before heading out, now ready to find and face the Doctor. I thought I was, my stomach grumbles and I make a detour to the kitchen, picking up a bag of salted pretzels from the counter. I nibble on them on the way to the console, licking my fingers as I round the corner to only bump right into a body.
"Ah! Dusty, there you are!" A hand fell upon my head, and I didn't have to look up to know who I had walked into. Not with the long red and purple scarf tickling my nose and the many warmer layers of clothes. I might have smashed the bag of pretzels a little in my other hand. It's nerves, okay?
Like how is my brain meant to understand that Dusty was my new name no matter how much I didn't want it? I was never one to argue much, and it better be called something then nothing. I huff instead, slide to my right, and continue walking.
Rustle. I take another out and eat it.
Crunch.
"Are we still bickering about this?" He asks, I don't answer, mainly due to not knowing what he even is on about. I turn my head to him, confused as I point at the console. I take another as his face turns from concern to curiosity. "Non-verbal treatment, Dusty, what is this, are we reac-" then the light switches somewhere because he jumps up a little, as if finally understanding what is going on.
I don't still know what is going on, but damn are these pretzels good.
He takes the bag from me, probably to get my attention and instead he gets a quick kick to his ankles, he yelps and the bag back in my hands. I grind my teeth in embarrassment, I hadn't even put any thought into the action. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't-"
I slip again.
"Mean to." I finish facing the coat hanger. I slump to the floor, pins, and needles blare throughout, and I couldn't help wincing. Thump, thump. Rings in my ears, as I try to even my breath, I shakily take grip of my jumper. I wasn't sure if the sound was my heart or me taking on the floor for a round in the ring.
"You're extremely un-stabilized." He mutters, as he brings his arms around me pulling me into a princess carry. "Underweight, quiet and instinctive attitudes." He continues to list random things under his breath until he swipes his hand to my forehead.
He stops. Standing still as his hand lays on my forehead, cool to the touch and I leant closer.
Then he is rushing off, his grip tightening around me. My bedroom door comes into view, and I wonder how many more times I'll see it before the next adventure. He's quick to take off my boots and tucks me into the bed, my tongue stuck into my throat as I tried to get back out. He just shakes his head, willing to fight any small amount of energy I had.
I eventually gave up after a good ten minutes, mainly because I fell through the mattress and onto the floor. The landing alone made me curl into myself, I hiss into the carpet like some child who gave up wailing in the middle of the shop, until the Doctor got me back into the bed. The fourth jump had taken my arms and I was just limp noodles. I groan, as the Doctor sweeps out the room and comes back quickly with a bowl of something hot. My bag of precious pretzels is gone.
I know, very healthy breakfast I had originally pick on.
"Now, no more fighting and eat up." He demands, taking a spoonful and giving it to me. I did as ask, not wanting to risk another incident. I didn't fight because I didn't trust the Doctor, far from it. I just need context then all the rambling he was having with himself, as he tries to sort me out. I just want to understand what is going on.
Once I finish, he gets up and walks over to the door. He claps two times, and the lights switch off and I whine. He leans against the door with a sigh and when he doesn't move, I roll over to face him. His silhouette, almost like a shadow from the little amounts of light beaming from the hallway behind him. "Do, do you want me to stay?" He asks, perplexed as if the idea would never happen with me, or current me within his mind.
I hum, nodding my head.
"You barely know me."
Everything that has happened and what may happen was and is overwhelming, the idea that right now I could sleep and end up elsewhere, a feeling that is just indescribable. It is not one a person should feel, however after that ice dunk and the pool one I wanted something to cling onto and seeing the Doctor is like being that starstruck little kid. Buried under their bedsheets and cheering him on to save the day, shouting at the chunky box of a TV.
He was like "home."
He stays there, still yet breathing. That my small confession had stunned him in oblivion, or he got stuck within his head. I couldn't tell from here, but he hadn't left, right now, that was all I asked for. I watch him, eyes shimmering at the shadows he cast as he twiddles with his scarf. His foot taps with the soothing tune I could hear echoing around him, and I hum along as I clutch the duvet closer to my face. Eventually, with time as my muscles relax and my eyes close, I hear him whisper something delicately that only the tone reaches me.
Then I'm drifting, swaying along the navy-blue space. Stepping onto stars as if they are merely the walkway on the side of the street and the dust are representation of a bountiful forest. I trace with a paintbrush in my hand as I hum to a tune ingrained into me, walking with no destination in mind.
