The Berlin Song Chronicles: Saving StormCage

Meeting the Paternoster Gang

The potato man, who was, I assumed, a butler, led me through the house. His eyes had widened at my mention of The Doctor, and his wife.

The house was ornate. It was large, grand, and filled with things that could turn my life around in terms of money. Everything was clean and orderly. All of the décor was untouched by dust and even, it seemed, by time.

We arrived at a closed door. The potato man knocked three quick times on the door. "Madame Vastra? There is a girl here who seems to bare information concerning the Doctor. You can interrogate her and then I can draw and qaur-"

The door swung open, and I was relieved for the time, as I might be protected from the threat of being drawn and quartered. However, the person who opened the door caused me slight discomfort. She was scaly and green. I had expected at least one non-humam to be involved in my quest, but I was still taken aback at seeing one in person for the first time.

She looked at me with a cold, calculating expression. Her eyes held wisdom, time, and yet, a touch of love. "What information do you bare?"

"I'd be very thankful if I could be provided with refreshments. It's been a long journey, and I require some time to tell my story."

A ghost of a smile played across her face. She nodded at me, then turned to potato man. "Fetch Jenny. We require refreshments in the study. And yourself, ready my swords. I must see Jack the Ripper later. Thank you, Strax."

He bowed slightly, turned, and walked away at a brisk pace.

"Well, come in," Vastra invited me. "Take a seat."

As I walked in, I looked around quickly, a habit I had formed, almost a rule in the back of my mind to study the room and gather information in a quick glance.

The room was taller than I expected, reaching twenty feet. It was lined with floor to ceiling book shelves, and had two chairs facing each other, with a short, three-legged table between.

I sat in the chair closest the door. Vastra walked slowly to the door. She appeared to be studying me. My simple gray jumpsuit was most likely tattered and dirty. Her face refused to portray any emotion.

She stopped behind the chair and looked me in the eyes, which had an unsettling effect. In her eyes, I could almost see things. Civilizations deep underground, a lizard being that looked similar to her, memories which seemed to have tags on them, telling me where, no, when they came from.

She spoke finally. "Hello. I am Madame Vastra. Though, as you have sought me, I would think you already know that."

I cleared my throught before I answered. "Yes, though my source is not what you might immediately imagine."

"Is it not?"

"No."

"What is your source then?"

"My source, well that would be my mother. And my mother, she would be Professor River Song."

"Quite an extraordinary claim."

"It is indeed, Madame. However, I have two things that might serve as proof of my claim."

She nodded.

I continued, becoming a little anxious. This was the moment of clarity. It could hold my future, or in the worst of curcumstances, my demise. "First, though insignificant, is my name. It is Berlin Song. My mother's last name and my parents' meeting place form it. Secondly, I have this."

I brought out the rod from my pocket. She looked teuly surprised now. "How come you by this? This is-"

She was interrupted by a quick knock on the door. "Tea," a female voice said.

Madame Vastra quickly stood up and opened the door.

A young lady entered the room, and set a small, silver platter on the small table. She then bowed to Madame Vastra and backed into the corner of the room.

Madame Vastra showed who I thought to be Jenny the metal rod. Jenny intently stared it, then gasped as if she recognized it.

"How come you by this?" asked Vastra.

"My mother gave it to me, then sent me here, to this place, this time, with this." I lifted my wrist and pulled back my sleeve to show her the Vortex Manipulator.

Madame Vastra's brow, or what I figured was her brow, furrowed. She did not speak for several minutes. I grew anxious.

When at last she spoke, she stated solemnly, "You seem to be of use alive. You will stay that way. I know who your parents are. Your mother requires help. We will save her."

I would not meet her swords just yet. However, I knew I would. I must be sure that I stand on the better end.