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Chapter Text

[TRENZALORE]

All that war left behind was devastation. A once-beautiful snowy planet lay in ruins, its once-beautiful landscape littered with craters and fire. 

The towns formerly occupied by voices and footsteps were now claimed by silence and graves. 

War had come by surprise, the universe had already suffered from major destruction by a catastrophe called the Flux. Many planets once occupied by life lay barren due to its destructive path.  

Many species now without a home-world, banded together and formed an alliance; an alliance to conquer planets undisturbed by the ‘Universe Swallower’ . 

Trenazlore was one of the first to be besieged. A century later, the planet lay in ruin, the surface inhospitable. 

The remaining alliance members that had once tried to call it their home left to settle on another planet; they pulled back all their forces, and overnight, the war was over. 

Trenzalore, once with a population of a million, had been reduced to a mere hundred. 

Deep beneath the surface of Trenzalore lay hidden labs, labs that were used for horrible experiments. Once the alliance left, a group of Marzanian scientists defected, having learned of the ‘Universe Swallowers' true goal. 

Rid the universe of The Doctor, a Time Lord from Gallifrey. The Time Lord was known by many names. On Trenzalore, they had become a legend, the Trenzalorians called them, The Beast of Trenzalore, a title they had earned after they defended the planet for a thousand years. 

The scientists, after learning of the reason their planet had been destroyed, vowed to stop the event from ever occurring by killing the Doctor. 

They hunted and captured the remaining populace of Trenzalore and dragged them down into their labs, day and night, they were experimented on, every day, people would die, with each death, they became more harsh in their treatments. 

[INT. TRENZALORE LABS]

Ten years after the experiments began, only ten remained out of the hundred. They were all in various states of programming and disfigurement. 

One day during a security switch, the ten revolted. That day, both sides lost people, many scientists fell, but not enough to have a successful escape. 

Five of the Trenzalorian group were executed. Punishment for their actions, a lesson they had called it, a reminder to never revolt again, to listen like nice little pets. 

The surviving Trenzalorians were left to rot for weeks in a crammed cell. They went without maintenance and the necessary fluids. Their bodies malfunctioned, and for three of them, this caused their system to shut down entirely.

After the scientists deemed the punishment enough, only two remained. Everett Deocampo and Alta Proximus. 

Day and Night, the Trenzalorians were put through strenuous examinations and surgeries, with every new upgrade, Alta’s body started to grow weaker until one day it malfunctioned and she was dragged away, never to be seen again. 

A day later, in their folders, she was written up as a failed experiment, with no proper reason given as to why. 

Everett’s mind had been locked away as the program took over, the code flowing through him taking over the vacant spot. 

[INT. LAB #3]

Three scientists stood around a metal table in the middle of a dimly lit lab, the room a mess. Papers strewn about every inch of the room, strange equations written on them. 

On the metal table lay Everett. Two of the scientists silently worked on his body. His cybernetic implants were being hidden away by synthetic skin; the scientist had a big screen hovering at the side of his sweaty face, displaying Everett’s visage.

The third scientist wiped the older scientist's forehead wiping away his sweat. With a final stitch the scientist applied the last piece of skin and just like that Everett looked like how he used to look.

But now he would never age again, forced to exist like a thirty-two-year-old forever. 

His dream of being a father one day is now impossible to achieve. The many experiments on his body damaged his reproductive functions beyond repair. 

Everett stared ahead with cold, emotionless eyes; all awareness locked behind a line of code. 

The brown haired scientist held a big vial with a gloved hand. He tapped a finger against the glass, making the blue lighting crackle. His voice held a thick accent “We finally have it. An Artron Trace locked onto the Doctor’s timeline.” 

For many years, they had scoured the lands of Trenzalore, searching for the tiniest trace of Artron that the Time Lord must have left behind during their extended stay on the planet. 

Slowly, they found the traces and united them once more. Giving them their final means to kill the Doctor. 

The man handed it over to the old scientist. The old scientist peered at it and spoke, “Now we move on to the final injection.” The man adjusted his glasses as he picked up a needle. 

He handed it over to the wiping scientist, commanding them to unscrew the cork, and the old scientist immediately sucked the energy into the needle. And with a satisfied smirk, he held it up for all of them to admire. 

Satisfied, the man took hold of Everett’s arm and plunged the needle in. Not caring if he hurt Everett by doing it so recklessly. Once the needle was deep enough, he pushed down, and the Artron trickled into Everett. 

The Artron energy raced through his veins, illuminating his vascular system. The energy converged at his heart, and with a flicker of blue, it took hold. 

Everett’s body showed no reaction to the pain, no thrashing or groaning or screaming; nothing at all, pain was not getting registered to him anymore. 

The Artron properly settled in his systems, and it pulsed and then faded. The Scientists laughed in glee, “Rise, boy!” The old man commanded. Everett rose from the table like a zombie. 

The brown-haired man sidled up next to the old one, “Initiate, program one.” 

The three stood back as Everett’s eyes glowed. “The moment of truth, my comrades,” the old scientist announced. 

They watched in curiosity as Everett’s eyes glowed brighter, and then his mechanical voice made an announcement that made them cackle.

 “Temporal shift initiated,” Artron energy crackled out of his body illuminating his frame, it slithered down his tank top, over his camo trousers and finally down his black combat boots. 

“The Doctor has been located”, Everett’s monotone voice announced, and with a big woosh, he disappeared. A lightning strike appeared where he had stood, and the only trace of the man was a black scorch mark. 

Two of the scientists looked around, unsure of what to do with themselves now that their experiments were over. 

The old man rubbed his chin, deep in thought. He pulled his comrades with him out of the lab. 

“Fellows, now we wait for the timeline to shift. Once that occurs, we will have our results and know if our work was fruitful.” 

“But-” the brown-haired scientist began, but the old man held up a hand, “I know what you will ask Maverick and just for a brief second, we will know we have succeeded. And yet in the same second, we shall be returned to our rightful place on Marzick” 

“Now we rest, we have deserved it.” They nodded, and once at the crossroads of the hallways, they each headed in a different direction.

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. ROAD]

Outside of an old church, a groaning and wheezing sound echoed through the street. A blue box shimmered into existence, scattering papers and litter all over. 

The blue box groaned a final time and solidified. The Doctor and Donna stepped out of the TARDIS. Both looked around the street and noted that it was completely devoid of life. 

Cars left in the middle of the street had their doors left open as people had run from the Daleks. “It’s like a ghost town”, Donna muttered, a sorrowful look on her face.  

The Doctor looked at the empty road with a frown.  “Sarah Jane said they were taking the people. What for?” 

The Doctor's brow furrowed as he turned to Donna for answers, “Think, Donna. When you met Rose in that parallel world, what did she say?” 

Donna thought back and focused on the words the girl had told her. It was hard to think back; she only vaguely recalled moments from that world. “Just, the darkness is coming” 

“Anything else?” The Doctor asked, grinding his teeth, desperate for answers, because for once, he had a lack of answers. 

Donna’s gaze slid over his shoulder. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?” The Doctor’s brow furrowed, asking her, herself? The Doctor shook his head in question at what she meant. 

Donna sucked on her lip while frowning. She nodded her head at Rose, who was slowly coming down the other end of the street. 

The Doctor turned around, and he stared for a moment, trying to make sense of what he saw in front of him. And when he realised what was happening, his fist clenched along with his stomach boiling over with anger. 

He took off in a sprint, determined to get answers from the woman. 

Rose smiled as he began running to her, giant gun at her side, she also took off in a sprint. 

The Doctor skidded to a halt halfway down the street as lightning struck. His head swivelled to the side in confusion, his eyes widened in surprise. “But, that can’t, he can’t-” 

Everett materialised from the lighting, he stared unblinking at the Doctor from his spot behind a parked car. His vision flickered green as his programming stabilised. 

The Doctor stumbled back as he realised the situation at hand, that’s not his Everett, th-

He was unable to finish his thought process, as Everett shot him right in the chest, his laser burning a hole through his shirt and straight into his left heart. 

The Doctor stared in shock, and then he collapsed, unable to hold himself up. Donna stared on in horror at what had just happened. And then she started sprinting for the Doctor, desperate to help him. 

Everett’s eyes flipped back to blue, his gaze fixed on the Doctor’s body. Results of the scan appeared in his vision, it showed him destabilising vitals, once more, he pointed at the Doctor with his weapon.

His laser recharged to shoot again. His commands ordered him to shoot twice to stop the Doctor’s regeneration process from taking hold. 

A teleport sounded from behind him, and the sound of a gun clicking could be heard. An American voice reached his ears, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” 

Everett spun around to shoot the newcomer, the mission threatened by his presence.

As Everett came face to face with the American, Jack stared, stunned as he recognised who shot the Doctor. 

“Everett!” he exclaimed with a confused expression, his grip on his gun faltering. 

Everett’s eyes glowed red. “You will not interfere”, Everett warned.

The Captain and Assassin stood at a standoff. Everett moved to shoot first, taking advantage of Jack’s hesitation, but before his finger could reach the trigger, his eyes glowed gold, and with a blue flash, he was pulled back into the Time Vortex. 

Jack stared at the scorched spot his friend had stood, deep in thought. Then his gaze flitted over to Donna and a man carrying the Doctor back to the TARDIS. 

Jack took off in a sprint, on his way to lend a hand. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[TIME VORTEX]

The air inside the time vortex crackled violently, blue lightning leaked through and with a big woosh, Everett launched through the ripple.

The Time Vortex thrashed violently at Everett’s presence; his presence was deemed wrong. The gassy blue and red swirls of the vortex converged. A huge wave of red and blue launched at the Assassin, trying to knock him back.

Everett dived out of the way quickly, his reflexes programmed to run at maximum at all times. 

Everett's eyes glowed blue as he tracked down another point within the Doctor’s timeline. The Time Vortex threw wave after wave at him, trying to force him out.

“Target acquired”, he announced monotonously. 

The Vortex thrashed even more wildly, trying to stop him from reaching his destination. 

Everett’s body flew through the vortex, unbothered by the lightning hitting him from all sides. His tank top took the brunt of the hits, charred holes now littering it. 

Everett stopped abruptly. he hovered in place, his eyes turned golden, and with a blue Artron crackle, he disappeared. His voice echoed briefly through the space-time tunnel, “Destination found.” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM]

The Doctor gazed up at the time rotor, his eyes following the inner piece as it went up and down. 

Due to the events that had occurred, he hadn’t had the time to take it in with his new eyes. He smiled softly at it, seeing the rotor in motion with his new body; it always filled him with exhilaration. 

His gaze flitted to the other presence inside his console room, the Doctor pushed up from the console, his frock coat swishing gently behind him. 

“Right, Everett, anywhere in Time and Space, where do you want to go?” His hands already grabbed onto the sequencer. His companion hummed at his query. 

The Doctor’s brows drew together as his friend's eyes blazed with golden energy. His nose filled with a familiar smell, making his nostrils flare, he could sense the faintest amount of artron energy coming from Everett. 

Everett pursed his lips, “Seems like I’m taking off. A rain check on that trip, Doctor,” Everett morphed into a lightning bolt and with a woosh, Everett disappeared.

The Doctor walked over to the other side of the console. He waved his hand over the spot Everett had stood, and the Doctor flinched back as his senses got overwhelmed by Artron residue. 

The Doctor raked a hand through his curls, making them bounce. He twisted his hands together as he slid away from the spot.

“Right, not odd at all,” he muttered, strolling away as the moment replayed in his head. 

“Hm,” The Doctor turned around and pointed once more at the spot, his face scrunched together in contemplation. “Everett’s words indicate he’ll be back; he did leave residue behind, interesting.” The curly-haired Time Lord's nose crinkled as a smile flitted back onto his face. 

“While I wait for my theory to be proven-” 

The Doctor ended up back at his red chair. He flopped onto its cushion and, with a swift motion of his hand, he picked up his copy of ‘The Time Machine’ by H.G. Wells. 

He frowned in concentration, trying to recall where his Seventh self had been before he was rudely interrupted. “Of course!” He licked his finger and navigated to the right page.  

“Yes,” He beamed as he found where he had been, his gaze lifted upwards, “H.G. Wells, what a great mind.” He let out a soft laugh and then gazed back down to continue his read. 

The Doctor’s frame relaxed, happy to be in his TARDIS, especially after such an eventful day. The Doctor took a sip from his tea, the TARDIS having kept it warm for him. 

His peace was disturbed as lightning struck, right in front of his chair. Everett solidified out of the energy, his landing charring the carpet.

The Doctor leapt out of his chair, displeased at the situation “Oi! That’s a proper antique,” he motioned at the now ruined carpet. He shook his head, a hand dragging over his face, then his gaze fell on Everett. 

“Tell me-” The Doctor narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms as he stood face to face with Everret. “How are you doing that?” The Doctor’s forehead creased. “Artron energy isn’t, easily controlled” 

“Transmat, perhaps”, the Doctor wondered as he circled the man. Everett stared blankly ahead, eyes glowing blue, analysing his surroundings.

The Doctor inched closer to his face. Everett’s data confirmed his identity, and lightning quick, the barrel of his Compax Laser Deluxe was pushed against the Doctor’s forehead. 

“You will be eliminated”, the Doctor fell back into his chair by the force of the barrel being pushed against his skull. 

The Doctor looked up, shocked, and he gazed into Everett’s eyes, trying to make him see his error. “But Everett! It’s me, The Doctor!” he exclaimed, his hand banging on his chest as his words grew desperate.

The Doctor was pushed further into his chair as Everret kept the barrel on his forehead. The Doctor gulped. Something was wrong, Everett sounded wrong, his voice was completely different, robotic and emotionless, unlike before, it held humour, tenderness and a silent confidence, this was not the same man.

Something had happened to him, the Doctor gritted his teeth, he hadn’t the faintest idea of what, and that was troubling him. 

Everett slowly peered down at the Doctor, his finger inching closer to the trigger, his lips parted silently. “Correct, you are the Doctor” 

The Doctor’s gaze flickered in recognition; he had encountered a similar situation once before. “What are your orders!?” he shouted loudly, making Everett’s grip falter slightly. 

Everett’s gaze burned green, his mouth opened wide, and his monotone voice was replaced by an old, gruff one. “Delta Gold, locate and eliminate the Doctor” Everett’s mouth snapped shut, and a small radio crackle hummed out of his throat. 

The Doctor’s face contorted in rage; his sneaking suspicion had become true, his friend had been programmed. To kill him, “Everett, stop, let me help you.” The Doctor slowly pushed himself up out of the chair, pushing Everett back a step.

“I can undo what they did to you,” out of his chair, his hands carefully reached for the barrel of the gun. “Just give-” He took hold but was swiftly repelled back down into the chair, his head hitting the back of it, knocking him out cold. 

“Eliminate!” Everett exclaimed as he pushed the barrel back on the Doctor’s forehead, the TARDIS hummed in warning. 

Deocampo’s finger landed on the trigger, and as he started pulling back, he was propelled back into the Time Vortex, a small blue crackle floated in place until it inverted in on itself. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[TIME VORTEX]

Everett manoeuvred his way through the space-time tunnel, avoiding the asteroids being thrown into his path. 

As Everett dodged, he launched himself faster and faster across each gap. Everett’s eyes burned blue, tracking down another point in the Time Lords' timeline. 

‘Student’ echoed through the vastness of the vortex. 

Everett’s hearing picked up nothing, but his fingers twitched as the word passed by him.

Artron lighting started and bounced through the tunnel, its path directly aligned with Everett’s each time. 

 Everett’s head snapped to the right “Target located.”

He dodged out of the way, jumping between the asteroids, picking up speed with each landing.

The Vortex thrashed wildly, the space erupting into even more artron lighting. It kept striking Everett’s body, slowly disintegrating his tank top from the sheer force of the blasts. 

The only sign of it doing any damage to the cyborg was his eye twitching, one of the mechanisms temporarily glitched out. Around his eye sockets, a small whirring sound could be heard as the repair systems shot into action; the maintenance slowed the man down a bit. 

Everett lost his momentum and crashed into a large asteroid, and he got propelled backwards, about to meet an artron bolt. 

“Shift in process”, he announced right on time, then his eyes glowed gold, and as his body was mere seconds from getting struck, he dispersed into a blue flash. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. FOREST] 

“It’s rule number one. Don’t wander off, yet they wander off!” The Doctor grumbled to himself as he navigated his way through a forest. 

‘Crunch’ The Doctor looked down, he looked horrified, he had accidentally stepped on a snail. 

“Oh my.” The Doctor said, cringing as he lifted his foot to see the crushed shell hanging onto his shoe. “I’m sorry, little fella” he picked up a leaf and scraped the snail bits off. 

He gently laid the leaf back down. 

The Doctor adjusted his bow tie as he strode forward once more, his sonic screwdriver held in front of him to track his lost companions. 

He didn’t have time for this, they had to be at the monastery by noon, and it was only ten minutes to!

The Doctor grew more and more frustrated as he picked up no signals. He whacked the sonic screwdriver but pulled his hand back with a yelp as he received a shock. So he elected to shake it instead, making it launch out of his hand

Ten minutes later, the Sonic screwdriver began whirring frantically as the Doctor neared a thick tree with large branches. The Doctor’s nose crinkled with each step. He came to a halt all of a sudden, not able to step further. 

“Artron traces?” 

The Doctor pondered this for a moment. He rubbed at his chin, ‘Has he?’ The Doctor shook his head, his floppy hair bouncing as he did. ‘No, he would have known if he had popped off.’ 

The Doctor pointed the sonic screwdriver at the tree trunk. It was potentially dangerous. Artron traces were never a good sign. 

He had too much experience with them not to be careful when he encountered them out in the wild. His lips formed into a thin line as he neared the bark of the tree. 

The Doctor gazed upwards, as the sky crackled to life, his face fell in horror and he just got away as lightning struck where he had stood. 

On the spot now stood a figure. 

The Doctor took a tentative step back, trying to create more distance between himself and the assassin. Instead, his shoe got caught by a root, making him stumble onto the mossy ground. 

The Doctor’s shoulders tensed, and he patted the ground as the Assassin moved his limbs. 

“Ah, the forest floor, just the place to be, I always say the lower you are, the safer you are.” 

He had no idea what he was rambling on about; he just had to distract Everett long enough. 

It had been a long time since he had seen Everett during the time he was programmed, but he had been working hard on a solution to deprogram him. His brow furrowed in frustration, he was nowhere near done yet. 

The Doctor’s stomach twisted as Everett held the gun levelled with his head.

Everett gazed intensely at him with glowing blue eyes. He wanted to reach out, caress his face, gaze into his wonderful golden eyes and get lost in them for hours. Hatred filled his soul for the ones who had done this to his Ever.  

His eyes flicked to the side, not able to bear seeing Everett like that anymore. 

With his left hand, he frantically adjusted the settings on his screwdriver; the scientists on Trenzalore had made it hard for him, but a small microburst of sonic waves should disrupt the systems enough to maybe give a future him the chance to break Everett free. 

“Target Identified” Everett's head tilted down unnaturally, his gaze burning red as it landed on the Doctor’s. A small twitch in his brow could be observed if you looked close enough. The Doctor threw the sonic to his other hand, taking his chance.

He pointed it directly at the spot where Everett’s frontal lobe was. he looked away, “I’m sorry.”

A shriek escaped the device in his hands, making Everett drop his laser deluxe. The Doctor sprang up and crushed it with his heel. 

Everett sank to his knees, mechanical screaming coming out of his mouth, the man clutched at his head, messing up his slicked back hair. 

The Doctor’s hearts hurt as Everett screamed in pain; he wanted to reach out, take the pain away. But instead, he pulled back, his hand twitching with the remaining urge to reach for his loved one. 

The Doctor closed his eyes tightly, a tear slipping from his eye. He peeked open an eye as the screaming cut off abruptly.

Leaves burned as artron lightning inverted in on itself. The Doctor stared tight lipped, at the ground. He could still feel the trace Everett had left behind, his mind unhelpfully showing an outline of his frame. 

The Doctor rubbed at his browless forehead, “Don’t worry, Everett, I’ll fix this.” 

The Doctor stood there, hands clenching and unclenching. He jumped as a twig behind him broke, but then his shoulders slumped in relief as he felt a tickle in the back of his head.

He quickly coughed, regaining his composure and with a fake smile, he spun around, hands being thrown into the air excitedly. “Susan!” 

The Doctor jumped over the roots and jogged towards his granddaughter, her freckled face scrunched together in an apologetic smile. 

“Grandfather,” she gave him a little wave. 

The Doctor came to a halt next to her and launched his hands onto her shoulders. he bent down a bit to be on eye level and then addressed her sternly, “I said not to wander off.” 

She met his gaze head-on, a hand scratching at her cheek and sheepishly smiled at him. 

The Doctor took in every inch of her face, and his stern expression began to falter, a soft smile playing on his lips. 

“Who am I kidding? Come here,” he pulled her into him and embraced her tightly, needing her comfort, and she seemed to need it just as much, ‘ Just what had happened to her when she had wandered off?’ 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[TIME VORTEX]

Everett floated weightlessly inside the vortex. His eyes slowly opened, blackness fading out of his eyes, lingering for a moment longer in the edges of his vision. 

Everett squinted as bright red and blue flooded his vision. His vision adjusted itself quickly, and he could see the Time Vortex properly now. 

That was all he could do; he had no control over his body, he was still a passenger inside his body, just a passenger that had the freedom to think now.

It had been years since he had been able to think freely. It didn’t feel as good as it should’ve. Now that awareness had been restored, he could feel how unnatural his body had become; he could feel his body aching, and he could feel as lightning silently nipped at his heels. 

Everett wasn’t oblivious to what he had been ordered to do, who he had been ordered to kill, it was all there in his mind, always there, echoeing through his skull, if he could scoff he would have his skull wasn’t even a skull anymore, more like a data-core melted into the form of a skull. 

He recalled how they’d shoved it brutally into him, how he screamed in terror, choking on his own spit as his mind expanded to hold the information they needed him to have, all for their selfish goals, because they missed a planet they hadn’t even set foot on.

His gaze lingered on the blue-red clouds that could so easily destroy him yet were so peaceful, if he had still been on Trenzalore he would’ve loved it, jotted it down in one of his many journals, run to the elders and try to bleed as much information out of them causing him to get kicked out of the town hall. 

He felt nothing for it now; he didn’t feel anything anymore; he just wanted to be free to be at peace. All he felt now was hatred for those scientists; if they had just left with the others of their alliance. He could’ve lived a quiet life, pursued his career in astronomy, but no, they stayed, for their own selfish goals, ruining hundreds of lives.

He could recall where he had been when all of his people slowly died. How they died from the adjustments made to them. Everett died more and more as the adjustments he had survived killed his friends. 

The day his best friend died, his consciousness was being locked away behind a wall of data. 

Now that he had been freed, he remembered all of the remaining torture they had put him through, and all of his attempts of trying to kill The Doctor. 

Everett would break free, he vowed to, a Trenzalorian would always fulfil their vows. One day, he’d go home and make the scientists suffer. Make them experience double the pain that they had inflicted. 

Everett’s body floated through the tunnel of time, his limbs sprawled about.

The Time Vortex was monitoring him as he drifted further and further. They withheld their defences, letting the man peacefully reflect on his life. 

‘Learn,’ gently drifted by him, and it echoed through his mind on loop. 

Everett could feel a presence pouring from the word. He wouldn’t trust it, though, for all he knew, he was being tricked by the programming to try and get him back into oblivion. 

Everett’s body pushed into one of the floating asteroids, making its way through the vortex. 

The space rock steered his body to the left, and Everett’s vision blurred a golden hue. Everett felt crackling all through his body, and then he felt a pull; it felt like he was being torn apart and being reformed at the same time. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. CARNIVAL, NEBRASKA]

The sun cast soft shadows across a carnival, tents and stalls placed in between the wheat of a big field. 

A breeze started up, and filth from the dirt path lifted into the sky as a blue box shimmered into existence. As it solidified, the doors cracked open, and a man with short brown hair peeked through, his wary eyes scanning his surroundings silently. 

The Doctor slid out of the door, dragging it closed behind him. The TARDIS hummed him a goodbye, or perhaps good luck. 

The Doctor leaned his head against the box. He would never know what his old girl meant, when she hummed, even though they were bonded, he could not talk directly with her. 

A soft vibration tickled the back of his head, and he hummed, perhaps one day he would. He smirked with humour, his eyes turning less dark for a moment, ‘What a day that would be.’

He sighed as the moment passed. His focus landed back on the starting-up carnival, the chilly air of November wormed its way through his jumper. It tickled against his skin.

He tapped his wrists as he considered switching back into the turtleneck he had worn while on the Titanic. He shook his head; he felt scratchy in it, and his body would warm up eventually anyway.

With one more pat to the TARDIS, he was on his way towards the stalls and booths, his boots crushing fallen leaves as he strode down the path. 

Few people were about, as it was early in the morning, his timing had been a bit off; he had intended to arrive somewhere in the afternoon. 

He shrugged; he’d make due with it. At least he had fixed the spatial navigation correctly, for once, he didn’t end up on Mars instead of his intended destination. 

The Doctor enjoyed the sounds of birds chirping, it calmed his thoughts, it almost made him feel how he used to feel at the beginning of his adventures, before… everything. 

As his gaze landed on people putting Ice inside a machine at one of the stalls, the Doctor’s mind drifted to the Ice Warrior hives; he wanted to visit them again one day. 

For a Warrior race they always welcomed him into their hives warmly. he had a sneaking suspicion he did something in his future that had gained their trust, but their empress was very tight lipped about it. 

The Doctor passed through a group of workers, nodding politely at them. He could feel their lingering eyes on him as he walked further away from them. He’d grown used to staring, but he still got unnerved by them. 

He never knew how people perceived him, especially after all he had done. In the past, he revelled when people looked at him in wonder. He shoved his hands into his pockets. Now he deserved to be frowned upon, to be looked at with disgust. 

Even if he still looked like a soldier, nobody ever looked at him in disgust, not even his enemies, they now looked at him like they were kin made of the same cloth, he gritted his teeth, he had a reason for what he did, not a good one, but he had a reason, they didn’t they did it for fun or gain. 

His eyes were cold; he would never be the same as them. 

Near the outskirts of the Carnival stood one singular booth, inside an unconscious man caught his gaze. The Doctor scoffed, ‘Probably a drunk,’ but then he double-taked.

“Everett!” he exclaimed, his sour mood immediately gone as he saw the familiar face. 

Then confusion, why was he unconscious? The Doctor concerned jumped into the booth and quickly turned, dragging the shutter closed behind him. He wordlessly kneeled next to Everett. 

“Everett, can you hear me? What happened?” he shook the man’s shoulders, Everett stayed motionless with only his eyes open. 

The Doctor’s hearts sank in worry, and he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a slick, grey sonic screwdriver. The blue light flashed on, and with a flick of his wrist, he began scanning the cyborg. 

Everett stared through his eyes like they were a viewscreen, the outside playing on it like a holo-show. 

The time lord stared at him in worry; Everett wanted to scoff. ‘Why would he care?’ Everett was nothing to him, nothing but an Assassin sent to claim his life, wipe out the Last of the Timelords, there to finish a job many others had failed at, one he wished to fail at. 

But as he gazed deep within the beast's eyes, all he could see was fondness. ‘Why would he be fond of him?’  

His body began whirring back to life. Each passing minute, another system came back online. But the Doctor stayed close, like he wasn’t aware of the fact that he was going to be killed. 

Everett’s data helpfully showed him that this was the man’s tenth face; he had already tried killing the man’s eighth, so he should be aware. Perhaps he had forgotten; he didn’t have conclusive data on how old each of the beasts' regenerations were. 

Perhaps he had grown old and it had slipped his memory, but he doubted that, from all the stories from his childhood, he had heard the man was intelligent, very intelligent. 

The Doctor frowned at the readings he got from his sonic screwdriver. The only activity coming from Everret came from deep inside his brain. The rest of him slowly started up. 

The Doctor pushed himself against the wall; the only thing he could do now was observe. Everett wore combat boots, similar to his own. 

The Doctor unconsciously pulled at his earlobe. Everett would usually wear blue converse. 

Then his gaze slid back, Everett wore military pants, this made him frown his Everett would never. His gaze slid up and what he saw made him smirk, his eyes lingering, Everett's shirt was missing.

The Doctor’s fingers twitched at his side. Then fury began bubbling into his gut; there were scorch marks all over his chest, the same around his temples. 

The Doctor fiddled with the hem of his shirt, all the puzzle pieces falling into place. “I see,” this was Everett pre-deprogramming; he was here to kill him.

The man sighed in sadness. he really needed to find the solution to break him free, he was aware that he did one day, but that wasn’t enough, he needed to live it for it to be true. 

He moved forward, landing on his knees at Everett’s side. He gently took hold of Everett’s neck, “I know you’re in there somewhere, Everett. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to help you,” He pressed two fingers to the back of his neck. 

“One day, you’ll see us running across Time and Space doing the most amazing work.” He almost whispered the last part. “Just hold on for a little longer.” 

Everett couldn’t believe what he was hearing, him travelling with The Beast of Trenzalore, he couldn’t picture him doing that in a thousand years. 

But the Doctor’s expression held no lies, no signs of deceit; he should know he had systems running at all times that analysed the tiniest twitch of a muscle, and when someone lied, a sign was always there. 

Everett dismissed the words for now, no point wondering about it, he was in a situation that he knew he wasn’t going to get out of.

The Doctor pressed his fingers deeper into Everett’s neck until he found a mechanism. “See you soon,” he whispered. he flicked the mechanism, and in a blue flash, Everett was pulled back into the Vortex.

The Doctor’s eyes darkened as he thought back to previous encounters. He silently pushed himself up, and he swiftly brushed away any dirt from his trousers. 

He gazed at the empty spot where his bondmate had been for a moment longer. He closed his eyes and then released a breath of air. 

He pushed the shutter open “No time to wallow. Let’s play some games!” The Carnival was now full of people, people who stared at him in confusion. 

“Fantastic!” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[Time Vortex]

Everett’s systems were fully functional once more. His mind went back into a sort of haze, his mechanisms wrestling for control. 

His vision burned blue once more as a scan was initiated to track the Doctor. 

The Vortex was back in full force, throwing him back and forth, and his systems stayed strong this time. 

Now that he was aware again, he could actually feel the shocks that his body took, and if he were able to vocalise, he would be screaming and cursing. 

His mouth opened up, his mechanical voice came through, “Doctor found” his body flipped over an asteroid in his path. 

‘Control’ echoed through the tunnel as the waves crashed into his body.

Everett, if he hadn’t been shoved further into his subconscious, would’ve heard it, but he didn’t; all his dazed focus went to trying to wrestle control away from himself. He wasn’t about to become a murderer… not yet. 

His mind reeled as he was once more violently pulled away. It felt different, like a force was yanking and throwing him simultaneously.  The best he could describe it was like two forces crashing into each other. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. BARN, GALLIFREY]

The Doctor held his head in his hands as he sat solemnly on a hay bale inside the place he had once called home. 

His hand dragged down his old wrinkly face, his eyes holding heaviness beyond even his old visage. 

“Surely, there must be another way,” he muttered in a gravelly voice. 

He shut his eyes as moonlight shone through a crack in the barn's old wooden walls. 

He sighed as he stood up, his legs working against him. The Doctor paced around the length of the barn, his boots creaking with every step. 

His boots were ready to fall apart, the War having done a number on them, plus the hundreds of years of running around with them during his eight life. 

His mind spun with thoughts as he tried and failed to come up with another way to stop the Time War. He stroked his beard, and his hands shook with each lift. 

His eyes were filled with desperation. He couldn't use the Moment, could he live with himself if he destroyed all those lives? It would destroy the Daleks along with them, but he’d be killing off his own race for Omega’s sake. 

The Doctor kicked the air, his frustration with the situation reaching its boiling point. he should’ve listened - should’ve stayed out of the war. 

Done the best he could on the outskirts of the battles - save the people he could and then fly away to save another space base. But they just had to drag him down with them.

Oh, he had been angry when he’d figured out the Sisterhood had lied to him. That the elixir had been nothing but a lie; he had always been on the verge of regenerating. He pushed himself against the worn wooden walls. 

He slammed through them in anger, “WHY ME!” He screamed in frustration, his voice breaking near the end. 

Why was it he who needed to bear the consequences of the high council? While they sat cushy in their chambers, whilst he watched everyone he cared for die. 

His back slid down the wall, his mind filled with all the faces of the people he’d failed. 

“No more,” his expression hardened, he would do it and live with the consequences forever. For that was what it meant to be The Doctor.

The Doctor peeked through his fingers as he heard lightning, a small, tired smile formed on his face, “Oh, Ever, it is good to see you!” 

Everett stood with his back to him. He was so happy to see him, especially now. He pushed himself up off the ground, a few stray straws coming with. 

Everett slowly turned around as the Doctor stepped closer. Their gazes locked, Everett’s eyes shone red in the darkness of the barn, making him look more threatening. 

The Doctor’s stomach dropped. He took a step back on instinct. It couldn’t be. After all this time. The Doctor wetted his lips, “Everett, listen to me!” he held his hands up, ready to defend himself if needed. 

“I know you can hear me, I know you are fighting to break free, just focus on my voice.” 

Everett took off into a sprint, as he neared, his right leg soared toward The Doctor’s torso. The Doctor swiftly caught his leg and flipped Everett onto the ground. 

The Doctor dived onto him, pinning him to the ground. The Doctor dodged a left hook to his face. Everett sprang up, his body crashing into a wall as the Doctor was dragged up along with him. 

The Doctor let go and with a swift tilt, he cracked his neck, “Fight it. Pour all of your energy into the walls of code.” The Doctor and Everett grappled with each other, neither gaining the upper hand. 

Everett couldn’t do anything from his position, stuck within as his body tried to kill the Doctor. Out of options, he focused, searching for the codes running through him, just like the Doctor had suggested. 

‘Bingo!’ he exclaimed. He started to pour all his energy into breaking the pattern, trying to give himself as much control as he could pull out of it. 

On the outside, the Doctor got punched in the nose, blood dripped out, and he wiped it away with his leather sleeve, leaving a smear behind on his cheek. 

The Doctor smirked as Everett’s fingers twitched violently, “That’s it, you are doing it, just keep going” The Doctor lunged for Everett, knocking him back to the ground. He sat on top of him, pinning him down. 

The Doctor looked into his eyes just as his pupils became visible once more, the golden eyes he was familiar with coming into view, “Hello,” he said breathlessly, it was like looking into them for the first time. 

“Hello,” Everett responded, “It worked.” The corner of his mouth lifted the smallest bit.

“It did indeed,” the Doctor confirmed. He got off his chest, falling to the side. He was beyond exhausted, and physical combat was beyond him.  

Everett clenched his jaw. “Fun,” his tone was dry, “I can talk, but cannot walk.” He laughed humourlessly. “Great, and now I’m a poet!”

The Doctor tussled his hair, “One step at a time, Everett. You just need to pull at the code more and on-” The words left him as he was knocked back by a kick to his face. Everett’s body sprang up with so much force that sand flew into the air.  

“I ain’t doing that.” Everett told him, his lips turning into a snarl, “I suggest making a run for it. Beast of Trenzalore” 

The Doctor scrunched his face together in annoyance; he hated being called that, he hadn’t even been to Trenzalore, not yet anyway.  

“No” The Doctor stood up shakily, his legs shaking with each move. He wiped the sweat away from his brow. 

“It will be your death,” Everett told him with a pointed stare. Why would he stay and fight? It wasn’t a secret that he couldn’t fight anymore; it was plain to see his body was failing him. 

“Focus on gaining control,” The Doctor barked, making Everett frown. He should be doing that; he focused back internally and began pulling on the code once more.

The Doctor was the first to move and threw a left hook towards Everett’s shoulder. 

Everett caught the fist with his right hand. The Doctor looked at it for a second, and his lips moved up. With his right hand, he grabbed onto the Assassin's neck. 

“Now for my next trick,” He pressed deep into the synthetic flesh, finding the mechanism Everett had shown him in his past, “Back into Vortex! And Everett, good luck.”

With a blinding flash, he was gone. The Doctor fell to one knee, panting. He wiped away sweat with his left hand, then, when he lifted it down, his eyes lingered on the golden hue. 

He waved his hand through the air, and the energy scattered. “Now’s not the time.” 

“Not until the job is done.” He pulled himself to his feet, with a determined face, he walked to the old oak door.

“Tomorrow this war ends.” He stepped through the doorway, not bothering to look back, the Doctor walked off into the night, his mind filled with only one goal. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[TIME VORTEX]

‘ Listen!’ echoed unheard through the vortex, the word fading away into time.  

Everett’s body free-fell through the Vortex. He bit his lip in concentration; his brow scrunched up in annoyance, he needed to individually rewrite the code. Which he had little to no experience with. But he’d manage, it would just take him a while. 

He did feel his body grow more sluggish as he went on, but it invigorated him that he was getting closer to freedom. A groan slipped past his lips, and he felt the pain from lightning strikes on his body. 

He really didn’t need the Vortex torturing him while he was trying to focus, an asteroid whisked passed his head, “Oi! Calm the fuck down,” He didn’t know why he spoke to it, but it felt right to do so… he was going crazy. 

[EXT. SKY, SHEFFIELD]

Everett crashed into the blue clouds, and for once, he didn’t disappear, but he free-fell through a blue sky, his databanks searched for the location. “Sol-3,” he had never been, only ever heard whispers of it from the elders. 

“Doesn’t matter,” he mumbled and went back to work. 

He knew his body could handle the fall, but he’d feel the pain from hitting the ground. He shrugged; he would deal with it. 

What all of his people went through was worse; he wouldn’t whine, not now or ever. He didn’t deserve to. 

[EXT. ENDCLIFFE PARK]

The Doctor leaned her head on Everett’s shoulder as he read a book called ‘Darkly Dreaming Dexter’. 

She scrunched up her nose as she read a small part of the murder scene. She didn’t know why he liked reading such violent books. With her life, she had seen enough violence and death; she didn’t need it all written down in a book; she’d much rather read an adventure book. 

She sighed, her right eye bothered her, it teared up, so she blinked it a few times to get the tears away. 