Someone taps my shoulder, and I am quick to spin around, no one is there beside the tugging of my jumper. I laugh as I let it drag me somewhere, I grasp out to their hand and let them take me running into the darkness. They hum alongside me, a hum that sound different every time it took a breath between. I try to keep up, as we glide across stars and planets. My hand slips, down to palm then to the fingers and as I try to tighten my hold, I find myself stumbling off the side onto the ocean below.
I fall like a feather as fingers grasp on my sleeve and yet even that does not save me, for wool breaks. It swallows me whole; I splash and sink into a new space. One I had not tried to think off, one I kept as far away in the back of my mind, stood before me. Faces I once knew like a well taken photograph, now blur like a watercolour painting. Features I should know by heart are lost from my mind, yet they reach their arm around me.
They greet me home with a warmth I hadn't seen in so long, a table loaded with food and all my siblings sit around bickering and yet their words don't reach me. My father drags me into the front room, where the fireplace bellows a light into the room. My mother sat, with a piece of work on her lap where she had begun another knitted project. I see her lips open wide at me, a smile and what I can only assume is a welcome home leaving her lips.
I take her hands into my own and kiss her cheek; I feel the curls of her hair rub my own face in the action. A hand claps my back and I turn to them, they hug me close and tight, before talking onwards, their tone cheery and light-hearted. My brother ruffles my hair one more time before sitting next to my mum. My father passes me pieces of wood to load onto the fire and I take it, as he goes off, probably to reload the ones in the basket.
I walk over, seeing the sparkles and crackling. For a second, I think of not putting any on. Then I'm pulling the metal fire guard away and get on my knees. I carefully throw the first piece on, watch as it shimmers before spitting once more. I place another, feeling the heat bare up my hand in warning. I had more to go on, I continue, feeling the flames lick my fingers.
I go to stop, yet I felt eyes on me. They will mock me for fearing the fire once more. I take another and place it in, this time the flames latch around my hand and it shears itself onto me, I flicker my eyes behind me. It tugs, as if annoy at me ignoring it, taking my elbow into it grasp. Salt and sweat fall down my cheeks as I take my other hand to take hold of something on the other side of the room. It doesn't holt for it slithers onto me, taking aflame my body and I find myself flailing like a rag doll on the floor.
No one came to help, their feet in sight and they merely step back. I didn't dare touch them, I didn't want to spread it, didn't want to hurt them. I dash up and out of the populated rooms into hallways, I bash and roll around, trying to put out the flickers and flames. I think I hear voice, clear and crisp "-nnot comprehend. Cannot, cannot comprehend. Cannot comprehend."
I find myself staring into the centre of the console, my fingers grasping the edge. K-9 voice had woken me from the dream, and I wipe my forehead. The feeling of flames still burnt on my skin as the world echoes around me, swimming before my eyes as I try to steady my breathe. K-9 cold body sat against my skin. "I have lost control of the Tardis." I wonder if he needs comforting too.
I yelp as if someone had thrown a bucket full of ice water onto me. Gasping, I am befuddled to why I had gone through just a rollercoaster of sensations. A rush of multiple feet sound behind me, I turn to see the Doctor and one his many companions, Romana. "K9!" The Doctor bellows as he skids to his knees, to level with his tin dog.
"I have regained control, master. Tardis has stabilised." He answers back.
They both settle into the room, "Well, what happened, K9?" Romana asks, as she starts to fiddle with the console. I watch her press, twist, and flick buttons as the two beside me converse.
"Cannot explain, mistress."
"Never mind about that, just give me the data." The Doctor continues, his hand waving back and forth, slightly nicking at my knee.
"Cannot comply."
"What? There must be some data."
"Substantial data was received, master, yes, however I am unable to assimilate it."
"Well, just give me a report on all damaged parts." His hand almost chop motion towards K9, as if worried that something got hurt in the shift in space.
"No damage, master." Is that a tail wag, I spy in the corner of my eyes?
"What? What, none?"
"All component parts are functioning normally, master."
"I don't believe it." He begins, getting up and knocking me into the console as he swags over to Romana, then continues around the console. "I don't believe it! All component parts functioning normally, ha! Pah. You mean to tell me that after all we've been through, the systems are functioning perfectly?"
