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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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.

"Yes, exactly that, though I've never heard that term before. I'm rather ashamed to admit I'm still not certain how it works, even after analysis. The technology is beyond my time and beyond my understanding, I'm afraid." Not that he didn't use it on nearly a daily basis, but it still was slightly disturbing to him. It reminded him of Arthur C. Clarke's old adage about technology and magic.

"I will be certain to do that." KITT was curious as to how the Doctor thought he could help, but not quite ready to ask.

KITT was also curious about seeing this Doctor in action with Ten, the one he knew best. He imagined it would be quite the sight.

It would be a nuclear explosion, probably. Getting along with companions he can do. His younger selves? Not so much.

"There are a lot of things in the universe that are easier to accept than to try to figure out how they work."

He just happened to figure out why his TARDIS had shrunk that one time. Though, had it not been for The Boneless, he wouldn't have figured it out. Of course, if it hadn't been for them, probably wouldn't have been an issue to begin with.

"Good. I know you're wondering what I could do. Well, that there is a Type Forty TARDIS. She was already ancient - a museum piece when she became mine. I'm the only one left that knows how to perform maintenance on her. So, just know that I could probably help, should the need arise."

It was more informative than defensive.

Everyone had their weaknesses, Doctor. Kitt imagined it would be awkward dealing with yourself in such a... vivid way.

"That sounds like a human problem to me. Unfortunately, I've spent nearly all my time around them." There were some who might consider him more human than machine, now. In some ways he might have been gratified to know that it wasn't only an issue for humans.

Kitt doesn't take the Doctor's words for anything but the offer that they are - and he is grateful for it. Well, maybe not the implication that he himself is practically a museum piece, as in his day he was state of the art and... in his day. This isn't his day, and in this century, he is a museum piece. How depressing, that!

"In that case, I thank you for the offer. I hope never to take you up on it, but it's good to know it's there... should the need arise."

The Doctor gives a nod and the realises he should probably speak. "Good. This could be the start of an interesting relationship."

He never did well with rejection. So, really he's more grateful than he sounds. He walks over to a TARDIS and strokes her. "Now, now. It's no different than any other companion I pick up."

"I think it already is." Kitt's known the Doctor for quite some time now, after all.

The Lonely Doctor. The Lonely Boy. Kitt could see it in his eyes sometimes, if he really looked. He was curious about the TARDIS, though - was she actually jealous?

"She should know me better than that."

"Jealous isn't the right word. Perhaps lonely. I can talk to you in a way that I can't talk to her. And right now... I have more access to you than to her."

So it's not jealousy. Or if it is, it's not in the way KITT seems to be inferring.

"Oh. My apologies then, to the both of you. I'm afraid my understanding of this relationship is limited."

Very, very limited.

"Hell hath no furry like a TARDIS scorned."

He looks over his shoulder at the blue boxes.

"She actually said that to me once. So, I do everything in my power to make sure I don't get on her bad side."

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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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