ten_fwd | Intro-ish Post (With Options)

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Intro-ish Post (With Options)

This Doctor had been getting settled in on board the Enterprise - well as much as he can. He still baulks at the jabs he had to be given, but since they didn't contain anything that was harmful to him, he allowed for them.

Now, he has an agenda. He knows the TARDIS is somewhere on board and now that he has a map and listings, he's going to go there to find it.

The Doctor is making his way down to the cargo hold, but going about it the long way around. May as well investigate the ship on his way. If he can get to the TARDIS, he won't be staying long anyway, so he might as well explore something new as he goes along.

It's all terribly human. Basic, really. And they think it's the best thing. About the only thing he's really interested in is this Q character. He doesn't mind humans most of the time. He just doesn't like being 'stuck' with them. And there's so much humanity here - with nothing to escape it.

B: TARDIS Cargo hold Plot: Open To All
After his adventure with Trever and his cat, the Doctor finally arrives at the cargo hold that is marked as containing the TARDIS. He sonics his way in (whether or not that was necessary) and looks around. Some of the items look familiar and others seem alien - even to him - which is saying something. It isn't long before he sees the TARDIS, standing there in all her glory. He confidently strides towards her. When he gets there, he gives a loving stroke to her. "Hello, Old Girl. Now, let's see about getting out of here."

The Doctor needed to vent his anger and frustration at not being able to get back to his own universe. So he made his way to the training room. He had told Clara he had cheated against Robin Hood with his archery skills. But that doesn't mean he's positively rubbish at it. He just wasn't sure of his aim at a ship with rotating bits. If he were to be perfectly honest, which he rarely is, he just needs a bit of practice. He was disappointed that he couldn't get into the Armoury, so he would have to make-do with one of the holodecks. Pity. It's never quite as good as the real thing. Now, if only someone else with archery skills were around. Nothing like a little bit of friendly competition when it comes to brushing up on skills.

{{OOC: I'm happy to backtag however long people are interested in playing with these plots.}}

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Talking about the TARDIS gets the Doctor to look at her again. He pulls out his key and slides it into the lock. It turns and he tries to open the door, but it doesn't move. He can tell that she's not preventing his entrance that something else is stopping it from opening.

In despair he rests his arm on the corner of the TARDIS and rests his head on it.

"He couldn't give us that small luxury. Even when the Time Lords were punishing us, they afforded us each other. Prevented her from travelling... But I could at least enter her."

He takes a few moments to collect himself. And turns to face KITT.

"I'm the Doctor. What should I call you?"

KITT is watching him now, his reactions, the way the TARDIS is reacting to his presence. She may not know this face he wears, but unlike KITT, she knows him. That acceptance is enough for him, and his attitude towards the man softens, just a little.

There was love there. Genuine and sincere. KITT can read it in his stance, hear it in his words. Maybe they weren't in love, not as KITT understood it, but there was a strong bond ~~that only sounded a little bit sexual~~.

His voice is hushed now, unsure of what he's just witnessed.

"KITT. I am known as KITT. It's nice to meet you again, Doctor."

"I should be more careful. I can't offer her much comfort from here. And she can sense my distress."

The Doctor pushes himself away from the TARDIS and heads toward the car. The Doctor would chuckle if he knew how sexual he sounds. Because he doubts the TARDIS thinks of anything in a sexual manner.

"But, I'm glad to know she has someone here to watch over her. And you? You said you're here without others. So who watches over you?"

"Yes, she can." What he wouldn't give to be able to hear it from her for himself, but after a year here he'd at least been able to learn this much of her.

For his own part, KITT only thinks about sex when he's trying to prevent his driver from making yet another mistake, but he's learned enough about innuendo to know one when he hears it, even if it's unintentional.

He is, however, taken aback at the Doctor's question. Who indeed?

"I look after myself. And there are others here whom I consider friends. I rely on them as well now, when the need arises. I expect the same of them. And what of you, Doctor? Unless I'm mistaken, your own TARDIS is not numbered among those here."

The Doctor glances back at the TARDIS(es?) around the room. He shrugs. "She's not like me. I change faces and bodies. But she... She's always the same. Even when her desktop changes. She's younger is all. But still the same."

Which is why his key worked, even if he was prevented access. Still, he thought he knew the real question KITT was asking.

"I don't know where or when she is in my own time. But, it's for the best. Two versions of the same TARDIS occupying the same time and space creates a dangerous paradox. Which means 'Q' is very powerful, to be able to hold it in place."

Why is it easier talking to an Artificial Intelligence than it is trying to talk to 'real people'?

"I see. I must admit, it is rather difficult to tell them apart, even for me." The aura that surrounded the TARDIS was about them all, at the same time. It was only when looking that he could detect the differences.