Was I some kind of ghost, or something? I sit down beside K9, pat his head as he replies, "Not perfectly, Master, adverb attributed was normally."
I look over as he sits with his hands clasp together. "Well, I'll say we aren't where we meant to be. That what might be wrong Doctor," I say, as he whips his head at me as I wiggle my fingers at him. "Though, for you that is a norm."
"Dusty, when did you get in here?" Romana asks behind me.
"Before you two, that, um shift? Whatever woke me." I rub my wrist, "it conflicted with whatever makes me… jump?"
"Conflictions," the Doctor notes as he eyes my hand.
Just as he about to say more, "Doctor." Romana calls over. He hums back, "We've materialised."
He gets up, "Indeed we have. Let's take a look, shall we?" and he quick twist one the many consoles' buttons. The screen slides on, showing the dirt plains of Gallifrey. "Oh, yes. The wilderness of outer Gallifrey. Ready to go?"
Romana looks out at the image, not at all interest in going as she pulls at her hair. "I suppose so."
I smile at that. "Nothing is as it seems." I mutter.
"Come on, it's not the end of the universe. We're home." He says, as he lays his hands on his scarf, bickering like a mother hen and Romana the child. The Doctor comes over, "You stay here." He tells me sternly.
"Huh?" I spit, as I notice Romana walking back to her room. He gives me squinted eyes, "Okay, okay, no leaving Se- The Tardis."
He nods, seeming happy with my response before taking a step to the door seeing his missing companion. "Romana!" he calls demandingly.
She walks back in, before stopping behind me and she whispers to me. "Sometimes, I wish I could be you." The Doctor calls again and she leaves, out the door. With them both gone, I let myself lay onto the floor, gritting and grinding my teeth. I wipe another lot of sweat from my head, taking deep breathes. You wouldn't want to be me right now!
"Mistress?" K-9 asks, his snoot near my cheek.
"No, can we not do this." I reply, as he wiggles his ears. I pull my left hand to my face, seeing a scar running from my little finger down my wrist and disappears into my jumper. It looks sore, red, and puffy. It hadn't been there the night before, the dream flares behind my eyes and I wonder if the shift had hurt me. "K9, what am I?"
"I am told not to say, master."
"Of course, it wouldn't be that easy." I say, as I take to patting him instead. It was distracting from my body that felt it been scorched inside. "And no."
"Dusty." He answers again, as the two re-enters the space.
"K9 stop teasing Dusty and come over here." The Doctor says as he walks in, he begins to play with the console, probably trying to get the image to change to reflect the one outside. Romana joins in, trying her own hand in understanding what had happened.
I pull my jumper sleeve down, fully sitting up as I watch them work before, they stop as the image hadn't change in their light fiddling. "That is Gallifrey." He begins, before getting down and knocking on K9 head. "That is Gallifrey."
"Coordinates are correct, master."
Romana furthers continues for K-9. "Ten zero eleven zero zero by zero two. K9 is right."
"But it's absurd. It's just absurd." He recites into K-9 ears.
"Maa-ster"
"What are we going to do?" Romana says.
"Well, we can't take off until we find out precisely what's wrong with the Tardis." He replies, leaving K-9 and swooping for the inside of the TARDIS console, K-9 following behind him.
"Doctor, the last time you tried that-"Romana remarks above him, knowing where this was going.
"Practice! Practice!" He replies before something bangs and splutters. The Tardis screams in my ears and I'm quick to cover them, pulling myself tightly in a ball. The Doctor continues with trying to fix the Tardis insides, as if that'll fix the problem. Instead, she cries into my ears, Romana must be watching in annoyance from the huffs and puffs she had let slip from her mouth.
Bang, bang, bang. "What was that noise?" Romana shouts out, looking towards the door. I blinkingly look up at them, hands still encase around my ears.
The Doctor pops his head out from the console, "What?"
"I thought I heard a noise." Bang, bang, bang.
"Well, of course you heard a noise." He replies before getting back to work.
Bang, Bang, Bang. Romana lets in the boy, letting some silence come over as the Doctor slowly gets up, seemingly shock to find life on this planet. "Who are you?" and with those words, the boy faints.
