Gathering Allies - The Doctor

    As soon as Thalia left the room, she realized the weight of the duty she’d just accepted. “Wait a minute…” She stopped. “How the hell am I gonna find the Doctor?”

    Elizabeth smirked and clapped her shoulder as she headed past. “I’d start in London. Seems to be the only place he ever goes in the world.”

    Thalia rolled her eyes. Then she hesitated as she realized her friend was right. “Alright then.” She stood up straighter. “Better get going.”

.         .         .

          It was a peaceful day in downtown London. People passed by on the streets as it rained lightly. The place was big and bustling with people and cars. The streets were a default gray color – little graffiti here, little graffiti there.

          Two men walked around the street corner, ‘Baker Street’. One wore a black trenchcoat and scarf, the other a leather jacket. “I’m telling you, John, this is gonna be a big case!” One said excitedly.

          “Sherlock, it’s gonna be dangerous and I’m gonna have to shoot something. That’s how it always works.” John replied.

          “Oh, come now! Where’s your sense of adventure?” Sherlock asked, jumping in front of him and walking backwards so he could face him. “Think of it.” He said. “The Case of the Shadow Queen! John, this’ll go down in history!”

          “Pft, sure…” John replied. He sighed heavily. “I’m not talking you out of this one am I… Well, at least it’ll make an interesting blog…”

          Sherlock snapped his fingers excitedly. “That’s the spirit, old boy!” He spun back around and strode forward with an air of adventure about him “The game, Doctor Watson, is ON!”

          John just rolled his eyes.

          Past the two, over the rooftops, laid the vast green land of Hyde Park. The two men disappeared into a door labeled, ‘221b’ just as a speck appeared on the horizon. It got closer and closer; bigger and bigger. Some people going for strolls in the park stopped and looked at it in confusion. As it grew closer and closer, the form of an airship could be made out.

          Many of the people exchanged confused glances and started to walk more quickly. Finally, the airship came to a halt over Hyde Park and slowly began to descend. As soon as it landed, a single female climbed over the side of the deck and jumped down on the grass. She sighed and looked around. “Been a long time since I’ve been in a city like this…” She looked up. “Godspeed, Logan!” She called. “Don’t leave under any circumstances unless I say so!”

          “You got it!” Logan replied. He grinned at her over the rail. “Good luck, Skylord!”

          Thalia smiled and nodded once, then turned and started to walk through the park. She either didn’t notice the confused stares of the people around her, or didn’t care. She headed out of the park and down the sidewalk. As she did, she noticed the people staring at her. She looked behind her as a woman watched her with a disgusted expression on her face. As her eyes were away from the road ahead of her, she felt herself run into something hard.

          She stopped abruptly and looked up in surprise. “Oh! Sorry!” She said quickly. The girl she’d bumped into looked her up and down. Then raised an eyebrow. “Strange outfit choice…” She said as she walked away.

          Thalia watched her go, adjusting her goggles on her head self-consciously. She sighed. “I should probably blend in more…” She looked around until her eyes met a store with clothed mannequins in the shop window. “Bingo.” She glanced down the street to check for cars before trotting across it, walking into the store.

.         .         .

          “Logan, look at this!”

          Logan looked up. “What is it Jen?”

          Jen looked at him from where she stood by the rail of the grounded Omega. “There’s a girl down there poking at the wood!”

          “Is she a threat?” Logan asked.

          “Potentially.”

          “Then bring her up here.” Logan ordered. “Jack, you do it.” He looked around, but the half-ender was nowhere in sighed. “Jack?”

          Suddenly, Jack swung down from the low hanging mast above him, hanging from it upside down. “Whaaat?” He asked annoyingly.

          “There’s a girl down there, I want you to get her and bring her back up.” Logan said.

          “Why can’t Jeck do it?”

          “Because Kevin took the night shift last night and he’s taking a well-deserved rest. Now go on.”

          Jack groaned. “Fiiiine...” He disappeared in a flash of purple. A moment later, he reappeared, still in his upside-down position. Beside him, the girl also appeared in mid air. She landed hard on her backside with a thud. She stared up at Jack with wide eyes. “D-Did you just-”

          “Yes, he teleported.” Logan said. “What were you doing down there?”

          “I was just curious!” The girl replied. “It’s not every day an airship lands in Hyde Park!”

