Post by John Darnacan on May 18, 2011 17:35:04 GMT
Part 6 - The Chrysalis
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The following day Deiter realised the crew of the HMS Pearl were keeping their distance from him. Maynard approached him.
“Mr. Ostermann, I understand you created a scuffle below decks last night?”
“I was sleeping, and Mr. Hurley must have startled me. I reacted as any soldier would have.”
“Remember, you are on board my ship, not because I value you, but because of a bargain you forced upon me. Do not antagonise my crew,” warned Maynard.
“It was not my intention, sir.”
Maynard nodded grudgingly. “Mr. Creighton tells me you have worked hard, and pulled your weight, which is more than I expected. In the morning, I will be transferring to one of my sloops, the HMS Ranger, so I may follow Blackbeard into the shallow inlets, his favourite hiding place. You may join me.”
“Thank you,” Deiter said. “I would like that.”
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In the morning, after tending to Captain Teach, the Doctor approached Lady Catherine. He realised Faye was right. He would have to tell her of Gallifrey’s destruction. But overnight another thought had occurred to him as well.
“Lady Catherine, what was your mother’s name?” he asked.
“Evelyn.”
“Evelyn?” The name suggest an impossible thought to the Doctor,. “Or was it Evelinmariander?” he asked.
Lady Catherine’s eyes bulged as if the Doctor had read her mind.
“Mariander was her maiden name. How did you….?”
“Gallifrey wasn’t simply a place your mother spoke of, was it? It was her home.” I knew your mother,” he said softly. “A long time ago.”
“You….you’re…”
“Yes, I am from Gallifrey.” Tears filled Lady Catherine’s eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me when I mentioned Gallifrey in the first place.”
“Because it’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“It burned. Everyone on ‘the island’ died. I’m so sorry.” The news hit her hard. Tears welled up in her eyes. She took a moment to compose herself.
“I’m sorry for you, kind sir. That means everyone you knew in Gallifrey is dead.” The Doctor nodded sadly. But tell me, if it does not weigh down your heart too much. Tell me of Gallifrey. Tell me of the great clocks.”
“The clocks? Oh, the clocks, they were magnificent.” The Doctor spent the next hour telling Lady Catherine of Gallifrey. He told her of the red grass and of the mountains, and all the details that would make sense to 18th century woman. He was careful to avoid anything that would confuse her. It was an eloquent weave of well-chosen truths and comforting fibs.
“Could anyone else have escaped the horrible fires, beside yourself?”
“Not likely.”
“There’s little left of my mother’s land.” Lady Catherine removed a small crystal on a delicate chain from her bodice. Now, it was the Doctor’s turn for bulging eyes. “This gem of Gallifrey was very precious to my mother.”
“It’s a temporal chrysalis! May I examine it?” She cautiously handed the Doctor the crystal. It slowly started to glow once the Doctor’s hand touched it.
“Only my mother was able to do that. It has never happened since. I thought I had imagined it as a child. What magic makes it glow?”
“Resonant autron energy,” the Doctor murmured.
“What?” Catherine asked.
“This crystal isn’t simply a gem; it’s much more.”
“What is it?”
“It’s kind of complicated. Only a Gallifreyan ‘clockmaker’ would truly understand. Have you always kept it on you?”
“Yes, well ever since my mother died.”
“That’s not particularly healthy.”
“You only say that because you want it for yourself!” she snapped.
“One of the side effects is it could affect your judgment.”
“You’re a pirate!” she snarled. “Oh, admittedly much more subtle than Blackbeard, but a thief nonetheless.” The Doctor was surprised by the sudden change of tone, but knew he shouldn’t be.”
“If I were a pirate or a thief, I would just take it from you, wouldn’t I? But I’m quite serious about the danger. Think about it. You set out on an expedition, without any real idea of where to go, to an island no one else has ever heard of.”
“You’ve not only heard of it, you hail from Gallifrey!” she protested. “So, I was at least partly successful.”
“We’ve met only by pure chance, a coincidence. You, Faye, I, and one other are the only ones alive who have ever even heard the name.”
“You say coincidence. Could it not be fate, Doctor?”
“I’ve seen the other side of fate,” the Doctor sighed. “And it’s not pretty.”
