The Forest Nymph

Confusion

Confusion

Stretch. Yawn. Stretch harder and then scratch head! Well, that was a lovely much needed rest. When he slept - which was a rare occurrence - he was always relieved to wake up looking how he did when he went to sleep. It happened to his aunt once: she went to sleep and woke up his uncle - for a very young Gallifreyan that he was at the time, it was quite a shock! Messed up his ... well, never mind about that now. The Doctor smirked into the mirror in his own room. Good, now to get back to good faithful Nyssa and zoom off somewhere together. He really liked Tegan, and yes his hearts were still broken over Adric's death, but Nyssa was always there. As long as Nyssa was by his side the Fifth Doctor felt safe.

Joire De Vivre soon left him when Nyssa was not in the Control Room listening to the co-ordinates. The TARDIS felt empty - quiet. Far too quiet. No warmth. No extra voices inside the telepathic hum inside his mind. No Nyssa! The TARDIS was stationary in space - hanging there like a fish dangling on the end of a fisherman's line. Definitely, there was something below her but that was impossible. The view showed empty expanse after vast nothingness. Yet the TARDIS was just ... hovering!

"Where is Nyssa?" the Doctor mumbled. Zooming into the spot ahead the TARDIS locator blipped and flashed a red to green spot: "There is nothing there TARDIS! Least of all Nyssa!"

The TARDIS computers all flashed codes at the same time and the Doctor sped around the unit trying to keep up and add things up in his own mind until something showed up that even Tegan would have worked out: "A Pocket Universe?" the Doctor frowned. "Why is she there?"

The Doctor clicked on the recorder and zipped rewind until he saw her stroll out into this beautiful luscious green planet, bluebells, wild flowers - A forest paradise. Sun was shining; birds were singing. No wonder she wanted to step outside - maybe she thought that it looked safe and it was only going to be for awhile. This world resembled Traken.

The Doctor's hearts skipped several beats when he witnessed her running towards the TARDIS begging her to stop: "Why didn't you stop?" The Doctor asked.

Nyssa needs to face her fears, the TARDIS replied.

"What fears?" the Doctor responded.

Her fight is not always yours Doctor! the TARDIS almost sighed.

"She needs me, TARDIS!"

Not this time Doctor!

"If she does not come out of this alive and I see Tegan again and she finds out what happened I am going to get it in the ear, not you!"

Tegan is still needed in your life, you should go back for her!

"We are NOT going to have this argument again!"

Tegan is in trouble, you could help her instead.

"What sort of trouble?"

The TARDIS sighed again before focussing on her companions databases: Jovanka, Arwen Tegan 23 - Air Stewardess. Four known relatives alive: Mother, Father, Grandfather (Mother's Father) and Cousin. Likes: Charleston, sarcasm, the Doctor, the TARDIS. Hates: The Master. Inequality. The Master. Racism. The Master. Romantic Status: Unsure. Life Status: Alive in This Timestream. Safety Status: In Danger - Will She Get Out Alive: Not sure.

"Likes the Doctor ... why doesn't she love the Doctor?"

Because Tegan has no need of romantic love in her life - so she thinks.

"I did not mean a romantic love ... you used to not care about this sort of thing but you practically matchmade Ian and Barbara didn't you?"