          “Nonsense.” Logan replied. “I’m sure it happens every day.” The girl stared at Logan like he had three heads. “What’s your name?”

          “Rose.” The girl replied.

          “Well then, Rose, I’m afraid I’ll have to keep you here until you tell me what you were really doing to the Omega.”

.         .         .

          As soon as Thalia had bought an outfit to blend better with the environment, she noticed that people stared at her much less. She’d gotten a red long coat half to shield her from the wind – half to obscure her sword from view, and jeans. She figured she couldn’t wear her goggles anymore, so she stashed them in her satchel and replaced them with a black fedora hat.

          She headed down the street again, and it was then that she realized she had no actual idea where she was going. As she thought on this, a man passed her on the street. She quickly stopped him. “Uh, sir? I’m looking for a doctor.”

          “Sorry, don’t know any.” The man went on his way.

          Thalia sighed and stopped an old woman as she passed. “Ma’am-”

          “Sorry, dear, I have an appointment.”

          Thalia sighed. “How in the hell am I going to find a time traveler who can g anywhere in space and time?” She scowled and walked down the street again. She subconsciously reached down into her satchel to feel for her aviator goggles – but she felt nothing.

          Her eyes widened and she stopped dead in her tracks. “I must’ve left them at that place!” She turned and sprinted back the way she came. She ran into the shop again, startling the old shopkeeper.

          “Ma’am, I left my aviators here, have you seen them?” Thalia asked.

          “Aviators?” The old woman asked.

          “Goggles. Aviator goggles.” Thalia said. “They’re like floppy gold glasses, have you seen them?”

          “If you’ve lost them, they’ll be in the lost and found in the storage cellar.” The shopkeeper said. “You’re free to go and check if you like. Down the stairs, in the hall, first door on your right.”

          Thalia nodded. “Thank you.” She headed to the back of the shop and ran quickly down the spiral staircase. She walked into a long hallway and peeked into the first door she saw on the right side. She walked inside and looked around. The room was dark, moodily lit by one window at the back. There were boxes stuffed with old clothes everywhere, and mannequins all over the place as well. In the corner, she noticed a statue of a crying angel. At the back, below the window, was a bin labeled, ‘LOST AND FOUND’.

          She left the door and headed over to it. She dug through it until she found her goggles. Thalia glanced at them affectionately, then stashed them in her satchel. She turned around and stopped short. There, standing directly in front of her, was the same weeping angel from before. Hey eyes widened and she took a step back. “That’s not right…” She said quietly. “Alright, who moved the statue?” She shouted. “Who’s the funny one?” She looked around the room, but saw no one.

          Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on her arm and a force pushing her back. She cried out and fell back. She stared up at the statue. It had moved. Its teeth were now bared, its arms raised up, one with a drop of blood on it – it had scratched her arm. Thalia’s eyes widened. “Th-That’s not right…” She said. She scrambled to her feet and started to back away. She blinked in shock. Big mistake.

          As soon as she opened her eyes again, it was closer – right in front of her again. She screamed and stumbled back, then felt herself run into something. She squeezed her eyes shut and prepared herself to feel the second angel strike her, but all she felt was someone grab hold of her arm.

          “Don’t. Move.” A voice ordered.

          Thalia nodded ever so slightly and opened her eyes. But the angel hadn’t moved this time. Behind her, the voice spoke again. “Well, we’re in a right mess, aren’t we?” He asked. “No other angels here to get ‘im to look at and no way to break through his stone.”

           Thalia straightened up. “I’ve got something that can cut bone. Maybe it’ll work on stone.”

          “Wait, why do you-”

          “HA!” Thalia pulled her sword out of her sheath and charged forward. She brought it down as hard as she could. Sure enough, her enchanted sword sliced it through. Its top half slid off the bottom and fell to the ground with a dull thud. Thalia looked down at it, lightly glowing sword still in her hand. Suddenly the fact that the statue moved hit her.

          Her eyes widened. She yelped and scrambled away from it. “Oi!” Suddenly, she felt herself slam into the person from before and both crashed to the ground. “Get off me, you twit!”

          Thalia climbed to her feet and turned around as the man stood as well. He wore a black leather jacket and a red tee shirt underneath, with a buzz cut for a hairdo. He smiled at her almost cheerfully. “Hi!” He said.

          Thalia looked at him inn suspicion. “Uh… Hi.” She replied. “I’m Thalia.

