To Be Forgotten

Chapter 10 - The Pandorica Opens

The Pandorica Opens, part 2 -

It was strange, the Oracle thought. She didn't feel the need to eat or sleep or do anything. In fact she didn't remember how she became a part of the Roman legion in the first place. She just woke up in her cot one day and started her own version of Mulan. She'd dress up in the same uniform as everyone else and had chin length hair now.

It was strange, the Oracle thought, that Cleopatra was somehow in charge of the legion when she knew for a fact that Cleopatra was dead. She never got to see the empress or her supposedly strange friend either. But there were no questions asked in the Roman legion.

It was strange, the Oracle thought, that she'd met Rory. He had also become a Roman with no recollection of how he'd gotten there. He was also just playing along. She had a blurry memory of Rory pushing her out of the way and taking the blast of a Silurian gun that was meant for her.

It was strange, the Oracle thought, when the Commander returned and the so-called Cleopatra was arrested for taking charge. She had been sitting by the fire with Rory when word came through and immediately dashed off to the Commander's tent with him.

They peaked through the side entrance to see River disintegrating a wooden stand and the ornaments on it with her gun, "Where do I come from? Your world has visitors. You're all Barbarians now."

"What is that? Tell me what", he demanded to know, scared of her now.

"A fool would say the work of the gods, but you've been a soldier too long to believe there are gods watching over us. There is, however, a man. And tonight he's going to need your help."

The Oracle smiled, knowing exactly who she was talking about so she spoke up, "Sir?"

The Commander turned to her and Rory who was giving her a confused look. The Commander excused himself, "One moment."

In a hushed voice the Oracle said, "Williams and I volunteer for the mission, sir."

"We do?", Rory asked, earning a warning glare from her, "We do."

"Are you certain about that?"

"Very much so, sir", she gave back in her best imitation of a masculine voice.

He turned back to River, "Well, it seems you have two volunteers."

---

"So what's this got to do with the Tardis?", Amy asked back in the Pandorica chamber.

"Nothing, as far as I know", the Doctor muttered.

"But Vincent's painting. The Tardis was exploding. Is that going to happen?"

"One problem at a time", the Doctor kept scanning just as Astrid did.

"There's forcefield technology inside this box", she told him.

"If I can enhance the signal, I could extend it all over Stonehenge. Could buy us half an hour", he jumped in on her thought.

"What good is half an hour?", Amy asked.

"You can do loads in half an hour", Astrid argued.

"There are fruit flies who live on Hoppledom Six that live for twenty minutes and they don't even mate for life", the Doctor told them, "There was going to be a point to that. I'll get back to you."

Amy uncomfortably turned in her position and finally got out the ring box she'd been hiding, "So, are you proposing to someone?"

"What?", Astrid protested with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry?", the Doctor asked Amy.

"I found this in your pocket", she showed him the box.

Astrid furrowed her eyebrows at it as the Doctor moved closer to Amy, "No. No, no, that's er, a memory. A friend of mine. Someone I lost. Do you mind?"