[Video message]

[allons_y_alonso]

[The Doctor is sitting on the chair next to the TARDIS control console, bouncing a rubber ball against the floor and catching it again and again. He glances sideways at the camera, making a noise between his lips and his teeth.]

It's hard to know what to say, isn't it? After something like that. A lot of people hurt, or scared. A lot of people out of work because the buildings they work in were wrecked. Even school's down to half-days while they repair the damage.

But I can tell you this. Whatever kind of trouble we go through, we can all go on. Every last one of you. You are all -- we are all -- amazing people. Trolls, humans, Time Lords, assorted other species... we're resilient. Got depth nobody can guess at, not even ourselves. I've seen you all do it before, and it has been... incredible. A privilege, really.

And I think, right now, that might be what you all need to hear. We're going to make it. We're going to make it because you are all so strong, so astounding... such brilliant people.

I might not always be happy to be here, but I'm always proud to be one of you.


[The camera shuts off. Then, after a moment, it turns on again, with him crouching in front of it, squinting into the lens.]

And because of that, by the way. When the school does go back to a full day and my classes start again. Because you are such fantastic people... all the homework I assigned for Monday is still going to be due.

Comments

[allons_y_alonso]

An Eight-Legs might. Very interested in mind control, human slave labor, that sort of thing. But they're not quite six feet. And normally, they use crystals.

[razorback]

Not the same, then. This goes beyond slave labor.

[allons_y_alonso]

How far beyond?

[razorback]

... I think it's recruitment. If the harnesses aren't removed soon enough they contaminate them.

[allons_y_alonso]

Well. That's alarming.

It might be reversible but without a sample to examine firsthand there's no way to tell.

[razorback]

...

[razorback]

I'm a sample.

[allons_y_alonso]

Ah.

I can have a look, if you'd like. I'm not called the Doctor for nothing, after all.

[razorback]

Right.

Sure. It's not like I have anything to lose.

plurk sidebar to discuss what Ten would find?

[allons_y_alonso]

That's the spirit!

I'm very good at what I do, so no worrying prematurely. Just let me know where you are, and I'll pop by whenever's convenient.

MYSTERY AND ADVENTURE

[razorback]

I live in West 102.

[allons_y_alonso]

Right. Anyone in the kitchen right now?

[razorback]

No. Why, are you cooking?

[transition to Action!]

[allons_y_alonso]

No, I'm a terrible cook! Be there in a flash!

[Suddenly, there's a loud noise in the kitchen.]

[Action!]

[razorback]

[Ben is at the kitchen door holding a knife as soon as he hears the noise. He doesn't drop it even as he sees the blue box, because what the hell.]

... what?

[Action!]

[allons_y_alonso]

[The door opens moments after the TARDIS finishes materializing, and the Doctor skips out, brainy specs in one hand, sonic screwdriver in the other, and stethoscope already draped around his neck.]

Hullo! House call for --

[He takes a step back at the sight of the knife.]

Blimey. I hope that means you're cooking.

[Action!]

[razorback]

[Ben takes a step back too, looking completely confused]

Sorry. I...

...

You have a teleporter?

[Action!]

[allons_y_alonso]

Something very like! My TARDIS. Time And Relative Dimension In Space. Only she can't pass through the forcefield, and what with the planet hurtling through space at an incredible speed, that more or less rules out time travel beyond a few microseconds. Makes her more of an ARDIS at the moment, really.

[This incredible string of blather comes out with the high-speed pride of a father bragging about his child. Afterward, he calms down a little.]

Anyway. Here I am.

[Action!]

[razorback]

[The Doctor's speech seems to help him calm down a little and he finally sets the knife aside.]

Right. Okay, I was harnessed for a few months, [he ducks his head, and points at the spikes on his neck] I eat less, sleep less, and I can run for miles without getting tired.

[Action!]

[allons_y_alonso]

Well. That's... not halfway disturbing. Hang on a bit.

[Brainy specs: on. Screwdriver: making its little whirring noises. Stethoscope: pressed to the base of Ben's neck, for all the good that might do. It may or may not really be a stethoscope, honestly.]

Hm.

[The sonic screwdriver chirps and stops making noise, and the Doctor frowns at the side of it.]

How far down does that continue?

[Action!]

[razorback]

All the way down. It was just spikes at first but—

[He turns his back to the Doctor and takes his shirt off]

[Action!]

[allons_y_alonso]

[The Doctor whistles, and after a moment the sonic screwdriver began a second scan. The stethoscope came into play again, too, testing a few spots for... presumably, something. As he works, he mutters, a continual stream of skeptical observations cut off in the middle.]

All right. Cause for concern, I'll give you that. Still, if it's... yeah, that's what I thought... although... all right, that's promising... that's not so promising...could be worse, all things considered... now, if it's a retrovirus, that would be one thing, but you'd think... nah, can't be, the genetic material wouldn't be compatible, would it? Has to be an actual introduction of... oh, there we are, that's the ticket!

[He stepped back and cleared this throat.]

[Action!]

[razorback]

[Ben puts his shirt back on and turns to face him.]

So? Ever seen anything like it?

[Action!]

[allons_y_alonso]

Like it, yes. Exactly like it, no.

[He steepled his fingers, frowning, and pressed his hands against his lips for a moment.]

Your body's being slowly contaminated or converted by foreign material. All along your spinal column, so there's no question of removing it. That's the bad news.

The good news is, I know two different ways to slow it down. It's pretty slow as it is, so we might even be able to stop it dead. But it's going to take a bit of work on your part.

[Action!]

[razorback]

... look, I have a pretty good idea of what this is turning me into, I'll try anything.