          “Name’s Doctor. The Doctor.” He said. Ignoring Thalia’s dumbstruck expression, he nodded once and headed off. “See you, then.”

          Thalia watched him go, then ran after him. “Doctor! Wait! Wait, I need your help!”

          “Seems to me I’ve already helped here.” The Doctor replied.

          “No, I mean my friend! She needs help and-”

          “I don’t make house calls, Miss Thalia. I’m a Timelord, not a doctor.” The Doctor said. He stopped in his tracks. “I mean… You know what I mean!” He continued off at a brisk pace.

          Thalia stared at him in confusion, then ran after him. “Doctor, you don’t understand. I was sent here to find you!”

          “So?”

          “So, I need your help!”

          “So?”

          Thalia growled frustratedly. “Lives are at stake here, Doctor!”

          “People die every day. There’s nothing I can do about that.” The Doctor replied mildly. “Besides, I’ve got my own problem to deal with.”

          “Doctor, my friend is in danger, and she-”

          “Danger?” The Doctor spun around suddenly, stopping Thalia dead in her tracks. He grinned. “Why didn’t you say so?” Then he hesitated for a moment and crossed his arms. “But why should I help you?” He challenged.

          “Because…” Thalia’s voice trailed off.

          The Doctor rolled his eyes. “Now see? Right there. That’s what everyone says. But listen… I’ll cut you some slack. If you help me fix my problem, I’ll help you fix yours.”

          Thalia nodded. “Okay, then. What’s your problem?”

          The Doctor turned and started to head up the stairwell leading up to the main level. “I’m looking for a blonde in a Union Jack. A specific one, I’m not just browsing.”

          “Okay, and what’s this blonde’s name?” Thalia asked.

          Suddenly, the Doctor stopped. He looked back at Thalia with a confused expression from a few stairs above her. “You’re American.” Thalia stared at him incredulously. He seemed to suddenly remember his place and nodded. “Ah yes. The blonde.” He started up the stairs again as Thalia followed at his heels. “Her name’s Rose Tyler. Got a knack for getting herself in sticky situations. Very compassionate, nice dancer.”

          Thalia nodded slowly. “And she’s somewhere in London.” She said.

          “Probably.”

          Thalia’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, ‘Probably’?!”

          The Doctor shrugged. “Probably.” He repeated. He reached the main floor and strode out into the street after giving the old shopkeeper a quick nod. “Could be in another dimension by now. Wouldn’t put it past her.”

          Thalia sighed. “Doctor, we need a starting point.”

          The Doctor stopped and spun around, stopping Thalia in her tracks. “Agreed.” He said. “So you take the right side of town, I’ll take the left. If you find her, find me.”

          He started to head off. Thalia stared after him. “How do I do that exactly?!” She shouted.

          “I dunno, look for a blue box or something!” The Doctor glanced back at her. “Improvise!”

          Thalia stared after the Doctor for a moment incredulously. Then she sighed and started off in the opposite direction. “Jesus, Wolf, you sure can pick ‘em…” She muttered as she shoved her hands into her jacket pockets.

.         .         .

          “Logan, the engine’s heating up a bit.” Jack said.

          Logan stopped walking across the deck and looked back at him with one eyebrow raised. “Define, ‘a bit’.” He said.

          “Not a problem but potentially one in the future.”

          “Then fix it.” Logan said. As he started across the deck again, the blonde from before joined in beside him.

          “Sir, can you please just let me go?” Rose asked. “I was just curious, and my friends are probably worried about me.”       

          “Not until you tell me what you were really doing.”

          “I wasn’t doing anything!”

          “Don’t care.” Logan said mildly. “Unless you give me a real answer, you’re not leaving.”

          Rose growled in frustration. “Will you at least give me something to do?” She asked. “Can I help with something or something?”

          Logan stopped and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, I guess.” He said. He looked around for a minute. “Go follow Jack around and do what he tells you. He’s British too, you should get along.”

          “I’m not British, I’m English!” Jack replied from out of sight, his accent confirming Logan’s words.”

          Rose nodded and walked off towards him. “Must be a coincidence…” She said to herself.

          “What is?” Logan asked.

          “Oh, nothing.” Rose replied, glancing back at Logan. “I just know a guy named Jack.”

.         .         .

