[014]

[oliverplus]

[today, Oliver arrives on the Plane with a bed in tow. not just any bed, but what appears to be a standard-issue hospital bed from the 27th century. he is also wearing a hospital gown, and he has an oxygen tube hooked to his nose and an IV in his arm, although the appartuses the devices were attached to don't seem to have made it to the Plane with him. hopefully he didn't actually need those. interestingly enough, there is no sign of injury on Oliver himself, except for perhaps the IV in his arm. but in addition to all this, Oliver looks terribly startled to have arrived on the Plane]

What the--what is this!? [looks around him in confusion, then gives the IV a suspicious look] I thought I wasn't on anything strong! Why the hell... This was a dream! [turns upward, apparently addressing the stars themselves] A dream, you hear?

I know I was wishing to be anywhere but hospital, but blimey, that didn't mean I wanted to start hallucinating! [sighs] I wonder how long this is gonna last... [props himself up a bit, pulling the tube out of his nose as he turns to take a look around him]

[ooc: This is NOT an experiment. Oliver is suffering from some nasty side effects of chemical exposure during an incident on Gondovan. He currently has amnesia stretching through the last several years of his life. His memory will slowly return, but for now he doesn't remember the Plane or anyone on it, nor how his empathy ability works. he also doesn't remember the details of his life on Gondovan or even the end of his travels with the Doctor. So, enjoy the confused Brummie!]

Comments

[bit_impossible]

Yes, but if I were there with you, don't you think I'd be trying to figure it out there as well? My knowledge of the chemical is the same as it was then.

[oliverplus]

'Course you would do! But you must be somewhere busy in this mess, too. [uncertainly] You don't remember?

[bit_impossible]

[is trying not to sound exasperated] Yes, yes, yes, I would do! [pauses, then a little more calmly] Oliver, I would do...if I was there, but I wasn't. You had already left me, and I had been gone ever since.

[oliverplus]

[stares at him for a moment, then slowly starts to shake his head] No. What are you talking about, Doctor? I'm on an alien planet! Of course you're there.

[bit_impossible]

[in a serious tone, his face neutral] No. I'm not.

[when he says those few words, the Doctor purposefully drops some of his mental shields. he does it mainly as a test to see if that empathic power of Oliver's will still work like this--and partially because he knows that letting him feel that emotion will prove to his friend that he means what he says. so when he looks in Oliver's eyes, he's letting Oliver feel that moment of loneliness and pain that he felt then because of that sudden decision.

he only leaves them down for a few moments before he looks away, immediately throwing his shields back up]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver feels every bit of the intensity of that emotion. he gasps, his eyes going wide, and freezes where he is. then he recoils, pulling back from Doctor as if to escape from that feeling. his eyes are glistening. his first thought--his only clear thought--is that he has to find the Doctor now. the real Doctor. and so he thinks of that hospital room. it's not entirely a conscious decision, but intended or not, he drops from the Plane]

[bit_impossible]

[the moment before Oliver drops from the Plane, however, the Doctor reaches a hand out, placing it on his friend's shoulder just in time--and then he finds himself not on the Plane. no, the sights and sounds stir up memories long since buried in the back of his mind and his own eyes go wide as he looks around.]

[softly]...I came back with you. I'd know that smell anywhere, this...this is that hospital.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is staring with eyes just as wide at the man who is suddenly in his hospital room, still reeling from the memory of those feelings]

What did you do!?

[bit_impossible]

What did I do?! What did you--no, don't be stupid, Doctor. You dropped from the Plane, Oliver! [pauses, lightly scratching his chin] I've never actually done that before--well, I've left countless times on my own, but never with anyone else! That was new. Very interesting as well.

[makes a face at Oliver's expression] Well go on, why are you staring? It's because of the emotions, isn't it? I shouldn't have let you see for that long.

[oliverplus]

[just keeps staring. and then his expression turns angry, disbelieving] Yeah, that! You did that, didn't you? Why...why are you lying to me!? What are you doing here?

[bit_impossible]

[stares at him for a split-second, disbelieving what he's just heard--and then he too returns some of that anger] What?! Why would I lie to you? I'd never lie to you! Yes, I let you see what I was feeling--but how you received those emotions was all you, Oliver. That is your ability and I can never do anything like that. Not to anyone. And like I just said--blimey, I seem to be saying that a lot today--we dropped from the Plane. You know, that place where all the stars were all out-of-line? Seemed like we were floating in outer space?

