Author's note: I don't own Doctor who, but at least my Beatles episode had Beatles music in it.
Chapter 45
I don't like goodbyes either.
I insist this is not a goodbye.
"So we land in 2009, right? And I'm thinking, what am I going to do now? Should I check UNIT, go back to Torchwood, I don't know? Visit Donna's grandad, or, my friend Paul, should I get a flat or something, and he says, let's make some tea and have a chat, and so, I walk to the kitchen, walk back and he's gone. Poof. Door slamming and everything. Not so subtle, if you're familiar with his vanishing skills. I walk to the door to call him, and he waves - he actually waves at me as he's hopping on a Victoria bus. Next thing I know, I go to the phone, to call Jack, you know, and the Tardis buzzes and flashes and I hope you're going to explain to me how you basically hijacked it to pick you up".
"You know you can pause, and breathe while you're speaking, right?".
I sigh. "I know. Argh. Oof. It all happened a bit fast".
River walks to my side and turns the Tardis monitor towards her.
"Nobody can hijack the Tardis. My vortex manipulator was acting strange, and I got derailed. It must have latched onto the Tardis and brought me here".
I look at the ceiling, then stomp to the blue doors. I swing them open to outer space.
"Nope. The Tardis brought herself and me here".
"Well. She likes me", she winks. "Come on, you'll get there someday".
"I know. And it's way better than where we started from", I say, sighing, stroking the console.
"Lady, you were all over the place", River laughs.
"So what's the emergency? What are you on the run from?".
"Right. I was hired to transport some cargo, but as I said, my vortex manipulator got
all weird and I synced out of the time vortex. I thank you, and the Tardis, for the rescue, but I could greatly appreciate if you could also help me locate the cargo".
I cross my arms. "River".
She smiles. "Zoe?". How is she always so radiant and charming?
"I know we don't do diaries or such, but… shouldn't you be in prison?". I don't really know where River is coming from, but she was in prison in my future, and the last time I ran into her, well, it didn't end well. I was a bit shocked to see her barge in the Tardis just now.
"Well if you know that, you know I have my ways around security".
"Right". I roll my eyes. "So what's this cargo we should locate?", I ask her, turning the keyboards towards me.
"A sun. And a couple of planets".
This woman. I groan. "A sun and a couple of planets?!".
"Well actually, what I lost is two dimension condensers. Containing, yes, a sun and a couple of planets".
"…You should have started with that".
"Yes, well, the sun is expanding, so I should better find those condensers fast".
"Plug your tablet to the console and share your last readings. We should be able to track their energy signature and the location of where they were last latched to your vortex manipulator".
"Yes ma'am", she mocks me.
"Who hired you to move star systems anyway? Is this a Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy scenario?".
"Business is business", she shrugs.
"Got it", I point at the screen. "And who knew, crashed on Earth". I type the coordinates and the Tardis starts wheezing. River opens the door and I follow her out. We're on a stone beach at sunset, and I'm glad I'm still wearing the wool coat.
I look around but I don't know what for. "So this thing, what does it look like?".
"Round metal ball, shiny grey".
Did I mention, stone beach? "Fantastic. Can your tablet locate it now or will we have to check the stones one by one?".
But River is fast, she's already checking. A little map pops out of her tablet, and we walk together to follow it.
"So how's the Doctor these days?", she asks me.
"A-ha, spoilers".
"Worth a try", she smiles. "Still, I'm glad he's traveling with you".
"He just left. I told you".
She stops. "I thought he just went outside. He left the Tardis?".
Should I be offended that she's more concerned about him leaving the Tardis rather than him leaving me? Not really, because I'm more concerned about that too.
"Things got a little… messy. Guess we needed some time apart".
She stiffles a laugh. "Yes, sure".
"Really, though".
"No, okay. You're in his present, you know better than me".
"River, please. There's no point in being all mysterious with me. It's just complicated, and right now things are… I don't know, suspended. But it's temporary".
"Oh, I'm pretty sure about that". She laughs.
"Spoilers?".
"Good news- Got it", she says, crouching down to retrieve something. She throws it in the air and catches it again, then pockets it. "Bad news, there's only one of them".
"What does your scanner say? How long before the pressure bursts that condenser open destroying Earth and all the galaxy?".
She types fast. "About thirty minutes, give or take".
I nod. "Great".
I don't know if River is actually cool and poised about this because she's a badass, but I pretend to be cool and poised about the impending explosion even if I'm walking faster on our way back to the Tardis.
"Give me that thing. If we wire it to the console, my laser should be able to find its matching energy signature and track the other one".
"I'm on it. You start on the calculation".
I glance at her as she plugs cables and bits to the metal ball, and I have a weird feeling that she doesn't want me to see it.
"Tell me about this business deal again. Is your contractor a private galaxy owner… who just happens to be moving across the universe?".
"Nah. This sun, it was expanding in a dangerous area. I was recruited to move it and its baby planets to another corner of the universe. Safer".
I smile. "River Song, are you doing good deeds now?", I mock her.
"You and the Doctor must have rubbed off on me", she smiles.
