A/N: Hey, y'all! I know it's been a really long time since I last updated. I've been incredibly busy the last few months. I recently moved out of state from my hometown in Kansas to my birth-town in Kentucky where I was offered my first real job since graduating from college. Before that, I spent a long weekend at my local Comic-Con in Kansas City and got to see Ian McDirmid (the Emperor from the Star Wars saga), Paul Bettany (Vision from the MCU movies), and John Rhys-Davies (Salah from Indiana Jones and Gimli from The Lord of the Rings trilogy). Now that I got my first real job, I sadly won't be able to update as often as I used to, but I promise I'll try my best to update when I can, which will probably be once a month (give or take).
This chapter is kinda a comical one. I hope you enjoy :)
Chapter 10: Interrogated by a Rhino
I have no other choice than to remain silent. Not that that's a huge problem, because I am already rendered speechless anyway. This can't possibly be happening, and yet it is, which bears two questions that I am completely unable to find the answers to at this very moment:
Why? And How?
Why is this happening, specifically tome?
The better question is 'how.'Howis this happening?Moreover, how in the hell could I have possiblymurdered a kingwhile in acoma? Analienking, no less; especially one that I've never even heard of?
Why do these sorts of things keep happening to me? Why do these sorts of thingsalwayskeep happening to me?
"This has to be some kind of mistake!" my father protests to the space-rhinos. "My daughter would never kill anyone, much less a king! Plus, she's been with me the whole time! Granted, she was in a coma in all that time, but there's absolutely no way she could've killed a king while in a coma!"
"There is no mistake!" the chief rhino replies. "The human/Time Lord hybrid known as Nova Susan Song has, indeed, been witnessed in the murder of King Astorvox of Margonia! There is no deception involved!"
Dad shrugs. "Well then, if you say 'there is no deception,' where's the proof, eh? I won't let you arrest my daughter until I've seen proof that she, indeed, was responsible for the murder. So go on then; show us proof. We'll wait."
The argument then continues for another minute straight. Admittedly, I don't understand the majority of the argument, but I at least can understand bits and pieces, such as "Judoon are not authorized to adhere to civilians' requests," etc., and Dad does absolutely everything he can to prove my innocence, using phrases along the lines of "Under Article [blah-blah-blah] of the Shadow Proclamation, you can't arrest someone right away unless [blah-blah-blah]." Meanwhile, I'm standing here, still with my arms up in surrender, because that's all I know how to do in the moment.
However, I begin to get the vibe that no matter what Dad says and does to prove my innocence, the Judoon don't seem to care because they are gigantic assholes. This makes me wonder how Dad managed to convince them to help him save my grandmother at Demons Run all those years ago, and that maybe the Judoon only agreed to help because they were simply in a good mood and didn't feel like pissing anyone off like most general police officers do.
Unfortunately, the Judoon seem to end up winning the argument, because Dad eventually sighs in seeming defeat and says with a groan, "Fine. Then can I at least say goodbye to my daughter before you take her away?"
The chief Judoon glances between us for a few seconds before complying seemingly reluctantly, "Privilege accepted. You have one minute."
Even though a minute isn't long enough for a proper goodbye (assholes; I told you), Dad thanks the alien anyway before he asks him to give us a bit of privacy and turns me away from them. Once the rhinos are out of earshot, Dad whispers to me, "Alright, Nova, we don't have a lot of time, so we need to make this quick, okay?"
"You can't let them take me away!" I say in an immensely annoyed tone. "Whatever they think I did, I didn't do it!"
"I know you didn't, and I promise we'll figure this out together."
"How're we gonna do that while I'm confined in a jail cell?" I frown at him, totally unsure of how to help him in that scenario.
"I don't know, but like I said, I'll think of something. I'll get some people together to help, maybe even your mother." He then says while turning to me fully and holding me firmly by the shoulders, "Nova, listen to me. I know you're scared, but I need you to put that aside and be brave now, alright? There's nothing I can do to change their minds about taking you away, but I promise I will do everything I can to help you from the outside. I am going to do everything I can to prove your innocence. No matter where they take you, you must always keep that in mind. I will get you out of this, and I will not rest until I do. Promise me you won't forget that."
"I won't," I say honestly before I begin panicking, despite Dad telling me not to. "Where're they gonna take me? What're they gonna do to me? They're not gonna kill me…" Generally, depending on how serious the crime is, the punishment is Death, and I don't know if the same punishment applies on other planets. Dear God, I hope that's not true…
"No! Of course not!" Dad frowns incredulously. "Not right away, anyway. They don't have enough evidence to do that. I seriously doubt it."
