Then, there is a woman on top of the Doctor. She had a black dress, red heels and a hand purse beside her. Her head held a wild mess of dirty blond hair -- although I can't really say anything, since my hair is just as bad -- and pink lipstick. "River?"
"Doctor?" Amy said.
"Follow that ship," the woman orders, and they both get up, and go to the console. "They've gone into warp drive. We're losing them. Stay close."
"I'm trying," the Doctor answers.
"Use the stabilizers," she says.
"They're aren't any stabilizers."
"The blue switches."
"Oh, the blue ones don't do anything, they're just blue."
"Yes, they're blue. Look, they're the blue stabilizers!" She presses the blue switch, and TARDIS immediately stops jolting. "See?" She has a smug look on her face.
"Yeah. Well, it's just boring now, isn't it?" He pouted, "They're boring-ers. They're blue boring-ers."
"Doctor, how come she can fly the TARDIS?" Amy asked, just as confused as I was.
"You call that flying the TARDIS? Ha!"
"Okay. I've mapped the probability vectors, done a fold-back on the temporal isometry, charted the ship to its destination, and parked us right along side," River grinned.
"Parked us? We haven't landed," he frowned.
"Of course we've landed. I just landed her."
"But, she didn't make the noise!"
"What noise?"
"You know, the," he makes this weird noise with his mouth that sounds like a dying cat.
"It's not supposed to make that noise. You leave the brakes on." At this, I snorted.
"Yeah, well, it's a brilliant noise," he rolled his eyes. "I love that noise. Come along, Pond. Let's have a look."
"No, wait," She says, as if she is scolding a child. "Environment checks."
"Oh yes, sorry. Quite right. Environment checks," he nodded, going to the door and poking his head out. "Nice out."
"We're somewhere in the Garn Belt," She says. "There's an atmosphere. Early indications suggest that--"
"We're on Alfava Metraxis, the seventh planet of the Dundra System," he finished. "Oxygen rich atmosphere, all toxins in the soft band, eleven hour day and chances of rain later."
"He thinks he's so hot when he does that," she rolled her eyes.
"How come you can fly the TARDIS?" Amy asked.
"Oh, I had lessons from the very best."
The Doctor grinned, adjusting his bow-tie, "Well, yeah."
"It's a shame you were busy that day," his smile melted. "Right then, why did they land here?"
"They didn't land," the Doctor said.
"Sorry?"
"You should've checked the Home Box," he frowned. "It crashed." Then we all left the TARDIS and the Doctor was right. On the large mountain before us was a burning ship, well a wrecked ship now. Several streams of smoke left the ship and went into the air. There were also a few large fires here and there that seemed to be dying down, but it was hard to tell because the ship looked so big.
"Explain," Any demanded once the woman had left the too to see the crash. "Who that and how did she do that museum thing?"
"It's a long story and I don't know most of it," he shrugged, and turned to the TARDIS. "Off we go!"
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Leaving," he answered. "She's got where she wants to go, let's go where we want to go."
"Are you basically running away?" Amy rose an eyebrow.
"Yep," he nodded.
"Why?"
"Because she's the future. My future."
"And you can run away from that?" Amy scoffed.
"I can run away from anything I like. Time is not the boss of me."
"Hang on, is that a planet out there?" Amy asked.
"Yes, of course it's a planet," he rolled his eyes.
"Can we go?" I asked.
"You did promise us a planet," Amy continued. "Five minutes?"
He looked, at Amy, who had somewhat of a pleading look. "Okay, fine, five minutes," he finally caved.
"YES!" Amy shouted triumphantly.
"But that's all," he said, as we walked. "Because I'm telling you now, that woman is not dragging me into anything."
•-•/••/•••-/•/•-•
We were in some kind of cave with a ship crashed into the side. "What caused the crash?" I asked, sniffing a bit because the smoke was irritating my nose.
"Not me," the woman said quickly. I scoffed.
"Nah, the airlock would've sealed seconds after you blew it," the Doctor clarified. "According to the Home Box, the warp engines had a phase shift. No survivors."
"A phase shift would have to be sabotage," she sighed. " I did warn them."
