Eyes of Time: The Final Line ✓

Chapter 3: The Christmas Fiasco

[The TARDIS]

The Alchemist sighs, cleaning her hands with DNA-disintegrating wipes as her Bondmate pulls the doors shut behind them. He placed the remains to the side when they entered to be brought to UNIT later.

The Doctor quickly wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her into him tightly from behind.

"I'm sorry; I'm so, so sorry. You were doing right by that Tribe, and she murdered them," he whispers into her ear.

The Time Lady leans back into him, "I can't even inform Emperor Kasifik; he would instantly go to a war footing. He's been looking for a way to free the Halvinor Tribe since they were enslaved by their Tribe leader and forced to become pirates," she sighs, " He's an excellent Emperor and has changed many of the outdated laws of the Sycorax, but he does not condone murder. The Shadow Proclamation would interfere and... I don't even want to think about what will occur then. Their future is set at a steady pace; they never see war again."

The Doctor lets out a deep sigh, fully aware that she has always taken great care to avoid any possible violence in the universe.

"We can't even contact their family lines," he says, equally remorseful, "They were all in that ship."

"I know their family line names. Kasifik showed me the list when we talked about it in case I ever came upon them. I won't be able to find out about their Given names, but I can celebrate their loss in their traditions, at least."

"We'll do it together, then," he suggests as she turns in his arms to face him, "Since you're Kerriff of 32 years, that means I'm Kerr as your husband and Bondmate, and we can use your Blood Oathmaker together."

The Alchemist smiles, "I'll look up the right lunar cycle day for them later. All three moons must be at the highest point, which only happens once every three months."

"Why was it red?" he asks.

She shrugs, "Kerriff Oathmakers are typically crystal. To have one made of blood glass means it was also given to one named family."

He hums, "Is that when you went on that trip with your father?"

"Yeah," the Time Lady confirms, "I told you all about it afterward. I saved his next in line from an assassin, and my father and I found the perpetrators."

"Oh! Yes, yes, yes. And Kasifik named you Kerriff. That was ages back."

"Ages and ages," she agrees.

The Doctor nods, "We should probably find our new clothes then, hm?"

The Alchemist shakes her head in denial.

"You want to stay in that?" he asks with a laugh.

"No, you idiot; I feel like my piercings are missing again," The Time Lady huffs at him and slaps his shoulder lightly, "My body feels off without them, finally."

He sighs with relief and kisses her forehead, "You're recovering?"

"I'm not... all together. Something's wrong, but I don't know what. Just keep an eye on me, please. I'm concerned about it."

He nods, understanding, "I feel it from you through the empathic bond. I've never gotten it before, and I don't know what it is either; I'll keep track of it. Now, time to stick you with some needles, hm?"

"We'll work it out. I have a backup piercing kit in the sickbay so off we go," The Alchemist says with a false grin and starts dragging him through the corridors.

[Sick Bay]

She scrubs her hands clean at the sink before heading to one of the back drawers to remove the piercing kit and hand it over to her husband, who starts pulling out everything necessary.