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To Be Continued
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The following day Deiter realised the crew of the HMS Pearl were keeping their distance from him. Maynard approached him.
“Mr. Ostermann, I understand you created a scuffle below decks last night?”
“I was sleeping, and Mr. Hurley must have startled me. I reacted as any soldier would have.”
“Remember, you are on board my ship, not because I value you, but because of a bargain you forced upon me. Do not antagonise my crew,” warned Maynard.
“It was not my intention, sir.”
Maynard nodded grudgingly. “Mr. Creighton tells me you have worked hard, and pulled your weight, which is more than I expected. In the morning, I will be transferring to one of my sloops, the HMS Ranger, so I may follow Blackbeard into the shallow inlets, his favourite hiding place. You may join me.”
“Thank you,” Deiter said. “I would like that.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the morning, after tending to Captain Teach, the Doctor approached Lady Catherine. He realised Faye was right. He would have to tell her of Gallifrey’s destruction. But overnight another thought had occurred to him as well.
“Lady Catherine, what was your mother’s name?” he asked.
“Evelyn.”
“Evelyn?” The name suggest an impossible thought to the Doctor,. “Or was it Evelinmariander?” he asked.
Lady Catherine’s eyes bulged as if the Doctor had read her mind.
“Mariander was her maiden name. How did you….?”
“Gallifrey wasn’t simply a place your mother spoke of, was it? It was her home.” I knew your mother,” he said softly. “A long time ago.”
“You….you’re…”
“Yes, I am from Gallifrey.” Tears filled Lady Catherine’s eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me when I mentioned Gallifrey in the first place.”
“Because it’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“It burned. Everyone on ‘the island’ died. I’m so sorry.” The news hit her hard. Tears welled up in her eyes. She took a moment to compose herself.
“I’m sorry for you, kind sir. That means everyone you knew in Gallifrey is dead.” The Doctor nodded sadly. But tell me, if it does not weigh down your heart too much. Tell me of Gallifrey. Tell me of the great clocks.”
“The clocks? Oh, the clocks, they were magnificent.” The Doctor spent the next hour telling Lady Catherine of Gallifrey. He told her of the red grass and of the mountains, and all the details that would make sense to 18th century woman. He was careful to avoid anything that would confuse her. It was an eloquent weave of well-chosen truths and comforting fibs.
“Could anyone else have escaped the horrible fires, beside yourself?”
“Not likely.”
“There’s little left of my mother’s land.” Lady Catherine removed a small crystal on a delicate chain from her bodice. Now, it was the Doctor’s turn for bulging eyes. “This gem of Gallifrey was very precious to my mother.”
“It’s a temporal chrysalis! May I examine it?” She cautiously handed the Doctor the crystal. It slowly started to glow once the Doctor’s hand touched it.
“Only my mother was able to do that. It has never happened since. I thought I had imagined it as a child. What magic makes it glow?”
“Resonant autron energy,” the Doctor murmured.
“What?” Catherine asked.
“This crystal isn’t simply a gem; it’s much more.”
“What is it?”
“It’s kind of complicated. Only a Gallifreyan ‘clockmaker’ would truly understand. Have you always kept it on you?”
“Yes, well ever since my mother died.”
“That’s not particularly healthy.”
“You only say that because you want it for yourself!” she snapped.
“One of the side effects is it could affect your judgment.”
“You’re a pirate!” she snarled. “Oh, admittedly much more subtle than Blackbeard, but a thief nonetheless.” The Doctor was surprised by the sudden change of tone, but knew he shouldn’t be.”
“If I were a pirate or a thief, I would just take it from you, wouldn’t I? But I’m quite serious about the danger. Think about it. You set out on an expedition, without any real idea of where to go, to an island no one else has ever heard of.”
“You’ve not only heard of it, you hail from Gallifrey!” she protested. “So, I was at least partly successful.”
“We’ve met only by pure chance, a coincidence. You, Faye, I, and one other are the only ones alive who have ever even heard the name.”
“You say coincidence. Could it not be fate, Doctor?”
“I’ve seen the other side of fate,” the Doctor sighed. “And it’s not pretty.”
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To Be Continued
;D