A Chance Meeting
“Here we are,” The Doctor said as both he and River Song stepped out of the TARDIS, “Rome-”
“1450, the Italian Renaissance.” River said and looked around. “I’m not just another one of your companions, I know my way around the universe.” She smiled at him and went to look into various shops.
“Right, of course.” The Doctor said looking around at the people passing by, trying to decide whether or not to follow River or go his own separate way to explore. He had been to the Italian Renaissance a thousand times or more, he’d seen Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel, he helped blueprint some more renounced buildings and statues, but something seemed different now. Something in the wind. He tested the air with his finger. “Definitely something different.”
Seconds later, a young man in twentieth century clothes ran past him. Upon seeing the Doctor, he stopped running in mid-step to turn and look at him. “Ah, there you are. I was looking all over for you.” The man reached in his pocket and pulled out an envelope, “Here.”
The Doctor took the envelope. “Do I know you?” He looked back at the man.
“Not yet.” He smiled and ran away before the Doctor could get a good hold on the situation. The Doctor then turned his attention to the envelope, not wanting to chase the future acquaintance just yet. He turned the strange envelope in his hands to open the flap and pull out the note that was inside.
Doctor,
Come find me.
The Corner Bookstore. London, England. 2015. 9:30 PM.
Sonic the door.
-M.
The Doctor reread the note and smiled. A new adventure. A new friend.
River had just walked out of a shop when she saw the TARDIS start to disappear. “Of course. Let him out of my sight for five minutes and runs off to chase another adventure. I should have known.” River sighed and pressed a couple buttons on her vortex manipulator and she was gone. She didn’t go after the Doctor however, she knew that he would find her again soon.
2015, London, 9:30 PM.
The Doctor stood in front of the bookstore and briefly glanced at the ‘closed’ sign before sonic-ing his way in. The bell clanged in the otherwise almost silent store. “Hey, we’re closed.” A voice came from one of the aisles the bookshelves made. A head peeked over the top ledge of a shelf. “Hi, can I help you?” The same young man from Italy said.
“Scottish? I must like Scottish people for some reason.” The Doctor muttered as he spotted the man. “Hello, just browsing.”
“I swore I locked that door, we’re closed sorry.” The man said, seemingly climbing down a small step ladder since he disappeared from sight for only a second. He walked out into full view. “Wow, you’re wearing a bowtie, that’s odd.”
“What?” The Doctor adjusted his bowtie, “Bowties are cool.”
“Yeah, right, sure thing. Now, what do you need. Might as well help you out since you managed to pick the lock.” He put a small stack of books down on a counter.
“I didn’t pick the lock-”
“But the real question is, why would you want to break into a bookstore, especially when there’s a bigger company owned bookstore, with probably a bunch more money directly on the other side of the street.” The Doctor turned to look out the window at the bookstore megaplex. “So that means you’re after someone or something in particular.” The Doctor turned back to the boy. “I’m Morgan by the way.”
“I’m the Doctor.” He leaned up against the counter.
“He did it again, didn’t he?” An old man walked out of the back room and over to the Doctor and Morgan. “That boy is obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, I’m sorry for any trouble he caused you.”
“No, no trouble at all.” The Doctor smiled at the old man and turned back to Morgan. “You are very outspoken.”
“Thank you. You have a very weird fashion sense.” Morgan said back and looked at the old man, “Grandpa, this guy lock picked the door.”
“I said I didn’t.” The Doctor said.
“Morgan, you probably just forgot to lock the door.” His grandpa said and turned to the strange man with the bowtie. “I’m very sorry for my grandson, he speaks his mind and his mind is a very dangerous place.” He clapped his hands once, “Now, what can I do you for?”
“I’m actually looking for someone,” The Doctor said not taking his eyes off of Morgan.
“It’s only my grandson and I here.”
“Exactly.” The Doctor said, the wheels in his mind turning on overdrive.
“What do you want from us? Are you from the megaplex across the street?” The grandfather started accusing.
“No, he’s from somewhere else entirely.” Morgan said, eyeing the Doctor. “That explains the bowtie.”
“Smart.” The Doctor said, “And I didn’t lock pick the door, I sonic-ed it.” He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and waved it around in the air before pocketing it again. “Anything weird happen lately?”
“Other than you coming here and ‘sonic-ing’ the door? The megaplex was built and stocked in two days, I think that’s kinda fishy.” Morgan said.
“Oh dear.” The grandfather said. Both men turned to him. “I know what you’re here for. Who¸ you’re here for.”
“What?” Morgan asked, “What’s going on? Oh, a family secret that you haven’t told me?”
“Yes.” His grandpa said gravely. Morgan smiled brightly.
“Not a good thing I take it.” The Doctor said.
“It makes it hard to adjust.” The grandfather said, “I’ll be right back.” He said and walked back into the back room only to come back with a large, dusty, antique book. “This is your past Morgan.” He slammed it down on the counter in front of Morgan.
“Oh, and you never told me that we had a big book of family history in the back room because?” Morgan said, staring at the large book.