The Tardis beeps without results. I point the laser at River's tablet to boost her signal.
She looks at me, then her gaze travels around the Tardis. "Who knows how things would have gone if I met you two in the correct order". Did I sense some sadness in her voice?
I wondered that too, more than once. "Boring", I smile.
She winks, and the Tardis finally beeps with a result. We follow the trace and I open the doors to space. We're in the middle of an orbital ring of meteorites around a planet.
"These things, do they have a chameleon circuit or is it just bad luck?". I ask her.
"Ironic, isn't it?", she smiles sadly.
"How long?".
"Twenty two minutes".
I point the laser at the console to align it with the condenser still plugged in, then I point it outside, scanning the surroundings to search for a match. River does the same with her tablet. It goes beep.
"Stay here and catch it", I tell her. I walk back to the console, pulling a lever and shifting the still open Tardis slowly, like a motor boat entering a port. My gaze moves from River at the door to the map on the screen, and I try to be as slow and careful as possible. I've been in charge of the Tardis for a grand total of fifteen minutes so far, don't want to damage it right away.
"Slow down…", River instructs. "Almost there…, got it", she says, reaching out and turning inside. She slams the doors closed. "Thank you", she says.
My eyes finally move to the condenser wired into the console and I take a better look at it. And I understand why River was subtly trying to hide it from me.
"These condensers, you had them in your backpack or did they come from your contractor?".
"My, you really are trying to replace the Doctor, are you?", she tries to joke, but this time I'm actually a bit offended.
"River. This is Time Lord technology. Where did you get these?".
"Time Lords are not the only species with dimensional engineering. You should know that".
"Oh please. If this is not of Gallifreyan origin, then it's a very good imitation. Where does it come from?".
"Spoilers".
I groan. She knows that my patience for that word is limited.
"Are you helping another version of the Doctor?".
"No". She sounds sincere. And I know- if she was, she would have just repeated spoilers again.
"Then tell me who your contractor is".
"I can't. You're out of sync".
Damn time travel. "River".
"He's… or she? They're called the Lost. We never met".
The lost? "Doesn't ring any bell".
"Weird. They're sort of your competition".
"Our competition?". I repeat.
"Believe me or not, you and the Doctor are not the only ones trying to protect the universe".
"Oh! So you're freelancing now". I reply, almost laughing in tension.
"Well, you know prison. Ever so boring".
I groan again, resigned. "Well. Nineteen minutes before they explode into a galaxy. Do you want me to take a look at your vortex manipulator or do you want a lift?".
"Both, thank you. I'll make some tea", she says cheerfully.
—-
"So, River Song. And when was this?".
"Just before you called the Tardis".
"What year, I mean".
"2009? It is still 2009, right?".
"Happy Easter. So this is the last time you met with River Song?".
"I told you, it was half an hour ago. Haven't met her since, no. What is this about?". She doesn't reply. "Does Martha Jones still work here?". I ask following the woman down a corridor.
"The identity of our staff is classified", she says, "but no, she's freelancing now, apparently. Please", she says, inviting me down a flight of stairs. I follow her down an ultra modern corridor, looks like the entrance to a space ship or something.
"The Black Archive. Highest security rating on the planet. The entire staff have their memories wiped at the end of every shift. Automated memory filters in the ceiling", she says, pointing up, then turns to the guard. "Access, please".
"Ma'am", the guard salutes. She hands him her key.
"Atkins, isn't it?".
"Yes, ma'am. First day here".
"Been here for years", she whispers to me.
We enter and she closes the door behind us.
"Really? Just lock and key? Isn't that too basic?".
"Can't afford electronic security down here. Got to keep the Doctor out. The whole of the Tower is Tardis-proofed. He really wouldn't approve of the collection".
I look around. Reminds me of Torchwood.
"I don't understand. You were looking for the Doctor, but he's not here, so you're stuck with me as a replacement. And you're letting me in?" Is this where I'm supposed to tell her I am a Time Lady?
"You have a top level security rating from your last visit".
"Come again?"
"Apologies. We have to screen all his known associates. We can't have information about the Doctor and the Tardis falling into the wrong hands. The consequences could be disastrous".
"I'm well aware of that", I say, looking at a photo of me, Jack and Gwen Cooper pinned to a board. "Excuse me, you said your name was…".
"Kate Stewart".
"Kate. So why am I here?".
"Easier to show you", she says, and uses her key to open a glass cabinet. "This is a temporal shift reader. It's showing massive time disturbance in seismic areas all over the planet".
I look at the device, trying to interpret its readings. "So, the geology is inconsistent. Anachronistic".
"We first noticed two days ago. One of our teams in Iceland found a two thousand year old inscription on a lava stone that can't be older than a hundred and fifty".
"Question", I interrupt her, tapping at the photo on the pinboard. "Have you involved Torchwood in this investigation?".
"No, and we're not going to. Torchwood- let's just say some secrets have recently emerged about Jack Harkness' past, and we are no longer sure that he's to be trusted".
"Jack is a friend. You know that". What is Jack up to now? He saved the planet two weeks ago, and speaking of which, where was this lot? No wonder Martha left.