"About what?" The Doctor asked.
"Well, at least the building was empty," she said, avoiding his question. "Aplan temple. Unoccupied for centuries."
The wind blew and my nose caught onto her scent. She smelled like lavenders or some kind of perfume like that, but that's not all that she smelled like. I frowned, and took her hand, and without warning, sniffing it. As soon as I did, my eyes widened. "Why do you--"
Before I could answer, she covered my mouth, "I know, I'll explain later," she whispered in my ear. I gave her a weird glance, but let her go.
"Why did you sniff her?" The Doctor asked, giving me a weird look.
"No reason," I waved my hand, dismissing the subject. "I think that Amy and I deserve a introduction right about now."
He gave me a weird look, "This is Professor River Song."
"Ah, I'm going to be a Professor some day, am I?" She smirked, "How exciting. Spoilers."
"Yeah, but who is she and how did she do that?" Amy asked, "She just left you a note in a museum."
"Two things always guaranteed to show up in a museum," she explained. "The Home Box of category four starliner and sooner or later, him. It's how he keeps score."
"I know!" Amy laughed.
"Hilarious, isn't it?" River grinned.
"I'm nobody's taxi service," the Doctor said, interrupting the duo. "I'm not going to be there to catch you every time you feel like jumping out of a space ship!"
She looked at him, a smirk settled on her face. "And you are so wrong," she sighed. "There's one survivor. There's a thing in the belly of that ship that can't ever die. Now he's listening." She goes to her box, which by the antenna on the top, I assume is a communicator of some sort, and pulls it out. "You lot in orbit yet? Yeah, I saw it land. I'm at the crash site. Try and home in on my signal. Doctor, can you sonic me? I need to boost the signal so we can use it as a beacon."
He frowned at her, but pulls out his sonic screwdriver, and sonicked her anyway. "Ooo, you sonicked her!" Amy teased.
"We have a minute. Shall we?" She pulls out a blue book, with rectangles on it. It somewhat resembles the TARDIS's exterior. "Where are we up to? Have we done the Bone Meadows?"
"What's the book?" Amy asked.
"Stay away from it."
"What is it though?"
"Her diary."
"Our diary," she corrected.
"Her past, my future," he explained. "Time travel. We keep meeting in the wrong order."
Suddenly, four small wind cycles emerge from the side, and then, four men take its place. They each have weapons, like soldiers. One of them step forward, somewhat of a scowl on his lips. "You promised me an army, Doctor Song."
"No, I promised you the equivalent of an army," she corrected. "This is the Doctor."
"Father Octavian, Sir. Bishop, second class," he puts out his hand, and the Doctor awkwardly shakes it. "Twenty clerics at my command. The troops are already in the drop ship and landing shortly. Doctor Song was helping us with a covert investigation. Has Doctor Song explained what we're dealing with?"
River turned to the Doctor. "Doctor, what do you know of the Weeping Angels?"
•--/•/•/•--•/••/-•/--•
It was nighttime, the soldiers had set up camp and ever
yone was talking serious stuff about the 'Weeping Angel'. Amy and I, being completely useless, we sat on opposite rocks beside the camp.
"Hey Amy," I finally said, turning to her. "Come here a second."
She looked at me, "What is it?"
"Just... Come here," I insisted.
She sighed, but came to my rock anyway. I quickly snatched her arm and sniffed it. She smelled like vanilla, and other perfumes, but what stuck out was that she smelled like River.
She made a disgusted face, and snatched her hand back, "Why do you keep sniffing people!?" She exclaimed, a light blush on her cheeks, "It's weird."
"Sorry, I just wanted to confirm something," I apologized.
"What is it?" I didn't answer, I just stared at the drop ship. Amy sighed at my silence, and the Doctor came over. "You're letting people call you sir," she smirked, overhearing his conversation with Father Octavian. "You never do that. So, whatever a Weeping Angel is, it's really bad, yeah?"
"Now that's interesting. You two are still here. Which part of wait in the Tardis till I tell you it's safe was so confusing?" He frowned.
Amy grinned amusingly. "Ooo, you are all Mister Grumpy Face today!"