Wow! Thanks a lot, Dad! That makes me feelsomuch better! I can't help thinking in my head, feeling my hearts-rate increasing by the millions.
"But even if they do decide that as your punishment," he says quickly, sensing my growing anxiety, "I'll stop that from happening."
"And what if you can't? I don't want to regenerate again. Or worse…" Even though it's been a few months, I still feel like I haven't lived in my current body for very long, and I plan to keep it for several more years, maybe even centuries. Plus, I feel like I've only just legitimately gotten started with the space- and time-travelling, and I don't plan to give that up anytime soon either. However, these jerk space-rhinos don't seem to be making things easy for me, and they are mercilessly taking all of that away from me, which is incredibly frustrating.
"You won't. I'll find a way to save you before that happens. I swear," Dad says before he pulls me into a hug, holding me so tightly that it feels as if the Judoon want to take me away from him, they'll have to fight him to do so. I cling onto him just as tightly, refusing to let go.
"Your time has ended!" the chief Judoon grunts as he reenters the room. "Nova Susan Song, you will prepare yourself for immediate arrest!"
"No!" I scream as the space-rhino pulls me aggressively away from my father and claps me in handcuffs. "Dad, please don't let them take me! Please don't leave me!"
"I'm sorry, Nova!" Dad calls back to me as the Judoon begin dragging me away. "There's nothing I can do! Remember what we talked about! Be brave! I'll get you out of this, I swear! I love you!"
"Dad!" I scream as I struggle in the Judoon's grip as he pulls me out of my father's sight and up the stairs to the store's main level where I am greeted with more Judoon that aid the other people that fell victim to the Shopkeeper's filthy trap.
"Resistance is useless!" the Judoon snaps at me as he pushes me aggressively toward the exit. "You will be silent!"
I can't help but begin crying as the Judoon march me across the market and past the TARDIS. We continue walking for several minutes seemingly outside of the city until we reach an open field where two tower-like spaceships are parked. I am loaded into one of them and am shoved into one of the holding cells next to another one that is occupied by the Shopkeeper (What did Dad say his name was again? 'Jack Suits' or something?) who looks to have aged thirty years since I last saw him, which was minutes ago in real time. The Shopkeeper sniggers loudly at me as I continue yelling and cursing fruitlessly at the Judoon as they leave us alone in the jail room and shut and lock the door. Eventually, I groan and give up and slide against the corner of my cell in defeat.
"Well, isn't this a glorious spectacle!" the Shopkeeper continues sniggering while coughing legitimate dust from his lungs. "I didn't expect you to get arrested alongside me. Heard you're in for killing ol' King Voxy. Now there'sa life I wouldn't have minded taking for myself. He was a real pushover. Brilliant. Too bad I wasn't there to see it."
"You wouldn't have seen much anyway," I snap back at him, "because it didn't happen. I didn't kill anyone, certainly not a king. An alien king, for that matter. That was someone else. It wasn't me." My own words make me wonder who was truly responsible for the king's murder and who's framing me and why. I can only think of one group of people who would do such a thing: The Silence. Perhaps this is another tactic to attempt to get at me again. I wouldn't be surprised if this is true.
In that moment, I feel a rough vibration in the floor from the spaceship's engines erupting with power to transport us through Outer Space (and possibly Time, if this was also a time-machine, which I somehow doubt is true) to wherever criminally insane people are sent to. Perhaps some 'Space Insane Asylum,' I think nervously. This should be fun.
The Shopkeeper shrugs. "Well, even if it was you, I would've enjoyed seeing it either way. Time Lords have always been known to be a bunch of psychopaths. No doubt they were the ones that truly started the Time War way back when. Didn't Pappy ever tell you that story? I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't."
I sigh, not wishing to talk further with this guy, yet he doesn't seem to be giving me any other choice. "Yes, he told me. Why do you care?" I, of course, don't mention actually seeing the War in Dad's head as well as in Victorian London when his fear came to life.
The disgusting old man shrugs again. "Because eventually, every Time Lord becomes a psychopath in one form or another."
I snort at him, doubting his words. What is he; some sort of 'Time Lord Encyclopedia'?
"That'll happen to one of your family members very soon," he smirks creepily at me. "I've seen it."
I snort again, this time out loud. "You've 'seen' it? What are you; some kind of psychic?" More like 'psycho,' I add in my head.
He shakes his head, sending a small cloud of dust flying out of his hair. "No. As I was draining your life-force, I saw your entire life flash before my eyes, including your personal future. There's a great darkness coming your way very soon."
