The Beginning of the End (Doctor Who)

Chap. 46

You smile to yourself as you set the coordinates for deep space, setting the TARDIS to alert you about any distress signals. Messing with peoples hope is a bearable way to pass the curse of time.

In the meantime you wander down the arched metal corridor to locate your old room. It's marked with a small painted white rose in the center of the door. Of course she remembered your favorite flower, though not the right colour.

Your room is much larger than the one in the blue box. Your bed sits on a raised platform with crimson red sheets and a large variety of pillars, closed off with transparent curtains on three sides. You also have a smart black sofa, grand piano, several bookshelves, a wall full of knives and a desk. The room is lit with motion-censored wall candles, as you like it dim and eery.

You shower off the smoke and ash, changing into a dark crimson off-the-shoulder blouse, long black jacket and trousers. With your hair and makeup done, and all the freedom in the Universe, you finally feel complete. Your TARDIS agrees, gently humming and warming the floor beneath your feet.

"Any distress signals?" You ask, leaning against a wall and taking a deep breath.

No

"Did I set it to a Sunday?" You groan, silently cursing.

I thought you could use a break. You seem tired.

You lightly kick the wall.

"I'm a lovely Time Lady and lovely Time Lady's don't get tired." You remind her, going to the counsel room and setting it to Monday. She lets you. "There's always a junk planet, you are replaceable." You remind her. She knows you aren't lying, you'd rewired the circuits and left her in the middle of Jupiter's red spot for a week, resorting to a Vortex Manipulator after a little incident a few centuries ago.

"Do you know what would be fun?" You ask, running a hand around the counsel and pushing the big red button for landing. 

Getting a human companion to play with?

Typically, she could read your mind when you want her to.

"No, a pet. Surprise me." You say, allowing her to choose the place and time.

Inspiration from the Doctor? She teases.

"An idea, but please, give me someone not dumb and dull." You sigh, feeling the light 'thud' beneath your feet.

A pat on the counsel and you're out. She's been disguised as a brick post outside a school. The sun is nearly setting and a few little kids run by, chasing each other while laughing and screaming.

You lick a finger and hold it in the air, trying to determine location and time. The slight stench of smoke in the air... manure. A small American farm town in 2003. You roll your eyes, not your first choice, or even top two thousand.

Quickly the school buildings fade into small farmhouses, a couple shops. You continue walking, looking for anyone who catches your eyes. So far, mostly couples walking their dogs, teenagers smoking, and the occasional stray cat.

That is... until your eye catches something down a dimly lit street. It's clearly the poorer part of the town, the street lights flicker and the houses seem more worn down. You see a young girl with a fair olive skin tone and dark red hair, dressed in worn-down jeans and a white top.

"Please, please help me." She runs up to you. Closer, you see she has a bruised eye. You're about to walk away, but an idea comes to mind. She looks to be about fifteen, roughly your height - maybe a tad shorter with your boots on, and is clearly a fast runner.

"Why?" You demand, the last part of your 'test.'

"He-he-"

"JADE!" An angry man shouts, slamming the door of a peeling baby blue house.