Soul's Shadow (Doctor Who - SI)

Part XV (II)

"Och, don't call it that," said the Doctor, indignantly. "It's an ancient art."

"I don't care what it is," snapped Donna. "You always make it sound dangerous."

I grunted annoyed. "What's this about? What did you want to do?"

"It's... about your void connection," blurted the Doctor out and seemed stunned by his own words for a second. But he quickly caught himself. "I don't know if the Master is right and I don't know what he thinks he's found, but..."

"But you don't trust him."

"That's... well..."

"Well, obviously," Donna tossed in.

The Doctor was visibly unnerved by the whole situation, and immensely uncomfortable, too.

"I... there are a few devices and machines in the med bay. I'm pretty certain they might find a trace of at least void particles. Or... maybe not. It might just be a-"

"He wants inside your head," interrupted Donna. She rolled her eyes in his direction. "Not that I understand much about all that psychic stuff, but he thinks there might be a parasite or something."

"No-ooooo, I never said parasite! I said it might be a xherogromatic manifestation of hiuntra particles. They are said to have caused small cracks between worlds, back in the days when it was still possible. And at least the xherothintea extractor would be possible to detect traces."

"Yes, yes, whatever." Donna rolled her eyes.

"But... you think it's not particles," I concluded. "You think it's something that you need a psychic connection to discover." And I didn't like how that sounded. I also didn't like the idea of the Doctor snooping around in my head.

"Weeell..." He grinned sheepishly. "If the Master found it in your mind, then it's very likely that it's... Uh... you know..."

I hesitated, unsure what to do. The Master had said he wasn't certain himself how exactly this connection to the void worked or how and why it was even there to begin with. But then there was also this tiny voice in the back of my mind that reminded me that I could probably never fully trust him. There was a good chance that he was keeping things from me, even after he had opened up a little the evening before.

"Alright." I nodded slowly. "I want to know more about this, too."

There was a tiny squeak from behind me and when I turned, the little dragon sat straight, glaring at me with a slightly tilted head.

"He's not too happy about this, I think." The Doctor observed the little one.

"He?" Donna asked. "Did you find out its gender?"

"Oh, no. No, I didn't." He chuckled lightly. "I just use whatever comes to mind. I'm not even sure they have something like gender. But anyway..." The Doctor turned back to me. "I wouldn't ask if it weren't important. The Master might ignore all protocols when it comes to all things psychic, but there are reasons why Time Lords treat the subject so strictly."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know about it. Some of it at least."

"If there is anything you don't want me to see-"

"I'll shield it from you, yep, I already learned that."

"You... did?" The Doctor sounded honestly surprised. "So... you know how to hide stuff behind doors?"

"Doors?" I tilted my head. "I always put a sort of bubble around it. Guess that's the same thing."

The Doctor blinked, huffing surprised. "Yeah. Same thing. Just a little more advanced. You can easily peek behind a door, but not so much inside a sealed bubble. They only teach that to students with a little more... imaginative minds."