She hated that the blindness had returned, when she’d said it would return in a future regeneration, she’d hoped in ten regenerations, not the immediate next after, at least it was partial blindness, she pouted, thinking of not being able to see the wonders of the universe. 

“What’s got that little head of yours in the clouds?” Everett asked, laying his book aside, she smiled at him, and she let her head slide down onto his lap. She sighed contentedly. When she stared up, they met eyes, his golden eyes shining brightly. 

She could stare into them forever, even after so many years, she could still drown in them.

“Theta?” he asked once more, a brow lifting. She rolled her eyes, “Just thinking about which planet to visit next.” 

He smiled at her, a twinkle in his eyes, “Sure,” he muttered, his tone playful, “And I was thinking about how a moustache would look fantastic on you.” He held a hand to his mouth. 

His face took on an innocent shine. “Oops, did I say that out loud?” 

She frowned and slapped him in the stomach. “Oi! That hurt,” she rolled her eyes once more, “No, it didn’t. Your body’s way too strong for that.” 

He smirked and poked her in the side. She yelped, “Miss know it all,” he joked. he chuckled, his laugh reverberated through his body, she could feel it from where she lay on him.  

He leaned over her again, blocking the sun “Now what’s actually bothering you, or should I force it out of you?” he held his hands ready to start poking her sides again.

Her eyes widened, and she frantically shook her head, “Alright!” she exclaimed. He shifted his right hand into her hair and slid his fingers through her blonde locks. 

She sighed contentedly, enjoying his hand moving up and down her head. “I was just thinking,” she hummed, “About my eye.” 

Everett lifted a brow. He hummed in acknowledgement, his gaze lifted into the sky “Your eye? What’s wrong with it?” 

She leaned into his touch more, “It’s annoying, Ever!” she whined. “I hate only being able to partially see the beauty of the universe.” She knocked her head into him, making him groan. She looked at him with an apologetic smile. 

Everett stopped dragging his hand through her hair for a moment, making her pout. 

He sighed, coming out of deep thought, “We knew it would come back at some point.” He smiled softly, looking deep into her eyes, “And it’s only for a short while. The Vortex promised me that I’d be allowed to turn it back to normal in a while.” 

He began sliding his hand through her hair once more. She nodded, “But that’s so long away,” she whined. He poked her with his other hand, “Be patient, Theta Sigma, or I will take your Custard creams.” 

She gasped, glaring at him, “You wouldn’t!” he smirked, “Wouldn’t I?” he quickly stuffed one into his mouth and grimaced at the taste. He hated them.

She laughed so hard her whole body shook. “That’s what you deserve!” 

Then he pulled his hand away, leaving her hair alone, and he swallowed the custard cream. His face screwed up in disgust the whole time. 

The Doctor jumped up, she quickly leaned back down and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. 

As she strode away, Everett turned his head. “Where are you going?” 

She jumped and looked back at him, “Have to do something in the TARDIS, I’ll be back in a ‘mo”, then she ran the rest of the way to the blue box.

Everett quirked a brow at her behaviour, but he shrugged, used to it by now, he picked up his book and flipped to the page he had been reading.

Everett felt at peace, he was having a nice picnic, he had his bondmate to annoy and he had a good book to read, but Something in the back of his mind itched, something that threw him off. 

Everett got so distracted by it. He re-read the same sentence multiple times, and that’s when he jumped up. “Doctor!” he yelled in panic. He threw his book to the side, not caring where it landed. He rushed down to the TARDIS, leaving the peace behind.

He slammed open the doors, the TARDIS hummed in anger, but right now he didn’t care as he landed on the sight of the Doctor being pinned down by his past self. 

“LET GO!” He barked furiously as he stormed up, “I’m trying!” his past self announced, annoyed, “These walls are a bitch to get through. Don’t think for a second I want to be doing this, I’m not a psychopath.” 

Everett threw himself wildly through the data walls as his hand clasped the Doctor’s throat shut, bruising her neck. She clawed at his hand, struggling to breathe, her respiratory bypass kicking in. 

He could feel the future version of him, and for a moment, he faltered. It was true, he travelled with the Beast. 

But why? Why would they let him? especially after all of this. His thoughts were cut off as he was picked up by the neck. “Focus!” Commanded his future self, he looked exactly the same, yet the golden eyes were a new sight; did he have them too? 

“Focus on the walls and yes, you also have Golden eyes, now chop chop, break those code paths. Focus!” His future self exuded confidence, so he listened and started working harder. 

The Doctor lay on the ground, gasping for air, with red marks on her neck, and future Everett snarled at the sight. 

He should’ve remembered he had been on edge all day; he didn’t blame the past him; he wasn’t in control of his actions, but he did blame himself; he should have listened to that itch earlier.

The Doctor coughed as air flowed back into her lungs, but she needed to get up. She did so slowly. She was unable to talk, in too much pain to do it just yet. She walked up to her husband and placed a comforting hand on his arm. He smiled sadly at her, and she returned it, telling him it was okay, she was okay. 

“I know you have questions, Everett,” Future him said. “You’ll learn all of it in due time.” Everett rolled his eyes at the vagueness; it almost reminded him of his grandad. 

‘Theta, press the mechanism in the back of his neck’ She fiddled with her fingers; she hated doing that to him, she knew it didn’t hurt him, but she essentially took his control away. 

Everett looked at her, meeting her gaze, ‘Now, Doctor, because the closer you stand, the harder the program fights.’ 

She felt the comfort he sent through their bond, and filled with his strength, she took hold of the clasp and switched it, making the past one disappear. 

Everett let his hand fall and then checked her over, ‘I’m alright,’ she reassured him. She could feel him blaming himself for what happened. She took hold of his hand and dragged him further into the TARDIS. 

‘What are you doing?’ he asked through the bond. She rolled her eyes and kept dragging, and he let himself be pulled away. 

A small smile graced his lips, but his shoulders stayed tense. Even though she did consider it a victory, he booped her nose, “Don’t let this get to your head, your ego’s already bigger than Mars.” 

She frowned at him, her ego wasn’t that big, she tilted her head, was it? She shook her head. ‘Anyway, I’m taking you to the medbay, so you can take care of my neck’ Everett nodded, “Good plan.” 

They disappeared down the hall, an argument starting up, mentally. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[TIME VORTEX]

“Wow, control of my left hand,” He gasped theatrically, “Imagine all the great things I can do with that!” He rolled his eyes as only one part of his body became his to control, the rest of his body still on automatic, searching for their next assassination attempt. 

“Error! What error!” Everett’s face twisted into frustration as he plummeted into the depths of the Vortex, “Oh for fuck’s sa-” 

Then he disappeared once more, the asteroid that had headed for him, cracking into two pieces, and then it dissolved, ready to strike again, once he re-entered. 

‘Pupil will be free’ bounced off the purple tidal waves, and the calmness of the Time Vortex appeared once more. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. STREET, MANCHESTER]

The Doctor sat on top of the TARDIS, eating a sandwich. He was waiting for Ruby because she had popped out to see her mum. 

He raised a brow as Everret appeared on the pavement ahead of him. He was cursing like a sailor as his body dragged itself from the concrete. That shouldn’t be right; his programmed self should have only searched for him pre-Flux, and he was a long time away from that point. 

He didn’t draw attention to himself… yet, observing. And he wanted to finish his sandwich first, too good of a sandwich, who knew Zygons could make such good sandwiches, he was hurt that Osgood hadn’t told him so before. 

Everett groaned, his body aching from the fall, and then he smelled the air. “Sol-3, again, seriously!”

Everett gritted his teeth as he restrained his right hand. “No fighting, righty,” he focused back on the code, he had twenty sets to left to go through and perhaps then he would have control of oh, let’s see his left big toe. 

“Honey!” he heard from the right, a man in a leather trench coat approached, “It seems you are strugglin’” he stopped just short of him, probably because of his violent right side, ‘Smart move’. 

Everett's gaze lingered on the man; he seemed familiar, yet nothing in his databanks rang any bells about who he was. 

“Do I know you?” He asked while his focus shifted back to breaking through. He gripped his right wrist even tighter, not having to worry about a bruise anyway, as it was synthetic flesh.  

The man smiled, making the scar on his nose lift up. “Maybe you do. Maybe you don’t.” Everett peeked at him, ‘That was vague.’

“Okay.” Everett was done with the man: “You can go now, I am working on something anyway.” 

“I do believe it is time,” The man frowned, he walked up and hopped to be at his backside.  

“Sorry, hun,” he then pushed two fingers into his neck. And with a groan, Everett disappeared. “Why does everyone and their mom know my weakness?!” was the last thing The Doctor heard. 

He chuckled, oh, he did love messing with his bondmate. He walked back to the TARDIS, leaning against the door, she hummed happily in his mind, “Yeah, he’ll be alright” he patted her and he swore she purred like a cat. 

He laughed, “Old girl! You still surprise me, I love it.” 

“Why are you talking to the TARDIS?” Ruby asked, jumping into his view, “Ruby!” he exclaimed, then he calmed down and smiled. he pushed open the door, “Let’s go.”

[INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM]

“You're eager to go,” she muttered as she obliged and walked in. She looked back as he closed the doors, “And you didn’t answer. Why were you talking to the TARDIS?” 

Instead of answering, he chuckled all the way to the console, “It’s a secret” 

Ruby lifted a brow but shrugged; his weirdness wasn’t surprising anymore. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[TIME VORTEX]

“Dammit!” Everett shouted in frustration as the code slipped through his grasp. He was really close too; he only needed one small push, and he’d have control, his brow furrowed, he’d have control, but the commands would just be hidden away, ready to strike again. 

Everett shook his head. Control was all he needed. After that, he’d find a way to wipe away the commands the scientists had programmed into him, and once he did, his gaze darkened, he’d get revenge. 

Everett got lost in thought while he worked, his body rushing through the vortex once more. 

Perhaps he should have the Doctor help him. His future self seemed to trust them, was that why he travelled with them? so he could be free. 

That must have been it; he couldn’t see why else he would travel with them. 

Theory in mind, Everett started pulling more delicately at the code, maybe he was being too brutal with ripping it out. 

A message floated in front of his view, “Shit,” he cursed, his body had once more located the Doctor. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM]

The Doctor’s hand floated mid-air like it had been touching someone’s cheek. The Doctor slowly let it drop, a small contented smile in place on his face. 

He quickly returned to his place at the console and pulled the TARDIS out of flight. He pulled the scanner and smiled at the sight. 

“Susan!” He yelled towards the hallway, “We’ve landed, go get Clara!” 

The Doctor rolled his eyes as he could hear her grumbling. 

A girl with red wavy hair stepped into the console room. She came to a halt at the end of the steps, her blue eye narrowing at The Doctor. 

Susan crossed her arms, and the Doctor observed his granddaughter. She wore a rainbow sweater and a black skirt with leggings underneath. 

Susan tapped her white boot. “Why do I always have to go get her?” 

The Doctor walked around the console, his hands waving about, “Because you have young legs, unlike-” he motioned at himself. 

“I’m not a child anymore, Grandfather, I’m 450 years old!” The Doctor looked her in the eyes, “I’m 3060 years old, Susan, your age is nothing compared to mine” 

Susan huffed, “Fine!” She relented, and the Doctor moved up to her, hooking an arm around her shoulder in a semi-hug. 

Even if she was frustrated at him, she loved her grandfather's hugs, and in this body, he hated hugging, but she was exempt from that. 

Then he pushed her to the doors, “Now, young one. Go. Get. Clara.” 

“Yeah, yeah, no need to shove me” Susan didn’t look back at him as she hopped out of the doors. She grumbled, but secretly, she was more than happy to go get her friend. 

The Doctor’s face went back into a grumpy expression as he walked around the console room. He fiddled with the time path indicator, getting it ready for later. 

That’s when the scanner beeped; it flipped to him with massive amounts of speed. He dodged right on time, or it would have taken his head off. He looked up at the TARDIS roof, “Oi! Are you trying to make me regenerate?” 

The TARDIS let out an annoyed hum, “Don’t get snippy with me.” Then his eyes caught the message that flashed across the screen. He sprinted out of the console room straight into the hallways. 

“Come on!” he grumbled at himself as he wasn’t going fast enough. 

He took an abrupt turn, almost toppling over. He skidded into the science lab. Frantically, he searched through the drawers and cabinets. “Where is it!” The lab became a mess, drawers ripped open, papers strewn all over. 

‘Susan!’ he yelled through their familial bond. She took a minute to respond, ‘Be patient, Grandfather, I am almost at her door.’  

‘It’s not about that, Susan! Where’s the pill!’ he tapped his finger impatiently as she took her time to respond. He groaned; he only had a minute left to get back to the console room. 

‘You don’t mean-’ she cut herself off, ‘Bottom drawer of the bookshelf locked inside a glass case.’

‘Good luck, Grandfather,’ she sent him support through the bond. 

The Doctor pulled away from the bond and practically ripped the drawer out. He smashed the glass case, leaving glass strewn all over the floor. Grabbed the pill and took off. 

The Doctor flew up the stairs in the console room and was met with someone lunging at him, “Sorry! I’m working on it,” Everett yelled as his body crashed into the railing. He groaned as his side hurt on impact. 

The Doctor backed away, preparing himself; he needed to get the pill into Everett’s mouth to make this work. 

“I’m almost through, I just need a little longer!” Everett told the Doctor out loud, he wasn’t sure why, but he did. The Doctor grunted in acknowledgement, “Not needed.” 

Everett frowned and actually focused back to his surroundings, his golden eyes narrowed on the man, “What? Not needed, I’m not going to stay like this,” he bit out.

The Doctor shook his head, “I meant I have the solution for your situation.” 

Everett blinked in surprise, “You have what?” he looked dumbfounded, “But how?” 

“You’ll find out in due time,” Everett scrunched up his brow, “That’s what future me said.” 

“Yes, you tend to say that a lot,” the Doctor confirmed, a fond tone to his voice. 

Everett was getting more and more confused; his body acted then, and he yelled in surprise, while trying to punch the doctor again. 

But the man twisted his arms and then clawed open his mouth, depositing a pill in it. 

“Swallow!” he exclaimed frantically. Everett swallowed, hoping he hadn’t fallen for some type of trap. 

Everett’s body went rigid, and his vision swam with green error codes flashing in and out. His voice went slightly mechanical as he addressed the Doctor, “What did you do?” 

The Doctor lowered Everett’s body to the floor. “Just a simple virus that makes your violent tendencies lie dormant.” 

Everett smiled for the first time, “I’m free, I’m really free!” his mechanical heart swelled up in excitement; he was one step closer to freedom. But the word dormant bothered him; they would still be there like he had envisioned, he’d get rid of them, that he was sure of, he had vowed to after all. 

“Aren’t you going to thank the man who helped you?” the Doctor quarried, a teasing glint in his eyes. 

Everett bit down on his lip, “Thank you,” he gritted out, “Don’t expect me to say this much more. But I do owe you, Doctor” 

The Doctor frowned. He didn’t want to be owed anything “Forget about it.” 

Everett wouldn’t. he would pay the man back in some way, his vision began to go dark at the edges, his gut twisted. “Is this normal? My vision is going dark.”

The Doctor pulled himself up, “Side effect. You’ll shut down for a little while, and your systems will be rebooting. Calibrating, so it can function without the orders. They’ll still be there, but they’re locked behind a triple-deadlock firewall.” 

“Now sleep,” and like that, Everett’s eyes dimmed, leaving just black pupils behind. The Doctor hated the sight; it almost felt like he was dead. 

The Doctor leaned back against the railings, his gaze lingering on Everett, “Better calibrate fast, because we’ve got running to do.” He pushed off and awaited the arrival of his companion and his granddaughter. 

[56 Minutes later]

The Doctor stood at his blackboard writing down equations to test Susan, mostly so he could keep his mind distracted from Everett’s unconsciousness. 

Susan sat in the red leather chair, which she had dragged out of the old console room. She snickered. Her grandfather had no idea, the TARDIS had all the old consoles backed up; he always thought there was only one spare. 

She glanced at where her friend's unconscious form lay, well, future friend, she reminded herself. He hadn’t lived through it all; she had much to thank him for. 

She focused back on her astrophysics book, trying to keep her knowledge up to date. 

Clara was spinning in a chair, reading a magazine. The Doctor and Susan had been more concerned with Everett than with where to go next; she hadn’t come here to wait around; she wanted an adventure. 

Everett slowly regained awareness, bootup code flashed in front of his vision, he blinked twice to make it disappear, as his vision adjusted, he saw the place he was in, and he felt relief he was actually out of the nightmare. 

He could even feel cold, his torso still unclothed; he could feel the coldness from the floor, and he purposely lay there for a moment longer to enjoy it. 

Suddenly, a redhead leaned over him, his database recognised her as Susan Foreman, granddaughter of The Doctor. 

She smiled at him, winking, “Hello, Rambo.” She extended her hand, but he pushed himself to sit up. he was old and strong enough to do so especially now that he had control. he wanted to do as much as he could by himself, otherwise why should he have have earned it? 

She pouted at him for denying her help, then she became annoyed as he responded. “Who’s Rambo? My name’s Everett.” 

She sighed. Everett decided she was odd. His vision scanned her in a second. She held herself well, she had once been a warrior, she had fought in a war, like that War version of the Doctor he met, he only had general information, though, that was the best he was going to come up with. 

“Rambo is a movie character,” she informed him while wagging a finger. He scrunched up his brow, “Movie?” he asked, What even was that? Some term he wasn’t familiar with. 

She groaned and threw her hands up, “Rassilon, this is going to be hard!” 

Everett rubbed his brow, “Look, lady-” he pushed himself to his feet and momentarily startled as he saw yet another in the room. 

Her face flashed in front of him as well, Clara Oswin Oswald. 

Susan looked at the others, giddy, “Did he just call me lady? He never calls me lady!” 

He shook his head at her weirdness and focused on the grey-haired Time lord at the chalkboard. 

“Doctor!” Everett called, wanting the man’s attention. He needed to talk. The Doctor turned around, “Everett,” he simply replied as he made his way down. 

“Explain.” Everett crossed his arms. Oh, he loved controlling his limbs; he met the Doctor’s gaze. “What happens now?” 

Everett needed direction, and he might as well pull it from someone who clearly knew him well in the future. 

“Now?” he lifted a brow, “Now you’re free. Go fly and explore,” he waved his hand about as he came closer. 

Everett shook his head, “I meant, how do I fix myself? How do I rid myself of the orders? Because I’ve seen my future self travelling with you, and I also know I get dragged along your timeline,” 

He motioned at his chest, “There is artron energy in me, specifically your timestream trace.” 

The Doctor folded his hands in front of his face, “In due time, you will get answers, all I can tell you is that you travel with me, and together-” he motioned between himself, Susan and Everett.

“-We search for a way to get you free, we’ve yet to rid you of the orders, that’s all I’ll say for now.” 

Everett nodded, thankful the man had shared; if he had been in such a position, he would have more than likely not.

Everett was afraid he wouldn’t trust anyone again, but that wracked his brain because he had seen how his future self interacted with the Doctor. 

“On to different matters, I owe you, we on Trenzalore-” his face became sad, and he swallowed hard. Susan and the Doctor’s hands twitched, wanting to reach out to him, but they restrained themself, he wouldn’t be up for it yet, baby steps. 

“We Trenzalorians hated owing anybody, so let me repay you, in any way you deem fit” He crossed his heart. “Or I shall be forced to hurt myself for bringing shame to my clan.”

The Doctor waved his hands in disagreement. “Don’t do that!” The Doctor dragged a hand over his face. Susan laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and spoke up, “We know about your customs, and we will respect and honour them.” 

Everett nodded gratefully. Maybe she wasn’t that odd. Then he noticed the scorch mark on his side, and he rubbed at the scorch mark,  it hurt, dammit all, his pain receptors were bloody sensitive now. 

The Doctor pushed against the console, “Fine.” That drew Everett’s gaze, letting his hand fall from the mark. “You can make it up to me by letting me look at your inner workings later.” 

“Then that shall be it.” Everett bowed slightly, in agreement, and the Doctor bowed back, both parties acknowledging the deal. 

Suddenly, Clara sprang up, “Right, can we head off now? I’m itching for some excitement.” 

The Doctor looked her way, a crazed smile in place. He pointed at her, “Your choice. Wherever, whenever, anywhere in time and space.” 

Clara grinned together with Susan; they had been planning this. Susan stuck close to Everett, though Everett kept a distance from the girl; she eyed him like a hawk, and that weirded him out. 

“Well,” She began as she walked closer, “there is something, someone that I've always wanted to meet.” She talked with her gaze upwards, thinking of that specific man. 

“But I know what you'll say.”

The Doctor lifted a brow, “Try me.” 

Meanwhile, Susan inched closer and closer to Everett. She had a mischievous glint in her eyes. Everett watched her carefully out of the corner of his eyes, but he could sense no danger from her, so he became a little bit less tense. 

Clara tilted her head at him, “You'll say he's made up, that there is no such thing.” 

The Doctor smirked humoursly, “Go on” Clara stood next to him now, “It’s. It’s Robin Hood” 

“Robin Hood!” Susan shouted excitedly, “Oh, Grandfather, take us, I’ve always wanted to meet him.”

The Doctor looked between the two girls. He flipped on the monitor and pulled up the cover of one of the books. “Robin Hood, the heroic outlaw, who robs from the rich and gives to the poor.”

“Who else, Grandfather?” Susan said, rolling her eyes, then she grabbed Everett’s bicep, “Robin Hood!” she told him excitedly. He looked down at her, unimpressed.

“Who’s Robin Hood?” 

Susan pouted. The Doctor spun the monitor away, “Doesn’t matter, Everett, he’s made up, he’s not real.” 

“Then why do they want to visit him?” he asked with a scrunched brow. The Doctor walked up the steps to the bookcase, he plucked out a book and threw it, “Catch!” 

Everett caught it effortlessly, his reflexes not allowing him to let it slip away. He turned it over in his hand and looked down at it. 

“A fairy tale?” he questioned. Trenzalore had its own set of fairy tales, his favourite, The Owl of Bestle Forest, now that one he believed, his granddad had even spotted the owl when he was young.

Susan plucked it out of his hand, “Robin Hood is amazing, he steals from the rich and gives to the poor, does that remind you of someone, Grandfather?” The Doctor rolled his eyes. “They’re nothing alike.” 

Susan looked out of the corner of her eye, spotting Everett’s beard, “Pretty similar beards.” 

“Come on, Susan, Clara, we can visit anybody, and you want to meet a made-up hero. A legend.” He leaned on the railing. And gave Susan a pointed stare, “And you say you’re 450 years old.” 

Clara slapped him on the arm. “You said my choice! Robin Hood. Show. Me. Now” 

The Doctor pushed her hand away and sighed, “Very well.” Susan and Clara held up a victory sign, Everett wanted her to let go of him, her palms were sweaty. 

“Susan, could you let go of me? I am not a railing.” She turned to him with a deadpan look, “No,” 

Everett sighed and tried pulling away. But she held strong, he sighed, giving up, and even if she had sweaty palms, he did like the warmth she gave off, it made him grounded in the moment, making all this feel real, he’d never let her know. 

The Doctor stood at the coordinates slider. Clara sprinted up, he looked between the girls one last time, “We could go see Charlie Chaplin,” they deadpanned at him and together they yelled. 

“ROBIN HOOD!” 

Everett glared at Susan, “Can you not be a banshee right next to me?” Susan grinned at him apologetically. She knew he was sensitive to loud sounds, but she also knew he hadn’t figured that out yet and when he did. She didn’t want to dwell on it. 

The Doctor groaned and frowned the whole way through typing in the location. He flipped the monitor to Clara and clicked his tongue as Susan pulled at their visual bond. He opened it so she could see. 

“Earth. England. Sherwood Forest. 1190AD. Ish. But you'll only be disappointed.” He told them once more, he’d been to Sherwood with Ian, Barbara and Vicky, and there was no trace of the Archer. 

Clara squealed, and then she ran off to the hallway. “Come on, Susan! Dress up time!” Clara ran off ahead, knowing her friend would follow. 

Susan patted Everett, “Come with, so we can get that charred flesh replaced and-” she motioned at his clothes, “Change your clothes.” 

He looked down at himself, he frowned, he wanted to be rid of the pants and boots, so he would let her lead him, it was for his gain anyway. “Yes, lead the way, and I will follow.” 

Susan led Everett to the hallway. She looked back at her Grandfather, “Grandfather, you are changing too,” she told him sternly. 

He only half glanced at her as he kept the TARDIS steady. “I am perfectly fine as I am, Susan.”

Susan glared at him, “You will change.” The Doctor groaned, “Fine!” he flipped the stabilisers on and followed. “Go! Before I change my mind.” 

Susan giggled and then led the grumpy man and the confused man away. 

[INT. MED WARD]

They had elected to go to the med ward first, cleaning and replacing all of Everett’s charred skin. Susan assisted the Doctor as he replaced the skin with new synthetic skin. 

Everett winced, but he held his tongue, lest he provoke the wrath of the Time lord. His gaze grew distant as he remembered when he had lashed out during one of the first experiments; he had had his nails peeled off as punishment. 

He bit down hard on his lip, wiping away the memory. 

“All done,” the Doctor exclaimed. He pulled off his gloves and threw them into the bin. 

Susan gave him a look that told him enough. “Yes, run off, go change. We’ll be there in a minute,” She kissed him on the cheek and darted off, almost running into the wall. 

He sighed fondly. That girl had gotten so much more troublesome in this regeneration. The Doctor turned back to Everett, “We'd best follow or we’ll never hear the end of it.” 

Everett followed with his gaze to where she had run off, “You all act so kind to me, yet I don’t deserve it. I literally tried to kill you.” he met the Doctor’s gaze, and the Doctor met his with nothing but compassion. 

“I don’t hold it against you, Everett. You weren’t in control. I know what that’s like.”

Everett lifted a brow, did he? He would not question further; everyone had their secrets, and he had big ones. 

“You have my thanks then, Doctor, I don’t know if I would have done the same if I found myself in this situation” 

He stood up, “Let’s join those two then.” The Doctor nodded and led the way. he fidgeted with his thumbs, he hated seeing Everett like this. 

He motioned for Everett to go into the wardrobe first, and then he slid in too. 

[INT. TARDIS WARDROBE]

The wardrobe was big, becoming bigger with each passing year, and tons of racks with different periods of clothes littered the room. 

Everett was shocked at the size and amount of clothing. He had never seen a room with that many clothes before, clothes were a hard thing to get during the war, but here it was just full of them, many clothes he didn’t recognise. 

He stepped ahead a bit, letting his hand slide through “So much,” he muttered. 

“Yes,” The Doctor agreed, his gaze following Everett.  

Susan jumped out from behind a clothes pile. “I already found you two the perfect outfits,” she motioned for them to follow. They weaved between some hangers and ended up near a changing screen. “Here you go, grandfather.” 

She handed him a black doublet with a hexagonal pattern embroidered with gold. 

The Doctor recalled he had worn it briefly during his Fourth life; the pants, though, were just plain black with puffy parts up top, he really didn’t remember what they’d called them during that period.

“Really? This?” he asked Susan, holding it up next to him. “Yes, Grandfather, it suits you!” She started pushing him behind the changing screen. 

“Just put it on, will you?” she told him exasperated and then left him to it. 

Susan then reached for a grey tunic with a few stripes of gold. She put it in Everett’s hand, he looked down at it, and it felt really similar to the clothes from Trenzalore, then she handed him a belt. 

To complete it, she handed him black period-appropriate boots to replace his combat boots and some brown leggings. 

“After Grandfather is done, you can change.” Everett nodded at her in thanks. He wouldn’t have been able to find such an outfit; he didn’t even know where to start, he’d never been able to pick what he’d wear, and he just made due. 

“Thank you, Susan,” She smiled. “Now I’m going to go find Clara?” She waved at him and then left. 

A few minutes later, the Doctor came from behind the screen, grumbling as he adjusted his outfit. “I always blend in perfectly fine. I don’t see the point of this.” 

Everett went behind the screen, ready to get dressed, but suddenly the Doctor yelled, making the man wince, rubbing at his ear in pain, “Susan! I’m off to land us!” 

“Okay, Grandfather!” she yelled back equally as loud. Everett scowled. These people were way too loud. 

Everett quickly undressed, discarding the old clothes without a glance; he had no attachment to them, more like he had disdain for them. The sooner he was rid of them, the less reminders he’d have of his situation. 

He slid on the outfit without trouble, glad to be covered up once more. He walked out from behind the screen and awaited his escort back. He knew he’d get lost otherwise; his systems might be advanced, but his tracking system wasn’t made for navigating a location; it was made to track a person down, so it became all but useless. 

[EXT. SHERWOORD FOREST.]

The TARDIS doors opened, and the Doctor stepped through, looking from side to side. He still pulled uncomfortably at his outfit. 

The Doctor smirked as he observed the forest, satisfied that he had once again been right, “No damsels in distress, no pretty castles, no such thing as Robin Hood.”

The Doctor flinched as an arrow flew by his head straight into the TARDIS. The Doctor stared at it, brow furrowed. 

The Doctor stared in the direction from which it came, and a figure clad in green popped up from behind a rock. 

The Doctor scowled as he recognised the man, ‘It can’t be!’ 

The green man struck a confident pose, puffing out his chest, and he winked at the Doctor. “You called?” 

 The Doctor grumbled the man’s name,  “Robin Hood.”

Chapter Text

[EXT. SHERWOOD FORST]

The Doctor stared at the green-clad figure as he made his way down from the rock that overlooked the river.

The Time Lord's face was firmly set into a scowl. ‘How dare he shoot an arrow into my ship?’

The TARDIS grumbled in his head. The Doctor turned around, ignoring the blundering fool as he came to a halt near the riverbank. 

“Very, very nicely done with the box, sir. I saw a Turk perform something very similar at Nottingham Fayre.” 

The Doctor pulled the arrow out of the TARDIS. He patted her comfortingly. The hole slowly faded away, the exterior fixed itself, not a scratch left upon it.

The TARDIS whirred contentedly. The Doctor smirked, pleased for but a slight moment until he focused back on the situation at hand. 

Robin watched the noble intently, his eyes never left the prize; that box would buy him and his men food for a month and some proper information on where ‘she’ could be.

Robin shook his head as he focused back on the point he was trying to make, “It’s a trick with mirrors, no doubt?”

The Doctor looked at the man, his expression one of offence. “A trick?” 

Robin smirked, Oh, he loved riling people up, “A trick, a good jest.” His smirk grew wider, and then he laughed. 

The Doctor gave the man an incredulous look. How dare he call his ship a trick? ‘Humans and their poor education.’ 

The Doctor, with the arrow still in hand, pointed at the TARDIS, “This is not a trick. This is a Tardis.” 

Robin positioned his hands on his hips, listening to the noble rattle, “Whatever it is, you bony rascal-” Robin smirked as the noble bristled at his words, “I'm afraid I must relieve you of it.”

“She’s my property, that’s what she is?” he threw the arrow away. The Doctor let his hands fall to the side as he watched the man come to a halt on the tree trunk that acted as a bridge. 

Robin narrowed his eyes, “Don’t you know? All property is theft to Robin Hood?” Robin once again struck a heroic pose. 

“You’re not serious,” the Doctor said as he approached the trunk. 

Robin laughed, his whole chest heaving as he did. “I’m many things, sir, but never that.” 

The Doctor laced his hands together, as he listened humoursly to ‘ Robin Hood’ . 

“Robin Hood laughs in the face of all. Ha, ha, ha.” The Doctor smiled, “And do people ever punch you in the face when you do that?” 

Robin shook his head, amused. Nobody ever got close enough to even try. “Not as of yet,” he answered. 

“Lucky I’m here then, isn’t it?” Before Robin could respond, the TARDIS doors closed and three more people stepped out. 

Everett stayed near the TARDIS, as he observed his surroundings, nostalgia crept into him. The forest looked similar to the one on Trenzalore. Just without the covering of snow. 

Susan held onto his arm. The Cyborg smiled at her in humour, “If you keep holding onto me like that, people might get the idea we’re together” Susan looked at him, horrified. 

They were interrupted as Clara dragged both of them down toward the Doctor. 

“So, what do you think? Not too much, is it?” Clara asked, as she did a twirl. Then, she motioned to Susan and Everett. 

The Doctor observed the three, Susan and Clara, wore the same dress but different colours; Susan wore yellow, and Clara wore orange. Both dresses fitted both of them splendidly.

His eyes remained stuck on Everett as he wore a grey tunic, which fit loosely on his frame; the man was too malnourished. 

The Time Lord averted his gaze; the sight became too painful to bear. 

“By all the saints. Are there any more in there?” Robin asked with a gaping mouth. The thief looked back and forth between the three new arrivals with wonder. 

As Everett’s eyes landed on the Archer, everything had frozen around him. Time had stopped. 

He touched a leaf as it floated in mid-air, then he looked to his left, where Susan and Clara’s faces were frozen in a gasping motion. He waved his hand in front of Susan’s face, but she gave no reaction. 

“Okay, not strange at all.” he turned to the Doctor, who had his eyes closed.

Dread filled Everett’s stomach, “The universe hates me, and I hate it back,” he said out loud as he got a solid grasp of his situation. 

Everett grabbed onto the Doctor's arm to snap the man out of it. But when they touched, he suddenly found himself inside an observatory.  

[INT. ASTRAL OBSERVATORY]

He whipped around the room wildly. The walls were made of black marble, and painted on the marble were star signs. Inside the room was held a small collection of telescopes, all with different strengths of lenses. The roof was made of a large glass dome that revealed the night sky of Trenzalore.

“It can’t be!” The brown haired man’s heart raced wildly as he recognised his surroundings, and then his heart skipped a beat. 

“Grandfather!” he exclaimed as the man sat behind his old, worn desk. Everett shook his head vehemently, “You’re dead”, he pointed a finger, his hand shook with unbridled emotion. 

Horrific memories flashed through his mind. Suddenly, Everett’s tone filled with sadness, “I saw you get shot by a Dalek!”

He gritted his teeth and stormed up to the desk, slamming his hands down on it, cracking the wood due to the force of it.

 “Who are you?!” 

The person who wore his grandfather's face stared at him calmly, their fingers interlocked and their hands firmly planted on the wooden desk. “We are the Time Vortex,” they serenely stated. 

Everett’s rage ebbed away at that statement. He laughed a true, hearty laugh, “And I am the princess of Akathen.” 

Everett suddenly fell into a cushiony chair, “Now-” he glared, “Who are you really?” 

The ‘Time Vortex’ sighed, pinching at the bridge of their nose. “Student needs to listen.” 

Before Everret could react, the man leaned over the desk and tapped him on the forehead. The Cyborg's eyes shot open and burned gold. Information flashed rapidly into his mind.

Everett's eyes stayed wide as he snapped out of it. 

The man met the Time Vortex’s gaze, “You chose my grandfather’s form so I would trust you?” 

The ancient being had been right; all he could feel in that moment was happiness. Happines for seeing him again. 

“We did. We had envisioned you would listen better.” 

Everett nodded, of course, he would; he adored his grandfather, and if he could go back to save him from his deathly fate, he would. Just to have one of those bear hugs of his one last time and to tell him he loved him.

Everett felt wetness drip from his eyes; he wiped at it, realising he had been crying. 

Everett shoved his feelings away, locking them away in a box; he needed to focus, the vortex wanted to teach him something, and he needed all his attention to listen. 

“The floor is yours?” he motioned to the Vortex. 

“You can call us Professor,” Everett nodded. If they wished to be called that, he would oblige. 

The Professor stood up from their chair. The man silently pulled out a book from a large bookshelf that reached all the way up to the glass roof. 

“In here you will look,” they informed Everett as they dropped the red book onto the wooden desk. 

Everett, without trying, flipped the book open to the correct page, “Robot of Sherwood?” he asked, reading the title on the yellowed page of the red book. 

The Professor leaned in, their grey moustache almost touching the book as they held it up. “This page contains the events of the adventure you are about to embark on,” they held up a finger. 

“But. We only share what happened in the previous timeline,” Everett stared at the man, confused, “Previous timeline?” 

“Your presence within the Doctor’s life has split the timelines,” Everett frowned. His presence had split the timeline. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

“No”, the Professor assured, “We have it under control. For this has to be.” 

“Why are you sharing this?” his gaze flitted to the page that held the image of the Doctor and Clara. 

“You student. Are our chosen, you will change time when possible.” Everett gritted his teeth. The words sounded familiar: “Are those my orders ?” 

The Professor stared him firmly in the eyes. The man’s eyes swirled a cloudy blue and red, “We do not give orders. You are our chosen, but we do not force you to act.” 

Everett breathed in heavily, his concerns of being manipulated lessening, yet they did not fade entirely.

The Cyborg stared deeply into the vortex’s eyes. He perceived no lies. His Tension ebbed away slowly; He wasn’t going to be forced to act, for once he had a choice.

Everett nodded in acceptance, but he was unsure how to proceed. “Okay? What do I do?” 

The Professor smiled. They gently took Everett’s hand and guided it onto the image of Clara and the Doctor. 

“You will observe the events.” The Professor snapped their fingers, and in an instant, it was like he was watching a holo-show; the adventure played out in his head. 

The Doctor, being suspicious of Robin Hood and his men. A contest held by the Sheriff with a golden arrow as the prize, the Doctor causing them to get captured, and lastly, the explosion of the castle as it flew away.

Everett gasped harshly, his grip tightened on the chair as the events settled firmly into his mind. 

One last thing grabbed his attention: “Where is Susan?” Even though he hadn’t known the girl for long, he felt concerned about her lack of presence during the events he had just witnessed.

The Professor leaned back in their chair, stroking their stubbled chin, “The girl was not part of the previous timeline.” They fell silent a moment as they carefully considered their words, “One day you shall save her.” 

Everett dragged a hand down his face. He had saved Susan from something? “Am I allowed to know why I save her, or when?” 

The Professor closed their eyes and shook their head in negative, “You will know when the time is right.” 

Everett nodded; he would repay the girl's kindness to him by saving her when it was needed; it had already happened in her past. He wouldn’t let her down; he couldn’t lose anybody else. 

“Student, go.” The Professor announced, pulling him out of his thoughts. 

