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Post by The First Doctor on Aug 6, 2011 20:42:22 GMT -5
"Transformers?" the Meddler echoed with an air of puzzlement. "What do inductively coupled conductors have to do with anything, and why would anyone make a movie about them?"
He walked in silence for a moment, holding a straight face. Then he grinned broadly. "Of course, I suppose Michael Bay would. That man would make a move out of anything, as long as he could blow things up."
"So is that what you guys do? All of time and space and you chill out watching movies?" Adagio asked. "Then again though, you guys have the time to do it don't you."
The Meddler shook his head, still grinning. "I watch the occasional movie. I prefer music and literature while between locations, when I'm not calculating temporal pivot points or working on a project. But I did spend several decades on late 20th century Earth, living as a human..."
His grin faded, and his expression grew sad and wistful. "We went to the movies twice a month. The local theater was cheap, and showed a lot of second run movies..."
He fell silent, and remained that way until Alec broke it. "Uh...don't give the Great Race your ID man, it's easier that way. Oh by the way, next time you see me, give me this." he said, tossing the Meddler a roll of tape.
"All right," the Meddler agreed, catching the tape and slipping it into his pocket. "But why wouldn't I want to tell the Great Race who I am..." His eyes went wide. "Oh. Oh, yes. I'd forgotten about that..."
They followed the road, making better time on the firm surface than they had on the brittle soil of the wilderness. Soon enough, the group stood in the shadows of the massive buildings - which would have been spectacular works of art to any species that evolved to see into the ultraviolet, but which were uniformly dark blue to anyone else.
Within moments, the group was confronted by the first sign of positively animal life they had seen - a cylindrical thing the size of an elephant, with greenish-blue hide darkening to violet on the edges, which were lined by leathery tentacles. It had no obvious sense organs, unless the multiple parallel lines of dark spots were eyes, and it moved by rolling.
"Why have you come here?" it asked in a booming voice that seemed to speak perfect, unaccented English. "Two Time Lords, and a Human. None of you should be."
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Post by Adagio Beckett on Aug 7, 2011 0:08:59 GMT -5
Talking about the movies seemed to make the Meddler sad. Patting him lightly on the back, Adagio bit her lip wondering who the other person he went to the movies with was. It was obvious they meant a lot, if they did not he would not be so sad.
As they reached the city and stopped in front of a large object Adagio had half the mind to touch the weird object before her before it started talking in a booming voice. Startled, she stepped behind the Meddler and as far out of sight as was possible so that she could still see. Grabbing onto the back of the Meddlers shirt, Adagio whispered lightly. "Uhm, is this who we came to see?"
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Post by The First Doctor on Aug 7, 2011 22:25:22 GMT -5
"Uhm, is this who we came to see?"
The Meddler held up a finger, trying to sign for Adagio to wait, as he concentrated. It had been nearly two centuries since he'd spoken any variation of the Great Race's language, and he was struggling to work out what had been said.
The headache caused by the TARDIS' translation circuits trying to reach though his handicap didn't help.
"Uh," he said distractedly. "Yeah. Yeah, that's one of them. In this era."
He took a deep breath, and attempted a reply. The sounds he produced were -well they really weren't like beatboxing dolphins shoved tail-first through a chipper-shredder. They were just less like that than anything else.
What he had intended to say was: "We have come for help. Sol-3 is lost. Her home, gone. We would restore it."
What he actually managed to say - and what was heard by both the creature and the rest of the group - was: "Help for come have we. Sol is three gone home lost her. It would restore we"
The creature was silent for a moment. "One of you two, then," it finally said, still booming away in apparently flawless English, gesturing with two tentacles at Adagio and Alec. "He speaks gibberish to me. Why have you come here?"
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Post by Adagio Beckett on Aug 7, 2011 22:42:33 GMT -5
Something seemed to be terribly wrong with the Meddler, as if his brain had been scrambled. Biting her lip Adagio sighed and let go of the Meddler's shirt a little forcefully.
Making her way into the view of the creature, Adagio thought to bow but decided not to. "We have come for your help. My planet, Earth, in the Milky Way, has been destroyed. I am the only one left of my race. We are trying to restore the planet." Pressing her lips together, Adagio tried to think of anything else she might be able to say. She could think of nothing that did not sound pathetic, therefore she kept her mouth shut and waited.
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Post by The First Doctor on Aug 9, 2011 11:11:15 GMT -5
The creature sat in silence for a moment, considering Adagio's words. Others of the same type, noticing the interaction, had joined the first, surrounding the group with elephantine, tentacled rolling things.
"Earth. We mark it's loss," said the first creature. "Soon, it would have been our home. Why do you seek us?"
"Two Time Lords, you have," added a second. "Weavers of Time. Anchorers. Are they not enough?"
