The Experiment: Book Two of the Melody Series

Melody Meets the Ood

Doctor's POV

I found Melody on the floor of the TARDIS. "You didn't faceplant again, did you?" I asked. She held up two fingers. Twice.

I sighed. "Melody, you've got to stop faceplanting onto the TARDIS,"

"Can't help it if the TARDIS's got something against me," she mumbled.

"She does not. Now get up. We have to leave," I stepped over her body, still lying on the floor, to the console. I pulled some levers and pushed some buttons and got the TARDIS flying in no time.

Melody got up off the floor and walked towards me. "Can I help?" she asked.

"Yeah, take that bit over there," I said.

Together we flew the TARDIS until she landed.

I stepped outside. It was snowing. Melody followed.

"Ah, snow! I love snow!" I exclaimed. Melody just gave me a look saying, I will not question you. I ignored it and walked down the snow covered hill. Or at least, started to but tripped over something. Someone.

It was an Ood.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I told it. Melody seemed repulsed by the Ood. "What is that?" she asked. 

"It's an Ood." I explained. I knelt down next to it. I had no idea why it was on the ground, covered in snow. I wondered if it was dead. I gingerly put my hand on its chest to detect a heartbeat, but before I could, it sat up right. I fell backwards, and ignoring Melody's snickers, I said, "Hello Ood! What are you doing out in the cold?"

It answered. "I was sent here,"

"Who'd send someone to freeze?" asked Melody. She still wore that disgusted look on her face.

"My master did not tell me," the Ood replied. Melody slowly walked towards it.

"Did you do anything that maybe upset him?" I asked. Melody was right. Who'd tell someone to go freeze themselves and not tell them why?

"I don't know," it said. Of course.

"Excuse me, but what is an Ood?" interupted Melody.

"We are servants to mankind," said the Ood. I nodded. I was still thinking about the Ood's master, and why he told it to go and freeze itself. Did the Ood screw up something? Or was his master just plain evil?

But the Ood didn't know. "I do not know. Would you like a refreshment?"

"No. Stop asking us that. What do you think made your master mad enough to tell you to go freeze yourself?"

The Ood took a long time answering. "Because he is cold-hearted. Would you like a snack?"

This made me mad. I liked the Ood, though it was annoying that they constantly asked you, "Would you like a snack? Would you like a refreshment? Would you like some tea?" etc. etc., but telling someone to go freeze themselves out of anger? I watched anger flash through Melody's eyes. She hated cruelty, abuse, violence, and the like. What I found ironic was that she once told me anyone who abused a living creature, she'd murder them. How that made sense, I had no clue. But I knew that this was too much for her. "Why would someone do such a thing?" she whispered. "Who'd be black-hearted enough to tell a living being to freeze itself?" She was shaking. "Who?" she repeated.

"The Ood's master, apparently," I replied.

"Can we help?" she asked.

"No" said the Ood. Melody bit her lip.

"I'm  sorry," she whispered. Then she stood up. "Dad, there's a building in the distance." She looked at the Ood.

"My master's home," the Ood explained. It leaned back. "I must follow my master's orders,"

Melody's POV

I was so mad at the Ood's master! I looked down. Even though I barely knew the Ood, or even what they were, that upset me pretty badly.

"Dad, what are Ood? Besides servants, I mean," I said as we walked back to the TARDIS.

He sighed. "That's all they are. Slaves," he laughed bitterly. "That's all they want to do. Human's bidding, no matter how stupid or deadly-" he looked back at the Ood-"it is."

I blurted out, "That's cruel!"

"But that's what they believe. They must serve humans. It's depressing, I know. But there's nothing we can do, Melody. Nothing," Dad sounded sad about the Ood. I wished they didn't have to serve. But there was nothing we could do. Nothing!