The Professor waved dismissively, making the observatory shimmer out of existence.

[EXT. SHERWOOD FOREST]

His surroundings suddenly flashed bright, giving way to Sherwood Forest. 

Everett stumbled as everything started moving again. The Doctor looked at Everett in concern as he pulled him upright.

Everett wiped at his eyes as they adjusted back to the brightness of the forest. The cyborg's ears rang as Susan and Clara shouted in excitement as they jumped for joy. 

Everett sent the Doctor a grateful nod as he let go of the man’s arm, his gaze flipped to the gaping Robin Hood. Everett smirked. It was a sight many would never see. 

The thief’s eyes flitted over to the TARDIS, “By all the saints. Are there any more in there?” 

Everett assessed the events of the previous timeline and found that the scene in front of him had been delayed; was his presence causing events to be delayed? He just hoped that it wouldn’t lead to any consequences; he really didn’t want anything else on his already full plate. 

Susan gripped onto Everett’s arm excitedly. Everett stared at her with a lifted brow while the Doctor and Clara argued about Robin being real. 

Susan calmed down after a moment, allowing her words to form again, “It’s Robin Hood” Everett gasped, “Really? I hadn’t noticed.” 

Susan swatted him in the arm, her face contorted into a pout. Even though he barely felt the slap, he rubbed at the spot, an old habit that hadn’t faded. 

Susan and Everett's attention were pulled back to the others as the Doctor yelled.

 “An garde!” 

Susan watched in horror as her grandfather started to fight Robin Hood. 

She glared at Clara as she cheered from the sidelines. How could she encourage it? He could end up losing his new body already! She didn’t want to see him lose it so soon. 

She lifted up her skirt so she could run and put an end to the fight, but she didn’t get far as she was lifted off the ground. 

“Not so fast”, Everett murmured into her ear.

“Let go! Grandfather!” Susan yelled, her eyes burned with tears. The Doctor held his arms wide. Robin lunged forward to stab him.

She pushed herself free and rushed forward, but halted when the Doctor pushed Robin into the River. 

The time lady’s eyes stormed over. “Grandfather!” She rushed to his side and hugged him tightly. 

“I’m fine, Susan,” he assured her. 

Susan let go of him as she hit him in the stomach. The Doctor doubled over and groaned. 

Susan leaned over him ominously, “You could’ve died!” 

Everett and Clara moved their way onto the trunk as well. Clara smiled at the Doctor. The Doctor smirked at her as he polished his spoon, “Like I said, my box.” 

Clara gazed into the water, frowning. Her heart sank as she didn’t see Robin anywhere underneath the reflective surface. 

“Doctor?” she grabbed his attention, and both looked into the river, searching for the archer. 

Everett, recalling the scene, sidled up next to the Doctor. Susan gave him a confused glance as he slipped past her. The cyborg gave her a playful wink and then promptly kicked Robin in the face with his boot, knocking the archer back into the water. His attempt to push the Doctor into the water failed. 

“I suggest we get off this trunk.” All four of them nodded and carefully made their way back onto land. 

Robin dragged himself out of the river. He ran a hand through his hair; every part of him had been thoroughly drenched. His leather clothes, uncomfortably stuck to him. 

The Doctor squatted in front of him, smirk in place, “Hoodie zero. Doctor one,” Robin lifted a brow and smiled at the man. “A worthy adversary indeed.” 

The Doctor quickly plucked a lock of hair from Robin’s head. Robin yelped in surprise and glared up at the man. Nobody touched his gorgeous mop of golden locks. 

The Doctor jumped up, not giving the thief any more attention, not even to help the man stand up. 

The time lord took out his sonic screwdriver from inside his doublet. He lifted the hair in front of the light to scan.

The sonic gently whirred as it analysed the DNA inside the thin piece. The Doctor flipped the sonic in front of his eyes, but he scowled at the results. The hair had been too wet to get a proper reading on it; his plan to prove that Hoodie was a fake would have to be delayed until he was at least drier. Which meant they had to stay even longer than he wanted to stay, or… they could just leave and never look back. 

Clara walked up to the Doctor with a frown on her face. The Doctor opened his mouth to speak, but shut it when she extended her hand to help Robin up. The Archer accepted it gratefully. 

The Doctor huffed and turned around.

“So you’re Robin Hood?” Clara asked with dreamy eyes. 

Robin smiled, his hands flying to his side, “In the flesh,” he gently took Clara’s hand and kissed the back of it, “And who would you be, fair maiden?” 

Clara smiled at him, extending her hand for him to shake, “Clara Oswald.” 

The Archer shook her hand firmly. Clara giggled and pushed a stray hair out of her face. Then she motioned to the others in the group, “That is Susan” Susan gave an excited wave from where she stood next to Everret, who leaned against a tree. 

Clara gave a strained smile as she pointed to Everett, “And the man who kicked you is Everett.”  

The brown-haired man didn’t wave back; he just gave a silent nod. Everett wondered why Clara sounded so bitter when she talked about him? Did he do something to anger her? 

“And you met the Doctor,” Robin laughed heartily, “You are a strange bunch.” Robin jumped back onto the tree trunk. “Thanks for kindly introducing yourself, now I shall do the same,” he struck his pose.

“I am Robin Hood. The handsome thief who protects the poor and thwarts the rich,” he smiled, winking at Clara. She giggled at his theatrics. 

The Doctor rolled his eyes, “There we go” he walked up to Clara, “Happy now, you’ve seen Robin Hood, now it’s time to go. I am going to catch the plague if we stay here any longer.” 

Clara glared at him, “We’re not going,” she told him firmly. Before the Doctor could argue, Susan approached them, “Calm down, Grandfather. We can stay for a bit longer, we’re not in a rush.” 

“Splendid!” Robin bellowed, pleased with the situation. “Better listen to the ladies, they make good points.”  Robin laughed as the Doctor scowled. 

“Fine!” The Doctor threw up his hands; he knew when he was fighting a losing battle. He’d just have to run a few tests while they stayed.

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. SHERWOOD FOREST]

Everett walked at the back of the group while Robin led them to his camp. Clara didn’t stray from his side; she animatedly talked with the man. Everett could see the admiration rolling off the girl in waves. 

Susan walked in the middle of the group with the Doctor at her side.

The time lady pressed him for answers, she narrowed her eyes at him, “You came here before?” 

The Doctor looked down at her. He shrugged, “Once.” 

“When was that?” 

“Does it matter?” The Doctor asked, hesitant to go into detail. He didn’t like thinking about the past; when he did, it always brought up bad memories. 

Susan tilted her head at him, “Come on, Grandfather. I’m just interested.”

He sighed, “I came here with Ian, Barbara and Vicki. Barbara wanted to meet Robin.”

Susan's eyes lit up in delight. “That sounds very like Barbara. We should visit Ian and Barbara sometime,” she clapped her hands in glee, already deciding they would. 

“Do we have to?” the Doctor asked, brow furrowed. He hadn’t seen them since they had left, and they hadn’t left on the best of terms; he had been very hurt when they had decided to depart, leaving him alone with Vicki. 

Susan met his eyes, confused, “Do you not want to?” 

The Doctor hesitated, “It’s complicated, Susan.” He gulped, “What if they don’t want to see us? It’s been a very long time” 

Susan scoffed, “For you” The Doctor frowned at that, “You went to see them, didn’t you?” Susan gave him an innocent smile. “Of course I did, they are my oldest friends,” 

The Doctor dragged a hand over his face, a fond smile playing on his lips, “Fine, we’ll go visit them.” He pointed his index finger at her, “But I’m not to blame when Chesterton throws a fit for ringing his doorbell.” 

Everett’s gaze lingered on the two’s backs as they looked at each other fondly. It hurt his heart. Alta flashed through his mind, he firmly closed his eyes to keep his memories at bay. 

He had to keep going; he didn’t have time to dwell on these things. He had a goal to achieve, and lots of other things to do while he worked towards it, the feelings and memories would just be a distraction, dragging him further into the abyss he was already stuck in. 

But as much as he repeated all of this to himself and as much as he tried shoving the memory of the girl he once cared for out of his mind, the more she showed up.

Susan was a constant reminder of her, both full of life and both stubborn, always getting their way. 

He had only just met Susan, and she had already captured his heart; he would protect her with his life. He had a sneaking suspicion it was his guilt of having failed Alta talking, but he didn’t care; he had lost one boisterous girl, he wouldn’t lose another. 

“How are you faring?” The Doctor startled him as he appeared at his side. 

Everett kept his gaze ahead. Whenever the Doctor and he met eyes, the man’s eyes were always filled with emotions he didn’t want to understand or address. 

“I’m fine.” 

The Doctor scrunched up his brow and fiddled with the golden ring on his finger. 

The Doctor wasn’t the best at emotions in this regeneration, and usually Everret made up for that for both of them, but now he had an Everret who was filled with locked-away rage. 

An Everett who bottled up emotions, just like him, and it made him feel strange. He wanted to reach out, but he didn’t know how; it had been too long since he had encountered such an early version of him, and his memories were blurred on how he used to handle it. 

Everett knew the man wanted to say something, but they both kept walking in silence. 

[EXT. SHERWOOD FOREST, OUTLAW’S HIDEAWAY]

The Doctor only spoke up once they walked into Robin’s camp. “Hold this,” he shoved a needle into Everett’s hand. 

“What’s this for?” Everett asked tensely, holding the needle at a small distance.

 The Doctor, oblivious to the tension, smiled crazily, “Science.” 

Everett then recalled the man had used the needle on one of the merry men, and his posture relaxed; he wasn’t going to get injected. 

Everett smirked, “The Doctor is going to be a Doctor.” 

The Doctor winked at him, “Don’t you know it, the Doctor is in.” 

Robin introduced his friends to a smiling Susan and Clara. “This is Will Scarlet. He is a cheeky rogue with a good sword arm and a slippery tongue.”

Will bowed to them, “Ladies” The Doctor walked up behind the man and plucked a hair from his head. 

The Doctor ignored the stares from Susan and Clara, and Susan grumbled under her breath about his actions and how he was embarrassing her. 

Everett held up the Sonic Screwdriver for the Doctor while the Time Lord held the hair near it.  

Everett hummed, “You know I can easily tell you if they’re all real, right?” 

“Where’s the fun in that?” The Doctor dismissed the offer. 

He frowned at the hair, “Well, it's realistic, I'll give you that.” 

The Doctor placed the hair back on Will’s head. “Here you go, good as new!” he said, and then he moved on, while Will stared, dumbfounded, a hand went up to his head in confusion. 

Everett pocketed the sonic screwdriver; his systems were already scanning all the settings, so he didn’t have to fumble with the device later on. 

Robin shook his head in disbelief and then cleared his throat. He moved the two ladies to the right to introduce the rest of his friends. 

“This is Friar Tuck. Aptly named for the amount of grub he tucks into.”

“You skinny blackguard.” The men all laughed. Tuck headed forward to give Robin a humorous punch when he stumbled. 

Everett had crouched down to steal his sandal, the Doctor took it from Everett and licked it. Everyone looked on in disgust. 

“What are you doing?” Tuck screamed at the Doctor, “It’s a real sandal.” he threw it away, not caring to hand it back. 

“Grandfather!” Susan yelled, annoyed at his actions, “Give the man his sandal back!” 

The Doctor grumbled but did as told. “I’m sorry for my Grandfather, he can be.. forward,” Susan explained to the group, she smiled kindly, “Bear with him.” 

Then she glared at Everret, “What are you doing?” 

Everett was ready to put the needle in Alan’s arm, “Science?” he told her, but it came out more like a question. 

She ripped the needle out of his hands. “No, you’re enabling grandfather’s antics, stop it” She slapped him on the chest and pulled him up and with her away from the group and her grandfather’s bad influence. 

“I expected this from Grandfather, but not from you!” she scolded. 

Everett glared at the ground, but held his tongue. Susan watched as his fist tightened. She gently took hold of his arm, ignoring the Doctor’s antics as he continued terrorising the merry men; she would get to him later.

She needed to focus on Everett for now; he was still new, and she didn’t want him tumbling down the wrong path, changing who he was going to become. 

Susan smiled tenderly “Look, I’m not mad, and I know you’re new to this, but I’m just trying to look out for you.” She hesitated. “Just like you do for me.” 

Everett's fist loosened. “I was just trying to fit in,” he told her silently. She smiled. “That’s good,” Susan lifted his head with her finger. “But you can do that by being yourself; you don’t have to change who you are to do so.” 

“But I like messing with people,” he told her with a smirk. Susan smiled cheekily, “Don’t I know it!” 

Everett kept her in place, looking into her eyes, “What am I to you?” 

Susan tried to get out of his grip. She shouldn’t tell him, “Please, Susan, I need to know” Susan looked down and then into his eyes. “You’re like a brother to me.” 

Everett let her go, satisfied by the answer, but conflicted by it as well. “Thanks for answering. Now let’s get you back to that hero of yours.” 

She frowned as he slid back into his avoidant behaviour, but she’d allow it for now. 

She dragged him with her, and this time, he only put up minimal resistance. Making her chest flutter in happiness, she had already made progress. 

Susan quickly let go of Everret’s arm, making the man stumble a bit. 

The Time Lady swiftly rushed forward as her Grandfather threw out the contents of a goblet and presented it to Robin. 

“Grandfather! What are you doing?” 

Clara squinted at him in warning. “I’d like to know as well” 

The Doctor pushed the Goblet into Robin’s hand and then turned to the girls, walking a bit further from the group with them. 

Susan grumbled; she had only just gotten back, and she was already being forced away from the group again.

Everett darted to them, not wanting to rejoin Robin’s group.

“Isn’t it obvious?” The Doctor began, the girls quirked a brow his way, they didn’t know what he was on about. 

“No, seems it's not,” he motioned at the group behind them. “They’re not Holograms, that much is obvious.” 

Everett chuckled, “Why was that even in cards? They’re not blue and see-through” He tilted his head, observing the group “Well, that might actually be better than having to see their faces.” 

Susan hit him in the shoulder for the comment. Everett kept smirking, rather proud of himself for thinking of that one; it felt good to make fun of people. Well, he would only do it behind their back; he’d feel ashamed if he did it to their face, except if it was Robin, he didn’t like Mister Smug . 

“Could be a theme park from the future.” The Doctor suggested his foot tapping in thought. The Doctor gasped and looked up. An idea had hit him. 

“Or we might be inside a miniscope!” 

“Or a Prison ship,” Susan suggested with a clap of her hands. 

“Both of you shut up!” Clara turned to Susan with a quizzical frown. “Why are you suggesting stuff? Now you’re enabling him.” Clara's eyes flitted to Everett before she looked away, annoyance hitting her.

Susan smiled at her innocently, her hands innocently placed behind her back. “Just keeping an open mind, that’s all.” Clara rolled her eyes at the answer. 

“Prison ship?” The Doctor queried, “Where did you ever encounter that?” 

“Oh, took a trip with Amy and Rory, and we ended up in a prison ship that looked like a hotel” Susan suddenly frowned, “I told you this” The Doctor shrugged, “I don’t remember everything.” 

“You should. Also, Clara just walked back to Robin,” The Doctor motioned at his eyes. “I have eyes, you know. I saw her walk off.” 

“Sometimes it seems like you don’t, also Miniscope?” 

“A miniscope. Yes, of course. Why not?” Susan crossed her arms, her freckled face set with a firm look of confusion, “What is a Miniscope?” 

“Great question!” The Doctor suddenly turned, “One, I’ll answer later. Where did Everett go?” 

Susan turned around, “Well, he was just here,” she looked around the hideaway, looking for any trace, but the man had vanished into thin air.

“Yes, but now he’s not, also, why is it so sunny? It’s supposed to be Autumn.” The Doctor, distracted by both ideas, looked at Susan for help. He wanted to find Everett, but he was bugged by everything being wrong as well.

Susan sighed and ran a hand through her red locks. “Fine, I’ll go find Everett, you find the answer.” She shook her head at him, “What would you do without me?” 

“Be amazing?” he suggested smugly. 

Susan scoffed, “You wish,” and then she was off to track Everett.

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM]

“The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood,” Everett read aloud as he held the book that the Doctor had thrown his way earlier. 

The cyborg had decided to come back to read up about Robin to get a better understanding of his tale and maybe find a reason to care about who Robin Hood was. 

From the vision he had been shown, the group wouldn’t be going anywhere for the next two hours. So he might as well do some research to get to know the people they were allying with, he said ally, but they were more unwilling acquaintances. But he’d rather be informed about them instead of blindly following them into danger for Crandr’s sake.

Even if he knew what had happened in the previous timeline, his instincts told him to stay away from Robin and his Merry Band. 

Everett looked around the room, unfamiliar with it, having spent only a brief minute within before they had all left to change. 

He ran his hand over the console; the metal gave off a warm feeling. Everett gazed up into the orange light; he could hear a hum inside his head; it was the TARDIS herself. 

“So it’s true you’re sentient,” the TARDIS whirred in affirmation, “Uhm… good to know, nice.. to meet you.” Everett stared for a moment longer, until the silence began to feel awkward. 

The slipping of the book brought him back to what he had been doing; he slid his hand off the console and made his way up the stairs to the red leather armchair. 

Everett nestled himself comfortably in the armchair, his hand dragged over one of the metal support beams, the cold felt nice to his fingers, reminding him of home… he shook his head, he had no time to dwell on such thoughts. 

Everett moved one of his legs onto the chair and let the other dangle. He laid his book upon his left leg, “Let’s see who you are, Robin Hood ” 

“He’s a thief,” Everett yelped and jumped out of the chair, the book that was perched on his leg clattered down to the ground, falling through the railings deep into the bottom of the console room. 

Susan held up her hands, “It’s only me.” Everett frowned at her, his fist clenched and unclenched rapidly. “Yes, I see that,” he replied shortly. 

“It wasn’t my intention to scare you,” Susan told him as she walked over to the control panel and leaned against it. She looked up to the upper level where Everett was. When they met eyes, she made herself as visible to him as possible, trying to show him he was safe.

Everett bit his lip as he watched her movements. When she faced him with a look of complete calmness on her face, he began to feel it too, and his heart began to slow down. 

Everett leaned over the railing and pointed at the doors, “How come I didn’t hear you come through the doors? They’re not that quiet.” 

“I have my ways,” Susan said, twirling a red lock of hair. She smiled cheekily.

“Right,” Everett muttered, nodding his head as she kept smiling. He dragged a hand over his face, his hand stopped and scratched at his beard. 

Then he narrowed his eyes at her, “Also, how did you find me? I’m sure I left no trace behind, alluding to where I was going.” 

“I h-” Everett groaned, “Don't say I have my ways,” he pushed off the railings and quickly hopped down the steps. He came to a halt in front of her. 

“I’m going to assume it has something to do with my future.” 

Susan nodded in delight, “Who knew you were so smart, but yes, it does.” Susan had tracked Everret by a trace of his psychic energy, but she couldn’t tell him that he didn’t even know he had psychic energy yet. 

Everett gasped, mock hurt on his face, he held a hand over his heart, “You wound me madam, I am smart, smarter than you think.” 

Susan playfully slapped him on the arm, “Okay, enough theatrics.” Susan crossed her arms and then gave him a serious squint, “Next time, don’t wander off. Why did you even come back to the TARDIS?” 

“I came back here to read up on Robin. I’m not exactly familiar with him, Susan. Thought I’d read about him while we have some downtime.” 

“Downtime?” she quirked a brow.

Everett waved his hand about, “Yeah, we have a good two hours before we need to be somewhere.” 

“And how do you know that?” She leaned closer, his golden eyes darted around the console room, looking anywhere but her. “I have my sources.” 

“Oh, which sources?” She leaned in even more, her blue eyes almost touching his beard. 

“Okay, back up shorty. Did you never learn about personal space?” He held a hand against Susan’s head, pushing her back, “I have my secrets, you have yours. Okay?” 

Susan gaped at him, “You did not just call me short!” She stomped her foot in indignation.

Everett smirked as he held up his hands in innocence, “But that’s what you are, I’m just stating facts.” 

“Oh, you’re dead, Deocampo.” She lunged at him, but Everret sprinted around the console room. Susan gave chase, “Get back here, big nose!” she shouted. Everett stopped in his tracks at her words. 

“Excuse me?” Susan smirked in victory, “Now you know how it feels. Ha!” 

Everett took off in a sprint, and before she knew he had her tightly in his grip. She kicked at him but gave up; he was too strong.

“We even?” he asked. “Never,” Everett nodded, and let her go. 

Susan huffed and pushed her hair back down, smoothing down her dress as well. 

“Anyway, I know who your source is; you tell us. It’s the Time Vortex, you’re their chosen.” 

Everett gaped at her, “I tell you?” Susan nodded, “Yep,” she popped her P, “It’s a hard thing to hide from us Time Lords, we’re connected to time and you exude it.” 

Everett rubbed at his brow, “I didn’t stand a chance, did I?”

“Nope,” She leaned her head on his shoulder, “You don’t have to carry all of this alone, me and grandfather are here for you, just give us a chance.” 

Everett petted her head, “Maybe I will.” 

Susan squealed and hugged him. He quickly pushed her off, “Not doing that just yet. Also, I know you see me as your brother, but all that hasn’t happened for me yet, so don’t call me Brother just yet.” 

Susan nodded at his words, ‘ baby steps,’ she thought. 

“Now come on, if you want to do research, there’s a better place for it, and you’ll love it” 

She gently took his hand and dragged him into the corridors. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TARDIS LIBRARY]

“Hold this. This too, and this. That should be it.” Susan wiped her hands down. She turned around to look at Everett. 

Everett almost lost his balance; the stack of books too high in his arms, obscuring his vision. “Can you take some books?” 

Susan quickly scrambled to stand on her tiptoes as she took off some books from the pile. 

Everett now saw properly and followed Susan to the seating area. They slowly walked across a balcony with an enormous glass-stained window. 

Everett briefly glanced through. Two suns shone in a burnt orange sky, “That’s Gallifrey’s sky.” Susan told him quietly, “All gone now.” 

“I’m sorry for your loss.” The two stared out the window in companionable silence for a moment before they made their way down a wooden spiral staircase. They waded through some rows of bookshelves before they passed a wooden information terminal. 

Beyond the Terminal in the middle of the library stood a cosy seating area, with white plants dotted around the area, along with a few brown and grey leather couches and armchairs. 

Everett and Susan laid their books down on the oak coffee table, and then they both took a seat on the brown leather couch, Susan with her legs tucked under her and Everett with one leg hanging from the couch and one perched upon it. 

“The Library has changed quite a bit since Grandfather first started travelling. This is the best it has looked.” 

Everett enjoyed the smell of old paper that lingered in the area; it reminded him of the time he spent in the observatory on Trenzalore. 

“Libraries are great,” he told her with a longing tone, “There wasn’t a book on Trenzalore I hadn’t read.” 

“Now you can read all the books in this place,” Susan suggested with a smile. 

“I’m not the same person anymore.” Everett tilted his head back sadly, “I don’t have the patience anymore.” 

“You won’t know if you don’t try,” Susan told him with an encouraging smile.

“Wise words. How old are you?” Everett asked, a brow lifted in curiosity. Susan giggled, “How bold of you. But I’ll answer, I’m four-hundred and fifty years old.” 

“Big number, I’m thirty-two, I’m like an ant compared to you.” 

“Kneel before me, my Ant subject.” Everett turned to look away, a smirk on his face, “I’d much rather stick a pencil in my eye than bow down to someone.” 

“You disobey your queen, off with your head!” Susan pointed at him, giggling, and they both fell into full-blown laughter; both their moods lifted. 

“Shall we read?” Everett suggested picking the top book of his pile. 

“Hey! This is the book I dropped in the console room,” Susan picked up a book of her own. 

“Is it? The TARDIS must have brought it here, she’s good at that” She patted the railing behind the couch affectionately. 

“Yeah, we had a sort of conversation. I talked, she hummed and whirred.” Susan smiled in delight, “That’s a sign she likes you!” 

Everett closed his eyes, getting a grip of the situation, “Two hours ago, I was hunting your grandfather, and now a sentient ship likes me. How did my life end up like this?” 

 The conversation fell silent after that, and both started reading their books. With each book, Everett got a better understanding of what Robin did, but he couldn’t put it together with what he knew the man to be like. 

One was an annoying-smug man, and the other was a hero who helped the poor and freed them from the tyranny of the rich. But did he do it for gain or because he genuinely cared? Maybe he would never know, and he was sure as Tyranttar not going to ask. 

What Everett knew was that he used to be an earl; he had no proper idea what an Earl was, but he assumed it held some power. He lost that, and now he’s playing the part of a hero while he searched for the girl he loves.

Everett respected Robin, but he didn’t like Robin. 

“Okay, I think I know enough.” Everett threw his last book back onto the coffee table, and then he collapsed back onto the couch. He ran a hand through his hair. 

Susan was still reading, immersed in one of Robin’s many escapades. Susan loved reading, and Barbara had introduced her to so many tales, but before she had finished reading all of Robin Hood’s tales, she was left behind by her grandfather. 

And now that she was going back to visit Ian and Barbara, she wanted to finish all of it so she could tell Barbara, and they’d have something fun to talk about over tea. 

Susan still felt mad sometimes at her grandfather for leaving her behind in an unfamiliar place and with a man she didn’t love. They had shared a connection, but it fizzled out not long after she had been left behind. 

Afterwards, she trekked all over the earth. She helped the people build back up after the Daleks. 

But she could never stay mad at her grandfather; he had only wanted to do a good thing, he had wanted to give her a proper life, one he hadn’t had. He had explained as much when they’d met again. 

And he looked so much happier, that day she met Everett, and how her grandfather looked at him told her enough about why he looked so much happier. 

She shook her head, and the memories floated away. She continued her reading. Biting on her thumb as she concentrated. 

[30 MINUTES LATER]

“Just put the books near the terminal and the TARDIS will put them back on the right shelves.”  

Susan put her hand near her mouth and whispered, “The old girl likes doing it herself; she’s specific with placements.” Susan yelped as her other hand got shocked by the terminal; the TARDIS whirred in laughter. 

Susan glared up at the ceiling, “That wasn’t nice.” Susan whipped her finger about. The only sign of the shock was a scorch mark. 

“Does she do that often then?” Everet asked as the two made their way to another section of the library

“The TARDIS likes letting you know when you’ve annoyed or angered her, so I’d say she does it quite often,” Everett pulled at his tunic. 

“I'd best stay on her good side, then don’t wanna get launched into the vortex.” Susan snickered, “She actually never does anything to you; for some reason, she tolerates your antics.” 

“Really?” Everett smirked, “I’m gonna be so annoying now you don’t even know.” 

Susan scoffed, “I know exactly what you mean.” They came to a halt in a new section, on the highest level of the library. The shelves were decorated with red ribbons that divided the sections. 

“Horror section?” Everet slid his hand over a hardback cover of one of the many books. “Why are we here?” 

“I know you like reading, so I wanted to introduce you to a genre I know you love.” Susan pulled out a copy of The Shining by Stephen King.

“Take this, I know you’ll love it” It was Everett’s favourite book; he kept nitpicking how the movie was such an unfaithful adaptation. And now she knew how he had found the book; she had led him to it. 

“The Shining?” Everett flipped the book over and read the summary. “Okay, that does sound interesting.” 

“I’ll read it.” Everett wanted to stash it away but had no pockets, “Can’t really take it with me, don't have a bag.” 

“Just put it back and the TARDIS will take care of it.” Everett put the book back on the shelf, and it got sucked away. 

“You’ll get it back later,” Everett nodded, “Thank you for showing me, I guess.” Everett fiddled with the hem of his tunic. 

The two fell into a comfortable silence as they made their way back to the console room through the grey hallways, the walls lined with blue supports that connected to the roof. 

[INT. TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM]

As they walked back onto the landing where the Console was settled, Everret spoke up, “I don’t get why you like Robin. I think he’s annoying; his legend is admirable, but the man is too flirty.” 

Susan shrugged, “I don’t really like him, I just admire him, he does some great things.” 

“You can do great things but still be annoying,” Everett told her as he leaned against the railings. 

“Never meet your heroes, they say,” Susan replied.

 Everett looked disgusted “He’s not my hero; I’d rather have an Owl be my hero.” 

“It’s a quote from Earth,” Susan informed him with a smile. “And really an owl?” 

Everett shrugged, “They’re cute” 

“Hm,” Susan nodded, “If you say so.” 

Susan walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder, “I know you have your vision and your own view of Robin.” She let her hand slide away and went to hold open the door. 

“Just keep an open mind about him. He might surprise you.”

Everett dipped through the door and then held it open for her. He made a small scoff at her words. “My mind is already open, it let in an annoying virus called programmed orders.” 

Susan shook her head with a fond smile on her lips. “Just try.” 

The doors fell closed behind her, and then she hooked her arm through Everett’s. He didn’t push her away, and they started on their track back to the others. 

Both their heads filled with a fun experience. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. ARCHERY GROUND]

On a small stage stood a man who lifted a golden arrow for all to see. “In the contest for the golden arrow, after ten rounds, the battle is betwixt our Lord Sheriff”

The crowd cheered, subdued. They only silenced when the Sheriff lifted a finger. “And the stranger known as Tom the Tinker.”

This time, the crowd didn’t cheer subdued, but they cheered at the top of their lungs. The crowd fell silent as Robin did a little bow, acknowledging their support. 

Behind the tents, Susan, Everett and The Doctor hid. The Doctor had created a plan that he had assured them was more than likely going to work. 

“And you’re sure this isn’t just so you can defeat Robin Hood?” Susan asked as she snatched the bow out of his hands. 

The Doctor snatched the bow right back out of her hands, “I’m not into petty competition, Susan.” 

“Sure, you’re not.” 

Suddenly, the crowd cheered once more, and the Doctor took that as his signal to come from behind the tent. 

The crowd gasped as a third arrow struck through the two already stuck in the bullseye. 

Everett and Susan came from behind the tent as well, the two being the only ones unimpressed with the shot, knowing why it had struck the mark so perfectly. 

“He’s a bit of a show off, isn’t he?” Everett asked as he turned to look at Susan. “Yeah, he is, don’t know where he gets it from.” 

“One of his past companions, perhaps?” Everett provided, “Could be, I wasn’t with him for most of his regenerations.” 

Everett pushed Susan out of the way as the Golden arrow the Doctor had thrown headed their way. It jutted out of the ground near a sickly looking man who stumbled to the ground in fright. 

Everett let his hands fall away and then lifted a brow at Susan, “Where were you then? Did you nip off to Poosh?” 

Susan held her hands in front of her, a slight frustration burning within her, “No, I was on Earth just in the twenty-second century.” 

“Why there?” 

“Spoilers” 

“What?” Everett asked, confused at the word, the conversation ended as the target exploded due to sonic screwdriver. 

The Doctor had grown exhausted with the competition. 

“Fascinating. Seize him!” The Sheriff yelled across the courtyard, and the guards all robotically approached the Doctor, Clara and Robin. 

Everett went to help, but Susan dragged him back, “We can help them fight!” He hissed at her. 

“No, we’d just get captured with them.” 

The Sheriff, having overheard their little spat, silently directed two guards their way. 

Robin charged forward, facing the knight in combat. The crowd cheered as he revealed himself to be Robin Hood. 

With a swift strike to the shoulder, Robin cleanly cut off the knight’s arm. 

The Knight’s arm sparked violently. The Doctor rushed forward and examined the fallen limb, “Robot!”

Everett stood protectively in front of Susan as two of the guards approached them. 

“Hello, lads. Want to have a talk?” The two lifted their swords. And Everett fell into his fighting stance, unconsciously.

“Susan, stay behind me!” Everett commanded firmly, “Yeah, I will, I‘m not fighting in my dress,” she scoffed. 

Everett glanced to the side as another explosion rang and the crowd started to scatter in a panic. 

“Take them. Kill the rest. Kill them all!”

The guards lunged forward, swords ready to strike Everett’s legs as he spun to kick them in the chest.

He pushed himself off the ground and kicked the right guard's sword into the left's chest, making it spark violently. 

“Nice!” Susan congratulated, Everett winked, “I’m awesome, I know.” 

The others were cornered and ceased. “Everett, Susan, leg it!” The Doctor yelled, launching the sonic screwdriver their way. 

Susan caught the device and then gripped onto Everret’s arm, dragging him away. 

“Look out!” The Doctor yelled as one of the guards neared with his sword, flying towards Everett’s throat.

Everett looked up in a panic. Suddenly, his stomach filled with fire, and his whole body glowed golden. Susan connected to him, also shone, and in a lightning strike, both of them disappeared. 

The guards strike cut into the tent instead. 

The Sheriff’s eyes lingered on the burned grass, “Fascinating, search for them!” he commanded the remaining free guards, leaving the rest of the civilians to make an escape. 

The Doctor’s hearts calmed as he felt both of their psychic connections. He let out a breath of relief, ‘They’re safe.’ 

The Sheriff cockily walked up to them, his cape whipping behind him, “Now you three,” he stroked his beard. 

“Lock them up in the dungeon.” The guards dragged them away, and Robin thrashed in their grip. 

“You coward! Face me in battle,” The Sheriff chuckled, “Face you in battle? Why would I? I already have you in my grasp.” 

The Sheriff turned his back, deigning the conversation over.

“You ev-” Clara stomped on his foot, shutting him up. “Shut it or we’ll be in worse trouble.” 

“Yes, listen to her, Hoodie.” Clara then scowled at the Doctor, “Don’t think you’re off the hook.” 

The Doctor frowned and opened his mouth to protest, “Just shut it, both of you” That’s when the castle gate closed behind them. 

The Sheriff crouched near the scorched grass, a sharp smell of burning hitting his nostrils. “Run while you can, I shall have you sooner rather than later.” 

One guard stood near him, and he motioned at the grass, “Cut it out and bring it to the dining hall. I shall get answers soon.” 

Then the Sheriff strode inside, a smirk firmly planted on his face. Today could not have gone better.

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. SHERWOOD FOREST]

Everett stumbled onto the leafy ground, disoriented from the jump. “What just happened?” 

He asked as he supported his head, a banging coming from within; he had no clue how that was even possible. 

Susan supported herself on a tree; she was still not fully accustomed to the jumps. 

“Uhm… I can’t really explain it.” Both looked up in panic as a crunch could be heard. 

Susan’s tension lessened as she saw who it was; it was an old gentleman with combed grey hair, a bushy moustache, and round glasses; he had swirly red and blue eyes. 

The man had their hands firmly set on the lapels of their brown tweed jacket. “Allow me to enlighten you, student.” 

Everett scrambled up off the ground, his shoulders tense, “You. How did you get here?” 

“We appear when we are needed,” the Professor explained vaguely. 

Susan approached Everett and brushed a few stray leaves away from his back. Everett fidgeted briefly until he saw what she had been doing. 

He unconsciously reached out a hand to Susan, who gently linked hers with his. She then smiled at the old man and respectfully bowed her head, “Professor”, she greeted. 

The old man nodded in acknowledgement, “Time lady” 

Everett looked at the two with a scrutinising gaze, “You’ve met?” 

Susan nodded, “On more than one occasion.” 

“Let me guess, I’ll find out in due time.” Susan patted his shoulder, “I’m afraid so.” 

“Okay, explain,” Everett turned his heated gaze back onto the old man who stayed perfectly between two trees. 

The old man waved their hands, and suddenly the three were back in the observatory. 

[INT. ASTRAL OBESERVATORY]

“Freaky,” Everett muttered as he touched the marble walls with his hand, his hand phased through. 

“That’s it, I’m dead,” he kept waving his hand through the walls. 

“Death has not come to you; we have cast your minds into our realm.” 

“Right could’ve asked for consent,” Everett growled, his hand clenched. It only stopped when Susan gripped his other hand tighter. 

“We do not have the time.”  The Professor stated as they disappeared and reappeared behind their desk. 

“Come look.” Susan dragged the cyborg forward, excited. She liked coming here; it always brought something exciting. 

“Hold your horses!” Everett exclaimed as he got dragged with Susan. “Sit!” The Professor snapped their fingers, and the two fell onto a green couch. 

“Observe.” 

A small orb was placed in the middle of the desk, and it replayed the moment in the courtyard when Everett had glowed golden and then disappeared. 

“Right, that’s what happens when I jump,” Everett observed. 

“No, not really. “Susan stated as she dragged a finger over the orb. “Usually when you jump, you glow blue, the colour of Artron energy, but when you do this, you glow golden, the colour of the vortex.” 

“Indeed, Time Lady,” The professor laced their hands together. 

“As the time lady stated, this is not the same. What you just did was a power we granted you.” 

Everett took in a deep breath. “A power?” 

“Yes, you are our chosen; we supply you with powers, but you lack control.” They swiped their hand over the orb, and it faded away. 

“In time, you shall learn to harness the power and use it at will; until then, it shall act when you are most emotional.” 

Everett threw his head back and laughed without humour, “So I have even less control over my body. just great.” 

“Take me back!” He dragged his hand out of Susan’s she briefly frowned. Of course, he would be angry, so she would let him be for a moment.

[EXT. SHERWOOD FOREST]

The Professor snapped their fingers, and they all stood back in Sherwood Forest. “Student knows, we shall leave,” and in a blue flash, the Professor was gone. 

Everett avoided Susan’s gaze as his mind reeled with the information. He had only just escaped the grasp of the scientists, and now he was in the grasp of an omnipotent being. 

He suddenly screamed in anger and punched straight through a tree. Susan slowly approached and wanted to reach out, but was afraid she would get his ire; she didn’t like Everett angry, he wasn’t the same person. 

Everett heard Susan stall in her movement, and he knew he should calm down; he couldn’t deal with this now. There were matters to be taken care of. 

“Right, I got powers,” He wiped his hand, no damage visible on his hands, he smiled tightly at Susan. 

“Come on, we’ve got to save some people.” 

Susan nodded with a tight-lipped smile, “It’s alright if you’re not alright, I’m here if you wanna talk.” 

“I don’t know what you’re on about.” Everett fastened his pace. “I mean it, Everett, don’t bottle this up.” 

He turned around with a frown on his Face, his fist tightened, “Drop it,” he hissed at her. 

Then it hit him, “He threw you the sonic screwdriver.” 