“I thought…I thought that you would be spared from the curse.”
“What curse?” The Doctor asked.
The grandfather sighed and launched into a story. “Our family are direct descendants of the wizard Merlin.” He paused, “Your father suffered from the curse, that is why he died so young. I was hoping that you got skipped but I’m afraid that isn’t the case.”
“Right, so what you’re saying is that we’re descendants of Merlin, a wizard, and I have the gene that makes me a wizard but also makes me prone to death at a younger age.” The grandfather nodded. “Cool, so I assume this a book of spells?” He nodded again. “Well, don’t knock it until you try it.” Morgan smiled and started to open the book but his grandpa immediately shut the hard cover.
“Magic is dangerous. You don’t have to ruin your life by looking in this book.”
“Right, I figure that I’ve been gifted with this curse to do with it as I please. It’s not your life grandpa, I mean I love you dearly but let me make my own mistakes. I’m not my father.” Morgan looked at his grandfather.
“Very well.” He turned to the Doctor. “Keep him safe Doctor, I know that’s what you’re here for, to take him away.” He walked back into the back room without another word.
“Okay, don’t know what just happened but okay.” The Doctor said.
“I don’t either, I’m just going to go with it and I’m sure it will all explain itself in time.” Morgan said. “So, spaceship?”
“Yes…what?” The Doctor said, “How did you know about the TARDIS?”
“I didn’t, you just told me.” Morgan smiled and walked around the counter to the Doctor. “You’re short.” He said as he stood right up next to the Doctor.
“We’re exactly the same height.”
“But I’m 20, how old are you?” Morgan smiled and the Doctor said nothing, “Exactly, do I need to take anything?” He grabbed the large book and put it under his arm.
“Not really, I have everything we could possibly need in the TARDIS.” He turned around and walked out, carefully looking around at his surroundings as he did.
“Trust me, Doc, nothing interesting happens on this street corner, at least, not until recently and we’re leaving.” Morgan said following the Doctor. “So, where are we going first? The moon? Although I’ve always thought that Saudi Arabia was a very magical type place. What do you think?”
“Never been, I usually stick to England mostly as well as other places.” The Doctor said, walking to the TARDIS.
“You’re telling me that you have a spaceship and you haven’t traveled anywhere except England?” Morgan laughed, “Unbelievable.”
The Doctor opened up the TARDIS, “Not really, since I can also travel through time.” He smiled and walked in.
“Time? Sweet.” Morgan smiled, the door closed as he walked in. “So, we have the whole of time and space. Where we going first?”
Next
“1450, the Italian Renaissance.” River said and looked around. “I’m not just another one of your companions, I know my way around the universe.” She smiled at him and went to look into various shops.
“Right, of course.” The Doctor said looking around at the people passing by, trying to decide whether or not to follow River or go his own separate way to explore. He had been to the Italian Renaissance a thousand times or more, he’d seen Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel, he helped blueprint some more renounced buildings and statues, but something seemed different now. Something in the wind. He tested the air with his finger. “Definitely something different.”
Seconds later, a young man in twentieth century clothes ran past him. Upon seeing the Doctor, he stopped running in mid-step to turn and look at him. “Ah, there you are. I was looking all over for you.” The man reached in his pocket and pulled out an envelope, “Here.”
The Doctor took the envelope. “Do I know you?” He looked back at the man.
“Not yet.” He smiled and ran away before the Doctor could get a good hold on the situation. The Doctor then turned his attention to the envelope, not wanting to chase the future acquaintance just yet. He turned the strange envelope in his hands to open the flap and pull out the note that was inside.
Doctor,
Come find me.
The Corner Bookstore. London, England. 2015. 9:30 PM.
Sonic the door.
-M.
The Doctor reread the note and smiled. A new adventure. A new friend.
River had just walked out of a shop when she saw the TARDIS start to disappear. “Of course. Let him out of my sight for five minutes and runs off to chase another adventure. I should have known.” River sighed and pressed a couple buttons on her vortex manipulator and she was gone. She didn’t go after the Doctor however, she knew that he would find her again soon.
2015, London, 9:30 PM.
The Doctor stood in front of the bookstore and briefly glanced at the ‘closed’ sign before sonic-ing his way in. The bell clanged in the otherwise almost silent store. “Hey, we’re closed.” A voice came from one of the aisles the bookshelves made. A head peeked over the top ledge of a shelf. “Hi, can I help you?” The same young man from Italy said.
“Scottish? I must like Scottish people for some reason.” The Doctor muttered as he spotted the man. “Hello, just browsing.”
“I swore I locked that door, we’re closed sorry.” The man said, seemingly climbing down a small step ladder since he disappeared from sight for only a second. He walked out into full view. “Wow, you’re wearing a bowtie, that’s odd.”
“What?” The Doctor adjusted his bowtie, “Bowties are cool.”
“Yeah, right, sure thing. Now, what do you need. Might as well help you out since you managed to pick the lock.” He put a small stack of books down on a counter.
