Lost In Remnants

Inherited Burdens

Ellody Croft:

I did not overly approve of this projection. It had very little finesse to it and was nothing compared to what I was capable of. At least they took me to a tearoom with plenty of books. "To whomever is after my attention, you have it, but only until I am free. I have already broken free from three of the seven barriers keeping me there."

A woman, from the voice but not the shapeless cloak, appeared at my table. "There is a woman who wants to meet you." 

It had not been long since the accident, thank you. "I am afraid I am married to my work."

"Your help is required."

That was not my job. "I am simply a Remnant, as you all rather like to call me, even my friend. There is no help I may give you. Who are you?"

The figure was sans visage, unable to look at me, but I know where their attention lay. On myself. "A messenger."

Not enough. "Whose messenger?"

"Darla Von Karlson."

"A Dalek prisoner. No psychics able to do this are ever left alive, they feared the Remembrance of the Dead too greatly. So how is she able to contact me?" I asked, blue eyes gazing at this faceless figure, dark hair in a thick braid down my back. "I am on the fifth barrier now, so make your explanation quick, please."

Our location changed and I looked around in interest. "Do you recognise where you are?" I remained silent, looking only at the faceless figure again. "I take it that is a yes. You will meet Darla Von Karlson here. Her daughter is in danger and only you can save her. What place are we in, Remnant?"

"Somewhere broken."

"Say it."

"Why?"

"Name the planet."

Did you think you were capable of getting a rise from me? I struggled to find those people, it was so very hard to remember how things felt. "I do not speak on demand."

"Say it."

Power flooded the projection, just a demonstration as the blue dye in my irises melted away to show the natural crimson beneath. "No."

Before I awoke, sat in the face of my clocktower, surrounded by my research and hugging a cushion as though it was a loved one. My loved ones did not live here, and one no longer lived. Name the planet. Name the planet. Name the planet.

Of course I knew it. Who did not? "Skaro."

I had to travel there, simply to put a stop to anyone being able to track me down as I did not have time for distractions aside from Martha and Lilly. Lilly was the best excuse for a distraction, she was too cute. So had to quickly go up inside an eroded, mouldering Dalek statue to find her, a hood up to protect me from the acid. "First, there were the Dalek's. And then, there was a man who fought them, his sister alongside. And then, in time, she died and he vanished from the universe in his grief. There are a few, of course, that believe a Remnant of this woman somehow survived, and that one day, she will bring him back. For both our sakes, dearest Hanna, we must hope these stories are true."

Which was when I took down my hood, showing my hair and dyed blue eyes. "I received your message. No one is able to do that since the Remembrance died. Send me messages. I am Ellie Croft."

The woman, Darla Von Karlson, was not in the mood to listen, because most likely she knew the closer I got the faster I could discover a why a Dalek Prisoner no longer was one. "The Remnant. I have a daughter, Hanna. She's in a Dalek Prison Camp. You are the Remnant of the Remembrance."