"A Weeping Angel, Amy, is the deadliest, most powerful, most malevolent life form evolution has ever produced," he ranted. "And right now one of them is trapped inside that wreckage and I'm supposed to climb in after it with a screwdriver and a torch, and assuming I survive the radiation long enough and assuming the whole ship doesn't explode in my face, do something incredibly clever which I haven't actually thought of yet. That's my day. That's what I'm up to. Any questions?"
"Is that a run-on sentence?" I asked curiously.
"Is River Song your wife?" Amy asked, "Because she's someone from your future, and the way she talks to you, I've never seen anyone do that. She's kind of like, you know, heel, boy. She's Mrs Doctor from the future, isn't she? Is she going to be your wife one day?"
"While were on the topic of River," I intervened. "What exactly is she?"
He stared at the two of us like we had grown extra heads, and sighed, "Yes, you're right. I am definitely Mister Grumpy Face today."
I laughed as River called the Doctor from inside the drop ship. "Doctor! Doctor?"
"Oops," Amy smiled, "Her indoors."
River comes out the door, this time she is wearing army-camouflage. "Father Octavian," she called, as we walked into the ship.
"Why do they call him Father?" Amy asked as we walked.
"He's their Bishop, they're his Clerics," the Doctor explained. "It's the fifty first Century. The Church has moved on." Amy nodded, understandingly.
We entered the ship to see everyone crowded around a television set. On the TV there is a grainy stone statue with angel-like wings, it's arms covering its hand. "What do you think?" River asked the Doctor. "It's from the security cameras in the Byzantium vault. I ripped it when I was on board. Sorry about the quality. It's four seconds. I've put it on loop."
"Yeah, it's an Angel," the Doctor confirmed. "Hands covering it's eyes."
"You've encountered Angels before," this is more of a statement from Father Octavian than a question.
"Once, on Earth, a long time ago," he answered. "But those were scavengers, barely surviving."
"But it's just a statue," Amy frowned.
"It's just a statue when you see it," River corrected.
"Where did it come from?" The Doctor asked.
"Oh, pulled from the ruins of Razbahan," River said casually, "And of last century. It's been in private hands ever since. Dormant all that time."
The Doctor frowned, "There's a difference between dormant and patient."
"What's that mean, it's a statue when you see it?" Amy asked.
"The Weeping Angels can only move if they're unseen," River explained. "So legend has it."
"No, it's not legend," the Doctor said. "It's a quantum lock. In the sight of any living creature the Angels literally cease to exist. They're just stone. The ultimate defense mechanism."
"What, being a stone?" Amy asked.
"Being a stone until you turn your back," he answered gravelly.
I frowned and looked at the screen, "River," I spoke up.
"Yes, what is it?" She turned to me.
"This video, does it have audio?" I asked.
"No, not that I know of. Why?"
My frown deepened, and I stared at the video. "There's something wrong with it."
River looked at me, "What's wrong?"
"I need you guys to leave the room." At this, they looked shocked.
"Why?" The Doctor asked.
"I want to check something," I explained.
"What's wrong, what is it?" River asked, worryingly.
"It's probably nothing," I waved my hand. "Just... Step outside for a second."
Father Octavian scoffed, "I'm not taking orders from a child."
I glared at him, "It'll only be a second. And besides, you might want to go check on your soldiers who are about to set the tents on fire."
"Wha--"
"Father Octavian!" One of the soldiers ran into the drop ship. "There's... Been an accident by the tents!"
He glared at me, and I smirked, "I'll be right back."
River smiled as well, messing up my head. "How'd you know that?" Amy asked.
"I could smell the smoke from a mile away," I shrugged. "But seriously, you three need to go."
"What's wrong with the video?" River asked.
"I'm trying to listen, but it's kind of hard when there's someone with two hearts beating in your ear," I glared at the Doctor, and he frowned.
"I'm sorry, I can't just stop my hearts," he pouted. "Come on, Professor Song." I sighed, I wasn't talking about him.
Once they all left, I stood there, my back turned, closing my eyes, and listening. Sure enough, I heard a very faint, almost unnoticeable, heartbeat. I turned quickly to see the Angel. It's hands were down, and staring at me. "I knew it," I muttered, going to the door, just as Amy came back in.