[oliverplus]

Yeah, okay, I get we're not there anymore. But... [frustrated] What are you on about!? And who are you, anyway? Because you obviously don't know the Doctor very well if you think he'd just leave me on some alien planet!

[bit_impossible]

[his expression falls, but then he gathers it up behind a neutral, cold mask to hide just how much that hurts]

I know him far more than you ever will. He is me--and I am him, and the only way he--I--would leave anyone on "some alien planet" as you put it is if that someone chose to stay there. Which is what you did centuries ago!

[oliverplus]

[gasps, part of him still very much believing that this is the Doctor despite his own protests to the contrary. he tries to fight the growing realisation, shaking his head in denial] I--no. No! Why would I do that!? Chloe is on Earth!

[bit_impossible]

Yes, Chloe is on Earth, and you're right here on a little desert planet called Gondovan. It was in this very hospital that you made you choice to stay, even though I said I'd bring you home as I'd promised. You've even got a medical record of your stay here. Check your chart if you don't believe me. [points to the tablet resting at the foot of Oliver's bed]

[oliverplus]

[opens his mouth to speak and finds that it's gone dry] They--they told I'd been here. More than a year. But...that has to be some sort of cover story. I... Why would I do that? I would never have left her!

[bit_impossible]

It's no cover story. Take a look at your hands and arms! You don't get a tan like that overnight, or over the course of a couple days. Mind you, it could be worse, but skin products are amazingly resilient and protective here.

But Oliver...you must trust me when I say that you didn't make that decision lightly. In fact, you were doing it to protect her in a roundabout way. But you chose to stay here, I left--and then you changed your mind after a while.

[oliverplus]

[stares at him, disbelieving. he does look down at his hands and arms, but then he looks back up at the Doctor. he's quiet for a moment. then he swallows hard and asks:] How much have I lost?

[bit_impossible]

[his expression softens at last, his shoulders sagging a bit as he shoves his hands into his pockets] Enough that you've forgotten your entire time on the Plane and Gondovan. Well over a year, year and a half; somewhere around there.

[oliverplus]

[looks shaken as he sits back in the bed] Maybe even more than last time.

[glances at the Doctor, still not wanting to admit to anything, but too full of questions not to at least ask something] I thought you said you couldn't come here.

[bit_impossible]

[he doesn't answer that. he doesn't want to think of how much has been lost this time either]

Well, I can still travel to Gondovan, but technically, I'm not truly here. If anyone were to walk in right now, they'd think you were talking to a figment of--

[and just right then, a nurse walks in and is taken by surprise seeing an extra person in the room]

What--How did you get in here? What are you doing here?! [she points at the Doctor]

[oliverplus]

[gives the Doctor a look, as this situation is just a bit too familiar] Yeah, 'course you are. [waits to see what excuse the Doctor will come up with this time]

[bit_impossible]

[he just stares at her] What--You--But--No, hold on a mo', you're not supposed to see me!

What, thought you were invisible? Come on, out with you! [she, having apparently gotten over her surprise, heads for him]

What?! No, I have every right to be here! [fishes in his pocket for the psychic paper, pulling it out to show her] See? I'm the Doctor, head investigator of all mysterious accidents, ailments, and traumas, and you're interrupting my interview of the victim here. [glances at Oliver and winks] Isn't that right, Mr Day?

[oliverplus]

[snorts, trying not to laugh] Yeah, 'course it is, but I thought you didn't want all the staff to know about your secret investigation, Doctor?

[bit_impossible]

[sucks in a breath, his expression turning very grave] Yes, well... We do have a problem there, Mr Day. You see, Nurse--

[nervously] Lattie.

You see, Nurse Lattie, no one's supposed to know about this top secret investigation. It could mean you've put your own life in peril. You could be next. [hears her gasp] But! I think I know of a way to save you. [walks towards her] What you need to do is walk out of this room right now and don't return for another twenty minutes. By that time, I'll be gone and you won't ever have to mention that you found me in here conducting this investigation. Of course, if you do say something about me being here, you'll put your life and everyone else's in this very hospital at risk. Do you understand?

I--I do. Sorry to bother you, sir. [she makes a hasty retreat]

No, not at all! [watches her and doesn't speak until the door closes again] Well! That...was very interesting... [he trails off]