The TARDIS console room hummed with an eerie quiet as Nyx paced back and forth, her leather jacket creaking with each agitated step. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the ethereal light of the time machine's console room, contrasting sharply with her crimson blouse and worn denim jeans. She glanced repeatedly at the closed doors, anxiety etched across her face. The usual whirring and beeping of the time machine seemed muted, as if the TARDIS itself shared her concern for the missing Doctor.

Suddenly, the doors burst open with a thunderous crash, revealing the Doctor – now in her thirteenth incarnation, a fiery red hair wild and tangled, her blue eyes widened, and her flowing blue coat singed and torn. Bolting in, right behind her was a man unlike any Nyx had ever seen before. His skin was like a mesmerizing tapestry of deep green crisscrossed with golden lines, with violet crystalline formations protruding from his head. The patterning reminded of the ancient art of kintsugi - the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold- she'd sen on a recent trip to late 15th century Japan. But this was no ceramic – it was actual living, breathing flesh. The stone-skinned man's emerald eyes darted around the console room, a mix of wonder and terror etched on his face.

"Nyx! Hi!", exclaimed the Doctor happily, giving her a big hug before stepping back. "Oh," The Doctor then pointed at their new guest. "That's Ffynn," She then indicated Nyx, "Ffynn, Nyx," She then indicated Ffynn again, "Nyx, Ffynn. Sorry about the rushed intros. No time to explain!" the Doctor stated breathlessly. She then dashed to the console, fingers flying over levers and buttons. "We've got unwelcome guests on the way."

While the Doctor madly dashed around the console, becoming utterly absorbed in her manic manipulations of the controls, Nyx scowled at her back in frustration before turning her glare on Ffynn. "What the hell is going on?"

Ffynn, still trying to catch his breath, matched her dark glare with his own. "Hey, Look lady," he stated angrily. "I'm still trying to figure that out for myself. One moment I was simply driving my cab, minding my own business, and the next," He slammed his hands together, as he exclaimed, "Bam!" He then pointed at the Doctor, still fiddling with the Tardis console. "Next thing I know, that crazy lady comes crashing through the roof, and I've got security drones trying to use us for target practice!"

Behind Nyx's back, the Doctor was making rapid 'cut the feed' gestures with her hands, a look of panic on her face.

"What?!" Nyx's eyes narrowed, her face contorting into a scowl.

"It wasn't that bad," stated the Doctor sullenly. Before adding as a manic grin began spreading across her freckled face. "Well, I guess it was abit of a close call, wasn't it?" she exclaimed, her British accent thick with excitement.

Nyx whirled on her, eyes flashing dangerously. "A close call?" she hissed, her voice low and trembling with barely contained fury. "You nearly got yourself killed! Again!" She stalked towards the Doctor, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I told you this was a bad idea!"

The Doctor's grin faltered slightly as she took in her companion's rage. She held up her hands placatingly, "Now, Nyx, Nyxara! Hey, look, I had a plan. Sorta of.."

"Oh really?" Nyx scoffed, her voice rising. "You call crashing into cabs, while getting chased by trigger happy drones with nothing but a half-baked idea and a sonic screwdriver a plan?" She was inches from the Doctor now, her dark eyes boring into the Time Lord's blue ones.

"Okayokayokay, maybe..maybe a few wee bit of complications popped up," but Nyx cut her off. "No, don't you dare try to justify this. Do you have any idea what it's like to watch you constantly put yourself in danger? To wonder if this time will be the last?" Her voice cracked on the final word, betraying the fear beneath her anger.

For a moment, the Doctor's facade crumbled, revealing the weight of centuries in her eyes. She reached out, gently taking Nyx's trembling hands in her own. "Oh, oh Nyx," she said softly, all traces of levity gone from her voice. "I..I'm sorry. I forget sometimes, how it must look from the outside."

"I'm the one who's supposed to have your back, damn it!," stated Nyx angrily, frustrated by both the situation at hand and by her own conflicted feelings on the matter. "But I can't do that if you leave me behind!"

"I know, I know, but.."

"No," demanded Nyx, cutting her off once more. Nyx's anger deflated slightly, but the worry remained etched in the lines of her face. "I can't lose you too," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the TARDIS. "You're all I have left."

The Doctor pulled her close, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "Oh, my dear Nyx," she murmured into her companion's platinum hair. "I can't promise you tomorrow, Nyx, but I can give you today, ok?"

As they stood there, holding each other in the gentle glow of the time rotor, both of them forgot about Ffynn. Overcome by it all, Ffynn dropped into a comfy Art deco style chair. Letting out a weary sigh, he murmured to himself. "Well, isn't this frackin' great?"

Unnoticed by anyone, a small, blinking light on the console pulsed in a determined rhythm. A warning of things to come, of a danger that would test their bond to its very limits.