realityshifted | (no subject)

[ponders for a moment] Just don't show me this part, eh? I doubt I'll stumble across it anyway but....well, weeping angels! There's probably a better name for them but that's the one I came up with. They look like those weeping angel statues in churches and gardens. Been around since, oooh, well. Very very very early in the universe. Older than most species. They feed off potential energy, the energy of stolen moments in time. To do that, all they need to do is catch someone and that person is instantly displaced in time, losing all that potential they had. Very nice assassins. Obvious why they wanted you, then, eh? All the potential of time and space. But! They have a very key weakness. They're quantum locked. That's why they cover their faces, you see. They can't risk looking at each other. But all you have to do is keep your eyes on them. Can't even blink. If you blink, well...

Don't worry, I won't let you see this. And I'll try not to act on the knowledge in a way that would alter the time stream. [frowns faintly] Is it even possible to displace me in time? I have the ability to exist in all times, after all. I could just go back after they'd transported me. Unless...unless they took that ability from me in the process? But even by displacing you, Doctor...you have lifetimes ahead of you. It didn't have any adverse affects on your lifespan, did it?

At any rate, I take it you defeated them by using the quantum lock to your advantage?

[shakes his head] Time...since the Time War ended, time and space has been very fluid. A wobbly mess. They were able to displace Martha and I back into the 60's but you stayed where you were. I think I'm all right, though. Time abilities have always been lessened on me. Most I lost was a few years off my life.

Yep! I had Sally working in the future to bring you back. I gave her the emergency return protocol disc but I left out the code for transporting her. So! As you were disappearing, the angels spotted her and surrounded you to get to her. But they surrounded you. Four sides and four angels. [grins]

[nods, eyes sad] It pains me to hear that time has been so distorted and unbalanced. As much as I miss our universe, I almost prefer this divergent one to the idea of a universe where time is in constant flux. Granted, there are no Time Lords in this place, but there is something controlling the fabric of time. It must be so hard for you to live in a universe where that force does not exist. [frowns, then shakes her head] But at least it did not have any adverse effects on you, as upset as I am at the idea of your life being cut shorter.

[grins with him] How very ingenious, Doctor.

The divergent universe wasn't so bad, really. Oh! You'll meet another companion soon. I think you'll like him, though. It is hard, though. Time ends up too sensitive or too hard. Not the happy, predictable medium it used to be. And don't worry, it's not the first time I've lost a few years of my life.

[obviously proud] I quite thought so, too. So, those angels, at least, are quantum locked forever now. I dunno if there were more, though.

It has its moments. And it's nice being able to see something new. And we will? I do so hope he's better than Charlotte, at any rate. Who is he? Ah, I suppose you shouldn't tell me. But yes...the predictability is much preferred. [long pause] ...what do you mean?

No one can move them and therefore remove the lock, can they? Do they have any residual energy from which you could track any other possible entities?

[laughs] I shouldn't, no, but, well. You seem to like my male companions more, so there's that. You loved it when Jack helped me work on repairs. And, ah, well. [scratches the back of his neck] We fell through a gap in the vortex not long ago. It nearly killed you. But your core was still alive, so it only needed a boost...

I'm not sure, actually. [nods slightly] I'll put a tracker on their energy signals. I'd rather they weren't freed. Being stranded for months isn't very pleasant.

Your male companions tend to treat me with more respect. Or, at the very least, know how to go about a ship. And this Jack...is the same one who becomes a Fact? I suspect he worked on my repairs before he became an abomination. [tightens her jaw at this revelation, however] You shortened your life to save me...? By how much, Doctor?

I can run some trace scans whenever you and I return to our universe, if it helps. I'd suggest you remind me whenever you can leave this nexus point, as well, in the event I never did during your Eighth. [tilts her head] How did you get by, being trapped in one place for so long? It was horrible enough for me when I was stuck on Gallifrey all those many years ago, but at least I'm a ship. I can't imagine how horrible it must have been for you, separated from me for so long.