          “Blonde hair, Union Jack. Blonde hair, Union Jack. Blonde hair, Union Jack.” Thalia murmured to herself as she walked down the streets of London, searching for the girl the Doctor called Rose. She’d been looking for about an hour, and it was nearly dark – the sun was just about to drop out of the sky. She sighed. “He probably just wanted to get rid of me…” She muttered. She kicked herself inwardly for being so stupid. Splitting up? Come on! And she’d fallen for it. Now she’d have to find the Doctor all over again… No big deal or anything. He was only a nine hundred year old man capable of traveling anywhere through time and space. No big deal….

          As Thalia was walking down the road lost in thought, she failed to notice she’d reached the corner. Suddenly she saw a bright flash and her head snapped up. She could do nothing but let out a sharp cry as the car hit her, sending her flying back and landing hard on her back. She could hear several screams and the sound of a car driving away. What a bastard, he’d hit and run!

          “Alright, alright, calm down!” Thalia heard a voice say. “She’s just knocked out, go about your business!”

          She felt someone pick her up and start to carry her, then she lost consciousness.

.         .         .

          “Any luck?”

          “Nope.”

          “Me neither…”

          “Where could Rose have gone? I mean, she’s not that hard to find!”

          “Then again, every bloody time she gets out of my sight she gets herself in trouble and risks the fate of the universe.”

          “Relax, Doc, I’m sure it’ll be fine in the end… She can’t have gone too far.”

          “Yeah, well what about this one? She one of your little girlfriends?”

          “Not yet.”

          “Jack…”

          “She got hit by a car downtown.”

          “So you brought her to the TARDIS?!”  

          “What was I supposed to do?! She was right there, and I had the nanogenes with me and everything! I just had to get her out of sight.”

          “Jack, I met her earlier. She was gonna help me find Rose, and I was gonna help her in return.”

          “Hey, you wanna stop talking about me behind my back and tell me where I am and why you felt the need t kidnap me?” The two arguing men looked up as to see Thalia leaning in the doorway to the back of the TARDIS.

          “Okay, first of all, I didn’t kidnap you. I saved your life.” Jack said. “Secondly, welc-”

          “Welcome to the TARDIS!” The Doctor said with a proud look on his face.

          Jack rolled his eyes. “You always get to do it don’t you?”

          “Rose has gotten used to it. Maybe you should too.”      

          “Alright, whatever.” Thalia shook her head and stood up straight. “Sorry Doctor, but you’ll have to find this Rose girl on your own. I give up.”

          The Doctor sighed. “They always give up.” He said. “Oh well, have a nice life.” 

          Thalia glanced at the two as she reached the door to the TARDIS. Jack smirked at her and mouthed, ‘Call me’. She just glared at him and left the large room. She looked back at it as she closed the door to see only an ordinary Police Box.

          “Huh.” She said thoughtfully. “How about that?” Then she turned and headed down the street in the direction of the Omega.

          Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor looked at Jack. “So what about that ‘extra terrestrial’ landing in the park? Find out anything?”

          Jack shrugged. “Just looks like an airship to me.”

          “Like a zeppelin?”

          “No, more like… Well it’s like a normal ship on water but with a blimp for a sail. It’s kinda cool. Worth checking out, I’d say.” Jack replied.

          “Alright, then, let’s check it out.” The Doctor replied. He ran over to the TARDIS console and slammed a lever upwards. Jack grinned and did the same with another level on the opposite side.

          “Oi! Lemme up!?” Thalia called.

          “Ah, here she is!” Logan peered over the edge of the airship. “Took you long enough!”

          “Shut up, Ginger.” Thalia replied. “Gimme a hand, would you, Jack?”

          “Why should I?” Jack asked from out of view.

          “Because if you don’t I’ll climb up the side myself and find a hose now c’mon!” Jack groaned and teleported her up beside Logan. She turned to him immediately as Jack walked off. “Anything new?”

          “Not much.” Logan replied. “Although, we found a girl poking around the boards below. She seems like just a civilian but I wanted to make sure.”

          “That’s good.” Thalia said. “Can I see her?”

          “Yeah, she’s over there.” Logan nodded behind her.

          Thalia turned around to see a blonde girl in a union jack walk up. “I take it you’re the captain I’ve heard about?” She asked.

          Thalia froze, her eyes widened. “R-Rose!” She exclaimed.