He said that in a way like I should be afraid, and I can honestly say (though obviously not out loud and in front of him) that I am. One of the major things my father has taught me is that as a Time Lord, their lives were generally dangerous outside their home-planet, Gallifrey, and they tended to attract more danger to themselves outside Gallifrey as well. He taught me that this was something that I would have to deal with throughout my entire life, and it's only going to get more dangerous as I grow older. Though, at the same time, he assured me that I would eventually find ways to live with the dangers and still live my life (lives) the way he always does.
However, a part of me worries that whatever future the Shopkeeper has seen won't be able to be prevented or changed. This makes me wonder if Dad somehow knows of my personal future; perhaps he'd seen it in a vision of his own, perhaps around the time I was born, when our psychic link was first established. God knows how Dad manages to continue living life like normal, even with over a dozen prophecies chasing him all over Space/Time for centuries. I wonder if whatever future the Shopkeeper has seen is connected with Dad's 'Trenzalore' prophecy, or it is connected to something else entirely. Either way, it makes me legitimately scared to know what he has seen.
I ultimately decide not to think about it, believing the Shopkeeper is just saying all of this to scare me—and honestly he's doing a very good job—but I ignore him. "Thanks, but I'm not interested in hearing about it. There's no darkness down the path I'm planning to tread down, and it certainly doesn't include you." He'll be dead longbefore he ever finds out he was right about whatever he'd seen, and I seriously doubt that it is right.
He snorts in response, coughing out more dust from his airways. "Oh, trust me, I don't have much time left to live anyway. Thanks to your father, I can't ingest people's lives and restore my youth anymore. Time is catching up with me, and it's approaching fast. Hell, I seriously doubt I'll survive the trip to where they're taking us."
"And you expect me to show you kindness and loan you some of my Regeneration Energy to help you?" I snort back. "After what you've done to all those innocent people, including me? Humph, not happening!"
He shakes his head before admitting, "I don't expect you to. In fact, I'm not sorry for what I did to those people. Those people had it coming; at least some of them did."
"And what of the others?" I growl, my anger increasing. "You just took their lives simply because you could? Including mine? Because you're a selfish prick?"
"Hey now, let's not use that kind of talk," he says, seeming offended. "I'm dying. I expect a young lady like yourself to show some respect to those who are dying. Since I am dying, I would like to show you some respect by telling you a little secret. I know what's coming for you. As I said before, there's a great darkness coming your way very soon. Would you like to know?"
"I told you I wasn't interested," I snap at him before sneering in my head, The only thing I'm interested in is watching your egotistic ass turn to dust.
He shrugs and says, clearly not caring what I say, "Well, I'm going to go ahead and tell you anyway, because I know, deep down, that you are itching to know; plus you're the only one who will listen before I take my last breath." He pauses for dramatic effect before admitting, "Soon, you will reunite with someone whom you've thought to be long dead… You will be betrayed by one who calls you a lover… And when things are at their darkest, you will be obligated to make a sacrifice that will make you lose everything in the end."
I take a moment to think over the three somewhat sinister things he listed. The first one about me reuniting with someone who was previously dead doesn't sound too bad, but the other two certainly do. I will be betrayed by someone who I will fall in love with (or possibly vice versa)? And I will make a giant sacrifice that may or may not put an end to the universe and everything I love? None of that can be real…can it?
"How can I trust you?" I shake my head. "How can I trust that everything you just said will actually happen?"
The Shopkeeper shrugs as his body begins to shrivel up like a raisin and disintegrate. "Oh, you will once it all starts happening. You won't have any choice other than to let it happen. And I must say, a part of me genuinely feels sorry for you."
I can't help but frown at this. Why on earth would he feel sorry for me? Why would he feel sorry for anyone, for that matter?
He pauses before whispering as his body tears itself apart and reduces to dust, blood and all, "What you will lose… I hope it's worth it." The prison cell becomes silent the moment he stops talking, and only a pile of ash remains.
Strangely enough, a miniscule part of me feels genuine sadness for Jack Suits (or whatever his actual name was); however, I choose to ignore the feeling and, instead, focus on the three things he said would happen to me in the near future.
Thinking about the bit about me reuniting with someone I "thought to be long dead," the only person I can think of whom that could apply to is the woman who raised me, Josie Elise. I didn't exactly see whether or not she had truly died along with the majority of the Silence members in the base, since I passed out from exhaustion and pain from being stabbed through the left heart by my mind-controlled bio-mother; plus, the TARDIS flew away long before the base exploded, so no one knows whether she truly survived or not. This thought makes me think that sometime in the near future, I may find a way to save my mother-guardian before the Silence base's eventual explosion. Or the Shopkeeper was referring to someone else whom I will meet later. As of right now, only Time will tell.