[nods] Yep, same Jack. He didn't travel with us after he became a Fact, no. I did offer it to him but he turned it down. [smiles gently] Just ten years. It was worth every moment.

I could remind you, yeah. And it wasn't easy, no. At least Scooby Doo came out that year. Martha had to get a job at a shop to support us. I ran into Ian and Barbara, though! And...well other than setting up things to return you to me, it was really boring.

Good. I shudder at the thought of something that unnatural travelling with us. [blinks at him, then smiles slightly] You know I'll disagree, just to be contrary, don't you?

You should remind me, yes. And honestly, Scooby Doo is the best you could find in that time? I'd be more sorry for your companion if I'd any idea who she was. And did you now? How splendid, Doctor. Did they recognise you, or did you leave them be?

[laughs] Mary, Mary, quite contrary, eh?

It was! Well, the moon landing was good. And The Sky At Night! Love that show. The Avengers and Star Trek, but, well, I've seen most of it before anyway. And I didn't see much harm in talking to them and it was nice catching up. It had only been a few years for them.

You know, I never did like that name, Mary. Far too common. But the spirit of the poem fits, yes.

Ah, the humans are their first foray into space. That always did excite you, didn't it, watching primitive species take their first steps abroad. Especially Earth, what with your strange fascination. I must say, though, that I did rather enjoy Star Trek. Just a guilty pleasure, I suppose. The ship designs were beautiful in some episodes. [smiles to herself, lost in thought, then shakes her head and nods] I suppose there wouldn't be, not really. Were they happy to see you?

It is, yeah. But always a fun poem.

It was fun. Everyone was so excited and glued to the telly, watching the ship land. It was brilliant. [smiles brightly] Star Trek ships are rather lovely, aren't they? Always surprised me, some of the things that show got right. Oh and they were! They'd been wondering how I was. They seemed a bit surprised with how long it's been for me since I saw them but that's understandable.

[watches him, laughing warmly] Such enthusiasm. You remind me of your youth, running around with Koschei and chatting about this or that and how wonderous it all was, back when it was new and fresh and brilliant. And yes, they did. I sometimes wonder if they weren't influenced by an alien force here on Earth. You never left any notes behind by accident, did you, Doctor?

[nods solemnly] It's been, what...some forty years in our personal timeline since you last saw them? I should have liked to see them again, myself.

[smiles gently] Yeah. Always figured we'd take you around Earth a few times. Look up some authors, try the food, all that. And, well. ...I tried not to leave things behind but sometimes it seemed harmless enough...

Maybe sometime you can! These days I wouldn't mind revisiting places and people...

And so you did. You just never left, it would seem. [smiles and pats his cheek] Never were one to follow the rules, were you, Doctor?

Really? I should like that. Seeing old friends and familiar faces...it would be nice, sometimes, instead of constantly facing the unknown. I wonder, sometimes, how Nyssa and Turlough are doing. Or Susan. Have you visited her lately, Doctor? I'm sure she'd like to hear from her grandfather after so many years.

[smiles fondly] Never have been much for rules.

I do, too. I hope they're doing all right and, well, just because we parted ways doesn't mean I can't visit, does it? But...I dunno if Susan is around. It's just...it wiped out all Time Lords. All of them.

[shakes her head] I agree. Parting ways does not mean a lack of contact. I belive we learned as much with the Brigadier, truly. But Susan... [sets her jaw] I refuse to believe you killed your granddaughter, Doctor. She was trapped here on Earth with no TARDIS. The Time Lords are inventive, but I do not believe they ferreted out everyone. [takes his hands] You could at least try?

[looks blank for a moment before smiling slightly] I'll look for her sometime.

[quietly] Please do. I hate seeing you like this.

[gives her hands a squeeze] Don't worry about me, old girl.

[laughs lightly] Don't ask the impossible, Doctor.

[laughs] Sometimes I forget even you have limits.

They are few and far between, I admit. [touches his face affectionately] But I must be extraordinary, as I have an extraordinary Doctor.

[laughs softly] Quite right indeed, old girl.