"Do you think she is looking for you? Or can these TARDISes communicate your location to her?" He pauses then, unsure of his own question there. "Q is omnipotent, though I don't believe he is omniscient. If that were the case, what would be the point of any of this?"

KITT couldn't answer that question, but it seemed to be the case for many humans as well.

The Doctor shakes his head. "Wrong universe. If she's still in our universe, I doubt these versions of her can communicate.... OH!"

He rushes back to a random one and gives her an extra few strokes. "I am so sorry. We'll work this out, though. Don't you worry."

He turns and rushes back to KITT. "Theorise with me. If Q is omnipotent, would he drag another creature here to slowly starve it to death?"

Edited (starve not start LOL) 2015-08-31 01:17 (UTC)

"No, I suppose that makes sense..."

He watches the Doctor curiously, realizing what he's said has just upset the TARDISes. Best be more careful. He's beginning to see some similarities now between this Doctor and the one he knows.

"I don't believe he would. He is cruel and capricious, childlike and easily bored. But I don't believe that he is deliberately malicious without cause."

The Doctor is pacing as he tries to work out what's going on. "But wrong universe. The wrong energy. It's like pouring diesel into a petrol engine. So how is 'Q' keeping her - them - alive?"

He is fairly certain KITT will appreciate the fuel analogy. But that makes him pause. He stares KITT down. "You indicate you know what she's feeling. How? I don't know for sure, I'm only able to guess because we've been together for so many years. But you know! How?"

"Q is omnipotent, as I've said..." He has no answers, as he hadn't known the energy was wrong. But it's the Doctor's next move that has him accelerating suddenly backward and away, leaving a black streak on the shining floor.

"I don't know. How is it that you can't tell? Is it because of the energy difference? Or maybe it's because I've spent a year in here with her? I've modified my scanners with the help of this century's technology. And I've interacted with, well, you! Maybe - maybe she's allowing it! Maybe she needs someone to talk to!"

Now don't do anything crazy, Doctor. He's on alert again.

The Doctor sometimes forgets just how powerful his stare can be. Might have something to do with the fact that it doesn't work on Clara these days. When he sees KITT move suddenly and the black streak he backs up a step himself holds his arms up and then slowly kneels. Not so much an act of vulnerability as it is to show that he respects that KITT could easily kill him.

"I haven't been in this place long. I'm worried about the TARDIS. Everything is suspect."

That's about as close to 'I'm sorry' as the Doctor gets these days. He's obviously more worried about her than he is for himself.

"If you are as connected as you say, I would greatly appreciate your help. Is she doing all right... with the energy in this Universe. Is it harming her?"

Powerful? Try somewhat psychotic, Doctor. It's rather disturbing, that stare. KITT isn't certain that the Doctor could - or even would - harm him, but no sense in risking anything, right? And even though KITT's given himself a nice justifiable loophole for his programming - that of not harming humans - there's nothing in it about aliens. Even so, he can't in all good conscience harm another sentient being, especially one that, with another face, he considers to be a friend.

"I understand. I would feel the same, in your position." He has felt the same, in fact.

"As I've said, now that I think on it, perhaps it's more her doing than mine. Be that as it may..." He pauses, and the scanner in his prow does a slow sweep across the nearest TARDIS, not missing anything.

"No. It isn't very palatable, I believe in colloquial terms it 'doesn't taste good'. But it's not causing her any undue duress."

He's still keeping his distance, as this Doctor is a bit of a loose cannon, but he relaxes his guard once more.

When the Doctor hears the words he snorts at first, because 'doesn't taste good' makes him think of when she had Idris' body. When they could talk... KITT then gives him the news he was hoping for.

The Doctor is still kneeling and he pulls one hand over his face, and wraps the other around his middle, because the surge of relief is too much. He releases broken sob. The TARDIS was as safe as she could be. That was enough for him. But it takes him a minute to regain his composure. He takes a final shuddering breath before he slowly stands.

"Thank you."

He makes no effort to move either closer to KITT or to leave. He's just stood there.

KITT makes the effort for him, drawing near to lend the Doctor some support, maybe a solid object to lean against.

"You're welcome." He gives the Doctor a moment before asking his next question.

"What happens now?"

The Doctor is appreciative. When he rests a hand on the car to steady himself, he makes sure to do so in such a way as not to leave any form of impression.

He takes a moment to compose himself before answering KITT's question. He looks back to the TARDISes and shrugs.

"I don't know." He swallows thickly. He hates not knowing. "But, I should probably go. She doesn't need me around her when I'm like this.... And she's..."

'Unattainable' goes unsaid.