A third snorted derisively. "Is it not their fault? Time War. Worlds uncounted, gone. They and the Daleks. Many worlds dead. Dead at their hands. And for what? It is their burden."
Wincing, the Meddler started to speak. With an imperious wave of a tentacle, the second speaker cut him off. "Speak not, Ravager. Your name is known to us, here. Meddle, and perish."
The first speaker waved gestured for silence. "Silence, all of you. Allow her to make a case. She has come for aid." It was difficult to tell for certain, but it seemed to be staring right at Adagio now. "Child of the lost Earth," it said, not unkindly, "You tell us you seek our aid. What, why, should we give?"
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Post by Adagio Beckett on Aug 9, 2011 23:48:15 GMT -5
Adagio knew nothing of the Time War, but the destruction that the race before her spoke about seemed rather horrifying. War, no matter in what time or where, devastated more than just the people who were directly involved in it.
A lot of the race before her seemed to really hate the Time Lords. They mocked the other race for their inability to take care of the situation. She would not inform them that they might have others helping them out.
Adagio was almost out of hope when one of the creatures stopped all of the talking. She felt as if she was being stared at and scrutinized, but it asked her why the Earth should be saved. Biting her lip and rolling it thoughtfully, Adagio locked her fingers together before looking up at the being before her.
"You call me child and that is why I ask, no I beg, for your help. My race was young, just blossoming. To destroying it was like taking a suckling babe from it's cradle and throwing it to the wolves. I have two Time Lords to aid me, but it is simply too hard for us to find what exactly went wrong. We need the help of a truly superior race. A race that holds the memories of a thousand worlds and dimensions."
Eyes down out of respect, Adagio wrung her hands. She knew she sounded pitiful, but the Earth was her home.
"I don't know what else to say really. Without your help the human race ends with me." Looking up, Adagio held her hands tightly. She hoped that her appeal would be enough to convince them to help.
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Post by The First Doctor on Aug 10, 2011 19:23:35 GMT -5
The Great Race listened to Adagio, and the Meddler held his breath. When she fell silent, they said nothing for long moments. Then the first speaker undulated its tentacles.
"The Great Race hears you. Child of Earth, fear no longer. The Great Race aids you."
The others undulated their tentacles as well. "Tell us, Child of Earth," the first speaker continued. "How may the Great Race help you. What we can, we will."
The Meddler released a long, slow sigh of relief. "Thank you-" he started to say.
"Speak not, Ravager!" another creature thundered. "Time-tearer! Well we know you! Your life, held by us."
Silently, helplessly, he smiled at Adagio and gestured that it was her show.
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Post by Adagio Beckett on Aug 10, 2011 19:53:30 GMT -5
Adagio could have weeped in joy at the news that the great race would help the Earth. "Thank you so very much!" However, when asked what exactly they could do she had to turn back and look at the Meddler. What exactly needed to be done? She had no real idea.
The Meddler had just started to speak when the race yelled at him to be silent. It was obvious that whatever he had done was really bad, and she could not help but wonder what he could have done to piss them off so much. "I don't know the exact workings on how to get the planet back. If you would allow the Meddler to talk he might be able to explain. Or maybe even he could tell me and then we could discuss it? I only know that a large time event has been changed and the Earth was destroyed."
Adagio had no idea how exactly to replace the Earth. This was not like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, she was sure that they did not have another Earth just laying around.
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Post by The First Doctor on Aug 12, 2011 18:12:53 GMT -5
"I don't know the exact workings on how to get the planet back. If you would allow the Meddler to talk he might be able to explain. Or maybe even he could tell me and then we could discuss it? I only know that a large time event has been changed and the Earth was destroyed."
The Great Race considered. "We agree. He may speak," declared the first speaker. "You will watch your words, Meddler. You are not loved, here."
He smiled an uncomfortable, lopsided grin. "Yeah. I got that." Then, stepping close to Adagio, he began to whisper rapidly. "For the moment, we need information more than anything else. And despite my reputation with them, and the fact we never got along particularly well with them, they are - and it's hard for me to admit it - the finest archivists anywhere. Their histories and future histories span broad swathes of the Spiral Politic."
He glanced at the looming figures. "Get them to help you find when the Earth is destroyed. If they have it, get them to help you find how as well. Anything else we do will be contingent on that information."
He clasped her hand, and patted it soothingly. "You can do this, Adagio. You still have a chance of being able to go home."
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Post by Adagio Beckett on Aug 12, 2011 19:44:47 GMT -5
Adagio was really tempted to laugh when the great race reminded the Meddler that he was not loved. That had to be one of the biggest understatements of the year. Suppressing her laughter, Adagio looked down at her feet to compose herself.