“I didn’t pick the lock-”
“But the real question is, why would you want to break into a bookstore, especially when there’s a bigger company owned bookstore, with probably a bunch more money directly on the other side of the street.” The Doctor turned to look out the window at the bookstore megaplex. “So that means you’re after someone or something in particular.” The Doctor turned back to the boy. “I’m Morgan by the way.”
“I’m the Doctor.” He leaned up against the counter.
“He did it again, didn’t he?” An old man walked out of the back room and over to the Doctor and Morgan. “That boy is obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, I’m sorry for any trouble he caused you.”
“No, no trouble at all.” The Doctor smiled at the old man and turned back to Morgan. “You are very outspoken.”
“Thank you. You have a very weird fashion sense.” Morgan said back and looked at the old man, “Grandpa, this guy lock picked the door.”
“I said I didn’t.” The Doctor said.
“Morgan, you probably just forgot to lock the door.” His grandpa said and turned to the strange man with the bowtie. “I’m very sorry for my grandson, he speaks his mind and his mind is a very dangerous place.” He clapped his hands once, “Now, what can I do you for?”
“I’m actually looking for someone,” The Doctor said not taking his eyes off of Morgan.
“It’s only my grandson and I here.”
“Exactly.” The Doctor said, the wheels in his mind turning on overdrive.
“What do you want from us? Are you from the megaplex across the street?” The grandfather started accusing.
“No, he’s from somewhere else entirely.” Morgan said, eyeing the Doctor. “That explains the bowtie.”
“Smart.” The Doctor said, “And I didn’t lock pick the door, I sonic-ed it.” He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and waved it around in the air before pocketing it again. “Anything weird happen lately?”
“Other than you coming here and ‘sonic-ing’ the door? The megaplex was built and stocked in two days, I think that’s kinda fishy.” Morgan said.
“Oh dear.” The grandfather said. Both men turned to him. “I know what you’re here for. Who¸ you’re here for.”
“What?” Morgan asked, “What’s going on? Oh, a family secret that you haven’t told me?”
“Yes.” His grandpa said gravely. Morgan smiled brightly.
“Not a good thing I take it.” The Doctor said.
“It makes it hard to adjust.” The grandfather said, “I’ll be right back.” He said and walked back into the back room only to come back with a large, dusty, antique book. “This is your past Morgan.” He slammed it down on the counter in front of Morgan.
“Oh, and you never told me that we had a big book of family history in the back room because?” Morgan said, staring at the large book.
“I thought…I thought that you would be spared from the curse.”
“What curse?” The Doctor asked.
The grandfather sighed and launched into a story. “Our family are direct descendants of the wizard Merlin.” He paused, “Your father suffered from the curse, that is why he died so young. I was hoping that you got skipped but I’m afraid that isn’t the case.”
“Right, so what you’re saying is that we’re descendants of Merlin, a wizard, and I have the gene that makes me a wizard but also makes me prone to death at a younger age.” The grandfather nodded. “Cool, so I assume this a book of spells?” He nodded again. “Well, don’t knock it until you try it.” Morgan smiled and started to open the book but his grandpa immediately shut the hard cover.
“Magic is dangerous. You don’t have to ruin your life by looking in this book.”
“Right, I figure that I’ve been gifted with this curse to do with it as I please. It’s not your life grandpa, I mean I love you dearly but let me make my own mistakes. I’m not my father.” Morgan looked at his grandfather.
“Very well.” He turned to the Doctor. “Keep him safe Doctor, I know that’s what you’re here for, to take him away.” He walked back into the back room without another word.
“Okay, don’t know what just happened but okay.” The Doctor said.
“I don’t either, I’m just going to go with it and I’m sure it will all explain itself in time.” Morgan said. “So, spaceship?”
“Yes…what?” The Doctor said, “How did you know about the TARDIS?”
“I didn’t, you just told me.” Morgan smiled and walked around the counter to the Doctor. “You’re short.” He said as he stood right up next to the Doctor.
“We’re exactly the same height.”
“But I’m 20, how old are you?” Morgan smiled and the Doctor said nothing, “Exactly, do I need to take anything?” He grabbed the large book and put it under his arm.
“Not really, I have everything we could possibly need in the TARDIS.” He turned around and walked out, carefully looking around at his surroundings as he did.
“Trust me, Doc, nothing interesting happens on this street corner, at least, not until recently and we’re leaving.” Morgan said following the Doctor. “So, where are we going first? The moon? Although I’ve always thought that Saudi Arabia was a very magical type place. What do you think?”
“Never been, I usually stick to England mostly as well as other places.” The Doctor said, walking to the TARDIS.
“You’re telling me that you have a spaceship and you haven’t traveled anywhere except England?” Morgan laughed, “Unbelievable.”
The Doctor opened up the TARDIS, “Not really, since I can also travel through time.” He smiled and walked in.
“Time? Sweet.” Morgan smiled, the door closed as he walked in. “So, we have the whole of time and space. Where we going first?”
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