About the "lover" who will end up betraying me, I can't think of anyone whom that could apply to that I know in the present moment. The only person that comes to mind is Sam Davies from high school, but he seems very unlikely, even when we "sort of dated" back then (even when, for me, it was just to be nice), but I never saw him as a true lover, especially after he began showing his narcissistic colors. On that thought, perhaps the Shopkeeper was referring to someone else about that as well. In any case, I don't much like the idea of being betrayed by someone I will fall in love with, so I'll simply refuse to fall in love; I'm pretty sure that's still an option, right?
However, the third thing he mentioned is what concerns me the most. I, of course, have absolutely no idea what kind of sacrifice I'll be obligated to make, nor for what reason, but I am absolutely terrified to find out. It was definitely unusual for the Shopkeeper to be sad for me, as bad of a man as he was, and if whatever sacrifice he saw me make in the future disturbed even him that much to make him feel the need to express his concerns for me about it, it must be huge; so huge to the point that it may affect not just myself and my family but the entire universe as well. In other words, whatever sacrifice I make would determine the fate of the entire universe, which is, admittedly, a much too big of a responsibility for a young girl like me. In all honesty, I feel as if I've only just started my legitimate life as a time-traveler; I've still got much to learn, and already there's an ominous prophecy looming over my shoulders.
But that's not the most disturbing thing. What's really disturbing is what the Shopkeeper said about whether or not the sacrifice I'll make will be "worth it;" in other words, was making the sacrifice—whatever it is—truly the best decision on my part? I remember the man saying it in a way that he didn't see the aftermath of the actual sacrifice when he saw the vision, so even he didn't know whether it was truly worth the sacrifice or not, or even whether or not I will survive the experience.
Does this mean I willdiein the near future? Am I fated to sacrifice my life for the good of the universe? God, I seriously hope not.
The next thing I know, the Judoon ship seemingly lands, and the space-rhinos enter the Holding Cells to retrieve me. As they clap me in handcuffs again, I see one of them glance over at the pile of dust on the floor in the next cell and grunt carelessly at it before dragging me away. For several minutes, they march me through the gratuitously bright hallways of what looks like a cross between a Star Trek spaceport and a judicial court building. At one point, I briefly overhear someone dub the place "The Shadow Proclamation," and I instantly recognize the name as being what my parents described as "an Outer Space police station." While I am marched through, I notice how unbelievably vast the place is, which makes me feel very small and vulnerable as a result. I see various Judoon and humanoid people with freaky red eyes staring at me as we march past, which makes me feel even more uncomfortable. The Judoon send me to another set of Holding Cells where I am kept for several minutes before finally being collected again to be sent to the Interrogation Rooms.
"You will wait here for interrogation!" one of the Judoon snaps as he shoves me inside an Interrogation Room and hooks my handcuffs to a small hook on the center of the table.
"Great! Will you get me something to eat and drink while I wait?" I call out to the space-rhino, but he ignores me as he leaves the room altogether, shutting and locking the door behind him. "No? Okay, thanks…for nothing," I sigh as I slump against the table disappointedly. "Well this is gonna suck."
I spend several more minutes (or what feels more like hours) absentmindedly playing with the handcuffs around my wrists while humming childish tunes to myself to pass the time.
Eventually, while humming in the middle of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" (Don't ask; I'm really not sure why), the Judoon finally returns. "Oh, finally," I sigh in relief. "I thought you'd never come back. So I tried asking you for food earlier; I guess you didn't hear me. I'm really hungry and would like to eat something before this 'interrogation' thing."
"So-Jo-Cro-Go-Mo-Fro-Lo-Wo-Ho-Ro!" the Judoon replies in a very strange language, and I realize that this is a completely different Judoon than the one who shoved me in here. It's so weird that every Judoon seems to look the exact same, and it briefly makes me wonder how they are able to tell each other apart (if at all).
"Um…okay," I frown in reply. "Is that Rhino-Speak for 'You should've said "please" first'?" I say the phrase in a deep voice in an attempt to mimic the Judoon, even though to me it sounded more like a very poor Batman impression. I pause before continuing, feeling awkward, "Which, yeah, looking back, I actually did forget to say 'please.' Sorry about that. Any chance you could still get me some food—Earth food? Please?" At least I said itthistime,I add in my head; that should earn me something, right?