I quickly get up with the others, I pull him up with the Doctor and with Romana permission, we take him to her room since hers was the closest. We settle him down and I keep at his side as the others gather basic medical aid. He mumbles in his sleep, with clutch hands and I take the closest one in my own. I draw soothing circles into the back of them with my thumb, humming as the Doctor takes to patching up his knee injury next to me. Once his hands undo themselves, his eyebrows flatten out with his breathe evening, I take my leave and letting Romana take her place.
A moment of silence settles between us, until the Doctor voice slices through it. "Do you know where we are?" it was obvious it was direct towards me, and I grimace.
"Sort-of?" I croak out, "I have known before you stepped out that this is not Gallifrey."
"Why hadn't you said something?" Romana questions, I quirk my eyebrow at her before shrugging. It probably not the best way to reply however I didn't know what to even say to that. I had said something, however the two hadn't really taken any note of me; it is frustrating and yet, so familiar, and normal to happen to me at home, I couldn't get mad.
Doctor hums, "Where did you come from?"
"I was with a future you and that's it, here and there."
Romana and Doctor share a look, one that understand something I didn't. Before anymore words could be exchange the boy awakens, he gazes over at us. "I've got to warn them." Leaves his lips.
All our attention falls on him instead. "What?" the Doctor asks.
"Mistfall." He continues, like we should know.
"Mistfall?" The Doctor eyes widen, as he takes in what the other was saying.
"My brother says it's a myth." He begins, as he tries to look at each of us. "The Outlers all think the Deciders are lying. But I've seen it."
"Mistfall?" His gaze falls to me, I could only shake my head in reply. He gets up, taking grip of my jumper sleeve taking me back to the console, Romana falling behind. "Dusty was right, we are wrong place at the wrong time."
"Oh, so you did hear me earlier." I snark at him, as he pulls me down before letting go. He gives me raise eyebrow back at me, before reaching into the console he had been playing with before the boy came in.
"I hear everything, I merely take note of it when needed." He answers, as if reciting someone else, almost in a mocking tone.
"Every time with you two." Romana says in light exasperated tone, she flops her arms, rolling her eyes at us. "Sounds like a type D oligarchy. Typical use of propaganda. He could have been hallucinating." She picks up a part and starts playing with as she spoke "A folk tale, a myth."
The boy starts to walk in, and I notice the feeling like I should know his name. Like the pretty blonde Romana, I think this is her second regeneration if memory fares right. Then this fellow is a future companion of the Doctor, something with the letter A. I think. I grind my teeth, looking over at him, taking note of his features. Bowl haircut, young and with a star badge on his chest. All vaguely familiar.
"That blue box I saw." He says stepping into the console room, shaking his hand in a thinking motion. "I saw a blue box."
The Doctor slides up, finally really seeing him. "A blue box. Really? What was it like?" well, you talk about his baby and of course he glows like a well-lit Christmas tree.
"Well, it was old." You think it old, dear me, what would the later companions think of her? Decrepit? Poor Sexy. "And there was a door. No, there were two doors, and they opened inwards. And there was something funny about them." He stops to think before pulling his hand towards the Doctor. "Handles weren't on the same level."
"Quite right. We're inside it. It's called a Tardis." He answers, before turning his face towards Romana and me. "This boy's not hallucinating." He quickly looks back at him, "How's your transcendental dimensionalism? Never mind about that." And begins to walk away. Thoughts going way too fast for us to keep up with him. "Come on, K9."
"Where are you going?" Romana says, touching the console.
The doctor swiftly turns around, his coat gliding behind him with K9 by his side. "Well, to the marsh. We can't stand around here theorising. The boy convinces me."
"Yes, but we still haven't worked out what's wrong with this."
"There nothing wrong with her." I butt-in.
"But the scanner?" She asks.
"Oh, that." He stops to think, "Yes, that recurring image of Gallifrey." The Doctor continues, "Well, it's something really quite simple." He picks up the rectangular piece of technology of the console looking closely at it, "The image translator reads the absolute values of the coordinates."
"Of course it does. Real space doesn't have" She begins before the realisation sinks in. "negative coordinates." She leans closer. "Doctor, that disruption we came through."
The Doctor puts it back down, his eyes glancing to my arm. "Well, it's just a thought."
I grimace, for I knew it is not just a thought. The singe feeling still echoes within and the stinging up my arm had yet to fully fade away within the time we had come into this alternative space. "It's a very nasty thought." Romana replies, "That would mean that we're out of real space altogether."