Susan reeled from the sudden mood change, “Uhm, he did.” She pulled the screwdriver out of her dress. 

“That’s good, originally the Sheriff was going to take it.” 

“Is there a setting on there to track the Doctor?” Everett asked as he leaned over her shoulder, his anger momentarily laid to the side.

Susan wasn’t happy he wasn’t addressing things, but she would ignore it for now and flipped the sonic on, the Isomorphic controls letting her through. 

She switched to setting 15A, “This way,” Susan motioned him to follow when it directed them to the right. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. CASTLE DUNGEON]

“Splendid.” Robin lifted his left hand, his face set in fury, “Enchained!” 

Clara rolled her eyes, “Yep.” 

“Trussed up like turkey-cocks. Thanks to your friend.” 

“Shut it, Hoodie. I saved your life.” Robin glared at the Doctor, “I had the situation well in hand.”

The Doctor whipped his head to Robin, “Long-haired ninny versus robot killer knights?” 

The Doctor scoffed, “I know where I’d put my money.” 

Robin grew more frustrated with the fool as he kept speaking, “If you had not betrayed me, I would have been triumphant.” 

The Doctor smiled humouressly, “You would have been a little puff of smoke and ashes.” 

The Doctor lifted his hand a bit, miming floating dust, “You'd have been floating around in tiny little laughing bits in people's goblets.” 

“Balderdash. Ha!”

The Doctor turned to Clara, exasperated. He just wanted to get back to the TARDIS and let the fool rot in the dungeon. He was filled with a grain of hope as he felt Susan’s determination through the familial bond. 

 The Doctor groaned as the fool started laughing once more, stirring him out of his thoughts. He tried to lift his fingers to block his ears, but he was dragged down by the chains, making Robin laugh harder. 

“Stop laughing!” 

“Well, you amuse me, grey old man.”

Clara sighed as they kept bickering. Clara banged her head against the post as the two men screamed for the guard. She hoped Susan would show up soon and get her free from this. When the girl had come and gotten her, she hadn’t expected this. 

She was already frustrated about Susan fussing over Everett the whole time and hardly giving her any of her time, but now the Doctor kept acting like a child. She liked it when he was in his previous incarnation, but it wasn’t flattering anymore.

She truly didn’t know how Amy and Rory handled him for all those years. Her frustration hit its boiling point, and she was about to snap. 

“Oh, you two, shut up!” 

She took in a large breath as she felt the two stare at her, dumbfounded. “Do either of you understand, in any way at all, that there isn't actually a guard out there?” 

The two looked at the door and then their faces lit up in realisation, both averted their eyes away from Clara. 

“I did, in fact.” 

The Doctor stared, “No, you didn’t.” 

“I said shut up.” She rolled her eyes. The situation was so ridiculous. “The Doctor and Robin Hood, locked up in a cellar. Is this seriously the best that you can do? You're determined to starve to death in here, squabbling.”

Robin observed the old fool; his body looked frail, and he was a healthy young man himself. “Well, I’ll tell you one thing. I'd last a lot longer than this desiccated man-crone.”

The Doctor snorted at the man’s comment. He was amused. Robin didn’t know he had a genetic benefactor. 

“Really?” He asked the Archer, bemused. 

“Really,” Robin said with his nose held up high. 

“Well, you know what? I think you'll find I have a certain genetic advantage. Oh!” Clara pulled him back by the chains, ending a squabble that would surely have started. 

Clara hissed their way. “It is not a competition on who can die slower. Susan would be very disappointed.” 

“She’s not here! What she can’t hear won’t hurt her.” 

“What happened to the Lass and the other chap?” Robin asked, now realising the other two were gone. 

The Doctor scoffed, “Unlike you, they ran when they had the chance.” 

“Cowards then.” Robin assessed. His men had run as well, but that was different; he had ordered them to, they would’ve fought if he hadn’t, and surely would have perished. 

“What did you just say?” Clara looked horrified at Robin’s words; he had just insulted the two most important people to the Doctor. She gulped as the Doctor’s eyes turned stormy, his expression unreadable.

“ Cowards .” The Doctor parroted. The word tasted like bile on his tongue, “Would you like to repeat that ?” 

Robin smiled, “I would, cowards the two of them, ha!” 

The Doctor dragged at the chains, managing to smash Robin’s head against the post, “If you speak about my Husband and my Granddaughter like that again, it will be more than just your head, I’ll smash into the post.” 

Robin looked the man into his eyes; they were cold, which made Robin shiver. He had never seen such fury; he had messed up Robin Hood never messed up. He would double down instead; he would have retorted if Clara hadn’t spoken up. 

Clara hesitantly spoke, “There was supposed to be a plan. Do either of you two have a plan?”

The Doctor scoffed, his eyes still cold, but the oncoming storm had died down. “Yeah, of course I have a plan.”

Robin smiled cockily and started boasting, “I, too, have a plan.”

Clara nodded her head Robin’s way, “Okay, Robin, first.” 

Robin stared between the two, his tongue dry with a plan, “I am biding my time.” He told them firmly. 

Clara sighed, “Thank you, Prince of Thieves.” Clara nodded the Doctor’s way, “Oncoming Storm?”

“Simple, the plan has already been put in motion.” Clara lifted a brow, “And that plan is?” 

“I won’t tell. I have enhanced hearing, Clara. A guard just arrived outside that door. I can hear his rattling lungs.” 

“Okay, so you don’t have a plan,” she rolled her eyes at his lame excuse. 

“I just told you I can’t say it, I’m not lying, Clara!” 

“I don’t believe you” Then, suddenly, the door unlocked and a sickly looking man stepped in, “Okay, I believe you.” 

Clara looked at the man in disgust as he opened his mouth to reveal rotten teeth. “The Sheriff himself commanded me to listen, to find out which of you is the true ringleader” 

The Doctor began to lift his hands, ready to be taken, “Ah, so he can do the interrogating. Very wise.”

Robin lifted his as well. “Excellent. He will get nothing from me.”

As the two fought verbally, Clara shrank back in disgust as the man kept glancing at her. Oh, she was in for it now. 

The guard stepped forward and undid Clara’s binds; she clogged her nose as the smell of deterioration hit her nostrils. 

“Seriously!” She tried resisting him but was dragged along. “Stop resisting, just come along. Otherwise, I will cut these two’s tongues out. Sheriff’s permission.”

Clara glared at the man silently, but stopped struggling. 

“Very Wise.” He dragged the cell closed, leaving Robin and the Doctor chained. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. CASTLE GROUNDS]

“You want to do what!?” Susan whisper-yelled at Everett as he squatted for her to jump onto his back. 

“Jump onto my back, and I’ll climb us into the window.” Susan rolled her eyes in exasperation but climbed on. 

“And you’re sure this won’t mess up the events to come?” She asked as he took hold of her legs tightly. 

“I’m sure. They will break out anyway. We’re just making it easier for ‘em.” Susan nodded at the logic. 

“Okay, but look out, I have a slight fear of heights.” 

“You’ll be fine, I’m not letting you go.” He stretched his legs and then leapt onto the stone wall. He slowly dragged his body up the stone, then he let go and leapt into the stone window. 

[INT. CASTLE HALLS]

“See, easy” 

Susan climbed off his back and then puked out of the window. “Remind me to bring a barf bag next time.” 

“What’s that?” Everett asked as she wiped her lips with her dress sleeve, taking a bit of her pink lipstick with.

“A bag to puke in, Omega, you’re smart. How come that easy of a concept you don’t get?” 

Susan nudged him teasingly, “I’m from Trenzalore, we were advanced, but we built like this.” he gestured to the castle around them. 

“Oh yeah,” she muttered, and then they headed in the direction she could feel her grandfather in. 

She halted Everett, a guard headed inside the cell. “That’s it.” Everett hissed. 

The two of them snuck closer and could hear groaning from inside. Susan didn’t feel panic as the bond between her grandfather and her burned stronger. 

They heard a thud from inside and burst through the door as Everett gave the all clear. 

[INT. CASTLE DUNGEON]

He quickly took the key from the guard's side and immediately unlocked the Doctor’s wrists.

“Right on time.” Susan threw herself at him, and for once, the Doctor fully embraced her. 

“Hello,” he muttered into her hair. 

“Hello,” she replied with a smile. 

“Hello, undo my wrists!” Robin exclaimed, lifting his shackled hands. Everett tilted his head, “But you look so pretty shackled up like that, I think I’ll leave you like this.” 

The Doctor smiled, “I second that.” 

Susan slapped them both and unlocked Robin herself. Robin bowed at her and kissed her hand, “Thank you, my lady.” 

“My pleasure,” Susan giggled as Robin winked at her, her cheeks going as red as her hair.

The Doctor glared at Robin, his earlier words not forgotten. The Doctor unconsciously reached for Everett’s hands, but the cyborg pulled away. 

“Yeah, we ain’t close like that.” 

The Doctor's hearts hurts at Everett’s dismissal. The man instinctively rubbed at his wedding ring. 

“Let’s get moving.” 

[INT. CASTLE HALLS]

All four of them began sneaking through the castle. Susan reached out to the Doctor in his thoughts, ‘Are you alright?’ 

‘I am why wouldn’t I be?’ 

‘Because Everett pulled away.’ 

The Doctor paused in his steps, ‘It’s fine, Susan,’ 

Susan groaned, the two of them were so frustrating when they bottled up their emotions, ‘I don’t think so, but I know you won’t talk.’

The Doctor stayed silent, neither confirming nor denying her accusation. 

“Grandfather!” Susan yelled as she came to a halt near a modern-looking door, “What do you think?” 

“At last something real, not some fairy tale!” 

Everett paused for a moment. The door made him anxious; it looked like a… no, he shook his head. He wouldn’t think of it; it was in the past. 

[INT. MECHANOIDS SPACESHIP]

He followed the others inside the Doctor, and Susan worked on the screens while Robin looked around in awe. 

“Grandfather, they’re leaking radiation into the atmosphere, causing the climate to accelerate.” Susan gasped, and her head swivelled to him. “That’s why it’s so sunny!” 

“Clever girl!” 

Robin reeled from the words, “I beg pardon?”  

“Now, before you start, Doctor, I have been made aware you know I know the future, and I’ll tell you he is not a part of the Sheriff’s plan, he’s real.” 

“But he can’t be!” The Doctor yelled in frustration, “It doesn’t make sense!” 

“What in the gods are you prattling on about?!” Robin shouted back, all of it too overwhelming for the man.

The Doctor searched Everett’s eyes for deceit, but found none. Susan walked up to him, laying a comforting hand on his elbow. “I told you,” 

The Doctor reluctantly nodded, “Thank you, Everett.” 

He faced Robin, “Listen well, Hoodie-” 

They all recoiled as the door was blasted down, the metal door launched across the room, almost taking Susan with it. 

“Surrender outlaws!” the Sheriff stepped through with his robotic guards, Clara held firmly in his hold. 

Everett sprinted to Susan’s side and stood in front of her once more. Susan grabbed onto his arm. Everett grinned at her reassuringly.

“Kill him, Kill Robin Hood, and seize the bearded one.”

 The Doctor glared at the Sheriff. Nobody would do any snatching. “Oh no, you don’t!” the time lord sprang in front of Everett. 

“You talk to me!” The Doctor ordered the Sheriff, and Clara dragged herself from the Sheriff’s grip and ran to Robin. 

The room shook as a blast from one of the knights hit the door, knocking Robin and the Doctor to the ground. 

Everett pushed Susan to the Doctor, and he headed for the guard. He smirked as he recognised a gash on the guard's torso, 

“Hello again, ready for round two?” 

He spun and kicked the guard in the head, leaving a small dent behind. The guard took hold of his leg, Everett flinched at the grip and then recoiled as another explosion disoriented him, his ears ringing. 

The guard knocked him out and swung the man over his shoulder.

 “LET HIM GO!” The Doctor bellowed as he scrambled up from the ground. The Guard retreated to the Sheriff’s side, not paying the Doctor any attention. 

The Doctor chased after the guard until another guard restrained him. He gritted his teeth as he was pulled back. 

Susan screamed in terror as Clara was dragged out the window with Robin. She ran to the window and looked out, “Clara!” 

Susan sighed in relief as Robin motioned her to stay quiet as he dragged Clara out of the moat. She flashed him a grin, and then he retreated. 

She held up her hands as the guards restrained her, too. The Doctor looked at her dumbfounded. 

The Sheriff smiled sadly, “Yeah, sorry about the girl. Such a pretty thing. What a queen she would have made.” 

The Doctor kept looking at Everett’s unconscious form, the Sheriff turned to leave, but he grabbed his attention, “Stop pretending. You and your fancy robots. I get it. I understand.” 

The Sheriff turned a humorous look on his face. “Oh, so you too know my plans?”

“You and your robots plundering the surrounding countryside for all its worth. Gold. Gold. Of course. Gold. You are creating a matrix of gold to repair the engine circuitry.” 

The Sheriff smiled, so the man was smart, and from beyond the sky, he would humour him; he had his prize anyway. 

“This is the scheme the Mechanicals have devised. Soon this skyship will depart. Destination, London. There I will obliterate the King and take my rightful place as ruler of this sceptred isle.” 

Susan glared at the Sheriff, “It won't work. There's no way!” She tried to rip her way from the robot's hold to show what she meant, but the grip was too tight. 

“I've seen the instruments. They’re too damaged to do what you want them to do. You are creating a gigantic bomb!”

“Oh, such a clever thing, what a shame, take them away.” The two of them were pulled away and promptly knocked out as they resisted. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. CASTLE DINING HALL]

Everett’s head throbbed as he came to consciousness, then he struggled as his hands wouldn’t come up to nurse his head. 

“Ah, my dear fellow, you are awake!” The Sheriff stood up from his place, near the fireplace, a goblet of wine in hand. 

“I’d thought the mechanicalls had punted you into oblivion; that would have been ever so sad,” he made a mock pouty face. Everett ignored his taunt. 

Everett's face remained blank; if only his hands were loose so he could punt the smug bastard into oblivion, that would satisfy him. 

“Nothing to add?” The Sheriff put his goblet down and slapped him across the face. Everett didn’t even flinch. 

“You slap like a girl.” The cyborg retorted and spat at the man, but it didn’t reach its destination as it fell onto the carpet. 

The Sheriff laughed, “Oh-ho, you are funny.” This time, he picked up a steel spear and pushed it into Everett’s stomach, piercing his synthetic skin. Everett gritted his teeth. 

“Going straight to torture, impatient much?” 

“On the contrary, my friend.” The Sheriff left the spear stick out of Everett as he plopped down into his seat. He dragged a hand through his hair and then picked up the charred grass. 

“It’s to loosen you up.” He presented the grass “Talk of your escape, it was quite the light show.” 

Everett stayed quiet, but he could feel the metal stick in his stomach, blood he didn’t know he still had gushing out of the wound, and his eyes started to light up with error codes; some of his systems had been grazed. He didn’t have long. 

“I will remove the spear once you answer; otherwise, I’ll let you die, and I shall just get the red-haired girl instead and see if she can squeal loudly” 

Everett glared furiously at the suggestion, “Don’t you dare, I’ll skin you alive!” 

“Oh, that struck” The Sheriff leaned in. “Tell me then, how did that work?” 

The Sheriff listened intently as Everett explained. He only did it to keep Susan safe; he could take the torture, even if it stirred up unwanted feelings, he’d take it so she would be safe. 

“That’s all I know.” his head went limp, his once slicked back hair hanging in his eyes, hiding the blue shine they gave off, countless error messages stacked in his vision, he would be shutting down soon, or maybe he would die, the blood was new. 

“That is extraordinary!” The Sheriff took a sip of wine, “But completely useless to me.” 

The Sheriff stood up swiftly, and he waved over one of his mechanoids, “Dispose of him.”

The Sheriff smiled as Everett glared, “You did not think I would honour our deal, did you?” The sheriff pushed the spear even further in, making Everett’s vision flash red, while on the outside, he screamed. 

“Just like that? God, you are easy to break” The Sheriff smirked as his cape lifted onto his shoulders, “I can’t stay, I have a country to rule, goodbye.” 

The Sheriff departed, and Everett watched through what little sight that he had left as a mechanoid untied his wrists. He quickly lunged forward and connected the two of them by plunging the metal spear that stuck from his body into the guard.

Electricity flowed through them both, and Everett screamed in pain, his systems shutting down due to power overflow, just as his body hit the floor, so did the Guards. 

The Trenzalorian smirked in victory, ‘I think I’m dying, ’ he laughed in his head, and then unconsciousness took him. And blood slowly stained the carpet.

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. CASTLE DUNGEON]

The last of the robot guards collapsed to the ground headless, and all of them cheered, only Susan and the Doctor looked on in panic. 

The Doctor frantically searched the room while Susan herded everyone out as the shaking started, “Grandfather, come on!” She gripped his arm as he put aside a barrel. 

“Engine capacity at eighty-two percent.” They both looked up at the voice, “We have to get out grandfather. I’m sure he found a way to escape; we have to believe.” 

Unnoticed to them, the Sheriff slipped into the room with the last remaining mechanoids, “Aw! You are concerned for the boy, don’t be; he’s long dead.” 

The sheriff came to a halt on the stairs, “And you are indeed an ingenious fellow, Doctor. But do you really think your peasants' revolt can stop me?”

The Doctor sent the sheriff a fierce glare, “What did you just say?”

“Is your hearing impaired?” The sheriff was about to repeat what he said when Susan leapt at him, “WHAT DID YOU DO TO EVERETT YOU BASTARD?” 

The Sheriff laughed maniacally. The guards stood ready with their swords. As Susan let up and panted, she got dragged back by the Doctor, and he embraced her. 

The Sheriff chuckled and stood up, wiping blood from his mouth, “Fiesty, you would make a good queen.” 

“As for what I did to the bearded man, I simply stabbed him with a spear. I suspect he must have bled out by now.” 

The Doctor’s eyes turned stormy, “Engine capacity at ninety percent” 

“Susan, go!” The Doctor ordered her, desperation in his eyes; he couldn’t be dead, but he also had to handle everything here; he could only send her. He trusted no one else. 

“Find him,” Susan's face was tear-streaked. She gave a firm nod and pushed past the sheriff she was halted by the guards. The Sheriff lifted a hand, “Let her through, it's fruitless anyway.”

The guards let up, and Susan rushed off.

 “Now, where were we?” 

“Sheriff, it is time your tyranny came to an end!” Robin struck a pose up in the gallery. Clara appeared next, “Hiya!”

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. CASTLE DINING HALL]

Susan searched the Castle for Everett. She skidded into a dining room and screamed in horror as she saw his unconscious body, dried blood covering his tunic. 

Her hands shook as she gently removed the metal spear and shoved the guard away. With strength she didn’t use much, she lifted Everett and pressed onto his wound, stopping the blood flow. 

A wet cough caught her ears, “You came for me?” 

Susan let out a sob, “Of course I did, Grandfather is handling the Sheriff, he told me to find you.”

“Near the engines?” He asked while he coughed violently, and Susan nodded, holding back tears. 

He gave a weak smile, “It’s near the end.” 

“Good, we need to get you to the medbay.” Everett smiled as his eyes slipped closed, “Stay with me!” 

[EXT. SHERWOOD FOREST]

Everett didn’t respond, and Susan quickened her pace. She made it outside just in time before the Castle launched into the sky. She ignored her Grandfather and Clara and ran to the TARDIS as quickly as she could. 

The TARDIS opened the doors immediately, and she made the medical ward come closer to the console room. 

[INT. MEDICAL WARD]

Susan felt for Everett’s heart rate; it had slowed to almost a complete halt. She quickly turned on a stasis pod and hooked him in. 

She leaned her head against the glass, as tears rolled down her freckled face, and an oxygen mask was lowered onto Everett’s face. 

She slid down onto the ground and sobbed until she was embraced by the Doctor. 

“It’s fine, I’ve programmed the pod to start healing him.”

She could feel his tears dripping into her hair as well, and they both embraced each other tighter.

After a couple of minutes, she pulled back, “How did it go?” 

“There wasn’t enough gold. Me, Clara and Robin launched the golden Arrow into the ship. It launched out of the stratosphere and exploded in space.” 

“Good,” she nodded firmly. 

She tilted her head up and saw Everett’s face. She bit down on her lip, drawing blood “He almost died.” 

“I know,” The Doctor nodded remorsefully, guilt overtaking every piece of him; he should’ve protected him. 

“His first trip,” the time lord murmured.

“Next trip will be better, we’ll make sure of it,” Susan told him with a firm gaze. 

The beeping of Everett’s heart rate monitor filled the medical ward, and slowly the two made their way out of the room to the console room. 

Their minds filled with regret. 

Chapter Text

[INT. UNDERGROUND LAB]

“LET ME OUT! PLEASE!” Everett frantically banged on the glass window of a chamber that slowly filled with gas. 

“I don’t want to die!”  Tears pricked at Everett’s eyes as he scrambled away from the vents pumping out gas. 

“I don’t want to become a KILLER!” As he got no reaction, Everett’s body started to shake—sobs filled the space around him. 

“Hush, Boy! Embrace it.” The scientist at the controls told him with a wicked smile. 

Everett curled up into a ball as the green gas entered his nostrils. He was only twenty-five, he wanted to do so much more—he had goals to achieve, a promise to uphold and most importantly, he had to say goodbye to Alta. 

His mind flashed with images of her teasing smile—of them when they were young—of when they chased each other through the streets of Mirdon. 

The other Trenzalorians glaring at them as they knocked over their stalls and produce—the two of them ducking into the woods to escape their pursuers—both of them laughing until they couldn’t breathe. 

He mentally traced her smile. ‘I miss that smile.’ 

No, he couldn’t die—not yet—filled with determination, Everett resisted the gas as it filled his body, he held on, clung to her smile, and when all of the gas dissipated, he was still himself. 

Everett’s bleary eyes looked up at approaching footsteps, tears leaked from his eyes, the pain the gas left behind was searing hot—a clicking sound brought him back to the approaching steps.   

“Such a shame,” the brown haired scientist said as the glass door slid open behind him. “A stubborn one, aren’t you?” The man smiled, “No matter, we’ll break you at some point, we always do.” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TARDIS - MEDICAL WARD]

“His heart rate is stable again,” Susan announced.

“I can see that, I’m not blind.” The Doctor snarked. 

“You think he’s alright?” Susan asked as she lifted her hands onto the glass.

“His body is healing nicely, especially since he’s only been in there for five hours.”  The Doctor’s hearts hurt as he looked at Everett’s closed eyes. 

He wanted to gaze into his golden eyes, find that warmth that always met him; he couldn’t, nor could he pull at the bond; Everett didn’t have it yet. 

The Doctor sighed and laid a hand on Susan’s shoulder, “He’s strong, he’ll be out in no time.” The two kept silent for a while, but the Doctor couldn’t handle it anymore; it was suffocating—he wasn’t used to silence. 

 “Now let’s go make Porridge, Clara will be awake soon.” 

Susan turned to him with her arms crossed; she had changed back into a large red sweater, her dress now held too many bad thoughts. “I’m not your personal chef.” 

“You’re not? Then what are grandchildren for?” She slapped him on the shoulder cheekily, and he smirked.

“Very funny.” She leaned against a cabinet “Did you say that to mum too?”

The Doctor gasped, “I told my children no such things!” 

“But you do tell me?” The Doctor shrugged and wiggled his eyebrows, soliciting a smile from her, “You are easy to rile up.” 

“As are you!” 

“I am not!” 

Susan waved him off and walked out of the medical ward, “Make your own porridge. I’m going to read!” She turned and shot him a pointed finger, “Keep me posted!” 

“Oh, you- Fine, I will!” He shook his head. Then he approached the terminal next to Everett’s pod and swiped to the bionics screen. 

“Fully repaired, just the organics that are still healing.” He held his head against the glass—only cold met him. Then, with a silent tap to the glass, he was off to the kitchen. 

“Porridge!”

Susan watched as he walked away—then slipped back into the ward with a book in hand. 

“Heya! Me again.” She came to a halt in front of the pod, “I know you can’t hear me, but I have a book you’d like, so allow me.” 

She approached one of the empty beds and sat with crossed legs on it. “It’s called Good Omens.” 

She looked at the pod for the tiniest of movements, but she saw none. She flipped to page one, “Guess I’ll just read and lend you the book later.” 

She flipped a hair out of her face, “In the beginning. It was a nice day-” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT.  UNDERGROUND CELLS]

“Everett”, a soft voice called out. 

Everett groaned and leaned into a warm hand, which combed through his hair.

‘Combing?’ Panic-filled, he shot up—kicking his leg out wildly. 

“It’s just me, dummy!” Everett squinted his eyes in the darkness—his eyes adjusted slowly to the dark of the cell—slowly, the form of his best friend made itself clear. She was covered in bandages; he looked down, so was he. 

The Trenzalorian’s leg landed on the ground with a soft thud—his body relaxed. The scientists would leave them alone for now; there were others beside them after all. 

He hated the thought that his people were getting tortured, but he also felt good for getting a break—he hated himself for it. 

Everett backed up to the wall and slid down it. Alta sidled up next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder, “That bad, huh?” 

“Worse,” he said, his words muffled by his hands covering his mouth. 

“The tests are getting worse. It won’t be long until more of us start dying.” Everett sighed bitterly. 

“Haven’t we suffered enough? This can’t be Crandr’s plan, can it?” 

Alta hm’ed, “I don’t know Everett”,  her tone defeated, which was unnatural for her. Everett looked at her and noticed bags under her eyes. 

“You alright?” he asked, but he knew she wasn’t. Alta shot him a weak smile, her shoulders tense, “I’m not, but I’ll manage.” 

Everett hugged her around the shoulders, “If it is Crandr’s plan… then we just have to believe and stick through it; she wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t for the greater good.” 

Everett wanted to believe his own words, but it became harder with each passing day. Alta sighed but nodded. It hurt Everett, but she clearly had abandoned their beliefs. 

“Remember when we used to sneak out into the forests?” Everett asked, trying to lighten the atmosphere. They didn’t always have to think about the gloom and doom of their circumstances–they could reminisce; it’s all they had left. 

“Of course I do,” Alta huffed, “Somehow you always managed to get stuck in a tree, and then you’d be all ‘Alta get me down, I’m scared!’” she mimed him crying. 

Everett glared and softly hit her shoulder, “That’s not true!” 

“It is!

“It’s not!” 

They both fell into full-blown laughter—BANG! “Keep quiet in there!” one of the passing Scientists ordered. 

Both of them shrank back into the wall and remained in silence for a while, scared of more reprimanding. 

“So,” Everett began, testing the waters. Alta turned to him once more, eyes even more tired. 

“It’s not true.” 

“What?” Alta asked, confused, “I’m not a crybaby. See, you didn’t even remember it.” Everett smiled victoriously, eliciting a faint smile from Alta. 

“Keep living in denial,” 

“I will!” 

Alta giggled softly, “Don’t ever change, Deocampo.” 

Everett smiled and poked her in the side like he used to do—he stuck out his tongue, making Alta laugh.

Suddenly, the heavy cell door opened, and a bearded man stepped through. He approached the pair and violently tore them apart—his hand tangled in Alta’s locks, and he dragged her away. 

“ALTA!” Everett yelled, his voice going hoarse from the volume. Another scientist squatted in front of him, “Don’t worry. We just have a few tests to run.” He tapped his chin, faking thought.

“She’s doing fine, from what we heard.” He stared Everett into the eyes with a smile, “She was laughing after all.” 

Everett glared at the man. He headbutted him, then sprinted up, and reached for Alta, “NO!” she screamed as Everett was electrocuted, falling onto the ground limply. 

The scientist spat on his unconscious body, “Foolish Trenzalorian,” then he turned to Alta and her bearded captor, “Let’s see if she can laugh with what comes next.” His gaze landed on her “It will be piercing hot” 

Alta glanced one more time at Everett before the metal door fell shut. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TARDIS - KITCHEN]

“Wow! The Doctor cooking, that’s a sight for sore eyes.” Clara exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen. 

She had only just woken up and was immediately hit with a growling stomach. So don’t blame her for still being in her pyjamas. 

The Doctor turned around, and Clara smirked as her gaze landed on what he was wearing: a pink apron with the words ‘Mr. Good Cooking.’

“Susan refused to cook, so I’m doing it myself. And get that smirk off your face, it looks unnatural.” 

“Says the man who looks constipated half the time, seriously, do you do it on purpose or do you have some weird space-sickness?” Clara leaned her head in her hand. The Doctor returned his attention to the stove. 

But he couldn’t hold his retort, “After eating my food, you’ll be eating your words. Constipated, she says, Have you looked in a mirror recently? It looks like you just came out of hibernation.” 

Clara shook her head at his need to always have the last word. “What are you making? Not those weird blue pancakes again, right? They still haunt me.”  

“Not this time. I’m making eggs and bacon. I wanted to make Porridge, but I have been eating it a lot recently, so I decided on something basic.” 

The Doctor’s eyes turned glassy for a moment; he was cooking it not because it was basic but because it was Everett’s favourite breakfast. Even if the Trenzalorian couldn’t eat it right now, it just felt natural to make. 

“That I can eat.” She was ready to devour the food. “Is Susan joining us?” 

The Doctor shook his head, “She’s in the Medical ward reading to Everett. She thinks I didn’t see her hide behind the wall when I left, she forgets I’m amazing and can see everything.” 

Clara scoffed, “You’re not that amazing. Anyway, more food for us.” She really didn’t want to talk about Everett, but she suspected it would be an unavoidable subject for a while. He had been injured after all—she hadn’t seen how badly, but she assumed badly enough for the Doctor and Susan to be gloomy the whole way through saying goodbye to Robin. 

“I’m putting some aside for her,” The Doctor told her, scooping one of the eggs onto a plate.

“Aw, you’re being nice.” Clara smiled at him teasingly. 

“I’m always nice,” the Doctor retorted before scooping some bacon onto Susan’s plate. 

“Come get a plate for yourself”, the Doctor told her once he turned off the stove, a plate of food for himself in hand. 

“Would it hurt you to bring me a plate?”  Clara asked as she pushed away from the table.

“It would,” the Doctor replied with a smug grin, dodging out of the way of Clara’s slap. 

Clara quickly made a plate for herself—then slid back into her seat. The Doctor got up at the same time, quickly returning his plate to the kitchen. 

“How? I turned around for only a second. How did you finish eating that fast? Did you even swallow properly?” 

The Doctor turned to her with an amused grin, “It’s a secret, Miss Oswald,” he gave her a pat on the shoulder, “Now eat up, we don’t want you to shrivel up, do we? You are already so frail.”

The Doctor squeezed her shoulder, shook his head in sadness and then walked away, “Now I will leave you, I have a patient to check up on.” 

Clara huffed, a frown firmly planted on her face. ‘It always has to be ‘him’’

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TRENZALORE - UNDERGROUND CELLS]

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” Everett exclaimed in fury as he pried himself from the scientist's grip. He knew what they were planning, and he couldn’t allow it to happen; he couldn’t leave her alone. 

“Prepare the sedative, we’ve got a rowdy one,” commanded the bearded scientist.

The brown-haired scientist nodded and took his leave to get it. Everett glared at the remaining scientist. He briefly glanced at Alta, who sat with tears in her eyes. 

“I promise you, Alta, I’ll get you out of here even if it’s the last thing I do” Alta sniffled, and the scientist scoffed, “There’s no escape, boy, just surrender” 

“Never,” he spat at the scientist, who easily side-stepped it. “Very well” Just then, the other scientist returned with the needle of sedative. 

“Now, come with us willingly, or we’ll take you the unconscious way.” 

Alta gripped onto his arm, eyes filled with unshed tears, “Everett, don’t worry about me, don’t let them take away your last seconds of freedom.” She forced a smile for him, “Please.” 

Everett didn’t look her way and instead rushed their captors. He tackled the bearded one to the ground and started choking him, “I’m taking you with me!” 

“ALTA RUN!” he looked back at her pleadingly. She shook her head, tears now freely falling—then he gasped as the needle with the sedative was plunged into his neck. 

His grip around the scientist's neck loosened—his body swayed to the side, and then he fell off the man with a heavy thud. 

His vision became blurry, he gaped at Alta, his hand reached out for her, she smiled tearfully—then blew him a kiss and mouthed words he couldn’t make out.

Then everything went black.

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TARDIS - MEDICAL WARD]

Susan pointed her fork at the plate in her hand, “That’s some good bacon.” She swallowed the last bite as she plopped back down on the medical bed. 

As she scooped a bit of egg into her mouth, her eyes flitted over to Everett, who looked healthier. The medical pod had given him some proper nutrients, which filled out his previously malnourished body. 

Susan crossed her legs. How long would he be unconscious? She was itching to talk to him again, especially after his last words: did he want to die? Every time she had seen him, he hadn’t mentioned anything about it or had looked like he wanted to; the man was always so focused on his goals, it felt odd to see him like this. 

Was this the only time she would ever encounter such a young version of him? She placed her plate on one of the nightstands, then jumped off the bed. Like Susan had done prior, she held her hand against the glass of the pod. 

Her hand stayed on the cold glass for a while, just hoping he would lift his and hold it against hers, so that she would know if he was alright. It didn’t feel right seeing him unconscious and hooked up to all those cables. 

That’s why her grandfather wasn’t staying longer than ten minutes at a time. It was unbearable for him to see Everret like this. 

She didn’t fault him for it; he loved Everett deeply, and she dreaded the idea of him losing the light Everett brought into his hearts. 

So she would stand watch for him—be that light while Everett couldn’t be. Was that what siblings did? She wasn’t sure, but Everett had become her brother, not in blood but in bond. And she would do everything to protect him, even when he didn’t fully understand their connection. 

Susan's hand slipped from the glass; she let out a sorrowful sigh as she approached the bed once more.

She scrolled through her phone lazily, liking all the pictures her friends posted, but she was just going through the motions—her mind spiralling with unanswered questions. 

“Give me that!” The Doctor snatched the phone and leaned in close—he scowled, “Why are you looking at half-naked men?” 

“What?” Susan asked, baffled. She didn’t do that. The Doctor threw the phone back at her. Susan quickly looked at the picture but found it to be a dog, “Very funny, Grandfather.” 

She switched her phone off and stashed it away. “What’s got your head in the clouds, little Rose?” 

Susan leaned her head in her hands and made a face of distaste, “Can you stop calling me that? I’m not fifty anymore.” 

“I can’t, sorry, it doesn’t compute in my brain,” he made a whirring motion near his head and then knocked on it, “No, it's not working, sorry, little Rose” 

She smiled sweetly at him, “Okay, Gandalf.” 

“You did not just call me that!” he accused with a pointed gaze “I don’t know, did I?” Susan asked as she lay her head on the cushion, her arms lazily behind her head and her foot lifted over her knee. 

“Gandalf! I don’t even look remotely like him,” he dragged a hand over his chin and a ways below it, “Do you see a long white beard because I do not!” 

“Who does that make you then, Frodo?” He paced about the room, “No, that doesn’t sit right!” 

He tapped his foot. Susan watched, amused. She had really irritated him with that comment; it had managed to distract him, so that was good. 

Then his eyes lit up, “How about we visit Tolkien, get a little sneak peek behind the curtains, maybe inspire him a bit?”

“Another time, maybe, I’m not in the mood right now.” Susan dismissed his offer. She just wasn’t that into The Lord of the Rings. 

“Very well, later pile then.” 

She nodded, and then the ward lapsed into silence as her grandfather checked Everett’s vitals. “How long will he be out for?” 

“Days, weeks, I’m not sure…” his brow scrunched up, Everett's vitals were stable, the only part off was his brain activity; it consistently spiked. 

 “From his brain activity readings, it looks like he should already be awake. But everything else throws that off… unfortunately, we’ll have to wait.” 

Susan nodded, not liking it at all, “But wh-”—THUMP.

The Time Lords gaped as Everett sank to his knees with a thud, his hands firmly gripped onto his tunic, and sweat covered his brow. 

The Doctor squatted by his side immediately and gently lifted his chin, “It’s alright, you’re here with me and Susan, whatever you dreamed of, it's over.” Susan slowly approached, careful not to startle Everett. 

Everett's eyes grew more focused as he met the Doctor’s gaze. “Where am I?” 

Susan crouched in front of him as her grandfather's fingers fell away from Everett’s chin, “In the TARDIS medical ward.” 

“I was injured,” Everett stated as he dragged a finger over the dried blood at his side. 

“You were,” she confirmed. 

His eyes came up to meet Susan’s. “You saved me?” He bit his lip as she nodded in affirmation; a thousand thoughts went through his head. 

“We placed you in a medical pod, and it healed you; you’re back in top condition, no scars left,” the Doctor gently informed him. His eyes glistened for a moment, a soft smile on his lips; he was just happy to have him back. 

Everett’s eyes darkened, but his lips lifted into a smile, “Great, another Machine!” he slowly pushed himself to his feet, stumbling a bit but in the end he managed to plant them frimly on the ground—quickly he ran a hand through his hair sweeping it back to the side, he slid a few fingers down his beard smoothing it out as well. 

Instantly, both the Doctor and Susan sprang up and frowned Everett’s way; he was bottling things up again. 

“Are you alright?” Susan asked, edging closer to the cyborg. Everett clapped his hands, “I’m just great, so what did I miss?” his words were an obvious deflection.

The Doctor motioned for her to drop it when this version of Everett didn’t want to talk, and you pushed him, he’d snap. 

Susan scowled but held her mouth. The Doctor clapped his hands, “Oh, nothing much, shot an arrow and gave Hoodie his girl.” The Doctor led them out of the medical ward. 

“We were just talking about taking a trip,” Everett hm’ed distracted, “Going to see a famous Earth writer.” 

“I see,” Everett commented shortly. He really couldn't care less. 

“Are you actually alright?”  Susan asked once more. The Doctor shot her a warning glare, but she waved him off. 

Everett didn’t answer, acting like he hadn’t heard her and just kept walking, “Everett, please, we’re here for you, please tell us what’s bothering you!” 

Everett turned around with emotionless eyes, “I’m alright, is that not enough of an answer?” 

Susan frantically waved her hands at him, “You’re clearly not alright!” 

“And you would know, huh?” Everett's eyes became stormy, his shoulders tensing, “Because you know me so well!” 