"Bo-To-Zo-Yo!" the space-rhino replies as he sits down in the chair opposite mine and holds up what looks like a small microphone to my face.
I frown, staring at the device. "Okay… I'm assuming you're not gonna get me something to eat, and instead you want me to speak into that microphone-looking thing?"
The Judoon just grunts and holds the device up higher to my face in response.
"I'm gonna take that as a 'yes,'" I decide before leaning forward to speak clearly through the microphone. "Okay… Um… Hi. My name is Nova Susan Song. My parents are The Doctor and River Song. I am currently being held here against my will by a bunch of talking rhinos from Outer Space. I—Hey!" I exclaim as the Judoon immediately takes the microphone away. "I wasn't finished yet!" I protest. "I've still got a gazillion more things to say…about how much of a colossal waste of time this is," I add under my breath with a roll of my eyes.
The Judoon slams the device into a nozzle on the chest plate of his uniform, and I immediately hear my own voice played back at high speed, and I chuckle when it also seemed to record my disapproved "hey" at the end before stopping. "Language assimilated," the Judoon replies in perfect English. "Designation: Earth English."
"Great," I chuckle. "You know, I kinda liked you better talking like Santa Claus, but at least now I can understand what you're saying. D'you know, my dad has actually met the real Santa Claus? Except his name isn't really Santa; it's actually Jeff."
"You will be silent!" the Judoon suddenly snaps at me. "You will only speak when inquired!"
"Sorry," I mutter while leaning awkwardly back in my chair. So much for that plan to stall for time, I add dismally in my head. I honestly don't know how long it would take Dad to prove my innocence, so I plan to stall for as long as possible to thwart my possible death sentence, assuming that's the punishment for the alien king's murder.
For the next several (wasted) minutes, I am interrogated by the space-rhino, as ridiculous as that sounds. I, of course, answer the questions as truthfully as possible, saying things like "I didn't do it," "I wasn't there," etc., but at the same time I am very annoyed that I have to give the same answer to most questions, and the Judoon seems to expect me to give different answers (in other words, give answers that prove me to be guilty of the murder); but deep down I'm pretty sure that if I give any other answers, that would be considered as lying, which, apparently, are the type of answers that the Judoon seems to be asking for, but I refuse to lie as it's generally (at least on Earth) against the law to lie to a police officer during interrogations. Plus, I'm trying to prove my own innocence, but the Judoon seems to refuse to let me by seeming demanding that I 'lie' about my involvement (or, technically, lack thereof) in the murder.
After a long time of this, I begin ignoring the annoyance of the whole thing and, instead, begin to mentally poke fun at it. I can't help but snort with amusement several times any time the Judoon would talk and I would answer back, thinking how idiotic it is to be talking to a rhinoceros and the rhinoceros is legitimately talking back, which doesn't ever happen on Earth since rhinoceroses don't talk.
"What amuses you?" the Judoon asks suddenly in his deep Batman voice.
"I'm so sorry," I chortle uncontrollably. "I just can't take you seriously. You make me look like an idiot!"
"Explain!" the space-rhino demands of me.
How is it not obvious?!" I exclaim incredulously. "I'm talking to a rhino! Not only that, but the rhino is talking back! That shouldn't even be possible, especially where I come from. Rhinos don't talk where I come from; they only grunt. I don't mean to be racist, but is there someone else that can do this thing; someone closer to human? I'm really sorry, but I just can't talk to you anymore!" Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought, if I was ever to be arrested for something, I would be interrogated by a rhinoceros, of all things. Who ever heard of such an outrageous thing?!
"Only Judoon coordinate interrogations. No other being can intervene."
"Well, surely your boss can take over?" I suggest. "You do have a boss, right? Or is he a talking space-rhino too?"
"Judoon, indeed, have a superior who is not Judoon," the space-rhino grunts in affirmation. "The Shadow Architect. But she is indisposed at this time."
"Oh, your boss is a 'she?' Great! When will she not be indisposed? I'd like to talk to her instead."
"Unknown. If you request an audience with The Shadow Architect, you will be required to wait for some time."
"That's fine," I shrug. "I've already had to wait an ungodly number of hours for this ridiculous thing to be over. I'll honestly be willing to wait a little longer, especially if it means I get to finally talk to someone normal." Particularly someonenotRhino, I add in my head before asking aloud as the Judoon gets up and begins leaving the room, "Hey, could you ask someone to get me some food on your way ou—" only for me to be rudely cut off as the Judoon shuts and locks the door, leaving me alone once again. "Okay, you're just gonna ignore me again," I say disappointedly. "That's cool. Don't mind me; I'm just gonna hang out here and slowly die of starvation and boredom. Not like any of you care."