"I hope that won't be a problem in our cooperation. After all, the Doctor is still on staff here. You should be too".
"Well I am here, right?", I sigh, "And willing to help. But I have conditions".
Kate tilts her head, crossing her arms.
"The memory wipe", I state, taking a step towards her. She's as tall as me. "I don't. Care. For it".
"It's standard procedure".
"I see the procedure is calling the Doctor or his associates for help when there's trouble. I think the Doctor and his associates should be entitled to call UNIT for help in return, should they need it".
She rolls her eyes. "Fine".
"I wasn't finished. You were tracking River Song?".
"Again, we were looking for the Doct-".
"River Song is not available. Leave her alone".
"I don't think you know her very well, but she's dangerous. We always-".
"Do I need to repeat myself?".
She picks up her phone. "Tell McGillop to stop trying to track River Song. Effective Immediate".
I smile. "See, I was sure we could get along. Give me two days and alert the Icelandic team I'm on my way. Also, I need meal vouchers and budget for two freelancers".
"Our agents-".
"I don't know your agents. I need my associates".
—
They made me park outside the Tower of London, near the piers. It reminds me of all the times I was late to work because I suddenly found the Tower Bridge upright.
"Zoe! Didn't expect to hear from you this soon. Everything all right?".
"Yes, well, the Doctor left, I have the Tardis, and apparently I'm freelancing for UNIT. Fancy a trip to Iceland?".
Yes. Short and confusing, but bear with me, what can I say? All I wanted from today was to go see the Clash at Shea Stadium. Martha takes a beat, then says "Can you pick me up in Euston Street?".
"Right away. Do you know how to contact Mickey Smith?".
"Don't need to", she giggles.
I understand only when I open the blue doors outside Euston Station and see both of them walking cheerfully to the Tardis.
"Wait, what, when did this happen?".
They smile. "So where is the Doctor?", Martha asks. "Left you and the Tardis?".
"Long story. Still, UNIT needs help, they tracked the Tardis, and now are stuck with me instead. Volcanos are going timey-wimey, and apparently they need experts to fix it".
"Oh", Mickey says. "Who did they ge- ooh, okay".
Now, I thought this was going to be an easy fix after the whole mess in the 51st century, but it's not. When we get to the volcano that shall not be named because of its impossible spelling/"let's rename it Jimmy" it's clear that the misplacement is not just temporal, but also spatial.
"The scanning on this stone means it's not earthly. Or, possibly earthly and the three of us just discovered a new element". Martha says, reading her tablet.
"Where exactly did you find these?", I ask the UNIT employee. Kate told me they had a team here, but there's only this one bloke. When I asked about the rest of the team, he sounded as surprised as if I made them up.
"Right along that crest", he points. "But be careful, the terrain is unstable. Or so I've been told".
"And who told you?", Martha asks.
He shrugs.
Mickey and I start scanning other stones, they all are from… somewhere else. Mickey moves a couple of them and we all notice something, a faint light coming from under them.
I dig a little more, and the light becomes brighter. What -
—
When we're back in the Tardis, Martha and Mickey are getting some rest. I'm still surprised that they're a couple now - Martha was about to get married to somebody else! I had a dress picked out and everything! I search my pockets for the psychic paper and write a message.
Being you is exhausting. Are you on Earth?
The moment I finish writing, I feel the Doctor's reassuring presence in my mind.
Actually I'm sort of stuck.
In traffic?
Something like that, my bus ride was adventurous. What's going on?
Well there was a crack.
In my ship? Wait, no, sorry. What crack?
A crack… in the walls of the universe? Icelandic soil on this side, somewhere that was… not the next contiguous bit of Iceland on the other side. Stones from outside this solar system. Mickey stuck his hand inside it, and got out covered in Krynoid seeds. Martha fixed it, and we burnt them all, but it was a whole thing.
So. Two parts of space and time that should never have touched, pressed together under a volcanic land. Did you close the crack?
I think so. Lasered it shut, checked for leaks, apparently it's holding. The crack disappeared. But have you ever seen something like that?
Not that I can recall. And also, what could possibly cause a crack like that?
UNIT reported seismic weird activity all over the planet, but it seems to have stopped now. I don't know.
I feel him sigh. UNIT? He repeats, defeated.
I'm freelancing. It's a trend, apparently. Everybody's freelancing these days. On a totally different note, Martha and Mickey are now an item.
Oh you know I don't like gossip-They are? Do they look happy? Good for them!
I smile. Yeah. Yes, they look happy. We decided we're staying in Iceland tomorrow too - never been here, there will be no rock band playing but the landscapes are fantastic. Good old planet Earth.
And good on you for calling friends for help.
Oh, the nerve. Sure. I bet you don't know anyone on that bus by name.
I can feel him smile. Feeling lonely?
So far, so good.
Happy to hear that.
There's a pause, where I wish I could actually read his mind and see what he's thinking and not sharing.
Don't be a stranger. Talk soon.
Yeah.
I will only find out later, when the Doctor has a new face, that while having this psychic conversation with me, he was in fact not at all on planet Earth, and that to push his mind this far he later got a three-day headache.