“I do,” Susan confirmed. Everett laughed—then hit his chest, “WELL, I DON’T! I don’t know who I am?!” 

Everett's whole body was shaking—the Doctor’s hand twitched, wanting to reach out to console him, but he pulled back—his hand firmly planted against his side. 

Everett pointed at the two—jaw tense, “Just because you know me in the future doesn’t give you the right to tell me what to do!” 

“We’re just trying to help!” Susan told him, taking a step closer.

 “Don’t,” Everett warned her—his legs were firmly planted on the metallic floor—flee ready. 

Faint hums rang around the hallway as the three of them stood tensely. The Doctor’s hand found the wall—the TARDIS comforted him with her warmth.

Susan’s hearts ached at the way his gaze was filled with anger—a lot of it directed at her, “But we-” 

“Just leave me alone, Susan,” Everett rubbed at his brow, a headache banging behind his eyes. 

“It’s great and all that you saved me.” Everett’s mind went back to Alta and his failed promise; a tear rolled down his cheek. Why did he have to dream of that? Hadn’t he suffered enough?!

“It would have been better if you had just let me die.” He was tired, yes, he had goals he wanted to achieve, but did he want to do it without her? Did he want to keep living with the thought that he had failed her? 

Everett dragged his hand down his face, and a frustrated sigh escaped his lips. 

“You should’ve just let me die!” His fist launched sideways, all his anger focused into the punch—his hand crashed straight through a harsh surface, splintering it.

[INT. BEACH HOUSE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY]

“Oi!” 

Everett's eyes flew open as the unrecognisable voice reached him. 

“I was tryin’ to sleep!” 

A blonde girl in a blue fluffy robe stood at the end of the hall, a hand rubbing at her eyes as she shook her head. 

“Oh, here we go again, Mister anger issues punched through another wall.” The strange blonde came to stand next to him, “Honestly, do you ever learn? Or is breaking stuff a hobby of yours?” 

“Do you know how much it costs to repair a wall?!” Then she shrugged, “Ah, who cares, it’s not my place.” 

Everett’s lips were dry with a response; the only thing he could do was make a confused noise, his lips opening and closing like a fish. 

The blonde stared into his golden eyes; his vision swam with information, ‘LUCIE MILLER’. 

Everett shook his head and blinked a few times, the words fizzling out. 

He had left the TARDIS, how? He had never travelled to another time/place without passing through the time vortex. Did he travel through it while he had his eyes closed?

“‘Ello Earth to Everett, I’m still standin' here! And I need some explaining to happen,” Lucie told him in a sing-song voice. 

“What?” Everett asked, face scrunched together as he came back out of his spiralling thoughts.

“Right, why did you punch the wall?” she shot a pointed glance at the fist-shaped hole.

Everett shrugged, “Fun?” 

Lucie sighed in exasperation. Bloody hell, this man was frustrating. How did the Doctor handle him?

“Fine, keep your bloody secrets! But you’re explainin’ the hole in the wall, I want nothin’ to do with it!” 

Everett nodded in understanding. What else could he say? At least she was leaving him alone; he really couldn’t handle someone prying again. 

Everett awkwardly lifted his hand, “Nice to meet you or whatever people say.” 

Lucie blinked a few times, rubbing her eyes for good measure, “The Doctor isn’t with you, is he?” 

“No,” Everett quickly confirmed, happy about it too. He didn’t want the man or his granddaughter near him at the moment; he needed some alone time to figure stuff out, well, he said alone, but he wasn’t. 

“Great!” Lucie threw up her hands, “Nice to meet’cha too! I never thought about when you’d meet me for the first time, but I guess that answers it, not my best moment, I’d say.” 

Everett waved her off, “It’s alright, I didn’t leave a good first impression either, just the way I like it,” he shot her a smile, it looked very forced—his muscles barely complied. 

“You are weird,” Lucie said with a nod—mind made up, “Weirder than usual.” 

Everett gave a thumbs up, a goofy tilt to his lips, “Good!” 

“I need a cuppa.” Lucie exclaimed and then disappeared from sight, “A what?” 

“A CUPPA!” Lucie yelled back, already downstairs. Everett shook his head. That girl was weird—then again, who was he to judge?  

He cringed as his eyes traced the splintered wall. 

“The hole I made in the tree was better,” he dragged his hand over the wall, feeling the new material; he didn’t recognise it.

Done with his comparing of holes, his feet pulled him to the stairs, where they firmly planted on the wood of the staircase. He sighed in contentment, wood stairs now that he was used to. 

[INT. BEACH HOUSE - KITCHEN]

“Blimey, you’re slow, the coffee is already done brewin’.’” 

Everett's eyes adjusted to the bright lighting; the difference between the lighting upstairs and downstairs was significant. 

Everett hopped off the last step. “Why were you asleep during the day?” he waved a hand to a large window that showed a blue sky. 

Lucie leaned against the counter and took a sip from her mug of coffee. She sighed in contentment.

“I usually don’t wake up until ten, be happy I’m up at all!” 

“Right,” Everett said as he sat down at a marble kitchen table. “This place looks so different from where I just came from.” 

“How so?” Lucie asked, curiosity piqued, “Where did you come from?” 

“Sherwood Forest, sixteenth century,” Everett stated, like it was nothing.

“What! Did you go to meet Robin Hood or something?” Everett nodded in affirmation, “No way!” Lucie exclaimed, “He’s real!?” 

“Unfortunately,” Everett muttered, ‘I’m glad I didn’t have to say goodbye to him.’

Lucie shook her head in disbelief, “So you went from the sixteenth century to nineteen-eighty-four.” She nodded, “That is quite the difference.” 

She leaned over the kitchen island, “I was wondering why you were wearing a tunic, which looks absolutely horrid on you.” 

"Oi! I thought I looked quite good in it,” he pulled at it, not getting why it didn’t look good. 

“You don’t,” Lucie said, shaking her head in distaste. She took another sip. 

“Right!” Lucie clapped her hands, “I’m going to dress myself, can’t keep walkin’ around in my pyjamas!” 

Everett nodded at her words but wasn’t paying attention, his eyes too focused on the large white rectangle between the cupboards—then his gaze flitted over to a smaller rectangle with a tiny window. 

Lucie gave a shake of her head at Everett and then left to go dress herself. 

Everett popped the tiny door to the rectangle open—a glass plate met him. As he slid his fingers over the frame, he felt a slight buzzing coming from within. 

The white rectangle had tons of food inside, some packaged in something he wasn’t sure what, but he assumed it was plastic. Glass jars were in there too, with pickles! 

“Crandr, I love pickles,” he said, munching away on one for the first time in ten odd years. 

As he munched away, he came up with blanks as to what the small rectangle with the glass could be, but the large one he could easily tell was for food storage, more so to keep the food cold. 

There were a multitude of contraptions around the kitchen. He wasn't sure what purpose they served, but he was, for the moment, happy enough with his pickles. 

“I’m going to ignore whatever-” Lucie waved her hand over Everett’s frame as a pickle stuck out of his mouth, “-this is.” 

Everett slurped the pickle into his mouth and then tightly put the lid back on. Lucie scrunched her face up in disgust as she approached. 

The blonde’s nostrils flared as she came to a stop next to Everett, “Bloody hell! You absolutely reek!” 

“What did you do?! Take a bath in Shrek’s swamp!” Everett lifted his arm, and then a smell hit him; it definitely wasn’t sweat, but he wasn’t sure what it was either. 

Lucie held her nose shut with her fingers and started pushing Everett upstairs, “Go take a shower, before all the plants start dyin’.” 

Everett halted, “I don’t think I can shower, half my body is electric.” 

Lucie rolled her eyes, “Well, I’ll share a fact with you, you can, now go do it!” 

Everett wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth, but he’d try anyway; he needed to be clean. The smell, now that he was aware of it, was not pleasant to his nostrils. 

From the top of the stairs, he winked at Lucie, “Don’t you peek at me, Missy.” 

Lucie made a gagging motion, “Never!” She crossed her arms and then shouted as he turned away, “I’m gonna go for a walk, let the fresh air wake me up. And I wanna sight-see. later!”

 [INT. BEACH HOUSE - BATHROOM]

Everett stumbled into every room, unsure which one the bathroom would be, then he stumbled into a room with white tiled walls, his gaze locked on the shower, his eyes glossed over as terrible memories hit him. 

Hot water hitting his skin, screaming, blood and gurgling, the bo- he cut himself off, once again locking it away, he quickly tossed his clothes aside and started fumbling with the shower, he had never turned one on himself, his hand shook, but he restrained it with his other—stopping it. 

After many attempts to get the optimal temperature, he tested if his body could take the water by putting his arm under the stream. He held it there for a solid minute before sighing in relief and heading under. 

As the water pelted his skin, his shoulders lost tension, and a small smile flitted onto his face. This shower was beyond any he had before; well, that wasn’t hard to achieve. 

His mind felt freer, and he allowed himself to ponder, “How Trenzalorian am I still?” 

He made a mental list, “I can eat, I can shower, I can bleed and I still feel sensation,” he tilted his head at that point, “But that might be because of artificial senses, not actual ones, the Doctor said synthetic skin, so not actual skin?” he noted with a poke to his stomach, it did feel real. 

He had no solid way of finding out the extent of how much of him was still Trenzalorian, so he’d just have to discover it along the way; his skull definitely wasn’t bone anymore; he shuddered recalling the memory of it being replaced. 

“There’s the handsome devil,” Everett said as he stared at his reflection. He hadn’t gotten a proper look at himself except for that time he met his future self, and even then, it wasn’t a proper look at himself; the older him was similar but had quite a few differences. 

He opened his eyes firmly, “You two are beautiful,” then he pouted, “I do miss my green eyes though.” Alta used to call them her shiny emeralds. A bitter smile flitted to his lips, yet another part of himself he’d never get back. 

His golden gaze flitted down to his stomach. He shook his head and pulled at it, “I’m not as skinny as before, some more meat to my bones, that’s good?” he questioned; he didn’t know. 

After some more reflection on his appearance, he reluctantly pulled on the bloody tunic; no other clothes around to take, so he quickly tried to scrub some of the blood off. 

Now it looked like a dark stain—it was better than before; atleast he didn’t have to answer any unwanted questions. 

He quickly cleaned up after himself, making sure none of the murky water from his cleaning lingered. Everett lifted his arm as he approached the door, satisfied with his fresh smell.

“Don’t do that!” Everett exclaimed after he opened the bathroom door to reveal the Professor, “We did not intend to scare you,” they stated as they moved in front of Everett. 

Everett spluttered, then he lifted his chine and crossed his arms. “Me scared! That’s slander, I’ll have you know.” 

The Professor simply hm’ed, Everett sighed and stoically glanced their way, “Why are you here?” 

“Hold on, don’t answer that,” Everett pointed an accusing finger their way, “How come I didn’t travel through the time vortex earlier? I just disappeared like in the courtyard.” 

The Vortex had moved from his view and had sat down on the toilet, stroking their moustache, “You are incorrect, you did travel through, you just did not notice.” 

“I did have my eyes closed,” he confirmed, scratching at his beard awkwardly. “Okay, go ahead. Why are you here?” 

The Professor adjusted their glasses, “We will not give you a vision on this adventure, we do not see it fit to do so.” 

 “Why’s that?” Everett asked with a quirked brow, they told him he would get them when he was going on adventures–but after getting one, they were already stopping.

“Because the events about to unfold do not need interference. We perceive nothing that needs to be foiled or changed. Understood, student?” 

Everett tapped his wrist in thought, so he’d be going in blind, just great, he threw up his hands, and did a spin in disbelief once he turned around—the vortex was gone, he chuckled in exasperation. They didn’t even give him a chance to speak or ask a follow-up question, just, ‘Figure it out, bye!’. 

“I do not like omnipotent beings,” he grumbled as he stomped out of the bathroom. Throwing insults under his breath. 

[INT. BEACH HOUSE - WOODEN STAIRCASE]

Everett frowned as he heard music float up from downstairs. ‘Did Lucie come back?’ 

The cyborg peeked around the corner—his brows knitted together in confusion as he saw a young man standing in the living room. ‘Lucie did say it wasn’t her place.’ 

Everett dipped back behind the wall and smiled mischievously. Why not mess with the guy? 

[INT. BEACH HOUSE - LIVING ROOM]

He silently crept down the stairs and made his way behind the guy. When he came up behind the boy's back, he asked, “What are you doing?” 

Everett smiled, pleased as the brown-haired guy let out a yelp. The boy's hand gripped his chest. 

“Cameron?” the boy asked between breaths. Everett lifted a brow, ‘Cameron?’ Who was that? 

“No, that’s not me,” Everett crossed his arms as the boy looked at him in confusion. 

He looked younger than Lucie, maybe two or three years younger, barely out of his teens. Everett seemed to unnerve the boy; he was done messing around, so he cleared his throat and leaned against a wooden support beam. 

“I’m Everett, a friend of Lucie,” He told the boy, so he didn’t freak out about a stranger being in the house. The thought did make him snicker slightly, ‘So much potential to mess around.’ 

Everett waited for the boy to answer but as he adjusted his glasses and gaped, he cut to the chase, “You do know Lucie, right? You’re not following her, are you?”

The boy squeaked and waved his hands around frantically, “No! nothing like that, I helped her yesterday!” 

Everet snickered as the boy defended himself. He waved him off, “Just messing with you… Or am I?” 

“Okay…” the boy hesitantly said. Everett smirked. He loved messing with people; it used to be his favourite pastime, one of them at least. Reading came first, but this was his second, and it felt good to do it again, a piece of himself he hadn’t lost; it had arguably become stronger within him. 

“What’s your name?” Everett asked while he pushed off the pillar, heading for a small blue couch in front of the fireplace instead. The guy didn’t follow; he didn’t mind more space for himself.

The curly-haired boy watched from afar, “I’m Anton… where did Lucie go?”

Everett leaned over the couch, “She went on a walk, she’ll be back, I don’t know when, but she’ll be back.” 

“You said you helped Lucie. Explain,” he heard the boy gulp. Was he that intimidating? He didn’t think he was. 

“Uhm… I don’t fully get what happened, but the Doctor called, I didn’t know who he was and—uh—things led to things, and Lucie was inside of a garbage bag unconscious, I needed to give her an injection, and then she woke up, that’s about it.” 

Everett nodded; he had no idea what the situation could’ve been about. Also, they put their garbage in bags. 

“You put garbage in bags?” Everett asked curiously. 

“Yes,” the boy said with a confused tone, “You don’t?” 

“Where I come from, we incinerated it.” Easier that way, otherwise it would stink up the place. 

“Where are you from?” Everett's eyes clouded as the boy asked, “From far away,” he simply answered, refusing to go into detail with a stranger. 

That’s when Lucie walked back in, the atmosphere awkward.  “Anton, when did you get here?” 

Lucie made her way to the kitchen and searched for something to eat. Anton put in another cassette and smiled at Lucie awkwardly, “Ten minutes or so.” 

Lucie nodded as she poured herself a bowl of cereal. She gave a confused glance as he stared, then her gaze flitted to Everett, who sat silently on the couch, “You’ve met Everett?” Anton nodded. 

“Don’t mind ‘im, he’s a little odd, but he’s a nice guy,” 

Lucie took a seat on one of the kitchen stools, enjoying her cereal. 

“Uhm, this song is new material from the next Talking Heads album,” Anton informed her, but Lucie didn’t listen and just stared at Everett. 

“You alright?” Everett turned to her, “Just peachy, what’s up?” 

Anton looked on in disappointment as Lucie didn’t ask about the album—he fiddled with his shirt as he didn’t know how to spark up conversation.

“The roof,” Lucie responded, snickering, “Ha, ha, very funny,” Everett said as he pushed his leg up on the couch. 

“Anton told me you were in a trash bag. Did the Doctor throw you away?” 

Lucie pointed her spoon at the cyborg, “You’re not that far off.” Everett blinked in shock.

Lucie rolled her eyes, “I’m just kiddin’, I was in that bag because I needed to escape undetected from some aliens.” 

“I see, but in a garbage bag?” he asked with a teasing smirk. Lucie shrugged, “Wasn’t my first choice, but we needed to be fast.” 

“And where is himself?” Everett asked, less enthused. 

“No idea, but he’ll be here in a few days.” Everett nodded, satisfied.

“How long have you known him then?” Lucie asked as she pushed the empty bowl away and then came and plopped down on the armrest of the couch. 

Anton sulked as he didn’t get attention; he awkwardly inspected some cassettes. Lucie rolled her eyes. He wasn’t a bad guy, but she wasn’t into him, and he was making it too obvious. 

“A day.” 

Lucie gaped, “A day!” She rubbed at her brow, “Bloody hell, you’re proper early on then.” 

“I guess so. How long have you been with him?” Everett asked curiously, a little prying couldn’t hurt. 

Lucie huffed and thought for a second, “A couple of months, nearin’ a year, I think.” 

“And you can stand him?” Everett leaned forward. She had been with him for a year!

“Most days, don’t get me wrong, he can be a proper knob some days, but he means well and he’s fun to be around, except when he’s actively putting us in danger, but otherwise he’s a hoot.” 

“The one I came from was just grumpy,” Everett told her. “Oh, the one with the brows, you’ve shown me pictures,” 

Everett nodded, of course, he had; why he didn’t know, but he liked Lucie; she didn’t pry like another girl he knew, and that was a point in his book; he thought he’d get along just fine with Lucie. 

“Oh! I love Madonna.” Anton perked up at that and started telling her about some dude named Abe—Lucie started singing along, making Everett’s ears hurt—he pulled a cushion tightly over his head with a groan, trying to lessen the volume of the singing.

“Stop singing, you sound like a banshee!” 

“You did not just say that!” Lucie hit him with a pillow countless times, making Everett retort and start an all-out pillow war. By the time the track had come to an end, the floor was littered with feathers from the cushions. 

“Anyone up for Breakfast?” Anton asked, breaking the silence.

“I could eat,” Everett nodded, and Lucie smiled, “Me too.” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. CALIFORNIA BEACH - BEACH PARKING LOT]

“A Car?” Everett questioned as his hands ran over the metallic shell of the machine. Lucie cleared her throat, trying to grab the Trenzalorian’s attention. 

“Like a land spaceship,” She explained to him, she had an amused smirk on her face, she had seen him question basic human things before, but him inspecting the car was the most fascinating so far. 

“So it doesn’t fly,” both Anton and Lucie nodded their heads. Everett’s hands stopped at the hood. “I feel a buzzing inside.” With one hand, he lifted it. Anton shouted in panic, “Be careful, it’s my Dad’s car!” 

Everett waved his concern off, then he leaned down, Lucie gave a glance at Anton, her eyes were really being opened on the boy. “Your dad’s car?” 

Anton nodded, pushing up his glasses, “Yeah, I don’t have one, so I lent it for the Summer.” Lucie hm’ed. 

“This is quite impressive, I’ve never seen an engine before, so I can’t compare, but I’m intrigued.” 

Everett slammed the hood shut, “I do recognise the wheels though, I feel like they’re not that well made, it can only take a few piercings and then,” Everett made a crashing noise, making Anton pale. 

“But I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Everett knocked on the wheels, “Wheels are better made out of loholm, I read about a species that uses it in all their construction and not once in their civilisation's history did anything happen to their buildings, not even during wars.” 

Lucie nodded impressively, “Where did you read this, Mars University?” Everett stared dumbfounded, “No, what is Mars? I read this on my planet.” 

Lucie dragged a hand down her face. He was oblivious sometimes. “Just get in the car.” 

[INT. ANTON’S CAR]

Everett stared, but after a moment, he got in the back. “Why is it so crammed?” 

Lucie buckled herself in and looked back, “It’s not crammed, it’s just good. Can’t have cars bein’ too big, or we can’t drive no more.” 

Anton nodded, in agreement, “Buckle up.” Everett easily pulled it on, familiar with them from spaceships, but usually those were orange or blue. 

“I know a nice little diner not far from here, they have good food, me and my friends used to go there in High School,” Anton informed them. 

Lucie was combing her hair in the rearview mirror, “Sounds good, you live here, so we will follow wherever you go.” 

Anton nodded at that, “I could drive you guys around after. Go sightseeing.” 

“It’s not like we have anything better to do,” Everett spoke up from the back. Lucie nodded along. The Doctor was not back yet, so they had time to kill. 

Everett glanced out the window, intrigued by their surroundings. It was so different from Trenzalore, so much open space—buildings and the trees were entirely different from his home. 

Lucie turned on the radio; she kept switching channels until she landed on a song she liked. Everett immediately turned to her, “Do not sing, Lucie Miller.” 

Lucie looked at him with narrowed eyes, “What if I do, Deocampo?” 

“I will take over the wheel and drive into a wall,” to emphasise his point he brought their attention to an alleyway nearby. 

Lucie paled; she knew he wouldn’t, but she didn’t want to test it, so she just hummed along, ‘bloody cyborgs and their sensitive hearing,’ they had to take all her fun, she couldn’t wait until he received those noise-cancelling earplugs of his. 

Anton giggled, “You two act like siblings.” 

“We’re not,” Lucie retorted. Anton smirked, “I said you act, I didn’t say you are!” 

“Yeah, and I said we’re not,” Lucie said with a matter-of-fact tone, “Just mates, I’m not for terms like that.” 

Everett wasn’t listening, too captivated by a palm tree. 

“You have siblings?” Lucie asked Anton, Anton, turned left, “Yeah, a younger brother, he’s away at camp.” Anton smiled sadly, “I won’t see him before I head back to college.” 

Lucie gave him a comforting pat, “You close?” 

Anton smiled at her, “Yeah, we used to do tons of stuff together. He really loves Star Trek, so I bought him a bunch of action figures; he was ecstatic.” 

“I’m more into Red Dwarf,” Lucie absentmindedly told him. 

“Is that a British show?” Lucie nodded, “It is,” then she realised, ‘Whoops, Red Dwarf doesn’t come out till 1988.’ 

“Maybe, I’ll look for it.” Lucie quickly waved her hands, “You won’t find it.” 

Anton quirked a brow but quickly dropped the subject as they pulled into a small parking lot across the street from the diner.

[EXT. CALIFORNIA - STREET]

As they walked to the diner, Lucie had to pull a gaping Everett with her; he kept stopping and staring at unfamiliar things, constantly asking incomprehensible questions. 

[INT. DINER]

“Sit down!” Lucie ordered Everett once they were inside the diner, and the three of them slid into a booth, Lucie sitting next to Everett to keep an eye on him. 

Lucie sighed, “You’re like a lost puppy,” She shook her head; he wasn’t even paying attention, his eyes fixated on a jukebox near the bar. 

“That’s a jukebox,” Anton pointed out, “It plays all types of music, mostly music from the 50s.” 

Everett nodded, and wetted his lips, his head spinning with all the objects around him he wasn’t familiar with, “This world has so much that I don’t know, it’s mind-blowing!” 

Lucie looked at the menu, “Get used to it, we have a lot more worlds and places on earth to travel to, and sometimes you can’t afford to be distracted.” 

Everett nodded at her words. He had been a tad bit too distracted, and if anything had happened, he wouldn’t have been able to act. 

“My apologies, I will tone it down.” Lucie scoffed, “I doubt that.” 

Everett didn’t go in on it and did the same as her, picking up the menu. “Hold on, it's Trenzalorian,” he tapped the square symbols. “How’s that possible?” Then he thought back, the books in the TARDIS had been in Trenzalorian too. 

Then he pointed at Lucie and Anton, mouth agape, “You two are speaking Trenzalorian as well, the Doctor and Susan were too!” What was going on?! 

Lucie held her hands up to calm him down, “Calm down, we’re not speakin’ Trenzalorian, you’re hearin’ us speak it, because the TARDIS translates it for you.” 

Everett connected the dots, then, “Oh!” 

“She’s sentient, I should’ve guessed,” he slapped his forehead for his stupidity, “It was so obvious, how didn’t I realise everyone was speaking Trenzalorian.” 

Lucie sighed in disbelief, “How are you considered smart again?” 

Everett let the comment slip. He had been an idiot. Anton, meanwhile, frowned; he had no idea what the two were on about. “What?” he said. 

Lucie waved him off, “Don’t worry about it.” 

“Hello, darlings, have you decided what to get?” a waitress asked—notepad already in hand. 

Lucie pointed down at her menu. “I’ll have the nacho dish and a coffee, please.” The waitress nodded and wrote it down, then she looked at Everett. 

As he decided between all the dishes, he recognised none, so he’d go by the most intriguing name. 

He squinted at the word, “I’ll have a Cheeseburger?” It came out as a question, causing Lucie to take his menu, “He’ll have, like he said, a cheeseburger and cola.” 

The waitress temporarily looked confused but smiled and wrote it down anyway, then she turned to Anton, who was still gaping from before. Lucie kicked his shin under the table, making him yelp, then she discreetly motioned at the waitress, and he too quickly ordered. 

“Omelette’s really? Can you be any more creative?” she snickered at herself. She had quoted Friends; she didn’t even mean to. 

“I like omelettes,” Anton defended, “They’re a healthy breakfast, I need to keep my body healthy if I want a long life!” He held up his arm, rubbing at a non-existent bicep.

Lucie rolled her eyes—Bloody hell, he was a dork. The Doctor couldn’t come quickly enough. 

Everett was momentarily caught up in thought—he kept noticing the Trenzalorian, and it brought unwelcome feelings; he thought he would never hear anybody else beside him speak it, but now everyone around him was speaking it. 

“What is your language called?” Everett asked Lucie, and Lucie quirked a brow, “English.”

Everett gave her a determined stare. “Teach me English,” he really didn’t want to keep hearing everyone talk in Trenzalorian.

Perhaps if he learned the language, only he would be able to talk in it, and then he could talk in English around others instead; that sounded like a plan. Hopefully, she would accept his request. 

Lucie gave him a dumbfounded stare, “You want to learn English?” Everett nodded, “I want to learn English.” 

“It will be hard, since I can already hear you speaking English,” Lucie informed—Everret’s face fell. 

“Don’t get down! You could probably ask the TARDIS to stop translatin’ for a bit.” 

Everett nodded at her logic, “That could work. I’ll try it once we’re there again.” 

After that, the group talked—Everett asked questions about their surroundings and English, and Anton tried to constantly impress Lucie with his knowledge, only for her to change the subject. 

When the food came, they ate in companionable silence. Anton paid for their meals, and off they went. Everett raved about the cheeseburger and said that he hadn’t ever had something like it. 

[EXT. CALIFORNIA - STREET]

“You didn’t have cheese on Trenzalore?” Lucie asked, “Not as far as I know” Everett shrugged. He couldn’t recall anything similar to it in his past; the burger did taste familiar, but it definitely was from a creature they didn’t have on Trenzalore. 

It didn’t hurt as much thinking about Trenzalore, mostly because he was thinking of mundane stuff from before…. everything. Maybe one day the other parts would hurt less, too…. but he wasn’t hoping on it. 

“Stop mopin’ and get in the car!” Lucie ordered exasperated at all his distractedness. 

“I wasn’t!” Everett shouted, but Lucie gave him a stare that made him shut up and crawl into the car, “See how easy it is to listen to me?” 

[INT. ANTON’S CAR]

Everett shot her a sceptical gaze, “I don’t listen to anybody,” Lucie hummed but otherwise didn’t respond further. 

“~Karma, karma chameleon!~” Lucie sang at the top of her lungs, happy to finally listen to a good song. Everett hissed and plugged his ear holes, “LUCIE TURN IT DOWN!” 

“~Red, gold and green!~” Lucie, over her singing, didn’t hear him and just kept climbing in volume. Anton turned the song down, Lucie shot him a glare and then promptly winced, “I’m sorry Everett got a bit carried away.” 

Everett glared and stared at her, which unnerved Lucie, “STOP STARIN’!” 

“No.” 

And then a squabble started, which once again reminded Anton of two siblings bickering. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. CLOTHING STORE - CLOTHING AISLES]

“Tyranttar no!” Everett shouted as Lucie presented him with a bright red jacket, “I’m not wearing that colour,” he hissed. Lucie quirked a brow as he got more pissed off when the red jacket was presented to him. 

“Are you a bull or somethin’?” She shook her head, “Fine,” she hung the jacket back and started sifting through more clothes, “Oh!” Lucie exclaimed, having found a nice tank top, “I’d look stunnin’ in this, wouldn’t I?” 

“You’d look stunning in anything, Lucie,” Anton complimented with a weird look in his eyes, “Okay….” Lucie said as she quickly hung the tank top back, she wasn’t going to wear anything revealing around Anton, ever. 

“What’s this?” Everett asked as he rubbed over a blueish fabric. Lucie walked up to him and inspected it, “It's a jean jacket.”

“What is Jean?” Lucie rubbed her nose, trying to come up with an explanation. She really wished the Doctor were here; he was better at all of this. “It's just a material for clothin’, I’m gonna guess you didn’t have it on Trenzalore?” 

Everett shook his head, “Well. You like it?” Lucie asked—eyes shining with something odd. Everett ran his hand over the fabric and scanned it for any weaknesses. It was sturdy, it had two pockets he could hide stuff in, “I like it.” 

He quickly tugged it on, ‘Fits well, better than those damned clothes from before,’ his face scrunched up at the thought of the clothes he’d discarded in the TARDIS wardrobe, hopefully they were gone forever. 

“You don’t like it?” Lucie asked as she saw the cyborg's face scrunch together.

Everett gave a head tilt, “I actually do like it, it fits remarkably well on me.” Lucie clapped in delight, “It definitely looks good on ya! Now, let's get rid of that filthy tunic because I refuse to spend any more time around you with that on.” 

Everett shrugged; it was fair the stains made him look absolutely horrendous, and it didn’t fit with the jacket. 

Anton carried his new jacket for him as they navigated to another aisle. Everett grew more impatient as Lucie picked up multiple pieces for herself. Everett rubbed his beard, “Can’t you just pick one?” 

Lucie smirked, “Nope!” 

Everett groaned, and that’s how they ended in the right aisle. Anton quickly scuffled further in and grabbed something he knew fit well with the jean jacket, “Here, this should work.” 

Everett's hands were suddenly filled with a white shirt and a black turtleneck. “Now that’s a proper outfit!” Lucie whistled as the pieces were laid together. 

“Is it?” Everett asked—he had no clue what was appropriate for this planet at all. Lucie brushed a lock of hair away and shot him a thumbs-up. “It definitely is,” Anton nodded along. 

“If you two say so,” he’d go along with what they said; he would get even more lost otherwise. Previously, Susan had picked his outfit, and now it was Lucie and Anton. 

“Now let’s get you some shoes and pants.” 

Thirty minutes later, Everett stepped out of a changing room with a well-fitted outfit on, he did a spin like Lucie had done prior when testing her outfits, he had detested that at first but soon found it amusing, Lucie just had that air around her and it felt good to laugh for once, to be around people without the many burdens he had. 

“It’s perfect,” Lucie said with a nod of approval. 

“You can almost be passed off as a rockstar!” Anton said with a grin. Everett observed himself in the mirror; he had on a jean jacket with a black turtleneck underneath. 

His lower half was adorned by dark blue checkered pants that were secured by a belt. Lastly, on his feet, he had light blue Converse with stars on them. The shoes had immediately made an impression on him, as the stars that adorned them were similar to one of Trenzalore's constellations, ‘Alta’s favourite.’ 

He wondered if he had picked them because of her—he quickly shoved it away; no use in dwelling on it, he’d wear them proudly. 

“Very well, let's go,” Lucie stopped him, her hand motioning for him to stand still, her own jacket crinkling as she did so. “We can’t just walk to the front with them on, we have to take ‘em off, so we can pay and afterwards, we can wear ‘em.” 

Everett groaned; he was not undressing and dressing all over again. Everett shot Anton a look, and the boy startled, “Uhm… Lucie,” he hesitantly got her attention, “We can just grab others of the same clothes and have them ring up those.” 

“Oh,” Lucie grinned delightedly, “That’s great, because I really didn’t wanna undress again.” 

Anton blushed and quickly looked away, ‘Perv,’ Lucie thought, “Great, now that’s solved,” Lucie approached Anton, “Me and him-” Lucie pointed her thumb at Everett “Are broke, so you’ll pay like in the diner, right, Anton?” 

Anton coughed to reorientate himself and nodded eagerly, “Of course I will, I-” Lucie stopped him, “Stop acting like a hungry pup mate, sorry to say it but I’m not into you.” 

Anton's shoulders deflated. “That’s.. okay,” Lucie gave him a pitiful look before walking up to Everett. She extended her arm for him to take, “Let’s go!” 

Everett questioned what she was doing, so Lucie just took his arm and put it between hers, and they took off with minimal resistance from Everett and a pouting Anton trailing behind. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. BEACH HOUSE - LIVING ROOM]

“Sorry you can’t come.” Anton apologised again as they walked back into the beach house. Everett gave him a dismissive wave as he flopped onto the couch.

“I don’t mind. From what Lucie shared, movie theatres are loud, and I’d rather not burst my eardrums or whatever is in there now.” His tone became bitter near the end, but Anton didn’t know why. 

“Okay… Uhm, there should be food in the fridge for you to heat up or you can cook with, I’m not sure when we’ll be back, my friends also expect me to show up at a club, and Lucie would probably want to come along… So don’t wait up.” 

Anton was already halfway across the room when Everett spoke up, “You’re seriously pursuing Lucie after she told you she wasn’t into you?” 

Anton waved his hands, “It’s not like that, I swear!” 

Everett hummed, “Sure it isn’t,” 

“I-I re-” Everett groaned, “Just get going already, have fun!” 

Anton scrambled through the door, his face hot red—Everett felt pleased, teasing was fun. Then the empty room struck him, “Alone.”

“It’s been a while, Crandr I’m talking to myself, I’ve gone crazy!” Everett stayed on the couch silently—getting used to it again, but the longer the house stayed quiet, the more restless Everett got. 

That’s when the phone rang. Everett approached the landline. He had a vague clue what to do; Lucie and Anton had beaten the basic knowledge on this time period into his head—he picked up the phone. “Hello, Everett Deocampo speaking.” 

“Everett! It’s Frank.” 

“Who?” 

The line went silent for a little while, “Uhm… Have you met me yet?” Everett sighed, “You’re one of the Doctor’s companions, I’m gonna assume?” 

“Yeah, I am, you are really early then?” Everett rubbed at his brow; his databanks didn’t show any companions named Frank, meaning he was not part of the original timeline, which could only mean his presence changed something. 

“I am.” Everett confirmed, “How did you get this number? Never mind, foolish question, why did I give you this number?” 

Laughing could be heard from Frank’s background, “You gave me this number to call, said you would like someone to talk to for a while, don’t really know why myself.” 

“Shut it, you two!” Frank yelled to the two people in the background, “So that’s why I called.” 

Everett noted that down; now he had to give Frank this number in the future, yet he didn’t know it himself. ‘Just great, more work’ 

“So what has the Doctor dragged you into this time?” Frank asked, trying to break the awkward silence, “The Doctor isn’t here; all I know is he’ll show up at some point, it's just me and a Companion of his.” 

“So you’re stranded? where?” 

“Sol-3,” Frank laughed, “I meant which country?” 

Everett blinked, “Lucie said it was the United States, ” Everett hearing picked up a hitched breath from the background, ‘The Doctor?’ Everett rolled his eyes. Sounded like a dramatic one at that. 

“Oh, that’s my country, I’m from good old New York!” Frank exclaimed happily, babbling on about his city proudly. 

Everett at first became frustrated at the babble, but the more Frank talked, the more enjoyable it became; it was like a child who wanted to show off to their parent, and it filled the space with sound, taking away the quiet and the approaching thoughts.

“Sorry about that.” Everett shook his head, “No problem, Frank.” 

Then conversation died down a little, Everett wasn’t a small talker, he wasn’t used to it—not anymore—”Uhm… Where are you?” Everett’s face screwed up at the awkward question. 

Frank huffed, “Also stranded.” 

“Really, where?” Everett's interest was piqued, “London, 1969.” 

“How did you get stuck? Never mind, don’t answer that, answer this instead, am I there?” 

“Not at the moment, you left for a little while,” Everett hummed. Was there another reason then the phone call for why he was out? “So no TARDIS then?” 

“Unfortunately, not, stuck here for a while, don’t know how long. How long are you stuck for?” Everett hummed, thinking back, “A few days, maybe, I’m not sure when The Doctor will pop up” 

“You’re luckier than… Never mind, you are going to live through this as well, you are unluckier,” Frank sputtered for a second, “You get what I mean!” 

Everett rolled his eyes, and the two talked a bit more, never revealing too much future information, or it could screw things up. 

“Oh, look at that, the battery is almost dead.” Everett could hear a yell from the background, “Sorry, Martha!” 

‘MARTHA JONES’ flashed before Everett’s eyes, and now he knew which incarnation Frank was travelling with, ‘Not grumpy and not curly, but spikey.’ Everett was proud of himself; those nicknames were fun. 

“Hm, you are going to hang up then?” Everett asked, unsure. Frank hm’ed, “Sorry, we talked for longer then expected.” 

“No, no, it's fine, Frank, thanks for talking to me for a while, it was appreciated. Also, say hello to Spikey for me,” Frank laughed as an ‘Oi!’ rang from the background. 

“He heard,” Everett smirked, “Great! Goodbye, Frank.” The phone went dead, and Everett sighed, “Silence once more.” 

THUMP

Everett stared at a charred black corpse as it lay on the living room carpet, “Never mind, forget I said anything, universe!” he screamed up to the roof, but gained no response, “Nobody dies this adventure, they said!-” 

And that's what Lucie and Anton stumbled into, Everett yelling at the roof while a steaming corpse lay at his feet. 

Lucie's slushie slipped from her hands, alerting Everett to their presence. He glanced between them and the corpse, “It’s not what you think, I didn’t do this!” 

“WHAT THE FUCK!” 

Chapter Text

[INT. BEACH HOUSE — LIVING ROOM]

“So let me get this straight.” Lucie said as she plopped down next to Everret, “That thing-” Lucie gestured a thumb to the charred figure,  “Just appeared out of nowhere?” 

Everett stroked at his chin, “Pretty much that, yeah,” the cyborg leaned his head back to stare at Lucie, “although, it shouldn’t be that hard to get for you. The TARDIS does the same thing, doesn’t she?” 