I lean over the table and lay across my arms in defeat. After a few seconds, I get the sense that I'm being watched, and I glance up toward the locked door to see a white-haired and red-eyed woman staring in at me through the window with a seeming mix of sympathy and curiosity. I frown back at the woman, wondering why she seems so interested in me, and the woman rushes away and out of sight. I lean back down again and consider taking a short snooze and hope that someone would return with food the moment I wake up.
Thankfully, ten minutes later, surprisingly, the same white-haired woman from earlier returns, this time with a large tray of food in her hands. I shoot my head up at her in shock.
"Sorry to startle you, miss," the woman says kindly. "I overheard you requested something to eat and drink, so I brought you this. It was the closest thing I could find that was of Earth origin." She slides the tray to me, and on it is a small glass of water as well as a large bowl of an unrecognizable fruit.
"Oh, finally someone who actually cares," I sigh in relief. "Thank you so much." I then ask after I take several swigs of water, "Are you who they call 'the Shadow Architect'?"
The woman shakes her head. "No. I'm just a simple servant girl. I'm the one who does what is required to keep prisoners alive until their official sentencing. I also serve the Shadow Architect."
"That's cool. I hope they don't make you work too hard," I smile kindly at her before taking a piece of fruit and popping it in my mouth. "Mmm…" I sigh in approval. "This fruit's really good. Tastes like strawberries." I then pause, seeing the woman staring at me strangely. "What's wrong? Did I dribble down my shirt or something?" I ask her before looking down at my shirt anyway as well as wiping my chin with my shirt sleeve, even though no stains seem to be present.
The woman looks me up and down like she's trying to "read" me. "You are…something new," she says with a curious frown. "Something I have never before seen…"
I frown back, swallowing awkwardly. "Um… I'm sorry I don't know what you mean. You mean you've never seen a Time Lord before; rather, Time Lady, since I'm a girl? Rather, human Time Lady, since I'm a Time Lady on my father's side and a human on my mother's. Yeah, I get that a lot. It's kinda annoying, to be honest. When people find that out about me, they freak out, and I really don't understand why they should. I'm honestly just a girl; that's all I really want to be. Why can't people see me as 'just a girl'? Why do they always insist on seeing me as some sort of god? I'm not a god. I don't want to be a god. I just want to be me, you know? I just want to be normal." This has been something that's really bothered me since I started travelling with my father, and even though he tells me to just ignore it, it's exceedingly hard to do so, knowing how much it disturbs me.
"I'm sorry," I sigh, feeling stressed. "I just don't like when people think of me that way, and if you do, I mean no disrespect. I'm still getting used to this new life with my dad whom I didn't know for the majority of my life. Hell, I'm still getting used to being a Time Lord in general. There's so much I didn't even know about Time Lords…what they're capable of… I never knew I could do things like that, and it's terrifying. I still can't believe it, even after all this time, and I've only known my dad and my 'Time-Lordy-ness' for a few months, and there's still so much more to learn."
A while back (though at the same time it feels like it was sixteen years ago on account of how long it felt being in that goddamn coma), Dad taught me one of the weirdest and most disturbing abilities a Time Lord can do, which is to slow down both of my hearts to the point where even a heart monitor would think I was legitimately dead, and for a brief moment I actually felt as if I had died, even when in truth I didn't. I never knew I was capable of doing such things, and it disturbed me greatly.
I sigh again, glancing up at the woman who, I doubt, understands any inkling of what I'm talking about. "I'm sorry again. I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. It's just…you seem very easy to talk to, that's all. In fact, you seem to be the only person here that actually cares to listen. Basically what I'm saying is, it would be nice if I could give up my powers for a while, even just for a day. That's all."
For a brief moment, I imagine actually giving up my powers and just being human for a day, and how amazing that would feel—that feeling of true freedom. Free of the fear I've felt since embracing my so-called 'Time-Lordy-ness.' Free of the guilt of everything I've put my family through since the beginning. Free of all of the responsibilities that come with being a Time Lord and time-traveler. If only I could escape all of that, just for one day…
But even if I could give up my powers for a day, what would that day look like? Would it truly be normal? Would it truly be the life I've always wanted? How would this affect my family? Would they approve and would be alright? Would I be able to get my powers back once the day is up?
"But at the same time I'm afraid to give them up," I continue in a nervous tone, "especially after all the times they've saved my life. I don't know if it's possible to give them up. And even if I could, would it even be right? Would it even be worth it?"