I couldn't help snickering at the last wording, her eyes turn to me with a slight glare. "Sorry, it just, what is real space? Isn't it all, even if parts of it you must get to it by some form of unique orthodox way?" I ask, smiling stopping her from replying. "Plus, Romana, its an adventure and you're not going back to Gallifrey, isn't this what you wanted?"
She took a breath, as the Doctor slinkers out with K9 to investigate. "Yes and no."
"No?" I reply, as she goes back to tinkering with the TARDIS with far more gentle hands, taking her tablet as well, taking notes on it as she went along as we talk.
"I didn't want to go back, just not like this." She replies, eventually. I had since taken a seat on the floor watching her, knowing I was no help to her.
I look over at our guest, who had since watch us all. His eyes on the door, realising the Doctor had gone out at no fear of the mythical Mistfall. I perk up to him, "We never did get a name from you? I'm what everyone here calls Dusty, don't know why, I've yet to find out."
"Adric." He answers, his eyebrows twitching with his nose.
I nod, before pointing over at the other timelord. "This is Romana, and the gentleman who just left is the Doctor, which you probably already caught on to."
He hums, before walking over to us. "This isn't the time; I must go back and warn the others."
"Fifteen, four, two. Er," she mumbles, before getting up and picking up what looks like a big die you would use in a game of dungeon and dragons, just no numbers on it and looks like the item glows up in the middle from afar. "you'd better take this."
He takes it as it continues to beep, "Oh, a homing device." Really? I'm going to be the idiot of all these adventures.
"Yes. It'll help you find your way back to the Tardis." She answers, and I couldn't help but notice her giving me a look. Like, what did I do? Or will do? "How's the knee?"
"Healed."
"Ad-"She begins to reprimand.
"No, the knee healed, look." I say, as her eyes flicker up to see where he pulls the rip part of his trouser to show a knee with no markings, as if he hadn't had any injury to begin with. She wonders over and make sure, perplex by the quick healing.
She sighs and lets him go to find his brother and friends. I watch him leave as I sat against the console, watching Romana calculate the complexity of situation. She mutters as she writes notes and moves around the console in a almost fidgety way, it was almost rhythmic in the way she move that I was in a daze watching her.
It was almost quiet beside Romana and Sexy humming, in which I shut my eyes and listen. Romana stops near me, as she bends down, hovering with her tablet near me. "It unlike you, Dusty." She begins, as she scribbles something. I just hum. "You usually follow the Doctor."
"Do I?" I glance my eyes over her. I grimace when I feel a tingling of fingers scratching my spine, it was a little unsettling.
She nods, reaching her hand out towards me as her eyes start to take me in. "Dusty, don't tell me you." She doesn't get the chance to finish whatever she needs to say, when Adric and his campions come barging in, handful of feet tap across the floor. She looks over when I shake my head when she goes to call for the Doctor. For it wasn't him who came walking in.
Two of them come over to us with knifes, as we stand up. Something sparks inside and I wince, as I watch them huddle us closer to console. Poor Adric looks as he ashamed of his brother. Romana was not happy with Adric choice of bringing them here, with the glare he was retrieving.
The one, you can tell easily is Adric's brother, with a stern voice told us. "We're taking over your ship."
I couldn't help but smirk, "Is this truly wise? You going to threaten the first place of help?" He quick to put his knife near my neck, and I put my arms up. "Look, I'm not going to fight. Especially not teenagers. I just want to help."
He 'tch'. "We make the choices here."
"Okay, okay."
The other pulls Romana away, making her wince when he pulls her arm. "Where the Doctor?"
"On his way back." I answer for her. He pushes me back, whacking me back against the console. I try and go to push him back and instead find myself slump in a hallway, feeling the scorching of my inside as if I drank a cup of lava and it was melting my inside.
A hear a voice in the distance. "Hello?" it echoes, and I try looking down the hallway, I couldn't see anyone. "Hello?"
"Doctor?" I croak out, as I saw a flash of a scarf.
The feet rotate towards me, and the Doctor head pops out the side of the hallway. "Dusty, didn't you stay with Romana?"
"I did, just, ugh." I wince. "Got pulled here."
He helps me up, "We call it glitching, well you decided on that name."
"Glitching? Like I'm flickering in and out?"
"Sort-off. You'll find out later." He answers. I think that all I'm going to get out of him for now.
"And I know
And I know
I won't be alone." – Edge of rain by the people's thieves.