"Sorry, I know you wanted to be alone, but I just--"
"It's okay," I shrugged. "You're not very loud so it doesn't matter."
"What do you mean I'm-- what happened to the Angel?"
I turned to the Angel, its hands uncovering its eyes and it had gotten closer. "What'd you-- how'd you do that?"
"I didn't," I muttered. "Amy, don't get too close."
Amy ignores me, and walked closer, "Doctor Song?" She called, turning around. "Did you have more than one clip of the Angel?"
"No, just the four seconds," River called back.
Amy and I stare at the angel, the time lapse goes from 11:24 to 11:28. "Amy, we need to go get out of here," I warned the Scottish girl, trying to take her hand.
The time clicked again, and then the door closes. My eyes widen, and I pulled on the door, it didn't budge. Amy rushes over to help me, "Doctor?" She called through the closed door. "Doctor!"
"Amy, watch the angel!" I shouted, remembering what the Doctor had said.
I turned to see the Angel's mouth was open, Amy stared at the image fearfully. "Shit," I muttered. Forcing the metal inside the door to move, but it didn't budge. It was deadlocked!
"Amy! Amy," I said, moving to help her. Her heart was beating erratically. "Amy, calm down." I looked around, before my eyes finally settled on the ceiling. I rose a hand, and forced the metal to turn up, and create a sizable hole.
"Amy, c'mon," I said and grabbed her by the waist, tossing her roughly through the hole. I heard her scream outside, before thudding on the roofing.
"Amy! What are you doing?!" I heard the Doctor shout as I stared at the screen. I tried to open another hole, but everytime I moved to do so, the lights flickered. I cursed, if I didn't have vision on it, then it could do whatever it wanted.
The screen blipped again and now the Angel was out of the television! "Hazel! Hazel, what's going on?!" River's voice said, from outside.
"The Angel's out of the screen. I
got Amy out, but whenever I try to move, the lights flicker," I explained. "If I fly out, then the room will go dark and I won't be able to see."
"Don't take your eyes off it," the Doctor warned. "Keep looking. It can't move if you're looking."
"Got it," I said, staring at the Angel.
"The screen. Can you turn it off?" He asked.
"Amy already tried!"
"Try again!"
I sighed, and felt for the remote, after a few minutes, my fingers finally found it. "Don't take your eyes off the angel! Each time it moves, it'll move faster. Don't even blink."
I flip the screen off, but it keeps turning back on. "It's not working! The screen keeps going back on!"
"Yeah, it's the angel."
"How is it doing this?" Amy asked, "It's just a recording!"
"No, anything that takes the image of an Angel is an Angel," he explained. "What are you doing?"
I frowned, 'the image of an Angel, is an Angel...'
The wheels in my head begin to turn, just as I heard the Doctor say, "Hazel, not the eyes!"
"What?"
"Look at the Angel but don't look at the eyes," he explained.
"Doctor, you said that an image of an Angel is an Angel, right?"
"Yes, but--"
"So, if there is no image, there's no Angel," I go into my pants leg, and take out one of my knives, and count the seconds on the screen. "One... Two... Three," I throw the knife through the demonic angel and into the screen. Time seems to slow down, as the screen statics and the knife embedded itself into the glass screen, shattering it. Smoke rises from the broken television screen. "... Four..."
The angel disappears as the door opens, revealing the Doctor, Amy, and River. He stares at me, then at the knife in the television. "Threw a knife in it on the blip," I sighed, sitting on the table. "No image, no angel, right?"
"That's brilliant," River grinned.
I turned to Amy, "Are you okay? Sorry, I had to throw you through the ceiling, I was panicking."
"I-I'm great, yeah. Are you okay?" She asked me.
"River hug Hazel," the Doctor orders as he sonics the broken television set. I hold out my hand, and take the knife out of the television, and back into my pocket. He turned to me. "You keep knives on you!?"
"Yeah, I told you that when I first met you," I rolled my eyes, "'I have several weapons on my person'."
Misfortune: A Time Travel Romance (Ball and Chain Book 1) Page 5