The Littlest Timelord: Cracks in Time

Chapter 12

"We're on Alfava Metraxis, the seventh planet of the Dundra System. Oxygen rich atmosphere, all toxins in the soft band, eleven hour day and chances of rain later", the Doctor finished.

"He thinks he's so hot when he does that", River told Amy.

"How come you can fly the TARDIS?"

"Oh, I had lessons from the very best".

The Doctor joined them on the platform. "Well, yeah".

"It's a shame you were busy that day. Right then, why did they land here?"

"They didn't land".

"Sorry?"

"You should've checked the Home Box. It crashed", the Doctor said following her to the door. River left the TARDIS and the Doctor ran back up to the console.

Surely they weren't just going to leave River there by herself?

Amy joined him on the platform. "Explain! Who is that and how did she do that museum thing?"

"It's a long story and I don't know most of it. Off we go".

"What are you doing?"

"Leaving. She's got where she wants to go, let's go where we want to go".

"Are you basically running away?"

"Yep".

"Why?"

"Because she's the future. Mine and Elise's future".

Elise was confused. How was River her future? She'd never seen River before.

"Can you run away from that?" Amy asked him.

"I can run away from anything I like. Time is not the boss of me".

"Hang on, is that a planet out there?"

"Yes, of course it's a planet".

"You promised me a planet. Five minutes?"

The Doctor sighed and relented. "Okay, five minutes".

"Yes!"

"But that's all, because I'm telling you now, that woman is not dragging me into anything!"

Elise moved to follow Amy, but the Doctor grabbed her arm. "Just a moment", he said. He left the platform and came back with a harness. He set Elise in the harness and then hoisted her onto his back.

The harness was exactly like a baby carrier, except she could move her arms and legs.

He fastened the straps. "There we go. Safe and sound".

Her little arms wrapped around his neck and played with his bowtie.

The two of them left the TARDIS.

Amy turned around and groaned.

"What?" the Doctor asked.

"You can't just carry her everywhere on your back like a baby koala".

"Do you have a better idea?"

"She's going to get spoiled, Doctor. They need to learn to be independent".

"How else am I supposed to keep up with her? Amy, without me she has nothing. I can't lose her".

Amy sighed. "Fine".

"What caused it to crash? Not me", River said looking at the smoldering remains of the spaceship.

"Nah, the airlock would've sealed seconds after you blew it. According to the Home Box, the warp engines had a phase shift. No survivors", the Doctor told her.

"A phase shift would have to be sabotage. I did warn them".

"About what?"

"Well, at least the building was empty. Aplan temple. Unoccupied for centuries".

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Amy asked the Doctor.

"Amy Pond, Professor River Song".

River turned to them and gasped. "Ah, I'm going to be a Professor someday, am I? How exciting! Spoilers!"

"Yeah, but who is she and how did she do that?" Amy asked, "She just left you a note in a museum".

"Two things always guaranteed to show up in a museum. The Home Box of category four starliner and sooner or later, him. It's how he keeps score", River told her.

"I know".

"It's hilarious, isn't it?"

The Doctor let out a fake chuckle and walked up to the two women. "I'm nobody's taxi service. I'm not going to be there to catch you every time you feel like jumping out of a space ship", the Doctor told River.

"And you are so wrong".

The Doctor started to walk off when River added, "There's one survivor. There's a thing in the belly of that ship that can't ever die. Now he's listening". River held her communicator up to her ear as Amy joined the Doctor and Elise. "You lot in orbit yet? Yeah, I saw it land. I'm at the crash site. Try and home in on my signal". River turned back to them.

"Doctor, can you sonic me? I need to boost the signal so we can use it as a beacon".

The Doctor pointed his screwdriver at her and River curtseyed in thanks.

"Ooo, Doctor, you soniced her", Amy teased.

"We have a minute. Shall we?" River asked. She pulled out a notebook that looked like the TARDIS and flipped through it. "Where are we up to? Have we done the Bone Meadows?"

"What's the book?" Amy asked.

"Stay away from it", the Doctor told her.

"What is it though?"

"Her diary".

"Our diary", River corrected him.

"Her past, my future. Time travel. We keep meeting in the wrong order".

"Oh honey, we're not the only ones". River winked at Elise, who looked at her with a confused frown.

Four dust tornadoes appeared and turned into four soldiers.

"You promised me an army, Doctor Song", the leader said.

"No, I promised you the equivalent of an army. This is the Doctor and his daughter Elise. You'll have to forgive her though, she's a bit young. Hasn't grown into herself yet", River told him.

"Father Octavian, Sir".

The Doctor saluted him.

"Bishop, second class. Twenty clerics at my command. The troops are already in the drop ship and landing shortly. Doctor Song was helping us with a covert investigation. Has Doctor Song explained what we're dealing with?"

"Doctor, what do you know of the Weeping Angels?" River asked him.

His head snapped to the side.

This was bad. Very bad.