Lucie's expression went deadpan, “Well, yes! But she’s a spaceship. THAT’S a dead body! Very different.”

Everett did a half shrug, “Eh, doesn’t really matter anyway. What does matter is why it appeared here in the first place?”

“Uhm, guys.” Anton called from nearby the body, “Is it shrinking?” 

The charred corpse had become smaller—its frame carried less width, and the charred face had begun to sink in; but shrunk it hadn’t done, it had started to evaporate. Pieces of the corpse turned to dust right in front of the trio's eyes. 

Twenty-odd minutes passed until Anton left, the situation becoming too much for the young man. 

Another twenty minutes passed with Everett and Lucie gazing at tiny flecks of grey floating up into the air, until–BANG—Lucie’s cup slipped out of her grasp from exhaustion.

“Huh?” Lucie mumbled as her eyelids drooped. Everett chuckled as he leaned off the couch to pick the cup back up. The Trenzalorian’s gaze darted to Lucie as she began to slouch, “Tired, huh?” 

“Hm,” Lucie mumbled as she snuggled closer into a puffy pillow. 

“Go to bed then. You won’t be of any help like this.” 

The blonde hadn’t heard him at all; soft snores escaped from her lips. Everett pushed off the couch arm he had been perched upon, scooted closer to the sleeping girl. 

The brown-haired man gently picked her up, then slung her over his shoulder and carried her away from the living area. 

Everett’s stride up the stairs faltered for a moment as Lucie’s body heat registered to his senses. As the Trenzalorian feet began moving again, he did so with a distant expression. 

[INT. BEACH HOUSE — GUEST BEDROOM]

The Cyborg pushed the bedroom door open with his free shoulder. His hand fumbled across the wall for the light switch—CLICK—Lucie briefly moaned in annoyance as the room lit up.

In one swift step, Everett stood at the edge of the bed and dragged open the poorly made covers. “Right, ride over.” 

Slowly, Everett lowered Lucie into bed, but Crandr, she was clingy, her hands kept latching back onto Everett's shirt. If the man hadn’t been heavier than her, she would have dragged him down into the bed with her. Everett wouldn’t play pillow—that was not his style. 

“‘ank.. you,” Lucie muttered sleepily. Everett wiped away some drool off his shoulder—he glanced back one last time as he stepped through the doorframe, “Yeah, no problem.” 

[INT. BEACHHOUSE — LIVING ROOM]

“Alone again… and with a dead body at that. What a normal day.”

Everett clasped his hands together as he intensely observed the charred corpse; at least, forty per cent of its mass had gone already. By Everett’s estimations, it would be gone by morning.

The Trenzalorian had witnessed some terrible things—things he wanted to burn his eyes for, just to never see them again. 

But a charred corpse was something surprisingly new—oddly comforting at that. It echoed through his skull that there could be more terrible ways to die than just the ones he knew of. 

Everett stared ahead for hours—eyes focused on the grey particles as they slowly drifted into the air to then fizzle into nothingness.

SIGH—‘Seems like I’ve lost the need to sleep.’ Everett wiped at his eyes furiously, “Grow heavy, damnit!” 

The cyborg’s whole face lit up, “Uhm… Go to sleep!” The man’s expression drooped the moment the command escaped his lips. 

Everett shook his head in defeat while he rubbed furious circles on his brow, “That was just pathetic.”

Everett sighed, “The list of things I can’t do grows.” The man swallowed heavily and then gave a deep laugh. “Who likes sleep anyway, it's for babies….  I don’t need it.” 

The traveller climbed off the couch and strode up to the corpse—he crouched down next to it, and not a moment later, his face screwed up in disgust. “Well, that reeks.” 

“Annoying sensitivity,” Everett grumbled under his breath, 

Despite the smell, Everett leaned closer with a slight frown, ‘I’d say it looked almost like a statue.’ The man's index finger and thumb rubbed together in circles, ‘Doesn’t volcanic ash turn bodies into a stone-like shell?’ A tentative finger was shot forward and swiped across the body in a wide arch.

As it slid across the body started to crumble into itself. Grey flecks spewed into the air and then fizzled away fast. Everett’s face drew close to his index finger—on it was a speck of dust. The Trenazlorian chuckled nervously at his actions, “Right. Not stone-like at all.” 

Everett then jumped up from his crouch and took a step back; watching was better than touching. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. BEACH — PARKING LOT]

SCREECH

Anton’s car turned off as it parked in the spot it had occupied the day prior. The young adult rubbed at his eyes as he watched the rising sun come into view from behind the calm waves. 

The young man sighed and rubbed at his brow, “Why am I even here this early?”

Anton pulled his jacket on tighter as he stepped out of his car—he then sluggishly descended the stone beach steps.

[EXT. BEACH]

As Anton made his way further across the sand, the more his stomach began to twist—the curly-haired man shuddered as his mind recalled the image of a withered grey corpse.

The young man's stride came to a halt. ‘I can just leave, I don’t owe Everett and Lucie anything.’

Anton paced back and forth in the sand for ten minutes, but in the end drifted to the beach house anyway—the young adult pictured Lucie’s shiny smile from their trip the day before, which reignited his drive to be strong.

As the beach house drew near, Anton shook his limbs loose, “Come on, Anton. You’re not a wimp. Let’s show them you can be strong.”

Anton puffed out his chest as he confidently strode to the front door of the house. The man pulled a hand through his hair, smoothing it back—then he walked in. 

[INT. BEACHHOUSE]

“How is Pop-Tart a good name?” Everett exclaimed incredulously. 

Lucie, hm’ed and bit into said talking subject, “Oh, look, Anton’s here.” 

Anton smiled awkwardly and shot them a tiny wave. The man’s smile then turned displeased,  ‘Real confident, Anton.’

“We’re not done discussing the toasted pie.” Lucie flipped Everett the bird. She tilted her head back to look at the Trenzalorian—Lucie faked a smile,  “Just shut up.” 

Everett’s eye started to twitch, his brow creased a moment later, then he hissed, “LUCIE.” In response, Lucie slowly rolled her eyes at him, which made Everett huff.

Lucie fully turned Everett’s way, arms crossed, “It’s just a snack! What do you want me to say? I’ll call the marketing company and make them change it!”

Everett drummed his fingers on the kitchen island and then gave an appreciative head nod, “That could work.” 

Lucie facepalmed and then shook her head, “Dense idiot.” Everett popped open the pickle jar and put one into his mouth. The discussion was now at an end.  

Anton fiddled with the hem of his jacket and then released a high-pitched laugh, “I-I can always come back later.” 

Lucie pushed off her stool and rubbed at her aching back. Her gaze flicked to Anton, which made him avert his eyes and blush.

Lucie raised a brow, “Why? Just stay.” 

The young man nodded his head rapidly and shot a swift thumbs up to her, “I will!” 

 “Okay….” Lucie nodded with a confused expression.

Anton stepped forward onto the carpet—then looked down—” Where’s the body?” 

The other two’s heads swivelled his way, “It fully disappeared.” 

“Ah, yeah…. makes sense.” Anton didn’t want to dwell on it and so continued to the kitchen. “How were your nights?” 

Everett groaned as he shut the fridge, “Sleepless and Dusty.” Lucie patted Everett on the back with a soft smile, “Slept like a princess, thanks to this big softie.” 

Everett pushed Lucie's hand away from his back. “Don’t mention it,” the cyborg said as he averted his eyes. 

Anton sat down at the kitchen counter, brow raised in confusion, “What do you mean, Lucie?” 

Lucie scooted by Everett to approach the sink. She then waved a hand through the air,  “Oh, Everett dropped me off in bed.” 

Anton’s expression soured at Lucie’s words, ‘He got to touch her.’ The young man’s intense gaze then descended on Everett’s turned back. “That’s nice of him.”

Lucie leaned down on the kitchen island and side-glanced at Everett, “Yeah, he can be quite the gentleman that Everett.” 

Everett rubbed at his earlobe with an averted gaze. He then looked between the two, “What?” 

After a second of silence, Anton adjusted his glasses and asked, “So what are the plans of action today?” 

RING, RING, RING

Lucie pushed up off the island and headed to the wall-mounted phone.

“Hello! Lucie Miller speakin’,” Lucie's whole face lit up, “T’was about bloody time!” 

The girl nodded and motioned at Everett to give her a paper and pen from the kitchen counter. The tall man threw both things—Lucie snagged it mid air and swiftly jotted something down, “Right, see ya later.” 

The phone clicked back into the hanger—afterwards, silence reigned in the house for a moment—“Who was it?”

[INT. MEL’S DINER]

“Ah, California!” The Doctor shouted from his booth to Lucie as the group stepped through the front door of the small diner. 

All three people had a different reaction to seeing him. The Doctor sat in the back of the diner in a red cushioned booth with a small turquoise table. 

Lucie had a silent conversation with Everett and dragged him across the way, leaving the younger man to speed after them. 

The Doctor looked pleased as Lucie slid in next to him. Meanwhile, Everett grumbled as he and Anton slid in on the other side of the rickety table.

The Doctor’s smile turned joyful as he looked at his two friends and the new face with them. 

“So many memories. I died once in San Francisco, you know.” The time lord said with a wistful expression.

The boy with them eyed him in shock—the Doctor stared right back, which made the boy fidgety. The brown-haired boy's right hand shot from under the table, which he then extended toward the Doctor awkwardly.

“Hi! I’m Anton. The one you called with at the beachhouse a few days ago.” 

The Doctor’s face lit up with recognition, and he gripped Anton’s hand firmly with both of his. “Yes! Anton, hello! Once again, thank you for helping Lucie.”

“Sorry to break this up, but-” Lucie raised a brow and gestured at the Doctor's clothes, “What are you wearin’?”

The Doctor looked down at his shirt, which bore the logo of the UC Santa Cruz

Banana Slugs–the man pulled at the white shirt, his face lifted into a smile. “Oh, yes. My shirt and jacket got saturated in blood. Had to throw them away.” 

Lucie's mouth slackened. “So, where did you get the shirt from?” The Doctor chuckled, “Found it in a locker,” the Time Lord gestured at himself grandiosely, “What do you think?” 

Lucie side-glanced, “You look like a massive dork.”

The Doctor’s mouth quirked up in amusement, “Well, I didn’t quite manage to find any stores. But you seemed to have found them just fine.” The Doctor gestured between Everett and Lucie.

Everett crossed his arms and rolled his eyes at the Doctor, “For your knowledge, my clothing was filthy.” 

Lucie fiddled with her menu, “Yeah, he was a right mess. So Anton was generous and bought us new clothes.” 

The Doctor rifled through his bag and produced a green journal. “So Everett, where did we meet last?” 

The Doctor leaned over the table toward Everett, which made the cyborg back up a fraction. “Right, you’re young and from–” he motioned at Everett, who hung half out of the booth, “You’re distance, I’d say you’ve not been going long? Have we done Mud-world yet? Was that why you were dirty?”

Everett's expression dulled. “Right, not mud-world.” The Doctor dragged a hand through his curls and flipped backwards in his journal. “The Sahara Desert then?” 

The Trenzalorian face screwed up and his hand slammed down onto the table, “What are you on about?! I have only met this you once, and that was when I was being controlled.” 

The Doctor’s eyes burned with recognition, which made him flip the journal shut. 

“Right,” The time lord brow creased, and he stashed his journal away “Ignore that-” he gave a small wave toward his duffel bag. “Nice to meet you properly then.” 

Everett pinched the bridge of his face, his hand then slid down to his chin, and he started to scratch at his beard. Everett's gaze flipped up to the Doctor, “Yeah, whatever. Just so you know, I’m annoyed with future you. So, Nothing personal.” 

The Doctor interlocked his hands on the table and smiled genially, “I see. Well, I hope that I can right my mistakes.” Everett sighed tiredly, “Depends, are you going to push me to answer questions I don’t want to answer?” 

The Doctor drummed his fingers on the leather of the diner menu, “I can certainly try not to ask any. Is that alright for you?” 

Everett’s brow scrunched together in thought, “It’s a start.” 

The Doctor nodded joyfully. Early Everett was certainly an interesting experience. 

“Back to the task at hand-” he turned to Lucie, “Have you checked that the TARDIS is still there?”

Lucie met Anton’s gaze as he frowned in confusion. ‘He’s not made for this,’ the Doctor noted. “Yeah, down in Santa Monica. The blue thing we drove past yesterday.”

Everett’s voice perked up in excitement, prior mood forgotten. “Doctor, I do have to say the exterior you have now, much nicer than the one your grumpy self has.” 

The Doctor chuckled, “Is that so? If I ever meet that version of me, I’ll be sure to take a good look at the exterior.”

The Doctor once again rifled through his bag and pulled out a chain with a key attached. He slid it towards Lucie, “Here you go, Miss Miller. You’re key. Wouldn’t want you locked out, do we?” 

Lucie gave him a playful shove, “I’ve been locked out for days, haven’t I? But thanks anyway. Why wasn’t it in my pocket in the first place?” 

The Doctor picked up his menu, as did Anton and Everett, “Couldn’t risk our friends taking it if they found you. So I borrowed it for a bit.” 

Everett dropped his menu with a harsh thud, mind made up. “Great move, never let the enemy get their hands on your equipment, bad things happen that way.” 

“Yes, you’ve been very adamant about that in the past. Well, you’re future, I’d guess. Timelines are confusing.” 

Everett rubbed at his temples, “Tell me about it, I travel across them.” 

“Both of you shut it! Order first, then more talk.” The Doctor and Everett gave Lucie an amused glance. 

The blonde shot both of them a look that promised retribution, “Whatevah you two have in mind, don’t utter a word of it.” 

Everett got punched in the chest as he uttered a syllable. The four of them then ordered, and as they waited, Lucie and Everett shared what they had witnessed back at the beachhouse. 

“There’s really nothing there,” Anton confirmed while he shook his head vehemently. The Doctor tapped his chin in thought, “Could the body have been moved?” 

Everett scoffed, “Unlikely, I was staring at it all night. It happened just as we said; it evaporated. When Lucie woke up, only the head was left and then by the time we both ate it had fully gone, not even a tiny speck was left on the carpet.” 

The Doctor hm’ed, still not fully convinced, “I’d still like to take a look around later, see if there’s anything I can discover.” 

Lucie rolled her eyes, “Well, have fun goin’ on a wild goose chase.” 

“Goose?” Everett asked with a bewildered expression. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. MEL’S DINER — PARKING LOT]

“And I need to sit in the back, why?” The Doctor asked as he leaned on Anton’s car. Lucie gave the Doctor a cheeky wink, “Because I called dips on the passenger seat.” 

“Well, I couldn’t, could I? I wasn’t here. How is that fair? Whoa, Everett!” The Doctor exclaimed as the cyborg dragged him with into the car. “Sit down and shut up!” 

[INT. ANTON’S CAR]

“I’ve missed this,” Lucie smiled blissfully. She crawled into the passenger seat, accidentally hitting Anton in the side while doing so. “Sorry.” 

Anton winced but shot her a shaky thumbs-up anyway. Lucie rolled her eyes at his behaviour, then buckled herself in. 

“No music!” Everett exclaimed—Lucie’s hand paused near the volume button. “Sensitive ears at it again!” Lucie grumbled, then crossed her arms in irritation.

Anton twisted the key, and the engine sprang to life, starting their journey. “So, Everett, can I ask? How long have you been travelling around my timeline for?” 

“Two days, I guess. I only did one trip with you, and it wasn’t very good,” The Doctor tapped his fingers against the door. 

“Yes, I heard earlier. I shall do my best to make up for it… even if I have not done it yet; I promise you that.” 

Everett met the Doctor’s eyes for a moment, and they intrigued him. There was still a warmth there, but not the same one he’d seen in Grumpy's eyes, those feelings he couldn’t even begin to decipher, but every part of this Doctor’s face suggested nothing but camaraderie…. Everett's constant frown eased a bit, then he looked away, “Okay, you’re not as bad as the other one… you’re off the hook for now.” 

The Doctor clapped and smiled in delight, “Splendid!” He shot Everett a finger point, “I will not break your faith in me, Everett.” 

“Faith is a strong word, but I appreciate it. Anyway, how long have you known me, Doctor?” The Doctor tilted his head away, “That’s a difficult question to answer. I can’t put a number on it, but I’ve known you since acquiring this face, and I’ve gotten quite a few more lines since then.” 

Everett observed the Doctor’s face for a moment, and indeed, he had some very subtle frown lines, “I can’t really recall what you looked like when I… attacked you.” 

The Doctor gave him a gentle shoulder nudge, “No worries, I fully get it.” 

“You two are big saps,” Lucie called from the front.

 “I thought it was quite a touching moment.” Anton butted in, “But I don’t know what all of it meant. Even then, it sounded touching.” 

Anton took an abrupt left turn, jostling the others in the car; “SORRY! I almost missed the turn.” 

“My nan can drive better than you!” Lucie said as she gripped the dashboard, expression wide-eyed. “I’m sorry,” Anton replied in a meagre voice.

The Doctor leaned toward Everett and asked with a hushed tone, “Does he have a thing for Lucie?” 

Everett also leaned in and spoke with a humorous tone in his voice; he didn’t bother to quiet down, “Oh, you don’t know the half of it.” 

[TWENTY MINUTES LATER]

Anton pulled back into the beach parking lot. The moment they came to a standstill, everyone jumped out. 

[EXT. BEACH — PARKING LOT]

“‘Bout time!” exclaimed Lucie as she stretched her limbs. The Doctor looked around and sniffed the air, “Ah, the smell of the ocean! It has been too long.” 

Everett kicked a pebble away, “It just smells salty.” The Doctor heaved up his bag, “Never said it was a good smell.” 

[EXT. BEACH]

The two men went ahead of Anton and Lucie. “What’s in the bag?” Everett pointed to the black duffle at the Doctor’s side—the Doctor snickered, “Nothing, nothing at all.” 

“Hm, well, whatever is in there as long as it's not going to do anything troublesome, I’m fine with it.” Everett then remembered something and halted the Doctor, “Oh, Doctor, do you hear me speak Trenzalorian or English?” 

The Doctor's smile turned wide, “Trenzalorian.”

Everett's mechanical heart skipped a beat. “I see. Well, it’s good to know at least someone can hear my language.” 

The Doctor hesitantly reached out and gave the man a small shoulder pat, “At first I couldn’t hear you speak in it, but…. One day, you teach me.” 

Everett's eyes narrowed, “I do?” The Doctor’s hands went up to calm the man, “I promise you that I didn’t force you! I don’t fully know why, but I suspect you began to feel-” The Doctor’s eyes went deeply sad, “Alone.” 

Everett's gaze lifted upwards. The Doctor’s face softened, “You learn English at some point and mainly use that with our friends. In the end, I think you just wanted to at least converse with one person in your home tongue, and I was more than ecstatic to be the one.” 

Everett gave a shaky laugh, his gaze drew down to his converse, “I don’t yet know why I chose you. But I can begin to see why.” 

The Doctor didn’t reply and took the comment as the compliment it was, ‘baby steps.’

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. BEACHOUSE — LIVINGROOM]

The Doctor swatted at the air, annoyed, “There’s really nothing!” 

“We told you so!” the other three said in sync. It was scary how in sync they were; they hadn’t practised that at all. 

The Doctor's shoulders slumped, “My apologies. I should have trusted in you three.”

Lucie puffed out her chest, “Yeah, you should’ve! You bloody Time Lord.” The Doctor held his hands up in surrender, “Oh-ho, Lucie! Using the species name is going a bit far, isn’t it?” 

“It's not when you ignore what we say.” Everett nodded along to Lucie’s words, “I concur.” 

“I do too,” Anton exclaimed. 

The Doctor took a seat on the couch with them, his gaze singled out Anton, who became slightly unnerved at the attention. “Anton, tell me. What’s this Cameron like?” 

Anton sank into the couch further as all eyes in the room turned deadly curious, “Uhm-” Anton fiddled with his glasses, “I don’t really know. I wasn’t around when my friends got to know him. All I’ve heard is that he’s good-looking and rich.” 

The Doctor leaned forward, his tone became more clipped, “How long has he had this beach house?” 

Anton licked his dry lips, “I-I got the impression from Neal that he’s had it a while. Maybe two or three years.” 

The air around the living room turned cold as the Doctor’s eyes stormed over, “Impossible, I visited Alison here last May.” 

The Doctor sprang up from the couch and strode over to the bookshelves. He examined their contents closely. “Nothing good in there, I’ve checked!” Everett exclaimed as he leaned his head over the back of the couch. 

Anton's gaze bore into Everett, the young man clicked his tongue, “I mean, he has some really cool records-” his voice shot up a pitch in excitement, “A super rare Elvis Costello picture disc even.”

The Doctor didn’t reply and began to pull records and books out; he scrutinised them heavily. Everett looked over to Lucie and mouthed, ‘What is he doing?’

Lucie rolled her eyes, ‘Do I look like I can read his mind?’ – ‘No?’ the blonde kicked Everett in the side. 

“I think… most of these are second-hand,” Lucie stopped her glaring match with Everett and looked back at the Doctor as he rubbed the spine of a book, “Why’d you say that?” 

The Doctor sighed and turned to them, “Look. Most people are either careful with their records or they’re not.” He picked up two records, “Some of these clearly aren’t new, but they’re still in good condition. Others are badly scuffed and scratched.” 

The Time Lord put one down and kept the other with him as he walked up to the back of the grey couch, “Look-” He pulled open the sleeve, “On this one, someone’s written the track times on the inner sleeve.” 

The Doctor nodded his head to the bookshelves, “Same with the books. Some of them have had their spines broken when reading, others have been read more carefully.” 

Anton jumped off the couch and walked up to the records himself. The boy looked through and examined a few as well, meanwhile Lucie lifted a questioning brow, “So?” 

The Doctor leaned down heavily on the couch, “‘So if he’s so rich, why’s he buying his books and records second-hand when he could buy them from any shop on the high street?” 

The Doctor’s head tilted sideways “Aside from the Costello picture disc, which I agree is a nice piece and probably a real rarity.”

The room stayed silent; nobody had an answer. 

CREAK

The door swung open, revealing a tall figure. He was blond with tanned skin, seemed to be in his early twenties, and wore a beach shirt, khaki pants, and sunglasses, the classic surfer dude look, if you asked Lucie. 

The guy took a step forward and flipped off his sunglasses. His expression turned curious as his eyes scanned each one of them. 

Anton took a hesitant step forward, “Cameron?” The guy’s head swivelled to him—and bopped up and down. 

Anton stepped toward him and extended his hand “Anton-” he introduced, “I’m a friend of Neal’s. He, uh, lent me the keys?”

Cameron's gaze was unfocused for a moment, but then his face lit up, “Right, sure!” Then he gave a firm handshake. 

As their hands parted, Cameron began, “Been in San Francisco on business. So how d’you like the place?”

“Lovely,” Lucie called from her position on the couch. “Pretty nice,” Everett called, joining in. 

The Doctor pushed away from the couch and cleared his throat, grabbing all the attention, “‘We were just taking liberties with your record collection.” 

The Doctor’s gaze flipped to Anton, “‘You were right, Anton, he does have a copy of this-“ the time traveller pulled the record from before away from the couch and up in the air “Do you want to put it on?”

Anton didn’t really get what the Doctor was doing, but approached and accepted it anyway. 

The young man then walked to the turntable, but before he put it on– “Please don’t,” Everett called out, ears already plugged with his fingers. 

Anton hesitated for a second, but put the record away in the sleeve—he shot Cameron a small smile, “Everett has sensitive hearing.” The man gave a firm head nod, crossed his arms and then stepped up to the Doctor. 

“So what’s your story, man?” The taller man sized up the Doctor; the Doctor, not one easily deterred, smiled up handsomely.

Lucie silently muttered, “This, A dick sizing competition or somethin’?”  

Cameron cocked his head in Anton’s direction, “‘How do you know Anton?” 

The Doctor was about to reply when Anton coughed to get attention, once again all gazes went to him—Anton rubbed at the back of his neck, “Uhm… The Doctor’s a sort of guru.”

‘A Guru, seriously, Anton?’ but the young adult rolled with it, “He knew the Beatles in the sixties. Right, Doctor?”

Cameron perked up when he heard that. The Doctor shrugged nonchalantly, “Indeed, I did.” 

The Doctor's hands moved about as he explained, “I ran a little bookshop and gallery in London. McCartney gave me the start-up capital. I knew all those guys. Dave Davies. Scott Walker. Jimi Hendrix. Syd Barrett. Viv Stanshall…” 

Cameron listened eagerly, eating up every word the Doctor muttered, “So what brings you to LA?” 

Anton butted in again. He enjoyed spinning a tale, “He has a house in the Canyon.” The Doctor once again rolled with it, “Used to be Keith Richards’s place.” Cameron's mood perked up even more. 

“He used to lend me the keys all the time, then one day, a few years ago, he said, ‘Doc, you’re there more than I am. Keep it.’” — “Really?” Cameron asked. 

“Yes. I don’t think he liked coming here so much after Gram died…” Lucie rolled her eyes. The story was so outlandish; she didn’t get how Cameron was believing it. 

Everett's face was so scrunched together in bewilderment because of it that he almost looked like a prune. Neither of them could wait to be done with the situation. 

The Doctor sat down on the back of the couch, pushing Lucie’s head down. She glared his way, but the man didn’t pay her any mind. Instead, he used the silence in his favour, “So how long have you had this place?”

Cameron's gaze snapped back to the Doctor—his eyes seemed a bit less concentrated, “Oh, a while. Maybe…. summer before last?”

The Doctor needed to do everything he could in that moment to not show his furious feelings outwardly; the man was blatantly lying. “And what do you do to be able to afford a place like this at your age?”

“Uh, I’m an agent,” Cameron replied, his voice a bit weaker than before. He didn’t like being questioned, but did like asking questions. 

“What kind of agent?” The Doctor pushed, “Uh, Representation for actors mainly. My dad runs a literary agency back east.” 

“New York?” Anton asked, Cameron didn’t look at the young man but did reply, “Yeah.” 

Cameron’s voice had fully lost its convincingness at that point; it was like he was confused himself. 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. BEACH]

“Interesting, very interesting indeed,” The Doctor absentmindedly muttered as they all stood outside the beach house. The Time Lord took off before them, lost deep in thought. 

Lucie turned to Anton, “A Guru seriously? That’s what you came up with?” Anton scratched at his neck and chuckled, “I read an interview last night that talked about a guru, so… I just used that.” 

Everett rubbed at his forehead then let out a guttural sigh, “I think my brain is going to explode. I didn’t get one word from that conversation. Not one.” He emphasised with his index finger. 

Lucie gently patted his back. She then looked up at the beach house, “I was rather enjoyin’ my stay, couldn’t he have stayed gone longer. A right creep he is as well, did you see his blank expression when we decided to leave?” 

Anton shuffled in the sand, “I don’t think he’s a creep… he seemed fine.” 

Lucie shot the brown-haired man a disgruntled look. “Seriously? Mate, get your eyes checked. It was really obvious to see.”

The young man averted his eyes, “Maybe I should.” The air turned awkward for a moment until Everett started walking, “No use in just standing around. Come on.” 

Lucie caught up with Everett, “So? What did you think of Cameron?” Everett shot her a side glance, “What am I supposed to think? It's pretty convenient how he showed up the moment we were searching through his stuff, don’t you think?” 

Lucie crossed her arms. ”You think he got alerted somehow?” Everett gave a non-committing shrug with his shoulders, “I don’t know. But it is pretty odd.” 

The rest of the track back to the car was silent as all of them reflected on the events of the last thirty minutes. 

[INT. ANTON’S CAR]

The Doctor sat in the middle of the back row, seatbelt undone. “How does he know your friends?” 

“I don’t really know. Like I said, I’ve been away at college.” 

‘Also pretty convenient,’ Everett thought, ‘a new guy shows up right after one of them leaves. I’m reaching, aren’t I?’ 

“Did they talk to you about him? Any gossip, annoyances they had with him?” Anton looked at Everett through the rearview mirror, brow scrunched together, “I didn’t even know he existed up until a few days ago… Well, I might have heard about him once or twice before then.” 

Everett sighed, “Think hard, anything could be of help.” The Doctor stared at Everett with a genial smile, “Interested, hm?”

Everett pushed away from the window, “I just want to get to the bottom of this, yeah. There are some pretty big coincidences surrounding this guy; he showed up right as Anton left.” 

Everett lifted his hand, fingers up, “Is he some type of person that feeds on emotions? If Anton’s friends were missing him, then perhaps that’s why he joined their group so he could manipulate their emotions for his benefit.” 

The Doctor chuckled, “You’re describing a Wraith, a ghost who’s got unfinished business, they’re the embodiment of sorrow in some cultures, but I don’t think that’s what Cameron is.” 

“Okay, not that then,” Everett brought a finger down, “But what about him showing up right as we start snooping? Odd, isn’t it? It's like he can feel when people get too close to discovering things about him; maybe his image is important to him.” 

Lucie turned toward them, “Yeah, by the time we left, his face was devoid of any emotion. And that, after you questioned him about himself, it was like he couldn’t deal with personal questions.” 

The Doctor bopped his head up and down, “Certainly some good theories.” Everett let another finger go down, “Then we have the second-hand items. You said the beach house was someone else's, Alison, right?” 

The Doctor gave a sad nod. “What if he killed her to take it from her? The other items as well. He killed other people to have their belongings; that’s why some are scratched up and some are new.” 

The Doctor rubbed at his chin, running through a few thoughts—then he let out a curious hum, “That actually makes sense, and it narrows down which species he could be.” 

“Anton, if you remember anything, the moment to share is now,” the boy nibbled on his bottom lip and then took a left turn. 

“Well, Everett asked me if my friends had any gossip about him. That’s just it, they never talk about him, and if they do, they only praise him, which is odd for them, because they’re the people that gossip about everyone.” 

Everett leaned back with his hands behind his head. He cocked his head to the side, “All I’ll say is he influences them.” 

Anton briefly turned his head to the back seat as they stopped at a red light, “I mean, it could be me overthinking. Or, it's jealousy because it's starting to feel like they’ve replaced me with Cameron; he’s taken my friends.” 

Lucie gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder, the red light turned green, “Only one way of finding out.” The Doctor looked at Anton with a determined gaze, “You have to talk to a few of your friends. Get them to lay the cards out for us, so we can learn as much about Cameron as possible.” 

The Doctor flipped his gaze to Lucie, “Lucie, you go with Anton, make sure that they don’t start to suspect anything and alert Cameron to us snooping around.” 

Lucie gave a salute, “Yes, sir!” The Doctor rolled his eyes at her actions. 

The Doctor gestured his hand at the driver, “Anton, any of your friends that could be available to talk?” 

“Donna and Blake probably.” 

The Doctor slapped the back of the boy's seat, “Good! You make sure to give them a call and arrange a hangout. After that, meet up with any other available friends; the more people, the more information.” 

Lucie leaned out of her chair and looked back at the Doctor and Everett “And what are you and Everett goin’ to do?” 

The Doctor sat back with a radiant smile, “Some light investigating.” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. THRIFT STORE]

“Light investigating my ass!” Everett exclaimed as the Doctor entered yet another thrift store. 

Everett halted the Time Lord with a hand to his chest. “And this is beneficial in finding out about Cameron, how?” 

The Doctor gave a charming smile, “It’s not. I only thought it fair that I’d also get to pick a new outfit.” Everett looked the Doctor straight in the eyes, expression deadpan, “With what money?” 

The Doctor chuckled and then produced a credit card from his pants pocket. He waved it right underneath Everett’s nose. “I’ll have you know I have quite the wealth. I had a very well-paying job a few years back.” 

“With UNIT I know,” Everett tapped his forehead, “All your past has been shoved into my brain,” The Cyborg said with a heavily wrinkled expression. The Doctor patted Everett’s arm compassionately as he passed by him, “I am aware, my friend, and for what it matters, I’m sorry.” 

Everett followed the Doctor into a clothing aisle and shot him a dismissive wave,  “I don’t need your apologies, it's not like you did it.” 

The Doctor paused, “Hm, I wouldn’t say that. The people who hurt you clearly had problems with me. I feel like I owe you for what happened to your people; you shouldn’t have had to suffer because of my reputation.” 

Everett’s breath hitched at the man’s words; his hand began to shake, “Th-that’s… I really appreciate it.” 

The Doctor turned toward Everret, whose eyes were glistening with unshed tears. The Doctor grabbed Everett’s hand a rubbed soothing circles on it. “Everett, never be afraid to share your feelings with me. I will always be here to hear you out whenever you want to share.”

Everett brought a finger to his cheek and wiped away a tear, his voice choked up. He hadn’t felt this vulnerable in years. Everett met the Doctor’s gaze, and the Doctor’s eyes watched him intently. 

The Trenzalorian tugged on their interlocked hand and smoothly enveloped the Doctor in a desperate hug.

The Doctor form melted into the hug, his hand ran up Everett’s back soothingly as the cyborg choked out his tears. “Let it out, my friend.” 

Everett silently bawled. People didn’t stare; they stayed at a respectful distance, not wanting to interrupt whatever tender moment was going on. 

As the Doctor’s warmth embraced him, Everett felt at peace. Alta had been the last person he had ever shown this amount of vulnerability to and had been the last one to make him feel like this—yet here he was with a man who, in the future, had made him angry… but that same man, with a different face, had, with just a few words, made him feel good. 

In hindsight, he couldn’t stay mad at the Doctor. That same man still hid underneath that grumpy face, maybe just maybe he had finally found a person that would accept him for who he really was—now it was up to Everett to understand the Doctor and work with him to achieve his goals. 

A few minutes later, the two parted. Everett’s eyes were puffy and red from crying, but he quickly laughed it off, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what overcame me.” 

The Doctor smiled tenderly, “No need to be embarrassed, it happens to us all.” The Doctor then wrung his hands together. “Ready to shop?” 

Everett took a deep breath and straightened his turtleneck, “Yes, I am.” 

[TEN MINUTES LATER]

The Doctor walked down the sidewalk, now clad in a 1960s-style jacket, denim jeans and a button-down black shirt. 

“Where to now, Doctor?” Everett asked as they weaved through a crowd of pedestrians. The Doctor gave a glance back at the cyborg, “We have to make a stop at the police station.

“Okay, sounds good to me.” The two then lapsed back into silence as they pushed through crowded streets. 

[INT. POLICE BUILDING] 

The Doctor and Everett stood in line at the front desk of the police station. Everett's foot tapped on the grey floor. The room was bland to say the least, the walls were a dull white and blue. 

The Doctor leaned back and forth, occasionally tapping his fingers on his leg, showing his impatience. Everett bit the inside of his cheek and tilted his head; at least the man was keeping his impatience better hidden.

Everett turned around and swept his gaze in the direction of the glass door they’d come through. On both sides was a wooden bench for visitors, both empty at the moment.

The Trenzalorian then followed a man's movements as he walked past to the outside, and then he got tugged backwards by the arm. Everett turned around swiftly and ripped his hand out of the Doctor's grasp. Everett rubbed his arm awkwardly as the man and the police officer stared at him. 

The police woman crossed her arms, “Gentlemen. What can I help you with?” 

The Doctor walked up to the counter with a polite smile, “Good evening.” The Time Lords' gaze then turned serious as he pulled a picture of a black-haired woman from within his jacket. 

“I’ve been out of town for a while—when I returned, I went around a friend's place, but she was nowhere to be found. From what I’ve heard, nobody has seen her in a while. I was wondering if you could share if anything has happened to her.”

The Officer slid the picture closer, she then took a glance at a board behind her, but quickly shook her head, “Sorry, what was her name?” 

“Alison Davies.” The woman shot both of them a charming smile, “Just a moment, please.” The Officer then turned away from her desk and walked to the right into a barred-off area. 

Everett leaned over the Doctor’s back, gaze filled with stars, “Doctor, is that a computer?” The Doctor chuckled, “Yes, it is. One of the first at that.”

Everett pushed passed the Doctor and tapped his fingers against the big white box, “I’ve read up on computers, but seeing one in person is even better. Is it true that by the 25th century they turn holographic?” 

The Doctor deposited his hands in his pockets. “What century were you from again?” 

Everett's pulled away from the electronic device, “Uhm, the 40th.” 

The Doctor was hesitant to ask the next question, “And you didn’t have computers?” Everett shook his head, “No, but we had holo-screens.” 

“Hm, that tech was also outdated by the 40th century. How technologically advanced was Trenzalore?” 

Everett took a deep breath. He could do this, he could talk about Trenzalore’s past, he could do it. “We could be compared to this planet's Medieval era. Outside of that, all we had were some spacecrafts and a bit of advanced technology.” 

The Doctor tapped his chin curiously, “Ah, I see your planet was a Techodieval civilisation.” 

Everett scratched at his cheek, then parroted the word the time lord had said silently.

 The Doctor chuckled, “Allow me to explain.” 

“Techodieval civilisations are what we Time Lords call a species whose progress stagnated in the Medieval ages, but then, as other species began visiting developed technology beyond its outward appearances.” 

Everett's eyebrows shot up, and he clicked his fingers. “That’s exactly what my planet was like. Are there more planets like mine?” 

The Doctor hm’ed, “Yes, I’ve visited quite a few of them in my day.” 

“I had never considered that my civilisation could be similar to others.” The Doctor bopped his head up and down a few times, “Believe me, many species don’t.”

The Doctor shot the Trenzalorian a compassionate smile, “If you wish, I could show you one once we are done with this situation.” 

Everett looked away and gripped tightly at the counter, “No, not yet. I don’t think I can handle that.” He would see too many reminders of his home, and that wouldn’t do him any good. 

The Doctor waved his hand through the air, “That’s alright, if you ever are ready, ask me and I’ll take you in a heartbeat.” 

Everett grasped hold of his checkered pants and gave a small head nod “Okay.” 

The two men's gazes went back behind the desk as footsteps came near, “Sorry for the wait,” the blonde police woman exclaimed as she put down a dusty file on the white desk.

She gave the Doctor a sad look, “I’m sorry to inform you that your friend went missing about July last year. I’m afraid our investigation has run cold, so I’m not able to share more than what’s in this file.” 