My words instantly make me think back on the Shopkeeper's last words: 'What you will lose… I hope it's worth it.' Was this the 'sacrifice' that the Shopkeeper was referring to that I would have to make in the future for the greater good?
"I'm sorry," the woman says sadly.
"Thanks," I sigh heavily. "You seem to be just about the only person who does here."
"I meant about what is to come."
I frown up at her, confused. "What do you mean? You mean what I was just talking about, or—?" 'Or what my sentence is for what I obviouslydidn'tdo?' I was about to add before the woman interrupts me.
"I must go," she says as she swiftly leaves the room, leaving the tray of food on the table for me to finish.
I frown and nod in puzzlement. "Uh—Okay. It was nice talking to you. Thanks again for the snack."
I sigh again, thinking how utterly strange that interaction was. First, the woman comes in here to bring me food as well as make brief conversation with me, as she's never met a Time Lord before. Next, she apologizes about something that will happen to me in my future, like she's some kind of psychic. It was odd, since the Shopkeeper seemed to do the exact same thing (even though he wasn't a true psychic like the woman seemingly was) before he reduced to ashes. I honestly don't know what it is about us Time Lords, but somehow when we meet certain people, they seem to always get a sense of, or even see, bad things happening in our futures; it's like we're cursed or something.
Geez, how does Dad cope with it all?!
I chow down the rest of my food in minutes, and, annoyingly enough, the so-called 'Shadow Architect' doesn't enter once I finish eating. It's not until I'm on the cusp of falling asleep out of boredom several minutes later when the door finally opens again, and this time the woman from earlier (or rather, a similar woman) returns with another Judoon as a bodyguard. They close the door behind them after they enter.
"Hey, you're back!" I exclaim in delight. "I wanted to ask you about—" I then pause, suddenly realizing that the woman is actually a completely different woman than the one before; this one's freaky red eyes are less gentle and more stern-looking. "Oh, wait, no, you're… You're a different woman. Are you the Sh—?"
"Correct," the new woman replies before I could finish. "I am, indeed, the Shadow Architect, leader of the Shadow Proclamation." She then says, glaring pointedly at me, "And you, like your father, cannot possibly exist."
I immediately pause, taken aback by her rude words. "Uh… Okay. I mean, you're not wrong." Geez, lady, a little harsh for a first impression, don't you think? I frown disapprovingly in my head. I then shrug before admitting out loud, "I mean, sure, my birth may have been an accident at first, but I wouldn't really say that's true anym—"
"Like I told your father," she interrupts again as she sits down and slides the empty tray aside noisily, "Time Lords are the stuff of legend. They belong in the myths and whispers of the higher species; therefore, as I said before, you cannot possibly exist."
Seriously, what is this woman's problem? I frown again, her bitchy attitude beginning to get on my nerves. "Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I do exist. Clearly, since I'm sitting right in front of you. Anyway, can we move on now to talk about why I'm being accused of…whatever I'm being accused of? Coz I can tell you right now, like I told your dumb rhinos a-gazillion-and-one times already, I didn't do it." What more do you people want from me? I add once more in my head with a roll of my eyes.
"So you claim," the Shadow Architect shrugs. "However, we have proof that it was, indeed, you who was spotted on the scene. Observe." She takes out a small cylinder and activates it to show a grainy 3D image of a scene of an alley that shows a humanoid teenage girl that looks strikingly similar to me stabbing an alien multiple times dressed in royal robes. The footage even shows the alien's crown topple from his head and crash to the ground. Not long after, the girl glances completely up at the camera, showing an all-too-familiar face to be my own, and waves before running offscreen, leaving the king's mangled and bloody body behind.
"What say you now, Miss Song?" the woman asks after she pauses the footage on my (rather, the imposter pretending to be me) face and glances at me.
I am absolutely dumbfounded at what I'd just seen. "What the hell?!" I exclaim. "That's not me! I don't even know where that is; I've never been there! I've never even seen that guy in the robes either!"
The Shadow Architect shrugs again. "Again, so you claim. However, as you have just seen, we have proof that it was, indeed, you. The resemblance is unmistakable."
"That's not me!" I say again. "It can't be me! I told you, I've never seen that place, wherever that is! Whoever that is, that's someone else pretending to be me! Why, I don't know! It's gotta be some Skinwalker or shapeshifter or something; not me!"
"Being a Time Lord, you have the ability to 'shapeshift' as well and walk in another's skin, do you not?" the woman points out.
