Quantum Survivor

Times and Tunes Change

"Don't get all mad at me! When you sent me here, I was being forgotten as well as regenerating. Maybe because of that, I forgot my manners." I whispered harshly at the Tardis.

She whirred back at me.

"I had to figure out exactly where you placed me! I didn't realize it was legit two years since the Time War!"

She argued with me some more.

"No. I couldn't check the scanners. I also don't remember this happening in his life!"

She whirred again.

"I get that I don't know my own Time stream."

She huffed.

"Well, thank you for gifting me with this when I was younger. But that means you censored the memories, so its your fault."

We were both quiet a moment.

"How did you gift me with the dreams of the Doctor? And the Emphatic ability?"

She whirred.

"A paradox?"

She hummed.

"When I first got on the ship, you sensed that I had a part of you in my head. You traced my timeline to before I had it and placed it then. That sounds ridiculously complicated."

She huffed.

"I'm not saying I don't appreciate it. Just saying you risked a lot."

The Doctor came in rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He had been sleeping a lot more recently. The depression is causing him to sleep an unhealthy amount.

I poured him a cup of tea and set it down.

He nodded gratefully, "You can continue your conversation if you'd like."

I shook my head, "I think I made her mad."

He nodded and went silent again.

"How do you feel?"

"Like a million pounds."

"Money wise?"

He shook his head, "No."

I nodded and sipped on my cup of tea.

"Mind if I take you somewhere?"

"Depends." I could tell he was nervous.

"It won't end up like last time."

He nodded.

I went to the controls room and input the coordinates. The Tardis shook as I left the brakes and stabilizers off.

We landed and I tossed the Doctor his leather jacket, "You're gonna need it. It's mighty cold."

We stepped out the Tardis and our footprints were the first made in the fresh layer of snow. "This is the Ood-Sphere."

He looked around, "Ood place to be."

I chuckled, "Very Ood. Follow me."

I brought him to the planet before the people had made this place there home. It was just the Ood.

"Why can I hear singing?"

I listened the the sad hums of the Ood, "They share prophecy through their songs."

We continued to walk under shining ice pillar's as the wind whispered softly in our ears. It whistled through the holes in the rocks and the gaps between icicles matching tune with the songs of the Ood.

I lead the Doctor, who still refused to be called that, to a cave where the song grew louder. When we reached the source of the song, the Doctors eyes popped.

The Ood were sitting in a circle as they concluded the song, then they all looked to us. Can we help you?

I smiled, "Music is said to be one of the best forms of therapy. Know any good songs for my friend here?"

They turned to the Doctor, a weary soul such as yours should rest. Please, relax as we sing you a song.

That's right, I sang a song and the Daleks ran away.

"Ah yes, sing a song and the nightmares will run away." My head pounded as the Doctor, in a way, mocked himself.

I looked at him, "Would you rather hear the screams of the people who died, or the songs of the living?"

Be kind Missy, as your screams will soon haunt him as well.

What did he mean by that?

The moment we sat down, the Ood began another song.

I was crying as the song went on, but not because of the beauty. Because of the burning in my head. Memories of what will happen to Donna, what will happen to the Doctor flooded my head, and it burned.

It was the time energy that I was spending by coming back, consuming my mind as I messed with the timeline. Rose, Donna, and the Ninth Doctor have all felt this pain. But, this regeneration was born from that pain, it was used to it. Unless I kept scratching at the nerves that were already roasted. From this pain I realized I was truly a dead man walking.

I looked over to the Doctor, How do I help him?

The Ood heard my question and opened a separate network to talk, Do what you think is best. You are the only other of his kind wandering around at the moment, you are the only one that understands. Be sure he knows that before you're snuffed out.

But, how do I know that is the right thing? The last thing I tried only pissed him off!

Are you not trying now?

I looked at the Doctor, who's eyes were closed and his face looked relaxed. When the song came to an end he looked as if he was woken up from a dream. "What was that called?"

The Song of Freedom. You looked as if you were in need of freedom from what has been haunting you.

We thanked the Ood for their time and walked back to the Tardis, "Did that help?"

I noticed the Doctors shoulders weren't as stiff, and the painted wrinkles were wiped clear, "A little."

"Better get that song on my fire Mix-tape then."

The Doctor gave me a weird look, "That saying is popular in joking reference in the future, around 2010."

"I don't remember that."

"Well time is always changing." We arrived at the Tardis and I heard the wind whistling along with another Ood's song, "The tune is different this time."

"Times and Tunes change." The Doctor smirked then entered the Tardis.

I smiled, "Times and Tunes change." then joined him in the Tardis.

***