Even a handprint wouldn't last long on KITT's finish, so the Doctor needn't worry. Unless he's coated in mud or other filth, KITT is pretty resistant to a bit of smudge. Though he does have to wonder what scientists back in his homeworld would make of the DNA they might find there!

This has gone on long enough. Or maybe it's that KITT has been around Michael for too many years.

"You're in love with her, aren't you?" Admit it, Doctor. It's so patently obvious.

He looks aghast. "You've been spending too much time around humans."

Because it's not as simple as that. It transcends everything: time, space, physical bodies, even mental capabilities. A fond smile crosses his features.

"I wouldn't call it love. And I don't think she would either. But, 'Alive'... 'A big complicated word, but so sad.'"

Oh, he had heard her whisper 'I love you' to him as she lost the ability to talk to him properly, but the way she defined 'Alive' was so much closer to the truth of it.

"I was designed, created, and built by and for them. It's rather difficult for me not to be influenced by them." His voice was dry, holding a hint of amusement.

Even KITT, with his intellect and mental capacity, can't begin to fathom the meanings in the Doctor's words. He's never thought about it in quite that way before. For him, the word 'alive' seems simple, defined. Here, the way the Doctor speaks it, speaks of it, it suddenly seems to expand to include the entire universe, perhaps even beyond, something much bigger than comprehension itself.

"I'm afraid I don't understand. I'm sorry."

"I'll try not to hold it against you."

Dry humour about humanity, because KITT is still easier to talk with than most people. But his tone is fond and the voice soft. Not quite how he talks to the TARDIS, but much more accepting than when they started.

"I don't expect you to. I didn't understand at the time when she explained it me. But right now... I think I'm starting to."

"I would appreciate that, Doctor." KITT is well aware of the flaws and faults and foibles of humanity, yet he still holds them in high regard. He wouldn't be here without them, after all. And despite their rough start, KITT is beginning to warm to this Doctor as well, deciding that, though the exterior is bristly, the inner man is much the same.

"I suppose I'll have to be consoled by that notion, then. When you do think you have it figured out, could you possibly explain it to me?"

The Doctor nods once. "Of course, but be warned it was over a thousand years ago that she said it to me and I'm just now starting to understand."

He steps closer again. More casual and relaxed than before.

"Do they import petrol for you? Or have your 'smart humans' discovered renewable fuels?"

"Oh." That was quite some time to take to understand something, much less remember the conversation in the first place. Kitt knew that there was a vast array of alien races on board this ship, but the Doctor himself could run rings around all the rest in one go. How Q had ever managed to pluck him out of his time stream was something Kitt couldn't begin to grasp.

Kitt allows the action this time, without taking any in return. No defensive postures, no backing up hurriedly. He's still watching, but not as closely.

"Hydrogen, mainly. I can also be powered by any number of lesser fuels, but hydrogen is optimal. Unfortunately there are environmental issues to be had even with such a clean-burning fuel."

In a word, no.

And Q had managed to get the Doctor not once, but four separate times. Which is why the Doctor was so worried. The amount of energy alone needed to hold that level of paradox in place for any sustainable amount of time was immense. And that was without complicating it with the multiple TARDISes.

The Doctor nodded. "But here aboard the ship? They're able to keep you fuelled properly?"

He was still worried about his Old Girl, but KITT's assurance had helped him to refocus on the bigger picture.

It would probably worry KITT much more, had he really understood the nature of the Doctor beyond vague generalizations. But he'd only met Ten, who seemed excitable and slightly crazy, and this one, who seemed intense and even more crazy. Not much to go on other than brief conversations and first impressions, and the facts of what the Doctor was saying.

"I don't move much here. This ship isn't designed for a vehicle such as myself. Q gifted me with a mobile holo-emitter, allowing me a holographic human form for ease of travel throughout the ship. If I need to go to a planet, enough of my programming is carried within the emitter to allow me to function, though I don't have access to all of my databases. But to properly answer your question, while I've never re-fueled here, I believe they could accommodate me should the need arise."

Understandably so. KITT was quite fond of her as well.

The Doctor nods once at the comment about a hologram. "Hard-light, I presume. Meaning it has solid form. You can pick up things, bump into people, and the like?"

While not completely satisfied with the answer. As with the TARDIS, it was... enough. "If there's anything I can do to help. Let me know."

He's a bit more daring than his earlier selves, but he also has the knowledge and experience of being quite a bit older. There will always be some level of control to his madness.

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I was going to wait and reply tomorrow, but I couldn't leave the emo hanging.

[pets the poor woobie Doctor! ;) ]

[he's really the biggest sap. don't tell anyone.]

[Hey EVERYBOOOOODDDDDYYYYY!]

[Cute :P]

:D

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