"That's different!" I insist. "That's Regeneration! This is something completely different from Regeneration! And besides, the last time I regenerated was, like, six months ago! Whenever this happened, it must've been recent, but I wasn't there; I was in a coma during that time! Dad could've vouched for me if you'd let him accompany me; he was there with me the whole time. I swear, I'm innocent! He can tell you that, if he was here!" Surely, she'd listen to him, right? Or if not, he would make her listen to him?
"Be that as it may," the Shadow Architect shrugs carelessly, "but his input is no longer required. We have our proof right here in front of us! The face has, indeed, been registered as Nova Susan Song's—yours! Your word is no longer accepted, nor is anyone else's! On a side note, as a time-traveler, one has a habit of claiming they have not done something, and that is only because they have not done the deed yet. That being said, even if you have not killed the king as you now claim, who is to say you will do it sometime in your personal future? How, Miss Song, can you prove that this isn't you from the future?"
I pause, suddenly having nothing to say besides, "I… I don't know. I guess you're just gonna have to take my word that I'm never gonna go there and kill him?" In all honesty, I'm pretty sure there's no real way to physically prove that I'll never commit the crime, even in the future (besides simply not doing it, of course). I seriously doubt that she can physically send someone to watch me 24/7 for the rest of my life; just the idea sounds absolutely gut-wrenching.
"Yes, I suppose we could," she shrugs again. "However, we cannot 'take your word' for it. That kind of proof is not enough."
Of course not, I roll my eyes. Typical 'Bitch' Speak.
"The only way to ensure that you will not commit this unlawful act is if we lock you up for a time," she suggests.
"What?" I exclaim, appalled. "That's not fair! Please, you've got to—"
"And by the holy writ of the Shadow Proclamation," she continues, totally ignoring me, "I declare you, Nova Susan Song, guilty for the murder of King Astorvox of Margonia!"
"No! That's not true! I'm not—"
"I am assigning you to three-thousand consecutive life-sentences in the Judoon Prison. On a regular basis, those who are charged with murder are sent to Stormcage Containment Facility; however, seeing as your family—particularly your mother—seems to have a bit of a reputation for both breaking in and out of Stormcage with ease, I am required to make a different decision. You will be escorted to the Judoon Prison on the morrow! Case closed!" She then says to the Judoon that accompanied her as she leaves, "Send her back to the Holding Cells in Section F. Keep her contained until dawn."
"No!" I scream again as the Judoon seize me and drag me in the opposite direction as the Shadow Architect, back toward the Holding Cells where they kept me when we first arrived. "Please, this is a mistake! That 'girl' you caught on that camera isn't me! It's someone else! It's got to be someone else! I would never murder a king! Please, you have to believe me! I didn't do it! I won't ever do it! Please, listen to me!"
No surprise, she doesn't listen. No one does.
"Be silent! Resistance is futile!" the Judoon snaps at me as he escorts me back the way we came to the Holding Cells to await my fate.
A/N: TO BE CONTINUED!
Well, that's it. Nova may (or may not) be spending a really long time in a jail cell. The question now is, was she really responsible for the King's murder?
Sadly you won't be finding out for a while. As I said above, now that I have a legitimate job working 9 hours a day, I won't be able to update my fanfics as often as I used to. The only time I might be able to find some time to fanfic-write is on the weekends, as long as I'm not in the middle of family stuff. As I said, I promise I will try to update when I can. Don't worry, Nova's story isn't over yet. Far from it actually :)
And yes, the whited-haired and red-eyed woman that Nova talked to who gave her the food is the same woman that talked to Donna in the "Stolen Earth" episode when she and the 10th Doctor visited the Shadow Proclamation to find out what happened to the Earth before they found out the Daleks were involved in the Earth's disappearance.
Also, you will notice that I moved the last two paragraphs of the previous chapter to the beginning of this chapter. I thought they fit better here than there.
Also, for anyone wondering whether or not Nova will truly fall in love, as of right now she says she won't, but that may change as the story goes on (spoiler alert: of course it will, lol).
As always, friendly reminder that kudos, comments, and favs are appreciated and will keep me motivated to post more often. I see that many of you are reading my works but not subscribing, favoriting, or commenting on them. I always encourage feedback from my readers and enjoy reading about my readers' favorite moments. I'm sure everyone has at least one favorite moment. Please, please, please share them! I would love to talk about them.
Also, friendly reminder that I tend to have a major habit of rewriting things, so be sure to check back every once in a while (maybe even reread the previous chapter or chapters) to keep up to date on any changes I may make or add.