She opened the file for the Doctor to read. She took a step back and watched. Everett leaned over, reading together with the Doctor. 

“This, Jerry. He was the last person to talk with her?” The Doctor asked, gripping a picture of a brown haired young man. 

The blonde gave a head nod, “Yes, he was.” 

The Doctor gave the woman a hopeful glance “Is there a way to contact him?” The woman shook her head sadly, “I’m afraid he’s gone missing as well.” 

“When? If I may ask?” The woman bit her lip, “Well, shortly after we interviewed him, August, if I’m correct.” 

The Doctor sighed and closed the file, pushing it back to the blonde officer, “I thank you for your time.” 

The Doctor turned around with a tired sigh and then walked away—the blonde officer turned to Everett, “Tell him, I’m sorry for his loss.” 

Everett gave her a grim smile, “Will do.” The cyborg then turned and left, quickly walking through the visitor area—he pushed through the glass doors. 

Everett looked side to side and spotted The Doctor sitting on a yellowish brick. 

“She was an amazing woman,” The Time Lord began as Everett slid onto the ground next to him. Everett crossed his arms. “Who was she to you?” 

The Doctor gazed upwards, “My saviour, I crashed the TARDIS into the sea about five years back. I was launched out and almost drowned because my respiratory bypass failed.” 

The Doctor fiddled with a lock of his hair, “Alison was a marine researcher back then and was out with her crew. While under the water, she spotted me and dragged me back to her ship.” 

“If it weren’t for her, I would have died. Regeneration impossible.” Everett slowly reached out and gave a pat to his shoulder, “Sorry for your loss.” 

The Doctor gave him an appreciative smile, then his eyes turned dark, “I owe it to Alison to figure out what happened.” 

Everett nodded rapidly, “I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” 

The Doctor bopped his head “I really hope we do.” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. RECORDS DEPARTMENT]

“Have you found his file yet?” The Doctor asked Everett as he came back from his talk with the record keeper. 

Everett sighed heavily, “Do you see a file in my hands? No, then I don’t have it, do I?” 

The Doctor leaned against a filing cabinet, hands in his pockets, “Well, I thought you might have had an invisible file.” 

Everett gave him a deadpan stare, “Very funny?” Everett dragged a hand through his hair, messing it up. “Anyway, what have you found out?” 

“Oh, just that the literary agency his dad supposedly runs is non-existent.” Everett pushed a cabinet shut with an annoyed huff. “Anything else?” 

“I also found out that Alison’s place is still hers; Cameron is not the rightful owner.” Everett gave him a side glance, “So that means?” 

“He’s avoiding being involved in her disappearance, must have waited to use it until the investigation went cold. Her assets strangely haven’t been frozen either.” 

Everett ran his finger through another row of Cameron’s, “Odd indeed, now please give me a hand, check the drawer next to mine, speed this up.” 

With the Doctor’s help, it didn’t go fast at all; neither of them could find Cameron’s file. They did find a file that could’ve been his, but the name was Cole, not Cameron. 

“Alias?” the Doctor questioned as he read the file. “I don’t know,” Everett replied with an annoyed huff. 

The Doctor closed the file, “This is the closest we’re going to get, and even then, we’re still far off from any usable information.” 

“Yeah, I know, are files meant to only have information going back a few months? Shouldn’t they have a birth date or something?” 

“A certificate, it’s called, and yes, it is supposed to have that. All of it is a bit sketchy if you ask me.” The Doctor put the file back, “Well, let’s be off, nothing left to be done here.” 

“Don’t have to tell me twice, files absolutely stink, the dust doesn’t help!” Everett exclaimed as he sped his way out. 

“Goodbye!” Everett called to the keeper as he passed the front desk. The Trenzalorian moaned in delight as fresh air hit his nostrils. The cyborg looked back as footsteps approached him. 

“Where to now?” The Doctor shrugged his jacket on tighter, “The Bus stop.” 

“I’m going to hate it, aren’t I?” The Doctor started walking, “Doctor?”

He didn’t reply and kept walking, “Doctor, answer me, damn it!”

[ONE BUS RIDE LATER]

“I hate you,” Everett muttered as he stepped off the rickety bus. The Doctor waved at the bus driver. He then patted Everett on the back, “It wasn’t that bad.” 

Everett stared at him incredulously and then motioned at his nose, “FOR ME IT WAS! You know how sweaty those people were?” 

The Doctor scratched at his cheek awkwardly, “Oh dear, I forgot you don’t have plugs yet.” 

Everett stared at him with a murderous glare, “Give me one good reason not to turn my programming back on.”

“You won’t have control.” Everett gave him a warning glare, “You’re lucky I love my freedom.” 

Everett then rubbed his shoulders, ‘How does that even work? I thought I couldn’t get aches?’ He shrugged it off, one more thing to add to his list of things he still had and could feel. 

“Where are we anyway?”

The Doctor smiled at him, “Santa Monica.” 

“Why?” 

“We’re going to rent a hotel room.” The Doctor then walked off, leaving Everett to catch up. “Oh, yeah, Doctor. I have a thing to ask.” 

“What is it?” Everett pulled a piece of paper from his pocket that he had stuffed in there that morning “Last night, a future friend called me on the beach house phone. They told me I gave it to them, but I don’t have a clue what the number is. If you’d be so kind as to write it down for me.” 

The Doctor stared at the extended piece of paper for a moment and then accepted it. He quickly noted the number down. Everett then stuffed it away, “Thank you, I appreciate it.” 

“No worries, I’m always glad to help you.” 

Everett rubbed at his brow, “That’s what I don’t get. Why do you want to help me?” 

“I told you, you’re my friend, and I feel like I owe your people a great deal.” Everett waved him off, “Yeah, I know that. But why do you consider me worthy of being a friend at all?” 

The Doctor’s head tilted back as he began to speak, “You’ve earned that right. And you were the first person this face saw. We Time Lords have a sort of attaching instinct to the person we gaze upon first.” 

“So that’s why you consider me a friend? Instinct?” Everett didn’t like that reasoning at all. That made him feel like an obligation—Even more so than he already felt with the jumping around the timeline stuff. 

The Doctor waved his hands in the negative, “No! Not at all, I can still make my own choices and the bond we created was very much outside of that instinct. I briefly lost my memories and didn’t even remember the attachment.” 

“Then why?” The Doctor flipped a curl away from his face and smiled cheekily, “You’ll find out in due time.” 

Everett's nose scrunched up in distaste, “Ah, that again.” 

The Doctor stopped abruptly, “You use it enough around me. I thought it fitting for this.” 

“Yeah, future me said that as well.” Everett then followed the Doctor’s gaze to a tall grey building. “Here we are! Hobart Arms.” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. HOTEL ROOM]

“Is that them?” Everett asked from his lying position on the rosy hotel bed. 

The Doctor watched the two approach through the blinds, “Oh, it’s them, and from their expressions, I can tell it’s going to be a juicy talk.” 

The Doctor pulled the door open. Lucie’s fist was mid-air, ready to knock, “Will you stop openin’ doors before I knock! One day I’ll hit that mug of yours by you doing it.” 

“Hello to you too, Lucie.” Lucie grumbled a hello and then slumped into the room, kicking her shoes off in the process, “Deocampo! Move!” Everett didn’t— Lucie too tired for bullshit plopped on top of him. 

“Lucie!” 

“Everett!” 

The two glared at each other and began a squabble, shoving each other around the bed. The Doctor's amused glance left them to inspect a distant-eyed Anton.

“Hello, Anton, do you want to come in?” Anton nodded and then mindlessly walked in. The boy navigated through the green-walled room to the nearest open chair at the back of the room. The boy sat down heavily, hands falling between his legs. 

The Doctor closed the door, he struggled with the lock for a second, then walked to the centre of the room and clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention to him. “Well, shall we share our findings?” 

Lucie groaned. Everett had given up on trying to push her off. “It's wild what we found out.” 

“Do, go on.” The Doctor promoted Lucie to start first, “First, we met up with Donna and Blake, and we found out Gwen was the first to meet Cameron. Gwen is apparently dating Cameron—She was first dating Blake, but ended it with him, saying she was in love with another. They thought she made it up because she was quite the fantasist.” 

The Doctor nodded, thumb stroking his chin in thought, “Interesting, go on.” 

“Anyway, a bit more on Gwen, she didn’t make much sense most of the time, always lost in thought and like I said before, she’s a fantasist, always creating weird stories. But they told us that it changed after Cameron came around because he gives people clarity or somethin’.” 

The Doctor shook his head, his previous understanding fizzling away, “Clarity?” 

Lucie shrugged, almost shoulder-checking Everret in the process, “Term Cameron uses apparently.” 

Everett pushed Lucie’s foot away and got a sneer in return. The man rolled his eyes and then flopped back down like a fish; escape would have to wait.

“Anyway, after that, we met up with Gwen at a restaurant. Had a bit of a talk, then she began talkin’ Cameron—she was excited to say the least. In the end, all we learned was that he sees potential in people and knows how to bring out their talent, plus that he always has a bigger picture in mind.” 

The Doctor was deep in thought, putting the pieces together, “Then we met up with Anton’s pal Linus. Here’s where it gets wild.” 

Lucie turned her head, eyes wide, “Cameron got Linus a car by killing a guy.”

Everett straightened, launching Lucie off of his chest, “OI!” she yelled. Everett rolled his eyes at her, but then turned serious. He sat cross-legged on the mattress. “He killed a guy?” 

“Yeah, s’what I said, didn’t I?” Everett gave her a small shove, and Lucie kicked him back. “How did he do it?” 

Lucie rolled over onto her back and lifted her head to look at Everett “I was gettin’ to that part, dumbass.” The Doctor stepped forth, stopping an oncoming squabble, “Right, go on, Lucie.” 

“Right, Cameron sorted the guy’s will and got the car that way; that’s how he apparently avoids suspicion.” 

“And Anton’s friends don’t care?” Everett asked, flabbergasted. Lucie chuckled nervously, “No, they don’t. That’s why Anton went catatonic.” 

Everett glanced at Anton, the young man stared deeply into nothingness. Poor guy.’

“So, Cameron killed the guy, but he didn’t just kill him; he sucked out his essence. By doing that, he gets more powerful. Linus called it a transference or something.” 

The room lapsed back into silence then. “The corpse,” Everett exclaimed, eyes wide with realisation, “It must’ve been one of Cameron’s victims. The burned state they’re in must be what’s left after their essence is gone.”

The Doctor paced about but nodded along to Everett's statement, “He sucks out their essences, yes. But I’m going to say, he eats souls, that’s what he must’ve done to Alison as well.” The Doctor's face clouded over, “I can certainly say he isn’t human.” 

“What did you guys find out?” Lucie asked, trying to lighten the mood. Everett sighed, “Nothing much, just that Cameron has no records at all under his name, but he has them under the name Cole—they only go back a few months.” 

“He an alien trying to establish himself then?” Lucie asked, the Doctor snapped his fingers, “Oh! Now I know. He’s a Concepton.” 

“A what ‘Ton?” Lucie parroted with a dumfounded look. The Doctor turned to her. He leaned over her with a wild look, “Concepton are abstract beings that live between the cracks in reality, they look to take on a corporeal form.” 

The Doctor pulled his hands through his hair, “You said they thought Gwen made him up at first, right?”

Lucie nodded her head slowly, “What do you think she gave him a physical shape?” 

“Sort of, Gwen dreams up Cameron, tells her friends about him to get out of the relationship with Blake, yet the more she tells them about this fantasy man, the more he becomes real in their minds. Which helps the Concepton find his way through, and it becomes Cameron.” 

Everett scoffed, “That wouldn’t work, though. Gwen knows she made him up, so why would she not bring that up?” 

The Doctor stopped leaning forward and stepped back. He clapped his hands “That’s just it, she’s a fantasist, she deluded herself into him being real, one day he shows up and her mind just adjusts to it, because in there he was already real.” 

Everett's mouth gaped open, “Right. So what now? Do we go up to them and tell them he’s fake, and poof, he disappears?” 

The Doctor shook his head vehemently, “No, no, it’s not that simple, Conceptons are reliant on the ones that dream them up. He’s been around too long, established himself firmly within the group. He’s stable at the moment.” 

Lucie realised something and flipped upright, “When you questioned him and he kept getting blanker and blanker, was it because he can’t think for himself?” 

The Doctor shot her a finger point, “Exactly that! That’s his dependency on Anton’s friends showing. They only know the him now; they don’t know the him before, so he has no proper knowledge as to what he should say about it.” 

The Doctor pulled at his locks, “Okay, okay, plan of action, we sow doubt.” 

The Doctor walked to the back of the room. He stopped in front of Anton and gripped him by the shoulders firmly “Anton, you need to listen to this part. Please come back to us.” 

Anton blinked a few times, helping his eyes adjust to his new surroundings, “Huh?” 

“Welcome back to the real world, Anton, now listen.” The Doctor backed up, “First of all, we need to keep Cameron busy; he can’t find out about what we’ll do, or he’ll try to stop us.” 

Everett climbed off the bed, “Right, so two of us keep him busy, while the other two do the other part.” He then shot the Doctor a questioning glance, “Which is?” 

“We create a backstory! Then we share it with one of Anton’s friends, suddenly they don’t actually know who he is and that doubt will make him weak. Once he’s weak, we capture him and keep him captured until it spreads to everyone. By that point, there will be too much confusion and doubt about who he is. His form will crumble away, and the Concepton gets thrown back into the cracks between reality.” 

The three of them all blink owlishly at the Doctor, “A bit complicated innit? What if it doesn’t work?” Lucie asked with a doubtful frown. 

The Doctor tapped his fingers on his arm, “We take him into the TARDIS and I’ll lock him away until everyone forgets about him.” 

“And you can’t just do that immediately?” Lucie asked incredulously, the Doctor shook his head in the negative, “Concepton are too dangerous to keep around, the first way is the best way to get rid of him.” 

Everett stroked his beard in thought, then let out a long sigh, “Fine, let’s give it a shot. Now let’s divide roles.” 

“Anton definitely goes to talk with his friends,” They all nod at that. “Lucie, you could go with, help reinforce the story, it's stronger once it comes from a second mouth.” 

Lucie shot him a stink eye, “And it can’t be you, why?” Everett made a fake, thoughtful expression, “Obviously, I’m going to help the Doctor with Cameron. If it turns violent, I can’t be hurt much.” The Trenzalorian held his hands up, “Of course, that is, unless you want to fight Cameron, then be my guest.” 

Lucie chuckled nervously and waved a dismissive hand at the cyborg, “No, no, you do that.” 

The Doctor clapped his hands in delight, “Now we need a friend of Anton’s that you haven’t talked to.” 

Anton's face scrunched up in anxiety, “The only one that we haven’t talked to is Justine.” 

The young man’s leg bounced up and down anxiously, “But we can’t do her, it would be too awkward, she’s my ex and all.” 

The Doctor crouched in front of Anton, “Anton, please, she’s our only chance of stopping Cameron and getting justice for his victims.” Anton gazed deep into the Doctor’s hopeful gaze—his heart skipped a beat. The man was right; his feelings were nothing compared to the deaths Cameron had caused.

He sighed, “Fine, we’ll talk to Justine.” 

The Doctor sprang up in excitement, “Wonderful!” The Time Lord then snapped his fingers, “Let’s get story writing.”

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM]

“Home sweet, home.” The Doctor said as he unlocked the TARDIS doors. The Time Lord pushed the doors open, and the moment his feet planted inside the ship, she sprang to life with a happy whir. 

“Hello to you, Old Girl.” Everett stepped in behind him, and he lifted his hand in greeting, “Hello, TARDIS.” 

She whirred even louder then, and flickered her lights in greeting. “You make me really jealous, you know? Why can’t I get a greeting like that?” 

Everett passed by the Doctor, “I think she just knows I’m greater than you.” The TARDIS let out a high hum, “You hurt me so.” The Doctor said with a dramatic hand to his left heart. 

Everett observed the room for a moment—he touched a few trinkets around the room as well. His gaze then curiously went around the many bookshelves; he hadn’t seen that many books since the observatory. 

“Have you read them all?” The man asked as he slid his finger over the spines. The Doctor glanced back from his position  near the console, “Most of them, yes, I’ve had plenty of time.” 

“So they’re just here for looks?” The Doctor chuckled, “You could say that, yes.” 

“So you wouldn’t care if I messed around with them, let’s say if I dumped all of them on the floor?” 

The Doctor spun around quickly, “Don’t you dare. Those books are very important, I’ll have you know, they’ve been with me longer than some people live.” 

Everett held his hands up in surrender, “Don’t worry, I won’t, I respect literature too much for that.” 

The Trenzalorian patted the books gently and then headed over to the console, joining the Doctor at it. Everett threw a thumb to the hallway, “So, where is this photo room?” 

The Doctor didn’t look up but he did throw a thumb back as well, “Left turn down the main hall, then a right near the bathrooms, another left at the end of the hall, then you go through the pool room and take another left, another right, turn right near the grand staircase and then you open the first door to you’re left.” 

The Doctor went back to work on the console as Everett blinked owlishly, “Yeah, I can’t remember what you just said.”

The Doctor tapped a glass hourglass absentmindedly, “I am coming with, so don’t worry.” 

Everett then rubbed at his brow, “I think I’ll never be able to navigate her. Way too complicated.”

The Doctor brushed a lock of hair away from his eyes and chuckled, “Oh, you will, it just takes some time, the TARDIS will also light the way if needed, she won’t let anyone get lost. Well, unless she dislikes you—then you might find yourself walking in circles.” 

Everett started moving to the hallway. He threw a hand forward, “Come on, let’s go, I want to be at the photo room before noon.” 

[INT. TARDIS PHOTO ROOM]

“So you’re a Doctor of photos?” The Doctor pulled up a photo of Lucie they had taken at the hotel earlier—he then edited it into a photo the TARDIS had mocked up of Cameron. 

“I am a Doctor of a lot of things. I wasn’t at the beginning when I chose my name, but during my travels, I acquired a lot of Doctorates. But for editing photographs, you don’t need a doctorate, just talent.” 

The Doctor printed the first picture and began the weathering process to give it some age. 

Everett handed the Doctor another picture, and he started the process all over again. “What else are you talented in?” 

The Doctor smirked and snuck a glance at Everett, “Oh, you know, the normal stuff, venusian aikido, spoon fighting, painting, poetry, kissing.” 

Everett's mind froze, and he gaped, “Kissing?” The Doctor glanced back with a raised brow, “Do you want a demonstration?” 

Everett spluttered, “What, th-that’s not what I asked!” 

The Doctor turned around and took Everett’s hand—the man kissed it tenderly. The Time Lord then softly caressed Everett’s knuckles as he held his hand between his, “I can give you a kiss on the lips as well if that is more to your standards.” 

Everett stared softly at their interlocked hands—he got the strangest feelings when doing so. The cyborg's cheeks flushed, and his gaze averted, “No, no, that… that was a good enough kiss.” 

The Doctor let Everett’s hand fall to his side again. The Doctor chuckled softly, “Your reactions are too amusing.” 

Everett snapped back to attention, strange feelings fluttering back down, he crossed his arms and frowned, “Well, you’re reactions are terrible.” 

The printer started up once more—another picture was finished, the Doctor repeated the process a few more times, then came the big jobs, a missing poster and a birth certificate. 

“Jim Fishman.” Everett reminded the Doctor as he leaned in behind the man, gaze upon the keyboard intently. 

The Doctor gave a head nod, “I’ve got it, Everett. This is not my first time doing this work.” 

“I didn’t know that, did I?” Everett pushed away from the desk and paced a bit; he didn’t have anything to do until the Doctor was finished. Which left his mind time to wander, ‘What were those feelings I felt earlier?’ 

Everett brought his thumb to his lips and began biting at his skin nervously, ‘The only other time I’ve ever felt like that was with Alta.’ 

Everett’s stomach sank, and the biting became harsher, ‘Am I betraying Alta by feeling like this with him?’ 

‘Is it wrong that I liked feeling like that with someone else than her? It made me so happy.’ Everett began to pull at his beard hair—he shook his head quickly, ‘May-’

“Everett, let’s head out. I’m done.” 

Everett stopped his anxious actions and followed behind the Doctor, and slowly the storm in his mind calmed down. 

[INT. HOTEL ROOM]

“Cameron will be expecting you guys; he thinks you're coming over to borrow a few records,” Anton informed them the moment they stepped back into the room. 

Lucie and Anton were spread around the table, pages of a notebook strewn all over. “Very good,” the Doctor replied. 

The man walked up with his hands behind his back—then he shoved a paper packet in front of them, “Pictures as I promised.” 

Anton pulled them out carefully—his eyes widened in surprise, “These are awesome.” The young man turned to the Doctor with a star-struck expression, “How did you do these?” 

The Doctor gave him a cheeky smile and then turned around, ignoring the question completely. Lucie, meanwhile, looked at the picture of her and a six-month-old.

“Blimey, that’s uncanny.”  

Everett came up to her and leaned over her to look at it, “Yeah, didn’t know you could look that bad.”

“OOF!” The cyborg sputtered as Lucie kicked him in the stomach, “That’s just a warning,” she told him with a serene smile. Everett immediately backed away. 

“Is this legal?” Anton asked as he looked at the fabricated birth certificate, “Anything is legal if you don’t get caught.” The Doctor informed from near the hotel door.

Lucie scoffed, “With your track record, we’re gettin’ caught.” The Doctor chuckled, “I’m not that bad.” 

“You bloody are!” 

Everett cleared his throat, “One thing left to look at.” Both Anton and Lucie pulled the missing poster out, and it was amazing how real it looked. “I’m beginnin’ to believe this myself.” 

Anton nodded along, “I would almost say that we actually, accidentally uncovered his backstory.” 

The Doctor sprang to his feet, duffel bag in hand, his gaze slid over to them at the table “Good, if you believe it, then your friend will certainly do.” 

“What’s in the bag?” Lucie asked with a raised brow, the Doctor opened it and leaned it toward her, “Cleansing materials.” Lucie's face scrunched together in confusion.

“But you had that bag with you before. You had that with you all that time?” The Doctor shook his head, “No, I emptied it and replaced what I had with this.” 

“What was in there before?” 

“My journal and sonic screwdriver, nothing else really.” The blond woman shot him an incredulous look, “And you needed a duffel bag to carry those things?” 

The Doctor raised a humorous brow, “I did indeed.” The Doctor then approached the door, and his hand landed on the knob. “Time to go?” Lucie asked, already pushing out of her chair. 

The Doctor gave a nod in affirmation. They then gathered everything they needed to finish their mission, and then they all crawled back into Anton’s car. 

Anton dropped the Doctor and Everett off near the beach house, and then he and Lucie drove off to Justine’s. 

[EXT. BEACH]

Everett and the Doctor descended onto the beach side by side, “Doctor?” Everett began, the man made a hum in acknowledgement, “If this goes sideways, I can knock him out, right?” 

The Doctor didn’t look Everett’s way, but his smile was wide enough to be seen from the side, “Yes, you can knock him out.” 

Everett cracked his fingers, then his neck, “Well, let’s hope it goes sideways.” 

The remainder of the trek through the sand was done in silence. 

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

The door swung open and revealed Cameron, “Hello, Anton said you’d be by, come on in.” The two of them didn’t need any other confirmation and stepped through post haste.

[INT. BEACHHOUSE]

Cameron closed the door behind them. It briefly made Everett’s skin crawl; NO ESCAPE flashed across his senses, but that wasn’t true; it was just a wooden door he could easily launch through it. 

The Doctor walked up next to the fireplace and deposited his duffel swiftly. Cameron headed over to the Doctor, “Before I give you the records. Would you mind sharing some more of your stories?” 

The Doctor chuckled softly. Everything was already going as he’d hoped, “Oh, I don’t mind, I have plenty to tell.” The Doctor motioned at the couch, “Shall we have a seat?” 

Cameron nodded his head eagerly, “Of course, feel free to.” 

The Doctor and Cameron sat down, and the Doctor wasted no time in storytelling. He began animatedly, capturing Cameron's full attention. That’s when Everett came in; he had to break the phone, so that Cameron couldn’t get in contact with the others once they got word of the story they’d crafted. 

Everett silently crept over to the wall that divided the stairs and kitchen and, just like the Doctor had shown him, ripped the wires out of the mounted phone, making it unusable. The Doctor touched the edge of his nose right after, signalling Everett that he’d done it successfully. 

Everett shot the Doctor a thumbs-up, and so the waiting game began. 

[TWO HOURS LATER]

“So I go over to Syd’s house, and-” KNOCK, KNOCK, “Ah, I think that will be Anton and Lucie, they must’ve been wondering why we were taking so long, would you please let them in, Cameron?” 

The big man nodded with a smile, “I don’t mind as long as you continue afterwards?” The Doctor clapped his hands in delight, “I’d be happy to.” 

Cameron pushed off the couch and went to open the door. Everett quickly ran to the duffel bag and pulled out the ropes they’d brought. It was almost time. 

“Come in, come in!” Cameron eagerly greeted Anton and Lucie, who entered with a polite smile, “Can I get any of you something to drink? A beer?” Cameron asked as they all stood inside. 

“Sure, that’d be nice,” they both said together. 

Cameron quickly headed into the kitchen to get said drinks. The Doctor shot Lucie a disapproving stare. Lucie shrugged her shoulders, “I ain’t gonna pass on some beer.”

They then all sat down on the couch, Cameron handed them their cold drinks, and as they accepted them, his gaze rapidly returned to the Doctor, the time lord leaned forward, “Now… where was I?” 

“You went to see Syd…” Cameron responded. 

Everett, who had stayed away from the couch, walked up behind Cameron, rope in hand. All he needed was the signal, and Cameron was his to play with. 

“Yes,” the Doctor cleared his throat and his hands began to move around, “I asked him what this was all about, him being kicked out of the group, and he said, ‘What are you talking about, Doc?’ and offered me some biscuits. I showed him the latest Melody Maker. He seemed surprised, but said it didn’t mean anything. Obviously, I went straight to see Roger and asked what he was playing at. He said Syd had been told everything. Everyone was sad about it. Syd just couldn’t take it” 

Lucie swung the beer bottle up, taking a long sip. She’d need it with how much rambling came from the Doctor; it also wouldn’t surprise her that all that the man said was actually real. 

Conversation went for longer than they expected, but then- “Are you alright?” the Doctor asked as Cameron’s eyes began to droop. The man brought a hand to his head, “Excuse me.” he tried to stand, but got pulled back down by a rope that swung against his middle.

“Oh-ho! Not so fast, buddy.” The Doctor stood up from his chair, his gaze grew menacing, “Yes, we’d prefer that you stay where you are.” 

Anton smiled victoriously. The story must’ve worked; everyone was probably beginning to doubt if they actually knew Cameron. He felt a little bad for deceiving his friends, but it was for the greater good.

Cameron struggled against the binds as Lucie tied them while Everett held him down against the back of the couch. “What are you doing?” the blonde man snarled up at the Trenzalorian. 

Everett gave the man a deadpan stare as he loomed over him, “Catching you, obviously. Just relax.” 

Lucie stood up and wiped her hands down “That should hold. I wasn’t the best rope tyer in the scouts for nothin’.” 

Cameron tried to lunge forward, but Everett’s fast reflexes kicked in, and he dragged him back down onto the couch, “Uh, I don’t think so, my man.” 

The Doctor crouched down near his bag and brought out his cleansing sticks with a few in hand. He jumped upright and walked up to Cameron. The surfer dude snarled at the Time Lord, but The Doctor’s gaze turned ice cold, making Cameron’s glare falter.

The Doctor’s smile came back as he brought out a lighter, which he threw to Lucie, who swiftly caught it. “Let’s get you back to where you belong, hm?” 

The Doctor extended his sticks, and Lucie lit them one by one. The time traveller swung them around Cameron’s body, then started to walk around the room, scattering the remainder of the smoke. 

As the white smoke hit maximum thickness, Cameron's struggle stopped, his face grew pained, and his breath turned shallow. Everett let his hand fall off his shoulder and was pleasantly surprised when the blonde man didn’t try to run.

The Doctor came to a halt at the other end of the couch, his gaze bore into Cameron, “With the power invested in me. I, the Doctor, banish you, Concepton, back to the dimension from whence you came.” 

They all backed up as Cameron began to wheeze and cough, his eyes rolled up into his skull, and then the man began to melt away, his form turned soupy and seeped between the cracks of the couch. 

The Doctor turned to them with a subdued smile, “It’s done.” 

No trace of Cameron was left. “Was it supposed to be that fast?” Lucie asked as she waved her hand over the spot Cameron had sat. 

The Doctor slowly shook his head, “No, but I made use of a little ritual I picked up when I joined a band of demon hunters.” 

Anton’s mouth dropped open in shock, “Demons exist?!” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. TARDIS]

“Thank you.” The Doctor said as Everett handed him the packet of fabricated photos, “I'd better burn these; best not to have any lingering signs of Cameron or the Concepton might break free again.” 

“They can do that?” The Doctor deposited the picture inside his ship, “Oh yes, they can, but not for a while. They’re never fully gone, I’m afraid.” 

Anton rubbed at his brow, “As interesting as this was, I-I don’t think I can handle much more of it.” 

Lucie gave the boy a pat on the back, “Go home, spend some time with your parents, I think it’ll do you some good.”

Anton looked up at Lucie with a wistful smile, “Where will you go now?” 

The Doctor pushed the doors open behind him, “Oh! That’s a difficult question to answer, so many places to see, so much to do. We’ll just let the universe take us.” 

“Yeah, let’s go, I saw enough of Sol-3 for a bit.” Everett gave Anton a small wave, “Bye! Try to keep your friends away from murderers from now on.” 

The Cyborg then dipped through the doors—the Doctor gave a little theatrical bow next, “Adieu, my friend,” and then he also dipped through the doors. 

Lucie let her hand fall away from Anton’s back, and she too backed up, “Gotta get in there or they’ll burn the place down.” Anton reached forward, but Lucie avoided his grasp.

Anton's cheeks flushed red, and he fiddled with his hands, “Wi-will I see you again?” 

Lucie gave a half shrug, “Maybe we’ll come back here one day. But I don’t know.” 

Anton held up a finger, telling the girl to wait. Lucie began to become impatient; she wanted to go take a bath. 

“You wanted this,” Anton said as he held out a picture he had taken of her in front of a sign that said Lucy.

Lucie gave him a dismissive wave, “Keep it, a little memento to remember these events by,” she then dipped through the doors as well, and all that Lucie saw as she shut the doors was Anton’s figure slumping to the ground in sadness.

Lucie shook her head in exasperation; the TARDIS dematerialisation began shortly after.

[INT. TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM]

“Done talking with your boyfriend?” Everett teased as Lucie joined them at the console.

Lucie shot the Trenzalorian a threatening finger, “Don’t make me kick your ass, Deocampo!” 

“I’d like to see you try,” he shot back cockily, and then sprinted off. Lucie shouted furiously and took off in a sprint after the bearded man. 

The TARDIS joined in on the chase. She flickered her lights on and off, which gave Everret more escape time.

The Doctor began to nurse his head and grumbled under his breath, “Here we go again.”

Chapter Text

[INT. TARDIS SCIENCE LAB]

“Agh!” Everett pulled his arm out of the Doctor’s grasp. The Time Lord shot the cyborg an apologetic smile, “My apologies, I didn’t intend to switch that off.” 

Everett stuck his left hand inside his arm and flipped a tiny red lever, bringing his hand back to life. Everett side-glanced at the Doctor. “I didn’t even know what was inside of me, and I knew that should not have been touched.” 

The Doctor flipped the page of his notepad and noted something down, then tapped his pen against his chin, “The layout of your innards makes no sense; they really made sure you couldn’t be tampered with.” 

“Of course they did,” Everett replied with a sneer firmly set upon his features. The Doctor put his pen down and spun back toward Everett. “But don’t worry, I’m making progress. Seeing as this is all new for you, let me show you my progress so far.” 

The Doctor wheeled to the left, halting his chair at a round globe mounted on the workbench. Everett slid over to the Doctor and observed curiously as the man pulled up a schematic. 

“Is that me?” Everett asked with a lifted brow—on the globe, Everett’s shape was being projected. A few parts lit up with an iridescent glow. 

The Doctor’s hand lifted to the shape, and the man's index finger began to drag over Everett’s shoulders all the way to his left arm. “That’s all of your mechanisms that I’ve figured out so far.”

“If all of that’s mechanical about me, where does my blood come from?” Everett carefully poked the spot the Sheriff had stabbed him a few days prior; he had seen blood come from his wound, but he wasn’t sure where it had come from. 

The Doctor pulled a hand through his hair—then began to zoom in on the schematic, pulling up a microscopic look inside of Everett’s shoulder, “These are the panels the scientists installed within your body, but-” the Doctor swiped the panel away and underneath– “Is that tissue?!” 

The Doctor nodded rapidly, “It is, it’s quite remarkable really, they converted your organics into a power fuel for your electrics, so underneath all those parts you are very much still organic, that’s where your blood comes from.” 

“Remarkable? I wouldn’t call torturing a remarkable job.” The Doctor winced and began to stammer, “I- I di- I’m sorry.” 

Everett spun around, the back of his blue chair now faced the Doctor. The Trenzalorian let out a deep sigh, “It is fine. I know what you meant. Please just never praise any of those people again.” 

The Doctor sprang out of his chair, “I will never praise them again! I promise you that, Everett. I got carried away. I should have thought of my words better.” 

“As I said, it is fine, do not beat yourself up over it.” Everett's gaze drifted to his exposed arm. His jaw tensed as he saw the circuitry underneath. His right hand shakily slid it shut. 

Everett pulled out of his chair, “I think that’s all I am up for today, Doctor. Let’s go somewhere else.” The Trenzalorian dragged his jacket over his frame and departed—not waiting for a response from the Time Lord. 

The Doctor hung his head in shame. He had messed up, got too comfortable. The Doctor pushed down on the grey workbench heavily. He always had to run his stupid mouth; he might have very well just screwed up his own future with Everett because he couldn’t contain himself.

The man let out a huff in frustration and harshly turned off the globe, “Very well done, Doctor! Very well done indeed.” 

The Doctor had to go find Everett. He clapped his hands twice and shut off the lab lights—sped walked to the doors and practically jumped through as they began to open. 

[INT. TARDIS GRAND HALL]

The Doctor looked across the large wooden room, but he couldn’t see Everett anywhere, that was until– “Doctor up here!” The Doctor's gaze lifted up, and on the highest balcony, Everett stood. 

“What took you so long? I walked up ten flights of stairs. Are you really that slow? Do you need a hoverpad to get to me?” Everett smirked down at him and then pulled his head away from the edge. 

The Doctor smiled sadly. Everett was bottling up again, the Doctor’s shoulders drooped, but his voice turned joyful, “Oh, is that so! Ten flights, huh? I’ll do twenty!” 

“I’d like to see you try!” Everett called from his position, footsteps rang through the hall, and the Doctor took off in a sprint, taking two steps at a time, ‘If this is what it takes to make him happy, I’ll do it.’ 

[ONE HOUR LATER]

The Doctor lay panting on the floor of one of the balconies, “Tired, huh?” Everett asked as he leaned over the Doctor, the man’s eyes sparkled mischievously, “Old age catching up?” 

The Doctor chuckled and rubbed sweat away from his brow, “Not quite, these legs just can’t keep up with that endless energy of yours.”

Everett fiddled with his collar, “Get better, I guess.” 

The Doctor pushed himself up onto his elbows, then lifted a brow, “Is that a challenge?”

Everett spun around, hands deposited inside his pockets—he tilted his head to the side. “Maaaybe!” 

The Cyborg began to back away through the hallway doors, “But I wouldn’t fault you for not accepting it; it might be an impossible challenge keeping up with me.” 

The Doctor rolled his neck and sprang to his feet, “Oh, I’ll take the challenge, and I will make you eat your words, my dear friend.” 

Everett chuckled and shot the Doctor a finger point, “Oh, it’s on!” 

“Yes, but I’d like to sleep first.” The Doctor rubbed at the back of his neck as he followed Everett out of the grand hall back into the Tardis hallway. 

[INT. TARDIS HALLWAY]

“Oh,” Everett replied with a crack in his voice. He then rubbed at his arm. “I’ll figure out something to do in the meantime. Can’t sleep and all.”

The Doctor took an abrupt left turn. “What?” Everett exclaimed as he scrambled behind the man, “Have you been shown your room yet?” The Doctor asked with a curious tone. 

Everett blinked owlishly, “I have a room” - “That’s a no then.” 

“I can’t sleep, though. Why do I need a room?” The Doctor shrugged his shoulders, “Why wouldn’t you need one? Everyone needs their peace and quiet; sometimes a personal room is perfect for that.”

Everett chewed on his bottom lip for a second. Did he want to be alone in a room? Quietness was really not something he handled well; “I guess you have a point.” 

Everett followed the Doctor around, deep in thought. The man led them through many hallways, and finally they stopped at an ornate golden door. “Here we are.” 

Everett’s eyes widened in amazement. The door was covered in symbols, all of them from Trenzalorian mythology. He shakily approached the door and traced the carving of Crandr in her long silk dress. 

“It’s- it’s beautiful.” A lone tear dropped from Everett’s eyes. The Doctor clapped the man on the shoulder, “A gift bestowed upon you by the TARDIS.”

Everett's hand stayed on the door; it vibrated softly; it was the TARDIS letting him know she was there for him. His smile wobbled a bit, but eventually he beamed one up at her, “Thank you so much.” 

Soft whirrs rang all around the wood-covered hallways in response. 

The Doctor's hand began to push the door inward, “Well, no better time than the present to look inside, hm?” 

Everett took a deep breath and motioned for the Doctor to keep pushing—the man happily obliged and fully pushed open the door. 

[INT. EVERETT’S ROOM]

“Welcome to your room, Everett!” The Time Lord walked in backwards, his arms held open wide as he gestured around the room. 

The room had walls that were made of stone, which held arches that divided parts of the space; patterned tapestries adorned the stone walls, bringing some colour to the grey surfaces. 

The floor of the room was simple—a checkered pattern of two woods, a dark brown wood and a light brown wood. Upon the floor lay a large ruffled green carpet. 

On the opposite side of the room sat one large window that gave way to a starry night sky—a telescope was neatly positioned before the window. 

