dramadramaduck | video | virus exchange

[River appears, no longer a child. In between her and the computer is a desk with papers scattered everywhere. On top of the papers, her TARDIS-blue book sits open as she makes a few notes. She glances up occasionally as she writes.]

As lovely as reliving my childhood was, I'm glad that virus is over with. I have a few papers to work on.

[River reaches out to turn off the feed, but the picture turns black with grey lines of static crossing the screen.]

What are you do--

[Her voice is cut off by crackling noises. A moment's silence. The sound of a sonic screwdriver whirring for a solid minute. Then the video comes on, circulating to find its correct focus. When it settles in full color, a younger-looking (Wait... younger? She’s just that much of a troll in this regeneration.) River is in a spacesuit, crouched at the edge of a giant circle in the middle of a room with two others in spacesuits. But they have their helmets on. The one standing behind River has two shadows.

However, this isn’t just any room. It’s a library with every wall filled top to bottom with book. And it’s not just any ordinary library. It’s The Library. Anyone who went to pull the Doctor off the servers and download his body might recognize this room, despite the dim, yellow lighting. She stops her scan and looks at the sonic for a moment. It looks vaguely like the Tenth Doctor's, but it's not exact.]

You know, it’s funny. I keep wishing the Doctor was here.

The Doctor is here, isn’t he? [The speaker is the woman standing behind River. River stands up and turns to face her.] He is coming back, right?

[She’s silent for a moment. Fails to start saying something twice before finding the right words. She looks sad, yet with a little resignation. As if she’s felt this pain before.] You know when you see a photograph of someone you know, but it’s from years before you knew them? [Pause.] It’s like they’re not quite... finished. They’re... they’re not done yet. Well.... Yes, the Doctor’s here. He came when I called, just as he always does. But not my Doctor. [Pause and a deep breath. A sad smile appears. Guess what guys, it’s reminiscing time!] Now, my Doctor... I’ve seen whole armies turn and run away, and he’d just swagger off back to his TARDIS and open the doors with a snap [She snaps her fingers for emphasis.] of his fingers. [The smile on her face has grown considerably. Remembering back to days when he knew her. And then it slowly slips away.] The Doctor... in the TARDIS... next stop everywhere.

[A presence in an upper area of the room makes itself known with a loud:]

Spoilers.

[River whips around, clearly startled. A skinny man known as the Tenth Doctor jogs down the stairs.]

Nobody can open a TARDIS by snapping their fingers. [Using a pillar for leverage, he jumps over the rail to the floor. Cue the video cutting out completely.]

((Doctor is in blue, Anita is in green. Scene is from Forest of the Dead, after the Doctor first meets River. If you’d rather watch the scene, it’s uploaded here and just watch to 1:20.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... ah.

What's 'ah'?

[Aaaaaaaaand then she sees the extra video tacked on.]

But that wasn't me. How can that be possible? From what sh-- I'm saying, it's as if I've met you loads of times. But that's not right. Is that... my future?

Spoilers.

[ ie, "yes". ]

[gdit o9]

You and that word again. That's all the answer I need for that question. I have so many more that I have a strong feeling you won't answer. But here's one I think you can.

How has this appeared when it hasn't happened yet?

It's a virus. One that we've had several times before actually, on and off. It shows you, and the rest of the community for that matter, something from your future. Which makes it one of the more useful viruses in some senses.

I'll say it's useful. I have a hint as to where I'll see you, but not so much the when. No matter, I seem to have followed through with taking my age-appearance down some, which makes it harder to pin down a time period.

But what did that other person mean by "grief seed"?