          The girl’s eyes narrowed. “Wot?” She asked, taken aback. “Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met!”

          “No, we haven’t! But I know where your friend is!” Thalia replied.

          Rose perked up immediately. “The Doctor?” She asked.

          “Yeah, yeah! The one with the box that’s-”

          “Bigger on the inside, I know!” Rose interrupted eagerly. “C’mon, then, take me to him!”

          Thalia grinned and nodded.

          The two girls ran back down the road and back the way Thalia had come. But when they reached the street corner where the blue box had been, there was nothing there. Thalia and Rose both jogged to a halt, panting. “I-I don’t… Understand!” Thalia said. “It was right here!”

          “Are you sure?” Rose asked. “Are you absolutely certain it was here?”

          “Of course I’m certain!” Thalia replied.

          “No… He wouldn’t just leave me like that…” Rose’s eyes narrowed. “He never would!”

          “What are you talking about?” Thalia asked as she walked over to where the box had been. “How could this thing move? It was huge!”

          “It’s not just a box.” Rose said. “it’s the TARDIS. It travels through all time and space.”

          “Oh.” Thalia said. “So that’s why Wolf wants you.”

          “Pardon?”

          “Nothing.” Thalia looked around. “Where would they have gone?”

          “I have no idea.” Rose replied. She sighed. “Look, I should just go home.”

          “No, I’d like to apologize.” Thalia replied. “Come back and have dinner with me and my crew at the Omega.” She smiled. “Sorry about their lack of hospitality before. We’ve got enemies and we gotta be careful.”

          Rose smiled a bit and nodded. “Alright.” She said. “But that’s it.”

          “I don’t get it.” Logan hissed. “How did that thing just materialize out of nowhere?”

          Jack shrugged. “Beats me.” He replied. “Hasn’t got an Ender-feeling about it, so it can’t be from Minecraftia.”

          Logan’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not good.” He said.

          “What’s with all the….” Kevin froze midstep as he stepped onto the deck tiredly and saw the blue box there. His eyes widened and he screamed.

          Logan and Jack both looked at him in surprise. “Kevin, what the hell?!” Jack asked.

          Kevin just pointed at the box, his eyes wide and a wide grin on his face. Jack and Logan exchanged confused glances, but before either could say anything, the door on the box opened and two men stepped out. The first grinned at Jack and held out a hand. “Hi. Jack Harkness.”

          The other man rolled his eyes. “Don’t start, Jack.”

          “What, I was just saying hello!” Jack replied defensively.

          “Um… Jack Stillman.” Jack said.

          “Oh, nice name!” The other Jack replied with a smile. Jack just stared at him uncertainly.

          “Who are you and what are your intentions with the Omega?” Logan demanded.

          “Well, it’s certainly not extra terrestrial.” The second man walked around the deck of the ship and looked up at the blimp. “Cool, though, I’ll give you that.”

          “What are your names and intentions?” Logan repeated.

          “Relax, pal, we’re just here to look around.” Jack snapped. “I’m Jack Harkness, this is the Doctor.”

          “Tuh…” Logan looked away. “So you’re with that Rose girl…”

          “What?!” Both men spun around. “You saw her? Where’d she go?”

          “Right here, Doctor.” The Doctor turned and saw Thalia standing beside the rail. Behind her, Rose climbed over the side struggling greatly. She hadn’t climbed up the side hundreds of times like Thalia had. The Doctor beamed. “Oh! Hello, Rose, good to see you!”

          Rose smiled back. Thalia crossed her arms. “Alright, Doc, a deal’s a deal. I found Rose. You promised to help us.”

          “Doctor?” Rose looked up the Doctor. “What are we doing?”

          “We aren’t doing anything.” The Doctor replied. “I told Thalia here that I’d help her friend if she found you. So I will, and you two stay here. Might get dangerous.”

          “No way!” Rose replied immediately. “Things get dangerous all the time! No, we’re coming and there’s nothing you can do about it!”

          “Yeah!” Jack agreed.

          The Doctor eyed her for a moment, then grinned. “I was hoping you would say that.” He spun around to face Thalia. “So, Captain, where are we going?”

          Thalia grinned and looked at the helmsman. “Back to Minecraftia.” She said. The Helmsman nodded and spun the wheel as the Omega shuddered and lifted into the air. The Skylord looked up. “Back home.”