On the right side of the room, between a wide arch, sat a large bookshelf empty except for two books, Good Omens and The Shining. 

On the left side of the room sat a lone desk with some writing materials and a board for pictures. The only part of the room untouched was near the door where Everett stood; only a singular red button was positioned on the cold surface of the wall. 

Everett's head whipped around the room with a wide open mouth, “Th- this is mine?” 

“Yes, very much yours, do with it what you please. The room follows you through the timeline; the TARDIS is handy like that. So don’t worry about accidentally seeing objects from your future.”  

Everett took a few hesitant steps back. He rubbed at his brow heavily, “Whoa, this is a lot.” 

The Doctor walked around a bit, hands positioned at his back, “Yes, the TARDIS likes to go big for the people she loves.” 

Everett's brain short-circuited, “Loves?”

“The TARDIS is connected with the Time Vortex, and seeing as you are their chosen, she feels very attached to you.” The Doctor's voice carried nothing but a gentle tone. He didn’t want to freak Everett out. 

The Trenzalorian slid to the ground, hands gripped tightly to his jacket, “Th- that’s good to know.” 

The Doctor stepped up to Everett, “Take your time, my friend, it can be quite overwhelming after all.” 

Everett bopped his head up and down slowly and took the Doctor’s offer. A few minutes passed, and he began to feel better, and now his curiosity was back to full, “Okay, one question, what is the red button for?” 

Everett cocked his head towards it. The Doctor closed his eyes, “Ah, yes, the button.” 

“Let me demonstrate.” The Doctor walked over to the wall and, with a firm fist, slammed the button inwards–CLICK—the Doctor took a big step back. 

The Cybog raised a brow in question, but the  Time Lord gave a pointed stare to the wall and—CLANK—the stone wall slid aside and revealed. “A sleeping pod?” 

“A recharging pod,” the Doctor corrected, then grandiosely waved at it, “Specifically designed for Cyborgs.” The Doctor slid his hand over the egg-shaped pod, “You crawl inside, close the glass lid. Once inside, it will ask how long you would like to rest and recharge for—the pod will set a timer. Then once that has been set up, its lights will turn blue, and you will power down until the time you had the pod set on.” 

Everett's breathing turned rapid “I can sleep!” 

The Doctor gave a singular head nod, and Everett launched forward into the egg-shaped pod, “That’s all I need to know!” The glass lid slid over him as the cyborg positioned himself on the orange leather chair.

The Doctor tapped the glass humourlessly, “That was fast. But very well, I will see you in the morning. Have a good night, Everett.” 

The Doctor began to walk away when Everett called, “Goodnight, Doctor!”

The Time Lord dipped through the golden doors and dragged them shut behind him with a heavy clunk. 

Everett's head hit the soft pillow built into the chair—he would finally feel sleep again. 

“Welcome back, Master Deocampo. How long would you like to recharge for?” a mechanical voice asked within the pod.

“Eight hours,” Everett replied instantly, and a ding rang promptly. “Recharge sequence shall be initiated shortly.” 

Everett sighed peacefully. He crossed his legs and positioned his arms behind his head. The blue light sprang on, and Everett’s eyes began to droop immediately. “Ah, this was all I needed.” 

[EIGHT HOURS LATER]

“Power up sequence initiated. Good morning, Master.” 

Everett stretched his limbs out as he slid out of the sleeping pod. A smile flitted to his face; that was his first proper night's sleep in over five years. 

The Trenzalorian then gazed down and rubbed at his neck in embarrassment, “I slept with my clothes on… Perhaps I was a bit too eager.” 

Everett quickly smoothed down the new creases that had appeared overnight, then he wandered through his room. The man stopped at his desk and found an exact copy of the Doctor’s journal. With his index finger, Everett flipped it open. Inside, he was met with a sticky note. 

‘This journal is for you to keep track of our timelines. Love, The Doctor, :)’ 

Everett tilted his head to the side, and from the pencil holder, he flicked a pencil into his hand, “Might as well, easier to write it down than to have to remember it.” 

The Cyborg slid the wooden chair backwards and slid on swiftly. He flipped to the first page and wrote down ‘Robot of Sherwood’ and then the events that had happened. With one swift turn to the next page, he wrote, ‘Concepton Mayhem,’ and repeated the same process from the previous page.

Everett closed the journal with a small huff, “I hate pencils.” 

The man began to rub away the smudges that were left behind on his hand. As he did, he pulled out of his chair and began to wander once more, his next stop the telescope. 

The Cyborg leaned over the metallic instrument—he slid an enthusiastic hand down the length of the telescope. “A real beauty.” 

Everett leaned down, closed his left eye and positioned his right at the lens of the instrument. “Whoa,” Everett's mouth gaped open as an explosion of colours happened within the starry night sky. 

The Trenzalorian, with his tongue peeking out of his mouth, began to tamper with the telescope, tuning it for clearer views. 

“Wonderful!” Everett exclaimed in delight as the telescope gave a clear view of what he wanted to see. 

“That’s Sol-3, hm?” The blue and green planet, and its white companion, stood out in the vibrant night sky. While Everett knew he wasn’t staring into real space, it was still an extraordinary view to see. “I wonder.”

Everett, with one bump of his shoulder, let an extra lens fall in front of the Telescope. “The Laureram Gamma. Grandad always told me of the striking blackhole he observed there. Could I-” 

Everett turned the Telescope to the right a bit and then gasped. He gripped the telescope tightly, “Grandad, it’s there! You were right, it’s- it's amazing!” 

Dark waves of matter rippled between the illuminated stars, the red and purple hues turned around the centre of the black hole, accentuating an already massive anomaly into a humongous anomaly. Everett was left breathless. 

Everett pulled his eye away from the telescope and wiped away the oncoming tears, “Right enough of that. Moving on.” 

Everett shoved his trembling hands away into his jean jacket and then wandered over to the bookshelf. “Oh, it’s that book.” 

It was the book he had chosen with Susan, but next to it was another book. Everett climbed up the small ladder and dragged it outwards a bit. 

“Good Omens.” Everett raised an interested brow as he flipped through the book, “Seems interesting enough. I’ll try it later.” Everett gently slid the book back, and he then jumped off the ladder. He landed on the ground with a clap of his hands. 

“Well, that was fun. But I’m starting to get bored, let’s see what the Doctor is up to.” Everett walked away from the bookshelf to the ornate door. He siwtfly pulled it open. 

[INT. TARDIS HALLWAY]

“Oh-” Everett was met with an entirely different hallway than the day before. Everett rubbed at his brow in annoyance, “I got sent away again! Seriously?” 

The Cyborg took a harsh huff and stomped down the hallway, “Stupid Time Vortex and having me travel through without me knowing.” 

The TARDIS filled the hallways with gentle hums, trying to lighten her favourite cyborg’s mood. 

“Which way, Beauty?” ‘Beauty?’ Everett questioned the name he had used for the ship… it worked. The time machine was a marvel, so ‘beauty’ would do if he spoke to her. 

The TARDIS whirred happily and flashed its lights to the right. “Thank you,” Everett called.

“No, not it.” Everett dipped his head out of the poolroom. “Also, why is the library in there? Makes no sense.” 

The man walked further along the hallway—again guided by the TARDIS. He stuck his head through another door, “Photoroom…. Remarkably unchanged.” 

Another door—”A garden?” yet another door—” No, I’d rather not.” TARDIS garbage disposal room. 

“This is the grand hall from yesterday!” Everett slid his finger over the bannister in disgust, “Why is it so dusty? Can’t that man clean or something?” The TARDIS whirred with laughter. 

Everett ran down the flight of stairs and pushed through the door that he knew led to the science lab. “WHY DOES HE NEED A SECOND?!” Everett yelled with a wild expression as he gazed upon yet another marble room with a huge hole filled with water. 

The Trenzalorian backed out and followed the TARDIS lights again, “Maybe I should stop peeking…. No, I won’t,” Everett waved a dismissive hand around and then opened another door. 

“Okay, creepy.” Everett closed the door—this time, it creaked, which made a shudder go down his spine, “Never opening that again.” 

[TEN MINUTES LATER]

Everett slid his hand across the roundled wall, “-Then I found a baby bird and raised it for a year.” 

The TARDIS chirped, making Everett laugh, “Not quite what she sounded like, but close enough.” Everett came to a halt by a sliding door covered in roundels. “Fiftieth time is the charm.” 

Everett was immediately hit with brighter lighting. He held a hand in front of his eyes as he navigated inwards. His other hand fumbled ahead of him as he tried not to stumble into things. 

The Trenzalorian found hold of something cold, he peeked an eye from behind his hand and sighed in relief, “That’s better.” 

[INT. CORAL CONSOLE ROOM]

Everett guided himself to the centre platform, surrounded by coral constructs; the soft green light of the time rotor shone across his face. “Interesting choices.” 

Everett touched a loose wire with his thumb and immediately backed up as it sparked, “Okay, no touching those, noted.” 

Everett then leaned over near the console with a tilted head. The man’s eyes shone with curiosity, and he stroked a tiny rectangular lever. “Is this still the hyper stabiliser?” The Doctor had shown him and Lucie a few controls the day before.

The TARDIS hummed in a high-pitched tone, “I’ll take that as yes. Anyway, where is the Doctor?” 

The TARDIS flickered the roundels above the police box door. Everett rubbed a hand through his hair, “I see, well, no time like the present.” 

Everett sped-walked to the wooden doors and threw them both open dramatically, “Honey! I am home!” 

[INT. MARTHA’S LIVING ROOM]

Three people turned his way, all three with different expressions. One young man with a confused look, a young lady with an annoyed stare and an older man who bounced from foot to foot with an excited smile. 

“Everett!” the spiky-haired man exclaimed. It only took a second for Everett to make a connection as to who it was; the flashing of information across his eyes made it even easier. “Different incarnation.” 

The Doctor rubbed at his ear with a tiny smile, “Yeah. Which one of us did you come from?” 

Everett raised a brow at the Doctor’s sudden mood shift, “Uhm, curly.” 

The Doctor bopped his head up and down, with a knowing look in his eyes, “Numero Eight!” 

The room lapsed into silence for a moment, and all of them stared at each other awkwardly. 

The Brown-haired young man cleared his throat, which gathered everyone's attention, “Uhm… excuse me, but he disappeared. How’d he come back?” 

Everett leaned against the TARDIS door and tapped his wrist, with a knowing smile on his face, “I’m going to assume you're Frank.” 

Frank fiddled with his brown vest. “Yes, sir, we’ve already met.” 

Everett chuckled, “I get where you’re coming from, but I have not met you yet. I don’t know how much you know, but I travel-” Everett shot his thumb at the Doctor—who smiled at the attention.

“Along his timeline, so the version of me that just left was me from the future. Anyway, nice to meet both of you.” Everett gave Martha a slight head nod. His vision had already blurred with her name, so he knew who she was. 

Martha gave a quick smile in return, “Nice to properly meet you.” 

Frank nibbled on his lip for a moment, “So let me get this right. You haven’t met me yet because you are younger than the Everett I did meet, and so that golden flash was you leaving?” 

“Pretty much yeah. You exactly summarised what I said.” Frank adjusted his cap and nodded his head, “Okay.”

The Doctor's fingers began to twitch. “Anyway!” the man clapped his hands, drawing all eyes, “Let’s go change!” 

The Doctor tried to get into the TARDIS, but Everett blocked the way with his whole body. He gave the Doctor a pointed stare. “Everett! Let me in!” The Time lord whined. 

“I don’t think I will. First, where are we heading?” Martha shoved the Doctor away with an annoyed huff, “We were going to New York per Frank’s request, but Mister I failed my TARDIS flying exam accidentally landed us at my home.” 

The Doctor pulled awkwardly at his earlobe, Everett’s eyebrow quirked up, “You failed your test!?” 

“Well! Fail is a strong word, more so refused to succeed.” Everett snorted, “Yeah, nice try, you failed.” 

“Yeah, I failed,” the man then easily admitted. Everett gave a handwave at Martha, “Where are we going now then?”

Martha glanced at Frank and the Doctor with narrowed eyes. Frank's eye flicked about, and the Doctor tilted his head up and scratched at his chin, “These two are dragging US to an unveiling of a new scientific device.” 

“Oh, that sounds fun!” Everett moved out of the way, and the Doctor practically leapt through. Martha shot Everett the stink eye, “Thanks for siding with me.” 

Everett shrugged, “I like science.” Then the Trenzalorian followed behind the Doctor to the console. 

[INT. CORAL CONSOLE ROOM]

The Doctor reached underneath the console and produced a much more worn green journal. “So where are we at?” 

Everett pretended to tap his chin, “I don’t know? Maybe my clothes will give it away.” 

Everett did a little spin while pulling at his jean jacket. The Doctor chuckled nervously, “That’s your usual outfit. I can’t really tell where you just came from based on it.” 

Everett looked down at himself with a critical eye. He was going to where this a lot…. It is a nice outfit. “Fine, we just stopped Mister Cameron the Concepton.” 

“Ah!” The Doctor flicked the journal open and made a quick note. “How long ago was that?” The Doctor didn’t reply. 

“Doctor?” — “What?” He looked up with a goofy smile, “I asked-”

“DOCTOR! Change now, or we’ll be late!” Martha exclaimed from her living room. Frank then walked through the TARDIS doors. “I’m going to change now. Martha was very adamant about it.” 

The Doctor quickly stuffed the journal away underneath the console once more and then bounded up to Everett and unexpectedly linked his arm through his. 

“Come on, let’s go pick an outfit. I’ll even wear that Cravat you like!” The Doctor winked and then dragged Everett off.

[INT. TARDIS HALLWAY]

Everett was a bit dumbfounded as the time lord dragged him through the dimly lit hallways. ‘Cravat?’

The linking of arms wasn’t his issue; he was pretty used to the Doctor touching him at this point. Curly had done so all evening when they were in the lab; it desensitised him. But ‘the Cravat you like’ was confusing him to no end. Why would he even have a favourite piece of clothing for the Doctor? 

Everett pulled back on the Doctor’s arm, almost making the man stumble, “Shouldn’t we follow Frank?” 

“Oh, do you want to? That’s fine by me if you want to.” The Doctor’s eyes drooped a bit.

Everett's face scrunched together in confusion “I mean, I never said I wanted to- WOAH!” The Doctor began to drag him away again.

“Great! Because I have the perfect suits for us in my room.” 

Everett's mind went blank,  “Huh… Do I have clothes in your room?” This time, the Doctor stopped abruptly, “Uh… I do, because- So- Well, it's mostly for storage purposes, nothing else really!” 

Everett rubbed circles at his brow, “I can barely understand what you just said, but sure.” 

“Great! Now let’s change quickly, can’t let Martha wait.” 

Everett’s mouth quirked up a bit as he saw the excited smile that bloomed on the Doctor’s face. His own smile did the same in response, ‘This day is going to be quite interesting.’

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[EXT. STREET]

Martha’s front door clicked shut, and the group of four stood outside in the cold breeze, all dressed up. Everett fiddled with his cuffs, “Great outfit, my ass, it’s itchy as Tyranttar.”

Frank walked backwards with a huge smile, his arms spread wide, “The ship was really helpful, my suit is sublime.” 

Frank had received an anchorman-like green suit with a checkered pattern; it was a good fit for the young man. 

The Doctor stuffed his hands inside his pockets. “I think it suits you, Everett.” The Doctor himself had opted to wear a black suit with a gold-green cravat. 

The Time Lord walked after Frank, starting them toward their intended destination. Clinking came after him, “And we can’t go by TARDIS, why?” 

Martha crossed her arms across her maroon dress. The Doctor smiled at his companion, “Oh, walking is much more fun!” 

“I’m in heels.” Martha retorted. The Doctor chuckled, “I didn’t make you wear them.” 

Martha huffed and let her hands fall away, “Well, next time I’m making you actually fly the TARDIS, see how good you are.” 

Everett came up next to them with yet another huff he pulled at his grey suit jacket, “This is torture, I didn’t even know I could still have itches! Crandr, kill me now!” 

Martha clapped Everett on the shoulder, “You could’ve chosen another one.” 

“I couldn’t. The Doctor gave it to me!” The Doctor rubbed at the back of his neck, “Well, future you left it there, I just pulled it out.” 

Everett gasped, “I swear to- He’s messing with me! Future Me is messing with me! Oh, I’m also doing this to… Okay, I see why I did this now.” 

All three chuckled, “Yeah, you like pranking yourself. It’s quite something,” The Doctor informed as he pulled Frank back by the collar. The man had almost been hit by a car. The Doctor patted Frank on the back, “Just follow us.” 

Frank nodded sheepishly at the Doctor. The Time Lord leaned left and pressed a button, and the timer started for the light to go green. 

The Doctor rubbed a hand through his hair as Martha cleared her throat. “I can’t believe that we’ve been on multiple adventures and I’m back on Earth twelve hours after we left. It’s too weird.” 

Everett stroked his beard, “It’s disorientating, is it not?”  

“Understatement of the century.” The light then flickered to green, and the group crossed. “It’s a bit different for me, to be honest. I just came from a really peaceful trip, so I wasn’t expecting to leave anytime soon, so the disorientation hasn’t sunk in yet.” 

“A peaceful trip? That’s new.” Martha bumped the Doctor on the side, “Why can’t I get one of those?” 

The Doctor scratched at his nose, “Uhm… Ask the TARDIS?” 

“That was what I did.” Frank spoke up, “I asked to see New York from this time period, and we didn’t end up there. So I don’t think asking works.”

The Doctor’s smile turned tight-lipped, “Oh well, there must be a good reason.”

Martha scoffed, “Yeah, you’re rubbish at driving, and the TARDIS is messing with you.”

“Oi! I’m not that rubbish.” 

“Tell that to my bum when I crashed onto it. It was like an earthquake was going on.” Frank nodded in agreement, “I haven’t flown on an aeroplane yet, but from what I’ve heard of them, I think it could be compared to their turbulence.” 

Everett quirked a brow, “It's really odd to hear all of you say this when I came from a future and past Doctor who flew the TARDIS without turbulence.” Everett leaned his head toward the Doctor, “Why are you so bad at it? Are you dumber?” 

The Doctor gasped and spluttered, “Excuse me! Dumb! You did not just say I was dumb. I’ll have you know that when I was Number Eight, the TARDIS was fully repaired; she’s a bit broken at the moment, so that’s why the trips are so rocky! Nothing to do with me.” 

Everett patted the Doctor on the arm as the man bristled, “Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day it will ring true.” 

The Doctor kicked a tiny pebble into someone’s front yard with a huff, “You’re all a bunch of meanies. You’re really making me miss K9. At least he was always nice to me?” 

“Who’s K9?” all three others asked simultaneously. The Doctor's sad frown turned even deeper, “K9,” he wistfully sighed. 

Martha gave Everett a confused stare. The Trenzalorian shrugged, “I don’t have an answer, and I don’t know if I want one.” 

Martha tilted her head, “I feel like one day you’ll get one.” Everett shrugged, “Until then, I’d like to stay in the unknown. I already know enough of his life.” 

“So you know a lot about the Doctor? But you haven’t known him long?” Frank asked with an interested tone. 

“I know too much, unfortunately. I wasn’t willing to learn it all, but I do know it now, and for how long I’ve known him, probably about a week, and this is the third version of him I’ve met.” 

“Version?” Frank asked with a scrunched brow. “He changes faces, so this is the third face I’ve seen so far, well outside of those other times, but I won’t count those trips.” Everett shuddered, remembering when he wasn’t in control. 

Frank licked his lips—his brow furrowed and unfurrowed a few times. Martha patted him on the shoulder then and gave him a compassionate smile, “Don’t worry about it. Even I don’t get all of it.” 

Frank sighed, “Sure, I guess. If I need to know, I’ll ask again.”  

They continued walking for a bit—they were in a much more populated part of London now. When they passed by a little green bookshop, Everett asked, “Are we there yet?” 

The Doctor stopped them all, “It’s only about five more minutes, hold on a bit longer.” 

“Or we could’ve taken a Cab and been there ten minutes ago,” Martha complained as said Cab drove past. 

“As I said, walking is much more fun! It's energising.” The Doctor jumped in place excitedly, and they all shot him an incredulous look. “Does it look like we’re having fun?” 

The Doctor scratched at a sideburn, “Well, fun is different for everyone, so who’s to say?” 

They all pointed at themselves, “Us! We’re saying this wasn’t fun.” 

“Uh.. Did you guys practice this?” the time lord asked with a stunned expression. All three moved almost perfectly in sync. “We don’t know what you’re talking about. We think we should keep going.” 

“Stop that! I don’t like it.” The Doctor's nose scrunched up in distaste, and he began to make distance. The three others followed in suit, “Good. Now you know what it’s like to have something not be fun.” 

“Anyway!” The Doctor began, “I hope things don’t go sideways because usually-” the man pulled at his black suit, “Things go sideways when I wear this suit.” 

Martha gave the Doctor an appreciative glance, “Well, I think it looks just fine. Even makes you look like Bond.” 

The Doctor faced Martha with an ecstatic smile, “Really? Bond.” 

She gave a confirming head nod, “Except for the Cravat that just makes you look like a snobby billionaire.” 

Everett turned to Frank, “Do you have an idea as to what they’re on about?” Martha and The Doctor walked further ahead, while Frank and Everett slowed their pace to be at the back.

Frank's mouth thinned, “I can’t say I do. More than likely a reference to something we haven’t done or seen.” 

Everett pulled a hand through his hair, “Suppose so, at least it's not that bad that I can’t understand a word they’re saying. Because once was enough.” 

Frank laughed, “You get used to it. I didn’t really get what the Doctor told me when I first stepped onboard his ship, but I just ran with it. No use in trying to understand quickly, when you have time to do it later.” 

The Trenzalorian hummed in appreciation. He clicked his fingers “That’s actually a pretty good way of thinking of it.” 

“What can I say, I’m smarter than I look.” Both men gave each other a genial smile and then sped up to walk closer to Martha and the Doctor. 

“What’s that?” Martha asked with an intrigued brow as the Doctor pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. 

“Oh! That’s where it went. Thought I'd lost that. United States Declaration of Independence. First Draft. Before I got them to stick in the bit about the pursuit of happiness.” 

The Doctor chuckled as he shoved the paper back where it came from.  “Thomas Jefferson. He was funny. Spoke Gaelic, you know. Very keen on tomatoes for some reason.”

Martha put a hand to her forehead and sighed. She didn’t know if he was telling the truth or not, because if he was, the man had an actual piece of history just stuffed inside his pocket—He was ridiculous.

The Doctor’s smile turned giddy, “Look! That must be the place.” 

Everyone's gaze turned to the right to a large building across the street. Upon the front was a large green neon sign that read, ‘Lazarus Laboratories.’

Outside of the sign, the only other noteworthy thing to say about the building was that it had a ton of windows. 

Martha pulled ahead of them all, remarkably fast in her heels. “Come on! What are we waiting for? We have a red carpet to walk down!” 

“Oh yes!” The Doctor and Martha rushed off, leaving Everett and Frank to scramble behind them.

“One day they’ll tell me when to run!” Frank complained with a furrowed brow. 

“Keep dreaming.” Everett retorted with a chuckle. 

As the two men chased after their friends, a white-haired old man came from within an alleyway. 

“Dreaming, hm? I don’t know if you’ll be dreaming much longer.” The man chuckled as he also began to make his way toward Lazarus Laboratories. 

The man chuckled sinisterly, “Oh, old friend, I can’t wait to see your reaction. I bet it’ll be a hoot.” 

<⟪⁗‣⁗⟫>

[INT. LAZARUS LABORATORIES — EVENT HALL]

“Pretty strict about the guest list, weren't they?” Martha commented as they all pushed through the double doors. 

The Doctor smiled goofily as he happily waved a black wallet about, “Psychic Paper. Works every time.” 

“You’re just lucky that they didn’t have a psychic connection, or that paper would have been useless,” Everett said as he tried to snatch the black wallet from the Doctor.

The Doctor pulled it out of reach and quickly stuffed it back into his suit pocket. “Nice try.”

“Not nice enough,” The Trenzalorian grumbled as he crossed his arms. The group of four slowly waded through the crowd. Frank stuck close to Martha; the man was a bit nervous to be around the large crowd of people.

While he was used to being around a lot of people because of Hooverville, rich people were a lot nastier to be around. Martha patted him on the shoulder comfortingly, and Frank shot her a tiny smile in thanks. 

Everett glanced curiously around the room and the various pieces of equipment being manned by scientists, ‘At least there’s no red insight.’ 

The Cyborh elbowed the Doctor on the side, whose attention was pulled away from a plate of food. He quickly stuffed his prize into his mouth, “They’ve got nibbles,” he began with a full mouth, “You should try them, anyway, what’s up?” 

Everett facepalmed and shook his head. He then threw his thumb to the phonebox-sized machine that stood on the centre platform. “What can you say about it from just looking?”

The Doctor quickly produced a pair of glasses and began to drag Everett toward the machine. A few people gave them an annoyed look, which Everett shrugged off easily, but not without shivers running down his spine. 

The Doctor stroked his stubbly chin, “Hm, not sure what its purpose is. But I know what the pillars are for.” Everett urged him with his hand to tell.

“They're Supercapacitors, they’re used to channel enormous amounts of electricity. Lazarus is going to have a gigantic power bill after this. Not even a billionaire will be able to pay for it.” 

“Why does he need that much electricity?” The Doctor shrugged to the Trenzalorians' question, “No idea,” he then smiled goofily, “We’ll just have to watch and see, won’t we?” 

“Here they are!” Martha exclaimed as she pushed past a snobbish lady with Frank and another woman in tow. 

“Doctor, Everett, meet my sister Tish.” 

 The Doctor leaned forward and gave a firm handshake. Everett just gave a small wave, “Hello!” 

“Okay, bringing a plus one I get, but bringing three people is over it, Martha.” Tish's face turned annoyed at her sister. The Doctor coughed to get back attention. He quickly pulled out his psychic paper and flashed it at Tish.

Tish's face lit up with a smile, then, “Martha, you should’ve said so!”  Martha smiled at her sister but also shot the Doctor a questioning brow; the Doctor just smiled handsomely back. 

Tish playfully pushed Martha, “Making your way up in the world, aren’t you? Anyway, I have to get back to work, but I’ll catch up with you later.”

She passed by Frank with a wink, “Bye for now, Handsome.” Frank smiled awkwardly at her, and then Tish disappeared back into the crowd.

“Aw!” the Doctor let his face fall, “I didn’t get to ask her any questions.” 

Martha blinked, “What questions?” 

“Well, she works for Lazarus, doesn’t she?” Martha nodded, “I wanted to learn some information about what he’s planning from her.” Martha scoffed and crossed her arms, “Well, you would’ve if you hadn’t walked away from me and Frank, rude by the way.” 

The Doctor scratched his sideburn, “Sorry, we got a bit distracted.” 

Everett shrugged, “Sorry, not sorry. Anyhow, what did you show her to make her back off that fast?” 

The Doctor smirked, “Oh, just used my title.” 

“Title?” All three asked, the Doctor's smile turned humongous, “Oh, you know, ‘Sir Doctor’, I was knighted by Queen Victoria, you know.” 

Martha gaped, “No way!”

“Yes way!” the Doctor replied, giddily. Frank scratched at his ear, “The Empress of India?” 

“The who now?” Everett asked with a confused expression. The Trenzalorian and New Yorker looked at each other, one with a scrunched face and one with a face full of distaste. 

“Do I want to know?” Frank mulled over it for a moment, “Probably not.”

“Okay, I’ll try to stay in the unknown for a while.” The two then watched as the Doctor recounted his big tale to Martha with big gestures—both of them geeked out over it. 

“Done?” Everett asked as the Alien and Human turned back to their friends. “Done,” both replied, excited smiles still in place.

“Martha!” A male voice exclaimed from their left. Martha whipped to the side, “Mum! Leo!” 

Martha lunged forward and embraced her mother. Francine smiled in surprise but gave Martha a quick kiss on the head, “Alright. What’s the occasion?” 

Martha scratched at her arm awkwardly, “What d’you mean, I’m just pleased to see you, that’s all.”

Francine touched Martha’s arm, “But you saw me last night.” Martha then shrugged her shoulders, “I know, I just… Missed you.” 

Francine glanced at Martha with a curious expression, then her eyes moved over to Frank, Everett and the Doctor, and her brows scrunched together in puzzlement. 

Meanwhile, Martha lightly punched Leo in the shoulder, “You’re looking good.” 

Leo looked down at himself and chuckled, “If anyone asks me to fetch them a drink, I’ll swing for them.” 

All attention turned back to Francine as she cleared he throat, “You disappeared last night.”  

Martha looked down as she prepared to answer, “I just went home.” Francine’s eyes narrowed at the response, and then she looked at the three men behind her daughter. She shot her index finger in their direction, “On your own?” 

Martha's eyes flitted between all three of he friends, and she moved to introduce them, “Uhm, these are my friends. The Doctor, Frank and Everett.” 

Francine's gaze narrowed in on the Doctor, “Doctor, what?” 

The Doctor smiled politely and extended a hand, “Doctor John Deocampo! Nice to make your acquaintance.” 

Everett blinked owlishly at his friend as he used his last name, “Martha and I have been doing some work together.” Francine looked at the Doctor’s hand suspiciously but took it. 

“Lovely to meet you, Miss Jones.” Francine suspicious look, then slid over to Frank and Everett.

“And who are they to you, Martha?” 

Martha scratched at her cheek, but the Doctor perked up and then pulled Everett into him, giving the cyborg a sidehug, “This is my Husband, Everett Deocampo. I took his last name.” 

The Doctor then motioned at Frank, “And that’s Frank Moore, he’s apprenticing under me.” 

“Nice to meet you, Ma’am,” Frank greeted and then extended his hand for a handshake. Francine's smile turned delighted. 

“So you’re also a Doctor?” Francine asked Frank, whom she didn’t release from the handshake; Leo shot Martha a humorous glance, and Martha rolled her eyes at him.

Everett looked up at the Doctor with a look that could kill. The Doctor looked down at Everett with a soft smile, and his hand tenderly caressed his back. The Cyborg suddenly didn’t find the nerve to send a death stare and leaned into the Doctor’s warmth. 

“Uhm.. Yes, I came from New York to study under Doctor Deocampo.” 

“New York!” Francine exclaimed in shock, “Your accent doesn’t sound like a New York one?” 

Frank chuckled awkwardly, “No, I’m originally from Tennessee, Ma’am.” 

“I see, you’re a well-travelled young man. I like to see it.” Francine finally let Frank go, who nodded his head politely. Leo then clapped the young man on the shoulder, “You’re lucky she left your hand attached.” 

Frank took hold of his jacket tightly and bopped his head once, “Okay.” 

Leo chuckled and then shook the Doctor’s hand. The oldest Jones then motioned between Everett and the Doctor. “You’re married? I thought same sex marriage wasn’t legal?” 

The Doctor chuckled, “Oh, we just like to say, Husband, we’ve been together for too long not to.” 

Leo then gave an awkward head nod, “Ah, that’s nice.” 

The group then lapsed into silence. Francine was about to say something when the lights dimmed, and a spotlight brought attention to Lazarus as he climbed onto the centre platform. 

The string quartet stopped playing, and the party chatter died down; all of them turned toward Lazarus—Camera flashes started up from around the room. Lazarus folded his hands together. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen. I’m Professor Richard Lazarus, and tonight I’m going to perform a miracle!” 

Everett's gaze lifted up as he felt the Doctor’s body tense. His hand slowly slid onto the man’s back and also started running circles along it. The tension slowly eased away from his posture, and the Doctor gave an affectionate glance at Everett. 

The Cyborg quickly averted his gaze with red cheeks. The Doctor let out a soft chuckle at the man’s behaviour and then switched his attention back ahead.

“It is, I believe, the most important advance since Rutherford split the atom. The biggest leap since Armstrong stood on the moon.”

In a corner of the room, the white haired man chuckled to himself. He stroked at his chin curiously, “Important? Oh, you don’t know the half of it, Richard.” 

A man in a black suit then approached and whispered something in the old man’s ear, whose lips lifted up in excitement, “I see, then we'd better wait for the fireworks to launch, hm?”

The two then stood back and focused back onto what the Professor was saying. 

“-rrow, you'll wake to a world which will be changed forever.” Lazarus turned to his assistant and handed her his cane. The professor gave one last glance at the crowd and then turned and opened the capsule door. 

As the door closed, the Doctor’s face flashed with intrigue and hesitance, Everett’s face scrunched together in annoyance as the flashes became more persistent. 

Frank and Martha's faces turned up in curiosity, and the two shuffled closer to their friends as a sound began to emanate from the machine. 

Bright blue light emitted from the machine, and everyone lifted their hands to cover their eyes as the light became blinding. Except the Doctor, whose eyes narrowed in concern. 

People began to back up from the machine as electricity sprang forth from the pillars surrounding the phone-box-shaped device. Suddenly, the room began to shake as the pillars started spinning rapidly around the machine, and wind surged forward, flicking through everyone’s hair. 

CLANG—Bottles began to fall from tables, and an alarm began to blare around the room. 

Red lights began to emit from the consoles the scientists worked on. They frantically scrambled around trying to fix the issues and then—SILENCE—Everett's head whipped around the room. 

His gaze flipped up the Doctor, and then he realised, “Oh, this again.” 

Everett extracted himself from the Doctor’s grasp, and as he did, the room crumbled, and he found himself inside Trenzalore’s old observatory once more.

[INT. OBSERVATORY]

“Professor.” Everett greeted with a displeased frown. 

“Student.” The Vortex greeted him in turn as they spun around in their chair. “We have much to talk to you about. Do take a seat.” 

“Old timeline stuff?” Everett began as he made his way over to the desk, “Yes, that is something we would like to show you, along with other things.” 

Everett sat down heavily in his chair. “Well, it better be good, because last time you didn’t show me anything. And you told me no one would die—yet someone did!” 

The Time Vortex's gaze stayed calm as Everett’s turned angry, “We had nothing to show you, so we did not show you. As for the child that died, we had no awareness of how to save them.” 

Everett laughed and then scoffed, “Sure you didn’t.” The Trenzalorian waved his hand toward the vortex, “Talk about what you wanted to talk about, I’d like to get back to my business.” 

The Vortex rubbed at their moustache, “Very well.” The Professor laid their arms on the desk, “Today, we shall intervene in the coming events once. And you, our chosen, will have to deal with changes we can’t foresee. There is too much conflict within the timeline for us to help properly.” 

Everett lifted an intrigued brow, “Conflict?” The Vortex gave a grave head nod, “This new timeline has many fluctuations. Our vision has become too clouded with events to distinguish which will come true and which will fizzle away.” 

Everett dragged a hand down his face, “And because of that, I can expect things to change and go wrong?” 

The Professor gave a slight hum, “In a way.” 

‘Vague omnipotent beings,’ The Trenzalorian grumbled under his breath, “Fine, I’ll manage.” 

Everett pointed to the large book still on the desk, “Now, show me the previous timeline.” 

The Vortex didn’t waste a second and flipped the book open to the correct page. Everett leaned in and chuckled, “The Lazarus Experiment.” 

His gaze slid over the picture of Martha and the Doctor; his gaze stayed stuck on the Doctor’s bowtie. ‘Change one: The Doctor wore a cravat here and a bow tie in the old timeline. And he wore the cravat for me at that.’ Everett shook his head to clear his thoughts.

He then read the events that had occurred. The beginning, he could recognise it had largely stayed the same, then came the events yet to occur. The Doctor fixed the machine malfunction—Lazarus stepped out de-aged and with a fluctuation in his DNA.

Everett’s brow shot up—Lazarus had turned into a giant scorpion/human hybrid creature. He transformed first with Lady Thaw, his wife and killed her in his office. Then he took Tish, Martha’s sister, up to the roof so he could feed off her as well, but the Doctor and Martha stopped it. 

Everett nibbled on his lip anxiously—afterwards, Lazarus chased them and killed a guest downstairs. The Doctor distracted the man, and another chase started. In the end, Martha and the Doctor climbed into the machine and used it to stop Lazarus. 

But it failed, and Tish, Martha and the Doctor ended up in an old church where Lazarus had escaped to. He gave them his story, and after a tense chase, died. 

Everett skimmed through the small occurrences—they were nothing compared to the main events. Even his first adventure hadn’t been that insane, he was a bit stressed to say the least. 

Everett dragged a hand through his hair and sighed, “I’m going to hate this.” 

“We wish you luck, student. You shall see us when the time is right.” The Vortex then flicked their hand, and in a golden flash, Everett stood back in the event hall, within the Doctor’s embrace. 

Then, Sensory overload, “Ah!” Everett went into the fetal position as the blaring of the alarms overwhelmed him. The Doctor yelled at Martha and Frank to stay with him as he himself ran to stop the machine. 

“Is he alright?!” Francine yelled as she bent down next to Martha. Martha was focused and terrified; she had never seen her friend like that. He was a shivering mess. 

Frank held his hands over Everett’s ears, trying to help the man from getting a burst eardrum.

The American looked up at Francine with a concerned frown, “Everett has very sensitive hearing. The alarm is causing him pain.” 

Francine lifted a hand and gasped, and her motherly instincts kicked in; she took her and Martha’s hands and also began to cover Everett’s ears. Martha looked up in shock at her mum—she looked displeased.

“You’re a Doctor for heaven’s sake, would it hurt to help your friend?!” 

Martha sighed. She didn’t want to fight. “I’m sorry.” 

Francine waved her off, “Don’t worry about it now, let’s just hope the damned alarm stops quickly.” 

Thirty seconds more passed until the machine came to a standstill and the alarms turned off. The Doctor rushed over and worriedly crouched down next to Everett. 

Everyone removed their hands, and Everett looked up with tear-streaked eyes. The Doctor sighed in relief and brought his head down to lean against Everett’s, “You’re okay, you’re okay.” 

Everett stayed motionless in the Doctor’s grip as the man embraced him. Francine shook her head at her daughter and then went off to stand with Leo. 

Martha crouched down next to Everett and inspected his ears, “They look fine, I see no blood.” 

The Doctor rubbed a hand through Everett’s hair and said, “We need to get you your plugs.”