The TARDIS. The Control Console. The Doctor is around the console, wandering around and sometimes activating one or two switches and buttons, and watching the glass column containing the time rotor. The Doctor just walks around and around. He turns on the scanner, as the image opens and reveals a planet below – Stark. The Time Lord takes a long look down at Stark, before rushing around to the Index File display board. Fiddling around on the IF, a log of the planet Stark and timeline is displayed for the Doctor. The year it reads is 5005, and the information file he reads, fetching out his analytical glasses. For example, the planet does contain enough oxygen for a Time Lord. Taking in a deep breath, the Doctor turns back to the planet.
Doctor:
You know someday I should really re-design you old girl. And get a new Sonic.
The two girls are in the bedroom. Nyssa is busy fiddling with a new device she has invented, a small fan she can now carry around. Tegan, however, stares into a mirror, very hard. Looking deep into herself, as she is still paranoid from the events with the Mara and on Manussa.
Tegan:
The Mara really is dead isn't it, Nyssa?
Nyssa:
Tegan, stop worrying about it. There can be no way the Mara is still alive in you.
Tegan:
We said that last time on Deva Loka.
Nyssa:
But we saw it dead!
Tegan:
I hope so. Are you alright, Nyssa? You've just seemed a bit quiet today.
Nyssa:
Well, I suppose I've just been getting tired of time travel.
Tegan:
You thinking of giving up?
Nyssa:
Of course not, Tegan. I can't go back home to Traken. The TARDIS is my only home now. But there is something I want to talk to the Doctor about.
The girls leave down the endless corridors of the TARDIS. The Doctor is busy in the control room, going through the cloak stand of what is up there. Other than his hat, the Fourth Doctor's burgundy hat is still lying at the top, with his red coat and jacket still hanging on. The Doctor must only have put it back there to remind him of his past. Something the Doctor wasn't feeling right. And it might have had something to do with loneliness. One of Romana's pink coats is also hanging off, and the green boots of Adric is down at the bottom. The Time Lord just stares down at the clothes for some time, remembering Tegan and Nyssa enter, gossiping about Adric.
Tegan:
I couldn't stand Adric as much as anyone else could.
Nyssa:
But now he is gone you feel as though we should have spent more time with him.
Tegan:
His friends in E-Space don't even know about him though.
Doctor:
Oh! Adric?
Tegan:
What are you doing, Doctor?
Doctor:
Just taking a look around the console room.
He rushes back to the controls, pretending to be busy with them.
Now, the planet Stark is down below. It's perfectly safe and I fancy some fresh air.
Tegan:
Doctor, Nyssa would like to tell you something.
Nyssa:
Listen, Doctor, don't take this too personally, but recently... I have felt just... bored. I've just been bored here in the TARDIS. I want to put my science and expertise into action.
Doctor:
You want to leave?
Nyssa:
I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is that at some point, I would like to put my skills to good use. To perhaps use them to help save lives and stop suffering.
Doctor:
So you want to leave so you can do that?
Nyssa:
No.
Tegan:
What she is trying to say is that she wants to help people out there in the universe.
Doctor:
No. I see what it is. You humans just hop on my TARDIS and do what you think you like and leave me suffering the consequences with my own actions.
Nyssa:
NO!
Doctor:
Don't you think I've seen enough suffering across the universe? I've lost dozens of people to me that now it doesn't even matter at this point. Some throw themselves off because they have nothing else going for them. Others just go kill themselves because everyone around them hates them.
Tegan:
Doctor, stop saying those horrible things!
Doctor:
No! Now this time Nyssa, you can go find someplace to help your expertise and leave me on my own because I'm just the taxi driver now, aren't I?
Nyssa:
Doctor, I want to help people across the universe! Stop them from dying of horrible plagues and viruses!
Doctor:
And saving planets and lives isn't enough for you then? Tell you what, I'll find a place for you – on my own! Go on! What are you waiting for?
They both leave.
AND SHUT THE DOOR!
Nyssa kicks the door, SLAM!
Humans!
Down the corridors, the girls stop and turn to each other about the Doctor's sudden unexplained behaviour.
Tegan:
What got into him?
Nyssa:
He's lost too many people. Perhaps he doesn't want to lose someone else.
Tegan:
But that's life.
Nyssa:
But the Doctor has been acting like that for a while now. He seems upset. Like the way we came in and saw him fiddling through the cloak stand and seeing Adric's old clothes.
Tegan:
And he's also a Time Lord.
Nyssa:
Yes, but would it be possible he is suffering from loneliness. With Adric gone, it is just us two. And we only found you again recently.
Tegan:
He's still got us two. And how can someone still feel lonely even if they have company?
Nyssa:
Yes, he has us two. But that's all he has left now. Only two close friends.
Tegan:
Come on. Give him some space and we'll let him calm down.
YOU ARE READING
Doctor Who: One by One
FanfictionIt is the year 5005. Earth cargo Vessel C7X9 flies through the Second Scarlet Nebula, carrying a newly developed fusion reactor heading to Earth. This fusion reactor will help power a new space rocket to blast deep into the edges of the universe and...