Suddenly the Meddler was close to her whispering information into her ear. Nodding, she looked up at the great race for a moment. There was no reason to be very scared, the great race seemed very accommodating to her surprisingly, but it still felt nice that the Meddler would comfort her.
Squeezing his hand, Adagio gave a semi-confidant smile to the Meddler and then looked back up at the great race. "The Meddler tells me your race keeps the best archives. We were wondering if you might have information on the when and how the Earth was destroyed. If we know that information we might be able to go back to that point and stop it from accruing." For the first time Adagio looked around at the other creatures. They were large, with strange tentacles, but somehow they all seemed to give a vibe of staring right at the small group.
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Post by The Second Doctor on Aug 12, 2011 22:30:32 GMT -5
Alec was leaning against the wall, glad the Great Race hadn't noticed him. It was just as well, he was a bloody mess from the Cloister Bell, scars running across his face and his clothes stained with blood.
Adagio was doing just fine as far as he could tell. If any of them looked back at him, he would give them a thumbs up. Other than that, he was useless.
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Post by The First Doctor on Aug 13, 2011 21:49:23 GMT -5
The Great Race again considered Adagio's words. "Your words are wise, child. You may consult our records. You will follow me."
The first speaker rolled... backwards? Away from the group, anyway. Then it stopped, and beckoned for her to follow.
"Hang on," said the Meddler. He - cautiously, and with an eye on the assembled members of the Great Race - fished through his pockets. After producing a number of strange objects (some strange because they were unrecognizable, others strange because it seemed odd he would have them), he finally produced a notebook and two pens, as well as a pendant with a crystalline dodecahedron. "You'll want to take notes, I'm sure."
He handed over the notebook, and smiled reassuringly. "You can do this. You'll be fine." Then he hung the pendant around her neck. "And this is a key to the TARDIS. If anything does happen, if we get separated, it will help you find her and let you get inside. Just think of it as a, a good luck charm."
He waved as she followed the first speaker down the broad alleyway, then turned to Alec. "So, what do you - Rod and Eye!" He sprang to the side of the bleeding Time Lord and made him sit. "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt this badly, before I made you hike all over Yith? I've got a pretty decent infirmary on the TARDIS, and we could have taken care of this!"
He went through his pockets again. "Let's see... ah, here we go. Some antiseptics, some gauze, and a tube of superglue." He glared at Alec. "Get that shirt off, buddy, and let me see how bad this really is."
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Post by Adagio Beckett on Aug 14, 2011 1:16:01 GMT -5
She was to follow this race? Did that mean she had to leave the others behind? Freezing, Adagio watched the alien begin to roll away wondering if she really wanted to follow. However, before she could make a decision Meddler made one for her.
Watching him dig through his pockets, Adagio stood uncomfortably looking between her group and the Cuckoos. She did not want to go all by herself. She had no idea what she was doing. When the Meddler slipped the Tardis key over her head Adagio clutched the notebook in one hand, shoved the pens into her pocket, and then touched the pendant gently with her free hand. "O-Okay." Looking back at Alec she motioned towards him trying her best to be brave. "I think he needs your attention more than me. I'll be back soon yeah?"
Smiling, Adagio waved her goodbyes and even blew a cheeky kiss before following after the Cuckoos. Walking behind the first speaker in silence, Adagio sighed. "Uhm, I'm sure it doesn't matter but my names Adagio. W-What should I call you?" This race probably already knew her name anyways so it did not matter. After all, they knew the Meddler's name quite well.
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Post by The First Doctor on Aug 14, 2011 11:18:15 GMT -5
Smiling, Adagio waved her goodbyes and even blew a cheeky kiss before following after the Cuckoos. Walking behind the first speaker in silence, Adagio sighed. "Uhm, I'm sure it doesn't matter but my names Adagio. W-What should I call you?"
The creature rolled along the avenue, tentacles writhing and waving like the streamers in a little girl's bicycle handle. "What should you call me? Speaker-Archivist Bromthel. Bromthel will be fine."
It rolled along for half a block in silence, then spoke again. "You travel with him? The Reaver? The Time-Tearer? Why, Adagio? He is dangerous. Time is a play-thing to him. He molds it on whims."
It seemed to ponder its words for a moment longer. "We know the Meddler. Of old, before the Great War. Before time changed. He is not welcome. Banished from Yith, forever. Why would he come here?"
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Post by The Second Doctor on Aug 14, 2011 11:36:22 GMT -5
Alec shied away from the Meddler, sharply shaking his head.
"No, I don't need that," he insisted, "What happened to te red haired woman you had last time? She called you uncle, I believe."
The Dark Lord leaned back against the wall.
"They will try to turn her against you, you understand this, right?"
A grave look came upon his face.
"What did you do, Meddler?"
Obviously the Yith disliked the Timelord, they called him a Reaver. Alec could only wonder why.
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